Technology transfer and other public policy implications of multi-national arrangements for the production of commercial airframes

A study to examine the question of technology transfer through international arrangements for production of commercial transport aircraft is presented. The likelihood of such transfer under various representative conditions was determined and an understanding of the economic motivations for, effects of, joint venture arrangements was developed. Relevant public policy implications were also assessed. Multinational consortia with U.S. participation were focused upon because they generate the full range of pertinent public issues (including especially technology transfer), and also because of recognized trends toward such arrangements. An extensive search and analysis of existing literature to identify the key issues, and in-person interviews with executives of U.S. and European commercial airframe producers was reviewed. Distinctions were drawn among product-embodied, process, and management technologies in terms of their relative possibilities of transfer and the significance of such transfer. Also included are observations on related issues such as the implications of U.S. antitrust policy with respect to the formation of consortia and the competitive viability of the U.S. aircraft manufacturing industry

Economic analysis of aeronautical research and technology

The appropriateness of government intervention in the civilian market for aeronautics research and technology (R&T) is examined. The economic rationale for government intervention is examined. The conclusion is that the institutional role played by NASA in civilian aeronautics R&T markets is economically justified

Surface reactivity of tributyl thiophosphate: effects of temperature and mechanical stress

The surface reactivity of tributyl thiophosphate on iron surfaces has been studied in situ by attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and temperature-programmed reaction and desorption spectroscopies. The results show that at temperatures lower than 373K the molecule forms a physisorbed layer on the iron substrate. At 373K a reaction takes place with the formation of an organic layer, together with iron polyphosphate and sulfate. At higher temperatures temperature-programmed desorption results suggest that the mechanism involves P-O bond scission to yield butoxy groups. This could be preceded by P=S bond scission to give tributyl phosphite, which then, in turn, undergoes P-O bond scission to produce butoxy groups. The results obtained following tribological testing are in agreement with those of thermal tests: evidence of polyphosphate and sulfate formation is foun

Atomic-Scale Picture of the Composition, Decay, and Oxidation of Two-Dimensional Radioactive Films

Two-dimensional radioactive (125)I monolayers are a recent development that combines the fields of radiochemistry and nanoscience. These Au-supported monolayers show great promise for understanding the local interaction of radiation with 2D molecular layers, offer different directions for surface patterning, and enhance the emission of chemically and biologically relevant low-energy electrons. However, the elemental composition of these monolayers is in constant flux due to the nuclear transmutation of (125)I to (125)Te, and their precise composition and stability under ambient conditions has yet to be elucidated. Unlike I, which is stable and unreactive when bound to Au, the newly formed Te atoms would be expected to be more reactive. We have used electron emission and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to quantify the emitted electron energies and to track the film composition in vacuum and the effect of exposure to ambient conditions. Our results reveal that the Auger electrons emitted during the ultrafast radioactive decay process have a kinetic energy corresponding to neutral Te. By combining XPS and scanning tunneling microscopy experiments with density functional theory, we are able to identify the reaction of newly formed Te to TeO2 and its subsequent dimerization. The fact that the Te2O4 units stay intact during major lateral rearrangement of the monolayer illustrates their stability. These results provide an atomic-scale picture of the composition and mobility of surface species in a radioactive monolayer as well as an understanding of the stability of the films under ambient conditions, which is a critical aspect in their future applications

Nanofriction mechanisms derived from the dependence of friction on load and sliding velocity from air to UHV on hydrophilic silicon

This paper examines friction as a function of the sliding velocity and applied normal load from air to UHV in a scanning force microscope (SFM) experiment in which a sharp silicon tip slides against a flat Si(100) sample. Under ambient conditions, both surfaces are covered by a native oxide, which is hydrophilic. During pump-down in the vacuum chamber housing the SFM, the behavior of friction as a function of the applied normal load and the sliding velocity undergoes a change. By analyzing these changes it is possible to identify three distinct friction regimes with corresponding contact properties: (a) friction dominated by the additional normal forces induced by capillarity due to the presence of thick water films, (b) higher drag force from ordering effects present in thin water layers and (c) low friction due to direct solid-solid contact for the sample with the counterbody. Depending on environmental conditions and the applied normal load, all three mechanisms may be present at one time. Their individual contributions can be identified by investigating the dependence of friction on the applied normal load as well as on the sliding velocity in different pressure regimes, thus providing information about nanoscale friction mechanisms

The Grizzly, April 27, 2017

Ursinus Makes Changes to Graduation • Mellon Foundation Awards College Grant for New Core Curriculum • Grizzly Interview with President Brock Blomberg • Recent Volunteer Efforts are Revitalizing the Organic Farm • First-Person Perspective: Student Finds Comfort and Solidarity at D.C. March for Science • History Professor Shares Love for Music with the Campus • Opinions: Neutrality is Not Enough to Stop World-Wide Fascism; Future of Ursinus Requires Us to Accept Change • Two-Sport Athlete Raises Money for Next Off-the-Field Hurdlehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1668/thumbnail.jp

Moderate-vigorous physical activity and health-related quality of life among Hispanic/Latino adults in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL).

BackgroundPhysical activity is a modifiable healthy behavior that has been shown to positively influence health-related quality of life. However, research examining the link between physical activity and health-related quality of life among Hispanic/Latino adults is limited and inconsistent. The purpose of this study is to assess whether accelerometer-measured moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with self-reported (a) mental health-related quality of life, and (b) physical health-related quality of life among diverse Hispanic/Latino adults in the US.MethodsCross-sectional data from 12,379 adults ages 18-74 years in 2008-2011, who participated in HCHS/SOL and had complete data were analyzed using complex survey design methods. Accelerometer data were categorized into no MVPA, low, moderate, and high MVPA. Health-related quality of life was assessed with the Short-Form 12 and we used the mental and physical component subscales where higher scores indicate better health-related quality of life. Multivariate linear regression models were used to derive adjusted means with 95% confidence intervals and linear trends.ResultsWe observed no significant linear trend between accelerometer-measured MVPA and mental health-related quality of life (ptrend = 0.73). There was a significant positive association between MVPA and physical health-related quality of life (ptrend < 0.001) where higher MVPA corresponded with higher scores in physical health-related quality of life. The adjusted means were 46.67 (44.85-48.48) for no MVPA, 49.33 (49.03-49.63) for low MVPA, 50.61 (50.09-51.13) for moderate MVPA, and 51.36 (50.86-51.86) for high MVPA.ConclusionsAmong diverse Hispanic/Latino adults in the US, accelerometer-measured MVPA was associated with physical health-related quality of life, but not mental health-related quality of life. Future interventions should evaluate if increases in MVPA lead to improvements in health-related quality of life