Research Think Tank: "Complexifying" International Communication and Communication Technology

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66530/2/10.1177_108056999706000413.pd

Assessment of post-wildfire debris flow occurrence using classifier tree

Besides the dangers of an actively burning wildfire, a plethora of other hazardous consequences can occur afterwards. Debris flows are among the most hazardous of these, being known to cause fatalities and extensive damage to infrastructure. Although debris flows are not exclusive to fire affected areas, a wildfire can increase a location’s susceptibility by stripping its protective covers like vegetation and introducing destabilizing factors such as ash filling soil pores to increase runoff potential. Due to the associated dangers, researchers are developing statistical models to isolate susceptible locations. Existing models predominantly employ the logistic regression algorithm; however, previous studies have shown that the relationship between the predictors and response is likely better predicted using nonlinear modeling. We therefore propose the use of nonlinear C5.0 decision tree algorithm, a simple yet robust algorithm that uses inductive inference for categorical data modelling. It employs a tree-like decision making system that makes conditional statements to split data into homogeneous classes. Our results showed the C5.0 approach to produce stable and higher validation metrics in comparison to the logistic regression. A sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 78% depicts improved predictive capability and gives credence to the hypothesis that data relationships are likely nonlinear

Utilizing vegetation indices as a proxy to characterize the stability of a railway embankment in a permafrost region

Degrading permafrost conditions around the world are posing stability issues for infrastructure constructed on them. Railway lines have exceptionally low tolerances for differential settlements associated with permafrost degradation due to the potential for train derailments. Railway owners with tracks in permafrost regions therefore make it a priority to identify potential settlement locations so that proper maintenance or embankment stabilization measures can be applied to ensure smooth and safe operations. The extensive discontinuous permafrost zone along the Hudson Bay Railway (HBR) in Northern Manitoba, Canada, has been experiencing accelerated deterioration, resulting in differential settlements that necessitate continuous annual maintenance to avoid slow orders and operational interruptions. This paper seeks to characterize the different permafrost degradation susceptibilities present at the study site. Track geometry exceptions were compared against remotely sensed vegetation indices to establish a relationship between track quality and vegetation density. This relationship was used as a proxy for subsurface condition verified by electrical resistivity tomography. The established relationship was then used to develop a three-level degradation susceptibility chart to indicate low, moderate and high susceptibility regions. The defined susceptibility regions can be used to better allocate the limited maintenance resources and also help inform potentially long-term stabilization measures for the severely affected sections

Internationalism, Technological Innovation, and New Associations: Bringing Change to Business Communication Research and Teaching

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68267/2/10.1177_108056999906200418.pd

Influence of statin use on clinicopathological characteristics of localized prostate cancer and outcomes obtained after radical prostatectomy: a single center study

To assess the impact of statin use on biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy (RP)