In the soft-to-hard technical spectrum: Where is software engineering?

In the computer journals and tabloids, there have been a plethora of articles written about the software engineering field. But while advocates of the need for an engineering approach to software development, it is impressive how many authors have treated the subject of software engineering without adequately addressing the fundamentals of what engineering as a discipline consists of. A discussion is presented of the various related facets of this issue in a logical framework to advance the thesis that the software development process is necessarily an engineering process. The purpose is to examine more of the details of the issue of whether or not the design and development of software for digital computer processing systems should be both viewed and treated as a legitimate field of professional engineering. Also, the type of academic and professional level education programs that would be required to support a software engineering discipline is examined

The RICIS concept

A cooperative program was initiated by JSC with the University of Houston - Clear Lake to support research in computing and information systems. The objective of this program is to provide continuing long-term research in support of the numerous mission and mission-related endeavors of NASA/JSC. The Research Institute for Computing and Information Systems (RICIS) concept is presented in form of viewgraphs. History of RICIS, its organization, and research status are discussed

Technology development: A partnership that makes sense

Discussed here is an approach to how academic institutions, government entities, and industrial organizations can work effectively to utilize their relative strengths to more effectively meet common goals. The discussion relates to the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) Research Institute for Computing and Information Systems (RICIS) Program to bring about this type of triad in the Clear Lake area. It is concluded that the interfaces among these groups must remain independent to maintain a healthy counterbalance to their respective entities. However, each entity can and must understand the entire mechanism to exploit each interface to the fullest. Only through such cooperation can the continued technical success of the NASA/Clear Lake area be assured

Preparing an Election Petition in Missouri

Initiative and referendum petitions provide citizens with the power to make and overturn existing laws. Through the initiative petition, the people can compel an election on the question of enacting an amendment to the Missouri Constitution or enacting a proposed law. Through the referendum petition, the people can compel an election to decide whether an existing law should be retained. The procedure to be followed in drafting these petitions is specified in the Constitution and Statutes of Missouri.Reviewed October 1993

Pharmacology of GABA-mediated inhibition of spinal cord neurons in vivo and in primary dissociated cell culture

In this paper it is shown that the postsynaptic GABA-receptor chloride ion channel complex is composed of several functional subunits. There are probably at least two stereospecific locations on the receptor for GABA-binding and both must be occupied to obtain an increase in chloride conductance. The interaction between these sites is uncertain but there could be either positive cooperativity between the sites or only a requirement that both sites are occupied without occupation of either site affecting the affinity for GABA of the other site. There is a chloride conductance channel coupled to the GABA receptor which opens for an average of 20 msec and has an average conductance of 18 pS. The GABA-coupled chloride channel may or may not have the same composition as the glycine coupled chloride channel.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45345/1/11010_2004_Article_BF00235693.pd

Extension of the sun-synchronous Orbit

Through careful consideration of the orbit perturbation force due to the oblate nature of the primary body a secular variation of the ascending node angle of a near-polar orbit can be induced without expulsion of propellant. Resultantly, the orbit perturbations can be used to maintain the orbit plane in, for example, a near-perpendicular (or at any other angle) alignment to the Sun-line throughout the full year of the primary body; such orbits are normally termed Sun-synchronous orbits [1, 2]. Sun-synchronous orbits about the Earth are typically near-circular Low-Earth Orbits (LEOs), with an altitude of less than 1500 km. It is normal to design a LEO such that the orbit period is synchronised with the rotation of the Earth‟s surface over a given period, such that a repeating ground-track is established. A repeating ground-track, together with the near-constant illumination conditions of the ground-track when observed from a Sun-synchronous orbit, enables repeat observations of a target over an extended period under similar illumination conditions [1, 2]. For this reason, Sun-synchronous orbits are extensively used by Earth Observation (EO) platforms, including currently the Environmental Satellite (ENVISAT), the second European Remote Sensing satellite (ERS-2) and many more. By definition, a given Sun-synchronous orbit is a finite resource similar to a geostationary orbit. A typical characterising parameter of a Sun-synchronous orbit is the Mean Local Solar Time (MLST) at descending node, with a value of 1030 hours typical. Note that ERS-1 and ERS-2 used a MLST at descending node of 1030 hours ± 5 minutes, while ENVISAT uses a 1000 hours ± 5 minutes MLST at descending node [3]. Following selection of the MLST at descending node and for a given desired repeat ground-track, the orbit period and hence the semi-major axis are fixed, thereafter assuming a circular orbit is desired it is found that only a single orbit inclination will enable a Sun-synchronous orbit [2]. As such, only a few spacecraft can populate a given repeat ground-track Sun-synchronous orbit without compromise, for example on the MLST at descending node. Indeed a notable feature of on-going studies by the ENVISAT Post launch Support Office is the desire to ensure sufficient propellant remains at end-of-mission for re-orbiting to a graveyard orbit to ensure the orbital slot is available for future missions [4]. An extension to the Sun-synchronous orbit is considered using an undefined, non-orientation constrained, low-thrust propulsion system. Initially the low-thrust propulsion system will be considered for the free selection of orbit inclination and altitude while maintaining the Sun-synchronous condition. Subsequently the maintenance of a given Sun-synchronous repeat-ground track will be considered, using the low-thrust propulsion system to enable the free selection of orbit altitude. An analytical expression will be developed to describe these extensions prior to then validating the analytical expressions within a numerical simulation of a spacecraft orbit. Finally, an analysis will be presented on transfer and injection trajectories to these orbits

