SOFIP: A Short Orbital Flux Integration Program

A computer code was developed to evaluate the space radiation environment encountered by geocentric satellites. The Short Orbital Flux Integration Program (SOFIP) is a compact routine of modular compositions, designed mostly with structured programming techniques in order to provide core and time economy and ease of use. The program in its simplest form produces for a given input trajectory a composite integral orbital spectrum of either protons or electrons. Additional features are available separately or in combination with the inclusion of the corresponding (optional) modules. The code is described in detail, and the function and usage of the various modules are explained. A program listing and sample outputs are attached

Intensive Archaeological Survey of Portions of the Proposed Sand Hills Loop Phase I Pipeline, Reagan and Crockett Counties, Texas

On behalf of DCP Sand Hills Pipeline, LLC (DCP), SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) conducted an intensive archaeological survey of portions of the proposed Sand Hills Loop Phase I Pipeline in Reagan and Crockett counties, Texas. Approximately 26 miles of the pipeline (“project”) crosses through land owned by the University of Texas (UT). The majority of the proposed alignment has been previously investigated by Turpin and Sons, Inc. in 2011. As such, only portions of the alignment that deviate outside the 2011 survey corridor were investigated, as well as portions which cross or are adjacent to (within 300 feet) sites that were identified after the 2011 survey. These areas to be surveyed total 6.4 miles within a 100-foot-wide corridor (approx. 78 acres). Archaeological investigations were conducted pursuant to the potential acquisition of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Section 404 permit in accordance with 33 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 325, Appendix C (Processing Department of Army Permits: Procedures for the Protection of Historic Properties; Final Rule 1990; with current Interim Guidance Documents dated April 25, 2005 and January 31, 2007); and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 United States Code [USC] 470) and its implementing regulations 36 CFR 800. As the project area is owned by a political subdivision of the State of Texas, work was additionally conducted in compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas (Texas Natural Resource Code, Title 9, Chapter 191) and accompanying Rules of Practice and Procedure (Texas Administrative Code, Title 13, Chapter 26) under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 8157. As a result of the current investigation, nine cultural resources were identified or revisited. These include seven previously recorded archaeological sites (41CX1096, 41CX1317, 41CX1570, 41RG76, 41RG263, 41RG324, and 41RG343) located within or immediately adjacent to the survey corridor, in addition to two newly-identified sites (41RG389 and 41RG390) and one isolated find (UT-CX-50a-1). All cultural resources identified or revisited during the course of the investigation were assessed with regard to eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and designation as a State Antiquities Landmark (SAL) and recommendation for avoidance, if applicable, as follows: Two sites (41RG389 and 41RG390) and one isolated find (UT-CX-50a-1) are recommended NOT ELIGIBLE for the NRHP or for designation as a SAL. Owing to the paucity or commonality of recovered assemblages, lack of features, lack of unique character, and/or lack of contextual integrity, these resources possess negligible research value and are unlikely to contribute to the understanding of local and/or regional prehistory or history. Consequently, no further work was recommended for these resources. The investigated portions of five sites (41RG76, 41RG263, 41RG343, 41CX1096, and 41CX1317) within the proposed workspace are recommended NOT ELIGIBLE for the NRHP or for designation as a SAL. Owing to the paucity or commonality of recovered assemblages, lack of features, lack of unique character, and/or lack of contextual integrity, the investigated portions of these resources possess negligible research value and are unlikely to contribute to the understanding of local and/or regional prehistory or history. The remaining unevaluated portions of these sites will not be affected by the proposed project; therefore, no further work was recommended for these sites at this time. Two sites (41RG324 and 41CX1570) are located outside the proposed workspace and will not be impacted by the proposed project. Each of these sites are UNDETERMINED with regard to NRHP and SAL eligibility. As the proposed construction activities will have NO IMPACT on these sites, no additional work or avoidance measures are recommended at this time. In accordance with Section 106 of the NHPA 36 CFR 800.4 (b)(1) and the Antiquities Code of Texas, SWCA has made a reasonable and good faith effort to identify significant cultural resources within the project area. No properties listed or otherwise eligible for the NRHP, or for designation as a SAL were identified within the project area. Consequently, SWCA recommends no further archaeological investigation and a finding of NO HISTORIC PROPERTIES AFFECTED under 36 CFR 800.4(d)(1). Per requirements of the Antiquities Code of Texas, project documentation will be curated with the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory in Austin

A knowledge-based flight status monitor for real-time application in digital avionics systems

