Compressible ideal-gas turbulence subjected to homogeneous shear is investigated at the rapid distortion limit. Specific issues addressed are (i) the interaction between kinetic and internal energies and role of pressure-dilatation; (ii) the modifications to pressure-strain correlation and Reynolds stress anisotropy and (iii) the effect of the composition of velocity fluctuations (solenoidal vs. dilatational). Turbulence evolution is found to be strongly influenced by gradient Mach number, the initial solenoidal-to-dilatational ratio of the velocity field and the initial intensity of the thermodynamic fluctuations. The balance between the initial fluctuations in velocity and thermodynamic variables is also found to be very important. Any imbalance in the two fluctuating fields leads to high levels of pressure-dilatation and intense exchange. For a given initial condition, it is found that the interaction via the pressuredilatation term between the momentum and energy equations reaches a peak at an intermediate gradient Mach number. The energy exchange between internal and kinetic modes is negligible at very high or very low Mach number values due to lack of pressure dilatation. When present, the exchange exhibits oscillations even as the sum of the two energies evolves smoothly. The interaction between shear and solenoidal initial velocity field generates dilatational fluctuations; for some intermediate levels of shear Mach number dilatational fluctuations account for 20% of the total fluctuations. Similarly, the interaction between shear and initial dilatation produces solenoidal oscillations. Somewhat surprisingly, the generation of solenoidal fluctuations increases with gradient Mach number. Larger levels of pressure-strain correlation are seen with dilatational rather than solenoidal initial conditions. Anisotropies of solenoidal and dilatational components are investigated individually. The most interesting observation is that solenoidal and dilatational turbulence tend toward a one componential state but the energetic component is different in each case. As in incompressible shear flows, with solenoidal fluctuations, the streamwise (1,1) component of Reynolds stress is dominant. With dilatational fluctuations, the stream-normal (2,2) component is the strongest. Overall, the study yields valuable insight into the linear processes in high Mach number shear flows and identifies important closure modeling issues.

The turbulent flow through a marine propulsor was experimentally modeled using a large cascade configuration with six 33 cm chord flat plates spanning the entire height of the test section in the Virginia Tech Stability Wind Tunnel. Three-component hot-wire velocity measurements were obtained ahead, throughout and behind both an unstaggered and a 35º staggered cascade configuration with blade spacing and onset turbulence integral scales on the order of the chord. This provided a much needed data-set of much larger Taylor Reynolds number than previous related studies and allowed a thorough investigation of the blade-blocking effects of the cascade on the incident turbulent field. In order to generate the large scale turbulence needed for this study, a mechanically rotating "active" grid design was adopted and placed in the contraction of the wind tunnel at a streamwise location sufficient to cancel out the relatively large inherent low frequency anisotropy associated with this type of grid. The resulting turbulent flow is one of the largest Reynolds number (Reλ  1000) homogeneous near-isotropic turbulent flows ever created in a wind tunnel, and provided the opportunity to investigate Reynolds number effects on turbulence parameters, especially relating to inertial range dynamics. Key findings include 1) that the extent of local isotropy is solely determined by the turbulence generator and the size of the wind-tunnel that houses it; and 2) that the turbulence generator operating conditions affect the shape of the equilibrium range at fixed Taylor Reynolds number. The latter finding suggests that grid turbulence is not necessarily self-similar at a given Reynolds number independent of how it was generated. The experimental blade-blocking data was compared to linear cascade theory and showed good qualitative agreement, especially for wavenumbers above the region of influence of the wind tunnel and turbulence generator effects. As predicted, the turbulence is permanently modified by the presence of the cascade after which it remains invariant for a significant downstream distance outside the thin viscous regions. The obtained results support the claim that Rapid Distortion Theory (RDT) is capable of providing reasonable estimates of the flow behind the cascade even though the experimental conditions lie far outside the predicted region of validity. / Ph. D.

