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2011

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Special Section On Advanced Modeling And Numerical Simulations In Geomechanics, Louis Ge, Dar Hao Chen, Rafiqul Alam Tarefder Jan 2011

Special Section On Advanced Modeling And Numerical Simulations In Geomechanics, Louis Ge, Dar Hao Chen, Rafiqul Alam Tarefder

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.


Hierarchical Mission Management, Emad William Saad, John Lyle Vian, Ryan J. Meuth, Donald C. Wunsch Jan 2011

Hierarchical Mission Management, Emad William Saad, John Lyle Vian, Ryan J. Meuth, Donald C. Wunsch

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The different advantageous embodiments further provide a system for hierarchical mission management comprising a number of mission planners, a data processing system, and a communication system. The number of mission planners are associated with a number of agent groups. The data processing system is configured to execute the number of mission planners. The communication system is configured to provide communication between the number of mission planners.


Approximate Policy Iteration For Semi-Markov Control Revisited, Abhijit Gosavi Jan 2011

Approximate Policy Iteration For Semi-Markov Control Revisited, Abhijit Gosavi

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The semi-Markov decision process can be solved via reinforcement learning without generating its transition model. We briefly review the existing algorithms based on approximate policy iteration (API) for solving this problem for discounted and average reward under the infinite horizon. API techniques have attracted significant interest in the literature recently. We first present and analyze an extension of an existing API algorithm for discounted reward that can handle continuous reward rates. Then, we also consider its average reward counterpart, which requires an updating based on the stochastic shortest path (SSP). We study the convergence properties of the algorithm that does …


Sysml Profiling For Handling Army Base Camp Planning, Dustin Nottage, Steven Corns Jan 2011

Sysml Profiling For Handling Army Base Camp Planning, Dustin Nottage, Steven Corns

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Army base camp planning is a complicated process involving many variables and optional facilities. the facilities can also vary in size and resource utilization depending on permanency of the base, local resources, and population on the base. Each level of facility is modeled and placed into a library database. All of these facilities must be distinguishable for planners to come in and export the correct facility based on the mission. the first method involves separating the different levels into packages so just the package could be exported. the issue is not all facilities will fit correctly. the second method is …


Cognition Evolutionary Computation For System-Of-Systems Architecture Development, Feng Yang, Cihan Dagli, Weiping Wang Jan 2011

Cognition Evolutionary Computation For System-Of-Systems Architecture Development, Feng Yang, Cihan Dagli, Weiping Wang

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The evolving nature of system-of-systems requirements and corresponding architecture, and the complex causal relationship between the architecture of system-of-systems and its emergent behavior make the problem of system-of-systems architecture development a great challenge. as a tentative effort in meeting this special challenge, a new evolutionary computation paradigm- named Cognition Evolutionary Computation(CEC) is proposed, which models the creative cognition process of divergent and convergent thinking, adaptation and innovation, that drives the co-evolution of problem space, knowledge space and solution space. the optimization algorithm for CEC uses causal probabilistic network as the knowledge representation mechanism. a theoretical framework for CEC based system-of-system …


Model Development Of A Virtual Learning Environment To Enhance Lean Education, Akalpit Gadre, Elizabeth Cudney, Steven Corns Jan 2011

Model Development Of A Virtual Learning Environment To Enhance Lean Education, Akalpit Gadre, Elizabeth Cudney, Steven Corns

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Modern day industry is becoming leaner by the day. This demands engineers with an in-depth understanding of lean philosophies. Current methods for teaching lean include hands-on projects and simulation. However, simulation games available in the market lack simplicity, ability to store the results, and modeling power. the goal of this research is to develop a virtual simulation platform which would enable students to perform various experiments by applying lean concepts. the design addresses these deficiencies through the use of VE-Suite, a virtual engineering software. the design includes user-friendly dialogue boxes, graphical models of machines, performance display gauges, and an editable …


