A logarithmic spiral trajectory is not the optimum trajectory for a solar sailing space vehicle. Investigation of the governing equations showed that the performance of the solar sail depends on one parameter "a". This parameter "a", defined simply as the ratio of radial to tangential forces, was seen to be significant for two reasons: first, the logarithmic spiral is restricted to values of a = 2 √ 2 ; secondly, decreased values of "a" indicate better performance characteristics. For values of a < 2 √ 2 a new trajectory was generated and found to be more efficient than any logarithmic spiral trajectory. / Master of Science

A universal time of flight equation for any orbit is developed as a function of the initial and final radius, the change in true anomaly and the initial flight path angle. Lambert's theorem, a new corollary to this theorem, a trigonometric variable substitution and a continuing fraction expression are used in this development. The resulting equation is not explicitly dependent upon eccentricity and is determinate for -2n < (change in true anomaly) < 2n. A method to make the continuing fraction converge rapidly is evaluated using a top down algorithm. Finally, the accuracy of the universal time of flight equation is examined for a representative set of orbits including near parabolic and near rectilinear orbits. / Master of Science

Thesis (M.S.)--Miami University, Dept. of Physics, 2009. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. Xx-Xx).

<p>Ballistic and chemical trajectory options to Uranus are investigated for launch dates spanning 50 years. Trajectory solutions are found using STOUR, a patched conic propagator with an analytical ephemeris model. STOUR is heritage software developed by JPL and Purdue, written in FORTRAN. A total of 89 distinct gravity-assist paths to Uranus are considered, most of which will allow for a deep space maneuver (DSM) at some point along the path. For each launch year, the most desirable trajectory is identified and cataloged based on time of flight (up to 15 years), total $\Delta$V cost (DSM and capture maneuver), arrival $V_\infty$, and delivered payload. The Falcon Heavy (Recoverable), Vulcan VC6, Falcon Heavy (Expendable) and SLS Block 1B are considered to provide a range of low- to high-performance launch vehicle capabilities. A rough approximation of Starship's performance capabilities is also computed and applied to select years of launch dates. A flagship mission that delivers both a probe and an orbiter at Uranus is considered, which is approximated as a trajectory capable of delivering 2000 kg. Jupiter is unavailable as a gravity-assist body until the end of the 2020s but alternative gravity-assist paths exist, providing feasible trajectories even in years when Jupiter is not available. A rare Saturn-Uranus alignment in the late 2020's is identified which provides some such trajectory opportunities. A probe-and-orbiter mission to Uranus is feasible for a Vulcan VC6 with approximately 13 year flight times and for a Recoverable Falcon Heavy with approximately 14.5 year flight times. An Expendable Falcon Heavy reduces the time of flight to around 12.5 years and opens up `0E0U' as a gravity-assist path, while the SLS Block 1B typically offers trajectories with 10 to 11 year flight times and opens up more direct `JU' and `U' solutions. With the SLS, flight times as low as 7.5 years are possible.</p> <p>  </p> <p>A new, rapid grid search tool called GREMLINS is also outlined. This new software is capable of solving the same problems as STOUR, but improves on it in three crucial ways: an improved user-experience, more maneuver capabilities, and a more easily maintained and modified code base. GREMLINS takes a different approach to the broad search problem, forgoing $C_3$ matching in favor of using maneuvers to patch together tables of pre-computed Lambert arcs. This approach allows for vectorized computations across data frames of Lambert solutions, which can be computed much more efficiently than the for-loop style approach of past tools. Through the use of SQL tables and a two-step trajectory solving approach, this tool is able to run very quickly while still being able to handle any amount of data required for a broad search. Every line of code in GREMLINS is written in Python in an effort to make it more approachable and easier to develop for a wide community of users, as GREMLINS will be the only only grid search tool available as free and open source software. Multiple example missions and trajectory searches are explored to verify the output from GREMLINS and to compare its performance against STOUR. Despite using a slower coding language, GREMLINS is capable of performing the same trajectory searches in approximately 1/5 the runtime of STOUR, a FORTRAN-coded tool, thanks to its vectorized computations.</p>