The overall research objective of this thesis effort was to develop a general model depicting the major design parameters for a gainsharing system. This model was then validated and specified for a government, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) facility. Companies interested in gainsharing will be able to use the general model as a base to begin building their own individualized system. Government, RDT&E facilities will be able to integrate the specific issues that were identified into the development of a gainsharing system to suit their incentive needs. An extensive review of the literature was conducted and a great deal has been learned about gainsharing and related areas. Many case examples were studied to understand how different organizations have approached gainsharing. A great deal of information was gathered on how government, RDT&E organizations function and the many policies and restrictions they have to operate within. This enabled a general gainsharing model to be developed. A rigorous research methodology, including interviews and surveys, was used to validate the general model and identify specification issues. Representatives from organizations with extensive gainsharing experience and gainsharing experts provided input to validate the general model. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Trenton (NAWCADTRN) was used as a prototype organization to specify the general model for a government, RDT&E facility. Finally, interviews with NAWCADTRN managers and customers and an organization-wide survey of employees helped to identify gainsharing issues that are specific to their organization. / Master of Science

ContexteSi l’efficacité de la stratégie de prise en charge du paludisme au niveau communautaire n’est pas remise en cause à Madagascar, la mise en place de la nouvelle politique nationale incluant le remplacement de la chloroquine par la combinaison artésunate plus amodiaquine et l’introduction des tests de diagnostic rapide (TDR) dans la prise en charge des fièvres chez les enfants de moins de cinq ans suscite plusieurs inquiétudes. ObjectifsLe principal objectif de notre travail a été d’évaluer la stratégie de prise en charge des fièvres chez les enfants de moins de 5 ans au niveau communautaire. Pour évaluer la stratégie de prise en charge,trois objectifs spécifiques ont été abordés, à savoir, (i) l’étude de l’efficacité thérapeutique de la combinaison fixe « artesunate-amodiaquine » dans la prise en charge des fièvres chez les enfants de moins de 5 ans au niveau communautaire, (ii) l’évaluation des performances des tests de diagnostic rapide utilisés au niveau communautaire et (iii) la description de la situation épidémiologie du paludisme au niveau communautaire et l’évaluation de l’impact des stratégies de lutte actuellement mises en œuvre.MéthodologiesDeux études longitudinales ont été mises en place. La première étude (objectifs 1 & 2) a été conduite de février 2008 à février 2010 (24 mois) chez les enfants de moins de 5 ans en zone de transmission stable (district de Manakara) et en zone de transmission instable (district de Moramanga). La deuxième (objectif 3) s’est déroulée entre février 2009 et mars 2011 en zone de transmission stable (district de Manakara). Résultats & ConclusionObjectif 1 : les données obtenues lors de notre étude, nous permettent d’affirmer l’excellente efficacité thérapeutique de la combinaison fixe « artesunate-amodiaquine ». Nous avons observé que le taux de guérison clinique global était de 98,4% au bout de 28 jours et 97,9% au bout de 42 jours. La compliance au traitement a été estimée à 83,4%. Aucun effet indésirable grave n'a été observé. : Objectif 2 : Cette étude a permis de confirmer que les performances diagnostiques des agents de santé communautaire utilisant les TDR en termes de sensibilité, spécificité, VPP et VPN étaient supérieures à 85%, que la concordance entre les résultats de la microscopie et des TDRs, estimée par la valeur Kappa était excellente (83%) et que les TDR étaient stable même conservés au niveau communautaire. L’introduction des TDR au niveau communautaire semble être une stratégie efficace pour améliorer la prise en charge des malades fébriles, pour réduire la surconsommation d’antipaludiques (et donc le coût des traitements inutilement utilisés) et pour réduire la pression de sélection exercée par cette surconsommation. Objectif 3 : Nous avons pu démontrer que les mesures de prévention et de traitement prises au niveau communautaire étaient efficaces avec la mesure objective de la réduction de la prévalence du paludisme. Nous avons également mis en évidence une variation importante de la prévalence du paludisme inter-villages dans une même commune de quelques kilomètres carrés, suggérant des interventions ciblées en fonction des risques liés à la situation géographique, agricole, et climatique. Ce travail a permis de proposer une première approche méthodologique qu’il serait souhaitable d’étendre pour collecter les données de prévalence et d’incidence dans les autres communes, et préciser ainsi les besoins ciblés en TDR et ACTs à Madagascar. / Context:One should think back of the effectiveness of malaria case management strategy at the community level Otherwise, questions will remain unanswered on the setting up of the new national