Digital Commons Network^™

Access And The Public Domain, Randal C. Picker

San Diego Law Review

[T]his Article sketches out the emerging public domain. Part III considers three conceptual questions for structuring use of the public domain, focusing on the extent to which the public domain should be viral; on whether we should insist that the public domain be accessed only through the original artifacts embodying it; and on whether private appropriability incentives for distribution of public domain scans match overall social interests. Part IV turns to the tools for restricting use of the public domain, to copyright, contract, the DMCA, and the CFAA. Each of these matters for access to the public domain and for …

Patents As Promoters Of Competition: The Guild Origins Of Patent Law In The Venetian Republic, Ted Sichelman, Sean O'Connor

San Diego Law Review

[T]his Article describes the artisan and merchant guild systems of the Venetian Republic. Part III explores the emergence of the patent system as a means for foreigners and Venetian citizens to compete with the guilds, as well as the eventual addition of negative exclusive rights to the basic license form of positive patent privileges. In so doing, contrary to the speculation of some scholars, we reject with near certainty the contention that the first patent law statute granting exclusionary rights for—in modern parlance—technological inventions was a silk-specific directive enacted by the Venetian Grand Council in the late fourteenth or early …

Clustering Of Sloan Digital Sky Survey Iii Photometric Luminous Galaxies: The Measurement, Systematics, And Cosmological Implications, Shirley Ho, Antonio J. Cuesta, Hee-Jong Seo, Roland De Putter, Ashley J. Ross, Martin White, Nikhil Padmanabhan, Shun Saito, For Full List Of Authors, See Publisher's Website.

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) surveyed 14,555 deg², and delivered over a trillion pixels of imaging data. We present a study of galaxy clustering using 900,000 luminous galaxies with photometric redshifts, spanning between z = 0.45 and z = 0.65, constructed from the SDSS using methods described in Ross et al. This data set spans 11,000 deg² and probes a volume of 3 h^-3 Gpc³, making it the largest volume ever used for galaxy clustering measurements. We describe in detail the construction of the survey window function and various systematics affecting our measurement. …

A Comparative Study On The Corrosion Resistance Of Cerium-Based Conversion Coatings On Az91d And Az31b Magnesium Alloys, C. E. Castano, Surender Maddela, Matthew J. O'Keefe, Y. M. Wang

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In the present work a comparative study has been carried out on the surface morphology, electrochemical properties and corrosion performance of cerium-Based conversion coatings (CeCCs) on AZ91D and AZ31B magnesium alloys. the as-deposited coatings consisted of a two-layer structure: A continuous Mg/Al oxide transition layer of ∼ 50 nm thick and a CeCC layer of ∼ 400 nm thick. Potentiodynamic polarization and impedance spectroscopy results using a 0.6 wt.% NaCl and 0.6 wt.% (NH₄)₂SO₄ electrolyte showed that cerium-Based conversion coatings enhanced the corrosion resistance of AZ91D and AZ31B magnesium alloys compared to polished uncoated samples. …

On Linear Precoding Of Non-Regenerative Mimo Relays For Qam Inputs, Xiao Liang, Zhi Ding, Chengshan Xiao

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Recent works have established that MIMO systems optimized for Gaussian source signals may suffer unexpected performance loss when practical inputs are in fact discrete QAM sources. There is a practical need in the optimization of MIMO related systems of various networking scenarios to specifically target source signals of finite QAM alphabet. in this work, we investigate the precoding optimization of wireless two-hop non-regenerative three-node MIMO relay networks driven by finite-alphabet inputs. Exploiting a known optimal structure for the precoder at relay and a special convexity property, we propose an iterative two-step numerical optimization algorithm. This algorithm is a general solution, …

Dual Pn Padding Tds-Ofdm For Underwater Acoustic Communication, Jinxing Hao, Yahong Rosa Zheng, Jintao Wang, Jian Song

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A time domain synchronous orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (TDS-OFDM) scheme with dual Pseudo noise (PN) sequence is proposed for underwater acoustic (UWA) communication. Instead of using cyclic prefix (CP) or zero padding (ZP) as the guard interval, the proposed TDS-OFDM scheme uses two identical PN sequences as guard interval and utilizes them for frame synchronization and channel estimation. the proposed TDS-OFDM increases the spectrum efficiency over the conventional CP or ZP OFDM systems where additional pilots have to be inserted for channel estimation. with the dual PN at each frame header, compressed sensing channel estimation is adopted, and a rather …

