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At least 145 records · Page 8

Do-It-Yourself: A Special Library's Approach to Creating Dynamic Web Pages Using Commercial Off-The-Shelf Applications

Many librarians may feel that dynamic Web pages are out of their reach, financially and technically. Yet we are reminded in library and Web design literature that static home pages are a thing of the past. This paper describes how librarians at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) library developed a database-driven, dynamic intranet site using commercial off-the-shelf applications. Administrative issues include surveying a library users group for interest and needs evaluation; outlining metadata elements; and, committing resources from managing time to populate the database and training in Microsoft FrontPage and Web-to-database design. Technical issues covered include Microsoft Access database fundamentals, lessons learned in the Web-to-database process (including setting up Database Source Names (DSNs), redesigning queries to accommodate the Web interface, and understanding Access 97 query language vs. Standard Query Language (SQL)). This paper also offers tips on editing Active Server Pages (ASP) scripting to create desired results. A how-to annotated resource list closes out the paper.

Relational databases↗

Using factor analysis to identify neuromuscular synergies during treadmill walking

Neuroscientists are often interested in grouping variables to facilitate understanding of a particular phenomenon. Factor analysis is a powerful statistical technique that groups variables into conceptually meaningful clusters, but remains underutilized by neuroscience researchers presumably due to its complicated concepts and procedures. This paper illustrates an application of factor analysis to identify coordinated patterns of whole-body muscle activation during treadmill walking. Ten male subjects walked on a treadmill (6.4 km/h) for 20 s during which surface electromyographic (EMG) activity was obtained from the left side sternocleidomastoid, neck extensors, erector spinae, and right side biceps femoris, rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, and medial gastrocnemius. Factor analysis revealed 65% of the variance of seven muscles sampled aligned with two orthogonal factors, labeled 'transition control' and 'loading'. These two factors describe coordinated patterns of muscular activity across body segments that would not be evident by evaluating individual muscle patterns. The results show that factor analysis can be effectively used to explore relationships among muscle patterns across all body segments to increase understanding of the complex coordination necessary for smooth and efficient locomotion. We encourage neuroscientists to consider using factor analysis to identify coordinated patterns of neuromuscular activation that would be obscured using more traditional EMG analyses.

NASA Center JSC↗

Designing for the Edge of Space and Beyond

Despite the fanciful predictions of Eugen Sanger, Wernher von Braun, and a wealth of science fiction novelists, it was not until the mid-1950s that the first piloted spacecraft design was undertaken in earnest. It was the height of the Cold War, and the paranoia that swept the country and the military had resulted in the largest arms race the world had ever seen. In aviation the desire was to go higher, faster, and farther than ever before. In response to a need for basic research into the ever-increasing speeds and altitudes, the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA) began preliminary research into a piloted vehicle that could exceed five times the speed of sound. The research was felt necessary to support both unmanned missile programs and the eventual development of hypersonic combat aircraft. Interestingly, the group of researchers that took the lead in developing the concept (led by John V. Becker) at the NACA s Langley Laboratory added a new wrinkle-they wanted to be able to leave the sensible atmosphere for a few minutes in order to gain a preliminary understanding of space flight2 At the time it was generally felt that piloted space flight would not take place until the turn of the century, although contemporary science fiction-a genre that enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in the mid-1 950s-usually showed it coming much earlier. In fact, many serious researchers believed that the group at Langley should remove the "space leap" from their concept for a hypersonic research air~lane.~ However, the basic designs for a very high speed airplane and for one capable of short excursions outside the atmosphere were not radically different, so the capability remained.

