The integration of on-line monitoring and reconfiguration functions using IEEE1149.4 into a safety critical automotive electronic control unit.

This paper presents an innovative application of IEEE 1149.4 and the integrated diagnostic reconfiguration (IDR) as tools for the implementation of an embedded test solution for an automotive electronic control unit, implemented as a fully integrated mixed signal system. The paper describes how the test architecture can be used for fault avoidance with results from a hardware prototype presented. The paper concludes that fault avoidance can be integrated into mixed signal electronic systems to handle key failure modes

The Importance of Phase in Nulling Interferometry and a Three Telescope Closure-Phase Nulling Interferometer Concept

We discuss the theory of the Bracewell nulling interferometer and explicitly demonstrate that the phase of the "white light" null fringe is the same as the phase of the bright output from an ordinary stellar interferometer. As a consequence a "closure phase" exists for a nulling interferometer with three or more telescopes. We calculate the phase offset as a function of baseline length for an Earth-like planet around the Sun at 10 pc, with a contrast ratio of $10^{-6}$ at 10 $\mu$m. The magnitude of the phase due to the planet is $\sim 10^{-6}$ radians, assuming the star is at the phase center of the array. Although this is small, this phase may be observable in a three-telescope nulling interferometer that measures the closure phase. We propose a simple non-redundant three-telescope nulling interferometer that can perform this measurement. This configuration is expected to have improved characteristics compared to other nulling interferometer concepts, such as a relaxation of pathlength tolerances, through the use of the "ratio of wavelengths" technique, a closure phase, and better discrimination between exodiacal dust and planets

Development of a carbon fibre composite active mirror: Design and testing

Carbon fibre composite technology for lightweight mirrors is gaining increasing interest in the space- and ground-based astronomical communities for its low weight, ease of manufacturing, excellent thermal qualities and robustness. We present here first results of a project to design and produce a 27 cm diameter deformable carbon fibre composite mirror. The aim was to produce a high surface form accuracy as well as low surface roughness. As part of this programme, a passive mirror was developed to investigate stability and coating issues. Results from the manufacturing and polishing process are reported here. We also present results of a mechanical and thermal finite element analysis, as well as early experimental findings of the deformable mirror. Possible applications and future work are discussed.Comment: Accepted by Optical Engineering. Figures 1-7 on http://www.star.ucl.ac.uk/~sk/OEpaper_files

Belief propagation algorithm for computing correlation functions in finite-temperature quantum many-body systems on loopy graphs

Belief propagation -- a powerful heuristic method to solve inference problems involving a large number of random variables -- was recently generalized to quantum theory. Like its classical counterpart, this algorithm is exact on trees when the appropriate independence conditions are met and is expected to provide reliable approximations when operated on loopy graphs. In this paper, we benchmark the performances of loopy quantum belief propagation (QBP) in the context of finite-tempereture quantum many-body physics. Our results indicate that QBP provides reliable estimates of the high-temperature correlation function when the typical loop size in the graph is large. As such, it is suitable e.g. for the study of quantum spin glasses on Bethe lattices and the decoding of sparse quantum error correction codes.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

The Impact of a “Three Good Things in Nature” Writing Task on Nature Connectedness, Pro-nature Conservation Behavior, Life Satisfaction, and Mindfulness in Children

This research explores relationships between nature connectedness, pro-nature conservation behaviour, life satisfaction and mindfulness in children aged 9-11 years and assesses the impact of a 3 good-things in nature writing intervention. Participants were assigned to either an experimental condition, writing about 3 good-things in nature, or a control condition, writing about any three things, over 5 days. In total, 138 children provided complete data. Multiple regression showed nature connectedness and environmental perceptions predicted pro-nature conservation behaviour whilst nature connectedness and mindfulness predicted life satisfaction. MANOVA examined group differences and revealed a significant multivariate effect of time with univariant effects for nature connectedness, mindfulness and life satisfaction, but not pro-nature conservation behaviour. A significant multivariate time x group interaction was observed whereby univariate ANOVA revealed time x group interactions for pro-conservation behaviour and nature connectedness. Post hoc t-tests for pro-conservation behaviour indicated no group differences at baseline, but higher pro-conservation behaviour post-intervention in the experimental condition. For nature connectedness, post-hoc t-tests indicated higher levels in the experimental condition at all three time points; whilst change in nature connectedness from baseline to post-intervention was greater in the experimental group than the control. There was no group difference in change in nature connectedness from baseline to follow-up. Data was collected during late spring/early summer which may result in seasonal effects. Future research could address this by collecting data throughout the year. This research demonstrates support for relationships between nature connectedness and both pro-conservation behaviour and life satisfaction in children and shows that short interventions can impact on nature connectedness and pro-conservation behaviour, although the impact on nature connectedness was relatively short-lived

On the exactly solvable pairing models for bosons

We propose the new exactly solvable model for bosons corresponding to the attractive pairing interaction. Using the electrostatic analogy, the solution of this model in thermodynamic limit is found. The transition from the superfluid phase with the Bose condensate and the Bogoliubov - type spectrum of excitations in the weak coupling regime to the incompressible phase with the gap in the excitation spectrum in the strong coupling regime is observed.Comment: 19 page

