A summary of laboratory testing performed to characterize and select an elastomeric O-ring material to be used in the redesigned solid rocket motors of the space transportation system

An elastomeric O-ring material is used in the joints of the redesigned solid motors (RSRM's) of the National Space Transportation System (NSTS). The selection of the O-ring material used in the RSRM's was a very thorough process that included efforts by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the Langley Research Center, and the Thiokol Corporation. One of the efforts performed at MSFC was an extensive in-house laboratory test regime to screen potential O-ring materials and ultimately to characterize the elastomeric material that was chosen to be used in the RSRM's. The laboratory tests performed at MSFC are summarized

COTS simulation package (CSP) interoperability - A solution to synchronous entity passing

In this paper we examine Commercial-Off-The- Shelf (COTS) Simulation Package (CSP) interoperability for one type of distributed simulation problem, namely synchronous entity passing. Synchronous entity passing is also referred to as the bounded buffer interoperability reference model. It deals with the case where for entities passed between models the receiving queue is bounded or the receiving workstation has limited capacity. This means the sending model must check the status of the receiving model before it can send entities. Correspondingly, the receiving model should update the status information dynamically when it changes. Similar to the work done on asynchronous entity passing, the High Level Architecture is chosen as the underlying standard to support reuse and interoperability. To simplify the integration of the CSP and the HLA, a middleware layer called DSManager is provided. Some new problems generated for synchronous entity passing are discussed and solutions are proposed together with a description of their implementation. Two sets of experiments are conducted to evaluate the solutions using a CSP Emulator (CSPE) which supports both standalone and distributed simulation

Clarifying interoperability: The SISO CSPI PDG standard for commercial off-the-shelf simulation package interoperability reference models

Commercial-off-the-shelf simulation packages (CSPs), visual interactive modelling environments such as Arena, Anylogic, Flexsim, Simul8, Witness, etc., are important "black box" software tools that support the development, experimentation and visualization of simulation models. They are widely used in commerce, defence, health, manufacturing and logistics. There is a growing need to link together, or to interoperate, models developed in these CSPs across computer networks. The motivation for this includes data sensitivity, difficult to move resources and speed up

The role of Guanxi on Chinese leadership innovation:the pilot study on the electric motor sector

This research aims to examine the existence and nature of complex business-social relationships in the Chinese context (Guanxi) and evaluate how these relationships influence the behaviors of managers in State-owned Chinese engineering firms. Research on Guanxi is comprehensive though little work investigates internal influences and how internal relationships may mirror or replicate external Guanxi. This study uses a snowball sample of 66 senior managers across the key functional disciplines in typical large Chinese firms and explores how often strategic level problems in the firm are solved through relationships outside, inside or between the companies. Do Guanxi networks penetrate the organization itself and are there relationships that are unique to internal networks? The research finds that problem solving at strategic levels are often through internal and external networks, rather than internal management structures, but also that different problems complexities typically demonstrate unique problem-solving networks. The research identifies three different forms that these relationships take: Internal, inter-firm and hybrid relationship modes. Implications for this work suggest problem solving in Chinese firms is enhanced through cooperation and mutual respect, and likely to be inhibited by traditional Western approaches to management

NASA's AVE 7 experiment: 25-mb sounding data

The AVE 7 Experiment is described and tabulated rawinsonde data at 25 mb internals from the surface to 25 mb for the 24 stations participating in the experiment are presented. Soundings were taken between 0000GMT May 2 and 1200 GMT May 3, 1978. The methods of data processing and the accuracy are briefly discussed. Selected synoptic charts prepared from the data are presented as well as an example of contact data. A tabulation of adverse weather events that occured during the AVE 7 period, including freezing temperature, snow, tornadoes, damaging winds, and flooding, is presented

Atmospheric observations for STS-4 landing

A summary of synoptic weather conditions existing over the western United States is given for the time of Shuttle descent into Edwards Air Force Base, California. The techniques and methods used to furnish synoptic atmospheric data at the surface and aloft for flight verification of the STS-4 Orbiter during its descent into Edwards Air Force Base are specified. Examples of the upper level data set are given

Atmospheric observations for STS-1 landing

A summary of synoptic weather conditions existing over the western United States is given for the time of shuttle descent into Edwards Air Force Base, California. The techniques and methods used to furnish synoptic atmospheric data at the surface and aloft for flight verification of the STS-1 orbiter during its descent into Edwards Air Force Base are specified. Examples of the upper level data set are given

Diversity and Community Structure of Stream Insects in a Minimally Disturbed Forested Watershed in Southern Illinois

The Lusk Creek Watershed, located in Pope County, IL, long has been rec- ognized as a high quality area of biological significance, but surveys of the stream macroinvertebrate fauna have been limited. Thus, a survey of the benthic insect community at 11 sites in the upper portion of Lusk Creek was conducted from May 2003 to April 2005. A total of 20,888 specimens, mostly immatures, were examined during the study and represented eight orders. The Diptera, by far, was the most abundant order, with 18,590 specimens, almost all of which were members of the Chironomidae or Simuliidae. Members of the EPT (Ephemer- optera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera) contributed 1,550 specimens. The Coleoptera was represented by 647 specimens, most of which were members of Stenelmis (Elmidae) (n = 612). The Shannon diversity index (H ́) ranged from 1.07-2.01 for individual sites and was indicative of relatively undisturbed streams in this region. Jackknife analyses of richness estimated that as many as 37 taxa were unobserved in this survey. Results provide information on reference conditions in the region and a foundation for future monitoring