Design and evaluation of experimental ceramic automobile thermal reactors

The results obtained in an exploratory evaluation of ceramics for automobile thermal reactors are summarized. Candidate ceramic materials were evaluated in several reactor designs by using both engine-dynamometer and vehicle road tests. Silicon carbide contained in a corrugated-metal support structure exhibited the best performance, lasting 1100 hr in engine-dynamometer tests and more than 38,600 km (24000 miles) in vehicle road tests. Although reactors containing glass-ceramic components did not perform as well as those containing silicon carbide, the glass-ceramics still offer good potential for reactor use with improved reactor designs

Emotional and Spiritual Well-Being as Predictors of Burnout Among Doctoral Clinical Psychology Trainees

It has been observed in prior studies that student spiritual engagement and attribution tends to decline throughout graduate clinical training in psychology (Eisele, 2016; Fisk et al., 2013). This is problematic considering the inverse relationship between spirituality and stress (Calicchia & Graham, 2006) and the protection it provides against burnout. Also protective against burnout, and correlated with spirituality, is Emotional Intelligence (EI; Kaur, Sambasivan, & Kumar, 2013). Both EI and spirituality are related to lower burnout, less depression, and greater life-satisfaction (Kroska et al., 2017). Despite burnout being a common experience for graduate students in medical school (Amir, Kumari, Olivetta, & Mansoor, 2018; Kroska et al., 2017), few studies have considered possible underlying risk or protective factors against burnout among graduate students. This study evaluated the possible roles EI and spirituality may play in student burnout in 76 doctoral clinical psychology students. All but 1 of the 76 students who participated reported experiencing at least some symptoms of burnout over the course of their studies, though most did not reach a critical risk level. However, students who scored higher on both measures of EI and spirituality reported lower than average levels of burnout symptoms. EI had a large effect size in predicting group membership, while spirituality had a moderate effect size in predicting group membership. The two groups differed significantly in degree of burnout symptoms. Other studies’ findings that spirituality was lower in more advanced cohorts than in lower cohorts (Eisele, 2016; Fisk et al., 2013) were not replicated in this study; rather scores were significantly higher for more advanced cohorts, raising the possibility that prior studies may have found cohort differences rather than developmental changes. This study’s findings suggest that graduate clinical training programs may wish to increase their focus on enhancing student EI and spirituality as a way to improve clinical training, decrease student burnout, and minimize deleterious student training experiences

Optimal Stochastic Scheduling of Power Generation Systems with Scheduling Delays and Large Cost Differentials

The optimal scheduling or unit commitment of power generation systems to meet a random demand involves the solution of a class of dynamic programming inequalities for the optimal cost and control law. We study the behavior of this optimality system in terms of two parameters: (i) a scheduling delay, e.g., the startup time of a generation unit; and (ii) the relative magnitudes of the costs (operating or starting) of different units. In the first case we show that under reasonable assumptions the optimality system has a solution for all values of the delay, and, as the delay approaches zero, that the solutions converge uniformly to those of the corresponding system with no delays. In the second case we show that as the cost of operating or starting a given machine increases relative to the costs of the other machines, there is a point beyond which the expensive machine is not used, except in extreme situations. We give a formula for the relative costs that characterize this point. Moreover, we show that as the relative cost of the expensive machine goes to infinity the optimal cost of the system including the expensive machine approaches the optimal cost of the system without the machine

Integrated design of structures, controls, and materials

In this talk we shall discuss algorithms and CAD tools for the design and analysis of structures for high performance applications using advanced composite materials. An extensive mathematical theory for optimal structural (e.g., shape) design was developed over the past thirty years. Aspects of this theory have been used in the design of components for hypersonic vehicles and thermal diffusion systems based on homogeneous materials. Enhancement of the design methods to include optimization of the microstructure of the component is a significant innovation which can lead to major enhancements in component performance. Our work is focused on the adaptation of existing theories of optimal structural design (e.g., optimal shape design) to treat the design of structures using advanced composite materials (e.g., fiber reinforced, resin matrix materials). In this talk we shall discuss models and algorithms for the design of simple structures from composite materials, focussing on a problem in thermal management. We shall also discuss methods for the integration of active structural controls into the design process