Policy including the replacement of the chloroquine with combination artesunate and amodiaque and the introduction of rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for fever case management among children under five.Objective:The principal goal of our essay is to assess fever case management strategy among children under five years old at the community level. To proceed to the assessment, three specific objectives were tackled: (i) Therapeutic effectiveness of the fixed combination (artesunate-amodiaque) in fever case management among children under five at the community level. ii)the assessment of RDT performances used at the community level and iii) description of malaria epidemiological situation at the community level and the assessment of the impact of the fight against malaria strategies implementedMethodology: Two long depth studies were applied. The first study (Objective 1 and 2) was conducted in February 2008 to February 2010 (24 months) among children under five years old in stable transmission area (Manakara district) and in changeable transmission area (Moramanga district). The second study (objective 3) was held in February 2009 and March 2011 in stable transmission area (Manakara).Outputs and Conclusion:Objective 1: Data collected during our study enabled us to confirm the excellent therapeutically effectiveness of the fixed combination “artesunate-amodiaque”. We have noticed that the global clinical recovery rate is 98.4% after 28 days and 97.9% after 42 days of treatment. Compliance with the treatment was estimated at 83.4%. Not any adverse effect was noticed.Objective 2: This study enabled us to confirm the diagnostic performances of community health workers using RDT in terms of sensitiveness, specification. VPP and VPN were more 85% than the reliability between microscopic results and the RDTs estimated by the kappa value was excellent (83%) and RDTs were stable even kept at the community level. The introduction of RDT at the community level seems to be an effective strategy to improve sick people case management, to reduce overconsumption of products anti-malaria (and so reduce the cost of treatments used uselessly) and to reduce the selection pressure from this overconsumption.Objective 3: We could prove that prevention and treatment measures at the community level were effective with the objective measure of reducing malaria rate. We could bring to evidence an important variation of malaria rate between villages of one same commune from few kilometers of distance, suggesting targeted interventions depending on the risks linked to the geographic, agricultural and climate situations. This work enabled us to suggest a first methodological approach that is better to extend to collect prevalence data and in adverse circumstances in other communes and to mention the RDT targeted needs and ACTs in Madagascar.

Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2016-10-18T14:55:33Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Jorgete Freire de Carvalho_.pdf: 1723163 bytes, checksum: 548c330c104b89e3881ee8ee0ac438bb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-18T14:55:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jorgete Freire de Carvalho_.pdf: 1723163 bytes, checksum: 548c330c104b89e3881ee8ee0ac438bb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-06-08 / Nenhuma / Dada a relevância do ganho de escala através de estratégias de crescimento de redes de empresas para a competitividade, consolidação e longevidade de tais organizações, este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a estratégia de intercooperação entre redes de empresas: seus antecedentes, processo e resultados. O estudo utilizou como base teórica a Teoria da dependência de Recursos (TDR). Foi realizado um estudo de caso único de natureza exploratória e descritiva com abordagem qualitativa dos dados por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas. A unidade de análise foi uma rede do setor supermercadista formada pela intercooperação de outras oito redes com sede em Pacatuba (CE). As evidências apontaram para a ocorrência de cinco antecedentes: dificuldade de negociação, necessidade de aumentar o poder de barganha, necessidade de visibilidade, existência de um grande número de associações e comportamento rival entre redes. Já o processo de intercooperação apresentou as seguintes fases: identificação e seleção de possíveis parceiros, realização da primeira reunião com os interessados, articulação de estratégia para integração do grupo e a implementação de ajustes e adequações. Como resultados da intercooperação emergiram: geração de um encarte mensal unificado, visibilidade, aquisição de produtos com preços competitivos, acesso a maior variedade ou quantidade de produtos, troca de informações e aprendizado, sede própria e unificada, redução de custos com a compra em conjunto de insumos, campanhas de marketing de grande porte, distribuição anual de valores financeiros. Foi possível verificar ainda algumas dificuldades no decorrer do processo de intercooperação: a desconfiança inicial sobre a viabilidade do negócio, a resistência para com a padronização das fachadas e a dificuldade para a implantação do centro de distribuição. A partir das análises foi possível contribuir de três formas: primeiro, teoricamente, diminuindo