Status of the AlCap experiment

The AlCap experiment is a joint project between the COMET and Mu2e collaborations. Both experiments intend to look for the lepton-flavour violating conversion $\mu + A \rightarrow e + A$, using tertiary muons from high-power pulsed proton beams. In these experiments the products of ordinary muon capture in the muon stopping target are an important concern, both in terms of hit rates in tracking detectors and radiation damage to equipment. The goal of the AlCap experiment is to provide precision measurements of the products of nuclear capture on Aluminium, which is the favoured target material for both COMET and Mu2e. The results will be used for optimising the design of both conversion experiments, and as input to their simulations. Data was taken in December 2013 and is currently being analysed.Comment: Presented at NuFact 2014, 25-30 August, University of Glasgow, U

Muon to electron conversion: The COMET and Mu2e experiments

I describe the new generation of muon-to-electron conversion experiments, COMET and Mu2e, being constructed to make use of new high power pulsed muon beams a J-PARC and Fermilab respectively. A brief overview of the physics explored by the muon to electron conversion is given, followed by a description of the experimental challenges and resulting features common to the new experiments. The differences in approach between Mu2e and COMET are then highlighted, and the current schedules given.Comment: 10 pages, proceedings of presentation given at 'Interplay between Particle and Astroparticle Physics workshop', 18 -- 22 August, 201

The mechanical properties of a liquid-filled porous solid with reference to articular cartilage

An investigation is made into the flow of fluids through deformable porous materials with the aim of an application to articular cartilage, which depends on interstitial fluid for some of its mechanical properties. The law governing flows due to fluid pressure is shown to be valid in a cylinder of material with the same permeability in all directions, both with axial flow only and with axial and radial flow combined, up to Reynolds numbers of about 1. A literature survey shows that there is a large range of values of Reymolds numbers proposed as the limit of the validity of this law, indicating that there is no universal "critical" Reynolds number inflow through porous media. The variation of permeability with strain is measured, both indirections parallel and perpendicular to the direction of applied strain, inlay porous polymeric material. A model of articular cartilage is proposed which consists of a porous solid matrix, which has a reversible non-linear load/displacement characteristic, with liquid-filled pores. Assuming a simple variation of permeability with strain predicts time-dependent deformations to a good degree of accuracy, agreement being excellent at normal physiological loads. Under oscillating loads, deformations are much larger than those predicted by the model, and it is thought that this is due to the effect of the bulk modulus of the cartilage, which becomes dominant in short term responses

The TeCTra online groupwork tool: Scaffolding the learning of self and peer assessment

A reliable assessment strategy for allocating different summative marks for individual contributions in groupwork is a perennial problem that using the TeCTra online tool can resolve. By collecting weekly quantitative and qualitative data to support the individualising of contributions and summative marks the tool supports and scaffolds the studentsâ learning of self and peer assessment understandings, knowledge and skills. This paper discusses the changing design of peer assessment from 1998 to 2008 and the impact of the TeCTRa groupwork tool within a capstone undergraduate subject with large student numbers at UTS. The TeCTra strategy has delivered more diversity of individual summative marks than those reported in the literature and experienced by the authors in the period before the introduction of the tool in 2004. The system for calculating an individual contribution factor has released the academic from the enormous workload otherwise required to process any similar paper-based strategy

Optimizing the Disposition and Retrograde of United States Air Force Class VII Equipment from Afghanistan

To meet the President\u27s established OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM drawdown date of 1 December 2014, the United States Air Force, while continuing to conduct and support combat operations, must begin to plan disposition and execute retrograde its Class VII equipment. Calling upon concepts utilized in the management of closed-loop supply chains and optimization, this research proposes a multiple objective linear program to optimize the alignment of Bagram and Kandahar Air Base positioned equipment with in-garrison demand. Closed-loop supply chains provide planning process guidelines necessary for second use value creation and efficient reverse logistical flows. Optimization concepts provide the methodology for model development and output. The proposed multiple objective model provides solutions and equipment disposition instructions that minimize the deviations from the lowest total surface transportation cost and maximum average demand satisfaction values. To ensure compliance with Air Force guidance on equipment prioritization, cost-efficient transportation and maximum amounts of supply, multiple pre-process and model constraints limit the allocation of supply to demand bases. Combining situational specific user input values and constraints provides United States Air Force equipment managers the ability to test multiple courses of action for both real-time and future equipment movements

Hydrogen safety Progress report no. 7 1 Jul. - 30 Sep. 1965

Performance characteristics of two console-type hydrogen gas detectors sampling by diffusion and convectio

Hydrogen safety Progress report no. 6, 1 Apr. - 30 Jun. 1965

Hydrogen safety hazards, storage, and handling - Hydrogen plume studies to determine quantity-distance criteria and guidelines for optimum placement of hydrogen detector