SRI International Research Articles

Radar Technologies for Earth Remote Sensing From CubeSat Platforms

Space-based radar observations have transformed our understanding of Earth over the last several decades. Driven by increasingly complex science questions, space radar missions have grown ever more sophisticated with costs rising often to hundreds of millions of dollars. At the other end of the cost and complexity spectrum, CubeSats have emerged in recent years as a disruptive innovation in the satellite sector and are now considered a means to address targeted science questions in a rapid and affordable manner. CubeSats enable new kinds of constellation-based Earth science observations not previously affordable with traditional spacecraft. Constellations of low-cost sensors provide both global spatial and high temporal coverage. As such, CubeSats are not only viable platforms to address current Earth science goals, but they also open a new realm of possibilities for science advancement and unique applications. Radar instruments have often been regarded as unsuitable for small satellite platforms due to their traditionally large size, weight, and power (SWaP). Burgeoning missions such as Radar in a CubeSat (RainCube) and CubeSat Imaging Radar for Earth Science (CIRES), being developed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory and SRI International, respectively, and funded by NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO), are slated to dispel this notion. The key to the simplification and miniaturization of the radar subsystems in a manner that still offers compelling science and applications is 1) component technological advancement; and 2) an integrated instrument architecture and mission design that exploits the capabilities offered by CubeSat platforms. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art and future developments of CubeSat radar missions for Earth remote sensing and the implications for NASA’s current and future Earth Science program. The key enabling technologies for radio frequency (RF), digital, and antennas are surveyed, as well as the evolution of the CubeSat avionics, in the aspects that mostly impact radar development, namely power, volume, and attitude control and knowledge and precision orbit determination (POD). We investigate various radar applications that could benefit from low-cost CubeSat platforms, such as altimetry, sounding, precipitation profiling, scatterometry, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and interferometric SAR (InSAR). We also explore the science motivation and impact of future missions that are based on these technological advancements.

Origins of Robotic Surgery: From Skepticism to Standard of Care.

Background and Objectives:The uses of robotics in surgery were hypothesized as far back as 1967, but it took nearly 30 years and the nation's largest agency, the Department of Defense, in conjunction with innovative startups and established research agencies to complete the first fully functional multipurpose surgical robot. Currently, the most prominently available multipurpose robotic surgery system with US Food and Drug Administration approval is Intuitive Surgical Inc.'s da Vinci Surgical System, which is found in operating rooms across the globe. Although now ubiquitous for minimally invasive surgery, early surgical robot prototypes were specialty focused. Originally, multipurpose robotic systems were intended for long-distance trauma surgery in battlefield settings. While there were impressive feats of telesurgery, the marketable focus has veered from this goal. Initially developed through SRI International and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, surgical robotics reached private industry through two major competitors, who later merged.Methods:A thorough search of PubMed, Clinical Key, EBSCO, Ovid, ProQuest, and industry manufacturers' websites yielded 62 relevant articles, of which 51 were evaluated in this review.Conclusion:We analyzed the literature and referred to primary sources by conducting interviews with present and historical leaders in the field to yield a detailed chronology of surgical robotics development. As minimally invasive robotic procedures are becoming the standard of care, it is crucial to comprehensively document their historical context and importance as an emerging and evolving discipline.

