Modelling tools to support the management of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) on Australia's Great Barrier Reef

Samuel Matthews studied outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) on the Great Barrier Reef. He developed a number of modelling and simulation tools to help predict when and where COTS outbreaks occur. Government agencies are using his results and tools to improve how outbreaks of COTS are managed and controlled on the GBR

Cluster Computing and Performance Measurement

There is a continual demand for greater computational power from computer systems than is currently possible. Areas requiring great computational speed include numerical simulation of scientific and engineering problems. Such problems often need huge quantities of repetitive calculations on large amount of data to give valid results. Cluster computing offers many advantages as a highly cost-effective and often scalable approach for high-performance computing in general. To achieve the full potential of high performance computing systems, centralized configuration services are the starting point. For a large scale of projects, cluster computing is required where it is supposed to be optimized for the system topology and management of the project. This paper presents the consequences of using cluster computing and performance management and the consequences without this technology. The experimental results of this paper highlight the affects of the design of this service and provide a comprehensive performance analysis of the project

Decoding and Analysis of the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Acanthaster planci Genome

Echinoderms are at the base of the deuterostome clade, yet have radial body plans, a watervascular system, and exoskeletons. In order to investigate how genomes control development, I studied the “Crown-of-Thorns Starfish” (COTS) or Acanthaster planci genome. I made four discoveries from sequencing two COTS specimens, one from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia (‘GBR’) and the other from Okinawa, Japan (‘OKI’). Separate 384 megabase (Mb) assemblies containing ~24,500 genes were generated. First, I discovered that both genomes displayed unexpectedly low heterozygosity; reciprocal BLAST alignment of scaffolds longer than 10 kilobases (Kb) revealed 98.8% nucleotide identity, consistent with a single pacific COTS clade undergoing a recent population expansion. Second, although the unique Hox gene order in sea urchins was hypothesized to be related to pentaradial body plans, I discovered that COTS Hox and ParaHox clusters resemble hemichordate and chordate clusters. The COTS Hox cluster shares with sea urchins the transposition of even-skipped (Evx), as well as posterior Hox reorganization. I thus proposed an evolutionary scenario for how shuffling of the Hox cluster in urchins may have arisen. Third, recent studies show that hemichordates possess a deuterostome-specific cluster of transcription factors associated with development of pharyngeal gill slits. Although extant echinoderms do not have pharyngeal gill slits, I found the cluster in the COTS genome, supporting an ancient origin for pharyngeal gill slits as a deuterostome-defining morphological feature. Fourth, using systems biology notation, I mapped COTS candidate genes for 1-methlyadenine (1-MA)-mediated oocyte maturation. This thesis confirms that the high quality of the COTS genome is biologically significant, and amendable to future studies. Although COTS are famous for decimating coral reefs, this thesis shows that COTS can also be used for genomic and evolutionary developmental research.Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate Universit

Advances in Measuring the Apparent Optical Properties (AOPs) of Optically Complex Waters

This report documents new technology used to measure the apparent optical properties (AOPs) of optically complex waters. The principal objective is to be prepared for the launch of next-generation ocean color satellites with the most capable commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) instrumentation. An enhanced COTS radiometer was the starting point for designing and testing the new sensors. The follow-on steps were to apply the lessons learned towards a new in-water profiler based on a kite-shaped backplane for mounting the light sensors. The next level of sophistication involved evaluating new radiometers emerging from a development activity based on so-called microradiometers. The exploitation of microradiometers resulted in an in-water profiling system, which includes a sensor networking capability to control ancillary sensors like a shadowband or global positioning system (GPS) device. A principal advantage of microradiometers is their flexibility in producing, interconnecting, and maintaining instruments. The full problem set for collecting sea-truth data--whether in coastal waters or the open ocean-- involves other aspects of data collection that were improved for instruments measuring both AOPs and inherent optical properties (IOPs), if the uncertainty budget is to be minimized. New capabilities associated with deploying solar references were developed as well as a compact solution for recovering in-water instrument systems from small boats

A Vision of Quantitative Imaging Technology for Validation of Advanced Flight Technologies

