Digital Commons Network^™

Thermal Energy Refurbishment Status Of The Irish Housing Stock, Ciara Ahern, Brian Norton

Articles

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are issued for buildings constructed, sold or leased across the EU. Using a generalizable methodology this work exploits Ireland's EPC national dwelling stock database to determine the thermal refurbishment status of Ireland's housing stock. It is estimated in 2014 that; i) 58% of walls were insulated at a mean overall heat loss coefficient or U-value of 0.66 W/m²K, ii) 67% of roofs were insulated at a mean U-value 0.37 W/m²K, iii) 97% of windows were double-glazed, and iv) 53% of floors were insulated to a mean U-value of 0.59 W/m²K. …

Extraction And Visualization Of Orientation Data From Virtual Geologic Surfaces With Matlab®, Avery J. Welker, John Patrick Hogan, Andreas Eckert

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

High-resolution visualization of surfaces of geologic interest, at a multitude of scales, using 3D point cloud technologies provides an opportunity to analyze spatial relationships of surfaces using orientation data. We present a MATLAB® script that produces planar geologic attitude data (e.g., strike, dip, and dip-direction data) from 3D datasets (e.g., point clouds, 3D scanning). The method utilizes Cartesian coordinates of triangular planar surfaces and converts them into matrices of conventional geologic attitude data. Spatial relationships among data points can be investigated, using polar tangent diagrams, stereographic analysis, or geologic curvature analysis. We utilize this script to create "synthetic" graphical plots …

2019 November - Tennessee Monthly Climate Report, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Monthly Reports

No abstract provided.

Angular Memory Effect Of Transmission Eigenchannels, Hasan Yllmaz, Chia Wei Hsu, Arthur Goetschy, Stefan Bittner, Stefan Rotter, Alexey Yamilov, Hui Cao

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

The optical memory effect has emerged as a powerful tool for imaging through multiple-scattering media; however, the finite angular range of the memory effect limits the field of view. Here, we demonstrate experimentally that selective coupling of incident light into a high-transmission channel increases the angular memory-effect range. This enhancement is attributed to the robustness of the high-transmission channels against perturbations such as sample tilt or wave front tilt. Our work shows that the high-transmission channels provide an enhanced field of view for memory-effect-based imaging through diffusive media.

Tests Of General Relativity With The Binary Black Hole Signals From The Ligo-Virgo Catalog Gwtc-1, B. P. Abbott, R. Abbott, T. D. Abbott, Marco Cavaglia, For Full List Of Authors, See Publisher's Website.

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

The detection of gravitational waves by Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo provides an opportunity to test general relativity in a regime that is inaccessible to traditional astronomical observations and laboratory tests. We present four tests of the consistency of the data with binary black hole gravitational waveforms predicted by general relativity. One test subtracts the best-fit waveform from the data and checks the consistency of the residual with detector noise. The second test checks the consistency of the low- and high-frequency parts of the observed signals. The third test checks that phenomenological deviations introduced in the waveform model (including in …

A Multi-Step Approach To Modeling The 24-Hour Daily Profiles Of Electricity Load Using Daily Splines, Abdelmonaem Jornaz, V. A. Samaranayake

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Forecasting of real-time electricity load has been an important research topic over many years. Electricity load is driven by many factors, including economic conditions and weather. Furthermore, the demand for electricity varies with time, with different hours of the day and different days of the week having an effect on the load. This paper proposes a hybrid load-forecasting method that combines classical time series formulations with cubic splines to model electricity load. It is shown that this approach produces a model capable of making short-term forecasts with reasonable accuracy. In contrast to forecasting models that utilize a multitude of regressor …

Holocene And Last Interglacial Climate Of The Faroe Islands From Sedimentary Plant Wax Hydrogen And Carbon Isotopes, Lorelei Curtin, William J. D'Andrea, Nicholas Balascio, Genevieve Pugsley, Gregory De Wet, Raymond Bradley

Geosciences: Faculty Publications

The Last Interglacial period (LIG) is Earth's most recent globally warm period and is analogous in some ways to projected future global warming. However, questions remain regarding the state of the climate during the LIG in the North Atlantic, a region that is extremely sensitive to changes in oceanic and atmospheric circulation. Here, we present hydrogen and carbon isotope (δD and δ13C) records from a suite of plant wax biomarkers preserved in Holocene and LIG lacustrine sediments from the North Atlantic Faroe Islands and interpret them as qualitative proxies for temperature and hydroclimate variability. These data are used to directly …

Consolidated Climate Markets Mechanism Analysis—Case Studies Of China, Japan, And Taiwan, Jules Chuang, Hsing-Lung Lien, Akemi Kokubo Roche, Pei-Hsuan Liao, Walter Den

Water Resources Science and Technology Faculty Publications (Archived)

