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Showing papers by "Boise State University published in 2018"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Mammal Diversity Database (MDD) is presented, a digital, publically accessible, and updateable list of all mammalian species, now available online: https://mammaldiversity.org.
Abstract: Accurate taxonomy is central to the study of biological diversity, as it provides the needed evolutionary framework for taxon sampling and interpreting results. While the number of recognized species in the class Mammalia has increased through time, tabulation of those increases has relied on the sporadic release of revisionary compendia like the Mammal Species of the World (MSW) series. Here, we present the Mammal Diversity Database (MDD), a digital, publically accessible, and updateable list of all mammalian species, now available online: https://mammaldiversity.org. The MDD will continue to be updated as manuscripts describing new species and higher taxonomic changes are released. Starting from the baseline of the 3rd edition of MSW (MSW3), we performed a review of taxonomic changes published since 2004 and digitally linked species names to their original descriptions and subsequent revisionary articles in an interactive, hierarchical database. We found 6,495 species of currently recognized mammals (96 recently extinct, 6,399 extant), compared to 5,416 in MSW3 (75 extinct, 5,341 extant)—an increase of 1,079 species in about 13 years, including 11 species newly described as having gone extinct in the last 500 years. We tabulate 1,251 new species recognitions, at least 172 unions, and multiple major, higher-level changes, including an additional 88 genera (1,314 now, compared to 1,226 in MSW3) and 14 newly recognized families (167 compared to 153). Analyses of the description of new species through time and across biogeographic regions show a long-term global rate of ~25 species recognized per year, with the Neotropics as the overall most species-dense biogeographic region for mammals, followed closely by the Afrotropics. The MDD provides the mammalogical community with an updateable online database of taxonomic changes, joining digital efforts already established for amphibians (AmphibiaWeb, AMNH's Amphibian Species of the World), birds (e.g., Avibase, IOC World Bird List, HBW Alive), non-avian reptiles (The Reptile Database), and fish (e.g., FishBase, Catalog of Fishes). Una taxonomía que precisamente refleje la realidad biológica es fundamental para el estudio de la diversidad de la vida, ya que proporciona el armazón evolutivo necesario para el muestreo de taxones e interpretación de resultados del mismo. Si bien el número de especies reconocidas en la clase Mammalia ha aumentado con el tiempo, la tabulación de esos aumentos se ha basado en las esporádicas publicaciones de compendios de revisiones taxonómicas, tales como la serie Especies de mamíferos del mundo (MSW por sus siglas en inglés). En este trabajo presentamos la Base de Datos de Diversidad de Mamíferos (MDD por sus siglas en inglés): una lista digital de todas las especies de mamíferos, actualizable y accesible públicamente, disponible en la dirección URL https://mammaldiversity.org/. El MDD se actualizará con regularidad a medida que se publiquen artículos que describan nuevas especies o que introduzcan cambios de diferentes categorías taxonómicas. Con la tercera edición de MSW (MSW3) como punto de partida, realizamos una revisión en profundidad de los cambios taxonómicos publicados a partir del 2004. Los nombres de las especies nuevamente descriptas (o ascendidas a partir de subespecies) fueron conectadas digitalmente en una base de datos interactiva y jerárquica con sus descripciones originales y con artículos de revisión posteriores. Los datos indican que existen actualmente 6,495 especies de mamíferos (96 extintas, 6,399 vivientes), en comparación con las 5,416 reconocidas en MSW3 (75 extintas, 5,341 vivientes): un aumento de 1,079 especies en aproximadamente 13 años, incluyendo 11 nuevas especies consideradas extintas en los últimos 500 años. Señalamos 1,251 nuevos reconocimientos de especies, al menos 172 uniones y varios cambios a mayor nivel taxonómico, incluyendo 88 géneros adicionales (1,314 reconocidos, comparados con 1,226 en MSW3) y 14 familias recién reconocidas (167 en comparación con 153 en MSW3). Los análisis témporo-geográficos de descripciones de nuevas especies (en las principales regiones del mundo) sugieren un promedio mundial de descripciones a largo plazo de aproximadamente 25 especies reconocidas por año, siendo el Neotrópico la región con mayor densidad de especies de mamíferos en el mundo, seguida de cerca por la region Afrotrópical. El MDD proporciona a la comunidad de mastozoólogos una base de datos de cambios taxonómicos conectada y actualizable, que se suma a los esfuerzos digitales ya establecidos para anfibios (AmphibiaWeb, Amphibian Species of the World), aves (p. ej., Avibase, IOC World Bird List, HBW Alive), reptiles “no voladores” (The Reptile Database), y peces (p. ej., FishBase, Catalog of Fishes).

