Digital Commons Network^™

Inside Unlv, Cate Weeks, Shane Bevell, Diane Russell, Leora Baron

Inside UNLV

No abstract provided.

Relationships Between Pacific And Atlantic Ocean Sea Surface Temperatures And U.S. Streamflow Variability, Glenn A. Tootle, Thomas C. Piechota

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

An evaluation of Pacific and Atlantic Ocean sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and continental U.S. streamflow was performed to identify coupled regions of SST and continental U.S. streamflow variability. Both SSTs and streamflow displayed temporal variability when applying the singular value decomposition (SVD) statistical method. Initially, an extended temporal evaluation was performed using the entire period of record (i.e., all years from 1951 to 2002). This was followed by an interdecadal-temporal evaluation for the Pacific (Atlantic) Ocean based on the phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) (Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO)). Finally, an extended temporal evaluation was performed using detrended SST …

Unlv Magazine, Carol C. Harter, Karen Sharp, Gian Galassi, Tony Allen, Jennifer Lawson, Shane Bevell, Lori Bachand, Regina Vaccari, Pete Codella, Cate Weeks, Erin O'Donnell, Diane Russell, Phil Hagen

UNLV Magazine

No abstract provided.

Factored Mdp Elicitation And Plan Display, Krol Kevin Mathias, Casey Lengacher, Derek Williams, Austin Cornett, Alex Dekhtyar, Judy Goldsmith

Computer Science and Software Engineering

The software suite we will demonstrate at AAAI ’06 was designed around planning with factored Markov decision processes (MDPs). It is a user-friendly suite that facilitates domain elicitation, preference elicitation, planning, and MDP policy display. The demo will concentrate on user interactions for domain experts and those for whom plans are made.

The Influence Of Flaws On Joint Spacing And Saturation: Results Of One-Dimensional Mechanical Modeling, Mark P. Fischer, A. Polansky

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

In bedded sedimentary or mechanically anisotropic rocks, joints often occur in laterally persistent, parallel sets with distinctive spacing attributes. Three of those attributes include a positively skewed distribution of joint spacings, a positive correlation between median spacing and mechanical layer thickness, and the tendency for rocks to appear saturated with joints and to show a ratio of layer thickness to median joint spacing near one. We identify total applied strain, mechanical interaction, joint propagation velocity, and flaws as key variables in the progressive jointing process, and we use a one-dimensional model of mechanically interacting joints to characterize the specific influence …

High-Voltage Parallel Writing On Iron Nitride Thin Films, N. Farkas, J. D. Ehrman, Edward A. Evans, R. D. Ramsier, J. A. Dagata

Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering Faculty Research

We report large area patterning of sputter-deposited FeN thin films by a high-voltage parallel writing technique that was recently developed to modify ZrN surfaces. Systematically patterned 15-100-nm-thick FeN films consisting of features with well-defined sizes and shapes are obtained by applying high dc voltages between a stamp and the samples. During the process the oxide dissolves, exposing the substrate beneath. This controlled breakdown eliminates the need for any postexposure etching. The single-step imprinting method presented here provides an emerging route to fabricate isolated FeN geometrical structures on silicon substrates for magnetic applications. (c) 2006 American Vacuum Society.

Tme's Worldwide Circulation Statistics

The Mathematics Enthusiast

No abstract provided.

Protecting Race-Exclusive Scholarships From Extinction With An Alternative Compelling State Interest, Andrija Samardzich

