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Using IBM Watson for Discovery and Research Support: A Library-Industry Partnership at Auburn University
Full text linkResearchers at the Auburn University Libraries are collaborating with cross-campus units and private companies to explore the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) tools to scholarly repositories, structured and unstructured datasets, and the open web. The goal is twofold: to develop hands-on AI/ML expertise in the libraries and to better position the libraries to support and participate in Auburn University’s research activities. This chapter describes an exploratory project the libraries are working on with the IBM Research Triangle Park Center for Advanced Studies (IBM RTP-CAS) on using the IBM Watson Studio of AI/ML services to build natural-language query interfaces for scholarly repositories and datasets in specific subject domains. Since 2017, the libraries have been providing high-level information technology support and subject-matter expertise to the Military REACH Project, which is based in the College of Human Sciences (CHS) at Auburn University and funded by the US Department of Agriculture and the US Department of Defense. The mission of the Military REACH Project is to support US military families and family readiness by translating academic research and other resources into practical applications. A key component of the project is the design and development of a publicly accessible, easy-to-navigate library of research publications and other resources on military life and family health, delivered through a user-friendly website. With IBM’s help, the Watson suite of tools and services is being used to build an AI/ML-powered query interface and recommendation system for the Military REACH Library and public datasets in the same field. In this chapter, the authors discuss the larger library and professional context for this project, its background and rationale, the deliverables they are producing, and the technical, logistical, and administrative challenges that they have encountered in this effort. The goal is to provide other academic libraries with a model for embarking on similar projects and a clear understanding of the benefits and challenges involved.PublishedYe
On the Challenges of Measuring Energetic Particles in the Inner Belt: A Geant4 Simulation of an Energetic Particle Detector Instrument, REPTile-2
Full text linkFollowing the retirement of the community supported Van Allen Probes mission, the quest for high-quality energetic particle measurements in the radiation belts is likely to be taken on by smaller spacecraft like CubeSats in the foreseeable future. Here we introduce the Relativistic Electron Proton Telescope integrated little experiment-2 (REPTile-2), a miniaturized (similar to 1.5 U) solid-state charged particle telescope that aims to undertake this challenging task. It incorporates detailed pulse-height analysis to enable 60 electron channels and 60 proton channels and includes anticoincidence detectors to minimize unwanted background contamination. This paper presents a description of the REPTile-2 design and emphasizes the importance of extensive Geant4-based analysis to inform the design of a new energetic particle detector and characterize the instrument response. Our analysis shows that REPTile-2 can measure similar to 0.3-similar to 4 MeV electrons and similar to 6.7-35 MeV protons with energy resolution ( increment E/E) of 7%-38% for electrons and 1.5%-5% for protons. Results from a Sr-90/Y-90 radioactive source test have verified the instrument performance and the validity of the Geant4 simulations. These energetic particle measurements will enable a new scientific understanding of the inner radiation belt, where unwanted contamination from the unforgiving penetration of highly energetic protons (tens of MeV to GeV) is common, and provide detailed quantification of the inner belt electrons and protons in the low-Earth orbit that is crucial for space weather modeling.PublishedYe
The Photograph(s) of George Eliot
No full textArticle from the George Eliot Review. Digitized and hosted by the George Eliot Review Online, editor Beverley Park Rilett.Publishe
Reduced Mitochondrial Respiration in Hybrid Asexual Lizards
Full text linkThe scarcity of asexual reproduction in vertebrates alludes to an inherent cost. Several groups of asexual vertebrates exhibit lower endurance capacity (a trait predominantly sourced by mitochondrial respiration) compared with congeneric sexual species. Here we measure endurance capacity in five species of Aspidoscelis lizards and examine mitochondrial respiration between sexual and asexual species using mitochondrial respirometry. Our results show reduced endurance capacity, reduced mitochondrial respiration, and reduced phenotypic variability in asexual species compared with parental sexual species, along with a positive relationship between endurance capacity and mitochondrial respiration. Results of lower endurance capacity and lower mitochondrial respiration in asexual Aspidoscelis are consistent with hypotheses involving mitonuclear incompatibility.PublishedYe
'The Make-Believe of a Beginning': A Reading of Silas Marner
No full textArticle from the George Eliot Review. Digitized and hosted by the George Eliot Review Online, editor Beverley Park Rilett.Publishe
Genetic variation underlies plastic responses to global change drivers in the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