Improving undergraduate labs

Toni Feder’s news story “Undergraduate labs lag in science and technology” (Physics Today, April 2017, page 26) is a welcome analysis of the challenges facing advanced undergraduate physics laboratories and current efforts to provide effective solutions for undergraduate physics programs at US colleges and universities.The Advanced Laboratory Physics Association (ALPhA) sponsors a laboratory immersion program in which physics faculty receive three days of dedicated instruction and hands-on experience with modern advanced undergraduate physics experiments. The goal is to provide enough training so that participants can implement the experiments at their own institutions.Since the inception of the program, I have participated in nine immersions. Each was excellent, and I have implemented at least one experiment—and in one case, five—from each immersion I attended. The topics have been fascinating, and they included single-photon tests of quantum mechanics, external-cavity diode lasers, laser-induced fluorescence, Compton scattering, precision laser interferometry, Fourier methods, and saturated absorption spectroscopy.At my small undergraduate institution—10 physics majors per year on average—the primary obstacle I faced in implementing those experiments was locating funds to purchase the equipment. Fortunately, the Jonathan F. Reichert Foundation started the ALPhA immersions equipment grant program, which has been a godsend to me and my students. Its support has allowed me to acquire a Leybold x-ray diffraction apparatus, a TeachSpin diode laser spectroscopy instrument, a Stanford Research lock-in amplifier, and a TeachSpin Fourier Methods system.As a direct result of the efforts of ALPhA and the Reichert Foundation, I have implemented 13 advanced undergraduate physics experiments at my institution. Additionally, I proposed a new course, Advanced Laboratory in Physics, which was offered for the first time in the fall of 2017.Some friends and colleagues suggest that after 30 years of professorial experience I should be thinking about retiring. I disagree. I am more excited now than ever, because I see my students’ enthusiasm as they perform the new experiments. I look forward to many more years in the best job on the planet. Section:ChooseTop of page <<© 2018 American Institute of Physics.

Circular Regression in a Dual-Phase Lock-In Amplifier for Coherent Detection of Weak Signal.

Lock-in amplification (LIA) is an effective approach for recovery of weak signal buried in noise. Determination of the input signal amplitude in a classical dual-phase LIA is based on incoherent detection which leads to a biased estimation at low signal-to-noise ratio. This article presents, for the first time to our knowledge, a new architecture of LIA involving phase estimation with a linear-circular regression for coherent detection. The proposed phase delay estimate, between the input signal and a reference, is defined as the maximum-likelihood of a set of observations distributed according to a von Mises distribution. In our implementation this maximum is obtained with a Newton Raphson algorithm. We show that the proposed LIA architecture provides an unbiased estimate of the input signal amplitude. Theoretical simulations with synthetic data demonstrate that the classical LIA estimates are biased for SNR of the input signal lower than −20 dB, while the proposed LIA is able to accurately recover the weak signal amplitude. The novel approach is applied to an optical sensor for accurate measurement of NO concentrations at the sub-ppbv level in the atmosphere. Side-by-side intercomparison measurements with a commercial LIA (SR830, Stanford Research Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA ) demonstrate that the proposed LIA has an identical performance in terms of measurement accuracy and precision but with simplified hardware architecture.

Effects of a Co-Reactant Redox Behavior on the AC Impedance Response of the ORR

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a useful, in-situ, minimally invasive tool to diagnose reactions. A small sinusoidal AC signal perturbation in current or voltage is applied to the electrochemical charging or discharging (DC current) processes and the response signal is collected for impedance/phase gain analysis. Reaction kinetics and reactant transport have different characteristic time constants, and are evaluated by separating impedance spectra into frequency ranges representative of electrochemical processes that are simulated by electrical circuit elements such as capacitors and resistors (1). The co-adsorption of other electrochemically active species present in reactant streams affect the impedance responses of the main electrochemical reaction. The coverage resistance, the change in reaction rate induced by the modification in other species coverage, is either positive or negative and depends on the co-reactant reaction. In this contribution, impedance responses of a H2/air fuel cell with propene (as a model co-reactant) in the cathode are investigated to evaluate the effect of co-adsorbates redox behavior. The EIS is simulated by an equivalent circuit model (ECM) that takes into account the co-adsorbing intermediate. Cells were operated under 80 °C, 2 stoichiometry, and 50/100 % relative humidity and 48.3/48.3 kPag for the cathode/anode. The current density was varied to ensure that propene undergoes an oxidation or a reduction at the steady state (fixed cathode potential). AC impedance data from 0.1 Hz to 10 kHz (10 points per decade) were obtained using a Solartron SI1260 Impedance/Gain-Phase Analyzer and Stanford Research SR560 Low Noise Preamplifiers with ZPlot® (Scribner Associates) software. An AC current perturbation of 0.75 A, resulting in a voltage change of approximately 5-10 mV, was applied to the single cell for different current densities. The load bank cables on the positive and negative sides were equal in length and twisted to reduce system inductance and improve accuracy. Figure 1 shows EIS examples for the impedance responses of fuel cell reactions without or with a trace of propene in the cathode stream. EIS spectra include the impacts of propene oxidation at a low current density (i.e. 0.2 A cm- 2) and reduction at a high current density (1.6 A cm- 2) on the oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). The adsorption of propene decreases the number of active Pt surface sites and competes with the ORR, resulting in a significant increase in charge transfer (~10 Hz to ~1 kHz) and mass transfer (<10 Hz) resistances. At low current densities and correspondingly high cathode potentials, the adsorbed propene is oxidized and desorbed. Furthermore, propene adsorption and reactions show an increase in both capacitive loops and the appearance of a new capacitive loop at 1.2 A cm- 2. For a high current density and correspondingly low cathode potential, the adsorbed propene is reduced and desorbed. Also, propene adsorption and reactions display an additional inductive loop at low frequencies. It is emphasized that the co-reactant effect is inexistent or masked (0.2 A cm- 2), leads to a differentiated behavior with the appearance of a new capacitive loop (1.2 A cm- 2) or overlaps other processes but is discernible with the extension of the capacitive loop into an inductive loop (1.6 A cm- 2). The present work is applicable to the contamination of proton exchange membrane fuel cells by species contained in the oxidant and fuel streams that adsorb on the catalyst surface and are oxidized or reduced at operating cell voltages (2). The work is also relevant to other electrochemical systems. For a main reaction that is a reduction, a co-reactant reduction leads to an inductive response whereas for a co-reactant oxidation, a capacitive response occurs. The co-reactant impact is reversed for a main reaction that is an oxidation. Acknowledgments The authors are indebted to the United States Department of Energy (award DE-EE0000467) and the Office of Naval Research (award N00014-12-1-0496) for financial support of this project. The authors are also grateful to the Hawaiian Electric Company for their ongoing support of the operations of the Hawaii Sustainable Energy Research Facility. References Y. Zhai, K. Bethune, G. Bender, R. Rocheleau, J. Electrochem. Soc., 159 (2012) B524.J. St-Pierre, Y. Zhai, M. S. Angelo, J. Electrochem. Soc., 161 (2014) F280. Figure 1. The EIS of a PEMFC under different current densities with or without 50 ppm propene in cathode. Figure 1

Nonlinear Electrochemical Impedance Spectrosocpic Analysis of Ti Dissolution in HF

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a versatile technique that is commonly used to characterize electrochemical systems [1]. In EIS conducted in pseudo-potentiostatic mode, sinusoidal potential perturbations are applied and the magnitude and phase of the resulting current perturbations are used to calculate impedance as a function of frequency. Typically small amplitude perturbations are employed and the response is analyzed assuming that the system behavior is linear and that higher harmonics are not present in the response. Most of the commercial equipment can measure the response at fundamental frequency but higher harmonics are usually discarded. If large amplitude perturbations are employed, the resulting current will have higher harmonic components, which, if recorded, can provide more information about the system examined [2]. In this work, we report measurement of nonlinear electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (NLEIS) response of titanium dissolution in HF. A potentiostat (EC301), Lockin amplifier (SR830) and a FFT analyzer (SR780) from Stanford Research System were combined and a software was written to seamlessly acquire NLEIS data. The applied perturbation frequency was varied from 100 kHz to 125 mHz and the amplitude was varied from 20 mV to 100 mV. The response current (both magnitude and phase) at fundamental and higher harmonics (up to 3rdharmonic) was measured using Lockin amplifier and FFT anlayzer. In order to measure the phase and magnitude accurately, the frequencies and span were chosen such that the fundamental and harmonics fall exactly in the measurement bins. No windowing was performed during FFT signal processing. The results are presented in Fig. 1. Open symbols are the results from Lockin amplifier while the filled symbols are results from FFT analyzer. At 20 mV perturbation amplitude, second harmonic was low but measurable, but the third harmonic was below detection limit. At 100 mV perturbation, all three harmonics could be measured. The results of Lockin amplifier and FFT analyzer matched well. Ti dissolution in HF has been studied earlier using potentiodynamic polarization and EIS [3,4]. A four step mechanism with two adsorbed intermediates was proposed to explain the observed results. NLEIS measurements were performed on Ti dissolving in HF and the experimental results are presented in Fig. 1 as magnitude and phase of current response as a function of frequency. The experimental results were compared with the reaction mechanism model predictions. Figure 1

Results from Process Modeling of the Mixed-salt Technology for CO2 Capture from Post-combustion-related Applications

Mixed-salt technology, a solvent-based technology for removing CO2 from flue gas streams offers a significant advantage over conventional amine-based CO2 removal technologies (e.g., Fluor Econamine FG PlusSM technology). SRI International (SRI) is currently investigating the application of mixed-salt technology for pulverized coal combustion (PCC) power plant retrofit applications for removing >90% CO2 at a cost not to exceed $40/tonne of CO2 captured. The research was performed at a large bench-scale level with funding from the United States Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).Very recently, a successful demonstration of mixed-salt technology at 0.25 tonne/day system was conducted in the USA, and the data obtained from the tests was used to develop a rate-based model to determine the mass and energy balance for a carbon dioxide recovery (CDR) removing 90% CO2 from a 550-MW supercritical power plant. In this paper, we present the process modeling data including the preliminary techno-economic evaluation (TEA) of mixed-salt technology. CO2 capture and CO2 pipeline purity specifications were met in all the process configurations investigated in this study. SRI's mixed-salt process can strip CO2 at high pressure as the stripper for rich-solvent regeneration is operated at higher pressure than the Fluor Econamine FG PlusSM process. Thus, the electrical power required for compressing CO2 to delivery pressures (> 130 atm) is greatly reduced in the mixed-salt process compared to other solvent-based technologies operating with lower-pressure regenerations.Ammonia-based technologies require absorber solvent cooling and treated gas washing to reduce ammonia emissions, and the raw water consumption of the process combines the water being used in the two water-wash sections. The Fluor Econamine FG PlusSM technology requires a large water recycle in the CDR unit for cooling purposes (1,173,350-1,286,900 lpm or 310,000-340,000gpm), which greatly exceeds the PC plant cooling water requirement (643,450-757,000 lpm or 170,000-200,000gpm). SRI's mixed-salt process requires a relatively smaller recycle for cooling purposes, and the overall cooling water recycled was 71% less in the mixed-salt process compared to the baseline case. As such, the auxiliary power required for mixed-salt process CDR unit was 60% less than the baseline case. The heat duty for the mixed-salt process was calculated to be 2.0MJ/Kg of CO2 recovered (in the stripper reboiler). This accounts for a 44% decrease in the heat duty requirement in the mixed-salt process compared to the baseline case.

