Digital Commons Network^™

Patterns As Objects In Grace, Andrew P. Black, Michael Homer, James Noble, David J. Pearce, Kim B. Bruce

Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Object orientation and pattern matching are often seen as conflicting approaches to program design. Object oriented programs place type-dependent behaviour inside objects and invoke it via dynamic dispatch, while pattern matching programs place type-dependent behaviour outside data structures and invoke it via multiway conditionals (case statements). Grace is a new, dynamic, object-oriented language designed to support teaching: to this end, Grace needs to support both styles. In this paper we explain how this conflict can be resolved gracefully: by modelling patterns and cases as partial functions, reifying those functions as first-class objects, and then building up complex patterns from simpler …

Instability In A Generalized Keller–Segel Model, Patrick De Leenheer, Jay Gopalakrishnan, Erica Zuhr

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

We present a generalized Keller–Segel model where an arbitrary number of chemical compounds react, some of which are produced by a species, and one of which is a chemoattractant for the species. To investigate the stability of homogeneous stationary states of this generalized model, we consider the eigenvalues of a linearized system. We are able to reduce this infinite dimensional eigenproblem to a parametrized finite dimensional eigenproblem. By matrix theoretic tools, we then provide easily verifiable sufficient conditions for destabilizing the homogeneous stationary states. In particular, one of the sufficient conditions is that the chemotactic feedback is sufficiently strong. Although …

Mixed Finite Element Approximation Of The Vector Laplacian With Dirichlet Boundary Conditions, Douglas N. Arnold, Richard S. Falk, Jay Gopalakrishnan

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

We consider the finite element solution of the vector Laplace equation on a domain in two dimensions. For various choices of boundary conditions, it is known that a mixed finite element method, in which the rotation of the solution is introduced as a second unknown, is advantageous, and appropriate choices of mixed finite element spaces lead to a stable, optimally convergent discretization. However, the theory that leads to these conclusions does not apply to the case of Dirichlet boundary conditions, in which both components of the solution vanish on the boundary. We show, by computational example, that indeed such mixed …

Wavenumber Explicit Analysis Of A Dpg Method For The Multidimensional Helmholtz Equation, Leszek Demkowicz, Jay Gopalakrishnan, Ignacio Muga, Jeffrey Zitelli

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

We study the properties of a novel discontinuous Petrov Galerkin (DPG) method for acoustic wave propagation. The method yields Hermitian positive definite matrices and has good pre-asymptotic stability properties. Numerically, we find that the method exhibits negligible phase errors (otherwise known as pollution errors) even in the lowest order case. Theoretically, we are able to prove error estimates that explicitly show the dependencies with respect to the wavenumber ω, the mesh size h, and the polynomial degree p. But the current state of the theory does not fully explain the remarkably good numerical phase errors. Theoretically, comparisons are made with …

The Evil Technology Hypothesis: A Deep Ecological Reading Of International Law, Ugo Mattei, Luigi Russi

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

A Class Of Discontinuous Petrov–Galerkin Methods. Part Iii: Adaptivity, Leszek Demkowicz, Jay Gopalakrishnan, Antti H. Niemi

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

We continue our theoretical and numerical study on the Discontinuous Petrov–Galerkin method with optimal test functions in context of 1D and 2D convection-dominated diffusion problems and hp-adaptivity. With a proper choice of the norm for the test space, we prove robustness (uniform stability with respect to the diffusion parameter) and mesh-independence of the energy norm of the FE error for the 1D problem. With hp-adaptivity and a proper scaling of the norms for the test functions, we establish new limits for solving convection-dominated diffusion problems numerically: for 1D and for 2D problems. The adaptive process is fully automatic and starts …

Comparing Middle School Students' Learning And Attitudes In Face-To-Face And Online Mathematics Lessons, Clayton M. Edwards

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Online learning has become a staple within education for college students, and has started to enter high schools. While this instructional delivery system has been shown to work for older students, few studies have involved middle school students. If this trend toward online teaching of younger students continues, online learning could become a large part of education for middle school students, making research in this area important.

Multiple positive and negative aspects have been identified for online learning. Positive characteristics include individualized pacing; electronic resources, and the opportunity for rapid or personalized feedback, while negative aspects address increased student responsibility …

The Differences In Reading Readiness Among Kindergartners Who Attended State And Federally Funded Pre-K In Alabama, Kelli Tucker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This causal comparative study sought to examine differences in reading readiness of kindergarteners who attended public school pre-k, both state and federally funded. Scores were examined for a convenience sample of 131 students who attended pre-k in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years in a school system in east central Alabama. The DIBELS were used to gather kindergarten data in order to examine significant differences in reading readiness. MANCOVA was used to analyze the data for significant differences. The results indicated there were no significant differences, after a full year in kindergarten, in reading readiness of children who attended state …

