24,873 research outputs found
encompasslabs/mcsdss-watermark: Watermark v0.3.1
No full text<p>Watermark MCSDSS An Interactive Multi-Criteria Spatial Decision Support System for Conflict Resolution</p>
<p>This release marks the alpha release of the source code for the Watermark project, a geo-spatially situated multi-user web-enabled decision support system for conflict resolution in negotiated spaces. The Watermark project is being developed internally at the Texas Advanced Computing Center of the University of Texas at Austin. The goal of the project is to provide a platform that allows users to accomplish simple data ETL (commonly ESRi shapefiles, csv and tabular data) then process, analyze and visualize their data in a persistent, shareable and publishable format for the purposes of informing decision makers and stakeholders during the negotiation of resources and resource management policies, especially as relates to common pool resources. The combination of scientific data with current standards-based web and mapping technologies results in an intuitive and informative platform that can be repurposed towards any knowledge domain to facilitate users of the system in identifying the relationships between science, social needs, and legislative mandates and the resultant impacts of changes to those factors on the situational outcome. Watermark future capabilities will also provide mechanisms to identify candidate solutions for user generated scenarios based on preferences and weighting parameters that can drive the participants in the dialog towards those best practices which align with all desired goals and outcomes.</p>
<p>Live Demo</p>
<p>http://watermark.encompass.tacc.utexas.edu/#!/index</p>
<p>Attribution</p>
<p>Project Lead and Principle Investigator: Dr. Pierce, SA Ph.D. Lead Programmer and Developer: Gentle, JN B.S.</p>
<p>Citation</p>
<p>Pierce, SA and Gentle, J., 2016, Watermark: Multi-Criteria Spatial Decision Support System</p>
The construction of Karen Karnak: The multi-author-function
No full textThis thesis is situated within the comparatively recent developments of Web 2.0 and the emergence of interactive WikiMedia, and explores the mode of authorship within a Read/Write culture compared to that of a Read/Only tradition. The hypothesis of this study is that the role of the audience has become merged with the author, and as such, represents new functions and attributes, distinct from a more conventional concept of authorship, in which the roles of audience and author are more separate. Read/Write and participatory culture, as defined by this study, is focused on collaboration, and includes the influences of D.I.Y. culture, Open-Source practices and the production of text by multiple authors. Multi-authorship presents a re-thinking of several concepts which support the notion of the individual author, since the focus of multi-authorship is not on attribution and ownership of a finished text, but on the continued malleability of a text. Modes of multi-authorship, demonstrated in the use of the pseudonyms Alan Smithee and Karen Eliot, represent declarative authors whose names signify multiple origins, whilst concurrently indicating a distinct body of work. The function of these names form an important context to this study, since primary research involves the construction of an experimental mode of multi-authorship utilising WikiMedia technology and the interaction of thirty nine participants, who are invited to create a body of work under the collective pseudonym Karen Karnak. The data generated by this experiment is analysed using aspects of Michel Foucault's author-function to identify and determine power structures inherent in the WikiMedia context. The interplay of power structures, including concepts such as identity, ownership and the body of work, affect the resulting mode of authorship and contribute to the construction of Karen Karnak, suggesting further areas of research into the emerging multi-author
Language Change and SA-OT: The case of sentential negation
No full textSimulated Annealing for Optimality Theory (SA-OT) updates Optimality Theory by adding a model of performance to a theory of linguistic competence. Our aim is to show that SA-OT can contribute to language change simulations. Performance "errors" are considered to be one of the causes of variation and change. We have chosen to model the evolution of sentential negation (SN). The descriptive background adopts Jespersen's Cycle, according to which the evolution of sentential negation follows three main stages (1. pre-verbal, 2. discontinuous, and 3. post-verbal). Therefore, we advance a novel model for SN, based on SA-OT. It reproduces the three pure and the two observed mixed stages, whereas it correctly predicts the lack of an intermediate stage between 3 and 1. The success of the approach corroborates the computational, performance-based approach to the data. Finally, we employ the iterated learning paradigm to reproduce historical changes in a "simulated corpus study". This enterprise turns out to be more difficult than one would naively believe.Appeared open access as: Computational Linguistics in the Netherlands Journal (CLIN), vol. 1 (2011), pp. 21-40, and is available at http://www.clinjournal.org/sites/default/files/Lopopolo.pdfA. Lopopolo and Biró, T., “Language Change and SA-OT. The case of sentential negation”, Computational Linguistics in the Netherlands Journal, vol. 1, pp. 21-40, 2011.Peer Reviewe
