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Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

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Psychology In Character, Neil M. Austin May 2005

Psychology In Character, Neil M. Austin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Does Psychology help create character? How does Psychology build an interesting person on the stage or screen? Psychology helps us understand why we act the way we do? Psychology is a great tool for actors to bridge the history of the character to his or her present actions. Through my performance of Vassily from Kolonists, Nick from The Time of Your Life and my work with Psychiatrist Dr. Don Fidler, I will explain what my actor process is and how psychology has helped me in creating these characters.

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Noise And Error Propagation In Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Shital Bipin Desai May 2005

Noise And Error Propagation In Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Shital Bipin Desai

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is the in vivo visualization and analysis of white matter fiber tracts by measuring the anisotropy of water molecule diffusion in the brain tissue. DTI has been increasingly used in clinical imaging. Diffusion weighted images are affected by noise from the human subject and the MRI scanner. This thesis studies the error propagation in the calculation of the DTI invariant anisotropy, mainly the Fractional Anisotropy (FA) using four methods and their comparison in terms of error, filtering and computational efficiency using simulated and human brain data. These methods were Diffusion Tensor, Diffusion Ellipsoid, Hasan and Platonic …

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Text-Independent Speaker Recognition, Smitha Gangisetty May 2005

Text-Independent Speaker Recognition, Smitha Gangisetty

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research presents new text-independent speaker recognition system with multivariate tools such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) embedded into the recognition system after the feature extraction step. The proposed approach evaluates the performance of such a recognition system when trained and used in clean and noisy environments. Additive white Gaussian noise and convolutive noise are added. Experiments were carried out to investigate the robust ability of PCA and ICA using the designed approach. The application of ICA improved the performance of the speaker recognition model when compared to PCA. Experimental results show that use of …

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Methodology To Determine Post Yield Material Mechanical Properties From Spherical Indentation, Bharath Konda May 2005

Methodology To Determine Post Yield Material Mechanical Properties From Spherical Indentation, Bharath Konda

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Conventional material testing methods, such as tensile tests require the preparation of specimens and is not applicable for small-size coupons or on-site, in-situ testing. In this research, a method of determining material stress-strain curve based on spherical indentation is studied. Spherical-indentation process is analyzed by finite element (FE) method and a systematic analysis of relationships between indentation parameters and true stress/plastic-strain (sigmat- epsilonp) curve is performed for a range of material properties. A detailed methodology based on Tabor's empirical formula and Meyer's law is developed to determine the material strain hardening properties, Young's modulus and yield strength. It is noticed …

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Classroom Justice As A Predictor Of Students' Perceptions Of Empowerment And Emotional Response, Michelle L. Paulsel May 2005

Classroom Justice As A Predictor Of Students' Perceptions Of Empowerment And Emotional Response, Michelle L. Paulsel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

One purpose of this dissertation was to examine the emotional response theory in the instructional context. A second purpose of this dissertation was to determine the predictive power of classroom justice. The effects of distributive, procedural, and instructional justice on students' emotional response and perceptions of empowerment were examined. Students ( N = 511) completed questionnaires about the class they had immediately before the class in which data were collected. Results indicated that classroom justice positively predicted students' emotional response and perceptions of empowerment. This dissertation also examined the relationships between students' emotional response and their perceptions of empowerment. Results …

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Electromagnetic Nondestructive Inspection Of Aircraft Structures By Using A Magnetic Flux Leakage Method, Iyad Mahmood Ali Muslih May 2005

Electromagnetic Nondestructive Inspection Of Aircraft Structures By Using A Magnetic Flux Leakage Method, Iyad Mahmood Ali Muslih

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Aging of aircraft structures is mostly associated with fatigue cracking, de-bonding and corrosion. Detection and characterization of the structural defects at the initiation stages makes it a great challenge for any inspection technology. This study proposes a new solution for the nondestructive evaluation problem by using a magnetic flux method for non-ferromagnetic materials and provides a new neural network tool that predicts crack profiles in three dimensions by solving the inverse problem, where available neural networks can solve it in two dimensions only.;The discontinuity resulting from a crack produces disturbance to the distribution of electrical current density in the structure …