Jenkins, Dennis R.↗

Ceramic HEPA Filter Program

Potential benefits of ceramic filters in nuclear facilities: (1) Short term benefit for DOE, NRC, and industry - (a) CalPoly HTTU provides unique testing capability to answer questions for DOE - High temperature testing of materials, components, filter, (b) Several DNFSB correspondences and presentations by DNFSB members have highlighted the need for HEPA filter R and D - DNFSB Recommendation 2009-2 highlighted a nuclear facility response to an evaluation basis earthquake followed by a fire (aka shake-n-bake) and CalPoly has capability for a shake-n-bake test; (2) Intermediate term benefit for DOE and industry - (a) Filtration for specialty applications, e.g., explosive applications at Nevada, (b) Spin-off technologies applicable to other commercial industries; and (3) Long term benefit for DOE, NRC, and industry - (a) Across industry, strong desire for better performance filter, (b) Engineering solution to safety problem will improve facility safety and decrease dependence on associated support systems, (c) Large potential life-cycle cost savings, and (d) Facilitates development and deployment of LLNL process innovations to allow continuous ventilation system operation during a fire.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

2012 Gordon Research Conference and Seminar on Atomic and Molecular Interactions - Formal Schedule and Speaker/Poster Program

The Gordon Research Conference on ATOMIC & MOLECULAR INTERACTIONS was held at Stonehill College Easton, Massachusetts, July 15-20, 2012. The Conference was well-attended with 121 participants (attendees list attached). The attendees represented the spectrum of endeavor in this field coming from academia, industry, and government laboratories, both U.S. and foreign scientists, senior researchers, young investigators, and students. Of the 121 attendees, 64 voluntarily responded to a general inquiry regarding ethnicity which appears on our registration forms. Of the 64 respondents, 11% were Minorities – 2% Hispanic, 9% Asian and 0% African American. Approximately 20% of the participants at the 2012 meeting were women. The Gordon Research SEMINAR on ATOMIC & MOLECULAR INTERACTIONS was held at Stonehill College Easton, Massachusetts, July 14 - 15, 2012. The Conference was well-attended with 42 participants (attendees list attached). The attendees represented the spectrum of endeavor in this field coming from academia, industry, and government laboratories, both U.S. and foreign scientists, senior researchers, young investigators, and students. Of the 42 attendees, 20 voluntarily responded to a general inquiry regarding ethnicity which appears on our registration forms. Of the 20 respondents, 10% were Minorities – 0% Hispanic, 10% Asian and 0% African American. Approximately 29% of the participants at the 2012 meeting were women. In designing the formal speakers program, emphasis was placed on current unpublished research and discussion of the future target areas in this field. There was a conscious effort to stimulate lively discussion about the key issues in the field today. Time for formal presentations was limited in the interest of group discussions. In order that more scientists could communicate their most recent results, poster presentation time was scheduled. Attached is a copy of the formal schedule and speaker program and the poster program. In addition to these formal interactions, "free time" was scheduled to allow informal discussions. Such discussions are fostering new collaborations and joint efforts in the field.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

2012 Gordon Research Conference on Graphitic Carbon Materials, Chemistry and Physics of - Formal Schedule and Speaker/Poster Program

The Gordon Research Conference on GRAPHITIC CARBON MATERIALS, CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS OF was held at the Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina, June 17 – 22, 2012. The Conference was well-attended with 95 participants (attendees list attached). The attendees represented the spectrum of endeavor in this field coming from academia, industry, and government laboratories, both U.S. and foreign scientists, senior researchers, young investigators, and students. Of the 95 attendees, 41 voluntarily responded to a general inquiry regarding ethnicity which appears on our registration forms. Of the 41 respondents, 49% were Minorities – 5% Hispanic, 44% Asian and 0% African American. Approximately 2% of the participants at the 2012 meeting were women. In designing the formal speakers program, emphasis was placed on current unpublished research and discussion of the future target areas in this field. There was a conscious effort to stimulate lively discussion about the key issues in the field today. Time for formal presentations was limited in the interest of group discussions. In order that more scientists could communicate their most recent results, poster presentation time was scheduled. Attached is a copy of the formal schedule and speaker program and the poster program. In addition to these formal interactions, "free time" was scheduled to allow informal discussions. Such discussions are fostering new collaborations and joint efforts in the field. Carbon materials play an extremely important role in our society. They not only constitute the largest supply of energy we use today (i.e., coal) but also are the bases of many important technologies ranging from pencils, adsorbents, and metal strengtheners, to batteries and many others. Recent studies on graphitic carbon, including fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphene, have further revealed novel optical and electrical properties, making it possible to use them for new applications in renewable energy as well as microelectronics. Moreover, there are many novel and exciting phenomena in these materials such as molecular magnetism, catalysis, many-body and relativistic quantum mechanics, etc.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

