National Space Transportation System (NSTS) technology needs

The National Space Transportation System (NSTS) is one of the Nation's most valuable resources, providing manned transportation to and from space in support of payloads and scientific research. The NSTS program is currently faced with the problem of hardware obsolescence, which could result in unacceptable schedule and cost impacts to the flight program. Obsolescence problems occur because certain components are no longer being manufactured or repair turnaround time is excessive. In order to achieve a long-term, reliable transportation system that can support manned access to space through 2010 and beyond, NASA must develop a strategic plan for a phased implementation of enhancements which will satisfy this long-term goal. The NSTS program has initiated the Assured Shuttle Availability (ASA) project with the following objectives: eliminate hardware obsolescence in critical areas, increase reliability and safety of the vehicle, decrease operational costs and turnaround time, and improve operational capability. The strategy for ASA will be to first meet the mandatory needs - keep the Shuttle flying. Non-mandatory changes that will improve operational capability and enhance performance will then be considered if funding is adequate. Upgrade packages should be developed to install within designated inspection periods, grouped in a systematic approach to reduce cost and schedule impacts, and allow the capability to provide a Block 2 Shuttle (Phase 3)

Taxation - Federal Income Tax - Exclusion of Scholarship and Fellowship Grants from Gross Income Held Not to Apply to Grants for Which a Substantial Quid Pro Quo was Extracted from the Recipient. Bingler v. Johnson (U.S. 1969)

This recent case discusses Bingler v. Johnson (U.S. 1969)

The accuracy of climate models\u27 simulated season lengths and the effectiveness of grid scale correction factors

Global climate change is expected to impact biological populations through a variety of mechanisms including increases in the length of their growing season. Climate models are useful tools for predicting how season length might change in the future. However, the accuracy of these models tends to be rather low at regional geographic scales. Here, I determined the ability of several atmosphere and ocean general circulating models (AOGCMs) to accurately simulate historical season lengths for a temperate ectotherm across the continental United States. I also evaluated the effectiveness of regional-scale correction factors to improve the accuracy of these models. I found that both the accuracy of simulated season lengths and the effectiveness of the correction factors to improve the model\u27s accuracy varied geographically and across models. These results suggest that regional specific correction factors do not always adequately remove potential discrepancies between simulated and historically observed environmental parameters. As such, an explicit evaluation of the correction factors\u27 effectiveness should be included in future studies of global climate change\u27s impact on biological populations

The Future of the Oceans by Wolfgang Friedman

Book review of The Future of the Oceans written by Wolfgang Friedman

The Effect Of Exercise Versus Usual Care On Depression In Breast Cancer Survivors: The Hormones And Exercise (hope) Study

Purpose: Despite effective therapies and treatments, breast cancer survivors often suffer from distressing side effects which may increase depressive symptomatology. Aromatase inhibitors (AI) are widely used as adjuvant treatment in breast cancer patients, but are associated with side effects such as joint pain that may impact quality of life. We conducted, in 121 breast cancer survivors receiving an AI, a yearlong randomized trial of exercise versus usual care on depressive symptomology. Methods: Eligibility criteria included taking an AI for at least 6 months, reporting \u3c 90 minutes per week of exercise and no strength training, and reporting \u3e 3 on a scale of 10 for worst joint pain on the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). Participants were randomly assigned to exercise (150 minutes per week of aerobic exercise and supervised strength training twice per week) or usual care. The Centers for Epidemiological Studies: Depression Scale (CES-D) was completed at baseline and 6- and 12 months. Intervention effects were evaluated using generalized linear models, comparing change at 6- and 12 months. Results: Over 12 months, a 4.7 point (36%) decline in CES-D score was seen for women randomly assigned to exercise (n = 60) versus a 0.3-point (2%) decline among those receiving usual care (n = 60; p \u3c0.05). In secondary analysis, women that scored above the generally accepted CES-D score cutoff of 16 (indicating depressive symptomatology), had a 12.6 (+2.6) point (50%) decrease (mean+SD) in CES-D score, significantly greater than those in this category who were assigned to usual care, 5.5 (+2.8) point decrease (29%). Women with later stage breast cancer, those who had taken AIs for a longer period of time, and those who had attended more supervised exercise sessions showed a greater decrease in CES-D scores compared to their counterparts. Conclusion: Exercise led to favorably reductions in CES-D scores in previously inactive breast cancer survivors taking AIs. Exercise programs should be implemented for breast cancer survivors in an effort to reduce depressive symptoms

