163 research outputs found

    Surface Warfare Center Contributions for Addressing Warfare System Development Challenges and Goals

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    Proceedings Paper (for Acquisition Research Program)The size, interdependencies, and complexity of Navy software intensive warfare systems are continuing to rapidly increase. Numerous studies and reports indicate that the majority of DoD/Navy warfare system development efforts are failing to consistently successfully deliver high quality software systems on schedule and within budget. This paper provides several examples of successful development efforts that utilized Naval Surface Warfare Center (WC) in-house expertise to successfully deliver open architecture (OA)''based multi-system and multi-platform capable software systems with reusable components. This paper also provides insight into how government in-house software expertise can be utilized to mitigate many of the documented software system acquisition challenges that prevent the successful development and delivery of high quality software systems on schedule and within budget.Acquisition Research ProgramApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

    Diagnosing the accretion flow in ultraluminous X-ray sources using soft X-ray atomic features

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    The lack of unambiguous detections of atomic features in the X-ray spectra of ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) has proven a hindrance in diagnosing the nature of the accretion flow. The possible association of spectral residuals at soft energies with atomic features seen in absorption and/or emission and potentially broadened by velocity dispersion could therefore hold the key to understanding much about these enigmatic sources. Here we show for the first time that such residuals are seen in several sources and appear extremely similar in shape, implying a common origin. Via simple arguments we assert that emission from extreme colliding winds, absorption in a shell of material associated with the ULX nebula and thermal plasma emission associated with star formation are all highly unlikely to provide an origin. Whilst CCD spectra lack the energy resolution necessary to directly determine the nature of the features (i.e. formed of a complex of narrow lines or intrinsically broad lines), studying the evolution of the residuals with underlying spectral shape allows for an important, indirect test for their origin. The ULX NGC 1313 X-1 provides the best opportunity to perform such a test due to the dynamic range in spectral hardness provided by archival observations. We show through highly simplified spectral modelling that the strength of the features (in either absorption or emission) appears to anticorrelate with spectral hardness, which would rule out an origin via reflection of a primary continuum and instead supports a picture of atomic transitions in a wind or nearby material associated with such an outflow

    Distributions and habitat associations of deep-water corals in Norfolk and Baltimore Canyons, Mid-Atlantic Bight, USA

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    A multi-disciplinary study of two major submarine canyons, Baltimore Canyon and Norfolk Canyon, off the US mid-Atlantic coast focused on the ecology and biology of canyon habitats, particularly those supporting deep-sea corals. Historical data on deep-sea corals from these canyons were sparse with less than 750 records for the mid-Atlantic region, with most being soft sediment species. This study substantially increased the number of deep-sea coral records for the target canyons and the region. Large gorgonians were the dominant structure-forming coral taxa on exposed hard substrates, but several species of scleractinians were also documented, including first observations of Lophelia pertusa in the mid-Atlantic Bight region. Coral distribution varied within and between the two canyons, with greater abundance of the octocoral Paragorgia arborea in Baltimore Canyon, and higher occurrence of stony corals in Norfolk Canyon; these observations reflect the differences in environmental conditions, particularly turbidity, between the canyons. Some species have a wide distribution (e.g., P. arborea, Primnoa resedaeformis, Anthothela grandiflora), while others are limited to certain habitat types and/or depth zones (e.g., Paramuricea placomus, L. pertusa, Solenosmilia variabilis). The distribution of a species is driven by a combination of factors, which include availability of appropriate physical structure and environmental conditions. Although the diversity of the structure-forming corals (gorgonians, branching scleractinians and large anemones) was low, many areas of both canyons supported high coral abundance and a diverse coral-associated community. The canyons provide suitable habitat for the development of deep-sea coral communities that is not readily available elsewhere on the sedimented shelf and slope of the Mid-Atlantic Bight

