Honoring Past Practices While Increasing Collection Budget Flexibility: Designing and Communicating a New Budget Model

When LBJ was president and the Beatles were all the rage, Southwest Texas State College adopted a library allocation formula. Five decades later, the Texas State University Libraries administration decided it was time to stop adjusting the formula and adopt a completely new collection budget model with more flexibility to meet changing needs. This paper discusses the process used to develop a new model, communication strategies with the campus, and ways the new model impacted serials workflow. It also includes a few sample slides that were particularly effective in presentations to faculty

DEM Development from Ground-Based LiDAR Data: A Method to Remove Non-Surface Objects

Topography and land cover characteristics can have significant effects on infiltration, runoff, and erosion processes on watersheds. The ability to model the timing and routing of surface water and erosion is affected by the resolution of the digital elevation model (DEM). High resolution ground-based Light Detecting and Ranging (LiDAR) technology can be used to collect detailed topographic and land cover characteristic data. In this study, a method was developed to remove vegetation from ground-based LiDAR data to create high resolution DEMs. Research was conducted on intensively studied rainfall–runoff plots on the USDA-ARS Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed in Southeast Arizona. LiDAR data were used to generate 1 cm resolution digital surface models (DSM) for 5 plots. DSMs created directly from LiDAR data contain non-surface objects such as vegetation cover. A vegetation removal method was developed which used a slope threshold and a focal mean filter method to remove vegetation and create bare earth DEMs. The method was validated on a synthetic plot, where rocks and vegetation were added incrementally. Results of the validation showed a vertical error of ±7.5 mm in the final DEM

Optical tuning of the diamond Fermi level measured by correlated scanning probe microscopy and quantum defect spectroscopy

Quantum technologies based on quantum point defects in crystals require control over the defect charge state. Here we tune the charge state of shallow nitrogen-vacancy and silicon-vacancy centers by locally oxidizing a hydrogenated surface with moderate optical excitation and simultaneous spectral monitoring. The loss of conductivity and change in work function due to oxidation are measured in atmosphere using conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). We correlate these scanning probe measurements with optical spectroscopy of the nitrogen-vacancy and silicon-vacancy centers created via implantation and annealing 15-25 nm beneath the diamond surface. The observed charge state of the defects as a function of optical exposure demonstrates that laser oxidation provides a way to precisely tune the Fermi level over a range of at least 2.00 eV. We also observe a significantly larger oxidation rate for implanted surfaces compared to unimplanted surfaces under ambient conditions. Combined with knowledge of the electron affinity of a surface, these results suggest KPFM is a powerful, high-spatial resolution technique to advance surface Fermi level engineering for charge stabilization of quantum defects

Confidence intervals for ranks of age-adjusted rates across states or counties

Health indices provide information to the general public on the health condition of the community. They can also be used to inform the government’s policy making, to evaluate the effect of a current policy or healthcare program, or for program planning and priority setting. It is a common practice that the health indices across different geographic units are ranked and the ranks are reported as fixed values. We argue that the ranks should be viewed as random and hence should be accompanied by an indication of precision (i.e., the confidence intervals). A technical difficulty in doing so is how to account for the dependence among the ranks in the construction of confidence intervals. In this paper, we propose a novel Monte Carlo method for constructing the individual and simultaneous confidence intervals of ranks for age-adjusted rates. The proposed method uses as input age-specific counts (of cases of disease or deaths) and their associated populations. We have further extended it to the case in which only the age-adjusted rates and confidence intervals are available. Finally, we demonstrate the proposed method to analyze US age-adjusted cancer incidence rates and mortality rates for cancer and other diseases by states and counties within a state using a website that will be publicly available. The results show that for rare or relatively rare disease (especially at the county level), ranks are essentially meaningless because of their large variability, while for more common disease in larger geographic units, ranks can be effectively utilized

Prospectus, November 28, 1984

SPEAKING COBRAS NAMED COMMUNITY COLLEGE TEAM OF THE YEAR; Central Illinois Vietnam Veterans; Security reports thefts; Parkland election survey told; \u27There are 25 crucified saviors\u27; PC Happenings; Board of Trustees re-elect officers; Who\u27s Who Award nominations listed; Parkland Choral Union to perform \u27Messiah\u27; \u27Messiah\u27 comes again; Life Science Division has open house; Classifieds; Scott advocates negotiation versus doomsday; Creative Corner...especially for you!; Doom Story...The Final Conflict; Through another man\u27s eyes; and that is all; affair; your last veil; living together; Jesus Face; Jesus Died; This Isn\u27t It; wanting; being in love; On Being Forced to Play Backgammon After a Week in the Wilderness; only one; Searls Scouts; Talent scouts looking for fresh talent to work at Busch Gardens in 1985; King\u27s newest not his best; Parkland Community Band performs; Prompters cheer IRT; Cotton releases new solo; Original theatre production at Parkland Written, directed and produced by Lu Snyder; Carol sing is Sunday at UI; High School Quiz Bowl to be broadcast; Howard Player of the Week; Parkland loses on last-second shot; High School Notes; Cobras shoot past Illinois Central, 75-69; Lady Cobras want to schore in \u2784; Koebele plays the leadhttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1984/1002/thumbnail.jp

