Sa-9, 8, and 10 dispersion analysis

Saturn 8, 9, and 10 launch vehicles - dispersions and application to nominal trajectory, mission objectives, root sum square method, and engine- out capabilit

Operational Considerations and Comparisons of the Saturn, Space Shuttle and Ares Launch Vehicles

The United States (U.S.) space exploration policy has directed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to retire the Space Shuttle and to replace it with a new generation of space transportation systems for crew and cargo travel to the International Space Station, the Moon, Mars, and beyond. As part of the Constellation Program, engineers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama are working to design and build the Ares I, the first of two large launch vehicles to return humans to the Moon. A deliberate effort is being made to ensure a high level of operability in order to significantly increase safety and availability as well as reduce recurring costs of this new launch vehicle. It is the Ares Project's goal to instill operability as part of the requirements development, design and operations of the vehicle. This paper will identify important factors in launch vehicle design that affect the operability and availability of the system. Similarities and differences in operational constraints will also be compared between the Saturn V, Space Shuttle and current Ares I design. Finally, potential improvements in operations and operability for large launch vehicles will be addressed. From the examples presented, the paper will discuss potential improvements for operability for future launch vehicles

Susceptibilidad de la langosta <i>Schistocerca cancellata</i> (Orthoptera: Acrididae) a <i>Nosema locustae</i> (Protozoa: Microspora), en laboratorio

The objective of this study was to determine the susceptibility of Schistocerca cancellata (Serville) to the pathogen Nosema locustae Canning, with the purpose of evaluating alternative control strategies of this pest. Third-instar nymphs of the gregarious phase of cultured S. cancellata were individually, per os challenged with 105 and 106 spores/nymph of N. locustae, a microbial agent for grasshopper control. Infection development occurred in 90.2 % of the nymphs inoculated (n = 112) and there was no difference in the percentage of infection between doses. There was a direct effect of dosage of N. locustae on mortality of S. cancellata, at 20 and 30 days postinoculation. Both doses had significantly higher percentages of mortality than that of the control. The higher dose caused distinctly greater mortality than the lower, with cumulative mortality at the end of the experiment being of 86% and 50%, respectively. None of the infected locusts reached adulthood. If these results are corroborated under natural conditions, N. locustae could be of value for the biological control of S. cancellata.El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la susceptibilidad de Schistocerca cancellata (Serville) al patógeno Nosema locustae Canning, a fin de evaluar posibles alternativas de su control biológico. Ninfas de tercer estadío de la fase gregaria de S. cancellata de bioterio fueron individualmente inoculadas per os con 105 y 106 esporos/ninfa de N. locustae, un agente microbiano para el control de acridios. El 90,2 % de las ninfas inoculadas (n = 112) desarrolló infección, no existiendo diferencias significativas en el porcentaje de ninfas infectadas entre ambas dosis ensayadas. La mortalidad de las ninfas no fue independiente de la dosis del patógeno, tanto a los 20 como a los 30 días postinoculación. Ambas dosis produjeron porcentajes de mortalidad significativamente más altos que el control. A su vez, la mortalidad acumulada al finalizar la experiencia fue significativamente más alta con la dosis mayor (86%) que con la dosis menor (50%). Ninguna de las langostas infectadas llegó al estado adulto. De ser corroborados estos resultados en condiciones naturales, N. locustae podría ser de utilidad para el control biológico de S. cancellata

Susceptibilidad de la langosta <i>Schistocerca cancellata</i> (Orthoptera: Acrididae) a <i>Nosema locustae</i> (Protozoa: Microspora), en laboratorio

The objective of this study was to determine the susceptibility of Schistocerca cancellata (Serville) to the pathogen Nosema locustae Canning, with the purpose of evaluating alternative control strategies of this pest. Third-instar nymphs of the gregarious phase of cultured S. cancellata were individually, per os challenged with 105 and 106 spores/nymph of N. locustae, a microbial agent for grasshopper control. Infection development occurred in 90.2 % of the nymphs inoculated (n = 112) and there was no difference in the percentage of infection between doses. There was a direct effect of dosage of N. locustae on mortality of S. cancellata, at 20 and 30 days postinoculation. Both doses had significantly higher percentages of mortality than that of the control. The higher dose caused distinctly greater mortality than the lower, with cumulative mortality at the end of the experiment being of 86% and 50%, respectively. None of the infected locusts reached adulthood. If these results are corroborated under natural conditions, N. locustae could be of value for the biological control of S. cancellata.El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la susceptibilidad de Schistocerca cancellata (Serville) al patógeno Nosema locustae Canning, a fin de evaluar posibles alternativas de su control biológico. Ninfas de tercer estadío de la fase gregaria de S. cancellata de bioterio fueron individualmente inoculadas per os con 105 y 106 esporos/ninfa de N. locustae, un agente microbiano para el control de acridios. El 90,2 % de las ninfas inoculadas (n = 112) desarrolló infección, no existiendo diferencias significativas en el porcentaje de ninfas infectadas entre ambas dosis ensayadas. La mortalidad de las ninfas no fue independiente de la dosis del patógeno, tanto a los 20 como a los 30 días postinoculación. Ambas dosis produjeron porcentajes de mortalidad significativamente más altos que el control. A su vez, la mortalidad acumulada al finalizar la experiencia fue significativamente más alta con la dosis mayor (86%) que con la dosis menor (50%). Ninguna de las langostas infectadas llegó al estado adulto. De ser corroborados estos resultados en condiciones naturales, N. locustae podría ser de utilidad para el control biológico de S. cancellata

