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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 217 records · Page 12

Classification of vegetation communities in the Battle Mountain SE quadrangle, Nevada with MSS digital data

LANDSAT MSS digital data were utilized to identify vegetation types in an area of Battle Mountain SE in northern Nevada. Ways in which terrain data may improve spectral classification were investigated. The basic data set was a CCT of LANDSAT scene 82233617450, dated 15 June 1981. Seventeen ecotypic classifications were identified in the study area on the basis of field investigations. The percent cover by life form and non-living material for the 17 classes is summarized along with the percent cover by species for the 17 classes.

Ridd, M. K.↗

Parallel language constructs for tensor product computations on loosely coupled architectures

Distributed memory architectures offer high levels of performance and flexibility, but have proven awkard to program. Current languages for nonshared memory architectures provide a relatively low level programming environment, and are poorly suited to modular programming, and to the construction of libraries. A set of language primitives designed to allow the specification of parallel numerical algorithms at a higher level is described. Tensor product array computations are focused on along with a simple but important class of numerical algorithms. The problem of programming 1-D kernal routines is focused on first, such as parallel tridiagonal solvers, and then how such parallel kernels can be combined to form parallel tensor product algorithms is examined.

Mehrotra, Piyush↗

Learning class descriptions from a data base of spectral reflectance of soil samples

Consideration is given to a program developed to learn class descriptions from positive and negative training examples of spectral reflectance data of bare soils. It is a combination of 'learning by example' and the generate-and-test paradigm and is designed to provide a robust learning environment that can handle error-prone data. The program was tested by having it learn class descriptions of various categories of organic carbon content, iron oxide content, and particle size distribution in soils. These class descriptions were then used to classify an array of targets. The program found the sequence of relationships between bands that contained the most important information to distinguish the classes. Physical explanations for the class descriptions obtained are presented.

Kimes, D. S.↗

Optical Variability of BL Lacertae During the Major Outburst of 1997

We have undertaken an investigation of recent flux variability in BL Lac. We present optical observations taken over 12 nights documenting major as well as minor outbursts. This has been combined, for purposes of multifrequency analysis, with published X-ray and gamma ray data taken for an additional single night. On two nights in particular, which includes the night of the X-ray observations, a major outburst of about a full magnitude of variation was recorded. All the data have been analyzed with theoretical models. Attempts were made to use synchrotron self-Compton and external Comptonization models to explain the data; however both classes of models were found lacking. More satisfactory results were obtained using an analytical model proposed by Wang et al. that involves the evolution of synchrotron spectra in a homogeneous jet due to the injection of relativistic electrons, taking into account radiation losses during the outbursts. It is hoped that the results of this study of BL Lac, an archetype for the class of blazars in general, represent a more generic phenomenon applicable to the entire class.

Ghosh, K. K.↗

Optical Variability of BL Lacertae During the Major Outburst of 1997

We have undertaken an investigation of recent flux variability in BL Lac. We present optical observations taken over 22 nights documenting major as well as minor outbursts. This has been combined, for purposes of multifrequency analysis, with published X-ray and T-ray data taken for an additional single night, On two nights in particular, including the night of the X-ray observations, a major outburst of about a full magnitude of variation was recorded. All the data have been analyzed with theoretical models. Attempts were made to use synchrotron self-Compton and external Comptonization models to explain the data; however, both classes of models were found lacking. More satisfactory results were obtained using an analytical model proposed by Wang et al. that involves the evolution of synchrotron spectra in a homogeneous jet due to the injection of relativistic electrons, taking into account radiation losses during the outbursts. It is hoped that the results of this study of BL Lac, an archetype for the class of blazars in general, represent a more generic phenomenon applicable to the entire class.

Ghosh, K. K.↗

Freshwater Microbialites of Pavilion Lake, British Columbia, Canada: A Limnological Investigation

Pavillion Lake is 5.7km long and an average of 0.8 km in width, and is located in Marble Canyon in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. It is a slightly alkaline, freshwater lake with a maximum-recorded depth of 65m. The basin walls of Pavilion Lake are lined with microbialite structures that are oriented perpendicularly to the shoreline, and which are found from depths of 5 meters to the bottom of the photic zone (light levels 1% of ambient; approximately 30m depth). These structures are speculated to have begun formation nearly 11,000 years ago, after the glacial retreat of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet. They are likely a distinctive assemblage of freshwater calcite microbialites, which display micromorphologies possibly related to the ancient Epiphyton and Girvanella classes of calcareous organosedimentary structures.