Effects of Modified Distillers Grains and Corn Ratios as Supplements in Diets Varying in Forage Quality on Performance of Growing Beef Steers

Distillers grains (DG) have been intensively used for beef production, but prices relative to corn vary such that it may be beneficial to displace a portion of DG with corn in certain circumstances. Four ratios of supplemental energy (40% of diet DM) from modified distillers grains and corn (100:0, 80:20, 60:40, and 40:60) were supplemented in one of 3 forage diets (56% of diet DM) and evaluated for performance. Forages were high (brome hay + sorghum silage) or low quality. Low quality forages were corn residue baled through conventional rake and bale, or by disengaging the spreader on the combine and baling the tailings (easy bale). Steers fed the high quality forage had greater ADG due to greater DMI, but similar F:G as both residue forage diets, which were not different. Decreasing the ratio of modified DG:corn linearly decreased ADG and resulted in poorer F:G

Meeting in the Middle: Towards Successful Multidisciplinary Bioimage Analysis Collaboration

With an increase in subject knowledge expertise required to solve specific biological questions, experts from different fields need to collaborate to address increasingly complex issues. To successfully collaborate, everyone involved in the collaboration must take steps to "meet in the middle". We thus present a guide on truly cross-disciplinary work using bioimage analysis as a showcase, where it is required that the expertise of biologists, microscopists, data analysts, clinicians, engineers, and physicists meet. We discuss considerations and best practices from the perspective of both users and technology developers, while offering suggestions for working together productively and how this can be supported by institutes and funders. Although this guide uses bioimage analysis as an example, the guiding principles of these perspectives are widely applicable to other cross-disciplinary work

GABA and bicuculline actions on mouse spinal cord and cortical neurons in cell culture

The neutral amino acid [gamma]-aminobutyric acid (GABA) produced membrane hyperpolarization and increased membrane chloride ion conductance of spinal cord (SC) and cortical (CTX) neurons in cell culture. GABA dose-response curves were obtained for SC neurons by pressure applying known concentrations of GABA from micropipettes with large tips (miniperfusion pipettes). GABA response threshold was about 2 [mu]M and large responses were elicited at GABA concentrations greater than 10 [mu]M. Bicuculline (BICUC) (0.1-10 [mu]M) reversibly antagonized GABA responses on both SC and CTX neurons with a half maximal inhibitory concentration of about 1 [mu]M. BICUC antagonism of GABA responses was competitive (Lineweaver-Burke analysis). These results are compared with data on GABA and BICUC displacement of [3H]GABA binding to membranes of SC and CTX neurons in cell culture. It is suggested that high affinity GABA receptors are likely to be relevant for postsynaptic GABA responses while low affinity GABA receptors may be presynaptic.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/23922/1/0000167.pd

The Role of the Private Sector in Supporting Malaria Control in Resource Development Settings.

Industrial operations of the private sector, such as extraction, agriculture, and construction, can bring large numbers of people into new settlement areas and cause environmental change that promotes the transmission of vector-borne diseases. Industry-related workers and communities unduly exposed to infection risk typically lack the knowledge and means to protect themselves. However, there is a strong business rationale for protecting local resident employees through integrated vector control programs, as well as an ethical responsibility to care for these individuals and the affected communities. We discuss the role and challenges of the private sector in developing malaria control programs, which can include extensive collaborations with the public sector that go on to form the basis of national vector control programs or more broadly support local healthcare systems