Effects of bubbles on the electrochemical behavior of hydrogen-evolving Si microwire arrays oriented against gravity

The size-distribution, coverage, electrochemical impedance, and mass-transport properties of H₂ gas-bubble films were measured for both planar and microwire-array platinized n⁺-Si cathodes performing the hydrogen-evolution reaction in 0.50 M H₂SO₄ (aq). Inverted, planar n⁺-Si/Ti/Pt cathodes produced large, stationary bubbles which contributed to substantial increases in ohmic potential drops. In contrast, regardless of orientation, microwire array n⁺-Si/Ti/Pt cathodes exhibited a smaller layer of bubbles on the surface, and the formation of bubbles did not substantially increase the steady-state overpotential for H₂ (g) production. Experiments using an electroactive tracer species indicated that even when oriented against gravity, bubbles enhanced mass transport at the electrode surface. Microconvection due to growing and coalescing bubbles dominated effects due to macroconvection of gliding bubbles on Si microwire array cathodes. Electrodes that maintained a large number of small bubbles on the surface simultaneously exhibited low concentrations of dissolved hydrogen and small ohmic potential drops, thus exhibiting the lowest steady-state overpotentials. The results indicate that microstructured electrodes can operate acceptably for unassisted solar-driven water splitting in the absence of external convection and can function regardless of the orientation of the electrode with respect to the gravitational force vector

Preparing Earth Data Scientists for 'The Sexiest Job of the 21st Century'

What Exactly do Earth Data Scientists do, and What do They Need to Know, to do It? There is not one simple answer, but there are many complex answers. Data Science, and data analytics, are new and nebulas, and takes on different characteristics depending on: The subject matter being analyzed, the maturity of the research, and whether the employed subject specific analytics is descriptive, diagnostic, discoveritive, predictive, or prescriptive, in nature. In addition, in a, thus far, business driven paradigm shift, university curriculums teaching data analytics pertaining to Earth science have, as a whole, lagged behind, andor have varied in approach.This presentation attempts to breakdown and identify the many activities that Earth Data Scientists, as a profession, encounter, as well as provide case studies of specific Earth Data Scientist and data analytics efforts. I will also address the educational preparation, that best equips future Earth Data Scientists, needed to further Earth science heterogeneous data research and applications analysis. The goal of this presentation is to describe the actual need for Earth Data Scientists and the practical skills to perform Earth science data analytics, thus hoping to initiate discussion addressing a baseline set of needed expertise for educating future Earth Data Scientists

Writing Program Directors\u27 Perceptions of Factors Promoting Writing Programs

Although California grows more socially and ethnically diverse, and its public universities serve this changing population, spending in higher education has been cut over the past few years. In this context, crucial departments such as writing programs, which offer all students the opportunity to build their communication skills while bringing their unique perspectives to traditional theories, have been under pressure for their higher cost than traditional lecture-style and new online courses. Further, writing programs are not always perceived as a source of institutional prestige. This study starts with critical pedagogy: the idea that education is social change. The study then assumes writing programs enable critical pedagogy by engaging students’ own experiences while teaching students the tools of communicating effectively to help drive social change for themselves and their communities. Leaders at California universities thus effectively promote or restrict critical pedagogy by cutting or growing writing programs. Using the lens of leadership theory, the decisions of these leaders ultimately demonstrates how they value student voices and engagement and the long-term social impact of their institution. At five public California universities, writing program directors were interviewed and institutional reviews performed to evaluate local leadership practices. Key factors that supported writing programs were an emphasis on workforce development and a student-centered mission. Universities with an emphasis on research and on increasing their selectivity tended to put pressure on their writing programs. From the perspective of leadership theory, servant leaders aligned with a strong writing program whereas transformational leaders yielded mixed results, depending on whether the mission of the institution prioritized the writing programs. Writing programs provide two essential benefits to students. First, writing is an essential skill for participating in the workforce and obtaining access to economic and social capital. Second, writing programs, although not ensuring critical pedagogy will take place at the university, help enable access to empowerment for driving social change to serve communities through active engagement with academic theory. For California public universities to adapt to the increasing diversity and evolving educational needs of students, writing programs need to remain funded and active

Deriving Earth Science Data Analytics Requirements

Data Analytics applications have made successful strides in the business world where co-analyzing extremely large sets of independent variables have proven profitable. Today, most data analytics tools and techniques, sometimes applicable to Earth science, have targeted the business industry. In fact, the literature is nearly absent of discussion about Earth science data analytics. Earth science data analytics (ESDA) is the process of examining large amounts of data from a variety of sources to uncover hidden patterns, unknown correlations, and other useful information. ESDA is most often applied to data preparation, data reduction, and data analysis. Co-analysis of increasing number and volume of Earth science data has become more prevalent ushered by the plethora of Earth science data sources generated by US programs, international programs, field experiments, ground stations, and citizen scientists.Through work associated with the Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) Federation, ESDA types have been defined in terms of data analytics end goals. Goals of which are very different than those in business, requiring different tools and techniques. A sampling of use cases have been collected and analyzed in terms of data analytics end goal types, volume, specialized processing, and other attributes. The goal of collecting these use cases is to be able to better understand and specify requirements for data analytics tools and techniques yet to be implemented. This presentation will describe the attributes and preliminary findings of ESDA use cases, as well as provide early analysis of data analytics toolstechniques requirements that would support specific ESDA type goals. Representative existing data analytics toolstechniques relevant to ESDA will also be addressed