Lim, D. S. S.↗

Consumer Expectations of Capacity Constrains and Their Effect on the Demand for Multi-Class Air Travel

This paper argues that a consumer's decision on ticket class takes into account the expected likelihood of obtaining a seat in a particular class which, in turn, partially depends on an optimum "transaction cost". Taking into account the preferences of the consumer and the information that the consumer is endowed with, the consumer will select a ticket that includes its own optimal transaction cost. This motivates the inclusion of the capacity constraint as a proxy independent variable for these consumer expectations This then forms the basis of a model of air-travel demand with specific reference to Australia. A censored likelihood function allowing for correlation in the disturbance term across k classes is introduced. The correlation in the disturbances arises as a result of the interdependence of the capacity constraints in k different ticket classes on each flight.

Battersby, Bryn D.↗

Constrained coding for the deep-spaced optical channel

In this paper, we demonstrate a class of low-complexity modulation codes satisfying the (d,k) constraint that offer throughput gains over M-PPM on the order of 10-15%, which translate into SNR gains of .4 - .6 dB.

constrained coding optical communications error-co↗

Flood Mapping in the Lower Mekong River Basin Using Daily MODIS Observations

In flat homogenous terrain such as in Cambodia and Vietnam, the monsoon season brings significant and consistent flooding between May and November. To monitor flooding in the Lower Mekong region, the near real-time NASA Flood Extent Product (NASA-FEP) was developed using seasonal normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) differences from the 250 m resolution Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor compared to daily observations. The use of a percentage change interval classification relating to various stages of flooding reduces might be confusing to viewers or potential users, and therefore reducing the product usage. To increase the product usability through simplification, the classification intervals were compared with other commonly used change detection schemes to identify the change classification scheme that best delineates flooded areas. The percentage change method used in the NASA-FEP proved to be helpful in delineating flood boundaries compared to other change detection methods. The results of the accuracy assessments indicate that the −75% NDVI change interval can be reclassified to a descriptive 'flood' classification. A binary system was used to simplify the interpretation of the NASA-FEP by removing extraneous information from lower interval change classes.

Cambodia↗

HEX-P: the High-Energy X-Ray Probe

The High-Energy X-ray Probe (HEX-P) is a next-generation high-energy X-ray observatory with broadband (2-200 keV) response that has 40 times the sensitivity of any previous mission in the 10-80 keV band and > 100 times the sensitivity of any previous mission in the 80-200 keV band. With this leap in observational capability, HEX-P will address a broad range of science objectives beyond any planned mission in the hard X-ray bandpass. HEX-P will probe the extreme environments around black holes and neutron stars, map the growth of supermassive black holes, and quantify the effect they have on their environments. HEX-P will resolve the hard X-ray emission from dense regions of our Galaxy to understand the high- energy source populations and investigate dark matter candidate particles through their decay channel signatures. If developed and launched on a timescale similar to Athena, the complementary abilities of the two missions will greatly enhance the Community’s ability to address the important science questions of the hot universe. HEX-P addresses science that is not planned by any flagship-class missions, and is beyond the capability of an Explorer-class mission.

Madsen, Kristin K.↗

The Nature of Insoluble Organic Matter in Sutter’s Mill and Murchison Carbonaceous Chondrites: Testing the Effect of X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) and Exploring Parent Body Organic Molecular Evolution

This study analyzed samples of the Murchison and Sutter’s Mill carbonaceous chondrite meteorites in support of the future analysis of samples returned from the asteroid (10155) Bennu by the OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer) mission. Focusing specifically on the insoluble organic matter (IOM), this study establishes that a total of 1.3 g of bulk sample from a single chondritic meteorite is sufficient to obtain a wide range of cosmochemical information, including light element analysis (H, C, and N), isotopic analysis (D/H, 13 C/ 12 C, and 15 N/ 14 N), and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy for major elemental abundances. IOM isolated from the bulk meteorite samples was analyzed by light element and isotopic analysis as described above, 1 H and 13 C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and complete noble gas analyses (abundances and isotopes). The samples studied included a pair from Murchison (CM2), one of which had been irradiated with high-energy X-rays in the course of computed tomographic imaging. No differences between the irradiated and non-irradiated Murchison samples were observed in the many different chemical and spectroscopic analyses, indicating that any X-ray–derived sample damage is below levels of detection. Elemental, isotopic, and molecular spectroscopic data derived from IOM isolated from the Sutter’s Mill sample reveals evidence that this meteorite falls into the class of heated CM chondrites.

