Finite state stochastic games - Existence theorems and computational procedures

Existence theorems and computational procedures for finite state stochastic game

Monolithically integrated active optical devices

Considerations relevant to the monolithic integration of optical detectors, lasers, and modulators with high speed amplifiers are discussed. Some design considerations for representative subsystems in the GaAs-AlGaAs and GaInAs-InP materials systems are described. Results of a detailed numerical design of an electro-optical birefringent filter for monolithic integration with a laser diode is described, and early experimental results on monolithic integration of broadband MESFET amplifiers with photoconductive detectors are reported

Calculated cross sections for electron collisions with NF3, NF2 and NF with applications to remote plasma sources

Electron impact cross sections sets are constructed for the nitrogen trifluoride, nitrogen difluoride and nitrogen monofluoride molecules. These cross sections are based on ab initio R-matrix calculations augmented by other procedures. Cross sections are presented for elastic collisions, momentum transfer, dissociative electron attachment, electron impact dissociation, ionisation and dissociative ionisation. For NF process occurring via the metastable a ${}^{1}{\rm{\Delta }}$ and b ${}^{1}{{\rm{\Sigma }}}^{+}$ states are also considered. A semi-empirical method of estimating the products of electron impact ionisation is proposed and tested for ammonia. The cross sections are extended to high energy where appropriate. The cross section set constructed is tested in a global model simulation of a low pressure, inductively coupled plasma based on a Ar/NF3/O2 initial gas mixture

Impact analysis of composite aircraft structures

The impact analysis of composite aircraft structures is discussed. Topics discussed include: background remarks on aircraft crashworthiness; comments on modeling strategies for crashworthiness simulation; initial study of simulation of progressive failure of an aircraft component constructed of composite material; and research direction in composite characterization for impact analysis

ranacapa: An R package and Shiny web app to explore environmental DNA data with exploratory statistics and interactive visualizations.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is becoming a core tool in ecology and conservation biology, and is being used in a growing number of education, biodiversity monitoring, and public outreach programs in which professional research scientists engage community partners in primary research. Results from eDNA analyses can engage and educate natural resource managers, students, community scientists, and naturalists, but without significant training in bioinformatics, it can be difficult for this diverse audience to interact with eDNA results. Here we present the R package ranacapa, at the core of which is a Shiny web app that helps perform exploratory biodiversity analyses and visualizations of eDNA results. The app requires a taxonomy-by-sample matrix and a simple metadata file with descriptive information about each sample. The app enables users to explore the data with interactive figures and presents results from simple community ecology analyses. We demonstrate the value of ranacapa to two groups of community partners engaging with eDNA metabarcoding results

Performance Appraisals: Understanding What Makes Feedback Meaningful for the Recipient

The study was designed to explore how nurses at a non-union pediatric hospital make meaning of the feedback they receive during their career from their annual appraisals. The qualitative study design used a survey, and from the survey participants, 21 interviewees were selected. Based on the survey responses and categorizing those responses by standard deviation from the mean, three groups were determined. It was expected that there would be differentiated patterns by group. The study identified seven findings that were consistent with the literature. However, there was one surprise. The recipients’ appraisal rating/score on their most recent appraisal was expected to impact their view of their experience, but this was not found to be the case. In fact, those with the lowest survey response scores (least favorable sentiment about appraisals) had the same or higher appraisal ratings when compared to the other two survey groups. With few exceptions, the interviewees expressed a wide variety of responses to interview questions, which is a sign of the dysfunction and lack of alignment of the appraisal tool, its administration, and recipients’ expectations. As a result, there was a lack of a common experience among the interviewees in total as well as within each of the three groups. What was confirmed was that appraisal recipients placed different priorities on multiple variables (experiential learning, coaching, process, power, bias, motivation, learning environment, feedback) that can interfere with the feedback between the leader and the recipient. This can limit the effectiveness of the appraisal and the meaning the recipients make from the feedback. The Introduction chapter highlighted that many employers are struggling with appraisals, as evidenced by the number of major companies over the last few years looking for new ways of providing feedback and casting the traditional appraisal aside. Appraisals are widely used, and much of the research has been completed by researchers in Psychology or Human Resources. Most often, the recipient has not been the focus of the research, or an Adult Learning lens was used. Understanding how an appraisal recipient makes meaning is complex and likely beyond the training and ability of most leaders. As a result, a principal recommendation of this study is that an intermediary who is a highly trained coach be integrated into the appraisal process for all employees. This would allow a personalized approach to be developed for each employee within a standard process