Digital Commons Network^™

Benchmarking Apache Spark Spatial Libraries, Hector Muro Mauri, Rob Knapen, Arend Ligtenberg, Sander Janssen, Ioannis N. Athanasiadis

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Apache Spark is one of the most widely used and fast-evolving cluster-computing frame- works for big data. This research investigates the state of practice in the Apache Spark ecosystem for managing spatial data, with a specific focus on spatial vector data. Apache Spark is a relatively new platform, and the associated libraries for geospatial data extensions are still work-in-progress. In this work, three libraries for managing geospatial information in Apache Spark have been investigated, namely GeoSpark, GeoPySpark, and Magellan. First we designed and performed a suite of functionality tests, to explore how much can be done with. Then, we benchmarked …

Seims: A Spatially-Explicit Integrated Modeling System For Agricultural Watershed, Junzhi Liu, A-Xing Zhu, Liang-Jun Zhu, Hui Wu, Cheng-Zhi Qin

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

Irrigation and drainage engineering changes natural water flow pathways in agricultural watershed, which have not been well characterized in existing hydrological models. This research developed a Spatially-Explicit Integrated Modeling System (SEIMS) for agricultural watershed to represent the water and nutrient migration processes at a fine scale. First, a vector-based data model was proposed to represent spatial simulation units and the flow relationships among them. Polygons were used as simulation units for farmland and ponds considering their irregular shapes, and regular quadrates were used for natural land covers such as forest and grassland. Lines were used to represent irrigation canals and …

Viability Theory And Agent-Based Modeling: A New, Synergistic Approach To Modeling Environmental Conflict, Todd Bendor, Juergen Scheffran

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

In this presentation, we will introduce a conceptual and theoretical framework that unifies several complex systems modeling approaches for the purposes of better understanding, representing, exploring, and resolving environmental conflict. This method, which we call the VIABLE framework (Values and Investments from Agent-Based interaction and Learning in Environmental systems), builds on techniques from agent-based modeling (ABM), evolutionary game theory, system dynamics (SD) modeling, and network analysis. We will introduce viability theory, the mathematical basis of our VIABLE modeling method, as well as approaches to re-conceptualizing conflict states using this theory. We will also discuss the wide range of …

Complexity Of Numerical Modeling For Predicting The Mechanisms Of Toxic Algae Bloom In Lake, Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam, Dr. Daisuke Kitazawa

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

A three dimensional hydrodynamic ecosystem coupled model was employed to simulate algae transition and toxin produced ability under the nutrients limited conditions in eutrophic Lake Kasumigaura, Japan. Numerical simulation was carried out for the four years of the period 2005–2009. Algae have shifted seasonally and annually between 2005 and 2009, among three major algal: Microcystis, Planktothrix and Cyclotella. The mathematical model reproduced well the transitions of dominant algae in the four years by calibrating ecological parameters. The biomass of Planktothrix suddenly increased in the summer of 2008, and Planktothrix became the dominant species. Longer periods of stratification, lower …

Numerical Modeling On The Pollutant Effects In The Ecosystem Of Kamaishi Bay (Japan) By Coupling Mec And Ecopath Model, Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam, Dr. Daisuke Kitazawa

International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software

A three dimensional Marine Environmental Committee (MEC) model was conducted to describe the specific circulation patterns of currents, temperature, and salinity driven by wind and tide forcing in Kamaishi Bay at Miyagi Prefecture in the Great East Japan. The major concern of this study is the diffusion of pollutants caused by 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami disaster impacts on marine ecosystem. In this study, we also simulate the changes of water quality and ecosystems structure from January 2009 to December 2012. The MEC model has been used to predict the distributions of various key water quality indicators and tide flow in …

Flannery O'Connor As A Colonizer, Emily Jones

BYU English Symposium

The purpose of this essay is to examine the works of the American short story author Flannery O’Connor through a postcolonial critical literary lens. O’Connor is widely recognized as an influential Catholic American writer from the South. As such, her writing demonstrates a unique blend of Catholic mystery with Southern manners. A well-known characteristic found in her short stories is the concept of violent revelation.

