5,551 research outputs found
Water vapor diffusion in Mars subsurface environments
The diffusion coefficient of water vapor in unconsolidated porous media is measured
for various soil simulants at Mars-like pressures and subzero temperatures.
An experimental chamber which simultaneously reproduces a low-pressure,
low-temperature, and low-humidity environment is used to monitor water flux from an ice
source through a porous diffusion barrier. Experiments are performed on four types of
simulants: 40–70 µm glass beads, sintered glass filter disks, 1–3 µm dust (both loose and
packed), and JSC Mars–1. A theoretical framework is presented that applies to
environments that are not necessarily isothermal or isobaric. For most of our samples, we
find diffusion coefficients in the range of 2.8 to 5.4 cm^2 s^-1 at 600 Pascal and 260 K. This
range becomes 1.9–4.7 cm^2 s^-1 when extrapolated to a Mars-like temperature of 200 K.
Our preferred value for JSC Mars–1 at 600 Pa and 200 K is 3.7 ± 0.5 cm^2 s^-1. The
tortuosities of the glass beads is about 1.8. Packed dust displays a lower mean diffusion
coefficient of 0.38 ± 0.26 cm^2 s^-1, which can be attributed to transition to the Knudsen
regime where molecular collisions with the pore walls dominate. Values for the diffusion
coefficient and the variation of the diffusion coefficient with pressure are well matched by
existing models. The survival of shallow subsurface ice on Mars and the providence of
diffusion barriers are considered in light of these measurements
Stochastic background from extra-galactic double neutron stars
We present Monte Carlo simulations of the extra galactic population of
inspiralling double neutron stars, and estimate its contribution to the
astrophysical gravitational wave background, in the frequency range of ground
based interferometers, corresponding to the last thousand seconds before the
last stable orbit when more than 96 percent of the signal is released. We show
that sources at redshift z>0.5 contribute to a truly continuous background
which may be detected by correlating third generation interferometers.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures - proceeding of a talk given at the 11th GWDAW,
to appear in CQ
Distribution of parallel vortices studied by spin-polarized neutron reflectivity and magnetization
We present the studies of non-uniformly distributed vortices in Nb/Al
multilayers at applied field near parallel to film surface by using
spin-polarized neutron reflectivity (SPNR) and DC magnetization measurements.
We have observed peaks above the lower critical field, Hc1, in the M-H curves
from the multilayers.
Previous works with a model calculation of minimizing Gibbs free energy have
suggested that the peaks could be ascribed to vortex line transitions for
spatial commensuration in a thin film superconductor. In order to directly
determine the distribution of vortices, we performed SPNR measurements on the
multilayer and found that the distribution and density of vortices are
different at ascending and descending fields. At ascending 2000 Oe which is
just below the first peak in the M-H curve, SPNR shows that vortices are mostly
localized near a middle line of the film meanwhile the vortices are distributed
in broader region at the descending 2000 Oe. That is related to the observation
of more vortices trapped at the descending field. As the applied field is
sightly tilted (< 3.5degree), we observe another peak at a smaller field. The
peak position is consistent with the parallel lower critical field (Hc1||). We
discuss that the vortices run along the applied field below Hc1|| and rotate
parallel to the surface at Hc1||.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figure
A family of filters to search for frequency dependent gravitational wave stochastic backgrounds
We consider a three dimensional family of filters based on broken power law
spectra to search for gravitational wave stochastic backgrounds in the data
from Earth-based laser interferometers. We show that such templates produce the
necessary fitting factor for a wide class of cosmological backgrounds and
astrophysical foregrounds and that the total number of filters required to
search for those signals in the data from first generation laser
interferometers operating at the design sensitivity is fairly smallComment: 4 pages, 4 figures, uses iopart.cls, accepted for publications on
Classical and Quantum Gravity (Special Issue, Proceedings of Amaldi 2003
Anti-correlation and subsector structure in financial systems
With the random matrix theory, we study the spatial structure of the Chinese
stock market, American stock market and global market indices. After taking
into account the signs of the components in the eigenvectors of the
cross-correlation matrix, we detect the subsector structure of the financial
systems. The positive and negative subsectors are anti-correlated each other in
the corresponding eigenmode. The subsector structure is strong in the Chinese
stock market, while somewhat weaker in the American stock market and global
market indices. Characteristics of the subsector structures in different
