Design, Construction, and Verification of an Apparatus Capable of Testing Fire Attack Hoses at Realistic Fire Ground Conditions

Modern day fires are burning hotter and faster than ever before. As a result, fire attack hoses are subjected to more intense conditions and are more likely to fail on the fire ground. Currently, the only test for thermal performance of a fire hose is a conduction test. This project designed, built, validated, and verified a prototype apparatus useful for assessing the performance of a fire attack hose charged with water and exposed to a convective and radiative environment reflecting pre-flashover conditions. Each system of the apparatus was designed and tested to meet set performance criteria. The apparatus was then tested to verify that the results would be repeatable and withstand future testing. The team also determined a matrix of hoses to be tested within the prototype apparatus

A Comprehensive Methodology for Assessing the Quality of Solar Photovoltaic Systems

The goal of this project was to assist the Alternative Technology Association by providing an enhanced assessment methodology for solar photovoltaic systems, emphasizing the development of a quantifiable evaluation of reliability and performance. To realize this goal, we interviewed industry leaders, surveyed solar consumers, and researched factors affecting solar photovoltaic system quality. The project resulted in a more comprehensive assessment methodology to aid the ATA in providing consultations that examine the value of solar photovoltaic systems

Constitutional Convention

Billings Gazette special issue about the Montana Constitutional Convention and government information articles pertaining to the subject. Included is a list of 1972 delegates.https://digitalcommons.mtech.edu/crucible_materials/1007/thumbnail.jp

Use of Recommended Laboratory Testing Methods Among Patients with Tuberculosis in California

This study assessed the extent to which laboratory methods recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were used in tuberculosis testing of patients in California in 1998. While recommended methods were used for most patients, there was room for improvement by hospital and independent non-health maintenance organization laboratories

40Ar/39Ar hornblende ages from southwestern Maine: evidence for Late Paleozoic metamorphism

40Ar/39Ar analyses of hornblendes from a 120 km long NE-trending transect within die high-grade rocks of the Casco Bay Group provide information regarding the timing of thermal events and subsequent cooling history of this region. In die north, plateau ages of 368-372 Ma record the time of cooling through argon closure temperatures (500°C) following Acadian metamorphism. In die central portion of the transect, hornblendes display younger ages (350-323 Ma) and release spectra which show evidence of a Late Paleozoic thermal overprint. To the soudi, significantly lower plateau ages are recorded (270-290 Ma). These lower ages date either die time of a Late Paleozoic diermal event or the time of cooling following a prolonged period of burial at deep crustal levels. The former interpretation is favored on the basis of the disturbed release spectra in the central portion of the transect and the fact that ages over the 60 km long southern portion of die transect are relatively constant at 280 ±10 Ma. If a Late Paleozoic thermal event occurred in this region it was evidently not accompanied by large amounts of deformation as structural evidence for such an event is lacking. The exact nature of the Late Paleozoic resetting of hornblendes in this portion of the Casco Bay Group is not clear; however, it may be related to die events which lead to granite emplacement 275 Ma ago in die Massabesic Gneiss Complex and the 272-282 Ma ages for monazites from die nearby Sebago Batholith. RÉSUMÉ Des analyses 40Ar/39Ar, effectuées sur des hornblendes prélevées sur une traverse NE de 120 km de longueur au sein des roches métamorphiques de haut degré du Groupe de Casco Bay, ont foumi des données sur l'âge des épisodes thermiques et l'histoire du refroidissement qui leur succéda dans ce secteur. Au nord, des âges-plateaux de 368 à 372 Ma datent le refroidissement via les tempeéatures de fermeture de 1'argon (500°C) sui vant le métamorphisme acadien. Dans la portion centrale de la traverse, les hornblendes exhibent des âges plus jeunes (350 a 325 Ma) et des spectres de diffusion qui portent la trace d'une surimprcssion thermique tardi-paléozoique. Vers le sud, on enregistre des âges-plateaux bien plus jeunes (270 â 290 Ma). Ces demiers datent soil un épisode thermique tardi-paléozoique, soil un refroidissement après un enfouissement prolongé profondément dans la croûte. On favorise la première interprètation à cause des spectres de diffusion dérangés que montre la portion centrale. de la traverse el parce que les âges obtenus au long des 60 km de la portion sud de la traverse sont rélativement constants à 280 +10Ma. Si cette région à subi un épisode thermique tardi-paléozoique, ce ne fut assurement pas de pair avec une déformation importante puisque la structure ne foumil aucun indice d'un tel événcment. La nature exacte de la remise à zéo tardi-paléozoiquedes hornblendes dans cette portion du Groupe de Casco Bay n'est pas apparente. On pourrait ce pendant la relier aux événements à l'origine de l'emplacement de granite dans le Complexe de Gneiss de Massabesic (il y a 275 Ma) ainsi qu'aux âges de 272-282 Ma des monazites du batholitc avoisinant de Sebago. [Traduit par le journal

Where do we go from here? An assessment of navigation performance using a compass versus a GPS unit

The Global Positioning System (GPS) looks set to replace the traditional map and compass for navigation tasks in military and civil domains. However, we may ask whether GPS has a real performance advantage over traditional methods. We present an exploratory study using a waypoint plotting task to compare the standard magnetic compass against a military GPS unit, for both expert and non-expert navigators. Whilst performance times were generally longer in setting up the GPS unit, once navigation was underway the GPS was more efficient than the compass. For mediumto long-term missions, this means that GPS could offer significant performance benefits, although the compass remains superior for shorter missions. Notwithstanding the performance times, significantly more errors, and more serious errors, occurred when using the compass. Overall, then, the GPS offers some clear advantages, especially for non-expert users. Nonetheless, concerns over the development of cognitive maps remain when using GPS technologies