Characterization Of Impact Damage And Fiber Reinforced Polymer Repair Systems For Metallic Utility Poles

Previous studies have demonstrated that the behavior of fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs) bonded to metallic utility poles are governed by the following failure modes; yielding of the metallic substrate, FRP tensile rupture, FRP compressive buckling, and debonding of FRP from the substrate. Therefore, an in situ method can be devised for the repair of utility poles, light poles, and mast arms that returns the poles to their original service strength. This thesis investigates the effect of damage due to vehicular impact on metallic poles, and the effectiveness of externally-bonded FRP repair systems in restoring their capacity. Damage is simulated experimentally by rapid, localized load application to pole sections, creating dents ranging in depth from 5 to 45% of the outer diameter. Four FRP composite repair systems were selected for characterization and investigation due to their mechanical properties, ability to balance the system failure modes, and installation effectiveness. Bending tests are conducted on dented utility poles, both unrepaired and repaired. Nonlinear finite element models of dented and repaired pole bending behavior are developed in MSC.Marc. These models show good agreement with experimental results, and can be used to predict behavior of full-scale repair system. A relationship between dent depth and reduced pole capacity is developed, and FRP repair system recommendations are presente

Life without the Beach: Projected Sea Level Rise and its Impact on Barrier Islands Along the East Coast, USA

As climate change is becoming a global issue, the impact of sea level rise is increasingly becoming a threat to humans, wildlife, infrastructure, and ecosystems. To evaluate the effects of sea level rise on barrier islands and coastal regions, we studied future projections of sea level rise at Ocean City and Assateague Island, Maryland. We hypothesize that the sea levels at Assateague and Ocean City will have different beach profiles, and will show different levels of flooding through the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) simulations. We measured beach profiles at four locations, two at Ocean City and two at Assateague Island, to view the current beach profiles and found that Ocean City reveals a smaller average change in elevation compared to Assateague. We also used a LiDAR Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of Ocean City and Assateague Island to run RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5 simulations using GIS to represent the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projected sea level rise for the year 2100. We found that Ocean City has higher predicted percentages of flooded land but smaller areas of flooded land compared to Assateague. These results indicate that significant areas of both Ocean City and Assateague Island will be flooded by 2100 regardless of which RCP simulation might be true. However, it is projected that the RCP 2.6 simulation is an underestimation of potential flooding and the future will more closely resemble the RCP 8.5 simulation if drastic precautions are not taken now. This will severely impact ecosystems, economies, and human life

Mobile Learning Features Preferred: An Examination of Students in the United Arab Emirates

The purpose of the current study was to examine the preferred mobile learning features higher education Emirati students use to make sense of mathematics and to determine if these Emirati students valued a mobile device as an essential tool to learn mathematics. Both students and instructors used the Texas Instruments Nspire: Computer Algebra System (CAS) App in a semester mathematics course. The app has such features as enter expressions in proper mathematics notation, import images, dynamically linked notes, share work across platforms (emails, iTunes, Dropbox, etc.), and save documents to mobile device. Participates included sixty-three undergraduate students enrolled in a mathematics course at Zayed University (Dubai campus, United Arab Emirates). Based on a pre- and post-survey, students\u27 positive perspectives of mathematics increased, negative perspectives decreased, and instructor influence on mobile learning increased. The pre- and post-questionnaire revealed an increase in the participants\u27 opinion that mobile learning is an essential tool to help make sense of mathematics

Influence of external information in the minority game

The influence of a fixed number of agents with the same fixed behavior on the dynamics of the minority game is studied. Alternatively, the system studied can be considered the minority game with a change in the comfort threshold away from half filling. Agents in the frustrated, non ergodic phase tend to overreact to the information provided by the fixed agents, leading not only to large fluctuations, but to deviations of the average occupancies from their optimal values. Agents which discount their impact on the market, or which use individual strategies reach equilibrium states, which, unlike in the absence of the external information provided by the fixed agents, do not give the highest payoff to the collective.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