Chilled Ammonia Process Scale-up and Lessons Learned

The GE Chilled Ammonia Process (CAP) is a post combustion CO2 capture technology that produces a high purity CO2 product stream that can be utilized in the existing and new markets. The development of the CAP technology began with laboratory bench-scale experiments to confirm that aqueous ammonia solution effectively absorbs CO2 with sufficiently low vapor phase ammonia emissions at reduced temperatures. From these results, a technology development program was initiated to scale-up and validate the process for commercialization.The approach taken here is illustrative of industrial scale process development and improvement. For the CAP CO2 capture technology, the development effort involved an iterative approach as information from the different development stages was obtained to set environmental & economic targets, develop predictive tools and models for process optimization, and to support validation efforts at operating facilities. Over the course of the program, the technology was successfully tested on flue gasses produced from coal, oil, and natural gas combustion, in addition to flue gas produced from refinery applications. Process know-how and operational experience was gained and together with validated data from bench-scale and pilot plant facilities was returned to push process design improvement and the development of predictive models. Currently, the CAP design is also modified and extended into applications involving Urea, Methanol, and Soda Ash Production.While many lessons learned and process improvement opportunities have been extracted from pilot plant and other test facilities, pilot plant results and process modeling studies are still unveiling potential for further improvement. Optimization and integration with the power generation facility occurred in the development phases of several FEED studies for large CCS plants. The CAP design is ready for a demonstration-scale project and now is much improved from the design that was tested originally at laboratory bench-scale. For example, the CAP scrubbing solution is now operated in a non-solids mode where precipitation is not a part of the overall operational strategy and the process flow scheme is now modified and improved from original flow schemes implemented at early pilot facilities to improve performance at reduced cost.This work summarizes the bench-scale, pilot-scale, and validation facility results and offers insights into the lessons learned and effort required bringing the technology into commercialization at an industrial scale. The lessons learned from each of the pilot plants at different sizes are illustrated and the associated impact of the results from each pilot plant in the current CAP product offering is also discussed. A summary of the important results from CAP test facilities including Stanford Research International (SRI), WE energies, EONCAP-Karlshamm, AEP Mountaineer, TCM and GE's pilot facility in Vaxjo, Sweden are presented. Distinguishing features of the GE CAP are provided drawing comparison to open literature versions of ammonia based CO2 capture processes. Evolution of key performance parameters such as energy demand, product quality, solvent strength, process flow scheme, etc., at the different plant sizes are also discussed. In addition, the current state of development for extending the technology into areas where CO2 may be utilized productively are also be addressed in addition to the latest improvement concepts currently being studied on CAP. Finally, the paper will also summarize the advantages of CAP as compared to conventional amine based processes.

Development of the data acquisition system for terahertz spectrometer

In most Terahertz time-domain spectrometer (THz-TDS) experiments, the lock-in amplifier works with trans-impedance pre-amplifier to amplitude the terahertz pulse accepted from detector. This paper discusses the development of data acquisition system for the transmission THz-TDS. In this system, the cross-correlation software algorithm in SR830 lock-in amplifier from Stanford Research Systems, that is usually used in THz-TDS, has been replaced by parallel hardware algorithm of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) chip with the parallel processing ability. This chip has a faster processing speed and higher accuracy than others. A 24 bit Delta-Sigma Analog Digital (AD) was used in place of the 16 bit successive approximation ADC of SR830. The new AD convertor can reduce the complexity of trans-impedance pre-amplifier circuit and replace the SR555 current amplifiers that designed to work with SRS lock-in amplifiers. Besides trans-impedance pre-amplifier circuit, all function circuits, such as low-pass digital filter, phase-locked loop, Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) reference source and the core algorithms, are integrated in a FPGA chip, which make the new designed lock-in amplifier with a small volume reduce a dozen times SR830 size.

The bunny, the witch, and the war room

Among the Stanford Research Institute's many classified research projects in the early 1970s was a contract supported by the Central Intelligence Agency's Office of Technical Service, a division headed by Sidney Gottlieb, perhaps the most notorious scientist ever to work for the spy agency. The secret program was testing different forms of parapsychology, such as whether humans had the ability to use their minds to visualize or even influence remote objects. Believing the work was showing promise, Gottlieb one day invited the director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), Stephen Lukasik, over to his CIA office to discuss it. Gottlieb, a chemist by training, was both an unconventional thinker and an unwavering patriot, who believed his work served the good of the nation. Friends and enemies alike say Mr. Gottlieb was a kind of genius, striving to explore the frontiers of the human mind for his country, read the 1999 New York Times obituary of Gottlieb, while searching for religious and spiritual meaning in his life. In the end, however, Gottlieb would be remembered most for what looked like a willful contempt of common decency.

