Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Slides: So What If It’S Called “All-American”, Malissa Hathaway Mckeith, Bob Johnson

Hard Times on the Colorado River: Drought, Growth and the Future of the Compact (Summer Conference, June 8-10)

Presenter: Malissa Hathaway McKeith, Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP.

Respondent on US-Mexico Issues and Other Lower Basin Matters: Bob Johnson, US Bureau of Reclamation.

15 slides and 12 pages.

Contains references.

Slides: Hard Times On The Colorado River: Tightening Water Supplies, Jerry Zimmerman

Hard Times on the Colorado River: Drought, Growth and the Future of the Compact (Summer Conference, June 8-10)

Presenter: Jerry Zimmerman, Colorado River Board of California.

36 slides.

Web Service Semantics - Wsdl-S, Rama Akkiraju, Joel Farrell, John A. Miller, Meenakshi Nagarajan, Amit P. Sheth, Kunal Verma

Kno.e.sis Publications

Web services have primarily been designed for providing inter-operability between business applications. Current technologies assume a large amount of human interaction, for integrating two applications. This is primarily due to the fact that business process integration requires understanding of data and functions of the involved entities. Semantic Web technologies, powered by description logic based languages like OWL[1], aim to add greater meaning to Web content, by annotating the data with ontologies. Ontologies provide a mechanism of providing shared conceptualizations of domains. This allows agents to get an understanding of users’ Web content and greatly reduces human interaction for meaningful Web …

Slides: Flowing Down The Basin: Federal Litigation On The Colorado River, Michael Gheleta

Hard Times on the Colorado River: Drought, Growth and the Future of the Compact (Summer Conference, June 8-10)

Presenter: Michael Gheleta, US Department of Justice.

53 slides.

Agenda: Hard Times On The Colorado River: Drought, Growth And The Future Of The Compact, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center, Western Water Assessment (Program), Colorado Water Conservation Board, Center For Advanced Decision Support For Water And Environmental Systems, Hydrosphere Resource Consultants, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Colorado Foundation For Water Education, Patrick, Miller & Kropf, P.C., William & Flora Hewlett Foundation

Hard Times on the Colorado River: Drought, Growth and the Future of the Compact (Summer Conference, June 8-10)

Sponsors and Contributors: Colorado Water Conservation Board, Center for Advanced Decision Support for Water and Environmental Systems, Western Water Assessment, CU-CIRES/NOAA, Hydrosphere Resource Consultants, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Colorado Foundation for Water Education, Patrick, Miller & Kropf, P.C., William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

The Colorado River is approaching a crossroads. For the first time in its history, satisfying water demands in one state may require curtailing legally-recognized uses in another. This is not the first instance of water shortages in the region, and conflict among the seven Colorado River states is certainly not new. But the potential shortages on …

Slides: Last In Line: Environmental Impacts Of Increased Colorado River Stress And Shortages, Michael Cohen

Hard Times on the Colorado River: Drought, Growth and the Future of the Compact (Summer Conference, June 8-10)

Presenter: Michael Cohen, Pacific Institute.

35 slides and 34 pages (includes color illustrations and map).

Ga-Facilitated Classifier Optimization With Varying Similarity Measures, Michael R. Peterson, Travis E. Doom, Michael L. Raymer

Kno.e.sis Publications

Genetic algorithms are powerful tools for k-nearest neighbors classification. Traditional knn classifiers employ Euclidian distance to assess neighbor similarity, though other measures may also be used. GAs can search for optimal linear weights of features to improve knn performance using both Euclidian distance and cosine similarity. GAs also optimize additive feature offsets in search of an optimal point of reference for assessing angular similarity using the cosine measure. This poster explores weight and offset optimization for knn with varying similarity measures, including Euclidian distance (weights only), cosine similarity, and Pearson correlation. The use of offset optimization …

Description Logic Programs: A Practical Choice For The Modelling Of Ontologies, Rudi Studer, York Sure, Pascal Hitzler

Computer Science and Engineering Faculty Publications

Knowledge representation using ontologies constitutes the heart of semantic technologies. Despite successful standardization efforts by the W3C, however, there are still numerous different ontology representation languages being used, and interoperability between them is in general not given. The problem is aggrevated by the fact that current standards lay foundations only and are well-known to be insufficient for the modelling of finer details. Thus, a plethora of extensions of the basic languages is being proposed, rendering the picture of ontology representation languages to be chaotic, to say the least. While semantic technologies start to become applicable and are being applied in …

