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Chirp-Slope Keying (CSK) is a new and innovative digital modulation scheme for underwater data transmission. The underwater environment brings up several challenges to the manufacturing and operation of communication systems. This thesis shows through analysis and simulations the effectiveness of Chirp-Slope Keying (CSK) in providing a satisfying performance in underwater communication. The experiment consists of modulating a chirp slope by binary numbers (representing our data). '0' is represented by a linear- down chirp and '1' is represented by a linear-up chirp. The received data is first processed by a correlator receiver. Then, the detection of either binary symbol is obtained by the comparison to a threshold. Simulation results for numerous signal-to-noise ratios show that CSK provides satisfying performance for underwater data transmission. The Mississippi gulf coast shallow water Data collected from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), (see appendix), allow us to accurately generate a laboratory model for the channel of interest.

Thesis advisor: Rudolph Hon / The application of road de-icers has lead to increasing solute concentrations in surface and ground water across the northern US, Canada, and northern Europe. In a public water supply well field in southeastern Massachusetts, USA, chloride concentrations in ground water from an unconfined aquifer have steadily risen for the past twenty years. The objectives of this study are to understand spatial and temporal trends in road salt concentrations in order to identify contamination sources and fate. To this end, the methods of this project include field and lab work. Water samples were collected from surface, near-surface, and ground water from March 2012 to March 2013. The other major field data are specific conductance measurements from probes located in three piezometers. In the lab, all samples were analyzed for major ions with ion chromatography analysis. Additionally, trace elements were measured by inductively coupled plasma analysis on a subset of samples. The results of these hydrogeochemical procedures showed several important trends. First, the highest concentrations of sodium and chloride from near-surface samples were located near to roadways. Second, ground water samples taken from glacial sediments contained relatively high concentrations throughout the water column, whereas ground water samples from wetlands had high concentrations only near the surface. Third, there was no clear relationship between pH and cation concentrations. Finally, specific conductance data showed strong seasonal trends near to the surface, whereas values taken from deeper in the aquifer were steadily increasing. Based on these results, it is highly probable that road salt application is the dominate contamination source. The pathways of road salt in the watershed include runoff into surface water and infiltration into the vadose zone and ground water. Road salt appears to preferentially travel through glacial features rather than floodplain features. It is possible that sodium from road salt is sorbed to aquifer sediment and displaces other cations. However, the low values of trace metals suggest that cation exchange is not mobilizing heavy metals. Finally, the increasing specific conductance values deep in the aquifer suggest that road salt is retained within the aquifer and concentrations will likely increase in the future if the current road salt application procedures are continued. / Thesis (MS) — Boston College, 2013. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Earth and Environmental Sciences.

The researcher of most varieties of Mixtec (Oto-Manguean) is faced with a high level of surface alternations whereby the tones of some words vary according to their context. Early researchers, such as Kenneth L Pike, accounted for these differences by assigning morphemes to different classes according to the effect morphemes have on the following morpheme. However a much more satisfactory explanation can be achieved by positing the presence of floating tones which are the result of one of three processes: right-ward shift of underlying tones, loss of CV segments, or the delinking of Low tones. The main focus of this thesis is to account for the tonal association patterns of Southeastern Nochixtlán Mixtec (MXY). As background we present a brief summary of the work of earlier researchers, including claims about the relationship between stress and High tone, (Chapters 2 and 3), and then in Chapter 4 we show how autosegmental phonology provides a more satisfactory account for these published data. In Chapter 5 we show that in spite of surface differences, when the surface tones of morphemes are compared across varieties, morphemes can be shown to belong to tonal categories which reflect a previous stage of Mixtec. Chapters 6 to 10 present unpublished data from MXY. In Chapter 6 we show that underlying tones of disyllabic morphemes usually align at the right edge of their sponsoring morpheme. We also demonstrate how tones are provided for the unspecified initial syllables. In this chapter we also present acoustic data to show that underlying Mid tones participate in phonological processes which default Mid tones do not. Chapter 7 presents more data to show MXY tonal association patterns, including the behaviour of floating High tones such as their tendency to align at the right edge of prosodic words. Chapter 8 describes the complex tonal association of floating High tones sponsored by four verbal prefixes. We show that the resulting surface forms depend not only on the underlying tones sponsored by the verb root, but the form of the verb stem with which it associates. In Chapter 9 we turn to examine whether there is any relationship between stressed syllables and High tone. We analyse acoustic data to show that initial syllables of roots show statistically significant increased duration. By examining the tonal association patterns, we conclude that in MXY, the association of High tones is governed by alignment rather than the locus of stress. Based on the findings of Chapter 9, in Chapter 10 we look at the locus of stress in two different contexts: one, stress found in compound words; and two, stress in verb roots which co-occur with prefixes. In all these contexts we see no predilection for High tones to associate with the stressed syllable. In this chapter we also look at contexts in which Low tone spreads. Chapter 11 pulls together the data presented in Chapters 6 to 10 and presents them against a theoretical background of the interaction between prosody and syntax.

