Space Mishaps: Apollo 1, Apollo 13, Challenger, and Columbia

The presentation was developed for speakers to use for outreach purposes. Discusses the accidents/mishaps with NASA's space craft,and lessons learnec

Evaluating Flood Forecasting System Performance in Cambodia

Every year, Cambodia experiences flooding as a result of monsoon rains and typhoons. Flood forecasting systems are designed to enable people to mitigate economic and social impacts from these events. However, in order for forecasts to be used effectively, an assessment of their accuracy is needed. This study demonstrates the performance of regional and global flood forecasting systems over the 2019 flood season. To do this, we assess the flood forecast accuracy at different forecast lead times and gauge locations in Cambodia. We then compare the flood forecast performance to satellite-based flood maps produced by the Hydrological Remote Sensing Analysis of Floods (HYDRAFloods) tool currently being co-developed by SERVIR-Mekong in collaboration with the Myanmar Department of Disaster Management. This assessment of the flood forecasting systems performance and comparison to flood extents helps (1) provide valuable information to forecasters and disaster managers as they make improvements to their models, and (2) provides support to forecast users as they evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different systems for taking action

An Evaluation of Estimation Data Collection when Measuring Problem Behavior in a Classroom Setting

The purpose of this study was to extend previous research comparing continuous data measurement to estimation data by comparing the two when measuring levels of problem behaviors in an applied group setting with three individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Many previous research studies have evaluated and confirmed the accuracy of momentary time-sampling data collection as compared to partial-interval recording for measuring problem behavior; however, to date, no research studies have evaluated the use of estimation data recording for measuring problem behavior. Estimation data was analyzed further by comparing it to data attained from common (in practice) discontinuous data (i.e., PIR and MTS) intervals. The results indicated that, as compared to continuous measurement, estimation data was moderately accurate and most closely aligned with 5s PIR data

The amateur competition movement: shaping identity through participation in the Manx music festival 1892-2005

The aim of this dissertation is to consider the thesis that the amateur competitive music festival is a contributor to the formation and maintenance of ideas and ideals of identity. The research begins by considering the advent, growth and spread of the amateur competition festival and how these festivals shaped the musical identity of the British Isles and the personal identity of those participating In the festivals. The dissertation then focuses upon the Isle of Man as the locus of the research considering how identity formation is a complex process shaped both by history "and the personal need to shape and form identity on a number of levels and suggest examples of how cultural identity can be expressed in differing ways. By considering identity formation found in and through the Manx Music Festival both historically and in the contemporary festival society, the research draws upon both primary and secondary source materials including historical documentation, on-site participant/observation, interviews, questionnaires and case studies. The results found have been formulated to present an ethnographic account of Identity formation and maintenance found in, around and through participation in the Manx Music Festival. Finally the research considers the experience of the researcher as an important part of the research process. The dissertation concludes by discussing the outcomes of the research and suggests how the research can be expanded and progressed in the future

Recognition and Comprehension of Speech in Noise in School-Aged Children with Unilateral Hearing Loss

Sentence recognition and auditory comprehension abilities of young adults with normal hearing (NH) and school-age children with NH and unilateral hearing loss (UHL) were tested in a mixed design. In Experiment 1, subjects’ sentence recognition abilities were measured in the presence of speech spectrum noise (SSN) and two-talker child babble (TTB) in co-located and spatially-separated target and masker configurations. In all conditions, reception thresholds for sentences (RTS) improved with age from six-to 12 years. Speech spectrum noise proved to be a more effective masker than TTB in all listening conditions, suggesting subjects were able to take advantage of temporal and spectral fluctuations in the masker. By 12 years of age, RTS appeared to be adult-like when children listened in the presence of SSN, but were still immature in TTB. Across all listening conditions, a majority of UHL subjects’ RTS fell outside ±1 standard deviation of the NH mean, indicating poorer performance for this group of listeners. Performance of UHL subjects heavily depended on spatial configuration and was poorest when the masker was directed towards their normal-hearing ear. In Experiment 2, subjects’ auditory comprehension abilities were measured in the presence of TTB at a variety of signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). When averaged across age, NH subjects performed similarly across the different listening conditions. For most UHL subjects, performance was similar to NH subjects in all comprehension tasks suggesting like NH subjects they made use of story context to support understanding even when audibility was compromised and likely took advantage of gaps in the TTB and spatial separation of the target and masker to better glimpse/hear the target. The findings of the current study improve our understanding of both simple and complex auditory abilities of school-aged children with NH and UHL in classroom-like, noisy environments. Furthermore measurable auditory deficits were detected in the study’s sample of children with UHL

