Digital Commons Network^™

Determinants Of Residents’ Shadow Evacuation Intention During A Hurricane In The Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Manpreet Jaiswal

Dissertations

Studies on hurricane evacuation behaviour focus primarily on why individuals do not evacuate when they are instructed to, while few examine the reasons why individuals choose to evacuate under conditions that would not require them to, termed shadow evacuation. Such behaviour might delay the timely evacuation of more at-risk coastal residents. To better understand the reasons for shadow evacuation, this study analyzes data from a household evacuation behavioural survey administered between 2012-2013 to 479 households in Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy Counties, Texas, known as the Rio Grande Valley. This area features a number of Colonia neighborhoods with high rates …

The Prc’S Changing Strategic Priorities In Latin America: From Soft Power To Sharp Power Competition, Douglas Farah, Marianne Richardson

INSS Strategic Perspectives

For the past 15 years, the willingness of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to give billions of dollars in loans across Latin America created the perception that the PRC is spending unlimited resources to woo allies in a region where the United States historically carries significant influence. Currently, the PRC is heightening this perception by delivering millions of COVID-19 vaccines to Latin America, buttressed by a robust media operation to shape the information environment.

Optimizing Thermal Block Length During Infrared Neural Inhibition To Minimize Temperature Thresholds, Junqi Zhuo, Matthew T. Mcpheeters, Micael W. Jenkins, Hillel J. Chiel, Michael W. Jenkins

Faculty Scholarship

Objective. Infrared neural inhibition (INI) is a method of blocking the generation or propagation of neural action potentials through laser heating with wavelengths strongly absorbed by water. Recent work has identified that the distance heated along axons, the block length (BL), modulates the temperature needed for inhibition; however, this relationship has not been characterized. This study explores how BL during INI can be optimized towards minimizing its temperature threshold. Approach. To understand the relationship between BL and the temperature required for INI, excised nerves from Aplysia californica were laser-heated over different lengths of axon during electrical stimulation of compound action …

Columns Fall 2021, Southern Adventist University

Alumni Newsletter

Features the article "Employee Expressions of Creativity." Southern staff show their different ways of creativity for students and other faculty members to observe that go beyond their main profession. Additional articles expand on information about Southern Adventist University's newly inaugurated president, Ken Shaw, and how he interacts with the school.

The Impact Of Vicarious Racial Discrimination On African Americans Via Social Media, Asia Wardlaw

Dissertations

Much psychological research has examined the impact of racial discrimination upon those who have personally experienced it. Such research emphasizes personal encounters with racial bias and ethnic discrimination can cause victims considerable mental and emotional injury, manifested as race-based traumatic stress. Far less research has examined the effects of vicarious racism on those who witness it, including those who witness it via online media. Given the growing and significant amount of social media coverage in the United States of America containing images of unarmed African Americans who have been killed in perceived racially motivated encounters, this is a valuable area …

Inverse Machine Learning Framework For Optimizing Lightweight Metamaterials, Adithya Challapalli, Dhrumil Patel, Gouqiang Li

Faculty Publications

Structure scouting and design optimization for superior mechanical performance through inverse machine learning is an emerging area of interest. Inverse machine learning can be a substantial approach in structural design to explore complex and massive numbers of geometrical patterns within short periods of time. Here, an inverse design framework using generative adversarial networks (GANs) is proposed to explore and optimize structural designs such as lightweight lattice unit cells. Lightweight lattice structures are widely accepted to have excellent mechanical properties and have found applications in various engineering structures. Using the proposed framework, different lattice unit cells that are 40–120% better in …

Accounting For Uncertainty In Complex Alluvial Aquifer Modeling By Bayesian Multi-Model Approach, Jina Yin, Frank T.-C. Tsai, Shih Chieh Kao

Faculty Publications

Alluvial aquifers by nature are complex caused by varied depositional environments. Developing a reliable groundwater model to represent an alluvial aquifer is non-trivial. Also, relying on a single best calibrated model may not be sufficient because of an inadequate choice of model parameter values. To better understand groundwater dynamics and improve model prediction reliability, this study presents a Bayesian multi-model uncertainty quantification (BMMUQ) framework to account for model parameter uncertainty in complex alluvial groundwater modeling. The methodology was applied to the agriculturally intensive Mississippi River alluvial aquifer (MRAA), Northeast Louisiana. An aquifer architecture was first constructed using 7,259 well logs …

