Circumferential pressure distributions in a model labyrinth seal

A research program to isolate and study leakage flow through labyrinth glands was initiated. Circumferential pressure distributions were measured in the labyrinth glands with geometry appropriate to the high pressure labyrinths in large steam turbines. Knowledge of this pressure distribution is essential as it is this unequal pressure field that results in the destabilizing force. Parameters that are likely to affect the pressure distributions are incorporated into the test rig. Some preliminary pressure profiles are presented

The relationship between children's motor proficiency and health-related fitness

The overall purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between motor proficiency and health-related fitness in children. In addition, the study aimed to determine if particular combinations of motor skills have a stronger relationship with individual health-related fitness measures

Exploring the diagnostic accuracy of the KidFit screening tool for identifying children with health and motor performance-related fitness impairments: A feasibility study

Child obesity is associated with poor health and reduced motor skills. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the KidFit Screening Tool for identifying children with overweight/obesity, reduced motor skills and reduced cardiorespiratory fitness. Fifty-seven children (mean age: 12.57 ± 1.82 years; male/female: 34/23) were analysed. The Speed and Agility Motor Screen (SAMS) and the Modified Shuttle Test-Paeds (MSTP) made up the KidFit Screening Tool. Motor Proficiency (BOT2) (Total and Gross) was also measured. BMI, peak-oxygen-uptake (VO2peak) were measured with a representative sub-sample (n = 25). Strong relationships existed between the independent variables included in the KidFit Screening Tool and; BMI (R2 = 0.779, p < 0.001); Gross Motor Proficiency (R2 = 0.612, p < 0.001) and VO2peak (mL/kg/min) (R2 = 0.754, p < 0.001). The KidFit Screening Tool has a correct classification rate of 0.84 for overweight/obesity, 0.77 for motor proficiency and 0.88 for cardiorespiratory fitness. The sensitivity and specificity of the KidFit Screening Tool for identifying children with overweight/obesity was 100% (SE = 0.00) and 78.95%, respectively (SE = 0.09), motor skills in the lowest quartile was 90% (SE = 0.095) and 74.47% (SE = 0.064), respectively, and poor cardiorespiratory fitness was 100% (SE = 0.00) and 82.35% (SE = 0.093), respectively. The KidFit Screening Tool has a strong relationship with health- and performance-related fitness, is accurate for identifying children with health- and performance-related fitness impairments and may assist in informing referral decisions for detailed clinical investigations

Gravitational Binding, Virialization and the Peculiar Velocity Distribution of the Galaxies

We examine the peculiar velocity distribution function of galaxies in cosmological many-body gravitational clustering. Our statistical mechanical approach derives a previous basic assumption and generalizes earlier results to galaxies with haloes. Comparison with the observed peculiar velocity distributions indicates that individual massive galaxies are usually surrounded by their own haloes, rather than being embedded in common haloes. We then derive the density of energy states, giving the probability that a randomly chosen configuration of N galaxies in space is bound and virialized. Gravitational clustering is very efficient. The results agree well with the observed probabilities for finding nearby groups containing N galaxies. A consequence is that our local relatively low mass group is quite typical, and the observed small departures from the local Hubble flow beyond our group are highly probable.Comment: Paper in aastex 5.0 format and 9 figures. Replace a new version with figures and typos correcte

Experimental investigation of lateral forces induced by flow through model labyrinth glands

The lateral forces induced by flow through model labyrinth glands were investigated. Circumferential pressure distributions, lateral forces and stiffness coefficients data obtained are discussed. The force system is represented as a negative spring and a tangential force orthogonal to eccentricity. The magnitude of these forces are dependent on eccentricity, entry swirl, rotor peripheral velocity and seal size. A pressure equalization chamber at midgland tests should in significantly reduced forces and stiffness coefficients

Long-distance entanglement generation with scalable and robust two-dimensional quantum network

We present a protocol for generating entanglement over long distances in a two-dimensional quantum network based on the surface error-correction code. This protocol requires a fixed number of quantum memories at each node of the network and tolerates error rates of up to 1.67% in the quantum channels.Comment: 5 pags, 4 figs. V2: text corrected, discussion on channel losses added. Accepted by PR