Security &amp;amp; Privacy Week Interviews, Part 3

IEEE Security & Privacy met with several interesting speakers at Security & Privacy Week (SPW) 2016 in Darmstadt, Germany. This issue features Srdan Capkun, computer science professor at ETH Zurich; Jeremy Epstein, a computer scientist at SRI International; George Danezis, security and privacy engineering professor at University College London; William Enck, associate professor at North Carolina State University; Panos Papadimitratos, associate professor at KTH; and Paul Francis, director at the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems. They discuss a variety of issues, including diversity, social norms, spoofing, privacy guarantees, and mobile security.

The Use of Robotic Assisted Surgery; the Current and Future Challenges

Background: Living with robots has always been regarded as a science fiction theme, however due to rapid advances in technology it is becoming more of a reality. The use of robots in surgery dates back to more than 25 years, and has previously been of great assistance to humans in the fields of Aeronautics and Armed forces. An evolutionary step was made after collaboration between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Stanford Research Institute in the field of robotic-assisted surgery. Thereafter, more surgical specialties incorporated this technology in surgical procedures. The objective of this article is to review different applications, challenges, and the future of robotic surgery. Methods: We have used a systematic approach to look at the most relevant published articles regarding robotic-assisted surgery. This review has taken 26 articles into consideration that have met the inclusion criteria of using of robotic- assisted technology in surgical procedures. Conclusion: Robotic surgery is being used in numerous surgical fields such as pediatrics, urology, cardiovascular surgery, gynecology, otolaryngology, general surgery and orthopedics. It has resulted in a reduction in length of stay, post-operative complication and scarring. However, for achieving optimal outcomes, further development in improving the sensory feedback and reducing the lag time during the transmission of long-range telesurgery is required.

Synthesis, physical and chemical properties of 5-(adamantane-1-yl)-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol derivatives

Implementation of new highly efficient drugs in medical practice is one of the most urgent problems of modern pharmaceutical industry. Scientific achievements of heterocyclic compounds’ chemistry clearly show that 1,2,4-triazole system is promising object of such research. It should be also noted that compounds, with adamantane core deserve special attention.The aim of our work was to synthesize new derivatives of 5-(adamantan-1-yl)-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiols, and to investigate their physical and chemical properties.Materials and methods. Chemical names of compounds are given in accordance with IUPAC nomenclature (1979) and the IUPAC recommendations (1993). Study of physical-chemical properties of obtained compounds was carried out in accordance with methods listed in the State Pharmacopia of Ukraine. Melting point was determined on the automatic device for determining the melting temperature Stanford Research Systems OptiMelt MPA100 (manufacturing USA). Elemental composition of new compounds was established on the elemental analyzer Elementar Vario EL cube (CHNS) (standard – sulfanilamide). The data of elemental analysis correspond to the calculated one. 1H NMR spectra of compounds were recorded using spectrometer Mercury 400. Chromato-mass spectra were recorded on a spectrometer Agilent 6890N/5973N/FID production of Agilent Technologies.Results. The concept of creating biologically active molecules is first of all directed on combining fragments of different molecules in one. Theoretically, this could lead to the new types of compounds with pharmacological action, and sometimes to the potentiation of existing biological properties. Further actions are focused on the physical and chemical properties study of these compounds. To establish the structure of 5-(adamantan-1-yl)-4-((aryl-, heteryl)ilyden)-amino-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiols we used an integrated approach with the use of modern physical and chemical methods of analysis. Individuality of compounds in each case is confirmed by chromatography. The results of the chromatographic investigations showed that in all cases the constants of pseudo molecular ions peaks of obtained 5-(adamantan-1-yl)-4-((aryl-, heteryl)yliden)amino-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiols coincide with theoretical calculations of molecular masses.Conclusions. New 5-(adamantan-1-yl)-4-((aryl-, heteryl)yliden)amino-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiols have been synthesized, their structure and individuality has been confirmed by complex of modern physical-chemical methods of analysis. In all cases, the values of the investigated physical-chemical constants coincide with the calculated ones.

