Automatic Dynamic Aircraft Modeler (ADAM) for the Computer Program NASTRAN

Large general purpose finite element programs require users to develop large quantities of input data. General purpose pre-processors are used to decrease the effort required to develop structural models. Further reduction of effort can be achieved by specific application pre-processors. Automatic Dynamic Aircraft Modeler (ADAM) is one such application specific pre-processor. General purpose pre-processors use points, lines and surfaces to describe geometric shapes. Specifying that ADAM is used only for aircraft structures allows generic structural sections, wing boxes and bodies, to be pre-defined. Hence with only gross dimensions, thicknesses, material properties and pre-defined boundary conditions a complete model of an aircraft can be created

Identification of Critical Water Levels in Flooded Rice Fields

A mathematical model was developed to simulate the transient hydrology of a flooded rice field. With the model, users can determine the critical interlevee areas in which to monitor the water levels so that the irrigation well can be turned on at the critical low water level, and turned off at the critical high water level, in order to maximize water application efficiency. Sensitivity analysis performed with the model showed that it will be necessary to calibrate the model for each specific field. A calibration procedure has been developed

Development of a Combined Quantity and Quality Model for Optimal Management of Unsteady Groundwater Flow Fields

Presented are alternative techniques for including conservative solute transport within computer models for optimizing groundwater extraction rates. Unsteady two-dimensional flow and dispersed conservative solute transport are assumed. Comparisons are made of the practicality of including modified forms of implicit and explicit finite difference solute transport equations within optimization models. These equations can be calibrated and subsequently used within a MODCON procedure. The MODCON modelling procedure consists of an integrated series of five optimization or simulation modules. The procedure is applicable for either an entire aquifer system or for a subsystem of a larger system. The first module, A, computes physically feasible recharge rates across the boundaries of the modelled subsystem. Module B computes optimal extraction rates without considering groundwater quality. Module C uses method of characteristics simulation to compute solute transport that would result from implementing the pumping strategy of model B. Module D uses linear goal programming and nonlinear solute transport equations to calibrate linear coefficients. It attempts to duplicate the solute transport predicted by module C. Calibration is performed because coarsely discretized implicit or explicit solute transport equations may not be as accurate as the method of characteristics. Module E includes appropriate calibrated equations of module D as well as the flow equations of module B. It computes an optimal pumping (extraction or recharge) strategy that can satisfy future groundwater contaminant concentration criteria. Testing of the validity of this optimal pumping strategy is subsequently accomplished using module C. If necessary, one may cycle through modules C, D and E until convergence is obtained--until concentrations resulting from implementing the strategy of E are demonstrated to be acceptable

Building pathfinders with screen capture tools

This article outlines freely available screen capturing tools, covering their benefits and drawbacks as well as their potential applications. In discussing these tools, the author illustrates how they can be used to build pathfinding tutorials for users and how these tutorials can be shared with users. The author notes that the availability of these screen capturing tools at no cost, coupled with their ease of use, provides ample opportunity for low-stakes experimentation from library staff in building dynamic pathfinders to promote the discovery of library resources

Dynamics of myosin, microtubules, and Kinesin-6 at the cortex during cytokinesis in Drosophila S2 cells

© The Authors, 2009 . This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License. The definitive version was published in Journal of Cell Biology 186 (2009): 727-738, doi:10.1083/jcb.200902083.Signals from the mitotic spindle during anaphase specify the location of the actomyosin contractile ring during cytokinesis, but the detailed mechanism remains unresolved. Here, we have imaged the dynamics of green fluorescent protein–tagged myosin filaments, microtubules, and Kinesin-6 (which carries activators of Rho guanosine triphosphatase) at the cell cortex using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy in flattened Drosophila S2 cells. At anaphase onset, Kinesin-6 relocalizes to microtubule plus ends that grow toward the cortex, but refines its localization over time so that it concentrates on a subset of stable microtubules and along a diffuse cortical band at the equator. The pattern of Kinesin-6 localization closely resembles where new myosin filaments appear at the cortex by de novo assembly. While accumulating at the equator, myosin filaments disappear from the poles of the cell, a process that also requires Kinesin-6 as well as possibly other signals that emanate from the elongating spindle. These results suggest models for how Kinesin-6 might define the position of cortical myosin during cytokinesis.This work was supported by a National Institutes of Health grant NIH 38499 to R.D. Vale

Assessment tool or edutainment toy

The use of Clickers as a tool for library instruction has been growing in popularity because library instructors view this technology as a mechanism to foster interactivity within library instruction sessions in order to increase overall student engagement. However, a newly emerging area of interest for library instructors is the use of Clickers as a tool for library instruction assessment. This paper posits some of the viewpoints of various instructors using Clickers including the viewpoints of library instructors. The central question considered in this paper is whether Clickers are an effective and feasible tool for library instruction assessment. This examination extends further in considering the value of Clicker systems against the value of traditional paper-based methods for library instruction assessment. An example of a substantial library instruction assessment initiative at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Libraries is provided as a case for consideration of the current feasibility of Clicker systems for library instruction assessment. Additionally, differing configurations for Clicker systems are outlined as are various alternatives to Clickers currently available in the interest of presenting scalable options for library instructors