    Glacial melt under a porous debris layer

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    In this paper we undertake a quantitative analysis of the dynamic process by which ice underneath a dry porous debris layer melts. We show that the incorporation of debris-layer airflow into a theoretical model of glacial melting can capture the empirically observed features of the so-called Østrem curve (a plot of the melt rate as a function of debris depth). Specifically, we show that the turning point in the Østrem curve can be caused by two distinct mechanisms: the increase in the proportion of ice that is debris-covered and/or a reduction in the evaporative heat flux as the debris layer thickens. This second effect causes an increased melt rate because the reduction in (latent) energy used for evaporation increases the amount of energy available for melting. Our model provides an explicit prediction for the melt rate and the temperature distribution within the debris layer, and provides insight into the relative importance of the two effects responsible for the maximum in the Østrem curve. We use the data of Nicholson and Benn (2006) to show that our model is consistent with existing empirical measurements

    Social work education in the shadow of confederate statues and the specter of white supremacy

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    Driven by our code of ethics and our call to reckon with our embeddedness within a white supremacist institution in the US South, the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work re-visioned our approach to the MSW curriculum. Using case study methods, we trace our history and on-going work through interviews, document review, and community conversations, centering student voices. Students interviewed spoke about activism prompted by racist events on campus and nationally, and the inadequate response from the administration. Their efforts led to school-wide initiatives including curriculum shifts and accountability and action. The first-year generalist course, Confronting Oppression and Institutional Discrimination was restructured and resituated. Critical Race Theory was infused across the coursework. Two new working groups were created: The Anti-Racism Task Force and Reconciliation Standing Committee. Efforts to address racism and white supremacy in academic spaces require sustained activism to expose how racism is embedded within our institutions. While much work remains in the practice of becoming an antiracist institution, this model can serve as a prototype for others as they work to create programs that are site-specific and universally reflective of the institutional changes we need

    The Grizzly, February 9, 1999

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    Asper Notches 100th Win • Grand Opening for New Bookstore • Faculty Vote to Require Independent Learning Experience • Middle States Grades Ursinus • Spanish Department: Smaller Staff + Higher Enrollment = Big Headaches • Community Service Making a Difference at Ursinus • Opinion: Overcoming Immaturity the Key to Ending Permit Theft; Reader Response; U.S. Sells Out Integrity for Intelligence in Iraq; Free Will an Important Responsibility; Why Gephardt Will Settle for Speaker • The Classical Critic: Bravo Pindell! • Swimming Falls to Swarthmore • Gymnastics Edged by Courtland • Women\u27s Basketball Still in Playoff Hunt • Men\u27s Basketball First in Conference • Ursinus Wrestling Takes Muhlenberg and Gettysburg to the Mathttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1433/thumbnail.jp

    Interactions Between Zooplankton and Karenia brevis in the Gulf of Mexico.

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    Blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate K. brevis are common in the Gulf of Mexico, yet no in situ studies of the interactions between zooplankton and K. brevis in the Gulf of Mexico have been conducted. Zooplankton numerical abundance, biomass and taxonomic composition of nonbloom and K. brevis bloom stations within the ECOHAB study area were compared. At nonbloom stations, the most important determinant species were Parvolcalanus crassirostris, Oithona colcarva and Paracalanus quasimodo at the 5-m isobath and P. quasimodo, O. colcarva and Oikopleura dioka at the 25-m isobath. There was considerable overlap between the 5 and 25-m isobaths, with 9 species contributing to the top 90% of numerical abundance at both isobaths. Within K. brevis blooms Acartia tonsa, Centropages velificatus, Temora turbinata, Evadne tergestina, O. colcarva, O. dioika, and P. crassirostris were consistently dominant. Variations between non-bloom and bloom assemblages were evident, including variations in numerical abundance and biomass and the reduction in numerical abundance of 3 key species. Calculated grazing pressure proved insufficient to terminate K. brevis blooms, despite occasional grazing hot spots

    The Lantern Vol. 67, No. 1, Fall 1999

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    • I Write Poetry • So Many Poems Start This Way... • Mantra 99 for A. Joe • Indecision • Last Night • My Body Cut Off at the Back • Brittany Sestina • The Hearth • To Jane • Attention • Chemistry • Recombination • Buried • Going Home • Bound for Happiness • Stumble • Punk Rock • Ghost Spray and a Slingshot • Distant Voices • Beyond the Gear Shift • Damn It • Poppy Hands • Waist Deep • The Lie • Paying Your Dueshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1155/thumbnail.jp

