Identification of a Novel Self-Sufficient Styrene Monooxygenase from Rhodococcus opacus 1CP.

Sequence analysis of a 9-kb genomic fragment of the actinobacterium Rhodococcus opacus 1CP led to identification of an open reading frame encoding a novel fusion protein, StyA2B, with a putative function in styrene metabolism via styrene oxide and phenylacetic acid. Gene cluster analysis indicated that the highly related fusion proteins of Nocardia farcinica IFM10152 and Arthrobacter aurescens TC1 are involved in a similar physiological process. Whereas 413 amino acids of the N terminus of StyA2B are highly similar to those of the oxygenases of two-component styrene monooxygenases (SMOs) from pseudomonads, the residual 160 amino acids of the C terminus show significant homology to the flavin reductases of these systems. Cloning and functional expression of His10-StyA2B revealed for the first time that the fusion protein does in fact catalyze two separate reactions. Strictly NADH-dependent reduction of flavins and highly enantioselective oxygenation of styrene to (S)-styrene oxide were shown. Inhibition studies and photometric analysis of recombinant StyA2B indicated the absence of tightly bound heme and flavin cofactors in this self-sufficient monooxygenase. StyA2B oxygenates a spectrum of aromatic compounds similar to those of two-component SMOs. However, the specific activities of the flavin-reducing and styrene-oxidizing functions of StyA2B are one to two orders of magnitude lower than those of StyA/StyB from Pseudomonas sp. strain VLB120

Identification and verification of frequency-domain models for XV-15 tilt-rotor aircraft dynamics

Frequency-domain methods are used to extract the open-loop dynamics of the XV-15 tilt-rotor aircraft from flight test data for the cruise condition (V = 170 knots). The frequency responses are numerically fitted with transfer-function forms to identify equivalent model characteristics. The associated handling quality parameters meet or exceed Level 2, Category A, requirements for fixed-wing military aircraft. Step response matching is used to verify the time-domain fidelity of the transfer-function models for the cruise and hover flight conditions. The transient responses of the model and aircraft are in close agreement in all cases, except for the normal acceleration response to elevator deflection in cruise. This discrepancy is probably due to the unmodeled rotor rpm dynamics. The utility of the frequency-domain approach for dynamics identification and analysis is clearly demonstrated

Multi-objective evolutionary–fuzzy augmented flight control for an F16 aircraft

In this article, the multi-objective design of a fuzzy logic augmented flight controller for a high performance fighter jet (the Lockheed-Martin F16) is described. A fuzzy logic controller is designed and its membership functions tuned by genetic algorithms in order to design a roll, pitch, and yaw flight controller with enhanced manoeuverability which still retains safety critical operation when combined with a standard inner-loop stabilizing controller. The controller is assessed in terms of pilot effort and thus reduction of pilot fatigue. The controller is incorporated into a six degree of freedom motion base real-time flight simulator, and flight tested by a qualified pilot instructor

Flight dynamics analysis and simulation of heavy lift airships. Volume 1: Executive summary

A generic, yet comprehensive mathematical model and computer simulation of the HLA flight dynamics over its entire flight envelope was developed. Implicit in this simulation development are the data reviews and analyses which support the equations of motion and the calculation of forces and moments acting on the vehicle. The simulation, HYBRDS, is addressed to the broad requirements and is intended for use as a synthesis and analysis tool for the evaluation of competing HLA design concepts

Flight dynamics analysis and simulation of heavy lift airships. Volume 5: Programmer's manual

The Programmer's Manual contains explanations of the logic embodied in the various program modules, a dictionary of program variables, a subroutine listing, subroutine/common block/cross reference listing, and a calling/called subroutine cross reference listing

Flight dynamics analysis and simulation of heavy lift airships, volume 4. User's guide: Appendices

This table contains all of the input variables to the three programs. The variables are arranged according to the name list groups in which they appear in the data files. The program name, subroutine name, definition and, where appropriate, a default input value and any restrictions are listed with each variable. The default input values are user supplied, not generated by the computer. These values remove a specific effect from the calculations, as explained in the table. The phrase "not used' indicates that a variable is not used in the calculations and are for identification purposes only. The engineering symbol, where it exists, is listed to assist the user in correlating these inputs with the discussion in the Technical Manual

Development of 3D Compression Molded Composite Primary Structure

The work accomplished by the Black Gold team improved upon the carbon fiber compression molding research and information available on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus. The team used the rear suspension rocker arm off a Ventana Alpino mountain bike as a design goal for this project. This research and body of work includes the methods used to design a compression molded part for complex part loading and shape. This extends to the process of choosing an appropriate layup process, in addition to benefits and drawbacks of the use of chopped fibers in compression molding. The research includes the process and information required to build aluminum molds for compression molded parts of complex shape; manufacturing techniques, and suggestions for the use of compression molding carbon fiber. Finally, data is presented which compares the final compression molding results under ultimate and relative stiffness testing to a comparable part made from aluminum. Ultimately, the team found that compression molding proved to be a potential manufacturing alternative. The rocker arms produced by the team were able to withstand a load of up to 800lbs; meeting the teams initial design criteria before experiencing localized fractures. With future iteration, and more focus on design for loading, the process could yield parts which could carry much higher loads. In addition, the use of chopped fiber around the bearings regions was a success, ultimately showing that a combination of chopped and cloth fiber was a useful load carrying combination. Further research in these processes would definitively improve upon the results obtained by the team, and as information regarding compression molding increases the team expects its use to become more popular

Human and rodent humoral immune responses to Andes virus structural proteins

AbstractIn the present work we identified B-cell epitopes recognized by sera of humans and rodents naturally infected with Andes virus, a hantavirus present in Chile and Argentina. Analysis of patient and rodent sera with overlapping peptides revealed 21 human and rodent epitopes on the three structural proteins. Whereas in the nucleoprotein the region comprising aa 248–260 was shown to be the key determinant of human sera, the major antigenic site of rodent antibody reactivity is located at aa 326–338. In G1, the main epitope recognized by human sera was mapped to aa 14–26, while rodent antibodies bound predominantly to aa 599–611. In contrast, humans and mice had strong responses to three regions in G2 (aa 691–703, aa 918–930, aa 955–967), of which the last two are associated with neutralization of Hantaan virus. This insight affords important information for the development of immunotherapies for the acute phase of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome