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The concept of using SAR data to form 3D tomographic images has been developed over the last decade, but the enabling technology has been slow to progress. Current 3D tomographic data gathering techniques require multiple flight passes to gather data at different phase centers. The two technology advancements proposed enabling improvements in the collection of SAR data for ice-sounding and subsurface exploration are compact, multi-band HF/VHF antennas and multi-channel data acquisition systems. Multi-band antennas enable a single antenna to be used over both spectrums most often used for subsurface exploration; their compact design facilitates the placement of multiple antennas on a single platform to enable data collection at multiple phase centers. This advancement is complemented by the development of a multi-channel data acquisition system, which enables the simultaneous collection of data at multiple phase centers. Collecting data simultaneously at multiple phase centers improves data collection by reducing instabilities in measurement locations produced by varying flight paths. Additionally, cost of collection is reduced due the minimization of flight time needed to collect data. Phase I will include the development, fabrication and testing of the antenna system (TRL3 ? TRL6), while forming a concept design for the multi-channel acquisition system (TRL1 ? TRL2).

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The Mission M&E MIS/ GIS will be a new, web-based MIS/GIS, customized to USAID/Jordan's reporting needs that will provide accurate, real time and useful performance monitoring information for USAID/Jordan and Implementing Partners. This new system will be developed as a part of the USAID/Jordan Monitoring and Evaluation Support Project (USAID MESP) (SOL-278-13-000018) Procurement which is currently in-process as of June 1, 2013. The design of the system will take into account and be compatible with other existing data collection systems already in place in Jordan (as researched by the Contractor, e.g. systems maintained by the government of Jordan, NGOs or other donors) and provide solutions that make use of that data to the extent possible to avoid duplication and an additional work burden. It will reduce data collection costs, save time and improve the accuracy of reporting, and provide a flexible and easy-to-use reporting capability enabling USAID/Jordan to respond to a wide variety of reporting requirements and ad-hoc requests. It will allow users to track activity-based information, such as baselines, targets, outputs and outcomes for the purpose of conducting performance-driven reviews.

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The Color Shaded Relief of Alaska map layer is a 100-meter resolution color-sliced elevation image of Alaska, with relief shading added to accentuate terrain features, in an Albers Equal-Area Conic projection. The image was produced by combining the 100-meter resolution color-sliced elevation and the grayscale shaded relief data sets that are distributed by the National Atlas of the United States. The color shaded relief data were derived from the National Atlas 100-meter resolution elevation data. The elevation data were derived from National Elevation Dataset (NED) data and show the terrain of the conterminous United States at a resolution of 100 meters. The NED is a raster product assembled by the U.S. Geological Survey, designed to provide national elevation data in a seamless form with a consistent datum, elevation unit, and projection. Data corrections made in the NED assembly process minimize artifacts, permit edge matching, and fill sliver areas of missing data. More information on NED can be found at http://ned.usgs.gov.

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MODIS/Terra Near Real Time (NRT) Global MODIS vegetation indices Products

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Silicon Carbide deep UV detectors can achieve large gains, high signal-to-noise ratios and solar-blind operation, with added benefits of smaller sizes, lower operating voltages, radiation hardness, ruggedness and scalability. SiC UV APDs implementation is challenging due to some material defects, relatively not-well modeled device operation, and very high absorption coefficients near 200nm wavelengths. The objective of this proposed work is to extend the state-of-the-art in UV sensors by: a) developing SiC deep UV detectors, and b) improving their responsivity down to near 200nm wavelengths. We plan to accomplish this goal by using the SiC UV APD design simulator developed in Phase I, and making further improvements as we introduce new design concepts to improve the responsivity utilizing novel design and fabrication techniques tof the critical n+ top contact layer on the APD to reduce charge recombination in the UV absorption layer. We will develop unique fabrication techniques to improve surface quality of the SiC APD structure. This effort will be led by Auburn University, which has developed state-of-the-art fabrication methodologies and capabilities for SiC MOSFETs, in collaboration with CoolCAD who will design the devices and the implantation process. Our main effort will focus on generating a built-in surface field by creating a steep doping profile right at the surface. Since steep dopant gradients necessary to create a field within 40nm of the surface are not feasible using epitaxial growth techniques for SiC, we will develop implantation and dopant activation sequences, and backend processing techniques to achieve this goal. By creating a field in the deep UV absorption layer (~40nm), we will reduce the initial recombination of electron-hole pairs created by the UV photons and increase current reaching the multiplication region of the APD.

