Application Of The Phygrow Forage Production- Runoff Model For Regional Stocking Analysis, J W. Stuth, J R. Conner, W T. Hamilton, D M. Schmitt

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

A hydrologic-based forage production model, PHYGROW, was used to simulate forage production and carrying capacity of a subtropical shrubland complex of over 34 species grazed by various ratios of cattle and goats with a population of indigenous white-tailed deer over a 20-yr simulated weather profile. The diet selection algorithm allowed the three animal populations to selectively graze preferred foods based on preferences of plant species, plant parts, and live:dead status by phenological stage. A level of maximum utilization of key species was specified. An incremental analysis of cattle:goat demand ratio was analyzed to determine how different combinations of livestock were …

Understanding Growth Dynamics Of Rangeland Species Under Unlimited Water And Rainfed Conditions, K L. Shropshire, J W. Stuth

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

This experiment was conducted to determine the maximum potential yield of native plant species when maintained in an unlimited water and natural rainfed environments to support the PHYGROW forage production model. Samples of the dominant rangeland plant species found in Central Texas were collected eight times during a 365 day period in 1995-96. Weight per unit basal area, and canopy area increased significantly throughout the growing season in bunchgrasses and sod/rhizomatous grasses, respectively, in water unlimited plots. Individual plant weight of forbs increased with irrigation, although it was only significant for the legume, Texas Bluebonnet. Woody plants exhibited little response …

Recursive Marix Game Analysis: Optimal, Simplified, And Human Strategies In Brave Rats, William A. Medwid

Master's Theses

Brave Rats is a short game with simple rules, yet establishing a comprehensive strategy is very challenging without extensive computation. After explaining the rules, this paper begins by calculating the optimal strategy by recursively solving each turn’s Minimax strategy. It then provides summary statistics about the complex, branching Minimax solution. Next, we examine six other strategy models and evaluate their performance against each other. These models’ flaws highlight the key elements that contribute to the effectiveness of the Minimax strategy and offer insight into simpler strategies that human players could mimic. Finally, we analyze 123 games of human data collected …

Engaging Students In Partial Differential Equations Through Modeling Fourier's Law Of Conduction, Justin G. Trulen, Kayla Keller, John Sinclair, Lauren Meagher

CODEE Journal

In an effort to make active learning exercises in a partial differential equations course, we present a student activity modeling Fourier's law of conduction under the framework of the heat equation. An overview of the heat equation, including several avenues of study, is provided. Then we give an intuitive way of constructing the heat equation from a couple of fundamental properties of physics including Fourier's law of conduction. We outline an experiment that can be run to collect their own data to model Fourier's law of conduction as well as provide data we collected. We conclude with a student activity …

Simulating Information And Communication Applications In Employee Interaction Network Models, Matthew Kanter

Student Research Submissions

Information and communication technology (ICT) use has been identified throughout its development and evolution with the Internet boom as a net positive tool for most employees and organizations in the working world. Only recently have studies regarding employees’ well-being begun to come to the forefront of research regarding these rapidly evolving technologies, however these are important issues to discuss in the context of work-life boundary management, emotional exhaustion, overwhelming stress levels, and moral disengagement among other employee well-being dimensions. To explore how employees’ well being might be influenced by ICT use, this study conducted a quantitative survey and analyzed a …

Multi-Scale Modeling Of Selective Laser Sintering: From Manufacturing Process And Microstructure To Mechanical Performance In Semi-Crystalline Thermoplastics, Cameron Zadeh

All Dissertations

Selective laser sintering is an additive manufacturing process that opens many design possibilities but is limited in its reliability and reproducibility. Numerical simulations validated by experimental data yield insights into the process and resulting part properties, allowing users to make more informed decisions. In this dissertation, a model for the process and microstructure is developed and validated, followed by a coupling to mechanical models to predict part performance. Further developments include a new addition of a reaction kinetics model to the process model to describe the interplay between thermal degradation and melt pool properties, and an exploration of the parameter …

Using A Planetarium To Support Pre-Service Elementary Teachers' Development Of Ngss-Aligned Science Teaching., Breanna Graven

