An aerolance system

An aerolance system for an aerospace vehicle including a head for positioning adjacent a nose of the aerospace vehicle. The head includes a divergent section and a convergent section wherein a base of the convergent section is positioned adjacent a base of the divergent section, and wherein the head includes a cavity for ejecting fluid out of the head

The human G93A-SOD1 mutation in a pre-symptomatic rat model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis increases the vulnerability to a mild spinal cord compression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Traumatic injuries can undermine neurological functions and act as risk factors for the development of irreversible and fatal neurodegenerative disorders like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this study, we have investigated how a mutation of the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene, linked to the development of ALS, modifies the acute response to a gentle mechanical compression of the spinal cord. In a 7-day post-injury time period, we have performed a comparative ontological analysis of the gene expression profiles of injured spinal cords obtained from pre-symptomatic rats over-expressing the G93A-SOD1 gene mutation and from wild type (WT) littermates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The steady post-injury functional recovery observed in WT rats was accompanied by the early activation at the epicenter of injury of several growth-promoting signals and by the down-regulation of intermediate neurofilaments and of genes involved in the regulation of ion currents at the 7 day post-injury time point. The poor functional recovery observed in G93A-SOD1 transgenic animals was accompanied by the induction of fewer pro-survival signals, by an early activation of inflammatory markers, of several pro-apoptotic genes involved in cytochrome-C release and by the persistent up-regulation of the heavy neurofilament subunits and of genes involved in membrane excitability. These molecular changes occurred along with a pronounced atrophy of spinal cord motor neurones in the G93A-SOD1 rats compared to WT littermates after compression injury.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In an experimental paradigm of mild mechanical trauma which causes no major tissue damage, the G93A-SOD1 gene mutation alters the balance between pro-apoptotic and pro-survival molecular signals in the spinal cord tissue from the pre-symptomatic rat, leading to a premature activation of molecular pathways implicated in the natural development of ALS.</p

Super-orbital re-entry in Australia - laboratory measurement, simulation and flight observation

There are large uncertainties in the aerothermodynamic modelling of super-orbital re-entry which impact the design of spacecraft thermal protection systems (TPS). Aspects of the thermal environment of super-orbital re-entry flows can be simulated in the laboratory using arc- and plasma jet facilities and these devices are regularly used for TPS certification work [5]. Another laboratory device which is capable of simulating certain critical features of both the aero and thermal environment of super-orbital re-entry is the expansion tube, and three such facilities have been operating at the University of Queensland in recent years[10]. Despite some success, wind tunnel tests do not achieve full simulation, however, a virtually complete physical simulation of particular re-entry conditions can be obtained from dedicated flight testing, and the Apollo era FIRE II flight experiment [2] is the premier example which still forms an important benchmark for modern simulations. Dedicated super-orbital flight testing is generally considered too expensive today, and there is a reluctance to incorporate substantial instrumentation for aerothermal diagnostics into existing missions since it may compromise primary mission objectives. An alternative approach to on-board flight measurements, with demonstrated success particularly in the ‘Stardust’ sample return mission, is remote observation of spectral emissions from the capsule and shock layer [8]. JAXA’s ‘Hayabusa’ sample return capsule provides a recent super-orbital reentry example through which we illustrate contributions in three areas: (1) physical simulation of super-orbital re-entry conditions in the laboratory; (2) computational simulation of such flows; and (3) remote acquisition of optical emissions from a super-orbital re entry event

Pre-treatment and extraction techniques for recovery of added value compounds from wastes throughout the agri-food chain

The enormous quantity of food wastes discarded annually force to look for alternatives for this interesting feedstock. Thus, food bio-waste valorisation is one of the imperatives of the nowadays society. This review is the most comprehensive overview of currently existing technologies and processes in this field. It tackles classical and innovative physical, physico-chemical and chemical methods of food waste pre-treatment and extraction for recovery of added value compounds and detection by modern technologies and are an outcome of the COST Action EUBIS, TD1203 Food Waste Valorisation for Sustainable Chemicals, Materials and Fuels

Research and Design of a Routing Protocol in Large-Scale Wireless Sensor Networks