markets are revealed.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, 4 table
Technical and Economic Assessment of Span-Distributed Loading Cargo Aircraft Concepts
A 700,000 kg (1,540,000-lb) aircraft with a cruise Mach number of 0.75 was found to be optimum for the specified mission parameters of a 272 155-kg (600,000-lb) payload, a 5560-km (3000-n.mi.) range, and an annual productivity of 113 billion revenue-ton km (67 billion revenue-ton n. mi.). The optimum 1990 technology level spanloader aircraft exhibited the minimum 15-year life-cycle costs, direct operating costs, and fuel consumption of all candidate versions. Parametric variations of wing sweep angle, thickness ratio, rows of cargo, and cargo density were investigated. The optimum aircraft had two parallel rows of 2.44 x 2.44-m (8 x 8-ft) containerized cargo with a density of 160 kg/cu m (10 lb/ft 3) carried throughout the entire 101-m (331-ft) span of the constant chord, 22-percent thick, supercritical wing. Additional containers or outsized equipment were carried in the 24.4-m (80-ft) long fuselage compartment preceding the wing. Six 284,000-N (64,000-lb) thrust engines were mounted beneath the 0.7-rad (40-deg) swept wing. Flight control was provided by a 36.6-m (120-ft) span canard surface mounted atop the forward fuselage, by rudders on the wingtip verticals and by outboard wing flaperons
Multibody aircraft study, volume 2
The potential benefits of a multibody aircraft when compared to a single body aircraft are presented. The analyses consist principally of a detailed point design analysis of three multibody and one single body aircraft, based on a selected payload of 350,000 kg (771,618 lb), for final aircraft definitions; sensitivity studies to evaluate the effects of variations in payload, wing semispan body locations, and fuel price; recommendations as to the research and technology requirements needed to validate the multibody concept. Two, two body, one, three body, and one single body aircraft were finalized for the selected payload, with DOC being the prime figure of merit. When compared to the single body, the multibody aircraft showed a reduction in DOC by as much as 11.3 percent. Operating weight was reduced up to 14 percent, and fly away cost reductions ranged from 8.6 to 13.4 percent. Weight reduction, hence cost, of the multibody aircraft resulted primarily from the wing bending relief afforded by the bodies being located outboard on the wing
Recommendations for the management of opioid-induced constipation - how to improve usability in clinical practice
INTRODUCTION: Opioid-induced constipation remains undertreated despite effective and safe treatment options exists. Previous guidelines have only been partially effective in improving management, possibly due to their complexity, and studies suggest that a simple setup of concise and behaviorally-orientated steps improves usability. AREAS COVERED: This article introduces the concept of opioid-induced constipation and provides an overview of existing guidelines in this field. We also propose simplified recommendations for managing opioid-induced constipation, derived from a synthesis of current guidelines and the principles of optimal guideline design theory. EXPERT OPINION: Despite standard treatment with laxatives and fluid intake in patients with opioid-induced constipation, escalation of treatment is often needed where ÎĽ-opioid receptor antagonists or newer medications such as lubiprostone, linaclotide, or prucalopride are used. Previous guidelines have not been used sufficiently and thus management of the condition is often insufficient. We therefore propose simplified recommendations to management, which we believe can come into broader use. It was validated in primary care for credibility, clarity, relevance, usability, and overall benefit. We believe that this initiative can lead to better management of the substantial proportion of patients suffering from side effects of opioids
Turnover, account value and diversification of real traders: evidence of collective portfolio optimizing behavior
Despite the availability of very detailed data on financial market,
agent-based modeling is hindered by the lack of information about real trader
behavior. This makes it impossible to validate agent-based models, which are
thus reverse-engineering attempts. This work is a contribution to the building
of a set of stylized facts about the traders themselves. Using the client
database of Swissquote Bank SA, the largest on-line Swiss broker, we find
empirical relationships between turnover, account values and the number of
assets in which a trader is invested. A theory based on simple mean-variance
portfolio optimization that crucially includes variable transaction costs is
able to reproduce faithfully the observed behaviors. We finally argue that our
results bring into light the collective ability of a population to construct a
mean-variance portfolio that takes into account the structure of transaction
costsComment: 26 pages, 9 figures, Fig. 8 fixe
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