Helical tape forming device

Using a device that is not limited to a minimum thickness or width-to-thickness ratio, a very thin metal tape or ribbon is formed into a continuous flat wound helical coil. The device imparts the desired circular shape by squeeze rolling it with an unequal force across its width

Structural sizing considerations for large space structures

A number of missions for the space shuttle were proposed which involve placing large truss platforms on-orbit. These platforms range in size from tens of meters in span for reflector application to several thousand meters for solar power collector application. These proposed sizes and the operational requirements considered are unconventional in comparison to Earthbound structures and little information exists concerning efficient proportions of the structural elements forming the framework of the platforms. Such proportions are of major concern because they have a strong influence on the packaging efficiency and, thus, the transportation effectiveness of the shuttle. The present study is undertaken to: (1) identify efficient ranges of application of deployable and erectable platforms configured for shuttle transport to orbit, and (2) determine sensitivity to key parameters of minimum mass deployable and erectable platform designs

Panel III: Implications of the New Telecommunications Legislation

We present a method that employs a tree-based Neural Network (NN) for performing classification. The novel mechanism, apart from incorporating the information provided by unlabeled and labeled instances, re-arranges the nodes of the tree as per the laws of Adaptive Data Structures (ADSs). Particularly, we investigate the Pattern Recognition (PR) capabilities of the Tree-Based Topology-Oriented SOM (TTOSOM) when Conditional Rotations (CONROT) [8] are incorporated into the learning scheme. The learning methodology inherits all the properties of the TTOSOM-based classifier designed in [4]. However, we now augment it with the property that frequently accessed nodes are moved closer to the root of the tree. Our experimental results show that on average, the classification capabilities of our proposed strategy are reasonably comparable to those obtained by some of the state-of-the-art classification schemes that only use labeled instances during the training phase. The experiments also show that improved levels of accuracy can be obtained by imposing trees with a larger number of nodes

Deployable and erectable concepts for large spacecraft

Computerized structural sizing techniques were used to determine structural proportions of minimum mass tetrahedral truss platforms designed for low Earth and geosynchronous orbit. Optimum (minimum mass) deployable and erectable, hexagonal shaped spacecraft are sized to satisfy multiple design requirements and constraints. Strut dimensions characterizing minimum mass designs are found to be significantly more slender than those conventionally used for structural applications. Comparison studies show that mass characteristics of deployable and erectable platforms are approximately equal and that the shuttle flights required by deployable trusses become excessive above certain critical stiffness values. Recent investigations of eractable strut assembly are reviewed. Initial erectable structure assembly experiments show that a pair of astronauts can achieve EVA assembly times of 2-5 min/strut and studies indicate that an automated assembler can achieve times of less than 1 min/strut for around the clock operation

A programmable power processor for a 25-kW power module

A discussion of the power processor for an electrical power system for a 25-kW Power Module that could support the Space Shuttle program during the 1980's and 1990's and which could be a stepping stone to future large space power systems is presented. Trades that led to the selection of a microprocessor-controlled power processor are briefly discussed. Emphasis is given to the power processing equipment that uses a microprocessor to provide versatility that allows multiple use and to provide for future growth by reprogramming output voltage to a higher level (to 120 V from 30 V). Efficiency data from a breadboard programmable power processor are presented, and component selection and design considerations are also discussed

Farm-Level Impacts of Banning Growth- Promoting Antibiotic Use in U.S. Pig Grower/Finisher Operations

Antibiotics have been used by pig producers for several decades, and are now used routinely. This study documents the current productivity and economic impacts of the use of antibiotics for growth promotion (AGP) by pig grower/finishers at the farm level. We evaluate the impacts of an AGP ban, and use of AGP by all pig grower/finishers for 61S90 days (a more production-efficient level), using data from the National Animal Health Monitoring System Swine 2000 Survey. Findings indicate that pig productivity improves with AGP. Relative to current use, an AGP ban would decrease producer profits by $1,400 per 1,020-head barn, and profits would increase by$1,992 for each grower/finisher barn when AGP is fed for 61 to 90 days. There is increasing concern about the use of antibiotics in animal production, partly because of the selection for antibiotic resistance. Thus, a careful examination of the value of AGP in pork production is warranted.antibiotics, antimicrobial resistance, growth promotion, pigs, production, Agricultural and Food Policy, Health Economics and Policy, Livestock Production/Industries,

