Annotated bibliography of observations on Illinois water resources 1673-1850

This study is concerned with the development of the water resources to the middle of the nineteenth century. The works involved in it are the French accounts of their travels in the Illinois Country in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries; the accounts of the later eighteenth century, during the British period (1763-1783) when the Northwest was closed by royal proclamation to settlement; and the accounts of the nineteenth century when settlement began, primarily in the southern part of the State and, less formally, in the lead region of the northwest corner. By the middle of the century, Illinois reached the stage of sophisticated development; the Federal lands in the State had, almost all been entered, and the frontier had moved westward. An introductory text illustrates the nature of the findings, both as to observations, as well as the influence of the resources themselves, on the growth of the State of Illinois. An extensively annotated bibliography consists of travel narratives and descriptive accounts of Illinois written by observers who were in the State or who wrote of the State between the years 1673 and 1850. These limits were chosen because the first recorded European set foot on Illinois soil in 1673, and after the middle of the nineteenth century the official State and Federal geological reports can be relied upon. The works included in this list were chosen because the authors of them recorded observations bearing on the state of the water resources in Illinois at the time of their visits or publication. The entries in the bibliography consist of the titles, an introductory and summary paragraph, and the pertinent selections from the works.U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological SurveyOpe

Multiobjective in-core fuel management optimisation for nuclear research reactors

