Description of the 3 MW SWT-3 wind turbine at San Gorgonio Pass, California

The SWT-3 wind turbine, a microprocessor controlled three bladed variable speed upwind machine with a 3MW rating that is presently operational and undergoing system testing, is discussed. The tower, a rigid triangular truss configuration, is rotated about its vertical axis to position the wind turbine into the prevailing wind. The blades rotate at variable speed in order to maintain an optimum 6 to 1 tip speed ratio between cut in and fated wind velocity, thereby maximizing power extraction from the wind. Rotor variable speed is implemented by the use of a hydrostatic transmission consisting of fourteen fixed displacement pumps operating in conjunction with eighteen variable displacement motors. Full blade pitch with on-off hydraulic actuation is used to maintain 3MW of output power

Risk Factors and Outcomes for Bloodstream Infections Among Patients with Skin Infections

Acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) are common infections within the local community, and they result in higher morbidity and health care costs. While risk factors for skin and soft tissue infections have been previously evaluated, risk factors associated with secondary bloodstream infections (BSI) has not been investigated, especially in an intercity patient population with limited health care resources. In this case control investigation, 392 patients consisting of 196 cases (ABSSSI + BSI) and 196 controls (ABSSSI) were investigated to determine risk for BSI. Both sociodemographic and underlying conditions were evaluated. According to bivariate analysis of cases and controls, individuals with ABSSSI + BSI were significantly older (p \u3c 0.001), more often male (p = 0.008), and had a higher percentage of abnormal symptoms, such as elevated temperature, white blood cell count, and acute renal failure on hospital admission (p \u3c 0.001). Individuals with ABSSSI + BSI also had a higher percentage of chronic renal failure (p = 0.002), diabetes (p = 0.005), congestive heart failure (p = 0.012), intravenous drug use (p =0.012), and a history of prior hospitalization (p \u3c 0.001). Several of these factors remained statistically significant by logistic regression analysis, such as male gender aOR of 1.85, 95% CI 1.11-3.66; acute renal failure aOR 2.08, 95% CI 1.18-3.67; intravenous drug use aOR 4.38, 2.22-8.62; and prior hospitalization aOR 2.41, 95% CI 1.24-4.93. This study contributes to positive social change by identifying patient characteristics that are associated with ABSSSI-related BSI, thus providing health care providers the ability to improve patient outcomes in this underserved patient population

Competing contact processes in the Watts-Strogatz network

We investigate two competing contact processes on a set of Watts--Strogatz networks with the clustering coefficient tuned by rewiring. The base for network construction is one-dimensional chain of $N$ sites, where each site $i$ is directly linked to nodes labelled as $i\pm 1$ and $i\pm 2$. So initially, each node has the same degree $k_i=4$. The periodic boundary conditions are assumed as well. For each node $i$ the links to sites $i+1$ and $i+2$ are rewired to two randomly selected nodes so far not-connected to node $i$. An increase of the rewiring probability $q$ influences the nodes degree distribution and the network clusterization coefficient $\mathcal{C}$. For given values of rewiring probability $q$ the set $\mathcal{N}(q)=\{\mathcal{N}_1, \mathcal{N}_2, \cdots, \mathcal{N}_M \}$ of $M$ networks is generated. The network's nodes are decorated with spin-like variables $s_i\in\{S,D\}$. During simulation each $S$ node having a $D$-site in its neighbourhood converts this neighbour from $D$ to $S$ state. Conversely, a node in $D$ state having at least one neighbour also in state $D$-state converts all nearest-neighbours of this pair into $D$-state. The latter is realized with probability $p$. We plot the dependence of the nodes $S$ final density $n_S^T$ on initial nodes $S$ fraction $n_S^0$. Then, we construct the surface of the unstable fixed points in $(\mathcal{C}, p, n_S^0)$ space. The system evolves more often toward $n_S^T=1$ for $(\mathcal{C}, p, n_S^0)$ points situated above this surface while starting simulation with $(\mathcal{C}, p, n_S^0)$ parameters situated below this surface leads system to $n_S^T=0$. The points on this surface correspond to such value of initial fraction $n_S^*$ of $S$ nodes (for fixed values $\mathcal{C}$ and $p$) for which their final density is $n_S^T=\frac{1}{2}$.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Frequency-Domain Coherent Control of Femtosecond Two-Photon Absorption: Intermediate-Field vs. Weak-Field Regime

