Digital Commons Network^™

Nonparametric Bayes Estimation Of Contamination Levels Using Observations From The Residual Distribution, Paul H. Kvam, Ram C. Tiwari, Jyoti N. Zalkikar

Department of Math & Statistics Faculty Publications

A nonparametric Bayes estimator of the survival function is derived for right censored data where additional observations from the residual distribution are available. The estimation is motivated by data on contamination concentrations for chromium from one of the EPA's toxic waste sites. The residual sample can be produced by hot spot sampling, where only samples above a given threshold value are collected. The Dirichlet process is used to formulate prior information about the chromium contamination, and we compare the Bayes estimator of the mean concentration level to other estimators currently considered by the EPA and other sources. The Bayes estimator …

Greenhouse Gases And Other Airborne Pollutants From Household Stoves In China: A Database For Emission Factors, J. Zhang, K. R. Smith, Y. Ma, S. Ye, F. Jiang, W. Qi, P. Liu, M. A. K. Khalil, R. A. Rasmussen, S. A. Thorneloe

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Emissions from household stoves, especially those using solid fuels, can contribute significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories and have adverse health impacts. Few data are available on emissions from the numerous types of cookstoves used in developing countries. We have systematically measured emissions from 56 fuel/stove combinations in India and China, a large fraction of the combinations in use world-wide. A database was generated containing emission factors of direct and indirect GHGs and other airborne pollutants such as CO2, CO, CH4, TNMHC, N2O, SO2, NOx, TSP, etc. In this paper, we report on the 28 fuel/stove combinations tested …

Estimation Of A Monotone Mean Residual Life, Subhash C. Kochar, Hari Mukerjee, Francisco J. Samaniego

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

In survival analysis and in the analysis of life tables an important biometric function of interest is the life expectancy at age x,M(x), defined by M(x)=E[X?x|X>x], where X is a lifetime. M is called the mean residual life function. In many applications it is reasonable to assume that M is decreasing (DMRL) or increasing (IMRL); we write decreasing (increasing) for nonincreasing (non-decreasing). There is some literature on empirical estimators of M and their properties. Although tests for a monotone M are discussed in the literature, we are not aware of any estimators of M under these order restrictions. In …

Wetland Vegetation Monitoring, 1999/2000 (Salinity Action Plan), R. Gurner, R. Froend, G. Ogden, B. Franke

Research outputs pre 2011

This report represents the vegetation component of a project designed to provide on-going monitoring of wetland salinity and biological resources in wetlands of the agricultural zone of south-west Western Australia. Maintenance of wetland biological diversity in the agricultural zone is one of the major objectives of the Salinity Action Plan. Due to their low position in the landscape, wetlands are the habitat most affected by salinisation.

Parameters Influencing Sediments Resuspension And The Link To Sorption Of Inorganic Compounds, Eid A. Alkhatib, Keith Castor

Chemistry & Physics Faculty Publications

In the aquatic environment, the accumulation of chemicalcontaminants by sediments poses a potential threat to endemiclife forms and drinking water resources. Trace metals such asCd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and toxic organic compounds, are among awide variety of contaminants having an affinity for sediments.In this study, experiments were performed simulating sedimentresuspension in the lower Housatonic River, Connecticut, using aParticle Entrainment Simulator. Analyses of grain sizedistributions, porosities and total organic contents of thesediments suggested that these parameters influence theredistribution and entrainment of settleable solids in the watercolumn. These findings were established by evaluating the impactof one parameter on sediment resuspension as …

The Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund In The Great Lakes Region: Assessment And Recommendations, Kirstin Toth, Adina Swirski Wolf

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

The GLEFC was asked by the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Region 5 brownfields staff to provide an assessment of the viability and implementation of the Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund (BCRLF) by the 12 pilot award recipients in the Region. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the administrative performance of the BCRLF at the 6-state regional level. It should be stressed that this is not an evaluation of the performance of individual pilots. This assessment was intended to be a “snapshot” of the pilot community’s implementation of the BCRLF, and the site visits were all made …

Design And Implementation Of A University Department Website, Margaret M. Rick

Graduate Research Papers

The website design cycle consists of four important components: (1) planning, (2) production, (3) implementation, and (4) operation. Within these components are a variety of vital tasks ranging from defining the objective and audience to conceptualizing the site, determining content, and creating, testing, and revising the site. Numerous rules or accepted principles guide the design process from color and font selection, to graphic creation, to site navigation layout. Once created, a website must be maintained: content should be updated and outside links verified on a regular basis. A site that is not maintained or kept current is of no benefit …

Managing Population-Environment Systems: Problems Of Institutional Design, Geoffrey Mcnicoll

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

In population–environment systems human activity is inherently part of the system rather than something to be minimized in order to maintain or restore “natural” environmental conditions. Issues arising in managing such systems are discussed in this paper. The system’s boundaries must be identified, defining its human participants and its ecological content. Procedures for monitoring demographic and environmental change in the system must be set up and consensus must be reached on how to evaluate that change.

