Cam-Operated Pitch-Change Apparatus

A pitch-change apparatus for a ducted thrust fan having a plurality of variable pitch blades employs a camming ring mounted coaxially at the hub at an axially fixed station along the hub axis for rotation about the hub axis both with the blades and relative to the blades. The ring has a generally spherical outer periphery and a plurality of helical camming grooves extending in a generally spherical plane on the periphery. Each of the variable pitch blades is connected to a pitch-change horn having a cam follower mounted on its outer end, and the camming ring and the horns are so arranged about the hub axis that the plurality of followers on the horns engage respectively the plurality of helical camming grooves. Rotary drive means rotates the camming ring relative to the blades to cause blade pitch to be changed through the cooperative operation of the camming grooves on the ring and the cam followers on the pitch-change horns

Method and circuit for controlling the evolution time interval of a laser output pulse

The invention is a method and circuit for controlling the evolution time interval of a laser output pulse used for making precise spectral measurements. It comprises the means for pumping a laser medium in a resonator that includes a Q-switch and polarizer that act in combination to control the loss in the resonator. A photodiode senses the resulting fluorescence which is applied to a two level Q-switch and polarizer from high to intermediate to substantially zero loss states to control the evolution time interval of the resulting laser output pulse

The International Criminal Court\u27s Ineffective Enforcement Mechanisms: The Indictment of President Omar Al Bashir

Part I introduces the Rome Statute and highlights the portions of the Rome Statute that leave the ICC vulnerable to member states that violate the Rome Statute without any clear punishment for the violation. In particular, Part I focuses on the expansive jurisdiction and the limited enforcement mechanisms that the Rome Statute bestows upon the ICC. Part II illustrates the ICC\u27s vulnerability under the Rome Statute by using the example of the ICC\u27s indictment of President Al Bashir and examining the existing tension between the ICC and the African Union ( AU ). Part III argues that the ICC must strengthen or expand its enforcement mechanisms in order to become a legitimate force in the international forum. It suggests three possible ways to reach this goal: suspension, expulsion, and implementation of United Nations ( UN ) Security Council sanctions

A Total Factor Productivity Index for Scottish Agriculture 1973-2004

Thirtle et al (2003) have provided a Total Factor Productivity (TFP) index for UK agriculture. This note follows a similar methodology to construct a TFP index for Scottish agriculture beginning in 1973 and ending in 2004. Essentially, Scottish agricultural growth grew strongly during the 1970s but then fell to negative levels over the period 1984-2004. In comparison to the UK Index, Scotland has performed poorly and is only showing signs of a positive recovery from 2000 onwards.Productivity Analysis,

Method and circuit for shaping laser output pulses

The invention is a method and circuit for shaping laser output pulses from a laser resonator. A Q-switch and polarizer act in combination to control the loss to the resonator and provide the laser output representative of such loss. An optical diode senses the level of the output pulse and provides an output signal that when amplified is used to control voltage from a supply to provide a control signal which is applied to the Q-switch to control the shape of the output pulse by adjusting its length

Technical Efficiency Estimates of Scottish Agriculture: Evidence from the dairy, sheep and cereals sector

Technical efficiency, the ratio of physical inputs to outputs, is a popular means of assessing agricultural performance. Benchmarking of these efficiencies is a fundamental tool for the farming industry. More sophisticated techniques have been developed recently which offer a greater degree of complexity for measuring technical efficiency. This paper adopts a parametric approach, referred to as stochastic production frontiers (SPF), to study three major sectors the Scottish agricultural economy, namely i) cereals, ii) dairy, and iii) sheep, over the period 1989 to 2004.Crop Production/Industries, Livestock Production/Industries, Productivity Analysis,