CUSTARD (Cranfield University Space Technology Advanced Research Demonstrator) - A Micro-System Technology Demonstrator Nanosatellite. Summary of the Group Design Project MSc in Astronautics and Space Engineering. 1999-2000, Cranfield University

CUSTARD (Cranfield University Space Technology And Research Demonstrator) was the group design project for students of the MSc in Astronautics and Space Engineering for the Academic Year 1999/2000 at Cranfield University. The project involved the initial design of a nanosatellite to be used as a technology demonstrator for microsystem technology (MST) in space. The students worked together as one group (organised into several subgroups, e.g. system, mechanical), with each student responsible for a set of work packages. The nanosatellite designed had a mass of 4 kg, lifetime of 3 months in low Earth orbit, coarse 3-axis attitude control (no orbit control), and was capable of carrying up to 1 kg of payload. The electrical power available was 18 W (peak). Assuming a single X-band ground station at RAL (UK), a data rate of up to 1 M bit s-1 for about 3000 s per day is possible. The payloads proposed are a microgravity laboratory and a formation flying experiment. The report summarises the results of the project and includes executive summaries from all team members. Further information and summaries of the full reports are available from the College of Aeronautics, Cranfield University

PROTEIN SYNTHESIS INHIBITION AND SHORT AND LONG TERM HABITUATION OF THE DORSAL ANTENNAE WITHDRAWAL RESPONSE IN HELIX ASPERSA

The pharmacological disruption of memory by various protein synthesis inhibitory drugs (PSIs) has implicated protein synthesis as a requirement for long term learning but not for short. However, evidence derived from PSI research remains equivocal, with the apparent amnesic effects of PSIs being attributed to drug side-effects and general behavioural debilitations. Research reported in this thesis investigates the behavioural effects on short and long term habituation of the dorsal antennae withdrawal reflex in the snail (Helix aspersa) of three antibiotic drugs known to reversibly inhibit protein synthesis; anisomycin, actinomycin D, and puromycin. Initially, habituation was established as true learning in the snail and was demonstrated to be capable of retention for over 24 hours from one training session and over 6 months from a series of training sessions. The parametric characteristics of both short and long term habituation in the snail was established and found to be identical to those demonstrated in vertebrate habituation. Such characteristics were found to be different for short and long term habituation. Injection of PSIs showed no effect on short term habituation but disrupted long term habituation if PSI was active within a 'critical time window' during or for approximately 40 minutes after training. Later injections had no amnesic effect, and neither did injections 2 hours prior to training. The amnesic effects were demonstrated not to be attributable to drug side-effects by the development and application of a 'behavioural test battery' to screen general snail behaviour for drug induced debilitations at a variety of doses. Dose/amnesic effect relationships are also reported. Potentially confounding effects, such as, state dependent learning, and drug performance effects, were controlled out. The effects of the PSIs on short and long term habituation are then reported in terms of their effects on the established short and long term parametric characteristics of the learning. Drug injected snails showed normal short term parametric characteristics in training. However, in a long term retest drug treated snails also showed the parametric characteristics of short term habituation which demonstrated the degree of induced amnesia. The results are discussed in terms of a gene expression model of long term habituation and suggest that short and long term habituation are mediated by different processes. Short term habituation is protein synthesis independent and long term habituation is protein synthesis dependent

Highlights of experience with a flexible walled test section in the NASA Langley 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel

The unique combination of adaptive wall technology with a contonuous flow cryogenic wind tunnel is described. This powerful combination allows wind tunnel users to carry out 2-D tests at flight Reynolds numbers with wall interference essentially eliminated. Validation testing was conducted to support this claim using well tested symmetrical and cambered airfoils at transonic speeds and high Reynolds numbers. The test section hardware has four solid walls, with the floor and ceiling flexible. The method of adapting/shaping the floor and ceiling to eliminate top and bottom wall interference at its source is outlined. Data comparisons for different size models tested and others in several sophisticated 2-D wind tunnels are made. In addition, the effects of Reynolds number, testing at high lift with associated large flexible wall movements, the uniqueness of the adapted wall shapes, and the effects of sidewall boundary layer control are examined. The 0.3-m TCT is now the most advanced 2-D research facility anywhere

Table builder problem - confidentiality for linked tables

The aim of this project is to investigate solutions to the problem of improving access to detailed survey data, while ensuring no person or organisation is likely to be identified, or otherwise put at risk of having their data disclosed, and to link general findings back to the ABS Table Builder problem. We focussed on making contributions in two main areas, namely: 1. Identification of sensitive cells in a table, 2. Maximizing data utility and minimising information loss - ensuring the table provides useful information

