PacRIM II: A review of AirSAR operations and system performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moller, D.; Chu, A.; Lou, Y.; Miller, T.; O'Leary, E.

2001-01-01

In this paper we briefly review the AirSAR system, its expected performance, and quality of data obtained during that mission. We discuss the system hardware calibration methodologies, and present quantitative performance values of radar backscatter and interferometric height errors (random and systematic) from PACRIM II calibration data.

Liver Sharing and Organ Procurement Organization Performance under Redistricted Allocation

PubMed Central

Gentry, Sommer E.; Chow, Eric KH.; Massie, Allan; Luo, Xun; Shteyn, Eugene; Pyke, Joshua; Zaun, David; Snyder, Jon J.; Israni, Ajay K.; Kasiske, Bert; Segev, Dorry L.

2015-01-01

Concerns have been raised that optimized redistricting of liver allocation areas might have the unintended result of shifting livers from better-performing to poorer-performing OPOs. We used the Liver Simulated Allocation Model to simulate a 5-year period of liver sharing within either 4 or 8 optimized districts. We investigated whether each OPO’s net liver import under redistricting would be correlated with two OPO performance metrics (observed to expected liver yield and liver donor conversion ratio), along with two other potential correlates (eligible deaths and incident listings above MELD 15). We found no evidence that livers would flow from better-performing OPOs to poorer-performing OPOs in either redistricting scenario. Instead, under these optimized redistricting plans, our simulations suggest that livers would flow from OPOs with more-than-expected eligible deaths toward those with fewer-than-expected eligible deaths, and that livers would flow from OPOs with fewer-than-expected incident listings to those with more-than-expected incident listings, the latter a pattern already established in the current allocation system. Redistricting liver distribution to reduce geographic inequity is expected to align liver allocation across the country with the distribution of supply and demand, rather than transferring livers from better-performing OPOs to poorer-performing OPOs. PMID:25990089

The Pennsylvania Trauma Outcomes Study Risk-Adjusted Mortality Model: Results of a Statewide Benchmarking Program

PubMed Central

WIEBE, DOUGLAS J.; HOLENA, DANIEL N.; DELGADO, M. KIT; McWILLIAMS, NATHAN; ALTENBURG, JULIET; CARR, BRENDAN G.

2018-01-01

Trauma centers need objective feedback on performance to inform quality improvement efforts. The Trauma Quality Improvement Program recently published recommended methodology for case mix adjustment and benchmarking performance. We tested the feasibility of applying this methodology to develop risk-adjusted mortality models for a statewide trauma system. We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients ≥16 years old at Pennsylvania trauma centers from 2011 to 2013 (n = 100,278). Our main outcome measure was observed-to-expected mortality ratios (overall and within blunt, penetrating, multisystem, isolated head, and geriatric subgroups). Patient demographic variables, physiology, mechanism of injury, transfer status, injury severity, and pre-existing conditions were included as predictor variables. The statistical model had excellent discrimination (area under the curve = 0.94). Funnel plots of observed-to-expected identified five centers with lower than expected mortality and two centers with higher than expected mortality. No centers were outliers for management of penetrating trauma, but five centers had lower and three had higher than expected mortality for blunt trauma. It is feasible to use Trauma Quality Improvement Program methodology to develop risk-adjusted models for statewide trauma systems. Even with smaller numbers of trauma centers that are available in national datasets, it is possible to identify high and low outliers in performance. PMID:28541852

The Pennsylvania Trauma Outcomes Study Risk-Adjusted Mortality Model: Results of a Statewide Benchmarking Program.

PubMed

Wiebe, Douglas J; Holena, Daniel N; Delgado, M Kit; McWilliams, Nathan; Altenburg, Juliet; Carr, Brendan G

2017-05-01

Trauma centers need objective feedback on performance to inform quality improvement efforts. The Trauma Quality Improvement Program recently published recommended methodology for case mix adjustment and benchmarking performance. We tested the feasibility of applying this methodology to develop risk-adjusted mortality models for a statewide trauma system. We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients ≥16 years old at Pennsylvania trauma centers from 2011 to 2013 (n = 100,278). Our main outcome measure was observed-to-expected mortality ratios (overall and within blunt, penetrating, multisystem, isolated head, and geriatric subgroups). Patient demographic variables, physiology, mechanism of injury, transfer status, injury severity, and pre-existing conditions were included as predictor variables. The statistical model had excellent discrimination (area under the curve = 0.94). Funnel plots of observed-to-expected identified five centers with lower than expected mortality and two centers with higher than expected mortality. No centers were outliers for management of penetrating trauma, but five centers had lower and three had higher than expected mortality for blunt trauma. It is feasible to use Trauma Quality Improvement Program methodology to develop risk-adjusted models for statewide trauma systems. Even with smaller numbers of trauma centers that are available in national datasets, it is possible to identify high and low outliers in performance.

An Investigation of Student Expectation, Perceived Performance and Satisfaction of E-textbooks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Philip, George C.; Moon, Soo-Young

2013-01-01

This paper examines the use of e-textbooks in a college level introductory information systems course using an empirical study that gave students the option to buy electronic or print versions of the same textbook. The study measured and analyzed student expectations prior to purchase, perceived performance and satisfaction after use, intention to…

FINAL MASTER PLAN FOR STELLA, MISSOURI

EPA Science Inventory

The application of sustainability to place is the outcome of responding to human needs and expectations within economic, social, and environmental constraints and desired performance of these systems. These constraints and performance requirements of these systems provides a way ...

Effects of expected-value information and display format on recognition of aircraft subsystem abnormalities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palmer, Michael T.; Abbott, Kathy H.

1994-01-01

This study identifies improved methods to present system parameter information for detecting abnormal conditions and to identify system status. Two workstation experiments were conducted. The first experiment determined if including expected-value-range information in traditional parameter display formats affected subject performance. The second experiment determined if using a nontraditional parameter display format, which presented relative deviation from expected value, was better than traditional formats with expected-value ranges included. The inclusion of expected-value-range information onto traditional parameter formats was found to have essentially no effect. However, subjective results indicated support for including this information. The nontraditional column deviation parameter display format resulted in significantly fewer errors compared with traditional formats with expected-value-ranges included. In addition, error rates for the column deviation parameter display format remained stable as the scenario complexity increased, whereas error rates for the traditional parameter display formats with expected-value ranges increased. Subjective results also indicated that the subjects preferred this new format and thought that their performance was better with it. The column deviation parameter display format is recommended for display applications that require rapid recognition of out-of-tolerance conditions, especially for a large number of parameters.

PEER Transportation Research Program | PEER Transportation Research Program

Science.gov Websites

methodologies, integrating fundamental knowledge, enabling technologies, and systems. We further expect that the Bayesian Framework for Performance Assessment and Risk Management of Transportation Systems subject to Earthquakes Directivity Modeling for NGA West2 Ground Motion Studies for Transportation Systems Performance

The influence of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems' performance on earnings management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsai, Wen-Hsien; Lee, Kuen-Chang; Liu, Jau-Yang; Lin, Sin-Jin; Chou, Yu-Wei

2012-11-01

We analyse whether there is a linkage between performance measures of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and earnings management. We find that earnings management decreases with the higher performance of ERP systems. The empirical result is as expected. We further analyse how the dimension of the DeLone and McLean model of information systems success affects earnings management. We find that the relationship between the performance of ERP systems and earnings management depends on System Quality after ERP implementation. The more System Quality improves, the more earnings management is reduced.

Cognitive determinants of healthcare evaluations - A comparison of Eastern and Western European countries.

PubMed

Schneider, Simone M; Popic, Tamara

2018-03-01

Knowing the public opinion of healthcare is essential when assessing healthcare system performance; but little research has focussed on the links between the public's general attitude to the healthcare system and its perceptions and expectations of specific healthcare-related aspects. Using data from the fourth round of the European Social Survey 2008/09, we explore the cognitive determinants of global evaluations of the healthcare system in 12 Eastern and 16 Western European countries. We find that healthcare evaluations follow a coherent cognitive reasoning. They are associated with (i) perceptions of the performance of healthcare systems (i.e. efficiency, equality of treatment, health outcomes), (ii) expectations of the government's role in providing healthcare, and (iii) reflections on demographic pressures (i.e. aging populations). Contrary to the general assumption that normative expectations are responsible for differences in healthcare evaluations between Eastern and Western Europe, our results suggest that regional differences are largely due to a more negative perception of the performance of healthcare systems within Eastern Europe. To enhance the public opinion of healthcare, policy makers should improve the efficiency of healthcare systems and take measures to assure equality in health treatment. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Evaluation of the performance of the logistics management system of malaria control resources in the Littoral Department, Benin, in 2017].

PubMed

Ouro-Koura, Abdou-Rahim; Sopoh, Emmanuel Ghislain; Sossa, Jerôme Charles; Glèlè-Ahanhanzo, Yolaine; Agueh, Victoire; Ouendo, Edgard-Marius; Ouedraogo, Laurent

2018-01-01

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the logistics management system (LMS) of malaria control (MC) resources in the Littoral Department, Benin, in 2017. In June 2017, we conducted a cross-sectional evaluative study focusing on the structures for the storage and the disposal of MC resources as well as on staff involved in their management. The performance of the the logistics management system was evaluated on the basis of the observed compliance of the components and sub-components of the "Structure", the "Process" and the "Results" with the norms and standards defined by the Ministry of Health. A total of 36 structures were investigated and secondary target was surveyed. It followed that 52,78% of the structures for the storage and the disposal of MC resources met the requirements for resources storage while only 33.33% of MC resources management staff were trained in logistics management. The performance of the logistics management system of MC resources was inadequate (compliance 59,13 % compared to the expected score). The structure, as well as the process were non-compliant with the standards ( 60,20% and 73.22% compared to the expected score respectively), leading to negative results (41.53% compared to the expected score). The most inadequate sub-component was the logistics management information system (LMIS). This study highlights the role of LMS for better performance of MC resources management. Particular attention should be given to this component.

Loss Control and Collimation for the LHC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burkhardt, H.

2005-06-01

The total energy stored in the LHC is expected to reach 360 Mega Joule, which is about two orders of magnitude higher than in HERA or the Tevatron. Damage and quench protection in the LHC require a highly efficient and at the same time very robust collimation system. The currently planned system, the status of the project and the expected performance of the collimation system from injection up to operation with colliding beams will be presented.

DRAFT MASTER PLAN FOR STELLA, MISSOURI - 20 FEBRUARY 2007, 1900 HOURS

EPA Science Inventory

The application of sustainability to place is the outcome of responding to human needs and expectations within economic, social, and environmental constraints and desired performance of these systems. These constraints and performance requirements of these systems provides a way ...

Lane marking/striping to improve image processing lane departure warning systems.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2007-05-01

Vision-based Lane Departure Warning Systems (LDWS) depend on pavement marking tracking to : determine that vehicles perform unintended drifts out of the travel lanes. Thus, it is expected that : the performances of these LDWS be influenced by the vis...

MSFC Skylab Orbital Workshop, volume 3. [design and development of waste disposal system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1974-01-01

The waste management system for the Skylab Orbital Workshop is discussed. The general requirements of the system are presented. Illustrations of the components of the system are provided. Data concerning maximum expected performance capabilities are developed. The results of performance tests on the system components are reported. Emphasis is placed on the human factors engineering aspects of the system.

Exploring Midwives' Need and Intention to Adopt Electronic Integrated Antenatal Care.

PubMed

Markam, Hosizah; Hochheiser, Harry; Kuntoro, Kuntoro; Notobroto, Hari Basuki

2018-01-01

Documentation requirements for the Indonesian integrated antenatal care (ANC) program suggest the need for electronic systems to address gaps in existing paper documentation practices. Our goals were to quantify midwives' documentation completeness in a primary healthcare center, understand documentation challenges, develop a tool, and assess intention to use the tool. We analyzed existing ANC records in a primary healthcare center in Bangkalan, East Java, and conducted interviews with stakeholders to understand needs for an electronic system in support of ANC. Development of the web-based Electronic Integrated ANC (e-iANC) system used the System Development Life Cycle method. Training on the use of the system was held in the computer laboratory for 100 midwives chosen from four primary healthcare centers in each of five regions. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) questionnaire was used to assess their intention to adopt e-iANC. The midwives' intention to adopt e-iANC was significantly influenced by performance expectancy, effort expectancy and facilitating conditions. Age, education level, and computer literacy did not significantly moderate the effects of performance expectancy and effort expectancy on adoption intention. The UTAUT results indicated that the factors that might influence intention to adopt e-iANC are potentially addressable. Results suggest that e-iANC might well be accepted by midwives.

Covariance of engineering management characteristics with engineering employee performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hesketh, Andrew Arthur

1998-12-01

As business in the 1990's grapples with the impact of continuous improvement and quality to meet market demands, there is an increased need to improve the leadership capabilities of our managers. Engineers have indicated desire for certain managerial characteristics in their leadership but there have been no studies completed that approached the problem of determining what managerial characteristics were best at improving employee performance. This study addressed the idea of identifying certain managerial characteristics that enhance employee performance. In the early 1990's, McDonnell Douglas Aerospace in St. Louis used a forced distribution system and allocated 35% of its employees into a "exceeds expectations" category and 60% into a "meets expectations" category. A twenty-question 5 point Likert scale survey on managerial capabilities was administered to a sample engineering population that also obtained their "expectations" category. A single factor ANOVA on the survey results determined a statistical difference between the "exceeds" and "meets" employees with four of the managerial capability questions. The "exceeds expectations" employee indicated that supervision did a better job of supporting subordinate development, clearly communicating performance expectations, and providing timely performance feedback when compared to the "meets expectations" employee. The "meets expectations" employee felt that their opinions, when different from their supervisor's, were more often ignored when compared to the "exceeds expectations" employee. These four questions relate to two specific managerial characteristics, "gaining (informal) authority and support" or "control" characteristic and "providing assistance and guidance" or "command" characteristic, that can be emphasized in managerial training programs.

Performance assessment of an onboard monitoring system for CMV drivers : a field operational test : research brief.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-11-01

The primary goal of an onboard monitoring system (OBMS) is to enhance driver performance and safety. OBMSs are employed with the expectation that feedback provided concurrently (via flashing feedback lights in the vehicle) and cumulatively (via coach...

Performance analysis of a generalized upset detection procedure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blough, Douglas M.; Masson, Gerald M.

1987-01-01

A general procedure for upset detection in complex systems, called the data block capture and analysis upset monitoring process is described and analyzed. The process consists of repeatedly recording a fixed amount of data from a set of predetermined observation lines of the system being monitored (i.e., capturing a block of data), and then analyzing the captured block in an attempt to determine whether the system is functioning correctly. The algorithm which analyzes the data blocks can be characterized in terms of the amount of time it requires to examine a given length data block to ascertain the existence of features/conditions that have been predetermined to characterize the upset-free behavior of the system. The performance of linear, quadratic, and logarithmic data analysis algorithms is rigorously characterized in terms of three performance measures: (1) the probability of correctly detecting an upset; (2) the expected number of false alarms; and (3) the expected latency in detecting upsets.

Knowledge Workers' Perceptions of Performance Ratings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Alan D.; Rupp, William T.

2004-01-01

One major purpose of performance appraisals is to determine individual merit, especially where pay for performance systems are employed. Based upon expectancy theory, high performance ratings should entail high merit increases while low performance ratings result in low merit increases. However, it appears that decoupling performance ratings and…

Assessing the Promise of Standards-Based Performance Evaluation for Principals: Results from a Randomized Trial

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kimball, Steven Miller; Milanowski, Anthony; McKinney, Sarah A.

2009-01-01

Principals (N = 76) in a large western U.S. school district were randomly assigned to be evaluated using either a new standards-based system or to continue with the old system. It was hypothesized that principals evaluated with the new system would report clearer performance expectations, better feedback, greater fairness and system satisfaction,…

Solar energy system performance evaluation: Seasonal report for IBM system 1A, Huntsville, Alabama

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1980-01-01

The operational and thermal performance of the solar energy system, Sims Prototype System 1A, is described. The system was designed by IBM to provide 50 to 60 percent of the space heating and domestic hot water preheating load to a 2,000 square foot floor space single family residence in the Huntsville area. The load design temperature inside the building was to be maintained at 70 degrees fahrenheit with auxiliary energy for heating supplied by an electric heat pump assisted by an electric resistance strip heater. In general the disappointing operation of this system is attributed to the manner in which it was used. The system was designed for residential application and used to satisfy the demands of an office environment. The differences were: (1) inside temperature was not maintained at 70 F as expected; and (2) hot water usage was much lower than expected. The conclusion is that the solar energy system must be designed for the type of application in which it is used. Misapplication usually will have an adverse affect on system performance.

Implementation of the Performance Management System (PMS) in Senior Secondary Schools in Botswana: An Investigation of Senior Management Team's Expected Benefits of the PMS

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bulawa, Philip

2012-01-01

Different forms of the performance management system have been implemented in many countries for some years. As in other countries, in 1999 the government of Botswana took a decision to implement a performance management system (PMS) across the entire public service including schools. The government explained the purpose for which this reform was…

48 CFR 3052.209-75 - Prohibited financial interests for lead system integrators.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... for the development or production of a major system, if the prime contractor is not expected at the time of award to perform a substantial portion of the work on the system and the major subsystems. (4... procurement of services, the primary purpose of which is to perform acquisition functions closely associated...

48 CFR 252.209-7007 - Prohibited Financial Interests for Lead System Integrators.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... contractor for the development or production of a major system, if the prime contractor is not expected at the time of award to perform a substantial portion of the work on the system and the major subsystems... for the procurement of services, the primary purpose of which is to perform acquisition functions...

High performing actuation system for use with a louver array for satellite thermal control. [design and performance tests on prototype Bourdon spiral configuration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reusser, P. U.; Coebergh, J. A. F.

1973-01-01

A high performing actuation system has been developed to drive one pair or a set of 9 pairs of louver blades. The system uses a Bourdon spiral as the driving member. The response time of the liquid expansion of the spiral system is in the order of three seconds. Besides performance tests, qualification tests have been carried out on a prototype system, demonstrating that the actuation system withstands normal launching conditions; projected operating life of 7 years with more than 7000 cycles can be expected.

Dual-use micromechanical inertial sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elwell, John M., Jr.

1995-03-01

A new industry, which will provide low-cost silicon-based inertial sensors to the commercial and military markets. is being created. Inertial measurement units are used extensively in military systems, and new versions are expected to find their way into commercial products, such as automobiles, as production costs fall as technology advances. An automotive inertial measurement unit can be expected to perform a complete range of control, diagnostic, and navigation functions. These functions are expected to provide significant active safety, performance, comfort, convenience, and fuel economy advantages to the automotive consumer. An inertial measurement unit applicable to the automobile industry would meet many of the performance requirements for the military in important areas, such as antenna and image stabilization, autopilot control, and the guidance of smart weapons. Such a new industrial base will significantly reduce the acquisition cost of many future tactical weapons systems. An alliance, consisting of the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory and Rockwell International, has been created to develop inertial products for this new industry.

A Design Heritage-Based Forecasting Methodology for Risk Informed Management of Advanced Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maggio, Gaspare; Fragola, Joseph R.

1999-01-01

The development of next generation systems often carries with it the promise of improved performance, greater reliability, and reduced operational costs. These expectations arise from the use of novel designs, new materials, advanced integration and production technologies intended for functionality replacing the previous generation. However, the novelty of these nascent technologies is accompanied by lack of operational experience and, in many cases, no actual testing as well. Therefore some of the enthusiasm surrounding most new technologies may be due to inflated aspirations from lack of knowledge rather than actual future expectations. This paper proposes a design heritage approach for improved reliability forecasting of advanced system components. The basis of the design heritage approach is to relate advanced system components to similar designs currently in operation. The demonstrated performance of these components could then be used to forecast the expected performance and reliability of comparable advanced technology components. In this approach the greater the divergence of the advanced component designs from the current systems the higher the uncertainty that accompanies the associated failure estimates. Designers of advanced systems are faced with many difficult decisions. One of the most common and more difficult types of these decisions are those related to the choice between design alternatives. In the past decision-makers have found these decisions to be extremely difficult to make because they often involve the trade-off between a known performing fielded design and a promising paper design. When it comes to expected reliability performance the paper design always looks better because it is on paper and it addresses all the know failure modes of the fielded design. On the other hand there is a long, and sometimes very difficult road, between the promise of a paper design and its fulfillment; with the possibility that sometimes the reliability promise is not fulfilled at all. Decision makers in advanced technology areas have always known to discount the performance claims of a design to a degree in proportion to its stage of development, and at times have preferred the more mature design over the one of lesser maturity even with the latter promising substantially better performance once fielded. As with the broader measures of performance this has also been true for projected reliability performance. Paper estimates of potential advances in design reliability are to a degree uncertain in proportion to the maturity of the features being proposed to secure those advances. This is especially true when performance-enhancing features in other areas are also planned to be part of the development program.

Performance of the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II: a meta-analysis of 22 studies involving 145,592 cardiac surgery procedures.

PubMed

Guida, Pietro; Mastro, Florinda; Scrascia, Giuseppe; Whitlock, Richard; Paparella, Domenico

2014-12-01

A systematic review of the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (euroSCORE) II performance for prediction of operative mortality after cardiac surgery has not been performed. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies based on the predictive accuracy of the euroSCORE II. We searched the Embase and PubMed databases for all English-only articles reporting performance characteristics of the euroSCORE II. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, the observed/expected mortality ratio, and observed-expected mortality difference with their 95% confidence intervals were analyzed. Twenty-two articles were selected, including 145,592 procedures. Operative mortality occurred in 4293 (2.95%), whereas the expected events according to euroSCORE II were 4802 (3.30%). Meta-analysis of these studies provided an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.792 (95% confidence interval, 0.773-0.811), an estimated observed/expected ratio of 1.019 (95% confidence interval, 0.899-1.139), and observed-expected difference of 0.125 (95% confidence interval, -0.269 to 0.519). Statistical heterogeneity was detected among retrospective studies including less recent procedures. Subgroups analysis confirmed the robustness of combined estimates for isolated valve procedures and those combined with revascularization surgery. A significant overestimation of the euroSCORE II with an observed/expected ratio of 0.829 (95% confidence interval, 0.677-0.982) was observed in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting and a slight underestimation of predictions in high-risk patients (observed/expected ratio 1.253 and observed-expected difference 1.859). Despite the heterogeneity, the results from this meta-analysis show a good overall performance of the euroSCORE II in terms of discrimination and accuracy of model predictions for operative mortality. Validation of the euroSCORE II in prospective populations needs to be further studied for a continuous improvement of patients' risk stratification before cardiac surgery. Copyright © 2014 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Conceptual design of a 1-MW CW X-band transmitter for planetary radar

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bhanji, A. M.; Hoppe, D. J.; Conroy, B. L.; Freiley, A. J.

1988-01-01

A proposed conceptual design to increase the output power of an existing X-band radar transmitter used for planetary radar exploration from 365 kW to 1 MW CW is presented. The basic transmitter system requirements as dictated by the specifications for the radar are covered. The characteristics and expected performance of the high-power klystrons are considered, and the transmitter power amplifier system is described. Also included is the design of all of the associated high-power microwave components, the feed system, and the phase-stable exciter. The expected performance of the beam supply, heat exchanger, and monitor and control devices is also presented. Finally, an assessment of the state-of-the-art technology needed to meet system requirements is given and possible areas of difficulty are summarized.

Conceptual design of a 1-MW CW X-band transmitter for planetary radar

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bhanji, A. M.; Hoppe, D. J.; Conroy, B. L.; Freiley, A. J.

1990-01-01

A proposed conceptual design to increase the output power of an existing X-band planetary radar transmitter used for planetary radar exploration from 365 kW to 1 MW CW is presented. The basic transmitter system requirements as dictated by the specifications for the radar are covered. The characteristics and expected performance of the high-power klystrons are considered, and the transmitter power amplifier system is discussed. Also included is the design of all of the associated high-power microwave components, the feed system, and the phase-stable exciter. The expected performance of the beam supply, heat exchanger, and monitor and control devices is also presented. Finally, an assessment of the state-of-the-art technology needed to meet system requirements is given and possible areas of difficulty are summarized.

5 CFR 534.402 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS PAY UNDER OTHER SYSTEMS Pay and... contributions to the agency's performance. Performance expectations means the critical and other performance... § 430.303). PRB means Performance Review Board, as described in § 430.310. Rate of basic pay means the...

Exploring Midwives' Need and Intention to Adopt Electronic Integrated Antenatal Care

PubMed Central

Markam, Hosizah; Hochheiser, Harry; Kuntoro, Kuntoro; Notobroto, Hari Basuki

2018-01-01

Documentation requirements for the Indonesian integrated antenatal care (ANC) program suggest the need for electronic systems to address gaps in existing paper documentation practices. Our goals were to quantify midwives' documentation completeness in a primary healthcare center, understand documentation challenges, develop a tool, and assess intention to use the tool. We analyzed existing ANC records in a primary healthcare center in Bangkalan, East Java, and conducted interviews with stakeholders to understand needs for an electronic system in support of ANC. Development of the web-based Electronic Integrated ANC (e-iANC) system used the System Development Life Cycle method. Training on the use of the system was held in the computer laboratory for 100 midwives chosen from four primary healthcare centers in each of five regions. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) questionnaire was used to assess their intention to adopt e-iANC. The midwives' intention to adopt e-iANC was significantly influenced by performance expectancy, effort expectancy and facilitating conditions. Age, education level, and computer literacy did not significantly moderate the effects of performance expectancy and effort expectancy on adoption intention. The UTAUT results indicated that the factors that might influence intention to adopt e-iANC are potentially addressable. Results suggest that e-iANC might well be accepted by midwives. PMID:29618961

A Petaflops Era Computing Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Preston, Frank S.

1998-01-01

This report covers a study of the potential for petaflops (1O(exp 15) floating point operations per second) computing. This study was performed within the year 1996 and should be considered as the first step in an on-going effort. 'Me analysis concludes that a petaflop system is technically feasible but not feasible with today's state-of-the-art. Since the computer arena is now a commodity business, most experts expect that a petaflops system will evolve from current technology in an evolutionary fashion. To meet the price expectations of users waiting for petaflop performance, great improvements in lowering component costs will be required. Lower power consumption is also a must. The present rate of progress in improved performance places the date of introduction of petaflop systems at about 2010. Several years before that date, it is projected that the resolution limit of chips will reach the now known resolution limit. Aside from the economic problems and constraints, software is identified as the major problem. The tone of this initial study is more pessimistic than most of the Super-published material available on petaflop systems. Workers in the field are expected to generate more data which could serve to provide a basis for a more informed projection. This report includes an annotated bibliography.

Assessing performance enhancing tools: experiences with the open performance review and appraisal system (OPRAS) and expectations towards payment for performance (P4P) in the public health sector in Tanzania.

PubMed

Songstad, Nils Gunnar; Lindkvist, Ida; Moland, Karen Marie; Chimhutu, Victor; Blystad, Astrid

2012-09-10

Health workers' motivation is a key determinant of the quality of health services, and poor motivation has been found to be an obstacle to service delivery in many low-income countries. In order to increase the quality of service delivery in the public sector in Tanzania, the Open Performance Review and Appraisal System (OPRAS) has been implemented, and a new results-based payment system, Payment for performance (P4P) is introduced in the health sector. This article addresses health workers' experiences with OPRAS, expectations towards P4P and how lessons learned from OPRAS can assist in the implementation of P4P. The broader aim is to generate knowledge on health workers' motivation in low-income contexts. A qualitative study design has been employed to elicit data on health worker motivation at a general level and in relation to OPRAS and P4P in particular. Focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) have been conducted with nursing staff, clinicians and administrators in the public health sector in a rural district in Tanzania. The study has an ethnographic backdrop based on earlier long-term fieldwork in Tanzania. Health workers evaluated OPRAS and P4P in terms of the benefits experienced or expected from complying with the tools. The study found a general reluctance towards OPRAS as health workers did not see OPRAS as leading to financial gains nor did it provide feedback on performance. Great expectations were expressed towards P4P due to its prospects of topping up salaries, but the links between the two performance enhancing tools were unclear. Health workers respond to performance enhancing tools based on whether the tools are found appropriate or yield any tangible benefits. The importance placed on salary and allowances forms the setting in which OPRAS operates. The expected addition to the salary through P4P has created a vigorous discourse among health workers attesting to the importance of the salary for motivation. Lessons learned from OPRAS can be utilized in the implementation of P4P and can enhance our knowledge on motivation and performance in the health services in low-income contexts such as Tanzania.

Assessing performance enhancing tools: experiences with the open performance review and appraisal system (OPRAS) and expectations towards payment for performance (P4P) in the public health sector in Tanzania

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Health workers’ motivation is a key determinant of the quality of health services, and poor motivation has been found to be an obstacle to service delivery in many low-income countries. In order to increase the quality of service delivery in the public sector in Tanzania, the Open Performance Review and Appraisal System (OPRAS) has been implemented, and a new results-based payment system, Payment for performance (P4P) is introduced in the health sector. This article addresses health workers’ experiences with OPRAS, expectations towards P4P and how lessons learned from OPRAS can assist in the implementation of P4P. The broader aim is to generate knowledge on health workers’ motivation in low-income contexts. Methods A qualitative study design has been employed to elicit data on health worker motivation at a general level and in relation to OPRAS and P4P in particular. Focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) have been conducted with nursing staff, clinicians and administrators in the public health sector in a rural district in Tanzania. The study has an ethnographic backdrop based on earlier long-term fieldwork in Tanzania. Results Health workers evaluated OPRAS and P4P in terms of the benefits experienced or expected from complying with the tools. The study found a general reluctance towards OPRAS as health workers did not see OPRAS as leading to financial gains nor did it provide feedback on performance. Great expectations were expressed towards P4P due to its prospects of topping up salaries, but the links between the two performance enhancing tools were unclear. Conclusions Health workers respond to performance enhancing tools based on whether the tools are found appropriate or yield any tangible benefits. The importance placed on salary and allowances forms the setting in which OPRAS operates. The expected addition to the salary through P4P has created a vigorous discourse among health workers attesting to the importance of the salary for motivation. Lessons learned from OPRAS can be utilized in the implementation of P4P and can enhance our knowledge on motivation and performance in the health services in low-income contexts such as Tanzania. PMID:22963317

Efficiency of health care system at the sub-state level in Madhya Pradesh, India.

PubMed

Purohit, Brijesh C

2010-01-01

This paper attempts a sub-state-level analysis of health system for a low-income Indian state, namely, Madhya Pradesh. The objective of our study is to establish efficiency parameters that may help health policy makers to improve district-level and thus state-level health system performance. It provides an idealized yardstick to evaluate the performance of the health sector by using stochastic frontier technique. The study was carried out in two stages of estimation, and our results suggest that life expectancy in the Indian state could be enhanced considerably by correcting the factors that are adversely influencing sub-state-level health system efficiency. Our results indicate that main factors within the health system for discrepancy in interdistrict performance are inequitable distribution of supplies, availability of skilled attention at birth, and inadequate staffing relative to patient load of rural population at primary health centers. Overcoming these factors through additional resources in the deficient districts, mobilized partly from grants in aid and partly from patient welfare societies, may help the state to improve life expectancy speedily and more equitably. Besides the direct inputs from the health sector, a more conducive environment for gender development, reducing inequality in opportunities for women in health, education and other rights may provide the necessary impetus towards reducing maternal morbidity and mortality and add to overall life expectancy in the state.

Supporting Technology Integration within a Teacher Education System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schaffer, Scott P.; Richardson, Jennifer C.

2004-01-01

The purpose of this case study was to examine a teacher education system relative to the degree of performance support for the use of technology to support learning. Performance support was measured by the presence of factors such as clear expectations, feedback, tools, rewards, incentives, motivation, capacity, skills, and knowledge within the…

Outcomes for youth residential treatment programs using administrative data from the child welfare system: a risk-adjustment application.

PubMed

McMillen, J Curtis; Lee, Bethany R; Jonson-Reid, Melissa

2008-05-01

This study assessed whether administrative data from the public child welfare system could be used to develop risk-adjusted performance reports for residential mental health programs for adolescents. Regression methods were used with 3,759 residential treatment spells for 2,784 children and youth to determine which outcomes could be adequately risk adjusted for case mix. Expected outcomes were created for each residential program given its case mix; then, expected and achieved outcomes were compared. For most programs, achieved results did not differ significantly from expected results for individual outcomes. Overall, outcomes achieved were not impressive. Only one quarter of spells resulted in a youth being maintained in a single less restrictive setting in the year following discharge. Methodological implications of this study suggest further refinements are needed for child welfare administrative data in order to develop risk-adjusted report cards of program performance.

Summary of EM launcher experiments performed at LLNL

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hawke, R. S.; Nellis, W. J.; Newman, G. H.; Rego, J.; Susoeff, A. R.

1986-11-01

Performance results for three railguns are summarized. The system used a helium gas-driven injector and railgun launcher to accelerate 1- and 4-g polycarbonate projectiles intact up to 6.6 and 3.0 km/sc, respectively. A 625 kJ capacitor bank powered the railgun, and an adjustable inductor provided pulse shaping and peak current control. Operation in hard and soft vacuum was reliably achieved. The diagnostic system measured the projectile position and launch velocity, verified that the projectile was launched intact in the desired direction, and identified system components where improvements could enhance performance. Flash X-ray radiography measured velocity and verified that projectiles were intact. Pre-launch projectile travel along the axis of the launcher without tilt was recorded with flash radiographs and impact impressions or holes in witness plates. The sysem performed as expected up to 4-5 km/sec but below expectations at higher velocities. Diagnostics suggest that the decreased performance was probably cuased by the restriking of a second arc in the breech of the railgun, which shunted the current from the propulsive arc.

Evaluating the influence of perceived organizational learning capability on user acceptance of information technology among operating room nurse staff.

PubMed

Lee, Chien-Ching; Lin, Shih-Pin; Yang, Shu-Ling; Tsou, Mei-Yung; Chang, Kuang-Yi

2013-03-01

Medical institutions are eager to introduce new information technology to improve patient safety and clinical efficiency. However, the acceptance of new information technology by medical personnel plays a key role in its adoption and application. This study aims to investigate whether perceived organizational learning capability (OLC) is associated with user acceptance of information technology among operating room nurse staff. Nurse anesthetists and operating room nurses were recruited in this questionnaire survey. A pilot study was performed to ensure the reliability and validity of the translated questionnaire, which consisted of 14 items from the four dimensions of OLC, and 16 items from the four constructs of user acceptance of information technology, including performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and behavioral intention. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied in the main survey to evaluate the construct validity of the questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothetical relationships between the four dimensions of user acceptance of information technology and the second-ordered OLC. Goodness of fit of the hypothetic model was also assessed. Performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence positively influenced behavioral intention of users of the clinical information system (all p < 0.001) and accounted for 75% of its variation. The second-ordered OLC was positively associated with performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence (all p < 0.001). However, the hypothetic relationship between perceived OLC and behavioral intention was not significant (p = 0.87). The fit statistical analysis indicated reasonable model fit to data (root mean square error of approximation = 0.07 and comparative fit index = 0.91). Perceived OLC indirectly affects user behavioral intention through the mediation of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence in the operating room setting. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V.

? filtering for stochastic systems driven by Poisson processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Bo; Wu, Zheng-Guang; Park, Ju H.; Shi, Guodong; Zhang, Ya

2015-01-01

This paper investigates the ? filtering problem for stochastic systems driven by Poisson processes. By utilising the martingale theory such as the predictable projection operator and the dual predictable projection operator, this paper transforms the expectation of stochastic integral with respect to the Poisson process into the expectation of Lebesgue integral. Then, based on this, this paper designs an ? filter such that the filtering error system is mean-square asymptotically stable and satisfies a prescribed ? performance level. Finally, a simulation example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed filtering scheme.

Data Visualization in Public Education: Longitudinal Student-, Intervention-, School-, and District-Level Performance Modeling

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lacefield, Warren E.; Applegate, E. Brooks

2018-01-01

Accountability seems forever engrained into the K-12 environment, as has been the expectation of delivering quality education to school aged children and adolescents. Yet, repeated failure of this expectation has focused the public's and policy maker's attention on the limitations of major accountability systems. This paper explores applications…

Factors Influencing Students' Adoption of E-Learning: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tarhini, Ali; Masa'deh, Ra'ed; Al-Busaidi, Kamla Ali; Mohammed, Ashraf Bany; Maqableh, Mahmoud

2017-01-01

Purpose: This research aims to examine the factors that may hinder or enable the adoption of e-learning systems by university students. Design/methodology/approach: A conceptual framework was developed through extending the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, hedonic motivation, habit,…

Recent Photovoltaic Performance Data in the USA (Presentation)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jordan, D.

2014-03-01

This paper presents performance data from nearly 50,000 Photovoltaic systems totaling 1.7 Gigawatts installed capacity in the USA from 2009 to 2012. 90% of the systems performed to within 10% or better of expected performance. Only 2-4% of the data indicate issues significantly affecting the system performance. Special causes of underperformance and their impacts are delineated by reliability category. Delays and interconnections dominate project-related issues particularly in the first year, but total less than 0.5% of all systems. Hardware-related issues are dominated by inverter problems totaling less than 0.4% and underperforming modules to less than 0.1%.

Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) Facility Stewardship Plan: Revision 2.1

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Torres, Juan; Anderson, Art

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), has established the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) on the campus of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and has designated it as a DOE user facility. This 182,500-ft2 research facility provides state-of-the-art laboratory and support infrastructure to optimize the design and performance of electrical, thermal, fuel, and information technologies and systems at scale. This Facility Stewardship Plan provides DOE and other decision makers with information about the existing and expected capabilities of the ESIF and the expected performance metrics to be applied to ESIF operations.more » This plan is a living document that will be updated and refined throughout the lifetime of the facility.« less

The Segmented Aperture Interferometric Nulling Testbed (SAINT) I: Overview and Air-side System Description

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hicks, Brian A.; Lyon, Richard G.; Petrone, Peter, III; Bolcar, Matthew R.; Bolognese, Jeff; Clampin, Mark; Dogoda, Peter; Dworzanski, Daniel; Helmbrecht, Michael A.; Koca, Corina;

10 CFR 50.73 - Licensee event report system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... plant design; or (2) Normal and expected wear or degradation. (x) Any event that posed an actual threat... discovery of each component or system failure or procedural error. (J) For each human performance related...

Delta launch vehicle inertial guidance system (DIGS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duck, K. I.

1973-01-01

The Delta inertial guidance system, part of the Delta launch vehicle improvement effort, has been flown on three launches and was found to perform as expected for a variety of mission profiles and vehicle configurations.

Evaluation of New Jersey Route 18 OPAC/MIST traffic-control system

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-01-01

Conventional traffic-control strategies have limitations in handling unanticipated traffic demands. An adaptive traffic-signal control is expected to mitigate this problem and improve overall system performance. Furthermore, with the increasing needs...

The Role of Expectations in Game-Based Training.

PubMed

Kreutzer, Christine; Bowers, Clint

2015-01-01

The present work seeks to examine the importance of expectancies in computer-mediated treatment and training programs. Two studies examining the role of patient and trainee expectations are presented. Study 1 investigated how expectations of a training game for military surgical teams influence training performance outcomes. The findings have implications for the administration of game-based treatment and training systems. Study 2 explored how pre-treatment expectancies influence post-treatment reactions to a game-based intervention for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Results indicate that self-efficacy plays a mediating role in the relationship between expectancies and reactions. Together, these studies offer implications regarding the critical role of attitudes towards game-based training and treatment mechanisms.

Treating Chronically Ill Diabetic Patients with Limited Life Expectancy: Implications for Performance Measurement

PubMed Central

Woodard, LeChauncy D.; Landrum, Cassie R.; Urech, Tracy H.; Profit, Jochen; Virani, Salim S.; Petersen, Laura A.

2012-01-01

Background/Objectives To validly assess quality-of-care differences among providers, performance measurement programs must reliably identify and exclude patients for whom the quality indicator may not be desirable, including those with limited life expectancy. We developed an algorithm to identify patients with limited life expectancy and examined the impact of limited life expectancy on glycemic control and treatment intensification among diabetic patients. Design We identified diabetic patients with coexisting congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia, end-stage liver disease, and/or primary/metastatic cancers with limited life expectancy. To validate our algorithm, we assessed 5-year mortality among patients identified as having limited life expectancy. We compared rates of meeting performance measures for glycemic control between patients with and without limited life expectancy. Among uncontrolled patients, we examined the impact of limited life expectancy on treatment intensification within 90 days. Setting 110 Veterans Administration facilities; October 2006 – September 2007 Participants 888,628 diabetic patients Measurements Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) <9%; treatment intensification within 90 days Results 29,016 (3%) patients had limited life expectancy. Adjusting for age, 5-year mortality was 5 times higher among patients with limited life expectancy than those without. Patients with limited life expectancy had poorer glycemic control (77.1% vs. 78.1%) and less frequent treatment intensification (20.9% vs. 28.6%) than patients without, even after controlling for patient-level characteristics (odds ratio [OR]=0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.81-0.86 and OR=0.71; 95% CI=0.67-0.76, respectively). Conclusion Patients with limited life expectancy were slightly, but significantly less likely than those without to have HbA1c levels controlled and to receive treatment intensification, suggesting that providers treat these patients less aggressively. Quality measurement and performance-based reimbursement systems should acknowledge the different needs of this population. PMID:22260627

Weighing the Merits. Several States Are implementing Pay-for-Performance Plans

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCabe, Melissa

2005-01-01

Some 37.1 percent of education spending was earmarked for teachers in 2001-02, according to the American Federation of Teachers, and most of that money was paid out using traditional compensation systems. But as expectations for accountability increase, a handful of states are looking to pay-for-performance systems to attract quality…

Drag-Free Performance of the ST7 Disturbance Reduction System Flight Experiment on the LISA Pathfinder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maghami, Peiman; O'Donnell, James, Jr.; Hsu, Oscar; Ziemer, John; Dunn, Charles

2017-01-01

The Space Technology-7 Disturbance Reduction System (DRS) is an experiment package aboard the European Space Agency (ESA) LISA Pathfinder spacecraft. LISA Pathfinder launched from Kourou, French Guiana on December 3, 2015. The DRS is tasked to validate two specific technologies: colloidal micro-Newton thrusters (CMNT) to provide low-noise control capability of the spacecraft, and drag-free control flight. This validation is performed using highly sensitive drag-free sensors, which are provided by the LISA Technology Package of the European Space Agency. The Disturbance Reduction System is required to maintain the spacecrafts position with respect to a free-floating test mass to better than 10nmHz, along its sensitive axis (axis in optical metrology). It also has a goal of limiting the residual accelerations of any of the two test masses to below 30 (1 + [f3 mHz]) fmsHz, over the frequency range of 1 to 30 mHz.This paper briefly describes the design and the expected on-orbit performance of the control system for the two modes wherein the drag-free performance requirements are verified. The on-orbit performance of these modes are then compared to the requirements, as well as to the expected performance, and discussed.

Model Test of Proposed Loading Rates for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems

EPA Science Inventory

State regulatory agencies set standards for onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS), commonly known as septic systems, based on expected hydraulic performance and nitrogen (N) treatment in soils of differing texture. In a previous study, hydraulic loading rates were proposed fo...

Performance Accountability and the Community College: Using Institutional Performance to Determine Faculty Salaries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Douglas A.; Tran, Henry

2016-01-01

Performance accountability systems are increasingly utilized by state legislatures to hold community colleges more accountable for student outcomes and responsible spending through the linking of state funding to specific outputs. Through these actions, it is reasonable expect an emphasis on institutional performance to permeate into a community…

Analysis of space telescope data collection system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ingels, F. M.; Schoggen, W. O.

1982-01-01

An analysis of the expected performance for the Multiple Access (MA) system is provided. The analysis covers the expected bit error rate performance, the effects of synchronization loss, the problem of self-interference, and the problem of phase ambiguity. The problem of false acceptance of a command word due to data inversion is discussed. A mathematical determination of the probability of accepting an erroneous command word due to a data inversion is presented. The problem is examined for three cases: (1) a data inversion only, (2) a data inversion and a random error within the same command word, and a block (up to 256 48-bit words) containing both a data inversion and a random error.

Parametric Evaluation of Interstellar Exploration Mission Concepts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adams, Robert B.

2017-01-01

One persistent difficulty in evaluating the myriad advanced propulsion concepts proposed over the last 60 years is a true apples to apples comparison of the expected gain in performance. This analysis is complicated by numerous factors including, multiple missions of interest to the advanced propulsion community, the lack of a credible closed form solution to 'medium thrust' trajectories, and lack of detailed design data for most proposed concepts that lend credibility to engine performance estimates. This paper describes a process on how to make fair comparisons of different propulsion concepts for multiple missions over a wide range of performance values. The figure below illustrates this process. This paper describes in detail the process and outlines the status so far in compiling the required data. Parametric data for several missions are calculated and plotted against specific power-specific impulse scatter plots of expected propulsion system performance. The overlay between required performance as defined by the trajectory parametrics and expected performance as defined in the literature for major categories of propulsion systems clearly defines which propulsion systems are the most apt for a given mission. The application of the Buckingham Pi theorem to general parameters for interstellar exploration ( mission time, mass, specific impulse, specific power, distance, propulsion source energy/mass, etc.) yields a number of dimensionless variables. The relationships of these variables can then be explored before application to a particular mission. Like in the fields of fluid mechanics and heat transfer, the use of the Buckingham Pi theorem results in new variables to make apples to apples comparisons.

Design and expected performance of a fast neutron attenuation probe for light element density measurements

DOE PAGES

Sweany, M.; Marleau, P.

2016-07-08

In this paper, we present the design and expected performance of a proof-of-concept 32 channel material identification system. Our system is based on the energy-dependent attenuation of fast neutrons for four elements: hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen. We describe a new approach to obtaining a broad range of neutron energies to probe a sample, as well as our technique for reconstructing the molar densities within a sample. The system's performance as a function of time-of-flight energy resolution is explored using a Geant4-based Monte Carlo. Our results indicate that, with the expected detector response of our system, we will be ablemore » to determine the molar density of all four elements to within a 20–30% accuracy in a two hour scan time. In many cases this error is systematically low, thus the ratio between elements is more accurate. This degree of accuracy is enough to distinguish, for example, a sample of water from a sample of pure hydrogen peroxide: the ratio of oxygen to hydrogen is reconstructed to within 8±0.5% of the true value. Lastly, with future algorithm development that accounts for backgrounds caused by scattering within the sample itself, the accuracy of molar densities, not ratios, may improve to the 5–10% level for a two hour scan time.« less

5 CFR 430.301 - General.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... systems that hold senior executives accountable for their individual and organizational performance in order to improve the overall performance of Government by— (1) Expecting excellence in senior executive... and Results Act of 1993; (3) Setting and communicating individual and organizational goals and...

5 CFR 430.301 - General.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... systems that hold senior executives accountable for their individual and organizational performance in order to improve the overall performance of Government by— (1) Expecting excellence in senior executive... and Results Act of 1993; (3) Setting and communicating individual and organizational goals and...

Assessing park-and-ride impacts.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-06-01

Efficient transportation systems are vital to quality-of-life and mobility issues, and an effective park-and-ride (P&R) : network can help maximize system performance. Properly placed P&R facilities are expected to result in fewer calls : to increase...

Optimizing performance through intrinsic motivation and attention for learning: The OPTIMAL theory of motor learning.

PubMed

Wulf, Gabriele; Lewthwaite, Rebecca

2016-10-01

Effective motor performance is important for surviving and thriving, and skilled movement is critical in many activities. Much theorizing over the past few decades has focused on how certain practice conditions affect the processing of task-related information to affect learning. Yet, existing theoretical perspectives do not accommodate significant recent lines of evidence demonstrating motivational and attentional effects on performance and learning. These include research on (a) conditions that enhance expectancies for future performance, (b) variables that influence learners' autonomy, and (c) an external focus of attention on the intended movement effect. We propose the OPTIMAL (Optimizing Performance through Intrinsic Motivation and Attention for Learning) theory of motor learning. We suggest that motivational and attentional factors contribute to performance and learning by strengthening the coupling of goals to actions. We provide explanations for the performance and learning advantages of these variables on psychological and neuroscientific grounds. We describe a plausible mechanism for expectancy effects rooted in responses of dopamine to the anticipation of positive experience and temporally associated with skill practice. Learner autonomy acts perhaps largely through an enhanced expectancy pathway. Furthermore, we consider the influence of an external focus for the establishment of efficient functional connections across brain networks that subserve skilled movement. We speculate that enhanced expectancies and an external focus propel performers' cognitive and motor systems in productive "forward" directions and prevent "backsliding" into self- and non-task focused states. Expected success presumably breeds further success and helps consolidate memories. We discuss practical implications and future research directions.

Microwave scanning beam landing system compatibility and performance: Engineering analyses 75-1 and 75-2. [space shuttle orbiter landing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1977-01-01

The microwave scanning beam landing system (MSBLS) is the primary position sensor of the Orbiter's navigation subsystem during the autoland phase of the flight. Portions of the system are discussed with special emphasis placed on potential problem areas as referenced to the Orbiter's mission. Topics discussed include system compatability, system accuracy, and expected RF signal levels. A block and flow diagram of MSBLS system operation is included with a list of special tests required to determine system performance.

Requirements for future automotive batteries - a snapshot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karden, Eckhard; Shinn, Paul; Bostock, Paul; Cunningham, James; Schoultz, Evan; Kok, Daniel

Introduction of new fuel economy, performance, safety, and comfort features in future automobiles will bring up many new, power-hungry electrical systems. As a consequence, demands on automotive batteries will grow substantially, e.g. regarding reliability, energy throughput (shallow-cycle life), charge acceptance, and high-rate partial state-of-charge (HRPSOC) operation. As higher voltage levels are mostly not an economically feasible alternative for the short term, the existing 14 V electrical system will have to fulfil these new demands, utilizing advanced 12 V energy storage devices. The well-established lead-acid battery technology is expected to keep playing a key role in this application. Compared to traditional starting-lighting-ignition (SLI) batteries, significant technological progress has been achieved or can be expected, which improve both performance and service life. System integration of the storage device into the vehicle will become increasingly important. Battery monitoring systems (BMS) are expected to become a commodity, penetrating the automotive volume market from both highly equipped premium cars and dedicated fuel-economy vehicles (e.g. stop/start). Battery monitoring systems will allow for more aggressive battery operating strategies, at the same time improving the reliability of the power supply system. Where a single lead-acid battery cannot fulfil the increasing demands, dual-storage systems may form a cost-efficient extension. They consist either of two lead-acid batteries or of a lead-acid battery plus another storage device.

Educational Adequacy: Building an Adequate School Finance System.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Conference of State Legislatures, Denver, CO.

This report suggests a framework for approaching and integrating adequacy as a cornerstone principle in developing a sound state school finance system. The text defines student performance-centered expectations for the education system and suggests that districts determine the educational capacity needed to allow each student reasonable…

Analysis of a spatial tracking subsystem for optical communications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Win, Moe Z.; Chen, CHIEN-C.

1992-01-01

Spatial tracking plays a very critical role in designing optical communication systems because of the small angular beamwidth associated with the optical signal. One possible solution for spatial tracking is to use a nutating mirror which dithers the incoming beam at a rate much higher than the mechanical disturbances. A power detector then senses the change in detected power as the signal is reflected off the nutating mirror. This signal is then correlated with the nutator driver signals to obtain estimates of the azimuth and elevation tracking signals to control the fast scanning mirrors. A theoretical analysis is performed for a spatial tracking system using a nutator disturbed by shot noise and mechanical vibrations. Contributions of shot noise and mechanical vibrations to the total tracking error variance are derived. Given the vibration spectrum and the expected signal power, there exists an optimal amplitude for the nutation which optimizes the receiver performance. The expected performance of a nutator based system is estimated based on the choice of nutation amplitude.

Attitude control system conceptual design for the GOES-N spacecraft series

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Markley, F. L.; Bauer, F. H.; Deily, J. J.; Femiano, M. D.

1991-01-01

The attitude determination sensing and processing of the system are considered, and inertial reference units, star trackers, and beacons and landmarks are discussed as well as an extended Kalman filter and expected attitude-determination performance. The baseline controller is overviewed, and a spacecraft motion compensation (SMC) algorithm, disturbance environment, and SMC performance expectations are covered. Detailed simulation results are presented, and emphasis is placed on dynamic models, attitude estimation and control, and SMC disturbance accommmodation. It is shown that the attitude control system employing gyro/star tracker sensing and active three-axis control with reaction wheels is capable of maintaining attitude errors of 1.7 microrad or less on all axes in the absence of attitude disturbances, and that the sensor line-of-sight pointing errors can be reduced to 0.1 microrad by SMC.

The First Korean Experience of Telemanipulative Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Using the da Vinci System

PubMed Central

Kang, Chang Moo; Chi, Hoon Sang; Hyeung, Woo Jin; Kim, Kyung Sik; Choi, Jin Sub; Kim, Byong Ro

2007-01-01

With the advancement of laparoscopic instruments and computer sciences, complex surgical procedures are expected to be safely performed by robot assisted telemanipulative laparoscopic surgery. The da Vinci system (Intuitive Surgical, Mountain View, CA, USA) became available at the many surgical fields. The wrist like movements of the instrument's tip, as well as 3-dimensional vision, could be expected to facilitate more complex laparoscopic procedure. Here, we present the first Korean experience of da Vinci robotic assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy and discuss the introduction and perspectives of this robotic system. PMID:17594166

DSN 70-meter antenna microwave optics design and performance improvements. Part 1: Design optimization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bathker, D. A.; Slobin, S. D.

1989-01-01

The design optimizations associated with the microwave and structural upgrade of the DSN 64-m antennas are discussed. Expected area efficiency/gain performances at S- and X-band are given for both the original 64-m systems and the upgraded 70-m systems, and error estimates are developed. The DSN 70-m Upgrade Project specifications, based on predesign estimates, were 1.4-dB gain at S-band and 1.9-dB at X-band, with no degradation to critical receiving system noise temperatures. The measurements show an S-band gain increase of 1.9 dB and an average increase of 2.1 dB at X-band. The Project also delivered small receiving system noise decreases at both frequency bands. The three DSN 70-m antennas, in the initial state of mechanical adjustment as of the end of calendar year 1988, are performing with very high peak microwave area efficiencies at very nearly the engineering design expectations of 76 percent at S-band and 71 percent at X-band.

Computation of optimal output-feedback compensators for linear time-invariant systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Platzman, L. K.

