Phase change indicators for subambient temperatures

Evaluation of organic compounds for temperature indicators for subambient temperature

Preparation and characterization of the Pyrrones as thermal structural materials

Development of technique for preparing foam materials to be used as thermal structural components in spacecraft constructio

Fast Model Identification via Physics Engines for Data-Efficient Policy Search

This paper presents a method for identifying mechanical parameters of robots or objects, such as their mass and friction coefficients. Key features are the use of off-the-shelf physics engines and the adaptation of a Bayesian optimization technique towards minimizing the number of real-world experiments needed for model-based reinforcement learning. The proposed framework reproduces in a physics engine experiments performed on a real robot and optimizes the model's mechanical parameters so as to match real-world trajectories. The optimized model is then used for learning a policy in simulation, before real-world deployment. It is well understood, however, that it is hard to exactly reproduce real trajectories in simulation. Moreover, a near-optimal policy can be frequently found with an imperfect model. Therefore, this work proposes a strategy for identifying a model that is just good enough to approximate the value of a locally optimal policy with a certain confidence, instead of wasting effort on identifying the most accurate model. Evaluations, performed both in simulation and on a real robotic manipulation task, indicate that the proposed strategy results in an overall time-efficient, integrated model identification and learning solution, which significantly improves the data-efficiency of existing policy search algorithms.Comment: IJCAI 1

Manufacture and Testing of an Activation Foil Package for Use in AFIDS

This study used simulation and experiment to design and test foil packets for use in the Activation Foil Integrated Detection System (AFIDS). The initial plan to activate foil packets outside with the pulse reactor at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) was not possible due to WSMR not having safety approval to take the reactor outside. As an alternative, the concept of using liquid nitrous oxide inside a reactor to simulate large volumes of air was investigated. Simulation using the Standardized Computer Analyses for Licensing Evaluation (SCALE) program was used to select ten foils to be included in the foil packet. The size was selected with a target activity of 25 Bq for each foil four days after the activation when located 500 meters from a five kiloton equivalent neutron weapon. We analyzed whether N2O could replicate large volumes of air in neutron transport experiments since one cubic centimeter of liquid N2O contains as many molecules as 1371 cubic centimeters of air. A neutron propagating through the liquid N2O should react like a neutron propagating through 1371 times as much air. Actual testing could not be completed at the Ohio State University Research Reactor due to hazardous levels of radiation in the facility during testing. The results of the simulation showed that pragmatic experimental factors inhibit use of the reactor in this way and an outside test is still required to provide the information Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) needs to validate the methodology used in Domestic Nuclear Event Attribution (DNEA)

A Diet and Reproductive Study for Selected Species of Malaysian Turtles

Batagur baska, Callagur borneoensis, Cuora amboinensis, Cyclemys dentata, Orlitia borneensis, Siebenrockiella crassicollis, and Trionyx cartilagineus are suggested to be omnivorous by diet analysis. Cyclemys and Orlitia are the more herbivorous of the seven species examined. Batagur and Callagur are two closely related sympatric species that appear to have diverged sufficiently to eliminate competition for food resourses, as indicated by Morista\u27s Index of Niche Overlap. Along the Perak River and it\u27s tributaries in West Malaysia, Batagur and Callagur feed primarily upon the fruit of the berembang tree. In Trengganu (eastern Malaysia), the berembang is absent or rare along the rivers, thus other fruits and leaves make up the diet of these two species. Two other species share similar habitats, Cuora and Siebenrockiella. They also appear to have eliminated competition for food resourses. Cuora tends to be more herbivorous feeding along the shoreline and Siebenrockiella more of a scavenger. Little is known about the diet of Orlitia. Based on one individual\u27s two fecal samples, Orlitia is herbivorous. Examined for certain reproductive characters were Cuora amboinensis, Cyclemys dentata, and Siebenrockiella crassicollis. Cuora appears to be a seasonal nester on the east (involving April, May, and June) and west (including at least October and and November) coasts of West Malaysia. Nesting occurs during the dry periods; between the northeast and southwest monsoons. Clutch size is small with relatively large eggs and the reproductive potential is at least six eggs per nesting season. Cyclemys is also a seasonal nester (May and June on east coast and at least March on the west coast). They produce one or two clutches of large eggs with a reproductive potential around three to five eggs per season. Siebenrockiella is a seasonal nester in the east coast drainages (prior to June and again in December). It is not conclusive if they are seasonal nesters on the west coast drainages (some activity in January and October). Siebenrockiella lays multiple clutches (as does Cuora) of relatively large eggs with a reproductive potential of six to nine eggs per season. Cyclemys has a slightly different nesting strategy than Cuora and Siebenrockiella. It is suggested that Cyclemys\u27 nesting strategy is to reduce predation of the nesting female. Whereas, Cuora\u27s and Siebenrockiella\u27s strategy is to prevent predation on the eggs. Cuora, Cyclemys and Siebenrockiella compromise with a reproductive strategy found among semi-aquatic, tropical turtles