Development Of A Waterjet System For Direct Delivery Of Granular Iron And Activated Carbon To Remediate Contaminated Aqueous Sediments, Gavin H.R. Risley, Andrew Curtis Elmore, Joel Gerard Burken, Grzegorz (Greg) Galecki Jan 2011

Development Of A Waterjet System For Direct Delivery Of Granular Iron And Activated Carbon To Remediate Contaminated Aqueous Sediments, Gavin H.R. Risley, Andrew Curtis Elmore, Joel Gerard Burken, Grzegorz (Greg) Galecki

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

While the Techniques and Technologies Associated with Contaminated Sediment Remediation Are Relatively Mature, There Are Several Issues Associated with These Practices that Make Them Unattractive. the Inability of Currently Used Mechanical Mixing Implements to Place Amendments in Aqueous Environments and their Intrusive Behavior toward Benthic Communities Are Just Two Examples of a Necessity for an Improved Delivery Method. Waterjets May Be a Viable Option for Placement of Particulate Remediation Amendments, Such as Activated Carbon and Granular Iron, at Depth. a Custom Waterjet Nozzle and Injection System Has Been Fabricated by the Authors to Examine This Delivery Concept. the Developed Injection …


Localization Of Free-Spanning Damage Using Mode Shape Curvature, Guirong Yan, Xuelin Peng, Hong Hao Jan 2011

Localization Of Free-Spanning Damage Using Mode Shape Curvature, Guirong Yan, Xuelin Peng, Hong Hao

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This Study Proposes a Damage Indicator based on Mode Shape Curvature to Localize Free-Spanning Damage of Submarine Pipeline Systems. the Feasibility of Curvatures of Low-Frequency Mode Shapes for Localizing Free-Spanning Damage of Pipeline Systems is Discussed, and Damage Indicators based on Mode Shape Curvatures Are Proposed. the Efficacy of the Proposed Damage Indicators is Demonstrated by Numerical Simulations of Dynamic Responses of a Submarine Pipeline under Ambient Conditions with Considering the Real Subsea Environment. the Proposed Approach is Simple, Which Does Not Require Baseline Data, and Thus is Promising in Practical Applications. © 2011 Published under Licence by IOP Publishing …


Web Service Selection For Resolving Conflicting Service Requests, Guosheng Kang, Jianxun Liu, Mingdong Tang, Xiaoqing Liu, Kenneth K. Fletcher Jan 2011

Web Service Selection For Resolving Conflicting Service Requests, Guosheng Kang, Jianxun Liu, Mingdong Tang, Xiaoqing Liu, Kenneth K. Fletcher

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Web service selection based on quality of service (QoS) has been a research focus in an environment where many similar web services exist. Current methods of service selection usually focus on a single service request at a time and the selection of a service with the best QoS at the user's own discretion. the selection does not consider multiple requests for the same functional web services. Usually, there are multiple service requests for the same functional web service in practice. in such situations, conflicts occur when too many requesters select the same best web service. This paper aims at solving …


Clustering Web Video Search Results Based On Integration Of Multiple Features, Alex Hindle, Jie Shao, Dan Lin, Jiaheng Lu, Rui Zhang Jan 2011

Clustering Web Video Search Results Based On Integration Of Multiple Features, Alex Hindle, Jie Shao, Dan Lin, Jiaheng Lu, Rui Zhang

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

The usage of Web video search engines has been growing at an explosive rate. Due to the ambiguity of query terms and duplicate results, a good clustering of video search results is essential to enhance user experience as well as improve retrieval performance. Existing systems that cluster videos only consider the video content itself. This paper presents the first system that clusters Web video search results by fusing the evidence from a variety of information sources besides the video content such as title, tags and description. We propose a novel framework that can integrate multiple features and enable us to …


Enhanced Photorefractivity In A Polymeric Composite Photosensitized With Carbon Nanotubes Grafted To A Photoconductive Polymer, Naveen Kumar Lingam, Sonali Kalghatgi, Jeffrey G. Winiarz Jan 2011

