scholarly journals More science with less: evaluation of a 3D-printed weather station

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4699-4713
Author(s):  
Adam Theisen ◽  
Max Ungar ◽  
Bryan Sheridan ◽  
Bradley G. Illston
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Pressure ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Weather Station ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Oklahoma Mesonet ◽  
System Temperature ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Field Deployment ◽  
The University

Abstract. A weather station built using 3D-printed parts and low-cost sensors, based on plans and guidance provided by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research 3D-Printed Automatic Weather Station Initiative, was deployed alongside an Oklahoma Mesonet station to compare its performance against standard commercial sensors and determine the longevity and durability of the system. Temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, and precipitation measurements were collected over an 8-month field deployment in Norman, Oklahoma. Measurements were comparable to the commercial sensors except for wind direction, which proved to be problematic. Longevity and durability of the system varied, as some sensors and 3D-printed components failed during the deployment. Overall, results show that these low-cost sensors are comparable to the more expensive commercial counterparts and could serve as viable alternatives for researchers and educators with limited resources for short-term deployments. Long-term deployments are feasible with proper maintenance and regular replacement of sensors and 3D-printed components.

scholarly journals More Science with Less: Evaluation of a 3D-Printed Weather Station

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Theisen ◽  
Max Ungar ◽  
Bryan Sheridan ◽  
Bradley G. Illston
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Weather Station ◽  
Oklahoma Mesonet ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Over Time

Abstract. A weather station built using 3D-printed parts and low-cost sensors was deployed alongside an Oklahoma Mesonet Station for an eight month study to determine the longevity of these sensors and their performance as compared with standard commercial sensors. The station was built based on plans and guidance provided by the UCAR 3D-PAWS project. While some of the sensors and components did degrade over time and in some cases completely fail, the results show that these low-cost sensors have the potential to perform just as well as the more expensive counterparts.

Athletes Play Through Pain—What Does That Mean for Rehabilitation Specialists?

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 640-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Barrette ◽  
Katherine Harman
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Sport Organization ◽  
The University ◽  
E Mail ◽  
Competitive Nature ◽  
And Training ◽  
Insight Into

Context: Pain in sport has been normalized to the point where athletes are expected to ignore pain and remain in the game despite the possible detrimental consequences associated with playing through pain. While rehabilitation specialists may not have an influence on an athlete’s competitive nature or the culture of risk they operate in, understanding the consequences of those factors on an athlete’s physical well-being is definitely in their area of responsibility. Objective: To explore the factors associated with the experiences of subelite athletes who play through pain in gymnastics, rowing, and speed skating. Design: The authors conducted semistructured interviews with subelite athletes, coaches, and rehabilitation specialists. They recruited coach participants through their provincial sport organization. Athletes of the recruited coaches who were recovering from a musculoskeletal injury and training for a major competition were then recruited. They also recruited rehabilitation specialists who were known to treat subelite athletes independently by e-mail. Setting: An observation session was conducted at the athlete’s training facility. Interviews were then conducted either in a room at the university or at a preferred sound-attenuated location suggested by the participant. Participants: The authors studied 5 coaches, 4 subelite athletes, and 3 rehabilitation specialists. Interventions: The authors photographed athletes during a practice shortly before an important competition, and we interviewed all the participants after that competition. Our photographs were used during the interview to stimulate discussion. Results: The participant interviews revealed 3 main themes related to playing through pain. They are: Listening to your body, Decision making, and Who decides. Conclusion: When subelite athletes, striving to be the best in their sport continue to train with the pain of an injury, performance is affected in the short-term and long-term consequences are also possible. Our study provides some insight into the contrasting forces that athletes balance as they decide to continue or to stop.

Kinodynamic planning for spherical tensegrity locomotion with effective gait primitives

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (12-13) ◽  
pp. 1442-1462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zakary Littlefield ◽  
David Surovik ◽  
Massimo Vespignani ◽  
Jonathan Bruce ◽  
Weifu Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Complex Environments ◽  
Dynamic Nature ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Dynamic Motion ◽  
Dynamical Characteristics ◽  
Unstable Configuration ◽  
Numerical Process ◽  
Horizon Planning