Top-Down Estimate Of Dust Emissions Through Integration Of Modis And Misr Aerosol Retrievals With The Geos-Chem Adjoint Model, Jun Wang, Xiaoguang Xu, Daven K. Henze, Jing Zeng, Qiang Ji, Si-Chee Tsay, Jianping Huang

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

Predicting the influences of dust on atmospheric composition, climate, and human health requires accurate knowledge of dust emissions, but large uncertainties persist in quantifying mineral sources. This study presents a new method for combined use of satellite-measured radiances and inverse modeling to spatially constrain the amount and location of dust emissions. The technique is illustrated with a case study in May 2008; the dust emissions in Taklimakan and Gobi deserts are spatially optimized using the GEOSChem chemical transport model and its adjoint constrained by aerosol optical depth (AOD) that are derived over the downwind dark-surface region in China from MODIS …

Quantification Of Salt Dust Pathways From A Groundwater-Fed Lake: Implications For Solute Budgets And Dust Emission Rates, Vitaly A. Zlotnik, John B. Ong, John D. Lenters, Jens Schmieder, Sherilyn C. Fritz

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

Emissions of salt dust from the shores of saline lakes significantly impact lake chemistry, air quality, transportation, human health, and climate. Quantitative methods for assessing these emissions, however, are still in the developmental stage. We investigate salt pathways from groundwater to dust using an approach that takes advantage of opportune conditions at a groundwater-fed, saline lake in the Nebraska Sand Hills region. The mass of salt in the lakeshore surface crust and soil was measured, as well as in the dust on the surrounding dune field. These data, together with information on the lake hydrology, show that dust emission is …

Edison State College Student Handbook & Planner 2012-2013, Edison State College

Student Handbooks

Edison State College Student Handbook & Planner. 2012-2013.

Simulation And Testing Of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates Fabricated By Selective Laser Sintering, M. Wu, Ming-Chuan Leu, N. Guo

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell converts directly electrochemical energy into electricity. Flow channels in bipolar plates, a critical component of fuel cell, were designed, simulated and tested. the bipolar plate used a mixture of graphite materials and was fabricated using a Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) process. the fabricated green parts were carbonized at high temperatures and converted into brown parts. Infiltration of resin was used to enhance the electric conductivity and strength of the bipolar plate. Finite element simulations were performed to investigate the state of species (hydrogen, oxygen) in the channels and Gas Diffusion Layers (GDLs) for four …

An Efficient Method For Computing Highly Oscillatory Physical Optics Integral, Y. M. Wu, Lijun Jiang, W. C. Chew

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this work, we use the numerical steepest descent path (numerical SDP) method in complex analysis theory to calculate the highly oscillatory physical optics (PO) integral with quadratic phase and amplitude variations on the triangular patch. The Stokes' phenomenon will occur due to various asymptotic behaviors on different domains. The stationary phase point contributions are carefully studied by the numerical SDP method and complex analysis using contour deformation. Its result agrees very well with the leading terms of the traditional asymptotic expansion. Furthermore, the resonance points and vertex points contributions from the PO integral are also extracted. Compared with traditional …

Pigs Debt Crisis: Macroeconomic Factors, David Fiorino

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

Italy’s public debt has seen large increases over the past few years, and as a result they were bailed out by other European Union members. Either their large trade deficits, inability to stimulate growth, or lack of tax revenues are all reason why Italy has fallen to such crisis. Other countries in the EU such as Portugal, Spain, and Greece have had similar debt problems and received a bailout as well. This paper will attempt to explain the relationship between the public debt to GDP ratio and some macroeconomic conditions using panel data from 1990 to 2010 for the countries …

Minimalist Ensemble Algorithms For Genome-Wide Protein Localization Prediction, J.-R. Lin, A. M. Mondal, R. Liu, Jianjun Hu

Faculty Publications

Background

Computational prediction of protein subcellular localization can greatly help to elucidate its functions. Despite the existence of dozens of protein localization prediction algorithms, the prediction accuracy and coverage are still low. Several ensemble algorithms have been proposed to improve the prediction performance, which usually include as many as 10 or more individual localization algorithms. However, their performance is still limited by the running complexity and redundancy among individual prediction algorithms.

Results

This paper proposed a novel method for rational design of minimalist ensemble algorithms for practical genome-wide protein subcellular localization prediction. The algorithm is based on combining a feature …

Benchmark Results For Testing Adaptive Finite Element Eigenvalue Procedures Ii (Cluster Robust Eigenvector And Eigenvalue Estimates), Stefano Giani, Luka Grubisic, Jeffrey S. Ovall

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

As a model benchmark problem for this study we consider a highly singular transmission type eigenvalue problem which we study in detail both analytically as well as numerically. In order to justify our claim of cluster robust and highly accurate approximation of a selected groups of eigenvalues and associated eigenfunctions, we give a new analysis of a class of direct residual eigenspace/vector approximation estimates. Unlike in the first part of the paper, we now use conforming higher order finite elements, since the canonical choice of an appropriate norm to measure eigenvector approximation by discontinuous Galerkin methods is an open problem.