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a case study of five elementary pre-service teachers within a science methods course who attended a planetarium-enriched experience. The experience was designed and taught by an instructor with both experience and education in astronomy and with K-12 students. The focus of the planetarium experience was to teach the science content these PSTs will have to teach to their future elementary students and teach how to teach science in an NGSS-aligned way, by incorporating the Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts. This is a qualitative case study that relied on interviews, open-response surveys, and video prompt responses …

Modern Muses - An Exploration Of A Mind That Refuses To Cooperate, Carrie H. Bull

All Theses

Ancient scholars and artists turned to the classic muses for form, worship, and inspiration in pursuit of crafting their greatest works. In an information age rife with new ideas and new artists, it is inevitable that new creative obstacles will be encountered and new muses will be called upon to overcome them. This project is an exploration of the digital modeling pipeline through the formation of such muses. It begins with the creation and iteration of concept art for three original characters, moves on to the sculpting of the characters in Zbrush, creation of clothes in Marvelous Designer, posing, and …

Deterministic Global 3d Fractal Cloud Model For Synthetic Scene Generation, Aaron M. Schinder, Shannon R. Young, Bryan J. Steward, Michael L. Dexter, Andrew Kondrath, Stephen Hinton, Ricardo Davila

Faculty Publications

This paper describes the creation of a fast, deterministic, 3D fractal cloud renderer for the AFIT Sensor and Scene Emulation Tool (ASSET). The renderer generates 3D clouds by ray marching through a volume and sampling the level-set of a fractal function. The fractal function is distorted by a displacement map, which is generated using horizontal wind data from a Global Forecast System (GFS) weather file. The vertical windspeed and relative humidity are used to mask the creation of clouds to match realistic large-scale weather patterns over the Earth. Small-scale detail is provided by the fractal functions which are tuned to …

A Statistical Fetch Model For Water Wave Glint Correction Using Worldview-3 Imagery, Amanda Jade Quintanilla

Theses and Dissertations

Sun glint in satellite imagery of the water surface contaminates the upwelling signal received by a detector. Many models exist that attempt to correct for this wave facet effect and phenomena. In this work a model for sun glint correction is created using the comparison of image transects between two nearly simultaneously collected images of the same area, although with differing sensor geometry. One image utilized in this research is almost entirely glint free while the other is contaminated by water wave facet glint. Although many models for removing sun glint exist based on various techniques, none are completely accurate, …

Modeling Of Multi-Period Disaster Logistics Planning In The State Of South Carolina, Emma Simon

All Theses

South Carolina is one of the most vulnerable states in the United States to the impact of hurricanes. Currently, when threatened with a natural disaster such as a hurricane, the state government makes many vital decisions based on knowledge and experience. In this study, the distribution of disaster relief commodities to meet immediate needs is analyzed through two models for the case of South Carolina to generate an optimal logistics strategy that considers the social vulnerability of affected populations. The first model is a multi-objective pre-disaster logistics model that uses a four-index formulation for the multiple trip vehicle routing problem. …

Discrete Time State-Space Modeling Framework For Switched-Mode Power Supplies, Jared Baxter

Doctoral Dissertations

Electrical power consumption has become ever prominent in modern society. Switch mode power supplies, now more than ever, have become a foundation for residential, commercial, and industrial electrical needs. These demands require numerous advanced power converters, and modeling plays a vital role in the design of these converters. Commonly, modeling is completed using either dedicated hand analysis, which must be completed individually for each topology, or time-stepping circuit simulations, which are insufficiently rapid for broad analysis considering a wide range of potential designs or operating points. Discrete time state-space modeling of switching converters has shown merits in rapid analysis and …

Study Of Reactive Distillation Equipment For Eterification Process, Abbos Elmanov, Abdulaziz Bakhtiyorov, Adham Norkobilov, Olimjon Maksudov, Zarif Oripov

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The purpose of this work is to study the chemical technological processes for eterification processes, and the reactive distillation unit, which carries out the reaction and separation process in one device, was chosen as the object of research. А reаctive distillаtion system is exаmined to produce for the production of Ethyl Acetate (EtAc) viа eterificаtion of acetic acid (HAc) with ethаnol. Optimizаtion methods using sensitivity analysis аre аlso conducted. Cаlculаtion of vаpor liquid equilibrium of the mixture system is done using UNIFАC model. Heat integration from the distillate stream of the column to the acid feed stream and from bottom …

