The problem of the study was the effectiveness of three techniques to teach the instructional unit, "The Air Force Fiscal Account Structure and Codes." The techniques compared were (1) lecture-demonstration procedure supplemented with the eclectic programed textbook, (2) autoinstructional procedure using only the eclectic programed textbook, and (3) the conventional lecture-demonstration procedure.

Diseases involving fibrosis cause tens of thousands of deaths per year in the US alone. These diseases are characterized by a large amount of extracellular matrix, causing stiff abnormal tissues that may not function correctly. To take steps towards curing these diseases, a fundamental understanding of how cells interact with their substrate and how mechanical forces alter signaling pathways is vital. Studying the mechanobiology of cells and the interaction between a cell and its extracellular matrix can help explain the mechanisms behind stem cell differentiation, cell migration, and metastasis. Due to the correlation between force, extracellular matrix assembly, and substrate stiffness, it is vital to make in vitro models that more accurately simulate biological stiffness as well as measure the amount of force and extracellular matrix assembly. To accomplish this, blends of two types of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) were made and the material properties of these polymer blends were characterized. A field of 5µm or 7µm microscopic pillars (referred to as posts) with a diameter of 2.2µm were fabricated from these blends. Each combination of PDMS blend and post height were calibrated and the stiffness was recorded. Additionally, polymer attachment experiments were run to ensure cells survived and had a normal phenotype on the different blends of PDMS when compared to pure PDMS. Finally, cells were placed onto a field of posts and their forces were calculated using the new stiffness found for each blend of post. Varying the PDMS material stiffness using blends allow posts to be much more physiologically relevant and help to create more accurate in vitro models while still allowing easy and accurate force measurement. More biologically relevant in vitro models can help us acquire more accurate results when testing new drugs or examining new signaling pathways.

Les cristaux liquides constituent un état de la matière intermédiaire entre les solides et les liquides. De ce fait, ils allient à la fois la fluidité des liquides et les propriétés anisotropes des solides. Ce qui les rend à la fois excitants et compliqués à étudier est leur grande diversité. En effet, il existe plus d'une dizaine de phases différentes, chacune caractérisée par une structure et des propriétés particulières. De plus, de petits changements dans la structure des molécules peuvent mener à un polymorphisme liquide cristallin modifié ou des intervalles de stabilité thermique bien différents. Au sein du laboratoire, pour essayer d'y voir plus clair et de comprendre quels sont les facteurs microscopiques qui influencent le polymorphisme liquide cristallin, une technique relativement récente a été utilisée. Il s'agit de la dynamique moléculaire au niveau atomistique. Cet outil permet d'étudier des molécules dans des conditions qui tendent à représenter au mieux des conditions expérimentales, avec une température, une pression, une densité, etc. En simulant des systèmes qui ont été caractérisés expérimentalement, des corrélations entre le comportement expérimental et simulé peuvent être extraites. L'hypothèse que nous souhaitons vérifier dans ces travaux est la suivante: les variations de l'énergie non liante de Coulomb, un terme énergétique qui peut être extrait des simulations, peuvent être corréler à des observations expérimentales. Cette hypothèse se base sur les travaux précédents effectués au sein du laboratoire sur la phase smectique C (SmC). Dans ces travaux, la plage de stabilité thermique de la phase SmC a été corrélée aux valeurs des énergies non liantes de Coulomb. Dans le cadre de cette étude, le même protocole de simulation est utilisé pour étudier la phase smectique A (SmA), dans le but de confirmer les observations faites sur la phase SmC. Pour ce faire, deux familles de mésogènes (molécules possédant une ou plusieurs phases liquides cristallines dans leurs polymorphisme) sont étudiées. Ces deux familles diffèrent par de petits détails structuraux qui ont pourtant une grande influence sur le polymorphisme expérimental. Il s'agit, dans le cas de ces deux familles, de la longueur d'une chaîne alkyle ou alkoxy sur le mésogène. Pour la première famille de mésogènes, le type de phase SmA observé est différent selon la longueur de la chaîne. Pour la deuxième famille, des mésogènes formés par liaison halogène, il a été observé expérimentalement que la longueur de la chaîne a un impact sur la plage de stabilité thermique de la phase SmA. Ces deux familles sont donc tout à fait appropriées pour une étude par simulation au niveau atomistique. En ce qui concerne les résultats de la première famille, le mésogène présentant une phase SmA différente des autres mésogènes est associé à une énergie de Coulomb également différente. Pour relier ces énergies à l'organisation des molécules au sein des phases, un raisonnement basé sur la dépendance en distance de cette interaction est utilisé. Si une attraction existe entre les mésogènes, une énergie relativement plus basse correspond à des mésogènes plus proches les uns des autres. Au contraire, si les molécules ont tendance à s'éloigner les unes des autres, une énergie relativement plus élevée correspond à une distance intermoléculaire plus faible. Nous avons pu tirer des conclusions quant aux positions relatives des mésogènes et montrer qu'elles pouvaient être reliées à la phase observée expérimentalement. Pour la deuxième famille, nous observons que le mésogène avec la plage de stabilité thermique la plus grande est celui pour lequel les énergies de Coulomb sont les plus faibles, donc celui pour lequel l'arrangement initial imposé (arrangement SmA) est le plus stable énergétiquement. Ces deux projets d'étude de la phase SmA montrent que l'hypothèse mise de l'avant dans les travaux précédents portant sur la phase SmC est vérifiée. La combinaison simulation/expérience fournit des données sur les deux échelles nécessaires, à savoir la molécule et la phase macroscopique, pour essayer d'identifier les liens existants entre ces deux mondes.

