Digital Commons Network^™

Consensus Protocols In Networked Multiagent Systems For Cluttered And Hostile Environments, Gerardo De La Torre, Eric N. Johnson, Tansel Yucelen

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Consensus refers to the agreement of networked agents upon certain quantities of interest and has widespread applications in diverse areas in science and engineering. This paper focuses on a new consensus protocol for networked multiagent systems operating in cluttered and hostile environments. Specifically, a consensus optimization algorithm is introduced that renders the Laplacian potential to be a nonincreasing function while minimizing a cost function and satisfying state and cost constraints. In addition, we show how to choose this cost function and the aforementioned constraints in order to decay the Laplacian potential to zero strictly. The proposed framework depends on a …

Consensus Protocols For Networked Multiagent Systems With Relative Position And Neighboring Velocity Information, Gerardo De La Torre, Tansel Yucelen, Eric N. Johnson

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The consensus problem appears frequently in the coordination of multiagent systems in science and engineering and involves the agreement of networked agents upon certain quantities of interest. In this paper, we focus on a new consensus protocol for networked multiagent systems. The proposed control protocol consists of a standard term capturing relative position information and a new term capturing neighboring velocity information. In particular, the addition of the latter term results in an increase of the rate of system convergence while maintaining a fixed graph structure and without increasing the maximum eigenvalue of the graph Laplacian. Furthermore, in certain cases, …

Colour Origin Of Red Sandstone Beds Within The Hüdai Formation (Early Cambrian), Aydıncık (Mersin), Southern Turkey, Muhsi̇n Eren, Selahatti̇n Kadi̇r

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The basal part of the Hüdai Formation (Early Cambrian) in the Aydıncık (Mersin) area comprises red sandstone beds at different stratigraphic levels, showing ripple cross-lamination. These beds were deposited in the middle to lower part of an intertidal flat environment. Bedding-parallel reddening and its cyclic character suggest syn-sedimentary or early diagenetic red colouration in a marine environment. Both X-ray diffraction and petrographic analyses indicate that the red sandstones are composed of predominantly K-feldspar and quartz grains and an illite matrix. These are dominantly arkosic wacke. A small amount of hematite (

Sagebrush Ecosystem Characterization, Monitoring, And Forecasting With Remote Sensing: Quantifying Future Climate And Wildlife Habitat Change, Collin G. Homer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems constitute the largest single North American shrub ecosystem and provide vital ecological, hydrological, biological, agricultural, and recreational ecosystem services. Disturbances continue to alter this ecosystem, with climate change possibly representing the greatest future disturbance risk. Improved ways to characterize and monitor gradual change in this ecosystem are vital to its future management. A new remote sensing sagebrush characterization approach was developed in Wyoming which integrates three scales of remote sensing to derive four primary continuous field components (bare ground, herbaceousness, litter, and shrub), and four secondary components (sagebrush, big sagebrush, Wyoming sagebrush, and shrub …

Impacts Of Land Cover Changes On Ecosystem Services Delivery In The Black Hills Ecoregion From 1950 To 2010, Suzanne Cotillon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Environmental degradation generated by land use choices and human activities is the first driver of change in the provision of ecosystem goods and services. One of the challenges in ecosystem services research is to evaluate the contribution of each land cover unit to ecosystem services delivery while considering multiple services. In this thesis, I develop a framework to assess the capacity of many land covers to independently produce ecosystem services (i.e., potential production) and the capacity of the whole landscape to deliver multiple services to the population (i.e., potential supply). In the first part, this methodology is used to report …

Impacts Of Spring-Interseeded Cover Crops On Late-Emerging Weed Suppression And Ground Cover In Corn (Zea Mays L.) Production Systems, Alex D. Bich

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Any alternative crop management strategy will only be adopted by growers if yield is not negatively impacted, fits within a current management practice, is easily implementable with minimal cost, or provides other beneficial features such as weed control or suppression. Corn production that incorporates a cover crop as an alternative weed control strategy and ground cover may support a sustainable system that is less dependent on herbicidal weed control. In addition, the cover crop may be used as a fall forage, act as a slow release fertilizer source the following year, and provide ground cover to reduce soil erosion. In …

Desert In The Springs: Ethnography Of A Food Desert, Margeaux Alana Chavez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

"Food desert" commonly describes food insecure areas with few fresh food outlets. Though used in a number of sources, the definition of "food desert" remains largely undeveloped and research is often deficit oriented, failing to account for community assets that may exist within food deserts but are underutilized or under-supported. Using an assets-based, ethnographic approach, this study combines GIS and survey methodology with participant observation and qualitative interviews to assess the potential positive effect of urban agriculture on food accessibility in Sulphur Springs, a USDA identified urban food desert in Tampa, Florida.