622 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
15 Jun 2018-Science
TL;DR: A global study of anthropogenic effects on mammal diel activity patterns, conducting a meta-analysis of 76 studies of 62 species from six continents revealed a strong effect of humans on daily patterns of wildlife activity.
Abstract: Rapid expansion of human activity has driven well-documented shifts in the spatial distribution of wildlife, but the cumulative effect of human disturbance on the temporal dynamics of animals has not been quantified. We examined anthropogenic effects on mammal diel activity patterns, conducting a meta-analysis of 76 studies of 62 species from six continents. Our global study revealed a strong effect of humans on daily patterns of wildlife activity. Animals increased their nocturnality by an average factor of 1.36 in response to human disturbance. This finding was consistent across continents, habitats, taxa, and human activities. As the global human footprint expands, temporal avoidance of humans may facilitate human-wildlife coexistence. However, such responses can result in marked shifts away from natural patterns of activity, with consequences for fitness, population persistence, community interactions, and evolution.

599 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A blockchain-based framework for secure, interoperable, and efficient access to medical records by patients, providers, and third parties, while preserving the privacy of patients’ sensitive information is proposed, named Ancile.

517 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a surface plasmon resonance biosensor based on dual-polarized spiral photonic crystal fiber (PCF) was proposed for detection of biological analytes, organic chemicals, biomolecules, and other unknown analytes.
Abstract: We numerically demonstrate a surface plasmon resonance biosensor-based on dual-polarized spiral photonic crystal fiber (PCF). Chemically stable gold material is used as the active plasmonic material, which is placed on the outer layer of the PCF to facilitate practical fabrication. Finite-element method-based numerical investigations show that the proposed biosensor shows maximum wavelength sensitivity of 4600 and 4300 nm/RIU in ${x}$ - and ${y}$ -polarized modes at an analyte refractive index of 1.37. Moreover, for analyte refractive index ranging from 1.33 to 1.38, maximum amplitude sensitivities of 371.5 RIU−1 and 420.4 RIU−1 are obtained in ${x}$ - and ${y}$ -polarized modes, respectively. In addition, the effects of changing pitch, different air hole diameter of the PCF and thickness of the gold layer on the sensing performance are also investigated. Owing to high sensitivity, improved sensing resolution and appropriate linearity characteristics, the proposed dual-polarized spiral PCF can be implemented for the detection of biological analytes, organic chemicals, biomolecules, and other unknown analytes.

187 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
30 Nov 2018-Science
TL;DR: An isostructural, purely electronically driven metal-insulator transition is demonstrated in epitaxial heterostructures of an archetypal correlated material, vanadium dioxide, to provide insights into phase transitions of correlated materials and may aid the design of device functionalities.
Abstract: The metal-insulator transition in correlated materials is usually coupled to a symmetry-lowering structural phase transition. This coupling not only complicates the understanding of the basic mechanism of this phenomenon but also limits the speed and endurance of prospective electronic devices. We demonstrate an isostructural, purely electronically driven metal-insulator transition in epitaxial heterostructures of an archetypal correlated material, vanadium dioxide. A combination of thin-film synthesis, structural and electrical characterizations, and theoretical modeling reveals that an interface interaction suppresses the electronic correlations without changing the crystal structure in this otherwise correlated insulator. This interaction stabilizes a nonequilibrium metallic phase and leads to an isostructural metal-insulator transition. This discovery will provide insights into phase transitions of correlated materials and may aid the design of device functionalities.

