Optimum mix of passive and active control of space structures

The objective of this research was to test vibration suppression (settling time and jitter) of a large space structure (LSS) characterized by low frequency high global vibration modes. Five percent passive damping in a large truss was analyzed, tested and correlated. A representative system article re-target analysis shows that modest levels of passive damping dramatically reduce the control energy required. LSS must incorporate passive damping from the outset. The LSS system performance will not be met by either active or passive damping alone

Children's production of locative expressions in English : the influence of geometric and extra-geometric factors

The research in this thesis examines the influence that both geometric and extrageometric factors have on children's spatial language production. Over the years it has widely been assumed that spatial prepositions identif' where objects are in the world (geometric factors) and that this is reflected in the semantic representations of these words. More recently, researchers investigating the lexical semantics of spatial prepositions have begun to question this assumption by demonstrating that what objects are and how they are interacting can also affect the way we describe where they are in the world (extra-geometric factors). Following on from research conducted with adults that has demonstrated the importance of both of these factors on spatial language, the main aim of this thesis was to ascertain for the first time whether these factors also influenced children's spatial language production, and if so, when they became important in children's development of spatial expressions. Additionally, due to the paucity of research investigating the production of spatial terms, the Experiments reported in this theis set out to redress the balance. The research in this thesis demonstrated for the first time that both geometric and extra geometric factors influence the production of children's spatial expressions from an early age. In doing so, however, the Experiments reported here were not necessarily revealing as to the nature of the semantic representation of spatial terms, rather they highlighted a different issue; how people make distinctions during a verbal interaction. Evidence is presented that suggests a level of agreement between people regarding the nonconventional use of words. In order to distinguish between functional and non-functional situations, both adults and children used different types of spatial terms to locate an object even when they had a limited number of words in their lexicon. An approach to the whole process of prepositional production is suggested rather than concentrating on what is represented in an individual's lexicon

Evidence-based practice project to increase hospital-based cervical cancer screening compliance among registration staff

Background: High-quality Papanicolaou testing was developed in the 1940s, and when used for early detection of cervical cancer, has been shown to significantly reduce cervical cancer related deaths world-wide. Legislation, passed by many states in the United States, aims to maximize cervical cancer screening. One academic medical center (AMC) in Maryland initiated a cervical cancer screening program in 1977. A pilot, developed to assess cervical cancer screening compliance, found the screening rate at this AMC to be 51%. Objective: This project aimed to improve the knowledge of the patient service coordinators in order to increase cervical cancer screening compliance.Population: Patient service coordinator conducts registration and screening when a patient is admitted to the AMCMethods: Effectiveness of the education was measured by three assessments: 1) A pre and post knowledge survey of the patient service coordinator measuring facts about cervical cancer, the screening process, and the State of Maryland cervical cancer screening mandate; 2) a calculation of screening rates comparing the number of women screened to the number of women admitted; and 3) an assessment of the completeness of each screening form.Results: A two-tailed paired samples t-test revealed that the PSCs scored higher on the post-survey (m-7.68, s- 2.52) compared to the pre-survey (m-3.68, s-1.77), t (32) = 8.949, p ≤ .0.5. A chi- square test was used to compare categorical variables. During the four weeks before the educational intervention, 34% (543 of 1602) of women were screened; 51% (279/543) screening forms were completed. For the four weeks after the educational intervention, 54% (N=735 of 1,373) of eligible women were screened; 89% (656/735) forms were completed. Both tests were found to be significant p <0.000.Interpretation: There was a significant improvement of the PSC’s knowledge, 20% increase in the number of women screened, and completeness of the form increased by 38%.Conclusion: These findings suggest that an educational intervention for registration staff can increase cervical cancer screening compliance, and positively impact staff ability to screen inpatient women

Collaboration, Training, and Support associated with Mental Health Nurse Job Satisfaction

Mental health disorders are very prevalent worldwide and require a large work force of mental health nurses in order to provide adequate treatment. Unfortunately, the world is currently facing a shortage of mental health nurses. Considering that poor job satisfaction is one cause of suboptimal recruitment and retention among mental health nurses, this study sought to gather more information regarding mental health nurse job satisfaction. The objective of this study was to determine if there is an association between perception of work environment characteristics of: team collaboration, staff training, staff support, and mental health nurse job satisfaction and intention to stay. By determining if there is an association between these variables, future interventions can target these variables in order to improve mental health nurse job satisfaction and thus increase mental health nurse recruitment and retention. Association of variables was assessed by collecting voluntary questionnaire responses through snowball sampling using a cross-sectional design. After statistical analysis, no significant associations were found between mental health nurse job satisfaction and work environment characteristics of: team collaboration, staff training, and staff support. However, mental health nurses who intended to stay in their current work position rated their satisfaction with their work environments noticeably higher. It was noted that there are several confounding variables such as coping strategies, work-life balance, and age-related issues. In conclusion, there may be several avenues to increasing mental health nurse satisfaction and retention

Terms of Engagement: Consensus or Control in Remote Australian Resource Management?

