An instrument for spatial conductivity measurements of high Tc superconducting (HTSC) materials

High T(sub c) Superconducting (HTSC) thin films are suggested for use in a number of aerospace applications such as an IR bolometer and as electromagnetic shielding. As part of its flight assurance role, the Materials Branch of the Goddard Space Flight Center has initiated development of an instrument capable of measuring variations in conductivity for flat samples using an eddy current testing device and an X-Y positioning table. This instrument was used to examine bulk HTSC samples. System changes that would enable characterization of thin film materials are discussed

Wind utilization in remote regions: An economic study

A wind driven generator was considered as a supplement to a diesel group, for the purpose of economizing fuel when wind power is available. A specific location on Hudson's Bay, Povognituk, was selected. Technical and economic data available for a wind machine of 10-kilowatt nominal capacity and available wind data for that region were used for the study. After subtracting the yearly wind machine costs from savings in fuel costs, a net savings of $1400 per year is realized. These values are approximate, but are though to be highly conservative

Spatial conductivity measurements on high T(sub c) superconducting films

High T(sub c) superconducting thin and thick films have potential applications in future NASA flight projects. In anticipation of film use, the Materials Branch is developing a nondestructive, non-contact method of measuring the spatial variation of conductivity across a film sample. This method uses a computer-controlled, X-Y positioning table to scan a conventional eddy current probe across the surface of a film. The induced changes in impedance caused by variations in film conductivity are recorded during the scanning process. Ultimately the two-dimensional data set is displayed using imaging equipment on a personal computer

The Politics of Public Ownership: Preservation Advocacy for Modern Municipal Resources

Advocacy is central to the work of preservationists, yet the particular set of issues that must be addressed when advocating for the preservation of Modern municipal buildings is a topic that has not been previously explored. In addition to the challenges commonly confronted when advocating for the preservation of postwar resources, monumental Modern municipal buildings face substantive obstacles that emanate exclusively from their municipal ownership. Challenges encountered firsthand in advocating for the preservation of the Philadelphia Police Administration Building (the Roundhouse) serve as the primary motivation for this study which investigates the determining factors that lead to the successful preservation of Modern municipally owned buildings. Through case studies on the advocacy efforts for Boston City Hall, the Los Angeles Police Facilities Building (Parker Center), and the Philadelphia Police Administration Building, this thesis presents a series of best practices for both grassroots and organizational preservation advocates. The established recommendations are the result of empirical evidence obtained through interviews with individuals presently advocating for the preservation of Modern municipal buildings, those involved with local and national preservation organizations, municipal staff, and scholars in the field of Modern architectural preservation. While theoretical in nature, the presented strategies serve as sound maneuvers for shaping strategic plans for future efforts

The Effect of Regulatory Pressures on Earnings Management Behavior of Nonprofit Hospitals

My study examines the effect of regulatory pressures on the earnings management behavior of nonprofit (i.e., tax-exempt) hospitals. Prior research provides evidence that managers of nonprofit hospitals manage reported earnings to a range just above zero profit in order to conform to regulator low or zero profit expectations. I extend this research by investigating how reported performance on another accounting measure important to regulators, (i.e., charity care), further explains the earnings management behavior of nonprofit hospitals. Specifically, I develop theory to predict that nonprofit hospitals use discretionary accruals to manage positive earnings toward regulator low profit expectations less aggressively when reported performance on charity care is higher than regulator expectations. The intuition behind this prediction is that nonprofit hospital managers can benefit from reporting higher earnings (from profit-based compensation and/or enhanced reputations for operational efficiency), however, they must balance this against the costs of regulatory scrutiny. Results are consistent with my prediction. Further, I validate that my results are not alternatively explained by the mechanical relationship of my test variables, the general hospital economic environment, and/or the specific reporting environment of my sample firms. I do so by comparing the earnings management behavior of nonprofit hospitals to that of for-profit hospitals. Overall, results suggest that nonprofit managers strategically manage earnings higher when their firms are less vulnerable to regulator scrutiny of their reported chairy care. As such, my study contributes to the earnings management literature and has policy implications important to regulators, especially given the current U.S. healthcare environment

EnviroNET

EnviroNET is a service/facility that provides users with on-line, dial-up technical information concerning environmental conditions likely to be encountered by instruments and experimental arrangements carried aboard spacecraft. EnviroNET incorporates at present a combination of expository text and numerical tables amounting to about two million characters (bytes), plus FORTRAN programs that model the space environment. The topics covered are presented in viewgraph form and include the following: advantages of EnviroNET; thermal and humidity; vibration and acoustics; electromagnetic interference; loads and low frequency dynamics; microbial and toxic contaminants; molecular contamination; natural environment; orbiter motion; particulate environment; surface interactions; spacecraft anomalies; and interactive graphics facility

ENV-620: ASSISTING A COLUMBIAN COMMUNITY RESPOND TO TOUGHER WATER REGULATIONS

Colombia is strengthening the standards for treatment processes to protect public health from chlorine-resistant pathogens such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium. UV Pure recently assisted Progresar E.S.P., a water services company by adding disinfection to a potable water supply serving 5,000 residents outside Bogota. This project marks the first installation of UV Pure systems for potable water disinfection in Colombia. UV Pure Upstream systems, with Crossfire™ technology, is ideal for this challenging application providing a minimum UV dose of 40mJ/cm2, even when UVT is as low as 75%. The plant operates with an average flow of about 12L/sec (190 gpm) and draws water from a nearby river, with water quality impacted by agricultural and wastewater effluent. Ten UV Pure Upstream 30-75 systems are now working to inactivate pathogenic organisms such as Giardia, Cryptosporidium, bacteria and viruses, before chlorine is added to protect the water. This approach can help reduce the use of chlorine gas with a safer alternative. UV Pure systems can be remotely monitored and controlled without the need for the demanding safety protocols and management that chlorine disinfection systems require. The Upstream units are installed in a modular manifold system, which provides significant operational flexibility and system reliability. During peak demand, the units can work together to achieve treatment requirements, but during low demand individual units can be shut down. This flexibility is ideal for conserving energy and extending system life and also simplifies maintenance. The modular design helps accommodate growth to 12,000 residents in the future. Increased treatment capacity can be achieved by simply adding more elements to the plant’s control room. The facility will also benefit from the robust automatic cleaning system that prevents fouling of the quartz sleeve. This simple process helps to make UV Pure systems virtually maintenance free. The presentation will include photos & details of this innovative, new case study

Smart Havens Africa: Preliminary Impact Report

This examines how SHA has impacted the lives of its current customers and establishes a system that will help SHA to continue tracking and analyzing its impact for years to come

Using AR to Teach AR: Learning Outcomes of a Guided, Augmented Reality Hearing Loss and Auditory Rehabilitation Simulation with SLP Graduate Students

Recent research has found that practicing speech-language pathologists report feeling underprepared to provide services for individuals with hearing loss. At the same time, graduate SLP programs report that students have fewer training opportunities with low-incidence populations. This study examines learning outcomes for a cohort of graduate SLP students using a novel application of an immersive, augmented reality, hearing loss simulation. Results show encouraging outcomes for the simulation experience’s effects on empathy, knowledge, and clinical skills. This simulation offers a unique way to provide training related to auditory rehabilitation in SLP