Digital Commons Network^™

A Comparative Study Of Discovery Learning Scientific Community Laboratories And Traditional Laboratories In Physics At An Independent University, Florida, U. S., Muhammad Riaz

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effects of two instructional approaches – Discovery Learning Scientific Community Laboratories (DL-SCL; Treatment) and non-DLSCL laboratories (Control) – on students’ conceptual understanding, epistemological views, and academic achievement in a Physics-1 lab. Conceptual understanding was measured pre/post using the Mechanics Baseline Test (MBT) and the Force Concept Inventory (FCI). Epistemological views were measured pre/post using the E-CLASS (Zwickl et al., 2014). Lab scores and final exam scores served as measures of academic achievement. This study used a quasi-experimental study design with mixed-methods data collection and analysis procedures. Sections of a Physics-1 Lab course in Fall 2016 were …

On Logconcavity Of Multivariate Discrete Distributions, Majed Ghazi Alharbi

Theses and Dissertations

The contribution of this dissertation to the literature is twofold. First, we use a geometric perspective to present all possible subdivisions of R³ into tetrahedra with disjoint interiors and adopt a combinatorial approach to obtain a special subdivision of Rⁿ into simplices with disjoint interiors, where two simplices are called neighbors if they share a common facet. We then use the neighborhood relationship of the simplices in each subdivision to fully describe the sufficient conditions for the strong unimodality/logconcavity of the trivariate discrete distributions and further extend these results to present a new sufcient condition for the strong unimodality/logconcavity of …

St. Lucie Shoal Complex: Regional Sediment Resource Or Submerged Storm Breakwater, Leaf Erickson

Theses and Dissertations

Nearshore sand shoals have become the predominant sediment resource for beach nourishment projects on the east coast of Florida. Along this coast, the St. Lucie Shoal Complex (SLSC) is comprised of several shoals designated as sediment resources for beach nourishment, many having depths less than 7 meters, at their crests. This group of shoals represents the largest high-quality beach nourishment sediment resource in southeast Florida. Among these shoals, the St. Lucie shoal is the largest and shallowest at the crest. This project explores the current best practice methodologies to explore impacts of excavating sand resources from shallow-crested shoal systems like …

Angle-Resolved Observation Of X-Ray Second Harmonic Generation In Diamond, Björn Senfftleben

Department of Physics and Astronomy: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis reports angularly-resolved observation of X-ray second harmonic generation (XSHG) in diamond at several phase-matching geometries. The XSHG signal was produced by ultra-short, highly intense X-ray pulses with a photon energy of 9.831 keV generated by a free-electron laser. In some geometries for high pulse energies more than 10 second harmonic photons per pulse were generated.

Different phase-matched geometries were used for XSHG to investigate the angular dependence of the efficiency of the process. Furthermore, for each phase-matching condition, the quadratic dependence for second harmonic generation at each geometry was verified and the crystal rocking curves were measured. The …

Design And Construction Of A High-Current Femtosecond Gas-Phase Electron Diffraction Setup, Omid Zandi

Department of Physics and Astronomy: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

We designed and constructed a state-of-the-art high current ultrafast gas electron diffraction experimental setup, which resolved two main challenges that constraint temporal resolution in previous setups. These aforementioned bottlenecks were: the space charge effect due to the Coulomb expansion, and the velocity mismatch between the sub-relativistic electrons (probe) and the exciting laser pulse (pump). In our setup, the problem of space charge effect was ameliorated by compressing 90 keV photo-emitted electron pulses using a radio-frequency electric field. The compression allowed us to increase the beam current by almost two orders of magnitude higher than previously reported. We developed a laser-activated …

A Measurement Of The Wy Cross Section At √S = 8 Tev In Pp Collisions With The Cms Detector, Ekaterina Avdeeva

Department of Physics and Astronomy: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A measurement of cross section of the Wγ → lνγ production in proton-proton collisions using 19.6 fb − 1 of LHC data collected by CMS detector at the center- √ of-mass collision energy of s = 8 TeV is reported. The W bosons are identified in their electron and muon decay modes. The process of Wγ production in the Standard Model (SM) involves a pure gauge boson coupling, a WWγ vertex, which allows one to test the electroweak sector of the SM in a unique way not achievable by studies of other processes. In addition to the total cross section, …

News From The Bioconductor Project, Bioconductor Core Team

The R Journal

The Bioconductor project provides tools for the analysis and comprehension of high throughput genomic data. Bioconductor 3.6 was released on 31 October, 2017. It is compatible with R 3.4.3 and consists of 1473 software packages, 326 experiment data packages, and 911 up-to-date annotation packages. The release announcement includes descriptions of 100 new software packages, and updated NEWS files for many additional packages. Start using Bioconductor by installing the most recent version of R and evaluating the commands