Applications Of Integrated Data Viewer – Idv In An Introductory Meteorology Class For Non-Science Majors, Ricardo C. Nogueira

Masters Theses

Computer products developed to visualize and integrate meteorological products with real-time data can create a virtual reality of the atmosphere. These advanced technologies help educators to improve teaching techniques in the classroom for science and non-science majors and increase the students' interest in learning as well. One of these products, the Integrated Data Viewer (IDV), was recently developed by University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) project, Unidata, to visualize and integrate geoscience data. This study compares students' performance in the laboratory sessions using IDV-based and MANUAL-based exercises. Comparison of lab scores with exam scores of questions on the same topic …

Integrating Semantic Web Services For Mobile Access, Anupriya Ankolekar, Pascal Hitzler, Holger Lewen, Daniel Oberle, Rudi Studer

Computer Science and Engineering Faculty Publications

We present our work in integrating Semantic Web services for access via mobile devices. We have developed a system, the WebServiceAccessComponent, that transforms a user request for a service on a mobile device, to a Web service request and then selects a matching service from the existing Web services of the Deutsche Telekom, which provide navigational and weather information. In this poster, we present the requirements and design of the WebServiceAccessComponent.

Semantic Management Of Web Services Using The Core Ontology Of Services, Daniel Oberle, Steffen Lamparter, Andreas Eberhart, Stephan Grimm, Sudhir Agarwal, Rudi Studer, Pascal Hitzler

Kno.e.sis Publications

Different Web Service standards like WSDL, WS-Security, WS-Policy etc., henceforth referred to as WS*, factorize Web Service management tasks into different aspects, such as input/output, workflow, or security. The advantages of WS* are multiple and have already achieved industrial impact. WS* descriptions are exchangeable and developers may use different implementations for the same Web Service description. The disadvantages of WS*, however, are also apparent: even though the different standards are complementary, they must overlap and one may produce models composed of different WS* descriptions, which are inconsistent with each other, but the reasons for the inconsistencies are not easily determined. …

Evaluating G-Portal For Geography Learning And Teaching, Chew-Hung Chang, John G. Hedberg, Yin-Leng Theng, Ee Peng Lim, Tiong-Sa Teh, Dion Hoe-Lian Goh

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This paper describes G-Portal, a geospatial digital library of geographical assets, providing an interactive platform to engage students in active manipulation and analysis of information resources and collaborative learning activities. Using a G-Portal application in which students conducted a field study of an environmental problem of beach erosion and sea level rise, we describe a pilot study to evaluate usefulness and usability issues to support the learning of geographical concepts, and in turn teaching.

On Assigning Place Names To Geography Related Web Pages, Wenbo Zong, Dan Wu, Aixin Sun, Ee Peng Lim, Dion Hoe-Lian Goh

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In this paper, we attempt to give spatial semantics to web pages by assigning them place names. The entire assignment task is divided into three sub-problems, namely place name extraction, place name disambiguation and place name assignment. We propose our approaches to address these sub-problems. In particular, we have modified GATE, a well-known named entity extraction software, to perform place name extraction using a US Census gazetteer. A rule-based place name disambiguation method and a place name assignment method capable of assigning place names to web page segments have also been proposed. We have evaluated our proposed disambiguation and assignment …

Learning Outcomes Oriented Assessment Methods In An Active Learning Environment, Arcot Desai Narasimhalu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Singapore Management University uses interactive seminar style teaching in class rooms. Most of its students hail from Singapore and are generally new to active learning and constructive participation in the seminar style classes. This paper reports findings from a freshmen first term course titled IS 101: Seminar for ISM Majors.

