TQM in a test environment

In response to the changing aerospace economic climate, Martin Marietta Astronautics Group (MMAG) has adopted a Total Quality Management (TQM) philosophy to maintain a competitive edge. TQM emphasizes continuous improvement of processes, motivation to improve from within, cross-functional involvement, people empowerment, customer satisfaction, and modern process control techniques. The four major initiatives of TQM are Product Excellence, Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP II), People Empowerment, and Subcontract Management. The Defense Space and Communications (DS&C) Test Lab's definition and implementation of the MRP II and people empowerment initiatives within TQM are discussed. The application of MRP II to environmental test planning and operations processes required a new and innovative approach. In an 18 month span, the test labs implemented MRP II and people empowerment and achieved a Class 'A' operational status. This resulted in numerous benefits, both tangible and intangible, including significant cost savings and improved quality of life. A detailed description of the implementation process and results are addressed

Analysis of the Effects of Hypogeal and Epigeal Emergence on Seedling Competition in Legumes

Seedling emergence is either hypogeal or epigeal. In hypogeal emergence the cotyledons remain below the soil surface during seedling development, while in epigeal emergence the cotyledons extend above the soil surface due to elongation of the hypocotyl. Here we examine the effect of seed size, and emergence type, on seedling growth. Six legumes with variation in seed size and either epigeal or hypogeal emergence were grown under dark and light conditions. A competition study was also conducted where a hypogeal and epigeal legume were grown in combination with wheat and ryegrass. Legumes expressing epigeal emergence were cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), mung bean (Vigna radiata) and soybean (Glycine max Merr.), while Austrian winter pea (Pisurn sativum var. arvense (L.) Poir), field pea (Pisum arvense) and lentil (Lens culinaris) expressed hypogeal emergence. In the dark growth study, seed size did not have a direct effect on growth, but there was a correlation with the heavier seeded species having heavier seedlings. Soybean had the largest seedlings under both dark and light conditions. Wheat and ryegrass competition reduced both Austrian winter pea and soybean growth. However, the cool air-temperature during the study may have favored the growth of Austrian winter pea, a cool-season legume. Soybean, a warm-season legume, seedling development may have been limited by the cool-temperature. We could not separate hypogeal or epigeal emergence types as to seedling growth or competitiveness. However, seed size did have a direct effect on seedling size, regardless of emergence \u27 type

Mineral evaluation and Quantitative Trait Loci mapping in a soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) population developed for iron deficiency chlorosis resistance

The identification of the causal gene(s) of disease resistance is paramount in plant breeding. Nutrient analysis in plant tissues can lead to the identification of these gene(s). The objectives of this research were 1) to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for seed and leaf iron and zinc concentration in the soybean population Anoka x A7, 2) to determine if QTL for iron and zinc accumulation co-localized to the same regions of the genome, 3) to determine if any of newly identified QTL for Fe and/or Zn concentration correlate with QTL previously identified for Fe efficiency, 4) to determine the amount of variation of total phosphorus in a population developed for iron deficiency chlorosis resistance, and 5) to map total phosphorus as a QTL. Iron, zinc, and total phosphorus concentration was determined in 92 F2:4 lines from the Anoka x A7 population grown on non-calcareous soil grown in 2008 and 2009. Dry ashing was the method used to determine iron and zinc, and total phosphorus was determined through an overnight digestion. Nutrients in each set of samples were quantified using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The genetic map was integrated with the map of Lin et al. (1997) which consisted of a total of 150 markers and used to locate QTL. For the iron and zinc study, one significant QTL for iron concentration in soybean seed was mapped on chromosome 20 in the combined data. One marker in this QTL interval, pa_515-1, previously mapped an Fe efficiency QTL. This result presented evidence of a genetic link between Fe efficiency and iron concentration in soybean. In the total phosphorus study, one significant QTL was mapped on chromosome 12 for phosphorus concentration in the combined data. Candidate genes in this marker interval, S12_0711-S12_1103, are involved in the P storage and homeostasis pathways and mediate the transport of phosphate. The results of this study indicated that total phosphorus uptake and transport could be modified

High-Speed, Photon Counting CCD Cameras for Astronomy

The design of electron multiplying CCD cameras require a very different approach from that appropriate for slow scan CCD operation. This paper describes the main problems in using electron multiplying CCDs for high-speed, photon counting applications in astronomy and how these may be substantially overcome. With careful design it is possible to operate the E2V Technologies L3CCDs at rates well in excess of that claimed by the manufacturer, and that levels of clock induced charge dramatically lower than those experienced with commercial cameras that need to operate at unity gain. Measurements of the performance of the E2V Technologies CCD201 operating at 26 MHz will be presented together with a guide to the effective reduction of clock induced charge levels. Examples of astronomical results obtained with our cameras are presented.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

High-resolution imaging and spectroscopy in the visible from large ground-based telescopes with natural guide stars

Near-diffraction limited imaging and spectroscopy in the visible on large (8-10 meter) class telescopes has proved to be beyond the capabilities of current adaptive optics technologies, even when using laser guide stars. The need for high resolution visible imaging in any part of the sky suggests that a rather different approach is needed. This paper describes the results of simulations, experiments and astronomical observations that show that a combination of low order adaptive optic correction using a 4-field curvature sensor and fast Lucky Imaging strategies with a photon counting CCD camera systems should deliver 20-25 milliarcsecond resolution in the visible with reference stars as faint as 18.5 magnitude in I band on large telescopes. Such an instrument may be used to feed an integral field spectrograph efficiently using configurations that will also be described.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

Contemplative Practices: A Strategy to Improve Health and Reduce Disparities.

Health has many dimensions, and intolerance and lack of compassion may contribute to the poor health and disparities in our nation. Tolerance can convey an inherent paradox or dissonance that can be associated with stress. However, tolerance has a dimension of acceptance, an acknowledgement and acceptance of what "is" at the present moment, that can relieve tension associated with differing beliefs and practices. Compassionate consideration of others can be combined with acceptance to create harmony within and across individuals. In this article, we explore how contemplative practices can cultivate tolerance and compassion and contribute to improvements in individual and population health

Daily Scheduled High Fat Meals Moderately Entrain Behavioral Anticipatory Activity, Body Temperature, and Hypothalamic c-Fos Activation

When fed in restricted amounts, rodents show robust activity in the hours preceding expected meal delivery. This process, termed food anticipatory activity (FAA), is independent of the light-entrained clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, yet beyond this basic observation there is little agreement on the neuronal underpinnings of FAA. One complication in studying FAA using a calorie restriction model is that much of the brain is activated in response to this strong hunger signal. Thus, daily timed access to palatable meals in the presence of continuous access to standard chow has been employed as a model to study FAA in rats. In order to exploit the extensive genetic resources available in the murine system we extended this model to mice, which will anticipate rodent high fat diet but not chocolate or other sweet daily meals (Hsu, Patton, Mistlberger, and Steele; 2010, PLoS ONE e12903). In this study we test additional fatty meals, including peanut butter and cheese, both of which induced modest FAA. Measurement of core body temperature revealed a moderate preprandial increase in temperature in mice fed high fat diet but entrainment due to handling complicated interpretation of these results. Finally, we examined activation patterns of neurons by immunostaining for the immediate early gene c-Fos and observed a modest amount of entrainment of gene expression in the hypothalamus of mice fed a daily fatty palatable meal