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RL Associates, Inc. proposes to conduct research leading to the development of a shortwave infrared (SWIR) range-gated LIDAR system for use in detecting external obscurants and hazards. Working in conjunction with a database of optical properties for known obscurants, the system will be capable of identifying the type and severity of the hazard. While several different LIDAR ranging techniques are currently employed for airborne detection applications, the RL Associates Inc. hazard detection and mitigation system is based upon our patented range-gated technique used in our FireLidar system. This technique allows not only detection of obscurants, but can also be used to image through obscurants and thus mitigate the hazard. RL Associates Inc. is currently leading the industry in shortwave infrared (1.5 um) active imaging systems and plans to use that technology in developing the SWIR LIDAR Hazard Detection System. This system will be compact and lightweight and will operate around 1.5 um, which is safe to the human eye.

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Uses consistent input data and algorithms through time at the expense of spatial and temporal resolution. Intended for studies of interannual variability and climate.

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Polygon layer for SSA districts.

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R&D Database provides Vehicle Crash Test data, Biomechanics Test Data, and Component Test Data to support NHTSA's motor vehicle and traffic safety goals.

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In recent years there has been an increasing interest in the propagation of polarized light in randomly scattering media. The investigation of backscattered light is of particular interest since most medical applications aimed at the in-vivo characterization of biological tissue rely on backscattered light. By recording the spatially dependent response of a medium to a polarized point source, one may obtain information about the scattering particles that are not accessible to mere intensity measurements. In this program, Boston Applied Technologies Incorporated (BATI), together with the Catholic University of America (CUA) proposes an innovative NIR polarization imaging solution based on high performance fast tunable phase retarder and novel algorithm. It will have the ability to record both scattering images and Stokes polarization imaging. It allows very fast recording the polarization images at the speed limit of a CCD. It contains no moving parts and can accommodate to most of the existing CCD cameras. The unique measurement procedure allows efficient, accurate sensing of the polarization imaging. A computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) software will be developed for the proposed polarization imaging system.

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This annual narrative report for Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge and Marais Des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge summarizes refuge activities during the 2004 calendar year. The report begins with a summary of the years highlights and climatic conditions. Land acquisition is also covered, fee title is included. The report includes a planning section which discusses management plans, and research and investigations. Refuge administration is outlined; information about personnel, youth programs, volunteer programs, funding, safety, and other items is given. Habitat management is also covered. Subjects include wetlands, forests, cropland, grassland, other habitats, grazing, haying, fire management, pest control, and water rights. The wildlife section of the report discusses endangered andor threatened species, waterfowl, marsh and water birds, shorebirds, gulls, terns, and allied species, raptors, other migratory birds, game mammals, other residents wildlife, fisheries resources, and scientific investigations. The public uses of the refuge described in this report include general, outdoor student classrooms, interpretive foot trails, interpretive exhibitsdemonstrations, other interpretive programs, hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, other wildlife oriented recreation, camping, picnicking, other nonwildlife oriented recreation, and law enforcement. The equipment and facilities section of the report provides information about new construction, rehabilitation, equipment utilization and replacement, computer systems, and other. Items of interest are provided at the end.

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The 2010 Academic Libraries Survey (ALS:2010) is a study that is part of the Academic Libraries Survey (ALS) program. ALS:2010 (http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/academic.asp) is a cross-sectional survey that summarize services, staff, collections, and expenditures of academic libraries in degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. This study provides information pertinent to libraries at degree-granting postsecondary educational institutions.