Tensegrity-based robots can achieve locomotion through shape deformation and compliance. They are highly adaptable to their surroundings, and are lightweight, low cost, and physically robust. Their high dimensionality and strongly dynamic nature, however, can complicate motion planning. Efforts to date have primarily considered quasi-static reconfiguration and short-term dynamic motion of tensegrity robots, which do not fully exploit the underlying system dynamics in the long term. Longer-horizon planning has previously required costly search over the full space of valid control inputs. This work synthesizes new and existing approaches to produce dynamic long-term motion while balancing the computational demand. A numerical process based upon quasi-static assumptions is first applied to deform the system into an unstable configuration, causing forward motion. The dynamical characteristics of the result are then altered via a few simple parameters to produce a small but diverse set of useful behaviors. The proposed approach takes advantage of identified symmetries on the prototypical spherical tensegrity robot, which reduce the number of needed gaits but allow motion along different directions. These gaits are first combined with a standard search method to achieve long-term planning in environments where the developed gaits are effective. For more complex environments, the various motion primitives are paired with the fall-back option of random valid actions and are used by an informed sampling-based kinodynamic motion planner with anytime properties. Evaluations using a physics-based model for the prototypical robot demonstrate that modest but efficiently applied search effort can unlock the utility of dynamic tensegrity motion to produce high-quality solutions.

scholarly journals FIRST RESULTS AND PERSPECTIVES OF THE METEOROLOGICAL RESEARCH AT THE OBSERVATORY AT PIP IVAN MT

2019 ◽  
pp. 82-88
Author(s):  
O. Skrynyk
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Pressure ◽  
Second World War ◽  
Weather Station ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring ◽  
World War ◽  
Mountain Ridge ◽  
Rescue Service ◽  
Meteorological Observations ◽  
The University ◽  
Second World

Chornohora is the highest mountain ridge in the Ukrainian Carpathians. There are six peaks with an altitude 2000 m. a.s.l. The range is a climatic barrier for air masses along the northwest – southeast. This study is important for understanding of the physical and geographical processes in the whole region. In addition, Chornohora not sufficiently researched compared to other mountain ranges of the Carpathians. The High-Mountain Meteorological and Astronomical Observatory (HMAO) at Pip Ivan Mt. was opened on July 29, 1938. The National Institute of Meteorology (Poland) served it. Copies of the data sheets Meteorological Observations Results (pol. Wyniki Spostrzezen Meteorologicznych) from the HMAO at Pip Ivan Mt. were successfully preserved in the private collections (October 1938 – July 1939). As is characteristic of these altitudes, there was a significant dynamics of changes in weather parameters from day to day. The average monthly atmospheric pressure values were lower for the winter months than for the summer months. The average temperature at Pip Ivan for 10 months was 0.8°С. It should be noted that the total rainfall during the study period at the station was 942.5 mm. Permanent snow cover on Pip Ivan Mt. laid from December 5 to April 9. The average wind speed for 10 months was 9.7 m s-1. Before the Second World War, there was also a branch of the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Warsaw. The place is remarkable in terms of distance from light sources. However, the average cloudiness in October 1938 – July 1939 at Pip Ivan was 7.6 (on a scale of 0-10). Within 10 months, the average cloudiness less than 20% were only 18 days. This is not enough for the astronomical observatories. From the available sources, we know that during the Soviet occupation (half of 1940 to June 1941) the weather station with a wide range of research was operated at the HMAO. We did not find any original records of observations of this period in Ukrainian archives. Probably after the collapse of the USSR, data stayed at the Archives of Russia’s Federation. After the Second World War, the Observatory was abandoned and subjected to destruction of the natural environment. Nowadays the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University and the University of Warsaw are actively restoring the building of the Observatory. The modern name of the institution is the International Scientific Center “Observatory” (ISC “Observatory”). There already works 24/7 Ukrainian-Polish mountain search and rescue service. Also the following subdivisions are planned: meteorological and astronomical observations, integrated research laboratories with a wide spectrum of research on the Earth and environment, the place of practice for students and shelter for tourists. Recently (February 22, 2019) Precarpathian University signed a grant agreement: “Adaptation of former observatory on the Pip Ivan mountain for the needs of alpine rescue service training center” which includes the installation of a modern Automatic Weather Station. Within the framework of which large-scale studies are planned to measure the following parameters: atmospheric pressure (PA), air temperature (mean – TM, minimum – TN and maximum – TX), cloud cover (CC), precipitation (RR), snow depth (SD), wind speed (WS) and direction (WDu). Based on the recorded indicators of the dry and moistened thermometer and the humidity sensor, timely and average values of water vapour pressure (VP), relative humidity (RH), dew point temperature (DWPT), vapour-pressure deficit (VPD) and as well as evapotranspiration (ET) will be calculated. Also In the Observatory solar radiation instruments are preparing to install, with a large range of investigated parameters – from sunshine duration (SUD) or albedo (AL) to the measurements of ultraviolet A (UV-A) and B (UV-B). The weather station will also include the air quality monitoring system, which will measure the chemical gases in the atmosphere (e.g. O3, SO2, Nx, CO i CO2). With the support of other institutions, the range of air quality monitoring will be expanded. The location for meteorological observations in the ISC “Observatory” is unique. In terms of scientific research, we will have continuous monitoring of atmosphere elements and of the natural environment as a whole at an altitude of over 2000 m a.s.l. Meteorological research at this station is reasonable and will be the main task of the Observatory. Also, the results of the observations will have practical application from day to day, such as timely warning of avalanche danger or as a search and rescue service. Given the great importance of this mountain ridge in terms of climate, as well as to understand the physical and geographical processes in the whole region, it is worth to use comprehensive researches of its environment. Along with the observations made in other parts of the Carpathians, it will allow us to understand better the climatic features as well as the whole environment of the Carpathian regions.

scholarly journals Evaluation of RNAlater™ as a field-compatible preservation method for metaproteomic analyses of bacteria-animal symbioses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlene Jensen ◽  
Juliane Wippler ◽  
Manuel Kleiner
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Biochemical Properties ◽  
Test Time ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Preservation Method ◽  
Field Deployment ◽  
Protein Preservation

Field studies are central to environmental microbiology and microbial ecology as they enable studies of natural microbial communities. Metaproteomics, the study of protein abundances in microbial communities, allows to study these communities ‘in situ’ which requires protein preservation directly in the field as protein abundance patterns can change rapidly after sampling. Ideally, a protein preservative for field deployment works rapidly and preserves the whole proteome, is stable in long-term storage, is non-hazardous and easy to transport, and is available at low cost. Although these requirements might be met by several protein preservatives, an assessment of their suitability in field conditions when targeted for metaproteomics is currently lacking. Here, we compared the protein preservation performance of flash freezing and the preservation solution RNAlater™ using the marine gutless oligochaete Olavius algarvensis and its symbiotic microbes as a test case. In addition, we evaluated long-term RNAlater™ storage after 1 day, 1 week and 4 weeks at room temperature (22-23 °C). We evaluated protein preservation using one dimensional liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (1D-LC-MS/MS). We found that RNAlater™ and flash freezing preserved proteins equally well in terms of total number of identified proteins or relative abundances of individual proteins and none of the test time points were altered compared to t0. Moreover, we did not find biases against specific taxonomic groups or proteins with particular biochemical properties. Based on our metaproteomics data and the logistical requirements for field deployment we recommend RNAlater™ for protein preservation of field-collected samples when targeted for metaproteomcis.

THE ORIGIN OF SOME VARVES IN TORONTO, CANADA

1967 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 633-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emery Zoltan Lajtai
Keyword(s):  
Characteristic Property ◽  
Sediment Load ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Clay Suspension ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Temperature Variations ◽  
Unconsolidated Material ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The University

A section of varved clays exposed by excavations for the University–Bloor–Danforth Subway in Toronto is described. The individual varves are noted, in general, for such irregular features as erosional structures, poor sorting and grading, sublaminations, and angular fragments of unconsolidated material scattered in the coarse-grained layer. The most characteristic property of an individual varve is the sorting and grading of the coarse-grained layer. On this basis three groups can be distinguished: graded, complex, and diamictic varved clays. Deposition from a special type of turbidity current, the meltwater bottomflow, offers the best explanation for the origin of these varves. The deposition of complex varves, which are the typical varves of the section, probably takes place from continuous meltwater bottomflows that vary in sediment load. Because of the continuity of meltwater currents, sedimentation occurs under the influence of three independent but overlapping processes: settling from a graded suspension, addition of coarse sediments rolled along the bottom, and deposition from a uniform clay suspension. Complex varve structures and textures reflect variations in the coarse sediment load that is ultimately controlled by short-term (commonly diurnal) and long-term temperature variations (chiefly seasonal) affecting the rate of melting at the glacier and consequently the discharge and competence of meltwater currents. The deposition of graded and diamictic varved clays, on the other hand, probably takes place from either single overflows or single bottomflows.

A computer program for use in sheep enterprise decision making.

1981 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 110
Author(s):  
HG Gardiner ◽  
KR Shackleton
Keyword(s):  
Computer Program ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Management Decisions ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Kitchen Table

The profitability and long term viability of any business enterprise depends on careful, well thought out, long term planning. The pastoral industry is no exception and management decisions need to be based on the long term as well as short term advantages and disadvantages of any parficular strategy. Examination of the long term effects of management decisions has always been difficult. Not only is the future uncertain but the necessary financial and stock calculations are tedious, particularly if several strategies are considered. A computer program, suitable for use on programmable calculators, has been designed with the specific aim of reducing the tedium of calculation. Emphasis in the design has been placed on flexibility and applicability to actual decsion making situations. The program, devised for use on the Hewlett Packard 41C calculator, is very similar in aim to the model reported by Barber (I 9801, which aimed 'to provide a tool for producers, extension workers and researchers that could be used anywhere from the office desk to the kitchen table'. A recent summary of enterprise modelling work in 'Computers in Farming' (Department of Agriculture, Victoria 1980) indicates that most of the modelling work has been centred around larger, less portable micro-computers. The ease of operation, transportability and low cost of programmable calculators should make them a valuable tool for use on properties by managers. owners, extension workers, bankers and stock agents. They will enable the manager quickly and accurately to assess the likely outcome of various management strategies.

