A multioutput LLC-type parallel resonant converter

When an LLC-type parallel resonant converter (LLC-PRC) operates above resonant frequency, the switching transistors can be turned off at zero voltage. Further study reveals that the LLC-PRC possesses the advantage of lower converter voltage gain as compared with the conventional PRC. Based on the analytic results derived, a complete set of design curves from which a systematic design procedure is developed is obtained. Experimental results from a 150-W, 150-kHz, multioutput LLC-type PRC power supply are presented     

Gender differences in organ density in a rat simulated microgravity model

Research investigating the physiological effects of microgravity on the human body has demonstrated a shift of body fluids in actual spaceflight and in simulated Earth-based microgravity models in both males and females, possibly causing many deleterious physiological effects. Twenty-five anatomically normal female (NF) and 20 ovariectomized (OE) Fischer 344 rats were randomly selected to be in an experimental (1 h of 45 degrees head-down tilt, 45HDT) or control (1 h of prone position) group. At the end of the hour experimental period, the density of the brain, lungs, heart, liver, and left and right kidneys were measured using spiral computed tomography (SCT) while the rats remained in their experimental positions. A sub-group of OE rats (N=6) was administered estrogen replacement therapy on a daily basis (5 micrograms/kg body weight, s.c.) for 4 days and then underwent 1 h of 45HDT and SCT analysis at one day, 2 days, and 5 days to determine if estrogen replacement therapy would alter organ densities. Our data demonstrate that 1 h of 45HDT produced significant increases (p<0.05) in the organ densities of the brain, liver, left kidney, and lung of the OE female group compared to their prone controls. However, only the brain density was significantly increased in the NF group. Estrogen replacement therapy caused a significant decrease in brain organ density at the 5 day time point compared to the 24 h time point. We conclude that estrogen plays a role in fluid distribution in a rat 45HDT model.     

An Adaptive-Control Switching Buck Regulator-Implementation, Analysis, and Design

Describing-function techniques and averaging methods have been employed to characterize a multiloop switching buck regulator by three functionsl blocks: power stage, analog signal processor, and pulse modulator. The model is employed. to explore possible forms of pole-zero cancellation and the adaptive nature of the control to filter parameter changes. Analysis-based design guide lines are provided including a suggested additional RC-compensation loop to optimize regulator performances such as stability, audiosusceptibility, output impedance, and load transient response.     

Autonomous Upgrading of Inertial Navigation Systems

The performance of substandard inertial platform gyros can be improved through the sampled supervision of their operation by a higher grade gyroscope mounted directly on the platform. The relative drift rates of the susbstandard platform gyros are estimated on a cyclical basis. This paper describes techniques for estimating the drift rates. It deals with the method of applying these estimated values in the form of platform correction signals.     

Cataractogenic potential of ionizing radiations in animal models that simulate man.

Aspects of experiments on radiation-induced lenticular opacification during the life spans of two animal models, the New Zealand white rabbit and the rhesus monkey, are compared and contrasted with published results from a life span study of another animal model, the beagle dog, and the most recent data from the ongoing study of the survivors from radiation exposure at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. An important connection among the three animal studies is that all the measurements of cataract indices were made by one of the authors (A.C.L.), so variation form personal subjectivity was reduced to a minimum. The primary objective of the rabbit experiments (radiations involved: 56Fe, 40Ar and 20Ne ions and 60Co gamma photons) is an evaluation of hazards to astronauts from galactic particulate radiations. An analogous evaluation of hazards from solar flares during space flight is being made with monkeys exposed to 32, 55, 138 and 400 MeV protons. Conclusions are drawn about the proper use of animal models to simulate radiation responses in man and the levels of radiation-induced lenticular opacification that pose risks to man in space.     

Stochastic Acceleration of Energetic Particles in the Heliosphere

In this paper we assess possible roles of stochastic acceleration by random electric field and plasma motion in the production and transport of energetic particles in the heliosphere. Stochastic acceleration can occur in the presence of multiple small-scale magnetohydrodynamic waves propagating in different directions. Usually, this type of stochastic acceleration is closely related to particle pitch angle scattering or parallel diffusion. Given the values of the parallel diffusion coefficient inferred from the observations of cosmic ray modulation or other energetic particle phenomena in the heliosphere, stochastic acceleration by small-scale waves is much slower than acceleration by shock waves and it is also much slower than adiabatic cooling by the expansion of the solar wind; thus it is considered as inefficient for producing heliospheric energetic particles or for the modulation of cosmic rays. Another type of stochastic acceleration occurs when particles go through random compressions or expansions due to large-scale plasma motion. This acceleration mechanism could be very fast when the correlation time of the fluctuations in plasma compression is short compared to the diffusion time. Particle acceleration by an ensemble of small shock waves or intermittent long wavelength compressible turbulence belongs to this category. It tends to establish an asymptotic p ^?3 universal distribution function quickly if there is no or little large-scale adiabatic cooling. Such a particle distribution will contain an infinite amount of pressure. Back reaction from the pressure is expected to modify the amplitude of plasma waves to an equilibrium state. At that point, the pressure of accelerated particles must remain finite and the accelerated particles could approach a p ^?5 distribution function.     

The Improvement of a Low-Cost Inertial Navigator Through Conditional Feedback

A concept for providing an accurate low-cost inertial reference was presented in a previous paper. Low-cost platform gyros, poor in terms of their drift rates, furnish the space-fixed reference frame. A single high-accuracy gyro, mounted on the platform, monitors the performance of the platform gyros. Consequently, drift rates are estimated, predicted, and applied as signals to correct the platform for gyro uncertainties. This paper features new estimation and predictive techniques.     

Accuracy Limitations of Hyperbolic Multilateration Systems

A recently developed procedure [1] for assessing the accuracy of hyperbolic multilateration systems makes it easy to determine basic limitations on accuracy. This paper illustrates how such bounds can be derived. The results include bounds for a variety of geometries that are representative of practical ground-based and satellite-based hyperbolic systems. The results are applicable whenever the ranging errors can be treated as uncorrelated zeromean random variables. In some cases the bounds quantify general knowledge (e. g., the directional dependence of errors). In other cases the bounds represent entirely new limitations (e. g., optimum accuracies for sector-restricted and cone-restricted transmitter/receiver configurations).     

Effects of Hybrid Voltages on Oxide Formation on 6061 Al-alloys During Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is carried out on 6061 Al-alloys in a weak alkaline electrolyte containing NaOH, Na₂SiO₃ and NaCl. Centered on the correlation of composition and structure, analyses by means of X-ray diffration (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) are conducted on the specimens, which have been PEO-treated under hybrid voltages of different direct current (DC) values (140-280 V) with constant alternate current (AC) amplitude (200 V). Attention is paid to the composition, properties and growth mechanism of oxide layers formed with hybrid voltages. Moreover, the main effects of DC value are discussed. Ceramic layers with a double-layer structure which combines hard outer and soft inner layers are found to be consist of α-Al₂O₃, γ-Al₂O₃ and mullite. With the DC values increasing, the growth of the ceramic layers tends to have increasingly obvious three-stage feature.     

Biased PNG law for impact with angular constraint

A new homing guidance law is proposed to impact a target with a desired attitude angle. It is a variation of the conventional proportional navigation guidance (PNG) law which includes a supplementary time-varying bias. The proposed guidance law does not require a time-to-go estimation and has a simpler form. Analytic conditions for fulfilling the guidance goal are also provided. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed guidance law has wider launch envelopes than the previous one and shows a good performance even against a maneuvering target