Life is Short Life is Long

In this paper I discuss my thesis book project Life is Short Life is Long which uses ten years of photographs to conjure an intimate memory of my life in my twenties throughout the American landscape. I discuss the purpose of the work and the conceptual foundation of a book with 360 pictures along with direct influences like Robert Frank, Boris Mikhailov, Nan Goldin, and Garry Winogrand, all artists whose work comes directly from the intersection of personal observation and public spectacle. The second part of this paper addresses my graphic printed work, which was a main part of the exhibition and has been a way for me to reinterpret my own images through another medium. Expressionists like Edvard Munch and William Christenberry appropriated their own imagery to invent new material forms for expression. This way of working is about revealing some aura that is latent in the image through a more improvisational and expressive way. Photographs often become our memories and bear witness to the changing form of our lives. As artists, whatever we make is a memorial to the lives we live. All of my work is about the search for meaning concerned with contradictions in truth, the imperfection of beauty, and the historical aspect of the personal

Measurement of CH3_3D on Titan at Submillimeter Wavelengths

We present the first radio/submillimeter detection of monodeuterated methane (CH$_3$D) in Titan's atmosphere, using archival data from of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The $J_K=2_1-1_1$ and $J_K=2_0-1_0$ transitions at 465.235 and 465.250 GHz ($\sim0.644$ mm) were measured at significance levels of $4.6\sigma$ and $5.7\sigma$, respectively. These two lines were modeled using the Non-linear optimal Estimator for MultivariatE spectral analySIS (NEMESIS) radiative transfer code to determine the disk-averaged CH$_3$D volume mixing ratio = $6.157\times10^{-6}$ in Titan's stratosphere (at altitudes $\gt130$ km). By comparison with the CH$_4$ vertical abundance profile measured by Cassini-Huygens mass spectrometry, the resulting value for D/H in CH$_4$ is $(1.033\pm0.081)\times10^{-4}$. This is consistent with previous ground-based and in-situ measurements from the Cassini-Huygens mission, though slightly lower than the average of the previous values. Additional CH$_3$D observations at higher spatial resolution will be required to determine a value truly comparable with the Cassini-Huygens CH$_4$ measurements, by measuring CH$_3$D with ALMA close to Titan's equator. In the post-Cassini era, spatially resolved observations of CH$_3$D with ALMA will enable the latitudinal distribution of methane to be determined, making this an important molecule for further studies.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Bolstering Mission Success: Lessons Learned for Small Satellite Developers Adhering to Manned Spaceflight Requirements

This paper is meant to impart critical knowledge to new and upcoming spacecraft developers (universities, high schools, research centers, young commercial companies, etc.) regarding lessons learned that they can implement to create successful spacecraft missions. This perspective comes from NanoRacks, a “space access provider”, where we’ve gained enormous expertise on how to design and build to requirements driven by human-rated spaceflight. As we all know, operating in space is only half of the battle

Estimating missing data in hierarchical space-time series with a short temporal extent

A challenging problem exists in the estimation of missing space-time data where the time series are relatively short, and the space series belong to a spatial hierarchy. An example is provided by the population estimates for regions belonging to the NUTS hierarchy which are available from the EUROSTAT data portal. The table demo_r_gind3 provides estimates of the population of NUTS0/1/2/3 regions at the 1st January 2000…2012 inclusive. Inspection of the table reveals that estimates are missing for 2000-2003 for two of the five NUTS3 regions in the NUTS2 region of Liège. There are other instances of missing data at NUTS3 where there are data for the corresponding higher level NUTS regions. The EUROSTAT table demo_r_d2jan provides estimates of the population on the 1st January for a longer time period, 1990…2012 inclusive, but these are only to NUTS2. Again, there is missing data. The question then arises as to whether it is possible to estimate the missing series. The NUTS2 values act as a constraint on the NUTS3 values – the total population of the NUTS3 regions should equal those of the corresponding NUTS2 regions. However, the relative shortness of the available series is a challenge if conventional methods of time series analysis are adopted. Furthermore, the imposition of the spatial constraints is both a check as well as a challenge

Readily accessible sp3-rich cyclic hydrazine frameworks exploiting nitrogen fluxionality

Increased molecular complexity correlates with improved chances of success in the drug development process. Here, a strategy for the creation of sp3-rich, non-planar heterocyclic scaffolds suitable for drug discovery is described that obviates the need to generate multiple stereogenic centers with independent control. Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation using a tethered Ru-catalyst is used to efficiently produce a range of enantiopure cyclic hydrazine building blocks (up to 99% ee). Iterative C–N functionalization at the two nitrogen atoms of these compounds produces novel hydrazine and hydrazide based chemical libraries. Wide chemical diversification is possible through variation in the hydrazine structure, use of different functionalization chemistries and coupling partners, and controlled engagement of each nitrogen of the hydrazine in turn. Principal Moment of Inertia (PMI) analysis of this small hydrazine library reveals excellent shape diversity and three-dimensionality. NMR and crystallographic studies confirm these frameworks prefer to orient their substituents in three-dimensional space under the control of a single stereogenic center through exploitation of the fluxional behavior of the two nitrogen atoms

Evaluation of a Multi-Sensor Platform in a Large-Scale Geophysical Survey at Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site, Ireland

This poster presents comparative results from the first use of the Geophysical Exploration Equipment Platform (GEEP) in Ireland in carrying out a multi-sensor survey in the vicinity of a possible Neolithic passage tomb known as Site E in the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site. Brú na Bóinne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been an important ritual, social and economic centre for thousands of years. Much research has been undertaken in the area, including large-scale excavations at the Neolithic passage tombs of Newgrange and Knowth. However we still lack an in-depth understanding of the site’s broad range of archaeological monuments, and the landscape and communities that shaped them. To date there has been no systematic large-scale use of ground geophysical techniques although a number of successful spatially discrete geophysical surveys have been carried out. The landscape has many large, open fields under pasture or tillage suitable for systematic large-scale ground geophysical survey. Such a survey, integrated with the interpretation of other available remote sensing data is an obvious next step in the investigation of this internationally important landscape. The evaluation was successful and the results from the GEEP dataset will be presented with a comparative study of data collected by traditional hand-carried magnetic gradiometry, earth resistance and magnetic susceptibility surveys

Fiber-Optic Imaging in an Internal Combustion Engine Test Rig

The formation of particulate matter (PM/soot), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and other byproducts of the combustion process in diesel engines is controlled by spatiotemporally varying quantities within the engine cylinders which traditional sensors cannot resolve. This study explores the use of an advanced sensing technique using an optical probe which can be used to produce highly spatiotemporally resolved in cylinder images of the flame formation during the combustion stroke. Using a fiber optic cable and custom lensing system adapted to fit a pre-existing pressure transducer port, light from within the cylinder can be transmitted through the imaging probe to a high speed camera where high resolution images of the flame are captured. This method enables no modifications to the engine geometry or materials, which ensures that the combustion and heat transfer characteristics are the same in the operating engine as they would be without the sensor implementation. Simulation results of an optical system to meet the desired design constraints are presented and discussed in addition to models of the imaging probe design. These results showed that an effective imaging system could be packaged within a narrow design envelope and produce high resolution images for a wide field of view