Monthly Archives: March 2014

Victrex Receives As9100 Certification for Its High Performance, Lightweight Aerospace Tubing …

Posted on by

WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA USA Victrex has successfully obtained the rigorous AS9100C/ISO9001:2008 aerospace certification for its VICTREX Pipes production lines. This certification gives the aerospace industry the confidence to specify the robust, lightweight tubing made from VICTREX PEEK polymer. Today, more than 15,000 aircraft rely on the high performance thermoplastic in demanding applications. By achieving this milestone, the world leader in PEEK polymeric solutions continues to take a proactive approach in providing innovative metal replacement products to help boost the efficiency of today's and tomorrow's aircraft.

With aerospace engineers demanding lighter weight solutions, VICTREX Pipes are an attractive and durable alternative to metal given their ability to provide weight reductions of up to 70%. Based on averages from recent fuel economy studies, replacing one hundred meters of metal tubing with a thermoplastic system made from VICTREX PEEK can deliver up to $3,300 in annual fuel cost savings as well as to reduce CO2 emissions by 11 tons per plane. In addition to being lightweight, VICTREX Pipes inherit the benefit of the base polymer of being non-corrosive, which helps the aerospace industry to reduce maintenance costs. High performance over a broad temperature range and excellent fire/smoke/toxicity performance are additional properties that qualify VICTREX PEEK for the aerospace industry.

The international AS9100 standard Victrex obtained was especially designed for the aerospace industry. It requires Victrex to have a quality management system in place to consistently provide products that meet customer and applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Secondly, the standard specifies that the quality management system must establish processes for continuous improvements and ongoing conformity to regulatory requirements in order to provide products that satisfy the needs of aerospace customers. Frank Schemm, VICTREX Pipes Aerospace Market Manager, stated that "all industries we serve benefit from our quality management system and established processes that focus on continuously improving our manufacturing capabilities and products. Being able to provide the highest quality, lightweight products helps manufacturers develop confidence in sustainable solutions enabled by Victrex and its products."

"While Victrex offers straight tubing solutions for demanding aerospace applications, we continue to collaborate with industry-leading companies to develop bent, flared, and jointed systems to fit the spacing requirements of various aircraft platforms," explains Schemm. VICTREX Pipes give engineers the opportunity to create smarter designs to help make the installation process easier for the assembly teams. This has become extremely important particularly with the large backlog of orders that manufacturers have and their need to get aircraft off the assembly line faster. To handle rising demands for new aircraft, it is equally important that Victrex is able to offer stability and security along the entire supply chain.

With 35 years of experience in delivering the highest performing products to demanding industries including aerospace, Victrex will continue to work with leading OEMs and tier suppliers to specify VICTREX Pipes and other VICTREX PEEK material solutions to enhance the efficiency of next generation aircraft. To learn more about VICTREX Pipes for the aerospace industry, please visit http://www.victrexpipes.com.

Read the original post:

Victrex Receives As9100 Certification for Its High Performance, Lightweight Aerospace Tubing ...

Ball Aerospace and Aerojet Rocketdyne Achieve Expanded Operational Range for Green Propellant Infusion Mission

Posted on by

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. and Aerojet Rocketdyne exceeded the technical range objective for the main thruster that will fly aboard the Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM). This mission will demonstrate in a space environment, a "green" propellant known as AF-M315E, to replace the highly toxic hydrazine and complex bi-propellant systems in-use today.

"This is an exciting program that will enhance both future spacecraft performance and U.S. competitiveness," said Jim Oschmann, Ball Aerospace Civil Space and Technologies vice president and general manager. "The new propellant technology, once demonstrated on GPIM, will raise both the 22 Newton and 1 Newton class AF-M315E thruster readiness for flight, enabling safer and less costly space missions with significant enhanced in-space propulsion performance."

