From an automated flight-test management system to a flight-test engineer's workstation

The capabilities and evolution is described of a flight engineer's workstation (called TEST-PLAN) from an automated flight test management system. The concept and capabilities of the automated flight test management systems are explored and discussed to illustrate the value of advanced system prototyping and evolutionary software development

An engineering approach to the use of expert systems technology in avionics applications

The concept of using a knowledge compiler to transform the knowledge base and inference mechanism of an expert system into a conventional program is presented. The need to accommodate real-time systems requirements in applications such as embedded avionics is outlined. Expert systems and a brief comparison of expert systems and conventional programs are reviewed. Avionics applications of expert systems are discussed before the discussions of applying the proposed concept to example systems using forward and backward chaining

Report of the Terrestrial Bodies Science Working Group. Volume 4: The moon

A rationale for furture exploration of the moon is given. Topics discussed include the objectives of the lunar polar orbiter mission, the mission profile, and general characteristics of the spacraft to be used

Using Youth Participatory Evaluation to Improve a Bullying Prevention Program

We conducted a youth participatory evaluation of a bullying prevention curriculum before the curriculum was implemented in communities. We partnered with youths from a young women leaders\u27 program to reduce the number of lessons in an existing curriculum and determine which activities were likely to have the greatest impact. To evaluate the curriculum, we used star-sticker surveys and written feedback provided by the youths and observational field notes recorded by adults. We found that the youths endorsed activities involving active learning approaches, we should include summaries at the beginnings of lessons, and we should include wording alternatives for implementers to use to improve understanding of complex ideas. We also reduced 26 lessons to eight lessons

Diffusion in a generalized Rubinstein-Duke model of electrophoresis with kinematic disorder

Using a generalized Rubinstein-Duke model we prove rigorously that kinematic disorder leaves the prediction of standard reptation theory for the scaling of the diffusion constant in the limit for long polymer chains $D \propto L^{-2}$ unaffected. Based on an analytical calculation as well as Monte Carlo simulations we predict kinematic disorder to affect the center of mass diffusion constant of an entangled polymer in the limit for long chains by the same factor as single particle diffusion in a random barrier model.Comment: 29 pages, 3 figures, submitted to PR

A Matrix Approach to Numerical Solution of the DGLAP Evolution Equations

A matrix-based approach to numerical integration of the DGLAP evolution equations is presented. The method arises naturally on discretisation of the Bjorken x variable, a necessary procedure for numerical integration. Owing to peculiar properties of the matrices involved, the resulting equations take on a particularly simple form and may be solved in closed analytical form in the variable t=ln(alpha_0/alpha). Such an approach affords parametrisation via data x bins, rather than fixed functional forms. Thus, with the aid of the full correlation matrix, appraisal of the behaviour in different x regions is rendered more transparent and free of pollution from unphysical cross-correlations inherent to functional parametrisations. Computationally, the entire programme results in greater speed and stability; the matrix representation developed is extremely compact. Moreover, since the parameter dependence is linear, fitting is very stable and may be performed analytically in a single pass over the data values.Comment: 13 pages, no figures, typeset with revtex4 and uses packages: acromake, amssym

The use of an automated flight test management system in the development of a rapid-prototyping flight research facility

An automated flight test management system (ATMS) and its use to develop a rapid-prototyping flight research facility for artificial intelligence (AI) based flight systems concepts are described. The ATMS provides a flight test engineer with a set of tools that assist in flight planning and simulation. This system will be capable of controlling an aircraft during the flight test by performing closed-loop guidance functions, range management, and maneuver-quality monitoring. The rapid-prototyping flight research facility is being developed at the Dryden Flight Research Facility of the NASA Ames Research Center (Ames-Dryden) to provide early flight assessment of emerging AI technology. The facility is being developed as one element of the aircraft automation program which focuses on the qualification and validation of embedded real-time AI-based systems

Collective dynamics in crystalline polymorphs of ZnCl2_{2}: potential modelling and inelastic neutron scattering study

We report a phonon density of states measurement of $\alpha$-ZnCl$_{2}$ using the coherent inelastic neutron scattering technique and a lattice dynamical calculation in four crystalline phases of ZnCl$_{2}$ using a transferable interatomic potential. The model calculations agree reasonably well with the available experimental data on the structures, specific heat, Raman frequencies and their pressure variation in various crystalline phases. The calculated results have been able to provide a fair description of the vibrational as well as the thermodynamic properties of ZnCl$_{2}$ in all its four phases.Comment: Accepted in J. Phys.: Condens. Matte

Systems, interactions and macrotheory

A significant proportion of early HCI research was guided by one very clear vision: that the existing theory base in psychology and cognitive science could be developed to yield engineering tools for use in the interdisciplinary context of HCI design. While interface technologies and heuristic methods for behavioral evaluation have rapidly advanced in both capability and breadth of application, progress toward deeper theory has been modest, and some now believe it to be unnecessary. A case is presented for developing new forms of theory, based around generic “systems of interactors.” An overlapping, layered structure of macro- and microtheories could then serve an explanatory role, and could also bind together contributions from the different disciplines. Novel routes to formalizing and applying such theories provide a host of interesting and tractable problems for future basic research in HCI

Report of the Terrestrial Bodies Science Working Group. Volume 5: Mars

Present knowledge of the global properties and surface characteraretics of Mars and the composition and dynamics of its atmosphere are reviewed. The objectives of proposed missions, the exploration strategy, and supporting research and technology required are delineated