This paper explores the idea that Flannery O’Connor enters the colonial world herself and assumes the role of colonizer. In this particular context, Miss O’Connor invades and conquers the Southern states with unconventional ideals that …

Characterizing The Spatial Variation Of Crop Water Productivity For Variable-Rate Irrigation Management, Jeffrey David Svedin

Theses and Dissertations

Irrigated agriculture is the primary consumer of limited worldwide freshwater resources. Drought, growing world populations, and environmental demands compete with irrigation for freshwater resources"”threatening sustainable global food, fuel, and fiber production. This escalating global crisis demands that agriculture produce more food using less water. Traditional irrigation management has used technology to apply uniform irrigation rates across landscapes"”ignoring natural environmental variation. This provides inherent inefficiencies of over- or under- irrigation within individual fields. Variable-rate irrigation (VRI) is modern technology that employs global positioning systems and geographic information systems to match irrigation to spatially variable crop water demands within a field. Although …

The Relationship Between Urban Tree Lai And Urban Heat, Amanda Sheepherd, Dr. Ryan Jensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

It is well known that urban areas are warmer than the surrounding rural areas, with various negative (though sometimes not immediately perceived) consequences for urban residents and the environment. As the world’s human population becomes increasingly urban, methods of mitigating urban heat become more imperative to explore. Though not nearly as abundant as in many natural environments, trees are fairly common in urban areas and can be utilized to offset urban heat. Studying the cooling effects of trees on the surrounding areas can further our understanding of the relationship between trees and temperature. Leaf Area Index (LAI) is a specific …

The Imperial Russian Revision Lists Of The 18th And 19th Century, Joseph B. Everett

Faculty Publications

One of the most important resources for social and family historians researching in the former Russian Empire are the revision lists, a series of ten enumerations of the population conducted between 1719 and 1858. Listing the members of each household among taxable classes of people across the Russian Empire, the revisions lists are useful for studying historical population demographics and reconstructing family relationships. An awareness of these records and where to access them can be useful for Slavic librarians to facilitate the research of Russian historians and genealogists. This article provides an overview of the history and content of the …

Patterns Of The Past: Mountain Hemlock And Pacific Northwest Climate, Aaron Snow, Dr. Matthew Bekker

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In July, 2016, I had the opportunity to attend the North American Dendroecological Fieldweek (NADEF) at Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. NADEF organizes the attendees into five different groups to undergo specific research projects all having to do with tree rings. My group, the intro group, hiked to the southern side of the park, assembled a chronology of mountain hemlock trees (Tsuga mertensiana), and observed notable attributes of the collected data. Because the fieldweek lasted only seven days, our research was minimal, which was why I applied for an ORCA grant in order to take the research to …

Lüge Und Wahrheit, Amalie Von Sachsen

Drama and Film

No abstract provided.

Revisiting Refugee Caps: A Legislative Proposal For Executive-Congressional Compromise, Jason Gardiner, Tyler Day

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

The current system for setting the annual refugee admissions cap calls for consultation between the president and Congress; however, that consultation is not happening to the extent prescribed by the Refugee Act of 1980, an amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act (the INA). We propose that the INA be modified such that the Committees on the Judiciary in the Senate and the House of Representatives must approve the president's proposed refugee cap by a two-thirds majority. Given the steadily worsening refugee crisis, this legislation is both timely and important. Our proposal will foster compromises between the executive and legislative …

Microbial And Co2 Responses To Water Stresses Show Decreased Productivity And Diversity Through Time, David Michael Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

Some bacterial taxa when stimulated by water additions will break dormancy, grow, and become dominant members of the community and contribute significant pulses of CO₂ associated with the rewetting event. These pulses of activity are associated with high levels of bacterial productivity in soils. (Aanderud et al. 2011) We examined the bacterial taxa that resuscitate and become metabolically active following two forms of water stress (soil drying-rewetting and freeze-thaw cycles) and we captured and measured the CO₂ emanating from those soils. Specifically, We used target metagenomics, which uses a specific gene pool within bacteria that is associated with …

When The Far East Becomes The Near East, Kylan Rutherford

Marriott Student Review

America is in a critical stage of change in its international roles. The world has shifted away from the dated Cold-War binaries and surface-level, orientalist understandings of the East. The rising generation in America has the potential to connect with the international world in unprecedented ways, but for that to happen we have some homework to do.