Partitioning Evapotranspiration in Semiarid Grassland and Shrubland Ecosystems Using Diurnal Surface Temperature Variation

The encroachment of woody plants in grasslands across the Western U.S. will affect soil water availability by altering the contributions of evaporation (E) and transpiration (T) to total evapotranspiration (ET). To study this phenomenon, a network of flux stations is in place to measure ET in grass- and shrub-dominated ecosystems throughout the Western U.S. A method is described and tested here to partition the daily measurements of ET into E and T based on diurnal surface temperature variations of the soil and standard energy balance theory. The difference between the mid-afternoon and pre-dawn soil surface temperature, termed Apparent Thermal Inertia (I(sub A)), was used to identify days when E was negligible, and thus, ET=T. For other days, a three-step procedure based on energy balance equations was used to estimate Qe contributions of daily E and T to total daily ET. The method was tested at Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed in southeast Arizona based on Bowen ratio estimates of ET and continuous measurements of surface temperature with an infrared thermometer (IRT) from 2004- 2005, and a second dataset of Bowen ratio, IRT and stem-flow gage measurements in 2003. Results showed that reasonable estimates of daily T were obtained for a multi-year period with ease of operation and minimal cost. With known season-long daily T, E and ET, it is possible to determine the soil water availability associated with grass- and shrub-dominated sites and better understand the hydrologic impact of regional woody plant encroachment

Prospectus, December 12, 1984

CHRISTMAS EDITION; Have fun with your performance; Staff attends conference; PC Happenings; Children\u27s shows Dec. 15 and 16; Lifelong Learner Club meets; How important is blood?; Absenteeism attacks Stu-Go; Journey through Metamorphosis; Holiday traditions remembered; Where are the police when you need them?; Meter Maids Yes or No; Parkland security; Project Joy; Illegal entry; Winter shelter helps homeless; Try one of Champaign\u27s specialty shops; Branch out-try a new recipe; Christmas customs vary world-wide; Love, sex, friendship and college how well do they mix; Photography contest judging draws hopeful, interested, and anxious crowd; And the winners are...; More winners; Christmas Greetings; What did you think of the Prospectus this semester?; But I have patience; Beginning; Richard dedicates Christmas album to Karen; Vaughan rivals Hendrix as guitar great; P.A.L. will listen; German class films videotape; Festival of lights; Vriners, Vintage Champaign\u27s oldest restaurant; 2010 is stupendous; Catch a movie during break; Talking Heads make sense; Clifton, Pumphrey, Mullens gain honors; Prospectus looks back at 1984 fall sports; Phillips learned a great deal from \u27E-Man\u27; Chesnut, Chastain share similar position; Broken records inevitable for men\u27s track...; ...Women strike similar parallel to men; Women spring past Danville on the road; Lady Cobras defeat Lincoln College, 66-56https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1984/1000/thumbnail.jp

Utilization of ACP CPT codes among high-need Medicare beneficiaries in 2017: A brief report

IMPORTANCE: Medicare beneficiaries with high medical needs can benefit from Advance Care Planning (ACP). Medicare reimburses clinical providers for ACP discussions, but it is unknown whether high-need beneficiaries are receiving this service. OBJECTIVE: To compare rates of billed ACP discussions among a cohort of high-need Medicare beneficiaries with the non-high-needs Medicare population. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) claims in 2017 comparing high-need beneficiaries (seriously ill, frail, ESRD, and disabled) with non-high need beneficiaries. SETTING: Nationally representative FFS Medicare 20% sample. PARTICIPANTS: Medicare beneficiaries were assigned to one of the following classifications: seriously ill (65+), frail (65+), seriously ill and frail (65+); non-high need (65+); end stage renal disease (ESRD) or disabled ( \u3c 65). All participants had data available for years 2016-2017. EXPOSURE: Receipt of a billed ACP discussion, CPT codes 99497 or 99498. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURE: Rates of billed ACP visits were compared between high-need patients and non-high-need patients. Rates were adjusted for the 65+ population for sex, age, race/ethnicity, Charlson comorbidity index, Medicare/Medicaid dual eligibility status, and Hospital Referral Region. RESULTS: Among the 65+ groups, those most likely to have a billed ACP discussion included seriously ill and frail (5.2%), seriously ill (4.2%), and frail (3.3%). Rates remained consistent after adjusting (4.5%, 4.0%, 3.1%, respectively). Each subgroup differed significantly (p \u3c .05) from non-high need beneficiaries (2.3%) in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses. Among the \u3c 65 high need groups, the rates were 2.7% for ESRD and 1.3% for the disabled (the latter p \u3c .05 compared with non-high needs). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: While rates of billed ACP discussions varied among patient groups with high medical needs, overall they were relatively low, even among a cohort of patients for whom ACP may be especially relevant

Brief for the United States as Amicus Curiae in Support of Neither Party

Amicus ("friend of the court") brief written by the United States in support of petitioners in AMP v. Myriad Genetics (Supreme Court Case Docket No. 12-398)