A malthusian model for all seasons

An issue often discussed in relation to agricultural development is the effect on agricultural labour productivity of more intensive land-use. Introducing aspects of seasonality into a stylized Malthusian model, we unify two diverging views by showing that labour productivity may go up or down with agricultural intensification, depending on whether technological progress emerges in relation to cultivation or harvesting activities. Our result rests on evidence reported by Boserup (1965) and others, which suggests that harvest seasons in traditional agriculture are characterized by severe labour shortage.Agricultural Intensification, Boserup, Labour Surplus, Malthus, Seasonality

Extreme Precision Antenna Reflector Study Results

Thermal and mechanical distortion degrade the RF performance of antennas. The complexity of future communications antennas requires accurate, dimensionally stable antenna reflectors and structures built from materials other than those currently used. The advantages and disadvantages of using carbon fibers in an epoxy matrix are reviewed as well as current reflector fabrications technology and adjustment. The manufacturing sequence and coefficient of thermal expansion of carbon fiber/borosilicate glass composites is described. The construction of a parabolic reflector from this material and the assembling of both reflector and antenna are described. A 3M-aperture-diameter carbon/glass reflector that can be used as a subassembly for large reflectors is depicted. The deployment sequence for a 10.5M-aperture-diameter antenna, final reflector adjustment, and the deployment sequence for large reflectors are also illustrated

Studies in upper and lower atmosphere coupling

The theoretical and data-analytic work on upper and lower atmosphere coupling performed under a NASA Headquarters contract during the period April 1978 to March 1979 are summarized. As such, this report is primarily devoted to an overview of various studies published and to be published under this contract. Individual study reports are collected as exhibits. Work performed under the subject contract are in the following four areas of upper-lower atmosphere coupling: (1) Magnetosphere-ionosphere electrodynamic coupling in the aurora; (2) Troposphere-thermosphere coupling; (3) Ionosphere-neutral-atmosphere coupling; and (4) Planetary wave dynamics in the middle atmosphere

Communications technology satellite output-tube design and development

The design and development of a 200-watt-output, traveling-wave tube (TWT) for the Communications Technology Satellite (CTS) is discussed, with emphasis on the design evolution during the manufacturing phase of the development program. Possible further improvements to the tube design are identified

On the theory of resonant scattering of gamma rays by nuclei bound in crystals

An attempt is made in the present paper to give a physical description of the process in which a gamma quantum is resonantly scattered or absorbed by nuclei bound in a crystal structure. The discussion includes a description of the time development of these processes as well as a critical study of the limits imposed upon such a description by the laws of quantum mechanics.(1

Risk factors for failure of outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) in infective endocarditis

Objectives: To identify risk factors for failure of outpatient antibiotic therapy (OPAT) in infective endocarditis (IE). Patients and methods: We identified IE cases managed at a single centre over 12 years from a prospectively maintained database. ‘OPAT failure’ was defined as unplanned readmission or antibiotic switch due to adverse drug reaction or antibiotic resistance. We analysed patient and disease-related risk factors for OPAT failure by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. We also retrospectively collected follow-up data on adverse disease outcome (defined as IE-related death or relapse) and performed Kaplan–Meier survival analysis up to 36 months following OPAT. Results: We identified 80 episodes of OPAT in IE. Failure occurred in 25/80 episodes (31.3%). On multivariate analysis, cardiac or renal failure [pooled OR 7.39 (95% CI 1.84–29.66), P = 0.005] and teicoplanin therapy [OR 8.69 (95% CI 2.01–37.47), P = 0.004] were independently associated with increased OPAT failure. OPAT failure with teicoplanin occurred despite therapeutic plasma levels. OPAT failure predicted adverse disease outcome up to 36 months (P = 0.016 log-rank test). Conclusions: These data caution against selecting patients with endocarditis for OPAT in the presence of cardiac or renal failure and suggest teicoplanin therapy may be associated with suboptimal OPAT outcomes. Alternative regimens to teicoplanin in the OPAT setting should be further investigated

A mechanical, thermal and electrical packaging design for a prototype power management and control system for the 30 cm mercury ion thruster

