Multi-input,multi-output flight control system design for the YF-16 using nonlinear QFT and pilot compensation

Nonlinear quantitative feedback theory (QFT) and pilot compensation techniques are used to design a 2 × 2 flight control system for the YF-16 aircraft over a large range of plant uncertainty. The design is based on numerical input-output time histories generated with a FORTRAN implemented nonlinear simulation of the YF-16. The first step of the design process is the generation of a set of equivalent linear time-invariant (LTI) plant models to represent the actual nonlinear plant. It has been proven that the solution to the equivalent plant problem is guaranteed to solve the original nonlinear problem. Standard QFT techniques are then used in the design synthesis based on the equivalent plant models. A detailed mathematical development of the method used to develop these equivalent LTI plant models is provided. After this inner-loop design, pilot compensation is developed to reduce the pilot's workload. This outer-loop design is also based on a set of equivalent LTI plant models. This is accomplished by modelling the pilot with parameters that result in good handling qualities ratings, and developing the necessary compensation to force the desired system responses.     

p-aminohippurate uptake by syncytial microvillous membrane vesicles of human term placenta

The mechanism of uptake of p-aminohippurate (PAH) by syncytial microvillous membrane vesicles of human term placenta was investigated. Initial PAH uptake and efflux were increased in the presence of a pH-gradient and a Cl(-)-gradient, respectively. Forced negative and positive membrane potentials did not influence the uptake, which indicated that the transport is not electrogenic. The pH-dependent increase is probably the result of a higher rate of diffusion due to a lower degree of dissociation of PAH. Because several organic anions failed to transstimulate PAH uptake and FCCP did not decrease the uptake in the presence of an inwardly directed H(+)-gradient, ruling out a PAH/OH- antiport, an anion exchange system does not appear to be present in these membranes. Since electrogenicity and anion exchange seem not to be involved in the Cl(-)-dependent increase, an allosteric effect of Cl- on the transporter might be possible. Various organic anions were able to inhibit pH-stimulated PAH uptake significantly. Kinetic analysis of the probenecid sensitive part of uptake provided further evidence for mediated transport of PAH (Km = 7.4 +/- 2.6 mM and Vmax = 2.0 +/- 0.4 nmol/mg/15 s). Non-inhibitable diffusion accounted for the main part of total transport. Concentration dependent inhibition of PAH transport by probenecid showed a Ki of 2.5 +/- 0.9 mM. It is concluded that human placental syncytial microvillous membrane vesicles possess a low affinity transport mechanism for PAH with low specificity. The importance of this system, for placental excretion of anionic drugs, will depend on the intrasyncytial concentration of these drugs, caused by the transport across the basal membrane.     

Crystallization of glass forming melts under hydrostatic pressure and shear stress: Part II Flow induced melt crystallization: a new method of nucleation catalysis

In this second part of a thorough investigation into the influence of external pressure and shear stress on melt crystallization the effect of shear stress is analysed. Both pseudoplastic and dilatant liquids are examined, and are possible effects of the respective rheological behaviour are discussed. It is shown that the very nature of pseudoplastic liquids leads to a reduction of their viscosity, which results in increased nucleation and crystal growth rates, whilst the non-steady-state time lag is, on the contrary, reduced. Experimental evidence supporting the above idea is discussed. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Cover Picture: Toward Large‐Scale Alignment of Electrohydrodynamic Patterning of Thin Polymer Films (Adv. Funct. Mater. 15/2006)

By integrating lithography and self‐assembly via electrohydrodynamic instabilities, Russel and co‐workers are able to guide initially flat polymer films to evolve into periodic arrays of pillars over regions much greater in extent than their natural domain sizes, as detailed on p. 1992. Novel structures that involve a combination of linear ridges and pillars are also produced, mainly as as result of the dynamic merging among preformed pillars. To pattern thin polymer films via electrohydrodynamic instabilities, we design and utilize two different kinds of mask patterns to guide pillars into alignment over regions much greater in extent than their natural domain sizes. First, narrow protruding ridges that intersect to form regular patterns on the mask trigger the growth of pillars beneath. Later, square and triangular packings of pillars develop in the regions enclosed by those ridges, preserving the registry from one domain to the next over a much larger area than within individual domains in unpatterned portions of the mask. Second, small square protrusions that are prealigned into a large regular array on the mask guide the formation of square packings of pillars in domains that conform to the mask, forming a large array of pillars. Novel structures involving a combination of linear ridges and pillars are also produced mainly due to the dynamic merging among preformed pillars. Finally, we find vertex symmetry of the mask pattern is necessary for generating and preserving ordered patterns on the polymer film.     

