Determination of the stability and control derivatives of the F/A-18 HARV from flight data using the maximum likelihood method

The research being conducted pertains to the determination of the stability and control derivatives of the F/A-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV) from flight data using the Maximum Likelihood Method. The document outlines the approach used in the parameter estimation (PID) process and briefly describes the mathematical modeling of the F/A-18 HARV and the maneuvers designed to generate a sufficient data base for the PID research

MarsLux: HI-Resolution Illumination Maps Generator for Mars

Illumination simulation codes for the Moon's surface have been thoroughly developed during the last years. Despite works done for the Moon, no studies have investigated the relation between sunlight illumination and the Martian surface applying those codes done for the Moon to Mars. The objective of this work is to describe the development of a surface illumination simulation code, called MarsLux, which allows users to make a detailed investigation of the illumination conditions on Mars, based on its topography and the relative position of the Sun. Our code can derive accurate illumination maps, form topographic data, showing areas that are fully illuminated, areas in total shadow, and areas with partial shade, in short computational times. Although the code does not take into account any atmospheric effect, the results proved to be of high accuracy. The maps generated are useful for geomorphological studies, to study gullies, thermal weathering, or mass wasting processes as well as for producing energy budget maps for future exploration missions.Fil: Spagnuolo, Mauro Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; ArgentinaFil: Carballo, Federico Daniel. Servicio Geologico Minero Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Marco Figuera, R.. Jacobs University Bremen; AlemaniaFil: Rossi, A. P.. Jacobs University Bremen; Alemani

MBOAT7 in liver and extrahepatic diseases

MBOAT7 is a protein anchored to endomembranes by several transmembrane domains. It has a catalytic dyad involved in remodelling of phosphatidylinositol with polyunsaturated fatty acids. Genetic variants in the MBOAT7 gene have been associated with the entire spectrum of non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD), recently redefined as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and, lately, steatotic liver disease (SLD), and to an increasing number of extrahepatic conditions. In this review, we will (a) elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which MBOAT7 loss-of-function predisposes to MAFLD and neurodevelopmental disorders and (b) discuss the growing number of genetic studies linking MBOAT7 to hepatic and extrahepatic diseases. MBOAT7 complete loss of function causes severe changes in brain development resulting in several neurological manifestations. Lower MBOAT7 hepatic expression at both the mRNA and protein levels, due to missense nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the locus containing the MBOAT7 gene, affects specifically metabolic and viral diseases in the liver from simple steatosis to hepatocellular carcinoma, and potentially COVID-19 disease. This body of evidence shows that phosphatidylinositol remodelling is a key factor for human health

Determination of the stability and control derivatives of the NASA F/A-18 HARV using flight data

This report documents the research conducted for the NASA-Ames Cooperative Agreement No. NCC 2-759 with West Virginia University. A complete set of the stability and control derivatives for varying angles of attack from 10 deg to 60 deg were estimated from flight data of the NASA F/A-18 HARV. The data were analyzed with the use of the pEst software which implements the output-error method of parameter estimation. Discussions of the aircraft equations of motion, parameter estimation process, design of flight test maneuvers, and formulation of the mathematical model are presented. The added effects of the thrust vectoring and single surface excitation systems are also addressed. The results of the longitudinal and lateral directional derivative estimates at varying angles of attack are presented and compared to results from previous analyses. The results indicate a significant improvement due to the independent control surface deflections induced by the single surface excitation system, and at the same time, a need for additional flight data especially at higher angles of attack

Low salinity waterflooding for Enhanced Oil Recovery - stochastic model calibration and uncertainty quantification

We focus on key aspects related to the quantification of the uncertainty associated with modeling of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) through Low Salinity (LS) water injection in a reservoir. Low salinity waterflooding is an emerging EOR technique in which the salinity of the injected water is controlled to improve oil recovery, as opposed to conventional waterflooding where brine is usually used. Several mechanisms have been proposed to underpin the processes leading to additional oil mobility, but none of them has been conclusively identified as the key driving cause. Literature results suggest that LS water causes an alteration of the wettability of the porous medium, leading to more favorable conditions for oil recovery. In this context, simulation models that represent the process using salinity-dependent relative permeabilities have been developed. Here, we consider a tertiary coreflood experiment performed at Eni laboratory facilities through LS water injection, following sea water flooding. Oil and water relative permeability curves are parameterized through the Corey model. Model parameters and their uncertainties are estimated within a stochastic inverse modeling approach, upon relying on a classical reservoir simulator to simulate the measured oil recovery. The likelihood function is maximized through a joint use of the Latin hypercube sampling and the Metropolis Hastings algorithm, while the process model is coupled with a universal Kriging technique. The posterior sample of model parameters is then employed to quantify uncertainty propagation to a sector model of a selected North-East African sandstone reservoir. This enables us to quantify the impact of parameter uncertainty on the expected oil production resulting from a field scale application of the technique under study. The reservoir simulation reveals the potential of the LS water injection technique to improve the recovery in the considered field

Aerodynamic Roughness Height of Gravel-covered Plains in the Puna of Argentina

Plains covered by gravel-dominated desert pavement in the Puna of Argentina have an aerodynamic roughness height (or length) z0 of ∼1 cm, likely representing a skimming flow regime above the closely spaced gravel particles. Aerodynamic roughness height locally may transition from that of skimming flow over the gravels to a z0 that includes the effects of obstacles considerably larger than those of the gravel particles alone. Among large (>60 cm tall) megaripples, z0 is elevated beyond that of the gravels alone to values of 2–4 cm. These results represent an analog for an improved understanding of the aerodynamics of gravel-dominated desert pavement and megaripples documented by multiple rovers on Mars.Fil: Zimbelman, James R.. National Air and Space Museum; Estados UnidosFil: Spagnuolo, Mauro Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; ArgentinaFil: de Silva, Shanaka. State University of Oregon; Estados Unido

Preliminary estimates of tritium permeation and retention in the first wall of DEMO due to ion bombardment

Tritium self-sufficiency presents a critical engineering challenge for DEMO, requiring efficient breeding and extraction systems, as well as minimizing tritium losses to the surrounding systems, such as plasma-facing components, vacuum vessel, cooling system, etc. Structural and plasma-facing components will act as a tritium sink, as tritium will be accumulated in the bulk of these components due to energetic particle bombardment and may permeate out of the vacuum system. The design of the plasma-facing components will consequently directly influence the plant lifetime, operational safety and cost of any future power plant. Therefore, modeling of tritium retention and permeation in these components is required for the engineering designs of the tritium breeding and safety systems. In this work, the diffusion-transport code TESSIM-X is benchmarked against the well-established TMAP7 code and a comparison with a simplified DEMO-relevant test case is performed. The use of either code for modeling of DEMO conditions is discussed. Following this, TESSIM-X is used to provide a preliminary assessment of tritium permeation and retention in the DEMO first wall, based on the current WCLL (Water Cooled Lithium Lead) and HCPB (Helium Cooled Pebble Bed) breeding blanket designs