Ethnographic data suggest that within this neighborhood, residents …

The Key Role Of Micromorphology In Studies Of The Genesis Of Clay Minerals And Their Associations In Soils And Its Relevance To Advances In The Philosophy Of Soil Science, Gordon Jock Churchman

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Micromorphological observations from 3 different published works have been studied to aid understanding of aggregation and of colloids, both unique to soils. Saprolites in Hong Kong included ‘veins’ of different thicknesses and colours. Optical mineralogy identified them as infill from the neogenesis of clays in rock fractures. The common thicker infills resulted from weathering. Dark infill contained comminuted primary minerals whereas thin pale infill originated hydrothermally. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the size, shape, and mineralogy of the kaolin minerals formed in infill depended on the types of cracks in the saprolites and on drying. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses …

Facilitating Transfer For Adult Learners Through Cross-Cultural E-Learning, Min Zhang

Graduate Research Papers

Benefiting from globalization and technology advancement, e-leaming is increasingly being used by work organizations for improving the skills of knowledge workers. However, most workplace e-leaming is too theoretical to impact on-the-job and ultimately fails to serve the organizations' quest for success. The purpose of this literature review is to investigate the variables that affect transfer of learning, and to provide feasible strategies to enhance transfer of learning for international adult learners in cross-cultural online learning environments. By conducting a critical review of purposefully selected peer reviewed journal articles, this review highlights the relationship between cultural differences and learning style preferences …

Teaching And Teacher-Child Relationships As Explored Through Narrative Processes: A Mixed-Method Analysis, Margaret Koepke Fox

Psychology Department Dissertations

This body of research presents outcomes of mixed-method examinations of teachers stated mental models (MMs) for best practice, observed practices (i.e., coconstructed narratives), and quality of teacher-child relationships. Overarching aims of the investigation were: 1) to identify the relationship between teachers’ stated mental models of best practice and adherence patterns 2) to examine narratives of teachers and students to determine which elements of discursive praxis would be associated with relational connectedness, and 3) to examine the relationship between teachers’ stated MMs for effective pedagogic practice and observed teacher-child interactions. Overall, the moderating effects of teacher (e.g., interaction style; goals for …

Bryant University Undergraduate Course Catalog 2013 - 2014, Bryant University

Bryant University Undergraduate Course Catalog

No abstract provided.

Inheriting Your Wind: Lawrence And Lee’S Lessons In Avoiding Servitude To The “Wise”, Lauren Lee

Understanding by Design: Complete Collection

This unit primarily seeks to explore the theme of Lawrence and Lee’s play Inherit the Wind, which Lawrence defined as “the dignity of the individual mind, and that mind’s lifelong battle against limitation and censorship”. The authors based their text around the Scopes Monkey Trial in 1925, but ambiguity in date and location suggest this play is, moreover, an allegory of events which subvert truth in favor of belief. In so exploring Lawrence and Lee’s theme, this unit connects a driven high school freshmen to contemporary and historical happenings that suppress fact and overvalue opinion, regardless of whether such beliefs …

School Psychology Programs: Graduate Preparation In Traumatic Brain Injury, Susan C. Davies

Counselor Education and Human Services Faculty Publications

Although traumatic brain injuries are the leading cause of death and disability among children and adolescents, it remains a low incidence category for special education identification. Students with TBI can present with unique educational and psychosocial needs. Using surveys administered to program directors and interns, this study explored how school psychologists are prepared to identify and facilitate appropriate services for students with TBI.

Public Symposium Series Archive [Difficult Dialogues Website], Clark University

Difficult Dialogues (2006-2013)

The most robust document in the Difficult Dialogues Collection, this is a 77-page pdf adaptation of the Public Symposium Series Archive webpage from Clark University's extinct Difficult Dialogues website. This document contains information on every Difficult Dialogues related event at Clark University. It also introduced each semester's theme. These events include guest talks, film screenings, exhibition openings, community conversations, and much more. Links have been removed and personal contact information withdrawn. This document has been condensed and presented as best as possible. It is meant to represent the text and image layout of the webpage as it was presented.

