38 research outputs found
Autonomy Operating System for UAVs: Pilot-in-a-Box
The Autonomy Operating System (AOS) is an open flight software platform with Artificial Intelligence for smart UAVs. It is built to be extendable with new apps, similar to smartphones, to enable an expanding set of missions and capabilities. AOS has as its foundations NASAs core flight executive and core flight software (cFEcFS). Pilot-in-a-Box (PIB) is an expanding collection of interacting AOS apps that provide the knowledge and intelligence onboard a UAV to safely and autonomously fly in the National Air Space, eventually without a remote human ground crew. Longer-term, the goal of PIB is to provide the capability for pilotless air vehicles such as air taxis that will be key for new transportation concepts such as mobility-on-demand. PIB provides the procedural knowledge, situational awareness, and anticipatory planning (thinking ahead of the plane) that comprises pilot competencies. These competencies together with a natural language interface will enable Pilot-in-a-Box to dialogue directly with Air Traffic Management from takeoff through landing. This paper describes the overall AOS architecture, Artificial Intelligence reasoning engines, Pilot-in-a-box competencies, and selected experimental flight tests to date
The SINS/zC-SINF survey of z~2 galaxy kinematics: Outflow properties
Based on SINFONI Ha, [NII] and [SII] AO data of 30 z \sim 2 star-forming
galaxies (SFGs) from the SINS and zcSINF surveys, we find a strong correlation
of the Ha broad flux fraction with the star formation surface density of the
galaxy, with an apparent threshold for strong outflows occurring at 1 Msun
yr^-1 kpc^-2. Above this threshold, we find that SFGs with logm_\ast>10 have
similar or perhaps greater wind mass loading factors (eta = Mdotout/SFR) and
faster outflow velocities than lower mass SFGs. This trend suggests that the
majority of outflowing gas at z \sim 2 may derive from high-mass SFGs, and that
the z \sim 2 mass-metallicity relation is driven more by dilution of enriched
gas in the galaxy gas reservoir than by the efficiency of outflows. The mass
loading factor is also correlated with the SFR and inclination, such that more
star-forming and face-on galaxies launch more powerful outflows. For galaxies
that have evidence for strong outflows, we find that the broad emission is
spatially extended to at least the half-light radius (\sim a few kpc). We
propose that the observed threshold for strong outflows and the observed mass
loading of these winds can be explained by a simple model wherein break-out of
winds is governed by pressure balance in the disk. Using the ratio of the [SII]
doublet in a broad and narrow component, we find that outflowing gas has a
density of \sim10-100 cm^-3, significantly less than that of the star forming
gas (600 cm^-3).Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, accepted by Ap
The SINS Survey: Broad Emission Lines in High-Redshift Star-Forming Galaxies
High signal-to-noise, representative spectra of star-forming galaxies at z~2,
obtained via stacking, reveal a high-velocity component underneath the narrow
H-alpha and [NII] emission lines. When modeled as a single Gaussian, this broad
component has FWHM > 1500 km/s; when modeled as broad wings on the H-alpha and
[NII] features, it has FWHM > 500 km/s. This feature is preferentially found in
the more massive and more rapidly star-forming systems, which also tend to be
older and larger galaxies. We interpret this emission as evidence of either
powerful starburst-driven galactic winds or active supermassive black holes. If
galactic winds are responsible for the broad emission, the observed luminosity
and velocity of this gas imply mass outflow rates comparable to the star
formation rate. On the other hand, if the broad line regions of active black
holes account for the broad feature, the corresponding black holes masses are
estimated to be an order of magnitude lower than those predicted by local
scaling relations, suggesting a delayed assembly of supermassive black holes
with respect to their host bulges.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures. Accepted version, incorporating referee
comments, including changes to title, abstract, figures, and discussion
sectio
The Use of Bronchoscopy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: CHEST/AABIP Guideline and Expert Panel Report
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has swept the globe and is causing significant morbidity and mortality. Given that the virus is transmitted via droplets, open airway procedures such as bronchoscopy pose a significant risk to health-care workers (HCWs). The goal of this guideline was to examine the current evidence on the role of bronchoscopy during the COVID-19 pandemic and the optimal protection of patients and HCWs.
RESEARCH QUESTION: ▪▪▪ STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A group of approved panelists developed key clinical questions by using the Population, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcome (PICO) format that addressed specific topics on bronchoscopy related to COVID-19 infection and transmission. MEDLINE (via PubMed) was systematically searched for relevant literature and references were screened for inclusion. Validated evaluation tools were used to assess the quality of studies and to grade the level of evidence to support each recommendation. When evidence did not exist, suggestions were developed based on consensus using the modified Delphi process.
