Utilization of satellite imagery by in-flight aircraft

Present and future utilization of satellite weather data by commercial aircraft while in flight was assessed. Weather information of interest to aviation that is available or will become available with future geostationary satellites includes the following: severe weather areas, jet stream location, weather observation at destination airport, fog areas, and vertical temperature profiles. Utilization of this information by in-flight aircraft is especially beneficial for flights over the oceans or over remote land areas where surface-based observations and communications are sparse and inadequate

High altitude Robin data-reduction program

Computer program for Robin data reductio

Optimum radars and filters for the passive sphere system

Studies have been conducted to determine the influence of the tracking radar and data reduction technique on the accuracy of the meteorological measurements made in the 30 to 100 kilometer altitude region by the ROBIN passive falling sphere. A survey of accuracy requirements was made of agencies interested in data from this region of the atmosphere. In light of these requirements, various types of radars were evaluated to determine the tracking system most applicable to the ROBIN, and methods were developed to compute the errors in wind and density that arise from noise errors in the radar supplied data. The effects of launch conditions on the measurements were also examined. Conclusions and recommendations have been made concerning the optimum tracking and data reduction techniques for the ROBIN falling sphere system

Performance of an alpha-vane and pitot tube in simulated heavy rain environment

Experimental tests were conducted in the UDRI Environmental Wind/Rain Tunnel to establish the performance of an alpha-vane, that measures angle of attack, in a simulated heavy rain environment. The tests consisted of emersing the alpha-vane in an airstream with a concurrent water spray penetrating vertically through the airstream. The direction of the spray was varied to make an angle of 5.8 to 18 deg with the airstream direction in order to simulate the conditions that occur when an aircraft lands in a heavy rain environment. Rainrates simulated varied from 1000 to 1200 mm/hr which are the most severe ever expected to be encountered by an aircraft over even a 30 second period. Tunnel airspeeds ranged from 85 to 125 miles per hour. The results showed that even the most severe rainrates produced a misalignment in the alpha-vane of only 1 deg away from the airstream direction. Thus for normal rain conditions experienced by landing aircraft no significant deterioration in alpha-vane performance is expected

Aerodynamic penalties of heavy rain on a landing aircraft

The aerodynamic penalties of very heavy rain on landing aircraft were investigated. Based on severity and frequency of occurrence, the rainfall rates of 100 mm/hr, 500 mm/hr, and 2000 mm/hr were designated, respectively, as heavy, severe, and incredible. The overall and local collection efficiencies of an aircraft encountering these rains were calculated. The analysis was based on raindrop trajectories in potential flow about an aircraft. All raindrops impinging on the aircraft are assumed to take on its speed. The momentum loss from the rain impact was later used in a landing simulation program. The local collection efficiency was used in estimating the aerodynamic roughness of an aircraft in heavy rain. The drag increase from this roughness was calculated. A number of landing simulations under a fixed stick assumption were done. Serious landing shortfalls were found for either momentum or drag penalties and especially large shortfalls for the combination of both. The latter shortfalls are comparable to those found for severe wind shear conditions

An evaluation of electrochemical concentration Cell (ECC) sonde measurements of atmospheric ozone

Using Dobson spectrophotometer measurements of total ozone as a comparison, an analysis of the electrochemical concentration cell (ECC) ozonesonde's measurement accuracy is presented. Days of conjunctive ECC-Dobson observations (from 1970 to 1976 at Wallops Flight Center) provide a set of 123 pairs of total ozone values. Sample set statistics are generated with means and standard deviations of total ozone values and differences being noted. An in-depth study of factors such as time assumptions used in calculating residual ozone, and other possible sources of errors are examined. A study of ECC ozone profiles is also presented with an evaluation of sonde measurement of seasonal trends, altitude or peak ozone concentration, and other important ozone parameters. Short-period changes in total ozone using Dobson data during the observational period are also described

Improved Performance and Stability of the Knockoff Filter and an Approach to Mixed Effects Modeling of Sequentially Randomized Trials

