Digital Commons Network^™

Contrast Enhancement Of Digital Mammography Based On Multi-Scale Analysis, Muhammad Imran Khan Abir

Masters Theses

"A contrast enhancement algorithm is developed for digital mammograms aiming to assist radiologists in discerning early breast cancer easily. The algorithm is based on a Laplacian pyramid framework image processing technique. The mammogram is decomposed into three frequency sub-bands, low, mid, and high frequency sub-band images. The lower sub-band image contains very fine details and higher level contains coarser features. In this method contrast enhancement is achieved from high and mid sub-bands by decomposing the image based on multi-scale Laplacian pyramid and enhance contrast by image processing. Several mapping functions are applied on sub-band images based on experimental analysis. After …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Multi-Spectral Remote Sensing Data For Lithological Mapping In Arid Regions: A Quantitative Approach With Examples From The Makkah Neoproterozoic Region, Saudi Arabia, Nawwaf Awad Al Muntshry

Masters Theses

"This work quantitatively evaluates the effectiveness of multi-spectral remote sensing data for geological mapping in arid regions. For this, Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data covering part of the Neoproterozoic Arabian Shield around the Makkah region in Saudi Arabia are used. The Makkah region is dominated by a variety of layered and intrusive rocks covered by unconsolidated sediments. The Landsat TM data have six spectral bands in the visible and near infrared (VNIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) with thirty meters spatial resolution.

The Optimum Index Factor (OIF) has been computed to determine the best Red-Green-Blue (RGB) band combination emerging from the …

Quantifying The Carbon Footprint Of Lean Waste, Kristen Donovan Balinski

Masters Theses

"The objective of this paper is to provide a method of quantifying lean wastes in terms of carbon dioxide emissions by using value stream mapping. Lean manufacturing, a process based on waste identification and reduction, is a growing trend in industry and a proven method of lowering costs. The environmental impact of these wastes can be quantified by identifying the metrics associated with them, and using existing reports to convert those metrics into measurements of carbon dioxide. Growing environmental concerns are prompting federal government regulation of greenhouse gas or carbon dioxide emissions, as seen in the American Clean Energy and …

Shaker Table Vibration Testing Of A Microsatellite, Tonya Michelle Sanders

Masters Theses

"In the satellite development process, structural testing is a means to gain confidence in analytical models and ultimately support qualification of the spacecraft for flight. Vibration testing, in particular, is motivated by the safety considerations of crew or launch personnel, the survivability of delicate hardware and electronics, and the avoidance of large stresses that cause structural fatigue or failure. The subject of this thesis is concerned with the shaker table vibration testing of a microsatellite pair designed and built by students at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri. A finite element model (FEM) used in structural …

Fort Stanwix: Untenable, Or The Key To Defending The Mohawk Valley?, Joshua Ross Nare

Masters Theses

Due to the Select Supply System of 1780, New York was waiting on the coming grain harvest from the Mohawk and Schoharie Valleys, in order to provide its quota of provisions to Washington's army and the several forts in the state, including Fort Stanwix. Throughout the war, many officers and officials, held the common belief that the Mohawk Valley and its rich croplands could be defended as long as Fort Stanwix held. In May, August, and October of 1780, the Governor of Canada, Sir Frederick Haldimand, ordered raids on the Mohawk and Schoharie Valleys, which destroyed the harvests, preventing New …

Assessing Intercultural Experience: Differences In Biculturalism, Intercultural Sensitivity, And Cognitive Flexibility Among Latino Immigrants, Christine Christmas

Masters Theses

This study examined first generation immigrants, defined as those who were born in a Latin American country and moved to the U.S. after the age of 12, and second generation immigrants, defined as those who were born in the U.S. or moved here before the age of 12. Literature in the field of cross-cultural adaptation suggests that intercultural communication competence tends to be further developed as a result of intercultural adaptation. The intent of this research was to test this assertion. Data was collected by way of survey administration on a sample of 216 Latino immigrants representing both first and …

Cognitive Collision: Chinese Students' Experience Of Cognitive Dissonance Regarding Christianity In The United States, Ying Li

Masters Theses

This study explored if Chinese students experienced cognitive dissonance when they were exposed to Christianity at a large southeast Christian university in the United States, and what were their responses regarding the reduction, increase or change of the cognitive dissonance after they were exposed to Christianity in the United States. Utilizing a qualitative study, the researcher interviewed twelve undergraduate students who were studying at a large southeast Christian university in the United States with eight primary questions and five sub-questions. The ages of the interviewees in this study were from 18 to 22 years old. The results of the current …

