176,638 research outputs found
Simulation of thermal plant optimization and hydraulic aspects of thermal distribution loops for large campuses
No full textFollowing an introduction, the author describes Texas A&M University and its utilities system. After that, the author presents how to construct simulation models for chilled water and heating hot water distribution systems. The simulation model was used in a $2.3 million Ross Street chilled water pipe replacement project at Texas A&M University. A second project conducted at the University of Texas at San Antonio was used as an example to demonstrate how to identify and design an optimal distribution system by using a simulation model. The author found that the minor losses of these closed loop thermal distribution systems are significantly higher than potable water distribution systems. In the second part of the report, the author presents the latest development of software called the Plant Optimization Program, which can simulate cogeneration plant operation, estimate its operation cost and provide optimized operation suggestions. The author also developed detailed simulation models for a gas turbine and heat recovery steam generator and identified significant potential savings. Finally, the author also used a steam turbine as an example to present a multi-regression method on constructing simulation models by using basic statistics and optimization algorithms. This report presents a survey of the author??s working experience at the Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) at Texas A&M University during the period of January 2002 through March 2004. The purpose of the above work was to allow the author to become familiar with the practice of engineering. The result is that the author knows how to complete a project from start to finish and understands how both technical and nontechnical aspects of a project need to be considered in order to ensure a quality deliverable and bring a project to successful completion. This report concludes that the objectives of the internship were successfully accomplished and that the requirements for the degree of Degree of Engineering have been satisfied
Effects of cooking and storage methods on the micronutrient content of foods
No full textFood processing has the potential to alter the nutrient quality of foods. This review deals with the effects of home-based cooking and storage practices on the micronutrient content of foods. It describes the effects of cooking, freezing and refrigeration on the vitamin and mineral content of meats, fish, fruit, vegetables and cereals. Based on this review, we suggest that the consumer should be aware of the possibility that losses in nutritional quality of foods may result from an improper use of cooking and storage techniques available at home
Intern experience at CH���M Hill, Inc.: an internship report
No full textIncludes author's vita"Submitted to the College of Engineering of Texas A&M University in partial
fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Engineering."Includes bibliographical referencesA review of the author's internship experience with CH���M HILL, Inc.
during the period September 1975 through May 1976 is presented. During this nine month
internship the author worked as an Engineer II in the Industrial Processes discipline of this
large consulting engineering firm... The author's prime responsibility was as one of three
lead design engineers on the design of a large wastewater treatment facility for a pulp mill
in Hoquiam, Washington owned by ITT Rayonier Inc. The work generally consisted of the design
of individual treatment units and associated piping and pumping. The purpose of the project
was to provide wastewater treatment capabilities that would satisfy the effluent limitations
(standards) imposed upon the mill by the State of Washington Department of Ecology and the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The author's assignment also entailed necessary
interaction with the project manager and other CH���M HILL design engineers and support staff
members, the client's representatives, and representatives of two other consulting engineering
firms working on the project. Thus, the internship position at CH���M HILL provided considerable
experience coordinating the author's work with the work of other engineers, guiding the design
and administrative efforts of a support staff, and interacting regularly with the client and
other consulting firms. This broad exposure to a variety of engineering and organizational
problems provided a valuable educational experience
Transplantation of teres major muscle for infraspinatus muscle in irreparable rotator cuff tears.
No full textThe authors suggest transfer of teres major muscle for a detached and atrophic infraspinatus muscle in irreparable rotator cuff tears. Original studies were done on cadavers. In the period between November 1993 and June 1994, we used this technique on 6 patients. Those patients were evaluated with the Constant-Murley test and improved from an average of 40 points (minimum 27 to maximum 54) before surgery to an average of 62 points (minimum 47 to maximum 78) after surgery. Active external rotation recovered 35 degrees in abduction and 24 degrees in adduction. The teres major transferred on great tuberosity is able to restore continuity of the cuff and to depress the head of the humerus. It is important to re-educate the transferred muscle because it initially contracts more in adduction and internal rotation than in external rotation. One patient was very satisfied and 5 patients were satisfied after surgical treatment
Intern experience at the Texas Transportation Institute: an internship report
No full text"Submitted to the College of Engineering of Texas A&M University in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Engineering."Includes vita (leaf 91)Includes bibliographical references (leaf 57)This report discusses the author's engineering experience at the Texas
Transportation Institute (TTI), Texas A&M University from March 1974 through July 1977. A
report of this experience plus twelve additional hours of academic course work were
substituted for an internship according to requirements established by the College of
Engineering. Although the author could not retroactively establish objectives of the type
associated with a typical internship, the work experience gained could be related to the two
general objectives of an intership: 1. To demonstrate an identifiable contribution to the
organization in which the intern served, and 2. To enable the intern to become aware of the
