Ku-Band rendezvous radar performance computer simulation model

All work performed on the Ku-band rendezvous radar performance computer simulation model program since the release of the preliminary final report is summarized. Developments on the program fall into three distinct categories: (1) modifications to the existing Ku-band radar tracking performance computer model; (2) the addition of a highly accurate, nonrealtime search and acquisition performance computer model to the total software package developed on this program; and (3) development of radar cross section (RCS) computation models for three additional satellites. All changes in the tracking model involved improvements in the automatic gain control (AGC) and the radar signal strength (RSS) computer models. Although the search and acquisition computer models were developed under the auspices of the Hughes Aircraft Company Ku-Band Integrated Radar and Communications Subsystem program office, they have been supplied to NASA as part of the Ku-band radar performance comuter model package. Their purpose is to predict Ku-band acquisition performance for specific satellite targets on specific missions. The RCS models were developed for three satellites: the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) spacecraft, the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) spacecraft, and the Space Telescopes

Forage Legumes: Their Importance and Management In Profitable Livestock Systems

The landscape of most Kentucky operations is heavily dominated by the utilization of cool-season grasses as the primary source of forage for livestock. However, legumes species, such alfalfa and red or white clovers are an essential component to a complete forage-livestock system. Relative to grasses alone, incorporating legumes into a mixture has the benefits of improving the nutritive value of the available forage in the field, extending the grazing season by increasing the yield of forage during the early summer months, and providing a more economical source of N compared to commercial fertilizers. This paper will briefly describe each of these potential benefits and explain any trade-off, as well as any additional management required, that a producer may face with maintaining grass-legume mixtures in their operations

Liquidating the Foreign Personal Holding Company: Alternative Considerations

Prior to 1937, it was common for United states taxpayers to utilize offshore corporate entities, structured in the form of a foreign personal holding company ( FPHC ) to avoid United States taxation. As indi- cated by the House Committee Notes accompanying enactment of the Revenue Act of 1937, [t]he evidence presented to the joint committee has shown that foreign personal holding companies have afforded one of the most flagrant loopholes for tax avoidance. \u27 The primary problem faced by the lawmakers in 1937 was the fact that the United States was unable to acquire direct taxing jurisdiction over such companies due to the fact that such corporate entities were not located within the taxing jurisdiction of the United States.2 As a result, Congress adopted an alter- native approach which in the opinion of the lawmakers was justifiable on constitutional grounds;3 that is, to provide for a method of taxation that will reach the shareholders who own stock in such companies and over whom the United States has direct taxing authority.4 As a result, the FPHC provisions provided an alternative method of taxation which deemed the income of the FPHC to be distributed to the shareholders and required such shareholders to report as their income, the undistrib- uted net income of such FPHC.\u27 Although there are certain similarities that exist between the FPHC provisions6 and the domestic PHC provisions,7 it is not the purpose of this work to address such differences. Rather, this Article will: (1) Dis- cuss and analyze the operative provisions of the FPHC provisions;8 (2) Analyze the methods by which shareholders subject to the United States taxing jurisdiction may minimize the tax impact of liquidating a FPHC and repatriating its earnings to the United States taxing jurisdic- tion;9 and (3) Discuss miscellaneous considerations applicable in the con- text of such alternative liquidation techniques

Orbit Estimation of Non-Cooperative Maneuvering Spacecraft

Due to the ever increasing congestion of the space environment, there is an increased demand for real-time situation awareness of all objects in space. An unknown spacecraft maneuver changes the predicted orbit, complicates tracking, and degrades estimate accuracies. Traditional orbit estimation routines are implemented, tested, and compared to a multiple model format that adaptively handles unknown maneuvers. Multiple Model Adaptive Estimation is implemented in an original way to track a non-cooperative satellite by covariance inflation and filtering-through a maneuver. Parameters for successful instantaneous maneuver reconstruction are analyzed. Variable State Dimension estimation of a continuously maneuvering spacecraft is investigated. A requirements based analysis is performed on short arc orbital solutions. Large covariance propagation of potential maneuvers is explored. Using ground-based radars, several thousand simulations are run to develop new techniques to estimate orbits during and after both instantaneous and continuous maneuvers. The new methods discovered are more accurate by a factor of 700 after only a single pass when compared to non-adaptive methods. The algorithms, tactics, and analysis complement on-going efforts to improve Space Situational Awareness and dynamic modeling