1972-01-01

The control of linear time-invariant systems with respect to a quadratic performance criterion was considered, subject to the constraint that the control vector be a constant linear transformation of the output vector. The optimal feedback matrix, f*, was selected to optimize the expected performance, given the covariance of the initial state. It is first shown that the expected performance criterion can be expressed as the ratio of two multinomials in the element of f. This expression provides the basis for a feasible method of determining f* in the case of single-input single-output systems. A number of iterative algorithms are then proposed for the calculation of f* for multiple input-output systems. For two of these, monotone convergence is proved, but they involve the solution of nonlinear matrix equations at each iteration. Another is proposed involving the solution of Lyapunov equations at each iteration, and the gradual increase of the magnitude of a penalty function. Experience with this algorithm will be needed to determine whether or not it does, indeed, possess desirable convergence properties, and whether it can be used to determine the globally optimal f*.

Methodology on Investigating the Influences of Automated Material Handling System in Automotive Assembly Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saffar, Seha; Azni Jafar, Fairul; Jamaludin, Zamberi

2016-02-01

A case study was selected as a method to collect data in actual industry situation. The study aimed to assess the influences of automated material handling system in automotive industry by proposing a new design of integration system through simulation, and analyze the significant effect and influence of the system. The method approach tool will be CAD Software (Delmia & Quest). The process of preliminary data gathering in phase 1 will collect all data related from actual industry situation. It is expected to produce a guideline and limitation in designing a new integration system later. In phase 2, an idea or concept of design will be done by using 10 principles of design consideration for manufacturing. A full factorial design will be used as design of experiment in order to analyze the performance measured of the integration system with the current system in case study. From the result of the experiment, an ANOVA analysis will be done to study the performance measured. Thus, it is expected that influences can be seen from the improvement made in the system.

Expected Navigation Flight Performance for the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Olson, Corwin; Wright, Cinnamon; Long, Anne

2012-01-01

The Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission consists of four formation-flying spacecraft placed in highly eccentric elliptical orbits about the Earth. The primary scientific mission objective is to study magnetic reconnection within the Earth s magnetosphere. The baseline navigation concept is the independent estimation of each spacecraft state using GPS pseudorange measurements (referenced to an onboard Ultra Stable Oscillator) and accelerometer measurements during maneuvers. State estimation for the MMS spacecraft is performed onboard each vehicle using the Goddard Enhanced Onboard Navigation System, which is embedded in the Navigator GPS receiver. This paper describes the latest efforts to characterize expected navigation flight performance using upgraded simulation models derived from recent analyses.

Space Station Freedom Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) phase 3 simplified integrated test trace contaminant control subsystem performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Perry, J. L.

1990-01-01

Space Station Freedom environmental control and life support system testing has been conducted at Marshall Space Flight Center since 1986. The phase 3 simplified integrated test (SIT) conducted from July 30, 1989, through August 11, 1989, tested an integrated air revitalization system. During this test, the trace contaminant control subsystem (TCCS) was directly integrated with the bleed stream from the carbon dioxide reduction subsystem. The TCCS performed as expected with minor anomalies. The test set the basis for further characterizing the TCCS performance as part of advance air revitalization system configurations.

A Procedure for Measuring Latencies in Brain-Computer Interfaces

PubMed Central

Wilson, J. Adam; Mellinger, Jürgen; Schalk, Gerwin; Williams, Justin

2011-01-01

Brain-computer interface (BCI) systems must process neural signals with consistent timing in order to support adequate system performance. Thus, it is important to have the capability to determine whether a particular BCI configuration (i.e., hardware, software) provides adequate timing performance for a particular experiment. This report presents a method of measuring and quantifying different aspects of system timing in several typical BCI experiments across a range of settings, and presents comprehensive measures of expected overall system latency for each experimental configuration. PMID:20403781

Problem reporting management system performance simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vannatta, David S.

1993-01-01

This paper proposes the Problem Reporting Management System (PRMS) model as an effective discrete simulation tool that determines the risks involved during the development phase of a Trouble Tracking Reporting Data Base replacement system. The model considers the type of equipment and networks which will be used in the replacement system as well as varying user loads, size of the database, and expected operational availability. The paper discusses the dynamics, stability, and application of the PRMS and addresses suggested concepts to enhance the service performance and enrich them.

In-flight propulsion system characterization for both Mars Exploration Rover Spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barber, Todd J.; Picha, Frank Q.

2004-01-01

Two Mars Exploration Rover spacecraft were dispensed to red planet in 2003, culminating in a phenomenally successful prime science mission. Twin cruise stage propulsion systems were developed in record time, largely through heritage with Mars Pathfinder. As expected, consumable usage was minimal during the short seven-month cruise for both spacecraft. Propellant usage models based on pressure and temperature agreed with throughput models with in a few percent. Trajectory correction maneuver performance was nominal, allowing the cancellation of near-Mars maneuvers. Spin thruster delivered impulse was 10-12% high vs. ground based models for the intial spin-down maneuvers, while turn performance was XX-XX% high/low vs. expectations. No clear indications for pressure transducer drift were noted during the brief MER missions.

A generic methodology for the optimisation of sewer systems using stochastic programming and self-optimizing control.

PubMed

Mauricio-Iglesias, Miguel; Montero-Castro, Ignacio; Mollerup, Ane L; Sin, Gürkan

2015-05-15

The design of sewer system control is a complex task given the large size of the sewer networks, the transient dynamics of the water flow and the stochastic nature of rainfall. This contribution presents a generic methodology for the design of a self-optimising controller in sewer systems. Such controller is aimed at keeping the system close to the optimal performance, thanks to an optimal selection of controlled variables. The definition of an optimal performance was carried out by a two-stage optimisation (stochastic and deterministic) to take into account both the overflow during the current rain event as well as the expected overflow given the probability of a future rain event. The methodology is successfully applied to design an optimising control strategy for a subcatchment area in Copenhagen. The results are promising and expected to contribute to the advance of the operation and control problem of sewer systems. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Weather-Corrected Performance Ratio

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dierauf, T.; Growitz, A.; Kurtz, S.

Photovoltaic (PV) system performance depends on both the quality of the system and the weather. One simple way to communicate the system performance is to use the performance ratio (PR): the ratio of the electricity generated to the electricity that would have been generated if the plant consistently converted sunlight to electricity at the level expected from the DC nameplate rating. The annual system yield for flat-plate PV systems is estimated by the product of the annual insolation in the plane of the array, the nameplate rating of the system, and the PR, which provides an attractive way to estimatemore » expected annual system yield. Unfortunately, the PR is, again, a function of both the PV system efficiency and the weather. If the PR is measured during the winter or during the summer, substantially different values may be obtained, making this metric insufficient to use as the basis for a performance guarantee when precise confidence intervals are required. This technical report defines a way to modify the PR calculation to neutralize biases that may be introduced by variations in the weather, while still reporting a PR that reflects the annual PR at that site given the project design and the project weather file. This resulting weather-corrected PR gives more consistent results throughout the year, enabling its use as a metric for performance guarantees while still retaining the familiarity this metric brings to the industry and the value of its use in predicting actual annual system yield. A testing protocol is also presented to illustrate the use of this new metric with the intent of providing a reference starting point for contractual content.« less

Using online surveys and Facebook ads to solicit customer feedback : research summary.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-03-01

The Missouri Department of Transportation : (MoDOT) developed the Tracker system to : assess agency performance in pursuit of its : mission to provide a world-class transportation : system that delights our customers. MoDOT : customers expect t...

A Second Look at "School-Life Expectancy"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barakat, Bilal Fouad

2012-01-01

The number of years a child of school-entry age can expect to remain in school is of great interest both as a measure of individual human capital and of the performance of an education system. An approximate indicator of this concept is the sum of age-specific enrolment rates. The relatively low data demands of this indicator that are feasible to…

A Framework for Dimensioning VDL-2 Air-Ground Networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ribeiro, Leila Z.; Monticone, Leone C.; Snow, Richard E.; Box, Frank; Apaza, Rafel; Bretmersky, Steven

2014-01-01

This paper describes a framework developed at MITRE for dimensioning a Very High Frequency (VHF) Digital Link Mode 2 (VDL-2) Air-to-Ground network. This framework was developed to support the FAA's Data Communications (Data Comm) program by providing estimates of expected capacity required for the air-ground network services that will support Controller-Pilot-Data-Link Communications (CPDLC), as well as the spectrum needed to operate the system at required levels of performance. The Data Comm program is part of the FAA's NextGen initiative to implement advanced communication capabilities in the National Airspace System (NAS). The first component of the framework is the radio-frequency (RF) coverage design for the network ground stations. Then we proceed to describe the approach used to assess the aircraft geographical distribution and the data traffic demand expected in the network. The next step is the resource allocation utilizing optimization algorithms developed in MITRE's Spectrum ProspectorTM tool to propose frequency assignment solutions, and a NASA-developed VDL-2 tool to perform simulations and determine whether a proposed plan meets the desired performance requirements. The framework presented is capable of providing quantitative estimates of multiple variables related to the air-ground network, in order to satisfy established coverage, capacity and latency performance requirements. Outputs include: coverage provided at different altitudes; data capacity required in the network, aggregated or on a per ground station basis; spectrum (pool of frequencies) needed for the system to meet a target performance; optimized frequency plan for a given scenario; expected performance given spectrum available; and, estimates of throughput distributions for a given scenario. We conclude with a discussion aimed at providing insight into the tradeoffs and challenges identified with respect to radio resource management for VDL-2 air-ground networks.

Drag-Free Performance of the ST7 Disturbance Reduction System Flight Experiment on the LISA Pathfinder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maghami, Peiman G.; O'Donnell, James R.; Hsu, Oscar H.; Ziemer, John K.; Dunn, Charles E.

2017-01-01

The Space Technology-7 Disturbance Reduction System (DRS) is an experiment package aboard the European Space Agency (ESA) LISA Pathfinder spacecraft. LISA Pathfinder launched from Kourou, French Guiana on December 3, 2015. The DRS is tasked to validate two specific technologies: colloidal micro-Newton thrusters (CMNT) to provide low-noise control capability of the spacecraft, and drag-free controlflight. This validation is performed using highly sensitive drag-free sensors, which are provided by the LISA Technology Package of the European Space Agency. The Disturbance Reduction System is required to maintain the spacecrafts position with respect to a free-floating test mass to better than 10nm/(square root of Hz), along its sensitive axis (axis in optical metrology). It also has a goal of limiting the residual accelerations of any of the two test masses to below 30 x 10(exp -14) (1 + ([f/3 mHz](exp 2))) m/sq s/(square root of Hz), over the frequency range of 1 to 30 mHz.This paper briefly describes the design and the expected on-orbit performance of the control system for the two modes wherein the drag-free performance requirements are verified. The on-orbit performance of these modes are then compared to the requirements, as well as to the expected performance, and discussed.

Identification of sea ice types in spaceborne synthetic aperture radar data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kwok, Ronald; Rignot, Eric; Holt, Benjamin; Onstott, R.

1992-01-01

This study presents an approach for identification of sea ice types in spaceborne SAR image data. The unsupervised classification approach involves cluster analysis for segmentation of the image data followed by cluster labeling based on previously defined look-up tables containing the expected backscatter signatures of different ice types measured by a land-based scatterometer. Extensive scatterometer observations and experience accumulated in field campaigns during the last 10 yr were used to construct these look-up tables. The classification approach, its expected performance, the dependence of this performance on radar system performance, and expected ice scattering characteristics are discussed. Results using both aircraft and simulated ERS-1 SAR data are presented and compared to limited field ice property measurements and coincident passive microwave imagery. The importance of an integrated postlaunch program for the validation and improvement of this approach is discussed.

System-of-Systems Governance: New Patterns of Thought

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-10-01

Administrative Agent ESC/XPK 5 Eglin Street Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-2100 The ideas and findings in this report should not be construed as an...collaboration and authority, (2) motivation and accountability, (3) multiple models, (4) expectation of evolution, ( 5 ) highly fluid processes, and (6...executives • a mechanism to deliver value, manage performance, and mitigate risk • a method to assign accountability for decisions and performance

40 CFR 197.14 - What is a reasonable expectation?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... PROTECTION PROGRAMS PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION PROTECTION STANDARDS FOR YUCCA MOUNTAIN, NEVADA... projections of the performance of the Yucca Mountain disposal system; (c) Does not exclude important... degree of confidence; and (d) Focuses performance assessments and analyses upon the full range of...

Computer assisted performance tests of the Lyman Alpha Coronagraph

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parkinson, W. H.; Kohl, J. L.

1979-01-01

Preflight calibration and performance tests of the Lyman Alpha Coronagraph rocket instrument in the laboratory, with the experiment in its flight configuration and illumination levels near those expected during flight were successfully carried out using a pulse code modulation telemetry system simulator interfaced in real time to a PDP 11/10 computer system. Post acquisition data reduction programs developed and implemented on the same computer system aided in the interpretation of test and calibration data.

Performance of an Automated-Mixed-Traffic-Vehicle /AMTV/ System. [urban people mover

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Peng, T. K. C.; Chon, K.

1978-01-01

This study analyzes the operation and evaluates the expected performance of a proposed automatic guideway transit system which uses low-speed Automated Mixed Traffic Vehicles (AMTV's). Vehicle scheduling and headway control policies are evaluated with a transit system simulation model. The effect of mixed-traffic interference on the average vehicle speed is examined with a vehicle-pedestrian interface model. Control parameters regulating vehicle speed are evaluated for safe stopping and passenger comfort.

Altitude deviations: Breakdowns of an error-tolerant system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palmer, Everett A.; Hutchins, Edwin L.; Ritter, Richard D.; Vancleemput, Inge

1993-01-01

Pilot reports of aviation incidents to the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) provide a window on the problems occurring in today's airline cockpits. The narratives of 10 pilot reports of errors made in the automation-assisted altitude-change task are used to illustrate some of the issues of pilots interacting with automatic systems. These narratives are then used to construct a description of the cockpit as an information processing system. The analysis concentrates on the error-tolerant properties of the system and on how breakdowns can occasionally occur. An error-tolerant system can detect and correct its internal processing errors. The cockpit system consists of two or three pilots supported by autoflight, flight-management, and alerting systems. These humans and machines have distributed access to clearance information and perform redundant processing of information. Errors can be detected as deviations from either expected behavior or as deviations from expected information. Breakdowns in this system can occur when the checking and cross-checking tasks that give the system its error-tolerant properties are not performed because of distractions or other task demands. Recommendations based on the analysis for improving the error tolerance of the cockpit system are given.

A Literature Review of Sealed and Insulated Attics—Thermal, Moisture and Energy Performance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Less, Brennan; Walker, Iain; Levinson, Ronnen

In this literature review and analysis, we focus on the thermal, moisture and energy performance of sealed and insulated attics in California climates. Thermal. Sealed and insulated attics are expected to maintain attic air temperatures that are similar to those in the house within +/- 10°F. Thermal stress on the assembly, namely high shingle and sheathing temperatures, are of minimal concern. In the past, many sealed and insulated attics were constructed with insufficient insulation levels (~R-20) and with too much air leakage to outside, leading to poor thermal performance. To ensure high performance, sealed and insulated attics in new Californiamore » homes should be insulated at levels at least equivalent to the flat ceiling requirements in the code, and attic envelopes and ducts should be airtight. We expect that duct systems in well-constructed sealed and insulated attics should have less than 2% HVAC system leakage to outside. Moisture. Moisture risk in sealed and insulated California attics will increase with colder climate regions and more humid outside air in marine zones. Risk is considered low in the hot-dry, highly populated regions of the state, where most new home construction occurs. Indoor humidity levels should be controlled by following code requirements for continuous whole-house ventilation and local exhaust. Pending development of further guidance, we recommend that the air impermeable insulation requirements of the International Residential Code (2012) be used, as they vary with IECC climate region and roof finish. Energy. Sealed and insulated attics provide energy benefits only if HVAC equipment is located in the attic volume, and the benefits depend strongly on the insulation and airtightness of the attic and ducts. Existing homes with leaky, uninsulated ducts in the attic should have major savings. When compared with modern, airtight duct systems in a vented attic, sealed and insulated attics in California may still provide substantial benefit. Energy performance is expected to be roughly equivalent between sealed and insulated attics and prescriptive advanced roof/attic options in Title 24 2016. System performance can also be expected to improve, such as pull down time, performance at peak load, etc. We expect benefits to be reduced for all advanced roof/attic approaches, relative to a traditional vented attic, as duct system leakage is reduced close to 0. The most recent assessments, comparing advanced roof/attic assemblies to code compliant vented attics suggest average 13% TDV energy savings, with substantial variation by climate zone (more savings in more extreme climates). Similar 6-11% reductions in seasonally adjusted HVAC duct thermal losses have been measured in a small subset of such California homes using the ducts in conditioned space approach. Given the limited nature of energy and moisture monitoring in sealed and insulated attic homes, there is crucial need for long-term data and advanced modeling of these approaches in the California new and existing home contexts.« less

Impacts of rainfall variability and expected rainfall changes on cost-effective adaptation of water systems to climate change.

PubMed

van der Pol, T D; van Ierland, E C; Gabbert, S; Weikard, H-P; Hendrix, E M T

2015-05-01

Stormwater drainage and other water systems are vulnerable to changes in rainfall and runoff and need to be adapted to climate change. This paper studies impacts of rainfall variability and changing return periods of rainfall extremes on cost-effective adaptation of water systems to climate change given a predefined system performance target, for example a flood risk standard. Rainfall variability causes system performance estimates to be volatile. These estimates may be used to recurrently evaluate system performance. This paper presents a model for this setting, and develops a solution method to identify cost-effective investments in stormwater drainage adaptations. Runoff and water levels are simulated with rainfall from stationary rainfall distributions, and time series of annual rainfall maxima are simulated for a climate scenario. Cost-effective investment strategies are determined by dynamic programming. The method is applied to study the choice of volume for a storage basin in a Dutch polder. We find that 'white noise', i.e. trend-free variability of rainfall, might cause earlier re-investment than expected under projected changes in rainfall. The risk of early re-investment may be reduced by increasing initial investment. This can be cost-effective if the investment involves fixed costs. Increasing initial investments, therefore, not only increases water system robustness to structural changes in rainfall, but could also offer insurance against additional costs that would occur if system performance is underestimated and re-investment becomes inevitable. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Exploring the Factors of an Enterprise Resource Planning System in a Local Government Organization

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shaw, Bryan T.

2012-01-01

The enterprise resource planning (ERP) system industry accounts for $8.8 billion annually. Enterprise resource planning systems are not performing as expected due to implementation barriers, changes in job responsibilities, and access to information; 50% of all information technology failures are due to the implementation of ERP systems. Guided by…

FPGA based charge acquisition algorithm for soft x-ray diagnostics system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wojenski, A.; Kasprowicz, G.; Pozniak, K. T.; Zabolotny, W.; Byszuk, A.; Juszczyk, B.; Kolasinski, P.; Krawczyk, R. D.; Zienkiewicz, P.; Chernyshova, M.; Czarski, T.

2015-09-01

Soft X-ray (SXR) measurement systems working in tokamaks or with laser generated plasma can expect high photon fluxes. Therefore it is necessary to focus on data processing algorithms to have the best possible efficiency in term of processed photon events per second. This paper refers to recently designed algorithm and data-flow for implementation of charge data acquisition in FPGA. The algorithms are currently on implementation stage for the soft X-ray diagnostics system. In this paper despite of the charge processing algorithm is also described general firmware overview, data storage methods and other key components of the measurement system. The simulation section presents algorithm performance and expected maximum photon rate.

Experiences in solar cooling systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ward, D. S.

The results of performance evaluations for nine solar cooling systems are presented, and reasons fow low or high net energy balances are discussed. Six of the nine systems are noted to have performed unfavorably compared to standard cooling systems due to thermal storage losses, excessive system electrical demands, inappropriate control strategies, poor system-to-load matching, and poor chiller performance. A reduction in heat losses in one residential unit increased the total system efficiency by 2.5%, while eliminating heat losses to the building interior increased the efficiency by 3.3%. The best system incorporated a lithium bromide absorption chiller and a Rankine cycle compression unit for a commercial application. Improvements in the cooling tower and fan configurations to increase the solar cooling system efficiency are indicated. Best performances are expected to occur in climates inducing high annual cooling loads.

High Fidelity, Fuel-Like Thermal Simulators for Non-Nuclear Testing: Analysis and Initial Test Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bragg-Sitton, Shannon M.; Dickens, Ricky; Dixon, David; Kapernick, Richard

2007-01-01

Non-nuclear testing can be a valuable tool in the development of a space nuclear power system, providing system characterization data and allowing one to work through various fabrication, assembly and integration issues without the cost and time associated with a full ground nuclear test. In a non-nuclear test bed, electric heaters are used to simulate the heat from nuclear fuel. Testing with non-optimized heater elements allows one to assess thermal, heat transfer. and stress related attributes of a given system, but fails to demonstrate the dynamic response that would be present in an integrated, fueled reactor system. High fidelity thermal simulators that match both the static and the dynamic fuel pin performance that would be observed in an operating, fueled nuclear reactor can vastly increase the value of non-nuclear test results. With optimized simulators, the integration of thermal hydraulic hardware tests with simulated neutronic response provides a bridge between electrically heated testing and fueled nuclear testing. By implementing a neutronic response model to simulate the dynamic response that would be expected in a fueled reactor system, one can better understand system integration issues, characterize integrated system response times and response characteristics and assess potential design improvements at relatively small fiscal investment. Initial conceptual thermal simulator designs are determined by simple one-dimensional analysis at a single axial location and at steady state conditions; feasible concepts are then input into a detailed three-dimensional model for comparison to expected fuel pin performance. Static and dynamic fuel pin performance for a proposed reactor design is determined using SINDA/FLUINT thermal analysis software, and comparison is made between the expected nuclear performance and the performance of conceptual thermal simulator designs. Through a series of iterative analyses, a conceptual high fidelity design is developed: this is followed by engineering design, fabrication, and testing to validate the overall design process. Test results presented in this paper correspond to a "first cut" simulator design for a potential liquid metal (NaK) cooled reactor design that could be applied for Lunar surface power. Proposed refinements to this simulator design are also presented.

Distraction or cognitive overload? Using modulations of the autonomic nervous system to discriminate the possible negative effects of advanced assistance system.

PubMed

Ruscio, D; Bos, A J; Ciceri, M R

2017-06-01

The interaction with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems has several positive implications for road safety, but also some potential downsides such as mental workload and automation complacency. Malleable attentional resources allocation theory describes two possible processes that can generate workload in interaction with advanced assisting devices. The purpose of the present study is to determine if specific analysis of the different modalities of autonomic control of nervous system can be used to discriminate different potential workload processes generated during assisted-driving tasks and automation complacency situations. Thirty-five drivers were tested in a virtual scenario while using head-up advanced warning assistance system. Repeated MANOVA were used to examine changes in autonomic activity across a combination of different user interactions generated by the advanced assistance system: (1) expected take-over request without anticipatory warning; (2) expected take-over request with two-second anticipatory warning; (3) unexpected take-over request with misleading warning; (4) unexpected take-over request without warning. Results shows that analysis of autonomic modulations can discriminate two different resources allocation processes, related to different behavioral performances. The user's interaction that required divided attention under expected situations produced performance enhancement and reciprocally-coupled parasympathetic inhibition with sympathetic activity. At the same time, supervising interactions that generated automation complacency were described specifically by uncoupled sympathetic activation. Safety implications for automated assistance systems developments are considered. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of computer-aided detection and diagnosis systems.

PubMed

Petrick, Nicholas; Sahiner, Berkman; Armato, Samuel G; Bert, Alberto; Correale, Loredana; Delsanto, Silvia; Freedman, Matthew T; Fryd, David; Gur, David; Hadjiiski, Lubomir; Huo, Zhimin; Jiang, Yulei; Morra, Lia; Paquerault, Sophie; Raykar, Vikas; Samuelson, Frank; Summers, Ronald M; Tourassi, Georgia; Yoshida, Hiroyuki; Zheng, Bin; Zhou, Chuan; Chan, Heang-Ping

2013-08-01

Computer-aided detection and diagnosis (CAD) systems are increasingly being used as an aid by clinicians for detection and interpretation of diseases. Computer-aided detection systems mark regions of an image that may reveal specific abnormalities and are used to alert clinicians to these regions during image interpretation. Computer-aided diagnosis systems provide an assessment of a disease using image-based information alone or in combination with other relevant diagnostic data and are used by clinicians as a decision support in developing their diagnoses. While CAD systems are commercially available, standardized approaches for evaluating and reporting their performance have not yet been fully formalized in the literature or in a standardization effort. This deficiency has led to difficulty in the comparison of CAD devices and in understanding how the reported performance might translate into clinical practice. To address these important issues, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) formed the Computer Aided Detection in Diagnostic Imaging Subcommittee (CADSC), in part, to develop recommendations on approaches for assessing CAD system performance. The purpose of this paper is to convey the opinions of the AAPM CADSC members and to stimulate the development of consensus approaches and "best practices" for evaluating CAD systems. Both the assessment of a standalone CAD system and the evaluation of the impact of CAD on end-users are discussed. It is hoped that awareness of these important evaluation elements and the CADSC recommendations will lead to further development of structured guidelines for CAD performance assessment. Proper assessment of CAD system performance is expected to increase the understanding of a CAD system's effectiveness and limitations, which is expected to stimulate further research and development efforts on CAD technologies, reduce problems due to improper use, and eventually improve the utility and efficacy of CAD in clinical practice.

SharP

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Venkata, Manjunath Gorentla; Aderholdt, William F

The pre-exascale systems are expected to have a significant amount of hierarchical and heterogeneous on-node memory, and this trend of system architecture in extreme-scale systems is expected to continue into the exascale era. along with hierarchical-heterogeneous memory, the system typically has a high-performing network ad a compute accelerator. This system architecture is not only effective for running traditional High Performance Computing (HPC) applications (Big-Compute), but also for running data-intensive HPC applications and Big-Data applications. As a consequence, there is a growing desire to have a single system serve the needs of both Big-Compute and Big-Data applications. Though the system architecturemore » supports the convergence of the Big-Compute and Big-Data, the programming models and software layer have yet to evolve to support either hierarchical-heterogeneous memory systems or the convergence. A programming abstraction to address this problem. The programming abstraction is implemented as a software library and runs on pre-exascale and exascale systems supporting current and emerging system architecture. Using distributed data-structures as a central concept, it provides (1) a simple, usable, and portable abstraction for hierarchical-heterogeneous memory and (2) a unified programming abstraction for Big-Compute and Big-Data applications.« less

The Effect of Incorrect Reliability Information on Expectations, Perceptions, and Use of Automation.

PubMed

Barg-Walkow, Laura H; Rogers, Wendy A

2016-03-01

We examined how providing artificially high or low statements about automation reliability affected expectations, perceptions, and use of automation over time. One common method of introducing automation is providing explicit statements about the automation's capabilities. Research is needed to understand how expectations from such introductions affect perceptions and use of automation. Explicit-statement introductions were manipulated to set higher-than (90%), same-as (75%), or lower-than (60%) levels of expectations in a dual-task scenario with 75% reliable automation. Two experiments were conducted to assess expectations, perceptions, compliance, reliance, and task performance over (a) 2 days and (b) 4 days. The baseline assessments showed initial expectations of automation reliability matched introduced levels of expectation. For the duration of each experiment, the lower-than groups' perceptions were lower than the actual automation reliability. However, the higher-than groups' perceptions were no different from actual automation reliability after Day 1 in either study. There were few differences between groups for automation use, which generally stayed the same or increased with experience using the system. Introductory statements describing artificially low automation reliability have a long-lasting impact on perceptions about automation performance. Statements including incorrect automation reliability do not appear to affect use of automation. Introductions should be designed according to desired outcomes for expectations, perceptions, and use of the automation. Low expectations have long-lasting effects. © 2015, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

CMS endcap RPC performance analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teng, H.; CMS Collaboration

2014-08-01

The Resistive Plate Chamber (RPC) detector system in LHC-CMS experiment is designed for the trigger purpose. The endcap RPC system has been successfully operated since the commissioning period (2008) to the end of RUN1 (2013). We have developed an analysis tool for endcap RPC performance and validated the efficiency calculation algorithm, focusing on the first endcap station which was assembled and tested by the Peking University group. We cross checked the results obtained with those extracted with alternative methods and we found good agreement in terms of performance parameters [1]. The results showed that the CMS-RPC endcap system fulfilled the performance expected in the Technical Design Report [2].

Measuring Performance in Child Welfare: Secondary Effects of Success.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Usher, Charles L.; Gibbs, Deborah A.; Wildfire, Judith B.

1999-01-01

Draws on findings from evaluations of recent reform initiatives in Alabama, North Carolina, and Ohio to suggest that performance-measurement systems for state child-welfare programs must adapt to changing circumstances, especially when improvements in one area can influence standards and expectations in others. (Author/KB)

STARS: The Space Transportation Architecture Risk System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenberg, Joel S.

1997-01-01

Because of the need to perform comparisons between transportation systems that are likely to have significantly different levels of risk, both because of differing degrees of freedom in achieving desired performance levels and their different states of development and utilization, an approach has been developed for performing early comparisons of transportation architectures explicitly taking into account quantitative measures of uncertainty and resulting risk. The approach considers the uncertainty associated with the achievement of technology goals, the effect that the achieved level of technology will have on transportation system performance and the relationship between transportation system performance/capability and the ability to accommodate variations in payload mass. The consequences of system performance are developed in terms of expected values and associated standard deviations of nonrecurring, recurring and the present value of transportation system life cycle cost. Typical results are presented to illustrate the application of the methodology.

InGaAsN/GaAs Heterostructures for Long-Wavelength Light-Emitting Devices

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-06-23

vertical cavity surface emitting lasers ( VCSELs ) on GaAs is expected to be possible by... molecular beam epitaxy using an RF plasma-source. Broad area and ridge waveguide laser structures based on such QWs exhibit performance that can...work with GaAs/AlAs DBR-mirrors is expected to lead to novel vertical cavity lasers for optical fiber communication systems. Acknowledgement

L'enseignement superieur tunisien: Enjeux et avenir (Higher Education in Tunisia: Challenges and Opportunities).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

World Bank, Washington, DC.

This report presents findings of a study of higher education in Tunisia. It finds that higher education in Tunisia is a largely effective and well-performing system. However, it notes an expected doubling of enrollment over the next 10 years which will create obstacles that prevent it from playing the role expected of it by a society and economy…

Summary of the Orbiter mechanical systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kiker, J.; Hinson, K.

1979-01-01

Major mechanical systems of the Orbiter space vehicle are summarized with respect to general design details, manner of operation, expected performance, and, where applicable, unique features. A synopsis of data obtained during the five atmospheric flight tests of spacecraft OV-101 and status of the systems for the first orbital spacecraft STS-1 are presented.

Teacher Evaluation Reform: Principals' Beliefs about Newly Adopted Teacher Evaluation Systems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Young, Suzanne; Range, Bret G.; Hvidston, David; Mette, Ian M.

2015-01-01

Principals in one Western state were surveyed about teacher evaluation systems commonly used across the state. Findings suggest that principals' beliefs about aligning practice to performance expectations, about how much the view of professional practice is growth-oriented, and the degree to which systems use multiple measures are the variables…

Optimal rotation sequences for active perception

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakath, David; Rachuy, Carsten; Clemens, Joachim; Schill, Kerstin

2016-05-01

One major objective of autonomous systems navigating in dynamic environments is gathering information needed for self localization, decision making, and path planning. To account for this, such systems are usually equipped with multiple types of sensors. As these sensors often have a limited field of view and a fixed orientation, the task of active perception breaks down to the problem of calculating alignment sequences which maximize the information gain regarding expected measurements. Action sequences that rotate the system according to the calculated optimal patterns then have to be generated. In this paper we present an approach for calculating these sequences for an autonomous system equipped with multiple sensors. We use a particle filter for multi- sensor fusion and state estimation. The planning task is modeled as a Markov decision process (MDP), where the system decides in each step, what actions to perform next. The optimal control policy, which provides the best action depending on the current estimated state, maximizes the expected cumulative reward. The latter is computed from the expected information gain of all sensors over time using value iteration. The algorithm is applied to a manifold representation of the joint space of rotation and time. We show the performance of the approach in a spacecraft navigation scenario where the information gain is changing over time, caused by the dynamic environment and the continuous movement of the spacecraft

Reducing Design Risk Using Robust Design Methods: A Dual Response Surface Approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Unal, Resit; Yeniay, Ozgur; Lepsch, Roger A. (Technical Monitor)

2003-01-01

Space transportation system conceptual design is a multidisciplinary process containing considerable element of risk. Risk here is defined as the variability in the estimated (output) performance characteristic of interest resulting from the uncertainties in the values of several disciplinary design and/or operational parameters. Uncertainties from one discipline (and/or subsystem) may propagate to another, through linking parameters and the final system output may have a significant accumulation of risk. This variability can result in significant deviations from the expected performance. Therefore, an estimate of variability (which is called design risk in this study) together with the expected performance characteristic value (e.g. mean empty weight) is necessary for multidisciplinary optimization for a robust design. Robust design in this study is defined as a solution that minimizes variability subject to a constraint on mean performance characteristics. Even though multidisciplinary design optimization has gained wide attention and applications, the treatment of uncertainties to quantify and analyze design risk has received little attention. This research effort explores the dual response surface approach to quantify variability (risk) in critical performance characteristics (such as weight) during conceptual design.

5 CFR 1330.402 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... authority, for planning, monitoring, developing, evaluating, and rewarding employee performance. This... systems not covered by 5 U.S.C. chapter 43 for communicating what a senior employee is expected to do and... the application of a certified appraisal system. Senior employee means a senior executive or a senior...

5 CFR 1330.402 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... authority, for planning, monitoring, developing, evaluating, and rewarding employee performance. This... systems not covered by 5 U.S.C. chapter 43 for communicating what a senior employee is expected to do and... the application of a certified appraisal system. Senior employee means a senior executive or a senior...

5 CFR 1330.402 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... authority, for planning, monitoring, developing, evaluating, and rewarding employee performance. This... systems not covered by 5 U.S.C. chapter 43 for communicating what a senior employee is expected to do and... the application of a certified appraisal system. Senior employee means a senior executive or a senior...

5 CFR 1330.402 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... authority, for planning, monitoring, developing, evaluating, and rewarding employee performance. This... systems not covered by 5 U.S.C. chapter 43 for communicating what a senior employee is expected to do and... the application of a certified appraisal system. Senior employee means a senior executive or a senior...

Optimal control of LQG problem with an explicit trade-off between mean and variance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, Fucai; Xie, Guo; Liu, Ding; Xie, Wenfang

2011-12-01

For discrete-time linear-quadratic Gaussian (LQG) control problems, a utility function on the expectation and the variance of the conventional performance index is considered. The utility function is viewed as an overall objective of the system and can perform the optimal trade-off between the mean and the variance of performance index. The nonlinear utility function is first converted into an auxiliary parameters optimisation problem about the expectation and the variance. Then an optimal closed-loop feedback controller for the nonseparable mean-variance minimisation problem is designed by nonlinear mathematical programming. Finally, simulation results are given to verify the algorithm's effectiveness obtained in this article.

Why NASA and the Space Electronics Community Cares About Cyclotrons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

LaBel, Kenneth A.

2017-01-01

NASA and the space community are faced with the harsh reality of operating electronic systems in the space radiation environment. Systems need to work reliably (as expected for as long as expected) and be available during critical operations such as docking or firing a thruster. This talk will provide a snapshot of the import of ground-based research on the radiation performance of electronics. Discussion topics include: 1) The space radiation environment hazard, 2) Radiation effects on electronics, 3) Simulation of effects with cyclotrons (and other sources), 4) Risk prediction for space missions, and, 5) Real-life examples of both ground-based testing and space-based anomalies and electronics performance. The talk will conclude with a discussion of the current state of radiation facilities in North America for ground-based electronics testing.

Evaluation of computer-aided detection and diagnosis systemsa)

PubMed Central

Petrick, Nicholas; Sahiner, Berkman; Armato, Samuel G.; Bert, Alberto; Correale, Loredana; Delsanto, Silvia; Freedman, Matthew T.; Fryd, David; Gur, David; Hadjiiski, Lubomir; Huo, Zhimin; Jiang, Yulei; Morra, Lia; Paquerault, Sophie; Raykar, Vikas; Samuelson, Frank; Summers, Ronald M.; Tourassi, Georgia; Yoshida, Hiroyuki; Zheng, Bin; Zhou, Chuan; Chan, Heang-Ping

2013-01-01

Computer-aided detection and diagnosis (CAD) systems are increasingly being used as an aid by clinicians for detection and interpretation of diseases. Computer-aided detection systems mark regions of an image that may reveal specific abnormalities and are used to alert clinicians to these regions during image interpretation. Computer-aided diagnosis systems provide an assessment of a disease using image-based information alone or in combination with other relevant diagnostic data and are used by clinicians as a decision support in developing their diagnoses. While CAD systems are commercially available, standardized approaches for evaluating and reporting their performance have not yet been fully formalized in the literature or in a standardization effort. This deficiency has led to difficulty in the comparison of CAD devices and in understanding how the reported performance might translate into clinical practice. To address these important issues, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) formed the Computer Aided Detection in Diagnostic Imaging Subcommittee (CADSC), in part, to develop recommendations on approaches for assessing CAD system performance. The purpose of this paper is to convey the opinions of the AAPM CADSC members and to stimulate the development of consensus approaches and “best practices” for evaluating CAD systems. Both the assessment of a standalone CAD system and the evaluation of the impact of CAD on end-users are discussed. It is hoped that awareness of these important evaluation elements and the CADSC recommendations will lead to further development of structured guidelines for CAD performance assessment. Proper assessment of CAD system performance is expected to increase the understanding of a CAD system's effectiveness and limitations, which is expected to stimulate further research and development efforts on CAD technologies, reduce problems due to improper use, and eventually improve the utility and efficacy of CAD in clinical practice. PMID:23927365

Performance Expectations of Closed-Brayton-Cycle Heat Exchangers in 100-kWe Nuclear Space Power Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barrett, Michael J.

2003-01-01

Performance expectations of closed-Brayton-cycle heat exchangers to be used in 100-kWe nuclear space power systems were forecast. Proposed cycle state points for a system supporting a mission to three of Jupiter s moons required effectiveness values for the heat-source exchanger, recuperator and rejection exchanger (gas cooler) of 0.98,0.95 and 0.97, respectively. Performance parameters such as number of thermal units (Nm), equivalent thermal conductance (UA), and entropy generation numbers (Ns) varied from 11 to 19,23 to 39 kWK, and 0.019 to 0.023 for some standard heat exchanger configurations. Pressure-loss contributions to entropy generation were significant; the largest frictional contribution was 114% of the heat-transfer irreversibility. Using conventional recuperator designs, the 0.95 effectiveness proved difficult to achieve without exceeding other performance targets; a metallic, plate-fin counterflow solution called for 15% more mass and 33% higher pressure-loss than the target values. Two types of gas-coolers showed promise. Single-pass counterflow and multipass cross-counterflow arrangements both met the 0.97 effectiveness requirement. Potential reliability-related advantages of the cross-countefflow design were noted. Cycle modifications, enhanced heat transfer techniques and incorporation of advanced materials were suggested options to reduce system development risk. Carbon-carbon sheeting or foam proved an attractive option to improve overall performance.

An Overview of the Earth Observing System MODIS Instrument Performance, Data Systems Performance, and Data Products Status and Availability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Salomonson, Vincent V.

2002-01-01

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Earth Observing System (EOS) Terra Mission began to produce data in February 2000. Now, approximately 2 years from that time, the instrument is operating well. All subsystems of the instrument are performing as expected, the signal-to-noise (S/N) performance meets or exceeds specifications, band-to-band registration meets specifications, geodetic registration of observations is nearing 50 meters (one sigma) and the spectral bands are located where they were intended to be pre-launch and attendant gains and offsets are stable to date. The data systems have performed well and are producing a wide variety of data products useful for scientific and applications studies in relatively consistent fashion extending from November 2000 to the present. Within the approximately 40 MODIS data products, several are new and represent powerful and exciting capabilities. The remainder of the MODIS products exceed or, at a minimum, match the capabilities of products from heritage sensors such as, for example, the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). Efforts are underway to provide data sets for the greater Earth science community and to improve access to these products at the various Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAAC's) or through Direct Broadcast (DB) stations. The MODIS instrument on the EOS Aqua mission should also be expected to be in orbit and functioning in the Spring of 2002.

Performance Expectations of Closed-Brayton-Cycle Heat Exchangers in 100-kWe Nuclear Space Power Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barrett, Michael J.

2003-01-01

Performance expectations of closed-Brayton-cycle heat exchangers to be used in 100-k We nuclear space power systems were forecast. Proposed cycle state points for a system supporting a mission to three of Jupiter's moons required effectiveness values for the heat-source exchanger, recuperator and rejection exchanger (gas cooler) of 0.98, 0.95, and 0.97, respectively. Performance parameters such as number of thermal units (Ntu), equivalent thermal conductance (UA), and entropy generation numbers (Ns) varied from 11 to 19, 23 to 39 kW/K, and 0.019 to 0.023 for some standard heat exchanger configurations. Pressure-loss contributions to entropy generation were significant; the largest frictional contribution was 114% of the heat transfer irreversibility. Using conventional recuperator designs, the 0.95 effectiveness proved difficult to achieve without exceeding other performance targets; a metallic, plate-fin counterflow solution called for 15% more mass and 33% higher pressure-loss than the target values. Two types of gas-coolers showed promise. Single-pass counterflow and multipass cross-counterflow arrangements both met the 0.97 effectiveness requirement. Potential reliability-related advantages of the cross-counterflow design were noted. Cycle modifications, enhanced heat transfer techniques and incorporation of advanced materials were suggested options to reduce system development risk. Carbon-carbon sheeting or foam proved an attractive option to improve overall performance.

40 CFR 63.7 - Performance testing requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...) program. Data quality objectives are the pretest expectations of precision, accuracy, and completeness of... test data bias. Gaseous audit samples are designed to audit the performance of the sampling system as... just as the compliance samples are collected. If a liquid or solid audit sample is designed to audit...

40 CFR 63.7 - Performance testing requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...) program. Data quality objectives are the pretest expectations of precision, accuracy, and completeness of... test data bias. Gaseous audit samples are designed to audit the performance of the sampling system as... just as the compliance samples are collected. If a liquid or solid audit sample is designed to audit...

40 CFR 63.7 - Performance testing requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

...) program. Data quality objectives are the pretest expectations of precision, accuracy, and completeness of... test data bias. Gaseous audit samples are designed to audit the performance of the sampling system as... just as the compliance samples are collected. If a liquid or solid audit sample is designed to audit...

40 CFR 63.7 - Performance testing requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...) program. Data quality objectives are the pretest expectations of precision, accuracy, and completeness of... test data bias. Gaseous audit samples are designed to audit the performance of the sampling system as... just as the compliance samples are collected. If a liquid or solid audit sample is designed to audit...

Studies of a Next-Generation Silicon-Photomultiplier-Based Time-of-Flight PET/CT System.

PubMed

Hsu, David F C; Ilan, Ezgi; Peterson, William T; Uribe, Jorge; Lubberink, Mark; Levin, Craig S

2017-09-01

This article presents system performance studies for the Discovery MI PET/CT system, a new time-of-flight system based on silicon photomultipliers. System performance and clinical imaging were compared between this next-generation system and other commercially available PET/CT and PET/MR systems, as well as between different reconstruction algorithms. Methods: Spatial resolution, sensitivity, noise-equivalent counting rate, scatter fraction, counting rate accuracy, and image quality were characterized with the National Electrical Manufacturers Association NU-2 2012 standards. Energy resolution and coincidence time resolution were measured. Tests were conducted independently on two Discovery MI scanners installed at Stanford University and Uppsala University, and the results were averaged. Back-to-back patient scans were also performed between the Discovery MI, Discovery 690 PET/CT, and SIGNA PET/MR systems. Clinical images were reconstructed using both ordered-subset expectation maximization and Q.Clear (block-sequential regularized expectation maximization with point-spread function modeling) and were examined qualitatively. Results: The averaged full widths at half maximum (FWHMs) of the radial/tangential/axial spatial resolution reconstructed with filtered backprojection at 1, 10, and 20 cm from the system center were, respectively, 4.10/4.19/4.48 mm, 5.47/4.49/6.01 mm, and 7.53/4.90/6.10 mm. The averaged sensitivity was 13.7 cps/kBq at the center of the field of view. The averaged peak noise-equivalent counting rate was 193.4 kcps at 21.9 kBq/mL, with a scatter fraction of 40.6%. The averaged contrast recovery coefficients for the image-quality phantom were 53.7, 64.0, 73.1, 82.7, 86.8, and 90.7 for the 10-, 13-, 17-, 22-, 28-, and 37-mm-diameter spheres, respectively. The average photopeak energy resolution was 9.40% FWHM, and the average coincidence time resolution was 375.4 ps FWHM. Clinical image comparisons between the PET/CT systems demonstrated the high quality of the Discovery MI. Comparisons between the Discovery MI and SIGNA showed a similar spatial resolution and overall imaging performance. Lastly, the results indicated significantly enhanced image quality and contrast-to-noise performance for Q.Clear, compared with ordered-subset expectation maximization. Conclusion: Excellent performance was achieved with the Discovery MI, including 375 ps FWHM coincidence time resolution and sensitivity of 14 cps/kBq. Comparisons between reconstruction algorithms and other multimodal silicon photomultiplier and non-silicon photomultiplier PET detector system designs indicated that performance can be substantially enhanced with this next-generation system. © 2017 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.

Spectromicroscopy and coherent diffraction imaging: focus on energy materials applications.

PubMed

Hitchcock, Adam P; Toney, Michael F

2014-09-01

Current and future capabilities of X-ray spectromicroscopy are discussed based on coherence-limited imaging methods which will benefit from the dramatic increase in brightness expected from a diffraction-limited storage ring (DLSR). The methods discussed include advanced coherent diffraction techniques and nanoprobe-based real-space imaging using Fresnel zone plates or other diffractive optics whose performance is affected by the degree of coherence. The capabilities of current systems, improvements which can be expected, and some of the important scientific themes which will be impacted are described, with focus on energy materials applications. Potential performance improvements of these techniques based on anticipated DLSR performance are estimated. Several examples of energy sciences research problems which are out of reach of current instrumentation, but which might be solved with the enhanced DLSR performance, are discussed.

A Study to Determine the Optimal Frequency for Conducting Periodic Dental Examinations (OFDEX)

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-06-01

as the major vehicle by which patients enter into the incremental care system . Unpublished data from studies performed by the Health Care Studies...product-moment correlation was used to measure the strength of the relationship between two variables. Significance tests for correlation coefficients...expected if no relationship existed between variables at given row and column totals. These expected frequencies are then compared to the actual values

DSN G/T(sub op) and telecommunications system performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stelzried, C.; Clauss, R.; Rafferty, W.; Petty, S.

1992-01-01

Provided here is an intersystem comparison of present and evolving Deep Space Network (DSN) microwave receiving systems. Comparisons of the receiving systems are based on the widely used G/T sub op figure of merit, which is defined as antenna gain divided by operating system noise temperature. In 10 years, it is expected that the DSN 32 GHz microwave receiving system will improve the G/T sub op performance over the current 8.4 GHz system by 8.3 dB. To compare future telecommunications system end-to-end performance, both the receiving systems' G/T sub op and spacecraft transmit parameters are used. Improving the 32 GHz spacecraft transmitter system is shown to increase the end-to-end telecommunications system performance an additional 3.2 dB, for a net improvement of 11.5 dB. These values are without a planet in the field of view (FOV). A Saturn mission is used for an example calculation to indicate the degradation in performance with a planet in the field of view.

A bimodal biometric identification system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laghari, Mohammad S.; Khuwaja, Gulzar A.

2013-03-01

Biometrics consists of methods for uniquely recognizing humans based upon one or more intrinsic physical or behavioral traits. Physicals are related to the shape of the body. Behavioral are related to the behavior of a person. However, biometric authentication systems suffer from imprecision and difficulty in person recognition due to a number of reasons and no single biometrics is expected to effectively satisfy the requirements of all verification and/or identification applications. Bimodal biometric systems are expected to be more reliable due to the presence of two pieces of evidence and also be able to meet the severe performance requirements imposed by various applications. This paper presents a neural network based bimodal biometric identification system by using human face and handwritten signature features.

Analyzing System on A Chip Single Event Upset Responses using Single Event Upset Data, Classical Reliability Models, and Space Environment Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Berg, Melanie; LaBel, Kenneth; Campola, Michael; Xapsos, Michael

2017-01-01

We are investigating the application of classical reliability performance metrics combined with standard single event upset (SEU) analysis data. We expect to relate SEU behavior to system performance requirements. Our proposed methodology will provide better prediction of SEU responses in harsh radiation environments with confidence metrics. single event upset (SEU), single event effect (SEE), field programmable gate array devises (FPGAs)

Structural Similitude and Scaling Laws

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Simitses, George J.

1998-01-01

Aircraft and spacecraft comprise the class of aerospace structures that require efficiency and wisdom in design, sophistication and accuracy in analysis and numerous and careful experimental evaluations of components and prototype, in order to achieve the necessary system reliability, performance and safety. Preliminary and/or concept design entails the assemblage of system mission requirements, system expected performance and identification of components and their connections as well as of manufacturing and system assembly techniques. This is accomplished through experience based on previous similar designs, and through the possible use of models to simulate the entire system characteristics. Detail design is heavily dependent on information and concepts derived from the previous steps. This information identifies critical design areas which need sophisticated analyses, and design and redesign procedures to achieve the expected component performance. This step may require several independent analysis models, which, in many instances, require component testing. The last step in the design process, before going to production, is the verification of the design. This step necessitates the production of large components and prototypes in order to test component and system analytical predictions and verify strength and performance requirements under the worst loading conditions that the system is expected to encounter in service. Clearly then, full-scale testing is in many cases necessary and always very expensive. In the aircraft industry, in addition to full-scale tests, certification and safety necessitate large component static and dynamic testing. Such tests are extremely difficult, time consuming and definitely absolutely necessary. Clearly, one should not expect that prototype testing will be totally eliminated in the aircraft industry. It is hoped, though, that we can reduce full-scale testing to a minimum. Full-scale large component testing is necessary in other industries as well, Ship building, automobile and railway car construction all rely heavily on testing. Regardless of the application, a scaled-down (by a large factor) model (scale model) which closely represents the structural behavior of the full-scale system (prototype) can prove to be an extremely beneficial tool. This possible development must be based on the existence of certain structural parameters that control the behavior of a structural system when acted upon by static and/or dynamic loads. If such structural parameters exist, a scaled-down replica can be built, which will duplicate the response of the full-scale system. The two systems are then said to be structurally similar. The term, then, that best describes this similarity is structural similitude. Similarity of systems requires that the relevant system parameters be identical and these systems be governed by a unique set of characteristic equations. Thus, if a relation or equation of variables is written for a system, it is valid for all systems which are similar to it. Each variable in a model is proportional to the corresponding variable of the prototype. This ratio, which plays an essential role in predicting the relationship between the model and its prototype, is called the scale factor.

National Storage Laboratory: a collaborative research project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coyne, Robert A.; Hulen, Harry; Watson, Richard W.

1993-01-01

The grand challenges of science and industry that are driving computing and communications have created corresponding challenges in information storage and retrieval. An industry-led collaborative project has been organized to investigate technology for storage systems that will be the future repositories of national information assets. Industry participants are IBM Federal Systems Company, Ampex Recording Systems Corporation, General Atomics DISCOS Division, IBM ADSTAR, Maximum Strategy Corporation, Network Systems Corporation, and Zitel Corporation. Industry members of the collaborative project are funding their own participation. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory through its National Energy Research Supercomputer Center (NERSC) will participate in the project as the operational site and provider of applications. The expected result is the creation of a National Storage Laboratory to serve as a prototype and demonstration facility. It is expected that this prototype will represent a significant advance in the technology for distributed storage systems capable of handling gigabyte-class files at gigabit-per-second data rates. Specifically, the collaboration expects to make significant advances in hardware, software, and systems technology in four areas of need, (1) network-attached high performance storage; (2) multiple, dynamic, distributed storage hierarchies; (3) layered access to storage system services; and (4) storage system management.

Role of IAC in large space systems thermal analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, G. K.; Skladany, J. T.; Young, J. P.

1982-01-01

Computer analysis programs to evaluate critical coupling effects that can significantly influence spacecraft system performance are described. These coupling effects arise from the varied parameters of the spacecraft systems, environments, and forcing functions associated with disciplines such as thermal, structures, and controls. Adverse effects can be expected to significantly impact system design aspects such as structural integrity, controllability, and mission performance. One such needed design analysis capability is a software system that can integrate individual discipline computer codes into a highly user-oriented/interactive-graphics-based analysis capability. The integrated analysis capability (IAC) system can be viewed as: a core framework system which serves as an integrating base whereby users can readily add desired analysis modules and as a self-contained interdisciplinary system analysis capability having a specific set of fully integrated multidisciplinary analysis programs that deal with the coupling of thermal, structures, controls, antenna radiation performance, and instrument optical performance disciplines.

76 FR 50315 - Notice of Fiscal Year 2012 Safety Grants and Solicitation for Applications

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-12

... grants; MCSAP Incentive grants; New Entrant Safety Audit grants; MCSAP High Priority grants; Commercial...'s License Program Improvement (CDLPI) grants; Performance and Registration Information Systems... Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) grants. It should be noted that FMCSA does not expect the Commercial...

