Quantifying Siting Difficulty: A Case Study of U.S. Transmission Line Siting

The worldwide demand for new energy infrastructures has been paralleled in recent years by the increasing difficulty of siting major facilities. Siting difficulty is the subject of widespread discussion, but because of the complexity of the problem, potential solutions are not obvious or well understood. This paper presents a two-step policy-level framework that first develops an empirical measure of siting difficulty and then quantitatively assesses its major causes. The approach is based on the creation and aggregation of four siting indicators that are independent of the common causes and localized effects of siting problems. The proposed framework is demonstrated for the case of U.S. transmission line siting. Results of the analyses reveal significant variations in state siting difficulty and industry experts’ perceptions of its dominant causes, with implications for the long-term success of Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and knowledge transfer among siting professionals in the deregulated industry.electric transmission lines, facilities siting, public opposition, Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs), siting difficulty

Evaluating Lotteries, Risks, and Risk-mitigation Programs

Two experiments were designed to explore the existence of systematic differences in risk perceptions and risk attitudes between Chinese and U.S. participants. The first experiment involved ranking monetary lotteries using measures of perceived riskiness and WTP. Several simple heuristics were evaluated to predict perceived riskiness and WTP. Using WTP responses, cumulative prospect theory functions were determined for participants from both countries. Compared to their U.S. counterparts, Chinese participants are found to be less risk averse and to have higher within group agreement for each task. The second experiment involved ranking real-world risks and associated risk-mitigation programs using measures of concern and preference, respectively. Conjoint analysis reveals additional cultural differences in the perception and evaluation of multi-attribute risks and risk-mitigation programs. The cross-cultural versus cross-task variation are discussed.

Solving Vertex Cover in Polynomial Time on Hyperbolic Random Graphs

The VertexCover problem is proven to be computationally hard in different ways: It is NP-complete to find an optimal solution and even NP-hard to find an approximation with reasonable factors. In contrast, recent experiments suggest that on many real-world networks the run time to solve VertexCover is way smaller than even the best known FPT-approaches can explain. Similarly, greedy algorithms deliver very good approximations to the optimal solution in practice. We link these observations to two properties that are observed in many real-world networks, namely a heterogeneous degree distribution and high clustering. To formalize these properties and explain the observed behavior, we analyze how a branch-and-reduce algorithm performs on hyperbolic random graphs, which have become increasingly popular for modeling real-world networks. In fact, we are able to show that the VertexCover problem on hyperbolic random graphs can be solved in polynomial time, with high probability. The proof relies on interesting structural properties of hyperbolic random graphs. Since these predictions of the model are interesting in their own right, we conducted experiments on real-world networks showing that these properties are also observed in practice. When utilizing the same structural properties in an adaptive greedy algorithm, further experiments suggest that, on real instances, this leads to better approximations than the standard greedy approach within reasonable time

On the External Validity of Average-Case Analyses of Graph Algorithms

The number one criticism of average-case analysis is that we do not actually know the probability distribution of real-world inputs. Thus, analyzing an algorithm on some random model has no implications for practical performance. At its core, this criticism doubts the existence of external validity, i.e., it assumes that algorithmic behavior on the somewhat simple and clean models does not translate beyond the models to practical performance real-world input. With this paper, we provide a first step towards studying the question of external validity systematically. To this end, we evaluate the performance of six graph algorithms on a collection of 2751 sparse real-world networks depending on two properties; the heterogeneity (variance in the degree distribution) and locality (tendency of edges to connect vertices that are already close). We compare this with the performance on generated networks with varying locality and heterogeneity. We find that the performance in the idealized setting of network models translates surprisingly well to real-world networks. Moreover, heterogeneity and locality appear to be the core properties impacting the performance of many graph algorithms

Modernist Manipulation: Virginia Woolf\u27s Effort to Distort Time in Three Novels