The de Broglie-Bohm causal interpretation of quantum mechanics is discussed, and applied to the hydrogen atom in several contexts. Prominent critiques of the causal program are noted and responses are given; it is argued that the de Broglie-Bohm theory is of notable interest to physics. Using the causal theory, electron trajectories are found for the conventional Schr??dinger, Pauli and Dirac hydrogen eigenstates. In the Schr??dinger case, an additional term is used to account for the spin; this term was not present in the original formulation of the theory but is necessary for the theory to be embedded in a relativistic formulation. In the Schr??dinger, Pauli and Dirac cases, the eigenstate trajectories are shown to be circular, with electron motion revolving around the <i>z</i>-axis. Electron trajectories are also found for the 1<i>s</i>-2<i>p</i>0 transition problem under the Schr??dinger equation; it is shown that the transition can be characterized by a comparison of the trajectory to the relevant eigenstate trajectories. The structures of the computed trajectories are relevant to the question of the possible evolution of a quantum distribution towards the standard quantum distribution (quantum equilibrium); this process is known as quantum relaxation. The transition problem is generalized to include all possible transitions in hydrogen stimulated by semi-classical radiation, and all of the trajectories found are examined in light of their implications for the evolution of the distribution to the standard distribution. Several promising avenues for future research are discussed.

Master of Science / School of Family Studies and Human Services / Jared A. Durtschi / Depression is a pervasive mental health concern; thus, it is important to identify modifiable risk factors associated with reducing depressive symptoms across time. Using 1,946 married and cohabiting German couples assessed annually across 4 years from the Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics (Pairfam) study, we tested if shifts across time in sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction were linked with expected shifts in trajectories of depressive symptoms using dyadic time-varying covariate growth models. For both men and women, higher sexual and relationship satisfaction scores across time were significantly associated with decreasing their own depressive symptom trajectories across time, but only relationship satisfaction was linked with a shift in their partners’ trajectories of depressive symptoms. Potential clinical implications from these results include the treatment of depressive symptoms by making changes across time in their own relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction.

A propriedade intelectual tem se tornado cada vez mais importante e é uma parte fundamental do desenvolvimento. No entanto, ainda é pouca literatura sobre a avaliação desses ativos intangíveis. Não se sabe ao certo sequer quais variáveis (idade, número de citações, atividade inventiva etc.), estabelecem o valor de uma patente, e essas variáveis podem diferir dependendo do setor. Também pouco se sabe sobre como se relacionam umas com as outras em termos de formação rotas tecnológicas, e quais fatores mais importantes para uma patente ser usada como inspiração para outra invenção. Neste trabalho são usadas análises de redes formadas pelas citações das patentes do segmento de equipamentos para radioterapia para descobrir o que os principais atores produziram nos últimos vinte anos no mercado de equipamentos para radioterapia. Foram levantados também os países de maior interesse de proteção dessas invenções, os principais atores no mercado. Tendências tecnológicas foram analisadas pelas formações de clusteres de reivindicações de tais documentos. Descobriu-se que a formação da rede e dos grupos de patentes têm como principal característica a semelhança das tecnologias envolvidas e, também, de fatores geográficos. Os principais playeres são grandes companhias de países desenvolvidos e praticamente não há proteção de invenções deste segmento em países emergentes ou subdesenvolvidos, com exceção da China. / Intellectual property has become increasingly important and is a key part of the development. However, it is still little literature on the valuation of these intangible assets. No one knows for sure even what variables (age, number of citations, inventive activity etc.), set the value of a patent, and these variables may differ depending on the sector. Also little is known about how they relate to each other in terms of technological routes formation, and which are the most important factors for a patent to be used as inspiration for other invention. This work analyzes the networks formed by the citations of the patents in the radiation therapy devices segment to find out what the main actors produced in the last twenty years in the radiotherapy equipment market. Countries of greatest interest to protect these inventions and the principal players were also pointed. Technological trends were identified by the formation of clusters of documents\' claims. It was found that the formation of the network and groups of patents have as main feature the likeness of the technologies involved, and also geographic factors. The main players are large companies from developed countries and there is virtually no protection for inventions in this segment in emerging or developing countries, excluding China.

