Systems engineering and the user: Incorporation of user requirements into the SE process

This paper is organized into four parts. In the Gestation Phase, I describe the process of starting a new mission and establishing its rough boundaries. Next I show how the scientific experiments are selected. Then we enter the Preliminary Design Phase, where we incorporate the scientist's instruments into the systems engineering process. Finally, I show how the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) assures NASA management and the scientists that the scientific requirements have been incorporated into the systems engineering process to everyone's satisfaction

Generalized Characteristics Of A Generic Polytope

For a smooth hypersurface S ⊂ R 2n given by the level set of a Hamiltonian function H, a symplectic form ω on R2n induces a vector field XH which flows tangent to S. By the nondegeneracy of ω, there exists a distinguished line bundle LS whose characteristics are the integral curves of XH. When S is the boundary of a smooth convex domain K˜ ⊂ R 2n, then the least action among closed characteristics of LS is equal to the Ekeland-Hofer-Zehnder capacity, a symplectic invariant. From a result due to Artstein-Avidan and Ostrover, there exists a continuous extension of this capacity to nonsmooth convex domains K˜ ⊂ R2n, and from the work of Künzle, there is a generalization of the notion of characteristics of K˜. The existence of corners in @K˜ , however, prevents the analogous uniqueness/existence result found in the smooth case, coming from the characteristic initial value problem. First, we will define a generic class of polyhedral sets, called “symplectic-faced”, which avoid certain obstructions to uniqueness. We will show that, for symplectic-faced 4-polytopes ∑, we have the existence and local uniqueness of generalized characteristics of ∑. Then, we will show that symplectic-faced polytopes ∑ ⊂ R2n admit only characteristics with piecewise-linear trajectories. Finally, we will extend our existence/uniqueness result from 4-polytopes to the relative interior of low-codimension faces of symplectic-faced 2n-polytopes

Effects of Land-based Sources of Pollution on Coral Thermotolerance

Phenotypic plasticity is one way that species may cope with stressful environmental changes associated with climate change. Reef building corals present a good model for studying phenotypic plasticity because they have experienced rapid climate-driven declines in the past thirty years, often with differential survival among individuals during heat stress. One potential reason for underlying differences in thermotolerance may be due to differences in baseline levels of environmental stress. Stress associated with pollution has been shown to produce synergistic effects with heat stress, exacerbating the physiological damage of heat stress. Conversely, it is possible that mild pollution stress could prepare corals to better cope with heat stress via cross tolerance mechanisms. Cross tolerance occurs when a mild stressor prepares an organism for more extreme, subsequent stress, reducing the impact of that stressor on the organism. To examine these two possibilities, acute heat stress experiments were conducted on Acropora hyacinthus from five sites around Tutuila, American Samoa with differing pollution impact. Bleaching responses were measured visually, using photographic assessment to estimate chlorophyll content, and using pulse amplitude fluorometry to measure photosynthetic efficiency. Endosymbiont community composition was assessed at each site using quantitative PCR. RNA sequencing was used to compare differences in genes expression patterns prior to and during heat stress. Symbiont communities differed among sites, with heat tolerant Durusdinium dominating in areas with higher pollution impact and heat sensitive Cladocopium relatively more common in pristine areas. Pollution stress may induce a shift towards Durusdinium thereby enhancing resistance to subsequent heat stress in the near term. Gene expression patterns showed few differences correlating to site or pollution level. Thermotolerance, however, did correlate with gene expression patterns, both during heat stress and under control conditions. In this thesis, I present potential mechanisms underlying coral thermal tolerance in pollution-impacted areas. Our results highlight the importance of measuring pollution impacts on thermotolerance and identifying heat tolerant corals in “non-pristine” areas and their potential to seed nearby reefs following bleaching events

