Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of A Mode And Destination Type Joint Choice Model For Hurricane Evacuation, Ruijie Bian

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Since Hurricane Katrina, transit evacuation service has been seen to serve critical needs in affected cities and an increasing number of hurricanes have struck the east coast where more people rely on public transportation to evacuate. Thus, it is important to model mode choice in evacuation for a better estimation of evacuation transit demand. In this study, a joint mode and destination type choice model was estimated based on multiple post-storm behavioral surveys from the northeastern seaboard to the Gulf coast. A Nested Logit model specification was used to estimate this joint choice model. The estimated model showed significant linkage …

An Enhanced Bridge Weigh-In-Motion Methodology And A Bayesian Framework For Predicting Extreme Traffic Load Effects Of Bridges, Yang Yu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In the past few decades, the rapid growth of traffic volume and weight, and the aging of transportation infrastructures have raised serious concerns over transportation safety. Under these circumstances, vehicle overweight enforcement and bridge condition assessment through structural health monitoring (SHM) have become critical to the protection of the safety of the public and transportation infrastructures. The main objectives of this dissertation are to: (1) develop an enhanced bridge weigh-in-motion (BWIM) methodology that can be integrated into the SHM system for overweight enforcement and monitoring traffic loading; (2) present a Bayesian framework to predict the extreme traffic load effects (LEs) …

Paleoenvironmental Variation And Provenance Records From Neogene Deep Sea Sediment Of The South China Sea, Chang Liu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

I employed several paleoenvironmental proxies by utilizing deep sea sediment from the largest marginal basin in east Asia, namely the South China Sea (SCS), to reconstruct the long term paleoenvironmental variation in SE Asia since the Neogene. Sediments deposited within the SCS were mainly delivered by several major fluvial systems whose catchment basins cover several geological blocks in SE Asia. By analyzing the sediment’s geochemical and mineralogical characteristics, several indices which are affected by the source of the sedimentary influx, as well as the weathering state could be built and applied to constrain my paleoenvironmental reconstructions

Two deep sea drilling …

The Effect Of Different Heavy Metal Acetate Solutions On The Inhibition Of Catalase Enzyme, Athreya Murali, Sonali Patel

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of different aqueous solutions of ionic compounds on the rate of reaction of the enzyme catalase. The hypothesis states that zinc and cadmium acetate solutions will significantly inhibit catalase and its ability to produce oxygen. In the experiment, there were five trials performed with the lead acetate, zinc acetate, acetic acid, cadmium acetate, and distilled water (the last being the control group). In order to calculate the results, the ANOVA single factor test was used, comparing each solution to water. From results of the ANOVA test, it was found that …

The Effect Of Temperature On Zinc Leaching From Rubber Tire Mulch, Elizabeth Dillon

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Scrap tires are being recycled into many products in order to bypass slow degradation in landfills. Recycled rubber tire mulch contains zinc oxide used in tire formation that can be released through the creation of leachates. This study examines the relationship between temperature environment and leachate zinc concentration. After observing rubber mulch surface temperatures in conjunction with other factors, it was hypothesized that higher temperatures would lead to increased zinc release by rubber mulch and higher leachate zinc concentrations. Leachates were created by mixing 10 grams of mulch and 200 mL distilled water and placing in 5ºC, 29ºC, and 71ºC …

On Extending Hansel's Theorem To Hypergraphs, Gregory Sutton Churchill

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

For integers $n \geq k \geq 2$, let $V$ be an $n$-element set, and let $\binom{V}{k}$ denote the family of all $k$-element subsets of $V$. For disjoint subsets $A, B \subseteq V$, we say that $\{A, B\}$ {\it covers} an element $K \in \binom{V}{k}$ if $K \subseteq A \dot\cup B$ and $K \cap A \neq \emptyset \neq K \cap B$. We say that a collection $\cC$ of such pairs {\it covers} $\binom{V}{k}$ if every $K \in \binom{V}{k}$ is covered by at least one $\{A, B\} \in \cC$. When $k=2$, covers $\cC$ of $\binom{V}{2}$ were introduced in~1961 by R\'enyi~\cite{Renyi}, where they …

Learning Likely Invariants To Explain Why A Program Fails, Long H. Pham, Jun Sun, Lyly Tran Thi, Jingyi Wang, Xin Peng

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Debugging is difficult. Recent studies show that automatic bug localization techniques have limited usefulness. One of the reasons is that programmers typically have to understand why the program fails before fixing it. In this work, we aim to help programmers understand a bug by automatically generating likely invariants which are violated in the failed tests. Given a program with an initial assertion and at least one test case failing the assertion, we first generate random test cases, identify potential bug locations through bug localization, and then generate program state mutation based on active learning techniques to identify a predicate 'explaining' …

Private Service Stations Expanding Rapidly In Mexico, Carlos Navarro

SourceMex

No abstract provided.

