Skylab program payload integration. TO27 sample array

The objective of the TO27 sample array was to determine the change in optical properties of various transmissive windows, mirrors, and diffraction gratings caused by the deposition of contaminants found about the orbital assembly. The expected information to be obtained from the total TO27 sample array program is as follows: (1) effect of space contaminants on transmittance, reflectance, grating efficiency, and polarization; (2) variations in deposition of contaminants due to substrate, solar radiation, period of exposure, direction of exposure, and geometry effects; (3) identification of contaminants and source of evolution; (4) time of contaminant evolution and lingering time; and (5) guidelines for a model of spacecraft contamination

ANALYSIS OF THE U.S. COMMODITY LOAN PROGRAM WITH MARKETING LOAN PROVISIONS

Over the next several years, crop prices are projected to be below to slightly above commodity loan rates. As a result, marketing loan benefits to farmers, in the form of loan deficiency payments and marketing loan gains from the commodity loan program, are likely to continue to be sizeable. The level of realized per-unit revenues facilitated by marketing loans exceeds commodity loan rates, thereby raising expected net returns to farmers. Model simulations show that the loan program can raise total acreage planted to major field crops, generally increasing levels of domestic use and exports while lowering crop prices. Cross-commodity effects of supply response to relative returns (including marketing loan benefits), however, result in acreage shifts among competing crops, which can lead to reductions in plantings of some crops in some years. Most impacts occur in the years when there are marketing loan benefits, with little effect in subsequent years when prices rise high enough to eliminate marketing loan benefits. The livestock sector benefits from these outcomes because of generally lower feed costs.Commodity loans, marketing loans, nonrecourse loans, loan deficiency payments, price support, commodity programs, Agricultural Finance,

The role of coaching in the development of nurse managers

There is evidence of the importance of the role of nurse managers who are first line managers of a team of nurses within any health sector. This puts the issue of the development of nurse managers on the agenda within the context of improving health care. However, there appears to be little understanding of the UK wide scope of nurse manager development and the means to increase its effectiveness. At the same time, it appears that some nurse managers receive coaching to help in their development. The aim of this study was to explore empirically the role that coaching is playing in the development of nurse managers in order to inform further research and policy makers about the potential utility and value of this means of development. This mixed methods study, using a pragmatist paradigm, gathered data from a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews. The survey was administered to elicit the national picture of nurse manager development and what role coaching was playing in this. Qualitative interviews were undertaken with nurse managers, coaches and directors of nursing to draw out their own experiences of coaching for nurse managers. Thematic analysis was the framework used for data interrogation, identifying new patterns and emerging themes. Nurse manager development was being undertaken across all four UK countries, with larger organisations being more likely to develop their managers than smaller ones. Themes that emerged from interviews included how nurse managers were introduced to coaching, how they balanced transitions, the role of reflection, the value of relationships and overlaps between clinical supervision, mentoring and coaching. Findings show that following coaching, nurse managers gained increased resilience, confidence and better coping mechanisms. This resulted in improved team management and cohesion and appeared to lead to better quality of care for patients. This study suggests the importance of nurse managers accessing coaching, to enable transformational leadership of their teams of nurses. It suggests also the importance for organisations to support a coaching culture, to ensure staff satisfaction, motivation and improved quality of patient care. A Coaching Impact Circle framework has been developed to illustrate the impact of coaching on the self, the team and the organisation

Drying and shrinkage of computer simulated paper

We describe the modelling and computation of paper shrinkage during drying, using a finite difference method and simulated paper structure. Radial contraction of drying fibres leads to axial compression of crossing, bonded fibres. This microcompression process makes a major contribution to the shrinkage of the paper. The influence of fibre orientation is computed, and shown to be very significant, in accordance with observations. The method relies on the possibility of maintaining fixed anisotropic stiffness constants as the network rotates

Oriented fluorophore luminescent solar concentrators

Though the sun\u27s energy is the world\u27s most prominent renewable energy resource, technologies such as photovoltaics (PVs) have yet to become a significant factor in the energy market due in part to the sheer cost of unit deployment. Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) have been investigated since the late 1960s as a means of reducing the cost of PV arrays by replacing large areas of expensive PVs with cheaper materials such as glass or plastic. LSCs function by using fluorescent dyes embedded in a host matrix that absorb the sun\u27s rays and redirects the light through total internal reflection to small strips of PVs where it is converted into electrical current. This thesis describes a method by which LSC efficiencies can be improved through the use of modern materials and oriented fluorophores; allowing the direction in which the light is emitted by the dyes to controlled, reducing the primary mechanisms for light loss prevalent in other LSC designs. Projections of this technology suggest that further development of oriented fluorophores LSCs holds the potential of drastically reducing the world\u27s dependence on carbon based energy

Jakarta's public housing

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1984.MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 252-256).Indonesia, like many other developing countries, has undertaken a major program of providing new housing for lower income people in crowded urban areas, particularly in its capital, Jakarta. The government's experience has included capital intensive projects, with a completed design, as well as site and service projects, which leaves the final home to be completed by the resident. The site and service project of Klender has undergone a major physical transformation, from a grouping of bare concrete block shell s to a flourishing and colorful community. These changes present a fascinating case of how people create their own environment. This thesis describes, observes and analyzes the changes that have taken place at Klender to determine how people with very little means have built and are building their environment and to see what lessons lay within that environment that can help generate future design ideas and hopefully help designers and policy makers better understand how people create and use their communities.by Jeffrey J. Westcott.M.S

Hexokinase is necessary for glucose-mediated photosynthesis repression and lipid accumulation in a green alga.

Global primary production is driven largely by oxygenic photosynthesis, with algae as major contributors. The green alga Chromochloris zofingiensis reversibly switches off photosynthesis in the presence of glucose in the light and augments production of biofuel precursors (triacylglycerols) and the high-value antioxidant astaxanthin. Here we used forward genetics to reveal that this photosynthetic and metabolic switch is mediated by the glycolytic enzyme hexokinase (CzHXK1). In contrast to wild-type, glucose-treated hxk1 mutants do not shut off photosynthesis or accumulate astaxanthin, triacylglycerols, or cytoplasmic lipid droplets. We show that CzHXK1 is critical for the regulation of genes related to photosynthesis, ketocarotenoid synthesis and fatty acid biosynthesis. Sugars play fundamental regulatory roles in gene expression, physiology, metabolism, and growth in plants and animals, and we introduce a relatively simple, emerging model system to investigate conserved eukaryotic sugar sensing and signaling at the base of the green lineage

Efficacy of Tacrolimus in Uveitis, and the Usefulness of Serum Tacrolimus Levels in Predicting Disease Control. Results from a Single Large Center

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of tacrolimus in patients with noninfectious uveitis, as well as the usefulness of serum tacrolimus concentration measurements in predicting disease control. Methods: A retrospective review was carried out on 71 eligible patients from a single specialist uveitis center for minimum 1-year follow-up. Analysis was carried out on disease activity, visual acuity, and trough serum tacrolimus concentrations (STC). Results: At 1-year follow-up, disease control was achieved in 49 patients (69.0%), this was significantly more likely in patients with trough STC levels above 5 ng/mL (88% vs 53%, p = .002). There was a significant reduction in oral prednisolone (dose ≥7.5 mg, 86% vs 54%, p < .0001). Tacrolimus was discontinued in 12 patients (17%) due to side effects. Discussion: In this study cohort, oral tacrolimus was effective and well tolerated in the treatment of noninfectious uveitis. Trough STC between 5 ng/mL and 10 ng/ml was associated with better disease control at 1-year follow-up