BeaverCube: Coastal Imaging with VIS/LWIR CubeSats

BeaverCube is a student-built 3U CubeSat that has two main objectives: one science objective and one technology objective. The science goal of BeaverCube is to demonstrate that it is possible to develop and apply platforms that can leverage statistical relationships between temperature and co-varying bio-optical properties, such as light absorption by colored dissolved organic matter. The technology goal of BeaverCube is to demonstrate electrospray propulsion for CubeSats, enabling more coordinated and targeted science missions among multiple spacecraft. The science objective for BeaverCube involves measuring temperature and color, which are key oceanographic properties, through a low-cost platform. Temperature and salinity are used to determine the density of watermasses. This is then used to physically classify them. Thermohaline circulation is a part of large-scale ocean circulation that is driven by global density gradients created by surface heat and freshwater fluxes. Thermohaline circulation plays an important role in supplying heat to the polar regions; it influences the rate of sea ice formation near the poles, which in turn affects other aspects of the climate system, such as the albedo, and thus solar heating, at high latitudes. Small- and meso-scale ocean features such as fronts and eddies canal so be identified and tracked solely using sea surface temperature properties. BeaverCube will track warm core rings on the Northeastern section of the US coast, one of the regions in the world that is heating the fastest due to climate change. Wide geospatial coverage with near-simultaneous measurements of thermal and bio-optical ocean properties by a CubeSat has the potential to address many important oceanographic questions for both basic science and Naval applications. The majority of space-borne optical oceanographic parameters observed from CubeSats rely on atmospheric corrections to provide useful data. BeaverCube will both obtain data and help determine to what extent supplemental data will still be required for atmospheric corrections. BeaverCube will make sea surface and cloud top temperature measurements using three cameras: one visible and two FLIR Boson LWIR cameras. In-situ measurements will be coordinated with an array of ocean buoys to support calibration and validation. The student team successfully tested the LWIR camera on a high-altitude balloon launch in November 2019 to an altitude of 110,000 feet, demonstrating the imaging functionality in a near-space environment. The technology goal for BeaverCube is to demonstrate the operation of the Tiled Ionic Liquid Electrospray (TILE2) propulsion technology from Accion Systems, Inc. for orbital maneuvering. BeaverCube will be deployed in Low Earth Orbit from the International Space Station. The plan is to change the altitude of BeaverCube by 480 meters using 50 micro-Newtons of thrust, detected by an onboard GPS receiver. With a goal of launching in late 2020 or early 2021, BeaverCube passed Critical Design Review in Spring 2020, with subsystems designed and procured, including components from AAC Clyde Space (power), ISIS (ADCS), Near Space Launch (BlackBox with GlobalStar simplex radio and NovAtel GPS), and others (OpenLST radio and Raspberry Pi based C&DH board). Assembly and integration prior to environmental testing are planned for late summer 2020

Salve Regina Arboretum Ten Year Plan to Reach Level III Accreditation

The Salve Regina University Arboretum, located in Newport, Rhode Island is currently registered as a Level II arboretum and is intertwined with the city of Newport Arboretum. The university now has intentions to reach Level III status, as part of a ten-year plan. This plan was developed by the students of the Spring 2018 BIO 255: Conservation Biology course, instructed by Dr. Jameson Chace, Associate Professor of biology at Salve Regina University. As part of a curriculum geared towards civic engagement, the class focused on creating and optimizing strategies that can be applied to the ten-year plan. These strategies were applied to the plan categorically: a team to inventory the current tree collection; a team to develop formal educational programming; a team for informal educational programming; a team to establish goals for conservation initiative related to the arboretum; a team dedicated to research related to arboreta; and a team to develop a list of species of special interest to add to the arboretum in the coming years. In the following document, each team’s strategies for the ten-year plan are outlined. Each of the components of this plan incorporate means to fulfill the conditions to meet Level III arboretum status so that the arboretum can apply for official registration. The aforementioned teams were tasked with designing a foundation on which to work up from. This includes formal educational programming to be applied to classroom settings and informal educational programming which can be applied to community outreach-based settings. The teams that worked to strengthen the arboretum’s mission of conservation focused on researching trees that can fit into the current landscape while providing some sort of benefit to the surrounding flora/fauna. Further, many of the species of interest, such as the chestnut, hold historical value to the greater Rhode Island region. In all, the Salve Regina Arboretum must achieve a total of 500 unique species of trees and woody plants as part of its efforts to apply for Level III status. In addition to the programming and research performed so far by the student teams, the arboretum must also hire a curator to manage the programming and to oversee the arboretum as a whole. Additionally, the arboretum must continue to actively collaborate with other arboreta and should encourage scientific research. It is important to recognize that the Salve Regina University Arboretum has already been utilized in the field of microbiology and has gained some attention at the university as a resource for further research and investigation. This ten year plan, along with resources within in it, is designed to provide a list of potential guidelines and ideas that can be applied for the arboretum’s benefit and growth. The Salve Regina University arboretum is a continually growing and developing part of the greater Newport, Rhode Island community, and will continue to strengthen its mission and that of the university which oversees its success.https://digitalcommons.salve.edu/bio255_arboretum/1000/thumbnail.jp