non-technical aspects of working as an engineer in a non-academic environment. While a member
of the Texas Transportation Institute staff, the author worked on a number of projects in the
areas of highway traffic engineering research and the preparation of continuing education
courses for transportation engineering officials. These assignments were contained within the
Urban Transportation Systems Division of TTI. This report delineates the author's contribution
to four particular projects and discusses the technical as well as non-technical experience
gained from each. Having been exposed to more engineering situations than many of the other
Doctor of Engineering students, the author has already formulated some rather specific
milestones for the future. The Doctor of Engineering program is discussed in conjunction with
its potential for helping the author attain these career goals and objectives. Also, some
thoughts are presented regarding the Doctor of Engineering as a viable alternative to the
Ph.D. in preparing for a career in engineering higher education
Altered body water distribution in subjects with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and its effects on the measurement of water compartments from bioelectric impedance
No full textObjective: To assess the reliability of bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) for predicting total body water (TBW) and extracellular water (ECW) in children affected by juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).Subjects: Thirty-nine children affected by JRA and 23 healthy children of similar age (11.0 +/- 3.6, range 3.0-19.0 y) were recruited for the study.Methods: TBW and ECW were measured by deuterium oxide and bromide dilution, respectively. Bioelectric impedance (Z) was measured at frequencies of 5, 50 and 100 kHz. The prediction of TBW and ECW from BIA was based on the impedance index (ZI = height(2)/Z, cm(2)/Omega).Results: TBW standardized per kg of body weight and ECW standardized per litre of TBW were significantly higher in JRA as compared to control patients (59.7 +/- 2.4 vs 57.7 +/- 2.7% and 44.5 +/- 4.6 vs 38.1 +/- 7.9%, with P < 0.005 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Moreover, intracellular water standardized per litre of TBW was significantly lower in JRA than in control subjects (55.5 +/- 4.6 vs 62.5 +/- 8.1, with P < 0.0001). In both controls and patients, the use of ZI at 5 kHz offered the more accurate prediction of ECW. However, the use of ZI at 100 kHz did not offer a better prediction of TBW as compared to its value of 50 kHz. Control-generated formulae for predicting water compartments from BIA [TBW = 0.716 x ZI at 100kHz-1.504, r = 0.934, s.e.e. = 2.2 l; ECW = 0.430 x ZI(5)-3.652, r = 0.869, s.e.e. = 1.7 l] underestimated TBW and ECW in JRA patients. However, population-specific formulae [TBW (1) = 0.766 x ZI at 100 kHz-0.053, r = 0.939, s.e.e. = 2.8 l; ECW (1) = 0.399 x ZI at 5 kHz-0.283, r = 0.886, s.e.e. 1.7 l] allowed an accurate prediction of TBW and ECW in JRA patients, taking into account their altered body water distribution.Conclusions: Altered water distribution impedes the use of formulae developed on healthy children to predict TBW and ECW from BIA and JRA patients. It is hypothesized that chronic inflammation and subclinical malnutrition may be responsible for the altered body water distribution of JRA patients. Traditional body composition models may require adjustments for use in JRA children due to their altered body hydration and water distribution.Sponsorship: The study was supported by MURST (Ministero Universita Ricerca Scientifica e Technologica) '60%' grants.Descriptors: juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, body composition, total body water, extracellular water, bioelectric impedance analysi
The long-wavelength view of GG Tau A: rocks in the ring world
No full textWe present the first detection of GG Tau A at centimetre wavelengths, made with the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager Large Array at a frequency of 16 GHz (λ = 1.8 cm). The source is detected at >6 σrms with an integrated flux density of S16GHz = 249 ± 45 µJy. We use these new centimetre-wave data, in conjunction with additional measurements compiled from the literature, to investigate the long-wavelength tail of the dust emission from this unusual protoplanetary system. We use an MCMC-based method to determine maximum likelihood parameters for a simple parametric spectral model and consider the opacity and mass of the dust contributing to the microwave emission. We derive a dust mass of Md ~ 0.1 Msun, constrain the dimensions of the emitting region and find that the opacity index at λ > 7 mm is less than unity, implying a contribution to the dust population from grains exceeding ~4 cm in size. We suggest that this indicates coagulation within the GG Tau A system has proceeded to the point where dust grains have grown to the size of small rocks with dimensions of a few centimetres. Considering the relatively young age of the GG Tau association in combination with the low derived disc mass, we suggest that this system may provide a useful test case for rapid core accretion planet formation models
Altered body water distribution in subjects with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and its effects on the measurement of water compartments from bioelectric impedance.
No full textIs body mass index a measure of adiposity in elderly women?
No full textTo evaluate the accuracy of body mass index (BMI) as a predictor of body fat in elderly women
Is body mass index a measure of adiposity in elderly women?
No full textObjective: To evaluate the accuracy of body mass index (BMI) as a predictor of body fat in elderly women. Research Methods and Procedures: A total of 1423 women aged 67 +/- 5 (mean +/- SD, range: 60 to 88) years were consecutively enrolled into the study. Fat mass (FM) was measured using DXA. Results: BMI explained 72.9% of FM variance (p < 0.0001), with a root mean square en or of estimate (RMSE) of 3.5 kg. After standardization of RMSE on the dependent variable as RMSE%, the prediction error equaled 15%. BMI explained 54.8% of FM% variance (p < 0.0001), with an RMSE of 4.1%, corresponding to an RMSE% of 11%. Discussion: The relatively high RMSE% of the FM and FM%-BMI associations caution against the use of BMI as an adiposity index in individual elderly women. However, an error corresponding to 11% of FM% may be accepted for population studies of body fat in elderly women
- …
