Geometric Morphometrics of Gary Dart Points from the Davy Crockett National Forest

Three-dimensional scans of Gary dart points recovered from the Davy Crockett National Forest are employed in tests of basal morphology by site, size (allometry), and asymmetry. Variability in basal morphology for Gary points from sites on the Davy Crockett National Forest is presented and compared to specimens from the published type books. The hypothesis that Gary basal morphology differs between sites containing Woodland-era sand temped ceramics and those where no sand tempered ceramics were recovered is then tested and the results discussed

Addressing Survey Bias: Maxent Models and Public Archaeology at the Davy Crockett National Forest

Over the past 30+ years, compliance-based archaeological projects conducted on the Davy Crockett National Forest have yielded an impressive contribution to the archaeological record. However, those efforts were limited to specific survey areas based upon specific needs. To begin to address survey bias and the impact that it can have on site probability models, a stratified random sample of 50 locations was generated for the forest. In early 2018, a public archaeology (Passport-in-Time) project was used to engage interested volunteers who assisted in testing these sample locations. These results, as well as other new data, were added to the maxent site probability model in advance of running a second iteration. A second call for volunteers in early 2019 will aid with site relocation and delineation of known resources, as well as an additional test using a new stratified random sample

First Test of Habitat Suitability Models for the Davy Crockett National Forest

The test for this suite of models was conducted as a double-blind survey since neither the United States Forest Service personnel (excepting Garcia) nor the participants were provided with any information regarding the model in advance of testing. Input from the model was shared with the crew the day after each location was tested. Enlistment of the double-blind survey method aids in reducing survey bias. Collection of data for this project begins with the stratified random sample. The sample consists of random locations throughout compartments of the Davy Crockett National Forest. Those locations not visited in the first test of the model will be surveyed following the Passport-in-Time project. To test the stratified random sample, a three-by-three grid of nine shovel tests were excavated at each location. Those resources discovered during the survey were assigned a forest-specific number, were documented, and the collections were subsequently transferred to the Center for Regional Heritage Research at Stephen F. Austin State University for analysis and processing

SMS-Based ICT Tool for Knowledge Sharing in Agriculture

Agriculture is the world’s major industry with 60% of the global population depending on it.  Being the major source of livelihood, agriculture is challenged by issues such as food shortage, food security problems, climate change affecting crop yield, land degradation, decrease of crop varieties and others. There is a huge amount of knowledge products generated by the government agencies, local universities, private civic groups, local government units and non-government organizations (NGOs) to address these issues however the information has difficulty reaching the intended farm practitioners as end-user. With this aforesaid challenge, a technology based information sharing and access among stakeholders such as agricultural knowledge experts (academe) and knowledge end-users (farmers) is a dire need.  Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has always been an indispensable tool that can provide an environment where knowledge generators and knowledge users can use to exchange information any time and place.  Retooling and scaling up the process how information and knowledge products is being accessed and shared is indeed a critical consideration. Using descriptive research and qualitative approach, this study determined an ICT tool, a managed SMS-based system to be highly acceptable to the identified stakeholders as an information sharing medium and model and is therefore recommended for use.  The result of this research shall serve as an implementation guide for government, non-government organizations(NGOs), extension service providers, system integrators, researchers, and other related groups offering or planning to engage in similar service

The HERMES Solar Atlas and the spectroscopic analysis of the seismic solar analogue KIC3241581