a escassez de pesquisas com foco em processo de formação interorganizacional, assim como, a carência de estudos abordando redes de empresas com múltiplos atores sob o enfoque da TDR. Em segundo lugar, gerencialmente, visto que a pesquisa aponta caminhos para o auxílio à eficácia da gestão e coordenação de redes. Em terceiro lugar, no aspecto social já que o conhecimento agregado pode auxiliar positivamente na formação de novas redes que por sua vez podem melhorar emprego e renda de determinada localidade. / Given the relevance of the scale gain through growth strategies of corporate networks for competitiveness, consolidation and longevity of such organizations, this study aimed to analyze the strategy of mutual cooperation between corporate networks: its antecedents, process and results. The study used as theoretical basis the Resource dependence theory (RDT). It was conducted an exploratory and descriptive single-subject case study, with a qualitative approach of data by means of semi-structured interviews. The unit of analysis was a supermarket net formed by mutual cooperation of eight other networks headquartered in Pacatuba (CE). The evidence pointed to the occurrence of five antecedents: Difficulty to negotiate, need for increased bargaining power, need for visibility, the existence of a large number of associations and competitive behaviour among networks. The mutual cooperation process presented the following steps: identification and selection of potential partners, the holding of the first meeting with stakeholders, the linking of strategy for integration of the group, and the implementation of adjustments and adaptations. As a result of the mutual cooperation, appeared: generation of a unified monthly booklet, visibility; purchase of products with competitive prices, access to a greater variety or quantity of products, exchange of information and learning, own and unified headquarters, costs reduction with the joint purchasing of inputs, great marketing campaigns, annual distribution of financial values. It was possible to verify some difficulties during the process of mutual cooperation: initial scepticism about the viability of the business, the resistance to the standardization of the façades, and the difficulty for the implementation of the distribution center. From the analysis it was possible to contribute in three ways: First theoretically, reducing the shortage of research with a focus on inter-organizational formation process, as well as the lack of studies addressing corporate networks with multiple actors under the focus of RDT. Secondly in a management way, as the research points ways to support the effectiveness of management and coordination of networks. Thirdly in the social aspect, since the aggregate knowledge can assist positively in the formation of new networks, which in turn can improve employment and income in a particular location.

The study examines how messages to, from, and concerning home may impact first-semester college student retention. The current study extends previous retention research in several ways. Rather than collect data regarding retention after students drop out, this study analyzed free write responses of 135 participants while they were enrolled in 15 sections of CIS 110 (Composition and Communication I) throughout the course of the Fall 2010 semester. Using relational dialectics theory (RDT) (Baxter & Montgomery, 1996) as a sensitizing framework, this study identified three discursive struggles and associated radiants of meaning present in the free write responses of these 135 first semester college students. Specifically, students identified experiencing the discursive struggles of independence, integration, and expression during the first semester of college. Non-returning students also identified these same three discursive struggles. However, non-returning students identified the discursive struggle of expression much more than did the returning students. Ultimately, this dissertation study proposed practical implications for students, parents, and the academy regarding how messages to, from, and about home might impact the transition of first-semester students from high school to college.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 22-25, 2001 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / The operator interface to a modern radar, sonar or weapons system trainer (WST) is typically one or more high-resolution video displays driven by PC’s or other workstations. The training system used to instruct and qualify operators for this type of mission critical application should be capable of recording RGB video data to a fine level of detail. Similarly, ground stations for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) and Operational Test & Evaluation (OT&E) applications often utilize high-resolution workstation screens to display critical test data. And often, these workstation screens are located in mobile vans, on aircraft, or are otherwise remote from test conductors who need access to the same screen data. This paper presents a solution for the efficient digitization, storage, replay, and transmission of the data displayed on the high-resolution workstation screens commonly found in these types of training system applications.

No description available.

