Space Station Displays and Controls Technology Evolution

Viewgraphs on space station displays and controls technology evolution are presented. Topics covered include: a historical perspective; major development objectives; current development activities; key technology areas; and technology evolution issues

Evaluation of a hybrid, anisotropic, multilayered, quadrilateral finite element

A multilayered finite element with bending-extensional coupling is evaluated for: (1) buckling of general laminated plates; (2) thermal stresses of laminated plates cured at elevated temperatures; (3) displacements of a bimetallic beam; and (4) displacement and stresses of a single-cell box beam with warped cover panels. Also, displacements and stresses for flat and spherical orthotropic and anisotropic segments are compared with results from higher order plate and shell finite-element analyses

Ex Situ Conservation Of Holstein-Friesian Cattle - Comparing The Dutch, French And USA Germplasm Collections

The establishment of gene banks using cryopreservation to secure the genetic diversity of farm breeds have been widely assessed. France, the Netherlands and the USA were among the first countries to organize national cryobanks and these banks are now 10 to 20 years old. All three countries have started Holstein-Friesian (HF) collections to conserve as much genetic diversity as possible for this globally important breed. In order better understand the diversity captured in these collections, the genetic variability of HF collections within and between countries was assessed, and genetic variability of germplasm collections were compared with active bulls in each country. The overall aim of the project was to determine the breed’s security and to guide future collection activities

Absence of magnetic long range order in Y2_{2}CrSbO7_{7}: bond-disorder induced magnetic frustration in a ferromagnetic pyrochlore

The consequences of nonmagnetic-ion dilution for the pyrochlore family Y$_{2}$($M_{1-x}N_{x}$)$_{2}$O$_{7}$ ($M$ = magnetic ion, $N$ = nonmagnetic ion) have been investigated. As a first step, we experimentally examine the magnetic properties of Y$_{2}$CrSbO$_{7}$ ($x$ = 0.5), in which the magnetic sites (Cr$^{3+}$) are percolative. Although the effective Cr-Cr spin exchange is ferromagnetic, as evidenced by a positive Curie-Weiss temperature, $\Theta_\mathrm{{CW}}$ = 20.1(6) K, our high-resolution neutron powder diffraction measurements detect no sign of magnetic long range order down to 2 K. In order to understand our observations, we performed numerical simulations to study the bond-disorder introduced by the ionic size mismatch between $M$ and $N$. Based on these simulations, bond-disorder ($x_{b}$ $\simeq$ 0.23) percolates well ahead of site-disorder ($x_{s}$ $\simeq$ 0.61). This model successfully reproduces the critical region (0.2 < $x$ < 0.25) for the N\'eel to spin glass phase transition in Zn(Cr$_{1-x}$Ga$_{x}$)$_{2}$O$_{4}$, where the Cr/Ga-sublattice forms the same corner-sharing tetrahedral network as the $M/N$-sublattice in Y$_{2}$($M_{1-x}N_{x}$)$_{2}$O$_{7}$, and the rapid drop in magnetically ordered moment in the N\'eel phase [Lee $et$ $al$, Phys. Rev. B 77, 014405 (2008)]. Our study stresses the nonnegligible role of bond-disorder on magnetic frustration, even in ferromagnets

Corruption, Seigniorage and Growth: Theory and Evidence

This paper presents an analysis of the effect of bureaucratic corruption on economic growth through a public finance transmission channel. At the theoretical level, we develop a simple dynamic general equilibrium model in which financial intermediaries make portfolio decisions on behalf of agents, and bureaucrats collect tax revenues on behalf of the government. Corruption takes the form of the embezzlement of public funds, the effect of which is to increase the government’s reliance on seigniorage finance. This leads to an increase in inflation which, in turn, reduces capital accumulation and growth. At the empirical level, we use data on 82 countries over a 20-year period to test the predictions of our model. Taking proper account of the government’s budget constraint, we find strong evidence to support these predictions under different estimation strategies. Our results are robust to a wide range of sensitivity tests.corruption, seigniorage, inflation, growth

The Voluntary Reading Habits Of 10 - 12 Year Olds: A Survey Analysed With Reference To Scores On Cattell's Children's Personality Questionnaire

