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At least 577 records · Page 32

Autocorrelation and regularization in digital images. I - Basic theory

Spatial structure occurs in remotely sensed images when the imaged scenes contain discrete objects that are identifiable in that their spectral properties are more homogeneous within than between them and other scene elements. The spatial structure introduced is manifest in statistical measures such as the autocovariance function and variogram associated with the scene, and it is possible to formulate these measures explicitly for scenes composed of simple objects of regular shapes. Digital images result from sensing scenes by an instrument with an associated point spread function (PSF). Since there is averaging over the PSF, the effect, termed regularization, induced in the image data by the instrument will influence the observable autocovariance and variogram functions of the image data. It is shown how the autocovariance or variogram of an image is a composition of the underlying scene covariance convolved with an overlap function, which is itself a convolution of the PSF. The functional form of this relationship provides an analytic basis for scene inference and eventual inversion of scene model parameters from image data.

Jupp, David L. B.↗

Noninteractive macroscopic reliability model for ceramic matrix composites with orthotropic material symmetry

A macroscopic noninteractive reliability model for ceramic matrix composites is presented. The model is multiaxial and applicable to composites that can be characterized as orthotropic. Tensorial invariant theory is used to create an integrity basis with invariants that correspond to physical mechanisms related to fracture. This integrity basis is then used to construct a failure function per unit volume (or area) of material. It is assumed that the overall strength of the composite is governed by weakest link theory. This leads to a Weibull type model similar in nature to the principle of independent action (PIA) model for isotropic monolithic ceramics. An experimental program to obtain model parameters is briefly discussed. In addition, qualitative features of the model are illustrated by presenting reliability surfaces for various model parameters.

Duffy, Stephen F.↗

Noninteractive macroscopic reliability model for ceramic matrix composites with orthotropic material symmetry

A macroscopic noninteractive reliability model for ceramic matrix composites is presented. The model is multiaxial and applicable to composites that can be characterized as orthotropic. Tensorial invariant theory is used to create an integrity basis with invariants that correspond to physical mechanisms related to fracture. This integrity basis is then used to construct a failure function per unit volume (or area) of material. It is assumed that the overall strength of the composite is governed by weakest link theory. This leads to a Weibull type model similar in nature to the principle of independent action (PIA) model for isotropic monolithic ceramics. An experimental program to obtain model parameters is briefly discussed. In addition, qualitative features of the model are illustrated by presenting reliability surfaces for various model parameters.

Duffy, Stephen F.↗

Hopf bifurcation in the driven cavity

The algorithm employed in the present incompressible two-dimensional calculations of an impulsively-started lid-driven cavity has its basis in the time-dependent stream-function equation. While a Crank-Nicholson differencing scheme is used for the diffusion terms, the Adams-Bashforth scheme is used for the convection terms. The periodic asymptotic solutions obtained for Reynolds numbers of 5000 and 10,000 are found to be precisely periodic; it is demonstrated that they have reached asymptotic states. The indicators of that achievement are discussed.

Goodrich, John W.↗

The energy separation between the classical and nonclassical isomers of protonated acetylene - An extensive study in one- and n-particle space saturation

The energy separation between the classical and nonclassical forms of protonated acetylene has been reinvestigated in light of the recent experimentally deduced lower bound to this value of 6.0 kcal/mol. The objective of the present study is to use state-of-the-art ab initio quantum mechanical methods to establish this energy difference to within chemical accuracy (i.e., about 1 kcal/mol). The one-particle basis sets include up to g-type functions and the electron correlation methods include single and double excitation coupled-cluster (CCSD), the CCSD(T) extension, multireference configuration interaction, and the averaged coupled-pair functional methods. A correction for zero-point vibrational energies has also been included, yielding a best estimate for the energy difference between the classical and nonclassical forms of 3.7 + or - 1.3 kcal/mol.

Lindh, Roland↗

Ozone depletion at northern and southern latitudes derived from January 1979 to December 1991 Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer data

An extended version of the Nimbus 7/TOMS ozone data set from the period January 1, 1979 to December 31, 1991 is presented. It is shown that the ozone-trend data indicate that regions of enhanced ozone depletion rates have formed at middle and high latitudes during recent years. The seasonal dependence and geographical extent of the enhanced ozone-depletion rates for the Northern and Southern hemispheres are examined. The variability of the long-term ozone trend determination is discussed via consideration of the differences among 11-, 12-, and 13-yr trend calculations. The effects of the Mount Pinatubo eruption and other volcanic eruptions on the TOMS equatorial zonal average ozone measurements, and its influence on long-term trend determinations are discussed. On the basis of a determination of the aerosol phase function using TOMS data, the effect of stratospheric aerosols on determination of ozone amounts from TOMS are shown to be less than 1 percent.

