The Impact of After-School Programming, Neighborhood Safety, and Neighborhood Support on Adolescent Alcohol Use

This study seeks to evaluate the relationship between monitoring and adolescent deviant behaviors, with a specific focus on adolescent alcohol use. It is hypothesized that when community safety and support are low; after-school programming will serve as a protective factor and lower levels of alcohol use will be reported. Data were collected on a sample of 373 using the Student Success Profile. Because research shows that adolescent-report of friend behaviors is actually more reflective of their own behaviors (adolescents project their beliefs about own behaviors onto their peers), this study used adolescent-report on peer behaviors as an indicator of self-use. This study seeks to determine whether adolescent alcohol use is impacted by adolescents’ participation in after-school programming and their perceived level of neighborhood safety and support

Evaluation of the Aerodynamics of an Aircraft Fuselage Pod Using Analytical, CFD, and Flight Testing Techniques

The purpose of this study is to investigate the execution and validity of various predictive methods used in the design of the aerodynamic pod housing NASA’s Marshall Airborne Polarimetric Imaging Radiometer (MAPIR) on the University of Tennessee Space Institute’s Piper Navajo research aircraft. Potential flow theory and wing theory are both used to analytically predict the lift the MAPIR Pod would generate during flight; skin friction theory, empirical data, and induced drag theory are utilized to analytically predict the pod’s drag. Furthermore, a simplified computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was also created to approximate the aerodynamic forces acting on the pod. A limited flight test regime was executed to collect data on the actual aerodynamic effects of the MAPIR Pod. Comparison of the various aerodynamic predictions with the experimental results shows that the assumptions made for the analytic and CFD analyses are too simplistic; as a result, the predictions are not valid. These methods are not proven to be inherently flawed, however, and suggestions for future uses and improvements are thus offered

Mach\u27s Principle: Why Are Some Reference Frames Inertial, And Others Not?

Mach\u27s principle is a conjecture that was popular among physicists in the early 1900s, and which still sees occasional interest today. The principle states that large accelerating masses induce a local inertial reference frame around them. This paper introduces the principle and its history, and discusses its influence on later theories, like Maxwellian theories of gravity and general relativity

A Miniature Acoustic Device for Tracking Small Marine Animals or Submerged Drifters

This paper presents an acoustic archival tag capable of tracking small marine animals. It is also a technology that can be ported to other platforms, such as the next-generation acoustic and Argo floats as well as gliders. Tracking is achieved by standard RAFOS triangulation using the arrival times of unique sound signals emitted by moored sources. At the core of the tag is a custom microchip that controls all system operations. It incorporates the critical acoustic arrival time detector, a thermal sensor, and a pressure sensor interface. All the electronic components are housed inside a cylindrical hydrophone of 25.4-mm length and 10.7-mm diameter. The collected data are archived in nonvolatile memory chips with a total capacity of 4 Mb, sufficient storage to record position, temperature, and pressure on an hourly basis for 2 years. The tag consumes 4–5 μW in standby mode and between 60 and 90 μW while the sound arrival time detector is in operation. The power is provided by two button cell silver-oxide batteries, which enable an active tag lifetime of approximately 2 years

