Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 170-177).

abstract: The electric transmission grid is conventionally treated as a fixed asset and is operated around a single topology. Though several instances of switching transmission lines for corrective mechaism, congestion management, and minimization of losses can be found in literature, the idea of co-optimizing transmission with generation dispatch has not been widely investigated. Network topology optimization exploits the redundancies that are an integral part of the network to allow for improvement in dispatch efficiency. Although, the concept of a dispatchable network initially appears counterintuitive questioning the wisdom of switching transmission lines on a more regu-lar basis, results obtained in the previous research on transmission switching with a Direct Current Optimal Power Flow (DCOPF) show significant cost reductions. This thesis on network topology optimization with ACOPF emphasizes the need for additional research in this area. It examines the performance of network topology optimization in an Alternating Current (AC) setting and its impact on various parameters like active power loss and voltages that are ignored in the DC setting. An ACOPF model, with binary variables representing the status of transmission lines incorporated into the formulation, is written in AMPL, a mathematical programming language and this optimization problem is solved using the solver KNITRO. ACOPF is a non-convex, nonlinear optimization problem, making it a very hard problem to solve. The introduction of bi-nary variables makes ACOPF a mixed integer nonlinear programming problem, further increasing the complexity of the optimization problem. An iterative method of opening each transmission line individually before choosing the best solution has been proposed as a purely investigative approach to studying the impact of transmission switching with ACOPF. Economic savings of up to 6% achieved using this approach indicate the potential of this concept. In addition, a heuristic has been proposed to improve the computational efficiency of network topology optimization. This research also makes a comparative analysis between transmission switching in a DC setting and switching in an AC setting. Results presented in this thesis indicate significant economic savings achieved by controlled topology optimization, thereby reconfirming the need for further examination of this idea. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Electrical Engineering 2011

Dans un monde de changement continu, les dispositifs de formation doivent trouver des logiques impulsant une dynamique d’adaptation au changement. Cette recherche porte sur le changement opéré en formation professionnelle infirmière suite à la réforme de 2009. Elle vise la compréhension des phénomènes liés au processus de transformation de cette profession et tente d’expliquer notamment les modalités de passage d’une logique de professionnalisation à une autre. Elle rend compte des pratiques de professionnalisation émergeantes et de la manière dont les tuteurs-infirmiers ont su se saisir des nouvelles logiques de formation pour accompagner les étudiants dans leur parcours de professionnalisation. Nous sommes partie de l’hypothèse que le rôle de tuteur de stage, voire la professionnalisation de son activité de tutelle, peuvent être un vecteur significatif de la professionnalisation des novices mais aussi de la professionnalisation de toute une profession. La réflexion théorique proposée permet d’éclairer les nouveaux rapports aux savoirs dans la logique de construction de compétences. Les résultats s’appuient sur des observations participantes, 50 entretiens semi-directifs collectifs et individuels, réalisés auprès de différents acteurs concernés par la professionnalisation des novices, dans deux structures hospitalières, à des temps distincts. L’analyse a permis d’identifier des logiques de changement différentes et l’intérêt d’un accompagnement des acteurs de terrain dans une dynamique socioconstructiviste, pour une transformation durable de leurs pratiques / In a world of continuous change, training procedures should implement new ways to boost dynamic adaptation to change. This research focuses on the change brought in vocational nursing training after 2009 Reform. It accounts for the phenomena related to the transformation process within the profession; in particular, how to shift from a former training system to a new one. It reports about emerging professional practices and the ability of tutors in nursing to seize new logical approaches to support their students on their vocational path. The starting point is the hypothesis that the internship tutor’s role or the professionalization of their supervisory activities, are significant vectors in their trainees’ proficiency and the professionalism of an entire vocation. The suggested theoretical approach sheds light on the new relationship to knowledge in the logical acquisition of skills. The results are based on an observation of participants, 50 collective and individual semi-structured interviews conducted with various actors involved in the professionalization of learners in two hospitals at separate times. The analysis has enabled to identify several logical approaches regarding change and also notice the importance of supporting the actors on the field in a social constructivist dynamics for a sustainable transformation of their practices.

