EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Study Technical Workshop #2 March 10-11, 2011: Well Integrity Case Study by Lloyd H. Hetrick

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This case study defines well integrity by the prevention of vertical migration of fluids to protect drinking water resources. A generic shale development well is presented, including design, construction, operational phase, and its plug and abandonment.

Understanding Atmospheric Anomalies Associated with Seasonal Pluvial-Drought Processes Using Southwest China as an Example

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Z.; LU, G.; He, H.; Wu, Z.; He, J.

2017-12-01

Seasonal pluvial-drought transition processes are unique natural phenomena. To explore possible mechanisms, we considered Southwest China (SWC) as the study region and comprehensively investigated the temporal evolution of large-scale and regional atmospheric variables with the simple method of Standardized Anomalies (SA). Some key results include: (1) The net vertical integral of water vapour flux (VIWVF) across the four boundaries may be a feasible indicator of pluvial-drought transition processes over SWC, because its SA-based index is almost consistent with process development. (2) The vertical SA-based patterns of regional horizontal divergence (D) and vertical motion (ω) also coincides with the pluvial-drought transition processes well, and the SA-based index of regional D show relatively high correlation with the identified processes over SWC. (3) With respect to large-scale anomalies of circulation patterns, a well-organized Eurasian Pattern is one important feature during the pluvial-drought transition over SWC. (4) To explore the possibility of simulating drought development using previous pluvial anomalies, large-scale and regional atmospheric SA-based indices were used. As a whole, when SA-based indices of regional dynamic and water-vapor variables are introduced, simulated drought development only with large-scale anomalies can be improved a lot. (5) Eventually, pluvial-drought transition processes and associated regional atmospheric anomalies over nine Chinese drought study regions were investigated. With respect to regional D, vertically single or double "upper-positive-lower-negative" and "upper-negative-lower-positive" patterns are the most common vertical SA-based patterns during the pluvial and drought parts of transition processes, respectively.

STEADY-STATE DESIGN OF VERTICAL WELLS FOR LIQUIDS ADDITION AT BIOREACTOR LANDFILLS

EPA Science Inventory

This paper presents design charts that a landfill engineer can use for the design of a vertical well system for liquids addition at bioreactor landfills. The flow rate and lateral and vertical zones of impact of a vertical well were estimated as a function of input variables su...

Vertical and lateral heterogeneous integration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geske, Jon; Okuno, Yae L.; Bowers, John E.; Jayaraman, Vijay

2001-09-01

A technique for achieving large-scale monolithic integration of lattice-mismatched materials in the vertical direction and the lateral integration of dissimilar lattice-matched structures has been developed. The technique uses a single nonplanar direct-wafer-bond step to transform vertically integrated epitaxial structures into lateral epitaxial variation across the surface of a wafer. Nonplanar wafer bonding is demonstrated by integrating four different unstrained multi-quantum-well active regions lattice matched to InP on a GaAs wafer surface. Microscopy is used to verify the quality of the bonded interface, and photoluminescence is used to verify that the bonding process does not degrade the optical quality of the laterally integrated wells. The authors propose this technique as a means to achieve greater levels of wafer-scale integration in optical, electrical, and micromechanical devices.

Simulator certification methods and the vertical motion simulator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Showalter, T. W.

1981-01-01

The vertical motion simulator (VMS) is designed to simulate a variety of experimental helicopter and STOL/VTOL aircraft as well as other kinds of aircraft with special pitch and Z axis characteristics. The VMS includes a large motion base with extensive vertical and lateral travel capabilities, a computer generated image visual system, and a high speed CDC 7600 computer system, which performs aero model calculations. Guidelines on how to measure and evaluate VMS performance were developed. A survey of simulation users was conducted to ascertain they evaluated and certified simulators for use. The results are presented.

Effect of Vertical Rate Error on Recovery from Loss of Well Clear Between UAS and Non-Cooperative Intruders

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cone, Andrew; Thipphavong, David; Lee, Seung Man; Santiago, Confesor

2016-01-01

When an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) encounters an intruder and is unable to maintain required temporal and spatial separation between the two vehicles, it is referred to as a loss of well-clear. In this state, the UAS must make its best attempt to regain separation while maximizing the minimum separation between itself and the intruder. When encountering a non-cooperative intruder (an aircraft operating under visual flight rules without ADS-B or an active transponder) the UAS must rely on the radar system to provide the intruders location, velocity, and heading information. As many UAS have limited climb and descent performance, vertical position andor vertical rate errors make it difficult to determine whether an intruder will pass above or below them. To account for that, there is a proposal by RTCA Special Committee 228 to prohibit guidance systems from providing vertical guidance to regain well-clear to UAS in an encounter with a non-cooperative intruder unless their radar system has vertical position error below 175 feet (95) and vertical velocity errors below 200 fpm (95). Two sets of fast-time parametric studies was conducted, each with 54000 pairwise encounters between a UAS and non-cooperative intruder to determine the suitability of offering vertical guidance to regain well clear to a UAS in the presence of radar sensor noise. The UAS was not allowed to maneuver until it received well-clear recovery guidance. The maximum severity of the loss of well-clear was logged and used as the primary indicator of the separation achieved by the UAS. One set of 54000 encounters allowed the UAS to maneuver either vertically or horizontally, while the second permitted horizontal maneuvers, only. Comparing the two data sets allowed researchers to see the effect of allowing vertical guidance to a UAS for a particular encounter and vertical rate error. Study results show there is a small reduction in the average severity of a loss of well-clear when vertical maneuvers are suppressed, for all vertical error rate thresholds examined. However, results also show that in roughly 35 of the encounters where a vertical maneuver was selected, forcing the UAS to do a horizontal maneuver instead increased the severity of the loss of well-clear for that encounter. Finally, results showed a small reduction in the number of severe losses of well-clear when the high performance UAS (2000 fpm climb and descent rate) was allowed to maneuver vertically, and the vertical rate error was below 500 fpm. Overall, the results show that using a single vertical rate threshold is not advisable, and that limiting a UAS to horizontal maneuvers when vertical rate errors are above 175 fpm can make a UAS less safe about a third of the time. It is suggested that the hard limit be removed, and system manufacturers instructed to account for their own UAS performance, as well as vertical rate error and encounter geometry, when determining whether or not to provide vertical guidance to regain well-clear.

Simulation of tidal flow and circulation patterns in the Loxahatchee River Estuary, southeastern Florida

USGS Publications Warehouse

Russell, G.M.; Goodwin, C.R.

1987-01-01

Results of a two-dimensional, vertically averaged, computer simulation model of the Loxahatchee River estuary show that under typical low freshwater inflow and vertically well mixed conditions, water circulation is dominated by freshwater inflow rather than by tidal influence. The model can simulate tidal flow and circulation in the Loxahatchee River estuary under typical low freshwater inflow and vertically well mixed conditions, but is limited, however, to low-flow and well mixed conditions. Computed patterns of residual water transport show a consistent seaward flow from the northwest fork through the central embayment and out Jupiter Inlet to the Atlantic Ocean. A large residual seaward flow was computed from the North Intracoastal Waterway to the inlet channel. Although the tide produces large flood and ebb flows in the estuary, tide-induced residual transport rates are low in comparison with freshwater-induced residual transport. Model investigations of partly mixed or stratified conditions in the estuary need to await development of systems capable of simulating three-dimensional flow patterns. (Author 's abstract)

Integrated Hydrogeological Model of the General Separations Area, Vol. 2, Rev. 1

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

FLACH, GREGORYK.

1999-04-01

The 15 mi2 General Separations Area (GSA) contains more than 35 RCRA and CERCLA waste units, and is the focus of numerous ongoing and anticipated contaminant migration and remedial alternatives studies. To meet the analysis needs of GSA remediation programs, a groundwater flow model of the area based on the FACT code was developed. The model is consistent with detailed characterization and monitoring data through 1996. Model preprocessing has been automated so that future updates and modifications can be performed quickly and efficiently. Most remedial action scenarios can be explicitly simulated, including vertical recirculation wells, vertical barriers, surface caps, pumpingmore » wells at arbitrary locations, specified drawdown within well casings (instead of flowrate), and wetland impacts of remedial actions. The model has a fine scale vertical mesh and heterogeneous conductivity field, and includes the vadose zone. Therefore, the model is well suited to support subsequent contaminant transport simulations. the model can provide a common framework for analyzing groundwater flow, contaminant migration, and remedial alternatives across Environmental Restoration programs within the GSA.« less

Vertical profiles of black carbon concentration and particle number size distribution in the North China Plain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ran, L.; Deng, Z.

2013-12-01

The vertical distribution of aerosols is of great importance to our understanding in the impacts of aerosols on radiation balance and climate, as well as air quality and public health. To better understand and estimate the effects of atmospheric components including trace gases and aerosols on atmospheric environment and climate, an intensive field campaign, Vertical Observations of trace Gases and Aerosols in the North China Plain (VOGA-NCP), was carried out from late July to early August 2013 over a rural site in the polluted NCP. During the campaign, vertical profiles of black carbon (BC) concentration and particle number size distribution were measured respectively by a micro-Aethalometer and an optical particle counter attached to a tethered balloon within 1000 m height. Meteorological parameters, including temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and wind direction, were measured simultaneously by a radiosonde also attached to the tethered balloon. Preliminary results showed distinct diurnal variations of the vertical distribution of aerosol total number concentration and BC concentration, following the development of the mixing layer. Generally, there was a well mixing of aerosols within the mixing layer and a sharp decrease above the mixing layer. Particularly, a small peak of BC concentrations was observed around 400-500 m height for several profiles. Further analysis would be needed to explain such phenomenon. It was also found that measured vertical profiles of BC using the filter-based method might be affected by the vertical distribution of relative humidity.

Vertical profiles of aerosol optical properties and the solar heating rate estimated by combining sky radiometer and lidar measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kudo, Rei; Nishizawa, Tomoaki; Aoyagi, Toshinori

2016-07-01

The SKYLIDAR algorithm was developed to estimate vertical profiles of aerosol optical properties from sky radiometer (SKYNET) and lidar (AD-Net) measurements. The solar heating rate was also estimated from the SKYLIDAR retrievals. The algorithm consists of two retrieval steps: (1) columnar properties are retrieved from the sky radiometer measurements and the vertically mean depolarization ratio obtained from the lidar measurements and (2) vertical profiles are retrieved from the lidar measurements and the results of the first step. The derived parameters are the vertical profiles of the size distribution, refractive index (real and imaginary parts), extinction coefficient, single-scattering albedo, and asymmetry factor. Sensitivity tests were conducted by applying the SKYLIDAR algorithm to the simulated sky radiometer and lidar data for vertical profiles of three different aerosols, continental average, transported dust, and pollution aerosols. The vertical profiles of the size distribution, extinction coefficient, and asymmetry factor were well estimated in all cases. The vertical profiles of the refractive index and single-scattering albedo of transported dust, but not those of transported pollution aerosol, were well estimated. To demonstrate the performance and validity of the SKYLIDAR algorithm, we applied the SKYLIDAR algorithm to the actual measurements at Tsukuba, Japan. The detailed vertical structures of the aerosol optical properties and solar heating rate of transported dust and smoke were investigated. Examination of the relationship between the solar heating rate and the aerosol optical properties showed that the vertical profile of the asymmetry factor played an important role in creating vertical variation in the solar heating rate. We then compared the columnar optical properties retrieved with the SKYLIDAR algorithm to those produced with the more established scheme SKYRAD.PACK, and the surface solar irradiance calculated from the SKYLIDAR retrievals was compared with pyranometer measurement. The results showed good agreements: the columnar values of the SKYLIDAR retrievals agreed with reliable SKYRAD.PACK retrievals, and the SKYLIDAR retrievals were sufficiently accurate to evaluate the surface solar irradiance.

Vertically operating flight vehicle for drilling and agricultural use

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pabst, W.

1986-01-01

The invention deals with an aircraft which ascends and descends vertically and which is used for recreational aircraft, as well as for drilling and in agriculture. The invention combines the floating effect of a parachute with the helicopter to develop a flight vehicle with multiple uses which go beyond those of contemporary flight vehicles. Both hub mechanisms and thrust power are implemented to achieve this goal. Four designs are described in detail.

Development and verification of real-time controllers for the F/A-18 vertical fin buffet load alleviation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yong; Viresh, Wickramasinghe; Zimcik, David

2006-03-01

Twin-tail fighter aircraft such as the F/A-18 may experience intense buffet loads at high angles of attack flight conditions and the broadband buffet loads primarily excite the first bending and torsional modes of the vertical fin that results in severe vibration and dynamic stresses on the vertical fin structures. To reduce the premature fatigue failure of the structure and to increase mission availability, a novel hybrid actuation system was developed to actively alleviate the buffet response of a full-scale F/A-18 vertical fin. A hydraulic rudder actuator was used to control the bending mode of the fin by engaging the rudder inertial force. Multiple Macro Fiber Composites actuators were surface mounted to provide induced strain actuation authority to control the torsional mode. Experimental system identification approach was selected to obtain a state-space model of the system using open-loop test data. An LQG controller was developed to minimize the dynamic response of the vertical fin at critical locations. Extensive simulations were conducted to evaluate the control authority of the actuators and the performance of the controller under various buffet load cases and levels. Closed-loop tests were performed on a full-scale F/A-18 empennage and the results validated the effectiveness of the real-time controller as well as the development methodology. In addition, the ground vibration test demonstrated that the hybrid actuation system is a feasible solution to alleviate the vertical tail buffet loads in high performance fighter aircraft.

Development and Calibration of a Variable-Density Numerical Model of a Deep-well Injection Site near the Southeastern Florida Coast

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dausman, A.; Langevin, C.; Sukop, M.; Walsh, V.

2006-12-01

The South District Wastewater Treatment Plant (SDWWTP), located in southeastern Miami-Dade County about 1 mi west of the Biscayne Bay coastline, is the largest capacity deep-well injection plant in the United States. Currently, about 100 Mgal/d of partially treated, essentially fresh (less than 1000 mg/L total dissolved solids) effluent is injected through 17 wells (each approximately 2500 ft below land surface) into the highly transmissive, lower-temperature, saline Boulder Zone composed of highly fractured dolomite. A thin confining unit called the Delray Dolomite, which is 8-16 ft thick, overlies the intended injection zone at the site. Although the Delray Dolomite has a vertical hydraulic conductivity estimated between 0.001 and 0.00001 ft/d, well casings for 10 of the 17 wells do not extend beneath the unit. A 700-ft-thick middle confining unit, with estimated vertical hydraulic conductivities between 0.1 and 28 ft/d, overlies the Delray Dolomite and separates it from the Upper Floridan aquifer. Protected by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the Upper Floridan aquifer contains water that is less than 10,000 mg/L total dissolved solids. In southern Florida, this aquifer is used for reverse osmosis, blending with other waters, and as a reservoir for aquifer storage and recovery. At the SDWWTP, ammonia concentrations that exceed background conditions have been observed in monitoring wells open in and above the middle confining unit, indicating upward vertical migration of effluent, possibly toward the Upper Floridan aquifer. The U.S. Geological Survey currently is developing a variable-density groundwater flow and solute transport model for the Floridan aquifer system in Miami-Dade County. This model includes the injection of treated wastewater at the SDWWTP. The developed numerical model uses SEAWAT, a code that calculates variable- density flow as a function of salinity, to capture the buoyancy effects at the site and along the coast. Simulation efforts have been designed to determine likely mechanisms for vertical fluid migration as well as predict future movement of the effluent. Two alternative mechanisms for upward fluid migration are being tested with the model: (1) site-wide, diffuse upward movement through the Delray Dolomite and middle confining unit with all 17 injection wells; and (2) localized upward movement from the shallow casing depths at 10 of the 17 wells. The parameter estimation program, PEST, has estimated two different hydraulic conductivity configurations for the Delray Dolomite, middle confining unit, and other layers under these two possible conditions. The different parameter sets have yielded two satisfactory model calibrations. Results of these calibrations indicate that vertical effluent migration potentially is occurring either from (1) the 10 wells open above the Delray Dolomite, with virtually no effluent migration through the Delray Dolomite; or (2) all 17 wells open above and below the Delray Dolomite, with effluent migration through the Delray Dolomite.

Vertical pillar nanoantenna for emission enhancement and redirection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paparone, J.; Laverdant, J.; Brucoli, G.; Symonds, C.; Crut, A.; Del Fatti, N.; Benoit, J. M.; Bellessa, J.

2018-01-01

Designing efficient metallic nanostructures can help in realizing bright single photon emission in the visible and near-infrared ranges. We propose a novel nanostructure design that combines the benefits of plasmonic hot spot generation in the near-field and the concept of antennas developed in the radio-frequency range. The antenna is formed by a vertical stack of metallic and dielectric nanocylinders. When used for controlling the far-field emission of a localized source, its key features are moderate losses in the metal, relatively large Purcell factors, as well as a low sensibility to the lateral position of the emitter. A redirection process necessary for these vertical structures is proposed, based on the versatility of the vertical geometry, and allows an efficient redirection of the emitted light even for antennas on dielectric substrates.

Simplified Physics Based Models Research Topical Report on Task #2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mishra, Srikanta; Ganesh, Priya

We present a simplified-physics based approach, where only the most important physical processes are modeled, to develop and validate simplified predictive models of CO2 sequestration in deep saline formation. The system of interest is a single vertical well injecting supercritical CO2 into a 2-D layered reservoir-caprock system with variable layer permeabilities. We use a set of well-designed full-physics compositional simulations to understand key processes and parameters affecting pressure propagation and buoyant plume migration. Based on these simulations, we have developed correlations for dimensionless injectivity as a function of the slope of fractional-flow curve, variance of layer permeability values, and themore » nature of vertical permeability arrangement. The same variables, along with a modified gravity number, can be used to develop a correlation for the total storage efficiency within the CO2 plume footprint. Similar correlations are also developed to predict the average pressure within the injection reservoir, and the pressure buildup within the caprock.« less

Seawater Upconing Under a Pumping Horizontal Well in a Confined Coastal Aquifer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, D.; Zhan, H.

2003-12-01

Coastal margins are one of the nation­_s greatest natural resources and economic assets. Due to increasing concentration of human settlements and economic activities in the coastal margins, it is critical to find better technologies of managing the coastal groundwater resources. Coastal aquifers always have saline water underneath the fresh water. This phenomenon substantially limits the groundwater pumping rates using traditional vertical wells because of the upconing of the fresh/saline water interfaces and the potential of sea water intrusion. With the advancement of horizontal well technology, we propose to use long-screen (kilometers) horizontal wells in coastal aquifers to increase groundwater supply and prevent sea water intrusion into those wells. In this study, we have developed two mathematical models to predict the equilibrium location of upconed sharp interfaces due to pumping horizontal wells based on the linear model of Muskat (1982) and the non-linear model of Dagan and Bear (1968) which described the upcoming due to a partially penetrating vertical pumping well. The horizontal well solution is obtained by integrating the point sink solution along the horizontal well axis. The linear solution based on Muskat­_s model (1982) is acquired by neglecting the pressure field variation caused by the change of the fresh/saline water interface, while the nonlinear solution includes that variation. The computed interface profiles based on these two models are compared with those of vertical wells. The critical pumping rate is calculated and the sensitivity of the interface profile on aquifer anisotropy, horizontal well depth, and horizontal well length is tested. References: G. Dagan and J. Bear, Solving the problem of local interface upcoming in a coastal aquifer by the method of small perturbations, J. Hydraulic Research, 6, 15-44, 1968. Muskat, M, The flow of homogeneous Fluids Through Porous Media, International Human Resources Development Corporation, Boston, 763 PP, 1982.

Dissociative phenomena in congenital monocular elevation deficiency.

PubMed

Olson, R J; Scott, W E

1998-04-01

Monocular elevation deficiency is characterized by unilateral limitation of elevation in both adduction and abduction and is usually present at birth. Dissociative phenomena such as dissociated vertical deviation are well recognized in association with conditions such as congenital esotropia but much less so in association with conditions such as congenital monocular elevation deficiency. All 129 patients given the diagnosis of monocular elevation deficiency or double elevator palsy in the Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Clinic at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics between 1971 and 1995 were reviewed. After those with history of trauma, myasthenia gravis, thyroid eye disease, orbital lesions, Brown syndrome, or monocular elevation deficiency with acquired onset were excluded, 31 patients with congenital monocular elevation deficiency remained for retrospective study. First diagnosed at median age 2.6 years (although all were noted by parents at less than 6 months of age) with mean follow-up of 5.0 years (up to 15.5 years), 9 of 31 (29%) developed dissociated vertical deviation in the eye with monocular elevation deficiency, all of whom had undergone strabismus surgery 0 to 9.7 years previously (mean 3.5 years). Those who developed dissociated vertical deviation were generally younger, were followed up longer, and had more accompanying horizontal strabismus than did those who did not develop dissociated vertical deviation. The results did not reach significance. The current study demonstrates that dissociated vertical deviation occurs in association with monocular elevation deficiency.

Gallium nitride vertical power devices on foreign substrates: a review and outlook

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yuhao; Dadgar, Armin; Palacios, Tomás

2018-07-01

Vertical gallium nitride (GaN) power devices have attracted increased attention due to their superior high-voltage and high-current capacity as well as easier thermal management than lateral GaN high electron mobility transistors. Vertical GaN devices are promising candidates for next-generation power electronics in electric vehicles, data centers, smart grids and renewable energy process. The use of low-cost foreign substrates such as silicon (Si) substrates, instead of the expensive free-standing GaN substrates, could greatly trim material cost and enable large-diameter wafer processing while maintaining high device performance. This review illustrates recent progress in material epitaxy, device design, device physics and processing technologies for the development of vertical GaN power devices on low-cost foreign substrates. Although the device technologies are still at the early stage of development, state-of-the-art vertical GaN-on-Si power diodes have already shown superior Baliga’s figure of merit than commercial SiC and Si power devices at the voltage classes beyond 600 V. Furthermore, we unveil the design space of vertical GaN power devices on native and different foreign substrates, from the analysis of the impact of dislocation and defects on device performance. We conclude by identifying the application space, current challenges and exciting research opportunities in this very dynamic research field.

Human discomfort response to noise combined with vertical vibration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leatherwood, J. D.

1979-01-01

An experimental investigation was conducted (1) to determine the effects of combined environmental noise and vertical vibration upon human subjective discomfort response, (2) to develop a model for the prediction of passenger discomfort response to the combined environment, and (3) to develop a set of noise-vibration curves for use as criteria in ride quality design. Subjects were exposed to parametric combinations of noise and vibrations through the use of a realistic laboratory simulator. Results indicated that accurate prediction of passenger ride comfort requires knowledge of both the level and frequency content of the noise and vibration components of a ride environment as well as knowledge of the interactive effects of combined noise and vibration. A design tool in the form of an empirical model of passenger discomfort response to combined noise and vertical vibration was developed and illustrated by several computational examples. Finally, a set of noise-vibration criteria curves were generated to illustrate the fundamental design trade-off possible between passenger discomfort and the noise-vibration levels that produce the discomfort.

1r2dinv: A finite-difference model for inverse analysis of two dimensional linear or radial groundwater flow

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bohling, Geoffrey C.; Butler, J.J.

2001-01-01

We have developed a program for inverse analysis of two-dimensional linear or radial groundwater flow problems. The program, 1r2dinv, uses standard finite difference techniques to solve the groundwater flow equation for a horizontal or vertical plane with heterogeneous properties. In radial mode, the program simulates flow to a well in a vertical plane, transforming the radial flow equation into an equivalent problem in Cartesian coordinates. The physical parameters in the model are horizontal or x-direction hydraulic conductivity, anisotropy ratio (vertical to horizontal conductivity in a vertical model, y-direction to x-direction in a horizontal model), and specific storage. The program allows the user to specify arbitrary and independent zonations of these three parameters and also to specify which zonal parameter values are known and which are unknown. The Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm is used to estimate parameters from observed head values. Particularly powerful features of the program are the ability to perform simultaneous analysis of heads from different tests and the inclusion of the wellbore in the radial mode. These capabilities allow the program to be used for analysis of suites of well tests, such as multilevel slug tests or pumping tests in a tomographic format. The combination of information from tests stressing different vertical levels in an aquifer provides the means for accurately estimating vertical variations in conductivity, a factor profoundly influencing contaminant transport in the subsurface. ?? 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Developing Soft-Kill Capability for Light Armoured Vehicles through Battlefield Simulations

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-02-01

scripted so they can move, fire, sense, communicate and react without operator intervention. The entities, can interact with each other as well as manned...trace of the laser illuminator. The horizontal scan is 135◦ followed by a vertical angular displacement of 15◦ and retracement. The 15◦ vertical scan...properties based on combined characteristics. An example of a new detector is the laser detecting HARLID. With an angular resolution of ±1◦, it is a

Electric power from vertical-axis wind turbines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Touryan, K. J.; Strickland, J. H.; Berg, D. E.

1987-12-01

Significant advancements have occurred in vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) technology for electrical power generation over the last decade; in particular, well-proven aerodynamic and structural analysis codes have been developed for Darrieus-principle wind turbines. Machines of this type have been built by at least three companies, and about 550 units of various designs are currently in service in California wind farms. Attention is presently given to the aerodynamic characteristics, structural dynamics, systems engineering, and energy market-penetration aspects of VAWTs.

Relation between the Fluctuating Wall Pressure and the Turbulent Structure of a Boundary Layer on a Cylinder in Axial Flow

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-08-12

Shop for their expert assistance during thze design ard development ur the wind tunnel and experimental apparatus; Drs. Alan L. Kistler, Seth Lichter...vertical wind tunnel was designed and built for this research. I With the test section in a vertical orientation, gravity effects leading to cylinder sag...were eliminated. The overall design and layout of the wind tunnel, as well as specific design features incorporated into the wind tunnel to satisfy

Prediction of passenger ride quality in a multifactor environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dempsey, T. K.; Leatherwood, J. D.

1976-01-01

A model being developed, permits the understanding and prediction of passenger discomfort in a multifactor environment with particular emphasis upon combined noise and vibration. The model has general applicability to diverse transportation systems and provides a means of developing ride quality design criteria as well as a diagnostic tool for identifying the vibration and/or noise stimuli causing discomfort. Presented are: (1) a review of the basic theoretical and mathematical computations associated with the model, (2) a discussion of methodological and criteria investigations for both the vertical and roll axes of vibration, (3) a description of within-axis masking of discomfort responses for the vertical axis, thereby allowing prediction of the total discomfort due to any random vertical vibration, (4) a discussion of initial data on between-axis masking, and (5) discussion of a study directed towards extension of the vibration model to the more general case of predicting ride quality in the combined noise and vibration environments.

Design criterion for the heat-transfer coefficient in opposing flow, mixed convention heat transfer in a vertical tube

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Joye, D.D.

1996-07-01

Mixed convection heat transfer in a vertical tube with opposing flow (downflow heating) was studied experimentally for Reynolds numbers ranging from about 1,000 to 30,000 at constant Grashof numbers ranging about 1{1/2} orders of magnitude under constant wall temperature (CWT) conditions. Three correlations developed for opposing mixed convection flows in vertical conduits predicted the data reasonably well, except near and into the asymptote region for which these equations were not designed. A critical Reynolds number is developed here, above which these equations can be used for design purposes regardless of the boundary condition. Below Re{sub crit}, the correlations, the asymptotemore » equation should be used for the CWT boundary condition, which is more prevalent in process situations than the uniform heat flux (UHF) boundary condition.« less

Development of a two-dimensional zonally averaged statistical-dynamical model. III - The parameterization of the eddy fluxes of heat and moisture

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stone, Peter H.; Yao, Mao-Sung

1990-01-01

A number of perpetual January simulations are carried out with a two-dimensional zonally averaged model employing various parameterizations of the eddy fluxes of heat (potential temperature) and moisture. The parameterizations are evaluated by comparing these results with the eddy fluxes calculated in a parallel simulation using a three-dimensional general circulation model with zonally symmetric forcing. The three-dimensional model's performance in turn is evaluated by comparing its results using realistic (nonsymmetric) boundary conditions with observations. Branscome's parameterization of the meridional eddy flux of heat and Leovy's parameterization of the meridional eddy flux of moisture simulate the seasonal and latitudinal variations of these fluxes reasonably well, while somewhat underestimating their magnitudes. New parameterizations of the vertical eddy fluxes are developed that take into account the enhancement of the eddy mixing slope in a growing baroclinic wave due to condensation, and also the effect of eddy fluctuations in relative humidity. The new parameterizations, when tested in the two-dimensional model, simulate the seasonal, latitudinal, and vertical variations of the vertical eddy fluxes quite well, when compared with the three-dimensional model, and only underestimate the magnitude of the fluxes by 10 to 20 percent.

Reservoir characterization of the Mt. Simon Sandstone, Illinois Basin, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Frailey, S.M.; Damico, J.; Leetaru, H.E.

2011-01-01

The integration of open hole well log analyses, core analyses and pressure transient analyses was used for reservoir characterization of the Mt. Simon sandstone. Characterization of the injection interval provides the basis for a geologic model to support the baseline MVA model, specify pressure design requirements of surface equipment, develop completion strategies, estimate injection rates, and project the CO2 plume distribution.The Cambrian-age Mt. Simon Sandstone overlies the Precambrian granite basement of the Illinois Basin. The Mt. Simon is relatively thick formation exceeding 800 meters in some areas of the Illinois Basin. In the deeper part of the basin where sequestration is likely to occur at depths exceeding 1000 m, horizontal core permeability ranges from less than 1 ?? 10-12 cm 2 to greater than 1 ?? 10-8 cm2. Well log and core porosity can be up to 30% in the basal Mt. Simon reservoir. For modeling purposes, reservoir characterization includes absolute horizontal and vertical permeability, effective porosity, net and gross thickness, and depth. For horizontal permeability, log porosity was correlated with core. The core porosity-permeability correlation was improved by using grain size as an indication of pore throat size. After numerous attempts to identify an appropriate log signature, the calculated cementation exponent from Archie's porosity and resistivity relationships was used to identify which porosity-permeability correlation to apply and a permeability log was made. Due to the relatively large thickness of the Mt. Simon, vertical permeability is an important attribute to understand the distribution of CO2 when the injection interval is in the lower part of the unit. Only core analyses and specifically designed pressure transient tests can yield vertical permeability. Many reservoir flow models show that 500-800 m from the injection well most of the CO2 migrates upward depending on the magnitude of the vertical permeability and CO2 injection rate (CO2 velocity). Assigning a specific value of vertical permeability to model cells is dependent on the vertical height of the model cell. Measured vertical permeability on core is scale dependent, such that lower vertical permeability is expected over longer core lengths compared to smaller lengths. Consequently, a series of vertical permeability tests were conducted on whole core varying in lengths of samples from 7 cm to 30 cm that showed vertical perm could change by an order of magnitude over a 30 cm height. For one well, the results from a series of pressure transient tests over a perforated interval much smaller than the gross thickness (<2%) confirmed the core-log based geologic model for vertical and horizontal permeability. A partial penetration model was used to estimate the horizontal and vertical permeability over a portion of the modeled area using series and parallel flow averaging techniques. ?? 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Deforestation in Brazil as seen from STS-66 Atlantis

NASA Image and Video Library

1994-11-14

This near vertical photograph illustrates the differences in agricultural land patterns typically seen in many parts of southwestern Brazil, near the Bolivian border. The larger rectangular field patterns reflect a mature, fully developed agricultural environment. The smaller areas are less well defined and indicate new agricultural development.

Body Emotion Recognition Disproportionately Depends on Vertical Orientations during Childhood

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Balas, Benjamin; Auen, Amanda; Saville, Alyson; Schmidt, Jamie

2018-01-01

Children's ability to recognize emotional expressions from faces and bodies develops during childhood. However, the low-level features that support accurate body emotion recognition during development have not been well characterized. This is in marked contrast to facial emotion recognition, which is known to depend upon specific spatial frequency…

Undesirable leakage to overlying formations with horizontal and vertical injection wells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mosaheb, M.; Zeidouni, M.

2017-12-01

Deep saline aquifers are considered for underground storage of carbon dioxide. Undesirable leakage of injected CO2 to adjacent layers would disturb the storage process and can pollute shallower fresh water resources as well as atmosphere. Leaky caprocks, faults, and abandoned wells are examples of leaky pathways. In addition, the overpressure can reactivate a sealing fault or damage the caprock layer. Pressure management is applicable during the storage operation to avoid these consequences and to reduce undesirable leakage.The fluids can be injected through horizontal wells with a wider interval than vertical wells. Horizontal well injection would make less overpressure by delocalizing induced pressure especially in thin formations. In this work, numerical and analytical approaches are applied to model different leaky pathways with horizontal and vertical injection wells. we compare leakage rate and overpressure for horizontal and vertical injection wells in different leaky pathway systems. Results show that the horizontal well technology would allow high injection rates with lower leakage rate for leaky well, leaky fault, and leaky caprock cases. The overpressure would reduce considerably by horizontal well comparing to vertical well injection especially in leaky fault system. The horizontal well injection is an effective method to avoid reaching to threshold pressure of fault reactivation and prevent the consequent induced seismicity.

A geostatistical approach to estimate mining efficiency indicators with flexible meshes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Freixas, Genis; Garriga, David; Fernàndez-Garcia, Daniel; Sanchez-Vila, Xavier

2014-05-01

Geostatistics is a branch of statistics developed originally to predict probability distributions of ore grades for mining operations by considering the attributes of a geological formation at unknown locations as a set of correlated random variables. Mining exploitations typically aim to maintain acceptable mineral laws to produce commercial products based upon demand. In this context, we present a new geostatistical methodology to estimate strategic efficiency maps that incorporate hydraulic test data, the evolution of concentrations with time obtained from chemical analysis (packer tests and production wells) as well as hydraulic head variations. The methodology is applied to a salt basin in South America. The exploitation is based on the extraction of brines through vertical and horizontal wells. Thereafter, brines are precipitated in evaporation ponds to obtain target potassium and magnesium salts of economic interest. Lithium carbonate is obtained as a byproduct of the production of potassium chloride. Aside from providing an assemble of traditional geostatistical methods, the strength of this study falls with the new methodology developed, which focus on finding the best sites to exploit the brines while maintaining efficiency criteria. Thus, some strategic indicator efficiency maps have been developed under the specific criteria imposed by exploitation standards to incorporate new extraction wells in new areas that would allow maintain or improve production. Results show that the uncertainty quantification of the efficiency plays a dominant role and that the use flexible meshes, which properly describe the curvilinear features associated with vertical stratification, provides a more consistent estimation of the geological processes. Moreover, we demonstrate that the vertical correlation structure at the given salt basin is essentially linked to variations in the formation thickness, which calls for flexible meshes and non-stationarity stochastic processes.

Understanding Atmospheric Anomalies Associated With Seasonal Pluvial-Drought Processes Using Southwest China as an Example

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Zhenchen; Lu, Guihua; He, Hai; Wu, Zhiyong; He, Jian

2017-11-01

Seasonal pluvial-drought transition processes are unique natural phenomena. To explore possible mechanisms, we considered Southwest China (SWC) as the study region and comprehensively investigated the temporal evolution or spatial patterns of large-scale and regional atmospheric variables with the simple method of Standardized Anomalies (SA). Some key procedures and results include the following: (1) Because regional atmospheric variables are more directly responsible for the transition processes, we investigate it in detail. The temporal evolution of net vertical integral water vapor flux (net VIWVF) across SWC, together with vertical SA-based patterns of regional horizontal divergence (D) and vertical motion (ω), coincides well with pluvial-drought transition processes. (2) With respect to large-scale circulation patterns, a well-organized Eurasian (EU) Pattern is one important feature during the pluvial-drought transitions over SWC. (3) Based on these large-scale and regional atmospheric anomalous features, relevant SA-based indices were built, to explore the possibility of simulating drought development using previous pluvial anomalies. As a whole, simulated drought development only with SA-based indices of large-scale circulation patterns does not perform well. Further, it can be improved a lot when SA-based indices of regional D and net VIWVF are introduced. (4) In addition, the potential drought prediction using pluvial anomalies, together with the deep understanding of physical mechanisms responsible for pluvial-drought transitions, need to be further explored.

Multi-level slug tests in highly permeable formations: 2. Hydraulic conductivity identification, method verification, and field applications

USGS Publications Warehouse

Zlotnik, V.A.; McGuire, V.L.

1998-01-01

Using the developed theory and modified Springer-Gelhar (SG) model, an identification method is proposed for estimating hydraulic conductivity from multi-level slug tests. The computerized algorithm calculates hydraulic conductivity from both monotonic and oscillatory well responses obtained using a double-packer system. Field verification of the method was performed at a specially designed fully penetrating well of 0.1-m diameter with a 10-m screen in a sand and gravel alluvial aquifer (MSEA site, Shelton, Nebraska). During well installation, disturbed core samples were collected every 0.6 m using a split-spoon sampler. Vertical profiles of hydraulic conductivity were produced on the basis of grain-size analysis of the disturbed core samples. These results closely correlate with the vertical profile of horizontal hydraulic conductivity obtained by interpreting multi-level slug test responses using the modified SG model. The identification method was applied to interpret the response from 474 slug tests in 156 locations at the MSEA site. More than 60% of responses were oscillatory. The method produced a good match to experimental data for both oscillatory and monotonic responses using an automated curve matching procedure. The proposed method allowed us to drastically increase the efficiency of each well used for aquifer characterization and to process massive arrays of field data. Recommendations generalizing this experience to massive application of the proposed method are developed.Using the developed theory and modified Springer-Gelhar (SG) model, an identification method is proposed for estimating hydraulic conductivity from multi-level slug tests. The computerized algorithm calculates hydraulic conductivity from both monotonic and oscillatory well responses obtained using a double-packer system. Field verification of the method was performed at a specially designed fully penetrating well of 0.1-m diameter with a 10-m screen in a sand and gravel alluvial aquifer (MSEA site, Shelton, Nebraska). During well installation, disturbed core samples were collected every 0.6 m using a split-spoon sampler. Vertical profiles of hydraulic conductivity were produced on the basis of grain-size analysis of the disturbed core samples. These results closely correlate with the vertical profile of horizontal hydraulic conductivity obtained by interpreting multi-level slug test responses using the modified SG model. The identification method was applied to interpret the response from 474 slug tests in 156 locations at the MSEA site. More than 60% of responses were oscillatory. The method produced a good match to experimental data for both oscillatory and monotonic responses using an automated curve matching procedure. The proposed method allowed us to drastically increase the efficiency of each well used for aquifer characterization and to process massive arrays of field data. Recommendations generalizing this experience to massive application of the proposed method are developed.

A decade of drilling developments pays off in offshore Italian oil field

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dussert, P.; Santoro, G.; Soudet, H.

1988-02-29

As the only oil field in the world producing systematically through horizontal wells, Rospo Mare, the Italian oil field in the Adriatic, is s ''first.'' Rospo Mare is an uncommon oil field because the nature of its reservoir and the characteristics of its oil prevent it from being produced through conventional vertical wells. But thanks to horizontal drilling techniques developed since 1977 by Elf Aquitaine and the Institut Francaise du Petrole (IFP), the field was producing 22,00 b/d of crude oil on Jan. 1, 1988. Of this, 19,000 b/d came from six horizontal wells and 3,000 b/d from three verticalmore » or deviated wells. For comparison, on Jan. 1, 1987, the field produced only 4,300 b/d through a single horizontal well, two vertical wells, and one deviated well. Rospo Mare is a joint venture of Elf Italiana (61.7%), the operator, and AGIP (38.3%). A description in this article of the challenge of Rospo Mare and the results to date set the stage for a series of articles in coming weeks. They will cover the state of the art in not only drilling, but horizontal completions, production, log interpretation, and other aspects of this major oil industry technology.« less

Hydraulic induced instability on a vertical service

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bosmans, R. F.

1985-01-01

The case history contained provides insight toward the mechanical and hydraulic behavior of a vertical pump. It clearly demonstrates the need for measurements on the rotor at or near the impeller area. The results are reported of an analysis on a service water pump. This pump is typical of the water pumps used throughout the power generation industry. Although little is known of the mechanical behavior of vertical pumps because of difficulty in modeling the rotor system, recent developments in the application of submersible proximity transducers have made possible the measurement of pump dynamics under operating conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the proper selection and installation of vibration-monitoring transducers as well as to measure the effects of imbalance, misalignment, and hydraulics on the performance and reliability of vertical pumps. In addition, the cause of shaft failures on this pump was to be determined.

Vertical migration of municipal wastewater in deep injection well systems, South Florida, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maliva, Robert G.; Guo, Weixing; Missimer, Thomas

2007-11-01

Deep well injection is widely used in South Florida, USA for wastewater disposal largely because of the presence of an injection zone (“boulder zone” of Floridan Aquifer System) that is capable of accepting very large quantities of fluids, in some wells over 75,000 m3/day. The greatest potential risk to public health associated with deep injection wells in South Florida is vertical migration of wastewater, containing pathogenic microorganisms and pollutants, into brackish-water aquifer zones that are being used for alternative water-supply projects such as aquifer storage and recovery. Upwards migration of municipal wastewater has occurred in a minority of South Florida injection systems. The results of solute-transport modeling using the SEAWAT program indicate that the measured vertical hydraulic conductivities of the rock matrix would allow for only minimal vertical migration. Fracturing at some sites increased the equivalent average vertical hydraulic conductivity of confining zone strata by approximately four orders of magnitude and allowed for vertical migration rates of up 80 m/year. Even where vertical migration was rapid, the documented transit times are likely long enough for the inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms.

On the manifestation of coexisting nontrivial equilibria leading to potential well escapes in an inhomogeneous floating body

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sequeira, Dane; Wang, Xue-She; Mann, B. P.

2018-02-01

This paper examines the bifurcation and stability behavior of inhomogeneous floating bodies, specifically a rectangular prism with asymmetric mass distribution. A nonlinear model is developed to determine the stability of the upright and tilted equilibrium positions as a function of the vertical position of the center of mass within the prism. These equilibria positions are defined by an angle of rotation and a vertical position where rotational motion is restricted to a two dimensional plane. Numerical investigations are conducted using path-following continuation methods to determine equilibria solutions and evaluate stability. Bifurcation diagrams and basins of attraction that illustrate the stability of the equilibrium positions as a function of the vertical position of the center of mass within the prism are generated. These results reveal complex stability behavior with many coexisting solutions. Static experiments are conducted to validate equilibria orientations against numerical predictions with results showing good agreement. Dynamic experiments that examine potential well hopping behavior in a waveflume for various wave conditions are also conducted.

Evaluation of a buried vertical well leachate recirculation system for municipal solid waste landfills.

PubMed

Kadambala, Ravi; Powell, Jon; Singh, Karamjit; Townsend, Timothy G

2016-12-01

Vertical liquids addition systems have been used at municipal landfills as a leachate management method and to enhance biostabilization of waste. Drawbacks of these systems include a limitation on pressurized injection and the occurrence of seepage. A novel vertical well system that employed buried wells constructed below a lift of compacted waste was operated for 153 days at a landfill in Florida, USA. The system included 54 wells installed in six clusters of nine wells connected with a horizontally-oriented manifold system. A cumulative volume of 8430 m 3 of leachate was added intermittently into the well clusters over the duration of the project with no incidence of surface seeps. Achievable average flow rates ranged from 9.3 × 10 -4 m 3 s -1 to 14.2 × 10 -4 m 3 s -1 , which was similar to or greater than flow rates achieved in a previous study using traditional vertical wells at the same landfill site. The results demonstrated that pressurized liquids addition in vertical wells at municipal solid waste landfills can be achieved while avoiding typical operational and maintenance issues associated with seeps. © The Author(s) 2016.

Analysis of Ground-Water Levels and Associated Trends in Yucca Flat, Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada, 1951-2003

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

J.M. Fenelon

2005-10-05

Almost 4,000 water-level measurements in 216 wells in the Yucca Flat area from 1951 to 2003 were quality assured and analyzed. An interpretative database was developed that describes water-level conditions for each water level measured in Yucca Flat. Multiple attributes were assigned to each water-level measurement in the database to describe the hydrologic conditions at the time of measurement. General quality, temporal variability, regional significance, and hydrologic conditions are attributed for each water-level measurement. The database also includes narratives that discuss the water-level history of each well. Water levels in 34 wells were analyzed for variability and for statistically significantmore » trends. An attempt was made to identify the cause of many of the water-level fluctuations or trends. Potential causes include equilibration following well construction or development, pumping in the monitoring well, withdrawals from a nearby supply well, recharge from precipitation, earthquakes, underground nuclear tests, land subsidence, barometric pressure, and Earth tides. Some of the naturally occurring fluctuations in water levels may result from variations in recharge. The magnitude of the overall water-level change for these fluctuations generally is less than 2 feet. Long-term steady-state hydrographs for most of the wells open to carbonate rock have a very similar pattern. Carbonate-rock wells without the characteristic pattern are directly west of the Yucca and Topgallant faults in the southwestern part of Yucca Flat. Long-term steady-state hydrographs from wells open to volcanic tuffs or the Eleana confining unit have a distinctly different pattern from the general water-level pattern of the carbonate-rock aquifers. Anthropogenic water-level fluctuations were caused primarily by water withdrawals and nuclear testing. Nuclear tests affected water levels in many wells. Trends in these wells are attributed to test-cavity infilling or the effects of depressurization following nuclear testing. The magnitude of the overall water-level change for wells with anthropogenic trends can be large, ranging from several feet to hundreds of feet. Vertical water-level differences at 27 sites in Yucca Flat with multiple open intervals were compared. Large vertical differences were noted in volcanic rocks and in boreholes where water levels were affected by nuclear tests. Small vertical differences were noted within the carbonate-rock and valley-fill aquifers. Vertical hydraulic gradients generally are downward in volcanic rocks and from pre-Tertiary clastic rocks toward volcanic- or carbonate-rock units.« less

Analysis of ground-water levels and associated trends in Yucca Flat, Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada, 1951-2003

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fenelon, Joseph M.

2005-01-01

Almost 4,000 water-level measurements in 216 wells in the Yucca Flat area from 1951 to 2003 were quality assured and analyzed. An interpretative database was developed that describes water-level conditions for each water level measured in Yucca Flat. Multiple attributes were assigned to each water-level measurement in the database to describe the hydrologic conditions at the time of measurement. General quality, temporal variability, regional significance, and hydrologic conditions are attributed for each water-level measurement. The database also includes narratives that discuss the water-level history of each well. Water levels in 34 wells were analyzed for variability and for statistically significant trends. An attempt was made to identify the cause of many of the water-level fluctuations or trends. Potential causes include equilibration following well construction or development, pumping in the monitoring well, withdrawals from a nearby supply well, recharge from precipitation, earthquakes, underground nuclear tests, land subsidence, barometric pressure, and Earth tides. Some of the naturally occurring fluctuations in water levels may result from variations in recharge. The magnitude of the overall water-level change for these fluctuations generally is less than 2 feet. Long-term steady-state hydrographs for most of the wells open to carbonate rock have a very similar pattern. Carbonate-rock wells without the characteristic pattern are directly west of the Yucca and Topgallant faults in the southwestern part of Yucca Flat. Long-term steady-state hydrographs from wells open to volcanic tuffs or the Eleana confining unit have a distinctly different pattern from the general water-level pattern of the carbonate-rock aquifers. Anthropogenic water-level fluctuations were caused primarily by water withdrawals and nuclear testing. Nuclear tests affected water levels in many wells. Trends in these wells are attributed to test-cavity infilling or the effects of depressurization following nuclear testing. The magnitude of the overall water-level change for wells with anthropogenic trends can be large, ranging from several feet to hundreds of feet. Vertical water-level differences at 27 sites in Yucca Flat with multiple open intervals were compared. Large vertical differences were noted in volcanic rocks and in boreholes where water levels were affected by nuclear tests. Small vertical differences were noted within the carbonate-rock and valley-fill aquifers. Vertical hydraulic gradients generally are downward in volcanic rocks and from pre-Tertiary clastic rocks toward volcanic- or carbonate-rock units.

ACES M and S: Unmitigated Factorial Encounter Study on DAA/TCAS Interoperability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thipphavong, David; Cone, Andrew; Park, Chunki; Lee, Seung Man; Santiago, Confesor

2016-01-01

Realization of the expected proliferation of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operations in the National Airspace System (NAS) depends on the development and validation of standards for UAS Detect and Avoid (DAA) Systems. The RTCA Special Committee 228 is charged with leading the development of draft Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for UAS DAA Systems. NASA, as a participating member of RTCA SC-228 is committed to supporting the development and validation of draft requirements for DAA alerting and guidance systems. This presentation contains the results of two combinatorial encounter analysis studies using NASA's SAA Control fast-time simulation capability for this purpose. In these studies, encounters between two aircraft were simulated one at a time for the full factorial combination of encounter geometries (e.g., encounter angle, CPA offset) and aircraft performance (e.g., ownership and intruder ground speeds and vertical rates). The first study analyzes the relationships (e.g., timeline) between the different alerting-safety regions in the SC-228 MOPS (in order of increasing severity): 1) DAA warning alert, 2) well clear recovery (WCR) guidance, 3) DAA-Collision Avoidance (CA), and 4) TCAS RA. This study will focus primarily on encounter situations in which TCAS RA occurs prior to any of the other alerting-safety boundaries. In particular, this study will investigate whether using vertical distance or vertical distance at closest point of approach (i.e., vertical miss distance or VMD) is more appropriate for the definition of the DAA-CA region. In addition, cases where transitions between different regions skip an intermediate region will be analyzed. The second study in this presentation explores a proposal to use an altitude rate error threshold to determine if vertical maneuvers are acceptable for DAA WCR guidance against non-cooperative intruders. This study incorporates the radar from the Honeywell sensor model and examines a series of pairwise encounters between a non-cooperative intruder and a UAS ownship, with different combinations of intruder states and ownship performance levels. The study uses SAA Control as a simulation platform and pilot model, and Omnibands to provide DWC recovery guidance. Two simulation sets, one that allows vertical DWC recovery guidance and one that does not, are compared to determine if encounters with altitude rate errors above 250 feet-per-minute are more likely to have more severe losses of well clear, as determined by the Loss of Well-Clear Severity metric.

Development of internalizing problems from adolescence to emerging adulthood: Accounting for heterotypic continuity with vertical scaling.

PubMed

Petersen, Isaac T; Lindhiem, Oliver; LeBeau, Brandon; Bates, John E; Pettit, Gregory S; Lansford, Jennifer E; Dodge, Kenneth A

2018-03-01

Manifestations of internalizing problems, such as specific symptoms of anxiety and depression, can change across development, even if individuals show strong continuity in rank-order levels of internalizing problems. This illustrates the concept of heterotypic continuity, and raises the question of whether common measures might be construct-valid for one age but not another. This study examines mean-level changes in internalizing problems across a long span of development at the same time as accounting for heterotypic continuity by using age-appropriate, changing measures. Internalizing problems from age 14-24 were studied longitudinally in a community sample (N = 585), using Achenbach's Youth Self-Report (YSR) and Young Adult Self-Report (YASR). Heterotypic continuity was evaluated with an item response theory (IRT) approach to vertical scaling, linking different measures over time to be on the same scale, as well as with a Thurstone scaling approach. With vertical scaling, internalizing problems peaked in mid-to-late adolescence and showed a group-level decrease from adolescence to early adulthood, a change that would not have been seen with the approach of using only age-common items. Individuals' trajectories were sometimes different than would have been seen with the common-items approach. Findings support the importance of considering heterotypic continuity when examining development and vertical scaling to account for heterotypic continuity with changing measures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

A new vertical axis wind turbine design for urban areas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frunzulica, Florin; Cismilianu, Alexandru; Boros, Alexandru; Dumitrache, Alexandru; Suatean, Bogdan

2016-06-01

In this paper we aim at developing the model of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) with the short-term goal of physically realising this turbine to operate at a maximmum power of 5 kW. The turbine is designed for household users in the urban or rural areas and remote or isolated residential areas (hardly accsessible). The proposed model has a biplane configuration on each arm of the VAWT (3 × 2 = 6 blades), allowing for increased performance of the turbine at TSR between 2 and 2.5 (urban area operation) compared to the classic vertical axis turbines. Results that validate the proposed configuration as well as passive control methods to increase the performance of the classic VAWTs are presented.

Paleoclimatic interpretations for clay-rich paleosols--Potential and limitations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Blodgett, R.H.

1992-01-01

A worldwide survey of Quaternary Vertisols and pre-Quaternary vertic paleosols indicates that these soils have morphologic features which may allow for a refined assessment of seasonal wet-dry paleoclimates. Optimal development of vertisols occurs under wet/dry tropical and subtropical climates with annual rainfall of 500-1,000 mm/yr. These typic Vertisols'' have well-developed gilgai, subsurface bowl and dome macrostructure, cross-cutting slickensided surfaces, and disseminated pedogenic carbonate nodules. Typic Vertisols occur in central Texas, East Africa, India and Australia. Corresponding typic vertic paleosols have been found in 14 Paleozoic formations of Pangea. Humid Vertisols can be difficult to distinguish from typic forms. In themore » humid group, carbonate nodules are absent or few in number and smaller in size. Nodules commonly show surficial pitting from dissolution. Humid Vertisols occur in East Texas, the central Gulf Coast, Central America, Caribbean, and Papau-New Guinea. Paleosol equivalents have been described in Mesozoic and Carboniferous rocks of North America. Dry Vertisols have subdued gilgai, well-developed surficial mulch, large sediment-filled desiccation cracks, common carbonate nodules, and in some areas, disseminated crystals or veins of gypsum. These soils occur in the southwestern U.S., Sahel, and in Australia. Dry vertic paleosols have been identified in Cenozoic deposits of Texas and North Africa. The above assessments may not be possible in composite paleosols or in soils influenced by a shallow water table.« less

Flow-Meter and Passive Diffusion Bag Tests and Potential Influences on the Vertical Distribution of Contaminants in Wells at Galena Airport, Galena, Alaska, August to October 2002

USGS Publications Warehouse

Vroblesky, Don A.; Peterson, J.E.

2004-01-01

Past activities at Galena Airport, a U.S. Air Force Base in Galena, Alaska, have resulted in ground-water contamination by volatile organic compounds. The primary contaminants are petroleum hydrocarbons and chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons. The U.S. Geological Survey and Earth Tech, in cooperation with the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence, conducted investigations at Galena Airport from August to October 2002 using polyethylene diffusion bag samplers and borehole flow-meter testing to examine the vertical distribution of ground-water contamination in selected wells. This investigation was limited to the vicinity of building 1845 and to the area between building 1845 and the Yukon River. In addition, the U.S. Geological Survey was asked to determine whether additional wells are needed to more clearly define the nature and extent of the ground-water contamination at the Air Force Base. Little or no vertical water movement occurred under ambient conditions in the wells tested at Galena Airport, Alaska, in August 2002. All of the ambient vertical flows detected in wells were at rates less than the quantitative limit of the borehole flow meter (0.03 gallons per minute). In wells 06-MW-07 and 10-MW-01, no vertical flow was detected. In wells where ambient flow was detected, the direction of flow was downward. In general, concentrations of volatile organic compounds detected in the low-flow samples from wells at Galena Airport were approximately the same concentrations detected in the closest polyethylene diffusion bag sample for a wide variety of volatile organic compounds. The data indicate that the polyethylene diffusion bag sample results are consistent with the low-flow sample results. Vertical profiling of selected wells using polyethylene diffusion bag samplers at Galena Airport showed that from September 30 to October 1, 2002, little vertical change occurred in volatile organic compound concentrations along the screen length despite the fact that little or no vertical flow was measured in most of the tested wells in August 2002. Two of the wells (10-MW-03 and 06-MW-01) had slightly greater vertical concentration variation for some constituents. In these wells, the contaminant depth probably is lithologically influenced. The close match between concentrations measured in polyethylene diffusion bag and low-flow samples indicates that the bag samples accurately represent the distribution of volatile organic compounds in the wells. It is unclear, however, whether the distribution of volatile organic compounds in the wells, as indicated by the bag samplers, represents contaminant distributions in the aquifer or transient movement within the wells. The probable change in well hydraulics between August and late September to October indicates that the relatively uniform vertical distribution of volatile organic compounds in some of the wells may represent in-well mixing. This uncertainty could be clarified by the installation and sampling of well clusters at various times of the year. Additional insight into the vertical distribution of contamination and flow possibly could be obtained by conducting flow-meter tests and collecting polyethylene diffusion bag samples from selected wells at different times of the year. The westernmost contaminant plume at Million Gallon Hill appears to be surrounded by sufficient monitoring wells to detect changes in the plume extent; however, the installation of additional wells at Galena Airport has the potential to provide additional information on the extent of ground-water contamination in the remaining plumes. The additional information to be gained includes better definition of the vertical and lateral extents of the plumes and better definition of the ground-water flow directions.

Well pattern optimization in a low permeability sandstone reservoir: a case study from Erlian Basin in China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xia; Fu, Lixia; Yan, Aihua; Guo, Fajun; Wu, Cong; Chen, Hong; Wang, Xinying; Lu, Ming

2018-02-01

Study on optimization of development well patterns is the core content of oilfield development and is a prerequisite for rational and effective development of oilfield. The study on well pattern optimization mainly includes types of well patterns and density of well patterns. This paper takes the Aer-3 fault block as an example. Firstly, models were built for diamond-shaped inverted 9-spot patterns, rectangular 5-spot patterns, square inverted 9-spot patterns and inverted 7-spot patterns under the same well pattern density to correlate the effect of different well patterns on development; secondly, comprehensive analysis was conducted to well pattern density in terms of economy and technology using such methods as oil reservoir engineering, numerical simulation, economic limits and economic rationality. Finally, the development mode of vertical well + horizontal well was presented according to the characteristics of oil reservoirs in some well blocks, which has realized efficient development of this fault block.

Suppressed power saturation due to optimized optical confinement in 9xx nm high-power diode lasers that use extreme double asymmetric vertical designs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaul, T.; Erbert, G.; Maaßdorf, A.; Knigge, S.; Crump, P.

2018-03-01

Broad area lasers with novel extreme double asymmetric structure (EDAS) vertical designs featuring increased optical confinement in the quantum well, Γ, are shown to have improved temperature stability without compromising series resistance, internal efficiency or losses. Specifically, we present here vertical design considerations for the improved continuous wave (CW) performance of devices operating at 940 nm, based on systematically increasing Γ from 0.26% to 1.1%, and discuss the impact on power saturation mechanisms. The results indicate that key power saturation mechanisms at high temperatures originate in high threshold carrier densities, which arise in the quantum well at low Γ. The characteristic temperatures, T 0 and T 1, are determined under short pulse conditions and are used to clarify the thermal contribution to power limiting mechanisms. Although increased Γ reduces thermal power saturation, it is accompanied by increased optical absorption losses in the active region, which has a significant impact on the differential external quantum efficiency, {η }{{diff}}. To quantify the impact of internal optical losses contributed by the quantum well, a resonator length-dependent simulation of {η }{{diff}} is performed and compared to the experiment, which also allows the estimation of experimental values for the light absorption cross sections of electrons and holes inside the quantum well. Overall, the analysis enables vertical designs to be developed, for devices with maximized power conversion efficiency at high CW optical power and high temperatures, in a trade-off between absorption in the well and power saturation. The best balance to date is achieved in devices using EDAS designs with {{Γ }}=0.54 % , which deliver efficiencies of 50% at 14 W optical output power at an elevated junction temperature of 105 °C.

Walkaway-VSP survey using distributed optical fiber in China oilfield

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Junjun; Yu, Gang; Zhang, Qinghong; Li, Yanpeng; Cai, Zhidong; Chen, Yuanzhong; Liu, Congwei; Zhao, Haiying; Li, Fei

2017-10-01

Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is a new type of replacement technology for geophysical geophone. DAS system is similar to high-density surface seismic geophone array. In the stage of acquisition, DAS can obtain the full well data with one shot. And it can provide enhanced vertical seismic profile (VSP) imaging and monitor fluids and pressures changes in the hydrocarbon production reservoir. Walkaway VSP data acquired over a former producing well in north eastern China provided a rich set of very high quality data. A standard VSP data pre-processing workflow was applied, followed by pre-stack Kirchhoff time migration. In the DAS pre-processing step we were faced with additional and special challenges: strong coherent noise due to cable slapping and ringing along the borehole casing. The single well DAS Walkaway VSP images provide a good result with higher vertical and lateral resolution than the surface seismic in the objective area. This paper reports on lessons learned in the handling of the wireline cable and subsequent special DAS data processing steps developed to remediate some of the practical wireline deployment issues. Optical wireline cable as a conveyance of fiber optic cables for VSP in vertical wells will open the use of the DAS system to much wider applications.

Exploring Moderators to Understand the Association Between Vertical Collectivism and Psychological Well-Being Among Asian Canadian Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Na, Sumin; Spanierman, Lisa B.; Lalonde, Christopher E.

2017-01-01

First, the authors investigated the direct associations of vertical collectivism, ethnic identity exploration, and ethnic identity commitment with psychological well-being among first-generation Asian Canadian university students in Canada (n = 78). Second, to gain a more nuanced understanding of the association between vertical collectivism and…

Elf cites 5 advantages of horizontal drilling

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1984-06-01

ELF Aquitaine used horizontal drilling during a pilot test program to bring commercial production from its Rospo Mare oil discovery in the Adriatic, which would have been a costly disappointment if drilled by a conventional vertical well bore. Rospo Mare is a large reservoir containing a top column of highly viscous crude underlain by a water column. The company felt that a well bore that penetrated the reservoir vertically would bring early flooding of the oil column and yield only water. By penetrating the reservoir with a horizontal well drilled high in the oil column, the well successfully produced onmore » numerous tests from Oct. 1982 until the end of the test program in 1983. Production was termed excellent, with productivity during tests reportedly reaching ca 15 times the rate produced from nearby vertical wells. However, ELF said the results usually average ca 5 times the usual rate of vertical wells.« less

A coupled physical-biological pelagic model of a shallow sill fjord

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aksnes, Dag L.; Lie, Ulf

1990-10-01

A vertically resolved model for the land-locked fjord Lindåspollene, western Norway is presented. Salinity, temperature, oxygen, nitrogen-nutrients, silicate, and two groups of phytoplankton and herbivores are represented as dynamic variables. From 'below' the model is driven by solar radiation, precipitation, wind and tidal exchange and from 'above' by herbivore mortality. Simulation results are presented and discussed together with actual observations from Lindåspollene. The main seasonal and vertical characteristics of the phytoplankton and herbivore dynamics seem to be well reflected by the model, and realistic seasonal patterns may be produced for several successive years. The most characteristic vertical features are the formation of a summer surface production maximum and a deep chlorophyll maximum. Furthermore, a herbivore biomass which develops in the surface layer divides into a shallow and a deep component during summer and becomes concentrated in the surface layer again in the autumn. The nutricline and the pycnocline develop independently of one another, with consequences for the supply of nutrients to the upper euphotic zone. The bottom-up control exerted by the meteorological forcing, especially the freshwater runoff, seems to be of paramount significance for the observed vertical structure and seasonality of the present fjord system.

Vertical force and torque analysis during mechanical preparation of extracted teeth using hand ProTaper instruments.

PubMed

Glavičić, Snježana; Anić, Ivica; Braut, Alen; Miletić, Ivana; Borčić, Josipa

2011-08-01

The purpose was to measure and analyse the vertical force and torque developed in the wider and narrower root canals during hand ProTaper instrumentation. Twenty human incisors were divided in two groups. Upper incisors were experimental model for the wide, while the lower incisors for the narrow root canals. Measurements of the force and torque were done by a device constructed for this purpose. Differences between the groups were statistically analysed by Mann-Whitney U-test with the significance level set to P<0.05. Vertical force in the upper incisors ranged 0.25-2.58 N, while in the lower incisors 0.38-6.94 N. Measured torque in the upper incisors ranged 0.53-12.03 Nmm, while in the lower incisor ranged 0.94-10.0 Nmm. Vertical force and torque were higher in the root canals of smaller diameter. The increase in the contact surface results in increase of the vertical force and torque as well in both narrower and wider root canals. © 2010 The Authors. Australian Endodontic Journal © 2010 Australian Society of Endodontology.

Forces on stationary particles in near-bed turbulent flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmeeckle, Mark W.; Nelson, Jonathan M.; Shreve, Ronald L.

2007-06-01

In natural flows, bed sediment particles are entrained and moved by the fluctuating forces, such as lift and drag, exerted by the overlying flow on the particles. To develop a better understanding of these forces and the relation of the forces to the local flow, the downstream and vertical components of force on near-bed fixed particles and of fluid velocity above or in front of them were measured synchronously at turbulence-resolving frequencies (200 or 500 Hz) in a laboratory flume. Measurements were made for a spherical test particle fixed at various heights above a smooth bed, above a smooth bed downstream of a downstream-facing step, and in a gravel bed of similarly sized particles as well as for a cubical test particle and 7 natural particles above a smooth bed. Horizontal force was well correlated with downstream velocity and not correlated with vertical velocity or vertical momentum flux. The standard drag formula worked well to predict the horizontal force, but the required value of the drag coefficient was significantly higher than generally used to model bed load motion. For the spheres, cubes, and natural particles, average drag coefficients were found to be 0.76, 1.36, and 0.91, respectively. For comparison, the drag coefficient for a sphere settling in still water at similar particle Reynolds numbers is only about 0.4. The variability of the horizontal force relative to its mean was strongly increased by the presence of the step and the gravel bed. Peak deviations were about 30% of the mean force for the sphere over the smooth bed, about twice the mean with the step, and 4 times it for the sphere protruding roughly half its diameter above the gravel bed. Vertical force correlated poorly with downstream velocity, vertical velocity, and vertical momentum flux whether measured over or ahead of the test particle. Typical formulas for shear-induced lift based on Bernoulli's principle poorly predict the vertical forces on near-bed particles. The measurements suggest that particle-scale pressure variations associated with turbulence are significant in the particle momentum balance.

Forces on stationary particles in near-bed turbulent flows

USGS Publications Warehouse

Schmeeckle, M.W.; Nelson, J.M.; Shreve, R.L.

2007-01-01

In natural flows, bed sediment particles are entrained and moved by the fluctuating forces, such as lift and drag, exerted by the overlying flow on the particles. To develop a better understanding of these forces and the relation of the forces to the local flow, the downstream and vertical components of force on near-bed fixed particles and of fluid velocity above or in front of them were measured synchronously at turbulence-resolving frequencies (200 or 500 Hz) in a laboratory flume. Measurements were made for a spherical test particle fixed at various heights above a smooth bed, above a smooth bed downstream of a downstream-facing step, and in a gravel bed of similarly sized particles as well as for a cubical test particle and 7 natural particles above a smooth bed. Horizontal force was well correlated with downstream velocity and not correlated with vertical velocity or vertical momentum flux. The standard drag formula worked well to predict the horizontal force, but the required value of the drag coefficient was significantly higher than generally used to model bed load motion. For the spheres, cubes, and natural particles, average drag coefficients were found to be 0.76, 1.36, and 0.91, respectively. For comparison, the drag coefficient for a sphere settling in still water at similar particle Reynolds numbers is only about 0.4. The variability of the horizontal force relative to its mean was strongly increased by the presence of the step and the gravel bed. Peak deviations were about 30% of the mean force for the sphere over the smooth bed, about twice the mean with the step, and 4 times it for the sphere protruding roughly half its diameter above the gravel bed. Vertical force correlated poorly with downstream velocity, vertical velocity, and vertical momentum flux whether measured over or ahead of the test particle. Typical formulas for shear-induced lift based on Bernoulli's principle poorly predict the vertical forces on near-bed particles. The measurements suggest that particle-scale pressure variations associated with turbulence are significant in the particle momentum balance. Copyright 2007 by the American Geophysical Union.

Three-dimensional modelling of leachate recirculation using vertical wells in bioreactor landfills.

PubMed

Feng, Shi-Jin; Chen, Zheng-Wei; Cao, Ben-Yi

2016-12-01

Bioreactor landfills use leachate recirculation to enhance the biodegradation of municipal solid waste and accelerate landfill stabilisation, which can provide significant environmental and economic benefits. Vertical wells are operated as a major method for leachate recirculation systems. The objectives of this article are to analyse the leachate migration in bioreactor landfills using vertical wells and to offer theoretical basis for the design of leachate recirculation systems. A three-dimensional numerical model was built using FLAC-3D, and this model can consider the saturated and unsaturated flow of leachate within anisotropic waste to reflect the actual conditions. First, main influence factors of leachate migration were analysed, including the vertical well height, hydraulic conductivity, and anisotropic coefficient, in a single-well recirculation system. Then, the effects of different configurations of a group-well system were studied and the optimal well spacing was obtained. Some key design parameters (e.g. the recirculation flow rate, volume of impact zone, radius of impact zone and time to reach steady state) were also evaluated. The results show that the hydraulic conductivity has a great impact on the optimal height of vertical wells and uniform configuration is the best option in terms of both volume of impact zone and time to reach steady state. © The Author(s) 2016.

Technical Note: Approximate solution of transient drawdown for constant-flux pumping at a partially penetrating well in a radial two-zone confined aquifer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, C.-S.; Yang, S.-Y.; Yeh, H.-D.

2015-06-01

An aquifer consisting of a skin zone and a formation zone is considered as a two-zone aquifer. Existing solutions for the problem of constant-flux pumping in a two-zone confined aquifer involve laborious calculation. This study develops a new approximate solution for the problem based on a mathematical model describing steady-state radial and vertical flows in a two-zone aquifer. Hydraulic parameters in these two zones can be different but are assumed homogeneous in each zone. A partially penetrating well may be treated as the Neumann condition with a known flux along the screened part and zero flux along the unscreened part. The aquifer domain is finite with an outer circle boundary treated as the Dirichlet condition. The steady-state drawdown solution of the model is derived by the finite Fourier cosine transform. Then, an approximate transient solution is developed by replacing the radius of the aquifer domain in the steady-state solution with an analytical expression for a dimensionless time-dependent radius of influence. The approximate solution is capable of predicting good temporal drawdown distributions over the whole pumping period except at the early stage. A quantitative criterion for the validity of neglecting the vertical flow due to a partially penetrating well is also provided. Conventional models considering radial flow without the vertical component for the constant-flux pumping have good accuracy if satisfying the criterion.

Estimation of hepatitis C virus infections resulting from vertical transmission in Egypt.

PubMed

Benova, Lenka; Awad, Susanne F; Miller, F DeWolfe; Abu-Raddad, Laith J

2015-03-01

Despite having the highest hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence in the world, the ongoing level of HCV incidence in Egypt and its drivers are poorly understood. Whereas HCV mother-to-child infection is a well-established transmission route, there are no estimates of HCV infections resulting from vertical transmission for any country, including Egypt. The aim of this study was to estimate the absolute number of new HCV infections resulting from vertical transmission in Egypt. We developed a conceptual framework of HCV vertical transmission, expressed in terms of a mathematical model and based on maternal HCV antibody and viremia. The mathematical model estimated the number of HCV vertical infections nationally and for six subnational areas. Applying two vertical transmission risk estimates to the 2008 Egyptian birth cohort, we estimated that between 3,080 and 5,167 HCV infections resulted from vertical transmission among children born in 2008. HCV vertical transmission may account for half of incident cases in the <5-year age group. Disproportionately higher proportions of vertical infections were estimated in Lower Rural and Upper Rural subnational areas. This geographical clustering was a result of higher-area-level HCV prevalence among women and higher fertility rates. Vertical transmission is one of the primary HCV infection routes among children<5 years in Egypt. The absolute number of vertical transmissions and the young age at infection highlight a public health concern. These findings also emphasize the need to quantify the relative contributions of other transmission routes to HCV incidence in Egypt. © 2014 The Authors. Hepatology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc., on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

Predicting the vertical structure of tidal current and salinity in San Francisco Bay, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ford, Michael; Wang, Jia; Cheng, Ralph T.

1990-01-01

A two-dimensional laterally averaged numerical estuarine model is developed to study the vertical variations of tidal hydrodynamic properties in the central/north part of San Francisco Bay, California. Tidal stage data, current meter measurements, and conductivity, temperature, and depth profiling data in San Francisco Bay are used for comparison with model predictions. An extensive review of the literature is conducted to assess the success and failure of previous similar investigations and to establish a strategy for development of the present model. A σ plane transformation is used in the vertical dimension to alleviate problems associated with fixed grid model applications in the bay, where the tidal range can be as much as 20–25% of the total water depth. Model predictions of tidal stage and velocity compare favorably with the available field data, and prototype salinity stratification is qualitatively reproduced. Conclusions from this study as well as future model applications and research needs are discussed.

Students helping students: vertical peer mentoring to enhance the medical school experience.

PubMed

Andre, Christine; Deerin, Jessica; Leykum, Luci

2017-05-02

Effective mentoring is an important component of medical student professional development. We provide a description of the mentoring program at our institution. Our institution UTHSCSA implemented a student-advising program (Veritas) with clinical faculty mentors and senior students (MiMs). The MiMs provided vertical peer mentoring to more junior students as an adjunct to faculty advising. The MiMs lead small group discussions that foster camaraderie, share academic and career information and promote professional identity. An optional MiM elective more intensively develops mentorship and leadership skills through a formal curriculum. The authors used annual survey data of all students as well as student mentors to evaluate program effectiveness. Overall, student perception of the program improved each year across multiple domains, including feeling more prepared, supported and satisfied with their overall experience in medical school. Student mentors also found the process rewarding and helpful to their future careers as physicians. The authors suggest implementing a vertical peer-mentoring program can be an effective adjunct to faculty mentoring.

Applying probabilistic well-performance parameters to assessments of shale-gas resources

USGS Publications Warehouse

Charpentier, Ronald R.; Cook, Troy

2010-01-01

In assessing continuous oil and gas resources, such as shale gas, it is important to describe not only the ultimately producible volumes, but also the expected well performance. This description is critical to any cost analysis or production scheduling. A probabilistic approach facilitates (1) the inclusion of variability in well performance within a continuous accumulation, and (2) the use of data from developed accumulations as analogs for the assessment of undeveloped accumulations. In assessing continuous oil and gas resources of the United States, the U.S. Geological Survey analyzed production data from many shale-gas accumulations. Analyses of four of these accumulations (the Barnett, Woodford, Fayetteville, and Haynesville shales) are presented here as examples of the variability of well performance. For example, the distribution of initial monthly production rates for Barnett vertical wells shows a noticeable change with time, first increasing because of improved completion practices, then decreasing from a combination of decreased reservoir pressure (in infill wells) and drilling in less productive areas. Within a partially developed accumulation, historical production data from that accumulation can be used to estimate production characteristics of undrilled areas. An understanding of the probabilistic relations between variables, such as between initial production and decline rates, can improve estimates of ultimate production. Time trends or spatial trends in production data can be clarified by plots and maps. The data can also be divided into subsets depending on well-drilling or well-completion techniques, such as vertical in relation to horizontal wells. For hypothetical or lightly developed accumulations, one can either make comparisons to a specific well-developed accumulation or to the entire range of available developed accumulations. Comparison of the distributions of initial monthly production rates of the four shale-gas accumulations that were studied shows substantial overlap. However, because of differences in decline rates among them, the resulting estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) distributions are considerably different.

