Digital Commons Network^™

The Effectiveness Of Participation In A Project-Based Learning Project On At-Risk Student Self-Efficacy, Benjamin Aaron Weber

Dissertations and Theses

Project-based learning is a multifaceted approach to teaching in which students explore real-world problems and challenges while working in small collaborative groups. Project-based learning is active and engaging and drives students to obtain a deeper knowledge of the subjects they're studying, and students develop confidence and self-direction as they move through both team-based and independent work. This project endeavored to assess the effect of participation in a project-based learning (PBL) activity of the Wind and Oar Boat School's curriculum on the self-efficacy of at-risk high school students. Twenty students participated in the program for both math and applied arts credits …

Geothermometry Of Two Cascade Geothermal Systems, Donnel Alexander Malkemus

Dissertations and Theses

For this thesis I applied classical and multi-component geothermometry techniques to new water chemistry data from Breitenbush Hot Springs, Oregon and the Wind River Valley, Washington. A total of 20 well, spring, and stream samples from Breitenbush Hot Springs and 4 spring samples from the Wind River Valley were collected and analyzed for major, minor, and select trace anions and cations, as well as stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopes. I used two computer programs, GeoT and RTEst, to conduct multi-component geothermometry reservoir condition estimation on each water sample. Water chemistry data from Breitenbush Hot Springs indicates a range of thermal, …

Gaussian Kernel Based Medial Zone Computation, Weiling Li

Master's Theses

The medial zone of a 3-dimensional semi-analytic domain Ω, denoted as MZ(Ω), can be thought of as a ``thick'' version of the shape's skeleton with important applications in design, motion planning and geometric reasoning. The utility of the medial zones stems from the fact that they theoretically are homeomorphic to and have the same dimension as the original domain, so in this sense they capture the topology of the domain. However, the original approach to compute them involved a discrete Laplace estimation commonly used in edge detection algorithms, which was used to extract the points belonging to the medial zones. …

Improving The Prediction Accuracy Of Text Data And Attribute Data Mining With Data Preprocessing, Priyanga Chandrasekar

Master of Science in Computer Science Theses

Data Mining is the extraction of valuable information from the patterns of data and turning it into useful knowledge. Data preprocessing is an important step in the data mining process. The quality of the data affects the result and accuracy of the data mining results. Hence, Data preprocessing becomes one of the critical steps in a data mining process.

In the research of text mining, document classification is a growing field. Even though we have many existing classifying approaches, Naïve Bayes Classifier is good at classification because of its simplicity and effectiveness. The aim of this paper is to identify …

Predictive Modeling Of A Buoyancy-Operated Cooling Tower Under Unsaturated Conditions: Adjoint Sensitivity Model And Optimal Best-Estimate Results With Reduced Predicted Uncertainties, Federico Di Rocco, Dan Gabriel Cacuci

Faculty Publications

Nuclear and other large-scale energy-producing plants must include systems that guarantee the safe discharge of residual heat from the industrial process into the atmosphere. This function is usually performed by one or several cooling towers. The amount of heat released by a cooling tower into the external environment can be quantified by using a numerical simulation model of the physical processes occurring in the respective tower, augmented by experimentally measured data that accounts for external conditions such as outlet air temperature, outlet water temperature, and outlet air relative humidity. The model’s responses of interest depend on many model parameters including …

Kenyon Collegian - December 8, 2016

The Kenyon Collegian

No abstract provided.