Fear Of And Fascination With The Foreign In Arthur Conan Doyle’S Sherlock Holmes Adventures, Mae Leigh Cooke

Masters Theses

Arthur Conan Doyle’s character Sherlock Holmes is infamous for his uncanny ability to detect and capture criminals from minimal clues. Doyle’s inclusion of Victorian England’s fascination with and fear of foreign elements within his detective stories made Holmes an instant success. By including Holmes’s stories in The Strand, circulation doubled, resulting in the public’s adoration of this eccentric hero spanning across decades. Doyle’s inclusion of developments in science at the time captivated the audience even further. The character became timeless because of his dual nature; he, like his readers, had personal flaws and unhealthy habits, but was able to …

At The Edge Of Two Worlds: Mary Slessor And Gender Roles In Scottish African Missions, Sarah Marcia Lennon

Masters Theses

Mary Mitchell Slessor, a missionary to Calabar, West Africa in modern-day Nigeria from 1876 until 1915, was a transitional character, combining traditional feminine roles with more masculine roles during her time as a missionary. Though many biographers focus on Slessor's eccentricities and use her life as an example of the exceptional Victorian woman, this study disagrees with that assessment and instead views her caught between two worlds, part of the previous generational thinking regarding women's work, but also progressing toward what would be considered normal in the early decades of the twentieth century. Comparing Slessor to other women working in …

Transcriptional Regulation Of M1 Cells In Response To Il-6, Il-10 And Lps, Lyna Goto

Masters Theses

Jun/Fos and Jun/BATF heterodimers are capable of binding the TRE site to regulate gene transcription, which in turn amongst other functions, could be involved in the regulation of inflammation. Studies have shown that in contrast to Jun/Fos, the Jun/BATF heterodimers result in a reduced transcriptional activity and thus inhibit the expression of AP-1 target genes. The inflammatory response is composed of a vast array of mediators, including cytokines such as IL6 and IL10. The balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators, in part, determines whether the inflammatory response persists or is resolved. Macrophages are a key cell type involved in the …

A Preliminary Investigation Into The Effect Of Kinesio And Athletic Tape On Skin Blood Flow Changes, Ryan Klawon

Masters Theses

This research tested the effectiveness of a relatively new therapeutic product called Kinesio tape. One of Kinesio tape's therapeutic claims is increased blood flow to the taped area and thus expediting the body's healing process (Fu et aI., 2007). The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Kinesio tape versus athletic tape on blood flow in the upper arm during rest and immediately following submaximal exercise. Certified athletic trainers (ATC) often use regular athletic tape to limit the range of motion and stabilize a joint as opposed to providing therapeutic benefits such as increasing blood flow.

Research …

Bridging The Gap: Intercultural Friendship Between Chinese And Americans, Zhuo Feng Li

Masters Theses

This research aims to explore Chinese and American students' intercultural friendship experiences on a U.S. campus. Twenty-five Chinese international students and twenty-five U.S. nationals participated in the study. Q-methodology was adopted in this research. Three of Hosftede's cultural dimensions (low/high power distance, individualism/collective, and masculinity/femininity) and Hall's concept of low/high context culture were used as a theoretical framework for this study. First, qualities that Chinese and Americans consider important in their friendships in each of their own culture were identified. Then this study found out that long-established expectations and understanding of friendship of both Chinese and Americans were challenged while …

Breaking Down The Walls: Divorce And The Effects It Had On A Child's Communication In Relationships Outside Of The Family, Jennifer Maddox

Masters Theses

There is no question that divorce is prevalent in our society today. This paper discussed a study about the effects divorce has on an adolescent girl's communication with adults outside of her family. The hypothesis was that divorce negatively effects a child's communication with adults outside of their family. The two methodologies used to conduct this study were Narrative Analysis and Q-sort. The ten participants for the Narrative Analysis method were asked whether they thought their parents divorce effected their communication with adults outside of their family, and whether the effect was negative or positive. They were also asked to …

Discovering The Vision In Beth Moore's "Breaking Free" Message: Applying Bormann's Fantasy Theme Analysis To Evaluate The Message, April Nicole Pressley

Masters Theses

Beth Moore, Christian speaker and author, has become a prominent figure in Christian circles. She ministers to over a million people a year with her messages. Breaking Free is her "life message." This project analyzes 6 of 11 messages from Breaking Free. Using Bormann's Fantasy Theme Analysis, seven fantasies emerged from the messages, which yielded a rhetorical vision that describes what Beth Moore believes a woman should be like after hearing her message. After that analysis, the fantasies where compared to evangelical Christian doctrine. That analysis determined that Moore's underlying message is valid and acceptable to the Christian audience she …

