Teaching Dollar-Cost Averaging: An In-Class Student Team Simulation

This paper presents a class tested exercise requiring student teams to perform investing decisions with the objective of maximizing the portfolio value. Afterwards, dollar-cost averaging (DCA) is introduced and usually achieves a greater portfolio value than that of most teams. Students are then assigned the task of determining the lowest and highest possible portfolio values for the simulation. DCA is then assessed on its nearness to either the worst or best (optimal) value. The exercise is enjoyable for students and offers several points of learning, including that DCA is an attractive investing strategy that offers many benefits and performs well

Preparation of RIT for 157-nm Lithography

This project investigated the feasibility of 157-nm Vacuum UltraViolet (VUV) Lithography and its’ possible utilization as a future source to extend the capabilities of optical lithography. In addition, this project undertook the initialization of VUV lithography here at JUT by the conversion of a 193-nm ArF excimer laser to a 157-nm F2 excimer laser source. The investigation of the completed body of work on 157-nm lithography led to the conclusion that this technology is viable and may represent the last frontier with respect to optical lithography. The excimer laser at RIT was successfully retrofitted for 157-nm operation and exhibited RIT’s first excitation at this wavelength on May 11, 1998

Exploring Principal Leadership in Improving Elementary Schools

As schools in Maine, and across the nation, are increasingly held to greater standards of accountability in terms of insuring higher levels of student academic growth and achievement, some schools are improving and some are not. Even beyond the constraints of tightening financial impositions and increasing accountability mandates, some are defying the odds and producing positive results. This research study sought to explore and understand the characteristics of principal leadership in improving elementary schools in Maine

An X-ray absorption spectroscopic study at the mercury LIII edge on phenylmercury(II) oxygen species

The X-ray absorption spectra of the reference and model compounds HgCl2, PhHgCl, PhHgOAc and [(PhHg)2OH][BF4].H2O have been analysed in both the XANES and EXAFS regions, and the technique was extended to determine the structures of (PhHg)2O, PhHgOH, and the basic salts PhHgOH.PhHgNO3 and PhHgOH.(PhHg)2SO4, which were previously structurally uncharacterised. Results indicate that (PhHg)2O is a molecular species with Hg-O-Hg 135°, while PhHgOH contains the [(PhHg)2OH]+ cation and is better formulated as [(PhHg)2OH]OH. The same cation is also featured in the two basic salts. Electrospray mass spectral studies of PhHgOH in aqueous solutions show that [PhHgOH2]+, [(PhHg)2OH]+ and [(PhHg)3O]+ co-exist in solution in a pH-dependent equilibrium

On-Orbit Performance of the BCP-100 Green Propellant Infusion Mission

The Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) spacecraft was launched in June of 2019 as a secondary payload on the Air Force’s STP-2 Falcon Heavy launch vehicle. GPIM is a BCP-100, a line of ESPA class spacecraft designed by Ball. The BCP-100 was designed around the capability to support multiple payloads on a single platform, and be able to fly in a wide range of orbits without the need to reconfigure the spacecraft in any way. Proving the flexibility and multi-role capability of the BCP-100 design, there are three secondary payloads on GPIM. In addition to the green propellant payload, iMESA, SWATS, and SOS are hosted on the spacecraft. These were provided by the Air Force through their Space Experiments Review Board (SERB) payload list. Finally, an advanced multi-layer insulation (MLI) technology, integrated MLI (IMLI), was employed as insulation for the propulsion subsystem. This technology was developed by Ball and Quest Thermal Group under Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) funding provided by NASA STMD. GPIM adds to the 15 years of combined flight time for the BCP-100 line. Ball Aerospace built the GPIM spacecraft for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) in order to provide a platform to accomplish on-orbit testing and validation of an AF-M315E based green propellant propulsion subsystem. After a very successful spacecraft commissioning phase that was completed in less than 24 hours, check out of the primary green propellant payload commenced. This included testing the primary and redundant catbed heaters, opening the latch valve, and commanding the thrusters in both open loop and closed loop control modes, all of which was accomplished within three and a half days of being on-orbit. The propulsion system employs five protoflight 1 N thrusters, four for attitude control and the fifth for use during delta-v burns to provide higher thrust. Characterization of the green propellant system has been on-going. This characterization includes performing closed loop delta-v burns, 3-axis thruster-based attitude control, and momentum dumping. In addition to these tests, on-orbit measurement of the thruster impulse-bit has been performed over the course of the mission. This measurement involves a complex command sequence in which the spacecraft must execute a delta-v, perform multiple maneuvers, spin down the reaction wheels, and execute a series of 200 msec long open loop thruster pulses. Analysis of the spacecraft motion that results from each thruster pulse provides the amount of force that was applied. This paper provides a brief background of the GPIM program, including objectives of the technology demonstration, and presents on-orbit flight results of propulsion tests performed to date

La Brianda Mia: An Evening of Eclectica

Program listing performers and works performed