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<p>The Armstrong Flight Research Center is NASA’s primary center for atmospheric flight research and operations, with a vision “to fly what others only imagine.” We believe that flight validation and research is one of the crucial phases within the advancement of any NASA technology, and it is often the barrier to technology utilization by the private sector. We also believe that aerospace technology can be enhanced through flight early in the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) lifecycle. In fact, some research can be done only in flight. The CIF projects are examples of aerospace technologies that are theoretically advantageous but have had little TRL advancement or are at too early of a technology level for support through a NASA mission.</p><p>The focus for the program is on validating, developing, and testing new and innovative technologies.</p><p>The current technology areas for the projects included:<br />AFRC is currently looking into following Technical Capability areas (not in any priority order and not all inclusive):<br />1.    Small launch Space Systems<br />Develop small launch space systems such as horizontal rockets that could launch to orbit small free-flying space platforms (e.g., cuestas, nanosats, picosats).<br />2.    Altitude Compensating Rocket Systems<br />Design, build, and test altitude compensating rocket systems or sub-systems designed to operate the rocket efficiently across a wide range of altitudes.  Subsystems such as Altitude Compensating Nozzles are being considered.<br />3.    Aero Gravity Assist Systems<br />Design, build, and test an Aerogravity assist system which uses a close approach to the planet, dipping into the atmosphere, so the spacecraft can also use aerodynamic lift to further curve the trajectory.<br />4.    Launch Vehicle and Spacecraft Adaptive Controls<br />Develop and test adaptive controls architectures speci?cally tailored for application to launch vehicles.  Adaptive Controls for launch vehicles would include unique features of the  aerospace vehicle, such as control-structure interaction, propellant slosh, sensor performance, and actuator dynamics.  In addition, the analysis, veri?cation, and ?ight certi?cation framework for the control system must be addressed.<br />5.    Autonomous Systems<br />AFRC is exploring concepts for advanced autonomous systems and collaborative autonomous operations that could be applied across aerospace vehicles to enhance effectiveness, survivability, and affordability.<br />6.    Autonomy in a Safety Critical Framework<br />Armstrong Flight Research Center is interested in the flight demonstration of high level autonomy in a safety critical framework with applicability to man-rated air and space vehicles.  This high level of autonomy is enabled through the use of multiple sensor platforms and algorithms with high computational demands.  Increased computational capability through embedded high performance computing and implementation of resource efficient algorithms is needed to support this integration.  Research into embedded high performance computing using multi-core processors, FPGA, GPU, DSP and associated development of toolchains and algorithms targeted to these platforms is needed in order to reduce the Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) of the flight vehicles..<br />7.    Space Weather Systems<br />Design, develop, and test measurement systems to provide the capability for on-demand, validated, and archived radiation measurements related to human tissue and avionics silicon upset concerns.<br />8.    Electromagnetically Boosted Rockets<br />One possible solution is to use an electromagnetic linear motor boost system to supplement the use of first stage booster rockets and rocket clusters. China Lake is currently advocating to NAVAIR to initiate a study of long term capital costs and recurring system operational costs of the use of an electromagnetic linear motor booster system for their rocket sled tracks as compared to the long term operational system costs of moving to a newer line of booster rocket production.</p><p> </p>

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The Net Discount Activity report displays the amount of premium less discount for Marketable and Nonmarketable Securities as reported to the Financial Management Service.

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According to the NASA Topic S3, "the Science Mission Directorate will carry out the scientific exploration of our Earth, the planets, moons, comets, and asteroids of our Solar System and beyond. SMD's future direction will be moving from exploratory missions (orbiters and flybys) into more detailed/specific exploration missions that are at or near the surface (landers, rovers, and sample returns), that would require new vantage points, or that would need to integrate or distribute capabilities across multiple assets. The demand for larger area coverage, higher resolution and multi-spectral capability in satellite remote sensing applications, and the demand for higher data rates in digital satellite communications networks continue to place ever increasing demands on onboard data handling and processing subsystems - 1 Gbps to 4 Gbps data rates are not uncommon and continually increasing. Further, satellite subsystems must be capable of reliable operation in the space radiation environment and will continue to be constrained by SWAP limitations. Shrinking development budgets and rapid development requirements are driving onboard data handling networks toward more flexible, non-proprietary architectures and interface standardization. Therefore, SPI proposes to develop a 10Gbps per channel optical transceiver and mating, multi-channel reprogrammable network interface card (NIC) that are RAD-tolerant to over 300KRad-Si TID, operate reliably from -25C to 85C. Further, the NIC will be fully reprogrammable such that it may be reconfigured and utilized as an optical router, switch, or multi-protocol compatible gateway.

