Data report: Seismic structure beneath the North Cascadia drilling transect of IODP Expedition 311

Between 1999 and 2004, new seismic data became available for the study of gas hydrates on the northern Cascadia margin. These data consist of multi- and single-channel data with two- and partly three-dimensional subsurface coverage and were acquired and used in support of the proposal for Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 311 carried out in 2005. The working area lies across the continental slope off the coast of central Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, with water depths ranging from 2600 m in the trench to 500 m on the upper slope, where it is well above the minimum depth for gas hydrate stability. This paper gives the details of the data acquisition and conventional processing and then focuses on describing the new data at six individual sites along a transect across the gas hydrate zone. Five of the sites were drilled during the Expedition 311. The transect of sites commences at the almost undeformed incoming sediments seaward of the region where gas hydrates are observed; these ocean basin sediments were drilled at a site 40 km southeast during Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 146. The transect continues up the continental slope into the area of hydrate stability, with a site on top of the frontal accretionary ridge where normal faulting indicates margin parallel extension; a site in the first slope basin overlying a buried ridge near a reflectivity wipe-out zone; a site adjacent to Site 889 of Leg 146 and therefore acting as a tie hole; the most landward site at the shallowest end of the hydrate stability field; and a cold vent site at one of several blank zones close to a bright spot region in the seismic records

Three-dimensional simulation of cavitating flow in real journal bearing geometry

This paper was presented at the 4th Micro and Nano Flows Conference (MNF2014), which was held at University College, London, UK. The conference was organised by Brunel University and supported by the Italian Union of Thermofluiddynamics, IPEM, the Process Intensification Network, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Heat Transfer Society, HEXAG - the Heat Exchange Action Group, and the Energy Institute, ASME Press, LCN London Centre for Nanotechnology, UCL University College London, UCL Engineering, the International NanoScience Community, www.nanopaprika.eu.Hydrodynamic journal bearings are commonly used in many technical applications because they provide low friction and minimal wear. In general, flow simulation during the engineering design process is carried out by means of the Reynolds equation. The Reynolds equation is a non-linear two-dimensional differential equation, which is based on the pressure and the gap between shaft and bushing in relation to bearing clearance, eccentricity, bushing deformation and load. However, due its two-dimensional nature it is inaccurate where the lubricant flow inside the bearing becomes three-dimensional e.g., in the vicinity of feed holes or grooves. The work on hand presents the numerical approach and the cavitation model based on the Rayleigh-Plesset equation. Moreover, a bearing flow experiment was designed and constructed with the goal to validate numerical results. Finally, the validated 3D simulation model is applied on a real bearing, which was subject to an experimental investigation targeting cavitation. The numerical results include images of complex three-dimensional flow structures, vortices and vapor distributions. In comparison of 2D and 3D simulation, the two-dimensional approach gives wrong information in 2 out of 6 critical regions pertaining cavitation failing in both, over- and under-prediction of cavitation. In summary, a new numerical model expands the scope for the numerical simulation of the lubricant flow in hydrodynamic journal bearings and improves the prediction of cavitation

Shape mode analysis exposes movement patterns in biology: flagella and flatworms as case studies

We illustrate shape mode analysis as a simple, yet powerful technique to concisely describe complex biological shapes and their dynamics. We characterize undulatory bending waves of beating flagella and reconstruct a limit cycle of flagellar oscillations, paying particular attention to the periodicity of angular data. As a second example, we analyze non-convex boundary outlines of gliding flatworms, which allows us to expose stereotypic body postures that can be related to two different locomotion mechanisms. Further, shape mode analysis based on principal component analysis allows to discriminate different flatworm species, despite large motion-associated shape variability. Thus, complex shape dynamics is characterized by a small number of shape scores that change in time. We present this method using descriptive examples, explaining abstract mathematics in a graphic way.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in PLoS On

Constructing sonified haptic line graphs for the blind student: first steps

Line graphs stand as an established information visualisation and analysis technique taught at various levels of difficulty according to standard Mathematics curricula. It has been argued that blind individuals cannot use line graphs as a visualisation and analytic tool because they currently primarily exist in the visual medium. The research described in this paper aims at making line graphs accessible to blind students through auditory and haptic media. We describe (1) our design space for representing line graphs, (2) the technology we use to develop our prototypes and (3) the insights from our preliminary work

