Digital Commons Network^™

Rolling In The Dough: The Continued Surge In Individual Contributions To Presidential Candidates And Party Committees, David B. Magleby

Faculty Publications

The dramatic growth in the numbers of individuals contributing to presidential candidates and the surge in total amounts being contributed has generated substantial media attention in the 2008 presidential election. Individuals are giving more, in part, because the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) raised contribution limits and encouraged "max-out" donors to contribute to party committees as well. This study compares individual contributions to presidential candidates and party committees in 1999, the year prior to the last pre-BCRA presidential election, and in the years prior to post-BCRA presidential elections.

Multi-Class Classification Fusion Using Boosting For Identifying Steganography Methods, Benjamin M. Rodriguez, Gilbert L. Peterson

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Ant Clustering With Locally Weighting Ant Perception And Diversified Memory, Gilbert L. Peterson, Christopher B. Mayer, Thomas L. Kubler

Faculty Publications

Ant clustering algorithms are a robust and flexible tool for clustering data that have produced some promising results. This paper introduces two improvements that can be incorporated into any ant clustering algorithm: kernel function similarity weights and a similarity memory model replacement scheme. A kernel function weights objects within an ant’s neighborhood according to the object distance and provides an alternate interpretation of the similarity of objects in an ant’s neighborhood. Ants can hill-climb the kernel gradients as they look for a suitable place to drop a carried object. The similarity memory model equips ants with a small memory consisting …

Intent Attributions And Aggression: A Study Of Children And Their Parents, David A. Nelson, Carianne Mitchell, Chongming Yang

Faculty Publications

This research aimed to further clarify the relationship between children’s self-reported hostile intent attributions (for ambiguous instrumental or relational provocations) and peer-reported aggression (physical and relational) in 500 fourth-grade children. In addition, we examined whether parents’ intent attributions might predict children’s intent attributions and aggression. Both parents (mothers and fathers) in 393 families completed intent attribution questionnaires. Results showed, consistent with past research, that boys’ instrumental intent attributions were related to physical aggression. Children’s relational intent attributions, however, were not associated with relational aggression. Contrary to expectations, most children responded with hostile intent attributions for relational provocations. Finally, in regard …

Novel Role Of Antioxidant-1 (Atox1) As A Copper-Dependent Transcription Factor Involved In Cell Proliferation, S. Itoh, H. W. Kim, O. Nakagawa, K. Ozumi, Susan M. Lessner, H. Aoki, K. Akram, R. D. Mckinney, M. Ushio-Fukai, T. Fukai

Faculty Publications

Copper plays a fundamental role in regulating cell growth. Many types of human cancer tissues have higher copper levels than normal tissues. Copper can also induce gene expression. However, transcription factors that mediate copper-induced cell proliferation have not been identified in mammals. Here we show that antioxidant-1 (Atox1), previously appreciated as a copper chaperone, represents a novel copper-dependent transcription factor that mediates copper-induced cell proliferation. Stimulation of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) with copper markedly increased cell proliferation, cyclin D1 expression, and entry into S phase, which were completely abolished in Atox1^-/- MEFs. Promoter analysis and EMSA revealed that copper …

The Role Of Perceived Parental Knowledge On Emerging Adults’ Risk Behaviors, Laura M. Padilla-Walker, Larry J. Nelson, Stephanie D. Madsen, Carolyn Mcnamara Barry

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to gain a clearer understanding of the relation between parents’ knowledge of their emerging-adult children and emerging adults’ risk behaviors. Participants included 200 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 25 (121 women, 78 men; Mage = 19.59, SD = 1.62) and both of their parents. Results revealed that knowledge of the emerging-adult child’s activities varied as a function of parent- and child-reports, and that child outcomes associated with parental knowledge were generally positive, including less drinking, drug use, and risky sexual behavior (although this varied as a function of reporter). The …

Comment: Infant Abandonment In Texas, Michelle Oberman

Faculty Publications

Sandi Pruitt’s study on infant abandonment in the wake of safe haven legislation is timely, well executed, and, through no fault of her own, deeply dissatisfying. Despite its precision, the study’s findings do not help to answer the nagging question of whether safe haven laws work.

As anyone familiar with these laws long has recognized, they are almost impossible to evaluate. Designed to redress the problem of neonaticide—a problem that is shrouded in the secrecy that accompanies concealed pregnancies and abandoned newborns—the law’s solution is to maintain the secrets of those who might otherwise endanger their newborns.

