Oregon NMR Consortium: A Collaboratory for NMR Data Acquisition and Processing

The Oregon NMR consortium was created to provide access to a modern, high-field 400 MHz NMR spectrometer for students and faculty at several two-year and small four-year institutions. Students use both on-site and remote access to conduct their NMR experiments. Remote access involves connecting to the NMR console over the Internet. Features of the consortium are described, including the details of remote access, sample transport, and data processing. This paper also discusses the impact that the access to the NMR spectrometer has had on student achievement of several learning goals in the organic chemistry courses at the partner institutions

Over the River and Through the Woods : An Analysis of Understory and Canopy Plant Diversity in Urban Riparian Forests

As population growth explodes and urban areas expand, studying the ecology of urban areas has become increasingly important. Urban development has been shown to drastically alter native habitats and to severely degrade biodiversity. However, urban landscapes also hold the potential to harbor and support valuable biodiversity especially if managed correctly. We studied the understory herbaceous plant and overstory tree canopy diversity of eight forested ravines in the small cities of Rock Island and Moline IL surrounded by a range of urban development intensity. The goal of the project was to determine whether or not the composition of the plant communities was driven by urbanization and habitat fragmentation. The understory herbaceous community and the overstory tree community were sampled separately. The quality of the plant community was quantified as species richness, Shannon’s diversity index (SDI), and Floristic Quality Index (FQI). Urbanization was quantified as the mean imperviousness and percent developed land cover, and habitat fragmentation as percent forest cover within a 250m radius of the site. Combined understory and overstory species richness was found to be negatively correlated with mean imperviousness and positively correlated with percent forested land cover. An indicator species analysis of the herbaceous understory communities showed them to be dominated by early successional and invasive species. The quality of the herbaceous communities was negatively associated with increasing urbanization intensity. The quality of the overstory tree communities was also negatively associated with increasing urbanization. Overall, the FQI of each site indicated that the ravines are of moderate to minimal biodiversity significance, typical of degraded urban habitats, yet some sites show promise for improvement. Given that we found urbanization intensity to have a significant negative effect on native biodiversity, we suggest that the ravines and the surrounding neighborhoods be properly managed in order to improve the ecological and social well being of the Quad Cities area. This includes removal of impervious surfaces, use of native species landscaping, and social awareness of the value of local forests

Flight set 360L009 (STS-36) case and seals component, volume 2

The performance of the 360L009, Ninth Flight, Redesigned Solid Rocket Motors (RSRM) is assessed in respect to case hardware and joint sealing issues as seen from post-fire assessment of the case and seals. In addition, all of the potential anomalies have been classified and summarized. The post-fire assessment of both motors showed the case segments to be in good condition. Field joint fretting of this flight set ranged from light on most of the joints to locally heavy on three of the joints. The LH aft field joint is the most heavily fretted joint to date; this joint had previously fretted areas from STS-27. No new fretting was found in old fretting locations. However, new frets were found at the edges of repaired areas on both the LH center and aft field joints. All fretting was mapped from the inner clevis leg. The capture feature fretting was not mapped due to the difficulty of measuring the fretting in the capture feature region. It is assumed that the capture feature had damage similar to that on the inner clevis leg

Flight set 360L007 (STS-33R) case and seals, volume 2

The performance of the 360L007, Seventh Flight, redesigned Solid Rocket Motors (RSRM) is assessed with respect to case hardware and joint sealing issues as seen from post-flight assessment of the case and seals. Potential anomalies are classified and summarized. The post-flight assessment of both motors showed the case segments to be in good condition. Field joint fretting indications on this flight set ranged from none on one joint through light (less than 0.003 inch deep) on most of the joints to locally medium (greater than 0.003, less than 0.005 inch deep) on two joints. No new fretting was found in old fretting locations. All fretting was mapped from the inner clevis leg. The capture feature fretting was not mapped due to the difficulty of measuring the fretting in the capture feature region, but it is assumed that the capture feature had similar damage as the inner clevis leg. Post-flight assessment of both motors showed the seal components to be in good condition

Introduction: The challenge of optimum integration of propulsion systems and large space structures

A functional matrix of possible propulsion system characteristics for a spacecraft for deployable and assembled spacecraft structures shows that either electric propulsion or low thrust chemical propulsion systems could provide the propulsion required. The trade-off considerations of a single propulsion engine or multiengines are outlined and it is shown that a single point engine is bounded by some upper limit of thrust for assembled spacecraft. The matrix also shows several additional functions that can be provided to the spacecraft if a propulsion system is an integral part of the spacecraft. A review of all of the functions that can be provided for a spacecraft by an integral propulsion system may result in the inclusion of the propulsion for several functions even if no single function were mandatory. Propulsion interface issues for each combination of engines are identified

Green Roofs Over Time: A Spatially Explicit Method for Studying Green Roof Vegetative Dynamics and Performance

In the past decade, conventional green roof research methodology has emphasized performance measures that assume a static state condition of vegetative composition based on design intent and establishment conditions. Such research has predominantly been limited to short-term observations for low diversity, rigorously maintained systems. These conditions, however, are not the reality of many installed green roofs, and as a result knowledge of how these living systems change over time is limited. Given this perspective, this paper presents an ecologically grounded and spatially explicit methodology aimed at assessing the long-term performance and dynamics of green roof vegetation. The method allows for observations of plant composition and performance based on both statistical and graphical analysis of plant cover and diversity measures. Application of this methodology is presented through a multi-year case study of a single, six year-old, intensive green roof in Ithaca, New York. Applicable to any green roof, this method promotes an understanding of green roofs as adaptive, ecological systems, a perspective that will aid in better predicting green roof performance over time, and inform the design, construction, and maintenance of resilient, high-performance roofscapes

Does the Federal Law Forbidding People under Domestic Violence Restraining Orders from Possessing Firearms Save Lives?

The Supreme Court of the United States will hear arguments concerning Federal Law 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8) which forbids individuals who are under a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) from possessing firearms. This paper analyzes the potential costs of overturning that law. We estimate a variety of models to determine the effect of the law on domestic murders, domestic femicides, domestic gun murders, and domestic gun femicides. We subject the analysis to a variety of robustness checks. The results are remarkably robust. We find that 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) does not significantly reduce domestic murder, domestic femicide, domestic gun murder, or domestic gun femicide

The effects of the interaction of animals with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and their families [abstract]

The CDC estimates that one in 110 children receive a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) annually. Pet dogs have been found to be a social catalyst and service dogs have demonstrated measurable benefits for children with ASD. Given that 39% of American households have a dog, this survey investigates the perceived benefits and barriers of having a dog in a family with a child with ASD

Electrochemical Detection of Nanoscale Phase Separation in Binary Self-Assembled Monolayers

Developing methods to probe the nature and structure of nanoscale environments continues to be a challenge in nanoscience. We report a cyclic voltammetry investigation of internal, hydrogen-bond driven phase separation of amide-containing thiols and alkane thiols. Amide-containing thiols with a terminal ferrocene carboxylate functional group were investigated in two binary monolayers, one homogeneously mixed and the other phase separated. The electrochemical response of the ferrocene probe was used to monitor adsorbate coverage, environment and phase separation within each of these monolayers. The results demonstrate that the behavior of ferrocene containing monolayers can be used to probe nanoscale organization