Comparison of Material Properties and Microstructure of Specimens Built Using the 3D Systems Vanguard HS and Vanguard HiQ+HSSLS Systems

The HiQ upgrade to the 3D Systems Vanguard selective laser sintering (SLS) machine incorporates a revised thermal calibration system and new control software. The paper compares the tensile modulus, tensile strength, elongation at break, flexural modulus, Izod impact resistance and microstructure of two batteries of standard specimens built from recycled Duraform PA (Nylon 12). The first set is built on a Vanguard HS system and the second on the same system with the HiQ upgrade installed. The upgrade reduces user intervention, decreases total build time and improves surface finish. However, using the default processing parameters, tensile, flexure and impact properties are all found to decline after the upgrade is installed.Mechanical Engineerin

Human Behavior Impacts on Health Care

It is critical to understand human behavior in order to implement effective health-care policies for both developing and industrialized countries. Human behavior issues were studied in Ghana, with a developing economy, and South Korea, with a developed economy. From the survey research in Ghana in 2014, we learned that rural residents are heavily dependent on traditional health care. However, local community residents preferred to talk to medical doctors about their health care when accessible. We also looked into human behavior issues and the unique hospital culture in South Korea that contributed to the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak in 2015, incorporating human behavior into the SIR (susceptible-infected-recovered) model of infectious disease transmission. Moreover, we closely examined the impacts of human behavior and offered suggestions for the integration of human behavior in health-care policy

Annotated bibliography on the current status and product development of Tilapia in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga

Tilapia, named the 'food fish of the 21st century', is one of the most cultured freshwater fish in the world, farmed in more than 100 countries (Norman-Lopez & Bjorndal, 2009). A hardy and prolific, fast-growing tropical fish, it requires low input during grow-out periods and can be farmed successfully on any level, from extensive to intensive culture in ponds, tanks or raceways (Fitzsimmons, 2006). It is disease resistant, tolerant of poor water quality, can eat a wide range of food types and be cultured in fresh or brackish water. Chemicals and antibiotics are not necessary for commercial farming (Fitzsimmons, 2008). Introduced into the Pacific Islands region in the 1950s, tilapia became a commodity for culture due to its low-cost and success in other regions. For Fiji and Samoa, tilapia was for human consumption and as potential pig feed (Costa- Pierce, 1998), although in Tonga it became an unsuccessful attempt to control mosquitoes. Fiji and Papua New Guinea both have policies of government support for tilapia farming in rural areas. Household-scale tilapia farming is common in the Pacific but medium-scale enterprises are now on the increase (Pickering, T. 2009). Efforts in value adding of tilapia have been minimal in the Pacific (spc.int). Tilapia is mostly sold live or fresh in bundles but interestingly in Papua New Guinea, cooked tilapia (fried) is sold on the roadsides (Ponia & Mobiha, 2002). Simple village level post harvest processing, such as smoking may exist in some countries (spc.int) but proper documentation is absent. This annotated bibliography was developed as part of the Scoping Study for PARDI 2010/002 prepared by South, G.R., et al., 2011. Scoping study for Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.). Suva: Institute of Marine Resources, School of Marine Studies, FSTE, USP. References are specific to the Pacific or are directly related to the project. Most of the references are annotated

Linking New Australian Alkali Silica Reactivity Tests to World-Wide Performance Data

The long awaited Australian Standard test methods to detect alkali-silica reactivity (ASR) of aggregates: AS 1141.60.1 accelerated mortar bar test (AMBT) and AS 1141.60.2 concrete prism test (CPT); were published in September 2014. Both test methods were adopted correspondently from the ASTM 1260 and ASTM C1294 test methods but with different performance limits leading to a new class of slowly reactive aggregates. This paper reviews international and Australian research which supported these new performance limits. It also reviews and examines the value of these testing methods in predicting the ASR of aggregates in field-exposed large concrete blocks and a limited number of concrete structures. The outcomes may lead to a consideration of the hierarchy of these two test method

Impact analysis of low velocity to composite box containting water

A series of experimental studies were conducted for low velocity impact on a composite box containing water in order to study the Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI). Finally, a computational study was conducted to supplement the experimental study. The water level inside the composite box was varied incrementally from 0% (i.e. no water) to 100% (full water). The impact velocity was also changed. In the experimental study, strain gages and the load cell were used to measure the strain responses at the front, side, and back surfaces as well as the impact force. The results showed that the FSI effect was significant to the structural responses depending on the water level. The effect of the baffle was different among the front, side and back surfaces. Both experimental and numerical results agreed well.Naval Postgraduate SchoolApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

South Carolina Human Affairs Commission : a history, 1972-1997

This is a history of the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission that chronicles the agency's significant changes in size and mission. The finished product is a combination of research, interviews with people who have been involved with the agency over the years

Increased Uniformity by Planting Clones Will Likely Have a Minimal Effect on Inventory Costs

When conducting inventories, reducing variability among tree diameters, heights, and ultimately volumes or biomass, can reduce the number of points/plots needed to obtain a desired level of precision. We present a simple analysis examining the potential reduction in discounted inventory costs when stand variability is decreased (via improved genetics and intensive management on a uniform soil). Sampling time might be reduced if the coefficient of variation in point volume/biomass estimates is reduced to 10% (versus 25% for genetically diverse stands). However, if this level of variability could be achieved (and depending on the desired probability and allowable percent error) discounted costs might be only reduced by $0.50 per acre for a single inventory (when a 15$20 to $30 per acre. On some very uniform sites, stands with low variability may only need one inventory plot per 25 acres. Although clones (in theory) might reduce variability, microsite conditions within a plantation will always produce variability among plots/points