Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Training Programs Through the Lens of a Traditional Flight Training University

According to CFR 14 Part 107, an RPC is issued strictly on the results of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) knowledge test and background security check. This leaves commercial sUAS operators on their own to determine the training and proficiency required to fly safely and effectively. Regardless of the learning method, the question becomes, what knowledge and maneuvers should be learned, and to what proficiency level? This paper explores specific knowledge and skills which should be mandatory for all sUAS commercial pilots and recommends a probation period to gain experience before receiving an unrestricted RPC

Ultralight amorphous silicon alloy photovoltaic modules for space applications

Ultralight and ultrathin, flexible, rollup monolithic PV modules have been developed consisting of multijunction, amorphous silicon alloys for either terrestrial or aerospace applications. The rate of progress in increasing conversion efficiency of stable multijunction and multigap PV cells indicates that arrays of these modules can be available for NASA's high power systems in the 1990's. Because of the extremely light module weight and the highly automated process of manufacture, the monolithic a-Si alloy arrays are expected to be strongly competitive with other systems for use in NASA's space station or in other large aerospace applications

Estimating the malaria risk of African mosquito movement by air travel

BACKGROUND: The expansion of global travel has resulted in the importation of African Anopheles mosquitoes, giving rise to cases of local malaria transmission. Here, cases of 'airport malaria' are used to quantify, using a combination of global climate and air traffic volume, where and when are the greatest risks of a Plasmodium falciparum-carrying mosquito being importated by air. This prioritises areas at risk of further airport malaria and possible importation or reemergence of the disease. METHODS: Monthly data on climate at the World's major airports were combined with air traffic information and African malaria seasonality maps to identify, month-by-month, those existing and future air routes at greatest risk of African malaria-carrying mosquito importation and temporary establishment. RESULTS: The location and timing of recorded airport malaria cases proved predictable using a combination of climate and air traffic data. Extending the analysis beyond the current air network architecture enabled identification of the airports and months with greatest climatic similarity to P. falciparum endemic regions of Africa within their principal transmission seasons, and therefore at risk should new aviation routes become operational. CONCLUSION: With the growth of long haul air travel from Africa, the identification of the seasonality and routes of mosquito importation is important in guiding effective aircraft disinsection and vector control. The recent and continued addition of air routes from Africa to more climatically similar regions than Europe will increase movement risks. The approach outlined here is capable of identifying when and where these risks are greatest

Sex differences in money pathology in the general population

This study examined sex differences in money beliefs and behaviours. Over 100,000 British participants completed two measures online, one of which assessed “money pathology” (Forman in Mind over money, Doubleday, Toronto, 1987), and the other four “money types”, based on the emotional associations of money (Furnham et al. in Personal Individ Differ, 52:707–711, 2012). Nearly all measures showed significant sex differences with medium to large effect sizes, and with females exhibiting more “money pathology” than males. The biggest difference on the money types was on money being associated with generosity (money representing love) where men scored much lower than females, and autonomy (money representing freedom) where men scored higher than women. For men, more than women, money represented Power and Security. Men were more likely to be Hoarders while women did more emotional regulatory purchasing. Implications and limitations of this study are discussed

Keeping the Faith: African American Faith Leaders’ Perspectives and Recommendations for Reducing Racial Disparities in HIV/AIDS Infection

In Philadelphia, 66% of new HIV infections are among African Americans and 2% of African Americans are living with HIV. The city of Philadelphia has among the largest numbers of faith institutions of any city in the country. Although faith-based institutions play an important role in the African American community, their response to the AIDS epidemic has historically been lacking. We convened 38 of Philadelphia’s most influential African American faith leaders for in-depth interviews and focus groups examining the role of faith-based institutions in HIV prevention. Participants were asked to comment on barriers to engaging faith-based leaders in HIV prevention and were asked to provide normative recommendations for how African American faith institutions can enhance HIV/AIDS prevention and reduce racial disparities in HIV infection. Many faith leaders cited lack of knowledge about Philadelphia’s racial disparities in HIV infection as a common reason for not previously engaging in HIV programs; others noted their congregations’ existing HIV prevention and outreach programs and shared lessons learned. Barriers to engaging the faith community in HIV prevention included: concerns about tacitly endorsing extramarital sex by promoting condom use, lack of educational information appropriate for a faith-based audience, and fear of losing congregants and revenue as a result of discussing human sexuality and HIV/AIDS from the pulpit. However, many leaders expressed a moral imperative to respond to the AIDS epidemic, and believed clergy should play a greater role in HIV prevention. Many participants noted that controversy surrounding homosexuality has historically divided the faith community and prohibited an appropriate response to the epidemic; many expressed interest in balancing traditional theology with practical public health approaches to HIV prevention. Leaders suggested the faith community should: promote HIV testing, including during or after worship services and in clinical settings; integrate HIV/AIDS topics into health messaging and sermons; couch HIV/AIDS in social justice, human rights and public health language rather than in sexual risk behavior terms; embrace diverse approaches to HIV prevention in their houses of worship; conduct community outreach and host educational sessions for youth; and collaborate on a citywide, interfaith HIV testing and prevention campaign to combat stigma and raise awareness about the African American epidemic. Many African American faith-based leaders are poised to address racial disparities in HIV infection. HIV prevention campaigns should integrate leaders’ recommendations for tailoring HIV prevention for a faith-based audience

