Feasibility study of alpha particle densitometers for measuring planetary atmospheric density Final report, Jul. 1968 - May 1969

Radioactive alpha particle density measuring system for atmospheric analyse

Design, fabrication and calibration of alpha particle densitometers for measuring planetary atmospheric density

An alpha particle densitometer was developed for possible application to measurement of the atmospheric density-altitude profile on Martian entry. The device uses an Am-241 radioactive-foil source, which emits a distributed energy spectrum, located about 25 to 75 cm from a semiconductor detector. System response - defined as the number of alphas per second reaching the detector with energy above a fixed threshold - is given for Ar and CO2. The altitude profile of density measurement accuracy is given for a pure CO2 atmosphere with 5 mb surface pressure. The entire unit, including dc-dc converters, requires less than 350 milliwatts of power from +28 volts, weighs about 0.85 lb and occupies less than 15 cubic inches volume

THIRD-PARTY COMPLAINTS AND FIRM PERFORMANCE: AN APPLICATION IN SPANISH BANKING

This article focuses on the impact of third-party complaints on firm performance. We propose two research hypotheses, which are developed from the literature of dissatisfaction, emotions, and economics. The methodology is based on an event study to estimate variation in firm share returns in the stock market due to the publication of the Annual Complaints Service Report by the Bank of Spain; as well as a regression analysis to examine the impact of the number of complaints per branch on the variation obtained. The empirical focus is on a sample of eleven banks to which complaints were made and which were quoted on the Spanish Stock Exchange between 1992 and 2001. The results show a negative impact of the publication of these annual complaint reports on the share returns of the banks concerned. Additionally, these returns have a negative relationship with the number of complaints per branch. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar el impacto de las quejas a terceras partes sobre losresultados empresariales. Para ello, se proponen dos hipótesis de investigación, argumentadassiguiendo la literatura de insatisfacción, emociones, y economía. La metodología se apoya en elevent study para estimar la variación de la rentabilidad de las acciones de las empresas generadaen la Bolsa por la publicación de la Memoria Anual del Servicio de Reclamaciones del Bancode España; así como en el análisis de regresión para examinar el impacto del número de quejaspor oficina en dicha variación. La aplicación empírica se lleva a cabo para una muestra de oncebancos sobre los que se efectúan las quejas y que cotizan en la Bolsa de Madrid entre 1992 y2001. Los resultados obtenidos ponen de manifiesto un impacto negativo de la publicación dedichas memorias anuales de quejas sobre la rentabilidad de las acciones de los bancosimplicados, y que dicha rentabilidad mantiene una relación negativa con el volumen de quejaspor oficina.Quejas a terceras partes; Resultados empresariales; Banca Third-party complaints; Firm performance; Banking industry

Flight of a UV spectrophotometer aboard Galileo 2, the NASA Convair 990 aircraft

An ultraviolet interference-filter spectrophotometer (UVS) fabricated for aircraft-borne use on the DOT Climatic Impact Assessment Program (CIAP) has been successfully tested in a series of flights on the NASA Convair 990, Galileo II. UV flux data and the calculated total ozone above the flight path are reported for several of the flights. Good agreement is obtained with the total ozone as deducted by integration of an ozone sonde vertical profile obtained at Wallops Island, Virginia near the time of a CV-990 underpass. Possible advantages of use of the UVS in the NASA Global Atmospheric Sampling Program are discussed

The Relationship Between Religious Background of those who Disaffiliate from Religion and Presence of Anxiety

Religion plays a significant role in the personality and worldview of a many individuals. It can provide one with personal benefits such as coping mechanisms, a framework for meaning-making, and a source of motivation, while also providing social support through connections with others having the same religious beliefs. The removal of said benefits through disaffiliation from a religious identity may lead to distress or anxiety. While much research has been done sociologically regarding the increasing number of people who do not affiliate with a religious group, much less has been done to analyze the individual experience of religious disaffiliation and its effect on mental and emotional health. The current study investigates the relationship between religious background and the presence of anxiety symptoms, specifically looking at Centrality of Religiosity, family religiosity, and level of exclusivity to define the religious background of the disaffiliated. A sample of 40 people responded to measures of religiosity and anxiety. Results did not support the hypothesis that religious disaffiliation is associated with increased levels of anxiety

Force and Moment Measurements Applicable to a Flexible Weapons System

Continuing the development of the 6-DOF Motion Test Apparatus (MTA) for performing dynamic wind tunnel tests revealed the importance of a capable data acquisition (DAQ) system for collecting and analyzing data. Assembling and testing the DAQ system in conjunction with the MTA, AFIT Low-Speed Wind Tunnel, and a selection of high-performance sensors was the primary focus of this research. Specifically, acquiring time-accurate aerodynamic force and moment measurements on a variety of test models was of high importance. With the established real-time DAQ system hardware, a National Instruments (NI) LabVIEW program was created to acquire data from an ATI Nano25-E force transducer and a second LabVIEW program was modified to communicate with a MicroStrain® 3DM-GX4-15™ Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). The complete DAQ hardware and software system was employed in both static and dynamic wind tunnel tests to collect the aerodynamic forces and moments acting on a NACA 0012 wing model. Dynamic testing involved pitch oscillation motions, which were tracked with the IMU, as well as pitch-plunge oscillation motions. Static tests yielded results that matched traditional sting mounted wind tunnel tests, despite minor angle-of-attack differences. Dynamic measurements of the lift, drag, and pitch moment coefficients were within expectations for the pitch oscillation tests and the highest ow velocity case of the pitch-plunge oscillation test

Propulsion system mathematical model for a lift/cruise fan V/STOL aircraft

A propulsion system mathematical model is documented that allows calculation of internal engine parameters during transient operation. A non-realtime digital computer simulation of the model is presented. It is used to investigate thrust response and modulation requirements as well as the impact of duty cycle on engine life and design criteria. Comparison of simulation results with steady-state cycle deck calculations showed good agreement. The model was developed for a specific 3-fan subsonic V/STOL aircraft application, but it can be adapted for use with any similar lift/cruise V/STOL configuration

Crystallization of agility: Back to basics

There are a number of agile and traditional methodologies for software development. Agilists provide agile principles and agile values to characterize the agile methods but there is no clear and inclusive definition of agile methods; subsequently it is not feasible to draw a clear distinction between traditional and agile software development methods in practice. The purpose of this paper is to explain the concept of agility in detail; and then to suggest a definition of agile methods that would help in the ranking or differentiation of agile methods from other available methods