The diploma thesis aims to verify the validity of neorealism, institutional neoliberalism, and critical geopolitics about consequences of the economic globalization for the structure of Finnish and Swedish defence forces. For this purporse, the author primary used the method of congruence. The next step led to the comparison of congruence between observance implications and theories predictions. Based on the results of the Finnish defence forces, the theory of neorealism was confirmed because there is no significant shift in the scope/structure of defence forces in the favor of expeditionary/reconnaissance units. Moreover, there is no evidence to waive the balance of power reasoning even in the geopolitically-low-intesive region. Last but not least, it was shown that difference between the Finnish and Swedish geografic location is one of the key factor for its distinct approach towards potentional threats and instruments how to resolve them. Key words: economic globalization, security, defence forces, Finland, Sweden

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / MBA Professional Report / The purpose of project is to examine two alternatives among the numerous recommendations to improve United Nations Peacekeeping. The first calls for improved centralization of United Nations Peacekeeping. The second calls for unification of Peacekeeping operations through joint efforts (political, economical, cultural, religious, military, etc.) at the regional level in order to include the parties involved in the conflict and their neighboring states in Africa, America, Asia and Europe. The goal of this project is to identify and understand the debate about the changing role of the United Nations Peacekeeping and to identify ways to more effectively manage operations. / Lieutenant Colonel, Bulgarian Army

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / The purpose of this thesis is to answer the question of how effective are current theater engagement / security cooperation plans at supporting US national interests. The examination of effectiveness focused on two theaters as case studies during the years 1998 through September 2001. This examination divided effectiveness down into two parts. The first part was consistency. Consistency was investigated by a comparison of the national priorities to completed engagement activities. The second part of effectiveness attempted to measure gains produced through the executed engagement missions. Following the case study analysis, key principles for effectiveness are identified and a modified engagement planning process proposed. The key elements of the modified process are integrated interagency planning, objective based engagement activities, and synchronization of all the elements of statecraft. This framework is tested by applying the modified TEP process to a sub-region of Africa. The significance for this test is not only to demonstrate the capability of the proposed TEP process. This test demonstrates the potential for effective engagement to assist in prosecuting the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). In conclusion, this thesis provides an understanding of what engagement is today, and what engagement should be in the future. / Major, United States Army

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / This thesis presents two prescriptive models for approaching challenges to special operations forces with regard to personnel recovery in an urban environment. It begins by developing a model for overt recovery methods, using McRaven's model of Special Operations as the foundation. This model is then tested against three different case studies from operations in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993. The original six principles proposed by McRaven are complimented with four newly-prescribed principles that account for the interactions of the isolated personnel. Following this analysis, a nonconventional assisted recovery model is presented for clandestine personnel recovery methods. This model borrows the relative superiority concept from McRaven's theory, but proposes six different principles. This model is evaluated using three case studies from the World War II era through Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. These cases support the idea that while the urban operational environment may vary across time and space, the principles supporting successful personnel recovery operations endure. / Major, United States Army / Major, United States Air Force

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of History / Donald J. Mrozek / This study analyzes the effect of the Army Air Forces’ wartime experience on the selection and training of aviation cadets and the steps taken by the Army Air Forces to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities. Over the course of the war, the US Army Air Forces suffered over 54,000 accidents in the continental United States. These accidents accounted for over 15,000 fatalities, the equivalent of a World War Two infantry division. As a result of this wartime experience the Army Air Forces began instituting and enforcing stricter safety measures and emphasizing safety in all phases of training. By the end of the war, the Army Air Forces had transitioned from an organization with loose standards for selection, training, and safety to one with formal procedures for all three. In the process, the Army Air Forces established a new culture of professionalism for the US Air Force.

The pressures and impact forces acting on a hull while experiencing bow wave slamming is analyzed using Vorus' Impact Theory. The theory extends the hydrodynamic analysis of planing hulls from simple wedges to irregular shapes using a Boundary Element Method. A Fortran-based code developed by the Author is used to analyze hullforms. Linear strip theory is used to extend the analysis over a three dimensional hull. Post-processing of output data gives hull pressure distributions at different time steps and is visually presentable. Impact pressure, Impact force, Planing, Wave slamming, Bow impact, Vorus' theory, Boundary Element Method, Linear strip theory

<p>QC 20170306</p>