Conceptual design optimization study

The feasibility of applying multilevel functional decomposition and optimization techniques to conceptual design of advanced fighter aircraft was investigated. Applying the functional decomposition techniques to the conceptual design phase appears to be feasible. The initial implementation of the modified design process will optimize wing design variables. A hybrid approach, combining functional decomposition techniques for generation of aerodynamic and mass properties linear sensitivity derivatives with existing techniques for sizing mission performance and optimization, is proposed

Stressed detector arrays for airborne astronomy

The development of stressed Ge:Ga detector arrays for far-infrared astronomy from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) is discussed. Researchers successfully constructed and used a three channel detector array on five flights from the KAO, and have conducted laboratory tests of a two-dimensional, 25 elements (5x5) detector array. Each element of the three element array performs as well as the researchers' best single channel detector, as do the tested elements of the 25 channel system. Some of the exciting new science possible with far-infrared detector arrays is also discussed

Cryogenic light detectors with enhanced performance for rare events physics

We have developed and tested a new way of coupling bolometric light detectors to scintillating crystal bolometers based upon simply resting the light detector on the crystal surface, held in position only by gravity. This straightforward mounting results in three important improvements: (1) it decreases the amount of non-active materials needed to assemble the detector, (2) it substantially increases the light collection efficiency by minimizing the light losses induced by the mounting structure, and (3) it enhances the thermal signal induced in the light detector thanks to the extremely weak thermal link to the thermal bath. We tested this new technique with a 16 cm$^2$ Ge light detector with thermistor readout sitting on the surface of a large TeO$_2$ bolometer. The light collection efficiency was increased by greater than 50\% compared to previously tested alternative mountings. We obtained a baseline energy resolution on the light detector of 20~eV RMS that, together with increased light collection, enabled us to obtain the best $\alpha$ vs $\beta/\gamma$ discrimination ever obtained with massive TeO$_2$ crystals. At the same time we achieved rise and decay times of 0.8 and 1.6 ms, respectively. This superb performance meets all of the requirements for the CUPID (CUORE Upgrade with Particle IDentification) experiment, which is a 1-ton scintillating bolometer follow up to CUORE.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Formation of diluted III–V nitride thin films by N ion implantation

iluted III–Nₓ–V₁ˍₓ alloys were successfully synthesized by nitrogen implantation into GaAs,InP, and AlyGa1−yAs. In all three cases the fundamental band-gap energy for the ion beam synthesized III–Nₓ–V₁ˍₓ alloys was found to decrease with increasing N implantation dose in a manner similar to that observed in epitaxially grownGaNₓAs1−x and InNₓP₁ˍₓalloys. In GaNₓAs₁ˍₓ the highest value of x (fraction of “active” substitutional N on As sublattice) achieved was 0.006. It was observed that NAs is thermally unstable at temperatures higher than 850 °C. The highest value of x achieved in InNₓP₁ˍₓ was higher, 0.012, and the NP was found to be stable to at least 850 °C. In addition, the N activation efficiency in implantedInNₓP₁ˍₓ was at least a factor of 2 higher than that in GaNₓAs₁ˍₓ under similar processing conditions. AlyGa1−yNₓAs₁ˍₓ had not been made previously by epitaxial techniques. N implantation was successful in producing AlyGa1−yNₓAs₁ˍₓalloys. Notably, the band gap of these alloys remains direct, even above the value of y (y>0.44) where the band gap of the host material is indirect.This work was supported by the ‘‘Photovoltaic Materials Focus Area’’ in the DOE Center of Excellence for the Synthesis and Processing of Advanced Materials, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Sciences under U.S. Department of Energy Contract No. DE-ACO3-76SF00098. The work at UCSD was partially supported by Midwest Research Institute under subcontractor No. AAD-9-18668-7 from NREL

Facilitating Effective Communication Between First Responders and Older Adults During Fall Incidents: An Educational Intervention

PURPOSE. The purpose of this project was to provide first responders with communication strategies for older adults that may help when responding to fall- related calls. General information was also provided to First Responders on working with older adults with a focus on the aging process, fall risk factors, and communications strategies. METHODS. A series of educational sessions to first responders at a local fire district were developed and presented by occupational therapy students. Materials were developed by presenters from evidence-based resources and tailored to the target population. Each presentation focused on statistics about older adults, the aging process, fall risk factors, and effective communication strategies for older adults. Each two hour presentation consisted of a lecture, role play, and a discussion period. RESULTS. Evaluations were completed by participants upon the conclusion of each educational presentation. Evaluations included rating the quality and information provided, and whether participants recommend this training to other first responders. The average rating was 92-98% which indicated participants strongly agree and the training was useful and would recommend it to other first responders. CONCLUSION. As the older adult population increases, more individuals wish to “age in place”, leading to an increased number of falls among older adults, and requiring emergency care from first responders. Information and communication strategies provided through educational presentations to first responders may help facilitate effective communication during an emergency call with an older adult and also prevent future falls. Collaboration with first responders can help occupational therapists develop new role regarding fall prevention and communication with older adults

Facilitating Effective Communication Between First Responders and Older Adults During Fall Incidents

PURPOSE. The purpose of this project was to provide first responders with communication strategies for older adults that may help when responding to fall- related calls. General information was also provided to First Responders on working with older adults with a focus on the aging process, fall risk factors, and communications strategies. METHODS. A series of educational sessions to first responders at a local fire district were developed and presented by occupational therapy students. Materials were developed by presenters from evidence-based resources and tailored to the target population. Each presentation focused on statistics about older adults, the aging process, fall risk factors, and effective communication strategies for older adults. Each two hour presentation consisted of a lecture, role play, and a discussion period. RESULTS. Evaluations were completed by participants upon the conclusion of each educational presentation. Evaluations included rating the quality and information provided, and whether participants recommend this training to other first responders. The average rating was 92-98% which indicated participants strongly agree and the training was useful and would recommend it to other first responders. CONCLUSION. As the older adult population increases, more individuals wish to “age in place”, leading to an increased number of falls among older adults, and requiring emergency care from first responders. Information and communication strategies provided through educational presentations to first responders may help facilitate effective communication during an emergency call with an older adult and also prevent future falls. Collaboration with first responders can help occupational therapists develop new role regarding fall prevention and communication with older adults.https://scholar.dominican.edu/ug-student-posters/1019/thumbnail.jp

Optimized Verlet-like algorithms for molecular dynamics simulations

New explicit velocity- and position-Verlet-like algorithms of the second order are proposed to integrate the equations of motion in many-body systems. The algorithms are derived on the basis of an extended decomposition scheme at the presence of a free parameter. The nonzero value for this parameter is obtained by reducing the influence of truncated terms to a minimum. As a result, the new algorithms appear to be more efficient than the original Verlet versions which correspond to a particular case when the introduced parameter is equal to zero. Like the original versions, the proposed counterparts are symplectic and time reversible, but lead to an improved accuracy in the generated solutions at the same overall computational costs. The advantages of the new algorithms are demonstrated in molecular dynamics simulations of a Lennard-Jones fluid.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures; submitted to Phys. Rev.

Slippery sliding on icy Iapetus

Enigmatically, some landslides flow farther than normal frictional resistance allows. Cassini images of Saturn’s icy moon Iapetus reveal a multitude of long-runout landslides that may have been enabled by flash heating along the sliding surface