Synthesis And Characterization Of Novel Chiral Ionic Liquids And Investigation Of Their Enantiomeric Recognition Properties, David K. Bwambok, Hadi M. Marwani, Vivian E. Fernand, Sayo O. Fakayode, Mark Lowry, Ioan Negulescu, Robert M. Strongin, Isiah M. Warner

Faculty Publications

We report the synthesis and characterization of amino acid ester based chiral ionic liquids, derived from L- and D-alanine tert butyl ester chloride. The synthesis was accomplished via an anion metathesis reaction between commercially available L-and D-alanine tert butyl ester chloride using a variety of counterions such as lithium bis (trifluoromethane) sulfonimide, silver nitrate, silver lactate, and silver tetrafluoroborate. Both enantiomeric forms were obtained as confirmed by bands of opposite sign in the circular dichroism spectra. The L- and D-alanine tert butyl ester bis (trifluoromethane) sulfonimide were obtained as liquids at room temperature and intriguingly exhibited the highest thermal stability …

Cellular Uptake And Lysosomal Delivery Of Galactocerebrosidase Tagged With The Hiv Tat Protein Transduction Domain, Xian Yang Zhang, Annie Dinh, James Cronin, Su Chen Li, Jakob Reiser

Faculty Publications

A number of studies have shown that a short peptide, the protein transduction domain (PTD) derived from the HIV-1 Tat protein (Tat-PTD) improved cellular uptake in vitro and distribution in vivo of recombinant proteins bearing such PTDs when administered systemically. To investigate the effects of Tat-PTD addition on the subcellular localization of the lysosomal enzyme galactocerebrosidase (GALC, EC 3.2.2.46) and with a view towards designing improved therapeutic strategies for Krabbe disease (globoid cell leukodystrophy), mouse GALC was tagged C-terminally with the Tat-PTD. Compared with unmodified GALC, GALC bearing a Tat-PTD, a myc epitope and 6 consecutive His residues [GALC-TMH (Tat-PTD, …

Open Educational Resources: Enabling Universal Education, David Wiley, Tom Caswell, Shelley Henson, Marion Jensen

Faculty Publications

The role of distance education is shifting. Traditionally distance education was limited in the number of people served because of production, reproduction, and distribution costs. Today, while it still costs the university time and money to produce a course, technology has made it such that reproduction costs are almost non-existent. This shift has significant implications, and allows distance educators to play an important role in the fulfillment of the promise of the right to universal education. At little or no cost, universities can make their content available to millions. This content has the potential to substantially improve the quality of …

Electromagnetic Considerations For Communicating On Correlated Mimo Channels With Covariance Information, Michael A. Jensen, Jon W. Wallace

Faculty Publications

Previous results for correlated block-fading MIMO channels with covariance information indicate guaranteed capacity growth with additional transmit elements and that in rapidly fading channels, vanishing element spacing maximizes capacity. However, because prior analysis neglects antenna electromagnetic coupling, the observations are not necessarily valid for small inter-element spacing. This work applies radiated power considerations to the analysis to demonstrate that additional elements do not always increase capacity and that vanishing element spacing is not optimal. An effective gain metric is introduced that quantifies the performance increase with additional transmitters in the presence of transmit correlation and mutual coupling. Performance simulations using …

Sociocultural Aspects Of Russian-Speaking Parents' Choice Of Language Of Instruction For Their Children In Estonia, Raija Pini Kemppainen, Scott Ellis Ferrin, Steven J. Hite, Sterling C. Hilton

Faculty Publications

In most cases, parents whose native language is not predominant in the area they live in have no opportunity to choose the language for their children's instruction in schools. However, in some areas language minority families have options regarding the language of instruction (e.g., Finns in Sweden and Russians in Estonia). This article focuses on language choice from the viewpoint of these families. Typically, discussions of language of instruction have focuses on integrative issues, such as creating loyal citizens, or instrumental or practical issues, such as education or labor market opportunities (Mtes 2004). Choice, however, may have deeper cultural and …

The Ethics Of Interrogation And The American Psychological Association: A Critique Of Policy And Process, Brad Olson Ph.D., Stephen Soldz, Martha Davis

Faculty Publications

The Psychological Ethics and National Security (PENS) task force was assembled by the American Psychological Association (APA) to guide policy on the role of psychologists in interrogations at foreign detention centers for the purpose of U.S. national security. The task force met briefly in 2005, and its report was quickly accepted by the APA Board of Directors and deemed consistent with the APA Ethics Code by the APA Ethics Committee. This rapid acceptance was unusual for a number of reasons but primarily because of the APA's long-standing tradition of taking great care in developing ethical policies that protected anyone who …

