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Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

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Homogeneous And Heterogeneous Face Recognition: Enhancing, Encoding And Matching For Practical Applications, Francesco Nicolo May 2012

Homogeneous And Heterogeneous Face Recognition: Enhancing, Encoding And Matching For Practical Applications, Francesco Nicolo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Face Recognition is the automatic processing of face images with the purpose to recognize individuals. Recognition task becomes especially challenging in surveillance applications, where images are acquired from a long range in the presence of difficult environments. Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) is an emerging imaging modality that is able to produce clear long range images in difficult environments or during night time. Despite the benefits of the SWIR technology, matching SWIR images against a gallery of visible images presents a challenge, since the photometric properties of the images in the two spectral bands are highly distinct.;In this dissertation, we describe …

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The Use Of Controls In The Music Of Lou Harrison: An Analytical Study, Christopher Jason Koontz May 2012

The Use Of Controls In The Music Of Lou Harrison: An Analytical Study, Christopher Jason Koontz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research project provides insight into composer Lou Harrison's formative years, with particular attention given to events that would prove influential upon his later development as a composer. An overview of Harrison's compositional training with both Henry Cowell and Arnold Schoenberg serves as a means of understanding how some of his atonal compositional techniques developed.;Theoretical analyses of two compositions from Harrison's early catalogue illustrate a synthesis of atonal procedures he used to unify the formal, intervallic, serial, melodic, and harmonic content of the selected works.

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Evaluation Of A Nurse-Led Telephone Intervention With Symptomatic Heart Failure Patients, Samantha Stone May 2012

Evaluation Of A Nurse-Led Telephone Intervention With Symptomatic Heart Failure Patients, Samantha Stone

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Heart failure (HF) is a chronic illness that affects approximately 550,000 Americans each year. By 2037, the prevalence is expected to double. Many symptomatic HF patients have difficulty managing their symptoms and are often readmitted within thirty to sixty days after hospital discharge. Research has shown that symptom management and quality of life can be improved in HF patients by utilizing a nurse-led telephone intervention. With improved symptom management patients not only experience a better quality of life, but, HF hospital admission and readmission rates can be reduced. The objectives of this capstone project were to 1) increase patient awareness …

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Factors Affecting Peer Tutoring Programs In Higher Education As Perceived By Administrators, Debbi J. Pariser May 2012

Factors Affecting Peer Tutoring Programs In Higher Education As Perceived By Administrators, Debbi J. Pariser

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined a) institutional factors that administrators see as facilitating peer tutoring programs and b) institutional factors that administrators see as forming barriers to peer tutoring programs. In addition, a comparison was made of administrators' perceptions based on the following institutional demographic factors: department affiliation, enrollment, highest degree awarded, and Carnegie classification. The data were collected through an electronic survey instrument, Administrative and Faculty Factors that Contribute to the Institutionalization of Peer Tutoring in Higher Education, developed specifically for this study and based on the work of Dr. Anthony Pina (2005, 2008a, 2008b), who studied the institutionalization of distance …

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Sustainability Of Coalition Of Essential School's Professional Development As Perceived By Teachers, Kristine E. Mcgee May 2012

Sustainability Of Coalition Of Essential School's Professional Development As Perceived By Teachers, Kristine E. Mcgee

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Research indicates a strong need to incorporate professional development into a well-orchestrated reform effort. The Coalition of Essential Schools (CES) reform model for this failing school was selected by the county administration and a few select teachers as East Elementary School. The sustainability of the professional development provided by CES is the focus of this study.;This study concluded that East Elementary School was perceived by teachers as having sustainable professional-development components. Major findings included the following: (a) the teachers played a key role in sustaining professional development at this school, (b) professional development changed how teachers communicated with students at …

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A Uk Market Town Maintaining Identity Amidst Urbanizing Sprawl: A Learning History, Jennifer Rachelle Parsons May 2012

A Uk Market Town Maintaining Identity Amidst Urbanizing Sprawl: A Learning History, Jennifer Rachelle Parsons

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

English market towns greatly reflect British culture through unique traditions, architecture, and other characteristics. Market towns are often secluded from the outside world, located in rural areas of England with less significant roadways and very few railways leading into the towns. Despite the charming facade of market towns, challenges in contemporary society and the expansion of cities throughout the 20th century have swamped these rural communities, threatening their historical character and initiating problems such as forced growth, increased housing, and urbanization.;This study seeks to better understand the experiences and perspectives of the individuals and organizations dealing with change in an …

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Inquiry Into Place-Based Education In Art, Marie L. Drexler May 2012

