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Advances In Artificial Neural Networks – Methodological Development And Application, Yanbo Huang

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

© 2009 by the authors

Open access

This document is a U.S. government work and is not subject to copyright in the United States.

doi:10.3390/algor2030973

Evaluation Of Β-Glucosidase Activity As A Soil Quality Indicator For The Soil Management Assessment Framework, D. E. Stott, S. S. Andrews, M. A. Liebig, Brian J. Wienhold, D. L. Karlen

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) was developed to assess conservation effects on soil, and uses multiple soil quality indicator measurements to compare soil functioning. Our objective was to develop a SMAF compatible scoring equation for soil β-glucosidase (BG) activity using published data sets representing different soils and management. The resulting equation was an S-shaped curve: y = a/[1 + bexp(−cx)], where x is the measured BG activity (mg p-nitrophenol [PNP] released kg⁻¹ soil h⁻¹), a and b are constants, and c is a factor modified by soil classification, texture, and climate. …

The Unexceptionalism Of Evolving Standards, Corinna Barrett Lain

Law Faculty Publications

Conventional wisdom is that outside the Eighth Amendment, the Supreme Court does not engage in the sort of explicitly majoritarian state nose-counting for which the "evolving standards of decency" doctrine is famous. Yet this impression is simply inaccurate. Across a stunning variety of civil liberties contexts, the Court routinely-and explicitly--determines constitutional protection based on whether a majority of states agree with it. This Article examines the Supreme Court's reliance on the majority position of the states to identify and apply constitutional norms, and then turns to the qualifications, explanations, and implications of state polling as a larger doctrinal phenomenon. While …

Mathematical Modeling Of Growth Of Salmonella In Raw Ground Beef Under Isothermal Conditions From 10 To 45° C, Vijay K. Juneja, Martin Valenzuela Melendres, Lihan Huang, Jeyamkondan Subbiah, Harshavardhan Thippareddi

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to develop primary and secondary models to describe the growth of Salmonella in raw ground beef. Primary and secondary models can be integrated into a dynamic model that can predict the microbial growth under varying environmental conditions. Growth data of Salmonella at nine different isothermal conditions — 10,15, 20, 25, 28, 32, 35, 42, and 45 °C were first fitted into primary models, namely the logistic, modified Gompertz, Baranyi, and Huang models. Performances of these models were evaluated by using various statistical criteria, namely mean square error (MSE), pseudo-R², −2 log likelihood, …

Effect Of Timing Of A Deficit-Irrigation Allocation On Corn Evapotranspiration, Yield, Water Use Efficiency And Dry Mass, J. O. Payero, David D. Tarkalson, Suat Irmak, Don Davison, James L. Petersen

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Water regulations have decreased irrigation water supplies in Nebraska and some other areas of the USA Great Plains. When available water is not enough to meet crop water requirements during the entire growing cycle, it becomes critical to know the proper irrigation timing that would maximize yields and profits. This study evaluated the effect of timing of a deficit-irrigation allocation (150 mm) on crop evapotranspiration (ETc), yield, water use efficiency (WUE = yield/ETc), irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE = yield/irrigation), and dry mass (DM) of corn (Zea mays L.) irrigated with subsurface drip irrigation in the semiarid climate of …

Student Assessment Of The Environmental Footprint Of The Mckillop Library, Salve Regina University - Executive Summary, Jameson Chace

BIO140 Carbon Footprint Project

No abstract provided.

Where To Sample? Ecological Implications Of Sampling Strata In Determining Abundance And Impact Of Natural Enemies Of The Coffee Berry Borer, Hypothenemus Hampei, Juliana Jaramillo, Adenirin Chabi-Olaye, Christian Borgemeister, Charles Kamonjo, Hans-Michael Poehling, Fernando E. Vega

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Several parasitoids of African origin have been introduced to coffee producing areas of the Americas and Asia as biological control agents of the coffee berry borer (CBB) Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). These parasitoids have become established in the field but their effect on the CBB has been limited. A two-year field study in Western Kenya has found Prorops nasuta (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) to be the predominant parasitoid emerging from CBB-infested coffee berries collected on coffee trees or from the ground. P. nasuta comprises more than 75% of the total natural enemies collected. The density of P. nasuta was 90% higher in …