Measurement Of Muon Neutrino Quasielastic Scattering On Carbon, A. A. Aguilar-Arevalo, A. O. Bazarko, S. J. Brice, B. C. Brown, L. Bugel, J. Cao, L. Coney, J. M. Conrad, D. C. Cox, A. Curioni, Z. Djurcic, D. A. Finley, B. T. Fleming, R. Ford, F. G. Garcia, G. T. Garvey, C. Green, J. A. Green, T. L. Hart, E. Hawker, R. Imlay, R. A. Johnson, P. Kasper, T. Katori, T. Kobilarcik, I. Kourbanis, S. Koutsoliotas, E. M. Laird, J. M. Link, Y. Liu, Y. Liu, W. C. Louis, K. B.M. Mahn

Faculty Publications

The observation of neutrino oscillations is clear evidence for physics beyond the standard model. To make precise measurements of this phenomenon, neutrino oscillation experiments, including MiniBooNE, require an accurate description of neutrino charged current quasielastic (CCQE) cross sections to predict signal samples. Using a high-statistics sample of νμ CCQE events, MiniBooNE finds that a simple Fermi gas model, with appropriate adjustments, accurately characterizes the CCQE events observed in a carbon-based detector. The extracted parameters include an effective axial mass, MAeff=1.23±0. 20GeV, that describes the four-momentum dependence of the axial-vector form factor of the nucleon, and a Pauli-suppression parameter, κ=1. 019±0.011. …

Early Life Determinants Of Physical Activity In 11 To 12 Year Olds: Cohort Study, Calum Mattocks, Kevin Deere, Sam D. Leary, Andy R. Ness, Kate Tilling, Steven N. Blair, Chris J. Riddoch

Faculty Publications

Objective: To examine factors in early life (up to age 5 years) that are associated with objectively measured physical activity in 11-12 year olds.

Design: Prospective cohort study

Setting: Avon longitudinal study of parents and children, United Kingdom.

Participants: Children aged 11-12 years from the Avon longitudinal study of parents and children.

Main outcome measure: Physical activity levels in counts per minute (cpm) and minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity for seven days measured with a uniaxial actigraph accelerometer.

Results: Valid actigraph data, defined as at least three days of physical activity for at least 10 hours a day, …

Resisting The Human Need For Enemies, Or What Would Harry Potter Do?, Mary E. Hess

Faculty Publications

Most mass-mediated popular cultures surround us with enemies, offering up vivid depictions of a world seen as either “for us” or “against us.” Christian faith, on the other hand, draws us towards love even in the presence of hatred. A close look at the surprisingly countercultural world of Harry Potter provides some ways forward in walking the path of love.

Attitude And Divergence In Business Students: An Examination Of Personality Differences In, Todd A. Brown

Faculty Publications

Many studies have reported that economics and business students have been more apt to act in self-interested ways when compared to their counterparts in other academic fields. It is our contention that past studies have not shed light on the underlying psychological differences which might be leading to this difference in behavior. We put forth evidence that certain business majors are correlated with a marked increase in levels of narcissism and decreased levels of empathy, as measured by psychological personality tests.

Student Cheating Habits: A Predictor Of Workplace Deviance, Sharron M. Graves

Faculty Publications

Unethical behavior seems to be increasing exponentially in every facet of today's business environment. Property and production deviance are just two of the unethical behaviors exhibited by employees. According to a study conducted by S. Nonis and C. Swift (2001), students who engage in dishonest acts in college classes are more likely to engage in dishonest acts in the workplace. Research conducted during the three year period 2002 - 2005 by Don McCabe in conjunction with The Center for Academic Integrity at Duke University reveals that 70 percent of the 50,000 undergraduate students surveyed admit to some cheating (McCabe 2005). …

A Geowall With Physics And Astronomy Applications, Phillip Dukes, Dan Bruton

Faculty Publications

A GeoWall is a passive stereoscopic projection system that can be used by students, teachers, and researchers for visualization of the structure and dynamics of three-dimensional systems and data. The type of system described here adequately provides 3-D visualization in natural color for large or small groups of viewers. The name “GeoWall” derives from its initial development to visualize data in the geosciences.1 An early GeoWall system was developed by Paul Morin at the electronic visualization laboratory at the University of Minnesota and was applied in an introductory geology course in spring of 2001. Since that time, several stereoscopic media, …

The Bunheads Are Dead: Discovering High Tech, High Touch Opportunities In Library And Information Science, Ken Haycock, C. Garner

