Investigations into soccer aerodynamics via trajectory analysis and dust experiments

We present a summary of our investigations into the aerodynamics of soccer balls (association footballs). Using a ball launcher and high-speed cameras, we are able to determine drag and lift coefficients using trajectory analysis. Advantages of this approach over wind tunnels include studying balls in flight without a support rod, which may influence aerodynamic studies in wind tunnels, and the ability to determine lift coefficients in regions inaccessible by many wind tunnels. We have found lift coefficients for spin parameters between 0 and 1 and Reynolds numbers between 130,000 and 300,000. Launching a ball into a dust cloud allows for the study of boundary-layer separation, again without the need of a support rod, which is needed for wind-tunnel studies. We have found boundary-layer separation angles in and around the drag crisis. Anomalous behavior is seen just past the drag crisis. © 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd

Continental land cover classification using meteorological satellite data

The use of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's advanced very high resolution radiometer satellite data for classifying land cover and monitoring of vegetation dynamics over an extremely large area is demonstrated for the continent of Africa. Data from 17 imaging periods of 21 consecutive days each were composited by a technique sensitive to the in situ green-leaf biomass to provide cloud-free imagery for the whole continent. Virtually cloud-free images were obtainable even for equatorial areas. Seasonal variation in the density and extent of green leaf vegetation corresponded to the patterns of rainfall associated with the inter-tropical convergence zone. Regional variations, such as the 1982 drought in east Africa, were also observed. Integration of the weekly satellite data with respect to time produced a remotely sensed assessment of biological activity based upon density and duration of green-leaf biomass. Two of the 21-day composited data sets were used to produce a general land cover classification. The resultant land cover distributions correspond well to those of existing maps

Biblical Storytelling and Preaching

This Major Applied Project seeks to clarify the relationship between a Biblical text of Scripture being read or told and how that connects to the sermon preached on that text. It is believed that in many worship settings there is often a disconnect between the lectionary read (Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel readings) and the sermon text selected from one of those readings. By the time the preacher begins his sermon the hearer has often forgotten the Scripture read earlier. The use of Biblical storytelling can assist the listener in hearing, understanding, remembering and connecting the text of Scripture with the sermon preached. To evaluate the effective use of Biblical storytelling, surveys were conducted on four Sundays among sample group of congregation members. On each of the four Sundays, the sermon text (selected from the day\u27s lectionary) was read in one service and told in the other. Participants in the survey groups completed a survey following each of the worship services noting the impact the Scripture read or told had on their hearing, understanding, remembering and connecting that Scripture with the sermon. The results of the participants supported the theory that when the sermon text is presented as a storytelling rather than a reading there is a stronger remembrance and connection of the Scripture with the sermon. After hearing the sermon text told (rather than simply read) the hearer is more aware of that Scripture and familiar with it which in turn benefits his reception of the sermon. While the use of Biblical storytelling may not be something that a preacher wishes to use every week, it can have a significant effect upon the hearer\u27s ability to connect the text to the sermon

Project Assessment Skills Web Application

The purpose of this project is to utilize Ruby on Rails to create a web application that will replace a spreadsheet keeping track of training courses and tasks. The goal is to create a fast and easy to use web application that will allow users to track progress on training courses. This application will allow users to update and keep track of all of the training required of them. The training courses will be organized by group and by user, making readability easier. This will also allow group leads and administrators to get a sense of how everyone is progressing in training. Currently, updating and finding information from this spreadsheet is a long and tedious task. By upgrading to a web application, finding and updating information will be easier than ever as well as adding new training courses and tasks. Accessing this data will be much easier in that users just have to go to a website and log in with NDC credentials rather than request the relevant spreadsheet from the holder. In addition to Ruby on Rails, I will be using JavaScript, CSS, and jQuery to help add functionality and ease of use to my web application. This web application will include a number of features that will help update and track progress on training. For example, one feature will be to track progress of a whole group of users to be able to see how the group as a whole is progressing. Another feature will be to assign tasks to either a user or a group of users. All of these together will create a user friendly and functional web application

Receipt, 1851

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/aldrichcorr_c/1017/thumbnail.jp