Enhanced Photorefractivity In A Polymeric Composite Photosensitized With Carbon Nanotubes Grafted To A Photoconductive Polymer, Naveen Kumar Lingam, Sonali Kalghatgi, Jeffrey G. Winiarz

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

We report on the photosensitization of photorefractive (PR) polymeric composites through the inclusion of multiwalled and singlewalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), respectively, having poly(N -vinyl carbazole) (PVK) grafted to their surfaces. The PR nature of the holographic gratings was confirmed via the asymmetric exchange of energy in a two-beam-coupling (TBC) geometry, yielding TBC gain coefficients approaching 80 cm-1. In addition, in degenerate-four-wave- mixing experiments the prepared composites exhibited diffraction efficiencies as high as 60% and overmodulation voltages as low as ∼40 V/μm. These notable figures of merit indicate that the grafting of the PVK polymer to the various CNTs …


Serdar Somuncu: Turkish German Comedy As Transnational Intervention, Kathrin M. Bower Jan 2011

Serdar Somuncu: Turkish German Comedy As Transnational Intervention, Kathrin M. Bower

Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Faculty Publications

A reconceptualization of Germanness, combined with a reconsideration of what constitutes “Germanness” and “Turkishness” and how they are linked, is a central theme in the programs of a younger generation of Turkish German cabaret artists and comedians. As a member of the new generation of performers, Serdar Somuncu stands out, not only for his unapologetic embrace of political theater critical of both German and Turkish social politics, but also for his assertion of a right and responsibility to engage with Germany’s past, coupled with an insistence on differentiation and balanced comparison when discussing integration. After gaining notoriety through his Mein …


Towards Better Utilization Of Nexrad Data In Hydrology: An Overview Of Hydro-Nexrad, Witold F. Krajewski, Anton Kruger, James A. Smith, Ramon Lawrence, Charles Gunyon, Radoslaw Goska, Bong Chul Seo, Piotr Domaszczynski, Mary Lynn Baeck, Mohan K. Ramamurthy, Jeffrey Weber, A. Allen Bradley, Stephen A. Delgreco, Matthias Steiner Jan 2011

Towards Better Utilization Of Nexrad Data In Hydrology: An Overview Of Hydro-Nexrad, Witold F. Krajewski, Anton Kruger, James A. Smith, Ramon Lawrence, Charles Gunyon, Radoslaw Goska, Bong Chul Seo, Piotr Domaszczynski, Mary Lynn Baeck, Mohan K. Ramamurthy, Jeffrey Weber, A. Allen Bradley, Stephen A. Delgreco, Matthias Steiner

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

With a very modest investment in computer hardware and the open-source local data manager (LDM) software from University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) Unidata Program Center, a researcher can receive a variety of NEXRAD Level III rainfall products and the unprocessed Level II data in real-time from most NEXRAD radars in the USA. Alternatively, one can receive such data from the National Climatic Data Center in Ashville, NC. Still, significant obstacles remain in order to unlock the full potential of the data. One set of obstacles is related to effective management of multi-terabyte datasets. A second set of obstacles, for …


Radar-Rainfall Estimation Algorithms Of Hydro-Nexrad, Bong Chul Seo, Witold F. Krajewski, Anton Kruger, Piotr Domaszczynski, James A. Smith, Matthias Steiner Jan 2011

Radar-Rainfall Estimation Algorithms Of Hydro-Nexrad, Bong Chul Seo, Witold F. Krajewski, Anton Kruger, Piotr Domaszczynski, James A. Smith, Matthias Steiner

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Hydro-NEXRAD is a prototype software system that provides hydrology and water resource communities with ready access to the vast data archives of the U.S. weather radar network known as NEXRAD (Next Generation Weather Radar). This paper describes radar-rainfall estimation algorithms and their modular components used in the Hydro-NEXRAD system to generate rainfall products to be delivered to users. A variety of customized modules implemented in Hydro-NEXRAD perform radar-reflectivity data processing, produce radar-rainfall maps with user-requested space and time resolution, and combine multiple radar data for basins covered by multiple radars. System users can select rainfall estimation algorithms that range from …