Investigating Data Mining Techniques For Extracting Information From Alzheimer's Disease Data, Vinh Quoc Dang

Theses : Honours

Data mining techniques have been used widely in many areas such as business, science, engineering and more recently in clinical medicine. These techniques allow an enormous amount of high dimensional data to be analysed for extraction of interesting information as well as the construction of models for prediction. One of the foci in health related research is Alzheimer's disease which is currently a non-curable disease where diagnosis can only be confirmed after death via an autopsy. Using multi-dimensional data and the applications of data mining techniques, researchers hope to find biomarkers that will diagnose Alzheimer's disease as early as possible. …

Structural Characteristics Of Banksia Woodland Along An Ecohydrological Gradient, Western Australia, Rebecca Thomas

Theses : Honours

Water availability (the defining feature of a 'hydrological habitat') has a major effect on plant growth, and the physiological and structural characteristics of plants often reflect the availability of this resource. In relation to development of vegetation structural characteristics as a consequence of a given hydrological habitat, it is important to understand whether self-organisation of plant cover (productivity, structure and function) interacts with water availability and if adjustment to water limitation exists ('ecohydrological optimization' or establishment of a 'hydrological equilibrium'). This study tested, through three hypotheses, whether structural and functional attributes of Banksia woodland vary with water availability, i.e. whether …

Fuel Characteristics And Dynamics In Shrublands Of The Transitional Rainfall Zone, Western Australia, Sarah Dalgleish

Theses : Honours

Within the Mediterranean shrublands, fires are particularly intensive and widespread. In the Transitional Rainfall Zone in Western Australia, these large fires bum in areas with high conservation value, and present risks to human lives and infrastructure on properties in the region. The concern for the effect fires have on anthropocentric and ecological values in these shrublands makes it a priority in management to reduce the risks. Of the environmental and biotic factors that influence a fire, fuel is one of the most significant as it has the capacity to determine fire prope1iies such as the intensity, extent, bum pattern within …

Qualitative And Quantitative Methods In Occupational-Stress Research, Irvin Sam Schonfeld, Edwin Farrell

Publications and Research

The paper examined the ways in which qualitative and quantitative methods support each other in research on occupational stress. Qualitative methods include (a) eliciting from unconstrained descriptions of work experiences, (b) careful first-hand observations at the workplace, and (c) participant‑observers describing “from the inside” a particular work experience. The paper shows how qualitative research stimulates theory development, hypothesis generation, and the identification of job stressors and coping responses. The limitations of qualitative research, particularly in the area of verification, are also described.

Rounding Up The Usual Suspects: A Legal And Logical Analysis Of Dna Trawling Cases, David H. Kaye

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Stock Diversification And Integer Programming, Emilina R. Sarreal

DLSU Business & Economics Review

This study shows how investors can maximize returns by preparing and monitoring their own stock portfolio by using an integer programming model with an algorithm that can be computed in spreadsheet and linear programming software. Further, the study emphasizes the importance of diversifying stockholdings to reap optimal returns and minimum volatility/risk. It also suggests employing behavioral portfolio theory where goals/aspirations of investors are combined with their reward-to-volatility profile.

The New "Emergence Economics" Of Innovation And Growth, And What It Means For Communications Policy, Richard S. Whitt, Stephen J. Schultze

Colorado Technology Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Productive Questions In The Early Childhood Classroom, Rachel Alice Dengler

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this study is to discover how productive questions can be used in the early childhood classroom. To establish a foundation, child development, early childhood education, and questioning strategies that are currently employed in school or day care settings will be covered first. Finally, there will be a look at the misunderstandings that current pre-service educators have with the different types of productive questions and how to use them in a developmentally appropriate manner with students in the early childhood years.