Application of the developed CFD analysis methodology to H2 explosion accidents in an open space

We developed a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis methodology for predicting an overpressure buildup due to a hydrogen explosion as well as the blast wave propagation from the near field to the far field of the hydrogen explosion site with an error range of about ±30% on the basis of test results with the small-scale obstacle at the stoichiometry condition in an open space in the previous research. In this paper, we confirmed the applicability of the developed CFD analysis method to the evaluation of the safety distance between a VHTR (Very High Temperature Reactor) and a hydrogen production facility through the CFD analysis conducted on the HTTR (High Temperature Test Reactor) and the hydrogen production facility in JAEA (Japan Atomic Energy Agency) under an assumption of a hypothetical hydrogen explosion. The application study showed physically reasonable results when compared to the test data performed by SRI (Stanford Research Institute) International, and the CFD analysis methodology is a more useful tool in the evaluation of the safety distance than the MEM (Multi-Energy Method) because the MEM has some drawbacks that it cannot predict an asymmetric explosion phenomenon due to a complicated geometry and an ambient temperature effect on an overpressure buildup. Finally, the developed CFD analysis methodology will be applied to evaluate the safety distance between a VHTR and a hydrogen production facility after KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Reaches Institute) completes a design work of a VHTR and a production facility.

THE DETERMINANTS OF WOMEN BEHAVIOR WHEN CHOOSING BEAUTY CARE COURSES

INTRODUCTION:The goal of this paper is to define the socioeconomic profile of woman and to determine the key drivers of a female behavior when selecting one of the beauty courses (massage, cosmetics, make -up, hair-styling and manicure-pedicure). The findings help professional beauty schools and private beauty institutes to create a new marketing perspective. Based on the results of this article, public or private schools can better understand the consumer behavior and they can create a new marketing strategy by linking company value to consumer needs. In the past, beauty had different meanings, trends, standards, all these depending on geographic region, culture, education, age, race and style. Today, the globalization offers to young people the possibility of creating their own style in terms of make-up, skin treatment or hair style, all empowered by the available technology of every beauty salon. (Miller, 2006)According to the U SA Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of specialists in beauty centers or beauty salons will increase with 14 percent by 2022. The employment rate will increase and the jobs in beauty industry in 2022 will jump by over 40 percent as compared to 2012.In this context, recent studies show that nowadays beauty and wellness services are no longer considered a luxury but a need. In order to prepare specialists in wellness and beauty industry there are two types of courses: unrecognized training courses (they are not recognized by the industry and students do not receive a diploma - this type of courses are organized in beauty salons or in small beauty institutes) and organized training courses where students receive official certification/diploma and where the beauty institute operates like a school.On wellness market, there are a lot of public and private beauty schools and training programs, wellness concepts, therapist trainings which include new and specific techniques in beauty and wellness industry. To have success, the specialists should follow business management programs, beauty services marketing and customer communication programs. (KPMG, 2007; SRI International, 2010)Based on this assessment of the business and educational environment, this study aims to give a clear and realistic picture on how women make decision to follow a beauty program. Based on obtained results, specific beauty companies can implement marketing strategies to offer courses with an improved quality of teaching and help women with advices.LITERATURE REVIEW:THE DEVELOPMENT OF BEAUTY INDUSTRY:Wellness industry includes spas, complementary and alternative medicine, healthy diet/nutrition, preventive behavior, medical tourism, wellness tourism, workplace wellness, fitness industry, beauty & anti-aging industry. The last segment is one of the most important and largest segments of wellness industry. The entire industry refers to health, relaxation and the mental health of consumers, which increase the quality of life and develop a well-being feeling for the people who use these services. (SRI International, 2010; Cohen & Bodker, 2008)In 2010, at Global Spa Summit conference, beauty and anti -aging market was estimated to generate revenues of $679.1 billion. For the next period, beauty industry and the employment rate in this industry are expected to grow. In future, the new opportunities will appear as more people believe that beauty ritual is an escape from the daily routine (SRI International, 2010; Steers et al. 2010).In 2016, American Massage Therapy Association estimates a growth with an average rate of 3.6 percent in comparison with 2015. The development of beauty and wellness industry determines the increase of demand for professional specific courses. In 2015 in United Stated were between 300 and 350 accredited massage therapy schools and programs, the employment rate increased to 19 percent from since 2011 and continues to increase with an average rate of 3. …

