Digital Commons Network^™

The Characterization And Model Optimization Of An Analog Integrated Circuit Standard Cell Library., Mallika Gopinath 1977-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since the beginning of the VLSI era, various technologies have been adopted for developing the design and characterization of analog circuits. For robust design, the influences of the process parameter variations have been considered over the circuit simulation. Previous studies in this field concentrated more on the physical dimensions such as the width, length, area and perimeter as well as the threshold voltage of the device. The focus of this thesis was to characterize the performance of an analog IC standard cell library as well as optimize the simulation models. The circuits include NMOS FETs (n-channel metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor), …

Human Visual Processing Of Orientation In Broad Stimuli., Bruce C. Hansen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recently our lab has shown that with broadband stimuli (either visual noise or natural scenes), performance for detecting oriented content is worst at horizontal, best at the obliques, and intermediate at vertical orientations--an anisotropy (termed the "horizontal effect") quite different from the well-known "oblique effect" (worst performance obliques) obtained with simple line or grating stimuli. This horizontal effect can be explained by a proposed anisotropic normalization model that operates at the level of striate cortex by implementing the known numerical biases of striate neurons preferring different orientations as well as the strength of those responses from neurons tuned to similar …

A Characterization Of Micromanipulator Controlled Dry Spinning Of Micro- And Nanoscale Polymer Fibers., Scott Berry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No current microfabrication technique exists for producing room-temperature, high-precision, point-to-point polymer nanofibers in three dimensions. Producing rounded structures in a third dimension is particularly difficult to accomplish with conventional planar microfabrication techniques. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to characterize a novel method for fabricating such structures. In this investigation, PMMA micro- and nano-fibers have been fabricated using a technique which involves drawing a solvated polymer bridge between two liquid pools with a stylus positioned by an ultra-high-precision micromill. The solvent in the solution bridge rapidly evaporates, leaving a suspended PMMA fiber between the two pools. In order to …

The Interrelationships Of Parent Rural Values, Parent Religiosity, Parent Involvement, And Student Outcomes In A Small, Southern, Rural Middle School., E. Carolyn Tucker 1949-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a case study of 109 students and their parents from a small rural, middle school community in Western Kentucky. It seeks to determine the interrelationships between conservative Protestant Parent Values (Parent Rural Values and Parent Religiosity), Parent Involvement, and Student Outcomes. For the mixed-methods study, mail-administered Parent and Student Surveys provide quantitative data. Interviews, document analysis, and participant-observer field notes are utilized to supplement statistical findings. Ten Research Questions reflect Demographic Factors (Socioeconomic Status, Family Structure, and Specifically Designed Instruction), Independent Variables (Parent Values--Rural Values and Parent Religiosity), Mediating Factor (Parent Involvement), and the Dependent Variable (Student …

Novel Synthesis Techniques For Nanostructures., Romaneh Jalilian 1977-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Crystalline beta-Ga2O3 nanowires with two distinct morphologies have been synthesized through simple physical evaporation of Te doped GaAs powder in argon atmosphere. The structure of the nanowires was characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, EDX, and raman spectroscopy. Nanowires as long as hundreds of micrometers with diameters in the range of 20-200 nm have been produced with a high yield. Absence of Tellurium in the nanowires indicates that the growth mechanism is not VLS based. The role of Tellurium in the growth process is not clear. Substitution of sulfur in place of tellurium resulted in similar nanostructures. One of the morphologies …

Some Social Considerations In The Female Portraits Of Palma Vecchio., Sarah Elizabeth Fruehling 1977-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an investigation into the world of sixteenth-century Venice, encompassing a group of female portraits by artist Palma Vecchio. I utilized many primary and secondary sources concerning Renaissance society, including several which discussed the roles of women during the Renaissance. This thesis is divided into four chapters that discuss the purpose and evolution of the female portrait, ideal poetic beauty, and the authority the courtesan carried in both the poetry and the painting in Venice. Chapter one covers a short history of the portrait as well as an investigation of how the female portrait evolved from the profile …

The Role Of Nuclear Factors Of Activated T-Cells (Nfat) In Neuronal Death., Agata M. Habas 1976-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nuclear Factor of Activated T-cells (NFAT) is a calcium-responsive transcription factor that orchestrates immune response and cardiovascular development. NFAT is also present in neurons and glia from the Central Nervous System (CNS) where it participates in calcium signaling. In physiological conditions, neuronal NFAT may contribute to the plasticity-related transcriptional regulation. On the other hand, excessive activation of calcium signaling and the subsequent overactivation of NFAT may contribute to neuronal death. To explore the possibility of NFAT-involvement in neuronal death I have determined which components of NFAT signaling are expressed in cultured rat hippocampal or cortical neurons. I found the presence …