Coherent control of femtosecond two-photon absorption in the intermediate-field regime is analyzed in detail in the powerful frequency domain using an extended 4th-order perturbative description. The corresponding absorption is coherently induced by the weak-field non-resonant two-photon transitions as well as by four-photon transitions involving three absorbed photons and one emitted photons. The interferences between these two groups of transitions lead to a difference between the intermediate-field and weak-field absorption dynamics. The corresponding interference nature (constructive or destructive) strongly depends on the detuning direction of the pulse spectrum from half the two-photon transition frequency. The model system of the study is atomic sodium, for which both experimental and theoretical results are obtained. The detailed understanding obtained here serves as a basis for coherent control with rationally-shaped femtosecond pulses in a regime of sizable absorption yields.Comment: 25 pages, 5 figure

Manipulative techniques in political election campaign advertising: experience of Ukraine (Маніпулятивні прийоми у політичній передвиборчій рекламі: досвід України)

The article embraces the scope of the techniques used in manipulation of public opinion by candidates in the election process of Ukraine during the period of 2004-2012. The main focus is on the political election campaign advertising, revealing its meaning as communicative activity and as a process that mostly always is accompanied by the use of manipulative techniques. Based on the author's analysis of election campaigns and works of Ukrainian scholars, there were also determined manipulative methods and techniques that were most actively used during the last election cycles (У статті розкрито особливості використання прийомів маніпуляції суспільною свідомістю суб’єктами виборчих процесів в Україні у 2004-2012 рр. Основна увагу зосереджено на політичній передвиборчій рекламі; розкривається її зміст як комунікативної діяльності та процесу, який фактично завжди супроводжується використанням маніпулятивних технологій. На основі авторського аналізу виборчих кампаній та праць українських вчених, визначено маніпулятивні методики та прийоми, які найактивніше використовувалися під час останніх виборчих циклів

The endocannabinoid/cannabinoid receptor 2 system protects against cisplatin-induced hearing loss

Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of cannabinoid 2 receptor (CB2R) in the rat cochlea which was induced by cisplatin. In an organ of Corti-derived cell culture model, it was also shown that an agonist of the CB2R protected these cells against cisplatin-induced apoptosis. In the current study, we determined the distribution of CB2R in the mouse and rat cochleae and examined whether these receptors provide protection against cisplatin-induced hearing loss. In a knock-in mouse model expressing the CB2R tagged with green fluorescent protein, we show distribution of CB2R in the organ of Corti, stria vascularis, spiral ligament and spiral ganglion cells. A similar distribution of CB2R was observed in the rat cochlea using a polyclonal antibody against CB2R. Trans-tympanic administration of (2-methyl-1-propyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-1-naphthalenylmethanone (JWH015), a selective agonist of the CB2R, protected against cisplatin-induced hearing loss which was reversed by blockade of this receptor with 6-iodo-2-methyl-1-[2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl]-1H-indol-3-yl](4-methoxyphenyl)methanone (AM630), an antagonist of CB2R. JWH015 also reduced the loss of outer hair cells (OHCs) in the organ of Corti, loss of inner hair cell (IHC) ribbon synapses and loss of Na+/K+-ATPase immunoreactivity in the stria vascularis. Administration of AM630 alone produced significant hearing loss (measured by auditory brainstem responses) which was not associated with loss of OHCs, but led to reductions in the levels of IHC ribbon synapses and strial Na+/K+-ATPase immunoreactivity. Furthermore, knock-down of CB2R by trans-tympanic administration of siRNA sensitized the cochlea to cisplatin-induced hearing loss at the low and middle frequencies. Hearing loss induced by cisplatin and AM630 in the rat was associated with increased expression of genes for oxidative stress and inflammatory proteins in the rat cochlea. In vitro studies indicate that JWH015 did not alter cisplatin-induced killing of cancer cells suggesting this agent could be safely used during cisplatin chemotherapy. These data unmask a protective role of the cochlear endocannabinoid/CB2R system which appears tonically active under normal conditions to preserve normal hearing. However, an exogenous agonist is needed to boost the activity of endocannabinoid/CB2R system for protection against a more traumatic cochlear insult, as observed with cisplatin administration.</p