Expanding AirSTAR Capability for Flight Research in an Existing Avionics Design

The NASA Airborne Subscale Transport Aircraft Research (AirSTAR) project is an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) test bed for experimental flight control laws and vehicle dynamics research. During its development, the test bed has gone through a number of system permutations, each meant to add functionality to the concept of operations of the system. This enabled the build-up of not only the system itself, but also the support infrastructure and processes necessary to support flight operations. These permutations were grouped into project phases and the move from Phase-III to Phase-IV was marked by a significant increase in research capability and necessary safety systems due to the integration of an Internal Pilot into the control system chain already established for the External Pilot. The major system changes in Phase-IV operations necessitated a new safety and failsafe system to properly integrate both the Internal and External Pilots and to meet acceptable project safety margins. This work involved retrofitting an existing data system into the evolved concept of operations. Moving from the first Phase-IV aircraft to the dynamically scaled aircraft further involved restructuring the system to better guard against electromagnetic interference (EMI), and the entire avionics wiring harness was redesigned in order to facilitate better maintenance and access to onboard electronics. This retrofit and harness re-design will be explored and how it integrates with the evolved Phase-IV operations

Learn to Fly Test Setup and Concept of Operations

The NASA Learn-to-Fly (L2F) project recently completed a series of flight demonstrations of its learning algorithm for flight control at Fort A. P. Hill in Virginia. This paper discusses the test setup and concept of operations (ConOps) used by the L2F team. Unmanned airframe demonstrators for testing the research algorithms included a modified commercial off-the-shelf subscale powered airplane, plus four gliders two of which had an unconventional configuration and were fabricated using a rapid prototyping technique. Avionics system similarities and differences between the test aircraft are described, as well as ground testing in preparation for flight. The ConOps discussion includes the development of a tethered helium balloon drop launch technique for the glider demonstrators. This launch method was chosen for its potential to be inexpensive and allow for rapid turn-around for multiple glider launches but it also presented challenges, such as balloon tether avoidance, high angle of attack, low dynamic pressure initial conditions, and susceptibility to winds. A remotely piloted approach employing high-end hobbyist radio controlled (R/C) hardware was used for the powered demonstrator. This approach accommodated the interaction between the R/C flight system and the research flight control computer, engaging the L2F algorithm at varying initial conditions and artificially reducing the aircraft stability to stress the algorithm

Concord Topics - 1962, Vol. 3 No. 1

Concord Baptist Church newsletter.https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/fay-webb-gardner-concord-baptist-church/1002/thumbnail.jp

A Descriptive Epidemiologic Study of Campylobacteriosis in East Tennessee

Campylobacteriosis is caused by the gram-negative bacteria Campylobacter and is a leading cause of gastrointestinal illness worldwide. In the United States an estimated 2.4 million cases occur annually with approximately $8.0 billion in associated costs. Due to the high cost of morbidity, understanding the epidemiology and risk factors of campylobacteriosis is important. It is unclear if the prevalence of campylobacteriosis is higher or lower in East Tennessee than other parts of the state or country or if the clinical characteristics of patients in the area are similar to the rest of the country. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to describe clinical and epidemiological characteristics of campylobacteriosis patients in East Tennessee to assist in health planning to control campylobacteriosis. Data from the Foodborne Disease Active Surveillance Network was analyzed for 2003-2006 in 16 counties in East Tennessee. The data was first assessed for its quality, then descriptive statistics were calculated and spatial and temporal patterns of reported cases and risk factors were assessed. The overall error rate in the data quality analysis was 6.5% although in the last year of the study it was only 2.6%. The mean annual prevalence of campylobacteriosis in East Tennessee was 10.4 cases per 100,000 population, which was 1.6 times higher than all of Tennessee (7.4 cases/100,000). Grainger and Jefferson Counties had higher age- and sex-adjusted prevalence estimates than the region and nation. It is yet unclear why this region has a higher prevalence of campylobacteriosis than the rest of the nation. The highest age-specific prevalence (41.6 cases/100,000) was observed in children under 5. Disease prevalence was consistently higher in the summer months compared to the other seasons. The median age of patients was lower in the most rural counties. More patients in East Tennessee were hospitalized than the rest of the nation. The most commonly reported risk factors were animal and raw meat exposure. Improvement in data collection and entry is necessary to improve the quality and application of this surveillance data. Educational efforts on proper hygiene following animal handling, and proper well protection and disinfection should be targeted at high risk groups

