Analyses of shuttle orbiter approach and landing conditions

A study of one shuttle orbiter approach and landing conditions are summarized. Causes of observed PIO like flight deficiencies are identified and potential cures are examined. Closed loop pilot/vehicle analyses are described and path/attitude stability boundaries defined. The latter novel technique proved of great value in delineating and illustrating the basic causes of this multiloop pilot control problem. The analytical results are shown to be consistent with flight test and fixed base simulation. Conclusions are drawn relating to possible improvements of the shuttle orbiter/digital flight control system

Flight Test Results from the NF-15B Intelligent Flight Control System (IFCS) Project with Adaptation to a Simulated Stabilator Failure

Adaptive flight control systems have the potential to be more resilient to extreme changes in airplane behavior. Extreme changes could be a result of a system failure or of damage to the airplane. A direct adaptive neural-network-based flight control system was developed for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration NF-15B Intelligent Flight Control System airplane and subjected to an inflight simulation of a failed (frozen) (unmovable) stabilator. Formation flight handling qualities evaluations were performed with and without neural network adaptation. The results of these flight tests are presented. Comparison with simulation predictions and analysis of the performance of the adaptation system are discussed. The performance of the adaptation system is assessed in terms of its ability to decouple the roll and pitch response and reestablish good onboard model tracking. Flight evaluation with the simulated stabilator failure and adaptation engaged showed that there was generally improvement in the pitch response; however, a tendency for roll pilot-induced oscillation was experienced. A detailed discussion of the cause of the mixed results is presented

Nontargeted biomonitoring of halogenated organic compounds in two ecotypes of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Southern California Bight.

Targeted environmental monitoring reveals contamination by known chemicals, but may exclude potentially pervasive but unknown compounds. Marine mammals are sentinels of persistent and bioaccumulative contaminants due to their longevity and high trophic position. Using nontargeted analysis, we constructed a mass spectral library of 327 persistent and bioaccumulative compounds identified in blubber from two ecotypes of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) sampled in the Southern California Bight. This library of halogenated organic compounds (HOCs) consisted of 180 anthropogenic contaminants, 41 natural products, 4 with mixed sources, 8 with unknown sources, and 94 with partial structural characterization and unknown sources. The abundance of compounds whose structures could not be fully elucidated highlights the prevalence of undiscovered HOCs accumulating in marine food webs. Eighty-six percent of the identified compounds are not currently monitored, including 133 known anthropogenic chemicals. Compounds related to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) were the most abundant. Natural products were, in some cases, detected at abundances similar to anthropogenic compounds. The profile of naturally occurring HOCs differed between ecotypes, suggesting more abundant offshore sources of these compounds. This nontargeted analytical framework provided a comprehensive list of HOCs that may be characteristic of the region, and its application within monitoring surveys may suggest new chemicals for evaluation

Randomized, open-label, phase 1/2a study to determine the maximum tolerated dose of intraventricular sustained release nimodipine for subarachnoid hemorrhage (NEWTON [Nimodipine Microparticles to Enhance Recovery While Reducing Toxicity After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage])

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE—: We conducted a randomized, open-label, phase 1/2a, dose-escalation study of intraventricular sustained-release nimodipine (EG-1962) to determine safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and clinical effects in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. METHODS—: Subjects with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage repaired by clipping or coiling were randomized to EG-1962 or enteral nimodipine. Subjects were World Federation of Neurological Surgeons grade 2 to 4 and had an external ventricular drain. Cohorts of 12 subjects received 100 to 1200 mg EG-1962 (9 per cohort) or enteral nimodipine (3 per cohort). The primary objective was to determine the maximum tolerated dose. RESULTS—: Fifty-four subjects in North America were randomized to EG-1962, and 18 subjects were randomized to enteral nimodipine. The maximum tolerated dose was 800 mg. One serious adverse event related to EG-1962 (400 mg) and 2 EG-1962 dose-limiting toxicities were without clinical sequelae. There was no EG-1962-related hypotension compared with 17% (3/18) with enteral nimodipine. Favorable outcome at 90 days on the extended Glasgow outcome scale occurred in 27/45 (60%, 95% confidence interval 46%–74%) EG-1962 subjects (5/9 with 100, 6/9 with 200, 7/9 with 400, 4/9 with 600, and 5/9 with 800 mg) and 5/18 (28%, 95% confidence interval 7%–48%, relative risk reduction of unfavorable outcome; 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.04–2.03; P=0.027) enteral nimodipine subjects. EG-1962 reduced delayed cerebral ischemia (14/45 [31%] EG-1962 versus 11/18 [61%] enteral nimodipine) and rescue therapy (11/45 [24%] versus 10/18 [56%]). CONCLUSIONS—: EG-1962 was safe and tolerable to 800 mg, and in this, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage population was associated with reduced delayed cerebral ischemia and rescue therapy. Overall, the rate of favorable clinical outcome was greater in the EG-1962-treated group. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION—: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01893190

