Experiences with a preliminary NICE/SPAR structural analysis system

Development of a new structural analysis system based on the original SPAR finite element code and the NICE system is described. The system is denoted NICE/SPAR. NICE was designed at Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory and contains data management utilities, a command language interpreter, and a command language definition for integrating engineering computational modules. SPAR is a system of programs used for finite element structural analysis developed for NASA by Engineering Information Systems, Inc. It includes many complementary structural analysis and utility functions which communicate through a common database. The work on NICE/SPAR was motivated by requirements for a highly modular and flexible structural analysis system to use as a tool in carrying out research in computational methods and exploring new computer hardware. Analysis examples are presented which demonstrate the benefits gained from a combination of the NICE command language with the SPAR computational modules

Degrees of Change: Is There Room for the Foreign LIS Degree in Today\u27s Academic Library?

The American Library Association (ALA) accredited Masters in Library Science (MLS) has long been considered the standard terminal degree for most academic librarians. However, there are many relevant degrees offered in foreign countries that are not evaluated by the American Library Association. At Southern Illinois University Carbondale, a task force was formed to investigate whether the library faculty should revise their Operating Paper to allow for foreign library science degrees. Members of the task force researched the nature and quality of foreign library and information science education. They also investigated how other academic libraries handle this question by compiling data on the degree requirements listed in position advertisements for academic libraries posted between October 1 and November 5, 2008. The data suggests that many academic libraries allow individuals with non-ALA accredited library science degrees to apply for professional positions. This presentation examines the results of the task force’s investigation. The poster contains visual elements that will engage the viewer with the topic and encourage questions about the implications of this research

Foreign LIS Degrees in Contemporary US Academic Libraries

Purpose – The purpose of this case study is to summarize a task force\u27s efforts to change the educational degree requirements for open librarian positions at a large university in the Midwestern USA. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews the literature on degree requirements in academic libraries and the nature of LIS degrees from countries outside the USA. It analyzes 136 position advertisements for academic librarians by required terminal degree and the type and Association of Research Libraries (ARL) status of the institution. Findings – The paper concludes that, while most position advertisements do not specifically address foreign Library and Information Science (LIS) degrees, many advertisements, especially those at ARL libraries, contain flexible language that allows for degrees that are “equivalent” to the American Library Association (ALA) accredited LIS degree. Research limitations/implications – The data collected from the relatively small sample of 136 job advertisements for academic librarians posted on the ALA Joblist and Chronicle of Higher Education web sites were largely meant to be anecdotal. Practical implications – The paper provides useful information for academic libraries in the USA, receiving applications for professional positions from applicants with foreign LIS degrees. Originality/value – Although the literature on the ALA-accredited Master\u27s of Library and Information Science (MLS) degree is extensive, no study considers the availability of positions to those with MLS degrees from other countries

Introduction to the computational structural mechanics testbed

The Computational Structural Mechanics (CSM) testbed software system based on the SPAR finite element code and the NICE system is described. This software is denoted NICE/SPAR. NICE was developed at Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory and contains data management utilities, a command language interpreter, and a command language definition for integrating engineering computational modules. SPAR is a system of programs used for finite element structural analysis developed for NASA by Lockheed and Engineering Information Systems, Inc. It includes many complementary structural analysis, thermal analysis, utility functions which communicate through a common database. The work on NICE/SPAR was motivated by requirements for a highly modular and flexible structural analysis system to use as a tool in carrying out research in computational methods and exploring computer hardware. Analysis examples are presented which demonstrate the benefits gained from a combination of the NICE command language with a SPAR computational modules

CSM Testbed Development and Large-Scale Structural Applications

A research activity called Computational Structural Mechanics (CSM) conducted at the NASA Langley Research Center is described. This activity is developing advanced structural analysis and computational methods that exploit high-performance computers. Methods are developed in the framework of the CSM Testbed software system and applied to representative complex structural analysis problems from the aerospace industry. An overview of the CSM Testbed methods development environment is presented and some new numerical methods developed on a CRAY-2 are described. Selected application studies performed on the NAS CRAY-2 are also summarized

