Improved finite-element methods for rotorcraft structures

An overview of the research directed at improving finite-element methods for rotorcraft airframes is presented. The development of a modification to the finite element method which eliminates interelement discontinuities is covered. The following subject areas are discussed: geometric entities, interelement continuity, dependent rotational degrees of freedom, and adaptive numerical integration. This new methodology is being implemented as an anisotropic, curvilinear, p-version, beam, shell, and brick finite element program

Exploring Social Dimensions of Ecological Restoration in the Removal of Two Dams on the Elwha River

The United States is approaching a critical juncture regarding aging dam infrastructure. One increasingly common decision has been to remove dams, recreating a free-flowing river. The attention of the literature on ecological restoration is shifting from an ecological focus towards the importance of participation and the social dimensions of restorations. Social situations surrounding a dam removal can lead to expedited success, delays, or abandoned efforts. This study seeks to connect selected social dimensions of dam removals with the broader literature of ecological restoration by exploring social dimensions expressed in public participation in a dam removal process. A directed content analysis, qualitative research design, was employed to study selected social dimensions of dam removals. A codebook was developed to explore six social dimensions within public comment letters surrounding the removal of two dams on the Elwha River in Washington. The findings of this study revealed those with positive restoration attitude framed dam removal around potential ecological, economic, and social gains and more frequently referenced social dimensions of environmental attitude, place attachment, connectedness to nature, and sense of community. While participants with negative restoration attitude framed the dam removals around possible losses centered more of their testimonies around the economic situation surrounding dam removals. These findings emphasize the importance of framing, public participation, and future work regarding social dimensions of dam removal. As this restoration method becomes commonplace, environmental managers need to be able to effectively engage the public and understand not only ecological dimensions, but also social dimensions of dam removals. Advisor: Mark E. Burbac

Application of GRASP (General Rotorcraft Aeromechanical Stability Program) to nonlinear analysis of a cantilever beam

The General Rotorcraft Aeromechanical Stability Program (GRASP) was developed to analyse the steady-state and linearized dynamic behavior of rotorcraft in hovering and axial flight conditions. Because of the nature of problems GRASP was created to solve, the geometrically nonlinear behavior of beams is one area in which the program must perform well in order to be of any value. Numerical results obtained from GRASP are compared to both static and dynamic experimental data obtained for a cantilever beam undergoing large displacements and rotations caused by deformations. The correlation is excellent in all cases

Appification of Information Literacy: Low Stakes, Big Rewards

Web Apps offer low stakes platforms for developing library lessons that are easily modified, shared, and made interactive. I will discuss how I have used Storify, LucidChart, and Libguides to help students learn about conducting background research, evaluating sources, and determining and revising source needs. These experiences supplement the university’s one-shot library lesson for the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s required Blugold Seminar on Critical Reading and Writing. The lessons are easily modified so that English Faculty teaching in the Blugold Seminar can adapt them to their individual sections

Practicing Work, Perfecting Play: League of Legends and the Sentimental Education of E-Sports

A growing force in the culture of digital games fandom, e-sports represents the profes-sionalization of digital games play. This thesis examines League of Legends, a prominent game in e-sports, to understand the relationship between e-sports and the ideology of neoliberal economics. Using Clifford Geertz’s descriptions of sentimental education as a model, the author argues that League of Legends and other e-sports texts create an environment where neoliberal economic values can be practiced and explored in a meaningful space. The game as text, the culture of e-sports fandom, and the e-sports broadcasting industry are all examined to reveal the ways that e-sports fosters a space to both practice neoliberal values and potentially question them through the conflicting values of Web culture. Understanding the ways e-sports texts and e-sports culture explore ideological values allows for the potential to create more recursive e-sports texts that question this ideology in the future

Moderation of Emotional Intelligence on Leader-Member Exchange and Resistance to Change

Approximately 70% of change initiatives fail to achieve the anticipated outcomes, and resistance to change is continuously cited in the literature as 1 of the most common reasons for change failure. Researchers know that emotions play a role in change but do not know how emotional intelligence affects the relationship between leader-member exchange and reactions to change. Grounded in Oreg\u27s multidimensional resistance-to-change model, leader-member exchange theory, and emotional intelligence theory, the purpose of this study was to narrow the gap in knowledge of how emotional intelligence influences the relationship between leader-member exchange and resistance to change. A correlational, cross-sectional design was employed with a nonpurposeful sample of 349 research administrators, and data analysis was completed through hierarchical multiple regression and the Hayes PROCESS macro. Significant negative correlations were found between (a) leader-member exchange and resistance to change and (b) emotional intelligence and resistance to change. Emotional intelligence was not found to have an expected moderating effect on the relationship between leader-member exchange and resistance to change. The findings indicated that employees are less likely to resist change when they perceive a higher quality relationship with their supervisor and have a higher level of emotional intelligence. The results of this study can be used to inform organizational leaders of the need to incorporate training on building high-quality relationships and emotional intelligence in change management programs, thereby increasing the likelihood of achieving the organizational goals intended by the change

Mortgage lending in Middle America: subprime and predatory lending

This dissertation is composed of two manuscripts, prepared for submission to scholarly journals. The manuscripts relate broadly to discrimination in mortgage lending and more specifically to subprime and predatory lending. The first article is quantitative in nature and is centered around the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data for the city of Des Moines, Iowa. The second article is a qualitative study using data from Citizens for Community Improvement of Des Moines, Iowa (CCI) and the Iowa Attorney General\u27s office. Each article contributes to the body of research concerning mortgage-lending discrimination.;The general purpose of this dissertation was to determine the prevalence and impact of subprime and predatory lending in Des Moines, Iowa. Lending patterns and marketing strategies, were examined. In this research, the strategies that encouraged households to become victims of predatory lenders were studied. The two objectives were to determine the marketing techniques employed by predatory lenders and examine the characteristics of victims of predatory loans and of borrowers with subprime loans.;The first article discusses subprime lending in the city of Des Moines using HMDA data. The data identify areas of subprime lending and the probability of reverse redlining based on census tracts of the city. Demographic characteristics of the tracts that would indicate reverse redlining are studied in relation to the lending patterns. The data revealed that African-Americans, low-income applicants, and applicants receiving loans for home refinance had a greater probability of becoming victims of reverse redlining than others.;The second article discusses predatory lending and discriminatory marketing techniques utilized in the city of Des Moines, Iowa. Data are generated using interviews conducted by CCI for the CCI/Fannie Mae Anti-Predatory Lending Initiative. Also included in this article is the impact of contract sales, with information from the Attorney General\u27s office. Data generated from interviews conducted by CCI revealed that abusive practices are occurring and that many of these predatory loans are designed with the intention of failing. The marketing tool used most often was repeated telephone calls. Complaints regarding contract real estate sales suggest that abusive contract lending is also thriving in this area