Digital Commons Network^™

A Study Of Foreign Earnings Management Using An Empirical Distribution Approach, Nancy Manzhen Fan

Accounting Dissertations - Archive

Effective January 1, 1998, SFAS 131 changed the way managers voluntarily disclose business, geographic and operating segments of their companies. Reporting geographic segments is specifically related to the reporting of overseas operations of multinational companies. This study analyzes the possibility of earnings management in foreign earnings and how SFAS 131 might have changed the patterns of foreign earnings distribution. I use an empirical distribution approach outlined by Burgstahler and Dichev (1997) in examining whether foreign earnings are managed to avoid earnings decreases and losses. Results show that foreign earnings are managed to avoid losses but not earnings decreases. In addition, …

Magnetic Drug Targeting: Development Of A Novel Drug Delivery System For Prostate Cancer Therapy, Maham Rahimi

Bioengineering Dissertations - Archive

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been attracting a great amount of attention because of their numerous applications including contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic targeted drug carriers, and hyperthermia treatments for cancer. However, complications, including aggregation of MNPs, have limited their use in drug delivery applications. To overcome these limitations, several methods have been developed to coat magnetic particles. One method includes coating them with polymers to produce polymer/MNPs for increasing the MNP dispersion and stability. This method also increases the efficiency of loading and releasing drugs to specific locations for the treatment of various diseases including prostate cancer. …

Spectroscopy Is Applied Quantum Mechanics. Part 4: Ideal Systems, David W. Ball

Chemistry Faculty Publications

The article features the last and fourth part of the lecture series about the application of quantum mechanics to spectroscopy. It examines ideal systems with wave functions that can be derived from the Schroedinger equation. It likewise follows discourse for failings of classical mechanics, the quantum hypothesis, and the emergence of a new theory called quantum mechanics.

The Contribution Of The Dorsal Root Reflex And The Sympathetic Nervous System In Formalin-Evoked Neurogenic Inflammation, Lara A. Kachlic

Psychology Theses - Archive

The present study investigated the role of dorsal root reflex (DRR), which is characterized as antidromic firing via primary afferent fibers towards the periphery, and the sympathetic nervous system in neurogenic inflammation. Neurogenic inflammation is defined as inflammation that is caused by substances released from sensory nerve terminals (Willis Jr., 1999). The first objective of the study was to determine bilateral blood perfusion, a measure of redness, one of the cardinal signs of inflammation, following a formalin injection with the use of laser Doppler imaging. The hypothesis stated that there would be a bilateral increase in blood perfusion, following formalin. …

The Impact Of Vaccination And Multiple Types Of Hpv On Cervical Cancer, Britnee A. Crawford

Mathematics Theses - Archive

Understanding the relationship between multiple strains of human papillomavirus and cervical cancer may play a key role in vaccination strategies for the virus. In this article we formulate a model with two strains of infection and vaccination for one of the strains in order to investigate how multiple strains of HPV and vaccination may aect the number of cervical cancer cases and deaths due to infections with both types of HPV. We calculate the basic reproductive number for both strains independently as well as the basic reproductive number for the system based on R1 and R2. We also compute the …

Genetic And Biological Variations Among Plutella Xylostella Granulovirus Isolates, S. Subramanian, R. J. Rabindra, S. Sithanantham

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Success of a baculovirus in the field depends on the selection and utilization of effective isolates of viruses with increased pathogenicity and virulence. Isolates of Plutella xylostella granuloviruses collected from Kenya and India were compared for genetic variations by restriction endonuclease enzyme analysis and for biological activity based on their median lethal concentration and time-to-kill early- and late-third instars. The P. xylostella granulovirus isolates in Kenya were more diverse than those in India and were considerably different from the latter, with only 53-61% similarity. The Kenyan and Indian isolates did not differ significantly for their median lethal concentration, but the …

Can Low Release Numbers Lead To Establishment And Spread Of An Exotic Parasitoid: The Case Of The Diamondback Moth Parasitoid, Diadegma Semiclausum (Hellén), In East Africa, G. Gichini, B. Löhr, A. Rossbach, B. Nyambo, R. Gathu

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

From 2001 onwards, Diadegma semiclausum, an exotic parasitoid of the diamondback moth, was introduced and released in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Contrary to common practice where thousands of parasitoids are released, we released very low numbers, 125 females in Kenya, 160 in Uganda and 350 in Tanzania. About 2 years after this single release, the establishment and natural spread of the parasitoids was assessed in all release areas. Two methods were employed: in Kenya, a grid with equidistant points in the four cardinal directions (2-50 km) with the release area in the centre was used and collections were made 27 …

