Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Random Numbers And Gaming, Sinjin Baglin

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

In Counter Strike: Global Offensive spray pattern control becomes a muscle memory to a player after long periods of playing. It’s a design choice that makes the gunplay between players more about instant crosshair placement with the faster player usually winning. This is very different from the gunplay of the current popular shooter Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds. Player Unknown’s Battleground’s spray pattern for the guns are random. So how does this affect the player experience? Well as opposed to Counter Strike: Global Offensive, the design choice makes gunplay between two players more about how a person can adapt faster …

Fighting Game Difficulty, Andrew Hon

ART 108: Introduction to Games Studies

Lowering difficulty in games has become a recent trend amongst gaming companies. The goal of this tactic is to provide a more welcoming platform for players that are new to the franchise. However, this trend has been met with criticism amongst more experienced veterans of their respective games. This essay will touch upon different games within the fighting game genre that have lowered their overall difficulty, and the positive/negative effects of it.

Umphlett Qci Dec 2017, Natalie A. Umphlett

High Plains Regional Climate Center: Staff Publications

Highlights for the Basin

Temperature and Precipitation Anomalies

Drought

Drought Continues to Cause Impacts

Large Butterfly Migration Across the Plains

High Winds Down Corn Across Nebraska

3-Month Precipitation and Temperature Outlooks

Soil Moisture Conditions

Exploring Energy, Comfort, And Building Health Impacts Of Deep Setback And Normal Occupancy Smart Thermostat Implementation, Zachary Ethan Alderman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As smart thermostat adoption rates continue to increase, it becomes worthwhile to explore what unanticipated outcomes may result in their use. Specific attention was paid to smart thermostat impacts to deep setback and normal occupancy states in a variety of conditions while complying with the ventilation and temperature requirements of ASHRAE 90.2-2013. Custom weather models and occupancy schedules were generated to efficiently explore a combination of weather conditions, building constructions, and occupancy states. The custom modeling approach was combined with previous experimental data within the Openstudio graphics interface to the EnergyPlus building modeling engine. Results indicate smart thermostats add the …

An Evaluation Of Borehole Hydraulic Conductivity Equations And Field Determined Soil Water Characteristic Curves, Johnathan Dale Blanchard

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The methods utilized to determine the hydraulic conductivity of compacted clay liners (CCLs) are of importance for safe guarding the environment from landfill leachate. Therefore, the methods utilized in the analysis of the Two Stage Borehole (TSB) test, as described in the ASTM D6391-11 (Method A, B, and C) standard, were evaluated. Data from hydraulic conductivity tests, as performed on three test pads, were utilized to review the ASTM D6391-11 equations. Additionally, two test pads were instrumented with volumetric water content and soil water matric potential sensors to facilitate the determination of field-obtained soil water characteristic curves (SWCCs) and hydraulic …

Evaluation Of Water Resources And Hydraulic Influences In The Restoration Of The Western Part Of The Mesopotamian Marshlands, Ali Kareem Al-Quraishi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to assess the water resources and water conveyance system of the western part of the Mesopotamian marshes (Al-Hammar marsh) as well as develop a water conveyance system to distribute water throughout the western Al-Hammar marsh. These processes are significant to identify the current restoration problems and help to create restoration strategies for the marsh. Also, proper management strategy to the Al-Hammar marsh is necessary to preserve the marsh ecosystem, irrigate lands, and provide domestic necessities in the villages.

The overall project is divided into three main chapters which address the current ecological and hydrological …

An Investigation Of Biological Carbon Sequestration At The Pea Ridge National Military Park, Dorine Reed Bower

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The direct correlation between increasing levels of atmospheric CO2 and global temperatures is now irrefutable. A 50% increase in atmospheric CO2 levels from a pre-industrial level of 270 ppm to a present-day level of 405 ppm, has resulted in documented record temperatures and a concomitant rising of sea levels from melting ice caps.

The ability of biological/terrestrial ecological systems to store atmospheric carbon is a viable option in the effort to mitigate the climate impacts of rising anthropogenically-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Components of the vegetation and soils in the Pea Ridge National Military Park (the Park) were examined for carbon …

Do It Today Or Do It Tomorrow: Empirical Non-Exponential Discounting Explained By Symmetry And Fuzzy Ideas, Francisco Zapata, Olga Kosheleva, Vladik Kreinovich, Thongchai Dumrongpokaphan

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

At first glance, it seems to make sense to conclude that when a 1 dollar reward tomorrow is equivalent to a D < 1 dollar reward today, the day-after-tomorrow's 1 dollar reward would be equivalent to D * D = D² dollars today, and, in general, a reward after time t is equivalent to D(t) = D^t dollars today. This exponential discounting function D(t) was indeed proposed by the economists, but it does not reflect the actual human behavior. Indeed, according to this formula, the effect of distant future events is negligible, and thus, it would be reasonable for a person to take on huge loans or get engaged in unhealthy behavior even when the long-term consequences …