Herman, J. R.↗

JPL-TMF multiwavelength aerosol lidar

The JPL-TMF Lidar Facility began operation in 1985 with the completion of a XeCl excimer based stratospheric ozone DIAL system. As an adjunct to this system a Nd:YAG based tropospheric ozone and aerosol system was assembled. The tropospheric ozone system was designed to utilize the fourth harmonic (266 nm) of the Nd:YAG to produce 289 nm, 294 nm or 299 nm by SRS in the isotopic hydrogen gases. The aerosol lidar was developed using the fundamental (1064 nm) and second harmonic of the Nd:YAG (532 nm). Following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo most of the effort was put into obtaining data on the layer structure of the volcanic aerosol as a function of altitude and time on a regular basis. During this period the tropospheric ozone DIAL was not employed on a regular schedule. The stratospheric measurements were of primary interest; however with the volcanic aerosol concentrated at the 16 - 26 km altitude the ozone concentration profile was perturbed. The aerosol interference in the ozone measurements caused the lidar community to seek techniques of measurement of the aerosol which could be used in making realistic corrections to the ozone measurements. It is generally accepted that a reasonable technique of measurement would include at least one channel of Raman scattering from a blue wavelength and a minimum of three other supporting wavelengths. With the primary transmitters available at TMF, a four wavelength system was considered for configuration. The four wavelength aerosol lidar is based on the Nd:YAG fundamental, the second and third harmonics of the transmitter. The receiver will separate these three wavelengths as well as the Raman scattering from atmospheric nitrogen of the third harmonic.

Haner, David A.↗

Ab Initio Characterization of Triatomic Bromine Molecules of Potential Interest in Stratospheric Chemistry

The equilibrium structures, harmonic vibrational frequencies, quadratic force fields, dipole moments, and IR intensities of several triatomic bromine compounds of known or potential importance in stratospheric ozone depletion chemistry have been determined using the CCSD(T) electron correlation method in conjunction with a basis set of triple zeta double polarized (TZ2P) quality. Specifically, the molecules included in the present study are HOBr, HBrO, FOBr, FBrO, BrNO, BrON, Br2O, BrBrO, BrCN, BrNC, ClOBr, ClBrO, and BrClO. Very accurate isomeric energy differences have also been determined at the CCSD(T) level with atomic natural orbital basis sets that include through g-type functions. In most cases, the isomer with a normal neutral Lewis dot structure is the lowest energy form, with the single exception that FBRO is predicted to be 11.1 kcal/mol (0 K) lower in energy than FOBr. In all cases, however, the hypervalent isomer is more stable relative to the isomer with a normal Lewis dot structure as compared to the chlorine analogs. Consistent with this observation, the energy of the last three molecules given above increases in the order ClOBr less than ClBrO less than BrClO. The CCSD(T)/TZ2P geometries and vibrational frequencies are in good agreement with the available experimental data. Heats of formation are determined for all species using a combination of theoretical isomeric, homodesmic, and isodesmic reaction energies. The accuracy of these quantities is ultimately dependent on the reliability of the experimental heat of formation of HOBr.

Lee. Timothy J.↗

Ab Initio Characterization of Triatomic Bromine Molecules of Potential Interest in Stratospheric Chemistry

The equilibrium structures, harmonic vibrational frequencies, quadratic force fields, dipole moments, and IR intensities of several triatomic bromine compounds of known or potential importance in stratospheric ozone depletion chemistry have been determined using the CCSD(T) electron correlation method in conjunction with a basis set of triple zeta double polarized (TZ2P) quality. Specifically, the molecules included in the present study are HOBr, HBrO, FOBr, FBrO, BrNO, BrON, Br2O, BrBrO, BrCN, BrNC, ClOBr, ClBrO, and BrClO. Very accurate isomeric energy differences have also been determined at the CCSD(T) level with atomic natural orbital basis sets that include through g-type functions. In most cases, the isomer with a normal neutral Lewis dot structure is the lowest energy form, with the single exception that FBrO is predicted to be 11.1 kcal/mol (0 K) lower in energy than FOBr. In all cases, however, the hypervalent isomer is more stable relative to the isomer with a normal Lewis dot structure as compared to the chlorine analogs. Consistent with this observation, the energy of the last three molecules given above increases in the order ClOBr less than ClBrO less than BrClO. The CCSD(T)/TZ2P geometries and vibrational frequencies are in good agreement with the available experimental data. Heats of formation are determined for all species using a combination of theoretical isomeric, homodesmic, and isodesmic reaction energies. The accuracy of these quantities is ultimately dependent on the reliability of the experimental heat of formation of HOBr.

