Centaur AC-8 Postflight Guidance Analysis

Centaur AC-8 postflight guidance and control analysi

Affine semigroups having a unique Betti element

We characterize affine semigroups having one Betti element and we compute some relevant non-unique factorization invariants for these semigroups. As an example, we particularize our description to numerical semigroups.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure. To appear in Journal of Algebra and its Application

Hilbert number for a family of piecewise nonautonomous equations

For family $x'=(a_0+a_1\cos t+a_2 \sin t)|x|+b_0+b_1 \cos t+b_2 \sin t$, we solve three basic problems related with its dynamics. First, we characterize when it has a center (Poincar\'e center focus problem). Second, we show that each equation has a finite number of limit cycles (finiteness problem), and finally we give a uniform upper bound for the number of limit cycles (Hilbert's 16th problem).Comment: 16 pages, no figure

The Development of the Puerto Rico Lightning Detection Network for Meteorological Research

A land-based Puerto Rico Lightning Detection Network (PR-LDN) dedicated to the academic research of meteorological phenomena has being developed. Five Boltek StormTracker PCI-Receivers with LTS-2 Timestamp Cards with GPS and lightning detectors were integrated to Pentium III PC-workstations running the CentOS linux operating system. The Boltek detector linux driver was compiled under CentOS, modified, and thoroughly tested. These PC-workstations with integrated lightning detectors were installed at five of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) campuses distributed around the island of PR. The PC-workstations are left on permanently in order to monitor lightning activity at all times. Each is networked to their campus network-backbone permitting quasi-instantaneous data transfer to a central server at the UPR-Bayam n campus. Information generated by each lightning detector is managed by a C-program developed by us called the LDN-client. The LDN-client maintains an open connection to the central server operating the LDN-server program where data is sent real-time for analysis and archival. The LDN-client also manages the storing of data on the PC-workstation hard disk. The LDN-server software (also an in-house effort) analyses the data from each client and performs event triangulations. Time-of-arrival (TOA) and related hybrid algorithms, lightning-type and event discriminating routines are also implemented in the LDN-server software. We also have developed software to visually monitor lightning events in real-time from all clients and the triangulated events. We are currently monitoring and studying the spatial, temporal, and type distribution of lightning strikes associated with electrical storms and tropical cyclones in the vicinity of Puerto Rico

Uso de un sistema para la gestión del aprendizaje (LMS) de código libre en la Universidad Tecnológica del Suroeste de Guanajuato (UTSOE)

The use of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Learning Environment allows achieving the maximum interaction between Teachers and Students.The Virtual Learning Environments are computer programs that benefit the learning facilitating the communication between users. Open Source software allow to create the own online modular learning environment with a fast placed in service. In the present paper the use of a Learning Management Systems (LMS) as continuous education tool is proposed

USE OF SYNTHETIC TANINES DURING THE SKIN CURTITION PROCESS OF Cavia porcellus (CUY) IN FINE PELETERY

The Cavia porcellus skin (Cuy), after receiving a tanning process, using synthetic tannins, becomes a high quality leather, very suitable in the articles manufacture of high quality. Its main objective was the evaluation of different levels of synthetic tannin (6, 7, 8%) during the tanning process of guinea pig skins with hair; using 48 skins, with an average mass of 200 g each. The experimental units modeled with a Completely Random Design (DCA. Once the experimental phase was completed, it observed that the most skin tanning suitable level the guinea pig (retaining hair) is 6 % of synthetic tanning agent; it´s supported by the excellent results the tests performed. The physical resistance evaluation determined that the best tensile strength (1945.75 N/cm2) it´s reached whit 6 % of synthetic tannin and the best percentage of elongation (89.69 %) achieved with the use of 7 % of tannin (which fully meet the requirements quality the Spanish Leather Association). The most efficient sensorial characteristics obtained with 6 % of tannin: fullness 4.88; softness 4.63 and roundness 4.75 points, respectively; producing a very soft, flexible skin and above all with the fullness suitable for the fine articles manufacture. Keywords: tanning, skins, guinea pig, synthetic tannins. Resumen La piel del Cavia porcellus (Cuy), después de curtida, empleando taninos sintéticos, se convierte en un cuero de alta calidad, muy adecuado en la peletería fina. Esta investigación tuvo por objetivo fundamental la evaluación de diferentes niveles de tanino sintético (6, 7, 8 %) durante el proceso de curtición de pieles de cuyes con pelo; utilizando para ello un total de 48 pieles, con una masa promedio de 200 g cada una. Las unidades experimentales fueron modeladas con un Diseño Completamente al Azar (DCA). Una vez culminada la fase experimental, se pudo constatar que el nivel más adecuado para la curtición de la piel de cuy (conservando el pelo) es del 6 % de curtiente sintético; lo cual quedó avalado por los excelentes resultados de las pruebas practicadas. La evaluación de las resistencias físicas determinó que la mejor resistencia a la tensión (1945,75 N/cm2) se alcanzó al curtir con 6 % de tanino sintético, y el mejor porcentaje de elongación (89,69 %), se logró con la utilización de 7 % de tanino (que satisfacen completamente con las exigencias de calidad de la Asociación Española del Cuero). Las características sensoriales más eficientes fueron logradas al curtir las pieles con 6 % de tanino: llenura 4,88; blandura 4,63 y redondez 4,75 puntos, respectivamente; produciéndose una piel muy suave, flexible y sobre todo con la llenura adecuada para la confección de artículos de peletería fina. Palabras Clave: Clave: curtición, pieles, cuy, taninos sintéticos

