Digital Commons Network^™

The Behaviour Of Connections In Segmental Precast Concrete Pile Systems, Evan Causer

Theses

Driven precast concrete segmental piles are a popular foundation solution. Segmental pile systems incorporate connections into the pile, therefore it is important to be confident that the strength of the pile joints is comparable to that of the pile cross-section.

The primary objective of the research was to examine the behaviour of connections in segmental precast concrete pile systems. This was achieved by undertaking a literature review, laboratory testing and Finite Element Analysis (FEA).

The uses of segmental concrete pile systems are described and a review of the available pile joints is given. A review of the relevant design codes …

Investigation Of Drinking Water/Beverage Contaminants Within The Beverage Industry, Elizabeth Hobbs

Theses

The impact of water resource quality has influenced the community worldwide. It is an on-going target for water suppliers to produce suitable drinking water and the beverage industry to provide suitable water for the production of beverages. This diligence will ensure the consumer is provided with a product safe for consumption. The research and analytical techniques explored in this thesis may be of benefit to the beverage industry for the monitoring of inorganic contaminants present in water and carbonated soft drinks. The occurrence of certain contaminants in drinking water has become a major issue in the water industry in recent …

Service Discovery In The Post-Pc Era, Ha Hai Giang

Theses

Many service discovery protocols (SDP) have been proposed and implemented to allow automatic discovery of devices and network services offered on a computer network. Service discovery is becoming more and more important with the growth in the size and the diversity of computer networks. However, existing service discovery protocols do not interact with each other. In this thesis, a SDP software framework is developed to support heterogeneous devices (PC, sensor, and mobile devices), different platforms (Windows, JVM, and Android) and different wireless networks (Wi-Fi, IEEE 802.15.4). We also use Markov Chain to represent service's dynamic attributes to reduce communication for …

Ecosystem Disturbance And Recovery In Shelta Cave, Christopher Miller

Theses

The ecosystem of Shelta Cave in northern Alabama was observed after the removal of gating in the cave entrances--an apparent long-term disturbance to the resident bat population. It is believed that the loss of bats led to a loss of many other organisms, and with the removal of the gate the ecosystem is now recovering. Many biotic and abiotic factors were measured within the cave to try to estimate the current health and better estimate the future of the ecosystem. The cave environment was found to be very stable, while the number of organisms within the cave, most notably bats, …

A Gas Chromatographic/Mass Spectral Analysis Of Aromatic Medicinal Plants From Tajikistan, Hanjing Zhang

Theses

Tajikistan is a small country located in central Asia which is rich in Aromatic medicinal plants. A large number of locally available plants species are used in the preparation of traditional medicines. However, research on essential oils of medicinal and aromatic plants from Tajikistan is still limited, and only a small number of species have been investigated. In coordination with a chemist from Tajik Academy of Sciences in Dushanbe, six aromatic medicinal plants were collected and their essential oils were extracted for analysis. The targeted plants are Bunium persicum B. Fedtsch., Anethum graveolens L., Galagania frangrantissima Lipsky, Melissa officinalis L., …

Development Of An Enzymatic Assay For Nitrification Inhibitors, Christopher A. James

Theses

According to the United Nations, the world population reached the 7 billion mark in 2011 and is anticipated to climb to 8 billion by 2025. All of these people need food, but many do not get enough. To resolve this critical issue, there is a great need to increase food production. The use of fertilizers is one of the more feasible ways to achieve this; however, nitrogen efficiency is notoriously low, with nitrification--the conversion of ammonium to nitrate--being one reason. Nitrification occurs naturally in the soil; and, once nitrate is formed, the probability for losses increases greatly. Among these losses …

Virtual Team Performance : Effects Of Reflexivity, Transactive Memory, And Situation Awareness, Kristin Weger

Theses

Virtual teams often do not have the capability to develop well-functioning team cognitive processes in the initial stages of team development, leading to initial low performance in teams. The present experiment explored whether a general training procedure, a guided reflexivity intervention, could facilitate team cognitive development to improve team performance, and whether such an intervention could influence team communication. Participants (N = 160) assigned to teams of four received either a guided reflexivity intervention or no intervention, in a two scenario experiment. Virtual teams in the guided reflexivity condition were expected to develop a better transactive memory system, display higher …

"Alright Already, I'M Just A No Goodnick!" Guys And Dolls: A Musical Fable Of Broadway, Christopher D. Strawhun

Theses

Guys and Dolls: A Musical Fable of Broadway is considered a classic of the musical pantheon. As a candidate for the Master of Fine Arts in Theatre from Lindenwood University, I am required to participate in a production as a leading part. This paper chronicles the process and experience of performing in the musical masterpiece, as well as the history of the show.

