Observations of lightning processes using VHF radio interferometry

A single station, multiple baseline radio interferometer was used to locate the direction of VHF radiation from lightning discharges with microsec time resolution. Radiation source directions and electric field waveforms were analyzed for various types of breakdown events. These include initial breakdown and K type events of in-cloud activity, and the leaders of initial and subsequent strokes to ground and activity during and following return strokes. Radiation during the initial breakdown of a flash and in the early stages of initial leaders to ground is found to be similar. In both instances, the activity consists of localized bursts of radiation that are intense and slow moving. Motion within a given burst is unresolved by the interferometer. Radiation from in-cloud K type events is essentially the same as that from dart leaders; in both cases it is produced at the leading edge of a fast moving streamer that propagates along a well defined, often extensive path. K type events are sometimes terminated by fast field changes that are similar to the return stroke initiated by dart leaders; such K type events are the in-cloud analog of the dart leader return stroke process

Should Agile be Part of Your Quality Management System?

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of Agile in Quality Management Systems. Design/methodology/approach: This paper provides a brief history of Agile and compares it to the management theory of W. Edwards Deming. The authors then examine the strengths and weaknesses of Lean, Agile, and Six Sigma in relationship to the four components of Deming’s System of Profound Knowledge in order to clarify Agile’s role in contemporary Quality Management Systems. In addition to the existing literature, the authors draw extensively on their experiences and observations from more than 50 years of experience in IT and quality (both as practitioners and academics) to substantiate the opinions expressed in the paper. Findings: This paper acknowledges that while Deming’s management theory could be accurately described as “agile,” Agile is not comprehensive enough to be considered an effective stand-alone Quality Management System. However, our analysis suggests that Agile can be an important part of a contingency or umbrella approach to Quality Management. Limitations: This is a very theoretical paper based on the authors’ experiences and the existing literature. The next stage of this research is to conduct empirical studies in existing organizations to quantify the advantages and roadblocks of incorporating Agile methodologies in Quality Management Systems. Originality/value: This paper helps to fill a void in the academic literature concerning the relationships between Agile and Deming’s management theory. Moreover, using the System of Profound Knowledge to understand the role of Lean, Six Sigma and Agile in a Quality Management System is a novel approach

Using Eight Agile Practices in an Online Course to Improve Student Learning and Team Project Quality

As online learning continues to increase, instructors need different teaching methods and technologies for teaching online. This study explores how Agile practices are integrated into an online IT course. We focus on incorporating eight Agile practices (team charters, daily stand-ups, Kanban boards, story cards, MoSCoW, timeboxing, showcases, and retrospectives). Students were surveyed at the end of the course and the results indicate Agile enhanced students’ learning and increased the quality of their final project

Design And Application Of Individuals And Moving Range Control Charts

We evaluate the design of individuals and moving range charts through extensive simulations. Via a SAS program using 8000 replications, average run length is assessed for several shifts in process mean and variation. From these computations recommendations are made concerning when to use the individuals chart only, when to use a combined individuals and moving range chart, and the optimal design parameters when the combined approach is used. The paper includes discussion, recommendations, and examples concerning the monitoring of accounting data

Process Monitoring In Accounting: Implementing Pre-Control Charts

This research paper has two primary goals. The first is to briefly discuss how control charts and pre-control charts can be applied to non-manufacturing processes, including how companies can use control charts and pre-control charts to improve business processes, financial reporting processes, auditing methods, and tax accounting processes. The second goal is to illustrate how pre-control can be applied to an accounting process. An example is used to demonstrate implementation of Six Sigma techniques for monitoring company expense budget variances

Fast Initial Response Control Charts For Accounting Activities

Although Six Sigma was developed to improve processes in a manufacturing environment, its use has expanded to many other areas including accounting and finance.  We propose that control charts, originally used as tools for monitoring short-run manufacturing processes, can be effectively used in the Control Stage of Six Sigma projects designed to improve accounting processes with sparse data.  We describe four of these control charts: (1) pre-control charts; (2) Shewhart control charts with dramatically reduced average run lengths (ARLs); (3) Cumulative Sum (CUSUM) control charts with fast initial response (FIR) enhancements; and (4) Exponentially Weighted Moving Averages (EWMA) control charts with FIR enhancements.  We provide examples of FIR enhancements to CUSUM and EWMA control charts that can result in quicker detection of small shifts in the mean of accounting data

Site of infusion of a commercially available direct-fed microbial on performance and digestibility in lactating Holstein cows