Zheng Classification In Traditional Chinese Medicine Based On Modified Specular-Free Tongue Images, Ratchadaporn Kanawong, Tayo Obafemi-Ajayi, Jun Yu, Dong Xu, Shao Li, Ye Duan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners usually observe the color and coating of a patient's tongue to determine ZHENG (such as Cold or Hot ZHENG) and to diagnose different stomach disorders including gastritis. In our previous work, we explored new modalities for clinical characterization of ZHENG in gastritis patients via tongue image analysis using various supervised machine-learning algorithms. We proposed a system that learns from the clinical practitioner's subjective data how to classify a patients health status by extracting meaningful features from tongue images based on color-space models. In this paper, we propose an enhancement to the ZHENG classification system: a coating …

Explosively Formed Projectile Soft-Recovery Force Analysis, Laurin Bookout, Phillip R. Mulligan, Jason Baird

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The design of a soft-recovery system is critical to a researcher's ability to analyze hypervelocity projectiles. The researcher may decide to use one method over another based on several criteria, including whether or not non-deformed projectile measurements are required. This report analyzes the forces two different soft-recovery methods impart on the projectiles collected. Method 1 utilized three polyethylene water barrels placed “end-to-end” horizontally, providing 2.6 meters (9 feet) of water to stop the projectile. Method 2 is a modification of the soft-recovery method utilized in “Soft-Recovery of Explosively Formed Penetrators” by Lambert and Pope. This method utilizes a series of …

An Evaluation Of Fairness Among Heterogeneous Tcp Variants Over 10gbps High-Speed Networks, Lin Xue, Suman Kumary, Cheng Cui, Seung Jong Park

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Several high-speed TCP variants are adopted by end users and therefore, heterogeneous congestion control has become the characteristic of newly emerging high-speed networks. In contrast to homogeneous TCP flows, fairness among heterogeneous TCP flows now depends on router parameters such as queue management scheme, buffer size, etc. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first evaluation of fairness among heterogeneous TCP variants over 10Gbps high-speed networks. Our evaluation scenarios for heterogeneous TCP flows consist of TCP variants with substantial presence in current Internet; therefore, TCP-SACK, CUBIC and HSTCP compete for bottleneck bandwidth. Experimental results for fairness are presented …

Lagrangian Relaxation For Large-Scale Multi-Agent Planning, Geoff Gordon, Pradeep Varakantham, William Yeoh, Hoong Chuin Lau, Shih-Fen Cheng

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Multi-agent planning is a well-studied problem with various applications including disaster rescue, urban transportation and logistics, both for autonomous agents and for decision support to humans. Due to computational constraints, existing research typically focuses on one of two scenarios: unstructured domains with many agents where we are content with heuristic solutions, or domains with small numbers of agents or special structure where we can provide provably near-optimal solutions. By contrast, in this paper, we focus on providing provably near-optimal solutions for domains with large numbers of agents, by exploiting a common domain-general property: if individual agents each have limited influence …

A Survey Of Recommender Systems In Twitter, Su Mon Kywe, Ee Peng Lim, Feida Zhu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Twitter is a social information network where short messages or tweets are shared among a large number of users through a very simple messaging mechanism. With a population of more than 100M users generating more than 300M tweets each day, Twitter users can be easily overwhelmed by the massive amount of information available and the huge number of people they can interact with. To overcome the above information overload problem, recommender systems can be introduced to help users make the appropriate selection. Researchers have began to study recommendation problems in Twitter but their works usually address individual recommendation tasks. There …

Detecting Anomalies In Bipartite Graphs With Mutual Dependency Principles, Hanbo Dai, Feida Zhu, Ee Peng Lim, Hwee Hwa Pang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Bipartite graphs can model many real life applications including users-rating-products in online marketplaces, users-clicking-webpages on the World Wide Web and users referring users in social networks. In these graphs, the anomalousness of nodes in one partite often depends on that of their connected nodes in the other partite. Previous studies have shown that this dependency can be positive (the anomalousness of a node in one partite increases or decreases along with that of its connected nodes in the other partite) or negative (the anomalousness of a node in one partite rises or falls in opposite direction to that of its …