The Synthesis And Characterization Of 3-Nitro-2-Styrenyl Benzoic Acid Amide Derivatives As Potential Cancer Chemopreventives, Brittany Lynn Nichols

Theses

Chemopreventives are natural or synthetic compounds that are used to stop or reverse the processes of carcinogenesis or tumorigenesis. Resveratrol (3, 5, 4’-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a stilbenoid and natural phenol that is found in fruits such as grapes. In addition to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, resveratrol can inhibit D-type cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinase CDK4 expression. This can also lead to inducing tumor suppressors p53 and Cdk inhibitor p21. The p53 protein is encoded by the TP53 gene and responds to cellular stresses by regulating target genes that induce cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and DNA repair among other functions. 3-nitro-2-styryl amide derivatives …

Analysis Of Stress Waves Generated During Normal And Oblique Impacts On Aerospace Panels, Gopal Kumaran

Theses

Foreign object impact on aircraft structures is a critical event that can affect the structural integrity and compromise the safety of the aircraft. The aerospace industry devotes a considerable amount of effort to detect impact damage. The real time impact detection and quantification system can improve safety and reduce operation cost. In order to identify the impact damage, it becomes necessary to study the impact location and force history. There are a number of studies on this topic which focus on obtaining an approximate representation of force history in damage events. However, a number of important aspects of foreign object …

Effects Of Phase Feeding Different Levels Of Fungus Myceliated Grain On Broiler Performance And Health, Joi N. Jackson

Theses

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of phase feeding a combination of 3 different medicinal mushrooms (Lentinus edodes, Ganoderma lucidum, Pleurotus ostreatus) via Fungus Myceliated Grain (FMG) on broiler performance and health after natural and experimental exposure to field strains of Eimeria. A total of 300, day-of-hatch, female broiler chickens were weighed and randomly assigned into the following dietary treatment conditions: 1) 1 % starter, 2) 1 % grower, 3) 1 % starter-grower-finisher, 4) 5% starter, 5) 5% grower, 6) 5% starter grower-finisher, 7) 10% starter, 8) 10% grower and 9) 10% starter-grower-finisher. Each treatment was replicated 3 …

Factors That Determine Satisfaction Of Corporate Customers Of A Major Third Party Logistics (3pl) Company: A Case Study Of Unyson Logistics Usa, Claudia A. Rojas

Theses

The study of the service offered in 2010 by Unyson Logistics was consolidated within one customer survey as a need to promote organizational success by reaching customer satisfaction. The interest in satisfaction is due to the several advantages and benefits that offer the philosophy of excellence, among other things, increase the number of loyal customers, increasing the attraction of new clients, new opportunities to help development, improve the policy of reducing costs and optimize the company's image, and reach a higher level of satisfaction regarding the overall experience. This research will determine the main factors that will help Unyson Logistics …

The Effect Of Long-Term Capital Gains And Dividend Tax Rate On The Performance Of Market Indexes Based On Market Capitalization, Jason Wheaton

Theses

Through recent political history there is a common theme about taxes that is presented often: That small businesses are affected differently than larger companies. Though in political parlance small business is different than a small cap company, studying the effects of taxes on small cap companies can help discern if taxation does affect companies differently based on size. The study of the literature provides a background of critical elements such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), interest rates and inflation, as well as factors such as fiscal policy and informational uncertainty that have an effect on stock prices. Through regression analysis …

Online Book-Buying Behavior, Carolina Ziegler

Theses

Generally speaking, the Internet is directly influencing the buying decision-making process of the consumer. More than ask relatives and friends' opinions, current customers tend now to acquire information about products on search engines, social networks, blogs, or websites. Therefore, this research was set to develop a better overall understanding about online buying behavior.

The e-commerce is growing every year and the number of consumers willing to spend money on virtual transactions follows this tendency. In order to better understand this trend, the market for academic books was chosen as a reference to appreciate how consumers behave when buying a specific …

Connecting Inwardly To Beethoven: Ted Hughes And The Role Of The Artist As Quest Hero, David Charles Heldsinger

Theses

Ted Hughes served as English Poet Laureate from 1984 until his death in 1998. In an insightful interview in 1970, Hughes said he connected ‘inwardly’¹ to William Blake and Ludwig van Beethoven and that if he ‘could dig to the bottom’ of his ‘strata, maybe their names and works would be the deepest traces’.² Blake and Beethoven lived and worked at a pivotal moment in history as the Romantic Movement emerged in the late 18th century. This Movement has had a significant and long lasting effect on art, culture, philosophy and politics. Shortly before his death, Hughes reiterated …

A Common Methodology To Assess The Sustainability Of Different Stages Of The Water Cycle In An Urban Environment In An Irish Context, Áine Mcgrath

Theses

The project proposes to devise a common methodology to assess the sustainability of different stages of the water cycle in an urban environment in an Irish context. With the reduction in infrastructure investment by the governing bodies, the concept of sustainable development is becoming more important.

