Centers for the commercial development of space

In 1985, NASA initiated an innovative effort called Centers for the Commercial Development of Space (CCDS). The CCDS program was designed to increase private-sector interest and investment in space-related activities, while encouraging U.S. economic leadership and stimulating advances in promising areas of research and development. Research conducted in the Centers handling the following areas is summarized: materials processing; life sciences; remote sensing; automation and robotics; space propulsion; space structures and materials; and space power

Correlates of undefined cause of injury coded mortality data in Australia

The objective of this research was to identify the level of detail regarding the external causes of death in Australia and ascertain problematic areas where data quality improvement efforts may be focused. The 2003 national mortality dataset of 12591 deaths with an external cause of injury as the underlying cause of death (UCOD) or multiple cause of death (MCOD) based on ICD-10 code assignment from death certificate information was obtained. Logistic regression models were used to examine the precision of coded external cause of injury data.---- It was found that overall, accidents were the most poorly defined of all intent code blocks with over 30% of accidents being undefined, representing 2314 deaths in 2003. More undefined codes were identified in MCOD data than for UCOD data. Deaths certified by doctors were more likely to use undefined codes than deaths certified by a coroner or government medical office.---- To improve the quality of external cause of injuries leading to or associated with death, certifiers need to be made aware of the importance of documenting all information pertaining to the cause of the injury and the intent behind the incident, either through education or more explicit instructions on the death certificate and accompanying instructional materials. It is important that researchers are aware of the validity of the data when they make interpretations as to the underlying causes of fatal injuries and causes of injury associated with deaths

Integration of organic poultry in whole farm systems: manure nutrient budgets

This report was presented at the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference. The aim of this project was to examine how rotations incorporating organic poultry use the cycling of nutrients between soil, crops and birds. Poultry studies have measured nutrient values of manure in slow growing meat birds at about day 81 when fed typical broiler rations versus “Label Rouge” rations. Nutrient (N, P, K) balances were constructed to assess the viability of integrating poultry production within a theoretical organic rotation. The readilyplant- available nitrogen in manure from Ross 308 birds fed either presumed non-limiting rations or Label Rouge rations was within the range reported for intensive broilers. For ISA 657 birds, the manure readily-plant-available nitrogen was similar to the mean value reported for broilers, when fed presumed non limiting rations, but towards the lower range when fed Label Rouge rations. As breed growth and feed intakes differ it is suggested that to optimise the utilisation of nutrients, the nutrient content of table bird manures should be checked prior to land application. The nutrient budgets were similar for N and P regardless of the length of rotation or form of poultry production. On average, there was a surplus of 85 kg/ha N over all the scenarios. There tended to be a deficit of K in all scenarios (average: 10 kg/ha)

"I think maybe 10 years seems a bit long." Beliefs and attitudes of women who had never used intrauterine contraception

Aim To explore, in a general practice setting, the concerns, beliefs and attitudes about intrauterine contraception (IUC) reported by women, who had never used the methods. Methods We used a sequential mixed-method (QUAL/quant) approach. A pragmatic, self-selecting sample of 30 women, aged 18–46 years, who had never used IUC), was recruited through seven general practices in South East England. Themes arising from qualitative interviews were used to construct a quantitative survey, completed by a pragmatic sample of 1195 women, aged 18–49 years, attending 32 general practices in the same region, between February and August 2015. Results Qualitative themes were concerns about the long-acting nature of IUC, concerns about body boundaries, and informal knowledge of IUC, especially ‘friend of a friend’ stories. Women were not sure if the devices can be removed before their full 5- or 10-year duration of use, and felt that these timeframes did not fit with their reproductive intentions. Quantitative survey data showed that the most commonly endorsed concerns among never-users were painful fitting (55.8%), unpleasant removal of the device (60.1%), and concern about having a device ’inside me' (60.2%). Conclusions To facilitate fully informed contraceptive choice, information provided to women considering IUC should be tailored to more fully address the concerns expressed by never-users, particularly around the details of insertion and removal, and concerns about the adverse, long-term effects of the device. Women need to be reassured that IUC can be removed and fertility restored at any time following insertion

Land Grant Application- Walker, Edward (Waterborough)

Land grant application submitted to the Maine Land Office on behalf of Edward Walker for service in the Revolutionary War, by their widow Susan.https://digitalmaine.com/revolutionary_war_me_land_office/1929/thumbnail.jp

Effects of Employment-at-Will Policies on Corporate Image, Job Pursuit Intentions, & Union Membership Intentions

Since 1884, the courts have embraced and applied the doctrine of employment-at-will which states that employers may terminate their employees, with or without cause or notice, at any time. Recently, the courts have recognized exceptions to this doctrine. In order to avoid these exceptions, lawyers and human resource specialists have suggested that employment materials should explicitly state that all employment is at-will. However, while stating an employment-at-will policy may protect employers\u27 rights to terminate at-will, little is known about the consequences of adopting these measures with respect to applicant and employee attitudes. The concept of employment-at-will is explored and research that investigates the effects of explicitly stating these policies in corporate recruiting brochures is presented. First, the employment-at-will literature is reviewed. Second, variables are discussed that address the possible effects of stating an employment-at-will policy in corporate recruiting materials. Third, variables are presented that may interact with termination policy with regard to potential applicant attitudes. Fourth, a 2 X 2 X 2 factorial design was used to assess the influence of self-efficacy (high versus low), termination policy (terminate for just cause versus employment-at-will), and compensation policy (leading versus average) on future applicants\u27 1) favorableness of impression of the organization, 2) interest in pursuing employment opportunities, and 3) intention to join a union. indicated a interaction Results significant termination policy by self-efficacy for intent to pursue employment. Specifically, it was found that individuals with high self-efficacy were more favorable toward pursuing employment with an organization with a due process termination policy than an organization with an employment-at-will termination policy. Results also indicated that whether an individual has a union member in his family was associated with the potential applicant\u27s ratings of corporate image (r = -.15, p \u3c .05) and intent to pursue union membership (r = .23, p \u3c .01). Finally, possible reasons for the current findings and avenues for future research are addressed

Figure, Image, and the Shape of Time in Shakespeare\u27s History Plays

Shakespeare began his career as a dramatist by writing the first of a series of plays remarking upon English history from the Middle Ages through the reign of Henry VIII. Most notable of this historic chronicle are the eight plays, or two tetralogies, that dramatize the tumultuous period of civil conflict between 1399 and 1485. Some critics of Shakespeare\u27s tetralogies have argued Shakespeare\u27s intent to produce a single, unified, and providentially-ordered chronicle in which the deposition of Richard II may be viewed as the nascent event for the civil wars that culminated in Tudor accession to the crown. Nevertheless, more recent scholarship has disregarded this notion, preferring instead to view the two tetralogies as separate entities for which there is no compelling evidence that Shakespeare intended a relationship, much less a sweeping thematic narrative spanning eight plays. However, I suggest that Shakespeare had a Medieval source, the dramatic chronicles of biblical history known as the Corpus Christi plays, from which he may have derived the pattern for connecting together seemingly disparate episodes in history into one richly-textured historiographic body. Through the examination of corresponding scenes from each tetralogy, I demonstrate that Shakespeare\u27s history plays are indebted to the Corpus Christi cycle drama for idea, imagery, and their essential form as an architecture of figural connections. Together, I conclude, these elements impart a greater didactic significance to Shakespeare\u27s history plays and substantiate the conception of Shakespeare\u27s two tetralogies as an important and coherent unit

Are limited opening times really to blame for men's underuse of healthcare services?

N/