Spatial Rape: Globalization And The Tourist-Vagabond Relationship In Mark Z. Danielewski's House Of Leaves, Tracy Stephens

Masters Theses

At the center of Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves is the narrative of The Navidson Record, the story of Will Navidson’s struggle to understand and conquer the mystery of his labyrinthine house - a mystery that is profoundly connected to Navidson’s guilt over Delial, a dead Sudanese girl whose photo made Navidson famous. Navidson’s preoccupation with Delial shapes the house, lending it the characteristics of globalized space as it would have been experienced by Delial and others in her socioeconomic circumstances (whom Zygmunt Bauman has named vagabonds), in contrast to the experience of tourists such as Navidson. The …

A Hybrid Problem-Based And Just-In-Time Inductive Teaching Method For Failure Analysis Instruction, Ryan Michael Arlitt

Masters Theses

"When engineers retire, they take their expert knowledge with them. Preservation of this expert knowledge in a usable form is beneficial for the advancement of any engineering field. Risk in Early Design (RED) is one method for preserving expert risk analysis knowledge. The first purpose of this paper is to examine the usability of RED when incorporated with a hybrid problem-based and just-in-time inductive teaching method for failure analysis instruction. The second purpose of this paper is to propose and perform steps toward verification and validation of the RED methodology and implementation. Evaluation metrics were developed, and several of these …

It's Not Catharsis, It's Cognition: A New Approach To Emotion In Composition, Caronia (Nia) Klein

Masters Theses

Therapeutic writing, or writing as a method of emotional healing, seeks to facilitate psychological healing through self-discovery as a result of analyzing, interpreting, and making conclusions about challenging life experiences. Likewise, in composition theory, expressivist, feminist, and collaborative pedagogies advocate the empowerment of students through discovery and articulation of voice as a way to make meaning and develop as persons and students. Both approaches to writing foreground the use of personal experience as a way to process the external world through the emotional landscape of the writer, yet critics ofemotionally expressive writing decry its usefulness to composition pedagogy because of …

Invisible, Not Invincible: A Fiction And Memoir Thesis On Domestic Abuse, Jennifer Kaylynn O'Neil

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Perceived Influences Of Campus Living Environments On Male Identity Development, Nathaneal R. Pauley

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the traditional studies related to college male development in relation to men's perceptions of their living environments. Prior research in the field of male development identified male studies and gender identity, male gender role conflict, hegemonic masculinity and behavioral issues in college as important concepts to consider when conducting research with college men. A qualitative study was conducted to gain an understanding of five men's perceptions of their own masculinities, as well as their thoughts on single-sexed and mixed-sex campus living environments. General themes and categories from participant responses were critically evaluated …

A Queer Network: The Effects Of Lgbt Student Organizations On Self-Acceptance In College Students, Justin L. Schuch

Masters Theses

Institutions of higher education in the United States are experiencing the unique challenge of supporting their lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender/transsexual (LGBT) students at a time when their identity development has been well researched. Researchers have shown that the suicide rates among LGBT individuals are comparatively higher than those of their heterosexual counterparts. Many colleges and universities support their LGBT students via a network of other community members through LGBT student organizations on campus. To date, minimal research has been conducted to investigate whether membership in these student organizations is actually beneficial to LGBT members, as well as what participants …

Perceptions Of Challenges To Retaining African American Male Graduate Students In Higher Education, Leeantwann S. Mccline

Masters Theses

The primary purpose of the present study was to explore issues relevant to challenges faced by African American male graduate students who attend Eastern Illinois University, with particular attention given to retention issues and challenges that serve as both support and barriers. The sample population for the present study consisted of African American male graduate students admitted during the fall 2009 semester. At the time of the study, these students had been accepted and enrolled fulltime in a degree program offered by the Eastern Illinois University Graduate School. Qualitative inquiry facilitated the ascertaining of perceptions, myths, and descriptions of the …

Gender Identity Development In Male Student Leaders At A Midwestern University, Kolin R. Straub

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning that college male student leaders make of their gender development. Grounded theory methodology was used to gather information through in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed to form a working model of the data found. Participants were males in elected leadership positions. The study took place at a comprehensive mid-size Midwestern Public University.

