ASME Mini-Baja RC CAR (Steering and suspension systems)

The issue that this project is concerned with is how to design and build a drivetrain, steering and suspension systems for an RC car. The systems must be simple and functional. Furthermore, these systems will be designed to fit on a small chassis and not interfere with each other. They also need to be strong and durable enough to propel the car forward and maneuver through various obstacles and be built in a way that is easy to take apart and repair quickly. These design problems were approached using basic mechanical design concepts such as gear kinematics, spur and bevel gear design, static and spring analysis as well as linkage design. These concepts were used to analyze the design and ensure it would function properly. Once the designs were finalized the necessary parts and components were machined, printed, and purchased. The result was a functioning RC car with all the necessary systems in place. These systems also fit well with each other on the chassis and they are relatively simple to assemble and dissemble. Overall the vehicle drives with sufficient power (approximately 20 mph), control (turning radius of under 50”) and meets the requirements set out by the principle investigators Mike Cox and Jason Moore

Benchmarking the performance of Density Functional Theory and Point Charge Force Fields in their Description of sI Methane Hydrate against Diffusion Monte Carlo

High quality reference data from diffusion Monte Carlo calculations are presented for bulk sI methane hydrate, a complex crystal exhibiting both hydrogen-bond and dispersion dominated interactions. The performance of some commonly used exchange-correlation functionals and all-atom point charge force fields is evaluated. Our results show that none of the exchange-correlation functionals tested are sufficient to describe both the energetics and the structure of methane hydrate accurately, whilst the point charge force fields perform badly in their description of the cohesive energy but fair well for the dissociation energetics. By comparing to ice Ih, we show that a good prediction of the volume and cohesive energies for the hydrate relies primarily on an accurate description of the hydrogen bonded water framework, but that to correctly predict stability of the hydrate with respect to dissociation to ice Ih and methane gas, accuracy in the water-methane interaction is also required. Our results highlight the difficulty that density functional theory faces in describing both the hydrogen bonded water framework and the dispersion bound methane.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. Minor typos corrected and clarification added in Method

Hawkes process as a model of social interactions: a view on video dynamics

We study by computer simulation the "Hawkes process" that was proposed in a recent paper by Crane and Sornette (Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 105, 15649 (2008)) as a plausible model for the dynamics of YouTube video viewing numbers. We test the claims made there that robust identification is possible for classes of dynamic response following activity bursts. Our simulated timeseries for the Hawkes process indeed fall into the different categories predicted by Crane and Sornette. However the Hawkes process gives a much narrower spread of decay exponents than the YouTube data, suggesting limits to the universality of the Hawkes-based analysis.Comment: Added errors to parameter estimates and further description. IOP style, 13 pages, 5 figure

Site Characterization Using Integrated Imaging Analysis Methods on Satellite Data of the Islamabad, Pakistan, Region

We develop an integrated digital imaging analysis approach to produce a first-approximation site characterization map for Islamabad, Pakistan, based on remote-sensing data. We apply both pixel-based and object-oriented digital imaging analysis methods to characterize detailed (1:50,000) geomorphology and geology from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) satellite imagery. We use stereo-correlated relative digital elevation models (rDEMs) derived from ASTER data, as well as spectra in the visible near-infrared (VNIR) to thermal infrared (TIR) domains. The resulting geomorphic units in the study area are classified as mountain (including the Margala Hills and the Khairi Murat Ridge), piedmont, and basin terrain units. The local geologic units are classified as limestone in the Margala Hills and the Khairi Murat Ridge and sandstone rock types for the piedmonts and basins. Shear-wave velocities for these units are assigned in ranges based on established correlations in California. These ranges include Vs30-values to be greater than 500 m/sec for mountain units, 200–600 m/sec for piedmont units, and less than 300 m/sec for basin units. While the resulting map provides the basis for incorporating site response in an assessment of seismic hazard for Islamabad, it also demonstrates the potential use of remote-sensing data for site characterization in regions where only limited conventional mapping has been done

Optical Tweezers as an Effective Tool for Spermatozoa Isolation from Mixed Forensic Samples

A single focus optical tweezer is formed when a laser beam is launched through a high numerical aperture immersion objective. This objective focuses the beam down to a diffraction-limited spot, which creates an optical trap where cells suspended in aqueous solutions can be held fixed. Spermatozoa, an often probative cell type in forensic investigations, can be captured inside this optical trap and dragged one by one across millimeter-length distances in order to create a cluster of cells which can be subsequently drawn up into a capillary for collection. Sperm cells are then ejected onto a sterile cover slip, counted, and transferred to a tube for DNA analysis workflow. The objective of this research was to optimize sperm cell collection for maximum DNA yield, and to determine the number of trapped sperm cells necessary to produce a full STR profile. A varying number of sperm cells from both a single-source semen sample and a mock sexual assault sample were isolated utilizing optical tweezers and processed using conventional STR analysis methods. Results demonstrated that approximately 50 trapped spermatozoa were required to obtain a consistently full DNA profile. A complete, single-source DNA profile was also achieved by isolating sperm cells via optical trapping from a mixture of sperm and vaginal epithelial cells. Based on these results, optical tweezers are a viable option for forensic applications such as separation of mixed populations of cells in forensic evidence

The Effect of Extended Use of Banminth in Swine Diets

Banminth has been shown to kill the adult roundworms and also to stop the second stage larvae, thus preventing the damage caused by migration to the liver and lungs. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of feeding Banminth on performance of swine when fed to 75, 125 or 220 lb. and on comparative liver and lung damage

CTIX Message System User\u27s Manual Version 1.0

This manual describes how to use the CTIX Message System for interprocess communication in a distributed application program. The CTIX Message System is a package of message-passing facilities developed by the Concurrent Systems Group of the Department of Computer Science at Washington University, It provides a process-to-process asynchronous, buffered communication medium. The package is implemented on a network of Convergent Technologies (CT) MiniFrame workstations. These workstations support the CTIX (the Ct\u27s version of UNIX System V) operating system and the TCP/IP network protocols

Project Zeus: Design of a Broadband Network and its Application on a University Campus

This is a report of the results of the initial step in a plan for the design, deployment and operation of a high speed campus network at Washington University. The network is based on ATM switching technology that has been developed here during the last several years. This network will support ubiquitous multimedia workstations with high-resolution graphics and video capabilities, open up a wide range of new applications in research and education. It will support aggregate throughputs of hundreds of gigabits per second and will be designed to support port of 100 MB/s is now in operation. The next phase of network implementation will operate at 155 Mb/s port rates, with higher rates introduced as the demand arises and as economics permits. We propose to move this technology quickly into a production setting where the objectives of network use and network research can be pursued concurrently