17,967 research outputs found
Modeling Technical Change in Midwest Corn Yields, 1895-2005: A Time Varying-Regression Approach
This paper explores the use of time-varying regression models to model the effects of technical change in US Midwest Corn yields. The data extends from 1895 to 2005 encompassing the implementation of hybrid technologies and improvements in farm production practices.time-vary regression model, modeling technical change, corn yield technical change, Crop Production/Industries,
Learning Rich Geographical Representations: Predicting Colorectal Cancer Survival in the State of Iowa
Neural networks are capable of learning rich, nonlinear feature
representations shown to be beneficial in many predictive tasks. In this work,
we use these models to explore the use of geographical features in predicting
colorectal cancer survival curves for patients in the state of Iowa, spanning
the years 1989 to 2012. Specifically, we compare model performance using a
newly defined metric -- area between the curves (ABC) -- to assess (a) whether
survival curves can be reasonably predicted for colorectal cancer patients in
the state of Iowa, (b) whether geographical features improve predictive
performance, and (c) whether a simple binary representation or richer, spectral
clustering-based representation perform better. Our findings suggest that
survival curves can be reasonably estimated on average, with predictive
performance deviating at the five-year survival mark. We also find that
geographical features improve predictive performance, and that the best
performance is obtained using richer, spectral analysis-elicited features.Comment: 8 page
The S2 VLBI Correlator: A Correlator for Space VLBI and Geodetic Signal Processing
We describe the design of a correlator system for ground and space-based
VLBI. The correlator contains unique signal processing functions: flexible LO
frequency switching for bandwidth synthesis; 1 ms dump intervals, multi-rate
digital signal-processing techniques to allow correlation of signals at
different sample rates; and a digital filter for very high resolution
cross-power spectra. It also includes autocorrelation, tone extraction, pulsar
gating, signal-statistics accumulation.Comment: 44 pages, 13 figure
Bulk photonic metamaterial with hyperbolic dispersion
In this work, we demonstrate a self-standing bulk three-dimensional
metamaterial based on the network of silver nanowires in an alumina membrane.
This constitutes an anisotropic effective medium with hyperbolic dispersion,
which can be used in sub-diffraction imaging or optical cloaks. Highly
anisotropic dielectric constants of the material range from positive to
negative, and the transmitted laser beam shifts both toward the normal to the
surface, as in regular dielectrics, and off the normal, as in anisotropic
dielectrics with the refraction index smaller than one. The designed photonic
metamaterial is the thickest reported in the literature, both in terms of its
physical size 1cm x 1cm x 51 mm, and the number of vacuum wavelengths, N=61 at
l=0.84 mm.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figur
Cometary Dust in the Debris Disks of HD 31648 and HD 163296: Two ``Baby'' beta Pics
The debris disks surrounding the pre-main sequence stars HD 31648 and HD
163296 were observed spectroscopically between 3 and 14 microns. Both possess a
silicate emission feature at 10 microns which resembles that of the star beta
Pictoris and those observed in solar system comets. The structure of the band
is consistent with a mixture of olivine and pyroxene material, plus an
underlying continuum of unspecified origin. The similarity in both size and
structure of the silicate band suggests that the material in these systems had
a processing history similar to that in our own solar system prior to the time
that the grains were incorporated into comets.Comment: 17 pages, AASTeX, 5 eps figures, accepted for publication in Ap.
Mid-Infrared Ethane Emission on Neptune and Uranus
We report 8- to 13-micron spectral observations of Neptune and Uranus from
the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility spanning more than a decade. The
spectroscopic data indicate a steady increase in Neptune's mean atmospheric
12-micron ethane emission from 1985 to 2003, followed by a slight decrease in
2004. The simplest explanation for the intensity variation is an increase in
stratospheric effective temperature from 155 +/- 3 K in 1985 to 176 +/- 3 K in
2003 (an average rate of 1.2 K/year), and subsequent decrease to 165 +/- 3 K in
2004. We also detected variation of the overall spectral structure of the
ethane band, specifically an apparent absorption structure in the central
portion of the band; this structure arises from coarse spectral sampling
coupled with a non-uniform response function within the detector elements. We
also report a probable direct detection of ethane emission on Uranus. The
deduced peak mole fraction is approximately an order of magnitude higher than
previous upper limits for Uranus. The model fit suggests an effective
temperature of 114 +/- 3 K for the globally-averaged stratosphere of Uranus,
which is consistent with recent measurements indicative of seasonal variation.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 16 pages, 10 figures, 2 table
Tidal effects and the Proximity decay of nuclei
We examine the decay of the 3.03 MeV state of Be evaporated from an
excited projectile-like fragment following a peripheral heavy-ion collision.
The relative energy of the daughter particles exhibits a dependence on
the decay angle of the Be, indicative of a tidal effect. Comparison of
the measured tidal effect with a purely Coulomb model suggests the influence of
a measurable nuclear proximity interaction.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Noise-Induced Building Vibrations Caused by Concorde and Conventional Aircraft Operations at Dulles and Kennedy International Airports
Outdoor and indoor noise levels resulting from aircraft flyovers and certain nonaircraft events were recorded, as were the associated vibration levels in the walls, windows, and floors at building test sites. In addition, limited subjective tests were conducted to examine the human detection and annoyance thresholds for building vibration and rattle caused by aircraft noise. Representative peak levels of aircraft noise-induced building vibrations are reported and comparisons are made with structural damage criteria and with vibration levels induced by common domestic events. In addition, results of a pilot study are reported which indicate the human detection threshold for noise-induced floor vibrations
Aspects of slurry management on pig farms.
End of Project ReportThe objectives of manure or slurry management on intensive pig farms
are the provision of adequate slurry storage capacity and the efficient
recycling of the slurry nutrients for crop production. However, recent
surveys of pig slurry dry matter suggest there is excessive dilution of
raw pig slurry with water. This has two important implications for
management. The first is greater storage capacity will be required due
to the increased volume of slurry generated. Slurry storage is expensive.
For example, a 350 sow unit adding 10 weeks storage needs to
invest £50,000. Secondly, evidence from the literature indicates an
improved slurry nitrogen efficiency with the more dilute manure. The results of field trials showed that higher dry matter pig slurries
reduced the relative efficiency of pig slurry nitrogen for second cut
silage production. This is probably linked to reduced ammonia volatilisation
losses, consequent to the less viscous nature of dilute slurry
which permits a more rapid infiltration of the ammonium nitrogen into
the soil. The use of a band spreader or shallow injection rather than
the conventional splash plate were shown to increase the efficiency of
pig slurry nitrogen for grass silage production. Therefore, the potential
for the higher pig slurry dry matter, required for cost effective storage/
handling costs, to reduce the efficiency of its nitrogen for grass
silage production can be partially offset by using band spreaders or
shallow injection spreading systems. These have the added advantage
of reducing odour emissions from the land spreading operation.Teagasc Walsh Fellowship Programm
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