Regional and global hydrology and water resources issues: The role of international and national programs

This paper presents an overview of water resources issues in the context of world population growth, climate change, and variability, and provides examples of how these issues affect local and regional water policy concerns. Also discussed is the associated research of the international scientific community in regard to physically-based modeling of the hydrological cycle, with special focus on the Global Energy and Water cycle EXperiment (GEWEX) Programme. The critical role of precipitation measurements for climate model accuracy is emphasized, with a review of several satellite methods and strategies for improving precipitation measurements. Finally, the impact of semiarid regions on global hydrologic issues is underscored with a review of research conducted by SAHRA, the National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center dedicated to Sustainability of semi-Add Hydrology and Riparian Areas

Characterization of ASEC BSR 2 ohm-cm silicon solar cells with dielectric wraparound contacts as a function of temperature and intensity

Twenty high performance BSR 2 ohm-cm silicon solar cells manufactured by ASEC were evaluated at 1 AU conditions and at low temperature and low intensities representative of deep space. These cells showed evidence of series resistance of 1 AU conditions and approximately 50% had reduced power outputs under deep space conditions. Average efficiency of these cells was 12.4% of 1 AU conditions of 1 SC/+25 C

Adequacy of End-of-life Care Knowledge & Skills in Nursing Education: Investigation into Family and Nurse’s Experiences in the Critical Care Setting, Educational Needs of Nurses and Barriers to Adequate Education

In America there’s a paradoxical relationship with dying and death; it’s the one thing that is guaranteed, but often also denied. The stigma surrounding death partly contributes to the lack of training that healthcare professionals receive during their education; the other part is the primary focus in healthcare on curing. Most people will die in the hospital, particularly Intensive Care Units (ICUs) (Holms, Milligan & Kydd, 2014). Being as death and dying have a role in healthcare it would seem to be integral that healthcare professionals would have some education in End-of-Life-Care (EOLC), however it is just the opposite. Across the nation healthcare professionals get minimal, EOLC training (Jo & An, 2015). According to recent literature, the lack of education on EOLC, leads to a lack of confidence in healthcare professionals, which leads to the inability to be able to care and communicate with the patient and families effectively to address their needs during this time transition. This project discusses the lived experiences of healthcare providers and of the families who’s loved ones died in the ICU setting, the need for education and training of healthcare professionals across the nation, and the barriers for health professionals to get adequate training. Families and healthcare professionals alike express the need to have properly trained/educated healthcare professionals in hospitals. Adequate training increases the confidence of healthcare professional’s and their abilities to provide EOLC, and be able to communicate and address the needs of the patient and family. Healthcare professionals with EOLC training contribute to positive experiences to the patients and their families. Reference: Holms, N., Milligan, S. & Kydd, A. (2014). A study of the lived experiences of registered nurses who have provided end-of-life care within the intensive care unit. Internationals Journal Of Palliative Nursing, 20(11), 549-556. doi:10.12968/ijpn.2014.20.11.549 Jo, K.H., & An, G.J. (2015). Effect of end-of-life education using the humanistic approach in Korea. Collegian, 22(1), 91-97. doi: 10.1016/j.colegn.2013.11.00

Using a Performance Consistency Model to Explain Variations in Test-Retest Performance

Subtest-level interpretation of intelligence tests is necessary for understanding the relationship between cognitive deficiencies and academic problems and for designing interventions based on assessment results. However, the practice of subtest interpretation continues to be discouraged by those who claim that subtests have poor reliability and thus minimal interpretative power. This perception of subtest instability may be the result of misguided conceptions of reliability and not actual properties of subtests. With this in mind, the present study sought to determine the extent to which a neuropsychologically based performance model fit WISC-IV subtest test-retest data and offered an alternate means of understanding and interpreting the concept of subtest reliability. Higher rates of score progression versus regression were demonstrated for all subtests regardless of whether or not time 1 scores were above or below the mean. Rates of score increases from time 1 to time 2 varied based on the neuropsychological basis of the task being assessed. Results suggest that a neuropsychologically based performance model is superior to a traditional psychometric model for representing WISC-IV subtest reliability and the manner in which individuals use their brains when they engage tasks

Analyzing the Use of Agricultural Literacy Assessments: A Descriptive Study of the Implementation of the Judd-Murray and the Longhurst-Murray Agricultural Literacy Instruments

The purpose of this study was to provide a descriptive snapshot of how the JMALI and LMALI agricultural literacy assessment instruments have been implemented within the United States. It was concluded that the greatest number of respondents used the assessment instruments as formal assessment diagnostic tools to determine agricultural knowledge and improve instruction. When assessments are used as intended, the likelihood they will effectively achieve their intended goals increases. This study was the first step in determining how agricultural literacy assessments are currently being used. However, future research should focus on improving the collection of agriculture literacy assessment scores and on how the scores can be used to accurately determine gaps in knowledge and support filling those gaps

Blended E85-diesel fuel droplet heating and evaporation

The multidimensional quasi-discrete (MDQD) model is applied to the analysis of heating and evaporation of mixtures of E85 (85 vol % ethanol and 15 vol % gasoline) with diesel fuel, commonly known as “E85–diesel” blends, using the universal quasi-chemical functional group activity coefficients model for the calculation of vapor pressure. The contribution of 119 components of E85–diesel fuel blends is taken into account, but replaced with smaller number of components/quasi-components, under conditions representative of diesel engines. Our results show that high fractions of E85–diesel fuel blends have a significant impact on the evolutions of droplet radii and surface temperatures. For instance, droplet lifetime and surface temperature for a blend of 50 vol % E85 and 50 vol % diesel are 23.2% and up to 3.4% less than those of pure diesel fuel, respectively. The application of the MDQD model has improved the computational efficiency significantly with minimal sacrifice to accuracy. This approach leads to a saving of up to 86.4% of CPU time when reducing the 119 components to 16 components/quasi-components without a sacrifice to the main features of the model

Explaining accommodation and resistance in Kentucky

Article written by Rebecca S. Katz and Stephen Whitaker and published in the 2001 issue of Crime, Law & Social Change, pages 295-318