Effect of doping ferrocene in the working fluid of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) micropumps

The effect of doping ferrocene in the working fluid of electrohydrodynamic micropumps was investigated under the application of DC electric fields. The micropump consisted of 100 planar electrode pairs that were embedded along the bottom wall of a 100-micron-high, 5-mm-wide and 26-mm-long microchannel. The width of the emitter and collector electrodes was 20 and 40 µm, respectively, with inter-electrode spacing of 30 µm. A redox dopant, ferrocene, was diffused homogeneously into the working fluid HFE-7100 at 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 % concentration by weight. The static pressure head generation and flow rate at different back pressure conditions were measured under different applied DC voltages. The current and pressure generated with the doped working fluid were significantly higher than with pure HFE-7100 under an applied DC field. A maximum static pressure of 6.7 kPa and flow rate of 0.47 mL/min at no back pressure were achieved at 700 V.     

Premarin Reduces Neurodegeneration and Promotes Improvement of Function in an Animal Model of Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes significant mortality and morbidity. Currently, no FDA-approved pharmacotherapy is available for treating SCI. Previously, low doses of estrogen (17β-estradiol, E2) were shown to improve the post-injury outcome in a rat SCI model. However, the range of associated side effects makes advocating its therapeutic use difficult. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the therapeutic efficacy of Premarin (PRM) in SCI. PRM is an FDA-approved E2 (10%) formulation, which is used for hormone replacement therapy with minimal risk of serious side effects. The effects of PRM on SCI were examined by magnetic resonance imaging, immunofluorescent staining, and western blot analysis in a rat model. SCI animals treated with vehicle alone, PRM, E2 receptor antagonist (ICI), or PRM + ICI were graded in a blinded way for locomotor function by using the Basso–Beattie–Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor scale. PRM treatment for 7 days decreased post-SCI lesion volume and attenuated neuronal cell death, inflammation, and axonal damage. PRM also altered the balance of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins in favor of cell survival and improved angiogenesis and microvascular growth. Increased expression of estrogen receptors (ERs) ERα and ERβ following PRM treatment and their inhibition by ER inhibitor indicated that the neuroprotection associated with PRM treatment might be E2-receptor mediated. The attenuation of glial activation with decreased inflammation and cell death, and increased angiogenesis by PRM led to improved functional outcome as determined by the BBB locomotor scale. These results suggest that PRM treatment has significant therapeutic implications for the improvement of post-SCI outcome.     

Protecting the Melatonin Rhythm through Circadian Healthy Light Exposure

Currently, in developed countries, nights are excessively illuminated (light at night), whereas daytime is mainly spent indoors, and thus people are exposed to much lower light intensities than under natural conditions. In spite of the positive impact of artificial light, we pay a price for the easy access to light during the night: disorganization of our circadian system or chronodisruption (CD), including perturbations in melatonin rhythm. Epidemiological studies show that CD is associated with an increased incidence of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cognitive and affective impairment, premature aging and some types of cancer. Knowledge of retinal photoreceptors and the discovery of melanopsin in some ganglion cells demonstrate that light intensity, timing and spectrum must be considered to keep the biological clock properly entrained. Importantly, not all wavelengths of light are equally chronodisrupting. Blue light, which is particularly beneficial during the daytime, seems to be more disruptive at night, and induces the strongest melatonin inhibition. Nocturnal blue light exposure is currently increasing, due to the proliferation of energy-efficient lighting (LEDs) and electronic devices. Thus, the development of lighting systems that preserve the melatonin rhythm could reduce the health risks induced by chronodisruption. This review addresses the state of the art regarding the crosstalk between light and the circadian system.     

Towards the Automatic Measurement of Cashmere-fibre Diameter by Image Analysis

A digital-image-processing algorithm is described for automatically measuring the diameters of cashmere-goat fibres from microscope images. A correction factor is used to remove bias when fibres are out of focus. Diameters are estimated to within a standard error of 4%.     

Effects of fiber-optic probe design and probe-to-target distance on diffuse reflectance measurements of turbid media: an experimental and computational study at 337 nm

Fiber-optic probes are widely used in optical spectroscopy of biological tissues and other turbid media. Only limited information exists, however, on the ways in which the illumination-collection geometry and the overall probe design influence the interrogation of media. We have investigated both experimentally and computationally the effect of probe-to-target distance (PTD) on the diffuse reflectance collected from an isotropically (Lambertian) scattering target and an agar-based tissue phantom. Studies were conducted with three probes characterized by either common (single-fiber) or separate (two bifurcated multifiber probes) illumination and collection channels. This study demonstrates that PTD, probe design, and tissue scattering anisotropy influence the extent of the transport of light into the medium, the light-collection efficiency, and the sampling volume of collected light. The findings can be applied toward optimization of fiber-optic probe designs for quantitative optical spectroscopy of turbid media including biological tissues.