159 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Understanding the important role of IL-6 and its family members’ effects on the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer tumor growth and metastasis may lead to more novel treatments, detection methods, and improvement of overall clinical outcomes.
Abstract: Ovarian cancer is the most fatal gynecological cancer in the USA and the fifth most common cancer-related cause of death in women. Inflammation has been shown to play many roles in ovarian cancer tumor growth, with the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) having been established as a key immunoregulatory cytokine. Ovarian cancer cells continuously secrete cytokines that promote tumorigenicity in both autocrine and paracrine fashions while also receiving signals from the tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME contains many cells including leukocytes and fibroblasts, which respond to proinflammatory cytokines and secrete their own cytokines, which can produce many effects including promotion of chemoresistance, resistance to apoptosis, invasion, angiogenesis by way of overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor, and promotion of metastatic growth at distant sites. IL-6 and its proinflammatory family members, including oncostatin M, have been found to directly stimulate enhanced invasion of cancer cells through basement membrane degradation caused by the overexpression of matrix metalloproteinases, stimulate promotion of cell cycle, enhance resistance to chemotherapy, and cause epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). IL-6 has been shown to activate signaling pathways that lead to tumor proliferation, the most studied of which being the Janus kinase (JAK) and STAT3 pathway. IL-6-induced JAK/STAT activation leads to constitutive activation of STAT3, which has been correlated with enhanced tumor cell growth and resistance to chemotherapy. IL-6 has also been shown to act as a trigger of the EMT, the hypothesized first step in the metastatic cascade. Understanding the important role of IL-6 and its family members' effects on the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer tumor growth and metastasis may lead to more novel treatments, detection methods, and improvement of overall clinical outcomes.

146 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise Program [NA16NOS4780206] and National Science Foundation Hazards-SEES Program [DMS 1331611].
Abstract: California Energy Commission [500-15-005]; National Science Foundation Hazards-SEES Program [DMS 1331611]; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise Program [NA16NOS4780206]

137 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is argued that researchers must work in concert with the media, managers and policymakers to highlight benefits of these species and the need to ensure their long-term conservation, as many predators and scavengers are in a state of rapid decline.
Abstract: Predators and scavengers are frequently persecuted for their negative effects on property, livestock and human life. Research has shown that these species play important regulatory roles in intact ecosystems including regulating herbivore and mesopredator populations that in turn affect floral, soil and hydrological systems. Yet predators and scavengers receive surprisingly little recognition for their benefits to humans in the landscapes they share. We review these benefits, highlighting the most recent studies that have documented their positive effects across a range of environments. Indeed, the benefits of predators and scavengers can be far reaching, affecting human health and well-being through disease mitigation, agricultural production and waste-disposal services. As many predators and scavengers are in a state of rapid decline, we argue that researchers must work in concert with the media, managers and policymakers to highlight benefits of these species and the need to ensure their long-term conservation. Furthermore, instead of assessing the costs of predators and scavengers only in economic terms, it is critical to recognize their beneficial contributions to human health and well-being. Given the ever-expanding human footprint, it is essential that we construct conservation solutions that allow a wide variety of species to persist in shared landscapes. Identifying, evaluating and communicating the benefits provided by species that are often considered problem animals is an important step for establishing tolerance in these shared spaces.

130 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Practical nursing skills using game-based VR may be an effective way to promote mastery learning and retention.

126 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide an overview of the opportunities for developing computational thinking in young learners, including a review of empirical studies on the educational technologies used to develop computational thinking.
Abstract: The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the opportunities for developing computational thinking in young learners. It includes a review of empirical studies on the educational technologies used to develop computational thinking in young learners, and analyses and descriptions of a selection of commercially available technologies for developing computational thinking in young learners. The challenges and implications of using these technologies also are discussed.