Addressing The Dual Challenges Of Meeting Demand For Minerals And Sustainable Development, R. Larry Grayson Jan 2011

Addressing The Dual Challenges Of Meeting Demand For Minerals And Sustainable Development, R. Larry Grayson

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In recent decades, excellent progress has been made globally in finding mineral resources, extracting them efficiently and effectively, dramatically reducing environmental degradation, and preventing adverse health and safety impacts on workers and stakeholders. The industry has realized tremendous advances in technology and applied science; has met changing and more stringent environmental performance criteria; has made remarkable reductions in fatality, illness, and lost-time accident rates; and has connected better than ever before with the communities in which mining, milling, and smelting are housed. A new era focused on continuous improvement in tackling key sustainable development parameters has come and is intensifying …


Barriers That Iowa High School Biology Teachers Face When Teaching Evolution In The Classroom, Joshua Michael Hanna Jan 2011

Barriers That Iowa High School Biology Teachers Face When Teaching Evolution In The Classroom, Joshua Michael Hanna

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

After decades of court cases, decided in favor of evolution being taught, legal decisions where the incorporation of teaching creationist ideas have been found unconstitutional, and recent strategies and attempts that would have teachers give "equal time" to creation-science ideas; there remains a disparity among Iowa's high school biology teachers when teaching evolutionary concepts in the classroom. Taking a look at what is being taught about evolution in Iowa classrooms, this study takes an in-depth look at what Iowa's biology teachers are teaching when educating their students about evolution, where emphasis is being placed and who is putting the most …


Examining The Use Of Collocations In Natural Language Processing, Patrick Anthony Burke Jan 2011

Examining The Use Of Collocations In Natural Language Processing, Patrick Anthony Burke

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Studies in Natural Language Processing are often dedicated to defining the lexicon and grammar rules of individual languages. It is a common understanding that virtually all statements that a language user encounters are unique constructions that have never been seen before. Because of this, there has been very little modem research regarding the use of repeated language when attempting to provide computers with language processing functionality. It seems reasonable that most statements we use on a daily basis are completely new when they are evaluated in their entirely. However, it is possible that smaller portions of these statements are reused. …


Beneficial And Technological Analysis For The Recycling Of Solar Grade Silicon Wastes, Anping Dong, Lifeng Zhang, Lucas N.W. Damoah Jan 2011

Beneficial And Technological Analysis For The Recycling Of Solar Grade Silicon Wastes, Anping Dong, Lifeng Zhang, Lucas N.W. Damoah

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In the current paper, different kinds of silicon wastes during the production of SoG-Si were summarized and the beneficial analyses, such as financial value, energy value, CO2 emissions, and efficiency and energy payback time, were briefly discussed for the recycling of SoG-Si wastes. Possible technologies to recycle and purify SoG-Si wastes were reviewed: such as filtration, sedimentation, solidification control, electromagnetic separation, plasma oxidation, centrifugation, and high temperature remelting process, et al. © 2011 TMS.


Piano Graduate Recital, Marcos Grano De Oro Jan 2011

Piano Graduate Recital, Marcos Grano De Oro

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Domenico Scarlatti was born in Naples on October 26, 1685. He was born to Alessandro Scarlatti and Antonia Anzaloni and is regarded as one of the most creative artists in the history of music. He was an outstanding composer and harpsichordist. Scarlatti received his early training from his father, who was a music teacher. There are no formal records that Scarlatti obtained his musical training from any conservatory, or music school, even though there were other institutions. The conservatory of Naples gained great popularity and fame during Scarlatti 's time. Therefore, Scarlatti could have received musical training from the conservatory. …