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TUI proposes a novel process to produce 3d printer feedstock filament out of scrap ABS on the ISS. Currently the plastic filament materials that most 3d printers use are produced with screw-based extruders that are fundamentally designed for high volume terrestrial production from uniformly pelletized resin feedstock. These require relatively large continuous batch sizes with significant operator inputs and have generally poor control over the produced filament geometry. Existing extrusion machines also tend to rely on separate facilities for fully drying the material beforehand, and do not inherently provide tight flow-rate control. The proposed effort will develop a filament extruding machine that uses a process called Positrusion that is designed from the ground up for optimally producing small batches of positively controlled round filament directly out of arbitrarily shaped scraps of ABS plastic, while meeting requirements for operation on the ISS. The machine will accept miscellaneous ABS parts, it will dry and degas the input material before melting and extruding it through a die, and the cross-sectional dimensions and feed-rate of the cooling extrudate will be tightly controlled in a continuous analog of closed-die molding.

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Pressurized space suits impose high joint torques on the wearer, reducing mobility for upper and lower body motions. Using actual space suits in training or experimentation is problematic due to the expense, bulk, weight, and difficulty in donning/doffing. The goal of this project was to demonstrate a novel method for simulating space suit joint torques, which are non-linear and vary with angular position. We designed a knee joint simulator using McKibben actuators with active control (also known as artificial muscles), which are cylindrical pneumatic actuators constructed of flexible rubber with an inextensible weave that causes the cylinder to contract longitudinally when pressurized. A commercial knee brace was used as an exoskeleton to mount the actuators. One actuator was mounted anterior to the knee to provide resistance to flexion, and a second actuator was mounted posterior to the knee to provide resistance to extension. The active controller read angle input from a potentiometer mounted to the brace and output the appropriate pressures for each actuator to provide the needed torque. The knee joint was installed on MIT's Robotic Space Suit Tester (RSST), a full-sized anthropometric robot equipped with torque and angle sensors on each of the joints. Results from testing indicated that the torque vs. angle relationship achieved using the actively controlled spacesuit joint simulator was qualitatively similar to the non-linear trend observed in prior testing of the EMU on the RSST. We conclude that the use of these actuators potentially results in higher fidelity than passive actuation.

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Airfoils produce more lift and less drag when the boundary layer is attached to the airfoil. With most aircraft there are combinations of airspeed and angle of attack where the boundary layer at least partially detaches from the airfoil. Reducing boundary layer detachment will increase lift and reduce drag. This will reduce fuel consumption saving money for the operator and improving control for the pilot. Two methods are known to improve boundary layer attachment: heating the air and supplying acoustic pressure at an airspeed and airfoil shape dependent frequency. Carbon nanotubes can be used to produce heating elements as thin as a layer of paint. Because they are thin they can be heated and cooled hundreds of times per second. This combination means that carbon nanotube heating elements can be thermoacoustic speakers to both heat the air stream and generate the appropriate acoustic frequency to maximize boundary zone attachment. All system components have been demonstrated individually achieving TRL 2. Phase I will demonstrate multifrequency sound generation on surfaces in a wind tunnel using nanotube heating elements, and achieving TRL 3. Phase II will include medium seals wind tunnel tests verifying the effects and achieving TRL 5.

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The Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a relatively new refuge, and does not yet have a Master Plan, or a Comprehensive Conservation Plan. Therefore, this plan contains specific refuge fire management objectives and goals, which were developed from the Refuge founding documents. This plan details how prescribed burns may contribute greatly to the goal of promotion and preservation of biodiversity on the Refuge.

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The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) is a joint U.S.-Japan satellite mission to monitor tropical and subtropical precipitation. The Level 1B product file (1B01) contains calibrated radiances and auxiliary geolocation information for each pixel in the scan. The Level 1B data are stored in the Hierarchical Data Format (HDF), which includes both core and product specific metadata applicable to the VIRS measurements. A file contains a single orbit of data with a file size of about 87 MB (uncompressed). The HDF-EOS "swath" structure is used to accommodate the actual geophysical data arrays. As in the case of the Level 1A data, there are 16 files of VIRS 1B01 data produced per day. For channels 1 and 2, Level 1B radiances are derived from the Level 1A sensor counts by computing calibration parameters (gain and offset) derived from the counts registered during space and solar and/or lunar views. New calibration parameters are produced every 1 to 4 weeks. Bands 3, 4, and 5 are calibrated using the internal blackbody and the space view. These two data points, together with a quadratic term determined pre-launch, are used to generate a counts vs. radiance curve for each band, which is then used to convert the earth-view pixel counts to spectral radiances. For the Level 1B data, geolocation and channel data are written out for each pixel along the scan, whereas the time stamp, scan status (containing scan quality information), navigation, calibration coefficients, and satellite/ solar geometry are specified on a per-scan basis. There are in general 18026 scans along the orbit with each scan consisting of 261 pixels. The scan width is about 720 km. Spatial coverage is between 38 degrees North and 38 degrees South owing to the 35 degree inclination of the TRMM satellite. This orbit provides extensive coverage in the tropics and allows each location to be covered at a different local time each day, enabling the analysis of the diurnal cycle of precipitation.