Students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) typically learn less history content than their peers without disabilities and show fewer learning gains. Even when they are provided with the same instructional strategies, many students with SLD struggle to grasp complex historical concepts and content area vocabulary. Many strategies involving technology have been used in the past to enhance learning for students with SLD in history classrooms. However, very few studies have explored the effectiveness of emerging mobile technology in K-12 history classrooms. This study investigated the effects of mobile devices (iPads) as an active student response (ASR) system on the acquisition of U.S. history content of middle school students with SLD. An alternating treatments single subject design was used to compare the effects of two interventions. There were two conditions and a series of pretest probesin this study. The conditions were: (a) direct instruction and studying from handwritten notes using the interactive notebook strategy and (b) direct instruction and studying using the Quizlet App on the iPad. There were three dependent variables in this study: (a) percent correct on tests, (b) rate of correct responses per minute, and (c) rate of errors per minute. A comparative analysis suggested that both interventions (studying from interactive notes and studying using Quizlet on the iPad) had varying degrees of effectiveness in increasing the learning gains of students with SLD. In most cases, both interventions were equally effective. During both interventions, all of the participants increased their percentage correct and increased their rate of correct responses. Most of the participants decreased their rate of errors. The results of this study suggest that teachers of students with SLD should consider a post lesson review in the form of mobile devices as an ASR system or studying from handwritten notes paired with existing evidence-based practices to facilitate students’ knowledge in U.S. history. Future research should focus on the use of other interactive applications on various mobile operating platforms, on other social studies subjects, and should explore various testing formats such as oral question-answer and multiple choice.

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Physical lab experiments have shown that the pressure caused by an impinging jet on a granular bed has the potential to form craters. This poses a danger to landing success and nearby spacecraft for future rocket missions. Current numerical simulations for this process do not accurately reproduce experimental results. Our goal is to produce improved simulations to more accurately and effi- ciently model the changes in pressure as gas flows through a porous medium. A two-dimensional model in space known as the nonlinear Porous Medium Equation as it is derived from Darcy’s law is used. An Alternating-Direction Implicit (ADI) temporal scheme is presented and implemented which reduces our multidimensional problem into a series of one-dimensional problems. We take advantage of explicit approximations for the nonlinear terms using extrapolation formulas derived from Taylor-series, which increases efficiency when compared to other common methods. We couple our ADI temporal scheme with different spatial discretizations including a second-order Finite Difference (FD) method, a fourth-order Orthogonal Spline Collocation (OSC) method, and an Nth-order Chebyshev Spectral method. Accuracy and runtime are compared among the three methods for comparison in a linear analogue of our problem. We see the best results for accuracy when using an ADI-Spectral method in the linear case, but discuss possibilities for increased effi- ciency using an ADI-OSC scheme. Nonlinear results are presented using the ADI-Spectral method and the ADI-FD method.

