The Coverings of an Empire: An Examination of Ottoman Headgear from 1500 to 1829

This paper investigates the socio-economic and religious implications of hats worn in the Ottoman Empire from the mid-sixteenth century to 1829, when they were all replaced with the legendary fez. It acts as an initial compendium, drawing heavily from primary sources to explain who wore which style of headgear and why

Camels In North America: The Effects of Islam & Globalism on U.S. State Law

A paper detailing the introduction of camels to the U.S in the 1850s as part of an army experiment and their effect of Nevada\u27s state laws

A noise study of the A-6 airplane and techniques for reducing its aural detection distance

A study was undertaken to determine the noise reduction potential of the A-6 airplane in order to reduce its aural detection distance. Static and flyby noise measurements were taken to document the basic airplane signature. The low-frequency noise which is generally most critical for aural detection was found to be broad-band in nature from this airplane, and its source is the turbojet engine exhaust. High-frequency compressor noise, which is characteristic of turbojet powerplants, and which is prominent at close range for this airplane, has no measurable effect on aural detection distance. The use of fluted-engine exhaust nozzles to change the far-field noise spectra is suggested as a possible means for reducing the aural detection distances. Detection distances associated with eight-lobe and four-lobe nozzles are estimated for a 1,000-foot altitude and grassy terrain to decrease from 4 miles to about 3 miles, and from 3 miles to about 2 miles for a 300-foot altitude and grassy terrain

The \u3ci\u3eQuid Pro Quo Quark\u3c/i\u3e: Unstable Elementary Particle of Honest Services Fraud

From 1946 to 1987, the federal mail fraud statute, 18 U.S.C. § 1341, was a powerful tool for the prosecution of political corruption. In a line of decisions beginning with the Fifth Circuit’s in Shushan v. United States, and ending with the Supreme Court’s decision in McNally v. United States, courts upheld the use of the statute to prosecute officials who had deprived the public of its “intangible right” to the official’s “honest services.” In 1988, after the Supreme Court held this theory unconstitutionally vague in McNally, Congress enacted § 1346, intending to restore “honest services fraud” doctrine to its pre-McNally expanse. Yet in the 2010 case of Skilling v. United States, the Supreme Court narrowed 18 U.S.C. § 1346 to prohibit only the “core” of honest services fraud: bribery and kickback schemes. This Comment argues that, in reining in honest services fraud in the Skilling decision to bribery and kickbacks, the Supreme Court left open a fundamental question at the heart of honest services fraud: whether and to what extent prosecution under that law requires proof of a “quid pro quo.” This Comment argues that the Third Circuit’s “stream of benefits” theory of bribery strikes the right balance between the vagueness problems that the court addressed in McNally and Skilling, and Congress’s intent to cast a wide net to fight political corruption in enacting § 1346

Noise reduction studies for the U-10 airplane

A study was undertaken by the NASA Langley Research Center to determine the noise reduction potential of the U-10 airplane in order to reduce its aural detection distance. Static and flyover noise measurements were made to document the basic airplane noise signature. Two modifications to the airplane configuration are suggested as having the best potential for substantially reducing aural detection distance with small penalty to airplane performance or stability and control. These modifications include changing the present 3-blade propeller to a 5-blade propeller, changing the propeller diameter, and changing the propeller gear ratio, along with the use of an engine exhaust muffler. The aural detection distance corresponding to normal cruising flight at an altitude of 1,000 ft over grassy terrain is reduced from 28,000 ft (5.3 miles) to about 50 percent of that value for modification 1, and to about 25 percent for modification 2. For the aircraft operating at an altitude of 300 ft, the analysis indicates that relatively straightforward modifications could reduce the aural detection distance to approximately 0.9 mile. Operation of the aircraft at greatly reduced engine speed (1650 rpm) with a 1.3-cu-ft muffler provides aural detection distances slightly lower than modification 1

The \u3ci\u3eQuid Pro Quo Quark\u3c/i\u3e: Unstable Elementary Particle of Honest Services Fraud

From 1946 to 1987, the federal mail fraud statute, 18 U.S.C. § 1341, was a powerful tool for the prosecution of political corruption. In a line of decisions beginning with the Fifth Circuit’s in Shushan v. United States, and ending with the Supreme Court’s decision in McNally v. United States, courts upheld the use of the statute to prosecute officials who had deprived the public of its “intangible right” to the official’s “honest services.” In 1988, after the Supreme Court held this theory unconstitutionally vague in McNally, Congress enacted § 1346, intending to restore “honest services fraud” doctrine to its pre-McNally expanse. Yet in the 2010 case of Skilling v. United States, the Supreme Court narrowed 18 U.S.C. § 1346 to prohibit only the “core” of honest services fraud: bribery and kickback schemes. This Comment argues that, in reining in honest services fraud in the Skilling decision to bribery and kickbacks, the Supreme Court left open a fundamental question at the heart of honest services fraud: whether and to what extent prosecution under that law requires proof of a “quid pro quo.” This Comment argues that the Third Circuit’s “stream of benefits” theory of bribery strikes the right balance between the vagueness problems that the court addressed in McNally and Skilling, and Congress’s intent to cast a wide net to fight political corruption in enacting § 1346