The post-Kyoto Protocol era has seen a transition to focus on the development of a renewable energy (RE) market as a primary instrument to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. This paper analyses the development of GHG reduction and RE market in China, Japan, and Taiwan that are geographically proximate but socioeconomically diverse, and each plays a different but significant role in the world’s economy. By deploying a consolidated model incorporating the key components of market drivers underlying the goal of achieving GHG reduction, we threaded through the policy- and market-instruments implemented for each of the case studies over the …

Effects Of Cross-Age Tutors With Ebd For Kindergarteners At Risk Of Mathematics Difficulties, Gavin W. Watts, Diane Pedrotty Bryant, Garrett J. Roberts

Special Education Faculty Publications (Archived)

Challenges with numerical proficiency at an early age can lead to substantial gaps in learning and are associated with detrimental long-term outcomes. In addition, students with emotional–behavioral disorders (EBD) can have some of the most challenging behavioral and academic needs to address. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects and collateral outcomes of utilizing cross-age tutors (i.e., older students) with/at risk of EBD to deliver a number line board game intervention to kindergarten students at risk of mathematics disabilities. A multiple baseline design across participants was utilized to evaluate the following research questions: (a) What are the …

Review Of Great Plains Birds, By Larkin Powell, William E. Jensen

The Prairie Naturalist

Biologists who live in the Great Plains of North America know well the general aspersion cast toward our regional home by those unfamiliar with the region and its natural treasures. Larkin Powell alludes to this all-too-common aspersion and diplomatically dispels it in his ornithological showcase of the Great Plains, simply titled Great Plains Birds. The book is a nice, quick read and a well-composed profile of the region’s avian biogeographical history, its disruptions, conservation remedies, examples of basic bird biology, and tips on how to enjoy the bird life on display in this dynamic region. Having been an ornithologist …

Crustal Architecture Of The Northwestern And Central Gulf Of Mexico From Integrated Geophysical Analysis, Irina Filina

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

The tectonic history of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is a subject for ongoing debate. The nature of the crust in the northwestern and central parts of the basin remains poorly understood. Joined interpretation of two 2D seismic cross sections—GUMBO1 and GUMBO2—with potential fields (gravity and magnetics) constrained with available well data allows testing various hypotheses about the subsurface structures and crustal architecture in the study area. In the northwestern GOM, two contradicting hypotheses about the nature of the crust were tested—exhumed mantle versus a thinned and intruded continental crust resulted from magma-rich rifting. The nature of the crust was …

Student Learning Objectives: What Instructors Emphasize In Short-Term Study Abroad, Elizabeth Niehaus, Taylor C. Woodman, Angela Bryan, Ashley Light, Erika Hill

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

Given that higher education institutions are increasingly utilizing short-term study abroad courses as a means to develop students’ intercultural competency, it is important to determine if and how the instructors leading these programs are incorporating intercultural learning into their courses. By examining learning objectives embedded within syllabi from short-term study abroad courses, the purpose of this study was to identify the relative extent to which instructors emphasize disciplinary and intercultural learning in teaching short-term study abroad courses, and to examine the types of intercultural learning that instructors are explicitly including in their courses. Findings point to a wide diversity of …

Building A 21st Century Multi-User Commercial Spaceport: Development And Application Of The Spaceport Readiness Level Scale, Ryan Babb

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Commercial spaceports have arisen over the last decade and a half to support a growing commercial space marketplace. The introduction of expected suborbital launch capabilities for tourism and for orbital launch operations at an increased cadence has demonstrated a need for more capability at the spaceport level to support airport-like operational fluidity. Despite these advancements, a measure has yet to be developed to demonstrate a spaceport’s support capabilities in a straightforward and rapid manner.

Based on this need, the Technology Reading Level scale, utilized in many industries as a means for procurement and technological development measurement, has been used as …

Design And Performance Of A Communications System For A Low-Cost High Altitude Balloon Platform For Troposphere And Stratosphere Research, Noemí Miguélez Gómez

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

AFOSR Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI), "Integrated Measurement and Modeling Characterization of Stratospheric Turbulence", is a 5-year effort to resolve significant operational issues concerning hypersonic vehicle aerothermodynamics, boundary layer stability, and aero-optical propagation. In situ turbulence measurements along with modeling will quantify spatiotemporal statistics and the dependence of stratospheric turbulence on underlying meteorology to a degree not previously possible. Data from high altitude balloons sampling up to kHz is required to characterize turbulence to the inner-scale, or smaller, over paltitudes from 20 km to 35+ km.