A Framework for JAVA applications programs in the CERN PS control system

The user interface for a system controlling 5 inter-connected accelerators is composed of a large number of windows organized in a tree structure of application programs with a console manager at the top. All programs run in a single Java Virtual Machine (JVM) without interfering with each other. The windows show accelerator data and interaction widgets. A framework has been built to design these windows and make them interact and cooperate with a minimum of effort from the programmers. A project manager controls the life cycle of the programs, including use of templates and CVS [3]. Program development and execution can be done on both the Microsoft Windows and Linux platforms through files that are visible to both systems

Topical cyclodextrin reduces amyloid beta and inflammation improving retinal function in ageing mice

Retinal ageing results in chronic inflammation, extracellular deposition, including that of amyloid beta (Aβ) and declining visual function. In humans this can progress into age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is without cure. Therapeutic approaches have focused on systemic immunotherapies without clinical resolution. Here, we show using aged mice that 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, a sugar molecule given as eye drops over 3 months results in significant reductions in Aβ by 65% and inflammation by 75% in the aged mouse retina. It also elevates retinal pigment epithelium specific protein 65 (RPE65), a key molecule in the visual cycle, in aged retina. These changes are accompanied by a significant improvement in retinal function measured physiologically. 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin is as effective in reducing Aβ and inflammation in the complement factor H knockout (Cfh(-/-)) mouse that shows advanced ageing and has been proposed as an AMD model. β-cyclodextrin is economic, safe and may provide an efficient route to reducing the impact of retinal ageing

Synthesis of nanostructured vanadium phosphate catalysts using sonochemical route for partial oxidation of n-butane

In this study, sonochemical treatment is used to synthesize nanostructured vanadium pentoxide, V2O5 with different duration of time andmineralizers. Eight samples of V2O5 have been prepared using KN03 andKCl as mineralizers that undergo sonochemical treatment with different duration i.e., 30, 60, 90 and 120 min, respectively. These samples were denoted as KNO30, KNO60, KNO90, KNO120, KC130, KC160, KC190 and KC1120. Nanostructured V2O5 prepared via ultrasound irradiation for 30 min in KC1 (KC130) was chosen as starting material to synthesis vanadium phosphorus oxide catalyst (denoted VPOS30KC1). All the materials synthesized was characterized by using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area measurement (BET), chemical analysis, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR). Catalytic properties for n-butane oxidation of the catalyst, VPOS30KC1 was investigated by using a fixed-bed microreactor at 673 K (GHSV = 2400 h1). SEM micrographs show that the morphology of the V2O5 changed from platelet-like particles intonanorods after 90 min of sonochemical treatment. XRD patterns detected that the potassium ion from the mineralizers was incorporated into the V2O5 structure after prolonged sonochemical treatment duration. H j-TPR profiles shown that VPOS30KC1 gave higher amount of reactive oxygen species (0-V4+) removed which will expect to give higher activity. Catalytic evaluation showed that VPOS30KC1 gave higher conversion (19%) while retaining the selectivity towards maleic anhydride (48%) compared to the bulk VPO catalyst prepared in the same organic medium (XC4: 14%)

Effect of different mineralizers in the sonochemical synthesis of self-assembled nanorods vanadium oxide

The effects of different potassium salts (KNO(3) and KCl) as mineralizer on the synthesis of self-assembled nanorods vanadium pentoxide, V(2)O(5) via sonochemical treatment were studied at different duration i.e., 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. All the materials synthesized were further characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that the potassium ion from the mineralizers reacted with the V(2)O(5) after prolonged sonochemical treatment duration. The morphology of the V(2)O(5) changed from platelet-like structures into nanorods after 90 min of sonochemical treatment. TEM micrographs show the process of formation of the self-assembled V(2)O(5) nanorod bundles with increased sonochemical treatment duration

A valley-spin qubit in a carbon nanotube

Although electron spins in III-V semiconductor quantum dots have shown great promise as qubits, a major challenge is the unavoidable hyperfine decoherence in these materials. In group IV semiconductors, the dominant nuclear species are spinless, allowing for qubit coherence times that have been extended up to seconds in diamond and silicon. Carbon nanotubes are a particularly attractive host material, because the spin-orbit interaction with the valley degree of freedom allows for electrical manipulation of the qubit. In this work, we realise such a qubit in a nanotube double quantum dot. The qubit is encoded in two valley-spin states, with coherent manipulation via electrically driven spin resonance (EDSR) mediated by a bend in the nanotube. Readout is performed by measuring the current in Pauli blockade. Arbitrary qubit rotations are demonstrated, and the coherence time is measured via Hahn echo. Although the measured decoherence time is only 65 ns in our current device, this work offers the possibility of creating a qubit for which hyperfine interaction can be virtually eliminated