4,308 research outputs found
Landing gear energy absorption system
A landing pad system is described for absorbing horizontal and vertical impact forces upon engagement with a landing surface where circumferentially arranged landing struts respectively have a clevis which receives a slidable rod member and where the upper portion of a slidable rod member is coupled to the clevis by friction washers which are force fit onto the rod member to provide for controlled constant force energy absorption when the rod member moves relative to the clevis. The lower end of the friction rod is pivotally attached by a ball and socket to a support plate where the support plate is arranged to slide in a transverse direction relative to a housing which contains an energy absorption material for absorbing energy in a transverse direction
Vacuum-Assisted, Constant-Force Exercise Device
The vacuum-assisted, constant-force exercise device (VAC-FED) has been proposed to fill a need for a safe, reliable exercise machine that would provide constant loads that could range from 20 to 250 lb (0.09 to 1.12 kN) with strokes that could range from 6 to 36 in. (0.15 to 0.91 m). The VAC-FED was originally intended to enable astronauts in microgravity to simulate the lifting of free weights, but it could just as well be used on Earth for simulated weight lifting and other constant-force exercises. Because the VAC-FED would utilize atmospheric/vacuum differential pressure instead of weights to generate force, it could weigh considerably less than either a set of free weights or a typical conventional exercise machine based on weights. Also, the use of atmospheric/ vacuum differential pressure to generate force would render the VAC-FED inherently safer, relative to free weights and to conventional exercise machines that utilize springs to generate forces. The overall function of the VAC-FED would be to generate a constant tensile force in an output cable, which would be attached to a bar, handle, or other exercise interface. The primary force generator in the VAC-FED would be a piston in a cylinder. The piston would separate a volume vented to atmosphere at one end of the cylinder from an evacuated volume at the other end of the cylinder (see figure). Hence, neglecting friction at the piston seals, the force generated would be nearly constant equal to the area of the piston multiplied by the atmospheric/vacuum differential pressure. In the vented volume in the cylinder, a direct-force cable would be looped around a pulley on the piston, doubling the stroke and halving the tension. One end of the direct-force cable would be anchored to a cylinder cap; the other end of the direct-force cable would be wrapped around a variable-ratio pulley that would couple tension to the output cable. As its name suggests, the variable-ratio pulley would contain a mechanism that could be used to vary the ratio between the tension in the direct-force cable and the tension in the output cable. This mechanism could contain gears, pulleys, and/or levers, for example
Two-dimensional colloidal fluids exhibiting pattern formation
Fluids with competing short range attraction and long range repulsive
interactions between the particles can exhibit a variety of microphase
separated structures. We develop a lattice-gas (generalised Ising) model and
analyse the phase diagram using Monte Carlo computer simulations and also with
density functional theory (DFT). The DFT predictions for the structures formed
are in good agreement with the results from the simulations, which occur in the
portion of the phase diagram where the theory predicts the uniform fluid to be
linearly unstable. However, the mean-field DFT does not correctly describe the
transitions between the different morphologies, which the simulations show to
be analogous to micelle formation. We determine how the heat capacity varies as
the model parameters are changed. There are peaks in the heat capacity at state
points where the morphology changes occur. We also map the lattice model onto a
continuum DFT that facilitates a simplification of the stability analysis of
the uniform fluid.Comment: 13 pages, 15 figure
HST Images and Spectra of the Remnant of SN 1885 in M31
Near UV HST images of the remnant of SN 1885 (S And) in M31 show a 0"70 +-
0"05 diameter absorption disk silhouetted against M31's central bulge, at SN
1885's historically reported position. The disk's size corresponds to a linear
diameter of 2.5 +- 0.4 pc at a distance of 725 +- 70 kpc, implying an average
expansion velocity of 11000 +- 2000 km/s over 110 years. Low-dispersion FOS
spectra over 3200-4800 A; reveal that the absorption arises principally from Ca
II H & K (equivalent width ~215 A;) with weaker absorption features of Ca I
4227 A; and Fe I 3720 A;. The flux at Ca II line center indicates a foreground
starlight fraction of 0.21, which places SNR 1885 some 64 pc to the near side
of the midpoint of the M31 bulge, comparable to its projected 55 pc distance
from the nucleus. The absorption line profiles suggest an approximately
spherically symmetric, bell-shaped density distribution of supernova ejecta
freely expanding at up to 13100 +- 1500 km/s. We estimate Ca I, Ca II, and Fe I
masses of 2.9(+2.4,-0.6) x 10^-4 M_o, 0.005(+0.016,-0.002) M_o, and
0.013(+0.010,-0.005) M_o respectively. If the ionization state of iron is
similar to the observed ionization state of calcium, M_CaII/M_CaI = 16(+42,-5),
then the mass of Fe II is 0.21(+0.74,-0.08) M_o, consistent with that expected
for either normal or subluminous SN Ia.Comment: 8 pages, including 4 embedded EPS figures, emulateapj.sty style file.
