X-29A aircraft structural loads flight testing

The X-29A research and technology demonstrator aircraft has completed a highly successful multiphase flight test program. The primary research objective was to safely explore, evaluate, and validate a number of aerodynamic, structural, and flight control technologies, all highly integrated into the vehicle design. Most of these advanced technologies, particularly the forward-swept-wing platform, had a major impact on the structural design. Throughout the flight test program, structural loads clearance was an ongoing activity to provide a safe maneuvering envelope sufficient to accomplish the research objectives. An overview is presented of the technologies, flight test approach, key results, and lessons learned from the structural flight loads perspective. The overall design methodology was considered validated, but a number of structural load characteristics were either not adequately predicted or totally unanticipated prior to flight test. While conventional flight testing techniques were adequate to insure flight safety, advanced analysis tools played a key role in understanding some of the structural load characteristics, and in maximizing flight test productivity

Fluorescence Turn-On Sensor to Characterize Quaternary Folding Structure of Transthyretin

Landon Sims is in the Biology department at Louisiana Tech University. Paul Kim is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Grambling State University. The abstract for their presentation Fluorescence Turn-On Sensor to Characterize Quaternary Folding Structure of Transthyretin can be downloaded by clicking on the blue download button

Evaluating mental health literacy amongst US college students: A cross sectional study

Objective: This study examined levels of mental health literacy amongst US university students, as well as relationships between mental health literacy, help-seeking behaviors, and mental health outcomes. Participants: Three hundred and twenty-six (326) US university students participated in this study online. Methods: Participants filled out questionnaires that assessed their mental health literacy, intentions to seek support, psychological distress, wellbeing, and self-compassion. Results: The mean mental health literacy score was 123.96 (SD = 16.01). Women scored significantly higher than men (p < .01) on mental health literacy. Individuals who had a previous mental disorder diagnosis had significantly higher scores than those with no previous diagnosis (p < .01). A significant positive relationship was found between mental health literacy and self-compassion (p < .01). Conclusions: Our research highlights significant differences between women and men in relation to mental health literacy, psychological distress, and help-seeking behavior. There is a need to design culturally competent interventions that involve diverse students

“All emigrants are up to the physical, mental and moral standards required”: A Tale of Two Child Rescue Schemes

The current paper critically assesses and reflects on the ideals and realities of two major (British) child migration schemes, namely the British Home Child scheme (1869–1930) and the Kindertransport scheme (1938–1940), to add to current understandings of their place within wider international histories of child migration, moral reforms, eugenics, settlement, and identity. Specifically, we focus on constructions of “mentally and physically deficient” children/young people, informed by eugenic viewpoints and biological determinism, and how this guided inclusion and exclusion decisions in both schemes. Both schemes made judgements regarding which children should be included/excluded in the schemes or returned to their country of origin (as was the case with children in the Canadian child migration scheme) fueled by a type of eugenics oriented to transplanting strong physical and psychologically resilient specimens. By viewing the realities of the child migration schemes, including the varied experiences and narratives in relation to child migrants, in light of eugenicist narratives of difference, pathology, victimhood, and contamination, we shed a light on uneven practices, formations of power, and expectations of the times

Improved Tissue Corrosion of Vascular Casts: A Quantitative Filtration Method Used to Compare Tissue Corrosion in Various Concentrations of Sodium and Potassium Hydroxide

In this study, we compare weights of filter retained material (11 μm particle retention) after solubilization and filtration of unfixed, un-perfused tissue (fat, liver and trachea) in sodium and potassium hydroxide (1% , 5%, 10% and 20% weight/volume, w/v) at 8, 24 and 48 hour time points at 45°C. Three detergents [1% Triton-X-100 (volume/volume, v/v), 1% 7X (v/v), 1% Terg-A-Zyme (w/v)] used in combination with hydroxide were evaluated for use in solubilizing fat. Additionally, vascular casts from mouse kidneys were corroded to test the practical effectiveness of corroding solutions on resin infused tissue. Five percent KOH for eight hours proved to be the most effective concentration and time required to corrode fatty tissue. Liver tissue was corroded most rapidly in 1% to 5% NaOH or in 1% to 20% KOH. Corrosion of trachea tissue showed that 5, 10 and 20% hydroxide (NaOH or KOH) are equally effective after 8 hours of corrosion. Use of detergents improved solubilization of fat when combined with 2% , 3% or 5% NaOH. However, fatty tissue was solubilized more rapidly without the use of detergents in 1% NaOH. Scanning electron microscopy of vascular casts shows that corrosion in 1% NaOH appears equally as effective as corrosion in 15% KOH

A mass spectrometric strategy for absolute quantification of Plasmodium falciparum proteins of low abundance

Selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry has been combined with the use of an isotopically labelled synthetic protein, made up of proteotypic tryptic peptides selected from parasite proteins of interest. This allows, for the first time, absolute quantification of proteins from Plasmodium falciparum. This methodology is demonstrated to be of sufficient sensitivity to quantify, even within whole cell extracts, proteins of low abundance from the folate pathway as well as more abundant "housekeeping" proteins