Potential Of Improved Fallows To Increase Household And Regional Fuelwood Supply: Evidence From Western Kenya, B. A. Jama, J. K. Mutegi, A. N. Njui

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Fuelwood is the main energy source for households in rural Africa, but its supply is rapidly declining especially in the densely populated areas. Short duration planted tree fallows, an agroforestry technology widely promoted in sub-Sahara Africa for soil fertility improvement may offer some remedy. Our objective was to determine the fuelwood production potential of 6, 12 and 18 months (the common fallow rotation periods) old Crotalaria grahamiana, Crotalaria paulina, Tephrosia vogelli and Tephrosia candida fallows under farmer-managed conditions in western Kenya. Based on plot-level yields, we estimated the extent to which these tree fallows would meet household and sub-national fuelwood …

Foreword: Left Out In The Cold - Welcome Remarks, Nadine Strossen

American University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Running Through The Dark, Jennifer Sinor

English Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Control Of Listeria Monocytogenes In Ready-To-Eat Meats Containing Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Lactate, Or A Combination Of Sodium Lactate And Sodium Diacetate, R. L. Thompson, C. E. Carpenter, Silvana Martini, Jeff Broadbent

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

This study investigated the use of sodium levulinate to prevent outgrowth of Listeria monocytogenes in refrigerated ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products. Turkey breast roll and bologna were formulated to contain 1%, 2%, or 3% (w/w) sodium levulinate, 2% sodium lactate, a 2% combination of sodium lactate and sodium diacetate (1.875% sodium lactate and 0.125% sodium diacetate), or no antimicrobial (control). Samples of the RTE products were sliced, inoculated with 102 to 103 CFU/cm2 of a 5-strain cocktail of L. monocytogenes, vacuum packaged, and stored at refrigeration temperature for 0 to 12 wk. Counts reached 108 CFU/cm2 on control turkey roll product …

Farmers' Perceptions Of A 'Push-Pull' Technology For Control Of Cereal Stemborers And Striga Weed In Western Kenya, Zeyaur R. Khan, David M. Amudavi, Charles A.O. Midega, Japhether M. Wanyama, John A. Pickett

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Striga and cereal stemborers are major constraints to cereal production in sub-Saharan Africa causing serious food security concerns. The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) and partners have developed a novel integrated management system called the 'push-pull' technology (PPT) in mitigation. This involves inter-cropping maize with a stemborer moth-repellent forage legume, silverleaf desmodium (push), and planting an attractive trap crop, Napier grass (pull), around the intercrop. Additionally, chemicals produced from desmodium roots inhibit Striga. We evaluated farmers' perceptions of the pests, PPT attributes and factors influencing the likelihood of its adoption in 15 districts in western Kenya. A …

Observation Of Gamma-Ray Emission From The Galaxy M87 Above 250 Gev With Veritas, P. T. Reynolds, Et. Al.

Physical Sciences Publications

The multiwavelength observation of the nearby radio galaxy M87 provides a unique opportunity to study in detail processes occurring in active galactic nuclei from radio waves to TeV γ-rays. Here we report the detection of γ-ray emission above 250 GeV from M87 in spring 2007 with the VERITAS atmospheric Cerenkov telescope array and discuss its correlation with the X-ray emission. The γ-ray emission is measured to be pointlike with an intrinsic source radius less than 4.5'. The differential energy spectrum is fitted well by a power-law function: dΦ/dE = (7.4 ± 1.3stat ± 1.5sys)(E/TeV)(− 2.31 ± 0.17stat ± 0.2sys) 10−9 …

Integrated Management Of Striga Hermonthica, Stemborers, And Declining Soil Fertility In Western Kenya, B. Vanlauwe, F. Kanampiu, G. D. Odhiambo, H. De Groote, L. J. Wadhams, Z. R. Khan

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Striga hermonthica (Delile) Benth., stemborers, and declining soil fertility are serious threats to sustainable food production in the Lake Victoria zone of Kenya. To address these constraints, promising integrated crop management technologies were evaluated, using a multi-locational design in four sub-locations in Siaya and Vihiga district (western Kenya) for six cropping seasons. Technologies evaluated consisted of the traditional maize (Zea mays L.) - bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) intercrop, maize - Desmodium (Desmodium uncinatum (Jacq.) DC.) push-pull intercrop, Crotalaria (Crotalaria ochroleuca G. Don) - maize rotation, and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) - maize rotation. Within each of these systems, imazapyr-coated …

