NASA gateway requirements analysis

NASA devotes approximately 40 percent of its budget to R&D. Twelve NASA Research Centers and their contractors conduct this R&D, which ranges across many disciplines and is fueled by information about previous endeavors. Locating the right information is crucial. While NASA researchers use peer contacts as their primary source of scientific and technical information (STI), on-line bibliographic data bases - both Government-owned and commercial - are also frequently consulted. Once identified, the STI must be delivered in a usable format. This report assesses the appropriateness of developing an intelligent gateway interface for the NASA R&D community as a means of obtaining improved access to relevant STI resources outside of NASA's Remote Console (RECON) on-line bibliographic database. A study was conducted to determine (1) the information requirements of the R&D community, (2) the information sources to meet those requirements, and (3) ways of facilitating access to those information sources. Findings indicate that NASA researchers need more comprehensive STI coverage of disciplines not now represented in the RECON database. This augmented subject coverage should preferably be provided by both domestic and foreign STI sources. It was also found that NASA researchers frequently request rapid delivery of STI, in its original format. Finally, it was found that researchers need a better system for alerting them to recent developments in their areas of interest. A gateway that provides access to domestic and international information sources can also solve several shortcomings in the present STI delivery system. NASA should further test the practicality of a gateway as a mechanism for improved STI access

Estimating the Economic Viability of a New Crop Alternative for the U.S. Organic Market: Edamame - A Vegetable Soybean

whole farm modeling, edamame, Farm Management, Production Economics,

Exciton Dissociation Dynamics in Model Donor-Acceptor Polymer Heterojunctions: I. Energetics and Spectra

In this paper we consider the essential electronic excited states in parallel chains of semiconducting polymers that are currently being explored for photovoltaic and light-emitting diode applications. In particular, we focus upon various type II donor-acceptor heterojunctions and explore the relation between the exciton binding energy to the band off-set in determining the device characteristic of a particular type II heterojunction material. As a general rule, when the exciton binding energy is greater than the band off-set at the heterojunction, the exciton will remain the lowest energy excited state and the junction will make an efficient light-emitting diode. On the other hand, if the off-set is greater than the exciton binding energy, either the electron or hole can be transferred from one chain to the other. Here we use a two-band exciton to predict the vibronic absorption and emission spectra of model polymer heterojunctions. Our results underscore the role of vibrational relaxation and suggest that intersystem crossings may play some part in the formation of charge-transfer states following photoexcitation in certain cases

Cost Sensitivity Analysis on the Optimal Location of Technology Providers In Kentucky

A warehouse location model was utilized in order to expand upon previous research. The aim was to more accurately depicting the optimal location for an agribusiness firm providing precision agriculture technologies in the state of Kentucky. It was determined that the optimal solution was Muhlenberg County.warehouse location model, precision agriculture, agribusiness, Agribusiness,

Social work education in the United States: beyond boundaries

Today in the United States of America, social work education at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels enjoys high demand, while continuously evolving in response to its environment and the changing context of professional practice. This chapter explores the salient features that propel American social work education towards excellence. These include the Council on Social Work Education’s Educational Philosophy and Educational Standards (EPAS); the credentials and scholarship of the faculty who craft the programs and curricula; accreditation standards that address global awareness; the values and ethics of the profession; and economic and social justice through a lens of cultural competency. Contemporary issues in American higher education also are identified to illustrate social work education’s responses to evolving trends in university teaching

NALNET book system: Cost benefit study

The goals of the NASA's library network system, NALNET, the functions of the current book system, the products and services of a book system required by NASA Center libraries, and the characteristics of a system that would best supply those products and services were assessed. Emphasis was placed on determining the most cost effective means of meeting NASA's requirements for an automated book system. Various operating modes were examined including the current STIMS file, the PUBFILE, developing software improvements for products as appropriate to the Center needs, and obtaining cataloging and products from the bibliographic utilities including at least OCLC, RLIN, BNA, and STIF. It is recommended that NALNET operate under the STIMS file mode and obtain cataloging and products from the bibliographic utilities. The recommendations are based on the premise that given the current state of the art in library automation it is not cost effective for NASA to maintain a full range of cataloging services on its own system. The bibliographic utilities can support higher quality systems with a greater range of services at a lower total cost

An Economic Feasibility Assessment of Autonomous Field Machinery in Grain Crop Production

A multi-faceted whole farm planning model is developed to compare conventional and autonomous machinery for grain crop production under various benefit, farm size, suitable field day risk aversion, and grain price scenarios. Results suggest that autonomous machinery can be an economically viable alternative to conventional manned machinery if the establishment of intelligent controls is cost effective. An increase in net returns of 24% over operating with conventional machinery is found when including both input savings and a yield increase due to reduced compaction. This study also identifies the break-even investment price for intelligent controls for the safe and reliable commercialization of autonomous machinery. Results indicate that the break-even investment price is highly variable depending on the financial benefits resulting from the deployment of autonomous machinery, farm size, suitable field day risk aversion, and grain prices. The maximum break-even investment price for intelligent, autonomous controls is nearly US$500 000 for the median days suitable for fieldwork when including both input savings and a yield increase due to reduced compaction

The Eccentrics of Tobias Smollett's Novels

Tobias Smollet's purpose in writing was twofold: to entertain the reader and to satirize man and his society. To accomplish his aim, the author created eccentric personalities in the old Elizabethan humour convention. This thesis looks at Smollet's characterizations, especially of the eccentrics, in his novels