Social organization in the Minority Game model

We study the role of imitation within the Minority Game model of market. The players can exchange information locally, which leads to formation of groups which act as if they were single players. Coherent spatial areas of rich and poor agents result. We found that the global effectivity is optimized at certain value of the imitation probability, which decreases with increasing memory length. The social tensions are suppressed for large imitation probability, but generally the requirements of high global effectivity and low social tensions are in conflict.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Physica

Statistical properties of the attendance time series in the minority game

We study the statistical properties of the attendance time series corresponding to the number of agents making a particular decision in the minority game (MG). We focus on the analysis of the probability distribution and the autocorrelation function of the attendance over a time interval in the efficient phase of the game. In this regime both the probability distribution and the autocorrelation function are shown to have similar behaviour for time differences corresponding to multiples of $2\cdot 2^{m}$, which is twice the number of possible history bit strings in a MG with agents making decisions based on the most recent $m$ outcomes of the game.Comment: 3 pages, 4 Postscript figures, \documentstyle[aps,epsf]{revtex

Ipad Integration: How Parents And Students Perceive Its Effectiveness

This study examined the impact of iPad integration on student motivation, engagement, and learning skills in a mathematics program. Subjects included 143 students aged 8 to 14 years old and 63 parents in an Indian-based school in Dubai where the national curriculum required the use of tablets be integrated into school subjects starting at grade three. All subjects responded to questions about how iPads could support learning math and the kind of challenges students faced. Classes were technology-driven using individualized learning groups and a variety of computer apps. Around 80 percent of the students indicated they understood new concepts better, were able to solve difficult math problems, and expected themselves to score better on their tests. It was found that providing instant access to a wide array of applications, resources, hands-on activities, and instant feedback can engage students and help them remain on task, especially those with special educational needs

El Farol Revisited

This article is concerned with the global behavior of agents in the El Farol bar problem. In particular, we discuss the global attendance in terms of its mean and variance, and show that there is a strong dependence of both on the externally imposed comfort level. We present a possible interpretation for the observed behavior, and propose that the mean attendance converges to the perceived threshold value as opposed to the actually imposed one.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Nonprofit Georgia At a Glance

This pamphlet summarizes statistics on the nonprofit sector in Georgia, assembled and analyzed by a Nonprofit Studies Program research team. Numerous tables and exhibits report on the size and scope of the sector, variations in public charities by subsector and geography, and the characteristics and grantmaking activities of Georgia's top foundations. Analysis was based primarily on 990 and 990-PF forms filed by Georgia public charities and foundations in 2000 and 2005. This report is a part of ongoing research on public charities and foundations in the state of Georgia, made possible through a generous grant from the Wilbur and Hilda Glenn Family Foundation. Research Report Number 07-0

The Association Between Smartphone Addiction and Mental Illness: Moderated by Social Support

Background: Smartphone addiction is a rising problem in the United States. The current study estimated the prevalence of smartphone addiction in Rhode Island young adults and its associations with mental illness. Methods: The 2022 Rhode Island Young Adult Survey measured smartphone addiction, depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation. Covariates included age, sex/gender minority status, race/ethnicity, and social status. Results: The prevalence of smartphone addiction was 34%. Odds of experiencing depression (OR[95%CI]=2.69 [2.05,3.52]), anxiety (OR[95%CI]=2.06 [1.58,2.69]), and suicide ideation (OR[95%CI]=1.55 [1.08,2.20]) were greater in participants with smartphone addiction. The relationship between smartphone addiction and depression was strongest in heterosexual cis-males (OR[95%CI] = 8.45 [3.53, 20.3]). Discussion: Smartphone addiction is prevalent among Rhode Island’s young adults and may be associated with depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation. Heterosexual cis-males may be particularly vulnerable. Clinic-based screening programs for all young adults, and particularly young men, should be considered