Theoretical And Computational Design Of Terahertz Frequency Quantum Cascade Lasers, Adam Todd Cooney

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Integration Of Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (Musle) Into A Gis Framework To Assess Soil Erosion Risk, Yanli Zhang, J. Degroote, Calvin Wolter, Ramanathan Sugumaran

Faculty Publications

Soil erosion is an important economic and environmental concern throughout the world. In order to assess soil erosion risk and conserve water and soil resources, soil erosion modeling at the watershed scale is urgently needed. This study integrated the Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE) in a Geographic Information System (GIS) framework in the form of a tool called ArcMUSLE, an extension of ArcGIS® software, to assist soil and water conservation agencies in soil erosion risk assessment and prioritization of critical areas for soil erosion control practices. With widely available spatial data, this tool can be applied to determine curve …

Don't Get Enough Credit: The Need For An Impartial Consumer Credit Report Appeal Tribunal In Ontario, Kent Glowinski

Journal of Law and Social Policy

Reviews the regulatory history of credit bureaus in Ontario, the interplay of privacy and consumer law vis-a-vis consumer credit reporting, case law and credit bureau liability, and discuss the policy rationale for a Credit Report Appeal Tribunal.

An Application Of Input-Output Analysis To Pollution, Paul Burkander

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Using data on pollution emissions from over 20,000 facilities in the United States, we find most pollution is released by a small number of firms, and that there is no correlation between the amount of pollution released and socioeconomic indicators such as income. We apply Leontief’s method of input output analysis to determine pollution generated both by demand for final goods and inter-sector demand for intermediary goods. We find the sector that generated the most pollution in 2002, both in production of final goods and in use of intermediary goods, was primary nonferrous metal products. The analysis of several sectors, …

Propellant Tank Pressurization Modeling For A Hybrid Rocket, Margaret Mary Fernandez

Theses

A basic hybrid rocket oxidizer delivery system utilizes the self-pressurizing nature of a liquid oxidizer at ambient temperatures in conjunction with a non-condensable pressurant to provide a high oxidizer tank pressure that drives liquid oxidizer flow to the combustion chamber. In this study, the oxidizer fluid is nitrous oxide which produces high vapor pressures at ambient temperatures, and helium is the pressurant. The goal of this thesis is to provide a theoretical model that predicts the pressure draining history of the oxidizer tank to within ± 5% of experiment. The validity of simple thermodynamically-based models has not been considered for …

Computational Analysis Of Ultraviolet Reactors, Xiang Li

Theses

Disinfection of water treatment using ultraviolet (UV) light has received wide recognition as an important contribution to the protection of public health. To ensure a UV disinfection system that can deliver the required UV dose, analytical and numerical methods have been used to evaluate the flow field of the UV reactor. A Multiple Point Source Summation (MPSS) method was used to estimate the radiation intensity field, with the utilization of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technique. To couple the analytical model with numerical simulations, a user friendly interface software was developed to calculate the UV dosage distribution. In addition a UV …

Locating And Tracking Objects By Efficient Comparison Of Real And Predicted Synthetic Video Imagery, Damian M. Lyons, D. Paul Benjamin

CSIS Technical Reports

The paper uses a 3D simulation engine to generate predicted imagery for tracking objects with complex behavior and compares that imagery against real video. Salient points and an affine transformation align real and synthetic scenes so that synchronization differences are suppressed and meaningful content differences are emphasized.

Preparing Students For The Environment Of The Practice Of Consulting Engineer, James Mwangi, Craig Baltimore, Brent Nuttall

Architectural Engineering

In the United States of America, the body of knowledge required for an individual to be allowed to take the engineering licensing examination, which on passing allows the individual to be in responsible charge of engineering projects, is usually defined by laws and regulations of each state. In California, the shortest path taken by most individuals is one where the individual graduates from an ABET accredited undergraduate program; passes the Engineer in Training (EIT) examination and works under the supervision of a licensed engineer for two years (one year if the individual has a Masters degree in relevant field).