Wake Up Barren Soil! Improving Enzymatic Function Of Contaminated Soils, Nina M. Goodey

Sustainability Seminar Series

A legacy of industrial use in metropolitan areas has left many soils contaminated with heavy metals and organic compounds. In some impacted soils, contaminants have altered the soils’ properties and ability to function. Soil microorganisms exude enzymes that break down nutrients, helping to nourish microorganisms and plants. Productive soils are often characterized by high enzymatic activities that are needed to convert decaying matter to plant nutrients. In soils where enzymatic function is low or nonexistent, plants may lack nutrients and fail to thrive. This case-study focuses on such a site within Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ, a brownfield …

Persistent Monkey On The Back Of The American Public Education System: A Study Of The Continued Debate Over The Teaching Of Creationism And Evolution, Gabriel Acri

The Catholic Lawyer

No abstract provided.

Noise And Howling Mitigation In Audio/Video Conferencing, Christian Schuldt, Robin Lundberg

Defensive Publications Series

Loudspeaker-to-microphone feedback causes echoes in audio/video conferences. A microphone typically has a background-noise level estimator, which provides noise-level estimates for the purpose of setting parameters within acoustic echo cancelers (AEC), noise reducers, comfort noise generators (CNG), etc. Output from a noisy loudspeaker may be picked up by the microphone, adding to background noise already present at the microphone. Loudspeaker noise, when picked up by the microphone, causes a misestimation of background noise, which in turn leads to incorrect parameter setting. This can lead to divergence of adaptive AEC circuitry, audible echoes, howling, etc.

Geothermal Flux And Phreatic Speleogenesis In Gypsum, Halite, And Quartzite Rocks, Giovanni Badino

International Journal of Speleology

The first layers of rock underground are in thermal contact with the external atmosphere mainly through infiltrating meteoric water. This relatively cool zone absorbs rising geothermal energy, which heats the water. If the aquifer consists of gypsum, halite or quartzite, the water at those depths is usually salt-saturated, so the increase in temperature renders the water aggressive again. This in turn leads to rock dissolution and formation of phreatic conduits. This way, the geothermal flow creates caves that do not necessarily reach the surface. This paper analyzes the speed of the excavation, which, in different types of rocks, depends only …

Universality Of Local Dissipation Scales In Turbulent Boundary Layer Flows With And Without Free-Stream Turbulence, Sabah F. H. Alhamdi, Sean C. C. Bailey

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Measurements of the small-scale dissipation statistics of turbulent boundary layer flows with and without free-stream turbulence are reported for Re_τ ≈ 1000 (Re_θ ≈ 2000). The scaling of the dissipation scale distribution is examined in these two boundary conditions. Results demonstrated that the local large-scale Reynolds number based on the measured longitudinal integral length scale fails to properly normalize the dissipation scale distribution near the wall in these two free-stream conditions due to the imperfect characterization of the upper bound of the inertial cascade by the integral length scale. A surrogate found from turbulent kinetic energy and …

Contemporaneous Imaging Comparisons Of The Spotted Giant Σ Geminorum Using Interferometric, Spectroscopic, And Photometric Data, Rachael M. Roettenbacher, John D. Monnier, Heidi Korhonen, Robert O. Harmon, Fabien Baron, Thomas Hackman, Gregory W. Henry, Gail H. Schaefer, Klaus G. Strassmeier, Michael Weber, Theo A. Ten Brummelaar

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

Nearby active stars with relatively rapid rotation and large starspot structures offer the opportunity to compare interferometric, spectroscopic, and photometric imaging techniques. In this paper, we image a spotted star with three different methods for the first time. The giant primary star of the RS Canum Venaticorum binary σ Geminorum (σ Gem) was imaged for two epochs of interferometric, high-resolution spectroscopic, and photometric observations. The light curves from the reconstructions show good agreement with the observed light curves, supported by the longitudinally consistent spot features on the different maps. However, there is strong disagreement in the spot latitudes across the …

Number Of Predictors And Multicollinearity: What Are Their Effects On Error And Bias In Regression?, Matthew Ryan Lavery, Parul Acharya, Stephen A. Sivo, Lihua Xu

School of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Policy Faculty Publications

The present Monte Carlo simulation study adds to the literature by analyzing parameter bias, rates of Type I and Type II error, and variance inflation factor (VIF) values produced under various multicollinearity conditions by multiple regressions with two, four, and six predictors. Findings indicate multicollinearity is unrelated to Type I error, but increases Type II error. Investigation of bias suggests that multicollinearity increases the variability in parameter bias, while leading to overall underestimation of parameters. Collinearity also increases VIF. In the case of all diagnostics however, increasing the number of predictors interacts with multicollinearity to compound observed problems.

