Fuselage structure using advanced technology fiber reinforced composites

A fuselage structure is described in which the skin is comprised of layers of a matrix fiber reinforced composite, with the stringers reinforced with the same composite material. The high strength to weight ratio of the composite, particularly at elevated temperatures, and its high modulus of elasticity, makes it desirable for use in airplane structures

The Management of Research and Development (Selected papers from a conference in Wroclaw, Poland, September 1978)

This paper is one of two IIASA Collaborative Papers containing papers presented at the Third International Conference on the Management of Research, Development and Education held at Wroclaw, Poland in September 1978. The conference was, on this occasion, jointly organized by Dr. Karol Pelc, Director of the Forecasting Research Center of the Technical University of Wroclaw and by Professor Gennady Dobrov, Deputy Director, Institute of Cybernetics, Kiev and at that time a member of the staff of the Management and Technology Area of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. Formally, it was jointly sponsored by the Wroclaw Technical University and IIASA. It is always difficult to decide what to do about conference proceedings. The greatest value of such conferences is usually the meeting between minds -- the exchange of information and understanding between people from different cultures and academic backgrounds. This was particularly true at the Wroclaw conference where there was strong representation from ten countries, both East and West. It was a rare opportunity for scientists to identify potential collaborators and discover who was working in which field. Such opportunities are too few. Nevertheless, the Conference Scientific Committee felt that a number of the papers should be made available for reference in a more accessible form, and with their help, we have made a selection for issue as IIASA Collaborative Papers. A complete list of the 40 papers read at the conference are given as an Appendix to this collection -- copies of individual papers can be obtained by request from the Forecasting Research Center, Technical University of Wroclaw. The introductory paper to the conference was on "Main Problems in the Control of Scientific and Technological Creative Activities, Application of Innovations and Education of Scientific Staff" and was given by Professor Jan Kaczmarek, Scientific Secretary of the Polish Academy of Sciences and a member of the IIASA Council. We felt that this was of sufficient interest for a separate issue, and appears as IIASA CP-80-19. For the rest we have selected thirteen papers for issue in this volume, and have divided them into three groups. The first group of five papers is concerned with problems of strategic decision making in the field of science and technology. The first, by Petrasek, provides a new method of classifying the tasks in a forecasting problem which should help in improving the relevance of the results to real-life decisions. Baworowski emphasizes the importance of technology forecasting in developing a producers strategy, and the importance of matching the forecasting procedure to needs at all levels. Two papers, by Schulze and Pelc, are then concerned with the analysis of factors determining national strategy for science and development. Finally, we have a paper by Dierkes and Thienen which discusses the problems of getting a satisfactory debate over science policy issues, and considers the "Science Court" -- proposed originally by Kantrowitz -- as a possible solution. The next group of papers is concerned with structural changes in science and technology and their impact on the management of interdisciplinary research. The first of these is by Albrecht and Otto who discuss, on the basis of extensive historical studies, the dangers of generalizing over the science-technology-production cycle without making clear differentiation between different classes of technology, as well as other factors. Eto shows some of the problems arising from the development of new sciences -- both basic and mission oriented sciences -- and discusses the implications. Glowiak and Winnicki follow this theme in discussing the managerial action needed to stimulate new fields of technological expertise, such as environmental engineering. Finally, Dobrov, Randolph and Nurminski present some work undertaken at IIASA relating to technological change in agriculture, and in particular draw attention to the problems introduced by the rapidly decreasing output-input energy ratio. The third group of papers deals with broader questions of management of R&D and of technological change. Bobryshev and Chereshkin discuss, in particular, the development of a planned management information system for research and development in the USSR. Wasniowski considers four questions related to the management of long range programs, namely: What is a long range program? What are the problems of formulation and management? Why is technology assessment needed? Why is systems analysis needed? He discusses the use of computer conferencing and the use of gaming. Ball, Miller and Pearson then give a detailed study of the development of single cell protein, and pay particular attention to the problem of matching technology to market needs. Finally, Jermakowicz and Ruszkiewicz undertake a study of the machinery industry in Poland which enable them to identify some of the major organizational factors influencing the effectiveness of the Science-Technology-Production cycle in industrial enterprises. All the papers are presented here as given at the conference. In the interests of economy we have not attempted to edit them in any way. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking the members of the Scientific Committee of the conference for their help with regard to the conduct of the conference and the subsequent selection of papers for publication. It was another example of successful international collaboration