Changes On Cran, Kurt Hornik, Uwe Ligges, Achim Zeileis

The R Journal

In the past 6 months,1244 new packages were added to the CRAN package repository. 19 packages were unarchived, 55 archived and 3 removed. The following shows the growth of the number of active packages in the CRAN package repository

Splitting It Up: The Spduration Split-Population Duration Regression Package For Time-Varying Covariates, Andreas Beger, Daniel W. Hill Jr, Nils W. Metternich, Shahryar Minhas, Michael D. Ward

The R Journal

We present an implementation of split-population duration regression in the spduration (Beger et al., 2017) package for R that allows for time-varying covariates. The statistical model accounts for units that are immune to a certain outcome and are not part of the duration process the researcher is primarily interested in. We provide insights for when immune units exist, that can significantly increase the predictive performance compared to standard duration models. The package includes estimation and several post-estimation methods for split-population Weibull and log-logistic models. Weprovide an empirical application to data on military coups.

Partial Rank Data With The Hyper2 Package: Likelihood Functions For Generalized Bradley-Terry Models, Robin K. S Hankin

The R Journal

Here I present the hyper2 package for generalized Bradley-Terry models and give examples from two competitive situations: single scull rowing, and the competitive cooking game show Master Chef Australia. A number of natural statistical hypotheses may be tested straightforwardly using the software.

Riskregression: Predicting The Risk Of An Event Using Cox Regression Models, Brice Ozenne, Anne Lyngholm Sørensen, Thomas Scheike, Christian Torp-Pedersen, Thomas Alexander Gerds

The R Journal

In the presence of competing risks a prediction of the time-dynamic absolute risk of an event can be based on cause-specific Cox regression models for the event and the competing risks (Benichou and Gail, 1990). We present computationally fast and memory optimized C++functions with an R inter face for predicting the covariate specific absolute risks, their confidence intervals, and their confidence bands based on right censored time to event data. We provide explicit formulas for our implementation of the estimator of the (stratified) baseline hazard function in the presence of tied event times. As a by-product we obtain fast access …

Anomalydetection: Implementation Of Augmented Network Log Anomaly Detection Procedures, Robert J. Gutierrez, Bradley C. Boehmke, Air Force Institute Of Technology, Cade M. Saie, Trevor J. Bihl

The R Journal

As the number of cyber-attacks continues to grow on a daily basis, so does the delay in threat detection. For instance, in 2015, the Office of Personnel Management discovered that approximately 21.5 million individual records of Federal employees and contractors had been stolen. On average, the time between an attack and its discovery is more than 200 days. In the case of the OPM breach, the attack had been going on for almost a year. Currently, cyber analysts inspect numerous potential incidents on a daily basis, but have neither the time nor the resources available to perform such a task. …

Liureg: A Comprehensive R Package For The Liu Estimation Of Linear Regression Model With Collinear Regressors, Muhammad Imdadullah, Muhammad Aslam, Saima Altaf

The R Journal

The Liu regression estimator is now a commonly used alternative to the conventional ordinary least squares estimator that avoids the adverse effects in the situations when there exists a considerable degree of multicollinearity among the regressors. There are only a few software packages available for estimation of the Liu regression coefficients, though with limited methods to estimate the Liu biasing parameter without addressing testing procedures. Our liureg package can be used to estimate the Liu regression coefficients utilizing a range of different existing biasing parameters, to test these coefficients with more than 15 Liu related statistics, and to present different …

Ider: Intrinsic Dimension Estimation With R, Hideitsu Hino

The R Journal

In many data analyses, the dimensionality of the observed data is high while its intrinsic dimension remains quite low. Estimating the intrinsic dimension of an observed dataset is an essential preliminary step for dimensionality reduction, manifold learning, and visualization. This paper introduces an R package, named ider, that implements eight intrinsic dimension estimation methods, including a recently proposed method based on a second-order expansion of a probability mass function and a generalized linear model. The usage of each function in the package is explained with datasets generated using a function that is also included in the package

Furniture For Quantitative Scientists, Tyson S. Barrett, Emily Brignone

The R Journal

A basic understanding of the distributions of study variables and the relationships among them is essential to inform statistical modeling. This understanding is achieved through the computation of summary statistics and exploratory data analysis. Unfortunately, this step tends to be under-emphasized in the research process, in part because of the often tedious nature of thorough exploratory data analysis. The table1() function in the furniture package streamlines much of the exploratory data analysis process, making the computation and communication of summary statistics simple and beautiful while offering significant time-savings to the researcher

