Preferred Workflows for Syndromic Surveillance Systems

Workflows are a sequence of information processing operations that people carry out to meet certain in-formational goals [1]. Using various user-centered design (UCD) techniques we uncovered the workflows that epidemiologists wished to follow when using syndromic surveillance (SS) systems

But I Do Remember the Moon

This poetry collection engages with the mutable nature of memory and its instantiations: memory as artifact, memory as place, memory as story, memory as compulsion. Influenced by the lyric meditations of Robert Hass and Li-Young Lee, the intellectual clarity of Elizabeth Bishop, the place-oriented imagism of Bashō and Gary Snyder, and the reflexive, self-conscious impulse of Sharon Olds, the poems tackle a vast geography of recollection—from Kyoto to the Okefenokee to the turnings and obsessions of the author’s mind itself. Using a sequence of date-stamped prose poems as narrative fence posts, the collection addresses multiple modalities in memory by weaving together longer meditative lyrics, shorter narrative and place-based poems, and deconstructed lyrics that employ slashes as syntactical place markers. In testing memory’s capacity for multiple truths, and in discovering its inherent limitations, this collection grapples with the simultaneity of memory as an act of self-preservation, self-creation, and relentless re-creation

Anxiety and motivation in second language learning

This study investigates student and instructor perceptions of the causes and effects of anxiety and motivation\u27s effect on a student\u27s ability to learn a second language. The study focused on the participant\u27s perceptions of the causes and effects of anxiety, and relationships between anxiety and motivation, in both short-term and long-term learners

Mobile Deployable Bases and Ports: A Study for Interim Requirements

Logistics is an age old problem that has been the key to the greatest victories and defeats in history. Maritime support of wartime land campaigns as well as conflicts at sea, has been the answer to that problem even as far back in history as the ancient Greek Empire. Throughout the ages however the lesson that seems to be learned and relearned, the hard way, is that of logistic support. Today the United States is faced with what, to some seems to be an overwhelming problem in logistic support overseas, particularly in the maritime transportation and support arena. The U.S. flag merchant fleet is in no position to support even a medium sized conflict overseas. At the same tie, our peacetime logistic security is continually threatened by the ebb and flow of other friendly nations\u27 political attitudes. One option is the development of deployable mobile base and port structures. In many ways less expensive than permanent oversea basing facilities, mobile bases/ports could be a solution to some of the current maritime logistics woes of the U.S. By providing an alternative to fixed sea/air bases, the above two problems could be diminished. In addition, mobile overseas base facilities could provide military commanders with new strategic and tactical options during a crisis or conflict. They could give new meaning to the term disaster relief or even one day provide new economic options for entire nations. The technology for giant mobile ocean bases exists, but the capability to efficiently produce and use such facilities are still fifteen to twenty years away. In the interim, there is still a need for a mobile base capability. Use of existing offshore construction and mining operations equipment such as various drilling platform designs, giant support barges and floating port construction methods can fill the gap. There is historic and up to date data on the use of such designs for a multitude of purposes, including those stated above. An analysis of currently available equipment and capabilities can aid in making a choice, but as always cost effectiveness is a major factor in the decision. In this case however, there are high stakes in political costs as well as capital costs

Finding the signal in the noise: Could social media be utilized for early hospital notification of multiple casualty events?

