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The primary purpose of this study was to identify dimensions of weak tie relationships including characteristics (e.g., distinctive qualities, traits, or properties), functions (e.g., outcomes, purposes, or meanings derived from the interaction) and determinants of engagement to gain insight into the weak tie exchange process and develop frameworks that can be used to operationalize the concept. Data were collected through stories provided by participants during face-to-face interviews. Respondents recounted a situation when someone they did not know well and to whom they did not feel particularly close provided them with assistance. Over 70 stories were collected from 50 adults aged 65 and older who were active in their community. Stories collected were analyzed using an inductive approach that was supported by the concepts of interpersonal tie strength, loose connections, social exchange theory, and social support. Findings suggest that weak tie relationships occur in a variety of community settings and in response to a variety of daily challenges. The exchanges occur more frequently with acquaintances than strangers and the initiator of the exchange is generally the person offering support. The types of support offered are broad-based and include instrumental, emotional, and informational support. Weak tie exchanges range from one-time brief interactions to intermittent exchanges over extended periods, depending on the circumstances. Findings also suggest that weak ties have a specific task or purpose, encourage awareness about the value and purpose of social interactions, and influence participants' future social interactions. Six factors were identified as determinants of engagement in weak ties: situational factors, personal characteristics, judgments of responsibility, attitudes about helping behaviors, personal network type, and exchange history. The findings from this study provide a foundation for further conceptualization of weak ties and a framework on which to develop instruments to measure tie strength and the potential for engaging in weak tie exchanges. / Ph. D.

Many older adults are electing to age in place within their communities. Even though they may be frequent consumers of community programs and services, their role as contributors to community well-being should not be overlooked. Sense of community is a core dimension of well-being because the connections associated with sense of community are important for everyday life. The model in this study was developed to explore the effects of community connections (community capacity, ease of making connections, active participation in the community, and informal supports) and demographic variables on sense of community. A probability sample of 1,499 adults 65 years and older that resided in rural areas responded to questions concerning their sense of community and community connections. Using multiple regression analysis, results indicate that community capacity, ease of connecting with others in the community, and having an informal support network are significant in predicting sense of community. Nonsignificant associations were found with regard to participation in community activities, age, sex, health status, and length of time living in the county. These findings suggest that key dimensions of aging (age, sex, health status) are less relevant when addressing sense of community when compared to associations and connections. Factors that predict sense of community may be amenable to community-level interventions, thus allowing for the development of sense of community among community members, which could ultimately lead to their participation as community resources. / Master of Science

Distribution transformers are an essential part of any power distribution system. In order to thoroughly simulate and analyze such a system, accurate models must be developed that make use of readily available field data. In addition, unbalanced loading situations, which are encountered frequently in distribution transformer utilization, must be handled properly. These requirements form the basis for the modeling of the open-wye/open-delta and open-delta/open-delta distribution transformer connections. The Distribution Engineering Workstation (DEWorkstation), an Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) software package, is the environment in which the open bank connections are modeled. In particular, a load flow analysis application, called Power Flow, provides the framework for all transformer connection modeling. This framework incorporates a method of tracing through the circuit to determine the voltages and currents on each side of the transformer connection. From theses parameters, the power rating of each set of paired windings can be determined. The accuracy of the open bank models developed in DEWorkstation is confirmed through comparison with more rigorous open-wye/open-delta and open-delta/open-delta distribution transformer models. Making use of transformer bank loading results from software developed by Pennsylvania Power and Light (PP&L), the open-wye/open-delta and open-delta/open-delta transformer connections are validated. Other transformer connections that could be verified using the results from PP&L are also presented. / Master of Science

Yes / In the current practice, at the end of life of a reinforced concrete structure, it is destructively demolished and the demolition waste is landfilled or recycled. This approach is clearly wasteful of energy, creating serious environmental pollution and at high cost. However, design for demountability/deconstruction (DfD) of reinforced concrete structures would facilitate the future reuse of structural elements at the end of their life, potentially achieving a significant reduction in embodied energy of structures as well as giving the clients the benefit of retaining the value of their assets. In this paper, recent research developments and practical applications of DfD of reinforced concrete structures are reviewed and key technical issues are discussed. The main focus was on connections that should be designed in such a way to allow demounting. The main achievements are outlined, for each type of dry and semi dry connections, along with the aspects that still need to be developed. It is concluded that only semi-dry connections are currently implemented but information available in the literature on dry connections between structural elements is still very scarce. The paper concludes with an outline of some future opportunities and challenges in the application of DfD in concrete construction.