Two Grad Students Earn Excellence In Teaching Awards, Ohio University College Of Arts & Sciences

All Forum Articles

No abstract provided.

The Prospector, November 7, 2017, Utep Student Publications

The Prospector

Headline: Kevin Baker Embarks on a New Journey with Women's Basketball

The Control Of Water Contaminants Assisted By Natural Materials, Wen Zhao

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Natural materials can be used to remove water contaminants by applying proper physical, chemical, and biological water treatment processes. This study involves using natural materials, as they are considered to be more environmentally benign and cost-effective than synthetic materials. This dissertation concentrates on monitoring five major water quality parameters—ammonia, fluoride, turbidity, pH, and fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) —in two major applications where clean water is needed. The focus is on meeting the water quality requirements for each contaminant. The overall objective of this study is to control the levels of ammonia in aquaculture wastewater, and adjust fluoride, turbidity, pH, and …

Executive Meeting - Agenda, 11/7/2017, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Transferable Multiparty Computation, Michael R. Clark, Kenneth M. Hopkinson

AFIT Patents

A method and apparatus are provided for secure multiparty computation. A set of first parties is selected from a plurality of first parties for computation. Inputs for computation associated with each party in the set of first parties are divided into shares to be sent to other parties in the set of first parties. The computation on the shares is performed by the set of first parties using multiparty computation functions. In response to a trigger event, shares of the set of first parties are transferred to a set of second parties selected from a plurality of second parties. The …

Learning Outcomes For Cyber Defense Competitions, Amy B. Woszczynski, Andrew Green

Faculty Articles

Cyber defense competitions (CDCs) simulate a real-world environment where the competitors must protect the information assets of a fictional organization. These competitions are becoming popular at the high school and college levels, as well as in industry and governmental settings. However, there is little research to date on the learning outcomes associated with CDCs or the longterm benefits to the participants as they pursue future educational, employment, or military goals. For this exploratory research project, we surveyed 11 judges and mentors participating in a well-established high school CDC held in the southeastern United States. Then, we developed a set of …

Polarity Sorting Of Axonal Microtubules: A Computational Study, Erin M. Craig, Howard T. Yeung, Anand N. Rao, Peter W. Baas

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of the Sciences

We present a computational model to test a “polarity sorting” mechanism for microtubule (MT) organization in developing axons. We simulate the motor-based axonal transport of short MTs to test the hypothesis that immobilized cytoplasmic dynein motors transport short MTs with their plus ends leading, so “mal-oriented” MTs with minus-end-out are transported toward the cell body while “correctly” oriented MTs are transported in the anterograde direction away from the soma. We find that dynein-based transport of short MTs can explain the predominately plus-end-out polarity pattern of axonal MTs but that transient attachments of plus-end-directed motor proteins and nonmotile cross-linker proteins are …

Exploring The Historical Earthquakes Preceding The Giant 1960 Chile Earthquake In A Time-Dependent Seismogenic Zone, Marco Cisternas, Matias Carvajal, Robert Wesson, Lisa L. Ely, Nicolás Gorigoitia

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of the Sciences

New documentary findings and available paleoseismological evidence provide both new insights into the historical seismic sequence that ended with the giant 1960 south‐central Chile earthquake and relevant information about the region’s seismogenic zone. According to the few available written records, this region was previously struck by earthquakes of varying size in 1575, 1737, and 1837. We expanded the existing compilations of the effects of the two latter using unpublished first‐hand accounts found in archives in Chile, Peru, Spain, and New England. We further investigated their sources by comparing the newly unearthed historical data and available paleoseismological evidence with the effects …

Thermotropic Liquid-Crystalline Properties Of Extended Viologen Bis(Triflimide) Salts, Pradip K. Bhowmik, Shane T. Killarney, Jessa Rose A. Li, Jung Jae Koh, Haesook Han, Lewis Sharpnack, Deña M. Agra-Kooijman, Michael R. Fisch, Satyendra Kumar