Application of Satellite Based Augmentation Systems to Altitude Separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magny, Jean Pierre

This paper presents the application of GNSS1, or more precisely of Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS), to vertical separation for en-route, approach and landing operations. Potential improvements in terms of operational benefit and of safety are described for two main applications. First, vertical separation between en-route aircraft, which requires a system available across wide areas. SBAS (EGNOS, WAAS, and MSAS) are very well suited for this purpose before GNSS2 becomes available. And secondly, vertical separation from the ground during approach and landing, for which preliminary design principles of instrument approach procedures and safety issues are presented. Approach and landing phases are the subject of discussions within ICAO GNSS-P. En-route phases have been listed as GNSS-P future work and by RTCA for development of new equipments.

Groundwater status and trends for the Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer System, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho

USGS Publications Warehouse

Burns, Erick R.; Snyder, Daniel T.; Haynes, Jonathan V.; Waibel, Michael S.

2012-01-01

Well information and groundwater-level measurements for the Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer System in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, were compiled from data provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and seven other organizations. From the full set of about 60,000 wells and 450,000 water-level measurements a subset of 761 wells within the aquifers of the Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG) then was used to develop a simple linear groundwater-level trend map for 1968–2009. The mean of the trends was a decline of 1.9 feet per year (ft/yr), with 72 percent of the water levels in wells declining. Rates of declines greater than 1.0 ft/yr were measured in 50 percent of wells, declines greater than 2.0 ft/yr in 38 percent of wells, declines greater than 4.0 ft/yr in 29 percent of wells, and declines greater than 8.0 ft/yr in 4 percent of wells. Water-level data were used to identify groups of wells with similar hydraulic heads and temporal trends to delineate areas of overall similar groundwater conditions. Discontinuities in hydraulic head between well groups were used to help infer the presence of barriers to groundwater flow such as changes in lithology or the occurrence of folds and faults. In areas without flow barriers, dissimilarities in response of well groups over time resulted from the formation of groundwater mounds caused by recharge from irrigation or regions of decline caused by pumping. The areas of focus for this analysis included the Umatilla area, Oregon, and the Palouse Slope/eastern Yakima Fold Belt in the Columbia Basin Ground Water Management Area (GWMA) consisting of Adams, Franklin, Grant, and Lincoln Counties, Washington. In the Umatilla area, water levels from 286 wells were used to identify multiple areas of high hydraulic gradient that indicate vertical and horizontal barriers to groundwater flow. These barriers divide the groundwater-flow system into several compartments with varying degrees of interconnection. Horizontal flow barriers commonly correspond to mapped geologic structure and result in horizontal hydraulic gradients that progressively become steeper from north to south corresponding to an increase in structural complexity that may be impeding recharge from the uplands into the heavily developed areas. Most CRBG aquifers in the Umatilla area are declining and since 1970, cumulative declines range from about 100 to 300 feet. Significant vertical hydraulic gradients are documented for relatively small areas near Umatilla, and since the 1970s, downward vertical gradients in these areas have been increasing as hydraulic heads in the deeper units have declined. The absence of vertical gradients over much of the area may be a consequence of flow through commingling wells that results in the equilibration of the heads between aquifers. On the Palouse Slope in the central GWMA, large groundwater declines occurred during 1968–2009 along a north-south swath in the middle of the region. An analysis of 1,195 wells along major flow paths and through the area of persistent groundwater-level declines indicates that barriers to flow are not as evident in this area as in Umatilla. This is consistent with the geologic interpretation of the Palouse Slope as being a gently folded structure created by voluminous sheet flows of CRBG lavas. Groundwater discharge into the sediment-filled coulees, where the upper aquifers are intersected at land surface by incised canyons, is proposed as an alternative to explain local steepening of the hydraulic gradient along the Palouse Slope previously attributed to the presence of a groundwater dam. Comparison of generalized potentiometric surface maps developed for pre-development conditions and post-2000 conditions indicate that pre-development groundwater flow was from the uplands toward the Columbia and Snake River and that post-2000 flow patterns in the area are controlled by irrigation practices that have resulted in broad regions of elevated or depressed hydraulic head. In some cases, irrigation-related changes in head have reversed groundwater flow directions. Evidence of significant vertical hydraulic gradients exists, although much of the aquifer thickness is affected by commingling of wells. The effect of commingling and its relative contribution to problems related to groundwater-level declines remains unclear.

Simulation of ground-water flow to assess geohydrologic factors and their effect on source-water areas for bedrock wells in Connecticut

USGS Publications Warehouse

Starn, J. Jeffrey; Stone, Janet Radway

2005-01-01

Generic ground-water-flow simulation models show that geohydrologic factors?fracture types, fracture geometry, and surficial materials?affect the size, shape, and location of source-water areas for bedrock wells. In this study, conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Public Health, ground-water flow was simulated to bedrock wells in three settings?on hilltops and hillsides with no surficial aquifer, in a narrow valley with a surficial aquifer, and in a broad valley with a surficial aquifer?to show how different combinations of geohydrologic factors in different topographic settings affect the dimensions and locations of source-water areas in Connecticut. Three principal types of fractures are present in bedrock in Connecticut?(1) Layer-parallel fractures, which developed as partings along bedding in sedimentary rock and compositional layering or foliation in metamorphic rock (dips of these fractures can be gentle or steep); (2) unroofing joints, which developed as strain-release fractures parallel to the land surface as overlying rock was removed by erosion through geologic time; and (3) cross fractures and joints, which developed as a result of tectonically generated stresses that produced typically near-vertical or steeply dipping fractures. Fracture geometry is defined primarily by the presence or absence of layering in the rock unit, and, if layered, by the angle of dip in the layering. Where layered rocks dip steeply, layer-parallel fracturing generally is dominant; unroofing joints also are typically well developed. Where layered rocks dip gently, layer-parallel fracturing also is dominant, and connections among these fractures are provided only by the cross fractures. In gently dipping rocks, unroofing joints generally do not form as a separate fracture set; instead, strain release from unroofing has occurred along gently dipping layer-parallel fractures, enhancing their aperture. In nonlayered and variably layered rocks, layer-parallel fracturing is absent or poorly developed; fracturing is dominated by well-developed subhorizontal unroofing joints and steeply dipping, tectonically generated fractures and (or) cooling joints. Cross fractures (or cooling joints) in nonlayered and variably layered rocks have more random orientations than in layered rocks. Overall, nonlayered or variably layered rocks do not have a strongly developed fracture direction. Generic ground-water-flow simulation models showed that fracture geometry and other geohydrologic factors affect the dimensions and locations of source-water areas for bedrock wells. In general, source-water areas to wells reflect the direction of ground-water flow, which mimics the land-surface topography. Source-water areas to wells in a hilltop setting were not affected greatly by simulated fracture zones, except for an extensive vertical fracture zone. Source-water areas to wells in a hillside setting were not affected greatly by simulated fracture zones, except for the combination of a subhorizontal fracture zone and low bedrock vertical hydraulic conductivity, as might be the case where an extensive subhorizontal fracture zone is not connected or is poorly connected to the surface through vertical fractures. Source-water areas to wells in a narrow valley setting reflect complex ground-water-flow paths. The typical flow path originates in the uplands and passes through either till or bedrock into the surficial aquifer, although only a small area of the surficial aquifer actually contributes water to the well. Source-water areas in uplands can include substantial areas on both sides of a river. Source-water areas for wells in this setting are affected mainly by the rate of ground-water recharge and by the degree of anisotropy. Source-water areas to wells in a broad valley setting (bedrock with a low angle of dip) are affected greatly by fracture properties. The effect of a given fracture is to channel the

A fully consistent and conservative vertically adaptive coordinate system for SLIM 3D v0.4 with an application to the thermocline oscillations of Lake Tanganyika

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delandmeter, Philippe; Lambrechts, Jonathan; Legat, Vincent; Vallaeys, Valentin; Naithani, Jaya; Thiery, Wim; Remacle, Jean-François; Deleersnijder, Eric

2018-03-01

The discontinuous Galerkin (DG) finite element method is well suited for the modelling, with a relatively small number of elements, of three-dimensional flows exhibiting strong velocity or density gradients. Its performance can be highly enhanced by having recourse to r-adaptivity. Here, a vertical adaptive mesh method is developed for DG finite elements. This method, originally designed for finite difference schemes, is based on the vertical diffusion of the mesh nodes, with the diffusivity controlled by the density jumps at the mesh element interfaces. The mesh vertical movement is determined by means of a conservative arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) formulation. Though conservativity is naturally achieved, tracer consistency is obtained by a suitable construction of the mesh vertical velocity field, which is defined in such a way that it is fully compatible with the tracer and continuity equations at a discrete level. The vertically adaptive mesh approach is implemented in the three-dimensional version of the geophysical and environmental flow Second-generation Louvain-la-Neuve Ice-ocean Model (SLIM 3D; www.climate.be/slim). Idealised benchmarks, aimed at simulating the oscillations of a sharp thermocline, are dealt with. Then, the relevance of the vertical adaptivity technique is assessed by simulating thermocline oscillations of Lake Tanganyika. The results are compared to measured vertical profiles of temperature, showing similar stratification and outcropping events.

Vertical Wave Coupling associated with Stratospheric Sudden Warming Events analyzed in an Isentropic-Coordinate NWP Model.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bleck, R.; Sun, S.; Benjamin, S.; Brown, J. M.

2017-12-01

Two- to four-week predictions of stratospheric sudden warming events during the winter seasons of 1999-2014, carried out with a high-resolution icosahedral NWP model using potential temperature as vertical coordinate, are inspected for commonalities in the evolution of both minor and major warmings. Emphasis is on the evolution of the potential vorticity field at different levels in the stratosphere, as well as on the sign and magnitude of the vertical component of the Eliassen-Palm flux vector suggestive of wave forcing in either direction. Material is presented shedding light on the skill of the model (FIM, developed at NOAA/ESRL) in predicting stratospheric warmings generally 2 weeks in advance. With an icosahedral grid ideally suited for studying polar processes, and a vertical coordinate faithfully reproducing details in the evolution of the potential vorticity and EP flux vector fields, FIM is found to be a good tool for investigating the SSW mechanism.

The use of magnetic fields in vertical Bridgman/Gradient Freeze-type crystal growth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pätzold, Olf; Niemietz, Kathrin; Lantzsch, Ronny; Galindo, Vladimir; Grants, Ilmars; Bellmann, Martin; Gerbeth, Gunter

2013-03-01

This paper outlines advanced vertical Bridgman/Gradient Freeze techniques with flow control using magnetic fields developed for the growth of semiconductor crystals. Low-temperature flow modelling, as well as laboratory-scaled crystal growth under the influence of rotating, travelling, and static magnetic fields are presented. Experimental and numerical flow modelling demonstrate the potential of the magnetic fields to establish a well-defined flow for tailoring heat and mass transfer in the melt during growth. The results of the growth experiments are discussed with a focus on the influence of a rotating field on the segregation of dopants, the influence of a travelling field on the temperature field and thermal stresses, and the potential of rotating and static fields for a stabilization of the melt flow.

Vertical Displacement of the Surface Area over the Leakage to the Transverse salt Mine in 1992-2012

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lipecki, Tomasz

2018-03-01

The leakage of water in the salt mine caused considerable deformation of the surface. This article shows the vertical displacement in the area of leakage to the mine excavation, measured by precision leveling, carried out from the first days of leakage in 1992 until 2012. The geological and hydrogeological conditions of the mine, as well as the associated water hazards were described, which in conjunction with the inconvenient location of the excavation site in the northern frontage of the Carpathians and also inadequately conducted mining operations, contributed to the risk of flooding mine. The analysis of the vertical movements of the surface - subsidence and uplift - were present as well as the process of formation of the depression trough in the form of maps and graphs. The analyzes were based on 49 measurement series, starting from the first days of the disaster within the next 20 years. The course of development of the depression trough and the condition of the surface after stopping the water from the rock mass has been shown, which caused the surface to uplift.

Regional difference of the vertical structure of seasonal thermocline and its impact on sea surface temperature in the North Pacific

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamaguchi, R.; Suga, T.

2016-12-01

Recent observational studies show that, during the warming season, a large amount of heat flux is penetrated through the base of thin mixed layer by vertical eddy diffusion, in addition to penetration of solar radiation [1]. In order to understand this heat penetration process due to vertical eddy diffusivity and its contribution to seasonal variation of sea surface temperature, we investigated the evolution of thermal stratification below the summertime thin mixed layer (i.e. evolution of seasonal thermocline) and its vertical structure in the North Pacific using high vertical resolution temperature profile observed by Argo floats. We quantified the vertical structure of seasonal thermocline as deviations from the linear structure where the vertical gradient of temperature is constant, that is, "shape anomaly". The shape anomaly is variable representing the extent of the bend of temperature profiles. We found that there are larger values of shape anomaly in the region where the seasonal sea surface temperature warming is relatively faster. To understand the regional difference of shape anomalies, we investigated the relationship between time changes in shape anomalies and net surface heat flux and surface kinetic energy flux. From May to July, the analysis indicated that, in a large part of North Pacific, there's a tendency for shape anomalies to develop strongly (weakly) under the conditions of large (small) downward net surface heat flux and small (large) downward surface kinetic energy flux. Since weak (strong) development of shape anomalies means efficient (inefficient) downward heat transport from the surface, these results suggest that the regional difference of the downward heat penetration below mixed layer is explained reasonably well by differences in surface heat forcing and surface wind forcing in a vertical one dimensional framework. [1] Hosoda et al. (2015), J. Oceanogr., 71, 541-556.

Development of a smear proof horizontal and vertical permeability probe.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-01-01

Permeability is a measure of how well a porous medium conducts a fluid. For water, this property is called hydraulic conductivity, and it is important for projects that depend on properties of soil and strata, such as earthen dams, retention ponds, d...

Bottomside Ionospheric Electron Density Specification using Passive High Frequency Signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaeppler, S. R.; Cosgrove, R. B.; Mackay, C.; Varney, R. H.; Kendall, E. A.; Nicolls, M. J.

2016-12-01

The vertical bottomside electron density profile is influenced by a variety of natural sources, most especially traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs). These disturbances cause plasma to be moved up or down along the local geomagnetic field and can strongly impact the propagation of high frequency radio waves. While the basic physics of these perturbations has been well studied, practical bottomside models are not well developed. We present initial results from an assimilative bottomside ionosphere model. This model uses empirical orthogonal functions based on the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) to develop a vertical electron density profile, and features a builtin HF ray tracing function. This parameterized model is then perturbed to model electron density perturbations associated with TIDs or ionospheric gradients. Using the ray tracing feature, the model assimilates angle of arrival measurements from passive HF transmitters. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the model using angle of arrival data. Modeling results of bottomside electron density specification are compared against suitable ancillary observations to quantify accuracy of our model.

Rospo Mare (Adriatic Sea) - An oil-bearing paleokarst in the Mediterranean region

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Soudet, H.; Sorriaux, P.; Michaud, F.

1990-05-01

The oil-bearing paleokarst at Rospo Mare is located in the Adriatic Sea, 20 km off the Italian coast. The reservoir lies at a depth of 1,300 m and consists of a paleokarst of Oligocene to Miocene age that developed within Cretaceous limestones, now covered by 1,200 m of Miocene-Pliocene clastics. The oil column is about 140 m. The karstic nature of the reservoir was identified through vertical cored drill holes, which allowed us to analyze the various solution features and the sedimentary infill (speleothems, terra rossa, marine clays), as well as their vertical distribution. Observations concerning the upper part ofmore » the reservoir were compared to a paleokarst of the same age, outcropping widely onshore, in quarries located nearby. Erosion morphology at the top of the karst is highly irregular, including especially paleovalleys as well as many pit-shaped sink holes. Detailed knowledge of that morphology through geophysics helped optimizing the development of the field through horizontal drilling.« less

Hydrology of the dunes area north of Coos Bay, Oregon

USGS Publications Warehouse

Robison, J.H.

1973-01-01

Hydrology of a 20-square-mile area of dunes along the central Oregon coast was studied. The area is underlain by 80 to 150 feet of Quaternary dune and marine sand which overlies Tertiary marine clay and shale. Ground water for industrial and municipal use is being withdrawn at a rate of 4 million gallons per day. Original plans to withdraw as much as 30 million gallons per day are evidently limited by the prospect of excessive lowering of levels in shallow lakes near the wells, and possibly sea-water intrusion, if water-level gradients are reversed. At the present stage of development there are 18 production wells, each capable of producing 200-300 gallons per minute from the lower part of the sand deposits. Except for thin layers of silt, clay, and organic matter, the deposits of sand are clean and uniform; horizontal permeability is two orders of magnitude times the vertical permeability. Because of the low vertical permeability, drawdown cones are not evident in the upper part of the aquifer adjacent to the wells. However, present pumping lowers general water levels in the lakes and the shallow ground-water zone as much as several feet. A two-layer electric analog model was built to analyze effects of present and projected development as well as any alternate plans. Model results were used to develop curves for short-term prediction of water levels.

Design of a Low Cost Short Takeoff-vertical Landing Export Fighter/attack Aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Belcher, Anne; Bodeker, Dan, III; Miu, Steve; Petro, Laura; Senf, Cary Taylor; Woeltjen, Donald

1990-01-01

The design of a supersonic short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft is presented that is suitable for export. An advanced four poster, low bypass turbofan engine is to be used for propulsion. Preliminary aerodynamic analysis is presented covering a determination of CD versus CL, CD versus Mach number, as well as best cruise Mach number and altitude. Component locations are presented and center of gravity determined. Cost minimization is achieved through the use of developed subsystems and standard fabrication techniques using nonexotic materials. Conclusions regarding the viability of the STOVL design are presented.

Molecular beam epitaxy growth method for vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser resonators based on substrate thermal emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Talghader, J. J.; Hadley, M. A.; Smith, J. S.

1995-12-01

A molecular beam epitaxy growth monitoring method is developed for distributed Bragg reflectors and vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) resonators. The wavelength of the substrate thermal emission that corresponds to the optical cavity resonant wavelength is selected by a monochromator and monitored during growth. This method allows VCSEL cavities of arbitrary design wavelength to be grown with a single control program. This letter also presents a theoretical model for the technique which is based on transmission matrices and simple thermal emission properties. Demonstrated reproducibility of the method is well within 0.1%.

Horizontal well application in QGPC - Qatar, Arabian Gulf

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jubralla, A.F.; Al-Omran, J.; Al-Omran, S.

As with many other areas in the world, the application of horizontal well technology in Qatar has changed the {open_quotes}old time{close_quotes} reservoir development philosophy and approach. QGPC`s first experience with this technology was for increased injectivity in an upper Jurassic reservoir which is comprised by alternating high and low permeable layers. The first well drilled in 1990 offshore was an extreme success and the application was justified for fieldwide implementation. Huge costs were saved as a result. This was followed by 2 horizontal wells for increased productivity in a typically tight (< 5 mD) chalky limestone of Cretaceous age. Amore » fourth offshore well drilled in a thin (30 ft) and tight (10-100 mD) Jurassic dolomite overlaying a stack of relatively thick (25-70 ft) and {open_quotes}Watered Out{close_quotes} grain and grain-packstones, (500-4500 mD) indicated another viable and successful application. A similar approach in the Onshore Dukhan field has been adopted for another Upper Jurassic reservoir. The reservoir is 80 ft thick and is being developed by vertical wells. However, permeability contrast between the upper and lower cycles had caused preferential production and hence injection across the lower cycles, leaving the upper cycles effectively undrained. Horizontal wells have resulted in productivity and injectivity improvements by a factor 3 to 5 that of vertical wells. Therefore a field wide development scheme is being implemented. 3D seismic and the imaging tools, such as the FMS, reconciled with horizontal cores have assisted in understanding the lateral variation and the macro and micro architectural and structural details of these reservoirs. Such tools are essential for the optimum design of horizontal wells.« less

Developing Essential Understanding of Functions for Teaching Mathematics in Grades 9-12

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lloyd, Gwendolyn; Beckmann, Sybilla; Zbiek, Rose Mary; Cooney, Thomas

2010-01-01

Are sequences functions? What can't the popular "vertical line test" be applied in some cases to determine if a relation is a function? How does the idea of rate of change connect with simpler ideas about proportionality as well as more advanced topics in calculus? Helping high school students develop a robust understanding of functions requires…

Developing Soil Moisture Profiles Utilizing Remotely Sensed MW and TIR Based SM Estimates Through Principle of Maximum Entropy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, V.; Cruise, J. F.; Mecikalski, J. R.

2015-12-01

Developing accurate vertical soil moisture profiles with minimum input requirements is important to agricultural as well as land surface modeling. Earlier studies show that the principle of maximum entropy (POME) can be utilized to develop vertical soil moisture profiles with accuracy (MAE of about 1% for a monotonically dry profile; nearly 2% for monotonically wet profiles and 3.8% for mixed profiles) with minimum constraints (surface, mean and bottom soil moisture contents). In this study, the constraints for the vertical soil moisture profiles were obtained from remotely sensed data. Low resolution (25 km) MW soil moisture estimates (AMSR-E) were downscaled to 4 km using a soil evaporation efficiency index based disaggregation approach. The downscaled MW soil moisture estimates served as a surface boundary condition, while 4 km resolution TIR based Atmospheric Land Exchange Inverse (ALEXI) estimates provided the required mean root-zone soil moisture content. Bottom soil moisture content is assumed to be a soil dependent constant. Mulit-year (2002-2011) gridded profiles were developed for the southeastern United States using the POME method. The soil moisture profiles were compared to those generated in land surface models (Land Information System (LIS) and an agricultural model DSSAT) along with available NRCS SCAN sites in the study region. The end product, spatial soil moisture profiles, can be assimilated into agricultural and hydrologic models in lieu of precipitation for data scarce regions.Developing accurate vertical soil moisture profiles with minimum input requirements is important to agricultural as well as land surface modeling. Previous studies have shown that the principle of maximum entropy (POME) can be utilized with minimal constraints to develop vertical soil moisture profiles with accuracy (MAE = 1% for monotonically dry profiles; MAE = 2% for monotonically wet profiles and MAE = 3.8% for mixed profiles) when compared to laboratory and field data. In this study, vertical soil moisture profiles were developed using the POME model to evaluate an irrigation schedule over a maze field in north central Alabama (USA). The model was validated using both field data and a physically based mathematical model. The results demonstrate that a simple two-constraint entropy model under the assumption of a uniform initial soil moisture distribution can simulate most soil moisture profiles within the field area for 6 different soil types. The results of the irrigation simulation demonstrated that the POME model produced a very efficient irrigation strategy with loss of about 1.9% of the total applied irrigation water. However, areas of fine-textured soil (i.e. silty clay) resulted in plant stress of nearly 30% of the available moisture content due to insufficient water supply on the last day of the drying phase of the irrigation cycle. Overall, the POME approach showed promise as a general strategy to guide irrigation in humid environments, with minimum input requirements.

Development of GaInNAs-based 1.3-μm VCSEL

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramakrishnan, Arun; Ebbinghaus, G.; Lima, A.; Supper, D.; Kristen, Guenter; Popp, M.; Degen, C.; Althaus, H.-L.; Killer, T.; Scholz, R.; Melinde, M.; Sauter, M.; Weigert, M.; Riechert, Henning; Steinle, Gunther

2003-12-01

In this paper the realization, development and production of 1.3μm vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL) with datacom suitable performance are presented. These low cost laser diodes are well suited for optical interconnect applications for LAN and MAN with transmission distances up to 15 km. The possibilities as well as the advantages and limits of shifting the wavelength from commercially available VCSEL emitting at 850nm to 1300nm are discussed. 1300nm VCSELs in a low cost SMD plastic package assembled into an intelligent SFP-module developed by Infineon Technologies are demonstrated.

Analysis of temperature time series to estimate direction and magnitude of water fluxes in near-surface sediments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Munz, Matthias; Oswald, Sascha E.; Schmidt, Christian

2017-04-01

The application of heat as a hydrological tracer has become a standard method for quantifying water fluxes between groundwater and surface water. Typically, time series of temperatures in the surface water and in the sediment are observed and are subsequently evaluated by a vertical 1D representation of heat transport by advection and dispersion. Several analytical solutions as well as their implementation into user-friendly software exist in order to estimate water fluxes from the observed temperatures. The underlying assumption of a stationary, one-dimensional vertical flow field is frequently violated in natural systems. Here subsurface water flow often has a significant horizontal component. We developed a methodology for identifying the geometry of the subsurface flow field based on the variations of diurnal temperature amplitudes with depths. For instance: Purely vertical heat transport is characterized by an exponential decline of temperature amplitudes with increasing depth. Pure horizontal flow would be indicated by a constant, depth independent vertical amplitude profile. The decline of temperature amplitudes with depths could be fitted by polynomials of different order whereby the best fit was defined by the highest Akaike Information Criterion. The stepwise model optimization and selection, evaluating the shape of vertical amplitude ratio profiles was used to determine the predominant subsurface flow field, which could be systematically categorized in purely vertical and horizontal (hyporheic, parafluvial) components. Analytical solutions to estimate water fluxes from the observed temperatures are restricted to specific boundary conditions such as a sinusoidal upper temperature boundary. In contrast numerical solutions offer higher flexibility and can handle temperature data which is characterized by irregular variations such as storm-event induced temperature changes and thus cannot readily be incorporated in analytical solutions. There are several numerical models that simulate heat transport in porous media (e.g. VS2DH, HydroGeoSphere, FEFLOW) but there can be a steep learning curve to the modelling frameworks and may therefore not readily accessible to routinely infer water fluxes between groundwater and surface water. We developed a user-friendly, straightforeward to use software to estimate water FLUXes Based On Temperatures- FLUX-BOT. FLUX-BOT is a numerical code written in MATLAB that calculates time variable vertical water fluxes in saturated sediments based on the inversion of measured temperature time series observed at multiple depths. It applies a cell-centered Crank-Nicolson implicit finite difference scheme to solve the one-dimensional heat advection-conduction equation (FLUX-BOT can be downloaded from the following web site: https://bitbucket.org/flux-bot/flux-bot). We provide applications of FLUX-BOT to generic as well as to measured temperature data to demonstrate its performance. Both, the empirical analysis of temperature amplitudes as well as the numerical inversion of measured temperature time series to estimate the vertical magnitude of water fluxes extent the suite of current heat tracing methods and may provide insight into temperature data from an additional perspective.

The investigation of advanced remote sensing techniques for the measurement of aerosol characteristics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deepak, A.; Becher, J.

1979-01-01

Advanced remote sensing techniques and inversion methods for the measurement of characteristics of aerosol and gaseous species in the atmosphere were investigated. Of particular interest were the physical and chemical properties of aerosols, such as their size distribution, number concentration, and complex refractive index, and the vertical distribution of these properties on a local as well as global scale. Remote sensing techniques for monitoring of tropospheric aerosols were developed as well as satellite monitoring of upper tropospheric and stratospheric aerosols. Computer programs were developed for solving multiple scattering and radiative transfer problems, as well as inversion/retrieval problems. A necessary aspect of these efforts was to develop models of aerosol properties.

Development of a smear proof horizontal and vertical permeability probe : [technical summary].

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-01-01

Permeability is a measure of how well a porous medium conducts a fluid. For water, this property is called hydraulic conductivity, and it is important for projects that depend on properties of soil and strata, such as earthen dams, retention ponds, d...

The Development of High-Density Vertical Silicon Nanowires and Their Application in a Heterojunction Diode.

PubMed

Chang, Wen-Chung; Su, Sheng-Chien; Wu, Chia-Ching

2016-06-30

Vertically aligned p-type silicon nanowire (SiNW) arrays were fabricated through metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) of Si wafers. An indium tin oxide/indium zinc oxide/silicon nanowire (ITO/IZO/SiNW) heterojunction diode was formed by depositing ITO and IZO thin films on the vertically aligned SiNW arrays. The structural and electrical properties of the resulting ITO/IZO/SiNW heterojunction diode were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and current-voltage (I-V) measurements. Nonlinear and rectifying I-V properties confirmed that a heterojunction diode was successfully formed in the ITO/IZO/SiNW structure. The diode had a well-defined rectifying behavior, with a rectification ratio of 550.7 at 3 V and a turn-on voltage of 2.53 V under dark conditions.

Vertical and horizontal integration of knowledge and skills - a working model.

PubMed

Snyman, W D; Kroon, J

2005-02-01

The new integrated outcomes-based curriculum for dentistry was introduced at the University of Pretoria in 1997. The first participants graduated at the end of 2001. Educational principles that underpin the new innovative dental curriculum include vertical and horizontal integration, problem-oriented learning, student-centred learning, a holistic attitude to patient care and the promotion of oral health. The aim of this research project was to develop and assay a model to facilitate vertical integration of knowledge and skills thereby justifying the above mentioned action. The learning methodology proposed for the specific outcome of the Odontology module, namely the diagnosis of dental caries and the design of a primary preventive programme, included problem-solving as the driving force for the facilitation of vertical and horizontal integration, and an instructional design for the integration of the basic knowledge and clinical skills into a single learning programme. The paper describes the methodology of problem-oriented learning as applied in this study together with the detail of the programme. The consensus of those teachers who represent the basic and clinical sciences and who participate in this learning programme is that this model is practical and can assist vertical as well as horizontal integration of knowledge.

VHICA, a New Method to Discriminate between Vertical and Horizontal Transposon Transfer: Application to the Mariner Family within Drosophila.

PubMed

Wallau, Gabriel Luz; Capy, Pierre; Loreto, Elgion; Le Rouzic, Arnaud; Hua-Van, Aurélie

2016-04-01

Transposable elements (TEs) are genomic repeated sequences that display complex evolutionary patterns. They are usually inherited vertically, but can occasionally be transmitted between sexually independent species, through so-called horizontal transposon transfers (HTTs). Recurrent HTTs are supposed to be essential in life cycle of TEs, which are otherwise destined for eventual decay. HTTs also impact the host genome evolution. However, the extent of HTTs in eukaryotes is largely unknown, due to the lack of efficient, statistically supported methods that can be applied to multiple species sequence data sets. Here, we developed a new automated method available as a R package "vhica" that discriminates whether a given TE family was vertically or horizontally transferred, and potentially infers donor and receptor species. The method is well suited for TE sequences extracted from complete genomes, and applicable to multiple TEs and species at the same time. We first validated our method using Drosophila TE families with well-known evolutionary histories, displaying both HTTs and vertical transmission. We then tested 26 different lineages of mariner elements recently characterized in 20 Drosophila genomes, and found HTTs in 24 of them. Furthermore, several independent HTT events could often be detected within the same mariner lineage. The VHICA (Vertical and Horizontal Inheritance Consistence Analysis) method thus appears as a valuable tool to analyze the evolutionary history of TEs across a large range of species. © The Author(s) 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.

Integration of geology, geostatistics, well logs and pressure data to model a heterogeneous supergiant field in Iran

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Samimi, B.; Bagherpour, H.; Nioc, A.

1995-08-01

The geological reservoir study of the supergiant Ahwaz field significantly improved the history matching process in many aspects, particularly the development of a geostatistical model which allowed a sound basis for changes and by delivering much needed accurate estimates of grid block vertical permeabilities. The geostatistical reservoir evaluation was facilitated by using the Heresim package and litho-stratigraphic zonations for the entire field. For each of the geological zones, 3-dimensional electrolithofacies and petrophysical property distributions (realizations) were treated which captured the heterogeneities which significantly affected fluid flow. However, as this level of heterogeneity was at a significantly smaller scale than themore » flow simulation grid blocks, a scaling up effort was needed to derive the effective flow properties of the blocks (porosity, horizontal and vertical permeability, and water saturation). The properties relating to the static reservoir description were accurately derived by using stream tube techniques developed in-house whereas, the relative permeabilities of the grid block were derived by dynamic pseudo relative permeability techniques. The prediction of vertical and lateral communication and water encroachment was facilitated by a close integration of pressure, saturation data, geostatistical modelling and sedimentological studies of the depositional environments and paleocurrents. The nature of reservoir barriers and baffles varied both vertically and laterally in this heterogeneous reservoir. Maps showing differences in pressure between zones after years of production served as a guide to integrating the static geological studies to the dynamic behaviour of each of the 16 reservoir zones. The use of deep wells being drilled to a deeper reservoir provided data to better understand the sweep efficiency and the continuity of barriers and baffles.« less

Magnetic Measurements of the First Nb 3Sn Model Quadrupole (MQXFS) for the High-Luminosity LHC

DOE PAGES

DiMarco, J.; Ambrosio, G.; Chlachidze, G.; ...

2016-12-12

The US LHC Accelerator Research Program (LARP) and CERN are developing high-gradient Nb 3Sn magnets for the High Luminosity LHC interaction regions. Magnetic measurements of the first 1.5 m long, 150 mm aperture model quadrupole, MQXFS1, were performed during magnet assembly at LBNL, as well as during cryogenic testing at Fermilab’s Vertical Magnet Test Facility. This paper reports on the results of these magnetic characterization measurements, as well as on the performance of new probes developed for the tests.

Validation of a multilevel sampling device to determine the vertical variability of chlorinated solvent in a contaminated aquifer.

PubMed

Barnier, C; Palmier, C; Atteia, O

2013-01-01

The vertical heterogeneity of contaminant concentrations in aquifers is well known, but obtaining representative samples is still a subject of debate. In this paper, the question arises from sites where numerous fully screened wells exist and there is a need to define the vertical distribution of contaminants. For this purpose, several wells were investigated with different techniques on a site contaminated with chlorinated solvents. A core-bored well shows that a tetrachloroethene (PCE) phase is sitting on and infiltrating a less permeable layer. Downstream of the cored well, the following sampling techniques were compared on fully screened wells: low flow pumping at several depths, pumping between packers and a new multilevel sampler for fully screened wells. Concerning low flow rate pumping, very low gradients were found, which may be due to the existence of vertical flow inside the well or in the gravel pack. Sampling between packers gave results comparable with the cores, separating a layer with PCE and trichloroethene from another one with cis 1,2-dichloroethene and vinyl chloride as major compounds. Detailed sampling according to pumped volume shows that even between packers, cleaning of the inter-packer volume is necessary before each sampling. Lastly, the proposed new multilevel sampler gives results similar to the packers but has the advantages of much faster sampling and a constant vertical positioning, which is fairly important for long-term monitoring in highly stratified aquifers.

Measuring the vertical electrical field above an oceanic convection system using a meteorological sounding balloon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, A. B.; Chiu, C.; Lai, S.; Chen, C.; Kuo, C.; Su, H.; Hsu, R.

2012-12-01

The vertical electric field above thundercloud plays an important role in the generation and modeling of transient luminous events. For example, Pasko [1995] proposed that the high quasi-static E-field following the positive cloud-to-ground lightning could accelerate and input energy to ambient electrons; as they collide and excite nitrogen and oxygen molecules in upper atmosphere, sprites may be induced. A series of balloon experiments led by Holzworth have investigated the temporal and spatial fluctuations of the electric field and conductivity in the upper atmosphere at different sites [Holzworth 2005, and references in]. But the strength and variation of the vertical electric field above thundercloud, especially oceanic ones, are not well documented so far. A lightweight, low-cost measurement system including an electric field meter and the associated aviation electronics are developed to carry out the in-situ measurement of the vertical electric field and the inter-cloud charge distribution. Our measuring system was first deployed using a meteorological sounding balloon from Taitung, Taiwan in May 2012. The measured electric field below 3km height shows an exponential decay and it is consistent with the expected potential gradient variation between ionosphere and the Earth surface. But the background strength of the measured E-field grows up exponentially and a violent fluctuations is also observed when the balloon flew over a developing oceanic convection cell. The preliminary results from this flight will be reported and discussed. This low-cost electric field meter is developed within one year. In the coming months, more flights will be performed with the aim to measure the rapid variation of the electric field above thundercloud as well as the E-field that may induce transient luminous events. Our ground campaigns show that the occurrence rates of blue and gigantic jet are relatively high in the vicinity of Taiwan. Our experiment can be used to diagnose the dynamics of the E-field associated with blue and gigantic jets.

78 FR 26302 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Listing the Lesser Prairie-Chicken as a Threatened...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-06

... invasive woody plants; wind energy development; petroleum production; and presence of roads and manmade vertical structures including towers, utility lines, fences, turbines, wells, and buildings. The Act does... harass, harm, pursue, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect; or attempt [[Page 26306

78 FR 75306 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Listing the Lesser Prairie-Chicken as a Threatened...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-11

... invasive woody plants; wind energy development; petroleum production; and presence of roads and manmade vertical structures including towers, utility lines, fences, turbines, wells, and buildings. The Act does.... Disturbance Practices. Crop Production. Wind Power, Cell and Radio Towers, and Power Line Activities...

The Design of Ocean Turbulence Measurement with a Free Fall Vertical Profiler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luan, Xin; Xin, Jia; Zhu, Tieyi; Yang, Hua; Teng, Yuru; Song, Dalei

2018-03-01

The newly designed instrument Free Fall Vertical Profiler (FFVP) developed by Ocean University of China (OUC) had been deployed in the Western Pacific in March 08, 2017 and succeed to collect turbulence signals about 350-m-deep water. According to the requirements of turbulence measurement, the mechanical design was developed for turbulence platform to achieve stability and good flow tracking. By analysing the Heading, Pitch and Roll, the results suggested that the platform satisfies the requirements of stability. The power spectrum of the cleaned shear signals using the noise correction algorithm match well with the theoretical Nasmyth spectrum and the rate of turbulence dissipation are approximately 10-8 W/kg. In general, the FFVP was rationally designed and provided a good measurement platform for turbulence observation.

Changing the scale of hydrogeophysical aquifer heterogeneity characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paradis, Daniel; Tremblay, Laurie; Ruggeri, Paolo; Brunet, Patrick; Fabien-Ouellet, Gabriel; Gloaguen, Erwan; Holliger, Klaus; Irving, James; Molson, John; Lefebvre, Rene

2015-04-01

Contaminant remediation and management require the quantitative predictive capabilities of groundwater flow and mass transport numerical models. Such models have to encompass source zones and receptors, and thus typically cover several square kilometers. To predict the path and fate of contaminant plumes, these models have to represent the heterogeneous distribution of hydraulic conductivity (K). However, hydrogeophysics has generally been used to image relatively restricted areas of the subsurface (small fractions of km2), so there is a need for approaches defining heterogeneity at larger scales and providing data to constrain conceptual and numerical models of aquifer systems. This communication describes a workflow defining aquifer heterogeneity that was applied over a 12 km2 sub-watershed surrounding a decommissioned landfill emitting landfill leachate. The aquifer is a shallow, 10 to 20 m thick, highly heterogeneous and anisotropic assemblage of littoral sand and silt. Field work involved the acquisition of a broad range of data: geological, hydraulic, geophysical, and geochemical. The emphasis was put on high resolution and continuous hydrogeophysical data, the use of direct-push fully-screened wells and the acquisition of targeted high-resolution hydraulic data covering the range of observed aquifer materials. The main methods were: 1) surface geophysics (ground-penetrating radar and electrical resistivity); 2) direct-push operations with a geotechnical drilling rig (cone penetration tests with soil moisture resistivity CPT/SMR; full-screen well installation); and 3) borehole operations, including high-resolution hydraulic tests and geochemical sampling. New methods were developed to acquire high vertical resolution hydraulic data in direct-push wells, including both vertical and horizontal K (Kv and Kh). Various data integration approaches were used to represent aquifer properties in 1D, 2D and 3D. Using relevant vector machines (RVM), the mechanical and geophysical CPT/SMR measurements were used to recognize hydrofacies (HF) and obtain high-resolution 1D vertical profiles of hydraulic properties. Bayesian sequential simulation of the low-resolution surface-based geoelectrical measurements as well as high-resolution direct-push measurements of the electrical and hydraulic conductivities provided realistic estimates of the spatial distribution of K on a 250-m-long 2D survey line. Following a similar approach, all 1D vertical profiles of K derived from CPT/SMR soundings were integrated with available 2D geoelectrical profiles to obtain the 3D distribution of K over the study area. Numerical models were developed to understand flow and mass transport and assess how indicators could constrain model results and their K distributions. A 2D vertical section model was first developed based on a conceptual representation of heterogeneity which showed a significant effect of layering on flow and transport. The model demonstrated that solute and age tracers provide key model constraints. Additional 2D vertical section models with synthetic representations of low and high K hydrofacies were also developed on the basis of CPT/SMR soundings. These models showed that high-resolution profiles of hydraulic head could help constrain the spatial distribution and continuity of hydrofacies. History matching approaches are still required to simulate geostatistical models of K using hydrogeophysical data, while considering their impact on flow and transport with constraints provided by tracers of solutes and groundwater age.

Nursing leadership in academic nursing: The wisdom of development and the development of wisdom.

PubMed

Pesut, Daniel J; Thompson, Sarah A

The purpose of this article is to discuss insights derived from adult cognitive developmental theories and relate the insights to vertical leadership development in academic nursing contexts. Equipped with developmental understanding, academic leaders are in a better position to support the vertical leadership development of one's self, faculty, peers, and colleagues. From a cognitive developmental perspective, the authors' reason as leaders develop, grow, and evolve, sense making becomes more sophisticated and nuanced resulting in the development of wisdom. Leadership wisdom is a function of horizontal (acquisition of information, skills, and competencies) and vertical development (the development of more complex and sophisticated ways of thinking). Ways to enhance vertical development, and sense making to cultivate wisdom are discussed. Principles and practices that promote vertical development in self and others deepens performance expectations of those in the academy and supports personal professional development and organizational success. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

An Overview of Numerical Weather Prediction on Various Scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bao, J.-W.

2009-04-01

The increasing public need for detailed weather forecasts, along with the advances in computer technology, has motivated many research institutes and national weather forecasting centers to develop and run global as well as regional numerical weather prediction (NWP) models at high resolutions (i.e., with horizontal resolutions of ~10 km or higher for global models and 1 km or higher for regional models, and with ~60 vertical levels or higher). The need for running NWP models at high horizontal and vertical resolutions requires the implementation of non-hydrostatic dynamic core with a choice of horizontal grid configurations and vertical coordinates that are appropriate for high resolutions. Development of advanced numerics will also be needed for high resolution global and regional models, in particular, when the models are applied to transport problems and air quality applications. In addition to the challenges in numerics, the NWP community is also facing the challenges of developing physics parameterizations that are well suited for high-resolution NWP models. For example, when NWP models are run at resolutions of ~5 km or higher, the use of much more detailed microphysics parameterizations than those currently used in NWP model will become important. Another example is that regional NWP models at ~1 km or higher only partially resolve convective energy containing eddies in the lower troposphere. Parameterizations to account for the subgrid diffusion associated with unresolved turbulence still need to be developed. Further, physically sound parameterizations for air-sea interaction will be a critical component for tropical NWP models, particularly for hurricane predictions models. In this review presentation, the above issues will be elaborated on and the approaches to address them will be discussed.

Simulation of EAST vertical displacement events by tokamak simulation code

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiu, Qinglai; Xiao, Bingjia; Guo, Yong; Liu, Lei; Xing, Zhe; Humphreys, D. A.

2016-10-01

Vertical instability is a potentially serious hazard for elongated plasma. In this paper, the tokamak simulation code (TSC) is used to simulate vertical displacement events (VDE) on the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST). Key parameters from simulations, including plasma current, plasma shape and position, flux contours and magnetic measurements match experimental data well. The growth rates simulated by TSC are in good agreement with TokSys results. In addition to modeling the free drift, an EAST fast vertical control model enables TSC to simulate the course of VDE recovery. The trajectories of the plasma current center and control currents on internal coils (IC) fit experimental data well.

Comparison of upconing under vertical and horizontal wells in freshwater lenses: sand-box experiments and numerical modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stoeckl, Leonard; Stefan, Loeffler; Houben, Georg

2013-04-01

Freshwater lenses on islands and in inland areas are often the primary freshwater resource there. The fragile equilibrium between saline and fresh groundwater can be disrupted by excessive pumping, leading to an upward migration of the saline water underneath the well. Sand-box experiments were conducted to compare the upconing at vertical and horizontal wells pumping from a freshwater lens. Results were then compared to numerical simulations. To simulate the cross-section of an "infinite strip island", an acrylic box with a spacing of 5 cm was filled with coarse sand. After saturating the model with degassed saltwater from bottom to top, freshwater recharge was applied from above. By coloring the infiltrating freshwater with different tracer colors using uranine and indigotine we were able to visualize flow paths during pumping. A horizontal and a vertical well were placed at the left and right side of the symmetric island. Both had equal diameter, screen length, depth of placement, and distance to shore. Three increasing pumping rates were applied to each well successively and the electrical conductivity of the abstracted water was continuously measured using a through-flow cell. Results show that no saltwater entered the wells when pumping at the lowest rate. Still, slight saltwater upconing and a shift of the freshwater divide in the island were observed. At the second rate a clear saltwater breakthrough into the vertical well occurred, while the electrical conductivity remained nearly unchanged in the horizontal well. Applying the third (highest) abstraction rate to each of the wells saltwater entered both wells, exceeding drinking water standards in the vertical well. The described behavior indicates the advantage of horizontal over vertical wells on islands and in coastal zones prone to saltwater up-coning. Numerical simulations show similar patterns, even though deviations exist between the second and the third pumping rate, which are under and overestimated by the numerical simulation, respectively. Further investigations are necessary to investigate the dynamics of pumping from freshwater lenses under the influence of climate change (i.e. sea level rise).

A Cognitive Engineering Analysis of the Vertical Navigation (VNAV) Function

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sherry, Lance; Feary, Michael; Polson, Peter; Mumaw, Randall; Palmer, Everett

2001-01-01

A cognitive engineering analysis of the Flight Management System (FMS) Vertical Navigation (VNAV) function has identified overloading of the VNAV button and overloading of the Flight Mode Annunciator (FMA) used by the VNAV function. These two types of overloading, resulting in modal input devices and ambiguous feedback, are well known sources of operator confusion, and explain, in part, the operational issues experienced by airline pilots using VNAV in descent and approach. A proposal to modify the existing VNAV design to eliminate the overloading is discussed. The proposed design improves pilot's situational awareness of the VNAV function, and potentially reduces the cost of software development and improves safety.

Coupling with ocean mixed layer leads to intraseasonal variability in tropical deep convection: Evidence from cloud-resolving simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anber, Usama; Wang, Shuguang; Sobel, Adam

2017-03-01

The effect of coupling a slab ocean mixed layer to atmospheric convection is examined in cloud-resolving model (CRM) simulations in vertically sheared and unsheared environments without Coriolis force, with the large-scale circulation parameterized using the Weak Temperature Gradient (WTG) approximation. Surface fluxes of heat and moisture as well as radiative fluxes are fully interactive, and the vertical profile of domain-averaged horizontal wind is strongly relaxed toward specified profiles with vertical shear that varies from one simulation to the next. Vertical wind shear is found to play a critical role in the simulated behavior. There exists a threshold value of the shear strength above which the coupled system develops regular oscillations between deep convection and dry nonprecipitating states, similar to those found earlier in a much more idealized model which did not consider wind shear. The threshold value of the vertical shear found here varies with the depth of the ocean mixed layer. The time scale of the spontaneously generated oscillations also varies with mixed layer depth, from 10 days with a 1 m deep mixed layer to 50 days with a 10 m deep mixed layer. The results suggest the importance of the interplay between convection organized by vertical wind shear, radiative feedbacks, large-scale dynamics, and ocean mixed layer heat storage in real intraseasonal oscillations.

Reduction of Non-uniform Beam Filling Effects by Vertical Decorrelation: Theory and Simulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Short, David; Nakagawa, Katsuhiro; Iguchi, Toshio

2013-01-01

Algorithms for estimating precipitation rates from spaceborne radar observations of apparent radar reflectivity depend on attenuation correction procedures. The algorithm suite for the Ku-band precipitation radar aboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite is one such example. The well-known problem of nonuniform beam filling is a source of error in the estimates, especially in regions where intense deep convection occurs. The error is caused by unresolved horizontal variability in precipitation characteristics such as specific attenuation, rain rate, and effective reflectivity factor. This paper proposes the use of vertical decorrelation for correcting the nonuniform beam filling error developed under the assumption of a perfect vertical correlation. Empirical tests conducted using ground-based radar observations in the current simulation study show that decorrelation effects are evident in tilted convective cells. However, the problem of obtaining reasonable estimates of a governing parameter from the satellite data remains unresolved.

The Development of High-Density Vertical Silicon Nanowires and Their Application in a Heterojunction Diode

PubMed Central

Chang, Wen-Chung; Su, Sheng-Chien; Wu, Chia-Ching

2016-01-01

Vertically aligned p-type silicon nanowire (SiNW) arrays were fabricated through metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) of Si wafers. An indium tin oxide/indium zinc oxide/silicon nanowire (ITO/IZO/SiNW) heterojunction diode was formed by depositing ITO and IZO thin films on the vertically aligned SiNW arrays. The structural and electrical properties of the resulting ITO/IZO/SiNW heterojunction diode were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and current−voltage (I−V) measurements. Nonlinear and rectifying I−V properties confirmed that a heterojunction diode was successfully formed in the ITO/IZO/SiNW structure. The diode had a well-defined rectifying behavior, with a rectification ratio of 550.7 at 3 V and a turn-on voltage of 2.53 V under dark conditions. PMID:28773656

Formation of correlated states and optimization of nuclear reactions for low-energy particles at nonresonant low-frequency modulation of a potential well

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vysotskii, V. I., E-mail: vivysotskii@gmail.com; Vysotskyy, M. V.

2015-02-15

A method for the formation of correlated coherent states of low-energy particles in a parabolic potential well owing to the full-scale low-frequency modulation ω(t) = ω{sub 0}sinΩt of the parameters of this well has been considered. It has been shown that such a modulation in the absence of a stochastic force acting on a particle results in the fast formation of correlated coherent states and in an increase in the correlation coefficient and transparency of the potential barrier to the limiting values vertical bar r(t) vertical bar {sub max} → 1 and D → 1. The presence of the stochasticmore » force significantly affects the evolution of correlated coherent states, decreasing the rate of an increase in the correlation coefficient vertical bar r(t) vertical bar {sub max} (at Ω ≤ 10{sup −4}ω{sub 0}) and limiting it at the level vertical bar r(∞) vertical bar {sub max} < 1 (at Ω = (0.001–0.1)ω{sub 0}); vertical bar r(∞) vertical bar {sub max} increases with a decrease in the frequency of modulation and decreases with an increase in the intensity of the stochastic force. It has been shown that, at a realistic relation between the parameters, low-frequency modulation can ensure such vertical bar r vertical bar {sub max} value that the transparency of the potential barrier for low-energy particles increases by a factor of 10{sup 50}–10{sup 100} or larger. The mechanism of the formation of correlated coherent states for charged particles in a gas or a low-pressure plasma placed in a low-frequency magnetic field has been considered. We have determined the relation between the magnetic field strength and modulation frequency, as well as the relation between the temperature and density of the gas (plasma), at which the method under consideration can be used to optimize nuclear reactions at low energies.« less

Transient well flow in layered aquifer systems: the uniform well-face drawdown solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hemker, C. J.

1999-11-01

Previously a hybrid analytical-numerical solution for the general problem of computing transient well flow in vertically heterogeneous aquifers was proposed by the author. The radial component of flow was treated analytically, while the finite-difference technique was used for the vertical flow component only. In the present work the hybrid solution has been modified by replacing the previously assumed uniform well-face gradient (UWG) boundary condition in such a way that the drawdown remains uniform along the well screen. The resulting uniform well-face drawdown (UWD) solution also includes the effects of a finite diameter well, wellbore storage and a thin skin, while partial penetration and vertical heterogeneity are accommodated by the one-dimensional discretization. Solutions are proposed for well flow caused by constant, variable and slug discharges. The model was verified by comparing wellbore drawdowns and well-face flux distributions with published numerical solutions. Differences between UWG and UWD well flow will occur in all situations with vertical flow components near the well, which is demonstrated by considering: (1) partially penetrating wells in confined aquifers, (2) fully penetrating wells in unconfined aquifers with delayed response and (3) layered aquifers and leaky multiaquifer systems. The presented solution can be a powerful tool for solving many well-hydraulic problems, including well tests, flowmeter tests, slug tests and pumping tests. A computer program for the analysis of pumping tests, based on the hybrid analytical-numerical technique and UWG or UWD conditions, is available from the author.

Vertical structures in vibrated wormlike micellar solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Epstein, Tamir; Deegan, Robert

2008-11-01

Vertically vibrated shear thickening particulate suspensions can support a free-standing interfaces oriented parallel to gravity. We find that shear thickening worm-like micellar solutions also support such vertical interfaces. Above a threshold in acceleration, the solution spontaneously accumulates into a labyrinthine pattern characterized by a well-defined vertical edge. The formation of vertical structures is of interest because they are unique to shear-thickening fluids, and they indicate the existence of an unknown stress bearing mechanism.

A generalized analytical solution for an inclined well in a vertically and horizontally anisotropic confined aquifer and comparisons with MODFLOW

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Batu, Vedat

2015-01-01

In this paper, a new generalized three-dimensional complete analytical solution is presented for any well screen shape in a vertically and horizontally anisotropic confined aquifer in x-y-z Cartesian coordinates system for drawdown by taking into account the three principal hydraulic conductivities (Kx, Ky, and Kz) along the x-y-z coordinate directions. The special solution covers a partially-penetrating inclined parallelepiped as well as an inclined line source well. It has been showed that the rectangular parallelepiped screen case solution of Batu (2012) is a special case of this general solution. Like Batu (2012), the horizontal well case is a special case of this solution as well. The solution takes into account both the vertical anisotropy (azx = Kz/Kx) as well as the horizontal anisotropy (ayx = Ky/Kx) and has potential application areas to analyze pumping test drawdown data from partially-penetrating inclined wells by representing them as tiny parallelepiped as well as line sources. Apart from other verifications, the inclined well solution results have also been compared with the results of MODFLOW with very good agreement. The solution has also potential application areas for a partially-penetrating inclined parallelepiped fracture. With this new solution, both the horizontal anisotropy (ayx = Ky/Kx) as well as the vertical anisotropy (azx = Kz/Kx) can also be determined using observed drawdown data.

How mangrove forests adjust to rising sea level

USGS Publications Warehouse

Krauss, Ken W.; McKee, Karen L.; Lovelock, Catherine E.; Cahoon, Donald R.; Saintilan, Neil; Reef, Ruth; Chen, Luzhen

2014-01-01

Mangroves are among the most well described and widely studied wetland communities in the world. The greatest threats to mangrove persistence are deforestation and other anthropogenic disturbances that can compromise habitat stability and resilience to sea-level rise. To persist, mangrove ecosystems must adjust to rising sea level by building vertically or become submerged. Mangroves may directly or indirectly influence soil accretion processes through the production and accumulation of organic matter, as well as the trapping and retention of mineral sediment. In this review, we provide a general overview of research on mangrove elevation dynamics, emphasizing the role of the vegetation in maintaining soil surface elevations (i.e. position of the soil surface in the vertical plane). We summarize the primary ways in which mangroves may influence sediment accretion and vertical land development, for example, through root contributions to soil volume and upward expansion of the soil surface. We also examine how hydrological, geomorphological and climatic processes may interact with plant processes to influence mangrove capacity to keep pace with rising sea level. We draw on a variety of studies to describe the important, and often under-appreciated, role that plants play in shaping the trajectory of an ecosystem undergoing change.

Light Modulation and Water Splitting Enhancement Using a Composite Porous GaN Structure.

PubMed

Yang, Chao; Xi, Xin; Yu, Zhiguo; Cao, Haicheng; Li, Jing; Lin, Shan; Ma, Zhanhong; Zhao, Lixia

2018-02-14

On the basis of the laterally porous GaN, we designed and fabricated a composite porous GaN structure with both well-ordered lateral and vertical holes. Compared to the plane GaN, the composite porous GaN structure with the combination of the vertical holes can help to reduce UV reflectance and increase the saturation photocurrent during water splitting by a factor of ∼4.5. Furthermore, we investigated the underlying mechanism for the enhancement of the water splitting performance using a finite-difference time-domain method. The results show that the well-ordered vertical holes can not only help to open the embedded pore channels to the electrolyte at both sides and reduce the migration distance of the gas bubbles during the water splitting reactions but also help to modulate the light field. Using this composite porous GaN structure, most of the incident light can be modulated and trapped into the nanoholes, and thus the electric fields localized in the lateral pores can increase dramatically as a result of the strong optical coupling. Our findings pave a new way to develop GaN photoelectrodes for highly efficient solar water splitting.

SURFACTANT REMEDIATION FIELD DEMONSTRATION USING A VERTICAL CIRCULATION WELL

EPA Science Inventory

A field demonstration of surfactant-enhanced solubilization was completed in a shallow unconfined aquifer located at a Coast Guard Station in Traverse City, Michigan. The primary objectives of the study were: (1) to assess the ability of the vertical circulation well (VCW) system...

Electronic measurement apparatus movable in a cased borehole and compensating for casing resistance differences

DOEpatents

Vail, W.B. III.

1991-12-24

Methods of operation are described for an apparatus having at least two pairs of voltage measurement electrodes vertically disposed in a cased well to measure the resistivity of adjacent geological formations from inside the cased well. During stationary measurements with the apparatus at a fixed vertical depth within the cased well, the invention herein discloses methods of operation which include a measurement step and subsequent first and second compensation steps respectively resulting in improved accuracy of measurement. The invention also discloses multiple frequency methods of operation resulting in improved accuracy of measurement while the apparatus is simultaneously moved vertically in the cased well. The multiple frequency methods of operation disclose a first A.C. current having a first frequency that is conducted from the casing into formation and a second A.C. current having a second frequency that is conducted along the casing. The multiple frequency methods of operation simultaneously provide the measurement step and two compensation steps necessary to acquire accurate results while the apparatus is moved vertically in the cased well. 6 figures.

Electronic measurement apparatus movable in a cased borehole and compensating for casing resistance differences

DOEpatents

Vail, III, William B.

1991-01-01

Methods of operation of an apparatus having at least two pairs of voltage measurement electrodes vertically disposed in a cased well to measure the resistivity of adjacent geological formations from inside the cased well. During stationary measurements with the apparatus at a fixed vertical depth within the cased well, the invention herein discloses methods of operation which include a measurement step and subsequent first and second compensation steps respectively resulting in improved accuracy of measurement. The invention also discloses multiple frequency methods of operation resulting in improved accuracy of measurement while the apparatus is simultaneously moved vertically in the cased well. The multiple frequency methods of operation disclose a first A.C. current having a first frequency that is conducted from the casing into formation and a second A.C. current having a second frequency that is conducted along the casing. The multiple frequency methods of operation simultaneously provide the measurement step and two compensation steps necessary to acquire accurate results while the apparatus is moved vertically in the cased well.

Numerical Simulation of Borehole Flow in Deep Monitor Wells, Pearl Harbor Aquifer, Oahu, Hawaii

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rotzoll, K.; Oki, D. S.; El-Kadi, A. I.

2010-12-01

Salinity profiles collected from uncased deep monitor wells are commonly used to monitor freshwater-lens thickness in coastal aquifers. However, vertical flow in these wells can cause the measured salinity to differ from salinity in the adjacent aquifer. Substantial borehole flow has been observed in uncased wells in the Pearl Harbor aquifer, Oahu, Hawaii. A numerical modeling approach, incorporating aquifer hydraulic characteristics and recharge rates representative of the Pearl Harbor aquifer, was used to evaluate the effects of borehole flow on measured salinity profiles from deep monitor wells. Borehole flow caused by vertical hydraulic gradients associated with the natural regional groundwater-flow system and local groundwater withdrawals was simulated. Model results were used to estimate differences between vertical salinity profiles in deep monitor wells and the adjacent aquifer in areas of downward, horizontal, and upward flow within the regional flow system—for cases with and without nearby pumped wells. Aquifer heterogeneity, represented in the model as layers of contrasting permeability, was incorporated in model scenarios. Results from this study provide insight into the magnitude of the differences between vertical salinity profiles from deep monitor wells and the salinity distributions in the aquifers. These insights are relevant and are critically needed for management and predictive modeling purposes.

Toward the Development of Aluminum Cluster-Containing Materials for Propulsion Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-02-22

our main example. Photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that Al13H - has two isomers and for both provided vertical detachment energies ( VDE ) for their...The relative energies for both isomers in their anionic and their neutral charge states as well as EAa and VDE values for both isomers were also

Application of a new vertical profiling tool (ESASS) for sampling groundwater quality during hollow-stem auger drilling

USGS Publications Warehouse

Harte, Philip T.; Flanagan, Sarah M.

2011-01-01

A new tool called ESASS (Enhanced Screen Auger Sampling System) was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey. The use of ESASS, because of its unique U.S. patent design (U.S. patent no. 7,631,705 B1), allows for the collection of representative, depth-specific groundwater samples (vertical profiling) in a quick and efficient manner using a 0.305-m long screen auger during hollow-stem auger drilling. With ESASS, the water column in the flights above the screen auger is separated from the water in the screen auger by a specially designed removable plug and collar. The tool fits inside an auger of standard inner diameter (82.55 mm). The novel design of the system constituted by the plug, collar, and A-rod allows the plug to be retrieved using conventional drilling A-rods. After retrieval, standard-diameter (50.8 mm) observation wells can be installed within the hollow-stem augers. Testing of ESASS was conducted at one waste-disposal site with tetrachloroethylene (PCE) contamination and at two reference sites with no known waste-disposal history. All three sites have similar geology and are underlain by glacial, stratified-drift deposits. For the applications tested, ESASS proved to be a useful tool in vertical profiling of groundwater quality. At the waste site, PCE concentrations measured with ESASS profiling at several depths were comparable (relative percent difference <25%) to PCE concentrations sampled from wells. Vertical profiling with ESASS at the reference sites illustrated the vertical resolution achievable in the profile system; shallow groundwater quality varied by a factor of five in concentration of some constituents (nitrate and nitrite) over short (0.61 m) distances.

Application of a new vertical profiling tool (ESASS) for sampling groundwater quality during hollow-stem auger drilling

USGS Publications Warehouse

Harte, P.T.; Flanagan, S.M.

2011-01-01

A new tool called ESASS (Enhanced Screen Auger Sampling System) was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey. The use of ESASS, because of its unique U.S. patent design (U.S. patent no. 7,631,705 B1), allows for the collection of representative, depth-specific groundwater samples (vertical profiling) in a quick and efficient manner using a 0.305-m long screen auger during hollow-stem auger drilling. With ESASS, the water column in the flights above the screen auger is separated from the water in the screen auger by a specially designed removable plug and collar. The tool fits inside an auger of standard inner diameter (82.55 mm). The novel design of the system constituted by the plug, collar, and A-rod allows the plug to be retrieved using conventional drilling A-rods. After retrieval, standard-diameter (50.8 mm) observation wells can be installed within the hollow-stem augers. Testing of ESASS was conducted at one waste-disposal site with tetrachloroethylene (PCE) contamination and at two reference sites with no known waste-disposal history. All three sites have similar geology and are underlain by glacial, stratified-drift deposits. For the applications tested, ESASS proved to be a useful tool in vertical profiling of groundwater quality. At the waste site, PCE concentrations measured with ESASS profiling at several depths were comparable (relative percent difference <25%) to PCE concentrations sampled from wells. Vertical profiling with ESASS at the reference sites illustrated the vertical resolution achievable in the profile system; shallow groundwater quality varied by a factor of five in concentration of some constituents (nitrate and nitrite) over short (0.61 m) distances. Ground Water Monitoring & Remediation ?? 2011, National Ground Water Association. No claim to original US government works.

Characterizing the Effects of a Vertical Time Threshold for a Class of Well-Clear Definitions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Upchurch, Jason M.; Munoz, Cesar A.; Narkawicz, Anthony J.; Consiglio, Maria C.; Chamberlain James P.

2015-01-01

A fundamental requirement for the integration of unmanned aircraft into civil airspace is the capability of aircraft to remain well clear of each other and avoid collisions. This requirement has led to a broad recognition of the need for an unambiguous, formal definition of well clear. It is further recognized that any such definition must be interoperable with existing airborne collision avoidance systems (ACAS). A particular class of well-clear definitions uses logic checks of independent distance thresholds as well as independent time thresholds in the vertical and horizontal dimensions to determine if a well-clear violation is predicted to occur within a given time interval. Existing ACAS systems also use independent distance thresholds, however a common time threshold is used for the vertical and horizontal logic checks. The main contribution of this paper is the characterization of the effects of the decoupled vertical time threshold on a well-clear definition in terms of (1) time to well-clear violation, and (2) interoperability with existing ACAS. The paper provides governing equations for both metrics and includes simulation results to illustrate the relationships. In this paper, interoperability implies that the time of well-clear violation is strictly less than the time a resolution advisory is issued by ACAS. The encounter geometries under consideration in this paper are initially well clear and consist of constant-velocity trajectories resulting in near-mid-air collisions.

GEOPHYSICAL WELL LOG/CORE DESCRIPTIONS, CHEROKEE AND BUG FIELDS, SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH, AND LITTLE UTE AND SLEEPING UTE FIELDS, MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thomas C. Chidsey Jr; David E. Eby; Laura L. Wray

2003-12-01

Over 400 million barrels (64 million m{sup 3}) of oil have been produced from the shallow-shelf carbonate reservoirs in the Pennsylvanian (Desmoinesian) Paradox Formation in the Paradox Basin, Utah and Colorado. With the exception of the giant Greater Aneth field, the other 100 plus oil fields in the basin typically contain 2 to 10 million barrels (0.3-1.6 million m{sup 3}) of original oil in place. Most of these fields are characterized by high initial production rates followed by a very short productive life (primary), and hence premature abandonment. Only 15 to 25 percent of the original oil in place ismore » recoverable during primary production from conventional vertical wells. An extensive and successful horizontal drilling program has been conducted in the giant Greater Aneth field. However, to date, only two horizontal wells have been drilled in small Ismay and Desert Creek fields. The results from these wells were disappointing due to poor understanding of the carbonate facies and diagenetic fabrics that create reservoir heterogeneity. These small fields, and similar fields in the basin, are at high risk of premature abandonment. At least 200 million barrels (31.8 million m{sup 3}) of oil will be left behind in these small fields because current development practices leave compartments of the heterogeneous reservoirs undrained. Through proper geological evaluation of the reservoirs, production may be increased by 20 to 50 percent through the drilling of low-cost single or multilateral horizontal legs from existing vertical development wells. In addition, horizontal drilling from existing wells minimizes surface disturbances and costs for field development, particularly in the environmentally sensitive areas of southeastern Utah and southwestern Colorado.« less

Paleosol sequences within Lower Permian cyclothems of Kansas: Evidence of climatic cyclicity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Miller, K.B.; McCahon, T.J.

The Lower Permian (Wolfcampian) cycles of Kansas are broadly similar to the better known Upper Pennsylvanian (Missourian) cyclothems of the midcontinent. The morphological features of paleosols within five successive variegated mudstone units of the Council Grove and Chase Groups have been described in detail. A consistent pattern has emerged with aridic paleosols near the bases of the mudstones intervals and vertic paleosols toward the tops. The lower paleosol profiles are typically calcareous with well-developed carbonate accumulation (Bk) horizons. These may contain carbonate nodules, rhizocretions, or less commonly calcretes (K-horizons). Drab haloed root races are a common feature of these grayishmore » reddish brown B horizons. The reddish color records oxidation under fairly well drained conditions, the underlying greenish gray horizons probably indicating the average position of the water table. Thin greenish gray to gray elluvial (E) horizons are preserved at the tops of many profiles. The upper paleosols within each variegated interval are characterized by well-developed vertic structures. Pedogenic slickensides, pseudoanticlines, and occasional gilgai result from the expansion and contraction of the soil such as occurs in a seasonal wet/dry environment. These paleosols are greenish gray to olive gray and often have abundant concertina root traces. The absence of a red oxidized horizon suggests more poorly drained conditions. The upward trend from drier, better drained soils to vertic, poorly drained soils could have been generated by short-term climate change toward increasing, though still seasonal, precipitation. If so, this observation suggests that cyclic climatic change may have been an important factor in generating Lower Permian cyclothems. Such a conclusion is consistent with other evidence that the limestone and shale facies of these cyclothems were deposited in consistently shallow depositional environments.« less

Water transport through tall trees: A vertically-explicit, analytical model of xylem hydraulic conductance in stems.

PubMed

Couvreur, Valentin; Ledder, Glenn; Manzoni, Stefano; Way, Danielle A; Muller, Erik B; Russo, Sabrina E

2018-05-08

Trees grow by vertically extending their stems, so accurate stem hydraulic models are fundamental to understanding the hydraulic challenges faced by tall trees. Using a literature survey, we showed that many tree species exhibit continuous vertical variation in hydraulic traits. To examine the effects of this variation on hydraulic function, we developed a spatially-explicit, analytical water transport model for stems. Our model allows Huber ratio, stem-saturated conductivity, pressure at 50% loss of conductivity, leaf area, and transpiration rate to vary continuously along the hydraulic path. Predictions from our model differ from a matric flux potential model parameterized with uniform traits. Analyses show that cavitation is a whole-stem emergent property resulting from nonlinear pressure-conductivity feedbacks that, with gravity, cause impaired water transport to accumulate along the path. Because of the compounding effects of vertical trait variation on hydraulic function, growing proportionally more sapwood and building tapered xylem with height, as well as reducing xylem vulnerability only at branch tips while maintaining transport capacity at the stem base, can compensate for these effects. We therefore conclude that the adaptive significance of vertical variation in stem hydraulic traits is to allow trees to grow tall and tolerate operating near their hydraulic limits. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Analysis of flow near a dug well in an unconfined aquifer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sridharan, K.; Sathyanarayana, D.; Reddy, A. Siva

1990-11-01

A numerical analysis of flow to a dug well in an unconfined aquifer is made, taking into account well storage, elastic storage release, gravity drainage, anisotropy, partial penetration, vertical flow and seepage surface at the well face, and treating the water table in the aquifer and water level in the well as unknown boundaries. The pumped discharge is maintained constant. The solution is obtained by a two-level iterative scheme. The effects of governing parameters on the drawdown, development of seepage surface and contribution from aquifer flow to the total discharge are discussed. The degree of anisotropy and partial penetration are found to be the parameters which affect the flow characteristics most significantly. The effect of anisotropy on the development of seepage surface is very pronounced.

Modeling nitrate at domestic and public-supply well depths in the Central Valley, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nolan, Bernard T.; Gronberg, JoAnn M.; Faunt, Claudia C.; Eberts, Sandra M.; Belitz, Ken

2014-01-01

Aquifer vulnerability models were developed to map groundwater nitrate concentration at domestic and public-supply well depths in the Central Valley, California. We compared three modeling methods for ability to predict nitrate concentration >4 mg/L: logistic regression (LR), random forest classification (RFC), and random forest regression (RFR). All three models indicated processes of nitrogen fertilizer input at the land surface, transmission through coarse-textured, well-drained soils, and transport in the aquifer to the well screen. The total percent correct predictions were similar among the three models (69–82%), but RFR had greater sensitivity (84% for shallow wells and 51% for deep wells). The results suggest that RFR can better identify areas with high nitrate concentration but that LR and RFC may better describe bulk conditions in the aquifer. A unique aspect of the modeling approach was inclusion of outputs from previous, physically based hydrologic and textural models as predictor variables, which were important to the models. Vertical water fluxes in the aquifer and percent coarse material above the well screen were ranked moderately high-to-high in the RFR models, and the average vertical water flux during the irrigation season was highly significant (p < 0.0001) in logistic regression.

Linking Primary Care Information Systems and Public Health Vertical Programs in the Philippines: An Open-source Experience

PubMed Central

Tolentino, Herman; Marcelo, Alvin; Marcelo, Portia; Maramba, Inocencio

2005-01-01

Community-based primary care information systems are one of the building blocks for national health information systems. In the Philippines, after the devolution of health care to local governments, we observed “health information system islands” connected to national vertical programs being implemented in devolved health units. These structures lead to a huge amount of “information work” in the transformation of health information at the community level. This paper describes work done to develop and implement the open-source Community Based Health Information Tracking System (CHITS) Project, which was implemented to address this information management problem and its outcomes. Several lessons learned from the field as well as software development strategies are highlighted in building community level information systems that link to national level health information systems. PMID:16779052

3-D laser patterning process utilizing horizontal and vertical patterning

DOEpatents

Malba, Vincent; Bernhardt, Anthony F.

2000-01-01

A process which vastly improves the 3-D patterning capability of laser pantography (computer controlled laser direct-write patterning). The process uses commercially available electrodeposited photoresist (EDPR) to pattern 3-D surfaces. The EDPR covers the surface of a metal layer conformally, coating the vertical as well as horizontal surfaces. A laser pantograph then patterns the EDPR, which is subsequently developed in a standard, commercially available developer, leaving patterned trench areas in the EDPR. The metal layer thereunder is now exposed in the trench areas and masked in others, and thereafter can be etched to form the desired pattern (subtractive process), or can be plated with metal (additive process), followed by a resist stripping, and removal of the remaining field metal (additive process). This improved laser pantograph process is simpler, faster, move manufacturable, and requires no micro-machining.

Transport of volatile organic compounds across the capillary fringe

USGS Publications Warehouse

McCarthy, Kathleen A.; Johnson, Richard L.

1993-01-01

Physical experiments were conducted to investigate the transport of a dissolved volatile organic compound (trichloroethylene, TCE) from shallow groundwater to the unsaturated zone under a variety of conditions including changes in the soil moisture profile and water table position. Experimental data indicated that at moderate groundwater velocities (0.1 m/d), vertical mechanical dispersion was negligible and molecular diffusion was the dominant vertical transport mechanism. Under these conditions, TCE concentrations decreased nearly 3 orders of magnitude across the capillary fringe and soil gas concentrations remained low relative to those of underlying groundwater. Data collected during a water table drop showed a short-term increase in concentrations throughout most of the unsaturated zone, but these concentrations quickly declined and approached initial values after the water table was returned to its original level. In the deep part of the unsaturated zone, the water table drop resulted in a long-term decrease in concentrations, illustrating the effects of hysteresis in the soil moisture profile. A two-dimensional random walk advection-diffusion model was developed to simulate the experimental conditions, and numerical simulations agreed well with experimental data. A simpler, one-dimensional finite-difference diffusion-dispersion model was also developed. One-dimensional simulations based on molecular diffusion also agreed well with experimental data. Simulations which incorporated mechanical dispersion tended to overestimate flux across the capillary fringe. Good agreement between the one- and two-dimensional models suggested that a simple, one-dimensional approximation of vertical transport across the capillary fringe can be useful when conditions are appropriate.