100 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, an additive manufacturing route of producing functional net-shaped parts from pre-alloyed magnetic shape-memory Ni-Mn-Ga powders was investigated.
Abstract: This work investigates an additive manufacturing route of producing functional net shaped parts from pre-alloyed magnetic shape-memory Ni-Mn-Ga powders. Three types of Ni-Mn-Ga powders were used in this investigation: spark eroded in liquid nitrogen (LN2), spark eroded in liquid argon (LAr), and ball milled (BM). Additive manufacturing via powder bed binder jetting, also known as 3D printing (3DP), was used in this research due to both relatively easy control of part porosity and the possibility to obtain complex shaped parts from Ni-Mn-Ga alloys. The four-dimension (4D) is created by the predictable change in 3D printed part configuration over time as the result of shape-memory functionality. Binder jetting of Ni-Mn-Ga powders followed by curing and sintering proved successful in producing net shaped porous structures (spring-like, 3-D hierarchical lattice structures, etc.) with good mechanical strength. Parts with porosities between 24.08% and 73.43% have been obtained by using powders with distinct morphologies. The printed Ni-Mn-Ga parts undergo reversible martensitic transformation during heating and cooling, which is a prerequisite for the shape-memory behavior. Thermo-magneto-mechanical trained 3D printed parts obtained from ball milled Ni-Mn-Ga powders showed reversible magnetic-field-induced strains (MFISs) of up to 0.01%. The additive manufacturing is a viable technology in solving the design issues of functional parts made of Ni-Mn-Ga magnetic shape-memory alloys (MSMA).

Book ChapterDOI
03 May 2018
TL;DR: The concepts, algorithms, and means of evaluation that are at the core of collaborative filtering research and practice are reviewed, and two more recent directions in recommendation algorithms are presented: learning-to-rank and ensemble recommendation algorithms.
Abstract: Recommender systems help users find information by recommending content that a user might not know about, but will hopefully like. Rating-based collaborative filtering recommender systems do this by finding patterns that are consistent across the ratings of other users. These patterns can be used on their own, or in conjunction with other forms of social information access to identify and recommend content that a user might like. This chapter reviews the concepts, algorithms, and means of evaluation that are at the core of collaborative filtering research and practice. While there are many recommendation algorithms, the ones we cover serve as the basis for much of past and present algorithm development. After presenting these algorithms we present examples of two more recent directions in recommendation algorithms: learning-to-rank and ensemble recommendation algorithms. We finish by describing how collaborative filtering algorithms can be evaluated, and listing available resources and datasets to support further experimentation. The goal of this chapter is to provide the basis of knowledge needed for readers to explore more advanced topics in recommendation.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper conducted an online survey assessing a wide range of viewpoints about large carnivore conservation among international professionals and found broad consensus regarding intrinsic value of carnivores, reasons carnivores are imperilled, conflict drivers, and importance of proactive solutions, such as adopting preventative livestock husbandry methods or avoiding situations that put people at risk.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This machine‐learning approach differs from other available models because it does not require clinicians to input information into a tool (eg, the Braden Scale), rather, it uses information readily available in electronic health records.
Abstract: Background Hospital-acquired pressure injuries are a serious problem among critical care patients. Some can be prevented by using measures such as specialty beds, which are not feasible for every patient because of costs. However, decisions about which patient would benefit most from a specialty bed are difficult because results of existing tools to determine risk for pressure injury indicate that most critical care patients are at high risk.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
27 Sep 2018
TL;DR: This work measures the distribution of the genders of the authors of books in user rating profiles and recommendation lists produced from this data to find that common collaborative filtering algorithms differ in the gender distribution of their recommendation lists, and in the relationship of that output distribution to user profile distribution.
Abstract: Collaborative filtering algorithms find useful patterns in rating and consumption data and exploit these patterns to guide users to good items. Many of the patterns in rating datasets reflect important real-world differences between the various users and items in the data; other patterns may be irrelevant or possibly undesirable for social or ethical reasons, particularly if they reflect undesired discrimination, such as gender or ethnic discrimination in publishing. In this work, we examine the response of collaborative filtering recommender algorithms to the distribution of their input data with respect to a dimension of social concern, namely content creator gender. Using publicly-available book ratings data, we measure the distribution of the genders of the authors of books in user rating profiles and recommendation lists produced from this data. We find that common collaborative filtering algorithms differ in the gender distribution of their recommendation lists, and in the relationship of that output distribution to user profile distribution.