Predictive Modeling Of A Two-Stage Gearbox Towards Fault Detection, Edward J. Diehl

Doctoral Dissertations

This research presents a systematic approach to health monitoring using dynamic gearbox models (DGM) and the harmonic wavelet transforms (HWT) for vibration response analysis. A comprehensive DGM is developed, the model parameters are identified through correlated numerical and experimental investigations, and HWT analysis is performed to illustrate the fault detection and diagnosis procedure and capability of this approach. The model fidelity is validated first by spectrum analysis, using constant speed experimental data, and secondly by HWT analysis, using non-stationary experimental data. The comparison confirms that both the frequency content and the predicted, relative response magnitudes match with physical measurements. Model …

Asymmetric Social Norms, Gabriele Camera, Alessandro Gioffré

ESI Working Papers

Studies of cooperation in infinitely repeated matching games focus on homogeneous economies, where full cooperation is efficient and any defection is collectively sanctioned. Here we study heterogeneous economies where occasional defections are part of efficient play, and show how to support those outcomes through contagious punishments.

Graphene Kirigami And Its Use In Biocompatible Strain Sensor, Erik Vyhmeister

Honors Theses

Graphene's large fracture strain (>30%), chemical inertness, and piezoresistive nature make it well suited for use as a biocompatible strain sensor. A rectangular multilayer strucutre with graphene as its operative component was designed. It consists of a bottom layer of SU-8, a center layer of graphene, and a top layer of SU-8 and gold, with gold acting as the electrical contact. Kirigami-style patterning is applied via photolithography and oxygen plasma etching, allowing for a greater fracture strain. Additionally, the kirigami affects the stress concentraton in the graphene, affecting its piezoresistive gauge factor. The complete (patterned) structure exhibited a fracture …

Sea Surface Temperature Rises Shift Migration Patterns Due To Ecosystem Changes, Alexia Skrbic, Hesham El-Askary

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

The continuing climate change is negatively impacting ecosystems, specifically oceans which are declining and food webs are being altered by the increase of greenhouse gases. The increase of the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases is increasing sea surface temperature of the world’s oceans. Certain organisms lower on the food chain like phytoplankton and zooplankton are directly affected by the warming which alters how they process nutrients and their productivity. The limited amount of these primary producers in the oceans and specifically the location they inhabit directly affects all the organisms above them on the food chain. Several marine animals …

Design And Construction Of A Multispectral Camera For Spectral And Colorimetric Reproduction, Yixuan Wang

Theses

Multi-spectral imaging and spectral reflectance reconstruction can be used in cultural-heritage institutes to digitalize their collections for documentation purposes. It can be used to simulate artwork under any lighting condition, and to analyze colorants that were used. The basic idea of a multi-spectral imaging system is to sub-sample spectral reflectance factor, producing results similar to a spectrophotometer. The sampled data are used to reconstruct reflectance for the visible spectrum.

In this thesis, a wide band multispectral camera was designed and constructed to achieve high spectral and color accuracy as well as high image quality.

Noise propagation theory was introduced and …

Lilliput Effect Dynamics Across The Cretaceous-Paleogene Mass Extinction: Approaches, Prevalence, And Mechanisms, Matthew Brett Jarrett

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

An organism's body size entails both physiological and ecological costs. Furthermore, as a parameter in analyzing organisms, it represents a fundamental and essential morphometric character. Reductions in size following mass extinction is a commonly observed phenomenon in the fossil record. This study examines the evolutionary significance of this phenomenon termed the: 'Lilliput Effect' by proposing that it represents a rapid evolutionary response to altered selection pressures during a mass extinction. This primary hypothesis is evaluated against two additional hypotheses of size reduction: 1) stunted growth as a response to stressed ecosystems, and/or 2) mass extinctions are size selective.

These hypotheses …

An Agent-Based Modeling Approach To Determine Winter Survival Rates Of American Robins And Eastern Bluebirds, Samuel Iselin, Shannon Segin, Alex Capaldi

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

American Robins (Turdus migratorius) and Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) are two species of migratory thrushes that breed in Northwest Indiana but historically are uncommon during the winter season. These trends have changed recently, and both species are seen more abundantly during the winter. Recently invaded non-native fruiting plants continue to provide nutrients for the birds throughout the winter and may contribute to the increased avian populations during that time. To measure the effect these food sources contribute to thrush wintering habits, we created an agent-based computer model to simulate the birds' movement in Northwest Indiana along …

Development Of A Problem-Based Learning Matrix For Data Collection, Shannon M. Sipes

Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning

Few of the papers published in journals and conference proceedings on problem-based learning (PBL) are empirical studies, and most of these use self-report as the measure of PBL (Beddoes, Jesiek, & Borrego, 2010). The current study provides a theoretically derived matrix for coding and classifying PBL that was objectively applied to official curriculum documentation in a content analysis. The results for the level of problem-based learning in two engineering program curricula are presented. By introducing such a matrix, this study offers a tool that can be applied by other scholars examining PBL, creating consistency in methodology, definitions, and language among …

Terrestrial Ecosystem Process Model Biome-Bgcmuso V4.0: Summary Of Improvements And New Modeling Possibilities, Dóra Hidy, Zoltán Barcza, Hrvoje Marjanovi´C, Maša Zorana Ostrogovi´C Sever, Laura Dobor, Györgyi Gelybó, Nándor Fodor, Krisztina Pintér, Galina Churkina, Steven Running, Peter Thornton, Gianni Bellocchi, László Haszpra, Ferenc Horváth, Andrew E. Suyker, Zoltán Nagy

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

The process-based biogeochemical model Biome- BGC was enhanced to improve its ability to simulate carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles of various terrestrial ecosystems under contrasting management activities. Biome-BGC version 4.1.1 was used as a base model. Improvements included addition of new modules such as the multilayer soil module, implementation of processes related to soil moisture and nitrogen balance, soil-moisture-related plant senescence, and phenological development. Vegetation management modules with annually varying options were also implemented to simulate management practices of grasslands (mowing, grazing), croplands (ploughing, fertilizer application, planting, harvesting), and forests (thinning). New carbon and nitrogen pools have been defined to …

Stochastic Optimization Of Adaptive Enrichment Designs For Two Subpopulations, Aaron Fisher, Michael Rosenblum

Johns Hopkins University, Dept. of Biostatistics Working Papers

An adaptive enrichment design is a randomized trial that allows enrollment criteria to be modified at interim analyses, based on a preset decision rule. When there is prior uncertainty regarding treatment effect heterogeneity, these trial designs can provide improved power for detecting treatment effects in subpopulations. We present a simulated annealing approach to search over the space of decision rules and other parameters for an adaptive enrichment design. The goal is to minimize the expected number enrolled or expected duration, while preserving the appropriate power and Type I error rate. We also explore the benefits of parallel computation in the …

The Minutes Of The Marshall University Board Of Governors Meeting, December 7, 2016, Marshall University Board Of Governors

Board of Governors Minutes

No abstract provided.

Weekly News Digest 12/07/2016, Jenna Ray

Weekly Bulletin Archive

News

• Raths ’19 Gets Ready to Practice Optometry at PineCone Vision Center

Prospectus, December 7, 2016, Matt Moss, Scott Wells, Emma Gray, Peter Floess

Prospectus 2016

EIGHT PARKLAND FACULTY FACE NON-RENEWAL OF CONTRACTS; Humans of Parkland: Destiny Norris; Giertz Gallery exhabition highlights the art in drawing; Cobra basketball teams fighting hard in 2016-17 season; Trump taps former campaign rival Carson as housing secretary; Teens, young artists among California warehouse fire victims; After Trump rift at Liberty University, students find unity; McDonald's CEO: Chain still plans to expand in the US again; During first look at wildfire rubble, residents in a daze; Family pushes for cyberbullying laws after teen's suicide; Moments from Parkland's Charlie Brown Christmas

Scitech News Volume 70, No. 4 (2016)

Sci-Tech News

Columns and Reports

From the Editor 3

Division News

Science-Technology Division 4

SLA Annual Meeting 2016 Report (S. Kirk Cabeen Travel Stipend Award recipient) 6

Reflections on SLA Annual Meeting (Diane K. Foster International Student Travel Award recipient) 8

SLA Annual Meeting Report (Bonnie Hilditch International Librarian Award recipient)10

Chemistry Division 12

Engineering Division 15

Reflections from the 2016 SLA Conference (SPIE Digital Library Student Travel Stipend recipient)15

Fundamentals of Knowledge Management and Knowledge Services (IEEE Continuing Education Stipend recipient) 17

Makerspaces in Libraries: The Big Table, the Art Studio or Something Else? (by Jeremy Cusker) 19

Aerospace Section of …

Introduction To Random Processes Mth 453, Joanna Burkhardt

Library Impact Statements

No abstract provided.