The knockoff filter is a variable selection technique for linear regression with finite-sample control of the regression false discovery rate (FDR). The regression FDR is the expected proportion of selected variables which, in fact, have no effect in the regression model. The knockoff filter constructs a set of synthetic variables which are known to be irrelevant to the regression and, by serving as negative controls, help identify relevant variables. The first two thirds of this thesis describe tradeoffs between power and collinearity due to tuning choices in the knockoff filter and provide a stabilization method to reduce variance and improve replicability of the selected variable set using the knockoff filter. The final third of this thesis develops an approach for mixed modeling and estimation for sequential multiple assignment randomized trials (SMARTs). SMARTs are an important data collection tool for informing the construction of dynamic treatment regimens (DTRs), which use cumulative patient information to recommend specific treatments during the course of an intervention. A common primary aim in a SMART is the marginal mean comparison between two or more of the DTRs embedded in the trial, and the mixed modeling approach is developed for these primary aim comparisons based on a continuous, longitudinal outcome. The method is illustrated using data from a SMART in autism research.PHDStatisticsUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163099/1/luers_1.pd

Prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer with turmeric and its main active constituent, curcumin

PROBLEM: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a top three leading cause of death among western countries. Epidemiological evidence shows a positive correlation between western diet, which consists of high-fat, meat and processed foods. Positive correlations indicate that diets high in fruits and vegetables could greatly decrease risk of CRC. Specifically the ubiquitous spice, turmeric, and its main active constituent have been broadly researched to determine its efficacy in the treatment and prevention of CRC. RESULTS: Curcumin proves to be effective in the treatment and prevention of CRC. It acts as a chemosensitizer for chemotherapeutics which increases their effectiveness especially against chemoresistant CRC cell lines. In many in vitro studies curcumin has inhibited critical pathways involved in CRC progression such as Wnt/β-catenin and sonic hedgehog pathway. Curcumin can also act as a ligand for VDR, which is significant because high vitamin D intake is associated with a decreased risk of CRC. In vivo, curcumin has minimized tumor growth in animal models. In clinical trials curcumin proves to be a naturally derived, non-toxic agent. CONCLUSION: Curcumin and turmeric should be further studied for its use against CRC, specifically its use in nanotechnology and NDDS as either a stand-alone nutraceutical or a chemosensitizer. Additionally, it would likely be advantageous to prescribe turmeric in the diet in combination with black pepper, heat, and oil (which increases its bioavailability) in patients at high risk of developing CRC

Talking With The Enemy: An Investigation of US Efforts to Talk with the Enemy from 1933 to the Present

Through a detailed investigation of a series of case studies, this course will examine past efforts of President’s of the United States to manage relations with “enemies” or adversaries. The course will examine the different strategies used by Presidents to enter conflict or engage in diplomacy (“talking with the enemy”) and explore the various theories connected with decision making. The course will cover case studies ranging from Roosevelt’s 1933 opening of relations with the USSR and the decision at Munich to “appease’ Hitler, the decision to drop the Atomic Bomb up to present day debates over US policy toward North Korea, Libya, Cuba, and whether the US should talk directly with Iran The course will also consider how the US might deal with groups in the new paradigm of non-state actors such as Taliban, Hamas, and Hezbollah

The Influence of Environmental Factors on the Temperature of the Radiosonde Thermistor

A technique was developed to calculate the radiosonde temperature error as a function of altitude under different environmental conditions. The environmental conditions analyzed include the surface (or cloud) temperature, the atmospheric gaseous constinuents, the aerosol and thermodynamic structure of the atmosphere, the solar elevation angle, the solar albedo, the rise rate of the balloon, and the atmospheric density. The heat balance equations for the thermistor and lead wires were derived and a sensitivity analysis performed to establish the significance of each heating term. The Air Force LOWTRAN 6 code was used to model the solar and infrared irradiation of the thermistor in terms of the environmental parameters. LOWTRAN 6 output was then used to generate the radiation input to the heat balance equations of the thermistor and lead wires. The temperature error of the radiosonde was derived by solving these heat balance equations. This technique for calculating the radiosonde temperature error was validated by comparing with data from flights of experimental radiosondes containing the Standard NWS radiosonde thermistor and three other thermistors with different radiative coatings. Each coating exhibited a different solar absorptance and infrared emission property which allowed the direct calculation of the radiosonde temperature error. The experimental measurements were compared with that predicted by the modeling technique. Comparisons were made between eight flights; four at night, three daylight, and one twilight, which occurred during all seasons of the year and under various surface conditions. The comparisons showed good agreement. For the flights analyzed the temperature error at nighttime was small below 20 Km, and increased negatively above this altitude. At 30 Km the error generally exceeded -1° K. During the daytime the temperature was positive and sometimes took on its maximum value as low as 20 Km. At altitudes near 30 Km and above the error often decreased due to influences of an increasing atmospheric temperature. Results from this study suggest that the radiosonde temperature error is likely to differ at different latitudes and solar elevation angles because of differing radiative fluxes to the thermistor and because of differing atmospheric temperature profiles