Onboard shuttle on-line software requirements system: Prototype

The prototype discussed here was developed as proof of a concept for a system which could support high volumes of requirements documents with integrated text and graphics; the solution proposed here could be extended to other projects whose goal is to place paper documents in an electronic system for viewing and printing purposes. The technical problems (such as conversion of documentation between word processors, management of a variety of graphics file formats, and difficulties involved in scanning integrated text and graphics) would be very similar for other systems of this type. Indeed, technological advances in areas such as scanning hardware and software and display terminals insure that some of the problems encountered here will be solved in the near-term (less than five years). Examples of these solvable problems include automated input of integrated text and graphics, errors in the recognition process, and the loss of image information which results from the digitization process. The solution developed for the Online Software Requirements System is modular and allows hardware and software components to be upgraded or replaced as industry solutions mature. The extensive commercial software content allows the NASA customer to apply resources to solving the problem and maintaining documents

Orbiter fuel cell performance constraints. STS/OPS Pratt Whitney fuel cells. Operating limits for mission planning

The orbiter fuel cell powerplant (FCP) performance constraints listed in the Shuttle Operational Data Book (SODB) were analyzed using the shuttle environmental control requirements evaluation tool. The effects of FCP lifetime, coolant loops, and FCP voltage output were considered. Results indicate that the FCP limits defined in the SODB are not valid

Detailed Skylab ECS consumables analysis for the interim revision flight plan (November, 1972, SL-1 launch)

The consumables analysis was performed for the Skylab 2, 3, and 4 Preliminary Reference Interim Revision Flight Plan. The analysis and the results are based on the mission requirements as specified in the flight plan and on other available data. The results indicate that the consumables requirements for the Skylab missions allow for remaining margins (percent) of oxygen, nitrogen, and water nominal as follows: 83.5, 90.8, and 88.7 for mission SL-2; 57.1, 64.1, and 67.3 for SL-3; and 30.8, 44.3, and 46.5 for SL-4. Performance of experiment M509 as scheduled in the flight plan results in venting overboard the cluster atmosphere. This is due to the addition of nitrogen for propulsion and to the additional oxygen introduced into the cabin when the experiment is performed with the crewman suited

Estimation of Percent Body Fat by Hydrostatic Weighing in High Schools

Concerns with fitness have increased interest in body composition and ideal body weight. Although anthropometric (e.g. skinfold) measurements can quickly determine general body composition, hydrostatic weighings are more accurate. While most exercise physiology laboratories on university campuses have a specialized tank for performing hydrostatic weighings, adequate stations can be set up in any swimming pool for a minimal initial cost. Several scientific concepts can be demonstrated during this exercise: measurement of lung volumes, determination of body density and calculation of percent body fat

Investigation of Differentially Expressed Genes by RNA-Seq in Ducks (Anas Platyrhynchos) Infected with PaBV-2

Parrot bornaviruses are the etiological agents of proventricular dilatation disease (PDD), a fatal neurologic and gastrointestinal disease in birds. The virus is non-cytopathic, and the clinical presentation associated with the disease is due to inflammation and resulting injuries to the nerves. Mechanisms by which the virus evades and alters the immune system, thus producing disease, are not fully elucidated. To investigate disease caused by parrot bornavirus infections, RNA-seq was used to identify differentially expressed genes in the brains of non-infected (control) and parrot bornavirus 2 (PaBV-2) infected mallard ducks. Our hypothesis was that ducks infected, in ovo, with PaBV-2 differentially express genes associated with the immune system as compared to non-infected ducks. Mallard eggs were inoculated in ovo with PaBV-2 at day 5 of incubation, with control eggs sham inoculated with diluent without virus. At 83 (+/- 2) days post-hatch, ducks were euthanized; serum and cerebellum was collected and stored at -80°C until assayed. RNA from the cerebellar samples was sequenced, then RNA expression was quantified and compared between the groups. Differentially expressed genes with a significant difference (P < 0.01) between the infected and normal control ducks and a greater than or equal 4-fold change in expression were analyzed using Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome pathway database. From the samples, 18,146 genes were identified. Using the criteria of a P < 0.01 and a greater than or equal 4-fold change in expression, 41 genes had decreased expression and 9 genes had increased expression in the PaBV-2 infected ducks as compared to control ducks

Evaluation of Interactive User Corrections for Lecture Transcription

In this work, we present and evaluate the usage of an interactive web interface for browsing and correcting lecture transcripts. An experiment performed with potential users without transcription experience provides us with a set of example corrections. On German lecture data, user corrections greatly improve the comprehensibility of the transcripts, yet only reduce the WER to 22%. The precision of user edits is relatively low at 77% and errors in inflection, case and compounds were rarely corrected. Nevertheless, characteristic lecture data errors, such as highly specific terms, were typically corrected, providing valuable additional information

Examining Design and Inter-Rater Reliability of a Rubric Measuring Research Quality across Multiple Disciplines

The paper presents a rubric to help evaluate the quality of research projects. The rubric was applied in a competition across a variety of disciplines during a two-day research symposium at one institution in the southwest region of the United States of America. It was collaboratively designed by a faculty committee at the institution and was administered to 204 undergraduate, master, and doctoral oral presentations by approximately 167 different evaluators. No training or norming of the rubric was given to 147 of the evaluators prior to the competition. The findings of the inter-rater reliability analysis reveal substantial agreement among the judges, which contradicts literature describing the fact that formal norming must occur prior to seeing substantial levels of inter-rater reliability. By presenting the rubric along with the methodology used in its design and evaluation, it is hoped that others will find this to be a useful tool for evaluating documents and for teaching research methods. Accessed 15,405 times on https://pareonline.net from May 29, 2009 to December 31, 2019. For downloads from January 1, 2020 forward, please click on the PlumX Metrics link to the right

Hearing Threshold of Korean Adolescents Associated with the Use of Personal Music Players

Purpose: Hearing loss can lead to a number of disabilities and can reduce quality of life. Noise-induced hearing losses have become more common among adolescents due to increased exposure to personal music players. We, therefore, investigated the use of personal music player among Korean adolescents and the relationship between hearing threshold and usage pattern of portable music players. Materials and Methods: A total of 490 adolescents were interviewed personally regarding their use of portable music players, including the time and type of player and the type of headphone used. Pure tone audiometry was performed in each subject. Results: Of the 490 subjects, 462 (94.3%) used personal music players and most of them have used the personal music player for 1-3 hours per day during 1-3 years. The most common type of portable music player was the MP3 player, and the most common type of headphone was the earphone (insert type). Significant elevations of hearing threshold were observed in males, in adolescents who had used portable music players for over 5 years, for those over 15 years in cumulative period and in those who had used earphones. Conclusion: Portable music players can have a deleterious effect on hearing threshold in adolescents. To preserve hearing, adolescents should avoid using portable music players for long periods of time and should avoid using earphones