Numerical Method for Shock Front Hugoniot States

We describe a Continuous Hugoniot Method for the efficient simulation of shock wave fronts. This approach achieves significantly improved efficiency when the generation of a tightly spaced collection of individual steady-state shock front states is desired, and allows for the study of shocks as a function of a continuous shock strength parameter, $v_p$. This is, to our knowledge, the first attempt to map the Hugoniot continuously. We apply the method to shock waves in Lennard-Jonesium along the $$ direction. We obtain very good agreement with prior simulations, as well as our own benchmark comparison runs.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, from Shock Compression of Condensed Matter 200

Use of combinatorial analysis for the study of new material for solar cells applications

This paper presents a combinatorial method for the deposition and characterization of new metallic precursors for photovoltaic materials. Onedimensional thin film alloy “libraries” were electrodeposited on Mo-coated glass. The library elements were deposited in two consecutive baths and then heated in a reducing atmosphere to promote interdiffusion of the elements. At the end of this process, the libraries possessed a composition gradient along their lengths, with single elements at their two opposite ends and one or more alloys and/or a solid state solution in between. This continuous range of compositions can therefore be considered a collection of specific precursors that can be interrogated by examining their corresponding locations, with the crystallographic structure along the library changing in accordance with the phase diagram for the metals. The libraries were then sulphurised or selenised by heating in a sulphur-rich or selenium rich atmosphere; this converted the metallic precursors in a continuous range of materials, candidates for potential solar cells absorbers. The libraries were analysed by X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. The X-ray diffraction results show phase changes across the libraries, which can be correlated with the original precursor concentration at that particular p

Caisson Design by Instrumented Load Test

Three instrumented axial load tests were performed on 42 inch diameter caissons (drilled piers). These caissons were installed in marine sediments of dense sand overlain by soft sand-clay mixtures. Correlations were made with the Standard Penetration Test to develop design relationships. Production caissons were then designed based on these relationships. Test caissons were approximately 54 feet long and installed by the slurry displacement method. Test loads were carried to 1,000 tons. Mustran cells were used to determine loads in the caissons at different depths. Resulting data is presented graphically as load versus settlement, load versus depth (load distribution), and side friction and end bearing versus both applied load and displacement (load transfer). Special construction considerations and caisson integrity as observed after excavation are presented

Lunar Surface Rovers

Many questions of lunar science remain unanswered because of a lack of specific data. With the potential for returning humans to the Moon and establishing a long-term presence there, a new realm of exploration is possible. Numerous plans have been outlined for orbital and surface missions. The capabilities and objectives of a small class of rovers to be deployed on the lunar surface are described. The objective of these small rovers is to collect detailed in situ information about the composition and distribution of materials on the lunar surface. Those data, in turn, would be applied to a variety of lunar geoscience questions and form a basis for planning human activities on the lunar surface

Shock Advertising; Its Justification and the Effects on Society

Advertising encapsulates both the realities and fantasies of the world in which we live (Cortesse, 1999). Dating back to the Roman era, advertising has been used as a communications medium, revolutionising the way in which people view the world around them and changing the lifestyle of those who surrender to its calls. However, the power of this medium is grossly underestimated. To many, advertising is seen as an enjoyable form of persuasive artwork, capable of igniting ones’ emotions irrespective of age, gender or socio-economic status. To others, advertising presents a platform for advertisers to exploit their creative talents, formulating deceiving, provocative and highly controversial advertisements, staged before our very own eyes or ears. Sadly, this is a truer depiction of the advertising world. Although many choose to concentrate on the positive influence it continues to provide and the reward it holds for this who use it respectfully. Many however choose to neglect the damaging effects advertising has had on the moral and ethical high grounds on which some elements of society rest. Fundamental misconceptions and distorted truths can often be blamed on advertising campaigns that choose to shock their audience for the sake of generating publicity. The debate argued within this paper seeks to decipher whether shock advertising is predominately justifiable, based as it is upon the frequent misuse and exploitation of sensitive and delicate issues. The paper also questions whether the intentions were morally and ethically justified (Wnek, 2003), in spite of causing widespread public offence. More often than not, advertising agencies are oblivious to the damaging effects that shock advertising continues to have on society. It leaves those responsible to grapple with the burdening question of whether images and literature used in advertising campaigns pose a risk of introducing messages that contain impurities into the most vulnerable elements of society and our society as a whole. This paper draws in views gathered during interviews with the Advertising Standards Authority and OfCom, based in the United Kingdom, together with perspectives from advertising agencies to present a consideration of both the reasons for and the impact of using shock tactics within advertising. Do advertisers perceive that a highly controversial and offensive advertisement is a success if publicity and profit were generated, despite considerable public complaints? Are agencies lowering their standards of advertising through the use of such controversial material? Where do they, and the regulatory bodies, see advertising progressing in the future and what effect might this have on society as a whole? Concern for the future of advertising is therefore in need of much attention, since the consequences of neglect may be damaging to our future prosperity. The study highlights the much-needed role for a greater responsibility to be exercised throughout the industry, together with an effective regulatory framework, void of any potential loopholes

The bird: A pressure-confined explosion in the interstellar medium

The non-thermal radio continuum source G5.3-1.0, mapped at 20 cm with the Very Large Array (VLA) by Becker and Helfand, has an unusual bird-like shape. In order to determine possible interaction of this source with adjacent cold gas, we have mapped this region in the J=1-0 line of CO using the AT and T Bell Laboratories 7m antenna and the FCRAO 14m antenna. The map shown contains 1859 spectra sampled on a 1.5 arcminute grid; each spectrum has an rms noise of 0.2 K in 1 MHz channels. There are several molecular clouds at different velocities along the line of sight. The outer regions of a previously unknown Giant Molecular Cloud (GMC) at l=4.7 deg., b=-0.85 deg., v=200 km s(-1) appears to be interacting with G5.3-10: the molecular cloud has a bird-shaped hole at the position of the continuum source, except that the brightest continuum point (the bird's head) appears to be embedded in the cloud. The velocity of this GMC indicates it is within 2 kpc of the galactic center. The morphology suggests that a supernova or other explosive event occurred near the outside of the GMC, in a region where (n) is approximately 300 cm(-3), and expanded into a region of lower density and pressure. The pressures, densities, and velocity gradients of molecular clouds near the galactic center are on average higher than those of clouds near the Sun. We therefore expect that Type II supernovae near the galactic center would be distorted by their interactions with their parent molecular clouds

Scotin, a novel p53-inducible proapoptotic protein located in the ER and the nuclear membrane

p53 is a transcription factor that induces growth arrest or apoptosis in response to cellular stress. To identify new p53-inducible proapoptotic genes, we compared, by differential display, the expression of genes in spleen or thymus of normal and p53 nullizygote mice after γ-irradiation of whole animals. We report the identification and characterization of human and mouse Scotin homologues, a novel gene directly transactivated by p53. The Scotin protein is localized to the ER and the nuclear membrane. Scotin can induce apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner. Inhibition of endogenous Scotin expression increases resistance to p53-dependent apoptosis induced by DNA damage, suggesting that Scotin plays a role in p53-dependent apoptosis. The discovery of Scotin brings to light a role of the ER in p53-dependent apoptosis