Alien Registration- Gagnon, Madeline (Waterville, Kennebec County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/15183/thumbnail.jp

Alien Registration- Gagnon, Madeline (Waterville, Kennebec County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/15183/thumbnail.jp

Reading: Madeline Gagnon and Dorothy Livesay

In this audiovisual recording from March 21, 1991 as part of the 22nd annual UND Writing Conference: “The Literatures of Canada,” Dorothy Livesay and Madeleine Gagnon read a selection of poetry in both English and French originals and English and French translation, with Livesay reading in English and Gagnon in French

Panel

This audiovisual recording from March 20, 1991 as part of the 22nd annual UND Writing Conference: “The Literatures of Canada” features Carol Shields, Dorothy Livesay, Madeleine Gagnon, and Michael Ondaatje forming the noon panel. The panelists discuss their notions of nationalism, national identity, personal identity, and characteristics of Canadian and French Canadian writing. Moderator: Michael Beard

Combating Dengue: A US Military Perspective

Throughout history, dengue virus infections have negatively impacted the mission capabilities of US Service Members. Currently, the expansion of dengue into new regions via the spread of the Aedes genus along with the global presence of the US Military, poses an increased risk for Service Members to contract the virus. Dengue virus infection would not only lead to significant medical costs and a lack of military readiness, but to mission impairment and failure. Therefore, it is important that the US Military explore the virulence, outbreaks, and treatments of dengue virus infection to help prevent its spread and determine solutions for its eradication. This review examines current dengue epidemiology by Combatant Commands, field detection, treatments, preventive measures, prophylactic capabilities, and directions of future research

Safety and efficacy of composite collagen-silver nanoparticle hydrogels as tissue engineering scaffolds

The increasing number of multidrug resistant bacteria has revitalized interest in seeking alternative sources for controlling bacterial infection. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), are amongst the most promising candidates due to their wide microbial spectrum of action. In this work, we report on the safety and efficacy of the incorporation of collagen coated AgNPs into collagen hydrogels for tissue engineering. The resulting hybrid materials at [AgNPs] less than0.4 mu M retained the mechanical properties and biocompatibility for primary human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes of collagen hydrogels; they also displayed remarkable anti-infective properties against S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. coli and P. aeruginosa at considerably lower concentrations than silver nitrate. Further, subcutaneous implants of materials containing 0.2 mu M AgNPs in mice showed a reduction in the levels of IL-6 and other inflammation markers (CCL24, sTNFR-2, and TIMP1). Finally, an analysis of silver contents in implanted mice showed that silver accumulation primarily occurred within the tissue surrounding the implant.Funding Agencies|Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada; NSERC/CIHR Canada; Swedish Research Council [621-2010-5189]; AFA Forsakring; University of Ottawa Heart Institute Startup grant</p

Writing Centres and Picture Books Exhibition: EDLL3200 Language and Literacy

In this Writing Centres and Picture Books Exhibition, TRU B.Ed. students share their final assignment for EDLL3200 Language and Literacy. The assignment required students to apply and expand on knowledge gained about effective teaching of writing to elementary school children in the creation of a writing centre or a picture book for elementary school children. The centres and the picture books provide a variety of fun and engaging activities for writing practice and enrichment taking into consideration children’s various ability levels, interests, and needs. It was an opportunity to apply theory and demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and innovation. In an effort to engage teacher candidates in the process of indigenizing education, this year they were also invited to incorporate Aboriginal content and to reflect First Peoples Principles of Learning. 11: 00am to 1:30pm Tale of Tails, Picture Book by Laura Howard and Mariah Gotro The Chronicles of C and K, Picture Book by Justine Kerluck and Noah Woods Superheroes, Writing Centre by Mia Herault, Madeline Skerritt, Robyn Ferguson, and Kayleigh Milobar Local Wildlife, Writing Centre by Quinn Bailey, Daylene Bodnarchuk, Eryn Dowler, & Michelle Tondevold Animals, Writing Centre by Stephanie Read, Magalie Levasseur, Alicia Gaskell, & Anneke de Geus 2:00 pm to 4pm C is for Camas, Picture Book by Sonya Rokosh The Old Wizard, Picture Book by Josh Brown Cocoa for You, Writing Centre by Ashley Gill, Lena Stengel, Meghan Greer, & Tanya Elwood Farm Animals, Writing Centre by Allyson Paxton, Braden McKenzie, Chayla Wilcox, & Rachel Pequeno Woodland Writers, Writing Centre by Larissa Lutjen, Alice Cabille, Tamara Lawrence, & Clare Fast Space, Writing Centre by Chris Hansen & Benjamin Gagno