Inquiry Into Place-Based Education In Art, Marie L. Drexler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A place-based pedagogy is a call for educators to utilize local environs in content curricula to build upon and enrich instruction for students. This study examines the potential for K-12 schools in West Virginia to reasonably adhere to place-based art education methods in visual arts curricula. Data collection consisted of interviews conducted with three West Virginia public school art educators and three community specialists who work in the fields of art, ecology, and art education. Using qualitative analysis, the open-ended responses from both the teachers and the community specialists were analyzed. The conclusion section reviews limitations to placebased education expressed …

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Use Of 3d Seismic Azimuthal Iso-Frequency Volumes For The Detection And Characterization Of High Porosity/Permeability Zones In Carbonate Reservoirs, Brian E. Toelle May 2012

Use Of 3d Seismic Azimuthal Iso-Frequency Volumes For The Detection And Characterization Of High Porosity/Permeability Zones In Carbonate Reservoirs, Brian E. Toelle

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Among the most important properties controlling the production from conventional oil and gas reservoirs is the distribution of porosity and permeability within the producing geologic formation. The geometry of the pore space within these reservoirs, and the permeability associated with this pore space geometry, impacts not only where production can occur and at what flow rates but can also have significant influence on many other rock properties. Zones of high matrix porosity can result in an isotropic response for certain reservoir properties whereas aligned porosity/permeability, such as open, natural fracture trends, have been shown to result in reservoirs being anisotropic …

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The Critical Middle Years And The Relationship Of Early Access To Algebra On High School Math Course Completion And College Readiness, Kim Victoria Smith Green May 2012

The Critical Middle Years And The Relationship Of Early Access To Algebra On High School Math Course Completion And College Readiness, Kim Victoria Smith Green

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Many students who enroll in higher education are unprepared to meet the challenges of postsecondary education. The probability that students will make a successful transition from high school to college is linked to the degree to which their secondary educational experiences have prepared them for the expectations and demands they will encounter in college. National findings provide continuing evidence that focusing on improving student achievement in mathematics will positively impact college readiness. The main problem addressed in this quantitative study was how educators can best prepare students for college readiness. Since college readiness is highly dependent upon math achievement in …

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The Use Of Concept Mapping/Pattern Matching To Determine The Content Domain For Information Literacy In Baccalaureate Education, Eleanor M. Messman-Mandicott May 2012

The Use Of Concept Mapping/Pattern Matching To Determine The Content Domain For Information Literacy In Baccalaureate Education, Eleanor M. Messman-Mandicott

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study assessed the relevance of a national association's standards for developing information literacy competency in undergraduate students at a mid-sized, regional university in Maryland. Key stakeholders responsible for ensuring student success in achieving information literacy competency at the institution were solicited for their expertise to identify the outcomes they consider to indicate information literacy competency. The group of 14 participants included six faculty, three librarians, three student affairs professionals, and two students. Trochim's Concept Mapping/Pattern Matching methodology was used for gathering and analyzing the data to conceptualize the domain of information literacy competencies. The key stakeholders generated 80 student …

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What Are Aacsb-Accredited Business Schools Doing To Close The Loop?, Elizabeth Vitullo May 2012

What Are Aacsb-Accredited Business Schools Doing To Close The Loop?, Elizabeth Vitullo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

As higher education enters into an era of increased accountability, the need to demonstrate evidence of student learning has become more important. The practice of documenting evidence of student learning and systematic evaluation of the learning process has been adopted by discipline specific accrediting bodies. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) is an accrediting agency and an association of institutions devoted to the advancement of business education. The purpose of this qualitative dissertation was to examine what two AACSB-accredited Colleges of Business are doing to close the loop using a case study approach. Interviews with multiple administrators …

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State Supervisors' Perceptions Of Teacher Efficacy Regarding Alternatively Certified/Licensed Secondary Agriculture Teachers, Joshua E. Rice May 2012

State Supervisors' Perceptions Of Teacher Efficacy Regarding Alternatively Certified/Licensed Secondary Agriculture Teachers, Joshua E. Rice

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to identify state supervisors' perceptions of teacher efficacy regarding alternatively certified/licensed secondary agriculture teachers. The researcher focused on state supervisors' perception of alternatively certified/licensed teachers' efficacy in relationship to classroom/laboratory, supervised agriculture experience programs, and the National FFA organization. The researcher chose to conduct descriptive survey. Forty five states expressed that they offered alternative certification/licensure (N = 45). The population consisted of all state supervisors of agriculture educators as listed by the 2010-2011 approved list from the American Association for Agricultural Education and the National Association of Supervisors of Agricultural Education. State supervisors disagreed …

