The purpose of this thesis was to investigate certain aspects of risk programming. In the computational example, experimental data based on varietal tests were used to obtain estimates of the variances of net revenue of the various crops considered. As was expected, the consideration of risk increased the importance of corn, the crop with the lowest unit level variance, and decreased the importance of tomatoes, a comparatively high risk crop. In the risk program, the total revenue was, of course, decreased, but the expected utility was increased and the standard deviation of the net revenue was substantially decreased. The risk program also requires less capital and labor than the no-risk program. An opportunity curve was formed by joining several points of tangency between the opportunity line and indifference curve corresponding to utility functions with different values of the risk aversion constant “a”. This opportunity curve represents combinations of net revenue and the variance of net revenue which are available to the entrepreneur. An entrepreneur could choose a point on the curve which to him represents the best combination of net revenue and variance. In doing so, he will effectively be choosing his own risk aversion constant and corresponding optimal program. By this procedure, the difficulty of hypothesising an incorrect risk aversion constant can be avoided. Computational shortcuts for arriving at optimum programs for various risk aversion constants were developed as were methods for varying the price of a process and the availability of a scarce resource. / Master of Science

An investigation was conducted in the Langley 8-foot transonic tunnels to determine the aerodynamic loading characteristics of a thin conical cambered low-aspect-ratio delta wing in combination with a basic body and a body indented symmetrically for a Mach number of 1.2 in accordance with the supersonic area rule. The tests were conducted at Mach numbers from 0.60 to 1.12 and at 1.43 and at angles of attack generally from -4° to 20°. The wing vas conically cambered over the outboard 15 percent of each semispan. The wing had an aspect ratio of 2.31, 60° sweepback of the leading edge, and had NACA 65A003 airfoil sections parallel to the model plane of symmetry over the uncambered portion. The results of this investigation indicate that a leading-edge separation vortex forms at moderate angles of attack and causes the shape of the span load distribution to change markedly. Significant center of pressure movements are noted at transonic speeds. Indenting the body in accordance with the supersonic area rule had little effect on the aerodynamic loading characteristics. Comparisons with expert mental data for a similar plane wing indicates that the cambered wing is considerably more effective than the plane wing in utilizing the leading edge suction forces to produce thrust. A comparison between experimental and theoretical results indicates fair agreement around sonic speeds. / Master of Science

no abstract provided by author / Master of Science

A method of measuring the negative-sequence current in an unbalanced three-phase circuit. A four-winding current transformer, in conjunction with a phase shift network and an alternating current ammeter, was used for obtaining a current proportional to, and in phase with, the negative-sequence current. After calibration, readings were taken of the three line currents in a three-phase three-wire circuit and of the current in the negative-sequence ammeter. The negative-sequence current. was calculated from the line currents and compared with the ammeter reading. The difference between the two values, in most cases, was less than five per cent of the ammeter reading. It was found that. the circuit had to be calibrated for each type of ammeter used. It was concluded that direct readings of negative-sequence currents can be made with accuracy consistent with commercial requirements. / Master of Science

A theoretical investigation of the asymmetry of induced flow in the vicinity of a lifting rotor in forward flight has been conducted. The analysis is based upon an asymmetric wake which is a logical extension of that used for previous investigations. Equations for the induced velocities at an arbitrary point in space are presented in a form suitable for numerical integration. Numerical results for the normal induced velocity in the lateral plane of the rotor are presented in the form of tables and charts. Comparison with previously available measurements indicates an improvement in accuracy over older theories. The results should be useful in estimating the interference between wing and rotor of compound helicopters and convertiplanes. In addition the results should be applicable to the problem of mutual interference between rotors of multi-rotor helicopters. / Master of Science

Ten strains of anaerobic, gram negative, monotrichous, butyric acid-producing curved rods have been isolated from ingesta of the bovine rumen. These 10 strains of butyrivibrio represented 1/5 of all isolates at 1 x 10⁻⁸ dilutions. Morphological and physiological characteristics of the 10 strains and a strain isolated by gill and king (1958) have also been studied. No two of the isolates were identical in all reactions. Most of the organisms produced a large amount of butyric and some lactic, formic, propionic and succinic acids with the utilization of acetic acid in a rumen fluid glucose medium. The fermentation carried on by these organisms was sensitive to most tested environmental changes. Studies with buffered rumen fluid-glucose media demonstrated a shift of the fermentation products with pH. Addition of fatty acids to this medium indicated that these organisms were active in the conversion of acetate and possibly propionate to butyrate. Two strains apparently had the ability to produce propionate at the expense of lactate. The results of the fermentation tests in 98 per cent rumen fluid medium showed that the tested strains used acetic (plus formic) or lactic (plus succinic) to produce butyric or propionic acid, and produced higher concentrations of fatty acids under a carbon dioxide atmosphere than under nitrogen. When rumen fluid and acetic acid were absent all strains had the ability to produce either formic or acetic acid. / Master of Science

no abstract provided by author / Master of Science

no abstract provided by author / Master of Science

no abstract provided by the author / Master of Science

A six-stage axial-flow compressor with a 550 feet per second tip speed and a flat operating characteristic (constant stagnation-pressure ratio at constant speed over the operating range of the compressor) was designed and tested. The design theory and test results are presented in this thesis. It was designed for a constant power input per pound of flow regardless of mass flow. The design specific weight flow was 21.1 pounds per second per square foot of frontal area with an atmospheric discharge at an overall stagnation-pressure ratio of 3.25 and an inlet hub-tip radius ratio of 0.7. In order to reach design conditions the blade setting angles were reset and the machining notches at the root of the first three rotor blades were filled. In an attempt to increase the flat operating range of the compressor, the blade setting angles of the first two stages were increased and those of the last two stages were decreased. Also, the solidity of the first rotor was decreased. / Master of Science