RESULTS: The systematic review and critical analysis of the literature based on six PICO questions resulted in six statements: one evidence-based graded recommendation and 5 ungraded consensus-based statements.
INTERPRETATION: The evidence on the role of bronchoscopy during the COVID-19 pandemic is sparse. To maximize protection of patients and HCWs, bronchoscopy should be used sparingly in the evaluation and management of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infections. In an area where community transmission of COVID-19 infection is present, bronchoscopy should be deferred for nonurgent indications, and if necessary to perform, HCWs should wear personal protective equipment while performing the procedure even on asymptomatic patients
Delayed Stellar Mass Assembly in the Low Surface Brightness Dwarf Galaxy KDG215
We present HI spectral line and optical broadband images of the nearby low
surface brightness dwarf galaxy KDG215. The HI images, acquired with the Karl
G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), reveal a dispersion dominated ISM with only
weak signatures of coherent rotation. The HI gas reaches a peak mass surface
density of 6 M pc at the location of the peak surface
brightness in the optical and the UV. Although KDG215 is gas-rich, the
H non-detection implies a very low current massive star formation rate.
In order to investigate the recent evolution of this system, we have derived
the recent and lifetime star formation histories from archival Hubble Space
Telescope images. The recent star formation history shows a peak star formation
rate 1 Gyr ago, followed by a decreasing star formation rate to the
present day quiescent state. The cumulative star formation history indicates
that a significant fraction of the stellar mass assembly in KDG215 has occurred
within the last 1.25 Gyr. KDG215 is one of only a few known galaxies which
demonstrates such a delayed star formation history. While the ancient stellar
population (predominantly red giants) is prominent, the look-back time by which
50% of the mass of all stars ever formed had been created is among the youngest
of any known galaxy.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letter
On the Mechanism of Electron Beam Radiation-Induced Modification of Poly(lactic Acid) for Applications in Biodegradable Food Packaging
Gemstone Team PRODUCEPoly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer used for food packaging. The effects of
electron beam radiation on the chemical and physical properties of amorphous PLA were
studied. In this study, amorphous, racemic PLA was irradiated at doses of 5, 10, 15, and 20 kGy
in the absence of oxygen. Utilizing electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry, it was found
that alkoxyl radicals are initially formed as a result of C-O-C bond scissions on the backbone of
the PLA. The dominant radiation mechanism was determined to be H-abstraction by alkoxyl
radicals to form C-centered radicals. The C-centered radicals undergo a subsequent peroxidation
reaction with oxygen. The gel permeation chromatography (GPC) results indicate reduction in
polymer molecular mass. The differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction results
showed a subtle increase in crystallinity of the irradiated PLA. Water vapor transmission rates
were unaffected by irradiation. Further mechanical testing showed mechanical properties in line
with reduced molecular mass. In conclusion, these results support that irradiated PLA is a
suitable material for applications in irradiation of food packaging, including food sterilization
and biodegradation
The Lantern, 2018-2019
The Treasure Buried in Ponce de Leon\u27s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park • High Cards on the Low River • Sestina of a Vagina left in the microwave too long • Keeps on Tripping • The Auction • Nuclear Meltdown on Seedship C5B.6 • Cock Fight • An Interview with God • Minimum Wage • Star-Crossed Lovers • Romeo Echo Alpha • PM Entertainment, or Action Beats • The Gospel of Aggregates • Hel Hath no Fury • Crossing the Line • Mango de la hora • Stress Judgment • Perception (Part 2) • Rain Falling Up • Church: the Italian Market • Landscape with the Fall of Hillary • Forced to Ponder • Morally Upright • Adulthood • Migration in Tandem • Hospital Bed • To Autumn (After Keats) • Selected Tweets • Hidden Moments • Mysteries are Wrong • Jukebox Memory • Flames • A Simple Moment • The Farmhouse • Lord, Let Me Catch a Fish • Sun-Kissed • Five • The Thing • The Moons of Mars • You are Weak • You Kept Me Quiet • Offer Her a Seat • Sacraments • Cigar • The Lake George Mafia • Houses • Spun Out • To Romanticize the Restless • 12/25/17 • skylight • lanternflies • Goo Girls • Toi Le • Lovers, Thinkers, Rebels • home in paradise • Irreverence • The Fisherman • St Mary Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh • Mirror 2https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1187/thumbnail.jp