The Distribution and Abundance of the Bay Anchovy, Anchoa mitchilli, in a Southeast Texas Marsh Lake System

A one-year distribution and abundance study on the bay anchovy, Anchoa mitchilli, was conducted in a southeast Texas marsh-lake system from March 1990 through February 1991. Day and night collections were conducted in backwaters, lake shores, and lake centers by seining and trawling. Bay anchovies were the second most abundant fish species collected, and exhibited seasonal, diet and habitat variations in abundance and distribution. Across the study area, seasonal abundance peaks occurred in May and August following migration into the marsh and seasonal recruitment. However, within each habitat type, peaks of abundance varied in time of occurrence. Within habitats, significant differences in the mean number of anchovies occurred such that backwaters in the daytime had the greatest number followed by backwaters at night, lake shores in the daytime, and lake shores at night. Lake center collections showed no significant diel pattern. The presence of vegetation was associated with reduced anchovy numbers; however, when present, anchovies were significantly more abundant in the daytime than at night

Prelude to virtual groups: Leadership and technology in semi-virtual groups

A study of 76 more and less virtual investment clubs examines the relationships between communication technologies used for club business (from face-to-face to more highly technologically enabled), group leadership role behaviors, and club portfolio value. The results are interesting, with more and less virtual clubs benefiting from different forms of leadership behaviors. Clubs using fewer technologies seem to benefit from a greater focus on socioemotional role (communication) behaviors, while the opposite is found in clubs using more technologies. The effect for procedural role behaviors (agenda setting and the like) appears to run in the opposite direction: clubs using more technologies seem to benefit from a greater focus on procedural role behaviors, while the opposite is found in clubs using fewer technologies. Managers take into account obvious and subtle differences between more and less virtual groups

Contrasting stakeholder and scientist conceptual models of food-energy-water systems: a case study in Magic Valley, Southern Idaho

One of the factors for the success of simulation studies is close collaboration with stakeholders in developing a conceptual model. Conceptual models are a useful tool for communicating and understanding how real systems work. However, models or frameworks that are not aligned with the perceptions and understanding of local stakeholders can induce uncertainties in the model outcomes. We focus on two sources of epistemic uncertainty in building conceptual models of food-energy-water systems (FEWS): (1) context and framing; and (2) model structure uncertainty. To address these uncertainties, we co-produced a FEWS conceptual model with key stakeholders using the Actor-Resources-Dynamics-Interaction (ARDI) method. The method was adopted to specifically integrate public (and local) knowledge of stakeholders in the Magic Valley region of Southern Idaho into a FEWS model. We first used the ARDI method with scientists and modellers (from various disciplines) conducting research in the system, and then repeated the process with local stakeholders. We compared results from the two cohorts and refined the conceptual model to align with local stakeholders’ understanding of the FEWS. This co-development of a conceptual model with local stakeholders ensured the incorporation of different perspectives and types of knowledge of key actors within the socio-ecological systems models

An Alternative Futures Approach to Green Infrastructure Planning for an Increasing Population

In 2017, the U.S. Census Bureau announced Idaho to be the fastest growing state by population in the country. As these trends continue, this growth can have various impacts on socio-ecological systems such as increased development, pressure exerted on agricultural production, and increased effects of urban stream syndrome. Various scenarios, driven by stakeholders, can help effectively guide the designs of our green infrastructure networks. This project evokes stakeholder-defined key issues addressed within a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded project in Idaho’s Magic Valley. Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems (INFEWS) is an interdisciplinary research initiative seeking to address issues concerning drought, water demand, water quality, and food security by using a stakeholder-driven alternative futures framework (Steinitz 2012). Researchers within the project seek to operationalize stakeholder-driven assumptions for various scenarios utilizing the planning and suitability of effective Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the Magic Valley in Idaho. The project will utilize an alternative futures methodology to interpret and represent rural and urban green infrastructure interventions at various locations within the watershed. This approach has the potential to operate at various scales and, through this project, we seek to construct the narrative at both the landscape and the site scale. The results aim to provide policy makers, planners, developers, and landscape architects about siting various BMP types through a framework for planning and design. These outputs will also depict modeled landscape change via various scenario solutions. The stakeholder group will substantiate plausible solutions and scenarios for the Valley, which will guide the green infrastructure network. Once validated, we will focus on the siting of three different structural BMP networks to address water quality, water quantity, soil health, and inclusion of public green space

Closed-loop feedback control for microfluidic systems through automated capacitive fluid height sensing

Precise fluid height sensing in open-channel microfluidics has long been a desirable feature for a wide range of applications. However, performing accurate measurements of the fluid level in small-scale reservoirs (<1 mL) has proven to be an elusive goal, especially if direct fluid-sensor contact needs to be avoided. In particular, gravity-driven systems used in several microfluidic applications to establish pressure gradients and impose flow remain open-loop and largely unmonitored due to these sensing limitations. Here we present an optimized self-shielded coplanar capacitive sensor design and automated control system to provide submillimeter fluid-height resolution (∼250 μm) and control of small-scale open reservoirs without the need for direct fluid contact. Results from testing and validation of our optimized sensor and system also suggest that accurate fluid height information can be used to robustly characterize, calibrate and dynamically control a range of microfluidic systems with complex pumping mechanisms, even in cell culture conditions. Capacitive sensing technology provides a scalable and cost-effective way to enable continuous monitoring and closed-loop feedback control of fluid volumes in small-scale gravity-dominated wells in a variety of microfluidic applications.United States. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Award W911NF-12-2-0039

LENS Deposition of Complex Geometries

The Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS®) system at Sandia National Laboratories, a laser-based direct metal deposition process, was recently used for the fabrication of a complex prototype. The LENS process involved the challenges of adjacent areas of thick and thin cross section, overhanging unsupported features, high aspect ratios, and a hemispherical substrate. These challenges were overcome through the use of closed-loop weld pool control, height monitoring, a strong understanding of build parameters, and unique process planning strategies. The near-net shape LENS part was completed with annealing and conventional machining to produce the complex components in a reduced timeframe.Mechanical Engineerin

Development of Drugs for Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Disease:Clinicians’ Interpretation of a US Food and Drug Administration Workshop

The US Food and Drug Administration convened a workshop to discuss clinical trial design challenges and considerations related to the treatment of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease, to include topics such as clinical trial end points, duration, and populations. The clinicians participating in the meeting provide here their interpretation of the discussion, which included US Food and Drug Administration and industry representatives. The treatment of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease typically includes multiple antibiotics for a prolonged period and can be difficult to tolerate; there is a great need for new treatment options. Most individuals have a microbiologic response to therapy, but data correlating decreasing bacillary load with patient-reported outcomes or measured functional improvement are lacking. Accordingly, trial designs for new therapeutic agents should incorporate both microbiologic and clinical outcome measures and select appropriate study candidates with capacity for measurable change of such outcome measures. The need for shorter study designs, early primary end points, and placebo control arms was highlighted during the workshop