7,835 research outputs found
Resonant tuning of Langevin transducers for ultrasonically assisted machining applications
This paper provides a fundamental study into the trade-offs between the location of piezoceramic elements, resonant frequency, and achievable ultrasonic vibration amplitude at the working end of the Bolted Langevin-style Transducers (BLT) for Ultrasonically Assisted Machining (UAM) applications. Analytical models and Finite Element (FE) models are established for theoretical study, which are then validated by experiments on four real electro-mechanical transducers. Results suggest that resonant frequency and oscillation amplitude of the BLTs depend essentially on the dimensions of the system and the location of piezoceramic elements. The highest resonant frequency and the maximal vibration are achieved when the piezoceramic elements are at the longitudinal displacement node, where the highest effective electro-mechanical coupling coefficient value is exhibited. However, the minimal resonant frequency and the lowest vibration, which is almost equal to zero, are observed when the piezoceramic elements are located at the displacement anti-node. In addition, the longitudinal displacement node locations are dependent on the resonant frequency of the devices rather than the locations of the piezoceramic elements
The Physics of Heavy Flavours at SuperB
This is a review of the SuperB project, covering the accelerator, detector,
and highlights of the broad physics programme. SuperB is a flavour factory
capable of performing precision measurements and searches for rare and
forbidden decays of , , and
particles. These results can be used to test fundamental symmetries and
expectations of the Standard Model, and to constrain many different
hypothesised types of new physics. In some cases these measurements can be used
to place constraints on the existence of light dark matter and light Higgs
particles with masses below . The potential impact of the
measurements that will be made by SuperB on the field of high energy physics is
also discussed in the context of data taken at both high energy in the region
around the \Upsilon({\mathrm{4S}})$, and near charm threshold.Comment: 49 pages, topical review submitted to J. Phys
Tidal Venuses: Triggering a Climate Catastrophe via Tidal Heating
Traditionally stellar radiation has been the only heat source considered
capable of determining global climate on long timescales. Here we show that
terrestrial exoplanets orbiting low-mass stars may be tidally heated at high
enough levels to induce a runaway greenhouse for a long enough duration for all
the hydrogen to escape. Without hydrogen, the planet no longer has water and
cannot support life. We call these planets "Tidal Venuses," and the phenomenon
a "tidal greenhouse." Tidal effects also circularize the orbit, which decreases
tidal heating. Hence, some planets may form with large eccentricity, with its
accompanying large tidal heating, and lose their water, but eventually settle
into nearly circular orbits (i.e. with negligible tidal heating) in the
habitable zone (HZ). However, these planets are not habitable as past tidal
heating desiccated them, and hence should not be ranked highly for detailed
follow-up observations aimed at detecting biosignatures. Planets orbiting stars
with masses <0.3 solar masses may be in danger of desiccation via tidal
heating. We apply these concepts to Gl 667C c, a ~4.5 Earth-mass planet
orbiting a 0.3 solar mass star at 0.12 AU. We find that it probably did not
lose its water via tidal heating as orbital stability is unlikely for the high
eccentricities required for the tidal greenhouse. As the inner edge of the HZ
is defined by the onset of a runaway or moist greenhouse powered by radiation,
our results represent a fundamental revision to the HZ for non-circular orbits.
In the appendices we review a) the moist and runaway greenhouses, b) hydrogen
escape, c) stellar mass-radius and mass-luminosity relations, d) terrestrial
planet mass-radius relations, and e) linear tidal theories. [abridged]Comment: 59 pages, 11 figures, accepted to Astrobiology. New version includes
an appendix on the water loss timescal
Next generation communications satellites: multiple access and network studies
Efficient resource allocation and network design for satellite systems serving heterogeneous user populations with large numbers of small direct-to-user Earth stations are discussed. Focus is on TDMA systems involving a high degree of frequency reuse by means of satellite-switched multiple beams (SSMB) with varying degrees of onboard processing. Algorithms for the efficient utilization of the satellite resources were developed. The effect of skewed traffic, overlapping beams and batched arrivals in packet-switched SSMB systems, integration of stream and bursty traffic, and optimal circuit scheduling in SSMB systems: performance bounds and computational complexity are discussed
Influence of subunit structure on the oligomerization state of light harvesting complexes: a free energy calculation study
Light harvesting complexes 2 (LH2) from Rhodospirillum (Rs.) molischianum and
Rhodopseudomonas (Rps.) acidophila form ring complexes out of eight or nine
identical subunits, respectively. Here, we investigate computationally what
factors govern the different ring sizes. Starting from the crystal structure
geometries, we embed two subunits of each species into their native
lipid-bilayer/water environment. Using molecular dynamics simulations with
umbrella sampling and steered molecular dynamics, we probe the free energy
profiles along two reaction coordinates, the angle and the distance between two
subunits. We find that two subunits prefer to arrange at distinctly different
angles, depending on the species, at about 42.5 deg for Rs. molischianum and at
about 38.5 deg for Rps. acidophila, which is likely to be an important factor
contributing to the assembly into different ring sizes. Our calculations
suggest a key role of surface contacts within the transmembrane domain in
constraining these angles, whereas the strongest interactions stabilizing the
subunit dimers are found in the C-, and to a lesser extent, N-terminal domains.