The project involves using the principals and procedures of a system analysis along with sustainable key performance indicators to assess the sustainability of water cycle system, which includes water treatment, the water distribution system, wastewater treatment and flood risk management.

A sustainability assessment of the combined stages of an urban water cycle will provide …

Development Of A Recombinant Lactobacillus Salivarius For Prophylactic Applications Against Mycobacterium Avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis And Johne’S Disease, Christopher Johnston

Theses

Current whole-cell vaccines against Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, the etiological agent of Johne’s disease, are unable to provide complete protection against infection. Moreover, such whole-cell formulations interfere with diagnostic tests for bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis). The development of subunit vaccines, those which are preferentially based on one, or a select few, immunodominant protective antigens is considered as the realistic next step in overcoming these issues. The (MAP) K-10 genome is a single circular chromosome of 4,829,781 base pairs and encodes 4,350 predicted ORFs. In order to identify MAP specific proteins for subsequent incorporation within a mucosal based vaccine development, a …

The Use Of Celebrity Endorsements As A Public Relation, Kate Power

Theses

A huge part of public relations in todays world is based around celebrity and their endorsements of brands, products, services and causes. The use of celebrity endorsement has become such a vital and trusted public relation tactic by so many PR practitioners to create a communication vessel between brand and consumer. This type of engagement between brands and their target audiences has become increasingly important to the Public Relations world for building long lasting and enduring relationships with these consumers and targeted audiences.

The aim of this research is to discover if celebrity endorsement makes an impact within public relations …

The Death Of The Press Release And The Changing Media Relations Landscape: A Public Relations Perspective, Jenn Crotty

Theses

The public relations industry of today is a much different one to that of a decade ago. The changes that are taking place within the public relations industry are monumental and are not going unnoticed. In recent years the explosion of new media and social networks has led to a distorted media relations landscape. Many academics and public relations professionals have began to focus on the importance of incorporating new media and social networks into their occupation. It appears as though the traditional media landscape is being swept under the rug.

This study aims to challenge the perception that new …

Mothering Values : An Exploration Of Generational Differences In Values, Beliefs And Attitudes, Marguerita Walsh

Theses

Maternal employment has led to an increase in the need for childcare (Horgan, 2001). In 2005, the most valuable source of childcare for children of primary school age was unpaid relatives (Share & Kerrins, 2009). 33% of grandparents are involved in childcare on a weekly basis (Jones, 2011). Therefore, childrearing tasks are shared, and children may be exposed to a variety of childrearing values.

Given the key-role grandparents, and in particular grandmothers play in childcare, this research focuses on exploring the parenting values, beliefs and roles of maternal grandmothers and mothers of children under the age of ten and how …

Historical Remedies Versus Current Pathogens : Laboratory Investigation Of The Efficacy Of Traditional Herbal Remedies Against Present-Day Common Causes Of Bacterial Pneumonia, Eibhlin Mccarthy

Theses

Despite the medical advances of recent years, pneumonia is still a common disease in Ireland, accounting for approximately 7% of deaths in this country'. While national databases such as those run by CIDR and SARI ensure that incidences of systemic and notifiable infections such as tuberculosis are recorded, there are currently no available statistics on commonplace respiratory isolates within Ireland. This study analysed the available data on bacterial pathogens isolated from respiratory samples at a 355 bed Irish hospital over a one year period. Seasonal variations and resistance patterns were noted. The most frequently isolated pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (27%), …

Design Strategy For The Optimization Of The Impeller In An Axial Ventricle Assist Device, Jonathan Peyton

Theses

The objectives of this study were to create and implement a design strategy to improve the impeller design of the Left Ventricle Assist Device (LVAD) here at RIT. CFD software paired with parametric design optimization has proved as a useful tool set to improve VAD performance in a timely and cost effective manner. A design search of one design variable was conducted to test the implementation of the design strategy. Performance of a LVAD is split between three individual parameters: 1) Pressure generation, 2) Rate of Hemolysis, and 3) Risk of Thrombosis. CFD simulations provided the data necessary to assess …

An Exploration Of The Past, Present And Future Of Nursing In Early Parenting Services In Australia, Elaine Bennett

Theses

Nursing has a long history of providing services to families and children over the past century and more within Early Parenting Services (EPS) in Australia. Much has been written on issues regarding the general nursing workforce and requirements for the future, but little is known about the role of nursing within the EPS area around Australia in the context of an interdisciplinary team.

