Monday, January 29, 2007
Better Buoyancy for Ballons, Blimps and Dirigibles
This may be old hat but it might be relevant to the geostationarybananaovertexas.com project. If I have money for patents anytime soon, it'll go to other patents, but if someone else wants to invest, let me know.
Self-Contained system to replace ballast or gas-release - or other means of changing buoyancy and altitude in lighter-than-air balloons or dirigibles
Russell Johnston, PhotoperiodEffect.com
August 10, 2001 version - last revised January 29 2007
Proposed Provisional Patent Application
Examples of applications:
Dirigibles and other shaped inflatable lighter-than-air (or partially lighter-than-air) devices are being reintroduced as lifting devices (SkyCat of Cardington, England, CargoLifter), tour vehicles (Zeppelin-NT, in service), and proposed as more ideal "cell-phone towers" hovering high over cities (Sky Station International of Washington, DC). As well, NASA plans a balloon expedition to Mars.
Advantages:
A self-contained system which did not involve the taking on or discarding of ballast, or the releasing of gases in order to reduce buoyancy would be more convenient and practical, particular for frequent use. For example, the proposed CargoLifter CL 160 Airship heavy lifting system would have the craft taking on large amounts of water ballast whenever it released a large load. This might well make releasing such loads in remote areas or to mountain tops inconvenient. Repeatedly picking up and releasing loads by such means might be extremely inconvenient. The alternative of gas release, particularly of Helium, is very expensive. In sum, ballast or gas-release systems are highly inconvenient, particularly for repeated use. In the case of the NASA probe, they would not be practical for any lengthy exploration of Mars without a means of adding ballast or gas in situ, yet to do without any means of changing altitude in order to descend to examine the surface closely would obviously limit the mission's usefulness.
The Proposed Device:
In this system buoyant gas is converted from having lift to becoming weight, and therefore ballast, without loss, by compressing it in a container within the craft. It is re-converted to lift again by releasing it from that container into the general bladder or gas envelope it came from. This would necessitate pumps/compressors and the use of some energy. However, it would offer very fine control of the craft's lift and therefore altitude, without any loss of ballast or gas, and the process could be repeated as needed. In previous times, the canister to contain the compressed gas, and perhaps the pumps needed, might have been prohibitively expensive. Modern materials have changed this equation, probably enough to make this a weight-economical secondary system or primary system for altitude control (or to vary the weight-lifting capability) of such lighter-than-air craft. In the case of the NASA probe, such a device could be designed to be discarded at some point to allow higher-altitude surveys, if desired.
It might be necessary or convenient, for non-rigid airships or otherwise, to provide secondary bladders which would operate on these principles so that at least one portion of the structure remained rigidly inflated, even when such buoyancy bladders are deflated.
A better system than the above might be to provide a second "ballast air" bladder inside the main (buoyancy) bladder with a connection to the outside air. (During a descent, for example) air could be pumped into this bladder to replace any buoyant gas that was being compressed, adding a minor amount of weight and more importantly, maintaining the main bladder's pressure at a constant amount. When more buoyancy was wanted, and buoyant gas released into the main chamber again, air would be pumped out/released from the secondary or "air ballast" bladder. Such a system might be considered a bit more closely analogous to the way submarines work, and might be especially useful for shaped balloons or airships without a rigid frame.
Note, in any case, that only a portion of the buoyant gas needs to be compressed in order to alter the buoyancy of the craft overall. In order to vary altitude for a craft whose weight is being held constant, perhaps only quite a small portion - reducing the weight of such a system.
Prior Art:
(This is not intended to be exhaustive, and health and other work have prevented a proper search.) Fish have air bladders that are not wholly unlike such a device, and of course, submarines also vary their buoyancy, and by similar means. Air is used to displace water from the surrounding ocean in buoyancy tanks in order to make the machine more buoyant; and air is released or removed from buoyancy tanks, being replaced by outside water, in order to allow the machine to sink. So far as I know, a way of applying such principles to airships has not been introduced, however. Nor do I know with certainty whether submarines re-compress air from their buoyancy tanks instead of releasing it. If not, that advance would fall under this idea as well.
