The X-56A DART: Dynamically-scaled Aircraft for Research and Testing is a project where our team was tasked with creating a half-size dynamically scaled working model of the X-56A MUTT (Multi Utility Technological Testbed), a research aircraft operated by NASA and developed by Lockheed Martin. We were tasked with not only developing the exact 50% scale model, but also the creation of a straight wing version of the aircraft with the same aerodynamic characteristics. In order to accomplish this, a tail was added, the wing span and chord length investigated, and the internals and landing gear designed from scratch. For support of the internals and to absorb the loads experienced by the plane during all aspects of flight, a "stress grid" was devised and made from balsa wood, carbon fiber, and fiberglass. To solve the issue that NASA had with landing gear positioning during takeoff and because of the changing center of gravity for different planforms of the DART, a sliding track mechanism was developed for the main landing gear. Finally, construction of the straight-wing plane was started. Molds were designed and cut for the aircraft, and the fuselage was successfully constructed out of fiberglass.

Down syndrome (DS) is a chromosomal aberration that causes learning disability and neurodegeneration. Previous studies suggest that the overexpression of the dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) contributes to the early onset of DS symptoms. This study was conducted to find key binding interactions between DYRK1A and both AMP-PNP and the novel inhibitor DYR219. X-ray quality crystals of DYRK1A-AMPPNP and preliminary crystals of DYRK1A-DYR219 complexes were obtained. The crystal structure of the DYRK1A-AMPPNP complex was determined at a resolution of 2.7 Å. The structure identifies residues involved in the binding of AMP-PNP. Ser169, Glu239, and Leu241 form a hydrogen bond network with the ATP analogue. Asn292 and Asp307 coordinate the AMP-PNP molecule via a Mg#$ ion. Finally, a hydrophobic pocket binds the adenine ring of the AMP-PNP molecule. The structure of the DYRK1A-AMPPNP complex was compared with other DYRK1A structures to identify differences in conformation of the protein and ligand binding. ATP binding sites for various kinases from the CMGC group were also compared to identify similarities and differences in the ATP pocket. The structure of the DYRK1A-AMPPNP complex showed a distinct conformation at residue Phe170 and movement in the activation loop. Successful crystallization of the DYRK1A-DYR219 complex should result in a crystal structure and will enable detailed characterization of binding of DYR219 in the ATP pocket. These data are fundamental for the designing of new potent DYRK1A inhibitors.

This work describes a software engine which works with textual documents containing historical information. The purpose of this work three-fold: firstly to show the validity of the developed engine to correctly identify and label the entities of the universe of discourse with a labelled-combined XTM-DITA model. Secondly to analyze the improvements achieved in the interaction between people (users) and computers with a practical application of the designed methodology to a real-world problem in the semantic web area and thirdly to plan its future integration into a traceability system.

A y,Ȳ diagram analysis has been made of two -surface optical systems. The surfaces are spherical and are rotationally symmetric about the optical axis. When the systems are normalized and one of the conjugate planes is at infinity, unique relationships exist between the radii and separations of the optical systems and the y,Ȳ diagram parameters. The aberration coefficients are obtained in terms of the first-order constraints of the y,Ȳ diagram. The y,Ȳ diagram parameters of two-surface systems having zero third-order spherical aberration are represented by a one -parameter family of solutions. The pupil position may be obtained by eliminating zero third-order astigmatism. When the two two-surface systems are placed back to back, each system having zero third -order spherical aberration, a free parameter defines the relationship between the two systems.