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Hydrolysis Of Thionopeptides By The Aminopeptidase From Aeromonas Proteolytica:  Insight Into Substrate Binding, David L. Bienvenue, Danuta M. Gilner, Richard C. Holz

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

A series of l-leucine aniline analogues were synthesized that contained either a carbonyl or thiocarbonyl as a part of the amide bond. Additionally, the para-position on the phenyl ring of several substrates was altered with various electron-withdrawing or donating groups. The kinetic constants K_m and k_cat were determined for the hydrolysis of each of these compounds in the presence of the aminopeptidase from Aeromonas proteolytica (AAP) containing either Zn(II) or Cd(II). The dizinc(II) form of AAP ([ZnZn(AAP)]) was able to cleave both carbonyl and thiocarbonyl containing peptide substrates with similar efficiency. However, the dicadmium(II) form of AAP …

Information Domain Modeling Of Emergent Phenomena, Ron Fulbright

Theses and Dissertations

Study in fields such as distributed artificial intelligence (DAI), decentralized artificial intelligence (DzAI), parallel artificial intelligence (PAl), multiagent systems (MAS), computer supported cooperative work (CSCW), artificial life (AL), and complex adaptive systems (CAS) is concerned with the cooperation, coordination, communication, and coherence of multiple agents working together to achieve a common goal. The notion that the ability of a collective can exceed the sum of the individuals is a fundamental concept and a generally accepted truth. However, no general theoretical explanation exists as to why this could or should be the case. This dissertation explores such an explanation by considering …

A Parametric Study Of Cutting Transport In Vertical And Horizontal Well Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (Cfd)., Md. Wazed Ali

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Efficient transportation of cuttings is a vital factor for a good drilling program. Cutting transport in annulus is a complex problem that is affected by numerous parameters. Predicting effective cuttings transport requires all of these parameters to be considered simultaneously. To better understand the effects of some of the parameters affecting the cutting transportation, a combination of casing-drill pipe annulus section was simulated and a model called ‘discrete phase model’ was used to observe the transportation of cuttings in the annulus. Tests were conducted to determine the effects of mud weight, particle size, drilling rate and viscosity on cutting transportation …

On The Edge Of Chaos: A Delphi Study Of The Changing Role Of The Secondary Principal., Rebecca H. Goodwin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to describe the changing role of the secondary principal. The study examined the contemporary high school principalship and described changes in the principalship, the role of the contemporary principal, and the preferred future for the principalship. Recognizing the complexity of the position, the study also used chaos and complexity theory to critically analyze the findings and to discern if the theory provided an understanding of these changes and their impact. This was a mixed-method two-stage study conducted electronically with both qualitative and quantitative instruments. The first stage used the Delphi method of research to …

Academic Achievement As A Function Of Attributions Of Success And Failure And Socio-Cultural Variables In Mexican-American Students, Mary Alice Reyes

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this research was to examine Mexican-American 8th grade students' attributions of success and failure in school-related contexts. The relationship between and among these attributions, socio-cultural variables and academic achievement was also explored and analyzed. Attribution theory formed the theoretical foundation for the study.

The study utilized three instruments as the primary sources of self-reported data: the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS ), Student Achievement Responsibility Survey ( SARS ) (Ryckman, 1985), and the Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanic Youth ( SASH-Y ) (Barona & Miller, 1994). Other data including gender and migrant status were obtained from …

Automated Robotic Inspection System For Electronic Manufacturing, Roberto Alejandro Balderas

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

An automated robotic inspection system for electronic manufacturing has been developed to identify pin defects of IC packages mounted on printed circuit boards using surface mount technology. The automated robotic inspection system consists of two robots, a computer, a CCD camera with frame gabber for image acquisition, and a customized windows program using neural network for on-line defect identification. Gray scale images of the pins on IC packages are acquired using ambient light. The images are filtered and formatted to appropriate size, so that Matlab neural network tool could be used. The images are used to train neural networks using …

Excepting Credit Card Debt From Discharge In Bankruptcy: Why Fraud Can't Mean What The Courts Want It To Mean, Larry Bates

North Dakota Law Review

No abstract provided.

Surface Micromachined Force Gauges: Uncertainty And Reliability, Jonathan W. Wittwer, Troy Gomm, Larry L. Howell

Faculty Publications

Surface micromachining of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), like all other fabrication processes, has inherent variation that leads to uncertain material and dimensional parameters. By considering the effects of these variations during the design of micro force gauges, the gauge uncertainty and reliability can be estimated. Without means of calibrating micro gauges, these effects are often significant when compared to experimental repeatability. The general force gauge model described in this paper can be used to measure a wide range of forces, and simple design changes can lead to improved accuracy in measurement. A method of probabilistic design is described that is not …

The Investment Opportunity Set And Capitalization Versus Expensing Methods Of Accounting Choice, Dan S. Dhaliwal, William G. Heninger, K.E. Hughes Ii

Faculty Publications

This paper examines the effects of the investment opportunity set (IOS) on management's decision to capitalize or expense significant costs in two diverse settings: (1) in accounting for exploration and development (E&D) costs by firms in the oil-and-gas industry, and (2) in accounting for research and development (R&D) costs by firms (across industries) prior to 1974. We argue that the relation between the IOS and the decision to capitalize versus to expense is based upon managerial incentives to reduce the variance of accounting earnings. High-growth firms are more likely to have more variable earnings, which therefore creates greater incentives to …

A Niche At The Nexus: Situating An Nlp Curriculum Interdisciplinarily, Deryle W. Lonsdale

Faculty Publications

This paper discusses the establishment and implementation of a curriculum for teaching NLP. At the core are two classes which involve some theoretical background, extensive hands-on experience with state-ofthe-art technologies, and practical application in the form of an intensive programming project. Issues involving interdisciplinary coordination, curriculum design, and challenges in teaching this discipline are discussed.

