Analysis of Alternatives: Multivariate Considerations

The Aeronautical System Center (ASC) is developing a Simulation and Analysis Facility (SIMAF) that will link models, simulations, hardware-in-the-loop, and system-in-the-loop resources to create a robust virtual environment supporting assessment of alternate systems in the defense acquisition process. ENS is assisting ASC with scenario development, experimental design, and battleroom visualization efforts for a SIMAF capability demonstration. This thesis uses multivariate analysis and visualization tools to develop an approach for reducing the dimensionality of multiple campaign level measures of effectiveness for a notional Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) study. Additionally, the thesis advances an AoA visualization paradigm for the SIMAF capability demonstration. The results of this study suggest that multivariate data reduction techniques and user interactive visualization of multivariate analysis results can be employed to combine multiple MOEs into a reduced set of interpretable factors capturing the operational effectiveness performance of competing acquisition alternatives. The thesis research also successfully demonstrated a visual data mining approach applied to the visualization of campaign level analysis results and the cost/effectiveness integration of an AoA effort

Gender and the evaluation of honest leaders - examining the link between gender as the Hhonesty source and leadership perceptions

This thesis investigates the link between honesty, gender, and leadership effectiveness. It hypothesizes, based on literature that honesty leads to a higher leadership effectiveness rating. Furthermore, it suggests that there is a difference in leadership effectiveness rating when being (dis-)honest based on the leader’s gender. The experimental between-subjects study of 158 participants shows a significant positive link between honesty and leadership effectiveness rating. However, it could not find any gender differences in leadership effectiveness when the leader acts (dis-)honestly. This contributes to the literature on the effects of honesty and gender on leadership effectiveness

Athletes on Twitter: an investigation of communication patterns during the Olympic Games 2012 in London

Recent studies have shown an increasing impact of online social networks such as Twitter on sports media. The following study aims to provide insight about communication patterns of athletes during the Olympic Games 2012 in London. Drawing on literature from traditional fields such as social capital (Field 2003), the 'uses and gratifications' approach (Katz, Blumler and Gurevitch 1974), self- presentation (Goffmann 1971) and recent studies about social media in sports (Kassing and Sanderson 2012), a Twitter-analysis of ten athletes was conducted during the Olympic Games 2012 in London. Following a content analysis of 1042 tweets (including 246 pictures), the research findings of this study reveal that athletes predominantly use Twitter as a platform for self- presentation. Furthermore, the analysis showed the possibility for fans to use Twitter in order to overcome the parasocial orbit (Kassing and Sanderson 2012) of virtual space and engage in actual social interaction with athletes. It is concluded that linkages of athletes with various stakeholders and the official framework of social media guidelines by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), result in self- restricting communication patterns of the athletes during the Olympic Games 2012

Robust single-parameter quantized charge pumping

This paper investigates a scheme for quantized charge pumping based on single-parameter modulation. The device was realized in an AlGaAs-GaAs gated nanowire. We find a remarkable robustness of the quantized regime against variations in the driving signal, which increases with applied rf power. This feature together with its simple configuration makes this device a potential module for a scalable source of quantized current.Comment: Submitted to Appl. Phys. Let

Integrated quantized electronics: a semiconductor quantized voltage source

The Josephson effect in superconductors links a quantized output voltage Vout = f \cdot(h/2e) to the natural constants of the electron's charge e, Planck's constant h, and to an excitation frequency f with important applications in electrical quantum metrology. Also semiconductors are routinely applied in electrical quantum metrology making use of the quantum Hall effect. However, despite their broad range of further applications e.g. in integrated circuits, quantized voltage generation by a semiconductor device has never been obtained. Here we report a semiconductor quantized voltage source generating quantized voltages Vout = f\cdot(h/e). It is based on an integrated quantized circuit of a single electron pump operated at pumping frequency f and a quantum Hall device monolithically integrated in series. The output voltages of several \muV are expected to be scalable by orders of magnitude using present technology. The device might open a new route towards the closure of the quantum metrological triangle. Furthermore it represents a universal electrical quantum reference allowing to generate quantized values of the three most relevant electrical units of voltage, current, and resistance based on fundamental constants using a single device.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figure

