A synoptic description of coal basins via image processing

An existing image processing system is adapted to describe the geologic attributes of a regional coal basin. This scheme handles a map as if it were a matrix, in contrast to more conventional approaches which represent map information in terms of linked polygons. The utility of the image processing approach is demonstrated by a multiattribute analysis of the Herrin No. 6 coal seam in Illinois. Findings include the location of a resource and estimation of tonnage corresponding to constraints on seam thickness, overburden, and Btu value, which are illustrative of the need for new mining technology

The state of care transitions education: A survey of AGS teachers section members

posterCare transitions pose significant risks for older and more complex medical patients, including medication errors and rehospitalizations. Unfortunately, few medical schools and residency programs provide targeted care transitions training. Changes in the healthcare system, including coordination of care provisions in the Affordable Care Act and proposed CMS billing codes for care coordination underscore the need for future health professionals to perform care transitions effectively. Given the impact of care transitions on older adults, we sought to determine the extent to which geriatric educators currently address care transitions education

First-Order Vortex Lattice Melting and Magnetization of YBa2_2Cu3_3O$_{7-\delta}

We present the first non-mean-field calculation of the magnetization $M(T)$ of YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ both above and below the flux-lattice melting temperature $T_m(H)$. The results are in good agreement with experiment as a function of transverse applied field $H$. The effects of fluctuations in both order parameter $\psi({\bf r})$ and magnetic induction $B$ are included in the Ginzburg-Landau free energy functional: $\psi({\bf r})$ fluctuates within the lowest Landau level in each layer, while $B$ fluctuates uniformly according to the appropriate Boltzmann factor. The second derivative $(\partial^2 M/\partial T^2)_H$ is predicted to be negative throughout the vortex liquid state and positive in the solid state. The discontinuities in entropy and magnetization at melting are calculated to be $\sim 0.034\, k_B$ per flux line per layer and $\sim 0.0014$~emu~cm$^{-3}$ at a field of 50 kOe.Comment: 11 pages, 4 PostScript figures in one uuencoded fil

Martian dust storms as a possible sink of atmospheric methane

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/95377/1/grl22016.pd

Evaluation of high temperature polymers

The purpose of this paper is to identify and develop arc-track resistant insulation materials that can operate reliably at 300 C. In the first phase, high performance polymers are evaluated based on structure, thermal stability and electrical properties. Next, the polymers are ranked according to performance and experimental characterization. Then, experimental evaluations in wire configuration are conducted. And selection is made based on performance and commerical potential

Breakdown of Energy Equipartition in a 2D Binary Vibrated Granular Gas

We report experiments on the equipartition of kinetic energy between grains made of two different materials in a mixture of grains vibrated in 2 dimensions. In general, the two types of grains do not attain the same granular temperature, Tg = 1/2m v^2. However, the ratio of the two temperatures is constant in the bulk of the system and independent of the vibration velocity. The ratio depends strongly on the ratio of mass densities of the grains, but is not sensitive to the inelasticity of grains. Also, this ratio is insensitive to compositional variables of the mixture such as the number fraction of each component and the total number density. We conclude that a single granular temperature, as traditionally defined, does not characterize a multi-component mixture.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letters, updated reference

Space VLBI at Low Frequencies

At sufficiently low frequencies, no ground-based radio array will be able to produce high resolution images while looking through the ionosphere. A space-based array will be needed to explore the objects and processes which dominate the sky at the lowest radio frequencies. An imaging radio interferometer based on a large number of small, inexpensive satellites would be able to track solar radio bursts associated with coronal mass ejections out to the distance of Earth, determine the frequency and duration of early epochs of nonthermal activity in galaxies, and provide unique information about the interstellar medium. This would be a "space-space" VLBI mission, as only baselines between satellites would be used. Angular resolution would be limited only by interstellar and interplanetary scattering.Comment: To appear in "Astrophysical Phenomena Revealed by Space VLBI", ed. H. Hirabayashi, P. Edwards, and D. Murphy (ISAS, Japan

Hydrodynamic Spinodal Decomposition: Growth Kinetics and Scaling Functions

We examine the effects of hydrodynamics on the late stage kinetics in spinodal decomposition. From computer simulations of a lattice Boltzmann scheme we observe, for critical quenches, that single phase domains grow asymptotically like $t^{\alpha}$, with $\alpha \approx .66$ in two dimensions and $\alpha \approx 1.0$ in three dimensions, both in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions.Comment: 12 pages, latex, Physical Review B Rapid Communication (in press