Nicolas of Cusa His Life and Thought

Most interesting to the present writer were Cusa’s mysticism and his universalist approach to Christian truth and values. A mystic, he, nevertheless, strove to communicate his insight rationally. Though a sincere reformer, he remained a loyal adherent of the Roman church

Was beeinflusst die Lebenszufriedenheit im hohen Alter?: Repräsentative Studie zur ambulanten Altenpflege und -betreuung in der Deutschschweiz

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Auch nach Eintritt einer Betreuungsdürftigkeit wollen die meisten älteren Menschen in der vertrauten Wohnung verbleiben, was durch unterschiedliche Pflege- und Betreuungsarrangements ermöglicht wird. Die allgemeine Lebenszufriedenheit kann dabei als Kriterium dienen, um deren Funktionalität zu beurteilen. Methoden: Basis dieser Studie ist eine 2009/2010 durchgeführte standardisierte Befragung (Face-to-face-Interviews, n=712). Grundgesamtheit waren pflege- und unterstützungsbedürftige Personen ab 70Jahre aus 3deutschschweizerischen Kantonen. Der Datensatz stellt für die genannte Grundgesamtheit ein repräsentatives Sample dar. Ergebnisse: In Bezug auf die untersuchte Zielgruppe von zu Hause lebenden, formell und/oder informell unterstützten Personen ≥70Jahre zeigt sich: Der Betreuungs- und Pflegebedarf von Personen ≥80Jahre liegt nicht über dem von 70- bis 79-Jährigen und ist für die allgemeine Lebenszufriedenheit nicht ausschlaggebend. Wichtiger sind die Stärke des sozialen Netzwerks, das (Nicht-)Vorhandensein von Schmerzen sowie die Zufriedenheit mit erhaltener Pflege. Mit zunehmendem Alter steigt die Wahrscheinlichkeit, zur Gruppe der Lebenszufriedenen zu gehören. Das soziale Netzwerk von Personen ≥80Jahre ist schwächer ausgeprägt als das von 70- bis 79-Jährigen, trägt aber dennoch zur Lebenszufriedenheit be

ICAM G241A polymorphism and soluble ICAM-1 serum levels: Evidence for an active immune process in schizophrenia

Objectives: We have previously reported reduced serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in schizophrenic patients. A single-nucleotide polymorphism ( SNP) of the ICAM-1 gene was described at position 241. The G --> A SNP results in a nonsynonymous amino acid exchange of the ICAM-1 protein, and the A allele was shown to be also associated with several immunological disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: We investigated 70 schizophrenic patients and 128 unrelated healthy control persons regarding the relationship between the serum levels of sICAM-1 and the ICAM-1 G214A polymorphism. Results: We were able to replicate our previous finding of reduced sICAM-1 levels in schizophrenia. Healthy control persons carrying the polymorphic A allele showed markedly lower sICAM-1 serum levels than carriers of the homozygous GG wild type ( p < 0.004). In contrast, no significant difference in the sICAM-1 serum levels were seen regarding the G241A genotype distribution in schizophrenic patients. Conclusion: We hypothesize that the biochemical effect of the G241A SNP is masked in schizophrenic patients, indicating a disease-related mechanism leading to reduced levels of sICAM-1 in schizophrenia. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

Grasp planning for a reconfigurable parallel robot with an underactuated arm structure

In this paper, a novel approach of grasp planning is applied to find out the appropriate grasp points for a reconfigurable parallel robot called PARAGRIP (Parallel Gripping). This new handling system is able to manipulate objects in the six-dimensional Cartesian space by several robotic arms using only six actuated joints. After grasping, the contact elements at the end of the underactuated arm mechanisms are connected to the object which forms a closed loop mechanism similar to the architecture of parallel manipulators. As the mounting and grasp points of the arms can easily be changed, the manipulator can be reconfigured to match the user's preferences and needs. This paper raises the question, how and where these grasp points are to be placed on the object to perform well for a certain manipulation task. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; &lt;i&gt;This paper was presented at the IFToMM/ASME International Workshop on Underactuated Grasping (UG2010), 19 August 2010, Montréal, Canada.&lt;/i&gt