A Spatial Analysis of Forest Fire Survival and a Marked Cluster Process for Simulating Fire Load

The duration of a forest fire depends on many factors, such as weather, fuel type and fuel moisture, as well as fire management strategies. Understanding how these impact the duration of a fire can lead to more effective suppression efforts as this information can be incorporated into decision support systems used by fire management agencies to help allocate suppression resources. This thesis presents a thorough survival analysis of lightning and people-caused fires in the Intensive fire management zone of Ontario, Canada from 1989 through 2004. The analysis is then extended to investigate spatial patterns across this region using proportional hazards Gaussian shared frailty models. The resulting posterior estimates suggest spatial patterns across this zone. A fire load model is also developed by coupling a fire occurrence model with a survival model and is explored via simulation. Marked cluster processes were found to nicely capture the overall fire load trend over the fire season

Letter from Christina Bouchard Duplissa to her cousin Amy Bouchard Morin

Letter from Christina Bouchard Duplissa to her cousin Amy Bouchard Morin, December 15, 1994. This letter contains reminiscences about Duplissa\u27s early years on French Island in Old Town, Maine, between 1939 and 1950. She recalls children\u27s games and other entertainment; and neighborhood relationships. Typed transcription, no original copy.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mf026/1067/thumbnail.jp

3D Printing of Biodegradable Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications

With the recent improvements in three dimensional (3D) printing technologies, the potential for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have significantly improved. One key idea in tissue engineering is to specifically design scaffolds to aid in the healing process by being incorporated into the body’s own tissue. The overall goal of this project is to investigate 3D printable scaffold design to access suitability for tissue replacement. This was accomplished by analyzing the effect of the material used to create the scaffolds, pore size, and pore shape on mechanical stiffness and cell culturability. Based on published literature, it was determined that, depending upon the desired tissue type, the best pore shapes are circles, squares, and hexagons. This study focused on designing numerous scaffolds by varying the parameters listed above, and then printing 3D biodegradable (PLA & TPU) scaffolds to be cultured, mechanically tested and evaluated. The scaffolds were cultured with endothelial cell lines to ensure cell survivability on the 3D printed material. After cell culturing protocol, cell attachment and viability were assessed and cell density recorded. The mechanical tests were performed using a standard tension test machine in order to gather stiffness and strength data. By analyzing our results, we will be able to make recommendations regarding which pore shape, size, and porosity will yield the most anatomically compliant results for the desired tissue

FABRICATION, WIND TUNNEL TESTING, AND FREEWHEELING ANALYSIS OF 4.75-FT DIAMETER COMPOSITE BLADES

The Maryland Tiltrotor Rig (MTR) is a new test facility for the development of next-generation high-speed tiltrotors. This thesis describes the development of the first set of Froude-scale tiltrotor blades for the MTR. The blades have a −37◦ twist/span, a VR-7 profile, a D-spar, and ±45◦ quasi-isotropic plies of carbon fiber. Titanium leading-edge weights bring the center of gravity to near the pitch axis at 0.25 c. The root cutout is until 0.263 R. The stiffness properties loosely follow the NASA-Bell XV-15 aircraft. The blades were instrumented and then integrated on the MTR in the Glenn L Martin Wind Tunnel and powered check out tests were conducted up to 2400 RPM (Mtip = 0.53) to test for tracking, balance, and structural integrity. Zero torque freewheeling tests were conducted to simulate future whirl flutter conditions. These tests produced 0-1500 RPM for θ75 = 0 − 8◦ at various tunnel speeds. A flexible flapping rotor analysis was developed to understand the freewheeling condition and to predict the test data. The freewheeling condition is unique to proprotors and is where wind tunnel tests are traditionally performed for whirl flutter, so it was the principal focus of the analysis. Proprotor freewheeling, unlike helicopter autorotation, occurs at high inflow but zero thrust. There were two collectives for a given RPM, and it was discovered that the collectives tested during the initial check-out were the lower set of collectives, which was not representative of a full-scale tiltrotor in cruise. Thus, the analysis provided guidance for proper operating collectives in future tests. In addition, the low collective set provided a unique, interesting, and challenging validation case where the airfoils operated in negative stall. Accurate negative angle of attack stall data was crucial to predict- ing these collectives. It was shown that the in-house 2D C81 deck extracted with TURNS code in fact gave more consistent data predictions than the US government C81 deck from NASA Ames, likely due to differences in Reynolds number. The flexible flapping analysis also predicted blade bending moments and strains, but correlation with test data was cut short due to the COVID-19 shutdown. There is a vast and broad range of research to be conducted in the next five to ten years. It is hoped that the method developed and the blades fabricated here will provide a good baseline to assess all future advances

Monitoring alkylphenols in water using the polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS): determining sampling rates via the extraction of PES membranes and Oasis beads

Polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) have previously been used to monitor alkylphenol (AP) contamination in water and produced water. However, only the sorbent receiving phase of the POCIS (Oasis beads) is traditionally analyzed, thus limiting the use of POCIS for monitoring a range of APs with varying hydrophobicity. Here a “pharmaceutical” POCIS was calibrated in the laboratory using a static renewal setup for APs (from 2-ethylphenol to 4-n-nonylphenol) with varying hydrophobicity (log Kow between 2.47 and 5.76). The POCIS sampler was calibrated over its 28 day integrative regime and sampling rates (Rs) were determined. Uptake was shown to be a function of AP hydrophobicity where compounds with log Kow < 4 were preferentially accumulated in Oasis beads, and compounds with log Kow > 5 were preferentially accumulated in the PES membranes. A lag phase (over a 24 h period) before uptake in to the PES membranes occurred was evident. This work demonstrates that the analysis of both POCIS phases is vital in order to correctly determine environmentally relevant concentrations owing to the fact that for APs with log Kow ≤ 4 uptake, to the PES membranes and the Oasis beads, involves different processes compared to APs with log Kow ≥ 4. The extraction of both the POCIS matrices is thus recommended in order to assess the concentration of hydrophobic APs (log Kow ≥ 4), as well as hydrophilic APs, most effectively. © 2017 Elsevier Lt