The Original USDA-ARS Experimental Watersheds in Texas and Ohio: Contributions from the Past and Visions for the Future

The USDA Soil Conservation Service (USDA‐SCS) realized the importance of understanding hydrologic processes on agricultural fields and watersheds in the mid‐1930s. Based on this realization, the research program of the Hydrologic Division of SCS established three experimental watersheds across the U.S. to analyze the impact of landuse practices on soil erosion, flood events, water resources, and the agricultural economy. Two of the original watersheds remain in operation today within the USDA Agricultural Research Service (USDA‐ARS): the Blacklands Experimental Watershed (now the Grassland, Soil and Water Research Laboratory) near Riesel, Texas, and the North Appalachian Experimental Watershed near Coshocton, Ohio. These original watersheds were designed for collection of hydrologic data on small watersheds and evaluation of hydrologic and soil loss response as influenced by various agricultural land management practices. A major contribution of these experimental watersheds is the quantification of soil loss reduction under conservation management, which has led to a drastic reduction in soil loss from cultivated agriculture in the 20th century. Riesel watershed studies produced the scientific basis for several watershed models that are now used worldwide to manage water quality and also facilitated fundamental analysis of the agronomic and environmental effects of tillage, fertilizer, and pesticide alternatives. Coshocton watershed studies led to the development of no‐till and pasture management practices to control runoff, erosion, and chemical loss and were instrumental in understanding water quality and hydrologic effects of soil macropores and mining and reclamation activities. The long‐term hydrologic records at each site have also improved understanding and management of water resources in their respective geographic regions. Because of their historical and future value, the USDA‐ARS has a unique responsibility to maintain these long‐term experimental watersheds, which are vital for addressing emerging research needs to meet future water availability, environmental quality, and food and fiber demands

Using Stories in Coach Education

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how storied representations of research can be used as an effective pedagogical tool in coach education. During a series of continuing professional development seminars for professional golf coaches, we presented our research in the form of stories and poems which were created in an effort to evoke and communicate the lived experiences of elite professional golfers. Following these presentations, we obtained written responses to the stories from 53 experienced coaches who attended the seminars. Analysis of this data revealed three ways in which coaches responded to the stories: (i) questioning; (ii) summarising; and (iii) incorporating. We conclude that these responses illustrate the potential of storied forms of representation to enhance professional development through stimulating reflective practice and increasing understanding of holistic, person-centred approaches to coaching athletes in high-performance sport

Massive Quiescent Cores in Orion. -- II. Core Mass Function

We have surveyed submillimeter continuum emission from relatively quiescent regions in the Orion molecular cloud to determine how the core mass function in a high mass star forming region compares to the stellar initial mass function. Such studies are important for understanding the evolution of cores to stars, and for comparison to formation processes in high and low mass star forming regions. We used the SHARC II camera on the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory telescope to obtain 350 \micron data having angular resolution of about 9 arcsec, which corresponds to 0.02 pc at the distance of Orion. Our analysis combining dust continuum and spectral line data defines a sample of 51 Orion molecular cores with masses ranging from 0.1 \Ms to 46 \Ms and a mean mass of 9.8 \Ms, which is one order of magnitude higher than the value found in typical low mass star forming regions, such as Taurus. The majority of these cores cannot be supported by thermal pressure or turbulence, and are probably supercritical.They are thus likely precursors of protostars. The core mass function for the Orion quiescent cores can be fitted by a power law with an index equal to -0.85$\pm$0.21. This is significantly flatter than the Salpeter initial mass function and is also flatter than the core mass function found in low and intermediate star forming regions. Thus, it is likely that environmental processes play a role in shaping the stellar IMF later in the evolution of dense cores and the formation of stars in such regions.Comment: 30 pages, 10 figures, accepted by Ap

A Comparative Study of the Absolute Magnitude Distributions of Supernovae.

The Asiago Supernova Catalog is used to carry out a comparative study of supernova absolute magnitude distributions. An overview of the absolute magnitudes of the supernovae in the current observational sample is presented, and the evidence for subluminous and overluminous events is examined. The fraction of supernovae that are subluminous (MB\u3e -15) appears to be higher (perhaps much higher) than 1/5 but it remains very uncertain. The fraction that are overluminous (MB \u3e -20) is lower (probably much lower) than 0.01. The absolute magnitude distributions for each supernova type, restricted to events within 1 Gpc, are compared. Although these distributions are affected by observational bias in favor of the more luminous events, they are useful for comparative studies. We find mean absolute blue magnitudes (for H0 = 60) of -19.46 for normal Type la supernovae (SNe Ia), -18.04 for SNe Ibc, -17.61 and -20.26 for normal and bright SNe Ibc considered separately, -18.03 for SNe II-L, -17.56 and -19.27 for normal and bright SNe II-L considered separately, -17.00 for SNe II-P, and -19.15 for SNe IIn