Rheology and ultrasonic properties of Pt57.5Ni5.3Cu14.7P22.5 liquid

The equilibrium and nonequilibrium viscosity and isoconfigurational shear modulus of Pt57.5Ni5.3Cu14.7P22.5 supercooled liquid are evaluated using continuous–strain-rate compression experiments and ultrasonic measurements. By means of a thermodynamically-consistent cooperative shear model, variations in viscosity with both temperature and strain rate are uniquely correlated to the variations in isoconfigurational shear modulus, which leads to an accurate prediction of the liquid fragility and to a good description of the liquid strain-rate sensitivity

Design of a monitor and simulation terminal (master) for space station telerobotics and telescience

Based on Space Station and planetary spacecraft communication time delays and bandwidth limitations, it will be necessary to develop an intelligent, general purpose ground monitor terminal capable of sophisticated data display and control of on-orbit facilities and remote spacecraft. The basic elements that make up a Monitor and Simulation Terminal (MASTER) include computer overlay video, data compression, forward simulation, mission resource optimization and high level robotic control. Hardware and software elements of a MASTER are being assembled for testbed use. Applications of Neural Networks (NNs) to some key functions of a MASTER are also discussed. These functions are overlay graphics adjustment, object correlation and kinematic-dynamic characterization of the manipulator

Barriers to Belief: Why do the Resistant Resist God?

Barriers to belief in God and Christianity in an increasingly antagonistic culture are considerable. Reasons for resisting belief were studied in an intellectually-driven population of educated atheists in Western culture (N = 50) through survey and interview analysis. This mixed-method research study evaluated a broad range of functional (socio-cultural, psycho-emotional, existential, experiential, moral, volitional) and substantive (intellectual and spiritual) variables influencing disbelief. Based upon extensive data collection, these findings advance the case for viewing obstacles to belief as diverse, interactive, and complex in nature. These barriers should not be easily reduced to broad brushed presumptions, but should be engaged thoughtfully, compassionately, and uniquely with each individual

Religious conversion of educated Atheists to Christianity in six contemporary Western countries

This thesis proposes a model for religious conversion which incorporates a substantive component as part of a more complete understanding of religious conversion, specifically in an intellectually-driven population of educated Atheists. Review of the social science literature confirmed a predominant functional approach to religious conversion, effectively reducing a complex phenomenon to a partial explanation. In response, the chief focus of this dissertation was a mixed-method research study evaluating a broad range of functional (socio-cultural, psycho-emotional, existential, experiential) and substantive (intellectual and spiritual) variables influencing religious conversion from naturalistic Atheism to Christianity. An original set of data was collected through survey and interview investigation illuminating and informing the debate on religious conversion. Based upon extensive data collection and analysis, this thesis concluded that without incorporating substantive content, the comprehensive nature of conversion cannot be adequately represented or properly understood. Further, in-depth narrative analysis demonstrated the integrated, transformative nature of religious conversion in areas of sensemaking, identity, experience, meaning and purpose, community, language, and spirituality. Therefore, this thesis advances the case for using an inclusive, transformational perspective in future description, conception, modeling and research of religious conversion in naturalistic Atheism to conservative forms of Christianity

Recreational Angler Site Choice and Behavior within Midwestern Reservoirs

Anglers are the dominant predator in most inland fisheries. Although anglers make decisions across multiple scales, most research targets larger spatial and temporal scales of angler behavior, and thus little is known regarding angler behavior within a fishing trip. Outcomes of within-trip behavior affect larger spatial and temporal scales and are thus important to the management of recreational fisheries. Bank angler site choice was recorded at four reservoirs in the Salt Valley system across the open-water season of 2016. Previous research indicated that angler distribution did not match the distribution of fish, so another approach was taken. Counts of anglers were aggregated into 50-m sections of shoreline and compared to physical habitat features using a competing-models approach. Waterbody-choice, travel distance from parking, and non-catch-related factors constrained anglers’ catch-related habitat choices. An online survey of 2015 Nebraska fishing license purchasers was compared to realized site choice. Factors from stated preferences (online survey) and realized preferences (angler locations) were not consistent. Bank angler behavior was recorded for entire, individual, fishing trips, and behavior was compared to angler-perceived fishing objectives. Anglers were surveyed for a stated primary objective at the beginning and end of their trip as either to catch the largest fish possible , to catch the most fish possible , or Neither, just enjoying the experience. Anglers\u27 stated trip objective and specialization had little influence on within-trip fishing behavior. However, anglers that failed to capture a fish were more likely to shift to a stated primary non-catch-related objective during their fishing trip. Within-waterbody angler site choice and behavior reflect non-catch-motivations that may have significant bottom-up effects on across-trip angler behavior

Anelastic to Plastic Transition in Metallic Glass-Forming Liquids

The configurational properties associated with the transition from anelasticity to plasticity in a transiently deforming metallic glass-forming liquid are studied. The data reveal that the underlying transition kinetics for flow can be separated into reversible and irreversible configurational hopping across the liquid energy landscape, identified with beta and alpha relaxation processes, respectively. A critical stress characterizing the transition is recognized as an effective Eshelby “backstress,” revealing a link between the apparent anelasticity and the “confinement stress” of the elastic matrix surrounding the plastic core of a shear transformation zone

Deformation of glass forming metallic liquids: Configurational changes and their relation to elastic softening

The change in the configurational enthalpy of metallic glass forming liquids induced by mechanical deformation and its effect on elastic softening is assessed. The acoustically measured shear modulus is found to decrease with increasing configurational enthalpy by a dependence similar to one obtained by softening via thermal annealing. This establishes that elastic softening is governed by a unique functional relationship between shear modulus and configurational enthalpy

A Search for Hard X-Ray Emission from Globular Clusters - Constraints from BATSE

We have monitored a sample of 27 nearby globular clusters in the hard X-ray band (20-120 keV) for approximately 1400 days using the BATSE instrument on board the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. Globular clusters may contain a large number of compact objects (e.g., pulsars or X-ray binaries containing neutron stars) which can produce hard X-ray emission. Our search provides a sensitive (~50 mCrab) monitor for hard X-ray transient events on time scales of >1 day and a means for observing persistent hard X-ray emission. We have discovered no transient events from any of the clusters and no persistent emission. Our observations include a sensitive search of four nearby clusters containing dim X-ray sources: 47 Tucanae, NGC 5139, NGC 6397, and NGC 6752. The non-detection in these clusters implies a lower limit for the recurrence time of transients of 2 to 6 years for events with luminosities >10^36 erg s^-1 (20-120 keV) and ~20 years if the sources in these clusters are taken collectively. This suggests that the dim X-ray sources in these clusters are not transients similar to Aql~X-1. We also place upper limits on the persistent emission in the range 2-10*10^34 erg s^-1 (2 sigma, 20-120 keV) for these four clusters. For 47 Tuc the upper limit is more sensitive than previous measurements by a factor of 3. We find a model dependent upper limit of 19 isolated millisecond pulsars (MSPs) producing gamma-rays in 47 Tuc, compared to the 11 observed radio MSPs in this cluster.Comment: 20 pages; accepted, ApJ; uu encoded tar file; 7 figure