Fast Dynamic Simulation-Based Small Signal Stability Assessment and Control

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Acharya, Naresh; Baone, Chaitanya; Veda, Santosh

2014-12-31

Power grid planning and operation decisions are made based on simulation of the dynamic behavior of the system. Enabling substantial energy savings while increasing the reliability of the aging North American power grid through improved utilization of existing transmission assets hinges on the adoption of wide-area measurement systems (WAMS) for power system stabilization. However, adoption of WAMS alone will not suffice if the power system is to reach its full entitlement in stability and reliability. It is necessary to enhance predictability with "faster than real-time" dynamic simulations that will enable the dynamic stability margins, proactive real-time control, and improve gridmore » resiliency to fast time-scale phenomena such as cascading network failures. Present-day dynamic simulations are performed only during offline planning studies, considering only worst case conditions such as summer peak, winter peak days, etc. With widespread deployment of renewable generation, controllable loads, energy storage devices and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles expected in the near future and greater integration of cyber infrastructure (communications, computation and control), monitoring and controlling the dynamic performance of the grid in real-time would become increasingly important. The state-of-the-art dynamic simulation tools have limited computational speed and are not suitable for real-time applications, given the large set of contingency conditions to be evaluated. These tools are optimized for best performance of single-processor computers, but the simulation is still several times slower than real-time due to its computational complexity. With recent significant advances in numerical methods and computational hardware, the expectations have been rising towards more efficient and faster techniques to be implemented in power system simulators. This is a natural expectation, given that the core solution algorithms of most commercial simulators were developed decades ago, when High Performance Computing (HPC) resources were not commonly available.« less

Influence of the management strategy model on estimating water system performance under climate change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Francois, Baptiste; Hingray, Benoit; Creutin, Jean-Dominique; Hendrickx, Frederic

2015-04-01

The performance of water systems used worldwide for the management of water resources is expected to be influenced by future changes in regional climates and water uses. Anticipating possible performance changes of a given system requires a modeling chain simulating its management. Operational management is usually not trivial especially when several conflicting objectives have to be accounted for. Management models are therefore often a crude representation of the real system and they only approximate its performance. Estimated performance changes are expected to depend on the management model used, but this is often not assessed. This communication analyzes the influence of the management strategy representation on the performance of an Alpine reservoir (Serre-Ponçon, South-East of France) for which irrigation supply, hydropower generation and recreational activities are the main objectives. We consider three ways to construct the strategy named as clear-, short- and far-sighted management. They are based on different forecastability degrees of seasonal inflows into the reservoir. The strategies are optimized using a Dynamic Programming algorithm (deterministic for clear-sighted and implicit stochastic for short- and far-sighted). System performance is estimated for an ensemble of future hydro-meteorological projections obtained in the RIWER2030 research project (http://www.lthe.fr/RIWER2030/) from a suite of climate experiments from the EU - ENSEMBLES research project. Our results show that changes in system performance is much more influenced by changes in hydro-meteorological variables than by the choice of strategy modeling. They also show that a simple strategy representation (i.e. clear-sighted management) leads to similar estimates of performance modifications than those obtained with a representation supposedly closer to real world (i.e. the far-sighted management). The Short-Sighted management approach lead to significantly different results, especially when inter-annual inflow variability is high. Key words: Climate change, water resource, impact, management strategy modelling

Improving competitiveness through performance-measurement systems.

PubMed

Stewart, L J; Lockamy, A

2001-12-01

Parallels exist between the competitive pressures felt by U.S. manufacturers over the past 30 years and those experienced by healthcare providers today. Increasing market deregulation, changing government policies, and growing consumerism have altered the healthcare arena. Responding to similar pressures, manufacturers adopted a strategic orientation driven by customer needs and expectations that led them to achieve high performance levels and surpass their competition. The adoption of integrated performance-measurement systems was instrumental in these firms' success. An integrated performance-measurement model for healthcare organizations can help to blend the organization's strategy with the demands of the contemporary healthcare environment. Performance-measurement systems encourage healthcare organizations to focus on their mission and vision by aligning their strategic objectives and resource-allocation decisions with customer requirements.

Three real-time architectures - A study using reward models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sjogren, J. A.; Smith, R. M.

1990-01-01

Numerous applications in the area of computer system analysis can be effectively studied with Markov reward models. These models describe the evolutionary behavior of the computer system by a continuous-time Markov chain, and a reward rate is associated with each state. In reliability/availability models, upstates have reward rate 1, and down states have reward rate zero associated with them. In a combined model of performance and reliability, the reward rate of a state may be the computational capacity, or a related performance measure. Steady-state expected reward rate and expected instantaneous reward rate are clearly useful measures which can be extracted from the Markov reward model. The diversity of areas where Markov reward models may be used is illustrated with a comparative study of three examples of interest to the fault tolerant computing community.

Socio/psychological issues for a Mars mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bluth, B. J.

1986-01-01

Some of the socio/psychological problems expected to accompany such a long duration mission as the trip to Mars are addressed. The emphasis is on those issues which are expected to have a bearing on crew performance. Results from research into aircraft accidents, particularly those related to pilot performance, are discussed briefly, as a limited analog to space flight. Significant comparisons are also made to some aspects of long duration Antarctic stays, submarine missions, and oceanographic vessel voyages. Appropriate lessons learned from U.S. and Russian space flight experiences are provided. Design of space missions and systems to enhance crew performance is discussed at length, considering factors external and internal to the crew. The importance of incorporating such design factors early in the design process is stressed.

Improving receiver performance of diffusive molecular communication with enzymes.

PubMed

Noel, Adam; Cheung, Karen C; Schober, Robert

2014-03-01

This paper studies the mitigation of intersymbol interference in a diffusive molecular communication system using enzymes that freely diffuse in the propagation environment. The enzymes form reaction intermediates with information molecules and then degrade them so that they cannot interfere with future transmissions. A lower bound expression on the expected number of molecules measured at the receiver is derived. A simple binary receiver detection scheme is proposed where the number of observed molecules is sampled at the time when the maximum number of molecules is expected. Insight is also provided into the selection of an appropriate bit interval. The expected bit error probability is derived as a function of the current and all previously transmitted bits. Simulation results show the accuracy of the bit error probability expression and the improvement in communication performance by having active enzymes present.

The Human-Electronic Crew: Is the Team Maturing? Joint GAF/RAF/USAF workshop on Human-Electronic Crew Teamwork (2nd) Held in Ingolstadt, Germany on September 25-28, 1990

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-07-10

a way ahead for future work to explore the cognitive nature of the whole command and control task and a decision support environment . Introduction...existing inferior approach. Second, the nature of how tasks are performed changes in a dynamic environment . For example, the decision-making process...the system must be designed to perform in its expected operational environment . It includes tasks performed by the aircraft, its systems, and each of

The SEASAT-A synthetic aperture radar design and implementation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jordan, R. L.

1978-01-01

The SEASAT-A synthetic aperture imaging radar system is the first imaging radar system intended to be used as a scientific instrument designed for orbital use. The requirement of the radar system is to generate continuous radar imagery with a 100 kilometer swath with 25 meter resolution from an orbital altitude of 800 kilometers. These requirements impose unique system design problems and a description of the implementation is given. The end-to-end system is described, including interactions of the spacecraft, antenna, sensor, telemetry link, recording subsystem, and data processor. Some of the factors leading to the selection of critical system parameters are listed. The expected error sources leading to degradation of image quality are reported as well as estimate given of the expected performance from data obtained during a ground testing of the completed subsystems.

Status of the NASA YF-12 Propulsion Research Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Albers, J. A.

1976-01-01

The YF-12 research program was initiated to establish a technology base for the design of an efficient propulsion system for supersonic cruise aircraft. The major technology areas under investigation in this program are inlet design analysis, propulsion system steady-state performance, propulsion system dynamic performance, inlet and engine control systems, and airframe/propulsion system interactions. The objectives, technical approach, and status of the YF-12 propulsion program are discussed. Also discussed are the results obtained to date by the NASA Ames, Lewis, and Dryden research centers. The expected technical results and proposed future programs are also given. Propulsion system configurations are shown.

Neural Mechanisms Underlying Motivation of Mental Versus Physical Effort

PubMed Central

Daunizeau, Jean; Pessiglione, Mathias

2012-01-01

Mental and physical efforts, such as paying attention and lifting weights, have been shown to involve different brain systems. These cognitive and motor systems, respectively, include cortical networks (prefronto-parietal and precentral regions) as well as subregions of the dorsal basal ganglia (caudate and putamen). Both systems appeared sensitive to incentive motivation: their activity increases when we work for higher rewards. Another brain system, including the ventral prefrontal cortex and the ventral basal ganglia, has been implicated in encoding expected rewards. How this motivational system drives the cognitive and motor systems remains poorly understood. More specifically, it is unclear whether cognitive and motor systems can be driven by a common motivational center or if they are driven by distinct, dedicated motivational modules. To address this issue, we used functional MRI to scan healthy participants while performing a task in which incentive motivation, cognitive, and motor demands were varied independently. We reasoned that a common motivational node should (1) represent the reward expected from effort exertion, (2) correlate with the performance attained, and (3) switch effective connectivity between cognitive and motor regions depending on task demand. The ventral striatum fulfilled all three criteria and therefore qualified as a common motivational node capable of driving both cognitive and motor regions of the dorsal striatum. Thus, we suggest that the interaction between a common motivational system and the different task-specific systems underpinning behavioral performance might occur within the basal ganglia. PMID:22363208

A Descriptive-Comparative Study of Teacher Performance Evaluation on Student Achievement in a Public School District

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Christensen, William Howard

2013-01-01

In 2010, the federal government increased accountability expectations by placing more emphasis on monitoring teacher performance. Using a model that focuses on the New York State teacher evaluation system, that is comprised of a rubric for observation, local student assessment scores, and student state assessment scores, this…

An Ideal Observer Analysis of Visual Working Memory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sims, Chris R.; Jacobs, Robert A.; Knill, David C.

2012-01-01

Limits in visual working memory (VWM) strongly constrain human performance across many tasks. However, the nature of these limits is not well understood. In this article we develop an ideal observer analysis of human VWM by deriving the expected behavior of an optimally performing but limited-capacity memory system. This analysis is framed around…

Enhancing Student Performance in First-Semester General Chemistry Using Active Feedback through the World Wide Web

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chambers, Kent A.; Blake, Bob

2007-01-01

The World Wide Web recently launched a new interactive feedback system for the instructors, so that can better understanding about their students and their problems. The feedback, in combination with tailored lectures is expected to enhance student performance in the first semester of general chemistry.

Performance Considerations for an Optical Jukebox in Document Archival/Retrieval Applications.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spenser, Peter

1991-01-01

Discusses the use of an optical jukebox in a retrieval-intensive application--i.e., for a law firm's litigation support--and examines factors affecting the performance of the jukebox. The imaging system's configuration is explained, document access from workstations is described, and expectations of retrieval times are discussed. (LRW)

Chapter 15: Discussion on Prior Commercial Wood Preservation Systems That Performed Less Well Than Expected

Treesearch

Tor P. Schultz; Darrel D. Nicholas; Patti Lebow

2014-01-01

This article reviews five prior commercial wood preservatives that had efficacy concerns. A common factor among all five systems was minimal or no field testing of the proposed system prior to commercialization. Also, the formulation of a successful preservative was twice changed, and one successful system was employed with a new wood species. There is no intent to...

Towards Scalable 1024 Processor Shared Memory Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ciotti, Robert B.; Thigpen, William W. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

Over the past 3 years, NASA Ames has been involved in a cooperative effort with SGI to develop the largest single system image systems available. Currently a 1024 Origin3OOO is under development, with first boot expected later in the summer of 2001. This paper discusses some early results with a 512p Origin3OOO system and some arcane IRIX system calls that can dramatically improve scaling performance.

Boon and Bane of Being Sure: The Effect of Performance Certainty and Expectancy on Task Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schindler, Simon; Reinhard, Marc-André; Dickhäuser, Oliver

2016-01-01

Previous research has suggested certainty to be an important factor when investigating effects of level of expectancies on future behavior. With the present study, we addressed the interplay of expectancy certainty and level of expectancies regarding task performance. We assumed that certain performance expectancies provide a better basis for the…

A 200kW central receiver CPV system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lasich, John, E-mail: jbl@raygen.com; Thomas, Ian, E-mail: ithomas@raygen.com; Hertaeg, Wolfgang

2015-09-28

Raygen Resources has recently completed a Central Receiver CPV (CSPV) pilot plant in Central Victoria, Australia. The system is under final commissioning and initial operation is expected in late April 2015. The pilot demonstrates a full scale CSPV repeatable unit in a form that is representative of a commercial product and provides a test bed to prove out performance and reliability of the CSPV technology. Extensive testing of the system key components: dense array module, wireless solar powered heliostat and control system has been performed in the laboratory and on sun. Results from this key component testing are presented herein.

Fission Power System Technology for NASA Exploration Missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mason, Lee; Houts, Michael

2011-01-01

Under the NASA Exploration Technology Development Program, and in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE), NASA is conducting a project to mature Fission Power System (FPS) technology. A primary project goal is to develop viable system options to support future NASA mission needs for nuclear power. The main FPS project objectives are as follows: 1) Develop FPS concepts that meet expected NASA mission power requirements at reasonable cost with added benefits over other options. 2) Establish a hardware-based technical foundation for FPS design concepts and reduce overall development risk. 3) Reduce the cost uncertainties for FPS and establish greater credibility for flight system cost estimates. 4) Generate the key products to allow NASA decisionmakers to consider FPS as a preferred option for flight development. In order to achieve these goals, the FPS project has two main thrusts: concept definition and risk reduction. Under concept definition, NASA and DOE are performing trade studies, defining requirements, developing analytical tools, and formulating system concepts. A typical FPS consists of the reactor, shield, power conversion, heat rejection, and power management and distribution (PMAD). Studies are performed to identify the desired design parameters for each subsystem that allow the system to meet the requirements with reasonable cost and development risk. Risk reduction provides the means to evaluate technologies in a laboratory test environment. Non-nuclear hardware prototypes are built and tested to verify performance expectations, gain operating experience, and resolve design uncertainties.

Concentrating Solar Power Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pitz-Paal, R.

2017-07-01

Development of Concentrating Solar Power Systems has started about 40 years ago. A first commercial implementation was performed between 1985 and 1991 in California. However, a drop in gas prices caused a longer period without further deployment. It was overcome in 2007 when new incentive schemes for renewables in Spain and the US enabled a commercial restart. In 2016, almost 100 commercial CSP plants with more than 5GW are installed worldwide. This paper describes the physical background of CSP technology, its technical characteristics and concepts. Furthermore, it discusses system performances, cost structures and the expected advancement.

The 18 and 30 GHz fixed service communications satellite system study. [to determine the cost and performance characteristics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bronstein, L. M.

1979-01-01

The use of the 18 and 30 GHz bands for fixed service satellite communications is examined. The cost and performance expected of 18 and 30 GHz hardware is assessed, selected trunking and direct to user concepts are optimized, and the cost of these systems are estimated. The effect of rain attenuation on the technical and economic viability of the system and methods circumventing the problem are discussed. Technology developments are investigated and cost estimates of these developments are presented.

Recognising Behaviour that Increases Learning: The Possible Role of Incentives in the Teaching Profession. Research Article

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mabogoane, Thabo; Patel, Firoz

2006-01-01

This article argues that incentives can help increase teacher performance and retention. Incentives send out a clear signal of what an education system expects from its teachers; at the same time teachers do respond to incentives inherent in the education system. Many education systems have weak incentives and therefore fail to signal to teachers…

Q-FANSTM for general aviation aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Worobel, R.; Mayo, M. G.

1973-01-01

Continued growth of general aviation over the next 10 to 15 years is dependent on continuing improvement in aircraft safety, utility, performance and cost. Moreover, these advanced aircraft will need to conform to expected government regulations controlling propulsion system emissions and noise levels. An attractive compact low noise propulsor concept, the Q-FANTM when matched to piston, rotary combustion, or gas turbine engines opens up the exciting prospect of new, cleaner airframe designs for the next generation of general aviation aircraft which will provide these improvements and meet the expected noise and pollution restriction of the 1980 time period. New Q-FAN methodology which was derived to predict Q-FAN noise, weight and cost is presented. Based on this methodology Q-FAN propulsion system performance, weight, noise, and cost trends are discussed. Then the impact of this propulsion system type on the complete aircraft is investigated for several representative aircraft size categories. Finally, example conceptual designs for Q-FAN/engine integration and aircraft installations are presented.

Propfan test assessment propfan propulsion system static test report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Orourke, D. M.

1987-01-01

The propfan test assessment (PTA) propulsion system successfully completed over 50 hours of extensive static ground tests, including a 36 hour endurance test. All major systems performed as expected, verifying that the large-scale 2.74 m diameter propfan, engine, gearbox, controls, subsystems, and flight instrumentation will be satisfactory with minor modifications for the upcoming PTA flight tests on the GII aircraft in early 1987. A test envelope was established for static ground operation to maintain propfan blade stresses within limits for propfan rotational speeds up to 105 percent and power levels up to 3880 kW. Transient tests verified stable, predictable response of engine power and propfan speed controls. Installed engine TSFC was better than expected, probably due to the excellent inlet performance coupled with the supercharging effect of the propfan. Near- and far-field noise spectra contained three dominant components, which were dependent on power, tip speed, and direction. The components were propfan blade tones, propfan random noise, and compressor/propfan interaction noise. No significant turbine noise or combustion noise was evident.

Wideband 1.064 micrometer detector evaluation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Green, S. I.

1975-01-01

The performance of several candidate detectors for use as communications detectors in a 400 Mbps 1.064 micrometers laser communication system was evaluated. The results of communication system Bit Error Rate (BER) testing for the best detector of each type are summarized. Complete testing data of each type detector is presented. The 400 Mbps 1.064 micrometers communication system receiver test bed is described. The best communication system results for each detector type are included. Performance comparisons are made at 0.000001 BER, the specification level chosen for satellite laser communication links. The data is presented in two groups. The first indicates the best performance levels that can be expected on normal space laser communication system operation. The second cites the best performance levels which can be achieved by focusing the signal to diffraction limited spots on the photosensitive area.

Reliability of an x-ray system for calibrating and testing personal radiation dosimeters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guimarães, M. C.; Silva, C. R. E.; Rosado, P. H. G.; Cunha, P. G.; Da Silva, T. A.

2018-03-01

Metrology laboratories are expected to maintain standardized radiation beams and traceable standard dosimeters to provide reliable calibrations or testing of detectors. Results of the characterization of an x-ray system for performing calibration and testing of radiation dosimeters used for individual monitoring are shown in this work.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Seyong; Vetter, Jeffrey S

Computer architecture experts expect that non-volatile memory (NVM) hierarchies will play a more significant role in future systems including mobile, enterprise, and HPC architectures. With this expectation in mind, we present NVL-C: a novel programming system that facilitates the efficient and correct programming of NVM main memory systems. The NVL-C programming abstraction extends C with a small set of intuitive language features that target NVM main memory, and can be combined directly with traditional C memory model features for DRAM. We have designed these new features to enable compiler analyses and run-time checks that can improve performance and guard againstmore » a number of subtle programming errors, which, when left uncorrected, can corrupt NVM-stored data. Moreover, to enable recovery of data across application or system failures, these NVL-C features include a flexible directive for specifying NVM transactions. So that our implementation might be extended to other compiler front ends and languages, the majority of our compiler analyses are implemented in an extended version of LLVM's intermediate representation (LLVM IR). We evaluate NVL-C on a number of applications to show its flexibility, performance, and correctness.« less

Heat pipe solar receiver with thermal energy storage

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zimmerman, W. F.

1981-01-01

An HPSR Stirling engine generator system featuring latent heat thermal energy storge, excellent thermal stability and self regulating, effective thermal transport at low system delta T is described. The system was supported by component technology testing of heat pipes and of thermal storage and energy transport models which define the expected performance of the system. Preliminary and detailed design efforts were completed and manufacturing of HPSR components has begun.

System and method for diagnosing EGR performance using NOx sensor

DOEpatents

Mazur, Christopher John

2003-12-23

A method and system for diagnosing a condition of an EGR valve used in an engine system. The EGR valve controls the portion exhaust gases produced by such engine system and fed back to an intake of such engine system. The engine system includes a NOx sensor for measuring NOx in such exhaust. The method includes: determining a time rate of change in NOx measured by the NOx sensor; comparing the determined time rate of change in the measured NOx with a predetermined expected time rate of change in measured NOx; and determining the condition of the EGR valve as a function of such comparison. The method also includes: determining from NOx measured by the NOx sensor and engine operating conditions indications of instances when samples of such measured NOx are greater than an expected maximum NOx level for such engine condition and less than an expected minimum NOx level for such engine condition; and determining the condition of the EGR valve as a function of a statistical analysis of such indications. The method includes determining whether the NOx sensor is faulty and wherein the EGR condition determining includes determining whether the NOx sensor is faulty.

Solar thermal upper stage technology demonstrator liquid hydrogen storage and feed system test program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cady, E. C.

1997-01-01

The Solar Thermal Upper Stage Technology Demonstrator (STUSTD) Liquid Hydrogen Storage and Feed System (LHSFS) Test Program is described. The test program consists of two principal phases. First, an engineering characterization phase includes tests performed to demonstrate and understand the expected tank performance. This includes fill and drain; baseline heat leak; active Thermodynamic Vent System (TVS); and flow tests. After the LHSFS performance is understood and performance characteristics are determined, a 30 day mission simulation test will be conducted. This test will simulate a 30 day transfer mission from low earth orbit (LEO) to geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO). Mission performance predictions, based on the results of the engineering characterization tests, will be used to correlate the results of the 30 day mission simulation.

Impact of Expert Teaching Quality on Novice Academic Performance in the Jigsaw Cooperative Learning Method

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berger, Roland; Hänze, Martin

2015-01-01

We assessed the impact of expert students' instructional quality on the academic performance of novice students in 12th-grade physics classes organized in an expert model of cooperative learning ("jigsaw classroom"). The instructional quality of 129 expert students was measured by a newly developed rating system. As expected, when…

Serious Games as a Malleable Learning Medium: The Effects of Narrative, Gameplay, and Making on Students' Performance and Attitudes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garneli, Varvara; Giannakos, Michail; Chorianopoulos, Konstantinos

2017-01-01

Research into educational technology has evaluated new computer-based systems as tools for improving students' academic performance and engagement. Serious games should also be considered as an alternative pedagogical medium for attracting students with different needs and expectations. In this field study, we empirically examined different forms…

Dynamic lighting system for the learning environment: performance of elementary students.

PubMed

Choi, Kyungah; Suk, Hyeon-Jeong

2016-05-16

This study aims to investigate the effects of lighting color temperatures on elementary students' performance, and thereby propose a dynamic lighting system for a smart learning environment. Three empirical studies were conducted: First, physiological responses were measured as a potential mediator of performance. Second, cognitive and behavioral responses were observed during academic and recess activities. Lastly, the experiment was carried out in a real-life setting with prolonged exposure. With a comprehensive analysis of the three studies, three lighting presets-3500 K, 5000 K, and 6500 K-are suggested for easy, standard, and intensive activity, respectively. The study is expected to act as a good stepping stone for developing dynamic lighting systems to support students' performance in learning environments.

Varying expectancies and attention bias in phobic and non-phobic individuals

PubMed Central

Aue, Tatjana; Guex, Raphaël; Chauvigné, Léa A. S.; Okon-Singer, Hadas

2013-01-01

Phobic individuals display an attention bias to phobia-related information and biased expectancies regarding the likelihood of being faced with such stimuli. Notably, although attention and expectancy biases are core features in phobia and anxiety disorders, these biases have mostly been investigated separately and their causal impact has not been examined. We hypothesized that these biases might be causally related. Spider phobic and low spider fearful control participants performed a visual search task in which they specified whether the deviant animal in a search array was a spider or a bird. Shorter reaction times (RTs) for spiders than for birds in this task reflect an attention bias toward spiders. Participants' expectancies regarding the likelihood of these animals being the deviant in the search array were manipulated by presenting verbal cues. Phobics were characterized by a pronounced and persistent attention bias toward spiders; controls displayed slower RTs for birds than for spiders only when spider cues had been presented. More important, we found RTs for spider detections to be virtually unaffected by the expectancy cues in both groups, whereas RTs for bird detections showed a clear influence of the cues. Our results speak to the possibility that evolution has formed attentional systems that are specific to the detection of phylogenetically salient stimuli such as threatening animals; these systems may not be as penetrable to variations in (experimentally induced) expectancies as those systems that are used for the detection of non-threatening stimuli. In sum, our findings highlight the relation between expectancies and attention engagement in general. However, expectancies may play a greater role in attention engagement in safe environments than in threatening environments. PMID:23964219

Dual-stroke heat pump field performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Veyo, S. E.

1984-11-01

Two nearly identical proprototype systems, each employing a unique dual-stroke compressor, were built and tested. One was installed in an occupied residence in Jeannette, Pa. It has provided the heating and cooling required from that time to the present. The system has functioned without failure of any prototypical advanced components, although early field experience did suffer from deficiencies in the software for the breadboard micro processor control system. Analysis of field performance data indicates a heating performance factor (HSPF) of 8.13 Stu/Wa, and a cooling energy efficiency (SEER) of 8.35 Scu/Wh. Data indicate that the beat pump is oversized for the test house since the observed lower balance point is 3 F whereas 17 F La optimum. Oversizing coupled with the use of resistance heat ot maintain delivered air temperature warmer than 90 F results in the consumption of more resistance heat than expected, more unit cycling, and therefore lower than expected energy efficiency. Our analysis indicates that with optimal mixing the dual stroke heat pump will yield as HSFF 30% better than a single capacity heat pump representative of high efficiency units in the market place today for the observed weather profile.

Performance of the OVERFLOW-MLP and LAURA-MLP CFD Codes on the NASA Ames 512 CPU Origin System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taft, James R.

2000-01-01

The shared memory Multi-Level Parallelism (MLP) technique, developed last year at NASA Ames has been very successful in dramatically improving the performance of important NASA CFD codes. This new and very simple parallel programming technique was first inserted into the OVERFLOW production CFD code in FY 1998. The OVERFLOW-MLP code's parallel performance scaled linearly to 256 CPUs on the NASA Ames 256 CPU Origin 2000 system (steger). Overall performance exceeded 20.1 GFLOP/s, or about 4.5x the performance of a dedicated 16 CPU C90 system. All of this was achieved without any major modification to the original vector based code. The OVERFLOW-MLP code is now in production on the inhouse Origin systems as well as being used offsite at commercial aerospace companies. Partially as a result of this work, NASA Ames has purchased a new 512 CPU Origin 2000 system to further test the limits of parallel performance for NASA codes of interest. This paper presents the performance obtained from the latest optimization efforts on this machine for the LAURA-MLP and OVERFLOW-MLP codes. The Langley Aerothermodynamics Upwind Relaxation Algorithm (LAURA) code is a key simulation tool in the development of the next generation shuttle, interplanetary reentry vehicles, and nearly all "X" plane development. This code sustains about 4-5 GFLOP/s on a dedicated 16 CPU C90. At this rate, expected workloads would require over 100 C90 CPU years of computing over the next few calendar years. It is not feasible to expect that this would be affordable or available to the user community. Dramatic performance gains on cheaper systems are needed. This code is expected to be perhaps the largest consumer of NASA Ames compute cycles per run in the coming year.The OVERFLOW CFD code is extensively used in the government and commercial aerospace communities to evaluate new aircraft designs. It is one of the largest consumers of NASA supercomputing cycles and large simulations of highly resolved full aircraft are routinely undertaken. Typical large problems might require 100s of Cray C90 CPU hours to complete. The dramatic performance gains with the 256 CPU steger system are exciting. Obtaining results in hours instead of months is revolutionizing the way in which aircraft manufacturers are looking at future aircraft simulation work. Figure 2 below is a current state of the art plot of OVERFLOW-MLP performance on the 512 CPU Lomax system. As can be seen, the chart indicates that OVERFLOW-MLP continues to scale linearly with CPU count up to 512 CPUs on a large 35 million point full aircraft RANS simulation. At this point performance is such that a fully converged simulation of 2500 time steps is completed in less than 2 hours of elapsed time. Further work over the next few weeks will improve the performance of this code even further.The LAURA code has been converted to the MLP format as well. This code is currently being optimized for the 512 CPU system. Performance statistics indicate that the goal of 100 GFLOP/s will be achieved by year's end. This amounts to 20x the 16 CPU C90 result and strongly demonstrates the viability of the new parallel systems rapidly solving very large simulations in a production environment.

Multi-Agent Social Simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noda, Itsuki; Stone, Peter; Yamashita, Tomohisa; Kurumatani, Koichi

While ambient intelligence and smart environments (AISE) technologies are expected to provide large impacts to human lives and social activities, it is generally difficult to show utilities and effects of these technologies on societies. AISE technologies are not only methods to improve performance and functionality of existing services in the society, but also frameworks to introduce new systems and services to the society. For example, no one expected beforehand what Internet or mobile phone brought into out social activities and services, although they changes our social system and patterns of behaviors drastically and emerge new services (and risks, unfortunately). The main reason of this difficulty is that actual effects of IT systems appear when enough number of people in the society use the technologies.

A Trajectory Generation Approach for Payload Directed Flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ippolito, Corey A.; Yeh, Yoo-Hsiu

2009-01-01

Presently, flight systems designed to perform payload-centric maneuvers require preconstructed procedures and special hand-tuned guidance modes. To enable intelligent maneuvering via strong coupling between the goals of payload-directed flight and the autopilot functions, there exists a need to rethink traditional autopilot design and function. Research into payload directed flight examines sensor and payload-centric autopilot modes, architectures, and algorithms that provide layers of intelligent guidance, navigation and control for flight vehicles to achieve mission goals related to the payload sensors, taking into account various constraints such as the performance limitations of the aircraft, target tracking and estimation, obstacle avoidance, and constraint satisfaction. Payload directed flight requires a methodology for accurate trajectory planning that lets the system anticipate expected return from a suite of onboard sensors. This paper presents an extension to the existing techniques used in the literature to quickly and accurately plan flight trajectories that predict and optimize the expected return of onboard payload sensors.

Zero-forcing pre-coding for MIMO WiMAX transceivers: Performance analysis and implementation issues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cattoni, A. F.; Le Moullec, Y.; Sacchi, C.

Next generation wireless communication networks are expected to achieve ever increasing data rates. Multi-User Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) is a key technique to obtain the expected performance, because such a technique combines the high capacity achievable using MIMO channel with the benefits of space division multiple access. In MU-MIMO systems, the base stations transmit signals to two or more users over the same channel, for this reason every user can experience inter-user interference. This paper provides a capacity analysis of an online, interference-based pre-coding algorithm able to mitigate the multi-user interference of the MU-MIMO systems in the context of a realistic WiMAX application scenario. Simulation results show that pre-coding can significantly increase the channel capacity. Furthermore, the paper presents several feasibility considerations for implementation of the analyzed technique in a possible FPGA-based software defined radio.

An airborne remote sensing system for urban air quality

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duncan, L. J.; Friedman, E. J.; Keitz, E. L.; Ward, E. A.

1974-01-01

Several NASA sponsored remote sensors and possible airborne platforms were evaluated. Outputs of dispersion models for SO2 and CO pollution in the Washington, D.C. area were used with ground station data to establish the expected performance and limitations of the remote sensors. Aircraft/sensor support requirements are discussed. A method of optimum flight plan determination was made. Cost trade offs were performed. Conclusions about the implementation of various instrument packages as parts of a comprehensive air quality monitoring system in Washington are presented.

Analysis of the factors influencing healthcare professionals' adoption of mobile electronic medical record (EMR) using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) in a tertiary hospital.

PubMed

Kim, Seok; Lee, Kee-Hyuck; Hwang, Hee; Yoo, Sooyoung

2016-01-30

Although the factors that affect the end-user's intention to use a new system and technology have been researched, the previous studies have been theoretical and do not verify the factors that affected the adoption of a new system. Thus, this study aimed to confirm the factors that influence users' intentions to utilize a mobile electronic health records (EMR) system using both a questionnaire survey and a log file analysis that represented the real use of the system. After observing the operation of a mobile EMR system in a tertiary university hospital for seven months, we performed an offline survey regarding the user acceptance of the system based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). We surveyed 942 healthcare professionals over two weeks and performed a structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis to identify the intention to use the system among the participants. Next, we compared the results of the SEM analysis with the results of the analyses of the actual log files for two years to identify further insights into the factors that affected the intention of use. For these analyses, we used SAS 9.0 and AMOS 21. Of the 942 surveyed end-users, 48.3 % (23.2 % doctors and 68.3 % nurses) responded. After eliminating six subjects who completed the survey insincerely, we conducted the SEM analyses on the data from 449 subjects (65 doctors and 385 nurses). The newly suggested model satisfied the standards of model fitness, and the intention to use it was especially high due to the influences of Performance Expectancy on Attitude and Attitude. Based on the actual usage log analyses, both the doctors and nurses used the menus to view the inpatient lists, alerts, and patients' clinical data with high frequency. Specifically, the doctors frequently retrieved laboratory results, and the nurses frequently retrieved nursing notes and used the menu to assume the responsibilities of nursing work. In this study, the end-users' intentions to use the mobile EMR system were particularly influenced by Performance Expectancy and Attitude. In reality, the usage log revealed high-frequency use of the functions to improve the continuity of care and work efficiency. These results indicate the influence of the factor of performance expectancy on the intention to use the mobile EMR system. Consequently, we suggest that when determining the implementation of mobile EMR systems, the functions that are related to workflow with ability to increase performance should be considered first.

Development of a 13 kW Hall Thruster Propulsion System Performance Model for AEPS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stanley, Steven; Allen, May; Goodfellow, Keith; Chew, Gilbert; Rapetti, Ryan; Tofil, Todd; Herman, Dan; Jackson, Jerry; Myers, Roger

2017-01-01

The Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS) program will develop a flight 13kW Hall thruster propulsion system based on NASA's HERMeS thruster. The AEPS system includes the Hall Thruster, the Power Processing Unit (PPU) and the Xenon Flow Controller (XFC). These three primary components must operate together to ensure that the system generates the required combinations of thrust and specific impulse at the required system efficiencies for the desired system lifetime. At the highest level, the AEPS system will be integrated into the spacecraft and will receive power, propellant, and commands from the spacecraft. Power and propellant flow rates will be determined by the throttle set points commanded by the spacecraft. Within the system, the major control loop is between the mass flow rate and thruster current, with time-dependencies required to handle all expected transients, and additional, much slower interactions between the thruster and cathode temperatures, flow controller and PPU. The internal system interactions generally occur on shorter timescales than the spacecraft interactions, though certain failure modes may require rapid responses from the spacecraft. The AEPS system performance model is designed to account for all these interactions in a way that allows evaluation of the sensitivity of the system to expected changes over the planned mission as well as to assess the impacts of normal component and assembly variability during the production phase of the program. This effort describes the plan for the system performance model development, correlation to NASA test data, and how the model will be used to evaluate the critical internal and external interactions. The results will ensure the component requirements do not unnecessarily drive the system cost or overly constrain the development program. Finally, the model will be available to quickly troubleshoot any future unforeseen development challenges.

An Investigation of the Factors which Affect the Career Selection Process of Air Force Systems Command Company Grade Officers.

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-12-01

faction, occupational preference, or the desirability of good performance . Proposition 2, as formulated by Vroom , predicts the force to act in a...Human Performance , 9: 482-503 (1973). Lewis, Logan M. "Expectancy Theory as a Predictive Model of Career Intent, Job Satisfaction , and Institution... Satisfaction , Effort, Performance , and Retention of Naval Aviation Officers," Organizational Behavior and Human Performance , 8: 1-20 (1972). 102 and Lee Roy

High performance dash on warning air mobile, missile system. [intercontinental ballistic missiles - systems analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Levin, A. D.; Castellano, C. R.; Hague, D. S.

1975-01-01

An aircraft-missile system which performs a high acceleration takeoff followed by a supersonic dash to a 'safe' distance from the launch site is presented. Topics considered are: (1) technological feasibility to the dash on warning concept; (2) aircraft and boost trajectory requirements; and (3) partial cost estimates for a fleet of aircraft which provide 200 missiles on airborne alert. Various aircraft boost propulsion systems were studied such as an unstaged cryogenic rocket, an unstaged storable liquid, and a solid rocket staged system. Various wing planforms were also studied. Vehicle gross weights are given. The results indicate that the dash on warning concept will meet expected performance criteria, and can be implemented using existing technology, such as all-aluminum aircraft and existing high-bypass-ratio turbofan engines.

Cost-Efficient Phase Noise Measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perić, Ana; Bjelica, Milan

2014-05-01

In this paper, an automated system for oscillator phase noise measurement is described. The system is primarily intended for use in academic institutions, such as smaller university or research laboratories, as it deploys standard spectrum analyzer and free software. A method to compensate the effect of instrument intrinsic noise is proposed. Through series of experimental tests, good performances of our system are verified and compliance to theoretical expectations is demonstrated.

Neural computing thermal comfort index PMV for the indoor environment intelligent control system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Chang; Chen, Yifei

2013-03-01

Providing indoor thermal comfort and saving energy are two main goals of indoor environmental control system. An intelligent comfort control system by combining the intelligent control and minimum power control strategies for the indoor environment is presented in this paper. In the system, for realizing the comfort control, the predicted mean vote (PMV) is designed as the control goal, and with chastening formulas of PMV, it is controlled to optimize for improving indoor comfort lever by considering six comfort related variables. On the other hand, a RBF neural network based on genetic algorithm is designed to calculate PMV for better performance and overcoming the nonlinear feature of the PMV calculation better. The formulas given in the paper are presented for calculating the expected output values basing on the input samples, and the RBF network model is trained depending on input samples and the expected output values. The simulation result is proved that the design of the intelligent calculation method is valid. Moreover, this method has a lot of advancements such as high precision, fast dynamic response and good system performance are reached, it can be used in practice with requested calculating error.

A next generation, pilot-scale continuous sterilization system for fermentation media

PubMed Central

Lester, M.; Brix, T.; Wong, D.; Nuechterlein, J.

2006-01-01

A new continuous sterilization system was designed, constructed, started up, and qualified for media sterilization for secondary metabolite cultivations, bioconversions, and enzyme production. An existing Honeywell Total Distributed Control 3000-based control system was extended using redundant High performance Process Manager controllers for 98 I/O (input/output) points. This new equipment was retrofitted into an industrial research fermentation pilot plant, designed and constructed in the early 1980s. Design strategies of this new continuous sterilizer system and the expanded control system are described and compared with the literature (including dairy and bio-waste inactivation applications) and the weaknesses of the prior installation for expected effectiveness. In addition, the reasoning behind selection of some of these improved features has been incorporated. Examples of enhancements adopted include sanitary heat exchanger (HEX) design, incorporation of a “flash” cooling HEX, on-line calculation of Fo and Ro, and use of field I/O modules located near the vessel to permit low-cost addition of new instrumentation. Sterilizer performance also was characterized over the expected range of operating conditions. Differences between design and observed temperature, pressure, and other profiles were quantified and investigated. PMID:16496186

Study on the application of NASA energy management techniques for control of a terrestrial solar water heating system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swanson, T. D.; Ollendorf, S.

1979-01-01

This paper addresses the potential for enhanced solar system performance through sophisticated control of the collector loop flow rate. Computer simulations utilizing the TRNSYS solar energy program were performed to study the relative effect on system performance of eight specific control algorithms. Six of these control algorithms are of the proportional type: two are concave exponentials, two are simple linear functions, and two are convex exponentials. These six functions are typical of what might be expected from future, more advanced, controllers. The other two algorithms are of the on/off type and are thus typical of existing control devices. Results of extensive computer simulations utilizing actual weather data indicate that proportional control does not significantly improve system performance. However, it is shown that thermal stratification in the liquid storage tank may significantly improve performance.

Peer norm guesses and self-reported attitudes towards performance-related pay.

PubMed

Georgantzis, Nikolaos; Vasileiou, Efi; Kotzaivazoglou, Iordanis

2017-01-01

Due to a variety of reasons, people see themselves differently from how they see others. This basic asymmetry has broad consequences. It leads people to judge themselves and their own behavior differently from how they judge others and others' behavior. This research, first, studies the perceptions and attitudes of Greek Public Sector employees towards the introduction of Performance-Related Pay (PRP) systems trying to reveal whether there is a divergence between individual attitudes and guesses on peers' attitudes. Secondly, it is investigated whether divergence between own self-reported and peer norm guesses could mediate the acceptance of the aforementioned implementation once job status has been controlled for. This study uses a unique questionnaire of 520 observations which was designed to address the questions outlined in the preceding lines. Our econometric results indicate that workers have heterogeneous attitudes and hold heterogeneous beliefs on others' expectations regarding a successful implementation of PRP. Specifically, individual perceptions are less skeptical towards PRP than are beliefs on others' attitudes. Additionally, we found that managers are significantly more optimistic than lower rank employees regarding the expected success of PRP systems in their jobs. However, they both expect their peers to be more negative than they themselves are.

Peer norm guesses and self-reported attitudes towards performance-related pay

PubMed Central

Vasileiou, Efi; Kotzaivazoglou, Iordanis

2017-01-01

Due to a variety of reasons, people see themselves differently from how they see others. This basic asymmetry has broad consequences. It leads people to judge themselves and their own behavior differently from how they judge others and others’ behavior. This research, first, studies the perceptions and attitudes of Greek Public Sector employees towards the introduction of Performance-Related Pay (PRP) systems trying to reveal whether there is a divergence between individual attitudes and guesses on peers’ attitudes. Secondly, it is investigated whether divergence between own self-reported and peer norm guesses could mediate the acceptance of the aforementioned implementation once job status has been controlled for. This study uses a unique questionnaire of 520 observations which was designed to address the questions outlined in the preceding lines. Our econometric results indicate that workers have heterogeneous attitudes and hold heterogeneous beliefs on others’ expectations regarding a successful implementation of PRP. Specifically, individual perceptions are less skeptical towards PRP than are beliefs on others’ attitudes. Additionally, we found that managers are significantly more optimistic than lower rank employees regarding the expected success of PRP systems in their jobs. However, they both expect their peers to be more negative than they themselves are. PMID:28414737

Expert judgments about RD&D and the future of nuclear energy.

PubMed

Anadón, Laura D; Bosetti, Valentina; Bunn, Matthew; Catenacci, Michela; Lee, Audrey

2012-11-06

Probabilistic estimates of the cost and performance of future nuclear energy systems under different scenarios of government research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) spending were obtained from 30 U.S. and 30 European nuclear technology experts. We used a novel elicitation approach which combined individual and group elicitation. With no change from current RD&D funding levels, experts on average expected current (Gen. III/III+) designs to be somewhat more expensive in 2030 than they were in 2010, and they expected the next generation of designs (Gen. IV) to be more expensive still as of 2030. Projected costs of proposed small modular reactors (SMRs) were similar to those of Gen. IV systems. The experts almost unanimously recommended large increases in government support for nuclear RD&D (generally 2-3 times current spending). The majority expected that such RD&D would have only a modest effect on cost, but would improve performance in other areas, such as safety, waste management, and uranium resource utilization. The U.S. and E.U. experts were in relative agreement regarding how government RD&D funds should be allocated, placing particular focus on very high temperature reactors, sodium-cooled fast reactors, fuels and materials, and fuel cycle technologies.

MOGO: Model-Oriented Global Optimization of Petascale Applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Malony, Allen D.; Shende, Sameer S.

The MOGO project was initiated under in 2008 under the DOE Program Announcement for Software Development Tools for Improved Ease-of-Use on Petascale systems (LAB 08-19). The MOGO team consisted of Oak Ridge National Lab, Argonne National Lab, and the University of Oregon. The overall goal of MOGO was to attack petascale performance analysis by developing a general framework where empirical performance data could be efficiently and accurately compared with performance expectations at various levels of abstraction. This information could then be used to automatically identify and remediate performance problems. MOGO was be based on performance models derived from application knowledge,more » performance experiments, and symbolic analysis. MOGO was able to make reasonable impact on existing DOE applications and systems. New tools and techniques were developed, which, in turn, were used on important DOE applications on DOE LCF systems to show significant performance improvements.« less

EOP and scale from continuous VLBI observing: CONT campaigns to future VGOS networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

MacMillan, D. S.

2017-07-01

Continuous (CONT) VLBI campaigns have been carried out about every 3 years since 2002. The basic idea of these campaigns is to acquire state-of-the-art VLBI data over a continuous time period of about 2 weeks to demonstrate the highest accuracy of which the current VLBI system is capable. In addition, these campaigns support scientific studies such as investigations of high-resolution Earth rotation, reference frame stability, and daily to sub-daily site motions. The size of the CONT networks and the observing data rate have increased steadily since 1994. Performance of these networks based on reference frame scale precision and polar motion/LOD comparison with global navigation satellite system (GNSS) earth orientation parameters (EOP) has been substantially better than the weekly operational R1 and R4 series. The precisions of CONT EOP and scale have improved by more than a factor of two since 2002. Polar motion precision based on the WRMS difference between VLBI and GNSS for the most recent CONT campaigns is at the 30 μas level, which is comparable to that of GNSS. The CONT campaigns are a natural precursor to the planned future VLBI observing networks, which are expected to observe continuously. We compare the performance of the most recent CONT campaigns in 2011 and 2014 with the expected performance of the future VLBI global observing system network using simulations. These simulations indicate that the expected future precision of scale and EOP will be at least 3 times better than the current CONT precision.

SU-E-I-43: Pediatric CT Dose and Image Quality Optimization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stevens, G; Singh, R

2014-06-01

Purpose: To design an approach to optimize radiation dose and image quality for pediatric CT imaging, and to evaluate expected performance. Methods: A methodology was designed to quantify relative image quality as a function of CT image acquisition parameters. Image contrast and image noise were used to indicate expected conspicuity of objects, and a wide-cone system was used to minimize scan time for motion avoidance. A decision framework was designed to select acquisition parameters as a weighted combination of image quality and dose. Phantom tests were used to acquire images at multiple techniques to demonstrate expected contrast, noise and dose.more » Anthropomorphic phantoms with contrast inserts were imaged on a 160mm CT system with tube voltage capabilities as low as 70kVp. Previously acquired clinical images were used in conjunction with simulation tools to emulate images at different tube voltages and currents to assess human observer preferences. Results: Examination of image contrast, noise, dose and tube/generator capabilities indicates a clinical task and object-size dependent optimization. Phantom experiments confirm that system modeling can be used to achieve the desired image quality and noise performance. Observer studies indicate that clinical utilization of this optimization requires a modified approach to achieve the desired performance. Conclusion: This work indicates the potential to optimize radiation dose and image quality for pediatric CT imaging. In addition, the methodology can be used in an automated parameter selection feature that can suggest techniques given a limited number of user inputs. G Stevens and R Singh are employees of GE Healthcare.« less

Development of a 66kV Class Rectifier Type Fault Current Limiter System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohkuma, Takeshi; Sato, Yoshibumi; Takahashi, Yoshihisa; Tokuda, Noriaki; Murai, Masaki; Nagasaki, Norihisa; Yuguchi, Kyousuke

A fault current limiter (FCL) is extensively expected to suppress fault current, particularly required for trunk power systems heavily connected high-voltage transmission lines, such as 500 kV class power system which constitutes the nucleus of the electric power system. By installing such FCL in the power system, the system interconnection is possible without the need to raise the capacity of the circuit breakers, and it is expected that FCLs may be used in more efficient power system design. For these reasons, FCLs based on various principles of operation have been developed in the world. In this paper, we have proposed a new type of FCL system, consisting of solid-state diodes, DC coil and bypass AC coil, and described the specification of distribution power system and 66 kV class FCL model. Also we have proposed a 66 kV class prototype single-phase model and the current limiting performance of this model was evaluated using a short circuit generator.

Inter-Annotator Agreement and the Upper Limit on Machine Performance: Evidence from Biomedical Natural Language Processing.

PubMed

Boguslav, Mayla; Cohen, Kevin Bretonnel

2017-01-01

Human-annotated data is a fundamental part of natural language processing system development and evaluation. The quality of that data is typically assessed by calculating the agreement between the annotators. It is widely assumed that this agreement between annotators is the upper limit on system performance in natural language processing: if humans can't agree with each other about the classification more than some percentage of the time, we don't expect a computer to do any better. We trace the logical positivist roots of the motivation for measuring inter-annotator agreement, demonstrate the prevalence of the widely-held assumption about the relationship between inter-annotator agreement and system performance, and present data that suggest that inter-annotator agreement is not, in fact, an upper bound on language processing system performance.

Initial operation of a solar heating and cooling system in a full-scale solar building test facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knoll, R. H.; Miao, D.; Hamlet, I. L.; Jensen, R. N.

1976-01-01

The Solar Building Test Facility (SBTF) was constructed to advance the technology for heating and cooling of office buildings with solar energy. Its purposes are to (1) test system components which include high-performing collectors, (2) test the performance of a complete solar heating and cooling system, (3) investigate component interactions, and (4) investigate durability, maintenance and reliability of components. The SBTF consists of a 50,000 square foot office building modified to accept solar heated water for operation of an absorption air conditioner and for the baseboard heating system. A 12,666 square foot solar collector field with a 30,000 gallon storage tank provides the solar heated water. A description of the system and the collectors selected is printed along with the objectives, test approach, expected system performance, and some preliminary results.

Centaur Standard Shroud (CSS) cryogenic unlatch tests

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1973-01-01

Cryogenic tanking and partial jettison (unlatch) tests were performed on a full scale Centaur vehicle and Centaur Standard Shroud (CSS) to develop and qualify the CSS insulation system, the CSS and Centaur ground-hold purge systems, and the Centaur hydrogen tank flight vent system. Operation of the shroud/Centaur pyrotechnic systems, seals, and the shroud jettison springs, hinges, and other separation systems was demonstrated by a partial jettison of the shroud into catch nets. The Centaur tanks were filled with liquid hydrogen and liquid nitrogen. Prelaunch operations were performed, and data taken to establish system performances. Results from the initial tests showed a higher than expected heat transfer rate to the Centaur hydrogen tank. In addition, the release mechanism for the forward seal between the Centaur and the CSS did not function properly, and the seal was torn during jettison of the shroud.

Ensuring Quality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Erickson, Paul W.

2009-01-01

This article discusses why building commissioning for education institutions is needed. School facilities owners and operators should confirm whether their building systems are performing as expected. The more comprehensive the confirmation process, the greater opportunity there is for reducing operations and maintenance costs, and improving…

Photon nonlinear mixing in subcarrier multiplexed quantum key distribution systems.

PubMed

Capmany, José

2009-04-13

We provide, for the first time to our knowledge, an analysis of the influence of nonlinear photon mixing on the end to end quantum bit error rate (QBER) performance of subcarrier multiplexed quantum key distribution systems. The results show that negligible impact is to be expected for modulation indexes in the range of 2%.

Towards a framework for selection of supervisory control for commercial buildings: HVAC system energy efficiency

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ramachandran, Thiagarajan; Kundu, Soumya; Chen, Yan

This paper develops and utilizes an optimization based framework to investigate the maximal energy efficiency potentially attainable by HVAC system operation in a non-predictive context. Performance is evaluated relative to the existing state of the art set point reset strategies. The expected efficiency increase driven by operation constraints relaxations is evaluated.

Towards a framework for selection of supervisory control for commercial buildings: HVAC system energy efficiency

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ramachandran, Thiagarajan; Kundu, Soumya; Chen, Yan

This paper develops and utilizes an optimization based framework to investigate the maximal energy efficiency potentially attainable by HVAC system operation in a non-predictive context. Performance is evaluated relative to the existing state of the art set-point reset strategies. The expected efficiency increase driven by operation constraints relaxations is evaluated.

Managing Performance in the System of Support: Rubric with 52 Indicators, Explanations, and Exemplars

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hanes, Susan; Kerins, Thomas; Perlman, Carole; Redding, Sam; Ross, Steven

2013-01-01

The Building State Capacity and Productivity (BSCP) Center released a report outlining a process for state education agencies (SEAs) to evaluate and improve their System of Recognition, Accountability, and Support (SRAS). The federal government now sets high expectations for state and local use of federal dollars while allowing greater state…

Spectral contents readout of birefringent sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Redner, Alex S.

1989-01-01

The technical objective of this research program was to develop a birefringent sensor, capable of measuring strain/stress up to 2000 F and a readout system based on Spectral Contents analysis. As a result of the research work, a data acquisition system was developed, capable of measuring strain birefringence in a sensor at 2000 F, with multi-point static and dynamic capabilities. The system uses a dedicated spectral analyzer for evaluation of stress-birefringence and a PC-based readout. Several sensor methods were evaluated. Fused silica was found most satisfactory. In the final evaluation, measurements were performed up to 2000 F and the system performance exceeded expectations.

Optical zoom system realized by lateral shift of Alvarez freeform lenses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, Changlun; Xin, Qing; Zang, Yue

2018-04-01

We present and characterize an optical zoom system with lateral movement of an Alvarez freeform lens for imaging. Mathematical analysis for determining the required freeform surfaces is presented, and optical simulations are performed to confirm and refine the expected zooming behavior. A 3 × optical zoom system that was equivalent to a photographic objective lens with focal length ranging from 34.5 to 103.5 mm and field of view ranging from 60 deg to 22.4 deg is developed by using two pairs of Alvarez lenses and conventional aspheric lenses. The optical performances of the Alvarez zoom system are demonstrated experimentally.

Patient-centredness in integrated healthcare delivery systems - needs, expectations and priorities for organised healthcare systems.

PubMed

Juhnke, Christin; Mühlbacher, Axel C

2013-01-01

Patient-centred healthcare is becoming a more significant success factor in the design of integrated healthcare systems. The objective of this study is to structure a patient-relevant hierarchy of needs and expectations for the design of organised healthcare delivery systems. A questionnaire with 84 items was conducted with N = 254 healthcare experts and N = 670 patients. Factor analyses were performed using SPSS©18. The number of factors retained was controlled by Kaiser's criterion, validation of screeplots and interpretability of the items. Cronbach's α was used to assess the internal consistency of the subscales. Exploratory factor analysis led to 24 factors in the expert sample and 20 in the patient sample. After analysing the screeplots, confirmatory factor analyses were computed for 7-factor solutions accounting for 42.963% of the total variance and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin of 0.914 for the patients (experts: 38.427%, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin = 0.797). Cronbach's α ranged between 0.899 and 0.756. Based on the analysis, coordinated care could be differentiated into seven dimensions: access, data and information, service and infrastructure, professional care, interpersonal care, individualised care, continuity and coordination. The study provides insight into patient and experts expectations towards the organisation of integrated healthcare delivery systems. If providers and payers can take into account patient needs and expectations while implementing innovative healthcare delivery systems, greater acceptance and satisfaction will be achieved. In the best case, this will lead to better adherence resulting in better clinical outcomes.

Unmanned spacecraft for surveying earth's resources

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

George, T. A.

1970-01-01

The technical objectives and payloads for ERTS A and B are discussed. The primary emphasis is on coverage of the United States and the ocean areas immediately adjacent, using 3-camera return beam vidicon TV system, 4-channel multispectral point scanner, data collection system, and wideband video tape recorder. The expected performance and system characteristics of the RBV system and the 4-band multispectral object plane point scanner are outlined. Ground station considerations are also given.

Intelligent Systems for Power Management and Distribution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Button, Robert M.

2002-01-01

The motivation behind an advanced technology program to develop intelligent power management and distribution (PMAD) systems is described. The program concentrates on developing digital control and distributed processing algorithms for PMAD components and systems to improve their size, weight, efficiency, and reliability. Specific areas of research in developing intelligent DC-DC converters and distributed switchgear are described. Results from recent development efforts are presented along with expected future benefits to the overall PMAD system performance.