The GPIM team demonstrated in a lab environment that the 22 Newton-class thruster running AF-M135E propellant had an enhanced operation range over traditional hydrazine used in spacecraft. The test continuously demonstrated that the thruster had enough force to go as high as 27 Newtons and scale down to 4 Newtons. The 22 Newton thruster will fire simultaneously along with four smaller 1N thrusters aboard the GPIM satellite to initiate orbit inclination changes and altitude changes.

"The expanded operational range exemplifies the performance benefits provided by the AF-M315E, which enable a broad range of applications from low-Earth orbit to deep space and facilitate infusion across the marketplace," added Roger Myers, executive director of Electric Propulsion and Integrated Systems at Aerojet Rocketdyne.

Ball is leading an industry and government team to develop and fly the GPIM mission. The new AF-M315E propellant, which is a Hydroxyl Ammonium Nitrate fuel/oxidizer blend, was developed by U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory at Edwards Air Force Base. Aerojet Rocketdyne has developed the thruster and catalyst technologies which enable practical applications for space missions. The GPIM project is a Technology Demonstration Mission managed by the Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA.

As the prime contractor and principal investigator, Ball collaborates with a team of co-investigators from Aerojet Rocketdyne, NASA Glenn Research Center, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Kennedy Space Center and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory at Edwards Air Force Base, with additional mission support from the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center at Kirkland Air Force Base.

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. supports critical missions for national agencies such as the Department of Defense, NASA, NOAA and other U.S. government and commercial entities. The company develops and manufactures spacecraft, advanced instruments and sensors, components, data exploitation systems and RF solutions for strategic, tactical and scientific applications. For more information, visit http://www.ballaerospace.com.

Ball Corporation (BLL)supplies innovative, sustainable packaging solutions for beverage, food and household products customers, as well as aerospace and other technologies and services primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ 14,500 people worldwide and reported 2013 sales of $8.5 billion. For more information, visit http://www.ball.com, or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

X

Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.

Link:

Ball Aerospace and Aerojet Rocketdyne Achieve Expanded Operational Range for Green Propellant Infusion Mission

Aljur does more with a healthy lifestyle

Posted on by

LUNGE and attack. NELSON MATAWARAN

Wearing boxer shorts and hand wraps, actor Aljur Abrenica is about to strike, moving toward his opponent, athlete Mark Tura. The leading man of GMA 7s Kambal Sirena then lets loose explosive kicks. Tura tries to hit back, but Abrenica seizes his leg and holds him, before he dispenses a nasty bout of blows and elbows.

Abrenica is a man of many interests such as photography, car racing, surfing and martial arts. He discovered his love for racing and drives around with a Dodge Challenger SRT, the same model that Vin Diesel used in Fast & Furious 6.

Lately hes been preoccupied with Muay Thai, a brutal but elegant sport that combines kickboxing and hand-to-hand combat. Unlike in other combat sports, a Muay Thai fighter engages in full-body contact (except the head) using the knee, shin and elbows.

ABRENICA uses his shin, which is not allowed in other martial arts, to thwart his opponent. PHOTOS BY NELSON MATAWARAN

An uncle introduced Abrenica to Mua y Thai when he was 12 years old but other sports got him distracted.

Laman ako ng kalye, he says, explaining his love for outdoor activities.

At 24, he decided to take up Muay Thai again. I like the sweat, the toxins are removed. I learn self-defense skills. The most important is discipline. Its not an easy workout if you stay up late and drink.

He adds that it has given him greater flexibility. I used to be tight but now I can split.

The training has helped him do credible fight scenes. My moves are more genuine, Abrenica says.

Read more:

Aljur does more with a healthy lifestyle

Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito seeks donations for kitchen and garden project at branch in Encinitas

Posted on by

With its Center for a Healthy Lifestyle located in Solana Beach, the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito is raising money to open a second center at the Griset Branch in Encinitas. The nonprofit needs $125,000 to create the garden the second phase of the project. Photos/Kristina Houck

By Kristina Houck

For nearly five years, children have learned how to live healthier lives by cooking and gardening at a yellow cottage in Solana Beach. Opened in April 2009, the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguitos Center for a Healthy Lifestyle features a teaching kitchen, classroom space and an interactive garden, offering after-school programming and summer camps for children, as well as classes for adults.