Analysis of the Public Works Service Request Process For Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest

EMBA Project ReportEXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The goal of this project is to analyze the service request portion of the Public Works Business Line (PWBL) processes for Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Northwest. All four PWBL Product Lines are included in the analysis. These Product Lines are Facility Management and Sustainment (FM&S), Facility Service Contract Management and Facility Services (FMFS), Base Support Vehicles and Equipment (BSVE), and Utilities and Energy Management (UEM). The perceived problem is that there are instances of confusion and inaccuracies regarding funding responsibilities and service levels resulting from prior years of organizational changes and functional transfers. The research examines the process used to contact NAVFAC to request service, the process NAVFAC uses to validate that the requested service is funded and authorized, and applicable documents, agreements, and information used by the participants. By conducting interviews with fifty process participants, sufficient information is gathered to map the current service request process. Process maps are provided for each product line. The maps show the decision points involved in the interaction between the customer and NAVFAC field staff in the request process. The interview results confirm that the perceived problems do exist in some areas and product lines. Interviewed personnel credit NAVFAC for improvements already accomplished in many areas. Remaining problems common to multiple product lines and cited most often include limited resources, limited access to NAVFAC information, unclear service level and funding source information, and insufficient sharing of long range planning information between customers and NAVFAC. In addition, the use of authorized customer representatives and regular customer meetings work well when used and could be leveraged in other areas. After conducting root cause analysis, recommendations are provided that address the consequences of the problems and align with NAVFAC strategic goals. These include communication improvements to increase accessibility of information, documentation improvements to reduce confusion, and training suggestions to improve understanding and consistency. The recommendations are charted with benefits and difficulty of implementation to assist NAVFAC in deciding which to consider implementing first (i.e., those with the most benefit for the least initial investment). A tool is included to allow the client to adjust the value weighting of the benefits and implementation difficulty based on their own preferences. Using equal weighting the recommendations to consider first are: a) the communication recommendations including an accessible web site, holding a customer symposium, and publications, b) the documentation recommendation of posting the process maps, and c) the training recommendations to hold internal briefings for NAVFAC personnel and acquisition briefings for customers. Implementation of even some of the recommendations provided in this study will achieve many benefits in operational effectiveness for both NAVFAC and its supported Commands.http://archive.org/details/analysisofpublic10945707

"Adulterated" Androstenedione: What FDA's Action against Andro Means for Industry

On March 11, 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pronounced that dietary supplement products containing androstenedione were adulterated new dietary ingredients under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). The FDA issued a press release, held a news conference, and sent warning letters to 23 companies that had manufactured, marketed or distributed the products containing androstenedione. In its warning letters, FDA threatened possible enforcement actions for noncompliance. The authors have looked at the warning letters, statutes, regulations, and media reports to analyze the legal grounds and standards upon which FDA acted against androstenedione and question the appropriateness of the action taken. They have also looked at the negative impact that FDA's lack of communication and cooperation with Industry is having upon the fitness nutrition industry and the marketing of dietary supplements containing new dietary ingredients. The authors also suggest what might be done to ameliorate this escalating problem including more cooperation between FDA and Industry and more research into the benefits and use of supplement products

Single-parameter non-adiabatic quantized charge pumping

Controlled charge pumping in an AlGaAs/GaAs gated nanowire by single-parameter modulation is studied experimentally and theoretically. Transfer of integral multiples of the elementary charge per modulation cycle is clearly demonstrated. A simple theoretical model shows that such a quantized current can be generated via loading and unloading of a dynamic quasi-bound state. It demonstrates that non-adiabatic blockade of unwanted tunnel events can obliterate the requirement of having at least two phase-shifted periodic signals to realize quantized pumping. The simple configuration without multiple pumping signals might find wide application in metrological experiments and quantum electronics.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure