Multistep Kinetic Monte Carlo

Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) uses random numbers to simulate the time evolution of processes with well-defined rates. We analyze a multi-step KMC algorithm aimed at speeding up the single-step procedure and apply the algorithm to study a model for the growth of a surface dendrite. The growth of the dendrite is initiated when atoms diffusing on a substrate cluster due to lower hopping rates for highly coordinated atoms. The boundary of the cluster is morphologically unstable when the flux of new atoms is supplied in the far field, a scenario that could be generated by masking a portion of a substrate that is subject to some kind of deposition process. We allow atoms far from the growing dendrite to take large hops while atoms near the dendrite follow a usual single-step KMC algorithm. We study how coarse-graining affects the distribution of waiting times for hops, and how to accurately couple the multi-step and single-step regions

Development of the Chester Fritz Library (CFL) Peer Research Consultants Program

There has been a steady decline in the number of reference questions asked at central reference desks at academic libraries across the United States. The reference desk at the University of North Dakota’s main library has also seen a steady decline in reference questions. In an effort to make better use of professional librarians’ time and energy, library staff are starting a pilot program in Fall 2019 to use undergraduate peer research consultants (PRC’s) to staff the reference desk, thereby freeing up the reference librarians to do more library instruction and outreach. The PRC’s will be undergraduate students trained in reference services and will be able to assist their undergraduate peers. This talk covers how CFL is developing the program.https://commons.und.edu/cfl-lpp/1010/thumbnail.jp

An Economic Analysis of Texas Shrimp Season Closures

Management of the Texas penaeid shrimp fishery is aimed at increasing revenue from brown shrimp, Penaeus aztecus, landings and decreasing the level of discards. Since 1960 Texas has closed its territorial sea for 45-60 days during peak migration of brown shrimp to the Gulf of Mexico. In 1981 the closure was extended to 200 miles to include the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. Simulation modeling is used in this paper to estimate the changes in landings, revenue, costs, and economic rent attributable to the Texas closure. Four additional analyses were conducted to estimate the effects of closing the Gulf 1- to 4-fathom zone for 45 and 60 days, with and without effort redirected to inshore waters. Distributional impacts are analyzed in terms of costs, revenues, and rents, by vessel class, shrimp species, vessel owner, and crew

Development, Implementation and Importance of an Undergraduate Peer Research Consultant Program at the University of North Dakota’s Chester Fritz Library

Purpose: This paper describes both the development of a peer research consultant program – using student assistants to staff the reference desk with minimal supervision while providing high quality research assistance to their undergraduate peers, and the steps taken to create buy-in for the program from campus and librarians. Design / methodology / approach: The authors provide a description of peer reference services and describe how a remodel of the library building facilitated a redesign of services. The paper covers the process of developing program guidelines, securing funding, expectations of peer research consultants, the training process, and lessons learned from a medium-sized academic library. Findings: The findings after the first year demonstrate that undergraduates are highly skilled at providing high-quality reference services when provided with quality training and support. In addition, undergraduate students are now seeking out peer researchers for assistance with research items such as topic formation, keyword development in databases and proper citations. Originality / value: This paper draws on multiple iterations of peer reference models to create an original program, involving training student employees to provide reference services at a paraprofessional-level, as well as providing the methodology for other academic libraries to develop and launch a similar program. Practical Applications: Well-trained Peer Research Consultants (PRCs) provide valued assistance to librarians in freshman composition classes, at the Ask Us reference desk, and to their peers. The program has allowed librarians to provide more outreach to their subject areas. Social Implications: Students prefer going to their peers for research assistance rather than a professional librarian when given the choice. The training the PRCs are provided by librarians provides credibility and trust, which encourages undergraduate students to approach PRCs for assistance