<p> A research programme is presented for the analytical. evaluation of the deflections of Vierendeel trusses comprised of semi-rigid connections under panel feint loadings. The semi-rigid connections are made of two unequal width square ESS members welded at right angles. As the flexibility of the joints increases when the width ratio is less than 1.0, the joints are unable to develop the moment capacity of the web member and excessive deflections limit functional capability of the truss. Hence, several types of joint reinforcement are recommended. A yield line method is attempted to estimate the strength capacity of the joint with and without reinforcements. In addition, a plate analysis forms the basis for estimating elastic joint stiffness for evaluating anticipated deflections at mid span. </p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

<p> Wireless mesh networks are now being used to deploy radio coverage in a large variety of outdoor applications. One of the major obstacles that these networks face is that of providing the nodes with electrical power and wired network connections. Solar powered mesh nodes are increasingly used to eliminate the need for these types of connections, making the nodes truly tether-less. In these types of networks however, the cost of the energy collection and storage components can be a significant fraction of the total node cost, which motivates a careful selection of these resources.</p> <p> This thesis focusses on key issues relating to the deployment and operation of solar powered wireless mesh networks. First, the problem of provisioning the mesh nodes with a suitable solar panel and battery configuration is considered. This is done by assuming a bandwidth usage profile and using historical solar insolation data for the desired deployment location. A resource provisioning algorithm is proposed based on the use of temporal shortest-path routing and taking into account the node energy-flow for the target deployment time period. A methodology is introduced which uses a genetic algorithm (GA) to incorporate energy-aware routing into the resource assignment procedure. Results show that the proposed resource provisioning algorithm can achieve large cost savings when compared to conventional provisioning methods.</p> <p> During post-deployment network operation, the actual bandwidth profile and solar insolation may be different than that for which the nodes were originally provisioned. To prevent node outage, the network must reduce its workload by flow controlling its input traffic. The problem of admitting network bandwidth flows in a fair manner is also studied. A bound is first formulated which achieves the best max/min fair flow control subject to eliminating node outage. The bound motivates a proposed causal flow control algorithm whose operation uses prediction based on access to on-line historical weather data. The results show that the proposed algorithm performs well when compared to the analytic bound that is derived for this problem.</p> <p> Finally, as user traffic evolves, the network resources need to be updated. This problem is considered using a minimum cost upgrade objective. A mixed integer linear programming (MILP) formulation is derived to obtain a lower bound on the network update cost. A genetic algorithm is used to determine practical cost-effective network resource upgrading. The results show that the proposed methodology can obtain significant cost savings.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

<p dir="ltr">This thesis presents the results of the study performed on the behavior of bolted splice</p><p dir="ltr">connections for Concrete Filled Composite Plate Shear Walls. As a part of an experimental</p><p dir="ltr">program, two large-scale specimens employing two different types of fasteners: (i) Hollo-Bolt</p><p dir="ltr">blind bolts, and (ii) threaded rods with pipe sleeves were designed, built, and tested at the Bowen</p><p dir="ltr">Laboratory. The specimens were subjected to monotonic loading to examine the behavior and</p><p dir="ltr">capacity of the proposed connection types. From the results obtained in the experiments it could</p><p dir="ltr">be suggested that the proposed connections are an effective method to connect C-PSW/CFs and</p><p dir="ltr">could be a valuable alternative to Complete Joint Penetration (CJP) welding.</p>

This Must Be the Place is a collection of short stories that take place in Massachusetts, America. Each story exists as a subtle celebration of the ordinary moments of our lives that softly, and gradually, shape us over time. This testament to the every-day is characterized by detailed, tender depictions of brief conversations, picnics in parks, afternoon car rides, and trips to the grocery store with past lovers. Although the narrators and other orbiting characters in the stories are all different, they are bound together by an insatiable curiosity and fascination with the world and the human condition. Inspired by works from authors such as Raymond Carver, Richard Brautigan, William Trevor, Carrie Fountain, and Andre Dubus, This Must Be the Place is a comment on how we, as people, are as defined by the decisions we do not make as the ones that we do. The characters in each piece confront choices and the invariable emotional consequences that will follow them, either temporarily or for the foreseeable future. These consequences propel the narratives, causing anxiety, uncertainty, and at times even excitement for all of those involved. Similarly, and perhaps more importantly, because of these consequences, the gears of the characters’ hearts shift, ever so slightly, in new, unexplored directions. As a whole, This Must Be the Place is about the understated importance embedded in every connection, misconnection, beginning, and ending.

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