Because of the success of the center, the nonprofit organization is raising money to open a second center at the Griset Branch in Encinitas. Members of the public were invited the see the progress of the project during an open house on March 20.

This has always been my dream, said Del Mar resident Barbara Harper, the centers founder. Were hoping to spread this to all the Boys & Girls Clubs across the nation.

To expand its programs, the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito opened a garden at its Del Mar Branch in May 2011, and another garden at its La Colonia Branch in November 2012. Mirrored after the first center at 533 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, the proposed second center at 1221 Encinitas Blvd. will feature an interactive, half-acre organic garden and commercial-like kitchen classroom.

Amanda Mascia, the childrens chef at the Center for a Healthy Lifestyle, said she is looking forward to teaching cooking classes at the Encinitas branch.

The kids are really energetic and enthusiastic, said Mascia, who currently teaches at the Solana Beach site. She is also creator and host of the Emmy-award winning healthy kids cooking show, The Good Food Factory.

I cook really large healthy meals with them and theyre super pumped. They love it, and I have a blast, she said. Its very hands-on. They do all the cooking and I guide them through it.

To date, the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito has raised $100,000 for the kitchen. The organization needs another $25,000 to complete the first phase.

See the original post here:

Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito seeks donations for kitchen and garden project at branch in Encinitas

What is Gene Therapy? – Learn.Genetics.utah.edu

Posted on by

Gene therapy could be a way to fix a genetic problem at its source. By adding a corrected copy of a defective gene, gene therapy promises to help diseased tissues and organs work properly. This approach is different from traditional drug-based approaches, which may treat symptoms but not the underlying genetic problems.

Most commonly, gene therapy uses a vector, typically a virus, to deliver a gene to the cells where it's needed. Once it's inside, the cell's gene-reading machinery uses the information in the gene to build RNA and protein molecules. The proteins (or RNA) can then carry out their job in the cells.

But gene therapy is not a molecular bandage that will automatically fix any genetic problem. While many disorders or medical conditions can potentially be treated using gene therapy, others are not suitable for this approach. So what makes a condition a good candidate for gene therapy?

Could the condition be corrected by adding one or a few functional genes? For you to even consider gene therapy, the answer must be "yes." For instance, genetic disorders caused by mutations in single genes tend to be good candidates for gene therapy, while diseases involving many genes and environmental factors tend to be poor candidates.

Do you know which genes are involved? If you plan to treat a genetic flaw, you need to know which gene(s) to pursue. You must also have a DNA copy of the gene available in your laboratory.

Do you understand the biology of the disorder? To design the best possible approach, you need to learn all you can about how the gene factors into the disorder. For example, which tissues the disorder affects, what role the protein encoded by the gene plays within the cells of that tissue, and exactly how mutations in the gene affect the protein's function.

Will adding a normal copy of the gene fix the problem in the affected tissue? Or could getting rid of the defective gene fix it? Sometimes when a gene is defective, no functional protein is being made from it. In cases like these, adding a functional copy of the gene could correct the problem. But sometimes a defective gene codes for a protein that starts doing something it shouldn't or prevents another protein from doing its job. In order to correct the problem, you would need to get rid of the misbehaving protein.

Can you deliver the gene to cells of the affected tissue? The answer will come from several pieces of information, including the tissue's accessibility and molecular signatures.

APA format: Genetic Science Learning Center (2014, January 8) What is Gene Therapy?. Learn.Genetics. Retrieved March 31, 2014, from http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/genetherapy/gtintro/ MLA format: Genetic Science Learning Center. "What is Gene Therapy?." Learn.Genetics 31 March 2014 <http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/genetherapy/gtintro/> Chicago format: Genetic Science Learning Center, "What is Gene Therapy?," Learn.Genetics, 8 January 2014, <http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/genetherapy/gtintro/> (31 March 2014)

View post:

What is Gene Therapy? - Learn.Genetics.utah.edu