Transforming a LAN Party into a Classroom

Twice each semester the second floor of Georgia Southern University\u27s IT Building transforms from classrooms and computer labs into the university\u27s largest student gaming event. Georgia Southern University\u27s chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) -- under the close supervision of IT faculty -- hosts the LAN party-style event with an open invitation to the entire student body to come play games, enjoy pizza and Monster drinks, and socialize with other gamers. With over thirty-five of these events under their belt, the faculty have found unique ways to spark learning and generate teachable moments with the students throughout the event

Comparison of three methods of evaluating carcasses of bulls, steers, and heifers

One of the greatest contributions that could be made in beef cattle evaluation would be a simple and accurate method for estimating cutability in the live animal. If such a method were developed, more rapid improvement in muscling and cutability of beef cattle could follow. The major characteristics which aid in the prediction of cutability possibly have been identified; however, other live animal and carcass characteristics should be researched to determine their value in pre-dicting cutability. The annual per capita beef consumption in the United States is approximately 100 pounds. It has been estimated that 88 out of every 100 people in the United States eat beef. Future demands for beef will require that it have desirable eating quality and come from carcasses with an excellent ratio of muscle to fat. These demands will require the maximum efforts of the breeder and feeder to produce a product that will have a high yield of retail cuts with desirable quality and finish. Therefore, the beef cattle industry must continue to search for new ideas which will enable their product to meet these demands of the consumer. Several methods are available for evaluating beef carcasses, but a comparison of three of the best known methods (USDA Cutability Formula, Wisconsin Per Cent Retail Yield, and Tennessee Simplified Method) was deemed most appropriate to use in this study. These are more frequently mentioned in the literature and the factors involved are relatively easy to obtain. The main objective of this study was to compare these three cutability prediction methods to the actual yield of semi-boneless retail cuts and determine which method was the most accurate. The relationships of carcass measurements other than those used in the three prediction equations to retail cut yields also were determined

High Performance Computing: Considerations When Deciding To Rent Or Buy

The commercial cloud computing (CCC) industry has reached a level of maturity to make it a truly viable alternative to the traditional, in-house data center. Although there are many notable examples of CCC platforms and technologies being piloted for high performance computing (HPC) tasks, it has yet to enter the mainstream. A variety of obstacles exist which have slowed or hindered adoption of CCC platforms, including implementation complexity, cost confusion, and security concerns. This paper describes the author’s experiences in using CCC for various HPC tasks and compares the results to the same tasks being executed on in-house computing resources. The breakpoint at which CCC becomes more costly than in-house equipment is identified. Lastly, a series of “lessons learned” are presented to assist researchers in effectively interacting with CCC vendors and platforms

How to Conduct Cloud-Based Student Labs in Your Classroom

This workshop uses hands-on exercises to show participants how the cloud can be an effective and cost-saving platform for student laboratory exercises. Participants will learn how to create their own virtual computer on Amazon\u27s cloud platform, then use the server to 1) publish their own web site and 2) run a short molecular modeling simulation using the PSI4 software, all in just a few minutes. We will also show participants how to find and decipher cloud platform pricing models, for a better idea of how much cloud computing will cost instructors and/or their students. Note: An Amazon\u27s AWS free tier account (http://aws.amazon.com/free/) will be required to participate in the workshop. The workshop will only use free tier services, so attendees will not incur any costs for participating. We strongly recommend you sign up a few days prior to the workshop. Amazon AWS does not typically have instant approval for new customers

Medical Applications of MRC

Consistent powering is a limiting reagent for many medical implants and sensors. Powering in-vivo devices in animal studies requires either transcutaneous wiring (limiting mobility and increasing the chance of infection) or an implanted battery (limited lifetime and limits size of device). Wireless power transfer (WPT) would be able to overcome these challenges and permit the use of more advanced implantable devices in a research setting. Magnetic resonance coupling (MRC), an advanced form of inductive charging, allows good transfer efficiencies over significant air gaps, but works best a specific location and frequency, limiting mobility in animal studies. Using band-pass filter theory, an MRC system was simulated and optimized, as well as a design for a continuous WPT animal cage system utilizing MRC with 896 cm2. Both the frequency response and the actual power transfer of the systems were tested; downstream rectification circuitry was also developed to demonstrate WPT. Results indicate using multiple coils in series in a circle orthogonal to the individual coils produced a homogenous magnetic field and frequency response, and using passive coils increased coupling and efficient power transfer. While MRC is traditionally not a robust system, our results show the application can be extended charging over a wide range of space, allowing animal mobility and current experiments to be aided with electronic implants

Alu Dimorphism at the PV92 Locus of Chromosome 16 is in Equilibrium for University Student Population

Alu is a retrotransposable element, which refers to its ability to be copied and move from one region of DNA to another DNA region. At the PV92 locus of chromosome 16, Alu is a 300 bp dimorphic insert that can either be present or absent. It does not encode a protein product and has lost the ability to transpose. It is specific to humans, and differences in genotype and allele frequencies between human populations are important tools in understanding evolution. In this research, data was obtained and analyzed from 269 students at Charleston Southern University (CSU) belonging to four different races: Asian, Black, Hispanic/Latino, and White. Standard molecular biology procedures were used to isolate DNA from epithelial cheek cells, detect Alu inserts using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and determine genotypes by gel electrophoresis. Statistical analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel, and chi square and Hardy-Weinberg equations were used to test for goodness of fit and equilibrium, respectively. The results were separated by genotypes: homozygous present, heterozygous, or homozygous absent. Homozygous absent was the most common genotype. Results were further separated into categories of gender and race. No significant genotype differences were found between male and female or between Black and White students. Nevertheless, there were significant differences between all other race combinations. Hardy-Weinberg calculations indicate that mutations, natural selection, nonrandom mating, genetic drift, and gene flow are negligible, and the overall student population at CSU is in equilibrium

CASE STUDY: LESSONS LEARNED WHILE LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR A HIGH SCHOOL COMPUTER SCIENCE CURRICULUM

Parents, business leaders, and politicians agree that computer science (CS) education is a critical and necessary component of U.S. high school curriculum. Today however, key indicators, such as course offerings and participation in CS-related advanced placement exams, point to a significant lack of K-12 CS curriculum. Statesboro High School in Bulloch County, Georgia does not currently offer any formal CS-related course, making it a prime example of this gap. Faculty from both the high school and Georgia Southern University’s Department of Information Technology decided to work together to 1) demonstrate the need for a CS curriculum, 2) demonstrate the desire for CS-related courses, and 3) begin laying the foundation for a structured CS program conforming to Georgia state policy and guidelines

EXPLORING USER PRIVACY BASED ON HUMAN BEHAVIOR WITH INTERNET OF THINGS DEVICES AT HOME (FORMATIVE RESEARCH)

The proposed research initiative is aimed at investigating potential security and privacy vulnerabilities in home based Internet of Things (IoT) smart devices, such as Amazon Echo, Google Home, and smart home appliances, by analyzing the type, nature, and frequency of its encrypted, network communications. Such communications may reveal private information about the activities occurring within a home, as well as behaviors, relationships, and habits. Regardless of the quality of encryption used for network communications, digital messages expose certain information in much the same way as a sealed envelope sent via the postal service. The results of this formative research initiative will encourage better design of future home based IoT smart devices for security and privacy, as well as educate consumers on risks

Negotiating Navy construction contracts.

http://archive.org/details/negotiatingnavyc00thacNAN