Indiana Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Cuoricino And Cuore Double Beta Decay Experiments, R. Ardito, C. Arnaboldi, D. R. Artusa, F.T. Avignone Iii, M. Balata, I. Bandac, M. Barucci, J.W. Beeman, F. Bellini, C. Brofferio, C. Bucci, S. Capelli, F. Capozzi, L. Carbone, S. Cebrian, M. Clemenza, C. Cosmelli, O. Cremonesi, R.J. Creswick, I. Dafinei, A. De Waard, M. Diemoz, M. Dolinski, H.A. Farach, F. Ferroni, E. Fiorini, S.J. Freedman, G. Frossati, C. Gargiulo, A. Giuliani, P. Gorla, E. Guardincerri, T. Gutierrez, E. E. Haller, K. M. Heeger, I. G. Irastorza, E. Longo, R. Maruyama, S. Morganti, S. Nisi, C. Nones, E. B. Norman, A. Nucciotti, Nu Xu, E. Olivieri, P. Ottonello, M. Pallavicini, E. Palmieri, M. Pavan, M. Pedretti, G. Pessina, S. Pirro, E. Previtali, L. Risegari, C. Rosenfeld, S. Sangiorgio, M. Sisti, A. R. Smith, L. Torres, G. Ventura, L. Zanotti

Physics

After an introduction on the various experimental techniques to be adopted in searches for double beta decay, the new approach based on the use of cryogenic low temperature detectors is described. The present results are reported on the limit for neutrinoless double beta decay of n¹³⁰Te obtained with the large bolometric detector CUORICINO. This setup consists of 44 cubic crystals of natural TeOn₂ with 5 cm sides and 18 crystals of 3 × 3 × 6 cmn³. Four of these latter crystals are made with isotopically enriched materials: two in n¹²⁸Te and two …

2006 Andrews University Employee Service Awards, Beverly Stout

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

Staff In The Spotlight: Bill Richardson, Beverly Stout

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

Can We Talk? Feminist Economists In Dialogue With Social Theorists, Julie A. Nelson

Economics Faculty Publication Series

The article focuses on the issues regarding the social and political theory of feminism. It has been mentioned that political action will be dynamized rather than compromised by a more alive observation of economic organizations and activities. The author has suggested that feminist social theorists across the disciplines must join the several feminist economists who are dropping the negative one-size-fits-all prescription of protection from markets. It is essential to have more positive results in the complex contemporary economies.

Extracting Web User Profiles Using A Modified Card Algorithm, Shahram Rahimi, Lisa Gandy, Bidyut Gupta

Computer Science Publications

Clustering algorithms are widely used methods for organizing data into useful information. The Competitive Agglomeration for Relational Data (CARD) Algorithm is one such clustering algorithm that is designed to organize user sessions into profiles, where each profile would highlight a particular type of user. The CARD algorithm is a viable candidate for web clustering; however, it does have limitations such as an extended execution time. In addition, the methods that prepare the input data for the CARD algorithm’s use employs concepts which seem to be incomplete. These limitations of the CARD algorithm are explored and modifications are introduced to yield …

Church And State In The United States: Competing Conceptions And Historic Changes, Douglas Laycock

Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies

This article, originally written for a French audience, attempts to explain the American law of church and state from the ground up, assuming no background information. Basic legal provisions are explained. The relevant American history is periodized in three alignments of religious conflict: Protestant-Protestant, Protestant-Catholic, and religious-secular. Some frequently heard concepts are explained, distinguished, and related to each other-separation, voluntarism, equality, formal and substantive neutrality, liberty, toleration, and state action. Finally, the principal disputes over religious liberty are assessed in three broad areas-funding of religiously affiliated activities, religious speech (with and without government sponsorship), and regulation of religious practice. These …

Help For Hotspots: Ngo Participation In The Preservation Of Worldwide Diversity, Bradley M. Bernau

Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies

This Note explores the role that nongovernmental organizations can and do play in the preservation of global biodiversity hotspots. The hotspot concept-developed in the late 1980s alongside the new field of conservation biology-identifies particular areas of the world that contain high levels of endemic species that are highly threatened or endangered. Some experts have argued that by focusing species conservation efforts on these areas, a maximum amount of species can be protected and preserved using a minimum amount of time, money, and effort, allowing the remaining, scarce funds and resources to be directed toward species conservation efforts elsewhere.