Visualization of and Access to CloudSat Vertical Data through Google Earth

Online tools, pioneered by the Google Earth (GE), are facilitating the way in which scientists and general public interact with geospatial data in real three dimensions. However, even in Google Earth, there is no method for depicting vertical geospatial data derived from remote sensing satellites as an orbit curtain seen from above. Here, an effective solution is proposed to automatically render the vertical atmospheric data on Google Earth. The data are first processed through the Giovanni system, then, processed to be 15-second vertical data images. A generalized COLLADA model is devised based on the 15-second vertical data profile. Using the designed COLLADA models and satellite orbit coordinates, a satellite orbit model is designed and implemented in KML format to render the vertical atmospheric data in spatial and temporal ranges vividly. The whole orbit model consists of repeated model slices. The model slices, each representing 15 seconds of vertical data, are placed on the CloudSat orbit based on the size, scale, and angle with the longitude line that are precisely and separately calculated on the fly for each slice according to the CloudSat orbit coordinates. The resulting vertical scientific data can be viewed transparently or opaquely on Google Earth. Not only is the research bridged the science and data with scientists and the general public in the most popular way, but simultaneous visualization and efficient exploration of the relationships among quantitative geospatial data, e.g. comparing the vertical data profiles with MODIS and AIRS precipitation data, becomes possible

Accessing and Utilizing Remote Sensing Data for Vectorborne Infectious Diseases Surveillance and Modeling

Background: The transmission of vectorborne infectious diseases is often influenced by environmental, meteorological and climatic parameters, because the vector life cycle depends on these factors. For example, the geophysical parameters relevant to malaria transmission include precipitation, surface temperature, humidity, elevation, and vegetation type. Because these parameters are routinely measured by satellites, remote sensing is an important technological tool for predicting, preventing, and containing a number of vectorborne infectious diseases, such as malaria, dengue, West Nile virus, etc. Methods: A variety of NASA remote sensing data can be used for modeling vectorborne infectious disease transmission. We will discuss both the well known and less known remote sensing data, including Landsat, AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer), MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer), TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission), ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer), EO-1 (Earth Observing One) ALI (Advanced Land Imager), and SIESIP (Seasonal to Interannual Earth Science Information Partner) dataset. Giovanni is a Web-based application developed by the NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center. It provides a simple and intuitive way to visualize, analyze, and access vast amounts of Earth science remote sensing data. After remote sensing data is obtained, a variety of techniques, including generalized linear models and artificial intelligence oriented methods, t 3 can be used to model the dependency of disease transmission on these parameters. Results: The processes of accessing, visualizing and utilizing precipitation data using Giovanni, and acquiring other data at additional websites are illustrated. Malaria incidence time series for some parts of Thailand and Indonesia are used to demonstrate that malaria incidences are reasonably well modeled with generalized linear models and artificial intelligence based techniques. Conclusions: Remote sensing data relevant to the transmission of vectorborne infectious diseases can be conveniently accessed at NASA and some other websites. These data are useful for vectorborne infectious disease surveillance and modeling

Foothill Gold Line

METHODOLOGY In Fall 2017, Foothill Gold Line contracted with the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles at LMU in order to conduct an intercept survey on parking needs for the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension. The study involved intercept surveys with 1,518 adults arriving and departing from six stations: South Pasadena, Fillmore, Sierra Madre Village, Azusa Downtown, Monrovia, and Arcadia. An additional 447 respondents completed the survey. However since they started their Foothill Gold Line travels outside the six stations they were removed from much of the analysis. Subjects were surveyed between 3:00 pm-8:00 pm on November 1-2, 7-9, and 14-16, with rotating station assignments and field researchers each day. A team of three to seven student field researchers and one field supervisor surveyed riders at two to three locations each day. The protocol for this study involved asking potential respondents a screener to ensure that the person was at least 18 years old. A skip pattern of every other person was also utilized to ensure unbiased collection of data during a rush of potential respondents. The survey was also translated into Spanish, and Spanish speakers were available to ask screener questions and answer any questions respondents might have. Data are weighted for accuracy based on average onboarding numbers by station, provided by Metro. Those riders who began at a station off of the Foothill Gold Line (both including and not including Union Station) are not included in weighted percentages. For the purposes of this report, numbers by station, including both “other” categories, are included. The margin of error is ±2.0% for the core sample of 1,518 respondents. RESEARCH SUMMARY The following report consists of five sections: overall weighted toplines, questions by station (including then excluding the “other” categories”), weighted questions by parking cost, and weighted questions by phase. The crosstabs provide insight into parking efficacy at each station, parking efficacy based on the cost of parking at each station, as well as parking efficacy depending on whether the station falls into phase one or phase two. To start, most riders generally drive, bike, walk, or skateboard to their station, while those who do not drive do so because the station is a walkable or bikeable distance, and/or because they do not have a vehicle available. Riders who do arrive by car or motorcycle are likely to park in a Metro structure or lot because of free parking or convenience. However, even at paid parking stations, riders are most likely to park in a Metro parking lot or structure as opposed to parking on the street or in a non-Metro lot/structure. Only about 1 out of 5 riders who start at stations with free parking said that they switched stations after paid parking was implemented to avoid the fees. Yet, a majority of riders still use the station closest to their home, regardless of whether parking is paid or free. For the majority of riders, the distance from home to the closest station is less than 10 minutes, and is less than 20 minutes for nearly everyone else. Finally, Phase 2 stations have a higher proportion of drivers, as well as do stations with free parking lots. The accuracy of these data is indicated by high response rates and low margin of error.https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/studyla-databriefs/1021/thumbnail.jp

