Digital Commons Network^™

Sofast Cad Layout Tool, Felicia Brimigion

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

Concentrating solar mirrors need to have correct geometry to accurately focus sunlight onto a receiver. SOFAST is a tool created at Sandia National Laboratories which measures a mirror’s surface normal at a dense sampling of points, enabling evaluation of a given mirror’s expected performance. SOFAST supports general mirrors, including concentrating solar heliostats, troughs, and dishes. The examples presented in this report predominantly focus on heliostats.

There are generally four major components of a SOFAST system – the mirror, camera, projector, and screen. For SOFAST to properly measure a mirror, the following geometric constraints must be satisfied:

1. The reflection of …

Quantum Classical Algorithm For Solving The Hubbard Model Via Dynamical Mean-Field Theory, Anshumitra Baul

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Modeling many-body quantum systems is widely regarded as one of the most promising applications for near-term noisy quantum computers. However, in the near term, system size limitation will remain a severe barrier for applications in materials science or strongly correlated systems. A promising avenue of research is to combine many-body physics with machine learning for the classification of distinct phases. I present a workflow that synergizes quantum computing, many-body theory, and quantum machine learning (QML) for studying strongly correlated systems. In particular, it can capture a putative quantum phase transition of the stereotypical strongly correlated system, the Hubbard model. Following …

Instrumentation Failure In Adult Spinal Deformity Patients, David P Falk, Ravi Agrawal, Bijan Dehghani, Rohit Bhan, Sachin Gupta, Munish C Gupta

2020-Current year OA Pubs

In recent years, advances in the surgical treatment of adult spinal deformity (ASD) have led to improved outcomes. Although these advances have helped drive the development of deformity surgery to meet the rising volume of patients seeking surgical treatment, many challenges have yet to be solved. Instrumentation failure remains one of the most common major complications following deformity surgery, associated with significant morbidity due to elevated re-operation rates among those experiencing mechanical complications. The two most frequently encountered subtypes of instrumentation failure are rod fracture (RF) and proximal junctional kyphosis/proximal junctional failure (PJK/PJF). While RF and PJK/PJF are both modes …

The Advent Of Quantum Computer Music: Mapping The Field, Eduardo Miranda

School of Art, Design and Architecture

Quantum computing technology is developing at a fast pace. The impact of quantum computing on the music industry is inevitable. This paper maps the emerging field of quantum computer music. Quantum computer music investigates, and develops applications and methods to process music using quantum computing technology. The paper begins by contextualising the field. Then, it discusses significant examples of various approaches developed to date to leverage quantum computing to learn, process and generate music. The methods discussed range from rendering music using data from physical quantum mechanical systems and quantum mechanical simulations to computational quantum algorithms to generate music, including …

Tailored Approach To Participant Recruitment And Retention To Maximize Health Equity In Pediatric Cancer Research., Carolyn R. Bates, Renee M. Gilbert, Kelsey Dean, Keith August, Christie A. Befort, Shallyn Ward, Mary Gibson, Meredith Dreyer

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Lack of diversity in participants throughout the research process limits the generalizability of findings and may contribute to health disparities. There are unique challenges to recruitment of families to pediatric cancer research studies, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Thus, there is a need to evaluate the most effective recruitment and retention strategies to optimize equitable recruitment of diverse participants.

METHODS: The present study adapted and implemented methods outlined previously in the literature. These previous efforts were developed to address barriers to pediatric research, behavioral health intervention research and research with Black adolescents. Recruitment and retention strategies are described …

Calibrating The Global Network Of Gravitational Wave Observatories Via Laser Power Calibration At Nist And Ptb, Dripta Bhattacharjee, Richard Lenox Savage, Rishabh Bajpai, Joseph Betzwieser, Vladimir Bossilkov, Dan Chen, Cervane Grimaud, Shingo Hido, Sudarshan Karki, Francisco Llamas

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Current gravitational wave (GW) observatories rely on photon calibrators that use laser radiation pressure to generate displacement fiducials used to calibrate detector output signals. Reducing calibration uncertainty enables optimal extraction of astrophysical information such as source distance and sky position from detected signals. For the ongoing O4 observing run that started on 24 May 2023, the global GW detector network is employing a new calibration scheme with transfer standards calibrated at both the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). These transfer standards will circulate between the observatories and the metrology institutes to provide laser …