Investigation Of The Physical And Molecular Properties Of Asphalt Binders Processed With Used Motor Oils, Mohyeldin Ragab, Magdy Abdelrahman

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this work we investigated the performance aspects of addition of used motor oils (UMO) to neat and crumb rubber modified asphalts (CRMA) and related that to the change of molecular size distribution of modified asphalt’s fractions; asphaltenes, saturates, naphthene aromatics, and polar aromatics. Based on the results of temperature sweep viscoelastic tests, addition of crumb rubber modifier (CRM) alone or with UMO results in the formation of internal network within the modified asphalt. Based on the results of short and long term aged asphalts, the utilization of combination of UMO and CRM enhanced the aging behavior of asphalt. Bending …

Statistical Modelling Of The Coupled Effect Of Mix Design And Rebar Spacing On Restricted Flow Characteristics Of Scc, Yahia Ammar, Khayat H. Kamal, Sayed Mohammed

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) is designed to exhibit high deformability and stability to maintain homogenous suspension of coarse aggregate particles in the mortar during flow to ensure adequate passing ability of the concrete through restricted areas and the filling of the formwork without any consolidation. Proper deformability and uniform suspension of coarse aggregate particles in the matrix are key parameters to ensure successful casting and adequate in situ performance. the required flow properties of concrete are affected by the rheological properties of the mixture and the characteristics of the cast element, including the level of reinforcement. the mixture proportioning of SCC …

Quantifying The Effect Of Nanoparticles On As(V) Ecotoxicity Exemplified By Nano-Fe2o3 (Magnetic) And Nano-Al2o3, Ji Hu, Demin Wang, Brett E. Forthaus, Jianmin Wang

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Nano-Fe₂O₃ (magnetic) and nano-Al₂O₃ are increasingly used in biomedical fields for cellular labeling and drug delivery, and in the industry as catalysts. However, they may also serve as carriers of toxic contaminants and negatively impact the environment and human health. in the present study, Ceriodaphnia dubia was used to assess the toxicity of these nanoparticles (NPs) with and without the presence of background arsenic(V) (As[V]). the results showed that although these NPs alone did not exhibit significant toxicity in the experimental concentration range, they could significantly enhance the toxicity of As(V). the accumulation of …

Structural And Message Based Private Friend Recommendation, Bharath K. Samanthula, Wei Jiang

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

The emerging growth of online social networks have opened new doors for various business applications such as promoting a new product across its customers. Besides this, friend recommendation is an important tool for recommending potential candidates as friends to users in order to enhance the development of the entire network structure. Existing friend recommendation methods utilize social network structure and/or user profile information. However, these techniques can no longer be applicable if the privacy of users is taken into consideration. in this paper, we propose a two-phase private friend recommendation protocol for recommending friends to a given target user based …

A Combinatorial Solution For Scheduling Spatial Multiplexing In Mimo-Based Ad Hoc Networks, Maggie Cheng, Quanmin Ye

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

In a MIMO-Based ad hoc network, the conflict relation between transmissions is fundamentally changed due to the multiple packet reception capability of MIMO nodes. a MIMO node can receive from multiple data streams at the same time, which significantly increases data throughput. to fully utilize the additional spectrum capacity enabled by the MIMO technology, it is important that transmissions from different nodes are coordinated. the coordination scheme needs to consider both data stream multiplexing and transmission time scheduling for a maximum performance gain. in this paper, we use an optimization framework to jointly consider MIMO link spatial multiplexing and scheduling …

Fabrication Of Cao-Nao-Sio2/Tio2 Scaffolds For Surgical Applications, A. W. Wren, A. Coughlan, K. E. Smale, S. T. Misture, B. P. Mahon, O. M. Clarkin, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A series of titanium (Ti) based glasses were formulated (0.62 SiO₂-0.14 Na₂O-0.24 CaO, with 0.05 mol% TiO₂ substitutions for SiO₂) to develop glass/ceramic scaffolds for bone augmentation. Glasses were initially characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and particle size analysis, where the starting materials were amorphous with 4.5 μm particles. Hot stage microscopy and high temperature XRD were used to determine the sintering temperature (̃700 °C) and any crystalline phases present in this region (Na₂Ca₃Si₆O₁₆, combeite and quartz). Hardness testing revealed that the Ti-free control (ScC- …