The entire First Year (n = 85) of a small Catholic Comprehensive school was surveyed in order to investigate voluntary reading habits. These pupils had at 10+ answered the Primary Questionnaire, and subsequently at 12+ reported on one month's reading, using a specially developed measure. The study's main phase, however, assessed pupils aged 11+. Half the group recorded their reading on Book Forms while the other matched half were controls. A Secondary Questionnaire administered before and after the five-week experiment found no significant differences in numbers of books read. All the children filled in time-sampling Diaries on three occasions during the experimental period, and the advantages of this method of establishing how much voluntary reading is undertaken are discussed. A sub-group of particularly 'avid' readers was distinguished and compared to the others, with especial reference to whether books were finished or not and whether they had been read previously. Girls were found to be more avid than boys on various measures. Analysis of the reasons for choice recorded in the Book Forms, together with other evidence, suggested that one of the reasons why the children did not read more was that they lacked the skill to choose books they would enjoy from the thousands available, and that the selection strategies they did employ were likely to lead to disappointment. Finally, Cattell's Children's Personality Questionnaire was administered to all pupils. The avid readers tended to be more intelligent, more stable emotionally and less excitable than the others. If they were girls, they were also more vigorous and zestful than other girls; if boys, they were more self-controlled, with a stronger self-concept than other boys. These and other significant findings may indicate some of the personal qualities which sustained book- reading requires, and thus contribute towards an explanation of the variation in voluntary reading habits in these children

Sexuality, Relationships and Reproductive Choices in Young Adults with Life-Limiting and/or Life-Threatening Conditions

This thesis details an empirical exploration of how young adults with life-limiting and/or life-threatening conditions talk about sexuality, intimacy, relationships and reproductive choices; what these mean, the difficulties they encounter along an uncertain life course, their relationship experiences, and what would be helpful to assist and make their lives more meaningful. The research centres on 13 young adults aged over 16 years, featuring some, but not all, life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. These include cystic fibrosis, duchenne muscular dystrophy, other progressive neuromuscular and rare conditions, certain cancers and other genetic conditions. The research also explores the views and contributions of family supporters: two partners, ten parents and ten care practitioners, seeking their views in order to advance the young adult’s sexual and relationship fulfilment. Until recently, surviving into adulthood with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition was unusual. Young adults with these conditions are a growing population and it is timely to explore their personal choices and considerations around sexuality, intimate relationships, and reproductive choices. The research used a qualitative approach, underpinned by a life course theoretical perspective, in conjunction with the illness experience and intersectionality with sexuality on an uncertain life course, to make sense of the participants’ varied and personal contributions. What emerged was a picture of the transitions which occur from childhood to adulthood, from comparative wellness to progressive illness, uncertainty about their life course and importantly, their sexuality. The findings suggest that the voices of this group are insufficiently heard and that there is a gap in the provision of information with respect to their transition from childhood to adulthood, particularly in relation to their sexuality and reproductive choices. As this group strives for independence and sexual citizenship, efforts need to be congruent with and grounded in the views of those most personally involved, the young adults themselves

Osteology and chondrocranial morphology of Gastrophryne carolinensis (Anura: Microhylidae), with a review of the osteological diversity of New World microhylids

Microhylidae is a large, cosmopolitan anuran family. Recent molecular analyses have demonstrated the monophyly of the family—a conclusion that is supported by the larval morphology, coupled with the unique mode of tongue protrusion in adults, and a suite of osteological and myological characters seemingly associated with this innovation in feeding. Despite this functional constraint, osteological diversity probably exceeds that of any other anuran family, and this diversity is especially evident in the New Worldmicrohylids that comprise two clades, Gastrophryninae and Otophryninae. To facilitate comparisons among these clades, we describe the larval chondrocranium, skeletal development, and adult osteology of Gastrophryne carolinensis. We provide a phylogeneticcontext for these comparisons through a novel phylogenetic analysis of 45 microhylid genera based on data for one mitochondrial and three nuclear loci from previously published studies. Nearly all relationships within the monophyletic Gastrophryninae are resolvedwith robust support. Based on these results, we found that the larval chondrocrania of gastrophrynines share morphological features that distinguish them from Otophryne and other anurans. Among the adults, all gastrophrynines show evidence of an anterior shift ofthe jaws that is correlated with specializations in the otic region, and with the alignment of the planum antorbitale, the cartilage wall separating the nasal capsule from the orbits. The larval infrarostral and the adult mandibles lack a typical anuran mandibular symphysis, and the mentomeckelian bone of the adult is modified with a special process. The most variable part of the skull is the palate in which a neopalatine usually is absent and the vomer may be single or divided. The posteromedial processes of the hyoids of gastrophynines tend to be elaborated, and some taxa bear a peculiar transverse slit in the posterior part of the hyoid corpus. The anterior zonal elements of the pectoral girdle are reduced or absent, and the posterior parts enlarged and shifted posteriorly. Most taxa have eight presacral vertebrae; depending on the taxon the last presacral is amphicoelous or procoelous