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2016.ENGLISH SUMMARY : The efficiency and effectiveness of fuel usage in a typical nuclear reactor is influenced by the specific arrangement of available fuel assemblies in the reactor core positions. This arrangement of assemblies is referred to as a fuel reload configuration and usually has to be determined anew for each operational cycle of a reactor. Very often, multiple objectives are pursued simultaneously when designing a reload configuration, especially in the context of nuclear research reactors. In the multiobjective in-core fuel management optimization (MICFMO) problem, the aim is to identify a Pareto optimal set of compromise or trade-off reload configurations. Such a set may then be presented to a decision maker (i.e. a nuclear reactor operator) for consideration so as to select a preferred configuration. In the first part of this dissertation, a secularization-based methodology for MICFMO is pro- posed in order to address several shortcomings associated with the popular weighting method often employed in the literature for solving the MICFMO problem. The proposed methodology has been implemented in a reactor simulation code, called the OSCAR-4 system. In order to demonstrate its practical applicability, the methodology is applied to solve several MICFMO problem instances in the context of two research reactors. In the second part of the dissertation, an extensive investigation is conducted into the suitability of several multiobjective optimization algorithms for solving the constrained MICFMO problem. The computation time required to perform the investigation is reduced through the usage of several artificial neural networks constructed in the dissertation for objective and constraint function evaluations. Eight multiobjective metaheuristics are compared in the context of a test suite of several MICFMO problem instances, based on the SAFARI-1 research reactor in South Africa. The investigation reveals that the NSGA-II, the P-ACO algorithm and the MOOCEM are generally the best-performing metaheuristics across the problem instances in the test suite, while the MOVNS algorithm also performs well in the context of bi-objective problem instances. As part of this investigation, a multiplicative penalty function (MPF) constraint handling technique is also proposed and compared to an existing constraint handling technique, called constrained-domination. The comparison reveals that the MPF technique is a competitive alternative to constrained-domination. In an attempt to raise the level of generality at which MICFMO may be performed and potentially improve the quality of optimization results, a multiobjective hyperheuristic, called the AMALGAM method, is also considered in this dissertation. This hyperheuristic incorporates multiple metaheuristic sub-algorithms simultaneously for optimization. Testing reveals that the AMALGAM method yields superior results in the majority of problem instances in the test suite, thus achieving the dual goal of raising the level of generality and of yielding improved optimization results. The method has also been implemented in the OSCAR-4 system and is applied to solve several MICFMO case study problem instances, based on two research reactors, in order to demonstrate its practical applicability. Finally, in the third part of this dissertation, a conceptual framework is proposed for an optimization-based personal decision support system, dedicated to MICFM. This framework may serve as the basis for developing a computerized tool to aid nuclear reactor operators in designing suitable reload configurations.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Die doeltreffendheid en doelmatigheid van brandstofverbruik in 'n tipiese kernreaktor word deur die spesieke rangskikking van beskikbare brandstofelemente in die laaiposisies van die reaktor beinvloed. Hierdie rangskikking staan bekend as 'n brandstof herlaaikongurasie en word gewoonlik opnuut bepaal vir elke operasionele siklus van 'n reaktor. Die gelyktydige optimering van veelvuldige doele word dikwels tydens die ontwerp van 'n herlaaikongurasie nagestreef, veral binne die konteks van navorsingsreaktore. Die doelwit van meerdoelige binne-kern brandstofbeheeroptimering (MBKBBO) is om 'n Pareto optimale versameling van herlaaikongurasieafruilings te identiseer. So 'n versameling mag dan vir oorweging (deur byvoorbeeld 'n kernreaktoroperateur) voorgele word sodat 'n voorkeurkongurasie gekies kan word. In die eerste gedeelte van hierdie proefskrif word 'n skalariseringsgebaseerde metodologie vir MBKBBO voorgestel om verskeie tekortkominge in die gewilde gewigverswaringsmetode aan te spreek. Laasgenoemde metode word gereeld in die literatuur gebruik om die MBKBBO probleem op te los. Die voorgestelde metodologie is in 'n reaktorsimulasiestelsel, bekend as die OSCAR-4 stelsel, geimplementeer. Om die praktiese toepasbaarheid daarvan te demonstreer, word die metodologie gebruik om 'n aantal MBKBBO probleemgevalle binne die konteks van twee navorsingsreaktore op te los. In die tweede gedeelte van die proefskrif word 'n uitgebreide ondersoek ingestel om die geskiktheid van verskeie meerdoelige optimeringsalgoritmes vir die oplos van die beperkte MBKBBO probleem te bepaal. Die berekeningstyd wat vir die ondersoek benodig word, word verminder deur die gebruik van kunsmatige neurale netwerke, wat in die proefskrif gekonstrueer word, om doelfunksies en beperkings te evalueer. Agt meerdoelige metaheuristieke word binne die konteks van verskeie MBKBBO toetsprobleemgevalle vergelyk wat op die SAFARI-1 navorsingsreaktor in Suid-Afrika gebaseer is. Toetse dui daarop dat die NSGA-II, die P-ACO algoritme en die MOOCEM oor die algemeen die beste oor al die toetsprobleemgevalle presteer. Die MOVNS algoritme presteer ook goed in die konteks van tweedoelige probleemgevalle. 'n Vermenigvuldigende boetefunksie (VBF) beperkinghanteringstegniek word ook voorgestel en vergelyk met 'n bestaande tegniek bekend as beperkte dominasie. Daar word bevind dat the VBF tegniek 'n mededingende alternatief tot beperkte dominasie is. 'n Poging word aangewend om die vlak van algemeenheid waarmee MBKBBO uitgevoer word, te verhoog, asook om potensieel die kwaliteit van die optimeringsresultate te verbeter. 'n Meerdoelige hiperheuristiek, bekend as die AMALGAM metode, word in die nastreef van hierdie twee doelwitte oorweeg. Die metode funksioneer deur middel van die gelyktydige insluiting van 'n aantal metaheuristieke deel-algoritmes. Toetse dui daarop dat the AMALGAM metode beter resultate vir die meerderheid van toetsprobleme lewer, en dus word die bogenoemde twee doelwitte bereik. Die metode is ook in the OSCAR-4 stelsel ge mplementeer en word gebruik om 'n aantal MBKBBO gevallestudie probleemgevalle (binne die konteks van twee navorsingsreaktore) op te los. Sodoende word die praktiese toepasbaarheid van die metode gedemonstreer. In die derde deel van die proefskrif word 'n konseptuele raamwerk laastens vir 'n optimeringsgebaseerde persoonlike besluitsteunstelsel gemik op MBKBB, voorgestel. Hierdie raamwerk mag as grondslag dien vir die ontwikkeling van 'n gerekenariseerde hulpmiddel vir kernreaktoroperateurs om aanvaarbare herlaaikongurasies te ontwerp.Doctora

Multilingualism and augmentative and alternative communication in South Africa – exploring the views of persons with complex communication needs

BACKGROUND : Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can assist persons with complex communication needs to communicate competently with a variety of communication partners in a variety of contexts. However, AAC systems and intervention often do not take multilingual aspects into consideration. OBJECTIVE : This small-scale exploratory study had three aims, namely: (1) to describe the self-reported language skills of multilingual South African adults using AAC, (2) to describe the languages and communication modalities they used in interaction and (3) to obtain their views regarding access to various languages. METHODS : Twenty-seven adults using AAC were recruited via an empowerment programme, as well as an email list for persons interested in AAC, and provided responses to a questionnaire. To compensate for access and written language challenges, the questionnaire was administered with help and/or as a face-to-face interview where needed. Responses were analysed using mostly descriptive statistics. RESULTS : Participants generally could not express themselves in all the languages they understood and were regularly exposed to. Speech-generating devices specifically gave access almost exclusively to English. Participants expressed a desire to increase their expressive language repertoire, and mentioned both limitations of communication technology as well as their own literacy skills as barriers to overcome in this regard. CONCLUSION : In order for multilingual South African adults using AAC to express themselves in multiple languages, appropriate AAC systems and interventions as well as literacy learning opportunities need to be developed and provided.The National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Research Office of the University of Pretoria (grant number TTK 150617119597).http://www.ajod.orghj2019Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC

Initial Experience with a New Self-Expanding Open-Cell Stent System with Antithrombotic Hydrophilic Polymer Coating (pEGASUS Stent) in the Treatment of Wide-Necked Intracranial Aneurysms

Purpose We report our initial experience with endovascular embolization of intracranial aneurysms using this new self-expanding open-cell stent system (pEGASUS stent system) with the antithrombogenic hydrophilic polymer coating. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients treated with stent-assisted coiling or the Woven EndoBridge device using the pEGASUS stent system between September 2022 and June 2023. Demographic, clinical, and angiographic data were analyzed as well as short-term follow-up, including procedural complication rates and aneurysmal occlusion rates using the Raymond–Roy occlusion classification (RROC). Results Twelve patients with 12 wide-necked intracranial aneurysms were treated with the pEGASUS stent system, including 2 acutely ruptured aneurysms embolized in an emergency setting. The treated aneurysms were located at the anterior communicating artery (25.0%), the basilar artery (50.0%), the middle cerebral artery (16.7%), and the internal carotid artery (8.3%). All stents were deployed successfully. Immediate complete aneurysmal occlusion (RROC class I) was achieved in 83.3% (10/12) and near-complete occlusion (RROC II) in 16.7% (2/12). No periprocedural complications occurred in patients treated in the elective setting. A single case of intraoperative in-stent thrombus formation occurred during the treatment of an acutely ruptured basilar aneurysm and was resolved with intravenous Tirofiban. No other periprocedural complications occurred. Eleven out of 12 patients were available for follow up (mean 7.4 months). Complete aneurysmal occlusion without in-stent stenosis (ISS) was seen in 10 patients (90.9%). One patient (9.1%) showed aneurysmal reperfusion (RROC IIIb) with asymptomatic moderate ISS. Conclusion Our initial results demonstrate that the pEGASUS stent system appears to be a safe and effective device for stent assisted embolization of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. More data is necessary to evaluate long-term follow-up

14C and 13C characteristics of higher plant biomarkers in Washington margin surface sediments

Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2012. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Elsevier for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 105 (2013): 14-30, doi:10.1016/j.gca.2012.11.034.Plant wax lipids and lignin phenols are the two most common classes of molecular markers that are used to trace vascular plant-derived OM in the marine environment. However, their 13C and 14C compositions have not been directly compared, which can be used to constrain the flux and attenuation of terrestrial carbon in marine environment. In this study, we describe a revised method of isolating individual lignin phenols from complex sedimentary matrices for 14C analysis using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and compare this approach to a method utilizing preparative capillary gas chromatography (PCGC). We then examine in detail the 13C and 14C compositions of plant wax lipids and lignin phenols in sediments from the inner and mid shelf of the Washington margin that are influenced by discharge of the Columbia River. Plant wax lipids (including n-alkanes, n-alkanoic (fatty) acids, n-alkanols, and n-aldehydes) displayed significant variability in both δ13C (-28.3 to -37.5 ‰) and ∆14C values (-204 to +2 ‰), suggesting varied inputs and/or continental storage and transport histories. In contrast, lignin phenols exhibited similar δ13C values (between -30 to -34 ‰) and a relatively narrow range of ∆14C values (-45 to -150 ‰; HPLC-based mesurement) that were similar to, or younger than, bulk OM (-195 to -137 ‰). Moreover, lignin phenol 14C age correlated with the degradation characteristics of this terrestrial biopolymer in that vanillyl phenols were on average ~500 years older than syringyl and cinnamyl phenols that degrade faster in soils and sediments. The isotopic characteristics, abundance, and distribution of lignin phenols in sediments suggest that they serve as promising tracers of recently biosynthesized terrestrial OM during supply to, and dispersal within the marine environment. Lignin phenol 14C measurements may also provide useful constraints on the vascular plant end member in isotopic mixing models for carbon source apportionment, and for interpretation of sedimentary records of past vegetation dynamics. Key words: 14C and 13C composition, radiocarbon age, plant wax lipids, lignin phenols, Washington margin, marine carbon cycling, terrestrial organic matterGrants OCE-9907129, OCE-0137005, and OCE-0526268 (to TIE) from the National Science Foundation (NSF) supported this research

Ontwerpondersoek van steunhidrovleuels vir 'n 10 meter katamaran boot

Proefskrif (M.Ing) -- Universiteit van Stellenbosch, 1986.Full text to be digitised and attached to bibliographic record

