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Carbon, Nitrogen And Phosphorus Stoichiometry Of A Mixotrophic Protist, Natalie C. Lukomski

Biology Theses - Archive

The microbial loop is one of two major pathways in aquatic systems in which nutrient and energy flow from dissolved nutrients to higher trophic levels. Protozoan-bacteria predator-prey relationships lie at the base of this food web. It is through this interaction that dissolved nutrients sequestered in the bacterial biomass become available to higher trophic levels. Heterotrophic nanoflagellates are the main consumers of bacteria in aquatic systems (Porter et al.1985). Consequently, limitation of dissolved nutrients in the bacterial biomass could effect protozoan stoichiometry and the amounts of excreted waste products. These excreted waste products are a valuable resource to bacteria; therefore …

Generalized Inverse Scattering Transform For The Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation, Theresa Nicole Busse

Mathematics Dissertations - Archive

The nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation describes wave propagation in optical fibers, and it is one of the most well-known nonlinear partial differential equations. In 1972 Zakharov and Shabat introduced a powerful method (known as the inverse scattering transform) to solve the initial-value problem for the NLS equation. Due to mathematical and technical difficulties, this method has been available mainly in the case where the multiplicity of each bound state is one. In our research we remove that restriction and generalize the inverse scattering transform for the NLS equation to the case where the multiplicity of each bound state is arbitrarily …

Questions In American Sign Language: A Quantitative Analysis Of Raised And Lowered Eyebrows, Traci Patricia Weast

Linguistics & TESOL Dissertations - Archive

Although much of linguistic information in American Sign Language (ASL) is conveyed through nonmanual signals, the majority of more than 40 years of research focuses on manual signs. As a result, we are just beginning to understand the role of the face, head, and upper body in signed languages, including eyebrow movement. While researchers generally agree that eyebrows play a role in questions of examined sign languages, they disagree whether upper face nonmanuals are syntactic or prosodic and intonational. Wilbur 2000, 2003 widens the debate to suggest a layered combination in the upper face, where eyebrows represent syntax, and other …

Urban Essentials, Ruthie G. Gould

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Industrial development throughout the world has led to a global society. Although sharing of information and technology is beneficial in many ways, these global means have also created many issues that are not always contributing to economic and social societies. International business is not only unsustainable for environmental reasons, but it also often means that many unethical decisions are made for the purposes of cheap labor, mass revenue, and other un-amiable intentions. The Urban Essentials project’s purpose is to create an urban area that searches for a solution against these capitalistic means of business. This idea is realized in the …

Contrarian Urges, Jason W. Cave

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

Historically, the default space of architectural design has been one of neutral Cartesian coordinates. However, in other design fields, (such as aeronautical, automotive and naval) the design space is conceived as an environment of forces and motion such as flow, turbulence, viscosity and drag. Architecture, as a static object, has much to gain from a design process that con¬ceives of form in a virtual environment in motion.

The focus of this thesis will be to develop an iterative architectural design process that utilizes techniques in animation software. The purpose of generating architectural form through animation software is to allow architectural …

Eduvironments, Mathew T. Smith

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

The goal for the middle school is to create a place which first looks at the way in which we learn and then uses these findings in its design decisions in a way which will best maximize a students ability to learn not only in an educational sense, but physically and more importantly socially.

Bien-Ètre: Transcending Into The Reflective Moment, Michael L. Bettis

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

My THESIS PROJECT IS AN ATTEMPT TO EXPLORE THE USE OF ARCHITECTURE IN DEFINING PRIVACY AND CREATE A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT WHICH ASSISTS THE HUMAN BODY IN ACHIEVING SELF AWARENESS, SELF CONSCIOUSNESS, AND SELF REALIZATION WHICH SUPPORT ACHIEVEMENT OF A REFLECTIVE MOMENT. THE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROCESS IS A COED SPA LOCATED ON NORTHERLY ISLAND ACROSS THE BAY FROM CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. I HAVE USED A VARIETY OF APPROPRIATE SOCIO/PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES AND PROCESSES IN CON.JUNCTION WITH A SERIES OF THRESHOLDS AND SPACES IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT TRANSCENDENCE INTO THIS REFLECTIVE MOMENT.

