22,140 research outputs found
Large coupling behaviour of the Lyapunov exponent for tight binding one-dimensional random systems
Studies the Lyapunov exponent gamma lambda (E) of (hu)(n)=u(n+1)+u(n-1)+ lambda V(n)u(n) in the limit as lambda to infinity where V is a suitable random potential. The authors prove that gamma lambda (E) approximately ln lambda as lambda to infinity uniformly as E/ lambda runs through compact sets. They also describe a formal expansion (to order lambda -2) for random and almost periodic potentials
Elevation scanning laser/multi-sensor hazard detection system controller and mirror/mast speed control components
The electro-mechanical and electronic systems involved with pointing a laser beam from a roving vehicle along a desired vector are described. A rotating 8 sided mirror, driven by a phase-locked dc motor servo system, and monitored by a precision optical shaft encoder is used. This upper assembly is then rotated about an orthogonal axis to allow scanning into all 360 deg around the vehicle. This axis is also driven by a phase locked dc motor servo-system, and monitored with an optical shaft encoder. The electronics are realized in standard TTL integrated circuits with UV-erasable proms used to store desired coordinates of laser fire. Related topics such as the interface to the existing test vehicle are discussed
Combustor liner construction
A combustor liner is fabricated from a plurality of individual segments each containing counter/parallel Finwall material and are arranged circumferentially and axially to define the combustion zone. Each segment is supported by a hook and ring construction to an opened lattice frame with sufficient tolerance between the hook and ring to permit thermal expansion with a minimum of induced stresses
EXIST: Mission Design Concept and Technology Program
The Energetic X-ray Imaging Survey Telescope (EXIST) is a proposed very large
area coded aperture telescope array, incorporating 8m^2 of pixellated Cd-Zn-Te
(CZT) detectors, to conduct a full-sky imaging and temporal hard x-ray (10-600
keV) survey each 95min orbit. With a sensitivity (5sigma, 1yr) of ~0.05mCrab
(10-150 keV), it will extend the ROSAT soft x-ray (0.5-2.5keV) and proposed
ROSITA medium x-ray (2-10 keV) surveys into the hard x-ray band and enable
identification and study of sources ~10-20X fainter than with the ~15-100keV
survey planned for the upcoming Swift mission. At ~100-600 keV, the ~1mCrab
sensitivity is 300X that achieved in the only previous (HEAO-A4, non-imaging)
all-sky survey. EXIST will address a broad range of key science objectives:
from obscured AGN and surveys for black holes on all scales, which constrain
the accretion history of the universe, to the highest sensitivity and
resolution studies of gamma-ray bursts it will conduct as the Next Generation
Gamma-Ray Burst mission. We summarize the science objectives and mission
drivers, and the results of a mission design study for implementation as a free
flyer mission, with Delta IV launch. Key issues affecting the telescope and
detector design are discussed, and a summary of some of the current design
concepts being studied in support of EXIST is presented for the wide-field but
high resolution coded aperture imaging and very large area array of imaging CZT
detectors. Overall mission design is summarized, and technology development
needs and a development program are outlined which would enable the launch of
EXIST by the end of the decade, as recommended by the NAS/NRC Decadal Survey.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables. PDF file only. Presented at SPIE (Aug.
2002) and to appear in Proc. SPIE, vol. 485
Precision of Hubble constant derived using black hole binary absolute distances and statistical redshift information
Measured gravitational waveforms from black hole binary inspiral events
directly determine absolute luminosity distances. To use these data for
cosmology, it is necessary to independently obtain redshifts for the events,
which may be difficult for those without electromagnetic counterparts. Here it
is demonstrated that certainly in principle, and possibly in practice,
clustering of galaxies allows extraction of the redshift information from a
sample statistically for the purpose of estimating mean cosmological
parameters, without identification of host galaxies for individual events. We
extract mock galaxy samples from the 6th Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky
Survey resembling those that would be associated with inspiral events of
stellar mass black holes falling into massive black holes at redshift z ~ 0.1
to 0.5. A simple statistical procedure is described to estimate a likelihood
function for the Hubble constant H_0: each galaxy in a LISA error volume
contributes linearly to the log likelihood for the source redshift, and the log
likelihood for each source contributes linearly to that of H_0. This procedure
is shown to provide an accurate and unbiased estimator of H_0. It is estimated
that a precision better than one percent in H_0 may be possible if the rate of
such events is sufficiently high, on the order of 20 to z = 0.5.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. D; new references adde
The Full Re-Ionization of Helium
Observations of resolved HeII Lyman alpha absorption in spectra of two QSO's
suggest that the epoch of helium ionization occurred at z~3. Proximity zones in
the spectra of the quasars (z=3.18, 3.285) at 304 A resemble Stromgren spheres,
suggesting that the intergalactic medium is only singly ionized in helium. We
present models of the proximity effect which include the full physics of the
ionization, heating and cooling and an accurately simulated inhomogeneous gas
distribution. In these models the underdense intergalactic medium is heated to
at least 10,000-20,000 K after cooling to as low as a few 1000 K due to
cosmological expansion, with higher temperatures achieved farther away from the
quasar due to absorption-hardened ionizing spectra. The quasars turn on for a
few times 10^7 years with a fairly steady flux output at 228 A comparable to
