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Pittsburg State University Annual Commencement, Dec 2004, Pittsburg State University

Commencement, 1903-Present

Program of undergraduate and graduate commencement exercises at Pittsburg State University on December of 2004

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Winter Commencement: December 17, 2004, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Winter Commencement program from December 17, 2004.

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Transient Spatiotemporal Chaos On Complex Networks, Safia Rawoot

Physics

Some of today's most important questions regard complex dynamical systems with many interacting components. Network models provide a means to gain insight into such systems. This thesis focuses on a network model based upon the Gray-Scott cubic autocatalytic reaction-diffusion system that manifests transient spatiotemporal chaos. Motivated by recent studies on the small-world topology discovered by Watts and Strogatz, the network's original regular ring topology was modified by the addition of a few irregular connections. The effects of these added connections on the system's transience as well on the dynamics local to the added connections were examined. It was found that …

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Genetic And Chemical Studies Relating To Α-Aminoisobutyri Acid (Aib) Metabolism, Jeffrey A. Bickmeier

Chemistry and Biochemistry

The non-protein amino acid a-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) occurs naturally in soil. Burkholderia cepacia utilizes Aib as a sole nitrogen source by virtue of a 2,2-dialkylglycine decarboxylase, which is encoded by the dgdA gene. In this study, 30 prokaryotes were cultured on minimal media containing Aib as the sole nitrogen source and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Several attempts were made to clone dgd genes from these organisms. Plasmid libraries were constructed in E. coli from DNA isolated from four Aib-utilizing bacteria. Libraries were screened for clones which demonstrated the ability to grow on Aib containing media and therefore contained …

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Tribological Comparison Of Materials, Bing Shi

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Approximately 600,000 total joint replacement surgeries are performed each year in the United States. Current artificial joint implants are mainly metal-on-plastic. The synthetic biomaterials undergo degradation through fatigue and corrosive wear from load-bearing and the aqueous ionic environment of the human body. Deposits o f inorganic salts can scratch weight-bearing surfaces, making artificial joints stiff and awkward. The excessive wear debris from polyethylene leads to osteolysis and potential loosening of the prosthesis. The lifetime for well-designed artificial joints is at most 10 to 15 years. A patient can usually have two total joint replacements during her/his lifetime. Durability is limited …

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2004 Fall Commencement Program: Winona State University, Winona State University

WSU Commencement Programs

This is the Winona State University Fall 2004 commencement program. Commencement was on Friday, December 17, 2004.

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A Personnel-Driven Mini Assessment Approach For Supporting Continuous System And Software Process Improvement, Lee Mckinney

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Assessments are fundamental to the process improvement program of any organization in the software industry. Assessments provide a view of the state, capability, and maturity of processes in an organization relative to a reference model. Formal assessments are the most recognized, and are comprehensive in nature. Although the depth of their evaluation often results in significant process improvement opportunities, formal assessments are too costly for frequent use by many organizations. The interim between assessments typically leaves these organizations without the currency of process state information necessary to effectively drive continuous process improvement. Mini-assessments have emerged as a solution. This paper …

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Algorithms And Data Structures For Automated Change Detection And Classification Of Sidescan Sonar Imagery, Marlin Gendron

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

During Mine Warfare (MIW) operations, MIW analysts perform change detection by visually comparing historical sidescan sonar imagery (SSI) collected by a sidescan sonar with recently collected SSI in an attempt to identify objects (which might be explosive mines) placed at sea since the last time the area was surveyed. This dissertation presents a data structure and three algorithms, developed by the author, that are part of an automated change detection and classification (ACDC) system. MIW analysts at the Naval Oceanographic Office, to reduce the amount of time to perform change detection, are currently using ACDC. The dissertation introductory chapter gives …

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Predictive Semi-Empirical Analysis For Tire/Snow Interaction, Naveen Kumar Sankapalli

Engineering

A semi-analytical method is presented to predict the shear stress and motion resistance at the tire/snow interaction. The shear stress model is a function of normal pressure and slip. The main goal was to develop a simplified model by reducing the number of parameters in the model, so that the computational time could be reduced towards real time simulations. Motion resistance is calculated by integrating the horizontal component of normal pressure along the tire/terrain contact surface. The motion resistance obtained is slip dependent because the sinkage is a function of slip. The calculations of motion resistance and sinkage were done …

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University Of Nebraska At Omaha, December Commencement 2004, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

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Non-Linear Dynamics Of Marine Ecosystem Models, Georgina Anne Gibson