CHANGING TOBACCO MARKETS: EFFECTS ON BURLEY TOBACCO FARMS

Three representative Tennessee tobacco farms are used to estimate farm-level impacts of (1) program continuation with further quota cuts, and (2) program elimination in 2000. Results indicate that program elimination has more potential to reduce farm income and that larger and more diversified farms are less affected in both scenarios.tobacco, farm-level analysis, representative farms, Tennessee agriculture, Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries,

Open Models of Decision Support Towards a Framework

Aquesta tesi presenta un marc per als models oberts de suport a les decisions en les organitzacions. El treball es vehicula a través d’un compendi d’articles on s’analitzen els fluxos d’entrada i de sortida de coneixement en les organitzacions, així como les tecnologies existents de suport a les decisions. Es presenten els factors subjacents que impulsen nous models per a formes obertes de suport a la decisió. La tesis presenta un estudi de les distintes tipologies de models de suport a les decisions tenint en compte diferents tipus d’organitzacions. En el primer estudi, paper#, es presenta l’evolució de les tecnologies de suport a les decisions i l’avançament de les noves tecnologies per als models oberts. Aquest estudi proporciona una visió des d’una perspectiva evolutiva de la relació entre el coneixement expert i la seva utilització en les tecnologies de suport a les decisions. La investigació revela l’entorn canviant que la tecnologia ofereix a l’hora de adquirir coneixement per a la presa de decisions i obre horitzons sobre el nou paper que els experts tenen en aquests entorns. Es suggereix que un canvi significatiu en la presa de decisions es basa en el desafiament entre el paper tradicional dels experts i no experts. Per últim, aquest treball explora les oportunitats d’integració de la intel•ligència artificial en la tecnologia de suport a les decisions i quins beneficis addicionals poden aportar les eines d’ intel•ligència col•lectiva en la presa de decisions. El segon estudi, paper#2, investiga sobre la tipologia anomenada "agregada" dins del marc d’entorns oberts per al suport a la presa de decisions. S’utilitza un problema de predicció com a fil conductor per a posar en relleu la complexitat de la previsió de la demanda dins de la industria del cinema. S’analitza com es pot utilitzar la tecnologia per a millorar l’eficàcia en les decisions. La investigació compara dues tecnologies de suport a les decisions: sistemes experts i eines d’intel•ligència col•lectiva, i il•lustra com l’industria del cinema utilitza cada una d’aquestes tecnologies en la previsió dels ingressos de taquilla. Per últim, aquest article explora els beneficis de l’ integració d’aquestes tecnologies de suport per a l’obtenció de prediccions més precises. El tercer estudi, article#3, presenta un estudi longitudinal durant un període de 10 anys que utilitza IBM “Innovation Jams” como un context per a la col•laboració a gran escala dins de la tipologia anomenada "plataforma". Aquest article investiga el paper de les “Innovation Jams”, en el canvi organitzacional i com IBM es compromet amb un nou model d’innovació en les organitzacions. En ell es descriuen les “Innovation Jams”, que han impulsat la innovació i consolidat la pràctica de la innovació oberta en IBM. En aquest article s’utilitza el gènere musical d’una "jamband" com una metàfora per a descriure el desenvolupament emergent i l’ús de les “Innovation Jams”, com una manera d’entendre el canvi organitzatiu. Aquest estudi longitudinal ofereix una visió actualitzada de la recerca en “Innovation Jams”, mostrant com han evolucionat des d’un concepte, a una eina de gestió i finalment a un servei. L’article conclou amb una discussió sobre les implicacions dels resultats i com aquests permeten teoritzar sobre nous models d’ innovació i el canvi en les organitzacions. La recerca duta a terme en aquesta tesi ofereix un marc per als models oberts de suport a la decisió, i suggereix que, les fonts internes i externes de coneixement poden ser utilitzades, més enllà de la innovació del producte o serveis, per a la presa de decisions amb el suport de tecnologies emergents. Les contribucions teòriques d’aquesta tesi sostenen que les organitzacions ja no poden confiar en la tecnologia de suport a les decisions que únicament es centren en la reducció de la frontera entre els aspectes racionals i no racionals de la conducta social humana, sinó que pel contrari, han de considerar la xarxa dinàmica de la organització per al suport a la decisió. D’altra banda, les implicacions pràctiques d’aquesta tesi animen les organitzacions a pensar estratègicament sobre com les tecnologies emergents poden ajudar en la presa de decisions i també com els models de decisió resultants poden ser utilitzats per a navegar per l’entorn complex existent, i, a la vegada, forjar vincles més forts amb els clients, proveïdors i la xarxa de l’organització.Esta tesis presenta un marco para modelos abiertos de soporte a las decisiones en las organizaciones. El trabajo se vehicula a través de un compendio de artículos dónde se analizan los flujos de entrada y salida de conocimiento en las organizaciones, así como las tecnologías existentes de soporte a las decisiones. Se presentan los factores subyacentes que impulsan nuevos modelos para formas abiertas de soporte a la decisión. La tesis presenta un estudio de las distintas tipologías de modelos de soporte a las decisiones teniendo en cuenta distintos tipos de organizaciones. En el primer estudio paper#1 se presenta la evolución de las tecnologías de apoyo a las decisiones y el avance de las nuevas tecnologías para los modelos abiertos. Este estudio proporciona una visión desde una perspectiva evolutiva de la relación entre conocimiento experto y su utilización en las tecnologías de soporte a las decisiones. La investigación revela el entorno cambiante que la tecnología ofrece a la hora de adquirir conocimiento para la toma de decisiones y abre horizontes sobre el nuevo papel que los expertos tienen en estos entornos. Se sugiere que un cambio significativo en la toma de decisiones se basa en el desafío entre el papel tradicional de los expertos y no expertos. Por último, este trabajo explora las oportunidades de integración de la inteligencia artificial en la tecnología de soporte de decisiones y que beneficios adicionales pueden aportar las herramientas de inteligencia colectiva en la toma de decisiones. El segundo estudio, paper#2, investiga sobre la tipología llamada "agregada" dentro del marco de entornos abiertos para el soporte a la toma