Employing a Modified Diffuser Momentum Model to Simulate Ventilation of the Orion CEV

The Ansys CFX CFD modeling tool was used to support the design efforts of the ventilation system for the Orion CEV. CFD modeling was used to establish the flow field within the cabin for several supply configurations. A mesh and turbulence model sensitivity study was performed before the design studies. Results were post-processed for comparison with performance requirements. Most configurations employed straight vaned diffusers to direct and throw the flow. To manage the size of the models, the diffuser vanes were not resolved. Instead, a momentum model was employed to account for the effect of the diffusers. The momentum model was tested against a separate, vane-resolved side study. Results are presented for a single diffuser configuration for a low supply flow case

Randomized Rounding for the Largest Simplex Problem

The maximum volume $j$-simplex problem asks to compute the $j$-dimensional simplex of maximum volume inside the convex hull of a given set of $n$ points in $\mathbb{Q}^d$. We give a deterministic approximation algorithm for this problem which achieves an approximation ratio of $e^{j/2 + o(j)}$. The problem is known to be $\mathrm{NP}$-hard to approximate within a factor of $c^{j}$ for some constant $c > 1$. Our algorithm also gives a factor $e^{j + o(j)}$ approximation for the problem of finding the principal $j\times j$ submatrix of a rank $d$ positive semidefinite matrix with the largest determinant. We achieve our approximation by rounding solutions to a generalization of the $D$-optimal design problem, or, equivalently, the dual of an appropriate smallest enclosing ellipsoid problem. Our arguments give a short and simple proof of a restricted invertibility principle for determinants

Sulphur-isotope compositions of pig tissues from a controlled feeding study

Sulphur-isotope determinations are becoming increasingly useful for palaeodietary reconstruction, but knowledge of isotopic discrimination between diet and various tissues remains inadequate. In this study, we explore the sensitivity of δ34Stissue values to changes in δ34Sdiet values, sulphur isotopic discrimination between diet and consumer, and the potential impact of terrestrial vs. marine protein consumption on these discrimination offsets. We present new δ34S values of bone collagen, muscle, liver, hair, milk and faeces from ten mature sows, ten piglets and fifteen adolescent pigs from a controlled feeding study. The δ34Stissue values were found to co-vary with the δ34Sdiet values, the δ34Stissue – δ34Sdiet isotopic offsets (Δ34Stissue-diet) are small but consistent, and dietary protein source does not systematically alter the Δ34Stissue-diet isotopic discrimination. The outcomes of this study are of particular relevance to questions that are difficult to resolve using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes alone, and will also be useful in regions where terrestrial, freshwater, and marine resources could have all potentially contributed to human diet

The Challenges of Multimorbidity from the Patient Perspective

BACKGROUND Although multiple co-occurring chronic illnesses within the same individual are increasingly common, few studies have examined the challenges of multimorbidity from the patient perspective. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to examine the self-management learning needs and willingness to see non-physician providers of patients with multimorbidity compared to patients with single chronic illnesses. DESIGN. This research is designed as a cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS Based upon ICD-9 codes, patients from a single VHA healthcare system were stratified into multimorbidity clusters or groups with a single chronic illness from the corresponding cluster. Nonproportional sampling was used to randomly select 720 patients. MEASUREMENTS Demographic characteristics, functional status, number of contacts with healthcare providers, components of primary care, self-management learning needs, and willingness to see nonphysician providers. RESULTS Four hundred twenty-two patients returned surveys. A higher percentage of multimorbidity patients compared to single morbidity patients were "definitely" willing to learn all 22 self-management skills, of these only 2 were not significant. Compared to patients with single morbidity, a significantly higher percentage of patients with multimorbidity also reported that they were "definitely" willing to see 6 of 11 non-physician healthcare providers. CONCLUSIONS Self-management learning needs of multimorbidity patients are extensive, and their preferences are consistent with team-based primary care. Alternative methods of providing support and chronic illness care may be needed to meet the needs of these complex patients.US Department of Veterans Affairs (01-110, 02-197); Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (K08 HS013008-02

Modeliranje magle nad morem na obali Kalifornije u slučaju "Vruće Kaplje"