I HAVE CREATED AN ARCHITECTURAL FORM THAT IS BOLD AND …

What Is The Generative Role For Music In Architecture?, Cole A. Wycoff

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

The origin of my design thesis project interests had its first identifi able origin on November 2nd, 2006, shortly after attending a lecture on the life and works of Antoine Predock. Predock talked in great detail about not only his designs, but also his design process. The descriptions he provided of his methods and creative intuition began an internal assessment of my own design process, which, in fact, is where this thesis investigation begins. Methodology is central to this framed investigation, and the design thesis project will allow me to develop a latent and more implicit design thinking regarding architecture. …

Secure Data Aggregation In Wireless Sensor Networks, Wei Zhang

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Recent advances in micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology and wireless communications technologies have enabled the deployment of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in a plethora of applications, ranging widely from military surveillance to civilian applications. To protect the networks from different kinds of attacks, security in wireless sensor networks plays a crucial role and has received increased attention especially in the applications deployed in hostile environments, such as battlefield monitoring and home security. While extensive efforts have been devoted toward securing conventional networks, the stringent resource constraints, such as energy, communication and computation capability, etc., have often prevented their direct adoptions. As …

Data Dissemination Protocols In Wireless Sensor Networks : Design, Modeling And Security, Pradip De

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Wireless sensor and actuator networks have been one of the stepping stones towards realizing a pervasive computing infrastructure. However, in a post-deployment scenario, transferring critical updates and reconfigurations on a network-wide scale is a non-trivial proposition. Wireless techniques provide the only means of communication, and consequently, an in-depth study of the multihop broadcast based communication paradigm and the design of efficient and reliable data dissemination protocols for reprogramming a sensor network is of paramount importance. In this dissertation, we initially focus on the formal modeling and performance analysis of broadcast-based data dissemination protocols in wireless sensor networks. The data propagating …

The Impact Of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act Of 2002 On The U.S. Financial Markets, Sheryl-Ann Kathleen Stephen

Finance and Real Estate Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation examines the impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) on the U. S. financial markets by investigating three topics: security analysts' performance, security analyst monitoring activity and firm value, and the cost of equity capital. Each topic is presented in a separate essay. In the first essay, the impact of SOX on security analysts' performance is investigated. The findings indicate that security analysts' forecasting performance has deteriorated post-SOX for both large and small firms. In addition, this deterioration in forecasting performance holds across industries. Security analysts have also become pessimistic in their earnings forecasts post-SOX. The second essay examines …

The Cartography Of Alexander Von Humboldt: Images Of The Enlightenment In America, Robert M. Sherwood Iii

History Dissertations - Archive

The Cartography of Alexander von Humboldt: Images of the Enlightenment in America offers a cartographic perspective of Alexander von Humboldt's journey to the Americas, 1799-1804. Presented in the context of the European Enlightenment, this doctoral dissertation includes Humboldt s romanticized view of the natural world that was an essential part of his science and philosophy. It interprets Humboldt s maps and images as part of a transatlantic exchange, incorporating the theme of old Europe and the New World found throughout his work. Two of Humboldt's maps, General Chart of the Kingdom of New Spain and Points of Separation and Projected …

Synthetic Studies And Biological Evaluation Of Imidazole-Containing Marine Alkaloids, Lesley Ann Schmid

Chemistry & Biochemistry Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation discusses the synthetic methods towards and the preliminary biological studies of an unnamed, imidazole-containing alkaloid, derived from the marine species Oceanapia. This alkaloid was first discovered in 1996 by researchers at the NIH as a possible inhibitor of the key enzyme in the detoxification cycle of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Chapter 1 provides an overview of tuberculosis, which is currently the second highest cause of death worldwide, with one third of the world's population infected. In recent years, the emergence of multi-drug resistant strains has created new interest and funding for tuberculosis research. New treatments like the alkaloid described above …

