An Orientation Selective Neural Network and its Application to Cosmic Muon Identification

We propose a novel method for identification of a linear pattern of pixels on a two-dimensional grid. Following principles employed by the visual cortex, we employ orientation selective neurons in a neural network which performs this task. The method is then applied to a sample of data collected with the ZEUS detector at HERA in order to identify cosmic muons which leave a linear pattern of signals in the segmented uranium-scintillator calorimeter. A two dimensional representation of the relevant part of the detector is used. The results compared with a visual scan point to a very satisfactory cosmic muon identification. The algorithm performs well in the presence of noise and pixels with limited efficiency. Given its architecture, this system becomes a good candidate for fast pattern recognition in parallel processing devices.Comment: 19 pages, 10 Postrcipt figure

Design, modelling and control of a novel agricultural robot with interlock drive system

A current problem in the design of small and lightweight autonomous agricultural robots is how to create sufficient traction on soil to pull an agricultural implement or load. One promising solution is offered by the interlock drive system, which penetrates spikes into the soil to create traction. The combination of soil penetrating spikes and a push-pull design offers new possibilities for vehicle control. By controlling the interlocking of the spikes and pushing and pulling them against the main frame, the vehicle can perform tight maneuvers. To validate this idea, we designed a robot, capable of creating high traction and performing headland turns. The navigation of the new robot system is performed by actively pushing the spikes, mounted on a slide into the soil, while the main frame is pushed back and pulled forward. The vehicle of 2-meter length was able to turn on the spot, and could follow a straight line, just using the spikes and the push-pull mechanism. The trajectory and the performed measurements suggest, that a vehicle which uses only spikes for traction and steering is fully capable of performing autonomous tasks in agriculture fields

A case study of the effects of privatization of child welfare on services for children and families: The Nebraska experience

Privatization, or contracting with non-governmental agencies for provision of state or federally funded services, is a strategy that has gained recent attention from policymakers as a potential tool for successful child welfare reform. The Child Welfare Privatization Initiatives Project was created in 2007 as a joint effort between the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. The framework identified by this project produced twelve key considerations for states moving towards a privatized system. This case study considers these twelve considerations in a description of the large-scale effort to privatize child welfare services in the state of Nebraska that began in 2008. Problems leading to a need for child welfare reform and possible factors that motivated policymakers to shift services from the public to the private sector are also described. While proponents of privatization appeared to expect rapid increased efficiency and cost-savings, this case study explores multiple reductions in quality and availability of services for children and families served by the child welfare system that occurred during the effort. Further, the cost of child welfare services in Nebraska increased by 27% and the private agencies invested over $21 million of their own funds as they attempted to uphold contracts. Recommendations for practitioners and policymakers considering participating in efforts to privatize child welfare services in the future are made based on Nebraska’s recent experience

The iSchool Review SIE

The interdisciplinary nature of iSchools lends itself well to outstanding work but the best pieces, specifically by graduate students in professional degree programs, often go unnoticed. At present, there is no platform to showcase the best professional projects coming out of iSchools. This session will focus on the creation of The iSchool Review, which will highlight and preserve the most exciting work from the iSchool community.Ope

Discontinuous Tangential Stress in Double Wall Carbon Nanotubes

We have examined the stability of double wall carbon nanotubes under hydrostatic pressures up to 10 GPa. The tangential optical phonon mode observed by inelastic light scattering is sensitive to the inplane stress and splits into a contribution associated with the external and internal tube. While the pressure coefficient from the external tube is the same as in single wall carbon nanotubes, the pressure coefficient from the internal tube is found to be 45% smaller. The phonon band from the external tube broadens considerably with applied pressure in contrast with the phonon band of the internal tube which stays constant. These pressure dependent phonon shifts of the external and internal tubes and the contrasting phonon line broadening are explained by the elastic continuum shell model which takes into account both the continuous radial and discontinuous tangential stress component

Increasing Participation and Improving Engagement in Home Visitation: A Qualitative Study of Early Head Start Parent Perspectives