The March of IDES: Early History of Intrusion-Detection Expert Systems

As part of a broader prehistory and history of early intrusion-detection systems (IDSs), this article focuses on the first such system, Intrusion Detection Expert System (IDES), which was developed in the second half of the 1980s at SRI International (and SRI's follow-on Next Generation Intrusion Detection Expert System, or NIDES, in the early-to-mid 1990s). It also briefly recounts other early IDSs and the National Security Agency's Computer Misuse and Anomaly Detection (CMAD) Program, and it analyzes the disproportionately high contributions of women scientists to leadership in IDS research and development relative to other computer security specialties.

Production of Solar-Grade Silicon by the SiF4 and Mg Reaction

Because crystalline Si substrate still accounts for a significant portion of the total cost of solar cells, substantial efforts have been invested in the development of new processes that can significantly lower the production cost of solar-grade silicon. At SRI International, we developed a low-cost process of producing solar-grade silicon based upon the SiF 4 -Na reaction. This process has now been scaled up to pilot-plant level, and solar cells obtained using such silicon feedstock reached > 18% efficiencies. Due to continuing increases in demand and production capacity and the simultaneous drop in price of Mg metal, we decided to explore its potential as a reducing agent instead of Na metal. Experimental conditions for obtaining a fast and complete metallothermic reaction between SiF4 and Mg are identified and aspects of the reaction mechanism are discussed. The reaction involves both a heterogeneous liquid-gas phase reaction and a homogeneous gas-gas phase reaction. The separation of the products, Si and MgF 2 , is described. When pure Mg was used, Si obtained after melt separation had the potential to be suitable for solar cell applications.

Two Early Interactive Computer Network Experiments

Two early networking experiments joined a time-sharing computer at the System Development Corporation with systems at the Stanford Research Institute briefly in 1963 and at MIT Lincoln Laboratory in 1966-1967. Both were influenced by J.C.R. Licklider's interest in resource sharing and included experiments with the interactive use of remote programs.

Age-Related Differences in Sleep Architecture and Electroencephalogram in Adolescents in the National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence Sample.

To investigate age-related differences in polysomnographic and sleep electroencephalographic (EEG) measures, considering sex, pubertal stage, ethnicity, and scalp topography in a large group of adolescents in the National Consortium on Alcohol and NeuroDevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA). Following an adaptation/clinical screening night, 141 healthy adolescents (12-21 y, 64 girls) had polysomnographic recordings, from which sleep staging and EEG measures were derived. The setting was the SRI International Human Sleep Laboratory and University of Pittsburgh Pediatric Sleep Laboratory. Older age was associated with a lower percentage of N3 sleep, accompanied by higher percentages of N2, N1, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Older boys compared with younger boys had more frequent awakenings and wakefulness after sleep onset, effects that were absent in girls. Delta (0.3-4 Hz) EEG power in nonrapid eye movement NREM sleep was lower in older than younger adolescents at all electrode sites, with steeper slopes of decline over the occipital scalp. EEG power in higher frequency bands was also lower in older adolescents than younger adolescents, with equal effects across electrodes. Percent delta power in the first NREM period was similar across age. African Americans had lower EEG power across frequency bands (delta to sigma) compared with Caucasians. Finally, replacing age with pubertal status in the models showed similar relationships. Substantial differences in sleep architecture and EEG were evident across adolescence in this large group, with sex modifying some relationships. Establishment and follow-up of this cohort allows the investigation of sleep EEG-brain structural relationships and the effect of behaviors, such as alcohol and substance use, on sleep EEG maturation.

NMR pioneers reflect on Silicon Valley: a conversation with Martin Packard and Weston Anderson.

NMR pioneers reflect on Silicon Valley: a conversation with Martin Packard and Weston Anderson.