Criminality & Imprisonment Policy Lessons From Across The Pond: Comparing Europe And The United States, Jonathan Link

Florida Journal of International Law

In the wake of the death of George Floyd and the national and international outcry for racial justice that followed, it seems inevitable that criminal justice reform in America is on the horizon. U.S. President Joe Biden has recognized that there “absolutely” is systemic racism in law enforcement.1 He went on to argue that the U.S. prison system should “turn into a rehabilitation system, not . . . just punishment.” In these interview statements and various other campaign speeches, Presidential debates, and Presidential press conferences since, the President has made clear that the way that the U.S. punishes crime needs …

The United States As An Essential Forum For Litigating And Chronicling The Genocide In Rwanda, Matthew C. Kane

Florida Journal of International Law

Over several months in 1994, hell descended on Rwanda. The country and its people experienced unfathomable tragedy, the likes of which the rest of the world simply cannot comprehend. Since the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF) seized power from the architects of the genocide, the country has made significant steps in terms of nation building. Rwanda has experienced tremendous economic growth and is widely considered to have one of the lowest levels of official corruption on the continent. The people themselves are different—perhaps most fundamentally, the majority of the current population had not yet been born when death became routine. Yet …

Autumn Grass Growth- The Effect Of Rest Interval, R Neilan, E G. O'Riordan, G Keane

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effect of closing dates (Experiment 1: August 1, August 14 and September 18) and grass regrowth interval (Experiment 2) on herbage yield in the autumn/winter and in the following spring were investigated on a previously grazed Lolium perenne sward. In Experiment 1, similar yields were obtained for the August 1 and August 14 closing. Yields decreased and the proportion of dead material increased from 0.19 to 0.61 between mid-October and late- December. In Experiment 2, dry matter yield increased linearly (P < 0.05) with rest interval up to 7 wks in swards closed in September. There was no significant yield advantage for rest intervals greater than 5-6 wks. It is concluded that accumulated autumn and spring yields showed increased DM production with the shorter regrowth intervals.

Improving Pasture Composition Increases Wool Returns In Eucalypt Woodlands, T J. Hall, R G. Silcock, J J. Sevil, J R. Van Der Meulen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A sheep grazing experiment in red earth Eucalypt country on semiarid pastures dominated by either Gayndah buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) or wiregrass (Aristida jerichoensis) quantified liveweight, wool production and quality, and financial returns. Wethers were grazed at 0.32 and 0.6 ha/sheep. In year 1 there was no significant effect of either stocking rate or pasture type on liveweight or wool growth rate. Vegetable fault was greater in the fleeces from the wiregrass. The sheep grazing buffel grew better than those on wiregrass when stocking rates were doubled in year 2, while pasture yields remained high. The …

Responses Of Artemisia Herba-Alba Asso. And Its Associated Species To Grazing Frequency (Midelt, Morocco), M Mejjati Alami, O Berkat, C Bensalem

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The objective of this study (conducted in 1994) was to assess the effects of season and grazing frequency (control, continuous, intermittent during 2 days per week) on vegetation attributes, and animal feeding behavior. Mean standing crop, for which Artemisia herba alba contributed 72%, attained 533 for the control while it was maintained at 394 and 322 Kg DM/ha, for the continuous and the intermittent grazing, respectively. Mean productivity of Artemisia herba alba varied according to treatment and had values of 5.3, 3.0 and 2.5 Kg DM/ha/day, under the ungrazed control, the continuous and the intermittent grazing regimes, respectively. Percent utilization …

Grazing Management Of An Italian Ryegrass Sward With Dairy Sheep In The Mediterranean Environment, M Sitzia, P P. Roggero, N Fois, G Molle

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A grazing experiment was conducted in North-West Sardinia with the aim of testing the sward height as a mean to set up an efficient spring management of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). Three fields were continuously grazed during spring 1992 by three groups of 12 dairy Sarda ewes, at three different sward heights (SH): 30 - 60 - 90 mm. The target sward height was obtained by continuously adjusting the field sizes. The results showed that the different grazing managements influenced the above ground biomass production and partitioning of the Italian ryegrass and the animal performances. During the vegetative …

