Digital Commons Network^™

Transcriptome-Wide Prevalence Of Selection Among Wild Populations Of Helianthus Annuus (Common Sunflower), Michael Emmett Kartje

Theses and Dissertations

In the present study, I used transcriptomic data to elucidate the role of selection in maintaining genetic cohesion and promoting divergence among wild populations of the annual sunflower Helianthus annuus. I observed that nearly half of the loci displaying high levels of population structure (44%) show allele frequency spectrum skew consistent with recent exposure to natural selection. Among transcriptomic regions at which allele frequency divergence is lowest, fewer loci maintain strong signals of selection (34%). Additionally, I find evidence supporting the maintenance of evolutionarily complex haplotype structure within populations at loci showing high levels of among-population allele frequency divergence.

Management Practices For Corn Producers Implementing Early Planting As A Production Strategy, Matthew W. Hock

Theses and Dissertations

Producers choosing to implement an early corn planting management strategy often experience several yield limiting biotic and abiotic factors. Field variability, flooding, sub-optimal soil temperatures which leads to poor nutrient uptake, delayed emergence and reduced root growth can limit grain production. Three separate experiments were conducted to address some of the negative effects associated with early corn planting. Experiment 1 evaluated flooding effects on several morpho-physiological traits including root system architecture during early crop development. Hybrids (DKC 6208, Pioneer 1197) were flooded at planting (V0) and growth stages V1, V2, V3 for 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96 hours. Plants …

Genome Maintenance By Selenoprotein H In The Nucleolus, Li Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Selenoprotein H (SELENOH) is a nucleolar oxidoreductase with DNA binding properties whose function is not well understood. To determine the functional and physiological roles of SELENOH, a knockout of SELENOH was generated in cell lines using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genomic deletion and in mice by targeted disruption. Based on the sequenced genome, the results of deduced protein sequences indicated various forms of mutants in the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout, including a frame-shift by aberrant splicing and truncated SELENOH by early termination of the translation process. Loss of SELENOH in HeLa cells induced slow cell proliferation, the formation of giant multinucleated cells, accumulation of unrepaired …

An Analysis Of The Perceptions Of Quality Professional Development And Its Relationship To Teacher Turnover, Job Satisfaction, And School Performance, Cammesha Rana Sims

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between educators' perceptions of the quality of Professional Development to which they have been exposed and the three outcomes related to school productivity, specifically teacher retention, job satisfaction, and student proficiency in basic skills. For that purpose, secondary data extracted from the 2013 administration of the Teaching, Empowering, Leading, and Learning Questionairre (TELL) were merged with pertinent school demographic information archived on the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) website.The results of the Hierarchial Multiple Regression indicated that the teacher- perceived quality of Professional Development appeared to make a substantial contribution …

Global Operation Of Integrated Decentralized Power Systems, Mojtaba Khanabadi Ghehi

Theses and Dissertations

Nowadays, power systems are interconnected together to provide a reliable and secure source of the energy to the consumers and operate in lower operating cost than if they being run separately. As the most important reason for interconnecting power systems is to improve the economic aspects in operation of the entire system, this interconnection between power systems would provide the following economic advantages: 1) lower overall congestion costs for consumers; 2) more consistent prices across the areas; and 3) lower operating cost due to presence of broader pool of mutual benefits shared between systems. In addition, in the event of …

Impacts Of Immigration Policy Changes On Employment Of Foreign Born Doctorate Recipients, Jun Cheng

Theses and Dissertations

The H-1B visa program was initiated in 1990 to temporarily hire highly-skilled foreign workers. The H-1B visa program has changed several times since its initiation. One of the most important changes occurred in 2001 when the 21st Century Act exempted individuals employed by institutions of higher education and nonprofit and government research organizations from the H-1B visa cap increasing the number of visas available for foreign high-skilled immigrants. To analyze the impact of policy changes affecting the H-1B program on highly-skilled workers, we study the behavior of foreign-born Ph.D. students who graduated from institutions in the United States over the …

Control Of Görtler Vortices In High-Speed Boundary Layers, Radwa Alaziz

Theses and Dissertations

Görtler vortices develop in boundary layer flows over concave surfaces due to the imbalance between centrifugal forces and the wall-normal pressure gradient. These vortices can be efficient precursors to transition in boundary layers exposed to free-stream disturbance or surface non-uniformities, because they can alter the mean flow causing the laminar flow to breakdown into turbulence. In this thesis, a control technique aimed at reducing the energy associated with Görtler vortices that develop in supersonic boundary layers is introduced and tested. The control algorithm is based on distributed blowing and suction, with sensors placed either in the flow or at the …

Validation Of The Two-Parameter Fracture Criterion Using Critical Ctoa On 7075-T6 Aluminum Alloy, Hasnaa Ouidadi

Theses and Dissertations

A two-parameter fracture criterion (TPFC) is used to correlate and predict failure loads on cracked configurations made of ductile materials. The current study was conducted to validate the use of the fracture criterion on more brittle materials, using elastic-plastic finite-element analyses with the critical crack-tip-opening angle (CTOA) failure criterion. Forman generated fracture data on middle-crack tension, M(T), specimens made of thin-sheet 7075-T6 aluminum alloy, which is a quasi-brittle material. The fracture data included a wide range of specimen widths (2w) ranging from 3 to 24 inches. A two-dimensional (2D) finite-element analysis code (ZIP2D) with a ''plane-strain core" option was used …

Session 4 Discussion Notes, Ocean Waves Workshop 2017

Ocean Waves Workshop

No abstract provided.