Perceptions Of Leadership And School Climate Through Eyes Of Principals And Teachers Of Appalachian No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools, (Nclbbrs), Suzanne H. R. Goodall

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research investigated the possibility of a relationship existing between principals' leadership frame(s) and school climate in public elementary or middle school level NCLBBRS located in the Appalachian Region States. The population included principals and teachers from all 245 NCLBBRS between 2003--2006 in Appalachia who were invited to participate. The sample consisted of principals and teachers from 35 schools. Each state had at least one NCLBBRS represented.;Three questionnaires, the Bolman and Deal Leadership Orientations (Self), (B&DS), for principals, the Bolman and Deal Leadership Orientations (Other) questionnaire, (B&DO), for teachers, and the Charles F. Kettering Ltd. School Climate Profile, (CFKLSCP), for …

Trypanosoma Brucei Rhodesiense Transmitted By A Single Tsetse Fly Bite In Vervet Monkeys As A Model Of Human African Trypanosomiasis, John K. Thuita, John M. Kagira, David Mwangangi, Enock Matovu, C. M.R. Turner, Daniel Masiga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

We have investigated the pathogenicity of tsetse (Glossina pollidipes)-transmitted cloned strains of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in velvet monkeys. Tsetse files were confirmed to have mature trypanosome infections by xenodiagnosis, after which nine monkeys were infected via the bite of a single infected fly. Chancres developed in five of the nine (55.6%) monkeys within 4 to 8 days post infection (dpi). All nine individuals were successfully infected, with a median pre-patent period of 4 (range = 4-10) days, indicating that trypanosomes migrated from the site of fly bite to the systemic circulation rapidly and independently of the development of the chancre. …

Blood-Feeding Patterns Of Culex Quinquefasciatus And Other Culicines And Implications For Disease Transmission In Mwea Rice Scheme, Kenya, Ephantus J. Muturi, Simon Muriu, Josephat Shililu, Joseph M. Mwangangi, Benjamin G. Jacob, Charles Mbogo, John Githure, Robert J. Novak

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Studies were conducted in Mwea Rice Scheme, Kenya during the period April 2005 and January 2007 to determine the host-feeding pattern of culicine mosquitoes. Mosquitoes were collected indoors and outdoors and tested for human, bovine, goat, and donkey blood meals by an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. A total of 1,714 blood-engorged samples comprising Culex quinquefasciatus Say (96.1%), Culex annulioris Theobald (1.8%), Culex poicilipes Theobald (0.9%), Aedes cuminsi Theobald (1.0%), Aedes taylori Edwards (0.1%), and Mansonia africana Theobald (0.1%) were tested. Except for A. taylori, in which the single blood meal tested was of bovine origin, the other species fed mostly on …

Heavy Metals In Mosquito Larval Habitats In Urban Kisumu And Malindi, Kenya, And Their Impact, Paul O. Mireji, Joseph Keating, Ahmed Hassanali, Charles M. Mbogo, Hudson Nyambaka, Samuel Kahindi, John C. Beier

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Concentrations and distribution of cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese and zinc in mosquito larval habitats in urban Kisumu and Malindi, Kenya and their effect on the presence of Anopheles gambiae, Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles funestus larvae were investigated. Manganese and iron were the most prevalent heavy metals in water of larval habitats in urban Kisumu and Malindi, respectively. Iron was the most prevalent heavy metal in bottom sediments in larval habitats in both cities. The highest concentrations of all heavy metals, except cadmium and iron, were recorded in the poorly planned-well drained stratum in the two cities. …

Evaluating The Relationship Between Collaborative Therapist Behaviors, Homework Adherence, And Treatment Outcome In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Christina Rose Thomas