Crtgeedr: An R Package For Doubly Robust Generalized Estimating Equations Estimations In Cluster Randomized Trials With Missing Data, Melanie Prague, Rui Wang, Victor De Gruttola

The R Journal

Semi-parametric approaches based on generalized estimating equations (GEE) are widely used to analyze correlated outcomes in longitudinal settings. In this paper, we present a package CRTgeeDR developed for cluster randomized trials with missing data (CRTs). For use of inverse probability weighting to adjust for missing data in cluster randomized trials, we show that other software lead to biased estimation for non-independence working correlation structure. CRTgeeDR solves this problem. We also extend the ability of existing packages to allow augmented Doubly Robust GEEestimation (DR). Simulation studies demonstrate the consistency of estimators implemented in CRTgeeDR compared to packages such as geepack and …

Queueing: A Package For Analysis Of Queueing Networks And Models In R, Pedro Cañadilla Jiménez, Yolanda Román Montoya

The R Journal

queueing is a package that solves and provides the main performance measures for both basic Markovian queueing models and single and multiclass product-form queueing networks. It can be used both in education and for professional purposes. It provides an intuitive, straightforward wayto build queueing models using S3 methods. The package solves Markovian models of the form M/M/c/K/M/FCFS, open and closed single class Jackson networks, open and closed multiclass networks and mixed networks. Markovian models are used when both the customer inter-arrival time and the server processing time are exponentially distributed. Queueing network solvers are useful for modelling situations in which …

Allele Imputation And Haplotype Determination From Databases Composed Of Nuclear Families, Nathan Medina-Rodríguez, Ángelo Santana

The R Journal

The alleHap package is designed for imputing genetic missing data and reconstruct non recombinant haplotypes from pedigree databases in a deterministic way. When genotypes of related individuals are available in a number of linked genetic markers, the program starts by identifying haplotypes compatible with the observed genotypes in those markers without missing values. If haplotypes are identified in parents or offspring, missing alleles can be imputed in subjects containing missing values. Several scenarios are analyzed: family completely genotyped, children partially genotyped and parents completely genotyped, children fully genotyped and parents containing entirely or partially missing genotypes, and founders and their …

Fourierin: An R Package To Compute Fourier Integrals, Guillermo Basulto-Elias, Alicia Carriquiry, Kris De Brabanter, Daniel J. Nordman

The R Journal

We present the R package fourierin (Basulto-Elias, 2017) for evaluating functions defined as Fourier-type integrals over a collection of argument values. The integrals are finitely supported with integrands involving continuous functions of one or two variables. As an important application, such Fourier integrals arise in so-called “inversion formulas”, where one seeks to evaluate a probability density at a series of points from a given characteristic function (or vice versa) through Fourier transforms. This paper intends to fill a gap in current R software, where tools for repeated evaluation of functions as Fourier integrals are not directly available. We implement two …

Anchoreddistr: A Package For The Bayesian Inversion Of Geostatistical Parameters With Multi-Type And Multi-Scale Data, Heather Savoy, Falk Heße, Yoram Rubin

The R Journal

The Method of Anchored Distributions (MAD) is a method for Bayesian inversion designed for inferring both local (e.g. point values) and global properties (e.g. mean and variogram parameters) of spatially heterogenous fields using multi-type and multi-scale data. Software implementations of MAD exist in C++ and C# to import data, execute an ensemble of forward model simulations, and perform basic post-processing of calculating likelihood and posterior distributions for a given application. This article describes the R package anchoredDistr that has been built to provide an R based environment for this method. In particular, anchoredDistr provides a range of post-processing capabilities for …

Editorial, Roger Bivand

The R Journal

In my editorial for the 2017–1 issue, I concentrated on tabulating the status of this journal with respect to its authors and reviewers (updated tables below). This time, I was prompted by an interesting blog posting by Jan Wijffels of BNOSAC, describing the use of the udpipe package to apply natural language processing (NLP) to the CRAN package database available from tools::CRAN_package_db() since the release of R 3.4. The interactive NLP searcher is a dashboard permitting exploration of annotated CRAN package title and description NLP data.