Measuring Flow Rate in Crystalline Bedrock Wells Using the Dissolved Oxygen Alteration Method.

PubMed

Vitale, Sarah A; Robbins, Gary A

2017-07-01

Determination of vertical flow rates in a fractured bedrock well can aid in planning and implementing hydraulic tests, water quality sampling, and improving interpretations of water quality data. Although flowmeters are highly accurate in flow rate measurement, the high cost and logistics may be limiting. In this study the dissolved oxygen alteration method (DOAM) is expanded upon as a low-cost alternative to determine vertical flow rates in crystalline bedrock wells. The method entails altering the dissolved oxygen content in the wellbore through bubbler aeration, and monitoring the vertical advective movement of the dissolved oxygen over time. Measurements were taken for upward and downward flows, and under ambient and pumping conditions. Vertical flow rates from 0.06 to 2.30 Lpm were measured. To validate the method, flow rates determined with the DOAM were compared to pump discharge rates and found to be in agreement within 2.5%. © 2017, National Ground Water Association.

Quality control of goji (fruits of Lycium barbarum L. and L. chinense Mill.): A value chain analysis perspective.

PubMed

Yao, Ruyu; Heinrich, Michael; Wang, Zigui; Weckerle, Caroline S

2018-06-14

Goji (fruits of Lycium barbarum L. and L. chinense Mill., Solanaceae) have been used as a traditional food and medicine for hundreds of years in Asian countries and are now consumed globally. Quality of herbal medicines is critical for safe use and has been shown to be affected by value chains. Using a value chain (VC) framework, we aim at understanding the influence of different VC types on goji quality and revenue of stakeholders. Participant observation and semi-structured interviews were conducted during five months of fieldwork in the main production areas in China with a total of 65 stakeholders. Quality of goji, behaviour and financial performance of stakeholders was documented and analysed for different VCs. Ten different types of VCs were identified. VCs with vertical integration and horizontal collaboration were found to have a more coherent quality control and better goji quality as well as improved stakeholders' financial performance. Vertical integration at different levels was found for independent farmer-based VCs, horizontal collaboration was found in the cooperative-based VCs. Full vertically integrated VCs were found in large-scale production. Goji quality and stakeholders' revenues are linked with different types of VCs which mirror stakeholders' behaviour driven by target markets. Considering their positive influence on quality and revenues, well-developed vertically integrated value chains are likely to become more important in the near future. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

A Study of Vertical Transport through Graphene toward Control of Quantum Tunneling.

PubMed

Zhu, Xiaodan; Lei, Sidong; Tsai, Shin-Hung; Zhang, Xiang; Liu, Jun; Yin, Gen; Tang, Min; Torres, Carlos M; Navabi, Aryan; Jin, Zehua; Tsai, Shiao-Po; Qasem, Hussam; Wang, Yong; Vajtai, Robert; Lake, Roger K; Ajayan, Pulickel M; Wang, Kang L

2018-02-14

Vertical integration of van der Waals (vdW) materials with atomic precision is an intriguing possibility brought forward by these two-dimensional (2D) materials. Essential to the design and analysis of these structures is a fundamental understanding of the vertical transport of charge carriers into and across vdW materials, yet little has been done in this area. In this report, we explore the important roles of single layer graphene in the vertical tunneling process as a tunneling barrier. Although a semimetal in the lateral lattice plane, graphene together with the vdW gap act as a tunneling barrier that is nearly transparent to the vertically tunneling electrons due to its atomic thickness and the transverse momenta mismatch between the injected electrons and the graphene band structure. This is accentuated using electron tunneling spectroscopy (ETS) showing a lack of features corresponding to the Dirac cone band structure. Meanwhile, the graphene acts as a lateral conductor through which the potential and charge distribution across the tunneling barrier can be tuned. These unique properties make graphene an excellent 2D atomic grid, transparent to charge carriers, and yet can control the carrier flux via the electrical potential. A new model on the quantum capacitance's effect on vertical tunneling is developed to further elucidate the role of graphene in modulating the tunneling process. This work may serve as a general guideline for the design and analysis of vdW vertical tunneling devices and heterostructures, as well as the study of electron/spin injection through and into vdW materials.

A simple hydrodynamic model of a laminar free-surface jet in horizontal or vertical flight

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haustein, Herman D.; Harnik, Ron S.; Rohlfs, Wilko

2017-08-01

A useable model for laminar free-surface jet evolution during flight, for both horizontal and vertical jets, is developed through joint analytical, experimental, and simulation methods. The jet's impingement centerline velocity, recently shown to dictate stagnation zone heat transfer, encompasses the entire flow history: from pipe-flow velocity profile development to profile relaxation and jet contraction during flight. While pipe-flow is well-known, an alternative analytic solution is presented for the centerline velocity's viscous-driven decay. Jet-contraction is subject to influences of surface tension (We), pipe-flow profile development, in-flight viscous dissipation (Re), and gravity (Nj = Re/Fr). The effects of surface tension and emergence momentum flux (jet thrust) are incorporated analytically through a global momentum balance. Though emergence momentum is related to pipe flow development, and empirically linked to nominal pipe flow-length, it can be modified to incorporate low-Re downstream dissipation as well. Jet contraction's gravity dependence is extended beyond existing uniform-velocity theory to cases of partially and fully developed profiles. The final jet-evolution model relies on three empirical parameters and compares well to present and previous experiments and simulations. Hence, micro-jet flight experiments were conducted to fill-in gaps in the literature: jet contraction under mild gravity-effects, and intermediate Reynolds and Weber numbers (Nj = 5-8, Re = 350-520, We = 2.8-6.2). Furthermore, two-phase direct numerical simulations provided insight beyond the experimental range: Re = 200-1800, short pipes (Z = L/d . Re ≥ 0.01), variable nozzle wettability, and cases of no surface tension and/or gravity.

Full-waveform and discrete-return lidar in salt marsh environments: An assessment of biophysical parameters, vertical uncertatinty, and nonparametric dem correction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rogers, Jeffrey N.

High-resolution and high-accuracy elevation data sets of coastal salt marsh environments are necessary to support restoration and other management initiatives, such as adaptation to sea level rise. Lidar (light detection and ranging) data may serve this need by enabling efficient acquisition of detailed elevation data from an airborne platform. However, previous research has revealed that lidar data tend to have lower vertical accuracy (i.e., greater uncertainty) in salt marshes than in other environments. The increase in vertical uncertainty in lidar data of salt marshes can be attributed primarily to low, dense-growing salt marsh vegetation. Unfortunately, this increased vertical uncertainty often renders lidar-derived digital elevation models (DEM) ineffective for analysis of topographic features controlling tidal inundation frequency and ecology. This study aims to address these challenges by providing a detailed assessment of the factors influencing lidar-derived elevation uncertainty in marshes. The information gained from this assessment is then used to: 1) test the ability to predict marsh vegetation biophysical parameters from lidar-derived metrics, and 2) develop a method for improving salt marsh DEM accuracy. Discrete-return and full-waveform lidar, along with RTK GNSS (Real-time Kinematic Global Navigation Satellite System) reference data, were acquired for four salt marsh systems characterized by four major taxa (Spartina alterniflora, Spartina patens, Distichlis spicata, and Salicornia spp.) on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. These data were used to: 1) develop an innovative combination of full-waveform lidar and field methods to assess the vertical distribution of aboveground biomass as well as its light blocking properties; 2) investigate lidar elevation bias and standard deviation using varying interpolation and filtering methods; 3) evaluate the effects of seasonality (temporal differences between peak growth and senescent conditions) using lidar data flown in summer and spring; 4) create new products, called Relative Uncertainty Surfaces (RUS), from lidar waveform-derived metrics and determine their utility; and 5) develop and test five nonparametric regression model algorithms (MARS -- Multivariate Adaptive Regression, CART -- Classification and Regression Trees, TreeNet, Random Forests, and GPSM -- Generalized Path Seeker) with 13 predictor variables derived from both discrete and full waveform lidar sources in order to develop a method of improving lidar DEM quality. Results of this study indicate strong correlations for Spartina alterniflora (r > 0.9) between vertical biomass (VB), the distribution of vegetation biomass by height, and vertical obscuration (VO), the measure of the vertical distribution of the ratio of vegetation to airspace. It was determined that simple, feature-based lidar waveform metrics, such as waveform width, can provide new information to estimate salt marsh vegetation biophysical parameters such as vegetation height. The results also clearly illustrate the importance of seasonality, species, and lidar interpolation and filtering methods on elevation uncertainty in salt marshes. Relative uncertainty surfaces generated from lidar waveform features were determined useful in qualitative/visual assessment of lidar elevation uncertainty and correlate well with vegetation height and presence of Spartina alterniflora. Finally, DEMs generated using full-waveform predictor models produced corrections (compared to ground based RTK GNSS elevations) with R2 values of up to 0.98 and slopes within 4% of a perfect 1:1 correlation. The findings from this research have strong potential to advance tidal marsh mapping, research and management initiatives.

Orienting numbers in mental space: horizontal organization trumps vertical.

PubMed

Holmes, Kevin J; Lourenco, Stella F

2012-01-01

While research on the spatial representation of number has provided substantial evidence for a horizontally oriented mental number line, recent studies suggest vertical organization as well. Directly comparing the relative strength of horizontal and vertical organization, however, we found no evidence of spontaneous vertical orientation (upward or downward), and horizontal trumped vertical when pitted against each other (Experiment 1). Only when numbers were conceptualized as magnitudes (as opposed to nonmagnitude ordinal sequences) did reliable vertical organization emerge, with upward orientation preferred (Experiment 2). Altogether, these findings suggest that horizontal representations predominate, and that vertical representations, when elicited, may be relatively inflexible. Implications for spatial organization beyond number, and its ontogenetic basis, are discussed.

Laboratory investigation of shale rock to identify fracture propagation in vertical direction to bedding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Tan; Yan, Jin; Bing, Hou; Yingcao, Zhou; Ruxin, Zhang; Zhi, Chang; Meng, Fan

2018-06-01

Affected by beddings and natural fractures, fracture geometry in the vertical plane is complex in shale formation, which differs from a simple fracture in homogeneous sandstone reservoirs. However, the propagation mechanism of a hydraulic fracture in the vertical plane has not been well understood. In this paper, a true tri-axial pressure machine was deployed for shale horizontal well fracturing simulation experiments of shale outcrops. The effects of multiple factors on hydraulic fracture vertical propagation were studied. The results revealed that hydraulic fracture initiation and propagation displayed four basic patterns in the vertical plane of laminated shale formation. A hydraulic fracture would cross the beddings under the high vertical stress difference between a vertical stress and horizontal minimum stress of 12 MPa, while a hydraulic fracture propagates along the beddings under a low vertical stress difference of 3 MPa. Four kinds of fracture geometry, including a single main fracture, a nonplanar fracture, a complex fracture, and a complex fracture network, were observed due to the combined effects of flow rate and viscosity. Due to the influence of binding strength (or cementing strength) on the fracture communication effects between a hydraulic fracture and the beddings, the opening region of the beddings takes the shape of an ellipse.

Brine Extraction and Treatment Strategies to Enhance Pressure Management and Control of CO 2 Plumes in Deep Geologic Formations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Okwen, Roland; Frailey, Scott; Dastgheib, Seyed

The overall goal of the this project is to develop and validate pressure management and carbon dioxide (CO 2) plume control strategies that can address technical and economic barriers to commercial deployment of CO 2 storage technologies, based on computational and field demonstration work at the Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) facility where the Illinois Basin–Decatur Project (IBDP) and the Illinois-Industrial Carbon Capture and Storage (IL-ICCS) projects are located. To accomplish the overall goal, the ISGS designed a brine extraction storage test (BEST) that could be completed in two phases. The goal of BEST Phase I was to evaluate themore » feasibilities of extraction well(s) placement, the brine extraction to CO 2 injection rate ratio, extraction well completion, and brine treatment and handling. The goal of BEST Phase II would be to validate the brine extraction and treatment options deemed feasible in Phase I by (1) demonstrating the efficacy of brine extraction (BE) in managing pressure (i.e., formation) and the CO 2 plume, and (2) demonstrating treatment of extracted brine with high total dissolved solids (TDS; >200,000 mg/L) using multiple advanced treatment technologies. This report details work done in Phase I. Several brine extraction and treatment scenarios were tested, simulated, and analyzed for their effectiveness in extracting brine. Initially a vertical well was studied; however, geologic modeling, reservoir modeling, and the existing facility and wellbore infrastructure dictated that the location of a vertical brine extraction well was limited to an area with no existing monitoring wells and where the well would be in relative proximity to an existing CO 2 plume. Consequently, a vertical well was excluded, and a horizontal brine extraction well placed above the existing CO 2 plume near two existing wells was studied. The horizontal well option allows the project to leverage the availability of cased-hole logs and cross-well tomography to monitor CO 2 saturation and plume distribution, respectively. Because of the proximity of the horizontal well option to two existing wells, no additional monitoring well (or caprock penetration) is required. The recommended brine extraction pilot design options are (1) a horizontal extraction well at the base of the Middle Mt. Simon, which is 350–520 ft (107–158 m) above the CO 2 plume at CCS#1 and VW#1; or (2) a vertical extraction well 0.5 mi (0.8 km) from CCS#2 in a direction approximately southeast of CCS#2, perpendicular to the direction of high hydraulic connectivity. A horizontal extraction well has advantages over a vertical extraction well, including less risk of drilling into an existing CO 2 plume and it can be located between two other wells that can be used for monitoring. Thus, because the two existing wells can serve as monitoring wells, it eliminates the need for a third verification well and allows for a lower extraction rate to control the CO 2 plume and pressure. Managing pressure and the CO 2 plume distribution via brine extraction creates the obvious and important challenge of handling and treating the extracted brine. There were three options for brine disposal: (1) underground injection control (UIC) disposal well, (2) brine treatment and industrial use, and (3) brine pretreatment and discharge into municipal wastewater system. The primary design elements were budget and permitting requirements. The disposal well would be a vertical well drilled and completed into the Potosi Dolomite. For the range of extraction rates anticipated, the cost of this well is relatively constant. The cost of brine treatment is highly depends on the extraction rate, which depends on the well orientation. If relatively high rates are required, the vertical disposal well option is more favorable; for relatively lower rates, the two brine treatment options have lower costs. Life-cycle-analysis studies on extracted brine handling options suggest that a UIC well has a lower environmental impact than brine treatment. Both brine disposal options using brine treatment require removal of suspended solids from the extracted brine. The most suitable commercially available technology and the most promising emerging and innovative technology are recommended for implementation in Phase II. Though the challenges of this project are written specific to Decatur, every CO 2 storage site considering the use of brine extraction integrated with CO 2 storage will have similar, if not identical, technical and logistical challenges.« less

Common neighbour structure and similarity intensity in complex networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, Lei; Liu, Kecheng

2017-10-01

Complex systems as networks always exhibit strong regularities, implying underlying mechanisms governing their evolution. In addition to the degree preference, the similarity has been argued to be another driver for networks. Assuming a network is randomly organised without similarity preference, the present paper studies the expected number of common neighbours between vertices. A symmetrical similarity index is accordingly developed by removing such expected number from the observed common neighbours. The developed index can not only describe the similarities between vertices, but also the dissimilarities. We further apply the proposed index to measure of the influence of similarity on the wring patterns of networks. Fifteen empirical networks as well as artificial networks are examined in terms of similarity intensity and degree heterogeneity. Results on real networks indicate that, social networks are strongly governed by the similarity as well as the degree preference, while the biological networks and infrastructure networks show no apparent similarity governance. Particularly, classical network models, such as the Barabási-Albert model, the Erdös-Rényi model and the Ring Lattice, cannot well describe the social networks in terms of the degree heterogeneity and similarity intensity. The findings may shed some light on the modelling and link prediction of different classes of networks.

TOPOGRAPHY, STRESSES, AND STABILITY AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN, NEVADA.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wolfs, Henri; Savage, William Z.

1985-01-01

Plane-strain solutions are used to analyze the influence of topography on the state of stress at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada. The results are in good agreement with the measured stress components obtained in drill holes by the hydraulic-fracturing technique, particularly those measured directly beneath the crest of the ridge, and indicate that these stresses are gravitationally induced. A separate analysis takes advantage of the fact that a well-developed set of vertical faults and fractures, subparallel to the ridge trend, imparts a vertical transverse isotropy to the rock and that, as a consequence of gravitational loading, unequal horizontal stresses are induced in directions perpendicular and parallel to the anisotropy.

In-well time-of-travel approach to evaluate optimal purge duration during low-flow sampling of monitoring wells

USGS Publications Warehouse

Harte, Philip T.

2017-01-01

A common assumption with groundwater sampling is that low (<0.5 L/min) pumping rates during well purging and sampling captures primarily lateral flow from the formation through the well-screened interval at a depth coincident with the pump intake. However, if the intake is adjacent to a low hydraulic conductivity part of the screened formation, this scenario will induce vertical groundwater flow to the pump intake from parts of the screened interval with high hydraulic conductivity. Because less formation water will initially be captured during pumping, a substantial volume of water already in the well (preexisting screen water or screen storage) will be captured during this initial time until inflow from the high hydraulic conductivity part of the screened formation can travel vertically in the well to the pump intake. Therefore, the length of the time needed for adequate purging prior to sample collection (called optimal purge duration) is controlled by the in-well, vertical travel times. A preliminary, simple analytical model was used to provide information on the relation between purge duration and capture of formation water for different gross levels of heterogeneity (contrast between low and high hydraulic conductivity layers). The model was then used to compare these time–volume relations to purge data (pumping rates and drawdown) collected at several representative monitoring wells from multiple sites. Results showed that computation of time-dependent capture of formation water (as opposed to capture of preexisting screen water), which were based on vertical travel times in the well, compares favorably with the time required to achieve field parameter stabilization. If field parameter stabilization is an indicator of arrival time of formation water, which has been postulated, then in-well, vertical flow may be an important factor at wells where low-flow sampling is the sample method of choice.

An online-coupled NWP/ACT model with conserved Lagrangian levels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sørensen, B.; Kaas, E.; Lauritzen, P. H.

2012-04-01

Numerical weather and climate modelling is under constant development. Semi-implicit semi-Lagrangian (SISL) models have proven to be numerically efficient in both short-range weather forecasts and climate models, due to the ability to use long time steps. Chemical/aerosol feedback mechanism are becoming more and more relevant in NWP as well as climate models, since the biogenic and anthropogenic emissions can have a direct effect on the dynamics and radiative properties of the atmosphere. To include chemical feedback mechanisms in the NWP models, on-line coupling is crucial. In 3D semi-Lagrangian schemes with quasi-Lagrangian vertical coordinates the Lagrangian levels are remapped to Eulerian model levels each time step. This remapping introduces an undesirable tendency to smooth sharp gradients and creates unphysical numerical diffusion in the vertical distribution. A semi-Lagrangian advection method is introduced, it combines an inherently mass conserving 2D semi-Lagrangian scheme, with a SISL scheme employing both hybrid vertical coordinates and a fully Lagrangian vertical coordinate. This minimizes the vertical diffusion and thus potentially improves the simulation of the vertical profiles of moisture, clouds, and chemical constituents. Since the Lagrangian levels suffer from traditional Lagrangian limitations caused by the convergence and divergence of the flow, remappings to the Eulerian model levels are generally still required - but this need only be applied after a number of time steps - unless dynamic remapping methods are used. For this several different remapping methods has been implemented. The combined scheme is mass conserving, consistent, and multi-tracer efficient.

Study of pelvic floor and sphincter muscles in congenital pouch colon with the help of three-dimensional CT scan.

PubMed

Maletha, Madhukar; Kureel, S N; Khan, Tanvir Roshan; Wakhlu, Ashish

2010-12-01

Congenital pouch colon (CPC) is a pouch-like dilatation of shortened colon associated with anorectal malformation (ARM). The disease is prevalent in northern India. Postoperatively, the continence results are not as good as in other ARMs and there is higher incidence of incontinence and perineal soiling in these patients. The present study aimed to evaluate the pelvic floor and sphincter muscle characteristics in patients of CPC with the help of 64-slice computerized tomography with three-dimensional (3D) volumetric reconstructions of images, thus, to know the overall quality of these muscles in the patients. The study was conducted in patients admitted over a period of July 2007 to November 2008 in our department. Totally, eight patients of CPC were subjected to 64-slice CT with three-dimensional reconstructions of images and different parameters such as quality of pelvic floor muscles, configuration of vertical and parasagittal fibres, shape and thickness of sphincter muscle complex, attenuation values of sphincters were studied. The 3D reconstructed images of pelvis in patients of CPC showed a well-developed pelvic floor and sphincter muscle complex. The length of the parasagittal fibres, transverse width of the vertical fibres and CT attenuation values of these structures with overall muscle quality were found to be good in these patients. In cases of CPC, the pelvic floor muscles including striated muscle complex (vertical and parasagittal fibres) are well developed. Higher rates of incontinence and soiling in CPC are not because of poorly developed pelvic floor and sphincter muscles. Three-dimensional CT can also provide important anatomical information that can help the operating surgeon while performing surgery.

Anisotropic mechanical behaviour of sedimentary basins inferred by advanced radar interferometry above gas storage fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teatini, P.; Gambolati, G.; Ferretti, A.

2010-12-01

Natural gas is commonly stored underground in depleted oil and gas fields to provide safe storage capacity and deliverability to market areas where production is limited, or to take advantage of seasonal price swings. In response to summer gas injection and winter gas withdrawal the reservoir expands and contracts with the overlying land that moves accordingly. Depending on the field burial depth, a few kilometres of the upper lithosphere are subject to local three-dimensional deformations with the related cyclic motion of the ground surface being both vertical and horizontal. Advanced Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) data, obtained by combining ascending and descending RADARSAT-1 images acquired from 2003 to 2008 above gas storage fields located in the sedimentary basin of the Po river plain, Italy, provide reliable measurement of these seasonal vertical ups and downs as well as horizontal displacements to and from the injection/withdrawal wells. Combination of the land surface movements together with an accurate reconstruction of the subsurface geology made available by three-dimensional seismic surveys and long-time records of fluid pore pressure within the 1000-1500 m deep reservoirs has allowed for the development of an accurate 3D poro-mechanical finite-element model of the gas injection/removal occurrence. Model calibration based on the observed cyclic motions, which are on the range of 10-15 mm and 5-10 mm in the vertical and horizontal west-east directions, respectively, helps characterize the nonlinear hysteretic geomechanical properties of the basin. First, using a basin-scale relationship between the oedometric rock compressibility cM in virgin loading conditions versus the effective intergranular stress derived from previous experimental studies, the modeling results show that the ratio s between loading and unloading-reloading cM is about 4, consistent with in-situ expansions measured by the radioactive marker technique in similar reservoirs of the same basin. Even more interestingly, a traditional isotropic stress-strain model does not prove suitable for simultaneously matching both the vertical and the horizontal displacements. The basin overall 3D deformation is indeed well captured by a transversally isotropic model where the medium elastic properties in a horizontal plane differ from those in a vertical plane. In particular, the satellite observations are successfully predicted by setting s=4 and with a horizontal/vertical Young modulus ratio of 3, a Poisson ratio equal to 0.15 and 0.25 in the horizontal and vertical plane, respectively, and the same shear modulus in the two directions.

Impact of disturbance electric fields in the evening on prereversal vertical drift and spread F developments in the equatorial ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdu, Mangalathayil A.; Nogueira, Paulo A. B.; Santos, Angela M.; de Souza, Jonas R.; Batista, Inez S.; Sobral, Jose H. A.

2018-04-01

Equatorial plasma bubble/spread F irregularity occurrence can present large variability depending upon the intensity of the evening prereversal enhancement in the zonal electric field (PRE), that is, the F region vertical plasma drift, which basically drives the post-sunset irregularity development. Forcing from magnetospheric disturbances is an important source of modification and variability in the PRE vertical drift and of the associated bubble development. Although the roles of magnetospheric disturbance time penetration electric fields in the bubble irregularity development have been studied in the literature, many details regarding the nature of the interaction between the penetration electric fields and the PRE vertical drift still lack our understanding. In this paper we have analyzed data on F layer heights and vertical drifts obtained from digisondes operated in Brazil to investigate the connection between magnetic disturbances occurring during and preceding sunset and the consequent variabilities in the PRE vertical drift and associated equatorial spread F (ESF) development. The impact of the prompt penetration under-shielding eastward electric field and that of the over-shielding, and disturbance dynamo, westward electric field on the evolution of the evening PRE vertical drift and thereby on the ESF development are briefly examined.

Experimental study of switching in a rho-i(MQW)-eta vertical coupler

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cavailles, J.A.; Erman, M.; Woodbridge, K.

1989-11-01

Electrically controlled switching in a vertically arranged directional coupler with GaAs/GaAIAs multiple quantum well waveguides is demonstrated. Coupling lengths and extinction parameters are determined by using a sample processed in such a way that injection conditions are well defined and that the coupler length can be varied continuously.

Plasmonic Properties of Vertically Aligned Nanowire Arrays

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

scattering (SERS) applications. In this investigation, two types of vertical NW arrays were studied; those of ZnO NWs grown on nanosphere lithography...plasmonic nanowires to investigate this SERS effect. Here we used two types of vertical NWs, ZnO NWs, and Si NWs, respectively, to investigate SERS...successfully grow vertically aligned ZnO nanowires by the well-known VLS process. In this way, the ZnO NWs can be arranged in a repeatable hexagonal pattern

POROSITY/PERMEABILITY CROSS-PLOTS: CHEROKEE AND BUG FIELDS, SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH, AND LITTLE UTE AND SLEEPING UTE FIELDS, MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thomas C. Chidsey Jr; David E. Eby; Laura L. Wray

2003-12-01

Over 400 million barrels (64 million m{sup 3}) of oil have been produced from the shallow-shelf carbonate reservoirs in the Pennsylvanian (Desmoinesian) Paradox Formation in the Paradox Basin, Utah and Colorado. With the exception of the giant Greater Aneth field, the other 100 plus oil fields in the basin typically contain 2 to 10 million barrels (0.3-1.6 million m{sup 3}) of original oil in place. Most of these fields are characterized by high initial production rates followed by a very short productive life (primary), and hence premature abandonment. Only 15 to 25 percent of the original oil in place ismore » recoverable during primary production from conventional vertical wells. An extensive and successful horizontal drilling program has been conducted in the giant Greater Aneth field. However, to date, only two horizontal wells have been drilled in small Ismay and Desert Creek fields. The results from these wells were disappointing due to poor understanding of the carbonate facies and diagenetic fabrics that create reservoir heterogeneity. These small fields, and similar fields in the basin, are at high risk of premature abandonment. At least 200 million barrels (31.8 million m{sup 3}) of oil will be left behind in these small fields because current development practices leave compartments of the heterogeneous reservoirs undrained. Through proper geological evaluation of the reservoirs, production may be increased by 20 to 50 percent through the drilling of low-cost single or multilateral horizontal legs from existing vertical development wells. In addition, horizontal drilling from existing wells minimizes surface disturbances and costs for field development, particularly in the environmentally sensitive areas of southeastern Utah and southwestern Colorado.« less

CROSS SECTIONS AND FIELD MAPS: CHEROKEE AND BUG FIELDS, SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH, AND LITTLE UTE AND SLEEPING UTE FIELDS, MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thomas C. Chidsey Jr; Craig D. Morgan; Kevin McClure

2003-12-01

Over 400 million barrels (64 million m{sup 3}) of oil have been produced from the shallow-shelf carbonate reservoirs in the Pennsylvanian (Desmoinesian) Paradox Formation in the Paradox Basin, Utah and Colorado. With the exception of the giant Greater Aneth field, the other 100 plus oil fields in the basin typically contain 2 to 10 million barrels (0.3-1.6 million m{sup 3}) of original oil in place. Most of these fields are characterized by high initial production rates followed by a very short productive life (primary), and hence premature abandonment. Only 15 to 25 percent of the original oil in place ismore » recoverable during primary production from conventional vertical wells. An extensive and successful horizontal drilling program has been conducted in the giant Greater Aneth field. However, to date, only two horizontal wells have been drilled in small Ismay and Desert Creek fields. The results from these wells were disappointing due to poor understanding of the carbonate facies and diagenetic fabrics that create reservoir heterogeneity. These small fields, and similar fields in the basin, are at high risk of premature abandonment. At least 200 million barrels (31.8 million m{sup 3}) of oil will be left behind in these small fields because current development practices leave compartments of the heterogeneous reservoirs undrained. Through proper geological evaluation of the reservoirs, production may be increased by 20 to 50 percent through the drilling of low-cost single or multilateral horizontal legs from existing vertical development wells. In addition, horizontal drilling from existing wells minimizes surface disturbances and costs for field development, particularly in the environmentally sensitive areas of southeastern Utah and southwestern Colorado.« less

THIN SECTION DESCRIPTIONS: LITTLE UTE AND SLEEPING UTE FIELDS, MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

David E. Eby; Laura L. Wray

2003-12-01

Over 400 million barrels (64 million m{sup 3}) of oil have been produced from the shallow-shelf carbonate reservoirs in the Pennsylvanian (Desmoinesian) Paradox Formation in the Paradox Basin, Utah and Colorado. With the exception of the giant Greater Aneth field, the other 100 plus oil fields in the basin typically contain 2 to 10 million barrels (0.3-1.6 million m{sup 3}) of original oil in place. Most of these fields are characterized by high initial production rates followed by a very short productive life (primary), and hence premature abandonment. Only 15 to 25 percent of the original oil in place ismore » recoverable during primary production from conventional vertical wells. An extensive and successful horizontal drilling program has been conducted in the giant Greater Aneth field in Utah (figure 1). However, to date, only two horizontal wells have been drilled in small Ismay and Desert Creek fields. The results from these wells were disappointing due to poor understanding of the carbonate facies and diagenetic fabrics that create reservoir heterogeneity. These small fields, and similar fields in the basin, are at high risk of premature abandonment. At least 200 million barrels (31.8 million m{sup 3}) of oil will be left behind in these small fields because current development practices leave compartments of the heterogeneous reservoirs undrained. Through proper geological evaluation of the reservoirs, production may be increased by 20 to 50 percent through the drilling of low-cost single or multilateral horizontal legs from existing vertical development wells. In addition, horizontal drilling from existing wells minimizes surface disturbances and costs for field development, particularly in the environmentally sensitive areas of southeastern Utah and southwestern Colorado.« less

Hydrodynamics of the Capture Zone of a Partially Penetrating Well in a Confined Aquifer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faybishenko, Boris A.; Javandel, Iraj; Witherspoon, Paul A.

1995-04-01

In the pump and treat approach to the problem of managing a contaminated aquifer, a key problem is to design an effective capture system that collects only the polluted groundwater without allowing any of it to escape. At present, it is customary to design a capture system using fully penetrating withdrawal wells. Very often, however, only part of the vertical thickness of the aquifer is contaminated, so the question may arise whether a more efficient capture system can be achieved using partially penetrating wells. Very little work has been done on the application of partially penetrating wells to this problem. A new semianalytic method that can be used in determining the geometry of the capture zone for steady state flow to a partially penetrating well that is screened from the top (or from the bottom) of a confined aquifer has been developed. By combining the velocity potentials for flow to the well with that for the regional flow field, a three-dimensional velocity potential that can be used in determining the complete geometry of the capture surface has been developed. The results have shown that with a constant pumping rate the maximum horizontal extent of the capture surface at the top (or bottom) of the aquifer increases as the degree of penetration decreases. As one would expect, the maximum vertical extent increases as the depth of penetration increases. Thus, if one knows the actual location of the contaminant plume, an appropriate combination of the degree of penetration and pumping rate can be selected to create an effective capture zone.

Study on cyclic injection gas override in condensate gas reservoir

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yan; Zhu, Weiyao; Xia, Jing; Li, Baozhu

2018-02-01

Cyclic injection gas override in condensate gas reservoirs for the large density difference between injection gas and condensate gas has been studied, but no relevant mathematical models have been built. In this paper, a mathematical model of cyclic injection gas override in condensate gas reservoir is established, considering density difference between the injected gas and the remaining condensate gas in the formation. The vertical flow ratio and override degree are used to reflect the override law of injected dry gas. Combined with the actual data of Tarim gas condensate reservoir, the parameters of injected dry gas override are calculated and analysed. The results show that the radial pressure rises or falls rapidly and the pressure gradient varies greatly in the near wells. The radial pressure varies slowly and the pressure gradient changes little in the reservoir which is within a certain distance from the wells. In the near injection well, the injected dry gas mainly migrates along the radial direction, and the vertical migration is relatively not obvious. With the distance from the injection well, the vertical flow ratio and override degree of injected dry gas increases, and the vertical flow ratio reaches the maximum in the middle of the injection well and the production well.

Hydraulic fracturing water use variability in the United States and potential environmental implications

PubMed Central

Varela, Brian A.; Haines, Seth S.; Engle, Mark A.

2015-01-01

Abstract Until now, up‐to‐date, comprehensive, spatial, national‐scale data on hydraulic fracturing water volumes have been lacking. Water volumes used (injected) to hydraulically fracture over 263,859 oil and gas wells drilled between 2000 and 2014 were compiled and used to create the first U.S. map of hydraulic fracturing water use. Although median annual volumes of 15,275 m3 and 19,425 m3 of water per well was used to hydraulically fracture individual horizontal oil and gas wells, respectively, in 2014, about 42% of wells were actually either vertical or directional, which required less than 2600 m3 water per well. The highest average hydraulic fracturing water usage (10,000−36,620 m3 per well) in watersheds across the United States generally correlated with shale‐gas areas (versus coalbed methane, tight oil, or tight gas) where the greatest proportion of hydraulically fractured wells were horizontally drilled, reflecting that the natural reservoir properties influence water use. This analysis also demonstrates that many oil and gas resources within a given basin are developed using a mix of horizontal, vertical, and some directional wells, explaining why large volume hydraulic fracturing water usage is not widespread. This spatial variability in hydraulic fracturing water use relates to the potential for environmental impacts such as water availability, water quality, wastewater disposal, and possible wastewater injection‐induced earthquakes. PMID:26937056

Hydraulic fracturing water use variability in the United States and potential environmental implications

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gallegos, Tanya J.; Varela, Brian A.; Haines, Seth S.; Engle, Mark A.

2015-01-01

Until now, up-to-date, comprehensive, spatial, national-scale data on hydraulic fracturing water volumes have been lacking. Water volumes used (injected) to hydraulically fracture over 263,859 oil and gas wells drilled between 2000 and 2014 were compiled and used to create the first U.S. map of hydraulic fracturing water use. Although median annual volumes of 15,275 m3 and 19,425 m3 of water per well was used to hydraulically fracture individual horizontal oil and gas wells, respectively, in 2014, about 42% of wells were actually either vertical or directional, which required less than 2600 m3 water per well. The highest average hydraulic fracturing water usage (10,000−36,620 m3 per well) in watersheds across the United States generally correlated with shale-gas areas (versus coalbed methane, tight oil, or tight gas) where the greatest proportion of hydraulically fractured wells were horizontally drilled, reflecting that the natural reservoir properties influence water use. This analysis also demonstrates that many oil and gas resources within a given basin are developed using a mix of horizontal, vertical, and some directional wells, explaining why large volume hydraulic fracturing water usage is not widespread. This spatial variability in hydraulic fracturing water use relates to the potential for environmental impacts such as water availability, water quality, wastewater disposal, and possible wastewater injection-induced earthquakes.

Novel mechatronic solutions incorporating inerters for railway vehicle vertical secondary suspensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matamoros-Sanchez, Alejandra Z.; Goodall, Roger M.

2015-02-01

This paper discusses the effects of inerter-based passive networks in the design of novel mechatronic solutions for improving the vertical performance of a bogied railway vehicle. Combinations of inerter-based structures and active suspensions comprise distinct novel mechatronic solutions for the vertical secondary suspension of the vehicle. The parameters of the active and passive parts of the overall configuration are optimised so that a synergy arises to enhance the vehicle vertical performance and simplify common mechatronic suspension design conflicts. The study is performed by combining inerter-based suspensions with well-established active control (output-based and model-based) strategies for ride quality enhancement. Also, a novel nonlinear control strategy, here called 'Adaptive Stiffness', is incorporated for suspension deflection regulation to complement the well-known local implementation of skyhook damping. This would complete a significant set of control strategies to produce general conclusions. The vehicle performance is assessed through the vertical accelerations of the vehicle body as an initial investigation. Attained results show the potential of the inerter concept for innovating mechatronic technologies to achieve substantial improvements in railway vehicle vertical ride quality with reduced actuator force.

Morphometric analysis of the developing pediatric cervical spine.

PubMed

Johnson, Kyle T; Al-Holou, Wajd N; Anderson, Richard C E; Wilson, Thomas J; Karnati, Tejas; Ibrahim, Mohannad; Garton, Hugh J L; Maher, Cormac O

2016-09-01

OBJECTIVE Our understanding of pediatric cervical spine development remains incomplete. The purpose of this analysis was to quantitatively define cervical spine growth in a population of children with normal CT scans. METHODS A total of 1458 children older than 1 year and younger than 18 years of age who had undergone a cervical spine CT scan at the authors' institution were identified. Subjects were separated by sex and age (in years) into 34 groups. Following this assignment, subjects within each group were randomly selected for inclusion until a target of 15 subjects in each group had been measured. Linear measurements were performed on the midsagittal image of the cervical spine. Twenty-three unique measurements were obtained for each subject. RESULTS Data showed that normal vertical growth of the pediatric cervical spine continues up to 18 years of age in boys and 14 years of age in girls. Approximately 75% of the vertical growth occurs throughout the subaxial spine and 25% occurs across the craniovertebral region. The C-2 body is the largest single-segment contributor to vertical growth, but the subaxial vertebral bodies and disc spaces also contribute. Overall vertical growth of the cervical spine throughout childhood is dependent on individual vertebral body growth as well as vertical growth of the disc spaces. The majority of spinal canal diameter growth occurs by 4 years of age. CONCLUSIONS The authors' morphometric analyses establish parameters for normal pediatric cervical spine growth up to 18 years of age. These data should be considered when evaluating children for potential surgical intervention and provide a basis of comparison for studies investigating the effects of cervical spine instrumentation and fusion on subsequent growth.

Improving Vertical Jump Profiles Through Prescribed Movement Plans.

PubMed

Mayberry, John K; Patterson, Bryce; Wagner, Phil

2018-06-01

Mayberry, JK, Patterson, B, and Wagner, P. Improving vertical jump profiles through prescribed movement plans. J Strength Cond Res 32(6): 1619-1626, 2018-Developing practical, reliable, and valid methods for monitoring athlete wellness and injury risk is an important goal for trainers, athletes, and coaches. Previous studies have shown that the countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) test is both a reliable and valid metric for evaluating an athlete's condition. This study examines the effectiveness of prescribed workouts on improving the quality of movement during CMJ. The data set consists of 2,425 pairs of CMJ scans for high school, college, and professional athletes training at a privately owned facility. During each scan, a force plate recorded 3 ground reaction force (GRF) measurements known to impact CMJ performance: eccentric rate of force development (ERFD), average vertical concentric force (AVCF), and concentric vertical impulse (CVI). After an initial scan, coaches either assigned the athlete a specific 1- or 2-strength movement plan (treatment group) or instructed the athlete to choose their own workouts (control group) before returning for a follow-up scan. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) revealed significant differences in changes to GRF measurements between athletes in the 2 groups after adjusting for the covariates sex, sport, time between scans, and rounds of workout completed. A principal component analysis of GRF measurements further identified 4 primary groups of athlete needs and the results provide recommendations for effective workout plans targeting each group. In particular, split squats increase CVI and decrease ERFD/AVCF; deadlifts increase AVCF and decrease CVI; alternating squats/split squats increase ERFD/CVI and decrease AVCF; and alternating squats/deadlifts increase ERFD/AVCF and decrease CVI.

Vertical Rise Velocity of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles Estimated from Equatorial Atmosphere Radar Observations and High-Resolution Bubble Model Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yokoyama, T.; Ajith, K. K.; Yamamoto, M.; Niranjan, K.

2017-12-01

Equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) is a well-known phenomenon in the equatorial ionospheric F region. As it causes severe scintillation in the amplitude and phase of radio signals, it is important to understand and forecast the occurrence of EPBs from a space weather point of view. The development of EPBs is presently believed as an evolution of the generalized Rayleigh-Taylor instability. We have already developed a 3D high-resolution bubble (HIRB) model with a grid spacing of as small as 1 km and presented nonlinear growth of EPBs which shows very turbulent internal structures such as bifurcation and pinching. As EPBs have field-aligned structures, the latitude range that is affected by EPBs depends on the apex altitude of EPBs over the dip equator. However, it was not easy to observe the apex altitude and vertical rise velocity of EPBs. Equatorial Atmosphere Radar (EAR) in Indonesia is capable of steering radar beams quickly so that the growth phase of EPBs can be captured clearly. The vertical rise velocities of the EPBs observed around the midnight hours are significantly smaller compared to those observed in postsunset hours. Further, the vertical growth of the EPBs around midnight hours ceases at relatively lower altitudes, whereas the majority of EPBs at postsunset hours found to have grown beyond the maximum detectable altitude of the EAR. The HIRB model with varying background conditions are employed to investigate the possible factors that control the vertical rise velocity and maximum attainable altitudes of EPBs. The estimated rise velocities from EAR observations at both postsunset and midnight hours are, in general, consistent with the nonlinear evolution of EPBs from the HIRB model.

Functionalized vertical GaN micro pillar arrays with high signal-to-background ratio for detection and analysis of proteins secreted from breast tumor cells.

PubMed

Choi, Mun-Ki; Kim, Gil-Sung; Jeong, Jin-Tak; Lim, Jung-Taek; Lee, Won-Yong; Umar, Ahmad; Lee, Sang-Kwon

2017-11-02

The detection of cancer biomarkers has recently attracted significant attention as a means of determining the correct course of treatment with targeted therapeutics. However, because the concentration of these biomarkers in blood is usually relatively low, highly sensitive biosensors for fluorescence imaging and precise detection are needed. In this study, we have successfully developed vertical GaN micropillar (MP) based biosensors for fluorescence sensing and quantitative measurement of CA15-3 antigens. The highly ordered vertical GaN MP arrays result in the successful immobilization of CA15-3 antigens on each feature of the arrays, thereby allowing the detection of an individual fluorescence signal from the top surface of the arrays owing to the high regularity of fluorophore-tagged MP spots and relatively low background signal. Therefore, our fluorescence-labeled and CA15-3 functionalized vertical GaN-MP-based biosensor is suitable for the selective quantitative analysis of secreted CA15-3 antigens from MCF-7 cell lines, and helps in the early diagnosis and prognosis of serious diseases as well as the monitoring of the therapeutic response of breast cancer patients.

Carbon Nanofiber Electrode Array for Neurochemical Monitoring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koehne, Jessica E.

2017-01-01

A sensor platform based on vertically aligned carbon nanofibers (CNFs) has been developed. Their inherent nanometer scale, high conductivity, wide potential window, good biocompatibility and well-defined surface chemistry make them ideal candidates as biosensor electrodes. Here, we report using vertically aligned CNF as neurotransmitter recording electrodes for application in a smart deep brain stimulation (DBS) device. Our approach combines a multiplexed CNF electrode chip, developed at NASA Ames Research Center, with the Wireless Instantaneous Neurotransmitter Concentration Sensor (WINCS) system, developed at the Mayo Clinic. Preliminary results indicate that the CNF nanoelectrode arrays are easily integrated with WINCS for neurotransmitter detection in a multiplexed array format. In the future, combining CNF based stimulating and recording electrodes with WINCS may lay the foundation for an implantable smart therapeutic system that utilizes neurochemical feedback control while likely resulting in increased DBS application in various neuropsychiatric disorders. In total, our goal is to take advantage of the nanostructure of CNF arrays for biosensing studies requiring ultrahigh sensitivity, high-degree of miniaturization, and selective biofunctionalization.

High power vertical stacked and horizontal arrayed diode laser bar development based on insulation micro-channel cooling (IMCC) and hard solder bonding technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Boxue; Jia, Yangtao; Zhang, Haoyu; Jia, Shiyin; Liu, Jindou; Wang, Weifeng; Liu, Xingsheng

2018-02-01

An insulation micro-channel cooling (IMCC) has been developed for packaging high power bar-based vertical stack and horizontal array diode lasers, which eliminates many issues caused in its congener packaged by commercial copper formed micro-channel cooler(MCC), such as coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch between cooler and diode laser bar, high coolant quality requirement (DI water) and channel corrosion and electro-corrosion induced by DI water if the DI-water quality is not well maintained The IMCC cooler separates water flow route and electrical route, which allows tap-water as coolant without electro-corrosion and therefore prolongs cooler lifetime dramatically and escalated the reliability of these diode lasers. The thickness of ceramic and copper in an IMCC cooler is well designed to minimize the CTE mismatch between laser bar and cooler, consequently, a very low "SMILE" of the laser bar can be achieved for small fast axis divergence after collimation. In additional, gold-tin hard solder bonding technology was also developed to minimize the risk of solder electromigration at high current density and thermal fatigue under hard-pulse operation mode. Testing results of IMCC packaged diode lasers are presented in this report.

Local and Remote Influences on Vertical Wind Shear over the Northern Tropical Atlantic Region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saravanan, R.; Zhu, X.

2009-12-01

Vertical wind shear is one of the most important parameters controlling the frequency and intensity of Atlantic hurricanes. It has been argued that in global warming scenarios, the mechanical effect of changing vertical wind shear may even trump the thermodynamic effect of increasing Atlantic sea surface temperatures, when it comes to projected trends in Atlantic hurricane activity. Despite its importance, little is known about the connection between vertical shear in the north Atlantic region and the global atmospheric circulation, apart from the well-known positive correlation with El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). In this study, we analyze the statistical relationship between vertical shear and features of the large-scale circulation such as the distribution of sea surface temperature and vertical motion. We examine whether this relationship is different on interannual timescales associated with ENSO as compared to the decadal timescales associated with the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). We also investigate how well the global general circulation models manage to simulate the observed vertical shear in this region, and its relationship to the large-scale circulation. Our analyses reveal an interesting sensitivity to air-sea coupling in model simulations of vertical shear. Another interesting property of vertical shear, as defined in the context of hurricane studies, is that it is positive definite, rather like precipitation. This means that it has a very nongaussian probability distribution on short timescales. We analyze how this nongaussianity changes when averaged over longer timescales.

Development and Assessment of Planetary Gear Unit for Experimental Prototype of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Urbahs, A.; Urbaha, M.; Carjova, K.

2017-10-01

The theoretical calculation for development of planetary gear unit of wind turbine (WT) and its experimental tests are presented in the paper. Development of experimental prototypes from composite materials is essential to determine capability of element and its impact on feature. Two experimental scale prototypes of planetary gear unit for WT were developed for such purposes. Hall transducer, servomechanisms and optical tachometers were used to obtain results, comparison analysis of theoretical and actual data was performed as well as quality assessment of experimental prototypes of planetary gear unit. After kinematic and load analysis as well as control of rotation frequency, it is possible to declare that the unit is able to operate at designated quality. Theoretical calculations and test results obtained are used for industrial WT prototype development.

A fast and zero-biased photodetector based on GaTe-InSe vertical 2D p-n heterojunction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, W.; Jin, Z.; Yuan, J.; Zhang, J.; Jia, S.; Dong, L.; Yoon, J.; Zhou, L.; Vajtai, R.; Tour, J. M.; Ajayan, P. M.; Hu, P.; Lou, J.

2018-04-01

p-n junctions serve as the building blocks for fundamental semiconductor devices, such as solar cells, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and photodetectors. With recent studies unveiling the excellent optoelectronic properties of two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors, they are considered to be superb candidates for high performance p-n junctions. Here, we fabricate a vertical GaTe-InSe van der Waals (vdWs) p-n heterojunction by a PDMS-assisted transfer technique without etching. The fabricated p-n heterojunction shows gate-tunable current-rectifying behavior with a rectification factor reaching 1000. In addition, it features fast photodetection under zero bias as well as a high power conversion efficiency (PCE). Under 405 nm laser excitation, the zero-biased photodetector shows a high responsivity of 13.8 mA W-1 as well as a high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 4.2%. Long-term stability is also observed and a response time of 20 µs is achieved due to stable and fast carrier transit through the built-in electric field in the depletion region. Fast and efficient charge separation in the vertical 2D p-n junction paves the way for developing 2D photodetectors with zero dark current, high speed and low power consumption.

Investigation of Possible Wellbore Cement Failures During Hydraulic Fracturing Operations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Jihoon; Moridis, George

2014-11-01

We model and assess the possibility of shear failure, using the Mohr-Coulomb model ? along the vertical well by employing a rigorous coupled flow-geomechanic analysis. To this end, we vary the values of cohesion between the well casing and the surrounding cement to representing different quality levels of the cementing operation (low cohesion corresponds to low-quality cement and/or incomplete cementing). The simulation results show that there is very little fracturing when the cement is of high quality.. Conversely, incomplete cementing and/or weak cement can causes significant shear failure and the evolution of long fractures/cracks along the vertical well. Specifically, lowmore » cohesion between the well and cemented areas can cause significant shear failure along the well, but the same cohesion as the cemented zone does not cause shear failure. When the hydraulic fracturing pressure is high, low cohesion of the cement can causes fast propagation of shear failure and of the resulting fracture/crack, but a high-quality cement with no weak zones exhibits limited shear failure that is concentrated near the bottom of the vertical part of the well. Thus, high-quality cement and complete cementing along the vertical well appears to be the strongest protection against shear failure of the wellbore cement and, consequently, against contamination hazards to drinking water aquifers during hydraulic fracturing operations.« less

Estimating Travel Time in Bank Filtration Systems from a Numerical Model Based on DTS Measurements.

PubMed

des Tombe, Bas F; Bakker, Mark; Schaars, Frans; van der Made, Kees-Jan

2018-03-01

An approach is presented to determine the seasonal variations in travel time in a bank filtration system using a passive heat tracer test. The temperature in the aquifer varies seasonally because of temperature variations of the infiltrating surface water and at the soil surface. Temperature was measured with distributed temperature sensing along fiber optic cables that were inserted vertically into the aquifer with direct push equipment. The approach was applied to a bank filtration system consisting of a sequence of alternating, elongated recharge basins and rows of recovery wells. A SEAWAT model was developed to simulate coupled flow and heat transport. The model of a two-dimensional vertical cross section is able to simulate the temperature of the water at the well and the measured vertical temperature profiles reasonably well. MODPATH was used to compute flowpaths and the travel time distribution. At the study site, temporal variation of the pumping discharge was the dominant factor influencing the travel time distribution. For an equivalent system with a constant pumping rate, variations in the travel time distribution are caused by variations in the temperature-dependent viscosity. As a result, travel times increase in the winter, when a larger fraction of the water travels through the warmer, lower part of the aquifer, and decrease in the summer, when the upper part of the aquifer is warmer. © 2017 The Authors. Groundwater published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of National Ground Water Association.

The effect of vertical and horizontal symmetry on memory for tactile patterns in late blind individuals.

PubMed

Cattaneo, Zaira; Vecchi, Tomaso; Fantino, Micaela; Herbert, Andrew M; Merabet, Lotfi B

2013-02-01

Visual stimuli that exhibit vertical symmetry are easier to remember than stimuli symmetric along other axes, an advantage that extends to the haptic modality as well. Critically, the vertical symmetry memory advantage has not been found in early blind individuals, despite their overall superior memory, as compared with sighted individuals, and the presence of an overall advantage for identifying symmetric over asymmetric patterns. The absence of the vertical axis memory advantage in the early blind may depend on their total lack of visual experience or on the effect of prolonged visual deprivation. To disentangle this issue, in this study, we measured the ability of late blind individuals to remember tactile spatial patterns that were either vertically or horizontally symmetric or asymmetric. Late blind participants showed better memory performance for symmetric patterns. An additional advantage for the vertical axis of symmetry over the horizontal one was reported, but only for patterns presented in the frontal plane. In the horizontal plane, no difference was observed between vertical and horizontal symmetric patterns, due to the latter being recalled particularly well. These results are discussed in terms of the influence of the spatial reference frame adopted during exploration. Overall, our data suggest that prior visual experience is sufficient to drive the vertical symmetry memory advantage, at least when an external reference frame based on geocentric cues (i.e., gravity) is adopted.

A Unified Global Reference Frame of Vertical Crustal Movements by Satellite Laser Ranging.

PubMed

Zhu, Xinhui; Wang, Ren; Sun, Fuping; Wang, Jinling

2016-02-08

Crustal movement is one of the main factors influencing the change of the Earth system, especially in its vertical direction, which affects people's daily life through the frequent occurrence of earthquakes, geological disasters, and so on. In order to get a better study and application of the vertical crustal movement,as well as its changes, the foundation and prerequisite areto devise and establish its reference frame; especially, a unified global reference frame is required. Since SLR (satellite laser ranging) is one of the most accurate space techniques for monitoring geocentric motion and can directly measure the ground station's geocentric coordinates and velocities relative to the centre of the Earth's mass, we proposed to take the vertical velocity of the SLR technique in the ITRF2008 framework as the reference frame of vertical crustal motion, which we defined as the SLR vertical reference frame (SVRF). The systematic bias between other velocity fields and the SVRF was resolved by using the GPS (Global Positioning System) and VLBI (very long baseline interferometry) velocity observations, and the unity of other velocity fields and SVRF was realized,as well. The results show that it is feasible and suitable to take the SVRF as a reference frame, which has both geophysical meanings and geodetic observations, so we recommend taking the SLR vertical velocity under ITRF2008 as the global reference frame of vertical crustal movement.

A Unified Global Reference Frame of Vertical Crustal Movements by Satellite Laser Ranging

PubMed Central

Zhu, Xinhui; Wang, Ren; Sun, Fuping; Wang, Jinling

2016-01-01

Crustal movement is one of the main factors influencing the change of the Earth system, especially in its vertical direction, which affects people’s daily life through the frequent occurrence of earthquakes, geological disasters, and so on. In order to get a better study and application of the vertical crustal movement, as well as its changes, the foundation and prerequisite areto devise and establish its reference frame; especially, a unified global reference frame is required. Since SLR (satellite laser ranging) is one of the most accurate space techniques for monitoring geocentric motion and can directly measure the ground station’s geocentric coordinates and velocities relative to the centre of the Earth’s mass, we proposed to take the vertical velocity of the SLR technique in the ITRF2008 framework as the reference frame of vertical crustal motion, which we defined as the SLR vertical reference frame (SVRF). The systematic bias between other velocity fields and the SVRF was resolved by using the GPS (Global Positioning System) and VLBI (very long baseline interferometry) velocity observations, and the unity of other velocity fields and SVRF was realized, as well. The results show that it is feasible and suitable to take the SVRF as a reference frame, which has both geophysical meanings and geodetic observations, so we recommend taking the SLR vertical velocity under ITRF2008 as the global reference frame of vertical crustal movement. PMID:26867197

Decoding the origins of vertical land motions observed today at coasts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pfeffer, J.; Spada, G.; Mémin, A.; Boy, J.-P.; Allemand, P.

2017-07-01

In recent decades, geodetic techniques have allowed detecting vertical land motions and sea-level changes of a few millimetres per year, based on measurements taken at the coast (tide gauges), on board of satellite platforms (satellite altimetry) or both (Global Navigation Satellite System). Here, contemporary vertical land motions are analysed from January 1993 to July 2013 at 849 globally distributed coastal sites. The vertical displacement of the coastal platform due to surface mass changes is modelled using elastic and viscoelastic Green's functions. Special attention is paid to the effects of glacial isostatic adjustment induced by past and present-day ice melting. Various rheological and loading parameters are explored to provide a set of scenarios that could explain the coastal observations of vertical land motions globally. In well-instrumented regions, predicted vertical land motions explain more than 80 per cent of the variance observed at scales larger than a few hundred kilometres. Residual vertical land motions show a strong local variability, especially in the vicinity of plate boundaries due to the earthquake cycle. Significant residual signals are also observed at scales of a few hundred kilometres over nine well-instrumented regions forming observation windows on unmodelled geophysical processes. This study highlights the potential of our multitechnique database to detect geodynamical processes, driven by anthropogenic influence, surface mass changes (surface loading and glacial isostatic adjustment) and tectonic activity (including the earthquake cycle, sediment and volcanic loading, as well as regional tectonic constraints). Future improvements should be aimed at densifying the instrumental network and at investigating more thoroughly the uncertainties associated with glacial isostatic adjustment models.

Seismicity map tools for earthquake studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boucouvalas, Anthony; Kaskebes, Athanasios; Tselikas, Nikos

2014-05-01

We report on the development of new and online set of tools for use within Google Maps, for earthquake research. We demonstrate this server based and online platform (developped with PHP, Javascript, MySQL) with the new tools using a database system with earthquake data. The platform allows us to carry out statistical and deterministic analysis on earthquake data use of Google Maps and plot various seismicity graphs. The tool box has been extended to draw on the map line segments, multiple straight lines horizontally and vertically as well as multiple circles, including geodesic lines. The application is demonstrated using localized seismic data from the geographic region of Greece as well as other global earthquake data. The application also offers regional segmentation (NxN) which allows the studying earthquake clustering, and earthquake cluster shift within the segments in space. The platform offers many filters such for plotting selected magnitude ranges or time periods. The plotting facility allows statistically based plots such as cumulative earthquake magnitude plots and earthquake magnitude histograms, calculation of 'b' etc. What is novel for the platform is the additional deterministic tools. Using the newly developed horizontal and vertical line and circle tools we have studied the spatial distribution trends of many earthquakes and we here show for the first time the link between Fibonacci Numbers and spatiotemporal location of some earthquakes. The new tools are valuable for examining visualizing trends in earthquake research as it allows calculation of statistics as well as deterministic precursors. We plan to show many new results based on our newly developed platform.

Vertical profile of tritium concentration in air during a chronic atmospheric HT release.

PubMed

Noguchi, Hiroshi; Yokoyama, Sumi

2003-03-01

The vertical profiles of tritium gas and tritiated water concentrations in air, which would have an influence on the assessment of tritium doses as well as on the environmental monitoring of tritium, were measured in a chronic tritium gas release experiment performed in Canada in 1994. While both of the profiles were rather uniform during the day because of atmospheric mixing, large gradients of the profiles were observed at night. The gradient coefficients of the profiles were derived from the measurements. Correlations were analyzed between the gradient coefficients and meteorological conditions: solar radiation, wind speed, and turbulent diffusivity. It was found that the solar radiation was highly correlated with the gradient coefficients of tritium gas and tritiated water profiles and that the wind speed and turbulent diffusivity showed weaker correlations with those of tritiated water profiles. A one-dimensional tritium transport model was developed to analyze the vertical diffusion of tritiated water re-emitted from the ground into the atmosphere. The model consists of processes of tritium gas deposition to soil including oxidation into tritiated water, reemission of tritiated water, dilution of tritiated water in soil by rain, and vertical diffusion of tritiated water in the atmosphere. The model accurately represents the accumulation of tritiated water in soil water and the time variations and vertical profiles of tritiated water concentrations in air.

Modeling of Aerosol Vertical Profiles Using GIS and Remote Sensing

PubMed Central

Wong, Man Sing; Nichol, Janet E.; Lee, Kwon Ho

2009-01-01

The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) by climatologists, environmentalists and urban planners for three dimensional modeling and visualization of the landscape is well established. However no previous study has implemented these techniques for 3D modeling of atmospheric aerosols because air quality data is traditionally measured at ground points, or from satellite images, with no vertical dimension. This study presents a prototype for modeling and visualizing aerosol vertical profiles over a 3D urban landscape in Hong Kong. The method uses a newly developed technique for the derivation of aerosol vertical profiles from AERONET sunphotometer measurements and surface visibility data, and links these to a 3D urban model. This permits automated modeling and visualization of aerosol concentrations at different atmospheric levels over the urban landscape in near-real time. Since the GIS platform permits presentation of the aerosol vertical distribution in 3D, it can be related to the built environment of the city. Examples are given of the applications of the model, including diagnosis of the relative contribution of vehicle emissions to pollution levels in the city, based on increased near-surface concentrations around weekday rush-hour times. The ability to model changes in air quality and visibility from ground level to the top of tall buildings is also demonstrated, and this has implications for energy use and environmental policies for the tall mega-cities of the future. PMID:22408531

Modeling of Aerosol Vertical Profiles Using GIS and Remote Sensing.

PubMed

Wong, Man Sing; Nichol, Janet E; Lee, Kwon Ho

2009-01-01

The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) by climatologists, environmentalists and urban planners for three dimensional modeling and visualization of the landscape is well established. However no previous study has implemented these techniques for 3D modeling of atmospheric aerosols because air quality data is traditionally measured at ground points, or from satellite images, with no vertical dimension. This study presents a prototype for modeling and visualizing aerosol vertical profiles over a 3D urban landscape in Hong Kong. The method uses a newly developed technique for the derivation of aerosol vertical profiles from AERONET sunphotometer measurements and surface visibility data, and links these to a 3D urban model. This permits automated modeling and visualization of aerosol concentrations at different atmospheric levels over the urban landscape in near-real time. Since the GIS platform permits presentation of the aerosol vertical distribution in 3D, it can be related to the built environment of the city. Examples are given of the applications of the model, including diagnosis of the relative contribution of vehicle emissions to pollution levels in the city, based on increased near-surface concentrations around weekday rush-hour times. The ability to model changes in air quality and visibility from ground level to the top of tall buildings is also demonstrated, and this has implications for energy use and environmental policies for the tall mega-cities of the future.

A Parameterization for the Triggering of Landscape Generated Moist Convection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lynn, Barry H.; Tao, Wei-Kuo; Abramopoulos, Frank

1998-01-01

A set of relatively high resolution three-dimensional (3D) simulations were produced to investigate the triggering of moist convection by landscape generated mesoscale circulations. The local accumulated rainfall varied monotonically (linearly) with the size of individual landscape patches, demonstrating the need to develop a trigger function that is sensitive to the size of individual patches. A new triggering function that includes the effect of landscapes generated mesoscale circulations over patches of different sizes consists of a parcel's perturbation in vertical velocity (nu(sub 0)), temperature (theta(sub 0)), and moisture (q(sub 0)). Each variable in the triggering function was also sensitive to soil moisture gradients, atmospheric initial conditions, and moist processes. The parcel's vertical velocity, temperature, and moisture perturbation were partitioned into mesoscale and turbulent components. Budget equations were derived for theta(sub 0) and q(sub 0). Of the many terms in this set of budget equations, the turbulent, vertical flux of the mesoscale temperature and moisture contributed most to the triggering of moist convection through the impact of these fluxes on the parcel's temperature and moisture profile. These fluxes needed to be parameterized to obtain theta(sub 0) and q(sub 0). The mesoscale vertical velocity also affected the profile of nu(sub 0). We used similarity theory to parameterize these fluxes as well as the parcel's mesoscale vertical velocity.

A semi-analytical solution for slug tests in an unconfined aquifer considering unsaturated flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Hongbing

2016-01-01

A semi-analytical solution considering the vertical unsaturated flow is developed for groundwater flow in response to a slug test in an unconfined aquifer in Laplace space. The new solution incorporates the effects of partial penetrating, anisotropy, vertical unsaturated flow, and a moving water table boundary. Compared to the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) model, the new solution can significantly improve the fittings of the modeled to the measured hydraulic heads at the late stage of slug tests in an unconfined aquifer, particularly when the slug well has a partially submerged screen and moisture drainage above the water table is significant. The radial hydraulic conductivities estimated with the new solution are comparable to those from the KGS, Bouwer and Rice, and Hvorslev methods. In addition, the new solution also can be used to examine the vertical conductivity, specific storage, specific yield, and the moisture retention parameters in an unconfined aquifer based on slug test data.

French vertical flow constructed wetlands: a need of a better understanding of the role of the deposit layer.

PubMed

Molle, Pascal

2014-01-01

French vertical flow constructed wetlands, treating directly raw wastewater, have become the main systems implemented for communities under 2,000 population equivalent in France. Like in sludge drying reed beds, an organic deposit layer is formed over time at the top surface of the filter. This deposit layer is a key factor in the performance of the system as it impacts hydraulic, gas transfers, filtration efficiency and water retention time. The paper discusses the role of this deposit layer on the hydraulic and biological behaviour of the system. It presents results from different studies to highlight the positive role of the layer but, as well, the difficulties in modelling this organic layer. As hydraulic, oxygen transfers, and biological activity are interlinked and impacted by the deposit layer, it seems essential to focus on its role (and its quantification) to find new developments of vertical flow constructed wetlands fed with raw wastewater.

Evaluation of Model-Based Training for Vertical Guidance Logic

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Feary, Michael; Palmer, Everett; Sherry, Lance; Polson, Peter; Alkin, Marty; McCrobie, Dan; Kelley, Jerry; Rosekind, Mark (Technical Monitor)

1997-01-01

This paper will summarize the results of a study which introduces a structured, model based approach to learning how the automated vertical guidance system works on a modern commercial air transport. The study proposes a framework to provide accurate and complete information in an attempt to eliminate confusion about 'what the system is doing'. This study will examine a structured methodology for organizing the ideas on which the system was designed, communicating this information through the training material, and displaying it in the airplane. Previous research on model-based, computer aided instructional technology has shown reductions in the amount of time to a specified level of competence. The lessons learned from the development of these technologies are well suited for use with the design methodology which was used to develop the vertical guidance logic for a large commercial air transport. The design methodology presents the model from which to derive the training material, and the content of information to be displayed to the operator. The study consists of a 2 X 2 factorial experiment which will compare a new method of training vertical guidance logic and a new type of display. The format of the material used to derive both the training and the display will be provided by the Operational Procedure Methodology. The training condition will compare current training material to the new structured format. The display condition will involve a change of the content of the information displayed into pieces that agree with the concepts with which the system was designed.

Surface heat flux feedback controlled impurity seeding experiments with Alcator C-Mod’s high-Z vertical target plate divertor: performance, limitations and implications for fusion power reactors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brunner, D.; Wolfe, S. M.; LaBombard, B.; Kuang, A. Q.; Lipschultz, B.; Reinke, M. L.; Hubbard, A.; Hughes, J.; Mumgaard, R. T.; Terry, J. L.; Umansky, M. V.; The Alcator C-Mod Team

2017-08-01

The Alcator C-Mod team has recently developed a feedback system to measure and control surface heat flux in real-time. The system uses real-time measurements of surface heat flux from surface thermocouples and a pulse-width modulated piezo valve to inject low-Z impurities (typically N2) into the private flux region. It has been used in C-Mod to mitigate peak surface heat fluxes  >40 MW m-2 down to  <10 MW m-2 while maintaining excellent core confinement, H 98  >  1. While the system works quite well under relatively steady conditions, use of it during transients has revealed important limitations on feedback control of impurity seeding in conventional vertical target plate divertors. In some cases, the system is unable to avoid plasma reattachment to the divertor plate or the formation of a confinement-damaging x-point MARFE. This is due to the small operational window for mitigated heat flux in the parameters of incident plasma heat flux, plasma density, and impurity density as well as the relatively slow response of the impurity gas injection system compared to plasma transients. Given the severe consequences for failure of such a system to operate reliably in a reactor, there is substantial risk that the conventional vertical target plate divertor will not provide an adequately controllable system in reactor-class devices. These considerations motivate the need to develop passively stable, highly compliant divertor configurations and experimental facilities that can test such possible solutions.

Influence of landscape position and transient water table on soil development and carbon distribution in a steep, headwater catchment

Treesearch

Scott W. Bailey; Patricia A. Brousseau; Kevin J. McGuire; Donald S. Ross

2014-01-01

Upland headwater catchments, such as those in the AppalachianMountain region, are typified by coarse textured soils, flashy hydrologic response, and low baseflow of streams, suggesting well drained soils and minimal groundwater storage. Model formulations of soil genesis, nutrient cycling, critical loads and rainfall/runoff response are typically based on vertical...

Verification of a non-hydrostatic dynamical core using the horizontal spectral element method and vertical finite difference method: 2-D aspects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, S.-J.; Giraldo, F. X.; Kim, J.; Shin, S.

2014-11-01

The non-hydrostatic (NH) compressible Euler equations for dry atmosphere were solved in a simplified two-dimensional (2-D) slice framework employing a spectral element method (SEM) for the horizontal discretization and a finite difference method (FDM) for the vertical discretization. By using horizontal SEM, which decomposes the physical domain into smaller pieces with a small communication stencil, a high level of scalability can be achieved. By using vertical FDM, an easy method for coupling the dynamics and existing physics packages can be provided. The SEM uses high-order nodal basis functions associated with Lagrange polynomials based on Gauss-Lobatto-Legendre (GLL) quadrature points. The FDM employs a third-order upwind-biased scheme for the vertical flux terms and a centered finite difference scheme for the vertical derivative and integral terms. For temporal integration, a time-split, third-order Runge-Kutta (RK3) integration technique was applied. The Euler equations that were used here are in flux form based on the hydrostatic pressure vertical coordinate. The equations are the same as those used in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, but a hybrid sigma-pressure vertical coordinate was implemented in this model. We validated the model by conducting the widely used standard tests: linear hydrostatic mountain wave, tracer advection, and gravity wave over the Schär-type mountain, as well as density current, inertia-gravity wave, and rising thermal bubble. The results from these tests demonstrated that the model using the horizontal SEM and the vertical FDM is accurate and robust provided sufficient diffusion is applied. The results with various horizontal resolutions also showed convergence of second-order accuracy due to the accuracy of the time integration scheme and that of the vertical direction, although high-order basis functions were used in the horizontal. By using the 2-D slice model, we effectively showed that the combined spatial discretization method of the spectral element and finite difference methods in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, offers a viable method for development of an NH dynamical core.

A unified view of convective transports by stratocumulus clouds, shallow cumulus clouds, and deep convection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Randall, David A.

1990-01-01

A bulk planetary boundary layer (PBL) model was developed with a simple internal vertical structure and a simple second-order closure, designed for use as a PBL parameterization in a large-scale model. The model allows the mean fields to vary with height within the PBL, and so must address the vertical profiles of the turbulent fluxes, going beyond the usual mixed-layer assumption that the fluxes of conservative variables are linear with height. This is accomplished using the same convective mass flux approach that has also been used in cumulus parameterizations. The purpose is to show that such a mass flux model can include, in a single framework, the compensating subsidence concept, downgradient mixing, and well-mixed layers.

EC97-43950-2

NASA Image and Video Library

1997-02-25

Bob Cummings, a technician at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, checks out a new "Smart Skin" antenna mounted on the tip of the right vertical fin of Dryden's F/A-18 Systems Research Aircraft. Flight tests of the antenna system demonstrated a five-fold increase in voice communications range and a substantial improvement in the pattern of radiation and quality of transmission compared to the standard dorsal blade antenna on the aircraft. The Smart Skin antenna system was electrically as well as physically connected to the airframe, making the aircraft skin operate as an antenna along with the antenna itself. The concept was developed by TRW Avionics Systems Division and integrated into the F/A-18's vertical fin by Northrop-Grumman Corporation.

EFT-1 Delta IV Heavy lift to vertical

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-10-01

This close-up view shows the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket for Exploration Flight Test-1 being raised into the vertical position at the pad at Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The Delta IV Heavy is being readied to launch Orion on its first flight test. During its first flight test, Orion will travel farther into space than any human spacecraft has gone in more than 40 years. The data gathered during the flight will influence design decisions, validate existing computer models and innovative new approaches to space systems development, as well as reduce overall mission risks and costs for later Orion flights. Liftoff of Orion on the first flight test is planned for December 2014.

EFT-1 Delta IV Heavy lift to vertical

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-10-01

The United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket for Exploration Flight Test-1 is lifted to the vertical position in the mobile service tower on the pad at Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The Delta IV Heavy is being readied to launch Orion on its first flight test. During its first flight test, Orion will travel farther into space than any human spacecraft has gone in more than 40 years. The data gathered during the flight will influence design decisions, validate existing computer models and innovative new approaches to space systems development, as well as reduce overall mission risks and costs for later Orion flights. Liftoff of Orion on the first flight test is planned for December 2014.

EFT-1 Delta IV Heavy lift to vertical

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-10-01

The United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket for Exploration Flight Test-1 is being lifted to the vertical position at the pad at Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The Delta IV Heavy is being readied to launch Orion on its first flight test. During its first flight test, Orion will travel farther into space than any human spacecraft has gone in more than 40 years. The data gathered during the flight will influence design decisions, validate existing computer models and innovative new approaches to space systems development, as well as reduce overall mission risks and costs for later Orion flights. Liftoff of Orion on the first flight test is planned for December 2014.

Convective heat transfer around vertical jet fires: an experimental study.

PubMed

Kozanoglu, Bulent; Zárate, Luis; Gómez-Mares, Mercedes; Casal, Joaquim

2011-12-15

The convection heat transfer phenomenon in vertical jet fires was experimentally analyzed. In these experiments, turbulent propane flames were generated in subsonic as well as sonic regimes. The experimental data demonstrated that the rate of convection heat transfer increases by increasing the length of the flame. Assuming the solid flame model, the convection heat transfer coefficient was calculated. Two equations in terms of adimensional numbers were developed. It was found out that the Nusselt number attains greater values for higher values of the Rayleigh and Reynolds numbers. On the other hand, the Froude number was analyzed only for the subsonic flames where the Nusselt number grows by this number and the diameter of the orifice. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

a Point Cloud Classification Approach Based on Vertical Structures of Ground Objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Y.; Hu, Q.; Hu, W.

2018-04-01

This paper proposes a novel method for point cloud classification using vertical structural characteristics of ground objects. Since urbanization develops rapidly nowadays, urban ground objects also change frequently. Conventional photogrammetric methods cannot satisfy the requirements of updating the ground objects' information efficiently, so LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology is employed to accomplish this task. LiDAR data, namely point cloud data, can obtain detailed three-dimensional coordinates of ground objects, but this kind of data is discrete and unorganized. To accomplish ground objects classification with point cloud, we first construct horizontal grids and vertical layers to organize point cloud data, and then calculate vertical characteristics, including density and measures of dispersion, and form characteristic curves for each grids. With the help of PCA processing and K-means algorithm, we analyze the similarities and differences of characteristic curves. Curves that have similar features will be classified into the same class and point cloud correspond to these curves will be classified as well. The whole process is simple but effective, and this approach does not need assistance of other data sources. In this study, point cloud data are classified into three classes, which are vegetation, buildings, and roads. When horizontal grid spacing and vertical layer spacing are 3 m and 1 m respectively, vertical characteristic is set as density, and the number of dimensions after PCA processing is 11, the overall precision of classification result is about 86.31 %. The result can help us quickly understand the distribution of various ground objects.

