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At least 451 records · Page 25

A two-fluid solar wind model with Alfven waves - Parameter study and application to observations

The effects of Alfven waves from the inner corona on the solar wind density profile, flow velocity and on the random motion of protons are studied. Different base densities, temperatures, and wave velocity amplitudes, as well as different flow geometries, are considered. The model calculations are compared to simultaneous observations of the electron density profile and the resonantly scattered Lyman alpha line. Present observations, out to 4 solar radii, can be used to place limits on the coronal base density and temperature, and put an upper limit on the wave amplitude. It is pointed out that future observations of the electron density and the Lyman alpha line, out to larger heliocentric distances, and of lines from heavier elements, should be used to place more stringent constraints on the amplitudes of MHD waves in the corona.

Esser, R.↗

The measured motions inside equatorial plasma bubbles

A preliminary study of the vertical and north-south horizontal ion motions in plasma bubbles in the near-equatorial ionosphere utilizing drift meter data from Atmosphere Explorer E is presented. High-resolution data show that the vertical ion velocity in some bubbles increases approximately linearly with (N(0)-N)/N, where N(0) is the background ion concentration and N is the bubble ion concentration. At sufficiently large N(0)/N the vertical ion velocity saturates, but often at a value substantially larger than the ratio of the gravitational acceleration to the ion neutral collision frequency. These larger than nominal velocities may result from background eastward electric fields and/or from a vertically elongated bubble cross section. The unanticipated observation that large poleward horizontal drifts accompany these vertical drifts seems to follow naturally from a redistribution of plasma along flux tubes as the plasma convects from the bottomside of the F region to high altitudes.

Hanson, W. B.↗

The measured motions inside equatorial plasma bubbles

A preliminary study of the vertical and north-south horizontal ion motions in plasma bubbles in the near-equatorial ionosphere utilizing drift meter data from Atmosphere Explorer E is presented. High resolution data show that the vertical ion velocity in some bubbles increase approximately linearly with (N(0)-N)N, where N(0) is the background ion concentration and N is the bubble ion concentration. At sufficiently large N(0)/N the vertical ion velocity saturates, but often at a value substantially larger than the ratio of the gravitational acceleration to the ion neutral collision frequency. These larger than nominal velocities may result from background eastward electric fields and/or from a vertically elongated bubble cross section. The unanticipated observations that large poleward horizontal drifts accompany these vertical drifts seems to follow naturally from a redistribution of plasma along flux tubes as the plasma convects from the bottomside of the F region to high altitudes.

Hanson, W. B.↗

Evaluation of Heave Disturbance Rejection and Control Response Criteria on the Handling Qualities Evaluation of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) eVTOL Quadrotors Using the Vertical Motion Simulator

The first piloted handling qualities study of an urban air mobility (UAM) vehicle leveraging the Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS) at NASA Ames Research Center was conducted in Spring 2021. The VMS provides a unique capability to reduce risk by assessing and iterating control designs. Minimal sources currently exist to provide performance and handling qualities data for large, rotor speed-controlled vehicles outside of the software environment. The study compares multiple handling qualities performance configurations for rotor speed and blade pitch-controlled variants of a six-passenger quadrotor conceptual design model developed by the NASA Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology (RVLT) Project. Additionally, both ADS-33 and a tailored set of performance standards (notionally representing the agility required of a UAM mission) are examined under conditions with and without light turbulence. Preliminary results did show significant variation in ratings based on the set of standards utilized, controller tuning to either Level 1 or boundary Level 1/ Level 2 conditions, and presence or lack of turbulence. A custom approach and landing maneuver was also designed to bring these evaluation tasks together in a more comprehensive application.

Handling Qualities↗

The Impact of System Latency on Dynamic Performance In Virtual Acoustic Environments

Engineering constraints that may be encountered when implementing interactive virtual acoustic displays are examined In particular, system parameters such as the update rate and total system latency are defined and the impact they may have on perception is discussed. For example, examination of the head motions that listeners used to aid localization in a previous study suggests that some head motions may be as fast as about 400 degrees/sec for short time periods. Analysis of latencies in virtual acoustic environments (VAEs) suggests that: (1) commonly-specified parameters such as the audio update rate determine only the "best-case" latency possible in a VAE, (2) total system latency and individual latencies of system components, including head-trackers, are frequently not measured by VAE developers, and (3) typical system latencies may result in under-sampling of relative listener-source motion of 400 degrees/sec as well as positional "jitter" in the simulated source. To clearly specify the dynamic performance of a particular VAE, users and developers need to make measurements of average system latency, update rate, and their variability using standardized rendering scenarios. a parameters such as the minimum audible movement angle can then be used as target guidelines to assess whether a given system meets perceptual requirements.