de decisiones. Se utiliza un problema de predicción como hilo conductor para poner en relieve la complejidad de la previsión de la demanda dentro de la industria del cine. Se analiza cómo se puede utilizar la tecnología para mejorar la eficacia en las decisiones. La investigación compara dos tecnologías de soporte a las decisiones: sistemas expertos y herramientas de inteligencia colectiva, e ilustra cómo la industria del cine utiliza cada una de estas tecnologías en la previsión de los ingresos de taquilla. Por último, este artículo explora los beneficios de la integración de estas tecnologías de apoyo para la obtención de predicciones más precisas. El tercer estudio, artículo #3, presenta un estudio longitudinal durante un período de 10 años que utiliza IBM “Innovation Jams”, como un contexto para la colaboración a gran escala dentro de la tipología llamada "plataforma". Este artículo investiga el papel de las “Innovation Jams”, en el cambio organizacional y como IBM se compromete con un nuevo modelo de innovación de la organización. En él se describen las “Innovation Jams”, que han impulsado la innovación y consolidado la práctica de la innovación abierta en IBM. En este artículo se utiliza el género musical de una "jamband" como una metáfora para describir el desarrollo emergente y el uso de las “Innovation Jams”, como una manera de entender el cambio organizativo. Este estudio longitudinal ofrece una visión actualizada de la investigación en “Innovation Jams”, mostrando cómo han evolucionado desde un concepto, a una herramienta de gestión y finalmente a un servicio. El artículo concluye con una discusión sobre las implicaciones de los resultados y como ellos permiten teorizar sobre nuevos modelos de innovación y el cambio en las organizaciones. La investigación llevada a cabo en esta tesis ofrece un marco para los modelos abiertos de apoyo a la decisión, y sugiere que el uso de fuentes internas y externas de conocimiento pueden ser utilizadas más allá de la innovación del producto o servicio para la toma de decisiones con el soporte de tecnologías emergentes. Las contribuciones teóricas de esta tesis sostienen que las organizaciones ya no pueden confiar en la tecnología de apoyo a las decisiones que únicamente se centran en la reducción de la frontera entre los aspectos racionales y no racionales de la conducta social humana, sino por el contrario, deben considerar la red dinámica de la organización para el apoyo a la decisión. Por otra parte, las implicaciones prácticas de esta tesis alienta a las organizaciones a pensar estratégicamente acerca de cómo las tecnologías emergentes pueden ayudar a la toma de decisiones y también cómo los modelos de decisión resultantes pueden ser utilizados para navegar por el entorno complejo existente y, a su vez, forjar vínculos más fuertes con los clientes, proveedores y más amplios de la red de la organización.This thesis presents a framework for open models of decision support through a compendium of papers that links research on the inward and outward flows of knowledge to the organization and decision support technologies. The framework presents underlying factors driving new and more open models of decision support. A typology of decision support models is offered considering types of problems organizations and managers charged with decision-making face. Thesis essay #1 suggests a perspective of the changing landscape for decision support technology and the advancement of new technology for open models of decision support. This study provides insight from an evolutionary perspective of expertise that has shaped the field of decision support technologies. The investigation sets out to reveal the changing landscape of expertise in supporting decision-making using technology and sheds light on the new role that experts will play in organizational decision-making. It suggests that a significant change in how decision-making is being supported which challenge the traditional role of experts and non-experts. Finally, this paper explores opportunities for decision support technology integration and the added benefits artificial intelligence can bring to collective intelligence tools. Thesis essay #2 investigates the ‘aggregate’ typology within the open model decision support framework. A forecasting problem is used to highlight the complexity of demand forecasting in supply-chain management within the film industry and how technology is leveraged for effective supply-chain management decisions. The investigation compares two decision support technologies: expert systems and collective intelligence tools and illustrates how the film industry uses each in forecasting box-office revenue. Finally, this essay explores the combined benefits in integrating each support technology for more accurate forecasting. Thesis essay #3 is a longitudinal study over a 10 year period that uses IBM Innovation Jams as a context for large-scale collaboration within the ‘platform’ typology. This essay investigates the role of innovation jams on organizational change as IBM learned to engage with a new model of organizing innovation. It describes the role innovation jams have played in shaping the practice of open innovation at IBM. This essay uses the musical genre of a “jamband” as a metaphor to describe the emergent development and use of innovation jams as a way to understand organizational change. This longitudinal study brings innovation jam research up-to-date and presents innovation jams as they evolved from a concept, a management tool, and service. The essay concludes with a discussion on the implications of the findings for theorizing about new models of organizing innovation for organizational change. Research conducted in this thesis offers a framework of open models of decision support that suggests that the use of internal and external sources of knowledge can be leveraged beyond product or service innovation, to include decision-making supported by emerging technology. Theoretical contributions of this thesis argues that organizations can no longer rely on decision support technology that solely focus on bridging the boundary between rational and non-rational aspects of human social behavior but instead, must consider the larger dynamic organizational network for decision support. Moreover, practical implications of this thesis encourages organizations to think strategically about how emerging technology can support decision making and the resulting decision support models to navigate the complex environment they work in and in turn, to forge stronger links with customers, suppliers, and the wider organizational network

