Introduction of laser initiation for the 48-inch Advanced Solid Rocket Motor (ASRM) test motors at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)

The Advanced Solid Rocket Motor is a new design for the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster. The new design will provide more thrust and more payload capability, as well as incorporating many design improvements in all facets of the design and manufacturing process. A 48-inch (diameter) test motor program is part of the ASRM development program. This program has multiple purposes for testing of propellent, insulation, nozzle characteristics, etc. An overview of the evolution of the 48-inch ASRM test motor ignition system which culminated with the implementation of a laser ignition system is presented. The laser system requirements, development, and operation configuration are reviewed in detail

Singularities of low entropy high codimension curve shortening flow

We consider curve shortening flow of arbitrary codimension in an Euclidean background. We show that, close to a singularity, the flow is asymptotically planar, paralleling Altschuler's work in the case of space curves, and analyse the blow-up limits of the flow. Using these results, we then prove that the curve shortening flow of initial curves with an entropy bound converges to a round point in finite time.Comment: 20 page

Factors Affecting Graduation with Honors: A Case Study in Business

Many first-year college students elect to enroll in their university’s honors program. These programs offer students many educational benefits not provided to non-honors students, such as smaller class sizes, priority registration, and added faculty interaction. However, of the students that enter the university as an honors student, many fail to complete their honors program. Researchers have documented completion rates as low as 18.45% (Campbell and Fuqua, 2008). So why are honors graduation rates so low? In this study, variables were examined that the literature suggests affects honors graduation rates (High School GPA, ACT/SAT scores, AP credits, GPA 1st term and GPA 2nd term, Ethnicity, Gender, first-generation and financial need status, as well as home state/country) to determine which of those may help explain completion of an honors program. The data for this study were incoming freshman honors students in the Walton College of Business (WCOB) at the University of Arkansas­–Fayetteville from 2004-2014. T-tests and chi square tests were used to determine if significant differences occurred within the observations of these factors in terms of graduating with honors and then used significant variables as the basis for a logit regression model where graduating with honors was the dependent variable. Based on the results of the chi square and t tests, we hypothesized eleven variables would explain whether or not a student graduated with honors. However, the final results suggest that only four factors had significant impacts on graduation with honors: GPA 1st term, high school GPA, number of AP credit hours brought into college and staying in WCOB all four years. There were limitations to the study. There are other variables, such as finding a good mentor, studying abroad, having to work, and having a poor work ethic that may have influence but were not included in this study. Future studies may want to look toward the relationship between honors graduation and the factors that were not covered in this study

Exploring relationships among communication, sexual satisfaction, and marital satisfaction

This study examined relationships among couple communication and sexual satisfaction in predicting marital satisfaction. The sample consisted of 387 married couples living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Regression analyses demonstrated that communication and sexual satisfaction independently predict marital satisfaction and that there is a significant interaction among communication and sexual satisfaction in predicting marital satisfaction. Exploration of this interaction revealed that if couples are successful at communicating constructively, sexual satisfaction fails to contribute to marital satisfaction. However, if couples have difficulty communicating, if they are also satisfied in their sexual relationship, they will evidence greater marital satisfaction. Thus, sexual satisfaction may act as a buffer for poor communication in impacting marital satisfaction. Clinical implications and future directions for research are outlined

Best Practices in ACPE Supervisory Education: Reflections of a Practitioner

Three questions shape the reflections in this article. 1) What is best practice in ACPE supervisory education? 2) What are examples of best practice in ACPE supervisory education? 3) Is there one set of best practices that will serve all ACPE supervisory education centers? Finally, conclusions about future challenges that face ACPE in providing supervisory education

Assessing Reliability of Expert Ratings Among Judges Responding to a Survey Instrument Developed to Study the Long Term Efficacy of the ABET Engineering Criteria, EC2000

In today’s assessment processes, especially those evaluations that rely on humans to make subjective judgements, it is necessary to analyze the quality of their ratings. The psychometric issues associated with assessment provide the lens through which researchers interpret results and important decisions are made. Therefore, inter-rater agreement (IRA) and inter-rater reliability (IRR) are pre-requisites for rater-dependent data analysis. A survey instrument cannot provide “good” information if it is not reliable; in other words, reliability is central to the validation of an instrument. When judges cannot be shown to reliably rate a performance, item, or target, the question becomes why the judges’ responses are different from one another. If the judges’ ratings covary unreliably because the construct is poorly defined or the rating framework is defective, then the resultant scores will have questionable meaning. On the other hand, if the judges’ ratings differ because they have a true difference in opinion, this is of importance to the researcher and may not necessarily diminish the validity of the scores. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) is the most efficient method to assess these rater differences and identify the specific sources of inconsistency in measurement. This study examined how ICCs can be used to inform researchers of the extent in which legitimate differences of opinion may appear as a lack of reliability and/or agreement, demonstrating the need for analyzing survey data beyond standard descriptive statistics. Overall, both the IRA and IRR correlations, as calculated by ICC, ranged from .79 to .91 indicating high levels of agreement and consistency in the scoring among the judges\u27 ratings. When group membership was accounted for the IRA values increased suggesting the common judges agreed more than those judges who varied in their perspectives