Reactance to Transgressors: Why Authorities Deliver Harsher Penalties When the Social Context Elicits Expectations of Leniency
No full textThis paper combines experimental and field data to examine how authorities with discretion over how rules are enforced penalize transgressors when the social context of the transgression elicits expectations of leniency. Specifically, we test how transgressors are punished when it is their birthday: a day that triggers expectations of lenient treatment. First, in three scenario studies we explore individuals’ intuitions about how they would behave and expect to be treated if they transgressed on their birthdays, as well as how they would imagine penalizing a birthday transgressor. Second, using more than 134,000 arrest records for drunk driving in Washington State, we establish that police officers penalize drivers more harshly when it is their birthday. Then, in a lab experiment in which we grant participants discretion over enforcing the rules of an essay-writing contest, we test psychological reactance toward transgressors who make their birthday salient, even subtly, as the mechanism behind this increased stringency. We rule out several alternative explanations for this effect, including public safety concerns, negative affect and overcompensation for bias. We conclude with a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications of our findings for the literatures on punishment, rule-breaking, and legal transgressions
Pima Indian man, Sa-Vaughn, Pima, Arizona, ca.1900
No full textPhotograph of a Pima Indian man, Sa-Vaughn, Pima, Arizona, ca.1900. He is lounging in a semi-recline against a low dirt embankment resting from working on an irrigation dam (not visible). His right hand lays near the handle of a shovel. He is wearing a a striped shirt and dark trousers. His long dark hair hangs to his shoulders. A wagon is partially visible parked in the brush behind him. A mountain range is visible in the background
The carboxy-terminal domains of erbB-2 and epidermal growth factor receptor exert different regulatory effects on intrinsic receptor tyrosine kinase function and transforming activity.
No full textAquiferium Project v1.5.1
No full text<p> </p>
<p>The Aquiferium Project Geospatially Situated Interactive Hydrogeology for the Web</p>
<p>This release marks the beta release of the source code for the Aquiferium project, a geo-spatially situated hydrogeology based scientific interactive web application. The Aquiferium project was a collaboration between the Edwards Aquifer Authority and Encompass Labs from the Center for Agile Technology at the University of Texas at Austin. The goal of the project was to combine scientific data with cutting edge web and mapping technologies to produce an engaging and informative interactive experience focused around the San Antonio (or Southern) segment of the Balcones Fault Zone of the Edwards Aquifer.</p>
<p>Live Demo</p>
<p>http://aquiferium.encompassproject.org/</p>
<p>Attribution</p>
<ul>
<li>Project Lead and Principle Investigator: Dr. Pierce, SA</li>
<li>Lead Programmer and Developer: Gentle, JN BS</li>
</ul>
<p>Gentle, J. and Pierce, SA, 2015, The Aquiferium Project: Geospatially Situated Interactive Hydrogeology for the Web.</p>
Pima Indian woman, To-Mas-sa, the wife of Ho-Dutch, carrying a pottery jar on her head enroute to planting corn, ca.1900
No full textPhotograph of a Pima Indian woman, To-Mas-sa, the wife of Ho-Dutch, carrying a pottery jar on her head en route to planting corn, ca.1900. The jar is balanced on a ring on top of her head. She carries a shovel in her left hand. A woven mat or container(?) sits at her feet. She is wearing a long light dress and is barefoot. Brush is visible in the desert behind her
Self-pierce riveting for sheet materials : state of the art
No full textSelf-pierce riveting (SPR) is a high-speed mechanical fastening technique for point joining of sheet materials. It is used heavily in the automotive sector due to the growing use of alternative materials such as aluminium and magnesium alloys and the difficulty in welding these. Published works relating to SPR is reviewed in this paper. The mechanics of joint formation and the types of defects that may occur are introduced. The main mechanical properties of SPR joints such as strength, corrosion properties and free vibration properties are discussed. The prediction of joint distortion when SPR is used to create structures and the cost effects of the technique are also introduced. The objective of this paper is to review recent progress in SPR usage and to provide a basis for further research. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Stakeholder research CoVE Water SA: CoVE Water SA the umbrella for all stakeholders