Estimation Of Herbage Intake Of High Producing Milking Cows Under Intensive Grazing With A Supplementary Feeding Method In Northern Japan, K Ohiai, K Sudo, T Ikeda, T Honma

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The objective of this study was to estimate the herbage intake and to assess a supplementary feeding method for high producing milk cows under intensive grazing. Eight high producing milking cows were grazed rotationally on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L) dominant mixed pasture and on meadow fescue (Festuca elatior L) dominant mixed pasture, changing rotation period and grazing area ccording to seasonal pasture growth rate. Pasture intakes were estimated to be about 2% of body weight by TDN requirements estimation of animals. A supplementary feeding method is examined to be proper for high producing milking cows under …

Palatability Of Grasses And Grazing On Hungarian Grassland, Z Barcsak, I Kertesz, L Szeman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grasslands provide the most basic and cheapest forage diet for cattle. The palatability studies were carried out on pure and mixed swards sown in 1990 on the GATE experimental farm. The studies involved the following 12 species: Lolium perenne, Trifolium repens, Festuca arundinacea, Festuca rubra, Poa pratensis, Festuca pratensis, Bromus inermis, Phalaris arundinacea, Lotus corniculatus, Agropyron crystatum, Dactylis glomerata and a mixed sward. During the study the morning and afternoon grazings were investigated with the involvement of 60 Limousin cattle. The following observations were made: 1. On the basis of our ethological observations regarding the bite rates the animals found …

Selective Sheep Grazing In An Heterogeneous Wheatgrass Dominated Pasture Related To Stocking Rate, G L. Siffredi, M A. Brizuela, M S. Cid, C Cangiano

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

It has been hypothesized that patch and community selection are driven by forage quality and/or quantity. We assess the relationship between vegetation characteristics and community and patch selection by sheep under continuous grazing at different stocking rates in an heterogeneous pasture. Our results suggest that when communities strongly differed in nutritive value sheep recurrently select the higher quality community in spite of its low biomass. However, sheep do not completely exclude the poorer quality community, generating a patchy vegetation pattern.

Grazing Management Of Elephant-Grass For Milk Production, F Deresz, L L. Matos

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The objectives of these experiments were to study the effects of three resting periods (RP) of elephant-grass pasture on milk production and composition of Holstein-Zebu cows. These trials were carried out during two consecutive rainy seasons (December to May) using 24 cows in each year. They were randomly assigned by blocks according to milk yield and live weight (LW) to four treatments: 30- day RP with no concentrate (30N), 30-day RP with concentrate (30C), 36 and 45-day RP with C (36C and 45C) in the first year. In the second year the treatments were: 30C, 30N, 36N and 45N. Concentrate …

Comparison Of Yield, Forage Quality And Persistence Of 11 Grasses Grown With Irrigation In A Semi-Arid Climate, D E. Glover, G A. Kielly, R H. Cohen, P G. Jefferson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Nutritive quality of many grass species used for forage in the Northern Great Plains of Canada and the United States is not well documented, especially at different maturity stages. This study compared agronomic and forage quality characteristics of eleven grasses common to Saskatchewan. Botanical separation and quality analysis was undertaken at three growth stages. Meadow Brome (Bromus riparius), Russian Wildrye (Psathyrostachys juceus) and Altai Wildrye (Elymus angustus) were shown to have high leaf to stem ratios which corresponded with high protein levels. Separations showed persistence of Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris arudinaceus), Creeping Foxtail …

The Effect Of Grazing On Leaf Development In Eight Grass Species, H A. Lardner, S.B M. Wright, R H. Cohen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazing by herbivores affects grass species both morphologically and physiologically. A grazing study was conducted on an irrigated pasture near Outlook, Saskatchewan, Canada during the summers of 1991 and 1992 to determine morphological development of regrowth of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners subsp. trachycaulus), intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkw. & D.R. Dewey subsp. intermedium), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), meadow bromegrass (Bromus beibersteinii Roem. & Schult.), smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.) Wimm.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) in order to …

The Effect Of Slurry And Dirty Water Application To Swards On Grazing Behaviour In Dairy Cows, S Danby, J A. Laws, P D. Penning, B F. Pain, E Owen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In preference tests using pairs of turves in boxes (treated and control), dairy cows were more averse to surface spread than shallow injected slurry and more averse to slurry than dirty water. Effects of slurry persisted for up to 6 weeks, with fewer bites and less herbage removed from treated swards compared to control swards. Aversion to slurry may be decreased by injection. Effects of dirty water persisted for only 14 days.

