Role of orientation reference selection in motion sickness

The overall objective of this proposal is to understand the relationship between human orientation control and motion sickness susceptibility. Three areas related to orientation control will be investigated. These three areas are (1) reflexes associated with the control of eye movements and posture, (2) the perception of body rotation and position with respect to gravity, and (3) the strategies used to resolve sensory conflict situations which arise when different sensory systems provide orientation cues which are not consistent with one another or with previous experience. Of particular interest is the possibility that a subject may be able to ignore an inaccurate sensory modality in favor of one or more other sensory modalities which do provide accurate orientation reference information. We refer to this process as sensory selection. This proposal will attempt to quantify subjects' sensory selection abilities and determine if this ability confers some immunity to the development of motion sickness symptoms. Measurements of reflexes, motion perception, sensory selection abilities, and motion sickness susceptibility will concentrate on pitch and roll motions since these seem most relevant to the space motion sickness problem. Vestibulo-ocular (VOR) and oculomotor reflexes will be measured using a unique two-axis rotation device developed in our laboratory over the last seven years. Posture control reflexes will be measured using a movable posture platform capable of independently altering proprioceptive and visual orientation cues. Motion perception will be quantified using closed loop feedback technique developed by Zacharias and Young (Exp Brain Res, 1981). This technique requires a subject to null out motions induced by the experimenter while being exposed to various confounding sensory orientation cues. A subject's sensory selection abilities will be measured by the magnitude and timing of his reactions to changes in sensory environments. Motion sickness susceptibility will be measured by the time required to induce characteristic changes in the pattern of electrogastrogram recordings while exposed to various sensory environments during posture and motion perception tests. The results of this work are relevant to NASA's interest in understanding the etiology of space motion sickness. If any of the reflex, perceptual, or sensory selection abilities of subjects are found to correlate with motion sickness susceptibility, this work may be an important step in suggesting a method of predicting motion sickness susceptibility. If sensory selection can provide a means to avoid sensory conflict, then further work may lead to training programs which could enhance a subject's sensory selection ability and therefore minimize motion sickness susceptibility

A wind model for an elevated STOL-port configuration

Measurements of mean velocity magnitude and direction as well as three-dimensional turbulence intensity were made in the flow over a model of an elevated STOL-port. A 1:300 scale model was placed in a wind tunnel flow simulating the mean velocity profile and turbulence characteristics of atmospheric winds over a typical city environment excluding detailed wake structures of possible nearby buildings. Hot-wire anemometer measurements of velocity and turbulence were made along approach and departure paths of aircraft operating on the runway centerline and at specified lateral distances from the centerline. Approach flow directions simulated were 0 and 30 degrees to the runway centerline

Torsional vestibulo-ocular reflex measurements for identifying otolith asymmetries possibly related to space motion sickness susceptibility

Recent studies have identified significant correlations between space motion sickness susceptibility and measures of disconjugate torsional eye movements recorded during parabolic flights. These results support an earlier proposal which hypothesized that an asymmetry of otolith function between the two ears is the cause of space motion sickness. It may be possible to devise experiments that can be performed in the 1 g environment on earth that could identify and quantify the presence of asymmetric otolith function. This paper summarizes the known physiological and anatomical properties of the otolith organs and the properties of the torsional vestibulo-ocular reflex which are relevant to the design of a stimulus to identify otolith asymmetries. A specific stimulus which takes advantage of these properties is proposed

Possibilities of Coal Sheds Utilization from Coal and Uncovering Cuts of Locality Vrsany

Import 01/09/2009V předložené bakalářské práci je zpracována charakteristika těžených proplástků v uhelných a skrývkových řezech Vršanské uhelné a.s., spolu s popisem technologie dobývání. V první části je pak vysvětlena základní charakteristika a vlastnosti těchto proplástků. Následně je uveden přehled možností součastného využití těchto proplástků, ve vazbě především pak na zakládání výsypek a jejich následnou rekultivaci, kde mají tyto proplástky využití. Na závěr práce jsou zařazeny návrhy variantní úpravy těžených proplástků.In submitted baccalaureate work is processed rating mined layers in coaly and overburden removing cuts Vrsanska coaly joint-stock company, in conjunction with description technology mining. In forepart is then explained basic rating and characteristics these layers. Subsequently come out survey possibility actual usage these layers, on trial above all then on merging dumps and their resulting reclamation, where have these layers usage. Lastly work are registered suggestions variant adjustment mined layers.Prezenční542 - Institut hornického inženýrství a bezpečnostivýborn