Color image at http://casa.colorado.edu/~mcl/sand.shtml . Submitted to Ap
Management of Groundwater Recharge Areas in the Mouth of Weber Canyon
Proper management of surface and groundwater resources is important for their prolonged and a beneficial use. Within the Weber Delta area there has existed a continual decline in the piezometric surface of the deep confined aquifer over the last 40 years. This decline ranges from approximately 20 feet along the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake to 50 feet along in the vicinity of Hill Air Force Base. Declines in the piezometric surface are undesirable because of the increased well installation costs, increased pumping costs, decreased aquifer storage, increased risk of salt water intrusion, and the possibility of land subsidence. Declines in the piezometric surface can be prevented or reduced by utilizing artificial groundwater recharge. The purpose of this study was to develop and operate a basin groundwater model with stochastic recharge inputs to determine the feasibility of utilizing available Weber River water for the improvement of the groundwater availability. This was accomplished by preparing auxiliary computer models which generated statistically similar river flows from which river water rights were subtracted. The feasibility of utilizing this type of recharge input was examined by comparing the economic benefit gained by reducing area wide pumping lifts through artificial recharge with the costs of the recharge operations. Institutions for implementing a recharge program were examined. Through this process a greater understanding of the geohydrologic conditions of the area was obtained. Piezometric surface contour maps, geologic profiles, calibrated values for geologic and hydrologic variables, as well as system response to change were quantified
A New Test of the Statistical Nature of the Brightest Cluster Galaxies
A novel statistic is proposed to examine the hypothesis that all cluster
galaxies are drawn from the same luminosity distribution (LD). In such a
"statistical model" of galaxy LD, the brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) are
simply the statistical extreme of the galaxy population. Using a large sample
of nearby clusters, we show that BCGs in high luminosity clusters (e.g., L_tot
> 4x10^11 L_sun) are unlikely (probability <3x10^-4) to be drawn from the LD
defined by all red cluster galaxies more luminous than M_r=-20. On the other
hand, BCGs in less luminous clusters are consistent with being the statistical
extreme. Applying our method to the second brightest galaxies, we show that
they are consistent with being the statistical extreme, which implies that the
BCGs are also distinct from non-BCG luminous, red, cluster galaxies. We point
out some issues with the interpretation of the classical tests proposed by
Tremaine & Richstone (1977) that are designed to examine the statistical nature
of BCGs, investigate the robustness of both our statistical test and those of
TR against difficulties in photometry of galaxies of large angular size, and
discuss the implication of our findings on surveys that use the luminous red
galaxies to measure the baryon acoustic oscillation features in the galaxy
power spectrum.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, 4 tables; published in Ap
Treatment compliance and effectiveness of a cognitive behavioural intervention for low back pain : a complier average causal effect approach to the BeST data set
Background:
Group cognitive behavioural intervention (CBI) is effective in reducing low-back pain and disability in comparison to advice in primary care. The aim of this analysis was to investigate the impact of compliance on estimates of treatment effect and to identify factors associated with compliance.
