59,984 research outputs found
Using Ada to implement the operations management system in a community of experts
An architecture is described for the Space Station Operations Management System (OMS), consisting of a distributed expert system framework implemented in Ada. The motivation for such a scheme is based on the desire to integrate the very diverse elements of the OMS while taking maximum advantage of knowledge based systems technology. Part of the foundation of an Ada based distributed expert system was accomplished in the form of a proof of concept prototype for the KNOMES project (Knowledge-based Maintenance Expert System). This prototype successfully used concurrently active experts to accomplish monitoring and diagnosis for the Remote Manipulator System. The basic concept of this software architecture is named ACTORS for Ada Cognitive Task ORganization Scheme. It is when one considers the overall problem of integrating all of the OMS elements into a cooperative system that the AI solution stands out. By utilizing a distributed knowledge based system as the framework for OMS, it is possible to integrate those components which need to share information in an intelligent manner
Vortex motion phase separator for zero gravity liquid transfer
A vortex motion phase separator is disclosed for transferring a liquid in a zero gravity environment while at the same time separating the liquid from vapors found within either the sender or the receiving tanks. The separator comprises a rigid sender tank having a circular cross-section and rigid receiver tank having a circular cross-section. A plurality of ducts connects the sender tank and the receiver tank. Disposed within the ducts connecting the receiver tank and the sender tank is a pump and a plurality of valves. The pump is powered by an electric motor and is adapted to draw either the liquid or a mixture of the liquid and the vapor from the sender tank. Initially, the mixture drawn from the sender tank is directed through a portion of the ductwork and back into the sender tank at a tangent to the inside surface of the sender tank, thereby creating a swirling vortex of the mixture within the sender tank. As the pumping action increases, the speed of the swirling action within the sender tank increases creating an increase in the centrifugal force operating on the mixture. The effect of the centrifugal force is to cause the heavier liquid to migrate to the inside surface of the sender tank and to separate from the vapor. When this separation reaches a predetermined degree, control means is activated to direct the liquid conveyed by the pump directly into the receiver tank. At the same time, the vapor within the receiver tank is directed from the receiver tank back into the sender tank. This flow continues until substantially all of the liquid is transferred from the sender tank to the receiver tank
A Survey of Metal Lines at High-redshift (I) : SDSS Absorption Line Studies - The Methodology and First Search Results for OVI
We report the results of a systematic search for signatures of metal lines in
quasar spectra of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 3(DR3),
focusing on finding intervening absorbers via detection of their OVI doublet.
Here we present the search algorithm, and criteria for distinguishing
candidates from spurious Lyman {} forest lines. In addition, we compare
our findings with simulations of the Lyman {} forest in order to
estimate the detectability of OVI doublets over various redshift intervals. We
have obtained a sample of 1756 OVI doublet candidates with rest-frame
equivalent width > 0.05 \AA{} in 855 AGN spectra (out of 3702 objects with
redshifts in the accessible range for OVI detection). This sample is further
subdivided into 3 groups according to the likelihood of being real and the
potential for follow-up observation of the candidate. The group with the
cleanest and most secure candidates is comprised of 145 candidates. 69 of these
reside at a velocity separation > 5000 km/s from the QSO, and can therefore be
classified tentatively as intervening absorbers. Most of these absorbers have
not been picked up by earlier, automated QSO absorption line detection
algorithms. This sample increases the number of known OVI absorbers at
redshifts beyond z$_{abs} > 2.7 substantially.Comment: 41 pages, 10 figures, 2 tables, accepted by AJ. This is a
substantially altered version, including an appendix with details on the
validity of the search algorithm on one pixel rather than binning. Also note
that M. Pieri was added as autho
Nonperturbative m_X cut effects in B -> Xs l+ l- observables
Recently, it was shown that in inclusive B -> Xs l+ l- decay, an angular
decomposition provides three independent (q^2 dependent) observables. A
strategy was formulated to extract all measurable Wilson coefficients in B ->
Xs l+ l- from a few simple integrals of these observables in the low q^2
region. The experimental measurements in the low q^2 region require a cut on
the hadronic invariant mass, which introduces a dependence on nonperturbative b
quark distribution functions. The associated hadronic uncertainties could
potentially limit the sensitivity of these decays to new physics. We compute
the nonperturbative corrections to all three observables at leading and
subleading order in the power expansion in \Lambda_QCD/m_b. We find that the
subleading power corrections give sizeable corrections, of order -5% to -10%
depending on the observable and the precise value of the hadronic mass cut.