Particle Composition And Size Distributions In And Around A Deep Pit Swine Operation, Randy S. Martin, P. J. Silva, Kori D. Moore, M. Erupe, V. S. Doshi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The contribution of emissions from agricultural facilities is rapidly becoming a major concern for local and regional air quality. Characterization of particle properties such as physical size distribution and chemical composition can be valuable in understanding the processes contributing to emissions and ultimate fate of particulate matter from agricultural facilities. A measurement campaign was conducted at an Iowa, deep-pit, three-barn swine finishing facility to characterize near-source ambient particulate matter. Size-specific mass concentrations were determined using minivol samplers, with additional size distribution information obtain using optical particle counters. Particulate composition was determined via ion chromatographic analysis of the collected filters. A …

What Can Healthcare Supply Chains Learn From Consumer-Product Supply Chains?, Leroy B. Schwarz

RCHE Presentations

A Framework for Thinking About Supply-Chain Management: “The IDIB Portfolio” (Information, Decision-making, Implementation, Buffer system) Describe Supply-Chains for Consumer Products Before “Wal-Mart” Describe Supply-Chains for Consumer Products After “Wal-Mart” Describe Stylized Supply Chain for Healthcare Products

Cardiac Resuscitation: Examining Rural Heartland Development Through An Ecological Lens, Jay D. Anderson

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Throughout southwest Iowa, prime farm land is being sold and then purchased by local real estate developers. These developers are creating housing clusters throughout the countryside, especially in the rural Loess Hills area. These housing clusters have similar covenant restrictions imposed by the developers, but few if any address larger and more critical architectural, social, environmental and ecological issues. Recently one of these developers purchased some land from my family for this very reason. Knowing what will happen to this land, I chose to devote my efforts in order to provide a better, more eco-friendly solution to the inevitable consequences …

School At The Zoo: Enhancing Education Through Site And Design, Jolene L. Santema

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

As the concern for quality public education In America continues to grow, parents, educators, and citizens seek alternative methods for meeting students' needs. My Intent for this design thesis project is to explore one such method: the placement of an educational facility In a non-traditional setting. Whether or not this method actually Improves public education is not the focus of my project; instead, the development and design of a facility that promotes learning, encourages conservation, enhances creative problem-solving and forward thinking, and integrates real world situations In an educational context is the focus of my thesis. The fulfillment of these …

Adaptation: Reunion Square, Paul D. Becker

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

The intent of this project is an adaptive reuse of the Reunion Building on the city campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The purpose of this scheme is to allow the student to gain additional expertise in the fields of historic reuse, adaptive reuse, and historic preservation as an exploratory exercise into a possible career path. In addition to the exploration of an adaptive reuse, the student intends to focus on the research of architectural precedent, investigating the personal design process through drawings and diagramming in the digital and physical systems, and visual and verbal presentation skills.

Re-Define Urban: Investigating The Nature Of The Rural Midwest Cities And Their Urban Environment, Bruce A. Yoder

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

The project will be examining the current master plan of Red Oak, IA to focus in on a deteriorating portion of the city just south of the original town square. There are several buildings being placed on the national record for historic buildings and the area surrounding these buildings is in poor condition. The Thomas D. Murphy Calendar Building is one that is currently being renovated into a large assisted living complex and will serve as a catalyst for new development in the surrounding neighborhood.

The Site in question will have a broad master plan performed to identify both the …

_Reinterpreting The Hutong, Allison F. Struck

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

China is a nation growing at an alarming rate economically, socially, and structurally. It is expanding so rapidly that cities literally emerge overnight. However, Chinese architecture is caught in a very evident struggle between the past and the future. The past presents them with a long tradition of Imperial architecture in which spaces were emphasized rather than buildings. Construction consisted mainly of wood, and buildings were presented in a horizontal layout. This contrasts deeply with the steel “western” skyscrapers being constructed at a furious rate today. So, how can a culture with such a rich history of traditional building reject …

Adaptability In Architecture, Lucas J. Kielion

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

For too long, architecture has stood as an expression of permanence, recording a specific moment in history. This project begins with an idea that the adaptation of architecture is eminent, thus changing the process in which we design. The information age resulted in a highly mobile society, where modernization became more generic, the specificity of place changed, and time became more abstract. Mechanic invention supplied ‘generic’ standards to improve common application for tools. Strategies of a general building system could be familiarized with a local place, inherent with the idea of versatility. Through this design, it is important not to …

Surface Awareness, Evan M. Gunn

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

My design thesis is an exploration of surface articulations through digitally fabricated constructs. One of the most fundamental acts of architecture has been the construction of a surface to delineate a territory. How architects conceive and make surfaces is primary to my investigations. Most certainly, it begins with the ability to invent new surface qualities through the act of making an inherently two-dimensional material into a three dimensional construct. The designer’s ability to invent new surface qualities and ultimately experiences is directly related to their ability to work with materials. My personal belief is that the architect should have knowledge …

Biodynamic Dwelling Picking Up The Trailer Trash, Amber A. Ellett

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

BIODYNAMIC DWELLING is a graduate design thesis which explores the current status of the “mobile home,” its ubiquity, and its history, ultimately seeking to innovate this commodified housing type. Millions of Americans reside in “mobile” residences of varying types, harbored in an environment which is neither healthy nor appropriate in a post-fossil fuel era where energy independence is paramount.