<p dir="ltr"><a href="" target="_blank">Almost every case of cervical cancer in the United States is medically preventable with vaccination and proper screening, yet many Americans are insufficiently screened. Over 12 thousand American women suffered from cervical cancer in 2018</a>¹ causing 4 thousand deaths, with over a third in women who had never received a routine screening test².</p><p dir="ltr">New, sensitive testing techniques for cervical cancer screening are facilitating HPV testing without evaluating the cells collected in the sample by eye. This opens the door to new, accessible methods of screening such as rapid testing in clinic and at home, self-sampling, and mail-in testing. As cervical cancer morbidity and mortality is largely a result of healthcare inequities, these methods may have a significant impact on cervical cancer outcomes.</p><p dir="ltr">The goal of this project is to create a proof-of-concept, sample-to-answer rapid test to be used for cervical cancer screening in Indiana outpatient clinics. We began the project by conducting interviews and a survey to explore Indiana clinician perspectives on cervical screening methods such as self-sampling, rapid testing, and home-based screening. Clinicians preferred in-clinic testing with same-visit results, in the hopes that face-to-face explanation of results and scheduling follow-up care in person would improve patient retention for these important follow-up tests. To create such a test, we augmented an isothermal nucleic acid amplification method that copies 13 of the 14 high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) types with an endogenous b-globin sample control and a simple colorimetric lateral flow strip (LFS) readout. When tested with HPV 16 the assay achieved a limit of detection of 1000 HPV copies per reaction, which would detect endocervical samples deemed ‘sufficient’ by clinical guidelines. It also performs in endocervical cells using methods and equipment that could be implemented in an outpatient clinic. The final test accepts swabs or brushes of endocervical cells, lyses them in 5 minutes, copies the target DNA and a sample adequacy control, and delivers the readout within 40 minutes on an LFS readout. Future directions for this assay include soliciting feedback from clinicians and other stakeholders about the prototype developed, adapting the assay to interferents of clinical endocervical samples, and adding probes for other HPV types, such as HPV 18 and eventually the other hrHPV types.</p>

Due to the nature of globalization, new strategies have been designed to break into new markets. Joint Venture is a common strategy to enter new markets and by using a Joint Venture, companies share risks and establish new contacts with local knowledge. Brazil is a market where foreign investors gain more and more interest. Brazil's economy is growing fast and made well during the global financial crisis. The middle class in Brazil is constantly growing and for the first time, poverty is not a majority in Brazil.In an International Joint Venture (IJV), it is usually a foreign company establishing a partnership with a local company. Often, IJVs fail because companies have problems collaborating, depending on different variables. In this thesis, we chose to analyze the cultural barriers in a Brazilian-Swedish IJV on the Brazilian market. The purpose of this thesis is to gain an understanding and describe cultural barriers in an IJV partnership, and high-light those to increase the chances for successful IJVs between Brazilian and Swedish companies in the future.This thesis is qualitative, with an abductive approach, in order to gain a deeper and better understanding of experienced barriers. We have chosen to see culture from both a national and an organizational perspective as earlier research has showed that national culture affects the organizational culture within an IJV. Using Hofstede's (1991) four dimensions of national culture as a supplement to Wilson’s (2001) four factors influencing the organizational culture, we have conducted four interviews in two Swedish-Brazilian IJV companies located in São Paulo, Brazil. The companies we have chosen to interview have been small or medium-sized manufacturing. Interviews were conducted face-to-face in a comfortable environment for all respondents. In our analysis, we used matrices to make it easier to see what differences and/or similarities there are between the case-companies.Results of this study, demonstrate that the experiences from the two case-studies are well in line with each other. The organizational structure in Brazil has been perceived as more hierarchical than the Swedish vertical and more open structure. This in turn, has strengthened the differences in communication between managers and employees, which been perceived as more top-down in Brazil than in Sweden. Our conclusion is that cultural barriers have been perceived, in the perception of the leaders’ expected behavior, language barriers, differences in planning and management of uncertain situations, Brazil's more family-oriented society and close relationship between private life and work in the Brazilian market.Several of these barriers have been experienced during the early start-up of an IJV, something we believe increases the importance of being well prepared for cultural barriers that may arise. The importance of an agreement upon the structure and policies at the company at an early stage is crucial, to reduce future possible conflicts. Show mutual respect and understanding for one's partners’ culture and experienced cultural barriers, use these to avoid any negative effects, and instead create a positive impact for the IJV. / Minor Field Study