Sistem Maklumbalas Bagi Sistem Maklumat Kesihatan, Abu Bakar Siti Fatimah

Student Works (2000-2009)

Perkembangan teknologi dan industri komputer yang semakin pesat, kini menjadi medan utama untuk setiap pihak bersaing. Penyediaan aspek mudah dan pantas menjadi pilihan utama dalam menghasilkan kerja yang lebih produktif dan berkualiti serta hasil kerja yang terbaik. Perkembangan yang positif ini membantu meningkatkan mutu pengurusan termasuklah pengurusan sistem. Sistem maklumbalas bagi sistem maklumat kesihatan, iaitu Sistem MBK yang akan dibangunkan ini bertujuan untuk membantu pihak yang terlibat da1am melicinkan urusan dan membantu mengatasi masalah yang dihadapi jika sistem manual digunakan. Tujuan pembangunan Sistem MBK ini adalah supaya pengguna dapat memberikan maklumbalas kepada pusat kesihatan dengan lebih mudah dan cepat. Sistem …

Sistem Inventori Farmasi, Embong Jamilah

Student Works (2000-2009)

Pada hari ini kemajuan Teknologi Maklumat semakin pesat berkembang. Organisasi kerajaan mahupun swasta menggunakan sistem komputer untuk: melicinkan lagi kerja yang dilakukan tiap hari Sistem lnventori Farmasi diperkenalkan bagi memudahkan kerja penyimpanan maklumat di kedai-kedai farmasi supaya kerja yaang dijalankan berjalan dengan lancar. Laporan ini bertujuan memberi penerangan serta gambaran tentang projek yang dijalankan ini. Kajian literasi memberi penerangan bagaimana kajian yang dilakukan sebelum dan sewaktu projek dijalankan. la juga menggambarkan tentang proses pembangunan perisian di mana ia diceritakan secara terperinci dalam bab analisis sistem rekabentuk, pengkodan dan pengujian. Akhir sekali, tentang operasi dan penilaian terhadap sistem di mana diberi …

Sicnn Optimisation, Two Dimensional Implementation And Comparison, Grant Walker

Theses : Honours

The study investigates the process of optimisation, implementation and comparison of a Shunting Inhibitory Cellular Neural Network (SICNN) for Edge Detection. Shunting inhibition is lateral inhibition where the inhibition function is nonlinear. Cellular Neural Networks are locally interconnected nonlinear, parallel networks which can exist as either discrete time or continuous networks. The name given to Cellular Neural Networks that use shunting inhibition as their nonlinear cell interactions are called Shunting Inhibitory Cellular Neural Networks. This project report examines some existing edge detectors and thresholding techniques. Then it describes the optimisation of the connection weight matrix for SICNN with Complementary Output …

Biogeography Of A Changing Landscape: Pipidinny Swamp, Yanchep National Park Western Australia, Bradley W. Boucher

Theses : Honours

The resources of Pipidinny Swamp were utilised by the Nyoongar Aboriginal people for possibly 40,000 years. Since the late 1800s, the resources of Pipidinny Swamp were used by non-Indigenous settlers. More recently, the wetland was incorporated in the Yanchep National Park in 1991.This study sought to reconstruct the changes to the natural and cultural environments within the wetland to provide background knowledge for the management board of the Park. Field investigations abo demonstrated the dynamic state of the wetland over a six-month period between low water (Feb-Apr) and high water (Aug-Oct) by monitoring the groundwater system, the vegetation system, and …

Wavelet-Based Testing For Serial Correlation Of Unknown Form In Panel Models, Chihwa Kao

Center for Policy Research

Wavelet analysis is a new mathematical tool developed as a unified field of science over the last decade. As spatially adaptive analytic tools, wavelets are useful for capturing serial correlation where the spectrum has peaks or kinks, as can arise from persistent/strong dependence, seasonality or use of seasonal data such as quarterly and monthly data, business cycles, and other kinds of periodicity. This paper proposes a new class of wavelet-based tests for serial correlation of unknown form in the estimated residuals of an error component model, where the error components can be one-way or two-way, the individual and time effects …

Physicochemical Characteristics And Macroinvertebrate Assemblages Of Riffles Upstream And Downstream Of A Streambank Impacted By Unrestricted Cattle Access, Ronald L. Johnson, Daniel D. Ward, Richard S. Grippo

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Riparian zones are important contributors to stream ecosystem health. Alteration of such areas can change stream structure and function, resulting in modified productivity and hydrologic patterns. We studied two riffle sites on the South Fork of the Spring River in Fulton County, AR upstream and downstream of a streambank ostensibly degraded by unrestricted cattle access. The two sites were measured for differences in physical habitat (including bank width, stream velocity, depth, substrate composition, and embeddedness), chemical characteristics (including dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, turbidity and total suspended solids) and biological characteristics (including benthic macroinvertebrate community composition, similarity, and standing crop). Measurements …

Clermont H. Lee Papers, Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections

Finding Aids

The collection consists of Clermont H. Lee’s research on the wild south Georgia shrub, Elliottia racemosa and the development of the Charles C. Harrold Nature Preserve in Candler County, Georgia. Materials span 1936 to 1994 and include correspondence, field notes, photographs, and published materials.