Case study of landfill leachate recirculation using small-diameter vertical wells.

PubMed

Jain, Pradeep; Ko, Jae Hac; Kumar, Dinesh; Powell, Jon; Kim, Hwidong; Maldonado, Lizmarie; Townsend, Timothy; Reinhart, Debra R

2014-11-01

A case study of landfill liquids addition using small diameter (5 cm) vertical wells is reported. More than 25,000 m(3) of leachate was added via 134 vertical wells installed 3 m, 12 m, and 18 m deep over five years in a landfill in Florida, US. Liquids addition performance (flow rate per unit screen length per unit liquid head) ranged from 5.6×10(-8) to 3.6×10(-6) m(3) s(-1) per m screen length per m liquid head. The estimated radial hydraulic conductivity ranged from 3.5×10(-6) to 4.2×10(-4) m s(-1). The extent of lateral moisture movement ranged from 8 to 10 m based on the responses of moisture sensors installed around vertical well clusters, and surface seeps were found to limit the achievable liquids addition rates, despite the use of concrete collars under a pressurized liquids addition scenario. The average moisture content before (51 samples) and after (272 samples) the recirculation experiments were 23% (wet weight basis) and 45% (wet weight basis), respectively, and biochemical methane potential measurements of excavated waste indicated significant (p<0.025) decomposition. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of Mesoscale Eddies in the Active Mixed Layer: Test of the Parametrisation in Eddy Resolving Simulations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Luneva, M. V.; Clayson, C. A.; Dubovikov, Mikhail

2015-01-01

In eddy resolving simulations, we test a mixed layer mesoscale parametrisation, developed recently by Canuto and Dubovikov [Ocean Model., 2011, 39, 200-207]. With no adjustable parameters, the parametrisation yields the horizontal and vertical mesoscale fluxes in terms of coarse-resolution fields and eddy kinetic energy (EKE). We compare terms of the parametrisation diagnosed from coarse-grained fields with the eddy mesoscale fluxes diagnosed directly from the high resolution model. An expression for the EKE in terms of mean fields has also been found to get a closed parametrisation in terms of the mean fields only. In 40 numerical experiments we simulated two types of flows: idealised flows driven by baroclinic instabilities only, and more realistic flows, driven by wind and surface fluxes as well as by inflow-outflow. The diagnosed quasi-instantaneous horizontal and vertical mesoscale buoyancy fluxes (averaged over 1-2 degrees and 10 days) demonstrate a strong scatter typical for turbulent flows, however, the fluxes are positively correlated with the parametrisation with higher (0.5-0.74) correlations at the experiments with larger baroclinic radius Rossby. After being averaged over 3-4 months, diffusivities diagnosed from the eddy resolving simulations are consistent with the parametrisation for a broad range of parameters. Diagnosed vertical mesoscale fluxes restratify mixed layer and are in a good agreement with the parametrisation unless vertical turbulent mixing in the upper layer becomes strong enough in comparison with mesoscale advection. In the latter case, numerical simulations demonstrate that the deviation of the fluxes from the parametrisation is controlled by dimensionless parameter estimating the ratio of vertical turbulent mixing term to mesoscale advection. An analysis using a modified omega-equation reveals that the effects of the vertical mixing of vorticity is responsible for the two-three fold amplification of vertical mesoscale flux. Possible physical mechanisms, responsible for the amplification of vertical mesoscale flux are discussed.

An analysis of the vertical structure equation for arbitrary thermal profiles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohn, Stephen E.; Dee, Dick P.

1989-01-01

The vertical structure equation is a singular Sturm-Liouville problem whose eigenfunctions describe the vertical dependence of the normal modes of the primitive equations linearized about a given thermal profile. The eigenvalues give the equivalent depths of the modes. The spectrum of the vertical structure equation and the appropriateness of various upper boundary conditions, both for arbitrary thermal profiles were studied. The results depend critically upon whether or not the thermal profile is such that the basic state atmosphere is bounded. In the case of a bounded atmosphere it is shown that the spectrum is always totally discrete, regardless of details of the thermal profile. For the barotropic equivalent depth, which corresponds to the lowest eigen value, upper and lower bounds which depend only on the surface temperature and the atmosphere height were obtained. All eigenfunctions are bounded, but always have unbounded first derivatives. It was proved that the commonly invoked upper boundary condition that vertical velocity must vanish as pressure tends to zero, as well as a number of alternative conditions, is well posed. It was concluded that the vertical structure equation always has a totally discrete spectrum under the assumptions implicit in the primitive equations.

An analysis of the vertical structure equation for arbitrary thermal profiles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohn, Stephen E.; Dee, Dick P.

1987-01-01

The vertical structure equation is a singular Sturm-Liouville problem whose eigenfunctions describe the vertical dependence of the normal modes of the primitive equations linearized about a given thermal profile. The eigenvalues give the equivalent depths of the modes. The spectrum of the vertical structure equation and the appropriateness of various upper boundary conditions, both for arbitrary thermal profiles were studied. The results depend critically upon whether or not the thermal profile is such that the basic state atmosphere is bounded. In the case of a bounded atmosphere it is shown that the spectrum is always totally discrete, regardless of details of the thermal profile. For the barotropic equivalent depth, which corresponds to the lowest eigen value, upper and lower bounds which depend only on the surface temperature and the atmosphere height were obtained. All eigenfunctions are bounded, but always have unbounded first derivatives. It was proved that the commonly invoked upper boundary condition that vertical velocity must vanish as pressure tends to zero, as well as a number of alternative conditions, is well posed. It was concluded that the vertical structure equation always has a totally discrete spectrum under the assumptions implicit in the primitive equations.

Oil well pump drive

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sanford, G.A.

1980-02-12

An oil well pump drive is disclosed including a drive unit that is hydraulically actuated by a double-acting hydraulic cylinder to reciprocate vertically. An endless chain is entrained over vertically spaced sprockets carried by the unit, with one flight of the chain anchored against vertical movement and the other flight is secured to the pump polish rod so that the vertical motion imparted to the polish rod is double that hydraulically imparted to the drive unit. The polish rod load on the chain is opposed by a counterweight connected thereto by a chain extending over an elevated pulley. The outputmore » of the hydraulic pump supplying the hydraulic cylinder is cam controlled so that the motion of the drive unit is smoothly decelerated and accelerated as the unit approaches and moves from the upper and lower limits of its movement.« less

Multi-layer planting as a strategy of greening the transitional space in high-rise buildings: A review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prihatmanti, Rani; Taib, Nooriati

2018-03-01

The issues regarding the rapid development in the urban have resulted in the increasing number of infrastructure built, including the high-rise buildings to accommodate the urban dwellers. Lack of greeneries due to the land limitation in the urban area has increased the surface radiation as well as the air temperature that leads to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomena. Where urban land is limited, growing plants vertically could be a solution. Plants, which are widely known as one of the sustainability elements in the built environment could be integrated in building as a part of urban faming by growing edible plant species. This is also to address the food security issue in the urban as well as high-density cities. Since space is limited, the function of transitional space could be optimized for the green space. This paper explores the strategy of greening transitional space in the high-rise setting. To give a maximum impact in a limited space, multi-layer planting concept could be introduced. This concept is believed that multiple layers of plants could modify the microclimate, as well as the radiation to the building, compare to single layer plant. In addition to that, the method selected also determines the efficacy of the vertical greeneries. However, there are many other limitations related to the multi-layer planting method if installed in a transitional space that needs to be further studied. Despite its limitations, the application of vertical greeneries with multi-layer planting concept could be a promising solution for greening the limited space as well as improving the thermal comfort in the high-rise building.

Technical Note: Approximate solution of transient drawdown for constant-flux pumping at a partially penetrating well in a radial two-zone confined aquifer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, C.-S.; Yang, S.-Y.; Yeh, H.-D.

2015-03-01

An aquifer consisting of a skin zone and a formation zone is considered as a two-zone aquifer. Existing solutions for the problem of constant-flux pumping (CFP) in a two-zone confined aquifer involve laborious calculation. This study develops a new approximate solution for the problem based on a mathematical model including two steady-state flow equations with different hydraulic parameters for the skin and formation zones. A partially penetrating well may be treated as the Neumann condition with a known flux along the screened part and zero flux along the unscreened part. The aquifer domain is finite with an outer circle boundary treated as the Dirichlet condition. The steady-state drawdown solution of the model is derived by the finite Fourier cosine transform. Then, an approximate transient solution is developed by replacing the radius of the boundary in the steady-state solution with an analytical expression for a dimensionless time-dependent radius of influence. The approximate solution is capable of predicting good temporal drawdown distributions over the whole pumping period except at the early stage. A quantitative criterion for the validity of neglecting the vertical flow component due to a partially penetrating well is also provided. Conventional models considering radial flow without the vertical component for the CFP have good accuracy if satisfying the criterion.

Construction of Shale Gas Well

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sapińska-Śliwa, Aneta; Wiśniowski, Rafał; Skrzypaszek, Krzysztof

2018-03-01

The paper describes shale gas borehole axes trajectories (vertical, horizontal, multilateral). The methodology of trajectory design in a two-and three-dimensional space has been developed. The selection of the profile type of the trajectory axes of the directional borehole depends on the technical and technological possibilities of its implementation and the results of a comprehensive economic analysis of the availability and development of the field. The work assumes the possibility of a multivariate design of trajectories depending on the accepted (available or imposed) input data.

On the relationship between lower extremity muscles activation and peak vertical and posterior ground reaction forces during single leg drop landing.

PubMed

Mahaki, M; Mi'mar, R; Mahaki, B

2015-10-01

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury continues to be an important medical issue for athletes participating in sports. Vertical and posterior ground reaction forces have received considerable attention for their potential influence on ACL injuries. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between electromyographic activity of lower extremity muscles and the peak vertical and posterior ground reaction forces during single leg drop landing. Thirteen physical education male students participated in this correlation study. Electromyographic activities of gluteus medius, biceps femoris, medial gastrocnemius, soleus as well as anterior tibialis muscles along with ground reaction forces were measured. Participants performed single-leg landing from a 0.3 m height on to a force platform. Landing was divided into two phases: 100 ms preceding ground contact and 100 ms proceeding ground contact. Pearson correlation test was used to determine the relationships between these muscles activity and peak vertical and posterior ground reaction forces. The results of the study indicated that the activity of soleus and tibialis anterior in pre-landing phase were positively correlated with peak vertical ground reaction force ([P≤0.04], [P≤0.008], respectively). However, no significant correlation was found between the activities of other muscles in pre-landing phase and peak vertical as well as peak posterior ground reaction forces. Also, no significant correlation was found between the activities of muscles in post-landing phase and peak vertical as well as peak posterior ground reaction forces. Soleus loading shifts the proximal tibia posterior at the knee joint and tibialis anterior prevent hyperporonation of the ankle, a mechanisms of ACL injury. Hence, neuromuscular training promoting preparatory muscle activity in these muscles may reduce the incidence of ACL injuries.

Grouper: A Compact, Streamable Triangle Mesh Data Structure.

PubMed

Luffel, Mark; Gurung, Topraj; Lindstrom, Peter; Rossignac, Jarek

2013-05-08

We present Grouper: an all-in-one compact file format, random-access data structure, and streamable representation for large triangle meshes. Similarly to the recently published SQuad representation, Grouper represents the geometry and connectivity of a mesh by grouping vertices and triangles into fixed-size records, most of which store two adjacent triangles and a shared vertex. Unlike SQuad, however, Grouper interleaves geometry with connectivity and uses a new connectivity representation to ensure that vertices and triangles can be stored in a coherent order that enables memory-efficient sequential stream processing. We present a linear-time construction algorithm that allows streaming out Grouper meshes using a small memory footprint while preserving the initial ordering of vertices. As part of this construction, we show how the problem of assigning vertices and triangles to groups reduces to a well-known NP-hard optimization problem, and present a simple yet effective heuristic solution that performs well in practice. Our array-based Grouper representation also doubles as a triangle mesh data structure that allows direct access to vertices and triangles. Storing only about two integer references per triangle, Grouper answers both incidence and adjacency queries in amortized constant time. Our compact representation enables data-parallel processing on multicore computers, instant partitioning and fast transmission for distributed processing, as well as efficient out-of-core access.

Reliability of Leg and Vertical Stiffness During High Speed Treadmill Running.

PubMed

Pappas, Panagiotis; Dallas, Giorgos; Paradisis, Giorgos

2017-04-01

In research, the accurate and reliable measurement of leg and vertical stiffness could contribute to valid interpretations. The current study aimed at determining the intraparticipant variability (ie, intraday and interday reliabilities) of leg and vertical stiffness, as well as related parameters, during high speed treadmill running, using the "sine-wave" method. Thirty-one males ran on a treadmill at 6.67 m∙s -1 , and the contact and flight times were measured. To determine the intraday reliability, three 10-s running bouts with 10-min recovery were performed. In addition, to examine the interday reliability, three 10-s running bouts on 3 separate days with 48-h interbout intervals were performed. The reliability statistics included repeated-measure analysis of variance, average intertrial correlations, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), Cronbach's α reliability coefficient, and the coefficient of variation (CV%). Both intraday and interday reliabilities were high for leg and vertical stiffness (ICC > 0.939 and CV < 4.3%), as well as related variables (ICC > 0.934 and CV < 3.9%). It was thus inferred that the measurements of leg and vertical stiffness, as well as the related parameters obtained using the "sine-wave" method during treadmill running at 6.67 m∙s -1 , were highly reliable, both within and across days.

Mesoscale kinematics derived from X-band Doppler radar observations of convective versus stratiform precipitation and comparison with GPS radiosonde profiles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deshpande, Sachin M.; Dhangar, N.; Das, S. K.; Kalapureddy, M. C. R.; Chakravarty, K.; Sonbawne, S.; Konwar, M.

2015-11-01

Single Doppler analysis techniques known as velocity azimuth display (VAD) and volume velocity processing (VVP) are used to analyze kinematics of mesoscale flow such as horizontal wind and divergence using X-band Doppler weather radar observations, for selected cases of convective, stratiform, and shallow cloud systems near tropical Indian sites Pune (18.58°N, 73.92°E, above sea level (asl) 560 m) and Mandhardev (18.51°N, 73.85°E, asl 1297 m). The vertical profiles of horizontal wind estimated from radar VVP/VAD methods agree well with GPS radiosonde profiles, with the low-level jet at about 1.5 km during monsoon season well depicted in both. The vertical structure and temporal variability of divergence and reflectivity profiles are indicative of the dynamical and microphysical characteristics of shallow convective, deep convective, and stratiform cloud systems. In shallow convective systems, vertical development of reflectivity profiles is limited below 5 km. In deep convective systems, reflectivity values as large as 55 dBZ were observed above freezing level. The stratiform system shows the presence of a reflectivity bright band (~35 dBZ) near the melting level. The diagnosed vertical profiles of divergence in convective and stratiform systems are distinct. In shallow convective conditions, convergence was seen below 4 km with divergence above. Low-level convergence and upper level divergence are observed in deep convective profiles, while stratiform precipitation has midlevel convergence present between lower level and upper level divergence. The divergence profiles in stratiform precipitation exhibit intense shallow layers of "melting convergence" at 0°C level, near 4.5 km altitude, with a steep gradient on the both sides of the peak. The level of nondivergence in stratiform situations is lower than that in convective situations. These observed vertical structures of divergence are largely indicative of latent heating profiles in the atmosphere, an important ingredient of monsoon dynamics.

U.S. Geological Survey Combined Well-Bore Flow and Depth-Dependent Water Sampler

USGS Publications Warehouse

Izbicki, John A.; Christensen, Allen H.; Hanson, Randall T.; Martin, Peter; Crawford, Steven M.; Smith, Gregory A.

1999-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey has developed a combined well-bore flow and depth-dependent sample collection tool. It is suitable for use in existing production wells having limited access and clearances as small as 1 inch. The combination of well-bore flow and depth-dependent water-quality data is especially effective in assessing changes in aquifer properties and water quality with depth. These are direct measures of changes in well yield and ground-water quality with depth under actual operating conditions. Combinations of other geophysical tools capable of making these measurements, such as vertical-axis current meters used with wire-line samplers, are commercially available but these tools are large and can not easily enter existing production wells.

Vertical distribution of hydraulic characteristics and water quality in three boreholes in the Galena-Platteville Aquifer at the Parson's Casket Hardware Superfund site, Belvidere, Illinois, 1990

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mills, P.C.

1993-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey investigated contaminant migration in the Galena-Platteville aquifer at the Parson's Casket Hardware site in Belvidere, Ill. This report presents the results of the first phase of the investigation, from August through December 1990. A packer assembly was used to isolate various depth intervals in three 150-foot-deep boreholes in the dolomite aquifer. Aquifer-test data include vertical distributions of vertical hydraulic gradient, horizontal hydraulic conductivity (K), and response of water levels in observation wells to borehole pumping. Water-quality data include vertical distributions of field-measured properties and laboratory determinations of concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOC's). vertical hydraulic gradients in the aquifer were downward. The downward gradients ranged from less than 0.01 to 0.37 foot/foot. The largest gradient was associated with an elevated-K interval at 115 to 125 feet below land surface. The hydraulic characteristics of strata within the aquifer seem to be generally consistent across the site. The strata can be subdivided into five hydraulic units with the following approximate depth ranges-and K's : (1) a 1- to 5-foot-thick weathered surface at about 35 feet below land surface, 1-200 ft/d (feet per day); (2) 35-80 feet, 0.05-0.5 ft/d; (3) 80-115 feet, 0.5 ft/d; (4) 115-125 feet, 0.5-10 ft/d; and (5) 125-150 feet, 0.5 ft/d. Water-level drawdowns were detected in one shallow bedrock observation well during pumping of some of the packed intervals in a nearby borehole, indicating that the degree of vertical connection between some intervals in the aquifer may be greater than that between others. During development pumping of one borehole, drawdowns were detected in a nearby well screened in the lower part of the overlying glacial-drift deposits, indicating hydraulic connection between the glacial drift aquifer and the bedrock aquifer. VOC's were detected throughout the upper half (about 150 feet ) of the bedrock aquifer beneath the site. The detected compounds were predominantly chlorinated ethenes and ethanes (maximum concentration was 570 ppb (parts per billion) of trichloroethylene. There was a positive correlation between concentrations of VOC's, specific conductance, and K. The distribution of VOC concentrations indicate that the low-K dolomite beds in the Galena-Platteville aquifer may impede the downward migration of the VOC's and that the high-K beds and fissures may provide pathways for the lateral migration of VOC's through the aquifer. Contaminant migration is possibly affected by ground-water flow through vertical fractures that connect shallow beds with deeper beds in the aquifer, thus explaining the detections of some VOC species at intermittent depths.

Geophysical investigation at an existing landfill, Badger Army Ammunition Plant, Baraboo, Wisconsin. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Whitten, C.B.; Sjostrom, K.J.

1991-04-01

Ground-water contaminants were found in ground-water monitoring wells at the existing landfill. More wells to define the horizontal and vertical extent of the contaminant plume are to be installed. Geophysical techniques (electro-magnetic induction, vertical electrical resistivity, and horizontal resistivity profiling) were used to map the extent of the contaminant plume. Using the geophysical, ground-water elevation, and geologic data, five anomalous areas south and east of the landfill were identified as locations for additional ground-water monitoring wells.

Suspended sand transport in surf zones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobayashi, Nobuhisa; Zhao, Haoyu; Tega, Yukiko

2005-12-01

Three tests were conducted in a wave flume to investigate time-averaged suspended sediment transport processes under irregular breaking waves on equilibrium beaches consisting of fine sand. Free surface elevations were measured at ten locations for each test. Velocities and concentrations were measured in the vicinity of the bottom at 94 elevations along 17 vertical lines. The relations among the three turbulent velocity variances are found to be similar to those for the boundary layer flow. The vertical variation of the mean velocity, which causes offshore transport, is fitted by a parabolic profile fairly well. The vertical variation of the mean concentration ? is fitted by the exponential and power-form distributions equally well. The ratio between the concentration standard deviation σC and the mean ? varies little vertically. The correlation coefficient γUC between the horizontal velocity and concentration, which results in onshore transport, is of the order of 0.1 and decreases upward linearly. The offshore and onshore transport rates of suspended sediment are estimated and expressed in terms of the suspended sediment volume ? per unit area. A time-averaged numerical model is developed to predict ? as well as the mean and standard deviation of the free surface elevation and horizontal velocity. The bottom slope effect on the wave energy dissipation rate DB due to wave breaking is included in the model. The computation can be made well above the still water shoreline with no numerical difficulty. Reflected waves from the shoreline are estimated from the wave energy flux remaining at the shoreline. The numerical model is in agreement with the statistical data except that the undertow current is difficult to predict accurately. The measured turbulent velocities are found to be more related to the turbulent velocity estimated from the energy dissipation rate Df due to bottom friction. The suspended sediment volume ? expressed in terms of DB and Df can be predicted only within a factor of about 2. The roller effect represented by the roller volume flux does not necessarily improve the agreement for the three tests.

Airborne Observations of Ozone and Other Trace Gases Upwind of National Parks in California and Nevada

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Iraci, Laura T.

2016-01-01

The Alpha Jet Atmospheric eXperiment (AJAX) is a research project based at Moffett Field, CA, which collects airborne measurements of ozone, carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and formaldehyde, as well as 3-D winds, temperature, pressure, and location. Since its first science flight in 2011, AJAX has developed a wide a variety of mission types, combining vertical profiles (from approximately 8 km to near surface), boundary layer legs, and plume sampling as needed. With an ongoing five-year data set, the team has sampled over 160 vertical profiles, a dozen wildfires, and numerous stratospheric ozone intrusions. Our largest data collection includes 55 vertical profiles at Railroad Valley, NV, approximately 100 miles southwest of Great Basin National Park, and many of those flights include comparisons to surface monitors in the Nevada Rural Ozone Initiative network. We have also collected a smaller set of measurements northwest of Joshua Tree National Park, and are looking to develop partnerships that can put this data to use to assess or improve air quality in nearby Parks. AJAX also studies the plumes emitted by wildfires in California, as most emissions inventories are based on prescribed fires. We have sampled a dozen fires, and results will be presented from several, including the Rim (2013), Soberanes and Cedar (2016) Fires.

Multi-Scale Three-Dimensional Variational Data Assimilation System for Coastal Ocean Prediction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, Zhijin; Chao, Yi; Li, P. Peggy

2012-01-01

A multi-scale three-dimensional variational data assimilation system (MS-3DVAR) has been formulated and the associated software system has been developed for improving high-resolution coastal ocean prediction. This system helps improve coastal ocean prediction skill, and has been used in support of operational coastal ocean forecasting systems and field experiments. The system has been developed to improve the capability of data assimilation for assimilating, simultaneously and effectively, sparse vertical profiles and high-resolution remote sensing surface measurements into coastal ocean models, as well as constraining model biases. In this system, the cost function is decomposed into two separate units for the large- and small-scale components, respectively. As such, data assimilation is implemented sequentially from large to small scales, the background error covariance is constructed to be scale-dependent, and a scale-dependent dynamic balance is incorporated. This scheme then allows effective constraining large scales and model bias through assimilating sparse vertical profiles, and small scales through assimilating high-resolution surface measurements. This MS-3DVAR enhances the capability of the traditional 3DVAR for assimilating highly heterogeneously distributed observations, such as along-track satellite altimetry data, and particularly maximizing the extraction of information from limited numbers of vertical profile observations.

On the coupled unsaturated-saturated flow process induced by vertical, horizontal, and slant wells in unconfined aquifers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Xiuyu; Zhan, Hongbin; Zhang, You-Kuan; Liu, Jin

2017-03-01

Conventional models of pumping tests in unconfined aquifers often neglect the unsaturated flow process. This study concerns the coupled unsaturated-saturated flow process induced by vertical, horizontal, and slant wells positioned in an unconfined aquifer. A mathematical model is established with special consideration of the coupled unsaturated-saturated flow process and the well orientation. Groundwater flow in the saturated zone is described by a three-dimensional governing equation and a linearized three-dimensional Richards' equation in the unsaturated zone. A solution in the Laplace domain is derived by the Laplace-finite-Fourier-transform and the method of separation of variables, and the semi-analytical solutions are obtained using a numerical inverse Laplace method. The solution is verified by a finite-element numerical model. It is found that the effects of the unsaturated zone on the drawdown of a pumping test exist at any angle of inclination of the pumping well, and this impact is more significant in the case of a horizontal well. The effects of the unsaturated zone on the drawdown are independent of the length of the horizontal well screen. The vertical well leads to the largest water volume drained from the unsaturated zone (W) during the early pumping time, and the effects of the well orientation on W values become insignificant at the later time. The screen length of the horizontal well does not affect W for the whole pumping period. The proposed solutions are useful for the parameter identification of pumping tests with a general well orientation (vertical, horizontal, and slant) in unconfined aquifers affected from above by the unsaturated flow process.

A preliminary evaluation of vertical separation between production intervals of coalbed-methane wells and water-supply wells in the Raton basin, Huerfano and Las Animas Counties, Colorado, 1999-2004

USGS Publications Warehouse

Watts, Kenneth R.

2006-01-01

The Raton Basin in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico is undergoing increased development of its coalbed-methane resources. Annual production of methane from coalbeds in the Raton Basin in Huerfano and Las Animas Counties, Colorado, increased from about 28,000,000 thousand cubic feet from 478 wells to about 80,000,000 thousand cubic feet from 1,543 wells, during 1999-2004. Annual ground-water withdrawals for coalbed-methane production increased from about 1.45 billion gallons from 480 wells to about 3.64 billion gallons from 1,568 wells, during 1999-2004. Where the coalbeds are deeply buried near the center of the Raton Basin, water pressure may be reduced as much as 250 to 300 pounds per square inch to produce the methane from the coalbeds, which is equivalent to a 577- to 692-foot lowering of water level. In 2001, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Colorado Water Conservation Board, began an evaluation of the potential effects of coalbed- methane production on the availability and sustainability of ground-water resources. In 2003, there were an estimated 1,370 water-supply wells in the Raton Basin in Colorado, and about 90 percent of these water-supply wells were less than 450 feet deep. The tops of the production (perforated) interval of 90 percent of the coalbed-methane wells in the Raton Basin (for which data were available) are deeper than about 675 feet. The potential for interference of coalbed-methane wells with nearby water-supply wells likely is limited because in most areas their respective production intervals are separated by more than a hundred to a few thousand feet of rock. The estimated vertical separation between production intervals of coalbed-methane and water-supply wells is less than 100 feet in an area about 1 to 6 miles west and southwest of Trinidad Lake and a few other isolated areas. It is assumed that in areas with less than 100 feet of vertical separation, production by coalbed-methane wells has a greater potential for interfering with nearby water-supply wells. More detailed geologic and hydrologic information is needed in these areas to quantify the potential effects of coalbed-methane production on water levels and the availability and sustainability of ground-water resources.

Turbodrilling performance offshore Qatar

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rana, L.A.; Abdulrahman, E.A.

Until the first quarter of 1979 Qatar General Petroleum Corporation Offshore routinely rotary drilled its vertical development wells using tricone bits. Turbodrilling the 17 1/2'' and 8 1/2'' hole sections was introduced in the second quarter of 1979 followed by the 12 1/4'' hole section in the first qarter of 1980. This resulted in avoiding/minimising downhole problems and the elimination of 7'' and 4 1/2'' liners. As a result of introducing these practices a 50 percent time saving and a 30 percent cost saving has been achieved, equivalent to $550,000/well.

Strong parameterization and coordination encirclements of graph of Penrose tiling vertices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shutov, A. V.; Maleev, A. V.

2017-07-01

The coordination encirclements in a graph of Penrose tiling vertices have been investigated based on the analysis of vertice parameters. A strong parameterization of these vertices is developed in the form of a tiling of a parameter set in the region corresponding to different first coordination encirclements of vertices. An algorithm for constructing tilings of a set of parameters determining different coordination encirclements in a graph of Penrose tiling vertices of order n is proposed.

Mine Burial Expert System for Change of MIW Doctrine

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-01

allowed the mine to move vertically and horizontally, as well as rotate about the y axis. The first of these second generation impact models was...bearing strength and use multilayered sediments. Although they improve the knowledge of mine movement in two dimensions and rotation in one direction...conditional independence. Bayesian networks were originally developed 24 to handle uncertainty in a quantitative manner. They are statistical models

Reshaping USAF Culture and Strategy: Lasting Themes and Emerging Trends

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-12-12

operations are well-rooted in the air and space experience, near space concepts have struggled to develop the organizational 22 momentum ...space). Nevertheless, by July 2005, the near space concept had achieved sufficient momentum for General Lance Lord (then Commander of Air Force... Bernoulli ) the vertical dimension. Although operating at the upper reaches of the atmosphere, near space flight is bound by Bernoulian principles. The

Topogrid Derived 10 Meter Resolution Digital Elevation Model of the Shenandoah National Park and Surrounding Region, Virginia

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chirico, Peter G.; Tanner, Seth D.

2004-01-01

Explanation The purpose of developing a new 10m resolution DEM of the Shenandoah National Park Region was to more accurately depict geologic structure, surfical geology, and landforms of the Shenandoah National Park Region in preparation for automated landform classification. Previously, only a 30m resolution DEM was available through the National Elevation Dataset (NED). During production of the Shenandoah10m DEM of the Park the Geography Discipline of the USGS completed a revised 10m DEM to be included into the NED. However, different methodologies were used to produce the two similar DEMs. The ANUDEM algorithm was used to develop the Shenadoah DEM data. This algorithm allows for the inclusion of contours, streams, rivers, lake and water body polygons as well as spot height data to control the elevation model. A statistical analysis using over 800 National Geodetic Survey (NGS) first and second order vertical control points reveals that the Shenandoah10m DEM, produced as a part of the Appalachian Blue Ridge Landscape project, has a vertical accuracy of ?4.87 meters. The metadata for the 10m NED data reports a vertical accuracy of ?7m. A table listing the NGS control points, the elevation comparison, and the RMSE for the Shenandoah10m DEM is provided. The process of automated terrain classification involves developing statistical signatures from the DEM for each type of surficial deposit and landform type. The signature will be a measure of several characteristics derived from the elevation data including slope, aspect, planform curvature, and profile curvature. The quality of the DEM is of critical importance when extracting terrain signatures. The highest possible horizontal and vertical accuracy is required. The more accurate Shenandoah 10m DEM can now be analyzed and integrated with the geologic observations to yield statistical correlations between the two in the development of landform and surface geology mapping projects.

The Development of Two Composite Energy Absorbers for Use in a Transport Rotorcraft Airframe Crash Testbed (TRACT 2) Full-Scale Crash Test

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Littell, Justin D.; Jackson, Karen E.; Annett, Martin S.; Seal, Michael D.; Fasanella, Edwin L.

2015-01-01

Two composite energy absorbers were developed and evaluated at NASA Langley Research Center through multi-level testing and simulation performed under the Transport Rotorcraft Airframe Crash Testbed (TRACT) research program. A conical-shaped energy absorber, designated the conusoid, was evaluated that consisted of four layers of hybrid carbon-Kevlar plain weave fabric oriented at [+45deg/-45deg/-45deg/+45deg] with respect to the vertical direction. A sinusoidal-shaped energy absorber, designated the sinusoid, was developed that consisted of hybrid carbon-Kevlar plain weave fabric face sheets, two layers for each face sheet oriented at +/-45deg with respect to the vertical direction, and a closed-cell ELFOAM P200 polyisocyanurate (2.0-lb/cu ft) foam core. The design goal for the energy absorbers was to achieve average floor-level accelerations of between 25- and 40-g during the full-scale crash test of a retrofitted CH-46E helicopter airframe, designated TRACT 2. Variations in both designs were assessed through dynamic crush testing of component specimens. Once the designs were finalized, subfloor beams of each configuration were fabricated and retrofitted into a barrel section of a CH-46E helicopter. A vertical drop test of the barrel section was conducted onto concrete to evaluate the performance of the energy absorbers prior to retrofit into TRACT 2. The retrofitted airframe was crash tested under combined forward and vertical velocity conditions onto soft soil. Finite element models were developed of all test articles and simulations were performed using LS-DYNA, a commercial nonlinear explicit transient dynamic finite element code. Test-analysis results are presented for each energy absorber as comparisons of time-history responses, as well as predicted and experimental structural deformations and progressive damage under impact loading for each evaluation level.

Controlled Synthesis and Functionalization of Vertically-Aligned Carbon Nanotubes for Multifunctional Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-05-07

6 1.6 Lithium - Ion Batteries Based on Vertically-Aligned Carbon Nanotube Electrodes and Ionic...Cl, Br, or I) Prepared by Ball-Milling and Used as Anode Materials for Lithium - Ion Batteries ……………....................23 3.4 Well-Defined Two...9 1.6 Lithium - Ion Batteries Based on Vertically-Aligned Carbon Nanotube Electrodes and Ionic Liquid Electrolytes

Gyro Systems (Selected Pages),

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-03-19

of the oil wells, etc. With the aid of gyro systems determine the direction of meridian and true vertical, measure the angular velocities and the...integrating gyroscopes, gyrostabilizers, course gyro systems, gyroscopic sensors of the direction of the true vertical and inertial systems. The action of...direction of the true vertical are the gyro stabilizer, corrected with the aid of the inductive or magnetic detector, the physical pendulum, the local

High-Bandwidth Dynamic Full-Field Profilometry for Nano-Scale Characterization of MEMS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Liang-Chia; Huang, Yao-Ting; Chang, Pi-Bai

2006-10-01

The article describes an innovative optical interferometric methodology to delivery dynamic surface profilometry with a measurement bandwidth up to 10MHz or higher and a vertical resolution up to 1 nm. Previous work using stroboscopic microscopic interferometry for dynamic characterization of micro (opto)electromechanical systems (M(O)EMS) has been limited in measurement bandwidth mainly within a couple of MHz. For high resonant mode analysis, the stroboscopic light pulse is insufficiently short to capture the moving fringes from dynamic motion of the detected structure. In view of this need, a microscopic prototype based on white-light stroboscopic interferometry with an innovative light superposition strategy was developed to achieve dynamic full-field profilometry with a high measurement bandwidth up to 10MHz or higher. The system primarily consists of an optical microscope, on which a Mirau interferometric objective embedded with a piezoelectric vertical translator, a high-power LED light module with dual operation modes and light synchronizing electronics unit are integrated. A micro cantilever beam used in AFM was measured to verify the system capability in accurate characterisation of dynamic behaviours of the device. The full-field seventh-mode vibration at a vibratory frequency of 3.7MHz can be fully characterized and nano-scale vertical measurement resolution as well as tens micrometers of vertical measurement range can be performed.

One stage vertical rectus muscle recession using adjustable sutures under local anaesthesia.

PubMed Central

Rauz, S; Govan, J A

1996-01-01

AIMS: To assess the results of visual axis alignment following one stage adjustable suture surgery to correct vertical diplopia. METHOD: Eight patients with a mean age of 44.9 years (range 16-80 years) complaining of vertical diplopia underwent rectus muscle recession under local anaesthesia with intraoperative adjustment of sutures. Diplopia was secondary to superior oblique paresis in four patients, dysthyroid eye disease in two patients, superior rectus paresis in one patient, and one developed a consecutive deviation after previous squint surgery. The surgery consisted of seven single muscle recessions (six inferior recti and one superior rectus) and one two muscle recession (inferior and lateral recti). The surgery was performed under topical anaesthesia supplemented with a subconjunctival injection of local anaesthetic over the muscle insertions. RESULTS: The patients remained comfortable throughout their surgery. All had a reduction in their vertical deviation. Six were asymptomatic and were eventually discharged. One had residual diplopia which was well tolerated without further intervention. One had persistent troublesome diplopia which was corrected by temporary Fresnel prisms. He became asymptomatic after further surgery of a 1 mm inferior rectus advancement. CONCLUSION: One stage adjustable suture surgery is recommended in all cases of strabismus surgery when postoperative results would otherwise be unpredictable. PMID:8949715

Utilizing the Vertical Variability of Precipitation to Improve Radar QPE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gatlin, Patrick N.; Petersen, Walter A.

2016-01-01

Characteristics of the melting layer and raindrop size distribution can be exploited to further improve radar quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE). Using dual-polarimetric radar and disdrometers, we found that the characteristic size of raindrops reaching the ground in stratiform precipitation often varies linearly with the depth of the melting layer. As a result, a radar rainfall estimator was formulated using D(sub m) that can be employed by polarimetric as well as dual-frequency radars (e.g., space-based radars such as the GPM DPR), to lower the bias and uncertainty of conventional single radar parameter rainfall estimates by as much as 20%. Polarimetric radar also suffers from issues associated with sampling the vertical distribution of precipitation. Hence, we characterized the vertical profile of polarimetric parameters (VP3)-a radar manifestation of the evolving size and shape of hydrometeors as they fall to the ground-on dual-polarimetric rainfall estimation. The VP3 revealed that the profile of ZDR in stratiform rainfall can bias dual-polarimetric rainfall estimators by as much as 50%, even after correction for the vertical profile of reflectivity (VPR). The VP3 correction technique that we developed can improve operational dual-polarimetric rainfall estimates by 13% beyond that offered by a VPR correction alone.

Prediction of Reservoir Properties for Geomechanical Analysis Using 3-D Seismic Data and Rock Physics Modeling in the Vaca Muerta Formation, Neuquen Basin, Argentina

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Convers-Gomez, Carlos E.

The Vaca Muerta Formation in the Neuquen Basin has recently received a lot of attention from oil companies interested in developing its shale resources. Early identification of potential zones with possible good production is extremely important to optimize the return on capital investment. Developing a work flow in shale plays that associates an effective hydraulic fracture response with the presence of hydrocarbons is crucial for economic success. The vertical and lateral heterogeneity of rock properties are critical factors that impact production. The integration of 3D seismic and well data is necessary for prediction of rock properties and identifies their distribution in the rock, which can also be integrated with geomechanical properties to model the rock response favorable to hydraulic stimulation. This study includes a 3D seismic survey and six vertical wells with full log suites in each well. The well logs allowed for the computation of a pre-stack model-based inversion which uses seismic data to estimate rock property volumes. An inverse relationship between P-impedance and Total Organic Content (TOC) was observed and quantified. Likewise, a direct relationship between P-impedance and volume of carbonate was observed. The volume of kerogen, type of clay, type of carbonate and fluid pressure all control the geomechanical properties of the formation when subject to hydraulic fracturing. Probabilistic Neural Networks were then used to predict the lateral and vertical heterogeneity of rock properties. TOC and volume of kerogen behaved as adequate indicators of possible zones with high presence of hydrocarbons. Meanwhile, the volume of carbonate was a valid indicator of brittle-ductile rock. The predicted density volume was used to estimate geomechanical properties (Young's Modulus and Poisson's Ratio) and to identify the zones that have a better response to hydraulic stimulation. During the analysis of geomechanical properties, Young's Modulus was observed to have a direct relationship with volume of carbonate and an inverse relationship with TOC, enabling the identification of brittle and ductile rocks zones. The analysis detected zones that had a good presence of hydrocarbons and brittle rock. The information was integrated with the analysis of geomechanical properties generating a model with the most possible zones of good production. This model will aid in the future exploration and development of the Vaca Muerta Formation.

Reduced Oblique Effect in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

PubMed Central

Sysoeva, Olga V.; Davletshina, Maria A.; Orekhova, Elena V.; Galuta, Ilia A.; Stroganova, Tatiana A.

2016-01-01

People are very precise in the discrimination of a line orientation relative to the cardinal (vertical and horizontal) axes, while their orientation discrimination sensitivity along the oblique axes is less refined. This difference in discrimination sensitivity along cardinal and oblique axes is called the “oblique effect.” Given that the oblique effect is a basic feature of visual processing with an early developmental origin, its investigation in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may shed light on the nature of visual sensory abnormalities frequently reported in this population. We examined line orientation sensitivity along oblique and vertical axes in a sample of 26 boys with ASD (IQ > 68) and 38 typically developing (TD) boys aged 7–15 years, as well as in a subsample of carefully IQ-matched ASD and TD participants. Children were asked to detect the direction of tilt of a high-contrast black-and-white grating relative to vertical (90°) or oblique (45°) templates. The oblique effect was reduced in children with ASD as compared to TD participants, irrespective of their IQ. This reduction was due to poor orientation sensitivity along the vertical axis in ASD children, while their ability to discriminate line orientation along the oblique axis was unaffected. We speculate that this deficit in sensitivity to vertical orientation may reflect disrupted mechanisms of early experience-dependent learning that takes place during the critical period for orientation selectivity. PMID:26834540

Subjective visual vertical assessment with mobile virtual reality system.

PubMed

Ulozienė, Ingrida; Totilienė, Milda; Paulauskas, Andrius; Blažauskas, Tomas; Marozas, Vaidotas; Kaski, Diego; Ulozas, Virgilijus

2017-01-01

The subjective visual vertical (SVV) is a measure of a subject's perceived verticality, and a sensitive test of vestibular dysfunction. Despite this, and consequent upon technical and logistical limitations, SVV has not entered mainstream clinical practice. The aim of the study was to develop a mobile virtual reality based system for SVV test, evaluate the suitability of different controllers and assess the system's usability in practical settings. In this study, we describe a novel virtual reality based system that has been developed to test SVV using integrated software and hardware, and report normative values across healthy population. Participants wore a mobile virtual reality headset in order to observe a 3D stimulus presented across separate conditions - static, dynamic and an immersive real-world ("boat in the sea") SVV tests. The virtual reality environment was controlled by the tester using a Bluetooth connected controllers. Participants controlled the movement of a vertical arrow using either a gesture control armband or a general-purpose gamepad, to indicate perceived verticality. We wanted to compare 2 different methods for object control in the system, determine normal values and compare them with literature data, to evaluate the developed system with the help of the system usability scale questionnaire and evaluate possible virtually induced dizziness with the help of subjective visual analog scale. There were no statistically significant differences in SVV values during static, dynamic and virtual reality stimulus conditions, obtained using the two different controllers and the results are compared to those previously reported in the literature using alternative methodologies. The SUS scores for the system were high, with a median of 82.5 for the Myo controller and of 95.0 for the Gamepad controller, representing a statistically significant difference between the two controllers (P<0.01). The median of virtual reality-induced dizziness for both devices was 0.7. The mobile virtual reality based system for implementation of subjective visual vertical test, is accurate and applicable in the clinical environment. The gamepad-based virtual object control method was preferred by the users. The tests were well tolerated with low dizziness scores in the majority of patients. Copyright © 2018 The Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Production and hosting by Elsevier Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.

Automated Vertical Clearance Measurement During Photolog Operations

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-09-01

The Connecticut Department of Transportation uses two digital-based photolog vans to collect four different sets of roadway images as well as 40 different types of alphanumeric data, including vertical cross slope and horizontal geometry. A request f...

Vertical movement of ground water under the Merrill Field landfill, Anchorage, Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nelson, Gordon L.; Dearborn, L.L.

1982-01-01

Shallow groundwater under the Merrill Field sanitary landfill at Anchorage is polluted by leachate. Wells, including three Municipal-supply wells, obtain water from two confined aquifers 100-300 feet beneath the landfill area. Aquifer-test data and information on subsurface geology, ground-water levels, and properties of materials were used to estimate vertical gradients and vertical permeabilities under the landfill. The authors ' best estimates ' of vertical permeabilities of two confining units are 1 x 10 super -2 foot per day and 2 x 10 super -4 foot per day. Theoretical travel-time calculations indicate that minor amounts of pollutants may reach the upper confined aquifer after many tens of years, but that water of the composition of the leachate probably would not reach the aquifer for more than three centuries. The range of error in the theoretical travel-time calculations is likely to be plus or minus a factor of two or three. (USGS)

Modelling the upwelling offthe east Hainan Island coast in summer 2010

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bai, Peng; Gu, Yanzhen; Li, Peiliang; Wu, Kejian

2016-11-01

A synoptic-scale upwelling event that developed offthe east coast of the Hainan Island (EHIU) in the summer of 2010 is defined well via processing the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sea surface temperature (SST) data. The Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) with high spatial resolution has been used to investigate this upwelling event. By comparing the ROMS results against tide station data, Argo float profiles and MODIS SST, it is confirmed that the ROMS reproduces the EHIU well. The cooler-water core (CWC) distinguished by waters < 27.5°C in the EHIU, which occurred in the east Qiongzhou Strait mouth area and was bounded by a high temperature gradient, was the focus of this paper. Vertical structure of the CWC suggests that interaction between the westward flow and the bathymetry slope played a significant role in the formation of CWC. Numerical experiments indicated that the westward flow in the Qiongzhou Strait was the result of tidal rectification over variable topography (Shi et al., 2002), thus tides played a critical role on the development of the CWC. The negative wind stress curl that dominated the east Qiongzhou Strait mouth area suppressed the intensity of the CWC by 0.2-0.4°C. Further, nonlinear interaction between tidal currents and wind stress enhanced vertical mixing greatly, which would benefit the development of the CWC.

Electric analog of three-dimensional flow to wells and its application to unconfined aquifers

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stallman, Robert W.

1963-01-01

Electric-analog design criteria are established from the differential equations of ground-water flow for analyzing pumping-test data. A convenient analog design was obtained by transforming the cylindrical equation of flow to a rectilinear form. The design criteria were applied in the construction of an electric analog, which was used for studying pumping-test data collected near Grand Island, Nebr. Data analysis indicated (1) vertical flow components near pumping wells in unconfined aquifers may be much more significant in the control of water-table decline than radial flow components for as much as a day of pumping; (2) the specific yield during the first few minutes of pumping appears to be a very small fraction of that observed after pumping for more than 1 day; and (3) estimates of specific yield made from model studies seem much more sensitive to variations in assumed flow conditions than are estimates of permeability. Analysis of pumping-test data where vertical flow components are important requires that the degree of anisotropy be known. A procedure for computing anisotropy directly from drawdowns observed at five points was developed. Results obtained in the analog study emphasize the futility of calculating unconfined aquifer properties from pumping tests of short duration by means of equations based on the assumptions that vertical flow components are negligible and specific yield is constant.

Geohydrology and potential for upward movement of saline water in the Cocoa well field, East Orange County, Florida

USGS Publications Warehouse

Phelps, G.G.; Schiffer, D.M.

1996-01-01

The Floridan aquifer system, an approximately 2,000-foot thick sequence of Eocene-age limestone and dolomite, is the main source of water supply in central Florida. Hydraulic conductivity is different in strata of different lithology and is the basis for separating the aquifer system into the Upper Floridan aquifer, a middle semi- confining unit, and the Lower Floridan aquifer. The coastal city of Cocoa withdraws about 26 million gallons of water per day from the Upper Floridan aquifer from a well field in east Orange County, about 25 miles inland. About 60 million gallons per day are withdrawn from the Upper Floridan aquifer and 56 million gallons per day from the Lower Floridan aquifer in the Orlando area, about 15 miles west of the Cocoa well field. Wells drilled in the Cocoa well field from 1955-61 yielded water with chloride concentrations ranging from 25-55 milligrams per liter. Soon after the wells were put in service, chloride concentrations increased; therefore, new wells were drilled further inland. Chloride concen- trations in water from many of the new wells also have increased. Possible sources of saline water are lateral movement of relict seawater in the Upper Floridan aquifer from the east, regional upconing of saline water from the Lower Floridan aquifer or underlying older rocks, or localized upward movement of saline water through fractures. Several test wells were drilled to provide information about chloride concentration changes with depth and to monitor changes with time, including a multi-zone well drilled in 1965 (well C) and two wells drilled in the 1990's (wells R and S). Chloride concentrations have increased in the zone pumped by the supply wells (the upper 500 feet of the aquifer) and in the 1,351-1,357-foot deep zone of well C, but not in the two intervening zones. This indicates that the source of saline water is located laterally, rather than vertically, from the pumped zone in the area of well C. The potential for upward movement of saline water depends on the direction of the vertical hydraulic gradient and on the vertical hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer. A series of aquifer tests was run in 1993-94 and existing water-level and water-quality data were analyzed to evaluate the potential for upward movement of saline water in the well field. The transmissivity of the upper 500 feet of the aquifer is about 100,000 feet squared per day (the horizontal hydraulic conductivity is about 200 feet per day) and the storage coefficient is about 2x10 -4. Horizontal hydraulic conductivities determined from slug tests of the three deepest zones of well C ranged from 20-50 feet per day. Vertical hydraulic conductivities probably do not exceed 0.05 feet per day. The vertical hydraulic gradient is determined by comparing water levels in the various zones, but because of density differences, unadjusted water levels in the deepest zone investigated cannot be directly compared to water levels in the overlying freshwater zones. The difference between environmental-water heads (adjusted for density differences) in the saline-water zone of well C and the overlying freshwater zone were calculated from measured water levels for the period 1966 to 1994. During most of this time period, the gradient was downward, indicating that saline water did not move upward. Upconing of saline water probably is not taking place in the center and western part of the well field, based on the low vertical hydraulic conductivity values estimated for the middle semi-confining unit, the generally downward vertical hydraulic gradient, and the constant chloride concentrations in the intermediate zones of well C. However, there is no information about the extent of the zone of low vertical hydraulic conductivity gradient in the eastern part of the well field. Thus, increased chloride concentrations in supply wells in the eastern part of the well field could be caused either by lateral movement of saline water from the east, or by upwar

CityFlux perfluorocarbon tracer experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petersson, F. K.; Martin, D.; White, I. R.; Henshaw, S. J.; Nickless, G.; Longley, I.; Percival, C. J.; Gallagher, M.; Shallcross, D. E.

2010-01-01

In June 2006, two perfluorocarbon tracer experiments were conducted in central Manchester UK as part of the CityFlux campaign. The main aim was to investigate vertical dispersion in an urban area during convective conditions, but dispersion mechanisms within the street network were also studied. Paired receptors were used in most cases where one receptor was located at ground level and one at roof level. One receptor was located on the roof of Portland Tower which is an 80 m high building in central Manchester. Source receptor distances in the two experiments varied between 120 and 600 m. The results reveal that maximum concentration was sometimes found at roof level rather than at ground level implying the effectiveness of convective forces on dispersion. The degree of vertical dispersion was found to be dependent on source receptor distance as well as on building height in proximity to the release site. Evidence of flow channelling in a street canyon was also found. Both a Gaussian profile and a street network model were applied and the results show that the urban topography may lead to highly effective flow channelling which therefore may be a very important dispersion mechanism should the right meteorological conditions prevail. The experimental results from this campaign have also been compared with a simple urban dispersion model that was developed during the DAPPLE framework and show good agreement with this. The results presented here are some of the first published regarding vertical dispersion. More tracer experiments are needed in order to further characterise vertical concentration profiles and their dependence on, for instance, atmospheric stability. The impact of urban topography on pollutant dispersion is important to focus on in future tracer experiments in order to improve performance of models as well as for our understanding of the relationship between air quality and public health.

Small-Scale Vertical Distribution of Bacterial Biomass and Diversity in Biological Soil Crusts from Arid Lands in the Colorado Plateau

USGS Publications Warehouse

Garcia-Pichel, F.; Johnson, S.L.; Youngkin, D.; Belnap, J.

2003-01-01

We characterized, at millimeter resolution, bacterial biomass, diversity, and vertical stratification of biological soil crusts in arid lands from the Colorado Plateau. Microscopic counts, extractable DNA, and plate counts of viable aerobic copiotrophs (VAC) revealed that the top centimeter of crusted soils contained atypically large bacterial populations, tenfold larger than those in uncrusted, deeper soils. The plate counts were not always consistent with more direct estimates of microbial biomass. Bacterial populations peaked at the immediate subsurface (1-2 mm) in light-appearing, young crusts, and at the surface (0-1 mm) in well-developed, dark crusts, which corresponds to the location of cyanobacterial populations. Bacterial abundance decreased with depth below these horizons. Spatially resolved DGGE fingerprints of Bacterial 16S rRNA genes demonstrated the presence of highly diverse natural communities, but we could detect neither trends with depth in bacterial richness or diversity, nor a difference in diversity indices between crust types. Fingerprints, however, revealed the presence of marked stratification in the structure of the microbial communities, probably a result of vertical gradients in physicochemical parameters. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses indicated that most of the naturally occurring bacteria are novel types, with low sequence similarity (83-93%) to those available in public databases. DGGE analyses of the VAC populations indicated communities of lower diversity, with most types having sequences more than 94% similar to those in public databases. Our study indicates that soil crusts represent small-scale mantles of fertility in arid ecosystems, harboring vertically structured, little-known bacterial populations that are not well represented by standard cultivation methods.

CityFlux perfluorocarbon tracer experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petersson, F. K.; Martin, D.; White, I. R.; Henshaw, S. J.; Nickless, G.; Longley, I.; Percival, C. J.; Gallagher, M.; Shallcross, D. E.

2010-07-01

In June 2006, two perfluorocarbon tracer experiments were conducted in central Manchester UK as part of the CityFlux campaign. The main aim was to investigate vertical dispersion in an urban area during convective conditions, but dispersion mechanisms within the street network were also studied. Paired receptors were used in most cases where one receptor was located at ground level and one at roof level. One receptor was located on the roof of Portland Tower which is an 80 m high building in central Manchester. Source receptor distances in the two experiments varied between 120 and 600 m. The results reveal that maximum concentration was sometimes found at roof level rather than at ground level implying the effectiveness of convective forces on dispersion. The degree of vertical dispersion was found to be dependent on source receptor distance as well as on building height in proximity to the release site. Evidence of flow channelling in a street canyon was also found. Both a Gaussian profile and a street network model were applied and the results show that the urban topography may lead to highly effective flow channelling which therefore may be a very important dispersion mechanism should the right meteorological conditions prevail. The experimental results from this campaign have also been compared with a simple urban dispersion model that was developed during the DAPPLE framework and show good agreement with this. The results presented here are some of the first published regarding vertical dispersion. More tracer experiments are needed in order to further characterise vertical concentration profiles and their dependence on, for instance, atmospheric stability. The impact of urban topography on pollutant dispersion is important to focus on in future tracer experiments in order to improve performance of models as well as for our understanding of the relationship between air quality and public health.

Violent transient sloshing-wave interaction with a baffle in a three-dimensional numerical tank

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xue, Mi-An; Zheng, Jinhai; Lin, Pengzhi; Xiao, Zhong

2017-08-01

A finite difference model for solving Navier Stokes equations with turbulence taken into account is used to investigate viscous liquid sloshing-wave interaction with baffles in a tank. The volume-of-fluid and virtual boundary force methods are employed to simulate free surface flow interaction with structures. A liquid sloshing experimental apparatus was established to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed model, as well as to study nonlinear sloshing in a prismatic tank with the baffles. Damping effects of sloshing in a rectangular tank with bottom-mounted vertical baffles and vertical baffles touching the free surface are studied numerically and experimentally. Good agreement is obtained between the present numerical results and experimental data. The numerical results match well with the current experimental data for strong nonlinear sloshing with large free surface slopes. The reduction in sloshing-wave elevation and impact pressure induced by the bottom-mounted vertical baffle and the vertical baffle touching the free surface is estimated by varying the external excitation frequency and the location and height of the vertical baffle under horizontal excitation.

RLV-TD Flight Measured Aeroacoustic Levels and its Comparison with Predictions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manokaran, K.; Prasath, M.; Venkata Subrahmanyam, B.; Ganesan, V. R.; Ravindran, Archana; Babu, C.

2017-12-01

The Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) is a wing body configuration successfully flight tested. One of the important flight measurements is the acoustic levels. There were five external microphones, mounted on the fuselage-forebody, wing, vertical tail, inter-stage (ITS) and core base shroud to measure the acoustic levels from lift-off to splash down. In the ascent phase, core base shroud recorded the overall maximum at both lift-off and transonic conditions. In-flight noise levels measured on the wing is second highest, followed by fuselage and vertical tail. Predictions for flight trajectory compare well at all locations except for vertical tail (4.5 dB). In the descent phase, maximum measured OASPL occurs at transonic condition for the wing, followed by vertical tail and fuselage. Predictions for flight trajectory compare well at all locations except for wing (- 6.0 dB). Spectrum comparison is good in the ascent phase compared to descent phase. Roll Reaction control system (RCS) thruster firing signature is seen in the acoustic measurements on the wing and vertical tail during lift-off.

Hydraulic Properties of the Magothy and Upper Glacial Aquifers at Centereach, Suffolk County, New York

USGS Publications Warehouse

Misut, Paul E.; Busciolano, Ronald J.

2010-01-01

Horizontal and vertical hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity, and storativity of the aquifer system at Centereach, New York, were estimated using analytical multiple-well aquifer test models and compared with results of numerical regional flow modeling and hydrogeologic framework studies. During the initial operation of production well S125632 in May 2008, continuous water-level and temperature data were collected at a cluster of five partially penetrating observation wells, located about 100 feet (ft) from S125632, and at observation well S33380, located about 10,000 ft from S125632. Data collection intervals ranged from 30 seconds to 30 minutes and analytical model calibration was conducted using visual trial-and-error techniques with time series parsed to 30-minute intervals. The following assumptions were applied to analytical models: (1) infinite aerial extent, (2) homogeneity, (3) uniform 600-ft aquifer thickness, (4) unsteady flow, (5) instantaneous release from storage with the decline in head, (6) no storage within pumped wells, (7) a constant-head plane adjacent to bounding confining units, and (8) no horizontal component of flow through confining units. Preliminary estimates of horizontal and vertical hydraulic conductivity of 50 ft per day horizontal and 0.5 ft per day vertical were extrapolated from previous flow modeling and hydrogeologic framework studies of the Magothy aquifer. Two applications were then developed from the Hantush analytical model. Model A included only the pumping stress of S125632, whereas model B included the concurrent pumping stresses from two other production well fields (wells S66496 and S32551). Model A provided a sufficient match to the observed water-level responses from pumping, whereas model B more accurately reproduced water levels similar to those observed during non-pumping of S125632, as well as some effects of interference from the concurrent pumping nearby. In both models, storativity was estimated to be 0.003 (dimensionless) and the Hantush leakage parameter '1/B' was estimated to be 0.00083 ft-1. Representation of leakage across the overlying confining layer was likely complicated by: (1) irregularities in surface altitude and (2) groundwater recharge due to rainfall during the aquifer test.

Sequence stratigraphic analysis of Cenomanian greenhouse palaeosols: A case study from southern Patagonia, Argentina

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Varela, Augusto N.; Veiga, Gonzalo D.; Poiré, Daniel G.

2012-10-01

The aim of this contribution is to analyse extrinsic (i.e., tectonics, climate and eustasy) and intrinsic (i.e., palaeotopography, palaeodrainage and relative sedimentation rates) factors that controlled palaeosol development in the Cenomanian Mata Amarilla Formation (Austral foreland basin, southwestern Patagonia, Argentina). Detailed sedimentological logs, facies analysis, pedofeatures and palaeosol horizon identification led to the definition of six pedotypes, which represent Histosols, acid sulphate Histosols, Vertisols, hydromorphic Vertisols, Inceptisols and vertic Alfisols. Small- and large-scale changes in palaeosol development were recognised throughout the units. Small-scale or high-frequency variations, identified within the middle section are represented by the lateral and vertical superimposition of Inceptisols, Vertisols and hydromorphic Vertisols. Lateral changes are interpreted as the result of intrinsic factors to the depositional systems, such as the relative position within the floodplain and the distance from the main channels, that condition the nature of parent material, the sedimentation rate and eventually the palaeotopographic position. Vertical stacking of different soil types is linked to avulsion processes and the relatively abrupt change in the distance to main channels as the system aggraded. The large-scale or low-frequency vertical variations in palaeosol type occurring in the Mata Amarilla Formation are related to long-term changes in depositional environments. The lower and upper sections of the studied logs are characterised by Histosols and acid sulphate Histosols, and few hydromorphic Vertisols associated with low-gradient coastal environments (i.e., lagoons, estuaries and distal fluvial systems). At the lower boundary of the middle section, a thick palaeosol succession composed of vertic Alfisols occurs. The rest of the middle section is characterised by Vertisols, hydromorphic Vertisols and Inceptisols occurring on distal and proximal fluvial floodplains, respectively. The palaeosol succession for the Mata Amarilla Formation can be analysed within a sequence stratigraphic scheme considering changes in depositional environments in relation to accommodation/supply conditions. The results contrast with classical models, mainly in that the palaeosols of the Mata Amarilla Formation are relatively well-developed throughout the whole sequence, including transgressive periods of relatively high aggradation rate. Also, even when during regressive episodes, when a thick palaeosol succession that marks the sequence boundary is developed in the classical models, the lack of incised valleys in this succession led to the preservation of thick palaeosol successions during lowstand conditions. The vertical and lateral palaeosol distribution identified in the Mata Amarilla Formation could be eventually extrapolated to other sequences deposited during climate optimums.

VERTICAL BEAM SIZE CONTROL IN TLS AND TPS.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

KUO, C.C.; CHEN, J.R.; CHOU, P.J.

2006-06-26

Vertical beam size control is an important issue in the light source operations. The horizontal-vertical betatron coupling and vertical dispersion were measured and corrected to small values in the TLS 1.5 GeV storage ring. Estimated beam sizes are compared with the measured values. By employing an effective transverse damping system, the vertical beam blow-up due to transverse coherent instabilities, such as the fast-ion beam instability, was suppressed. As a result, the light source is very stable. In NSRRC we are designing an ultra low emittance 3-GeV storage ring and its designed vertical beam size could be as small as amore » few microns. The ground and mechanic vibration effects, and coherent instabilities could spoil the expected photon brightness due to blow-up of the vertical beam size if not well taken care of. The contributions of these effects to vertical beam size increase will be evaluated and the counter measures to minimize them will be proposed and reported in this paper.« less

Effects of vertical rotation on Arabidopsis development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, A. H.; Chapman, D. K.; Dahl, A. O.

1975-01-01

Various gross morphological end points of Arabidopsis development are examined in an attempt to separate the effects of growth on the horizontal clinostat into a component caused by rotation alone and another component caused by the altered position with respect to the direction of the g-vector. In a series of tests which involved comparisons between vertical stationary plants, vertical rotated plants, and plants rotated on clinostats, certain characters were consistently influenced by vertical rotation alone. The characters for which this effect was statistically significant were petiole length and leaf blade width.

Summary report, Flexible VSR`s and VSR channel sleeve development programs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kempf, F.J.

1963-11-15

(VSR = vertical safety rod.) This report summarizes results of development programs which have evaluated vertical rod channel sleeving materials and provided flexible vertical rods, acceptable for both interim use before rod channel sleeving, and for subsequent use in sleeved channels. B{sub 4}C is the rod material; graphite and Al oxide are among the sleeve materials.

Anisotropic scattering effect of the inclined misfit dislocation on the two-dimensional electron gas in Al(In)GaN/GaN heterostructures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jin, Dong-Dong; Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084; Wang, Lian-shan, E-mail: ls-wang@semi.ac.cn

In this paper, a theory is developed to study the anisotropic scattering effect of the inclined misfit dislocation on the two-dimensional electron gas in Al(In)GaN/GaN heterostructures. The inclined misfit dislocation, which differs from the well-known vertical threading dislocation, has a remarkable tilt angle from the vertical. The predicted electron mobility shows a remarkable anisotropy. It has a maximum mobility value along the direction perpendicular to the projection of the inclined dislocation line, and a minimum mobility value along the direction parallel to the projection. The degree of the anisotropic scattering effect will be even greater with the increase of themore » tilt angle.« less

EFT-1 Delta IV Heavy lift to vertical

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-10-01

The United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket for Exploration Flight Test-1 is being lifted to the vertical position in the mobile service tower on the pad at the pad at Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The Delta IV Heavy is being readied to launch Orion on its first flight test. During its first flight test, Orion will travel farther into space than any human spacecraft has gone in more than 40 years. The data gathered during the flight will influence design decisions, validate existing computer models and innovative new approaches to space systems development, as well as reduce overall mission risks and costs for later Orion flights. Liftoff of Orion on the first flight test is planned for December 2014.

EFT-1 Delta IV Heavy lift to vertical

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-10-01

United Launch Alliance, or ULA, workers monitor the progress as the ULA Delta IV Heavy rocket for Exploration Flight Test-1 is lifted to the vertical position in the mobile service tower on the pad at Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The Delta IV Heavy is being readied to launch Orion on its first flight test. During its first flight test, Orion will travel farther into space than any human spacecraft has gone in more than 40 years. The data gathered during the flight will influence design decisions, validate existing computer models and innovative new approaches to space systems development, as well as reduce overall mission risks and costs for later Orion flights. Liftoff of Orion on the first flight test is planned for December 2014.

Using surface displacement derived from GRACE to constrain the water loading signal in cGPS measurements in the Amazon Basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jose, L.; Bennett, R. A.; Harig, C.

2017-12-01

Currently, cGPS data is well suited to track vertical changes in the Earth's surface. However, there are annual, semi-annual, and interannual signals within cGPS time series that are not well constrained. We hypothesize that these signals are primarily due to water loading. If this is the case, the conventional method of modeling cGPS data as an annual or semiannual sinusoid falls short, as such models cannot accurately capture all variations in surface displacement, especially those due to extreme hydrologic events. We believe that we can better correct the cGPS time series with another method we are developing wherein we use a time series of surface displacement derived from the GRACE geopotential field instead of a sinusoidal model to correct the data. Currently, our analysis is constrained to the Amazon Basin, where the signal due to water loading is large enough to appear in both the GRACE and cGPS measurements. The vertical signal from cGPS stations across the Amazon Basin show an apparent spatial correlation, which further supports our idea that these signals are due to a regional water loading signal. In our preliminary research, we used tsview for Matlab to find that the WRMS of the corrected cGPS time series can be reduced as much as 30% from the model corrected data to the GRACE corrected data. The Amazon, like many places around the world, has experienced extreme drought, in 2005, 2010, and recently in 2015. In addition to making the cGPS vertical signal more robust, the method we are developing has the potential to help us understand the effects of these weather events and track trends in water loading.

Large Eddy Simulations of a Bottom Boundary Layer Under a Shallow Geostrophic Front

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bateman, S. P.; Simeonov, J.; Calantoni, J.

2017-12-01

The unstratified surf zone and the stratified shelf waters are often separated by dynamic fronts that can strongly impact the character of the Ekman bottom boundary layer. Here, we use large eddy simulations to study the turbulent bottom boundary layer associated with a geostrophic current on a stratified shelf of uniform depth. The simulations are initialized with a spatially uniform vertical shear that is in geostrophic balance with a pressure gradient due to a linear horizontal temperature variation. Superposed on the temperature front is a stable vertical temperature gradient. As turbulence develops near the bottom, the turbulence-induced mixing gradually erodes the initial uniform temperature stratification and a well-mixed layer grows in height until the turbulence becomes fully developed. The simulations provide the spatial distribution of the turbulent dissipation and the Reynolds stresses in the fully developed boundary layer. We vary the initial linear stratification and investigate its effect on the height of the bottom boundary layer and the turbulence statistics. The results are compared to previous models and simulations of stratified bottom Ekman layers.

Geostatistical analysis of effective vertical hydraulic conductivity and presence of confining layers in the Shallow Glacial Drift Aquifer, Oakland County, Michigan

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bissell, E.G.; Aichele, Stephen S.

2004-01-01

About 400,000 residents of Oakland County, Mich., rely on ground water for their primary drinking-water supply. More than 90 percent of these residents draw ground water from the shallow glacial drift aquifer. Understanding the vertical hydraulic conductivity of the shallow glacial drift aquifer is important both in identifying areas of ground-water recharge and in evaluating susceptibility to contamination. The geologic environment throughout much of the county, however, is poorly understood and heterogeneous, making conventional aquifer mapping techniques difficult. Geostatistical procedures are therefore used to describe the effective vertical hydraulic conductivity of the top 50 ft of the glacial deposits and to predict the probability of finding a potentially protective confining layer at a given location. The results presented synthesize the available well-log data; however, only about 40 percent of the explainable variation in the dataset is accounted for, making the results more qualitative than quantitative. Most of the variation in the effective vertical hydraulic conductivity cannot be explained with the well-log data currently available (as of 2004). Although the geologic environment is heterogeneous, the quality-assurance process indicated that more than half of the wells in the county’s Wellkey database (statewide database for monitoring drinking-water wells) had inconsistent identifications of lithology.

Assessing Reservoir Depositional Environments to Develop and Quantify Improvements in CO 2 Storage Efficiency. A Reservoir Simulation Approach

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Okwen, Roland; Frailey, Scott; Leetaru, Hannes

2014-09-30

The storage potential and fluid movement within formations are dependent on the unique hydraulic characteristics of their respective depositional environments. Storage efficiency (E) quantifies the potential for storage in a geologic depositional environment and is used to assess basinal or regional CO 2 storage resources. Current estimates of storage resources are calculated using common E ranges by lithology and not by depositional environment. The objectives of this project are to quantify E ranges and identify E enhancement strategies for different depositional environments via reservoir simulation studies. The depositional environments considered include deltaic, shelf clastic, shelf carbonate, fluvial deltaic, strandplain, reef,more » fluvial and alluvial, and turbidite. Strategies considered for enhancing E include CO 2 injection via vertical, horizontal, and deviated wells, selective completions, water production, and multi-well injection. Conceptual geologic and geocellular models of the depositional environments were developed based on data from Illinois Basin oil fields and gas storage sites. The geologic and geocellular models were generalized for use in other US sedimentary basins. An important aspect of this work is the development of conceptual geologic and geocellular models that reflect the uniqueness of each depositional environment. Different injection well completions methods were simulated to investigate methods of enhancing E in the presence of geologic heterogeneity specific to a depositional environment. Modeling scenarios included horizontal wells (length, orientation, and inclination), selective and dynamic completions, water production, and multiwell injection. A Geologic Storage Efficiency Calculator (GSECalc) was developed to calculate E from reservoir simulation output. Estimated E values were normalized to diminish their dependency on fluid relative permeability. Classifying depositional environments according to normalized baseline E ranges ranks fluvial deltaic and turbidite highest and shelf carbonate lowest. The estimated average normalized baseline E of turbidite, and shelf carbonate depositional environments are 42.5% and 13.1%, with corresponding standard deviations of 11.3%, and 3.10%, respectively. Simulations of different plume management techniques suggest that the horizontal well, multi-well injection with brine production from blanket vertical producers are the most efficient E enhancement strategies in seven of eight depositional environments; for the fluvial deltaic depositional environment, vertical well with blanket completions is the most efficient. This study estimates normalized baseline E ranges for eight depositional environments, which can be used to assess the CO 2 storage resource of candidate formations. This study also improves the general understanding of depositional environment’s influence on E. The lessons learned and results obtained from this study can be extrapolated to formations in other US basins with formations of similar depositional environments, which should be used to further refine regional and national storage resource estimates in future editions of the Carbon Utilization and Storage Atlas of the United States. Further study could consider the economic feasibility of the E enhancement strategies identified here.« less

Into Turbulent Air: Hummingbird Aerodynamic Control in Unsteady Circumstances

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-24

costs of flight. We have also completed studies of hummingbird hovering flight within a vertical wind tunnel to enable study of the vortex ring state...vertical wind tunnel to enable study of the vortex ring state, a well-known problem in helicopter descent. This work evaluated both ascending and...wakes. DISTRIBUTION A: Distribution approved for public release. Our work with hummingbirds hovering in a vertical wind tunnel has enabled

A set of vertically integrated inquiry-based practical curricula that develop scientific thinking skills for large cohorts of undergraduate students.

PubMed

Zimbardi, Kirsten; Bugarcic, Andrea; Colthorpe, Kay; Good, Jonathan P; Lluka, Lesley J

2013-12-01

Science graduates require critical thinking skills to deal with the complex problems they will face in their 21st century workplaces. Inquiry-based curricula can provide students with the opportunities to develop such critical thinking skills; however, evidence suggests that an inappropriate level of autonomy provided to underprepared students may not only be daunting to students but also detrimental to their learning. After a major review of the Bachelor of Science, we developed, implemented, and evaluated a series of three vertically integrated courses with inquiry-style laboratory practicals for early-stage undergraduate students in biomedical science. These practical curricula were designed so that students would work with increasing autonomy and ownership of their research projects to develop increasingly advanced scientific thinking and communication skills. Students undertaking the first iteration of these three vertically integrated courses reported learning gains in course content as well as skills in scientific writing, hypothesis construction, experimental design, data analysis, and interpreting results. Students also demonstrated increasing skills in both hypothesis formulation and communication of findings as a result of participating in the inquiry-based curricula and completing the associated practical assessment tasks. Here, we report the specific aspects of the curricula that students reported as having the greatest impact on their learning and the particular elements of hypothesis formulation and communication of findings that were more challenging for students to master. These findings provide important implications for science educators concerned with designing curricula to promote scientific thinking and communication skills alongside content acquisition.

Exploring coral reef responses to millennial-scale climatic forcings: insights from the 1-D numerical tool pyReef-Core v1.0

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salles, Tristan; Pall, Jodie; Webster, Jody M.; Dechnik, Belinda

2018-06-01

Assemblages of corals characterise specific reef biozones and the environmental conditions that change spatially across a reef and with depth. Drill cores through fossil reefs record the time and depth distribution of assemblages, which captures a partial history of the vertical growth response of reefs to changing palaeoenvironmental conditions. The effects of environmental factors on reef growth are well understood on ecological timescales but are poorly constrained at centennial to geological timescales. pyReef-Core is a stratigraphic forward model designed to solve the problem of unobservable environmental processes controlling vertical reef development by simulating the physical, biological and sedimentological processes that determine vertical assemblage changes in drill cores. It models the stratigraphic development of coral reefs at centennial to millennial timescales under environmental forcing conditions including accommodation (relative sea-level upward growth), oceanic variability (flow speed, nutrients, pH and temperature), sediment input and tectonics. It also simulates competitive coral assemblage interactions using the generalised Lotka-Volterra system of equations (GLVEs) and can be used to infer the influence of environmental conditions on the zonation and vertical accretion and stratigraphic succession of coral assemblages over decadal timescales and greater. The tool can quantitatively test carbonate platform development under the influence of ecological and environmental processes and efficiently interpret vertical growth and karstification patterns observed in drill cores. We provide two realistic case studies illustrating the basic capabilities of the model and use it to reconstruct (1) the Holocene history (from 8500 years to present) of coral community responses to environmental changes and (2) the evolution of an idealised coral reef core since the last interglacial (from 140 000 years to present) under the influence of sea-level change, subsidence and karstification. We find that the model reproduces the details of the formation of existing coral reef stratigraphic sequences both in terms of assemblages succession, accretion rates and depositional thicknesses. It can be applied to estimate the impact of changing environmental conditions on growth rates and patterns under many different settings and initial conditions.