The presented computational approach provides a promising starting point to
investigate the factors contributing to the assembly of protein complexes, in
particular if combined with modeling of genetic variants.Comment: 28 pages, 7 figures, LaTeX2e - requires elsart.cls (included),
submitted to Chemical Physic
Abundance analysis of Am binaries and search for tidally driven abundance anomalies - III. HD116657, HD138213, HD155375, HD159560, HD196544 and HD204188
We continue here the systematic abundance analysis of a sample of Am binaries
in order to search for possible abundance anomalies driven by tidal interaction
in these binary systems. New CCD observations in two spectral regions
(6400-6500, 6660-6760 AA) of HD116657, HD138213, HD155375, HD159560, HD196544
and HD204188 were obtained. Synthetic spectrum analysis was carried out and
basic stellar properties, effective temperatures, gravities, projected
rotational velocities, masses, ages and abundances of several elements were
determined. We conclude that all six stars are Am stars. These stars were put
into the context of other Am binaries with 10 < Porb < 200 days and their
abundance anomalies discussed in the context of possible tidal effects. There
is clear anti-correlation of the Am peculiarities with v sin i. However, there
seems to be also a correlation with the eccentricity and may be with the
orbital period. The dependence on the temperature, age, mass, and
microturbulence was studied as well. The projected rotational velocities
obtained by us were compared to those of Royer et al. (2002) and Abt & Morrell
(1995).Comment: 11 pages, 3 tables, 12 figures. Accepted for publication in Monthly
Notices of the Royal Astronomical Societ
Models of the SL9 Impacts II. Radiative-hydrodynamic Modeling of the Plume Splashback
We model the plume "splashback" phase of the SL9 collisions with Jupiter
using the ZEUS-3D hydrodynamic code. We modified the Zeus code to include gray
radiative transport, and we present validation tests. We couple the infalling
mass and momentum fluxes of SL9 plume material (from paper I) to a jovian
atmospheric model. A strong and complex shock structure results. The modeled
shock temperatures agree well with observations, and the structure and
evolution of the modeled shocks account for the appearance of high excitation
molecular line emission after the peak of the continuum light curve. The
splashback region cools by radial expansion as well as by radiation. The
morphology of our synthetic continuum light curves agree with observations over
a broad wavelength range (0.9 to 12 microns). A feature of our ballistic plume
is a shell of mass at the highest velocities, which we term the "vanguard".
Portions of the vanguard ejected on shallow trajectories produce a lateral
shock front, whose initial expansion accounts for the "third precursors" seen
in the 2-micron light curves of the larger impacts, and for hot methane
emission at early times. Continued propagation of this lateral shock
approximately reproduces the radii, propagation speed, and centroid positions
of the large rings observed at 3-4 microns by McGregor et al. The portion of
the vanguard ejected closer to the vertical falls back with high z-component
velocities just after maximum light, producing CO emission and the "flare" seen
at 0.9 microns. The model also produces secondary maxima ("bounces") whose
amplitudes and periods are in agreement with observations.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures (figs 3 and 4 in color), accepted for Ap.J.
latex, version including full figures at:
http://oobleck.tn.cornell.edu/jh/ast/papers/slplume2-20.ps.g
Developing and validating a competency framework for advanced pharmacy practice
AIM. To develop and validate an advanced practice competency framework. DESIGN. Literature review and expert panel discussions. SUBJECTS AND SETTING. Consensus panel membership drawn from across the NHS. Framework mapped against the practice of leading-edge practitioners drawn from primary care and national clinical pharmacy groups. RESULTS. From a literature review 34 competencies were identified and grouped into 6 competency domains. Consensus development panels validated the descriptor terms used to define competency at "foundation", "excellence", or "mastery" level practice. 28 (of the 35 surveyed) practitioners mapped their practice using the framework. The majority indicated that their practice was at "mastery" for the "expert practice" and "building relationships" clusters, although a broader level of activity was reported for the other four clusters. CONCLUSIONS. This study developed an evidence-based advanced practice competency framework, grounded in the multi-disciplinary literature and validated by expert opinion. This provides a map of the key generic skills, knowledge and attributes required by individuals practising at this higher level. The competencies and descriptors developed by this research could be used as a template for the development of consultant pharmacists
Properties of input-output Hammerstein-bilinear structure with application to an industrial air handling unit
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