Objective: The objective of this research was to evaluate site of infusion of a commercially available direct-fed microbial (DFM) containing 109 cfu/g of Lactobacillus acidophilus and 109 cfu/g Propionibacterium freudenreichii on DMI, rumen kinetics, ruminal VFA, digestibility, milk production, milk components, and blood metabolites in lactating dairy cows. Materials and Methods: Four Holstein cows equipped with ruminal cannulas were used in a Latin square design experiment with 4 periods. Each 37-d period consisted of 14 d of no treatment to prevent crossover contamination, 14 d of adaptation to treatments, 8 d of sampling, and 1 d for ruminal evacuations. Within each period, cows were assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: (1) cows were fed a TMR formulated to meet or exceed nutrient requirements plus 5 g of lactose twice daily without the addition of DFM (control); (2) cows were fed the TMR with a daily dose of DFM top dressed on the feed twice daily (TD); (3) cows were fed the TMR with ruminal infusion of the DFM administered twice daily (RuI); or (4) cows were fed the TMR plus abomasal infusion of the DFM twice daily (AbI). During the sampling period within each period, DMI and milk production were measured daily with set days for blood and rumen fluid collection. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with animal within period as a random effect. Dry matter intake was not different among treatments. Results and Discussion: No differences were detected in rumen kinetics, pH, individual VFA or VFA ratios, ammonia, or digestibility. There were no differences in kilograms of milk production (P \u3e 0.87); SCC (P \u3e 0.54); or percentage of butter fat (P \u3e 0.21), milk protein (P \u3e 0.83), lactose (P \u3e 0.91), SNF (P \u3e 0.88), and MUN (P\u3e 0.49). No difference existed in most of the milk fatty acids except for 8:0, which had a greater concentration (P \u3e 0.01) in AbI versus control, TD, and RuI. Implications and Applications: Route of administering DFM overall had no effects on DMI, rumen kinetics, ruminal VFA, digestibility, milk production, or milk components in the present experiment

In vitro starch disappearance procedure modifications

Four in vitro experiments evaluated the effects of ruminal fluid inoculum:artificial saliva ratios, grinder type, grind size, and diet of ruminal fluid donor on in vitro starch disappearance. Experiment 1 examined rates of starch disappearance and coefficients of determination obtained by linear regression of starch disappearance using five grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolur (L.) Moench) lines, a corn (Zeu muys L.) control, and a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) control. Grains were incubated for 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 h with inoculum varying in proportion of ruminal fluid and artificial saliva ( l:l, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4). In vitro rates of starch disappearance and coefficients of determination were similar for the 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 inoculum dilutions and were higher (quadratic, P \u3c 0.01) than the 1:1 dilution. As the proportion of artificial saliva in the inoculum increased, in vitro pH increased (linear, P \u3c 0.01). In Experiment 2, six grain sorghum lines and a corn control were ground through a l-mm screen in a Udy (cyclone type) or Wiley mill. Starch disappearance for samples ground using a Udy mill were higher (P 0.10) by grain type fed; however, absolute rates of digestion varied among inoculate sources. Grinder, grind size, and ruminal fluid inoculum:artificial saliva ratios affected rate of starch disappearance in samples digested in vitro. Diet of ruminal fluid donor affected the rate of starch digestion, but not the relative ranking of the grains. If rates are to be compared across in vitro runs for different grains, these processing and dietary factors must be kept constant

Description and Status of the DC Lightning Mapping Array

The DC Lightning Mapping Array (DC LMA) centered on the Washington, DC metro region has been in operation since 2006. During that time the DC LMA has provided real time data to regional National Weather Service (NSF) Sterling, VA forecast office for operations support and the NOAA Meteorological Development Laboratory (MDL) for new product development and assessment. Data from this network (as well as other from other LMA systems) are now being used to create proxy Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) data sets for GOES-R risk reduction and algorithm development activities. In addition, since spring 2009 data are provided to the Storm Prediction Center in support of Hazardous Weather Testbed and GOES-R Proving Ground activities during the Spring Program. Description, status and plans will be discussed

Water Intake in Growing Beef Cattle

Water is an essential part of livestock and human diets and is often thought of as an inexpensive, readily available renewable natural resource. However, the amount of competition between humans, wildlife, feed production, and livestock for high-quality water is increasing, not only from the effects of drought but from the pressure of a growing global population (Nardone et al., 2010). With limited resources available for production agriculture, there is a need to identify and select for efficient animals that can produce more product with fewer inputs. Although some work has been done in dairy cattle, very little data is available on individual animal water intake in modern beef cattle (Brew et al., 2011). The majority of the water intake data available in growing beef cattle is derived from dividing the total amount of water drunk in a pen divided by the number of animals in that pen (Sexson et al., 2010; Mader and Davis, 2004). Data derived from groups are not generally useful for the purposes of genetic evaluation, which aims to quantify individual animal variation in a trait for selection. However, in order to practice selection on a large scale, parameters for collecting phenotypic data must be established. The objectives of this study were to measure daily water intake on a large number of beef steers and to estimate the number of test days necessary to collect accurate water intake phenotypes