Without commenting …

Learning A Rendezvous Task With Dynamic Joint Action Perception, Nancy Fulda, Dan A. Ventura

Faculty Publications

Groups of reinforcement learning agents interacting in a common environment often fail to learn optimal behaviors. Poor performance is particularly common in environments where agents must coordinate with each other to receive rewards and where failed coordination attempts are penalized. This paper studies the effectiveness of the Dynamic Joint Action Perception (DJAP) algorithm on a grid-world rendezvous task with this characteristic. The effects of learning rate, exploration strategy, and training time on algorithm effectiveness are discussed. An analysis of the types of tasks for which DJAP learning is appropriate is also presented.

Preparing More Effective Liquid State Machines Using Hebbian Learning, David Norton, Dan A. Ventura

Faculty Publications

In Liquid State Machines, separation is a critical attribute of the liquid—which is traditionally not trained. The effects of using Hebbian learning in the liquid to improve separation are investigated in this paper. When presented with random input, Hebbian learning does not dramatically change separation. However, Hebbian learning does improve separation when presented with real-world speech data.

Spatiotemporal Pattern Recognition Via Liquid State Machines, Eric Goodman, Dan A. Ventura

Faculty Publications

The applicability of complex networks of spiking neurons as a general purpose machine learning technique remains open. Building on previous work using macroscopic exploration of the parameter space of an (artificial) neural microcircuit, we investigate the possibility of using a liquid state machine to solve two real-world problems: stockpile surveillance signal alignment and spoken phoneme recognition.

Using Literature And Innovative Assessments To Ignite Interest And Cultivate Critical Thinking Skills In An Undergraduate Neuroscience Course, Eileen Lynd-Balta

Biology Faculty/Staff Publications

Science education reform initiatives emphasize 1) the value of concepts over facts; 2) the benefits of open-ended, inquiry-based problem-solving rather than protocols leading to a single correct answer; and 3) the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to teaching that is not confined by departmental boundaries. Neuroscientists should be at the forefront of this movement by the very nature of the discipline we study. Neuroscience is a relatively new field that integrates diverse subjects (anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, molecular biology, computer science, and psychology) and experimental advances are constantly changing and expanding our understanding of brain function. How can we convey this …

Refuge Update – July/August 2006, Volume 3, Number 4

RefugeUpdate (USFWS-NWRS)

Table of Contents:
Taking the Bighorns Home, page 9
Focus on . . . Transportation, page 10-18
Living and Learning the Desert, page 21
Studying Bats, Coast to Coast, page 24

Cooperative Learning Groups In The Eighth Grade Math Classroom, Dean J. Davis

Action Research Projects

In this action research study of my classroom of 8th grade mathematics students, I investigated whether cooperative learning would lead to a better understanding of the mathematical concepts and thus more success for the students. I used my three eighth grade classes with two using cooperative groups and the third not. I discovered that the students who wanted to work in cooperative groups were more successful than they had been. I also discovered that the grouping itself has a great effect on how the group works together. The wrong grouping of students can lead to disaster and many headaches for …

Departmentalization In The 5th Grade Classroom: Re-Thinking The Elementary School Model, Delise Andrews

Action Research Projects

In this action research study of my 5th grade classroom, I investigated the benefits of a modified block schedule and departmentalization. The research consisted of dividing the 5th grade curriculum into three blocks. Each block consisted of two primary subject areas: Mathematics was paired with Social Studies, Reading was paired with Health, and Writing was paired with Science. These groupings were designed to accommodate district time-allotment requirements and the strengths of each teacher within the 5th grade team. Thus, one teacher taught all of the Mathematics and Social Studies, another all of the Reading and Health, and another all of …

Cooperative Learning Groups In The Middle School Mathematics Classroom, Sandra S. Snyder