Rounding Of A First-Order Quantum Phase Transition To A Strong-Coupling Critical Point, Fawaz Hrahsheh, Jose A. Hoyos, Thomas Vojta

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We investigate the effects of quenched disorder on first-order quantum phase transitions on the example of the N-color quantum Ashkin-Teller model. By means of a strong-disorder renormalization group, we demonstrate that quenched disorder rounds the first-order quantum phase transition to a continuous one for both weak and strong coupling between the colors. In the strong-coupling case, we find a distinct type of infinite-randomness critical point characterized by additional internal degrees of freedom. We investigate its critical properties in detail and find stronger thermodynamic singularities than in the random transverse field Ising chain. We also discuss the implications for higher spatial …

Disordered Bosons In One Dimension: From Weak- To Strong-Randomness Criticality, Fawaz Hrahsheh, Thomas Vojta

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We investigate the superfluid-insulator quantum phase transition of one-dimensional bosons with off-diagonal disorder by means of large-scale Monte Carlo simulations. For weak disorder, we find the transition to be in the same universality class as the superfluid-Mott insulator transition of the clean system. The nature of the transition changes for stronger disorder. Beyond a critical disorder strength, we find nonuniversal, disorder-dependent critical behavior. We compare our results to recent perturbative and strong-disorder renormalization group predictions. We also discuss experimental implications as well as extensions of our results to other systems.

Immersion Research Education: Students As Catalysts For International Collaboration Research, Kathryn H. Anderson, Marie-Luise Friedemann, Andreas Buescher, Julita Sansoni, Donna R. Hodnicki

Nursing: Faculty Publications

Background:  This paper describes an international nursing and health research immersion program. Minority students from the USA work with an international faculty mentor in teams conducting collaborative research. The Minority Health International Research Training (MHIRT) program students become catalysts in the conduct of cross-cultural research.

Aim:  To narrow the healthcare gap for disadvantaged families in the USA and partner countries.

Methods:  Faculty from the USA, Germany, Italy, Colombia, England, Austria and Thailand formed an international research and education team to explore and compare family health issues, disparities in chronic illness care, social inequities and healthcare solutions. USA …

Constructing A Professional Identity: Non-Native Speakers As Teachers In College Freshman Composition Classes In An American University, Marcela Hebbard

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study is a qualitative, quantitative investigation of how non-native speakers of English construct a professional identity as teachers of English composition and rhetoric in freshman classes in an American University and how their students perceived such identity. A sample of 4 participants teaching ENG 1301 Rhetoric and Composition classes were recruited. Data were gathered through personal interviews, questionnaires, class observations, and students' anonymous survey at the end of their course to measure course satisfaction and their perception of their non-native speaker instructors. The investigation revealed that in order to develop a Professional Teacher Identity, non-native speakers of English need …

Global 4-H Network: Laying The Groundwork For Global Extension Opportunities, Jennifer Major, Rhonda Miller

Journal of Extension

A descriptive study examining 4-H programs in Africa, Asia, and Europe was conducted to provide understanding and direction in the establishment of a Global 4-H Network. Information regarding structure, organizational support, funding, and programming areas was gathered. Programs varied greatly by country, and many partnered with other 4-H organizations around the world. Few content areas offered by the surveyed countries aligned with their major agricultural commodities, even though content areas were available in the United States 4-H Program. The Global 4-H Network has the potential to fill these holes and provide additional opportunities to global programs.

"Apps"—An Innovative Way To Share Extension Knowledge, Joseph S. Dvorak, Tanya C. Franke-Dvorak, Randy R. Price

Journal of Extension

Extension professionals across the country are continuously seeking innovative ways to reach clientele and to disseminate timely, educational information. A new avenue to reach clientele includes the use of smartphone "apps." The "Machinery Sizing" app, which was developed to ease the estimation of tractor horsepower to implement sizing for Extension clientele anytime, anywhere, is explained as a key example for Extension professionals to utilize apps in disseminating information to clientele. There are many benefits to using apps, including information availability wherever Internet service is available on the smartphone, ease of computations of equations, and automatic updates being sent to users.

