Ultrasonic nondestructive materials characterization

A brief review of ultrasonic wave propagation in solid materials is presented with consideration of the altered behavior in anisotropic and nonlinear elastic materials in comparison with isotropic and linear elastic materials. Some experimental results are described in which ultrasonic velocity and attenuation measurements give insight into materials microstructure and associated mechanical properties. Recent developments with laser beam non-contact generation and detection of ultrasound are presented. The results of several years of experimental measurements using high-power ultrasound are discussed, which provide substantial evidence of the inability of presently accepted theories to fully explain the interaction of ultrasound with solid materials. Finally, a special synchrotron X-ray topographic system is described which affords the possibility of observing direct interaction of ultrasonic waves with the microstructural features of real crystalline solid materials for the first time

AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE MANAGERS AND THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Managers of agricultural cooperatives were contacted to determine their knowledge/capabilities and perspectives of the cooperative environment with special emphasis given to the importance of cooperative principles to the operation and success of the business, division of responsibility between management and the board of directors, and business decision making in the areas of financial analysis plus selected scenarios. Managers showed strong adherence to traditional cooperative principles and basic decision areas. Self-assessments were positive and consistent with performance measures. The opportunity exists to improve manager knowledge/capabilities related to cooperative principles, division of responsibility between managers and the board, and financial analysis.board of directors, cooperative principles, cooperatives (agricultural), leadership, management, managers, Agribusiness,

An Analysis of Faith-Based Homeless Social Service Providers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and their Role in Helping Homeless People

In recent years, there has been a strong push on the federal level to support efforts of faith-based organizations, which provide a variety of social services ranging from literacy improvement efforts to homeless prevention. This thesis sheds light on the current efforts by faith-based homeless service providers in the Baton Rouge area, and examines their role in helping the homeless. This thesis uses existing literature and interviews with the director of The Capital Area Alliance for the Homeless as well others involved with homeless programs in Baton Rouge. This thesis also provides data collected by the ServicePoint HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) which gives a clearer picture of which agencies are providing services in Baton Rouge, and the clients served by these agencies. The efforts of these organizations were particularly critical following Hurricane Katrina, and it is vital that those in the policy arena understand the role of these organizations

Unified Field Theory From Enlarged Transformation Group. The Covariant Derivative for Conservative Coordinate Transformations and Local Frame Transformations

Pandres has developed a theory in which the geometrical structure of a real four-dimensional space-time is expressed by a real orthonormal tetrad, and the group of diffeomorphisms is replaced by a larger group called the conservation group. This paper extends the geometrical foundation for Pandres' theory by developing an appropriate covariant derivative which is covariant under all local Lorentz (frame) transformations, including complex Lorentz transformations, as well as conservative transformations. After defining this extended covariant derivative, an appropriate Lagrangian and its resulting field equations are derived. As in Pandres' theory, these field equations result in a stress-energy tensor that has terms which may automatically represent the electroweak field. Finally, the theory is extended to include 2-spinors and 4-spinors.Comment: Aug 25 replacement has corrected margin width

An Analysis of Faith-Based Homeless Social Service Providers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and their Role in Helping Homeless People

In recent years, there has been a strong push on the federal level to support efforts of faith-based organizations, which provide a variety of social services ranging from literacy improvement efforts to homeless prevention. This thesis sheds light on the current efforts by faith-based homeless service providers in the Baton Rouge area, and examines their role in helping the homeless. This thesis uses existing literature and interviews with the director of The Capital Area Alliance for the Homeless as well others involved with homeless programs in Baton Rouge. This thesis also provides data collected by the ServicePoint HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) which gives a clearer picture of which agencies are providing services in Baton Rouge, and the clients served by these agencies. The efforts of these organizations were particularly critical following Hurricane Katrina, and it is vital that those in the policy arena understand the role of these organizations

Standard interface definition for avionics data bus systems

Data bus for avionics system of space shuttle, noting functions of interface unit, error detection and recovery, redundancy, and bus control philosoph