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IEEE We have previously reported the development of a cryogen-free critical current characterization system able to measure field-angle dependences of voltage-current characteristics of short-length superconducting tapes to temperatures of 25 K, fields up to 8 T and currents up to 875 A. We have now extended the existing system and built a parallel system which further extends the parameter space to 10 K, 12 T, 1600 A. With a software suite that fully automates batch measurements we have been able to generate detailed coverage of the temperature-field-angle-current parameter space relevant to many of the applications proposed for high-temperature superconducting tapes. We describe the improvements to the system and present data from commercial tape samples that illustrates the utility of the instrument.

The scope and complexity of major instructional design and development programs and the sophistication and detailed level of definition of particular training development models utilized have greatly increased. The advanced planning and day to day management necessary for such programs have become commensurately more difficult and complex. The interactions between the many resource personnel and schedule requirements involved increase the difficulty of identifying specific sources of problems and responding to them without causing problems elsewhere. In addition, the models being used tend to have an increasing number of engineering characteristics rather than artistic attributes. That is, they are characterized by increasingly well defined procedures and techniques which offer the potential for much better quality control consistency of output across different personnel, and they simplify the problem of training and standardizing approaches for development staffs. In response to the challenges of these emerging models interest is greatly increasing in comprehensive real-time integrated information management systems which incorporate a variety of flexible management projection and simulation capabilities, and which include rich arrays of standardized protocols, staff training materials, and interactive job aids.