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Para-Verbal Avoidance During Public Speaking: The Relationship Between Self -Disclosure And Social Anxiety., Michael F. Detweiler Jan 2005

Para-Verbal Avoidance During Public Speaking: The Relationship Between Self -Disclosure And Social Anxiety., Michael F. Detweiler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Unlike dyadic conversation where the social burden of conversation can be shared, the quantity and quality of speech produced during a public speaking challenge is primarily dependent upon the speaker. This study examined whether differences in disclosure patterns reflect a form of subtle avoidance during public speaking challenges. Termed para-verbal avoidance, it was hypothesized individuals with increased anxiety would refrain from talking about themselves for fear of revealing potentially embarrassing personal information. Also, it was proposed individuals with increased anxiety would avoid discussing subjective information, as it can be debated by others and used as the basis for forming a …

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The Effects Of Hypovirulent Cryphonectria Parasitica Inoculum, Developmental Stages Of Cankers, And Time Of Year Of Wounding On The Survival Of The American Chestnut., Steven R. Jakobi Jan 2005

The Effects Of Hypovirulent Cryphonectria Parasitica Inoculum, Developmental Stages Of Cankers, And Time Of Year Of Wounding On The Survival Of The American Chestnut., Steven R. Jakobi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The dissemination of European (Euro-7) and North American (GH2) hypovirulent (H) isolates of Cryphonectria parasitica to American chestnut saplings was investigated. Nine 0.01 ha plots were established in a clearcut. Each of 24 trees per plot received 4 punch- and 1 branch wounds in October, 1985; January, April, and July, 1986. Control plots received a virulent (V) strain of the fungus. H inocula were placed in three plots per treatment, respectively, at 2–4 month intervals. Cankers were sampled over a 2.5-year period. Isolate morphology, growth rate and sporulation were evaluated. Three hundred forty-three of the 3,456 punch wounds and 112 …

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The Hospitalized Adolescent: Fears, Stressors, And Coping Skills., Lora L. Garlitz Jan 2005

The Hospitalized Adolescent: Fears, Stressors, And Coping Skills., Lora L. Garlitz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This paper presents the findings of an investigation to determine whether of not there is a difference in hospitalized adolescents and non-hospitalized adolescents. The participants were 60 adolescents between the ages of 12 to 18 years. Their fears, stressors, and coping skills were evaluated by using three instruments: a 35-item self-report test on coping; a 108-item self-report test on fears; and a 15-item self-report test on stress. The results revealed that on specific measures hospitalized adolescents exhibited a statistically significantly less degree of emotional upset during hospitalization than did the community sample. Implications of these results in determining procedures to …

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A Web Based Forensic Information Management System., Sriram Govindarajulu Jan 2005

A Web Based Forensic Information Management System., Sriram Govindarajulu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The focus of this work was on the design and implementation of a web based forensic information management system for the West Virginia State Police Forensics Laboratory (WVSPFL). The software tool enables law enforcement agents to submit crime information to the Forensic Laboratory via a secure Internet connection. The tool also enables each of the nine units of WVSPFL to process the information electronically. Online electronic forms were created to mirror the existing paper based forms, making the transition easier. The existing processes were standardized and streamlined, there by minimizing information inconsistency. The crime information once gathered is automatically uploaded …

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The Molecular Mechanisms Underlying 6-Hydroxydopamine And Ethanol-Induced Neurotoxicity, Gang Chen Jan 2005

The Molecular Mechanisms Underlying 6-Hydroxydopamine And Ethanol-Induced Neurotoxicity, Gang Chen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ethanol and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), a Parkinson's disease (PD) mimetic, are two toxins to the cerebellum. This study investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying their neurotoxicities. The work in chapter 2 of this thesis focused on 6-OHDA-induced neurodegeneration. Previous studies indicate that impaired function of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), commonly referred to as ER stress, is an important factor in the neuropathology of a wide variety of neurological disorders. This study demonstrated that 6-OHDA evoked ER-stress and led to apoptosis in SH-SY5Y neuronal cell line and cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). Furthermore, GSK3beta played a crucial role in mediating 6-OHDA's neurotoxicity. …