Marine Biology

Despite a rapid trend towards more realistic Nutrient-Phytoplankton-Zooplankton (NPZ) models, in which zooplankton are presented with multiple nutritional resources, investigations into the fundamental dynamics of these newer models have been limited. The objective of this dissertation was to explore the dynamical behavior of such NPZ models parameterized for the coastal Gulf of Alaska. With alternative stationary forcing regimes and zooplankton grazing functions, the dynamics of one-dimensional NPZ models were investigated for a range of specific predation rates (h) and predation exponents (q), which together define the form of the predation (model closure) function. Oscillations in state variables are shown to …

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A Comparison Of The Pulmonary Function Of Older Endurance Athletes With Age-Matched Sedentary Controls, James Carroll Buras

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To compare the pulmonary function of older runners with non-runners and also the population norms. Method: 40 males ages 45 to 65 were compared for respiratory muscle strength, spirometry and maximum voluntary ventilation. Univariate and multivariate analysis (p < 0.05) were used to determine differences Results: No significant differences in age, height, or respiratory muscle strength were found. A significant difference was found for weight and BMI with the non-runners having greater values. The dependent variables of FVC, FEV1, FEF25-75%, PEF, and MVV resulted in a significant difference with the runners having greater values. A significant difference was also found for pulmonary function between runners and the general population. Conclusion: Continued and habitual aerobic exercise in the form of running in 45 to 65 year old men resulted in pulmonary function values that were significantly greater than those of the non-runners and also greater than population norms.

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Be Still My Heart: Determinants Of Support For Capital Punishment Attitudes, Patrick Thomas More Hall

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The following research attempts to determine the factors used by an individual to develop an attitude on the political issue of capital punishment. Using data from the 2000 National Election Study and ordered probit analysis, this research produces a multivariate, multi-stage model of death penalty attitudes. Demographic factors such as race, age, gender, and education level are included in the initial stage of the model. Attitudinal variables such as party identification, ideology, and religiosity are added, one-by-one, in the second stage of the model to determine their own individual effect on death penalty attitudes, and their effect on the preceding …

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A Comparison Of Multiple-Model Target Tracking Algorithms, Ryan Pitre

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

There are many multiple-model (MM) target-tracking algorithms that are available but there has yet to be a comparison that includes all of them. This work compares seven of the currently most popular MM algorithms in terms of performance, credibility, and computational complexity. The algorithms to be considered are the autonomous multiple-model algorithm, generalized pseudo- Bayesian of first order, generalized pseudo-Bayesian of second order, interacting multiple-model algorithm, B-Best algorithm, Viterbi algorithm, and reweighted interacting multiple-model algorithm. The algorithms were compared using three scenarios consisting of maneuvers that were both in and out of the model set. Based on this comparison, there …

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Relationship Between The Sludge Settling Characteristics And The Parameters Of The Activated Sludge System, Jose Angel Rojas

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The activated sludge process is one of the most commonly employed domestic and industrial waste treatment process. Different types of mathematical models have been proposed for design and operation of this process, most of which do not consider the relationship between the sludge settling characteristics and the aeration unit performance. This project studies the validity of a model developed by La Motta (2004b) which links the operating parameters of an activated sludge system and the classical limiting flux sludge settling theory. Favorable results were obtained demonstrating that the model predicts very similar values of the parameters of the system in …

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Environmental Performance Of Steel Grit And Specialty Sand As Abrasives, Xavier Silvadasan

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Dry abrasive blasting is a surface preparation process used in shipyards for cleaning the surfaces of the metal plates to be used in various components of the ship. Commonly used abrasives include sand, steel grit, mineral abrasives, metallic abrasives, and synthetic abrasives. The basic objective of this study was to understand the environmental performance of two abrasives, Steel Grit and Specialty Sand. The project was funded by the Gulf Coast Region Maritime technology Center (GCRMTC) and USEPA. It simulated actual blasting operations conducted at shipyards under enclosed, controlled conditions on plates similar to steel plates commonly blasted at shipyards. The …

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A Novel Chirp Slope Keying Modulation Scheme For Underwater Communication, Lastri Simanjuntak

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

A digital modulation method using Chirp-Slope Keying (CSK) is developed for coherent underwater acoustic communications. Effective signal detection is a critical stage in the implementation of any communications system; we will see that CSK solves some significant challenges to reliable detection. This thesis is primarily based on analyzing the effectiveness of CSK through simulations using Matlab's Simulink for underwater communications. The procedure begins with modulating a chirp's slope by random binary data with a linear-down-slope chirp representing a 0, and a linear-up-slope chirp representing a 1. Each received symbol is demodulated by multiplying it with the exact linear-up-slope chirp and …