This paper explores three works by Virginia Woolf, studying her evolution as a modernist writer through Woolf’s experimentations with manipulating time in each novel. Woolf’s techniques are analyzed in the context of the modernist movement, including artistic and scientific influences, as well as being analyzed within the three works to note their development over time. Focusing on one aspect of Woolf’s work, the depiction of time, allows for an understanding of both the modernist techniques used to manipulate time and the author’s developing ability to manipulate those techniques. The seeds of modernism found in Woolf’s early works, particularly The Voyage Out, influenced the more radically modern results contained in the later works To the Lighthouse and The Waves. This study of the progression of Woolf’s work allows readers to appreciate Woolf’s early novels as stand-alone works as well as in context with her later works

Barney Davis to Naval Base Cultural Resources Survey of County Parcel, Nueces County, Texas

Electric Transmissions Texas contracted Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company, Inc. to perform a background review and cultural resources survey for the Barney Davis to Naval Base 138 kilovolt Transmission Line Project (Project) in Nueces County, Texas. The following report provides information regarding the Project and includes the methods and results of the cultural resources background review and survey of a 0.06-acre area (Survey Area) on a Nueces County-owned parcel within a portion of the Project. The survey was performed under Texas Antiquities Permit 7746. No previously recorded archaeological sites were identified within the Survey Area during the background review and no new sites were recorded during the survey. No further evaluation of the Survey Area is recommended

The Ubiquitous B-tree: Volume II

Major developments relating to the B-tree from early 1979 through the fall of 1986 are presented. This updates the well-known article, The Ubiquitous B-Tree by Douglas Comer (Computing Surveys, June 1979). After a basic overview of B and B+ trees, recent research is cited as well as descriptions of nine B-tree variants developed since Comer\u27s article. The advantages and disadvantages of each variant over the basic B-tree are emphasized. Also included are a discussion of concurrency control issues in B-trees and a speculation on the future of B-trees

Working with Immigrant and Refugee Deaf Students: Strategies and Decision-Making Processes of Interpreters

This study investigates the work of educational interpreters working with D/deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) students who are refugees or immigrants. This investigation occurs at the intersection of several fields of study: American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting, Deaf education, and immigrant and refugee education. Despite the overlap in these fields found in interpreters’ work with DHH refugee and immigrant students, to date no research has studied this work. This pilot study, conducted through four interviews of interpreters working in K-12 settings with DHH refugees and immigrants, explores the current practices of these interpreters in these settings. These practices are current practices and are not to be considered best practices. Interviews focus on the strategies interpreters use, as well as the decision-making processes behind these strategies. Results from this study suggest that interpreters use communication with the educational team, frequently outside of interpreting, with the goals of a) problem-solving and collaborating, b) following or making alterations to the IEP, and c) fostering student-teacher relationships. Interpreters also use communication strategies with DHH refugee and immigrant students during and outside of interpreting, including a) modifying the interpreter’s language use, b) taking on additional responsibilities, c) establishing and maintaining relationships with students, d) monitoring student comprehension, e) fostering students’ self-esteem, and f) encouraging communication with parents in order to foster DHH refugee and immigrant students’ linguistic, academic, social, and emotional growth. The interpreters in this study also communicate with DHH refugee and immigrant students’ peers and use interpreting strategies to facilitate interactions with DHH refugee and immigrant students and educators or peers. Interpreters use these strategies to foster the growth and success of DHH refugee and immigrant students in K-12 environments

Evaluating lotteries, risks, and risk mitigation programs : a comparison of China and the United States

Two experiments were designed to explore the existence of systematic differences in risk perceptions and risk attitudes between Chinese and U.S. participants. The first experiment involved ranking monetary lotteries using measures of perceived riskiness and WTP. Several simple heuristics were evaluated to predict perceived riskiness and WTP. Using WTP responses, cumulative prospect theory functions were determined for participants from both countries. Compared to their U.S. counterparts, Chinese participants are found to be less risk averse and to have higher within group agreement for each task. The second experiment involved ranking real-world risks and associated risk-mitigation programs using measures of concern and preference, respectively. Conjoint analysis reveals additional cultural differences in the perception and evaluation of multi-attribute risks and risk-mitigation programs. The cross-cultural versus cross-task variation are discussed