Inner core wobble and free core nutation of pulsar PSR B1828-11

PSR B1828-11 has long-term, highly periodic and correlated variations in pulse shape and a slow-down rate with period variations of approximately 1000, 500 and 250 days [Stairs, I.H., Lyne, A.G., Shemar, S.L. Evidence for free precession in a pulsar. Nature 406, 484–486, 2000]. There are three potential explanations of pulses time-of-arrival from a pulsar. These are related to the interior of the neutron star, planetary bodies, free precession and nutation. We use the Hamiltonian canonical method of Getino (1995) for analyzing the dynamically symmetric pulsar PSR B1828-11, consisting of a rigid crust, elliptical liquid outer core and solid inner core. Using the theory of differential rotation of a pulsar, we investigate the dependence on Chandler wobble period, inner core wobble, retrograde free core nutation and prograde free inner core nutation from ellipticity of the inner crystal core, outer liquid core and total pulsar.     

Large-scale waves in the solar corona: The continuing debate

Ten years after the first observation of large-scale wave-like coronal disturbances with the EIT instrument aboard SOHO, the most crucial questions concerning these “EIT waves” are still being debated controversially – what is their actual physical nature, and how are they launched? Possible explanations include MHD waves or shocks, launched by flares or driven by coronal mass ejections (CMEs), as well as models where coronal waves are not actually waves at all, but generated by successive “activation” of magnetic fieldlines in the framework of a CME. Here, we discuss recent observations that might help to discriminate between the different models. We focus on strong coronal wave events that do show chromospheric Moreton wave signatures. It is stressed that multiwavelength observations with high time cadence are particularly important, ideally when limb events with CME observations in the low corona are available. Such observations allow for a detailed comparison of the kinematics of the wave, the CME and the associated type II radio burst. For Moreton-associated coronal waves, we find strong evidence for the wave/shock scenario. Furthermore, we argue that EIT waves are actually generated by more than one physical process, which might explain some of the issues which have made the interpretation of these phenomena so controversial.     

Biological degradation and composition of inedible sweetpotato biomass.

Many challenges are presented by biological degradation in a bioregenerative Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) as envisioned by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In the studies conducted with biodegradative microorganism indigenous to sweetpotato fields, it was determined that a particle size of 75 microns and incubation temperature of 30 degrees C were optimal for degradation. The composition of the inedible biomass and characterization of plant nutrient solution indicated the presence of potential energy sources to drive microbial transformations of plant waste. Selected indigenous soil isolates with ligno-cellulolytic or sulfate-reducing ability were utilized in biological studies and demonstrated diversity in ability to reduce sulfate in solution and to utilize alternative carbon sources: a lignin analog--4-hydroxy, 3-methoxy cinnamic acid, cellulose, arabinose, glucose, sucrose, mannitol, galactose, ascorbic acid.     

Department of Transportation Air Traffic Control Advisory Committee, 1968-1969

The Department of Transportation Air Traffic Control Advisory Committee concentrated on control of aircraft through the airspace, from takeoff to landing. Emphasis was placed on major terminal areas and on the denser portions of the enroute airspace where the need for efficient use of scarce resources (principally runways and terminal airspace) and the danger of mid-air collisions make sophisticated air traffic control mandatory if safety is to be assured without sacrifice of capacity. Airports were included in the study insofar as they strongly interact with air traffic control, and then, primarily, the committee's concern was with efficient use of runways. No work was done on airport access. Considerable effort was placed on the subject of noise reduction which may be critical to community acceptance of high-capacity airports.     

Orbital dynamics of magnetospherically trapped lunar ejecta

$\text{In situ}$ measurements by dust experiments on HEOS II showed significant enhancement of fluxes for submicron particles. Recent studies have shown that lunar ejecta in this size range can, in a highly simplified model, be trapped in the earth's magnetosphere. The present work is a more detailed study of the dynamics of lunar ejecta in the magnetosphere. The particle size ranges for which the guiding center approximation is valid, for which corotation is negligible, and for which electromagnetic forces dominate gravitational forces have been calculated. Temporal details of charge acquisition by ejecta in the plasmasphere are considered.     

Professional environment for knowledge workers: educators'responsibilities

It is argued that educators possess the potential for having the greatest impact on developing a knowledge worker's professional identity and that because of this they must also bear the greatest responsibility for this development. They can impact the students directly by presenting seminars with professionally related content, by incorporating such topics into their classroom lectures, and by serving as appropriate role models. Educators can also assist, indirectly, by supporting an encouraging membership and active participation in the local IEEE Student Branch     

A capacitor impact sensor (CIS) on board Giotto for detection of cometary dust particles

A low power high reliability impact sensor based on the discharge of a parallel plate capacitor is described. The choice of a surface area of about 1000 cm² and a penetration thickness of 50 micrometers will provide data on the flux density of cometary dust particles in the 5 micrometers diameter range (10⁻¹⁰g). A high noise immunity promotes excellent reliability under conditions of heavy spacecraft bombardment and high plasma densities in the late stages of the 500 km approach distance. Self-limiting of the event rate compression system also provides flux data at arbitrarily high impact rates. The capacitor sensor will be located on the external face of the outer dust shield of Giotto Spacecraft and it will be a part of the DIDSY experiment.     

Sources of inner radiation zone energetic helium ions: Cross-field transport versus in-situ nuclear reactions

Radial transport theory for inner radiation zone MeV He ions has been extended by combining radial diffusive transport, losses due to Coulomb friction and charge exchange reaction with local generation of ³He and ⁴He ions due to nuclear reactions taking place on the inner edge of the inner radiation zone. From interactions between high energy trapped protons and upper atmospheric constituents we have included a nuclear reaction yield helium flux source that was numerically derived from a nuclear reaction model originally developed at the Institute of Nuclear Researches of Moscow, Russia and implemented in the computer system at the University of Campinas, Brazil. Magnetospheric transport computations have been made covering the L-shell range L=1.0 to 1.6 and the resulting MeV He ion flux distributions show a strong influence of the local nuclear source mechanism on the inner zone energetic He ion content.     

基于眼动、位姿及场景视频的人体运动方向预测方法

外骨骼机器人作为新提出的改善、提高人类生活能力的智能设备,同样需要高效智能的人机交互系统,而人机交互的第一步,则是精准预测人的行为意图。从外骨骼机器人的顶层控制角度出发,介绍了人体运动意图识别和外骨骼机器人智能交互能力的研究现状,并对人体运动方向识别进行了研究。提出了一种结合眼动信息、位姿信息及场景视频信息的多信息融合的人体运动意图识别网络架构,并进行了采集设备的穿戴实验。利用实验数据,对提出的网络方法进行了实验验证。结果表明:所提出的人体运动方向的识别系统,可以预测出人体运动过程中的运动方向。