Powers and Behaviors of Directed Self-assembly

In nature there are a variety of self-assembling systems occurring at varying scales which give rise to incredibly complex behaviors. Theoretical models of self-assembly allow us to gain insight into the fundamental nature of self-assembly independent of the specific physical implementation. In Winfree\u27s abstract tile assembly model (aTAM), the atomic components are unit square tiles which have glues on their four sides. Beginning from a seed assembly, these tiles attach one at a time during the assembly process in an asynchronous and nondeterministic manner. We can gain valuable insights into the nature of self-assembly by comparing different models of self-assembly which use fundamentally different mechanisms for local interactions. A powerful notion which allows us to compare models of self-assembly is simulation. The first result of this thesis examines the role of non-determinism in simulation. It shows that the universal simulation of directed aTAM systems requires undirectedness. A tile assembly model is said to be directed if it always assembles the same final assembly. We distinguish between two types of aTAM systems: cooperative systems and non-cooperative systems. In cooperative aTAM systems, we are able to enforce that in order for a tile to attach to an assembly, the glues of a tile must match two or more glues of neighboring tiles. On the other hand, in non-cooperative aTAM systems, tiles are able to attach to an assembly provided that one of the tile\u27s glues match an exposed glue on the assembly. It is well known that the cooperative aTAM is computationally universal, and it is conjectured that the non-cooperative aTAM is not computationally universal. For our second result, we show that if we allow tiles to be polygons with six or more sides, then the class of non-cooperative systems is capable of universal computation. On the other hand, we show that the class of systems consisting of polygons with six or less sides is not capable of computing using any of the currently known methods

Simple Sprinkler Performance Testing tor Millard County

This fact sheet describes how to perform a site inspection and a sprinkler test so you can irrigate your landscape more efficiently, and provides an irrigation schedue for Millard County

Simple Sprinkler Performance Testing for Piute County

This fact sheet gives homeowners information on making landscape irrigation systems more efficient using a site inspection, a sprinkler performance test and an appropriate irrigation schedule

Resilience Only Gets You So Far: Volunteer Incivility and Burnout

Although multiple factors have been found to induce burnout in volunteers, studies examining relationships among volunteer coworkers as a potential stressor are sorely lacking. Through the lens of conservation of resources (COR) theory, we investigated coworker (i.e., from both paid and unpaid coworkers) incivility as a predictor of burnout in a sample of volunteers. COR theory postulates that environmental stressors lead to burnout or other negative outcomes by depleting an individual’s resources. The present study also explored resilient coping as one factor that might help volunteers cope with the burnout emanating from incivility. Using regression, we found that incivility from paid and unpaid coworkers was positively associated with burnout. Resilient coping was tested and confirmed as a moderator of this relationship. Specifically, resilient coping was a useful buffer when the relationship between incivility and volunteer burnout was weaker, but was less effective at higher levels of incivility and burnout. Implications are discussed

Simple Sprinkler Performance Testing for Fillmore, Utah

This fact sheet describes how to perform a site inspection and a sprinkler test so you can irrigate your landscape more efficiently, and provides an irrigation schedule for Fillmore, Utah

Germination responses of a dry sclerophyll forest soil-stored seedbank to fire related cues

Fire is an integral component of many ecosystems worldwide. Many plant species require fire-related cues, primarily heat and smoke, to trigger germination. Despite the importance of this process, the responses of many Australian species to these cues are unknown. Without this knowledge fire management strategies may be developed that are inappropriate for individual species and vegetation communities. In this study we examined the responses of a dry sclerophyll forest seed bank to heat and smoke germination cues. Analysis was possible for 48 taxa within the soil seedbank with 34 of these showing a response to one or both of the germination cues. 10 species responded to the heat treatment, 11 species responded to the smoke treatment and 13 species responded to both the heat and smoke treatments. Germination cues acted independently for all species considered. Results in this study were consistent with published reports for most species, although some differences were seen at the species and genus level. The study highlights the importance of fire-related cues in enhancing germination of a large proportion of the species occurring in dry sclerophyll forests

