460 research outputs found
Theory of plasma contactors in ground-based experiments and low Earth orbit
Previous theoretical work on plasma contactors as current collectors has fallen into two categories: collisionless double layer theory (describing space charge limited contactor clouds) and collisional quasineutral theory. Ground based experiments at low current are well explained by double layer theory, but this theory does not scale well to power generation by electrodynamic tethers in space, since very high anode potentials are needed to draw a substantial ambient electron current across the magnetic field in the absence of collisions (or effective collisions due to turbulence). Isotropic quasineutral models of contactor clouds, extending over a region where the effective collision frequency upsilon sub e exceeds the electron cyclotron frequency omega sub ce, have low anode potentials, but would collect very little ambient electron current, much less than the emitted ion current. A new model is presented, for an anisotropic contactor cloud oriented along the magnetic field, with upsilon sub e less than omega sub ce. The electron motion along the magnetic field is nearly collisionless, forming double layers in that direction, while across the magnetic field the electrons diffuse collisionally and the potential profile is determined by quasineutrality. Using a simplified expression for upsilon sub e due to ion acoustic turbulence, an analytic solution has been found for this model, which should be applicable to current collection in space. The anode potential is low and the collected ambient electron current can be several times the emitted ion current
A micromechanical model for the nonlinearity of microcracks in random distributions and their effect on higher harmonic Rayleigh wave generation
This research investigates the modeling of randomly distributed surface-breaking microcracks and their effects on higher harmonic generation in Rayleigh surface waves. The modeling is based on micromechanical considerations of rough surface contact. The nonlinear behavior of a single microcrack is described by a hyperelastic effective stress-strain relationship. Finite element simulations of nonlinear wave propagation in a solid with distributed microcracks are performed. The evolution of fundamental and second harmonic amplitudes along the propagation distance is studied and the acoustic nonlinearity parameter is calculated. The results show that the nonlinearity parameter increases with crack density and root mean square roughness of the crack faces. While, for a dilute concentration of microcracks, the increase in acoustic nonlinearity is proportional to the crack density, this is not valid for higher crack densities, as the microcracks start to interact. Finally, it is shown that odd higher harmonic generation in Rayleigh surface waves due to sliding crack faces introduces a friction nonlinearity.M.S
An examination of plasma contactor performance through a comparison of theory, numerical results, and data
Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1989.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 169-175).by Marilyn Rose Oberhardt.M.S
Impairment of fibrinolysis by streptokinase, urokinase and recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator in the presence of radiographic contrast agents
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether an adverse interaction exists between radiographic contrast agents and thrombolytic drugs. BACKGROUND: Coronary thrombosis may occur in the setting of unstable angina and after coronary angioplasty. However, the use of thrombolytic drugs in the setting of unstable angina has not been beneficial and, in one large trial of angioplasty in patients with unstable angina, was associated with an increased incidence of ischemic complications and abrupt closure. The reasons for these results are not clear. Coronary arteriography was performed in many of these trials, and it is known that fibrin structure and assembly are altered by radiographic contrast agents. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from patients before (n = 25) and after (n = 20) angiography using iohexol. Blood samples obtained before angiography were tested for response to streptokinase (10 and 100 IU/ml), urokinase (100, 200 and 500 IU/ml) and recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) (100 and 1,000 IU/ml) and the results measured. Iohexol, diatrizoate or ioxaglate (4% by volume) was added to separate aliquots of the baseline sample, and the test was repeated. Blood samples obtained after angiography were tested in a similar manner. RESULTS: The onset of lysis at baseline by rt-PA at 1,000 IU/ml occurred at 72 +/- 8.2 s (mean +/- SD) and was markedly delayed in the presence of diatrizoate (527 +/- 181.7 s, p < 0.001) or iohexol (460 +/- 197.0 s, p < 0.001) but not ioxaglate. At 100 IU/ml, there was no lysis detected with rt-PA after the addition of any contrast agent. The addition of a contrast agent caused similar delays in the onset of lysis by urokinase and streptokinase; similar to rt-PA, the effect was smaller at higher concentrations of drug. In vivo blood samples obtained from the patient after angiography showed delays in the onset of lysis by rt-PA and urokinase but not streptokinase. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that radiographic contrast agents impede fibrinolysis. This previously undescribed interaction was demonstrated using an in vitro test system, but these findings may have clinical relevance when thrombolytic drugs are used at the time of angiography
In-vitro Major Arterial Cardiovascular Simulator to generate Benchmark Data Sets for in-silico Model Validation
A deeper understanding of the influence of common cardiovascular diseases