A Diet and Reproductive Study for Selected Species of Malaysian Turtles

Batagur baska, Callagur borneoensis, Cuora amboinensis, Cyclemys dentata, Orlitia borneensis, Siebenrockiella crassicollis, and Trionyx cartilagineus are suggested to be omnivorous by diet analysis. Cyclemys and Orlitia are the more herbivorous of the seven species examined. Batagur and Callagur are two closely related sympatric species that appear to have diverged sufficiently to eliminate competition for food resourses, as indicated by Morista\u27s Index of Niche Overlap. Along the Perak River and it\u27s tributaries in West Malaysia, Batagur and Callagur feed primarily upon the fruit of the berembang tree. In Trengganu (eastern Malaysia), the berembang is absent or rare along the rivers, thus other fruits and leaves make up the diet of these two species. Two other species share similar habitats, Cuora and Siebenrockiella. They also appear to have eliminated competition for food resourses. Cuora tends to be more herbivorous feeding along the shoreline and Siebenrockiella more of a scavenger. Little is known about the diet of Orlitia. Based on one individual\u27s two fecal samples, Orlitia is herbivorous. Examined for certain reproductive characters were Cuora amboinensis, Cyclemys dentata, and Siebenrockiella crassicollis. Cuora appears to be a seasonal nester on the east (involving April, May, and June) and west (including at least October and and November) coasts of West Malaysia. Nesting occurs during the dry periods; between the northeast and southwest monsoons. Clutch size is small with relatively large eggs and the reproductive potential is at least six eggs per nesting season. Cyclemys is also a seasonal nester (May and June on east coast and at least March on the west coast). They produce one or two clutches of large eggs with a reproductive potential around three to five eggs per season. Siebenrockiella is a seasonal nester in the east coast drainages (prior to June and again in December). It is not conclusive if they are seasonal nesters on the west coast drainages (some activity in January and October). Siebenrockiella lays multiple clutches (as does Cuora) of relatively large eggs with a reproductive potential of six to nine eggs per season. Cyclemys has a slightly different nesting strategy than Cuora and Siebenrockiella. It is suggested that Cyclemys\u27 nesting strategy is to reduce predation of the nesting female. Whereas, Cuora\u27s and Siebenrockiella\u27s strategy is to prevent predation on the eggs. Cuora, Cyclemys and Siebenrockiella compromise with a reproductive strategy found among semi-aquatic, tropical turtles

Improving the Functional Control of Aged Ferroelectrics using Insights from Atomistic Modelling

We provide a fundamental insight into the microscopic mechanisms of the ageing processes. Using large scale molecular dynamics simulations of the prototypical ferroelectric material PbTiO3, we demonstrate that the experimentally observed ageing phenomena can be reproduced from intrinsic interactions of defect-dipoles related to dopant-vacancy associates, even in the absence of extrinsic effects. We show that variation of the dopant concentration modifies the material's hysteretic response. We identify a universal method to reduce loss and tune the electromechanical properties of inexpensive ceramics for efficient technologies.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Predictors of postsecondary success for students with autism spectrum disorder

Field of study: Educational leadership and policy analysis.Dr. Paul Watkins, Dissertation Supervisor.Includes vita."May 2018."The purpose of this quantitative study was to analyze the impact of three predicting factors, low socioeconomic status (SES), participation in community based work experience (CBWE) programs, and the presence of multiple disability diagnoses, on postsecondary outcomes of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The case study specifically analyzed postsecondary outcomes of 70 high school students with an educational diagnosis of ASD, who graduated from public, self-contained special education secondary schools during the 2014-2017 academic years. Postsecondary outcomes were measured through data gathered by the school district's Graduate Six Month Follow Up questionnaire. Study results found no statistically significant impact of any predictor variables on postsecondary outcomes. Results also indicated no significant relationship between the three predictor variables. Limitations of the study include sample size, qualification for free and reduced lunch, data collection tools, and time frames. Implications for practice and future research opportunities are discussed.Includes bibliographical reference

GEVALT: An integrated software tool for genotype analysis

BACKGROUND: Genotype information generated by individual and international efforts carries the promise of revolutionizing disease studies and the association of phenotypes with alleles and haplotypes. Given the enormous amounts of public genotype data, tools for analyzing, interpreting and visualizing these data sets are of critical importance to researchers. In past works we have developed algorithms for genotypes phasing and tag SNP selection, which were shown to be quick and accurate. Both algorithms were available until now only as batch executables. RESULTS: Here we present GEVALT (GEnotype Visualization and ALgorithmic Tool), a software package designed to simplify and expedite the process of genotype analysis, by providing a common interface to several tasks relating to such analysis. GEVALT combines the strong visual abilities of Haploview with our quick and powerful algorithms for genotypes phasing (GERBIL), tag SNP selection (STAMPA) and permutation testing for evaluating significance of association. All of the above are provided in a visually appealing and interactive interface. CONCLUSION: GEVALT is an integrated viewer that uses state of the art phasing and tag SNP selection algorithms. By streamlining the application of GERBIL and STAMPA together with strong visualization for assessment of the results, GEVALT makes the algorithms accessible to the broad community of researchers in genetics