High-Precision Atmospheric 14CO2 Measurement at the Rafter Radiocarbon Laboratory

Radiocarbon ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 377-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jocelyn C Turnbull ◽  
Albert Zondervan ◽  
Johannes Kaiser ◽  
Margaret Norris ◽  
Jenny Dahl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Precision ◽  
Primary Standard ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Air Samples ◽  
Uncertainty Factor ◽  
University Of Colorado ◽  
Intercomparison Exercises ◽  
The University

This article describes a new capability for high-precision 14C measurement of CO2 from air at the Rafter Radiocarbon Laboratory, GNS Science, New Zealand. We evaluate the short-term within-wheel repeatability and long-term between-wheel repeatability from measurements of multiple aliquots of control materials sourced from whole air. Samples are typically measured to 650,000 14C counts, providing a nominal accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) statistical uncertainty of 1.3‰. No additional uncertainty is required to explain the within-wheel variability. An additional uncertainty factor is needed to explain the long-term repeatability spanning multiple measurement wheels, bringing the overall repeatability to 1.8‰, comparable to other laboratories measuring air materials to high precision. This additional uncertainty factor appears to be due to variability in the measured 14C content of OxI primary standard targets, likely from the combustion process. We observe an offset of 1.4‰ in our samples relative to those measured by the University of Colorado INSTAAR, comparable to interlaboratory offsets observed in recent intercomparison exercises.

EXPRESS: Early Cost Realization and College Choice

2021 ◽  
pp. 002224372110263
Author(s):  
Haewon Yoon ◽  
Yang Yang ◽  
Carey K. Morewedge
Keyword(s):  
Student Loans ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Investment Decision ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Financial Costs ◽  
Financial Decision ◽  
Short Term Investment

We propose a formal tuition myopia model of the decision-making process by which students evaluate the financial costs and returns of college. In simulations, surveys, and experiments, we find that even when student loans defer payment of attendance costs until after graduation—the same moment when students can begin earning a salary that reflects their degree—students psychologically realize the financial costs of college much earlier. This early cost realization frames a majority of choices between any pair of colleges as an intertemporal tradeoff between a smaller short-term investment with smaller long-term returns (a low cost-low return college; LC-LR) and a larger short-term investment with larger long-term returns (a high cost-high return college; HC-HR). While a rational model based on projected future cash flows most often favors the HC-HR college, our model predicts a preference for the LC-LR college among students who are financially impatient and in choice pairs where the equilibrium between LC-LR and HC-HR options is at a low discount rate threshold. Our model of a life-altering financial decision that affects millions of students each year offers valuable insights for universities, policymakers, and non-profit organizations advocating for students to treat higher education as an investment decision.

scholarly journals A low-cost development of automatic weather station based on Arduino for monitoring precipitable water vapor

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 744
Author(s):  
Wayan Suparta ◽  
Aris Warsita ◽  
Ircham Ircham
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Precipitable Water ◽  
Precipitable Water Vapor ◽  
Weather Station ◽  
Automatic Weather Station ◽  
Weather System ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales

Water vapor is the engine of the weather system. Continuous monitoring of its variability on spatial and temporal scales is essential to help improve weather forecasts. This research aims to develop an automatic weather station at low cost using an Arduino microcontroller to monitor precipitable water vapor (PWV) on a micro-scale. The surface meteorological data measured from the BME280 sensor is used to determine the PWV. Our low-cost systems also consisted of a DS3231 real-time clock (RTC) module, a 16×2 liquid crystal display (LCD) module with an I<sup>2</sup>C, and a micro-secure digital (micro-SD) card. The core of the system employed the Arduino Uno surface mount device (SMD) R3 board. The measurement results for long-term monitoring at the tested sites (ITNY and GUWO) found that the daily mean error of temperature and humidity values were 1.30% and 3.16%, respectively. While the error of air pressure and PWV were 0.092% and 2.61%, respectively. The PWV value is higher when the sun is very active or during a thunderstorm. The developed weather system is also capable of measuring altitude on pressure measurements and automatically stores daily data. With a total cost below 50 dollars, all major and support systems developed are fully functional and stable for long-term measurements.

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