Concord Topics - 1961, Vol. 2 No. 2

Newsletter of the Concord Baptist Church.https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/fay-webb-gardner-concord-baptist-church/1000/thumbnail.jp

The Relationship between Teacher Self-Efficacy and Student Discipline Referrals Written by Secondary Teachers from a Rural School District in a Southern State

The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine the strength of the relationship between teacher self-efficacy and discipline referrals. Participants completed the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale, which was used as an operational definition of teacher self-efficacy. A Spearman’s correlation coefficient measured the relationship between the predictor variables: classroom management, student engagement, and instructional strategies, and the criterion variable of discipline referrals. Criterion variable data consisted of collected discipline referral records of participants from the participating school district. Data on predictor variables were measured by participant responses on the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale, which include the three subscales that will serve as the predictor variables for this study, and also measured teacher self-efficacy. The population for this study included secondary teachers (N = 98) in a rural county school district located in a southern state. The conceptual framework was based on Julian Rotter’s human behavior theory of locus of control. By understanding the relationship between teacher self-efficacy and discipline referrals, administrators and school districts may be able to increase teacher retention rates by providing support and training for at-risk teachers. The researcher failed to reject all the null hypothesis tested during this study based on the results of the Spearman’s rho analysis

Concord Topics - 1962, Vol. 3 No. 4

Concord Baptist Church newsletter.https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/fay-webb-gardner-concord-baptist-church/1003/thumbnail.jp

The Georgian Case for Harmless Constitutional Error Reform

This Note examines Georgia’s application of harmless error review to constitutional errors and proposes a new standard to remedy deficiencies

A nerve guidance conduit with topographical and biochemical cues: potential application using human neural stem cells

Abstract Despite major advances in the pathophysiological understanding of peripheral nerve damage, the treatment of nerve injuries still remains an unmet medical need. Nerve guidance conduits present a promising treatment option by providing a growth-permissive environment that 1) promotes neuronal cell survival and axon growth and 2) directs axonal extension. To this end, we designed an electrospun nerve guidance conduit using a blend of polyurea and poly-caprolactone with both biochemical and topographical cues. Biochemical cues were integrated into the conduit by functionalizing the polyurea with RGD to improve cell attachment. Topographical cues that resemble natural nerve tissue were incorporated by introducing intraluminal microchannels aligned with nanofibers. We determined that electrospinning the polymer solution across a two electrode system with dissolvable sucrose fibers produced a polymer conduit with the appropriate biomimetic properties. Human neural stem cells were cultured on the conduit to evaluate its ability to promote neuronal growth and axonal extension. The nerve guidance conduit was shown to enhance cell survival, migration, and guide neurite extension.</jats:p

Design of Road Cut Adjacent to Existing Structure

Interchange improvements within an urban environment required the deepening of a hillside cut. Design restraints required as deep a cut as possible without disturbing a water tower located at the crest of the slope or interfering with a shopping center at the toe. The water tower, constructed in 1933 with a steel tank encased in a concrete and brick structure, was founded on shallow spread footings. Foundation soils were silts and silty sands with seams of silty clay. The design investigation involved hydrogeologic studies, SPT borings, undisturbed sampling, laboratory testing, and stability analyses. Laboratory studies involved routine and unusual testing procedures to evaluate deformation potential upon drying. Results of the investigation allowed the deepening of the cut some 20 feet using conventional construction techniques. This paper details the geotechnical investigation, laboratory testing, analysis procedure, construction monitoring, and project results