Computational Fluid Dynamics Modelling to design and optimise Power Kites for Renewable Power Generation

Power kites provide the potential rewards of obtaining the disused energy supply from high altitude wind. This paper aims to provide a design of Power kite and optimise the potential for renewable power generation. The Power kite was modelled using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to study its characteristics. The numerical modelling results were compared against the wind tunnel experimental study and two 3D printed Power kites. The design was optimised using several variables, including aerofoil choice, surface roughness, wind speed and operating parameters. Attempts at optimising the kite design were implemented. The results suggest that operating the kites at minimum 15 m horizontal separation is favourable, with the trailing kite operating below the leading, removing the potential for this kite to operate in the wake turbulence of the first. As the wind speed is generally very low at low altitudes, it is recommended to use a symmetrical aerofoil for the kite design, as these tend to produce greater lift with low Reynolds airflow. This paper presents relevant, applicable data which can be used for predicting the performance, and potentially optimising further Power kite designs

Autistic adults’ experiences of managing wellbeing and implications for social prescribing

doi: 10.1080/09687599.2023.2263628Autistic people demonstrate poor outcomes on objective measures of wellbeing, yet research centring lived experience provides a more nuanced picture. There is growing support for person-centred, holistic and community approaches to enhancing wellbeing for autistic people. Social prescribing may be one such approach. This qualitative study explored the concept of wellbeing for autistic adults – including barriers and self-management – and the implications of this for modifying social prescribing. It involved semi-structured interviews with 21 autistic adults in the UK. Reflexive thematic analysis of the data supports research suggesting that self-determination may underlie many aspects of wellbeing for autistic people. The COVID-19 pandemic provided new opportunities to develop wellbeing strategies but also had negative impacts. Social prescribing could promote self-determination by signposting autistic people to peer support opportunities building on intrinsic interests

Integrating the voluntary sector in personalised care: mixed methods study of the outcomes from wellbeing co-ordination for adults with complex needs

PurposeThis integrated care study seeks to highlight how voluntary sector “wellbeing co-ordinators” co-located in a horizontally and vertically integrated, multidisciplinary community hub within one locality of an Integrated Care Organisation contribute to complex, person-centred, co-ordinated care.Design/methodology/approachThis is a naturalistic, mixed method and mixed data study. It is complementing a before-and-after study with a sub-group analysis of people receiving input from the wider hub (including Wellbeing Co-ordination and Enhanced Intermediate Care), qualitative case studies, interviews, and observations co-produced with embedded researchers-in-residence.FindingsThe cross-case analysis uses trajectories and outcome patterns across six client groups to illustrate the bio-psycho-social complexity of each group across the life course, corresponding with the range of inputs offered by the hub.Research limitations/implicationsTo consider the effectiveness and mechanisms of complex system-wide interventions operating at horizontal and vertical interfaces and researching this applying co-produced, embedded, naturalistic and mixed methods approaches.Practical implicationsHow a bio-psycho-social approach by a wellbeing co-ordinator can contribute to improved person reported outcomes from a range of preventive, rehabilitation, palliative care and bereavement services in the community.Social implicationsTo combine knowledge about individuals held in the community to align the respective inputs, and expectations about outcomes while considering networked pathways based on functional status, above diagnostic pathways, and along a life-continuum.Originality/valueThe hub as a whole seems to (1) Enhance engagement through relationship, trust and activation, (2) Exchanging knowledge to co-create a shared bio-psycho-social understanding of each individual’s situation and goals, (3) Personalising care planning by utilising the range of available resources to ensure needs are met, and (4) Enhancing co-ordination and ongoing care through multi-disciplinary working between practitioners, across teams and sectors.</jats:sec

Thermal Behaviour of AP Based CMDB Propellants with Stabilizers

Stability test results and DTA studies indicate the superiority of molecular sieve (MS) over zirconium silicate (ZrSiO/sub 4/) as the stabilizer for a composite modified double base (CMDB) system. Shelf life as computed from autoignition test results was 30 years for MS-based composition which is almost double the life of ZrSiO/sub 4/, but approximately half the life of resorcinol-based composition which was used as a reference. Higher stabilizing effect of MS as compared to ZrSiO/sub 4/ has been explained on the basis of the presence of channels and cavities in its structure, which makes it an effective adsorbent for decomposition catalysing species. Poor stabilization capability of m-dinitrobenzene as compared to resorcinol suggests the catalytic involvement of acidic decomposition products of nitrate esters in autodecomposition process of CMDB propellants

