An Integrated and Collaborative Approach for NASA Earth Science Data

Earth science research requires coordination and collaboration across multiple disparate science domains. Data systems that support this research are often as disparate as the disciplines that they support. These distinctions can create barriers limiting access to measurements, which could otherwise enable cross-discipline Earth science. NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) is continuing to bridge the gap between discipline-centric data systems with a coherent and transparent system of systems that offers up to date and engaging science related content, creates an active and immersive science user experience, and encourages the use of EOSDIS earth data and services. The new Earthdata Coherent Web (ECW) project encourages cohesiveness by combining existing websites, data and services into a unified website with a common look and feel, common tools and common processes. It includes cross-linking and cross-referencing across the Earthdata site and NASA's Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAAC), and by leveraging existing EOSDIS Cyber-infrastructure and Web Service technologies to foster re-use and to reduce barriers to discovering Earth science data (http://earthdata.nasa.gov)

Effects of morinda citrifolia (noni) and diet complexity on growth performance in weanling pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of concentration (0, 0.75, 1.5, 3.0, and 6.0%) of Morinda citrifolia (no-ni; Morinda Agricultural Products, Orem, UT) and diet complexity in weanling pigs. In Exp. 1, 210 pigs (initially 13.4 lb) were used in a 35-d growth assay; there were 7 pigs per pen and 6 pens per treatment. Diets were corn-soybean meal-based, and lysine concentrations were 1.8% for d 0 to 7, 1.6% for d 7 to 21, and 1.4% for d 21 to 35 with feed and water con-sumed on an ad libitum basis. Increasing the concentration of noni in the diet from 0 to 3% had no effects on pellet durability index (PDI) for the d 0 to 7 and 7 to 21 diets. Average daily gain (quadratic effect, P < 0.03) and F/G (quadratic effect, P < 0.10) for d 0 to 7 and F/G for d 0 to 21 (quadratic effect, P < 0.04) improved as noni concentration in the diet was increased from 0 to 0.75%. However, no treatment effects were observed overall (d 0 to 35). For Exp. 2, 168 pigs (initially 13.9 lb) were used in a 35-d growth assay; there were 6 pigs per pen and 7 pens per treatment. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of diet formulation (simple vs. complex) and noni addition (0 vs. 3%). Simple diets had the same minimum nutrient specifications as complex diets but had no added lactose or spray-dried animal plasma for d 0 to 7 and only 10% added whey for d 7 to 21. Pelleting data indicated improved PDI with no additional energy inputs when noni was added to the simple diets (for d 21 to 35). Pigs fed simple diets had lower ADG (P < 0.06) for d 0 to 7 and lower ADG and ADFI (P < 0.06) for d 0 to 21 than pigs fed complex diets. During d 0 to 35 for ADG and d 0 to 21 for F/G, addition of noni to the simple diets had negative effects (diet complexity × noni interaction, P < 0.02). In conclusion, adding 0.75 to 3% noni to complex diets improved growth performance early in a titration experiment but had negative effects when added to the simple diet formulations used in a second experiment

Symmetries of differential-difference dynamical systems in a two-dimensional lattice

Classification of differential-difference equation of the form $\ddot{u}_{nm}=F_{nm}\big(t, \{u_{pq}\}|_{(p,q)\in \Gamma}\big)$ are considered according to their Lie point symmetry groups. The set $\Gamma$ represents the point $(n,m)$ and its six nearest neighbors in a two-dimensional triangular lattice. It is shown that the symmetry group can be at most 12-dimensional for abelian symmetry algebras and 13-dimensional for nonsolvable symmetry algebras.Comment: 24 pages, 1 figur

Effects of skeletal unloading on the vasomotor properties of the rat femur principal nutrient artery

Spaceflight and prolonged bed rest induce deconditioning of the cardiovascular system and bone loss. Previous research has shown declines in femoral bone and marrow perfusion during unloading and with subsequent reloading in hindlimb-unloaded (HU) rats, an animal model of chronic disuse. We hypothesized that the attenuated bone and marrow perfusion may result from altered vasomotor properties of the bone resistance vasculature. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of unloading on the vasoconstrictor and vasodilator properties of the femoral principal nutrient artery (PNA), the main conduit for blood flow to the femur, in 2 wk HU and control (CON) rats. Vasoconstriction of the femoral PNA was assessed in vitro using norepinephrine, phenylephrine, clonidine, KCl, endothelin-1, arginine vasopressin, and myogenic responsiveness. Vasodilation through endothelium-dependent [acetylcholine, bradykinin, and flow-mediated dilation (FMD)] and endothelium-independent mechanisms [sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and adenosine] were also determined. Vasoconstrictor responsiveness of the PNA from HU rats was not enhanced through any of the mechanisms tested. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation to acetylcholine (CON, 86 ± 3%; HU, 48 ± 7% vasodilation) and FMD (CON, 61 ± 9%; HU, 11 ± 11% vasodilation) were attenuated in PNAs from HU rats, while responses to bradykinin were not different between groups. Endothelium-independent vasodilation to SNP and adenosine were not different between groups. These data indicate that unloading-induced decrements in bone and marrow perfusion and increases in vascular resistance are not the result of enhanced vasoconstrictor responsiveness of the bone resistance arteries but are associated with reductions in endothelium-dependent vasodilation

Evaluation of a portable mixer and feed delivery system

An on-farm mixer uniformity study was conducted to determine if feed could be properly mixed and maintained as it went through a bulk bin and conveying equipment over a distance of 180 ft. in a grower-finisher facility. A portable vertical mixer was tested and found to produced a uniformly mixed feed. Uniform feed was then conveyed from a bulk storage bin to feeders inside the facility. Samples were obtained from three different feeders and were tested for uniformity. Results indicate that feed remains uniform as it is conveyed and deposited in feeders over distances of 20, 80, and 180 ft.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 21, 199