Team Cohesion, Player Attitude, and Performance Expectations in Simulation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wellington, William J.; Faria, A. J.

1996-01-01

Examines the relationship of team cohesion, participant attitude, and performance expectations to actual performance results in a simulation competition. Findings indicate a strong relationship between beginning team cohesion and performance expectations and final game performance, but little relationship between beginning participant attitudes…

Modeling update for the Thirty Meter Telescope laser guide star dual-conjugate adaptive optics system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilles, Luc; Wang, Lianqi; Ellerbroek, Brent

2010-07-01

This paper describes the modeling efforts undertaken in the past couple of years to derive wavefront error (WFE) performance estimates for the Narrow Field Infrared Adaptive Optics System (NFIRAOS), which is the facility laser guide star (LGS) dual-conjugate adaptive optics (AO) system for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). The estimates describe the expected performance of NFIRAOS as a function of seeing on Mauna Kea, zenith angle, and galactic latitude (GL). They have been developed through a combination of integrated AO simulations, side analyses, allocations, lab and lidar experiments.

Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA) 2016 Self-Assessment Report for Idaho National Laboratory (INL)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alvarez, Juan

This report provides Battelle Energy Alliance’s (BEA) self-assessment of performance for the period of October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2016, as evaluated against the goals, performance objectives, and notable outcomes defined in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Performance Evaluation and Measurement Plan (PEMP). BEA took into consideration and consolidated all input provided from internal and external sources (e.g., Contractor Assurance System [CAS], program and customer feedback, external and independent reviews, and Department of Energy [DOE] Idaho Operations Office [ID] quarterly PEMP reports and Quarterly Evaluation Reports). The overall performance of BEA during this rating period was self-assessed as “Excellent,”more » exceeding expectations of performance in Goal 1.0, “Efficient and Effective Mission Accomplishment”; Goal 2.0, “Efficient and Effective Stewardship and Operation of Research Facilities”; and Goal 3.0, “Sound and Competent Leadership and Stewardship of the Laboratory.” BEA met or exceeded expectations for Mission Support Goals 4.0 through 7.0 assessing a final multiplier of 1.0. Table 1 documents BEA’s assessment of performance to the goals and individual performance objectives. Table 2 documents completion of the notable outcomes. A more-detailed assessment of performance for each individual performance objective is documented in the closeout reports (see the PEMP reporting system). Table 3 includes an update to “Performance Challenges” as reported in the FY 2015 Self-Assessment Report.« less

Cost effective solar hot water system for Econo-Travel Motor Hotel located at Richmond, Virginia. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1979-09-01

The final report is presented of a cost effective solar hot water heating system installed on the Econo-Travel Motor Hotel at 5408 Williamsburg Road, Richmond, Virginia. The description of the system is given along with the final cost breakdown, expected performance data and expected payback time for the installed system is estimated to be approximately five (5) years instead of the 6.65 years estimated for the proposal. The additional savings is due to the reduction in the peak demand charge since the electric hot water heaters are not required to operate at the same time each morning as the dryersmore » used for the laundry. The success of the system will be determined by the reduction in the utility cost and reduced use of our fossil fuels. The results shown in the hotel's monthly electricity bills indicate that this goal has been accomplished.« less

Markov reward processes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, R. M.

1991-01-01

Numerous applications in the area of computer system analysis can be effectively studied with Markov reward models. These models describe the behavior of the system with a continuous-time Markov chain, where a reward rate is associated with each state. In a reliability/availability model, upstates may have reward rate 1 and down states may have reward rate zero associated with them. In a queueing model, the number of jobs of certain type in a given state may be the reward rate attached to that state. In a combined model of performance and reliability, the reward rate of a state may be the computational capacity, or a related performance measure. Expected steady-state reward rate and expected instantaneous reward rate are clearly useful measures of the Markov reward model. More generally, the distribution of accumulated reward or time-averaged reward over a finite time interval may be determined from the solution of the Markov reward model. This information is of great practical significance in situations where the workload can be well characterized (deterministically, or by continuous functions e.g., distributions). The design process in the development of a computer system is an expensive and long term endeavor. For aerospace applications the reliability of the computer system is essential, as is the ability to complete critical workloads in a well defined real time interval. Consequently, effective modeling of such systems must take into account both performance and reliability. This fact motivates our use of Markov reward models to aid in the development and evaluation of fault tolerant computer systems.

Stockholder expectations should temper aggressive strategic planning.

PubMed

Lowell, W

1995-04-14

Too often, healthcare organizations make strategic plans with performance targets that don't justify the company's stock price. The result: They never really know if those plans will create value--even if they are fully achieved. In the race to provide superior returns to shareholders, companies must instead keep one eye on the competitive marketplace and the other on equity market expectations. In this article, Wayne Lowell, CFO of PacifiCare Health System, explains how his organization learned to do just that.

The Ethics of Setting Course Expectations to Manipulate Student Evaluations of Teaching Effectiveness in Higher Education: An Examination of the Ethical Dilemmas Created by the Use of SETEs and a Proposal for Further Study and Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Neal, Catherine S.; Elliott, Teressa

2009-01-01

Because student evaluations of teaching effectiveness (SETEs) are an important and widely used tool used in the evaluation and reward systems for faculty members in higher education, a discussion and analysis of the ethical problems that may arise as a result of the conflict created by expectations of performance is provided. This discussion…

A model for plant lighting system selection.

PubMed

Ciolkosz, D E; Albright, L D; Sager, J C; Langhans, R W

2002-01-01

A decision model is presented that compares lighting systems for a plant growth scenario and chooses the most appropriate system from a given set of possible choices. The model utilizes a Multiple Attribute Utility Theory approach, and incorporates expert input and performance simulations to calculate a utility value for each lighting system being considered. The system with the highest utility is deemed the most appropriate system. The model was applied to a greenhouse scenario, and analyses were conducted to test the model's output for validity. Parameter variation indicates that the model performed as expected. Analysis of model output indicates that differences in utility among the candidate lighting systems were sufficiently large to give confidence that the model's order of selection was valid.

Brain Structure-Function Couplings: Year 2 Accomplishments and Programmatic Plans

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-01

performance through individual-specific neurotechnologies and enhance Soldier protection technologies to minimize neural injury. The long-term vision of this...envision pathways that enable our basic science accomplishments to foster development of revolutionary Soldier neurotechnologies and Soldier protection...improve Soldier-system performance with Soldier-specific neurotechnologies . We expect mid-term impact with models linking structure and function that can

Accounting for the Gender Gaps in Student Performance in Reading and Mathematics: Evidence from 31 Countries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marks, Gary N.

2008-01-01

In most countries, girls perform better than boys in reading but worse in mathematics. However, there is much variation between countries. Explanations for the gender gaps include the organisation of the school system, students' expectations and macro-societal factors. The purpose of this paper is to account for gender differences in both reading…

Teacher Work Motivation in the Era of Extrinsic Incentives: Performance Goals and Pro-Social Commitments in the Service of Equity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mintrop, Rick; Ordenes, Miguel

2017-01-01

Mindful of the withering of high-stakes accountability and disappointing data from pay for performance evaluations in the US, we ask why management by extrinsic incentives and organizational goal setting may have been far less powerful than designers of accountability and extrinsic incentive systems had expected. We explore how…

Multiconjugate adaptive optics for the Swedish ELT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gontcharov, Alexander; Owner-Petersen, Mette

2000-08-01

The Swedish ELT is intended to be a 50 m telescope with multiconjugate adaptive optics integrated directly as a crucial part of the optical design. In this paper we discuss the effects of the distributed atmospheric turbulence with regard to the choice of optimal geometry of the telescope. Originally the basic system was foreseen to be a Gregorian with an adaptive secondary correcting adequately for nearby turbulences in both the infrared and visual regions, but if the performance degradation expected from changing the basic system to a Cassegrain keeping the adaptive secondary could be accepted, the constructional costs would be significantly reduced. In order to clarify this question, a simple analytical model describing the performance employing a single deformable mirror for adaptive correction has been developed and used for analysis. The quantitative results shown here relates to a wavelength of 2.2 micrometers and are based on the seven layer atmospheric model for the Cerro Pachon site, which is believed to be a good representative of most good astronomical sites. As a consequence of the analysis no performance degradation is expected from changing the core telescope to a Cassegrain (Ritchey- Chretien). The paper presents the layout and optical performance of the new design.

An Evaluation Method for PV Systems by using Limited Data Item

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oozeki, Takashi; Izawa, Toshiyasu; Otani, Kenji; Tsuzuku, Ken; Koike, Hisafumi; Kurokawa, Kosuke

Beside photovoltaic (PV) systems are recently expected to introduce around Japan, almost all of them have not been taken care after established since PV systems are called maintenance free. In fact, there are few troubles about PV operations behind owners of PV systems because characteristics of them cannot be identified completely such as the ideal output energy. Therefore, it is very important to evaluate the characteristics of them. For evaluating them, equipments of measuring are required, and they, especially Pyrheliometer, are expensive as much as owners of the PV system cannot equip usually. Consequently, An evaluation method which can reveal the performance of operation such as the performance ratio with a very few kinds of data is necessary. In this paper, proposed method can evaluate performance ratio, shading losses, inverter efficiency losses by using only system output data items. The adequacies of the method are indicated by comparing with actual data and field survey results. As a result, the method is intended to be checking tool of PV system performance.

Imaging performance and challenges of 10nm and 7nm logic nodes with 0.33 NA EUV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Setten, Eelco; Schiffelers, Guido; Psara, Eleni; Oorschot, Dorothe; Davydova, Natalia; Finders, Jo; Depre, Laurent; Farys, Vincent

2014-10-01

The NXE:3300B is ASML's third generation EUV system and has an NA of 0.33 and is positioned at a resolution of 22nm, which can be extended down to 18nm and below with off-axis illumination at full transmission. Multiple systems have been qualified and installed at customers. The NXE:3300B succeeds the NXE:3100 system (NA of 0.25), which has allowed customers to gain valuable EUV experience. It is expected that EUV will be adopted first for critical Logic layers at 10nm and 7nm nodes, such as Metal-1, to avoid the complexity of triple patterning schemes using ArF immersion. In this paper we will evaluate the imaging performance of (sub-)10nm node Logic M1 on the NXE:3300B EUV scanner. We will show the line-end performance of tip-to-tip and tip-to-space test features for various pitches and illumination settings and the performance enhancement obtained by means of a 1st round of OPC. We will also show the magnitude of local variations. The Logic M1 cell is evaluated at various critical features to identify hot spots. A 2nd round OPC model was calibrated of which we will show the model accuracy and ability to predict hot spots in the Logic M1 cell. The calibrated OPC model is used to predict the expected performance at 7nm node Logic using off-axis illumination at 16nm minimum half pitch. Initial results of L/S exposed on the NXE:3300B at 7nm node resolutions will be shown. An outlook is given to future 0.33 NA systems on the ASML roadmap with enhanced illuminator capabilities to further improve performance and process window.

Design and Test Plans for a Non-Nuclear Fission Power System Technology Demonstration Unit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mason, Lee; Palac, Donald; Gibson, Marc; Houts, Michael; Warren, John; Werner, James; Poston, David; Qualls, Arthur Lou; Radel, Ross; Harlow, Scott

2012-01-01

A joint National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Department of Energy (DOE) team is developing concepts and technologies for affordable nuclear Fission Power Systems (FPSs) to support future exploration missions. A key deliverable is the Technology Demonstration Unit (TDU). The TDU will assemble the major elements of a notional FPS with a non-nuclear reactor simulator (Rx Sim) and demonstrate system-level performance in thermal vacuum. The Rx Sim includes an electrical resistance heat source and a liquid metal heat transport loop that simulates the reactor thermal interface and expected dynamic response. A power conversion unit (PCU) generates electric power utilizing the liquid metal heat source and rejects waste heat to a heat rejection system (HRS). The HRS includes a pumped water heat removal loop coupled to radiator panels suspended in the thermal-vacuum facility. The basic test plan is to subject the system to realistic operating conditions and gather data to evaluate performance sensitivity, control stability, and response characteristics. Upon completion of the testing, the technology is expected to satisfy the requirements for Technology Readiness Level 6 (System Demonstration in an Operational and Relevant Environment) based on the use of high-fidelity hardware and prototypic software tested under realistic conditions and correlated with analytical predictions.

Design and Test Plans for a Non-Nuclear Fission Power System Technology Demonstration Unit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mason, L.; Palac, D.; Gibson, M.; Houts, M.; Warren, J.; Werner, J.; Poston, D.; Qualls, L.; Radel, R.; Harlow, S.

A joint National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Department of Energy (DOE) team is developing concepts and technologies for affordable nuclear Fission Power Systems (FPSs) to support future exploration missions. A key deliverable is the Technology Demonstration Unit (TDU). The TDU will assemble the major elements of a notional FPS with a non-nuclear reactor simulator (Rx Sim) and demonstrate system-level performance in thermal vacuum. The Rx Sim includes an electrical resistance heat source and a liquid metal heat transport loop that simulates the reactor thermal interface and expected dynamic response. A power conversion unit (PCU) generates electric power utilizing the liquid metal heat source and rejects waste heat to a heat rejection system (HRS). The HRS includes a pumped water heat removal loop coupled to radiator panels suspended in the thermal-vacuum facility. The basic test plan is to subject the system to realistic operating conditions and gather data to evaluate performance sensitivity, control stability, and response characteristics. Upon completion of the testing, the technology is expected to satisfy the requirements for Technology Readiness Level 6 (System Demonstration in an Operational and Relevant Environment) based on the use of high-fidelity hardware and prototypic software tested under realistic conditions and correlated with analytical predictions.

Implementation of a channelized Hotelling observer model to assess image quality of x-ray angiography systems.

PubMed

Favazza, Christopher P; Fetterly, Kenneth A; Hangiandreou, Nicholas J; Leng, Shuai; Schueler, Beth A

2015-01-01

Evaluation of flat-panel angiography equipment through conventional image quality metrics is limited by the scope of standard spatial-domain image quality metric(s), such as contrast-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution, or by restricted access to appropriate data to calculate Fourier domain measurements, such as modulation transfer function, noise power spectrum, and detective quantum efficiency. Observer models have been shown capable of overcoming these limitations and are able to comprehensively evaluate medical-imaging systems. We present a spatial domain-based channelized Hotelling observer model to calculate the detectability index (DI) of our different sized disks and compare the performance of different imaging conditions and angiography systems. When appropriate, changes in DIs were compared to expectations based on the classical Rose model of signal detection to assess linearity of the model with quantum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) theory. For these experiments, the estimated uncertainty of the DIs was less than 3%, allowing for precise comparison of imaging systems or conditions. For most experimental variables, DI changes were linear with expectations based on quantum SNR theory. DIs calculated for the smallest objects demonstrated nonlinearity with quantum SNR theory due to system blur. Two angiography systems with different detector element sizes were shown to perform similarly across the majority of the detection tasks.

Shuttle STS-2 mission communication systems RF coverage and performance predictions. Volume 1: Ascent

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Porter, J. A.; Gibson, J. S.; Kroll, Q. D.; Loh, Y. C.

1981-01-01

The RF communications capabilities and nominally expected performance for the ascent phase of the second orbital flight of the shuttle are provided. Predicted performance is given mainly in the form of plots of signal strength versus elapsed mission time for the STDN (downlink) and shuttle orbiter (uplink) receivers for the S-band PM and FM, and UHF systems. Performance of the NAV and landing RF systems is treated for RTLS abort, since in this case the spacecraft will loop around and return to the launch site. NAV and landing RF systems include TACAN, MSBLS, and C-band altimeter. Signal strength plots were produced by a computer program which combines the spacecraft trajectory, antenna patterns, transmit and receive performance characteristics, and system mathematical models. When available, measured spacecraft parameters were used in the predictions; otherwise, specified values were used. Specified ground station parameter values were also used. Thresholds and other criteria on the graphs are explained.

Cognitively Elite, Cognitively Normal, and Cognitively Impaired Aging: Neurocognitive Status and Stability Moderate Memory Performance

PubMed Central

Dixon, Roger A.; de Frias, Cindy M.

2014-01-01

Objective Although recent theories of brain and cognitive aging distinguish among normal, exceptional, and impaired groups, further empirical evidence is required. We adapted and applied standard procedures for classifying groups of cognitively impaired (CI) and cognitively normal (CN) older adults to a third classification, cognitively healthy, exceptional, or elite (CE) aging. We then examined concurrent and two-wave longitudinal performance on composite variables of episodic, semantic, and working memory. Method We began with a two-wave source sample from the Victoria Longitudinal Study (VLS) (source n=570; baseline age=53–90 years). The goals were to: (a) apply standard and objective classification procedures to discriminate three cognitive status groups, (b) conduct baseline comparisons of memory performance, (c) develop two-wave status stability and change subgroups, and (d) compare of stability subgroup differences in memory performance and change. Results As expected, the CE group performed best on all three memory composites. Similarly, expected status stability effects were observed: (a) stable CE and CN groups performed memory tasks better than their unstable counterparts and (b) stable (and chronic) CI group performed worse than its unstable (variable) counterpart. These stability group differences were maintained over two waves. Conclusion New data validate the expectations that (a) objective clinical classification procedures for cognitive impairment can be adapted for detecting cognitively advantaged older adults and (b) performance in three memory systems is predictably related to the tripartite classification. PMID:24742143

Performance assessment and microbial diversity of two pilot scale multi-stage sub-surface flow constructed wetland systems.

PubMed

Babatunde, A O; Miranda-CasoLuengo, Raul; Imtiaz, Mehreen; Zhao, Y Q; Meijer, Wim G

2016-08-01

This study assessed the performance and diversity of microbial communities in multi-stage sub-surface flow constructed wetland systems (CWs). Our aim was to assess the impact of configuration on treatment performance and microbial diversity in the systems. Results indicate that at loading rates up to 100gBOD5/(m(2)·day), similar treatment performances can be achieved using either a 3 or 4 stage configuration. In the case of phosphorus (P), the impact of configuration was less obvious and a minimum of 80% P removal can be expected for loadings up to 10gP/(m(2)·day) based on the performance results obtained within the first 16months of operation. Microbial analysis showed an increased bacterial diversity in stage four compared to the first stage. These results indicate that the design and configuration of multi-stage constructed wetland systems may have an impact on the treatment performance and the composition of the microbial community in the systems, and such knowledge can be used to improve their design and performance. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Left behind: widening disparities for males and females in US county life expectancy, 1985–2010

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background The United States spends more than any other country on health care. The poor relative performance of the US compared to other high-income countries has attracted attention and raised questions about the performance of the US health system. An important dimension to poor national performance is the large disparities in life expectancy. Methods We applied a mixed effects Poisson statistical model and Gaussian Process Regression to estimate age-specific mortality rates for US counties from 1985 to 2010. We generated uncertainty distributions for life expectancy at each age using standard simulation methods. Results Female life expectancy in the United States increased from 78.0 years in 1985 to 80.9 years in 2010, while male life expectancy increased from 71.0 years in 1985 to 76.3 years in 2010. The gap between female and male life expectancy in the United States was 7.0 years in 1985, narrowing to 4.6 years in 2010. For males at the county level, the highest life expectancy steadily increased from 75.5 in 1985 to 81.7 in 2010, while the lowest life expectancy remained under 65. For females at the county level, the highest life expectancy increased from 81.1 to 85.0, and the lowest life expectancy remained around 73. For male life expectancy at the county level, there have been three phases in the evolution of inequality: a period of rising inequality from 1985 to 1993, a period of stable inequality from 1993 to 2002, and rising inequality from 2002 to 2010. For females, in contrast, inequality has steadily increased during the 25-year period. Compared to only 154 counties where male life expectancy remained stagnant or declined, 1,405 out of 3,143 counties (45%) have seen no significant change or a significant decline in female life expectancy from 1985 to 2010. In all time periods, the lowest county-level life expectancies are seen in the South, the Mississippi basin, West Virginia, Kentucky, and selected counties with large Native American populations. Conclusions The reduction in the number of counties where female life expectancy at birth is declining in the most recent period is welcome news. However, the widening disparities between counties and the slow rate of increase compared to other countries should be viewed as a call for action. An increased focus on factors affecting health outcomes, morbidity, and mortality such as socioeconomic factors, difficulty of access to and poor quality of health care, and behavioral, environmental, and metabolic risk factors is urgently required. PMID:23842281

Performability modeling based on real data: A case study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hsueh, M. C.; Iyer, R. K.; Trivedi, K. S.

1988-01-01

Described is a measurement-based performability model based on error and resource usage data collected on a multiprocessor system. A method for identifying the model structure is introduced and the resulting model is validated against real data. Model development from the collection of raw data to the estimation of the expected reward is described. Both normal and error behavior of the system are characterized. The measured data show that the holding times in key operational and error states are not simple exponentials and that a semi-Markov process is necessary to model system behavior. A reward function, based on the service rate and the error rate in each state, is then defined in order to estimate the performability of the system and to depict the cost of apparent types of errors.

Performability modeling based on real data: A casestudy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hsueh, M. C.; Iyer, R. K.; Trivedi, K. S.

1987-01-01

Described is a measurement-based performability model based on error and resource usage data collected on a multiprocessor system. A method for identifying the model structure is introduced and the resulting model is validated against real data. Model development from the collection of raw data to the estimation of the expected reward is described. Both normal and error behavior of the system are characterized. The measured data show that the holding times in key operational and error states are not simple exponentials and that a semi-Markov process is necessary to model the system behavior. A reward function, based on the service rate and the error rate in each state, is then defined in order to estimate the performability of the system and to depict the cost of different types of errors.

A high performance system for molecular dynamics simulation of biomolecules using a special-purpose computer.

PubMed

Komeiji, Y; Yokoyama, H; Uebayasi, M; Taiji, M; Fukushige, T; Sugimoto, D; Takata, R; Shimizu, A; Itsukashi, K

1996-01-01

GRAPE (GRavity PipE) processors are special purpose computers for simulation of classical particles. The performance of MD-GRAPE, one of the GRAPEs developed for molecular dynamics, was investigated. The effective speed of MD-GRAPE was equivalent to approximately 6 Gflops. The precision of MD-GRAPE was good judging from the acceptable fluctuation of the total energy. Then a software named PEACH (Program for Energetic Analysis of bioCHemical molecules) was developed for molecular dynamics of biomolecules in combination with MD-GRAPE. Molecular dynamics simulation was performed for several protein-solvent systems with different sizes. Simulation of the largest system investigated (27,000 atoms) took only 5 sec/step. Thus, the PEACH-GRAPE system is expected to be useful in accurate and reliable simulation of large biomolecules.

SWAT system performance predictions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parenti, Ronald R.; Sasiela, Richard J.

1993-03-01

In the next phase of Lincoln Laboratory's SWAT (Short-Wavelength Adaptive Techniques) program, the performance of a 241-actuator adaptive-optics system will be measured using a variety of synthetic-beacon geometries. As an aid in this experimental investigation, a detailed set of theoretical predictions has also been assembled. The computational tools that have been applied in this study include a numerical approach in which Monte-Carlo ray-trace simulations of accumulated phase error are developed, and an analytical analysis of the expected system behavior. This report describes the basis of these two computational techniques and compares their estimates of overall system performance. Although their regions of applicability tend to be complementary rather than redundant, good agreement is usually obtained when both sets of results can be derived for the same engagement scenario.

Noninvasive evaluation system of fractured bone based on speckle interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamanada, Shinya; Murata, Shigeru; Tanaka, Yohsuke

2010-11-01

This paper presents a noninvasive evaluation system of fractured bone based on speckle interferometry using a modified evaluation index for higher performance, and the experiments are carried out to examine the feasibility in evaluating bone fracture healing and the influence of some system parameters on the performance. From experimental results, it is shown that the presence of fractured part of bone and the state of bone fracture healing are successfully estimated by observing fine speckle fringes on the object surface. The proposed evaluation index also can successfully express the difference between the cases with cut and without it. Since most system parameters are found not to affect the performance of the present technique, the present technique is expected to be applied to various patients that have considerable individual variability.

Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 Post-Flight Navigation Performance Assessment Relative to the Best Estimated Trajectory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gay, Robert S.; Holt, Greg N.; Zanetti, Renato

2016-01-01

This paper details the post-flight navigation performance assessment of the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Results of each flight phase are presented: Ground Align, Ascent, Orbit, and Entry Descent and Landing. This study examines the on-board Kalman Filter uncertainty along with state deviations relative to the Best Estimated Trajectory (BET). Overall the results show that the Orion Navigation System performed as well or better than expected. Specifically, the Global Positioning System (GPS) measurement availability was significantly better than anticipated at high altitudes. In addition, attitude estimation via processing GPS measurements along with Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) data performed very well and maintained good attitude throughout the mission.

Clinical Information System Post-Adoption Evaluation at the Georges Pompidou University Hospital

PubMed Central

Palm, Jean-Marc; Dart, Thierry; Dupuis, Isabelle; Leneveut, Laurence; Degoulet, Patrice

2010-01-01

The evaluation of a clinical information system (CIS) at different stages of deployment and routine use is a key factor to improve acceptability and use by health professionals. This paper examines on an expectation-confirmation model (ITPAM) the relationships between the determinants of success of a CIS in a cross-sectional survey performed at the Georges Pompidou University Hospital (HEGP). Results for the groups of physicians and nurses that replied to the survey (n=312) suggest that health professional satisfaction (overall R2=0.60) is determined by the quality of user support (r=.21, p=<0001), ease of use (r=.19, p=<0001), confirmation of expectations (r=.15, p=.0037), usefulness (r=.12, p=.0068), and compatibility (r=.10, p=.0206). The best predictor of physician satisfaction (R2=0.71) was compatibility (r=.21, p=.0072) whereas for nurses (R2=0.52) it was user support (r=.22, p=<0001) and ease of use (r=.22, p=.0001). Confirmation of expectations had an impact on post-adoption expectation and user’s satisfaction, and confirms its importance for CIS evaluation studies. PMID:21347045

Clinical information system post-adoption evaluation at the georges pompidou university hospital.

PubMed

Palm, Jean-Marc; Dart, Thierry; Dupuis, Isabelle; Leneveut, Laurence; Degoulet, Patrice

2010-11-13

The evaluation of a clinical information system (CIS) at different stages of deployment and routine use is a key factor to improve acceptability and use by health professionals. This paper examines on an expectation-confirmation model (ITPAM) the relationships between the determinants of success of a CIS in a cross-sectional survey performed at the Georges Pompidou University Hospital (HEGP). Results for the groups of physicians and nurses that replied to the survey (n=312) suggest that health professional satisfaction (overall R(2)=0.60) is determined by the quality of user support (r=.21, p=<0001), ease of use (r=.19, p=<0001), confirmation of expectations (r=.15, p=.0037), usefulness (r=.12, p=.0068), and compatibility (r=.10, p=.0206). The best predictor of physician satisfaction (R(2)=0.71) was compatibility (r=.21, p=.0072) whereas for nurses (R(2)=0.52) it was user support (r=.22, p=<0001) and ease of use (r=.22, p=.0001). Confirmation of expectations had an impact on post-adoption expectation and user's satisfaction, and confirms its importance for CIS evaluation studies.

Power processing systems for ion thrusters.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Herron, B. G.; Garth, D. R.; Finke, R. C.; Shumaker, H. A.

1972-01-01

The proposed use of ion thrusters to fulfill various communication satellite propulsion functions such as east-west and north-south stationkeeping, attitude control, station relocation and orbit raising, naturally leads to the requirement for lightweight, efficient and reliable thruster power processing systems. Collectively, the propulsion requirements dictate a wide range of thruster power levels and operational lifetimes, which must be matched by the power processing. This paper will discuss the status of such power processing systems, present system design alternatives and project expected near future power system performance.

Navy Acquisition: Development of the AN/BSY-1 Combat System

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-01-01

AN/BSY-1, a computer-based combat system, is designed to detect, classify, track, and launch weapons at enemy surface, subsurface, and land targets. The Navy expects the AN/BSY-1 system to locate targets sooner than previous systems, allow operators to perform multiple tasks and address multiple targets concurrently, and reduce the time between detecting a target and launching weapons. The Navy has contracted with the International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation for 23 AN/BSY-1 systems, maintenance and operational trainers, and a software

Attitudes and expectations of producers to the use of a microcomputer-based management information system to monitor dairy herd performance

PubMed Central

Lissemore, Kerry D.; Leslie, Ken E.; Martin, S. Wayne; Menzies, Paula I.; Meek, Alan H.

1992-01-01

The attitudes and expectations of producers toward the use of a microcomputer-based herd management information system were assessed. The study was conducted over a two-year period, beginning in January 1986, and was operated as a bureau service. The implementation and use of the program are described elsewhere. Pre- and posttrial questionnaires were administered to assess producer attitudes. We found that the monthly analysis reports were used in the management of the dairy farms and were found to be a useful management tool. The majority of producers indicated a willingness to pay, on average, $6.86/cow/year for such a service. PMID:17423946

Expectations impact short-term memory through changes in connectivity between attention- and task-related brain regions.

PubMed

Sinke, Christopher; Forkmann, Katarina; Schmidt, Katharina; Wiech, Katja; Bingel, Ulrike

2016-05-01

Over the recent years, neuroimaging studies have investigated the neural mechanisms underlying the influence of expectations on perception. However, it seems equally reasonable to assume that expectations impact cognitive functions. Here we used fMRI to explore the role of expectations on task performance and its underlying neural mechanisms. 43 healthy participants were randomly assigned to two groups. Using verbal instructions, group 1 was led to believe that pain enhances task performance while group 2 was instructed that pain hampers their performance. All participants performed a Rapid-Serial-Visual-Presentation (RSVP) Task (target detection and short-term memory component) with or without concomitant painful heat stimulation during 3T fMRI scanning. As hypothesized, short-term memory performance showed an interaction between painful stimulation and expectation. Positive expectations induced stronger neural activation in the right inferior parietal cortex (IPC) during painful stimulation than negative expectation. Moreover, IPC displayed differential functional coupling with the left inferior occipital cortex under pain as a function of expectancy. Our data show that an individual's expectation can influence cognitive performance in a visual short-term memory task which is associated with activity and connectivity changes in brain areas implicated in attentional processing and task performance. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

High-energy radiographic imaging performance of LYSO

DOE PAGES

Smalley, Duane; Duke, Dana; Webb, Timothy; ...

2018-05-23

Here, a comprehensive comparison of the dominant sources of radiation-induced blur for radiographic imaging system performance is made. End-point energies of 6, 10, 15, and 20 MeV bremsstrahlung photon radiation produced at the Los Alamos National Laboratory Microtron facility were used to examine the performance of large-panel cerium-doped lutetium yttrium silicon oxide (LYSO:Ce) scintillators 3, 5 and 10 mm thick. The system resolution was measured and compared between the various end-point energies and scintillator thicknesses. Contrary to expectations, it is found that there was only a minor dependence of system resolution on scintillator thickness or beam end-point energy. This indicatesmore » that increased scintillator thickness does not have a dramatic effect on system performance. The data are then compared to Geant4 simulations to assess contributions to the system performance through the examination of modulation transfer functions. It was determined that the low-frequency response of the system is dominated by the radiation-induced signal, while the higher-frequency response of the system is dominated by the optical imaging of the scintillation emission.« less

High-energy radiographic imaging performance of LYSO

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Smalley, Duane; Duke, Dana; Webb, Timothy

Here, a comprehensive comparison of the dominant sources of radiation-induced blur for radiographic imaging system performance is made. End-point energies of 6, 10, 15, and 20 MeV bremsstrahlung photon radiation produced at the Los Alamos National Laboratory Microtron facility were used to examine the performance of large-panel cerium-doped lutetium yttrium silicon oxide (LYSO:Ce) scintillators 3, 5 and 10 mm thick. The system resolution was measured and compared between the various end-point energies and scintillator thicknesses. Contrary to expectations, it is found that there was only a minor dependence of system resolution on scintillator thickness or beam end-point energy. This indicatesmore » that increased scintillator thickness does not have a dramatic effect on system performance. The data are then compared to Geant4 simulations to assess contributions to the system performance through the examination of modulation transfer functions. It was determined that the low-frequency response of the system is dominated by the radiation-induced signal, while the higher-frequency response of the system is dominated by the optical imaging of the scintillation emission.« less

Preliminary design package for prototype solar heating system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1978-01-01

A summary is given of the preliminary analysis and design activity on solar heating systems. The analysis was made without site specific data other than weather; therefore, the results indicate performance expected under these special conditions. Major items include system candidates, design approaches, trade studies and other special data required to evaluate the preliminary analysis and design. The program calls for the development and delivery of eight prototype solar heating and cooling systems for installation and operational test.

Reward-prospect interacts with trial-by-trial preparation for potential distraction

PubMed Central

Marini, Francesco; van den Berg, Berry; Woldorff, Marty G.

2015-01-01

When attending for impending visual stimuli, cognitive systems prepare to identify relevant information while ignoring irrelevant, potentially distracting input. Recent work (Marini et al., 2013) showed that a supramodal distracter-filtering mechanism is invoked in blocked designs involving expectation of possible distracter stimuli, although this entails a cost (distraction-filtering cost) on speeded performance when distracters are expected but not presented. Here we used an arrow-flanker task to study whether an analogous cost, potentially reflecting the recruitment of a specific distraction-filtering mechanism, occurs dynamically when potential distraction is cued trial-to-trial (cued distracter-expectation cost). In order to promote the maximal utilization of cue information by participants, in some experimental conditions the cue also signaled the possibility of earning a monetary reward for fast and accurate performance. This design also allowed us to investigate the interplay between anticipation for distracters and anticipation of reward, which is known to engender attentional preparation. Only in reward contexts did participants show a cued distracter-expectation cost, which was larger with higher reward prospect and when anticipation for both distracters and reward were manipulated trial-to-trial. Thus, these results indicate that reward prospect interacts with the distracter expectation during trial-by-trial preparatory processes for potential distraction. These findings highlight how reward guides cue-driven attentional preparation. PMID:26180506

Reward-prospect interacts with trial-by-trial preparation for potential distraction.

PubMed

Marini, Francesco; van den Berg, Berry; Woldorff, Marty G

2015-02-01

When attending for impending visual stimuli, cognitive systems prepare to identify relevant information while ignoring irrelevant, potentially distracting input. Recent work (Marini et al., 2013) showed that a supramodal distracter-filtering mechanism is invoked in blocked designs involving expectation of possible distracter stimuli, although this entails a cost ( distraction-filtering cost ) on speeded performance when distracters are expected but not presented. Here we used an arrow-flanker task to study whether an analogous cost, potentially reflecting the recruitment of a specific distraction-filtering mechanism, occurs dynamically when potential distraction is cued trial-to-trial ( cued distracter-expectation cost ). In order to promote the maximal utilization of cue information by participants, in some experimental conditions the cue also signaled the possibility of earning a monetary reward for fast and accurate performance. This design also allowed us to investigate the interplay between anticipation for distracters and anticipation of reward, which is known to engender attentional preparation. Only in reward contexts did participants show a cued distracter-expectation cost, which was larger with higher reward prospect and when anticipation for both distracters and reward were manipulated trial-to-trial. Thus, these results indicate that reward prospect interacts with the distracter expectation during trial-by-trial preparatory processes for potential distraction. These findings highlight how reward guides cue-driven attentional preparation.

A portable inspection system to estimate direct glare of various LED modules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Po-Li; Liao, Chun-Hsiang; Li, Hung-Chung; Jou, Shyh-Jye; Chen, Han-Ting; Lin, Yu-Hsin; Tang, Yu-Hsiang; Peng, Wei-Jei; Kuo, Hui-Jean; Sun, Pei-Li; Lee, Tsung-Xian

2015-07-01

Glare is caused by both direct and indirect light sources and discomfort glare produces visual discomfort, annoyance, or loss in visual performance and visibility. Direct glare is caused by light sources in the field of view whereas reflected glare is caused by bright reflections from polished or glossy surfaces that are reflected toward an individual. To improve visual comfort of our living environment, a portable inspection system to estimate direct glare of various commercial LED modules with the range of color temperature from 3100 K to 5300 K was developed in this study. The system utilized HDR images to obtain the illumination distribution of LED modules and was first calibrated for brightness and chromaticity and corrected with flat field, dark-corner and curvature by the installed algorithm. The index of direct glare was then automatically estimated after image capturing, and the operator can recognize the performance of LED modules and the possible effects on human being once the index was out of expecting range. In the future, we expect that the quick-response smart inspection system can be applied in several new fields and market, such as home energy diagnostics, environmental lighting and UGR monitoring and popularize it in several new fields.

UROLOGIC ROBOTS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

PubMed Central

Mozer, Pierre; Troccaz, Jocelyne; Stoianovici, Dan

2009-01-01

Purpose of review Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery in urology has gained immense popularity with the Da Vinci system but a lot of research teams are working on new robots. The purpose of this paper is to review current urologic robots and present future developments directions. Recent findings Future systems are expected to advance in two directions: improvements of remote manipulation robots and developments of image-guided robots. Summary The final goal of robots is to allow safer and more homogeneous outcomes with less variability of surgeon performance, as well as new tools to perform tasks based on medical transcutaneous imaging, in a less invasive way, at lower costs. It is expected that improvements for remote system could be augmented reality, haptic feed back, size reduction and development of new tools for NOTES surgery. The paradigm of image-guided robots is close to a clinical availability and the most advanced robots are presented with end-user technical assessments. It is also notable that the potential of robots lies much further ahead than the accomplishments of the daVinci system. The integration of imaging with robotics holds a substantial promise, because this can accomplish tasks otherwise impossible. Image guided robots have the potential to offer a paradigm shift. PMID:19057227

Urologic robots and future directions.

PubMed

Mozer, Pierre; Troccaz, Jocelyne; Stoianovici, Dan

2009-01-01

Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery in urology has gained immense popularity with the daVinci system, but a lot of research teams are working on new robots. The purpose of this study is to review current urologic robots and present future development directions. Future systems are expected to advance in two directions: improvements of remote manipulation robots and developments of image-guided robots. The final goal of robots is to allow safer and more homogeneous outcomes with less variability of surgeon performance, as well as new tools to perform tasks on the basis of medical transcutaneous imaging, in a less invasive way, at lower costs. It is expected that improvements for a remote system could be augmented in reality, with haptic feedback, size reduction, and development of new tools for natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery. The paradigm of image-guided robots is close to clinical availability and the most advanced robots are presented with end-user technical assessments. It is also notable that the potential of robots lies much further ahead than the accomplishments of the daVinci system. The integration of imaging with robotics holds a substantial promise, because this can accomplish tasks otherwise impossible. Image-guided robots have the potential to offer a paradigm shift.

Optimal Alignment of Structures for Finite and Periodic Systems.

PubMed

Griffiths, Matthew; Niblett, Samuel P; Wales, David J

2017-10-10

Finding the optimal alignment between two structures is important for identifying the minimum root-mean-square distance (RMSD) between them and as a starting point for calculating pathways. Most current algorithms for aligning structures are stochastic, scale exponentially with the size of structure, and the performance can be unreliable. We present two complementary methods for aligning structures corresponding to isolated clusters of atoms and to condensed matter described by a periodic cubic supercell. The first method (Go-PERMDIST), a branch and bound algorithm, locates the global minimum RMSD deterministically in polynomial time. The run time increases for larger RMSDs. The second method (FASTOVERLAP) is a heuristic algorithm that aligns structures by finding the global maximum kernel correlation between them using fast Fourier transforms (FFTs) and fast SO(3) transforms (SOFTs). For periodic systems, FASTOVERLAP scales with the square of the number of identical atoms in the system, reliably finds the best alignment between structures that are not too distant, and shows significantly better performance than existing algorithms. The expected run time for Go-PERMDIST is longer than FASTOVERLAP for periodic systems. For finite clusters, the FASTOVERLAP algorithm is competitive with existing algorithms. The expected run time for Go-PERMDIST to find the global RMSD between two structures deterministically is generally longer than for existing stochastic algorithms. However, with an earlier exit condition, Go-PERMDIST exhibits similar or better performance.

Aquifer storage and recovery: recent hydrogeological advances and system performance.

PubMed

Maliva, Robert G; Guo, Weixing; Missimer, Thomas M

2006-12-01

Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) is part of the solution to the global problem of managing water resources to meet existing and future freshwater demands. However, the metaphoric "ASR bubble" has been burst with the realization that ASR systems are more physically and chemically complex than the general conceptualization. Aquifer heterogeneity and fluid-rock interactions can greatly affect ASR system performance. The results of modeling studies and field experiences indicate that more sophisticated data collection and solute-transport modeling are required to predict how stored water will migrate in heterogeneous aquifers and how fluid-rock interactions will affect the quality of stored water. It has been well-demonstrated, by historic experience, that ASR systems can provide very large volumes of storage at a lesser cost than other options. The challenges moving forward are to improve the success rate of ASR systems, optimize system performance, and set expectations appropriately.

Carbon-Carbon Recuperators in Closed-Brayton-Cycle Nuclear Space Power Systems: A Feasibility Assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barrett, Michael J.; Johnson, Paul K.

2004-01-01

The feasibility of using carbon-carbon recuperators in closed-Brayton-cycle (CBC) nuclear space power conversion systems (PCS) was assessed. Recuperator performance expectations were forecast based on projected thermodynamic cycle state values for a planetary mission. Resulting thermal performance, mass and volume for a plate-fin carbon-carbon recuperator were estimated and quantitatively compared with values for a conventional offset-strip-fin metallic design. Material compatibility issues regarding carbon-carbon surfaces exposed to the working fluid in the CBC PCS were also discussed.

Downhole fiber optic sensing: the oilfield service provider's perspective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skinner, Neal G.; Maida, John L., Jr.

2004-12-01

There is increasing interest in the petroleum industry in the application of fiber-optic sensing techniques. In this paper, we review which sensing technologies are being adopted downhole and the drivers for this deployment. We describe the performance expectations (accuracy, resolution, stability and operational lifetime) that the oil companies and the oil service companies have for fiber-optic sensing systems. We also describe the environmental conditions (high hydrostatic pressures, high temperatures, shock, vibration, crush, and chemical attack) that these systems must tolerate in order to provide reliable and economically attractive reservoir-performance monitoring solutions.

A Contingency in the Rosetta Reaction Control System: Alternative Cruise Trajectory Strategies to Cope with Degraded Delta-V Resources

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bauske, Rainer; Companys, Vincente

2007-01-01

Since August 2006 a pressure transducer of the Rosetta Reaction Control System (RCS) shows anomalous telemetries indicating a possible leak in a pressurant line. The future operation mode of the RCS may be affected by this problem, resulting in performance degradation. The current propellant budget and its future evolution are evaluated to show the possible states w.r.t. the required mission delta-V. Alternative cruise trajectory strategies are analyzed, providing delta-V savings, to compensate for the expected performance loss of the RCS.

Receiver design, performance analysis, and evaluation for space-borne laser altimeters and space-to-space laser ranging systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davidson, Frederic M.; Field, Christopher T.; Sun, Xiaoli

1996-01-01

We report here the design and the performance measurements of the breadboard receiver of the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS). The measured ranging accuracy was better than 2 cm and 10 cm for 5 ns and 30 ns wide received laser pulses under the expected received signal level, which agreed well with the theoretical analysis. The measured receiver sensitivity or the link margin was also consistent with the theory. The effects of the waveform digitizer sample rate and resolution were also measured.

Microwave components for cellular portable radiotelephone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muraguchi, Masahiro; Aikawa, Masayoshi

1995-09-01

Mobile and personal communication systems are expected to represent a huge market for microwave components in the coming years. A number of components in silicon bipolar, silicon Bi-CMOS, GaAs MESFET, HBT and HEMT are now becoming available for system application. There are tradeoffs among the competing technologies with regard to performance, cost, reliability and time-to-market. This paper describes process selection and requirements of cost and r.f. performances to microwave semiconductor components for digital cellular and cordless telephones. Furthermore, new circuit techniques which were developed by NTT are presented.

Stress-life interrelationships associated with alkaline fuel cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thaller, Lawrence H.; Martin, Ronald E.; Stedman, James K.

1987-01-01

A review is presented concerning the interrelationships between applied stress and the expected service life of alkaline fuel cells. Only the physical, chemical, and electrochemical phenomena that take place within the fuel cell stack portion of an overall fuel cell system will be discussed. A brief review will be given covering the significant improvements in performance and life over the past two decades as well as summarizing the more recent advances in understanding which can be used to predict the performance and life characteristics of fuel cell systems that have yet to be built.

10 CFR 63.304 - Reasonable expectation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... REPOSITORY AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN, NEVADA Postclosure Public Health and Environmental Standards § 63.304... uncertainties in making long-term projections of the performance of the Yucca Mountain disposal system; (3) Does... the full range of defensible and reasonable parameter distributions rather than only upon extreme...

10 CFR 63.304 - Reasonable expectation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... REPOSITORY AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN, NEVADA Postclosure Public Health and Environmental Standards § 63.304... uncertainties in making long-term projections of the performance of the Yucca Mountain disposal system; (3) Does... the full range of defensible and reasonable parameter distributions rather than only upon extreme...

10 CFR 63.304 - Reasonable expectation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... REPOSITORY AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN, NEVADA Postclosure Public Health and Environmental Standards § 63.304... uncertainties in making long-term projections of the performance of the Yucca Mountain disposal system; (3) Does... the full range of defensible and reasonable parameter distributions rather than only upon extreme...

10 CFR 63.304 - Reasonable expectation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... REPOSITORY AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN, NEVADA Postclosure Public Health and Environmental Standards § 63.304... uncertainties in making long-term projections of the performance of the Yucca Mountain disposal system; (3) Does... the full range of defensible and reasonable parameter distributions rather than only upon extreme...

10 CFR 63.304 - Reasonable expectation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... REPOSITORY AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN, NEVADA Postclosure Public Health and Environmental Standards § 63.304... uncertainties in making long-term projections of the performance of the Yucca Mountain disposal system; (3) Does... the full range of defensible and reasonable parameter distributions rather than only upon extreme...

Development of the Spacecraft Materials Selector Expert System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pippin, H. G.

2000-01-01

A specific knowledge base to evaluate the on-orbit performance of selected materials on spacecraft is being developed under contract to the NASA SEE program. An artificial intelligence software package, the Boeing Expert System Tool (BEST), contains an inference engine used to operate knowledge bases constructed to selectively recall and distribute information about materials performance in space applications. This same system is used to make estimates of the environmental exposures expected for a given space flight. The performance capabilities of the Spacecraft Materials Selector (SMS) knowledge base are described in this paper. A case history for a planned flight experiment on ISS is shown as an example of the use of the SMS, and capabilities and limitations of the knowledge base are discussed.

Basic performance of a multilayer insulation system containing 20 to 160 layers. [thermal effectiveness of aluminized Mylar-silk net system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stochl, R. J.

1974-01-01

An experimental investigation was conducted to determine the thermal effectiveness of an aluminized Mylar-silk net insulation system containing up to 160 layers. The experimentally measured heat flux was compared with results predicted by using (1) a previously developed semi-empirical equation and (2) an effective-thermal-conductivity value. All tests were conducted at a nominal hot-boundary temperature of 294 K (530 R) with liquid hydrogen as the heat sink. The experimental results show that the insulation performed as expected and that both the semi-empirical equation and effective thermal conductivity of a small number of layers were adequate in predicting the thermal performance of a large number of layers of insulation.

A Performance Evaluation of the Cray X1 for Scientific Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oliker, Leonid; Biswas, Rupak; Borrill, Julian; Canning, Andrew; Carter, Jonathan; Djomehri, M. Jahed; Shan, Hongzhang; Skinner, David

2004-01-01

The last decade has witnessed a rapid proliferation of superscalar cache-based microprocessors to build high-end capability and cost effectiveness. However, the recent development of massively parallel vector systems is having a significant effect on the supercomputing landscape. In this paper, we compare the performance of the recently released Cray X1 vector system with that of the cacheless NEC SX-6 vector machine, and the superscalar cache-based IBM Power3 and Power4 architectures for scientific applications. Overall results demonstrate that the X1 is quite promising, but performance improvements are expected as the hardware, systems software, and numerical libraries mature. Code reengineering to effectively utilize the complex architecture may also lead to significant efficiency enhancements.

Physics based performance model of a UV missile seeker

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

James, I.

2017-10-01

Electro-optically (EO) guided surface to air missiles (SAM) have developed to use Ultraviolet (UV) wavebands supplementary to the more common Infrared (IR) wavebands. Missiles such as the US Stinger have been around for some time, these have been joined recently by Chinese FN-16 and Russian SA-29 (Verba) and there is a much higher potential proliferation risk. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a first-principles, physics based, model of a typical seeker arrangement. The model is constructed from various calculations that aim to characterise the physical effects that will affect the performance of the system. Data has been gathered from a number of sources to provide realism to the variables within the model. It will be demonstrated that many of the variables have the power to dramatically alter the performance of the system as a whole. Further, data will be shown to illustrate the expected performance of a typical UV detector within a SAM in detection range against a variety of target sizes. The trend for the detection range against aircraft size and skin reflectivity will be shown to be non-linear, this should have been expected owing to the exponential decay of a signal through atmosphere. Future work will validate the performance of the model against real world performance data for cameras (when this is available) to ensure that it is operates within acceptable errors.

In-service tests of the effectiveness of vibration control measures on the BART rail transit system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saurenman, Hugh

2005-09-01

Controlling vibration from new rail transit systems can be quite expensive when the alignment passes through residential areas. However, there is relatively little documented information on how effective different vibration mitigation approaches perform under in-service conditions. This paper presents results of a number of vibration measurements of the different track forms used on the current San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system including floating slab, resiliently supported half ties, and high-resilience direct fixation fasteners in subways and one section of floating slab used on at-grade tracks. The goal was to obtain data that would improve the predictions of future vibration levels and perhaps lead to more cost effective vibration mitigation strategies for the proposed BART extension to San Jose. The tests show that the floating slabs are performing much as designed, the resiliently supported half ties are less effective than expected, and the high resilience track fasteners are probably performing as expected, although the results are clouded because of severe rail corrugation in the area where the new fasteners were installed. Some unanticipated results are the apparent interaction of the floating slab resonance, the wheel rotation frequency, the bogey dynamics, and vibration propagation characteristics of the ground.

Displacement based multilevel structural optimization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Striz, Alfred G.

1995-01-01

Multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) is expected to play a major role in the competitive transportation industries of tomorrow, i.e., in the design of aircraft and spacecraft, of high speed trains, boats, and automobiles. All of these vehicles require maximum performance at minimum weight to keep fuel consumption low and conserve resources. Here, MDO can deliver mathematically based design tools to create systems with optimum performance subject to the constraints of disciplines such as structures, aerodynamics, controls, etc. Although some applications of MDO are beginning to surface, the key to a widespread use of this technology lies in the improvement of its efficiency. This aspect is investigated here for the MDO subset of structural optimization, i.e., for the weight minimization of a given structure under size, strength, and displacement constraints. Specifically, finite element based multilevel optimization of structures (here, statically indeterminate trusses and beams for proof of concept) is performed. In the system level optimization, the design variables are the coefficients of assumed displacement functions, and the load unbalance resulting from the solution of the stiffness equations is minimized. Constraints are placed on the deflection amplitudes and the weight of the structure. In the subsystems level optimizations, the weight of each element is minimized under the action of stress constraints, with the cross sectional dimensions as design variables. This approach is expected to prove very efficient, especially for complex structures, since the design task is broken down into a large number of small and efficiently handled subtasks, each with only a small number of variables. This partitioning will also allow for the use of parallel computing, first, by sending the system and subsystems level computations to two different processors, ultimately, by performing all subsystems level optimizations in a massively parallel manner on separate processors. It is expected that the subsystems level optimizations can be further improved through the use of controlled growth, a method which reduces an optimization to a more efficient analysis with only a slight degradation in accuracy. The efficiency of all proposed techniques is being evaluated relative to the performance of the standard single level optimization approach where the complete structure is weight minimized under the action of all given constraints by one processor and to the performance of simultaneous analysis and design which combines analysis and optimization into a single step. It is expected that the present approach can be expanded to include additional structural constraints (buckling, free and forced vibration, etc.) or other disciplines (passive and active controls, aerodynamics, etc.) for true MDO.

Rewarding safe behavior: strategies for change.

PubMed

Fell-Carlson, Deborah

2004-12-01

Effective, sustainable safety incentives are integrated into a performance management system designed to encourage long term behavior change. Effective incentive program design integrates the fundamental considerations of compensation (i.e., valence, instrumentality, expectancy, equity) with behavior change theory in the context of a strong merit based performance management system. Clear expectations are established and communicated from the time applicants apply for the position. Feedback and social recognition are leveraged and used as rewards, in addition to financial incentives built into the compensation system and offered periodically as short term incentives. Rewards are tied to specific objectives intended to influence specific behaviors. Objectives are designed to challenge employees, providing opportunities to grow and enhance their sense of belonging. Safety contests and other awareness activities are most effective when used to focus safety improvement efforts on specific behaviors or processes, for a predetermined period of time, in the context of a comprehensive safety system. Safety incentive programs designed around injury outcomes can result in unintended, and undesirable, consequences. Safety performance can be leveraged by integrating safety into corporate cultural indicators. Symbols of safety remind employees of corporate safety goals and objectives (e.g., posted safety goals and integrating safety into corporate mission and vision). Rites and ceremonies provide opportunities for social recognition and feedback and demonstrate safety is a corporate value. Feedback opportunities, rewards, and social recognition all provide content for corporate legends, those stories embellished over time, that punctuate the overall system of organizational norms, and provide examples of the organizational safety culture in action.

Satisfaction with hearing aids: a consumer research perspective.

PubMed

Wong, Lena L N; Hickson, Louise; McPherson, Bradley

2009-01-01

This research aimed at describing satisfaction with hearing aids from the perspective of the client as a consumer. A disconfirmation-expectancy model, derived from consumer research, was evaluated. This model posits that pre-fitting expectations, post-fitting performance, and the experience of how performance compares to expectations (disconfirmation), contribute to satisfaction. Positive disconfirmation occurs when performance is better than original expectations and is associated with higher satisfaction. Negative disconfirmation is when performance is poorer than expectations and is associated with dissatisfaction. New hearing aid users in Hong Kong (N=42) were tested with a newly developed self-report measure (PHACS: profile of hearing aid consumer satisfaction) that included items focused on hearing ability, problems, cost, and service. Pre-fitting expectations and post-fitting performance, disconfirmation, and satisfaction were measured. Results showed that expectations were generally not related to satisfaction, that disconfirmation was correlated with many aspects of satisfaction, and that performance was most strongly related to satisfaction. The implications of the findings are that hearing aid performance is the most important element for determining satisfaction; however disconfirmation should not be overlooked.

