Quantitative Analysis of the Impact of Agricultural Management Strategies on Environmental Indicators

This study uses an integrated economic-environmental modeling system to provide quantitative estimates that were used in the process of setting provincial environmental outcome targets under the APF. The analysis represents a joint effort of the Department's physical scientists, economists and policy analysts. This approach provides the ability to model the impacts of agricultural production and the adoption of Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) on the Canadian environment. The analysis quantifies the impacts of various management practices on air, soil, and water quality as well as biodiversity through measurable and meaningful indicators. It also assists in identifying appropriate environmental goals by providing an indication of achievable outcomes as a result of adopting environmental management practices. This study is based on existing agri-environmental indicators and integrated modeling capacity. The limitations of these analytical tools and results are recognized.sustainability of agriculture, agricultural policy, environmental issues, social issues, environmental outcome targets, Environmental Economics and Policy, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Autonomous attitude estimation via star sensing and pattern recognition

Results are reported on the development of an autonomous, onboard, near real time spacecraft attitude estimation technique. The approach uses CCD based star sensors to digitize relative star positions. Three microcomputers are envisioned, configured in parallel, to: (1) determine star image centroids and delete spurious images; (2) identify measured stars with stars in an onboard catalog and determine discrete attitude estimates; (3) integrate gyro rate measurements and determine optimal real time attitude estimates for use in the control system and for feedback to the star identification algorithm. Algorithms for the star identification are presented. The discrete attitude estimation algorithm recovers thermally varying interlock angles between two star sensors. The optimal state estimation process recovers rate gyro biases in addition to real time attitude estimates

Optimal large angle maneuvers with simultaneous shape control/vibration arrest

A relaxation method is demonstrated which reliably solves the nonlinear two point boundary value problem which arises when optimal control theory is applied to determination of large angle maneuvers of flexible spacecraft. The basic ideas are summarized and several idealized maneuvers are determined. The emphasis is upon demonstrating the basic ideas and practical aspects of the methodology

Large Angle Satellite Attitude Maneuvers

Two methods are proposed for performing large angle reorientation maneuvers. The first method is based upon Euler's rotation theorem; an arbitrary reorientation is ideally accomplished by rotating the spacecraft about a line which is fixed in both the body and in space. This scheme has been found to be best suited for the case in which the initial and desired attitude states have small angular velocities. The second scheme is more general in that a general class of transition trajectories is introduced which, in principle, allows transfer between arbitrary orientation and angular velocity states. The method generates transition maneuvers in which the uncontrolled (free) initial and final states are matched in orientation and angular velocity. The forced transition trajectory is obtained by using a weighted average of the unforced forward integration of the initial state and the unforced backward integration of the desired state. The current effort is centered around practical validation of this second class of maneuvers. Of particular concern is enforcement of given control system constraints and methods for suboptimization by proper selection of maneuver initiation and termination times. Analogous reorientation strategies which force smooth transition in angular momentum and/or rotational energy are under consideration

The Dealings of a Few of the Church at York Who Call Themselves Christians, with Samuel Junkins and His Wife: Together with a Short Sketch of Her Own Christian Experience, Written by Her Own Hand

Reprint of a pamphlet promoting beliefs associated with the Cochranites, or the Society of Free Brethren (1816-1819). Printed [in York, Maine?] for the author in 1825, and recently acquired by Hamilton College

Campaign Finance Reform in the United States in the Wake of Citizens United vs. FEC 2010

The Citizens United v. FEC 2010 Supreme Court case confirmed that it was legal for individuals, corporations, unions, and other groups to make unlimited independent political expenditures. Since this ruling, super PACs have played a significant role in national elections in the United States as there are no legal limits on the size of donations they can accept or political expenditures they can make. Due to the growing influence of money in politics, campaign finance reform has become a major issue for 2016 presidential candidates. Conversation about the influence of money in politics has erupted from all ends of the political spectrum sparking a dialogue among Americans about the need for reform. This research explores three proposed alternatives to reforming the current political system after the Citizens United v. FEC decision. Among the proposed alternatives are propositions for constitutional amendments, citizen funded elections, and laws to take away the lobbying power of corporations and special interest groups. This thesis provides an analysis of the proposed alternatives to Citizens United regarding the feasibility, practicality, and sustainability of each proposed course of action with the common goal of eliminating the corrupting force of unlimited and unrestrained money in the political system

The construction and evaluation of exercises for developing visual discrimination in beginning reading

Thesis (Ed. M.)--Boston University, 194

Data acquisition and reduction for the University of Virginia superconducting magnetic suspension and balance facility

The problems associated with data acquisition and reduction in the U. Va. superconducting magnetic suspension and balance facility are similar to those in free-flight ranges (or tunnels). The model undergoes a quasi-six-degree-of-freedom motion which must be monitored both in position and angular orientation from which the aerodynamics must be inferred. The data acquisition problem is made more difficult because geometric constraints prevent direct visual access to the model in the Mach 3 wind tunnel. The methods, accuracies, and problems associated with the acquisition of data are discussed