Synthesis of calculational methods for design and analysis of radiation shields for nuclear rocket systems

Eight computer programs make up a nine volume synthesis containing two design methods for nuclear rocket radiation shields. The first design method is appropriate for parametric and preliminary studies, while the second accomplishes the verification of a final nuclear rocket reactor design

Towards a Classification of Charge-3 Monopoles with Symmetry

We classify all possible charge-3 monopole spectral curves with non-trivial automorphism group and within these identify those with elliptic quotients. By focussing on elliptic quotients the transcendental constraints for a monopole spectral curve become ones regarding periods of elliptic functions. We construct the Nahm data and new monopole spectral curves with $D_6$ and $V_4$ symmetry discovering a previously-unknown (to us) integrable complexification of Euler's equations. Extensions of our approach to higher charge and hyperbolic monopoles are discussed

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Chromosomes and Chromosome Fragments in Transgenic Rainbow Trout

Chromosomes and chromosome fragments from embryonic offspring of a transgenic rainbow trout were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM is an extremely useful technique for studying the structure of chromosome fragments since little morphological detail is revealed by conventional staining methodologies and light microscopy. The chromosome preparations were processed for SEM by combining an osmium-thiocarbohydrazide-osmium (OTO) technique with 2-4 nm of gold deposition. This technique revealed the organization of individual chromatin fibers in chromosome fragments and intact chromosomes. Both a linear chromosome fragment with a width similar to that of an intact chromatid (approximately 0.60 micrometers) and a spherical chromosome fragment with a diameter slightly greater than the width of an intact chromatid (0.66 micrometers) were observed in metaphase chromosome preparations. A connective fiber (200-300 nm in diameter) between a chromosome fragment and a host chromosome was observed. Interconnecting fibers (approximately 30 nm in diameter) between chromosomes, between chromosomes and fragments, and between sister chromatids were observed in every cell examined. We conclude that SEM permits a detailed analysis of chromosome fragment structure and the nature of chromosome-fragment associations that cannot be obtained using conventional light microscopy techniques

[Formian 2 and a Formian Function for Processing Polyhedric Configurations]

The work began in October 1994 with the following objectives: (1) to produce an improved version of the programming language Formian; and (2) to create a means for computer aided handling of polyhedric configurations including the geodesic forms of all kinds. A new version of Formian, referred to as Formian 2, is being implemented to operate in the Windows 95 environment. It is an ideal tool for configuration management in a convenient and user-friendly manner. The second objective was achieved by creating a standard Formian function that allows convenient handling of all types of polyhedric configurations. In particular, the focus of attention is on polyhedric configurations that are of importance in architectural and structural engineering fields. The natural medium for processing of polyhedric configurations is a programming language that incorporates the concepts of 'formex algebra'. Formian is such a programming language in which the processing of polyhedric configurations can be carried out using the standard elements of the language. A description of this function is included in a chapter for a book entitled 'Beyond the Cube: the Architecture of space Frames and Polyhedra'. A copy of this chapter is appended

The Globular Cluster Systems around NGC 3311 and NGC 3309

We present extensive new photometry in (g',i') of the large globular cluster (GC) system around NGC 3311, the central cD galaxy in the Hydra cluster. Our GMOS data cover a 5.5' field of view and reach a limiting magnitude i' = 26, about 0.5 magnitude fainter than the turnover point of the GC luminosity function. We find that NGC 3311 has a huge population of ~16, 000 GCs, closely similar to the prototypical high specific frequency Virgo giant M87. The color-magnitude distribution shows that the metal-poor blue GC sequence and the metal-richer red sequence are both present, with nearly equal numbers of clusters. Bimodal fits to the color distributions confirm that the blue sequence shows the same trend of progressively increasing metallicity with GC mass that has previously been found in many other large galaxies; the correlation we find corresponds to a scaling of GC metallicity with mass of Z ~ M^0.6 . By contrast, the red sequence shows no change of mean metallicity with mass, but it shows an upward extension to much higher than normal luminosity into the UCD-like range, strengthening the potential connections between massive GCs and UCDs. The GC luminosity function, which we measure down to the turnover point at M_I = -8.4, also has a normal form like those in other giant ellipticals. Within the Hydra field, another giant elliptical NGC 3309 is sitting just 100" from the cD NGC 3311. We use our data to solve simultaneously for the spatial structure and total GC populations of both galaxies at once. Their specific frequencies are S_N (NGC 3311) = 12.5 +/- 1.5 and S_N (NGC 3309) = 0.6 +/-0.4. NGC 3311 is completely dominant and entirely comparable with other cD-type systems such as M87 in Virgo.Comment: 15 pages, 15 figures. Accepted to the Astrophysical Journal. Version with higher resolution figures is available at http://www.thewehners.net/astro/papers/wehner_n3311_highres.pd

Total BIM in Practice: A dynamic single source of information on the construction site

The rapid advancement of digital technologies presents the construction industry with opportunities to change how site work is performed. Traditionally site work has been dominated by taking information from static construction documents such as 2D paper drawings. However, recently in the Nordic region a dynamic approach known as Total BIM has gained interest. Total BIM is an approach where BIM replaces 2D drawings as the contractual and legally binding construction document, cloud-based production-oriented BIM and powerful mobile BIM-viewers are used on-site. By having a dynamic single source of information site workers face new demands as they extract construction information directly from BIM themselves. Instead of using static 2D drawings they interact dynamically with BIM on mobile devices, changing the process of how work was implemented on the construction site. This paper is based on four real-life case studies, site visits, workshops and semi-structured interviews. Key digital Total BIM features are investigated that site workers use to perform the new work methods, including measuring, filtering, visualizing, communicating, checklists, and requests for information. These lead to a more dynamic construction process where the mobile BIM-viewer software becomes a central communication and management platform. This paper highlights the opportunities of working with dynamic Total BIM over static 2D drawings that can be used for implementing Total BIM strategy on the construction site. Furthermore, this paper addresses issues commonly found in state-of-the-art BIM projects and contributes practical concrete examples of on-site Total BIM use