2012 Gordon Research Conference on Rock Deformation - Formal Schedule and Speaker/Poster Program

The Gordon Research Conference on ROCK DEFORMATION was held at Proctor Academy Andover, New Hampshire, August 19-24, 2012. The Conference was well-attended with 124 participants (attendees list attached). The attendees represented the spectrum of endeavor in this field coming from academia, industry, and government laboratories, both U.S. and foreign scientists, senior researchers, young investigators, and students. Of the 124 attendees, 66 voluntarily responded to a general inquiry regarding ethnicity which appears on our registration forms. Of the 66 respondents, 8% were Minorities – 2% Hispanic, 6% Asian and 0% African American. Approximately 27% of the participants at the 2012 meeting were women. In designing the formal speakers program, emphasis was placed on current unpublished research and discussion of the future target areas in this field. There was a conscious effort to stimulate lively discussion about the key issues in the field today. Time for formal presentations was limited in the interest of group discussions. In order that more scientists could communicate their most recent results, poster presentation time was scheduled. Attached is a copy of the formal schedule and speaker program and the poster program. In addition to these formal interactions, "free time" was scheduled to allow informal discussions. Such discussions are fostering new collaborations and joint efforts in the field. Feedback processes are vitally important in controlling the rates and mechanisms of rock deformation. Positive feedbacks lead to accelerating rates, and commonly to spatial focusing. Localization and acceleration of creep is often associated with stress and/or strain rate dependent grain size reduction, frictional heating, or viscous shear heating. The presence of melt may help to localize and accelerate deformation, and in turn deformation may help to localize melt transport. Volume changes during retrograde metamorphic reactions may, under some circumstances, lead to fractures that maintain or increase permeability and reactive surface area, which in turn accelerates reaction rates. Hydraulic fracture often triggers a widening cascade of frictional failures on adjacent fracture systems. Feedbacks that form or reactivate closely-spaced fractures in the upper crust have relevance for, e.g., geological storage of CO 2 , enhanced geothermal power systems, and shale gas extraction. Clustering of earthquakes involves feedbacks in stress distribution on different faults, or segments of fault zones, that focus deformation in both time and space. Negative feedbacks can modulate or prevent accelerating strain. Gravitational instabilities, such as "delamination", "relamination", and diapirism, are affected by both positive and negative feedbacks when material undergoes phase transformations driven by changing pressure and temperature. Changes in pore pressure due to metamorphic reactions and/or shear heating can modulate earthquake behavior. There is increasing understanding of the mechanisms that limit earthquake rupture zones, and cause slow slip rather than seismic events. Crystallization in pore space can randomize previously focused fluid flow, reduce permeability, and bring metamorphic reactions to a halt. All of these feedbacks are related in a rich interplay of geodynamic processes.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

A Database and Meta-Analysis of Ecological Responses to Flow in the South Atlantic Region