Findings indicated participants felt an increased sense of responsibility from being in a leadership positions. They believed that respect, responsibility, and accountability were key factors in leadership. The participants constructed an ideal male that included breadwinning for a household, …

Examining Industry Concentration In The Plant Biotechnology Sector, Heather Renee Williams

Masters Theses

The core focus of this research is to recognize industry concentration in the plant biotechnology sector. The literature review examines institutional dynamics affecting the industry - discussing the importance of innovation, and how the government can influence the industry to remain competitive. An examination of a few key firms' history and evolution helps explain the structure of the plant biotech industry. The research also provides examples of what crops are being altered using biotechnology, and why companies are willing to spend money to gain the rights to this research. This article compiles plant biotechnology US field trial data from 2000 …

An Examination Of The Environmental Kuznets Curve For Methyl Bromide, Jordan D. Pepper

Masters Theses

This study investigates the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis with respect to methyl bromide consumption by examining a sample data for 92 countries between the years 1990-2001. The study concludes that methyl bromide consumption does not appear to exhibit an EKC type relationship, and that a number of variables significantly impact methyl bromide consumption.

Multiple Endpoints Of Endocrine Disruption In Gravid Watersnakes (Colubridae:Nerodia) As A Function Of Ingestion Of A Common Herbicide, Lorin Anne Neuman-Lee

Masters Theses

Ecotoxicological studies that focus on a single endpoint might not accurately represent the true ecological effects of a contaminant. Exposure to atrazine, a widelyused herbicide, disrupts endocrine function and sexual development in amphibians, but studies involving reptilian species are lacking. This study examines several effects of atrazine ingestion on gravid females and neonates exposed in utero of the Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon). Twenty-five gravid N. sipedon were collected and kept in the lab for the entirety of their gestation period. Each snake received one of four doses of atrazine: control, 2, 20, or 200 ppb. Blood samples were drawn each …

A Spatially Explicit Model To Predict Radiocesium Body Burdens In White-Tailed Deer On The Department Of Energy's Savannah River Site, Christopher W. Bobryk

Masters Theses

A spatially explicit exposure model was developed to interpolate and predict radiocesium (137Cs) body burdens found in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS) in west-central South Carolina. Since 1965 hunting has been allowed from permanent stands as a mechanism to manage the herd and all animals have been monitored in the field for gross beta/gamma activity levels providing a long-term spatially explicit dataset. Until now no study has attempted to model deer 137Cs at the hunt-stand level, but rather at the compartment level (1,000 - 5,200 ha). The models described here use …

A Model Cost Analysis Comparing Solar, Wind And Geothermal Energies, Including Alternatives To Changing Energy Sources, Using Texas Households And Weather, Kimberly Speed

Masters Theses

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of2008 (P.L. 110-343) provides several incentives and tax credits for Americans interested in investing in alternative energy resources. Solar, wind, and. geothermal systems receive the most tax credits due to their low carbon output, but a determination must be made as to which resource is the most accessible and economically feasible. The State of Texas was used as a model for comparing the three renewable energy resources through analysis of weather variables, geological features, resource availability, amount of energy harvested in relation to equipment, and installation and maintenance costs.

All three energy systems have positive …

The Application Of Visual Phonics And Phonological Awareness Interventions To Address Emergent Literacy Development In Speech-Language Impaired Preschoolers, Elizabeth K. Gergits

Masters Theses

This study investigated the effectiveness of phonological awareness intervention versus phonological awareness intervention supplemented by visual phonics han,d cues upon emergent literacy skill development in preschool children with speech and/or language impairment. A pretest - posttest control group design was used to compare the effectiveness of phonological awareness intervention and visual phonics in promoting the development of the following emergent literacy skills: alphabet knowledge, beginning sound awareness, print awareness, rhyme awareness, nursery rhyme awareness, phonological awareness at the syllable level, and name writing abilities. Three groups were formed from twenty-four subjects from at-risk early childhood programs in central Illinois. The …

The Effect Of Person Versus Aac Directed Apraxia Therapy On Elicited Imitation For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jeanna Rachelle Probst

Masters Theses

There is limited research in the area of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and autism spectrum disorder with childhood apraxia of speech. The current research project was designed to evaluate the amount of elicited imitation produced when using a person-directed stimulus mode versus an AAC-directed stimulus mode. The dependent variable was elicited imitations. The independent variables were the AAC-directed condition and the person-directed condition.

The subjects were six school-aged children with the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). The subjects were pulled out of their regular 45 minute individual speech therapy and randomly presented …

The Best Predictors Of Self-Reported Depressed Mood In Adolescents, Melissa H. Wineberg

Masters Theses

The present study examined multiple predictors of depression simultaneously in order to determine which variables best predict self-reported depressed mood in adolescents. Although the current literature has identified several individual variables and their relationship to depression in adolescents, few studies have investigated multiple variables at the same time in relation to depression. Participants included 4,693 high school students from a Midwestern state. Of these students, 4 7% were girls, 4 7% were boys, and 6% did not indicate their gender. These students attended various high schools across seven counties and were recruited for a health prevention program called I Sing …