The Conservation of Human Resources in Energy Systems

The operation of an energy system often requires that its personnel engage in manual and technical activities that involve exposure to health and safety hazards. A typical electric utility is used as a model for studying the operation of safety and health programs for energy systems. Specific criteria regarding standards and management are presented and discussed. These criteria are general enough so that they may be applied in the management of future energy systems

Characteristics of GaInNAsSb VCSELs operating near 1.55µm

A detailed study of the high-power pulsed operation of C-band optically-pumped GaInNAsSb vertical cavity surface emitting lasers is reported. The devices employ a resonant periodic gain structure grown by molecular beam epitaxy on a GaAs substrate with a 31-pair GaAs/AlAs bottom distributed Bragg reflector and a 4-λ, GaAs-based resonant cavity containing 10 GaInNAsSb quantum wells distributed among the 7 antinodes of the electric field. A dual-pump-band SiO2/TiO2 dielectric top mirror allows efficient optical pumping via low reflectivities at 808nm and 1064nm while providing very high reflectivity at the 1.55μm target emission wavelength. The laser characteristics were evaluated using both a Q-switched Nd:YAG 1064nm pump and a 20W-peak 180ns-pulsed 850nm diode laser. The importance of the gain-cavity detuning was evident from time-dependent spectral measurements of laser material subjected to post-growth annealing at different temperatures between 725 and 775°C. The highest annealing temperature produces the largest blue shift of the gain peak relative to the cavity resonance, resulting in the best power transfer characteristics as well as reduced temperature sensitivity

Assessing the loading rate dependence of hydrogen environment-assisted cracking behavior in a wide-range of engineering alloys

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Automatic Thoughts and Cognitive Restructuring in Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder

The goal in (Heimberg, R. G. [1991]. A manual for conducting Cognitive Behavior Group Therapy for social phobia (2nd ed.), unpublished manuscript) cognitive behavioral group therapy (CBGT) for social anxiety disorder (social phobia) is to challenge irrational automatic thoughts and create exposures to provide disconfirming evidence for these irrational thoughts as well as habituation to fearful stimuli. Yet little is known about the types of thoughts reported by socially anxious individuals in therapy or which thoughts therapists select for cognitive restructuring in CBGT sessions. The present study analyzed the semantic content of automatic thoughts reported in CBGT and found that the most common thoughts related to poor social performance, negative labels by others, and the anticipation of negative outcomes in feared situations. Principle components analyses indicated the automatic thoughts reflected three underlying themes: Experiencing Anxiety, Negative Self-Evaluation, and Fear of Negative Evaluation. The paper also describes exploratory analyses of which thoughts became the focus of cognitive restructuring exercises and their relationship to treatment outcome. Implications for cognitive therapy are also discussed

Space Environments and Effects Concept: Transitioning Research to Operations and Applications

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is embarking on a course to expand human presence beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) while expanding its mission to explore the solar system. Destinations such as Near Earth Asteroids (NEA), Mars and its moons, and the outer planets are but a few of the mission targets. NASA has established numerous offices specializing in specific space environments disciplines that will serve to enable these missions. To complement these existing discipline offices, a concept focusing on the development of space environment and effects application is presented. This includes space climate, space weather, and natural and induced space environments. This space environment and effects application is composed of 4 topic areas; characterization and modeling, engineering effects, prediction and operation, and mitigation and avoidance. These topic areas are briefly described below. Characterization and modeling of space environments will primarily focus on utilization during Program mission concept, planning, and design phases. Engineering effects includes materials testing and flight experiments producing data to be used in mission planning and design phases. Prediction and operation pulls data from existing sources into decision-making tools and empirical data sets to be used during the operational phase of a mission. Mitigation and avoidance will develop techniques and strategies used in the design and operations phases of the mission. The goal of this space environment and effects application is to develop decision-making tools and engineering products to support the mission phases of mission concept through operations by focusing on transitioning research to operations. Products generated by this space environments and effects application are suitable for use in anomaly investigations. This paper will outline the four topic areas, describe the need, and discuss an organizational structure for this space environments and effects application

Short-term modulation of distal tubule fluid nitric oxide in vivo by loop NaCl reabsorption