A Study On The Combined Effect Of Forging And Aging In Mg-Y-Re Alloy, S. K. Panigrahi, W. Yuan, R. S. Mishra, R. Delorme, B. Davis, R. A. Howell, K. Cho Jan 2011

A Study On The Combined Effect Of Forging And Aging In Mg-Y-Re Alloy, S. K. Panigrahi, W. Yuan, R. S. Mishra, R. Delorme, B. Davis, R. A. Howell, K. Cho

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The combined effect of forging and aging on microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of a Mg-Y-RE alloy was studied in the present work by employing hardness measurements, tensile tests, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis. the -F temper treated bulk Mg-Y-RE alloy samples were subjected to forging for microstructural refinement and subsequent aging to maximize the strength-ductility combination. the forged samples combined with peak aging treatment (60 h at 180 °C) exhibited an excellent combination of high strength (388 MPa) and high ductility (23%). the combined effect of grain refinement, work hardening, …


Use Of Bio Ethanol The Key Solution For A More Sustainable Road Transport, Alberto A. Boretti Jan 2011

Use Of Bio Ethanol The Key Solution For A More Sustainable Road Transport, Alberto A. Boretti

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of alternative transportation fuels clearly shows the advantages of reducing the use of nonrenewable fossil fuels vs. renewable synthetic and biologic novel fuels to reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide. Being based on the natural or synthetic recycle of carbon dioxide through the use of renewable energy sources, use of these renewable fuels does not imply depletion of natural resources and is therefore sustainable in the long term. Renewable fuels and advanced internal combustion engines and powertrains are the technologies that in addition to be the most likely to produce benefits in term of carbon balance …


The Costs Of Heightened Pleading, Alexander A. Reinert Jan 2011

The Costs Of Heightened Pleading, Alexander A. Reinert

Articles

In Conley v. Gibson, 355 U. S. 41 (1957), the Supreme Court announced its commitment to a liberal pleading regime in federal civil cases, and for decades thereafter was steadfast in resisting ad hoc heightened pleading rules adopted by lower courts. Thus, from 1957 until a few years ago, most litigants could count on surviving a motion to dismiss a complaint for failure to state a claim so long as their pleading provided some minimal notice to the defendant of the nature of their claim. Enter Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937 (2009) and Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, …


The Unscholarly Use Of Numbers In Our Assessment Practices: What Will Make Us Change?, Chris Rust Jan 2011

The Unscholarly Use Of Numbers In Our Assessment Practices: What Will Make Us Change?, Chris Rust

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Excerpt: On being invited to write something informative or evocative. I really couldn't resist the temptation to be a little provocative and return to a theme that I have touched on before (Rust, 2007), and is a particular bête noir of mine. Although I have to admit that, given I have no reason to believe that what I wrote previously has had any discernable impact, there is a slight sense of futility even as...


Improving Group Functioning In Solving Realistic Problems, Sassan Asgari, Gloria Dall'alba Jan 2011

Improving Group Functioning In Solving Realistic Problems, Sassan Asgari, Gloria Dall'alba

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Group work in educational settings has several advantages, but it is also associated with some difficulties, most commonly concerns about group functioning. The aim of this study was to improve group functioning in solving realistic problems, using a combination of: 1) team skill training prior to group work; 2) peer and self-assessment to evaluate contribution to group work; and 3) lecturer-designed versus student-designed problems. The results showed positive effects on group functioning. After initial team skill training, peer assessments and moderation of marks based on those assessments stimulated the so-called free loaders to improve their contributions to group work, which …


Engineering Research Teams: The Role Of Social Networks In The Formation Of Research Skills For Postgraduate Students, Kaylene Sampson, Keith Comer Jan 2011

Engineering Research Teams: The Role Of Social Networks In The Formation Of Research Skills For Postgraduate Students, Kaylene Sampson, Keith Comer