Repeat-Until-Success Quantum Computing

We demonstrate the possibility to perform distributed quantum computing using only single photon sources (atom-cavity-like systems), linear optics and photon detectors. The qubits are encoded in stable ground states of the sources. To implement a universal two-qubit gate, two photons should be generated simultaneously and pass through a linear optics network, where a measurement is performed on them. Gate operations can be repeated until a success is heralded without destroying the qubits at any stage of the operation. In contrast to other schemes, this does not require explicit qubit-qubit interactions, a priori entangled ancillas nor the feeding of photons into photon sources.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, v3: substantially revised, v4: typos correcte

GDP and City Population in the Development Performance of City Structures

A city structure is defined as an evolutionary process determined by its network of functional activities; relationships; capital and knowledge flows which influence its growth and density as it transitions through a series of development stages. The purpose of this research paper is to present the major findings of GDP and City population key drivers in city structure development and provide an evaluative framework and tools. This research focuses on the evolution and development performance of city structures. The evaluative framework (trajectory analysis and compositional aspects of city structure population) and tools (e.g. velocity and economic resilience) are used to examine city structure development performance where GDP and city population synergise and potentiate effects. A fundamental premise for this research is that cities undergo various transitional phases of development and develop at different rates of growth. Ideally a city aspires to remain functionally viable, resilient and dynamic as part of its evolution. City structures are impacted by events (macro/global and country/city) and structural changes. This continuum of city development is nurtured through a dynamic range of forces, influences and a host of networked activities and interactions. The paper aims to provide insights into the development performance of city structure phenomena and suggests how it can be used to better inform stakeholders? decisions and direct structural change on the development of cities

High-Performance Bioinstrumentation for Real-Time Neuroelectrochemical Traumatic Brain Injury Monitoring

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been identified as an important cause of death and severe disability in all age groups and particularly in children and young adults. Central to TBIs devastation is a delayed secondary injury that occurs in 30–40% of TBI patients each year, while they are in the hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Secondary injuries reduce survival rate after TBI and usually occur within 7 days post-injury. State-of-art monitoring of secondary brain injuries benefits from the acquisition of high-quality and time-aligned electrical data i.e., ElectroCorticoGraphy (ECoG) recorded by means of strip electrodes placed on the brains surface, and neurochemical data obtained via rapid sampling microdialysis and microfluidics-based biosensors measuring brain tissue levels of glucose, lactate and potassium. This article progresses the field of multi-modal monitoring of the injured human brain by presenting the design and realization of a new, compact, medical-grade amperometry, potentiometry and ECoG recording bioinstrumentation. Our combined TBI instrument enables the high-precision, real-time neuroelectrochemical monitoring of TBI patients, who have undergone craniotomy neurosurgery and are treated sedated in the ICU. Electrical and neurochemical test measurements are presented, confirming the high-performance of the reported TBI bioinstrumentation

Entanglement convertibility by sweeping through the quantum phases of the alternating bonds XXZXXZ chain

We study the entanglement structure and the topological edge states of the ground state of the spin-1/2 XXZ model with bond alternation. We employ parity-density matrix renormalization group with periodic boundary conditions. The finite-size scaling of R\'enyi entropies $S_2$ and $S_\infty$ are used to construct the phase diagram of the system. The phase diagram displays three possible phases: Haldane type (an example of symmetry protected topological ordered phases), Classical Dimer and N\'eel phases, the latter bounded by two continuous quantum phase transitions. The entanglement and non-locality in the ground state are studied and quantified by the entanglement convertibility. We found that, at small spatial scales, the ground state is not convertible within the topological Haldane dimer phase. The phenomenology we observe can be described in terms of correlations between edge states. We found that the entanglement spectrum also exhibits a distinctive response in the topological phase: the effective rank of the reduced density matrix displays a specifically large "susceptibility" in the topological phase. These findings support the idea that although the topological order in the ground state cannot be detected by local inspection, the ground state response at local scale can tell the topological phases apart from the non-topological phases.Comment: Final versio