Hyperspectral Simulation And Recovery Of Submerged Targets In Turbid Waters, Charles R. Bostater

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Modeled hyperspectral reflectance signatures just above the water surface are obtained from radiative transfer models to create synthetic images of targets below the water surface. Images are displayed as 24 bit RGB images of the water surface using selected channels. Example model outputs are presented in this paper for a hyperspectral Monte Carlo and a hyperspectral layered analytical iterative model of radiative transport within turbid shallow water types. Images at the selected wavelengths or channels centered at 490, 530 and 680 nm suggests the two models provide quite similar results when displayed as RGB images. The techniques are demonstrated to …

Analyzing The Effects Of Various Sign Types Used By The Bureau Of Land Management For Desert Cleanup And Restoration Projects, Christopher Linehan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

What is the effectiveness of attempts to curb illegal dumping with prompts on signs posted in the area? Do positive friendly language prompts such as “Restoration in Progress Please Do Not Disturb” generate more positive attitudes and intentions towards illegal dumping problems, than less friendly prompts such as “No Dumping Allowed”?

Results, although inconclusive, did however show a slight trend towards the negative language signs.

Study Examining A Doe Proposal To Dispose Of Mixed Low Level Waste At The Nevada Test Site Using An Alternative Landfill Design, Deborah Hart

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Department of Energy has set forth a proposal to use an Alternative Landfill Design (ALD) for the Mixed Low Level Waste disposal facility, in Area 5 of the Nevada Test Site in place of a traditional engineered liner for the facility. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the impasse between the DOE and the State of Nevada regarding the proposal of placing a traditional liner versus the alternative landfill design, using a case study method to provide recommendations to policy makers and the NTS CAB. This project used secondary data to evaluate, and determine the effectiveness of …

Using A Systems Dynamics Approach To Determine What Can Be Done To Minimize Ozone Production, Jusdi Mcdonald

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Ground level ozone is an air pollutant that affects people of all ages and origins in many urban areas including the Las Vegas Valley. The purpose of this study is to examine the best strategy to minimize tropospheric ozone generation through using a system dynamics approach via LUTAQ is used to formulate a solution to the reduction of ozone in the Clark County non-attainment area. By increasing housing density, decreasing average distance per trip, and decrease average number of trips per person per day is the most effective strategies to improving ozone levels in Las Vegas Valley.

Stormwater Utility Fees: Considerations & Options For Interlocal Stormwater Working Group (Iswg), New England Environmental Finance Center

Water

Stormwater utilities are a concept whose time seems to have arrived. Established by relatively few communities in the 1970s as a method of funding flood control measures, stormwater utilities now exist in over 400 municipalities and counties throughout the United States. During the next 10 years, their numbers are expected to swell dramatically – by one estimate to over 2,000 by the year 2014.

The reasons for this growth are multifold. Federal stormwater regulations passed in the 1980s (Phase I of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program, or NPDES), motivated many larger communities to seek alternative funding sources and …

On The Power Function Of Bayesian Tests With Application To Design Of Clinical Trials: The Fixed-Sample Case, Lyle Broemeling, Dongfeng Wu

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

Using a Bayesian approach to clinical trial design is becoming more common. For example, at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bayesian techniques are routinely employed in the design and analysis of Phase I and II trials. It is important that the operating characteristics of these procedures be determined as part of the process when establishing a stopping rule for a clinical trial. This study determines the power function for some common fixed-sample procedures in hypothesis testing, namely the one and two-sample tests involving the binomial and normal distributions. Also considered is a Bayesian test for multi-response (response and toxicity) in …

Two Sides Of The Same Coin: Bootstrapping The Restricted Vs. Unrestricted Model, Panagiotis Mantalos

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

The properties of the bootstrap test for restrictions are studied in two versions: 1) bootstrapping under the null hypothesis, restricted, and 2) bootstrapping under the alternative hypothesis, unrestricted. This article demonstrates the equivalence of these two methods, and illustrates the small sample properties of the Wald test for testing Granger-Causality in a stable stationary VAR system by Monte Carlo methods. The analysis regarding the size of the test reveals that, as expected, both bootstrap tests have actual sizes that lie close to the nominal size. Regarding the power of the test, the Wald and bootstrap tests share the same power …

Manifestation Of Differences In Item-Level Characteristics In Scale-Level Measurement Invariance Tests Of Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analyses, Bruno D. Zumbo, Kim H. Koh

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

If a researcher applies the conventional tests of scale-level measurement invariance through multi-group confirmatory factor analysis of a PC matrix and MLE to test hypotheses of strong and full measurement invariance when the researcher has a rating scale response format wherein the item characteristics are different for the two groups of respondents, do these scale-level analyses reflect (or ignore) differences in item threshold characteristics? Results of the current study demonstrate the inadequacy of judging the suitability of a measurement instrument across groups by only investigating the factor structure of the measure for the different groups with a PC matrix and …

Right-Tailed Testing Of Variance For Non-Normal Distributions, Michael C. Long, Ping Sa

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

A new test of variance for non-normal distribution with fewer restrictions than the current tests is proposed. Simulation study shows that the new test controls the Type I error rate well, and has power performance comparable to the competitors. In addition, it can be used without restrictions.