Wave Energy Converter Effects On The Nearshore Environment, Grace Chang, Craig Jones, Jason Magalen, Jesse Roberts

Ocean Waves Workshop

This poster presents efforts to use predictive modeling tools to evaluate the impacts of Wave Energy Converter (WEC) arrays on nearshore processes, investigate effects of different WEC devices on wave propagation, examine wave propagation in the lee of a WEC array over different wave conditions, and accelerate the realization of commercial-scale wave power.

Overview Of Open Source Codes To Assess Environmental Effects On Ocean Wave Farms, Chris Chartrand, Kelley Ruehl, Jesse Roberts, Sam Mcwilliams, Kaus Raghukumar, Aaron Porter, Cameron Mcnatt

Ocean Waves Workshop

The development of SNL-SWAN by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) allows users to investigate the interaction between a WEC or WEC array and the wave environment. SNL-SWAN when coupled with a hydrodynamic and sediment transport model such as Delft3D, developed by Deltares Inc, allows for the direct investigation of WEC array effects on the physical environment (e.g. waves, currents, seabed) and the associated site ecology. Ongoing development of these tools has shown how the coupling of SNL-SWAN with Delft3D-Flow can quantify the interaction between device(s) and the hydrodynamic environment at a real-world site.

Wave-Measuring Performance Characteristics Of Spoondrift Spotter, K. Raghukumar, G. Chang, F. Spada, C. Jones, W. Gans, T. Janssen

Ocean Waves Workshop

Spoondrift Spotter represents a state-of-the-art wave measurement buoy developed by Spoondrift (www.spoondrift.co) and supported by funding from the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). A low-cost buoy platform like Spotter enables a range of new applications. For instance, coherent arrays of Spotters can support adaptive tuning of marine and hydrokinetic energy devices. In general, the availability of high-fidelity wave measurements can help support wave assessments for a variety of commercial, military, operational, academic, and recreational users.

Session 4 Presentation - Improved Coastal And Nearshore Wave Forecasting, Jeffrey Hanson, Robert Fratantonio

Ocean Waves Workshop

Accurate nearshore and coastal wave forecasts are essential for the protection of life and property as well as enhancing the economy through safe and efficient commercial activities. Modeling the nearshore environment has remained both computationally intensive and challenging due to the strong interaction of waves with the ocean bottom in shallow water environments. Here we develop a new wave system approach for nearshore wave modeling that addresses these issues. Wave systems result from specific wind forcing events on the ocean surface. This approach extends earlier work on wave system partitioning and tracking to assimilate coastal buoy observations into model output …

Session 3 Discussion Notes, Ocean Waves Workshop 2017

Ocean Waves Workshop

No abstract provided.

Real-Time Wave Assimilation Using Low-Cost Sensor Arrays (Extended Abstract), Pieter Smit, Tim Janssen, Cameron Dunning, Wheeler Grans

Ocean Waves Workshop

In this paper we present the underlying theory and principal results from a new real-time data-assimilation system in which we integrate a dense network of Spotters. The sensor network was deployed as part of the ONR Innershelf DRI experiment during the period from September 2017 till November 2017. The array consists of 18 Spotters, deployed seaward of Point Sal (California) along the 20-, 50- and 100-meter depth contours (Fig. 1). Each of these buoys provides estimates of the complete frequency-directional spectrum every hour. The wave spectra and directional moments are assimilated in real-time using an efficient backward raytracing algorithm to …

Making Sense With Manipulatives: Developing Mathematical Experiences For Early Childhood Teachers, Cara E. Furman

Education and Culture

This paper is premised on the fact that math can be an important tool in helping people make sense of the world. Math offers a unique and particular lens, helping people to focus on a range of characteristics from shape and amount to the relationship between the general and the particular. To promote math as a tool for making sense, early childhood math instruction ought to teach it in a manner that helps children make sense of mathematical concepts.

Specifically, I argue here that manipulatives are often brought into the early childhood classroom to promote “hands-on” learning without facilitating making …

The Continuing Challenge Of Progressive Thought: Lessons From A College In Prison, Ellen Condliffe Lagemann

Education and Culture

No abstract provided.

Editor’S Note, David Granger

Education and Culture

No abstract provided.