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Investigating Treatment Windows For Effective And Environmentally Sound Herbicide Applications For Controlling Tree-Of-Heaven, William E. Eck Jan 2005

Investigating Treatment Windows For Effective And Environmentally Sound Herbicide Applications For Controlling Tree-Of-Heaven, William E. Eck

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This paper discusses three research studies, each investigating a different treatment window for controlling tree-of-heaven using effective and environmentally sound herbicide applications. In the first study, efficacy of the herbicides triclopyr and imazapyr was tested using injection and basal bark treatment methods. In the second study, efficacy of triclopyr with different levels of imazapyr was tested using the basal bark treatment method. In the third study, weekly timing of chemical controls was investigated. Our study yielded a recommendation to treat tree-of-heaven with a low volume basal spray of Garlon 4 in a non-aromatic penetrating oil when growth is maximized in …

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Analysis Of Aging Effects And Effectiveness Of Dewatering Treatment Methods On Acid Mine Drainage Sludge, Phanindra Kumar V. Kunderu Jan 2005

Analysis Of Aging Effects And Effectiveness Of Dewatering Treatment Methods On Acid Mine Drainage Sludge, Phanindra Kumar V. Kunderu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is produced when sulfide minerals in overburden are subjected to oxygen and water, and generally contains low pH, high acidity and high dissolved metal concentrations. Typically, active treatment of AMD involves the addition of a neutralizing reagent to raise the pH and precipitate the metals as their respective insoluble metal hydroxides. As a by-product of the active treatment of AMD, a large amount of sludge is generated. A site, established in Monongalia County, WV for the active treatment of AMD using ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, generated sludge consisting mainly of water with a total solids concentration …

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The Effects Of The Route Of Viral Infection On The Balance Of T Helper Immune Responses., Alicia R. Mathers Jan 2005

The Effects Of The Route Of Viral Infection On The Balance Of T Helper Immune Responses., Alicia R. Mathers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The majority of pathogens enter the host through mucosal surfaces. Therefore, it stands to reason that production of protective mucosal immunity is a desirable outcome following vaccination for those infections. However, only a few mucosal vaccines have been developed to date, in part because of a general lack of understanding of mucosal immunity. The research presented in this dissertation is focused on the comparison of mucosal and systemic immunizations as a means of contributing to the understanding of how mucosal immune responses are induced. There is evidence that mucosal immunization can skew the balance of T helper (Th) 1 and …

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Agenda Setting And Denial In The States. Nonprofit Hospital Tax Exemptions: A North Carolina Case Study., Linda Struyk Millsaps Jan 2005

Agenda Setting And Denial In The States. Nonprofit Hospital Tax Exemptions: A North Carolina Case Study., Linda Struyk Millsaps

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research has two objectives. First, it examines the nature of state-level agenda setting, comparing it to the prevailing federal level theories of agenda setting and agenda denial. Specifically it examines state tax exemptions for nonprofit hospitals in North Carolina to determine if this policy arena follows acknowledged theories of agenda setting and denial, or if there is something unique about tax policy that creates a different agenda setting dynamic. Areas of focus included the status of nonprofit hospital property tax exemptions on the policy agenda and how the issue came to that position. Interviews with legislators, lobbyists, hospital and …

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Seawater Proteomics: The Recovery, Separation, And Characterization Of Dissolved Proteins In Seawater., Matthew Jacob Powell Jan 2005

