An experimental and analytical investigation of proprotor whirl flutter

The results of an experimental parametric investigation of whirl flutter are presented for a model consisting of a windmilling propeller-rotor, or proprotor, having blades with offset flapping hinges mounted on a rigid pylon with flexibility in pitch and yaw. The investigation was motivated by the need to establish a large data base from which to assess the predictability of whirl flutter for a proprotor since some question has been raised as to whether flutter in the forward whirl mode could be predicted with confidence. To provide the necessary data base, the parametric study included variation in the pylon pitch and yaw stiffnesses, flapping hinge offset, and blade kinematic pitch-flap coupling over a large range of advance ratios. Cases of forward whirl flutter and of backward whirl flutter are documented. Measured whirl flutter characteristics were shown to be in good agreement with predictions from two different linear stability analyses which employed simple, two dimensional, quasi-steady aerodynamics for the blade loading. On the basis of these results, it appears that proprotor whirl flutter, both forward and backward, can be predicted

Rescue of splicing-mediated intron loss maximizes expression in lentiviral vectors containing the human ubiquitin C promoter.

Lentiviral vectors almost universally use heterologous internal promoters to express transgenes. One of the most commonly used promoter fragments is a 1.2-kb sequence from the human ubiquitin C (UBC) gene, encompassing the promoter, some enhancers, first exon, first intron and a small part of the second exon of UBC. Because splicing can occur after transcription of the vector genome during vector production, we investigated whether the intron within the UBC promoter fragment is faithfully transmitted to target cells. Genetic analysis revealed that more than 80% of proviral forms lack the intron of the UBC promoter. The human elongation factor 1 alpha (EEF1A1) promoter fragment intron was not lost during lentiviral packaging, and this difference between the UBC and EEF1A1 promoter introns was conferred by promoter exonic sequences. UBC promoter intron loss caused a 4-fold reduction in transgene expression. Movement of the expression cassette to the opposite strand prevented intron loss and restored full expression. This increase in expression was mostly due to non-classical enhancer activity within the intron, and movement of putative intronic enhancer sequences to multiple promoter-proximal sites actually repressed expression. Reversal of the UBC promoter also prevented intron loss and restored full expression in bidirectional lentiviral vectors

A unified approach to nonlinearity, structural change and outliers

This paper demonstrates that the class of conditionally linear and Gaussianstate-space models offers a general and convenient framework for simultaneouslyhandling nonlinearity, structural change and outliers in time series. Manypopular nonlinear time series models, including threshold, smooth transitionand Markov-Switching models, can be written in state-space form. It is thenstraightforward to add components that capture parameter instability andintervention effects. We advocate a Bayesian approach to estimation andinference, using an efficient implementation of Markov Chain Monte Carlosampling schemes for such linear dynamic mixture models. The general modellingframework and the Bayesian methodology are illustrated by means of severalexamples. An application to quarterly industrial production growth rates forthe G7 countries demonstrates the empirical usefulness of the approach.Bayesian inference;threshold models;Markov-switching models;business cycle asymmetry;state-space models

Pajamas for Change

I created a protest called the Where Are the Children Project to bring attention to the immigrant children held in detention centers. Throughout the project I was able to see how much others cared about helping these children gain better living conditions, and I was able to learn about leadership and resistance. My values helped drive me into action, and the importance of what I was working towards helped me become more confident. After months of protests, the Homestead Detention Center where reports of maltreatment had been especially high was closed, but my work to improve the rights of immigrants still continues

Density-functional theory of polar insulators

We examine the density-functional theory of macroscopic insulators, obtained in the large-cluster limit or under periodic boundary conditions. For polar crystals, we find that the two procedures are not equivalent. In a large-cluster case, the exact exchange-correlation potential acquires a homogeneous ``electric field'' which is absent from the usual local approximations, and the Kohn-Sham electronic system becomes metallic. With periodic boundary conditions, such a field is forbidden, and the polarization deduced from Kohn-Sham wavefunctions is incorrect even if the exact functional is used

Lattice deformations at martensite-martensite interfaces in Ni-Al

The atomic configurations at macrotwin interfaces between microtwinned martensite plates in $Ni_{65}Al_{35}$ material are investigated using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The observed structures are interpreted in view of possible formation mechanisms of these interfaces. A distinction is made between cases in which the microtwins, originating from mutually perpendicular \{110\} austenite planes, enclose a final angle larger or smaller than $90^{\circ}$, measured over the boundary. Two different configurations, one with crossing microtwins and the other with ending microtwins producing a step configuration are described. The latter is related with the existence of microtwin sequences with changing variant widths. Although both features appear irrespective of the material’s preparation technique, rapid solidification seems to prefer the step configuration. Depending on the actual case, tapering, bending and tip splitting of the small microtwin variants is observed. Sever lattice deformations and reorientations occur in a region of 5 – 10 nm around the interface while sequences of single plane ledges gradually bending the microtwins are found up to 50 nm away form the interface. These structures and deformations are interpreted in view of the need to accommodate any remaining stresses

Precision laser range finder system design for Advanced Technology Laboratory applications

Preliminary system design of a pulsed precision ruby laser rangefinder system is presented which has a potential range resolution of 0.4 cm when atmospheric effects are negligible. The system being proposed for flight testing on the advanced technology laboratory (ATL) consists of a modelocked ruby laser transmitter, course and vernier rangefinder receivers, optical beacon retroreflector tracking system, and a network of ATL tracking retroreflectors. Performance calculations indicate that spacecraft to ground ranging accuracies of 1 to 2 cm are possible