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1. Doubly Balanced Connected Graph Partitioning

   https://doi.org/10.1145/3381419  

   Soltan, Saleh; Yannakakis, Mihalis; Zussman, Gil (April 2020, ACM Transactions on Algorithms)

   null (Ed.)

   We introduce and study the doubly balanced connected graph partitioning problem: Let G =( V , E ) be a connected graph with a weight (supply/demand) function p : V → {−1, +1} satisfying p ( V )=∑ j &isin V p ( j ) = 0. The objective is to partition G into ( V 1 , V 2 ) such that G [ V 1 ] and G [ V 2 ] are connected, ∣ p ( V 1 )∣,∣ p ( V 2 )∣≤ c p , and max{ ∣ V 1 / V 2 ∣,∣ V 2 / V 1 ∣} ≤ c s , for some constants c p and c s . When G is 2-connected, we show that a solution with c p =1 and c s =2 always exists and can be found in randomized polynomial time. Moreover, when G is 3-connected, we show that there is always a “perfect” solution (a partition with p ( V 1 )= p ( V 2 )=0 and ∣ V 1 ∣=∣ V 2 ∣, if ∣ V ∣≡ 0 (mod 4)), and it can be found in randomized polynomial time. Our techniques can be extended, with similar results, to the case in which the weights are arbitrary (not necessarily ±1), and to the case that p ( V )≠ 0 and the excess supply/demand should be split evenly. They also apply to the problem of partitioning a graph with two types of nodes into two large connected subgraphs that preserve approximately the proportion of the two types. 

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2. Rewrite rule inference using equality saturation

   https://doi.org/10.1145/3485496  

   Nandi, Chandrakana; Willsey, Max; Zhu, Amy; Wang, Yisu_Remy; Saiki, Brett; Anderson, Adam; Schulz, Adriana; Grossman, Dan; Tatlock, Zachary (October 2021, Proceedings of the ACM on Programming Languages)

   Many compilers, synthesizers, and theorem provers rely on rewrite rules to simplify expressions or prove equivalences. Developing rewrite rules can be difficult: rules may be subtly incorrect, profitable rules are easy to miss, and rulesets must be rechecked or extended whenever semantics are tweaked. Large rulesets can also be challenging to apply: redundant rules slow down rule-based search and frustrate debugging. This paper explores how equality saturation, a promising technique that uses e-graphs toapplyrewrite rules, can also be used toinferrewrite rules. E-graphs can compactly represent the exponentially large sets of enumerated terms and potential rewrite rules. We show that equality saturation efficiently shrinks both sets, leading to faster synthesis of smaller, more general rulesets. We prototyped these strategies in a tool dubbed Ruler. Compared to a similar tool built on CVC4, Ruler synthesizes 5.8× smaller rulesets 25× faster without compromising on proving power. In an end-to-end case study, we show Ruler-synthesized rules which perform as well as those crafted by domain experts, and addressed a longstanding issue in a popular open source tool. 

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3. Photoluminescence from Defects in Be‐Doped GaN

   https://doi.org/10.1002/pssb.202400656  

   Reshchikov, Michael_Alexander; McEwen, Benjamin; Shahedipour‐Sandvik, Shadi (February 2025, physica status solidi (b))

   While GaN is a crucial semiconductor material for bright light‐emitting devices, fabrication of p‐type GaN remains challenging since the Mg acceptor commonly used for p‐type doping is not shallow enough. Doping of GaN with Be is a promising path, yet no reliable p‐type GaN has been achieved by Be doping so far. One of the reasons is a poor understanding of point defects in Be‐doped GaN that can be studied by photoluminescence (PL). The yellow (YL_Be) band at 2.15 eV is the dominant PL band in Be‐doped GaN. In this work, a blue PL band named the BL_Beband is discovered. It has a maximum at 2.6 eV and a lifetime of 0.8 μs at temperatures below 100 K. The BL_Beband is observed in GaN samples with relatively high concentrations of Be (>10¹⁸ cm⁻³). Both the YL_Beand BL_Bebands likely originate from the isolated Be_Gadefect, namely from electron transitions via the −/0 and 0/+ thermodynamic transition levels of the Be_Ga. The 0/+ transition level is located at 0.1–0.2 eV above the valence band. Other broad PL bands in Be‐doped GaN were also observed and preliminarily attributed to Be‐containing complexes. 

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4. Cycling Phosphorus and Nitrogen through Cropping Systems in an Intensive Dairy Production Region

   https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11051005  

   Leytem, April B.; Williams, Paula; Zuidema, Shan; Martinez, Audrey; Chong, Yen Leng; Vincent, Alyssa; Vincent, Aaron; Cronan, Daniel; Kliskey, Andrew; Wulfhorst, J. D.; et al (May 2021, Agronomy)

   null (Ed.)

   As pressure on the dairy industry to reduce its environmental impact increases, efficient recycling of manure nutrients through local cropping systems becomes crucial. The aim of this study was to calculate annual nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) budgets in six counties located in the Magic Valley, Idaho and estimate what distance manure would need to be transported to be in balance with crop nutrient demand given current dairy cattle populations and cropping systems. Our analysis suggests that crop N needs will not be met solely by manure, and synthetic fertilizer will need to be applied. However, to balance P with crop production, manure would need to be transported a minimum of 12.9 km from dairies and would have to replace synthetic fertilizer P on 91% of regional cropland. Education of producers and technical specialists would be necessary to improve the management of manure use in regional cropping systems. Technical solutions such as alternative diets for cattle and nutrient capture from manure streams will also likely be necessary to bring regional P into balance to protect environmental quality and improve the sustainability of the regional dairy industry. 

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5. Am I smart enough to be an engineer? How undergraduate engineering students articulate their identities

   https://doi.org/10.1002/jee.70005  

   Kajfez, Rachel; Kramer, Amy; Braaten, Bailey; Dringenberg, Emily (May 2025, Journal of Engineering Education)

   Abstract BackgroundStudents' identification with engineering is intertwined culturally with being smart. Broadly, engineering students are often considered to be smart by others and by themselves, and these beliefs about smartness—what it is and who has enough of it to be an engineer—are a fundamental and limiting aspect of students' experiences. PurposeThe purpose of this study was to explore how undergraduate engineering students describe themselves as smart enough to be engineers. We aimed to develop rich descriptions of the complex ways they articulate their identities as smart before coming to college and during the first two years of their undergraduate degrees. Design/MethodWe collected data through a series of interviews with 25 participants. We iteratively and collaboratively analyzed the data to determine the predominant ways the participants articulated their identities as smart enough to be engineers. We generated a qualitative data display to check for patterns related to pathways into engineering programs and privileged social identities. ResultsWe found that engineering students have three different ways to articulate that they are smart enough to be engineers: (1) they have innate abilities, (2) they are hardworking and dedicated to learning, and (3) they have skills and experience related to engineering. Additionally, we provide qualitative evidence that the innate abilities articulation relates to privilege. Discussion/ConclusionThe study participants engaged in identity work that produced the three articulations. As engineering educators, we need to take responsibility for the ways in which our participation in the cultural practice of smartness reproduces inequity. 

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