Journal ArticleDOI
15 May 2018-Cancers
TL;DR: A review of mutations in the DICER1 gene, the respective protein sequence changes, and clinical manifestations of DICer1 syndrome is presented.
Abstract: DICER1 syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that predisposes individuals to multiple cancer types. Through mutations of the gene encoding the endoribonuclease, Dicer, DICER1 syndrome disrupts the biogenesis and processing of miRNAs with subsequent disruption in control of gene expression. Since the first description of DICER1 syndrome, case reports have documented novel germline mutations of the DICER1 gene in patients with cancers as well as second site mutations that alter the function of the Dicer protein expressed. Here, we present a review of mutations in the DICER1 gene, the respective protein sequence changes, and clinical manifestations of DICER1 syndrome. Directions for future research are discussed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a complete framework for crystallization of the Stillwater Complex is presented based on the trace element geochemistry of zircon and comprehensive U-Pb geochronology of 22 samples through the magmatic stratigraphy.
Abstract: The Neoarchean Stillwater Complex, one of the world’s largest known layered intrusions and host to a rich platinum-group element deposit known as the J-M Reef, represents one of the cornerstones for the study of magmatic processes in the Earth’s crust. A complete framework for crystallization of the Stillwater Complex is presented based on the trace element geochemistry of zircon and comprehensive U–Pb zircon–baddeleyite–titanite–rutile geochronology of 22 samples through the magmatic stratigraphy. Trace element concentrations and ratios in zircon are highly variable and support crystallization of zircon from fractionated interstitial melt at near-solidus temperatures in the ultramafic and mafic cumulates (Ti-in-zircon thermometry1⁄4 980–720 C). U–Pb geochronological results indicate that the Stillwater Complex crystallized over a 3 million-year interval from 2712 Ma (Basal series) to 2709 Ma (Banded series); late-stage granophyres and at least one phase of post-emplacement mafic dikes also crystallized at 2709 Ma. The dates reveal that the intrusion was not constructed in a strictly sequential stratigraphic order from the base (oldest) to the top (youngest) such that the cumulate succession in the complex does not follow the stratigraphic law of superposition. Two distinct age groups are recognized in the Ultramafic series. The lowermost Peridotite zone, up to and including the G chromitite, crystallized at 2710 Ma from magmas emplaced below the overlying uppermost Peridotite and Bronzitite zones that crystallized earlier at 2711 Ma. Based on the age and locally discordant nature of the J-M Reef, the base of this sequence likely represents an intrusion-wide magmatic unconformity that formed during the onset of renewed and voluminous magmatism at 2709 Ma. The thick anorthosite units in the Middle Banded series are older (2710 Ma) than the rest of the Banded series, a feature consistent with a flotation cumulate or ‘rockberg’ model. The anorthosites are related to crystallization of mafic and ultramafic rocks now preserved in the Ultramafic series and in the lower part of the Lower Banded series below the J-M Reef. The Stillwater Complex was constructed by repeated injections of magma that crystallized to produce a stack of amalgamated sills, some out-of-sequence, consequently it does not constitute the crystallized products of a progressively filled and cooled magma chamber. This calls into question current concepts regarding the intrusive and crystallization histories of major open-system layered intrusions and challenges us to rethink our understanding of the timescales of magma processes and emplacement in these large and petrologically significant and remarkable complexes. VC The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com 153 J O U R N A L O F P E T R O L O G Y Journal of Petrology, 2018, Vol. 59, No. 1, 153–190 doi: 10.1093/petrology/egy024 Advance Access Publication Date: 28 February 2018

