24,233 research outputs found
Shuttle system ascent aerodynamic and plume heating
The shuttle program provided a challenge to the aerothermodynamicist due to the complexity of the flow field around the vehicle during ascent, since the configuration causes multiple shock interactions between the elements. Wind tunnel tests provided data for the prediction of the ascent design heating environment which involves both plume and aerodynamic heating phenomena. The approach for the heating methodology based on ground test firings and the use of the wind tunnel data to formulate the math models is discussed
Water-resource records of Brevard County, Florida
The U. S. Geological Survey made a comprehensive
investigation of the water resources of Brevard County
from 1954 to 1958. The purposes of this investigation were:
(1) to determine the occurrence and chemical quality of
water in the streams and lakes, (2) to determine the location
and the thickness of aquifers, and (3) to determine the
occurrence and chemical quality of the ground water. During
the period from 1933 to 1954, water records were collected
from a few stream-gaging stations and a few observation
wells. The purpose of this report is to present basic data
collected during these investigations. (Document has 188 pages.
Groundwater—Surface Water Interactions in a Mountain-to-Coast Watershed: Effects of Climate Change and Human Stressors
Watersheds located within a mountain to coast physiographic setting have been described as having a highly interconnected surface water and groundwater environment. The quantification of groundwater—surface water interactions at the watershed scale requires upscaling. This study uses MIKE SHE, a coupled numerical model, to explore the seasonally and spatially dynamic nature of these interactions in the Cowichan Watershed on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The calibrated model simulates a transition of the Cowichan River from mostly gaining within the valley, to losing stream near the coast where groundwater extraction is focused. Losing and gaining sections correlate with geological substrate. Recharge across the watershed accounts for 17% of precipitation. Climate change is projected to lessen snowpack accumulation in the high alpine and alter timing of snowmelt, resulting in higher spring and winter river discharge and lower summer flows
Corner transfer matrix renormalization group method for two-dimensional self-avoiding walks and other O(n) models
We present an extension of the corner transfer matrix renormalisation group
(CTMRG) method to O(n) invariant models, with particular interest in the
self-avoiding walk class of models (O(n=0)). The method is illustrated using an
interacting self-avoiding walk model. Based on the efficiency and versatility
when compared to other available numerical methods, we present CTMRG as the
method of choice for two-dimensional self-avoiding walk problems.Comment: 4 pages 7 figures Substantial rewrite of previous version to include
calculations of critical points and exponents. Final version accepted for
publication in PRE (Rapid Communications
Network growth models and genetic regulatory networks
We study a class of growth algorithms for directed graphs that are candidate
models for the evolution of genetic regulatory networks. The algorithms involve
partial duplication of nodes and their links, together with innovation of new
links, allowing for the possibility that input and output links from a newly
created node may have different probabilities of survival. We find some
counterintuitive trends as parameters are varied, including the broadening of
indegree distribution when the probability for retaining input links is
decreased. We also find that both the scaling of transcription factors with
genome size and the measured degree distributions for genes in yeast can be
reproduced by the growth algorithm if and only if a special seed is used to
initiate the process.Comment: 8 pages with 7 eps figures; uses revtex4. Added references, cleaner
figure
Drugs for neglected diseases: a failure of the market and a public health failure?
Infectious diseases cause the suffering of hundreds of millions of people, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. Effective, affordable and easy-to-use medicines to fight these diseases are nearly absent. Although science and technology are sufficiently advanced to provide the necessary medicines, very few new drugs are being developed. However, drug discovery is not the major bottleneck. Today's R&D-based pharmaceutical industry is reluctant to invest in the development of drugs to treat the major diseases of the poor, because return on investment cannot be guaranteed. With national and international politics supporting a free market-based world order, financial opportunities rather than global health needs guide the direction of new drug development. Can we accept that the dearth of effective drugs for diseases that mainly affect the poor is simply the sad but inevitable consequence of a global market economy? Or is it a massive public health failure, and a failure to direct economic development for the benefit of society? An urgent reorientation of priorities in drug development and health policy is needed. The pharmaceutical industry must contribute to this effort, but national and international policies need to direct the global economy to address the true health needs of society. This requires political will, a strong commitment to prioritize health considerations over economic interests, and the enforcement of regulations and other mechanisms to stimulate essential drug development. New and creative strategies involving both the public and the private sector are needed to ensure that affordable medicines for today's neglected diseases are developed. Priority action areas include advocating an essential medicines R&D agenda, capacity-building in and technology transfer to developing countries, elaborating an adapted legal and regulatory framework, prioritizing funding for essential drug development and securing availability, accessibility, distribution and rational use of these drugs
Clustering Phase Transitions and Hysteresis: Pitfalls in Constructing Network Ensembles
Ensembles of networks are used as null models in many applications. However,
simple null models often show much less clustering than their real-world
counterparts. In this paper, we study a model where clustering is enhanced by
means of a fugacity term as in the Strauss (or "triangle") model, but where the
degree sequence is strictly preserved -- thus maintaining the quenched
heterogeneity of nodes found in the original degree sequence. Similar models
had been proposed previously in [R. Milo et al., Science 298, 824 (2002)]. We
find that our model exhibits phase transitions as the fugacity is changed. For
regular graphs (identical degrees for all nodes) with degree k > 2 we find a
single first order transition. For all non-regular networks that we studied
(including Erdos - Renyi and scale-free networks) we find multiple jumps
resembling first order transitions, together with strong hysteresis. The latter
transitions are driven by the sudden emergence of "cluster cores": groups of
highly interconnected nodes with higher than average degrees. To study these
cluster cores visually, we introduce q-clique adjacency plots. We find that
these cluster cores constitute distinct communities which emerge spontaneously
from the triangle generating process. Finally, we point out that cluster cores
produce pitfalls when using the present (and similar) models as null models for
strongly clustered networks, due to the very strong hysteresis which
effectively leads to broken ergodicity on realistic time scales.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figure
The Adsorption and Collapse Transitions in a Linear Polymer Chain near an Attractive Wall
We deduce the qualitative phase diagram of a long flexible neutral polymer
chain immersed in a poor solvent near an attracting surface using
phenomenological arguments. The actual positions of the phase boundaries are
estimated numerically from series expansion up to 19 sites of a self-attracting
self avoiding walk in three dimensions. In two dimensions, we calculate
analytically phase boundaries in some cases for a partially directed model.
Both the numerical as well as analytical results corroborate the proposed
qualitative phase diagram.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, revte
OGSA/Globus Evaluation for Data Intensive Applications
We present an architecture of Globus Toolkit 3 based testbed intended for
evaluation of applicability of the Open Grid Service Architecture (OGSA) for
Data Intensive Applications.Comment: To be published in the proceedings of the XIX International Symposium
on Nuclear Electronics and Computing (NEC'2003), Bulgaria, Varna, 15-20
September, 200
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