Mobile remote manipulator vehicle system

A mobile remote manipulator system is disclosed for assembly, repair and logistics transport on, around and about a space station square bay truss structure. The vehicle is supported by a square track arrangement supported by guide pins integral with the space station truss structure and located at each truss node. Propulsion is provided by a central push-pull drive mechanism that extends out from the vehicle one full structural bay over the truss and locks drive rods into the guide pins. The draw bar is now retracted and the mobile remote manipulator system is pulled onto the next adjacent structural bay. Thus, translation of the vehicle is inchworm style. The drive bar can be locked onto two guide pins while the extendable draw bar is within the vehicle and then push the vehicle away one bay providing bidirectional push-pull drive. The track switches allow the vehicle to travel in two orthogonal directions over the truss structure which coupled with the bidirectional drive, allow movement in four directions on one plane. The top layer of this trilayered vehicle is a logistics platform. This platform is capable of 369 degees of rotation and will have two astronaut foot restraint platforms and a space crane integral

PRODUCER INCENTIVES FOR ANTIBIOTIC USE IN U.S. PORK PRODUCTION

Antibiotics have been used in animal production for several decades. Antibiotics are used routinely now in pork production (NAHMS 2002). There is increasing concern about the use of antibiotics in animal production. There is no hard evidence supporting the link of antibiotic use in animals to observations of antibiotic resistance infections in people. Nonetheless a careful examination of the value of continued antibiotic use in agricultural, and in pork production in particular is warranted. Therefore, the objective of our study is to validate the productivity and economic impacts of antibiotic use for pig producers at the farm level. We use data from the NAHMS 2000 swine survey. We estimate the combined affects from antibiotics used for growth promotion (AGP) and antibiotics used for disease prevention (ADP) on 4 productivity measures. We also estimate the economic impact of AGP and ADP for individual pig producers. We estimate these 4 productivity measures using seemingly unrelated regression analysis. We evaluate 4 scenarios which ban antibiotic use, and use a simple synthetic firm partial budget to estimate the economic consequences of these scenarios. We find that pig productivity is improved with AGP, but decreased with ADP. A total ban on AGP would cost pig producers $1,271 in lost profits per 1,020 head pig barn. A total ban on ADP however, would result in pig producers improving profits slightly. This occurs because productivity is negatively influenced by ADP. A ban of both AGP and ADP results in a small loss of producer profits ($376/1,020 head barn) because of the offsetting effects of ADP compared to AGP. Producers have higher profits when AGP and ADP are applied at levels where pig productivity is maximized. In this case, producers gain $4,146 for each 1,020 head barn compared to no antibiotic use.Livestock Production/Industries,

The Return of the Monday Effect in European Currency Markets: An Empirical Analysis of the Impact of the Economic Crisis on Market Efficiency

This paper examines the relationship of multiple currencies, coupled with the Euro, to examine if there is evidence of the return of the Monday effect as a result of the recent global economic crisis. Each currency pair, which consists of the US dollar, Japanese yen, Great British pound, Canadian dollar, and Australian dollar, is compared with the Euro to find evidence to support the presence of the Monday effect. The currency pairs are tested in 1999–2004 as the first time period, again in 2005–2009 as the second time period, and then finally in 2010–2012 as the final time period, which represents the period impacted by the economic crisis. It is the authors' contention that the economic crisis that occurred after 2008 had a significant impact in the currency markets and that the Monday effect has become more pronounced because of a weakening of market efficiency.The results provide evidence that in the 2010–2012 period three currency pairs exhibit a statistically significant Monday effect. This Monday effect was not evident in either the 1999–2004 or the 2005–2009 periods, according to our analysis. This leads the authors to postulate that the economic crisis resulting from the mortgage meltdown has had a statistically verifiable effect on currency markets throughout the world. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/122442/1/ijfe1534.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/122442/2/ijfe1534_am.pd

Mission description and in-flight operations of ERBE instruments on ERBS and NOAA 9 spacecraft, November 1984 - January 1986

Instruments of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) are operating on three different Earth orbiting spacecrafts: the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS), NOAA-9, and NOAA-10. An overview is presented of the ERBE mission, in-orbit environments, and instrument design and operational features. An overview of science data processing and validation procedures is also presented. In-flight operations are described for the ERBE instruments aboard the ERBS and NOAA-9. Calibration and other operational procedures are described, and operational and instrument housekeeping data are presented and discussed