A Study of the Correlation Between Grade Point Averages and Scholastic Aptitude Test Scores at Tallwood High School 1995-1996

This study was used to gain information about the success of high school students with regard to grade point averages and SAT scores. The hypothesis established for this research was: High school students with higher grade point averages will also earn higher SAT scores

Optimistic Concurrency Control for Distributed Unsupervised Learning

Research on distributed machine learning algorithms has focused primarily on one of two extremes - algorithms that obey strict concurrency constraints or algorithms that obey few or no such constraints. We consider an intermediate alternative in which algorithms optimistically assume that conflicts are unlikely and if conflicts do arise a conflict-resolution protocol is invoked. We view this "optimistic concurrency control" paradigm as particularly appropriate for large-scale machine learning algorithms, particularly in the unsupervised setting. We demonstrate our approach in three problem areas: clustering, feature learning and online facility location. We evaluate our methods via large-scale experiments in a cluster computing environment.Comment: 25 pages, 5 figure

On the existence of infinitely many closed geodesics on orbifolds of revolution

Using the theory of geodesics on surfaces of revolution, we introduce the period function. We use this as our main tool in showing that any two-dimensional orbifold of revolution homeomorphic to S^2 must contain an infinite number of geometrically distinct closed geodesics. Since any such orbifold of revolution can be regarded as a topological two-sphere with metric singularities, we will have extended Bangert's theorem on the existence of infinitely many closed geodesics on any smooth Riemannian two-sphere. In addition, we give an example of a two-sphere cone-manifold of revolution which possesses a single closed geodesic, thus showing that Bangert's result does not hold in the wider class of closed surfaces with cone manifold structures.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures; for a PDF version see http://www.calpoly.edu/~jborzell/Publications/publications.htm

Simulation & Experiment Learning From Kinases In Cancer

The decreasing cost of genome sequencing technology has lead to an explosion of informa- tion about which mutations are frequently observed in cancer, demonstrating an important role in cancer progression for kinase domain mutations. Many therapies have been devel- oped that target mutations in kinase proteins that lead to constitutive activation. However, a growing body of evidence points to the serious dangers of many kinase ATP competitive inhibitors leading to paradoxical activation in non-constitutively active proteins. The large number of observed mutations and the critical need to only treat patients harboring activat- ing mutations with targeted therapies raises the question of how to classify the thousands of mutations that have been observed. We start with an in depth look at the state of knowl- edge of the distribution and effects of kinase mutations. We then report on computational methods to understand and predict the effects of kinase domain mutations. Using molecular dynamics simulations of mutant kinases, we show that there is a switch-like network of la- bile hydrogen bonds that are often perturbed in activating mutations. This is paired with a description of a software platform that has been developed to streamline the execution and analysis of molecular dynamics simulations. We conclude by examining a machine learning method to demonstrate what kinds information derived from protein sequence alone have the most value in distinguishing activating and non-activating mutations

Gravity Fed Water System

The Gravity Fed Water Project aims to provide direct access to safe and clean water to about 150 people in Sipacapa, Guatemala by using gravity to transport water from groundwater seeps down a mountain to the community. The project partners with the Mennonite Central Committee. Concrete intake structures will be built for various groundwater seeps, then water from those will be combined into one large concrete intake structure. The water will then be piped down to a concrete water tank which will help to store enough water for a day\u27s use for the village. There will then be piping going to two different locations which will each have a storage tank. The Gravity Fed Water team plans to travel to the site to install part of the system in the future, although the date is uncertain. While in Guatemala, onsite water testing will be done for bacterial coliforms and the intake structure and the piping to the first storage tank will be built.https://mosaic.messiah.edu/engr2020/1010/thumbnail.jp