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Essence And Meaning In Professional Development: The Writing Project Experience, Kenneth Farizo

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Professional development in education is often a process focused on teachers' limitations. Teachers are rarely offered choices in professional development, nor are they asked to qualify the attributes of their professional development experiences they find most meaningful. This study situates the National Writing Project as a specific professional development program from which to consider teachers' beliefs and perceptions regarding their professional development experiences. The study begins with a broad view of professional development, then directs attention to the Writing Project as a professional development model. Ten teachers participated in individual and focus group interviews for the study. Interview data were …

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International Cross Section Estimates Of Demand For Use In The Gtap Model, Jeffrey J. Reimer, Thomas W. Hertel

GTAP Technical Papers Archive

The making of projections often requires an economy-wide perspective, and the estimation of consumer demands at the international level. In this paper, an implicit, directly additive demand system (AIDADS) is estimated using cross-country data on consumer expenditures from the International Comparison Program (ICP), and then from Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) data. The two data sets are found to produce results that are quite consistent despite their differing origins, and the fact that the former is based on consumer goods that embody wholesale/retail margins, while margin demands are treated separately in GTAP. Given the similarity of the results, the estimation …

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Genetics And Sex Expression In Alaskan Populations Of Silene Acaulis, Amber Klaas

Biological Sciences

Gynodioecy, the coexistence of hermaphrodites and females within plant populations, is often caused by an interaction between maternally-inherited cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) genes and nuclear male fertility restorer genes. Previous population studies have found cytoplasmic alleles associated with femaleness. We analyzed the spatial distributions of mitochondrial and chloroplast alleles and the sexual phenotype of individuals within five Alaskan populations of Silene acaulis. Sex ratios were variable between two mountain ranges in this study, possibly due to differences in the frequencies of CMS genes. Clustering of mitochondrial alleles, but not sex, was found within two populations at a scale <̲ 2 m. This result may be because maternally-inherited mitochondrial genes are locally spread through seed, but nuclear restorers are spread through pollen and seed. We also investigated sex ratios and CMS genes temporally and did not find patterns of changing sex ratios or mitotypes across size classes. This does not support the theory that females and the mitotypes they carry have been selected against over time, implying that female clusters were not broken-up due to pollen limitation. Patterns of mitochondrial and chloroplast alleles suggest either non-maternal inheritance of cytoplasmic markers or multiple reversals in the evolutionary history of cytoplasmic markers.

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Foraging Ecology Of Yellow-Rumped Warblers In An Alaskan Boreal Forest Following A Spruce Beetle Outbreak, Kristen Bartecchi Rozell

Biological Sciences

I examined the foraging ecology of the Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) several years after an outbreak of spruce beetles (Dendroctonus rufipennis) in the Copper River Basin, Alaska. With increased beetle-induced mortality of white spruce (Picea glauca), a preferred foraging substrate, we predicted warblers would respond through: (1) decreased overall use of white spruce, (2) increased selectivity of live white spruce that remained, and (3) reduced foraging efficiency, reflected by a greater proportion of time spent foraging and lower prey attack rates. We examined warbler foraging behavior and arthropod biomass on commonly used foraging substrates, and in stands with low-moderate ( …

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Towards A Regression Test Selection Technique For Message-Based Software Integration, Sriram Kuchimanchi

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Regression testing is essential to ensure software quality. Regression Test-case selection is another process wherein, the testers would like to ensure that test-cases which are obsolete due to the changes in the system should not be considered for further testing. This is the Regression Test-case Selection problem. Although existing research has addressed many related problems, most of the existing regression test-case selection techniques cater to procedural systems. Being academic, they lack the scalability and detail to cater to multi-tier applications. Such techniques can be employed for procedural systems, usually mathematical applications. Enterprise applications have become complex and distributed leading to …

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Axisymmetric Numerical Heat Transfer Analysis Of Natural Gas Hydrates Reservoir, Vijayagandeeban Subbaihaannadurai

Engineering

Gas hydrates are crystalline substances, occurring in nature under high pressure and low temperature. Numerical studies were conducted on dissociation of gas hydrate to recover natural gas. The model is a cylindrical geometry with a wellbore at the center through which hot water is injected. Through this thermal stimulation technique frozen hydrate reservoir is melted and natural gas is released. The computational fluid dynamics software FLUENT was adopted to generate the model. The initial model was solely comprised of a hydrate layer. This model was refined by adding the overburden and the underburden to the hydrate and exploring the thermal …

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Stability Of Milling Using Chebyshev Collocation Method, Praveen Nindujarla

