Hypervelocity Impact (HVI)

During 2003 and 2004, the Johnson Space Center's White Sands Testing Facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico conducted hypervelocity impact tests on the space shuttle wing leading edge. Hypervelocity impact tests were conducted to determine if Micro-Meteoroid/Orbital Debris impacts could be reliably detected and located using simple passive ultrasonic methods. The objective of Targets A-1, Ag-1, B-1, and Bg-1 was to study hypervelocity impacts on the reinforced Shuttle Heat Shield Tiles of the Wing. Impact damage was detected using lightweight, low power instrumentation capable of being used in flight

Integration of 4C Skills on Student Worksheets Prospective Professional Physics Teacher in West Sumatra

The 21st century is an era full of challenges which requires the world community to improve the way they think, learn, work and live in the worldin order to keep up with the rapid progress of information technology. The aim of this research is to determine the extent of integration of 4C skills in student worksheets. This research uses a quantitative approach, with descriptive research type. The object of this research is a student worksheet on Light and Optical Instruments created by 10 prospective professional physics teachers at one of the state universities in West Sumatra. This research instrument is in the form of a questionnaire prepared based on the 4C skill indicators formulated by R.T. Kelley, etc. in the form of positive statements. Based on the analysis that has been carried out on student worksheets made by prospective professional physics teachers, it can be concluded that the content of 4C skills consisting of critical thinking skills is in the high category, while creative thinking skills, communication skills and collaboration skills are in the high category medium category. This research is expected to be able to provide information and an overview of the extent of the distribution of 4C skill content on student worksheet

Susceptibility of Pediococcus isolates to antimicrobial compounds in relation to hop-resistance and beer-spoilage

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Though important in the context of food microbiology and as potential pathogens in immuno-compromised humans, bacterial isolates belonging to the genus <it>Pediococcus </it>are best known for their association with contamination of ethanol fermentation processes (beer, wine, or fuel ethanol). Use of antimicrobial compounds (e.g., hop-compounds, Penicillin) by some industries to combat <it>Pediococcus </it>contaminants is long-standing, yet knowledge about the resistance of pediococci to antimicrobial agents is minimal. Here we examined <it>Pediococcus </it>isolates to determine whether antibiotic resistance is associated with resistance to hops, presence of genes known to correlate with beer spoilage, or with ability to grow in beer.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Lactic acid bacteria susceptibility test broth medium (LSM) used in combination with commercially available GPN3F antimicrobial susceptibility plates was an effective method for assessing antimicrobial susceptibility of <it>Pediococcus </it>isolates. We report the finding of Vancomycin-susceptible <it>Pediococcus </it>isolates from four species. Interestingly, we found that hop-resistant, beer-spoilage, and beer-spoilage gene-harbouring isolates had a tendency to be more susceptible, rather than more resistant, to antimicrobial compounds.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings indicate that the mechanisms involved in conferring hop-resistance or ability to spoil beer by <it>Pediococcus </it>isolates are not associated with resistance to antibiotics commonly used for treatment of human infections. Also, Vancomycin-resistance was found to be isolate-specific and not intrinsic to the genus as previously believed.</p

Utilizing the Properties of Functional Groups To Understand Indoor, High NOx, and Low NOx Atmospheric Chemistry

Over 1000 Tg of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted into the atmosphere every year from both biogenic (Guenther et al., 2012) and anthropogenic (Huang et al., 2023) sources, an equivalent weight of about 200,000 school buses per day. Depending on the structure of these compounds and conditions in which they exist, they can remain in the atmosphere for seconds to years. This thesis investigates the fate of selected volatile organic compounds in three types of conditions: low NOx, high NOx, and indoor environments. The first study was inspired by the significant decrease of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the U.S. in the last few decades. This reduction has led to the oxidation of VOCs &ndash; crucial for the formation of ozone and fine particles &ndash; occurring in urban areas under conditions historically associated with remote rural locations. To gain a better understanding of VOC oxidation mechanisms, I investigated the fate of two model linear alkenes that were chosen due to the high abundance of alkenes in atmospheric emissions and the simplicity of the selected compounds. By reacting 1-pentene and 3-butenoic acid with OH radicals in an environmental chamber under low NOx conditions, monitoring the gas- and particle-phase products (and 3-butenoic acid) using real-time mass spectrometry and offline techniques, and kinetics modeling, I was able to elucidate the oxidation mechanisms of these compounds. This allowed for a better understanding of the effect of a carboxyl group on reaction branching ratios and product yields. In the second study, I investigated the OH radical-initiated oxidation of a model ether compound under high NOx conditions. Ether groups are commonly found in more functionalized volatile chemical products (VCPs) &ndash; anthropogenic sources of VOCs that come from cleaning products, personal care products, adhesives, and elsewhere (Seltzer et al., 2021). Although it is known that ether groups affect reaction kinetics, nitrate yields, and SOA yields, the mechanism and degree to which a single ether group impacts the products formed from a large ether has not been determined or quantified. Therefore, for this study I reacted dioctyl ether (a symmetric C16 compound with a central ether group) with OH radicals under high NOx conditions; identified and quantified the gas- and particle-phase products using mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, and spectrophotometric techniques; and developed a quantitative reaction mechanism to explain their formation which could be used in models. In the final chapter I investigated the fate of carboxylic acids and ozone in simulated indoor conditions. Humans spend the majority of their life indoors, yet we have limited knowledge about the chemistry that occurs in these spaces. One major process that impacts the composition of indoor air is surface chemistry. Indoor spaces can have dozens of different surfaces, each with unique properties and compositions. Here, I investigated the mechanisms by which carboxylic acids and ozone interact with various wood species and wood coatings, including lacquer and shellac. An iodide chemical ionization mass spectrometer (I-CIMS) and ozone monitor were used to measure uptake coefficients and deposition velocities in uncoated and coated tubes, an attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectrometer was used to measure diffusion coefficients of carboxylic acids in wood and coatings, and a multilayer model was used to extract compound diffusion coefficients and material absorbance capacities from experiments. The results were then used to develop a conceptual model for describing the interactions of carboxylic acids wood and coatings.&nbsp;</p