Hydrothermal minerals and microstructures in the Silangkitang geothermal field along the Great Sumatran fault zone, Sumatra, Indonesia

USGS Publications Warehouse

Moore, Diane E.; Hickman, S.; Lockner, D.A.; Dobson, P.F.

2001-01-01

Detailed study of core samples of silicic tuff recovered from three geothermal wells along the strike-slip Great Sumatran fault zone near Silangkitang, North Sumatra, supports a model for enhanced hydrothermal circulation adjacent to this major plate-boundary fault. Two wells (A and C) were drilled nearly vertically ??1 km southwest of the eastern (i.e., the principal) fault trace, and the third, directional well (B) was drilled eastward from the site of well A to within ??100 m of the principal fault trace. The examined core samples come from depths of 1650-2120 m at measured well temperatures of 180-320 ??C. The samples collected near the principal fault trace have the highest temperatures, the largest amount of secondary pore space that correlates with high secondary permeability, and the most extensive hydrothermal mineral development. Secondary permeability and the degree of hydrothermal alteration decrease toward the southwestern margin of the fault zone. These features indicate episodic, localized flow of hot, possibly CO2-rich fluids within the fault zone. The microstructure populations identified in the core samples correlate to the subsidiary fault patterns typical of strike-slip faults. The geothermal reservoir appears to be centered on the fault zone, with the principal fault strands and adjoining, highly fractured and hydrothermally altered rock serving as the main conduits for vertical fluid flow and advective heat transport from deeper magmatic sources.

Fabrication and gas sensing properties of vertically aligned Si nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mirzaei, Ali; Kang, Sung Yong; Choi, Sun-Woo; Kwon, Yong Jung; Choi, Myung Sik; Bang, Jae Hoon; Kim, Sang Sub; Kim, Hyoun Woo

2018-01-01

In this study, a peculiar configuration for a gas sensor consisting of vertically aligned silicon nanowires (VA-Si NWs) synthesized by metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) is reported. Si NWs were prepared via a facile MACE method and subsequent thermal annealing. Etching was performed by generation of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and subsequent etching in HF/H2O2 aqueous solution; the growth conditions were optimized by changing the process parameters. Highly vertically oriented arrays of Si NWs with a straight-line morphology were obtained, and a top-top electrode configuration was applied. The VA-Si NW gas sensor showed good sensing performance, and the VA-Si NWs exhibited a remarkable response (Rg/Ra = 11.5 ∼ 17.1) to H2 gas (10-50 ppm) at 100 °C which was the optimal working temperature. The formation mechanism and gas sensing mechanism of VA-Si NWs are described. The obtained results can suggest new approaches to making inexpensive, versatile, and portable sensors based on Si NWs having a novel top-top electrode structure that are fully compatible with well-developed Si technologies.

Oceanic lithosphere and asthenosphere - Thermal and mechanical structure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schubert, G.; Yuen, D. A.; Froidevaux, C.

1976-01-01

A coupled thermomechanical subsolidus model of the oceanic lithosphere and asthenosphere is developed which includes vertical heat conduction, a temperature-dependent thermal conductivity, heat advection by a horizontal and vertical mass flow that depends on depth and age, contributions of viscous dissipation or shear heating, a linear or nonlinear deformation law relating shear stress and strain rate, as well as a temperature- and pressure-dependent viscosity. The model requires a constant horizontal velocity and temperature at the surface, but zero horizontal velocity and constant temperature at great depths. The depth- and age-dependent temperature, horizontal and vertical velocities, and viscosity structure of the lithosphere and asthenosphere are determined along with the age-dependent shear stress in those two zones. The ocean-floor topography, oceanic heat flow, and lithosphere thickness are deduced as functions of ocean-floor age; seismic velocity profiles which exhibit a marked low-velocity zone are constructed from the age-dependent geotherms and assumed values of the elastic parameters. It is found that simple boundary-layer cooling determines the thermal structure at young ages, while effects of viscous dissipation become more important at older ages.

Vertical distribution of overpotentials and irreversible charge losses in lithium ion battery electrodes.

PubMed

Klink, Stefan; Schuhmann, Wolfgang; La Mantia, Fabio

2014-08-01

Porous lithium ion battery electrodes are characterized using a vertical distribution of cross-currents. In an appropriate simplification, this distribution can be described by a transmission line model (TLM) consisting of infinitely thin electrode layers. To investigate the vertical distribution of currents, overpotentials, and irreversible charge losses in a porous graphite electrode in situ, a multi-layered working electrode (MWE) was developed as the experimental analogue of a TLM. In this MWE, each layer is in ionic contact but electrically insulated from the other layers by a porous separator. It was found that the negative graphite electrodes get lithiated and delithiated stage-by-stage and layer-by-layer. Several mass-transport- as well as non-mass-transport-limited processes could be identified. Local current densities can reach double the average, especially on the outermost layer at the beginning of each intercalation stage. Furthermore, graphite particles close to the counter electrode act as "electrochemical sieve" reducing the impurities present in the electrolyte such as water. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Comparisons of the Vertical Development of Deep Tropical Convection and Associated Lightning Activity on a Global Basis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, E.; Lin, S.; Labrada, C.; Christian, H.; Goodman, S.; Boccippio, D.; Driscoll, K.

1999-01-01

Simultaneous radar (13.8 Ghz) and lightning (Lightning Imaging Sensor) observations from the NASA TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) spacecraft afford a new opportunity to examine differences in tropical continental and oceanic convection on a global basis, The 250 meter vertical resolution of the radar data and the approximately 17 dBZ sensitivity are well suited to providing vertical profiles of radar reflectivity over the entire tropical belt. The reflectivity profile has been shown in numerous local ground-based studies to be a good indicator of both updraft velocity and electrical activity. The radar and lightning observations for multiple satellite orbits have been integrated to produce global CAPPI's for various altitudes. At 7 km altitude, where mixed phase microphysics is known to be active, the mean reflectivity in continental convection is 10-15 dB greater than the value in oceanic convection. These results provide a sound physical basis for the order-of-magnitude contrast in lightning counts between continental and oceanic convection. These observations still beg the question, however, about the contrast in updraft velocity in these distinct convective regimes.

Design and development of short- and long-wavelength MQW infrared vertical cavity surface emitting lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iliadis, Agisilaos A.; Christou, Aristos

2003-07-01

The design, fabrication and performance of low threshold selectively oxidized infrared vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) for operation at 0.89μm and 1.55μm wavelengths using optimized graded Bragg mirrors, is reported. The devices are based on III-V ternary (AlGaAs/GaAs) and quaternary (AlInGaAs/GaInAsP/InP) graded semiconductor alloys and quantum wells and are grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy. The VCSEL arrays are processed using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) etching with BCl3 gas mixtures to achieve vertical walls and small geometries, and the fabrication of the devices proceeds by using conventional Ohmic contacts (Ti-Pt-Au and Ni-Au-Ge-Ni) and indium tin oxide (ITO) transparent contacts. The theoretical investigation of the optical properties of the quaternary compound semiconductor alloys allows us to select the optimum materials for highly reflective Bragg mirrors with less periods. The simulation of the designed VCSEL performance has been carried out by evaluation of the important laser characteristics such as threshold gain, threshold current density and external quantum efficiency.

Measuring particle charge in an rf dusty plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fung, Jerome; Liu, Bin; Goree, John; Nosenko, Vladimir

2004-11-01

A dusty plasma is an ionized gas containing micron-size particles of solid matter. A particle gains a large negative charge by collecting electrons and ions from the plasma. In a gas discharge, particles can be levitated by the sheath electric field above a horizontal planar electrode. Most dusty plasma experiments require a knowledge of the particle charge, which is a key parameter for all interactions with other particles and the plasma electric field. Several methods have been developed in the literature to measure the charge. The vertical resonance method uses Langmuir probe measurements of the ion density and video camera measurements of the amplitude of vertical particle oscillations, which are excited by modulating the rf voltage. Here, we report a new method that is a variation of the vertical resonance method. It uses the plasma potential and particle height, which can be measured more accurately than the ion density. We tested this method and compared the resulting charge to values obtained using the original resonance method as well as sound speed methods. Work supported by an NSF REU grant, NASA and DOE.

An LES study of vertical-axis wind turbine wakes aerodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abkar, Mahdi; Dabiri, John O.

2016-11-01

In this study, large-eddy simulation (LES) combined with a turbine model is used to investigate the structure of the wake behind a vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT). In the simulations, a recently developed minimum dissipation model is used to parameterize the subgrid-scale stress tensor, while the turbine-induced forces are modeled with an actuator-line technique. The LES framework is first tested in the simulation of the wake behind a model straight-bladed VAWT placed in the water channel, and then used to study the wake structure downwind of a full-scale VAWT sited in the atmospheric boundary layer. In particular, the self-similarity of the wake is examined, and it is found that the wake velocity deficit is well characterized by a two-dimensional elliptical Gaussian distribution. By assuming a self-similar Gaussian distribution of the velocity deficit, and applying mass and momentum conservation, an analytical model is developed and tested to predict the maximum velocity deficit downwind of the turbine.

Implementation of vertical multistage centrifugal pump system for villages at an altitude of ± 1200m above sea level in Sipahutar - North Sumatera area

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parde de, Marincan; Simangunsong, Riyanto; Hedwig, Rinda

2017-12-01

Clean water supply is rare in most villages at an altitude of ±1200m above the sea level in North Sumatera due to the topography of the village. The idea to help villagers fulfilling their basic needs in the situation makes this research important. Many experiments had been done previously, such as implementing drilled well but none was successful until we developed a vertical multistage centrifugal pump system. The natural water spring in the area targeted was found in 86 meters depth and would be distributed as far as 500m with area of 1.5km2 from the water tank. The main problem happened was the electric supplies which was always lower than it was expected in that area. Therefore, the successful of the system was happily accepted by the villagers and this research is highly expected to be developed and implemented to other villages, not only in Sipahutar area but also in all Tarutung area.

Effective Swimmer’s Action during the Grab Start Technique

PubMed Central

Mourão, Luis; de Jesus, Karla; Roesler, Hélio; Machado, Leandro J.; Fernandes, Ricardo J.; Vilas-Boas, João Paulo; Vaz, Mário A. P.

2015-01-01

The external forces applied in swimming starts have been often studied, but using direct analysis and simple interpretation data processes. This study aimed to develop a tool for vertical and horizontal force assessment based on the swimmers’ propulsive and structural forces (passive forces due to dead weight) applied during the block phase. Four methodological pathways were followed: the experimented fall of a rigid body, the swimmers’ inertia effect, the development of a mathematical model to describe the outcome of the rigid body fall and its generalization to include the effects of the inertia, and the experimental swimmers’ starting protocol analysed with the inclusion of the developed mathematical tool. The first three methodological steps resulted in the description and computation of the passive force components. At the fourth step, six well-trained swimmers performed three 15 m maximal grab start trials and three-dimensional (3D) kinetic data were obtained using a six degrees of freedom force plate. The passive force contribution to the start performance obtained from the model was subtracted from the experimental force due to the swimmers resulting in the swimmers’ active forces. As expected, the swimmers’ vertical and horizontal active forces accounted for the maximum variability contribution of the experimental forces. It was found that the active force profile for the vertical and horizontal components resembled one another. These findings should be considered in clarifying the active swimmers’ force variability and the respective geometrical profile as indicators to redefine steering strategies. PMID:25978370

The investigation of social networks based on multi-component random graphs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zadorozhnyi, V. N.; Yudin, E. B.

2018-01-01

The methods of non-homogeneous random graphs calibration are developed for social networks simulation. The graphs are calibrated by the degree distributions of the vertices and the edges. The mathematical foundation of the methods is formed by the theory of random graphs with the nonlinear preferential attachment rule and the theory of Erdôs-Rényi random graphs. In fact, well-calibrated network graph models and computer experiments with these models would help developers (owners) of the networks to predict their development correctly and to choose effective strategies for controlling network projects.

Comparison of MADE3-simulated and observed aerosol distributions with a focus on aerosol vertical profiles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaiser, Christopher; Hendricks, Johannes; Righi, Mattia; Jöckel, Patrick

2016-04-01

The reliability of aerosol radiative forcing estimates from climate models depends on the accuracy of simulated global aerosol distribution and composition, as well as on the models' representation of the aerosol-cloud and aerosol-radiation interactions. To help improve on previous modeling studies, we recently developed the new aerosol microphysics submodel MADE3 that explicitly tracks particle mixing state in the Aitken, accumulation, and coarse mode size ranges. We implemented MADE3 into the global atmospheric chemistry general circulation model EMAC and evaluated it by comparison of simulated aerosol properties to observations. Compared properties include continental near-surface aerosol component concentrations and size distributions, continental and marine aerosol vertical profiles, and nearly global aerosol optical depth. Recent studies have shown the specific importance of aerosol vertical profiles for determination of the aerosol radiative forcing. Therefore, our focus here is on the evaluation of simulated vertical profiles. The observational data is taken from campaigns between 1990 and 2011 over the Pacific Ocean, over North and South America, and over Europe. The datasets include black carbon and total aerosol mass mixing ratios, as well as aerosol particle number concentrations. Compared to other models, EMAC with MADE3 yields good agreement with the observations - despite a general high bias of the simulated mass mixing ratio profiles. However, BC concentrations are generally overestimated by many models in the upper troposphere. With MADE3 in EMAC, we find better agreement of the simulated BC profiles with HIPPO data than the multi-model average of the models that took part in the AeroCom project. There is an interesting difference between the profiles from individual campaigns and more "climatological" datasets. For instance, compared to spatially and temporally localized campaigns, the model simulates a more continuous decline in both total aerosol and black carbon mass mixing ratio with altitude than found in the observations. In contrast, measured profiles from the HIPPO project are qualitatively captured well. Similar conclusions hold for the comparison of simulated and measured aerosol particle number concentrations. On the one hand, these results exemplify the difficulty in evaluating the representativeness of the simulated global climatological state of the aerosol by means of comparison with individually measured vertical profiles. On the other hand, it highlights the value of aircraft campaigns with large spatial and temporal coverage for model evaluation.

Application of new methods based on ECMWF ensemble model for predicting severe convective weather situations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lazar, Dora; Ihasz, Istvan

2013-04-01

The short and medium range operational forecasts, warning and alarm of the severe weather are one of the most important activities of the Hungarian Meteorological Service. Our study provides comprehensive summary of newly developed methods based on ECMWF ensemble forecasts to assist successful prediction of the convective weather situations. . In the first part of the study a brief overview is given about the components of atmospheric convection, which are the atmospheric lifting force, convergence and vertical wind shear. The atmospheric instability is often used to characterize the so-called instability index; one of the most popular and often used indexes is the convective available potential energy. Heavy convective events, like intensive storms, supercells and tornadoes are needed the vertical instability, adequate moisture and vertical wind shear. As a first step statistical studies of these three parameters are based on nine years time series of 51-member ensemble forecasting model based on convective summer time period, various statistical analyses were performed. Relationship of the rate of the convective and total precipitation and above three parameters was studied by different statistical methods. Four new visualization methods were applied for supporting successful forecasts of severe weathers. Two of the four visualization methods the ensemble meteogram and the ensemble vertical profiles had been available at the beginning of our work. Both methods show probability of the meteorological parameters for the selected location. Additionally two new methods have been developed. First method provides probability map of the event exceeding predefined values, so the incident of the spatial uncertainty is well-defined. The convective weather events are characterized by the incident of space often rhapsodic occurs rather have expected the event area can be selected so that the ensemble forecasts give very good support. Another new visualization tool shows time evolution of predefined multiple thresholds in graphical form for any selected location. With applying this tool degree of the dangerous weather conditions can be well estimated. Besides intensive convective periods are clearly marked during the forecasting period. Developments were done by MAGICS++ software under UNIX operating system. The third part of the study usefulness of these tools is demonstrated in three interesting cases studies of last summer.

Case history of an opposed-bore, dual horizontal well in the Austin Chalk formation of south Texas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cooney, M.F.; Rogers, C.T.; Stacey, E.S.

1993-03-01

Petro-Hunt Corp. used a unique horizontal-well design to optimize development of an irregularly shaped lease in the Austin chalk formation in Texas. Two medium-radius horizontal bores were drilled in opposite directions from one vertical hole to maximize horizontal displacement in the lease. Underbalanced drilling techniques were used to prevent formation damage. The well design resulted in a significant cost savings per horizontal foot compared with 24 offset wells that the operator drilled. This paper reviews well planning and drilling and emphasizes techniques used to intersect thin horizontal targets and to initiate the second horizontal bore. Production results and drilling economicsmore » are discussed briefly, and ideas on future dual-horizontal-well applications are presented.« less

System Design and Nonlinear State-Dependent Riccati Equation Control of an Autonomous Y-4 Tilt-Rotor Aerobot for Martian Exploration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Collins, Nathan Scott

Surrey Space Centre (SSC) has been working on an autonomous fixed-wing all-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aerobot for the exploration of Mars for several years. SSC's previous designs have incorporated separate vertical lift and horizontal pusher rotors as well as a mono tilt-rotor configuration. The Martian aerobot's novel Y-4 tilt-rotor (Y4TR) design is a combination of two previous SSC designs and a step forward for planetary aerobots. The aerobot will fly as a Y4 multi-rotor during vertical flight and as a conventional flying wing during horizontal flight. The more robust Y4TR configuration utilizes two large fixed coaxial counter rotating rotors and two small tilt-rotors for vertical takeoff. The front tilt-rotors rotate during transition flight into the main horizontal flight configuration. The aerobot is a blended wing design with the wings using the "Zagi 10" airfoil blended to a center cover for the coaxial rotors. The open source design and analysis programs XROTOR, CROTOR, Q-BLADE, XFLR5, and OpenVSP were used to design and model the aerobot's four rotors and body. The baseline mission of the Y4TR remains the same as previously reported and will investigate the Isidis Planitia region on Mars over a month long period using optical sensors during flight and a surface science package when landed. During flight operations the aerobot will take off vertically, transition to horizontal flight, fly for around an hour, transition back to vertical flight, and land vertically. The flight missions will take place close to local noon to maximize power production via solar cells during flight. A nonlinear six degree of freedom (6DoF) dynamic model incorporating aerodynamic models of the aerobot's body and rotors has been developed to model the vertical, transition, and horizontal phases of flight. A nonlinear State-Dependent Riccati Equation (SDRE) controller has been developed for each of these flight phases. The nonlinear dynamic model was transformed into a pseudo-linear form based on the states and implemented in the SDRE controller. During transition flight the aerobot is over actuated and the weighted least squares (WLS) method is used for allocation of control effectors. Simulations of the aerobot flying in different configurations were performed to verify the performance of the SDRE controllers, including hover, transition, horizontal flight, altitude changes, and landing scenarios. Results from the simulations show the SDRE controller is a viable option for controlling the novel Y4TR Martian Aerobot.

Improved recovery demonstration for Williston Basin carbonates. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sippel, M.A.

The purpose of this project was to demonstrate targeted infill and extension drilling opportunities, better determinations of oil-in-place, and methods for improved completion efficiency. The investigations and demonstrations were focussed on Red River and Ratcliffe reservoirs in the Williston Basin within portions of Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Both of these formations have been successfully explored with conventional 2-dimensional (2D) seismic. Improved reservoir characterization utilizing 3-dimensional (3D) seismic was investigated for identification of structural and stratigraphic reservoir compartments. These seismic characterizations were integrated with geological and engineering studies. The project tested lateral completion techniques, including high-pressure jetting lance technologymore » and short-radius lateral drilling to enhance completion efficiency. Lateral completions should improve economics for both primary and secondary oil where low permeability is a problem and higher-density drilling of vertical infill wells is limited by drilling cost. New vertical wells were drilled to test bypassed oil in ares that were identified by 3D seismic. These new wells are expected to recover as much or greater oil than was produced by nearby old wells. The project tested water injection through vertical and horizontal wells in reservoirs where application of waterflooding has been limited. A horizontal well was drilled for testing water injection. Injection rates were tested at three times that of a vertical well. This demonstration well shows that water injection with horizontal completions can improve injection rates for economic waterflooding. This report is divided into two sections, part 1 covers the Red River and part 2 covers the Ratcliffe. Each part summarizes integrated reservoir characterizations and outlines methods for targeting by-passed oil reserves in the respective formation and locality.« less

Aeroelastic stability analysis of a Darrieus wind turbine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Popelka, D.

1982-02-01

An aeroelastic stability analysis was developed for predicting flutter instabilities on vertical axis wind turbines. The analytical model and mathematical formulation of the problem are described as well as the physical mechanism that creates flutter in Darrieus turbines. Theoretical results are compared with measured experimental data from flutter tests of the Sandia 2 Meter turbine. Based on this comparison, the analysis appears to be an adequate design evaluation tool.

Mazindol: anorectic and behavioral effects in female rats.

PubMed

Mattei, R; Carlini, E A

1995-01-01

The anorectic and behavioral effects of mazindol (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg) were determined. The experiments comprized acute and chronic administration to female rats, and the effects were compared with those produced by 2.5 mg/kg of methamphetamine. The following evaluation parameters were considered: food intake, body weight, motor activity, and stereotyped behavior. Acute administration of the three doses of mazindol, as well as of the methamphetamine dose, decreased food intake. Administered chronically to female rats, mazindol (5 and 10 mg/kg) and methamphetamine induced loss of body weight during the first fifteen days. However, weight was subsequently regained by the animals, indicating development of tolerance. Mazindol (10 mg/kg) and methamphetamine produced an increase in motor activity. This increase was, however, not observed after chronic treatment, suggesting development of tolerance. Additionally, mazindol induced noticeable dose-dependent effects, involving stereotyped behavior (sniffing, continuous licking, false bites), similar to those produced by methamphetamine. Verticalization, however, was only observed after administration of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg of mazindol, and was absent after administration of the higher dose of mazindol as well as of methamphetamine. Finally, it should be stressed that features of stereotyped behavior induced by both drugs, such as licking, false bites, sniffing and verticalization, were very similar.

Dependence of Tropical Cyclone Intensification on the Latitude under Vertical Shear

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bi, Mingyu; Ge, Xuyang; Li, Tim

2018-02-01

The sensitivity of tropical cyclone (TC) intensification to the ambient rotation effect under vertical shear is investigated. The results show that the vortices develop more rapidly with intermediate planetary vorticity, which suggests an optimal latitude for the TC development in the presence of vertical shear. This is different from the previous studies in which no mean flow is considered. It is found that the ambient rotation has two main effects. On the one hand, the boundary layer imbalance is largely controlled by the Coriolis parameter. For TCs at lower latitudes, due to the weaker inertial instability, the boundary inflow is promptly established, which results in a stronger moisture convergence and thus greater diabatic heating in the inner core region. On the other hand, the Coriolis parameter modulates the vertical realignment of the vortex with a higher Coriolis parameter, favoring a quicker vertical realignment and thus a greater potential for TC development. The combination of these two effects results in an optimal latitude for TC intensification in the presence of a vertical shear investigated.

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic and histologic findings before and after vertical banded gastroplasty.

PubMed

Papavramidis, S T; Theocharidis, A J; Zaraboukas, T G; Christoforidou, B P; Kessissoglou, I I; Aidonopoulos, A P

1996-08-01

A total of 30 consecutive morbidly obese patients, six males and 24 females, who underwent vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) between January 1992 and December 1994 and were followed up by endoscopy and biopsy were included in this study with the aim to determine the short- and mid-term complications and to investigate alterations in esophageal, gastric, and duodenal mucosa after surgery. All patients underwent endoscopy before operation. Postoperatively, 28 patients were reendoscoped at 6 months, 26 at 12 months, and 22 at 18 months. Biopsies were taken from the lower part of esophagus, just below the esophagogastric junction (vertical part of the partitioned stomach), corpus, antrum, and duodenal bulb. Before operation 5 patients (16.6%) had a hiatus hernia and four of them (13.3%) had esophagitis. Endoscopic gastritis was diagnosed in nine patients (30%) and endoscopic duodenitis in two (6. 6%). Histologically, in 15 patients (50%) esophagitis was recognized; in 24 patients (80%) corpus gastritis; in 27 patients (90%) antral gastritis; and in 23 (76.6%) duodenitis. Helicobacter pylori was found in 20 (66.6%) patients. Postoperatively, three patients developed a mild stoma stenosis and were treated only by passing the endoscope 6 months after operation; one patient, with a severe stoma stenosis, was treated by Eder-Puestow dilatations and surgery. Gastric ulcer was found in two patients 6 and 12 months after surgery. One patient developed an endostomach channel because of staple line dehiscence 18 months after VBG. An increasing incidence of esophagitis and gastritis of the vertical part of the stomach was found at 6 and 12 months. Endoscopic and histologic gastritis of the corpus and antrum, as well as endoscopic and histologic duodenitis decreased gradually after surgery. Our findings suggest that postoperative complications of VBG can be diagnosed by endoscopy, and some of them can easily be managed. Vertical banded gastroplasty causes not only no harm to the esophageal, gastric, and duodenal mucosa but also influences them favorably.

Effect of shales on tidal response of water level to large earthquakes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Y.; Wang, C. Y.; Fu, L. Y.

2017-12-01

Tidal response of water level in wells has been widely used to study properties of aquifers and, in particular, the response of groundwater to earthquakes. The affect of lithology on such response has not received deserved attention. Using data from selected wells in the intermediate and far fields of the 2008 Mw 7.9 Wenchuan and the 2011 Mw 9.1 Tohoku earthquakes, we examine how the presence of shales affects the tidal response of water level. Three categories of responses are recognized: horizontal flow, vertical flow and combined horizontal and vertical flow, with most wells with shales in the last category. We found that wells with shales are significantly influenced by fractures, leading semi-confined condition and vertical drainage, poorer well bore storage and decreased or unchanged co-seismic phase shifts. We also found a strong correlation between the shale content in the aquifer and the amplitude of tidal response, with higher shale content correlated with lower amplitude response, which we attribute to the compact structure (low porosity/low permeability) of shales.

Aircraft directional stability and vertical tail design: A review of semi-empirical methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ciliberti, Danilo; Della Vecchia, Pierluigi; Nicolosi, Fabrizio; De Marco, Agostino

2017-11-01

Aircraft directional stability and control are related to vertical tail design. The safety, performance, and flight qualities of an aircraft also depend on a correct empennage sizing. Specifically, the vertical tail is responsible for the aircraft yaw stability and control. If these characteristics are not well balanced, the entire aircraft design may fail. Stability and control are often evaluated, especially in the preliminary design phase, with semi-empirical methods, which are based on the results of experimental investigations performed in the past decades, and occasionally are merged with data provided by theoretical assumptions. This paper reviews the standard semi-empirical methods usually applied in the estimation of airplane directional stability derivatives in preliminary design, highlighting the advantages and drawbacks of these approaches that were developed from wind tunnel tests performed mainly on fighter airplane configurations of the first decades of the past century, and discussing their applicability on current transport aircraft configurations. Recent investigations made by the authors have shown the limit of these methods, proving the existence of aerodynamic interference effects in sideslip conditions which are not adequately considered in classical formulations. The article continues with a concise review of the numerical methods for aerodynamics and their applicability in aircraft design, highlighting how Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solvers are well-suited to attain reliable results in attached flow conditions, with reasonable computational times. From the results of RANS simulations on a modular model of a representative regional turboprop airplane layout, the authors have developed a modern method to evaluate the vertical tail and fuselage contributions to aircraft directional stability. The investigation on the modular model has permitted an effective analysis of the aerodynamic interference effects by moving, changing, and expanding the available airplane components. Wind tunnel tests over a wide range of airplane configurations have been used to validate the numerical approach. The comparison between the proposed method and the standard semi-empirical methods available in literature proves the reliability of the innovative approach, according to the available experimental data collected in the wind tunnel test campaign.

Vertical Cable Seismic Survey for Hydrothermal Deposit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asakawa, E.; Murakami, F.; Sekino, Y.; Okamoto, T.; Ishikawa, K.; Tsukahara, H.; Shimura, T.

2012-04-01

The vertical cable seismic is one of the reflection seismic methods. It uses hydrophone arrays vertically moored from the seafloor to record acoustic waves generated by surface, deep-towed or ocean bottom sources. Analyzing the reflections from the sub-seabed, we could look into the subsurface structure. This type of survey is generally called VCS (Vertical Cable Seismic). Because VCS is an efficient high-resolution 3D seismic survey method for a spatially-bounded area, we proposed the method for the hydrothermal deposit survey tool development program that the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) started in 2009. We are now developing a VCS system, including not only data acquisition hardware but data processing and analysis technique. Our first experiment of VCS surveys has been carried out in Lake Biwa, JAPAN in November 2009 for a feasibility study. Prestack depth migration is applied to the 3D VCS data to obtain a high quality 3D depth volume. Based on the results from the feasibility study, we have developed two autonomous recording VCS systems. After we carried out a trial experiment in the actual ocean at a water depth of about 400m and we carried out the second VCS survey at Iheya Knoll with a deep-towed source. In this survey, we could establish the procedures for the deployment/recovery of the system and could examine the locations and the fluctuations of the vertical cables at a water depth of around 1000m. The acquired VCS data clearly shows the reflections from the sub-seafloor. Through the experiment, we could confirm that our VCS system works well even in the severe circumstances around the locations of seafloor hydrothermal deposits. We have, however, also confirmed that the uncertainty in the locations of the source and of the hydrophones could lower the quality of subsurface image. It is, therefore, strongly necessary to develop a total survey system that assures a accurate positioning and a deployment techniques. We have carried out two field surveys in FY2011. One is a 3D survey with a boomer for a high-resolution surface source and the other one for an actual field survey in the Izena Cauldron an active hydrothermal area in the Okinawa Trough. Through these surveys, the VCS will become a practical exploration tool for the exploration of seafloor hydrothermal deposits.

Time-and-Spatially Adapting Simulations for Efficient Dynamic Stall Predictions

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-01

Experi- mental Investigation and Fundamental Understand- ing of a Full-Scale Slowed Rotor at High Advance Ratios,” Journal of the American Helicopter ...remains a major roadblock in the design and analysis of conventional rotors as well as new concepts for future vertical lift. Several approaches to...of conventional rotors as well as new concepts for future vertical lift. Several approaches to reduce the cost of these dynamic stall simulations for

Radiation transfer in plant canopies - Transmission of direct solar radiation and the role of leaf orientation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Verstraete, Michel M.

1987-01-01

Understanding the details of the interaction between the radiation field and plant structures is important climatically because of the influence of vegetation on the surface water and energy balance, but also biologically, since solar radiation provides the energy necessary for photosynthesis. The problem is complex because of the extreme variety of vegetation forms in space and time, as well as within and across plant species. This one-dimensional vertical multilayer model describes the transfer of direct solar radiation through a leaf canopy, accounting explicitly for the vertical inhomogeneities of a plant stand and leaf orientation, as well as heliotropic plant behavior. This model reproduces observational results on homogeneous canopies, but it is also well adapted to describe vertically inhomogeneous canopies. Some of the implications of leaf orientation and plant structure as far as light collection is concerned are briefly reviewed.

VIEW OF PROCESS DEVELOPMENT PILE (PDP) TANK TOP, WITH VERTICAL ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

VIEW OF PROCESS DEVELOPMENT PILE (PDP) TANK TOP, WITH VERTICAL ELEMENTS IN BACKGROUND, LEVEL 0’, LOOKING NORTHWEST - Physics Assembly Laboratory, Area A/M, Savannah River Site, Aiken, Aiken County, SC

FIELD EVALUATION OF DIPOLE METHOD TO MEASURE AQUIFER ANISOTROPY

EPA Science Inventory

The ultimate size of a three-dimensional groundwater circulation cell surrounding a vertical circulation well (VCW) is a strong function of the aquifer hydraulic anisotropy, the ratio of the hydraulic conductivity in the horizontal direction to that in the vertical direction. In ...

FIELD APPLICATION OF DIPOLE METHOD TO MEASURE AQUIFER ANISOTROPHY

EPA Science Inventory

The ultimate size of a three-dimensional groundwater circulation cell surrounding a vertical circulation well (VCW) is a strong function of the aquifer hydraulic anisotrophy, the ratio of the hydraulic conductivity in the horizontal direction to that in the vertical direction. In...

The Profile Envision and Splicing Tool (PRESTO): Developing an Atmospheric Wind Analysis Tool for Space Launch Vehicles Using Python

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Orcutt, John M.; Barbre, Robert E., Jr.; Brenton, James C.; Decker, Ryan K.

2017-01-01

Launch vehicle programs require vertically complete atmospheric profiles. Many systems at the ER to make the necessary measurements, but all have different EVR, vertical coverage, and temporal coverage. MSFC Natural Environments Branch developed a tool to create a vertically complete profile from multiple inputs using Python. Forward work: Finish Formal Testing Acceptance Testing, End-to-End Testing. Formal Release

P-wave indices in patients with pulmonary emphysema: do P-terminal force and interatrial block have confounding effects?

PubMed

Chhabra, Lovely; Chaubey, Vinod K; Kothagundla, Chandrasekhar; Bajaj, Rishi; Kaul, Sudesh; Spodick, David H

2013-01-01

Pulmonary emphysema causes several electrocardiogram changes, and one of the most common and well known is on the frontal P-wave axis. P-axis verticalization (P-axis > 60°) serves as a quasidiagnostic indicator of emphysema. The correlation of P-axis verticalization with the radiological severity of emphysema and severity of chronic obstructive lung function have been previously investigated and well described in the literature. However, the correlation of P-axis verticalization in emphysema with other P-indices like P-terminal force in V1 (Ptf), amplitude of initial positive component of P-waves in V1 (i-PV1), and interatrial block (IAB) have not been well studied. Our current study was undertaken to investigate the effects of emphysema on these P-wave indices in correlation with the verticalization of the P-vector. Unselected, routinely recorded electrocardiograms of 170 hospitalized emphysema patients were studied. Significant Ptf (s-Ptf) was considered ≥40 mm.ms and was divided into two types based on the morphology of P-waves in V1: either a totally negative (-) P wave in V1 or a biphasic (+/-) P wave in V1. s-Ptf correlated better with vertical P-vectors than nonvertical P-vectors (P = 0.03). s-Ptf also significantly correlated with IAB (P = 0.001); however, IAB and P-vector verticalization did not appear to have any significant correlation (P = 0.23). There was a very weak correlation between i-PV1 and frontal P-vector (r = 0.15; P = 0.047); however, no significant correlation was found between i-PV1 and P-amplitude in lead III (r = 0.07; P = 0.36). We conclude that increased P-tf in emphysema may be due to downward right atrial position caused by right atrial displacement, and thus the common assumption that increased P-tf implies left atrial enlargement should be made with caution in patients with emphysema. Also, the lack of strong correlation between i-PV1 and P-amplitude in lead III or vertical P-vector may suggest the predominant role of downward right atrial distortion rather than right atrial enlargement in causing vertical P-vector in emphysema.

Analysis of pumping tests of partially penetrating wells in an unconfined aquifer using inverse numerical optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hvilshøj, S.; Jensen, K. H.; Barlebo, H. C.; Madsen, B.

1999-08-01

Inverse numerical modeling was applied to analyze pumping tests of partially penetrating wells carried out in three wells established in an unconfined aquifer in Vejen, Denmark, where extensive field investigations had previously been carried out, including tracer tests, mini-slug tests, and other hydraulic tests. Drawdown data from multiple piezometers located at various horizontal and vertical distances from the pumping well were included in the optimization. Horizontal and vertical hydraulic conductivities, specific storage, and specific yield were estimated, assuming that the aquifer was either a homogeneous system with vertical anisotropy or composed of two or three layers of different hydraulic properties. In two out of three cases, a more accurate interpretation was obtained for a multi-layer model defined on the basis of lithostratigraphic information obtained from geological descriptions of sediment samples, gammalogs, and flow-meter tests. Analysis of the pumping tests resulted in values for horizontal hydraulic conductivities that are in good accordance with those obtained from slug tests and mini-slug tests. Besides the horizontal hydraulic conductivity, it is possible to determine the vertical hydraulic conductivity, specific yield, and specific storage based on a pumping test of a partially penetrating well. The study demonstrates that pumping tests of partially penetrating wells can be analyzed using inverse numerical models. The model used in the study was a finite-element flow model combined with a non-linear regression model. Such a model can accommodate more geological information and complex boundary conditions, and the parameter-estimation procedure can be formalized to obtain optimum estimates of hydraulic parameters and their standard deviations.

Multilevel groundwater monitoring of hydraulic head and temperature in the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, 2009–10

USGS Publications Warehouse

Twining, Brian V.; Fisher, Jason C.

2012-01-01

During 2009 and 2010, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Idaho National Laboratory Project Office, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, collected quarterly, depth-discrete measurements of fluid pressure and temperature in nine boreholes located in the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer. Each borehole was instrumented with a multilevel monitoring system consisting of a series of valved measurement ports, packer bladders, casing segments, and couplers. Multilevel monitoring at the Idaho National Laboratory has been ongoing since 2006. This report summarizes data collected from three multilevel monitoring wells installed during 2009 and 2010 and presents updates to six multilevel monitoring wells. Hydraulic heads (heads) and groundwater temperatures were monitored from 9 multilevel monitoring wells, including 120 hydraulically isolated depth intervals from 448.0 to 1,377.6 feet below land surface. Quarterly head and temperature profiles reveal unique patterns for vertical examination of the aquifer’s complex basalt and sediment stratigraphy, proximity to aquifer recharge and discharge, and groundwater flow. These features contribute to some of the localized variability even though the general profile shape remained consistent over the period of record. Major inflections in the head profiles almost always coincided with low-permeability sediment layers and occasionally thick sequences of dense basalt. However, the presence of a sediment layer or dense basalt layer was insufficient for identifying the location of a major head change within a borehole without knowing the true areal extent and relative transmissivity of the lithologic unit. Temperature profiles for boreholes completed within the Big Lost Trough indicate linear conductive trends; whereas, temperature profiles for boreholes completed within the axial volcanic high indicate mostly convective heat transfer resulting from the vertical movement of groundwater. Additionally, temperature profiles provide evidence for stratification and mixing of water types along the southern boundary of the Idaho National Laboratory. Vertical head and temperature change were quantified for each of the nine multilevel monitoring systems. The vertical head gradients were defined for the major inflections in the head profiles and were as high as 2.1 feet per foot. Low vertical head gradients indicated potential vertical connectivity and flow, and large gradient inflections indicated zones of relatively low vertical connectivity. Generally, zones that primarily are composed of fractured basalt displayed relatively small vertical head differences. Large head differences were attributed to poor vertical connectivity between fracture units because of sediment layering and/or dense basalt. Groundwater temperatures in all boreholes ranged from 10.2 to 16.3˚C. Normalized mean hydraulic head values were analyzed for all nine multilevel monitoring wells for the period of record (2007-10). The mean head values suggest a moderately positive correlation among all boreholes, which reflects regional fluctuations in water levels in response to seasonality. However, the temporal trend is slightly different when the location is considered; wells located along the southern boundary, within the axial volcanic high, show a strongly positive correlation.

An overview of the cosmetic treatment of facial muscles with a new botulinum toxin.

PubMed

Wiest, Luitgard G

2009-01-01

Botulinum toxin (BTX) is used nowadays in a much more differentiated way with a much more individualized approach to the cosmetic treatment of patients. To the well known areas of the upper face new indications in the mid and lower face have been added. Microinjection techniques are increasingly used besides the classic intramuscular injection technique. BTX injections of the mid and lower face require small and smallest dosages. The perioral muscles act in concert to achieve the extraordinarily complex movements that control facial expressions, eating, and speech. As the mouth has horizontal as well as vertical movements, paralysis of these perioral muscles has a greater effect on facial function and appearance than does paralysis of muscles of the upper face, which move primarily in vertical direction. It is essential that BTX injections should achieve the desired cosmetic result with the minimum dose without any functional discomfort. In this paper the three-year clinical experience with average dosages for an optimal outcome in the treatment of facial muscles with a newly developed botulinum toxin type A (Xeomin) free from complexing proteins is presented.

Single-Molecule Tribology: Force Microscopy Manipulation of a Porphyrin Derivative on a Copper Surface.

PubMed

Pawlak, Rémy; Ouyang, Wengen; Filippov, Alexander E; Kalikhman-Razvozov, Lena; Kawai, Shigeki; Glatzel, Thilo; Gnecco, Enrico; Baratoff, Alexis; Zheng, Quanshui; Hod, Oded; Urbakh, Michael; Meyer, Ernst

2016-01-26

The low-temperature mechanical response of a single porphyrin molecule attached to the apex of an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip during vertical and lateral manipulations is studied. We find that approach-retraction cycles as well as surface scanning with the terminated tip result in atomic-scale friction patterns induced by the internal reorientations of the molecule. With a joint experimental and computational effort, we identify the dicyanophenyl side groups of the molecule interacting with the surface as the dominant factor determining the observed frictional behavior. To this end, we developed a generalized Prandtl-Tomlinson model parametrized using density functional theory calculations that includes the internal degrees of freedom of the side group with respect to the core and its interactions with the underlying surface. We demonstrate that the friction pattern results from the variations of the bond length and bond angles between the dicyanophenyl side group and the porphyrin backbone as well as those of the CN group facing the surface during the lateral and vertical motion of the AFM tip.

Excited State Studies of Polyacenes Using the All-Order Constricted Variational Density Functional Theory with Orbital Relaxation.

PubMed

Senn, Florian; Krykunov, Mykhaylo

2015-10-22

For the polyacenes series from naphthalene to hexacene, we present the vertical singlet excitation energies 1 (1)La and 1 (1)Lb, as well as the first triplet excitation energies obtained by the all-order constricted variational density functional theory with orbital relaxation (R-CV(∞)-DFT). R-CV(∞)-DFT is a further development of variational density functional theory (CV(∞)-DFT), which has already been successfully applied for the calculation of the vertical singlet excitation energies (1)La and (1)Lb for polyacenes,15 and we show that one obtains consistent excitation energies using the local density approximation as a functional for singlet as well as for triplet excitations when going beyond the linear response theory. Furthermore, we apply self-consistent field density functional theory (ΔSCF-DFT) and compare the obtained excitation energies for the first triplet excitations T1, where, due to the character of the transition, ΔSCF-DFT and R-CV(∞)-DFT become numerically equivalent, and for the singlet excitations 1 (1)La and 1 (1)Lb, where the two methods differ.

Carrier transfer in vertically stacked quantum ring-quantum dot chains

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mazur, Yu. I., E-mail: ymazur@uark.edu; Dorogan, V. G.; Benamara, M.

2015-04-21

The interplay between structural properties and charge transfer in self-assembled quantum ring (QR) chains grown by molecular beam epitaxy on top of an InGaAs/GaAs quantum dot (QD) superlattice template is analyzed and characterized. The QDs and QRs are vertically stacked and laterally coupled as well as aligned within each layer due to the strain field distributions that governs the ordering. The strong interdot coupling influences the carrier transfer both along as well as between chains in the ring layer and dot template structures. A qualitative contrast between different dynamic models has been developed. By combining temperature and excitation intensity effects,more » the tuning of the photoluminescence gain for either the QR or the QD mode is attained. The information obtained here about relaxation parameters, energy scheme, interlayer and interdot coupling resulting in creation of 1D structures is very important for the usage of such specific QR–QD systems for applied purposes such as lasing, detection, and energy-harvesting technology of future solar panels.« less

Some properties of the two-body effective interaction in the /sup 208/Pb region

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Groleau, R.

The (/sup 3/He,d) and (/sup 4/He,t) single proton transfer reactions on /sup 208/Pb and /sup 209/Bi were studied using 30 and 40 MeV He beams from the Princeton Cyclotron Laboratory. The outgoing d and t were detected by a position sensitive proportional counter in the focal plane of a Q-3D spectrometer. The resolution varied between 10 and 14 keV (FWHM). Using the ratio of the cross-sections for the (/sup 3/He,d) and (/sup 4/He,t) reactions to determine the magnitude of the angular momentum transfers, the spectroscopic factors for the reaction on /sup 209/Bi have been measured relative to the transitions tomore » the single particle states in these reactions on /sup 208/Pb. Sum rules as developed by Bansal and French are used to study the configurations vertical bar h/sub 9/2 x h/sub 9/2/>, vertical bar h/sub 9/2/ x f/sub 7/2/>, vertical bar h/sub 9/2 x i/sub 13/2/>, vertical bar h/sub 9/2/ x f/sub 5/2/>and part of vertical bar h/sub 9/2/ x p/sub 3/2/> and vertical bar h/sub 9/2/ x p/sub 1/2>. Using the linear energy weighted sum rule, the diagonal matrix elements of the effective interaction between valence protons around the /sup 208/Pb core are deduced. The matrix elements obtained from a simple empirical interaction V/sub I//sup T=1/ of a pure Wigner type are compared to the extracted matrix elements. The interaction is characterized by an attractive short-range (0.82j and a repulsive long-range (8.2fm) potential: V/sub I//sup T = 1/ (MeV =-/96 e/sup - (r/0.82) /sup 2// + 0.51 e/sup -(r/8.2)/sup 2/. The core polarization is studied using the experimental static electric quadrupole and magnetic dipole moments of the nuclei in the /sup 208/Pb region. In general, the magnetic moments of multiple valence nucleon nuclei are well predicted by simple rules of Racah algebra. The three and four valence proton spectra (/sup 211/At and /sup 212/Rn) calculated with the experimental two particle matrix elements agree well with the experimental spectra.« less

Vertical motions in the equatorial middle atmosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weisman, M. L.

1979-01-01

A single station vertical velocity equation which considers ageostrophic and diabatic effects derived from the first law of thermodynamics and a generalized thermal wind relation is presented. An analysis and verification procedure which accounts for measurement and calculation errors as well as time and space continuity arguments and theoretical predictions are described. Vertical velocities are calculated at every kilometer between 25 and 60 km and for approximately every three hours for the above diurnal period at Kourou (French Guiana), Fort Sherman (Panama Canal Zone), Ascension Island, Antigua (British West Indies) and Natal (Brazil). The results, plotted as time series cross sections, suggest vertical motions ranging in magnitude from 1 or 2 cm/sec at 30 km to as much as 15 cm/sec at 60 km. Many of the general features of the results agree well with atmospheric tidal predictions but many particular features suggest that both smaller time scale gravity waves (periods less than 6 hours) and synoptic type waves (periods greater than 1 day) may be interacting significantly with the tidal fields. The results suggest that vertical motions can be calculated for the equatorial middle atmosphere and must be considered a significant part of the motion for time scales from 8 to 24 hours.

An Improved Method for Dynamic Measurement of Deflections of the Vertical Based on the Maintenance of Attitude Reference

PubMed Central

Dai, Dongkai; Wang, Xingshu; Zhan, Dejun; Huang, Zongsheng

2014-01-01

A new method for dynamic measurement of deflections of the vertical (DOV) is proposed in this paper. The integration of an inertial navigation system (INS) and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is constructed to measure the body's attitude with respect to the astronomical coordinates. Simultaneously, the attitude with respect to the geodetic coordinates is initially measured by a star sensor under quasi-static condition and then maintained by the laser gyroscope unit (LGU), which is composed of three gyroscopes in the INS, when the vehicle travels along survey lines. Deflections of the vertical are calculated by using the difference between the attitudes with respect to the geodetic coordinates and astronomical coordinates. Moreover, an algorithm for removing the trend error of the vertical deflections is developed with the aid of Earth Gravitational Model 2008 (EGM2008). In comparison with traditional methods, the new method required less accurate GNSS, because the dynamic acceleration calculation is avoided. The errors of inertial sensors are well resolved in the INS/GNSS integration, which is implemented by a Rauch–Tung–Striebel (RTS) smoother. In addition, a single-axis indexed INS is adopted to improve the observability of the system errors and to restrain the inertial sensor errors. The proposed method is validated by Monte Carlo simulations. The results show that deflections of the vertical can achieve a precision of better than 1″ for a single survey line. The proposed method can be applied to a gravimetry system based on a ground vehicle or ship with a speed lower than 25 m/s. PMID:25192311

A Composite View of Ozone Evolution in the 1995-1996 Northern Winter Polar Vortex Developed from Airborne Lidar and Satellite Observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Douglass, A. R.; Schoeberl, M. R.; Kawa, S. R.; Browell, E. V.

2000-01-01

The processes which contribute to the ozone evolution in the high latitude northern lower stratosphere are evaluated using a three dimensional model simulation and ozone observations. The model uses winds and temperatures from the Goddard Earth Observing System Data Assimilation System. The simulation results are compared with ozone observations from three platforms: the differential absorption lidar (DIAL) which was flown on the NASA DC-8 as part of the Vortex Ozone Transport Experiment; the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS); the Polar Ozone and Aerosol Measurement (POAM II) solar occultation instrument. Time series for the different data sets are consistent with each other, and diverge from model time series during December and January. The model ozone in December and January is shown to be much less sensitive to the model photochemistry than to the model vertical transport, which depends on the model vertical motion as well as the model vertical gradient. We evaluate the dependence of model ozone evolution on the model ozone gradient by comparing simulations with different initial conditions for ozone. The modeled ozone throughout December and January most closely resembles observed ozone when the vertical profiles between 12 and 20 km within the polar vortex closely match December DIAL observations. We make a quantitative estimate of the uncertainty in the vertical advection using diabatic trajectory calculations. The net transport uncertainty is significant, and should be accounted for when comparing observations with model ozone. The observed and modeled ozone time series during December and January are consistent when these transport uncertainties are taken into account.

An improved method for dynamic measurement of deflections of the vertical based on the maintenance of attitude reference.

PubMed

Dai, Dongkai; Wang, Xingshu; Zhan, Dejun; Huang, Zongsheng

2014-09-03

A new method for dynamic measurement of deflections of the vertical (DOV) is proposed in this paper. The integration of an inertial navigation system (INS) and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is constructed to measure the body's attitude with respect to the astronomical coordinates. Simultaneously, the attitude with respect to the geodetic coordinates is initially measured by a star sensor under quasi-static condition and then maintained by the laser gyroscope unit (LGU), which is composed of three gyroscopes in the INS, when the vehicle travels along survey lines. Deflections of the vertical are calculated by using the difference between the attitudes with respect to the geodetic coordinates and astronomical coordinates. Moreover, an algorithm for removing the trend error of the vertical deflections is developed with the aid of Earth Gravitational Model 2008 (EGM2008). In comparison with traditional methods, the new method required less accurate GNSS, because the dynamic acceleration calculation is avoided. The errors of inertial sensors are well resolved in the INS/GNSS integration, which is implemented by a Rauch-Tung-Striebel (RTS) smoother. In addition, a single-axis indexed INS is adopted to improve the observability of the system errors and to restrain the inertial sensor errors. The proposed method is validated by Monte Carlo simulations. The results show that deflections of the vertical can achieve a precision of better than 1″ for a single survey line. The proposed method can be applied to a gravimetry system based on a ground vehicle or ship with a speed lower than 25 m/s.

Effects of groundwater withdrawal on borehole flow and salinity measured in deep monitor wells in Hawai'i-implications for groundwater management

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rotzoll, Kolja

2010-01-01

Water-resource managers in Hawai`i rely heavily on salinity profiles from deep monitor wells to estimate the thickness of freshwater and the depth to the midpoint of the transition zone between freshwater and saltwater in freshwater-lens systems. The deep monitor wells are typically open boreholes below the water table and extend hundreds of feet below sea level. Because of possible borehole-flow effects, there is concern that salinity profiles measured in these wells may not accurately reflect the salinity distribution in the aquifer and consequently lead to misinterpretations that adversely affect water-resource management. Steplike changes in salinity or temperature with depth in measured profiles from nonpumped deep monitor wells may be indicative of water moving within the well, and such changes are evident to some extent in all available profiles. The maximum vertical step length, or displacement, in measured profiles ranges from 7 to 644 feet. Vertical steps longer than 70 feet exceed the typical thickness of massive lava flows; they therefore cannot be attributed entirely to geologic structure and may be indicative of borehole flow. The longest vertical steps occur in monitor wells located in southern O'ahu, coinciding with the most heavily developed part of the aquifer. Although regional groundwater withdrawals have caused a thinning of the freshwater lens over the past several decades, the measured midpoint of the transition zone in most deep monitor wells has shown only inconsequential depth displacement in direct response to short-term variations in withdrawals from nearby production wells. For profiles from some deep monitor wells, however, the depth of the measured top of the transition zone, indicated by a specific-conductance value of 1,000 microsiemens per centimeter, has risen several hundred feet in response to withdrawals from nearby production wells. For these deep monitor wells, monitoring the apparent top of the transition zone may not provide an accurate indication of water quality in the adjacent aquifer. Hence, the measured midpoint in boreholes is a better proxy for freshwater-lens thickness. Brackish water transported upward in a deep monitor well can exit the borehole in the upper, freshwater part of the aquifer and affect the water quality in nearby production wells. Piezometers installed at different depths will provide the best information on aquifer salinity because they are unaffected by borehole flow. Despite the effects of borehole flow, monitoring the midpoint in deep monitor wells is still useful to identify long-term trends in the movement of the transition zone.

A first-principles analysis of ballistic conductance, grain boundary scattering and vertical resistance in aluminum interconnects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Tianji; Lanzillo, Nicholas A.; Bhosale, Prasad; Gall, Daniel; Quon, Roger

2018-05-01

We present an ab initio evaluation of electron scattering mechanisms in Al interconnects from a back-end-of-line (BEOL) perspective. We consider the ballistic conductance as a function of nanowire size, as well as the impact of surface oxidation on electron transport. We also consider several representative twin grain boundaries and calculate the specific resistivity and reflection coefficients for each case. Lastly, we calculate the vertical resistance across the Al/Ta(N)/Al and Cu/Ta(N)/Cu interfaces, which are representative of typical vertical interconnect structures with diffusion barriers. Despite a high ballistic conductance, the calculated specific resistivities at grain boundaries are 70-100% higher in Al than in Cu, and the vertical resistance across Ta(N) diffusion barriers are 60-100% larger for Al than for Cu. These results suggest that in addition to the well-known electromigration limitations in Al interconnects, electron scattering represents a major problem in achieving low interconnect line resistance at fine dimensions.

Vertically integrated photonic multichip module architecture for vision applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanguay, Armand R., Jr.; Jenkins, B. Keith; von der Malsburg, Christoph; Mel, Bartlett; Holt, Gary; O'Brien, John D.; Biederman, Irving; Madhukar, Anupam; Nasiatka, Patrick; Huang, Yunsong

2000-05-01

The development of a truly smart camera, with inherent capability for low latency semi-autonomous object recognition, tracking, and optimal image capture, has remained an elusive goal notwithstanding tremendous advances in the processing power afforded by VLSI technologies. These features are essential for a number of emerging multimedia- based applications, including enhanced augmented reality systems. Recent advances in understanding of the mechanisms of biological vision systems, together with similar advances in hybrid electronic/photonic packaging technology, offer the possibility of artificial biologically-inspired vision systems with significantly different, yet complementary, strengths and weaknesses. We describe herein several system implementation architectures based on spatial and temporal integration techniques within a multilayered structure, as well as the corresponding hardware implementation of these architectures based on the hybrid vertical integration of multiple silicon VLSI vision chips by means of dense 3D photonic interconnections.

Improved double-multiple streamtube model for the Darrieus-type vertical axis wind turbine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berg, D. E.

Double streamtube codes model the curved blade (Darrieus-type) vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) as a double actuator fish arrangement (one half) and use conservation of momentum principles to determine the forces acting on the turbine blades and the turbine performance. Sandia National Laboratories developed a double multiple streamtube model for the VAWT which incorporates the effects of the incident wind boundary layer, nonuniform velocity between the upwind and downwind sections of the rotor, dynamic stall effects and local blade Reynolds number variations. The theory underlying this VAWT model is described, as well as the code capabilities. Code results are compared with experimental data from two VAWT's and with the results from another double multiple streamtube and a vortex filament code. The effects of neglecting dynamic stall and horizontal wind velocity distribution are also illustrated.

Atmospheric Methane Measurements from an Aircraft Based at NASA Ames: Five Years of Observations by the AJAX Project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Iraci, Laura

2016-01-01

The Alpha Jet Atmospheric eXperiment (AJAX) is a research project based at Moffett Field, CA, which collects airborne measurements of ozone, carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and formaldehyde, as well as 3-D winds, temperature, pressure, and location. Since its first science flight in 2011, AJAX has developed a wide a variety of mission types, combining vertical profiles (from approx. 8 km to near surface),boundary layer legs, and plume sampling as needed. With an ongoing five-year data set, the team has sampled over 160 vertical profiles, a dozen wildfires, and numerous stratospheric ozone intrusions. This talk will present an overview of our flights flown to date, with particular focus on methane observations in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, and the delta region.

Improved vertical optical fiber borehole strainmeter design for measuring Earth strain.

PubMed

DeWolf, Scott; Wyatt, Frank K; Zumberge, Mark A; Hatfield, William

2015-11-01

Fiber-based interferometers provide the means to sense very small displacements over long baselines, and have the advantage of being nearly completely passive in their operation, making them particularly well suited for geophysical applications. A new 250 m, interferometric vertical borehole strainmeter has been developed based completely on passive optical components. Details of the design and deployment at the Piñon Flat Observatory are presented. Power spectra show an intertidal noise level of -130 dB (re. 1 ϵ(2)/Hz), consistent within 1-3 dB between redundant components. Examination of its response to Earth tides and earthquakes relative to the areal strain recorded by an orthogonal pair of collocated, 730 m horizontal laser strainmeters yield a Poisson's ratio for local near surface material of 0.25 that is consistent with previous results.

Field investigation of a wake structure downwind of a VANT (Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine) in a wind farm array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, H. T.; Buck, J. W.; Germain, A. C.; Hinchee, M. E.; Solt, T. S.; Leroy, G. M.; Srnsky, R. A.

1988-09-01

The effects of upwind turbine wakes on the performance of a FloWind 17-m vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) were investigated through a series of field experiments conducted at the FloWind wind farm on Cameron Ridge, Tehachapi, California. From the field measurements, we derived the velocity and power/energy deficits under various turbine on/off configurations. Much information was provided to characterize the structure of VAWT wakes and to assess their effects on the performance of downwind turbines. A method to estimate the energy deficit was developed based on the measured power deficit and the wind speed distributions. This method may be adopted for other turbine types and sites. Recommendations are made for optimizing wind farm design and operations, as well as for wind energy management.

Load redistribution in walking and trotting Beagles with induced forelimb lameness.

PubMed

Abdelhadi, Jalal; Wefstaedt, Patrick; Galindo-Zamora, Vladimir; Anders, Alexandra; Nolte, Ingo; Schilling, Nadja

2013-01-01

To evaluate the load redistribution mechanisms in walking and trotting dogs with induced forelimb lameness. 7 healthy adult Beagles. Dogs walked and trotted on an instrumented treadmill to determine control values for peak and mean vertical force as well as vertical impulse for all 4 limbs. A small sphere was attached to the ventral pad of the right forelimb paw to induce a reversible lameness, and recordings were repeated for both gaits. Additionally, footfall patterns were assessed to test for changes in temporal gait variables. During walking and trotting, peak and mean vertical force as well as vertical impulse were decreased in the ipsilateral forelimb, increased in the contralateral hind limb, and remained unchanged in the ipsilateral hind limb after lameness was induced. All 3 variables were increased in the contralateral forelimb during trotting, whereas only mean vertical force and vertical impulse were increased during walking. Stance phase duration increased in the contralateral forelimb and hind limb during walking but not during trotting. Analysis of the results suggested that compensatory load redistribution mechanisms in dogs depend on the gait. All 4 limbs should be evaluated in basic research and clinical studies to determine the effects of lameness on the entire body. Further studies are necessary to elucidate specific mechanisms for unloading of the affected limb and to determine the long-term effects of load changes in animals with chronic lameness.

Effects of Vertical Direction and Aperture Size on the Perception of Visual Acceleration.

PubMed

Mueller, Alexandra S; González, Esther G; McNorgan, Chris; Steinbach, Martin J; Timney, Brian

2016-02-06

It is not well understood whether the distance over which moving stimuli are visible affects our sensitivity to the presence of acceleration or our ability to track such stimuli. It is also uncertain whether our experience with gravity creates anisotropies in how we detect vertical acceleration and deceleration. To address these questions, we varied the vertical extent of the aperture through which we presented vertically accelerating and decelerating random dot arrays. We hypothesized that observers would better detect and pursue accelerating and decelerating stimuli that extend over larger than smaller distances. In Experiment 1, we tested the effects of vertical direction and aperture size on acceleration and deceleration detection accuracy. Results indicated that detection is better for downward motion and for large apertures, but there is no difference between vertical acceleration and deceleration detection. A control experiment revealed that our manipulation of vertical aperture size affects the ability to track vertical motion. Smooth pursuit is better (i.e., with higher peak velocities) for large apertures than for small apertures. Our findings suggest that the ability to detect vertical acceleration and deceleration varies as a function of the direction and vertical extent over which an observer can track the moving stimulus. © The Author(s) 2016.

Simulation of Optical Resonators for Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (vcsel)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mansour, Mohy S.; Hassen, Mahmoud F. M.; El-Nozahey, Adel M.; Hafez, Alaa S.; Metry, Samer F.

2010-04-01

Simulation and modeling of the reflectivity and transmissivity of the multilayer DBR of VCSEL, as well as inside the active region quantum well are analyzed using the characteristic matrix method. The electric field intensity distributions inside such vertical-cavity structure are calculated. A software program under MATLAB environment is constructed for the simulation. This study was performed for two specific Bragg wavelengths 980 nm and 370 nm for achieving a resonant periodic gain (RPG)

Large Earthquakes Disrupt Groundwater System by Breaching Aquitards

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, C. Y.; Manga, M.; Liao, X.; Wang, L. P.

2016-12-01

Changes of groundwater system by large earthquakes are widely recognized. Some changes have been attributed to increases in the vertical permeability but basic questions remain: How do increases in the vertical permeability occur? How frequent do they occur? How fast does the vertical permeability recover after the earthquake? Is there a quantitative measure for detecting the occurrence of aquitard breaching? Here we attempt to answer these questions by examining data accumulated in the past 15 years. Analyses of increased stream discharges and their geochemistry after large earthquakes show evidence that the excess water originates from groundwater released from high elevations by large increase of the vertical permeability. Water-level data from a dense network of clustered wells in a sedimentary basin near the epicenter of the 1999 M7.6 Chi-Chi earthquake in western Taiwan show that, while most confined aquifers remained confined after the earthquake, about 10% of the clustered wells show evidence of coseismic breaching of aquitards and a great increase of the vertical permeability. Water level in wells without evidence of coseismic breaching of aquitards show similar tidal response before and after the earthquake; wells with evidence of coseismic breaching of aquitards, on the other hand, show distinctly different tidal response before and after the earthquake and that the aquifers became hydraulically connected for many months thereafter. Breaching of aquitards by large earthquakes has significant implications for a number of societal issues such as the safety of water resources, the security of underground waste repositories, and the production of oil and gas. The method demonstrated here may be used for detecting the occurrence of aquitard breaching by large earthquakes in other seismically active areas.

Multi-Level Experimental and Analytical Evaluation of Two Composite Energy Absorbers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jackson, Karen E.; Littell, Justin D.; Fasanella, Edwin L.; Annett, Martin S.; Seal, Michael D., II

2015-01-01

Two composite energy absorbers were developed and evaluated at NASA Langley Research Center through multi-level testing and simulation performed under the Transport Rotorcraft Airframe Crash Testbed (TRACT) research program. A conical-shaped energy absorber, designated the conusoid, was evaluated that consisted of four layers of hybrid carbon-Kevlar plain weave fabric oriented at [+45 deg/-45 deg/-45 deg/+45 deg] with respect to the vertical, or crush, direction. A sinusoidal-shaped energy absorber, designated the sinusoid, was developed that consisted of hybrid carbon-Kevlar plain weave fabric face sheets, two layers for each face sheet oriented at +/-45deg with respect to the vertical direction and a closed-cell ELFOAM P200 polyisocyanurate (2.0-lb/cu ft) foam core. The design goal for the energy absorbers was to achieve average floor-level accelerations of between 25- and 40-g during the full-scale crash test of a retrofitted CH-46E helicopter airframe, designated TRACT 2. Variations in both designs were assessed through dynamic crush testing of component specimens. Once the designs were finalized, subfloor beams of each configuration were fabricated and retrofitted into a barrel section of a CH-46E helicopter. A vertical drop test of the barrel section was conducted onto concrete to evaluate the performance of the energy absorbers prior to retrofit into TRACT 2. The retrofitted airframe was crash tested under combined forward and vertical velocity conditions onto soil, which is characterized as a sand/clay mixture. Finite element models were developed of all test articles and simulations were performed using LS-DYNA, a commercial nonlinear explicit transient dynamic finite element code. Test-analysis results are presented for each energy absorber as comparisons of time-history responses, as well as predicted and experimental structural deformations and progressive damage under impact loading for each evaluation level.

Vertical integration of biochemistry and clinical medicine using a near-peer learning model.

PubMed

Gallan, Alexander J; Offner, Gwynneth D; Symes, Karen

2016-11-12

Vertical integration has been extensively implemented across medical school curricula but has not been widely attempted in the field of biochemistry. We describe a novel curricular innovation in which a near-peer learning model was used to implement vertical integration in our medical school biochemistry course. Senior medical students developed and facilitated a case-based small group session for first year biochemistry students. Students were surveyed before and after the session on their attitudes about biochemistry, as well as the effectiveness of the session. Prior to the session, the students believed biochemistry was more important to understanding the basic science of medicine than it was to understanding clinical medicine or becoming a good physician. The session improved students' attitudes about the importance of biochemistry in clinical medicine, and after the session they now believe that understanding biochemistry is equally important to the basic sciences as clinical medicine. Students would like more sessions and believe the senior student facilitators were knowledgeable and effective teachers. The facilitators believe they improved their teaching skills. This novel combination of near-peer learning and vertical integration in biochemistry provided great benefit to both first year and senior medical students, and can serve as a model for other institutions. © 2016 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 44(6):507-516, 2016. © 2016 The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Cloud Simulations in Response to Turbulence Parameterizations in the GISS Model E GCM

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yao, Mao-Sung; Cheng, Ye

2013-01-01

The response of cloud simulations to turbulence parameterizations is studied systematically using the GISS general circulation model (GCM) E2 employed in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5).Without the turbulence parameterization, the relative humidity (RH) and the low cloud cover peak unrealistically close to the surface; with the dry convection or with only the local turbulence parameterization, these two quantities improve their vertical structures, but the vertical transport of water vapor is still weak in the planetary boundary layers (PBLs); with both local and nonlocal turbulence parameterizations, the RH and low cloud cover have better vertical structures in all latitudes due to more significant vertical transport of water vapor in the PBL. The study also compares the cloud and radiation climatologies obtained from an experiment using a newer version of turbulence parameterization being developed at GISS with those obtained from the AR5 version. This newer scheme differs from the AR5 version in computing nonlocal transports, turbulent length scale, and PBL height and shows significant improvements in cloud and radiation simulations, especially over the subtropical eastern oceans and the southern oceans. The diagnosed PBL heights appear to correlate well with the low cloud distribution over oceans. This suggests that a cloud-producing scheme needs to be constructed in a framework that also takes the turbulence into consideration.

An Overview of Active Flow Control Enhanced Vertical Tail Technology Development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, John C.; Andino, Marlyn Y.; Alexander, Michael G.; Whalen, Edward A.; Spoor, Marc A.; Tran, John T.; Wygnanski, Israel J.

2016-01-01

This paper summarizes a joint NASA/Boeing research effort to advance Active Flow Control (AFC) technology to enhance aerodynamic efficiency of a vertical tail. Sweeping jet AFC technology was successfully tested on subscale and full-scale models as well as in flight. The subscale test was performed at Caltech on a 14% scale model. More than 50% side force enhancement was achieved by the sweeping jet actuation when the momentum coefficient was 1.7%. AFC caused significant increases in suction pressure on the actuator side and associated side force enhancement. Subsequently, a full-scale Boeing 757 vertical tail model equipped with sweeping jets was tested at the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center. There, flow separation control optimization was performed at near flight conditions. Greater than 20% increase in side force were achieved for the maximum rudder deflection of 30deg at the key sideslip angles (0deg and -7.5deg) with a 31-actuator AFC configuration. Based on these tests, the momentum coefficient is shown to be a necessary, but not sufficient parameter to use for design and scaling of sweeping jet AFC from subscale tests to full-scale applications. Leveraging the knowledge gained from the wind tunnel tests, the AFC-enhanced vertical tail technology was successfully flown on the Boeing 757 ecoDemonstrator in the spring of 2015.

Upstairs downstairs: vertical integration of a pediatric service.

PubMed

Racine, A D; Stein, R E; Belamarich, P F; Levine, E; Okun, A; Porder, K; Rosenfeld, J L; Schechter, M

1998-07-01

The combined effects of recent changes in health care financing and training priorities have compelled academic medical centers to develop innovative structures to maintain service commitments yet conform to health care marketplace demands. In 1992, a municipal hospital in the Bronx, New York, affiliated with a major academic medical center reorganized its pediatric service into a vertically integrated system of four interdependent practice teams that provided comprehensive care in the ambulatory as well as inpatient settings. One of the goals of the new system was to conserve inpatient resources. To describe the development of a new vertically integrated pediatric service at an inner-city municipal hospital and to test whether its adoption was associated with the use of fewer inpatient resources. A descriptive analysis of the rationale, goals, implementation strategies, and structure of the vertically integrated pediatric service combined with a before-and-after comparison of in-hospital resource consumption. A before-and-after comparison was conducted for two periods: the period before vertical integration, from January 1989 to December 1991, and the period after the adoption of vertical integration, from July 1992 to December 1994. Four measures of inpatient resource use were compared after adjustment for case mix index: mean certified length of stay per case, mean number of radiologic tests per case, mean number of ancillary tests per case, and mean number of laboratory tests per case. Difference-in-differences-in-differences estimators were used to control for institution-wide trends throughout the time period and regional trends in inpatient pediatric practice occurring across institutions. Results. In 1992, the Department of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine reorganized the pediatric service at Jacobi Medical Center, one of its principal municipal hospital affiliates, into a vertically integrated pediatric service that combines ambulatory and inpatient activities into four interdependent practice teams composed of attending pediatricians, allied health professionals, house officers, and social workers. The new vertically integrated service was designed to improve continuity of care for patients, provide a model of practice for professional trainees, conserve scarce resources, and create a clinical research infrastructure. The vertically integrated pediatric service augmented the role of attending pediatricians, extended the use of allied health professionals from the ambulatory to the inpatient sites, established interdisciplinary practice teams that unified the care of pediatric patients and their families, and used less inpatient resources. Controlling for trends within the study institution and trends in the practice of pediatrics across institutions throughout the time period, the vertical integration was associated with a decline in 0.6 days per case, the use of 0.62 fewer radiologic tests per case, 0.21 fewer ancillary tests per case, and 2.68 fewer laboratory tests per case. We conclude that vertical integration of a pediatric service at an inner-city municipal hospital is achievable; conveys advantages of improved continuity of care, enhanced opportunities for primary care training, and increased participation of senior clinicians; and has the potential to conserve significant amounts of inpatient resources.

Two-phase flow characterization based on advanced instrumentation, neural networks, and mathematical modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mi, Ye

1998-12-01

The major objective of this thesis is focused on theoretical and experimental investigations of identifying and characterizing vertical and horizontal flow regimes in two-phase flows. A methodology of flow regime identification with impedance-based neural network systems and a comprehensive model of vertical slug flow have been developed. Vertical slug flow has been extensively investigated and characterized with geometric, kinematic and hydrodynamic parameters. A multi-sensor impedance void-meter and a multi-sensor magnetic flowmeter were developed. The impedance void-meter was cross-calibrated with other reliable techniques for void fraction measurements. The performance of the impedance void-meter to measure the void propagation velocity was evaluated by the drift flux model. It was proved that the magnetic flowmeter was applicable to vertical slug flow measurements. Separable signals from these instruments allow us to unearth most characteristics of vertical slug flow. A methodology of vertical flow regime identification was developed. Supervised neural network and self-organizing neural network systems were employed. First, they were trained with results from an idealized simulation of impedance in a two-phase mixture. The simulation was mainly based on Mishima and Ishii's flow regime map, the drift flux model, and the newly developed model of slug flow. Then, these trained systems were tested with impedance signals. The results showed that the neural network systems were appropriate classifiers of vertical flow regimes. The theoretical models and experimental databases used in the simulation were reliable. Furthermore, this approach was applied successfully to horizontal flow identification. A comprehensive model was developed to predict important characteristics of vertical slug flow. It was realized that the void fraction of the liquid slug is determined by the relative liquid motion between the Taylor bubble tail and the Taylor bubble wake. Relying on this understanding and experimental results, a special relationship was built for the void fraction of the liquid slug. The prediction of the void fraction of the liquid slug was considerably improved. Experimental characterization of vertical slug flows was performed extensively with the impedance void-meter and the magnetic flowmeter. The theoretical predictions were compared with the experimental results. The agreements between them are very satisfactory.

Geophysical Logs, Aquifer Tests, and Water Levels in Wells in and Near the North Penn Area 7 Superfund Site, Upper Gwynedd Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 2002-2006

USGS Publications Warehouse

Senior, Lisa A.; Conger, Randall W.; Bird, Philip H.