Session 3 Presentation - An Overview Of Recent Wave Glider® Field Program, Pat Fitzpatrick, Yee Lau, Robert Moorhead, Adam Skarke, Daniel Merritt, Keith Kreider, Chris Brown, Ryan Carlon, Graham Hine, Teri Lampoudi, Alan Leonardi

Ocean Waves Workshop

Developed by Liquid Robotics, Inc., Wave Gliders® (WGs) use wave energy for propulsion through the synergistic alternating thrust of wave action on the floating vehicle and mechanical wings 6 m below the vehicle. WGs provide dynamic environmental monitoring in the maritime environment with weeks-tomonths-long deployments using solar panels to power sensors, and satellite and cell communication channels for data delivery. Some data is transmitted real-time or in bulk at more infrequent intervals, while other data is archived on-board for extraction after a mission.

Example field programs include: wave, ocean, and PBL measurements in tropical cyclones; algae bloom monitoring; satellite ground …

Session 2 Discussion Notes, Ocean Waves Workshop 2017

Ocean Waves Workshop

No abstract provided.

Overview Of Open Source Codes To Assess Environmental Effects Of Ocean Wave Farms (Extended Abstract), Chris Chartrand, Kelley Ruehl, Jesse Roberts, Aaron Porter, Cameron Mcnatt

Ocean Waves Workshop

The United States has a theoretical ocean wave energy resource potential of 1,594–2,640 TWh/year, enough to power between 143.5 and 237.6 million homes/year and contribute substantially to the United States’ energy portfolio [1]. However, wave energy converters (WECs) are currently in the early stages of research and development at low technology readiness levels. Open ocean deployment data is from demonstration-scale projects, not from utility-scale deployments. As a result, researchers, developers, and regulators rely heavily on numerical models to understand the environmental effects of wave farms.

Preliminary numerical studies have demonstrated that small-scale deployments of ~10 WECs or less have little …

Session 2 Presentation - A New Generation Of Spectral Wave Models, Don Resio, Dorukan Ardag, C. Reid Nichols

Ocean Waves Workshop

Over the last decade, considerable effort has been spent on the evaluation of operational wave models such as the WAM, WAVEWATCH III, and SWAN thirdgeneration (3G) model. Most recent effort has focused on a “wholistic” approach to model evaluation, rather than on related comparisons directly to physics-based processes. In such an approach, model coefficients are tuned to maximize the global fit to integrated wave parameters such as wave height, mean/peak period, mean direction and directional spreading [1]. However, these coefficients do not ensure a universal “best-fit” to observation. Also, comparisons to spectra are omitted from the model evaluations since they …

Machine Learning For Hardware Simulation, N/A

Defensive Publications Series

Generally, the present disclosure is directed to improving hardware simulation through machine learning. In particular, in some implementations, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can include or otherwise leverage one or more machine-learned models to predict hardware test results based on data extracted from hardware.

Contextual Advertising Based On Content Recognition In A Video, Jason Mayes

Defensive Publications Series

Generally, the present disclosure is directed to providing relevant advertisements based on the visual content of a video. In particular, in some implementations, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can include or otherwise leverage one or more machine-learned models to determine a relevant advertisement and/or a relevant time for the relevant advertisement based on image data taken from a video.

Identifying And Categorizing Utility Power Anomalies, N/A

Defensive Publications Series

Generally, the present disclosure is directed to predicting utility power anomalies such as, for example, outage events. In particular, in some implementations, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can include or otherwise leverage one or more machine-learned models to predict utility power anomalies based on historical and/or current utility power data.

Recognizing Semantic Formatting Information In A Document, N/A

Defensive Publications Series

Generally, the present disclosure is directed to recognizing semantic intent from formatting information. In particular, in some implementations, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can include or otherwise leverage one or more machine-learned models to predict the intent of an author for a section (e.g., a word, sentence, line, column and/or paragraph) of a document based on the formatting information of that section of the document.

Suggesting Deletion Of Blurry Photos, Charles Lai, Nicolas Miranda

Defensive Publications Series

Generally, the present disclosure is directed to identifying and suggesting deletion of blurry photos. In particular, in some implementations, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can include or otherwise leverage one or more machine-learned models to predict a blurriness characteristic of an image based on image data. For example, the blurriness characteristic can describe a percentage of the image that is blurry.

Learning Better Font Slicing Strategies From Data, Quan Wang, Yiran Mao

Defensive Publications Series

Generally, the present disclosure is directed to serving font files in topical subsets. In particular, in some implementations, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can include or otherwise leverage one or more machine-learned models to predict topic labels of characters in a font based on a corpus of characters or glyphs.

Session 1 Discussion Notes, Ocean Waves Workshop 2017

Ocean Waves Workshop

No abstract provided.

Using Imagery Of Vegetation And Rooftops To Predict Solar Roof Candidacy, Charles Armstrong

Defensive Publications Series

Generally, the present disclosure is directed to predicting whether a property can be conducive to solar energy system installation with minimal adjustment to peripheral vegetation. In particular, in some implementations, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can include or otherwise leverage one or more machine-learned models to predict whether a property can be conducive to solar energy installation with minimal adjustment to peripheral vegetation based on imagery and/or publicly available or user-submitted information about the property or area surrounding the property.