Robotic Communications For 5g And Beyond: Challenges And Research Opportunities, Yuanwei Liu, Xiao Liu, Xinyu Gao, Xidong Mu, Xiangwei Zhou, Octavia A. Dobre, H. Vincent Poor

Faculty Publications

The ongoing surge in applications of robotics brings both opportunities and challenges for the fifth-generation (5G) and beyond (B5G) of communication networks. This article focuses on 5G/B5G-enabled terrestrial robotic communications with an emphasis on distinct characteristics of such communications. First, signal and spatial modeling for robotic communications are presented. To elaborate further, both the benefits and challenges derived from robots' mobility are discussed. As a further advance, a novel simultaneous localization and radio mapping (SLARM) framework is proposed for integrating localization and communications into robotic networks. Furthermore, dynamic trajectory design and resource allocation for both indoor and outdoor robots are …

A 12-Bit 1gs/S Sar-Assisted Pipeline Adc With Harmonic Injecting Residue Amplifier, Liang Fang

Electrical Engineering Theses and Dissertations

Advanced wireless applications require a medium resolution Radio Frequency (RF) sampling Analog to Digital Converter (ADC). By performing sampling of ADC at RF frequency, the mixer and Intermediate Frequency (IF) amplifier can be implemented in the digital domain, which helps the receiver eliminate troublesome mixing spurs and potentially improves the software-defined ratio of the entire system. By combing the merits of the energy-efficient Successive Approximation Register (SAR) ADC and the high-speed pipeline ADC, the SAR-assisted pipeline ADC achieves superior performance in high-speed medium-resolution ADC. However, with the advance of the process, due to the pure analog implementation, the residue amplifier …

Characterization Of Uav-Based Wireless Channels With Diverse Antenna Configurations, Mahmoud Badi

Electrical Engineering Theses and Dissertations

In the next wave of swarm-based applications, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) need to communicate with peer drones in any direction of a three-dimensional (3D) space. On a given drone and across drones, various antenna positions and orientations are possible. We know that, in free space, high levels of signal loss are expected if the transmitting and receiving antennas are cross polarized. However, increasing the reflective and scattering objects in the channel between a transmitter and receiver can cause the received polarization to become completely independent from the transmitted polarization, making the cross-polarization of antennas insignificant. Usually, these effects are studied …

Standards-Based Grading At The Secondary Level: A Review Of Literature, Jacie White

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Grading systems have become a topic of interest at the secondary level. Even though the shift to standards-based grading is a daunting task for districts, post-secondary educational institutions are taking on grading reform at even higher educational levels. It is challenging for secondary teachers to narrow down the key elements of grading and prepare for the shift in mindset needed for a standards-based system. Research shows beneficial elements for learning after implementing a full standards-based system, but transforming a district’s grading system is a major undertaking. While there are benefits for all stakeholders involved when reforming beliefs about grading practices, …

A Methodology For Reliability-Based Selection Of System Of Systems, Justin Brown

Operations Research and Engineering Management Theses and Dissertations

Currently, Department of Defense (DoD) systems underperform and have inadequate reliability compared to acquisition expectations. Additionally, System of Systems (SoS) complexity and non-quantifiable approaches to selecting systems to perform a mission cause challenges for the decision-maker. Beyond DoD, mission-critical scenarios exist where responses are not data-driven, such as hurricane response, wildfire response, and littoral search and research missions. Optimization of these missions within a short amount of time can not only increase the probability of success and reduce the cost of performing the mission but allow systems to be used for additional missions.

This dissertation presents solution methodologies to address …

Utrgv Commencement – Fall 2021, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley

UTRGV Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

English And Cultural Studies, Fall 2021, English And Cultural Studies Department

Bryant University Communications and Press

No abstract provided.

Urban Mayors Press-Fall 2021, John S. Watson Institute For Urban Policy & Research At Kean University

Urban Mayors Policy Center

The Urban Mayors Press is a digital newsletter created to highlight the impactful work of New Jersey Urban Mayors Association (NJUMA) members and to provide resourceful information to municipalities throughout New Jersey from federal, state and local agencies.

Fall 2021 Census Campus Enrollment Indicators, Office Of Institutional Effectiveness

Enrollment Reports

No abstract provided.