Supporting Implementation Of The Common Core State Standards For Mathematics: Recommendations For Professional Development, Paola Sztajn, Karen A. Marrongelle, Peg Smith, Bonnie L. Melton

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

In 2010, the National Governor’s Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers published the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) and to date, 44 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have adopted the document. These content and practice standards, which specify what students are expected to understand and be able to do in K-12 mathematics, represent a significant departure from what mathematics is currently taught in most classrooms and how it is taught. Developing teachers’ capacity to enact these new standards in ways that support the intended student learning outcomes will require considerable …

An Immense New Power To Heal: The Promise Of Personalized Medicine, Lee Gutkind, Pagan Kennedy

In Fact Books

There is no denying that new technology, which has triggered an explosion of scientific information, is ushering in a revolution in medicine. Through intimate patient stories as well as profiles of leading-edge doctors and scientists, this clear-eyed, lively, and highly engaging book explores one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs of our time: the sequencing of the human genome and the subsequent development of personalized medicine.

Demographic And Socioeconomic Conditions And A Patron Borrowing Analysis Of Cleveland Public Library Branch And Main Libraries, Mark Salling

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

We provide here an analysis of the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the Cleveland Public Library’s (CPL) service area and that of the neighborhoods in which the library’s patrons live. We also describe the borrowing patterns for the branch and downtown, Main Library, locations. The census-based demographic and socioeconomic data used for the analysis include income, number of children, race, Hispanic ethnicity, language spoken at home, ability to speak English, public-versus-private school attendance by grade level, housing tenure (owner/renter), educational attainment, employment status, and place of employment (Cleveland versus other). Data from the 2010 census and the Census Bureau’s 2005-2009 …

A Self-Tuning Optimal Controller For Affine Nonlinear Continuous-Time Systems With Unknown Internal Dynamics, Travis Dierks, Sarangapani Jagannathan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents a novel neural network (NN) - based self-tuning controller for the optimal regulation of affine nonlinear continuous-time systems. Knowledge of the internal system dynamics is not required whereas the control coefficient matrix is considered to be available. the proposed nonlinear optimal regulator tunes itself in order to simultaneously learn the optimal control input, optimal cost function, and the system internal dynamics using a single NN. a novel NN weight tuning algorithm is derived which ensures the internal system dynamics are learned while simultaneously minimizing a predefined cost function. an initial stabilizing controller is not required. Lyapunov methods …

Optimal Adaptive Control Of Nonlinear Continuous-Time Systems In Strict Feedback Form With Unknown Internal Dynamics, H. Zargarzadeh, T. Dierks, S. Jagannathan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A novel approach is proposed for multi-input multi-output (MIMO) optimal adaptive control of nonlinear continuous-time systems in strict feedback form with uncertain internal dynamics. First, it is shown that the optimal adaptive tracking problem of strict feedback systems can be reduced to an optimal regulation problem of affine nonlinear continuous-time systems expressed as a function of tracking error by designing a properly chosen adaptive feedforward control input. Then, an optimal adaptive feedback scheme is introduced for the affine system to estimate the solution of the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation online which becomes the optimal feedback control input for the closed-loop system. …

Optimal Adaptive Controller Scheme For Uncertain Quantized Linear Discrete-Time System, Qiming Zhao, Hao Xu, S. Jagannathan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, the Bellman equation is used to solve the optimal adaptive control of quantized linear discrete-time system with unknown dynamics. to mitigate the effect of the quantization errors, the dynamics of the quantization error bound and an update law for tuning the range of the dynamic quantizer are derived. Subsequently, by using adaptive dynamic programming technique, the infinite horizon optimal regulation problem of the uncertain quantized linear discrete-time system is solved in a forward-in-time manner without using value and/or policy iterations. the asymptotic stability of the closed-loop system is verified by standard Lyapunov stability approach in the presence …

Genes Adopt Non-Optimal Codon Usage To Generate Cell Cycle-Dependent Oscillations In Protein Levels., Milana Frenkel-Morgenstern, Tamar Danon, Thomas Christian, Takao Igarashi, Lydia Cohen, Ya-Ming Hou, Lars Juhl Jensen

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

The cell cycle is a temporal program that regulates DNA synthesis and cell division. When we compared the codon usage of cell cycle-regulated genes with that of other genes, we discovered that there is a significant preference for non-optimal codons. Moreover, genes encoding proteins that cycle at the protein level exhibit non-optimal codon preferences. Remarkably, cell cycle-regulated genes expressed in different phases display different codon preferences. Here, we show empirically that transfer RNA (tRNA) expression is indeed highest in the G2 phase of the cell cycle, consistent with the non-optimal codon usage of genes expressed at this time, and lowest …

Two-Dimensional Unsteady Flow Visualization By Animating Evenly-Spaced Streamlets, Zhengang Hong

Master's Theses and Capstones

Flow visualization has been widely used to display and discover patterns and features in vector fields. Common applications include the representation of ocean currents and weather model data.