Community based natural resource management (NRM) has seen a shift in the discourse from participation to engagement, reflecting a focus on increasingly active citizen involvement in management and action. This paper considers this shift in relation to two contrasting theoretical perspectives. The first is deliberative democracy, drawing on Habermas, which emphasises the importance of discussing and rationalising values and actions. The second is governmentality, or ‘governing through community’ which draws on Foucault, emphasising neo-liberal management styles and ‘self-help’. In considering the empirical relevance of these theoretical perspectives, this paper draws on a case study of public engagement in NRM in the Lake Eyre Basin, a remote, inland region of Australia. This research yielded a practical set of “factors for success” for public engagement in remote areas. The findings support the view that, especially in remote regions, public engagement in NRM reflects contrasting goals. We make two conclusions. First, that these contrasting objectives emphasise the tension between deliberative and neo-liberal conceptualisations of engagement; and second, the evidence for neo-liberal interpretations of engagement are stronger than for deliberative interpretations of engagement in the case study region.participation, decentralisation, governmentality, deliberation

Storying students’ ecologies of belonging: a narrative inquiry into the relationship between ‘first generation’ students and the University

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Wolverhampton for the degree of Doctor of Education in Professional Inquiry.This research study explores the ways in which articulations of belonging are expressed by a small number of second year education undergraduates in a post-1992 university in the UK. Issues of student engagement and belonging in Higher Education (HE) have been the subject of research within recent years as a way to enhance rates of student retention and success, as the Widening Participation agenda has realised a changing demographic within the traditional student body. This study focuses on the First Generation Student (FGS), as reflective of the non-traditional student, who is subject to a negative framing within the educational literary discourse. The research adopts a metaphorical lens to locate the FGS as migrant within the HE landscape and to consider HE institutional efforts to foster a sense of belonging, as a strategic tool for success, as a colonising process. Working within an ecological framing of the topic, the study focuses on the differing contexts within which the research participants operate and considers the impact these have upon student engagement with the university. As a way to foreground respectful working with research participants, a person-centred approach has been employed, using a narrative inquiry methodological framework. Voices of the participants, as narrators, are privileged within this study in order to afford them the opportunity to add to the ongoing conversation on belonging. Creative strategies, based upon photo- and metaphor-elicitation, have been employed to facilitate discussion of the abstract and intangible concept of belonging and to provide a participatory nature to this research study. Findings signal a strong resolve by these narrators to overcome obstacles in their path to success within what is often an unfamiliar terrain within HE. The potentiality of the individual is privileged, showing strengths that are brought to the world of study which are often unrecognised by university practices. The affective dimension of belonging is emphasised within the research and metaphors of belonging, articulated by the narrators, offer alternative conceptual structurings which privilege aspects to do with security and adventure. Such insights afford opportunities to view belonging from differing perspectives, to re-figure ways in which students see themselves within HE processes, and to alert staff and personnel to new ways in which they might view the non-traditional student. Aspects of valuing the diversity of students and of a person-centred approach to working are viewed as key to creating the possibilities for belonging

Computer Simulation of Unsteady Flow in an Alluvial Channel by the Method of Characteristics

A number of dams have been constructed along alluvial rivers. These dams create reservoirs which serve to collect and store water, usually in large quantity, for use in supplying municipal needs, for supplying power and driving machinery, for furnishing irrigation, and for retaining the flow in time of floods. The characteristics of flow and the sediment-transport capacity of the channel change after these dams have been constructed. One of the major problems then confronting the hydraulic engineer is the rate of reservoir sedimentation and the change in river configuration. A problem of concern is the rapidity of reservoir sedimentation and the period of time which will elapse before the usefulness of the storage works is seriously impaired or destroyed. As the sediment deposits, the cross sectional area of the waterway is reduced. This will create the possibility of disaster due to flooding. A problem of equal concern is the damage which may take place when scouring occurs. The foundations of the existing structures in the river may be exposed and thus endanger the structures themselves. In addition to these problems, a knowledge of the future bed elevation is of importance. for the planning and optimum functioning of irrigation systems. Therefore, the change in river configuration is of prime importance, and the hydraulic engineer must continuously observe this change. The estimation of river configuration is generally based upon various methods of analytical study involving numerous related variables. Included among these variables are transport relationship for the bed materials, form of river bed [sic], and characteristics of bed materials. Often, these variables are not fully understood and have not been formulated into adequate mathematical terms for practical uses. This study is concerned with unsteady river flow in an alluvial channel. The purpose is to develop a computer solution to predict the change in riverbed elevation at transient phases

Prosecutors\u27 Peremptory Challenges - A Response and Reply

Three federal trial attorneys disagree with Professor Richard Friedman\u27s proposal to eliminate the prosecution\u27s peremptories, while Friedman defends his view