The NASA controls-structures interaction technology program

The interaction between a flexible spacecraft structure and its control system is commonly referred to as controls-structures interaction (CSI). The CSI technology program is developing the capability and confidence to integrate the structure and control system, so as to avoid interactions that cause problems and to exploit interactions to increase spacecraft capability. A NASA program has been initiated to advance CSI technology to a point where it can be used in spacecraft design for future missions. The CSI technology program is a multicenter program utilizing the resources of the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The purpose is to describe the current activities, results to date, and future activities of the NASA CSI technology program

A Model for the Surface of a Molten Salt

A model is proposed for the two-particle distribution functions for the surface region of a system composed of two oppositely charged species with identical hard sphere repulsions. The distribution functions are formed from those for the bulk fluid by incorporating a cutoff corresponding to the surface and a multiplying factor defined so as to guarantee electroneutrality while maintaining the proper symmetry. Various methods for doing this are discussed. Good agreement is obtained for surface tension and surface energy. Density oscillations are predicted

Mink Predation of Brown Trout in a Black Hills Stream

In the early 2000’s, declines in the brown trout (Salmo trutta) fishery in Rapid Creek, South Dakota, caused concern for anglers and fisheries managers. We conducted a radio telemetry study in 2010 and 2011 to identify predation mortality associated with mink, using hatchery-reared (2010) or wild (2011) brown trout. Estimated predation rates by mink (Mustela vison) on radio-tagged brown trout were 30% for hatchery fish and 32% for wild fish. Size frequency analysis revealed that the size distribution of brown trout lost to predation was similar to that of other, radio-tagged brown trout. In both years, a higher proportion of predation mortality (83–92%) occurred during spring, consistent with seasonal fish consumption by mink. Predation by mink appeared to be a significant source of brown trout mortality in our study

Severe bilateral atrophy of the spinati muscles in a cadaver

During the routine dissection of a 62-year-old male cadaver, bilateral atrophy of the supra and infraspinatus muscles was observed. The suprascapular nerves, cervical spinal cord and surrounding muscles were found to be normal. We propose that, in the face of normal histology and other normal shoulder girdle muscles and normal nerves, this case represents an instance of Parsonage-Turner syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first report of bilateral spinati atrophy in a cadaver

Bats of Kansas

In memory of Curtis J. Schmidt (1977-2022) Invariably, our most feared neighbors on planet earth are the animals that we know the least about. Almost as frequently, when people are exposed to these animals, the fear turns quickly to fascination. Unfortunately, many of these animals are accessible only to the professional scientist. Though science has made great strides in understanding the basic biology and behaviors of many of our least-known animals, this information is generally kept locked away from the general public by the dry, technical language of science. In this publication, it is our hope to open your eyes to the world of perhaps the last great, misunderstood group of animals-the bats. Further, it is our hope, by dispensing (as much as possible) with technical language, to bring across the intense fascination that we share for these animals and to infect you with that same fascination. In order to accomplish our task we have prepared the book in five sections. Because our main goal is to open your eyes to the fascinating world of bats, we have designed the first section to answer the most often asked questions about bats. The second provides a key to the bats of Kansas so that you can identify any bat you discover. In the third section we introduce you to the sixteen species that are known to occur in Kansas. As is the case for human neighbors, there may be bats in Kansas that we haven\u27t met yet. The fourth section describes these species of possible occurrence and tells you where to look for them. Unfortunately, we have only a limited amount of space, so the fifth section tells you how to find additional information

The Annual Migration Cycle of Emperor Geese in Western Alaska

Most emperor geese (Chen canagica) nest in a narrow coastal region of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD) in western Alaska, but their winter distribution extends more than 3000 km from Kodiak Island, Alaska, to the Commander Islands, Russia. We marked 53 adult female emperor geese with satellite transmitters on the YKD in 1999, 2002, and 2003 to examine whether chronology of migration or use of seasonal habitats differed among birds that wintered in different regions. Females that migrated relatively short distances (650–1010 km) between the YKD and winter sites on the south side of the Alaska Peninsula bypassed autumn staging areas on the Bering Sea coast of the Alaska Peninsula or used them for shorter periods (mean = 57 days) than birds that made longer migrations (1600–2640 km) to the western Aleutian Islands (mean = 97 days). Alaska Peninsula migrants spent more days at winter sites (mean = 172 days, 95% CI: 129–214 days) than western Aleutian Island migrants (mean = 91 days, 95% CI: 83–99 days). Birds that migrated 930–1610 km to the eastern Aleutian Islands spent intermediate intervals at fall staging (mean = 77 days) and wintering areas (mean = 108 days, 95% CI: 95–119 days). Return dates to the YKD did not differ among birds that wintered in different regions. Coastal staging areas on the Alaska Peninsula may be especially important in autumn to prepare Aleutian migrants physiologically for long-distance migration to winter sites, and in spring to enable emperor geese that migrate different distances to reach comparable levels of condition before nesting.La plupart des oies empereurs (Chen canagica) nichent dans une étroite région côtière du delta Yukon-Kuskokwim (DYK), dans l’ouest de l’Alaska. Cependant, l’hiver, leur répartition hivernale s’étend sur plus de 3000 km, depuis l’île de Kodiak, en Alaska, jusqu’aux îles Commander, en Russie. Nous avons apposé à 53 oies empereurs femelles adultes du DYK des transmetteurs satellites en 1999, 2002 et 2003 dans le but d’examiner si la chronologie de la migration ou l’utilisation des habitats saisonniers différaient chez les oiseaux qui hivernaient dans des régions différentes. Les femelles dont la migration se faisait sur des distances assez courtes (de 650 à 1010 km) entre le DYK et les lieux d’hivernage du côté sud de la péninsule de l’Alaska contournaient les haltes migratoires de la côte de la mer de Béring de la péninsule de l’Alaska ou s’en servaient pendant de plus courtes périodes (moyenne = 57 jours) que les oiseaux dont les migrations étaient plus longues (de 1600 à 2 640 km) vers les îles Aléoutiennes de l’Ouest (moyenne = 97 jours). Les migrants de la péninsule de l’Alaska passaient plus de jours aux lieux d’hivernage (moyenne = 172 jours, 95 % IC : 129–214 jours) que les migrants des îles Aléoutiennes de l’Ouest (moyenne = 91 jours, 95 % IC : 83–99 jours). Les oiseaux dont la migration se faisait de 930 à 1 610 km vers les îles Aléoutiennes de l’Est passaient des intervalles intermédiaires aux haltes migratoires de l’automne (moyenne = 77 jours) et aux aires d’hivernage (moyenne = 108 jours, 95 % IC : 95–119 jours). Les dates de retour au DYK ne différaient pas chez les oiseaux qui hivernaient dans des régions différentes. Les haltes migratoires côtières de la péninsule de l’Alaska pourraient revêtir une importance particulière à l’automne, en ce sens qu’elles permettent aux migrants des Aléoutiennes de se préparer physiologiquement à la migration de longue distance menant aux lieux d’hivernage, et le printemps, elles permettent aux oies empereurs qui migrent sur diverses distances d’atteindre des degrés de condition comparables avant la nidification