A study of wing body blending for an advanced supersonic transport

Increases in supersonic cruise lift drag ratio were sought at Mach numbers 2.2 and 2.7 using wing body planform and thickness blending. Constrained twist and camber optimization was performed in the presence of nacelles. Wing and fuselage thickness distributions were optimized for either minimum volume wave drag or minimum total pressure wave drag. The zero leading edge suction lift drag ratios were determined for three wing planforms. The magnitude of the effect of leading edge suction on attainable lift drag ratio was defined on one planform and estimation of available leading edge suction was made

Social-cognitive predictors of physical activity initiation in type 2 diabetes following diabetes self-management education : application of the health action process approach.

Type 2 diabetes presents a public health crisis and a global pandemic. Successful management of diabetes requires engagement in a daily regimen of self-care behaviors to achieve optimal glycemic control and to reduce the severity of diabetes-related complications. Regular engagement in physical activity has been demonstrated to improve glycemic control and overall quality of life among patients with diabetes. Diabetes self-management education (DSME) has become the hallmark for instructing patients with diabetes to engage in physical activity, yet physical activity patterns of DSME patients remains largely unknown. Further, it is unclear what factors could account for such behavior change in the DSME setting. Social-cognitive models of health behavior have attempted to explain behavior change such as physical activity initiation. One model, the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA), provides a parsimonious framework for understanding this process. The HAPA organizes key social-cognitive factors into a motivational stage, where a behavioral intention is formed, and a volitional stage, where self-regulatory processes such as action planning mediate the intention-behavior relationship, thereby translating intention into action. Using the HAPA as a theoretical framework, the present study sought to examine the key social-cognitive determinants of physical activity initiation among patients with type 2 diabetes after they participated in DSME. A longitudinal, multi-site prospective study design utilized written and telephone based surveys to assess HAPA constructs and physical activity in a DSME population. Participants were 152 adults with type 2 diabetes attending DSME classes in a mid-west metropolitan city. Results of this study revealed that several key social-cognitive factors, as conceptualized by the HAP A\u27s motivational stage, predicted the formation of a behavioral intention to engage in physical activity. Findings on the HAPA volitional stage constructs indicated that only behavioral intention predicted which participants met the minimum amounts of physical activity promoted in DSME. Additionally, the present study revealed physical activity initiation remains a problem among DSME participants. Future research is recommended to clarify the causal role and pathways of social-cognitive factors in the HAP A model to better understand physical activity initiation within the DSME population

A Comprehensive Examination of the Determinants and Consequences of Political Trust among Latinos

Political trust is an important concept in a representative democracy because it defines citizens’ expectations of their elected officials, their willingness to allow government to act on their behalf, and the quality of democratic accountability. Distrust, or when government outcomes fail to meet citizens\u27 expectations, has been linked to discontent and disaffection, and to a broad decline in the legitimacy of government institutions. Research consistently shows that Latinos are more trusting than non-Latinos--a finding which seems discordant in light of the socio-economic and cultural differences between these groups. The concept of expectations is especially interesting and useful in examining differences in levels of political trust among Latinos and non-Latinos. The literature on Latino trust lacks any comprehensive analysis of the determinants and consequences of political trust among Latinos. This dissertation attempts to answer the following questions: What are the determinants of political trust among Latinos? Why are Latinos more trusting of government than non-Latinos? What impact does political trust have on Latino policy preferences and vote choice? Utilizing survey data of Californians, evidence I find that acculturation and country-of-origin variables account for differences between Latinos and non-Latinos, and that socio-economic variables do not. Latinos of Mexican origin are less trusting that other Latinos. Political trust has a negative impact of Latino support for health care reform, but no impact on non-Latino policy preferences in this area. Once again, trust impacts Mexican and non-Mexican Latinos differently. Finally, I confirm the positive relationship between political trust and voting for an incumbent (the negative relationship between trust and support for a major or minor party challenger); this relationship is constant across Latino and non-Latino groups

Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Magnetic Properties of the Linear-Chain Cobalt Oxide Sr5Pb3CoO12

The novel spin-chain cobalt oxide Sr5Pb3CoO12 [P-62m, a = 10.1093(2) A and c = 3.562 51(9) A at 295 K] is reported. Polycrystalline sample of the compound was studied by neutron diffraction (at 6 and 295 K) and magnetic susceptibility measurements (5 to 390 K). The cobalt oxide was found to be analogous to the copper oxide Sr5Pb3CoO12, which is comprised of magnetic-linear chains at inter-chain distance of 10 A. Although the cobalt oxide chains (mu_eff of 3.64 mu_B per Co) are substantially antiferromagnetic (theta_W = -38.8 K), neither low-dimensional magnetism nor long-range ordering has been found; a local-structure disorder in the chains might impact on the magnetism. This compound is highly electrically insulating.Comment: To be published in J. Solid State Che