As the most humane and personal of all built spaces, the dwelling affords the unique position to at once provoke, question, and inform the position of architecture within the realm of society. This proposal for a biodynamic dwelling—at once both bioclimatic …

The Ritual Experience, John F. Walker

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

What initially attracted me to this project was a combination of several factors. The first be¬ing that I have had a growing interest in the de¬sign of religious structures, wondering why are churches designed the way that they are? How do a religious affiliation’s beliefs affect the de¬sign of a place of worship, and how are they reflected in the place of worship?

Regarding the site that was chosen, Messiah Lutheran Church has recently gone through a strategic planning process and, within the last couple weeks, has adopted a new strategic min¬istry plan document. A vision statement within this document …

Overlooked By The Skyscrapers: The Creighton University Ballpark Complex, Kristopher M. Tourek

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

At the Collegiate level, a stadium represents more than just a sporting event. The stadium has grown to become a symbol of university pride and often reflects its accomplishments. The proposed project involves combining sports and entertainment in order to create a Baseball Stadium that will serve as home to the Creighton University Baseball team. The first intention is to generate a building that exhibits the connection between the experiences of a game with the architecture of a stadium. The secondary objectives are 1)Establish the stadium to be a source of civic pride in Omaha, 2)Design the stadium to be …

Submercial: Research At Its Closest Proximity, Kristin L. Ubben

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Located off the coast of Northern California, just west of Eureka and Humboldt Bay, it is the intention of mine to design a site specific research facility to primarily study oceanic activity. Responding to the planet’s current environmental conditions, I feel it necessary for solutions to manifest themselves within the realm of sustainable, as well as in an interest for future energy sources. The planet’s oceans hold one possible answer for this. By committing to a project that focuses on researching water at an extremely close proximity, it will also strive for the ability to be dependent on water for …

Tribological And Antiwear Mechanisms Of Fluorinated Zinc Dialkyl Dithiophosphate In Comparison To Zinc Dialkyl Dithiophosphate In Engine Oils, Ramoun Mourhatch

Material Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Tribofilms generated in wear tests using lubricants containing fluorinated ZDDP and ZDDP were studied. Fluorinated ZDDP demonstrated superior wear performance compared to ZDDP under tribological conditions even at lower phosphorus levels. Chemical properties and the molecular structure of the fluorinated ZDDP were examined and presented in a previous companion study by Parekh and Aswath [1] using techniques such as NMR and DSC while this study examines the tribological behavior of this compound and the characteristics of the tribofilms formed by it. Ball on cylinder tribological tests were conducted with lubricants containing this new fluorinated thiophosphate compound and compared to lubricants …

Seeing Is Perceiving: The Influence Of Race As A Peripheral Cue On The Stereotypical Perception Of A Spokesperson In An Advertisement, Siobhan Denise Flowers

Communication Theses - Archive

Due to the vast amount of stimuli individuals come in contact with daily, people often tend to look for easy-to-process cues to help them make quick judgments about what they are seeing (Petty & Cacioppo, 1986). While this can sometimes be helpful, it is not always so. For example, if someone makes a snap judgment about another person based on the color of their skin, it is possible they will fall prey to stereotypes. In the case of African-Americans, a number of negative stereotypes have been perpetuated through the years, contributing to prejudice (Devine, 1989). This study sought to answer …

Russia's Portrayal In The Western Media: A Quantitative Analysis Of Leading Media Agency News Stories In 2007, Mihai Moscovici

Communication Theses - Archive

This study examined Western media news coverage about Russia. Representative samples from the leading Western wire and international broadcasting services - the AP, BBC and DW - were selected and analyzed using content analysis methodology. The research is grounded in the theoretical frameworks of the agenda-setting and framing theories - considering the reality constructed by mass media and the determinants on foreign news coverage. Findings about Russia's portrayal in the Western media are discussed. A quantitative content analysis was used in identifying the main topics, tones and frames used in Western media news coverage about Russia. This research concluded that …