A prototype electric power management and thruster control system for a 30 cm ion thruster is described. The system meets all of the requirements necessary to operate a thruster in a fully automatic mode. Power input to the system can vary over a full two to one dynamic range (200 to 400 V) for the solar array or other power source. The power management and control system is designed to protect the thruster, the flight system and itself from arcs and is fully compatible with standard spacecraft electronics. The system is easily integrated into flight systems which can operate over a thermal environment ranging from 0.3 to 5 AU. The complete power management and control system measures 45.7 cm (18 in.) x 15.2 cm (6 in.) x 114.8 cm (45.2 in.) and weighs 36.2 kg (79.7 lb). At full power the overall efficiency of the system is estimated to be 87.4 percent. Three systems are currently being built and a full schedule of environmental and electrical testing is planned

Thermal relaxation of electron spin motion in a thermal equilibrium ensemble: Relation to paramagnetic nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation

The electron spin relaxation times measured in ESR spectroscopy are physically distinct from the electron spin relaxation times which appear in the theory of NMR Paramagnetic Relaxation Enhancement (NMR-PRE). ESR involves decay of a perturbed spin density matrix toward thermal equilibrium, while in NMR-PRE measurements, the electron spin density matrix remains at thermal equilibrium throughout the NMR experiment. The pertinent spin relaxation involves the thermal decay of the time correlation functions, Gr(τ) ≡ 〈Sr(0)⋅Sr(τ)〉 (r = x,y,z),Gr(τ)≡〈Sr(0)⋅Sr(τ)〉(r=x,y,z), of the spin components, quantities which describe the persistence in microscopic correlation of the spin motion in the thermal equilibrium sample. The decay of the Gr(τ)Gr(τ) is shown to be level-specific; i.e., Gr(τ)Gr(τ) is composed of a sum of contribution associated with individual eigenstates, each of which decays exponentially via a process that is uncoupled to the decay in other eigenstates. This behavior differs markedly from the decay of the nonequilibrium parts of a perturbed density matrix, which involves coupled degree of freedom of the electron spin system. An expression for the level-specific relaxation times has been derived in terms of Redfield matrix elements. This expression is valid for any S⩾1 when the static spin Hamiltonian consists of Zeeman and zfs contributions of arbitrary magnitude. Simple closed-form expressions are given for level-specific relaxation times in the cylindrical and orthorhombic zfs limits for S=1 and S=3/2. The theory is used to interpret electron and nuclear spin relaxation for S=3/2 with specific reference to high-spin Co(II), for which the zfs splittings are typically large. For this spin system, the presence of orthorhombic terms in the zfs tensor causes profound shortening of the electron spin relaxation times relative to the reference cylindrical zfs case and, in consequence, a comparably large rhombicity-induced depression of the NMR relaxation efficiency. © 2001 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70242/2/JCPSA6-115-11-5005-1.pd

Bearing Tests of Magnesium-alloy Sheet

Bearing tests of AM-3S, AM-52S, and AM-C57S magnesium-alloy sheet in various thicknesses and tempers were made. Bearing yield and ultimate strengths were determined and compared for various edge distances and for various ratios of loading-pin diameter to sheet thickness. Tensile strengths were determined and ratios of average bearing yield and ultimate strength to tensile strength are given. The results of the tests indicated that ultimate bearing strengths increased with edge distances up to 1.5 to 2 times the diameter of the loading pin; that ultimate bearing strengths are a function of the ratio of pin diameter to sheet thickness; and that these properties are effected only slightly by increases in edge distance greater than 1.5 diameters

The swept angle retarding mass spectrometer: Initial results from the Michigan auroral probe sounding rocket

Data from a sounding rocket flight of the swept angle retarding ion mass spectrometer (SARIMS) are presented to demonstrate the capability of the instrument to make measurements of thermal ions which are differential in angle, energy, and mass. The SARIMS was flown on the Michigan auroral probe over regions characterized first by discrete auroral arcs and later by diffuse precipitation. The instrument measured the temperature, densities, and flow velocities of the ions NO(+) and O(+). Measured NO(+) densities ranged from 10 to the 5th power up to 3 x 10 to the 5th power ions/cu cm, while the measured O(+) densities were a factor of 5-10 less. Ion temperatures ranged from 0.15 up to 0.33 eV. Eastward ion flows approximately 0.5 km/sec were measured near the arcs, and the observed flow magnitude decreased markedly inside the arcs