Effect of blade planform variation on the forward-flight performance of small-scale rotors

An investigation was conducted in the Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel to determine the effect of blade planform variation on the forward-flight performance of four small-scale rotors. The rotors were 5.417 ft in diameter and differed only in blade planform geometry. The four planforms were: (1) rectangular; (2) 3:1 linear taper starting at 94 percent radius; (3) 3:1 linear taper starting at 75 percent radius; and (4) 3:1 linear taper starting at 50 percent radius. Each planform had a thrust-weighted solidity of 0.098. The investigation included forward-flight simulation at advance ratios from 0.14 to 0.43 for a range of rotor lift and drag coefficients. Among the four rotors, the rectangular rotor required the highest torque for the entire range of rotor drag coefficients attained at advanced ratios greater than 0.14 for rotor lift coefficients C sub L from 0.004 to 0.007. Among the rotors with tapered blades and for C sub L = 0.004 to 0.007, either the 75 percent tapered rotor or the 50 percent tapered rotor required the least amount of torque for the full range of rotor drag coefficients attained at each advance ratio. The performance of the 94 percent tapered rotor was generally between that of the rectangular rotor and the 75 and 50 percent tapered rotors at each advance ratio for this range of rotor lift coefficients

Development of a polymeric piezoelectric C-block actuator using hybrid optimization technique

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76810/1/AIAA-13031-236.pd

Emirati women do not shy away from competition: evidence from a patriarchal society in transition

We explore gender attitudes towards competition in the United Arab Emirates—a traditionally patriarchal society which in recent times has adopted numerous policies to empower women and promote their role in the labor force. The experimental treatments vary whether individuals compete in single-sex or mixed-sex groups. In contrast to previous studies, women in our sample are not less willing to compete than men. In fact, once we control for individual performance, Emirati women are more likely to select into competition. Our analysis shows that neither women nor men shy away from competition, and both compete more than what would be optimal in monetary terms as the fraction of men in their group increases. We offer a detailed survey of the literature and discuss possible reasons for the lack of gender differences in our experiment

The JNK Inhibitor XG-102 Protects against TNBS-Induced Colitis

The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-inhibiting peptide D-JNKI-1, syn. XG-102 was tested for its therapeutic potential in acute inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in mice. Rectal instillation of the chemical irritant trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) provoked a dramatic acute inflammation in the colon of 7–9 weeks old mice. Coincident subcutaneous application of 100 µg/kg XG-102 significantly reduced the loss of body weight, rectal bleeding and diarrhoea. After 72 h, the end of the study, the colon was removed and immuno-histochemically analysed. XG-102 significantly reduced (i) pathological changes such as ulceration or crypt deformation, (ii) immune cell pathology such as infiltration and presence of CD3- and CD68-positive cells, (iii) the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in colon tissue cultures from TNBS-treated mice, (iv) expression of Bim, Bax, FasL, p53, and activation of caspase 3, (v) complexation of JNK2 and Bim, and (vi) expression and activation of the JNK substrate and transcription factor c-Jun. A single application of subcutaneous XG-102 was at least as effective or even better depending on the outcome parameter as the daily oral application of sulfasalazine used for treatment of IBD

Activation of c-Src tyrosine kinase mediated the degradation of occludin in ventilator-induced lung injury

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) is characterized by increased alveolar permeability, pulmonary edema. The tyrosine kinase, c-Src, is involved in VILI but its role has not been fully elucidated. This study examined the relationship between c-Src activation and occludin levels in VILI both in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: For the in vivo study, Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: control (group C); normal tidal volume (group M); normal tidal volume + c-Src inhibitor (PP2) (group M + P); high tidal volume (group H); and high tidal volume + c-Src inhibitor (PP2) (group H + P). Rats in all groups but group C underwent mechanical ventilation for 4 h. For the in vitro study, MLE-12 cells pretreated with PP2 and siRNA underwent cyclic stretching at 8% or 20% for 0, 1, 2 and 4 h. The expressions of occludin, c-Src, and p-c-Src were analyzed by western blotting, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: For the in vivo study, rats in group H showed decreased occludin expression and activated c-Src compared with group C. HE staining and lung injury score showed more severe lung injury and alveolar edema in group H compared with group M and group C. Group H + P had less pulmonary edema induced by the high tidal volume ventilation. For the in vitro study, occludin expression decreased and c-Src activation increased as indicated by the phosphorylation of c-Src over time. Consistently, PP2 could restore occludin levels. CONCLUSIONS: Mechanical ventilation can activate c-Src by phosphorylation and increase the degradation of occludin. c-Src inhibitor can ameliorate barrier function and lung injury by up-regulating occludin

Role of Cancer Microenvironment in Metastasis: Focus on Colon Cancer

One person on three will receive a diagnostic of cancer during his life. About one third of them will die of the disease. In most cases, death will result from the formation of distal secondary sites called metastases. Several events that lead to cancer are under genetic control. In particular, cancer initiation is tightly associated with specific mutations that affect proto-oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. These mutations lead to unrestrained growth of the primary neoplasm and a propensity to detach and to progress through the subsequent steps of metastatic dissemination. This process depends tightly on the surrounding microenvironment. In fact, several studies support the point that tumour development relies on a continuous cross-talk between cancer cells and their cellular and extracellular microenvironments. This signaling cross-talk is mediated by transmembrane receptors expressed on cancer cells and stromal cells. The aim of this manuscript is to review how the cancer microenvironment influences the journey of a metastatic cell taking liver invasion by colorectal cancer cells as a model

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(Maximum 200 words) An investigation was conducted in the Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel to determine the effects of blade planform variation on the forward-flight performance of four small-scale rotors. The rotors were 5.417 ft in diameter and differed only in blade planform geometry. The four planforms were (1) rectangular, (2) 3:1 linear taper starting at 94 percent radius, (3) 3:1 linear taper starting at 75 percent radius, and (4) 3:1 linear taper starting at 50 percent radius. Each planform had a thrust-weighted solidity of 0.098. The investigation included forwardflight simulation at advance ratios from 0.14 to 0.43 for a range of rotor lift and drag coefficients. Among the four rotors, the rectangular rotor required the highest torque for the entire range of rotor drag coefficients attained at advance ratios greater than 0.14 for rotor lift coefficients C L from 0.004 to 0.007. Among the rotors with tapered blades and for C L = 0:004 to 0.007, either the 75-percent tapered rotor ..