Wenzel, Elizabeth M.↗

A CFD study of complex missile and store configurations in relative motion

An investigation was conducted from May 16, 1990 to August 31, 1994 on the development of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methodologies for complex missiles and the store separation problem. These flowfields involved multiple-component configurations, where at least one of the objects was engaged in relative motion. The two most important issues that had to be addressed were: (1) the unsteadiness of the flowfields (time-accurate and efficient CFD algorithms for the unsteady equations), and (2) the generation of grid systems which would permit multiple and moving bodies in the computational domain (dynamic domain decomposition). The study produced two competing and promising methodologies, and their proof-of-concept cases, which have been reported in the open literature: (1) Unsteady solutions on dynamic, overlapped grids, which may also be perceived as moving, locally-structured grids, and (2) Unsteady solutions on dynamic, unstructured grids.

Baysal, Oktay↗

Extracting Depth From Motion Parallax in Real-World and Synthetic Displays

In psychophysical studies on human sensitivity to visual motion parallax (MP), the use of computer displays is pervasive. However, a number of potential problems are associated with such displays: cue conflicts arise when observers accommodate to the screen surface, and observer head and body movements are often not reflected in the displays. We investigated observers' sensitivity to depth information in MP (slant, depth order, relative depth) using various real-world displays and their computer-generated analogs. Angle judgments of real-world stimuli were consistently superior to judgments that were based on computer-generated stimuli. Similar results were found for perceived depth order and relative depth. Perceptual competence of observers tends to be underestimated in research that is based on computer generated displays. Such findings cannot be generalized to more realistic viewing situations.

Hecht, Heiko↗

Interchangeable Use of GNSS and Seismic Data for Rapid Earthquake Characterization: 2021 Chignik Earthquake, Alaska

Earthquake magnitude estimation using peak ground velocities (PGV) derived from 13 Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) data has shown promise for rapid 14 characterization of damaging earthquakes. Here we examine the feasibility of using 15 GNSS-derived velocity waveforms as interchangeable data for ground motion estimation 16 and other products that typically rely on strong-motion seismic records. Our study 17 compares PGVs derived from high-rate GNSS to those computed from high-rate seismic 18 records (strong-motion and velocity), at co- and closely-located stations. The recent 2021 Manuscript Click here to access/download;Manuscript;Manuscript_Final.docx 2 19 Mw 8.2 Chignik earthquake in Alaska that was recorded on co-located GNSS and strong20 motion sensors provides the perfect opportunity to compare the two data streams and 21 their application in rapid response. The Chignik velocity records appear almost identical 22 at co-located GNSS and strong-motion stations when observed at frequencies < 0.25 Hz. 23 GNSS and strong-motion derived velocity data are further employed to generate rapid 24 estimates of PGV-derived moment magnitudes for the earthquake. The moment 25 magnitude estimates from GNSS and joint GNSS/seismic data are within ~ ±0.4 26 magnitude units (Fang et al., 2020) of the final magnitude (Mw 8.2). ShakeMaps 27 generated for the 2021 Chignik earthquake using GNSS and seismic PGVs show notable 28 agreement between them, and show negligible shifts in PGV contours when co-/closely 29 located GNSS and seismic stations are substituted for one another. Therefore, we posit 30 that GNSS is a powerful alternative or addition to seismic data and vice versa.

Earthquake rapid response↗

Differentiation of muscarinic cholinergic receptor subtypes in human cortex and pons - Implications for anti-motion sickness therapy

Radioligand binding studies were used to analyze muscarinic cholinergic receptor subtypes in human cortex and pons. Muscarinic cholinergic receptors were labeled by H-3-quinuclidinyl benzilate (H-3-QNB). Scopolamine was equipotent in both brain regions and did not discriminate subtypes of H-3-QNB binding. By contrast, the M1 selective antagonist pirenzepine was approximately 33-fold more potent in human cortex than pons. Carbachol, a putative M2 selective agonist, was more than 100-fold more potent in human pons than cortex. These results demonstrate that the human pons contains a relatively large proportion of carbachol-sensitive muscarinic cholinergic receptors. Drugs targeted to this subpopulation of muscarinic cholinergic receptors may prove to be effective anti-motion sickness agents with less side effects than scopolamine.