2018 Community Health Assessment

The 2018 CHA contains the most recent health data and information to provide an understanding of our county’s health status. In this update, we have expanded the CHA to include community-specific health status information as well as countywide health information. The CHA is organized using a population health framework that looks at the physical environment, social and economic factors, health behaviors, access to quality healthcare, and health outcomes. The report presents a general picture of the health of our community, in which health outcomes and disparities are the results of complex interactions between health determinants. This assessment reflects a two-year process that included selection and analysis of over 160 health indicators, multiple community meetings, and interviews with community leaders. This provided information about strengths and challenges, identification of countywide and community-specific assets, and an assessment of the capability of the public health and health care systems to address the health challenges in our community. Much of this report expands information on health issues identified by the dedicated group of community partners who participated in the first cycle of Community Health Improvement. Together they identified, organized, and set in motion efforts to advance equity, support young children and families, respond to the opioid epidemic, help those experiencing complex health issues, and initiate healthy planning actions. As this important work continues, the 2018 CHA offers the opportunity to take a fresh look at the health of our community, identify emerging health issues, and select community priorities. The CHA will serve as the foundation for a process to create our next Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The CHIP will focus on a few selected community health priorities identified through the CHA and create a blueprint for the community to make improvements on the selected issues in a way that is collaborative and coordinated. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the many community members and organizations who contributed to this project. We hope the 2018 CHA becomes a resource and a point of connection for community members and agencies who are working to improve the health of all residents of Whatcom Count

Improving Patient Flow by Increasing Early Discharges on a Mother & Baby Unit

Discharging patients early in the day has many advantages amongst which is increased bed availability. However, the experience in a large academic tertiary medical center demonstrated that most discharges occurred early to mid afternoon. A care team on a mother /baby unit established a quality improvement project to increase the number of discharges by 11AM and streamline key discharge planning activities. A root cause analysis identified multiple barriers to attaining he established goals. To address these barriers, a multi prong approach was instituted to include a discharge education KPI for all unit staff. Data collection post countermeasure implementation demonstrated some early improvements morning discharges. Next steps include regular review of KPI goals and progress and their impact on project goals

Bone Density, Microstructure and Strength in Obese and Normal Weight Men and Women in Younger and Older Adulthood

Obesity is associated with greater areal BMD (aBMD) and is considered protective against hip and vertebral fracture. Despite this, there is a higher prevalence of lower leg and proximal humerus fracture in obesity. We aimed to determine if there are site‐specific differences in BMD, bone structure, or bone strength between obese and normal‐weight adults. We studied 100 individually‐matched pairs of normal (body mass index [BMI] 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2) and obese (BMI >30 kg/m2) men and women, aged 25 to 40 years or 55 to 75 years. We assessed aBMD at the whole body (WB), hip (TH), and lumbar spine (LS) with dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA), LS trabecular volumetric BMD (Tb.vBMD) by quantitative computed tomography (QCT), and vBMD and microarchitecture and strength at the distal radius and tibia with high‐resolution peripheral QCT (HR‐pQCT) and micro–finite element analysis. Serum type 1 procollagen N‐terminal peptide (P1NP) and collagen type 1 C‐telopeptide (CTX) were measured by automated electrochemiluminescent immunoassay (ECLIA). Obese adults had greater WB, LS, and TH aBMD than normal adults. The effect of obesity on LS and WB aBMD was greater in older than younger adults (p < 0.01). Obese adults had greater vBMD than normal adults at the tibia (p < 0.001 both ages) and radius (p < 0.001 older group), thicker cortices, higher cortical BMD and tissue mineral density, lower cortical porosity, higher trabecular BMD, and higher trabecular number than normal adults. There was no difference in bone size between obese and normal adults. Obese adults had greater estimated failure load at the radius (p < 0.05) and tibia (p < 0.01). Differences in HR‐pQCT measurements between obese and normal adults were seen more consistently in the older than the younger group. Bone turnover markers were lower in obese than in normal adults. Greater BMD in obesity is not an artifact of DXA measurement. Obese adults have higher BMD, thicker and denser cortices, and higher trabecular number than normal adults. Greater differences between obese and normal adults in the older group suggest that obesity may protect against age‐related bone loss and may increase peak bone mass

The Hippo Signaling Pathway Components Lats and Yap Pattern Tead4 Activity to Distinguish Mouse Trophectoderm from Inner Cell Mass

Outside cells of the preimplantation mouse embryo form the trophectoderm (TE), a process requiring the transcription factor Tead4. Here, we show that transcriptionally active Tead4 can induce Cdx2 and other trophoblast genes in parallel in embryonic stem cells. In embryos, the Tead4 coactivator protein Yap localizes to nuclei of outside cells, and modulation of Tead4 or Yap activity leads to changes in Cdx2 expression. In inside cells, Yap is phosphorylated and cytoplasmic, and this involves the Hippo signaling pathway component Lats. We propose that active Tead4 promotes TE development in outside cells, whereas Tead4 activity is suppressed in inside cells by cell contact- and Lats-mediated inhibition of nuclear Yap localization. Thus, differential signaling between inside and outside cell populations leads to changes in cell fate specification during TE formation