Design, fabrication, and delivery of a charge injection device as a stellar tracking device

Six 128 x 128 CID imagers fabricated on bulk silicon and with thin polysilicon upper-level electrodes were tested in a star tracking mode. Noise and spectral response were measured as a function of temperature over the range of +25 C to -40 C. Noise at 0 C and below was less than 40 rms carriers/pixel for all devices at an effective noise bandwidth of 150 Hz. Quantum yield for all devices averaged 40% from 0.4 to 1.0 microns with no measurable temperature dependence. Extrapolating from these performance parameters to those of a large (400 x 400) array and accounting for design and processing improvements, indicates that the larger array would show a further improvement in noise performance -- on the order of 25 carriers. A preliminary evaluation of the projected performance of the 400 x 400 array and a representative set of star sensor requirements indicates that the CID has excellent potential as a stellar tracking device

Tawney and the third way

From the 1920s to the 1950s R. H. Tawney was the most influential socialist thinker in Britain. He articulated an ethical socialism at odds with powerful statist and mechanistic traditions in British socialist thinking. Tawney's work is thus an important antecedent to third way thinking. Tawney's religiously-based critique of the morality of capitalism was combined with a concern for detailed institutional reform, challenging simple dichotomies between public and private ownership. He began a debate about democratizing the enterprise and corporate governance though his efforts fell on stony ground. Conversely, Tawney's moralism informed a whole-hearted condemnation of market forces in tension with both his concern with institutional reform and modern third way thought. Unfortunately, he refused to engage seriously with emergent welfare economics which for many social democrats promised a more nuanced understanding of the limits of market forces. Tawney's legacy is a complex one, whose various elements form a vital part of the intellectual background to current third way thinking

Measuring material plastic response to cyclic loading in modern rail steels from a minimal number of twin-disc tests

Advances in rail materials from conventional rail steels to those with higher yield points and the potential of additively manufactured laser clad coatings to improve the durability of railway track components presents a new challenge in characterisation. Many of these new and novel materials have either limited test samples available or are more resistant to strain and therefore present challenges in characterisation. The method reported here uses twin disc tests to simulate cyclic loading experienced by rail steel in service. A sample from a single test condition is analysed, measuring the shear yield stress and the accumulated shear strain at multiple depths below the contact surface, from which a Shear Yield Stress – Plastic Shear Strain (SYS-PSS) relationship is extracted. Knowledge of the stress history of a rail sample is not required to apply the method and minimal samples are required, providing a technique which can be used on rail steel samples removed from service

11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 regulates glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle

OBJECTIVE: Glucocorticoid excess is characterized by increased adiposity, skeletal myopathy, and insulin resistance, but the precise molecular mechanisms are unknown. Within skeletal muscle, 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1) converts cortisone (11-dehydrocorticosterone in rodents) to active cortisol (corticosterone in rodents). We aimed to determine the mechanisms underpinning glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle and indentify how 11beta-HSD1 inhibitors improve insulin sensitivity. \ud RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Rodent and human cell cultures, whole-tissue explants, and animal models were used to determine the impact of glucocorticoids and selective 11beta-HSD1 inhibition upon insulin signaling and action. \ud RESULTS: Dexamethasone decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, decreased IRS1 mRNA and protein expression, and increased inactivating pSer$^{307}$ insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1. 11beta-HSD1 activity and expression were observed in human and rodent myotubes and muscle explants. Activity was predominantly oxo-reductase, generating active glucocorticoid. A1 (selective 11beta-HSD1 inhibitor) abolished enzyme activity and blocked the increase in pSer$^{307}$ IRS1 and reduction in total IRS1 protein after treatment with 11DHC but not corticosterone. In C57Bl6/J mice, the selective 11beta-HSD1 inhibitor, A2, decreased fasting blood glucose levels and improved insulin sensitivity. In KK mice treated with A2, skeletal muscle pSer$^{307}$ IRS1 decreased and pThr$^{308}$ Akt/PKB increased. In addition, A2 decreased both lipogenic and lipolytic gene expression.\ud CONCLUSIONS: Prereceptor facilitation of glucocorticoid action via 11beta-HSD1 increases pSer$^{307}$ IRS1 and may be crucial in mediating insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. Selective 11beta-HSD1 inhibition decreases pSer$^{307}$ IRS1, increases pThr$^{308}$ Akt/PKB, and decreases lipogenic and lipolytic gene expression that may represent an important mechanism underpinning their insulin-sensitizing action