Methods:
In this multicentre trial, 701 adults with troublesome sub-acute or chronic low-back pain were recruited from 56 general practices. Participants were randomised to advice (control n = 233) or advice plus CBI (n = 468). Compliance was specified a priori as attending a minimum of three group sessions and the individual assessment. We estimated the complier average causal effect (CACE) of treatment.
Results:
Comparison of the CACE estimate of the mean treatment difference to the intention-to-treat (ITT) estimate at 12 months showed a greater benefit of CBI amongst participants compliant with treatment on the Roland Morris Questionnaire (CACE: 1.6 points, 95% CI 0.51 to 2.74; ITT: 1.3 points, 95% CI 0.55 to 2.07), the Modified Von Korff disability score (CACE: 12.1 points, 95% CI 6.07 to 18.17; ITT: 8.6 points, 95% CI 4.58 to 12.64) and the Modified von Korff pain score (CACE: 10.4 points, 95% CI 4.64 to 16.10; ITT: 7.0 points, 95% CI 3.26 to 10.74). People who were non-compliant were younger and had higher pain scores at randomisation.
Conclusions:
Treatment compliance is important in the effectiveness of group CBI. Younger people and those with more pain are at greater risk of non-compliance
Copyright & Privacy - Through the Political Lens, 4 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 306 (2005)
Veteran beltway players discuss the politics of P2P technology and Privacy. How far can or should Congress go? Can the United States export its values or its laws in this area? Are content owners in a losing Luddite struggle? What is the role of litigators, lobbyists and legislators in this war
Towards More Precise Survey Photometry for PanSTARRS and LSST: Measuring Directly the Optical Transmission Spectrum of the Atmosphere
Motivated by the recognition that variation in the optical transmission of
the atmosphere is probably the main limitation to the precision of ground-based
CCD measurements of celestial fluxes, we review the physical processes that
attenuate the passage of light through the Earth's atmosphere. The next
generation of astronomical surveys, such as PanSTARRS and LSST, will greatly
benefit from dedicated apparatus to obtain atmospheric transmission data that
can be associated with each survey image. We review and compare various
approaches to this measurement problem, including photometry, spectroscopy, and
LIDAR. In conjunction with careful measurements of instrumental throughput,
atmospheric transmission measurements should allow next-generation imaging
surveys to produce photometry of unprecedented precision. Our primary concerns
are the real-time determination of aerosol scattering and absorption by water
along the line of sight, both of which can vary over the course of a night's
observations.Comment: 41 pages, 14 figures. Accepted PAS
Aerosol Characteristics at a High Altitude Location in Central Himalayas: Optical Properties and Radiative Forcing
Collocated measurements of the mass concentrations of aerosol black carbon
(BC) and composite aerosols near the surface were carried out along with
spectral aerosol optical depths (AODs) from a high altitude station, Manora
Peak in Central Himalayas, during a comprehensive aerosol field campaign in
December 2004. Despite being a pristine location in the Shivalik Ranges of
Central Himalayas, and having a monthly mean AOD (at 500 nm) of 0.059
0.033 (typical to this site), total suspended particulate (TSP) concentration
was in the range 15 - 40 micro g m^(-3) (mean value 27.1 8.3 micro g
m^(-3)). Interestingly, aerosol BC had a mean concentration of 1.36 0.99
micro g m^(-3), contributed to ~5.0 1.3 % to the composite aerosol mass.
This large abundance of BC is found to have linkages to the human activities in
the adjoining valley and to the boundary layer dynamics. Consequently, the
inferred single scattering albedo lies in the range of 0.87 to 0.94 (mean value
0.90 0.03), indicating significant aerosol absorption. The estimated
aerosol radiative forcing was as low as 4.2 W m^(-2) at the surface, +0.7 W
m^(-2) at the top of the atmosphere, implying an atmospheric forcing of +4.9 W
m^(-2). Though absolute value of the atmospheric forcing is quite small, which
arises primarily from the very low AOD (or the column abundance of aerosols),
the forcing efficiency (forcing per unit optical depth) was 88 W m^(-2),
which is attributed to the high BC mass fraction.Comment: 32 Pages, Accepted in JGR (Atmosphere
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