Conceptual modelling: framework, principles, and future research

The conceptual modelling task in a simulation project is very important and yet is still generally regarded as more of an art than a science. The meaning and nature of conceptual modelling are discussed and a framework set out. The overall aim should be to choose the best model for the project and conceptual modelling can be viewed as a difficult optimisation problem that can be tackled effectively using a creative search process that develops alternative models and predicts their performance throughout the project. An experiment relating model characteristics to some aspects of performance is described and this type of experiment may inform the process of predicting model performance. Based on advice from the literature and my own previous work on conceptual modelling 17 principles of conceptual modelling are suggested. Conceptual modelling research is still at an early stage and ideas for future research are proposed

Experimental prediction of performance by superconducting cables

Broken superconductor method of short sample testing makes possible the prediction of the performance of well cooled, stabilized, superconducting cable coils. It yields a field-versus-current curve for a short sample of cable. Plots are given for the superconductor and copper currents at various magnetic field strengths

Pre-processing of Wallops Station AN/FPQ-6 GEOS 2 data

Preprocessing, operation, and calibration procedures for Wallops radar syste

Applicability of Skylab remote sensing for detection and monitoring of surface mining activities

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Applicability of satellite remote sensing for monitoring surface mining activities

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Feasibility of making sound power measurements in the NASA Langley V/STOL tunnel test section

Based on exploratory acoustic measurements in Langley's V/STOL wind tunnel, recommendations are made on the methodology for making sound power measurements of aircraft components in the closed tunnel test section. During airflow, tunnel self-noise and microphone flow-induced noise place restrictions on the amplitude and spectrum of the sound source to be measured. Models of aircraft components with high sound level sources, such as thrust engines and powered lift systems, seem likely candidates for acoustic testing

The Early Promise of TBRI Implementation in Schools

The program known as Trust Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) began as an exploration into the detrimental behaviors of foster and adopted children placed in homes with unsuspecting caregivers who assumed their living environment would result in positive results rather than fear based emotions and behaviors. The researchers at the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development (KPICD) at Texas Christian University held summer camps for adopted children and through that work developed an intervention to meet the needs of children who had experienced trauma. KPICD identifies these young people as “children from hard places” (Purvis & Cross, 2005). Copeland et al (2007) reported that an estimated 68% of children in the United States have experienced some sort of trauma. This astounding statistic holds great meaning for teachers and administrators, because these children from hard places routinely manifest aggressive and undesired behaviors due to an altering of their physiology. The literature on TBRI® at this point mostly has chronicled success with families, group homes and summer camps (McKenzie, Purvis, & Cross, 2014; Howard, Parris, Neilson, Lusk, Bush, Purvis & Cross, 2014; Purvis & Cross, 2006). TBRI® has only recently been implemented in school settings. This report provides an overview of the impacts of trauma, trauma related work in schools, and the four articles published to this point related to the use of TBRI® in schools

Continuously operating induction plasma accelerator Patent

Continuous operation, single phased, induction plasma accelerator producing supersonic speed

The rocks from space initiative and the space safari

This paper reports the successes of a new initiative in the UK using electronic resources, such as virtual learning environments and e-classrooms, for planetary and space science public engagement activities

A parsec-scale flow associated with the IRAS 16547-4247 radio jet

IRAS 16547-4247 is the most luminous (6.2 x 10^4 Lsun) embedded young stellar object known to harbor a thermal radio jet. We report the discovery using VLT-ISAAC of a chain of H_2 2.12 um emission knots that trace a collimated flow extending over 1.5 pc. The alignment of the H_2 flow and the central location of the radio jet implies that these phenomena are intimately linked. We have also detected using TIMMI2 an isolated, unresolved 12 um infrared source towards the radio jet . Our findings affirm that IRAS 16547-4247 is excited by a single O-type star that is driving a collimated jet. We argue that the accretion mechanism which produces jets in low-mass star formation also operates in the higher mass regime.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJL, 10 pages, 2 figure