Data preparation and visualization for the SWAN refraction model

Includes bibliographical references.This research and development project seeks to provide a usable interactive graphical interface to an environment that otherwise involves primarily numerical data in a static, non-interactive format. Tools will be developed that enable users to prepare numerical data required for the SWAN refraction model and to visualize the results in an interactivie three-dimensional graphical context. SWAN (acronym for Simulating Waves Near shore) is a numerical wave model that is used to predict wave parameters according to a given set of conditions. The design of the 2-D and 3-D graphical interfaces and their impact on the system will be discussed

Soil bacteria: Metabolic diversity in a Wildlife Management Area

This research is part of a larger study linking the soil microbiome and processes to the aboveground plant community. Soil samples were collected from six plots under closed canopy in the Sheffield Wildlife management area in the Piedmont ecoregion of Georgia in Paulding County. Two of the plots were located in the longleaf pine savanna where restoration of longleaf pine has been in place since 2010. Samples were collected in sterile plastic tubes at the center of each plot and 10 meters above and below the center. For each sample, soil pH and the concentration of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), were determined. We found that overall soils were slightly to moderately acidic and NPK content was low to moderate. To establish the community level physiological profile of soil samples we used BIOLOG EcoPlates™ whereby soil samples were incubated in triplicate in plates containing 31 different carbon sources. Active metabolism was established spectroscopically by the development of a purple coloration and the data analyzed using statistical methods in order to generate a preliminary “metabolic fingerprint” of soil communities. Our results from metabolic profiles suggest that sites may host a diverse soil population or that the microbiota may use a wide variety of carbon sources. Combined with additional information on the taxonomic diversity of the soil microbiome and changes in the above ground community of plants, this research will broaden understanding of ecological processes and help inform management practices for the restoration of the endangered longleaf pine community

Frequency over function : raised levels of CD127low/- regulatory T cells in the tumour microenvironment compared with the periphery of head and neck cancer patients

Objective: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are known to infiltrate the tumour microenvironment of many cancers, including head and neck malignancies, and are thought to contribute to the host's impaired anti-tumour immune response. However, their immunosuppressive function remains poorly understood within the tumour microenvironment and this study aimed to address this. Methods: The frequency and suppressive capacity of two CD4?CD127low/- Treg populations, separated on the basis of different levels of CD25 expression (CD25inter and CD25high), from the tumour/node microenvironment and peripheral circulation of newly-presenting head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients (n=19), were assessed using multicolour flow cytometry. Results: The proportion of Tregs (CD4?CD25high/?interCD127low/-) in the tumour/node microenvironment was significantly elevated compared with the peripheral circulation (p<0.001) and similar percentages were present in both the primary tumour and metastatic lymph node. The percentage of suppression induced by Tregs isolated from tumour associated nodes on the proliferation of nodal effector T cells was similar to that of peripheral Tregs on peripheral effector T cells. However, when the suppressive activity of both nodal and peripheral Tregs was compared on the same peripheral effectors, peripheral Tregs suppressed proliferation to a greater extent. Conclusion: This work shows that the recruitment and percentages of tumour infiltrating Tregs are key factors in modulating the immune environment of head and neck tumours

Humanitarian Logistics: Shipping Designs for the Post Disaster Cargo Surge

In 2017 Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico. The humanitarian aid community scrambled a response to support the 3.4 million people affected by the disaster. In response, thousands of shipping containers filled with supplies were sent to the island. Numerous reports surfaced regarding significant delays in receiving the shipments. This research reviews the historical account of cargo throughput into Puerto Rico following Maria. A computer simulation built in ARENA compares various what-if scenarios based on empirically collected data and interviews with FEMA, port authorities, and commercial cargo carriers to determine how the humanitarian supply chain could improve for future disaster planning. An additional goal of this research is to better inform humanitarian logisticians who must balance near-term disaster response demands with long term recovery concerns

Structural Optimization of Joined-Wing Beam Model with Bend-Twist Coupling Using Equivalent Static Loads

This study is based on the merger of two separate theories to further the efficiency with which joined-wing structural models are designed. The first theory is Geometrically Exact Beam Theory (GEBT). GEBT is a small strain beam theory which is capable of accurately capturing the geometric bend-twist coupling in beam elements that are experiencing large global deformations. This is crucial to the joined-wing problem as it is geometrically nonlinear. The second theory concerns Equivalent Static Loads (ESL). These ESL consist of a load vector that produces the same nodal displacements and rotations as those computed from a pure nonlinear analysis. The ESL displacements and rotations are then used to calculate ESL stresses. By merging these two theories into a single structural optimization effort, computational cost is reduced by orders of magnitude when compared to purely nonlinear response optimization efforts. It is shown that the final design obtained by the optimization is the same for both types of analysis. The final result is a much simpler model than a detailed finite element model of the joined-wing aircraft that can be optimized without significant loss in fidelity in a fraction of the time required for a single nonlinear response optimization cycle using finite element analysis

China: a critical decade

China’s consumption of coal could reach a peak by 2020, or even earlier, as part of its plans to pursue more sustainable economic growth. The policy paper by Fergus Green and Nicholas Stern notes that discussions are already taking place in China about the possibility of setting a target for ending the rise in its annual consumption of coal before the end of its 13th Five-Year Plan, which will cover the period from 2016 to 2020. The paper states: “China could intensify its efforts to reduce its reliance on coal, in the form of a plan to peak its coal consumption by 2020 (or earlier), as has been suggested as a possibility in some discussions occurring in China, and phase it out thereafter”. Paper based on a presentation by Lord Stern to the China Development Forum in March 2014, points out that limiting coal consumption could have substantial benefits for China’s economy, including a cut in the risk of shocks to the supply of energy, reduced pressure on its water supplies, an improvement in air quality, and the mitigation of climate change. Phasing out the use of coal could be achieved through clear planning regulations and a coal tax, which could potentially raise revenue equivalent to between 7 and 9 per cent of China’s GDP to invest in low-carbon innovation and infrastructure, to protect poorer people from the impacts of the transition to low-carbon economic growth, and to reduce other taxes. The paper also suggests that effective planning to promote the growth of compact and energy-efficient cities with good public transport “is likely to be essential to China’s future environmental and economic success”. The paper states: “China’s ambitions for more sustainable growth, its urbanisation plans, and its strategic emerging industry policy suggest the potential for a powerful vision: over a billion people living and working in appealing cities, in which services, high-technology industries, and innovation are the engines of growth and prosperity”. However, the paper also warns that “achieving these benefits will require major structural changes, with some inevitable dislocation, in the short term” in China’s economy. It concludes: “At present there is ignorance in many places over China’s plans and achievements. China can develop its influence by informing the world of its plans as its 13th Five-Year Plan is developed. China’s contributions are credible given past performance and do not necessarily have to be expressed in formal treaty terms. They could be expressed in terms of a range of outcomes, the upper bound of which could reflect ambitious yet likely achievable goals on emissions, coal consumption and low-carbon technology, although it would be recognised that these could not be guaranteed.” “Contributions of this nature by China could raise substantially the likelihood of more ambitious mitigation action by developed and other emerging economies. China would be well-positioned to both lead and share in much of the resulting global growth and would benefit immensely from the associated reduction in risks from climate damages.