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Research

A series of extended, symmetric viologen triflimides were synthesised by the metathesis reaction of lithium triflimide with the respective viologen tosyalates in methanol. Their chemical structures were characterised by Fourier Transform Infrared, 1H and 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Their thermotropic liquid-crystalline (LC) properties were examined by a number of experimental techniques including differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, polarising optical microscopy and variable temperature X-ray diffraction. The viologen salts containing alkyl chain of two carbon and three carbon atoms were relatively low melting salts. Those of alkyl chains of four carbon and five carbon atoms formed ionic …

Effects Of Global Warming On Work-Rest Routines For Crop Workers In Appalachia, Ken Silver, Ying Li, Emmanuel Odame, Yuqiang Zhang

ETSU Faculty Works

Background: Workers in outdoor occupations are expected to be at high risk of increased morbidity and mortality, and diminished productivity, as a result of global warming in the 21st century. A previous modelling study of geographic variations in heat-related mortality risk in projected U.S. populations mid-century showed the states of Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina to be highly vulnerable. Methods: Under both the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 emissions scenarios of IPCC AR5, we evaluate the effect of future warming on estimated Wet Bulb Globe Thermometer (WBGT) temperatures using model-simulated future climate variables that were dynamically downscaled by a regional meteorology model …

Episodic Work-Family Conflict And Strain: A Dynamic Perspective, Kimberly A. French

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Given rising work and family demands in our society for both men and women, the experience of work-family conflict is commonplace. Work-family conflict occurs when the demands of work or family make it difficult to meet the demands of the alternate domain. A sizeable body of research has established work-family conflict and its nomological network. Despite decades of research, we have yet to form a precise understanding of when work-family conflicts occur and what happens when a conflict arises. The current research addresses these questions using an experience sampling, episodic approach. Two primary research questions are addressed. First, I used …

Rehabilitating Asymmetric Gait Using Asymmetry, Tyagi Ramakrishnan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Human gait is a complex process that involves the coordination of the central nervous and muscular systems. A disruption to the either system results in the impairment of a person’s ability to walk. Impairments can be caused by neurological disorders such as stroke and physical conditions like amputation. There is not a standardized method to quantitatively assess the gait asymmetry of affected subjects. The purpose of this research is to understand the fundamental aspects of asymmetrical effects on the human body and improve rehabilitation techniques and devices. This research takes an interdisciplinary approach to address the limitations with current rehabilitation …

The Ecology Of Antibiotic Resistance: Sources And Persistence Of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci And Antibiotic Resistant Genes In Aquatic Environments, Suzanne M. Young

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The growing crisis of antibiotic resistance is a major threat to ecosystems and human health. Infections caused by known and emerging antibiotic resistant pathogens are on the rise globally, with approximately 700,000 deaths per year caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria (1). In the United States, infections from antibiotic resistant bacteria cause more than 2 million illnesses and 23,000 deaths (2). Antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes are released into aquatic ecosystems through hospital waste, residential sewer lines and animal agricultural waste streams. Animal agriculture accounts for approximately 70% of antibiotic use in the United States (3). In agricultural ecosystems, …

Comprehensive Evaluation Of Rutting Performance Of Asphalt Concrete Mixtures, Ivan Syed

Civil Engineering ETDs

Rutting is the permanent deformation along the wheel paths of an asphalt pavement caused by repeated traffic loading. It is considered as one of the primary distresses of asphalt pavements. Recently, Hamburg Wheel Tracking Device (HWTD) has shown to measure the rutting performance of an asphalt mixture in the laboratory. In this study, this device has been used to measure rutting of asphalt concrete (AC) and relate them with the mixture’s dynamic modulus. To this end, the rut deformation of AC mixtures were modeled in this study using a semi-empirical |E*|-based rut predictive model based on the HWTD …

Dynamic Self-Assembly And Self-Organized Transport Of Magnetic Micro-Swimmers, Gašper Kokot, German Kolmakov V, Igor S. Aranson, Alexey Snezhko

Publications and Research

We demonstrate experimentally and in computer simulations that magnetic microfloaters can self-organize into various functional structures while energized by an external alternating (ac) magnetic field. The structures exhibit self-propelled motion and an ability to carry a cargo along a pre-defined path. The morphology of the self-assembled swimmers is controlled by the frequency and amplitude of the magnetic field.