Modern Digital Chirp Receiver: Theory, Design and System Integration

Chirp signals can achieve a high range resolution without sacrificing SNR or maximum range, making them a strong candidate for use in radar and sonar applications. Chirp signals are also power efficient and resistant to interference, making them well suited for communication applications as well. The proposed digital high chirp rate receivers will showcase the use of digital instantaneous frequency measurement (IFM) devices for high chirp rate measurement. The receivers are paired with a high resolution time-of-arrival algorithm, capable of detecting the TOA and TOD of a pulse with an average error of less than 2ns. The high resolution pulse detector is vital for the measurement of high chirp rate, short pulse duration chirp signals when no a priori knowledge of the signals or operating environment is available. Three different receivers were designed and implemented in order to target three different applications: linear chirp signals, nonlinear chirp signals, and linear chirp signals with varying pulse widths. In addition to the digital IFM and TOA algorithm, a high rate 43-tap Hilbert Transform was implemented via an FIR filter in order to convert incoming real data from the ADC into its complex signal representation. All three designs were synthesized and successfully tested on a Xilinx Virtex 6 SX475 FPGA which is paired with a Calypso 12-bit ADC sampling at 2.56GHz. All three receivers run at a rate of 320MHz and can measure chirp rates up to 1180MHz in 400ns. The designs boast an overall detection rate of greater than 97% with a false alarm rate of 10^-7 and achieve a frequency measurement error of less than 1% for both chirp rates and carrier frequencies. The receivers can successfully detect and measure chirp signals and stationary carrier frequencies with SNRs 5dB and higher. The largest design, the digital nonlinear chirp receiver only utilizes 13% of the Virtex 6 SX475 FPGA board

Biophysical Approaches to Human Genetic Disease: ADSL Deficiency as a Model

Biophysical tools are becoming more useful in approaching human genetic disease. The pathogenic mechanisms behind many disorders have been attributed to protein loss of function or gain in toxic function. For example, changes in the protein Adenylosuccinate Lyase (ADSL) lead to ADSL deficiency, a disorder that causes symptoms ranging from epilepsy to expression of autistic features. Biophysics offers different tools to study intrinsic properties of proteins. We have applied such tools to study the enzyme kinetics and protein stability of ADSL and two mutations (R426H and R303C) to formulate better hypotheses regarding the pathogenic mechanism. Enzyme kinetic findings indicate a) non-linear dependences of the activities on the substrate ratios due to competitive binding and b) distinct differences in the behaviors of the different mutations. Preliminary stability measurements indicate a) there is an intermediate state in the folding pathway and a fourth state is necessary for modeling, b) R426H, a mutation that causes severe phenotypes, is less stable, c) there is no evidence of a gain in toxic function for either mutation. This complete work supports our hypothesis that there are multiple mechanisms of pathogenesis of ADSL deficiency including instability of the functional ADSL tetramer, aggregation of ADSL, or diminution of enzyme activity. The significance of this is that development of an effective therapy may depend upon which mechanism is active in a particular patient