Solar-analog stars provide an excellent opportunity to study the Sun's evolution, i.e. the changes with time in stellar structure, activity, or rotation for solar-like stars. The unparalleled photometric data from the NASA space telescope Kepler allows us to study and characterise solar-like stars through asteroseismology. We aim to spectroscopically investigate the fundamental parameter and chromospheric activity of solar analogues and twins, based on observations obtained with the HERMES spectrograph and combine them with asteroseismology. Therefore, we need to build a solar atlas for the spectrograph, to provide accurate calibrations of the spectroscopically determined abundances of solar and late type stars observed with this instrument and thus perform differential spectral comparisons. We acquire high-resolution and high signal-to-noise spectroscopy to construct three solar reference spectra by observing the reflected light of Vesta and Victoria asteroids and Europa (100<S/N<450) with the \Hermes spectrograph. We then observe the Kepler solar analog KIC3241581 (S/N~170). We constructed three solar spectrum atlases from 385 to 900 nm obtained with the Hermes spectrograph from observations of two bright asteroids and Europa. A comparison between our solar spectra atlas to the Kurucz and HARPS solar spectrum shows an excellent agreement. KIC3241581 was found to be a long-periodic binary system. The fundamental parameter for the stellar primary component are Teff=5689+/-11K, logg=4.385+/-0.005, [Fe/H]=+0.22+/-0.01, being in agreement with the published global seismic values confirming its status of solar analogue. KIC 3241581 is a metal rich solar analogue with a solar-like activity level in a binary system of unknown period. The chromospheric activity level is compatible to the solar magnetic activity.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Energy Harvesting Device for Powering Onboard Condition Monitoring Modules in Rail Service

Rail transportation plays an important role in today’s economy by delivering a large quantity of goods and passengers to various locations throughout North America in an economic and efficient manner. Bearing failure is one of the leading causes of derailments that result in significant capital loss and in extreme cases tragic human loss. The two widely used bearing health monitoring systems are the Trackside Acoustic Detection System (TADS™) and the wayside Hot-Box Detector (HBD). These systems are reactive in nature and only give alerts when the bearings are nearing failure. To supplant that, a prototype wireless onboard condition monitoring system was developed by researchers at the University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS). This onboard wireless system can detect bearing defects at their early stages of initiation so that proactive maintenance actions can be taken by the railroads and railcar owners. Due to the wireless nature of this system, a constant power supply is needed to ensure its continued operation. Currently, the prototype wireless system utilizes low-power circuitry that is powered by a rechargeable AA battery that can provide up to two years of operation depending on usage. Implementation of a suitable energy harvesting device can significantly increase the longevity of the batteries used in the wireless module, and in ideal operating conditions, generate consistent energy rendering the battery as a temporary energy storage device. The proposed energy harvesting device consists of thermoelectric generators, aluminum heat sinks, a switching boost convertor, and a battery management chip. This device was tested on a dynamic bearing test rig to assess the performance of the thermoelectric generators. To best simulate field operation conditions, the thermoelectric generators were placed on opposite sides of the bearing adapter; one exposed to direct forced convection while the other side is shielded by the adapter and experiences minimal convection. Thermoelectric generators were found to be an effective solution due to their ability to convert a temperature gradient into a usable voltage sufficient to charge the battery. The buck booster converter increases the voltage from the thermoelectric generators to 5-volts so that the battery management chip can regulate the voltage and efficiently charge the battery. This paper summarizes the performance of the thermoelectric modules under different operating conditions. The main goal of this project is to devise an energy harvesting device that allows the wireless module to be self-powered utilizing the heat generated from the bearing and the charge held by the battery as a hybrid power source

Photospheric and chromospheric magnetic activity of seismic solar analogs. Observational inputs on the solar/stellar connection from Kepler and Hermes

We identify a set of 18 solar analogs among the seismic sample of solar-like stars observed by the Kepler satellite rotating between 10 and 40 days. This set is constructed using the asteroseismic stellar properties derived using either the global oscillation properties or the individual acoustic frequencies. We measure the magnetic activity properties of these stars using observations collected by the photometric Kepler satellite and by the ground-based, high-resolution Hermes spectrograph mounted on the Mercator telescope. The photospheric (Sph) and chromospheric (S index) magnetic activity levels of these seismic solar analogs are estimated and compared in relation to the solar activity. We show that the activity of the Sun is comparable to the activity of the seismic solar analogs, within the maximum-to-minimum temporal variations of the 11-year solar activity cycle 23. In agreement with previous studies, the youngest stars and fastest rotators in our sample are actually the most active. The activity of stars older than the Sun seems to not evolve much with age. Furthermore, the comparison of the photospheric, Sph, with the well-established chromospheric, S index, indicates that the Sph index can be used to provide a suitable magnetic activity proxy which can be easily estimated for a large number of stars from space photometric observations.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&