Advanced superalloy protection systems evaluation Final report

Metalliding parameters developed for sequential deposition of manganese, aluminum, and tantalum alloys as protective coatings for superalloy

A measurement of triple gauge boson couplings from e+e- collisions at 183-189 GeV

Measurements of the trilinear gauge boson vertex coupling parameters based on data collected in 1997 and 1998 by the OPAL detector at LEP are presented in this thesis. Integrated luminosities of 57fb-1 at √s = 183GeV and 183fb-1 at √s = 189GeV were collected in 1997 and 1998 respectively. The selected data samples comprise 247 events at √s = 183GeV and 747 at √s = 189GeV. The parameters were measured using a Near Neighbour Maximum Likelihood analysis; the Near Neighbour technique is a method by which a differential cross-section or probability density at a single position in phase- space may be obtained from a large reference sample of simulated events. The main parameters measured are the αw-αwΦ-αBΦ set (for the 1997 data) and λ-Δg1z-Δγ set (for the 1998 data); these two sets of parameters were chosen as they may have anomalous values without violating the SU(2)Lx U(l) Y symmetry of the Electroweak Lagrangian. The measured parameter values are [equation] from the 1998 data. The first quoted error is statistical and the second is the systematic uncertainty. All of these values are consistent with zero, which is the value for each of the parameters predicted by the Standard Model

Analytical sun synchronous low-thrust manoeuvres

Article describes analytical sun synchronous low-thrust manoeuvres

Examining the roles young people fulfil in five types of cyber bullying

The roles that young people fulfil in face-to-face bullying have been well documented and there is some evidence that young people take on similar roles in cyber bullying. A person centred analytical approach was adopted to identify the roles that young people fulfil across five different types of cyber bullying assessed for up to nine media. Four hundred and forty (281 female and 154 male) 16- to 19-year-olds completed measures to assess their involvement in various types of cyber bullying and across the various media. Cluster analysis identified four distinct groups: "not involved", "rarely victim and bully", "typically victim", and "retaliator". Two thirds of the sample reported some involvement in cyber bullying. Distinct patterns emerged for each group according to the type of cyber bullying. The lack of a clear bully group and the presence of the retaliator group strengthens the growing evidence base that young people may cyber bully others as a mechanism of retaliation when they are the victim of cyber bullying

Examining adults' participant roles in cyberbullying

Adults’ participant roles in cyberbullying remain unclear. Two hundred and sixty-four (163 female and 87 male) 18- to 74-year-olds from 31 countries completed measures to assess their experiences of, and engagement in, 5 cyberbullying types for up to 9 media. Cluster analysis identified two distinct groups: rarely victim and bully (85%) and frequently victim and occasional bully. Sex and age predicted group membership: Females and older participants were more likely to belong to the rarely victim and bully group, whereas males and younger participants were more likely to belong to the frequently victim and occasional bully group. The findings have implications for anti-cyberbullying interventions and how behaviors are interpreted online

Optimal control technique for Many Body Quantum Systems dynamics

We present an efficient strategy for controlling a vast range of non-integrable quantum many body one-dimensional systems that can be merged with state-of-the-art tensor network simulation methods like the density Matrix Renormalization Group. To demonstrate its potential, we employ it to solve a major issue in current optical-lattice physics with ultra-cold atoms: we show how to reduce by about two orders of magnitudes the time needed to bring a superfluid gas into a Mott insulator state, while suppressing defects by more than one order of magnitude as compared to current experiments [1]. Finally, we show that the optimal pulse is robust against atom number fluctuations.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, published versio

Lattice Kinetics of Diffusion-Limited Coalescence and Annihilation with Sources

We study the 1D kinetics of diffusion-limited coalescence and annihilation with back reactions and different kinds of particle input. By considering the changes in occupation and parity of a given interval, we derive sets of hierarchical equations from which exact expressions for the lattice coverage and the particle concentration can be obtained. We compare the mean-field approximation and the continuum approximation to the exact solutions and we discuss their regime of validity.Comment: 24 pages and 3 eps figures, Revtex, accepted for publication in J. Phys.

Trajectory generation for road vehicle obstacle avoidance using convex optimization

This paper presents a method for trajectory generation using convex optimization to find a feasible, obstacle-free path for a road vehicle. Consideration of vehicle rotation is shown to be necessary if the trajectory is to avoid obstacles specified in a fixed Earth axis system. The paper establishes that, despite the presence of significant non-linearities, it is possible to articulate the obstacle avoidance problem in a tractable convex form using multiple optimization passes. Finally, it is shown by simulation that an optimal trajectory that accounts for the vehicle’s changing velocity throughout the manoeuvre is superior to a previous analytical method that assumes constant speed

Transitioning Experienced General Care Float Pool Nurses to a Critical Care Float Pool

Background: A nationwide nursing shortage has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of qualified nurse applicants for critical care positions. Additional recruitment solutions for critical care staffing needed to be explored. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of an orientation program designed to transition experienced general care trained float pool nurses to a critical care float pool. Methods: This descriptive study measured participants’ pre and post critical care orientation knowledge, and completion of core computerized competencies. Critical thinking questions, unit-based competencies, and measurement of participants’ individual perception of competence were also completed. Pre and post intervention data and computerized competencies were entered into SPSS and descriptive statistics were generated to compare pre and post percentages, frequencies and means. Results: Participants’ ability to function independently as a critical care nurse was demonstrated by an 18% increase in critical care knowledge, passing scores of each ECCO module of 80% or greater and completion of unit-based competencies, classroom, computer based, direct hands-on patient care training, and participant perception of competence. A paired samples t-test showed participants’ pre and post orientation critical care knowledge scores as measured by the BKAT9r were significantly different with the mean post BKAT-9r scores (M=90.5, SD= 0.58) significantly higher than the mean pre-orientation critical care knowledge scores (M=74, SD=0.00), (t(1)=11.0, p=0.05). Conclusions: Findings demonstrate the orientation program was effective to prepare an experienced general care float pool nurse to function independently in a critical care float pool

Current jets, disorder, and linear magnetoresistance in the silver chalcogenides

The inhomogeneous distribution of excess or deficient silver atoms lies behind the large and linear transverse magnetoresistance displayed by Ag_(2±δ)Se and Ag_(2±δ)Te, introducing spatial conductivity fluctuations with length scales independent of the cyclotron radius. We report a negative, nonsaturating longitudinal magnetoresistance up to at least 60 T, which becomes most negative where the bands cross and the effect of conductivity fluctuations is most acute. Thinning samples down to 10   μm suppresses the negative response, revealing the essential length scale in the problem and paving the way for designer magnetoresistive devices