Physiology of chimpanzees in orbit. Part 1: Scientific Report

Major achievements and accomplishments are reported for the Physiology of Chimpanzees in Orbit Program. Scientific studies relate to behavior and physiology, and engineering studies cover telemetry, behavioral training, systems tests, life support subsystems, and program plan

Neutron spectral measurements in the upper atmosphere

An experiment to measure neutrons in the upper atmosphere was performed on a balloon flight from Palestine, Texas, at an altitude of about 32 km. The experimental arrangement is discussed briefly, and results of a preliminary analysis of the data for neutrons in the energy range 3 to 30 MeV are given

An examination of the patterns of failure in defense acquisition programs

Thesis (S.M. in Engineering and Management)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, System Design and Management Program, 2011.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 213-217).The history of acquisition reform dates back to the Revolutionary War era, and recommendations and actions to reform the Department of Defense's acquisition system continue today. Common themes emerge from the recommendations of countless Acts, Studies, Panels, and Commissions over the past 30 years, pointing to areas that appear to have the most impact on the system. Despite these actions and recommendations, issues remain at the program execution level, resulting in increased cost and delays in fielding needed capabilities. This work focuses on three areas. A comprehensive Literature Review of acquisition reform activities was conducted. This generated a list of common themes and focus areas that are associated with less than successful program outcomes. Following this, a series of ten patterns of behavior (acquisition archetypes) postulated for software programs developed by Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute were examined for applicability to the larger Department of Defense acquisition system and to determine their relationship to acquisition reform actions. As part of this effort, a survey of acquisition personnel was conducted to determine the relevance of these patterns of behavior. Based on these foundational works, the final step examined the results of the survey to answer four research questions. First, the survey results were analyzed to determine if the patterns of behavior were present with general and statistical relevance. The second question attempted to determine if the patterns of behavior led to measurable cost and/or schedule growth if they were present in the respondent's program. Third, the postulated root causes for the behaviors were compared to the common themes from acquisition reform activities to determine alignment. Finally, the survey results were analyzed to see if the patterns of behavior correlated to a particular program size, lead service, or "joint" program status. The findings show that the patterns of behavior are present in Department of Defense acquisition programs, and some do lead to measurable cost and/or schedule growth when identified. Acquisition Reform activities have been targeted at the areas that are reported as root causes of the behaviors, and one of the ten patterns of behavior does correlate with "joint" program status.by Gregory J. McNew.S.M.in Engineering and Managemen

Ramsey Theory Problems over the Integers: Avoiding Generalized Progressions

Two well studied Ramsey-theoretic problems consider subsets of the natural numbers which either contain no three elements in arithmetic progression, or in geometric progression. We study generalizations of this problem, by varying the kinds of progressions to be avoided and the metrics used to evaluate the density of the resulting subsets. One can view a 3-term arithmetic progression as a sequence $x, f_n(x), f_n(f_n(x))$, where $f_n(x) = x + n$, $n$ a nonzero integer. Thus avoiding three-term arithmetic progressions is equivalent to containing no three elements of the form $x, f_n(x), f_n(f_n(x))$ with $f_n \in\mathcal{F}_{\rm t}$, the set of integer translations. One can similarly construct related progressions using different families of functions. We investigate several such families, including geometric progressions ($f_n(x) = nx$ with $n > 1$ a natural number) and exponential progressions ($f_n(x) = x^n$). Progression-free sets are often constructed "greedily," including every number so long as it is not in progression with any of the previous elements. Rankin characterized the greedy geometric-progression-free set in terms of the greedy arithmetic set. We characterize the greedy exponential set and prove that it has asymptotic density 1, and then discuss how the optimality of the greedy set depends on the family of functions used to define progressions. Traditionally, the size of a progression-free set is measured using the (upper) asymptotic density, however we consider several different notions of density, including the uniform and exponential densities.Comment: Version 1.0, 13 page

Effect of Media Constituents on In Vitro Culturing of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) Shoot Tip and Leaf Disk Explants

Cowpea is an important legume food crop that is commonly grown in Arkansas and numerous other southern states. The application of biotechnological approaches for the improvement of U.S. cowpea genotypes is currently not possible due to the lack of a regeneration and transformation system. Therefore, the first priority of our research efforts is the development of a plant regeneration system that will facilitate plant transformation studies. In an effort to optimize the media requirements for tissue culturing cowpea, we evaluated the in vitro response of shoot tip and leaf disk explants to various levels of Murashige and Skoog (MS) macro and micro nutrients, vitamins, and iron. One commercial cultivar, Early Scarlet (formerly 91-135), and one advanced Arkansas breeding line, 91-245, were used as tissue sources. Shoot tips were cultured on media augmented with 5 mg/L kinetin and 0.01 mg/L naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Multiple shoots were produced from shoot tips, and these grew well when cultured on full strength MS. However, increasing MS levels to 1.5 times the standard concentration induced taller shoots from both genotypes. Leaf disks were cultured on MS media supplemented with 0.5 mg/L benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 1mg/L 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Callus proliferation was greatest on media containing full strength MS supplemented with 0.5 mg/L BAP and 1 mg/L 2,4-D. The effects of the media constituents were genotype dependent, with Early Scarlet generally producing larger shoots and greater amounts of calli. The results obtained from this study demonstrate that the plant genotype and growth hormones have the greatest influence on cowpea growth in vitro. Therefore, in developing a cowpea regeneration system, it will be necessary to test numerous genotypes in combination with various growth regulators. To improve regeneration frequencies the media components can be optimized for the genotypes of interest

Responses of male Greater Prairie-Chickens to wind energy development

Citation: Winder, V. L., Gregory, A. J., McNew, L. B., & Sandercock, B. K. (2015). Responses of male Greater Prairie-Chickens to wind energy development. Condor, 117(2), 284-296. doi:10.1650/condor-14-98.1Renewable energy resources have received increased attention because of impacts of fossil fuels on global climate change. In Kansas, USA, optimal sites for wind energy development often overlap with preferred habitats of the Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido), a lek-mating prairie grouse of conservation concern. We tested for potential effects of energy development on male Greater Prairie-Chickens in north-central Kansas. We captured males at 23 leks located 0.04 to 28 km from wind turbines during a 2-yr preconstruction period (2007-2008) and a 3-yr postconstruction period (2009-2011). First, we tested for effects of proximity to turbines, habitat, and lek size on annual probability of lek persistence and changes in male numbers. We predicted that energy development might result in behavioral avoidance of areas close to turbines, resulting in increased rates of lek abandonment and fewer males attending surviving leks. We found that distance to turbine had a negative effect on lek persistence for leks,8 km from turbines during the postconstruction period, supporting the 8-km buffer zone recommended by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as an offset for wind energy projects. Additionally, lek persistence was positively related to number of males counted at a lek and with grassland cover surrounding the lek. Second, we tested for effects of wind energy development on male body mass. We predicted that degraded habitat conditions might result in decreased body mass for males attending leks near turbines during the postconstruction period. Male body mass was similar to 2% lower during the postconstruction period, but distance to turbine did not affect body mass. Additional study is needed to determine whether short-term effects of turbines on lek persistence influence population viability of Greater Prairie-Chickens

Stabilizing And Packaging Pu Materials Per 3013 At SRS

The Savannah River Site (SRS) began packaging Pu metals into 3013 containers in April, 2003 and oxides in October, 2003. A total of 919 outer 3013 containers were made in the FB-Line at SRS when stabilization and packaging was completed in January, 2005. Experiences, lessons learned, and an overview of packaging activities are presented