The Dryden Flight Research Facility of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center (Ames-Dryden) is the principal NASA facility for the flight testing and evaluation of new and complex avionics systems. To aid in the interpretation of system health and status data, a knowledge-based flight status monitor was designed. The monitor was designed to use fault indicators from the onboard system which are telemetered to the ground and processed by a rule-based model of the aircraft failure management system to give timely advice and recommendations in the mission control room. One of the important constraints on the flight status monitor is the need to operate in real time, and to pursue this aspect, a joint research activity between NASA Ames-Dryden and the Royal Aerospace Establishment (RAE) on real-time knowledge-based systems was established. Under this agreement, the original LISP knowledge base for the flight status monitor was reimplemented using the intelligent knowledge-based system toolkit, MUSE, which was developed under RAE sponsorship. Details of the flight status monitor and the MUSE implementation are presented

Evaluation of Two Commercially Available Cannabidiol Formulations for Use in Electronic Cigarettes

Since 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana in some form, suppliers of legal marijuana have developed Cannabis sativa products for use in electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Personal battery powered vaporizers, or e-cigarettes, were developed to deliver a nicotine vapor such that smokers could simulate smoking tobacco without the inherent pathology of inhaled tobacco smoke. The liquid formulations used in these devices are comprised of an active ingredient such as nicotine mixed with vegetable glycerin (VG) and/or propylene glycol (PG) and flavorings. A significant active ingredient of C. sativa, cannabidiol (CBD), has been purported to have anti-convulsant, anti-nociceptive, and anti-psychotic properties. These properties have potential medical therapies such as intervention of addictive behaviors, treatments for epilepsy, management of pain for cancer patients, and treatments for schizophrenia. However, CBD extracted from C. sativa remains a DEA Schedule I drug since it has not been approved by the FDA for medical purposes. Two commercially available e-cigarette liquid formulations reported to contain 3.3 mg/mL of CBD as the active ingredient were evaluated. These products are not regulated by the FDA in manufacturing or in labeling of the products and were found to contain 6.5 and 7.6 mg/mL of CBD in VG and PG with a variety of flavoring agents. Presently, while labeled as to content, the quality control of manufacturers and the relative safety of these products is uncertain

Decuplet baryon magnetic moments in a QCD-based quark model beyond quenched approximation

We study the decuplet baryon magnetic moments in a QCD-based quark model beyond quenched approximation. Our approach for unquenching the theory is based on the heavy baryon perturbation theory in which the axial couplings for baryon - meson and the meson-meson-photon couplings from the chiral perturbation theory are used together with the QM moment couplings. It also involves the introduction of a form factor characterizing the structure of baryons considered as composite particles. Using the parameters obtained from fitting the octet baryon magnetic moments, we predict the decuplet baryon magnetic moments. The $\Omega^-$ magnetic moment is found to be in good agreement with experiment: $\mu_{\Omega^-}$ is predicted to be $-1.97 \mu_N$ compared to the experimental result of ($-$2.02 $\pm$ 0.05) $\mu_N$.Comment: 19 pages, 2 figure

Effects of organic and ‘low input’ production methods on food quality and safety

The intensification of agricultural production in the last century has resulted in a significant loss of biodiversity, environmental problems and associated societal costs. The use of shorter rotations or monocropping and high levels of mineral fertilisers, pesticides and crop growth regulators may also have had negative impacts on food quality and safety. To reverse the negative environmental and biodiversity impacts of agricultural intensification, a range of different ‘low input’ farming systems have been developed and are now supported by EU and government support schemes. A range of recent reviews concluded that switching to low input, integrated or organic farming practices results in significant environmental benefits and increased biodiversity in agro-ecosystems. Some recent studies also reported higher levels of nutritionally desirable compounds (e.g. vitamins, antioxidants, mineral nutrients) in foods from organic and ‘low input’ production systems compared to food from conventional systems. The increasing demand and current price premiums achieved by foods from low input and especially organic production systems were shown to be closely linked to consumer perceptions about nutritional and health benefits of such foods. However, there are other studies reporting no significant differences in composition between low input and conventional foods, or inconsistent results. There is currently a lack of (a) factorial studies, which allow the effect of individual production system components (e.g. rotation design, fertility management, crop health management, variety choice) on food composition to be assessed and (b) dietary intervention or cohort studies which compare the effect of consuming foods from different production systems on animal and/or human health. It is therefore currently not possible to draw overall conclusions about the effect of low input production on food quality and safety. This paper will (a) describe the range of organic and other ‘low input’ standards, certification and support systems currently used, (b) summarise the currently available information on effects of organic and other low input crop production systems on the environment, biodiversity and food quality, and (c) describe the methodologies and results from subproject 2 of the EU-funded Integrated project QualityLowInputFood. This project focused on improving our knowledge about the effect of organic and low input crop and livestock production systems on food quality and safety parameters

Intensive Archaeological Survey for the Proposed City of Conroe Outfall Relocation, Montgomery County, Texas

