Design of a Controller for a Precision Positioning Machine

System identification was used to build an accurate model of a high-precision measurement system. The model built by system identification was compared to modeling by first laws and showed extremely similar results. Pole-placement control design based on the identified system was used to place the systems\u27 dominant poles. The necessary gains to achieve the desired system response were determined by using the identified model and knowledge of the controller structure. The performance of the model-based controller was compared to actual data of the system and showed that control based on the identified model can be used to accurately control the precision measuring machine

Automated Digital Machining for Parallel Processors

When a process engineer creates a tool path a number of fixed decisions are made that inevitably produce sub-optimal results. This is because it is impossible to process all of the tradeoffs before generating the tool path. The research presents a methodology to support a process engineers attempt to generate optimal tool paths by performing automated digital machining and analysis. This methodology automatically generates and evaluates tool paths based on parallel processing of digital part models and generalized cutting geometry. Digital part models are created by voxelizing STL files and the resulting digital part surfaces are obtained based on casting rays into the part model. Tool paths are generated based on a general path template and updated based on generalized tool geometry and part surface information. The material removed by the generalized cutter as it follows the path is used to obtain path metrics. The paths are evaluated based on the path metrics of material removal rate, machining time, and amount of scallop. This methodology is a parallel processing accelerated framework suitable for generating tool paths in parallel enabling the process engineer to rank and select the best tool path for the job

The Truman Administration, Israel, and Containment in the Middle East 1945-1952

This thesis examines United States policy towards Israel from 1948 to 1952 to determine the extent to which the support given to Israel during the Truman administration reflected the major United States policy goal in the Middle East, the containment of the Soviet Union. Sources used in this thesis include: archival material; printed collections of documents; memoirs; and secondary sources. The Truman administration pursued containment in the Middle East by cooperating with Great Britain to improve the economic and military well-being of the Arab states so they could resist any Soviet attempts to dominate the region. However, domestic political pressure persuaded the Truman administration to also become the major international supporter of Israel; the sworn enemy of the Arab states. Therefore, Truman\u27s decision to support Israel undermined United States attempts to strengthen the Arab states and weakened the United States containment policy in the region

Electric Poling-assisted Additive Manufacturing Process for Lead-free Piezoelectric Device Fabrication

AbstractThis paper presents a new additive manufacturing method based on electric poling process often used in many polymeric materials processing for lead-free piezoelectric device fabrication. This is to directly and continuously print piezoelectric devices from Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymeric filament rods under a strong electric field and mechanical stretching along the filament core. Piezoelectric devices were fabricated and its crystalline phase transition was measured by using the Fourier transform infrared spectroscope. The results demonstrate that increasing the electric field increases the piezoelectric crystalline phase transitions and results in a device with higher current output under stress. This technique can be used to fabricate fully 3D freeform structured piezoelectric devices for sensing, actuator and energy harvesting applications with a simple, low cost, integrated processing and fabrication step

Adjunct Faculty & Institutional Identity: Toward a Model for Acculturation

Institutions of higher education (IHEs) are charged with instilling institutional identity among all employees and this is particularly true for smaller Christian IHEs committed to the Great Commission. Following a case study of a recently dissolved institution, this article suggests that it may be worth the investment to effectively generate institutional identity among adjunct faculty even if doing so requires additional funding or capital. In this paper the authors draw on the tenets of organizational socialization theory coupled with a prescribed curriculum as a conceptual framework designed to generate institutional identity among adjunct faculty. The authors highlight a multi-phased model for implementing a sophisticated curriculum formulated to effectively cultivate institutional identity and discuss the benefits that are associated with enhanced onboarding efforts. It is suggested that Christian IHEs consider benefitting from the recommended approach

Advocacy-Related Occupations Among People with Disabilities: Assessing Program Outcomes of an Advocacy Workshop

An emerging area of occupational therapy (OT) practice includes program development for persons with disabilities (PWD). These programs are designed to train PWD how to identify issues and advocate for inclusion and accessibility (Umeda et al., 2017). Among the available literature on community-based advocacy programs, results show positive social outcomes including increased self-advocacy knowledge and related behaviors (i.e. Kramer, 2015; Mishna et al., 2011). Regarding the present study, an advocacy training program titled “Community Organizing Advocacy Skills Training” (COAST) was developed using the Midwest Academy Training Manual for the Advocate. The purpose of this study was to pilot a tool developed to measure participants’ perceptions of confidence related to self-advocacy skills to inform program development for the COAST workshop. Results of data analysis were inconclusive due to a small sample size

Scholarship With a Reach

While the goal of providing a path to degree completion for master’s level participants is worthy, universities can consider ways for scholarship to have a far-reaching impact beyond the individual benefits to program completers. The field of education is situated in the social sciences and rationale for program development, when tied to a theoretical foundation, provides for theory-to-practice implications. Organizational change theory is an appropriate foundation for a discussion on master’s level culminating research projects designed with a goal of enacting change in classrooms, schools, districts, and even around the globe. One university’s approach will be highlighted and two culminating project paths will be shared as exemplars. Suggestions for future research will provide qualitative and quantitative extensions to further the body of knowledge on organizational change theory as a foundation for research focused on scholarship opportunities designed with a goal of enacting far-reaching change in the field of education