无线传感器网络，作为全球未来十大技术之一，集成了传感器技术、嵌入式计算技术、分布式信息处理和自组织网技术，可实时感知、采集、处理、传输网络分布区域内的各种信息数据，在军事国防、生物医疗、环境监测、抢险救灾、防恐反恐、危险区域远程控制等领域具有十分广阔的应用前景。 本文研究分析了无线传感器网络的已有路由协议，并针对大规模的无线传感器网络设计了一种树状路由协议，它根据节点地址信息来形成路由，从而简化了复杂繁冗的路由表查找和维护，节省了不必要的开销，提高了路由效率，实现了快速有效的数据传输。 为支持此路由协议本文提出了一种自适应动态地址分配算——ADAR（AdaptiveDynamicAddre...As one of the ten high technologies in the future, wireless sensor network, which is the integration of micro-sensors, embedded computing, modern network and Ad Hoc technologies, can apperceive, collect, process and transmit various information data within the region. It can be used in military defense, biomedical, environmental monitoring, disaster relief, counter-terrorism, remote control of haz...学位：工学硕士院系专业：信息科学与技术学院通信工程系_通信与信息系统学号：2332007115216

Design of tether sling for human transportation systems between Earth and Mars

Human transportation systems between Earth and Mars might benefit greatly from the construction of a tether sling facility on Phobos. A tether sling has the potential to launch vehicles from Phobos to Earth with little or no propellant expended because it is solar powered. For current trajectory designs and tether materials, we show that a tether sling facility is superior to chemical propulsion systems when multiple launches from Phobos are considered. A performance index of the ratio of tether mass to chemical-propellant mass is used to compare various mission scenarios. Ratios less than 10 are considered desirable. The most advantageous application of the tether sling occurs during a Hohmann transfer from Phobos to Earth where the mass ratio is 1.8. Next are semicyclers (ratios of 1.9 and 2.4) and a three-synodic-period cycler (8.7). Unfortunately, the Aldrin cycler does not benefit from the tether sling because the high hyperbolic velocity at Mars drives the mass ratio to infinity. For cases with desirable mass ratios, we also account for fluctuations in the cross section of the tether as a result of manufacturing uncertaintie

A new engineering management master to address the personal, professional and educational needs of engineering graduates to achieve EA chartered status

This paper provides a progress report on the development of a new engineering master program as one part of a 2010 Senior L&T fellowship. The development of the new program is inspired by other accredited professional programs from the accounting and law professions. The program has the dual aims of providing learning opportunities for aspiring engineering graduates in the form of personal, professional and educational development, and structured guidance and mentoring to pursue their Engineers Australia’s chartered status (Stage 2 Competencies) and potential Stage 3 status. A conceptual framework and a proposed learning journey have been developed and are described in the paper. The paper argues for a reformed curriculum, blended pedagogies, a change in academic staff profile, and provide recent developments in the engineering and management education sector in support. The engagement process and ongoing collaborative experience with Engineers Australia is also described

Which version art thou? Configuration management in engineering education

Configuration management is a set of principles and practices used in engineering to track the history of changes made to project artefacts and products. In this paper we outline our vision for incorporating the industry practices and principles of configuration management in the University engineering environment. We discuss how revision control software tools will mitigate the 'sorry, that was the wrong version' issues in undergraduate courses, support the management and quality assurance of postgraduate and staff research projects, and foster collaboration in University projects at all levels. We also see the software tools being used to help students and staff to identify the relative effort of team members in undergraduate projects for assessment purposes. An implementation program is proposed, which consists of a series of projects, leading to the establishment of a University-wide capability and beginning with a test and evaluation exercise. Our pilot project will test the open-source tools and our integration strategies via a second-year cohort consisting of on-campus and distance education students. We discuss the importance of the pilot project, our strategies for examining the expected improvement in student experiences, and the project time-frames. The implementation program will ultimately provide students with industry-relevant knowledge and skills, and staff with effective capabilities to support research projects and project-based courses

Guided weapon template generation: a probabilistic approach

In this paper, we outline an approach for the generation of guided weapon safety templates via probabilistic means. This approach involves the calculation of a ground impact distribution database for each weapon via Monte Carlo simulations performed on a 'farm' of computers. A safety template specific to a user-defined firing envelope is then generated. The template is a probability density function of the ground impacts for the specified firing parameters. We are currently building a two-part system to provide this capability to the Australian Department of Defence for weapon test and evaluation purposes. The first part is a data preparation process that weapon experts can use to produce the weapon-specific ground impact distribution databases. The second part of the system is a software tool intended for operational users and range managers. This tool references the weapon database to generate a safety template for a specific firing envelope. We intend that the system be accepted for general use by the Department of Defence; hence, we are building it in accordance with departmental quality assurance requirements for complex aerospace systems