Generalized and quantitative relationships between flow and ecology are pivotal to developing environmental flow standards based on socially acceptable ecological conditions. Informing management at regional scales requires compiling sufficient hydrologic and ecological sources of information, identifying information gaps, and creating a framework for hypothesis development and testing. We compiled studies of empirical and theoretical relationships between flow and ecology in the South Atlantic region (SAR) of the United States to evaluate their utility for the development of environmental flow standards. Using database searches, internet searches, and agency contacts, we gathered 186 sources of information that provided a qualitative or quantitative relationship between flow and ecology within states encompassing the SAR. A total of 109 of the 186 sources had sufficient information to support quantitative analyses. Ecological responses to natural changes in flow magnitude, frequency, and duration were highly variable regardless of the direction and magnitude of changes in flow. In contrast, the majority of ecological responses to anthropogenic-induced flow alterations were negative. Fish consistently showed negative responses to anthropogenic flow alterations whereas other ecological groups showed somewhat variable responses (e.g. macroinvertebrates and riparian vegetation) and even positive responses (e.g. algae). Fish and organic matter had sufficient sample sizes to stratify natural flow-ecology relationships by specific flow categories (e.g. high flow, baseflows) or by region (e.g. coastal plain, uplands). After stratifying relationships, we found that significant correlations existed between changes in natural flow and ecological responses. In addition, a regression tree explained 57% of the variation in fish responses to anthropogenic and natural changes in flow. Because of some ambiguity in interpreting the directionality in ecological responses, we utilized ecological gains or losses, where each represents a benefit or reduction to ecosystem services, respectively. Variables explained 49% of the variation in ecological gains and losses for all ecological groups combined. Altogether, our results suggested that the source of flow change and the ecological group of interest played primary roles in determining the direction and magnitude of ecological responses. Furthermore, our results suggest that developing broadly generalized relationships between ecology and changes in flow at a regional scale is unlikely unless relationships are placed within meaningful contexts, such as environmental flow components or by geomorphic setting.

Environmental flow↗

Project Grandmaster

The purpose of the Project Grandmaster Application is to allow individuals to opt-in and give the application access to data sources about their activities on social media sites. The application will cross-reference these data sources to build up a picture of each individual activities they discuss, either at present or in the past, and place this picture in reference to groups of all participants. The goal is to allow an individual to place themselves in the collective and to understand how their behavior patterns fit with the group and potentially find changes to make, such as activities they weren't already aware of or different groups of interest they might want to follow.

Source record↗

NASA 2018 Green Propulsion Roadmap

The Green Propulsion Working Group (GPWG) is a technical guidance working group formed April 2017 under the Agency's Capability Leadership Team The GPWG was tasked with recommending an agency road map and providing guidance to NASA on green propulsion technology development and infusion The GPWG's efforts focus on ionic liquid propellants and related technologies The GPWG was chartered with three representatives from NASA Centers currently exploring green propulsion technologies As other Centers may explore programs that utilize green propulsion, membership of the working group can be expanded to include more interested parties Working group also solicits and coordinates with other government agencies (e.g. AFRL, MDA) In 2015, JANNAF hosted a Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM) on Green Monopropellant Alternatives to Hydrazine (GMAH) Included both Government and non-Government contributions on the State-of-the-Art in Green Propulsion Technology Following the TIM, a Government-only session (USAF/AFRL/NASA/MDA/DLA) reviewed and identified remaining technical gaps in Green Propulsion In 2016, an inter-agency team (AFRL/NASA/MDA) worked together to develop an informal inter-agency "roadmap" based on the outcome of the TIM Approach consisted of near-term, mid-term, and long-term technology advancement areas, approaching incrementally larger thrust classes The NASA Green Propulsion Working Group reviewed the work of the 2016 Inter-Agency Working Group, and concurs that the identified technical gaps and technology development areas are still relevant and necessary to see green propulsion technology advanced The GPWG recommends the 2016 roadmap be adopted as baseline for NASA needs, with some additions The focus of the 2016 inter-agency roadmap was primarily on the thruster technology. The Agency must also invest in understanding the broader propulsion system-level technology gaps in parallel. Timeframes are considered suggested from a priority standpoint, but are also flexible as some efforts will need to occur in the nearer term or concurrently in order to meet specific mission requirements The GPWG developed 2018 roadmap breaks down the technology development goals into Technology Development Areas (TDA's), and identifies the near-, mid, and long-term sub-goals within those areas. Those TDA's are: Thruster Hardware Development Modeling & Tools Development Materials Properties and Compatibility Propellant Development.