South Carolina's Model For Initiating Hispanic 4-H Clubs, Robert Lippert, Kellye Rembert

Journal of Extension

Over the past 5 years, through the initiative of several county Extension agents, South Carolina 4-H has established a successful model for bringing Hispanic youth into our program. We have found the most effective method is to initiate contact and establish partnerships with the principals and ESOL instructors in the local schools. Through this collaboration, we have started several Hispanic 4-H clubs throughout the State with further expansion in process.

Technical Feasibility Of Small-Scale Oilseed And On-Farm Biodiesel Production: A Vermont Case Study, Emily J. Stebbins-Wheelock, Robert Parsons, Qingbin Wang, Heather Darby, Vernon P. Grubinger

Journal of Extension

This article investigates the technical feasibility of small-scale oilseed production and on-farm processing of biodiesel and livestock feed using primary data from two Vermont farms. Results indicate that small-scale production of sunflowers, canola, and soybeans, and on-farm processing of livestock feed and biodiesel are technically feasible, but yields depend on many factors. Increased local expertise, information-sharing among the farm and Extension communities, and improved access to harvesting and processing equipment can improve productivity and efficiency. Additional experience in seed drying and expeller pressing techniques should reduce fat content in the seed meal, improve meal value, and improve oil production efficiency.

Preservice Teachers' Perceptions Of Their Knowledge And Application Of Response To Intervention, Carrie Dannelle Jepma

Theses and Dissertations

Response to Intervention (RTI) is a model for providing instructional and scientific-based interventions to all children who struggle. RTI uses data-based decision making for the interventions, instructional evaluation, intervention intensity and length of time, and evaluation and recommendations for any adjustments needed in instruction in both the problem-solving and standard protocol models. The difference between the two models of RTI is that the interventions are individualized for each student in the problem-solving model, but not the standard protocol model.

RTI has been used by schools and agencies with research to support that it meets the needs of children and is …

Expectations And Experiences Of Fathers Who Have Parented Children With And Without Intellectual Disabilities, Jane Christina Kusmik Walker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The parenting experience is as diverse as the children parented. Each child has diverse personality traits requiring flexibility and specificity in parenting strategy. This need for flexibility and specificity is more complex when one or more children within a family has an intellectual disability. Although research in this area is abundant, investigators have historically focused on mothers' attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to represent the entire family (Essex, Seltzer, & Krauss, 2001; Greenberg, 2002) rather than focusing on fathers and their caregiving relationships with their children in need of malleable but consistent parenting. Using a qualitative descriptive design, this qualitative study …

Electromagnetic Emissions From The Ic Packaging, Nick K.H. Huang, Li (Lijun) Jun Jiang, Huichun Yu, Gang Li, Shuai Xu, Tao Wang, Huasheng Ren

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The EMC and EMI of the IC packaging are becoming increasingly important to modern electronics. Its EMC, SI, and PI have been broadly attested. But electromagnetic radiations from IC packaging and the corresponding EMI were seldom studied. In this paper, the fundamental principles and properties of the electromagnetic radiations caused by vias and traces in IC packagings are carefully investigated. Various radiation mechanisms are analyzed for different representative scenarios. Numerical simulations are employed to support the analyzing results. © 2012 IEEE.

Fundamental Components Of The Ic Packaging Electromagnetic Interference (Emi) Analysis, Nick K.H. Huang, Li (Lijun) Jun Jiang, Huichun Yu, Gang Li, Shuai Xu, Huasheng Ren

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The IC packaging EMC/SI/PI problems have been broadly attested. But IC packaging EMI was seldom addressed. Because the EMI emission by IC packagings is increasingly significant, in this paper, EMI behaviors are systematically studied. To fundamentally understand the radiation mechanism, radiated contributions from ground lids, vias, and traces of the packaging are investigated and modeled separately. It is seen that the packaging EMI has clearly low frequency and high frequency behaviors. The low frequency behavior is due to the Hertzian dipole effects of vias. The high frequency behavior is due to the radiation of excited cavity modes. Both theoretical analysis …