THE DIAMOND HEMESEP BLOOD PROCESSING UNIT: A REAL-TIME MICROFLUIDIC WHOLE BLOOD SEPARATION PROCESS

Recent advancements in the field of microfabrication and microfluidics have made possible the design of separation devices and clinical diagnostic kits that use relatively smaller volumes of sample material than existing technologies. Using this technology, as well as existing technologies in membrane and immunomagnetic separations, a novel blood processing unit based on microfluidics has been designed. This report will detail the operation and layout of a microfluidic chip that produces three outputs (serum, plasma and a white blood cell lysate) from a human whole blood input. Microfluidic technology has allowed for the design of several distinctive features that make the performance of the blood processing unit comparable to existing centrifuge technologies available clinically and in research laboratories. Among other features, the chip produces a stabilized white blood cell lysate and is designed to match the blueprint of existing 96-well plates. In addition to describing the on-board processes and features of the chip, this report will also discuss the components needed for operation of the chip as well as a process to manufacture the product. This product, known as the Diamond HemeSep blood processing unit, could offer more standardized, efficient blood separation technologies that would benefit health care providers, patients and researchers. Moreover, the product is predicted to have a healthy financial outlook: based on the target market of clinical laboratories performing preclinical and clinical trials involving numerous samples of blood, we expect to sell 1 million cartridges in the first year of production with sales growing to 1.7 million cartridges in the tenth and final year. The net present value (NPV) of the proposed project, based on a selling price of $25 a cartridge, is expected to be$51 million. For the current projections, Series A investors can expect returns of 45%

The transfer of Japanese human resource management in the Indian automotive industry

The transfer of Japanese production methods overseas, which involves the transference of personnel as well as production systems is well documented (Koike, 1998; Legewie, 2002; Kiyokawa and Oba et al., 2006; Abo, 2007; Rose and Kumar, 2007; Itagaki, 2009). However, little is known about the transfer of Japanese HRM in India. This research fills the gap in the literature by examining the transfer of Japanese HRM practices in the Indian automotive industry. Two research questions were designed to provide an in-depth exploration of the issues. Firstly, what are the challenges faced by Japanese firms in India when they transfer established HRM practices from Japan? Are they exacerbated by the diverse institutional and cultural environment in India? Secondly, have Japanese firms adapted their HRM in India in response to the challenges they face there? If so, are these adaptations specific to the challenges they face in different regions? Data from over 40 interviews conducted 2011-16 at six Japanese automotive firms indicate that time and experience have alleviated the culture shock and risk of operating there. However, they have struggled with antagonistic Indian trade unions which contrast with the traditional conciliatory enterprise union at Japanese firms. India is a dynamic if sometimes boisterous society (Khanna, 2009) which can be challenging for foreign firms. This diverse cultural landscape led to firms developing strategies appropriate to the locality they operate in. For example, two firms have incorporated the role of national automotive unions in negotiating pay rises leading to the highest pay rise ever awarded in the Indian automotive industry in June 2016 (Times of India, 11 June 2016). This indicates that Japanese firms can adapt their established way of operating. The experiences of firms in this study are relevant for firms who set up operations in emerging markets with heterogenous business environments

An exploration of the statutory Healthy Start vitamin supplementation scheme in North West England.

BACKGROUND: Government nutritional welfare support from the English 'Healthy Start' scheme is targeted at low-income pregnant women and preschool children, but take-up of its free food vouchers is much better than its free vitamin vouchers. While universal implementation probably requires a more extensive scheme to be cost-effective, the everyday experience of different ways of receiving or facilitating Healthy Start, especially via children's centres, also requires further evidence. This study therefore aimed to explore (in the context of low take-up levels) perceptions of mothers, health professionals, and commissioners about Healthy Start vitamin and food voucher take-up and compare experiences in a targeted and a universal implementation-area for those vitamins. METHODS: Informed by quantitative analysis of take-up data, qualitative analysis focused on 42 semi-structured interviews with potentially eligible mothers and healthcare staff (and commissioners), purposively sampled via children's centres in a similarly deprived universal and a targeted implementation-area of North West England. RESULTS: While good food voucher take-up appeared to relate to clear presentation, messaging, practicality, and monetary (albeit low) value, poor vitamin take-up appeared to relate to overcomplicated procedures and overreliance on underfunded centres, organizational goodwill, and families' resilience. CONCLUSION: Higher 'universal' vitamin take-up may well have reflected fewer barriers when it became everyone's business to be vitamin-aware. Substantive Healthy Start reform in England (not just cosmetic tinkering) is long overdue. Our study highlights that 'policy, politics, and problem' should be aligned to reach considerable unmet need