The Impact of a Plant-based Diet on the Prevention and Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: In the United States, type 2 diabetes is on the rise. Through lifestyle modifications, adults can prevent, delay, or help manage diabetes. Consuming a plant-based diet means limiting or eliminating animal products while focusing on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. This dietary habit may be beneficial when it comes to diabetes prevention and treatment. Objectives: A literature review was conducted to determine the effects of a plant-based diet on the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults. Methods: The search process was limited to 2010-2020. The databases including Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Health Source, and PubMed, which were searched using key terms to address the objective. Results: The search resulted in 11 articles that fulfilled inclusion criteria and addressed the clinical question. Diabetes biomarkers such as hemoglobin A1c, fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin sensitivity, and more were examined. Other dietary patterns such as a conventional diet, the DASH diet, the Mediterranean diet, and a low-carbohydrate diet were compared to a plant-based diet and their impact on type 2 diabetes. Discussion: Results indicate that a plant-based diet is beneficial in the prevention and treatment of diabetes as realized by improved hemoglobin A1c, fasting blood glucose, and even allowing for a reduction or discontinuation of diabetes related medications. Practitioners can recommend a plant-based diet for adults to aid in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. There are, however, many healthy diet options that are effective in the treatment of type 2 diabetes; thus a patient’s preferences should be considered when making recommendations

Caracterización de la cadena productiva de los huevos de gallinas de campo en la canasta comunitaria utopía

En el Programa de la Canasta Comunitaria Utopía, ubicada en la en el cantón Riobamba, provincia de Chimborazo, se realizó la caracterización de la cadena productiva de los huevos de gallina de campo, se trabajó con un tamaño de muestra de 81 gallinas pertenecientes a los productores de las comunidades (Tzimbuto, Bayushig “La Liberad” y La Victoria “Pusuca”), se determinó mediante medidas zoométricas y características fanerópticas que las aves son de tipo ligero, presentando un peso promedio de 1164,29 g, 2097,44 g y 1379,24 g respectivamente. En cuanto al análisis de la calidad de los huevos se muestrearon 29 unidades de forma aleatoria presentando un peso promedio de 47,24 gramos; largo de 55,24 mm; ancho del 41,66 mm; peso de la cáscara 4,90 gramos y el grosor de la cáscara 0,42 mm. En el color de la yema se utilizó el colorímetro Konica Minolta CR – 400 con el que se obtuvo los siguientes valores, luminosidad de 57,62 L*, color rojo de 5,53 a* y color amarillo de 47,15 b*. El costo de producción de un huevo de campo es de USD 0,21, obteniéndose como beneficio/costo de USD 1,19, pudiéndose comercializar a nivel de la feria a un costo de USD 0,25. En el análisis de mercado se determinó una demanda del 18,46% de huevos de campo con un promedio de consumo de 30 unidades por quincena a un costo de USD 7,50 por cubeta. Por lo tanto se recomienda implementar un programa de capacitación en la producción de huevos de campo a los productores de la Canasta Comunitaria Utopía con el objeto de incrementar la crianza de aves criollas y así poder cubrir la actual demanda insatisfecha. Palabras clave: Aves de traspatio, gallinas criollas, huevos de gallina de campo.In the Utopia Community Basket Program, located in Riobamba canton, Chimborazo province, the characterization of the productive chain of free-range hen eggs was developed, it was worked with a sample size of 81 hens belonging to the producers of communities (Tzimbuto, Bayushig “La Libertad” and La Victoria ”Pusuca”). It was determined through zoometric measurements and phaneroptic characteristics that the fowls are lightweight, presenting an average weight of 1164, 29 g, 2097, 44 g and 1379, 24 g respectively. Regarding the analysis of eggs quality 29 units were shown randomly, presenting an average weight of 47.24 grams; length of 55, 24 mm; width of 41, 66 mm; weight of the eggshell 4.90 grams and thickness of the eggshell 0.42 mm. To determine the yolk color the Konica Minolta CR – 400 colorimeter was used with which the following values were obtained: luminosity of 57, 62 L*, red color of 5, 53 a* and yellow color of 47, 15 b*. The product cost of a free-range egg is of USD 0, 21, getting a benefit/cost of USD 1, 19, being able to market this product at level of the fair in a cost of USD 0, 25. In the market analysis a demand of 18, 46% of free-range eggs was determined, with a fortnightly average of 30 units per family at a cost of USD 7, 50. So, it is recommended to implement a training program in free-range eggs’ production addressed to the Utopia Community Basket producers with the aim to increase the poultry farming and thus be able to cover the current unsatisfied demand. Keywords: backyard fowls, free-range hens, free-range hen eggs