Os Transtornos do Espectro do Autismo (TEA) refletem alterações neurológicas das funções psicológicas que se desenvolvem durante os primeiros anos de vida. Estudos atuais apontam uma prevalência crescente, relacionada com as mudanças dos critérios diagnósticos. As alterações nosológicas evidenciam a variabilidade de expressões clínicas, que compõem um continuum de quadros diversos, com evoluções particulares. A pesquisa toma a perspectiva da psicopatologia desenvolvimental, e estuda os mecanismos gerais de desenvolvimento psicológico aplicados a um contexto atípico de desenvolvimento. O desenvolvimento cognitivo e socioemocional típico tende a uma construção hierárquica, relativamente homogênea, guiada por uma equilibração progressiva. No autismo parece haver uma heterogeneidade no desenvolvimento das funções cognitivas e sociais. Observam-se atrasos mais ou menos significativos, estagnação ou regressão em determinadas funções, evocando uma perturbação fundamental da regulação da atividade sensório-motora. Uma das hipóteses desse desenvolvimento particular, é a de um distúrbio da regulação do conjunto das atividades da criança. O objetivo geral é apresentar uma leitura conceitual, apoiando-se na teoria piagetiana da equilibração, sobre trajetórias de desenvolvimento de crianças com autismo, a partir de indicadores clínicos fornecidos pela Bateria de Avaliação Cognitiva e Socioemocional (BECS). A pesquisa conta com duas partes de coleta de dados, e uma parte teórica. Na primeira, apresenta o estudo comparativo do desenvolvimento cognitivo e socioemocional de um grupo de crianças com autismo (N= 20) e um grupo de crianças típicas (N= 20). Na segunda, descreve a trajetória de quatro casos ilustrativos de crianças com autismo acompanhadas ao longo de 18 meses, com avaliações sucessivas a cada seis meses. Os resultados indicam que crianças com autismo mesmo mais velhas apresentam um funcionamento psicológico próprio às primeiras etapas de estruturação cognitiva, centrada nas aquisições sensório-motoras. Quanto à hipótese da heterogeneidade desenvolvimental característica do autismo, foram notadas similitudes entre os processos típicos e atípicos, sendo que a heterogeneidade é uma característica das etapas mais inicias de desenvolvimento, em ambos os contextos. Por outro lado, crianças com autismo apresentaram níveis de socialização e de atenção conjunta bastante abaixo daqueles apresentados pelo grupo de crianças típicas, com sinais de maior habilidade para o desenvolvimento cognitivo. A leitura conceitual dos casos sugere a preservação dos mecanismos gerais da equilibração majorante, com ampliação gradual do desenvolvimento global. A heterogeneidade pode assim traduzir um processo positivo de desenvolvimento, apoiando-se nos desequilíbrios como fonte para regulações e reequilibrações, tanto no contexto típico quanto atípico. Entretanto, no caso de crianças com autismo, as trajetórias apresentam características particulares, com maior estabilidade para a ampliação das construções cognitivas, e fragilidade inicial para a consolidação das habilidades socioemocionais / The Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) reflect neurological impairments of psychological functions that develop during the first years of life. Recent studies point to an increasing prevalence, related to changes in diagnostic criteria. The nosological changes demonstrate the variability of clinical expressions, which make up a continuum of different frames, with particular evolutions. This research takes the perspective of developmental psychopathology and studies the general mechanisms of psychological development applied to an unusual context of development. The typical cognitive and social-emotional development tends to a hierarchical construction, relatively homogeneous, guided by a progressive equilibration. In autism there appears to be heterogeneity in the development of cognitive and social functions. Significant or milder delays, stagnation or regression in certain functions are observed, evoking a fundamental disturbance in the regulation of sensory-motor activity. One hypothesis of this particular development is a disorder of the child\'s activities regulation. The overall goal is to present a conceptual study, based on Piaget\'s equilibration theory and on clinical indicators provided by the he Social Cognitive Evaluation Battery for Children with Autism (SCEB), regarding developmental trajectories of children with ASD. The research has two parts of data collection, and a theoretical part. The first part presents a comparative study of cognitive and socio-emotional development of a group of children with autism (N = 20) and a group of typical children (N = 20). The second part describes the trajectory of four illustrative cases of children with autism accompanied over 18 months, with successive evaluations every six months. The results indicate that even older children with autism show a psychological functioning that corresponds to earlier stages of cognitive structuring, focused on sensorimotor acquisitions. As for the hypothesis of characteristic developmental heterogeneity in autism, similarities between typical and atypical contexts of development were noted, and that heterogeneity is a feature of the initial stages of development, in both contexts. On the other hand, children with autism showed socialization levels and joint attention well below those presented by the group of typical children, with signs of greater ability for cognitive development. The conceptual reading of the cases suggests the preservation of the general mechanisms of equilibration, with gradual expansion of global development. The heterogeneity can thus translate a positive development process, drawing on the imbalances as a source for adjustments and rebalance, in both typical and atypical contexts. However, for children with autism, the trajectories have particular characteristics, with greater stability for the expansion of cognitive structures, and initial weakness to the consolidation of socio-emotional skills