Faculty Publications

Conjure up a picture of today's librarian, and you are likely to be wrong. Professional librarians are information analysts, freedom of information and protection of privacy officers, family literacy specialists, Internet trainers, teen specialists, genealogists, Web designers and technologists, database managers, historical researchers, information brokers. Indeed, few have the title of “librarian” but all have the master's degree in Library and Information Science (LIS). Graduate LIS programs are appealing to a younger and more diverse student population, yet recruitment is still problematic due to misconceptions about the career and the little-known fact that the first professional degree is at the …

Emotional Intelligence In Computer Mediated Group Communications, Nathaniel C. Lupton, Michael J. Hine, Steven A. Murphy

Faculty Publications

This exploratory study investigated the role of emotional intelligence in shaping the email communication of a five member virtual team involved in the development and support of a proprietary information system. Over 1,200 email messages from a two-month period were coded for communicative goals and communicative form. EI abilities were related to the chosen form of email communication dependent upon the intent of the communicator. Results of this initial study justify further investigation into how EI abilities can be leveraged to improve virtual team dynamics and outcomes.

A More True ‘Domestic And Foreign Missionary Society’: Toward A Missional Polity For The Episcopal Church., Dwight J. Zscheile

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Is Nominal Use An Answer To The Free Speech & Right Of Publicity Quandary?: Lessons From America’S National Pastime, Raymond Shih Ray Ku

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Listening And Learning To Teach In Theological Contexts: An Appreciative Inquiry Model, Mary E. Hess

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Fine Arts And Solow Model: A Clarification, Yeung-Nan Shieh, Jason Kao

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Singlet Oxygen Chemistry In Water. 2. Photoexcited Sensitizer Quenching By O2 At The Water−Porous Glass Interface, Jovan Giaimuccio, Matibur Zamadar, David Aebisher, Gerald J. Meyer, Alexander Greer

Faculty Publications

Insight into the O2 quenching mechanism of a photosensitizer (static or dynamic) would be useful for the design of heterogeneous systems to control the mode of generation of 1O2 in water. Here, we describe the use of a photosensitizer, meso-tetra(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphine (1), which was adsorbed onto porous Vycor glass (PVG). A maximum loading of 1.1 × 10−6 mol 1 per g PVG was achieved. Less than 1% of the PVG surface was covered with photosensitizer 1, and the penetration of 1 reaches a depth of 0.32 mm along all faces of the glass. Time-resolved measurements …

Singlet Oxygen Chemistry In Water:  A Porous Vycor Glasssupported Photosensitizer, David Aebisher, Nikolay S. Azar, Matibur Zamadar, Naveen Gandra, Harry D. Gafney, Roumei Gao, Alexander Greer

Faculty Publications

Singlet molecular oxygen [1O2 (1Δg)] is generated cleanly in aqueous solution upon irradiation of a heterogeneous complex, meso-tetra(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphine (1) adsorbed onto porous Vycor glass (PVG). The cationic photosensitizer 1 tightly binds onto PVG and gives a stable material, which does not dissociate 1 into the surrounding aqueous phase. The production of 1O2 was measured by monitoring the time-resolved 1O2 (1Δg) phosphorescence at 1270 nm. Indirect analysis of 1O2 generation was also carried out with the photooxidation oftrans-2-methyl-2-pentenoate anion, which afforded the corresponding hydroperoxide. Sensitizer-1-impregnated PVG gives rise to a new singlet …

The Alien Invasion, Ediberto Román

Faculty Publications

Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, repeatedly complains about strict immigration policies' impact on the ability for businesses to hire skilled workers. In terms of other sectors of the economy, an American Farm Bureau Federation study notes that "if agriculture's access to migrant labor were cut off, as much as $5- 9 billion in annual production of... commodities.., would be lost in the short term. Over the longer term, this annual loss would increase to $6.5-12 billion as the shock worked its way through the sector." Preeminent economist John Kenneth Galbraith effectively responded to those who have advocated for closed borders …

Monetizing Diaspora: Liquid Sovereigns, Fertile Workers, And The Interest-Convergence Around Remittance, Jose M. Gabilondo

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Common Law Environmental Protection: Introduction, Jonathan H. Adler, Andrew P. Morriss

Faculty Publications

Today there is widespread dissatisfaction with many aspects of federal environmental law. The apparent success of early environmental regulations notwithstanding, many analysts and academics have begun to reexamine the potential of common law causes of action to supplement, if not supplant, portions of the existing regulatory regime. Yet whatever the failings of the environmental regulatory state, the common law has failings of its own, including the failure to protect many ecological resources in the period before the enactment of federal environmental law. This essay is the introduction to a paper-only symposium on Common Law Environmental Protection, forthcoming in the Case …