the 304 A flux output directly observed with HST. The recoveries in the spectra
occur naturally due to voids in the IGM and may provide a fairly
model-independent probe of the baryon density.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, to appear in the proceedings of "After the Dark
Ages: When Galaxies were Young (the Universe at 2<z<5)", 9th Annual October
Astrophysics Conference in Marylan
Thermodynamic phase-field model for microstructure with multiple components and phases: the possibility of metastable phases
A diffuse-interface model for microstructure with an arbitrary number of
components and phases was developed from basic thermodynamic and kinetic
principles and formalized within a variational framework. The model includes a
composition gradient energy to capture solute trapping, and is therefore suited
for studying phenomena where the width of the interface plays an important
role. Derivation of the inhomogeneous free energy functional from a Taylor
expansion of homogeneous free energy reveals how the interfacial properties of
each component and phase may be specified under a mass constraint. A diffusion
potential for components was defined away from the dilute solution limit, and a
multi-obstacle barrier function was used to constrain phase fractions. The
model was used to simulate solidification via nucleation, premelting at phase
boundaries and triple junctions, the intrinsic instability of small particles,
and solutal melting resulting from differing diffusivities in solid and liquid.
The shape of metastable free energy surfaces is found to play an important role
in microstructure evolution and may explain why some systems premelt at phase
boundaries and phase triple junctions while others do not.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figure
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Digital inclusion - the vision, the challenges and the way forward
This paper considers the vision and aspiration of digital inclusion, and then examines the current reality. It looks beyond the rhetoric to provide an analysis of the status quo, a consideration of some facilitators and challenges to progress and some suggestions for moving forward with renewed energy and commitment. The far-reaching benefits of digital inclusion and the crucial role it plays in enabling full participation in our digital society are considered. At the heart of the vision of universal digital inclusion is the deceptively simple goal to ensure that everyone is able to access and experience the wide-ranging benefits and transformational opportunities and impacts it offers. The reality is a long way from the vision: inequality of access still exists despite many national campaigns and initiatives to reduce it. The benefits and beneficiaries of a digital society are not just the individual but all stakeholders in the wider society. Research evidence has shown that the critical success factors for successful digital participation are (i) appropriate design and (ii) readily available and on-going ICT (Information and Communication Technology) support in the community. Challenges and proven solutions are presented. The proposition of community hubs in local venues to provide user-centred ICT support and learning for older and disabled people is presented. While the challenges to achieve digital inclusion are very considerable, the knowledge of how to achieve it and the technologies which enable it already exist. Harnessing of political will is necessary to make digital inclusion a reality rather than a vision. With the cooperation and commitment of all stakeholders actualisation of the vision of a digitally inclusive society, while challenging, can be achieved and will yield opportunities and rewards that eclipse the cost of implementation
Efficacy and Safety of Pediatric Critical Care Physician Telemedicine Involvement in Rapid Response Team and Code Response in a Satellite Facility
OBJECTIVES:
Satellite inpatient facilities of larger children's hospitals often do not have on-site intensivist support. In-house rapid response teams and code teams may be difficult to operationalize in such facilities. We developed a system using telemedicine to provide pediatric intensivist involvement in rapid response team and code teams at the satellite facility of our children's hospital. Herein, we compare this model with our in-person model at our main campus.
DESIGN:
Cross-sectional.
SETTING:
A tertiary pediatric center and its satellite facility.
PATIENTS:
Patients admitted to the satellite facility.
INTERVENTIONS:
Implementation of a rapid response team and code team model at a satellite facility using telemedicine to provide intensivist support.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:
We evaluated the success of the telemedicine model through three a priori outcomes: 1) reliability: involvement of intensivist on telemedicine rapid response teams and codes, 2) efficiency: time from rapid response team and code call until intensivist response, and 3) outcomes: disposition of telemedicine rapid response team or code calls. We compared each metric from our telemedicine model with our established main campus model.
MAIN RESULTS:
Critical care was involved in satellite campus rapid response team activations reliably (94.6% of the time). The process was efficient (median response time 7 min; mean 8.44 min) and effective (54.5 % patients transferred to PICU, similar to the 45-55% monthly rate at main campus). For code activations, the critical care telemedicine response rate was 100% (6/6), with a fast response time (median 1.5 min). We found no additional risk to patients, with no patients transferred from the satellite campus requiring a rapid escalation of care defined as initiation of vasoactive support, greater than 60 mL/kg in fluid resuscitation, or endotracheal intubation.
CONCLUSIONS:
Telemedicine can provide reliable, timely, and effective critical care involvement in rapid response team and Code Teams at satellite facilities
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