Decision support for generator maintenance scheduling in the energy sector

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As the world-wide consumption of electricity continually increases, more and more pressure is put on the capabilities of power generating systems to maintain their levels of power provision. The electricity utility companies operating these power systems are faced with numerous challenges with respect to ensuring reliable electricity supply at cost-e ective rates. One of these challenges concerns the planned preventative maintenance of a utility's power generating units. The generator maintenance scheduling (GMS) problem refers to the problem of nding a schedule for the planned maintenance outages of generating units in a power system (i.e. determining a list of dates corresponding to the times when every unit is to be shut down so as to undergo maintenance). This is typically a large combinatorial optimisation problem, subjected to a number of power system constraints, and is usually difficult to solve. A mixed-integer programming model is presented for the GMS problem, incorporating constraints on maintenance windows, the meeting of load demand together with a safety margin, the availability of maintenance crew and general exclusion constraints. The GMS problem is modelled by adopting a reliability optimality criterion, the goal of which is to level the reserve capacity. Three objective functions are presented which may achieve this reliability goal; these objective functions are respectively quadratic, nonlinear and linear in nature. Three GMS benchmark test systems (of which one is newly created) are modelled accordingly, but prove to be too time consuming to solve exactly by means of an o -the-shelf software package. Therefore, a metaheuristic solution approach (a simulated annealing (SA) algorithm) is used to solve the GMS problem approximately. A new ejection chain neighbourhood move operator in the context of GMS is introduced into the SA algorithm, along with a local search heuristic addition to the algorithm, which results in hybridisations of the SA algorithm. Extensive experiments are performed on di erent cooling schedules within the SA algorithm, on the classical and ejection chain neighbourhood move operators, and on the modi cations to the SA algorithm by the introduction of the local search heuristic. Conclusions are drawn with respect to the e ectiveness of each variation on the SA algorithm. The best solutions obtained during the experiments for each benchmark test case are reported. It is found that the SA algorithm, with ejection chain neighbourhood move operator and a local search heuristic hybridisation, achieves very good solutions to all instances of the GMS problem. The hybridised simulated annealing algorithm is implemented in a computerised decision support system (DSS), which is capable of solving any GMS problem instance conforming to the general formulation described above. The DSS is found to determine good maintenance schedules when utilised to solve a realistic case study within the context of the South African power system. A best schedule attaining an objective function value within 6% of a theoretical lowerbound, is thus produced.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Met die wêreldwye elektrisiteitsverbruik wat voortdurend aan die toeneem is, word daar al hoe meer druk geplaas op die vermoë van kragstelsels om aan kragvoorsieningsaanvraag te voldoen. Nutsmaatskappye wat elektrisiteit opwek, word deur talle uitdagings met betrekking tot betroubare elektrisiteitsverskaffing teen koste-e ektiewe tariewe in die gesig gestaar. Een van hierdie uitdagings het te make met die beplande, voorkomende instandhouding van 'n nutsmaatskappy se kragopwekkingseenhede. Die generator-instandhoudingskeduleringsprobleem (GISP) verwys na die probleem waarin 'n skedule vir die beplande instandhouding van kragopwekkingseenhede binne 'n kragstelsel gevind moet word ('n lys van datums moet tipies gevind word wat ooreenstem met die tye wanneer elke kragopwekkingseenheid afgeskakel moet word om instandhoudingswerk te ondergaan). Hierdie probleem is tipies 'n groot kombinatoriese optimeringsprobleem, onderworpe aan 'n aantal beperkings van die kragstelsel, en is gewoonlik moeilik om op te los. 'n Gemengde, heeltallige programmeringsmodel vir die GISP word geformuleer. Die beperkings waaruit die formulering bestaan, sluit in: venstertydperke vir instandhouding, bevrediging van die vraag na elektrisiteit tesame met 'n veiligheidsgrens, die beskikbaarheid van instandhoudingspersoneel en algemene uitsluitingsbeperkings. Die GISP-model neem as optimaliteitskriterium betroubaarheid en het ten doel om die reserwekrag wat gedurende elke tydperk beskikbaar is, gelyk te maak. Drie doelfunksies word gebruik om laasgenoemde doel te bereik (naamlik doelfunksies wat onderskeidelik kwadraties, nie-lineêr en lineêr van aard is). Drie GISP-maatstaftoetsstelsels (waarvan een nuut geskep is) is dienooreenkomstig gemodelleer, maar dit blyk uit die oplossingstye dat daar onprakties lank gewag sal moet word om eksakte oplossings deur middel van kommersiële programmatuur vir hierdie stelsels te kry. Gevolglik word 'n metaheuristiese oplossingsbenadering ('n gesimuleerde temperingsalgoritme (GTA)) gevolg om die GISP benaderd op te los. 'n Nuwe uitwerpingsketting-skuifoperator word in die konteks van GISP in die GTA gebruik. Verder word 'n lokale soekheuristiek met die GTA vermeng om 'n basteralgoritme te vorm. Uitgebreide eksperimente word uitgevoer op verskeie afkoelskedules binne die GTA, op die klassieke en uitwerpingsketting-skuifoperators en op die verbasterings van die GTA meegebring deur die lokale soekheuristiek. Gevolgtrekkings word oor elke variasie van die GTA se e ektiwiteit gemaak. Die beste oplossings vir elke toetsstelsel wat gedurende die eksperimente verkry is, word gerapporteer. Daar word bevind dat die GTA met uitwerpingsketting-skuifoperator en lokale soekheuristiek-verbastering baie goeie oplossings vir die GISP lewer. Die verbasterde GTA word in 'n gerekenariseerde besluitsteunstelsel (BSS) geïmplementeer wat 'n gebruiker in staat stel om enige GISP van die vorm soos in die wiskundige programmeringsmodel hierbo beskryf, op te los. Daar word bevind dat die BSS goeie skedules lewer wanneer dit gebruik word om 'n realistiese gevallestudie binne die konteks van die Suid-Afrikaanse kragstelsel, op te los. 'n Beste skedule met 'n doelfunksiewaarde wat binne 6% vanaf 'n teoretiese ondergrens is, word ondermeer bepaal

Archbishop Rotrou of Rouen (1164-1183): A Career Churchman in the Twelfth-Century

232 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1973.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD

A discourse model of affect for text-to-speech synthesis

This paper introduces a model of affect to improve prosody in text-to-speech synthesis. It operates on the discourse level of text to predict the underlying linguistic factors that contribute towards emotional appraisal, rather than any particular surface emotion itself. The architecture of the model is described and its performance is evaluated on three levels—its predictive accuracy on text, its effect on natural speech and its effect on synthesised speech.http://www.prasa.org/index.php/2012-03-07-10-55-1