4,243 research outputs found
Radiogenic power and geoneutrino luminosity of the Earth and other terrestrial bodies through time
We report the Earth's rate of radiogenic heat production and (anti)neutrino
luminosity from geologically relevant short-lived radionuclides (SLR) and
long-lived radionuclides (LLR) using decay constants from the geological
community, updated nuclear physics parameters, and calculations of the
spectra. We track the time evolution of the radiogenic power and luminosity of
the Earth over the last 4.57 billion years, assuming an absolute abundance for
the refractory elements in the silicate Earth and key volatile/refractory
element ratios (e.g., Fe/Al, K/U, and Rb/Sr) to set the abundance levels for
the moderately volatile elements. The relevant decays for the present-day heat
production in the Earth ( TW) are from K, Rb,
Sm, Th, U, and U. Given element concentrations
in kg-element/kg-rock and density in kg/m, a simplified equation to
calculate the present day heat production in a rock is: The
radiogenic heating rate of Earth-like material at Solar System formation was
some 10 to 10 times greater than present-day values, largely due to
decay of Al in the silicate fraction, which was the dominant radiogenic
heat source for the first Ma. Assuming instantaneous Earth formation,
the upper bound on radiogenic energy supplied by the most powerful short-lived
radionuclide Al ( = 0.7 Ma) is 5.510 J,
which is comparable (within a factor of a few) to the planet's gravitational
binding energy.Comment: 28 pages, 6 figures, 5 table
Virtual Reality Games for Motor Rehabilitation
This paper presents a fuzzy logic based method to track user satisfaction without the need for devices to monitor users physiological conditions. User satisfaction is the key to any productâs acceptance; computer applications and video games provide a unique opportunity to provide a tailored environment for each user to better suit their needs. We have implemented a non-adaptive fuzzy logic model of emotion, based on the emotional component of the Fuzzy Logic Adaptive Model of Emotion (FLAME) proposed by El-Nasr, to estimate player emotion in UnrealTournament 2004. In this paper we describe the implementation of this system and present the results of one of several play tests. Our research contradicts the current literature that suggests physiological measurements are needed. We show that it is possible to use a software only method to estimate user emotion
Recovering from mental illness and suicidal behaviour in a culturally diverse context: the use of digital storytelling in cross-cultural medical humanities and mental health
en people of immigrant and refugee background, with a lived experience of mental health or emotional issues, participated in a four-day digital storytelling workshop, to create a story that expressed something about their personal encounters with mental ill-health and recovery. As many other DST projects have done before, this project used the power of first-person narratives and provided an opportunity for âunheard voices to be heardâ.The storytellers were supported to create their own accounts, share their experiences (in mainstream media, in policy and service settings, and for practitioner education), grow in self-confidence, and develop other capabilities.This chapter describes the DST process and discusses its impact from the perspective of the two project coordinators in consultation with six participants, five as storytellers and one support person. It also provides the perspective of a Mandarin-speaking participant in depth. The digital stories can be
freely viewed at www.vtmh.org.au
People of immigrant and refugee background sharing experiences of mental health recovery: reflections and recommendations on using digital storytelling
Ten individuals of immigrant or refugee background, who had experi- enced mental health or emotional issues, participated in an immersive workshop to create digital stories as part of a national multicultural men- tal health initiative. Known collectively as âFinding our wayâ, the stories combine the power of first-person narrative with digital technologies. Three years on, six workshop participants and two coordinators reflect on the projectâs effects, and offer recommendations for conducting and evaluating similar projects in the future. Individuals experienced the proj- ect as personally empowering. The stories have been used to facilitate community and service-based conversations about diversity, mental health and recovery
America's Pivot to the Pacific: Selective Primacy, Operational Access, and China's A2/AD Challenge
This paper assesses America's recent "pivot" or "rebalance" to the Asia-Pacific. It shows that Obama's pivot represents the beginnings of a strategic choice on "selective primacy" a grand strategy rooted in Washington's worrisome economic and fiscal situation and designed to shape America's global engagement at a time of fiscal austerity, in which primacy in one theatre will be achieved through greater selectivity of commitments elsewhere. As a result, the US military will increasingly prioritize the air and naval services within its force structure, which provides the broader context for more operational joint concepts like Air-Sea Battle. Lastly, while triggered by economic and fiscal exigencies, I will show that such a strategic shift is primarily directed at China's rise as a regional military power, with particular emphasis on its growing anti-access and area-denial (A2/AD) capabilities. The paper concludes with some thoughts on the future direction of Sino-American strategic competition
Geo-neutrinos and Earth Models
We present the current status of geo-neutrino measurements and their
implications for radiogenic heating in the mantle. Earth models predict
different levels of radiogenic heating and, therefore, different geo-neutrino
fluxes from the mantle. Seismic tomography reveals features in the deep mantle
possibly correlated with radiogenic heating and causing spatial variations in
the mantle geo-neutrino flux at the Earth surface. An ocean-based observatory
offers the greatest sensitivity to the mantle flux and potential for resolving
Earth models and mantle features. Refinements to estimates of the geo-neutrino
flux from continental crust reduce uncertainty in measurements of the mantle
flux, especially measurements from land-based observatories. These refinements
enable the resolution of Earth models using the combined measurements from
multiple continental observatories.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures; Contributed paper TAUP 201
Sustainable product development strategies: Business planning and performance implications
Copyright © 2012 by Institution of Mechanical Engineers. This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below.Manufacturing firms are under many financial and competitive pressures which focus attention on the performance of their manufacturing processes. In this paper the opportunities for improving the environmental impact of products within the constraints of existing manufacturing infrastructure are examined. Approaches which support sustainability in two aspects are proposed, firstly, the provision of products to the users in ways which extend the product life and secondly, manufacturing approaches which reduce resource usage. This paper outlines three different sustainable development strategies for different product types and describes the cost implications for manufacturers across the life-cycle. The performance measures affected by these strategies are examined drawing on product development case studies from a number of high technology sectors to highlight the different approaches taken. The results are intended to aid manufacturers during the earliest stages of business planning to consider alternative product development approaches which are more sustainable
Lived experiences of mental health recovery in persons of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds within the Australian context
Lived experience research related to mental health recovery is advancing, but there remains a lack of narrative material from the perspectives of people from under-represented, non-dominant cultural backgrounds in this domain. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of mental health recovery in people of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in the Australian context. The current study involved a secondary analysis of audio and visual data collected during the digital storytelling project Finding our way in Melbourne, Australia. Thematic analysis was used to understand the lived experience narratives of nine participants in relation to mental health recovery. Five themes were identified through an iterative process of analysis, including Newfound opportunities and care, Family as key motivators and facilitators, Coping and generativity, Cultivating self-understanding and resilience, and Empowerment through social engagement. First person lived experience narratives offer deep insight into understanding the ways in which individuals of marginalised communities conceptualise and embody recovery. These findings further the literature and understanding on how to better serve the needs of people with mental health challenges from CALD communities through informed knowledge of what may be helpful to, and meaningful in, individualsâ recoveries
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