An operating system for future aerospace vehicle computer systems

The requirements for future aerospace vehicle computer operating systems are examined in this paper. The computer architecture is assumed to be distributed with a local area network connecting the nodes. Each node is assumed to provide a specific functionality. The network provides for communication so that the overall tasks of the vehicle are accomplished. The O/S structure is based upon the concept of objects. The mechanisms for integrating node unique objects with node common objects in order to implement both the autonomy and the cooperation between nodes is developed. The requirements for time critical performance and reliability and recovery are discussed. Time critical performance impacts all parts of the distributed operating system; e.g., its structure, the functional design of its objects, the language structure, etc. Throughout the paper the tradeoffs - concurrency, language structure, object recovery, binding, file structure, communication protocol, programmer freedom, etc. - are considered to arrive at a feasible, maximum performance design. Reliability of the network system is considered. A parallel multipath bus structure is proposed for the control of delivery time for time critical messages. The architecture also supports immediate recovery for the time critical message system after a communication failure

A Review of Mobile/Modular Slaughter and Processing Technology

This report examines mobile and modular slaughter technology currently in use on the U.S. mainland as a potentially cost-effective alternative to brick-and-mortar facilities. The discussion is aided by the authors' firsthand experience touring units in New Mexico, Washington, and Nebraska. They also draw on their attendence of a mobile slaughter conference sponsored by the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service

Is it Time to Address Selective Disclosure for Nonprofit Organizations?

Over the past two decades, there have been several highly publicized nonprofit scandals that have eroded the publics confidence in the sector (Aviv 2004). Significant changes in nonprofit regulation have been implemented to address these concerns that have expanded the financial information available to the public. Interestingly, the calls for more nonprofit accountability have not focused on an important concern, that of selective disclosure. This is a practice under which an organization provides material information to some constituents while withholding it from others. This paper argues that practice is frequently observed in the nonprofit sector. As the New Era Philanthropy scandal highlighted, this practice can pose substantial risks to the nonprofit sector by facilitating fraud and harming the publics trust. The paper describes the existing nonprofit reporting requirements and potential shortcomings. It examines two alternative disclosure environments, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in the federal government and corporate securities regulation, particularly Regulation Fair Disclosure, and their limitations. It will then discuss what measures could be taken to address selective disclosure in the nonprofit sector.This publication is Hauser Center Working Paper No. 33.7. Hauser Working Paper Series Nos. 33.1-33.9 were prepared as background papers for the Nonprofit Governance and Accountability Symposium October 3-4, 2006

Loading system effect on performance, handling and meat quality attributes of finisher pigs

Handling and transport losses can encompass several challenges experienced frequently by producers and packers alike. Marketing and transportation stress not only costs the industry due to mortalities, but has direct impact on the quality of pork delivered to the consumer (Barton-Gade, 1992; Geverink et al., 1996; Hambrecht, 2005).;The primary objective of the current study was to determine if loading system affects the incidence of losses during transportation or at the packing plant, welfare parameters at the time of marketing, and meat quality attributes. Two loading systems (prototype loading gantry [P] vs. traditional chute [T]) were compared on the first pigs marketed from a finishing facility (first pull [FP] pigs) and on the last pigs marketed from a finishing facility (closeout [CO] pigs).;Loading system influenced the total number of dead pigs (P \u3c 0.06) and total losses (P \u3c 0.03) in FP pigs. Results indicated that pigs loaded on the P chute during the FP have fewer total deads and total losses. Loading system also influenced welfare parameters ( P \u3c 0.01) of both FP and CO pigs at the time of marketing. Pigs loaded on the P chute experienced significantly fewer electric prods, slips, falls, vocalizations, and pile ups, regardless of time of marketing.;Loading system did influence several meat quality attributes evaluated. In a comparison of FP pigs, loins from pigs loaded with the P loading system had higher (P \u3c 0.05) initial and 24 h pH and tended to have higher (P = 0.08) JCS cut values, but lower ( P = 0.03) loin L* values. The higher JSC cut values and lower L* values indicate a darker, redder color meat. Among CO pigs, loins from pigs loaded with the P loading system had higher (P = 0.01) 24 h pH and JCS rib values, but lower (P = 0.06) L* values. Understanding key factors influencing losses during this time frame enables targeted interventions to improve both welfare and meat quality. This investigation has provided data to support changes in facility design that may ultimately lead to the improvement of performance, welfare, and pork quality

A proposed implementation of communication primitives in Ada and CHILL for distributed systems

Call number: LD2668 .T4 CMSC 1988 U54Master of ScienceComputing and Information Science

Conceptual Design of an In-Space Cryogenic Fluid Management Facility

The conceptual design of a Spacelab experiment to develop the technology associated with low gravity propellant management is presented. The proposed facility consisting of a supply tank, receiver tank, pressurization system, instrumentation, and supporting hardware, is described. The experimental objectives, the receiver tank to be modeled, and constraints imposed on the design by the space shuttle, Spacelab, and scaling requirements, are described. The conceptual design, including the general configurations, flow schematics, insulation systems, instrumentation requirements, and internal tank configurations for the supply tank and the receiver tank, is described. Thermal, structural, fluid, and safety and reliability aspects of the facility are analyzed. The facility development plan, including schedule and cost estimates for the facility, is presented. A program work breakdown structure and master program schedule for a seven year program are included

Hospice and Health Care Reform: Improving Care at the End of Life

Health care reform focused on coverage of hospice care in significant ways. Specifically, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the Act) recognized the value in accessing hospice services as soon as possible by (1) immediately authorizing concurrent payment for curative and palliative care to children with Medicaid coverage and (2) authorizing a demonstration program to study the value of doing so with respect to Medicare beneficiaries. It also, however, imposed an additional requirement on physicians and nurse practitioners recertifying patients for hospice care eligibility, thus potentially over-regulating one aspect of hospice care. This Article lauds Congress for its position with respect to concurrent care but cautions that legal, regulatory, and medical professionals should carefully monitor the effects of the change Congress made to the recertification requirements. Without careful monitoring and calibration, the latter change could inappropriately chill hospice recertifications, thus negating part of the good accomplished through the former change