Anomaly Based Intrusion Detection For Network Monitoring Using A Dynamic Honeypot., Jeff Hieb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis proposes a network based intrusion detection approach using anomaly detection and achieving low configuration and maintenance costs. A honeypots is an emerging security tool that has several beneficial characteristics, one of which is that all traffic to it is anomalous. A dynamic honeypot reduces the configuration and maintenance costs of honeypot deployment. An anomaly based intrusion detection system with low configuration and maintenance costs can be constructed by simply observing the egress and ingress to a dynamic honeypot. This thesis explores the design and implementation of a dynamic honeypot using a variety of publicly available tools. The main …

Developing A Database For Genbank Information., Nathan Mann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The thesis project, Gene Database, was done to create a way for the bioinformatics research group at the University of Louisville to have access to GenBank EST information in the form of a database. This database allows for a programmable front end to be used to conduct further research with the use of EST information. The database backend used is Oracle and was populated through a custom Java program. The loader was created in lieu of using Oracle's SQL*Loader because of the limitations in SQL*Loader. Previous ways of accessing the GenBank information included downloading the compressed files and using them …

Psychosocial Antecedents Of Sex Offender Criminality And Violence., Sonia Marie Perry Mills 1965-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sexual abuse and sexual violence perpetrated against women and children in the United States are social problems that need to be addressed. The United States is one of the most sexually violent societies in the world, having one of the highest rates of any industrialized country of rape and sexual violence (Stewart, 2002). Although any type of sexual victimization is problematic, sexual violence in particular can have particularly devastating effects for the victim. We urgently need to know why some adults sexually abuse and assault (Cannon, 2001). Examination of the psychosocial antecedents of sex offender criminality and violence will add …

Distributed Data Mining Using Web Services., Vivek Mongolu 1977-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the increasing computational power and the decreasing cost of high bandwidth networks resulted in Distibuted Systems. Distributed Data Mining is being used to analyze and monitor data in distributed systems. In the past, distributed technologies like Java RMI, CORBA were used for data mining but the result was a more tightly coupled system. Using web services a loosely coupled, interoperable distributed computing framework can be built. The topic of this thesis is to investigate the use of web service in distributed data mining. This thesis involves the design, development and implementation of distributed data mining using web services as …

Louise C. Morel, The Louisville Women's City Club, And Municipal Housekeeping In Louisville, 1917-1935., Gail Elizabeth Chooljian Nall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Louise C. Morel was a leading social reformer in Louisville from 1917 through the early 1940s. Morel's work is a primary example of the continuation of Progressive Era ideals into the decades after the traditional end of the Progressive Era. Because the areas in which she worked were those that had traditionally appealed to and benefited women and children, Morel became known as a municipal housekeeper. With the help of fellow members of the Louisville Women's City Club, Morel conducted numerous surveys, organized conventions to educate the public, gave speeches, and urged city leaders to institute reforms in various areas. …

Corporate Change And Integration As A Result Of A Merger : An Analysis Of Organizational Culture Within A Large Full-Service Law Firm., Ilker Huseyin Onen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Previous research on organizational mergers has found that such a business activity bears an effect upon the structural and cultural foundations of organizations. Whether combining intellectual resources or capital, mergers combine workforces that have operated within every unique historical settings. This research focused on a merger between two law firms and the subsequent acquisition of an additional firm. Interviews with a random stratified sample of employees were conducted to gain insight on the cultural aspects of workforce integration. Througout the research, culture and structure were used as interrelated aspects when addressing the merger. The main result of the research revealed …

The Heart Of The Matter : The Gendered Relationship Of Altruism And Marital Happiness., Natalie Jane Brinton Call 1978-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In light of western cultural trends toward individualism, the presence of altruistic marital attitudes and behavior is examined as a predictor of marital happiness. Most quantitative studies exploring correlates of marital happiness use the same underlying concept of asking participants how their spouses' actions help them obtain marital happiness. Specifically, this research departs from convention by using a respondent's own level of altruism to predict his or her own marital happiness. Quantitative data gathered in the Louisville Metropolitan Survey 2004 is used for the project. Several methods of analysis find support for ties between certain manifestations of marital altruism and …

Web Based Evaluation Of Material Handling Alternatives For Automated Manufacturing : A Parallel Replications Approach., John B. Casebier 1973-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research project describes the application of a master/slave configuration of processors to study a comparison of alternative material handling configurations for automated manufacturing. Such a study usually requires a large number of simulation replications, and carrying out those replications on a multi-processor platform can yield a significant savings in elapsed time. The objective of this study is to develop such a platform. In the present application, a parallel replication simulation system is developed to foster simultaneous processing. This system utilizes two separate applications to facilitate communication between master and slave computers. Additionally, the "master" and "slave" or "client" applications …