Companion Planting: Effects Of Radishes On Squash Bugs, Daniel Dejong

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Throughout history, humans have continuously looked for easier and improved ways of growing our food. Over centuries of hybridizing crop varieties and more recently the invention and implementation of genetically modified (GM) seeds, we have created a food system that is dependent on chemical and seed companies to provide protection from environmental pests. The purpose of this thesis is not to discredit or dissuade someone from using GM seeds, but to take a look at some methods that could protect crops from environmental pests naturally, either for organic farmers or home gardeners. Specifically this review will examine methods of controlling …

Companion Planting: Effects Of Radishes On Squash Bugs, Daniel Dejong

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Throughout history, humans have continuously looked for easier and improved ways of growing our food. Over centuries of hybridizing crop varieties and more recently the invention and implementation of genetically modified (GM) seeds, we have created a food system that is dependent on chemical and seed companies to provide protection from environmental pests. The purpose of this thesis is not to discredit or dissuade someone from using GM seeds, but to take a look at some methods that could protect crops from environmental pests naturally, either for organic farmers or home gardeners. Specifically this review will examine methods of controlling …

Notes: Range Extension Of The Virginia Opossum (Didelphis Virginiana) In North Dakota, Lisa L. Walsh, Robert Seabloom, Cody W. Thompson

The Prairie Naturalist

The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is broadly distributed across North America from Costa Rica in the south to southern Ontario in the north and from the southern Great Plains in the west to the eastern United States. The Virginia opossum also was introduced multiple times to thePacific Coast beginning in the late 1800s and has established populations in that region. This species is a habitat generalist known to frequent wetland and hardwood habitats but also can be found in grasslands, along forest edges, and in agricultural and suburban settings throughout its range. However, the Virginia opossum is adapted …

A Study Of Perceived Leadership Styles As It Affects The Decision-Making Process Employed By Eleven Catholic School Principals In South Texas, Mary Olivia Agbakoba

Theses and Dissertations

Catholic School principals play an important role in the development of students' spiritual, social, and academic wellbeing. Consequently, in order to improve students' spiritual, social, and academic skill, it is vital to study the perceived leadership styles and decision-making of Catholic School Principals. Research questions include: "Is there a relationship between Catholic School Principals and teachers' perceptions on principals' leadership styles?", and "Is there an association between decision type and decision-making style used?" 11 Catholic School Principals and 179 Catholic School Teachers completed a paper and pencil survey that assessed the perceived leadership styles of principals. Data was analyzed using …

Aristotle, Redemption, And The Conquest Of The Americas, Luis Angel Buentello

Theses and Dissertations

The central question addressed in my thesis is the claim that the even though the conquest of the Americas by the Spaniards was a brutal and murderous process, the Spanish imperial project in the Americas, based on Aristotelian ideology, resulted in the most beneficial and least harmful form of conquest conceivable in comparison to the next great empire of the age, the British Empire.

The founding pillars of Spain’s overseas empire in the Americas, based on an Aristotelian framework, produced a synthesis of political thinking that brought about greater benefits to the native populations, and slave populations, subsumed under the …

Volume 101, Number 4 (Winter 2017)

Judicature

No abstract provided.

Meeting Real-Time Constraint Of Spectrum Management In Tv Black-Space Access, Zhongyuan Zhao

School of Computing: Technical Reports

The TV set feedback feature standardized in the next generation TV system, ATSC 3.0, would enable opportunistic access of active TV channels in future Cognitive Radio Networks. This new dynamic spectrum access approach is named as black-space access, as it is complementary of current TV white space, which stands for inactive TV channels. TV black-space access can significantly increase the available spectrum of Cognitive Radio Networks in populated urban markets, where spectrum shortage is most severe while TV whitespace is very limited. However, to enable TV black-space access, secondary user has to evacuate a TV channel in a timely manner …

Aquifers Of Nebraska Ii: The Niobrara Aquifer, Dana Divine, Robert Matthew Joeckel, Sue Olafsen Lackey

Conservation and Survey Division: Faculty and Staff Publications

The marine shale, chalk, marl, and chalky limestone of the Niobrara Formation directly underlie Quaternary sediments in 23 counties from south-central to northeastern Nebraska. Nevertheless, the formation serves as an aquifer only in and around Cedar, Madison, and Nuckolls counties. Niobrara aquifer wells mostly supply irrigation, domestic, and livestock needs. Two hundred of the approximately 230 active registered wells in Nebraska that are screened entirely in the Niobrara aquifer are in Cedar County and environs. About another 200 wells in this area are screened in both the Niobrara aquifer and overlying Quaternary sediments. Wells screened entirely in the Niobrara aquifer …

Effects Of Cultural Factors In Sports-Related Concussion Testing Performance Of Collegiate Athletes, Gabriela Andrea González Torres

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to explore potential differences in preseason baseline concussion testing between an ethnically and linguistically diverse sample of Division 2 NCAA collegiate student-athletes. A value-added second aim was to create awareness regarding the implications of multiculturalism as it relates to neuropsychological testing of sport related concussions. This study is part of a, slow yet steady, growing body of research concerning diversity issues within the sport setting. 479 Division II collegiate athletes from the Florida Institute of Technology were assessed during mandatory preseason baseline testing. The Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing, the Sports Concussion …