In April, 1967, this study was begun in a 211 -square-mile area, in the rugged, arid, Red Canyon area in San Juan County, southeastern Utah. Sixteen months were spent in the field to determine the population trend, migration, distribution, and the affect of water on distribution of the bighorn sheep. No migration was documented,but seasonal shifts did occur . The shifts were due to the availability of water in the free state and in plants . Dry periods forced sheep to remain close to seeps and springs. Lambing peaked in May and was over by June . Lou lamb mortality and high numbers of yearlings indicated a growing population which is re - covering from severe mortality during the uranium boom in the 1950's. Sheep preferred browse but seasonal shifts occurred, grasses and forbs being preferred. Plants analyzed for protein proved adequate for gravid and lactating domestic ewes, and this is believed adequate for wi ld sheep. However, plants were found to be deficient in phosphorus. Parasites, disease and poisonous plants were not found to be limiting factors during the study. A 50-50 sex ratio, expec t ed in a wi ld, relatively unhunted population, was found during this study . Spermatogenesis t o some degree was evident in all trophy rams examined taken during the hunt. No biological reason to remove rams could be ascertained. Recommendations for management of the des ert bighorn sheep in s outheastern Utah include removing cattle from she e p ranges, water development and maintenance, continued ewe -lamb surveys , hunting of trophy animals, and studying a ll wild sheep populations in the state .

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This study documented effects of fragmentation and disturbance on a coastal eucalypt dry open-forest plant community at Port Stephens-Myall Lakes, south-eastern Australia. The study evaluated the relative influence of fragment size (range &lt1-75ha), fragment or edge age (&lt 1-25y), time since fire (5-25y) and anthropogenic disturbance (minor, major) on microclimate, native plant species richness and weed invasion. Plots were sampled for native and exotic species richness per 25 m2 and edge transects for light, soil moisture, soil temperature, vegetation structure, native species richness and exotic species richness and cover. Depths of edge influence (DEI) were all &lt 20m inside the forest edge. Younger edge zones were lighter, had hotter and drier soils and more native species than forest interiors. Older edge zones were shadier, had warmer and moister soils and fewer native species than forest interiors, due to vegetation thickening in the edge zone. Light and soil moisture followed linear or monotonic edge-to-interior gradients in younger edges, but more complex patterns in older edges. Soil-temperature DEI decreased with increasing edge age. Fragment size had little influence on edge effects, but those for light developed more rapidly in smaller fragments, and recent fire was associated with reduced richness in edge zones of smaller fragments. Both anthropogenic disturbance and fire enlarged DEI for native species richness. Major anthropogenic disturbance coupled with fragmentation produced a stronger and more immediate loss of native species than fragmentation alone. Small fragments with minor disturbance had fewer native species per 25 m2 than larger fragments, but only after &gt10y since fragmentation. Analysis of forest interior portions of transects revealed that edge effects, and possibly disturbance, were largely responsible for this loss of native species with time, rather than effects of area. Despite a viable soil seed bank in fragments and the surrounding matrix, weed invasion in fragments was minimal. Exotic species were concentrated in edge zones, and were promoted by major anthropogenic disturbance within fragments. Results were highly dependent on fragment or edge age, and external influences of fragmentation (edge effects and disturbance), were more important than biogeographic (area-driven) factors. Impacts of fragmentation were compounded when combined with disturbance.

