2,437 research outputs found
Modeling least-impact ATV trails in Berlin, NH with established fine-grained evaluation criteria (RSA 215-A: 43)
The evaluation of 7200 acres of land in Berlin, NH was conducted using the New Hampshire State Statues regarding fine-grained evaluation criteria for ATV trails (RSA 215-A: 43) to determine its viability as a multi-use trail park. A geographical information system (GIS) was used to facilitate the location of land, which is suited for trail construction. A comprehensive exploration of data led to the development of a geospatial database in which each criteria was given spatial value. Next, each of the 29 statutes regarding trail placement was analyzed and mapped to determine co-occurrence. Approximately, 1800 acres, or 25% of the total area of the proposed site is coincident with at least 1 statute prohibiting trail construction and of that, 20% is coincident with 2 or more statutes. The GIS proved to be a useful tool when interpreting laws involving spatial information in order to make responsible land use decisions
Availability of Proficient Entry-level Airline Pilots: A Factor in Four of Six Hiring Criteria Tested
This study was conducted to determine if a relationship exists between the availability of proficient entry-level airline pilots and the level of flight training required of new-hire pilots at regional airlines. Hiring criteria were used to represent the level of flight training of entry-level pilots. In four of six hiring criteria tested, availability of proficient entry-level pilots proved to be a factor in adherence to or relaxation of the hiring criteria by regional airlines
The SERENDIP 2 SETI project: Current status
Over the past 30 years, interest in extraterrestrial intelligence has progressed from philosophical discussion to rigorous scientific endeavors attempting to make contact. Since it is impossible to assess the probability of success and the amount of telescope time needed for detection, Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Projects are plagued with the problem of attaining the large amounts of time needed on the world's precious few large radio telescopes. To circumvent this problem, the Search for Extraterrestrial Radio Emissions from Nearby Developed Intelligent Populations (SERENDIP) instrument operates autonomously in a piggyback mode utilizing whatever observing plan is chosen by the primary observer. In this way, large quantities of high-quality data can be collected in a cost-effective and unobtrusive manner. During normal operations, SERENDIP logs statistically significant events for further offline analysis. Due to the large number of terrestrial and near-space transmitters on earth, a major element of the SERENDIP project involves identifying and rejecting spurious signals from these sources. Another major element of the SERENDIP Project (as well as most other SETI efforts) is detecting extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) signals. Events selected as candidate ETI signals are studied further in a targeted search program which utilizes between 24 to 48 hours of dedicated telescope time each year
Automated analysis of quantitative image data using isomorphic functional mixed models, with application to proteomics data
Image data are increasingly encountered and are of growing importance in many
areas of science. Much of these data are quantitative image data, which are
characterized by intensities that represent some measurement of interest in the
scanned images. The data typically consist of multiple images on the same
domain and the goal of the research is to combine the quantitative information
across images to make inference about populations or interventions. In this
paper we present a unified analysis framework for the analysis of quantitative
image data using a Bayesian functional mixed model approach. This framework is
flexible enough to handle complex, irregular images with many local features,
and can model the simultaneous effects of multiple factors on the image
intensities and account for the correlation between images induced by the
design. We introduce a general isomorphic modeling approach to fitting the
functional mixed model, of which the wavelet-based functional mixed model is
one special case. With suitable modeling choices, this approach leads to
efficient calculations and can result in flexible modeling and adaptive
smoothing of the salient features in the data. The proposed method has the
following advantages: it can be run automatically, it produces inferential
plots indicating which regions of the image are associated with each factor, it
simultaneously considers the practical and statistical significance of
findings, and it controls the false discovery rate.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/10-AOAS407 the Annals of
Applied Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aoas/) by the Institute of
Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org
Pyramidal Atoms: Berylliumlike Hollow States
Based on the idea that four excited electrons arrange themselves around the
nucleus in the corners of a pyramid in order to minimize their mutual
repulsion, we present an analytical model of quadruply excited states. The
model shows excellent comparison with ab initio results and provides a clear
physical picture of the intrinsic motion of the four electrons. The model is
used to predict configuration-mixing fractions and spectra of these highly
correlated states.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
High Altitude Ozone Research Balloon
In order to create a mission model of the high altitude ozone research balloon (HAORB) several options for flight preparation, altitude control, flight termination, and payload recovery were considered. After the optimal launch date and location for two separate HAORB flights were calculated, a method for reducing the heat transfer from solar and infrared radiation was designed and analytically tested. This provided the most important advantage of the HAORB over conventional balloons, i.e., its improved flight duration. Comparisons of different parachute configurations were made, and a design best suited for the HAORB's needs was determined to provide for payload recovery after flight termination. In an effort to avoid possible payload damage, a landing system was also developed
Heat storage capability of a rolling cylinder using Glauber's salt
The rolling cylinder phase change heat storage concept was developed to the point where a prototype design is completed and a cost analysis is prepared. A series of experimental and analytical tasks are defined to establish the thermal, mechanical, and materials behavior of rolling cylinder devices. These tasks include: analyses of internal and external heat transfer; performance and lifetime testing of the phase change materials; corrosion evaluation; development of a mathematical model; and design of a prototype and associated test equipment
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