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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC) has produced the Vegetation Spatial Database Coverage (vegetation map) for the Acadia National Park Vegetation Mapping Project, USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program (VMP). The vegetation map is of Acadia National Park (NP) and extended environs, providing 99,693 hectares (246,347 acres) of map data. Of this coverage, 52,872 hectares (130,650 acres) is non-vegetated ocean, bay, and estuary (53% of coverage). Acadia NP comprises 19,276 hectares (47,633 acres) of the total data coverage area (19%, 40% not counting ocean and estuary data). Over 7,120 polygons make up the coverage, each with map class description and, for vegetation classes, physiognomic feature information. The spatial database provides crosswalk information to all National Vegetation Classification System (NVCS) floristic and physiognomic levels, and to other established classification systems (NatureServe’s U.S. Terrestrial Ecological System Classification, Maine Natural Community Classification, and the USGS Land Use and Land Cover Classification). This mapping project has identified 53 NVCS associations (vegetation communities) at Acadia National Park through analyses of vegetation sample data. These associations are represented in the map coverage with 33 map classes. With all vegetation types, land use classes, and park specific categories combined, 57 map classes define the ground features within the project area (58 classes including the class for no map data). Each polygon within the spatial database map is identified with one of these map classes. In addition, physiognomic modifiers are added to map classes representing vegetation to describe the vegetation structure within a polygon (density, pattern, and height). The spatial database was produced from the interpretation of spring 1997 1:15,840-scale color infrared aerial photographs. The standard minimum mapping unit (MMU) applied is 0.5 hectares (1.25 acres). The interpreted data were transferred and automated using base maps produced from USGS digital orthophoto quadrangles. The finished spatial database is a single seamless coverage, projected in Universal Transverse Mercator, Zone 19, with datum in North American Datum of 1983. The estimated overall thematic accuracy for vegetation map classes is 80%.

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Low power, robust communications protocols such as IEEE 802.15.4/Zigbee have made the concept of smart sensor networks attractive across many applications. These systems promise portable, networked, wireless, sensor suites capable of monitoring and controlling environments as needed. Theseus Logic and MachineTalker will provide NASA with a rapidly deployable, wireless, intelligent, sensor system based on their proprietary enabling technologies, and their experience in wireless sensor systems for enhanced shipping container security. 1. Communications based on MachineTalkers<SUP>REG</SUP> that providing self configuring, self-healing ad hoc networks with minimum intervention. 2. Low power radio protocols such as the IEEE 802.15.4/Zigbee standard. Gateways to reach a central monitoring/decision authority. 3. Secure communications with personal identification numbers (PIN) assigned to each sensor node to ensure data security. 4. Signal processing based on clockless logic providing on demand, ultra low power, data driven, processing and low noise/EMI that maintains performance of sensors and on-chip RF/analog circuitry. 5. A Simple Machine Management Protocol<SUP>REG</SUP> (SMMP<SUP>REG</SUP>) controlling both sensors and communications. This also manages power consumption of the system. 6. Multi-sensor data fusion to reduce false alarm rates. 7. A modular architecture allowing optimization of the sensor suite, and including features such as GPS location, and biometric identification.

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These data are in support of report DS 456 (Arnold and others, 2009). Data set contains point locations of 20 wells located in areas overlying the High Plains Aquifer in Colorado having a depth to water less than 180 feet, a saturated thickness greater than 50 feet, and underlying irrigated agricultural lands. Well completion data are included.

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<p>The Neutral Atom Sensor Project examines advances in energetic neutral atom (ENA) imager for broad planetary  applications.</p>

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Hunt Data from the three NWRs