Seawater Proteomics: The Recovery, Separation, And Characterization Of Dissolved Proteins In Seawater., Matthew Jacob Powell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Dissolved proteins are important components of high molecular weight marine dissolved organic matter (DOM). Little is known about the sources, transformations, and pathways of marine DOM, and <30% has been characterized at the molecular-level. Advances in proteomics technology have improved our ability to sequence proteins, making dissolved proteins a suitable target for molecular-level characterization. Dissolved proteins are important biomarkers in the oceans, and molecular-level analysis can provide valuable insight into their chemical characteristics, structural modifications, and potential sources. Molecular-level characterization of dissolved proteins in seawater requires a reproducible recovery method with efficient recovery yields and minimal sample losses. The use of surface blocking agents (SBA) to saturate sites of non-specific interactions reduced adsorptive sample losses during recovery of dissolved proteins from artificial seawater by tangential flow ultrafiltration. The SBA pre-treatment resulted in more reproducible recovery yields (∼55–60%) and enhanced initial recovery by 46%. Dissolved proteins recovered from deep and surface seawater samples were separated by gel electrophoresis, revealing the presence of a small number of discrete bands and significant amounts of unresolved background. A proteinase K assay determined that the bands and unresolved background were proteinaceous in nature. Enzymatic digests of the dissolved proteins were analyzed by reversed phase chromatography coupled on-line to a linear trapping quadrupole Fourier transform mass spectrometer (LTQ-FTMS). The peptide MS/MS spectra were searched against non-redundant databases by correlation algorithms, but no positive identifications were made. The peptide tandem mass spectra were directly interpreted by de novo sequencing to generate peptide tags that were used in database searches to develop protein homologue information. The similarity search results revealed two trends for specific classes of proteins observed (membrane/envelope proteins and enzymes) and identified conserved sequences for several multi-species protein homologues. These results demonstrate that there are several different classes of refractory proteins represented in the DOM pool and provide evidence for the presence of dissolved proteins other than bacterial outer membrane proteins. Additionally, an intact protein was extracted from a gel band and analyzed by direct infusion ESI FTMS. The resultant high resolution protein spectrum was deconvoluted to determine the accurate molecular weight of the protein.

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The Role Of Cognitive Factors In The Development Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder., Lisa B. Greene Jan 2005

The Role Of Cognitive Factors In The Development Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder., Lisa B. Greene

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The present study examined the relation between the development of PTSD and coping, posttraumatic cognitions, resilience, spirituality, and religiosity. A total of 91 participants (out of 304 screened) were divided into three groups—Control, Trauma Exposed, and PTSD. Participants completed the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS), Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WOCQ), Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI), ConnorDavidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Spiritual Involvement and Beliefs Scale (SIBS), and Religiosity Measures Questionnaire (RMQ). Results indicated that the Trauma Exposed group scored the lowest on the Self-Controlling, Accepting Responsibility, and Escape-Avoidance subscales of the WOCQ while the PTSD group scored the highest. Additionally, the Trauma …

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Spatial Characterization Of Pollution Sources: An Analysis Of In-Stream Water Quality Data From The Potomac Headwaters Of West Virginia., A. Andrew Macqueen Iv Jan 2005

Spatial Characterization Of Pollution Sources: An Analysis Of In-Stream Water Quality Data From The Potomac Headwaters Of West Virginia., A. Andrew Macqueen Iv

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The relationship between land cover characteristics and water pollutant concentrations in surface water was evaluated for 10 sub-basins in the Potomac Headwaters Region of West Virginia. Using water quality data collected between 1998 and 2004 by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA), mean and median in-stream concentrations of fecal coliform, total phosphorus, and nitrate nitrogen were determined for specific periods of time during the sampling period. Land use categories were evaluated on a basin-wide and a floodplain-specific scale. The percentages of forest, agriculture, cropland and urban land were determined. In addition, erodibility, organic matter content and permeability were aggregated …

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Aterf4 And Aterf7 Are Involved In The Abscisic Acid Signaling Response In Arabidopsis., Zhen Yang Jan 2005

Aterf4 And Aterf7 Are Involved In The Abscisic Acid Signaling Response In Arabidopsis., Zhen Yang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ERFs (ethylene-responsive element binding factors) belong to a large family of transcription factors that are found exclusively in plants. A small subfamily of ERF proteins can act as transcriptional repressors. The Arabidopsis genome contains eight ERF repressors, namely AtERF3, AtERF4, AtERF7, AtERF8, AtERF9, AtERF10, AtERF11, and AtERF12. The different ERF repressors show differential expression, suggesting that they may have different function. The expression of AtERF4 can be induced by ethylene, jasmonic acid, or abscisic acid. AtERF7 can be induced by abscisic acid only. Using a transient expression system, we demonstrated that AtERF4 and AtERF7 can function as transcriptional repressors. By …

