Architecture and Execution Model for a Survivable Workflow Transaction Infrastructure

We present a novel architecture and execution model for an infrastructure supporting fault-tolerant, long-running distributed applications spanning multiple administrative domains. Components for both transaction processing and persistent state are replicated across multiple servers, en-suring that applications continue to function correctly de-spite arbitrary (Byzantine) failure of a bounded number of servers. We give a formal model of application execution, based on atomic execution steps, linearizability and a sep-aration between data objects and transactions that act on them. The architecture is designed for robust interoperability across domains, in an open and shared Internet computing infrastructure. A notable feature supporting cross-domain applications is that they may declare invariant constraints between data objects and furthermore declare dependencies on constraints maintained by other applications, leading to flexible, incidental atomicity between applications. The ar-chitecture is highly evolvable, maintaining system availabil-ity and integrity during upgrades to both application com-ponents and the system software itself

Personal notions of time travel:reflections on love, loss, and growth through autoethnography

Using the concept of time travel as a contextual and narrative tool, the author explores themes of love, loss and growth after trauma. Reflections relate primarily to the experience of conducting the qualitative research method of autoethnography. Opening with consideration of existing work (Yoga and Loss: An Autoethnographical Exploration of Grief, Mind, and Body), discussion moves on to academic thought on mental time travel, and personal transformation, culminating in the construction of a new memory combining past, present, and future

Needed Actions within Defense Acquisitions Based on a Forecast of Future Mobile Information and Communications Technologies Deployed in Austere Environments

The purpose of this research was twofold. First, it developed a forecast of future mobile information and communications technologies (ICT) suitable for use by military forces in austere environments in 5-10, 10-20, and beyond 20 years. Secondly, it explored whether or not current acquisitions practices will be adequate to meet the needs of warfighters who depend on mobile ICT. These questions were explored by conducting utilization of the Delphi technique. Eight panelists from within the private sector conducted three rounds of iterative feedback. This research resulted in a technology forecast for the three timeframes aforementioned, and the potential impacts to the defense acquisitions community. First, current acquisitions practices are unlikely to meet the needs of warfighters dependent upon mobile ICT and streamlining efforts are not likely to result in sufficient lessening of development timelines to maintain technological currency. Secondly, it is foreseeable that military forces will become increasingly dependent upon technologies developed by the private sector. An acquisitions model which exploits technological advances in the form of smart phones and tablets and a secure repository for approved applications and data services is feasible and may help defense acquisitions to maintain technological currency as they replace dedicated, single-purpose equipment. Finally, it suggested that developing the organizational flexibility to adapt to emerging technological trends will become more important than detailed planning and budgeting beyond 10 years

The Future of Mobile Information and Communication Technology in Austere Environments: A Command and Control Technology Integration Perspective

The information and communications technology (ICT) field is undergoing a period of tremendous and rapid change. As ICT develops more rapidly, the United States Air Force needs to remain responsive and adaptive to maintain military advantages. The need to integrate ICT developments sooner than our adversaries prompted an assessment of guidelines evaluating how well the AF is doctrinally positioned from a Command and Control perspective to support integration of emerging ICT. A Delphi Study was commissioned by the 689th CCW to forecast the future of mobile Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in austere environments. Using the ICT forecast data as a basis, the panel provided inputs on the integration concerns the forecasted trends invoked and the effects of the forecast on the Measures of Effectiveness outlined in AF doctrine

Experiment Payloads for Manned Encounter Missions to Mars and Venus

Trajectory opportunities have been identified for free return manned flyby, or encounter, missions to Mars and Venus. Using Saturn V launch vehicle technology and assuming the development of a manned planetary spacecraft with two year capability, missions to these planets with experiment payloads of 50,000 Ibs are possible. Selecting as a design reference mission a triple planet (Venus-Mars-Venus) flyby with a 1977 Earth launch date, a possible experiment program is outlined which employs unmanned probes to explore Mars and Venus during the planetary encounter phase. To complement this a program of space science and astronomy experiments is carried out during the remaining portion of the mission. A precursory unmanned program of orbital reconnaissance missions with small atmospheric and survivable surface impacter probes is assumed for both planets. Based on this the prime objective of the manned encounter mission at Mars is surface sample return for life detection experiments. Samples from three different selected areas could be recovered during the Mars encounter phase of the mission. Pour types of probes are considered for Venus. A meteorological balloon probe deploys a distribution of weather balloons to record atmospheric data. A companion orbiter serves as a balloon tracking and data relay station. Also considered are slow descent, non-survivable impacter probes which might take TV pictures of the surface from below the cloud layer and survivable impacting lander probes to investigate surface properties. Several en route experiments have been identified which take particular advantage of the trajectory of the design reference mission. These include optical observations of Zodiacal light, several known asteroids, Mercury, and the moons of Mars. Radio observations of Jupiter and the sun made in conjunction with an earth-based station would also be of interest

Megawatt Class Nuclear Space Power Systems (MCNSPS) conceptual design and evaluation report. Volume 1: Objectives, summary results and introduction

The objective was to determine which reactor, conversion, and radiator technologies would best fulfill future Megawatt Class Nuclear Space Power System Requirements. Specifically, the requirement was 10 megawatts for 5 years of full power operation and 10 years systems life on orbit. A variety of liquid metal and gas cooled reactors, static and dynamic conversion systems, and passive and dynamic radiators were considered. Four concepts were selected for more detailed study. The concepts are: a gas cooled reactor with closed cycle Brayton turbine-alternator conversion with heat pipe and pumped tube-fin heat rejection; a lithium cooled reactor with a free piston Stirling engine-linear alternator and a pumped tube-fin radiator; a lithium cooled reactor with potassium Rankine turbine-alternator and heat pipe radiator; and a lithium cooled incore thermionic static conversion reactor with a heat pipe radiator. The systems recommended for further development to meet a 10 megawatt long life requirement are the lithium cooled reactor with the K-Rankine conversion and heat pipe radiator, and the lithium cooled incore thermionic reactor with heat pipe radiator