Dexterous manipulator flight demonstration

The Dexterous Manipulator Flight Experiment, an outgrowth of the Dexterous End Effector project, is an experiment to demonstrate newly developed equipment and methods that make for a dexterous manipulator which can be used on the Space Shuttle or other space missions. The goals of the project, the objectives of the flight experiment, the experiment equipment, and the tasks to be performed during the demonstration are discussed

Magnetic drive coupling

The driving and driven members of a magnetic drive are separated by en enlarged gap to provide clearance for a conduit or other member. Flux pins in the gap maintain the torque transmitting capability of the drive. The spacing between two of the flux pins is increased to provide space for the conduit

Magnetic end effectors for space operations

The Magnetic End Effector (MEE) to be flown as part of the Dexterous End Effector (DEE) flight experiment was designed to operate with the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (SRMS). Grappling or attachment of payloads is accomplished magnetically with two fault tolerant operations. The small magnetic grapple plate weighs far less than the standard grapple fixture; allows stacking and close spacing of payloads; and eliminates secondary release mechanisms. In addition to specifics regarding the MEE, the DEE project, Magnetic Attachment Tool (MAT), RMS-Force Torque Sensor (RMS-FTS), and Targeting and Reflective Alignment Concept (TRAC) are discussed

Magnetic drive coupling

The driving (30) and driven (32) members of a magnetic drive (20) are separated by an enlarged gap (35) to provide clearance for a conduit (23) or other member. Flux pins (40) in the gap (35) maintain the torque transmitting capability of the drive (20). The spacing between two of the flux pins is increased to provide space for the conduit (23)

“IT’S THE ONLY THING WE HAVE”: WHISPER NETWORKS AMONG WOMEN THEATRE ACTORS

Women who secretly warn one another via informal communications about men in their environment who may engage in some kind of misconduct are participating in a whisper network. This dissertation employs the narrative paradigm to understand how these networks function in the context of professional actors. Interviews conducted with actors who have worked in a variety of communities were analyzed in order to better understand how whisper networks function as warning systems that must be created because conventional means of protection may not exist or be trusted in their industry

Implications of Drought and Ranavirus on an Amphibian Community in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an epicenter of amphibian biodiversity in North America. Over the last 18 years, amphibian die-off events due to the pathogen, ranavirus, have been documented at Gourley Pond in the Cades Cove region of the Park. The goal of my study was to determine if ranavirus was present and having negative impacts on the Gourley Pond amphibian community. During my study (2016 – 2017), a significant drought occurred, allowing me to investigate possible interactions between ranavirus and drought. In 2016, I documented ranavirus persisting in three post-metamorphic amphibian species (Lithobates sylvaticus = 8.9%; Ambystoma maculatum = 1.6%, and Notophthalmus viridescens = 1.2%); however, after extended drought, ranavirus was not detected in 2017 despite extensive sampling. The drought conditions resulted in an insufficient hydroperiod for larval development of several amphibian species, and nearly complete recruitment failure both years. I documented a 39 – 99% decrease in catch-per-unit effort for five common amphibian species between 2016 and 2017. My results provide evidence that ranavirus can persist in the post-metamorphic amphibian community; however, if the pathogen is not amplified in the aquatic environment by highly susceptible larvae, its prevalence may drop below ecologically relevant levels after one year of wetland drying. My study also found that insufficient hydroperiod at Gourley Pond could be having negative impacts on the amphibian community. If these conditions persist, the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) should consider implementing conservation strategies which extend the hydroperiod at Gourley Pond, such as installing wetland liners or diverting nearby Sea Branch to the site. At a minimum, I recommend low-intensity monitoring of the hydroperiod, amphibian community, and ranavirus prevalence to inform future management decisions. I also found public visitation to Gourley Pond is high (ca. 10 trail passes per day), suggesting that humans could play a role in translocating ranavirus from the site if the pathogen re-emerges. If ranavirus is detected in the future at Gourley Pond, the NPS should consider informative signage about the pathogen and restricting access to the site

The Future of International Law Freedom of Journalism: A Transitional Justice Framework

The overwhelming majority of digital and physical attacks on journalists are done with impunity. This results in lower-quality journalism, less scrutiny of government, and less healthy societies and democracies. The international human rights law concept of transitional justice could bolster collective will and inform legal mechanisms to combat such impunity. Judges and investigators in several recent cases of attacks on journalists have invoked transitional justice concepts, including truth-telling, criminal investigations and prosecutions, reparations, and institutional reforms to guarantee non-recurrence. These mechanisms should be fully implemented to protect journalism at local, national, and international levels

Starting a Standardized Patient Program Using a Theatre Model

The methods used to train actors can be modified to train standardized patients to simulate patient encounters with medical students. With some background in standardized patients and simulation, a member of Theatre Department can start a standardized patient program at their own institution. This is based on the pilot year of the VCU Standardized Patient Program which began in June, 2011

We\u27re all friends here: Examining Transparasocial Interaction on Twitch and its Effects on Strategic Communications

In this paper, the author examines advertising on the video game live streaming platform, Twitch. Using a 2 (presence/absence of Transparasocial Interaction) x 2 (presence/absence of self-disclosure by the streamer), this study seeks to gain a better understanding of community perceptions of influencers, and advertising on the Twitch platform, a subject that is only recently becoming a topic of interest for advertising scholars