Z-Numbers: How They Describe Student Confidence And How They Can Explain (And Improve) Laplacian And Schroedinger Eigenmap Dimension Reduction In Data Analysis, Vladik Kreinovich, Olga Kosheleva, Michael Zakharevich

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

Experts have different degrees of confidence in their statements. To describe these different degrees of confidence, Lotfi A. Zadeh proposed the notion of a Z-number: a fuzzy set (or other type of uncertainty) supplemented by a degree of confidence in the statement corresponding to fuzzy sets. In this chapter, we show that Z-numbers provide a natural formalization of the competence-vs-confidence dichotomy, which is especially important for educating low-income students. We also show that Z-numbers provide a natural theoretical explanation for several empirically heuristic techniques of dimension reduction in data analysis, such as Laplacian and Schroedinger eigenmaps, and, moreover, show how …

Why Taylor Models And Modified Taylor Models Are Empirically Successful: A Symmetry-Based Explanation, Mioara Joldes, Christoph Lauter, Martine Ceberio, Olga Kosheleva, Vladik Kreinovich

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

In this paper, we show that symmetry-based ideas can explain the empirical success of Taylor models and modified Taylor models in representing uncertainty.

How To Best Apply Neural Networks In Geosciences: Towards Optimal "Averaging" In Dropout Training, Afshin Gholamy, Justin Parra, Vladik Kreinovich, Olac Fuentes, Elizabeth Y. Anthony

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

The main objectives of geosciences is to find the current state of the Earth -- i.e., solve the corresponding inverse problems -- and to use this knowledge for predicting the future events, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In both inverse and prediction problems, often, machine learning techniques are very efficient, and at present, the most efficient machine learning technique is deep neural training. To speed up this training, the current learning algorithms use dropout techniques: they train several sub-networks on different portions of data, and then "average" the results. A natural idea is to use arithmetic mean for this …

Why Deep Learning Methods Use Kl Divergence Instead Of Least Squares: A Possible Pedagogical Explanation, Olga Kosheleva, Vladik Kreinovich

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

In most applications of data processing, we select the parameters that minimize the mean square approximation error. The same Least Squares approach has been used in the traditional neural networks. However, for deep learning, it turns out that an alternative idea works better -- namely, minimizing the Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence. The use of KL divergence is justified if we predict probabilities, but the use of this divergence has been successful in other situations as well. In this paper, we provide a possible explanation for this empirical success. Namely, the Least Square approach is optimal when the approximation error is normally …

Spatial Structure Of Ion Beams In An Expanding Plasma, Evan M. Aguirre, Earl E. Scime, Derek S. Thompson, Timothy N. Good

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We report spatially resolved perpendicular and parallel, to the magnetic field, ion velocity distribution function (IVDF) measurements in an expanding argon helicon plasma. The parallel IVDFs, obtained through laser induced fluorescence (LIF), show an ion beam with v ≈ 8000 m/s flowing downstream and confined to the center of the discharge. The ion beam is measurable for tens of centimeters along the expansion axis before the LIF signal fades, likely a result of metastable quenching of the beam ions. The parallel ion beam velocity slows in agreement with expectations for the measured parallel electric field. The perpendicular IVDFs show an …

Short-Term Toxicity Of 1-Methylnaphthalene To Americamysis Bahia And 5 Deep-Sea Crustaceans, Anthony H. Knap, Nicholas R. Turner, Gopal Bera, Dorothy-Ellen A. Renegar, Tamara Frank, Jose Sericano, Bernhard Riegl

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

There are few studies that have evaluated hydrocarbon toxicity to vertically migrating deep-sea micronekton. Crustaceans were collected alive using a 9-m² Tucker trawl with a thermally insulated cod end and returned to the laboratory in 10 °C seawater. Toxicity of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 1-methylnaphthalene to Americamysis bahia, Janicella spinacauda, Systellaspis debilis, Sergestes sp., Sergia sp., and a euphausiid species was assessed in a constant exposure toxicity test utilizing a novel passive dosing toxicity testing protocol. The endpoint of the median lethal concentration tests was mortality, and the results revealed high sensitivity of the deep-sea micronekton …

A Restful Framework For Writing, Running, And Evaluating Code In Multiple Academic Settings, Christopher Ban

MS in Computer Science Project Reports

In academia, students and professors want a well-structured and implemented framework for writing and running code in both testing and learning environments. The current limitations of the paper and pencil medium have led to the creation of many different online grading systems. However, no known system provides all of the essential features our client is interested in. Our system, developed in conjunction with Doctor Halterman, offers the ability to build modules from flat files, allow code to be compiled and run in the browser, provide users with immediate feedback, support multiple languages, and offer a module designed specifically for an …

