The spatial distribution and spectral characteristics of field-induced electron emission sites on broad-area high voltage electrodes

Instrumental techniques are described for displaying (a) the spatial distribution of field emission sites on planar high voltage electrodes and (b) the emission current pattern within an individual site. Typically, emission ‘sites‘ are generally composed of three or more ‘sub-sites’ that become temporally unstable at current > 10^?7 A. The electron energy spectra of sub-sites are characteristically single peaked, whose half-widths (FWHM) initially vary linearly with applied field: from changes in spectral area with field, substantially linear sub-site F-N plots have been obtained having β values in the range 300–500.     

3D design tools speed NASA space shuttle work

There will always be a premium on innovation and original approaches to old problems. Engineers and designers are constantly urged to think outside the box. In space shuttle technician Arlene S. Reese's case, she decided to think outside the world of traditional, 2D drafting. Working under tough deadline pressures for a shuttle lighting installation project, Reese and her design team decided to blend digital photographs and 3D assemblies to show other contractors precisely where and how the job should be built. The result was a faster, more effective method for planning electrical projects that has earned awards for her team and continues to produce benefits for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Reese and the managers at NASA say the design method can apply to many architectural and engineering disciplines.     

Premature introduction of progestin-only contraceptive methods during lactation

INTRODUCTIONS: Cochlear implants are used for the rehabilitation of bilaterally deaf patients. Due to the improvements in speech processing they might be also useful for patients with residual hearing and some speech understanding. METHODS: Pre- and postoperative speech understanding scores in 26 patients receiving implants were evaluated in a retrospective study. RESULTS: The preoperative pure-tone threshold in the implanted ear was between 80 and 115 dB in the frequency range of 500 to 2000 Hz. On the contralateral side the mean threshold was 10 dB better. The mean score for the number test was 11.3%, for the monosyllables below 5%. Postoperatively speech understanding improved significantly up to 97% for numbers and 48% for monosyllables (tested with the Freiburger Speech Test). Cochlear implantation also benefits patients with residual hearing and some speech understanding with hearing aids under optimum conditions. The speech understanding scores must be below certain limits. General selection criteria cannot yet be specified. The individual decision must be based upon several criteria, especially the speech understanding scores in quiet and noise under optimum conditions. A prospective study is needed to develop generally applicable criteria.     

An investigation of the unstable region for dense phase conveying in sliding bed flow

For fine powdered materials, capable of being conveyed in dense phase, a conveying region exists in which instability in flow and pipeline blockage can occur if the pressure gradient available is insufficient to maintain a minimum value of solids loading ratio. A reduction in material flow rate can also lead to pipeline blockage in this region. Conveying trials under-taken with cement are used to illustrate the nature of the problem.     

Relative Contributions of the Male and the Female to Sexual Behavior and Reproductive Success in the Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica).

Two contrasting investigative techniques provided evidence consistent with the interpretation that female quail (Coturnix japonica) regulate male copulatory behavior by the duration of their immobility and through this behavioral mechanism they also control the rate of fertilization of their eggs. In Experiment 1, copulation tests with males and females from different genetic lines showed that the type of female that participated in a copulatory test significantly influenced the latency of the male's grab, mount, and cloacal contact responses and also determined the efficiency of the male's copulatory behavior. These measures of male performance were correlated with female immobility in Experiment 2, which used a more homogeneous population of quail. Furthermore, 2 of these measures (copulatory efficiency and the latency to make cloacal contact) were correlated with fertilization rate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)