The Impact Of Gap Years On Academic Outcomes For Women: A Case Study From The Missionary Age Change, Margaret Marchant

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Young adults throughout the United States and other countries participate in “gap years,” or time away from school, often for travel, work, or volunteering. This practice is promoted as a way to mature and refocus. However, some worry that it lowers the likelihood of college completion. Previous literature has investigated the academic, social, and personal benefits of gap years with mixed results; however selection into gap years confounds the true impact with unobservable personal characteristics. To overcome selection issues, I exploit an exogenous policy change that lowered age requirements for missionary service, a unique type of gap year, resulting in …

Management Of An Urban Stormwater System Using Projected Future Scenarios Of Climate Models: A Watershed-Based Modeling Approach, Ranjeet Thakali, Ajay Kalra, Sajjad Ahmad, Kamal Qaiser

Open Water Journal

Anticipating a proper management needs for urban stormwater due to climate change is becoming a critical concern to water resources managers. In an effort to identify best management practices and understand the probable future climate scenarios, this study used high-resolution climate model data in conjunction with advanced statistical methods and computer simulation. Climate model data from the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP) were used to calculate the design storm depths for the Gowan Watershed of Las Vegas Valley, Nevada. The Storm Water Management Model (SWMM), developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was used for hydrological modeling. …

The Book Of Mormon In American Missions At The Turn Of The Twentieth Century, John C. Thomas

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

Historians describe the opening decades of the twentieth century as a challenging time of transition for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Manifesto on plural marriage in 1890 and the successful bid for Utah’s statehood in 1896 pointed toward rapprochement with American culture. But in an era of potential assimilation, tensions lingered as Mormons labored to “translate the things America demanded of them into the language and imperatives of their own faith.” Thomas G. Alexander observed that ongoing controversy in the era prompted Church leaders to search for “a new paradigm that would save essential characteristics of …

Editor's Note, Joseph Drew

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

Does Belarusian-Ukrainian Civilization Belong To The Western Or The Latin Civilization?, Piotra Murzionak

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

Guide To The Iscsc Archives, Dickinson College

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

The Evolutionary Significance Of Body Size In Burying Beetles, Ashlee Nichole Momcilovich

Theses and Dissertations

Body size is one of the most commonly studied traits of an organism, which is largely due to its direct correlation with fitness, life history strategy, and physiology of the organism. Patterns of body size distribution are also often studied. The distribution of body size within species is looked at for suggestions of differential mating strategies or niche variation among ontogenetic development. Patterns are also examined among species to determine the effects of competition, environmental factors, and phylogenetic inertia. Finally, the distribution of body size across the geographic range of a species or group of closely related is looked at …

Liberty's Journey, Aubree Keate

Children's Book and Media Review

Lady Liberty has always wished she could roam and visit the many people she's welcomed into her lands, and early one morning she sets out to do just that. Stepping down from her revered place surrounded by the buildings of Manhattan, she begins a trek west across the United States of America. Leaving the skyscrapers behind, she visits green and brown fields, small town county fairs, open deserts, and concludes her journey at the great Golden Gate Bridge. However, it doesn't take long for her to feel lonely for her city's brilliant lights. Once home, she is met with cheers …

Celebrating Florida, Kristie Hinckley

Children's Book and Media Review

Meet Mr. Geo, a geography teacher who knows everything there is to know about our fifty states. Today he is visiting Florida and the wildlife that covers this beautiful state. His visit to Walt Disney World and Sea World will leave you with a bucket list of things to do. From St. Augustine, where America was first discovered, to the Florida Keys where people snorkel and scuba dive, Florida is the perfect place for a vacation. And more than eighty million people visit Florida each year!

Safe In A Storm, Oliva Hales

Children's Book and Media Review

Safe in a Storm tells the story of several animal families as both parents and their young find shelter from the storm. The story is told in thirteen rhyming couplets that offer reassurance to young animals (and young readers). The audience is first introduced to a mother sheepdog and her pup hurrying home in the face of a rumbling storm. After that, the lens continues on to sweep across various geographies and introduces such animals as ducks, whales, giraffes, and bobcats among others. A full circle is accomplished by the last page where we see the mother sheepdog and her …

Celebrating Colorado, Kristie Hinckley

Children's Book and Media Review

Mr. Geo is a geography teacher who knows everything there is to know about the fifty states in the U.S. In this book, he takes a trip to Colorado. The mountains, nature and wildlife in Colorado are some of its greatest features. Colorado is home to Pikes Peak, which has an incredible view. Tourists will come across dinosaur prints in Picketwire Canyonlands! Colorado Springs is home to the U.S. Olympic Training Center, which is a fun place to visit too. Colorado is a beautiful place to visit and has many unique features.

