An example of active learning in Aerospace Engineering

This paper is a showcase for an on-going active learning capstone design project in the BSe. programme at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology. In multi-disciplinary teams supervised by tutors from different backgrounds students work towards an Aerospace (related) design. In the exercise students learn about applying knowledge, working in teams, sustainable development, project management, reporting, presenting and design in a semi-professional environment

An example of active learning in Aerospace Engineering

This paper is a showcase for an on-going active learning capstone design project in the BSe. programme at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology. In multi-disciplinary teams supervised by tutors from different backgrounds students work towards an Aerospace (related) design. In the exercise students learn about applying knowledge, working in teams, sustainable development, project management, reporting, presenting and design in a semi-professional environment

BIO-OFFSHORE: Grootschalige teelt van zeewieren in combinatie met offshore windparken in de Noordzee

This study addresses the technological feasibility of seaweed cultivation in the North Sea in combination with offshore wind parks and harvesting and conversion of seaweed biomass to renewable energy carriers and chemicals. The study also identifies stakeholders and participants for technology development and the ecological and societal conditions to fit in large-scale seaweed cultivation in the marine environment, existing marine infrastructure and functions, and (inter)national regulations and policies for the North Sea. Three seaweed species that are native in the North Sea have been selected for potential cultivation: Ulva sp. (belonging to the green macroalgae), Laminaria sp. (a brown macroalga) and Palmaria sp. (a red macroalga). Current commercial seaweed cultivation systems usually consist of (partly) anchored line structures to which the seaweeds are attached and are generally located on coastal locations. International research shows that cultivation systems in the open sea may become easily damaged by wind and wave action. An experimental ring shaped system has thus far shown the best stability for the conditions in the North Sea. However the production costs are high. Considerable system development is therefore required to enable large-scale, economically attractive cultivation of seaweeds combined with offshore wind parks. The optimal system design is unknown. This study proposes a layered system for seaweed cultivation employing the typical light absorption characteristics of green, brown and red macroalgae respectively, to enable optimal use of the available sunlight and enhance areal productivity. Without addition of nutrients the productivity in the North Sea is estimated at approx. 20 tons dry matter/ha.year. Through layered cultivation and/or addition of nutrients this can potentially be increased to ca. 50 tons dry weight /ha.year. Development of precision nutrient dosage technology is required to prevent eutrophication. Potential negative environmental impacts include: sedimentation of seaweed fragments and other organics with a negative effect on the oxygen budget in the water column, and possible negative impacts on migration of sea mammals including dolphins, porpoises and whales. Seaweed cultivation can also have positive impacts including the uptake of nutrients by the macroalgae (reducing eutrophication) and an enhancement of marine biodiversity, because the seaweeds and the cultivation systems offer substrate for attachment, shelter and feed for molluscs and fish. Indeed, the system could be managed as a nursery for young fish in order to restore fish populations in the North Sea. Integration of seaweed cultivation with other types of aquaculture e.g. cultivation of mussels or fish is a realistic option. The Dutch government target for offshore wind in 2020 is 6.000 MW installed turbine capacity. This will involve a surface area of approx. 1000 km2. The support constructions for the wind turbines can serve as a structural basis for seaweed cultivation systems. Designs must take into account the additional load on the turbine supports due to currents, wind and wave action, and accessibility of the turbines for maintenance vessels. Potential synergistic effects of the combination of offshore wind and seaweed cultivation supporting the profitability of both activities include joint management and maintenance, alternative employment opportunities for fisheries and ecological benefit

An example of active learning in Aerospace Engineering

This paper is a showcase for an on-going active learning capstone design project in the BSe. programme at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology. In multi-disciplinary teams supervised by tutors from different backgrounds students work towards an Aerospace (related) design. In the exercise students learn about applying knowledge, working in teams, sustainable development, project management, reporting, presenting and design in a semi-professional environment

Efficacy and safety of more intensive lowering of LDL cholesterol: a meta-analysis of data from 170,000 participants in 26 randomised trials.