Self-Contained system to replace ballast or gas-release - or other means of changing buoyancy and altitude in lighter-than-air balloons or dirigibles
Russell Johnston, PhotoperiodEffect.com
August 10, 2001 version - last revised January 29 2007
Proposed Provisional Patent Application
Examples of applications:
Dirigibles and other shaped inflatable lighter-than-air (or partially lighter-than-air) devices are being reintroduced as lifting devices (SkyCat of Cardington, England, CargoLifter), tour vehicles (Zeppelin-NT, in service), and proposed as more ideal "cell-phone towers" hovering high over cities (Sky Station International of Washington, DC). As well, NASA plans a balloon expedition to Mars.
Advantages:
A self-contained system which did not involve the taking on or discarding of ballast, or the releasing of gases in order to reduce buoyancy would be more convenient and practical, particular for frequent use. For example, the proposed CargoLifter CL 160 Airship heavy lifting system would have the craft taking on large amounts of water ballast whenever it released a large load. This might well make releasing such loads in remote areas or to mountain tops inconvenient. Repeatedly picking up and releasing loads by such means might be extremely inconvenient. The alternative of gas release, particularly of Helium, is very expensive. In sum, ballast or gas-release systems are highly inconvenient, particularly for repeated use. In the case of the NASA probe, they would not be practical for any lengthy exploration of Mars without a means of adding ballast or gas in situ, yet to do without any means of changing altitude in order to descend to examine the surface closely would obviously limit the mission's usefulness.
The Proposed Device:
In this system buoyant gas is converted from having lift to becoming weight, and therefore ballast, without loss, by compressing it in a container within the craft. It is re-converted to lift again by releasing it from that container into the general bladder or gas envelope it came from. This would necessitate pumps/compressors and the use of some energy. However, it would offer very fine control of the craft's lift and therefore altitude, without any loss of ballast or gas, and the process could be repeated as needed. In previous times, the canister to contain the compressed gas, and perhaps the pumps needed, might have been prohibitively expensive. Modern materials have changed this equation, probably enough to make this a weight-economical secondary system or primary system for altitude control (or to vary the weight-lifting capability) of such lighter-than-air craft. In the case of the NASA probe, such a device could be designed to be discarded at some point to allow higher-altitude surveys, if desired.
It might be necessary or convenient, for non-rigid airships or otherwise, to provide secondary bladders which would operate on these principles so that at least one portion of the structure remained rigidly inflated, even when such buoyancy bladders are deflated.
A better system than the above might be to provide a second "ballast air" bladder inside the main (buoyancy) bladder with a connection to the outside air. (During a descent, for example) air could be pumped into this bladder to replace any buoyant gas that was being compressed, adding a minor amount of weight and more importantly, maintaining the main bladder's pressure at a constant amount. When more buoyancy was wanted, and buoyant gas released into the main chamber again, air would be pumped out/released from the secondary or "air ballast" bladder. Such a system might be considered a bit more closely analogous to the way submarines work, and might be especially useful for shaped balloons or airships without a rigid frame.
Note, in any case, that only a portion of the buoyant gas needs to be compressed in order to alter the buoyancy of the craft overall. In order to vary altitude for a craft whose weight is being held constant, perhaps only quite a small portion - reducing the weight of such a system.
Prior Art:
(This is not intended to be exhaustive, and health and other work have prevented a proper search.) Fish have air bladders that are not wholly unlike such a device, and of course, submarines also vary their buoyancy, and by similar means. Air is used to displace water from the surrounding ocean in buoyancy tanks in order to make the machine more buoyant; and air is released or removed from buoyancy tanks, being replaced by outside water, in order to allow the machine to sink. So far as I know, a way of applying such principles to airships has not been introduced, however. Nor do I know with certainty whether submarines re-compress air from their buoyancy tanks instead of releasing it. If not, that advance would fall under this idea as well.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
The Photoperiod Effect and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
The Photoperiod Effect study of the day is: Serotonergic mechanisms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
It explores the hypothesis that, in effect, ALS is a serotonin deficiency disease, extending "the glutamate excitotoxicity theory". It concludes that "progressive degeneration of 5-HT neurons affecting motoneuron activity constitutes the prime mover of the disease and its progression and treatment of ALS needs to be focused primarily on boosting 5-HT functions..." 5-HT is serotonin, and we make it in the dark, only.