Minutes, University Of South Florida St. Petersburg General Education Committee Meeting, December 7, 2016, University Of South Florida St. Petersburg. Faculty Senate. General Education Committee

USF St. Petersburg General Education Committee Meetings

Minutes from the December 7, 2016, meeting of the General Education Committee of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg's Faculty Senate.

Anthropology Alum Is Archaeological Field And Lab Director, Ohio University College Of Arts & Sciences

All Forum Articles

No abstract provided.

Coral Recovery On Phase-Shifted Reefs Depend Upon The Type Of Macroalgae Present, Justin N. Voss

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

The Florida Keys experienced some of the most drastic transitions from coral to macroalgae dominated states, known as phase-or regime-shifts, of any reefs in the Caribbean. Macroalgae on coral reefs lower coral recruitment by deterring coral settlement either directly through competition or indirectly by changing the chemical environment near the benthos. With evidence of species-specific interactions to coral-macroalgae competition, the type of macroalgae on a phase-shifted coral reef might be more important than just identifying a reef transition. To answer this question, I tested the effect of Laurencia intricata (a macroalgae related to the settlement inducing crustose coralline algae) and …

2016-December-07-Hannah Greene, University Marketing And Commucications, East Tennessee State Univeristy

ETSU News

No abstract provided.

Optimal Inventory Control With Advance Supply Information, Marko Jakšič, Matej Marinč

Economic and Business Review

It has been shown in numerous situations that sharing information between the companies leads to improved performance of the supply chain. We study a positive lead time periodic-review inventory system of a retailer facing stochastic demand from his customer and stochastic limited supply capacity of the manufacturer supplying the products to him. The consequence of stochastic supply capacity is that the orders might not be delivered in full, and the exact size of the replenishment might not be known to the retailer. The manufacturer is willing to share the so-called advance supply information (ASI) about the actual replenishment of the …

Interaction Between Total Cost And Fill Rate: A Case Study, Liljana Ferbar Tratar

Economic and Business Review

Forecasting plays a central role in the efficient operation of a supply chain – i.e., the total costs and fill rate. As forecasts of demand are required on a regular basis for a very large number of products, the methods developed should be fast, flexible, user-friendly, and able to produce results that are reliable and easy to interpret by a manager. In this paper we show that the supply chain costs cannot be optimal if the forecasting method is treated separately from the inventory model. We analyse the performance of the joint optimization of the modified Holt-Winters forecasting method and …

December 7, 2016 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Recurring Patterns Among Scrambled Genes In The Encrypted Genome Of The Ciliate Oxytricha Trifallax, Jonathan Burns, Denys Kukushkin, Xiao Chen, Laura F Landweber, Masahico Saito, Nataša Jonoska

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

Some genera of ciliates, such as Oxytricha and Stylonychia, undergo massive genome reorganization during development and provide model organisms to study DNA rearrangement. A common feature of these ciliates is the presence of two types of nuclei: a germline micronucleus and a transcriptionally-active somatic macronucleus containing over 16,000 gene sized "nano-chromosomes". During conjugation the old parental macronucleus disintegrates and a new macronucleus forms from a copy of the zygotic micronucleus. During this process, macronuclear chromosomes assemble through DNA processing events that delete 90-98% of the DNA content of the micronucleus. This includes the deletion of noncoding DNA segments that interrupt …

It’S Because Of Unh, Tyler Wentworth

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.