Performance of the \u3ci\u3eLeucaena leucocephala\u3c/i\u3e–\u3ci\u3eMegathyrsus maximus\u3c/i\u3e cv Mombasa System and Local Range Grazed by Pelibuey Ewe-Lambs

Mombasa grass and leucaena have shown an excellent agronomic performance grown in tropical semi-arid ranges, the objective of this study was to compare the agronomic performance of Leucaena-Mombasa grown as a silvopastoral system at two leucaena plant densities (10000 and 15000 plants ha-1) and of Pelibuey ewe-lambs grazing it against native unimproved tropical semi-arid range of the state of Morelos, México. Experimental design was a completely random with two replications. Unimproved native range was mainly deciduous shrubs and mixed herbaceous plants (Poaceae and Asteraceae). Stocking rate was the same across treatments and grazing lasted all rainy season. Of the agronomic variables determined, both Leucaena-Mombasa systems showed the same (p\u3e 0.05) forage on-offer total and expressed as herbage-allowance but 29 and 15% higher (p≤ 0.05) respectively than the unimproved native range. Leucaena-Mombasa at the highest leucaena density showed the highest harvest rate, 22 and 50% higher (p≤ 0.05) than the registered at the lower density and unimproved native range, respectively. Unimproved native range herbaceous layer showed 40% higher (p≤ 0.05) crude protein content than the layer at both Leucaena-Mombasa systems; tree fodder was only different (p\u3c 0.05) in in vitro dry matter digestibility, tree fodder from both Leucaena-Mombasa systems was 32% higher (p≤ 0.05) than that of unimproved native range. Ewe-lambs grazing any of the Leucaena-Mombasa systems showed a daily weight gain 1.5 times higher (p\u3c 0.05) than those grazing the unimproved native range. It was concluded that Leucaena-Mombasa system is an option to improve agronomic and animal performances compare to unimproved tropical native range

Investigating the effects of APSIM model configuration on model outputs across different environments

IntroductionSoil type plays a major role in nutrient dynamics and soil water which impacts crop growth and yield. The influence of soil characteristics on crop growth is usually evaluated through field experimentation (in the short term) and through crop-soil modelling (in the long-term). However, there has been limited research which has looked at the effect of model structural uncertainty of model outputs in different soil types.MethodsTo analyze the impact of soil inputs on model structural uncertainty, we developed eight model structures (a combination of two crop models, two soil water models and two irrigation models) within the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) across three soil types (Ferralsols, Alisols and Chernozems). By decomposing the mean proportion of variance and simulated values of the model outputs (yield, irrigation, drainage, nitrogen leaching and partial gross margin) we identified the influence of soil type on the magnitude of model structural uncertainty.ResultsFor all soil types, crop model was the most significant source of structural uncertainty, contributing >60% to variability for most modelled variables, except irrigation demand which was dominated by the choice of irrigation model applied. Relative to first order interactions, there were minimal (<12%) contributions to uncertainty from the second order interactions (i.e., inter-model components). We found that a higher mean proportion of variance does not necessarily imply a high magnitude of uncertainty in actual values. Despite the significant impact of the choice of crop model on yield and PGM variance (contributing over 90%), the small standard deviations in simulated yield (ranging from 0.2 to 1 t ha-1) and PGM (ranging from 50.6 to 374.4 USD ha-1) compared to the mean values (yield: 14.6 t ha-1, PGM: 4901 USD ha-1) indicate relatively low actual uncertainty in the values. Similarly, the choice of irrigation model had a contribution of over 45% to variance, but the relatively small standard deviations ranging from 11 to 33.3 mm compared to the overall mean irrigation of 500 mm suggest low actual uncertainty in the values. In contrast, for the environmental variables- drainage and nitrogen leaching, the choice of crop model had contributions of more than 60% and 70% respectively, yet the relatively large standard deviations ranging from 7.1 to 30.6 mm and 0.6 to 7.7 kg ha-1 respectively, compared to the overall mean values of drainage (44.4 mm) and nitrogen leaching (3.2 kg ha-1), indicate significant actual uncertainty.DiscussionWe identified the need to include not only fractional variance of model uncertainty, but also magnitude of the contribution in measured units (e.g. t ha-1, mm, kg ha-1, USD ha-1) for crop model uncertainty assessments to provide more useful agronomic or policy decision-making information. The findings of this study highlight the sensitivity of agricultural models to the impacts of moisture availability, suggesting that it is important to give more attention to structural uncertainty when modelling dry/wet conditions depending on the output analyzed