Human operator response to error-likely situations in complex engineering systems

The causes of human error in complex systems are examined. First, a conceptual framework is provided in which two broad categories of error are discussed: errors of action, or slips, and errors of intention, or mistakes. Conditions in which slips and mistakes might be expected to occur are identified, based on existing theories of human error. Regarding the role of workload, it is hypothesized that workload may act as a catalyst for error. Two experiments are presented in which humans' response to error-likely situations were examined. Subjects controlled PLANT under a variety of conditions and periodically provided subjective ratings of mental effort. A complex pattern of results was obtained, which was not consistent with predictions. Generally, the results of this research indicate that: (1) humans respond to conditions in which errors might be expected by attempting to reduce the possibility of error, and (2) adaptation to conditions is a potent influence on human behavior in discretionary situations. Subjects' explanations for changes in effort ratings are also explored

Carbon and Energy Life-Cycle Assessment for Five Agricultural Anaerobic Digesters in Massachusetts on Small Dairy Farms

anaerobic digestion, co-digestion, dairy operations, food processing, greenhouse gas emissions, net energy gain, Farm Management, Livestock Production/Industries,

Implementing a real time reasoning system for robust diagnosis

The objective of the Thermal Control System Automation Project (TCSAP) is to develop an advanced fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) capability for use on the Space Station Freedom (SSF) External Active Thermal Control System (EATCS). Real-time monitoring, control, and diagnosis of the EATCS will be performed with a knowledge based system (KBS). Implementation issues for the current version of the KBS are discussed

The Feasibility of Magnetic Reconnection Powered Blazar Flares from Synchrotron Self-Compton Emission

Order of magnitude variability has been observed in the blazar sub-class of Active Galactic Nuclei on minute timescales. These high-energy flares are often difficult to explain with shock acceleration models due to the small size of the inferred emitting region, with recent particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations showing that magnetic reconnection is a promising alternative mechanism. Here, we present a macroscopic emission model physically motivated by PIC simulations, where the energy for particle acceleration originates from the reconnecting magnetic field. We track the radial growth and relative velocity of a reconnecting plasmoid, modelling particle acceleration and radiative losses from synchrotron and synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) emission. To test the viability of magnetic reconnection as the mechanism behind rapid blazar flares we simultaneously fit our model to the observed light-curve and SED from the 2016 TeV flare of BL Lacertae. We find generally that, without considering external photons, reconnecting plasmoids are unable to produce Compton-dominant TeV flares and so cannot reproduce the observations due to overproduction of synchrotron emission. Additionally, problematically large plasmoids, comparable in size to the entire jet radius, are required to emit sufficient SSC gamma-rays to be observable. However, our plasmoid model can reproduce the rapid TeV lightcurve of the flare, demonstrating that reconnection is able to produce rapid, powerful TeV flares on observed timescales. We conclude that while reconnection can produce SSC flares on the correct timescales, the primary source of TeV emission cannot be SSC and the size of plasmoids required may be implausibly large.Comment: Replaced with accepted version. Contains additional figures and considers the effect of a magnetic guide fiel

Longitudinal investigation of medical student perceptions of a video-based guided study resource used to facilitate an eight week module in medicine

We use an action research approach to evaluate three successive cohorts of medical student perceptions of using a multi-faceted video-based guided study resource which provides academic (skills-based), social (motivation-based) and professional (clinical-based) interventions aimed at facilitating and enriching learning across an eight week module in the second year of the MBChB medical degree. Our findings show that whilst students value these video resources both as a revision tool and an aid to learning during the semester, they have specific critiques about several areas which would improve the project. We interpret our data to evidence a tangible beneficial argument for the use video-based learning objects to support student learning that is reliably reaffirmed by our longitudinal data

The Mid-Infrared Spectrum of the Zodiacal and Exozodiacal Light

The zodiacal light is the dominant source of the mid-infrared sky brightness seen from Earth, and exozodiacal light is the dominant emission from planetary and debris systems around other stars. We observed the zodiacal light spectrum with ISOCAM over 5-16 over a wide range of orientations relative to the Sun and the ecliptic. We present theoretical models for a wide range of particle size distributions and compositions. The observed temperature is as expected for large (>10 um radius), low-albedo (< 0.08), rapidly-rotating, grey particles 1 AU from the Sun. In addition to the continuum, we detect a weak excess in the 9-11 um range, with an amplitude of 6% of the continuum. The shape of the feature can be matched by a mixture of silicates: amorphous forsterite/olivine, dirty crystalline olivine, and a hydrous silicate (montmorillonite). The presence of hydrous silicate suggests the parent bodies of those particles were formed in the inner solar nebula. Large particles dominate the size distribution, but at least some small particles (radii ~1 um) are required to produce the silicate emission feature. To compare the properties of zodiacal dust to dust around other main sequence stars, we reanalyzed the exozodiacal light spectrum for Beta Pic. The exozodiacal spectra are dominated by cold dust, with emission peaking in the far-infrared, while the zodiacal spectrum peaks around 20 um. The shape of the silicate feature from Beta Pic is nearly identical to that derived from the ISO spectrum of 51 Oph; both exozodiacal features are very different from that of the zodiacal light. The exozodiacal features are roughly triangular, peaking at 10.3 um while the zodiacal feature is more boxy.Comment: accepted to Icaru

(The) American-Puritan attitude toward the novel ..

Typewritten sheets in cover. Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University This item was digitized by the Internet Archive. Bibliography: p. 60-63

The challenges and opportunities of supersonic transport propulsion technology

The major challenges confronting the propulsion community for civil supersonic transport applications are identified: high propulsion system efficiency at both supersonic and subsonic cruise conditions, low-cost fuel with adequate thermal stability at high temperatures, low noise cycles and exhaust systems, low emission combustion systems, and low drag installations. Both past progress and future opportunities are discussed in relation to perceived technology shortfalls for an economically successful airplane that satisfies environmental constraints

Dying Well: A Christian Perspective

This project assists pastors in preparing parishioners to confront the realities of suffering and dying with a God-given identity in a world that seeks to cure pain and suffering by killing. A survey of the pastors and laity of the Michigan District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod was conducted to identify their understanding of dying well and to ascertain whether or not they have been influenced by our postmodern society. On a whole the pastors and laity viewed dying in Christ as dying well. A Bible study was developed to assist pastors in preparing parishioners to die well