Mechanical strength of silica fiber splices after exposure to extreme temperatures

By using a combination of type-I and regenerated gratings, the mechanical strength of optical fiber splices after exposure to temperatures over 1300 C was characterized. Splice strength was found to decrease with temperature with a secondorder polynomial dependence after exposure to environments hotter than 500 C. Splices exposed to temperatures above 1300 C were 80% more fragile than non-exposed splices. The lack of optical attenuation and the narrowing distribution of breaking strengths for higher temperatures suggest surface damage mechanisms, such as hydrolysis, play a key role in weakening post-heating and that damage mechanisms dominate over strengthening induced by crack melting

Mechanical strength of silica fiber splices after exposure to extreme temperatures

By using a combination of type-I and regenerated gratings, the mechanical strength of optical fiber splices after exposure to temperatures over 1300 °C was characterized. Splice strength was found to decrease with temperature with a secondorder polynomial dependence after exposure to environments hotter than 500 °C. Splices exposed to temperatures above 1300 °C were 80% more fragile than non-exposed splices. The lack of optical attenuation and the narrowing distribution of breaking strengths for higher temperatures suggest surface damage mechanisms, such as hydrolysis, play a key role in weakening post-heating and that damage mechanisms dominate over strengthening induced by crack melting. © 2012 SPIE

Incorporating Digital Learning Tools in Conjunction with Air Traffic Control Simulation

Learning and applying complex information at a fast rate can be challenging for students within an air traffic control - training program. Incorporating digital learning tools into an air traffic control training programs may increase student learning and success rates. Swivl is a digital learning capture tool designed to enhance student learning by allowing students to refer back to their individual classroom lab training session videos via an online portal. Embry Riddle’s air traffic program has started using Swivl in two separate ATC courses in order to determine if it is a viable solution to increase learning. During our research, we have come to the conclusion that Swivl is most useful in the air traffic control tower simulator, and has shown to be an effective learning tool thus far from the teacher’s perspective. Additional student feedback and analysis is forthcoming . Swivl has the potential to be an effective tool in ATC training and may enhance learning by allowing students to sharpen skills that are necessary to advance in the field of air traffic control. The air traffic control - training academy (used to train air traffic controllers hired by the federal government) has a high failure rate. Incorporating digital learning tools in that setting may increase success rates as well

Utilizing Guided Simulation in Conjunction with Digital Learning Tools in Air Traffic Control Training

For students in an air traffic control discipline, simulated training time is limited to in - class time and is divided among the entire class. Students are required to advance and obtain knowledge, skills, and abilities in the lab because there is almost no way to practice at home. All students learn at different rates as well as through different learning styles. Swivl is a digital learning/capture tool designed to enhance student learning by allowing students to refer back to the individual classroom lab training session via an online portal. Swivl is currently being used in two ATC Lab courses. There are two technological deficiencies that have arisen: (1) Swivl (in the Terminal Radar Approach Control and En - Route Radar environments) lacks the ability to record what is being said over the frequencies. (2) Swivl does not have the ability to focus on the radar scope targets. As a result, the students’ captures have a deficiency in visual clarity. However, the nature of the tower simulator does allow for better visual acuity and effective communication exchange within the Swivl capture

Multiple Myeloma Involving Skin and Pulmonary Parenchyma after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

Pulmonary involvement and skin involvement are rare complications of plasma cell neoplasms. Here we describe what may be the first reported case of a patient with relapse in both of these sites following autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

Integrating Unmanned Aircraft Operations into the National Airspace System

Commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are expected to dominate the National Airspace System (NAS) in the years to come. One particular barrier preventing integration of UAS into the NAS is the lack of standardized procedures for separating aircraft and communicating with ATC. In preparation for adopting unmanned flight operations into a complex control system, it is important to identify solutions to effectively control UAS in the NAS. The Joint UAS and ATC Team (JUAT) group has designed several simulated ATC scenarios in order to determine effective solutions for integration. Through the use of digitized radar display overlays that replicate the military grid reference system (MGRS) in conjunction with traditional airspace sectors/boundaries the JUAT is able to simulate UAS operations on a basic level

Competition between normal and intruder states inside the "Island of Inversion"

The beta decay of the exotic 30Ne (N=20) is reported. For the first time, the low-energy level structure of the N=19, 30Na (Tz = 4), is obtained from beta-delayed gamma spectroscopy using fragment-beta-gamma-gamma coincidences. The level structure clearly displays "inversion", i.e., intruder states with mainly 2p2h configurations displacing the normal states to higher excitation energies. The good agreement in excitation energies and the weak and electromagnetic decay patterns with Monte Carlo Shell Model calculations with the SDPF-M interaction in the sdpf valence space illustrates the small d3/2 - f7/2 shell gap. The relative position of the "normal dominant" and "intruder dominant" excited states provides valuable information to understand better the N=20 shell gap.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Adopting Unmanned Flight Operations into Controlled Airspace

Unmanned aircraft activity is becoming more common within the National Airspace System (NAS) and is expected to dominate the NAS in the near future. Specific procedures for adopting unmanned aircraft into the National Airspace System (NAS). A variation of the Military Grid Reference System was developed and digitally overlaid onto the radar display. To incorporate this grid system, a customized flight plan database was created for the storage of operator submitted flight plans. Instead of verbal communication, a computer chat system is used for communication because of the low altitude operations in the field. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has made UAS integration a top priority as they projected that the UAS market will reach 7 million systems by 2020. The JUAT is in the process of developing a conclusive solution that will help to safely adopt UAS