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that polarity establishment and cell migration in one dimension (1D) and two dimensions (2D) occur without the nucleus, and the nucleus is dispensable for polarization and migration in 1D and 2D but critical for proper cell mechanical responses.
Abstract: The nucleus has long been postulated to play a critical physical role during cell polarization and migration, but that role has not been defined or rigorously tested. Here, we enucleated cells to test the physical necessity of the nucleus during cell polarization and directed migration. Using enucleated mammalian cells (cytoplasts), we found that polarity establishment and cell migration in one dimension (1D) and two dimensions (2D) occur without the nucleus. Cytoplasts directionally migrate toward soluble (chemotaxis) and surface-bound (haptotaxis) extracellular cues and migrate collectively in scratch-wound assays. Consistent with previous studies, migration in 3D environments was dependent on the nucleus. In part, this likely reflects the decreased force exerted by cytoplasts on mechanically compliant substrates. This response is mimicked both in cells with nucleocytoskeletal defects and upon inhibition of actomyosin-based contractility. Together, our observations reveal that the nucleus is dispensable for polarization and migration in 1D and 2D but critical for proper cell mechanical responses.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors set a framework for deriving dynamic, climate-informed environmental inflows for drying lakes considering both meteorological/climatic and anthropogenic conditions.
Abstract: The rapid shrinkage of Lake Urmia, one of the world's largest saline lakes located in northwestern Iran, is a tragic wake-up call to revisit the principles of water resources management based on the socio-economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. The overarching goal of this paper is to set a framework for deriving dynamic, climate-informed environmental inflows for drying lakes considering both meteorological/climatic and anthropogenic conditions. We report on the compounding effects of meteorological drought and unsustainable water resource management that contributed to Lake Urmia's contemporary environmental catastrophe. Using rich datasets of hydrologic attributes, water demands and withdrawals, as well as water management infrastructure (i.e. reservoir capacity and operating policies), we provide a quantitative assessment of the basin's water resources, demonstrating that Lake Urmia reached a tipping point in the early 2000s. The lake level failed to rebound to its designated ecological threshold (1274 m above sea level) during a relatively normal hydro-period immediately after the drought of record (1998-2002). The collapse was caused by a marked overshoot of the basin's hydrologic capacity due to growing anthropogenic drought in the face of extreme climatological stressors. We offer a dynamic environmental inflow plan for different climate conditions (dry, wet and near normal), combined with three representative water withdrawal scenarios. Assuming effective implementation of the proposed 40% reduction in the current water withdrawals, the required environmental inflows range from 2900 million cubic meters per year (mcm yr(-1)) during dry conditions to 5400 mcm yr(-1) during wet periods with the average being 4100 mcm yr(-1). Finally, for different environmental inflow scenarios, we estimate the expected recovery time for re-establishing the ecological level of Lake Urmia.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This work proposed a novel authentication system PassMatrix, based on graphical passwords to resist shoulder surfing attacks, and implemented a PassMatrix prototype on Android and carried out real user experiments to evaluate its memorability and usability.
Abstract: Authentication based on passwords is used largely in applications for computer security and privacy. However, human actions such as choosing bad passwords and inputting passwords in an insecure way are regarded as “the weakest link” in the authentication chain. Rather than arbitrary alphanumeric strings, users tend to choose passwords either short or meaningful for easy memorization. With web applications and mobile apps piling up, people can access these applications anytime and anywhere with various devices. This evolution brings great convenience but also increases the probability of exposing passwords to shoulder surfing attacks. Attackers can observe directly or use external recording devices to collect users’ credentials. To overcome this problem, we proposed a novel authentication system PassMatrix, based on graphical passwords to resist shoulder surfing attacks. With a one-time valid login indicator and circulative horizontal and vertical bars covering the entire scope of pass-images, PassMatrix offers no hint for attackers to figure out or narrow down the password even they conduct multiple camera-based attacks. We also implemented a PassMatrix prototype on Android and carried out real user experiments to evaluate its memorability and usability. From the experimental result, the proposed system achieves better resistance to shoulder surfing attacks while maintaining usability.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used TLS scans of 26 1-ha plots in desert grasslands and big sagebrush shrublands in southwest Idaho, USA to model and map canopy cover and biomass of several classes of short-stature vegetation across large plots.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This research identifies six online course evaluation instruments used nationally or in statewide systems and examined the characteristics and coded the criteria that guide the design of online courses.
Abstract: This research identifies six online course evaluation instruments used nationally or in statewide systems. We examined the characteristics (i.e., number of standards and criteria) and coded the criteria that guide the design of online courses. We discussed the focus of the instruments and their unique features.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present the first integration of lidar-derived distributed distributed snow depth data into a physics-based snow model using direct insertion over four winter seasons (2013-2016) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA/JPL) Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO) performed nearweekly lidar surveys throughout the snowmelt season to measure snow depth at high resolution over the Tuolumne River Basin above Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California.
Abstract: Accurately simulating the spatiotemporal distribution of mountain snow water equivalent improves estimates of available meltwater and benefits the water resource management community In this paper we present the first integration of lidar‐derived distributed snow depth data into a physics‐based snow model using direct insertion Over four winter seasons (2013–2016) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA/JPL) Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO) performed near‐weekly lidar surveys throughout the snowmelt season to measure snow depth at high resolution over the Tuolumne River Basin above Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California The modeling component of the ASO program implements the iSnobal model to estimate snow density for converting measured depths to snow water equivalent and to provide temporally complete snow cover mass and thermal states between flights Over the four years considered in this study, snow depths from 36 individual lidar flights were directly inserted into the model to provide updates of snow depth and distribution Considering all updates to the model, the correlation between ASO depths and modeled depths with and without previous updates was on average r2 = 0899 (root‐mean‐square error = 125 cm) and r2 = 0162 (root‐mean‐square error = 415 cm), respectively The precise definition of the snow depth distribution integrated with the iSnobal model demonstrates how the ASO program represents a new paradigm for the measurement and modeling of mountain snowpacks and reveals the potential benefits for managing water in the region

