Transformations for compositional data with zeros with an application to forensic evidence evaluation

In forensic science likelihood ratios provide a natural way of computing the value of evidence under competing propositions such as "the compared samples have originated from the same object" (prosecution) and "the compared samples have originated from different objects" (defence). We use a two-level multivariate likelihood ratio model for comparison of forensic glass evidence in the form of elemental composition data under three data transformations: the logratio transformation, a complementary log-log type transformation and a hyperspherical transformation. The performances of the three transformations in the evaluation of evidence are assessed in simulation experiments through use of the proportions of false negatives and false positives

Impacts of Stress on Adolescents

Stress is a state of mental or emotonal strain or tension resultng from adverse or extremely demanding circumstances. Stress is important because it is a problem that everyone will most likely deal with. I researched the causes of stress, the effects that stress has on the body, as well as ways to cope with stress efficiently in adolescents

Using Humor and Science to Become Happier and Healthier

A review of the book The Laughing Guide to Well-Being by Isaac Prilleltensky

Construction ceramic materials using ash waste from thermal power plants

Ceramic wall materials occupy a leading position in the construction market due to their physico-mechanical, thermal properties, durability, environmental friendliness and architectural expressiveness. The industry of ceramic building materials is one of the most material and energy-intensive industries. In the total amount of fuel consumed in the construction complex, the costs for the production of ceramic bricks are 4.6%. Therefore, the rational use of fuel, raw materials and other material resources is becoming a decisive factor in the competitiveness of ceramic wall materials in the construction market. Coal ash is a by-product of the burning of mineral coal in thermal power plants. This residue is responsible for many environmental problems because it pollutes the soil, water and air. Therefore, it is important to find ways to reuse it. In this regard, the issue of using ash and slag waste from thermal power plants in the production of wall ceramic products becomes urgent. The aim of the master's thesis is to develop compositions and study the properties of a ceramic crock using ash waste from Thermal Power Station. The main results of the work: The influence of the Stahiment 2000 MZh30 superplasticizer on the strength and density of a ceramic crock from clays of the Osetka deposit was studied, the results on the physic-mechanical characteristics of a ceramic crock containing ash waste from the Belorussian Thermal Power Station Orekhovsk were obtained

Caught in the Middle: The Need for Uniformity in International Child Custody Dispute Cases

Article published in the Michigan State International Law Review

Investigation of the Thermal Effects on the Flow Resisting Properties of Hydrocarbon Flow in a Pipeline Using CFD Simulation

Deepwater transportation of hydrocarbon reservoirs is commonly transported through subsea flowlines to surface processing facilities. During the transportation, the flowlines and the contents may be cooled to a deepwater temperature of 3ºC. Depending on the hydrocarbon fluids behavior and characteristics, this colder seabed may cause increased in viscosity and/or solidification of wax in the flowline. Severe wax deposition may lead to several problems in reduced production and impaired flow assurance which may eventually block the flowline. This problem will cause very high maintenance cost for cleaning work and could be very time consuming. Therefore, the subsea flowline temperature should be maintained above the Wax Appearance Temperature (WAT, 314K) by heat from an active heating system. The wax appearance temperature (WAT) is the temperature at which the crude oil first precipitates solid wax. This is possibly the single most important characteristic in examining wax deposition potential in crude oil. In this thermal management of active heating system, hot fluid such as water will circulate along the pipeline in a flow-loop to maintain the temperature and avoid solid depositions during both flowing and shut-down conditions. The purpose of this project is to investigate the effect of thermal on the flow resisting properties of hydrocarbon flow in a pipeline using simulation. The simulation is performed using Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulation software (GAMBIT and FLUENT) to provide a pipeline bundle arrangement design that has the most effective heat transfer mechanism and has been validated with data generated from experimental activities

Atlas archéologique de Touraine

L’Atlas archéologique de Touraine a été entrepris dans le cadre d’un projet collectif de recherche (PCR) du ministère de la Culture, piloté par le Laboratoire Archéologie et Territoires (UMR 7324 CITERES-LAT). Sa réalisation réuni 82 auteurs appartenant à diverses institutions (CNRS, Université, Inrap, Conseil général, ministère de la Culture, etc.). Il comprend : une publication électronique en accès libre, qui comprenant notices, cartes et documents. Son but est de faire un bilan des connai..

Les établissements d’enseignement supérieur artistique et culturel relevant du ministère de la Culture et de la Communication : Année scolaire 2008-2009

L’enseignement supérieur artistique et culturel en France se caractérise par une grande diversité institutionnelle. Il relève d’établissements publics et privés de taille et de statut très variés. Certains d’entre eux sont des établissements publics à vocation nationale sous tutelle du ministère de la Culture et de la Communication, d’autres dépendent des ministères chargés de l’Éducation nationale et de l’Enseignement supérieur, d’autres encore sont des établissements gérés par des collectivités territoriales. Dans certains domaines, tels que l’archéologie ou la gestion et médiation culturelles par exemple, les formations sont essentiellement assurées par les universités. Enfin, un large éventail de formations préparant aux différents métiers de la culture est proposé par de nombreuses écoles du secteur privé. Les données présentées concernent les établissements d’enseignement supérieur artistique et culturel relevant du ministère de la Culture et de la Communication qui dispensent des formations initiales