This thesis presents the development of a standard balloon bus, based on reliable COTS …

Large Deformable Soft Actuators Using Dielectric Elastomer And Origami Inspired Structures, Jangho Park

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

There have been significant developments in the field of robotics. Significant development consists of new configurations, control mechanisms, and actuators based upon its applications. Despite significant improvements in modern robotics, the biologically inspired robots has taken the center stage. Inspired by nature, biologically inspired robots are called ‘soft robots’. Within these robots lies a secret ingredient: the actuator. Soft robotic development has been driven by the idea of developing actuators that are like human muscle and are known as ‘artificial muscle’. Among different materials suitable for the development of artificial muscle, the dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) is capable of large …

Characterization And Longitudinal Assessment Of Daily Quality Assurance For An Mr-Guided Radiotherapy (Mrgrt) Linac, Kathryn Mittauer

All Publications

No abstract provided.

Contribution Of Contact Line Heat Transfer In An Evaporating Meniscus And Characteristics Of Microlayer In Contact Line Region Of An Oscillating Meniscus, Ishan Dabri

Theses

In nucleate pool boiling, a thin film is formed under the nucleating bubble in the region where the solid, liquid and vapor phases meet. This is called the three-phase contact line region. High rates of heat transfer have been observed in this region. Researchers have developed a pool boiling apparatus with laser interferometry and artificial nucleation sites to observe the changes in thickness, frequency, velocity and the dynamic contact angle of the microlayer. Similarly, multiple meniscus studies have been conducted to observe the characteristics of microlayer in pool boiling and various other applications such as ink jet printing, miniature heat …

Word Importance Modeling To Enhance Captions Generated By Automatic Speech Recognition For Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Users, Sushant Kafle

Theses

People who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH) benefit from sign-language interpreting or live-captioning (with a human transcriptionist), to access spoken information. However, such services are not legally required, affordable, nor available in many settings, e.g., impromptu small-group meetings in the workplace or online video content that has not been professionally captioned. As Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems improve in accuracy and speed, it is natural to investigate the use of these systems to assist DHH users in a variety of tasks. But, ASR systems are still not perfect, especially in realistic conversational settings, leading to the issue of trust and …

Computational Methods For Segmentation Of Multi-Modal Multi-Dimensional Cardiac Images, Shusil Dangi

Theses

Segmentation of the heart structures helps compute the cardiac contractile function quantified via the systolic and diastolic volumes, ejection fraction, and myocardial mass, representing a reliable diagnostic value. Similarly, quantification of the myocardial mechanics throughout the cardiac cycle, analysis of the activation patterns in the heart via electrocardiography (ECG) signals, serve as good cardiac diagnosis indicators. Furthermore, high quality anatomical models of the heart can be used in planning and guidance of minimally invasive interventions under the assistance of image guidance.

The most crucial step for the above mentioned applications is to segment the ventricles and myocardium from the acquired …

Integrating Geochronologic And Instrumental Approaches Across The Bengal Basin, Elizabeth L. Chamberlain, Steven L. Goodbred, Richard Hale, Michael S. Steckler, Jakob Willinga, Carol Wilson

OES Faculty Publications

Constraining time is of critical importance to evaluating the rates and relative contributions of processes driving landscape change in sedimentary basins. The geomorphic character of the field setting guides the application of geochronologic or instrumental tools to this problem, because the viability of methods can be highly influenced by geomorphic attributes. For example, sediment yield and the linked potential for organic preservation may govern the usefulness of radiocarbon dating. Similarly, the rate of sediment transport from source to sink may determine the maturity and/or light exposure of mineral grains arriving in the delta and thus the feasibility of luminescence dating. …

A Hidden Technological Assumption In Patent Law: The Case Of Gene Patents And The Disclosure Requirement, Or Cohen Sasson

Articles

The disclosure requirement in patent law is designed to reveal knowledge regarding a patented invention to allow proper understanding and utilization of that invention. The contention offered here is the presence of an inherent incompatibility between the disclosure requirement and genetic inventions. Genetic inventions are highly contingent on genetic statistical data (GSD), which is gathered during the commercial phase of a genetic invention. GSD are essential for various purposes, which at least some should be satisfied by the disclosure. However, since GSD can be gathered only at the postapplication period, GSD are not disclosed through the disclosure requirement. Therefore, there …

A Transcendental Phenomenology Of General Education Teachers' Experiences Instructing Twice-Exceptional High School Students, Jill Denise Collet

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study examined the experiences of 10 teachers of twice exceptional students at two high schools in northeast Ohio. The central research question was: What are the shared experiences of general education high school teachers instructing twice-exceptional students in northeast Ohio? Sub-questions explored how participants described their experiences in meeting the educational needs of twice-exceptional learners, how teachers described their self-efficacy in regard to teaching twice-exceptional students, and obstacles they found while teaching these students. Moustakas’ (1994) transcendental model to find the essence of the phenomenon was utilized to collect data through interviewing participants, conducting online focus groups, …