Investigation of red-cockaded woodpeckers in Virginia: 2011 report

Red-cockaded Woodpeckers at Piney Grove set new high marks for population size and breeding productivity in 2011. Nine breeding attempts were documented during the 2011 season. This is the highest number attempted since Piney Grove has been monitored. This was also the first year breeding occurred at Clusters 6 and 15. A breeding attempt in Cluster 7 failed after one egg was laid in the nest cavity then disappeared. No second attempt was initiated. A combined total of 25 chicks survived to fledge from the 8 successful nests. The inaugural breeding event at Cluster 15 might be the first example of “budding” at Piney Grove. Budding is typically defined as the splitting of two clans into separate breeding clusters where no additional space is used. Budding is considered different from “pioneering” where birds move into a new space to initiate a new breeding cluster. Prior to this season, the birds at Cluster 15 regularly foraged and even assisted with breeding duties at Cluster 8. Most of the birds that occupied Cluster 15 prior to 2011 were offspring from Cluster 8. However, now Clusters 8 and 15 now behave individually and birds no longer forage together. A total of 70 Red-cockaded Woodpeckers were identified within Piney Grove preserve in 2011 (Table 1). This included 42 birds that were hatched at Piney Grove from previous years, 26 fledglings produced during the 2010 breeding season, 2 birds translocated to Piney Grove in previous years. Forty-four adult birds were detected within the Piney Grove Preserve leading into the breeding season of 2011 (Table 1). This is the highest spring total since monitoring began at the Preserve, beating the high mark in spring of 2010 by 10 more birds and almost triple the number counted in 2002 when only 16 birds were present. Forty-seven birds were detected during the winter survey. This includes 35 birds hatched at Piney Grove before 2011 and 12 of the 25 birds fledged this summer. This is a much lower retention rate of fledgling birds making it to the winter survey compared to other years. It appears as the last two remaining birds that were translocated from the Carolina Sandhills are now gone from the population. The last two remaining birds were breeding males in Cluster 1 and 7. Both birds attempted breeding this past summer but the male at Cluster 7 disappeared after one egg was laid and the nest subsequently failed. Neither were detected during the winter survey. In the winter assessment, birds were roosting in 13 different cluster areas including although two of these areas forage with nearby clusters thereby reducing the number of active clans to eleven

Investigation of red-cockaded woodpeckers in Virginia: 2010 report

During the calendar year of 2010, 57 Red-cockaded Woodpeckers were identified within the Nature Conservancy’s Piney Grove Preserve. This included 37 birds that were hatched at Piney Grove from previous years, 18 fledglings produced during the 2010 breeding season, and 2 birds translocated to Piney Grove in previous years. A collaborative effort of habitat management, population monitoring and management, and translocation of birds into the population have been ongoing at the Preserve since 2000 has had dramatically positive results. Since 2001, the total population and the number of potential breeding clusters have more than doubled. Thirty-five adult birds were believed to be present within the Piney Grove Preserve going into the breeding season of 2010. This is the highest spring total since monitoring began at the Preserve. Seven successful breeding attempts were documented during the 2010 season at C-1, C-3, C-5, C-7, C-8, C10 and C13. Breeding productivity for the 2010 season netted a combined total of 18 chicks that survived to fledge. Forty-two birds were detected during the winter survey. This includes 12 of the 18 birds that fledged in 2010. In the winter assessment, birds were roosting in 11 different cluster areas including C-1, C-3, C-4, C-5, C-6, C-7, C-8, C-9 C-10, C-13, and C-15. As in years past, the single bird roosting in C-4 was part of the C-3 clan. A single bird from C-9 joined the foraging group from C-7, and two birds roosting in C-15 joined the C-8 group. In 2010, Piney Grove contained 159 cavities in live trees including 42 start cavities, 52 completed cavities, and 65 artificial inserts. Sixteen new cavities or new cavity starts were added to the number of known cavities this past year. Six trees died between 2009 and 2010 resulting in a loss of nine cavities or cavity starts. Six new trees were found with newly completed natural cavities and four cavity starts. Six artificial inserts were installed in new trees creating two new recruitment clusters, C17 and C18. One unrecorded relic cavity and three starts were discovered in previously tagged cavity trees. There were 37 instances of cavity competitors or nest material in RCW cavities during the April, May and June 2010. Southern flying squirrels accounted for 11 of the 37 occurrences. A total of 19 individual flying squirrels were removed on 11 occasions from eight of the 117 available cavity trees. Other species found include white-breasted nuthatch, tufted titmouse, great-crested flycatcher, unidentified snake species, and unidentified bee and wasp species

