Water Loss Rates and Desiccation Tolerances for Spiders and Crickets

Despite the importance of water to living organisms, access varies across the globe with high variability over space and time. Seventy-five percent of the world’s freshwater alone is ice while 99% of unfrozen freshwater is underground (Winter et al. 1998). Understanding how terrestrial species respond to water availability and compensate for water stress can provide insight to their behavior, ecology and physiology. The goal of this research was to examine the differences in the evaporative water loss rates and desiccation tolerances of Hogna carolinensis and Acheta domesticus. First, an experiment was conducted to quantify the rate of evaporative water loss of the species Hogna carolinensis and Acheta domesticus. This was done by desiccating twenty specimens of Hogna carolinensis and forty specimens of Acheta domesticus within an environmental chamber set at 30%RH and 30C and measuring their masses until death. Another experiment was conducted to explore how prey hydration influenced predation of Hogna carolinensis. Thirty-nine female specimens of Hogna carolinensis were housed within the environmental chamber under the same conditions, treated to a four day period of starvation and desiccation then fed eight specimens of Acheta domesticus from one of three hydration treatments. Initial observations concluded that there was little difference between how much mass was consumed by the predators across the three treatments

An Empirical Examination of Continuance Intention of Social Network Sites

Social network sites (SNSs) have drawn extensive attention among scholars and practitioners. In this study, we aim at explaining the continuance of SNSs. Specifically, we propose and empirically test a research model of continuance intention to use SNSs. We also examine the relative impacts of SNS-specific motivation factors and social factors derived from the SNS environment on continuance intention to use SNSs. Building upon expectation disconfirmation theory (EDT), our research model was empirically tested with 204 Facebook users through an online survey. While prior studies focus mostly on the SNS-specific motivations, our results demonstrated that social factors derived from the SNS environment play a dominant role in explaining the continuance intention to use SNSs. In particular, this study suggested that perceived critical mass, social presence, and social norms are influential and major factors that determine continuance intention. We believe that this study provides significant contributions to both researchers and practitioners in the context of SNSs

Extreme Altitude Search and Rescue Helicopter

The goal of this design was to develop an extreme altitude rescue helicopter capable of retrieving hikers stranded on top of Mount Everest. Using the Eurocopter AS350 as a baseline, a conceptual model was produced that is fully capable of hovering and delivering forward flight at the desired altitude of 8,848 meters. Combined blade element momentum theory, proper airfoil selection, and forward flight calculations were utilized in order to optimize the rotor for the given flight conditions on top of Mount Everest. Conceptual fluid dynamics and CAD modeling aided in the process of visually designing the fuselage and rotor. Not only are these visual aids available, but they also produced data on how the fuselage and rotor will react to the environment around them. Other analyses were introduced in order to accurately calculate the economic feasibility, the reliability, and the efficiency of the overall system

NASA GIBS and Worldview: Visualizing NASA's Earth Science Data for All to Explore

For more than 20 years, the NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) has operated dozens of remote sensing satellites collecting nearly 15 Petabytes of data that span thousands of science parameters. Within these observations are keys the Earth Scientists have used to unlock many discoveries that we now understand about our planet. Also contained within these observations are a myriad of opportunities for learning and education. The challenge is making them accessible to educators and students in intuitive and simple ways so that effort can be spent on lesson enrichment and not overcoming technical hurdles.The NASA Global Imagery Browse Services (GIBS) system and NASA Worldview interactive mapping site provide a unique view into EOS data through daily full resolution visualizations of hundreds of Earth science parameters. For many of these parameters, visualizations are available within hours of acquisition from the satellite. For others, visualizations are available for the entire mission of the satellite. Accompanying the visualizations are visual aids such as color legends, place names, and orbit tracks. By using these visualizations, educators and students can observe natural phenomena that enrich a scientific education.This presentation will provide an overview of the visualizations available in NASA GIBS and Worldview and how they are accessed. Specific attention will be given to the newer capabilities and accomplishments, including: Support for geostationary sub-daily visualizations, Enhanced support for vector-based visualizations, Improved Worldview tour and snapshot capabilities, New imagery products across a growing set of scientific areas

