Developing high-quality meteorological data for East and West Africa from merged sources

Assessments of agricultural productivity and food security require process-based crop models to provide predictions of yields and diagnose past variations in the context of anthropogenic and climate factors. These models need detailed meteorological data as input, including precipitation, temperature, humidity, solar radiation and windspeed. This project aimed to apply existing methods to merge in situ, remotely sensed and modeled data sources in East and West Africa to produce high-quality daily meteorological data over at least 30 years. Specific objectives included: evaluation of the error structure of the dataset, its temporal and spatial characteristics and consistency and its suitability for forcing crop models, and to provide a framework for merging new data, in particular from the local stations of regional African partners, ensuring consistency across time and space and among variables, as well as the best use of information. The work successfully created a 10 kilometre, daily meteorological dataset for East and West Africa for the period 1979–2008, based on the National Centers for Environmental Prediction-National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP–NCAR) reanalysis (NNR), merged with observational datasets, including the monthly gridded precipitation and temperature product of the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit (CRU), the NASA Langley Surface Radiation Budget (SRB) product, and station data from the Global Summary of the Day (GSOD) database

Dynamic Shear Modulus of Soft Silt

This paper presents the geotechnical properties of soft silt obtained from the Greater Shanghai Region of the People\u27s Republic of China. Fundamental correlations of shear modulus, damping ratio, shear stress, shear strain with varying consolidation pressures are determined in the laboratory by cyclic simple shear tests. A comparison is made between laboratory test results, in situ cross-hole test results and the building code data proposed by the Shanghai Municipal Bureau. Finally, a comparison of the laboratory data on Shanghai silt with other published data on sands and clays is presented and discussed

Site Specific Seismic/Geologic Hazards Risk Zoning

A site specific risk zoning study was conducted on a Junior College Campus near Eureka, California, USA to evaluate the potential seismic/geologic hazards due to the presence of a 1 km wide low angle thrust fault system. Issues addressed to determine the level of risk at any location on the campus include: land sliding, earthquake ground shaking, ground surface rupture and deformation, lateral spreading, liquefaction, differential settlement, and tsunamis. Based on these potential hazards, a micro-zonation model was developed based on 13 different zones and 5 levels of risk. Information for use in this model was collected using a combination of paleo seismic trenches, geophysical surveys and soil borings. This information was then combined to develop a map of risk zones within the campus. This map provides site specific land use recommendations to assist the college in locating appropriate sites for future campus expansion

Settled-in: Designing for Comfort in Older Adult Congregate Housing in Oklahoma

This multi-method study explores the effect of interior design on the comfort of older adults in assisted living and proposes an interior design prototype for an assisted living resident room for an older adult in Oklahoma. The research includes a survey of older adults (n=25), which asked participants to evaluate certain interior design features in terms of their effect on the participants' comfort and dignity, as well as site tours of existing assisted living facilities in Oklahoma. A design prototype was developed based on the survey and tour results, which was refined after evaluation by a focus group of experts in the area of older adults and older adult housing. Survey results indicated that older adults believed certain interior design features were more supportive of their comfort and dignity. The proposed design supports the comfort of older adult residents through the use of smooth textures, warm temperatures, cool colors, sunlight, and vegetation. The design supports the dignity of older adult residents through the use of high ceilings, smooth textures, warm temperatures, cool colors, bright light, sunlight, and vegetation. Depression and isolation were addressed through the inclusion of semi-private spaces and areas for entertaining and hosting. Loss of mobility was addressed through the use of accessible design features and the inclusion of opportunities for physical exercise. Dementia issues were addressed through the use of transparency and a simple floor plan. The intentional incorporation of environmental support for not only the physical and mental challenges faced by older adults in assisted living, but also the more subtle challenges to their comfort and dignity, has the potential to greatly improve the quality of life enjoyed by these individuals.Department of Design, Housing and Merchandisin