Alpha oscillations (8-13 Hz) have been suggested to play an important role in dynamic neural processes underlying learning and memory. The goal of this work was to scrutinize the role of alpha oscillations in communication within a cortico-cerebellar network implicated in motor sequence learning. To this end, we conducted two EEG experiments using a serial reaction time task. In the first experiment, we explored changes in alpha power and cross-channel alpha coherence as subjects learned a motor sequence. We found a gradual decrease in spectral alpha power over left premotor cortex (PMC) and sensorimotor cortex (SM1) during learning blocks. In addition, alpha coherence between left PMC/SM1 and left cerebellar crus I was specifically decreased during sequence learning, possibly reflecting a functional decoupling in the broader motor learning network. In the second experiment in a different cohort, we applied 10Hz transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), a method shown to entrain local oscillatory activity, to left M1 (lM1) and right cerebellum (rCB) during sequence learning. We observed a tendency for diminished learning following rCB tACS compared to sham, but not following lM1 tACS. Learning-related alpha power following rCB tACS was increased in left PMC, possibly reflecting increase in local inhibitory neural activity. Importantly, learning-specific alpha coherence between left PMC and right cerebellar lobule VIIb was enhanced following rCB tACS. These findings provide strong evidence for a causal role of alpha oscillations in controlling information transfer in a premotor-cerebellar loop during motor sequence learning. Our findings are consistent with a model in which sequence learning may be impaired by enhancing premotor cortical alpha oscillation via external modulation of cerebellar oscillations.:1 List of Abbreviations 2 Introduction 2.1 Motor Learning Stages 2.2 Motor Learning Tasks 2.3 Motor Learning Network 2.4 Theoretical Models of Motor Learning 2.5 Functional Connectivity of Motor Brain Regions 2.6 Effective Connectivity of Motor Brain Regions 2.7 Oscillations in Neuronal Communication 2.8 Alpha Oscillations 2.8.1 Role of Alpha Oscillations in Motor Sequence Learning 2.9 Transcranial Electric Stimulation 2.9.1 Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) 2.10 Summary of Study Rationale 3 Publication 4 Summary 5 List of References 6 Supplementary Materials 7 Contribution of Authors / Darstellung des eigenen Beitrags 8 Declaration of Authorship 9 Curriculum Vitae 10 Publication and Presentation 11 Acknowledgement / Danksagung

The field of personalized product recommendation systems has seen tremendous growth in recent years. The usefulness of the algorithms’ abilities to filter out data from vast sets has been shown to be crucial in today’s information-heavy online experience. Our goal is therefore to compare two recommender models, one based on Random Indexing, the other on Collaborative Filtering, in order to find out if one is better suited to the task than the other. We bring up relevant previous research to set the context for our study, its limitations and possibilities. We then explain the theories, models and algorithms underlying our two recommender systems and finally we evaluate them, partly through empirical data collection from our employer Kavall’s platform, and partly through analysing data from interviews. We judge that our study is scientifically relevant as it compares an algorithm that is rarely used in this context, Random Indexing, to a more established recommendation algorithm, Collaborative Filtering, and as such the result of this comparison might give useful insights into the further development of new or existing algorithms. While more testing is required, the study did show signs that Random Indexing does have the potential of outperforming Collaborative Filtering in some areas, and further development of the model might be a worthwhile endeavor. / Området för personliga produktrekommendationer har sett en enorm tillväxt under de senaste Åren. Användbarheten av algoritmernas förmåga att filtrera ut data ur stora uppsättningar har visat sig vara avgörande i dagens informationstunga onlineupplevelse. Vårt mål Är därför att jämföra två rekommendatormodeller, en baserad på Random Indexing, den andra på Collaborative Filtering, för att ta reda på om den ena Är bättre lämpad för uppgiften Än den andra. Vi tar upp relevant tidigare forskning för att sätta sammanhanget för vår studie, dess begränsningar och möjligheter. Vi förklarar sedan de teorier, modeller och algoritmer som ligger till grund för våra två rekommendationssystem och slutligen utvärderar vi dem, dels genom empirisk datainsamling från vår arbetsgivare Kavalls plattform, dels genom att analysera data från intervjuer. Vi bedömer att vår studie Är vetenskapligt relevant då den jämför en algoritm som sällan används i detta sammanhang, Random Indexing, med en mer etablerad rekommendationsalgoritm, Collaborative Filtering, och som sådan kan resultatet av denna jämförelse ge användbara insikter i den fortsatta utvecklingen av nya eller befintliga algoritmer. även om fler tester krävs, visade studien tecken på att Random Indexing har potentialen att överträffa Collaborative Filtering på vissa områden, och vidareutveckling av modellen kan vara ett givande åtagande.