Mccarthy, Bruce G.↗

Electrical acustimulation relieves vection-induced motion sickness

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of electrical acustimulation on gastric myoelectric activity and severity of symptoms of motion sickness. In experiment 1, 16 Chinese subjects received electrical acustimulation in one of two sessions. In experiment 2, 45 white and black American subjects were randomly divided into three groups: acustimulation, sham acustimulation, and control. Each subject sat in an optokinetic drum for 15 minutes baseline and 15 minutes of drum rotation. Subjects' electrogastrograms and subjective symptoms of motion sickness were obtained. In experiment 1, the mean symptom score and tachyarrhythmia during acustimulation sessions were significantly lower than during no-acustimulation sessions. In experiment 2, the mean symptom score of the acustimulation group was significantly lower than that of the sham-stimulation group and the control group; tachyarrhythmia in the acustimulation group was significantly less than that of the control group but not the sham-stimulation group. In conclusion, electrical acustimulation reduces the severity of symptoms of motion sickness and appears to decrease gastric tachyarrhythmia.

Non-NASA Center↗

Dry air entrainment into convective clouds

A systematic approach to the study of atmospheric turbulent motion is discussed in terms of weather modification. The background of cloud physics, and the mixing process are described. A zero-g study is proposed to enable the basic experimental data to be collected so that theory may be developed to generalize results for practical applications.

Telford, J. W.↗

A Statistical Analysis of Loop-Top Motion in Solar Limb Flares

Previous studies of hot, thermal solar flare loops imaged with the Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) have identified several flares for which the loop top shrinks downward early in the impulsive phase and then expands upward later in the impulsive phase (Sui & Holman 2003; Sui, Holman & Dennis 2004; Veronig et al. 2005). This early downward motion is not predicted by flare models. We study a statistical sample of RHESSI flares to assess how common this evolution is and to better characterize it. In a sample of 88 flares near the solar lin$ that show identifiable loop structure in RHESSI images, 66% (58 flares) showed downward loop-top motion followed by upward motion. We therefore conclude that the early downward motion is a frequent characteristic of flare loops. We obtain the distribution of the timing of the change from downward to upward motion relative to flare start and peak times. We also obtain the distributions of downward and upward speeds.

Holman, Gordon D.↗

Effects of bearing deadbands on bearing loads and rotor stability

The Jeffcott model of a turbopump which was modified by adding deadband (clearance) effects along with fluid seal forces are currently understood. Equations of motion for the model were written in polar coordinates, and a constant side force was added to the model to account for the likely misalignment between bearings and seals. The force models and system equations of motion are described as well as limit cycle, and stability analyses. Studies of systems with rotor imbalance and with or without side effects were studied for three types of motion. Results show that: (1) deadband does not affect stability-in-the-large; (2) stability-in-the small is enhanced by deadband and side force; (3) bearings loads are highest for motion with synchronous or nonsynchronous periodic enclosing origin; (4) side force acting in concert with deadband effects may either increase or decrease bearing loads; and (5) bearing loads in a stable pump are determined primarily by rotor imbalance and side forces.

Glaese, J. R.↗

Ignition, Transition, Flame Spread in Multidimensional Configurations in Microgravity

Ignition of solid fuels by external thermal radiation and subsequent transition to flame spread are processes that not only are of considerable scientific interest but which also have fire safety applications. A material which undergoes a momentary ignition might be tolerable but a material which permits a transition to subsequent flame spread would significantly increase the fire hazard in a spacecraft. Therefore, the limiting condition under which flame cannot spread should be calculated from a model of the transition from ignition instead of by the traditional approach based on limits to a steady flame spread model. However, although the fundamental processes involved in ignition have been suggested there have been no definitive experimental or modeling studies due to the flow motion generated by buoyancy near the heated sample surface. In this study, microgravity experiments which required longer test times such as in air and surface smoldering experiment were conducted in the space shuttle STS-75 flight; shorter experimental tests such as in 35% and 50% oxygen were conducted in the droptower in the Japan Microgravity Center, JAMIC. Their experimental data along with theoretically calculated results from solving numerically the time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations are summarized in this paper.