Bioinformatics To Guide Musculoskeletal Modeling: A Retrospective Study From Olympic Water Polo Athletes, Dhruv Seshadri, Tony Del Vecchio, Hayley Whitney, Tim Gabbett

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

GNYACSM Original Research Abstract

Bioinformatics to Guide Musculoskeletal Modeling: A Retrospective Study from Olympic Water Polo Athletes

DEL VECCHIO TONY, WHITNEY HAYLEY, GABBETT TIM

Seshadri Lab; Bioengineering; Lehigh University; Bethlehem, PA

Category: Masters

Advisor / Mentor: Seshadri, Dhruv dhs223@lehigh.edu

ABSTRACT

There is a pressing need for effective injury prevention methods to mitigate time-loss injuries. This study aims to develop a robust injury risk assessment model for water polo athletes by assessing the interplay between load-response metrics, and leveraging artificial intelligence to forecast wellness based on prior assessments.

PURPOSE

Water polo athletes present with upper extremity injuries in the hip, knee, …

Time-Dependent Strain-Resistance Relationships In Silicone Nanocomposite Sensors, Alex Mikal Wonnacott

Theses and Dissertations

Flexible high-deflection strain gauges have been demonstrated as cost-effective and accessible sensors for capturing human biomechanical deformations. However, the interpretation of these sensors is notably more complex compared to conventional strain gauges, partially owing to the viscoelastic nature of the strain gauges. On top of the non-linear viscoelastic behavior, dynamic resistance response is even more difficult to capture due to spikes in resistance during strain changes. This research examines the relationships between stress, strain, and resistance in nanocomposite sensors during dynamic strain situations. Under the assumption that both macroscopic stress and resistance are governed by microscopic stress concentrations at the …

Application Of High-Deflection Strain Gauges To Characterize Spinal-Motion Phenotypes Among Patients With Clbp, Spencer Alan Baker

Theses and Dissertations

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a nonspecific and persistent ailment that entails many physiological, psychological, social, and economic consequences for individuals and societies. Although there is a plethora of treatments available to treat CLBP, each treatment has varying efficacy for different patients, and it is currently unknown how to best link patients to their ideal treatment. However, it is known that biopsychosocial influences associated with CLBP affect the way that we move. It has been hypothesized that identifying phenotypes of spinal motion could facilitate an objective and repeatable method of determining the optimal treatment for each patient. The objective …

Optimization Of Human Interactions In The College Campus Model Via Simio Integration, Benjamin E. Chaback

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

College campuses are a significant part of life in some cities. Many students each year attend university, pursuing additional knowledge from faculty members. Both staff and faculty members rely on these students to have successful jobs and to ensure the university functions. Yet recently, more and more students are attending, leading to overcrowding, lower admission rates, and difficulty getting into good programs. Previous work exists on qualitative student affairs and quantitative retention data, yet little on using simulations to model this problem. This work aimed to (a) Determine the ability to successfully model human interactions/people flow on a college campus, …

Investigating Gulf Coast Aquifer System: Stratigraphy Reconstruction, Inverse Modeling, And Groundwater Stress Assessment, Shuo Yang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Mississippi Embayment aquifer system (MEAS) and the Coastal Lowlands aquifer system (CLAS) provide substantial groundwater resources for human activities in the U.S. Gulf Coastal Plain. However, the overexploitation has led to groundwater depletion in the MEAS and the CLAS, threatening sustainable groundwater use. Such concern highlights the crucial need for an advanced understanding of stratigraphy and groundwater in these aquifer systems, which is essential for effective regional groundwater management. This dissertation presents a comprehensive investigation of MEAS and CLAS in the Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi region, encompassing three fundamental dimensions: stratigraphy reconstruction, groundwater modeling, and groundwater stress assessments. A …

Teaching And Learning In Stem With Computation, Modeling, And Simulation Practices, Alejandra J. Magana

