An improved human display model for occupant crash simulation programs

An improved three-dimensional display model of a human being which can be used to display the results of three-dimensional simulation programs that predict the positions of an occupant during impact of a vehicle was presented. The model allows the user to view the occupant from any orientation in any position during the crash. The display model assumes the usual break up of the body into rigid segments which is normal for occupant crash simulation programs, but the shape of the segments in the display model are not necessarily the same as those used in the crash simulation. The display model is proportioned so as to produce a realistic drawing of the human body in any position. Joints connecting the segments are also drawn to improve realism

Circuit prevents overcharging of secondary cell batteries

Circuit prevents battery cell overcharging by detecting and reducing the charging voltage to the open-circuit voltage of the battery when this current falls to a predetermined value. The voltage control depends on the fact that the charging current falls significantly when the battery nears its fully charged state

Computer Interactive Reminiscence and Conversation Aid groups – delivering cognitive stimulation with technology

INTRODUCTION: Group-based cognitive stimulation is the only nonpharmacological intervention recommended by the UK National Institute for Clinical and Health Excellence (NICE) for people with dementia. The potential of technology to extend the availability of group-based cognitive stimulation has not been tested. METHOD: One hundred and sixty-one people with dementia participated in an 8-session group activity using Computer Interactive Reminiscence and Conversation Aid (CIRCA). Cognition, quality of life and general health were assessed pre-, post- and three-months later. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in cognition and quality of life at the end of the CIRCA group intervention, which was further improved at three-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: CIRCA group sessions improved cognition and quality of life similar to group-base cognitive stimulation approved by NICE. These benefits were maintained at three-month follow-up. The data confirm the potential of CIRCA, which can be populated with different cultural and language contents for different user groups

Zero-bias peaks in spin-orbit coupled superconducting wires with and without Majorana end-states

One of the simplest proposed experimental probes of a Majorana bound-state is a quantized (2e^2/h) value of zero-bias tunneling conductance. When temperature is somewhat larger than the intrinsic width of the Majorana peak, conductance is no longer quantized, but a zero-bias peak can remain. Such a non-quantized zero-bias peak has been recently reported for semiconducting nanowires with proximity induced superconductivity. In this paper we analyze the relation of the zero-bias peak to the presence of Majorana end-states, by simulating the tunneling conductance for multi-band wires with realistic amounts of disorder. We show that this system generically exhibits a (non-quantized) zero-bias peak even when the wire is topologically trivial and does not possess Majorana end-states. We make comparisons to recent experiments, and discuss the necessary requirements for confirming the existence of a Majorana state.Comment: 5 pages, 4 Figure

Simultaneous optical polarimetry and X-ray data of the near synchronous polar RX J2115-5840

We present simultaneous optical polarimetry and X-ray data of the near synchronous polar RX J2115-5840. We model the polarisation data using the Stokes imaging technique of Potter et al. We find that the data are best modelled using a relatively high binary inclination and a small angle between the magnetic and spin axes. We find that for all spin-orbit beat phases, a significant proportion of the accretion flow is directed onto the lower hemisphere of the white dwarf, producing negative circular polarisation. Only for a small fraction of the beat cycle is a proportion of the flow directed onto the upper hemisphere. However, the accretion flow never occurs near the upper magnetic pole, whatever the orientation of the magnetic poles. This indicates the presence of a non-dipole field with the field strength at the upper pole significantly higher. We find that the brightest parts of the hard X-ray emitting region and the cyclotron region are closely coincident.Comment: 9 pages, accepted for publication in MNRAS 2 March 200

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) project of CERN

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) was approved by CERN's Council in December 1994 and a conceptual accelerator design published in October 1995. The LHC will provide proton-proton collisions of 7 TeV + 7 TeV with a luminosity of up to 10$^{34}$cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$, at two collision points and lead-ion collisions with a total centre of mass energy of 1148 TeV and a luminosity up to 10$^{27}$cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$. In this paper the status of the collider project will be described with emphasis on the latest developments. The experimental programme of the LHC is also in the process of being defined and is expected to include a dedicated heavy-ion detector, ALICE, and a specialised B-physics spectrometer, LHCb, as well as the already approved, high luminosity, general purpose detectors, ATLAS and CMS. A description of the experimental areas foreseen for these experiments will be given

Development and application of computer software techniques to human factors task data handling problems Final report, 21 Jun. 1965 - 21 Jun. 1966

Computer software techniques applied to human factors task data handling problem