They cause a shift of order -0.05 GeV^2 to -0.1 GeV^2 in the zero of the
forward-backward asymmetry.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, v2: corrected typos and Eq. (25), v3: journal
versio
Slowly modulated oscillations in nonlinear diffusion processes
It is shown here that certain systems of nonlinear (parabolic) reaction-diffusion equations have solutions which are approximated by oscillatory functions in the form R(ξ - cτ)P(t^*) where P(t^*) represents a sinusoidal oscillation on a fast time scale t* and R(ξ - cτ) represents a slowly-varying modulating amplitude on slow space (ξ) and slow time (τ) scales. Such solutions describe phenomena in chemical reactors, chemical and biological reactions, and in other media where a stable oscillation at each point (or site) undergoes a slow amplitude change due to diffusion
KAT-7 Science Verification: Using HI Observations of NGC 3109 to Understand its Kinematics and Mass Distribution
HI observations of the Magellanic-type spiral NGC 3109, obtained with the
seven dish Karoo Array Telescope (KAT-7), are used to analyze its mass
distribution. Our results are compared to what is obtained using VLA data.
KAT-7 is the precursor of the SKA pathfinder MeerKAT, which is under
construction. The short baselines and low system temperature of the telescope
make it sensitive to large scale low surface brightness emission. The new
observations with KAT-7 allow the measurement of the rotation curve of NGC 3109
out to 32', doubling the angular extent of existing measurements. A total HI
mass of 4.6 x 10^8 Msol is derived, 40% more than what was detected by the VLA
observations.
The observationally motivated pseudo-isothermal dark matter (DM) halo model
can reproduce very well the observed rotation curve but the cosmologically
motivated NFW DM model gives a much poorer fit to the data. While having a more
accurate gas distribution has reduced the discrepancy between the observed RC
and the MOdified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) models, this is done at the expense
of having to use unrealistic mass-to-light ratios for the stellar disk and/or
very large values for the MOND universal constant a0. Different distances or HI
contents cannot reconcile MOND with the observed kinematics, in view of the
small errors on those two quantities. As for many slowly rotating gas-rich
galaxies studied recently, the present result for NGC 3109 continues to pose a
serious challenge to the MOND theory.Comment: 25 pages, 20 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomical
Journa
Application of Monte Carlo-based statistical significance determinations to the Beta Cephei stars V400 Car, V401 Car, V403 Car and V405 Car
We have used Lomb-Scargle periodogram analysis and Monte Carlo significance
tests to detect periodicities above the 3-sigma level in the Beta Cephei stars
V400 Car, V401 Car, V403 Car and V405 Car. These methods produce six previously
unreported periodicities in the expected frequency range of excited pulsations:
one in V400 Car, three in V401 Car, one in V403 Car and one in V405 Car. One of
these six frequencies is significant above the 4-sigma level. We provide
statistical significances for all of the periodicities found in these four
stars.Comment: 11 pages, 17 figure
Personality Characteristics and the Decision to Become and Stay Self-Employed
This paper systematically investigates whether different kinds of personality characteristics influence entrepreneurial development. On the basis of a large, representative household panel survey, we examine the extent to which the Big Five traits and further personality characteristics, which are more specifically related to entrepreneurial tasks, influence entry into self-employment and survival of self-employed persons in Germany. The empirical analysis reveals that among the specific characteristics in particular "risk attitudes" and "locus of control" have strong effects on entry and survival. With respect to the Big Five approach, in particular the traits "openness to experience" and "extraversion" and to a lower extent "agreeableness" and "neuroticism" help to explain entrepreneurial development. The explanatory power of the Big Five is comparable to one of the most prominent determinants of entrepreneurship – education – and approximately three times larger than parental self-employment.entrepreneurship, personality, Big Five, risk aversion, locus of control
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