Cavender, Dan↗

How carbon vacancies can affect the properties of group IV color centers in diamond: A study of thermodynamics and kinetics

Recently, there has been much interest in using Group IV elements from the periodic table to fabricate and study XV color centers in diamond, where X=Si, Ge, Sn, or Pb and V is a carbon vacancy. These Group IV color centers have a number of interesting spin and optical properties, which could potentially make them better candidates than NV− centers for important applications in quantum computing and quantum information processing. Unfortunately, the very same ion implantation process that is required to create these XV color centers in diamond necessarily also produces many carbon vacancies (VC), which can form complexes with these color centers (VC−XV) that can dramatically affect the properties of the isolated XV color centers. The main focus of this work is to use density-functional theory to study the thermodynamics and kinetics of the formation of these VC−XV complexes and to suggest experimental ways to impede this process such as varying the Fermi level of the host diamond material through chemical doping or applying an external electrical bias. We also include a discussion of how the simple presence of many VC can negatively impact the spin coherence times (T2) of Group IV color centers through the presence of acoustic phonons.

Kuate Defo, Rodrick↗

Multiple Shaker Placement for Ground Vibration Test of X-59 Aircraft Using Topology Optimization

A multiple shaker placement methodology is developed and tested using a topology optimization technique. Current multiple shaker placement methodology requires optimum accelerometer placement and optimum single-shaker placement techniques. The proposed methodology is tested using a finite element model of the X-59 Low Boom Flight Demonstrator aircraft. The effective independence and the driving point acceleration transfer function (DPATF) methods are used for the accelerometer placement study. In this study, four shakers are used to excite each mode more effectively during the ground vibration test; all the modes of interest thus are separated into four groups. Each shaker takes care of a separate group of modes. Grouping the modes of interest is performed utilizing topology optimization. The number of modes for each group therefore will be automatically decided during grouping. For each group of modes, perform the following two steps to determine optimal location of four shakers: 1) At each accelerometer location, compare the magnitude of DPATF values at natural frequencies, select the minimum value, and make a vector with these minimum values of the DPATF magnitudes for each group; and 2) Select the degrees of freedom corresponding to the maximum value of this vector. The objective function value is the maximum value of the vector with minimum value of the magnitude of the superposed acceleration transfer function. This objective function value is maximized by changing the modes for each group. Forty accelerometers are enough to have good correlation between mode shapes obtained from the reduced order model and the simulated ground vibration test.

Optimization Analysis↗

Amino-terminated biphenylthiol self-assembled monolayers as highly reactive molecular templates

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with amino tail groups are of interest due to their ability of coupling further compounds. Such groups can be, in particular, created by electron irradiation of nitro- or nitrile-substituted aromatic SAMs, which provide a basis for chemical nanolithography and the fabrication of functionalized nanomembranes. An estimate of reactivity of the created amino groups requires a reference system of homogeneous, amino-terminated aromatic SAMs, which can also be used as a highly reactive molecular template. Here, we describe the synthesis of 4′-aminobiphenyl-4-thiol (ABPT) and SAMs prepared from this precursor on Au(111). The monolayers were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, which revealed that they are well defined, chemically uniform, densely packed, and highly ordered. To examine the influence of electron irradiation on the reactivity of the terminal amino groups, ABPT SAMs were exposed to low energy (50 eV) electrons up to a dose of 40 mC/cm{sup 2} and, subsequently, immersed in either trifluoroacetic, pentafluoropropionic, or heptafluorobutyric anhydride. Analysing the amount of the attached anhydride species made it possible to determine the percentage of reactive amino groups as well as the effect of steric hindrance upon the coupling reaction. The above results are compared with those obtained for the well-established nitro-substituted biphenylthiol monolayers.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

The Use of Dendrimers in Supercapacitors

Dendrimers are large molecules with a tree-like branching structure. They are nearly perfectly monodisperse unlike many linear polymers and can be a variety of sizes. Because of their unique structure they have improved physical and chemical properties. These properties make dendrimers a topic of great interest. There are three important features of dendrimers; the core, the branched groups (generations), and the end groups (Figure 1). These features make up the distinctive structure of dendrimers and are the reason that there are many applications that are unique to these molecules. The generation number affects the size while the terminal end groups are responsible for a great deal of the other properties. Dendrimers that have hydrophilic end groups are soluble in polar solvents while others are not. This flexibility allows a researcher to find a dendrimer that is tailored to their exact needs. Some of the common uses of dendrimers include detecting agents, targeting compounds, and imaging agents. Because of the core and end groups, there is interest in these compounds for encapsulating drugs. Dendrimers can be small enough to pass through cells and since their end groups affect their solubility; they can transport drugs throughout the body.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DHS S&T First Responders Group and NATO Counter UAS Proposal Interest Response.

