Evaluation of Control Structures for Stabilizing Degrading Stream Channels in Western Iowa, Phases II and III, HR-208A, 1985

Since the turn of the century, tributaries to the Missouri River in western Iowa have entrenched their channels to as much as six times their original depth. This channel degradation is accompanied by widening as the channel side slopes become unstable and landslides occur. The deepening and widening of these streams have endangered about 25% of the highway bridges in 13 counties [Lohnes et al. 1980]. Grade stabilization structures have been recommended as the most effective remedial measure for stream degradation [Brice et al., 1978]. In western Iowa, within the last seven years, reinforced concrete grade stabilization structures have cost between $300,000 and $1,200,000. Recognizing that the high cost of these structures may be prohibitive in many situations, the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) sponsored a study at Iowa State University (ISU) to find low-cost alternative structures. This was Phase I of the stream degradation study. Analytical and laboratory work led to the conclusion that alternative construction materials such as gabions and soil-cement might result in more economical structures [Lohnes et al. 1980]. The ISU study also recommended that six experimental structures be built and their performance evaluated. Phase II involved the design of the demonstration structures, and Phase III included monitoring and evaluating their performance.

Spatial Scale of Clustering of Motor Vehicle Crash Types and Appropriate Countermeasures, 2009

This project analyzes the characteristics and spatial distributions of motor vehicle crash types in order to evaluate the degree and scale of their spatial clustering. Crashes occur as the result of a variety of vehicle, roadway, and human factors and thus vary in their clustering behavior. Clustering can occur at a variety of scales, from the intersection level, to the corridor level, to the area level. Conversely, other crash types are less linked to geographic factors and are more spatially “random.” The degree and scale of clustering have implications for the use of strategies to promote transportation safety. In this project, Iowa's crash database, geographic information systems, and recent advances in spatial statistics methodologies and software tools were used to analyze the degree and spatial scale of clustering for several crash types within the counties of the Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments. A statistical measure called the K function was used to analyze the clustering behavior of crashes. Several methodological issues, related to the application of this spatial statistical technique in the context of motor vehicle crashes on a road network, were identified and addressed. These methods facilitated the identification of crash clusters at appropriate scales of analysis for each crash type. This clustering information is useful for improving transportation safety through focused countermeasures directly linked to crash causes and the spatial extent of identified problem locations, as well as through the identification of less location-based crash types better suited to non-spatial countermeasures. The results of the K function analysis point to the usefulness of the procedure in identifying the degree and scale at which crashes cluster, or do not cluster, relative to each other. Moreover, for many individual crash types, different patterns and processes and potentially different countermeasures appeared at different scales of analysis. This finding highlights the importance of scale considerations in problem identification and countermeasure formulation.

The establishment of communication systems depends on the scale of competition

How communication systems emerge and remain stable is an important question in both cognitive science and evolutionary biology. For communication to arise, not only must individuals cooperate by signaling reliable information, but they must also coordinate and perpetuate signals. Most studies on the emergence of communication in humans typically consider scenarios where individuals implicitly share the same interests. Likewise, most studies on human cooperation consider scenarios where shared conventions of signals and meanings cannot be developed de novo. Here, we combined both approaches with an economic experiment where participants could develop a common language, but under different conditions fostering or hindering cooperation. Participants endeavored to acquire a resource through a learning task in a computer-based environment. After this task, participants had the option to transmit a signal (a color) to a fellow group member, who would subsequently play the same learning task. We varied the way participants competed with each other (either global scale or local scale) and the cost of transmitting a signal (either costly or noncostly) and tracked the way in which signals were used as communication among players. Under global competition, players signaled more often and more consistently, scored higher individual payoffs, and established shared associations of signals and meanings. In addition, costly signals were also more likely to be used under global competition; whereas under local competition, fewer signals were sent and no effective communication system was developed. Our results demonstrate that communication involves both a coordination and a cooperative dilemma and show the importance of studying language evolution under different conditions influencing human cooperation.

Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Human System Audit Short-Scale of Transformational Leadership

The aim of this research is to examine the psychometric properties of a Spanish version of the Human System Audit transformational leadership short-scale (HSA-TFL-ES). It is based on the concept of Bass developed in 1985. The HSA-TFL is a part of the wider Human System Audit frame. We analyzed the HSA-TFL-ES in five different samples with a total number of 1,718 workers at five sectors. Exploratory Factor Analysis corroborated a single factor in all samples that accounted for 66% to 73% of variance. The internal consistency in all samples was good (α = .92 - .95). Evidence was found for the convergent validity of the HSA-TFL-ES and the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire. These results suggested that the HSA-TFL short-scale is a psychometrically sound measure of this construct and can be used for a combined and first overall measurement.

La escala de análisis: un tema central en didáctica de la geografía = The scale of analysis a central didactic theme in Geography

Geographical scale is not merely a technical question. The learning of geographical scale goes beyond geometricunderstanding; it implies the etymological comprehension of the concept, the recognition of the importance of scale in theelaboration of the geographical discourse. It implies placing oneself in the centre of the teaching and learning of Geographyand asking oneself, what scale? Why this scale? What progression of scales? The answer to these questions puts in doubtthe scientific discourse that is presently taught in schools especially on the scale of analysis, the sequencing of studiedspaces and the false dichotomy local and global

Analysis of electricity distribution network operation business models and capitalization of control room functions with DMS

Electricity distribution network operation (NO) models are challenged as they are expected to continue to undergo changes during the coming decades in the fairly developed and regulated Nordic electricity market. Network asset managers are to adapt to competitive technoeconomical business models regarding the operation of increasingly intelligent distribution networks. Factors driving the changes for new business models within network operation include: increased investments in distributed automation (DA), regulative frameworks for annual profit limits and quality through outage cost, increasing end-customer demands, climatic changes and increasing use of data system tools, such as Distribution Management System (DMS). The doctoral thesis addresses the questions a) whether there exist conditions and qualifications for competitive markets within electricity distribution network operation and b) if so, identification of limitations and required business mechanisms. This doctoral thesis aims to provide an analytical business framework, primarily for electric utilities, for evaluation and development purposes of dedicated network operation models to meet future market dynamics within network operation. In the thesis, the generic build-up of a business model has been addressed through the use of the strategicbusiness hierarchy levels of mission, vision and strategy for definition of the strategic direction of the business followed by the planning, management and process execution levels of enterprisestrategy execution. Research questions within electricity distribution network operation are addressed at the specified hierarchy levels. The results of the research represent interdisciplinary findings in the areas of electrical engineering and production economics. The main scientific contributions include further development of the extended transaction cost economics (TCE) for government decisions within electricity networks and validation of the usability of the methodology for the electricity distribution industry. Moreover, DMS benefit evaluations in the thesis based on the outage cost calculations propose theoretical maximum benefits of DMS applications equalling roughly 25% of the annual outage costs and 10% of the respective operative costs in the case electric utility. Hence, the annual measurable theoretical benefits from the use of DMS applications are considerable. The theoretical results in the thesis are generally validated by surveys and questionnaires.

System for studies of control strategies applied in the refrigerated chambers

The process of cold storage chambers contributes largely to the quality and longevity of stored products. In recent years, it has been intensified the study of control strategies in order to decrease the temperature change inside the storage chamber and to reduce the electric power consumption. This study has developed a system for data acquisition and process control, in LabVIEW language, to be applied in the cooling system of a refrigerating chamber of 30m³. The use of instrumentation and the application developed fostered the development of scientific experiments, which aimed to study the dynamic behavior of the refrigeration system, compare the performance of control strategies and the heat engine, even due to the controlled temperature, or to the electricity consumption. This system tested the strategies for on-off control, PID and fuzzy. Regarding power consumption, the fuzzy controller showed the best result, saving 10% when compared with other tested strategies.