Development of a Peer Research Consultant (PRC) Program

The reference desk at UND’s main library has seen a steady decline in the number of reference questions. Starting in Fall 2019, we will use peer research consultants (PRCs) to staff the reference desk and go out to campus to promote their service. Reference librarians will be able to do more library instruction and outreach for their departments, and undergraduate students will see their peer as a helpful resource for academic success. The PRCs will also assist with instruction sessions.https://commons.und.edu/cfl-lpp/1011/thumbnail.jp

Identifying Sources of Fecal Pollution in the Roanoke River, Roanoke County, Virginia

Antibiotic Resistance Patterns (ARPs) of Enterococcus spp. were used as a phenotypic fingerprint to compare and categorize unknown-source isolates in an impaired segment of the Roanoke River, Roanoke County, Virginia. Antibiotic resistance analysis (ARA) of enterococci has been effectively used to differentiate among sources of fecal contamination in many geographic regions in the United States. Enterococcus spp. were used as a fecal indicator in a library consisting of 1,562 known-source isolates. Two-way analysis indicated that approximately 95% of the unknown-source isolates collected were of animal origin. A 3-way analysis indicated that 61% of the unknowns were of livestock origin while 34% were of wildlife origin. Of the isolates determined to be of wildlife origin, almost all were from raccoons and geese while enterococci from deer were present at low percentages. For one sample date, 20% of the isolates at one site were of human origin. This bacterial source tracking (BST) data will prove valuable for the development of TMDLs for this impaired waterway

Chain Community Pharmacists\u27 Willingness, Attitudes, and Barriers in Providing Self-Care Medication and Supplement Recommendations

BACKGROUND: Pharmacists are commonly called on as the first resource for patients when selecting an appropriate self-care medication or supplement. This study examines pharmacists’ over-the-counter (OTC) recommendations in the chain community pharmacy setting in the United States. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to assess chain community pharmacists’ willingness and attitudes to provide self-care recommendations to patients and to identify chain community pharmacists’ barriers to making OTC medication and supplement recommendations. METHODS: An anonymous survey was created to identify pharmacists’ attitudes and their willingness to perform these recommendations. The questionnaire included specific questions to identify barriers that exist to making OTC recommendations. The survey was distributed by fax and email to 527 pharmacists in the Mid-South regional district of a U.S. grocery chain pharmacy. Descriptive statistics were used to identify demographic trends and display results. RESULTS: Pharmacists are overwhelmingly willing to provide OTC recommendations (100%) and see it as an important part of community practice (99%). The greatest barriers were time/prescription volume (94%) and staffing demands (78%). The greatest need for education was in the areas of eye/ear care and vitamins/herbal products. CONCLUSIONS: The results affirmed pharmacists’ willingness and overall positive attitude to providing OTC medication counseling in the community pharmacy setting. The research uniquely identified barriers that pharmacists experience when attempting to make OTC recommendations. This information can be used not only for the implementation of patient care services targeting self-care needs but also in the application of general community pharmacy practice

P4_4 Planet Kayakers

During this paper we investigate how the different surface gravity [1] present on other bodies within our solar system affects the size and shape of hydraulic jumps in rivers. We find that the ratio of height to length of the hydraulic jump is a constant, to 3 significant figures. This is due to the fact that on bodies with low surface gravity the wave is taller but longer and for high surface gravity the wave is lower in height but shorter in length. We conclude that any body, apart from Jupiter as it violates the initial conditions needed to form a hydraulic jump, would create waves that could be surfed by kayakers and surfers

P4_3 Spaceball

In this paper, we investigated the amount of energy and force an oncoming piece of debris the size and mass of a baseball would have on the International Space Station (ISS), and the effects of a collision between the two. It was found that the energy of the baseball is 4.4x10^6 J, meaning the force it exerts as it penetrates a window on the ISS is 5.5x10^7 N. This is shown to have the equivalent force to a collision between two cars if their impact velocity is 1303 ms^−1 . We concluded that the ISS collision would cause serious damage to its protective shielding and modules and would be by far the largest collision to date