Probing The Properties Of The Second Coordination Sphere Of Biologically Relevant Metal Complexes Using Amide Function., Lionel E. Cheruzel 1976-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation deals with various imidazole compounds with emphasis on hydrogen bond interactions and weaker intermolecular forces. New amide functionalized polyimidazole metal binding pockets are able to form intramolecular six-membered hydrogen bonded rings with apical ligands bonded to the metal. The design of such ligands has been successful in the stabilization and characterization of mononuclear Cu-OH and Cu-OOH species. The end-on Cu-OOH species was characterized by UV-visible(band at 365 nm with e = 1500 M-1cm-1), EPR, ESI-MS and Raman spectroscopy (vO-O = 854 cm-1 which shifts by 46 cm-1 upon 18O substitution). Simple imidazole ligands were synthesized by general Mannich-type …

Approaching Dionysus : Challenges Of A Post-Modern Bacchae., Julie Dingman Evans

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a personal examination of the process of creating, developing and portraying the character of Dionysus in University of Louisville's 1996 production of Euripides' The Bacchae. It begins with an examination of my acting process prior to study at the University of Louisville and focuses on learned skills which enabled me to meet challenges that I faced coming into this role. The latter part of this thesis examines the effect of my process on the outcome of the performance of the role. The five chapters of this thesis cover my approach to acting from the start of my …

Cases Of University Faculty Conceptions And Practices Of Teaching, Assessment And Action Research., Carol Dianne Raubenheimer 1959-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Conceptions of teaching and learning held by faculty in higher education broadly reflect two dominant approaches, those that are teacher-focused and content oriented, and those that are student-focused and learner oriented (Entwistle, Skinner, Entwistle & Orr, 2000). Conceptions of teaching may be reflected in the pedagogical choices and practices of instructors, but this has not been well established at college level. Thus, an examination of such conceptions may advance the understanding of good teaching at the college level (Fernandez-Balboa & Stiehl, 1995). Using a case study approach this research (a) examined conceptions of teaching and learning, assessment, and action research …

Electrical Charge Distribution Studies In Swnt, C60@Swnt, And Dwnt Structures., Jose E. Rivera 1961-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs), Double Walled Carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) and C60@SWNT (peapods) are three of well-ordered all-carbon nanostructures. Peapods are SWNTs filled with C60 fullerene peas. At high temperatues, C60 molecules coalesce into a long internal SWNT forming a DWNT. Charge transfer properties on SWNTs (both donor and acceptor type) have been studied intensively by various groups. Few groups have conducted such studies on peapods and DWNTs. In a recent study on Br2 doping of DWNTs using Raman spectroscopy, it has been found that the net charge primarily resides on the outer tube revealing molecular Faraday cage effect even …

The Java Cog Kit Grid Desktop : A Simple And Central Approach To Grid Computing Using The Graphical Desktop Paradigm., Pankaj R. Sahasrabudhe 1980-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Grid computing is evolving as a service based, flexible and secure resource sharing environment. Currently, with the help of Grid middleware toolkits, Grids are exposing their services through programming models and command line interfaces, requiring much technical knowledge of the backend Grid systems. Grid portals also exist, but fall short on integrating with native environments and maintaining a uniform user interface from portal to portal. In order to gain wider acceptance within the large and less technical oriented user communities, we need a homogeneous graphical user environment that supports the challenging task of providing Grid users an easy to use, …

The Analysis Of Missing Data In Public Use Survey Databases : A Survey Of Statistical Methods., Ping Xu 1975-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Missing data is very common in survey research. However, currently few guidelines exist with regard to the diagnosis and remedy to missing data in survey research. The goal of this thesis was to investigate properties and effects of three selected missing data techniques (listwise deletion, hot deck imputation, and multiple imputation) via a simulation study, and apply the three methods to address the missing race problem in a real data set extracted from teh National Hospital Discharge Survey. The results of this study showed that multiple imputation and hot deck imputation procedures provided more reliable parameter estimates than did listwise …

Trade Integration And Political Turbulence : Environmental Policy Consequences., Per G. Fredriksson, Muthukumara Mani

Faculty Scholarship

This paper contributes to the unresolved issue regarding the effect of economic integration on environmental policymaking. In particular, we discuss the joint impact of trade openness and political stability on environmental policymaking. Our theory predicts that the effect of trade integration on environmental policy is conditional on the degree of political stability. Trade integration affects the stringency of environmental policies due to changes in industry bribery behavior, and the effect is conditional on the degree of political stability. The empirical findings support the theory and are robust to alternative specifications. The stringency enhancing effect on environmental policy of trade integration …

An Emergency Department Staff Tackles The Healthy Workplace Initiative : A Staff Nurse Perspective., Paul Clark

Faculty Scholarship

This article describes the Healthy Workplace Initiative in the adult emergency department from the staff nurse perspective. Examples of one action planning team's processes and outcomes are delineated. The Rapid Diagnostics action planning team is delineated as lived while caring for patients in today's high-pressure emergency department. The Healthy Workplace Initiative empowers staff, with the guidance of facilitators, to make changes that improve the workplace and to create a healthy workplace for staff and patients. The result is greater staff ownership of the emergency department which leads to greater job satisfaction and improved patient care.