NASA - The scientific image

Actual and desired influence of scientific community on decision making for NASA PROGRAMMIN

Neighborhood Disorganization, Atmosphere for Citizen Involvement and Satisfaction with Police Services

Previous research on satisfaction with police services has shown a variety of factors can be significant such as race, neighborhood disorganization, and fear of crime. Furthermore, policing that is visible can help community residents feel higher levels of security and order. Some cities have more fractured community-police relations in comparison to others nationwide. Recently, The City of Dallas Police Department has had several race-based incidents in the national media, and they have been working to increase citizen satisfaction with public safety and obtain community cooperation. Residents of Dallas were given surveys regarding satisfaction with police services, contact with police, fear of crime, atmosphere for citizen involvement, and neighborhood disorganization. Findings support some conclusions from previous research on satisfaction with police services. Namely, respondents who felt “listened to” reported greater satisfaction with police services. Results also revealed respondent’s perceptions of crime were significant predictors of satisfaction with police services. Finally, consistent with other research, level of neighborhood disorganization was also a significant predictor of satisfaction with police services. Our results indicate a respondent’s perception of the neighborhood and community they live in are more important factors than actual contact with law enforcement officials

Effect of forward motion on engine noise

Methods used to determine a procedure for correcting static engine data for the effects of forward motion are described. Data were analyzed from airplane flyover and static-engine tests with a JT8D-109 low-bypass-ratio turbofan engine installed on a DC-9-30, with a CF6-6D high-bypass-ratio turbofan engine installed on a DC-10-10, and with a JT9D-59A high-bypass-ratio turbofan engine installed on a DC-10-40. The observed differences between the static and the flyover data bases are discussed in terms of noise generation, convective amplification, atmospheric propagation, and engine installation. The results indicate that each noise source must be adjusted separately for forward-motion and installation effects and then projected to flight conditions as a function of source-path angle, directivity angle, and acoustic range relative to the microphones on the ground

Anatomy Word-Learning in Undergraduate Speech-Language Pathology Students

This study compared the effectiveness of a vocabulary list (i.e., explicit environment) to a textbook passage (i.e, authentic environment) for the initial exposure of domain-specific vocabulary from an anatomy textbook. Forty-two undergraduate Speech-Language Pathology students participated. The study\u27s materials are from Anatomy and Physiology for Speech Language and Hearing, fifth edition (Seikel et al., 2016). The selection is a subtopic on the topic of the anatomy of the cerebrum. Twenty-five vocabulary words within this section are bolded by the textbook to emphasize their importance. These words were targeted in the two different conditions, authentic (textbook) and explicit (vocabulary list). The gain scores from pretest to posttest between groups (i.e., authentic vs. explicit) were similar, and this was true of students with both high and low reading abilities, as measured by the reading score from the American College Testing (ACT). Student performance was highly variable, and many students performed poorly regardless of condition. The results of the study revealed no significant differences between participants who were in conditions that received vocabulary words within the context of a textbook or isolated in a list. This poor performance may be related to research design or student reading habits in general

Student Perceptions of Faculty, Staff, and Students Carrying Concealed Weapons on Campus

Reactions to gun violence and potential policies regarding gun control are often reactions to fear with schools being the focal point of gun control dialogue. From elementary schools to college campuses, the concealed carry debate exists. Should we allow staff, faculty, and at the college-level, students to carry concealed guns? Students at a private college in Florida were surveyed in regards to their attitudes towards concealed carry and campus safety. We tested a number of hypotheses related to how much time students spend being exposed to media, student perceptions of safety, and their attitudes toward concealed weapons on campus. Results show low levels of support for armed campus safety and concealed weapons for faculty among our student sample. Students were even less comfortable with other students being armed on campus. In support of previous research, conservative students were more likely to believe the media spends too much time covering gun violence. While our results show mixed support of previous research on concealed weapons our findings are particularly interesting due to our close proximity to two recent mass shootings in Florida