Short-term modulation of distal tubule fluid nitric oxide in vivo by loop NaCl reabsorption.BackgroundIntrarenal nitric oxide (NO) production and signaling effects are influenced by NaCl loading. To gain further insight into NO mechanisms we determined whether rat distal tubular fluid (DTF) [NO] and collected NO may acutely change when NaCl loop delivery is altered.MethodsAn NO microelectrode was used to measure real-time DTF [NO] and DT-collected NO. With proximal flow blocked (open system), 150mmol/L NaCl, with and without 10−4 mol/L furosemide was perfused with measurement of loop [Cl] reabsorption. Using a closed system, DTF [NO] was also determined using several different loop perfusates.ResultsIn the open system, perfusion with 40 nL/min of 150mmol/L NaCl to which 10−4 mol/L furosemide was added, DT [NO] and DT-collected NO was approximately twice that measured with perfusion of 150mmol/L NaCl alone, while loop Cl reabsorption decreased by half. In the closed system, perfusion at 10 nL/min of 150mmol/L NaCl + furosemide 10−4 mol/L also induced a significant rise in DTF [NO] and collected NO. Perfusion of 10−3 mol/L S-methyl-L-thiocitrulline (SMTC) with 150mmol/L NaCl, induces a significant drop in DT [NO], but without a significant increase in collected NO. Furthermore, with addition of 10−3 mol/L SMTC to the 150mmol/L NaCl + 10−4 furosemide perfusate, the rise in DT [NO] was prevented. Analysis of covariance showed that flow changes within, or between all groups, had no significant additional effect.ConclusionIn both open and closed loop perfusion systems, 10−4 mol/L furosemide inhibition of NaCl transport stimulates net loop NO emission independent of flow; 10−3 mol/L SMTC + 150mmol/L NaCl reduces DT [NO], but not DT-collected NO. Short-term net NO emission from the entire loop, as collected in distal tubule fluid, increases with inhibition of loop NaCl transport

Effect of atmospheric environments on the environment-assisted cracking behavior of 5xxx-Series aluminum alloys

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Factors Influencing Muscular Strength and Endurance in Disadvantaged Children From Low-Income Families

International Journal of Exercise Science 9(3): 306-317, 2016. Examining the correlates of muscular strength and endurance in children from low-income families will provide evidence for interventions to improve these parameters. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors and trends of muscular strength and endurance in at-risk school-aged children. The sample included 1,232 children (Mean age = 8.8 ± 1.6 years; 625 girls, 607 boys; 60% Hispanic) recruited from three U.S. low-income schools. Children performed health-related fitness testing and wore pedometers for one school week. A stratified random subsample (n = 533) also wore accelerometers to record sedentary behaviors, MVPA, and vigorous physical activity. Generalized linear mixed models were employed to calculate odds ratios (OR) for achieving FITNESSGRAM’s push-up and curl-up standards (met standard = HFZ) from various predictors and to determine odds of achievement across grade levels. A student who achieved the HFZ for VO2 Peak had an OR = 1.66 (p \u3c 0.001) for achieving the HFZ for pushups and an OR = 1.99 (p \u3c 0.01) for achieving the HFZ for curl-ups. Additionally, students whose vigorous physical activity was 1% higher had an OR = 3.25 (p \u3c 0.05) for achieving the HFZ for curl-ups. For cohorts of students separated by one grade level, the OR = 0.48 (p \u3c 0.01) for achieving the HFZ for pushups and OR = 0.71 (p \u3c 0.01) for achieving the HFZ for curl-ups. The results suggest that VO2 Peak, vigorous physical activity, and grade level are significant predictors of muscular strength and endurance in at-risk children

A NASA Applied Spaceflight Environments Office Concept

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is launching a bold and ambitious new space initiative. A significant part of this new initiative includes exploration of new worlds, the development of more innovative technologies, and expansion our presence in the solar system. A common theme to this initiative is the exploration of space beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO). As currently organized, NASA does not have an Agency-level office that provides coordination of space environment research and development. This has contributed to the formation of a gap between spaceflight environments knowledge and the application of this knowledge for multi-program use and for use outside NASA. This paper outlines a concept to establish a NASA-level Applied Spaceflight Environments (ASE) office that will provide coordination and funding for sustained multi-program support in three technical areas that have demonstrated these needs through customer requests. These technical areas are natural environments characterization and modeling, materials and systems analysis and test, and operational space environments modeling. Additionally the ASE office will serve as an entry point of contact for external users who wish to take advantage of data and assets associated with space environments, including space weather. This paper will establish the need for the ASE, discuss a concept for organizational structure and outline the scope in the three technical areas

Effect of a 12-Week Summer Break on School Day Physical Activity and Health-Related Fitness in Low-Income Children from CSPAP Schools

Background. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a 12-week summer break on school day physical activity and health-related fitness (HRF) in children from schools receiving a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP). Methods. Participants were school-aged children (; 624 girls and 608 boys; years) recruited from three low-income schools receiving a CSPAP. Physical activity and HRF levels were collected during the end of spring semester 2015 and again during the beginning of fall semester 2015. Physical activity was assessed using the Yamax DigiWalker CW600 pedometer. HRF measures consisted of body mass index (BMI) and the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER). Results. Results from a doubly MANCOVA analysis indicated that pedometer step counts decreased from 4,929 steps in the spring to 4,445 steps in the fall (mean difference = 484 steps; ; Cohen’s d = 0.30) and PACER laps decreased from 31.2 laps in the spring to 25.8 laps in the fall (mean difference = 5.4 laps; ; Cohen’s d = 0.33). Conclusions. Children from schools receiving a CSPAP intervention had lower levels of school day physical activity and cardiorespiratory endurance following a 12-week summer break