260 research outputs found
Development and evaluation of automatic landing control laws for light wing loading STOL aircraft
Automatic flare and decrab control laws were developed for NASA's experimental Twin Otter. This light wing loading STOL aircraft was equipped with direct lift control (DLC) wing spoilers to enhance flight path control. Automatic landing control laws that made use of the spoilers were developed, evaluated in a simulation and the results compared with these obtained for configurations that did not use DLC. The spoilers produced a significant improvement in performance. A simulation that could be operated faster than real time in order to provide statistical landing data for a large number of landings over a wide spectrum of disturbances in a short time was constructed and used in the evaluation and refinement of control law configurations. A longitudinal control law that had been previously developed and evaluated in flight was also simulated and its performance compared with that of the control laws developed. Runway alignment control laws were also defined, evaluated, and refined to result in a final recommended configuration. Good landing performance, compatible with Category 3 operation into STOL runways, was obtained
Perturbation theory for the one-dimensional optical polaron
The one-dimensional optical polaron is treated on the basis of the
perturbation theory in the weak coupling limit. A special matrix diagrammatic
technique is developed. It is shown how to evaluate all terms of the
perturbation theory for the ground-state energy of a polaron to any order by
means of this technique. The ground-state energy is calculated up to the eighth
order of the perturbation theory. The effective mass of an electron is obtained
up to the sixth order of the perturbation theory. The radius of convergence of
the obtained series is estimated. The obtained results are compared with the
results from the Feynman polaron theory.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, RevTeX, to be published in Phys. Rev. B (2001)
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Polaron effects in electron channels on a helium film
Using the Feynman path-integral formalism we study the polaron effects in
quantum wires above a liquid helium film. The electron interacts with
two-dimensional (2D) surface phonons, i.e. ripplons, and is confined in one
dimension (1D) by an harmonic potential. The obtained results are valid for
arbitrary temperature (), electron-phonon coupling strength (), and
lateral confinement (). Analytical and numerical results are
obtained for limiting cases of , , and . We found the
surprising result that reducing the electron motion from 2D to quasi-1D makes
the self-trapping transition more continuous.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Mean parameter model for the Pekar-Fr\"{o}hlich polaron in a multilayered heterostructure
The polaron energy and the effective mass are calculated for an electron
confined in a finite quantum well constructed of
layers. To simplify the study we suggest a model in which parameters of a
medium are averaged over the ground-state wave function. The rectangular and
the Rosen-Morse potential are used as examples.
To describe the confined electron properties explicitly to the second order
of perturbations in powers of the electron-phonon coupling constant we use the
exact energy-dependent Green function for the Rosen-Morse confining potential.
In the case of the rectangular potential, the sum over all intermediate virtual
states is calculated. The comparison is made with the often used leading term
approximation when only the ground-state is taken into account as a virtual
state. It is shown that the results are quite different, so the incorporation
of all virtual states and especially those of the continuous spectrum is
essential.
Our model reproduces the correct three-dimensional asymptotics at both small
and large widths. We obtained a rather monotonous behavior of the polaron
energy as a function of the confining potential width and found a peak of the
effective mass. The comparison is made with theoretical results by other
authors. We found that our model gives practically the same (or very close)
results as the explicit calculations for potential widths .Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX, including 5 PS-figures, subm. to Phys. Rev. B, new
data are discusse
Accuracy of Five Serologic Tests for the Follow up of Strongyloides stercoralis Infection
BACKGROUND: Traditional faecal-based methods have poor
sensitivity for the detection of S. stercoralis, therefore are
inadequate for post-treatment evaluation of infected patients
who should be carefully monitored to exclude the persistence of
the infection. In a previous study, we demonstrated high
accuracy of five serology tests for the screening and diagnosis
of strongyloidiasis. Aim of this study is to evaluate the
performance of the same five tests for the follow up of patients
infected with S. stercoralis. METHODS: Retrospective study on
anonymized, cryo-preserved samples available at the Centre for
Tropical Diseases (Negrar, Verona, Italy). Samples were
collected before and from 3 to 12 months after treatment. The
samples were tested with two commercially-available ELISA tests
(IVD, Bordier), two techniques based on a recombinant antigen
(NIE-ELISA and NIE-LIPS) and one in-house IFAT. The results of
each test were evaluated both in relation to the results of
fecal examination and to those of a composite reference standard
(classifying as positive a sample with positive stools and/or at
least three positive serology tests). The associations between
the independent variables age and time and the dependent
variable value of serological test (for all five tests), were
analyzed by linear mixed-effects regression model. RESULTS: A