Kashiwagi, Takashi↗

Evaluation of Intranasal Scopolamine for the Prevention of Wave Motion Induced Motion Sickness While Maintaining Performance on Operationally Relevant Tasks

Motion sickness represents one of the greatest clinical challenges impacting crew activities during and following g-transitions. Our overall goal is to characterize the effectiveness of motion sickness countermeasures during controlled laboratory experiments using capsule wave motion simulation and during field testing in operational environments. This laboratory study focused on prevention of motion sickness using intranasal scopolamine using a double-blinded repeated measures design in 30 subjects (19M, 11F). Intranasal scopolamine was provided by Defender Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (DPI-386 Nasal Gel, referred to as Inscop) self-administered by a nasal pump (Aptar Pharma) that delivers 0.4 mg dose (0.2 mg / nostril). During each session, subjects were exposed to complex wave motion on a six degree-of-freedom platform that included pitch, roll and heave at provocative stimulus frequencies (0.1-0.25 Hz) while seated in an illuminated cabin deprived of external visual cues. Motion sickness symptoms were compared across treatment and placebo control sessions counterbalanced across subjects and separated by at least one week. The time-to-motion sickness endpoint was based on severe malaise, defined as symptom score of ≥8 points using the Pensacola Diagnostic Index [1]. The bioavailability of scopolamine for each session was estimated from plasma concentrations obtained every 15 min[2]. Side effects during the treatment session were minimal, and performance was not impaired on a test battery including motion perception tracking, tablet-based eye-hand coordination and psychomotor vigilance testing. The plasma concentration remained near-peak levels throughout the 45 min motion sickness testing for most subjects. The percentile ranking on the Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire [MSSQ, 3]was moderately correlated with the motion sickness time-to-endpoint during the placebo control session (rho = –0.3, p=0.056). Seventeen subjects did not reach an endpoint during their placebo session and were eliminated from subsequent analysis. Another subject was excluded due to insufficient plasma concentration during the treatment session. For the remaining 12 subjects, the change in time-to-motion sickness endpoint between placebo and treatment sessions was moderately correlated with plasma concentration (rho =0.48, p = 0.056), improving on average 4.4 ± 18.4 min, mean ± std with Inscop versus placebo. Our results are consistent with previous findings that intranasal delivery of scopolamine can be effective at reducing motion sickness symptoms with minimal cognitive or sedative side effects. Future work is needed to optimize the delivery of Inscop for rescue (treatment) of symptoms following g-transitions as one of the key advantages of this formulation is self-administration in a suited environment. We will also explore how the combination of Inscop with non-pharmaceutical sensory aids, e.g., vibrotactile feedback of Earth vertical, may further mitigate motion sickness and improve task performance.

S J Wood↗

Three very cool degenerate stars in Luyten common proper motion binaries - Implications for the age of the galactic disk

During the course of a spectroscopic study of Luyten common proper motion (CPM) stars, spectrophotometric observations have been obtained of three binaries containing degenerate stars with estimated absolute magnitudes M(V) of about 16. Each of the three pairs consists of a yellow degenerate star primary and a DC 13 + secondary 1.4-2.3 mag fainter. One of the primary stars is spectral class DC 7, another is a sharp-lined DA 8, and the third shows peculiar broad absorption features which we interpret as pressure-shifted C2 Swan bands. The LP 701 - 69/70 system has survived for over 8 billion years without disruption by passing stars, despite its 1500 a.u. orbital major axis. The three cool degenerate companions nearly double the available sample of stars at the low-luminosity terminus of the white dwarf cooling sequence. These findings appear consistent with the conclusion that degenerate stars in the old disk population have not had time to evolve to a luminosity fainter than M(V) about 16.2.

Hintzen, Paul↗

Correspondence between theory and observations of polar motion

The focus of this study is to write in terms of reported values the standard theoretical equation describing the earth's wobble, namely, the linearized conservation of angular momentum equation known as the Liouville equation. A relation between the locations of the rotation pole and the celestial ephemeris pole is first obtained to rewrite this equation in terms of the location of the reported pole. This is achieved in the time domain by considering the properties of the time-dependent transformation matrix that relates components of a position vector in the rotating, body-fixed frame to its components in the celestial, space-fixed frame.

Gross, Richard S.↗