2008-01-01

Ground water in the vicinity of several industrial facilities in Upper Gwynedd Township and Lansdale Borough, Montgomery County, Pa., is contaminated with several volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The 2-square-mile area was placed on the National Priorities List as the North Penn Area 7 Superfund Site by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in 1989. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted geophysical logging, aquifer testing, water-level monitoring, and streamflow measurements in the vicinity of North Penn Area 7 from October 2002 through December 2006. This followed work that began in 2000 to assist the USEPA in developing an understanding of the hydrogeologic framework in the area as part of the USEPA Remedial Investigation. The study area is underlain by Triassic- and Jurassic-age sandstones, siltstones, and shales of the Lockatong Formation and the Brunswick Group. Regionally, these rocks strike northeast and dip to the northwest. The sequence of rocks form fractured-rock aquifers that act as a set of confined to semi-confined layered aquifers of differing permeabilities. The aquifers are recharged by precipitation and discharge to streams and wells. The Wissahickon Creek headwaters are less than 1 mile northeast of the study area. This stream flows southwest approximately parallel to strike and bisects North Penn Area 7. Ground water is pumped in the vicinity of North Penn Area 7 for industrial use and public supply. The USGS collected geophysical logs for 42 wells that ranged in depth from 40 to 477 ft. Aquifer-interval-isolation testing was done in 17 of the 42 wells, for a total of 122 zones tested. A multiple-well aquifer test was conducted by monitoring the response of 14 wells to pumping and shutdown of a 600-ft deep production well in November-December 2004. In addition, water levels were monitored continuously in four wells in the area from October 2002 through September 2006, and streamflow was measured quarterly at two sites on Wissahickon Creek from December 2002 through September 2005. Geophysical logging identified water-bearing zones associated with high-angle fractures and bedding-plane openings throughout the depth of the boreholes. Heatpulse-flowmeter measurements under non-pumping, ambient conditions in 16 wells greater than 200 ft in depth indicated that borehole flow, where detected, was only upward in 2 wells and only downward in 5 wells. In nine wells, both upward and downward flow were measured. Geologic structure and pumping in the area affect the spatial distribution of vertical gradients. Heatpulse-flowmeter measurements under pumping conditions were used to identify the most productive intervals in wells. Correlation of natural-gamma-ray logs indicated bedding in the area probably strikes about 45 to 65 degrees northeast and dips about 9 degrees northwest. Aquifer intervals isolated by inflatable packers in 17 wells were pumped to test productivity of water-bearing zones and to collect samples to determine chemical quality of water produced from the interval. Interval-isolation testing confirmed the vertical hydraulic gradients indicated by heatpulse-flowmeter measurements. The specific capacities of the 122 isolated intervals ranged over about three orders of magnitude, from 0.01 to 10.6 gallons per minute per foot, corresponding to calculated transmissivities of 1.2 to 2,290 feet squared per day. Intervals adjacent to isolated pumped intervals commonly showed little response to pumping of the isolated zone. The presence of vertical hydraulic gradients and lack of adjacent-interval response to pumping in isolated intervals indicate a limited degree of vertical hydraulic connection between the aquifer sections tested. Differences were apparent in inorganic water quality of water from isolated intervals, including pH, specific conductance, and dissolved oxygen. Concentrations of most VOC contaminants in most wells with predominantly upward vertical gradients were g

Analysis of vertical flow during ambient and pumped conditions in four monitoring wells at the Pantex Plant, Carson County, Texas, July-September 2008

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stanton, Gregory P.; Thomas, Jonathan V.; Stoval, Jeffery

2009-01-01

Logs collected in monitoring well PTX06–1068 during ambient conditions indicate a static environment with no flow. During pumping there was upward vertical flow at rates ranging from 0.4 to 4.8 gallons per minute. During pumping, a gradual trend of more positive flowmeter values (upward flow) with distance up the well was observed. Estimated total transmissivity for four production zones identified from Flow–B numerical model results taken together was calculated to be about 200 feet squared per day.

Vertical integration from the large Hilbert space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erler, Theodore; Konopka, Sebastian

2017-12-01

We develop an alternative description of the procedure of vertical integration based on the observation that amplitudes can be written in BRST exact form in the large Hilbert space. We relate this approach to the description of vertical integration given by Sen and Witten.

Vertical electromagnetic profiling (VEMP)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lytle, R.J.

1984-08-01

Vertical seismic profiling (VSP) is based upon reception measurements performed in a borehole with a source near the ground surface. This technology has seen a surge in application and development in the last decade. The analogous concept of vertical electromagnetic profiling (VEMP) consists of reception measurements performed in a borehole with a source near the ground surface. Although the electromagnetic concept has seen some application, this technology has not been as systematically developed and applied as VSP. Vertical electromagnetic profiling provides distinct and complementary data due to sensing different physical parameters than seismic profiling. Certain of the advantages of VEMPmore » are presented. 28 references, 7 figures.« less

Quantitative geophysical investigations at the Diamond M field, Scurry County, Texas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davogustto Cataldo, Oswaldo Ernesto

The Diamond M field over the Horseshoe Atoll reservoir of west Texas has produced oil since 1942. Even with some 210 well penetrations, complex reservoir compartmentalization has justified an ongoing drilling program with three wells drilled within the last three years. Accurate reservoir characterization requires accurate description of the geometry, geological facies, and petrophysical property distribution ranging from core, through log to the seismic scale. The operator has conducted a careful logging and coring process including dipole sonic logs in addition to acquiring a modern 3D vertical phone - vertical vibrator "P-wave" seismic data volume and an equivalent size 2-component by 2-componet "S-wave" seismic data volume. I analyze these data at different scales, integrating them into a whole. I begin with core analysis of the petrophysical properties of the Horseshoe Atoll reservoir. Measuring porosity, permeability, NMR T2 relaxation and velocities (Vp and Vs) as a function of pressure and find that porosity measurements are consistent when measured with different techniques. When upscaled, these measurements are in excellent agreement with properties measured at the log scale. Together, these measurements provide a lithology-porosity template against which I correlate my seismic P- and S-impedance measurements. Careful examination of P- and S-impedances as well as density from prestack inversion of the P-wave survey of the original time migrated gathers showed lower vertical resolution for S-impedance and density. These latter two parameters are controlled by the far-offset data, which suffers from migration stretch. I address this shortcoming by applying a recently developed non-stretch NMO technique which not only improved the bandwidth of the data but also resulted in inversions that better match the S-impedance and density well log data. The operator hypothesized that 2C by 2C S-wave data would better delineate lithology than conventional P-wave seismic data. Although introduced in the mid-1980s, 2C by 2C data are rarely acquired, with most surveys showing less vertical resolution than conventional (and prior to slip-sweep technology more economically acquired) P-wave data. Initial processing by the service company showed a comparable, but lower frequency, image for the "transverse" component, and poor images for the "radial" component. Although the dipole sonic logs did not indicate the presence of significant anisotropy, shear wave splitting is readily observed on the surface seismic stacks. I therefore developed a prestack Alford rotation algorithm that minimizes the cross-talk between components, resulting vertical resolution comparable to the P-wave data, and independent measure of lithology, and also a direct measure of the direction of the principal axes of anisotropy. The direction of azimuthal anisotropy is aligned N45E consistent with the regional maximum horizontal stress axis obtained from the world stress map database. On average, the Cisco Formation appears 10% thicker on the slow shear (S2) volume than on the fast shear (S1 ) volume and between 70% and 100% thicker on the P-wave volume. Cross-plotting cumulative production against the various seismic attributes, I find a strong negative correlation to S-impedance and P-impedance. Zones of low S-impedance and low P-impedance correlate to better producing wells. More quantitative correlation will require the analysis of the role fractures versus porosity contribute to production.

Time-Dependent Moment Tensors of the First Four Source Physics Experiments (SPE) Explosions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, X.

2015-12-01

We use mainly vertical-component geophone data within 2 km from the epicenter to invert for time-dependent moment tensors of the first four SPE explosions: SPE-1, SPE-2, SPE-3 and SPE-4Prime. We employ a one-dimensional (1D) velocity model developed from P- and Rg-wave travel times for Green's function calculations. The attenuation structure of the model is developed from P- and Rg-wave amplitudes. We select data for the inversion based on the criterion that they show consistent travel times and amplitude behavior as those predicted by the 1D model. Due to limited azimuthal coverage of the sources and the mostly vertical-component-only nature of the dataset, only long-period, diagonal components of the moment tensors are well constrained. Nevertheless, the moment tensors, particularly their isotropic components, provide reasonable estimates of the long-period source amplitudes as well as estimates of corner frequencies, albeit with larger uncertainties. The estimated corner frequencies, however, are consistent with estimates from ratios of seismogram spectra from different explosions. These long-period source amplitudes and corner frequencies cannot be fit by classical P-wave explosion source models. The results motivate the development of new P-wave source models suitable for these chemical explosions. To that end, we fit inverted moment-tensor spectra by modifying the classical explosion model using regressions of estimated source parameters. Although the number of data points used in the regression is small, the approach suggests a way for the new-model development when more data are collected.

Atmospheric Moisture Budget and Spatial Resolution Dependence of Precipitation Extremes in Aquaplanet Simulations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yang, Qing; Leung, Lai-Yung R.; Rauscher, Sara

This study investigates the resolution dependency of precipitation extremes in an aqua-planet framework. Strong resolution dependency of precipitation extremes is seen over both tropics and extra-tropics, and the magnitude of this dependency also varies with dynamical cores. Moisture budget analyses based on aqua-planet simulations with the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) using the Model for Prediction Across Scales (MPAS) and High Order Method Modeling Environment (HOMME) dynamical cores but the same physics parameterizations suggest that during precipitation extremes moisture supply for surface precipitation is mainly derived from advective moisture convergence. The resolution dependency of precipitation extremes mainly originates from advective moisturemore » transport in the vertical direction. At most vertical levels over the tropics and in the lower atmosphere over the subtropics, the vertical eddy transport of mean moisture field dominates the contribution to precipitation extremes and its resolution dependency. Over the subtropics, the source of moisture, its associated energy, and the resolution dependency during extremes are dominated by eddy transport of eddies moisture at the mid- and upper-troposphere. With both MPAS and HOMME dynamical cores, the resolution dependency of the vertical advective moisture convergence is mainly explained by dynamical changes (related to vertical velocity or omega), although the vertical gradients of moisture act like averaging kernels to determine the sensitivity of the overall resolution dependency to the changes in omega at different vertical levels. The natural reduction of variability with coarser resolution, represented by areal data averaging (aggregation) effect, largely explains the resolution dependency in omega. The thermodynamic changes, which likely result from non-linear feedback in response to the large dynamical changes, are small compared to the overall changes in dynamics (omega). However, after excluding the data aggregation effect in omega, thermodynamic changes become relatively significant in offsetting the effect of dynamics leading to reduce differences between the simulated and aggregated results. Compared to MPAS, the simulated stronger vertical motion with HOMME also results in larger resolution dependency. Compared to the simulation at fine resolution, the vertical motion during extremes is insufficiently resolved/parameterized at the coarser resolution even after accounting for the natural reduction in variability with coarser resolution, and this is more distinct in the simulation with HOMME. To reduce uncertainties in simulated precipitation extremes, future development in cloud parameterizations must address their sensitivity to spatial resolution as well as dynamical cores.« less

A Mathematical Model for Vertical Attitude Takeoff and Landing (VATOL) Aircraft Simulation. Volume 1; Model Description Application

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fortenbaugh, R. L.

1980-01-01

A mathematical model of a high performance airplane capable of vertical attitude takeoff and landing (VATOL) was developed. An off line digital simulation program incorporating this model was developed to provide trim conditions and dynamic check runs for the piloted simulation studies and support dynamic analyses of proposed VATOL configuration and flight control concepts. Development details for the various simulation component models and the application of the off line simulation program, Vertical Attitude Take-Off and Landing Simulation (VATLAS), to develop a baseline control system for the Vought SF-121 VATOL airplane concept are described.

Development of a Near Ground Remote Sensing System

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yanchao; Xiao, Yuzhao; Zhuang, Zaichun; Zhou, Liping; Liu, Fei; He, Yong

2016-01-01

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have shown great potential in agriculture and are increasingly being developed for agricultural use. There are still a lot of experiments that need to be done to improve their performance and explore new uses, but experiments using UAVs are limited by many conditions like weather and location and the time it takes to prepare for a flight. To promote UAV remote sensing, a near ground remote sensing platform was developed. This platform consists of three major parts: (1) mechanical structures like a horizontal rail, vertical cylinder, and three axes gimbal; (2) power supply and control parts; (3) onboard application components. This platform covers five degrees of freedom (DOFs): horizontal, vertical, pitch, roll, yaw. A stm32 ARM single chip was used as the controller of the whole platform and another stm32 MCU was used to stabilize the gimbal. The gimbal stabilizer communicates with the main controller via a CAN bus. A multispectral camera was mounted on the gimbal. Software written in C++ language was developed as the graphical user interface. Operating parameters were set via this software and the working status was displayed in this software. To test how well the system works, a laser distance meter was used to measure the slide rail’s repeat accuracy. A 3-axis vibration analyzer was used to test the system stability. Test results show that the horizontal repeat accuracy was less than 2 mm; vertical repeat accuracy was less than 1 mm; vibration was less than 2 g and remained at an acceptable level. This system has high accuracy and stability and can therefore be used for various near ground remote sensing studies. PMID:27164111

Production of oncolytic adenovirus and human mesenchymal stem cells in a single-use, Vertical-Wheel bioreactor system: Impact of bioreactor design on performance of microcarrier-based cell culture processes.

PubMed

Sousa, Marcos F Q; Silva, Marta M; Giroux, Daniel; Hashimura, Yas; Wesselschmidt, Robin; Lee, Brian; Roldão, António; Carrondo, Manuel J T; Alves, Paula M; Serra, Margarida

2015-01-01

Anchorage-dependent cell cultures are used for the production of viruses, viral vectors, and vaccines, as well as for various cell therapies and tissue engineering applications. Most of these applications currently rely on planar technologies for the generation of biological products. However, as new cell therapy product candidates move from clinical trials towards potential commercialization, planar platforms have proven to be inadequate to meet large-scale manufacturing demand. Therefore, a new scalable platform for culturing anchorage-dependent cells at high cell volumetric concentrations is urgently needed. One promising solution is to grow cells on microcarriers suspended in single-use bioreactors. Toward this goal, a novel bioreactor system utilizing an innovative Vertical-Wheel™ technology was evaluated for its potential to support scalable cell culture process development. Two anchorage-dependent human cell types were used: human lung carcinoma cells (A549 cell line) and human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC). Key hydrodynamic parameters such as power input, mixing time, Kolmogorov length scale, and shear stress were estimated. The performance of Vertical-Wheel bioreactors (PBS-VW) was then evaluated for A549 cell growth and oncolytic adenovirus type 5 production as well as for hMSC expansion. Regarding the first cell model, higher cell growth and number of infectious viruses per cell were achieved when compared with stirred tank (ST) bioreactors. For the hMSC model, although higher percentages of proliferative cells could be reached in the PBS-VW compared with ST bioreactors, no significant differences in the cell volumetric concentration and expansion factor were observed. Noteworthy, the hMSC population generated in the PBS-VW showed a significantly lower percentage of apoptotic cells as well as reduced levels of HLA-DR positive cells. Overall, these results showed that process transfer from ST bioreactor to PBS-VW, and scale-up was successfully carried out for two different microcarrier-based cell cultures. Ultimately, the data herein generated demonstrate the potential of Vertical-Wheel bioreactors as a new scalable biomanufacturing platform for microcarrier-based cell cultures of complex biopharmaceuticals. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Transient well flow in vertically heterogeneous aquifers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hemker, C. J.

1999-11-01

A solution for the general problem of computing well flow in vertically heterogeneous aquifers is found by an integration of both analytical and numerical techniques. The radial component of flow is treated analytically; the drawdown is a continuous function of the distance to the well. The finite-difference technique is used for the vertical flow component only. The aquifer is discretized in the vertical dimension and the heterogeneous aquifer is considered to be a layered (stratified) formation with a finite number of homogeneous sublayers, where each sublayer may have different properties. The transient part of the differential equation is solved with Stehfest's algorithm, a numerical inversion technique of the Laplace transform. The well is of constant discharge and penetrates one or more of the sublayers. The effect of wellbore storage on early drawdown data is taken into account. In this way drawdowns are found for a finite number of sublayers as a continuous function of radial distance to the well and of time since the pumping started. The model is verified by comparing results with published analytical and numerical solutions for well flow in homogeneous and heterogeneous, confined and unconfined aquifers. Instantaneous and delayed drainage of water from above the water table are considered, combined with the effects of partially penetrating and finite-diameter wells. The model is applied to demonstrate that the transient effects of wellbore storage in unconfined aquifers are less pronounced than previous numerical experiments suggest. Other applications of the presented solution technique are given for partially penetrating wells in heterogeneous formations, including a demonstration of the effect of decreasing specific storage values with depth in an otherwise homogeneous aquifer. The presented solution can be a powerful tool for the analysis of drawdown from pumping tests, because hydraulic properties of layered heterogeneous aquifer systems with partially penetrating wells may be estimated without the need to construct transient numerical models. A computer program based on the hybrid analytical-numerical technique is available from the author.

Measurement of vertical track deflection from a moving rail car.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-02-01

The University of Nebraska has been conducting research sponsored by the Federal Railroad Administrations Office of Research and Development to develop a system that measures vertical track deflection/modulus from a moving rail car. Previous work ...

Evaluation of Aesthetic Function and Thermal Modification of Vertical Greenery at Bogor City, Indonesia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sulistyantara, B.; Sesara, R.

2017-10-01

Bogor city currently develops vertical greenery due to counter the decreasing of green space quantity. Vertical greenery is a planting method using vertical structure similar to retaining walls. There are some benefits of vertical greenery, such as providing aesthetics value of the landscape, to protect from the heat, to reduce noise, and to reduce pollution. The purpose of this study were to identify thermal modification by vertical greenery in Bogor city, to assess the aesthetics value from vertical greenery, and to provide a recommendation in attempt to manage and improve the quality of vertical greenery in Bogor city. The study was conducted using Scenic Beauty Estimation method, and was done by providing questionnaires to the respondents in order to assess the aesthetics value of vertical greenery. Infrared thermometer was also used to measure the surface’s temperature to evaluate thermal modification function of the vertical greenery. The result of study proved that vertical greenery in the Bogor city has considerably good aesthetic. It also showed that there is a decreasing in surface temperature of the vertical greenery structure.

Assessment of Air Pollution Tolerance Index of some plants to develop vertical gardens near street canyons of a polluted tropical city.

PubMed

Pandey, Ashutosh Kumar; Pandey, Mayank; Tripathi, B D

2016-12-01

The aim of the present study was to examine Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) of some climber plant species to develop vertical gardens in Varanasi city which has characteristics of tall building and narrow roads. This condition results in street canyon like structure and hinders the vertical dispersal of air pollutants. We have selected 24 climber plant species which are commonly found in of Varanasi city. Chosen plants can be easily grown either in planter boxes or directly in the ground, with a vertical support they can climb on walls to form green walls or vertical garden. Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) of the selected plant species was calculated and plants with higher APTI are recommended for the development of Vertical garden. Highest APTI was noted for Ipomoea palmata (25.39) followed by Aristolochia elegans (23.28), Thunbergia grandiflora (23.14), Quisqualis indica (22.42), and Clerodendrum splendens (22.36). However, lowest APTI value (8.75) was recorded for the species Hemidesmus indicus. Moreover, the linear regression analysis has revealed a high positive correlation between APTI and ascorbic acid content (R 2 =0.8837) and positive correlation between APTI and Chlorophyll content (R 2 =0.6687). On the basis of higher APTI values (greater than 17), nine species of climber plants viz. I. palmata, T. grandiflora, C. splendens, A. elegans, Q. indica, Petria volubilis, Antigonon leptopus, Cryptolepis buchuanni and Tinospora cordifolia have been recommended to develop vertical greenery systems in a compact tropical city. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Is vertical integration adding value to health systems?

PubMed

Weil, T P

2000-04-01

Vertical integration is a concept used by health systems when attempting to achieve economies of scale, greater coordination of services, and improved market penetration. This article focuses on the actual outcomes of utilizing vertical integration in the health field and then compares these findings with those reported in other industries. This analysis concludes that this organizational model does not work particularly well in the health industry, as illustrated by health alliances' poor fiscal performance when they acquire physician practices or when they start their own HMO plans.

Vertical distribution of the soil microbiota along a successional gradient in a glacier forefield.

PubMed

Rime, Thomas; Hartmann, Martin; Brunner, Ivano; Widmer, Franco; Zeyer, Josef; Frey, Beat

2015-03-01

Spatial patterns of microbial communities have been extensively surveyed in well-developed soils, but few studies investigated the vertical distribution of micro-organisms in newly developed soils after glacier retreat. We used 454-pyrosequencing to assess whether bacterial and fungal community structures differed between stages of soil development (SSD) characterized by an increasing vegetation cover from barren (vegetation cover: 0%/age: 10 years), sparsely vegetated (13%/60 years), transient (60%/80 years) to vegetated (95%/110 years) and depths (surface, 5 and 20 cm) along the Damma glacier forefield (Switzerland). The SSD significantly influenced the bacterial and fungal communities. Based on indicator species analyses, metabolically versatile bacteria (e.g. Geobacter) and psychrophilic yeasts (e.g. Mrakia) characterized the barren soils. Vegetated soils with higher C, N and root biomass consisted of bacteria able to degrade complex organic compounds (e.g. Candidatus Solibacter), lignocellulolytic Ascomycota (e.g. Geoglossum) and ectomycorrhizal Basidiomycota (e.g. Laccaria). Soil depth only influenced bacterial and fungal communities in barren and sparsely vegetated soils. These changes were partly due to more silt and higher soil moisture in the surface. In both soil ages, the surface was characterized by OTUs affiliated to Phormidium and Sphingobacteriales. In lower depths, however, bacterial and fungal communities differed between SSD. Lower depths of sparsely vegetated soils consisted of OTUs affiliated to Acidobacteria and Geoglossum, whereas depths of barren soils were characterized by OTUs related to Gemmatimonadetes. Overall, plant establishment drives the soil microbiota along the successional gradient but does not influence the vertical distribution of microbiota in recently deglaciated soils. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Flow Generated by a Partially Penetrating Well in a Leaky Two-Aquifer System with a Storative Semiconfining Layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sepulveda, N.; Rohrer, K.

2008-05-01

The permeability of the semiconfining layers of the highly productive Floridan Aquifer System may be large enough to invalidate the assumptions of the leaky aquifer theory. These layers are the intermediate confining and the middle semiconfining units. The analysis of aquifer-test data with analytical solutions of the ground-water flow equation developed with the approximation of a low hydraulic conductivity ratio between the semiconfining layer and the aquifer may lead to inaccurate hydraulic parameters. An analytical solution is presented here for the flow in a confined leaky aquifer, the overlying storative semiconfining layer, and the unconfined aquifer, generated by a partially penetrating well in a two-aquifer system, and allowing vertical and lateral flow components to occur in the semiconfining layer. The equations describing flow caused by a partially penetrating production well are solved analytically to provide a method to accurately determine the hydraulic parameters in the confined aquifer, semiconfining layer, and unconfined aquifer from aquifer-test data. Analysis of the drawdown data from an aquifer test performed in central Florida showed that the flow solution presented here for the semiconfining layer provides a better match and a more unique identification of the hydraulic parameters than an analytical solution that considers only vertical flow in the semiconfining layer.

A diagnosis of the development of a winter anticyclone over North America

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

King, Melinda L.; Smith, Phillip J.; Lupo, Anthony R.

1995-01-01

This paper examines the 48-h life cycle of a winter anticyclone occurring over North America from 18 to 20 January 1979 using Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres FGGE level 3b (SOP 1) global analyses on a 4 deg latitude by 5 deg longitude grid. Applying the relatively new methodology of the Zwack-Okossi equation, results show that anticyclonic vorticity advection and cold-air advection acted to develop the anticyclone, while adiabatic warming in the descending air opposed development. Other forcing processes made only small contributions to anticyclone changes. Vertical profiles of the development quantities reveal that vorticity and temperature advections, as well as the adiabatic warming, maximized in the 200-300-mb layer.

MEASURING VERTICAL PROFILES OF HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY WITH IN SITU DIRECT-PUSH METHODS

EPA Science Inventory

U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) staff developed a field procedure to measure hydraulic conductivity using a direct-push system to obtain vertical profiles of hydraulic conductivity. Vertical profiles were obtained using an in situ field device-composed of a
Geopr...

The Impact of Roadside Barriers and Buildings on Near Road Concentrations of Vehicle Emissions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schulte, Nico

Exposure to elevated concentrations of vehicle emitted pollutants is associated with negative health effects. Elevated concentrations are typically found within several hundred meters of high traffic roads, where atmospheric dispersion has not sufficiently diluted pollutants. Tall buildings next to roads reduce dispersion, thereby creating pollutant hot spots and increasing exposure to vehicle emissions for city residents. Roadside barriers enhance dispersion of roadway emissions and thus can be used to mitigate elevated concentrations next to large roads. The work in this thesis develops semi-empirical dispersion models that are useful for estimating near road concentrations of vehicle emissions when there are buildings or barriers next to the road. Dispersion models that account for the effect of near road barriers on concentrations are developed and evaluated with data from a wind tunnel and a field tracer study. The model evaluation shows that the primary effect of roadside barriers is enhancement of the vertical mixing by an amount proportional to the barrier height. Additionally, turbulence is enhanced in the barrier's wake, resulting in more rapid growth of the pollutant plume. The models perform well during neutral and stable atmospheric conditions. During unstable conditions the models overestimate concentrations. A model that accounts for reduction of the mean wind speed in the barrier wake is unbiased for all stabilities. Models of the impact of tall buildings next to the road on near road concentrations of vehicle emissions are developed. The models are evaluated with data from field measurements conducted in Los Angeles and Riverside counties, CA, and with data from an urban area in Hannover, Germany. The study specifically investigates dispersion in cities with significant building height variability. Model evaluation shows that vertical turbulent transport dominates dispersion in cities. The primary variables governing near road concentrations of vehicle emissions in cities are the ratio of area weighted building height to street width and the vertical averaged standard deviation of vertical velocity fluctuations. The model informs design of transit oriented developments, dense residential areas located in close proximity to transportation infrastructure, which are used to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions due to transportation.

Development and implementation of a propeller test capability for GL-10 "Greased Lightning" propeller design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duvall, Brian Edward

Interest in small unmanned aerial vehicles has increased dramatically in recent years. Hybrid vehicles which allow forward flight as a fixed wing aircraft and a true vertical landing capability have always had applications. Management of the available energy and noise associated with electric propeller propulsion systems presents many challenges. NASA Langley has developed the Greased Lightning 10 (GL-10) vertical takeoff, unmanned aerial vehicle with ten individual motors and propellers. All are used for propulsion during takeoff and contribute to acoustic noise pollution which is an identified nuisance to the surrounding users. A propeller test capability was developed to gain an understanding of how the noise can be reduced while meeting minimum thrust requirements. The designed propeller test stand allowed for various commercially available propellers to be tested for potential direct replacement of the current GL-10 propellers and also supported testing of a newly designed propeller provided by the Georgia Institute of Technology. Results from the test program provided insight as to which factors affect the noise as well as performance characteristics. The outcome of the research effort showed that the current GL-10 propeller still represents the best choice of all the candidate propellers tested.

Inversion Build-Up and Cold-Air Outflow in a Small Alpine Sinkhole

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lehner, Manuela; Whiteman, C. David; Dorninger, Manfred

2017-06-01

Semi-idealized model simulations are made of the nocturnal cold-air pool development in the approximately 1-km wide and 100-200-m deep Grünloch basin, Austria. The simulations show qualitatively good agreement with vertical temperature and wind profiles and surface measurements collected during a meteorological field expedition. A two-layer stable atmosphere forms in the basin, with a very strong inversion in the lowest part, below the approximate height of the lowest gap in the surrounding orography. The upper part of the stable layer is less strongly stratified and extends to the approximate height of the second-lowest gap. The basin atmosphere cools most strongly during the first few hours of the night, after which temperatures decrease only slowly. An outflow of air forms through the lowest gap in the surrounding orography. The outflow connects with a weak inflow of air through a gap on the opposite sidewall, forming a vertically and horizontally confined jet over the basin. Basin cooling shows strong sensitivity to surface-layer characteristics, highlighting the large impact of variations in vegetation and soil cover on cold-air pool development, as well as the importance of surface-layer parametrization in numerical simulations of cold-air-pool development.

Observations of vertical velocities in the tropical upper troposphere and lower stratosphere using the Arecibo 430-MHz radar

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cornish, C. R.

1988-01-01

The first clear-air observations of vertical velocities in the tropical upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (8-22 km) using the Arecibo 430-MHz radar are presented. Oscillations in the vertical velocity near the Brunt-Vaisala period are observed in the lower stratosphere during the 12-hour observation period. Frequency power spectra from the vertical velocity time series show a slope between -0.5 and -1.0. Vertical wave number spectra computed from the height profiles of vertical velocities have slopes between -1.0 and -1.5. These observed slopes do not agree well with the slopes of +1/3 and -2.5 for frequency and vertical wave number spectra, respectively, predicted by a universal gravity-wave spectrum model. The spectral power of wave number spectra of a radial beam directed 15 deg off-zenith is enhanced by an order of magnitude over the spectral power levels of the vertical beam. This enhancement suggests that other geophysical processes besides gravity waves are present in the horizontal flow. The steepening of the wave number spectrum of the off-vertical beam in the lower stratosphere to near -2.0 is attributed to a quasi-inertial period wave, which was present in the horizontal flow during the observation period.

A highly accurate analytical solution for the surface fields of a short vertical wire antenna lying on a multilayer ground

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parise, M.

2018-01-01

A highly accurate analytical solution is derived to the electromagnetic problem of a short vertical wire antenna located on a stratified ground. The derivation consists of three steps. First, the integration path of the integrals describing the fields of the dipole is deformed and wrapped around the pole singularities and the two vertical branch cuts of the integrands located in the upper half of the complex plane. This allows to decompose the radiated field into its three contributions, namely the above-surface ground wave, the lateral wave, and the trapped surface waves. Next, the square root terms responsible for the branch cuts are extracted from the integrands of the branch-cut integrals. Finally, the extracted square roots are replaced with their rational representations according to Newton's square root algorithm, and residue theorem is applied to give explicit expressions, in series form, for the fields. The rigorous integration procedure and the convergence of square root algorithm ensure that the obtained formulas converge to the exact solution. Numerical simulations are performed to show the validity and robustness of the developed formulation, as well as its advantages in terms of time cost over standard numerical integration procedures.

Models for estimating runway landing capacity with Microwave Landing System (MLS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tosic, V.; Horonjeff, R.

1975-01-01

A model is developed which is capable of computing the ultimate landing runway capacity, under ILS and MLS conditions, when aircraft population characteristics and air traffic control separation rules are given. This model can be applied in situations when only a horizontal separation between aircraft approaching a runway is allowed, as well as when both vertical and horizontal separations are possible. It is assumed that the system is free of errors, that is that aircraft arrive at specified points along the prescribed flight path precisely when the controllers intend for them to arrive at these points. Although in the real world there is no such thing as an error-free system, the assumption is adequate for a qualitative comparison of MLS with ILS. Results suggest that an increase in runway landing capacity, caused by introducing the MLS multiple approach paths, is to be expected only when an aircraft population consists of aircraft with significantly differing approach speeds and particularly in situations when vertical separation can be applied. Vertical separation can only be applied if one of the types of aircraft in the mix has a very steep descent angle.

The thermodynamic evolution of the hurricane boundary layer during eyewall replacement cycles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, Gabriel J.

2017-12-01

Eyewall replacement cycles (ERCs) are frequently observed during the lifecycle of mature tropical cyclones. Although the kinematic structure and intensity changes during an ERC have been well-documented, comparatively little research has been done to examine the evolution of the tropical cyclone boundary layer (TCBL) during an ERC. This study will examine how the inner core thermal structure of the TCBL is affected by the presence of multiple concentric eyewalls using a high-resolution moist, hydrostatic, multilayer diagnostic boundary layer model. Within the concentric eyewalls above the cloud base, latent heat release and vertical advection (due to the eyewall updrafts) dominate the heat and moisture budgets, whereas vertical advection (due to subsidence) and vertical diffusion dominate the heat and moisture budgets for the moat region. Furthermore, it is shown that the development of a moat region within the TCBL depends sensitively on the moat width in the overlying atmosphere and the relative strength of the gradient wind field in the overlying atmosphere. These results further indicate that the TCBL contributes to outer eyewall formation through a positive feedback process between the vorticity in the nascent outer eyewall, boundary layer convergence, and boundary layer moist convection.

Hydrological Changes Induced by Distant Earthquakes at the Lujiang Well in Anhui, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Yuchuan; Wang, Guangcai; Tao, Yuechao

2017-10-01

The Lujiang well, a 63 °C artesian well, recorded sustained hydrological changes following the 1999 Chi-Chi M w 7.6, the 2008 Wenchuan M w 7.9, and the 2011 Tohoku M w 9.0 earthquakes, including rises in the water radon concentration, water pressure, discharge and water level, and drops in the water temperature. These hydrological changes are synchronous and have similar amplitudes. The permeability inferred through the tidal response of water level showed insignificant change after the three earthquakes. We attribute the observed hydrological changes to the increase in the vertical recharge on the basis that the water radon concentration of the Lujiang well increased following the increase of recharge to the well; significant vertical flow exists in the well-aquifer system; the well has a lower water radon concentration and a higher water temperature than its adjacent wells with different aquifers.

Hydraulic properties of three types of glacial deposits in Ohio

USGS Publications Warehouse

Strobel, M.L.

1993-01-01

The effects of thickness, grain size, fractures, weathering, and atmosphericconditions on vertical ground-water flow in glacial deposits were studied at three sites that represent ground moraine, end moraine, and lacustrine depositional environments. Vertical hydraulic conductivities computed from pumped-well tests were 3.24 x 10-1 to 6.47 x 10-1 ft/d (feet per day) at the site representing end moraine and 1.17 ft/d at the site representing lacustrine deposits. Analysis of test data for the ground moraine site did not yield estimates of hydraulic conductivities, but did indicate that ground water flows through the total thickness of deposits in response to discharge from a lower gravel unit. Vertical hydraulic conductivities computed from pumped-well tests of nested wells and data from drill-core analyses indicate that fractures affect the migration of ground water downward through the glacial deposits at these sites. Flow through glacial deposits is complex; it is controlled by fractures, gram-size distribution, clay content, thickness, and degree of weathering, and atmospheric conditions.

Removing the Interdependency between Horizontal and Vertical Eye-Movement Components in Electrooculograms

PubMed Central

Chang, Won-Du; Cha, Ho-Seung; Im, Chang-Hwan

2016-01-01

This paper introduces a method to remove the unwanted interdependency between vertical and horizontal eye-movement components in electrooculograms (EOGs). EOGs have been widely used to estimate eye movements without a camera in a variety of human-computer interaction (HCI) applications using pairs of electrodes generally attached either above and below the eye (vertical EOG) or to the left and right of the eyes (horizontal EOG). It has been well documented that the vertical EOG component has less stability than the horizontal EOG one, making accurate estimation of the vertical location of the eyes difficult. To address this issue, an experiment was designed in which ten subjects participated. Visual inspection of the recorded EOG signals showed that the vertical EOG component is highly influenced by horizontal eye movements, whereas the horizontal EOG is rarely affected by vertical eye movements. Moreover, the results showed that this interdependency could be effectively removed by introducing an individual constant value. It is therefore expected that the proposed method can enhance the overall performance of practical EOG-based eye-tracking systems. PMID:26907271

Development and Substantiation of Parameters of Environmentally Friendly Technology for Filling the Vertical Mine Workings with Autoclaved Slag-Concrete

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uglyanitca, Andrey; Solonin, Kirill

2017-11-01

The environmentally friendly technology for filling the vertical mine workings with autoclaved slag-concrete, prefabricated on the surface of the mine is presented in the article; the optimal parameters of filling technology are proposed. The developed technology for filling the abandoned vertical mine workings allows ensuring the environmental safety of the territories adjacent to the abandoned mine, utilizing slag dumps and providing the possibility of shaft recovery, if necessary, with minimal labor and material costs.

Vertical Hegelianism and Beyond: Digital Cinema Editing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wyatt, Roger B.

Cinema as an art and communication form is entering its second century of development. Sergei Eisenstein conceived of editing in horizontal and vertical terms. He saw vertical editing patterns primarily as the synchronization of simultaneous image and sound elements, particularly music, no create cinematic meaning by means of the relationship…

Thunderstorms: Thermodynamics and Organization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zinner, Tobias; Groenemeijer, Pieter

Thunderstorm research is strongly motivated by the wish to reduce the harm they do to people and their property. Thunderstorms are a global phenomenon, although some areas in the mid-latitudes and tropics are particularly at risk. They form where and whenever the ingredients for their formation come together: instability, moisture and lift. Especially upon interaction with vertical wind shear, they may develop into well-organized systems that produce hazards such as large hail, severe winds, heavy precipitation, and tornadoes.

Development and Preliminary Tests of an Open-Path Airborne Diode Laser Absorption Instrument for Carbon Dioxide

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Diskin, Glenn S.; DiGangi, Joshua P.; Yang, Melissa; Slate, Thomas A.; Rana, Mario

2015-01-01

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is well known for its importance as an atmospheric greenhouse gas, with many sources and sinks around the globe. Understanding the fluxes of carbon into and out of the atmosphere is a complex and daunting challenge. One tool applied by scientists to measure the vertical flux of CO2 near the surface uses the eddy covariance technique, most often from towers but also from aircraft flying specific patterns over the study area. In this technique, variations of constituents of interest are correlated with fluctuations in the local vertical wind velocity. Measurement requirements are stringent, particularly with regard to precision, sensitivity to small changes, and temporal sampling rate. In addition, many aircraft have limited payload capability, so instrument size, weight, and power consumption are also important considerations. We report on the development and preliminary application of an airborne sensor for the measurement of atmospheric CO2. The instrument, modeled on the successful DLH (Diode Laser Hygrometer) series of instruments, has been tested in the laboratory and on the NASA DC-8 aircraft. Performance parameters such as accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, and temporal response are discussed in the context of typical atmospheric variability and suitability for flux measurement applications. On-aircraft, in-flight data have been obtained and are discussed as well. Performance of the instrument has been promising, and continued flight testing is planned during 2016.

Preliminary design of a supersonic Short-Takeoff and Vertical-Landing (STOVL) fighter aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1990-01-01

A preliminary study of a supersonic short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter is presented. Three configurations (a lift plus lift/cruise concept, a hybrid fan vectored thrust concept, and a mixed flow vectored thrust concept) were initially investigated with one configuration selected for further design analysis. The selected configuration, the lift plus lift/cruise concept, was successfully integrated to accommodate the powered lift short takeoff and vertical landing requirements as well as the demanding supersonic cruise and point performance requirements. A supersonic fighter aircraft with a short takeoff and vertical landing capability using the lift plus lift/cruise engine concept seems a viable option for the next generation fighter.

Modeling Lidar Multiple Scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, Kaori; Okamoto, Hajime; Ishimoto, Hiroshi

2016-06-01

A practical model to simulate multiply scattered lidar returns from inhomogeneous cloud layers are developed based on Backward Monte Carlo (BMC) simulations. The estimated time delay of the backscattered intensities returning from different vertical grids by the developed model agreed well with that directly obtained from BMC calculations. The method was applied to the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellite data to improve the synergetic retrieval of cloud microphysics with CloudSat radar data at optically thick cloud grids. Preliminary results for retrieving mass fraction of co-existing cloud particles and drizzle size particles within lowlevel clouds are demonstrated.

Simulations of vertical disruptions with VDE code: Hiro and Evans currents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xujing; Di Hu Team; Leonid Zakharov Team; Galkin Team

2014-10-01

The recently created numerical code VDE for simulations of vertical instability in tokamaks is presented. The numerical scheme uses the Tokamak MHD model, where the plasma inertia is replaced by the friction force, and an adaptive grid numerical scheme. The code reproduces well the surface currents generated at the plasma boundary by the instability. Five regimes of the vertical instability are presented: (1) Vertical instability in a given plasma shaping field without a wall; (2) The same with a wall and magnetic flux ΔΨ|plX< ΔΨ|Xwall(where X corresponds to the X-point of a separatrix); (3) The same with a wall and magnetic flux ΔΨ|plX> ΔΨ|Xwall; (4) Vertical instability without a wall with a tile surface at the plasma path; (5) The same in the presence of a wall and a tile surface. The generation of negative Hiro currents along the tile surface, predicted earlier by the theory and measured on EAST in 2012, is well-reproduced by simulations. In addition, the instability generates the force-free Evans currents at the free plasma surface. The new pattern of reconnection of the plasma with the vacuum magnetic field is discovered. This work is supported by US DoE Contract No. DE-AC02-09-CH11466.

Do post-stroke patients benefit from robotic verticalization? A pilot-study focusing on a novel neurophysiological approach.

PubMed

Calabrò, Rocco Salvatore; Naro, Antonino; Russo, Margherita; Leo, Antonino; Balletta, Tina; Saccá, Ileana; De Luca, Rosaria; Bramanti, Placido

2015-01-01

Tilt-table equipped with the dynamic foot-support (ERIGO) and the functional electric stimulation could be a safe and suitable device for stabilization of vital signs, increasing patient's motivation for further recovery, decreasing the duration of hospitalization, and accelerating the adaptation to vertical posture in bedridden patients with brain-injury. Moreover, it is conceivable that verticalization may improve cognitive functions, and induce plastic changes at sensory motor and vestibular system level that may in turn facilitate motor functional recovery. To test the safety and effectiveness of ERIGO treatment on motor and cognitive functions, cortical plasticity within vestibular and sensory-motor systems in a bedridden post-stroke sample. 20 patients were randomly divided in two groups that performed ERIGO training (30 sessions) (G1) or physiotherapist-assisted verticalization training (same duration) (G2), beyond conventional neurorehabilitation treatment. Motor and cognitive functions as well as sensory-motor and vestibular system plasticity were investigated either before (T0) or after (T1) the rehabilitative protocols. Both the verticalization treatments were well-tolerated. Notably, the G1 patients had a significant improvement in cognitive function (p = 0.03), global motor function (p = 0.006), sensory-motor (p < 0.001) and vestibular system plasticity (p = 0.02) as compared to G2. ERIGO training could be a valuable tool for the adaptation to the vertical position with a better global function improvement, as also suggested by the sensory-motor and vestibular system plasticity induction.

Simplified Predictive Models for CO2 Sequestration Performance Assessment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, Srikanta; RaviGanesh, Priya; Schuetter, Jared; Mooney, Douglas; He, Jincong; Durlofsky, Louis

2014-05-01

We present results from an ongoing research project that seeks to develop and validate a portfolio of simplified modeling approaches that will enable rapid feasibility and risk assessment for CO2 sequestration in deep saline formation. The overall research goal is to provide tools for predicting: (a) injection well and formation pressure buildup, and (b) lateral and vertical CO2 plume migration. Simplified modeling approaches that are being developed in this research fall under three categories: (1) Simplified physics-based modeling (SPM), where only the most relevant physical processes are modeled, (2) Statistical-learning based modeling (SLM), where the simulator is replaced with a "response surface", and (3) Reduced-order method based modeling (RMM), where mathematical approximations reduce the computational burden. The system of interest is a single vertical well injecting supercritical CO2 into a 2-D layered reservoir-caprock system with variable layer permeabilities. In the first category (SPM), we use a set of well-designed full-physics compositional simulations to understand key processes and parameters affecting pressure propagation and buoyant plume migration. Based on these simulations, we have developed correlations for dimensionless injectivity as a function of the slope of fractional-flow curve, variance of layer permeability values, and the nature of vertical permeability arrangement. The same variables, along with a modified gravity number, can be used to develop a correlation for the total storage efficiency within the CO2 plume footprint. In the second category (SLM), we develop statistical "proxy models" using the simulation domain described previously with two different approaches: (a) classical Box-Behnken experimental design with a quadratic response surface fit, and (b) maximin Latin Hypercube sampling (LHS) based design with a Kriging metamodel fit using a quadratic trend and Gaussian correlation structure. For roughly the same number of simulations, the LHS-based meta-model yields a more robust predictive model, as verified by a k-fold cross-validation approach. In the third category (RMM), we use a reduced-order modeling procedure that combines proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) for reducing problem dimensionality with trajectory-piecewise linearization (TPWL) for extrapolating system response at new control points from a limited number of trial runs ("snapshots"). We observe significant savings in computational time with very good accuracy from the POD-TPWL reduced order model - which could be important in the context of history matching, uncertainty quantification and optimization problems. The paper will present results from our ongoing investigations, and also discuss future research directions and likely outcomes. This work was supported by U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory award DE-FE0009051 and Ohio Department of Development grant D-13-02.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bruno, Michael

Geomechanics Technologies has completed a detailed characterization study of the Wilmington Graben offshore Southern California area for large-scale CO₂ storage. This effort has included: an evaluation of existing wells in both State and Federal waters, field acquisition of about 175 km (109 mi) of new seismic data, new well drilling, development of integrated 3D geologic, geomechanics, and fluid flow models for the area. The geologic analysis indicates that more than 796 MMt of storage capacity is available within the Pliocene and Miocene formations in the Graben for midrange geologic estimates (P50). Geomechanical analyses indicate that injection can be conducted withoutmore » significant risk for surface deformation, induced stresses or fault activation. Numerical analysis of fluid migration indicates that injection into the Pliocene Formation at depths of 1525 m (5000 ft) would lead to undesirable vertical migration of the CO₂ plume. Recent well drilling however, indicates that deeper sand is present at depths exceeding 2135 m (7000 ft), which could be viable for large volume storage. For vertical containment, injection would need to be limited to about 250,000 metric tons per year per well, would need to be placed at depths greater than 7000ft, and would need to be placed in new wells located at least 1 mile from any existing offset wells. As a practical matter, this would likely limit storage operations in the Wilmington Graben to about 1 million tons per year or less. A quantitative risk analysis for the Wilmington Graben indicate that such large scale CO₂ storage in the area would represent higher risk than other similar size projects in the US and overseas.« less

Grouper: a compact, streamable triangle mesh data structure.

PubMed

Luffel, Mark; Gurung, Topraj; Lindstrom, Peter; Rossignac, Jarek

2014-01-01

We present Grouper: an all-in-one compact file format, random-access data structure, and streamable representation for large triangle meshes. Similarly to the recently published SQuad representation, Grouper represents the geometry and connectivity of a mesh by grouping vertices and triangles into fixed-size records, most of which store two adjacent triangles and a shared vertex. Unlike SQuad, however, Grouper interleaves geometry with connectivity and uses a new connectivity representation to ensure that vertices and triangles can be stored in a coherent order that enables memory-efficient sequential stream processing. We present a linear-time construction algorithm that allows streaming out Grouper meshes using a small memory footprint while preserving the initial ordering of vertices. As a part of this construction, we show how the problem of assigning vertices and triangles to groups reduces to a well-known NP-hard optimization problem, and present a simple yet effective heuristic solution that performs well in practice. Our array-based Grouper representation also doubles as a triangle mesh data structure that allows direct access to vertices and triangles. Storing only about two integer references per triangle--i.e., less than the three vertex references stored with each triangle in a conventional indexed mesh format--Grouper answers both incidence and adjacency queries in amortized constant time. Our compact representation enables data-parallel processing on multicore computers, instant partitioning and fast transmission for distributed processing, as well as efficient out-of-core access. We demonstrate the versatility and performance benefits of Grouper using a suite of example meshes and processing kernels.

Grouper: A Compact, Streamable Triangle Mesh Data Structure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Luffel, Mark; Gurung, Topraj; Lindstrom, Peter

2014-01-01

Here, we present Grouper: an all-in-one compact file format, random-access data structure, and streamable representation for large triangle meshes. Similarly to the recently published SQuad representation, Grouper represents the geometry and connectivity of a mesh by grouping vertices and triangles into fixed-size records, most of which store two adjacent triangles and a shared vertex. Unlike SQuad, however, Grouper interleaves geometry with connectivity and uses a new connectivity representation to ensure that vertices and triangles can be stored in a coherent order that enables memory-efficient sequential stream processing. We also present a linear-time construction algorithm that allows streaming out Grouper meshesmore » using a small memory footprint while preserving the initial ordering of vertices. In this construction, we show how the problem of assigning vertices and triangles to groups reduces to a well-known NP-hard optimization problem, and present a simple yet effective heuristic solution that performs well in practice. Our array-based Grouper representation also doubles as a triangle mesh data structure that allows direct access to vertices and triangles. Storing only about two integer references per triangle-i.e., less than the three vertex references stored with each triangle in a conventional indexed mesh format-Grouper answers both incidence and adjacency queries in amortized constant time. Our compact representation enables data-parallel processing on multicore computers, instant partitioning and fast transmission for distributed processing, as well as efficient out-of-core access. We demonstrate the versatility and performance benefits of Grouper using a suite of example meshes and processing kernels.« less

Spatial separation of light perception and growth response in maize root phototropism.

PubMed

Mullen, J L; Wolverton, C; Ishikawa, H; Hangarter, R P; Evans, M L

2002-09-01

Although the effects of gravity on root growth are well known and interactions between light and gravity have been reported, details of root phototropic responses are less documented. We used high-resolution image analysis to study phototropism in primary roots of Zea mays L. Similar to the location of perception in gravitropism, the perception of light was localized in the root cap. Phototropic curvature away from the light, on the other hand, developed in the central elongation zone, more basal than the site of initiation of gravitropic curvature. The phototropic curvature saturated at approximately 10 micromoles m-2 s-1 blue light with a peak curvature of 29 +/- 4 degrees, in part due to induction of positive gravitropism following displacement of the root tip from vertical during negative phototropism. However, at higher fluence rates, development of phototropic curvature is arrested even if gravitropism is avoided by maintaining the root cap vertically using a rotating feedback system. Thus continuous illumination can cause adaptation in the signalling pathway of the phototropic response in roots.

Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube Arrays as Efficient Supports for Faradaic Capacitive Electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oguntoye, Moses; Holleran, Mary-Kate; Roberts, Katherine; Pesika, Noshir

Supercapacitors are notable for their ability to deliver energy at higher power (compared to batteries) and store energy at higher density (compared to capacitors) as well as exhibit a long cycle life. In our efforts to further the development of supercapacitors, our focus is on using vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNT) as supports for faradaic capacitive electrode materials. The objective is to develop electrodes functioning in an inexpensive aqueous environment with small potential windows, that store energy at a higher density than carbon materials alone. We describe the different approaches explored to overcome the challenges of non-uniform deposition, poor wetting and array collapse. Materials that are electrochemically anchored to VACNT supports include NiCo2O4, VOx, Fe2O3 and Co-Mn mixed oxides. In each case, the specific capacitance obtained using the VACNT arrays as supports is significantly more than that obtained by direct deposition onto current collectors or by using VACNT alone. The ease of VACNT growth and the degree of coating control achievable using electrodeposition means there is much potential in exploring them as supports for capacitive electrode materials.

Development and application of a hillslope hydrologic model

USGS Publications Warehouse

Blain, C.A.; Milly, P.C.D.

1991-01-01

A vertically integrated two-dimensional lateral flow model of soil moisture has been developed. Derivation of the governing equation is based on a physical interpretation of hillslope processes. The lateral subsurface-flow model permits variability of precipitation and evapotranspiration, and allows arbitrary specification of soil-moisture retention properties. Variable slope, soil thickness, and saturation are all accommodated. The numerical solution method, a Crank-Nicolson, finite-difference, upstream-weighted scheme, is simple and robust. A small catchment in northeastern Kansas is the subject of an application of the lateral subsurface-flow model. Calibration of the model using observed discharge provides estimates of the active porosity (0.1 cm3/cm3) and of the saturated horizontal hydraulic conductivity (40 cm/hr). The latter figure is at least an order of magnitude greater than the vertical hydraulic conductivity associated with the silty clay loam soil matrix. The large value of hydraulic conductivity derived from the calibration is suggestive of macropore-dominated hillslope drainage. The corresponding value of active porosity agrees well with a published average value of the difference between total porosity and field capacity for a silty clay loam. ?? 1991.

Finite Element Aircraft Simulation of Turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McFarland, R. E.

1997-01-01

A turbulence model has been developed for realtime aircraft simulation that accommodates stochastic turbulence and distributed discrete gusts as a function of the terrain. This model is applicable to conventional aircraft, V/STOL aircraft, and disc rotor model helicopter simulations. Vehicle angular activity in response to turbulence is computed from geometrical and temporal relationships rather than by using the conventional continuum approximations that assume uniform gust immersion and low frequency responses. By using techniques similar to those recently developed for blade-element rotor models, the angular-rate filters of conventional turbulence models are not required. The model produces rotational rates as well as air mass translational velocities in response to both stochastic and deterministic disturbances, where the discrete gusts and turbulence magnitudes may be correlated with significant terrain features or ship models. Assuming isotropy, a two-dimensional vertical turbulence field is created. A novel Gaussian interpolation technique is used to distribute vertical turbulence on the wing span or lateral rotor disc, and this distribution is used to compute roll responses. Air mass velocities are applied at significant centers of pressure in the computation of the aircraft's pitch and roll responses.

An Automatic Image Processing System for Glaucoma Screening

PubMed Central

Alodhayb, Sami; Lakshminarayanan, Vasudevan

2017-01-01

Horizontal and vertical cup to disc ratios are the most crucial parameters used clinically to detect glaucoma or monitor its progress and are manually evaluated from retinal fundus images of the optic nerve head. Due to the rarity of the glaucoma experts as well as the increasing in glaucoma's population, an automatically calculated horizontal and vertical cup to disc ratios (HCDR and VCDR, resp.) can be useful for glaucoma screening. We report on two algorithms to calculate the HCDR and VCDR. In the algorithms, level set and inpainting techniques were developed for segmenting the disc, while thresholding using Type-II fuzzy approach was developed for segmenting the cup. The results from the algorithms were verified using the manual markings of images from a dataset of glaucomatous images (retinal fundus images for glaucoma analysis (RIGA dataset)) by six ophthalmologists. The algorithm's accuracy for HCDR and VCDR combined was 74.2%. Only the accuracy of manual markings by one ophthalmologist was higher than the algorithm's accuracy. The algorithm's best agreement was with markings by ophthalmologist number 1 in 230 images (41.8%) of the total tested images. PMID:28947898

Spatial separation of light perception and growth response in maize root phototropism

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mullen, J. L.; Wolverton, C.; Ishikawa, H.; Hangarter, R. P.; Evans, M. L.

2002-01-01

Although the effects of gravity on root growth are well known and interactions between light and gravity have been reported, details of root phototropic responses are less documented. We used high-resolution image analysis to study phototropism in primary roots of Zea mays L. Similar to the location of perception in gravitropism, the perception of light was localized in the root cap. Phototropic curvature away from the light, on the other hand, developed in the central elongation zone, more basal than the site of initiation of gravitropic curvature. The phototropic curvature saturated at approximately 10 micromoles m-2 s-1 blue light with a peak curvature of 29 +/- 4 degrees, in part due to induction of positive gravitropism following displacement of the root tip from vertical during negative phototropism. However, at higher fluence rates, development of phototropic curvature is arrested even if gravitropism is avoided by maintaining the root cap vertically using a rotating feedback system. Thus continuous illumination can cause adaptation in the signalling pathway of the phototropic response in roots.

Complex of solonetzes and vertic chestnut soils in the manych-gudilo depression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kovda, I. V.; Morgun, E. P.; Il'ina, L. P.

2013-01-01

Morphological, physicochemical, and isotopic properties of a two-member soil complex developed under dry steppe have been studied in the central part of the Manych Depression. The soils are formed on chocolate-colored clayey sediments, and have pronounced microrelief and the complex vegetation pattern. A specific feature of the studied soil complex is the inverse position of its components: vertic chestnut soil occupies the microhigh, while solonetz is in the microlow. The formation of such complexes is explained by the biological factor, i.e., by the destruction of the solonetzic horizon under the impact of vegetation and earth-burrowing animals with further transformation under steppe plants and dealkalinization of the soil in the microhighs. The manifestation of vertic features and shrink-swell process in soils of the complex developing in dry steppe are compared with those in the vertic soils of the Central Pre-Caucasus formed under more humid environment. It is supposed that slickensides in the investigated vertic chestnut soil are relict feature inherited from the former wetter stage of the soil development and are subjected to a gradual degradation at present. In the modern period, vertic processes are weak and cannot be distinctly diagnosed. However, their activation may take place upon an increase of precipitation or the rise in the groundwater level.

An investigation of relationships between meso- and synoptic-scale phenomena

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scoggins, J. R.; Wood, J. E.; Fuelberg, H. E.; Read, W. L.

1972-01-01

Methods based on the vorticity equation, the adiabatic method, the curvature of the vertical wind profile, and the structure of synoptic waves are used to determine areas of positive vertical motion in the mid-troposphere for a period in each season. Parameters indicative of low-level moisture and conditional instability are areas in which mesoscale systems may be present. The best association between mesoscale and synoptic-scale phenomena was found for a period during December when synoptic-scale systems were well developed. A good association between meso- and synoptic-scale events also was found for a period during March, while the poorest association was found for a June period. Daytime surface heating apparently is an important factor in the formation of mesoscale systems during the summer. It is concluded that the formation of mesoscale phenomena may be determined essentially from synoptic-scale conditions during winter, late fall, and early spring.

Numerical simulation of overflow at vertical weirs using a hybrid level set/VOF method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lv, Xin; Zou, Qingping; Reeve, Dominic

2011-10-01

This paper presents the applications of a newly developed free surface flow model to the practical, while challenging overflow problems for weirs. Since the model takes advantage of the strengths of both the level set and volume of fluid methods and solves the Navier-Stokes equations on an unstructured mesh, it is capable of resolving the time evolution of very complex vortical motions, air entrainment and pressure variations due to violent deformations following overflow of the weir crest. In the present study, two different types of vertical weir, namely broad-crested and sharp-crested, are considered for validation purposes. The calculated overflow parameters such as pressure head distributions, velocity distributions, and water surface profiles are compared against experimental data as well as numerical results available in literature. A very good quantitative agreement has been obtained. The numerical model, thus, offers a good alternative to traditional experimental methods in the study of weir problems.

Predictive modeling capabilities from incident powder and laser to mechanical properties for laser directed energy deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, Yung C.; Bailey, Neil; Katinas, Christopher; Tan, Wenda

2018-05-01

This paper presents an overview of vertically integrated comprehensive predictive modeling capabilities for directed energy deposition processes, which have been developed at Purdue University. The overall predictive models consist of vertically integrated several modules, including powder flow model, molten pool model, microstructure prediction model and residual stress model, which can be used for predicting mechanical properties of additively manufactured parts by directed energy deposition processes with blown powder as well as other additive manufacturing processes. Critical governing equations of each model and how various modules are connected are illustrated. Various illustrative results along with corresponding experimental validation results are presented to illustrate the capabilities and fidelity of the models. The good correlations with experimental results prove the integrated models can be used to design the metal additive manufacturing processes and predict the resultant microstructure and mechanical properties.

Wet catalyst-support films for production of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes.

PubMed

Alvarez, Noe T; Hamilton, Christopher E; Pint, Cary L; Orbaek, Alvin; Yao, Jun; Frosinini, Aldo L; Barron, Andrew R; Tour, James M; Hauge, Robert H

2010-07-01

A procedure for vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VA-CNT) production has been developed through liquid-phase deposition of alumoxanes (aluminum oxide hydroxides, boehmite) as a catalyst support. Through a simple spin-coating of alumoxane nanoparticles, uniform centimer-square thin film surfaces were coated and used as supports for subsequent deposition of metal catalyst. Uniform VA-CNTs are observed to grow from this film following deposition of both conventional evaporated Fe catalyst, as well as premade Fe nanoparticles drop-dried from the liquid phase. The quality and uniformity of the VA-CNTs are comparable to growth from conventional evaporated layers of Al(2)O(3). The combined use of alumoxane and Fe nanoparticles to coat surfaces represents an inexpensive and scalable approach to large-scale VA-CNT production that makes chemical vapor deposition significantly more competitive when compared to other CNT production techniques.

Effect of Hydrograph Characteristics on Vertical Grain Sorting in Gravel Bed Rivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hassan, M. A.; Parker, G.; Egozi, R.

2005-12-01

This study focuses on the formation of armour layers over a range of hydrologic conditions that includes two limiting cases; a relatively flat hydrograph that represents conditions produced by continuous snowmelt and a sharply peaked hydrograph that represents conditions associated with flash floods. To achieve our objective we analyzed field evidence, conducted flume experiments and performed numerical simulations. Sediment supply appears to be a first-order control on bed surface armouring, while the shape of the hydrograph plays a secondary role. All constant hydrograph experiments developed a well-armored structured surface while short asymmetrical hydrographs did not show substantial vertical sorting. All symmetrical hydrographs show some degree of sorting, and the sorting tended to become more pronounced with longer duration. Using the numerical framework of Parker, modified Powell, et al. and Wilcock and Crowe, we were able to achieve similar results.

Car suspension system monitoring under road conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fedotov, A. I.; Kuznetsov, N. Y.; Lysenko, A. V.; Vlasov, V. G.

2017-12-01

The paper describes an advanced gyro-based measuring system comprising a CGV-4K central vertical gyro and a G-3M gyrocompass. The advanced system provides additional functions that help measure unsprung mass rotation angles about a vertical axis, rolling angles, trim angles and movements of the unsprung masses of the front (ap and al) and rear b axes when a car wheel hits a single obstruction. The paper also describes the operation of the system, which measures movements of unsprung masses about the body of a car when it hits a single obstruction. The paper presents the dependency diagrams ap = f(t) and al = f(t) for front and rear wheels respectively, as well as b = f(t) for a rear left wheel, which were determined experimentally. Test results for a car equipped with an advanced gyro-based measuring system moving around a circle can form a basis for developing a mathematical model of the process.

The use of a laser ceilometer for sky condition determination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nadolski, Vickie L.; Bradley, James T.

The use of a laser ceilometer for determining sky condition is presented, with emphasis on the operation of the ceilometer, the sky-condition-reporting algorithm, and how the laser ceilometer and the sky-condition algorithm are used to give a report suitable for aircraft operations and meteorological application. The sampling and processing features of the Vaisala ceilometer produced a detailed and accurate cloud base 'signature' by taking 254 measurement samples of the energy scattered back from a single laser pulse as the pulse traveled from the surface to 12,000 ft. The transmit time from the projection of the laser pulse to its backscattering from a cloud element and subsequent return to a collocated receiver is measured and a cloud height element computed. Attention is given to the development of a vertical visibility concept and of a vertical-visibility algorithm, as well as the strengths and limitations of the sky condition report.

Predictive modeling capabilities from incident powder and laser to mechanical properties for laser directed energy deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shin, Yung C.; Bailey, Neil; Katinas, Christopher; Tan, Wenda

2018-01-01

This paper presents an overview of vertically integrated comprehensive predictive modeling capabilities for directed energy deposition processes, which have been developed at Purdue University. The overall predictive models consist of vertically integrated several modules, including powder flow model, molten pool model, microstructure prediction model and residual stress model, which can be used for predicting mechanical properties of additively manufactured parts by directed energy deposition processes with blown powder as well as other additive manufacturing processes. Critical governing equations of each model and how various modules are connected are illustrated. Various illustrative results along with corresponding experimental validation results are presented to illustrate the capabilities and fidelity of the models. The good correlations with experimental results prove the integrated models can be used to design the metal additive manufacturing processes and predict the resultant microstructure and mechanical properties.

Longwall Guidance and Control Development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1982-01-01

The longwall guidance and control (G&C) system was evaluated to determine which systems and subsystems lent themselves to automatic control in the mining of coal. The upper coal/shale interface was identified as the reference for a vertical G&C system, with two sensors (the natural backgound and the sensitized pick) being used to locate and track this boundary. In order to insure a relatively smooth recession surface (roof and floor of the excavated seam), a last and present cut measuring instrument (acoustic sensor) was used. Potentiometers were used to measure elevations of the shearer arms. The intergration of these components comprised the vertical control system (pitch control). Yaw and roll control were incorporated into a face alignment system which was designed to keep the coal face normal to its external boundaries. Numerous tests, in the laboratory and in the field, have confirmed the feasibility of automatic horizon control, as well as determining the face alignment.

A dynamic optimization model of the diel vertical distribution of a pelagic planktivorous fish

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosland, Rune; Giske, Jarl

A stochastic dynamic optimization model for the diel depth distribution of juveniles and adults of the mesopelagic planktivore Maurolicus muelleri (Gmelin) is developed and used for a winter situation. Observations from Masfjorden, western Norway, reveal differences in vertical distribution, growth and mortality between juveniles and adults in January. Juveniles stay within the upper 100m with high feeding rates, while adults stay within the 100-150m zone with very low feeding rates during the diel cycle. The difference in depth profitability is assumed to be caused by age-dependent processes, and are calculated from a mechanistic model for visual feeding. The environment is described as a set of habitats represented by discrete depth intervals along the vertical axis, differing with respect to light intensity, food abundance, predation risk and temperature. The short time interval (24h) allows fitness to be linearly related to growth (feeding), assuming that growth increases the future reproductive output of the fish. Optimal depth position is calculated from balancing feeding opportunity against mortality risk, where the fitness reward gained by feeding is weighted against the danger of being killed by a predator. A basic run is established, and the model is validated by comparing predictions and observations. The sensitivity for different parameter values is also tested. The modelled vertical distributions and feeding patterns of juvenile and adult fish correspond well with the observations, and the assumption of age differences in mortality-feeding trade-offs seems adequate to explain the different depth profitability of the two age groups. The results indicate a preference for crepuscular feeding activity of the juveniles, and the vertical distribution of zooplankton seems to be the most important environmental factor regulating the adult depth position during the winter months in Masfjorden.

"3D_Fault_Offsets," a Matlab Code to Automatically Measure Lateral and Vertical Fault Offsets in Topographic Data: Application to San Andreas, Owens Valley, and Hope Faults

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stewart, N.; Gaudemer, Y.; Manighetti, I.; Serreau, L.; Vincendeau, A.; Dominguez, S.; Mattéo, L.; Malavieille, J.

2018-01-01

Measuring fault offsets preserved at the ground surface is of primary importance to recover earthquake and long-term slip distributions and understand fault mechanics. The recent explosion of high-resolution topographic data, such as Lidar and photogrammetric digital elevation models, offers an unprecedented opportunity to measure dense collections of fault offsets. We have developed a new Matlab code, 3D_Fault_Offsets, to automate these measurements. In topographic data, 3D_Fault_Offsets mathematically identifies and represents nine of the most prominent geometric characteristics of common sublinear markers along faults (especially strike slip) in 3-D, such as the streambed (minimum elevation), top, free face and base of channel banks or scarps (minimum Laplacian, maximum gradient, and maximum Laplacian), and ridges (maximum elevation). By calculating best fit lines through the nine point clouds on either side of the fault, the code computes the lateral and vertical offsets between the piercing points of these lines onto the fault plane, providing nine lateral and nine vertical offset measures per marker. Through a Monte Carlo approach, the code calculates the total uncertainty on each offset. It then provides tools to statistically analyze the dense collection of measures and to reconstruct the prefaulted marker geometry in the horizontal and vertical planes. We applied 3D_Fault_Offsets to remeasure previously published offsets across 88 markers on the San Andreas, Owens Valley, and Hope faults. We obtained 5,454 lateral and vertical offset measures. These automatic measures compare well to prior ones, field and remote, while their rich record provides new insights on the preservation of fault displacements in the morphology.

Numerical analysis of the cylindrical rigidity of the vertical steel tank shell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chirkov, Sergey; Tarasenko, Alexander; Chepur, Petr

2017-10-01

The paper deals with the study of rigidity of a vertical steel cylindrical tank and its structural elements with the development of inhomogeneous subsidence in ANSYS software complex. The limiting case is considered in this paper: a complete absence of a base sector that varies along an arc of a circle. The subsidence zone is modeled by the parameter n. A finite-element model of vertical 20000 m3 steel tank has been created, taking into account all structural elements of tank metal structures, including the support ring, beam frame and roof sheets. Various combinations of vertical steel tank loading are analyzed. For operational loads, the most unfavorable combination is considered. Calculations were performed for the filled and emptied tank. Values of the maximum possible deformations of the outer contour of the bottom are obtained with the development of inhomogeneous base subsidence for the given tank size. The obtained parameters of intrinsic rigidity (deformability) of vertical steel tank can be used in the development of new regulatory and technical documentation for tanks.

P-wave indices in patients with pulmonary emphysema: do P-terminal force and interatrial block have confounding effects?

PubMed Central

Chhabra, Lovely; Chaubey, Vinod K; Kothagundla, Chandrasekhar; Bajaj, Rishi; Kaul, Sudesh; Spodick, David H

2013-01-01

Introduction Pulmonary emphysema causes several electrocardiogram changes, and one of the most common and well known is on the frontal P-wave axis. P-axis verticalization (P-axis > 60°) serves as a quasidiagnostic indicator of emphysema. The correlation of P-axis verticalization with the radiological severity of emphysema and severity of chronic obstructive lung function have been previously investigated and well described in the literature. However, the correlation of P-axis verticalization in emphysema with other P-indices like P-terminal force in V1 (Ptf), amplitude of initial positive component of P-waves in V1 (i-PV1), and interatrial block (IAB) have not been well studied. Our current study was undertaken to investigate the effects of emphysema on these P-wave indices in correlation with the verticalization of the P-vector. Materials and methods Unselected, routinely recorded electrocardiograms of 170 hospitalized emphysema patients were studied. Significant Ptf (s-Ptf) was considered ≥40 mm.ms and was divided into two types based on the morphology of P-waves in V1: either a totally negative (−) P wave in V1 or a biphasic (+/−) P wave in V1. Results s-Ptf correlated better with vertical P-vectors than nonvertical P-vectors (P = 0.03). s-Ptf also significantly correlated with IAB (P = 0.001); however, IAB and P-vector verticalization did not appear to have any significant correlation (P = 0.23). There was a very weak correlation between i-PV1 and frontal P-vector (r = 0.15; P = 0.047); however, no significant correlation was found between i-PV1 and P-amplitude in lead III (r = 0.07; P = 0.36). Conclusion We conclude that increased P-tf in emphysema may be due to downward right atrial position caused by right atrial displacement, and thus the common assumption that increased P-tf implies left atrial enlargement should be made with caution in patients with emphysema. Also, the lack of strong correlation between i-PV1 and P-amplitude in lead III or vertical P-vector may suggest the predominant role of downward right atrial distortion rather than right atrial enlargement in causing vertical P-vector in emphysema. PMID:23690680

A Physician's Perspective On Vertical Integration.

PubMed

Berenson, Robert A

2017-09-01

Vertical integration has been a central feature of health care delivery system change for more than two decades. Recent studies have demonstrated that vertically integrated health care systems raise prices and costs without observable improvements in quality, despite many theoretical reasons why cost control and improved quality might occur. Less well studied is how physicians view their newfound partnerships with hospitals. In this article I review literature findings and other observations on five aspects of vertical integration that affect physicians in their professional and personal lives: patients' access to physicians, physician compensation, autonomy versus system support, medical professionalism and culture, and lifestyle. I conclude that the movement toward physicians' alignment with and employment in vertically integrated systems seems inexorable but that policy should not promote such integration either intentionally or inadvertently. Instead, policy should address the flaws in current payment approaches that reward high prices and excessive service use-outcomes that vertical integration currently produces. Project HOPE—The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc.

Methods of operation of apparatus measuring formation resistivity from within a cased well having one measurement and two compensation steps

DOEpatents

Vail, III, William B.

1993-01-01

Methods of operation of an apparatus having at least two pairs of voltage measurement electrodes vertically disposed in a cased well to measure the resistivity of adjacent geological formations from inside the cased well. During stationary measurements with the apparatus at a fixed vertical depth within the cased well, the invention herein discloses methods of operation which include a measurement step and subsequent first and second compensation steps respectively resulting in improved accuracy of measurement. First and second order errors of measurement are identified, and the measurement step and two compensation steps provide methods to substantially eliminate their influence on the results. A multiple frequency apparatus adapted to movement within the well is described which simultaneously provide the measurement and two compensation steps.

A flowing partially penetrating well in a finite-thickness aquifer: a mixed-type initial boundary value problem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Chien-Chieh; Chen, Chia-Shyun

2003-02-01

An analytical approach using integral transform techniques is developed to deal with a well hydraulics model involving a mixed boundary of a flowing partially penetrating well, where constant drawdown is stipulated along the well screen and no-flux condition along the remaining unscreened part. The aquifer is confined of finite thickness. First, the mixed boundary is changed into a homogeneous Neumann boundary by discretizing the well screen into a finite number of segments, each of which at constant drawdown is subject to unknown a priori well bore flux. Then, the Laplace and the finite Fourier transforms are used to solve this modified model. Finally, the prescribed constant drawdown condition is reinstated to uniquely determine the well bore flux function, and to restore the relation between the solution and the original model. The transient and the steady-state solutions for infinite aquifer thickness can be derived from the semi-analytical solution, complementing the currently available dual integral solution. If the distance from the edge of the well screen to the bottom/top of the aquifer is 100 times greater than the well screen length, aquifer thickness can be assumed infinite for times of practical significance, and groundwater flow can reach a steady-state condition, where the well will continuously supply water under a constant discharge. However, if aquifer thickness is smaller, the well discharge decreases with time. The partial penetration effect is most pronounced in the vicinity of the flowing well, decreases with increasing horizontal distance, and vanishes at distances larger than 1-2 times the aquifer thickness divided by the square root of aquifer anisotropy. The horizontal hydraulic conductivity and the specific storage coefficient can be determined from vertically averaged drawdown as measured by fully penetrating observation wells. The vertical hydraulic conductivity can be determined from the well discharge under two particular partial penetration conditions.

Notes on the uwainat oil rim development, Maydan Mahzam and Bul Hanine Fields, offshore Qatar

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hamam, K.A.

As a result of reservoir simulation studies of the Uwainat reservoirs (Maydan Mahzam and Bul Hanine Fields), drilling to the Uwainat oil rim target became very ''tight'' with a very limited vertical tolerance. To achieve drilling to the tight target requires a precise position of the well at the top of the Lower Arab IV reservoir (a reliable marker) and an accurate isochore of the Lower Arab IV - Uwainat. The discussion shows that the level of accuracy needed in determining both the actual subsea well position and in constructing the depth contours of the reservoirs is extremely high.

Apogean-perigean signals encoded in tidal flats at the fluvio-estuarine transition of Glacier Creek, Turnagain Arm, Alaska; implications for ancient tidal rhythmites

USGS Publications Warehouse

Greb, S.F.; Archer, A.W.; Deboer, D.G.

2011-01-01

Turnagain Arm is a macrotidal fjord-style estuary. Glacier Creek is a small, glacially fed stream which enters the estuary tangentially near Girdwood, Alaska. Trenches and daily sedimentation measurements were made in a mudflat along the fluvio-estuarine transition of Glacier Creek during several summers since 2003. Each year, the flats appear to erode during the winter and then accrete vertically in the spring and summer. In each of the years studied, tidal laminae in vertically thickening and thinning laminae bundles were deposited by twice daily tides in neap-spring tidal cycles. In 2004, bundles of thickening and thinning laminae couplets were noted in trenches cut into the flats. Five laminae bundles alternated between thicker and thinner bundles, corresponding to the perigean (high spring) and apogean (low spring) tides. Well-preserved apogean-perigean cycles have rarely been documented in modern tidal flat sediments. At this location, vertical accretion of tidal rhythmites with well-developed neap-spring cyclicity is possible because of the near-complete removal of the flat from the previous year, which creates accommodation space for vertical accretion without significant reworking. Macrotidal conditions, no reworking by infaunal invertebrates, protection from the main tidal channel by a gravel bar and protection from storm waves and fluvial erosion by a recess in the sedge marsh that surrounds the flats all aid in preservation of rhythmites during aggradation. The position of the flats relative to tidal range allows for accumulation of complete spring cycles and incomplete neap cycles. In the summer of 2004, apogee and perigee were closely aligned with the new and full moons, resulting in successive strong perigee and apogee tides which probably aided in the accumulation of successive thick-thin spring cycles encoding the apogean and perigean tidal cycle. The apogean-perigean signal was not observed in subsequent years. ?? 2011 The Authors.