Lee, Timothy J.↗

Modeling and Visualizing Uncertainty in Continuous Variables Predicted using Remotely Sensed Data

The use of remotely sensed images to map continuous biophysical variables, such as those related to terrestrial vegetation amount, sea surface temperature, and many other targets of NASA s Earth Observing System (EOS), includes variable, parametric, positional, spatial support and structural sources of uncertainty. A complete description of uncertainty will lead to a probability distribution at each location, allowing the exploration of the spatial dimension of uncertainty, that is, where the field is not well quantified. To achieve this purpose, convenient visualization tools are required. We have produced such a tool, called PDFVis, that facilitates the display of probability density functions (pdfs) on a per-grid-cell basis. The density estimate from Monte-Carlo generated realizations is interactively displayed as well as parametric and non-parametric summaries of the pdf field (such as mean, median, quartiles, standard deviation, number of modes, and locations of modes). Shaded surface renderings of pdfs along a transect can also be projected onto a plane. This tool will become more useful as richer descriptions of spatial uncertainty become available.

Dungan, Jennifer L.↗

Short latency vestibular evoked potentials in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Short-latency vestibular-evoked potentials to pulsed linear acceleration were characterized in the quail. Responses occurred within 8 ms following the onset of stimuli and were composed of a series of positive and negative peaks. The latencies and amplitudes of the first four peaks were quantitatively characterized. Mean latencies at 1.0 g ms-1 ranged from 1265 +/- 208 microseconds (P1, N = 18) to 4802 +/- 441 microseconds (N4, N = 13). Amplitudes ranged from 3.72 +/- 1.51 microV (P1/N1, N = 18) to 1.49 +/- 0.77 microV (P3/N3, N = 16). Latency-intensity (LI) slopes ranged from -38.7 +/- 7.3 microseconds dB-1 (P1, N = 18) to -71.6 +/- 21.9 microseconds dB-1 (N3, N = 15) and amplitude-intensity (AI) slopes ranged from 0.20 +/- 0.08 microV dB-1 (P1/N1, N = 18) to 0.07 +/- 0.04 microV dB-1 (P3/N3, N = 11). The mean response threshold across all animals was -21.83 +/- 3.34 dB re: 1.0 g ms-1 (N = 18). Responses remained after cochlear extirpation showing that they could not depend critically on cochlear activity. Responses were eliminated by destruction of the vestibular end organs, thus showing that responses depended critically and specifically on the vestibular system. The results demonstrate that the responses are vestibular and the findings provide a scientific basis for using vestibular responses to evaluate vestibular function through ontogeny and senescence in the quail.

NASA Discipline Neuroscience↗

X-ray study of solar plage regions and a small flare.

The O VII and Ne IX resonance line and 5 keV continuum emission of a small solar flare are interpreted on the basis of a model in which the emission measure of the region is an exponentially decreasing function of temperature. Good agreement with all three sets of data is obtained - a result not possible on the basis of an isothermal approximation. The change in the emission of the flare over a two minute interval appears to be consistent with a simple cooling of the region. Computation of the contribution function versus temperature for each emission indicates that each predominantly comes from a physically separate volume within the feature. The emission measure distribution for the flare is distinctly flatter than that of five plage regions which tend to have similar slopes and which are in turn flatter than the general corona.

Acton, L. W.↗

Global Dipole Moment Function for the X1 Sigma+ Ground State of CO

We have studied the dipole moment function (DMF) for the X(sup 1)Sigma(sup +) state of CO as a function of the completeness of the one- and n-particle treatments. Our best DMF is obtained using an augmented correlation-consistent quadruple-zeta basis set with external correlation included using the averaged-coupled-pair functional (ACPF) approach from a complete-active-space self-consistent-field zeroth-order reference. The DMF evaluated using the finite-field approach is in far better agreement with the experimentally deduced DMF than all previous theoretical determinations, but systematic differences still remain in the DMF at larger internuclear distances that give rise to significant discrepancies between the theoretical and experimental Einstein coefficients for transitions involving vibrational quantum numbers above about Upsilon=15.

Langhoff, Stephen R.↗

Theoretical study of the hyperfine parameters of OH

In the present study of the hyperfine parameters of O-17H as a function of the one- and n-particle spaces, all of the parameters except oxygen's spin density, b sub F(O), are sufficiently easily tractable to allow concentration on the computational requirements for accurate determination of b sub F(O). Full configuration-interaction (FCI) calculations in six Gaussian basis sets yield unambiguous results for (1) the effect of uncontracting the O s and p basis sets; (2) that of adding diffuse s and p functions; and (3) that of adding polarization functions to O. The size-extensive modified coupled-pair functional method yields b sub F values which are in fair agreement with FCI results.