Does Body Size Affect Fitness The Same Way In Males And Females? A Test Of Multiple Fitness Components, Ashlee N. Smith, Mark C. Belk

Faculty Publications

Body size generally has an important relationship with fitness, whereby larger body size leads to an increase in fitness through competition, reproductive output and survivorship. However, the traits through which body size increases fitness often differ between the sexes. We tested for the effects of body size on fitness in both sexes using three separate experiments on competitive ability, reproductive output and starvation resistance in the burying beetle Nicrophorus marginatus. Results varied between sexes as follows: (1) larger body size increased competitive ability differentially between sexes; (2) female body size, but not male body size, significantly affected reproductive output …

Changes In Abundance Of Silvetia Compressa At San Clemente Island Before And During The 2015–2016 El Niño, Suzanne Graham, Brian Hong, Samantha Mutschler, Brendan Saunders, Jessica Bredvik

Western North American Naturalist

Silvetia compressa is a common rocky intertidal fucoid that plays an important role in the community and has experienced widespread declines throughout California. The causes of these declines are unknown, but sea surface temperature (SST) is considered one of the dominant factors affecting intertidal algae. The 2015–2016 El Niño introduced anomalously high SSTs to southern California, which may have impacted rocky intertidal species. This study investigates temporal changes in abundance of S. compressa with respect to SST at 4 sites on San Clemente Island (SCI), California, from 2012 to 2016. Point-intercept data were used to quantify percent cover during biannual …

Sixth-Grade Elementary And Seventh- And Eighth-Grade Middle School Teachers' Knowledge And Beliefs About Science Literacy, Melissa P. Mendenhall

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore Grades 6-8 teachers knowledge and beliefs about science literacy and instruction that develops science literacy, in both the fundamental and derived senses. All Grade 6 elementary teachers and Grades 7-8 middle school science teachers from five school districts in the Mountain West region of the U.S. were invited to participate by responding to an online survey consisting of open response questions and critical instances. Data were analyzed using an immersion style of coding. Findings suggest a majority of teachers view literacy as reading and writing and text as something that is …

The Emotional Effects Of Life Experience On Bilingual Speakers' Nonverbal Communications, Sarah Marie Webb

Theses and Dissertations

This research is intended to demonstrate that bilingual speakers exhibit nonverbal behavior and emotional expressions that affect their ability to communicate in their intended manner. I argue that these changes are linked to the emotional ties to experiences in those languages. The nonverbal traits that appear when bilingual speakers share personal narratives in different languages are measured through facial recognition and emotion sensory software for evidentiary support in establishing intent versus actual self-presentation. New methods of self-analysis are discussed and utilized to determine if the speakers are inherently aware of these changes or can notice them through cross linguistic self-analyses.

Use Of Inflow Areas In Two Colorado River Basin Reservoirs By The Endangered Razorback Sucker (Xyrauchen Texanus), Brandon Albrecht, Harrison E. Mohn, Ron Kegerries, Mark C. Mckinstry, Ron Rogers, Travis Francis, Brian Hines, James Stolberg, Dale Ryden, Darek Elverud, Benjamin Schleicher, Katherine Creighton, Brian Healy, Brandon Senger

Western North American Naturalist

During the last century, populations of the endangered Razorback Sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) have declined in the Colorado River Basin. Dramatic changes in habitat resulting from altered flow regimes and the presence of nonnative fishes were likely major factors contributing to this decline. Since 1996, studies in Lake Mead have resulted in the discovery of 4 areas where wild Razorback Suckers were spawning; all of these locations have tributary or wastewater inflows. Since the Lake Mead Razorback Sucker population has persisted near these prominent inflow areas, we hypothesize that complex inflow areas with vegetative cover and turbidity provide important …