Clark …

Birds Of Franklin County, Bill Whan

Ohio Cardinal

No abstract provided.

Cover, Ornitología Neotropical

Ornitología Neotropical

No abstract provided.

National Cave And Karst Research Institute 2011-12 Annual Report Nckri Annual Report, 2011-12, National Cave And Karst Research Institute

KIP Data Sets and Technical Reports

Contents: Executive Director's Report-- NCKRI Research-- National Park Service Karst Resources -- Southern Sacramento Mountains Watershed -- NCKRI Bat Roost -- Cave Ice and Paleoclimate -- Naica Cave Geomicrobiology -- BLM Assistance Agreement -- NASA Infrared Instrument Development -- LiDAR Studies -- Granite Caves in Spain and Portugal -- White Sands National Monument -- Karst Information Portal -- Education Program-- International Workshops -- National Workshops -- Education Program Projects -- Hidden Voyages -- National Environmental Education Week -- Volunteers -- Student Activities-- Student Projects -- Advancement-- NCKRI Establishes Endowment Fund -- Partnering for the Future -- Conferences and Meetings at …

Toward A Positive Theory Of Privacy Law, Lior Strahilevitz

Coase-Sandor Institute for Law & Economics Research Paper Series

No abstract provided.

Ecology Of Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax Traillii) In The Sierra Nevada, California: Effects Of Meadow Characteristics And Weather On Demographics, Heather A. Mathewson, Michael L. Morrison, Helen L. Loffland, Peter F. Brussard

Ornithological Monographs

Population declines in songbirds are often attributed to regional habitat loss and fragmentation caused by land-use practices, which might be further aggravated by climate change. These concerns are particularly evident in the Intermountain West, where riparian areas are considered a priority for conservation because of predicted reductions in winter precipitation and increases in spring temperatures. These climatic changes might increase the susceptibility of species reliant on riparian areas to regional extirpation from loss of habitat. The Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) is a California species of concern because of precipitous population declines in the past three decades. In 1997, we established …

Diversity, Prevalence, And Host Specificity Of Avian Plasmodium And Haemoproteus In A Western Amazon Assemblage, Maria Svensson-Coelho, John G. Blake, Bette A. Loiselle, Amanda S. Penrose, Patricia G. Parker, Robert E. Ricklefs

Ornithological Monographs

We used PCR and DNA sequencing to screen for haemosporidian parasites (Haemoproteus and Plasmodium) in 2,488 individual birds from 104 species and 22 families, primarily understory suboscine passerines, captured in a lowland Amazonian forest in Ecuador as a first major step to understanding the transmission dynamics of this cosmopolitan group of parasites in this region. To assess diversity of avian haemosporidia in our study site, we identified putative evolutionary lineages of haemosporidia using the mtDNA gene cytochrome b (cyt b). We sampled birds over 9 years, which allowed us to assess annual variation in haemosporid- ian prevalence. Additionally, we investigated …

Product Characterization And Headspace Analysis Of Solar Irradiated Aqueous C60 Clusters, Dan Su

Open Access Theses

Buckminsterfullerene (C60) is an important fullerene material that has drawn much attention and is currently being applied in many different fields. It was discovered in 1985. As its production has largely increased to meet these industrial needs, it is obvious that its environmental occurrence, especially in aqueous systems, will occur. To further provide information for environmental toxicity studies and for its risk assessment, this thesis focuses on the photo transformation processes of aqueous C60 clusters (Aqu/nC60), with a particular interest in measuring any mineralization that occurs under different irradiation conditions. Two sets of experiments were conducted to test for CO2 …

Biology And Ecology Of Glyphosate-Resistant Giant Ragweed, Kabelo Segobye

Open Access Theses

Giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida L.) is a competitive annual plant found in disturbed landscapes and is the most troublesome weed in Indiana and the US Corn Belt. It is one of the most common and problematic weeds in corn and soybean production. The introduction of herbicide glyphosate, N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine in early 1970's provided farmers with a better and low-cost tool to control weeds. The use of glyphosate drastically increased after the development of glyphosate resistant agronomic crops in 1996 and was use as a post-emergence selective herbicide. This led to overreliance and repeated use of glyphosate for weed control especially …

