Descent Advisor Preliminary Field Test

A field test of the Descent Advisor (DA) automation tool was conducted at the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center in September 1994. DA is being developed to assist Center controllers in the efficient management and control of arrival traffic. DA generates advisories, based on trajectory predictions, to achieve accurate meter-fix arrival times in a fuel efficient manner while assisting the controller with the prediction and resolution of potential conflicts. The test objectives were: (1) to evaluate the accuracy of DA trajectory predictions for conventional and flight-management system equipped jet transports, (2) to identify significant sources of trajectory prediction error, and (3) to investigate procedural and training issues (both air and ground) associated with DA operations. Various commercial aircraft (97 flights total) and a Boeing 737-100 research aircraft participated in the test. Preliminary results from the primary test set of 24 commercial flights indicate a mean DA arrival time prediction error of 2.4 seconds late with a standard deviation of 13.1 seconds. This paper describes the field test and presents preliminary results for the commercial flights

Black Generational Dialogue(s): Unpacking Tensions and Learning the Commonalities of Education Values in One Rural Community

This dissertation is a generational study of the experiences of Black residents in Nottoway County, Virginia. The study illustrates moments in time, which reflect the educational, social and economic experiences of these residents. Through oral history narratives presented, I weave together stories using the interviews of 21 residents, an intergenerational focus group, and archival data. Generations denote discourse communities, chosen to demonstrate changes in the educational system in Nottoway County. The generations reflect those educated (1) in segregated schools (ages 55 years and older), (2) during desegregation (45-55 year olds), (3) in only desegregated schools (25-35 year olds), and (4) recent graduates (18-21 year olds). This research seeks to understand the values of education for both older- and younger-Black generations within the context of one rural area. In order to understand these values, this analysis is both emic and culturally sensitive; moreover, the analysis and interpretations are coconstructed with participants. The narratives presented in this study are holistic accounts; moreover, I discuss positionality, reflexivity, and most importantly, an understanding that the knowledge of my participants is a necessary condition for understanding the phenomenon. This research ensures that the educational stories of Black residents will not go unheard. It is important to document life histories as this community continues to wrestle with racism, economic deprivation, and generational divisions. In addition, the process of desegregation and the growing phenomenon of resegregration must be contextualized in the history of education for Black Americans and the continual struggle for at least equal education

Spiers Memorial Lecture: Molecular mechanics and molecular electronics

We describe our research into building integrated molecular electronics circuitry for a diverse set of functions, and with a focus on the fundamental scientific issues that surround this project. In particular, we discuss experiments aimed at understanding the function of bistable [2]rotaxane molecular electronic switches by correlating the switching kinetics and ground state thermodynamic properties of those switches in various environments, ranging from the solution phase to a Langmuir monolayer of the switching molecules sandwiched between two electrodes. We discuss various devices, low bit-density memory circuits, and ultra-high density memory circuits that utilize the electrochemical switching characteristics of these molecules in conjunction with novel patterning methods. We also discuss interconnect schemes that are capable of bridging the micrometre to submicrometre length scales of conventional patterning approaches to the near-molecular length scales of the ultra-dense memory circuits. Finally, we discuss some of the challenges associated with fabricated ultra-dense molecular electronic integrated circuits

Osteopontin Alleles Are Associated with Clinical Characteristics in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Variants of the osteopontin (OPN) gene have been associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) susceptibility and cytokine profiles in SLE patients. It is not known whether these alleles are associated with specific clinical phenotypes in SLE. We studied 252 well-characterized SLE patients from a multiethnic cohort, genotyping the rs11730582, rs28357094, rs6532040, and rs9138 SNPs in the OPN gene. Ancestry informative markers were used to control for genetic ancestry. The SLE-risk allele rs9138C in the 3′ UTR region was associated with photosensitivity in lupus patients across all ancestral backgrounds (meta-analysis OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.6–6.5, P = 1.0 × 10−3). Additionally, the promoter variant rs11730582C demonstrated suggestive evidence for association with two hematologic traits: thrombocytopenia (OR = 2.1, P = 0.023) and hemolytic anemia (OR = 2.6, P = 0.036). These clinical associations with SNPs in the promoter and 3′ UTR regions align with previously reported SLE-susceptibility SNPs in OPN and suggest potential roles for these variants in antibody-mediated cytopenias and skin inflammation in SLE

Molecular dynamics symulation of hydrogen diffusion in palladium

In the present work, the diffusion of hydrogen atoms in the crystal lattice of palladium was investigated using the molecular dynamics. The diffusion coefficients, activation energies and preexponential factors were determined for structures with different hydrogen concentration. It is determined that the diffusion coefficients decrease and the activation energy of diffusion grows with increasing concentrations of hydrogen