INDICES OF ENERGY EXPENDITURE AND THEIR CORRELATION WITH BODY COMPOSITION

C. Brewer1, C.D. Woodyard2, D.E. Waddell3 1Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA, 2Tallahatchie General Hospital, Charleston, MS, 3University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS PURPOSE: To examine relationships between indices of energy expenditure (EE) and body composition (BC). METHODS: BodyMedia SenseWear PRO2 Armband (SP2) (Innerview Research Software Version 4.1) was used to examine four mean indices of EE collected in college-aged males (n=21) over two 3-day periods (T1, T2): total energy expenditure (TEE, kcal), active energy expenditure (AEE, kcal), physical activity duration (PA, mins), and number steps per day (STPS). SP2 collected data once per minute, and AEE data were based on 2.5 METS. EE was measured in conjunction with DXA BC assessment (Hologic Delphi-W; Bedford, MA). Total body bone mineral content (BMC, g), lean tissue (LT, g), fat (%, g), and fat-free mass index (FFMI, kg/m2) were assessed aspects of BC. Protein (g), calcium (mg) and vitamin D (mcg) intake were assessed using the Nutrition Data System for Research. Simple correlation was used to examine associations between EE and BC indices. RESULTS: Data from participants with an on-body SP2 duration of \u3c75% and/or \u3c3 days during either T1 or T2 were excluded from analyses (T1 n=18; T2 n=16). EE indices consistently demonstrated moderate to strong correlations with one another across T1 (r=0.64–0.91; p\u3c0.004) and T2 (r=0.60–0.90; p\u3c0.013). BMC (T1=2900.4+457.2; T2=2923.5+400.6) was consistently correlated with TEE (T1=3036.9+576.6; r=0.86, p\u3c0.001; T2=3215.1+544.2; r=0.75; p=0.001), AEE (T1=1057.9+558.2; r=0.66, p=0.003; T2=1254.5+569.9; r=0.54; p=0.031), and calcium (T1=1026.6+419.9; r=0.56, p=0.015; T2=1025.7+332.9; r=0.57; p=0.021) but was only correlated to STPS during T1 (9021.6+3066.3; r=0.58, p=0.011). LT (T1=60924.2+7441.5; T2=61576.5+6799.2) was consistently correlated to TEE (T1= r=0.68, p=0.002; T2= r=0.76; p=0.001) and demonstrated significant associations with calcium during T1 (r=0.62; p=0.007) and protein during T2 (136.2+82.8; r=0.53; p=0.037). FFMI (T1=19.6+1.7; T2=19.7+1.7) was moderately correlated with TEE during T1 (r=0.47; p=0.049) and T2 (r=0.51; p=0.045) as well as AEE during T2 (r=0.51; p=0.042). Indices of FAT (%,g) only demonstrated inverse correlations to EE during T2. FAT% (17.3+5.1) was inversely associated with AEE (r=-0.57; p=0.023), PA (205.1+72.6 min; r=-0.81; p\u3c0.001), and STPS (10832.8+3650.7; r=-0.63; p=0.008). FATg (13756.6+4888.4) was inversely associated with PA (r=-0.74; p=0.001) and STPS (r=-0.59; p=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: TEE was the EE index that consistently demonstrated significant associations with BC indices. Only during T2 were associations between EE indices and FAT seen. MPA was not associated with any BC index nor was vitamin D associated with BMC during either T1 or T2

Mechanisms of formation of trace decomposition products in complex high explosive mixtures

A significant concern in the nation`s stockpile surveillance program in prediction of the lifetimes of the high explosives (HE) and their components as the weapons age. The Department of Energy`s Core Surveillance and Enhanced Surveillance programs specifically target issues of degradation of HE, binders, and plastic-bonded explosives (PBX) for determination of component lifetimes and handling procedures. These material science topics are being addressed at the DOE national laboratories and production plants, including Pantex. The principal goal of this project is to identify the mechanisms of decomposition of HE, plasticizers, plastic polymer binders, and radical stabilizers resulting from exposures to ionizing radiation, heat, and humidity. The following reports the work completed for 1998, including a comprehensive literature review about some of the materials examined and the laboratory work completed to date. The materials focused on in the laboratory are TATB, Estane 5301, and Irganox 1010