Relationship between alcohol-related expectancies and anterior brain functioning in young men at risk for developing alcoholism.

PubMed

Deckel, A W; Hesselbrock, V; Bauer, L

1995-04-01

This experiment examined the relationship between anterior brain functioning and alcohol-related expectancies. Ninety-one young men at risk for developing alcoholism were assessed on the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire (AEQ) and administered neuropsychological and EEG tests. Three of the scales on the AEQ, including the "Enhanced Sexual Functioning" scale, the "Increased Social Assertiveness" scale, and items from the "Global/Positive Change scale," were used, because each of these scales has been found to discriminate alcohol-based expectancies adequately by at least two separate sets of investigators. Regression analysis found that anterior neuropsychological tests (including the Wisconsin Card Sorting test, the Porteus Maze test, the Controlled Oral Word Fluency test, and the Luria-Nebraska motor functioning tests) were predictive of the AEQ scale scores on regression analysis. One of the AEQ scales, "Enhanced Sexual Functioning," was also predicted by WAIS-R-Verbal scales, whereas the "Global/Positive" AEQ scale was predicted by the WAIS-R Performance scales. Regression analysis using EEG power as predictors found that left versus right hemisphere "difference" scores obtained from frontal EEG leads were predictive of the three AEQ scales. Conversely, parietal EEG power did not significantly predict any of the expectancy scales. It is concluded that anterior brain any of the expectancy scales. It is concluded that anterior brain functioning is associated with alcohol-related expectancies. These findings suggest that alcohol-related expectancy may be, in part, biologically determined by frontal/prefrontal systems, and that dysfunctioning in these systems may serve as a risk factor for the development of alcohol-related behaviors.

Design of magnetic system to produce intense beam of polarized molecules of H2 and D2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yurchenko, A. V.; Nikolenko, D. M.; Rachek, I. A.; Shestakov, Yu V.; Toporkov, D. K.; Zorin, A. V.

2017-12-01

A magnetic-separating system is designed to produce polarized molecular high-density beams of H2/D2. The distribution of the magnetic field inside the aperture of the multipole magnet was calculated using the Mermaid software package. The calculation showed that the characteristic value of the magnetic field is 40 kGs, the field gradient is about 60 kGs/cm. A numerical calculation of the trajectories of the motion of molecules with different spin projections in this magnetic system is performed. The article discusses the possibility of using the magnetic system designed for the creation of a high-intensity source of polarized molecules. The expected intensity of this source is calculated. The expected flux of molecules focused in the receiver tube is 3.5·1016 mol/s for the hydrogen molecule and 2.0·1015 mol/s for the deuterium molecule.

Compute Server Performance Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stockdale, I. E.; Barton, John; Woodrow, Thomas (Technical Monitor)

1994-01-01

Parallel-vector supercomputers have been the workhorses of high performance computing. As expectations of future computing needs have risen faster than projected vector supercomputer performance, much work has been done investigating the feasibility of using Massively Parallel Processor systems as supercomputers. An even more recent development is the availability of high performance workstations which have the potential, when clustered together, to replace parallel-vector systems. We present a systematic comparison of floating point performance and price-performance for various compute server systems. A suite of highly vectorized programs was run on systems including traditional vector systems such as the Cray C90, and RISC workstations such as the IBM RS/6000 590 and the SGI R8000. The C90 system delivers 460 million floating point operations per second (FLOPS), the highest single processor rate of any vendor. However, if the price-performance ration (PPR) is considered to be most important, then the IBM and SGI processors are superior to the C90 processors. Even without code tuning, the IBM and SGI PPR's of 260 and 220 FLOPS per dollar exceed the C90 PPR of 160 FLOPS per dollar when running our highly vectorized suite,

Patient-centredness in integrated healthcare delivery systems - needs, expectations and priorities for organised healthcare systems

PubMed Central

Juhnke, Christin; Mühlbacher, Axel C.

2013-01-01

Introduction Patient-centred healthcare is becoming a more significant success factor in the design of integrated healthcare systems. The objective of this study is to structure a patient-relevant hierarchy of needs and expectations for the design of organised healthcare delivery systems. Methods A questionnaire with 84 items was conducted with N = 254 healthcare experts and N = 670 patients. Factor analyses were performed using SPSS©18. The number of factors retained was controlled by Kaiser's criterion, validation of screeplots and interpretability of the items. Cronbach's α was used to assess the internal consistency of the subscales. Results Exploratory factor analysis led to 24 factors in the expert sample and 20 in the patient sample. After analysing the screeplots, confirmatory factor analyses were computed for 7-factor solutions accounting for 42.963% of the total variance and Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin of 0.914 for the patients (experts: 38.427%, Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin = 0.797). Cronbach's α ranged between 0.899 and 0.756. Based on the analysis, coordinated care could be differentiated into seven dimensions: access, data and information, service and infrastructure, professional care, interpersonal care, individualised care, continuity and coordination. Conclusion and Discussion The study provides insight into patient and experts expectations towards the organisation of integrated healthcare delivery systems. If providers and payers can take into account patient needs and expectations while implementing innovative healthcare delivery systems, greater acceptance and satisfaction will be achieved. In the best case, this will lead to better adherence resulting in better clinical outcomes. PMID:24363639

Power feasibility of implantable digital spike-sorting circuits for neural prosthetic systems.

PubMed

Zumsteg, Zachary S; Ahmed, Rizwan E; Santhanam, Gopal; Shenoy, Krishna V; Meng, Teresa H

2004-01-01

A new class of neural prosthetic systems aims to assist disabled patients by translating cortical neural activity into control signals for prosthetic devices. Based on the success of proof-of-concept systems in the laboratory, there is now considerable interest in increasing system performance and creating implantable electronics for use in clinical systems. A critical question that impacts system performance and the overall architecture of these systems is whether it is possible to identify the neural source of each action potential (spike sorting) in real-time and with low power. Low power is essential both for power supply considerations and heat dissipation in the brain. In this paper we report that several state-of-the-art spike sorting algorithms implemented in modern CMOS VLSI processes are expected to be power realistic.

Apollo 16, LM-11 descent propulsion system final flight evaluation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Avvenire, A. T.

1974-01-01

The performance of the LM-11 descent propulsion system during the Apollo 16 missions was evaluated and found satisfactory. The average engine effective specific impulse was 0.1 second higher than predicted, but well within the predicted one sigma uncertainty of 0.2 seconds. Several flight measurement discrepancies existed during the flight as follows: (1) the chamber pressure transducer had a noticeable drift, exhibiting a maximum error of about 1.5 psi at approximately 130 seconds after engine ignition, (2) the fuel and oxidizer interface pressure measurements appeared to be low during the entire flight, and (3) the fuel propellant quantity gaging system did not perform within expected accuracies.

Performance Analysis of a CO2 Heat Pump Water Heating System Under a Daily Change in a Simulated Demand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yokoyama, Ryohei; Kohno, Yasuhiro; Wakui, Tetsuya; Takemura, Kazuhisa

Air-to-water heat pumps using CO2 as a refrigerant have been developed. In addition, water heating systems each of which combines a CO2 heat pump with a hot water storage tank have been commercialized and widespread. They are expected to contribute to energy saving in residential hot water supply. It has become more and more important to enhance the system performance. In this paper, the performance of a CO2 heat pump water heating system is analyzed under a daily change in a simulated hot water demand by numerical simulation. A static model of a CO2 heat pump and a dynamic model of a storage tank result in a set of differential algebraic equations, and it is solved numerically by a hierarchical combination of Runge-Kutta and Newton-Raphson methods. Daily changes in the temperature distributions in the storage tank and the system performance criteria such as volumes of stored and unused hot water, coefficient of performance, and storage and system efficiencies are clarified under a series of daily hot water demands during a month.

Refractory Materials for Flame Deflector Protection System Corrosion Control: Refractory Ceramics Literature Survey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Calle, Luz Marina; Hintze, Paul E.; Parlier, Christopher R.; Curran, Jerome P.; Kolody, Mark; Perusich, Stephen; Whitten, Mary C.; Trejo, David; Zidek, Jason; Sampson, Jeffrey W.;

Understanding the Performance and Potential of Cloud Computing for Scientific Applications

DOE PAGES

Sadooghi, Iman; Martin, Jesus Hernandez; Li, Tonglin; ...

2015-02-19

In this paper, commercial clouds bring a great opportunity to the scientific computing area. Scientific applications usually require significant resources, however not all scientists have access to sufficient high-end computing systems, may of which can be found in the Top500 list. Cloud Computing has gained the attention of scientists as a competitive resource to run HPC applications at a potentially lower cost. But as a different infrastructure, it is unclear whether clouds are capable of running scientific applications with a reasonable performance per money spent. This work studies the performance of public clouds and places this performance in context tomore » price. We evaluate the raw performance of different services of AWS cloud in terms of the basic resources, such as compute, memory, network and I/O. We also evaluate the performance of the scientific applications running in the cloud. This paper aims to assess the ability of the cloud to perform well, as well as to evaluate the cost of the cloud running scientific applications. We developed a full set of metrics and conducted a comprehensive performance evlauation over the Amazon cloud. We evaluated EC2, S3, EBS and DynamoDB among the many Amazon AWS services. We evaluated the memory sub-system performance with CacheBench, the network performance with iperf, processor and network performance with the HPL benchmark application, and shared storage with NFS and PVFS in addition to S3. We also evaluated a real scientific computing application through the Swift parallel scripting system at scale. Armed with both detailed benchmarks to gauge expected performance and a detailed monetary cost analysis, we expect this paper will be a recipe cookbook for scientists to help them decide where to deploy and run their scientific applications between public clouds, private clouds, or hybrid clouds.« less

Understanding the Performance and Potential of Cloud Computing for Scientific Applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sadooghi, Iman; Martin, Jesus Hernandez; Li, Tonglin

In this paper, commercial clouds bring a great opportunity to the scientific computing area. Scientific applications usually require significant resources, however not all scientists have access to sufficient high-end computing systems, may of which can be found in the Top500 list. Cloud Computing has gained the attention of scientists as a competitive resource to run HPC applications at a potentially lower cost. But as a different infrastructure, it is unclear whether clouds are capable of running scientific applications with a reasonable performance per money spent. This work studies the performance of public clouds and places this performance in context tomore » price. We evaluate the raw performance of different services of AWS cloud in terms of the basic resources, such as compute, memory, network and I/O. We also evaluate the performance of the scientific applications running in the cloud. This paper aims to assess the ability of the cloud to perform well, as well as to evaluate the cost of the cloud running scientific applications. We developed a full set of metrics and conducted a comprehensive performance evlauation over the Amazon cloud. We evaluated EC2, S3, EBS and DynamoDB among the many Amazon AWS services. We evaluated the memory sub-system performance with CacheBench, the network performance with iperf, processor and network performance with the HPL benchmark application, and shared storage with NFS and PVFS in addition to S3. We also evaluated a real scientific computing application through the Swift parallel scripting system at scale. Armed with both detailed benchmarks to gauge expected performance and a detailed monetary cost analysis, we expect this paper will be a recipe cookbook for scientists to help them decide where to deploy and run their scientific applications between public clouds, private clouds, or hybrid clouds.« less

Fix These First: How the World's Leading Companies Point the Way Toward High Reliability in the Military Health System.

PubMed

Beauvais, Brad; Richter, Jason; Brezinski, Paul

The 2014 Military Health System Review calls for healthcare system leaders to implement effective strategies used by other high-performing organizations. The authors state, " the [military health system] MHS can create an optimal healthcare environment that focuses on continuous quality improvement where every patient receives safe, high-quality care at all times" (Military Health System, 2014, p. 1). Although aspirational, the document does not specify how a highly reliable health system is developed or what systemic factors are necessary to sustain highly reliable performance. Our work seeks to address this gap and provide guidance to MHS leaders regarding how high-performing organizations develop exceptional levels of performance.The authors' expectation is that military medicine will draw on these lessons to enhance leadership, develop exceptional organizational cultures, onboard and engage employees, build customer loyalty, and improve quality of care. Leaders from other segments of the healthcare field likely will find this study valuable given the size of the military healthcare system (9.6 million beneficiaries), the United States' steady progression toward population-based health, and the increasing need for highly reliable systems and performance.

Time delays in flight simulator visual displays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crane, D. F.

1980-01-01

It is pointed out that the effects of delays of less than 100 msec in visual displays on pilot dynamic response and system performance are of particular interest at this time because improvements in the latest computer-generated imagery (CGI) systems are expected to reduce CGI displays delays to this range. Attention is given to data which quantify the effects of display delays in the range of 0-100 msec on system stability and performance, and pilot dynamic response for a particular choice of aircraft dynamics, display, controller, and task. The conventional control system design methods are reviewed, the pilot response data presented, and data for long delays, all suggest lead filter compensation of display delay. Pilot-aircraft system crossover frequency information guides compensation filter specification.

On the torque and wear behavior of selected thin film MOS2 lubricated gimbal bearings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bohner, John J.; Conley, Peter L.

1988-01-01

During the thermal vacuum test phase of the GOES 7 spacecraft, the primary scan mirror system exhibited unacceptably high drive friction. The observed friction was found to correlate with small misalignments in the mirror structure and unavoidable loads induced by the vehicle spin. An intensive effort to understand and document the performance of the scan mirror bearing system under these loads is described. This effort involved calculation of the bearing loads and expected friction torque, comparison of the computed values to test data, and verification of the lubrication system performance and limitations under external loads. The study culminated in a successful system launch in February of 1987. The system has operated as predicted since that time.

Solving data-at-rest for the storage and retrieval of files in ad hoc networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knobler, Ron; Scheffel, Peter; Williams, Jonathan; Gaj, Kris; Kaps, Jens-Peter

2013-05-01

Based on current trends for both military and commercial applications, the use of mobile devices (e.g. smartphones and tablets) is greatly increasing. Several military applications consist of secure peer to peer file sharing without a centralized authority. For these military applications, if one or more of these mobile devices are lost or compromised, sensitive files can be compromised by adversaries, since COTS devices and operating systems are used. Complete system files cannot be stored on a device, since after compromising a device, an adversary can attack the data at rest, and eventually obtain the original file. Also after a device is compromised, the existing peer to peer system devices must still be able to access all system files. McQ has teamed with the Cryptographic Engineering Research Group at George Mason University to develop a custom distributed file sharing system to provide a complete solution to the data at rest problem for resource constrained embedded systems and mobile devices. This innovative approach scales very well to a large number of network devices, without a single point of failure. We have implemented the approach on representative mobile devices as well as developed an extensive system simulator to benchmark expected system performance based on detailed modeling of the network/radio characteristics, CONOPS, and secure distributed file system functionality. The simulator is highly customizable for the purpose of determining expected system performance for other network topologies and CONOPS.

Digital Model-Based Engineering: Expectations, Prerequisites, and Challenges of Infusion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hale, J. P.; Zimmerman, P.; Kukkala, G.; Guerrero, J.; Kobryn, P.; Puchek, B.; Bisconti, M.; Baldwin, C.; Mulpuri, M.

2017-01-01

Digital model-based engineering (DMbE) is the use of digital artifacts, digital environments, and digital tools in the performance of engineering functions. DMbE is intended to allow an organization to progress from documentation-based engineering methods to digital methods that may provide greater flexibility, agility, and efficiency. The term 'DMbE' was developed as part of an effort by the Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Infusion Task team to identify what government organizations might expect in the course of moving to or infusing MBSE into their organizations. The Task team was established by the Interagency Working Group on Engineering Complex Systems, an informal collaboration among government systems engineering organizations. This Technical Memorandum (TM) discusses the work of the MBSE Infusion Task team to date. The Task team identified prerequisites, expectations, initial challenges, and recommendations for areas of study to pursue, as well as examples of efforts already in progress. The team identified the following five expectations associated with DMbE infusion, discussed further in this TM: (1) Informed decision making through increased transparency, and greater insight. (2) Enhanced communication. (3) Increased understanding for greater flexibility/adaptability in design. (4) Increased confidence that the capability will perform as expected. (5) Increased efficiency. The team identified the following seven challenges an organization might encounter when looking to infuse DMbE: (1) Assessing value added to the organization. Not all DMbE practices will be applicable to every situation in every organization, and not all implementations will have positive results. (2) Overcoming organizational and cultural hurdles. (3) Adopting contractual practices and technical data management. (4) Redefining configuration management. The DMbE environment changes the range of configuration information to be managed to include performance and design models, database objects, as well as more traditional book-form objects and formats. (5) Developing information technology (IT) infrastructure. Approaches to implementing critical, enabling IT infrastructure capabilities must be flexible, reconfigurable, and updatable. (6) Ensuring security of the single source of truth (7) Potential overreliance on quantitative data over qualitative data. Executable/ computational models and simulations generally incorporate and generate quantitative vice qualitative data. The Task team also developed several recommendations for government, academia, and industry, as discussed in this TM. The Task team recommends continuing beyond this initial work to further develop the means of implementing DMbE and to look for opportunities to collaborate and share best practices.

Medical record keeping and system performance in orthopaedic trauma patients.

PubMed

Cosic, Filip; Kimmel, Lara; Edwards, Elton

2016-01-01

Objective The medical record is critical for documentation and communication between healthcare professionals. The aim of the present study was to evaluate important aspects of the orthopaedic medical record and system performance to determine whether any deficiencies exist in these areas. Methods Review of 200 medical records of surgically treated traumatic lower limb injury patients was undertaken. The operative report, discharge summary and first and second outpatient reviews were evaluated. Results In all cases, an operative report was completed by a senior surgeon. Weight-bearing status was adequately documented in 91% of reports. Discharge summaries were completed for 82.5% of admissions, with 87.3% of these having instructions reflective of those in the operative report. Of first and second outpatient reviews, 69% and 73%, respectively, occurred within 1 week of the requested time. Previously documented management plans were changed in 30% of reviews. At 6-months post-operatively, 42% of patients had been reviewed by a member of their operating team. Discussion Orthopaedic medical record documentation remains an area for improvement. In addition, hospital out-patient systems perform suboptimally and may affect patient outcomes. What is known about the topic? Medical records are an essential tool in modern medical practice. Despite the importance of comprehensive documentation in the medical record, numerous examples of poor documentation have been demonstrated, including substandard documentation during consultant ward rounds by junior doctors leading to a breakdown in healthcare professional communication and potential patient mismanagement. Further inadequacies of medical record documentation have been demonstrated in surgical discharge notes, with complete and correct documentation reported to be as low as 65%. What does this paper add? Standards of patient care should be constantly monitored and deficiencies identified in order to implement a remedy and close the quality loop. The present study has highlighted that the standard of orthopaedic trauma medical record keeping at an Australian Level 1 trauma centre is below what is expected and several key areas of documentation require improvement. This paper further evaluates the system performance of the out-patient system, an area where, to the authors knowledge, there is no previous work published. The findings show that the performance was below what is expected for surgical review, with many patients failing to be reviewed by their operating surgeon. What are the implications for practitioners? The present study shows that there is a poor level of documentation and a standard of out-patient review below what is expected. The implications of these findings will be to highlight current deficiencies to practitioners and promote change in current practice to improve the quality of medical record documentation among medical staff. Further, the findings of poor system performance will promote change in the current system of delivering out-patient care to patients.

Expected Performance of the ATLAS Experiment - Detector, Trigger and Physics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aad, G.; Abat, E.; Abbott, B.

2011-11-28

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN promises a major step forward in the understanding of the fundamental nature of matter. The ATLAS experiment is a general-purpose detector for the LHC, whose design was guided by the need to accommodate the wide spectrum of possible physics signatures. The major remit of the ATLAS experiment is the exploration of the TeV mass scale where groundbreaking discoveries are expected. In the focus are the investigation of the electroweak symmetry breaking and linked to this the search for the Higgs boson as well as the search for Physics beyond the Standard Model. Inmore » this report a detailed examination of the expected performance of the ATLAS detector is provided, with a major aim being to investigate the experimental sensitivity to a wide range of measurements and potential observations of new physical processes. An earlier summary of the expected capabilities of ATLAS was compiled in 1999 [1]. A survey of physics capabilities of the CMS detector was published in [2]. The design of the ATLAS detector has now been finalised, and its construction and installation have been completed [3]. An extensive test-beam programme was undertaken. Furthermore, the simulation and reconstruction software code and frameworks have been completely rewritten. Revisions incorporated reflect improved detector modelling as well as major technical changes to the software technology. Greatly improved understanding of calibration and alignment techniques, and their practical impact on performance, is now in place. The studies reported here are based on full simulations of the ATLAS detector response. A variety of event generators were employed. The simulation and reconstruction of these large event samples thus provided an important operational test of the new ATLAS software system. In addition, the processing was distributed world-wide over the ATLAS Grid facilities and hence provided an important test of the ATLAS computing system - this is the origin of the expression 'CSC studies' ('computing system commissioning'), which is occasionally referred to in these volumes. The work reported does generally assume that the detector is fully operational, and in this sense represents an idealised detector: establishing the best performance of the ATLAS detector with LHC proton-proton collisions is a challenging task for the future. The results summarised here therefore represent the best estimate of ATLAS capabilities before real operational experience of the full detector with beam. Unless otherwise stated, simulations also do not include the effect of additional interactions in the same or other bunch-crossings, and the effect of neutron background is neglected. Thus simulations correspond to the low-luminosity performance of the ATLAS detector. This report is broadly divided into two parts: firstly the performance for identification of physics objects is examined in detail, followed by a detailed assessment of the performance of the trigger system. This part is subdivided into chapters surveying the capabilities for charged particle tracking, each of electron/photon, muon and tau identification, jet and missing transverse energy reconstruction, b-tagging algorithms and performance, and finally the trigger system performance. In each chapter of the report, there is a further subdivision into shorter notes describing different aspects studied. The second major subdivision of the report addresses physics measurement capabilities, and new physics search sensitivities. Individual chapters in this part discuss ATLAS physics capabilities in Standard Model QCD and electroweak processes, in the top quark sector, in b-physics, in searches for Higgs bosons, supersymmetry searches, and finally searches for other new particles predicted in more exotic models.« less

Alkali Metal/Salt Thermal-Energy-Storage Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Phillips, Wayne W.; Stearns, John W.

1987-01-01

Proposed thermal-energy-storage system based on mixture of alkali metal and one of its halide salts; metal and salt form slurry of two immiscible melts. Use of slurry expected to prevent incrustations of solidified salts on heat-transfer surfaces that occur where salts alone used. Since incrustations impede heat transfer, system performance improved. In system, charging heat-exchanger surface immersed in lower liquid, rich in halide-salt, phase-charge material. Discharging heat exchanger surface immersed in upper liquid, rich in alkali metal.

LOGDIS (Logistics Data Integration System): Productivity evaluation report. [Logistics Data Integration System

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schultz, E.E.; Abrahams, S.; Banks, W.W. Jr.

1987-08-26

This report presents the results of an end-user productivity study associated with the implementation of LOGDIS (Logistics Data Integration System), a prototype LLNL Gateway system. Its purpose is to provide AFLC decision-makers with data pertaining to estimates of any productivity changes that can be expected or realized by the use of advanced technology and applications software. The effort described in this report focuses on objective functional user productivity and performance changes which can be attributed directly and objectively to LOGDIS.

CDF-II and B physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lockyer, Nigel S.

1998-02-01

This paper reports on the CDF-II B physics goals and new detector systems presently being built for Run-II of the Tevatron collider in the year 2000. The B physics goals are focused towards observing and studying CP violation and B s flavor oscillations. Estimates of expected performance are reported. The new detector systems described are: the 5-layer 3-D silicon vertex detector, the intermedia silicon tracking layers, the central tracking drift chamber, muon system upgrades, and a proposed time-of-flight system.

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION REPORT: ECR TECHNOLOGIES, INC., EARTHLINKED GROUND-SOURCE HEAT PUMP WATER HEATING SYSTEM

EPA Science Inventory

EPA has created the Environmental Technology Verification program to provide high quality, peer reviewed data on technology performance. This data is expected to accelerate the acceptance and use of improved environmental protection technologies. The Greenhouse Gas Technology C...

10 CFR 960.4 - Postclosure guidelines.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... REPOSITORY Postclosure Guidelines § 960.4 Postclosure guidelines. The guidelines in this subpart specify the factors to be considered in evaluating and comparing sites on the basis of expected repository performance... NRC and EPA regulations. These requirements must be met by the repository system, which contains...

A crisis in critical thinking.

PubMed

del Bueno, Dorothy

2005-01-01

Aggregate results for competency assessment of new registered nurses using the Performance Based Development System indicate that most new graduates do not meet expectations for entry-level clinical judgment ability.This article discusses implications for nursing education and offers recommendations for developing clinical judgment in nursing students.

NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory in flight for the first of a series of test flights to verify the flight performance of the highly modified Boeing 747SP

NASA Image and Video Library

2007-10-11

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, arrived at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. on May 31, 2007. The heavily modified Boeing 747SP was ferried to Dryden from Waco, Texas, where L-3 Communications Integrated Systems installed a German-built 2.5-meter infrared telescope and made other major modifications over the past several years. SOFIA is scheduled to undergo installation and integration of mission systems and a multi-phase flight test program at Dryden over the next three years that is expected to lead to a full operational capability to conduct astronomy missions in about 2010. During its expected 20-year lifetime, SOFIA will be capable of "Great Observatory" class astronomical science, providing astronomers with access to the visible, infrared and sub-millimeter spectrum with optimized performance in the mid-infrared to sub-millimeter range.

NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory and F/A-18 safety chase during the first series of test flights to verify the flight performance of the modified Boeing 747SP

NASA Image and Video Library

2007-10-11

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, arrived at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. on May 31, 2007. The heavily modified Boeing 747SP was ferried to Dryden from Waco, Texas, where L-3 Communications Integrated Systems installed a German-built 2.5-meter infrared telescope and made other major modifications over the past several years. SOFIA is scheduled to undergo installation and integration of mission systems and a multi-phase flight test program at Dryden over the next three years that is expected to lead to a full operational capability to conduct astronomy missions in about 2010. During its expected 20-year lifetime, SOFIA will be capable of "Great Observatory" class astronomical science, providing astronomers with access to the visible, infrared and sub-millimeter spectrum with optimized performance in the mid-infrared to sub-millimeter range.

NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory lifts off on the first of a series of test flights to verify the flight performance of the highly modified Boeing 747SP

NASA Image and Video Library

2007-10-11

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, arrived at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. on May 31, 2007. The heavily modified Boeing 747SP was ferried to Dryden from Waco, Texas, where L-3 Communications Integrated Systems installed a German-built 2.5-meter infrared telescope and made other major modifications over the past several years. SOFIA is scheduled to undergo installation and integration of mission systems and a multi-phase flight test program at Dryden over the next three years that is expected to lead to a full operational capability to conduct astronomy missions in about 2010. During its expected 20-year lifetime, SOFIA will be capable of "Great Observatory" class astronomical science, providing astronomers with access to the visible, infrared and sub-millimeter spectrum with optimized performance in the mid-infrared to sub-millimeter range.

In-service tests of the effectiveness of vibration control measures on the BART rail transit system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saurenman, Hugh; Phillips, James

2006-06-01

This paper presents results of a number of vibration measurements of the different track forms used on the current San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system including floating slab, resiliently supported half-ties and high-resilience direct fixation fasteners in subway and one section of floating slab used on at-grade track. The goal was to obtain data that would improve the predictions of future vibration levels and perhaps lead to more cost effective vibration mitigation strategies for the proposed BART extension to San Jose. The tests show that the floating slabs are performing much as designed, the resiliently supported half-ties are less effective than expected, and the high resilience track fasteners are probably performing as expected although the results are clouded because of severe rail corrugation in the area where the new fasteners were installed. One unanticipated result is the apparent interaction of the floating slab resonance, the wheel rotation frequency, the bogie dynamics, and vibration propagation characteristics of the ground.

High-performance computing with quantum processing units

DOE PAGES

Britt, Keith A.; Oak Ridge National Lab.; Humble, Travis S.; ...

2017-03-01

The prospects of quantum computing have driven efforts to realize fully functional quantum processing units (QPUs). Recent success in developing proof-of-principle QPUs has prompted the question of how to integrate these emerging processors into modern high-performance computing (HPC) systems. We examine how QPUs can be integrated into current and future HPC system architectures by accounting for func- tional and physical design requirements. We identify two integration pathways that are differentiated by infrastructure constraints on the QPU and the use cases expected for the HPC system. This includes a tight integration that assumes infrastructure bottlenecks can be overcome as well asmore » a loose integration that as- sumes they cannot. We find that the performance of both approaches is likely to depend on the quantum interconnect that serves to entangle multiple QPUs. As a result, we also identify several challenges in assessing QPU performance for HPC, and we consider new metrics that capture the interplay between system architecture and the quantum parallelism underlying computational performance.« less

High-performance computing with quantum processing units

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Britt, Keith A.; Oak Ridge National Lab.; Humble, Travis S.

The prospects of quantum computing have driven efforts to realize fully functional quantum processing units (QPUs). Recent success in developing proof-of-principle QPUs has prompted the question of how to integrate these emerging processors into modern high-performance computing (HPC) systems. We examine how QPUs can be integrated into current and future HPC system architectures by accounting for func- tional and physical design requirements. We identify two integration pathways that are differentiated by infrastructure constraints on the QPU and the use cases expected for the HPC system. This includes a tight integration that assumes infrastructure bottlenecks can be overcome as well asmore » a loose integration that as- sumes they cannot. We find that the performance of both approaches is likely to depend on the quantum interconnect that serves to entangle multiple QPUs. As a result, we also identify several challenges in assessing QPU performance for HPC, and we consider new metrics that capture the interplay between system architecture and the quantum parallelism underlying computational performance.« less

Economics of human performance and systems total ownership cost.

PubMed

Onkham, Wilawan; Karwowski, Waldemar; Ahram, Tareq Z

2012-01-01

Financial costs of investing in people is associated with training, acquisition, recruiting, and resolving human errors have a significant impact on increased total ownership costs. These costs can also affect the exaggerate budgets and delayed schedules. The study of human performance economical assessment in the system acquisition process enhances the visibility of hidden cost drivers which support program management informed decisions. This paper presents the literature review of human total ownership cost (HTOC) and cost impacts on overall system performance. Economic value assessment models such as cost benefit analysis, risk-cost tradeoff analysis, expected value of utility function analysis (EV), growth readiness matrix, multi-attribute utility technique, and multi-regressions model were introduced to reflect the HTOC and human performance-technology tradeoffs in terms of the dollar value. The human total ownership regression model introduces to address the influencing human performance cost component measurement. Results from this study will increase understanding of relevant cost drivers in the system acquisition process over the long term.

Bismarck or Beveridge: a beauty contest between dinosaurs

PubMed Central

van der Zee, Jouke; Kroneman, Madelon W

2007-01-01

Background Health systems delivery systems can be divided into two broad categories: National Health Services (NHS) on the one hand and Social Security (based) Health care systems (SSH) on the other hand. Existing literature is inconclusive about which system performs best. In this paper we would like to improve the evidence-base for discussion about pros and cons of NHS-systems versus SSH-system for health outcomes, expenditure and population satisfaction. Methods In this study we used time series data for 17 European countries, that were characterized as either NHS or SSH country. We used the following performance indicators: For health outcome: overall mortality rate, infant mortality rate and life expectancy at birth. For health care costs: health care expenditure per capita in pppUS$ and health expenditure as percentage of GDP. Time series dated from 1970 until 2003 or 2004, depending on availability. Sources were OECD health data base 2006 and WHO health for all database 2006. For satisfaction we used the Eurobarometer studies from 1996, 1998 and 1999. Results SSH systems perform slightly better on overall mortality rates and life expectancy (after 1980). For infant mortality the rates converged between the two types of systems and since 1980 no differences ceased to exist. SSH systems are more expensive and NHS systems have a better cost containment. Inhabitants of countries with SSH-systems are on average substantially more satisfied than those in NHS countries. Conclusion We concluded that the question 'which type of system performs best' can be answered empirically as far as health outcomes, health care expenditures and patient satisfaction are concerned. Whether this selection of indicators covers all or even most relevant aspects of health system comparison remains to be seen. Perhaps further and more conclusive research into health system related differences in, for instance, equity should be completed before the leading question of this paper can be answered. We do think, however, that this study can form a base for a policy debate on the pros and cons of the existing health care systems in Europe. PMID:17594476

Dissociable effects of reward and expectancy during evaluative feedback processing revealed by topographic ERP mapping analysis.

PubMed

Gheza, Davide; Paul, Katharina; Pourtois, Gilles

2017-11-24

Evaluative feedback provided during performance monitoring (PM) elicits either a positive or negative deflection ~250-300ms after its onset in the event-related potential (ERP) depending on whether the outcome is reward-related or not, as well as expected or not. However, it remains currently unclear whether these two deflections reflect a unitary process, or rather dissociable effects arising from non-overlapping brain networks. To address this question, we recorded 64-channel EEG in healthy adult participants performing a standard gambling task where valence and expectancy were manipulated in a factorial design. We analyzed the feedback-locked ERP data using a conventional ERP analysis, as well as an advanced topographic ERP mapping analysis supplemented with distributed source localization. Results reveal two main topographies showing opposing valence effects, and being differently modulated by expectancy. The first one was short-lived and sensitive to no-reward irrespective of expectancy. Source-estimation associated with this topographic map comprised mainly regions of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. The second one was primarily driven by reward, had a prolonged time-course and was monotonically influenced by expectancy. Moreover, this reward-related topographical map was best accounted for by intracranial generators estimated in the posterior cingulate cortex. These new findings suggest the existence of dissociable brain systems depending on feedback valence and expectancy. More generally, they inform about the added value of using topographic ERP mapping methods, besides conventional ERP measurements, to characterize qualitative changes occurring in the spatio-temporal dynamic of reward processing during PM. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

High Fidelity Thermal Simulators for Non-Nuclear Testing: Analysis and Initial Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bragg-Sitton, Shannon M.; Dickens, Ricky; Dixon, David

2007-01-01

Non-nuclear testing can be a valuable tool in the development of a space nuclear power system, providing system characterization data and allowing one to work through various fabrication, assembly and integration issues without the cost and time associated with a full ground nuclear test. In a non-nuclear test bed, electric heaters are used to simulate the heat from nuclear fuel. Testing with non-optimized heater elements allows one to assess thermal, heat transfer, and stress related attributes of a given system, but fails to demonstrate the dynamic response that would be present in an integrated, fueled reactor system. High fidelity thermal simulators that match both the static and the dynamic fuel pin performance that would be observed in an operating, fueled nuclear reactor can vastly increase the value of non-nuclear test results. With optimized simulators, the integration of thermal hydraulic hardware tests with simulated neutronie response provides a bridge between electrically heated testing and fueled nuclear testing, providing a better assessment of system integration issues, characterization of integrated system response times and response characteristics, and assessment of potential design improvements' at a relatively small fiscal investment. Initial conceptual thermal simulator designs are determined by simple one-dimensional analysis at a single axial location and at steady state conditions; feasible concepts are then input into a detailed three-dimensional model for comparison to expected fuel pin performance. Static and dynamic fuel pin performance for a proposed reactor design is determined using SINDA/FLUINT thermal analysis software, and comparison is made between the expected nuclear performance and the performance of conceptual thermal simulator designs. Through a series of iterative analyses, a conceptual high fidelity design can developed. Test results presented in this paper correspond to a "first cut" simulator design for a potential liquid metal (NaK) cooled reactor design that could be applied for Lunar surface power. Proposed refinements to this simulator design are also presented.

First-order error budgeting for LUVOIR mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lightsey, Paul A.; Knight, J. Scott; Feinberg, Lee D.; Bolcar, Matthew R.; Shaklan, Stuart B.

2017-09-01

Future large astronomical telescopes in space will have architectures that will have complex and demanding requirements to meet the science goals. The Large UV/Optical/IR Surveyor (LUVOIR) mission concept being assessed by the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center is expected to be 9 to 15 meters in diameter, have a segmented primary mirror and be diffraction limited at a wavelength of 500 nanometers. The optical stability is expected to be in the picometer range for minutes to hours. Architecture studies to support the NASA Science and Technology Definition teams (STDTs) are underway to evaluate systems performance improvements to meet the science goals. To help define the technology needs and assess performance, a first order error budget has been developed. Like the JWST error budget, the error budget includes the active, adaptive and passive elements in spatial and temporal domains. JWST performance is scaled using first order approximations where appropriate and includes technical advances in telescope control.

The effect of soil heterogeneity on ATES performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sommer, W.; Rijnaarts, H.; Grotenhuis, T.; van Gaans, P.

2012-04-01

Due to an increasing demand for sustainable energy, application of Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) is growing rapidly. Large-scale application of ATES is limited by the space that is available in the subsurface. Especially in urban areas, suboptimal performance is expected due to thermal interference between individual wells of a single system, or interference with other ATES systems or groundwater abstractions. To avoid thermal interference there are guidelines on well spacing. However, these guidelines, and also design calculations, are based on the assumption of a homogeneous subsurface, while studies report a standard deviation in logpermeability of 1 to 2 for unconsolidated aquifers (Gelhar, 1993). Such heterogeneity may create preferential pathways, reducing ATES performance due to increased advective heat loss or interference between ATES wells. The role of hydraulic heterogeneity of the subsurface related to ATES performance has received little attention in literature. Previous research shows that even small amounts of heterogeneity can result in considerable uncertainty in the distribution of thermal energy in the subsurface and an increased radius of influence (Ferguson, 2007). This is supported by subsurface temperature measurements around ATES wells, which suggest heterogeneity gives rise to preferential pathways and short-circuiting between ATES wells (Bridger and Allen, 2010). Using 3-dimensional stochastic heat transport modeling, we quantified the influence of heterogeneity on the performance of a doublet well energy storage system. The following key parameters are varied to study their influence on thermal recovery and thermal balance: 1) regional flow velocity, 2) distance between wells and 3) characteristics of the heterogeneity. Results show that heterogeneity at the scale of a doublet ATES system introduces an uncertainty up to 18% in expected thermal recovery. The uncertainty increases with decreasing distance between ATES wells. The uncertainty in the thermal balance ratio related to heterogeneity is limited (smaller than 3%). If thermal interference should be avoided, wells in heterogeneous aquifers should be placed further apart than in homogeneous aquifers, leading to larger volume claim in the subsurface. By relating the number of ATES systems in an area to their expected performance, these results can be used to optimize regional application of ATES. Bridger, D. W. and D. M. Allen (2010). "Heat transport simulations in a heterogeneous aquifer used for aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES)." Canadian Geotechnical Journal 47(1): 96-115. Ferguson, G. (2007). "Heterogeneity and thermal modeling of ground water." Ground Water 45(4): 485-490. Gelhar, L. W. (1993). Stochastic Subsurface Hydrology, Prentice Hall.

Reducing aberration effect of Fourier transform lens by modifying Fourier spectrum of diffractive optical element in beam shaping optical system.

PubMed

Zhang, Fang; Zhu, Jing; Song, Qiang; Yue, Weirui; Liu, Jingdan; Wang, Jian; Situ, Guohai; Huang, Huijie

2015-10-20

In general, Fourier transform lenses are considered as ideal in the design algorithms of diffractive optical elements (DOEs). However, the inherent aberrations of a real Fourier transform lens disturb the far field pattern. The difference between the generated pattern and the expected design will impact the system performance. Therefore, a method for modifying the Fourier spectrum of DOEs without introducing other optical elements to reduce the aberration effect of the Fourier transform lens is proposed. By applying this method, beam shaping performance is improved markedly for the optical system with a real Fourier transform lens. The experiments carried out with a commercial Fourier transform lens give evidence for this method. The method is capable of reducing the system complexity as well as improving its performance.

Resolution of Probabilistic Weather Forecasts with Application in Disease Management.

PubMed

Hughes, G; McRoberts, N; Burnett, F J

2017-02-01

Predictive systems in disease management often incorporate weather data among the disease risk factors, and sometimes this comes in the form of forecast weather data rather than observed weather data. In such cases, it is useful to have an evaluation of the operational weather forecast, in addition to the evaluation of the disease forecasts provided by the predictive system. Typically, weather forecasts and disease forecasts are evaluated using different methodologies. However, the information theoretic quantity expected mutual information provides a basis for evaluating both kinds of forecast. Expected mutual information is an appropriate metric for the average performance of a predictive system over a set of forecasts. Both relative entropy (a divergence, measuring information gain) and specific information (an entropy difference, measuring change in uncertainty) provide a basis for the assessment of individual forecasts.

Man-Portable Simultaneous Magnetometer and EM System (MSEMS)

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-12-01

expensive fluxgate magnetometers . This is because the interleaving hardware is expecting a Larmor signal as input; it performs period counting of the...Larmor signal between EM61 pulses to convert the frequency-based Larmor signal into nanotesla. A fluxgate magnetometer does not employ the resonance...FINAL REPORT Man-Portable Simultaneous Magnetometer and EM System (MSEMS) ESTCP Project MM-0414 December 2008 Robert Siegel Science

The Secure Distributed Operating System Design Project

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-06-01

a di- verse group of people . Its organization isolates different aspects of the project, such as expected results, preliminary results, and technical...modeled after these procedures. " Automation: computers are commonly used to automate tasks previously performed by people ; many of these tasks are... people commonly con- sidered the threats anticipated to the system and mechanisms that are used to prevent those threats. Both hardware and software

The SAMPL4 host-guest blind prediction challenge: an overview.

PubMed

Muddana, Hari S; Fenley, Andrew T; Mobley, David L; Gilson, Michael K

2014-04-01

Prospective validation of methods for computing binding affinities can help assess their predictive power and thus set reasonable expectations for their performance in drug design applications. Supramolecular host-guest systems are excellent model systems for testing such affinity prediction methods, because their small size and limited conformational flexibility, relative to proteins, allows higher throughput and better numerical convergence. The SAMPL4 prediction challenge therefore included a series of host-guest systems, based on two hosts, cucurbit[7]uril and octa-acid. Binding affinities in aqueous solution were measured experimentally for a total of 23 guest molecules. Participants submitted 35 sets of computational predictions for these host-guest systems, based on methods ranging from simple docking, to extensive free energy simulations, to quantum mechanical calculations. Over half of the predictions provided better correlations with experiment than two simple null models, but most methods underperformed the null models in terms of root mean squared error and linear regression slope. Interestingly, the overall performance across all SAMPL4 submissions was similar to that for the prior SAMPL3 host-guest challenge, although the experimentalists took steps to simplify the current challenge. While some methods performed fairly consistently across both hosts, no single approach emerged as consistent top performer, and the nonsystematic nature of the various submissions made it impossible to draw definitive conclusions regarding the best choices of energy models or sampling algorithms. Salt effects emerged as an issue in the calculation of absolute binding affinities of cucurbit[7]uril-guest systems, but were not expected to affect the relative affinities significantly. Useful directions for future rounds of the challenge might involve encouraging participants to carry out some calculations that replicate each others' studies, and to systematically explore parameter options.

Night vision: requirements and possible roadmap for FIR and NIR systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Källhammer, Jan-Erik

2006-04-01

A night vision system must increase visibility in situations where only low beam headlights can be used today. As pedestrians and animals have the highest risk increase in night time traffic due to darkness, the ability of detecting those objects should be the main performance criteria, and the system must remain effective when facing the headlights of oncoming vehicles. Far infrared system has been shown to be superior to near infrared system in terms of pedestrian detection distance. Near infrared images were rated to have significantly higher visual clutter compared with far infrared images. Visual clutter has been shown to correlate with reduction in detection distance of pedestrians. Far infrared images are perceived as being more unusual and therefore more difficult to interpret, although the image appearance is likely related to the lower visual clutter. However, the main issue comparing the two technologies should be how well they solve the driver's problem with insufficient visibility under low beam conditions, especially of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. With the addition of an automatic detection aid, a main issue will be whether the advantage of FIR systems will vanish given NIR systems with well performing automatic pedestrian detection functionality. The first night vision introductions did not generate the sales volumes initially expected. A renewed interest in night vision systems are however to be expected after the release of night vision systems by BMW, Mercedes and Honda, the latter with automatic pedestrian detection.

The effects of regional insolation differences upon advanced solar thermal electric power plant performance and energy costs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Latta, A. F.; Bowyer, J. M.; Fujita, T.; Richter, P. H.

1980-01-01

The performance and cost of four 10 MWe advanced solar thermal electric power plants sited in various regions of the continental United States was studied. Each region has different insolation characteristics which result in varying collector field areas, plant performance, capital costs and energy costs. The regional variation in solar plant performance was assessed in relation to the expected rise in the future cost of residential and commercial electricity supplied by conventional utility power systems in the same regions. A discussion of the regional insolation data base is presented along with a description of the solar systems performance and costs. A range for the forecast cost of conventional electricity by region and nationally over the next several decades is given.

Quantum Accelerators for High-performance Computing Systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Humble, Travis S.; Britt, Keith A.; Mohiyaddin, Fahd A.

We define some of the programming and system-level challenges facing the application of quantum processing to high-performance computing. Alongside barriers to physical integration, prominent differences in the execution of quantum and conventional programs challenges the intersection of these computational models. Following a brief overview of the state of the art, we discuss recent advances in programming and execution models for hybrid quantum-classical computing. We discuss a novel quantum-accelerator framework that uses specialized kernels to offload select workloads while integrating with existing computing infrastructure. We elaborate on the role of the host operating system to manage these unique accelerator resources, themore » prospects for deploying quantum modules, and the requirements placed on the language hierarchy connecting these different system components. We draw on recent advances in the modeling and simulation of quantum computing systems with the development of architectures for hybrid high-performance computing systems and the realization of software stacks for controlling quantum devices. Finally, we present simulation results that describe the expected system-level behavior of high-performance computing systems composed from compute nodes with quantum processing units. We describe performance for these hybrid systems in terms of time-to-solution, accuracy, and energy consumption, and we use simple application examples to estimate the performance advantage of quantum acceleration.« less

Functioning in the Real World: Using Storytelling to Improve Validity in the Assessment of Executive Functions.

PubMed

Annotti, Lee A; Teglasi, Hedwig

2017-01-01

Real-world contexts differ in the clarity of expectations for desired responses, as do assessment procedures, ranging along a continuum from maximal conditions that provide well-defined expectations to typical conditions that provide ill-defined expectations. Executive functions guide effective social interactions, but relations between them have not been studied with measures that are matched in the clarity of response expectations. In predicting teacher-rated social competence (SC) from kindergarteners' performance on tasks of executive functions (EFs), we found better model-data fit indexes when both measures were similar in the clarity of response expectations for the child. The maximal EF measure, the Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment, presents well-defined response expectations, and the typical EF measure, 5 scales from the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), presents ill-defined response expectations (i.e., Abstraction, Perceptual Integration, Cognitive-Experiential Integration, and Associative Thinking). To assess SC under maximal and typical conditions, we used 2 teacher-rated questionnaires, with items, respectively, that emphasize well-defined and ill-defined expectations: the Behavior Rating Inventory: Behavioral Regulation Index and the Social Skills Improvement System: Social Competence Scale. Findings suggest that matching clarity of expectations improves generalization across measures and highlight the usefulness of the TAT to measure EF.

P21 Common Core Toolkit: A Guide to Aligning the Common Core State Standards with the Framework for 21st Century Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2011

2011-01-01

Standards drive critical elements of the American educational system--the curricula that schools follow, the textbooks students read, and the tests they take. Similarly, standards establish the levels of performance that students, teachers and schools are expected to meet. To succeed in the 21st century, all students will need to perform to high…

Using Performance Measures to Allocate Consumable Funding

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-06-01

The Air Force is now using the Customer Oriented Leveling Technique (COLT) to determine levels for consumable items at its bases. COLT is an...Overview • COLT is a system to set AF retail stock levels for DLA-managed consumable parts to minimize expected customer wait time (ECWT) • COLT...changed please list both.) Original title on 712 A/B: Using Performance Measures to Allocate Consumable Funding If the title was revised

Real time evolution at finite temperatures with operator space matrix product states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pižorn, Iztok; Eisler, Viktor; Andergassen, Sabine; Troyer, Matthias

2014-07-01

We propose a method to simulate the real time evolution of one-dimensional quantum many-body systems at finite temperature by expressing both the density matrices and the observables as matrix product states. This allows the calculation of expectation values and correlation functions as scalar products in operator space. The simulations of density matrices in inverse temperature and the local operators in the Heisenberg picture are independent and result in a grid of expectation values for all intermediate temperatures and times. Simulations can be performed using real arithmetics with only polynomial growth of computational resources in inverse temperature and time for integrable systems. The method is illustrated for the XXZ model and the single impurity Anderson model.

Near infra-red astronomy with adaptive optics and laser guide stars at the Keck Observatory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Max, C.E.; Gavel, D.T.; Olivier, S.S.

1995-08-03

A laser guide star adaptive optics system is being built for the W. M. Keck Observatory`s 10-meter Keck II telescope. Two new near infra-red instruments will be used with this system: a high-resolution camera (NIRC 2) and an echelle spectrometer (NIRSPEC). The authors describe the expected capabilities of these instruments for high-resolution astronomy, using adaptive optics with either a natural star or a sodium-layer laser guide star as a reference. They compare the expected performance of these planned Keck adaptive optics instruments with that predicted for the NICMOS near infra-red camera, which is scheduled to be installed on the Hubblemore » Space Telescope in 1997.« less

Signal Acquisition Using AXIe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Narciso, Steven J.

2011-08-01

An emerging test and measurement standard called AXIe, AdvancedTCA extensions for Instrumentation, is expected to find wide acceptance within the Physics community as it offers many benefits to applications including shock, plasma, particle and nuclear physics. It is expected that many COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) signal conditioning, acquisition and processing modules will become available from a range of different suppliers. AXIe uses AdvancedTCA® as its basis, but then levers test and measurement industry standards such as PXI, IVI, and LXI to facilitate cooperation and plug-and-play interoperability between COTS instrument suppliers. AXIe's large board footprint and power allows high density in a 19" rack, enabling the development of high-performance signal conditioning, analog-to-digital conversion, and data processing, while offering channel count scalability inherent in modular systems. Synchronization between modules is flexible and provided by two triggering structures: a parallel trigger bus, and radially-distributed, time-matched point-to-point trigger lines. Inter-module communication is also provided with an adjacent module local bus allowing data transfer to 600 Gbits/s in each direction, for example between a front-end digitizer and DSP. AXIe allows embedding high performance computing and a range of COTS AdvancedTCA® computer blades are currently available that provide low cost alternatives to the development of custom signal processing modules. The availability of both LAN and PCI Express allow interconnection between modules, as well as industry-standard high-performance data paths to external host computer systems. AXIe delivers a powerful environment for custom module devel opment. As in the case of VXIbus and PXI before it, commercial development kits are expected to be available. This paper will give an overview of the architectural elements of AXIe 1.0, the compatibility model with AdvancedTCA, and signal acquisition performance of many of the AXIe structures.

