A qualitative analysis of strengths and liabilities of former journalists in public relations roles

Since the birth of the public relations industry, journalists have filled much of its ranks. Following the introduction of James Grunig's general theory of two-way symmetrical public relations, various corollaries have questioned how well the background, training and worldviews of journalism prepare a public relations practitioner for the role of strategic communications manager prized by Grunig's theory. This project surveyed public relations managers at a broad cross-section of largely for-profit companies, most of them USheadquartered, on the skills, abilities and limitations former journalists bring to the profession and in particular to strategic communications roles and responsibilities. Writing, storypitching and analysis were the most appreciated skills and abilities even for strategic roles, qualities that some corollaries to Grunig's theory have tended to relegate to with technical rather than strategic functions in public relations. However, some managers expressed concerns over transfer of certain journalistic worldviews, or at least aspects they attributed to news backgrounds, traits that they saw as complicating former journalists' adaptation to a corporate world

Mechanical and fracture behaviors of cellulose-based multilayer laminate

Cellulose nanomaterials (CNs) have become attracting recently as a result of renewable and sustainable sources, superior mechanical properties, lightweight and the potential to be produced at industrial size quantities. In this study, two types of CNs, cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), were used to fabricate multilayer laminate with various types of polymer, such as poly(vinyl butyral) resin (PVB) and poly(styrene-block-ethylene/butylene-block-styrene) (SEBS). In CNF laminate system, laminate had lower Young’s modulus (E) and ultimate tensile strength (sT ) but higher strain of failure (ef) in comparison with neat CNF film properties, especially using PVB as interlayer. The improvement of ef of CNF/polymer laminate resulted in more energy was dissipated (work of fracture) during breaking laminate, which was also approved by observing facture surface of laminate where initiating high density of cracks in shear direction as comparison to the smooth fracture section of neat CNF films. In CNC laminate system, most properties (E, sT, and work of fracture) of the laminate were decreased. However, in CNC/maleated SEBS system, the ef was increased almost 50% as increasing the volume fraction of polymer. In addition, the stress–strain curves of CNC/maleated SEBS laminate presented multiple breaking steps which represented that cracks propagating through the laminate were delayed by maleated SEBS interlayer polymer

Development of NASA's Accident Precursor Analysis Process Through Application on the Space Shuttle Orbiter

Accident Precursor Analysis (APA) serves as the bridge between existing risk modeling activities, which are often based on historical or generic failure statistics, and system anomalies, which provide crucial information about the failure mechanisms that are actually operative in the system. APA docs more than simply track experience: it systematically evaluates experience, looking for under-appreciated risks that may warrant changes to design or operational practice. This paper presents the pilot application of the NASA APA process to Space Shuttle Orbiter systems. In this effort, the working sessions conducted at Johnson Space Center (JSC) piloted the APA process developed by Information Systems Laboratories (ISL) over the last two years under the auspices of NASA's Office of Safety & Mission Assurance, with the assistance of the Safety & Mission Assurance (S&MA) Shuttle & Exploration Analysis Branch. This process is built around facilitated working sessions involving diverse system experts. One important aspect of this particular APA process is its focus on understanding the physical mechanism responsible for an operational anomaly, followed by evaluation of the risk significance of the observed anomaly as well as consideration of generalizations of the underlying mechanism to other contexts. Model completeness will probably always be an issue, but this process tries to leverage operating experience to the extent possible in order to address completeness issues before a catastrophe occurs

Strength improvement of cement pastes with cellulose -nanocrystals via short circuit diffusion

The influence of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) addition on the performance of cement paste is investigated. Our mechanical tests show an increase in the flexural strength of ~30% with only 0.2% volume of the as-received CNCs with respect to cement. However, the strength decreases at the high concentration region due to the agglomeration of CNCs. The ultrasonication is performed to disperse the CNCs and a maximum strength improvement of up to 50% is achieved. The relationship between the dispersion of CNCs and the strength of the cement paste is examined with rheological measurements. Isothermal calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis show that the degree of hydration (DOH) of the cement paste is increased when CNCs are used. The first mechanism that explains the increased hydration is the steric stabilization, which is supported by rheological, heat flow rate measurements, microscopic imaging, and nanoindentation. A second mechanism is proposed as short circuit diffusion (SCD) to explain the increased hydration. SCD appears to increase cement hydration by increasing the transport of water from outside the hydration product shell (i.e., through the high density CSH) on a cement grain to the unhydrated cement cores. The DOH and flexural strength are measured for cement pastes with water reducing agent and CNC to verify this theory. Our results indicate that SCD is more dominant than steric stabilization

Reinforcement of dry spun polymeric fibers by cellulose nanocrystal

This study presents the development of composite polymeric fibers using cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as reinforcements. CNCs are a class of low cost, renewable and biodegradable materials with high mechanical properties and customizable surfaces. In this study, CNCs were successfully integrated into various polymeric fibers using the method of dry spinning in efforts to improve the fibers’ tensile strength and modulus. The effects of CNCs on two different polymer systems (cellulose acetate and polyvinyl alcohol) were studied. The surface morphologies, mechanical properties, and interactions between the CNCs and the polymer matrix within the fibers were investigated. The results of the characterizations show significant improvement in the tensile strength and modulus of both the cellulose acetate and polyvinyl alcohol fibers with low dosage of CNCs. The presence of CNCs increased the crystallinity of the polymer matrix. The effects of the high shear rates associated with dry spinning on the alignment and dispersion of the nanocrystals in the different systems were also studied. A micromechanical model was developed using data from both systems for the prediction of the fiber mechanical properties as a function of the alignment of the CNC rods

The Great Recession and its Impact on Families

In 2009, Clark University was accepted as the university to represent Massachusetts in the National Policy Institute for Family Impact Seminars at the University of Wisconsin – Madison (http://familyimpactseminars.org). Family Impact Seminars are a series of annual seminars, briefing reports, and discussion sessions that provide up-to-date, solution-oriented research on current issues for state legislators, legislative staff, and executive branch personnel. The seminars provide objective, nonpartisan research on current issues and do not lobby for particular policies. Seminar participants discuss policy options and identify common ground where it exists