Czech Voucher Privatization: A Case Of Decision Making Under Uncertainty, Katia Hristova

University Avenue Undergraduate Journal of Economics

In my study, I plan to analyze voucher privatization in the Czech Republic. This process is best characterized as decision making under both risk and uncertainty, where the thousands of individuals who initially received vouchers were operating under near total uncertainty while larger institutional investors who later seized control of the vouchers were operating under conditions of risk. I will analyze the resulting patterns of ownership in comparison to the goals of the process. I will also discuss the role of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank as institutions which affect the conditions under which voucher privatization was conducted. …

A New Cascaded Multilevel H-Bridge Drive, Keith Corzine, Yakov L. Familiant

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, a general structure for cascaded power converters is presented in which any number of H-bridge cells having any number of voltage levels are series connected to form an inverter phase leg. Equations are introduced for determining an optimal voltage ratio of DC voltages for the H-bridge cells which will maximize the number of voltage levels obtainable resulting in high power quality. Special cases of the generalized inverter are presented including novel 11-level and 15-level inverters. Laboratory measurements demonstrate the proposed inverter performance

What's The Reason?, Kenton Machina, Mark Siderits

Faculty Publications - Philosophy

"What's the Reason?" is an informal applied logic textbook in 5 chapters. It includes discussions of the nature of good everyday and academic reasoning, common mistakes in everyday reasoning, and overall informal argument assessment.

A New Occurrence Of Archaeoscyphia Pulchra (Bassler) From The Ordovician Of Western Canada, J. Keith Rigby, Godfrey S. Nowlan, Peter A. Rowlands

Faculty Publications

A few specimens of the ornate anthaspidellid demosponge, Archaeoscyphia pulchra (Bassler), have been collected from the Lower Ordovician Outram Formation or Skoki Formation, from a saddle at the head of South Rice Brook in northeastern British Columbia. This is the first report of the flanged-appearing annulate, steeply obconical sponge in western Canada, although it has been reported from the Mingan Islands of Quebec and was initially described from Nevada, in the western United States. The taxon has also been reported as other species of Archaeoscyphia from Ordovician rocks of Missouri and from the San Juan region of Argentina.

Cave Breakdown By Vadose Weathering, R. A. L. Osborne

International Journal of Speleology

Vadose weathering is a significant mechanism for initiating breakdown in caves. Vadose weathering of ore bodies, mineral veins, palaeokarst deposits, non-carbonate keystones and impure, altered or fractured bedrock, which is intersected by caves, will frequently result in breakdown. Breakdown is an active, ongoing process. Breakdown occurs throughout the vadose zone, and is not restricted to large diameter passages, or to cave ceilings. The surfaces of disarticulated blocks are commonly coated, rather than having fresh broken faces, and blocks continue to disintegrate after separating from the bedrock. Not only gypsum, but also hydromagnesite and aragonite are responsible for crystal wedging. It …

Stability Appraisal Of The Medvedova Konta Pothole, Jože Kortnik

International Journal of Speleology

Until 1956 the underground details of areas around Pokljuka were practically unknown due to the area’s non-karstic outward appearance. However, the presence of karst phenomena on this Alpine plain is undoubtedly indicated, primarily by the absence of a surface drainage network. A mathematical model was made of the Medvedova konta pothole, in which two different sets of material properties were used, corresponding to the Triassic limestone that forms the bedrock under the greater part of Pokljuka. The model simulates the gradual thinning of the ceiling of the underground hall, from the surface downwards, until its collapse. The paper presents a …

Collapse Above The World's Largest Potash Mine (Ural, Russia), Vjacheslav Andrejchuk

International Journal of Speleology

This paper reports the results of the study of a huge collapse that occurred in June 1986 within the area of the 3rd Berezniki potash mine (the Verkhnekamsky potash deposit, Ural). Processes that took place between the first appearance of a water inflow through the mine roof and the eventual collapse are reconstructed in detail. The origin and development of a cavity that induced the collapse are revealed. Two factors played a major role in the formation of the collapse: the presence of a tectonic fold/rupture zone with in both the salt sequence and the overburden (the zone of crush …

Women's Voice, January 2002, Women's, Gender, And Sexuality Studies Program

Women's Voice (1991-2006)

No abstract provided.

