Asymmetrical booster ascent guidance and control system design study. Volume 2: SSFS math models - Ascent

The engineering equations and mathematical models developed for use in the space shuttle functional simulator (SSFS) are presented, and include extensive revisions and additions to earlier documentation. Definitions of coordinate systems used by the SSFS models and coordinate tranformations are given, along with documentation of the flexible body mathematical models. The models were incorporated in the SSFS and are in the checkout stage

Local energy policy and managing low carbon transition: the case of Leicester, UK

National and local energy policies are implemented within a complex energy landscape that makes any evaluation of their impacts far from straightforward. Drawing upon a case study of Leicester this paper argues that the ability of local authorities to deliver significant energy savings within this landscape is questionable, albeit with other additional benefits being realised (e.g. job creation, community engagement). It examines existing domestic energy demand and multiple deprivation data for Leicester and neighbouring cities and combines this with a qualitative description of the transition process. The paper identifies the need for a more systematic analysis of how national energy policy translates to the local level and concludes that it is problematic even for a leading, pro-active and innovative local authority to have a statistically meaningful energy policy. Even where energy policies are favourable, carbon reduction is less easy to realise than other – more local - co-benefits and that in the light of significant financial and co-ordination constraints more attention needs to be given to how local communities can be more effectively supported in their desire to meet (or exceed) national targets.We acknowledge the financial assistance of the EPSRC Flexnet award (EP/E0411X/1) and all of the Leicester based contributors to the project, as well as the very helpful comments of two anonymous referees; the usual disclaimers apply

Automatic Interpretation of Ultrasonic Imaging

The objective of this work is to develop an advanced automatic ultrasonic inspection system via adaptive learning network signal processing techniques. This system will provide the type, location, and size of defects in metal more quickly and to smaller defect size than current imaging systems, without the need for operator interpretation of the results. An ultrasonic imaging array constructed for this project has been used to record data from artificial defects in carbon steel test blocks. Software has been written to automatically determine the orientation and size of cracks from these digitized waveforms. Detection of these cracks has been unambiguous down to 1/6 wavelength or 0.25 mm. Sizing for depth is accurate to 12% down to 1/3 wavelength. Further research will extend these results to other defect types and to smaller defects. The significance of this work is that it will demonstrate the feasibility of a totally automatic detection, classification, and sizing system which will work with hardware ordinarily used for imaging. This system will provide a numerical estimate of the defect parameters rather than an image requiring operator interpretation, and it will do so at defect dimensions smaller than the limits set by the resolution of imaging systems

The complexities of perceived and empirical reality on environmental performance: Industrial case studies in China, Lithuania and Poland

The culture of a company is often cited as the basis for how well that company performs both economically and environmentally. This can also lead to the development and adoption of generic management approaches that fail to adequately acknowledge the existence of multiple cultures within the organization or the potential disjuncture between how performance is perceived by personnel and any attempts to measure that performance in an ‘objective’ manner. This failure to respond to the complexity of multiple cultures and perceived performance and the instigation of over‐arching management systems can discourage constructive dissent and hinder the related capacity for innovation and improvement. This paper draws upon research into the level of congruence between perceived and objective measures of environmental performance in thirteen factories from the heavy industrial sector in China and Eastern Europe. It presents findings that suggest managerial interactions, both laterally and vertically, are mediated by socio‐cultural networks within and between family, community and workplace, resulting in a high level of unbounded complexity that influences the alignment between perceived and objective environmental realities. Aplinkos apsaugos veiksmingumo suvokimo ir empirinės realybės neatitiktis: Kinijos, Lietuvos ir Lenkijos įmonių pavyzdžiai Santrauka. Įmonės kultūra dažnai siejama su imonės ekonominiu ir aplinkosauginiu veiksmingumu. Tai veda prie bendrų valdymo principų plėtojimo ir taikymo, tačiau šie principai nepakankamai įvertina organizacijoje egzistuojančias daugialypes kultūras arba galimą atskirtį tarp darbuotojų suvokiamo aplinkosauginio veiksmingumo ir bandymu jį „objektyviai” išmatuoti. Straipsnyje pateiktas tyrimas susijęs su įsivaizduojamų ir objektyvių aplinkosauginio veiksmingumo priemonių palyginimu trylikoje Kinijos ir Rytu Europos sunkiosios pramonės įmonių. Rezultatai įrodė, kad ir horizontalusis, ir vertikalusis vadovavimo principas yra veikiami socialinių‐kultūrinių ryšiu šeimose, bendruomenėse ir darbo aplinkoje, todėl neišvengiamai lemia sudėtingumą lyginant suvokiamą ir objektyvią aplinkos apsaugos realybę. Reikšminiai žodžiai: sudetingumas, kultūra, realybė, kalba, hierarchija. Понимание природоохранной действенности и сложность эмпирической реальности на примере предприятий из Китая, Литвы и Польши Резюме. Культура предприятия зачастую оценивается на основании экономической и природоохранной действенности предприятия. Это способствует развитию и приспособлению общих принципов управления, однако эти принципы в недостаточной степени оценивают многогранную культуру, царящую в организации. Можно различить понимаемую работниками природоохранную действенность и попытки объективно ее измерить. Представленное в статье исследование направлено на сравнение своеобразно понимаемых и объективных природоохранных мер на тринадцати предприятиях тяжелой промышленности в Китае и Восточной Европе. Результаты показали, что как горизонтальный, так и вертикальный принципы руководства действенны в семьях, обществах и рабочей среде с социально-культурными связями, поэтому обусловлены сложностями, оказывающими воздействие на объективную природоохранную реальность. Ключевые слова: сложность, культура, реальность, язык, иерархия. First Published Online: 14 Oct 201

redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla)

Breeding dispersions and site fidelity of America

Local Energy Policy and Managing the Low Carbon Transition: The Case of Leicester

This paper seeks to provide insights into the links between the local and national energy policy. Leicester City Council has sought to take a leadership role on implementing innovative energy policies within their city. consequently, this paper investigates the impact of national and local energy policy in Leicester. It examines the consumption of energy within city, the network of players within energy policy and two flagship aspects of the policy the district heating scheme and the use of smart metering. The paper concludes that energy policy looks very different at local and national levels

Asymmetrical booster guidance and control system design study. Volume 3: Space shuttle vehicle SRB actuator failure study

The investigation of single actuator failures on the space shuttle solid rocket booster required the analysis of both square pattern and diamond pattern actuator configurations. It was determined that for failures occuring near or prior to the region of maximum dynamic pressure, control gain adjustments can be used to achieve virtually nominal mid-boost vehicle behavior. A distinct worst case failure condition was established near staging that could significantly delay staging. It is recommended that the square pattern be retained as a viable alternative to the baseline diamond pattern because the staging transient is better controlled resulting in earlier staging

Developing a corpus of strategic conversation in The Settlers of Catan

International audienceWe describe a dialogue model and an implemented annotation scheme for a pilot corpus of annotated online chats concerning bargaining negotiations in the game The Settlers of Catan. We will use this model and data to analyze how conversations proceed in the absence of strong forms of cooperativity, where agents have diverging motives. Here we concentrate on the description of our annotation scheme for negotiation dialogues, illustrated with our pilot data, and some perspectives for future research on the issue

Developmental trends in voice onset time: some evidence for sex differences

This study reports on an investigation into the voice onset time (VOT) patterns of the plosives /p b t d/ in a group of 30 children aged 7 (n = 10), 9 (n = 10) and 11 (n = 10) years. Equal numbers of girls and boys participated in the study. Each child named a series of letter objects to elicit /p b t d/ in a syllable onset position with a fixed vowel context. VOT data were examined for age, sex and plosive differences with the following hypotheses: Firstly, that there would be sex differences in the VOT patterns of preadolescent children. Secondly, that the sex differences in VOT patterns would be linked to age and development, and that these would eventually become marked by the age of 11 years, by which time adult-like VOT values should have been achieved. Finally, that the extent of sex and age differences would be dependent upon the plosive being investigated. Results indicated patterns of decrease with age in the VOT values of /p b/ for the boys, with some evidence of increases in the VOT values of /t/ for the girls. In addition, 'voiced' and 'voiceless' cognates showed a more marked bimodal distribution in the girls' VOT patterns. This bimodal distribution was investigated by examining the degree of difference between the VOT values of voiced and voiceless cognate pairs /p b/ and /t d/, and examining the effects of age, sex and cognate pair. These results indicated that more marked sex differences in the 'voiced'/'voiceless' contrast emerged between the data of the 9- and 11-year-olds, a pattern, which was more marked for the alveolar plosives. These preliminary results confirmed all three hypotheses. The findings are presented and discussed both within a developmental and sociophonetic framework