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This study explores learner experiences regarding skills acquisition of a cohort of engineering doctoral students enrolled in a New Zealand university. Employing a qualitative methodology, we interviewed 28 PhD students about the range of experiences and exchanges that comprised their pathways to skill acquisition. Students reported that research projects with application enabled the development of ‘real world problem solving’ by drawing on bonding and bridging network ties. Indeed, informal structures and disciplinary norms operating in the culture of postgraduate engineering research are principle contributors to successful progression, degree completion and outputs. Research practices emphasising repetition and doability establish productive environments …


Which Way To Sotl Utopia?, John D. Draeger, Linda Price Jan 2011

Which Way To Sotl Utopia?, John D. Draeger, Linda Price

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Where is the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) movement headed? This paper offers a vision for the future by using an Aristotelian model of virtue to sketch an account of intellectual habits. We argue that these habits allow students, teachers, and scholars to engage in the endless pursuit of learning. We call this place ‘SoTL Utopia’ as the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning is the vehicle that allows us to reach this destination. While utopian, we argue that these habits will improve learning in higher education through more ubiquitous engagement in SoTL.


Lighting Up The Mind: Transforming Learning Through The Applied Scholarship Of Cognitive Neuroscience, Daniel J. Glisczinski Jan 2011

Lighting Up The Mind: Transforming Learning Through The Applied Scholarship Of Cognitive Neuroscience, Daniel J. Glisczinski

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

"I am as sick of boring presentations as you are" admitted Medina (2008, p. 93), explaining how the typical academic lecture embodies the antithesis of scholarly, brain-rich teaching and learning. In contrast to what Kohn (1999, p. 218) decried as the "mind numbing" monotony of even the most well intended academic monologues, Medina explained that brains retain lessons learned through concrete experiences with emotionally cogent and relevant stimuli. Are such research-based insights the sort Boyer (1990) was invoking in Scholarship Reconsidered, which made the case for a new standard of scholarly teaching and learning? Thinking so, this essay synthesizes …


The Jury's Second Coming, Jenny E. Carroll Jan 2011

The Jury's Second Coming, Jenny E. Carroll

Articles

This article explores the controversial issue of jury nullification by reconceptualizing nullification through the lens of the Supreme Court's recent decisions beginning with Apprendi v New Jersey Apprendi's embrace of the jury's historical powers "” require a rejection of the formalized and static paradigm in favor of a more fluid vision of the law Despite extensive scholarship surrounding Apprendi an innovative though admittedly counterintuitive reading of the case line has been overlooked This reading draws on Apprendi's embrace of a vision of the law constructed and completed through jury interpretation and verdict Interpreted in this way the Apprendi case line …


Congress's Inability To Solve Standing Problems, Heather Elliott Jan 2011

Congress's Inability To Solve Standing Problems, Heather Elliott

Articles

Some critics of the Supreme Court's restrictive Article III standing doctrine knowing that the Court is unlikely to change course have argued that Congress could take steps to expand standing to sue Yet no scholar has systematically examined Congress's options in conferring standing This Article fills that gap demonstrating that Congress's power is far more limited than has previously been recognizedCongress has three options First Congress may enact statutes that define injuryinfact causation and redress under Article III establishing standing for certain classes of plaintiffs But this approach will fail if the Court finds such statutes unconstitutional and the Court's …


Nonverbal Communication Among Pointe Coupee Creoles, Elsie Angelique Bergeron Gardner Jan 2011

Nonverbal Communication Among Pointe Coupee Creoles, Elsie Angelique Bergeron Gardner

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Interactions are understood through the filter of language and culture. Because of this when people of different cultures interact, miscommunications often result. As both verbal and nonverbal aspects of communication are culturally specific, this paper examines trends in the nonverbal communication patterns of generations of Pointe Coupee Creoles undergoing language shift from Creole French in the older generation to English in the younger. The data demonstrate that nonverbal patterns are decoupled from verbal language to some extent in the degree to which they are maintained down the observable generations of Pointe Coupee Creole participants. This study analyzes videos of naturally …