Action Research Projects

In this action research study of my classroom of 8th grade mathematics, I investigated the inclusion of cooperative learning groups. Data was collected to see how cooperative learning groups affected oral and written communication, math scores, and attitudes toward mathematics. On the one hand, I discovered that many students enjoyed the opportunity to work within a group. On the other hand, there continues to be a handful of students who would rather work alone. The benefits outweigh the demands. Overall, students benefitted from the inclusion of cooperative learning groups. Oral explanations of solutions and methods improved during the study. Written …

Motivating Middle School Mathematics Students, Vicki Sorensen

Action Research Projects

In this action research study I examined the relationship between the teacher, the students and the types of motivation used in mathematics. I specifically studied the mathematic teachers at my school and my seventh grade mathematics students. Motivating middle school students is difficult and the types of motivation can be as numerous as the number of students studied. I discovered that the teachers used multiple motivating tactics from praise, to extra time spent with a student, to extra fun activities for the class. I also discovered that in many instances, the students’ perception of mathematics was predetermined or predetermined by …

Bad Medicine: Homework Or Headache? Responsibility And Accountability For Middle Level Mathematics Students, Shawn Mousel

Action Research Projects

In this action research study of my 5th grade mathematics class, I investigated the issue of homework and its relationship with students and parents. I made some interesting observations and discovered that the majority of students and parents felt that the math homework that was given was fairly easy, yet issues of incomplete assignments and failing homework quizzes were notorious for some individuals. Comments were also made to make homework even easier and have shortened assignments despite the already indicated ease of the work. As a result of this research, I plan to look more closely at the history and …

Farey Sequences, Ford Circles And Pick's Theorem, Julane Amen

Department of Mathematics: Master of Arts in Teaching, Exam Expository Papers

One of the ongoing themes through the Math in the Middle coursework has been the idea of identifying patterns. From our first course, Math as a Second Language, patterns have been useful to explain phenomena and determine future values. Some patterns are numerical but can be described using algebra. Some are visual or geometric and also can be described using numbers and symbols. Many of these patterns have resurfaced in different forms and at different times in new and interesting ways. It has been a humbling experience to see the interconnectedness of seemingly unconnected ideas. Pick’s Theorem, Farey Sequences and …

Symmetry Of Scale Expository Paper, Darla R. Kelberlau-Berks

Department of Mathematics: Master of Arts in Teaching, Exam Expository Papers

A checkerboard, a beehive, a brick wall and a mud flat dried in the sun all have something in common. They are all examples of tilings or tessellations. Although you may think of mosaics or other pieces of artwork when you hear these words, in actuality you should also think of mathematics and science. I will describe in more detail the mathematics involved with tessellations and tilings, and discuss specific tilings such as the Pinwheel Tiling and the Penrose Tiles.

The Vigenére Cipher Expository Paper, Virginia L. Clark

Department of Mathematics: Master of Arts in Teaching, Exam Expository Papers

French diplomat and cryptographer Blaise de Vigenére (1523-1596), developed the Vigenére Cipher in 16th century France in the mid-1580s. Vigenére was on the court of Henry III of France. Vigenére developed a polyalphabetic coding system in which one letter of plain text may be encrypted as different letters rather than one plain text letter represented as one cipher text letter throughout the encoded message.

The Game Of Nim, Dean J. Davis

Department of Mathematics: Master of Arts in Teaching, Exam Expository Papers

The game of Nim is possibly one of the most frustrating games I have ever played. Just when I started to feel that I had figured the strategy out, my brother, who is a computer programmer, blew me out of the water. I should have known better than to take on a computer wizard.

Taylor Polynomials, Doug Glasshoff

Department of Mathematics: Master of Arts in Teaching, Exam Expository Papers

Before the age of calculators, studying functions such as sin x, cos x , ex , and ln x was quite time consuming. The graphs of these functions are important when studying their characteristics. James Gregory, a Scottish mathematician in the 17th century, made an important discovery about these functions. Using calculus, he wrote a series of terms to approximate very closely the graph of the curve. His main focus was with the function ln x ; he was able to calculate any positive value of x using a polynomial series. Brook Taylor, an English mathematician, generalized the Maclaurin series, …