Effects on Chilean Vertical Reference Frame due to the Maule Earthquake co-seismic and post-seismic effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montecino, Henry D.; de Freitas, Silvio R. C.; Báez, Juan C.; Ferreira, Vagner G.

2017-12-01

The Maule Earthquake (Mw = 8.8) of February 27, 2010 is among the strongest earthquakes that occurred in recent years throughout the world. The crustal deformation caused by this earthquake has been widely studied using GNSS, InSAR and gravity observations. However, there is currently no estimation of the possible vertical deformations produced by co-seismic and post-seismic effects in segments of the Chilean Vertical Reference Frame (CHVRF). In this paper, we present an estimation of co-seismic and post-seismic deformations on the CHVRF using an indirect approach based on GNSS and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data as well as by applying a trajectory model. GNSS time series were used from 10 continuous GNSS stations in the period from 2007 to 2015, as well as 28 GNSS temporary stations realized before and after the earthquake, and 34 vertical deformation vectors in the region most affected by the earthquake. We considered a set of 147 monthly solutions of spherical harmonic gravity field that were expanded up to degree, as well as order 96 of the GRACE mission provided by Center for Space Research, University of Texas at Austin (UT-CSR) process center. The magnitude of vertical deformation was estimated in part of the Chilean vertical network due to the co-seismic and post-seismic effects. Once we evaluated the hydrological effect, natural and artificial jumps, and the effect of glacial isostatic adjustment in GNSS and GRACE time series, the maximum values associated to co- and post-seismic deformations on orthometric height were found to be ∼-34 cm and 5 cm, respectively. Overall, the deformation caused by the Maule earthquake in orthometric heights is almost entirely explained by the variation in the ellipsoidal heights (over 85% in co-seismic jump); however, coseismic jump in the geoid reached -3.3 mm, and could influence the maintenance of a modern vertical reference network in a medium to long term. We evaluated the consistency for a segment of the CHVRF after the earthquake and recommended precautions for using the CHVRF in the region.

Motor mechanisms of vertical fusion in individuals with superior oblique paresis.

PubMed

Mudgil, Ananth V; Walker, Mark; Steffen, Heimo; Guyton, David L; Zee, David S

2002-06-01

We wanted to determine the mechanisms of motor vertical fusion in patients with superior oblique paresis and to correlate these mechanisms with surgical outcomes. Ten patients with superior oblique paresis underwent 3-axis, bilateral, scleral search coil eye movement recordings. Eye movements associated with fusion were analyzed. Six patients had decompensated congenital superior oblique paresis and 4 had acquired superior oblique paresis. All patients with acquired superior oblique paresis relied predominantly on the vertical rectus muscles for motor fusion. Patients with congenital superior oblique paresis were less uniform in their mechanisms for motor fusion: 2 patients used predominantly the oblique muscles, 2 patients used predominantly the vertical recti, and 2 patients used predominantly the superior oblique in the hyperdeviated eye and the superior rectus in the hypodeviated eye. The last 2 patients developed the largest changes in torsional eye alignment relative to changes in vertical eye alignment and were the only patients to develop symptomatic surgical overcorrections. There are 3 different mechanisms for vertical fusion in individuals with superior oblique paresis, with the predominant mechanism being the vertical recti. A subset of patients with superior oblique paresis uses predominantly the superior oblique muscle in the hyperdeviated paretic eye and the superior rectus muscle in the fellow eye for fusion. This results in intorsion of both eyes, causing a large change in torsional alignment. The consequent cyclodisparity, in addition to the existing vertical deviation, may make fusion difficult. The differing patterns of vertical fusional vergence may have implications for surgical treatment.

A Low Temperature Scanning Force Microscope with a Vertical Cantilever and Interferometric Detection Scheme

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jeehoon; Williams, T. L.; Chu, Sang Lin; Korre, Hasan; Chalfin, Max; Hoffman, J. E.

2008-03-01

We have developed a fiber-optic interferometry system with a vertical cantilever for scanning force microscopy. A lens, mounted on a Pan-type walker, was used to collect the interference signal in the cavity between the cantilever and the single mode fiber. This vertical geometry has several advantages: (1) it is directly sensitive to lateral forces; (2) low spring constant vertical cantilevers may allow increased force sensitivity by solving the ``snap-in'' problem that occurs with soft horizontal cantilevers. We have sharpened vertical cantilevers by focused ion beam (FIB), achieving a tip radius of 20 nm. We will show test results of a magnetic force microscope (MFM) with this vertical cantilever system.

Optoelectronic Materials Center

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-06-11

surface - emitting GaAs/AIGaAs vertical - cavity laser (TJ- VCSEL ) incorporating wavelength-resonant...multi-quantum well, vertical cavity surface - emitted laser . This structure consists entirely of undoped epilayers, thus simplifying the problems of... cavity surface - emitting lasers ( VCSELs ) for doubling and for parallel optical data processing. Progress - GaAIAs/GaAs and InGaAs/GaAs RPG- VCSEL

Multiparametric methane sensor for environmental monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borecki, M.; Duk, M.; Kociubiński, A.; Korwin-Pawlowski, M. L.

2016-12-01

Today, methane sensors find applications mostly in safety alarm installations, gas parameters detection and air pollution classification. Such sensors and sensors elements exists for industry and home use. Under development area of methane sensors application is dedicated to ground gases monitoring. Proper monitoring of soil gases requires reliable and maintenance-free semi-constant and longtime examination at relatively low cost of equipment. The sensors for soil monitoring have to work on soil probe. Therefore, sensor is exposed to environment conditions, as a wide range of temperatures and a full scale of humidity changes, as well as rain, snow and wind, that are not specified for classical methane sensors. Development of such sensor is presented in this paper. The presented sensor construction consists of five commercial non dispersive infra-red (NDIR) methane sensing units, a set of temperature and humidity sensing units, a gas chamber equipped with a micro-fan, automated gas valves and also a microcontroller that controls the measuring procedure. The electronics part of sensor was installed into customized 3D printed housing equipped with self-developed gas valves. The main development of proposed sensor is on the side of experimental evaluation of construction reliability and results of data processing included safety procedures and function for hardware error correction. Redundant methane sensor units are used providing measurement error correction as well as improved measurement accuracy. The humidity and temperature sensors are used for internal compensation of methane measurements as well as for cutting-off the sensor from the environment when the conditions exceed allowable parameters. Results obtained during environment sensing prove that the gas concentration readings are not sensitive to gas chamber vertical or horizontal position. It is important as vertical sensor installation on soil probe is simpler that horizontal one. Data acquired during six month of environment monitoring prove that error correction of methane sensing units was essential for maintenance free sensor operation, despite used safety procedures.

Enserch Garden Banks 388 field development template tie-back of existing subsea satellite wells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hellums, J.W.; Granhaug, O.

1995-12-31

The Flowline Jumper System (FJS) will be used by Enserch Exploration, Inc. to tie in three existing wells to the 24 well production template installed in Garden Banks Block 388. The FJS allows these existing satellite wells to be connected to the production template via standard wellbays, eliminating the need for dedicated receiver structures, or tie-in porches. Wellbays used for satellite well tie-ins are available for use as template wells following the removal of the jumper. This paper describes the considerations that led to the selection and influenced the design of the FJS. The advantages of vertical jumper systems aremore » fully discussed with respect to the GB-388 Project. A description of the major components and how they interface with the template is included to provide a better understanding of the FJS. Also included is an outline of the System Integration Testing (SIT) of the FJS.« less

Effects of seasonal operation on the quality of water produced by public-supply wells

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bexfield, Laura M.; Jurgens, Bryant C.

2014-01-01

Seasonal variability in groundwater pumping is common in many places, but resulting effects of seasonal pumping stress on the quality of water produced by public-supply wells are not thoroughly understood. Analysis of historical water-quality samples from public-supply wells completed in deep basin-fill aquifers in Modesto, California (134 wells) and Albuquerque, New Mexico (95 wells) indicates that several wells have seasonal variability in concentrations of contaminants of concern. In Modesto, supply wells are more likely to produce younger groundwater with higher nitrate and uranium concentrations during the summer (high) pumping season than during the winter (low) pumping season. In Albuquerque, supply wells are more likely to produce older groundwater with higher arsenic concentrations during the winter pumping season than during the summer pumping season. Seasonal variability in contaminant concentrations in Modesto is influenced primarily by effects of summer pumping on vertical hydraulic gradients that drive migration of shallow groundwater through the aquifer to supply wells. Variability in Albuquerque is influenced primarily by the period of time that a supply well is idle, allowing its wellbore to act as a conduit for vertical groundwater flow and contaminant migration. However, both processes are observed in each study area. Similar findings would appear to be likely in other alluvial basins with stratified water quality and substantial vertical head gradients. Results suggest that even in aquifers dominated by old groundwater, changes to seasonal pumping patterns and/or to depth of well completion can help reduce vulnerability to selected contaminants of either natural or anthropogenic origin.

Effects of Seasonal Operation on the Quality of Water Produced by Public-Supply Wells

PubMed Central

Bexfield, Laura M; Jurgens, Bryant C

2014-01-01

Seasonal variability in groundwater pumping is common in many places, but resulting effects of seasonal pumping stress on the quality of water produced by public-supply wells are not thoroughly understood. Analysis of historical water-quality samples from public-supply wells completed in deep basin-fill aquifers in Modesto, California (134 wells) and Albuquerque, New Mexico (95 wells) indicates that several wells have seasonal variability in concentrations of contaminants of concern. In Modesto, supply wells are more likely to produce younger groundwater with higher nitrate and uranium concentrations during the summer (high) pumping season than during the winter (low) pumping season. In Albuquerque, supply wells are more likely to produce older groundwater with higher arsenic concentrations during the winter pumping season than during the summer pumping season. Seasonal variability in contaminant concentrations in Modesto is influenced primarily by effects of summer pumping on vertical hydraulic gradients that drive migration of shallow groundwater through the aquifer to supply wells. Variability in Albuquerque is influenced primarily by the period of time that a supply well is idle, allowing its wellbore to act as a conduit for vertical groundwater flow and contaminant migration. However, both processes are observed in each study area. Similar findings would appear to be likely in other alluvial basins with stratified water quality and substantial vertical head gradients. Results suggest that even in aquifers dominated by old groundwater, changes to seasonal pumping patterns and/or to depth of well completion can help reduce vulnerability to selected contaminants of either natural or anthropogenic origin. PMID:24593780

Age-of-Air, Tape Recorder, and Vertical Transport Schemes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, S.-J.; Einaudi, Franco (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

A numerical-analytic investigation of the impacts of vertical transport schemes on the model simulated age-of-air and the so-called 'tape recorder' will be presented using an idealized 1-D column transport model as well as a more realistic 3-D dynamical model. By comparing to the 'exact' solutions of 'age-of-air' and the 'tape recorder' obtainable in the 1-D setting, useful insight is gained on the impacts of numerical diffusion and dispersion of numerical schemes used in global models. Advantages and disadvantages of Eulerian, semi-Lagrangian, and Lagrangian transport schemes will be discussed. Vertical resolution requirement for numerical schemes as well as observing systems for capturing the fine details of the 'tape recorder' or any upward propagating wave-like structures can potentially be derived from the 1-D analytic model.

3D numerical modelling of a willow vegetated river/floodplain system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilson, C. A. M. E.; Yagci, O.; Rauch, H.-P.; Olsen, N. R. B.

2006-07-01

SummaryUsing a three-dimensional finite volume code with standard k- ɛ turbulence closure the hydraulic impact of willow stands ( Salix alba and Salix fragilis) on the velocity distribution was modelled. The additional hydraulic resistance of the willow stands was modelled separately to the bed resistance using a drag force term that was introduced into the Navier-Stokes equations. Two flood events of varying magnitude and stages of plant development were simulated using this approach. The river comprises an asymmetric compound channel with vegetated floodplain of reach length 170 m. The willow development has been monitored annually and this information was used to define the density of the willow stands (average number per m 2) and its variation as a function of stand height. During both flood events the willow stands were submerged and in pronation. The willow stands were modelled in bending as well as in their undisturbed vertical state. Modelling the willow stands as vertical or in bending was found to have a major impact on the computed velocity profiles. The impact of using a drag-force approach based on a non-uniform projected area distribution was found to be greater when the plants are modelled vertically than when the plants are modelled in high degrees of bending. In field studies involving flexible plants without leaves, the determination of the drag coefficient is of less importance compared to the need to quantify the degree by which plants are in pronation.

A mechanistic model of heat transfer for gas-liquid flow in vertical wellbore annuli.

PubMed

Yin, Bang-Tang; Li, Xiang-Fang; Liu, Gang

2018-01-01

The most prominent aspect of multiphase flow is the variation in the physical distribution of the phases in the flow conduit known as the flow pattern. Several different flow patterns can exist under different flow conditions which have significant effects on liquid holdup, pressure gradient and heat transfer. Gas-liquid two-phase flow in an annulus can be found in a variety of practical situations. In high rate oil and gas production, it may be beneficial to flow fluids vertically through the annulus configuration between well tubing and casing. The flow patterns in annuli are different from pipe flow. There are both casing and tubing liquid films in slug flow and annular flow in the annulus. Multiphase heat transfer depends on the hydrodynamic behavior of the flow. There are very limited research results that can be found in the open literature for multiphase heat transfer in wellbore annuli. A mechanistic model of multiphase heat transfer is developed for different flow patterns of upward gas-liquid flow in vertical annuli. The required local flow parameters are predicted by use of the hydraulic model of steady-state multiphase flow in wellbore annuli recently developed by Yin et al. The modified heat-transfer model for single gas or liquid flow is verified by comparison with Manabe's experimental results. For different flow patterns, it is compared with modified unified Zhang et al. model based on representative diameters.

Acquired Chiari malformation secondary to atlantoaxial vertical subluxation in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis combined with atlanto-occipital assimilation.

PubMed

Kimura, Yuiko; Seichi, Atsushi; Gomi, Akira; Kojima, Masahiro; Inoue, Hirokazu; Kimura, Atsushi

2012-01-01

A 65-year-old woman with a history of rheumatoid arthritis presented with a rare case of acquired Chiari malformation secondary to atlantoaxial vertical subluxation, associated with congenital atlanto-occipital assimilation. Syringomyelia and tetraparesis improved immediately after posterior fossa decompression and simultaneous occipito-cervical junction fusion. The progression of acquired Chiari malformation is not well known. We concluded that coexisting assimilation accelerated crowded foramen magnum following atlantoaxial vertical subluxation and induced acquired Chiari malformation over the course of a few years.

Vertical motions in the Uranian atmosphere - An analysis of radio observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hofstadter, Mark D.; Berge, Glenn L.; Muhleman, Duane O.

1990-01-01

The present, 6-cm radio map of Uranus indicates latitudinal features which may be due to vertical motions of the atmosphere. It appears in light of Voyager IR measurements as well as previously obtained radio data that these large-scale vertical motions, which have not undergone significant changes over the course of 8 years, extend from the 0.1- to the 45-bar levels; this span corresponds to a height of the order of 250 km. The latitudinal structures are believed to be primarily caused by horizontal variations of absorber abundances.

Retrieval of Vertical Aerosol and Trace Gas Distributions from Polarization Sensitive Multi-Axis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tirpitz, Jan-Lukas; Friess, Udo; Platt, Ulrich

2017-04-01

An accurate knowledge of the vertical distribution of trace gases and aerosols is crucial for our understanding of the chemical and dynamical processes in the lower troposphere. Their accurate determination is typically only possible by means of laborious and expensive airborne in-situ measurements but in the recent decades, numerous promising ground-based remote sensing approaches have been developed. One of them is to infer vertical distributions from "Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy" (DOAS) measurements. DOAS is a technique to analyze UV- and visible radiation spectra of direct or scattered sunlight, which delivers information on different atmospheric parameters, integrated over the light path from space to the instrument. An appropriate set of DOAS measurements, recorded under different viewing directions (Multi-Axis DOAS) and thus different light path geometries, provides information on the atmospheric state. The vertical profiles of aerosol properties and trace gas concentrations can be retrieved from such a set by numerical inversion techniques, incorporating radiative transfer models. The information content of measured data is rarely sufficient for a well-constrained retrieval, particularly for atmospheric layers above 1 km. We showed in first simulations that, apart from spectral properties, the polarization state of skylight is likely to provide a significant amount of additional information on the atmospheric state and thus to enhance retrieval quality. We present first simulations, expectations and ideas on how to implement and characterize a polarization sensitive Multi-Axis DOAS instrument and a corresponding profile retrieval algorithm.

The interaction between sea ice and salinity-dominated ocean circulation: implications for halocline stability and rapid changes of sea-ice cover

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jensen, M. F.; Nilsson, J.; Nisancioglu, K. H.

2016-02-01

In this study, we develop a simple conceptual model to examine how interactions between sea ice and oceanic heat and freshwater transports affect the stability of an upper-ocean halocline in a semi-enclosed basin. The model represents a sea-ice covered and salinity stratified ocean, and consists of a sea-ice component and a two-layer ocean; a cold, fresh surface layer above a warmer, more saline layer. The sea-ice thickness depends on the atmospheric energy fluxes as well as the ocean heat flux. We introduce a thickness-dependent sea-ice export. Whether sea ice stabilizes or destabilizes against a freshwater perturbation is shown to depend on the representation of the vertical mixing. In a system where the vertical diffusivity is constant, the sea ice acts as a positive feedback on a freshwater perturbation. If the vertical diffusivity is derived from a constant mixing energy constraint, the sea ice acts as a negative feedback. However, both representations lead to a circulation that breaks down when the freshwater input at the surface is small. As a consequence, we get rapid changes in sea ice. In addition to low freshwater forcing, increasing deep-ocean temperatures promote instability and the disappearance of sea ice. Generally, the unstable state is reached before the vertical density difference disappears, and small changes in temperature and freshwater inputs can provoke abrupt changes in sea ice.

Helicity and potential vorticity in the surface boundary layer turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chkhetiani, Otto; Kurgansky, Michael; Koprov, Boris; Koprov, Victor

2016-04-01

An experimental measurement of all three components of the velocity and vorticity vectors, as well as the temperature and its gradient, and potential vorticity, has been developed using four acoustic anemometers. Anemometers were placed at vertices of a tetrahedron, the horizontal base of which was a rectangular triangle with equal legs, and the upper point was exactly above the top of the right angle. The distance from the surface to the tetrahedron its base was 5.5 m, and the lengths of legs and a vertical edge were 5 m. The measurements were carried out of total duration near 100 hours both in stable and unstable stratification conditions (at the Tsimlyansk Scientific Station in a uniform area of virgin steppe 700 x 650 m, August 2012). A covariance-correlation matrix for turbulent variations in all measured values has been calculated. In the daytime horizontal and vertical components of the helicity are of the order of -0.03 and +0.01 m s-2, respectively. The nighttime signs remain unchanged, but the absolute values are several times smaller. It is confirmed also by statistics of a relative helicity. The cospectra and spectral correlation coefficients have been calculated for all helicity components. The time variations in the components of "instantaneous" relative helicity and potential vorticity are considered. Connections of helicity with Monin-Obukhov length and the wind vertical profile structure are discussed. This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (Project No 14-27-00134).

Biological control of Fusarium moniliforme in maize.

PubMed

Bacon, C W; Yates, I E; Hinton, D M; Meredith, F

2001-05-01

Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon, a biological species of the mating populations within the (italic)Gibberella fujikuroi species complex, i.e., population A [= G. moniliformis (Sheld.) Wineland], is an example of a facultative fungal endophyte. During the biotrophic endophytic association with maize, as well as during saprophytic growth, F. moniliforme produces the fumonisins. The fungus is transmitted vertically and horizontally to the next generation of plants via clonal infection of seeds and plant debris. Horizontal infection is the manner by which this fungus is spread contagiously and through which infection occurs from the outside that can be reduced by application of certain fungicides. The endophytic phase is vertically transmitted. This type infection is important because it is not controlled by seed applications of fungicides, and it remains the reservoir from which infection and toxin biosynthesis takes place in each generation of plants. Thus, vertical transmission of this fungus is just as important as horizontal transmission. A biological control system using an endophytic bacterium, Bacillus subtilis, has been developed that shows great promise for reducing mycotoxin accumulation during the endophytic (vertical transmission) growth phase. Because this bacterium occupies the identical ecological niche within the plant, it is considered an ecological homologue to F. moniliforme, and the inhibitory mechanism, regardless of the mode of action, operates on the competitive exclusion principle. In addition to this bacterium, an isolate of a species of the fungus Trichoderma shows promise in the postharvest control of the growth and toxin accumulation from F. moniliforme on corn in storage.

Recent advances in preparation, properties and device applications of two-dimensional h-BN and its vertical heterostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Huihui; Gao, Feng; Dai, Mingjin; Jia, Dechang; Zhou, Yu; Hu, Pingan

2017-03-01

Two-dimensional (2D) layered materials, such as graphene, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), molybdenum disulfide (MoS{}2 ), have attracted tremendous interest due to their atom-thickness structures and excellent physical properties. h-BN has predominant advantages as the dielectric substrate in FET devices due to its outstanding properties such as chemically inert surface, being free of dangling bonds and surface charge traps, especially the large-band-gap insulativity. h-BN involved vertical heterostructures have been widely exploited during the past few years. Such heterostructures adopting h-BN as dielectric layers exhibit enhanced electronic performance, and provide further possibilities for device engineering. Besides, a series of intriguing physical phenomena are observed in certain vertical heterostructures, such as superlattice potential induced replication of Dirac points, band gap tuning, Hofstadter butterfly states, gate-dependent pseudospin mixing. Herein we focus on the rapid developments of h-BN synthesis and fabrication of vertical heterostructures devices based on h-BN, and review the novel properties as well as the potential applications of the heterostructures composed of h-BN. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 61390502, 21373068), the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2013CB632900), the Foundation for Innovative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51521003), and the Self-Planned Task of State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System (No. SKLRS201607B).

Biological control of Fusarium moniliforme in maize.

PubMed Central

Bacon, C W; Yates, I E; Hinton, D M; Meredith, F

2001-01-01

Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon, a biological species of the mating populations within the (italic)Gibberella fujikuroi species complex, i.e., population A [= G. moniliformis (Sheld.) Wineland], is an example of a facultative fungal endophyte. During the biotrophic endophytic association with maize, as well as during saprophytic growth, F. moniliforme produces the fumonisins. The fungus is transmitted vertically and horizontally to the next generation of plants via clonal infection of seeds and plant debris. Horizontal infection is the manner by which this fungus is spread contagiously and through which infection occurs from the outside that can be reduced by application of certain fungicides. The endophytic phase is vertically transmitted. This type infection is important because it is not controlled by seed applications of fungicides, and it remains the reservoir from which infection and toxin biosynthesis takes place in each generation of plants. Thus, vertical transmission of this fungus is just as important as horizontal transmission. A biological control system using an endophytic bacterium, Bacillus subtilis, has been developed that shows great promise for reducing mycotoxin accumulation during the endophytic (vertical transmission) growth phase. Because this bacterium occupies the identical ecological niche within the plant, it is considered an ecological homologue to F. moniliforme, and the inhibitory mechanism, regardless of the mode of action, operates on the competitive exclusion principle. In addition to this bacterium, an isolate of a species of the fungus Trichoderma shows promise in the postharvest control of the growth and toxin accumulation from F. moniliforme on corn in storage. PMID:11359703

Helical structures in vertically aligned dust particle chains in a complex plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hyde, Truell W.; Kong, Jie; Matthews, Lorin S.

2013-05-01

Self-assembly of structures from vertically aligned, charged dust particle bundles within a glass box placed on the lower, powered electrode of a Gaseous Electronics Conference rf reference cell were produced and examined experimentally. Self-organized formation of one-dimensional vertical chains, two-dimensional zigzag structures, and three-dimensional helical structures of triangular, quadrangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, and heptagonal symmetries are shown to occur. System evolution is shown to progress from a one-dimensional chain structure, through a zigzag transition to a two-dimensional, spindlelike structure, and then to various three-dimensional, helical structures exhibiting multiple symmetries. Stable configurations are found to be dependent upon the system confinement, γ2=ω0h/ω0v2 (where ω0h,v are the horizontal and vertical dust resonance frequencies), the total number of particles within a bundle, and the rf power. For clusters having fixed numbers of particles, the rf power at which structural phase transitions occur is repeatable and exhibits no observable hysteresis. The critical conditions for these structural phase transitions as well as the basic symmetry exhibited by the one-, two-, and three-dimensional structures that subsequently develop are in good agreement with the theoretically predicted configurations of minimum energy determined employing molecular dynamics simulations for charged dust particles confined in a prolate, spheroidal potential as presented theoretically by Kamimura and Ishihara [Kamimura and Ishihara, Phys. Rev. EPLEEE81063-651X10.1103/PhysRevE.85.016406 85, 016406 (2012)].

Large-Diameter InGaAs/AlGaAs Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers with Low Threshold Current Density Fabricated Using a Simple Chemical Etch Process

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-03-01

Epitaxial structure of vertical cavity surface - emitting laser ( VCSEL ...diameter (75 tum < d< 150 prm) vertical - cavity surface - emitting lasers fabricated from an epitaxial structure containing a single In0 .2Ga 8.,As quantum...development of vertical - cavity surface - emitting lasers ( VCSELs ) [1] has enabled III-V semiconductor technology to be applied to cer- tain optical

Evaluating vertical concentration profile of carbon source released from slow-releasing carbon source tablets and in situ biological nitrate denitrification activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yeum, Y.; HAN, K.; Yoon, J.; Lee, J. H.; Song, K.; Kang, J. H.; Park, C. W.; Kwon, S.; Kim, Y.

2017-12-01

Slow-releasing carbon source tablets were manufactured during the design of a small-scale in situ biological denitrification system to reduce high-strength nitrate (> 30 mg N/L) from a point source such as livestock complexes. Two types of slow-releasing tablets, precipitating tablet (PT, apparent density of 2.0 g/mL) and floating tablet (FT), were prepared to achieve a vertically even distribution of carbon source (CS) in a well and an aquifer. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) was used to control the release rate, and microcrystalline cellulose pH 101 (MCC 101) was added as a binder. The #8 sand was used as a precipitation agent for the PTs, and the floating agents for the FTs were calcium carbonate and citric acid. FTs floated within 30 min. and remained in water because of the buoyance from carbon dioxide, which formed during the acid-base reaction between citric acid and calcium carbonate. The longevities of PTs with 300 mg of HPMC and FTs with 400 mg of HPMC were 25.4 days and 37.3 days, respectively. We assessed vertical CS profile in a continuous flowing physical aquifer model (release test, RT) and its efficiency on biological nitrate denitrification (denitrification test, DT). During the RT, PTs, FTs and a tracer (as 1 mg rhodamine B/L) were initially injected into a well of physical aquifer model (PAM). Concentrations of CS and the tracer were monitored along the streamline in the PAM to evaluate vertical profile of CS. During the DT, the same experiment was performed as RT, except continuous injection of solution containing 30 mg N/L into the PAM to evaluate biological denitrification activity. As a result of RT, temporal profiles of CS were similar at 3 different depths of monitoring wells. These results suggest that simultaneous addition of PT and FT be suitable for achieving a vertically even distribution of the CS in the injection well and an aquifer. In DT, similar profile of CS was detected in the injection well, and nitrate was biologically denitrified at downstream of the injection well. In conclusion, addition of PT and FT into a well under natural gradient condition may be an effective means for remediating high-strength nitrate in groundwater.

Radiator Enhanced Geothermal System - A Revolutionary Method for Extracting Geothermal Energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karimi, S.; Marsh, B. D.; Hilpert, M.

2017-12-01

A new method of extracting geothermal energy, the Radiator Enhanced Geothermal System (RAD-EGS) has been developed. RAD-EGS attempts to mimic natural hydrothermal systems by 1) generating a vertical vane of artificially produced high porosity/permeability material deep in a hot sedimentary aquifer, 2) injecting water at surface temperatures to the bottom of the vane, where the rock is the hottest, 3) extracting super-heated water at the top of the vane. The novel RAD-EGS differs greatly from the currently available Enhanced Geothermal Systems in vane orientation, determined in the governing local crustal stress field by Shmax and Sl (meaning it is vertical), and in the vane location in a hot sedimentary aquifer, which naturally increases the longevity of the system. In this study, we explore several parameters regimes affecting the water temperature in the extraction well, keeping in mind that the minimum temperature of the extracted water has to be 150 °C in order for a geothermal system to be commercially viable. We used the COMSOL finite element package to simulate coupled heat and fluid transfer within the RAD-EGS model. The following geologic layers from top to bottom are accounted for in the model: i) confining upper layer, ii) hot sedimentary aquifer, and iii) underlying basement rock. The vane is placed vertically within the sedimentary aquifer. An injection well and an extraction well are also included in the simulation. We tested the model for a wide range of various parameters including background heat flux, thickness of geologic layers, geometric properties of the vane, diameter and location of the wells, fluid flow within the wells, regional hydraulic gradient, and permeability and porosity of the layers. The results show that among the aforementioned parameters, background heat flux and the depth of vane emplacement are highly significant in determining the level of commercial viability of the geothermal system. These results indicate that for the terrains with relatively high background heat flux or for vanes located in relatively deep layers, the RAD-EGS can produce economic geothermal energy for more than 40 years. Moreover, these simulations show that the geothermal vane design with the injection well at the bottom and production well at the top of the vane greatly contributes to the longevity of the system.

Estimates of lower-tropospheric divergence and average vertical motion in the Southern Great Plains region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muradyan, P.; Coulter, R.; Kotamarthi, V. R.; Wang, J.; Ghate, V. P.

2016-12-01

Large-scale mean vertical motion affects the atmospheric stability and is an important component in cloud formation. Thus, the analysis of temporal variations in the long-term averages of large-scale vertical motion would provide valuable insights into weather and climate patterns. 915-MHz radar wind profilers (RWP) provide virtually unattended and almost uninterrupted long-term wind speed measurements. We use five years of RWP wind data from the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiments (ABLE) located within the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Southern Great Plains (SGP) site from 1999 to 2004. Wind speed data from a triangular array of SGP A1, A2, and A5 ancillary sites are used to calculate the horizontal divergence field over the profiler network area using the line integral method. The distance between each vertex of this triangle is approximately 60km. Thus, the vertical motion profiles deduced from the divergence/convergence of horizontal winds over these spatial scales are of relevance to mesoscale dynamics. The wind data from RWPs are averaged over 1 hour time slice and divergence is calculated at each range gate from the lowest at 82 m to the highest at 2.3 km. An analysis of temporal variations in the long-term averages of the atmospheric divergence and vertical air motion for the months of August/September indicates an overall vertical velocity of -0.002 m/s with a standard deviation of 0.013 m/s, agreeing well with previous studies. Overall mean of the diurnal variation of vertical velocity for the study period from surface to 500 m height is 0.0018 m/s with a standard error of 0.00095 m/s. Seasonal mean daytime vertical winds suggest generally downward motion in Winter and upward motion in Summer. Validation of the derived divergence and vertical motion against a regional climate model (Weather Forecast and Research, WRF) at a spatial resolution of 12 km, as well as clear-sky vs. cloudy conditions comparisons will also be presented.

Surface Wave Characterization of New Orleans Levee Soil Foundations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delisser, T. A.; Lorenzo, J. M.; Hayashi, K.; Craig, M. S.

2016-12-01

Standard geotechnical tests such as the drilling of boreholes and cone penetration tests are able to assess soil stability at point locations vertically but lack lateral resolution in a complex sedimentary environment, such as the Louisiana Coastal system. Multi-Channel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) can complement geotechnical tests to improve certainty in resolving lateral features when predicting soil types in the near surface of levee soil foundations. A portion of the Inner-Harbor Navigation Canal levee wall that intersects the 9th Ward of New Orleans failed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Failures were attributed to floodwaters overtopping the levee wall and eroding its base. Geotechnical and geological data from test points can be used to calibrate continuous shear strength estimates derived from MASW. It is important to understand soil stability and strength to prevent future failures in New Orleans levee foundation soils. MASW analyzes the dispersive property of Rayleigh waves to develop shear wave velocity profiles for the near surface. Data are acquired using a seismic land streamer containing 4.5-Hz vertical-component geophones and a sledgehammer as the source. We plot and contour 18 inverted models of the interpreted fundamental mode and generate a 200-m-long profile to help us (1) better understand the characteristics of levee foundation soils as well as (2) improve existing geological cross-sections to help in future planning and maintenance of the levees. In comparison to the prior geological models, we find unexpected large vertical and horizontal shear-velocity gradients, as well as relatively low shear strengths throughout the seismic profile.

The inverse Numerical Computer Program FLUX-BOT for estimating Vertical Water Fluxes from Temperature Time-Series.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trauth, N.; Schmidt, C.; Munz, M.

2016-12-01

Heat as a natural tracer to quantify water fluxes between groundwater and surface water has evolved to a standard hydrological method. Typically, time series of temperatures in the surface water and in the sediment are observed and are subsequently evaluated by a vertical 1D representation of heat transport by advection and dispersion. Several analytical solutions as well as their implementation into user-friendly software exist in order to estimate water fluxes from the observed temperatures. Analytical solutions can be easily implemented but assumptions on the boundary conditions have to be made a priori, e.g. sinusoidal upper temperature boundary. Numerical models offer more flexibility and can handle temperature data which is characterized by irregular variations such as storm-event induced temperature changes and thus cannot readily be incorporated in analytical solutions. This also reduced the effort of data preprocessing such as the extraction of the diurnal temperature variation. We developed a software to estimate water FLUXes Based On Temperatures- FLUX-BOT. FLUX-BOT is a numerical code written in MATLAB which is intended to calculate vertical water fluxes in saturated sediments, based on the inversion of measured temperature time series observed at multiple depths. It applies a cell-centered Crank-Nicolson implicit finite difference scheme to solve the one-dimensional heat advection-conduction equation. Besides its core inverse numerical routines, FLUX-BOT includes functions visualizing the results and functions for performing uncertainty analysis. We provide applications of FLUX-BOT to generic as well as to measured temperature data to demonstrate its performance.

Numerical modeling of an estuary: A comprehensive skill assessment

USGS Publications Warehouse

Warner, J.C.; Geyer, W.R.; Lerczak, J.A.

2005-01-01

Numerical simulations of the Hudson River estuary using a terrain-following, three-dimensional model (Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS)) are compared with an extensive set of time series and spatially resolved measurements over a 43 day period with large variations in tidal forcing and river discharge. The model is particularly effective at reproducing the observed temporal variations in both the salinity and current structure, including tidal, spring neap, and river discharge-induced variability. Large observed variations in stratification between neap and spring tides are captured qualitatively and quantitatively by the model. The observed structure and variations of the longitudinal salinity gradient are also well reproduced. The most notable discrepancy between the model and the data is in the vertical salinity structure. While the surface-to-bottom salinity difference is well reproduced, the stratification in the model tends to extend all the way to the water surface, whereas the observations indicate a distinct pycnocline and a surface mixed layer. Because the southern boundary coindition is located near the mouth the estuary, the salinity within the domain is particularly sensitive to the specification of salinity at the boundary. A boundary condition for the horizontal salinity gradient, based on the local value of salinity, is developed to incorporate physical processes beyond the open boundary not resolved by the model. Model results are sensitive to the specification of the bottom roughness length and vertical stability functions, insofar as they influence the intensity of vertical mixing. The results only varied slightly between different turbulence closure methods of k-??, k-??, and k-kl. Copyright 2005 by the American Geophysical Union.

Electric analog studies of flow to wells in the Punjab aquifer of West Pakistan

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mundorff, Maurice John; Bennett, G.D.; Ahmad, Masood

1972-01-01

A series of experiments was performed with a steady-state electric analog simulating a cylindrical segment of the aquifer underlying the plains of the Punjab region of West Pakistan. In most of the experiments recharge was assumed to be from the surface, within a specified radius of influence, and distributed uniformly over the area within this radius. Experiments were made with different anisotropies (ratios of lateral to vertical resistance) so that various possible combinations of aquifer thickness and effective radius or radius of influence and combinations .of lateral and vertical permeability could be included in the models. Flow nets were constructed to show distribution of potential in the vertical section and intersections of stream surfaces with the vertical plane. The series of experiments in which the screened interval is in the upper part of the aquifer shows that flow decreases and stream tubes shift progressively toward the upper part of the aquifer as anisotropy increases. Another series illustrates that total yield increases and yield per foot of screen decreases as screen length increases. The experiments indicate that, under conditions prevalent in the Punjab, the Distance-drawdown method for determining permeability gives results with an error of 10 percent or less provided that at least one piezometer or observation well is within a few feet of the pumped well and that no observation well or piezometer used is more than 100 feet from the pumped well. Relative traveltime for each of 10 stream tubes is given for three models. Relative traveltimes for one-fourth and one-half the effective radius are given for selected stream tubes. By substituting values for the aquifer parameters, actual traveltimes are computed from the relative-traveltime data.

Study of 3D-growth conditions for selective area MOVPE of high aspect ratio GaN fins with non-polar vertical sidewalls

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hartmann, Jana; Steib, Frederik; Zhou, Hao; Ledig, Johannes; Nicolai, Lars; Fündling, Sönke; Schimpke, Tilman; Avramescu, Adrian; Varghese, Tansen; Trampert, Achim; Straßburg, Martin; Lugauer, Hans-Jürgen; Wehmann, Hergo-Heinrich; Waag, Andreas

2017-10-01

GaN fins are 3D architectures elongated in one direction parallel to the substrate surface. They have the geometry of walls with a large height to width ratio as well as small footprints. When appropriate symmetry directions of the GaN buffer are used, the sidewalls are formed by non-polar {1 1 -2 0} planes, making the fins particularly suitable for many device applications like LEDs, FETs, lasers, sensors or waveguides. The influence of growth parameters like temperature, pressure, V/III ratio and total precursor flow on the fin structures is analyzed. Based on these results, a 2-temperature-step-growth was developed, leading to fins with smooth side and top facets, fast vertical growth rates and good homogeneity along their length as well as over different mask patterns. For the core-shell growth of fin LED heterostructures, the 2-temperature-step-growth shows much smoother sidewalls and less crystal defects in the InGaN QW and p-GaN shell compared to structures with cores grown in just one step. Electroluminescence spectra of the 2-temperature-step-grown fin LED are demonstrated.

Vertical resolution of baroclinic modes in global ocean models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stewart, K. D.; Hogg, A. McC.; Griffies, S. M.; Heerdegen, A. P.; Ward, M. L.; Spence, P.; England, M. H.

2017-05-01

Improvements in the horizontal resolution of global ocean models, motivated by the horizontal resolution requirements for specific flow features, has advanced modelling capabilities into the dynamical regime dominated by mesoscale variability. In contrast, the choice of the vertical grid remains a subjective choice, and it is not clear that efforts to improve vertical resolution adequately support their horizontal counterparts. Indeed, considering that the bulk of the vertical ocean dynamics (including convection) are parameterized, it is not immediately obvious what the vertical grid is supposed to resolve. Here, we propose that the primary purpose of the vertical grid in a hydrostatic ocean model is to resolve the vertical structure of horizontal flows, rather than to resolve vertical motion. With this principle we construct vertical grids based on their abilities to represent baroclinic modal structures commensurate with the theoretical capabilities of a given horizontal grid. This approach is designed to ensure that the vertical grids of global ocean models complement (and, importantly, to not undermine) the resolution capabilities of the horizontal grid. We find that for z-coordinate global ocean models, at least 50 well-positioned vertical levels are required to resolve the first baroclinic mode, with an additional 25 levels per subsequent mode. High-resolution ocean-sea ice simulations are used to illustrate some of the dynamical enhancements gained by improving the vertical resolution of a 1/10° global ocean model. These enhancements include substantial increases in the sea surface height variance (∼30% increase south of 40°S), the barotropic and baroclinic eddy kinetic energies (up to 200% increase on and surrounding the Antarctic continental shelf and slopes), and the overturning streamfunction in potential density space (near-tripling of the Antarctic Bottom Water cell at 65°S).

Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of multiwalled carbon nanofibers.

PubMed

Matthews, Kristopher; Cruden, Brett A; Chen, Bin; Meyyappan, M; Delzeit, Lance

2002-10-01

Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition is used to grow vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanofibers (MWNFs). The graphite basal planes in these nanofibers are not parallel as in nanotubes; instead they exhibit a small angle resembling a stacked cone arrangement. A parametric study with varying process parameters such as growth temperature, feedstock composition, and substrate power has been conducted, and these parameters are found to influence the growth rate, diameter, and morphology. The well-aligned MWNFs are suitable for fabricating electrode systems in sensor and device development.

National Dam Inspection Program. Freethy Dam (NDI ID Number PA-00171, DER ID Number 64-160), Delaware River Basin, Carley Brook, Wayne County, Pennsylvania. Phase I Inspection Report,

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-03-01

Rignt; End of Damn. P. sp LI Tway Stah. "’nt.. - -JZIL E. e efz Abutment. of’ Damn. 74". I I~ 1t 1 1 of Darnm Downstream Side. ~ 4L Gi Ex ir End~ of...susceptible to slope failure; however, the presence of well-developed bedding and Joint planes will result in some rockfall from vertical and high

Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of multiwalled carbon nanofibers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Matthews, Kristopher; Cruden, Brett A.; Chen, Bin; Meyyappan, M.; Delzeit, Lance

2002-01-01

Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition is used to grow vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanofibers (MWNFs). The graphite basal planes in these nanofibers are not parallel as in nanotubes; instead they exhibit a small angle resembling a stacked cone arrangement. A parametric study with varying process parameters such as growth temperature, feedstock composition, and substrate power has been conducted, and these parameters are found to influence the growth rate, diameter, and morphology. The well-aligned MWNFs are suitable for fabricating electrode systems in sensor and device development.

Remote sensing of the atmosphere of Mars using infrared pressure modulation and filter radiometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mccleese, D. J.; Schofield, J. T.; Zurek, R. W.; Martonchik, J. V.; Haskins, R. D.

1986-01-01

The study of the atmosphere and climate of Mars will soon be advanced considerably by the Mars Observer mission. This paper describes the atmospheric sounder for this mission and how it will measure key Martian atmospheric parameters using IR gas correlation and filter radiometry. The instrument now under development will provide high-resolution vertical profiles of atmospheric temperature, pressure, water vapor, dust, and clouds using limb sounding techniques as well as nadir observations of surface thermal properties and polar radiative balance.

Chicken pox in pregnancy : an obstetric concern.

PubMed

Wiwanitkit, Viroj

2010-10-01

Chicken pox is a common viral infection presenting with fever and discrete vesicular lesions. This infection can be widely detected in developing countries, especially for those tropical countries. The pregnant can get chicken pox, and this becomes an important obstetrical concern. In this specific paper, the author hereby details and discusses on chicken pox in pregnancy. Clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are briefly summarized. In addition, the effects of chicken pox on pregnancy as well as the vertical transmission are also documented.

CHICKEN POX IN PREGNANCY : AN OBSTETRIC CONCERN

PubMed Central

Wiwanitkit, Viroj

2010-01-01

Chicken pox is a common viral infection presenting with fever and discrete vesicular lesions. This infection can be widely detected in developing countries, especially for those tropical countries. The pregnant can get chicken pox, and this becomes an important obstetrical concern. In this specific paper, the author hereby details and discusses on chicken pox in pregnancy. Clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are briefly summarized. In addition, the effects of chicken pox on pregnancy as well as the vertical transmission are also documented. PMID:21430880

Shallow 3-D vertical seismic profiling around a contaminant withdrawal well on the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Site

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rector, J.; Bainer, R.; Milligan, P.

1997-01-30

One of the major problems associated with ground water contaminant remediation is well placement. Optimal-placement of wells requires an accurate knowledge of geologic structure and stratigraphy in the near surface sediments and rock (0 to 100 m). Without the development of remote imaging provided by geophysical techniques, the required spacing between treatment wells may be less than 2 m in order to be confident that all contaminant reservoirs had been remediated. One method for characterizing geologic structure and stratigraphy in the near surface is vertical seismic profiling (VSP), a technique often used on deep exploration wells to calibrate surface seismicmore » reflection data. For near-surface applications, VSP data can be acquired efficiently using an array of hydrophones lowered into a fluid-filled borehole (Milligan et al, 1997). In this paper we discuss the acquisition and processing of a 3-D VSP collected at a shallow remediation site located on the grounds of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) near Livermore, California. The site was used by the United States Navy as an air training base. At this time, initial releases of hazardous materials to the environment occurred in the form of solvents [volatile organic compounds (VOCs)] that were used for the cleaning of airplanes and their parts. Gasoline, diesel and other petroleum-based compounds are also known to have leaked into the ground. California Research and Development Company, a subsidy of Standard Oil, occupied the southeastern portion of the site from 1950 to 1954. The first releases of radioactive materials to the environment occurred at this time, with the beginning of testing of radioactive materials at the site. In 1952, LLNL acquired the site. Additional releases of VOCS, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), metals, radionuclides (primarily tritium), gasoline and pesticides have occurred since. These releases were due to localized spills, landfills, surface impoundments, disposal pits, broken sewer lines and pipes, and leaking tanks.« less

Neurogenic Communication Disorders and Paralleling Agraphic Disturbances: Implications for Concerns in Basic Writing.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

De Jarnette, Glenda

Vertical and lateral integration are two important nervous system integrations that affect the development of oral behaviors. There are three progressions in the vertical integration process for speech nervous system development: R-complex speech (ritualistic, memorized expressions), limbic speech (emotional expressions), and cortical speech…

Vertical Integration of Geographic Information Sciences: A Recruitment Model for GIS Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yu, Jaehyung; Huynh, Niem Tu; McGehee, Thomas Lee

2011-01-01

An innovative vertical integration model for recruiting to GIS education was introduced and tested following four driving forces: curriculum development, GIS presentations, institutional collaboration, and faculty training. Curriculum development was a useful approach to recruitment, student credit hour generation, and retention-rate improvement.…

TABLE D - WMO AND LOCAL (NCEP) DESCRIPTORS AS WELL AS THOSE AWAITING

Science.gov Websites

sequences common to satellite observations None 3 05 Meteorological or hydrological sequences common to Vertical sounding sequences (conventional data) None 3 10 Vertical sounding sequences (satellite data) None (satellite data) None 3 13 Sequences common to image data None 3 14 Reserved None 3 15 Oceanographic report

78 FR 78467 - Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-26

... persons regarding the FAA's intent to prepare an EIS that will evaluate the potential environmental... launches per year (12 launches per vertical launch facility), as well as up to 24 static fire engine tests or wet dress rehearsals per year (12 static fire engine tests or wet dress rehearsals per vertical...

Spatial Light Modulators with Arbitrary Quantum Well Profiles

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-01-14

vertical cavity surface emitting lasers ( VCSEL ) is also...aDlications stemming from the research effort. An application of the MBE compositional grading technique to vertical cavity surface emitting lasers was described in section 2e. G. Other statements ... cavity surface emitting laser ( VCSEL ). This uses compositionally graded Bragg reflectors to reduce the electrical resistance of the mirrors

Migration and diving behavior of Centrophorus squamosus in the NE Atlantic. Combining electronic tagging and Argo hydrography to infer deep ocean trajectories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodríguez-Cabello, Cristina; González-Pola, Cesar; Sánchez, Francisco

2016-09-01

A total of nine leafscale gulper sharks Centrophorus squamosus (Bonnaterre, 1788), were tagged with pop-up, satellite, archival, transmitting tags (PSAT) in the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of El Cachucho (Le Danois Bank) located in waters to the north of Spain, (NE Atlantic). Tags provided data on time, pressure and temperature that were used to examine movement patterns and diving behavior. Data collected from Argo floats in the study area have been used to devise a simple geolocation algorithm to infer the probable routes followed by this species. Tag release points revealed that C. squamosus moved both to the west (Galician waters) and to the north (Porcupine Bank) from the tagging area, suggesting well defined preferred pathways. The inferred trajectories indicated that sharks alternate periods constrained to specific geographical regions with quick and prompt movements covering large distances. Two sharks made conspicuous diurnal vertical migrations being at shallower depths around midnight and at maximum depths at midday, while other sharks did not make vertical migrations. Vertical movements were done smoothly and independently of the fish swimming long-distances or resting in the area. Overall results confirm that this species is highly migratory, supporting speeds of 20 nautical miles.day-1 and well capable to swim and make vertical migrations well above the abyssal plain.

Gas-assisted gravity drainage (GAGD) process for improved oil recovery

DOEpatents

Rao, Dandina N [Baton Rouge, LA

2012-07-10

A rapid and inexpensive process for increasing the amount of hydrocarbons (e.g., oil) produced and the rate of production from subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs by displacing oil downwards within the oil reservoir and into an oil recovery apparatus is disclosed. The process is referred to as "gas-assisted gravity drainage" and comprises the steps of placing one or more horizontal producer wells near the bottom of a payzone (i.e., rock in which oil and gas are found in exploitable quantities) of a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir and injecting a fluid displacer (e.g., CO.sub.2) through one or more vertical wells or horizontal wells. Pre-existing vertical wells may be used to inject the fluid displacer into the reservoir. As the fluid displacer is injected into the top portion of the reservoir, it forms a gas zone, which displaces oil and water downward towards the horizontal producer well(s).

Status of NASA/Army rotorcraft research and development piloted flight simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Condon, Gregory W.; Gossett, Terrence D.

1988-01-01

The status of the major NASA/Army capabilities in piloted rotorcraft flight simulation is reviewed. The requirements for research and development piloted simulation are addressed as well as the capabilities and technologies that are currently available or are being developed by NASA and the Army at Ames. The application of revolutionary advances (in visual scene, electronic cockpits, motion, and modelling of interactive mission environments and/or vehicle systems) to the NASA/Army facilities are also addressed. Particular attention is devoted to the major advances made in integrating these individual capabilities into fully integrated simulation environment that were or are being applied to new rotorcraft mission requirements. The specific simulators discussed are the Vertical Motion Simulator and the Crew Station Research and Development Facility.

Historical development of the windmill

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shepherd, Dennis G.

1990-01-01

Throughout history, windmill technology represented the highest levels of development in those technical fields now referred to as mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and aerodynamics. Key stages are described in the technical development of windmills as prime movers; from antiquity to construction of the well known Smith-Putnam wind turbine generator of the 1940's, which laid the foundation for modern wind turbines. Subjects covered are windmills in ancient times; the vertical axis Persian windmill; the horizontal axis European windmill (including both post mills and tower mills); technology improvements in sails, controls, and analysis; the American farm windmill; the transition from windmills to wind turbines for generating electricity at the end of the 19th century; and wind turbine development in the first half of the 20th century.

Study of Globus-M Tokamak Poloidal System and Plasma Position Control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dokuka, V. N.; Korenev, P. S.; Mitrishkin, Yu. V.; Pavlova, E. A.; Patrov, M. I.; Khayrutdinov, R. R.

2017-12-01

In order to provide efficient performance of tokamaks with vertically elongated plasma position, control systems for limited and diverted plasma configuration are required. The accuracy, stability, speed of response, and reliability of plasma position control as well as plasma shape and current control depend on the performance of the control system. Therefore, the problem of the development of such systems is an important and actual task in modern tokamaks. In this study, the measured signals from the magnetic loops and Rogowski coils are used to reconstruct the plasma equilibrium, for which linear models in small deviations are constructed. We apply methods of the H∞-optimization theory to the synthesize control system for vertical and horizontal position of plasma capable to working with structural uncertainty of the models of the plant. These systems are applied to the plasma-physical DINA code which is configured for the tokamak Globus-M plasma. The testing of the developed systems applied to the DINA code with Heaviside step functions have revealed the complex dynamics of plasma magnetic configurations. Being close to the bifurcation point in the parameter space of unstable plasma has made it possible to detect an abrupt change in the X-point position from the top to the bottom and vice versa. Development of the methods for reconstruction of plasma magnetic configurations and experience in designing plasma control systems with feedback for tokamaks provided an opportunity to synthesize new digital controllers for plasma vertical and horizontal position stabilization. It also allowed us to test the synthesized digital controllers in the closed loop of the control system with the DINA code as a nonlinear model of plasma.

Do post-stroke patients benefit from robotic verticalization? A pilot-study focusing on a novel neurophysiological approach

PubMed Central

Calabrò, Rocco Salvatore; Naro, Antonino; Russo, Margherita; Leo, Antonino; Balletta, Tina; Saccá, Ileana; De Luca, Rosaria; Bramanti, Placido

2015-01-01

Abstract Background: Tilt-table equipped with the dynamic foot-support (ERIGO) and the functional electric stimulation could be a safe and suitable device for stabilization of vital signs, increasing patient’s motivation for further recovery, decreasing the duration of hospitalization, and accelerating the adaptation to vertical posture in bedridden patients with brain-injury. Moreover, it is conceivable that verticalization may improve cognitive functions, and induce plastic changes at sensory motor and vestibular system level that may in turn facilitate motor functional recovery. Objective: To test the safety and effectiveness of ERIGO treatment on motor and cognitive functions, cortical plasticity within vestibular and sensory-motor systems in a bedridden post-stroke sample. Methods: 20 patients were randomly divided in two groups that performed ERIGO training (30 sessions) (G1) or physiotherapist-assisted verticalization training (same duration) (G2), beyond conventional neurorehabilitation treatment. Motor and cognitive functions as well as sensory-motor and vestibular system plasticity were investigated either before (T0) or after (T1) the rehabilitative protocols. Results: Both the verticalization treatments were well-tolerated. Notably, the G1 patients had a significant improvement in cognitive function (p = 0.03), global motor function (p = 0.006), sensory-motor (p <  0.001) and vestibular system plasticity (p = 0.02) as compared to G2. Conclusions: ERIGO training could be a valuable tool for the adaptation to the vertical position with a better global function improvement, as also suggested by the sensory-motor and vestibular system plasticity induction. PMID:26410207

Atmospheric QBO and ENSO indices with high vertical resolution from GNSS radio occultation temperature measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilhelmsen, Hallgeir; Ladstädter, Florian; Scherllin-Pirscher, Barbara; Steiner, Andrea K.

2018-03-01

We provide atmospheric temperature variability indices for the tropical troposphere and stratosphere based on global navigation satellite system (GNSS) radio occultation (RO) temperature measurements. By exploiting the high vertical resolution and the uniform distribution of the GNSS RO temperature soundings we introduce two approaches, both based on an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. The first method utilizes the whole vertical and horizontal RO temperature field from 30° S to 30° N and from 2 to 35 km altitude. The resulting indices, the leading principal components, resemble the well-known patterns of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the tropics. They provide some information on the vertical structure; however, they are not vertically resolved. The second method applies the EOF analysis on each altitude level separately and the resulting indices contain information on the horizontal variability at each densely available altitude level. They capture more variability than the indices from the first method and present a mixture of all variability modes contributing at the respective altitude level, including the QBO and ENSO. Compared to commonly used variability indices from QBO winds or ENSO sea surface temperature, these new indices cover the vertical details of the atmospheric variability. Using them as proxies for temperature variability is also of advantage because there is no further need to account for response time lags. Atmospheric variability indices as novel products from RO are expected to be of great benefit for studies on atmospheric dynamics and variability, for climate trend analysis, as well as for climate model evaluation.

Tidal calibration of Plate Boundary Observatory borehole strainmeters: Roles of vertical and shear coupling

USGS Publications Warehouse

Roeloffs, Evelyn

2010-01-01

A multicomponent borehole strainmeter directly measures changes in the diameter of its cylindrical housing at several azimuths. To transform these measurements to formation strains requires a calibration matrix, which must be estimated by analyzing the installed strainmeter's response to known strains. Typically, theoretical calculations of Earth tidal strains serve as the known strains. This paper carries out such an analysis for 12 Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO) borehole strainmeters, postulating that each of the strainmeters' four gauges responds ("couples") to all three horizontal components of the formation strain tensor, as well as to vertical strain. Orientation corrections are also estimated. The fourth extensometer in each PBO strainmeter provides redundant information used to reduce the chance that coupling coefficients could be misleadingly fit to inappropriate theoretical tides. Satisfactory fits between observed and theoretically calculated tides were obtained for three PBO strainmeters in California, where the calculated tides are corroborated by other instrumentation, as well as for six strainmeters in Oregon and Washington, where no other instruments have ever recorded Earth tidal strain. Several strainmeters have unexpectedly large coupling coefficients for vertical strain, which increases the strainmeter's response to atmospheric pressure. Vertical coupling diminishes, or even changes the sign of, the apparent response to areal strain caused by Earth tides or deep Earth processes because near the free surface, vertical strains are opposite in sign to areal strain. Vertical coupling does not impair the shear strain response, however. PBO borehole strainmeters can provide calibrated shear strain time series of transient strain associated with tectonic or magmatic processes.

GPS vertical axis performance enhancement for helicopter precision landing approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Denaro, Robert P.; Beser, Jacques

1986-01-01

Several areas were investigated for improving vertical accuracy for a rotorcraft using the differential Global Positioning System (GPS) during a landing approach. Continuous deltaranging was studied and the potential improvement achieved by estimating acceleration was studied by comparing the performance on a constant acceleration turn and a rough landing profile of several filters: a position-velocity (PV) filter, a position-velocity-constant acceleration (PVAC) filter, and a position-velocity-turning acceleration (PVAT) filter. In overall statistics, the PVAC filter was found to be most efficient with the more complex PVAT performing equally well. Vertical performance was not significantly different among the filters. Satellite selection algorithms based on vertical errors only (vertical dilution of precision or VDOP) and even-weighted cross-track and vertical errors (XVDOP) were tested. The inclusion of an altimeter was studied by modifying the PVAC filter to include a baro bias estimate. Improved vertical accuracy during degraded DOP conditions resulted. Flight test results for raw differential results excluding filter effects indicated that the differential performance significantly improved overall navigation accuracy. A landing glidepath steering algorithm was devised which exploits the flexibility of GPS in determining precise relative position. A method for propagating the steering command over the GPS update interval was implemented.

A sensor fusion method for tracking vertical velocity and height based on inertial and barometric altimeter measurements.

PubMed

Sabatini, Angelo Maria; Genovese, Vincenzo

2014-07-24

A sensor fusion method was developed for vertical channel stabilization by fusing inertial measurements from an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and pressure altitude measurements from a barometric altimeter integrated in the same device (baro-IMU). An Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) estimated the quaternion from the sensor frame to the navigation frame; the sensed specific force was rotated into the navigation frame and compensated for gravity, yielding the vertical linear acceleration; finally, a complementary filter driven by the vertical linear acceleration and the measured pressure altitude produced estimates of height and vertical velocity. A method was also developed to condition the measured pressure altitude using a whitening filter, which helped to remove the short-term correlation due to environment-dependent pressure changes from raw pressure altitude. The sensor fusion method was implemented to work on-line using data from a wireless baro-IMU and tested for the capability of tracking low-frequency small-amplitude vertical human-like motions that can be critical for stand-alone inertial sensor measurements. Validation tests were performed in different experimental conditions, namely no motion, free-fall motion, forced circular motion and squatting. Accurate on-line tracking of height and vertical velocity was achieved, giving confidence to the use of the sensor fusion method for tracking typical vertical human motions: velocity Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) was in the range 0.04-0.24 m/s; height RMSE was in the range 5-68 cm, with statistically significant performance gains when the whitening filter was used by the sensor fusion method to track relatively high-frequency vertical motions.

Parameterization of large-scale turbulent diffusion in the presence of both well-mixed and weakly mixed patchy layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osman, M. K.; Hocking, W. K.; Tarasick, D. W.

2016-06-01

Vertical diffusion and mixing of tracers in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) are not uniform, but primarily occur due to patches of turbulence that are intermittent in time and space. The effective diffusivity of regions of patchy turbulence is related to statistical parameters describing the morphology of turbulent events, such as lifetime, number, width, depth and local diffusivity (i.e., diffusivity within the turbulent patch) of the patches. While this has been recognized in the literature, the primary focus has been on well-mixed layers, with few exceptions. In such cases the local diffusivity is irrelevant, but this is not true for weakly and partially mixed layers. Here, we use both theory and numerical simulations to consider the impact of intermediate and weakly mixed layers, in addition to well-mixed layers. Previous approaches have considered only one dimension (vertical), and only a small number of layers (often one at each time step), and have examined mixing of constituents. We consider a two-dimensional case, with multiple layers (10 and more, up to hundreds and even thousands), having well-defined, non-infinite, lengths and depths. We then provide new formulas to describe cases involving well-mixed layers which supersede earlier expressions. In addition, we look in detail at layers that are not well mixed, and, as an interesting variation on previous models, our procedure is based on tracking the dispersion of individual particles, which is quite different to the earlier approaches which looked at mixing of constituents. We develop an expression which allows determination of the degree of mixing, and show that layers used in some previous models were in fact not well mixed and so produced erroneous results. We then develop a generalized model based on two dimensional random-walk theory employing Rayleigh distributions which allows us to develop a universal formula for diffusion rates for multiple two-dimensional layers with general degrees of mixing. We show that it is the largest, most vigorous and less common turbulent layers that make the major contribution to global diffusion. Finally, we make estimates of global-scale diffusion coefficients in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere. For the lower stratosphere, κeff ≈ 2x10-2 m2 s-1, assuming no other processes contribute to large-scale diffusion.

Towards vertical integration in general practice education: literature review and discussion paper.

PubMed

O'Regan, A; Culhane, A; Dunne, C; Griffin, M; Meagher, D; McGrath, D; O'Dwyer, P; Cullen, W

2013-09-01

Medical education policy in Ireland has enabled an increase in undergraduate and postgraduate education activity in general practice. Internationally, 'vertical integration in general practice education' is suggested as a key strategy to support the implementation of this policy development. To review the emerging literature on vertical integration in GP education, specifically to define the concept of 'vertical integration' with regard to education in general practice and to describe its benefits and challenges. We searched 'Pubmed', 'Academic Search Complete', 'Google', and 'MEDLINE' databases using multiple terms related to 'vertical integration' and 'general practice education' for relevant articles published since 2001. Discussion papers, reports, policy documents and position statements were identified from reference lists and retrieved through internet searches. The key components of 'vertical integration' in GP education include continuous educational pathway, all stages in GP education, supporting the continuing educational/professional development needs of learners at each stage and effective curriculum planning and delivery. Many benefits (for GPs, learners and the community) and many challenges (for GPs/practices, learners and GPs in training) have been described. Characteristics of successful implementation include role sharing and collaborative organisational structures. Recent developments in medical education in Ireland, such as the increase in medical school clinical placements in general practice and postgraduate GP training and the introduction of new competence assurance requirements offer an important opportunity to further inform how vertical integration can support increased educational activity in general practice. Describing this model, recognising its benefits and challenges and supporting its implementation in practice are priorities for medical education in Ireland.

Consideration of species differences in developing novel molecules as cognition enhancers.

PubMed

Young, Jared W; Jentsch, J David; Bussey, Timothy J; Wallace, Tanya L; Hutcheson, Daniel M

2013-11-01

The NIH-funded CNTRICS initiative has coordinated efforts to promote the vertical translation of novel procognitive molecules from testing in mice, rats and non-human primates, to clinical efficacy in patients with schizophrenia. CNTRICS highlighted improving construct validation of tasks across species to increase the likelihood that the translation of a candidate molecule to humans will be successful. Other aspects of cross-species behaviors remain important however. This review describes cognitive tasks utilized across species, providing examples of differences and similarities of innate behavior between species, as well as convergent construct and predictive validity. Tests of attention, olfactory discrimination, reversal learning, and paired associate learning are discussed. Moreover, information on the practical implication of species differences in drug development research is also provided. The issues covered here will aid in task development and utilization across species as well as reinforcing the positive role preclinical research can have in developing procognitive treatments for psychiatric disorders. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Saturated-unsaturated flow to a partially penetrating well with storage in a compressible aquifer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, P. K.; Neuman, S. P.

2010-12-01

Mishra and Neuman [2010] developed an analytical solution for flow to a partially penetrating well of zero radius in a compressible unconfined aquifer that allows inferring its saturated and unsaturated hydraulic properties from responses recorded in the saturated and/or the unsaturated zone. We extend their solution to the case of a finite diameter pumping well with storage. Both solutions account for horizontal as well as vertical flows throughout the system. We investigate the effects of storage in the pumping well and delayed piezometer response on drawdowns in the saturated and unsaturated zones as functions of position and time; validate our solution against numerical simulations of drawdown in a synthetic aquifer having unsaturated properties described by the van Genuchten - Mualem constitutive model; and use our solution to analyze drawdown data from a pumping test conducted at the Borden site in Ontario, Canada.

Development of a metrological atomic force microscope with a tip-tilting mechanism for 3D nanometrology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kizu, Ryosuke; Misumi, Ichiko; Hirai, Akiko; Kinoshita, Kazuto; Gonda, Satoshi

2018-07-01

A metrological atomic force microscope with a tip-tilting mechanism (tilting-mAFM) has been developed to expand the capabilities of 3D nanometrology, particularly for high-resolution topography measurements at the surfaces of vertical sidewalls and for traceable measurements of nanodevice linewidth. In the tilting-mAFM, the probe tip is tilted from vertical to 16° at maximum such that the probe tip can touch and trace the vertical sidewall of a nanometer-scale structure; the probe of a conventional atomic force microscope cannot reach the vertical surface because of its finite cone angle. Probe displacement is monitored in three axes by using high-resolution laser interferometry, which is traceable to the SI unit of length. A central-symmetric 3D scanner with a parallel spring structure allows probe scanning with extremely low interaxial crosstalk. A unique technique for scanning vertical sidewalls was also developed and applied. The experimental results indicated high repeatability in the scanned profiles and sidewall angle measurements. Moreover, the 3D measurement of a line pattern was demonstrated, and the data from both sidewalls were successfully stitched together with subnanometer accuracy. Finally, the critical dimension of the line pattern was obtained.

Development and operation of a real-time simulation at the NASA Ames Vertical Motion Simulator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sweeney, Christopher; Sheppard, Shirin; Chetelat, Monique

1993-01-01

The Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS) facility at the NASA Ames Research Center combines the largest vertical motion capability in the world with a flexible real-time operating system allowing research to be conducted quickly and effectively. Due to the diverse nature of the aircraft simulated and the large number of simulations conducted annually, the challenge for the simulation engineer is to develop an accurate real-time simulation in a timely, efficient manner. The SimLab facility and the software tools necessary for an operating simulation will be discussed. Subsequent sections will describe the development process through operation of the simulation; this includes acceptance of the model, validation, integration and production phases.

Spin wave Feynman diagram vertex computation package

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Price, Alexander; Javernick, Philip; Datta, Trinanjan

Spin wave theory is a well-established theoretical technique that can correctly predict the physical behavior of ordered magnetic states. However, computing the effects of an interacting spin wave theory incorporating magnons involve a laborious by hand derivation of Feynman diagram vertices. The process is tedious and time consuming. Hence, to improve productivity and have another means to check the analytical calculations, we have devised a Feynman Diagram Vertex Computation package. In this talk, we will describe our research group's effort to implement a Mathematica based symbolic Feynman diagram vertex computation package that computes spin wave vertices. Utilizing the non-commutative algebra package NCAlgebra as an add-on to Mathematica, symbolic expressions for the Feynman diagram vertices of a Heisenberg quantum antiferromagnet are obtained. Our existing code reproduces the well-known expressions of a nearest neighbor square lattice Heisenberg model. We also discuss the case of a triangular lattice Heisenberg model where non collinear terms contribute to the vertex interactions.

Overview of Reclamation's geothermal program in Imperial Valley, California

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fulcher, M. K.

1974-01-01

The Bureau of Reclamation is presently involved in a unique Geothermal Resource Development Program in Imperial Valley, California. The main purpose of the investigations is to determine the feasibility of providing a source of fresh water through desalting geothermal fluids stored in the aquifers underlying the valley. Significant progress in this research and development stage to date includes extensive geophysical investigations and the drilling of five geothermal wells on the Mesa anomaly. Four of the wells are for production and monitoring the anomaly, and one will be used for reinjection of waste brines from the desalting units. Two desalting units, a multistage flash unit and a vertical tube evaporator unit, have been erected at the East Mesa test site. The units have been operated on shakedown and continuous runs and have produced substantial quantities of high-quality water.

Biofacies expression of Upper Cretaceous sequences in the Rock Springs uplift

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Y.Y.; Pflum, C.E.; Wright, R.C.

1991-03-01

The sequence-stratigraphic framework and vertical succession of depositional environments in the Upper Cretaceous section of the Rock Springs uplift is expressed in the biofacies patterns as well as in the stratal stacking patterns. Vertical trends in six biofacies parameters track affinities to marine and nonmarine environments as well as proximity to the paleoshoreline. These six parameters and their environmental significance include the relative proportion of herbaceous kerogen (land-derived), amorphous kerogen (marine), dinoflagellates (marine), bisaccate pollen (land-derived but buoyant and easily transported offshore), and the abundance and diversity of benthic foraminifera (both increase offshore). Shoaling marine environments are characterized by anmore » increasing proportion of herbaceous kerogen and decreasing proportions of amorphous kerogen, dinoflagellated, bisaccates, and the abundance and diversity of benthic foraminifera. Conversely, a deepening-upward marine sedimentary succession is characterized by an opposite trend in these parameters. A synthesis of the six biofacies parameters emphasizes the third-order cyclicity of the stratal succession as reflected in the well-developed third-order downlap surfaces and condensed sections. The biofacies trends indicate the transgressive nature of the lower Rock Springs and lower Lewis formations, and the progradational nature of the upper arts of the Baxter, Blair, and Rock Springs formations. An overall progradational (i.e., shoaling) character is exhibited in the three lower sequences (Baxter through Rock Springs) by the progressively decreasing abundance of amorphous kerogen, dinoflagellates, and foraminifera.« less

A landmark-based 3D calibration strategy for SPM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ritter, Martin; Dziomba, Thorsten; Kranzmann, Axel; Koenders, Ludger

2007-02-01

We present a new method for the complete three-dimensional (3D) calibration of scanning probe microscopes (SPM) and other high-resolution microscopes, e.g., scanning electron microscopes (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopes (CLSM), by applying a 3D micrometre-sized reference structure with the shape of a cascade slope-step pyramid. The 3D reference structure was produced by focused ion beam induced metal deposition. In contrast to pitch featured calibration procedures that require separate lateral and vertical reference standards such as gratings and step height structures, the new method includes the use of landmarks, which are well established in calibration and measurement tasks on a larger scale. However, the landmarks applied to the new 3D reference structures are of sub-micrometre size, the so-called 'nanomarkers'. The nanomarker coordinates are used for a geometrical calibration of the scanning process of SPM as well as of other instrument types such as SEM and CLSM. For that purpose, a parameter estimation routine involving three scale factors and three coupling factors has been developed that allows lateral and vertical calibration in only one sampling step. With this new calibration strategy, we are able to detect deviations of SPM lateral scaling errors as well as coupling effects causing, e.g., a lateral coordinate shift depending on the measured height position of the probe.

Measurements of Aerosol Vertical Profiles and Optical Properties during INDOEX 1999 Using Micro-Pulse Lidars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Welton, Ellsworth J.; Voss, Kenneth J.; Quinn, Patricia K.; Flatau, Piotr J.; Markowicz, Krzysztof; Campbell, James R.; Spinhirne, James D.; Gordon, Howard R.; Johnson, James E.; Starr, David OC. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

Micro-pulse lidar systems (MPL) were used to measure aerosol properties during the Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX) 1999 field phase. Measurements were made from two platforms: the NOAA ship RN Ronald H. Brown, and the Kaashidhoo Climate Observatory (KCO) in the Maldives. Sunphotometers were used to provide aerosol optical depths (AOD) needed to calibrate the MPL. This study focuses on the height distribution and optical properties (at 523 nm) of aerosols observed during the campaign. The height of the highest aerosols (top height) was calculated and found to be below 4 km for most of the cruise. The marine boundary layer (MBL) top was calculated and found to be less than 1 km. MPL results were combined with air mass trajectories, radiosonde profiles of temperature and humidity, and aerosol concentration and optical measurements. Humidity varied from approximately 80% near the surface to 50% near the top height during the entire cruise. The average value and standard deviation of aerosol optical parameters were determined for characteristic air mass regimes. Marine aerosols in the absence of any continental influence were found to have an AOD of 0.05 +/- 0.03, an extinction-to-backscatter ratio (S-ratio) of 33 +/- 6 sr, and peak extinction values around 0.05/km (near the MBL top). The marine results are shown to be in agreement with previously measured and expected values. Polluted marine areas over the Indian Ocean, influenced by continental aerosols, had AOD values in excess of 0.2, S-ratios well above 40 sr, and peak extinction values approximately 0.20/km (near the MBL top). The polluted marine results are shown to be similar to previously published values for continental aerosols. Comparisons between MPL derived extinction near the ship (75 m) and extinction calculated at ship-level using scattering measured by a nephelometer and absorption using a PSAP were conducted. The comparisons indicated that the MPL algorithm (using a constant S-ratio throughout the lower troposphere) calculates extinction near the surface in agreement with the ship-level measurements only when the MBL aerosols are well mixed with aerosols above. Finally, a review of the MPL extinction profiles showed that the model of aerosol vertical extinction developed during an earlier INDOEX field campaign (at the Maldives) did not correctly describe the true vertical distribution over the greater Indian Ocean region. Using the average extinction profile and AOD obtained during marine conditions, a new model of aerosol vertical extinction was determined for marine atmospheres over the Indian Ocean. A new model of aerosol vertical extinction for polluted marine atmospheres was also developed using the average extinction profile and AOD obtained during marine conditions influenced by continental aerosols.

Developments in blade shape design for a Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashwill, T. D.; Leonard, T. M.

1986-09-01

A new computer program package has been developed that determines the troposkein shape for a Darrieus Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Blade with any geometrical configuration or rotation rate. This package allows users to interact and develop a buildable blade whose shape closely approximates the troposkein. Use of this package can significantly reduce flatwise mean bending stresses in the blade and increase fatigue life.

