Evaluation of aerosolized medications during parabolic flight maneuvers

The goal was to visually evaluate the effect gravity has on delivery of medications by the use of various aerosol devices. During parabolic flight the same four aerosols were retested as performed in studio ground tests. It appears that the Cetacaine spray and the Ventolin inhaler function without failure during all test. The pump spray (Nostril) appeared to function normally when the container was full, however it appeared to begin to fail to deliver a full mist with larger droplet size when the container was nearly empty. The simple hand spray bottle appeared to work when the container was full and performed progressively worse as the container was emptied. During Apollo flights, it was reported that standard spray bottles did not work well, however, they did not indicate why. It appears that we would also conclude that standard spray bottles do not function as well in zero gravity by failing to produce a normal mist spray. The standard spray bottle allowed the fluid to come out in a narrow fluid stream when held with the nozzle either level or slightly tilted upward

Marshallian Money, Welfare, and Side-Payments

A link between a no-side-payment (NSP) market game and a side-payment (SP) market game can be established by introducing a sufficient amount of an ideal utility-money of constant marginal utility to all agents. At some point when there is "enough money" in the system, if it is "well distributed" the new game will be a SP game. This game can also be related to a pure NSP game where a set of default parameters have been introduced. These parameters play a role similar to the parameters specifying the interpersonal comparisons in the side-payment game. We study this game for the properties of the delta-core and consider both the conditions for the uniqueness of competitive equilibria and a new approach to the second welfare theorem. A discussion of the relationship between market games and strategic market games is also noted.delta-core, enough money, market games

Towards the improvement of self-service systems via emotional virtual agents

Affective computing and emotional agents have been found to have a positive effect on human-computer interactions. In order to develop an acceptable emotional agent for use in a self-service interaction, two stages of research were identified and carried out; the first to determine which facial expressions are present in such an interaction and the second to determine which emotional agent behaviours are perceived as appropriate during a problematic self-service shopping task. In the first stage, facial expressions associated with negative affect were found to occur during self-service shopping interactions, indicating that facial expression detection is suitable for detecting negative affective states during self-service interactions. In the second stage, user perceptions of the emotional facial expressions displayed by an emotional agent during a problematic self-service interaction were gathered. Overall, the expression of disgust was found to be perceived as inappropriate while emotionally neutral behaviour was perceived as appropriate, however gender differences suggested that females perceived surprise as inappropriate. Results suggest that agents should change their behaviour and appearance based on user characteristics such as gender

Carbon and Nitrogen Analysis To Determine Competitive Outcome For Three Species of Container Mosquitoes

It is well documented that intense larval competition exists between species of container mosquitoes. Two of the main genera of mosquitoes found to inhabit containers are Aedes and Culex. This study sought to determine the effects that different detritus treatments and larva ratios would have on carbon and nitrogen content, mass, and survival of larvae of various species. The species used in this experiment were Aedes albopictus, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. I hypothesized that Ae. albopictus would be more efficient in acquiring nitrogen then the competitor species Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus. Thus, I expected Ae. albopictus to have higher survivorship levels than the other species when competition took place in an environment with limited resources. I also hypothesized that survival would vary in all species between detritus types. I used single and mixed amounts of leaf and animal detritus: 2:0, 1:1, 2:10 and 0:10 animal:leaf, with one unit of detritus equaling 0.10 g. The detritus treatment levels were crossed with five larval densities: 0:20. 20:0, 20:20, 0:40, 40:0. My results showed that neither the detritus treatment nor larval intra- or interspecific densities had any effect on the survivorship of Ae. albopictus. Aedes aegypti showed no changes in survivorship across intra- or interspecific densities, but did show decreased survivorship in treatments that contained only leaf detritus compared to those with animal detritus. Culex quinquefasciatus showed changes in survivorship due to both larval density and detritus treatment levels. Survival was highest for Cx. quinquefasciatus in detritus treatments containing animal detritus and lowest in leaf only treatments. Their survival suffered in the high larval density treatments compared to the low density larva treatments. However, survival for Cx. quinquefasciatus was unusually high in the high larva density animal only detritus treatment with Ae. albopictus present. Findings support the view that Ae. albopictus is the top competitor in container enviroments due to the lack of intra- and interspecific competitive effects across the detritus types and amounts used. Analysis of nitrogen, which is assumed to be limited in the systems studied, will allow for a better understanding of the mechanism by which Ae. albopictus is able to better survive

Irrigating Vegetables and Small Fruits

Vegetables and small fruits are grown more extensively in South Dakota than most people realize. Almost every farm has a garden where vegetables and small fruits are grown for immediate use. In every town and city, gardens of varying sizes are found. These home gardens produce a large amount of wholesome, high nutritional food. Market gardening is an important enterprise near the larger towns in South Dakota. It is a highly specialized business, though oftentime it is done on a very limited acreage. The detrimental effects of prolonged dry periods, which have caused complete failure of vegetable and small fruit production, have been experienced by both the home and market grower. When an adequate supply of soil moisture has been maintained throughout the growing season, yields of crops have been high. An irrigation system designed for small acreages will prevent crop losses due to dry periods. Careful planning for irrigation by the gardener will produce more vegetables and small fruits for the table, for canning, freezing and for the market. This bulletin offers suggestions in using irrigation for the ( 1) home gardener and (2) the market gardener