like stenosis, aneurysm or atherosclerosis on the circulatory mechanism is
required, to establish new methods for early diagnosis. Different types of
simulators were developed in the past to simulate healthy and pathological
conditions of blood flow, often based on computational models, which allow to
generate large data sets. However, since computational models often lack some
aspects of real world data, hardware simulators are used to close this gap and
generate data for model validation. The aim of this study is the development
and validation of a hardware simulator to generate benchmark data sets of
healthy and pathological conditions. The in-vitro hardware simulator in this
study includes the major 33 arteries and is driven by a ventricular assist
device generating a parametrised input condition at the heart node. Physiologic
flow conditions including heart rate, systolic/diastolic pressure, peripheral
resistance and compliance are adjustable in a wide range. The pressure and flow
waves at 17+1 different locations are measured by inverted fluid resistant
pressure transducers and one ultrasound flow transducer supporting a detailed
analysis of the measurement data. The pressure and flow waves show
physiological conditions. Furthermore, the influence of stenoses degree and
location on blood pressure and flow was investigated. The results indicate
decreasing translesional pressure and flow with increasing degree of stenosis,
as expected. The benchmark data set is made available to the research
community, with the purpose to validate and compare in-silico models of
different type.Comment: Data available at Zenodo with doi 10.5281/zenodo.641527
Funktionssicherheit integrierter Laufhöfe gemÀà EG-Ăko-VO in der Milchviehhaltung
Beim Bau von AuĂenklimastĂ€llen steht das Tierwohl im Vordergrund. Nicht ĂŒberdachte Laufhöfe gemÀà EG-Ăko-VO sind zwischenzeitlich fester Bestandteil zukunftsfĂ€higer
Stallanlagen. Diese geben den Tieren die Möglichkeit, sich dem direkten AuĂenklimareiz auszusetzen. Bei einhĂ€usigen Stallanlagen werden Laufhöfe auĂerhalb, bei mehrhĂ€usigen zwischen den Teilbaukörpern angeordnet. Diese integrierten Laufhöfe weisen Vorteile (u. a. verringerter Investitionsbedarf) auf. Je nach Geometrie und Anordnung der Teilbaukörper kann es aber zum vermehrten Eintrag von Schnee in den Laufhof und unerwĂŒnschtem Schlagregen in angrenzende Funktionsbereiche kommen. Bei den untersuchten Varianten fĂŒr mehrhĂ€usige Stallmodelle zeigen flache Dachneigungen mit groĂen VordĂ€chern die geringsten NiederschlagseintrĂ€ge
Reconciliation of Genome-Scale Metabolic Reconstructions for Comparative Systems Analysis
In the past decade, over 50 genome-scale metabolic reconstructions have been
built for a variety of single- and multi- cellular organisms. These
reconstructions have enabled a host of computational methods to be leveraged for
systems-analysis of metabolism, leading to greater understanding of observed
phenotypes. These methods have been sparsely applied to comparisons between
multiple organisms, however, due mainly to the existence of differences between
reconstructions that are inherited from the respective reconstruction processes
of the organisms to be compared. To circumvent this obstacle, we developed a
novel process, termed metabolic network reconciliation, whereby non-biological
differences are removed from genome-scale reconstructions while keeping the
reconstructions as true as possible to the underlying biological data on which
they are based. This process was applied to two organisms of great importance to
disease and biotechnological applications, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa and Pseudomonas putida, respectively.
The result is a pair of revised genome-scale reconstructions for these organisms
that can be analyzed at a systems level with confidence that differences are
indicative of true biological differences (to the degree that is currently
known), rather than artifacts of the reconstruction process. The reconstructions
were re-validated with various experimental data after reconciliation. With the
reconciled and validated reconstructions, we performed a genome-wide comparison
of metabolic flexibility between P. aeruginosa and P.
putida that generated significant new insight into the underlying
biology of these important organisms. Through this work, we provide a novel
methodology for reconciling models, present new genome-scale reconstructions of
P. aeruginosa and P. putida that can be
directly compared at a network level, and perform a network-wide comparison of
the two species. These reconstructions provide fresh insights into the metabolic
similarities and differences between these important
Pseudomonads, and pave the way towards full comparative
analysis of genome-scale metabolic reconstructions of multiple species
Norden, reframed
This paper calls for Norden to be understood as a metaframe. Related formulations like âNordic artâ or âNordic welfareâ function as mesoframes. These trigger multiple framing devices. A cache of related framing devices constitutes a framing archive. Framing devices work best when operating unobtrusively such that inclusions, exclusions and inconsistencies are condoned or naturalised. Their artifice, however, becomes apparent whenever a frame is questioned. Questioning or criticising a frame gives rise to a framing dispute. The theoretical justification for these typologies is provided at the outset. This schema is then applied to a select range of empirical examples drawn largely from the disciplinary frames (Ernst 1996) of art history and museum studies. Despite this specificity it is envisaged that the general principles set out below can and will be used to address a variety of devices, disputes and archives in Norden and beyond
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