Working around the crisis in Libya

This is the first in a series of chair’s notes in Libyan Studies. We hope that future notes will address easier topics and more straightforward success, but for now we think it is important to communicate what we are doing given the difficult circumstances of Libya today. We trust that this report is useful, and we welcome any feedback

Does Quantum Electrodynamics Have an Arrow of Time?

Quantum electrodynamics is a time-symmetric theory that is part of the electroweak interaction, which is invariant under a generalized form of this symmetry, the PCT transformation. The thesis is defended that the arrow of time in electrodynamics is a consequence of the assumption of an initial state of high order, together with the quantum version of the equiprobability postulate

Knowledge-based diagnosis for aerospace systems

The need for automated diagnosis in aerospace systems and the approach of using knowledge-based systems are examined. Research issues in knowledge-based diagnosis which are important for aerospace applications are treated along with a review of recent relevant research developments in Artificial Intelligence. The design and operation of some existing knowledge-based diagnosis systems are described. The systems described and compared include the LES expert system for liquid oxygen loading at NASA Kennedy Space Center, the FAITH diagnosis system developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the PES procedural expert system developed at SRI International, the CSRL approach developed at Ohio State University, the StarPlan system developed by Ford Aerospace, the IDM integrated diagnostic model, and the DRAPhys diagnostic system developed at NASA Langley Research Center

Stabilization of DAPI in Base-Catalyzed Sol-Gels Using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Sol-gels can be used as substrates for sensory materials in solutions. A fluorescent dye that binds to DNA, 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), could be used as a biosensor for a solution. Adsorption of DAPI onto silver nanoparticles causes rapid precipitation and loss of DAPI in solution. UV-vis and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) were performed to observe a solution of silver nanoparticles and DAPI. Over time, spectra of the solution greatly diminished and could no longer be accurately observed. To facilitate the stabilization of DAPI in the solution, sol-gels were synthesized via base-catalyzed hydrolysis of tetramethyl orthosilicate while in the DAPI-silver solution. Sol-gels were successfully synthesized and DAPI precipitation was prevented as suggested by UV-vis and SERS