Re-examination of the Effects of Food Abundance on Jaw Plasticity in Purple Sea Urchins

Morphological plasticity is a critical mechanism that animals use to cope with variations in resource availability. During periods of food scarcity, sea urchins demonstrate an increase in jaw length relative to test diameter. This trait is thought to be reversible and adaptive by yielding an increase in feeding efficiency. We directly test the hypotheses that (1) there are reversible shifts in jaw length to test diameter ratios with food abundance in individual urchins, and (2) these shifts alter feeding efficiency. Purple sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, were collected and placed in either high or low food treatments for 3 months, after which treatments were switched for two additional months between February and September, 2015 in La Jolla, CA (32.8674°N, 117.2530°W). Measurements of jaw length to test diameter ratios were significantly higher in low compared to high food urchins, but this was due to test growth in the high food treatments. Ratios of low food urchins did not change following a switch to high food conditions, indicating that this trait is not reversible within the time frame of this study. Relatively longer jaws were also not correlated with increased feeding efficiency. We argue that jaw length plasticity is not adaptive and is simply a consequence of exposure to high food availability, as both jaw and test growth halt when food is scarce

Application of LANDSAT data to delimitation of avalanche hazards in Montane, Colorado

The author has identified the following significant results. Photointerpretation of individual avalanche paths on single band black and white LANDSAT images is greatly hindered by terrain shadows and the low spatial resolution of the LANDSAT system. Maps produced in this way are biased towards the larger avalanche paths that are under the most favorable illumination conditions during imaging; other large avalanche paths, under less favorable illumination, are often not detectable and the smaller paths, even those defined by sharp trimlines, are only rarely identifiable

A study of antenna and radio frequency tracking system Final summary report, 1 Feb. 1963 - 30 Nov. 1965

Phase stability of very low frequency radio signal propagation, electronically scanned tracking antenna array, and inverted rf tracking syste

Simple guide to starting a research group

Conducting cutting-edge research and scholarship becomes more complicated with each passing year; forming a collaborative research group offers a way to navigate this increasing complexity. Yet many individuals whose work might benefit from the formation of a collaborative team may feel overwhelmed by the prospect of attempting to build and maintain a research group. We propose this simple guide for starting and maintaining such an enterprise

Effects of nematicides on nematode population densities and crop yield in a turnip-corn-pea cropping system

Nous avons évalué quatre systèmes de conduite de cultures lors d'une étude de 6 ans afin de lutter contre les nematodes dans un système annuel de production de navet-maïs-pois sur des parcelles de sable loameux Tifton naturellement infestées par les Meloidogyne spp. (environ 90 % de M. incognita et 10 % de M. hapla), les Pratylenchus spp. (environ 65 % de P. scribneri, 25 % de P. brachyurus et 10 % de P. zeae), ainsi que par les Paratrichodorus minor et Criconemella ornata. Le navet (Brassica campestris subsp. rapifera) a toléré de faibles quantités de tous les nematodes. Le maïs (Zea mays) 'Pioneer 3369A' a toléré de plus importantes quantités de tous les nematodes que le maïs 'Funks G-4507'. Les densités de population de juvéniles (J2) de Meloidogyne spp. ont été abaissées en deçà de 80 par 150 cm3 de sol par un mélange composé de 98 % de bromure de méthyle et 2 % de chloropicrine et par 20% de methyl isothiocyanate combiné à 80% d'hydrocarbones C3 chlorinés sur le navet et le maïs. Ces populations de nematodes ont augmenté rapidement chez le pois (Vigna unguiculata) 'Pinkeye purplehull' mais ce ne fut pas le cas chez le cultivar Worthmore. Les densités de populations des autres nematodes n'ont pas été affectées par le cultivar de pois ou par le nématicide, en l'occurrence l'ethoprop. Le fenamiphos a été plus efficace que l'ethoprop en abaissant les densités de nematodes. Les augmentations de rendement du système intensif de conduite des cultures se sont échelonnées de 4% à 52 % par rapport aux témoins non traités.Four management systems were evaluated in a six-year study to control nematodes in a turnip-corn-pea annual cropping System on plots of Tifton loamy sand naturally infested with Meloidogyne spp. (about 90 % M. incognita and 10% M. hapla), Pratylenchus spp. (about 65% P. scribneri, 25% P. brachyurus, and 10% P. zeae), Paratrichodorus minor and Criconemella ornata. Turnip (Brassica campestris subsp. rapifera) supported low numbers of all nematodes. 'Pioneer 3369A' corn (Zea mays) supported greater numbers of all nematodes than 'Funks G-4507'. Population densities of Meloidogyne spp. juveniles (J2) were suppressed below 80 per 150 cm3 of soil by 98 % methyl bromide + 2 % chloropicrin and 20 % methyl isothiocyanate + 80 % chlorinated C3 hydrocarbons on turnip and corn, and increased rapidly on 'Pinkeye purplehull', but not on a resistant cultivar, 'Worthmore' pea (Vigna unguiculata). Population densities of other nematodes were not affected by cultivar of pea or the nematicide, ethoprop. Fenamiphos was more effective than ethoprop in suppressing nematode population densities. Increases in crop yield in the intensive management system ranged from 4% to 52% over untreated controls