Active Gaming and Energy Expenditure in Healthy Adults

poster abstractThe rise in sedentary behavior in US society, along with the associated health risks, makes it necessary to find effective solutions to increase physical activity at all levels. Studies on active gaming have shown promising results in the use of active gaming as a viable exercise tool that combines physical activity with entertainment. However, the research is still mixed on whether active games can elicit similar responses as traditional cardiovascular exercise, such as jogging on a treadmill. This study examined whether participants playing active games could reach a moderate intensity level as defined by the American College of Sports Medicine as 3.0 METs while playing with and without specific instructions designed to maximize physical activity. Twenty young adult participants completed one training session and four experimental sessions. During each session, participants played two 15-minute periods of either Kinect tennis, Kinect boxing, Wii tennis, and Wii boxing. In period one, participants played at a self-selected intensity. During period two, participants were given specific instructions on how to play which were designed to maximize movement during play and down time. During game play, participants wore a portable gas (VO2/VCO2) analyzer to measure energy expenditure. Metabolic equivalents (METS) were analyzed with a repeated measures ANOVA. During period 1, Kinect boxing was able to elicit the highest METs, 3.097±0.3, from the participants. METS during period 2 was significantly greater than during period 1 across all games (p<.001). Participants were able to reach higher than 3.0 METs while playing each of the games during period 2. Regardless of the period, Kinect boxing elicited greater METS than Wii boxing and Wii Tennis (P<.001). This shows evidence that active gaming not only can elicit a moderate intensity level of physical activity, but that specialized instructions can enhance the effects of the active games

A study on effective inclusion and its academic and social impacts on the mildly learning disabled

The purpose of this thesis project was to determine the effectiveness of placing mildly learning disabled (LD) public elementary school students (grades three, four, and five) in a fully inclusive general education setting with necessary support services, specifically collaborative teaching. Students involved in the study were classified perceptually impaired in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6:28, and placed in an in-class support (ICS) classroom, instructed by both a general education and special education teacher. Academic achievement data, as formally measured on the California Achievement Test (CAT 5) and functionally measured through teacher assigned report card grades, was analyzed. Social functioning (self-concept and peer acceptance) was measured by the Piers-Harris Children\u27s Self-Concept Scale and through peer nominations. A questionnaire was completed by eight inclusionists to determine their attitudes toward and perceptions of ICS. The results of the functional measure indicate that all ICS students were satisfactorily meeting district curriculum objectives. Formal measure results show that the majority of the classified students perform in the average range of functioning in reading and mathematics when compared to their same age peers. Socially, the LD students possess self-concepts described as average to very much above average, and these students are no more likely to be socially rejected than their nondisabled classmates. Furthermore, teachers view this program as essential and successful for mildly LD students

Physical Activity Levels Predict Exercise-induced Hypoalgesia in Older Adults

Prior research indicates that older adults exhibit a deficient capacity to activate multiple pain inhibitory mechanisms, including pain inhibition after acute exercise termed exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH). The influence of physical activity levels and psychological processes on EIH in older adults remains unclear. PURPOSE This study examined potential psychological and physical activity predictors of the magnitude of EIH following submaximal isometric exercise in healthy older adult men and women. METHODS Fifty-two healthy older adults completed a test of EIH, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, and wore an accelerometer on the hip for one week to assess physical activity levels. For the test of EIH, participants complete a 3-minute isometric handgrip at 25% of maximum voluntary contraction. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) and a 30-sec continuous heat pain test were completed before and immediately after the exercise. RESULTS Mixed model ANOVAs revealed that older adults demonstrated significantly decreased PPTs following isometric exercise (p=.030), and no changes on the heat pain trials from pre to post test (p>.05). A multiple regression revealed that accumulated moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per week significantly predicted the change in PPT following exercise (β=0.35, p=.012). Participants who averaged greater MVPA experienced a greater increase in PPTs after exercise. No relationships were found with EIH and the psychological variables. CONCLUSIONS Older adults did not exhibit EIH following submaximal isometric exercise. However, those who did more MVPA per week experienced a greater magnitude of pain inhibition following acute exercise

The Evaluation of a Mass Media Campaign to Promote Exclusive Breastfeeding in Vietnam

