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Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) is an important technology that can be used to provide new data sets for many applications ranging from healthcare monitoring to military surveillance. Due to the increasing popularity of WSNs, user demands have evolved as well. To achieve the end-to-end goals and requirements of the applications, managing the resources of the network becomes a critical task. Cognitive networking techniques for resource management have been proposed in recent years to provide performance gains over traditional design methodologies. However, even though several tools have been considered in cognitive network design, they show limitations in their adaptability, complexity, and their ability to consider multiple conflicting goals. Thus, this thesis proposes novel cognitive solutions for WSNs that include a reasoning machine and a learning protocol. Weighted Cognitive Maps (WCM) and Q-Learning are identified as suitable tools for addressing the aforementioned challenges and designing the cognitive solutions due to their ability to consider conflicting objectives with low complexity. WCM is a mathematical tool that has powerful inference capabilities. Thus, they are used to design a reasoning machine for WSNs. Two case studies are proposed in this thesis that illustrate the capabilities of WCMs and their flexibility in supporting different application requirements and network types. In addition, an elaborate theoretical model based on Markov Chains (MC) is proposed to analyze the operation of the WCM system. Extensive computer simulations and analytical results show the ability of the WCM system to achieve the end-to-end goals of the network and find compromises between conflicting constraints. On the other hand, Q-Learning is a well known reinforcement learning algorithm that is used to evaluate the actions taken by an agent over time. Thus, it is used to design a learning protocol that improves the performance of the WCM system. Furthermore, to ensure that the learning protocol operates efficiently, methods for improving the learning speed and achieving distributed learning across multiple nodes are proposed as well. Extensive computer simulations show that the learning protocol improves the performance of the WCM system in several metrics. / Thesis (Ph.D, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-02-04 16:24:55.385

This project explores the contribution of an individual in a journey towards corporate social responsibility in a modern civic university. In an organisational context of a university that promotes a civic vision, with stakeholders who are internal and external, local and international, this report outlines a range of initiatives, from equality and diversity best practice to community engagement projects, which enhanced corporate reputation. It demonstrates how a holistic approach of encouraging an inclusive environment and a positive relationship with its communities, underpinned by principles of fairness and transparency, can generate stakeholder confidence in an organisation and pave the way towards the development of a CSR strategy and culture. Using a methodology which combines reflection and action research, the project identifies connections between personal values and professional activities and demonstrates how both individuals and organisations can impact on partners and stakeholders. It outlines how, by working in line with shared corporate values, an individual who may not be in an executive role can influence an institution in making a difference to its communities. The project uses action research in the development of a CSR statement, explores how principles were embedded into corporate strategy and practice, and benchmarks progress. In a study that captures perceptions of key stakeholders, it evaluates the impact of the CSR approach, quantifies stakeholder engagement and determines if the institution is seen as responsible by those who have contact with it. In reviewing wider CSR developments and examining a contribution to CSR within an institution and to the broader community of practice, the project develops CSR principles which have wider applicability. 10 Synthesising the evidence collected and comparing existing approaches to corporate social responsibility, a new framework for CSR is proposed. The framework draws lessons for the CSR community of practice by incorporating strands of CSR activity and CSR verification across all organisational and stakeholder levels. Informed by the experience of engagement with CSR, the report reaches conclusions that can be used by individuals and organisations that are themselves at different stages of their own CSR journeys.

<p> Carry in/ Carry out (CICO) policies have been used in front-country parks for a long time. According to the National Park Service (2013), &ldquo;trash free parks&rdquo; are ones that implement carry in and carry out policies; the manager of a park removes all or most of the garbage cans in hope of having park patrons carry out the refuse that they generate and dispose of it at home. Managers use this policy as a way to reduce the costs associated with hauling trash out of the park, and to deter patrons from leaving garbage in the park. Reducing the amount of trash clean up also gives the park staff the ability to focus on other operational needs and park projects. This study looks at the effectiveness of carry in/ carry out policies in federal parks, state parks, and NGO-managed lands by interviewing sixteen managers (n=16) of these areas in the Northeast. This exploratory study used grounded theory. Two strategies were used to collect data (online survey and phone interviews). Data was analyzed by coding. Results suggest that the number one barrier for getting visitors to comply with CICO policies is a lack of awareness about littering. The most common benefit for using a CICO system is to save money, followed by creating public awareness about the items brought into parks. This study found that 67% of NGO managers and 75% of federal managers think that CICO is an effective policy; state park managers were mixed on whether CICO policies are in fact effective. The one thing that federal, state, and NGO agencies agree on is that there is always litter to be picked up by staff or volunteers. The amount of that litter varied from park to park, and there does not seem to be one strategy that works for everyone.</p>

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<p> Texas white-tailed deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) breeding operations frequently release captive-reared deer in anticipation of increasing the genetic quality of their deer herd. There is little understanding of how well captive-reared deer acclimate following release. My goal was to determine survival, distribution, and fawn survival of captive-reared white-tailed deer following spring and fall releases. Thus, 223 deer (120 F, 103 M) were released in spring and fall liberations from fall 2013&ndash;spring 2015 into a 2,631-ha high-fenced pasture. Deer were released by age cohorts ranging from 1.5&ndash;&ge;3.5 years of age for does and 1.5&ndash;3.5 years of age for bucks. During spring 2014 (<i>n</i> = 18) and 2015 (<i>n</i> = 18) 36 does were fitted with Vaginal Implant Transmitters, which resulted in the capture of 29 fawns. In 2014, fawn survival was estimated 60%, whereas 2015 fawn survival was 21%. Adult survival was measured for 127 (70 F, 57 M) radio-collared deer for 1-year following liberation. Survival of does and bucks across all releases was 90% and 75%, respectively. A selection index was used to determine the preferred distance of 54 (29 F, 25 M) captive-reared white-tailed deer distributed following release. Does stayed close to the corresponding breeding pen (75% of locations &le; 1 km from pens), while bucks (40% of locations &le; 1 km from pens) of all age cohorts covered a larger expanse of area compared to does. In conclusion, captive-reared white-tailed deer were capable of surviving liberation from pens, but accommodations such as maintaining a high density of water and supplemental feed will aid in survival. Philopatric nature of does was evident in the lack of distribution following release. High density of does around the breeding pens during fawning may explain the decrease in fawn survival. Distributing release sites across the property could promote a more even distribution of does.</p><p>

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Since 1912 concentrations of the major anions and cations (except calcium) in Bear Lake water have shown a steady decrease which has been attributed to a dilution of Bear Lake by Bear River water, Bear Lake having been used as a reservoir for Bear River water since 1918. This study examined the changes which have occurred in Bear Lake water chemistry since 1912 and tested the validity of the dilution theory. Simple water and salinity budgets were determined for the Bear Lake system and used to simulate the effect of Bear River storage patterns since 1918 on the concentrations of sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, and sulfate in Bear Lake. Comparison of predicted concentrations with observed concentrations indicates that the dilution theory is a valid one. Field studies were conducted during the spring, summer, and fall of 1971 to describe the distribution of the major ions in Bear Lake with respect to space and time. No significant differences were found between samples collected at different depths and location on the north-south axis of the lake on any one day, but differences were found between sampling days over the course of the study period. A pattern of rapid changes in the concentrations of sodium ions in Bear Lake water was observed in the data from this investigation and noticed also in the data from an investigation conducted in 1959. Adsorption of sodium ions to aragonite crystals precipitating within the lake and/or clay minerals introduced with Bear River inflow is suggested as the cause of these fluctuations in sodium levels.

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