Influence of distance, geometry and number of control stations on quality of local geodetic networks for the purpose of georeferencing of rural properties

The implementation of local geodetic networks for georeferencing of rural properties has become a requirement after publication of the Georeferencing Technical Standard by INCRA. According to this standard, the maximum distance of baselines to GNSS L1 receivers is of 20 km. Besides the length of the baseline, the geometry and the number of geodetic control stations are other factors to be considered in the implementation of geodetic networks. Thus, this research aimed to examine the influence of baseline lengths higher than the regulated limit of 20 km, the geometry and the number of control stations on quality of local geodetic networks for georeferencing, and also to demonstrate the importance of using specific tests to evaluate the solution of ambiguities and on the quality of the adjustment. The results indicated that the increasing number of control stations has improved the quality of the network, the geometry has not influenced on the quality and the baseline length has influenced on the quality; however, lengths higher than 20 km has not interrupted the implementation, with GPS L1 receiver, of the local geodetic network for the purpose of georeferencing. Also, the use of different statistical tests, both for the evaluation of the resolution of ambiguities and for the adjustment, have enabled greater clearness in analyzing the results, which allow that unsuitable observations may be eliminated.

Viitekehyksen kehitys, kehykseen perustuvat tutkimukset ja niiden anti : case: Levers of Control

Tutkielmassa tarkastellaan yrityksen strategian ja ohjauksen yhdistävän Levers of Control -viitekehyksen syntymistä ja kehittymistä nykyiseen muotoonsa. Lisäksi tutkimus perehtyy viitekehystä hyödyntävien tieteellisten tutkimusten antiin strategian ja ohjausjärjestelmien ymmärtämisessä sekä näiden tutkimusten antia itse viitekehykselle. Tutkielma on luonteeltaan käsiteanalyyttinen, analysoiden aiheesta julkaistua aikaisempaa kirjallisuutta. Kirjallisuus on rajattu viitekehyksen kehittäjän Robert Simonsin aiheesta kirjoittamaan materiaaliin sekä eri journaaleista löytyvään viitekehystä hyödyntävään aineistoon. Vaikka viitekehys on luotu myös käytännön toimijoiden avuksi, on tähän liittyvä aineisto kuitenkin rajattu tässä tutkielmassa pois tarkastelusta. Viitekehyksen kehityksen havaitaan noudattavan hermeneuttisen kehän piirteitä, sillä kehityksessä voidaan nähdä neljä erilaista vaihetta: esiymmärrys, esikehys, idea viitekehyksestä ja varsinaisen viitekehyksen vaihe. Kutakin näistä kehistä analysoidaan erikseen ja kaikkia vielä yhdessä. Havaitaan myös, että viitekehyksestä käyty vähäinen diskurssi on pääosin positiivista tunnustaen viitekehyksen ansiot mutta myös ongelmat myönnetään. Viitekehysanalyysin jälkeen siirrytään tarkastelemaan viitekehystä hyödyntävää materiaalia. Huomataan, että nämä tutkimusartikkelit voidaan luokitella neljään pääkategoriaan: empiriapohjaisiin, viitekehystä teoreettisesti hyödyntäviin, viitekehystä kehittämään pyrkiviin sekä opetustarkoituksessa kirjoitettuihin artikkeleihin. Näitä pääkategorioita analysoidaan usein eri tavoin erillisinä sekä yhtenä kokonaisuutena. Eri tutkimusartikkeleiden tuloksia on hankala kuitenkin yhdistää viitekehyksessä olevan ongelman takia: useimpien käytännön pohjalta luotujen selitysmallien tapaan Levers of Control –viitekehyksen käsitteet eivät ole yksiselitteisiä ja sama ongelma on nähtävissä myös viitekehystä hyödyntäneissä tutkimuksissa. Joitakin suuntaa antavia tuloksia interaktiivisuuden roolista ja dynaamisesta jännitteestä voidaan kuitenkin tehdä. Tiedeyhteisö ei ole hyväksynyt Levers of Control –viitekehystä varsinaiseksi teoriaksi. Tutkielmassa todetaan, että teoria-statuksen saaminen ei ole mahdotonta, mutta teoriaksi nousemiseen viitekehyksellä on kuitenkin vielä reilusti matkaa. Ennen sitä on havaitut ongelmat kyettävä ratkaisemaan ja löydettävä hyödyntämisen rajat. Ensimmäisiä askeleita tähän suuntaan ovat viitekehystä hyödyntämään pyrkivät tutkimusartikkelit pyrkineet jo kuitenkin ottamaan. Tutkielmassa tullaan siihen loppupäätelmään, että viitekehys on tällä hetkellä kehityskaarensa toisessa vaiheessa, sillä viitekehystä koskeva kirjoittelu keskittyy perustutkimukseen, arvolatautuneen kriittisen tutkimuksen puuttuessa vielä kokonaan.