Proceedings ArticleDOI
20 May 2018
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed a cooperative Q-learning approach to solve the resource allocation problem in dense HetNets, where each base station is modeled as an agent and the proposed approach considers the QoS for each user and fairness in the network.
Abstract: There is an increase in usage of smaller cells or femtocells to improve performance and coverage of next-generation heterogeneous wireless networks (HetNets). However, the interference caused by femtocells to neighboring cells is a limiting performance factor in dense HetNets. This interference is being managed via distributed resource allocation methods. However, as the density of the network increases so does the complexity of such resource allocation methods. Yet, unplanned deployment of femtocells requires an adaptable and self-organizing algorithm to make HetNets viable. As such, we propose to use a machine learning approach based on Q-learning to solve the resource allocation problem in such complex networks. By defining each base station as an agent, a cellular network is modeled as a multi-agent network. Subsequently, cooperative Q-learning can be applied as an efficient approach to manage the resources of a multi-agent network. Furthermore, the proposed approach considers the quality of service (QoS) for each user and fairness in the network. In comparison with prior work, the proposed approach can bring more than a four-fold increase in the number of supported femtocells while using cooperative Q-learning to reduce resource allocation overhead.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, an integrative and analytical review of prior work on informal learning in the workplace is presented. But despite the interest in informal learning, few attempts have been made to synthesize the current literature.
Abstract: Despite intense interest in informal learning in the workplace, few attempts have been made to synthesize the current literature. This article provides an integrative and analytical review of prior...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the start of the Cryogenian Period and the onset of the Sturtian Snowball Earth glaciation at ca. 717.4 ± 0.2 were investigated in the northern Wernecke Mountains of Canada.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors show that the increasing frequency content and damping characteristics of the resonant infrasound at Volcán Villarrica (Chile) relate to lava lake position in its crater/conduit preceding its 2015 eruption.
Abstract: Open-vent volcanic systems with active degassing are particularly effective at producing infrasound that exhibits resonant tones controlled by the geometry of the volcano’s crater. Changes in the infrasound character can thus provide constraints on a crater’s lava level, which may vary dynamically in the lead-up to an eruption. Here we show that the increasing frequency content and damping characteristics of the resonant infrasound at Volcán Villarrica (Chile) relate to lava lake position in its crater/conduit preceding its 2015 eruption. We model the acoustic response of Villarrica’s crater to determine that the lake began to rise on 27 February and reached the flared upper part of Villarrica’s crater before oscillating during the two days prior to the 3 March paroxysm and 1.5 km-high lava fountain. This study demonstrates the utility of remote infrasound monitoring for future eruptions of Villarrica and other analogous open-vent volcanoes. Plain Language Summary Volcanic craters are like giant musical instruments in the sense that the sounds that volcanoes produce can change as the crater size evolves. We track the changing tones and resonance of low-frequency infrasounds at Volcan Villarrica (Chile) and attribute their variations as a response to the rise of the lava lake in the crater. We use infrasound data and employ numerical models to track the depth of the lava lake over time. Significant changes in infrasound character occurred just prior to a violent 3 March 2015 eruption leading us to propose that monitoring volcano infrasound resonance is important for forecasting future volcanic eruptions.