The capability, speed, size, and widespread availability of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) makes them a serious security concern. The enabling technologies for sUAS are rapidly evolving and so too are the threats they pose to national security. Potential threat vehicles have a small cross-section, and are difficult to reliably detect using purely ground-based systems (e.g. radar or electro-optical) and challenging to target using conventional anti-aircraft defenses. Ground-based sensors are static and suffer from interference with the earth, vegetation and other man-made structures which obscure objects at low altitudes. Because of these challenges, sUAS pose a unique and rapidly evolving threat to national security.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗

Establishing a Modern Ground Network for Space Geodesy Applications

Ground-based networks of co-located space-geodesy techniques (VLBI, SLR, GLASS, DORIS) are the basis for the development and maintenance of the :International Terrestrial deference Frame (ITRE), which is the basis for our metric measurements of global change. The Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) within the International Association of Geodesy has established a task to develop a strategy to design, integrate and maintain the fundamental geodetic network and supporting infrastructure in a sustainable way to satisfy the long-term requirements for the reference frame. The GGOS goal is an origin definition at I mm or better and a temporal stability on the order of 0.1 mm/y, with similar numbers for the scale and orientation components. These goals are based on scientific requirements to address sea level rise with confidence. As a first step, simulations focused on establishing the optimal global SLR and VLBI network, since these two techniques alone are sufficient to define the reference frame. The GLASS constellations will then distribute the reference frame to users anywhere on the Earth. Using simulated data to be collected by the future networks, we investigated various designs and the resulting accuracy in the origin, scale and orientation of the resulting ITRF. We present here the results of extensive simulation studies aimed at designing optimal global geodetic networks to support GGOS science products. Current estimates are the network will require 24 - 32 globally distributed co-location sites. Stations in the near global network will require geologically stable sites witla good weather, established infrastructure, and local support and personnel. EGOS will seek groups that are interested in participation. GGOS intends to issues a Call for Participation of groups that would like to take part in the network implementation and operation_ Some examples of integrated stations currently in operation or under development will be presented. We will examine necessary conditions and challenges in designing a co-location station.

Pearlman, M.↗

The Global Geodetic Observing System: Space Geodesy Networks for the Future

Ground-based networks of co-located space geodetic techniques (VLBI, SLR, GNSS. and DORIS) are the basis for the development and maintenance of the International Terrestrial Reference frame (ITRF), which is our metric of reference for measurements of global change, The Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) has established a task to develop a strategy to design, integrate and maintain the fundamental geodetic network and supporting infrastructure in a sustainable way to satisfy the long-term requirements for the reference frame. The GGOS goal is an origin definition at 1 mm or better and a temporal stability on the order of 0.1 mm/y, with similar numbers for the scale and orientation components. These goals are based on scientific requirements to address sea level rise with confidence, but other applications are not far behind. Recent studies including one by the US National Research Council has strongly stated the need and the urgency for the fundamental space geodesy network. Simulations are underway to examining accuracies for origin, scale and orientation of the resulting ITRF based on various network designs and system performance to determine the optimal global network to achieve this goal. To date these simulations indicate that 24 - 32 co-located stations are adequate to define the reference frame and a more dense GNSS and DORIS network will be required to distribute the reference frame to users anywhere on Earth. Stations in the new global network will require geologically stable sites with good weather, established infrastructure, and local support and personnel. GGOS wil seek groups that are interested in participation. GGOS intends to issues a Call for Participation of groups that would like to contribute in the network implementation and operation. Some examples of integrated stations currently in operation or under development will be presented. We will examine necessary conditions and challenges in designing a co-location station.

Pearlman, Michael↗