Leisure Time Centre Brno

Předmětem této bakalářské práce je návrh centra volného času. Území pro stavbu, v Brně – Novém Lískovci, je ze třech světových stran obestavěno panelovými a řadovými terasovými budovami. Ty jsou navzájem opticky propojeny a ohraničují tak prostor, ve kterém se nově navrhovaný objekt bude nacházet. Stavební parcelou také procházejí komunikace, zejména pěší, které okolní objekty propojují. Centrum volného času by mělo do tohoto veřejného prostoru pumpovat aktivitu potřebnou pro spokojený život jeho obyvatel. Tak jako to dělá srdce v lidském těle. Křivka srdeční aktivity se pak stala inspirací pro tvar samotného objektu - dynamická hrana šikmých střech v pohledu připomíná všem známou křivku kontrakcí srdce. Při návrhu jsem se snažil o návaznost nového objektu na stávající komunikace, optimální začlenění do terénu a nezastínění výhledu ze stávajících okolních budov. Díky těmto požadavkům vznikla hmota dvoupodlažního objektu s lomenými střechami. Přechod z prvního do druhého podlaží je v místě největšího převýšení původního terénu, čímž se také minimalizovaly terénní úpravy na stavební parcele. Rastr fasády byl inspirován obrazy Pieta Mondriana. Konstrukčně je řešena jako provětrávaná s obkladem vláknocementových desek Cembonit FDA v bílé barvě a dvou odstínech barvy šedé. Panely jsou horizontálně členěny v modulu 0,5m a vertikálně dle jednotlivých výškových úrovní budovy. Podařilo se sjednotit čistý a pravidelný rastr fasády včetně oken a vstupního prostoru.The aim of this thesis is a design of a leisure time centre. The intended location in Brno – Nový Lískovec adjoins optically interconnected tower blocks and group terrace houses on three of its sides. Additionally, there are walkways going through the site that connect the surrounding buildings. The centre should deliver the activity necessary for a fulfilling life similarly as the heart delivers blood in a human body. The heartbeat curve has therefore been an inspiration for the design of the edifice as is apparent from the dynamic edges of sloping roofs. During the design process I tried to link the centre to the existing walkways, integrate it as well as possible into the terrain and make sure that no view from the surrounding buildings is disrupted. This is why the two-floor design with angular roofs was chosen. The first floor verges into the second one where there is maximum super-elevation of the original terrain thus minimizing the need for grading. Piet Mondrian’s paintings have been an inspiration for the texture of the façade. Construction-wise, the building is designed as a ventilated one and its walls are covered with cement fibre panels (Cembonit FDA) in white and in two shades of grey. The panels are 0.5 m wide and tall according to individual levels of the edifice. This way I managed to unify the clean, regular grid of the façade with the windows and the access area.

Experience Accumulation for Decision Making in Multivariate Time Series

A dynamic stochastic system with multivariate input and multivariate output, possibly controlled in a closed loop, is considered. It is assumed that the input-output relation is describable by a model of a given structure but with a finite set of unknown parameters. The uncertainty of the parameters is characterized by the subjective probability density function. Functional recursion relations are derived describing the evolution of this subjective p.d.f. when it is successively conditioned by the observed data. A self-reproducing form of the conditional p.d.f. is found for the case, when the process is describable by a multivariate regression model and no parameter -- except the order -- is a priori known. This makes it possible to reduce the functional recursion into an algebraic recursion which is easy to perform

A fuel cell, as an alternative source of electricity

Práce se zabývá palivovými články, jejich principem činnosti a rozdělením. Dále je představena možnost využití zemního plynu jako paliva pro palivové články. V závěru jsou uvedeny hlavní výhody a nevýhody v porovnání s jinými zdroji elektrické energie.The work deals with fuel-cell their activities and the principle of division. It presented the possibility of using natural gas as a fuel for fuel cells. At the end of the work are written main advantages and disadvantages compared with other sources of electricity.