Find this collection in the University Libraries' catalog.

Risk Factors Associated With Infant Mortality Among Very Low Birthweight Infants Of Teenage Mothers In San Bernardino County, C. Letitia Henry

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background. Typically, infant mortality decreases as maternal age increases in teenagers. In contrast to these national data, San Bernardino County (SBC) experienced a different phenomenon in 1989-1994 among very low birthweight (VLBW) infants. The infant mortality rate (IMR) of VLBW infants born to mothers under 17 years old (283 per 1000 live births) was significantly lower than the IMR of VLBW infants born to mothers between the ages of 17-19 years old (430 per 1000 live births) (p = .02).

Purpose. The purpose of the study was to explain the discrepancy between IMRs of VLBW infants of younger teenage mothers …

A Challenge To All: Raising The Participation And Success Of Women And Minorities In Mathematics, Science, And Technlogy, Mark R. Warner, Loren D. Pitt

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

This issue of our journal is the product of a Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition (VMSC) conference titled, "Programs That Work" and held in March, 2000 on the issues of raising both the levels of success and the levels of participation of women and minorities in mathematics, science, and technology. Traditionally, these two groups have had low rates of participation in these subjects, and we believe this situation can and must be changed. The conference was to Coalition's first direct assault on the problem.

Achieving Science Sol With A Hands-On Approach, J. N. Granger

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

No abstract provided.

Hazards, Risk And The Press: A Comparative Analysis Of Newspaper Coverage Of Nuclear And Chemical Weapons Sites, Karen Lowrie, Michael Greenberg, Lynn Waishwell

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

The authors present a comparative analysis of newspaper coverage for four hazardous substance containment facilities located in different parts of the country.

Survey Of Aquatic Plants In Corps Of Engineers Reservoirs, Kimberly D. Walker, Mark D. Sytsma

Center for Lakes and Reservoirs Publications and Presentations

A survey of aquatic plants in a selected Corps of Engineers reservoirs in Oregon was conducted. Cottage Grove, Dorena, Fern Ridge, Dexter and Willow Creek Reservoirs contained abundant aquatic plants. Potamogeton pectinatus and Potamogeton epihydrous were the most common native plant species. Myriophyllum aquaticum and Potamogeton crispus were the most widespread nonnative plants. Species richness in the reservoirs was correlated with trophic status and basin morphology. Shallow reservoirs that included extensive areas of nutrient-rich sediments that were historic flood plain soils supported the greatest biomass and number of species. Mesotrophic reservoirs had lower species diversity. Oligotrophic reservoirs with steep basin …

S C O R P State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Nebraska Action Program

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: Publications

Over a third of nonresidents who visit Nebraska in the summer months go to attractions and events. For each attraction or event visited, they spend an average of a halfday longer stay in Nebraska and spend an additional $64, according to data from Nebraska's OED. Outdoor recreation will likely continue to increase with active families, climbing incomes, and shorter work weeks. However, Nebraskans may spend more on long weekends and vacations closer to home in coming years if fuel prices keep climbing. If Nebraska is to meet existing and expected recreation and tourism demands, the long-range statewide forecasts to meet …

The Applicability Of Stable Carbon Isotope Analysis To Measure The Water Use Efficiency Of Melaleuca Preissiana Populations On The Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia, Hayley E. Valentine

Theses : Honours

Stable carbon isotope (δ¹³C) analysis is a tool used to understand the water use efficiency (WUE) of plants. The advantage of measuring the carbon isotope composition in plant tissue over other measures of WUE (such as the ratio of photosynthesis to transpiration) is that it provides a time-integrated, rather than an instantaneous measure of plant-water relations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the applicability of using δ¹³C analysis in natural populations of the fringing tree Melaleuca preissiana based on short and long term sampling methods. There were three components to this study; a controlled, …

The Effect Of Leaf Movement On Algal Epiphytes In Seagrass Meadows, T. R. Reid

Theses : Honours

Artificial seagrass units were used to determine whether seagrass leaf movement influences the biomass, species richness and composition of epiphytic macroalgae on the leaves of seagrasses, and whether the influence of leaf movement is altered by the degree of exposure to water movement and to depth. The influence of leaf movement on epiphytic biomass is important from an environmental management perspective, as there is the potential for epiphytic productivity to be underestimated if leaf movement is reducing the standing crop of epiphytes on seagrass leaves. Two forms of artificial seagrass units were used in three experiments to achieve these objectives; …