In this thesis, a flexible method for animating vector fields is developed, based on a generalization of a Poisson disc sampling method. The algorithm has two stages; in the first streamlets are drawn into an image buffer, larger than their intended size. Before they are drawn they are tested to see if they impact on already drawn areas; if they do, they are rejected. In the second stage the ones that pass …

Waste Heat Measurement And Recovery Options In An Investment Casting Process, Patrick Timothy Kilar

Master's Theses and Capstones

In this research, the waste heat emitted from two ovens and a boiler used in the investment casting manufacturing process by New Hampshire based Hitchiner Manufacturing Inc. Co. was determined. This was achieved with measured temperature and standard volume flow rate data gathered from the exhaust stacks using a thermal anemometer. Pressure in the stacks and density were also determined using a differential pressure transducer and combustion analyzer transducer, respectively. The thermal anemometer collected data continuously over a period of 1 week per stack. To support and protect the transducers during the experiments, tripods and enclosures were designed, fabricated and …

An Investigation On The Resonance Observed In A Spirally Shielded Twinaxial Differential Pair, David Richard Levine

Master's Theses and Capstones

Spirally shielded twinaxial cable assemblies are extensively used in multi-gigabit-per-second digital telecommunications systems. Unlike ideally shielded Twinaxial cables, spirally shielded cables exhibit resonant behavior which limits system throughput.

This body of work illustrates a predictive method for determining resonant behavior in twinaxial cables through physical measurement of commercially available cables and analogous transmission line fixtures, full-wave and quasi-static simulations, and equivalent circuit analysis.

It will be shown that frequency dependent standing wave resonances in twinaxial cables are independent of cable length and dependent on cross-sectional feature sizes, dielectric properties, and spiral shield pitch.

Effect Of Process-Oriented Guided-Inquiry Learning On Non-Majors Biology Students' Understanding Of Biological Classification, Breann Marie Wozniak

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of process-oriented guided-inquiry learning (POGIL) on non-majors college biology students' understanding of biological classification. This study addressed an area of science instruction, POGIL in the non-majors college biology laboratory, which has yet to be qualitatively and quantitatively researched. A concurrent triangulation mixed methods approach was used. Students' understanding of biological classification was measured in two areas: scores on pre and posttests (consisting of 11 multiple choice questions), and conceptions of classification as elicited in pre and post interviews and instructor reflections. Participants were Minnesota State University, Mankato students enrolled in …

Modeling Potential Impacts Of Heavy Metals And Btex Compounds From The Former Year-A-Round Cab Company On Hiniker Pond, Jason Nolan

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The Year-A-Round Cab Company (an industrial metal preparation, painting, and welding facility) in Mankato, MN has a history of numerous environmental violations. The site is located 300 yards north of Hiniker Pond, a popular swimming spot. The primary purposes of my research were to determine if BTEX (ethyl benzene, toluene, and xylenes) and heavy metals had reached Hiniker Pond, and model estimated contaminate plumes from the Year-A-Round Cab Company. Lead, cadmium, and chromium were found in sediments at levels of up to 30 times higher near the site as compared to the control lake, Hallett's Pond. Although BTEX were not …

Mental Illness And Stigmatization, Struther Louise Van Horn

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between mental illness and stigmatization. For most of the twentieth century, popular attitudes towards the mentally ill were overtly negative and stigmatizing. In the 1970s-1980s, however, a putative shift in perceptions--thought to be the result of increased public knowledge about psychological disorders--purportedly diminished the stigma attached to mental illness. Using race, gender, and age as moderating variables, this study draws upon data from the recent 2006 General Social Survey to reexamine more current attitudes by the public towards those with mental illness and how it affects the desire for social …

The Hammer-And-Nail Phenomenon In Mathematics Education, Kien H. Lim

Departmental Papers (Math)

"For a person with a hammer, everything looks like a nail" is a proverb that can be used to highlight the phenomenon that students tend to rely on familiar ideas as opposed to taking time to think about and analyse a problem. Presented in this theoretical paper is the usefulness of the hammer-and-nail metaphor, other related theoretical constructs, pedagogical causes of student impulsive behaviours, and pedagogical suggestions for addressing them.