Study of Control Methods of a High-Frequency Cycloconverter for Domestic Induction Heating Appliances

A high-frequency cyclonverter acts as a direct ac-to-ac power converter circuit that does not require a diode bidge rectifier. Bridgeless topology makes it possible to remove forward voltage drop losses that are present in a diode bridge. In addition, the on-state losses can be reduced to 1.5 times the on-state resistance of switches in half-bridge operation of the cycloconverter. A high-frequency cycloconverter is reviewed and the charging effect of the dc-capacitors in ``back-to-back'' or synchronous mode operation operation is analyzed. In addition, a control method is introduced for regulating dc-voltage of the ac-side capacitors in synchronous operation mode. The controller regulates the dc-capacitors and prevents switches from reaching overvoltage level. This can be accomplished by variating phase-shift between the upper and the lower gate signals. By adding phase-shift between the gate signal pairs, the charge stored in the energy storage capacitors can be discharged through the resonant load and substantially, the output resonant current amplitude can be improved. The above goals are analyzed and illustrated with simulation. Theory is supported with practical measurements where the proposed control method is implemented in an FPGA device and tested with a high-frequency cycloconverter using super-junction power MOSFETs as switching devices.

Citizen Jane : exploring the relationship between gender and cellular phones in societies of control

In this thesis, I argue that the mutually productive relationship between women (as gendered subjects) and cellular phone technology is one of control. Women use cellular phones to organize, manage and otherwise control the multiplicity of tasks required of them on a daily basis. At the same time, through using cell phones, women participate in regimes of control including surveillance and persistent connection. I explore this relationship at the level of everyday practice, and conclude by speculating about this relationship at a wider level of social control and organization. This argument emerges from the critical approach suggested by Slack and Wise (2005), who argue that technology and culture are inseparable. They provide articulations and assemblages as tools of analysis. I situate this analysis more broadly within Foucault's (1991) work on govemmentality, in its modem form of societies of control (Deleuze, 1995b).

Multifactorial interaction of growth factors on Penaeus monodon lymphoid cells and the impact of IGFs in DNA synthesis and metabolic activity in vitro

Development of continuous cell lines from shrimp is essential to investigate viral pathogens. Unfortunately, there is no valid cell line developed from crustaceans in general and shrimps in particular to address this issue. Lack of information on the requirements of cells in vitro limits the success of developing a cell line, where the microenvironment of a cell culture, provided by the growthmedium, is of prime importance. Screening and optimization of growth medium components based on statistical experimental designs have been widely used for improving the efficacy of cell culture media. Accordingly, we applied Plackett–Burman design and response surface methodology to study multifactorial interactions between the growth factors in shrimp cell culture medium and to identify the most important ones for growth of lymphoid cell culture from Penaeus monodon. The statistical screening and optimization indicated that insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin like growth factor-II (IGF-II) at concentrations of 100 and 150 ng ml-1, respectively, could significantly influence the metabolic activity and DNA synthesis of the lymphoid cells. An increase of 53 % metabolic activity and 24.8 % DNA synthesis could be obtained, which suggested that IGF-I and IGFII had critical roles in metabolic activity and DNA synthesis of shrimp lymphoid cells

Validation of the Scale of Preferences and Expectations in Close Interpersonal Relationships (EPERIC)

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n

Construction and psychometric characteristics of the Self-Concept Scale of Interaction in the Classroom

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n