high proportion of samples demonstrated for each test a
seroreversion or a relevant decline (optical density/relative
light units halved or decrease of at least two titers for IFAT)
at follow up, results confirmed by the linear mixed effects
model that showed a trend to seroreversion over time for all
tests. In particular, IVD-ELISA (almost 90% samples demonstrated
relevant decline) and IFAT (almost 87%) had the best
performance. Considering only samples with a complete
negativization, NIE-ELISA showed the best performance (72.5%
seroreversion). CONCLUSIONS: Serology is useful for the follow
up of patients infected with S. stercoralis and determining test
of cure
Breast imaging technology: Imaging biochemistry - applications to breast cancer
The use of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to investigate breast tumour biochemistry in vivo is reviewed. To this end, results obtained both from patients in vivo and from tumour extracts and model systems are discussed. An association has been observed between transformation and an increase in phosphomonoesters (PMEs) detected in the (31)P MRS spectrum, as well as an increase in choline-containing metabolites detected in the (1)H spectrum. A decrease in PME content after treatment is associated with response to treatment as assessed by tumour volume. Experiments in model systems aimed at understanding the underlying biochemical processes are presented, as well as data indicating the usefulness of MRS in monitoring the uptake and metabolism of some chemotherapeutic agents
Breast imaging technology: Application of magnetic resonance imaging to angiogenesis in breast cancer
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques enable vascular function to be mapped with high spatial resolution. Current methods for imaging in breast cancer are described, and a review of recent studies that compared dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI with histopathological indicators of tumour vascular status is provided. These studies show correlation between in vivo dynamic contrast measurements and in vitro histopathology. Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI is also being applied to assessment of the response of breast tumours to treatment
Checklists in the operating room: Help or hurdle? A qualitative study on health workers' experiences
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Checklists have been used extensively as a cognitive aid in aviation; now, they are being introduced in many areas of medicine. Although few would dispute the positive effects of checklists, little is known about the process of introducing this tool into the health care environment. In 2008, a pre-induction checklist was implemented in our anaesthetic department; in this study, we explored the nurses' and physicians' acceptance and experiences with this checklist.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Focus group interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of checklist users (nurses and physicians) from the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care in a tertiary teaching hospital. The interviews were analysed qualitatively using systematic text condensation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Users reported that checklist use could divert attention away from the patient and that it influenced workflow and doctor-nurse cooperation. They described senior consultants as both sceptical and supportive; a head physician with a positive attitude was considered crucial for successful implementation. The checklist improved confidence in unfamiliar contexts and was used in some situations for which it was not intended. It also revealed insufficient equipment standardisation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings suggest several issues and actions that may be important to consider during checklist use and implementation.</p
A Tale of Switched Functions: From Cyclooxygenase Inhibition to M-Channel Modulation in New Diphenylamine Derivatives
Cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes are molecular targets of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the most used medication worldwide. However, the COX enzymes are not the sole molecular targets of NSAIDs. Recently, we showed that two NSAIDs, diclofenac and meclofenamate, also act as openers of Kv7.2/3 K+ channels underlying the neuronal M-current. Here we designed new derivatives of diphenylamine carboxylate to dissociate the M-channel opener property from COX inhibition. The carboxylate moiety was derivatized into amides or esters and linked to various alkyl and ether chains. Powerful M-channel openers were generated, provided that the diphenylamine moiety and a terminal hydroxyl group are preserved. In transfected CHO cells, they activated recombinant Kv7.2/3 K+ channels, causing a hyperpolarizing shift of current activation as measured by whole-cell patch-clamp recording. In sensory dorsal root ganglion and hippocampal neurons, the openers hyperpolarized the membrane potential and robustly depressed evoked spike discharges. They also decreased hippocampal glutamate and GABA release by reducing the frequency of spontaneous excitatory and inhibitory post-synaptic currents. In vivo, the openers exhibited anti-convulsant activity, as measured in mice by the maximal electroshock seizure model. Conversion of the carboxylate function into amide abolished COX inhibition but preserved M-channel modulation. Remarkably, the very same template let us generating potent M-channel blockers. Our results reveal a new and crucial determinant of NSAID-mediated COX inhibition. They also provide a structural framework for designing novel M-channel modulators, including openers and blockers
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