Atomic Oxygen Effects on Particulate Contamination and Short Beam Strength of Carbon Composites

In order to design a successful space system, the unique challenges of the space environment it will operate in must be considered during the design process. Atomic oxygen (AO) is a detrimental environmental effect found in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) that affects spacecraft surfaces by oxidizing and eroding material over time, particularly polymers. Carbon fiber/epoxy composites are a commonly used spacecraft material affected by AO exposure. Carbon composites are used as a structural material, such as on solar panels; their large surface area therefore is a potential contamination source to sensitive components. The Space Environments and Testing Lab at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO) includes an apparatus that can simulate AO in the LEO environment. This apparatus was used to expose carbon composite samples to AO before being tested for short beam strength to measure the effect on material properties. Results showed no significant difference in short beam strength for a 24-hour AO exposure compared to unexposed samples, but a 4% decrease for samples with a 48-hour exposure. Previous work at Cal Poly SLO found that AO-exposed composite generated particulate contaminants. Tape lift tests and mass measurements of samples were conducted before and after AO exposure to characterize the particulate contamination generated and percent mass loss. It was found that AO exposure increased the percent mass loss by 1.5% for 24-hour exposure and 3% for 48-hour exposure. The tape lift percent area coverage increased by 2.5% near sample ends and 0.35% in the middle after AO exposure

Saying Yes When You Mean No: A Phenomenological Analysis of Consensual Unwanted Sexual Activity

The purpose of the study was to conduct a phenomenological analysis of the experience of consensual unwanted sexual activity (CUSA). College men and women (N=10) in relationships ranging from casual to committed who were enrolled at a university in the southeastern United States were interviewed about experiences of CUSA. Interviews were conducted in person with participants who were asked to answer the following research question: “Describe a time in which you did not want to participate in some sexual activity, but you decided to anyway.” Interview transcripts were analyzed using phenomenological research methods in the context of an interpretive research group, as well as by the author alone (Pollio, Henley, & Thompson, 1997). Analysis of interview data rendered a unique structure of the experience of consensual unwanted sexual activity (CUSA). The structure of CUSA is characterized by themes of Focus, Expectation, and Outcome, which emerged as figural against the ground of the interpersonal relationship in which CUSA occurred. These three themes are interrelated parts of an experiential gestalt. When an individual engages in CUSA, there is a minimization of focus on the desires of the self, in favor of a focus on the desires of the other, often to the exclusion of one’s full presence in the interaction (Focus). Engaging in CUSA involves the use of social rules, gender roles, and standards for reciprocation (Expectation). An individual engages in CUSA to bring about various desired outcomes and/or to avoid undesired outcomes; however, engaging in CUSA often results in unexpected outcomes (Outcome). Findings suggest that CUSA may be experienced differently in committed relationships than in casual ones. In satisfied committed relationships, engaging in CUSA may be harmless or even adaptive, akin to other sacrifices made for the good of a relationship. In casual relationships, however, engaging in CUSA may result in negative outcomes such as regret and resentment. This study demonstrates the importance of context (the interpersonal relationship) to the experience of CUSA. Results suggest that the experience of CUSA might be gendered-- experienced similarly by men and women yet informed in complementary ways by rules dictating masculinity and femininity

A Prospective Investigation to Develop Data-Driven Interventions and Improve Process Efficiency at a Level II Trauma Center

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this investigation was to better understand process inefficiencies in a Level II trauma center through the identification and classification of flow disruptions. Data-driven interventions were systematically developed and introduced in an effort to reduce disruptions threatening the optimal delivery of trauma care. METHOD: Medical human factors researchers observed disruptions during resuscitation and imaging in 117 trauma cases. Data was classified using the human factors taxonomy Realizing Improved Patient Care through Human-centered Operating Room Design for Threat Window Analysis (RIPCHORD-TWA). Interdisciplinary subject matter experts (SMEs) utilized a human factors intervention matrix (HFIX) to generate targeted interventions designed to address the most detrimental disruptions. A multiple-baseline interrupted time-series (ITS) design was used to gauge the effectiveness of the interventions introduced. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the frequency of disruptions between the pre-intervention (n=65 cases, 1137 disruptions) and post-intervention phases (n=52 cases, 939 disruptions). Results revealed significant improvements related to ineffective communication (x2 (1, n=2076) = 24.412, p=0.00, x2 (1, n=1031) = 9.504, p=0.002, x2 (1, n=1045) = 12.197, p=0.000); however, similar levels of improvement were not observed in the other targeted areas. CONCLUSION: This study provided a foundation for a data-driven approach to investigating precursor events and process inefficiencies in trauma care. Further, this approach allowed individuals on the front lines to generate specific interventions aimed at mitigating systemic weaknesses and inefficiencies frequently encountered in their work environment