Full text linkPhenotypic plasticity and adaptive evolution enable population persistence in response to global change. However, there are few experiments that test how these processes interact within and across generations, especially in marine species with broad distributions experiencing spatially and temporally variable temperature and pCO2. We employed a quantitative genetics experiment with the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, to decompose family-level variation in transgenerational and developmental plastic responses to ecologically relevant temperature and pCO2. Adults were conditioned to controlled non-upwelling (high temperature, low pCO2) or upwelling (low temperature, high pCO2) conditions. Embryos were reared in either the same conditions as their parents or the crossed environment, and morphological aspects of larval body size were quantified. We find evidence of family-level phenotypic plasticity in response to different developmental environments. Among developmental environments, there was substantial additive genetic variance for one body size metric when larvae developed under upwelling conditions, although this differed based on parental environment. Furthermore, cross-environment correlations indicate significant variance for genotype-by-environment interactive effects. Therefore, genetic variation for plasticity is evident in early stages of S. purpuratus, emphasizing the importance of adaptive evolution and phenotypic plasticity in organismal responses to global change.PublishedYe
Review of Robert Muscutt's The Orange Hatchback and the Secret Recollections of George Eliot
No full textArticle from the George Eliot Review. Digitized and hosted by the George Eliot Review Online, editor Beverley Park Rilett.Publishe
Alabama Livestock Research Report 2022
No full textIt is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the first edition of the Alabama Livestock Research Report. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive overview for producers and stakeholders across the state highlighting the research and outreach activities developed in the Department of Animal Sciences at Auburn University.
This publication combines reports from scientists and graduate students on campus and Experiment Stations. Herein we provide in-depth information on our research programs, ranging from animal nutrition and genetics to management and production practices. Additionally, we showcase our outreach activities, such as extension programs and partnerships with industry stakeholders
Central Arizona Project
No full textThis file contains a digital map of the Central Arizona Project (U.S.A.) in Google Earth KMZ format that was produced as part of The IBT Water Project at Auburn University. The Central Arizona Project (CAP) is a complex canal system for transporting water from the Colorado River southeastward across the state of Arizona. The system includes 14 pumping plants to lift the water up a series of “stair-steps” as the route climbs over 2,000 ft in elevation to its final destination near Tucson. The CAP is reported to be the largest user of electricity in the state. The Lake Pleasant Reservoir north of Phoenix is a unique feature where water can be pumped up for temporary storage, then later released back to the main canal. The CAP also includes 9 groundwater recharge stations for temporary storage. The groundwater recharge stations near Tucson are owned and operated by the city of Tucson and are estimated to hold an over three-year supply of freshwater. Metadata embedded in the KMZ file include author contact, Creative Commons License information, and a list of references. See the project website (URL shortcut: aub.ie/ibtwater) for information about methods, data sources, additional digital IBT maps, Google Earth tips, and a glossary of key terms
Using the red-imported fire ant to study invasive species removal and reinvasion
Full text linkInvasive species are a major driver of native species declines, frequently resulting in a reduction of ecosystem function. Though control of invasive species is often beneficial, it can create other ecological issues. However, studying the results can give insight into the benefits of removal and most effective management techniques. A model invasive species to test the effects of removal is the red-imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta, hereafter RIFA), which depredates and competes with native species. We hypothesized that following removal, RIFA would recolonize treated areas from untreated borders, resulting in reinvasion and higher densities due to elimination of competition from native species that would also be extirpated by treatments. To test our hypothesis, we compared RIFA relative abundance on large sites (>400 ha) treated with a granular insecticide (Extinguish Plus, Central Life Sciences, Schaumburg, IL) in southwest Georgia, USA. Extinguish Plus effectively removed RIFA, but the treated sites were reinvaded approximately 14 months after treatment with higher densities of RIFA than on untreated areas, potentially reflecting release from competition from native ants removed by treatments. Invasive species removal may elicit a rapid recolonization via a density-dependent response mechanism and potentially increase abundance of the target species. Management strategies integrating temporal and spatial replication of control measures and multiple management techniques will be most successful in controlling invasive species.Ye