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Child Abuse And Crime: Testing In The "Cycle Of Violence" Theory, Melanie A. Cox Jan 2005

Child Abuse And Crime: Testing In The "Cycle Of Violence" Theory, Melanie A. Cox

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study of Child Abuse and Neglect: Testing in the "Cycle of Violence" Theory, is a demonstration of Applied Social Research in partial fulfillment of a master's degree in Sociology. It examines the Cycle of Violence theory by looking at two groups of children: an abuse/neglect group and a control group. It tests the likelihood of the abuse/neglect group to commit a crime in adulthood i.e., property crime, person crime, or public morality; while controlling for race, sex and type of abuse. Also, the odds of gender and race of the children in the abuse/neglect group, becoming a criminal offender …

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Heating Ventilation And Air Conditioning Systems Condition Assessment Methodology, Anand Chandrashekaran Jan 2005

Heating Ventilation And Air Conditioning Systems Condition Assessment Methodology, Anand Chandrashekaran

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Facilities (equipment) renewal is assigned low priority due to insufficient budgets in universities, colleges, hospitals, and industries. Insufficient funds lead to postponement of major repairs and replacements of facilities. This lack of investments combined with deterioration of facilities increases the maintenance problem. When funds become available, replacement and repair maintenance projects are carried out, at the cost of the critical ones, due to lack of information on facilities conditions and deficiencies. Thereby developing a facilities condition assessment methodology with a prioritization technique will help in utilizing the available resources effectively. This assessment identifies the physical condition and maintenance deficiencies of …

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The Emergence And Decline Of The Delaware Indian Nation In Western Pennsylvania And The Ohio Country, 1730--1795, Richard S. Grimes Jan 2005

The Emergence And Decline Of The Delaware Indian Nation In Western Pennsylvania And The Ohio Country, 1730--1795, Richard S. Grimes

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Many past and current generations of historians, anthropologists, and literary writers have acknowledged the existence of a Delaware Indian nation. They, however, have failed to thoroughly understand or address the historical and cultural dynamics that contributed to both the formation and quick decline of this Indian nation. This multidisciplinary study includes the oral traditions and oratory of Delaware Indians, the observances of Moravian missionaries and colonial-revolutionary officials, and contemporary anthropological and historical sources, to construct the building of the Delaware nation during the eighteenth century.;Once decentralized and living in the Delaware River watershed, three phratries or animal tribes (Turtle, Turkey, …

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Heat Shock Protein 70 As An Indicator Of Toxic Heavy Metal Exposure And Oxidative Stress In The Serum Of Asymptomatic Shipyard Welders, Sung Gu Han Jan 2005

Heat Shock Protein 70 As An Indicator Of Toxic Heavy Metal Exposure And Oxidative Stress In The Serum Of Asymptomatic Shipyard Welders, Sung Gu Han

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) expression has been reported to be a sensitive biomarker of cell stress. Arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), vanadium (V), and manganese (Mn) are widely used and exposure to these metals is associated with the development of pulmonary disease. Our data showed that exposure to these metals resulted in a significant increase in cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a human bronchial cell line, BEAS-2B. However, increased Hsp70 expression was observed only in cells exposed to As, Cd, and Hg. To correlate changes associated with Hsp70 overexpression, …

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Analysis Of Physiological Partners Of Protein Kinase Ck2 In Drosophila Melanogaster, Umesh C. Karandikar Jan 2005

Analysis Of Physiological Partners Of Protein Kinase Ck2 In Drosophila Melanogaster, Umesh C. Karandikar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

CK2 is a highly conserved Ser/Thr protein kinase composed of catalytic (alpha) and regulatory (beta) subunits. The enzyme targets proteins that are involved in a variety of cellular processes such as DNA replication, transcription, translation, cell cycle progression, and development. However, very little information is available on either the regulation of this enzyme or its role during development. These two aspects of CK2 have been addressed using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model organism. The first study (chapter 2) addresses the isolation and characterization of SSL, an ortholog of CK2beta. Using combinatorial approaches, we find that SSL associates …