Investigation of red-cockaded woodpeckers in Virginia: 2012 report

Two-thousand twelve was a champion year for Red-cockaded Woodpecker recovery at the Piney Grove Preserve with new high marks for breeding pairs, population size and breeding productivity. Ten successful breeding attempts were documented in 2012 reaching an initial recovery goal for the Nature Conservancy property and the highest number of breeding groups since Piney Grove Preserve has been monitored. The Preserve gained one more breeding group this season to reach this new high mark. The additional breeding group was a direct result from the installation of a new artificial recruitment cluster in the summer of 2011. A modern day high of 26 chicks survived to fledge from the 10 successful nests. A total of 71 Red-cockaded Woodpeckers were identified within Piney Grove preserve in 2012. This included 45 birds that were hatched at Piney Grove from previous years and the 26 fledglings produced during the 2012 breeding season. Forty-four adult birds were believed to be present within the Piney Grove Preserve going into the breeding season of 2012 (Table 1). This equals the highest spring total set in 2011 that collectively beat the previous high mark in spring of 2010 by 7 birds and almost triple the number counted in 2002 when only 16 birds were present. Fifty-three birds were detected during the winter survey. This includes 39 adult birds hatched at Piney Grove before 2012 and 14 of the 26 birds fledged during the 2012 breeding season. This is a gain of 6 birds in the winter population from 2011. The Red-cockaded Woodpecker population continues to set high marks at Piney Grove Preserve as a result of many years of population, habitat, and cavity tree management

Investigation of red-cockaded woodpeckers in Virginia: 2013 report

Red-cockaded woodpecker recovery at the Nature Conservancy’s Piney Grove Preserve has been a monumental achievement. Over the past 10 years, monitoring and management has worked together to more than tripled the number of breeding groups from a modern low of 3 in 2000 to the 10 groups breeding there now. The current level of success has culminated from more than a decade long path of habitat management, cavity tree management, woodpecker population monitoring and translocation. It has been the through intelligent decision making and skill in the field from all partners involved in Red-cockaded Woodpecker management in Virginia that has allowed success has come so efficiently. This was the second consecutive year that 10 breeding groups fledged birds. These groups produced a total of 23 fledglings in 2013 following up only slightly behind the 26 young fledged in 2012. Over recent years, the reproductive output of the entire Piney Grove population has increased from growth in the number of breeding groups as well as a greater average number young being fledged per nest. A total of 76 Red-cockaded Woodpeckers were identified within the Piney Grove Preserve in 2013. This includes 53 adult birds and the 23 birds that fledged from the 2013 nests. There were 53 adult woodpeckers distributed into 10 groups when going into the breeding season. During the winter survey a total of 57 birds were detected that included 15 of the 23 birds fledged this year. There was movement of birds into two new cluster-sites between summer and winter. One of these sites represents the first natural pioneering event at the Preserve and possibly the only known such event in Virginia for over 25 years. This new site was established by excavation of a natural cavity into a tree located away from other clusters. The cavity has been monitored over the past year through construction but roosting by a male was only discovered during the 2013 winter. This male is joined by a female bird that emanates from an unknown location during forgaing activities. Another new site is an artificial recruitment cluster (C-12) that was occupied by a lone female bird in winter and was being joined by a male from a nearby occupied cluster (C-1). This site was used for a short-term spell by birds in one past winter but vacated by the next spring. The Red-cockaded Woodpecker population continues to set high marks at Piney Grove Preserve for total breeding groups, numbers of individuals, and number of young produced annually. This collective result was only made possible from habitat improvements implemented over time. We have witnessed the population transform from one that required augmentation with translocated individuals for growth just a decade ago to a population that is positively maintaining itself through internal production and recruitment