Overexcited operation of distribution transformers

This paper is the result of extensive experiments, investigating the effect on typical distribution transformers when operated overexcited as much as 117% of their rated voltage

Seismic Risk Analysis for a Site Along the Gorda Segment of the Cascadia Subduction Zone

A seismic risk evaluation was conducted on a site near Eureka, California. The site was subject to potential earthquake loading from a number of sources. These sources were: (1) Mendocino Fracture Zone, (2) Gorda Segment of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, (3) Little Salmon thrust fault under the site, (4) Mad River Fault Zone, and (5) Intra plate west - Gorda Plate. The geology of thrust faults in Northern California is examined along with that of the Mendocino Fracture Zone, and the southern section (Gorda Segment) of the Cascadia subduction zone. A trench log showing a splay of the Little Salmon Fault is presented. A seismic risk analysis of the site was performed using recurrence curves for the various seismic sources estimated from both trench studies and historic seismicity. Using this information the acceleration at the site due to the Maximum Credible Earthquake is estimated to be 0.85g. The corresponding acceleration due to the Maximum Probable Earthquake and assuming that the various fault zones act independently or co-seismically is estimated to be 0.5g

Navigating the Accounting Academic Job Market and Related Advice

Purpose: To disseminate helpful advice to current and future candidates about the accounting academic job market. Methodology/Approach: Literature review, interviews with recently hired faculty members, insights from the author’s experiences as both job candidates and search committee members, and discussions with colleagues. Findings: In this chapter, we discuss the current state of the job market for accounting professors and offer our insights as well as those from a group of recent graduates. It is our recent experience that many rookie candidates pursue initial faculty positions with an incomplete understanding of many aspects of the market, including how the market clears, job expectations, and other issues that we believe are important. While others have adequately addressed the importance of research in the profession and alluded to some aspects of the market, we provide additional useful information about the market and other career aspects in order to assist new graduates in their quests to find fulfilling appointments. Our chapter complements existing literature to form an updated and more complete picture of the market and profession. Practical Implications: This chapter helps prepare candidates for the job market by providing information and advice that complements advice given in Ph.D. programs and the existing literature. Social Implications: Candidates entering the job market will better understand the nuances of the market and can make more informed decisions about the institutions that best meet their needs. Originality/Value of Article: The chapter provides important practical advice for job seekers about the accounting academic job market not available elsewhere

Compressional and Shear Waves Tests Through Upper Sheet of Low Angle Thrust Fault

Compressional and shear wave tests were conducted on the upper thrust sheet of the low angle Little Salmon thrust fault. The study was conducted on the campus of the College of the Redwoods. The campus is located approximately 8 miles south of Eureka and 24 miles north-northeast of Cape Mendocino and the Mendocino Triple Junction (MTJ) in Northern California. The MTJ is the point of transition from strike-slip faulting of the San Andreas transform system to low-angle reverse (thrust) faulting and folding associated with the convergent margin of the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The campus is located on the southwest limb of the Humboldt Hill anticline, one of the folds in the fold and thrust belt. The Little Salmon fault zone is a low angle thrust fault that day lights on the south side of the campus and then projects underneath striking northwest and dipping northeast. A boring was drilled down to the fault plane located at a depth of 200 ft. in the upper thrust block to develop a mode1 of the stratification as well as the material properties. The boring also revealed the trunk of a redwood tree located at a depth of 180 feet. Results of compressional and shear wave velocities as a function of depth that were determined using an downhole geophysical technique. Results indicated two shear wave velocity units. Unit 1 was from 0 to 120 ft. with a shear wave velocity ranging from 950- 1400 fps. Unit 2 ranged from 120 to 190 ft. with a shear wave velocity ranging from 2300 to 2600 fps. Compression wave velocity measurements obtained from the same test boring also depict a change in velocity in the 100 to 120 foot range. A response spectra was generated based on this in-situ mode1 using SHARE91 and compared against one developed using the Boore, Joyner and Fumal empirical model