Collective Impact Strategies: Introduction to the Special Issue

The societal and cultural issues facing humanity are far greater than any nonprofit, for-profit, university, or government agency to address adequately alone. Whether poverty, water shortages, socio-economic inequality, natural disasters with lasting effects, or any number of other challenges facing our communities, organizations must band together to secure the impact needed to truly create change. Increasingly, communities are turning to collective impact as an approach that brings together the collective resources of multiple institutions to address a community-identified problem or need. While a somewhat new approach, there is a growing body of evidence of supporting the effectiveness of using the collective impact approach to addressing wicked problems (Bridgeland et al., 2012; Christens & Inzeo, 2015; Kania, Hanleybrown, & Splansky Juster, 2014). As anchor institutions, Metropolitan Universities have a unique opportunity and responsibility to initiate and promote social change in a way that also advances their mission. Unlike other institutions for higher education, Metropolitan Universities are most suited for targeting social change because of the type of communities they serve and their location within large municipalities. Participating in collective impact is increasingly seen as one approach to this. This issue includes case studies and practical papers to prepare Metropolitan University administrators, faculty, and staff to initiate, facilitate, and strengthen collective impact initiatives in their communities

Moving Toward a Collective Impact Effort: The Volunteer Program Assessment

Volunteers are essential to the operation of many nonprofits, but some experience challenges in retaining their volunteer workforce. The Volunteer Program Assessment (VPA) seeks to address this issue by helping organizations to identify strengths, growth areas, and recommendations for improving volunteer experiences. To maximize the effectiveness of VPA’s mission, the organization is moving toward a collective impact (CI) approach. Although not developed as a CI effort, the program currently exemplifies many of its characteristics, which have been instrumental in expanding reach to more organizations. We examine VPA’s alignment with collective impact and outline how VPA will continue to improve efforts

Democracy in Teacher Education: Learning from Preservice Teachers’ Understandings and Perspectives

This article provides an overview of a teacher education inquiry project focused on teaching in a democracy. The research was conducted by the faculty in a university educational studies/foundations department (EDST) as they engaged in a curriculum development and implementation project designed to better prepare teachers for democratic participation and teaching. In this context, ongoing curriculum examination and revision and embedded data collection and analysis are utilized as important activities in evolving a curriculum delivered to teacher education candidates. This article includes an overview of theoretical perspectives that guide and inform teacher education efforts in this department and presents a summary of a democracy focused curricular initiative. Findings from this study of candidates’ understandings and perspectives on teaching in and for democracy are presented and discussed. Both quantitative and qualitative data were utilized to develop a picture of candidates’ current knowledge, skills and dispositions related to democratic teaching. Analysis and interpretation yielded seven research findings that illustrate the perspectives of teacher education candidates specific to: democratic ideals, orientations, experiences, challenges, pedagogical tools, competency, and schools. These findings will inform curricular, instructional, and programmatic adaptations

AUSFTA and its implications for the Australian stock market

This paper investigates whether current and future domestic and United States macroeconomic variables can explain long and short run stock returns in Australia. This is undertaken with a view to examining the potential implications of the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA). America is included in the analysis as a “foreign influence”. In the recent past it has been Australia’s second largest trading partner after Japan. The long run relationship tested in this study is based on the present value model of stock prices, which is tested using a range of cointegration and causality tests. These include the Johansen ML test, Long Run Structural Modelling, a Vector Error Correction Model and Variance Decomposition. A present value model based on domestic and external economic variables is estimated for the Australian market. American economic activity does not currently have a significant influence on Australian stock markets in the long run and is less influential than domestic economic activity. However, we would expect this to become more significant in the future, as a result of the dismantling of trade barriers in financial services and investments which will be associated with the implementation of AUSFTA