Conductive elastomeric extensometer

Bridge circuit, in which conductive elastomeric material is the variable leg, precisely measures surface area changes in the human body. Circuits are used singularly, or in quantity by adding elements and amplifier circuits. Elastomeric strips can be located in a form-fitting garment

Model-Independent Determinations of B -> D l nu , D* l nu Form Factors

We present nonperturbative, model-independent parametrizations of the individual QCD form factors relevant to B -> D* l nu and B -> D l nu decays. These results follow from dispersion relations and analyticity, without recourse to heavy quark symmetry. To describe a form factor with two percent accuracy, three parameters are necessary, one of which is its normalization at zero recoil, F(1). We combine the individual form factors using heavy quark symmetry to extract values for the product |V_{cb}| F(1) from B -> D* l nu data with negligible extrapolation uncertainty.Comment: uses harvmac and epsf, 22 pages, 3 eps figures include

Formation and Collapse of Nonaxisymmetric Protostellar Cores in Planar Magnetic Interstellar Clouds: Formulation of the Problem and Linear Analysis

We formulate the problem of the formation and collapse of nonaxisymmetric protostellar cores in weakly ionized, self-gravitating, magnetic molecular clouds. In our formulation, molecular clouds are approximated as isothermal, thin (but with finite thickness) sheets. We present the governing dynamical equations for the multifluid system of neutral gas and ions, including ambipolar diffusion, and also a self-consistent treatment of thermal pressure, gravitational, and magnetic (pressure and tension) forces. The dimensionless free parameters characterizing model clouds are discussed. The response of cloud models to linear perturbations is also examined, with particular emphasis on length and time scales for the growth of gravitational instability in magnetically subcritical and supercritical clouds. We investigate their dependence on a cloud's initial mass-to-magnetic-flux ratio (normalized to the critical value for collapse), the dimensionless initial neutral-ion collision time, and also the relative external pressure exerted on a model cloud. Among our results, we find that nearly-critical model clouds have significantly larger characteristic instability lengthscales than do more distinctly sub- or supercritical models. Another result is that the effect of a greater external pressure is to reduce the critical lengthscale for instability. Numerical simulations showing the evolution of model clouds during the linear regime of evolution are also presented, and compared to the results of the dispersion analysis. They are found to be in agreement with the dispersion results, and confirm the dependence of the characteristic length and time scales on parameters such as the initial mass-to-flux ratio and relative external pressure.Comment: 30 pages, 7 figures Accepted by Ap

Inhibition of adriamycin-promoted microsomal lipid peroxidation by β-carotene, α-tocopherol and retinol at high and low oxygen partial pressures

AbstractIron-dependent peroxidation of rat liver microsomes, enhanced by adriamycin, was measured in the presence of increasing concentrations of α-tocopherol, β-carotene and retinol at low and high pO2. β-Carotene and α-tocopherol inhibited lipid peroxidation by more than 60% when present at concentrations greater than 50 nmol/mg microsomal protein at both high and low pO2. Retinol inhibited peroxidation by 39% at concentrations greater than 100 nmol/mg microsomal protein. This maximal level of inhibition by retinol was unaltered by pO2. However, β-carotene was more effective than α-tocopherol or retinol at a pO2 of 4 mmHg, whereas α-tocopherol was more effective under aerobic conditions. Since adriamycin-dependent lipid peroxidation is maximal at low pO2, β-carotene may play a role in protecting against this process

Transformative Education: The University Learning Community at UTK

Those who do not participate spontaneously are drawn out by others in the group. The discussion is intense, both emotionally and intellectually . . . The predominant tone is that of a group of good friends enjoying being with each other and relishing their mutual exploration of ideas. This is a typical Case Studies class in UTK\u27s University Learning Community

Supply and demand chain management: The effect of adding services to product offerings

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand how firms manage their product and service offerings, integrating supply chain management (SCM) and demand chain management (DCM) strategies. Adding services to the product portfolio of a firm may bring benefits to an organisation, but requires a reconsideration of the supply chain management approach. Design/methodology/approach: A survey is used to collect data, with valid questionnaires obtained for 4,227 UK-based respondents. Empirical analysis utilises structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings: The paper proposes that a combination of management approaches is required by firms which add services to their portfolio of traditional product offerings. A supply chain management approach may be suitable for traditional product offerings. The management of the services value chain, where the customers' role as value creator is a central feature of the construct, is better served by integration of the market orientation of DCM. Originality/value: The paper addresses a research gap related to the shift in traditional activities carried out by a firm moving from purely product to a product service offer and reconsiders the supply and demand chain management approach. The paper is from a Business to Consumer (B2C) perspective. In this context, the work pioneers analysis into a particular case where a firm's product and service offerings may be substitutes for each other in the eyes of the customer. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited

VLBA Polarization Observations of Markarian 421 After a Gamma-Ray High State

We present four high dynamic range, dual-circular polarization, Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations at 22 GHz of Markarian 421, taken throughout the year following the source's unprecedented gamma-ray high state in early 2001. These four new VLBA observations are combined with data from our earlier 1999 paper and archival VLBA data-sets that have become available since 1999 to produce a combined 28 epoch VLBA data-set on Mrk 421 spanning the years 1994 to 2002. No new component associated with the 2001 flares was seen on the total intensity images, but the combined data-set allowed precise measurements of the apparent speeds of the existing components. The peak measured apparent speed was for component C5, which has an apparent speed of 0.1 +/- 0.02 c (H_0=71 km s^{-1} Mpc^{-1}, Omega_m=0.27, and Omega_Lambda=0.73). No counterjet is seen with a limit on the jet to counterjet brightness ratio J >~ 100. These observed VLBI properties of Markarian 421 are consistent with a jet with a bulk Lorentz factor of about 2 and an angle to the line-of-sight of about 1 degree, suggesting a jet that decelerates between the gamma-ray producing region and the parsec scale. The VLBI core and inner jet (component C7) have fractional polarizations of about 5%, and an electric vector position angle (EVPA) aligned with the jet axis. Component C5 (at 1.5 mas from the core) has a higher fractional polarization of about 15%, and an EVPA nearly orthogonal to the jet axis. Significant variability is detected in the EVPA of component C6, which at two of the four epochs shows an EVPA aligned with the jet axis, possibly a sign of propagating disturbances that are only visible on the polarization images. If these propagating disturbances are linked to the 2001 gamma-ray high state, then their inferred apparent speed is between 1 and 3 c.Comment: 11 pages, accepted to Ap

A preliminary investigation of the use of throttles for emergency flight control

A preliminary investigation was conducted regarding the use of throttles for emergency flight control of a multiengine aircraft. Several airplanes including a light twin-engine piston-powered airplane, jet transports, and a high performance fighter were studied during flight and piloted simulations. Simulation studies used the B-720, B-727, MD-11, and F-15 aircraft. Flight studies used the Lear 24, Piper PA-30, and F-15 airplanes. Based on simulator and flight results, all the airplanes exhibited some control capability with throttles. With piloted simulators, landings using manual throttles-only control were extremely difficult. An augmented control system was developed that converts conventional pilot stick inputs into appropriate throttle commands. With the augmented system, the B-720 and F-15 simulations were evaluated and could be landed successfully. Flight and simulation data were compared for the F-15 airplane

Phytoplankton in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas: Distributions, Dynamics and Environmental Forcing

Time-series of remotely sensed distributions of phytoplankton, sea ice, surface temperature, albedo, and clouds were examined to evaluate the impact of the variability of environmental conditions and physical forcing on the phytoplankton distribution in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Large-scale distributions of these parameters were studied for the first time using weekly and monthly composites from April 1998 through September 2002. The basic data set used in this study are phytoplankton pigment concentration derived from the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS), ice concentration obtained from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) and surface temperature, cloud cover, and albedo derived from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). Seasonal variations of the sea ice cover was observed to be the dominant environmental factor as the ice edge blooms followed the retreating marginal ice zones northward. Blooms were most prominent in the southwestern Chukchi Sea, and were especially persistent immediately north of the Bering Strait in nutrient- rich Anadyr water and in some fronts. Chlorophyll concentrations are shown to increase from a nominal value during onset of melt in April to a maximum value in mid-spring or summer depending on location. Large interannual variability of ice cover and phytoplankton distributions was observed with the year 1998 being uniquely associated with an early season occurrence of a massive bloom. This is postulated to be caused in part by a rapid response of phytoplankton to an early retreat of the sea ice cover in the Beaufort Sea region. Correlation analyses showed relatively high negative correlation between chlorophyll and ice concentration with the correlation being highest in May, the correlation coefficient being -0.45. 1998 was also the warmest among the five years globally and the sea ice cover was least extensive in the Beaufort-Khukchi Sea region, partly because of the 1997-98 El Nino. Strong correlations were noted between ice extent and surface temperature, the correlation coefficient being highest at - 0.79 in April, during the onset of the bloom perio