Rigidizable Inflatable Get-Away-Special Experiment (RIGEX) Post Flight Analysis, Ground Testing, Modeling, and Future Applications

The Rigidizable Inflatable Get-Away-Special EXperiment (RIGEX) Space Shuttle experiment was run successfully onboard STS-123 (Endeavour) in March 2008. The objective of this thesis is to analyze the space flight and post space flight test data, correlate the data to previous ground tests, and update finite element models. In turn, this research will help demonstrate the feasibility of using lightweight and low stowage volume (high packaging ratio) inflatable/rigidizable space structures in remote sensing applications. RIGEX was an Air Force Institute of Technology graduate-student-built Space Shuttle cargo bay experiment intended to heat and inflate three 20-inch long carbon fiber tubes in a microgravity environment. Designed to measure the individual tubes\u27 structural characteristics and deployed configuration, pressure, temperature, vibration response, and physical alignment data were all collected successfully on-orbit and are presented in comparison to pre- and post flight ground test data. Using the space and ground test results, previously developed finite element models of the tubes are updated and models of mission oriented structures are created for trade study purposes. RIGEX successfully accomplished its mission statement by validating the heating and inflation methods of the inflatable/rigidizable tubes, and successfully met all other primary and secondary research objectives

Microglia and fractalkine involvement in shaping multimodal midbrain circuitry

Microglial cells (MGCs) are highly dynamic and have been implicated in shaping discrete neural maps in several systems. MGCs respond to numerous cues in their microenvironment, including a neuronally-expressed chemokine, CX3CL1 (fractalkine). The present study examines microglial and CX3CL1 patterns with regard to the emerging modular-extramodular framework within the lateral cortex of the inferior colliculus (LCIC). The LCIC is a shell region of the auditory midbrain where discrete compartments receive modality-specific connections, whereby somatosensory inputs terminate within modules and auditory inputs target surrounding extramodular zones. A reliable modular marker, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), enables visualization of emerging modular domains in the nascent mouse LCIC. Developing multimodal connectivity patterns interface with its neurochemically-defined patch/matrix-like organization. A developmental series of postnatal GAD67-GFP and CX3CR1-GFP mice were utilized to explore the potential involvement of MGCs and role of fractalkine signaling in establishing LCIC functional compartments. MGCs occupy the neonatal LCIC at birth, with spatial heterogeneities and densities that change with age and respect to the modular-extramodular framework and its segregating multimodal afferents. MGCs conspicuously border modular-extramodular boundaries at P4-P8 prior to invading modular confines by P12. CX3CL1 labeling is clearly modular at P12, in keeping with the notion of fractalkine-mediated recruitment of microglia to modular centers. CX3CR1GFP/GFP results suggest microglial movement into modules is delayed due to compromised fractalkine signaling. Ongoing experiments aim to further elucidate the role of MGCs and fractalkine signaling in refining multisensory LCIC compartments during an early critical period

On the origin and application of the Bruggeman correlation for analysing transport phenomena in electrochemical systems

The widely used Bruggeman equations correlate tortuosity factors of porous media with their porosity. Finding diverse application from optics to bubble formation, it received considerable attention in fuel cell and battery research, recently. The ability to estimate tortuous mass transport resistance based on porosity alone is attractive, because direct access to the tortuosity factors is notoriously difficult. The correlation, however, has limitations, which are not widely appreciated owing to the limited accessibility of the original manuscript. We retrace Bruggeman's derivation, together with its initial assumptions, and comment on validity and limitations apparent from the original work to offer some guidance on its use

Linkedin As A Learning Tool In Business Education

This article summarizes the existing research on social media as a learning tool in higher education and adds to the literature on incorporating social media tools into collegiate business education by suggesting specific course content areas of business where LinkedIn exercises and training can be incorporated.  LinkedIn as a classroom tool cannot only reinforce basic concepts, such as branding and relationship-building, but creative use of this tool can increase student engagement and collaboration and encourage students to begin building their professional networks, which can be vital in their career progression

Sand Plum Relationships with Avian Abundance in Oklahoma

I collected avian detections with point-counts and vegetation measures at 3 study sites in northwestern Oklahoma during 2007-08. Sand plum (Prunus angustifolia) thicket measures included height, stem density, area, age, and average thicket area. Herbaceous measures included percent grass, forb, and shrub cover; maximum herbaceous height; and vegetation species richness. I used a hand held-global positioning system (GPS) and a geographical information system (GIS) to digitize and buffer detections for affinity to sand plum. I used means and confidence intervals to relate vegetation measures with avian relative abundance. I used weighted means to describe habitat variables for avian species that had no meaningful relationships to sand plum. I sampled 42 independent points ≥4 times per year for 2 years from early May to mid June during 2007-08. Of the 42 points, 16 were grassland with no plum cover, 23 had sand plum cover of <50 %, and 3 had sand plum cover of >50 %. I grouped sand plum cover into 4 categories that included 0 %, 1-10 %, 11-20 %, and >40 %. I detected 51 avian species and identified 118 plant species. Species detections ≤30 m from a sand plum thicket ranged from 72.9 9.3 % SE for Bell's vireo to 16.4 6.6 % SE for western meadowlark. Bell's vireo mean detections were highest in the 11-20% sand plum cover category (1.2 1.3, 95% CI) and lowest in 0% sand plum cover (0.02 0.03, 95% CI). Grasshopper sparrow mean detections were highest in the 0% sand plum cover category (0.7 0.2, 95% CI) and lowest in the 1-10% sand plum cover categories (0.1 0.1, 95% CI). Western meadowlark mean detections were highest in the 0% sand plum cover category (0.4 0.2, 95% CI) and lowest in the 1-10% sand plum cover categories (0; 0.04 0.1, 95% CI). Bell's vireo, lark sparrow, and field sparrow were detected in the highest weighted mean sand plum cover (16.9 4.1, 14.0 3.3, and 12.2 2.8 % SE respectively) and northern bobwhite, grasshopper sparrow, and Cassin's sparrow were detected in the lowest weighted mean sand plum cover (4.2 1.9, 4.2 2.8, and 4.9 1.8 % SE respectively).Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Managemen

On the origin and application of the Bruggeman Correlation for analysing transport phenomena in electrochemical systems

The widely used Bruggeman equations correlate tortuosity factors of porous media with their porosity. Finding diverse application from optics to bubble formation, it received considerable attention in fuel cell and battery research, recently. The ability to estimate tortuous mass transport resistance based on porosity alone is attractive, because direct access to the tortuosity factors is notoriously difficult. The correlation, however, has limitations, which are not widely appreciated owing to the limited accessibility of the original manuscript. We retrace Bruggemans derivation, together with its initial assumptions, and comment on validity and limitations apparent from the original work to offer some guidance on its use.<br/