planetary science↗

Wave interactions in a three-dimensional attachment line boundary layer

The 3-D boundary layer on a swept wing can support different types of hydrodynamic instability. Attention is focused on the so-called spanwise contamination problem, which occurs when the attachment line boundary layer on the leading edge becomes unstable to Tollmien-Schlichting waves. In order to gain insight into the interactions important in that problem, a simplified basic state is considered. This simplified flow corresponds to the swept attachment line boundary layer on an infinite flat plate. The basic flow here is an exact solution of the Navier-Stokes equations and its stability to 2-D waves propagating along the attachment can be considered exactly at finite Reynolds number. This has been done in the linear and weakly nonlinear regimes. The corresponding problem is studied for oblique waves and their interaction with 2-D waves is investigated. In fact, oblique modes cannot be described exactly at finite Reynolds number so it is necessary to make a high Reynolds number approximation and use triple deck theory. It is shown that there are two types of oblique wave which, if excited, cause the destabilization of the 2-D mode and the breakdown of the disturbed flow at a finite distance from the leading edge. First, a low frequency mode related to the viscous stationary crossflow mode is a possible cause of breakdown. Second, a class of oblique wave with frequency comparable with that of the 2-D mode is another cause of breakdown. It is shown that the relative importance of the modes depends on the distance from the attachment line.

Hall, Philip↗

Vibration isolation technology: Sensitivity of selected classes of experiments to residual accelerations

The solution was sought of a 2-D axisymmetric moving boundary problem for the sensitivity of isothermal and nonisothermal liquid columns and the sensitivity of thermo-capillary flows to buoyancy driven convection caused by residual accelerations. The sensitivity of a variety of space experiments to residual accelerations are examined. In all the cases discussed, the sensitivity is related to the dynamic response of a fluid. In some cases the sensitivity can be defined by the magnitude of the response of the velocity field. This response may involve motion of the fluid associated with internal density gradients, or the motion of a free liquid surface. For fluids with internal density gradients, the type of acceleration to which the experiment is sensitive will depend on whether buoyancy driven convection must be small in comparison to other types of fluid motion (such as thermocapillary flow), or fluid motion must be suppressed or eliminated (such as in diffusion studies, or directional solidification experiments). The effect of the velocity on the composition and temperature field must be considered, particularly in the vicinity of the melt crystal interface. As far as the response to transient disturbances is concerned the sensitivity is determined by both the magnitude and frequency the acceleration and the characteristic momentum and solute diffusion times.

Alexander, J. Iwan D.↗

What are the P-type Asteroids Made Of?

The P-type asteroids, together with the D asteroids, had been believed to be one of the most primitive asteroid classes having surface materials rich in carbon and/or organics. Upon a fall of a new type of meteorite, Tagish Lake in 2000, we came to have a possible sample of the D (and/or T) asteroids. In both spectrally and distance from the sun, the P asteroids are located in between the C/G/B/F asteroids and the D asteroids. Because it is believed that the former group are similar to (thermally metamorphosed) CI/CM chondrites and the latter the Tagish Lake meteorite, the surface material of the P asteroids may be understood in combination of those two meteorite groups. Taking that direction, this paper presents possibly the first quantitative characterization of the P asteroids in terms of carbonaceous chondrites and their experimental derivatives.

T. Hiroi↗

Corporate Social Responsibility in Aviation

The dialog within aviation management education regarding ethics is incomplete without a discussion of corporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR research requires discussion involving: (a) the current emphasis on CSR in business in general and aviation specifically; (b) business and educational theory that provide a basis for aviation companies to engage in socially responsible actions; (c) techniques used by aviation and aerospace companies to fulfill this responsibility; and (d) a glimpse of teaching approaches used in university aviation management classes. The summary of this research suggests educators explain CSR theory and practice to students in industry and collegiate aviation management programs. Doing so extends the discussion of ethical behavior and matches the current high level of interest and activity within the aviation industry toward CSR.

Phillips, Edwin D.↗