This is consistent with other studies I'd come across in the last couple of years that suggest a link between the Photoperiod Effect and ALS - more than a hint and less than proof. If you know anybody with ALS, tell them to come in out of the light, as it were.
It explores the hypothesis that, in effect, ALS is a serotonin deficiency disease, extending "the glutamate excitotoxicity theory". It concludes that "progressive degeneration of 5-HT neurons affecting motoneuron activity constitutes the prime mover of the disease and its progression and treatment of ALS needs to be focused primarily on boosting 5-HT functions..." 5-HT is serotonin, and we make it in the dark, only.
This is consistent with other studies I'd come across in the last couple of years that suggest a link between the Photoperiod Effect and ALS - more than a hint and less than proof. If you know anybody with ALS, tell them to come in out of the light, as it were.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Warning! Reflux drugs thin bones and may cause... reflux!
First published January 15, 2007 - last revised January 21, 2007
A recent, well-publicized study found that all common reflux drugs, including Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec make hip fractures far more likely. Nearly 50% more hip fractures occurred after just one year of taking the most effective "proton pump inhibitor" drugs! 17190895 This is shocking news, because one in five people dies after a hip fracture, according to Dr. David Forcione; and it can be presumed that the risk becomes greater with every year that reflux drugs are taken. It now seems that reflux drugs, which act by limiting the acid we produce, thereby limit the amount of calcium we absorb (calcium reacts with acids), imperiling our bones to a startling degree.
Note that both the new and old drugs don't stop reflux, heartburn, or GERD since reflux is "primarily a motor disorder"; 15729198 they only reduce the amount of acid within the fluids that come up. Also, older drugs were found to thin bones less only insofar as they were less effective in reducing acid in the first place – so switching back to such drugs as Zantac doesn't help any more than does reducing the dosage of the more recent drugs.
But there may be worse news hidden in this new study. It may even be that the most profound and common long-term side-effect of reflux drugs is... worse reflux over time! This is because calcium is essential in controlling reflux, not just neutralizing the acids in it – possibly for reasons we do not yet fully understand including better gut mobility 15628717 and anti-inflammatory action 17201221 as well. So if modern reflux medications are indeed reducing our calcium intake, more and worse reflux may be an all-too predicable consequence of taking those drugs for long periods. These drugs may actually be helping to cause the problem they are being prescribed to cure.
Calcium is a common treatment for reflux, and not just because the calcium we've just eaten combines with acid to neutralize it in the stomach. The calcium available in our body also helps us to deal with stomach acid in reflux by being released and neutralizing it, as well as improving gut mobility. Therefore, taking calcium well before an episode of reflux happens helps - but only if it's absorbed, of course, and our reflux medications are helping to prevent that. If over time we have less calcium in our body thanks to reflux drugs such as proton pump inhibitors or older drugs such as Zantac, still worse reflux months or years later may be a likely result. Sadly, the new finding about hip fractures may also explain why so many people who start taking reflux drugs end up staying on them year after year, and even decade after decade.
Other conditions can also be strongly affected by calcium deficiency, including epilepsy, anxiety, and muscle spasms. Combining reflux medication with these conditions may not be advised. It is also known that low acid interferes with B-12 absorption.
So what to do if you have reflux? The first thing - take all the calcium and B-12 you should (which for almost everyone means taking calcium/magnesium supplements). Note, however, that if you are still taking reflux drugs, these may prevent you from absorbing any calcium from these supplements, as well. At a minimum, it's worth finding out, in consultation with your doctor, whether taking substantial calcium supplements will allow you reduce your dosage of reflux drugs such as PPIs. If these drugs are indeed addicting, only being off them for some time, during which calcium can be replaced, will tell you if they are either necessary or truly helping you, over time. You should expect a transition period during which reflux is more noticeable because it's more acidic, before things get better.
Consider the possibility that your reflux is being caused by other medications you are taking. Asthma medication, anti-depressants and aspirin-class NSAID painkillers can all cause reflux, and taking female hormones may do so. Any drug which is a sedative or tranquillizer may slow the peristaltic waves within the esophagus that clear food. Lose weight if you can, since extra pounds worsen reflux.
