This thesis addresses the problem of learning dynamic Bayesian network (DBN) models to support reinforcement learning. It focuses on learning regression tree models of the conditional probability distributions of the DBNs. Existing algorithms presume that the stochasticity in the domain can be modeled as a deterministic function with additive noise....
Recent interest in oxy-fuel combustion for carbon capture, as well as advancements in technologies such as magnetics, materials, and computational modeling has sparked renewed interest in magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generation. The increased temperatures of oxy-fuel combustion versus air-fuel combustion poses a challenge in the selection of materials for plasma exposed...
Over the last 50 years, riparian zones in the semi-arid West have gained recognition as disproportionately important habitats for both breeding bird communities and agricultural operations. Despite growing interest in exploring avian-habitat relationships in these systems to better inform land management, few studies have attempted to describe temporal changes in...
The low-level baroclinic eddy activity seen in the NASA Ames Mars General Circulation Model (MGCM) for simulations under three annual dust cycles are characterized. Simulations were conducted with both radiatively active and radiatively inert clouds (RAC and non-RAC, respectively) for 11 continuous annual cycles for each dust case. Model results...
Sixteen secondary school health teachers evaluated their own
course teaching performance. Students in each of these courses
evaluated the same teacher and the results were compared. An
adapted version of a teacher rating form developed by the School of
Agriculture, Oregon State University, was used by all study participants.
Teacher...
The Brush less Doubly-Fed Machine (BDFM) has the potential to be a more cost effective replacement for conventional induction or synchronous machine drives. The BDFM has two stator windings: a power winding and a control winding. An electronic power converter of variable voltage and frequency is connected to the control...
Volatile loss rates of pesticides from turfgrass were measured using the Backward-Time Lagrangian Stochastic Dispersion model (Flesch et al., 1995). Solar radiation, ambient temperature, surface temperature, relative humidity, wind direction, and wind speed were monitored continuously. Growth regulator was applied to the turf plot several days before pesticide application to...
The feasibility of using lumber and plywood futures as a means of cross product hedging for stumpage is explored from the standpoint of the producer of forest products. A survey conducted in April, 1979 Indicates that this process has not been attempted in western Oregon. Historical price relationships between contract...
Few studies have examined the partitioning of organic matter in upwelling systems,
despite the fact that these systems play a key role in carbon and nitrogen budgets in the
ocean. We examined the production and partitioning of phytoplankton-derived organic
matter in deck incubations off Oregon during the upwelling season. During...
Fire exclusion has been associated with structural and compositional changes
in many upland forests of the western United States, but little is known about the
impacts on riparian forests, portions of the landscape protected for habitat and water
quality. For this study, I characterized the historic disturbance and tree recruitment...
