8,567 research outputs found
A data collection scheme for identification of parameters in a driver model
A high gain steering controller to compensate for limitations in a handicapped driver's range of motion is employed when adapting vehicle to his use. A driver/vehicle system can become unstable as vehicle speed is increased, therefore it is desirable to use a computer simulation of the driver/vehicle combination as a design tool to investigate the system response prior to construction of a controller and road testing. Unknown driver parameters must be identified prior to use of the model for system analysis. A means to collect the data necessary for identification of these driver model parameters without extensive instrumentation of a vehicle to measure and record vehicle states is addressed. Initial tests of the procedure identified all of the driver parameters with errors of 6% or less
A fast edge charge exchange recombination spectroscopy system at the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak
In this work, a new type of high through-put Czerny-Turner spectrometer has been developed which
allows us to acquire multiple channels simultaneously with a repetition time on the order of 10
μ
s
at different wavelengths. The spectrometer has been coupled to the edge charge exchange recom-
bination system at ASDEX Upgrade which has been recently refurbished with new lines of sight.
Construction features, calibration methods, and initial measurements obtained with the new setup will
be presented.European Commission (EUROfusion 633053
Differences in the epidemiology of theileriosis on smallholder dairy farms in contrasting agro-ecological and grazing strata of highland Kenya
A prospective cohort study was conducted in five purposively-sampled agro-ecological zone (AEZ)-grazing system strata in Murang’a District, Kenya, between March 1995 and June 1996. The study strata were selected based on a preliminary characterization study to represent the widest range of risks to East Coast fever (ECF) in the District and included zero-grazing and open-grazing farms. In total, 225 calves from 188 smallholder farms were examined from birth to 6 months of age and visited within the first 2 weeks of life and thereafter at bi-weekly intervals for up to 14 visits.
The purpose of the study was to characterize the differences in epidemiology (risks of infection, morbidity and mortality) and potential control of ECF between the selected strata. Evidence of Theileria parva infection was assessed by increased antibody levels as measured in an indirect ELISA assay by the percent positivity (PP) of serum samples relative to a strong positive reference serum.
Sero-conversion risks of T. parva were highest in the open-grazing strata. Antibody prevalence in adult cattle and ECF morbidity and mortality risks were also highest in open-grazing strata. While different, all five AEZ-grazing strata were considered to be endemically unstable for ECF. East Coast fever challenge was low in all zero-grazing strata and this challenge is likely to remain low due to continuing intensification of smallholder farming in the central highlands. In the open-grazing strata, there was higher challenge and a greater impact of ECF.
ILRI publication no.: 99017
Microstrip superconducting quantum interference device amplifiers with submicron Josephson junctions: enhanced gain at gigahertz frequencies
We present measurements of an amplifier based on a dc superconducting quantum
interference device (SQUID) with submicron Al-AlOx-Al Josephson junctions. The
small junction size reduces their self-capacitance and allows for the use of
relatively large resistive shunts while maintaining nonhysteretic operation.
This leads to an enhancement of the SQUID transfer function compared to SQUIDs
with micron-scale junctions. The device layout is modified from that of a
conventional SQUID to allow for coupling signals into the amplifier with a
substantial mutual inductance for a relatively short microstrip coil.
Measurements at 310 mK exhibit gain of 32 dB at 1.55 GHz.Comment: Version with high resolution figures at:
http://physics.syr.edu/~bplourde/bltp-publications.ht
Contraction of the G_r,s Quantum Group to its Nonstandard analogue and corresponding Coloured Quantum Groups
The quantum group G_r,s provides a realisation of the two parameter quantum
GL_p,q(2) which is known to be related to the two parameter nonstandard
GL_hh'(2) group via a contraction method. We apply the contraction procedure to
G_r,s and obtain a new Jordanian quantum group G_m,k. Furthermore, we provide a
realisation of GL_h,h'(2) in terms of G_m,k. The contraction procedure is then
extended to the coloured quantum group GL_r{\lambda,\mu}(2) to yield a new
Jordanian quantum group GL_m{\lambda,\mu}(2). Both G_r,s and G_m,k are then
generalised to their coloured versions which inturn provide similar
realisations of GL_r{\lambda,\mu}(2) and GL_m{\lambda,\mu}(2).Comment: 22 pages LaTeX, to be published in J. Math. Phy
Interpretation of the I-Regime and transport associated with relevant heavy particle modes
The excitation of a novel kind of heavy particle [1, 2] mode at the edge of the plasma column is
considered as the signature of the I-con nement Regime [3{7]. The outward transport of impurities
produced by this mode is in fact consistent with the observed expulsion of them from the main
body of the plasma column (a high degree of plasma purity is a necessary feature for fusion burning
plasmas capable of approaching ignition). Moreover, the theoretically predicted mode phase velocity,
in the direction of the electron diamagnetic velocity, has been con rmed by relevant experimental
analyses [8] of the excited
uctuations (around 200 kHz). The plasma \spontaneous rotation" in the
direction of the ion diamagnetic velocity is also consistent, according to the Accretion Theory [9] of
this phenomenon, with the direction of the mode phase velocity. Another feature of the mode that
predicted by the theory is that the I-Regime exhibits a knee of the ion temperature at the edge of
the plasma column but not one of the particle density as the mode excitation factor is the relative
main ion temperature gradient exceeding the local relative density gradient. The net plasma current
density appearing in the saturation stage of the relevant instability, where the induced particle and
energy
uxes are drastically reduced, is associated with the signi cant amplitudes of the poloidal
magnetic eld
uctuations [6, 7] observed to accompany the density
uctuations. The theoretical
implications of the signi cant electron temperature
uctuations [10] observed are discussed.United States. Dept. of Energ
Learning physics in context: a study of student learning about electricity and magnetism
This paper re-centres the discussion of student learning in physics to focus
on context. In order to do so, a theoretically-motivated understanding of
context is developed. Given a well-defined notion of context, data from a novel
university class in electricity and magnetism are analyzed to demonstrate the
central and inextricable role of context in student learning. This work sits
within a broader effort to create and analyze environments which support
student learning in the sciencesComment: 36 pages, 4 Figure
Understanding and Affecting Student Reasoning About Sound Waves
Student learning of sound waves can be helped through the creation of
group-learning classroom materials whose development and design rely on
explicit investigations into student understanding. We describe reasoning in
terms of sets of resources, i.e. grouped building blocks of thinking that are
commonly used in many different settings. Students in our university physics
classes often used sets of resources that were different from the ones we wish
them to use. By designing curriculum materials that ask students to think about
the physics from a different view, we bring about improvement in student
understanding of sound waves. Our curriculum modifications are specific to our
own classes, but our description of student learning is more generally useful
for teachers. We describe how students can use multiple sets of resources in
their thinking, and raise questions that should be considered by both
instructors and researchers.Comment: 23 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables, 28 references, 7 notes. Accepted for
publication in the International Journal of Science Educatio
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