In …

A Semiotic Analysis Of Unified Modeling Language Graphical Notations, Keng Siau, Yuhong Tian

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Unified modeling language (UML) is the standard modeling language for object-oriented system development. Despite its status as a standard, UML has a fuzzy formal specification and a weak theoretical foundation. Semiotics, the study of signs, provides a good theoretical foundation for UML research because graphical notations (or visual signs) of UML are subjected to the principles of signs. In our research, we use semiotics to study the effectiveness of graphical notations in UML. We hypothesized that the use of iconic signs as UML graphical notations leads to representation that is more accurately interpreted and that arouses fewer connotations than the …

Integrating Advanced Facades Intro Sustainable Office Buildings In The Emirate Of Abu Dhabi, Uae, Ahmad Omar Balhamar

Theses

Abu Dhabi emirate consume about 130 millions AED in air conditioning electricity bills, this amount is only for 700 buildings in Abu Dhabi City and 300 buildings in Musafah district. Abu Dhabi city consumes 239.70 Kw/m²/year; however Musafah district consumes 179.92 Kw/m²/year. The difference came from different in total area of glass building facades between Abu Dhabi city and Musafah district buildings. Despite the fact that Abu Dhabi is one of the hottest cities in the Gulf region, its modern office buildings are characterized by glass facades. Such a concept comes with increased air conditioning operational …

Developing Bird-Strike Risk Assessment Models For Open-Water Restorations, Justin D. Hart, Alison Colyer, John R. Allan

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Mineral extraction sites that are restored to open water can increase bird-strike risk if they are planned near airports. This can generate conflict between the minerals industry and safeguarding authorities. To help resolve this potential conflict, it would be useful to predict how new restorations affect local water-bird populations so that mineral deposits can be exploited and restored in safeguarded zones without compromising flight safety. Bird abundances and movements at new restorations can be estimated with statistical models that use the environmental characteristics of restoration schemes as predictor variables. These models can improve guidance in safeguarding, provided that they comprise …

Ontology-Based Business Process Customization For Composite Web Services, Qianhui (Althea) Liang, Xindong Wu, E. K. Park, T. Khoshgoftaar, C. Chi

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

A key goal of the Semantic Web is to shift social interaction patterns from a producer-centric paradigm to a consumer-centric one. Treating customers as the most valuable assets and making the business models work better for them are at the core of building successful consumer-centric business models. It follows that customizing business processes constitutes a major concern in the realm of a knowledge-pull-based human semantic Web. This paper conceptualizes the customization of service-based business processes leveraging the existing knowledge of Web services and business processes. We represent this conceptualization as a new Extensible Markup Language (XML) markup language Web Ontology …

A Comprehensive Study For Rfid Malwares On Mobile Devices, Qiang Yan, Yingjiu Li, Tieyan Li, Robert Huijie Deng

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technique has been widely accepted as wireless identification standard in the business world. While RFID technique enables efficient collection of identification information, it also introduces new security risk due to the emerging of RFID malwares. This risk becomes increasingly severe due to the adoption of internet in RFID applications (e.g., track and trace in EPCglobal network) and the use of mobile devices as RFID readers. The prior work to defend the threat of RFID malwares has mainly focused on the protection of front-end tag-reader communications and back-end database systems. Less work has been conducted to defend …

Quality-Aware Collaborative Question Answering: Methods And Evaluation, Maggy Anastasia Suryanto, Ee Peng Lim, Aixin Sun, Roger Hsiang-Li Chiang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Community Question Answering (QA) portals contain questions and answers contributed by hundreds of millions of users. These databases of questions and answers are of great value if they can be used directly to answer questions from any user. In this research, we address this collaborative QA task by drawing knowledge from the crowds in community QA portals such as Yahoo! Answers. Despite their popularity, it is well known that answers in community QA portals have unequal quality. We therefore propose a quality-aware framework to design methods that select answers from a community QA portal considering answer quality in addition to …

Partially Materialized Digest Scheme: An Efficient Verification Method For Outsourced Databases, Kyriakos Mouratidis, Dimitris Sacharidis, Hwee Hwa Pang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In the outsourced database model, a data owner publishes her database through a third-party server; i.e., the server hosts the data and answers user queries on behalf of the owner. Since the server may not be trusted, or may be compromised, users need a means to verify that answers received are both authentic and complete, i.e., that the returned data have not been tampered with, and that no qualifying results have been omitted. We propose a result verification approach for one-dimensional queries, called Partially Materialized Digest scheme (PMD), that applies to both static and dynamic databases. PMD uses separate indexes …