    Delivering sustained, coordinated and integrated observations of the Southern Ocean for global impact

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    The Southern Ocean is disproportionately important in its effect on the Earth system, impacting climatic, biogeochemical, and ecological systems, which makes recent observed changes to this system cause for global concern. The enhanced understanding and improvements in predictive skill needed for understanding and projecting future states of the Southern Ocean require sustained observations. Over the last decade, the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) has established networks for enhancing regional coordination and research community groups to advance development of observing system capabilities. These networks support delivery of the SOOS 20-year vision, which is to develop a circumpolar system that ensures time series of key variables, and delivers the greatest impact from data to all key end-users. Although the Southern Ocean remains one of the least-observed ocean regions, enhanced international coordination and advances in autonomous platforms have resulted in progress toward sustained observations of this region. Since 2009, the Southern Ocean community has deployed over 5700 observational platforms south of 40°S. Large-scale, multi-year or sustained, multidisciplinary efforts have been supported and are now delivering observations of essential variables at space and time scales that enable assessment of changes being observed in Southern Ocean systems. The improved observational coverage, however, is predominantly for the open ocean, encompasses the summer, consists of primarily physical oceanographic variables, and covers surface to 2000 m. Significant gaps remain in observations of the ice-impacted ocean, the sea ice, depths >2000 m, the air-ocean-ice interface, biogeochemical and biological variables, and for seasons other than summer. Addressing these data gaps in a sustained way requires parallel advances in coordination networks, cyberinfrastructure and data management tools, observational platform and sensor technology, two-way platform interrogation and data-transmission technologies, modeling frameworks, intercalibration experiments, and development of internationally agreed sampling standards and requirements of key variables. This paper presents a community statement on the major scientific and observational progress of the last decade, and importantly, an assessment of key priorities for the coming decade, toward achieving the SOOS vision and delivering essential data to all end-users.Fil: Newman, Louise. University of Tasmania; AustraliaFil: Heil, Petra. Australian Antarctic Division; Australia. Antarctic Climate And Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre; AustraliaFil: Trebilco, Rowan. Australian Antarctic Division; Australia. Antarctic Climate And Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre; AustraliaFil: Katsumata, Katsuro. Japan Agency For Marine earth Science And Technology; JapónFil: Constable, Andrew J.. Antarctic Climate And Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre; Australia. Australian Antarctic Division; AustraliaFil: Wijk, Esmee van. Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organization; Australia. Antarctic Climate And Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre; AustraliaFil: Assmann, Karen. University Goteborg; SueciaFil: Beja, Joana. British Oceanographic Data Centre; AustraliaFil: Bricher, Phillippa. University of Tasmania; AustraliaFil: Coleman, Richard. University of Tasmania; AustraliaFil: Costa, Daniel. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Diggs, Steve. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Farneti, Riccardo. The Abdus Salam; Italia. The Abdus Salam. International Centre for Theoretical Physics; ItaliaFil: Fawcett, Sarah. University of Cape Town; SudáfricaFil: Gille, Sarah. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Hendry, Katharine R.. University of Bristol; Reino UnidoFil: Henley, Sian F.. University of Edinburgh; Reino UnidoFil: Hofmann, Eileen. Old Dominion University; Estados UnidosFil: Maksym, Ted. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Mazloff, Matthew. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Meijers, Andrew J.. British Antartic Survey; Reino UnidoFil: Meredith, Michael. British Antartic Survey; Reino UnidoFil: Moreau, Sebastien. Norwegian Polar Institute; NoruegaFil: Ozsoy, Burcu. Istanbul Teknik Üniversitesi; TurquíaFil: Robertson, Robin. Xiamen University; ChinaFil: Schloss, Irene Ruth. Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Schofield, Oscar. State University of New Jersey; Estados UnidosFil: Shi, Jiuxin. Ocean University Of China; ChinaFil: Sikes, Elisabeth L.. State University of New Jersey; Estados UnidosFil: Smith, Inga J.. University of Otago; Nueva Zeland
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