From Crossing Campus to Crossing Continents: Faculty, Chair, and Global Partner Perspectives on an International Sabbatical

A sabbatical – a period of paid leave granted to faculty for research or study - is a construct in higher education that has experienced ebbs and flows in its favorability, though there are persistent arguments that it is important for research-active faculty (Pietsch, 2011). Early career faculty are focused on achieving tenure as this is high stakes at most institutions. Once tenure is achieved, the next goalpost is full professor. The day-to-day responsibilities of faculty can distract from and dilute efforts aimed at strategic planning, long-term planning, and reflection necessary to achieve this level of promotion. So it follows that faculty place a very high value on sabbatical leave time for its impact on career progression, with one study ranking sabbaticals second only to successful external funding (Smith et al., 2016). Faculty and institutions can benefit from sabbaticals through collaborative ideation to reveal new research ideas, development of new expertise, strategic dissemination efforts, support of student research, and much more. Individual faculty members who have engaged in a sabbatical report stronger engagement with colleagues and sense of social responsibility, with a higher tendency towards teamwork, creativity, and innovation (Shirbagi & Gholami, 2020). Sabbatical could also serve as a tool to combat imposter syndrome and reduce the gap between academics and non-academics through “experimental” sabbaticals (e.g., a year of consulting) (Bothello & Roulet, 2019). It is important to note, though, that benefits to students are not inherent in sabbaticals, as one now-dated study reported no difference in student evaluations of teaching before and after faculty sabbaticals (Miller & Bai, 1998). Faculty overwhelmingly agreed that sabbatical improved their attitude, making them a better faculty member (Miller & Kang, 2006)

A fuzzy logic controller for hormone administration using an implantable pump

This paper describes the requirements for a Fuzzy Logic Controller for the physiologic administration of hormones by means of a FDA-approved surgically implantable infusion pump. Results of a LabVIEW computer simulation for the administration of insulin for diabetic adult patients as well as human growth hormone for pediatric patients are presented. A VHS video tape of the simulation in action has been prepared and is available for viewing

TB158: Milk Processing and Distribution Costs: Maine 1993

The objective of this study is to provide an updated estimate of the theoretically lowest achievable costs of processing and distributing milk in Maine. Costs are estimated for a state-of-the-art processing plant assumed to be located in the Portland, Maine, area. The plant produces and distributes a full line of products, including white milk, chocolate milk, and orange juice, and distributes additional products such as cheeses and yogurts.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1058/thumbnail.jp

Anastomosing reach control on hydraulics and sediment distribution on the Sabie River, South Africa

Many of the large rivers in southern Africa exhibit a strong bedrock influence, being characterised by a channel incised 10–20 m into ancient planation surfaces. Under alluviated conditions, these channels display downstream sequences of channel types, including alluvial single thread, braided, bedrock anastomosed, mixed anastomosed, and pool-rapid. This sequence of channel types has been reviewed using aerial imagery for the Sabie River, which drains a 6320km2 catchment and flows across the Lowveld of South Africa. Prior to 2000, the river exhibited a downstream sequence of channel types that broadly alternated from alluvial single thread or braided to bedrock anstomosed or mixed anastomosed, with pool-rapid types also present locally. Unconsolidated (predominantly sandy) alluvial sediments were significantly eroded by cyclone-driven extreme floods both in 2000 and 2012, exposing the underlying bedrock template along considerable lengths of the river. This bedrock-dominated state was surveyed using aerial LIDAR following the 2012 flood. Long profile data revealed the strong gradient control exerted by the bedrock anastomosed and mixed anastomosed channel types, which creates hydraulic conditions suitable for deposition in the upstream alluvial reaches. The role of these bedrock-influenced channel types on hydraulic character is also revealed in the results of 2D hydraulic modelling of moderate flood (3500 m3s-1) as the bedrock or mixed anastomosed channel type is drowned out, resulting in dramatically increased velocities along the entire river and a general stripping of unconsolidated and consolidated sediments regardless of initial channel type or location

Wall turbulence control

A variety of wall turbulence control devices which were experimentally investigated are discussed; these include devices for burst control, alteration of outer flow structures, large eddy substitution, increased heat transfer efficiency, and reduction of wall pressure fluctuations. Control of pre-burst flow was demonstrated with a single, traveling surface depression which is phase-locked to elements of the burst production process. Another approach to wall turbulence control is to interfere with the outer layer coherent structures. A device in the outer part of a boundary layer was shown to suppress turbulence and reduce drag by opposing both the mean and unsteady vorticity in the boundary layer. Large eddy substitution is a method in which streamline curvature is introduced into the boundary layer in the form of streamwise vortices. Riblets, which were already shown to reduce turbulent drag, were also shown to exhibit superior heat transfer characteristics. Heat transfer efficiency as measured by the Reynolds Analogy Factor was shown to be as much as 36 percent greater than a smooth flat plate in a turbulent boundary layer. Large Eddy Break-Up (LEBU) which are also known to reduce turbulent drag were shown to reduce turbulent wall pressure fluctuation

Aquatic Macroinvertebrates of the White River National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas

The objectives of this study were to survey the diversity of the aquatic macroinvertebrates ofthe White River National Wildlife Refuge (WRNWR) and determine relative abundances and distributional and seasonal patterns. No comprehensive investigation of WRNWR aquatic macroinvertebrates had been conducted previously. Thirty sampling stations were established within WRNWR. Each station was sampled twice, providing 60 totalsamples, for 1.5 man hours witha Turtox Indestructible™ dip net. Three black light trap samples were taken to augment the species list. A total of 15,056 individuials representing 219 taxa was taken by dip net samples during the sampling period October 1989-September 1990. Insects comprised 76% ofthe organisms captured withColeoptera being the dominant group. The most abundant organism for WRNWR was Hydroporus vitlalipennis. Black light samples and literature records each revealed 21 additional taxa bringing the total taxa currently known from WRNWR to 261. Each of the 30 stations was assigned to one of four associations, which were defined by continuity of determined internal and external factors. The Climax-Isolation Association possessed the most stable and complex community structures; isolation by levees and natural boundaries and scarcity of human intervention probably accounted for this. The Congruent Lentic Association embraced communal structures ofgood quality but possessed factors limiting diversity. The Agriculturally Inflicted-White River Tributary Association supported relaItivelysimple aquatic macroinvertebrate communities. Finally, the Restricted Association consisted oftwo stations containingsignificant limiting factors resulting in concomitantly depauperate aquatic macroinvertebrate communities