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The Student Tracking and Reporting System (STARS) is a relational database application designed to monitor student participation in informal SMET programs. STARS represents a radical departure from traditional information management in that it relies heavily on the object oriented programming (OOP) paradigm. Rather than viewing isolated information regarding a student, STARS creates an "object" of type student. This object presents a complete profile of any given student. True to the OOP paradigm, this "object" also provides the user with the functions needed to insert new information, modify or query existing information, delete information, and generate various reports. By using the OOP paradigm as its basic design, the Student Tracking and Reporting System will increase the efficiency of information collection and management at the intervention level, ease the workload of program evaluators, and minimize the system changes needed to accommodate changing datasets.
The biomechanics of locomotion in Tetraodontiform fishes (puffers and relatives) involves the use of multiple fins. Since Borelli (1680), the mechanics of fin propulsion in these fishes has been controversial. Specifically, the contributions of pectoral, dorsal, anal, and caudal fins to propulsive thrust remain unknown. We used video analysis of swimming behavior and morphological description to understand the swimming mechanics of the burrfish (Chilomycterus schoepfi). Burrfish swam in a flow tank at speeds of 1-6 bodylengths per second, during which all fins were used at all speeds. The frequency range of all fins was 1-8 Hz. Caudal and dorsal fin frequency increased with velocity, but pectoral fin frequency showed no trend. Fin amplitudes were constant during velocity increase.
We present results showing that single phase superconducting material exists for the series studied. It is infered from the x-ray results, that stability of the superconducting phase persists till x=0.4 when modulation of the structure was strongly removed. We show model x-ray pattern used as a standard to compare experimentally derived x-ray pattern with indexes of the characteristic peaks. This work is essential, if systematic studies of optimal microstructural grain connectively that enhances transport properties of this material is to be undertaken.
CdTe/Si hetero epitaxy can provide an inexpensive, large area alternative substrate for subsequent growth of HgCdTe-based infrared detecting devices. CdTe itself is an excellent x-ray detecting material. In this study the effectiveness of the chemical cleaning process performed on the silicon substrate prior to the CdTe epitaxial growth is investigated. Reflection high energy electron diffraction is used to determine the quality of the CdTe epilayers. The quality of the Si substrate surface greatly influences the quality of the subsequent epilayers. This study emphasizes the Si substrate chemical cleaning process, which includes removal of organic contaminants; etching to remove native oxides and produce a bare Si surface; reoxidation and further cleaning. The chemically grown oxide layer is subsequently removed thermally in the ultra-high vacuum chamber before growth. This is an effective substrate preparation process which results in high-quality CdTe epilayers as shown by RHEED during epitaxial growth.