Social Work Theses - Archive

The use of homework assignments is considered an integral part of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Although homework adherence has been shown to contribute to treatment outcome for depression, little research has been conducted which successfully identifies therapist characteristics which may facilitate homework adherence. Although therapeutic collaboration is referenced in clinical literature as a method of facilitating homework, no empirical investigation documents the extent to which therapeutic collaboration facilitates homework adherence. The following study proposes to test the extent to which therapeutic collaboration facilitates homework adherence and treatment outcome, and to further validate the positive relationship between homework adherence and treatment …

The Irony Of Proving Discrimination, Rosalyn Wilson-Green

Public Affairs Dissertations - Archive

Currently America courts require plaintiffs alleging discrimination to not only prove the existence of present day discrimination but to also prove the "discriminatory intent." This dissertation contains two applications of the theory of unconscious discrimination as it reveals the difficulty of prevailing in discrimination cases. The assumption applied is that policy-makers use theories that dismiss or render invisible the presence of subtle discrimination. This perpetuates the problem and hinders its adequate address. Since so many people suffer because of discrimination's invisible-yet present existence, measures must be taken to unveil the remedy this subtler form of discrimination. In this dissertation, I …

Kangri In Context: An Areal Perspective, Robert D. Eaton

Linguistics & TESOL Dissertations - Archive

This study is a grammatical description and analysis of the dialect of Pahari known as Kangri, spoken in and around Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India. It presents data for Phonology, Tone, Stress, Morphology, and Syntax and includes feature comparisons with several of the related regional and high domain languages (Hindi, Punjabi, and Dogri), particularly at points where they differ. Special focus is given to issues involving stress assignment and tone. These are shown to be sensitive to different morphological categories, for which the framework of Lexical Phonology is useful in accounting. Various tense/aspect grammatical categories are also discussed, among which there …

Mathematical Analysis Of Allelopathy And Resource Competition Models, Ian Pablo Martines

Mathematics Dissertations - Archive

Mathematical population models of nutrient recycling and allelopathy are presented. The chemostat limited-resource model forms the basis for each of the models, amended with the dynamics of nutrient recycling and allelopathy. Nutrient recycling considers the explicit mortality of the population as providing additional recycled nutrient available to the remaining organisms. Also considered is allelopathy in which one population produces a poison to increase the mortality of another population. In this study we explore allelopathy in which the poison producer increases toxicity as the nutrients are limited. In addition to the chemostat model, we also consider the associated gradostat, two chemostat …

Comparative Determinants Of International Equity Diversification, Ying Zhang

Finance and Real Estate Dissertations - Archive

This study provides a comprehensive, simultaneous comparison of the country and sector determinants of international diversification. Specifically, it bridges the theory between the cointegration methodology and diversification by linking market integration, cointegration and portfolio diversification. Cointegration tests are conducted to both analyze the stationarity of country and industry index covariances and to dissect the diversification contributions of each component. Portfolios comprised of market indices independent of cointegrating relations produce, on average, better risk-return profiles than those constructed from cointegrated market indices. Although country and sector allocations both contribute to independent market portfolio gains, the diversification determinants have differential impact on …

Methodology For Reverse Supply Chain Design In Consumer Electronics Industry, Santhanam Rajagopalan

Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Reverse Logistics (RL), the art and science of moving goods typically from the end consumer towards the upstream end of supply chains, has been the subject of many strategic meetings in organizations today. This is attributed mainly due to the tighter federal environmental legislations on product returns and a hugely untapped potential that has been often overlooked by the managers. Traditionally, enterprises spend most of the improvement initiatives in optimizing its forward supply chain (FSC) performance that aims to delight the end consumer. However, it is not a panacea by itself in the process of continuously satisfying the end customer. …

Determining The Flow Characteristics Of A Perfusion Device For Donor Heart Transport, Michael Louis Cobert

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Current technology has limits organ transport for transplantation to static storage, thereby reducing the reasonable distance of travel. Continuous machine perfusion has been proposed as a viable alternative to improving function and outcome. A series of studies with such a device have been developed to elucidate the method by which optimal results can be achieved. Adult mongrel dog hearts were established in a device that provided continuous perfusion of oxygenated fluid and enabled precise control of flow rate, oxygenation, and fluid temperature. The first series of experiments sought to determine an optimal flow rate for tissue perfusion at one of …

