A Selection of Giant Radio Sources from NVSS

Results of the application of pattern recognition techniques to the problem of identifying Giant Radio Sources (GRS) from the data in the NVSS catalog are presented and issues affecting the process are explored. Decision-tree pattern recognition software was applied to training set source pairs developed from known NVSS large angular size radio galaxies. The full training set consisted of 51,195 source pairs, 48 of which were known GRS for which each lobe was primarily represented by a single catalog component. The source pairs had a maximum separation of 20 arc minutes and a minimum component area of 1.87 square arc minutes at the 1.4 mJy level. The importance of comparing resulting probability distributions of the training and application sets for cases of unknown class ratio is demonstrated. The probability of correctly ranking a randomly selected (GRS, non-GRS) pair from the best of the tested classifiers was determined to be 97.8 +/- 1.5%. The best classifiers were applied to the over 870,000 candidate pairs from the entire catalog. Images of higher ranked sources were visually screened and a table of over sixteen hundred candidates, including morphological annotation, is presented. These systems include doubles and triples, Wide-Angle Tail (WAT) and Narrow-Angle Tail (NAT), S- or Z-shaped systems, and core-jets and resolved cores. While some resolved lobe systems are recovered with this technique, generally it is expected that such systems would require a different approach.Comment: 20 pages of text, 6 figures, 22 pages tables, total 55 pages. The stub for Table 6 is followed by the complete machine readable file. To be published in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement. Revision 1: Corrected typos, references updated/corrected, addition to acknowledgments. Five candidates identified as SNR (Thanks to D. A. Green

Electric discharge machine for preparation of diamond anvil cell sample chambers

We have designed and constructed a novel electric discharge machine designed primarily for the preparation of sample chambers in rhenium and stainless steel gaskets for diamond anvil cell experiments. Our design combines automatic stage movement with relatively low voltage (100 V) operation and routinely achieves a drilling/erosion speed of approximately 0.4 μms−1. The machine is used for preparing 100 μm diameter sample chambers for diamond anvil cell experiments with 250 μm culets and has also been used to prepare 50 μm diameter sample chambers for diamond anvil cell experiments with 100 μm culets to access a pressure of 165 GPa

How Mexico's Dairy Industry Has Evolved Under the NAFTA - Implications for U.S. Dairy Exporters and U.S. Investors in Mexico's Dairy-Food Businesses

This Discussion Paper shows that the demand for imported dairy products will continue to be strong in Mexico, especially after the 2001-2002 recession ends. However, Mexico's dairy markets have matured under the NAFTA. As part of the maturity, a larger number of strong domestic firms have emerged and powerful European multi-nationals have increased dairy product sales in Mexico. In addition, the expansion of U.S. exports of fluid milk, yogurt, dried whey, and lactose to Mexico will be slow in near future because U.S. market shares of imports of these products are already large. Thus, Mexico's dairy markets no longer represent "low hanging fruit" (if they ever did) for U.S. dairy exporters and direct investorsNAFTA, Maturing Mexican Dairy Markets, U.S. Dairy Exports to Mexico, Demand and Price Analysis, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, International Development, International Relations/Trade,

Crew appliance study

Viable crew appliance concepts were identified by means of a thorough literature search. Studies were made of the food management, personal hygiene, housekeeping, and off-duty habitability functions to determine which concepts best satisfy the Space Shuttle Orbiter and Modular Space Station mission requirements. Models of selected appliance concepts not currently included in the generalized environmental-thermal control and life support systems computer program were developed and validated. Development plans of selected concepts were generated for future reference. A shuttle freezer conceptual design was developed and a test support activity was provided for regenerative environmental control life support subsystems

Crew appliance concepts. Volume 4, appendix C: Modular space station appliances supporting engineering data

Data collected for the appliances considered for the space station are presented along with plotted and tabulated trade study results for each appliance. The food management, and personal hygiene data are applicable to a six-man mission of 180-days

Crew appliance concepts. Volume 2, appendix B: Shuttle orbiter appliances supporting engineering data

Technical data collected for the food management and personal hygiene appliances considered for the shuttle orbiter are presented as well as plotted and tabulated trade study results for each appliance. Food storage, food operation, galley cleanup, waste collection/transfer, body cleansing, and personal grooming were analyzed