Purdue University Press Books

Computation, modeling, and simulation practices are commonplace in the STEM workplace, yet formal training embedded in disciplinary practices is not as standard in the undergraduate classroom. Teaching and Learning in STEM With Computation, Modeling, and Simulation Practices: A Guide for Practitioners and Researchers gives instructors a handbook to ensure their curriculum bridges the gap between the classroom and workplace by equipping students with computational skills and preparing them for a rewarding career in STEM. Grounded in theory and supported by fifteen years of education research at the undergraduate level, this book provides instructional, pedagogical, and assessment guidance for integrating modeling …

Modeling And Analysing Of Complex Combat Systems Based On Symbiosis Theory, Xiangrui Tian, Jie Ying, Rui Yao, Xiaodong Wan

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: As the combat systems develop towards clustering, coordination, unmanned, and intelligent direction, traditional combat system modeling methods are unable to reflect the complexity and intelligence of the combat systems. By drawing on symbiosis theory, this paper models and analyzes complex combat systems, and decomposes the complex combat system into various subsystems according to combat missions. The combat units, interaction modes, and combat environments in the subsystems are analyzed. The paper builds mathematical models to capture the collaborative interaction relationships between combat units, finally constructing a symbiotic model of complex combat systems. By the symbiosis principles and methods, quantitative analysis …

Mathematical Modeling To Support Public Health Officials With Evaluating Immunization And Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention Strategies During And Outside Periods Of Outbreak Response, Gabriel Rainisch

Public Health Dissertations

A growing number of public health officials rely on mathematical modeling to aid in making decisions, especially during outbreak responses. Math models simulate health phenomenon with equations and are useful for forecasting a disease’s progression in a population and evaluating the potential effects of interventions. We generated three models to aid practicing health officials with addressing real-world issues.

The first model estimates the impact of immunization strategies on RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) among infants <12 months. Users input RSV burden and seasonality and examine the influence of altering product efficacy and uptake assumptions. We used the model to evaluate anticipated immunization products among a US birth cohort. We estimated without immunization, 339,650 – 475,980 LRTIs are attended annually in outpatient clinics, 126,070 – 168,510 in emergency departments (EDs), and 24,760 – 42,900 in hospitals. A passive antibody candidate given to all infants prevented the most LRTIs: 48% of outpatient visits without immunization, 51% of ED visits, and 55% of hospitalizations.

Our second model creates projections of healthcare demand during the early phase of the COVID19 pandemic and evaluates the impacts of social-distancing interventions. Users …

Modeling, Control, And Fault Detection Of Energy Systems Under Limited High-Confidence Data Scenarios, Selorme K. Agbleze

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Abstract

Modeling, Control, and Fault Detection of Energy Systems under Limited High-Confidence Data Scenarios

Selorme K. Agbleze

Utilizing process measurements for fault detection is an established approach for processes with adequate datasets. For systems with limited high-confidence data representing fault cases and some amount of low-confidence data, few quantitative hybrid techniques exist for performing fault detection. In real systems, it is time-consuming, expensive, and sometimes not productive to generate enough high-confidence data with fault characteristics of a specific process. The problem of limited high-confidence data scenarios may also arise due to process novelty, the need for new operating conditions, or …

Controller Area Network With Flexible Data Rate (Can Fd) Eye Diagram Prediction, Junyong Park, Manho Lee, Shinyoung Park, Jonghoon Kim, Joungho Kim, Donghyun Kim

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A method for predicting the eye diagram for a controller area network with a flexible data rate (CAN FD) is proposed in this article. A CAN FD changes a data rate according to the status to overcome the limitation of latency. In other words, when data to be transmitted are accumulated, the CAN FD increases the data rate up to 5 Mb/s. The CAN FD has a bus topology consisting of multiple electronic control units, which results in a significant amount of signal reflection. Thus, the above causes the signal integrity analysis uncertain. To avoid this, this article proposes a …

Extending Active Network Length Versus Catchment Discharge Relations To Temporarily Dry Outlets, Gianluca Botter, James Mcnamara, Nicola Durighetto