The occurrence of sea fog along the U.S. Pacific Coast in summer is frequently associated with the movement of a high pressure system from the eastern Pacific to the land. Subsequently there is strong heating of the land over several days or more and development of »hot spells« and offshore flows in the coastal region preceding sea fog formation. This study focuses on modeling the formation and evolution of sea fog in response to interaction between the warm and dry offshore flows and the cool and moist marine atmospheric boundary layer. Simulation results support a conceptual model of fog formation and evolution based on physical processes initiated by offshore flows that efficiently lower the marine inversion near the sea surface. In spite of the warm and dry advection, fog formed in the shallow, near-surface marine layer capped by a strong temperature inversion of 10 °C or more and a hot-air layer above the inversion. Prior to sea fog formation, negative surface heat flux initiates cooling and condensation, while the surface moisture flux contributes to increased humidity and turbulence within the surface layer. The dryness of the hot-air layer overlying the shallow and moist marine layer triggers enhanced radiative cooling at the marine layer top and facilitates the marine layer’s saturation. The thin cloud forms, rapidly propagates downward, and transforms into fog. As soon as the fog is formed, longwave radiative cooling at its top generates turbulent mixing and the growth of the fog as a mixed layer. Due to the fog-top radiative cooling, the fog layer is initially colder than the underlying surface. In the later stage of the fog evolution, continuous mixing of the cool and moist near-surface air with the dry and warm layer above the inversion during the fog growth generally curtails turbulence. This process elevates the lifting condensation level and can lead to sea fog dissipation or generation of stratus.Pojava magle na moru uzduž američko-pacifičke obale je često povezana s premještanjem istočno-pacifičke anticiklone na kopno. U tom slučaju prisutno je višednevno zagrijavanje kopna i razvoj »vruće kaplje« (»hot spell«) te vjetrova koji pušu s kopna na more neposredno prije pojave magle. Cilj ove studije je modeliranje stvaranja i razvoja magle na moru kao posljedice interakcije vrućeg i suhog vjetra s kopna i hladnog i vlažnog maritimnog graničnog sloja. Simulacije potvrđuju izloženi temeljni teorijski model formiranja i razvoja magle nad morem koji je temeljen na fizikalnim procesima u kojima vjetrovi s kopna spuštaju maritimnu inverziju neposredno do morske površine. Usprkos advekciji suhog i toplog zraka, magla nad morem nastaje u plitkom površinskom sloju koji je zatvoren s gornje strane s inverzijom od 10 °C(K) ili više te slojem vrućeg zraka iznad inverzije. Prije formiranja magle na moru, negativni površinski senzibilni fluks topline uzrokuje hlađenje i kondenzaciju dok latentni toplinski fluks doprinosi povećanju vlage i turbulencije u površinskom sloju. Suhoća toplog sloja zraka nad maritimnim slojem uzrokuje pojačano dugovalno radijacijsko ohlađivanje na vrhu maritimnog sloja i pospješava kondenzaciju. Isprva se formira tanki oblak koji se ubrzano razvija prema površini mora te se pretvara u maglu nad morem. Čim se magla formira, radijacijsko ohlađivanje gornje granice stvara turbulentna gibanja i razvoj magle kao sloj miješanja. Uslijed radijacijskog ohlađivanja, magla postaje u početku hladnija od površine. U kasnijoj fazi razvoja magle, stalno miješanje hladnog i vlažnog maritimnog zraka s toplim i suhim slojem iznad inverzije ograničava turbulentno miješanje. Uslijed toga podiže se visina kondenzacijskog nivoa te dolazi do razbijanja magle ili njezine transformacije u stratus

Perceived Importance and Future Use of Online Channels of Distribution by Small Businesses in the United States and Australia: An Exploratory Study

Online marketing is important to small-business owners and operators because they are typically faced with limited budgets to design and implement traditional marketing programs. This paper compares the perceived importance of specific online marketing tactics and their anticipated future use of online marketing tactics by small businesses in the United States and Australia. Results of the study reveal that both in the United States and in Australia, there is a growing use of online marketing tactics to accomplish marketing objectives. While most online marketing tactics were effective in both the United States and Australia, there were some statistically significant differences

Orion Suit Loop Variable Pressure Regulator Development

The Orion Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) integrates the cabin and pressure suits with the core life support systems to provide life support during contingency depressurized cabin operations. To provide the multiple suit pressures between nominal pressurized cabin suited operations, suit leak checks, depressurized cabin suited operations, and elevated suit pressure for denitrification, a variable pressure regulator is needed. This paper documents the development of the suit loop regulator for Orion

Replacing the Social Security Tax with a Value-Added Tax: Policy Perspectives

On October 22, 1979, Representative Al Ullman (D-Ore.), then Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, introduced the Tax Restructuring Act of 1979, which would have lowered the rates of the individual income, corporate income and social security taxes along with certain other tax benefits and would have replaced the lost revenues from such reductions with the revenues from a 10% value-added tax (VAT). The introduction of the bill followed a speech delivered by Sen. Russell B. Long (D-La.), then Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, at the 1978 Tulane Tax Institute, in which he advocated an overhaul of the tax system similar to the proposals contained in Ullman\u27s bill. Although there was nothing particularly novel in the proposals of Long and Ullman, the mere fact that the two members of Congress with the most influence over tax legislation were advocating a major overhaul of the entire tax system was enough to spark a lively debate on the merits of substituting a value-added tax for part or all of the components making up the present federal tax system in the United States

Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of Geological and Biogeological Specimens of Relevance to the ExoMars Mission

H.G.M.E., I.H., and R.I. acknowledge the support of the STFC Research Council in the UK ExoMars programme. J.J. and P.V. acknowledge the support of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (210/10/0467) and of the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic (MSM0021620855).Peer reviewedPublisher PD