Post-Graduation Economic Status Of Master's Degree Recipients: A Study Of Earnings And Student Debt, Gary L. Donhardt

Journal of Student Financial Aid

This study examined the employment activity of master's graduates and the student debt they carry into the workplace over the early years following graduation. State unemployment insurance records were merged with student data files to determine the relationship between academic achievement, financial success, and debt burden of these graduates. Quarterly earnings from the first two years following graduation were regressed on age, grade point average, academic major, gender, race, and industry. Major, industry, age, and grade point average were significant in both years examined. Student debt was regressed over grade point average, gender, race, age, and academic major. Major, grade …

Undergraduate Borrowing: A Study Of Debtor Students And Their Ability To Retire Undergraduate Loans, Steven A. Harrast

Journal of Student Financial Aid

This study finds that at one university, college major, ethnicity, grade point average, age, and number of semesters required to complete a degree are relevant in determining the student loan debts of recent college graduates. Gender is found to be irrelevant in determining student loan balances. A large percentage of recent graduates have student loans in excess of lender-recommended levels leading to concerns that the benefits of higher education are being slowly eroded by the increasing debt burdens of graduates.

Fiscal Stress: Worldwide Trends In Higher Education Finance, Hans Vossensteyn

Journal of Student Financial Aid

While higher education is generally a high priority in boosting economic development, public budgets to sustain expansion of higher education systems remain limited around the globe. This fiscal stress creates an impetus for governments to develop various strategies to meet the growing demand-from both students and society-for higher education services. This article explores worldwide trends to cope with this issue. It addresses policy developments aimed at increased efficiency in higher education, such as development towards institutional autonomy and performance-based funding. In addition, the article shows that the issue of cost-sharing is gaining worldwide importance. Students and their families are required …

An Analysis Of Entry-Level Librarian Ads Published In American Libraries, 1982-2002., Claudene Sproles, David Ratledge

Faculty Scholarship

Much discussion has taken place in the literature over the difficulty finding qualified candidates to fill vacancies within libraries. Emphasis has been placed on recruitment, internships, scholarships, and other partnerships by library science schools and libraries to attract new people to the profession. Even so, applicant pools are dwindling [Simmons-Welburn and McNeil, 2004] and many institutions have been forced to rewrite job ads after initial postings to locate a qualified candidate. Factors hindering vacancy searches include:

• Graying of the profession, “Thousands of librarians will be retiring in the next ten years” [Simmons-Welburn and McNeil, 2004]
• Budget constraints/less positions [Bureau of …

An Essay On The Work Of Composition : Composing English Against The Order Of Fast Capitalism., Min-Zhan Lu

Faculty Scholarship

This is an attempt to define what being a responsible and responsive user of English might mean in a world ordered by global capital, a world where all forms of intra- and international exchanges in all areas of life are increasingly under pressure to involve English. Turning to recent work in linguistics and education, I pose a set of alternative assumptions that might help us develop more responsible and responsive approaches to the relation between English and its users (both those labeled Native-Speaking, White or Middle Class, and those Othered by these labels), the language needs and purposes of individual …

The Relationship Between Political Cynicism And Right-Wing Authoritarianism : A Study Of The Louisville-Jefferson County Merger., Jeremy Reed Porter 1978-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The government's ability to gain and hold a high proportion of citizens' trust is essential to the functioning of an efficient and successful administration at the federal, state, and local levels. This thesis is a quantitative study aimed at finding possible explanations for differences in levels of political cynicism. One possible explanation, right-wing authoritarianism (RWA), is the subject of this study. Furthermore, the study aims to link the variables to the 2000 Louisville-Jefferson County merger. The data for this study were collected from 802 respondents residing in the Metro Louisville area using a random technique via the 2004 Louisville Metro …

Family Literacy—Predictors Of Program Participation And Goal Attainment In Kentucky., Zelma Renae Stewart Harrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate how various components of family literacy programs such as operational characteristics (enrollment procedure, hours of operation, time of class, curriculum selection, type of instruction, and age of child served) and staff characteristics (gender, full or part time status, and educational attainment level) influence the recruitment, and goal attainment of adults in family literacy programs. This research investigated factors that could help educational administrators improve family literacy programs through increased enrollment, and improvement of goal attainment of participants. This exploratory, quantitative study utilized 2002-03 data submitted by family literacy programs in Kentucky. Two …