Post-Election Audits: Statistical Power Based Methods And A Trigger For Further Auditing, Katherine Lim

Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Honors Projects

Two important components of an audit procedure are the sample size and the decision rule for expanding the audit. This paper describes a method for determining the audit size that ensures a high probability of detecting miscounts if election-altering ones exist. Then, two possible “triggers” for further auditing are developed: a modified bootstrap confidence interval and a modified Hoeffding bound. Both estimate the net gain in votes for the originally reported loser if a full audit were conducted. In simulations, both methods maintained high power for various miscount situations, with the Hoeffding bound having slightly lower false positive rates.

Psychometric Properties Of A Pre-Service Teacher Performance-Based Rubric As Related To Teaching Efficacy, Lucas C. Moore

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In order to meet the stipulations set for by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, teacher education programs seeking NCATE accreditation are required to demonstrate their students' readiness to become teachers in specific, measurable ways (NCATE, 2000). As a result, new methods to assess performance began to receive attention by those in the field of teacher education. This study investigated a performance-based rubric which is used by an NCATE accredited program to assess the teaching performance of its pre-service teachers. The psychometric properties of this rubric were assessed. Additionally, the relationship between this measure of teaching performance …

Data Recovery From Magnetic Media Using Magnetic Force Microscopy, Terry R. Ferrett

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Magnetic tapes are widely used to store voice and other data. Due to the effect of hysteresis, modification of the magnetization pattern written to a tape by overwriting, erasing, or physical damage leaves remanent information about the previous magnetization state that can not be discerned by standard audio playback devices. Recently, a high resolution microscopy technique known as magnetoresistive microscopy was used by Pappas et al. in an attempt to recover data from audio tapes which were physically damaged. However, the device, while having a higher resolution than tape playback heads, still averages over entire audio track widths when collecting …

Chemical Ecology And Conservation Biological Control, Zeyaur R. Khan, David G. James, Charles A.O. Midega, John A. Pickett

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Elucidating the chemical ecology of natural enemies, herbivores and host plants is important in the development of effective and successful integrated pest management (IPM) strategies where abundance and distribution of natural enemies could be manipulated by semiochemicals for improved conservation biological control (CBC). In response to attack by herbivores, plants produce semiochemicals called Herbivore-Induced Plant Volatiles (HIPVs) which act to repel pests and attract their natural enemies. Damaged, and in some cases, intact plants may also produce volatile signals that warn other plants of impending attack. Some of these intact plants are used as intercrops in 'push-pull' strategies; cropping systems …

Characterization And Application Of Dmpc-Dhpc Phospholipid Preparations For Non-Mechanical Flow Control In Microfluidics, Theron John Pappas

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The viscosity of aqueous phospholipid mixtures comprised of 1,2-dimyristoyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and 1,2-dihexanoyl-sn -glycero-3-phosphocholine (DHPC) was characterized with an automated capillary electrophoresis system, as a function of chemical composition, temperature, electric fields, and magnetic fields. This information was then utilized to demonstrate non-mechanical flow control on a microfluidic device based on induced changes in the viscosity of various DMPC-DHPC lipid preparations.

De Novo Asymmetric Syntheses Of Biologically Active Natural Product, Haibing Guo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The enantioselective syntheses of daumone and four analogs have been achieved in 7 to 8 steps. This route relies upon a diasteroselective palladium catalyzed glycosylation reaction for the formation of the anomeric bond. The asymmetry of the sugar and aglycone portion of daumone were introduced by Noyori reduction of an acylfuran and a propargyl ketone. A highly diastereoselective epoxidation and reductive ring opening established the desired C-2 and C-4 stereochemistry of daumone.;A highly enantioselective and stereocontrolled approach to D-, L-swainsonine and 8, 8a-epi-D-swainsonine has been developed from achiral furan or furfural. A one-pot hydrogenolysis, followed by an intramolecular reductive amination …