The Plasma Interaction Experiment (PIX) description and test program

The plasma interaction experiment (PIX) is a battery powered preprogrammed auxiliary payload on the LANDSAT-C launch. This experiment is part of a larger program to investigate space plasma interactions with spacecraft surfaces and components. The varying plasma densities encountered during available telemetry coverage periods are deemed sufficient to determine first order interactions between the space plasma environment and the biased experimental surfaces. The specific objectives of the PIX flight experiment are to measure the plasma coupling current and the negative voltage breakdown characteristics of a solar array segment and a gold plated steel disk. Measurements will be made over a range of surface voltages up to plus or minus kilovolt. The orbital environment will provide a range of plasma densities. The experimental surfaces will be voltage biased in a preprogrammed step sequence to optimize the data returned for each plasma region and for the available telemetry coverage

Demonstration of the Zero-Crossing Phasemeter with a LISA Test-bed Interferometer

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) is being designed to detect and study in detail gravitational waves from sources throughout the Universe such as massive black hole binaries. The conceptual formulation of the LISA space-borne gravitational wave detector is now well developed. The interferometric measurements between the sciencecraft remain one of the most important technological and scientific design areas for the mission. Our work has concentrated on developing the interferometric technologies to create a LISA-like optical signal and to measure the phase of that signal using commercially available instruments. One of the most important goals of this research is to demonstrate the LISA phase timing and phase reconstruction for a LISA-like fringe signal, in the case of a high fringe rate and a low signal level. We present current results of a test-bed interferometer designed to produce an optical LISA-like fringe signal previously discussed in the literature.Comment: find minor corrections in the CQG versio

Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Melanoma Incidence Rates in Georgia: 2000-2011

Background: The objective of this research was to investigate melanoma incidence rates and health outcomes in Georgia over time and by race, socio-economic status (SES), and gender. Methods: Age-adjusted melanoma incidence rates were obtained from the Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry SEER*Stat Database (2000-2011). To compare incidence rates across counties, and public health districts and by race, SES and gender, maps were generated using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). A cluster analysis was performed by use of SaTScan, and maps were created to visualize clusters of melanoma cases. Results: In Georgia, from 2000-2011, age-adjusted incidence rates for melanoma were higher among Whites than Blacks (28.0 vs. 1.1 per 100,000 population). For both races, high rates were found to be associated with high SES. For Whites, high rates were concentrated in urban areas relative to Blacks in rural areas. Clusters of melanoma incident cases were found mainly in the north central region of Georgia. Conclusions: For Georgia, results for map comparisons are consistent with previous research findings that higher melanoma incidence rates are associated with high SES for Whites and, to a lesser extent, for Blacks. Melanoma interventions in Georgia should focus on urban White and rural Black at-risk populations, especially those with high SES

Emergency Management

Dear Applicant

Relationship of thromboxane generation to the aggregation of platelets from humans: Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid

A non-linear relationship between the percent aggregation of human platelets and the amount of TXB2 generated requires investigators to use caution when using the data to assess antiplatelet regimens. The relationship approximates a hyperbola with a roughly linear relationship from 0 to 70% aggregation and 0 to 50 ng TXB2 per ml of platelet-rich plasma. Above these values, the amount of TXB2 produced may increase up to 500 ng per ml of platelet-rich plasma with no clear relationship to the observed platelet function of aggregation. Also, appreciable inhibition of TXB2 formation can occur at high TXB2 levels with no detectable decrease in aggregation. Thus, assessment of antiplatelet regimens using TXB2 formation alone are unlikely to be interpretable without reference to this non-linear property of platelet function. We applied this concept when evaluating a study of forty subjects with dietary supplements of 1.8 g or 2.7 g of ethyl eicosapentaenoate (20:5n-3) for four weeks. There was a moderate,but statistically significant decrease in average values for the percent aggregation (60+/-15 to 45+/-30) and thromboxane production (51+/-30 to 33+/-31 ng/ml) the differences in mean values were slight relative to the overall standard deviations, reductions of platelet function were clearly evident in 31 of 40 subjects when paired results were examined relative to the recognized hyperbolic relationship.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25520/1/0000061.pd

Flight with lift modulation inside a planetary atmosphere

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76287/1/AIAA-7461-486.pd

COMPUTER-CONTROLLED GAS CHROMATOGRAPH CAPABLE OF ''REAL-TIME'' READOUT OF HIGH-PRECISION DATA.

A gas chromatograph has been assembled which provides computer control of sample injection, column temperature, and flow rate, plus direct computer readout of inlet pressure, mass flow rate, and detector response. Data processing yields, in real-time, a standard deviation of less than 0.05% in retention time, which is comparable to previous results obtained using an off-line computer. However, corrected retention volumes determined in real-time had a standard deviation of about 0.4% which reflected primarily the uncertainty in flow measurement

Owyhee Russet: AVariety with High Yields of U.S. No. 1 Tubers, Excellent Processing Quality, and Moderate Resistance to Fusarium Dry Rot (\u3ci\u3eFusarium solani var. coeruleum\u3c/i\u3e)

Owyhee Russet (AO96160-3) originated from a cross between A89384-10 and A89512-3 in 1996. Owyhee Russet was released in 2009 by Oregon State University, in cooperation with the USDA-ARS and the Agricultural Experiment Stations of Idaho and Washington and is a product of the Northwest Potato Variety (Tri-State) Development Program. Owyhee Russet has semi-erect medium sized vines with medium to late maturity. The tubers are long, with a tan skin, medium russeting, and attractive tuber appearance for fresh market. Owyhee Russet was evaluated in several locations across the Northwest for more than 15 years. Total yield of Owyhee Russet is similar to that of Russet Burbank and Ranger Russet but significantly higher than Russet Norkotah. U.S. No.1 tuber yield of Owyhee Russet is significantly higher than Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah, resulting in substantially higher marketable yield. Owyhee Russet tubers have significantly higher specific gravity than Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah. Fry color following tuber storage at 4°C and 9°C is significantly lighter for Owyhee Russet than the comparison varieties. Relative strengths include high yield with a very high proportion of U.S. No.1 tubers, good tuber appearance and excellent processing quality, resistance to cold sweetening, common scab and Fusarium dry rot. Weaknesses include susceptibility to foliar and tuber late blight and susceptibility to metribuzin herbicide injury. Allelic patterns of five SSR markers have shown that Owyhee Russet has a distinctive DNA genetic fingerprint from its russet type reference varieties which are Ranger Russet, Russet Burbank, and Russet Norkotah