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Influence Of Parent-Child Communication Styles On Social Anxiety: Observation During A Film Discussion Task, Jonathan M. Ortega May 2012

Influence Of Parent-Child Communication Styles On Social Anxiety: Observation During A Film Discussion Task, Jonathan M. Ortega

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study sought to examine the relation between levels of child social anxiety and parenting communication styles, specifically parental control and criticism verbal behaviors, during a film discussion task. Additionally, the current study examined the influence of discussion instructions (unstructured vs. structured) and content of film clips (social performance, friendships and family dynamics) on parent-child dyad responses and children's perception of threat respectively. A total of 26 parent-child dyads participated in the study, with 25 dyads (23 mothers (M age = 40.3), 2 fathers (M age = 48), 15 girls (M age = 9.7), 10 boys (M age = 10.2)) …

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The Failure Of The Surveillance State: Observation, Narrative And Identity In American Literature And Culture Since The Cold War, Jeremy C. Justus May 2012

The Failure Of The Surveillance State: Observation, Narrative And Identity In American Literature And Culture Since The Cold War, Jeremy C. Justus

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation examines an aporia in Michel Foucault's analysis of ideological panopticism. Foucault would likely suggest that the contemporary widespread use and acceptance of second-generation surveillance technologies exemplifies the discursive circulation of panoptic ideology. To the contrary, there is a great deal of evidence that suggests that such technology can be used for, to borrow Steve Mann's phrase, sousveillance (or, literally, "to watch from below"). By drawing from Niklas Luhmann's and Gregory Bateson's examinations of the inherent "blind spots" of observation systems (both literal and metaphorical), this dissertation suggests that sousveillance posits a challenge to the theoretically "neat" (according to …

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An Assessment Of Usage And Physical Activity Patterns, Measurement Of Satisfaction Indicators And Purpose Of Visit At Two University Recreation Centers, Robin L. Yeager May 2012

An Assessment Of Usage And Physical Activity Patterns, Measurement Of Satisfaction Indicators And Purpose Of Visit At Two University Recreation Centers, Robin L. Yeager

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Research has demonstrated that building of student recreation/activity centers has been beneficial for university students who participate in informal recreation and programs during their out-of-class time. The utilization of an assessment tool created specifically to evaluate variables associated with usage and intention demonstrated that at vastly different university settings and type of recreation facilities, similar patterns suggested why university students are and are not utilizing the facilities that have been specifically built for their needs.;The first paper assessed usage and purpose of visit, and the importance of recreation and socialization in the setting of student recreation centers in university environments. …

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Symptoms, Causes, And Coping Strategies For Performance Anxiety In Singers: A Synthesis Of Research, Kristina Driskill May 2012

Symptoms, Causes, And Coping Strategies For Performance Anxiety In Singers: A Synthesis Of Research, Kristina Driskill

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A multitude of studies exists concerning performance anxiety, yet the number specifically focused upon singers is lacking in the literature. This study, intended as a reference guide for singers and singing instructors, discusses the symptoms, possible causes, and currently accepted coping strategies for music performance anxiety (MPA). An analysis of the published scholarship and correspondence from singers and professionals are included, as well as an appendix listing self-help sources and an extensive bibliography for further research. The study serves as an aid to singers and singing instructors seeking concise information on the topic. Specific steps within each coping method are …

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Professional Development School Support Of The Elementary Globe Curriculum A Facilitated Adaptation Of Inquiry Science, Vance D. High May 2012

Professional Development School Support Of The Elementary Globe Curriculum A Facilitated Adaptation Of Inquiry Science, Vance D. High

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This qualitative study focused on identifying barriers and remedies to those barriers found when teaching elementary school science. The Elementary GLOBE Program (2006) was the curriculum selected when doing the 18 month study. The researcher asked what made Elementary GLOBE (EG) easy and/or difficult to use. The researcher also wished to ascertain what impact did the adoption of EG have on the delivery of science instruction in the K-4 grade classrooms participating in this study. Two professional developments schools (PDS), located in a Mid Atlantic state were the sites for the study. Both schools are in an urban setting and …

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Identifying Potential Sources Of Variation In Residual Feed Intake In Beef Cattle, Kevin S. Shaffer May 2012