Fall 2021 Campus Enrollment Indicators Report Census Extract Tables 1-3, Office Of Institutional Effectiveness

Enrollment Reports

No abstract provided.

Fall 2021 Campus Enrollment Indicators Report Dw Summary Table, Office Of Institutional Effectiveness

Enrollment Reports

No abstract provided.

Mckee Minute October 2021, Southern Adventist University

McKee Minute – McKee Library This Month

The October 2021 McKee Minute features information on the library's topical research guides. Recommendations are included for financial literacy books and streaming films on chemistry. Academic Video Online is reviewed.

‘Atamai-Loto, Moe Faka‘Ofo‘Ofa-‘Aonga: Tongan Tā-Vā Time-Space Philosophy Of Mind–Heart And Beauty–Utility, Pā‘Utu-‘O-Vava‘U-Lahi, Adriana M. Lear, Kolokesa U. Māhina-Tuai, Sione L. Vaka, Maui-Tāvā-He-Akó, Tēvita O. KaʻIli

Pacific Studies

This collection of critical essays seeks to explore as a text some key aspects of Tongan concepts and practices of the sino body, ‘atamai mind, and loto heart, on the one hand, and faiva performance, tufunga material, and nimamea‘a fine arts, on the other hand, in the broader context of Indigenous Tongan Tā-Vā Time-Space Philosophy of Reality. These physical–bodily, psychological–emotional, and social–cultural, and artistic and literary aspects will be reflected upon at the fakafelavai intersection, or fakahoko connection and fakamāvae separation, of ontology (i.e., ways of being) and epistemology (i.e., ways of knowing) and of beauty/quality (i.e., what is of …

Tongan Hoa: Inseparable Yet Indispensable Pairs/ Binaries, Pā‘Utu-‘O-Vava‘U-Lahi, Adriana M. Lear, Kolokesa U. Māhina-Tuai, Sione L. Vaka, Maui-Tāvā-He-Akó, Tēvita O. KaʻIli, Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu, ‘Ōkusitino Māhina

Pacific Studies

We dissect hoaism as a fundamental in Tongan philosophical thinking and feeling that is based in the concept and practice of hoa as inseparable yet indispensable pairs/binaries, with examples taken from across nature, mind, and society. From a tāvāist philosophical perspective, everywhere in reality, as in nature, mind, and society, is intersection, and there is nothing above and beyond connection and separation. This is derived from the general tāvāist fact that all things in reality stand in eternal relations of exchange, giving rise to order and conflict, both having the same logical status, when equal and opposite identities, entities, or …

Sino, ‘Ilo, Moe Ongo: Body, Knowing, And Feeling, Pā‘Utu-‘O-Vava‘U-Lahi, Adriana M. Lear, Kolokesa U. Māhina-Tuai, Sione L. Vaka, Maui-Tāvā-He-Akó, Tēvita O. KaʻIli, Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu, ‘Ōkusitino Māhina

Pacific Studies

This essay critically examines the intersection of sino body, ‘ilo knowing, and ongo feeling. The latter two are considered indivisible tendencies situated in the former, which is, in turn, taken merely as a vaka/hala medium/vessel/vehicle. The authors address examples from Tongan faiva performance arts of ta‘anga poetry, hiva/fasi music, and lea oratory, in which this topic is highly developed and refined, in contrast to academia, where it is largely, if not, entirely unexplored. By drawing on the Indigenous Tongan Tā-Vā Time-Space Philosophy of Reality, the critique is placed in the Indigenous Tongan thinking and practice of ‘atamai mind and mafu/fatu …

Vaka, Fale, Moe Kava: Boat, House, And Kava – Mana Structures, Mana Spaces, Tavakefai‘Ana, Sēmisi Fetokai Potauaine, Bruce Sione To‘A Moa, Sione Lavenita Vaka, Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu, ‘Ōkusitino Māhina

Pacific Studies

Our collective aim in this essay is to critically examine the fakafelavai intersection, or fakahoko connection and fakamāvae separation, of the vaka boat, fale house, and kava in terms of both art work and art use. The vaka boat and fale house are associated with tufunga the material arts of tufunga fo‘uvaka boat-building and tufunga langafale house-building, and kava with faiva the performance art of faiva inukava kava-drinking; all bearing immense material–physical, psychological–emotional, and social–cultural significance. All three are variously associated with the ceremonial as tapu structures and places possessing mana power and ivi energy of great potupotutatau harmony and …

