Perceived differences in self-reported problems with sexual harassment, racial prejudice, and drug misuse amoung USNA varsity athletes

This thesis examines perceptions regarding sexual harassment, racial prejudice and drug misuse among USNA varsity athletes. Based on previous research, it was hypothesized that both gender and minority status would be predictive of perceptions regarding these behaviors among midshipmen and midshipmen athletes. The thesis also explores the relationship between indicators of athletic participation and experiences and perceptions regarding sexual harassment, racial prejudice and drug misuse. Data from 2735 midshipmen who responded to the USNA Values Survey and 723 midshipmen-athletes who responded to the NAAA Exit Survey were used for analyses. Results of regression analyses indicate that both gender and ethnicity were significant predictors of sexual harassment and racial prejudice but not drug misuse. Athletic status did significantly influence perceptions. Implications of these findings are discussed forhttp://archive.org/details/perceiveddiffere109451908Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Piezoresistive response of Pluronic wrapped single wall carbon nanotube : epoxy composites

This paper reports on the piezoresistive behavior of polymer-based nanocomposites, composed of epoxy resins and Pluronic-wrapped carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The samples were prepared with CNT concentrations up to 1 wt.%. Good CNT dispersion was achieved due to the Pluronic wrapping of the CNT, as confirmed by electron and atomic force microscopies. The correlation between the electrical resisitivity and mechanical solicitations was obtained for varying mechanical solicitations. The electrical response is linear over a wide strain range and the values of the gauge factor are ~2.6. The stability of the signal over 32 cycles, the time response to deformatoins from 0.1 to 50 mm min-1 and the stable temperature behavior up to 60 ºC shows the viability of these materials to be used as piezoresistive sensors..This work was funded by FEDER funds through the 'Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade - COMPETE' and by national funds by FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, project references PTDC/CTM/69316/2006, PTDC/CTM-NAN/112574/2009 and NANO/NMed-SD/0156/2007, and grants SFRH/BD/69796/2010 (A. F.) and SFRH/BD/41191/2007 (P. C.). This work was also supported by the COST Action MP1003 'European Scientific Network for Artificial Muscles' and the COST Action MP0902 'Composites of Inorganic Nanotubes and Polymers (COINAPO)'

Osservazioni Sull'Ultrastruttura Delle Cellule Cribrose di Psilotum Nudum

RIASSUNTOVengono riferiti i primi risultati di un esame ultrastrutturale condotto sulle cellule cribrose allo stadio giovanile e adulto dei fusti aerei di Psilotum nudum (L.) Beauv.In prossimita degli apici, la cellula cribrosa immatura, pur presentandosi assai simile alle cellule circostanti destinate a divenire cellule parenchimatiche, si distingue da queste perche nel suo citoplasma si trovano dei corpi molto elettrodensi, propri delle cellule cribrose delle Pteridophyta. Le pareti inoltre sono generalmente piu ispessite di quelle delle altre cellule.Il processo di differenziazione comprende una sequenza di eventi simile a quella osservata in Polypodium (unica Pteridofita di cui la letteratura fornisca delle notizie a questo proposito), riportabile anche a quanto avviene nelle piante superiori. La degenerazione del nucleo e la disintegrazione del tonoplasto sono i primi atti del processo, seguiti dalla comparsa nel citoplasma fondamentale, che diviene sempre piu elettrontrasparente, di materiale membra..