Paying it Forward: A Strategy for Developing a Culture of Lifelong Engagement and Inclusion for First-Generation Students

This project aims to propose a strategy for VCU to increase the engagement and connection among First-Generation VCU students to create lifelong commitment as alumni through VCU’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR). The team proposes to expand DAR’s outreach through collaboration with key VCU stakeholders (e.g., YOU First at VCU). By developing a positive undergraduate experience, students’ loyalty to VCU will result in greater engagement as alumni, paying it forward

Robust aerodynamic design of nacelles for future civil aero-engines

As the growth of aviation continues it is necessary to minimise the impact on the environment, through reducing NOx emissions, fuel-burn and noise. In order to achieve these goals, the next generation of Ultra-High Bypass Ratio engines are expected to increase propulsive efficiency through operating at reduced specific thrust. Consequently, there is an expected increase in fan diameter and the associated potential penalties of nacelle drag and weight. In order to ensure that these penalties do not negate the benefits obtained from the new engine cycles, it is envisaged that future civil aero-engines will be mounted in compact nacelles. While nacelle design has traditionally been tackled by multi-objective optimisation at different flight conditions within the cruise segment, it is anticipated that compact configurations will present larger sensitivity to off-design conditions. Therefore, a design method that considers the different operating conditions that are met within the full flight envelope is required for the new nacelle design challenge. The method is employed to carry out multi-point multi-objective optimisation of axisymmetric aero-lines at different transonic and subsonic operating conditions. It considers mid-cruise conditions, end-of-cruise conditions, the sensitivity to changes in flight Mach number, windmilling conditions with a cruise engine-out case and an engine-out diversion scenario. Optimisation routines were conducted for a conventional nacelle and a future aero-engine architecture, upon which the aerodynamic trade-offs between the different flight conditions are discussed. Subsequently, the tool has been employed to identify the viable nacelle design space for future compact civil aero-engines for a range of nacelle lengths

Transonic nacelle design for future medium range aero-engines

It is expected that future civil aero-engines will operate at low specific thrust and high-bypass ratios to improve propulsive efficiency. This may result in an increment in fan diameter and associated weight and nacelle drag penalties. For this reason, these new architectures may use compact nacelles to meet the benefits of the new engine cycles. The aim of the current work is to evaluate the aerodynamic design and performance of compact nacelles for medium range, single-aisle aircraft with a cruise Mach number of M = 0.80. This work encompasses the 3D multi-point, multi-objective optimisation of nacelles by considering cruise conditions as well as a range of off-design requirements such as an increased cruise Mach number, a windmilling engineout diversion scenario and a windmilling end-of-runway case at high-incidence. This paper also explores the robustness and sensitivity of selected designs to flight Mach number (M), massflow capture ratio (MFCR) and angle of attack (AoA). The limits of the feasible design space for this new design challenge are identified. It is concluded that relative to a conventional aero-engine nacelle, the nacelle length (Lnac/rhi) can be reduced by approximately 13% with a mid-cruise drag reduction of 5.8%, whilst maintaining an acceptable aerodynamic performance at off-design conditions

Systematic Review of Outcome Measures Used in Observational Studies of Adults with Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

BACKGROUND Over the last 20 years, diverse outcome measures have been used to evaluate the effectiveness of therapies for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). This systematic review aims to identify the readouts used in observational studies of topical corticosteroids, diet, and dilation in adult EoE patients. METHODS We searched MEDLINE and Embase for prospective and retrospective studies (cohorts/case series, randomized open-label, and case-control) evaluating the use of diets, dilation, and topical corticosteroids in adults with EoE. Two authors independently assessed the articles and extracted information about histologic, endoscopic, and patient-reported outcomes and tools used to assess treatment effects. RESULTS We included 69 studies that met inclusion criteria. EoE-associated endoscopic findings (assessed either as absence/presence or using Endoscopic Reference Score) were evaluated in 24/35, 11/17, and 9/17 studies of topical corticosteroids, diet, and dilation, respectively. Esophageal eosinophil density was recorded in 32/35, 17/17, and 11/17 studies of topical corticosteroids, diet, and dilation, respectively. Patient-reported outcomes were not uniformly used (only in 14, 8, and 3 studies of topical corticosteroids, diet, and dilation, respectively), and most tools were not validated for use in adults with EoE. CONCLUSIONS Despite the lack of an agreed set of core outcomes that should be recorded and reported in studies in adult EoE patients, endoscopic EoE-associated findings and esophageal eosinophil density are commonly used to assess disease activity in observational studies. Standardization of outcomes and data supporting the use of outcomes are needed to facilitate interpretation of evidence, its synthesis, and comparisons of interventions in meta-analyses of therapeutic trials in adults with EoE

Coffee and tea consumption in the early adult lifespan and left ventricular function in middle age: the CARDIA study

AIMS: The long-term impact of coffee or tea consumption on subclinical left ventricular (LV) systolic or diastolic function has not been previously studied. We examined the association between coffee or tea consumption beginning in early adulthood and cardiac function in midlife. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated 2735 Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study participants with long-term total caffeine intake, coffee, and tea consumption data from three visits over a 20 year interval and available echocardiography indices at the CARDIA Year-25 exam (2010-2011). Linear regression models were used to assess the association between caffeine intake, tea, and coffee consumption (independent variables) and echocardiography outcomes [LV mass, left atrial volume, and global longitudinal strain (GLS), LV ejection fraction (LVEF), and transmitral Doppler early filling velocity to tissue Doppler early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E/e )]. Models were adjusted for standard cardiovascular risk factors, socioeconomic status, physical activity, alcohol use, and dietary factors (calorie intake, whole and refined grain intake, and fruit and vegetable consumption). Mean (standard deviation) age was 25.2 (3.5) years at the CARDIA Year-0 exam (1985-1986), 57.4% were women, and 41.9% were African-American. In adjusted multivariable linear regression models assessing the relationship between coffee consumption and GLS, beta coefficients when comparing coffee drinkers of \u3c 1, 1-2, 3-4, and \u3e 4 cups/day with non-coffee drinkers were beta = -0.30%, P \u3c 0.05; beta = -0.35%, P \u3c 0.05; beta = -0.32%, P \u3c 0.05; beta = -0.40%, P \u3e 0.05; respectively (more negative values implies better systolic function). In adjusted multivariable linear regression models assessing the relationship between coffee consumption and E/e , beta coefficients when comparing coffee drinkers of \u3c 1, 1-2, 3-4, and \u3e 4 cups/day with non-coffee drinkers were beta = -0.29, P \u3c 0.05; beta = -0.38, P \u3c 0.01; beta = -0.20, P \u3e .05; and beta = -0.37, P \u3e 0.05, respectively (more negative values implies better diastolic function). High daily coffee consumption ( \u3e 4 cups/day) was associated with worse LVEF (beta = -1.69, P \u3c 0.05). There were no associations between either tea drinking or total caffeine intake and cardiac function (P \u3e 0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Low-to-moderate daily coffee consumption from early adulthood to middle age was associated with better LV systolic and diastolic function in midlife. High daily coffee consumption ( \u3e 4cups/day) was associated with worse LV function. There was no association between caffeine or tea intake and cardiac function

Overview: On the transport and transformation of pollutants in the outflow of major population centres – observational data from the EMeRGe European intensive operational period in summer 2017

Megacities and other major population centres (MPCs) worldwide are major sources of air pollution, both locally as well as downwind. The overall assessment and prediction of the impact of MPC pollution on tropospheric chemistry are challenging. The present work provides an overview of the highlights of a major new contribution to the understanding of this issue based on the data and analysis of the EMeRGe (Effect of Megacities on the transport and transformation of pollutants on the Regional to Global scales) international project. EMeRGe focuses on atmospheric chemistry, dynamics, and transport of local and regional pollution originating in MPCs. Airborne measurements, taking advantage of the long range capabilities of the High Altitude and LOng Range Research Aircraft (HALO, https://www.halo-spp.de, last access: 22 March 2022), are a central part of the project. The synergistic use and consistent interpretation of observational data sets of different spatial and temporal resolution (e.g. from ground-based networks, airborne campaigns, and satellite measurements) supported by modelling within EMeRGe provide unique insight to test the current understanding of MPC pollution outflows. In order to obtain an adequate set of measurements at different spatial scales, two field experiments were positioned in time and space to contrast situations when the photochemical transformation of plumes emerging from MPCs is large. These experiments were conducted in summer 2017 over Europe and in the inter-monsoon period over Asia in spring 2018. The intensive observational periods (IOPs) involved HALO airborne measurements of ozone and its precursors, volatile organic compounds, aerosol particles, and related species as well as coordinated ground-based ancillary observations at different sites. Perfluorocarbon (PFC) tracer releases and model forecasts supported the flight planning, the identification of pollution plumes, and the analysis of chemical transformations during transport. This paper describes the experimental deployment and scientific questions of the IOP in Europe. The MPC targets – London (United Kingdom; UK), the Benelux/Ruhr area (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany), Paris (France), Rome and the Po Valley (Italy), and Madrid and Barcelona (Spain) – were investigated during seven HALO research flights with an aircraft base in Germany for a total of 53 flight hours. An in-flight comparison of HALO with the collaborating UK-airborne platform Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) took place to assure accuracy and comparability of the instrumentation on board. Overall, EMeRGe unites measurements of near- and far-field emissions and hence deals with complex air masses of local and distant sources. Regional transport of several European MPC outflows was successfully identified and measured. Chemical processing of the MPC emissions was inferred from airborne observations of primary and secondary pollutants and the ratios between species having different chemical lifetimes. Photochemical processing of aerosol and secondary formation or organic acids was evident during the transport of MPC plumes. Urban plumes mix efficiently with natural sources as mineral dust and with biomass burning emissions from vegetation and forest fires. This confirms the importance of wildland fire emissions in Europe and indicates an important but discontinuous contribution to the European emission budget that might be of relevance in the design of efficient mitigation strategies. The present work provides an overview of the most salient results in the European context, with these being addressed in more detail within additional dedicated EMeRGe studies. The deployment and results obtained in Asia will be the subject of separate publications