Applications Of Height-Based Grazing Management In Mixed Swards, A Singh, J E. Johnston, E A. Clark

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazing efficiency and livestock performance were compared on swards rotationally grazed down to either 50 or 100 mm for three years. With a fixed entry height of 200-250 mm, standing swards of mixed grasses and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) were stratified into 50 mm vertical layers both pre- and post-grazing. Through four or five cycles of grazing each year for three years, a fixed entry height range stabilized total standing herbage at 3250 to 3690 kg OM ha-1. Organic matter on-offer above 100 mm was 36, 45, and 43% of total standing herbage in the three years, compared …

Ingestive Behavior Of Fistulated And Intact Sheep Grazing Grass And Legumes Indoors And Outdoors, Y M. Gong, J Hodgson, M G. Lambert

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Components of short-term ingestive behaviour were recorded for fistulated and intact sheep grazing turves in indoor crates, and for esophageal-fistulated sheep grazing swards in situ in outdoor cages. Perennial ryegrass, orchard grass and white clover at vegetative and reproductive growth stages were offered to the sheep. Bite weight, depth, area and volume did not differ between sheep grazing indoors and outdoors, nor between intact and fistulated sheep. Bite rate of fistulated sheep was slower indoors than outdoors (25.3 versus 32.1 bites/min), and intact sheep had a higher biting rate (36.7 versus 25.3 bites/min) than fistulated sheep. Bite weight was over-estimated …

Dairy Production From Pasture In Southern China, P.N P. Matthews, J Hodgson, A.C P. Chu, W L. Jiang, C B. Luo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This paper covers the development of dairy production systems as part of the UNDP funded Agro-grasslands Systems Development Project in Guizhou Province, China. The basic philosophy for the project was for local adaptation of New Zealand technology for developing dairy production systems based on pastures. The dairy production systems were established and the outputs of the project successfully achieved. Net incomes of smallholder farmers increased from a baseline of RMB $140 to RMB $1740 per annum over a three year period. Based on the experienced gained in setting up these systems local researchers, administrators, extension personnel and smallholders were able …

Trace Mineral Status Of Beef Cattle Grazing Semiarid Rangelands Of North Mexico, J R. Kawas, G T. Armienta, E Olivares, O Torress, J J. Kawas, F Garza

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Trace mineral concentrations of soil, forage and serum of range cattle of the northeast Mexico state of Nuevo Leon were determined in both wet and dry seasons of 1992. For each season, collections were made at twenty-four ranches within eleven counties of three regions. A total of 220 soil, 680 forage and 220 blood samples were collected and analyzed. No differences (P<0.05) between regions were obtained for Zinc (28.0 to 34.9 ppm) or Copper (4.4 to 5.4 ppm). Molybdenum concentrations were greater in the northern (2.1 ppm) than in the central (1.6 ppm) or southern (1.5 ppm) regions. Considering the critical levels in forages for Zinc (30 ppm) and Copper (10 ppm) reported by the National Research Council (1984), Zinc concentrations may be marginally deficient, whereas Copper concentrations were deficient in all three regions, in both seasons, and in grasses and woody species.

Forage-Based Seasonal Dairying In South Louisiana, H A. Deramus, L Labbe, K Ingawa, W A. Atkinson, M J. Simon, J D. Roussel

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effects on the net profit and total milk production were compared using two levels of grain supplementation and forage-only feeding in a program of seasonal dairying in South Louisiana using management intensive grazing. Treatments were 8 kg grain, 4 kg grain, and 0 grain supplementation. Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorium) and clovers (Trifolium incarnatum, and T. Alexandrinum) were grazed intensively with 51 multiparous Jersey and Holstein cows in mid-lactation in 1993-1995. Milk production, milk fat, milk protein, and blood urea nitrogen were measured. Milk and protein models were all highly significant for all classes. Daily milk …

Influence Of Sheep And Goats On The Natural Succession, H D. Matthes, S Demise, M Schubert, H Mohring