Semi Automated Ferrous Material Scouring System (SAFMSS)

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-14

represent real world conditions with various shrubs or grasses entangled with the debris preventing easy removal. Our second tests were performed at...would expect on a range. Soil types, compaction, shrubs , grasses and roots as well as ferrous content vs item weight all have an effect on actual

The LHCb Detector at the LHC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

LHCb Collaboration; Alves, A. Augusto, Jr.; Filho, L. M. Andrade; Barbosa, A. F.; Bediaga, I.; Cernicchiaro, G.; Guerrer, G.; Lima, H. P., Jr.; Machado, A. A.; Magnin, J.; Marujo, F.; de Miranda, J. M.; Reis, A.; Santos, A.; Toledo, A.; Akiba, K.; Amato, S.; de Paula, B.; de Paula, L.; da Silva, T.; Gandelman, M.; Lopes, J. H.; Maréchal, B.; Moraes, D.; Polycarpo, E.; Rodrigues, F.; Ballansat, J.; Bastian, Y.; Boget, D.; DeBonis, I.; Coco, V.; David, P. Y.; Decamp, D.; Delebecque, P.; Drancourt, C.; Dumont-Dayot, N.; Girard, C.; Lieunard, B.; Minard, M. N.; Pietrzyk, B.; Rambure, T.; Rospabe, G.; T'Jampens, S.; Ajaltouni, Z.; Bohner, G.; Bonnefoy, R.; Borras, D.; Carloganu, C.; Chanal, H.; Conte, E.; Cornat, R.; Crouau, M.; Delage, E.; Deschamps, O.; Henrard, P.; Jacquet, P.; Lacan, C.; Laubser, J.; Lecoq, J.; Lefèvre, R.; Magne, M.; Martemiyanov, M.; Mercier, M.-L.; Monteil, S.; Niess, V.; Perret, P.; Reinmuth, G.; Robert, A.; Suchorski, S.; Arnaud, K.; Aslanides, E.; Babel, J.; Benchouk, C.; Cachemiche, J.-P.; Cogan, J.; Derue, F.; Dinkespiler, B.; Duval, P.-Y.; Garonne, V.; Favard, S.; LeGac, R.; Leon, F.; Leroy, O.; Liotard, P.-L.; Marin, F.; Menouni, M.; Ollive, P.; Poss, S.; Roche, A.; Sapunov, M.; Tocco, L.; Viaud, B.; Tsaregorodtsev, A.; Amhis, Y.; Barrand, G.; Barsuk, S.; Beigbeder, C.; Beneyton, R.; Breton, D.; Callot, O.; Charlet, D.; D'Almagne, B.; Duarte, O.; Fulda-Quenzer, F.; Jacholkowska, A.; Jean-Marie, B.; Lefrancois, J.; Machefert, F.; Robbe, P.; Schune, M.-H.; Tocut, V.; Videau, I.; Benayoun, M.; David, P.; DelBuono, L.; Gilles, G.; Domke, M.; Futterschneider, H.; Ilgner, Ch; Kapusta, P.; Kolander, M.; Krause, R.; Lieng, M.; Nedos, M.; Rudloff, K.; Schleich, S.; Schwierz, R.; Spaan, B.; Wacker, K.; Warda, K.; Agari, M.; Bauer, C.; Baumeister, D.; Bulian, N.; Fuchs, H. P.; Fallot-Burghardt, W.; Glebe, T.; Hofmann, W.; Knöpfle, K. T.; Löchner, S.; Ludwig, A.; Maciuc, F.; Sanchez Nieto, F.; Schmelling, M.; Schwingenheuer, B.; Sexauer, E.; Smale, N. J.; Trunk, U.; Voss, H.; Albrecht, J.; Bachmann, S.; Blouw, J.; Deissenroth, M.; Deppe, H.; Dreis, H. B.; Eisele, F.; Haas, T.; Hansmann-Menzemer, S.; Hennenberger, S.; Knopf, J.; Moch, M.; Perieanu, A.; Rabenecker, S.; Rausch, A.; Rummel, C.; Rusnyak, R.; Schiller, M.; Stange, U.; Uwer, U.; Walter, M.; Ziegler, R.; Avoni, G.; Balbi, G.; Bonifazi, F.; Bortolotti, D.; Carbone, A.; D'Antone, I.; Galli, D.; Gregori, D.; Lax, I.; Marconi, U.; Peco, G.; Vagnoni, V.; Valenti, G.; Vecchi, S.; Bonivento, W.; Cardini, A.; Cadeddu, S.; DeLeo, V.; Deplano, C.; Furcas, S.; Lai, A.; Oldeman, R.; Raspino, D.; Saitta, B.; Serra, N.; Baldini, W.; Brusa, S.; Chiozzi, S.; Cotta Ramusino, A.; Evangelisti, F.; Franconieri, A.; Germani, S.; Gianoli, A.; Guoming, L.; Landi, L.; Malaguti, R.; Padoan, C.; Pennini, C.; Savriè, M.; Squerzanti, S.; Zhao, T.; Zhu, M.; Bizzeti, A.; Graziani, G.; Lenti, M.; Lenzi, M.; Maletta, F.; Pennazzi, S.; Passaleva, G.; Veltri, M.; Alfonsi, M.; Anelli, M.; Balla, A.; Battisti, A.; Bencivenni, G.; Campana, P.; Carletti, M.; Ciambrone, P.; Corradi, G.; Dané, E.; Di Virgilio, A.; DeSimone, P.; Felici, G.; Forti, C.; Gatta, M.; Lanfranchi, G.; Murtas, F.; Pistilli, M.; Poli Lener, M.; Rosellini, R.; Santoni, M.; Saputi, A.; Sarti, A.; Sciubba, A.; Zossi, A.; Ameri, M.; Cuneo, S.; Fontanelli, F.; Gracco, V.; Miní, G.; Parodi, M.; Petrolini, A.; Sannino, M.; Vinci, A.; Alemi, M.; Arnaboldi, C.; Bellunato, T.; Calvi, M.; Chignoli, F.; DeLucia, A.; Galotta, G.; Mazza, R.; Matteuzzi, C.; Musy, M.; Negri, P.; Perego, D.; Pessina, G.; Auriemma, G.; Bocci, V.; Buccheri, A.; Chiodi, G.; Di Marco, S.; Iacoangeli, F.; Martellotti, G.; Nobrega, R.; Pelosi, A.; Penso, G.; Pinci, D.; Rinaldi, W.; Rossi, A.; Santacesaria, R.; Satriano, C.; Carboni, G.; Iannilli, M.; Massafferri Rodrigues, A.; Messi, R.; Paoluzzi, G.; Sabatino, G.; Santovetti, E.; Satta, A.; Amoraal, J.; van Apeldoorn, G.; Arink, R.; van Bakel, N.; Band, H.; Bauer, Th; Berkien, A.; van Beuzekom, M.; Bos, E.; Bron, Ch; Ceelie, L.; Doets, M.; van der Eijk, R.; Fransen, J.-P.; de Groen, P.; Gromov, V.; Hierck, R.; Homma, J.; Hommels, B.; Hoogland, W.; Jans, E.; Jansen, F.; Jansen, L.; Jaspers, M.; Kaan, B.; Koene, B.; Koopstra, J.; Kroes, F.; Kraan, M.; Langedijk, J.; Merk, M.; Mos, S.; Munneke, B.; Palacios, J.; Papadelis, A.; Pellegrino, A.; van Petten, O.; du Pree, T.; Roeland, E.; Ruckstuhl, W.; Schimmel, A.; Schuijlenburg, H.; Sluijk, T.; Spelt, J.; Stolte, J.; Terrier, H.; Tuning, N.; Van Lysebetten, A.; Vankov, P.; Verkooijen, J.; Verlaat, B.; Vink, W.; de Vries, H.; Wiggers, L.; Ybeles Smit, G.; Zaitsev, N.; Zupan, M.; Zwart, A.; van den Brand, J.; Bulten, H. J.; de Jong, M.; Ketel, T.; Klous, S.; Kos, J.; M'charek, B.; Mul, F.; Raven, G.; Simioni, E.; Cheng, J.; Dai, G.; Deng, Z.; Gao, Y.; Gong, G.; Gong, H.; He, J.; Hou, L.; Li, J.; Qian, W.; Shao, B.; Xue, T.; Yang, Z.; Zeng, M.; Muryn, B.; Ciba, K.; Oblakowska-Mucha, A.; Blocki, J.; Galuszka, K.; Hajduk, L.; Michalowski, J.; Natkaniec, Z.; Polok, G.; Stodulski, M.; Witek, M.; Brzozowski, K.; Chlopik, A.; Gawor, P.; Guzik, Z.; Nawrot, A.; Srednicki, A.; Syryczynski, K.; Szczekowski, M.; Anghel, D. V.; Cimpean, A.; Coca, C.; Constantin, F.; Cristian, P.; Dumitru, D. D.; Dumitru, D. T.; Giolu, G.; Kusko, C.; Magureanu, C.; Mihon, Gh; Orlandea, M.; Pavel, C.; Petrescu, R.; Popescu, S.; Preda, T.; Rosca, A.; Rusu, V. L.; Stoica, R.; Stoica, S.; Tarta, P. D.; Filippov, S.; Gavrilov, Yu; Golyshkin, L.; Gushchin, E.; Karavichev, O.; Klubakov, V.; Kravchuk, L.; Kutuzov, V.; Laptev, S.; Popov, S.; Aref'ev, A.; Bobchenko, B.; Dolgoshein, V.; Egorychev, V.; Golutvin, A.; Gushchin, O.; Konoplyannikov, A.; Korolko, I.; Kvaratskheliya, T.; Machikhiliyan, I.; Malyshev, S.; Mayatskaya, E.; Prokudin, M.; Rusinov, D.; Rusinov, V.; Shatalov, P.; Shchutska, L.; Tarkovskiy, E.; Tayduganov, A.; Voronchev, K.; Zhiryakova, O.; Bobrov, A.; Bondar, A.; Eidelman, S.; Kozlinsky, A.; Shekhtman, L.; Beloous, K. S.; Dzhelyadin, R. I.; Gelitsky, Yu V.; Gouz, Yu P.; Kachnov, K. G.; Kobelev, A. S.; Matveev, V. D.; Novikov, V. P.; Obraztsov, V. F.; Ostankov, A. P.; Romanovsky, V. I.; Rykalin, V. I.; Soldatov, A. P.; Soldatov, M. M.; Tchernov, E. N.; Yushchenko, O. P.; Bochin, B.; Bondar, N.; Fedorov, O.; Golovtsov, V.; Guets, S.; Kashchuk, A.; Lazarev, V.; Maev, O.; Neustroev, P.; Sagidova, N.; Spiridenkov, E.; Volkov, S.; Vorobyev, An; Vorobyov, A.; Aguilo, E.; Bota, S.; Calvo, M.; Comerma, A.; Cano, X.; Dieguez, A.; Herms, A.; Lopez, E.; Luengo, S.; Garra, J.; Garrido, Ll; Gascon, D.; Gaspar de Valenzuela, A.; Gonzalez, C.; Graciani, R.; Grauges, E.; Perez Calero, A.; Picatoste, E.; Riera, J.; Rosello, M.; Ruiz, H.; Vilasis, X.; Xirgu, X.; Adeva, B.; Cid Vidal, X.; MartÉnez Santos, D.; Esperante Pereira, D.; Fungueiriño Pazos, J. L.; Gallas Torreira, A.; Gómez, C. Lois; Pazos Alvarez, A.; Pérez Trigo, E.; Pló Casasús, M.; Rodriguez Cobo, C.; Rodríguez Pérez, P.; Saborido, J. J.; Seco, M.; Vazquez Regueiro, P.; Bartalini, P.; Bay, A.; Bettler, M.-O.; Blanc, F.; Borel, J.; Carron, B.; Currat, C.; Conti, G.; Dormond, O.; Ermoline, Y.; Fauland, P.; Fernandez, L.; Frei, R.; Gagliardi, G.; Gueissaz, N.; Haefeli, G.; Hicheur, A.; Jacoby, C.; Jalocha, P.; Jimenez-Otero, S.; Hertig, J.-P.; Knecht, M.; Legger, F.; Locatelli, L.; Moser, J.-R.; Needham, M.; Nicolas, L.; Perrin-Giacomin, A.; Perroud, J.-P.; Potterat, C.; Ronga, F.; Schneider, O.; Schietinger, T.; Steele, D.; Studer, L.; Tareb, M.; Tran, M. T.; van Hunen, J.; Vervink, K.; Villa, S.; Zwahlen, N.; Bernet, R.; Büchler, A.; Gassner, J.; Lehner, F.; Sakhelashvili, T.; Salzmann, C.; Sievers, P.; Steiner, S.; Steinkamp, O.; Straumann, U.; van Tilburg, J.; Vollhardt, A.; Volyanskyy, D.; Ziegler, M.; Dovbnya, A.; Ranyuk, Yu; Shapoval, I.; Borisova, M.; Iakovenko, V.; Kyva, V.; Kovalchuk, O.; Okhrimenko, O.; Pugatch, V.; Pylypchenko, Yu; Adinolfi, M.; Brook, N. H.; Head, R. D.; Imong, J. P.; Lessnoff, K. A.; Metlica, F. C. D.; Muir, A. J.; Rademacker, J. H.; Solomin, A.; Szczypka, P. M.; Barham, C.; Buszello, C.; Dickens, J.; Gibson, V.; Haines, S.; Harrison, K.; Jones, C. R.; Katvars, S.; Kerzel, U.; Lazzeroni, C.; Li, Y. Y.; Rogers, G.; Storey, J.; Skottowe, H.; Wotton, S. A.; Adye, T. J.; Densham, C. J.; Easo, S.; Franek, B.; Loveridge, P.; Morrow, D.; Morris, J. V.; Nandakumar, R.; Nardulli, J.; Papanestis, A.; Patrick, G. N.; Ricciardi, S.; Woodward, M. L.; Zhang, Z.; Chamonal, R. J. U.; Clark, P. J.; Clarke, P.; Eisenhardt, S.; Gilardi, N.; Khan, A.; Kim, Y. M.; Lambert, R.; Lawrence, J.; Main, A.; McCarron, J.; Mclean, C.; Muheim, F.; Osorio-Oliveros, A. F.; Playfer, S.; Styles, N.; Xie, Y.; Bates, A.; Carson, L.; da Cunha Marinho, F.; Doherty, F.; Eklund, L.; Gersabeck, M.; Haddad, L.; Macgregor, A. A.; Melone, J.; McEwan, F.; Petrie, D. M.; Paterson, S. K.; Parkes, C.; Pickford, A.; Rakotomiaramanana, B.; Rodrigues, E.; Saavedra, A. F.; Soler, F. J. P.; Szumlak, T.; Viret, S.; Allebone, L.; Awunor, O.; Back, J.; Barber, G.; Barnes, C.; Cameron, B.; Clark, D.; Clark, I.; Dornan, P.; Duane, A.; Eames, C.; Egede, U.; Girone, M.; Greenwood, S.; Hallam, R.; Hare, R.; Howard, A.; Jolly, S.; Kasey, V.; Khaleeq, M.; Koppenburg, P.; Miller, D.; Plackett, R.; Price, D.; Reece, W.; Savage, P.; Savidge, T.; Simmons, B.; Vidal-Sitjes, G.; Websdale, D.; Affolder, A.; Anderson, J. S.; Biagi, S. F.; Bowcock, T. J. V.; Carroll, J. L.; Casse, G.; Cooke, P.; Donleavy, S.; Dwyer, L.; Hennessy, K.; Huse, T.; Hutchcroft, D.; Jones, D.; Lockwood, M.; McCubbin, M.; McNulty, R.; Muskett, D.; Noor, A.; Patel, G. D.; Rinnert, K.; Shears, T.; Smith, N. A.; Southern, G.; Stavitski, I.; Sutcliffe, P.; Tobin, M.; Traynor, S. M.; Turner, P.; Whitley, M.; Wormald, M.; Wright, V.; Bibby, J. H.; Brisbane, S.; Brock, M.; Charles, M.; Cioffi, C.; Gligorov, V. V.; Handford, T.; Harnew, N.; Harris, F.; John, M. J. J.; Jones, M.; Libby, J.; Martin, L.; McArthur, I. A.; Muresan, R.; Newby, C.; Ottewell, B.; Powell, A.; Rotolo, N.; Senanayake, R. S.; Somerville, L.; Soroko, A.; Spradlin, P.; Sullivan, P.; Stokes-Rees, I.; Topp-Jorgensen, S.; Xing, F.; Wilkinson, G.; Artuso, M.; Belyaev, I.; Blusk, S.; Lefeuvre, G.; Menaa, N.; Menaa-Sia, R.; Mountain, R.; Skwarnicki, T.; Stone, S.; Wang, J. C.; Abadie, L.; Aglieri-Rinella, G.; Albrecht, E.; André, J.; Anelli, G.; Arnaud, N.; Augustinus, A.; Bal, F.; Barandela Pazos, M. C.; Barczyk, A.; Bargiotti, M.; Batista Lopes, J.; Behrendt, O.; Berni, S.; Binko, P.; Bobillier, V.; Braem, A.; Brarda, L.; Buytaert, J.; Camilleri, L.; Cambpell, M.; Castellani, G.; Cataneo, F.; Cattaneo, M.; Chadaj, B.; Charpentier, P.; Cherukuwada, S.; Chesi, E.; Christiansen, J.; Chytracek, R.; Clemencic, M.; Closier, J.; Collins, P.; Colrain, P.; Cooke, O.; Corajod, B.; Corti, G.; D'Ambrosio, C.; Damodaran, B.; David, C.; de Capua, S.; Decreuse, G.; Degaudenzi, H.; Dijkstra, H.; Droulez, J.-P.; Duarte Ramos, D.; Dufey, J. P.; Dumps, R.; Eckstein, D.; Ferro-Luzzi, M.; Fiedler, F.; Filthaut, F.; Flegel, W.; Forty, R.; Fournier, C.; Frank, M.; Frei, C.; Gaidioz, B.; Gaspar, C.; Gayde, J.-C.; Gavillet, P.; Go, A.; Gracia Abril, G.; Graulich, J.-S.; Giudici, P.-A.; Guirao Elias, A.; Guglielmini, P.; Gys, T.; Hahn, F.; Haider, S.; Harvey, J.; Hay, B.; Hernando Morata, J.-A.; Herranz Alvarez, J.; van Herwijnen, E.; Hilke, H. J.; von Holtey, G.; Hulsbergen, W.; Jacobsson, R.; Jamet, O.; Joram, C.; Jost, B.; Kanaya, N.; Knaster Refolio, J.; Koestner, S.; Koratzinos, M.; Kristic, R.; Lacarrère, D.; Lasseur, C.; Lastovicka, T.; Laub, M.; Liko, D.; Lippmann, C.; Lindner, R.; Losasso, M.; Maier, A.; Mair, K.; Maley, P.; Mato Vila, P.; Moine, G.; Morant, J.; Moritz, M.; Moscicki, J.; Muecke, M.; Mueller, H.; Nakada, T.; Neufeld, N.; Ocariz, J.; Padilla Aranda, C.; Parzefall, U.; Patel, M.; Pepe-Altarelli, M.; Piedigrossi, D.; Pivk, M.; Pokorski, W.; Ponce, S.; Ranjard, F.; Riegler, W.; Renaud, J.; Roiser, S.; Rossi, A.; Roy, L.; Ruf, T.; Ruffinoni, D.; Saladino, S.; Sambade Varela, A.; Santinelli, R.; Schmelling, S.; Schmidt, B.; Schneider, T.; Schöning, A.; Schopper, A.; Seguinot, J.; Snoeys, W.; Smith, A.; Smith, A. C.; Somogyi, P.; Stoica, R.; Tejessy, W.; Teubert, F.; Thomas, E.; Toledo Alarcon, J.; Ullaland, O.; Valassi, A.; Vannerem, P.; Veness, R.; Wicht, P.; Wiedner, D.; Witzeling, W.; Wright, A.; Wyllie, K.; Ypsilantis, T.

2008-08-01

The LHCb experiment is dedicated to precision measurements of CP violation and rare decays of B hadrons at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN (Geneva). The initial configuration and expected performance of the detector and associated systems, as established by test beam measurements and simulation studies, is described.

Implementation of a channelized Hotelling observer model to assess image quality of x-ray angiography systems

PubMed Central

Favazza, Christopher P.; Fetterly, Kenneth A.; Hangiandreou, Nicholas J.; Leng, Shuai; Schueler, Beth A.

2015-01-01

Abstract. Evaluation of flat-panel angiography equipment through conventional image quality metrics is limited by the scope of standard spatial-domain image quality metric(s), such as contrast-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution, or by restricted access to appropriate data to calculate Fourier domain measurements, such as modulation transfer function, noise power spectrum, and detective quantum efficiency. Observer models have been shown capable of overcoming these limitations and are able to comprehensively evaluate medical-imaging systems. We present a spatial domain-based channelized Hotelling observer model to calculate the detectability index (DI) of our different sized disks and compare the performance of different imaging conditions and angiography systems. When appropriate, changes in DIs were compared to expectations based on the classical Rose model of signal detection to assess linearity of the model with quantum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) theory. For these experiments, the estimated uncertainty of the DIs was less than 3%, allowing for precise comparison of imaging systems or conditions. For most experimental variables, DI changes were linear with expectations based on quantum SNR theory. DIs calculated for the smallest objects demonstrated nonlinearity with quantum SNR theory due to system blur. Two angiography systems with different detector element sizes were shown to perform similarly across the majority of the detection tasks. PMID:26158086

Revitalizing executive information systems.

PubMed

Crockett, F

1992-01-01

As the saying goes, "garbage in, garbage out"--and this is as true for executive information systems as for any other computer system. Crockett presents a methodology he has used with clients to help them develop more useful systems that produce higher quality information. The key is to develop performance measures based on critical success factors and stakeholder expectations and then to link them cross functionally to show how progress is being made on strategic goals. Feedback from the executive information system then informs strategy formulation, business plan development, and operational activities.

Single-pass memory system evaluation for multiprogramming workloads

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Conte, Thomas M.; Hwu, Wen-Mei W.

1990-01-01

Modern memory systems are composed of levels of cache memories, a virtual memory system, and a backing store. Varying more than a few design parameters and measuring the performance of such systems has traditionally be constrained by the high cost of simulation. Models of cache performance recently introduced reduce the cost simulation but at the expense of accuracy of performance prediction. Stack-based methods predict performance accurately using one pass over the trace for all cache sizes, but these techniques have been limited to fully-associative organizations. This paper presents a stack-based method of evaluating the performance of cache memories using a recurrence/conflict model for the miss ratio. Unlike previous work, the performance of realistic cache designs, such as direct-mapped caches, are predicted by the method. The method also includes a new approach to the problem of the effects of multiprogramming. This new technique separates the characteristics of the individual program from that of the workload. The recurrence/conflict method is shown to be practical, general, and powerful by comparing its performance to that of a popular traditional cache simulator. The authors expect that the availability of such a tool will have a large impact on future architectural studies of memory systems.

Experience with an integrated control and monitoring system at the El Segundo generating station

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Papilla, R.P.; McKinley, J.H.; Blanco, M.A.

1992-01-01

This paper describes the EPRI/Southern California Edison (SCE) El Segundo Integrated Control and Monitoring System (ICMS) project and relates key project experiences. The ICMS project is a cost-shared effort between EPRI and SCE designed to address the issues involved with integrating power plant diagnostic and condition monitoring with control. A digital distributed control system retrofit for SCE's El Segundo Units 3 and 4 provided the case study. although many utilities have retrofitted power plant units with distributed control systems (DCS's) and have applied diagnostics and monitoring programs to improve operations and performance, the approach taken in this project, that is,more » integrating the monitoring function with the control function, is profoundly new and unique. Over the life of the El Segundo ICMS, SCE expects to realize savings form life optimization, increased operating flexibility, improved heat rate, reduced NO{sub x} emissions, and lower maintenance costs. These savings are expected to be significant over the life of the system.« less

Evaluation and application of a fast module in a PLC based interlock and control system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaera-Sanz, M.

2009-08-01

The LHC Beam Interlock system requires a controller performing a simple matrix function to collect the different beam dump requests. To satisfy the expected safety level of the Interlock, the system should be robust and reliable. The PLC is a promising candidate to fulfil both aspects but too slow to meet the expected response time which is of the order of μseconds. Siemens has introduced a ``so called'' fast module (FM352-5 Boolean Processor). It provides independent and extremely fast control of a process within a larger control system using an onboard processor, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), to execute code in parallel which results in extremely fast scan times. It is interesting to investigate its features and to evaluate it as a possible candidate for the beam interlock system. This paper publishes the results of this study. As well, this paper could be useful for other applications requiring fast processing using a PLC.

A Performance Evaluation of the Cray X1 for Scientific Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oliker, Leonid; Biswas, Rupak; Borrill, Julian; Canning, Andrew; Carter, Jonathan; Djomehri, M. Jahed; Shan, Hongzhang; Skinner, David

2003-01-01

The last decade has witnessed a rapid proliferation of superscalar cache-based microprocessors to build high-end capability and capacity computers because of their generality, scalability, and cost effectiveness. However, the recent development of massively parallel vector systems is having a significant effect on the supercomputing landscape. In this paper, we compare the performance of the recently-released Cray X1 vector system with that of the cacheless NEC SX-6 vector machine, and the superscalar cache-based IBM Power3 and Power4 architectures for scientific applications. Overall results demonstrate that the X1 is quite promising, but performance improvements are expected as the hardware, systems software, and numerical libraries mature. Code reengineering to effectively utilize the complex architecture may also lead to significant efficiency enhancements.

Optimization of Smart Structure for Improving Servo Performance of Hard Disk Drive

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kajiwara, Itsuro; Takahashi, Masafumi; Arisaka, Toshihiro

Head positioning accuracy of the hard disk drive should be improved to meet today's increasing performance demands. Vibration suppression of the arm in the hard disk drive is very important to enhance the servo bandwidth of the head positioning system. In this study, smart structure technology is introduced into the hard disk drive to suppress the vibration of the head actuator. It has been expected that the smart structure technology will contribute to the development of small and light-weight mechatronics devices with the required performance. First, modeling of the system is conducted with finite element method and modal analysis. Next, the actuator location and the control system are simultaneously optimized using genetic algorithm. Vibration control effect with the proposed vibration control mechanisms has been evaluated by some simulations.

Operator Performance Support System (OPSS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Conklin, Marlen Z.

1993-01-01

In the complex and fast reaction world of military operations, present technologies, combined with tactical situations, have flooded the operator with assorted information that he is expected to process instantly. As technologies progress, this flow of data and information have both guided and overwhelmed the operator. However, the technologies that have confounded many operators today can be used to assist him -- thus the Operator Performance Support Team. In this paper we propose an operator support station that incorporates the elements of Video and Image Databases, productivity Software, Interactive Computer Based Training, Hypertext/Hypermedia Databases, Expert Programs, and Human Factors Engineering. The Operator Performance Support System will provide the operator with an integrating on-line information/knowledge system that will guide expert or novice to correct systems operations. Although the OPSS is being developed for the Navy, the performance of the workforce in today's competitive industry is of major concern. The concepts presented in this paper which address ASW systems software design issues are also directly applicable to industry. the OPSS will propose practical applications in how to more closely align the relationships between technical knowledge and equipment operator performance.

20 CFR 641.720 - How will the Department and grantees initially determine and then adjust expected levels of...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... initially determine and then adjust expected levels of performance for the core performance measures? 641... the core performance measures? (a) Initial agreement. Before the beginning of each Program Year, the Department and each grantee will undertake to agree upon expected levels of performance for each core...

20 CFR 641.720 - How will the Department and grantees initially determine and then adjust expected levels of...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... initially determine and then adjust expected levels of performance for the core performance measures? 641... the core performance measures? (a) Initial agreement. Before the beginning of each Program Year, the Department and each grantee will undertake to agree upon expected levels of performance for each core...

Management by consent in human-machine systems: when and why it breaks down.

PubMed

Olson, W A; Sarter, N B

2001-01-01

This study examined the effects of conflict type, time pressure, and display design on operators' ability to make informed decisions about proposed machine goals and actions in a management-by-consent context. A group of 30 B757 pilots were asked to fly eight descent scenarios while responding to a series of air traffic control clearances. Each scenario presented pilots with a different conflict that arose from either incompatible goals contained in the clearance or inappropriate implementation of the clearance by automated flight deck systems. Pilots were often unable to detect these conflicts, especially under time pressure, and thus failed to disallow or intervene with proposed machine actions. Detection performance was particularly poor for conflicts related to clearance implementation. These conflicts were most likely to be missed when automated systems did more than the pilot expected of them. Performance and verbal protocol data indicate that the observed difficulties can be explained by a combination of poor system feedback and pilots' difficulties with generating expectations of future system behavior. Our results are discussed in terms of their implications for the choice and implementation of automation management strategies in general and, more specifically, with respect to risks involved in envisioned forms of digital air-ground communication in the future aviation system. Actual or potential applications of this research include the design of future data link systems and procedures, as well as the design of future automated systems in any domain that rely on operator consent as a mechanism for human-machine coordination.

Solar energy system performance evaluation. Seasonal report for Colt Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1980-01-01

The Colt-Pueblo solar energy system, designed to provide space heating and hot water preheating, is described and its operational performance for a 12 month period from February 1979 through January 1980 is evaluated. The space heating subsystem met 31 percent of the measured space heating load which was close to the expected 34 percent solar fraction. Although the hot water solar fraction was 79 percent, the overall energy saving capability was reduced because of the low hot water demand. The measured heating subsystem performance would have improved considerably if the uncontrolled losses primarily from transport piping could have been reduced to an inconsequential level. Fossil energy savings of 70.31 million BTUs are estimated.

Low-Cost High-Precision PIAA Optics for High Contrast Imaging with Exo-Planet Coronagraphs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Balasubramanian, Kunjithapatham; Shaklan, Stuart B.; Pueyo, Laurent; Wilson, Daniel W.; Guyon, Olivier

2010-01-01

PIAA optics for high contrast imaging present challenges in manufacturing and testing due to their large surface departures from aspheric profiles at the aperture edges. With smaller form factors and consequent smaller surface deformations (<50 microns), fabrication of these mirrors with diamond turning followed by electron beam lithographic techniques becomes feasible. Though such a design reduces the system throughput to approx.50%, it still provides good performance down to 2 lambda/D inner working angle. With new achromatic focal plane mask designs, the system performance can be further improved. We report on the design, expected performance, fabrication challenges, and initial assessment of such novel PIAA optics.

Development of Laser Propulsion and Tracking System for Laser-Driven Micro-Airplane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishikawa, Hiroyasu; Kajiwara, Itsuro; Hoshino, Kentaro; Yabe, Takashi; Uchida, Shigeaki; Shimane, Yoshichika

2004-03-01

The purposes of this paper are to improve the control performance of the developed laser tracking system and to develop an integrated laser propulsion/tracking system for realizing a continuous flight and control of the micro-airplane. The laser propulsion is significantly effective to achieve the miniaturization and lightening of the micro-airplane. The laser-driven micro-airplane has been studied with a paper-craft airplane and YAG laser, resulting in a successful glide of the airplane. In the next stage of the laser-driven micro-airplane development, the laser tracking is expected as key technologies to achieve continuous propulsion. Furthermore, the laser propulsion system should be combined with the laser tracking system to supply continuous propulsion. Experiments are carried out to evaluate the performance of the developed laser tracking system and integrated laser propulsion/tracking system.

CETF Space Station payload pointing system design and analysis feasibility study. [Critical Evaluation Task Force

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smagala, Tom; Mcglew, Dave

1988-01-01

The expected pointing performance of an attached payload coupled to the Critical Evaluation Task Force Space Station via a payload pointing system (PPS) is determined. The PPS is a 3-axis gimbal which provides the capability for maintaining inertial pointing of a payload in the presence of disturbances associated with the Space Station environment. A system where the axes of rotation were offset from the payload center of mass (CM) by 10 in. in the Z axis was studied as well as a system having the payload CM offset by only 1 inch. There is a significant improvement in pointing performance when going from the 10 in. to the 1 in. gimbal offset.

Experimental study of refrigeration performance based on linear Fresnel solar thermal photovoltaic system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Jinghui; Yuan, Hui; Xia, Yunfeng; Kan, Weimin; Deng, Xiaowen; Liu, Shi; Liang, Wanlong; Deng, Jianhua

2018-03-01

This paper introduces the working principle and system constitution of the linear Fresnel solar lithium bromide absorption refrigeration cycle, and elaborates several typical structures of absorption refrigeration cycle, including single-effect, two-stage cycle and double-effect lithium bromide absorption refrigeration cycle A 1.n effect absorption chiller system based on the best parameters was introduced and applied to a linear Fresnel solar absorption chiller system. Through the field refrigerator performance test, the results show: Based on this heat cycle design and processing 1.n lithium bromide absorption refrigeration power up to 35.2KW, It can meet the theoretical expectations and has good flexibility and reliability, provides guidance for the use of solar thermal energy.

Decentralized control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Steffen, Chris

1990-01-01

An overview of the time-delay problem and the reliability problem which arise in trying to perform robotic construction operations at a remote space location are presented. The effects of the time-delay upon the control system design will be itemized. A high level overview of a decentralized method of control which is expected to perform better than the centralized approach in solving the time-delay problem is given. The lower level, decentralized, autonomous, Troter Move-Bar algorithm is also presented (Troters are coordinated independent robots). The solution of the reliability problem is connected to adding redundancy to the system. One method of adding redundancy is given.

Cryo Cooler Induced Micro-Vibration Disturbances to the Hubble Space Telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jedrich, Nick; Zimbelman, Darrell; Turczyn, Mark; Sills, Joel; Voorhees, Carl; Clapp, Brian; Brumfield, Mark (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

This paper presents an overview of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) Cryo Cooler (MCC) system, a description of the micro-vibration characterization testing performed, and a discussion of the simulated performance. The NCC is a reverse Brayton cycle system that employs micro turbo-machinery to provide cooling to the NICMOS instrument. Extensive testing was conducted to quantify the expected on-orbit disturbances caused by the micro turbo-machinery and provide input to a flexible-body dynamic simulation to demonstrate compliance with the HST 7 milli-arcsecond root mean square jitter requirement.

[Using on-farm records to evaluate the reproductive performance in dairy herds].

PubMed

Iwersen, M; Klein, D; Drillich, M

2012-01-01

The designated abolition of the European milk quota system on April 1st 2015 is expected to have tremendous effects on the business environment on most dairy farms. Meanwhile farmers should use weak-point analyses to identify "bottlenecks" within their production and herd management system. As experts in herd health and herd performance, veterinarians should give advice to their clients based on sound analyses of production data. Therefore, accurate and reliable on-farm records are needed. This paper will focus on data management, especially data collection, and will address the concepts of evaluation of reproduction records.

Simplified aerodynamic analysis of the cyclogiro rotating wing system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wheatley, John B

1930-01-01

A simplified aerodynamic theory of the cyclogiro rotating wing is presented herein. In addition, examples have been calculated showing the effect on the rotor characteristics of varying the design parameters of the rotor. A performance prediction, on the basis of the theory here developed, is appended, showing the performance to be expected of a machine employing this system of sustentation. The aerodynamic principles of the cyclogiro are sound; hovering flight, vertical climb, and a reasonable forward speed may be obtained with a normal expenditure of power. Auto rotation in a gliding descent is available in the event of a power-plant failure.

Student Perceptions and Social Comparisons and Performance Expectancy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holahan, Carole K.; And Others

Student self-expectations are believed to exert a powerful influence on performance. Student perceptions and social comparisons during transfer students' (N=1362) first semester in a large state university were examined to determine variables that might be related to the formation of student performance expectations. Subjects completed…

Surveillance Range and Interference Impacts on Self-Separation Performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Idris, Husni; Consiglio, Maria C.; Wing, David J.

2011-01-01

Self-separation is a concept of flight operations that aims to provide user benefits and increase airspace capacity by transferring traffic separation responsibility from ground-based controllers to the flight crew. Self-separation is enabled by cooperative airborne surveillance, such as that provided by the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADSB) system and airborne separation assistance technologies. This paper describes an assessment of the impact of ADS-B system performance on the performance of self-separation as a step towards establishing far-term ADS-B performance requirements. Specifically, the impacts of ADS-B surveillance range and interference limitations were analyzed under different traffic density levels. The analysis was performed using a batch simulation of aircraft performing self-separation assisted by NASA s Autonomous Operations Planner prototype flight-deck tool, in two-dimensional airspace. An aircraft detected conflicts within a look-ahead time of ten minutes and resolved them using strategic closed trajectories or tactical open maneuvers if the time to loss of separation was below a threshold. While a complex interaction was observed between the impacts of surveillance range and interference, as both factors are physically coupled, self-separation performance followed expected trends. An increase in surveillance range resulted in a decrease in the number of conflict detections, an increase in the average conflict detection lead time, and an increase in the percentage of conflict resolutions that were strategic. The majority of the benefit was observed when surveillance range was increased to a value corresponding to the conflict detection look-ahead time. The benefits were attenuated at higher interference levels. Increase in traffic density resulted in a significant increase in the number of conflict detections, as expected, but had no effect on the conflict detection lead time and the percentage of conflict resolutions that were strategic. With surveillance range corresponding to ADS-B minimum operational performance standards for Class A3 equipment and without background interference, a significant portion of conflict resolutions, 97 percent, were achieved in the preferred strategic mode. The majority of conflict resolutions, 71 percent, were strategic even with very high interference (over three times that expected in 2035).

Naturally occurring variation in tadpole morphology and performance linked to predator regime

PubMed Central

Johnson, James B; Saenz, Daniel; Adams, Cory K; Hibbitts, Toby J

2015-01-01

Divergent natural selection drives a considerable amount of the phenotypic and genetic variation observed in natural populations. For example, variation in the predator community can generate conflicting selection on behavioral, life-history, morphological, and performance traits. Differences in predator regime can subsequently increase phenotypic and genetic variations in the population and result in the evolution of reproductive barriers (ecological speciation) or phenotypic plasticity. We evaluated morphology and swimming performance in field collected Bronze Frog larvae (Lithobates clamitans) in ponds dominated by predatory fish and those dominated by invertebrate predators. Based on previous experimental findings, we hypothesized that tadpoles from fish-dominated ponds would have small bodies, long tails, and large tail muscles and that these features would facilitate fast-start speed. We also expected to see increased tail fin depth (i.e., the tail-lure morphology) in tadpoles from invertebrate-dominated ponds. Our results support our expectations with respect to morphology in affecting swimming performance of tadpoles in fish-dominated ponds. Furthermore, it is likely that divergent natural selection is playing a role in the diversification on morphology and locomotor performance in this system. PMID:26357533

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Abdelaziz, Omar; Qu, Ming; Sun, Xiao-Guang

Separate sensible and latent cooling systems offer superior energy efficiency performance compared to conventional vapor compression air conditioning systems. In this paper we describe an innovative non-vapor compression system that uses electrochemical compressor (ECC) to pump hydrogen between 2-metal hydride reservoirs to provide the sensible cooling effect. The heat rejected during this process is used to regenerate the ionic liquid (IL) used for desiccant dehumidification. The overall system design is illustrated. The Xergy version 4C electrochemical compressor, while not designed as a high pressure system, develops in excess of 2 MPa (300 psia) and pressure ratios > 30. The projectedmore » base efficiency improvement of the electrochemical compressor is expected to be ~ 20% with higher efficiency when in low capacity mode due to being throttleable to lower capacity with improved efficiency. The IL was tailored to maximize the absorption/desorption rate of water vapor at moderate regeneration temperature. This IL, namely, [EMIm].OAc, is a hydrophilic IL with a working concentration range of 28.98% when operating between 25 75 C. The ECC metal hydride system is expected to show superior performance to typical vapor compression systems. As such, the combined efficiency gains from the use of ECC and separate and sensible cooling would offer significant potential savings to existing vapor compression cooling technology. A high efficiency Window Air Conditioner system is described based on this novel configuration. The system s schematic is provided. Models compared well with actual operating data obtained by running the prototype system. Finally, a model of an LiCl desiccant system in conjunction with the ECC-based metal hydride heat exchangers is provided.« less

5 CFR 9901.410 - Addressing performance that does not meet expectations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... expectations. 9901.410 Section 9901.410 Administrative Personnel DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HUMAN RESOURCES... that does not meet expectations. (a) If at any time during the appraisal period a supervisor determines that an employee's performance is not meeting expectations, the supervisor will— (1) Identify and...

Analysis of UAS DAA Alerting in Fast-Time Simulations without DAA Mitigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thipphavong, David P.; Santiago, Confesor; Isaacson, Douglas R.; Lee, Seung Man; Park, Chunki; Refai, Mohamad Said; Snow, James

2015-01-01

Realization of the expected proliferation of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operations in the National Airspace System (NAS) depends on the development and validation of performance standards for UAS Detect and Avoid (DAA) Systems. The RTCA Special Committee 228 is charged with leading the development of draft Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for UAS DAA Systems. NASA, as a participating member of RTCA SC-228 is committed to supporting the development and validation of draft requirements for DAA alerting system performance. A recent study conducted using NASA's ACES (Airspace Concept Evaluation System) simulation capability begins to address questions surrounding the development of draft MOPS for DAA alerting systems. ACES simulations were conducted to study the performance of alerting systems proposed by the SC-228 DAA Alerting sub-group. Analysis included but was not limited to: 1) correct alert (and timeliness), 2) false alert (and severity and duration), 3) missed alert, and 4) probability of an alert type at the time of loss of well clear. The performance of DAA alerting systems when using intent vs. dead-reckoning for UAS ownship trajectories was also compared. The results will be used by SC-228 to inform decisions about the surveillance standards of UAS DAA systems and future requirements development and validation efforts.

Grey water treatment by the slanted soil system with unsorted soil media.

PubMed

Ushijima, Ken; Tanaka, Erina; Suzuki, Laís Yuko; Hijikata, Nowaki; Funamizu, Naoyuki; Ito, Ryusei

2015-01-01

This study evaluated the performance of unsorted soil media in the slanted soil treatment system, in terms of removal efficiency in suspended solids (SS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS) and Escherichia coli, and lifetime until clogging occurs. Unsorted soil performed longer lifetime until clogging than sorted fine soil. Removal of SS, COD, and LAS also performed same or better level in unsorted soil than fine soil. As reaction coefficients of COD and LAS were described as a function of the hydraulic loading rate, we can design a slanted soil system according to the expected hydraulic loading rate and the targeted level of COD or LAS in effluent. Regarding bacteria removal, unsorted soil performed sufficient reduction of E. coli for 5 weeks; however, the removal process occurred throughout all four chambers, while that of fine soil occurred in one to two chambers.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wilkerson, Andrea M.; McCullough, Jeffrey J.

The Yuma Sector Border Patrol Area is a high flux lighting application in a high temperature environment, presenting a formidable challenge for light-emitting diodes (LEDs). This retrofit is an Energy Savings Performance Contract ENABLE project under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Federal Energy Management Program. If high flux LED technology performs well in a region with high ambient temperature and solar radiation, it can perform well in most outdoor environments. The design process for the Yuma retrofit has already provided valuable knowledge to CBP and DOE. The LED lighting system selected for the retrofit is expected to reduce energymore » consumption 69% compared to the incumbent quartz metal halide (QMH) lighting system. If the LED lighting system is installed, GATEWAY will continue to document and disseminate information regarding the installation and long-term performance so that others may also gain valuable knowledge from the Yuma Sector Border Patrol Area lighting retrofit.« less

Micro and nano devices in passive millimetre wave imaging systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Appleby, R.

2013-06-01

The impact of micro and nano technology on millimetre wave imaging from the post war years to the present day is reviewed. In the 1950s whisker contacted diodes in mixers and vacuum tubes were used to realise both radiometers and radars but required considerable skill to realise the performance needed. Development of planar semiconductor devices such as Gunn and Schottky diodes revolutionised mixer performance and provided considerable improvement. The next major breakthrough was high frequency transistors based on gallium arsenide which were initially used at intermediate frequencies but later after further development at millimeter wave frequencies. More recently Monolithic Microwave Integrated circuits(MMICs) offer exceptional performance and the opportunity for innovative design in passive imaging systems. In the future the use of micro and nano technology will continue to drive system performance and we can expect to see integration of antennae, millimetre wave and sub millimetre wave circuits and signal processing.

Characterizing parallel file-access patterns on a large-scale multiprocessor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Purakayastha, A.; Ellis, Carla; Kotz, David; Nieuwejaar, Nils; Best, Michael L.

1995-01-01

High-performance parallel file systems are needed to satisfy tremendous I/O requirements of parallel scientific applications. The design of such high-performance parallel file systems depends on a comprehensive understanding of the expected workload, but so far there have been very few usage studies of multiprocessor file systems. This paper is part of the CHARISMA project, which intends to fill this void by measuring real file-system workloads on various production parallel machines. In particular, we present results from the CM-5 at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Our results are unique because we collect information about nearly every individual I/O request from the mix of jobs running on the machine. Analysis of the traces leads to various recommendations for parallel file-system design.

Global Competitives: Economic Imperatives for School Reform.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Negroni, Peter J.

This paper describes the need for systemic educational reform in view of the gap between students who are adequately prepared for tomorrow's jobs and the needs of business/industry. Rapid changes in the workplace--fueled by technological advances, altered family structures, expectations of varied and higher performance skills, and an increase of…

Examining the Premises Supporting the Empirically Supported Intervention Approach to Social Work Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McBeath, Bowen; Briggs, Harold E.; Aisenberg, Eugene

2010-01-01

Federal, state, and local policymakers and funders have increasingly organized human service delivery functions around the selection and implementation of empirically supported interventions (ESIs), under the expectation that service delivery through such intervention frameworks results in improvements in cost-effectiveness and system performance.…

The Importance of Instrumentality Beliefs in the Prediction of Organizational Citizenship Behavior.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Levy, Paul E.; Haworth, Chera L.

2001-01-01

Using expectancy theory, analysis of data from 113 subjects found that perceptions of procedural justice and the performance appraisal system in organizations interact with organizational citizenship behavior. Those who believe that organizaitonal citizenship behaviors are worthwhile, influenced by direct and indirect rewards, will do more of…

Systemic Efforts in Georgia to Improve Education Leadership

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Page, Deb

2010-01-01

Research points to links between school and school district leadership and student achievement. Local and national education reform has created rising expectations for student performance. Education leadership is both complex and high stakes. Key stakeholders in Georgia have developed a solution to improve factors in the work, workplace, and…

32 CFR 861.4 - DOD air transportation quality and safety requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... experience, and the individual's potential to perform safely. Freedom from alcohol abuse and illegal drugs is.... Freedom from alcohol abuse and illegal drugs is required. (ii) Quality assurance. A system that... certificate are expected. Safety equipment is available in hangars, shops, etc., and is serviceable. Shipping...

32 CFR 861.4 - DOD air transportation quality and safety requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... experience, and the individual's potential to perform safely. Freedom from alcohol abuse and illegal drugs is.... Freedom from alcohol abuse and illegal drugs is required. (ii) Quality assurance. A system that... certificate are expected. Safety equipment is available in hangars, shops, etc., and is serviceable. Shipping...

32 CFR 861.4 - DOD air transportation quality and safety requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... experience, and the individual's potential to perform safely. Freedom from alcohol abuse and illegal drugs is.... Freedom from alcohol abuse and illegal drugs is required. (ii) Quality assurance. A system that... certificate are expected. Safety equipment is available in hangars, shops, etc., and is serviceable. Shipping...

32 CFR 861.4 - DOD air transportation quality and safety requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... experience, and the individual's potential to perform safely. Freedom from alcohol abuse and illegal drugs is.... Freedom from alcohol abuse and illegal drugs is required. (ii) Quality assurance. A system that... certificate are expected. Safety equipment is available in hangars, shops, etc., and is serviceable. Shipping...

75 FR 27857 - Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee; Transport Airplane and Engine Issue Area-New Task

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-18

... (autopilot) and performance and handling qualities in icing conditions to improve transport airplane... the existing Avionics Systems Harmonization Working Group. The Task ARAC is initially tasked with... working group will be expected to provide a report that addresses the following low speed alerting...

75 FR 39707 - STP Nuclear Operating Company, South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2; Exemption

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-12

... consistent with the expected practice of fatigue management. Maintenance The NRC staff does not consider... September 21, 2009 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML092720178... understanding the effects of fire and fire suppressants on safe shutdown capability; (4) performing maintenance...

Market Tested Business Education: Corporate Sector Perceptions of Saudi Graduates Competencies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Iqbal, Adnan; Zenchenkov, Mikhail

2014-01-01

University-industry collaboration patterns in more advanced economies have greatly impacted expectations for higher educational systems in developing countries. In Saudi Arabia, generally poor innovation performance of domestic industry has been perceived as a constraint in global competitiveness. The purpose of this study was to determine if…

Autonomous Control of Space Reactor Systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Belle R. Upadhyaya; K. Zhao; S.R.P. Perillo

2007-11-30

Autonomous and semi-autonomous control is a key element of space reactor design in order to meet the mission requirements of safety, reliability, survivability, and life expectancy. Interrestrial nuclear power plants, human operators are avilable to perform intelligent control functions that are necessary for both normal and abnormal operational conditions.

The Implementation of Graduate Education to Professional Performance: Teachers' Perspectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berkant, Hasan Güner; Baysal, Seda

2017-01-01

One of the core figures of education system is undoubtfully the teacher who is expected to contribute dramatically to the qualified learning environment both with professional skills and with personal characteristics. Therefore, the need for graduate education and its significance to specialize in maintaining education after Bachelor's degree has…

Investigating the Value of Personalization in a Mobile Learning System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kalloo, Vani; Mohan, Permanand

2015-01-01

This paper investigates the potential benefits of personalization in a mobile learning environment for high school students learning mathematics. Personalization was expected to benefit the students in two main ways. These are improving their performance in mathematics and making navigation of the application easier. Personalization was…

An overview of tactile sensing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Agrawal, Rajeev; Jain, Ramesh

1986-01-01

Existing or proposed tactile sensors are reviewed. General considerations involved in tactile sensing and various performance criteria are discussed. Typical specifications to be expected from the sensors are also described. A representative set of present day tactile sensors is studied. Finally, some of the proposed recognition systems using tactile sensing are described.

A Comparison of Item Selection Techniques for Testlets

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Murphy, Daniel L.; Dodd, Barbara G.; Vaughn, Brandon K.

2010-01-01

This study examined the performance of the maximum Fisher's information, the maximum posterior weighted information, and the minimum expected posterior variance methods for selecting items in a computerized adaptive testing system when the items were grouped in testlets. A simulation study compared the efficiency of ability estimation among the…

Building America Case Study: Evaluation of Ventilation Strategies in New Construction Multifamily Buildings, New York, New York (Fact Sheet)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

2014-09-01

In multifamily buildings, particularly in the Northeast, exhaust ventilation strategies are the norm as a means of meeting both local exhaust and whole-unit mechanical ventilation rates. The issue of where the 'fresh' air is coming from is gaining significance as air-tightness standards for enclosures become more stringent, and the 'normal leakage paths through the building envelope' disappear. CARB researchers have found that the majority of high performance, new construction, multifamily housing in the Northeast use one of four general strategies for ventilation: continuous exhaust only with no designated supply or make-up air source, continuous exhaust with ducted make-up air tomore » apartments, continuous exhaust with supply through a make-up air device integral to the unit HVAC, and continuous exhaust with supply through a passive inlet device, such as a trickle vent. Insufficient information is available to designers on how these various systems are best applied. Product performance data are based on laboratory tests, and the assumption is that products will perform similarly in the field. Proper application involves matching expected performance at expected building pressures, but there is no guarantee that those conditions will exist consistently in the finished building. This research effort, which included several weeks of building pressure monitoring, sought to provide field validation of system performance. The performance of four substantially different strategies for providing make-up air to apartments was evaluated.« less

Cost analysis of water recovery systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yakut, M. M.

1973-01-01

A methodology was developed to predict the relevant contributions of the more intangible cost elements encountered in the development of flight-qualified hardware based on an extrapolation of past hardware development experience. Major items of costs within water recovery systems were identified and related to physical and/or performance criteria. Cost and performance data from Gemini, Skylab, and other aerospace and biotechnology programs were analyzed to identify major cost elements required to establish cost estimating relationships for advanced water recovery systems. The results of the study are expected to assist NASA in long-range planning and allocation of resources in a cost effective manner in support of earth orbital programs. This report deals with the cost analysis of the five leading water reclamation systems, namely: (1) RITE waste management-water system, (2) reverse osmosis system, (3) multifiltration system, (4) vapor compression system, and (5) closed air evaporation system with electrolytic pretreatment.

Compact Buried Ducts in a Hot-Humid Climate House

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mallay, D.

2016-01-01

A system of compact, buried ducts provides a high-performance and cost-effective solution for delivering conditioned air throughout the building. This report outlines research activities that are expected to facilitate adoption of compact buried duct systems by builders. The results of this research would be scalable to many new house designs in most climates and markets, leading to wider industry acceptance and building code and energy program approval.

The Impact of High Stakes Accountability Systems and the New Performance Demands on Special Education Teachers' Attitudes, Beliefs and Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zane, Robin Lee

2012-01-01

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) articulates the goal that all children can learn and are expected to achieve grade level academic proficiency by 2014. Based on theories underlying models of extrinsic motivation, the fundamental assumption and theory of action is that a system of rewards and sanctions will motivate teachers to focus on…

Drivers' communicative interactions: on-road observations and modelling for integration in future automation systems.

PubMed

Portouli, Evangelia; Nathanael, Dimitris; Marmaras, Nicolas

2014-01-01

Social interactions with other road users are an essential component of the driving activity and may prove critical in view of future automation systems; still up to now they have received only limited attention in the scientific literature. In this paper, it is argued that drivers base their anticipations about the traffic scene to a large extent on observations of social behaviour of other 'animate human-vehicles'. It is further argued that in cases of uncertainty, drivers seek to establish a mutual situational awareness through deliberate communicative interactions. A linguistic model is proposed for modelling these communicative interactions. Empirical evidence from on-road observations and analysis of concurrent running commentary by 25 experienced drivers support the proposed model. It is suggested that the integration of a social interactions layer based on illocutionary acts in future driving support and automation systems will improve their performance towards matching human driver's expectations. Practitioner Summary: Interactions between drivers on the road may play a significant role in traffic coordination. On-road observations and running commentaries are presented as empirical evidence to support a model of such interactions; incorporation of drivers' interactions in future driving support and automation systems may improve their performance towards matching driver's expectations.

Performance evaluation of a large sewage treatment plant in Brazil, consisting of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor followed by activated sludge.

PubMed

Saliba, Pollyane Diniz; von Sperling, Marcos

2017-10-01

The objective of this study was to evaluate the behaviour of a system comprising an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor followed by activated sludge to treat domestic sewage. The Betim Central sewage treatment plant, Brazil, was designed to treat a mean influent flow of 514 L/s. The study consisted of statistical treatment of monitoring data from the treatment plant covering a period of 4 years. This work presents the concentrations and removal efficiencies of the main constituents in each stage of the treatment process, and a mass balance of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nitrogen. The results highlight the good overall performance of the system, with high mean removal efficiencies: BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) (94%), COD (91%), ammonia (72%) and total suspended solids (92%). As expected, this system was not effective for the removal of nutrients, since it was not designed for this purpose. The removal of Escherichia coli (99.83%) was higher than expected. There was no apparent influence of operational and design parameters on the effluent quality in terms of organic matter removal, with the exceptions of the BOD load upstream of the aeration tank and the sludge age in the unit. Results suggest that this system is well suited for the treatment of domestic sewage.

Development and optimization of an energy-regenerative suspension system under stochastic road excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Bo; Hsieh, Chen-Yu; Golnaraghi, Farid; Moallem, Mehrdad

2015-11-01

In this paper a vehicle suspension system with energy harvesting capability is developed, and an analytical methodology for the optimal design of the system is proposed. The optimization technique provides design guidelines for determining the stiffness and damping coefficients aimed at the optimal performance in terms of ride comfort and energy regeneration. The corresponding performance metrics are selected as root-mean-square (RMS) of sprung mass acceleration and expectation of generated power. The actual road roughness is considered as the stochastic excitation defined by ISO 8608:1995 standard road profiles and used in deriving the optimization method. An electronic circuit is proposed to provide variable damping in the real-time based on the optimization rule. A test-bed is utilized and the experiments under different driving conditions are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The test results suggest that the analytical approach is credible in determining the optimality of system performance.

Performance improvement with patient service partners.

PubMed

Burns, J P

1998-01-01

Once the decision is made to use a patient-focused care delivery system, a variety of methods can be used to successfully design the model. The author describes the process used by a multilevel, multidisciplinary team at a community hospital to design and implement a Service Partner role that would meet and exceed customer expectations. Demonstrated performance improvements included increased patient satisfaction, productive labor dollar savings, and improvements in the work environment for staff members.

A direct method for calculating instrument noise levels in side-by-side seismometer evaluations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Holcomb, L. Gary

1989-01-01

The subject of determining the inherent system noise levels present in modem broadband closed loop seismic sensors has been an evolving topic ever since closed loop systems became available. Closed loop systems are unique in that the system noise can not be determined via a blocked mass test as in older conventional open loop seismic sensors. Instead, most investigators have resorted to performing measurements on two or more systems operating in close proximity to one another and to analyzing the outputs of these systems with respect to one another to ascertain their relative noise levels.The analysis of side-by-side relative performance is inherently dependent on the accuracy of the mathematical modeling of the test configuration. This report presents a direct approach to extracting the system noise levels of two linear systems with a common coherent input signal. The mathematical solution to the problem is incredibly simple; however the practical application of the method encounters some difficulties. Examples of expected accuracies are presented as derived by simulating real systems performance using computer generated random noise. In addition, examples of the performance of the method when applied to real experimental test data are shown.

A novel concept for integrating and delivering health information using a comprehensive digital dashboard: An analysis of healthcare professionals' intention to adopt a new system and the trend of its real usage.