Beyond Point Design: General Pattern to Specific Implementations

Elsewhere we have discussed a number of problems typical of highly automated systems and proposed tenets for addressing these problems based on Human-Autonomy Teaming (HAT)[1]. We have examined these principles in the context of aviation [2,3]. Here we discuss the generality of these tenets by examining how they might be applied to photography and automotive navigation. While these domains are very different, we find application of our HAT tenets provides a number of opportunities for improving interaction between human operators and automation. We then illustrate how the generalities found across aviation, photography and navigation can be captured in a design pattern

A Detect and Avoid System in the Context of Multiple-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations

NASA's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration into the National Airspace System (UAS in the NAS) project examines the technical barriers associated with the operation of UAS in civil airspace. For UAS, the removal of the pilot from onboard the aircraft has eliminated the ability of the ground-based pilot in command (PIC) to use out-the-window visual information to make judgements about a potential threat of a loss of well clear with another aircraft. NASA's Phase 1 research supported the development of a Detect and Avoid (DAA) system that supports the ground-based pilot's ability to detect potential traffic conflicts and determine a resolution maneuver, but existing display/alerting requirements did not account for multiple UAS control (1:N). Demands for increased scalability of UAS in the NAS operations are expected to create a need for simultaneous control of UAs, and thus, a new DAA HMI design will likely be necessary. Previous research, however, has found performance degradations as the number of vehicles under operator control has increased. The purpose of the current human-in-the-loop (HITL) simulation was to examine the viability of 1:N operations with the Phase 1 DAA alerting and guidance. Sixteen UAS pilots flew three scenarios with varying number of UAs under their control (1:1, 1:3, 1:5). In addition to their supervisory and sensor mission responsibilities, pilots were to utilize the DAA system to remain DAA well clear (DWC) during scripted conflicts of mixed severity. Measured response times, separation performance, mission task data, and subjective feedback were collected to assess how the multi-UAS control configuration impacted pilots' ability to maintain DAA well clear and perform the mission tasks. Overall, the DAA system proved surprisingly adaptive to multi-UAS control for preventing losses of DAA well clear (LoDWC). The findings suggest that, while multi-UAS operators are able to maintain safe separation (DWC) from other traffic, their ability to efficiently perform missions drastically decreases with their number of controlled vehicles. Pilot feedback indicated that, for this context, the use of automation support tools for completing and managing mission tasks would be appropriate and desired, especially for ensuring efficient use of assets. Finally, human-machine interface (HMI) design considerations for multi-UAS operations are discussed

Optical Breath Gas Sensor for Extravehicular Activity Application

The function of the infrared gas transducer used during extravehicular activity in the current space suit is to measure and report the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the ventilation loop. The next generation portable life support system (PLSS) requires next generation CO2 sensing technology with performance beyond that presently in use on the Space Shuttle/International Space Station extravehicular mobility unit (EMU). Accommodation within space suits demands that optical sensors meet stringent size, weight, and power requirements. A laser diode spectrometer based on wavelength modulation spectroscopy is being developed for this purpose by Vista Photonics, Inc. Two prototype devices were delivered to NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in September 2011. The sensors incorporate a laser diode-based CO2 channel that also includes an incidental water vapor (humidity) measurement and a separate oxygen channel using a vertical cavity surface emitting laser. Both prototypes are controlled digitally with a field-programmable gate array/microcontroller architecture. The present development extends and upgrades the earlier hardware to the Advanced PLSS 2.0 test article being constructed and tested at JSC. Various improvements to the electronics and gas sampling are being advanced by this project. The combination of low power electronics with the performance of a long wavelength laser spectrometer enables multi-gas sensors with significantly increased performance over that presently offered in the EMU

A Decade Later – US 31 Mitigation

Significant transportation projects are designed and built, but that’s not the end of the story. Wetland and stream mitigation efforts, including monitoring and maintenance, may continue for a decade. This presentation will showcase INDOT mitigation sites—from their creation a decade ago to the awesome results—for projects like US-31. We’ll share timelines, photos, quality data, and challenges identified and addressed over the years