Application of an AIS to the problem of through life health management of remotely piloted aircraft

The operation of RPAS includes a cognitive problem for the operators(Pilots, maintainers, ,managers, and the wider organization) to effectively maintain their situational awareness of the aircraft and predict its health state. This has a large impact on their ability to successfully identify faults and manage systems during operations. To overcome these system deficiencies an asset health management system that integrates more cognitive abilities to aid situational awareness could prove beneficial. This paper outlines an artificial immune system (AIS) approach that could meet these challenges and an experimental method within which to evaluate it

Comparative performance analysis of Vacuum Insulation Panels in thermal window shutters

Windows are a major area of heat loss in buildings and can lose up to 10 times more energy than other building elements. In a typical house, around 10% of heat is lost through the windows. Thermal shutters could considerably reduce heat losses through windows and improve the energy performance of buildings. Insulation plays a major role in overall performance of thermal shutters. Advance insulation material such as Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP) can help in improving the performance of thermal window shutters. VIP with a thermal conductivity of 0.005-0.008 W/mK is a high thermal resistance and energy efficient alternative to conventional thermal insulation materials. In this paper, effect of VIP and conventional insulation has been investigated and compared for enhancing the thermal performance of window shutters using computer simulations. Results indicate significant reduction in heat loss through windows when VIP insulation was employed in internal thermal window shutters. Thermal bridging was found to be the significant factor that deteriorated the performance of the shutter. Reducing heat loss through the frame and surrounding walls could improve the VIP insulated shutter thermal performance by approximately nine times

A General Design Rule for Bearing Failure of Bolted Connections Between Cold-formed Steel Strips

This paper presents the results of a finite element investigation on the structural performance of cold-formed steel bolted connections. A parametric study on various connection configurations was performed to relate the bearing resistances of cold-formed steel bolted connections with steel strengths and thicknesses, and bolt diameters. A semi-empirical design rule for bearing resistances of bolted connections based on finite element results is proposed in which the bearing resistances are directly related with the design yield strength, and the design tensile strength of steel strips, steel thickness, and also with bolt diameters. Design expressions for resistance contributions due to both bearing and friction actions are given after calibration against finite element results

Bone regeneration with resorbable polylactide membrane and sponge in an unstable fracture model in rabbit radius

Open Access journalConference Theme: Bone Tissue EngineeringBACKGROUND: Healing of segmental diaphyseal bone defects in animals can be enhanced by covering the defects with resorbable polylactide membranes. Based on the results of bone healing in defects 10 mm long in the rabbit radii, it was suggested that the membranes prevents muscle and soft tissue from invading the defect and maintains osteogenic cells and osteogenic substances within the space covered with membrane, thus promoting new bone formation. OBJECTIVES: 1. To investigate and …published_or_final_versionpublished_or_final_versio

Action Learning with Second Life - A Pilot Study

Virtual worlds, computer-based simulated environments in which users interact via avatars, provide an opportunity for the highly realistic enactment of real life activities online. Unlike computer games, which have a pre-defined purpose, pay-off structure, and action patterns, virtual worlds can leave many of these elements for users to determine. One such world, Second Life (SL), is frequently used as platform for revenue generation, information and knowledge sharing, and learning. As a learning environment, Second Life appears to be particularly amenable to action learning, where learners are not simply observers, but plan, implement, observe, and draw conclusions from their actions. We tested the usefulness of SL as an action learning environment in a senior course for management information systems students. The findings demonstrate learning in the SL environment contributes to the students’ perceived value of learning through the Action Learning steps

A Redevelopment Plan for Santa Rosa Plaza

The purpose of this document is to hypothesize a successful and innovative plan for the redevelopment of the Santa Rosa Plaza Mall (Downtown Mall) in Santa Rosa, California. This project proposal seeks to address the Plaza Mall’s challenges and provide an alternative solution to develop a unique character that promotes a sense of place, foster vibrant civic spaces, and meets the City’s housing and job needs. Shopping malls in the United States are dying and are becoming less popular among the new generation, which means malls must adapt to fulfill the role of “third place” that many people need. This issue needs to be dealt with firstly by revising the existing land use policies and zoning regulations, adapting them to allow a mix of complementary uses such as residential, offices, civic spaces, entertainment, and amenities that offer residents, employees, and visitors, a wider range of opportunities that will enhance the quality of life in the area

Particle acceleration and the origin of gamma-ray emission from Fermi Bubbles

Fermi LAT has discovered two extended gamma-ray bubbles above and below the galactic plane. We propose that their origin is due to the energy release in the Galactic center (GC) as a result of quasi-periodic star accretion onto the central black hole. Shocks generated by these processes propagate into the Galactic halo and accelerate particles there. We show that electrons accelerated up to ~10 TeV may be responsible for the observed gamma-ray emission of the bubbles as a result of inverse Compton (IC) scattering on the relic photons. We also suggest that the Bubble could generate the flux of CR protons at energies > 10^15 eV because the shocks in the Bubble have much larger length scales and longer lifetimes in comparison with those in SNRs. This may explain the the CR spectrum above the knee.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Expanded version of the contribution to the 32nd ICRC, Beijing, #0589. To appear in the proceeding