No full textThe water and sanitation sector faces well-documented issues that are challenging to address, leading to the establishment of the Platform of Vocational Excellence (PoVE) Water. This platform brings together five regional Centers of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) Water in Europe and South Africa to ensure high-quality skills and competencies in the water sector. These CoVEs facilitate collaboration among stakeholders, enabling the development of vocational education and training programs to increase awareness, responsiveness to industry needs, and address sector challenges. A few months ago, CoVE Water SA was established in South Africa to achieve the previously mentioned goals. Therefore, it is important that the following research question is answered in this initial set-up phase: What actions need to be taken to enhance the effectiveness of the CoVE Water SA? To answer this research question, several important stakeholders were interviewed. Subsequently, the interviews were analysed thematically in order to extract the most important themes and quotes, PI grids were created to assess power and interest dynamics among stakeholders, and a Social Network Analysis was conducted to understand the CoVE Water SA network and potential clusters.The research findings have unveiled key aspects for enhancing the effectiveness of CoVE Water SA. The current network in the water sector has a low density, implying that many collaborations are lacking. This leads to a high degree of interdependence within the network, resulting in a non dynamic system. The lack of collaborations, such as connections with TVET colleges, schools, farmers and local communities, results in a lack of knowledge, funding and connection to the labour market. Governmental stakeholders, like DWS, EWSeta, and BGCMA, have been identified as influential players with extensive networks and important resources, Local Authorities and Research Organizations also play important roles. Universities exhibit substantial international links, making them crucial contributors. These stakeholders have the potential to provide knowledge, collaboration, and power. These are valuable insights for CoVE Water SA, fostering network growth and effectiveness in the water sector. Furthermore, six key themes have been derived from the conducted interviews, addressing the needs of stakeholders and where CoVE can make a valuable contribution. These themes include raising awareness, reducing the skills gap in the water sector, fostering international collaborations, mitigating the labour shortage in the water sector, improving education material and establishing desired collaborations. For each theme, the interviewed stakeholders have presented their views and numerous suggestions on how CoVE Water SA can assist in addressing these issues. Additionally, stakeholders have also mentioned possible failures of CoVE Water SA, which can aid in preventing any shortcomings of the platform. Furthermore, stakeholders mentioned ongoing initiatives related to the six themes, through which they can contribute to the platform. From the Thematic Analysis, PI Grids and the SNA, a set of actions have emerged that are essential for enhancing the effectiveness of CoVE Water SA. These actions revolve around expanding and enhancing the network, organising activities and contributing to educational improvement. In terms of broadening and strengthening the network, the platform should focus on enhancing the collaborations among educational groups, building stronger relations with international institutions in Europe and Africa, involving TVETs and schools within the water network, improving stakeholder involvement and encouraging the involvement of Local Communities to increase awareness and knowledge about water issues. Furthermore, CoVE Water SA should play a role in organising activities to raise awareness of Water Resource Management. Additionally, it should assist in improving curricula, supporting students’ preparation for the workforce and making the education more practical instead of only theoretical. CoVE Water SA should also provide training and learning resources as well as comprehensive courses.However, this study recognizes several limitations that should be considered in future research and when implementing recommendations for CoVE Water SA. These limitations encompass factors like a limited scope due to resource and time constraints, minimal varied interviewee responses, and potential biases in responses. Addressing these limitations will be crucial in guiding future research and actions for CoVE Water SA.CEGM3000Civil Engineerin
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