Flight-testing is traditionally an expensive but critical element in the development and ultimate validation and certification of technologies destined for future operational capabilities. Measurements obtained in relevant flight environments also provide unique opportunities to observe flow phenomenon that are often beyond the capabilities of ground testing facilities and computational tools to simulate or duplicate. However, the challenges of minimizing vehicle weight and internal complexity as well as instrumentation bandwidth limitations often restrict the ability to make high-density, in-situ measurements with discrete sensors. Remote imaging offers a potential opportunity to noninvasively obtain such flight data in a complementary fashion. The NASA Hypersonic Thermodynamic Infrared Measurements Project has demonstrated such a capability to obtain calibrated thermal imagery on a hypersonic vehicle in flight. Through the application of existing and accessible technologies, the acreage surface temperature of the Shuttle lower surface was measured during reentry. Future hypersonic cruise vehicles, launcher configurations and reentry vehicles will, however, challenge current remote imaging capability. As NASA embarks on the design and deployment of a new Space Launch System architecture for access beyond earth orbit (and the commercial sector focused on low earth orbit), an opportunity exists to implement an imagery system and its supporting infrastructure that provides sufficient flexibility to incorporate changing technology to address the future needs of the flight test community. A long term vision is offered that supports the application of advanced multi-waveband sensing technology to aid in the development of future aerospace systems and critical technologies to enable highly responsive vehicle operations across the aerospace continuum, spanning launch, reusable space access and global reach. Motivations for development of an Agency level imagery-based measurement capability to support cross cutting applications that span the Agency mission directorates as well as meeting potential needs of the commercial sector and national interests of the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance community are explored. A recommendation is made for an assessment study to baseline current imaging technology including the identification of future mission requirements. Development of requirements fostered by the applications suggested in this paper would be used to identify technology gaps and direct roadmapping for implementation of an affordable and sustainable next generation sensor/platform system

Advances in Above- and In-Water Radiometry, Volume 2: Autonomous Atmospheric and Oceanic Observing Systems

This publication documents the scientific advances associated with new instrument systems and accessories built to improve above- and in-water observations of the apparent optical properties (AOPs) of optically complex waters. The principal objective is to be prepared for the launch of next-generation ocean color satellites with the most capable commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) instrumentation in the shortest time possible. The Hybridspectral Alternative for Remote Profiling of Optical Observations for NASA Satellites (HARPOONS) is presented as a case example of technologies conceived, developed, and deployed operationally in support of next-generation mission requirements. The field trials, field commissioning, and operational demonstration resulted in a technology readiness level (TRL) value of 9 for a diversity of laboratory and field instrument systems. Separate detailed presentations of the individual instruments provide the hardware designs, accompanying software for data acquisition and processing, and examples of the results achieved. For the laboratory components, calibration and characterization procedures are described along with an estimation of the sources of uncertainty, which culminates in a full uncertainty budget for the radiometers deployed to the field

Annual Meeting of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group : November 1-3, 2016, Columbia, Maryland

The meeting goals are three-fold: 1. Integrate the perspectives and interests of the different stakeholders (science, engineering, government, and private sector) to explore common goals of lunar exploration. 2. Use the results of recent and ongoing missions to examine how science enables exploration and exploration enables science. 3. Provide a forum for community updates and input into the issues that affect lunar science and exploration.NASA Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG) Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) Universities Space Research Association (USRA) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI)Organizing Committee, Clive Neal, Convener, University of Notre Dame, Stephen Mackwell, Convener, Universities Space Research Associatio

Optical Sensors for Planetary Radiant Energy (OSPREy): Calibration and Validation of Current and Next-Generation NASA Missions

A principal objective of the Optical Sensors for Planetary Radiance Energy (OSPREy) activity is to establish an above-water radiometer system as a lower-cost alternative to existing in-water systems for the collection of ground-truth observations. The goal is to be able to make high-quality measurements satisfying the accuracy requirements for the vicarious calibration and algorithm validation of next-generation satellites that make ocean color and atmospheric measurements. This means the measurements will have a documented uncertainty satisfying the established performance metrics for producing climate-quality data records. The OSPREy approach is based on enhancing commercial-off-the-shelf fixed-wavelength and hyperspectral sensors to create hybridspectral instruments with an improved accuracy and spectral resolution, as well as a dynamic range permitting sea, Sun, sky, and Moon observations. Greater spectral diversity in the ultraviolet (UV) will be exploited to separate the living and nonliving components of marine ecosystems; UV bands will also be used to flag and improve atmospheric correction algorithms in the presence of absorbing aerosols. The short-wave infrared (SWIR) is expected to improve atmospheric correction, because the ocean is radiometrically blacker at these wavelengths. This report describes the development of the sensors, including unique capabilities like three-axis polarimetry; the documented uncertainty will be presented in a subsequent report

Internet of Things for Sustainable Community Development: Introduction and Overview

The two-third of the city-dwelling world population by 2050 poses numerous global challenges in the infrastructure and natural resource management domains (e.g., water and food scarcity, increasing global temperatures, and energy issues). The IoT with integrated sensing and communication capabilities has the strong potential for the robust, sustainable, and informed resource management in the urban and rural communities. In this chapter, the vital concepts of sustainable community development are discussed. The IoT and sustainability interactions are explained with emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and communication technologies. Moreover, IoT opportunities and challenges are discussed in the context of sustainable community development