Algorithms For Building Compact Representatives And Processing Ranking Queries, Abolfazl Asudeh Naee

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Ranked retrieval model has rapidly replaced the traditional Boolean retrieval model as the de facto way for query processing when a large portion of (big) data matches a given query. Returning all the query results in these cases is not efficient nor informative. Unlike the Boolean retrieval model, the ranked retrieval model orders the matching tuples according to an often proprietary ranking function and returns the top-k of them. In this dissertation, we study ranked retrieval model and propose exact and approximate algorithms for (i) building representatives for fast query processing, and (ii) online processing of ranking queries. We study …

Crypto Ransomware Analysis And Detection Using Process Monitor, Ashwini Balkrushna Kardile

Computer Science and Engineering Theses - Archive

Ransomware is a faster growing threat that encrypts user’s files and locks the computer and holds the key required to decrypt the files for ransom. Over the past few years, the impact of ransomware has increased exponentially. There have been several reported high profile ransomware attacks, such as CryptoLocker, CryptoWall, WannaCry, Petya and Bad Rabbit which have collectively cost individuals and companies well over a billion dollars according to FBI. As the threat of ransomware has become more prevalent, security companies and researchers have begun proposing new approaches for detection and prevention of ransomware. However, these approaches generally lack dynamicity …

Scalable Conversion Of Textual Unstructured Data To Nosql Graph Representation Using Berkeley Db Key-Value Store For Efficient Querying, Jasmine Manoj Varghese

Computer Science and Engineering Theses - Archive

Graph database is a popular choice for representing data with relationships. It facilitates easy modifications to the relational information without the need for structural redefinition, as in case of relational databases. Exponentially growing graph sizes demand efficient querying, memory limitations notwithstanding. Use of indexes, to speed up query processing, is integral to databases. Existing works have used in-memory approaches that were limited by the main memory size. This thesis proposes a way to use graph representation, indexing technique and secondary memory to efficiently answer queries. Textual unstructured data is parsed to identify entities and assign unique identification. The entities and …

Portable Wireless Antenna Sensor For Simultaneous Shear And Pressure Monitoring, Farnaz Farahanipad

Computer Science and Engineering Theses - Archive

Microstrip antenna-sensor has received considerable interests in recent years due to its simple configuration, compact size, and multi-modality sensitivity. Having a simple and conformal planar configuration, antenna-sensor can be easily attached on the structure surface for Structure Health Monitoring (SHM). As a promising sensor, the resonant frequency of the antenna-sensor is sensitive to different structure properties: such as planar stress, temperature, moisture, pressure and shear. As a passive antenna, antenna-sensor’s resonant frequency can be wirelessly interrogated at a middle range distance without using an on-board battery. However, a major challenge of antenna-sensor’s wireless interrogation is to isolate the antenna backscattering …

Social Coding Standards On Touchdevelop: An Empirical Study, Shivangi Kulshrestha

Computer Science and Engineering Theses - Archive

This study compares and contrasts the application development pattern on Microsoft’s mobile application development platform with leading version control and social coding sites like Github. TouchDevelop is an in-browser editor for developing mobile applications with the main aim to concentrate on ‘touch’ as the only input. Apart from being the first of it’s kind platform, TouchDevelop also allows users to upload their script directly to cloud. This is what makes this study interesting, since the API data of the app has never been studied before to follow social coding standards or version control techniques. Till today, all major IDEs, e.g …

Maximizing Code Coverage In Database Applications, Tulsi Chandwani

Computer Science and Engineering Theses - Archive

A database application takes input as user-defined queries and determines the program logic to be executed based on the results returned by the queries. A change in existing application or a new application is expected pass through extensive testing to cover the entire code and check all the cases possible in execution. Testing the code coverage of traditional or CRUD-based applications is a straightforward process backed by various tools and libraries. Unlike traditional applications, checking the code coverage of database applications is a complex procedure due to its inherent structure and the inputs passed to it. Measuring the code coverage …

Visual Logging Framework Using Elk Stack, Ravi Nishant

Computer Science and Engineering Theses - Archive

Logging is the process of storing information for future reference and audit purposes. In software applications, logging plays a very critical role as a development utility and ensures code quality. It acts as an enabler for developers and support professionals by providing them capability to see application’s functionality and understand any issues with it. Data logging has a widespread use in scientific experiments and analytical systems. Major systems which heavily uses data logging are weather reporting services, digital advertisement, search engines, space exploration systems to name a few. Although, data logging increases the productivity and efficiency of a software system, …

Igait: Vision-Based Low-Cost, Reliable Machine Learning Framework For Gait Abnormality Detection, Saif Sayed