Introduction: In 2014,Lamar and Mary Fowler Holcomb donated a collection of artifacts from the Native American site of Long Swamp to the Cherokee County Historical Society. Holcomb property is on land associated with the Long Swamp site (9CK1), which has allowed the two to gather artifacts from the site throughout the years. The rest of 9CK1 is on the opposite side of SR372. Edwards Pitman Environmental Inc. (EPEI), a local archaeological firm, was contacted in 2007 to investigate 9CK1 on public land, due to damage resulting from an extension of SR372. The archaeologists recovered artifacts in association with Long Swamp. In contrast to the excavation conducted by EPEI, the Holcomb maintained a minimal record of the artifacts they collected, voiding most of context associated with each artifact. Without contextual information, I rely on stylistic variables and to type the pipes. To do this, I compare the pipes from the donated collection to the other materials from Long Swamp and other archaeological sites in Georgia to ascertain the typology and chronology of the artifacts from the Holcomb Collection. Methods: The collection contains sixty-six pipes and pipe fragments. These pipes were measured with plastic, dial calipers, 150 mm/0.0254 mm. Weights were taken using a scale, max weight, 200 g. The pipes were photographed using a Nikon DX AF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6g D 5.100. Analysis also included a literature review and the investigation of pipes from archaeological collections housed at the University of Georgia, Athens and the University of West Georgia. Results: My analysis resulted in the creation of a typology for the pipes in the collection. Although none of the clay for the pipes was sourced, a cursory study of the different pipes suggests that multiple types of clay were used. Some of the more overt variations among pipe structures are the ratios between height and weight. These variations could indicate different craftsman, throughout time. Conclusion: The Lamar and Mary Fowler Holcomb Collection is the result of several years of collecting. The pipes within the collection appear to span several occupational phases of the Long Swamp site. This supports the findings of the previous research conducted at the site. However, with little contextual support, this can only be inferred based on stylistic attributes that can be compared to the materials from other collections. Further research into sourcing the clay for the pipes may prove useful to learn more about this collection.

Most of the Web is published in languages that are not accessible to many potential users who are only able to read and understand their local languages. Many of these local languages are Resources Scarce Languages (RSLs) and lack the necessary resources, such as machine translation tools, to make available content more accessible. State of the art preprocessing tools and retrieval methods are tailored for Web dominant languages and, accordingly, documents written in RSLs are lowly ranked and difficult to access in search results, resulting in a struggling and frustrating search experience for speakers of RSLs. In this thesis, we propose the use of language similarities to match, re-rank and return search results written in closely related languages to improve the quality of search results and user experience. We also explore the use of shared morphological features to build multilingual stemming tools. Focusing on six Bantu languages spoken in Southeastern Africa, we first explore how users would interact with search results written in related languages. We conduct a user study, examining the usefulness and user preferences for ranking search results with different levels of intelligibility, and the types of emotions users experience when interacting with such results. Our results show that users can complete tasks using related language search results but, as intelligibility decreases, more users struggle to complete search tasks and, consequently, experience negative emotions. Concerning ranking, we find that users prefer that relevant documents be ranked higher, and that intelligibility be used as a secondary criterion. Additionally, we use a User-Centered Design (UCD) approach to investigate enhanced interface features that could assist users to effectively interact with such search results. Usability evaluation of our designed interface scored 86% using the System Usability Scale (SUS). We then investigate whether ranking models that integrate relevance and intelligibility features would improve retrieval effectiveness. We develop these features by drawing from traditional Information Retrieval (IR) models and linguistics studies, and employ Learning To Rank (LTR) and unsupervised methods. Our evaluation shows that models that use both relevance and intelligibility feature(s) have better performance when compared to models that use relevance features only. Finally, we propose and evaluate morphological processing approaches that include multilingual stemming, using rules derived from common morphological features across Bantu family of languages. Our evaluation of the proposed stemming approach shows that its performance is competitive on queries that use general terms. Overall, the thesis provides evidence that considering and matching search results written in closely related languages, as well as ranking and presenting them appropriately, improves the quality of retrieval and user experience for speakers of RSLs.

M.S. Florida State University 1955 / Includes bibliographical references (pages 68-69)