A study for active control research and validation using the Total In-Flight Simulator (TIFS) aircraft

The results of a feasibility study and preliminary design for active control research and validation using the Total In-Flight Simulator (TIFS) aircraft are documented. Active control functions which can be demonstrated on the TIFS aircraft and the cost of preparing, equipping, and operating the TIFS aircraft for active control technology development are determined. It is shown that the TIFS aircraft is as a suitable test bed for inflight research and validation of many ACT concepts

Dynamical Correlation Functions using the Density Matrix Renormalization Group

The density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) method allows for very precise calculations of ground state properties in low-dimensional strongly correlated systems. We investigate two methods to expand the DMRG to calculations of dynamical properties. In the Lanczos vector method the DMRG basis is optimized to represent Lanczos vectors, which are then used to calculate the spectra. This method is fast and relatively easy to implement, but the accuracy at higher frequencies is limited. Alternatively, one can optimize the basis to represent a correction vector for a particular frequency. The correction vectors can be used to calculate the dynamical correlation functions at these frequencies with high accuracy. By separately calculating correction vectors at different frequencies, the dynamical correlation functions can be interpolated and pieced together from these results. For systems with open boundaries we discuss how to construct operators for specific wavevectors using filter functions.Comment: minor revision, 10 pages, 15 figure

An investigation into the use of a movement assessment protocol for under 14 rugby league players in a talent development environment

This study investigated the use of a movement assessment protocol for under-14 rugby league players by evaluating the relationships between chronological age, maturation, and anthropometry, and fitness and qualitative movement assessments (QMA) of 84 rugby league players within a talent development environment. A one-way ANOVA showed Quartile 1 players were more mature, taller (173.0±7.4 vs 165.0±8.0 cm) and heavier (72.5 vs 58.7 kg) than Quartile 4 players, with no difference evident for fitness or QMA measures. Earlier maturing players had significantly greater upper body power (5.39±0.46 vs 4.42±0.68 m), 20m speed (3.48±0.14 vs 3.65±0.19s) and power pass QMA (13.88±2.18 vs 12.00±1.98) than later maturing players. Body mass was positively related to power pass fitness (r=0.50) and QMA (r=0.22) scores, with negative relationships found for vertical jump performance (r=-0.24), sprint QMA (r=-.29) and turn off either foot QMA (r=-0.26). There is a need to educate coaches about the use of both fitness testing and qualitative movement assessments to identify talented U14 rugby league players, which potentially reduces relative age and maturational biases

The Effect of Body Mass on the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test in Rugby Union Players.

To A) evaluate the difference in performance of the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test (30-15IFT) across four squads in a professional rugby union club in the United Kingdom (UK), and B) consider body mass in the interpretation of the end velocity of the 30-15IFT (VIFT).One hundred and fourteen rugby union players completed the 30-15IFT mid- season.VIFT demonstrated small and possibly lower (ES = -0.33; 4/29/67) values in the Under 16s compared to the Under 21s, with further comparisons unclear. With body mass included as a covariate all differences were moderate to large, and very likely to almost certainly lower in the squads with lower body mass, with the exception of comparisons between Senior and Under 21 squads.The data demonstrate that there appears to be a ceiling to the VIFT attained in rugby union players which does not increase from Under 16s to Senior level. However, the associated increases in body mass with increased playing level suggest that the ability to perform high intensity running is increased with age, although not translated into greater VIFT due to the detrimental effect of body mass on change of direction. . Practitioners should be aware that VIFT is unlikely to improve, however it needs to be monitored during periods where increases in body mass are evident

Rock glaciers of the Beartooth and northern Absaroka ranges, Montana, USA

Six hundred sixty‐one rock glaciers in the northern Absaroka and Beartooth Ranges of south‐central Montana were digitized and evaluated using geographic information systems technology and an array of topographic and environmental parameters. Beartooth rock glaciers are larger, occur at higher elevations, receive more precipitation, and are subject to lower temperatures than northern Absaroka rock glaciers. Elevation is strongly correlated with rock glacier activity. Comparative analysis of these adjacent mountain ranges indicates that Beartooth geomorphic landscapes are shifting from predominantly glacial to periglacial regimes, and that the northern Absarokas have largely completed this transition. Because glaciers are declining in response to climate warming, rock glaciers could soon become the most important source of ice in the region. View the dataset associated with this article. Read the thesis associated with this article

Amplification Free Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Using Multi-valent Binding

[Image: see text] We present the development of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)-based biosensors for sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA using multi-valent binding. By increasing the number of probe–target binding events per target molecule, multi-valent binding is a viable strategy for improving the biosensor performance. As EIS can provide sensitive and label-free measurements of nucleic acid targets during probe–target hybridization, we used multi-valent binding to build EIS biosensors for targeting SARS-CoV-2 RNA. For developing the biosensor, we explored two different approaches including probe combinations that individually bind in a single-valent fashion and the probes that bind in a multi-valent manner on their own. While we found excellent biosensor performance using probe combinations, we also discovered unexpected signal suppression. We explained the signal suppression theoretically using inter- and intra-probe hybridizations which confirmed our experimental findings. With our best probe combination, we achieved a LOD of 182 copies/μL (303 aM) of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and used these for successful evaluation of patient samples for COVID-19 diagnostics. We were also able to show the concept of multi-valent binding with shorter probes in the second approach. Here, a 13-nt-long probe has shown the best performance during SARS-CoV-2 RNA binding. Therefore, multi-valent binding approaches using EIS have high utility for direct detection of nucleic acid targets and for point-of-care diagnostics