Faiva Lova‘A‘Alo: Performance Art Of Rowing, Pā‘Utu-‘O-Vava‘U-Lahi, Adriana Māhanga Lear, Maui-Tāvā-He-Akó, Tēvita O. Ka‘Ili, Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu, ‘Ōkusitino Māhina

Pacific Studies

As authors, we critique the performance art of faiva lova‘a‘alo rowing, which lies in proximity to the performance arts of faiva lovavaka boat-racing, faiva kakau swimming, faiva uku diving, and faiva fānifo surfing, specifically, and faiva faifolau voyaging, faiva toutaivaka navigation, and faiva toutaiika deep-sea fishing and shallow-sea fishing, generally. The latter two, viz., deep-sea fishing and shallow-sea fishing, are known as faiva toutailoloto and faiva toutaimamaha, respectively. All the faiva faifolau, faiva toutaiika, faiva toutailoloto, and faiva toutaimamaha belong in the ha‘a toutai professional class of long-distance navigators and both deep-sea and shallow-sea fishermen. The performance art of rowing, …

Dipl 6130 International Security, Richard M. O'Meara Ph.D.

Diplomacy Syllabi

This is an interdisciplinary course which seeks to answer the questions what do we- states, international institutions, groups, and individuals-want when we seek security and what steps can we take to accomplish security goals? A recent summary of the discipline summarizes it as follows:

“International security, also called global security , is the measures taken by states and international organizations, such as the United Nations. European Union, and others, to ensure mutual survival and safety. These measures include military action and diplomatic agreements such as treaties and conventions. International and national security are invariably linked. International security is national security …

Whitworth Today Fall 2021, Whitworth University

Whitworth Alumni and Bulletin Publications

No abstract provided.

Knowledge Tracing: A Review Of Available Technologies, Miao Dai, Jui-Long Hung, Xu Du, Hengtao Tang, Hao Li

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

As a student modeling technique, knowledge tracing is widely used by various intelligent tutoring systems to infer and trace the individual’s knowledge state during the learning process. In recent years, various models were proposed to get accurate and easy-to-interpret results. To make sense of the wide Knowledge tracing (KT) modeling landscape, this paper conducts a systematic review to provide a detailed and nuanced discussion of relevant KT techniques from the perspective of assumptions, data, and algorithms. The results show that most existing KT models consider only a fragment of the assumptions that relate to the knowledge components within items and …

Mcnair Scholars Research Journal Volume Xiv, St. Mary's University

McNair Scholars Research Journal

This is the fourteenth journal for the McNair Scholars Program at St. Mary's University.

"After yet another year of complexities, concerns, and adaptations to many changes, our Scholars have once more completed a strong summer research program! We believe Dr. Ronald McNair would be extremely proud of how students benefiting from the McNair Scholars Program at St. Mary’s University have responded to unprecedented challenges. In spite of local and global challenges, these students keep their eyes set on a future which only a short time ago was unimaginable. Now, they are taking steps into a world they will lead, form, …

Human Genital Antibody-Mediated Inhibition Of Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection And Evidence For Ompa Genotype-Specific Neutralization, Caleb M. Ardizzone, Hannah L. Albritton, Rebecca A. Lillis, Caitlyn E.L. Bagnetto, Li Shen, Lisa A. Cavacini, Pamela A. Kozlowski, Alison J. Quayle

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

The endocervix, the primary site of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection in women, has a unique repertoire of locally synthesized IgG and secretory IgA (SIgA) with contributions from serum IgG. Here, we assessed the ability of genital and serum-derived IgG and IgA from women with a recent positive Ct test to neutralize Ct elementary bodies (EBs) and inhibit inclusion formation in vitro in human endocervical epithelial cells. We also determined if neutralization was influenced by the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of the infecting strain, as indicated by ompA gene sequencing and genotyping. At equivalent low concentrations of Ct EB (D/UW-3/Cx …

Que Ondee Sola - Fall 2021, Crystal Lynn Perez

Que Ondee Sola

Student publication founded in 1972, articles include: URO Organization, Profile of Luvia Moreno, Suicide: How Can We Help?, The Modern, Kristen Robinson, Women of Gaming, Frida Kahlo, National Museum of Mexican Arts, The Beginning of the Union for Puerto Rican Students and Que Ondee Sola, Dia de los Muertos, Poetry