Small UAV Research and Evolution in Long Endurance Electric Powered Vehicles

This paper describes recent research into the advancement of small, electric powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities. Specifically, topics include the improvements made in battery technology, design methodologies, avionics architectures and algorithms, materials and structural concepts, propulsion system performance prediction, and others. The results of prototype vehicle designs and flight tests are discussed in the context of their usefulness in defining and validating progress in the various technology areas. Further areas of research need are also identified. These include the need for more robust operating regimes (wind, gust, etc.), and continued improvement in payload fraction vs. endurance

First radial velocity results from the MINiature Exoplanet Radial Velocity Array (MINERVA)

The MINiature Exoplanet Radial Velocity Array (MINERVA) is a dedicated observatory of four 0.7m robotic telescopes fiber-fed to a KiwiSpec spectrograph. The MINERVA mission is to discover super-Earths in the habitable zones of nearby stars. This can be accomplished with MINERVA's unique combination of high precision and high cadence over long time periods. In this work, we detail changes to the MINERVA facility that have occurred since our previous paper. We then describe MINERVA's robotic control software, the process by which we perform 1D spectral extraction, and our forward modeling Doppler pipeline. In the process of improving our forward modeling procedure, we found that our spectrograph's intrinsic instrumental profile is stable for at least nine months. Because of that, we characterized our instrumental profile with a time-independent, cubic spline function based on the profile in the cross dispersion direction, with which we achieved a radial velocity precision similar to using a conventional "sum-of-Gaussians" instrumental profile: 1.8 m s$^{-1}$ over 1.5 months on the RV standard star HD 122064. Therefore, we conclude that the instrumental profile need not be perfectly accurate as long as it is stable. In addition, we observed 51 Peg and our results are consistent with the literature, confirming our spectrograph and Doppler pipeline are producing accurate and precise radial velocities.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures, submitted to PASP, Peer-Reviewed and Accepte

A comparison of the response of PADC neutron dosemeters in high-energy neutron fields

Within the framework of the EURADOS Working Group 11, a comparison of passive neutron dosemeters in high-energy neutron fields was organised in 2011. The aim of the exercise was to evaluate the response of poly-allyl-glycol-carbonate neutron dosemeters from various European dosimetry laboratories to high-energy neutron fields. Irradiations were performed at the iThemba LABS facility in South Africa with neutrons having energies up to 66 and 100 Me

COMPARISON OF KINEMATICS AND ACCURACY OF OVERHAND AMERICAN FOOTBALL THROWING

This study examined elbow angle, wrist velocity and throwing accuracy during American Football throws. Six repetitions of three types of throws: Self-selected pass (SS), Lob pass (L), and a Bullet pass (B); were performed to hit a point scaled target from 10.97 m. Independent variables were frontal plane shoulder angle (more or less than 90º) and throw type; dependent variables were elbow angle in the sagittal plane, wrist velocity at ball release, and accuracy. There were no differences for shoulder angle for any variable; while throw types differed only for wrist speed (highest to lowest B, SS, and L). Significant interactions occurred for all variables. These findings suggest that recommendations for American football throwing technique are complicated by the combination of throw type and shoulder angle; and that with no restrictions subjects will throw with more accuracy

VV ECMO for Treatment of Severe ARDS in CoVID-19 Patients at UNMC

Abstract Introduction: Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) is an indicated treatment for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) refractory to conventional medical treatment. Severe ARDS is a common complication of CoVID-19 infection. Subsequently, the efficacy of VV ECMO in CoVID-19 severe ARDS patients must be investigated. ECMO is a resource-intensive treatment modality, meaning that its use must be reserved for patients with robust indications and paucity of contraindications. Methods: We performed retrospective chart review of three patients at the University of Nebraska Medical Center that were placed on VV ECMO secondary to severe ARDS from CoVID-19 infection. Results: All patients were male with a median age of 39 years. Two patients were of Hispanic descent, and the third was of Asian descent. No patients had underlying lung disease, and all patients had type II diabetes mellitus. Median time on mechanical ventilation prior to ECMO cannulation was six days. Median duration of ECMO treatment was 21 days with a range of 17 to 27 days. All patients were decannulated from ECMO during their hospital stay, and all patients survived to 60 days post-hospital discharge. Complications while on ECMO included GI bleeding in two patients, hematuria in one patient, necessitation of vasodilator and vasopressor support in all patients, AKI in two patients, secondary bacterial pneumonia in two patients, and blood cultures positive for gram-positive organisms in all patients. No patients suffered DVT or CVA. All patients required pRBC transfusion during ECMO treatment. Two patients were treated with remdesivir and one patient received baricitinib, a JAK-inhibitor. Conclusion: VV ECMO is a viable treatment for patients with severe ARDS secondary to CoVID-19 infection that have failed conventional therapy. Stringent adherence to inclusion and exclusion criteria is imperative. VV ECMO combined with lung protective ventilation strategies with a focus on minimizing driving pressure can provide life-saving treatment to patients with severe ARDS secondary to CoVID-19 infectio

CHANGES IN UPPER EXTREMITY MUSCLE ACTIVATION IN THE PRESENCE OF STRESS

This study examined the muscle activity of the flexor digitorum (FD), biceps brachii (BB), triceps brachii (TB), and pectoralis major (PM) during the American football throw with and without conditions of stress. Male subjects (n=5) with either football or baseball experience threw footballs at targets with distances of 12.91 m, 18.29 m, and 28.91 m. Throwing arm muscle activity was assessed via electromyography. Results showed that the flexor digitorum muscle had lower muscle activation for the stress condition at the long distance along with the pectoral muscle at the middle distance

Aboriginal Resource Access in Response to Criminal Victimization in an Urban Context

Arts, Education and LawNo Full Tex

Three-dimensional Ehrlich-Schwoebel Barriers of W

Recent studies show that three-dimensional Ehrlich-Schwoebel (3D ES), or facet-facet, barriers of face-centered-cubic metals are substantially higher than other surface diffusion barriers. This paper presents the numerical results of 3D ES barriers for body-centered-cubic W, using classical molecular statics calculations and the nudged elastic band method. Results show that an adatom on W{110} has a diffusion barrier of 0.49 eV on the flat surface, 0.66 eV over a monolayer step, and 0.98 eV over a ridge to a neighboring {100} facet, which is one 3D ES barrier