Aquatic Ecosystem Response to Storm Water Abatement Measures in the Ravines of the GVSU Allendale Campus: Establishment of Base-line Biological Condition

The ravine tributary streams surrounding Grand Valley State Universities Allendale campus represent unique and understudied ecosystems, worthy of significant restoration efforts and of long-lasting protection. They are variously affected by storm water runoff, representing a spectrum from severely impacted to relatively pristine. Quantitative macroinvertebrate samples taken from six streams in late June 2007, indicated that insect diversity was positively correlated to ammonium (p=0.057), while total abundance was negatively correlated to phosphate and chlorophyll-a concentration (n.s.). In addition, phosphate, nitrate, sulfate and iron concentrations were elevated in streams that experience significant storm-water runoff and these streams also tended to have lower macroinvertebrate abundance, diversity and richness. These elevated nutrients, phosphorus in particular, were rapidly taken up by the benthic algae as evidenced by declining nutrients, and increased algal pigment and organic matter concentration from up to down-stream (n.s.). Biological uptake did not translate into increased macroinvertebrate abundance, likely because of the flashy discharge regime. Combination of non EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera) metrics indicated that the Shire and Junkyard ravines were in better condition than sites at Isengard and Fangorn—patterns which strongly suggest that extent of storm-water runoff has negatively impacted the macroinvertebrate communities. The fish community assessment indicated that blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus), a species known to prefer cold, clean water, was most abundant in the Shire—the most pristine ravine stream sampled. Comparing length/weight data in the sampled streams to state standards indicated that these dace are not as fit as typically found in other water bodies whereas other taxa, namely the white sucker (Catostomus commersonii) and creek chub (Somotillus atromaculatus) are indistinguishable from state fitness standards. We were successful establishing biological base-line conditions prior to the initiation of a campus wide storm-water abatement program and can use these benchmarks to gage the long-term efficacy of restoration using physicochemical, population, community and ecosystem functional attributes measured in these unique ecosystems

What Is an Interface and Why Does a Digital Poet Care?

The navigation, interaction with and exploration of digital content requires some form of interface. It is, in the simplest terms, the element connecting the human to the digital, an extension of the hand, eye, and ear. However, within digital poetry and writing, the interface is more than just a vehicle for content delivery. Instead, the interface is a critical literary component, as important to the creation and reading experience of a digital poem as the texts of words, images, sounds, animation, and code. Depending on the interface developed and how it is utilized, the digital poem changes shape, reconfigures meaning and becomes an interactive and responsive poetic/fictional creature. Since my first digital poem over a decade ago, interface has often functioned as the starting point, the generator of inspiration and driver of the creative process. This essay explores the role of interface in a number of my digital poems and fictions, explaining the origin and literary nature of particular interfaces. Additionally, it reflects on the methodologies for creating and mining code and software, as well as on the techniques needed to give birth to highly interactive and non-linear interfaces, such as game engines, infinite mo­saic generators, and other organic digitally created applications

Systematic Mischaracterization of Exoplanetary System Dynamical Histories from a Model Degeneracy near Mean-motion Resonance

There is a degeneracy in the radial velocity exoplanet signal between a single planet on an eccentric orbit and a two-planet system with a period ratio of 2:1. This degeneracy could lead to misunderstandings of the dynamical histories of planetary systems as well as measurements of planetary abundances if the correct architecture is not established. We constrain the rate of mischaracterization by analysing a sample of 60 non-transiting, radial velocity systems orbiting main-sequence stars from the NASA Exoplanet Archive (NASA Archive) using a new Bayesian model comparison pipeline. We find that 15 systems (25 per cent of our sample) show compelling evidence for the two-planet case with a confidence level of 95 per cent

Landscapes of light and text and layer: a projection poetry performance

A digital poetry performance in seven locations. This online performance mixes pre-recorded video of projection poetry in seven places/landscapes around SE Queensland, Australia with a live digital poetry reading. The theme of this performance is landscapes of change, exploring places in SE Queensland impacted by bushfires, deviated by floods, altered by drought, damaged by weapon testing, trees thousands of years old, home of non-human creatures and the revealed geology that roads carve. Using pico/portable projectors, digital poet Jason Nelson, will add a poetic light-based skin to these landscapes, recording the results, replaying them during the performance. As the projection videos play, live performance, digital spoken and animated texts will add a layer of personal and experiential meaning to these landscapes

A Commentary to Montserrat Guibernau Nations Without States: Political Communities in the Global Age

Commentary on Professor Montserrat Guibernau\u27s Nations Without States: Political Communities in the Global Ag

Technological Universities: an International Perspective on Instructional Support and Collaboration

There exists a common endemic characteristic of collaboration among modern international technological universities beyond the marked diversity and localization of each one’s mission and vision. Technological universities prioritize collaborative work with students, industries, communities, and cultures. This openness to cooperative enterprise fosters numerous opportunities for innovation, exploration, and experimentation in teaching at technological universities. Their entrepreneurial ethos and emphasis on practice as fundamental to the student learning experience offer a more permeable learning environment between the formal classroom and the professional world. Institutions, such as Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) and Purdue Polytechnic Institute (PPI), are tackling this challenge through a multitude of different pedagogical frameworks: real-world challenges, active learning, innovative curricula, industry collaborations, and international experience

A Commentary to Montserrat Guibernau Nations Without States: Political Communities in the Global Age

Commentary on Professor Montserrat Guibernau\u27s Nations Without States: Political Communities in the Global Ag

Texas-Oklahoma Producer Cotton Market Summary: 2000/2001

The size of the Texas-Oklahoma spot market analyzed by the Daily Price Estimation System (DPES) for the 2000/2001 marketing year decreased considerably from the previous year. The average price received by producers during the 2000/2001 marketing year was about 50.9 cents/lb. The 2000 crop was generally of good quality, but the averages for the first digit of the color grade and leaf grade detoriated as compared with the 1999 crop. The percentage of bales having level 1 and 2 bark, and level 1 and 2 other extraneous matter decreased in comparison to the 1999 crop. With the exception of the second digit of the color grade price discounts for the 2000 crop decreased for all quality attributes. The premiums for the first digit of the color grade and strength both decreased, while the premium for leaf increased and that of staple remained about the same.Crop Production/Industries,