Challenges Of Cave Management In A Developing Country: A Case Study Of Grotte Marie-Jeanne, Departemente Sud, Haiti, Patricia N. Kambesis, Brian Oakes, Michael Lace

National Cave and Karst Management Symposium 2013

As with many developing countries,Haiti has environmental, economic and cultural challenges that complicate natural resource management. Karst landscapes dominate Haiti and caves are abundant as recent cave and karst inventory data indicate. Though the caves and karst are subject to environmental challenges they also provide the potential for the development of tourism that would improve local economic conditions. There are 500 documented caves in Haiti of which, five are show caves. Of those, only one, Grotte Marie-Jeanne, located in Port-ấ -Piment in Departement Sud, has a structured cave management plan that addresses identification of cave resources, visitor access, interpretive guidelines, …

Water Column Variability In A Coastal Tourist Cave In Mallorca, Spain, Liana M. Boop, Bogdan P. Onac, Jonathan G. Wynn, Joan J. Fornós, Marta Rodríguez-Homar

National Cave and Karst Management Symposium 2013

Coves del Drac is visited by more than 1 million tourists annually and has been a tourist destination in the western Mediterranean for over 100 years. All areas of the cave are developed with historic or current tour route infrastructure, including walkways, handrails, and electric lighting. This study compares one vertical water profile collected along the current tour path with two other profiles from historic tour route locations. Differences in freshwater and organic inputs, as well as direct anthropogenic impacts, are clearly observed in the aquatic parameters and stable isotopes collected in the profiles. Anthropogenically-driven undersaturation in the cave pools, …

Front Matter, National Cave And Karst Research Institute

National Cave and Karst Management Symposium 2013

Front Matter for the

PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTIETH CONFERENCE

NCKMS: A CHANGING CLIMATE

November 4 through 8, 2013

Carlsbad, New Mexico

University Work Plan : 2013-2014, University Of South Florida St. Petersburg., University Of South Florida. System.

Statewide Governing Boards: Reports and Planning Documents

No abstract provided.

Plac1 Expression Decreases In Chorionic Villi In Response To Labor, Yahdira M. Rodriguez-Prado, Xiaoyuan Kong, Michael E. Fant

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

PLAC1 (Placenta-Specific 1) is a recently described, trophoblast-expressed gene essential for normal placental development. The protein localizes to the microvillus membrane surface of the syncytiotrophoblast in direct proximity to the maternal compartment. Although its role has not been defined, increased circulating levels of human PLAC1 mRNA in maternal blood are associated with preeclampsia. Furthermore, PLAC1-null mice exhibit decreased viability in the peripartum period suggesting a role in pregnancy maintenance late in gestation. We examined PLAC1 gene expression in the human placenta during normal pregnancy and pregnancies associated with maternal diabetes and preeclampsia using quantitative, real time PCR (q-RT-PCR). Although …

Complex Cytogenetic Rearrangements At The Durs1 Locus In Syndromic Duane Retraction Syndrome, Hagit N. Baris, Wai-Man Chan, Caroline Andrews, Doron M. Behar, Diana J. Donovan, Cynthia C. Morton, Judith Ranells, Tuya Pal, Azra H. Ligon, Elizabeth C. Engle

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Self-Care And Chronic Disease, Victoria Vaughan Dickson, Robyn A. Clark, Eneida Rejane Rabelo-Silva, Harleah G. Buck

Nursing Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Shoulder Pain, Functional Status, And Health-Related Quality Of Life After Head And Neck Cancer Surgery, Hsiao-Lan Wang, Juanita F. Keck, Michael T. Weaver, Alan Mikesky, Karen Bunnell, Janice M. Buelow, Susan M. Rawl

Nursing Faculty Publications

Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients experience treatment-related complications that may interfere with health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The purpose of this study was to describe the symptom experience (shoulder pain) and functional status factors that are related to global and domain-specific HRQOL at one month after HNC surgery. In this exploratory study, we examined 29 patients. The outcome variables included global HRQOL as well as physical, functional, emotional, and social well-being. Symptom experience and functional status factors were the independent variables. In the symptom experience variables, shoulder pain distress was negatively associated with physical well-being (). Among the functional …