Fashion involvement of affluent female consumers

Fashion involvement is a consumer’s perceived importance of fashion clothing (O’Cass, 2001). It is important to investigate fashion involvement to understand consumer purchase behavior and to develop improved marketing strategies. Although researchers agree that consumers consider apparel purchases to be important, there has been little research done regarding fashion involvement (O’Cass, 2000) of affluent female consumers. The purpose of this study was to measure the fashion involvement of selected affluent female consumers from eight metropolitan areas in the United States and to identify relationships between fashion involvement and other selected variables. After controlling for socioeconomic demographic characteristics, the following variables were investigated with correlation and regression analyses: media usage, personality traits (self-confidence and public self-consciousness), and price perceptions (price/quality and prestige sensitivity) of affluent female consumers. Regression results showed that media usage was significantly related to fashion involvement, indicating that media usage was the best predictor of fashion involvement. Prestige sensitivity was significantly related to fashion involvement, indicating that respondents’ perceptions of purchasing high prestige products was a predictor of fashion involvement. Price/quality was significantly related to fashion involvement; respondents’ perceptions of the price of a product were a good indicator of its quality. Results indicated that personality traits (self-confidence and public self-consciousness) were not significant predictors of fashion involvement. Regression analyses of the demographic characteristics were consistent with previous literature. A statistically significant negative relationship was found between age and fashion involvement in this study, with younger ages indicating higher fashion involvement. Income was positively related to fashion involvement; as income increased, so did fashion involvement. Education was negatively related to fashion involvement; fashion involvement increased as education levels decreased. By focusing solely on female consumers, with money to spend and access to retail fashion, the results can provide information into a recently untapped market. Marketers can use this research in developing improved marketing strategies to this market. Retailers can benefit from this information when pricing and promoting, and educators can expand on the findings by developing new studies examining affluent female consumers

A mixed methods study of the implications of academic change related managerial decisions on university faculty teaching effectiveness and student success

Determining why and what motivates students to succeed is a prominent question in today’s educational arena. Often accountability measures cycle around the classroom teacher, their preparation, and perceived effectiveness. To assure that teachers have adequate knowledge, minimum grade point averages are required from accredited institutions. Teacher preparation is carefully monitored by NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education). Each state uses a similar process for awarding initial teaching certificates. Teaching certificates are issued after candidates have completed a rigorous curriculum and proven that they possess the qualities and dispositions of effective teaching. Unfortunately, very few assessments exist to measure teacher effectiveness among tenured faculty. The primary measure used to evaluate teacher performance after initial certification is quantitative data from standardized testing of students. Similarly, the promotion and tenure process dictates the criteria for evaluating teaching and scholarly productivity at the college level. Attributes of scholarly productivity are directly related to the new professor; however, student outcomes and evaluations play a key role in the overall perceived effectiveness of the teacher (instructor), untenured assistant professor. The purpose of this study is to determine how administrative decisions impact student outcomes and teacher effectiveness. Throughout each step in the methodology, continual synthesis was utilized to determine the connection between, extant data sets such as grade distribution and student progress, and instructor/professor perceptions about the effects of managerialism. Through this process patterns of decision making can be identified and linked to emerging themes and connections. The study yielded results to support the theory that administrators and managers in academic settings do impact teaching effectiveness and student outcomes. Due to the fact that administrators rarely have direct instructional contact with students whom they are not the instructor of record, the connection to student outcomes is a direct result of the perception of managerialism. University faculty members who perceived that their input was valued during change were receptive to the changes that occurred. This study could be replicated across any university campus and is not limited to a college of education

NASA Docking System Block 1: NASA's New Direct Electric Docking System Supporting ISS and Future Human Space Exploration

The NASA Docking System (NDS) Block 1 is a key component of NASA's vision for space exploration. It is designed to provide capability for visiting vehicles to dock to the International Space Station's recently-installed International Docking Adapter ports. It is the first docking system to be developed by NASA since the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project of the 1970's. The NDS Block 1 includes provisions for capture, structural attachment, power/data transfer, and undocking. It uses a direct-drive electromechanical Stewart Platform capture system architecture, along with an innovative automated control scheme, to achieve an unprecedented level of performance and simplicity. Its design implements the new International Docking System Standard, which will be a key enabler of diverse and flexible exploration missions in future iterations. NDS qualification was completed in 2017 to support a planned first flight in 2018 on the Boeing CST-100 Starliner

Root Cause Investigation of the Starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joint Anomaly on the International Space Station

The Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ) is a single-axis pointing mechanism used to orient the solar power generating arrays relative to the sun for the International Space Station (ISS). Approximately 83 days after its on-orbit installation, one of the two SARJ mechanisms aboard the ISS began to exhibit high current draw. Later inspections via Extravehicular Activity (EVA) discovered that the case hardened steel race ring on the outboard side of the joint had extensive damage to one of its three rolling surfaces. A far-reaching investigation of the anomaly was undertaken, comprising metallurgical inspections, coupon tests, traction kinematics tests, detailed bearing measurements, and thermal and structural analyses. The investigation found that the race ring damage had been caused by high bearing edge stresses that resulted from inadequate lubrication of the rolling contact. The profile of the roller bearings and the metallurgical properties of the race ring were also found to be significant contributing factors

Space Station Solar Array Joint Repair

In Oct 2007 the International Space Station (ISS) crew noticed a vibrating camera in the vicinity of Starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ). It had less than 5 months of run time when the anomaly was observed. This approximately 3.2 meter diameter bearing joint supports solar arrays that power the station critical to its operation. The crew performed an EVA to identify what was causing the vibration. It was discovered that one of the 3 bearing tracks of this unconventional bearing had significant spalling damage. This paper discusses the SARJ's unique bearing design and the vulnerability in its design leading to the observed anomaly. The design of a SARJ vacuum test rig is also described along with the results of a life test that validated the proposed repair should extend the life of the SARJ a minimum of 18 years on-orbit

The International Space Station Solar Alpha Rotary Joint Anomaly Investigation

The Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ) is a single-axis pointing mechanism used to orient the solar power generating arrays relative to the sun for the International Space Station (ISS). Approximately 83 days after its on-orbit installation, one of the two SARJ mechanisms aboard the ISS began to exhibit high drive motor current draw. Increased structural vibrations near the joint were also observed. Subsequent inspections via Extravehicular Activity (EVA) discovered that the nitrided case hardened steel bearing race on the outboard side of the joint had extensive damage to one of its three rolling surfaces. A far-reaching investigation of the anomaly was undertaken. The investigation included metallurgical inspections, coupon tests, traction kinematics tests, detailed bearing measurements, and thermal and structural analyses. The results of the investigation showed that anomaly had most probably been caused by high bearing edge stresses that resulted from inadequate lubrication of the rolling contact. The profile of the roller bearings and the metallurgical properties of the race ring were also found to be significant contributing factors. To mitigate the impact of the damage astronauts cleaned and lubricated the race ring surface with grease. This corrective action led to significantly improved performance of the mechanism both in terms of drive motor current and induced structural vibration