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Assessing The Cost-Effectiveness Of Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors And Prescribing Practices Of Rheumatologists In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis, Khalid M. Kamal Jan 2005

Assessing The Cost-Effectiveness Of Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors And Prescribing Practices Of Rheumatologists In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis, Khalid M. Kamal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Three new tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, adalimumab, etanercept, and infliximab, have been approved for use in patients with active RA. The goals of the study were two fold: (1) to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of the three TNF inhibitors in patients with RA that inadequately respond to MTX alone and (2) to assess the current prescribing patterns, laboratory monitoring practices, and perceived barriers of rheumatologists in prescribing these agents in patients with RA. Phase I involved the development of a Markov simulation model to estimate the health effects and costs associated with five treatment strategies in patients with RA …

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Graph Algorithms For The Haplotyping Problem, Yunkai Liu Jan 2005

Graph Algorithms For The Haplotyping Problem, Yunkai Liu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Evidence from investigations of genetic differences among human beings shows that genetic diseases are often the results of genetic mutations. The most common form of these mutations is single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). A complete map of all SNPs in the human genome will be extremely valuable for studying the relationships between specific haplotypes and specific genetic diseases. Some recent discoveries show that the DNA sequence of human beings can be partitioned into long blocks where genetic recombination has been rare. Then, inferring both haplotypes from chromosome sequences is a biologically meaningful research topic, which has compounded mathematical and computational problems.;We …

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Data Mining Framework, Hemambika Payyappillil Jan 2005

Data Mining Framework, Hemambika Payyappillil

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this document is building a framework for working with clinical data. Vast amounts of clinical records, stored in health repositories, contain information that can be used to improve the quality of health care. However, the information generated from these records depends vastly on the manner, in which the data is arranged. A number of factors need to be considered, before information can be extracted from the patient records. This document deals with the preparation of a framework for the data, before it can be mined.;One of the issues to deal with is information about the patient contained …

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Pharmaceutical Performance Testing Of Commercially Available Calcium Supplements, Jianqing Liu Jan 2005

Pharmaceutical Performance Testing Of Commercially Available Calcium Supplements, Jianqing Liu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In our research, the quality of a number of calcium supplements was evaluated by their physical properties, disintegration and dissolution profiles. Physical tests and disintegration did show a pH sensitivity. Disintegration confirmed the good uniformity of the products. In the USP required dissolution test, most of the products did not achieve acceptable drug release in the specified time period. While formulation factors and the salt form of calcium supplements can to some extent affect their dissolution pattern, it was ultimately considered that the failure may be related to the poor solubility of the calcium salts.;Based on the results and the …

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Validating A Neural Network-Based Online Adaptive System, Yan Liu Jan 2005

Validating A Neural Network-Based Online Adaptive System, Yan Liu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Neural networks are popular models used for online adaptation to accommodate system faults and recuperate against environmental changes in real-time automation and control applications. However, the adaptivity limits the applicability of conventional verification and validation (V&V) techniques to such systems. We investigated the V&V of neural network-based online adaptive systems and developed a novel validation approach consisting of two important methods. (1) An independent novelty detector at the system input layer detects failure conditions and tracks abnormal events/data that may cause unstable learning behavior. (2) At the system output layer, we perform a validity check on the network predictions to …

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Multi-Layer Feed Forward Neural Networks For Foreign Exchange Time Series Forecasting, Bina R. Setyawati Jan 2005

Multi-Layer Feed Forward Neural Networks For Foreign Exchange Time Series Forecasting, Bina R. Setyawati

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation examines the forecasting performance of multi-layer feed forward neural networks in modeling five weekly foreign exchange rates: Australian Dollars/U.S. Dollars (AUS/USD), Euro/U.S. Dollar (EUR/USD), Swiss Franc/U.S. Dollar (CHF/USD), British Pound sterling/U.S. Dollars (GBP/USD), and Japanese Yen/U.S. Dollars (JPY/USD). There are five objectives to accomplish. The first is to determine the key modeling factors that should be considered in topology determination. The second is to compare the performances of Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Modified Tabu Search (TS) in choosing the topology for Neural Networks (NN) implementation. The third is to investigate the suitable learning algorithm for NNs for time …

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