Other things to try: make sure you're getting enough fiber, since this also helps motility. Raise the head of your bed a few inches, and make sure you drink a glass of water after taking any medication, to limit damage to the esophagus. Also limit smoking, alcohol, chocolate, coffee and tobacco and if you do take them, try to do so only in the morning, since these stimulants may possibly cause reflux by altering the stomach and intestine's daily cycles. (PhotoperiodEffect.com describes some of our daily rhythms and new knowledge about how to optimize them.) The good news is that if you've improved these habits since you started taking reflux drugs, the only thing now causing your reflux, might be the drugs themselves!
A recent, well-publicized study found that all common reflux drugs, including Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec make hip fractures far more likely. Nearly 50% more hip fractures occurred after just one year of taking the most effective "proton pump inhibitor" drugs! 17190895 This is shocking news, because one in five people dies after a hip fracture, according to Dr. David Forcione; and it can be presumed that the risk becomes greater with every year that reflux drugs are taken. It now seems that reflux drugs, which act by limiting the acid we produce, thereby limit the amount of calcium we absorb (calcium reacts with acids), imperiling our bones to a startling degree.
Note that both the new and old drugs don't stop reflux, heartburn, or GERD since reflux is "primarily a motor disorder"; 15729198 they only reduce the amount of acid within the fluids that come up. Also, older drugs were found to thin bones less only insofar as they were less effective in reducing acid in the first place – so switching back to such drugs as Zantac doesn't help any more than does reducing the dosage of the more recent drugs.
But there may be worse news hidden in this new study. It may even be that the most profound and common long-term side-effect of reflux drugs is... worse reflux over time! This is because calcium is essential in controlling reflux, not just neutralizing the acids in it – possibly for reasons we do not yet fully understand including better gut mobility 15628717 and anti-inflammatory action 17201221 as well. So if modern reflux medications are indeed reducing our calcium intake, more and worse reflux may be an all-too predicable consequence of taking those drugs for long periods. These drugs may actually be helping to cause the problem they are being prescribed to cure.
Calcium is a common treatment for reflux, and not just because the calcium we've just eaten combines with acid to neutralize it in the stomach. The calcium available in our body also helps us to deal with stomach acid in reflux by being released and neutralizing it, as well as improving gut mobility. Therefore, taking calcium well before an episode of reflux happens helps - but only if it's absorbed, of course, and our reflux medications are helping to prevent that. If over time we have less calcium in our body thanks to reflux drugs such as proton pump inhibitors or older drugs such as Zantac, still worse reflux months or years later may be a likely result. Sadly, the new finding about hip fractures may also explain why so many people who start taking reflux drugs end up staying on them year after year, and even decade after decade.
Other conditions can also be strongly affected by calcium deficiency, including epilepsy, anxiety, and muscle spasms. Combining reflux medication with these conditions may not be advised. It is also known that low acid interferes with B-12 absorption.
So what to do if you have reflux? The first thing - take all the calcium and B-12 you should (which for almost everyone means taking calcium/magnesium supplements). Note, however, that if you are still taking reflux drugs, these may prevent you from absorbing any calcium from these supplements, as well. At a minimum, it's worth finding out, in consultation with your doctor, whether taking substantial calcium supplements will allow you reduce your dosage of reflux drugs such as PPIs. If these drugs are indeed addicting, only being off them for some time, during which calcium can be replaced, will tell you if they are either necessary or truly helping you, over time. You should expect a transition period during which reflux is more noticeable because it's more acidic, before things get better.
Consider the possibility that your reflux is being caused by other medications you are taking. Asthma medication, anti-depressants and aspirin-class NSAID painkillers can all cause reflux, and taking female hormones may do so. Any drug which is a sedative or tranquillizer may slow the peristaltic waves within the esophagus that clear food. Lose weight if you can, since extra pounds worsen reflux.
Other things to try: make sure you're getting enough fiber, since this also helps motility. Raise the head of your bed a few inches, and make sure you drink a glass of water after taking any medication, to limit damage to the esophagus. Also limit smoking, alcohol, chocolate, coffee and tobacco and if you do take them, try to do so only in the morning, since these stimulants may possibly cause reflux by altering the stomach and intestine's daily cycles. (PhotoperiodEffect.com describes some of our daily rhythms and new knowledge about how to optimize them.) The good news is that if you've improved these habits since you started taking reflux drugs, the only thing now causing your reflux, might be the drugs themselves!
Labels: reflux health calcium photoperiod darkness