Identifying Potential Sources Of Variation In Residual Feed Intake In Beef Cattle, Kevin S. Shaffer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Residual feed intake (RFI) class differences in gut function and grazing intake were evaluated using 14 crossbred steer progeny of first parity dams with known RFI phenotypes and a commercially available Angus sire. Steers were housed in a drylot facility and fed a forage based complete feed ad libitum, a forage diet at maintenance (1.5% BW as fed), and a concentrate diet at maintenance in Exp. 1, 4, and 5 respectively. Voluntary DMI and solid and liquid passage rate were evaluated while grazing (Exp. 2 and 3, respectively). Plasma concentrations of albumin (ALB), urea nitrogen (UN), cholesterol (CHOL), glucose (GLU), …

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A Context Centric Model For Building A Knowledge Advantage Machine Based On Personal Ontology Patterns, Luyi Wang May 2012

A Context Centric Model For Building A Knowledge Advantage Machine Based On Personal Ontology Patterns, Luyi Wang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Throughout the industrial era societal advancement could be attributed in large part to introduction a plethora of electromechanical machines all of which exploited a key concept known as Mechanical Advantage. In the post-industrial era exploitation of knowledge is emerging as the key enabler for societal advancement. With the advent of the Internet and the Web, while there is no dearth of knowledge, what is lacking is an efficient and practical mechanism for organizing knowledge and presenting it in a comprehensible form appropriate for every context. This is the fundamental problem addressed by my dissertation.;We begin by proposing a novel architecture …

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Stakeholders' Perceptions Of Special Educator Induction Programs In A Low Attrition District, Jeremy Vittek May 2012

Stakeholders' Perceptions Of Special Educator Induction Programs In A Low Attrition District, Jeremy Vittek

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Special education teacher attrition is a growing problem in the United States (Payne, 2005). Without proper induction for early career special educators, the potential remains for these educators to leave the field at a rate twice that of their general education counterparts (Payne, 2005). The lack of a defined national or state policy on induction programs puts the responsibility on the school district to design and implement an induction program. The goal of the study was to provide empirical insight into the stakeholders' perceptions of the challenges and supports provided for beginning special educators in a low attrition district within …

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Investor Relations: A Study Of Entry-Level Expertise And Education, Deepa Fadnis May 2012

Investor Relations: A Study Of Entry-Level Expertise And Education, Deepa Fadnis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Today, Investor Relations (IR) is an integral part of the working of every publicly listed corporation. In the light of the growth and development in the field of IR, this study attempts to gauge the entry-level standards in education and expertise set by the industry. Using responses to online surveys administered to experienced IR practitioners, the study provides answers to research questions. These research questions are based on the tasks performed, skills required and preferred academic coursework in the field of IR. Further, these questions also explore the position and importance of communications in the IR's unit of hierarchy of …

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Impact Of Stimulation Treatments On Production Performance Of Horizontal Wells In The Marcellus Shale, Kimberly L. Larch May 2012

Impact Of Stimulation Treatments On Production Performance Of Horizontal Wells In The Marcellus Shale, Kimberly L. Larch

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The interest in exploitation of ultra-low permeability formations, such as the Marcellus Shale, has increased in the recent years. Shale formations require massive stimulation treatments to achieve economic production. The recent advances in horizontal drilling and multistage hydraulic fracturing have proved successful in achieving commercial production. However, the parameters that directly affect lifetime production of the wells have not been well established.;The primary objective of this study is to examine the effects of basic stimulation parameters used in hydraulic fracturing of Marcellus Shale wells on production performance. Historical production data and stimulation treatment information have been collected and analyzed for …

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Natural Barrier Assessment And Modeling For Fish Communities In Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Ross G. Andrew May 2012

Natural Barrier Assessment And Modeling For Fish Communities In Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Ross G. Andrew

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Natural barriers may play an important role in structure and composition of stream fish habitat. Determining the effects of natural barriers on fish communities is important for understanding ecological processes that may occur throughout barrier-affected habitats. Additionally, modeling the likelihood of natural barrier occurrence using spatial data can reduce survey effort in the field and make management of fisheries in barrier-affected systems more efficient. I surveyed 446 natural barriers within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area using a standardized field protocol to assess passability for fishes. I measured natural barriers individually based upon individual morphology and developed a scoring …

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Calculating The Surface Seismic Signal From A Trapped Miner, Adeniyi A. Adebisi May 2012

Calculating The Surface Seismic Signal From A Trapped Miner, Adeniyi A. Adebisi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The recent Sago mine disaster has highlighted the need to fundamentally analyze the practical detection limitations of a mine rescue seismic system (Heasley, 2006). In various field tests, it was discovered that the surface peak particle velocity resulting from the trapped miner who pounds on the mine roof becomes undetectable past a certain distance from the surface geophones. In order to provide the mine rescuer the understanding of the exact extent of this distance; and the foreknowledge about the excepted magnitude of the surface peak particle movement in terms of: depth, geology and offset angle, this study was performed.;To achieve …

