Joseph L. Rose, Paul Morrow professor in design and manufacturing,
uses Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) to sense or measure defects
normally hidden from view. The instruments measure the waves reflected back
to a
sensor or transducer. A wave reflected through "normal" material
or good seams looks
very different than the one that's been reflected through a damaged structure.
Detecting cracking, corrosion and delamination in the seams of aging aircraft helps determine when repairs are needed to prevent tragic accidents and loss of life. Likewise, determining if corrosion inside piping or tubing has weakened or thinned the walls helps prevent industrial accidents and environmental contamination in chemical plants, power generation plants and on ships.
Recent inventions by Joseph L. Rose, Paul Morrow professor in design and manufacturing, use Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) to sense or measure such defects that are normally hidden from view.
Rose's instruments guide ultrasonic sound waves -- those with a very high frequency that we can't hear -- along a structure or material and measure the waves reflected back to a sensor, or transducer. A wave reflected through "normal" material or good seams looks very different than one that's been reflected through a damaged structure, so an inspector knows when there's a problem that can't be seen. Rose and his researchers also are exploring ways this technology could be used to alert train engineers of a broken track ahead.
Another benefit to being able to measure such invisible defects -- or lack of them in equipment that is still in good condition -- is to reduce preventative maintenance where it's not needed. Currently, fixed repair schedules are used for a lot of equipment, with maintenance based on the number of hours of use or the miles traveled, similar to a car's maintenance schedule. Rose's instruments can help future inspectors identify hidden defects to determine when repairs are actually necessary.
In addition to increased safety, such high-tech sensors also may help make your future dessert better. Penn State engineers are working on ways NDE and ultrasonics can be used to measure the consistency of chocolate during manufacturing to maintain the perfect texture.
Carl Panetta is leading a research team at Penn State Erie whose aim is to find effective ways of treating cancer. Panetta is not a biologist, but an assistant professor of mathematics at Erie. His plan is to develop mathematical models that quantify the growth and control of cancer.
Rounding out the research team is Michael Campbell, assistant professor of biology, and senior biology major David Arnold. It will be their job to grow the cancer cells and record observations.
Arnold, who is looking forward to a career in medicine, does the hands-on work of cultivating the cancer cells using two growth chambers and a laminar flow hood. The growth chambers are incubators with the ability to control temperature and gas content. Control of the gas content is essential because the human body is an environment that contains more carbon dioxide and less oxygen than open air. The laminar flow hood prevents contaminants from invading the cancer cells as they are manipulated.
The researchers will study the growth of two types of cancerous cells: human bone cancer and colon cancer.
"Such efforts are not unusual, but this project has a different twist," said Campbell, "in that it seeks to improve and verify mathematical models of cancer growth."
Mathematical modeling is a way of quantifying and predicting actions. Panetta hopes that reliable models can be established for cancer growth.
After refining his equations in response to initial research data, Panetta plans to do mathematical experiments to see if the conclusions he has calculated are proved by Campbell's and Arnold's laboratory results. Finally, he hopes to develop equations to model the way chemotherapeutic agents affect the growth of cancer cells.
"Clinicians currently give you the most chemotherapy they can without killing you," said Panetta. "Mathematical modeling could help predict more effective drug regimens."
Guidelines might be created based on models which specify how much of a drug, administered how often, will maximize its cancer-killing effects while minimizing injury to the patient.
The factors that married people think will prevent divorce actually have little effect, said researchers who studied the topic.
"Once people begin to suspect their marriage may be in trouble, concern about children's welfare, fear of losing children, religious beliefs, financial concerns and worry about what family and friends will think do not deter divorce," said Chris Knoester, doctoral student in sociology.
Knoester and Alan Booth, professor of sociology and human development, interviewed a national sample of 1,184 married people in 1980 and re-interviewed them in 1983, 1988 and 1992 to learn about factors that explain who divorces and who does not.
Fifty years ago, barriers such as children's well-being, religious beliefs, finances and concern about what others will think were more effective in keeping marriages together.
Today, divorce is a common occurrence. From 1960 to 1980, the annual divorce rate nearly tripled and has remained relatively high since.
"Everyone knows someone who is divorced. This and the fact that there is less stigma attached to divorce makes it easier to end marriage even though it often results in economic hardship and has a negative impact on children," Knoester said.
When assessing a new employee, positive qualities such as punctuality and friendliness may seem like good fortune to a manager, but too much of a good thing can hurt a new hire in the long run, said workplace expert.
"Punctuality and dependability are positive workplace qualities. But, when taken to the extreme, they can be interpersonal liabilities. In particular, excessive forms of conscientiousness can lead to an overly compulsive orientation," said David V. Day, associate professor of industrial/organizational psychology. "In extreme cases, it can lead to a borderline personality, which is dysfunctional and even pathological."
The desire to be friendly and helpful, when not properly directed, can also interfere with a person's effectiveness in the workplace and actually be resented by co-workers, said Day.
Day conducted his research with Paul E. Tesluk, assistant professor of psychology at Tulane University.