Chong, Delano P.↗

Encoding of head acceleration in vestibular neurons. I. Spatiotemporal response properties to linear acceleration

1. Extracellular recordings were made in and around the medial vestibular nuclei in decerebrated rats. Neurons were functionally identified according to their semicircular canal input on the basis of their responses to angular head rotations around the yaw, pitch, and roll head axes. Those cells responding to angular acceleration were classified as either horizontal semicircular canal-related (HC) or vertical semicircular canal-related (VC) neurons. The HC neurons were further characterized as either type I or type II, depending on the direction of rotation producing excitation. Cells that lacked a response to angular head acceleration, but exhibited sensitivity to a change in head position, were classified as purely otolith organ-related (OTO) neurons. All vestibular neurons were then tested for their response to sinusoidal linear translation in the horizontal head plane. 2. Convergence of macular and canal inputs onto central vestibular nuclei neurons occurred in 73% of the type I HC, 79% of the type II HC, and 86% of the VC neurons. Out of the 223 neurons identified as receiving macular input, 94 neurons were further studied, and their spatiotemporal response properties to sinusoidal stimulation with pure linear acceleration were quantified. Data were obtained from 33 type I HC, 22 type II HC, 22 VC, and 17 OTO neurons. 3. For each neuron the angle of the translational stimulus vector was varied by 15, 30, or 45 degrees increments in the horizontal head plane. In all tested neurons, a direction of maximum sensitivity was identified. An interesting difference among neurons was their response to translation along the direction perpendicular to that that produced the maximum response ("null" direction). For the majority of neurons tested, it was possible to evoke a nonzero response during stimulation along the null direction always had response phases that varied as a function of stimulus direction. 4. These spatiotemporal response properties were quantified in two independent ways. First, the data were evaluated on the basis of the traditional one-dimensional principle governed by the "cosine gain rule" and constant response phase at different stimulus orientations. Second, the response gain and phase values that were empirically determined for each orientation of the applied linear stimulus vector were fitted on the basis of a newly developed formalism that treats neuronal responses as exhibiting two-dimensional spatial sensitivity. Thus two response vectors were determined for each neuron on the basis of its response gain and phase at different stimulus directions in the horizontal head plane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS).

NASA Discipline Neuroscience↗

Theoretical study of the dipole moment function of OH(X2Pi)

A theoretical study of the sensitivity of the dipole moment function (DMF) of the X2Pi ground state of OH to basis-set saturation and to refinements in the correlation treatment is presented. Emphasis is placed on determining the slope of the DMF at r(e) and the r value at which the maximum occurs. Consideration is given to the effect of oxygen polarization functions up through h type, expansion of the active orbital space to include the O 3d-delta orbital, the effect of higher excitations using the averaged coupled-pair functional method, and the effect of evaluating the dipole moment as an energy derivative rather than as an expectation value. The theoretical DMFs obtained here, which should be the most accurate to date, differ markedly from an empirical DMF of Turnbull and Lowe that is based on experimentally derived intensity ratios. The theoretical DMFs agree better with a recently published DMF of Nelson et al., but suggest that this empirical DMF is also inaccurate for r greater than 2.3 a0.

Langhoff, Stephen R.↗

Calibration of high-temperature, fiber-optic, microbend, pressure transducers

The microbend pressure transducer was evaluated on the basis of a series of specified tests to determine the pressure, temperature, overpressure, and vibration response. The response was found to be approximately linear with a pressure in the range of -690 to + 690 kPa. The transducer exhibited high sensitivity to diaphragm deflection and rapid response to pressure changes and was insensitive to vibration for frequencies of 50 to 2500 Hz. The microbend transducer test data showed acceptable sensitivity and stability as a function of temperature and pressure to be used as the basis for a compensatable transducer.

Berthold, J. W.↗

Advanced mission applications of nuclear electric propulsion

Current analysis of advanced unmanned planetary missions in the 1980's and beyond indicate the need for propulsion systems with performance capabilities beyond those of current and near state-of-art. One propulsion system concept being considered to fill this need is nuclear electric low thrust propulsion (NEP). Two different NEP system power levels are considered for performance analysis: 100 kw and 250 kw. The 100 kw NEP system uses a Centaur(D-1T) chemical stage for injection to an interplanetary transfer and the 250 kw system uses a spiral escape maneuver. Performance comparison is in general made on the basis of net payload at the target as a function of flight time. NEP performance is shown for unconstrained and constrained (20,000 hours) thrusting time. Specific impulse is optimized and ranges from 4000 sec to 7000 sec.

Spadoni, D. J.↗