University Of San Diego Football Media Guide 2002, University Of San Diego Athletics Department

Football (Men)

48 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 21.5 x 28 cm

Undergraduate Bulletin Of The University Of San Diego 2002-2004, University Of San Diego

Undergraduate Course Catalogs (1973- )

252 pages : illustrations, photographs ; 28 cm

Aircrew Adaptive Decision Making: A Cross-Case Analysis, Constance Ann Gillan Edd

Dissertations

Although the accident rate for military aviation has declined significantly from earlier decades, during the 1990's it reached a plateau. Human error in the cockpit still accounts for over 80% of the aircraft mishaps resulting in loss of life or over one million dollars in damage. Decision error has been a contributing factor for approximately 60% of these mishaps. The purpose of this research was to investigate aircrew process performance variables as predictors of decision-making outcomes. This study was modeled on elements of previous research in naturalistic decision making. Data were collected for cross-case analysis of the role experience plays …

Modeling The Effects Of Financial Aid On Student Enrollment Decisions: A Quantitative Case Study Of A Private Catholic University, Linda Siefert Edd

Dissertations

Over the last two decades, many institutions of higher education have experienced admissions-related problems due to fluctuations in student enrollment and the increasing need for institutional financial aid. Because of this, administrators need tools that can help them modify policy as the market changes. The purpose of this research was to develop a tool for a private, more selective institution that would answer the following questions: (1) what is the probability of enrollment for each admitted student, and (2) how would changes in the financial aid package affect this probability? The model in this research was based on both economic …

A Model Health-Related Elementary Physical Education Program For Saipan: Teachers' Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices, Kurt C. Barnes Edd

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was significant differences in changes of knowledge, attitudes, and practices between elementary school teachers who took part in an in-service physical education training program and those who did not take part. The in-service training program utilized a model health-related physical education program. The setting for the study was a school district on Saipan whose teachers were required to teach physical education. Teachers in five of nine public elementary schools were placed in the in-service training program. A questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitudes, and practices, was administrated as a pre- and post-test. …

Determining If Two Ellipsoids Share The Same Volume, Salvatore Alfano, Meredith L. Greer

All Faculty Scholarship

An analytical method is presented for determining if two ellipsoids share the same volume. The formulation involves adding an extra dimension to the solution space and examining eigenvalues that are associated with degenerate quadric surfaces. The eigenvalue behavior is characterized and then demonstrated with an example. The same method is also used to determine if two ellipsoids appear to share the same projected area based on an oberver's viewing angle. The following approach yields direct results without approximation, iteration, or any form of numerical search. It is computationally efficient in the sense that no dimensional distortions, coordinate rotations, transformations, or …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Job Satisfaction And Selected Demographics Of West Virginia Teachers And Their Intent To Stay In The Teaching Profession., Kevin Joe Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between job satisfaction and selected demographics of West Virginia teachers and their intent to stay in the teaching profession. Teacher demographics collected included age, number of dependent children, type of educator, grade level, subjects taught, education level, teaching experience, and household income. Teacher intent to stay in the teaching profession, teacher demographics, and overall job satisfaction were both collected using the Smith Teacher Intent to Stay Inventory. Intrinsic, extrinsic, and overall job satisfactions were assessed using the Smith Job Satisfaction Scale. The Smith Teacher Intent to Stay Inventory and the …

Investigating Nitrogen Pollution In The Canoochee River, Evans County, Georgia, Chandra Marie Pitt Brown

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations (1964–2006)

No abstract provided.

A Power Scheduling Software Package For Planetary Habitats, Gary W. Huband

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations (1964–2006)

Mankind has established a permanent presence in space with the International Space Station. The next step is building habitats on the Moon or Mars. However, these habitats will have to be nearly self-sustaining because replenishment from Earth will be costly. Power for life support and other electrical devices will be limited and must be monitored and allocated. This thesis develops the framework for power scheduling software to perform these tasks.

The software includes a graphical user interface (GUI) to allow the user to interact with the power schedule, a database and server, and a simulation for the effects of device …

Genes And The Just Society Preface, Arti K. Rai

San Diego Law Review

No abstract provided.

Peer Group Instructional Conversation: Collaboration In Context, Linda Greene Capalbo

Open Access Dissertations

American schools traditionally have reflected and promoted societal values of autonomy and independence in the development of the individual child. This limited perspective on how humans come to know focuses on the accrued cultural capital of each learner and neglects the role of 'the other' in the construction of meaning. Such a view can be especially debilitating for students who have been identified as marginal learners. This study examines how social interaction organizes participation opportunities and strategies for members of a peer learning group, including a student designated language learning disabled. The study documents the development and negotiation of individual …

Development Of A Numerical Model For Shallow Marine Ecosystems With Application To Greenwich Bay, Rhode Island, Mark James Brush

Open Access Dissertations

Numerical models have become increasingly important tools for the study of marine ecosystems. While these models serve as valuable research and heuristic tools, they are not yet to the point of producing reliable predictions upon which to base management decisions. Further, most existing models of coastal systems have been constructed for relatively deep estuaries rather than shallow, nearshore systems which receive the bulk of anthropogenic nutrient loading and experience the most extreme degradation in water quality. A numerical model was developed for shallow marine ecosystems which contain both pelagic and benthic compartments of the food web. A series of innovations …