Paper Session II-A - Development of Dual Use Launch Facilities

The space launch industry has a heritage rooted in early research, development and test programs sponsored by the federal government. These programs had large budgets and a sense of urgency derived from national defense or scientific requirements. They were dedicated to achieving specific goals, emphasized vehicle performance, and demanded unique facilities. When a launch program was completed, the launch facilities were abandoned and new facilities built for the next program. This heritage is easily recognizable today on the Eastern Range. Cape Canaveral Air Station contains 46 launch complexes. Of the 46 complexes, only five are approved for active launch vehicles. This includes one facility for small weather rockets. Each launch service provider typically has a unique launch site for each vehicle. Delta vehicles are launched from Launch Complex 17; Atlas vehicles from Launch Complex 36.etc. Only recently have launch providers been able to intermix launching different versions of the same vehicle from a common facility. The problems inherent in this approach are readily apparent when viewed from a commercial perspective. Each launch vehicle program must generate enough revenue to operate, maintain and amortize the capital cost of the launch site. Existing programs benefit from the governmentís investment. New launch vehicles find it difficult to enter the market and be competitive. One answer to this problem is to eliminate competing launch vehicles. Thus there is a unique facility designed specifically for a single user with a standard launch vehicle or family of vehicles. This solution is an efficient use of capital at the expense of competition. The alternative answer is multi-user facilities. The Spaceport Florida Authority pioneered this concept for new small commercial launch vehicles using the same model for infrastructure development used by commercial airports

In My View

I am pleased that in his review of my book, The Russian Presidency (Naval War College Review, Summer 2001, pp. 165–8), Sergei Khrushchev agreed with me (and we are among a very few in the scholarly community who have agreed on this issue) that presidentialism will serve Russia better than the parliamentary alternative. But elsewhere, Dr. Khrushchev disagrees with me, and I am writing not only to clarify to readers of the Review the nature of that disagreement but also to take issue with places where I believe he has mischaracterized the book

MR Spectroscopic Imaging of Peripheral Zone in Prostate Cancer Using a 3T MRI Scanner: Endorectal versus External Phased Array Coils.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) detects alterations in major prostate metabolites, such as citrate (Cit), creatine (Cr), and choline (Ch). We evaluated the sensitivity and accuracy of three-dimensional MRSI of prostate using an endorectal compared to an external phased array "receive" coil on a 3T MRI scanner. Eighteen patients with prostate cancer (PCa) who underwent endorectal MR imaging and proton (1H) MRSI were included in this study. Immediately after the endorectal MRSI scan, the PCa patients were scanned with the external phased array coil. The endorectal coil-detected metabolite ratio [(Ch+Cr)/Cit] was significantly higher in cancer locations (1.667 ± 0.663) compared to non-cancer locations (0.978 ± 0.420) (P < 0.001). Similarly, for the external phased array, the ratio was significantly higher in cancer locations (1.070 ± 0.525) compared to non-cancer locations (0.521 ± 0.310) (P < 0.001). The sensitivity and accuracy of cancer detection were 81% and 78% using the endorectal 'receive' coil, and 69% and 75%, respectively using the external phased array 'receive' coil

EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OF PSYCHEDELIC-ASSISTED THERAPIES FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION IN SOCOM

A U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) funded study completed in 2017 found that U.S. special operations forces (SOF) have a 30% higher suicide rate than the U.S. military average. Nearly half of the twenty-nine suicide cases explored in the psychological autopsy study had a diagnosed mental health disorder. These findings underscore how suicide, and its contributing factors, are a growing threat to the health of the force and combat readiness across SOCOM. This thesis examined psychedelic-assisted therapy as a component of an overall holistic approach to addressing mental health conditions and combatting suicide across SOCOM. We reviewed two emerging psychedelic treatments for ameliorating mood and trauma-based mental health disorders, comparing them to two in-use novel therapies. Notwithstanding limits to existing data, our review found that psychedelic-assisted therapies show potential in three critical ways. There is a rapid and sustained decrease in disorder-related symptoms, exhibited efficacy in treatment-resistant cases, and minimal adverse events when administered in a controlled environment. Alone, no single weapon or piece of technology has ever won a war, and in a similar fashion, successful mental health treatment models for suicide prevention strategies require a multi-faceted approach. While psychedelic therapies are not a panacea for the mental health crisis within the military, they carry emended potential to be another tool for treatment and recovery.Major, United States ArmyMajor, United States ArmyMajor, United States ArmyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

Equine recurrent uveitis - A spontaneous horse model of uveitis

Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is an autoimmune disease that occurs with a high prevalence (10%) in horses. ERU represents the only reliable spontaneous model for human autoimmune uveitis. We already identified and characterized novel autoantigens (malate dehydrogenase, recoverin, CRALBP) by analyzing the autoantibody-binding pattern of horses affected by spontaneous recurrent uveitis (ERU) to the retinal proteome. CRALBP also seems to be relevant to human autoimmune uveitis. Proteomic screening of vitreous and retinal samples from ERU diseased cases in comparison to healthy controls has led to the identification of a series of differentially regulated proteins, which are functionally linked to the immune system and the maintenance of the blood-retinal barrier. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

Bus Passenger Movement in Ghana: A Case of Intercity State Transport Corporation (ISTC) Coaches Ltd.

The Intercity State Transport Company is one of the two state funded transport companies in Ghana competing with a range of other service providers mainly from the private sector in the industry. Once well respected and described as the pride of intercity travels in Ghana, it is currently a mere shadow of its former glory with rapid decline in passenger movements over the past years. This study sought to analyse passenger movements over the past five years and also explored challenges that have led to the steady decline of ISTC over the years. Secondary data was provided by the company and this was complemented with in-depth interviews with management. Findings of the study revealed that the service suffered a 60% decline in passenger movement between 2007 and 2011; however there was a high utilization of its services in January 2010 and December 2011. Finally, there was no statistically significant difference in the volume of passengers between 2010 and 2011. Keywords: intercity, intercity bus, passenger movement, ISTC

Drivers’ and Passengers’ Perspectives on Factors Influencing Intercity Bus Travel Time on the Accra-Takoradi Route, Ghana: an Exploratory Approach

The purpose of the study is to qualitatively ascertain the factors influencing intercity bus transport travel time on the Accra-Takoradi route in Ghana. The cross sectional study involved the use of in-depth interviews conducted on fourteen drivers and forty two passengers of GPRTU, VIP, VVIP, ISTC, MMT, DIPLOMAT and FORD on the route. This was supported with participants and non-participants observations. The identified determinants were time of departure,  purpose of travel, day/night journey, volume of traffic on the route, place of refueling, number of stoppages for  passengers, the nature of the road, the type of bus, approved rest stops, speed limit, the presence of MTTD officials, presence of toll booths, volume of passengers’ luggage and so on. Recommendations were proffered to reduce tension that might be generated by lack of understanding between the driver and the passengers on the travel time. Key words: Travel time, passengers, drivers, intercity bus

Intermediate Fidelity Closed Brayton Cycle Power Conversion Model

This paper describes the implementation of an intermediate fidelity model of a closed Brayton Cycle power conversion system (Closed Cycle System Simulation). The simulation is developed within the Numerical Propulsion Simulation System architecture using component elements from earlier models. Of particular interest, and power, is the ability of this new simulation system to initiate a more detailed analysis of compressor and turbine components automatically and to incorporate the overall results into the general system simulation