Cyclic Crack Growth Testing of an A.O. Smith Multilayer Pressure Vessel with Modal Acoustic Emission Monitoring and Data Assessment

Digital Wave Corp. (DWC) was retained by Jacobs ATOM at NASA Ames Research Center to perform cyclic pressure crack growth sensitivity testing on a multilayer pressure vessel instrumented with DWC's Modal Acoustic Emission (MAE) system, with captured wave analysis to be performed using DWCs WaveExplorerTM software, which has been used at Ames since 2001. The objectives were to document the ability to detect and characterize a known growing crack in such a vessel using only MAE, to establish the sensitivity of the equipment vs. crack size and / or relevance in a realistic field environment, and to obtain fracture toughness materials properties in follow up testing to enable accurate crack growth analysis. This report contains the results of the testing

O papel dos agentes de suporte à inovação no desenvolvimento de empresas de base

The aim of this paper is to analyze the role of innovation support agents (ISAs) in the development of new technology-based firms (NTBFs) from the perspective of information asymmetry among economic agents. It was performed a qualitative cross-case analysis about two business incubators, two business accelerators, and two science parks. According to the empirical data collected and posterior analysis it was found that ISAs contribute to the development of NTBFs in the following ways: distributing market information to them, reducing their search costs; enabling their social capital formation; borrowing reputation to them; reducing the search costs of market agents to access their NTBFs. Furthermore, these roles vary to the nature of the ISA investigated. Lastly, this research can be used as a reference by both, ISAs and NTBFs, regarding the development of the informational and social aspects of this latter.Keywords: information asymmetry, NTBFs, science parks, business incubators, business accelerators.O objetivo deste artigo é analisar o papel de agentes de suporte à inovação (ASIs) no desenvolvimento de empresas nascentes de base tecnológica (ENBTs) a partir do conceito de assimetria de informações entre os agentes econômicos. Para isso, foi utilizada a abordagem qualitativa de análise comparativa de múltiplos casos em duas aceleradoras de empresas, duas incubadoras e dois parques tecnológicos. De acordo com os dados obtidos e sua posterior análise, foi verificado que os ASIs contribuem para as ENBTs da seguinte maneira: distribuindo informações do mercado, reduzindo, assim, seu custo de pesquisa; favorecendo a formação de suas redes de relações sociais; emprestando sua reputação; e reduzindo o custo de pesquisa de agentes de mercado no que tange o acesso às ENBTs. Não obstante, esses papéis variam de acordo com a natureza do ASI investigado. De resto, esta pesquisa pode ser usada como referência para ambos, ASIs e ENBTs, no que se refere ao desenvolvimento de aspectos informacionais e sociais desta última. Palavras-chave: assimetria de informações, ENBTs, parques tecnológicos, incubadoras de empresas, aceleradoras de empresas

pH-sensitive phthalocyanine-loaded polymeric nanoparticles as a novel treatment strategy for breast cancer

Novel pH-sensitive polymeric photosensitizer carriers from the phthalocyanine (Pc) group were investigated as potential photodynamic therapy drugs for the treatment of breast cancer. Their high antiproliferative activity was confirmed by photocytotoxicity studies, which indicated their high efficacy and specificity toward the SK-BR-3 cell line. Importantly, the Pcs encapsulated in the polymeric nanoparticle (NP) carrier exhibited a much better penetration into the acidic environment of tumor cells than their free form. The investigated Pc4-NPs and TT1-NPs exhibited a high selectivity to healthy fibroblasts as well as non-toxicity without irradiation. This paper describes the detailed mechanism of action of the evaluated compounds by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS), including singlet oxygen; imaging cellular localization; and analyzing key signaling pathway proteins. An additional advantage of the evaluated compounds is their ability to inhibit the Akt protein expression, including its phosphorylation, which the Western blot test confirmed. This is particularly important because breast cancers often overexpress the HER-2 receptor-related signaling proteins. Moreover, an analysis of proteins such as GLUT-1, HO-1, phospho-p42/44, and BID revealed the significant involvement of ROS in disrupting cellular homeostasis, thereby leading to the induction of oxidative stress and resulting in apoptotic cell deat