Design of an Apparatus for Experimental Validation of the Plasma Kinetic Model for Electrostatic Discharge

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) events are a serious safety concern when handling nuclear weapons. Current safety analysis operates under the assumption that sparks produced during threshold ESD events are overdriven and deliver all stored energy to a victim load. This assumption may result in safety procedures that are overly conservative unless a more accurate characterization can be made. Colorado School of Mines (CSM), in partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), has developed a plasma kinetic model for electrostatic discharge in COMSOL to model threshold ESD events from dielectric surfaces. The first experiment in a two experiment series aiming to validate this model involves quantifying the proportion of energy a target surface receives from a charged surface during a threshold ESD event. Experimental results will be compared to simulations run by CSM. This thesis covers the design of an experimental apparatus to be used in this first series of experiments.Mechanical Engineerin

Evaluating the New Automatic Method for the Analysis of Absorption Spectra Using Synthetic Spectra

We recently presented a new "artificial intelligence" method for the analysis of high-resolution absorption spectra (Bainbridge and Webb, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 2017, 468,1639-1670). This new method unifies three established numerical methods: a genetic algorithm (GVPFIT); non-linear least-squares optimisation with parameter constraints (VPFIT); and Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA). In this work, we investigate the performance of GVPFIT and BMA over a broad range of velocity structures using synthetic spectra. We found that this new method recovers the velocity structures of the absorption systems and accurately estimates variation in the fine structure constant. Studies such as this one are required to evaluate this new method before it can be applied to the analysis of large sets of absorption spectra. This is the first time that a sample of synthetic spectra has been utilised to investigate the analysis of absorption spectra. Probing the variation of nature's fundamental constants (such as the fine structure constant), through the analysis of absorption spectra, is one of the most direct ways of testing the universality of physical laws. This "artificial intelligence" method provides a way to avoid the main limiting factor, i.e., human interaction, in the analysis of absorption spectra.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, published on 5 April 2017 in Univers

A Common Market Problem Becomes More Common: the Trans-Tasman Proceedings Act 2010

As part of a wider process of economic integration and the move towards a single integrated economic market, Australia and New Zealand entered into bi-lateral treaty in 2008 in order to resolve existing issues with the reciprocal enforcement of civil judgment which had arisen between the two countries. Labelled the “Christchurch Agreement” this treaty was incorporated by both countries into their domestic law in 2010 and now governs the allocation of disputes between Australia and New Zealand, where the parties are located within the common market of Australia and New Zealand and inter-state enforcement of civil judgments more generally. The Trans-Tasman Proceedings Act 2010 (Cth) and (NZ) (“TTPA”), will arguably provide significant benefits by reducing barriers to trade and improving the economic prosperity of both countries. However it is argued that, similar to other common market reciprocal enforcement schemes (such as the Brussels Model in the European Union), Australia and New Zealand failed to consider the impact of the outer world problem. The outer world problem is a recurring theme in common market arrangements, and results from a failure to provide generic proportionate jurisdictional test for cases involving foreign defendants sued in a common market state. The result is excessive jurisdictional rules within a particular state can potentially result in proceedings being retained where there is a strong argument the dispute is more closely connected with another forum. The resulting judgment (should judgment in the plaintiff’s favour be granted), can then be quickly enforced throughout the common market (specifically New Zealand) to the disadvantage of the defendant. The outer world problem is clearly present under the TTPA scheme, beginning in Australia and cumulating in enforcement of the judgment in New Zealand. It remains present even in the case of international commercial contract disputes. This is unfair and discriminatory towards foreign defendants, and arguably justifies reform, or at least discussion and justification of this approach

Takamore v Clarke: Tikanga and Merits-Based Resolution of Burial Disputes, a Just Outcome?