PubMed

Lee, Keehyuck; Jung, Se Young; Hwang, Hee; Yoo, Sooyoung; Baek, Hyun Young; Baek, Rong-Min; Kim, Seok

2017-01-01

To introduce a new concept of medical dashboard system called BESTBoard. Such a system was implemented in all wards in a tertiary academic hospital to explore the development process, core designs, functions, usability and feasibility. The task-force team made user interface designs for 6 months based on a need analysis. Hardware configuration and software development was carried out for 3 months. We conducted a survey of 383 physicians and nurses to determine the usability and feasibility of the system. In March 2012, the system was installed in all wards, including the intensive care units, emergency rooms, operation rooms, and even delivery rooms. Healthcare professionals had access to all information of EHRs optimized for a large 55-inch touchscreen. The satisfaction rate of BESTBoard users was high, with a mean of 3.3 points. Voluntary users tended to consider BESTBoard as a good system that is useful for team round visits, interdisciplinary team approach, and collecting the status of the hospital rooms. Elderly users didn't tend to think of BESTBoard as a useful tool for interdisciplinary team approach and collecting the status of the hospital rooms. Greater expectations regarding work performance affected the users' attitudes positively. A positive attitude toward using the system resulted in consistent real usage and health care professionals' satisfaction with the new dashboard system. A new concept of hospital dashboard system proved to be feasible and useful in delivering health information to healthcare professionals. A positive attitude and an expectation regarding work performance were important factors for intention to use the system. This finding can serve for developing new systems to present health information effectively. Further studies will be needed to evaluate the extent to which BESTBoard can have a positive impact on clinical care outcomes and work performance. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

242A Distributed Control System Year 2000 Acceptance Test Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

TEATS, M.C.

1999-08-31

This report documents acceptance test results for the 242-A Evaporator distributive control system upgrade to D/3 version 9.0-2 for year 2000 compliance. This report documents the test results obtained by acceptance testing as directed by procedure HNF-2695. This verification procedure will document the initial testing and evaluation of the potential 242-A Distributed Control System (DCS) operating difficulties across the year 2000 boundary and the calendar adjustments needed for the leap year. Baseline system performance data will be recorded using current, as-is operating system software. Data will also be collected for operating system software that has been modified to correct yearmore » 2000 problems. This verification procedure is intended to be generic such that it may be performed on any D/3{trademark} (GSE Process Solutions, Inc.) distributed control system that runs with the VMSTM (Digital Equipment Corporation) operating system. This test may be run on simulation or production systems depending upon facility status. On production systems, DCS outages will occur nine times throughout performance of the test. These outages are expected to last about 10 minutes each.« less

Interaction Dynamics Between a Flexible Rotor and an Auxiliary Clearance Bearing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lawen, James L., Jr.; Flowers, George T.

1996-01-01

This study investigates the application of synchronous interaction dynamics methodology to the design of auxiliary bearing systems. The technique is applied to a flexible rotor system and comparisons are made between the behavior predicted by this analysis method and the observed simulation response characteristics. Of particular interest is the influence of coupled shaft/bearing vibration modes on rotordynamical behavior. Experimental studies are also perFormed to validate the simulation results and provide insight into the expected behavior of such a system.

Integrated manufacture of a freeform off-axis multi-reflective imaging system without optical alignment.

PubMed

Li, Zexiao; Liu, Xianlei; Fang, Fengzhou; Zhang, Xiaodong; Zeng, Zhen; Zhu, Linlin; Yan, Ning

2018-03-19

Multi-reflective imaging systems find wide applications in optical imaging and space detection. However, it is faced with difficulties in adjusting the freeform mirrors with high accuracy to guarantee the optical function. Motivated by this, an alignment-free manufacture approach is proposed to machine the optical system. The direct optical performance-guided manufacture route is established without measuring the form error of freeform optics. An analytical model is established to investigate the effects of machine errors to serve the error identification and compensation in machining. Based on the integrated manufactured system, an ingenious self-designed testing configuration is constructed to evaluate the optical performance by directly measuring the wavefront aberration. Experiments are carried out to manufacture a three-mirror anastigmat, surface topographical details and optical performance shows agreement to the designed expectation. The final system works as an off-axis infrared imaging system. Results validate the feasibility of the proposed method to achieve excellent optical application.

Durham extremely large telescope adaptive optics simulation platform.

PubMed

Basden, Alastair; Butterley, Timothy; Myers, Richard; Wilson, Richard

2007-03-01

Adaptive optics systems are essential on all large telescopes for which image quality is important. These are complex systems with many design parameters requiring optimization before good performance can be achieved. The simulation of adaptive optics systems is therefore necessary to categorize the expected performance. We describe an adaptive optics simulation platform, developed at Durham University, which can be used to simulate adaptive optics systems on the largest proposed future extremely large telescopes as well as on current systems. This platform is modular, object oriented, and has the benefit of hardware application acceleration that can be used to improve the simulation performance, essential for ensuring that the run time of a given simulation is acceptable. The simulation platform described here can be highly parallelized using parallelization techniques suited for adaptive optics simulation, while still offering the user complete control while the simulation is running. The results from the simulation of a ground layer adaptive optics system are provided as an example to demonstrate the flexibility of this simulation platform.

The impact of contracting-out on health system performance: a conceptual framework.

PubMed

Liu, Xingzhu; Hotchkiss, David R; Bose, Sujata

2007-07-01

Despite the increased popularity of contracting-out of health services in developing countries, its effectiveness on overall health system performance is not yet conclusive. Except for substantial evidence of contracting-out's positive effect on access to health services and some evidence on improved equity in access, there is little evidence of contracting-out's impact on quality and efficiency. Most studies on the subject evaluate specific contracting-out projects against narrowly specified project objectives, not against more broadly defined health system goals. For this reason, conclusions of positive effects pertaining to project level may not hold at system level. This paper presents a conceptual framework that is expected to facilitate comprehensive, rigorous, and standardized evaluation of contracting-out at health system level. Specifically, this framework supports: full and standardized description of contracting-out interventions, study of the determinants of effectiveness, examination of provider and purchaser responses, assessment of the impact of contracting-out on all dimensions of health system performance, and cross-project analyses.

Initial operation of a solar heating and cooling system in a full-scale solar building test facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knoll, R. H.; Miao, D.; Hamlet, I. L.; Jensen, R. N.

1976-01-01

The Solar Building Test Facility (SBTF) located at Hampton, Virginia became operational in early summer of 1976. This facility is a joint effort by NASA-Lewis and NASA-Langley to advance the technology for heating and cooling of office buildings with solar energy. Its purposes are to (1) test system components which include high-performing collectors, (2) test performance of complete solar heating and cooling system, (3) investigate component interactions and (4) investigate durability, maintenance and reliability of components. The SBTF consists of a 50,000 square foot office building modified to accept solar heated water for operation of an absorption air conditioner and for the baseboard heating system. A 12,666 square foot solar collector field with a 30,000 gallon storage tank provides the solar heated water. A description of the system and the collectors selected is given here, along with the objectives, test approach, expected system performance and some preliminary results.

Health System Development and Performance in Korea and Japan: A Comparative Study of 2000–2013

PubMed Central

Dronina, Yuliya; Yoon, Young Min; Sakamaki, Hiroyuki; Nam, Eun Woo

2016-01-01

Background The Japanese and Korean healthcare systems are very similar and thus, they have the same problems and weaknesses. This study discusses the problems and proposes complementary solutions based on the results of a comparative analysis of conditions in the healthcare systems of the two countries. Methods This article presents a comparative analysis of the healthcare status of the two countries based on certain health criteria used worldwide, a literature review, and data from the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Results The scores of the healthcare systems were calculated for quantitative comparison. The performance of the Japanese health system was the best, followed by the Korean health system. Both countries observed an increased life expectancy and decreased infant and under-five mortality rates during the last 14 years. However, lower fertility rates were found, which could lead to a decreased working population and a subsequent increase in the economic burden of governments and households. A higher alcohol consumption rate was found in Korea, which was related to the establishment of interpersonal relationships. Conclusion The reform of the healthcare systems in Korea and Japan led to an increased life expectancy; concurrently, reduced fertility rates led to an increasing aging population. As a result, increasing health costs require additional measures to improve health equity and strengthen health promotion. PMID:27358836

Patients' views and needs about systemic sclerosis and its management: a qualitative interview study.

PubMed

Mouthon, Luc; Alami, Sophie; Boisard, Anne-Sophie; Chaigne, Benjamin; Hachulla, Eric; Poiraudeau, Serge

2017-05-30

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic connective-tissue disease responsible for reduced life expectancy, disability and a decreased quality of life. In order to optimize patients-physicians relationship and care strategy we aimed to survey views of patients on SSc and its management to reveal potential hurdles and improve health care strategies. A qualitative study combined semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and a direct observation of an information session was performed between November 2008 and January 2009. Twenty-five patients with SSc were included. They encounter difficulties to have a clear representation of their disease. Physical, psychological, and social repercussions of SSc may lead to a psychological distress and different coping strategies, which widely differ among interviewed patients. Patients' views on their therapeutic journey and the management of their disease highlighted strong expectations about patient-physician relationship. These expectations were numerous, complex and sometimes ambivalent. Patients expected physicians to be human and attentive but also involved in research in the field and to provide psychological and affective support to help them to accept the uncertainty of disease evolution and lack of curative treatment. They also expected more individualized management, improvements in diagnosis and follow-up organization, more efforts in education and information, comprehensive behaviors and support from working colleagues and relatives, and increased funding from the health care system. Our results suggest that SSc management could be optimized, particularly with more attention to the patient-practitioner relationship. Patient profiles should be more precisely defined in terms of coping strategies and treatment preferences to propose more individualized options.

Numerical simulation studies for the first-light adaptive optics system of the Large Binocular Telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carbillet, Marcel; Riccardi, Armando; Esposito, Simone

2004-10-01

We present our latest results concerning the simulation studies performed for the first-light adaptive optics (AO) system of the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT), namely WLBT. After a brief description of the "raw" performance evaluation results, in terms of Strehl ratios attained in the various considered bands (from V to K), we focus on the "scientific" performance that will be obtained when considering the subsequent instrumentation that will benefit from the correction given by the AO system WLBT and the adaptive secondary mirrors LBT 672. In particular, we discuss the performance of the coupling with the instrument LUCIFER, working at near-infrared bands, in terms of signal-to-noise values and limiting magnitudes, and in both the cases of spectroscopy and photometric detection. We also give the encircled energies that are expected in the visible bands, result relevant in one hand for the instrument PEPSI, and in other hand for the "technical viewer" that will be on board the WLBT system itself.

Challenges of Future High-End Computing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bailey, David; Kutler, Paul (Technical Monitor)

1998-01-01

The next major milestone in high performance computing is a sustained rate of one Pflop/s (also written one petaflops, or 10(circumflex)15 floating-point operations per second). In addition to prodigiously high computational performance, such systems must of necessity feature very large main memories, as well as comparably high I/O bandwidth and huge mass storage facilities. The current consensus of scientists who have studied these issues is that "affordable" petaflops systems may be feasible by the year 2010, assuming that certain key technologies continue to progress at current rates. One important question is whether applications can be structured to perform efficiently on such systems, which are expected to incorporate many thousands of processors and deeply hierarchical memory systems. To answer these questions, advanced performance modeling techniques, including simulation of future architectures and applications, may be required. It may also be necessary to formulate "latency tolerant algorithms" and other completely new algorithmic approaches for certain applications. This talk will give an overview of these challenges.

The NASA Electric Propulsion Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Callahan, Lisa Wood; Curran, Francis M.

1996-01-01

Nearly all space missions require on-board propulsion systems and these systems typically have a major impact on spacecraft mass and cost. Electric propulsion systems offer major performance advantages over conventional chemical systems for many mission functions and the NASA Office of Space Access and Technology (OSAT) supports an extensive effort to develop the technology for high-performance, on-board electric propulsion system options to enhance and enable near- and far-term US space missions. This program includes research and development efforts on electrothermal, electrostatic, and electromagnetic propulsion system technologies to cover a wide range of potential applications. To maximize expectations of technology transfer, the program emphasizes strong interaction with the user community through a variety of cooperative and contracted approaches. This paper provides an overview of the OSAT electric propulsion program with an emphasis on recent progress and future directions.

Data-Driven Based Asynchronous Motor Control for Printing Servo Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bian, Min; Guo, Qingyun

Modern digital printing equipment aims to the environmental-friendly industry with high dynamic performances and control precision and low vibration and abrasion. High performance motion control system of printing servo systems was required. Control system of asynchronous motor based on data acquisition was proposed. Iterative learning control (ILC) algorithm was studied. PID control was widely used in the motion control. However, it was sensitive to the disturbances and model parameters variation. The ILC applied the history error data and present control signals to approximate the control signal directly in order to fully track the expect trajectory without the system models and structures. The motor control algorithm based on the ILC and PID was constructed and simulation results were given. The results show that data-driven control method is effective dealing with bounded disturbances for the motion control of printing servo systems.

NASA Langley Research Center's distributed mass storage system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pao, Juliet Z.; Humes, D. Creig

1993-01-01

There is a trend in institutions with high performance computing and data management requirements to explore mass storage systems with peripherals directly attached to a high speed network. The Distributed Mass Storage System (DMSS) Project at NASA LaRC is building such a system and expects to put it into production use by the end of 1993. This paper presents the design of the DMSS, some experiences in its development and use, and a performance analysis of its capabilities. The special features of this system are: (1) workstation class file servers running UniTree software; (2) third party I/O; (3) HIPPI network; (4) HIPPI/IPI3 disk array systems; (5) Storage Technology Corporation (STK) ACS 4400 automatic cartridge system; (6) CRAY Research Incorporated (CRI) CRAY Y-MP and CRAY-2 clients; (7) file server redundancy provision; and (8) a transition mechanism from the existent mass storage system to the DMSS.

Scheduling and Pricing for Expected Ramp Capability in Real-Time Power Markets

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ela, Erik; O'Malley, Mark

2016-05-01

Higher variable renewable generation penetrations are occurring throughout the world on different power systems. These resources increase the variability and uncertainty on the system which must be accommodated by an increase in the flexibility of the system resources in order to maintain reliability. Many scheduling strategies have been discussed and introduced to ensure that this flexibility is available at multiple timescales. To meet variability, that is, the expected changes in system conditions, two recent strategies have been introduced: time-coupled multi-period market clearing models and the incorporation of ramp capability constraints. To appropriately evaluate these methods, it is important to assessmore » both efficiency and reliability. But it is also important to assess the incentive structure to ensure that resources asked to perform in different ways have the proper incentives to follow these directions, which is a step often ignored in simulation studies. We find that there are advantages and disadvantages to both approaches. We also find that look-ahead horizon length in multi-period market models can impact incentives. This paper proposes scheduling and pricing methods that ensure expected ramps are met reliably, efficiently, and with associated prices based on true marginal costs that incentivize resources to do as directed by the market. Case studies show improvements of the new method.« less

Abnormal Reward System Activation in Mania

PubMed Central

Abler, Birgit; Greenhouse, Ian; Ongur, Dost; Walter, Henrik; Heckers, Stephan

2008-01-01

Transmission of reward signals is a function of dopamine, a neurotransmitter known to be involved in the mechanism of psychosis. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we investigated how expectation and receipt of monetary rewards modulate brain activation in patients with bipolar mania and schizophrenia. We studied 12 acutely manic patients with a history of bipolar disorder, 12 patients with a current episode of schizoaffective disorder or schizophrenia and 12 healthy subjects. All patients were treated with dopamine antagonists at the time of the study. Subjects performed a delayed incentive paradigm with monetary reward in the scanner that allowed for investigating effects of expectation, receipt, and omission of rewards. Patients with schizophrenia and healthy control subjects showed the expected activation of dopaminergic brain areas, that is, ventral tegmentum activation upon expectation of monetary rewards and nucleus accumbens activation during receipt vs omission of rewards. In manic patients, however, we did not find a similar pattern of brain activation and the differential signal in the nucleus accumbens upon receipt vs omission of rewards was significantly lower compared to the healthy control subjects. Our findings provide evidence for abnormal function of the dopamine system during receipt or omission of expected rewards in bipolar disorder. These deficits in prediction error processing in acute mania may help to explain symptoms of disinhibition and abnormal goal pursuit regulation. PMID:17987058

Enabling fast charging - Vehicle considerations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meintz, Andrew; Zhang, Jiucai; Vijayagopal, Ram; Kreutzer, Cory; Ahmed, Shabbir; Bloom, Ira; Burnham, Andrew; Carlson, Richard B.; Dias, Fernando; Dufek, Eric J.; Francfort, James; Hardy, Keith; Jansen, Andrew N.; Keyser, Matthew; Markel, Anthony; Michelbacher, Christopher; Mohanpurkar, Manish; Pesaran, Ahmad; Scoffield, Don; Shirk, Matthew; Stephens, Thomas; Tanim, Tanvir

2017-11-01

To achieve a successful increase in the plug-in battery electric vehicle (BEV) market, it is anticipated that a significant improvement in battery performance is required to increase the range that BEVs can travel and the rate at which they can be recharged. While the range that BEVs can travel on a single recharge is improving, the recharge rate is still much slower than the refueling rate of conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. To achieve comparable recharge times, we explore the vehicle considerations of charge rates of at least 400 kW. Faster recharge is expected to significantly mitigate the perceived deficiencies for long-distance transportation, to provide alternative charging in densely populated areas where overnight charging at home may not be possible, and to reduce range anxiety for travel within a city when unplanned charging may be required. This substantial increase in charging rate is expected to create technical issues in the design of the battery system and the vehicle's electrical architecture that must be resolved. This work focuses on vehicle system design and total recharge time to meet the goals of implementing improved charge rates and the impacts of these expected increases on system voltage and vehicle components.

Enabling fast charging – Vehicle considerations

DOE PAGES

Meintz, Andrew; Zhang, Jiucai; Vijayagopal, Ram; ...

2017-11-01

To achieve a successful increase in the plug-in battery electric vehicle (BEV) market it is anticipated that a significant improvement in battery performance is required to improve the range that BEVs can travel. While the range that BEVs can travel on a single recharge is improving, the rate at which these vehicles can be recharged is still much slower than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. To achieve comparable recharge times we explore the vehicle considerations of charge rates up to 350 kW. This faster recharge is expected to significantly mitigate the perceived deficiencies for long-distance transportation, to provide alternative chargingmore » in densely populated areas where overnight charging at home may not be possible, and to reduce range anxiety for travel within a city when unplanned charging maybe required. This substantial increase in the charging rate is expected to create technical issues in the design of the battery system and the vehicle electrical architecture that must be resolved. This work will focus on the battery system thermal design and total recharge time to meet the goals of implementing higher charge rates as well as the impacts of the expected increase in system voltage on the components of the vehicle.« less

Enabling fast charging – Vehicle considerations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meintz, Andrew; Zhang, Jiucai; Vijayagopal, Ram

To achieve a successful increase in the plug-in battery electric vehicle (BEV) market it is anticipated that a significant improvement in battery performance is required to improve the range that BEVs can travel. While the range that BEVs can travel on a single recharge is improving, the rate at which these vehicles can be recharged is still much slower than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. To achieve comparable recharge times we explore the vehicle considerations of charge rates up to 350 kW. This faster recharge is expected to significantly mitigate the perceived deficiencies for long-distance transportation, to provide alternative chargingmore » in densely populated areas where overnight charging at home may not be possible, and to reduce range anxiety for travel within a city when unplanned charging maybe required. This substantial increase in the charging rate is expected to create technical issues in the design of the battery system and the vehicle electrical architecture that must be resolved. This work will focus on the battery system thermal design and total recharge time to meet the goals of implementing higher charge rates as well as the impacts of the expected increase in system voltage on the components of the vehicle.« less

Application of new radio tracking data types to critical spacecraft navigation problems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ondrasik, V. J.; Rourke, K. H.

1972-01-01

Earth-based radio tracking data types are considered, which involve simultaneous or nearly simultaneous spacecraft tracking from widely separated tracking stations. These data types are conventional tracking instrumentation analogs of the very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) of radio astronomy-hence the name quasi-VLBI. A preliminary analysis of quasi-VLBI is presented using simplified tracking data models. The results of accuracy analyses are presented for a representative mission, Viking 1975. The results indicate that, contingent on projected tracking system accuracy, quasi-VLBI can be expected to significantly improve navigation performance over that expected from conventional tracking data types.

How Need for Cognition Affects the Formation of Performance Expectancies at School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dickhauser, Oliver; Reinhard, Marc-Andre

2009-01-01

Individuals with low Need for Cognition (NFC) have been found to process information using a peripheral route compared to individuals higher in NFC. These differences affect the formation of performance expectancies. Based on previous work demonstrating that the formation of performance expectancies can be understood as an information processing…

The Prediction of College Student Academic Performance and Retention: Application of Expectancy and Goal Setting Theories

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Friedman, Barry A.; Mandel, Rhonda G.

2010-01-01

Student retention and performance in higher education are important issues for educators, students, and the nation facing critical professional labor shortages. Expectancy and goal setting theories were used to predict academic performance and college student retention. Students' academic expectancy motivation at the start of the college…

Performance of a completely automated system for monitoring CMV DNA in plasma.

PubMed

Mengelle, C; Sandres-Sauné, K; Mansuy, J-M; Haslé, C; Boineau, J; Izopet, J

2016-06-01

Completely automated systems for monitoring CMV-DNA in plasma samples are now available. Evaluate analytical and clinical performances of the VERIS™/MDx System CMV Assay(®). Analytical performance was assessed using quantified quality controls. Clinical performance was assessed by comparison with the COBAS(®) Ampliprep™/COBAS(®) Taqman CMV test using 169 plasma samples that had tested positive with the in-house technique in whole blood. The specificity of the VERIS™/MDx System CMV Assay(®) was 99% [CI 95%: 97.7-100]. Intra-assay reproducibilities were 0.03, 0.04, 0.05 and 0.04 log10IU/ml (means 2.78, 3.70, 4.64 and 5.60 log10IU/ml) for expected values of 2.70, 3.70, 4.70 and 5.70 log10IU/ml. The inter-assay reproducibilities were 0.12 and 0.08 (means 6.30 and 2.85 log10IU/ml) for expected values of 6.28 and 2.80 log10IU/ml. The lower limit of detection was 14.6IU/ml, and the assay was linear from 2.34 to 5.58 log10IU/ml. The results for the positive samples were concordant (r=0.71, p<0.0001; slope of Deming regression 0.79 [CI 95%: 0.56-1.57] and y-intercept 0.79 [CI 95%: 0.63-0.95]). The VERIS™/MDx System CMV Assay(®) detected 18 more positive samples than did the COBAS(®) Ampliprep™/COBAS(®) Taqman CMV test and the mean virus load were higher (0.41 log10IU/ml). Patient monitoring on 68 samples collected from 17 immunosuppressed patients showed similar trends between the two assays. As secondary question, virus loads detected by the VERIS™/MDx System CMV Assay(®) were compared to those of the in-house procedure on whole blood. The results were similar between the two assays (-0.09 log10IU/ml) as were the patient monitoring trends. The performances of the VERIS™/MDx System CMV Assay(®) facilitated its routine use in monitoring CMV-DNA loads in plasma samples. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Boeing infrared sensor (BIRS) calibration facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hazen, John D.; Scorsone, L. V.

1990-01-01

The Boeing Infrared Sensor (BIRS) Calibration Facility represents a major capital investment in optical and infrared technology. The facility was designed and built for the calibration and testing of the new generation large aperture long wave infrared (LWIR) sensors, seekers, and related technologies. Capability exists to perform both radiometric and goniometric calibrations of large infrared sensors under simulated environmental operating conditions. The system is presently configured for endoatmospheric calibrations with a uniform background field which can be set to simulate the expected mission background levels. During calibration, the sensor under test is also exposed to expected mission temperatures and pressures within the test chamber. Capability exists to convert the facility for exoatmospheric testing. The configuration of the system is described along with hardware elements and changes made to date are addressed.

An extension of technology acceptance model to determine factors that influence the intention to use electronic collection system in Nigerian federal hospitals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kabir, Muhammad Auwal; Saidin, Siti Zabedah; Ahmi, Aidi

2017-10-01

The aim of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework that would be used in determining the factors that influence the behavioral intention to use electronic collection system in federal government owned hospitals in Nigeria. The framework is supported by Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as the underlying theory of the study. Past literature on individual user intention were thoroughly reviewed and found that TAM is fit appropriate in explaining the phenomenon under study. Based on the reviewed literature, it is expected that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use will influence the intention of users (employees) to use e-collection system in the performance of their job tasks in Nigerian federal hospitals. In other words, users with higher perception on the system's usefulness and its ease of use are more likely to express their interest and willingness to use the system. In addition, the study has extended TAM with facilitating conditions construct and the research is expected to discover the level of its influence on behavioral intention to use e-collection system.

Estimates of cost-effectiveness of prehospital continuous positive airway pressure in the management of acute pulmonary edema.

PubMed

Hubble, Michael W; Richards, Michael E; Wilfong, Denise A

2008-01-01

To estimate the cost-effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in managing prehospital acute pulmonary edema in an urban EMS system. Using estimates from published reports on prehospital and emergency department CPAP, a cost-effectiveness model of implementing CPAP in a typical urban EMS system was derived from the societal perspective as well as the perspective of the implementing EMS system. To assess the robustness of the model, a series of univariate and multivariate sensitivity analyses was performed on the input variables. The cost of consumables, equipment, and training yielded a total cost of $89 per CPAP application. The theoretical system would be expected to use CPAP 4 times per 1000 EMS patients and is expected to save 0.75 additional lives per 1000 EMS patients at a cost of $490 per life saved. CPAP is also expected to result in approximately one less intubation per 6 CPAP applications and reduce hospitalization costs by $4075 per year for each CPAP application. Through sensitivity analyses the model was verified to be robust across a wide range of input variable assumptions. Previous studies have demonstrated the clinical effectiveness of CPAP in the management of acute pulmonary edema. Through a theoretical analysis which modeled the costs and clinical benefits of implementing CPAP in an urban EMS system, prehospital CPAP appears to be a cost-effective treatment.

Model-Based IN SITU Parameter Estimation of Ultrasonic Guided Waves in AN Isotropic Plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hall, James S.; Michaels, Jennifer E.

2010-02-01

Most ultrasonic systems employing guided waves for flaw detection require information such as dispersion curves, transducer locations, and expected propagation loss. Degraded system performance may result if assumed parameter values do not accurately reflect the actual environment. By characterizing the propagating environment in situ at the time of test, potentially erroneous a priori estimates are avoided and performance of ultrasonic guided wave systems can be improved. A four-part model-based algorithm is described in the context of previous work that estimates model parameters whereby an assumed propagation model is used to describe the received signals. This approach builds upon previous work by demonstrating the ability to estimate parameters for the case of single mode propagation. Performance is demonstrated on signals obtained from theoretical dispersion curves, finite element modeling, and experimental data.

Solar energy system performance evaluation: Seasonal report for IBM System 1B, Carlsbad, New Mexico

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1980-01-01

A hot solar heating and hot water system's operational performance from April 1979 through March 1980 is evaluated. The space heating and hot water loads were near expected values for the year. Solar energy provided 43 percent of the space heating and 53 percent of the hot water energy. The system did not meet the total system solar fraction design value of 69 percent because of a combination of higher estimated space heating load than was actually encountered and the apportioning of solar energy between the space heating and the domestic hot water loads. System losses and high building temperatures also contributed to this deviation. Total net savings were 23.072 million BTUs. Most of the energy savings came during the winter months, but hot water savings were sufficient to justify running the system during the summer months.

Multiple and variable speed electrical generator systems for large wind turbines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Andersen, T. S.; Hughes, P. S.; Kirschbaum, H. S.; Mutone, G. A.

1982-01-01

A cost effective method to achieve increased wind turbine generator energy conversion and other operational benefits through variable speed operation is presented. Earlier studies of multiple and variable speed generators in wind turbines were extended for evaluation in the context of a specific large sized conceptual design. System design and simulation have defined the costs and performance benefits which can be expected from both two speed and variable speed configurations.

Measurement control workshop instructional materials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gibbs, Philip; Harvel, Charles; Clark, John

2012-09-01

An essential element in an effective nuclear materials control and accountability (MC&A) program is the measurement of the nuclear material as it is received, moved, processed and shipped. Quality measurement systems and methodologies determine the accuracy of the accountability values. Implementation of a measurement control program is essential to ensure that the measurement systems and methodologies perform as expected. A measurement control program also allows for a determination of the level of confidence in the accounting values.

New multivariable capabilities of the INCA program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bauer, Frank H.; Downing, John P.; Thorpe, Christopher J.

1989-01-01

The INteractive Controls Analysis (INCA) program was developed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center to provide a user friendly, efficient environment for the design and analysis of control systems, specifically spacecraft control systems. Since its inception, INCA has found extensive use in the design, development, and analysis of control systems for spacecraft, instruments, robotics, and pointing systems. The (INCA) program was initially developed as a comprehensive classical design analysis tool for small and large order control systems. The latest version of INCA, expected to be released in February of 1990, was expanded to include the capability to perform multivariable controls analysis and design.

Some Solved Problems with the SLAC PEP-II B-Factory Beam-Position Monitor System

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johnson, Ronald G.

2000-05-05

The Beam-Position Monitor (BPM) system for the SLAC PEP-II B-Factory has been in operation for over two years. Although the BPM system has met all of its specifications, several problems with the system have been identified and solved. The problems include errors and limitations in both the hardware and software. Solutions of such problems have led to improved performance and reliability. In this paper the authors report on this experience. The process of identifying problems is not at an end and they expect continued improvement of the BPM system.

Connecticut Biodiesel Power Generation Project

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Grannis, Lee; York, Carla R.

Sabre will continue support of the emissions equipment and VARS issues to ensure all are resolved and the system is functioning as expected. The remote data collection to become more automated. Final project reports for data collection and system performance to be generated. Sabre continued to support the emissions equipment and VARS issues to ensure all are resolved and the system is functioning as expected. The remote data collection became more automated. Final project reports for data collection and system performance were generated and are part of this final report. Some Systems Sensors were replaced due to a lightning strike.more » Sample data charts are shown at the end of the report. During the project, Sabre Engineering provided support to the project team with regarding to troubleshooting technical issues and system integration with the local power utility company. The resulting lessons learned through Sabre’s participation in the project have been valuable to the integrity of the data collected as well as in providing BioPur Light & Power valuable insights into future operations and planning for possible expansion. The system monitoring and data collection system has been operating as designed and continues to provide relevant information to the system operators. The information routinely gathered automatically by the system also contributes to the REN and REC validations which are required to secure credit for these items. During the quarter, the remaining work on the operations and safety manual were completed and released for publication after screen shots were verified. The goal of this effort to provide an accurate set of precautions and procedures for the technology system that can be replicated to other similar system.« less

[Survey results of medical insurance reimbursement system for independent medical laboratories in Korea].

PubMed

Bae, Sook Young; Kwon, Jung Ah; Kim, Jang Su; Yoon, Soo Young; Lee, Chang Kyu; Lee, Kap No; Kim, Dae Won; Min, Won Ki; Cha, Young Joo; Chae, Seok Lae; Hwang, Yoo Sung

2007-04-01

A questionnaire survey was performed to perceive the problem of the current medical insurance reimbursement system for laboratory tests referred to independent medical laboratories; then, we intended to find a way to improve the reimbursement system. Questionnaires were distributed to 220 independent medical laboratories and 700 laboratory physicians from July through October 2005. Frequency analysis was used to analyse the replies from 109 respondents to 25 questionnaire items regarding the current medical insurance reimbursement system for referral tests, problems with the system, and suggestions for the improvement of the system. Among the 109 respondents to this survey, 49 (45.8%) considered the current reimbursement system to be unsatisfactory, while only 16 (15.0%) answered satisfactory. The problem was that the referral clinics-not the laboratories that performed the tests--would first receive their reimbursement for the laboratory tests from Health Insurance Review Agency (HIRA) and then give a portion of the laboratory test fees to the independent medical laboratories after the deduction of administrative fees. They (62.5% of the respondents) would prefer a separated reimbursement system by which the referral clinic-as well as the independent medical laboratory-would receive their reimbursement directly from HIRA through an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system. In this new system, 34% of the respondents expected the quality of the laboratory tests to be improved; however, 41.6% answered that the income of the referral clinic is expected to decrease. For the improvement of the medical insurance reimbursement system, the administrative fee for the referral clinic and the test fee for the independent medical laboratory should be reimbursed directly to the respective organizations. These changes could be made possible with the proper analysis of medical costs and the development of an effective EDI reimbursement system.

A computational imaging target specific detectivity metric

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Preece, Bradley L.; Nehmetallah, George

2017-05-01

Due to the large quantity of low-cost, high-speed computational processing available today, computational imaging (CI) systems are expected to have a major role for next generation multifunctional cameras. The purpose of this work is to quantify the performance of theses CI systems in a standardized manner. Due to the diversity of CI system designs that are available today or proposed in the near future, significant challenges in modeling and calculating a standardized detection signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to measure the performance of these systems. In this paper, we developed a path forward for a standardized detectivity metric for CI systems. The detectivity metric is designed to evaluate the performance of a CI system searching for a specific known target or signal of interest, and is defined as the optimal linear matched filter SNR, similar to the Hotelling SNR, calculated in computational space with special considerations for standardization. Therefore, the detectivity metric is designed to be flexible, in order to handle various types of CI systems and specific targets, while keeping the complexity and assumptions of the systems to a minimum.

File-access characteristics of parallel scientific workloads

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nieuwejaar, Nils; Kotz, David; Purakayastha, Apratim; Best, Michael; Ellis, Carla Schlatter

1995-01-01

Phenomenal improvements in the computational performance of multiprocessors have not been matched by comparable gains in I/O system performance. This imbalance has resulted in I/O becoming a significant bottleneck for many scientific applications. One key to overcoming this bottleneck is improving the performance of parallel file systems. The design of a high-performance parallel file system requires a comprehensive understanding of the expected workload. Unfortunately, until recently, no general workload studies of parallel file systems have been conducted. The goal of the CHARISMA project was to remedy this problem by characterizing the behavior of several production workloads, on different machines, at the level of individual reads and writes. The first set of results from the CHARISMA project describe the workloads observed on an Intel iPSC/860 and a Thinking Machines CM-5. This paper is intended to compare and contrast these two workloads for an understanding of their essential similarities and differences, isolating common trends and platform-dependent variances. Using this comparison, we are able to gain more insight into the general principles that should guide parallel file-system design.

Foundations for Success: Case Studies of How Urban School Systems Improve Student Achievement [and] Abstract.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Snipes, Jason; Doolittle, Fred; Herlihy, Corinne

This report examines the experiences of three large urban school districts (and part of a fourth) that raised academic performance for their districts as a whole, while also reducing racial differences in achievement. Educational challenges included low achievement, political conflict, inexperienced teachers, low expectations, and lack of…

Assessment and the Quality of Educational Programmes: What Constitutes Evidence?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shay, Sueellen; Jawitz, Jeff

2005-01-01

In a climate of growing accountability for Higher Education, there is an increased demand on assessment to play an evaluative role. National, professional and institutional quality assurance systems expect that the assessment of student performance can be used to evaluate the quality of teachers, learners, programmes and even institutions for the…

Exploration of Direct and Indirect Associations of System-Level Policy-Amenable Variables with Reading Literacy Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scheerens, Jaap; Luyten, Hans; van den Berg, Stéphanie M.; Glas, Cees A. W.

2015-01-01

As expectations of the economic impact of educational attainment are soaring (Hanushek & Woessmann, 2009) and conjectures about successful national educational reforms (Mourshed, Chijioke, & Barber, 2010) are welcomed by educational policy-makers in many countries, a careful assessment of the empirical evidence for these kinds of claims is…

Relationship between Teacher Self-Efficacy and the Teacher Evaluation Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pisciotta, Summer

2014-01-01

Changes in state laws led the education system personnel in Arizona to reconsider how they assess students, teachers, and administrators. Higher expectations for teacher and student performance and a budget deficit at schools resulted in evaluations being a focal point in teacher contract renewal. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to…

Do Students Understand Our Course Structure? Implications for Important Classroom Attitudes and Behavior

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elicker, Joelle D.; Foust, Michelle Singer; Perry, Jennifer L.

2015-01-01

The complexity of a course's structure may influence how well students understand what is expected of them. Using the foundation of the industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology literature, the authors modified a measure of "Perceived System Knowledge" (Williams & Levy, 1992) for employee performance appraisal to be appropriate for…

Higher Education and the Labour Market in the Java Region, Indonesia.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Notodihardjo, Hardjono; Sanyal, Bikas C.

Based on a survey of college students, graduates, and employers throughout Java, this report examines (1) reasons for pursuing higher education, channels of career information, frequency of and reasons for students changing majors, and the performance of the higher education system; (2) occupational expectations and their determinants; (3) methods…

AMSD Cryo Actuator Testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mullette, Mark; Matthews, Gary; Russell, Kevin (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

The actuator technology required for AMSD and subsequently NGST are critical in the successful development for future cryogenic systems. Kodak has undertaken an extensive test plan to determine the performance of the force actuators developed under the AMSD program. These actuators are currently in testing at MSFC and are expected to finish this test cycle in early June 2002.

77 FR 34326 - Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-11

... Purchasing (VBP) Program, we inadvertently omitted data from the table entitled ``Proposed Performance..., Proposed Hospital Inpatient Value- Based Purchasing (VBP) Program Adjustment Factors for FY 2013, as a... partial paragraph-- (1) Lines 2 and 3, the phrase ``all hospitals are expected to experience a decrease...

Blatant Stereotype Threat and Women's Math Performance: Self-Handicapping as a Strategic Means To Cope with Obtrusive Negative Performance Expectations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keller, Johannes

2002-01-01

Examined the impact of increased salience of negative stereotypic expectations on math performance among high school students. Results indicated that female students in the condition of heightened salience of negative stereotypic expectations underperformed in comparison to their control group counterparts. The effect of blatant stereotype threat…

150-nm generation lithography equipment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deguchi, Nobuyoshi; Uzawa, Shigeyuki

1999-07-01

Lithography by step-and-scan exposure is expected to be the mainstream for semiconductor manufacturing below 180 nm resolution patterns. We have developed a scanner for 150 nm features on either 200 mm or 300 mm wafers. For this system, the synchronous stage system has been redesigned which makes it possible to improve imaging performance and overlay accuracy. A new 300 mm wafer stage enhances productivity while weighting almost the same as the stage for 200 mm wafers. The mainbody mechanical frame incorporates reactive force receiver system to counter the inertial energy and vibrational issues associated with high speed wafer and reticle stage scanning. This report outlines the total system design, new technologies and performance data of the Cannon FPA-5000ES2 step-and-scan exposure tool developed for the 150 nm generation lithography.

CO2 removal by solid amine sorbents. 1: Experimental studies of amine resin IR-45 with regard to spacecraft applications. 2: Computer program for predicting the transient performance of solid amine sorbent systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wright, R. M.; Hwang, K. C.

1973-01-01

The sorbent behavior of solid amine resin IR-45 with regard to potential use in regenerative CO2-removal systems for manned spacecraft is considered. Measurements of equilibrium sorption capacity of IR-45 for water and for CO2 are reported, and the dynamic mass transfer behavior of IR-45 beds is studied under conditions representative of those expected in a manned spacecraft. A digital computer program was written for the transient performance prediction of CO2 removal systems comprised of solid amine beds. Also evaluated are systems employing inorganic molecular-sieve sorbents. Tests show that there is definitely an effect of water loading on the absorption rate.

Fracture Toughness, Mechanical Property, And Chemical Characterization Of A Critical Modification To The NASA SLS Solid Booster Internal Material System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pancoast, Justin; Garrett, William; Moe, Gulia

2015-01-01

A modified propellant-liner-insulation (PLI) bondline in the Space Launch System (SLS) solid rocket booster required characterization for flight certification. The chemical changes to the PLI bondline and the required additional processing have been correlated to mechanical responses of the materials across the bondline. Mechanical properties testing and analyses included fracture toughness, tensile, and shear tests. Chemical properties testing and analyses included Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, cross-link density, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and wave dispersion X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF). The testing identified the presence of the expected new materials and found the functional bondline performance of the new PLI system was not significantly changed from the old system.

International Space Station Major Constituent Analyzer On-Orbit Performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gardner, Ben D.; Erwin, Philip M.; Thoresen, Souzan; Granahan, John; Matty, Chris

2011-01-01

The Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) is an integral part of the International Space Station (ISS) Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS). The MCA is a mass spectrometer-based instrument designed to provide critical monitoring of six major atmospheric constituents; nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor. These gases are sampled continuously and automatically in all United States On-Orbit Segment (USOS) modules via the Sample Distribution System (SDS). The MCA is the primary tool for management of atmosphere constituents and is therefore critical for ensuring a habitable ISS environment during both nominal ISS operations and campout EVA preparation in the Airlock. The MCA has been in operation in the US Destiny Laboratory Module for over 10 years, and a second MCA has been delivered to the ISS for Node 3 operation. This paper discusses the performance of the MCA over the two past year, with particular attention to lessons learned regarding the operational life of critical components. Recent data have helped drive design upgrades for a new set of orbit-replaceable units (ORUs) currently in production. Several ORU upgrades are expected to increase expected lifetimes and reliability.

Explicit Content Caching at Mobile Edge Networks with Cross-Layer Sensing

PubMed Central

Chen, Lingyu; Su, Youxing; Luo, Wenbin; Hong, Xuemin; Shi, Jianghong

2018-01-01

The deployment density and computational power of small base stations (BSs) are expected to increase significantly in the next generation mobile communication networks. These BSs form the mobile edge network, which is a pervasive and distributed infrastructure that can empower a variety of edge/fog computing applications. This paper proposes a novel edge-computing application called explicit caching, which stores selective contents at BSs and exposes such contents to local users for interactive browsing and download. We formulate the explicit caching problem as a joint content recommendation, caching, and delivery problem, which aims to maximize the expected user quality-of-experience (QoE) with varying degrees of cross-layer sensing capability. Optimal and effective heuristic algorithms are presented to solve the problem. The theoretical performance bounds of the explicit caching system are derived in simplified scenarios. The impacts of cache storage space, BS backhaul capacity, cross-layer information, and user mobility on the system performance are simulated and discussed in realistic scenarios. Results suggest that, compared with conventional implicit caching schemes, explicit caching can better exploit the mobile edge network infrastructure for personalized content dissemination. PMID:29565313

Explicit Content Caching at Mobile Edge Networks with Cross-Layer Sensing.

PubMed

Chen, Lingyu; Su, Youxing; Luo, Wenbin; Hong, Xuemin; Shi, Jianghong

2018-03-22

The deployment density and computational power of small base stations (BSs) are expected to increase significantly in the next generation mobile communication networks. These BSs form the mobile edge network, which is a pervasive and distributed infrastructure that can empower a variety of edge/fog computing applications. This paper proposes a novel edge-computing application called explicit caching, which stores selective contents at BSs and exposes such contents to local users for interactive browsing and download. We formulate the explicit caching problem as a joint content recommendation, caching, and delivery problem, which aims to maximize the expected user quality-of-experience (QoE) with varying degrees of cross-layer sensing capability. Optimal and effective heuristic algorithms are presented to solve the problem. The theoretical performance bounds of the explicit caching system are derived in simplified scenarios. The impacts of cache storage space, BS backhaul capacity, cross-layer information, and user mobility on the system performance are simulated and discussed in realistic scenarios. Results suggest that, compared with conventional implicit caching schemes, explicit caching can better exploit the mobile edge network infrastructure for personalized content dissemination.

Systems Engineering Management Guide,

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-01-01

6•’-&-S- A -i-2-- -4-$-6-7-6-I SPEED AN0 INDURA6Ca CARGO CAPACITY ,- .- ,-,-,-$-- -,-$-4-,-,-7-,-U LOOISTICSR&M CARGO CAPACITY -- - - - -3.2- - 3-4...only subjective and to predict a level of performance with ( high , medium, low) evaluation is possible. respect to each attribute for each alternative For...criterion; evaluated as having an expected speed of however, some fixed plan for scoring 31.5 knots would receive a score of .50, while performance

Comparison of Waste Heat Driven and Electrically Driven Cooling Systems for a High Ambient Temperature, Off-Grid Application

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-12-10

combustion (IC) engine , Type 907, and its dat file was modified to match the expected fuel consumption and performance of the ...temperature output by the AS desorber. Depending on this DB set temperature, fuel would be burned to raise the temperature of the engine exhaust stream...in the simulations, it was based upon experimental data provided for this project indicating the performance of a 3 kW diesel

Impaired Expected Value Computations Coupled With Overreliance on Stimulus-Response Learning in Schizophrenia.

PubMed

Hernaus, Dennis; Gold, James M; Waltz, James A; Frank, Michael J

2018-04-03

While many have emphasized impaired reward prediction error signaling in schizophrenia, multiple studies suggest that some decision-making deficits may arise from overreliance on stimulus-response systems together with a compromised ability to represent expected value. Guided by computational frameworks, we formulated and tested two scenarios in which maladaptive representations of expected value should be most evident, thereby delineating conditions that may evoke decision-making impairments in schizophrenia. In a modified reinforcement learning paradigm, 42 medicated people with schizophrenia and 36 healthy volunteers learned to select the most frequently rewarded option in a 75-25 pair: once when presented with a more deterministic (90-10) pair and once when presented with a more probabilistic (60-40) pair. Novel and old combinations of choice options were presented in a subsequent transfer phase. Computational modeling was employed to elucidate contributions from stimulus-response systems (actor-critic) and expected value (Q-learning). People with schizophrenia showed robust performance impairments with increasing value difference between two competing options, which strongly correlated with decreased contributions from expected value-based learning (Q-learning). Moreover, a subtle yet consistent contextual choice bias for the probabilistic 75 option was present in people with schizophrenia, which could be accounted for by a context-dependent reward prediction error in the actor-critic. We provide evidence that decision-making impairments in schizophrenia increase monotonically with demands placed on expected value computations. A contextual choice bias is consistent with overreliance on stimulus-response learning, which may signify a deficit secondary to the maladaptive representation of expected value. These results shed new light on conditions under which decision-making impairments may arise. Copyright © 2018 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of fog on the bit-error rate of a free-space laser communication system.

PubMed

Strickland, B R; Lavan, M J; Woodbridge, E; Chan, V

1999-01-20

Free-space laser communication (lasercom) systems are subject to performance degradation when heavy fog or smoke obscures the line of sight. The bit-error rate (BER) of a high-bandwidth (570 Mbits/s) lasercom system was correlated with the atmospheric transmission over a folded path of 2.4 km. BER's of 10(-7) were observed when the atmospheric transmission was as low as 0.25%, whereas BER's of less than 10(-10) were observed when the transmission was above 2.5%. System performance was approximately 10 dB less than calculated, with the discrepancy attributed to scintillation, multiple scattering, and absorption. Peak power of the 810-nm communications laser was 186 mW, and the beam divergence was purposely degraded to 830 murad. These results were achieved without the use of error correction schemes or active tracking. An optimized system with narrower beam divergence and active tracking could be expected to yield significantly better performance.

Upgrading and performance of the SAO laser ranging system in Matera

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maddox, J.; Pearlman, M.; Throp, J.; Wohn, J.

1983-01-01

The performance of the SAO lasers was improved considerably in terms of accuracy, range noise, data yield, and reliability. With the narrower laser pulse (2.5-3.0 nsec) and a new analog pulse processing system, the systematic range errors were reduced to 3-5 cm and range noise has been reduced to 5-15 cm on low satellites and 10-18 cm on Lageos. Pulse repetition rate was increased to 30 ppm and considerable improvement has been made in signal-to-noise ratio by using a 3 Angstrom interference filter and by reducing the range gate window down to 200-400 nsec. The first upgraded system was installed in Arequipa, Peru in the spring of 1982. The second upgraded system is now in operation in Matera, Italy. The third system is expected to be installed in Israel during 1984.

The Viking parachute qualification test technique.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Raper, J. L.; Lundstrom, R. R.; Michel, F. C.

1973-01-01

The parachute system for NASA's Viking '75 Mars lander was flight qualified in four high-altitude flight tests at the White Sands Missile range (WSMR). A balloon system lifted a full-scale simulated Viking spacecraft to an altitude where a varying number of rocket motors were used to propel the high drag, lifting test vehicle to test conditions which would simulate the range of entry conditions expected at Mars. A ground-commanded cold gas pointing system located on the balloon system provided powered vehicle azimuth control to insure that the flight trajectory remained within the WSMR boundaries. A unique ground-based computer-radar system was employed to monitor inflight performance of the powered vehicle and insure that command ignition of the parachute mortar occurred at the required test conditions of Mach number and dynamic pressure. Performance data were obtained from cameras, telemetry, and radar.

Comparing NEO Search Telescopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myhrvold, Nathan

2016-04-01

Multiple terrestrial and space-based telescopes have been proposed for detecting and tracking near-Earth objects (NEOs). Detailed simulations of the search performance of these systems have used complex computer codes that are not widely available, which hinders accurate cross-comparison of the proposals and obscures whether they have consistent assumptions. Moreover, some proposed instruments would survey infrared (IR) bands, whereas others would operate in the visible band, and differences among asteroid thermal and visible-light models used in the simulations further complicate like-to-like comparisons. I use simple physical principles to estimate basic performance metrics for the ground-based Large Synoptic Survey Telescope and three space-based instruments—Sentinel, NEOCam, and a Cubesat constellation. The performance is measured against two different NEO distributions, the Bottke et al. distribution of general NEOs, and the Veres et al. distribution of Earth-impacting NEO. The results of the comparison show simplified relative performance metrics, including the expected number of NEOs visible in the search volumes and the initial detection rates expected for each system. Although these simplified comparisons do not capture all of the details, they give considerable insight into the physical factors limiting performance. Multiple asteroid thermal models are considered, including FRM, NEATM, and a new generalized form of FRM. I describe issues with how IR albedo and emissivity have been estimated in previous studies, which may render them inaccurate. A thermal model for tumbling asteroids is also developed and suggests that tumbling asteroids may be surprisingly difficult for IR telescopes to observe.

Congenital heart surgery: expected versus observed surgical performance according to the Aristotle complexity score.

PubMed

Photiadis, J; Sinzobahamvya, N; Arenz, C; Sata, S; Haun, C; Schindler, E; Asfour, B; Hraska, V

2011-08-01

The Aristotle score quantifies the complexity involved in congenital heart surgery. It defines surgical performance as complexity score times hospital survival. We studied how expected and observed surgical performance evolved over time. 2312 main procedures carried out between 2006 and 2010 were analyzed. The Aristotle basic score, corresponding hospital survival and related observed surgical performance were estimated. Expected survival was based on the mortality risks published by O'Brien and coauthors. Observed performance divided by expected performance was called the standardized ratio of performance. This should trend towards a figure above 100%. Survival rates and performance are given with 95% confidence intervals. The mean Aristotle basic score was 7.88 ± 2.68. 51 patients died: observed hospital survival was 97.8 % (97.1 %-98.3%). 115 deaths were anticipated: expected survival was 95.2% (93.5%-96.3%). Observed and expected surgical performance reached 7.71 (7.65-7.75) and 7.49 (7.37-7.59), respectively. Therefore the overall standardized ratio of performance was 102.94%. The ratio increased from 2006 (ratio = 101.60%) to 2009 (103.92%) and was 103.42% in 2010. Performance was high for the repair of congenital corrected transposition of the great arteries and ventricular septal defect (VSD) by atrial switch and Rastelli procedure, the Norwood procedure, repair of truncus arteriosus, aortic arch repair and VSD closure, and the Ross-Konno procedure, with corresponding standardized ratios of 123.30%, 116.83%, 112.99%, 110.86% and 110.38%, respectively. With a ratio of 82.87%, performance was low for repair of Ebstein's anomaly. The standardized ratio of surgical performance integrates three factors into a single value: procedure complexity, postoperative observed survival, and comparison with expected survival. It constitutes an excellent instrument for quality monitoring of congenital heart surgery programs over time. It allows an accurate comparison of surgical performance across institutions with different case mixes. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Predicting clinical image delivery time by monitoring PACS queue behavior.

PubMed

King, Nelson E; Documet, Jorge; Liu, Brent

2006-01-01

The expectation of rapid image retrieval from PACS users contributes to increased information technology (IT) infrastructure investments to increase performance as well as continuing demands upon PACS administrators to respond to "slow" system performance. The ability to provide predicted delivery times to a PACS user may curb user expectations for "fastest" response especially during peak hours. This, in turn, could result in a PACS infrastructure tailored to more realistic performance demands. A PACS with a stand-alone architecture under peak load typically holds study requests in a queue until the DICOM C-Move command can take place. We investigate the contents of a stand-alone architecture PACS RetrieveSend queue and identified parameters and behaviors that enable a more accurate prediction of delivery time. A prediction algorithm for studies delayed in a stand-alone PACS queue can be extendible to other potential bottlenecks such as long-term storage archives. Implications of a queue monitor in other PACS architectures are also discussed.

Task network models in the prediction of workload imposed by extravehicular activities during the Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Diaz, Manuel F.; Takamoto, Neal; Woolford, Barbara

1994-01-01

In a joint effort with Brooks AFB, Texas, the Flight Crew Support Division at JSC has begun a computer simulation and performance modeling program directed at establishing the predictive validity of software tools for modeling human performance during spaceflight. This paper addresses the utility of task network modeling for predicting the workload that astronauts are likely to encounter in extravehicular activities (EVA) during the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) repair mission. The intent of the study was to determine whether two EVA crewmembers and one intravehicular activity (IVA) crewmember could reasonably be expected to complete HST Wide Field/Planetary Camera (WFPC) replacement in the allotted time. Ultimately, examination of the points during HST servicing that may result in excessive workload will lead to recommendations to the HST Flight Systems and Servicing Project concerning (1) expectation of degraded performance, (2) the need to change task allocation across crewmembers, (3) the need to expand the timeline, and (4) the need to increase the number of EVA's.

Electric Motors for Non-Cryogenic Hybrid Electric and Turboelectric Propulsion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duffy, Kirsten P.

2015-01-01

NASA Glenn Research Center is investigating hybrid electric and turboelectric propulsion concepts for future aircraft to reduce fuel burn, emissions, and noise. Systems studies show that the weight and efficiency of the electric system components need to be improved for this concept to be feasible. However, advances in motor component materials such as soft magnetic materials, hard magnetic materials, conductors, thermal insulation, and structural materials are expected in the coming years, and should improve motor performance. This study investigates several motor types for a one megawatt application, and projects the motor performance benefits of new component materials that might be available in the coming decades.

Infrared upconversion for astronomical applications. [laser applications to astronomical spectroscopy of infrared spectra

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abbas, M. M.; Kostiuk, T.; Ogilvie, K. W.

1975-01-01

The performance of an upconversion system is examined for observation of astronomical sources in the low to middle infrared spectral range. Theoretical values for the performance parameters of an upconversion system for astronomical observations are evaluated in view of the conversion efficiencies, spectral resolution, field of view, minimum detectable source brightness and source flux. Experimental results of blackbody measurements and molecular absorption spectrum measurements using a lithium niobate upconverter with an argon-ion laser as the pump are presented. Estimates of the expected optimum sensitivity of an upconversion device which may be built with the presently available components are given.