A natureza humana é fascinante. Do ponto de vista educacional, o movimento humano nasce a partir de relações baseadas em compromisso. Entretanto, o compromisso educacional tem raízes em instituições dotadas de uma rigidez estrutural significativa em seus valores e práticas. Talvez essas raízes sejam parte da explicação quanto à falibilidade elevada destas instituições face às novas formas de se pensar o permanente fluxo humano. Este fluxo, por natureza indomável, atualmente se encontra potencializado pela adoção de artefatos digitais que dão às pessoas múltiplas possibilidades de individuação. Talvez seja um erro persistir na reprodução de modelos educacionais inflexíveis, onde não haja a possibilidade de exercício da liberdade intencional. Nesta tese, buscamos identificar possíveis relações intencionais latentes que regem os compromissos educacionais porventura existentes nos processos de ensino e aprendizagem baseados em e-Learning. Concebemos princípios de Trajetórias Conceituais de Aprendizagem Intencionais (TCAIs), através das quais se torna possível registrar ações e inferir graus de Intencionalidade Pedagógica Docente (IPD) e Intencionalidade de Aprendizagem Discente (IAD). Um Indicador do Grau de Intencionalidade (IGI) e outro, denominado Indicador do Grau de Convergência Discente (IGCD) foram propostos. Através da conjunção de ambos se torna possível avaliar o grau de proximidade entre a IPD e a IAD, estas que são inerentemente subjacentes às estruturas das Trajetória Conceitual de Aprendizagem (TCA) produzidas durante os processos de ensino e de aprendizagem. O IGI mensura o viés intencional de uma Trajetória Conceitual de Aprendizagem, enquanto o IGCD permite avaliar o grau de compromisso normativo do discente em relação à proposta educacional em fluxo. / Human nature is fascinating. We are endowed with intentional capabilities that keep us in constant flux, leaving behind us evident traces of our passage. From an educational point of view, the human movement comes from commitment-based relationships. However, the educational commitment is rooted in institutions with significant structural rigidities in its values and practices. Maybe these roots could be a part of the explanation for the high unreliability of these institutions faced with new ways of thinking about the permanent human flow. This flow, of untamed nature, is currently enhanced by the adoption of digital artifacts that give people multiple possibilities of individuation. It may be an error persist in those inflexible educational models, where there is no the possibility of exercising the intentional freedom. In this thesis, we seek to identify potential latent intentional relationships governing educational commitments that would may exist in the processes of teaching and learning based on e-Learning. We design principles for Intentional Conceptual Learning trajectories (ICLTs), through which it becomes possible to record actions and infer degrees of Teacher’s Pedagogical Intentionality (TPI) and Student's Learning Intentionality (SLI). An Intentionality Degree Indicator (IDI) and the other, called the Student’s Convergence Level Indicator (SCLI) was proposed. Through the conjunction of both is possible assess the degree of proximity between the TPI and the SLI, these that are inherently underpinning to ICLTs structures produced during the learning and teaching processes. The IDI measures the intentionality bias from Conceptual Learning trajectories, while SCLI allows evaluating normative commitment degree of the students for the educational proposal in flux.

Thesis. 1978. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND AERONAUTICS. / Vita. / Includes bibliographical references. / Ph.D.