Burial disputes are something of a novelty in New Zealand. Most are resolved amicably by those with ties to the deceased. The exception to has been the long-running case of Takamore v Clarke, the matter finally being resolved by the Supreme Court this year. Burial disputes raise fundamental issues of religious and cultural identity (including tikanga Māori), personhood, and the meaning of family. Despite their rarity in New Zealand, the response of the law in resolving such disputes should “fit the fuss”, having regard to the context in which they arise. This essay begins by discussing the form of resolution advocated for by the majority and minority in Takamore. Their respective approaches are essentially the same, especially with regards to tikanga Māori. This is one of Court intervention coupled with a merits-based assessment of the dispute. However the Court failed to apprehend there was no pressing need for burial, prior to creating a solution of general application. The experience of comparable jurisdictions, where speedy resolution has been necessary (such as Australia) demonstrates that the role of the Court applying such a test in burial disputes is misconceived. Rather than providing “justice” for the parties concerned, merits-based resolution produces unfair and unconvincing outcomes. The more just response is to ensure the parties never get to Court, via mediation. Insofar as agreement is not possible, the role of the Court should be supervisory in the application of a prescriptive test emphasising expediency and ensuring the dispute is resolved out of Court

Insulin Dependence Heralds Adverse Events After Hip And Knee Arthroplasty

ABSTRACT Background – Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most frequently performed orthopaedic procedures. As the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) continues to increase the burden of its sequelae and associated surgical complications have also increased. For these reasons, it is important to understand the associations between DM and the rates of perioperative adverse events in patients with DM who will undergo THA. Methods – The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database records perioperative adverse events as well as patient factors including demographics and comorbidities. Patients who underwent THA between 2005 and 2014 were identified and characterized as having insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), or neither. Multivariate Poisson regression was used to assess the relative risk of multiple adverse events in the initial 30 postoperative days while controlling for demographic and comorbid factors. Results – A total of 71,733 patients who underwent THA were identified (1,920 IDDM, 6,305 NIDDM, and 63,508 without DM). Relative to patients without diabetes, patients with NIDDM were at an increased relative risk for 3 of 17 adverse events studied. These were sepsis or septic shock, readmission to hospital within 30 days, and extended postoperative length of stay (LOS) (greater than 5 days). Patients with IDDM were at an increased relative risk for 11 of 17 adverse events studied. These included death, sepsis or septic shock, myocardial infarction, wound-related infection, unplanned intubation, renal insufficiency, return to the operating room, readmission, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and extended LOS. Patients with IDDM and NIDDM were both at greater risk for sepsis or septic shock, readmission, and extended LOS. Patients with IDDM were at greater risk for all of these adverse events (sepsis or septic shock: relative risk [RR] = 3.53 versus 1.90, for IDDM and NIDDM respectively, readmission: RR = 2.11 vs. 1.28, and extended LOS: RR = 2.26 vs. 1.35). Conclusions – Compared to patients with NIDDM, patients with IDDM are at greater risk for many more perioperative adverse events relative to patients without diabetes. These findings have important implications for patient selection, preoperative risk stratification, and postoperative expectations

Postal survey of contacts between cattle farms on the Isle of Lewis

The British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) database contains an unprecedented quantity of data on the movement of cattle within the UK. These data may be used to construct models of the contact structure of the UK cattle herd, for epidemiological purposes. There are two significant potential sources of inaccuracy within such models: movements that are not reported or are reported inaccurately to the BCMS, and contacts between farms that might transmit infection, but are not animal movements. This field study addressed these issues. Cattle farmers on the Isle of Lewis were recruited with the assistance of the local veterinary surgeon, and asked to record a range of potential risk behaviours for a one-month period. They were also asked questions about husbandry practices on their farm. Comparison of the BCMS contact data with that reported by Lewis' farmers highlighted use of common grazing land as a significant source of contact, and potential disease transmission, between cattle that currently goes unreported; around half of responding holdings on Lewis use common grazing land at some point during the year, and these movements are not reported to the BCMS

Is There a Liberal Right to Secede from a Liberal State?

This paper explores the question of whether there can be a right to secede from a liberal state by examining the concept of a liberal state and the different forms of liberalism that may be appealed to in order to justify secession. It argues that where the foundations of the state’s legitimacy are conceived in terms of a non-derivative right to self-determination, then secession from a liberal state may be a justified form of action for different types of groups including ‘illiberal’ ones. If, however, a broader definition of political legitimacy is adopted – one that is predicated upon the liberal notions of individual moral autonomy and equality – then the right to independent statehood will generally not include a right to secede from a state that already upholds these principles. Consequently, liberal theorists of secession are forced to choose between particularizing a right of independent statehood to groups trapped in illiberal states, or acknowledging that the right to secede includes a right to establish an ‘illiberal’ state that bestows upon its citizens unequal rights and entitlements other than a right of exit