The Utility of Functional Movement Assessment and Select Clinical Measures in Predicting Injury in NBA Players

Professional basketball has evolved into a contact sport that imparts an incredible physical demand on an athlete’s body. Despite medical advancements and the progression of coaching and training techniques, rate of injury has not declined. Tools such as the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and Y-Balance Test (YBT) have been used to assist in predicting injury, but recent literature has stated that they are better for identifying functional deficits than potential for injury. Certain clinical tests and measures may be helpful in determining which players may be at risk.https://ecommons.udayton.edu/dpt_symposium/1022/thumbnail.jp

Inorganic Materials Synthesis Planning with Literature-Trained Neural Networks

Leveraging new data sources is a key step in accelerating the pace of materials design and discovery. To complement the strides in synthesis planning driven by historical, experimental, and computed data, we present an automated method for connecting scientific literature to synthesis insights. Starting from natural language text, we apply word embeddings from language models, which are fed into a named entity recognition model, upon which a conditional variational autoencoder is trained to generate syntheses for arbitrary materials. We show the potential of this technique by predicting precursors for two perovskite materials, using only training data published over a decade prior to their first reported syntheses. We demonstrate that the model learns representations of materials corresponding to synthesis-related properties, and that the model's behavior complements existing thermodynamic knowledge. Finally, we apply the model to perform synthesizability screening for proposed novel perovskite compounds.Comment: Added new funding support to the acknowledgments section in this versio

Prospectus, September 16, 2015

Many perks to surg tech profession, Speech and Debate Team offers beneficial skills, Students can apply earlier for college aid(AP), California wildfire incinerates homes(AP), ER receives thousand of Tricycle injuries each year(AP), Obama promotes search tool with college-specific data(AP), In Review: Jacksonland: President Andrew Jackson, Cherokee Chief John Ross, and A Great American Land Grab, Seeking ‘16 spark, Walker proposes vast union restrictions(AP), Coach, team reputation: Reasons transfer players choose Parkland College, Ellnora Fest celebrates iconic instrument, Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell wins Miss America pageant(AP),https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2015/1016/thumbnail.jp

Prospectus, December 2, 2015

NO SHAVE NOVEMBER, Parkland Public Safety works to raise cancer awareness, Suicide awareness focus of Parkland-hosted event, Diversity on campus positively impacting the learning environment, Parkland record label looking for musicians, interns(For The Prospectus), President’s oldest daughter among those scoping out colleges(AP), HIV-positive doctor says his dog saved his life(AP), Free community college plans may be template for US(AP), Kids making oral history with StoryCorps holiday project(AP), Bears looking more like playoff team(AP), Former Parkland outfielder awarded Gold Glove, Interim chancellor: Illinois football needed stability(AP), \u27The ABC Murders\u27 As told by Parkland communications students, Harry Potter author talks about Snape(AP), Photographer Annie Leibovitz remakes Pirelli calendar(AP)https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2015/1026/thumbnail.jp

From Mission to Competition: The Experiences of 10 LDS Missionary Student-Athletes Returning to Competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I

The purpose of the current study was to explore the experiences of LDS missionary student-athletes returning to competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (DI). Using Consensual Qualitative Research methods (CQR; Hill, 2012) including a semi-structured interview guide, 10 DI student-athletes/returned LDS missionaries were interviewed regarding their experience (i.e., mean age of 25 years; baseball, cross-country/track and field, football, and swimming). A research team with five members constructed four domains and 16 categories representing DI student-athlete/returned LDS missionary chronological identity changes during this experience: (a) the development of an LDS missionary identity; (b) challenges associated with returning to DI student-athlete identity; (c) benefits of mission identity on DI student-athlete identity; and (d) practical implications for sport psychology professionals and other support staff. Suggestions for future research are also given