High-Risk Drinking Levels Among Master\u27s-Level Graduate Students at a Mid-Size Midwestern University

This study has quantitatively examined the high-risk drinking levels of graduate students at a mid-size Midwestern university. The sample (N=204) was studied to investigate the hypothesis that the high-risk drinking level of graduate students is lower than the average national high-risk drinking levels of undergraduate college students. Specifically this study has quantitatively (Core Alcohol & Drug Survey) evaluated the at-risk drinking levels of graduate students and sought answers to the following thesis questions: 1) Do graduate students who participate in at least one hour of service per week report a lower level of high-risk drinking than those who do not participate in service? 2) Do graduate students who belong to social Greek-lettered organizations have a higher level of high-risk drinking than those graduate students who do not belong to Greek-lettered organizations? 3) Do undergraduates\u27 high-risk drinking behaviors predict their high-risk drinking as graduate students? 4) Do traditional-age graduate students (less than 25 years of age) drink more than non-traditional graduate students (25 years of age and higher)

Share of open access journal articles published by Berlin authors from 2016: data

The publication output from nine research institutions from Berlin (Germany) was analysed and the share of open access for journal articles published in 2016 was determined. Journal articles whose authors are affiliated with at least one of the nine institutions were analysed. The data described here were retrieved from multiple bibliographic databases. Due to license terms raw data from individual databases cannot be provided for download. Data was aggregated, normalised and analysed with a Python script which is available at https://github.com/tuub/oa-eval (code documentation in English). For a detailed description of the retrieval process and the analysis steps see the report (https://doi.org/10.14279/depositonce-6866). Search queries and the respective download settings for these databases are included in the data file. The data is accompanied by a detailed description of the terminology used

Intégration de l’Opéra de Lausanne dans l’offre touristique régionale

Établi il y a 145 ans, l’Opéra de Lausanne est un établissement historique de la capitale vaudoise. Actuellement, la clientèle est très fidèle et à 92% vaudoise. L’idée de ce travail est d’intégrer l’opéra dans l’offre touristique régionale afin de diversifier et de renouveler le public de l’opéra. Pour ce faire, une enquête qualitative a été menée auprès de professionnels du tourisme dans le but de déterminer les attentes et de connaître les comportements des touristes fortunés à Lausanne. De plus, un Benchmark a été réalisé afin de tirer les bonnes pratiques de ce qui est mis en place dans d’autres opéras européens

Share of open access journal articles published by Berlin authors from 2013 to 2015: data

The overall goal was to analyse the publication output from nine research institutions from Berlin (Germany) and determine the share of open access journal articles. Journal articles whose authors are affiliated with nine institutions were analysed. The data described here were retrieved from multiple bibliographic databases. Due to license terms raw data from single databases cannot be provided for download. Data was aggregated, normalised and analysed with help of a Python script available at https://github.com/tuub/oa-eval (code documentation in English). Search queries and download settings for these databases are documented in the (German) manual that accompanies the script. For a detailed description of the retrieval process and the analysis steps see the report

Cultivation and analysis of anthocyanin containing types of potatoes in organic farming regarding cultivability and additional health benefits

In a two year research project a representative spectrum of blue potato varieties were cultivated and tested in detail regarding disease infestation, yield potential and the influence of production systems (organic). Cultivation recommendations for blue potatoes could be deduced from this. Furthermore the varying anthocyanin content as well as the antioxidant capacity of the varieties used was analysed. Varieties with a particularly high content will undergo further tests to show the influence of the manner of preparation (boiling, steaming, frying) and determine their use for the processing industry. The combination of ecologically produced potatoes with „additional health benefits“ arouses the customers interest. The cultivation of high yield blue types can be an alternative to the cultivation of yellow fleshed high yield varieties in organic operating companies