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A study was conducted to examine the effect of extensively-grazed pasture on the botanical composition. The trails were carried out in the year 1992 to 1995. For the study different breeds of sheep with the stocking rate of 30 sheep with their lambs / 2.6 ha were used. For the mixed-grazing a ratio of 20 sheep and 10 goats with their lambs / 2.6 ha were used. It is not possible to control all problem species with the help of sheepgrazing only. In contrast to that, it was concluded that goats grazed off all problem species quite effectively. Botanical composition …

Influence Of Different Breeds Of Pigs To The Natural Succession, H D. Matthes, A.C D. Micklich, G Dietl, H Mohring, W Jentsch

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The aim of this study was to find out the effect of pigs on the natural succession. We used 4 different breeds of pigs for our investigations. Because of the grazing behaviour and their rooting activity the total number of plants increased up to 30%. But the vegetation quickly returned to conditions prior to rooting, if the rooting activity fails to happen. Rooting activity of pigs on floodplain soil and following grazing in the next spring after rooting permits seeds of different species of plants to germinate and develop in the plant free areas. These plants often have little chance …

Nutrition And Dietetics Educators’ Experiences Using Systems Thinking In Teaching, Erin E. Bergquist, Lyndi Buckingham-Schutt, Scott Smalley, Christina G. Campbell, Awoke Dollisso, Shuyang Qu

Journal of Dietetic Education

Objective: Describe educator experiences teaching systems thinking in nutrition and dietetics education. Design: Qualitative, semi-structured, online interviews. Setting: Educators teaching in accredited nutrition and dietetics programs. Participants: Purposive sample of thirteen Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (92% female, 77% with > 6 years teaching experience) from each U.S. census region and accredited program type. Phenomenon of Interest: Educators described experiences teaching systems thinking in accredited programs, including benefits. Analysis: Transcribed interviews were analyzed using qualitative grounded theory iterative coding. Excel was used for data organization and thematic coding analysis. Results: Educators described four themes when teaching systems thinking: (1) a holistic approach to …

Student Exposure To Andhii Improves Confidence With Applying The Nutrition Care Process, Casey Colin, Tad Campbell, Michel Harris, Avalon Mustafa, Lindsay Woodcock

Journal of Dietetic Education

The objective of this study was to explore if using ANDHII improves NCP confidence and documentation quality. This quasi-experimental trial was conducted with n = 43 undergraduate dietetic students. NCP confidence was measured before and after a traditional case study, and after an ANDHII case study. Documentation quality was measured using a validated quality audit tool. Confidence increased from time 1 to time 2 (p = 0.008), and from time 2 to time 3 (p = 0.003). Documentation quality was higher for the ANDHII documentation compared to the non-ANDHII documentation (p < 0.001) but lower when compared to the traditional ADIME (p = 0.03). Familiarizing students with ANDHII improved NCP confidence. Opportunities exist to improve ANDHII functionality and positively impact documentation quality.

Impact Of Covid-19 On Coordinated Programs In Dietetics, Eric West, Tiffany Sterling, Joanna Cupp, Sara Tamsukhin

Journal of Dietetic Education

The purpose of this study was to analyze tactics employed by coordinated programs in dietetics during COVID-19 and share best practices in the event that another crisis disrupts the intended learning plan and curriculum. The study was conducted via a survey that consisted of 14 questions, not including consent, that pertained to their specific program, whether COVID disrupted their supervised practice experiences, and if so, how they overcame the challenge. Participants receiving the survey consisted of dietetic coordinated program directors and the clinical coordinators of the respective program if applicable. The survey was sent to 60 total participants with 21 …

Can Gpa And Degree Type Predict Success On The Entry-Level Registration Examination For Dietitians?, Sunitha Zechariah, Jennifer Doley, Nicole Moore, Raymond Chong

Journal of Dietetic Education

Purpose: Although program directors consider several measures when assessing dietetic program applicants, grade point average (GPA) is often the most highly weighted. However, its ability to predict success in the entry-level registration examination for dietitians (RD exam) is unknown. Our objective was to determine how well GPA predicted first-time success in the RD exam. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the associations among academic variables: pre-admission GPA (Overall- GPA), didactic program in dietetics GPA (DPD-GPA), and the type of degree (bachelor's versus master’s) with first-time RD exam scores across seven cohorts from three DI programs (N = 408). Results: …