IMPLICATIONS OF TEMPERATURE-ACTIVATED POLYMER SEED COATING FOR CROP PRODUCTION IN THE NORTHERN CORN BELT

The value of an innovative new seed technology is evaluated in a discrete stochastic programming framework for a representative farm in the northern Corn Belt. Temperature-activated polymer coated seed has the potential to increase net returns by reducing yield loss due to delayed planting and by increasing the use of longer season varieties. A biophysical simulation model was used to estimate the impact of polymer coated seed on corn and soybean yields and on field day availability for five planting periods, two crop varieties and two tillage systems on two different soils under varying weather conditions. Results show that polymer coated seed increases net returns in corn by $2.50-$3.65 per acre and in soybeans by $4.50-$9.70 per acre.mathematical programming, biophysical simulation, corn, soybean, Crop Production/Industries,

Binding potentials for vapour nanobubbles on surfaces using density functional theory

We calculate density profiles of a simple model fluid in contact with a planar surface using density functional theory (DFT), in particular for the case where there is a vapour layer intruding between the wall and the bulk liquid. We apply the method of Hughes et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 142, 074702 (2015)] to calculate the density profiles for varying (specified) amounts of the vapour adsorbed at the wall. This is equivalent to varying the thickness $h$ of the vapour at the surface. From the resulting sequence of density profiles we calculate the thermodynamic grand potential as $h$ is varied and thereby determine the binding potential as a function of $h$. The binding potential obtained via this coarse-graining approach allows us to determine the disjoining pressure in the film and also to predict the shape of vapour nano-bubbles on the surface. Our microscopic DFT based approach captures information from length scales much smaller than some commonly used models in continuum mechanics.Comment: 15 pages, 15 figure

Potential for Abrupt Changes in Atmospheric Methane

Methane (CH4) is the second most important greenhouse gas that humans directly influence, carbon dioxide (CO2) being first. Concerns about methane’s role in abrupt climate change stem primarily from (1) the large quantities of methane stored as solid methane hydrate on the sea floor and to a lesser degree in terrestrial sediments, and the possibility that these reservoirs could become unstable in the face of future global warming, and (2) the possibility of large-scale conversion of frozen soil in the high- latitude Northern Hemisphere to methane producing wetland, due to accelerated warming at high latitudes. This chapter summarizes the current state of knowledge about these reservoirs and their potential for forcing abrupt climate change

Arithmetical structures on bidents

An arithmetical structure on a finite, connected graph $G$ is a pair of vectors $(\mathbf{d}, \mathbf{r})$ with positive integer entries for which $(\operatorname{diag}(\mathbf{d}) - A)\mathbf{r} = \mathbf{0}$, where $A$ is the adjacency matrix of $G$ and where the entries of $\mathbf{r}$ have no common factor. The critical group of an arithmetical structure is the torsion part of the cokernel of $(\operatorname{diag}(\mathbf{d}) - A)$. In this paper, we study arithmetical structures and their critical groups on bidents, which are graphs consisting of a path with two "prongs" at one end. We give a process for determining the number of arithmetical structures on the bident with $n$ vertices and show that this number grows at the same rate as the Catalan numbers as $n$ increases. We also completely characterize the groups that occur as critical groups of arithmetical structures on bidents.Comment: 32 page

Extending the 5S Framework of Digital Libraries to support Complex Objects, Superimposed Information, and Content-Based Image Retrieval Services

Advanced services in digital libraries (DLs) have been developed and widely used to address the required capabilities of an assortment of systems as DLs expand into diverse application domains. These systems may require support for images (e.g., Content-Based Image Retrieval), Complex (information) Objects, and use of content at fine grain (e.g., Superimposed Information). Due to the lack of consensus on precise theoretical definitions for those services, implementation efforts often involve ad hoc development, leading to duplication and interoperability problems. This article presents a methodology to address those problems by extending a precisely specified minimal digital library (in the 5S framework) with formal definitions of aforementioned services. The theoretical extensions of digital library functionality presented here are reinforced with practical case studies as well as scenarios for the individual and integrative use of services to balance theory and practice. This methodology has implications that other advanced services can be continuously integrated into our current extended framework whenever they are identified. The theoretical definitions and case study we present may impact future development efforts and a wide range of digital library researchers, designers, and developers

Callisto: a cryptographic approach to detecting serial perpetrators of sexual misconduct

Sexual misconduct is prevalent in workplace and education settings but stigma and risk of further damage deter many victims from seeking justice. Callisto, a non-profit that has created an online sexual assault reporting platform for college campuses, is expanding its work to combat sexual assault and harassment in other industries. In this new product, users will be invited to an online "matching escrow" that will detect repeat perpetrators and create pathways to support for victims. Users submit encrypted data about their perpetrator, and this data can only be decrypted by the Callisto Options Counselor (a lawyer), when another user enters the identity of the same perpetrator. If the perpetrator identities match, both users will be put in touch independently with the Options Counselor, who will connect them to each other (if appropriate) and help them determine their best path towards justice. The client relationships with the Options Counselors are structured so that any client-counselor communications would be privileged. A combination of client-side encryption, encrypted communication channels, oblivious pseudo-random functions, key federation, and Shamir Secret Sharing keep data confidential in transit, at rest, and during the matching process with the guarantee that only the lawyer ever has access to user submitted data, and even then only when a match is identified.Accepted manuscrip

Researching education outcomes in Burundi, Malawi, Senegal and Uganda: using participatory tools and collaborative approaches : The Improving Learning Outcomes in Primary Schools (ILOPS) Project | Project methodology

In January 2008, ActionAid, Dr Karen Edge (IOE) and partners in Burundi, Malawi, Uganda and Senegal studied the role of parents and teachers in enhancing learning outcomes. The Improving Learning Outcomes in Primary Schools (ILOPS) Project was supported by the Quality Education in Developing Countries Initiative of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Findings from the ILOPS Project are presented in three separate briefs exploring teacher quality, parental participation and, this paper, exploring our tools and approaches. This paper, primarily designed for practitioner audiences, outlines the participatory research methodology designed by Dr Karen Edge and the strategies employ the methods with a team of 53 senior educational leaders from participating countries. The strategies were designed to bring teams of non-researchers together, to build national-level team capacity and collaboration and support their work in the field by collaborating with all participants to design the overall conceptual framework and methods of the study. In this paper, we provide details on the development and implementation of our approach as well as the lessons learned throughout the process for others interested in following similar approaches. This approach has been employed within several other IOE project, led by Dr Edge. In addition, the approach has influenced the work of ActionAid and other participating stakeholders