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

River networks are not steady blue lines drawn in a map, since they continuously change their shape and extent in response to climatic drivers. Therefore, the flowing length of rivers (L) and the corresponding catchment-scale streamflow (Q_sur) co-evolve dynamically. This paper analyzes the relationship between the wet channel length and the streamflow of a river basin, formulating a general analytical model that includes the case of temporarily dry outlets. In particular, the framework relaxes the common assumption that when the discharge at the outlet tends to zero the upstream flowing length approaches zero. Different analytical …

Study Of The Application Of Blender For Simulation Of A Closed-Loop Image-Based Greenhouse Supplemental Lighting Control, Kip Nieman, Helen Durand

Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Faculty Research Publications

Image-based control and sensing has been applied in a wide variety of next generation manufacturing fields. Utilizing methods of simulating closed-loop image-based control may be advantageous for improving control performance and design without the need for an experimental setup. One software capable of these simulations is the open-source 3D modeling software Blender, which has many capabilities aided by a Python API. This work explores the use of Blender as an image-based control test bed, where both the process and the controller are simulated, in the context of a greenhouse supplemental lighting control system.

Gas Evolution Of A Nickel-Zinc Cell, Niklas Landgraf

MSU Graduate Theses

Batteries are a foundational technology in some of the industries most essential to humanity. Often, their advancement to achieve better performance impacts human lives positively. There are a wide variety of battery chemistries that have been utilized, and the differences in their properties have caused them to be used in many distinct niche applications. Nickel-Zinc (NiZn) batteries are desirable because of their recyclable materials, high cell voltage, and high cycle-life. However, it experiences undesirable shape-change of its electrode materials and gas production due to the electrolysis of the aqueous electrolyte. These can lead to a decrease in capacity over many …

High-Pressure Ignition And Flame Propagation – An Experimental And Numerical Study, James Shaffer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The next generation of advanced combustion devices is being developed to operate under ultra-high-pressure conditions, to improve combustion efficiency and reduce pollutant emissions. However, at such extreme conditions, flame tends to become unstable, and measurement of fundamental properties becomes challenging. The laminar burning speed ( ) is among those properties, as it is required for the validation of kinetic models and the modeling of turbulent combustion. One potential method to resolve this issue and achieve measurement at very high pressures (i.e., 20-50 atm), is focusing on ignition affected region. The flame kernel in this region is more resistant to perturbations …

Forecasting The Outcome Of Nfl Playoff Games: A Regression Analysis, Jack Pierpont Morgan V

UVM Patrick Leahy Honors College Senior Theses

Professional sports are one of the most consumed forms of entertainment in the world today. Professional sporting events are some of the most watched broadcasts worldwide each year. The 2022 FIFA World Cup Final garnered about 1.5 billion views worldwide, almost 20% of our planet’s population (Jones, 2023). The National Football League is the most popular professional sport in the United States. Recent polling data shows that a clear majority of the country, 72% of Americans, self-identify as football fans (“St. Bonaventure”, 2023). The NFL runs from September to February and regularly draws 15-20 million viewers weekly during …

Bridging Biological Systems With Social Behavior, Conservation, Decision Making, And Well-Being Through Hybrid Mathematical Modeling, Maggie Renee Sullens

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Mathematics

This dissertation defense presentation highlights the power of hybrid mathematical modeling and addresses crucial issues such as:

1️. The Impact of Industry Collapse on Community Mental Health: A Complex Contagion ODE Model.

2️. Budget Allocation and Illegal Fishing: A Game Theoretic Model.

3️. Reactive Scope Model with an Energy Budget and Multiple Mediators: An ODE Model

The overarching theme of Hybrid Mathematical Modeling beautifully captures the essence of this work, demonstrating its potential to unravel ecological issues while addressing the intricate interactions between humans and the environment.

Defensive Impact Wins: Developing A New Method To Rate Individual Defense In Nba Games, Dylan J. Stiles

Honors Theses and Capstones

With the analytics revolution in sports in the past 20 years, it seems that everything that can be quantified is. In basketball though, trying to break the game down into a set of numbers comes with a unique problem. While we've come up with a good set of advanced numbers to measure offensive efficiency, defense is fundamentally harder to quantify. The game is played five on five, but it has often been popular or convenient to model defense as a set of five one on one games. As defenses became more complex into the 2010s, this methodology became more insignificant. …