Applications Of The Atomic Force Microscope Within The Fields Of Haematology And Cytogenetics, Margaret O'Reilly-Crowley

Theses

Atomic force microscopy [AFM] has become a rapidly developing interdisciplinary field of research in recent years. The technique, including instrumentation and specimen preparation methods, is now more sophisticated and its application has increased dramatically. The key advantage of AFM is in providing three-dimensional images of samples imaged. Both size and shape of samples imaged can be obtained allowing their subsequent quantification. Red blood cells [RBCs] and chromosomes were imaged in this work. A brief overview of the current status of biomedical AFM, has been presented in the review.

Measurement of mean cell volume [MCV] of immobilised red blood cells with …

Susceptibility Of The Legume Flower Thrips To Metarhizium Anisopliae On Different Varieties Of Cowpea, S. Ekesi, N. K. Maniania, W. Lwande

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The susceptibility of Megalurothrips sjostedti to Metarhizium anisopliae when reared on susceptible, tolerant, and moderately resistant varieties of cowpea at different constant temperatures was evaluated in the laboratory. Insects were exposed either to direct spray of the conidia or to fungus-treated floral tissues. Mortality was significantly higher on the moderately resistant variety at all temperatures compared to the susceptible and tolerant varieties. Correspondingly, lethal time and lethal concentration values were significantly shorter and lower, respectively, on the moderately resistant variety compared to the other varieties, thus indicating that the two control methods are compatible as part of an integrated pest …

Quasi-Monte Carlo Methods In Cash Flow Testing Simulations, Michael Gene Hilgers

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

What actuaries call cash flow testing is a large-scale simulation pitting a company''s current policy obligation against future earnings based on interest rates. While life contingency issues associated with contract payoff are a mainstay of the actuarial sciences, modeling the random fluctuations of US Treasury rates is less studied. Furthermore, applying standard simulation techniques, such as the Monte Carlo method, to actual multi-billion dollar companies produce a simulation that can be computationally prohibitive. In practice, only hundreds of sample paths can be considered, not the usual hundreds of thousands one might expect for a simulation of this complexity. Hence, insurance …

Pyrolysis-Mass Spectrometry For Rapid Classification Of Oysters According To Rearing Area, J. Krupcík, P. Oswald, I. Spánik, P. Májek, M. Bajdichová, P. Sandra, Daniel W. Armstrong

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Current concern for the safety and traceability of food, as well as the desire of oyster farmers, for marketing reason, to emphasize the geographical origin of their production, requires new methods to make possible a real product identification. In this study, 181 oyster samples were analyzed to determine their origin area. These samples were collected in nine French rearing areas at four different times of the year (spring, summer, and the beginning and end of autumn) and from four to eight sites in each area to provide a variability parameter. Analysis of fingerprints after Curie point pyrolysis-mass spectrometry, by an …

Teleradiology As A Foundation For An Enterprise-Wide Health Care Delivery System, John David N. Dionisio, Ricky K. Taira, Usha Sinha, David B. Johnson, Benjamin Y. Dai, Gregory H. Tashima, Stephen Blythe, Richard Johnson, Hooshang Kangarloo

Computer Science Faculty Works

An effective, integrated telemedicine system has been developed that allows (a) teleconsultation between local primary health care providers (primary care physicians and general radiologists) and remote imaging subspecialists and (b) active patient participation related to his or her medical condition and patient education. The initial stage of system development was a traditional teleradiology consultation service between general radiologists and specialists; this established system was expanded to include primary care physicians and patients. The system was developed by using a well-defined process model, resulting in three integrated modules: a patient module, a primary health care provider module, and a specialist module. …

Main Issues Rural Women Experience With Information & Communication Technology, Teresa Maiolo

All other publications

This brief report will outline the main issues rural women encountered with information and communications technology. This information was derived from interviewing twenty-one rural women from the South West, Eastern Goldfields, Murchison, Gascoyne, and Kimberley regions of Western Australia.

Department Of Fisheries Annual Report Highlights 1999 - 2000, Department Of Fisheries, Western Australia

Department of Fisheries Annual Reports

1999/2000 has marked a 'sea change' in fisheries management throughout Australia towards the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD). This is a dynamic concept with an evolving framework that requires a balancing of social, economic and environmental considerations.

The principles of ESD - of using, conserving and enhancing the community's resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained, and the total quality of fisheries, now and in the future, can be increased - are vital in a state, national and international context for Fisheries WA and its clients. Having fisheries that are governed under ESD principles is …