BACKGROUND: Lowering of LDL cholesterol with standard statin regimens reduces the risk of occlusive vascular events in a wide range of individuals. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of more intensive lowering of LDL cholesterol with statin therapy. METHODS: We undertook meta-analyses of individual participant data from randomised trials involving at least 1000 participants and at least 2 years' treatment duration of more versus less intensive statin regimens (five trials; 39 612 individuals; median follow-up 5·1 years) and of statin versus control (21 trials; 129 526 individuals; median follow-up 4·8 years). For each type of trial, we calculated not only the average risk reduction, but also the average risk reduction per 1·0 mmol/L LDL cholesterol reduction at 1 year after randomisation. FINDINGS: In the trials of more versus less intensive statin therapy, the weighted mean further reduction in LDL cholesterol at 1 year was 0·51 mmol/L. Compared with less intensive regimens, more intensive regimens produced a highly significant 15% (95% CI 11-18; p<0·0001) further reduction in major vascular events, consisting of separately significant reductions in coronary death or non-fatal myocardial infarction of 13% (95% CI 7-19; p<0·0001), in coronary revascularisation of 19% (95% CI 15-24; p<0·0001), and in ischaemic stroke of 16% (95% CI 5-26; p=0·005). Per 1·0 mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol, these further reductions in risk were similar to the proportional reductions in the trials of statin versus control. When both types of trial were combined, similar proportional reductions in major vascular events per 1·0 mmol/L LDL cholesterol reduction were found in all types of patient studied (rate ratio [RR] 0·78, 95% CI 0·76-0·80; p<0·0001), including those with LDL cholesterol lower than 2 mmol/L on the less intensive or control regimen. Across all 26 trials, all-cause mortality was reduced by 10% per 1·0 mmol/L LDL reduction (RR 0·90, 95% CI 0·87-0·93; p<0·0001), largely reflecting significant reductions in deaths due to coronary heart disease (RR 0·80, 99% CI 0·74-0·87; p<0·0001) and other cardiac causes (RR 0·89, 99% CI 0·81-0·98; p=0·002), with no significant effect on deaths due to stroke (RR 0·96, 95% CI 0·84-1·09; p=0·5) or other vascular causes (RR 0·98, 99% CI 0·81-1·18; p=0·8). No significant effects were observed on deaths due to cancer or other non-vascular causes (RR 0·97, 95% CI 0·92-1·03; p=0·3) or on cancer incidence (RR 1·00, 95% CI 0·96-1·04; p=0·9), even at low LDL cholesterol concentrations. INTERPRETATION: Further reductions in LDL cholesterol safely produce definite further reductions in the incidence of heart attack, of revascularisation, and of ischaemic stroke, with each 1·0 mmol/L reduction reducing the annual rate of these major vascular events by just over a fifth. There was no evidence of any threshold within the cholesterol range studied, suggesting that reduction of LDL cholesterol by 2-3 mmol/L would reduce risk by about 40-50%. FUNDING: UK Medical Research Council, British Heart Foundation, European Community Biomed Programme, Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, and National Heart Foundation

Efficacy and safety of more intensive lowering of LDL cholesterol: a meta-analysis of data from 170 000 participants in 26 randomised trials

Background Lowering of LDL cholesterol with standard statin regimens reduces the risk of occlusive vascular events in a wide range of individuals We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of more intensive lowering of LDL cholesterol with statin therapy Methods We undertook meta analyses of individual participant data from randomised trials involving at least 1000 participants and at least 2 years' treatment duration of more versus less intensive statin regimens (five trials 39 612 individuals, median follow up 5 1 years) and of statin versus control (21 trials 129 526 individuals, median follow up 4 8 years) For each type of trial we calculated not only the average risk reduction, but also the average risk reduction per 1 0 mmol/L LDL cholesterol reduction at 1 year after randomisation Findings In the trials of more versus less intensive statin therapy the weighted mean further reduction in LDL cholesterol at 1 year was 0 51 mmol/L Compared with less intensive regimens more intensive regimens produced a highly significant 15% (95% CI 11-18, p<0 0001) further reduction in major vascular events consisting of separately significant reductions in coronary death or non fatal myocardial infarction of 13% (95% CI 7-19, p<0 0001) in coronary revasculansation of 19% (95% CI 15-24, p<0 0001) and in ischaemic stroke of 16% (95% CI 5-26 p=0 005) Per 1 0 mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol these further reductions in risk were similar to the proportional reductions in the trials of statin versus control When both types of trial were combined similar proportional reductions in major vascular events per 1 0 mmol/L LDL cholesterol reduction were found in all types of patient studied (rate ratio [RR] 0 78 95% CI 0 76-0 80 p<0 0001) including those with LDL cholesterol lower than 2 mmol/L on the less intensive or control regimen Across all 26 trials, all cause mortality was reduced by 10% per 1 0 mmol/L LDL reduction (RR 0 90, 95% CI 0 87-0 93, p<0 0001), largely reflecting significant reductions in deaths due to coronary heart disease (RR 0 80, 99% CI 0 74-0 87 p<0 0001) and other cardiac causes (RR 0 89 99% CI 0 81-0 98 p=0 002) with no significant effect on deaths due to stroke (RR 0 96 95% CI 0 84-1 09, p=0 5) or other vascular causes (RR 0 98, 99% CI 0 81-1 18, p=0 8) No significant effects were observed on deaths due to cancer or other non vascular causes (RR 0 97 95% CI 0 92-1 03, p=0 3) or on cancer incidence (RR 1 00, 95% CI 0 96-1 04, p=0 9), even at low LDL cholesterol concentrations Interpretation Further reductions in LDL cholesterol safely produce definite further reductions in the incidence of heart attack, of revasculansation and of ischaemic stroke, with each 1 0 mmol/L reduction reducing the annual rate of these major vascular events by just over a fifth There was no evidence of any threshold within the cholesterol range studied suggesting that reduction of LDL cholesterol by 2-3 mmol/L would reduce risk by about 40-50%Pathophysiology, epidemiology and therapy of agein