A compact 500 MHz 4 kW Solid-State Power Amplifier for accelerator applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaspar, M.; Pedrozzi, M.; Ferreira, L. F. R.; Garvey, T.

2011-05-01

We present the development of a compact narrow-band Solid-State Power Amplifier (SSPA). We foresee a promising application of solid-state amplifiers specifically in accelerators for new generation synchrotron light sources. Such a new technology has reached a competitive price/performance ratio and expected lifetime in comparison with klystron and IOT amplifiers. The increasing number of synchrotron light sources using 500 MHz as base frequency justifies the effort in the development of the proposed amplifier. Two different techniques are also proposed to improve the control and performance of these new distributed amplification systems which we call, respectively, complete distributed system and forced compression.

Develop and test fuel cell powered on-site integrated total energy systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kaufman, A.; Pudick, S.; Wang, C. L.; Werth, J.; Whelan, J. A.

1984-01-01

On-going testing of an 11 cell, 10.7 in. x 14 in. stack (about 1 kW) reached 2600 hours on steady load. Nonmetallic cooling plates and an automated electrolyte replenishment system continued to perform well. A 10 cell, 10.7 in. x 14 in. stack was constructed with a modified electrolyte matrix configuration for the purpose of reducing cell IR loss. The desired effect was achieved, but the general cell performance level was irregular. Evaluation is continuing. Preparations for a long term 25 cell, 13 in. x 23 in. test stack (about 4 kW) approached completion. Start up in early May 1984 is expected.

New infrastructure for studies of transmutation and fast systems concepts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panza, Fabio; Firpo, Gabriele; Lomonaco, Guglielmo; Osipenko, Mikhail; Ricco, Giovanni; Ripani, Marco; Saracco, Paolo; Viberti, Carlo Maria

2017-09-01

In this work we report initial studies on a low power Accelerator-Driven System as a possible experimental facility for the measurement of relevant integral nuclear quantities. In particular, we performed Monte Carlo simulations of minor actinides and fission products irradiation and estimated the fission rate within fission chambers in the reactor core and the reflector, in order to evaluate the transmutation rates and the measurement sensitivity. We also performed a photo-peak analysis of available experimental data from a research reactor, in order to estimate the expected sensitivity of this analysis method on the irradiation of samples in the ADS considered.

A low power ADS for transmutation studies in fast systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panza, Fabio; Firpo, Gabriele; Lomonaco, Guglielmo; Osipenko, Mikhail; Ricco, Giovanni; Ripani, Marco; Saracco, Paolo; Viberti, Carlo Maria

2017-12-01

In this work, we report studies on a fast low power accelerator driven system model as a possible experimental facility, focusing on its capabilities in terms of measurement of relevant integral nuclear quantities. In particular, we performed Monte Carlo simulations of minor actinides and fission products irradiation and estimated the fission rate within fission chambers in the reactor core and the reflector, in order to evaluate the transmutation rates and the measurement sensitivity. We also performed a photo-peak analysis of available experimental data from a research reactor, in order to estimate the expected sensitivity of this analysis method on the irradiation of samples in the ADS considered.

Electric Motor Considerations for Non-Cryogenic Hybrid Electric and Turboelectric Propulsion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duffy, Kirsten P.

2015-01-01

NASA Glenn Research Center is investigating hybrid electric and turboelectric propulsion concepts for future aircraft to reduce fuel burn, emissions, and noise. Systems studies show that the weight and efficiency of the electric system components need to be improved for this concept to be feasible. However, advances in motor component materials such as soft magnetic materials, hard magnetic materials, conductors, thermal insulation, and structural materials are expected in the coming years, and should improve motor performance. This study investigates several motor types for a one megawatt application, and projects the motor performance benefits of new component materials that might be available in the coming decades.

Failure modes and effects analysis automation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kamhieh, Cynthia H.; Cutts, Dannie E.; Purves, R. Byron

1988-01-01

A failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) assistant was implemented as a knowledge based system and will be used during design of the Space Station to aid engineers in performing the complex task of tracking failures throughout the entire design effort. The three major directions in which automation was pursued were the clerical components of the FMEA process, the knowledge acquisition aspects of FMEA, and the failure propagation/analysis portions of the FMEA task. The system is accessible to design, safety, and reliability engineers at single user workstations and, although not designed to replace conventional FMEA, it is expected to decrease by many man years the time required to perform the analysis.

Human Reliability Assessments: Using the Past (Shuttle) to Predict the Future (ORION)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mott, Diana L.; Bigler, Mark A.

2017-01-01

NASA uses two HRA assessment methodologies. The first is a simplified method which is based on how much time is available to complete the action, with consideration included for environmental and personal factors that could influence the human's reliability. This method is expected to provide a conservative value or placeholder as a preliminary estimate. This preliminary estimate is used to determine which placeholder needs a more detailed assessment. The second methodology is used to develop a more detailed human reliability assessment on the performance of critical human actions. This assessment needs to consider more than the time available, this would include factors such as: the importance of the action, the context, environmental factors, potential human stresses, previous experience, training, physical design interfaces, available procedures/checklists and internal human stresses. The more detailed assessment is still expected to be more realistic than that based primarily on time available. When performing an HRA on a system or process that has an operational history, we have information specific to the task based on this history and experience. In the case of a PRA model that is based on a new design and has no operational history, providing a "reasonable" assessment of potential crew actions becomes more problematic. In order to determine what is expected of future operational parameters, the experience from individuals who had relevant experience and were familiar with the system and process previously implemented by NASA was used to provide the "best" available data. Personnel from Flight Operations, Flight Directors, Launch Test Directors, Control Room Console Operators and Astronauts were all interviewed to provide a comprehensive picture of previous NASA operations. Verification of the assumptions and expectations expressed in the assessments will be needed when the procedures, flight rules and operational requirements are developed and then finalized.

No spreading across the southern Juan de Fuca ridge axial cleft during 1994-1996

USGS Publications Warehouse

Chadwell, C.D.; Hildebrand, J.A.; Spiess, Fred N.; Morton, J.L.; Normark, W.R.; Reiss, C.A.

1999-01-01

Direct-path acoustic measurements between seafloor transponders observed no significant extension (-10 ?? 14 mm/yr) from August 1994 to September 1996 at the southern Juan de Fuca Ridge (44??40' N and 130??20' W). The acoustic path for the measurement is a 691-m baseline straddling the axial cleft, which bounds the Pacific and Juan de Fuca plates. Given an expected full-spreading rate of 56 mm/yr, these data suggest that extension across this plate boundary occurs episodically within the narrow (~1 km) region of the axial valley floor, and that active deformation is occurring between the axial cleft and the plate interior. A cleft-parallel 714-m baseline located 300 m to the west of the cleft on the Pacific plate monitored system performance and, as expected, observed no motion (+5??7 mm/yr) between the 1994 and 1996 surveys.Direct-path acoustic measurements between seafloor transponders observed no significant extension (-10 ?? 14 mm/yr) from August 1994 to September 1996 at the southern Juan de Fuca Ridge (44??40 minutes N and 130??20 minutes W). The acoustic path for the measurement is a 691-m baseline straddling the axial cleft, which bounds the Pacific and Juan de Fuca plates. Given an expected full-spreading rate of 56 mm/yr, these data suggest that extension across this plate boundary occurs episodically within the narrow (approx. 1 km) region of the axial valley floor, and that active deformation is occurring between the axial cleft and the plate interior. A cleft-parallel 714-m baseline located 300 m to the west of the cleft on the Pacific plate monitored system performance and, as expected, observed no motion (+5 ?? 7 mm/yr) between the 1994 and 1996 surveys.

Towards reinforcing telemedicine adoption amongst clinicians in Nigeria.

PubMed

Adenuga, Kayode I; Iahad, Noorminshah A; Miskon, Suraya

2017-08-01

Telemedicine systems have been considered as a necessary measure to alleviate the shortfall in skilled medical specialists in developing countries. However, the obvious challenge is whether clinicians are willing to use this technological innovation, which has aided medical practice globally. One factor which has received little academic attention is the provision of suitable encouragement for clinicians to adopt telemedicine, in the form of rewards, motivation or incentives. A further consideration for telemedicine usage in developing countries, especially sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria in particular, are to the severe shortage of available practising clinicians. The researchers therefore explore the need to positively reinforce the adoption of telemedicine amongst clinicians in Nigeria, and also offer a rationale for this using the UTAUT model. Data were collected using a structured paper-based questionnaire, with 252 physicians and nurses from six government hospitals in Ondo state, Nigeria. The study applied SmartPLS 2.0 for analysis to determine the relationship between six variables. Demographic moderating variables, age, gender and profession, were included. The results indicate that performance expectancy (p<0.05), effort expectancy (p<0.05), facilitating condition (p<0.01) and reinforcement factor (p<0.001) have significant effects on clinicians' behavioural intention to use telemedicine systems, as predicted using the extended UTAUT model. Our results showed that the use of telemedicine by clinicians in the Nigerian context is perceived as a dual responsibility which requires suitable reinforcement. In addition, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating condition and reinforcement determinants are influential factors in the use of telemedicine services for remote-patient clinical diagnosis and management by the Nigerian clinicians. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

User satisfaction with computerized order entry system and its effect on workplace level of stress.

PubMed

Ghahramani, Nasrollah; Lendel, Irina; Haque, Rehan; Sawruk, Kathryn

2009-06-01

To evaluate the impact of Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) on workplace stress and overall job performance, as perceived by medical students, housestaff, attending physicians and nurses, after CPOE implementation at Penn State-Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, an academic tertiary care facility, in 2005. Using an online survey, the authors studied attitudes towards CPOE among 862 health care professionals. The main outcome measures were job performance and perceived stress levels. Statistical analyses were conducted using the Statistical Analytical Software (SAS Inc, Carey, NC). A total of413 respondents completed the entire survey (47.9 % response rate). Respondents in the younger age group were more familiar with the system, used it more frequently, and were more satisfied with it. Interns and residents were the most satisfied groups with the system, while attending physicians expressed the least satisfaction. Attending physicians and fellows found the system least user friendly compared with other groups, and also tended to express more stress and frustration with the system. Participants with previous CPOE experience were more familiar with the system, would use the system more frequently and were more likely to perceive the system as user friendly. User satisfaction with CPOE increases by familiarity and frequent use of the system. Improvement in system characteristics and avoidance of confusing terminology and inconsistent display of data is expected to enhance user satisfaction. Training in the use of CPOE should start early, ideally integrated into medical and nursing school curricula and form a continuous, long-term and user-specific process. This is expected to increase familiarity with the system, reducing stress and leading to improved user satisfaction and to subsequent enhanced safety and efficiency.

ADS-B and multilateration sensor fusion algorithm for air traffic control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Mengchen

Air traffic is expected to increase rapidly in the next decade. But, the current Air Traffic Control (ATC) system does not meet the demand of the future safety and efficiency. The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is a transformation program for the ATC system in the United States. The latest estimates by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) show that by 2018 NextGen will reduce total delays in flight by 35 percent and provide 23 billion dollars in cumulative benefits. A satellite-based technology called the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system is one of the most important elements in NextGen. FAA expects that ADS-B systems will be available in the National Airspace System (NAS) by 2020. However, an alternative surveillance system is needed due to vulnerabilities that exist in ADS-B systems. Multilateration has a high accuracy performance and is believed to be an ideal back-up strategy for ADS-B systems. Thus, in this study, we develop the ADS-B and multilateration sensor fusion algorithm for aircraft tracking applications in ATC. The algorithm contains a fault detection function for ADS-B information monitoring by using Trajectory Change Points reports from ADS-B and numerical vectors from a hybrid estimation algorithm. We consider two types of faults in the ADS-B measurement model to show that the algorithm is able to deal with the bad data from ADS-B systems and automatically select good data from multilateration systems. We apply fuzzy logic concepts and generate time variant parameters during the fusion process. The parameters play a role of weights for combining data from different sensors. The algorithm performance is validated through two aircraft tracking examples.

Less is sometimes more: a comparison of distance-control and navigated-control concepts of image-guided navigation support for surgeons.

PubMed

Luz, Maria; Manzey, Dietrich; Modemann, Susanne; Strauss, Gero

2015-01-01

Image-guided navigation (IGN) systems provide automation support of intra-operative information analysis and decision-making for surgeons. Previous research showed that navigated-control (NC) systems which represent high levels of decision-support and directly intervene in surgeons' workflow provide benefits with respect to patient safety and surgeons' physiological stress but also involve several cost effects (e.g. prolonged surgery duration, reduced secondary-task performance). It was hypothesised that less automated distance-control (DC) systems would provide a better solution in terms of human performance consequences. N = 18 surgeons performed a simulated mastoidectomy with NC, DC and without IGN assistance. Effects on surgical performance, physiological effort, workload and situation awareness (SA) were compared. As expected, DC technology had the same benefits as the NC system but also led to less unwanted side effects on surgery duration, subjective workload and SA. This suggests that IGN systems just providing information analysis support are overall more beneficial than higher automated decision-support. This study investigates human performance consequences of different concepts of IGN support for surgeons. Less automated DC systems turned out to provide advantages for patient safety and surgeons' stress similar to higher automated NC systems with, at the same time, reduced negative consequences on surgery time and subjective workload.

Carbon-Carbon Recuperators in Closed-Brayton-Cycle Space Power Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barrett, Michael J.; Johnson, Paul K.; Naples, Andrew G.

2006-01-01

The feasibility of using carbon-carbon (C-C) recuperators in conceptual closed-Brayton-cycle space power conversion systems was assessed. Recuperator performance expectations were forecast based on notional thermodynamic cycle state values for potential planetary missions. Resulting thermal performance, mass and volume for plate-fin C-C recuperators were estimated and quantitatively compared with values for conventional offset-strip-fin metallic designs. Mass savings of 30 to 60 percent were projected for C-C recuperators with effectiveness greater than 0.9 and thermal loads from 25 to 1400 kWt. The smaller thermal loads corresponded with lower mass savings; however, 60 percent savings were forecast for all loads above 300 kWt. System-related material challenges and compatibility issues were also discussed.

Solid electrolyte fuel cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isaacs, H. S.

Progress in the development of functioning solid electrolyte fuel cells is summarized. The solid electrolyte cells perform at 1000 C, a temperature elevated enough to indicate high efficiencies are available, especially if the cell is combined with a steam generator/turbine system. The system is noted to be sulfur tolerant, so coal containing significant amounts of sulfur is expected to yield satisfactory performances with low parasitic losses for gasification and purification. Solid oxide systems are electrically reversible, and are usable in both fuel cell and electrolysis modes. Employing zirconium and yttrium in the electrolyte provides component stability with time, a feature not present with other fuel cells. The chemical reactions producing the cell current are reviewed, along with materials choices for the cathodes, anodes, and interconnections.

CPOE in Iran--a viable prospect? Physicians' opinions on using CPOE in an Iranian teaching hospital.

PubMed

Kazemi, Alireza; Ellenius, Johan; Tofighi, Shahram; Salehi, Aref; Eghbalian, Fatemeh; Fors, Uno G

2009-03-01

In recent years, the theory that on-line clinical decision support systems can improve patients' safety among hospitalised individuals has gained greater acceptance. However, the feasibility of implementing such a system in a middle or low-income country has rarely been studied. Understanding the current prescription process and a proper needs assessment of prescribers can act as the key to successful implementation. The aim of this study was to explore physicians' opinions on the current prescription process, and the expected benefits and perceived obstacles to employ Computerised Physician Order Entry in an Iranian teaching hospital. Initially, the interview guideline was developed through focus group discussions with eight experts. Then semi-structured interviews were held with 19 prescribers. After verbatim transcription, inductive thematic analysis was performed on empirical data. Forty hours of on-looker observations were performed in different wards to explore the current prescription process. The current prescription process was identified as a physician-centred, top-down, model, where prescribers were found to mostly rely on their memories as well as being overconfident. Some errors may occur during different paper-based registrations, transcriptions and transfers. Physician opinions on Computerised Physician Order Entry were categorised into expected benefits and perceived obstacles. Confidentiality issues, reduction of medication errors and educational benefits were identified as three themes in the expected benefits category. High cost, social and cultural barriers, data entry time and problems with technical support emerged as four themes in the perceived obstacles category. The current prescription process has a high possibility of medication errors. Although there are different barriers confronting the implementation and continuation of Computerised Physician Order Entry in Iranian hospitals, physicians have a willingness to use them if these systems provide significant benefits. A pilot study in a limited setting and a comprehensive analysis of health outcomes and economic indicators should be performed, to assess the merits of introducing Computerised Physician Order Entry with decision support capabilities in Iran.

Health care expenditure and life expectancy in Australia: how well do we perform?

PubMed

Taylor, R; Salkeld, G

1996-06-01

The Australian health care system consists of mixed public and private financing underpinned by Medicare, a universal government-run insurance scheme paid through taxation (and levy) on income. Australia has improved its ranking for life expectancy (at birth) since 1960, and in 1990 ranked ninth and seventh of 24 countries for females and males respectively; this is ahead of the United States and United Kingdom, and approximately equal to Canada. Australian hospital bed supply and utilisation are average, after deletion of day-only cases. The proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) spent on health, in relation to GDP per capita (adjusted for purchasing power), in Australia in 1990 was average, and the prices for health care from 1975 to 1990 did not increase when adjusted for inflation. Although 68 per cent of health expenditure emanates from public sources in Australia, this is lower than in the majority of European countries and Canada. Some countries are doing poorly (such as the United States, with lower than average life expectancy and higher than predicted health expenditure) and some countries are doing well (with higher than average life expectancy and lower than predicted health expenditure; for example, Japan). Australia has higher than average life expectancy and only slightly higher than predicted health expenditure per capita. Although the Australian system could be improved, there are no indications that radical changes are required. The relatively high life expectancy in Australia can be attributed to favourable social and economic conditions, successful public health programs, and the availability of universal quality health care.

Discharge transient coupling in large space power systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stevens, N. John; Stillwell, R. P.

1990-01-01

Experiments have shown that plasma environments can induce discharges in solar arrays. These plasmas simulate the environments found in low earth orbits where current plans call for operation of very large power systems. The discharges could be large enough to couple into the power system and possibly disrupt operations. Here, the general concepts of the discharge mechanism and the techniques of coupling are discussed. Data from both ground and flight experiments are reviewed to obtain an expected basis for the interactions. These concepts were applied to the Space Station solar array and distribution system as an example of the large space power system. The effect of discharges was found to be a function of the discharge site. For most sites in the array discharges would not seriously impact performance. One location at the negative end of the array was identified as a position where discharges could couple to charge stored in system capacitors. This latter case could impact performance.

Continuous-flow solar UVB disinfection reactor for drinking water.

PubMed

Mbonimpa, Eric Gentil; Vadheim, Bryan; Blatchley, Ernest R

2012-05-01

Access to safe, reliable sources of drinking water is a long-standing problem among people in developing countries. Sustainable solutions to these problems often involve point-of-use or community-scale water treatment systems that rely on locally-available resources and expertise. This philosophy was used in the development of a continuous-flow, solar UVB disinfection system. Numerical modeling of solar UVB spectral irradiance was used to define temporal variations in spectral irradiance at several geographically-distinct locations. The results of these simulations indicated that a solar UVB system would benefit from incorporation of a device to amplify ambient UVB fluence rate. A compound parabolic collector (CPC) was selected for this purpose. Design of the CPC was based on numerical simulations that accounted for the shape of the collector and reflectance. Based on these simulations, a prototype CPC was constructed using materials that would be available and inexpensive in many developing countries. A UVB-transparent pipe was positioned in the focal area of the CPC; water was pumped through the pipe to allow exposure of waterborne microbes to germicidal solar UVB radiation. The system was demonstrated to be effective for inactivation of Escherichia coli, and DNA-weighted UV dose was shown to govern reactor performance. The design of the reactor is expected to scale linearly, and improvements in process performance (relative to results from the prototype) can be expected by use of larger CPC geometry, inclusion of better reflective materials, and application in areas with greater ambient solar UV spectral irradiance than the location of the prototype tests. The system is expected to have application for water treatment among communities in (developing) countries in near-equatorial and tropical locations. It may also have application for disaster relief or military field operations, as well as in water treatment in areas of developed countries that receive relatively intense solar UVB radiation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Report of experiments and evidence for ASC L2 milestone 4467 : demonstration of a legacy application's path to exascale.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Curry, Matthew L.; Ferreira, Kurt Brian; Pedretti, Kevin Thomas Tauke

2012-03-01

This report documents thirteen of Sandia's contributions to the Computational Systems and Software Environment (CSSE) within the Advanced Simulation and Computing (ASC) program between fiscal years 2009 and 2012. It describes their impact on ASC applications. Most contributions are implemented in lower software levels allowing for application improvement without source code changes. Improvements are identified in such areas as reduced run time, characterizing power usage, and Input/Output (I/O). Other experiments are more forward looking, demonstrating potential bottlenecks using mini-application versions of the legacy codes and simulating their network activity on Exascale-class hardware. The purpose of this report is to provemore » that the team has completed milestone 4467-Demonstration of a Legacy Application's Path to Exascale. Cielo is expected to be the last capability system on which existing ASC codes can run without significant modifications. This assertion will be tested to determine where the breaking point is for an existing highly scalable application. The goal is to stretch the performance boundaries of the application by applying recent CSSE RD in areas such as resilience, power, I/O, visualization services, SMARTMAP, lightweight LWKs, virtualization, simulation, and feedback loops. Dedicated system time reservations and/or CCC allocations will be used to quantify the impact of system-level changes to extend the life and performance of the ASC code base. Finally, a simulation of anticipated exascale-class hardware will be performed using SST to supplement the calculations. Determine where the breaking point is for an existing highly scalable application: Chapter 15 presented the CSSE work that sought to identify the breaking point in two ASC legacy applications-Charon and CTH. Their mini-app versions were also employed to complete the task. There is no single breaking point as more than one issue was found with the two codes. The results were that applications can expect to encounter performance issues related to the computing environment, system software, and algorithms. Careful profiling of runtime performance will be needed to identify the source of an issue, in strong combination with knowledge of system software and application source code.« less

Solar energy system performance evaluation report for IBM System 4 at Clinton, Mississippi

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1980-01-01

The IBM System 4 Solar Energy System is described and evaluated. The system was designed to provide 35 percent of the space heating and 63 percent of the domestic hot water preheating for a single family residence located within the United States. The system consists of 259 square feet of flat plate air collectors, a rock thermal storage containing 5 1/2 ton of rock, heat exchangers, blowers, a 52 gallon preheat tank, controls, and associated plumbing. In general, the performance of the system did not meet design expectations, since the overall design solar fraction was 48 percent and the measured value was 32 percent. Although the measured space heating solar fraction at 32 percent did agree favorably with the design space heating solar fraction at 35 percent, the hot water measured solar fraction at 33 percent did not agree favorably with the design hot water solar fraction of 63 percent. In particular collector array air leakage, dust covered collectors, abnormal hot water demand, and the preheat tank by pass valve problem are main reasons for the lower performance.

Integration of Variable Speed Pumped Hydro Storage in Automatic Generation Control Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fulgêncio, N.; Moreira, C.; Silva, B.

2017-04-01

Pumped storage power (PSP) plants are expected to be an important player in modern electrical power systems when dealing with increasing shares of new renewable energies (NRE) such as solar or wind power. The massive penetration of NRE and consequent replacement of conventional synchronous units will significantly affect the controllability of the system. In order to evaluate the capability of variable speed PSP plants participation in the frequency restoration reserve (FRR) provision, taking into account the expected performance in terms of improved ramp response capability, a comparison with conventional hydro units is presented. In order to address this issue, a three area test network was considered, as well as the corresponding automatic generation control (AGC) systems, being responsible for re-dispatching the generation units to re-establish power interchange between areas as well as the system nominal frequency. The main issue under analysis in this paper is related to the benefits of the fast response of variable speed PSP with respect to its capability of providing fast power balancing in a control area.

The art and science of missile defense sensor design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McComas, Brian K.

2014-06-01

A Missile Defense Sensor is a complex optical system, which sits idle for long periods of time, must work with little or no on-­board calibration, be used to find and discriminate targets, and guide the kinetic warhead to the target within minutes of launch. A short overview of the Missile Defense problem will be discussed here, as well as, the top-level performance drivers, like Noise Equivalent Irradiance (NEI), Acquisition Range, and Dynamic Range. These top-level parameters influence the choice of optical system, mechanical system, focal plane array (FPA), Read Out Integrated Circuit (ROIC), and cryogenic system. This paper will not only discuss the physics behind the performance of the sensor, but it will also discuss the "art" of optimizing the performance of the sensor given the top level performance parameters. Balancing the sensor sub-­systems is key to the sensor's performance in these highly stressful missions. Top-­level performance requirements impact the choice of lower level hardware and requirements. The flow down of requirements to the lower level hardware will be discussed. This flow down directly impacts the FPA, where careful selection of the detector is required. The flow down also influences the ROIC and cooling requirements. The key physics behind the detector and cryogenic system interactions will be discussed, along with the balancing of subsystem performance. Finally, the overall system balance and optimization will be discussed in the context of missile defense sensors and expected performance of the overall kinetic warhead.

High-performance, multi-faceted research sonar electronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moseley, Julian W.

This thesis describes the design, implementation and testing of a research sonar system capable of performing complex applications such as coherent Doppler measurement and synthetic aperture imaging. Specifically, this thesis presents an approach to improve the precision of the timing control and increase the signal-to-noise ratio of an existing research sonar. A dedicated timing control subsystem, and hardware drivers are designed to improve the efficiency of the old sonar's timing operations. A low noise preamplifier is designed to reduce the noise component in the received signal arriving at the input of the system's data acquisition board. Noise analysis, frequency response, and timing simulation data are generated in order to predict the functionality and performance improvements expected when the subsystems are implemented. Experimental data, gathered using these subsys- tems, are presented, and are shown to closely match the simulation results, thus verifying performance.

Comparison of Expected Crash and Injury Reduction from Production Forward Collision and Lane Departure Warning Systems.

PubMed

Kusano, Kristofer D; Gabler, Hampton C

2015-01-01

The U.S. New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) now tests for forward collision warning (FCW) and lane departure warning (LDW). The design of these warnings differs greatly between vehicles and can result in different real-world field performance in preventing or mitigating the effects of collisions. The objective of this study was to compare the expected number of crashes and injured drivers that could be prevented if all vehicles in the fleet were equipped with the FCW and LDW systems tested under the U.S. NCAP. To predict the potential crashes and serious injury that could be prevented, our approach was to computationally model the U.S. crash population. The models simulated all rear-end and single-vehicle road departure collisions that occurred in a nationally representative crash database (NASS-CDS). A sample of 478 single-vehicle crashes from NASS-CDS 2012 was the basis for 24,822 simulations for LDW. A sample of 1,042 rear-end collisions from NASS-CDS years 1997-2013 was the basis for 7,616 simulations for FCW. For each crash, 2 simulations were performed: (1) without the system present and (2) with the system present. Models of each production safety system were based on 54 model year 2010-2014 vehicles that were evaluated under the NCAP confirmation procedure for LDW and/or FCW. NCAP performed 40 LDW and 45 FCW tests of these vehicles. The design of the FCW systems had a dramatic impact on their potential to prevent crashes and injuries. Between 0 and 67% of crashes and 2 and 69% of moderately to fatally injured drivers in rear-end impacts could have been prevented if all vehicles were equipped with the FCW systems. Earlier warning times resulted in increased benefits. The largest effect on benefits, however, was the lower operating speed threshold of the systems. Systems that only operated at speeds above 20 mph were less than half as effective as those that operated above 5 mph with similar warning times. The production LDW systems could have prevented between 11 and 23% of drift-out-of-lane crashes and 13 and 22% of seriously to fatally injured drivers. A majority of the tested LDW systems delivered warnings near the point when the vehicle first touched the lane line, leading to similar benefits. Minimum operating speed also greatly affected LDW effectiveness. The results of this study show that the expected field performance of FCW and LDW systems are highly dependent on the design and system limitations. Systems that delivered warnings earlier and operated at lower speeds may prevent far more crashes and injuries than systems that warn late and operate only at high speeds. These results suggest that future FCW and LDW evaluation should prioritize early warnings and full-speed range operation. A limitation of this study is that additional crash avoidance features that may also mitigate collisions-for example, brake assist, automated braking, or lane-keeping assistance-were not evaluated during the NCAP tests or in our benefits models. The potential additional mitigating effects of these systems were not quantified in this study.

Expected value analysis for integrated supplier selection and inventory control of multi-product inventory system with fuzzy cost

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sutrisno, Widowati, Tjahjana, R. Heru

2017-12-01

The future cost in many industrial problem is obviously uncertain. Then a mathematical analysis for a problem with uncertain cost is needed. In this article, we deals with the fuzzy expected value analysis to solve an integrated supplier selection and supplier selection problem with uncertain cost where the costs uncertainty is approached by a fuzzy variable. We formulate the mathematical model of the problems fuzzy expected value based quadratic optimization with total cost objective function and solve it by using expected value based fuzzy programming. From the numerical examples result performed by the authors, the supplier selection problem was solved i.e. the optimal supplier was selected for each time period where the optimal product volume of all product that should be purchased from each supplier for each time period was determined and the product stock level was controlled as decided by the authors i.e. it was followed the given reference level.

Expectation of having consumed caffeine can improve performance and mood.

PubMed

Dawkins, Lynne; Shahzad, Fatima-Zahra; Ahmed, Suada S; Edmonds, Caroline J

2011-12-01

We explored whether caffeine, and expectation of having consumed caffeine, affects attention, reward responsivity and mood using double-blinded methodology. 88 participants were randomly allocated to 'drink-type' (caffeinated/decaffeinated coffee) and 'expectancy' (told caffeinated/told decaffeinated coffee) manipulations. Both caffeine and expectation of having consumed caffeine improved attention and psychomotor speed. Expectation enhanced self-reported vigour and reward responsivity. Self-reported depression increased at post-drink for all participants, but less in those receiving or expecting caffeine. These results suggest caffeine expectation can affect mood and performance but do not support a synergistic effect. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Alaska SAR Facility mass storage, current system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cuddy, David; Chu, Eugene; Bicknell, Tom

1993-01-01

This paper examines the mass storage systems that are currently in place at the Alaska SAR Facility (SAF). The architecture of the facility will be presented including specifications of the mass storage media that are currently used and the performances that we have realized from the various media. The distribution formats and media are also discussed. Because the facility is expected to service future sensors, the new requirements and possible solutions to these requirements are also discussed.

Control Group Paradigms in Studies Investigating Acute Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Performance-An Experiment on Expectation-Driven Placebo Effects.

PubMed

Oberste, Max; Hartig, Philipp; Bloch, Wilhelm; Elsner, Benjamin; Predel, Hans-Georg; Ernst, Bernhard; Zimmer, Philipp

2017-01-01

Introduction: Many studies report improvements in cognitive performance following acute endurance exercise compared to control group treatment. These cognitive benefits are interpreted as a result of a physiological response to exercise. However, it was also hypothesized that expectation-driven placebo effects account for these positive effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between expectations for cognitive benefits toward acute endurance exercise and multiple control group treatments. Methods: Healthy individuals ( N = 247, 24.26 ± 3.88 years) were randomized to eight different groups watching videos of a moderate, a vigorous exercise treatment or one control group treatment (waiting, reading, video-watching, stretching, myofascial release workout, and very light exercise). Then, they were introduced to three commonly used cognitive test procedures in acute exercise-cognition research (Stroop-test, Trail-Making-test, Free-recall-task). Participants rated the effect they would expect on their performance in those tasks, if they had received the treatment shortly before the task, on an 11-point Likert scale. Results: No significantly different expectations for cognitive benefits toward acute moderate exercise and control group treatments could be revealed. Participants expected significantly worse performance following vigorous exercise compared to following waiting and stretching for all cognitive tests. Significantly worse performance after vigorous exercise compared to after very light exercise was expected for Stroop and Free-recall. For Free-recall, participants expected worse performance after vigorous exercise compared to myofascial release training as well. Conclusion: Our results indicate that expectation-driven placebo effects are unlikely to cause the reported greater cognitive improvements following acute moderate and vigorous endurance exercise compared to following common control group treatments.

Analysis of the value of battery storage with wind and photovoltaic generation to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zaininger, H.W.

1998-08-01

This report describes the results of an analysis to determine the economic and operational value of battery storage to wind and photovoltaic (PV) generation technologies to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) system. The analysis approach consisted of performing a benefit-cost economic assessment using established SMUD financial parameters, system expansion plans, and current system operating procedures. This report presents the results of the analysis. Section 2 describes expected wind and PV plant performance. Section 3 describes expected benefits to SMUD associated with employing battery storage. Section 4 presents preliminary benefit-cost results for battery storage added at the Solano wind plantmore » and the Hedge PV plant. Section 5 presents conclusions and recommendations resulting from this analysis. The results of this analysis should be reviewed subject to the following caveat. The assumptions and data used in developing these results were based on reports available from and interaction with appropriate SMUD operating, planning, and design personnel in 1994 and early 1995 and are compatible with financial assumptions and system expansion plans as of that time. Assumptions and SMUD expansion plans have changed since then. In particular, SMUD did not install the additional 45 MW of wind that was planned for 1996. Current SMUD expansion plans and assumptions should be obtained from appropriate SMUD personnel.« less

Monolithic Solid Oxide Fuel Cell development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Myles, K. M.; Mcpheeters, C. C.

1989-01-01

The Monolithic Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (MSOFC) is an oxide-ceramic structure in which appropriate electronic and ionic conductors are fabricated in a honeycomb shape similar to a block of corrugated paperboard. These electronic and ionic conductors are arranged to provide short conduction paths to minimize resistive losses. The power density achievable with the MSOFC is expected to be about 8 kW/kg or 4 kW/L, at fuel efficienceis over 50 percent, because of small cell size and low resistive losses in the materials. The MSOFC operates in the range of 700 to 1000 C, at which temperatures rapid reform of hydrocarbon fuels is expected within the nickel-YSZ fuel channels. Tape casting and hot roll calendering are used to fabricate the MSOFC structure. The performance of the MSOFC has improved significantly during the course of development. The limitation of this system, based on materials resistance alone without interfacial resistances, is 0.093 ohm-sq cm area-specific resistance (ASR). The current typical performance of MSOFC single cells is characterized by ASRs of about 0.4 to 0.5 ohm-sq cm. With further development the ASR is expected to be reduced below 0.2 ohm-sq cm, which will result in power levels greater than 1.4 W/sq cm. The feasibility of the MSOFC concept was proven, and the performance was dramatically improved. The differences in thermal expansion coefficients and firing shrinkages among the fuel cell materials were minimized. As a result of good matching of these properties, the MSOFC structure was successfully fabricated with few defects, and the system shows excellent promise for development into a practical power source.

Endobronchial ultrasonography versus mediastinoscopy: a single-institution cost analysis and waste comparison.

PubMed

Andrade, Rafael S; Podgaetz, Eitan; Rueth, Natasha M; Majumder, Kaustav; Hall, Eric; Saric, Crystal; Thelen, Lynn

2014-09-01

Mediastinoscopy (MED) and endobronchial ultrasonography with transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) have similar accuracy for mediastinal lymph node sampling (MLNS). The threatened financial and environmental sustainability of our health care system mandate that surgeons consider cost and environmental impact in clinical decision making of similarly effective procedures. We performed a cost and waste comparison of MED versus EBUS-TBNA for MLNS to raise awareness of the financial and environmental implications of our practices. We conducted a retrospective review of outpatients who underwent MLNS under general anesthesia in the OR with MED or EBUS-TBNA (September 2007 to December 2009). We analyzed direct costs based on hospital charges, calculated expected payment using a decision support model, and profit margins (modeled expected payment-direct costs). Our waste comparison was measured in kilograms of solid waste per case. We performed MLNS in 148 patients (89 EBUS-TBNA, 39 MED, 20 EBUS + MED). Direct costs were lower for MED ($2,356) compared with EBUS-TBNA ($2,503), whereas expected payment was greater (MED, $3,449; EBUS-TBNA, $3,249), resulting in a profit margin that was $347 greater for MED. The amount of solid waste for each MED was 1.8 kg versus 0.5 kg for EBUS-TBNA. MED costs less than EBUS-TBNA in the OR setting but generates 3.6 times the amount of EBUS-TBNA waste. The cost of EBUS-TBNA may improve by performance in the endoscopy suite, and surgical pack revision could reduce the amount of MED solid waste. This comparison sets the stage for sophistication of our clinical decision making, taking into consideration the major threats to our health care system. Copyright © 2014 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The expected results method for data verification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monday, Paul

2016-05-01

The credibility of United States Army analytical experiments using distributed simulation depends on the quality of the simulation, the pedigree of the input data, and the appropriateness of the simulation system to the problem. The second of these factors is best met by using classified performance data from the Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity (AMSAA) for essential battlefield behaviors, like sensors, weapon fire, and damage assessment. Until recently, using classified data has been a time-consuming and expensive endeavor: it requires significant technical expertise to load, and it is difficult to verify that it works correctly. Fortunately, new capabilities, tools, and processes are available that greatly reduce these costs. This paper will discuss these developments, a new method to verify that all of the components are configured and operate properly, and the application to recent Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC) experiments. Recent developments have focused improving the process to load the data. OneSAF has redesigned their input data file formats and structures so that they correspond exactly with the Standard File Format (SFF) defined by AMSAA, ARCIC developed a library of supporting configurations that correlate directly to the AMSAA nomenclature, and the Entity Validation Tool was designed to quickly execute the essential models with a test-jig approach to identify problems with the loaded data. The missing part of the process is provided by the new Expected Results Method. Instead of the usual subjective assessment of quality, e.g., "It looks about right to me", this new approach compares the performance of a combat model with authoritative expectations to quickly verify that the model, data, and simulation are all working correctly. Integrated together, these developments now make it possible to use AMSAA classified performance data with minimal time and maximum assurance that the experiment's analytical results will be of the highest quality possible.

Analysis of UAS DAA Surveillance in Fast-Time Simulations without DAA Mitigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thipphavong, David P.; Santiago, Confesor; Isaacson, David R.; Lee, Seung Man; Refai, Mohamad Said; Snow, James William

2015-01-01

Realization of the expected proliferation of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operations in the National Airspace System (NAS) depends on the development and validation of performance standards for UAS Detect and Avoid (DAA) Systems. The RTCA Special Committee 228 is charged with leading the development of draft Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for UAS DAA Systems. NASA, as a participating member of RTCA SC-228 is committed to supporting the development and validation of draft requirements for DAA surveillance system performance. A recent study conducted using NASA's ACES (Airspace Concept Evaluation System) simulation capability begins to address questions surrounding the development of draft MOPS for DAA surveillance systems. ACES simulations were conducted to study the performance of sensor systems proposed by the SC-228 DAA Surveillance sub-group. Analysis included but was not limited to: 1) number of intruders (both IFR and VFR) detected by all sensors as a function of UAS flight time, 2) number of intruders (both IFR and VFR) detected by radar alone as a function of UAS flight time, and 3) number of VFR intruders detected by all sensors as a function of UAS flight time. The results will be used by SC-228 to inform decisions about the surveillance standards of UAS DAA systems and future requirements development and validation efforts.

Automatic detection and notification of "wrong patient-wrong location'' errors in the operating room.

PubMed

Sandberg, Warren S; Häkkinen, Matti; Egan, Marie; Curran, Paige K; Fairbrother, Pamela; Choquette, Ken; Daily, Bethany; Sarkka, Jukka-Pekka; Rattner, David

2005-09-01

When procedures and processes to assure patient location based on human performance do not work as expected, patients are brought incrementally closer to a possible "wrong patient-wrong procedure'' error. We developed a system for automated patient location monitoring and management. Real-time data from an active infrared/radio frequency identification tracking system provides patient location data that are robust and can be compared with an "expected process'' model to automatically flag wrong-location events as soon as they occur. The system also generates messages that are automatically sent to process managers via the hospital paging system, thus creating an active alerting function to annunciate errors. We deployed the system to detect and annunciate "patient-in-wrong-OR'' events. The system detected all "wrong-operating room (OR)'' events, and all "wrong-OR'' locations were correctly assigned within 0.50+/-0.28 minutes (mean+/-SD). This corresponded to the measured latency of the tracking system. All wrong-OR events were correctly annunciated via the paging function. This experiment demonstrates that current technology can automatically collect sufficient data to remotely monitor patient flow through a hospital, provide decision support based on predefined rules, and automatically notify stakeholders of errors.

Inter and intra substation communications: Requirements and solutions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Adamiak, M.; Patterson, R.; Melcher, J.

1995-10-01

As the substation communication world searches for the ``Promised LAN,`` it would be helpful to have a roadmap to give direction to the search. Many are the expectations of a LAN flowing with data and able to connect with any Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) that was ever made. Such expectations must be tempered with the cost and complexity of achieving them. This paper presents an outline of the communication requirements of the myriad of IED`s in existence in the substation today as well as the expectations of what second generation microprocessor based devices might be able to do. Requirements willmore » focus on language issues, system capabilities, performance requirements, external interfaces, environmental, and quality issues. Some attention will also be given to the architecture of a solution and some guidelines as to how this structure might be built.« less

The international performance of healthcare systems in population health: capabilities of pooled cross-sectional time series methods.

PubMed

Reibling, Nadine

2013-09-01

This paper outlines the capabilities of pooled cross-sectional time series methodology for the international comparison of health system performance in population health. It shows how common model specifications can be improved so that they not only better address the specific nature of time series data on population health but are also more closely aligned with our theoretical expectations of the effect of healthcare systems. Three methodological innovations for this field of applied research are discussed: (1) how dynamic models help us understand the timing of effects, (2) how parameter heterogeneity can be used to compare performance across countries, and (3) how multiple imputation can be used to deal with incomplete data. We illustrate these methodological strategies with an analysis of infant mortality rates in 21 OECD countries between 1960 and 2008 using OECD Health Data. Copyright © 2013 The Author. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Performance characteristics of the Mayo/IBM PACS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Persons, Kenneth R.; Gehring, Dale G.; Pavicic, Mark J.; Ding, Yingjai

1991-07-01

The Mayo Clinic and IBM (at Rochester, Minnesota) have jointly developed a picture archiving system for use with Mayo's MRI and Neuro CT imaging modalities. The communications backbone of the PACS is a portion of the Mayo institutional network: a series of 4-Mbps token rings interconnected by bridges and fiber optic extensions. The performance characteristics of this system are important to understand because they affect the response time a PACS user can expect, and the response time for non-PACS users competing for resources on the institutional network. The performance characteristics of each component and the average load levels of the network were measured for various load distributions. These data were used to quantify the response characteristics of the existing system and to tune a model developed by North Dakota State University Department of Computer Science for predicting response times of more complex topologies.

Comparative analysis for various redox flow batteries chemistries using a cost performance model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crawford, Alasdair; Viswanathan, Vilayanur; Stephenson, David; Wang, Wei; Thomsen, Edwin; Reed, David; Li, Bin; Balducci, Patrick; Kintner-Meyer, Michael; Sprenkle, Vincent

2015-10-01

The total energy storage system cost is determined by means of a robust performance-based cost model for multiple flow battery chemistries. Systems aspects such as shunt current losses, pumping losses and various flow patterns through electrodes are accounted for. The system cost minimizing objective function determines stack design by optimizing the state of charge operating range, along with current density and current-normalized flow. The model cost estimates are validated using 2-kW stack performance data for the same size electrodes and operating conditions. Using our validated tool, it has been demonstrated that an optimized all-vanadium system has an estimated system cost of < 350 kWh-1 for 4-h application. With an anticipated decrease in component costs facilitated by economies of scale from larger production volumes, coupled with performance improvements enabled by technology development, the system cost is expected to decrease to 160 kWh-1 for a 4-h application, and to 100 kWh-1 for a 10-h application. This tool has been shared with the redox flow battery community to enable cost estimation using their stack data and guide future direction.

Space station electrical power system availability study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Turnquist, Scott R.; Twombly, Mark A.

1988-01-01

ARINC Research Corporation performed a preliminary reliability, and maintainability (RAM) anlaysis of the NASA space station Electric Power Station (EPS). The analysis was performed using the ARINC Research developed UNIRAM RAM assessment methodology and software program. The analysis was performed in two phases: EPS modeling and EPS RAM assessment. The EPS was modeled in four parts: the insolar power generation system, the eclipse power generation system, the power management and distribution system (both ring and radial power distribution control unit (PDCU) architectures), and the power distribution to the inner keel PDCUs. The EPS RAM assessment was conducted in five steps: the use of UNIRAM to perform baseline EPS model analyses and to determine the orbital replacement unit (ORU) criticalities; the determination of EPS sensitivity to on-orbit spared of ORUs and the provision of an indication of which ORUs may need to be spared on-orbit; the determination of EPS sensitivity to changes in ORU reliability; the determination of the expected annual number of ORU failures; and the integration of the power generator system model results with the distribution system model results to assess the full EPS. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations were made.

The Concept of the Relationship between Information System Maturity and Industry Performance in Indonesia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palilingan, V. R.; Mario, T. P.

2018-01-01

Industry in Indonesia continues to grow from year to year. Along with these developments, the use of information technology, which is the basis of information systems, should be considered as a handy tool to survive in the competition in the industry. Various previous studies have discussed much the use of information systems and their role at the strategic level. But more in-depth research is still needed to find out the extent to which the maturity of the use of information systems through its elements can affect the performance of companies in various sectors industries in Indonesia. It is hoped that this concept can be used as a subsequent research by distributing questionnaires based on the method of statements that have been defined by researchers. With this concepts, the next development will continue to measure the relationship information systems maturity in general with the organizations performance. The result of the concept proposed by the researcher is expected to be able to measure the maturity relationship of an information system with the connection with the consumer, demand/supply planning element, innovation, performance measurement, IT impact management and also internal process.

Proceedings of the Workshop on Flight Testing to Identify Pilot Workload and Pilot Dynamics Held at the Edwards AFB, California on 19-21 January 1982

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-05-01

precognitive stages or, in other words, a *Adaptation changes strategy and performance in a new environment, whereas learning or skill development changes...expect the pursuit level of operation to have a lower PML than the compen- satory stage.. 3. Final stage ( precognitive control). At this level of skill...in degraded system performance, if not failure. The compensatory-pursuit- precognitive pathways structure is suitable to represent not only a pilot or

Progress on the occulter experiment at Princeton

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cady, Eric; Balasubramanian, Kunjithapatham; Carr, Michael; Dickie, Matthew; Echternach, Pierre; Groff, Tyler; Kasdin, Jeremy; Laftchiev, Christian; McElwain, Michael; Sirbu, Dan; Vanderbei, Robert; White, Victor

2009-08-01

An occulter is used in conjunction with a separate telescope to suppress the light of a distant star. To demonstrate the performance of this system, we are building an occulter experiment in the laboratory at Princeton. This experiment will use an etched silicon mask as the occulter, with some modifications to try to improve the performance. The occulter is illuminated by a diverging laser beam to reduce the aberrations from the optics before the occulter. We present the progress of this experiment and expectations for future work.

Corroborating tomographic defect metrics with mechanical response in an additively manufactured precipitation-hardened stainless steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Madison, Jonathan D.; Underwood, Olivia D.; Swiler, Laura P.; Boyce, Brad L.; Jared, Bradley H.; Rodelas, Jeff M.; Salzbrenner, Bradley C.

2018-04-01

The intrinsic relation between structure and performance is a foundational tenant of most all materials science investigations. While the specific form of this relation is dictated by material system, processing route and performance metric of interest, it is widely agreed that appropriate characterization of a material allows for greater accuracy in understanding and/or predicting material response. However, in the context of additive manufacturing, prior models and expectations of material performance must be revisited as performance often diverges from traditional values, even among well explored material systems. This work utilizes micro-computed tomography to quantify porosity and lack of fusion defects in an additively manufactured stainless steel and relates these metrics to performance across a statistically significant population using high-throughput mechanical testing. The degree to which performance in additively manufactured stainless steel can and cannot be correlated to detectable porosity will be presented and suggestions for performing similar experiments will be provided.

Centaur space vehicle pressurized propellant feed system tests

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1972-01-01

Engine firing tests, using a full-scale flight-weight vehicle, were performed to evaluate a pressurized propellant feed system for the Centaur. The pressurant gases used were helium and hydrogen. The system was designed to replace the boost pumps currently used on Centaur. Two liquid oxygen tank pressurization modes were studied: (1) directly into the ullage and (2) below the propellant surface. Test results showed the two Centaur RL10 engines could be started and run over the range of expected flight variables. No system instabilities were encountered. Measured pressurization gas quantities agreed well with analytically predicted values.

Airplane takeoff and landing performance monitoring system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Middleton, David B. (Inventor); Srivatsan, Raghavachari (Inventor); Person, Lee H. (Inventor)

1989-01-01

The invention is a real-time takeoff and landing performance monitoring system which provides the pilot with graphic and metric information to assist in decisions related to achieving rotation speed (V sub R) within the safe zone of the runway or stopping the aircraft on the runway after landing or take off abort. The system processes information in two segments: a pretakeoff segment and a real-time segment. One-time inputs of ambient conditions and airplane configuration information are used in the pretakeoff segment to generate scheduled performance data. The real-time segment uses the scheduled performance data, runway length data and transducer measured parameters to monitor the performance of the airplane throughout the takeoff roll. An important feature of this segment is that it updates the estimated runway rolling friction coefficient. Airplane performance predictions also reflect changes in headwind occurring as the takeoff roll progresses. The system displays the position of the airplane on the runway, indicating runway used and runway available, summarizes the critical information into a situation advisory flag, flags engine failures and off-nominal acceleration performance, and indicates where on the runway particular events such as decision speed (V sub 1), rotation speed (V sub R) and expected stop points will occur based on actual or predicted performance. The display also indicates airspeed, wind vector, engine pressure ratios, second segment climb speed, and balanced field length (BFL). The system detects performance deficiencies by comparing the airplane's present performance with a predicted nominal performance based upon the given conditions.

Face-induced expectancies influence neural mechanisms of performance monitoring.

PubMed

Osinsky, Roman; Seeger, Jennifer; Mussel, Patrick; Hewig, Johannes

2016-04-01

In many daily situations, the consequences of our actions are predicted by cues that are often social in nature. For instance, seeing the face of an evaluator (e.g., a supervisor at work) may activate certain evaluative expectancies, depending on the history of prior encounters with that particular person. We investigated how such face-induced expectancies influence neurocognitive functions of performance monitoring. We recorded an electroencephalogram while participants completed a time-estimation task, during which they received performance feedback from a strict and a lenient evaluator. During each trial, participants first saw the evaluator's face before performing the task and, finally, receiving feedback. Therefore, faces could be used as predictive cues for the upcoming evaluation. We analyzed electrocortical signatures of performance monitoring at the stages of cue processing, task performance, and feedback reception. Our results indicate that, at the cue stage, seeing the strict evaluator's face results in an anticipatory preparation of fronto-medial monitoring mechanisms, as reflected by a sustained negative-going amplitude shift (i.e., the contingent negative variation). At the performance stage, face-induced expectancies of a strict evaluation rule led to increases of early performance monitoring signals (i.e., frontal-midline theta power). At the final stage of feedback reception, violations of outcome expectancies differentially affected the feedback-related negativity and frontal-midline theta power, pointing to a functional dissociation between these signatures. Altogether, our results indicate that evaluative expectancies induced by face-cues lead to adjustments of internal performance monitoring mechanisms at various stages of task processing.

Expecting innovation: psychoactive drug primes and the generation of creative solutions.

PubMed

Hicks, Joshua A; Pedersen, Sarah L; Pederson, Sarah L; Friedman, Ronald S; McCarthy, Denis M

2011-08-01

Many individuals expect that alcohol and drug consumption will enhance creativity. The present studies tested whether substance related primes would influence creative performance for individuals who possessed creativity-related substance expectancies. Participants (n = 566) were briefly exposed to stimuli related to psychoactive substances (alcohol, for Study 1, Sample 1, and Study 2; and marijuana, for Study 1, Sample 2) or neutral stimuli. Participants in Study 1 then completed a creative problem-solving task, while participants in Study 2 completed a divergent thinking task or a task unrelated to creative problem solving. The results of Study 1 revealed that exposure to the experimental stimuli enhanced performance on the creative problem-solving task for those who expected the corresponding substance would trigger creative functioning. In a conceptual replication, Study 2 showed that participants exposed to alcohol cues performed better on a divergent thinking task if they expected alcohol to enhance creativity. It is important to note that this same interaction did not influence performance on measures unrelated to creative problem solving, suggesting that the activation of creativity-related expectancies influenced creative performance, specifically. These findings highlight the importance of assessing expectancies when examining pharmacological effects of alcohol and marijuana. Future directions and implications for substance-related interventions are discussed. (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved.

Lessons from Coronagraphic Imaging with HST that may apply to JWST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grady, C. A.; Hines, Dean C.; Schneider, Glenn; McElwain, Michael W.

2017-06-01

One of the major capabilities offered by JWST is coronagraphic imaging from space, covering the near through mid-IR and optimized for study of planet formation and the evolution of planetary systems. Planning for JWST has resulted in expectations for instrument performance, observation strategies and data reduction approaches. HST with 20 years of coronagraphic imaging offers some experience which may be useful to those planning for JWST. 1) Real astronomical sources do not necessarily conform to expectations. Debris disks may be accompanied by more distant material, and some systems may be conspicuous in scattered light when offering only modest IR excesses. Proto-planetary disks are not constantly illuminated, and thus a single epoch observation of the source may not be sufficient to reveal everything about it. 2) The early expectation with NICMOS was that shallow, 2-roll observations would reveal a wealth of debris disks imaged in scattered light, and that only a limited set of PSF observations would be required. Instead, building up a library of spatially resolved disks in scattered light has proven to require alternate observing strategies, is still on-going, and has taken far longer than expected. 3) A wealth of coronagraphic options with an instrument may not be scientifically informative, unless there is a similar time investment in acquisition of calibration data in support of the science observations. 4) Finally, no one anticipated what can be gleaned from coronagraphic imaging. We should expect similar, unexpected, and ultimately revolutionary discoveries with JWST.

40 CFR 1042.525 - How do I adjust emission levels to account for infrequently regenerating aftertreatment devices?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... events. See paragraph (e) of this section for how to adjust ramped-modal testing. See paragraph (f) of... intended event during which emission levels change while the system restores aftertreatment performance... events that are expected to occur on average less than once over the applicable transient duty cycle or...