Zero gravity crystal growth Final report

Experimental device for growing crystals under zero gravity condition

Dynamics of Merit-Based Scholarships in Georgia

Georgia offers two large merit-based scholarships to in-state college students: HOPE Scholarships which provide partial tuition support and Zell Miller Scholarships which provide full tuition support but with more stringent eligibility and retention conditions. While previous research has documented inequalities in initial merit scholarship, this study examines how the dynamics of scholarship gains and losses differ for students of color and students who are economically vulnerable, and across institutions, adding to a fuller understanding of inequality in merit-based scholarship receipt. We find that students’ scholarship status changes frequently, with 23 percent of students changing their status at least once and with higher rates of scholarship loss among HOPE Scholarship recipients. White students are more likely than Black and Hispanic students to enter college with a HOPE Scholarship and, particularly, with a Zell Miller Scholarship. Patterns of scholarship loss and gain over students’ careers widen these disparities as Black and Hispanic students are more likely than other students to lose scholarships and less likely to gain or regain them. Men, students from families with lower incomes, independent students, Pell grant recipients, and student loan recipients are also less likely to enter institutions with Zell Miller or HOPE Scholarships, less likely to retain scholarships if they do hold them, and less likely to gain scholarships during college. The report concludes with policy implications and proposals to address these inequalities

Dynamics of Merit-Based Scholarships in Georgia

Georgia offers two large merit-based scholarships to in-state college students: HOPE Scholarships which provide partial tuition support and Zell Miller Scholarships which provide full tuition support but with more stringent eligibility and retention conditions. While previous research has documented inequalities in initial merit scholarship, this study examines how the dynamics of scholarship gains and losses differ for students of color and students who are economically vulnerable, and across institutions, adding to a fuller understanding of inequality in merit-based scholarship receipt. We find that students’ scholarship status changes frequently, with 23 percent of students changing their status at least once and with higher rates of scholarship loss among HOPE Scholarship recipients. White students are more likely than Black and Hispanic students to enter college with a HOPE Scholarship and, particularly, with a Zell Miller Scholarship. Patterns of scholarship loss and gain over students’ careers widen these disparities as Black and Hispanic students are more likely than other students to lose scholarships and less likely to gain or regain them. Men, students from families with lower incomes, independent students, Pell grant recipients, and student loan recipients are also less likely to enter institutions with Zell Miller or HOPE Scholarships, less likely to retain scholarships if they do hold them, and less likely to gain scholarships during college. The report concludes with policy implications and proposals to address these inequalities.https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/gpl_reports/1006/thumbnail.jp

HST Observations of the Central-Cusp Globular Cluster NGC 6752. The Effect of Binary Stars on the Luminosity Function in the Core

We consider the effect of binary stars on the main-sequence luminosity functions observed in the core of globular clusters, with specific reference to NGC 6752. We find that mass segregation results in an increased binary fraction at fainter magnitudes along the main-sequence. If this effect is not taken into account when analyzing luminosity functions, erroneous conclusions can be drawn regarding the distribution of single stars, and the dynamical state of the cluster. In the core of NGC 6752, our HST data reveal a flat luminosity function, in agreement with previous results. However, when we correct for the increasing binary fraction at faint magnitudes, the LF begins to fall immediately below the turn-off. This effect appears to be confined to the inner core radius of the cluster.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures Accepted to ApJ Lett Vol 513 Number

STAEBL/general composites with hygrothermal effects (STAEBL/GENCOM)

A computer code has been developed to perform structural optimization of turbine blades made from angle ply fiber composite laminates. Design variables available for optimization include geometric parameters such as blade thickness distribution and root chord, and composite material parameters such as ply angles and numbers of plies of each constituent material. Design constraints include resonance margins, forced response margins, maximum stress, and maximum ply combined stress. A general description of this code is given. Design optimization studies for typical blades are presented

MACS: Multi-agent COTR system for Defense Contracting

The field of intelligent multi-agent systems has expanded rapidly in the recent past. Multi-agent architectures and systems are being investigated and continue to develop. To date, little has been accomplished in applying multi-agent systems to the defense acquisition domain. This paper describes the design, development, and related considerations of a multi-agent system in the area of procurement and contracting for the defense acquisition community

Safety and efficacy of vanzacaftor-tezacaftor-deutivacaftor in adults with cystic fibrosis: Randomised, double-blind, controlled, phase 2 trials

BACKGROUND: Elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor has been shown to be safe and efficacious in people with cystic fibrosis and at least one F508del allele. Our aim was to identify a novel cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator combination capable of further increasing CFTR-mediated chloride transport, with the potential for once-daily dosing. METHODS: We conducted two phase 2 clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of a once-daily combination of vanzacaftor-tezacaftor-deutivacaftor in participants with cystic fibrosis who were aged 18 years or older. A phase 2 randomised, double-blind, active-controlled study (VX18-561-101; April 17, 2019, to Aug 20, 2020) was carried out to compare deutivacaftor monotherapy with ivacaftor monotherapy in participants with CFTR gating mutations, following a 4-week ivacaftor monotherapy run-in period. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either ivacaftor 150 mg every 12 h, deutivacaftor 25 mg once daily, deutivacaftor 50 mg once daily, deutivacaftor 150 mg once daily, or deutivacaftor 250 mg once daily in a 1:1:2:2:2 ratio. The primary endpoint was absolute change in ppFEV FINDINGS: In study VX18-561-101, participants treated with deutivacaftor 150 mg once daily (n=23) or deutivacaftor 250 mg once daily (n=24) had mean absolute changes in ppFEV INTERPRETATION: Once-daily dosing with vanzacaftor-tezacaftor-deutivacaftor was safe and well tolerated and improved lung function, respiratory symptoms, and CFTR function. These results support the continued investigation of vanzacaftor-tezacaftor-deutivacaftor in phase 3 clinical trials compared with elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor. FUNDING: Vertex Pharmaceuticals

The mechanical response of semiflexible networks to localized perturbations

Previous research on semiflexible polymers including cytoskeletal networks in cells has suggested the existence of distinct regimes of elastic response, in which the strain field is either uniform (affine) or non-uniform (non-affine) under external stress. Associated with these regimes, it has been further suggested that a new fundamental length scale emerges, which characterizes the scale for the crossover from non-affine to affine deformations. Here, we extend these studies by probing the response to localized forces and force dipoles. We show that the previously identified nonaffinity length [D.A. Head et al. PRE 68, 061907 (2003).] controls the mesoscopic response to point forces and the crossover to continuum elastic behavior at large distances.Comment: 16 pages, 18 figures; substantial changes to text and figures to clarify the crossover to continuum elasticity and the role of finite-size effect

Juvenile social relationships reflect adult patterns of behavior in wild geladas

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/113724/1/ajp22443.pd