Effects of Selected Filmic Coding Elements of TV on the Development of the Euclidean Concepts of Horizontality and Verticality in Adolescents.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lynch, Beth Eloise

This study was conducted to determine whether the filmic coding elements of split screen, slow motion, generated line cues, the zoom of a camera, and rotation could aid in the development of the Euclidean space concepts of horizontality and verticality, and to explore presence and development of spatial skills involving these two concepts in…

Importance of closely spaced vertical sampling in delineating chemical and microbiological gradients in groundwater studies

USGS Publications Warehouse

Smith, R.L.; Harvey, R.W.; LeBlanc, D.R.

1991-01-01

Vertical gradients of selected chemical constituents, bacterial populations, bacterial activity and electron acceptors were investigated for an unconfined aquifer contaminated with nitrate and organic compounds on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Fifteen-port multilevel sampling devices (MLS's) were installed within the contaminant plume at the source of the contamination, and at 250 and 2100 m downgradient from the source. Depth profiles of specific conductance and dissolved oxygen at the downgradient sites exhibited vertical gradients that were both steep and inversely related. Narrow zones (2-4 m thick) of high N2O and NH4+ concentrations were also detected within the contaminant plume. A 27-fold change in bacterial abundance; a 35-fold change in frequency of dividing cells (FDC), an indicator of bacterial growth; a 23-fold change in 3H-glucose uptake, a measure of heterotrophic activity; and substantial changes in overall cell morphology were evident within a 9-m vertical interval at 250 m downgradient. The existence of these gradients argues for the need for closely spaced vertical sampling in groundwater studies because small differences in the vertical placement of a well screen can lead to incorrect conclusions about the chemical and microbiological processes within an aquifer.Vertical gradients of selected chemical constituents, bacterial populations, bacterial activity and electron acceptors were investigated for an unconfined aquifer contaminated with nitrate and organic compounds on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA. Fifteen-port multilevel sampling devices (MLS's) were installed within the contaminant plume at the source of the contamination, and at 250 and 2100 m downgradient from the source. Depth profiles of specific conductance and dissolved oxygen at the downgradient sites exhibited vertical gradients that were both steep and inversely related. Narrow zones (2-4 m thick) of high N2O and NH4+ concentrations were also detected within the contaminant plume. A 27-fold change in bacterial abundance; a 35-fold change in frequency of dividing cells (FDC), an indicator of bacterial growth; a 23-fold change in 3H-glucose uptake, a measure of heterotrophic activity; and substantial changes in overall cell morphology were evident within a 9-m vertical interval at 250 m downgradient. The existence of these gradients argues for the need for closely spaced vertical sampling in ground-water studies because small differences in the vertical placement of a well screen can lead to incorrect conclusions about the chemical and microbiological processes within an aquifer.

Effects of seasonal operation on the quality of water produced by public-supply wells.

PubMed

Bexfield, Laura M; Jurgens, Bryant C

2014-09-01

Seasonal variability in groundwater pumping is common in many places, but resulting effects of seasonal pumping stress on the quality of water produced by public-supply wells are not thoroughly understood. Analysis of historical water-quality samples from public-supply wells completed in deep basin-fill aquifers in Modesto, California (134 wells) and Albuquerque, New Mexico (95 wells) indicates that several wells have seasonal variability in concentrations of contaminants of concern. In Modesto, supply wells are more likely to produce younger groundwater with higher nitrate and uranium concentrations during the summer (high) pumping season than during the winter (low) pumping season. In Albuquerque, supply wells are more likely to produce older groundwater with higher arsenic concentrations during the winter pumping season than during the summer pumping season. Seasonal variability in contaminant concentrations in Modesto is influenced primarily by effects of summer pumping on vertical hydraulic gradients that drive migration of shallow groundwater through the aquifer to supply wells. Variability in Albuquerque is influenced primarily by the period of time that a supply well is idle, allowing its wellbore to act as a conduit for vertical groundwater flow and contaminant migration. However, both processes are observed in each study area. Similar findings would appear to be likely in other alluvial basins with stratified water quality and substantial vertical head gradients. Results suggest that even in aquifers dominated by old groundwater, changes to seasonal pumping patterns and/or to depth of well completion can help reduce vulnerability to selected contaminants of either natural or anthropogenic origin. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Groundwater published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of National Ground Water Association.

Anisotropic models to account for large borehole washouts to estimate gas hydrate saturations in the Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrate Joint Industry Project Leg II Alaminos 21 B well

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lee, M.W.; Collett, T.S.; Lewis, K.A.

2012-01-01

Through the use of 3-D seismic amplitude mapping, several gashydrate prospects were identified in the Alaminos Canyon (AC) area of the Gulf of Mexico. Two locations were drilled as part of the Gulf of MexicoGasHydrate Joint Industry Project Leg II (JIP Leg II) in May of 2009 and a comprehensive set of logging-while-drilling (LWD) logs were acquired at each well site. LWD logs indicated that resistivity in the range of ~2 ohm-m and P-wave velocity in the range of ~1.9 km/s were measured in the target sand interval between 515 and 645 feet below sea floor. These values were slightly elevated relative to those measured in the sediment above and below the target sand. However, the initial well log analysis was inconclusive regarding the presence of gashydrate in the logged sand interval, mainly because largewashouts caused by drilling in the target interval degraded confidence in the well log measurements. To assess gashydratesaturations in the sedimentary section drilled in the Alaminos Canyon 21B (AC21-B) well, a method of compensating for the effect of washouts on the resistivity and acoustic velocities was developed. The proposed method models the washed-out portion of the borehole as a vertical layer filled with sea water (drilling fluid) and the apparent anisotropic resistivity and velocities caused by a vertical layer are used to correct the measured log values. By incorporating the conventional marine seismic data into the well log analysis, the average gashydratesaturation in the target sand section in the AC21-Bwell can be constrained to the range of 8–28%, with 20% being our best estimate.

Neonatal sepsis due to vertical transmission from maternal genital tract.

PubMed

Ayengar, V; Madhulika; Vani, S N

1991-01-01

High vaginal swabs (HVS) of 1792 expectant mothers were sent for culture at the time of delivery, prior to first vaginal examination. The newborns were followed-up for development of superficial or deep infections. Appropriate cultures of the babies who developed infections were sent. Bacterial growth of predominantly gram-ve organisms was obtained in 1026 (57%) HVS. Infection developed in 48 (27%) babies in 1st 72 hours of life, of which 28 had deep infection while the rest had superficial infection. Vertical transmission of organisms was documented in 24 (1.3%) mother-baby dyads and the same was 72% in newborns who were at risk of developing sepsis by septicemia scoring, showing a significantly higher incidence of vertical transmission and subsequent sepsis in high risk newborns.

Kangaroo supported diagonal flexion positioning: New insights into skin-to-skin contact for communication between mothers and very preterm infants.

PubMed

Buil, A; Carchon, I; Apter, G; Laborne, F X; Granier, M; Devouche, E

2016-09-01

Skin-to-skin contact shows benefits in the relationship developed between a mother and her premature infant. In the skin-to-skin session, face-to-face exchanges are impossible in vertical infant positioning. We therefore undertook an observational, prospective, single-center study using kangaroo "supported diagonal flexion" (SDF) positioning. The first aim was to evaluate the safety of kangaroo SDF positioning compared to the usual vertical positioning. The second aim was to evaluate SDF positioning on early communication between the mother and her infant and to improve their well-being. Fifteen mothers and their very premature infants (birth 26<32 weeks' gestation) were assigned to one of the two kangaroo positioning modes, either the current vertical positioning (n=7) or SDF positioning (n=8). Physiological variables and critical events were recorded before, during, and after ten successive skin-to-skin contact sessions. The first and last sessions were videotaped to allow later behavioral measurements. Mothers' risk for depression and feelings about the way they experienced communication with their infant were assessed through questionnaires. In terms of the infant's physiology, no negative effects were associated with SDF positioning in comparison with the usual vertical positioning. SDF positioning led to fewer disorganized gestures, negative vocalizations, and drowsiness, in favor of more deep sleep. SDF led to more mother-infant eye-to-eye contact as well as maternal vocalizations, smiles, and caressing, although these differences did not reach significance. The score for the risk of postnatal depression decreased significantly between the first and the last session in the SDF group, whereas it did not change in the vertical positioning group. These results support the idea that the kangaroo SDF positioning technique is physiologically safe, has obvious immediate benefits on mothers' infant-directed communicative behaviors, and respects the baby's naturally flexed and asymmetrical tonic neck posture. It is an innovative, inexpensive, easy-to-use technique in daily practice, by all healthcare professionals working in a neonatal intensive care unit. These data suggest that the current kangaroo positioning technique could be improved. More studies are needed to confirm the benefits and safety of the kangaroo SDF positioning in larger groups of preterm infants. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Investigation for connecting waveguide in off-planar integrated circuits.

PubMed

Lin, Jie; Feng, Zhifang

2017-09-01

The transmission properties of a vertical waveguide connected by different devices in off-planar integrated circuits are designed, investigated, and analyzed in detail by the finite-difference time-domain method. The results show that both guide bandwidth and transmission efficiency can be adjusted effectively by shifting the vertical waveguide continuously. Surprisingly, the wide guide band (0.385[c/a]∼0.407[c/a]) and well transmission (-6  dB) are observed simultaneously in several directions when the vertical waveguide is located at a specific location. The results are very important for all-optical integrated circuits, especially in compact integration.

Increasing vertical resolution in US models to improve track forecasts of Hurricane Joaquin with HWRF as an example

PubMed Central

Zhang, Banglin; Tallapragada, Vijay; Weng, Fuzhong; Liu, Qingfu; Sippel, Jason A.; Ma, Zaizhong; Bender, Morris A.

2016-01-01

The atmosphere−ocean coupled Hurricane Weather Research and Forecast model (HWRF) developed at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) is used as an example to illustrate the impact of model vertical resolution on track forecasts of tropical cyclones. A number of HWRF forecasting experiments were carried out at different vertical resolutions for Hurricane Joaquin, which occurred from September 27 to October 8, 2015, in the Atlantic Basin. The results show that the track prediction for Hurricane Joaquin is much more accurate with higher vertical resolution. The positive impacts of higher vertical resolution on hurricane track forecasts suggest that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/NCEP should upgrade both HWRF and the Global Forecast System to have more vertical levels. PMID:27698121

Effect of Olympic and traditional resistance training on vertical jump improvement in high school boys.

PubMed

Channell, Brian T; Barfield, J P

2008-09-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a ballistic resistance training program of Olympic lifts with those of a traditional resistance training program of power lifts on vertical jump improvement in male high school athletes. Twenty-seven male student athletes were recruited from a high school football program at a small, rural school in the Southeast. The subjects were divided into an Olympic training group (OT, n = 11), a power training group (PT, n = 10), and a control group (n = 6). Analysis of variance was used to determine whether a significant mean difference existed among groups on vertical jump improvement after 8 weeks of group-specific training. Effect size of vertical jump improvement between groups, and correlations between strength and vertical jump performance, were also examined. There was no significant mean difference (p >or= 0.05) among OT, PT, and control groups, but large effect sizes between OT and control (d = 1.06) and PT and control (d = 0.94) demonstrate that both OT and PT are effective in improving vertical jump performance in male high school athletes. Moderate to high correlations were noted between squat score and vertical jump after adjusting for body weight (r = 0.42) and between power clean and vertical jump after adjusting for body weight (r = 0.75). Findings from the current study indicate that Olympic lifts as well as power lifts provide improvement in vertical jump performance and that Olympic lifts may provide a modest advantage over power lifts for vertical jump improvement in high school athletes.

Vertical stiffness is not related to anterior cruciate ligament elongation in professional rugby union players.

PubMed

Serpell, Benjamin G; Scarvell, Jennie M; Pickering, Mark R; Ball, Nick B; Perriman, Diana; Warmenhoven, John; Smith, Paul N

2016-01-01

Novel research surrounding anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is necessary because ACL injury rates have remained unchanged for several decades. An area of ACL risk mitigation which has not been well researched relates to vertical stiffness. The relationship between increased vertical stiffness and increased ground reaction force suggests that vertical stiffness may be related to ACL injury risk. However, given that increased dynamic knee joint stability has been shown to be associated with vertical stiffness, it is possible that modification of vertical stiffness could help to protect against injury. We aimed to determine whether vertical stiffness is related to measures known to load, or which represent loading of, the ACL. This was a cross-sectional observational study of 11 professional Australian rugby players. Knee kinematics and ACL elongation were measured from a 4-dimensional model of a hopping task which simulated the change of direction manoeuvre typically observed when non-contact ACL injury occurs. The model was generated from a CT scan of the participant's knee registered frame by frame to fluoroscopy images of the hopping task. Vertical stiffness was calculated from force plate data. There was no association found between vertical stiffness and anterior tibial translation (ATT) or ACL elongation (r=-0.05; p=0.89, and r=-0.07; p=0.83, respectively). ATT was related to ACL elongation (r=0.93; p=0.0001). Vertical stiffness was not associated with ACL loading in this cohort of elite rugby players but a novel method for measuring ACL elongation in vivo was found to have good construct validity.

Investigating Vertical Mixing Between Two Carbonate Aquifers Using a Multiport Well, Central Texas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kromann, J.; Wong, C. I.; Hunt, B.; Smith, B.; Banner, J. L.

2011-12-01

Determining the occurrence and extent of mixing between vertically-adjacent aquifers is critical to dual-aquifer management. This can be challenging due to variable well depths and uncertainty as to hydrostratigraphic sources of groundwater. This study uses a multiport monitor well to investigate the degree of aquifer mixing between the overlying Edwards aquifer and underlying Trinity aquifer in central Texas. The results will inform dual-aquifer management as the Trinity aquifer is being developed as an alternative water source to the Edwards aquifer due to pumping limits and projections of increasing water demand. Water levels from isolated hydrostratigraphic units (n = 19) were measured monthly in the well as climate conditions transitioned from wet to dry (Sept 2010 to May 2011). Groundwater was sampled over a two-week interval in May to June 2011. At the start of the monitoring interval, water levels were high in the Edwards and the uppermost units of the Trinity relative to the rest of the Trinity units. Water levels decreased to lower elevations, from about 635 to 585 ft-msl, under dry conditions. Water levels in the lowermost Trinity declined less, from about 630 to 620 ft-msl, under dry conditions. Two zones separating the Edwards and lowermost Trinity showed almost no head change during this period. The water-level variations between the two aquifers suggest that: i) vertical flow potential from the Edwards to the Trinity occurs during dry conditions, ii) the uppermost stratigraphic units of the Trinity and Edwards are mixing, and iii) portions of the Trinity behave as an aquitard, providing hydrologic separation between the Edwards and lowermost Trinity units. Groundwater samples indicate the presence of three distinct hydrochemical facies: Ca-HCO3 (Edwards), Ca-HCO3-SO4 (lowermost Trinity), and Ca-SO4 (Trinity-Glen Rose Fm), suggesting little vertical flow and mixing. Covariation between groundwater 87Sr/86Sr values and SO4 concentrations from units of the Edwards and lowermost Trinity units can be accounted for by a two-end-member fluid mixing model, which uses a unit from the Edwards and lowermost Trinity as end members. This may indicate that 87Sr/86Sr values and SO4 concentrations are controlled by varying extents of mixing between the two units. Groundwater from units in the Glen Rose Formation (between the Edwards and lowermost Trinity units) cannot be accounted for by this mixing process due to elevated SO4 concentrations likely associated with dissolution of evaporites. 87Sr/86Sr values of evaporites recovered from the well are consistent with 87Sr/86Sr values of groundwater from these Glen Rose units. Although the geochemical model results suggest possible mixing between the Edwards and Trinity aquifers, water-level variations and the presence of distinct hydrochemical facies indicate that vertical flow between the Edwards and Trinity is limited to the uppermost units of the Trinity. This study suggests that the Edwards aquifer and lowermost Trinity units are not likely in hydrologic communication and independent management may be possible.

Complementary expertise in a zoo educator professional development event contributes to the construction of understandings of affective transformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelly, Lisa-Anne DeGregoria; Kassing, Sharon

2013-09-01

Cultural Historical Activity Theory served as the analytical framework for the study of a professional development event for a zoo's education department, specifically designed to build understandings of "Affective Transformation," an element pertinent to the organization's strategic plan. Three key products—an Affective Transformation model, scaffolding schematic, and definition, "providing emotional experiences for visitors which increase caring for animals and nature that may lead to zoo-related nature-protective behaviors"—emerged as a result of ongoing deliberation among professional development community members over two days. Participants, including both management- and non-management-level staff, as well as an expert facilitator, contributed complementary expertise to the process. The discussions, therefore, crossed both vertical and horizontal layers of authority. Moreover, leadership was distributed across these levels in the development of these products. Members used pre-existing resources, as well as tools created in the course of the professional development event. Interactions among participants and resources were instrumental in Affective Transformation product development. Examination of one zoo's construction of understanding of affective goals, therefore, may offer insights to other organizations with similar aspirations.

Studying Vertical Microbiome Transmission from Mothers to Infants by Strain-Level Metagenomic Profiling.

PubMed

Asnicar, Francesco; Manara, Serena; Zolfo, Moreno; Truong, Duy Tin; Scholz, Matthias; Armanini, Federica; Ferretti, Pamela; Gorfer, Valentina; Pedrotti, Anna; Tett, Adrian; Segata, Nicola

2017-01-01

The gut microbiome becomes shaped in the first days of life and continues to increase its diversity during the first months. Links between the configuration of the infant gut microbiome and infant health are being shown, but a comprehensive strain-level assessment of microbes vertically transmitted from mother to infant is still missing. We collected fecal and breast milk samples from multiple mother-infant pairs during the first year of life and applied shotgun metagenomic sequencing followed by computational strain-level profiling. We observed that several specific strains, including those of Bifidobacterium bifidum , Coprococcus comes , and Ruminococcus bromii , were present in samples from the same mother-infant pair, while being clearly distinct from those carried by other pairs, which is indicative of vertical transmission. We further applied metatranscriptomics to study the in vivo gene expression of vertically transmitted microbes and found that transmitted strains of Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium species were transcriptionally active in the guts of both adult and infant. By combining longitudinal microbiome sampling and newly developed computational tools for strain-level microbiome analysis, we demonstrated that it is possible to track the vertical transmission of microbial strains from mother to infants and to characterize their transcriptional activity. Our work provides the foundation for larger-scale surveys to identify the routes of vertical microbial transmission and its influence on postinfancy microbiome development. IMPORTANCE Early infant exposure is important in the acquisition and ultimate development of a healthy infant microbiome. There is increasing support for the idea that the maternal microbial reservoir is a key route of microbial transmission, and yet much is inferred from the observation of shared species in mother and infant. The presence of common species, per se , does not necessarily equate to vertical transmission, as species exhibit considerable strain heterogeneity. It is therefore imperative to assess whether shared microbes belong to the same genetic variant (i.e., strain) to support the hypothesis of vertical transmission. Here we demonstrate the potential of shotgun metagenomics and strain-level profiling to identify vertical transmission events. Combining these data with metatranscriptomics, we show that it is possible not only to identify and track the fate of microbes in the early infant microbiome but also to investigate the actively transcribing members of the community. These approaches will ultimately provide important insights into the acquisition, development, and community dynamics of the infant microbiome.

Studying Vertical Microbiome Transmission from Mothers to Infants by Strain-Level Metagenomic Profiling

PubMed Central

Manara, Serena; Truong, Duy Tin; Armanini, Federica; Ferretti, Pamela; Gorfer, Valentina; Pedrotti, Anna

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT The gut microbiome becomes shaped in the first days of life and continues to increase its diversity during the first months. Links between the configuration of the infant gut microbiome and infant health are being shown, but a comprehensive strain-level assessment of microbes vertically transmitted from mother to infant is still missing. We collected fecal and breast milk samples from multiple mother-infant pairs during the first year of life and applied shotgun metagenomic sequencing followed by computational strain-level profiling. We observed that several specific strains, including those of Bifidobacterium bifidum, Coprococcus comes, and Ruminococcus bromii, were present in samples from the same mother-infant pair, while being clearly distinct from those carried by other pairs, which is indicative of vertical transmission. We further applied metatranscriptomics to study the in vivo gene expression of vertically transmitted microbes and found that transmitted strains of Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium species were transcriptionally active in the guts of both adult and infant. By combining longitudinal microbiome sampling and newly developed computational tools for strain-level microbiome analysis, we demonstrated that it is possible to track the vertical transmission of microbial strains from mother to infants and to characterize their transcriptional activity. Our work provides the foundation for larger-scale surveys to identify the routes of vertical microbial transmission and its influence on postinfancy microbiome development. IMPORTANCE Early infant exposure is important in the acquisition and ultimate development of a healthy infant microbiome. There is increasing support for the idea that the maternal microbial reservoir is a key route of microbial transmission, and yet much is inferred from the observation of shared species in mother and infant. The presence of common species, per se, does not necessarily equate to vertical transmission, as species exhibit considerable strain heterogeneity. It is therefore imperative to assess whether shared microbes belong to the same genetic variant (i.e., strain) to support the hypothesis of vertical transmission. Here we demonstrate the potential of shotgun metagenomics and strain-level profiling to identify vertical transmission events. Combining these data with metatranscriptomics, we show that it is possible not only to identify and track the fate of microbes in the early infant microbiome but also to investigate the actively transcribing members of the community. These approaches will ultimately provide important insights into the acquisition, development, and community dynamics of the infant microbiome. PMID:28144631

Sediment Vertical Flux in Unsteady Sheet Flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsu, T.; Jenkins, J. T.; Liu, P. L.

2002-12-01

In models for sediment suspension, two different boundary conditions have been employed at the sediment bed. Either the sediment concentration is given or the vertical flux of sediment is specified. The specification of the latter is usually called the pick-up function. Recently, several developments towards a better understanding of the sediment bed boundary condition have been reported. Nielson et al (Coastal Engineering 2002, 45, p61-68) have indicated a better performance using the sediment vertical flux as the bed boundary condition in comparisons with experimental data. Also, Drake and Calantoni (Journal of Geophysical Research 2001, 106, C9, p19859-19868) have suggested that in the nearshore environment with its various unsteady flow conditions, the appropriate sediment boundary conditions of a large-scale morphology model must consider both the magnitude the free stream velocity and the acceleration of the flow. In this research, a small-scale sheet flow model based on the two-phase theory is implemented to further study these issues. Averaged two-phase continuum equations are presented for concentrated flows of sediment that are driven by strong, fully developed, unsteady turbulent shear flows over a mobile bed. The particle inter-granular stress is modeled using collisional granular flow theory and a two-equation closure for the fluid turbulence is adopted. In the context of the two-phase theory, sediment is transported through the sediment vertical velocity. Using the fully developed sediment phase continuity equation, it can be shown that the vertical velocity of the sediment must vanish when the flow reaches a steady state. In other words, in fully developed conditions, it is the unsteadiness of the flow that induces the vertical motion of the sediment and that changes the sediment concentration profile. Therefore, implementing a boundary condition based on sediment vertical flux is consistent with both the two-phase theory and with the observation that the flow acceleration is an important parameter. In this paper, the vertical flux of sediment is studied under various combinations of free stream velocity, acceleration, and sediment material properties using the two-phase sheet flow model. Some interesting features of sediment dynamics within the sheet, such as time history of sediment vertical velocity, collisional and turbulent suspension mechanisms are presented.

Synergy of agroforestry and bottomland hardwood afforestation

USGS Publications Warehouse

Twedt, D.J.; Portwood, J.; Clason, Terry R.

2003-01-01

Afforestation of bottomland hardwood forests has historically emphasized planting heavy-seeded tree species such as oak (Quercus spp.) and pecan (Caryaillinoensis) with little or no silvicultural management during stand development. Slow growth of these tree species, herbivory, competing vegetation, and limited seed dispersal, often result in restored sites that are slow to develop vertical vegetation structure and have limited tree diversity. Where soils and hydrology permit, agroforestry can provide transitional management that mitigates these historical limitations on converting cropland to forests. Planting short-rotation woody crops and intercropping using wide alleyways are two agroforestry practices that are well suited for transitional management. Weed control associated with agroforestry systems benefits planted trees by reducing competition. The resultant decrease in herbaceous cover suppresses small mammal populations and associated herbivory of trees and seeds. As a result, rapid vertical growth is possible that can 'train' under-planted, slower-growing, species and provide favorable environmental conditions for naturally invading trees. Finally, annual cropping of alleyways or rotational pulpwood harvest of woody crops provides income more rapidly than reliance on future revenue from traditional silviculture. Because of increased forest diversity, enhanced growth and development, and improved economic returns, we believe that using agroforestry as a transitional management strategy during afforestation provides greater benefits to landowners and to the environment than does traditional bottomland hardwood afforestation.

Carbon Nanofiber Nanoelectrodes for Biosensing Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koehne, Jessica Erin

2014-01-01

A sensor platform based on vertically aligned carbon nanofibers (CNFs) has been developed. Their inherent nanometer scale, high conductivity, wide potential window, good biocompatibility and well-defined surface chemistry make them ideal candidates as biosensor electrodes. Here, we report two studies using vertically aligned CNF nanoelectrodes for biomedical applications. CNF arrays are investigated as neural stimulation and neurotransmitter recording electrodes for application in deep brain stimulation (DBS). Polypyrrole coated CNF nanoelectrodes have shown great promise as stimulating electrodes due to their large surface area, low impedance, biocompatibility and capacity for highly localized stimulation. CNFs embedded in SiO2 have been used as sensing electrodes for neurotransmitter detection. Our approach combines a multiplexed CNF electrode chip, developed at NASA Ames Research Center, with the Wireless Instantaneous Neurotransmitter Concentration Sensor (WINCS) system, developed at the Mayo Clinic. Preliminary results indicate that the CNF nanoelectrode arrays are easily integrated with WINCS for neurotransmitter detection in a multiplexed array format. In the future, combining CNF based stimulating and recording electrodes with WINCS may lay the foundation for an implantable smart therapeutic system that utilizes neurochemical feedback control while likely resulting in increased DBS application in various neuropsychiatric disorders. In total, our goal is to take advantage of the nanostructure of CNF arrays for biosensing studies requiring ultrahigh sensitivity, high-degree of miniaturization, and selective biofunctionalization.

An evaluation of borehole flowmeters used to measure horizontal ground-water flow in limestones of Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, 1999

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wilson, John T.; Mandell, Wayne A.; Paillet, Frederick L.; Bayless, E. Randall; Hanson, Randall T.; Kearl, Peter M.; Kerfoot, William B.; Newhouse, Mark W.; Pedler, William H.

2001-01-01

Three borehole flowmeters and hydrophysical logging were used to measure ground-water flow in carbonate bedrock at sites in southeastern Indiana and on the westcentral border of Kentucky and Tennessee. The three flowmeters make point measurements of the direction and magnitude of horizontal flow, and hydrophysical logging measures the magnitude of horizontal flowover an interval. The directional flowmeters evaluated include a horizontal heat-pulse flowmeter, an acoustic Doppler velocimeter, and a colloidal borescope flowmeter. Each method was used to measure flow in selected zones where previous geophysical logging had indicated water-producing beds, bedding planes, or other permeable features that made conditions favorable for horizontal-flow measurements. Background geophysical logging indicated that ground-water production from the Indiana test wells was characterized by inflow from a single, 20-foot-thick limestone bed. The Kentucky/Tennessee test wells produced water from one or more bedding planes where geophysical logs indicated the bedding planes had been enlarged by dissolution. Two of the three test wells at the latter site contained measurable vertical flow between two or more bedding planes under ambient hydraulic head conditions. Field measurements and data analyses for each flow-measurement technique were completed by a developer of the technology or by a contractor with extensive experience in the application of that specific technology. Comparison of the horizontal-flow measurements indicated that the three point-measurement techniques rarely measured the same velocities and flow directions at the same measurement stations. Repeat measurements at selected depth stations also failed to consistently reproduce either flow direction, flow magnitude, or both. At a few test stations, two of the techniques provided similar flow magnitude or direction but usually not both. Some of this variability may be attributed to naturally occurring changes in hydraulic conditions during the 1-month study period in August and September 1999. The actual velocities and flow directions are unknown; therefore, it is uncertain which technique provided the most accurate measurements of horizontal flow in the boreholes and which measurements were most representative of flow in the aquifers. The horizontal heat-pulse flowmeter consistently yielded flow magnitudes considerably less than those provided by the acoustic Doppler velocimeter and colloidal borescope. The design of the horizontal heat-pulse flowmeter compensates for the local acceleration of ground-water velocity in the open borehole. The magnitude of the velocities estimated from the hydrophysical logging were comparable to those of the horizontal heat-pulse flowmeter, presumably because the hydrophysical logging also effectively compensates for the effect of the borehole on the flow field and averages velocity over a length of borehole rather than at a point. The acoustic Doppler velocimeter and colloidal borescope have discrete sampling points that allow for measuring preferential flow velocities that can be substantially higher than the average velocity through a length of borehole. The acoustic Doppler velocimeter and colloidal borescope also measure flow at the center of the borehole where the acceleration of the flow field should be greatest. Of the three techniques capable of measuring direction and magnitude of horizontal flow, only the acoustic Doppler velocimeter measured vertical flow. The acoustic Doppler velocimeter consistently measured downward velocity in all test wells. This apparent downward flow was attributed, in part, to particles falling through the water column as a result of mechanical disturbance during logging. Hydrophysical logging yielded estimates of vertical flow in the Kentucky/Tennessee test wells. In two of the test wells, the hydrophysical logging involved deliberate isolation of water-producing bedding planes with a packer to ensure that small horizontal flow could be quantified without the presence of vertical flow. The presence of vertical flow in the Kentucky/Tennessee test wells may preclude the definitive measurement of horizontal flow without the use of effective packer devices. None of the point-measurement techniques used a packer, but each technique used baffle devices to help suppress the vertical flow. The effectiveness of these baffle devices is not known; therefore, the effect of vertical flow on the measurements cannot be quantified. The general lack of agreement among the point-measurement techniques in this study highlights the difficulty of using measurements at a single depth point in a borehole to characterize the average horizontal flow in a heterogeneous aquifer. The effective measurement of horizontal flow may depend on the precise depth at which measurements are made, and the measurements at a given depth may vary over time as hydraulic head conditions change. The various measurements also demonstrate that the magnitude and possibly the direction of horizontal flow are affected by the presence of the open borehole. Although there is a lack of agreement among the measurement techniques, these results could mean that effective characterization of horizontal flow in heterogeneous aquifers might be possible if data from many depth stations and from repeat measurements can be averaged over an extended time period. Complications related to vertical flow in the borehole highlights the importance of using background logging methods like vertical flowmeters or hydrophysical logging to characterize the borehole environment before horizontal-flow measurements are attempted. If vertical flow is present, a packer device may be needed to acquire definitive measurements of horizontal flow. Because hydrophysical logging provides a complete depth profile of the borehole, a strength of this technique is in identifying horizontal- and vertical-flow zones in a well. Hydrophysical logging may be most applicable as a screening method. Horizontal- flow zones identified with the hydrophysical logging then could be evaluated with one of the point-measurement techniques for quantifying preferential flow zones and flow directions. Additional research is needed to determine how measurements of flow in boreholes relate to flow in bedrock aquifers. The flowmeters may need to be evaluated under controlled laboratory conditions to determine which of the methods accurately measure ground-water velocities and flow directions. Additional research also is needed to investigate variations in flow direction with time, daily changes in velocity, velocity corrections for fractured bedrock aquifers and unconsolidated aquifers, and directional differences in individual wells for hydraulically separated flow zones.

Growth of Planted Yellow-Poplar After Vertical Mulching and Fertilization on Eroded Soils

Treesearch

J.B. Baker; B.G. Blackmon

1976-01-01

Fertilization and vertical mulching improved height growth of yellow-poplars planted on eroded soils. A growing demand for hardwood timber accompanied by a diminishing land base has prompted land managers to consider planting hardwoods on marginal sites such as the eroded soils in the Silty Uplands of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Many of these areas were well...

Impacts of Space Shuttle thermal protection system tile on F-15 aircraft vertical tile

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ko, W. L.

1985-01-01

Impacts of the space shuttle thermal protection system (TPS) tile on the leading edge and the side of the vertical tail of the F-15 aircraft were analyzed under different TPS tile orientations. The TPS tile-breaking tests were conducted to simulate the TPS tile impacts. It was found that the predicted tile impact forces compare fairly well with the tile-breaking forces, and the impact forces exerted on the F-15 aircraft vertical tail were relatively low because a very small fraction of the tile kinetic energy was dissipated in the impact, penetration, and fracture of the tile. It was also found that the oblique impact of the tile on the side of the F-15 aircraft vertical tail was unlikely to dent the tail surface.

Optimal landing of a helicopter in autorotation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, A. Y. N.

1985-01-01

Gliding descent in autorotation is a maneuver used by helicopter pilots in case of engine failure. The landing of a helicopter in autorotation is formulated as a nonlinear optimal control problem. The OH-58A helicopter was used. Helicopter vertical and horizontal velocities, vertical and horizontal displacement, and the rotor angle speed were modeled. An empirical approximation for the induced veloctiy in the vortex-ring state were provided. The cost function of the optimal control problem is a weighted sum of the squared horizontal and vertical components of the helicopter velocity at touchdown. Optimal trajectories are calculated for entry conditions well within the horizontal-vertical restriction curve, with the helicopter initially in hover or forwared flight. The resultant two-point boundary value problem with path equality constraints was successfully solved using the Sequential Gradient Restoration Technique.

Radiating Instabilities of Internal Inertio-gravity Waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwasniok, F.; Schmitz, G.

The vertical radiation of local convective and shear instabilities of internal inertio- gravity waves is examined within linear stability theory. A steady, plane-parallel Boussinesq flow with vertical profiles of horizontal velocity and static stability re- sembling an internal inertio-gravity wave packet without mean vertical shear is used as dynamical framework. The influence of primary-wave frequency and amplitude as well as orientation and horizontal wavenumber of the instability on vertical radi- ation is discussed. Considerable radiation occurs at small to intermediate instability wavenumbers for basic state gravity waves with high to intermediate frequencies and moderately convectively supercritical amplitudes. Radiation is then strongest when the horizontal wavevector of the instability is aligned parallel to the horizontal wavevector of the basic state gravity wave. These radiating modes are essentially formed by shear instability. Modes of convective instability, that occur at large instability wavenum- bers or strongly convectively supercritical amplitudes, as well as modes at convec- tively subcritical amplitudes are nonradiating, trapped in the region of instability. The radiation of an instability is found to be related to the existence of critical levels, a radiating mode being characterized by the absence of critical levels outside the region of instability of the primary wave.

Does altering the occlusal vertical dimension produce temporomandibular disorders? A literature review.

PubMed

Moreno-Hay, I; Okeson, J P

2015-11-01

The purpose of this review was to present a comprehensive review of the scientific evidence available in the literature regarding the effect of altering the occlusal vertical dimens-ion (OVD) on producing temporomandibular disorders. The authors conducted a PubMed search with the following search terms 'temporoman-dibular disorders', 'occlusal vertical dimension', 'stomatognatic system', 'masticatory muscles' and 'skeletal muscle'. Bibliographies of all retrieved articles were consulted for additional publications. Hand-searched publications from 1938 were included. The literature review revealed a lack of well-designed studies. Traditional beliefs have been based on case reports and anecdotal opinions rather than on well-controlled clinical trials. The available evidence is weak and seems to indicate that the stomatognathic system has the ability to adapt rapidly to moderate changes in occlusal vertical dimension (OVD). Nevertheless, it should be taken into consideration that in some patients mild transient symptoms may occur, but they are most often self-limiting and without major consequence. In conclusion, there is no indication that permanent alteration in the OVD will produce long-lasting TMD symptoms. However, additional studies are needed. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Insect Development in Altered Gravitational Environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tischler, Marc E.

1996-01-01

When tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) larvae burrow underground (25-30 cm) to pupate, they reorient themselves to a relatively horizontal position indicating an ability to sense gravity. To evaluate their sensitivity to gravitational environment during metamorphosis, Manduca (pharate adults) were placed in a vertical (head-up) position. Distinct morphological changes, each one reflecting ensuing phases, were used to follow adult development. Five days after pupation, the vertical group showed accelerated (P less than 0.05) development and were nearly 4 phases ahead (P less than 0.0001) after 10 days. Differences in development in the vertical group were characterized further by increased (7-48%) hemolymph concentrations of 13 amino acids, but a decrease in cys and pro and no change in arg, his, met and val (trp, undetectable). Decreased (36%) turnover of injected H-3 - phenylalanine suggested slower utilization of amino acids contributed, at least partly, to the increased concentrations. Vertically-oriented Manduca also exhibited a greater (20 %, P less than 0.001) protein content in their flight muscles near the end of development. Analysis of hemolymph sugar levels showed a redistribution of sugars from the monosaccharide glucose to the disaccharide trehalose. Since injection of 20-hydroxyecdysone decreased (49%) turnover of H-3- phenylalanine in pharate adults and since ecdysteroids are known to increase flight muscle size and control adult development, these results are consistent with our measuring a greater (+80%, P less than 0.05) ecdysteroid titer in the vertically-oriented insects. These results suggest that gravity environment influences ecdysone output by the pharate adult. When we evaluated hemolymph flow in the head-up and control positions, we found that injected C-14-inulin was distributed somewhat more rapidly in the head-up group irrespective of the sight of injection (head or abdomen) likely because in the head-up position flow of the hemolymph is facilitated throughout the animal. Other experiments showed that an intact prothoracic gland is needed for the response. Hence vertical, head-up orientation affects release of ecdysone from the prothoracic gland.

FRACOR-software toolbox for deterministic mapping of fracture corridors in oil fields on AutoCAD platform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ozkaya, Sait I.

2018-03-01

Fracture corridors are interconnected large fractures in a narrow sub vertical tabular array, which usually traverse entire reservoir vertically and extended for several hundreds of meters laterally. Fracture corridors with their huge conductivities constitute an important element of many fractured reservoirs. Unlike small diffuse fractures, actual fracture corridors must be mapped deterministically for simulation or field development purposes. Fracture corridors can be identified and quantified definitely with borehole image logs and well testing. However, there are rarely sufficient image logs or well tests, and it is necessary to utilize various fracture corridor indicators with varying degrees of reliability. Integration of data from many different sources, in turn, requires a platform with powerful editing and layering capability. Available commercial reservoir characterization software packages, with layering and editing capabilities, can be cost intensive. CAD packages are far more affordable and may easily acquire the versatility and power of commercial software packages with addition of a small software toolbox. The objective of this communication is to present FRACOR, a software toolbox which enables deterministic 2D fracture corridor mapping and modeling on AutoCAD platform. The FRACOR toolbox is written in AutoLISPand contains several independent routines to import and integrate available fracture corridor data from an oil field, and export results as text files. The resulting fracture corridor maps consists mainly of fracture corridors with different confidence levels from combination of static and dynamic data and exclusion zones where no fracture corridor can exist. The exported text file of fracture corridors from FRACOR can be imported into an upscaling programs to generate fracture grid for dual porosity simulation or used for field development and well planning.

Effects of heat exchanger tubes on hydrodynamics and CO 2 capture of a sorbent-based fluidized bed reactor

DOE PAGES

Lai, Canhai; Xu, Zhijie; Li, Tingwen; ...

2017-08-05

In virtual design and scale up of pilot-scale carbon capture systems, the coupled reactive multiphase flow problem must be solved to predict the adsorber's performance and capture efficiency under various operation conditions. This paper focuses on the detailed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling of a pilot-scale fluidized bed adsorber equipped with vertical cooling tubes. Multiphase Flow with Interphase eXchanges (MFiX), an open-source multiphase flow CFD solver, is used for the simulations with custom code to simulate the chemical reactions and filtered sub-grid models to capture the effect of the unresolved details in the coarser mesh for simulations with reasonable accuracymore » and manageable computational effort. Previously developed filtered models for horizontal cylinder drag, heat transfer, and reaction kinetics have been modified to derive the 2D filtered models representing vertical cylinders in the coarse-grid CFD simulations. The effects of the heat exchanger configurations (i.e., horizontal or vertical tubes) on the adsorber's hydrodynamics and CO 2 capture performance are then examined. A one-dimensional three-region process model is briefly introduced for comparison purpose. The CFD model matches reasonably well with the process model while provides additional information about the flow field that is not available with the process model.« less

GNSS Active Network of West of Sao Paulo State Applied to Ionosphere Monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aguiar, C. R.; Camargo, P. D.

2008-12-01

In Brazil, a research project of atmospheric studies from reference stations equipped with dual frequency GNSS receivers is in initial phase. These stations have composed the GNSS Active Network of West Sao Paulo State (Network-GNSS-SP) and have been broadcasting GNSS data in real time. Network-GNSS-SP is in tests phase and it's the first Brazilian network to provide GNSS measurements in real time. In Spatial Geodesy Study Brazilian Group (GEGE) has been researched the ionosphere effects on L band signal, as well as the GPS potential on ionosphere dynamic monitoring and, consequently, the application of this one to spatial geophysics study, besides dynamic ionosphere modeling. An algorithm based on Kalman filter has been developed for ionosphere modeling at low latitude regions and estimation of ionospheric parameters as absolute vertical TEC (VTEC) for the monitoring of ionosphere behavior. The approach used in this study is to apply a model for the ionospheric vertical delay. In the algorithm, the ionospheric vertical delay is modeled and expanded by Fourier series. In this paper has been realized on-line processing of the Network-GNSS-SP data and the initial results reached with the algorithm can already be analyzed. The results show the ionospheric maps created from real time TEC estimates.

High-Performance Flexible All-Solid-State Asymmetric Supercapacitors Based on Vertically Aligned CuSe@Co(OH) 2 Nanosheet Arrays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gong, Jiangfeng; Tian, Yazhou; Yang, Ziyuan

The developments of electrode active materials provide the opportunities for next-generation energy storage devices. The arrangement of electrode materials on the substrate has recently emerged as a promising strategy for preparing high-performance supercapacitors. In this paper, we demonstrate a novel vertically aligned CuSe@Co(OH) 2 nanosheet arrays electrode for supercapacitor application. The materials are thoroughly characterized by structural and spectroscopic techniques. Electrochemical performance of CuSe@Co(OH) 2 nanosheet arrays are investigated in detail, which exhibit a specific capacitance as much as 1180 F g -1 at a current density of 1 A g -1. A flexible asymmetric all-solid-state supercapacitor is fabricated usingmore » CuSe@Co(OH) 2 nanosheet arrays as the positive electrode and activated carbon as the negative electrode. The device delivers a volumetric capacitance of 441.4 mF cm -3 with maximum energy density and maximum power density is 0.17 and 62.1 mW cm -3, as well as robust cycling stability (~80.4% capacitance retention after 10 000 cycles), excellent flexibility, and mechanical stability. Finally, the excellent electrochemical performance can be attributed to its unique vertically aligned configuration.« less

High-Performance Flexible All-Solid-State Asymmetric Supercapacitors Based on Vertically Aligned CuSe@Co(OH) 2 Nanosheet Arrays

DOE PAGES

Gong, Jiangfeng; Tian, Yazhou; Yang, Ziyuan; ...

2018-01-04

The developments of electrode active materials provide the opportunities for next-generation energy storage devices. The arrangement of electrode materials on the substrate has recently emerged as a promising strategy for preparing high-performance supercapacitors. In this paper, we demonstrate a novel vertically aligned CuSe@Co(OH) 2 nanosheet arrays electrode for supercapacitor application. The materials are thoroughly characterized by structural and spectroscopic techniques. Electrochemical performance of CuSe@Co(OH) 2 nanosheet arrays are investigated in detail, which exhibit a specific capacitance as much as 1180 F g -1 at a current density of 1 A g -1. A flexible asymmetric all-solid-state supercapacitor is fabricated usingmore » CuSe@Co(OH) 2 nanosheet arrays as the positive electrode and activated carbon as the negative electrode. The device delivers a volumetric capacitance of 441.4 mF cm -3 with maximum energy density and maximum power density is 0.17 and 62.1 mW cm -3, as well as robust cycling stability (~80.4% capacitance retention after 10 000 cycles), excellent flexibility, and mechanical stability. Finally, the excellent electrochemical performance can be attributed to its unique vertically aligned configuration.« less

Verification of NWP Cloud Properties using A-Train Satellite Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kucera, P. A.; Weeks, C.; Wolff, C.; Bullock, R.; Brown, B.

2011-12-01

Recently, the NCAR Model Evaluation Tools (MET) has been enhanced to incorporate satellite observations for the verification of Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) cloud products. We have developed tools that match fields spatially (both in the vertical and horizontal dimensions) to compare NWP products with satellite observations. These matched fields provide diagnostic evaluation of cloud macro attributes such as vertical distribution of clouds, cloud top height, and the spatial and seasonal distribution of cloud fields. For this research study, we have focused on using CloudSat, CALIPSO, and MODIS observations to evaluate cloud fields for a variety of NWP fields and derived products. We have selected cases ranging from large, mid-latitude synoptic systems to well-organized tropical cyclones. For each case, we matched the observed cloud field with gridded model and/or derived product fields. CloudSat and CALIPSO observations and model fields were matched and compared in the vertical along the orbit track. MODIS data and model fields were matched and compared in the horizontal. We then use MET to compute the verification statistics to quantify the performance of the models in representing the cloud fields. In this presentation we will give a summary of our comparison and show verification results for both synoptic and tropical cyclone cases.

The Surface Interface Characteristics of Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube and Graphitic Carbon Fiber Arrays Grown by Thermal and Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Delzeit, Lance; Nguyen, Cattien; Li, Jun; Han, Jie; Meyyappan, M.

2002-01-01

The development of nano-arrays for sensors and devices requires the growth of arrays with the proper characteristics. One such application is the growth of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphitic carbon fibers (GCFs) for the chemical attachment of probe molecules. The effectiveness of such an array is dependent not only upon the effectiveness of the probe and the interface between that probe and the array, but also the array and the underlaying substrate. If that array is a growth of vertically aligned CNTs or GCFs then the attachment of that array to the surface is of the utmost importance. This attachment provides the mechanical stability and durability of the array, as well as, the electrical properties of that array. If the detection is to be acquired through an electrical measurement, then the appropriate resistance between the array and the surface need to be fabricated into the device. I will present data on CNTs and GCFs grown from both thermal and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The focus will be on the characteristics of the metal film from which the CNTs and GCFs are grown and the changes that occur due to changes within the growth process.

Purely numerical approach for analyzing flow to a well intercepting a vertical fracture

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Narasimhan, T.N.; Palen, W.A.

1979-03-01

A numerical method, based on an Integral Finite Difference approach, is presented to investigate wells intercepting fractures in general and vertical fractures in particular. Such features as finite conductivity, wellbore storage, damage, and fracture deformability and its influence as permeability are easily handled. The advantage of the numerical approach is that it is based on fewer assumptions than analytic solutions and hence has greater generality. Illustrative examples are given to validate the method against known solutions. New results are presenteed to demonstrate the applicability of the method to problems not apparently considered in the literature so far.

Production of NOx by Lightning and its Effects on Atmospheric Chemistry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pickering, Kenneth E.

2009-01-01

Production of NO(x) by lightning remains the NO(x) source with the greatest uncertainty. Current estimates of the global source strength range over a factor of four (from 2 to 8 TgN/year). Ongoing efforts to reduce this uncertainty through field programs, cloud-resolved modeling, global modeling, and satellite data analysis will be described in this seminar. Representation of the lightning source in global or regional chemical transport models requires three types of information: the distribution of lightning flashes as a function of time and space, the production of NO(x) per flash, and the effective vertical distribution of the lightning-injected NO(x). Methods of specifying these items in a model will be discussed. For example, the current method of specifying flash rates in NASA's Global Modeling Initiative (GMI) chemical transport model will be discussed, as well as work underway in developing algorithms for use in the regional models CMAQ and WRF-Chem. A number of methods have been employed to estimate either production per lightning flash or the production per unit flash length. Such estimates derived from cloud-resolved chemistry simulations and from satellite NO2 retrievals will be presented as well as the methodologies employed. Cloud-resolved model output has also been used in developing vertical profiles of lightning NO(x) for use in global models. Effects of lightning NO(x) on O3 and HO(x) distributions will be illustrated regionally and globally.

The origin and evolution of low-level potential vorticity anomalies during a case of Tasman Sea cyclogenesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Revell, Michael J.; Ridley, Roger N.

1995-10-01

The rapid development (15 hPa deepening in 12hours) of an intense, shallow and small-scale ( 300km) cyclone off the east coast of Australia was studied, in the context of potential vorticity (PV) thinking. High-resolution spatial and temporal fields generated by a mesoscale weather prediction model, embedded within ECMWF data were used. This case was well simulated, as verified by the few available observations at neighbouring stations, and by satellite imagery. The PV distribution within this cyclone was computed from the model fields and the origin of its component parts established using backward trajectories. These indicated that at low levels the primary mechanism of PV production was the vertical gradient of latent heat release in a frontal cloud band. Above the level of maximum heating this process reversed sign with corresponding destruction of PV. As the heating became shallow enough and intense enough a low level vortex formed with a vertical scale of 2 3km and a wave-CISK like normal mode structure. The length scale and growth rate of this mode agreed well with the observed cyclone, unlike the classical explanation for this type of development (the pure baroclinic instability mechanism of Charney and Eady) which, even including moisture, still predicts length scales of over a 1000km and doubling times of at least a day.

ESTIMATION OF FREE HYDROCARBON VOLUME FROM FLUID LEVELS IN MONITORING WELLS

EPA Science Inventory

Under the assumption of local vertical equilibrium, fluid pressure distributions specified from well fluid levels in monitoring wells may be used to predict water and hydrocarbon saturation profiles given expressions for air-water-hydrocarbon saturation-pressure relations. Verti...

Radar Differential Phase Signatures of Ice Orientation for the Prediction of Lightning Initiation and Cessation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carey, L.D.; Petersen, W.A.; Deierling, W.

2009-01-01

The majority of lightning-related casualties typically occur during thunderstorm initiation (e.g., first flash) or dissipation (e.g., last flash). The physics of electrification and lightning production during thunderstorm initiation is fairly well understood. As such, the literature includes a number of studies presenting various radar techniques (using reflectivity and, if available, other dual-polarimetric parameters) for the anticipation of initial electrification and first lightning flash. These radar techniques have shown considerable skill at forecasting first flash. On the other hand, electrical processes and lightning production during thunderstorm dissipation are not nearly as well understood and few, if any, successful techniques have been developed to anticipate the last flash and subsequent cessation of lightning. One promising approach involves the use of dual-polarimetric radar variables to infer the presence of oriented ice crystals in lightning producing storms. In the absence of strong vertical electric fields, ice crystals fall with their largest (semi-major) axis in the horizontal associated with gravitational and aerodynamic forces. In thunderstorms, strong vertical electric fields (100-200 kV m(sup -1)) have been shown to orient small (less than 2 mm) ice crystals such that their semi-major axis is vertical (or nearly vertical). After a lightning flash, the electric field is typically relaxed and prior radar research suggests that ice crystals rapidly resume their preferred horizontal orientation. In active thunderstorms, the vertical electric field quickly recovers and the ice crystals repeat this cycle of orientation for each nearby flash. This change in ice crystal orientation from primarily horizontal to vertical during the development of strong vertical electric fields prior to a lightning flash forms the physical basis for anticipating lightning initiation and, potentially, cessation. Research has shown that radar reflectivity (Z) and other co-polar back-scattering radar measurements like differential reflectivity (Z(sub dr)) typically measured by operational dual-polarimetric radars are not sensitive to these changes in ice crystal orientation. However, prior research has demonstrated that oriented ice crystals cause significant propagation effects that can be routinely measured by most dual-polarimetric radars from X-band (3 cm) to S-band (10 cm) wavelengths using the differential propagation phase shift (often just called differential phase, phi(sub dp)) or its range derivative, the specific differential phase (K(sub dp)). Advantages of the differential phase include independence from absolute or relative power calibration, attenuation, differential attenuation and relative insensitivity to ground clutter and partial beam occultation effects (as long as the signal remains above noise). In research mode, these sorts of techniques have been used to anticipate initial cloud electrification, lightning initiation, and cessation. In this study, we develop a simplified model of ice crystal size, shape, orientation, dielectric, and associated radar scattering and propagation effects in order to simulate various idealized scenarios of ice crystals responding to a hypothetical electric field and their dual-polarimetric radar signatures leading up to lightning initiation and particularly cessation. The sensitivity of the K(sub dp) ice orientation signature to various ice properties and radar wavelength will be explored. Since K(sub dp) is proportional to frequency in the Rayleigh- Gans scattering regime, the ice orientation signatures should be more obvious at higher (lower) frequencies (wavelengths). As a result, simulations at radar wavelengths from 10 cm down to 1 cm (Ka-band) will be conducted. Resonance effects will be considered using the T-matrix method. Since most K(sub dp) Vbased observations have been shown at S-band, we will present ice orientation signatures from C-band (UAH/NASA ARMOR) and X-bd (UAH MAX) dual-polarimetric radars located in Northern Alabama. Issues related to optimal radar scanning for the detection of oriented ice will be discussed. Preliminary suggestions on how these differential phase signatures of oriented ice could contribute to lightning initiation and cessation algorithms will be presented.

Response of the Water Level in a Well to Earth Tides and Atmospheric Loading Under Unconfined Conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rojstaczer, Stuart; Riley, Francis S.

1990-08-01

The response of the water level in a well to Earth tides and atmospheric loading under unconfined conditions can be explained if the water level is controlled by the aquifer response averaged over the saturated depth of the well. Because vertical averaging tends to diminish the influence of the water table, the response is qualitatively similar to the response of a well under partially confined conditions. When the influence of well bore storage can be ignored, the response to Earth tides is strongly governed by a dimensionless aquifer frequency Q'u. The response to atmospheric loading is strongly governed by two dimensionless vertical fluid flow parameters: a dimensionless unsaturated zone frequency, R, and a dimensionless aquifer frequency Qu. The differences between Q'u and Qu are generally small for aquifers which are highly sensitive to Earth tides. When Q'u and Qu are large, the response of the well to Earth tides and atmospheric loading approaches the static response of the aquifer under confined conditions. At small values of Q'u and Qu, well response to Earth tides and atmospheric loading is strongly influenced by water table drainage. When R is large relative to Qu, the response to atmospheric loading is strongly influenced by attenuation and phase shift of the pneumatic pressure signal in the unsaturated zone. The presence of partial penetration retards phase advance in well response to Earth tides and atmospheric loading. When the theoretical response of a phreatic well to Earth tides and atmospheric loading is fit to the well response inferred from cross-spectral estimation, it is possible to obtain estimates of the pneumatic diffusivity of the unsaturated zone and the vertical hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer.

An analytic model of the in-line and cross-axis apparent mass of the seated human body exposed to vertical vibration with and without a backrest

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Guangtai; Qiu, Yi; Griffin, Michael J.

2011-12-01

During vertical excitation of the seated human body there are vertical and fore-and-aft forces at the seat that are influenced by contact with a backrest, so it is desirable to take into account the effect of a backrest when developing models of the seated human body. Initially, a seven degree-of-freedom multi-body dynamic model was developed for the human body sitting with an upright posture unsupported by a backrest and exposed to vertical vibration. The model was optimized to fit the vertical apparent mass and the fore-and-aft cross-axis apparent mass measured on a seat. The model was then extended by the addition of vertical and fore-and-aft reaction forces to the upper lumbar spine to model the interaction between the human body and a backrest. By minimizing the least square error between experimental data and the analytical solution of the apparent masses on the seat and at the back, the human body model was able to represent both the vertical apparent mass and the fore-and-aft cross-axis apparent mass on the seat and at the back. Parameter sensitivity studies showed that the vertical apparent mass and the fore-and-aft cross-axis apparent mass on the seat and the backrest were all highly sensitive to the axial stiffness of the tissue beneath the pelvis. Pitch motion of the upper-body contributed to the vertical apparent mass and the fore-and-aft cross-axis apparent mass on the seat. The apparent mass at the back was more sensitive to the stiffness and damping of the lower back than the properties of the upper back.

A Sensor Fusion Method for Tracking Vertical Velocity and Height Based on Inertial and Barometric Altimeter Measurements

PubMed Central

Sabatini, Angelo Maria; Genovese, Vincenzo

2014-01-01

A sensor fusion method was developed for vertical channel stabilization by fusing inertial measurements from an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and pressure altitude measurements from a barometric altimeter integrated in the same device (baro-IMU). An Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) estimated the quaternion from the sensor frame to the navigation frame; the sensed specific force was rotated into the navigation frame and compensated for gravity, yielding the vertical linear acceleration; finally, a complementary filter driven by the vertical linear acceleration and the measured pressure altitude produced estimates of height and vertical velocity. A method was also developed to condition the measured pressure altitude using a whitening filter, which helped to remove the short-term correlation due to environment-dependent pressure changes from raw pressure altitude. The sensor fusion method was implemented to work on-line using data from a wireless baro-IMU and tested for the capability of tracking low-frequency small-amplitude vertical human-like motions that can be critical for stand-alone inertial sensor measurements. Validation tests were performed in different experimental conditions, namely no motion, free-fall motion, forced circular motion and squatting. Accurate on-line tracking of height and vertical velocity was achieved, giving confidence to the use of the sensor fusion method for tracking typical vertical human motions: velocity Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) was in the range 0.04–0.24 m/s; height RMSE was in the range 5–68 cm, with statistically significant performance gains when the whitening filter was used by the sensor fusion method to track relatively high-frequency vertical motions. PMID:25061835

Brittle Deformation in the Ordos Basin in response to the Mesozoic destruction of the North China Craton

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Q.; Jiang, L.

2012-12-01

Craton is continental block that has been tectonically stable since at least Proterozoic. Some cratons, however, become unstable for some geodynamic reasons. The North China Craton (NCC) is an example. Structure geological, geochemical, and geophysical works have revealed that the NCC was destructed in Cretaceous and that lithosphere thickness beneath the eastern NCC were thinned by 120 km. The present study will focus on deformation of the western NCC, and to understand the effect of the Mesozoic destruction of the North China Craton (NCC). Structural partitioning of the Ordos Basin, which is located in the western NCC, from the eastern NCC occurred during the Mesozoic. Unlike the eastern NCC where many Cretaceous metamorphic core complexes developed, sedimentary cover of the NCC remains nearly horizontal and deformation is manifested by joint. We visited 216 sites of outcrops and got 1928 joints measurements, among which 270 from Jurassic sandstones, 1378 from the Upper Triassic sandstones, 124 from the Middle and Lower Triassic sandstones, and 156 from Paleozoic sandstones. In the interior of the Ordos Basin, joints developed quite well in the Triassic strata, while joints in the Jurassic stata developed weakly and no joint in the Cretaceous strata. The Mesozoic stratigraphic thickness are: 1000 meters for the Lower Triassic, the Middle Triassic sandstone with thickness of 800 meters, 3000 meters for the Upper Triassic, 4000 meters for the Jurassic, and 1100 meters for the Lower Cretaceous. The vertical difference in joint development might be related to the burying depth of the strata: the higher the strata, the smaller the lithostatic stress, and then the weaker the joint. Joints in all stratigraphic levels showed a similar strain direction with the sigma 1 (the maximum pressure stress) vertical and the sigma 3 (the minimum pressure stress) horizontal and running N-S. The unconformity below the Cretaceous further indicates that joints in Jurassic and Triassic strata were developed in the beginning of Cretaceous. It seems that the western NCC experienced only uplift that recorded a weak N-S extension and E-W compression during the Early Cretaceous when the NCC experienced destruction. Conclusions: 1. The Cretaceous uplift ceased the "natural test of mechanical property" of the strata in the Ordos Basin. The difference in burying depth of the strata caused the vertical difference in joints development. 2. Joints in the interior of the Ordos Basin indicate a N-S extension and E-W compression with the sigma 1 vertical in the Early Cretaceous, as implying a regional uplift in the western NCC during its Mesozoic destruction.

Short-Wavelength Light-Emitting Devices With Enhanced Hole Injection Currents

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-05-01

hot-hole injector with appreciably enhancement of the injection current is proposed and developed to be integrated with commonly used vertical...structures of the emitting devices. Second, we develop the alternative design of UV-light sources on the base of lateral p+ - i - n+ superlattice structures...enhancement of the injection current is proposed and developed to be integrated with commonly used vertical structures of the emitting devices. Second

Effect of horizontal heat and fluid flow on the vertical temperature distribution in a semiconfining layer

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lu, Ning; Ge, Shemin

1996-01-01

By including the constant flow of heat and fluid in the horizontal direction, we develop an analytical solution for the vertical temperature distribution within the semiconfining layer of a typical aquifer system. The solution is an extension of the previous one-dimensional theory by Bredehoeft and Papadopulos [1965]. It provides a quantitative tool for analyzing the uncertainty of the horizontal heat and fluid flow. The analytical results demonstrate that horizontal flow of heat and fluid, if at values much smaller than those of the vertical, has a negligible effect on the vertical temperature distribution but becomes significant when it is comparable to the vertical.

Vertisols and vertic soils of the middle and lower Volga regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khitrov, N. B.; Rogovneva, L. V.

2014-12-01

In addition to the earlier known vertic alluvial soils (slitozems) of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain, 44 new areas of Vertisols and vertic soils (according to the WRB), or dark slitozems (according to the new Russian soil classification system), have been found in the Middle and Lower Volga regions from the forest-steppe to the semidesert zones. Though these soils occupy relatively small areas, they are regularly found in the studied regions. Vertisols developed from the clayey alluvial sediments occur in widened parts of the central floodplain in the areas of strong meandering of the river downstream from the areas, where it washes out ancient swelling clay sediments. Many areas of Vertisols and vertic soils are confined to the second Khvalyn terrace of the Volga River composed of the chocolate-brown swelling Khvalyn clay. These soils do not occupy the entire terrace. They have an insular-type distribution and highly diverse in their properties. In the soils developed from the eluvium of the microlayered chocolate-brown marine clay within the Privolzhskaya Upland, vertic features are absent. The destruction of the lithogenic layering in the course of the redeposition of the marine clay with the formation of the new Quaternary clayey sediments creates conditions for the development of vertic soils. The northernmost area of Vertisols proper has been found in the area of the Samara Arc (53.231° N, 049.322° E). The soils with vertic features have been found in Mordovia and Samara oblast even further to the north (up to 54.2° N). Morphometric data on the slickensides, wedge-shaped structure, and depth of the soil cracking are presented.

Piloting Vertical Flight Aircraft: A Conference on Flying Qualities and Human Factors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blanken, Christopher L. (Editor); Whalley, Matthew S. (Editor)

1993-01-01

This document contains papers from a specialists' meeting entitled 'Piloting Vertical Flight Aircraft: A Conference on Flying Qualities and Human Factors.' Vertical flight aircraft, including helicopters and a variety of Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) concepts, place unique requirements on human perception, control, and performance for the conduct of their design missions. The intent of this conference was to examine, for these vehicles, advances in: (1) design of flight control systems for ADS-33C standards; (2) assessment of human factors influences of cockpit displays and operational procedures; (3) development of VTOL design and operational criteria; and (4) development of theoretical methods or models for predicting pilot/vehicle performance and mission suitability. A secondary goal of the conference was to provide an initial venue for enhanced interaction between human factors and handling qualities specialists.

River-induced flow dynamics in long-screen wells and impact on aqueous samples.

PubMed

Vermeul, Vince R; McKinley, James P; Newcomer, Darrell R; Mackley, Robert D; Zachara, J M

2011-01-01

Previously published field investigations and modeling studies have demonstrated the potential for sample bias associated with vertical wellbore flow in conventional monitoring wells constructed with long-screened intervals. This article builds on the existing body of literature by (1) demonstrating the utility of continuous (i.e., hourly measurements for ∼1 month) ambient wellbore flow monitoring and (2) presenting results from a field experiment where relatively large wellbore flows (up to 4 L/min) were induced by aquifer hydrodynamics associated with a fluctuating river boundary located approximately 250 m from the test well. The observed vertical wellbore flows were strongly correlated with fluctuations in river stage, alternating between upward and downward flow throughout the monitoring period in response to changes in river stage. Continuous monitoring of ambient wellbore flows using an electromagnetic borehole flowmeter allowed these effects to be evaluated in concert with continuously monitored river-stage elevations (hourly) and aqueous uranium concentrations (daily) in a long-screen well and an adjacent multilevel well cluster. This study demonstrates that when contaminant concentrations within the aquifer vary significantly over the depth interval interrogated, river-induced vertical wellbore flow can result in variations in measured concentration that nearly encompass the full range of variation in aquifer contaminant concentration with depth. Copyright © 2010 Battelle Memorial Institute. Journal compilation © 2010 National Ground Water Association.

The responses of light interception, photosynthesis and fruit yield of cucumber to LED-lighting within the canopy.

PubMed

Trouwborst, Govert; Oosterkamp, Joke; Hogewoning, Sander W; Harbinson, Jeremy; van Ieperen, Wim

2010-03-01

Mathematical models of light attenuation and canopy photosynthesis suggest that crop photosynthesis increases by more uniform vertical irradiance within crops. This would result when a larger proportion of total irradiance is applied within canopies (interlighting) instead of from above (top lighting). These irradiance profiles can be generated by Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). We investigated the effects of interlighting with LEDs on light interception, on vertical gradients of leaf photosynthetic characteristics and on crop production and development of a greenhouse-grown Cucumis sativus'Samona' crop and analysed the interaction between them. Plants were grown in a greenhouse under low natural irradiance (winter) with supplemental irradiance of 221 micromol photosynthetic photon flux m(-2) s(-1) (20 h per day). In the interlighting treatment, LEDs (80% Red, 20% Blue) supplied 38% of the supplemental irradiance within the canopy with 62% as top lighting by High-Pressure Sodium (HPS)-lamps. The control was 100% top lighting (HPS lamps). We measured horizontal and vertical light extinction as well as leaf photosynthetic characteristics at different leaf layers, and determined total plant production. Leaf mass per area and dry mass allocation to leaves were significantly greater but leaf appearance rate and plant length were smaller in the interlighting treatment. Although leaf photosynthetic characteristics were significantly increased in the lower leaf layers, interlighting did not increase total biomass or fruit production, partly because of a significantly reduced vertical and horizontal light interception caused by extreme leaf curling, likely because of the LED-light spectrum used, and partly because of the relatively low irradiances from above.

[Psychosocial aspects in a cohort of vertically transmitted human immunodeficiency virus-infected adolescents].

PubMed

García-Navarro, Cristina; García, Isabel; Medín, Gabriela; Ramos-Amador, José Tomás; Navarro-Gómez, Marisa; Mellado-Peña, M José; Gómez, M I de José; Cortés, Marisol; Zamora Crespo, Berta; Muñoz-Fernandez, M Angeles; Gamero, Daniel Blázquez; González-Tomé, M Isabel

2014-12-01

Thanks to advances in antiretroviral treatment, children with HIV infections through vertical transmission have improved their life expectancy. However, new challenges have emerged. We propose this study in order to determine the psychosocial aspects and knowledge of infections in a cohort of adolescents with vertically transmitted HIV infections. Patients with vertically-acquired HIV infection between 12 and 19 years old were included. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews and a Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for emotional and behavioral disorders screening. We evaluated 96 patients (58% females) with a median age of 15 years (11-19.1) and a median age at diagnosis of 1.70 years (0-12.2). The median CD4 count was 626cells/mm(3) (132-998), and the viral load was<50cp/ml in 72% of patients. Among them, 90% attended school and 60% repeated at least one course. Although 81% of them knew of their diagnosis, only 30% understood their disease, with 18.2% having discussed it with friends. Six unwanted pregnancies occurred during the study period. Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire showed hyperactivity risk in 33%. A high percentage of adolescents show difficulties in several areas (disease knowledge, peer relationship, school failure...) that can have an impact on their adult lives. Further studies are needed to evaluate their origin and development in depth, as well as interventions to modify this situation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L.U. y Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica. All rights reserved.

A multidisciplinary-based conceptual model of a fractured sedimentary bedrock aquitard: improved prediction of aquitard integrity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Runkel, Anthony C.; Tipping, Robert G.; Meyer, Jessica R.; Steenberg, Julia R.; Retzler, Andrew J.; Parker, Beth L.; Green, Jeff A.; Barry, John D.; Jones, Perry M.

2018-06-01

A hydrogeologic conceptual model that improves understanding of variability in aquitard integrity is presented for a fractured sedimentary bedrock unit in the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer system of midcontinent North America. The model is derived from multiple studies on the siliciclastic St. Lawrence Formation and adjacent strata across a range of scales and geologic conditions. These studies employed multidisciplinary techniques including borehole flowmeter logging, high-resolution depth-discrete multilevel well monitoring, fracture stratigraphy, fluorescent dye tracing, and three-dimensional (3D) distribution of anthropogenic tracers regionally. The paper documents a bulk aquitard that is highly anisotropic because of poor connectivity of vertical fractures across matrix with low permeability, but with ubiquitous bed parallel partings. The partings provide high bulk horizontal hydraulic conductivity, analogous to aquifers in the system, while multiple preferential termination horizons of vertical fractures serve as discrete low vertical hydraulic conductivity intervals inhibiting vertical flow. The aquitard has substantial variability in its ability to protect underlying groundwater from contamination. Across widespread areas where the aquitard is deeply buried by younger bedrock, preferential termination horizons provide for high aquitard integrity (i.e. protection). Protection is diminished close to incised valleys where stress release and weathering has enhanced secondary pore development, including better connection of fractures across these horizons. These conditions, along with higher hydraulic head gradients in the same areas and more complex 3D flow where the aquitard is variably incised, allow for more substantial transport to deeper aquifers. The conceptual model likely applies to other fractured sedimentary bedrock aquitards within and outside of this region.

Satellite remote sensing and ozonesonde observation of ozone vertical profile and severe storm development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hung, R. J.; Liu, J. M.

1988-01-01

Two year ozonesonde data, January 1981 to December 1982, observed at four Canadian stations, and two-and-a-half year backscattered ultraviolet experiment data on the Nimbus-4 satellite, April 1970 to August 1972, observed over five U.S. stations, were used to study the relationship between the total ozone, vertical distribution of the ozone mixing ratio, height of half the total ozone, and the variation of local tropopause height. In view of the correlation between the variation of the tropopause height and the possible development of severe storms, a better understanding of the effect of the vertical distribution of the local ozone profile on the variation of the tropopause height can give considerable insight into the development of severe storms.

Rotorcraft master plan

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hwoschinsky, Peter V.

1992-01-01

The Rotorcraft Master Plan contains a comprehensive summary of active and planned FAA vertical flight research and development. Since the Master Plan is not sufficient for tracking project status and monitoring progress, the Vertical Flight Program Plan will provide that capability. It will be consistent with the Master Plan and, in conjunction with it, will serve to ensure a hospitable environment if the industry presents a practical vertical-flight initiative.

Estimation of Leaf Area Index and Plant Area Index of a Submerged Macrophyte Canopy Using Digital Photography

PubMed Central

Zhao, Dehua; Xie, Dong; Zhou, Hengjie; Jiang, Hao; An, Shuqing

2012-01-01

Non-destructive estimation using digital cameras is a common approach for estimating leaf area index (LAI) of terrestrial vegetation. However, no attempt has been made so far to develop non-destructive approaches to LAI estimation for aquatic vegetation. Using the submerged plant species Potamogeton malainus, the objective of this study was to determine whether the gap fraction derived from vertical photographs could be used to estimate LAI of aquatic vegetation. Our results suggested that upward-oriented photographs taken from beneath the water surface were more suitable for distinguishing vegetation from other objects than were downward-oriented photographs taken from above the water surface. Exposure settings had a substantial influence on the identification of vegetation in upward-oriented photographs. Automatic exposure performed nearly as well as the optimal trial exposure, making it a good choice for operational convenience. Similar to terrestrial vegetation, our results suggested that photographs taken for the purpose of distinguishing gap fraction in aquatic vegetation should be taken under diffuse light conditions. Significant logarithmic relationships were observed between the vertical gap fraction derived from upward-oriented photographs and plant area index (PAI) and LAI derived from destructive harvesting. The model we developed to depict the relationship between PAI and gap fraction was similar to the modified theoretical Poisson model, with coefficients of 1.82 and 1.90 for our model and the theoretical model, respectively. This suggests that vertical upward-oriented photographs taken from below the water surface are a feasible alternative to destructive harvesting for estimating PAI and LAI for the submerged aquatic plant Potamogeton malainus. PMID:23226557

Buoyancy and Pressure Driven Flow of Hot Gases in Vertical Shafts with Natural and Forced Ventilation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tamm, Gunnar; Jaluria, Yogesh

2003-11-01

An experimental investigation has been carried out on the buoyancy and pressure induced flow of hot gases in vertical shafts, in order to simulate the propagation of combustion products in elevator shafts due to fire in multilevel buildings. Various geometrical configurations are studied, with regard to natural and forced ventilation imposed at the top or bottom of the vertical shaft. The aspect ratio is taken at a fixed value of 6 and the inflow conditions for the hot gases, at a vent near the bottom, are varied in terms of the Reynolds and Grashof numbers. Temperature measurements within the shaft allow a detailed study of the steady state thermal fields, from which optimal means for smoke alleviation in high-rise building fires may be developed. Flow visualization is also used to study the flow characteristics. The results obtained indicate a wall plume as the primary transport mechanism. Flow recirculation dominates at high Grashof number flows, while increased Reynolds numbers gives rise to greater mixing in the shaft. The development and stability of the flow and its effect on the spread of smoke and hot gases are assessed for the different shaft configurations and inlet conditions. It is found that the fastest smoke removal and lowest shaft temperatures occur for a configuration with natural ventilation at the top and forced ventilation up from the shaft bottom. It is also shown that forced ventilation can be used to arrest smoke spread, as well as to dilute the effects of the fire.

Vertical Transmission of Hepatozoon in the Garter Snake Thamnophis elegans.

PubMed

Kauffman, Kiera L; Sparkman, Amanda; Bronikowski, Anne M; Palacios, Maria G

2017-01-01

Vertical transmission of blood parasites has been demonstrated in humans and some domestic species, but it has not been well documented in wild populations. We assessed whether Hepatozoon blood parasites are vertically transmitted in naturally infected individuals of the viviparous western terrestrial garter snake ( Thamnophis elegans ). Blood smears were taken from nine wild-caught gravid female snakes at capture, preparturition, and postparturition, and then from their laboratory-born offspring at age 2 mo and 1 yr. All infected offspring were born to four infected females, although not all offspring in a given litter were necessarily infected. Parasites were not detected in offspring born to the five uninfected mothers. The highest parasite loads were found in neonates at 2 mo of age. Parasite prevalence did not vary between sexes in offspring, but females showed higher loads than did males when 2 mo old. This study supports vertical transmission of Hepatozoon in naturally infected viviparous snakes and suggests that vertical transmission of hematozoan parasites might be an overlooked mode of transmission in wildlife.