Label-free quantitative comparison of cerebrospinal fluid glycoproteins and endogenous peptides in subjects with Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, and healthy individuals

PURPOSE: The goal of this study is to investigate putative molecular dynamic changes in cerebrospinal fluids (CSFs) collected from individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) as compared to healthy controls. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The CSF samples from 12 subjects comprised of four cognitively normal individuals and eight patients with MCI and AD, respectively. Two aliquots of each CSF samples (total 1 mL) of each participant are used for this study. Endogenous peptide separations are performed using 10 000 molecular weight cut-off filters followed by LC-MS/MS identification and quantitation while lectin-enrichment chromatography is used to enrich glycoproteins in CSF followed by trypsin digestion and subsequent LC-MS/MS for shotgun identification and label-free quantitation. RESULTS: Using an optimized submicrogram peptide separation with molecular weight cut-off filtration and an in house-constructed database, 645 peptides are identified. Glycoproteins are enriched by lectin affinity chromatography, resulting in 795 identified proteins. The discovery and alterations of proSAAS-derived peptides and transthyretin are described and their roles in AD are discussed. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Comprehensive identification of endogenous CSF peptidome is achieved. Fifteen proteins are found to be differentially expressed among the three groups. The dynamic changes of transthyretin are reported for the first time

On Radiative Weak Annihilation Decays

We discuss a little-studied class of weak decay modes sensitive to only one quark topology at leading order in G_F: M --> m gamma, where M,m are mesons with completely distinct flavor quantum numbers. Specifically, they proceed via the annihilation of the valence quarks through a W and the emission of a single hard photon, and thus provide a clear separation between CKM and strong interaction physics. We survey relevant calculations performed to date, discuss experimental discovery potential, and indicate interesting future directions.Comment: 10 pages LaTeX, includes macros file and 9 .eps figures. Invited talk at RADCOR 2000 (5th Int. Symp. on Radiative Corrections), Carmel, CA, Sept. 200

Promoting social plasticity in developmental disorders with non-invasive brain stimulation techniques

Being socially connected directly impacts our basic needs and survival. People with deficits in social cognition might exhibit abnormal behaviors and face many challenges in our highly social-dependent world. These challenges and limitations are associated with a substantial economical and subjective impact. As many conditions where social cognition is affected are highly prevalent, more treatments have to be developed. Based on recent research, we review studies where noninvasive neuromodulatory techniques have been used to promote Social Plasticity in developmental disorders. We focused on three populations where non-invasive brain stimulation seems to be a promising approach in inducing social plasticity: Schizophrenia, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Williams Syndrome (WS). There are still very few studies directly evaluating the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the social cognition of these populations. However, when considering the promising preliminary evidences presented in this review and the limited amount of clinical interventions available for treating social cognition deficits in these populations today, it is clear that the social neuroscientist arsenal may profit from non-invasive brain stimulation techniques for rehabilitation and promotion of social plasticity

TEM Analysis of Diffusion-Bonded Silicon Carbide Ceramics Joined Using Metallic Interlayers

SiC fiber-bonded ceramics (SA-Tyrannohex: SA-THX) diffusion-bonded with TiCu metallic interlayers were investigated. Thin samples of the ceramics were prepared with a focused ion beam (FIB) and the interfacial microstructure of the prepared samples was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning TEM (STEM). In addition to conventional microstructure observation, for detailed analysis of reaction compounds in diffusion-bonded area, we performed STEM-EDS measurements and selected area electron diffraction (SAD) experiments. The TEM and STEM experiments revealed the diffusion-bonded area was composed of only one reaction layer, which was characterized by TiC precipitates in Cu-Si compound matrix. This reaction layer was in good contact with the SA-THX substrates, and it is concluded that the joint structure led to the excellent bonding strength

Use of chickpea and pigeonpea germplasm and their impact on crop improvement in India

The imp'ortant pulse cropS' grown in India are chickpea (Cieer arietinum L.), pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.), mung bean (Vigna radfata (L.) Wilczek), urd bean (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper), lentil (Lens eulinaris Medik.), field pea (Pisum sativum L.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.), moth bean (Vignaaconitifolia (Jacq.) Marechal), horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc.), grass pea or khesari (Lathyrus sativus L.) and dry bean (Phaseo/us vulgaris L.). Other pulses of minor importance grown in restricted areas in Indiaare faba bean (Viciajaba L.), rice bean (Vigna umbel/ala (Thunb,) Ohwi and Ohashi), lablab bean (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet), and winged bean (PsopHoc.arpuslelragonofobus L.). Among these, chickpea and pigeonpea are the most important