Arthur L. Kelly Interview

Transcript of an oral history interview with Arthur L. Kelly by Yvonne Baldwin and John Ernst on his experiences during the Vietnam War on August 4, 1997

Evaluation of AnnAGNPS Model for Runoff Simulation on Watersheds from Glaciated Landscape of USA Midwest and Northeast

Runoff modeling of glaciated watersheds is required to predict runoff for water supply, aquatic ecosystem management and flood prediction, and to deal with questions concerning the impact of climate and land use change on the hydrological system and watershed export of contaminants of glaciated watersheds. A widely used pollutant loading model, Annualized Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution (AnnAGNPS) was applied to simulate runoff from three watersheds in glaciated geomorphic settings. The objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of the AnnAGNPS model in glaciated landscapes for the prediction of runoff volume. The study area included Sugar Creek watershed, Indiana; Fall Creek watershed, New York; and Pawcatuck River watershed, Rhode Island, USA. The AnnAGNPS model was developed, calibrated and validated for runoff estimation for these watersheds. The daily and monthly calibration and validation statistics (NSE \u3e 0.50 and RSR \u3c 0.70, and PBIAS ± 25%) of the developed model were satisfactory for runoff simulation for all the studied watersheds. Once AnnAGNPS successfully simulated runoff, a parameter sensitivity analysis was carried out for runoff simulation in all three watersheds. The output from our hydrological models applied to glaciated areas will provide the capacity to couple edge-of-field hydrologic modeling with the examination of riparian or riverine functions and behaviors

The Effect of Display Size on Ultrasound Interpretation

Purpose: To assess how display size affects providers’ abilities to accurately interpret ultrasound (U/S) videos. U/S has become essential for patient evaluation in the emergency setting. Although newer devices that are smaller in size and affordable place the technology within the pockets of practitioners, it is necessary to assess how smaller size may impact image quality. Methods: The target learner population for this study includes all practitioners who perform point of care U/S. A prospective convenience sample of emergency providers were randomized to begin on either a phone-sized screen or a laptop-sized screen. Participants answered Yes or No in response to whether they identified free fluid, above and/or below the diaphragm on each of 50 unique right upper quadrant U/S videos, with 25 displayed per device. Researchers collected data on the speed of interpretation and participants\u27 experiences. Results and Conclusions: Prior to study initiation, 50% of participants felt display size would affect accuracy, 42.3% were unsure, and 7.7% felt it would not (n=52). The accuracy of interpretation for phone versus laptop display was 87.3% and 87.6%, respectively (p=0.84). Mean time spent with phone versus laptop display was 293s and 290s, respectively (p=0.66). Upon study completion, 48.1% of participants believed display size affected their ability to interpret the videos, 38.5% felt it did not, and 13.5% were unsure. The results of this study show no significant statistical difference in the accuracy of interpretation between screen sizes

VarSight: prioritizing clinically reported variants with binary classification algorithms.

BackgroundWhen applying genomic medicine to a rare disease patient, the primary goal is to identify one or more genomic variants that may explain the patient's phenotypes. Typically, this is done through annotation, filtering, and then prioritization of variants for manual curation. However, prioritization of variants in rare disease patients remains a challenging task due to the high degree of variability in phenotype presentation and molecular source of disease. Thus, methods that can identify and/or prioritize variants to be clinically reported in the presence of such variability are of critical importance.MethodsWe tested the application of classification algorithms that ingest variant annotations along with phenotype information for predicting whether a variant will ultimately be clinically reported and returned to a patient. To test the classifiers, we performed a retrospective study on variants that were clinically reported to 237 patients in the Undiagnosed Diseases Network.ResultsWe treated the classifiers as variant prioritization systems and compared them to four variant prioritization algorithms and two single-measure controls. We showed that the trained classifiers outperformed all other tested methods with the best classifiers ranking 72% of all reported variants and 94% of reported pathogenic variants in the top 20.ConclusionsWe demonstrated how freely available binary classification algorithms can be used to prioritize variants even in the presence of real-world variability. Furthermore, these classifiers outperformed all other tested methods, suggesting that they may be well suited for working with real rare disease patient datasets

Ghosts of Landuse Past: Legacy Effects of Milldams for Riparian Nitrogen (N) Processing and Water Quality Functions

Milldams and their legacies have significantly influenced fluvial processes and geomorphology. However, less is known about their effects on riparian zone hydrology, biogeochemistry, and water quality. Here, we discuss the potential effects of existing and breached milldams on riparian nitrogen (N) processing through multiple competing hypotheses and observations from complementary studies. Competing hypotheses characterize riparian zone processes that remove (sink) or release (source) N. Elevated groundwater levels and reducing soil conditions upstream of milldams suggest that riparian zones above dams could be hotspots for N removal via denitrification and plant N uptake. On the other hand, dam removals and subsequent drops in stream and riparian groundwater levels result in drained, oxic soils which could increase soil nitrification and decrease riparian plant uptake due to groundwater bypassing the root zone. Whether dam removals would result in a net increase or decrease of N in riparian groundwaters is unknown and needs to be investigated. While nitrification, denitrification, and plant N uptake have typically received the most attention in riparian studies, other N cycle processes such as dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) need to be considered. We also propose a novel concept of riparian discontinuum, which highlights the hydrologic and biogeochemical discontinuities introduced in riparian zones by anthropogenic structures such as milldams. Understanding and quantifying how milldams and similar structures influence the net source or sink behavior of riparian zones is urgently needed for guiding watershed management practices and for informed decision making with regard to dam removals

The Lantern Vol. 4, No. 2, March 1936

• Cooperative Democracy • Fantasy • Drama: Porgy and Bess • Foreign Entanglements • The Kibitzer • My Gallery of Old Folks • My Friend, Mark Twain • Jimmy and Waffles • Reminiscence • Gold Dust • After Twenty Centuries • All the World\u27s a Stage • Early Medicinehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1007/thumbnail.jp

Models and metaphors: complexity theory and through-life management in the built environment

Complexity thinking may have both modelling and metaphorical applications in the through-life management of the built environment. These two distinct approaches are examined and compared. In the first instance, some of the sources of complexity in the design, construction and maintenance of the built environment are identified. The metaphorical use of complexity in management thinking and its application in the built environment are briefly examined. This is followed by an exploration of modelling techniques relevant to built environment concerns. Non-linear and complex mathematical techniques such as fuzzy logic, cellular automata and attractors, may be applicable to their analysis. Existing software tools are identified and examples of successful built environment applications of complexity modelling are given. Some issues that arise include the definition of phenomena in a mathematically usable way, the functionality of available software and the possibility of going beyond representational modelling. Further questions arising from the application of complexity thinking are discussed, including the possibilities for confusion that arise from the use of metaphor. The metaphor of a 'commentary machine' is suggested as a possible way forward and it is suggested that an appropriate linguistic analysis can in certain situations reduce perceived complexity