Heat and Mass Transfer in Cold Regions Soils

The work upon which this report is based was made possible by a cooperative aid agreement between the U.S. Forest Service, Institute of Northern Forestry, Fairbanks, Alaska, and the Institute of Water Resources, University of Alaska. Contributions to this study were also made by the University of California at Davis and Ohio State University. The collection of winter data on pore pressures was made possible by a separate grant by the Office of Water Research and Technology (project A-053 ALAS)

CARICOM Bilateral Trade: A Preliminary Analysis Using the Gravity Model

This paper investigates the determinants of intra-CARICOM bilateral trade and the CARICOM member's trade with the North American and European countries using the gravity model. Seventeen annual cross-sections are estimated for the period 1980 through 1996. Overall, the empirical results indicate that the gravity model has considerable potential to explain intra-CARICOM bilateral trade as well as trade between CARICOM members and non-members. The evidence suggests that both the importer's GDP per capita and the exporter's GDP per capita exert strong positive effects on CARICOM trade levels. Since these effects are found to be statistically the same, we conclude that the gravity model is symmetric with respect to GDP per capita. Further, sharing a common language, colonial ties, or membership in the CARICOM all significantly contribute to larger volumes of bilateral trade, while geographic distance has the opposite effect. Both the exporting and the importing countries' populations have a positive effect on trade levels, indicating that larger economies have a wider production base and thus export and import more than would smaller economies.Caribbean economies, CARICOM, FTAA, gravity model, regional integration, International Relations/Trade,

Technical guide on documentation requirements for open market contract acquisitions of information resources

A guide is presented to assist requestors in formulating and submitting the required Complete Package for Information Resources (IR) acquisitions. Advance discussions with cognizant procurement personnel are strongly recommended for complex IR requirements or for those requestors new to the acquisition process. Open Market means the requirement either is not available on GSA Schedule Contract or exceeds the $300,000 threshold and/or the quantity Maximum Order Limitation of the GSA Schedule Contract. Only open market contract acquisitions (i.e., in excess of the$25,000 small purchase threshold), are addressed

Systems Integration Processes for NASA Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle

NASA's Exploration Initiative will require development of many new elements to constitute a robust system of systems. New launch vehicles are needed to place cargo and crew in stable Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This paper examines the systems integration processes NASA is utilizing to ensure integration and control of propulsion and nonpropulsion elements within NASA's Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV), now known as the Ares I. The objective of the Ares I is to provide the transportation capabilities to meet the Constellation Program requirements for delivering a Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) or other payload to LEO in support of the lunar and Mars missions. The Ares I must successfully provide this capability within cost and schedule, and with an acceptable risk approach. This paper will describe the systems engineering management processes that will be applied to assure Ares I Project success through complete and efficient technical integration. Discussion of technical review and management processes for requirements development and verification, integrated design and analysis, integrated simulation and testing, and the integration of reliability, maintainability and supportability (RMS) into the design will also be included. The Ares I Project is logically divided into elements by the major hardware groupings, and associated management, system engineering, and integration functions. The processes to be described herein are designed to integrate within these Ares I elements and among the other Constellation projects. Also discussed is launch vehicle stack integration (Ares I to CEV, and Ground and Flight Operations integration) throughout the life cycle, including integrated vehicle performance through orbital insertion, recovery of the first stage, and reentry of the upper stage. The processes for decomposing requirements to the elements and ensuring that requirements have been correctly validated, decomposed, and allocated, and that the verification requirements are properly defined to ensure that the system design meets requirements, will be discussed

A Compilation of Data on Feline Nutrient Requirements

The basis of this compilation is to present the inquisitive with a ready reference for feline nutrition. We will cover the known suggested amounts for each nutrient in prose and in the more readily accessible table form. For additional spice, the known clinical effects for each deficiency and toxicity will also be included. In the last portion of the paper the data will be assimilated into a practical from with suggested stock diets for the cat

Geometric Modeling of Engineered Abrasive Processes

One of the common issues that arises in abrasive machining is the inconsistency of the surface roughness within the same batch and under identical machining conditions. Recent advances in engineered abrasives have allowed replacement of the random arrangement of minerals on conventional belts with precisely shaped structures uniformly cast directly onto a backing material. This allows for abrasive belts that are more deterministic in shape, size, distribution, orientation, and composition. A computer model based on known tooling geometry was developed to approximate the asymptotic surface profile that was achievable under specific loading conditions. Outputs included the theoretical surface parameters, R^sub q^, R^sub a^, R^sub v^, R^sub p^, R^sub t^, and R^sub sk^. Experimental validation was performed with a custom-made abrader apparatus and using engineered abrasives on highly polished aluminum samples. Interferometric microscopy was used in assessing the surface roughness. Results include the individual effects of pyramid base width, pyramid height, attack angle, and indentation depth on the surface descriptors

Michigan passenger rail: An analysis of community benefits

Passenger rail service is perceived to provide important benefits to Michigan communities. However, the extent of these benefits has never been quantified in a systematic way. The study reported on here involved the performance of a broad based assessment of the community level benefits of passenger rail serv ice. The main objective of the research project was to estimate the full range of these benefits at the community level, as opposed to at the state level. Benefits were estimated for individual travelers, Amtrak expenditures, and local businesses. This research indicates local communities currently realize $62.0 million annually in benefits. Additional benefits accrue to the region, state, and nation in the form of congestion relief, air quality improvement, energy conservation, and safety