Race Relations: 2017 Los Angeles Public Opinion Survey

2017 PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY METHODOLOGY As part of Forecast LA’s unique approach to forecasting in the Los Angeles region, the Center for the Study of Los Angeles conducted an outlook survey. The Los Angeles Public Opinion Survey involved 20-minute telephone sessions and online surveys with more than 2,400 adults (1,800 phone and 600 online) living in Los Angeles County. Survey respondents were asked about quality-of-life perceptions, personal economic wellbeing, economic concerns, overall life satisfaction, and various civic issues. Los Angeles Public Opinion Survey Sampling Since the primary purpose of this study was to gather representative input from adult residents within the Los Angeles region, an initial random digit dial (RDD) sample was employed. The RDD sample was drawn by determining the active phone exchanges (the first three numbers of a seven-digit phone number) and blocks with a given sampling area (in this case, by the zip codes that comprise the county). A random list of all active residential and cell phone numbers in the area was produced. This method included both listed and unlisted phone numbers. Listed samples were used to meet particular quotas for racial/ethnic categories and geographic location. The online portion was comprised of responses from double opt-in respondents who have agreed to participate in surveys. Real-time sampling and survey publishing services were also used to target respondents outside of the initial reach. Finally, listed samples were used to fill gaps within racial/ethnic and geographic quotas. For all methods, adult respondents in LA County were targeted and then randomly selected within their group. SCREENERS The protocol for this study involved asking potential respondents a series of questions, referred to as screeners, which were used to ensure that the person lived within the county and was at least 18 years old. The target sample size was 1,200 residents from the city of Los Angeles and 1,200 residents from Los Angeles County who live outside the city of LA. The first quota was a random digit dialing of approximately 750 residents (with 66% cell phone). The online survey ran concurrently with a target sample size of 600 respondents. The remaining racial/ethnic and geographic quotas were determined based on the fallout: 400 African American residents, 600 Asian residents, 400 residents from the San Fernando Valley (only within the city of Los Angeles) and 400 residents from the San Gabriel Valley. Given the demographic proportion of Latino and white residents in the region, as expected, both groups naturally fell out from the initial wave of online and phone respondents. DATA COLLECTION Telephone surveys were conducted the first four full weeks in January 2017 and first two weeks in February between the hours of 4:30pm and 9pm during the week, 10am to 4pm on Saturday, and 10am to 5pm on Sunday. The survey was translated into Spanish, Mandarin, and Korean. Translators who spoke Spanish, Mandarin, and Korean were available to conduct interviews for residents who only spoke, or were more comfortable speaking any of those languages. The online survey ran from January 13 to January 26 and was available in English and Spanish. The margin of error is ±3.0% for the entire sample of 2,404 residents.https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/studyla-databriefs/1025/thumbnail.jp

Micro-Propagation of White-top Aster, Sericocarpus rigidus, a Threatened Species from the Garry Oak Ecosystem in British Columbia

A study was undertaken to examine the feasibility of using micro-propagation techniques to regenerate White-top Aster (Sericocarpus rigidus), a threatened species native to the Garry Oak ecosystem in coastal British Columbia. Shoot multiplication from explants was compared in three different basal media formulations. The effects of varying IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) and kinetin on shoot production were also investigated using one of the three basal media. Shoot production was most successful on modified MS (Murashige and Skoog) media containing various concentrations of BAP (benzylaminopurine) and GA3 (gibberellic acid), followed by media containing IAA and kinetin at concentrations of 2 mg per litre. Root formation occurred readily on modified MS media with IAA and reduced macronutrient and micronutrient concentrations. The study showed that S. rigidus can be successfully propagated using in vitro shoot multiplication