The aim of this study was to describe how nursing has responded to the changing needs of EPS in Australia and to investigate nurses’ and allied professionals’ perceptions of the nursing role within an interdisciplinary team. This …

New Evangelization, Conversion And Catholic Education, Mark Tynan

Theses

Magisterial teaching since the Second Vatican Council has identified the need for a re-evangelization of Western cultures. Catholic teaching since Vatican II has continued to identify this need and exhort Christians to what Pope John Paul II termed a New Evangelization. This teaching had five significant thrusts. Firstly, it identified the need for the New Evangelization. Secondly, it discussed the essential role of the laity in this endeavor. Thirdly, it positioned conversion as the primary initial goal of this enterprise and defined what it conversion would look like experientially. Fourthly, the Holy Spirit was promoted as the initiator and primary …

The Interaction Between Hedgehog And Tgf-Β Signalling Pathways In Malignant Mesothelioma, Keyuri Koriya

Theses

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive cancer, the consequence of which is neoplastic transformation of mesothelial cells and is strongly associated with previous asbestos exposure. The disease is associated with poor patient survival due to difficulties in diagnosis and treatment options currently available. Therefore, it is essential to identify novel molecular targets that can be used to develop new treatment opportunities. Hedgehog (Hh) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signalling pathways are involved in numerous overlapping developmental processes as well as tissue repair and tumorigenesis. Recently, TGF-β has been shown to induce the expression of Hh signalling effector molecules, the Gli …

A Thomistic Understanding Of Happiness, Christian Stephens

Theses

Imagine that extra-terrestrial researchers land on Earth with the mission of studying humanity. As part of their expedition they wish to sit in on one University Degree, but are unsure of which degree to choose. So they decide to carry out a survey, asking each individual human what it is they want in life. Based on the results, the aliens will then study the appropriate field. After conducting the survey and processing the data, they come to the conclusion that humans highly regard this thing called happiness.1 The Head Researchers unanimously decide that a ‘degree in happiness’ is in order. …

The Impact Of Domestic Violence Upon Default From Colposcopy Services, Rachael R. Collier

Theses

This thesis explores a possible mechanism by which the presence of domestic violence may lead to poorer health outcomes in women. Whilst the cost and impact of domestic violence in the literature has been well documented, it is less clear exactly ‘how’ domestic violence leads to the reported variety of adverse health outcomes. The key hypothesis in this thesis is that the health impact of domestic violence is partly mediated through failure of affected women to attend for treatment and follow up. This then results in their poorer health outcomes.

The Art Of Clinical Supervision Program For Registered Nurses, Kylie P. Russell

Theses

Nursing students’ clinical placements should provide an environment in which they can apply their nursing education in the fast-paced world of health care and develop a framework for practice. Students rely on effective teaching and supportive clinical supervisors to provide a placement in which they are not only encouraged to practice, but also to learn from this practice. This is achieved through welcoming students into the health care team by valuing their input and contributions, and consolidating their clinical practice through activities such as critical thinking and reflection.

The role of the clinical supervisor is therefore complex and often constrained …

Knowledge Translation Intervention To Improve Evidence-Based Practice Behaviour Of Allied Health Professionals: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial And 2-Year Follow-Up Study, Lanie Campbell

Theses

Background:

It is difficult to foster the use of research findings among allied health professionals (AHPs). Tailored, multifaceted knowledge translation (KT) strategies are now recommended but are resource intensive to implement. Employers need effective KT solutions, but little is known about: (a) the impact and viability of multifaceted KT strategies using an online KT tool, (b) their immediate and longer-term effectiveness with AHPs, and (c) their effect on evidence-based practice (EBP) decision-making behaviour. The aim of this project was to measure the effectiveness of a multifaceted KT intervention including a customised KT tool, to change EBP behaviour, knowledge and attitudes …

A Novel Mammogram Registration Algorithm For Improving Breast Cancer Detection, Stephanie Cleveland Cunningham

Theses

Accurate mammogram registration is vital to future breast cancer research. In order to detect changes over time and/or bilateral asymmetry, computer aided detection algorithms must first be able to accurately align two mammogram images. The registration algorithm in this thesis is a novel process designed to accurately register two mammogram images using the Pompeiu-Hausdorff distance as a similarity measure. The algorithm identifies the optimal translation and rotation that can be used to properly align the two mammogram images by computing the optimized Pompeiu-Hausdorff distance between extracted feature point-sets and adaptively fine tuning the parameters with each iteration. This automated algorithm, …