This dissertation explores whether a mass media campaign, comprised of two television spots promoting exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), was successful in changing EBF behavior when implemented alone and when implemented in conjunction with other media materials, the training of service providers, and the establishment of a franchise network of infant and young child feeding counseling centers. The data were collected at five waves in four provinces of Vietnam through a three-stage cluster sampling methodology for a total of 11,277 face-to-face interviews with mothers of infants under the age of six months. Although the same individuals were not interviewed over time, the same 118 communes were sampled at each wave. The core analyses explore the longitudinal effects of commune level exposure on commune level EBF. Commune level EBF rates never differed significantly from baseline in mass media only communes. In franchise communes, however, EBF rates improved sharply (from 24% before to 55% after). Further longitudinal analyses indicate that communes that were going to be high in exposure after the campaign began experienced significantly greater overtime increases in EBF than communes that were going to be low in exposure. Mediation analyses suggest that, in franchise communes, the mass media campaign had an effect by driving women to franchise centers to seek additional IYCF support and that appears to have had an effect on EBF behavior. Moderation analyses suggest that exposure to the mass media campaign did not, for the most part, have differential effects on EBF behavior among mothers of younger infants compared to mothers of older infants, first-time mothers as compared to experienced mothers, and mothers with more versus less education. From the studies that comprise this dissertation, we can conclude that: 1) Mass media alone, in the format of two 30-second spots, was not effective in changing EBF behavior in Vietnam; 2) Where other intervention strategies were implemented alongside mass media, the mass media campaign led to greater EBF behavior change; 3) In geographic areas where the intervention was comprised of multiple components, the mass media campaign had effects through a process of social diffusion

Greater functional aerobic capacity predicts more effective pain modulation in older adults

poster abstractEndogenous pain inhibitory and facilitory function deteriorates with age, potentially placing older adults at greater risk for chronic pain. Prior research shows that self-reported physical activity predicts endogenous pain inhibitory capacity and facilitation of pain on quantitative sensory tests (QST) in healthy adults. Purpose: To investigate whether functional aerobic capacity and lower extremity strength in older adults cross-sectionally predicts pain sensitivity, pain inhibition following isometric exercise, and facilitation of pain during heat pain temporal summation (TS) tests. Methods: 42 subjects (10 male, 32 female, age=67.5±5.1) completed the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), 30-second chair stand test, and several QSTs. QSTs included: 1) Pain ratings (0-100 scale) during the submersion of the hand in a cold water bath (CWB), 2) heat pain threshold tests, 3) the amount of pain reduction following submaximal isometric exercise, and 4) degree of pain facilitation during temporal summation tests conducted at 44, 46, and 48°C. Responses on the QSTs were analyzed using hierarchical linear regression with meters on 6MWT and number of chair stands as final predictors. Results: After controlling for demographic and psychological factors, aerobic capacity on 6MWT significantly predicted CWB pain ratings (R2 change= 22.5%, Beta= -0.491), pain facilitation during TS trials at 44°C (R2 change= 16.7%, Beta= -0.446), and the amount of pain reduction following isometric exercise (R2 change= 20.7%, Beta= 0.393). All other analyses were not significant (P>0.05). Conclusions: Older adults exhibiting greater functional aerobic capacity displayed reduced cold pain sensitivity, reduced pain facilitory function, and increased pain inhibition following exercise. These findings suggest that increased aerobic fitness in older adults may be associated with more effective endogenous modulation of pain. This study was funded by the IUPUI School of PETM Faculty Research Opportunity Grant

Rotordynamic Analysis of Theoretical Models and Experimental Systems

This thesis is intended to provide fundamental information for the construction and analysis of rotordynamic theoretical models, and their comparison the experimental systems. Finite Element Method (FEM) is used to construct models using Timoshenko beam elements with viscous and hysteretic internal damping. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors of state space equations are used to perform stability analysis, produce critical speed maps, and visualize mode shapes. Frequency domain analysis of theoretical models is used to provide Bode diagrams and in experimental data full spectrum cascade plots. Experimental and theoretical model analyses are used to optimize the control algorithm for an Active Magnetic Bearing on an overhung rotor