Computer Science and Engineering Theses - Archive

Human gait has shown to be a strong indicator of health issues under a wide variety of conditions. For that reason, gait analysis has become a powerful tool for clinicians to assess functional limitations due to neurological or orthopedic conditions that are reflected in gait. Therefore, accurate gait monitoring and analysis methods have found a wide range of applications from diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation. This thesis focuses on creating a low-cost and non-intrusive vision-based machine learning framework dubbed as iGait to accurately detect CLBP patients using 3-D capturing devices such as MS Kinect. To analyze the performance of the …

Petrophysical Characterization Of The Jo Mill Submarine Fan Complex, Spraberry Trend, Midland Basin, Texas, Benjamin Frederic Rogers

Earth & Environmental Sciences Theses - Archive

Understanding and quantifying reservoir quality require a new suite of knowledge when approaching the nanometer sized pore-networks of unconventional reservoirs. These low porosity and permeability reservoirs have been produced in major basins all over the world, but characterizing their pore networks has been fairly recent in its application. One of the challenges of quantifying reservoir characteristics like porosity, pore size distribution, permeability, and tortuosity in unconventional reservoirs is the abundance of their nanometer-sized pore systems. Pore systems in these rocks tend to behave differently and with less predictability than the conventional reservoir. The Spraberry Formation in the Midland Basin of …

Characterization Of Nanopetrophysical Properties Of The Mancos “B”/ Prairie Canyon Member Of The Mancos Shale, Rio Blanco, Colorado, Scott Brian Leaseburge

Earth & Environmental Sciences Theses - Archive

Over the past decade hydrocarbon production from unconventional reservoirs has grown to become a significant source of North American domestic energy and will likely continue so for decades to come. However, production from unconventional reservoirs is plagued with low overall recovery and sharp declines in production. Low matrix permeability and poor pore connectively are significant factors limiting recovery and production. Research into the fluid flow characteristics of low permeability reservoirs can lead to extended initial production and greater overall recovery. Technically recoverable unconventional oil and gas resources in the Mancos Shale of the Piceance Basin are estimated to be 66.3 …

Numerical Solution Of Saddle Point Problems By Projection, Gul Karaduman

Mathematics Dissertations - Archive

In this thesis, we work on iterative solutions of large linear systems of saddle point problems of the form    A B1 T B2 0       x y    =    f 0    , where A ∈ R n×n , B1, B2 ∈ R m×n , f ∈ R n , and n ≥ m. Many applications in computational sciences and engineering give rise to saddle point problems such as finite element approximations to Stokes problems, image reconstruction, tomography, genetics, statistics and model order reduction for …

The Monadnock Volume 59, December 2017, Clark University Geographical Society

The Monadnock (Clark Geographical Society)

Volume 59 of The Monadnock. The Monadnock was the alumni magazine of the Clark University Geographical Society (1927-1985) (2014-present).

Statistical And Clinical Equivalence Of Measurements, Puntipa Wanitjirattikal

Dissertations

This study proposes a test for statistical equivalence of two measurements. Typically, a new measurement process Υ is compared to an existing or standard measurement process Χ. We are assuming that Χ and Υ are measurements on the same scale. The paired t-test may be used to check for significant difference between (Χ, Υ) pairs. However, the paired t-test is intended to detect shift-type relationships of the form Υ=Χ+δ1 and may have low power for scale-type relations of the form Υ=γΧ.

We propose a test that has reasonable power to …

An Lntegrated Approach (Remote Sensing, Hydrogeology, Geotechnical, And Geoinformatics) To Assess And Monitor Fossil Aquifers And Associated Land Deformation Over The Arabian Peninsula, Abdullah Ghurmullah Saeed Othman

Dissertations

Deformational features such as subsidence, sinkholes, fissures, settling and cracks in buildings and structures, and earthquakes are being reported from many of the world’s arid lands, in areas where fossil aquifers are being excessively exploited. Using the Lower Mega Aquifer System (LMAS) in Arabia as a test site, I applied an integrated approach (remote sensing, geodesy, GIS, geology, hydrogeology, and geotechnical) to identify nature, intensity, spatial distribution, and factors controlling the observed deformation in the central (Al-Qassim and Ha'il regions; area: 16×10⁴ km²) and the northern (Wadi As-Sirhan Basin; area: ~10.9×10⁴ km²) Arabia. A four -fold approach was adopted to …

Color-Connected Graphs And Information-Transfer Paths, Stephen Devereaux

Dissertations

The Department of Homeland Security in the United States was created in 2003 in response to weaknesses discovered in the transfer of classied information after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. While information related to national security needs to be protected, there must be procedures in place that permit access between appropriate parties. This two-fold issue can be addressed by assigning information-transfer paths between agencies which may have other agencies as intermediaries while requiring a large enough number of passwords and rewalls that is prohibitive to intruders, yet small enough to manage. Situations such as this can be represented by …