What Do You Mean? Research In The Age Of Machines, Arthur J. Boston

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

What Do You Mean?” was an undeniable bop of its era in which Justin Bieber explores the ambiguities of romantic communication. (I pinky promise this will soon make sense for scholarly communication librarians interested in artificial intelligence [AI].) When the single hit airwaves in 2015, there was a meta-debate over what Bieber meant to add to public discourse with lyrics like “What do you mean? Oh, oh, when you nod your head yes, but you wanna say no.” It is unlikely Bieber had consent culture in mind, but the failure of his songwriting team to take into account that some …

Maternal Fluoxetine Exposure Alters Cortical Hemodynamic And Calcium Response Of Offspring To Somatosensory Stimuli, Rachel M Rahn, Susan E Maloney, Lindsey M Brier, Joseph D Dougherty, Joseph P Culver

Open Access Publications

Epidemiological studies have found an increased incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders in populations prenatally exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Optical imaging provides a minimally invasive way to determine if perinatal SSRI exposure has long-term effects on cortical function. Herein we probed the functional neuroimaging effects of perinatal SSRI exposure in a fluoxetine (FLX)-exposed mouse model. While resting-state homotopic contralateral functional connectivity was unperturbed, the evoked cortical response to forepaw stimulation was altered in FLX mice. The stimulated cortex showed decreased activity for FLX versus controls, by both hemodynamic responses [oxyhemoglobin (HbO

Biorthogonal-Wavelet-Based Method For Numerical Solution Of Volterra Integral Equations, Mutaz Mohammad

All Works

© 2019 by the authors. Framelets theory has been well studied in many applications in image processing, data recovery and computational analysis due to the key properties of framelets such as sparse representation and accuracy in coefficients recovery in the area of numerical and computational theory. This work is devoted to shedding some light on the benefits of using such framelets in the area of numerical computations of integral equations. We introduce a new numerical method for solving Volterra integral equations. It is based on pseudo-spline quasi-affine tight framelet systems generated via the oblique extension principles. The resulting system is …

The Fock Space As A De Branges–Rovnyak Space, Daniel Alpay, Fabrizio Colombo, Irene Sabadini

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We show that de Branges–Rovnyak spaces include as special cases a number of spaces, such as the Hardy space, the Fock space, the Hardy–Sobolev space and the Dirichlet space. We present a general framework in which all these spaces can be obtained by specializing a sequence that appears in the construction. We show how to exploit this approach to solve interpolation problems in the Fock space.

Reading, Reforms, And Resources: How Elementary Teachers Teach Literacy In Contexts Of Complex Policies And Required Curriculum, Chad H. Waldron Ph.D.

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

Required curricula and mandates from educational policy have shaped the landscape of elementary school literacy instruction in the United States. This multiple case study investigated the contextual factors and local curricular decision-making of experienced elementary literacy teachers in one large U.S. public school district. The study’s guiding research question was: How do experienced elementary teachers teach literacy within the contexts of required literacy curriculum and complex educational policies? Influenced by theories of local agency and decision-making, this study explored teachers’ thought and action in context through a series of in-depth case-level studies of six teachers within one metropolitan school district …

On The Equality Case Of The Ramanujan Conjecture For Hilbert Modular Forms, Liubomir Chiriac

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

The generalized Ramanujan Conjecture for cuspidal unitary automorphic representations π on GL(2) asserts that |av(π)| ≤ 2. We prove that this inequality is strict if π is generated by a CM Hilbert modular form of parallel weight two and v is a finite place of degree one. Equivalently, the Satake parameters of πv are necessarily distinct. We also give examples where the equality case does occur for primes of degree two.

Improving Structure Evaluation Through Automatic Hierarchy Expansion, Brian Mcfee, Katherine M. Kinnaird

Computer Science: Faculty Publications

Structural segmentation is the task of partitioning a recording into non-overlapping time intervals, and labeling each segment with an identifying marker such as A, B, or verse. Hierarchical structure annotation expands this idea to allow an annotator to segment a song with multiple levels of granularity. While there has been recent progress in developing evaluation criteria for comparing two hierarchical annotations of the same recording, the existing methods have known deficiencies when dealing with inexact label matchings and sequential label repetition. In this article, we investigate methods for automatically enhancing structural annotations by inferring (and expanding) hierarchical information from the …

The Stability Analysis For Wind Turbines With Doubly Fed Induction Generators, Baohua Dong

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The quickly increasing, widespread use of wind generation around the world reduces carbon emissions, decreases the effects of global warming, and lowers dependence on fossil fuels. However, the growing penetration of wind power requires more effort to maintain power systems stability.

This dissertation focuses on developing a novel algorithm which dynamically optimizes the proportional-integral (PI) controllers of a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) driven by a wind turbine to increase the transient performance based on small signal stability analysis.

Firstly, the impact of wind generation is introduced. The stability of power systems with wind generation is described, including the different …