Home visitation programs are designed to provide comprehensive services that promote parents’ abilities to create stable, nurturing care environments for their children. In order for program goals to be met, parents must participate actively and be engaged with the programs’ mission. However, promoting engagement and participation are complex processes that have been understudied in research on home visitation. The current qualitative study examined how a national, federally funded home visitation program, Early Head Start (EHS), engaged and retained families so that potentially helpful preventative interventions could be delivered. The study also identified barriers to active engagement. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 parents of children enrolled in EHS. Findings suggest that engagement increased when EHS reduced social isolation by forming connections among parents and when the program focused on involving parents in fostering their children’s meeting of important developmental milestones. Barriers to engagement identified included logistical and organizational challenges as well as parental biases and differences in values and attitudes. Practice and policy recommendations for improving EHS and other programs that serve similar populations to increase engagement are discussed

DMSO-free methods of preserving mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that retain high levels of post thaw function

A novel, biologically-inspired strategy was developed to improve the preservation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs are being investigated for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, connective tissue disorders, acute lung injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, kidney diseases and more. To date, over 300 clinical trials involve the use of MSCs, with well over 2000 patients safely treated.Current methods of preserving MSCs are inadequate/ suboptimal. Concerns over poor post thaw function have become so pervasive that it is now common for MSCs to be cultured for 24-72 h prior to administration. These MSCs have a short shelf life (\u3c 24 hours), require special FDA permission, and the process increases cost and reduces access. The research described here utilizes an evolutionary algorithm to identify combinations of naturally occurring osmolytes that yield high cell recovery post thaw and optimize the composition of a DMSO-free, protein-free medium for cryopreservation of the cells. Additionally, we demonstrate that these novel solutions maintain MSC functionality when evaluated using surface markers, attachment, proliferation, actin alignment, RNA expression, and DNA hydroxymethlyation. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Effects of dispersal barriers on the distribution of Xylella fastidiosa in Alicante (Spain)

The plant pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is characterized by its wide range of hosts and its genetic diversity. The transmission of the pathogen from an infected plant to a healthy one occurs naturally through insect vectors. Presence/absence data of Xf from the official surveys in 2018 in the demarcated area for Xf in Alicante (Spain) were analyzed using Bayesian hierarchical models through the integrated nested Laplace approximation methodology (Rue et al., 2009) and the stochastic partial differential equation approach (Lindgren et al., 2011)

Non-stationary spatial model for the distribution of Xylella fastidiosa in Alicante

Describing the effect of climatic and spatial factors on the geographic distribution of the plant pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa has been the main aim since the moment that it was discovered its presence in Alicante (Spain). This work started with the analysis of the presence/absence data of the pathogen using Bayesian hierarchical models through the integrated nested Laplace approximation methodology and the stochastic partial differential equation approach. Spatial models usually assume stationarity, however, this may be not applicable when physical barriers are present in the study area. Taking into account the irregularities of the terrain and what this may entail in the spread of the disease, higher altitude areas have been considered as possible barriers in the area of interest. The results show that the spatial effect had a strong effect in the model and also that there was no great influence of the barriers due to their reduced extension. Future work will be focused in using these barriers models with theoretical phytosanitary barriers

Modeling the Spatial Distribution of Xylella fastidiosa: A Nonstationary Approach with Dispersal Barriers

Spatial species distribution models often assume isotropy and stationarity, implying that spatial dependence is direction-invariant and uniform throughout the study area. However, these assumptions are violated when dispersal barriers are present. Despite this, the issue of nonstationarity has been little explored in the context of plant health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of barriers in the distribution of Xylella fastidiosa in the demarcated area in Alicante, Spain. Occurrence data from 2018 were analyzed through spatial Bayesian hierarchical models. The stationary model, illustrating a scenario without control interventions or geographical features, was compared with three nonstationary models: a model with mountains as physical barriers, and two models with a continuous and discontinuous perimeter barrier representing hypothetical control interventions. In the stationary model, the posterior mean of the spatial range, as the distance where two observations are uncorrelated, was 4,030 m 95% credible interval (2,907 to 5,564). This distance can be used to define the buffer zone in the demarcated area. The predicted probability of X. fastidiosa presence in the area outside the barrier was 0.46 with the stationary model, whereas it was reduced to 0.29 and 0.36 with the continuous and discontinuous barrier models, respectively. Differences between the discontinuous and continuous barrier models showed that breaks, where no control interventions were implemented, resulted in a higher predicted probability of X. fastidiosa presence in the areas with low sampling intensity. These results may help authorities prioritize the areas for surveillance and disease control