Ethnic differences in hypertension management, medication use and blood pressure control in UK primary care, 2006–2019: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: In the UK, previous work suggests ethnic inequalities in hypertension management. We studied ethnic differences in hypertension management and their contribution to blood pressure (BP) control. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study of antihypertensive-naïve individuals of European, South Asian and African/African Caribbean ethnicity with a new raised BP reading in UK primary care from 2006 to 2019, using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). We studied differences in: BP re-measurement after an initial hypertensive BP, antihypertensive initiation, BP monitoring, antihypertensive intensification, antihypertensive persistence/adherence and BP control one year after antihypertensive initiation. Models adjusted for socio-demographics, BP, comorbidity, healthcare usage and polypharmacy (plus antihypertensive class, BP monitoring, intensification, persistence and adherence for BP control models). FINDINGS: A total of 731,506 (93.5%), 30,379 (3.9%) and 20,256 (2.6%) people of European, South Asian and African/African Caribbean ethnicity were studied. Hypertension management indicators were similar or more favourable for South Asian than European groups (OR/HR [95% CI] in fully-adjusted models of BP re-measurement: 1.16 [1.09, 1.24]), antihypertensive initiation: 1.49 [1.37, 1.62], BP monitoring: 0.97 [0.94, 1.00] and antihypertensive intensification: 1.10 [1.04, 1.16]). For people of African/African Caribbean ethnicity, BP re-measurement rates were similar to those of European ethnicity (0.98 [0.91, 1.05]), and antihypertensive initiation rates greater (1.48 [1.32, 1.66]), but BP monitoring (0.91 [0.87, 0.95]) and intensification rates lower (0.93 [0.87, 1.00]). Persistence and adherence were lower in South Asian (0.48 [0.45, 0.51] and 0.51 [0.47, 0.56]) and African/African Caribbean (0.38 [0.35, 0.42] and 0.39 [0.36, 0.43]) than European groups. BP control was similar in South Asian and less likely in African/African Caribbean than European groups (0.98 [0.90, 1.06] and 0.81 [0.74, 0.89] in age, gender and BP adjusted models). The latter difference attenuated after adjustment for persistence (0.91 [0.82, 0.99]) or adherence (0.92 [0.83, 1.01]), and was absent for antihypertensive-adherent people (0.99 [0.88, 1.10]). INTERPRETATION: We demonstrate that antihypertensive initiation does not vary by ethnicity, but subsequent BP control was notably lower among people of African/African Caribbean ethnicity, potentially associated with being less likely to remain on regular treatment. A nationwide strategy to understand and address differences in ongoing management of people on antihypertensives is imperative. FUNDING: Diabetes UK

Friction between human skin and incontinence pads in the presence of barrier protection products

This novel experimental work aims to bring further knowledge of frictional performance of common barrier products used in the treatment of incontinence-associated dermatitis and determine how the skin-pad interface changes when a treatment is applied to the skin. Key data is reported and there is an in-depth analysis into friction profiles which reveals great differences between how different skin-pad tribosystems operate when exposed to commercially available barrier treatments. In a wet-pad state Barrier cream A (3M™ Cavilon™ Barrier cream) reduced friction and had much lower dynamic and static coefficients of friction than the other barrier treatments (Barrier cream B (Sorbaderm Barrier cream) and the Barrier spray C (Sorbaderm Barrier spray)). Barrier cream A provided stable friction coefficients in reciprocating sliding, whereas the other treatments, and untreated skin, did not display this unique characteristic. The barrier spray gave rise to high static friction coefficients and exhibited the most stick-slip. All three candidate barrier protection products were found to reduce directional differences in the static coefficient of friction: indicative of reduced shear loading. Knowledge of the desirable frictional properties would drive innovation in product development, and benefit companies, clinicians and users