Jacob Schlaephor, a case study in laser innovation and the unexpected

This report aims to counter some assumptions about the nature of industrial technology by exploring the creative potential of the distance inherent in laser materials processing between designer and manufactured product.A case study of an industrially based project involving the textile company Jakob Schlaepfer, St Gallen, Switzerland, will provide the research material and underpin the report. The case study presents the development and expansion, by Schlaepfer, of self-customised laser technologies and how different laser processes have come to form an integral part of the design and production process. We aim to offer through this historical picture of Schlaepfer’s commitment to new technologies and investments that encourage innovation, two propositions that are facilitated by the distance inherent in the creative use of lasers. Firstly, that it is possible to utilise technologies normally linked with impersonalised standardisation in production, to instead create experimental products; and secondly, that technologies normally used to repeat and replicate the unexpected unique capacities of traditional making, can-be in-themselves capable of un-programmed unpredictability<br/

Feasibility study of a humidity control and oxygen supply system utilizing a water vapor electrolysis unit

Design and tests of water vapor electrolysis cell for generating and regulating spacecraft oxygen and for controlling humidit

One man electrochemical air revitalization system

An integrated water vapor electrolysis (WVE) hydrogen depolarized CO2 concentrator (HDC) system sized for one man support over a wide range of inlet air conditions was designed, fabricated, and tested. Data obtained during 110 days of testing verified that this system can provide the necessary oxygen, CO2 removal, and partial humidity control to support one man (without exceeding a cabin partial pressure of 3.0 mmHg for CO2 and while maintaining a 20% oxygen level), when operated at a WVE current of 50 amperes and an HDC current of 18 amperes. An evaluation to determine the physical properties of tetramethylammonium bicarbonate (TMAC) and hydroxide was made. This provides the necessary electrolyte information for designing an HDC cell using TMAC

Decision making patterns of farmers who grow corn in two Tennessee counties

The question which this study will try to answer is: How do the values of the high and low adopters differ

DIPL 6520 Politics of Terror in the Middle East

This course provides an overview of the study of terrorism, counter-terrorism, and political violence, viewed through the lenses of Middle East domestic and international politics. We will explore the most common causes and contexts of terrorism and attempt to answer questions about why groups use terrorist tactics, why terrorism is a unique kind of political violence, and the effects of international efforts to deal with terrorism on Middle Eastern political systems

DIPL 6310 AA/NB Research Methods for Policy Analysis

This class is an introduction to political science international relations research methodology. My main goal is to teach you the basics of creating and consuming research in the social sciences. The course will lead you through conceptualization and theory construction, the derivation of testable hypotheses, and a variety of methodologies that may be used to evaluate these hypotheses. We will discuss causal inference, observation and measurement, and other issues encompassing both qualitative and quantitative research methods. We will discuss the way in which academic articles in the social sciences are written, and how they should be read. This course includes some basic statistics, and requires use of SPSS or Excel (possibly R, if you are ambitious) for some class assignments. These include some simple description and cross tabulation of original data and data from the ICPSR archives

International Conflict and Security

This course serves as a general introduction to the study of international security, a field primarily concerned with the threat and uses of force by state and non-state actors for political ends. Topics examined include the origins of major power wars, regional conflicts, civil wars, and international intervention, as well as terrorism, cyber, and information warfare. By the end of the semester, students should have acquired knowledge and understanding of key concepts, theories, and debates involved in the study of contemporary international security. Students should also have developed the skills to: analyze complex international systems; find and synthesize empirical information; and develop, articulate, and defend policy positions