Urgency, Opportunity, and Frustration: Implementing the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004

A terrorist organization targets America\u27s airlines, igniting domestic panic and finger-pointing in Washington. The plot is hatched in a distant Muslim-majority nation-a country with which the United States has maintained a historically volatile relationship and in which multiple attacks against U.S. citizens originated in the past decade. A key perpetrator hails from another country where Islamic extremism is known to thrive, and he traveled to other countries en route to the United States, evading airport security. With the benefit of hindsight, the plot now appears crystal clear. Prior to the incident, multiple U.S. and foreign government agencies possessed bits and pieces of relevant information. There was no smoking gun that in itself could have foiled the attack. But if the disparate intelligence had been integrated properly into a coherent picture, perhaps the terrorist attempt could have been thwarted at an earlier stage

Durchführbarkeit und Effektivität eines integrierten Tumorkernboost in der Radiotherapie von großen Tumoren: Ergebnisse einer multizentrischen prospektiven Machbarkeitsstudie

Große Tumore lassen sich lokal meistens schlechter behandeln als kleine Tumore. Eine Operation ist häufig gar nicht, eine Strahlentherapie nur mit palliativer, also symptomorientierter Zielsetzung möglich. Eine Möglichkeit, die Behandlung von Patientinnen und Patienten mit großen Tumoren zu verbessern, könnte die Verabreichung einer höheren Bestrahlungsdosis als sonst üblich sein. Mehr Dosis bedeutet jedoch häufig auch mehr Nebenwirkungen. Um dies zu verhindern, wurde im Rahmen dieser Doktorarbeit ein neues innovatives Bestrahlungskonzept entwickelt, in dem die erhöhte Dosis nur auf einen Teil des Tumors gegeben wurde - ein sogenannter Tumorkernboost. Eine Bestrahlung mit einem solchen Tumorkernboost wurde in dieser Machbarkeitsstudie untersucht und gut vertragen. In den meisten Fällen führte diese Behandlung auch zu einer Verbesserung der Lebensqaulität der schwer kranken Patientinnen und Patienten

Champions of digital transformation? The dynamic capabilities of Hidden Champions

Hidden Champions (HCs) are small- and medium-sized global market leaders that repeatedly show superior innovation capabilities and economic performance. However, empirical evidence on how the digital transformation may affect their success story remains scarce. I argue that HCs show stronger dynamic capabilities which enables them to be better prepared for the digital transformation than non-HCs firms. To test this hypothesis, I use data from the Mannheim Innovation Panel. This allows me to identify a representative set of German HCs and develop a firm digital readiness index, reflecting the use of important digital technologies and applications. An instrumental variable estimation suggests that higher levels of digital readiness lead to an increase in share of revenue from innovations and productivity. In combination with higher average digital readiness levels of HCs compared to non-HCs, my findings indicate that HCs may indeed be better prepared for the digital transformation

Cross‐reactive carbohydrate determinants in atopic and healthy dogs and their influence on allergy test specificity

Background The selection of allergens for immunotherapy in atopic dogs is often based on serum allergy testing. Cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs) are common structures in plant and insect allergens that reportedly induce polysensitisation, reduce agreement between intradermal and serum tests and complicate allergen selection. Methods Thirty-four dogs with diagnosed atopic dermatitis and 10 healthy dogs were included in the study. An intradermal test was conducted in atopic dogs, and serum samples from allergic and healthy dogs were analysed for allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) before and after inhibition of detectable anti-CCD-IgE antibodies. Results Anti-CCD-IgE antibodies were not found in any of the healthy dogs and no polysensitisation to plant and insect allergens was detected. The agreement between intradermal and serum allergy test results in the atopic dogs with anti-CCD-IgE antibodies improved from slight to fair after blocking the anti-CCD-IgE antibodies. In addition, blocking clearly reduced polysensitisation to plant allergens but not to acarid allergens. Limitations Only a limited number of healthy dogs were tested in this study. A gold standard for determining the clinical relevance of IgE sensitisation does not exist. Conclusion Inhibition of anti-CCD-IgE antibodies seems to be of importance to improve serum test specificity for allergen-specific IgE in atopic dogs in relation to intradermal allergy testing