Putting Some Pop Back in Your Crop: Alfalfa in Crop Rotations

While alfalfa is often recognized as the “Queen of the Forages”, corn may be considered “King of the Crops” and currently ranks as the nation’s largest acreage crop with over 87 million acres. The corn acreage U.S. has continued to increase in recent years for various reasons including greater market demand, a shift towards larger farms that focus on a fewer number of crops, and the development of improved varieties and management practices. According to the U.S. Census of Agriculture, the acreage devoted to corn and soybeans has risen by 64 and 255%, respectively, over the last 30 years, while the land use for alfalfa and pasture has declined by 15 and 28% over the same period. The loss of forages is particular evident in the Mid-western states where acreages of alfalfa and pasture has averaged 67 & 53%, respectively. Despite a shift to “corn-centric” agriculture, the use of perennial forage species, such as alfalfa or tall fescue, in crop rotations are vital to the long-term success of grain crop operations

STEER AND TALL FESCUE PASTURE RESPONSES TO GRAZING INTENSITY AND CHEMICAL SEEDHEAD SUPPRESSION

Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) is the principal cool-season species within pastures of the southeastern USA and is known to have a mutualistic relationship with a fungal endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum) that produces the ergot alkaloids responsible for tall fescue toxicosis. Management of the reproductive growth of tall fescue is necessary, as the seedheads contain the highest concentrations of ergot alkaloids, and livestock have been documented to selectively graze these tissues. Recently, the herbicide Chaparral™ has been shown to be an effective method to prevent seedhead production in tall fescue pastures while also increasing steer gains at a low stocking rate. The objective of this study was to compare the impact of Chaparral on steer and pasture production under multiple grazing intensities (GI). Chaparral (0 and 140 g ha-1) and two levels of GI (low: 3300±250 kg ha-1 & moderate: 2500±250 kg ha-1) treatments were arranged in a factorial combination as RCBD with three replications. Tall fescue seedhead densities were decreased (P \u3c 0.05) within the Chaparral-treated pastures, but efficiency of the inhibition varied slightly between growing seasons. Chaparral-treated pastures had lower (P \u3c 0.05) forage availabilities and contained forage with higher (P \u3c 0.05) concentrations of crude protein (CP) and in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDDM) during both growing season. Steers within the Chaparral-treated pastures and low GI treatment had higher average daily gains (ADG). Carrying capacities (CC) were lowest and highest within the Chaparral-low GI and control-moderate GI treatments, respectively. Estimates of CC were not different (P \u3e 0.15) between the Chaparral-moderate GI and control-low GI treatments. The higher ADG compensated for the lower CC of the Chaparral and low GI treatments and resulted in no difference (P \u3e 0.60) in total gain per hectare (GPH) between grazing intensities and herbicide treatments in 2011. In 2012, the GPH were higher within the control and moderate GI treatments due to a lessening in the magnitude of difference between the herbicide and GI treatments. The effects of these treatments for alleviating symptoms of tall fescue toxicosis were inconclusive due to the low levels of ergot alkaloids production

Liquidating the Foreign Personal Holding Company: Alternative Considerations

Prior to 1937, it was common for United states taxpayers to utilize offshore corporate entities, structured in the form of a foreign personal holding company ( FPHC ) to avoid United States taxation. As indi- cated by the House Committee Notes accompanying enactment of the Revenue Act of 1937, [t]he evidence presented to the joint committee has shown that foreign personal holding companies have afforded one of the most flagrant loopholes for tax avoidance. \u27 The primary problem faced by the lawmakers in 1937 was the fact that the United States was unable to acquire direct taxing jurisdiction over such companies due to the fact that such corporate entities were not located within the taxing jurisdiction of the United States.2 As a result, Congress adopted an alter- native approach which in the opinion of the lawmakers was justifiable on constitutional grounds;3 that is, to provide for a method of taxation that will reach the shareholders who own stock in such companies and over whom the United States has direct taxing authority.4 As a result, the FPHC provisions provided an alternative method of taxation which deemed the income of the FPHC to be distributed to the shareholders and required such shareholders to report as their income, the undistrib- uted net income of such FPHC.\u27 Although there are certain similarities that exist between the FPHC provisions6 and the domestic PHC provisions,7 it is not the purpose of this work to address such differences. Rather, this Article will: (1) Dis- cuss and analyze the operative provisions of the FPHC provisions;8 (2) Analyze the methods by which shareholders subject to the United States taxing jurisdiction may minimize the tax impact of liquidating a FPHC and repatriating its earnings to the United States taxing jurisdic- tion;9 and (3) Discuss miscellaneous considerations applicable in the con- text of such alternative liquidation techniques