Rotorcraft convertible engine study

The objective of the Rotorcraft Convertible Engine Study was to define future research and technology effort required for commercial development by 1988 of convertible fan/shaft gas turbine engines for unconventional rotorcraft transports. Two rotorcraft and their respective missions were defined: a Fold Tilt Rotor aircraft and an Advancing Blade Concept (ABC) rotorcraft. Sensitivity studies were conducted with these rotorcraft to determine parametrically the influence of propulsion characteristics on aircraft size, mission fuel requirements, and direct operating costs (DOC). The two rotorcraft were flown with conventional propulsion systems (separate lift/cruise engines) and with convertible propulsion systems to determine the benefits to be derived from convertible engines. Trade-off studies were conducted to determine the optimum engine cycle and staging arrangement for a convertible engine. Advanced technology options applicable to convertible engines were studied. Research and technology programs were identified which would ensure technology readiness for commercial development of convertible engines by 1988

Increased Hematopoietic Extracellular RNAs and Vesicles in the Lung during Allergic Airway Responses.

Extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) can be released by numerous cell types in vitro, are often protected within vesicles, and can modify recipient cell function. To determine how the composition and cellular sources of exRNAs and the extracellular vesicles (EVs) that carry them change in vivo during tissue inflammation, we analyzed bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from mice before and after lung allergen challenge. In the lung, extracellular microRNAs (ex-miRNAs) had a composition that was highly correlated with airway-lining epithelium. Using cell type-specific membrane tagging and single vesicle flow, we also found that 80% of detected vesicles were of epithelial origin. After the induction of allergic airway inflammation, miRNAs selectively expressed by immune cells, including miR-223 and miR-142a, increased and hematopoietic-cell-derived EVs also increased >2-fold. These data demonstrate that infiltrating immune cells release ex-miRNAs and EVs in inflamed tissues to alter the local extracellular environment

The phytosociological analysis of saline area of Tehsil Ferozewala, District Sheikhupura (Punjab), Pakistan

This study is a broad ecological survey, and classification of the vegetation of Agro Farm plantations of a Tehsil Ferozewala (District Sheikhupura) Punjab, Pakistan. The vegetation survey description and classification was according to Zurich-Montpellier School of thought is based on over 300 Relevé Method. In all twelve associations i.e. Suaedetum fruticosae, Kochietum indicum Diplachnetum fuscae, Desmostochyetum bipinnatae, maurorae, Polypogaetum monspeliensae, Erythraeo-Polypogaetum monspeliensae, Veteviarietum cylindrieae, Scirpetum maritimae and Typhetum angustitae are recognized and each association is further sub-divided into sub-associations and classified into its respective class, order and alliances according to central European Phyto-sociological methods. Several relationships of the plant community types have been worked out during this study. The soil characteristics of each vegetation type are discussed in relation to soil texture; pH, Conductivity, Carbonates, Bicarbonates, Chlorides and Sulphate as well as ecological affinities of each association are also described. By reintegrating these trees and shrubs back into agriculture landscape to reverse salinity such as Atriplex amnicla, Tamarix aphylla, Phoenix dactilifera, Prosopis spp. Susbenia bispinasa, Sesbenia sesbena, Casorina, Grewia asiatie, Psidium guava etc. The incorporation of these plants (grasses, shrubs and trees) into agriculture land system of the Punjab has potential to increase crop, fiber, wood and animal production and degradation of land will also be halted.Key words: Phyto-sociological, agroforestry, relev’es, plant associations, characteristic species, differential species, companion species

Electronic tuning and uniform superconductivity in CeCoIn5

We report a globally reversible effect of electronic tuning on the magnetic phase diagram in CeCoIn_{5} driven by electron (Pt and Sn) and hole (Cd, Hg) doping. Consequently, we are able to extract the superconducting pair breaking component for hole and electron dopants with pressure and co-doping studies, respectively. We find that these nominally non-magnetic dopants have a remarkably weak pair breaking effect for a d-wave superconductor. The pair breaking is weaker for hole dopants, which induce magnetic moments, than for electron dopants. Furthermore, both Pt and Sn doping have a similar effect on superconductivity despite being on different dopant sites, arguing against the notion that superconductivity lives predominantly in the CeIn_{3} planes of these materials. In addition, we shed qualitative understanding on the doping dependence with density functional theory calculations.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Lett. (October 1, 2012

Thermodynamically admissible form for discrete hydrodynamics

We construct a discrete model of fluid particles according to the GENERIC formalism. The model has the form of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics including correct thermal fluctuations. A slight variation of the model reproduces the Dissipative Particle Dynamics model with any desired thermodynamic behavior. The resulting algorithm has the following properties: mass, momentum and energy are conserved, entropy is a non-decreasing function of time and the thermal fluctuations produce the correct Einstein distribution function at equilibrium.Comment: 4 page

A Damped Ly-alpha Absorption-line System in an Apparent Void at Redshift 2.38

We study the contents of an apparent void in the distribution of Ly-alpha emitting galaxies at redshift 2.38. We show that this void is not empty, but contains a damped Ly-alpha absorption-line system, seen in absorption against background QSO 2138-4427. Imaging does not reveal any galaxy associated with this absorption-line system, but it contains metals (Fe/H ~ -1.3), and its large velocity range (~ 180 km/s) implies a significant mass.Comment: Accepted for publication in Publ. Ast. Soc. Australi

MM Algorithms for Geometric and Signomial Programming

This paper derives new algorithms for signomial programming, a generalization of geometric programming. The algorithms are based on a generic principle for optimization called the MM algorithm. In this setting, one can apply the geometric-arithmetic mean inequality and a supporting hyperplane inequality to create a surrogate function with parameters separated. Thus, unconstrained signomial programming reduces to a sequence of one-dimensional minimization problems. Simple examples demonstrate that the MM algorithm derived can converge to a boundary point or to one point of a continuum of minimum points. Conditions under which the minimum point is unique or occurs in the interior of parameter space are proved for geometric programming. Convergence to an interior point occurs at a linear rate. Finally, the MM framework easily accommodates equality and inequality constraints of signomial type. For the most important special case, constrained quadratic programming, the MM algorithm involves very simple updates.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figur

Increasing access to consumer health organisations among patients with chronic disease - a randomised trial of a print-based intervention

To assess whether a print-based intervention led to increased contact with consumer health organisations (CHOs) by general practice patients with chronic disease. CHOs can enhance people's capacity to manage chronic illness by providing information, education and psychosocial support. However, these organisations appear to be grossly under-utilised by patients and clinicians. A total of 276 patients completed a computer-assisted telephone interview before randomisation to an intervention (n = 141) or control (n = 135) group. The intervention consisted of mailed printed materials designed to encourage contact with a CHO relevant to the patient's main diagnosed chronic condition. Follow-up interviews were conducted 4 and 12 months later. Patients with conditions other than diabetes who received the intervention were twice as likely as those in the control group to contact a consumer health organisation during the 12-month study period: 41% versus 21% (P < 0.001). No such effect was found for diabetes patients, probably because of pre-existing high levels of contact with diabetes organisations. The intervention package received strong patient endorsement. Low-intensity interventions may be effective in improving access to CHOs for patients with chronic disease

The incidence of breast cancer in the General Practice Research Database compared with national cancer registration data

Breast cancer incidence rates in the UK from 1990 to 1996 among women aged 35–69 estimated from the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) were closely similar to those reported by the Office for National Statistics from cancer registration data (ONS). The GPRD is a valuable and up-to-date resource for further study of the incidence of breast cancer in the UK as well as changes in cancer treatment and their relation to survival trends. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co