Shared residential outdoor space : what residents do there and the features that support high levels of usage

Shared residential outdoor space (ROS) is an important resource, especially in urban areas where outdoor space is limited. This study investigates how well shared ROS is used by residents. Data was collected from 129 developments and streets using a postal questionnaire. 346 different areas within the selected sites were measured using the Carto tool of EDINA’s Digimap. Different types of layout were identified; the area of residential outdoor space available per dwelling was calculated and the distance along a walking route to the nearest shop and public open spaces was measured for each area. Aerial and birds-eye view satellite photographs from www.bing.com were used to assess greenness and tree cover and to confirm the layout and era of the buildings. 1328 valid questionnaires were returned. These are considered in three sets: shared ROS only; individual ROS only and both shared and individual ROS. Respondents with only shared ROS available report significantly lower levels of usage than respondents in the other two sets. Variables that vary across the sets and with levels of usage are identified. These are investigated using a casebased, rather than a variable-based method, using fsQCA software developed by Ragin (2008). This enables sets of variables linked with high and low usage of shared ROS to be identified. The most influential attributes are: area of ROS per dwelling, number of households sharing the ROS, greenness, maximum floor level of the dwelling and concerns about noise and privacy. Six interviews and consideration of nine specific developments show that uncertainty about what is ‘allowed’ and concerns about not upsetting neighbours are also inhibitors to using shared ROS. Recommendations are made for improving how well shared residential outdoor spaces are used

Fitting a COVID-19 Model Incorporating Senses of Safety and Caution to Local Data from Spartanburg County, South Carolina

Common mechanistic models include Susceptible-Infected-Removed (SIR) and Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Removed (SEIR) models. These models in their basic forms have generally failed to capture the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic\u27s multiple waves and do not take into account public policies such as social distancing, mask mandates, and the ``Stay-at-Home\u27\u27 orders implemented in early 2020. While the Susceptible-Vaccinated-Infected-Recovered-Deceased (SVIRD) model only adds two more compartments to the SIR model, the inclusion of time-dependent parameters allows for the model to better capture the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic when surveillance testing was common practice for a large portion of the population. We find that the SVIRD model with time-dependent and piecewise parameters accurately fits the 2019-2020 experimental data from Spartanburg County, South Carolina. These additions give insight into the changing social response toward the COVID-19 pandemic within Spartanburg County

Aging and Disability: The Paradoxical Positions of the Chronological Life Course

This paper explores aging and disability, problematizing the paradoxical tendency to separate and conflate these social locations in chronological understandings of the life course. Exploring how such thinking has shaped assumptions, responses, knowledge, policy and practice, we conclude with suggestions to reconsider disability across the life course and into late life

Cassini--Unlocking Saturn's Secrets

This presentation was designed for speakers to use for outreach purposes. Discusses the Cassini mission

Kennedy Space Center

Among 2011's many accomplishments, we safely retired the Space Shuttle Program after 30 incredible years; completed the International Space Station and are taking steps to enable it to reach its full potential as a multi-purpose laboratory; and helped to expand scientific knowledge with missions like Aquarius, GRAIL, and the Mars Science Laboratory. Responding to national budget challenges, we are prioritizing critical capabilities and divesting ourselves of assets no longer needed for NASA's future exploration programs. Since these facilities do not have to be maintained or demolished, the government saves money. At the same time, our commercial partners save money because they do not have to build new facilities. It is a win-win for everyone. Moving forward, 2012 will be even more historically significant as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Kennedy Space Center. In the coming year, KSC will facilitate commercial transportation to low-Earth orbit and support the evolution of the Space Launch System and Orion crew vehicle as they ready for exploration missions, which will shape how human beings view the universe. While NASA's Vision is to lead scientific and technological advances in aeronautics and space for a Nation on the frontier of discovery KSC's vision is to be the world's preeminent launch complex for government and commercial space access, enabling the world to explore and work in space. KSC's Mission is to safely manage, develop, integrate, and sustain space systems through partnerships that enable innovative, diverse access to space and inspires the Nation's future explorers