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The Relationship Between Temperament And Facets Of Creativity, Clark Daniel Pinson May 2012

The Relationship Between Temperament And Facets Of Creativity, Clark Daniel Pinson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purported association between mental illness and creativity has been most heavily researched in individuals diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. The bipolar disorders have been conceptualized as a spectrum of disorders that range from problematic and labile affect to different types of temperament. Temperament has classically been defined as elements of personality that are heritable, stable, based on emotion, and uninfluenced by socio-cultural learning. Contemporary literature suggested that at least some aspects of creativity may be enhanced by an affective range that has been best characterized by the milder part of the bipolar spectrum of disorders. The primary inquiry of …

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Landowner Outreach Education Project Evaluation: Connecting New Family Forest Owners With The Professional Forestry Community, Megan E. Mccuen May 2012

Landowner Outreach Education Project Evaluation: Connecting New Family Forest Owners With The Professional Forestry Community, Megan E. Mccuen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The majority of West Virginia's forested land is owned by private family forest owners. These individually owned woodlands significantly impact the whole landscape. Connecting with this population and linking them with services and organizations that offer support is essential as these individuals and families establish their ideal woodland. Absentee landowners, land transfers, and increasing industry and development bring to the landscape a high risk for parcelization and fragmentation. With knowledge and forest management information, many woodland owners can improve the overall health, sustainability, and productivity of these lands.;One of the challenges in promoting sustainable forestry is finding ways to connect …

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Biometric Variation Among Two Mangrove Warbler Setophaga Petechia Populations Of Northwestern Mexico, Cheryl L. Schweizer May 2012

Biometric Variation Among Two Mangrove Warbler Setophaga Petechia Populations Of Northwestern Mexico, Cheryl L. Schweizer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Mangrove forests are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. Despite this, over half of the world's mangroves have been lost, primarily due to anthropogenic activities. Northwestern Mexico is the northernmost range of mangroves in the eastern Pacific and western hemisphere. Mangrove Warblers (Setophaga petechia castaneiceps and S. p. rhizophorae ), are small, tropical songbirds, endemic to these mangroves and are presumed to have sedentary lifestyles. Little is known about Mangrove Warblers across their range including basic life history data. Declining habitat across Mexico may be putting these populations at great risk. My primary objectives were to 1) …

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Uav Simulation Environment For Autonomous Flight Control Algorithms, Ondrej Karas May 2012

Uav Simulation Environment For Autonomous Flight Control Algorithms, Ondrej Karas

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis presents the development of a UAV simulation environment for the design, analysis, and comparison of autonomous flight control laws. The simulation environment was developed in MATLAB/Simulink, with custom map generation software and FlightGear 3-D visualization. Graphical user interface of the simulation environment is user-friendly and all available options are discussed in detail. Aircraft dynamic models are presented, with emphasis on newly designed UAV models. Five different aircraft models are available, with several path planning and trajectory tracking algorithms implemented. Emphasis is given to simulation of failures and other abnormal conditions, so that appropriate tools for failure detection, evaluation, …

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Metonymic, Thomas Stollar May 2012

Metonymic, Thomas Stollar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis intends to support and describe Metonymic, a Masters of Fine Arts exhibition. The exhibition was the result of recorded introspection during the month of January 2012. Metonymic (Image 1)* aimed to highlight the importance of seemingly meaningless everyday occurrences, feelings, and emotions on the growth of one's personality. Ultimately the exhibition emphasizes the abstract nature of human personality, and its unimaginable complexities. *Please refer to dissertation for diagrams.

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Agenda Building In Health Communication: How The Cdc Is Using Traditional And Social Media Tactics In Public Relations, Kristen Wishon May 2012

Agenda Building In Health Communication: How The Cdc Is Using Traditional And Social Media Tactics In Public Relations, Kristen Wishon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Emerging Internet technologies, such as social networking websites and blogs, are influencing how public relations practitioners choose to disseminate health content to their constituents. Using the agenda-building theory as a guide, this exploratory study used both qualitative and quantitative methods to examine the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) social media and traditional media health messages, as well as to explore if these messages had any agenda-building effect on mainstream media placement (i.e., the Associated Press).;Personal interviews with CDC health communication specialists and three content analyses were conducted. Two significant correlations were found between the health topics in the …

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