On behalf of Carollo Engineers, Inc. and the City of Conroe, Texas, SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) conducted an intensive archaeological survey for the proposed City of Conroe Outfall Relocation project located southwest of the existing City of Conroe wastewater treatment facility in Montgomery County, Texas. The proposed project consists of the construction of a new pipeline and outfall structure within a 2,190-foot-long, 60-foot-wide corridor (approximately 3 acres in total), with potential depth of impact from 5 to 17 feet below surface. Archaeological investigations were conducted in compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas (Texas Natural Resource Code, Title 9, Chapter 191) and accompanying Rules of Practice and Procedure (Texas Administrative Code, Title 13, Chapter 26) under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 7770, and with guidelines set forth by the Texas Historical Commission (THC) and Section 106 of National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 United States Code [USC] 470) and its implementing regulations, 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 800. The background review revealed that no previous surveys or recorded cultural resources are located within the proposed project area. An intensive archaeological survey, including pedestrian survey augmented by shovel testing, was conducted along the length of the project area on September 7, 2016. Following THC and USACE recommendations and as a condition of Permit No. SWG-2016-01062 (dated to August 14, 2017), additional deep testing was conducted through the monitoring of the excavation of five trench locations within the proposed alignment on May 2, 2018. No cultural resources were identified during the investigations. Overall, the project alignment extends across a forested bottomland along the eastern bank of the West Fork San Jacinto River. Vegetation included hardwood forests of elm and sycamore, pine, and palmetto. Evidence of disturbance along the line was obvious and includes hydraulic alteration of the floodplain, land clearing, and power line/water utility construction. In accordance with Section 106 of the NHPA 36 CFR 800.4 (b)(1) and the Antiquities Code of Texas, SWCA has made a good faith effort to identified significant cultural resources within the project area to the project depth of impact. No properties listed or otherwise eligible for the NRHP, or for designation as a SAL, were found within the investigated project area. Consequently, SWCA recommends no further archaeological investigation and a finding of NO HISTORIC PROPERTIES AFFECTED under 36 CFR 800.4(d)(1)

Analysis of heating rates and forces on bodies subject to rocket exhaust plume impingement

Computer programs and engineering methods for calculating heating rates and forces in jet plume impingement problem

Short-Interval Cortical Inhibition and Intracortical Facilitation during Submaximal Voluntary Contractions Changes with Fatigue

This study determined whether short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF) change during a sustained submaximal isometric contraction. On 2 days, 12 participants (6 men, 6 women) performed brief (7-s) elbow flexor contractions before and after a 10-min fatiguing contraction; all contractions were performed at the level of integrated electromyographic activity (EMG) which produced 25 % maximal unfatigued torque. During the brief 7-s and 10-min submaximal contractions, single (test) and paired (conditioning–test) transcranial magnetic stimuli were applied over the motor cortex (5 s apart) to elicit motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) in biceps brachii. SICI and ICF were elicited on separate days, with a conditioning–test interstimulus interval of 2.5 and 15 ms, respectively. On both days, integrated EMG remained constant while torque fell during the sustained contraction by ~51.5 % from control contractions, perceived effort increased threefold, and MVC declined by 21–22 %. For SICI, the conditioned MEP during control contractions (74.1 ± 2.5 % of unconditioned MEP) increased (less inhibition) during the sustained contraction (last 2.5 min: 86.0 ± 5.1 %; P \u3c 0.05). It remained elevated in recovery contractions at 2 min (82.0 ± 3.8 %; P \u3c 0.05) and returned toward control at 7-min recovery (76.3 ± 3.2 %). ICF during control contractions (conditioned MEP 129.7 ± 4.8 % of unconditioned MEP) decreased (less facilitation) during the sustained contraction (last 2.5 min: 107.6 ± 6.8 %; P \u3c 0.05) and recovered to 122.8 ± 4.3 % during contractions after 2 min of recovery. Both intracortical inhibitory and facilitatory circuits become less excitable with fatigue when assessed during voluntary activity, but their different time courses of recovery suggest different mechanisms for the fatigue-related changes of SICI and ICF

Non-classroom special education effectiveness for students with severe developmental, emotional and behavioral disorders

AbstractFew studies exist on the effectiveness of special education day treatment for student youth with emotional and behavioral disorders so severe that they cannot be educated in a day treatment setting. Case studies were performed with two youth who had failed previous special education and day treatment programs. Youth participated in a special education program in a private, non-profit, behavioral health and education agency. Unique to this program were the non-traditional, non-classroom based components of education and therapies. Comprehensive, interdisciplinary interventions resulted in progress for these two youth in areas of medical health, violent /aggressive behavior, communication and social skills, community involvement and educational skills. Additional study needs to be performed on more students along with empirical testing of specific interventions with comparison cases