Multiple Imputation For Missing Ordinal Data, Ling Chen, Marian Toma-Drane, Robert F. Valois, J. Wanzer Drane

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

Simulations were used to compare complete case analysis of ordinal data with including multivariate normal imputations. MVN methods of imputation were not as good as using only complete cases. Bias and standard errors were measured against coefficients estimated from logistic regression and a standard data set.

Coverage Properties Of Optimized Confidence Intervals For Proportions, John P. Wendell, Sharon P. Cox

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

Wardell (1997) provided a method for constructing confidence intervals on a proportion that modifies the Clopper-Pearson (1934) interval by allowing for the upper and lower binomial tail probabilities to be set in a way that minimizes the interval width. This article investigates the coverage properties of these optimized intervals. It is found that the optimized intervals fail to provide coverage at or above the nominal rate over some portions of the binomial parameter space but may be useful as an approximate method.

Testing The Goodness Of Fit Of Multivariate Multiplicative-Intercept Risk Models Based On Case-Control Data, Biao Zhang

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

The validity of the multivariate multiplicative-intercept risk model with I +1 categories based on casecontrol data is tested. After reparametrization, the assumed risk model is equivalent to an (I +1) -sample semiparametric model in which the I ratios of two unspecified density functions have known parametric forms. By identifying this (I +1) -sample semiparametric model, which is of intrinsic interest in general (I +1) -sample problems, with an (I +1) -sample semiparametric selection bias model, we propose a weighted Kolmogorov-Smirnov-type statistic to test the validity of the multivariate multiplicativeintercept risk model. Established are some asymptotic results …

Within By Within Anova Based On Medians, Rand R. Wilcox

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

This article considers a J by K ANOVA design where all JK groups are dependent and where groups are to be compared based on medians. Two general approaches are considered. The first is based on an omnibus test for no main effects and no interactions and the other tests each member of a collection of relevant linear contrasts. Based on an earlier paper dealing with multiple comparisons, an obvious speculation is that a particular bootstrap method should be used. One of the main points here is that, in general, this is not the case for the problem at hand. The …

Testing The Casual Relation Between Sunspots And Temperature Using Wavelets Analysis, Abdullah Almasri, Ghazi Shukur

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

Investigated and tested in this article are the causal nexus between sunspots and temperature by using statistical methodology and causality tests. Because this kind of relationship cannot be properly captured in the short run (daily, monthly or yearly data), the relationship is investigated in the long run using a very low frequency Wavelets-based decomposed data such as D8 (128 - 256 months). Results indicate that during the period 1854-1989, the causality nexus between these two series is as expected of onedirectional form, i.e., from sunspots to temperature.

Model-Selection-Based Monitoring Of Structural Change, Kosei Fukuda

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

Monitoring structural change is performed not by hypothesis testing but by model selection using a modified Bayesian information criterion. It is found that concerning detection accuracy and detection speed, the proposed method shows better performance than the hypothesis-testing method. Two advantages of the proposed method are also discussed.

Using Scale Mixtures Of Normals To Model Continuously Compounded Returns, Hasan Hamdan, John Nolan, Melanie Wilson, Kristen Dardia

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

A new method for estimating the parameters of scale mixtures of normals (SMN) is introduced and evaluated. The new method is called UNMIX and is based on minimizing the weighted square distance between exact values of the density of the scale mixture and estimated values using kernel smoothing techniques over a specified grid of x-values and a grid of potential scale values. Applications of the method are made in modeling the continuously compounded return, CCR, of stock prices. Modeling this ratio with UNMIX proves promising in comparison with other existing techniques that use only one normal component, or those that …