IntroductionDelayed notification and lack of early information hinder timely hospital based activations in large scale multiple casualty events. We hypothesized that Twitter real-time data would produce a unique and reproducible signal within minutes of multiple casualty events and we investigated the timing of the signal compared with other hospital disaster notification mechanisms.MethodsUsing disaster specific search terms, all relevant tweets from the event to 7 days post-event were analyzed for 5 recent US based multiple casualty events (Boston Bombing [BB], SF Plane Crash [SF], Napa Earthquake [NE], Sandy Hook [SH], and Marysville Shooting [MV]). Quantitative and qualitative analysis of tweet utilization were compared across events.ResultsOver 3.8 million tweets were analyzed (SH 1.8 m, BB 1.1m, SF 430k, MV 250k, NE 205k). Peak tweets per min ranged from 209-3326. The mean followers per tweeter ranged from 3382-9992 across events. Retweets were tweeted a mean of 82-564 times per event. Tweets occurred very rapidly for all events (<2 mins) and represented 1% of the total event specific tweets in a median of 13 minutes of the first 911 calls. A 200 tweets/min threshold was reached fastest with NE (2 min), BB (7 min), and SF (18 mins). If this threshold was utilized as a signaling mechanism to place local hospitals on standby for possible large scale events, in all case studies, this signal would have preceded patient arrival. Importantly, this threshold for signaling would also have preceded traditional disaster notification mechanisms in SF, NE, and simultaneous with BB and MV.ConclusionsSocial media data has demonstrated that this mechanism is a powerful, predictable, and potentially important resource for optimizing disaster response. Further investigated is warranted to assess the utility of prospective signally thresholds for hospital based activation

AFIP-6 Fabrication Summary Report

The AFIP-6 (ATR Full-size plate In center flux trap Position) experiment was designed to evaluate the performance of monolithic fuels at a scale prototypic of research reactor fuel plates. Two qualified fueled plates were fabricated for the AFIP-6 experiment; to be irradiated in the INL Advanced Test Reactor (ATR). This report provides details of the fuel fabrication efforts, including material selection, fabrication processes, and fuel plate qualification

Improving Participation of Non-Traditional Extension Audiences: The Empower Ocala Garden Project

Marion County Extension created the Empower Ocala Garden project to increase participation among low-income minority populations and address food desert conditions around its office. The project built trusting relationships, created a community garden for 12 households, and provided bi-weekly garden skills trainings. Participation, attitudinal changes, and knowledge gains were evaluated using pre- and post-project questionnaires. On average participants attended 53.4% of sessions. Attitudes improved by 9.82% across four gardening-related indicators, while knowledge increased by 19.57% across eight indicators. Overall, the project successfully engaged new clients, positively changed attitudes and knowledge, and may benefit other Extension professionals serving these audiences

SALMON RECOVERY IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN: ANALYSIS OF MEASURES AFFECTING AGRICULTURE

The effects of salmon recovery measures on the Northwest agricultural sector are evaluated. Relevant recovery measures, such as: modified timing for dam releases, reservoir drawdown, and flow augmentation in the Columbia River basin, on the regional agricultural sector are evaluated. Combined, these measures would increase power rates, grain transportation costs, and irrigation water costs and reduce the supply of water to irrigators. We quantify these input cost and quantity changes and combine them into seven recovery scenarios for analysis. Results suggest that drawdown and/or minor reductions in irrigation water diversions would reduce producers' profits by less than 1% of baseline levels. However, the most extreme scenario-a long drawdown period combined with a large reduction in irrigation diversions-would reduce producers' profits by $35 million (2.5$35 million decline in annual profits, more than $27 million occur in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. The federal government would bear these costs if it acquires water via voluntary transactions.Agricultural and Food Policy, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Evaluation of Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analyzer for Zirconium-Thickness Measurements

This Technical Evaluation Report provides details of preliminary testing/experiments performed using a handheld X-ray fluorescence analyzer. The analyzer will be utilized in upcoming fuel-foil-rolling optimization studies at the INL. The studies are being performed in support of DOE’s Office of Global Threat Reduction -- Reactor Conversion Subprogram. Details of the equipment used, operating parameters, and measurement results are provided in this report

AFIP-2 Fabrication Summary Report

The Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) Full-size Plate In Center Flux Trap Position (AFIP)-2 experiment was designed to evaluate the performance of monolithic fuels at a scale prototypic of research reactor fuel plates. Two qualified fueled plates were fabricated for the AFIP 2 experiment to be irradiated in the Idaho National Laboratory ATR. This report provides details of the fuel fabrication efforts, including material selection, fabrication processes, and fuel plate qualification