URAT: astrometric requirements and design history

The U.S. Naval Observatory Robotic Astrometric Telescope (URAT) project aims at a highly accurate (5 mas), ground-based, all-sky survey. Requirements are presented for the optics and telescope for this 0.85 m aperture, 4.5 degree diameter field-of-view, specialized instrument, which are close to the capability of the industry. The history of the design process is presented as well as astrometric performance evaluations of the toleranced, optical design, with expected wavefront errors included.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, SPIE 2006 Orlando conf. proc. Vol. 626

THE RATIONAL BEHAVIOR THEORY OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION: A MIXED-METHODS STUDY ON PARTICIPATION IN ECONOMIC INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES UNDER THE CARES ACT

The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) triggered a national health emergency that caused economic uncertainties for National Capital Region (NCR) small businesses. In response, some NCR small businesses benefited from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act, which Congress passed to enable a strong and equitable recovery, while others did not. This research aims to understand the extent to which the NCR small businesses implemented economic intervention and prevention strategies under the flow of funds from the CARES Act; specifically, the supplemental disaster funding and grant-funded assistances during the 2020 through 2022 COVID-19 national health emergency. This mixed-methods approach explored the extent to which small businesses exercised rational or irrational behaviors in economic decision-making regarding CARES Act resources, relative to interventions, economic relief and prevention, economic preparedness. The findings revealed that NCR small businesses decisions involved less rational approaches for general reasons, resulting in less rational decision-making in prevention decisions compared to intervention decisions. Recommendations for policymakers include implementing contingency policies for future national emergencies and for small businesses to incorporate strategic planning in all business phases.Civilian, Department of the ArmyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

Obama Effect: A Pipeline Issue

The law allows schools to strive for a critical mass of minority students. As law schools are already required to demonstrate a commitment to diversity, they must take steps to ensure that the pool of qualified candidates for positions in the academy expands instead of contracts. President Obama can have an impact on this process by taking steps to improve our educational system, encouraging students to make the most of their educations, and increasing the availability of higher education for all students. African Americans will then have access and ability to succeed in their academic pursuits. As a result, more will become law professors. Instead of remaining at the same level, the percentage of African American law professors will begin to rise. An increase in diversity would-be beneficial-to the academy and to our country

NICMOS Observations of Interaction Triggered Star Formation in the Luminous Infrared Galaxy NGC 6090

High resolution, 1.1, 1.6, and 2.2 micron imaging of the luminous infrared galaxy NGC 6090 obtained with NICMOS of the Hubble Space Telescope are presented. These new observations are centered on the two nuclei of the merger, and reveal the spiral structure of the eastern galaxy and the amorphous nature of the western galaxy. The nuclear separation of 3.2 kpc (H_0 = 75 km/s/Mpc) indicates that NGC 6090 is at an intermediate stage of merging. Bright knots/clusters are also visible in the region overlapping the merging galaxies; four of these knots appear bluer than the underlying galaxies and have colors consistent with young (<~ 10^7 yr) star clusters. The spatial coincidence of the knots with the molecular gas in NGC 6090 indicates that much of the present star formation is occuring outside of the nuclear region of merging galaxies, consistent with recent studies of other double nuclei luminous infrared galaxies.Comment: LaTex, 18 pages with 4 jpg figures, ApJ, in pres

Paradigms lost and gained: stakeholder experiences of crisis distance learning during the Covid-19 pandemic

The physical distancing requirements designed to slow the contagion of COVID-19 instigated sweeping changes to the education sector. School closures in 193 countries brought significant disruption to education and to the lives of children, parents, and teachers. This study explored the experiences of school stakeholders during this period of crisis distance learning (DL). The perspectives of participants in six discrete focus groups of pupils, parents, and teachers at a private school in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, were subject to thematic analysis. Researchers identified three key themes, including ‘a need for stakeholder support’, ‘curriculum delivery implications’, and ‘educational outcomes of crisis distance learning’. Conclusions and recommendations will be of interest to researchers, teachers, school leaders, and teacher education providers