Engineering

The dynamic stability of the milling process is investigated through single and two degree-of-freedom mechanical models by determining the regions where chatter (unstable) vibrations occur in the two-parameter space of spindle speed and depth of cut. Dynamic systems like milling are modeled by linear delay-differential equations (DDEs) with time-periodic coefficients. A new approximation technique for studying the stability properties of such systems is presented in this thesis. The approach is based on the properties of Chebyshev polynomials and a collocation expansion of the solution at their extremum points, the Chebyshev collocation points. The stability properties are determined by the eigenvalues …

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Simulation Of Coal Gasification Process Inside A Two-Stage Gasifier, Armin Silaen

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Gasification is a very efficient method of producing clean synthetic gas (syngas) which can be used as fuel for electric generation or chemical building block for petrochemical industries. This study performs detailed simulations of coal gasification process inside a generic two-stage entrained-flow gasifier to produce syngas carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The simulations are conducted using the commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solver FLUENT. The 3-D Navier-Stokes equations and seven species transport equations are solved with eddy-breakup combustion model. Simulations are conducted to investigate the effects of coal mixture (slurry or dry), oxidant (oxygen-blown or air-blown), wall cooling, coal distribution between …

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Neotectonic Framework Of The North-Central Alaska Range Foothills, Sean Patrick Bemis

Geosciences

The northern foothills of the Alaska Range form a northward-convex salient at the apex of this orogen and the Denali fault. Despite the proximity of the northern foothills to the Denali fault and several historic large-magnitude earthquakes, the tectonic framework of this region has not been well-studied. A distinct pattern of east-trending folds and faults exists in both the bedrock and the geomorphic features. To assess the active structures of the region, I interpreted previous geologic mapping, developed cross-sections across the foothills belt, analyzed topographic and stream profiles, mapped the sequence of Quaternary fluvial terraces, and performed GPS transects across …

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Estimating Percentile-Specific Causal Effects: A Case Study Of Micronutrient Supplementation, Birth Weight, And Infant Mortality, Francesca Dominici, Scott L. Zeger, Giovanni Parmigiani, Joanne Katz, Parul Christian

Johns Hopkins University, Dept. of Biostatistics Working Papers

In developing countries, higher infant mortality is partially caused by poor maternal and fetal nutrition. Clinical trials of micronutrient supplementation are aimed at reducing the risk of infant mortality by increasing birth weight. Because infant mortality is greatest among the low birth weight infants (LBW) (• 2500 grams), an effective intervention may need to increase the birth weight among the smallest babies. Although it has been demonstrated that supplementation increases the birth weight in a trial conducted in Nepal, there is inconclusive evidence that the supplementation improves their survival. It has been hypothesized that a potential benefit of the treatment …

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A Hybrid Newton-Type Method For The Linear Regression In Case-Cohort Studies, Menggang Yu, Bin Nan

The University of Michigan Department of Biostatistics Working Paper Series

Case-cohort designs are increasingly commonly used in large epidemiological cohort studies. Nan, Yu, and Kalbeisch (2004) provided the asymptotic results for censored linear regression models in case-cohort studies. In this article, we consider computational aspects of their proposed rank based estimating methods. We show that the rank based discontinuous estimating functions for case-cohort studies are monotone, a property established for cohort data in the literature, when generalized Gehan type of weights are used. Though the estimating problem can be formulated to a linear programming problem as that for cohort data, due to its easily uncontrollable large scale even for a …

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Clemson Commencement Program, December 2004, Clemson University

Clemson Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

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2004-12-16, Morehead State University. Board Of Regents.

Morehead State Board of Regents Agenda Books and Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

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Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Pittsburg State University Annual Commencement, Dec 2004, Pittsburg State University

Commencement, 1903-Present

Winter Commencement: December 17, 2004, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

Transient Spatiotemporal Chaos On Complex Networks, Safia Rawoot

Physics

Genetic And Chemical Studies Relating To Α-Aminoisobutyri Acid (Aib) Metabolism, Jeffrey A. Bickmeier

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Tribological Comparison Of Materials, Bing Shi

Chemistry and Biochemistry

2004 Fall Commencement Program: Winona State University, Winona State University

WSU Commencement Programs

A Personnel-Driven Mini Assessment Approach For Supporting Continuous System And Software Process Improvement, Lee Mckinney

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Algorithms And Data Structures For Automated Change Detection And Classification Of Sidescan Sonar Imagery, Marlin Gendron

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Predictive Semi-Empirical Analysis For Tire/Snow Interaction, Naveen Kumar Sankapalli

Engineering

University Of Nebraska At Omaha, December Commencement 2004, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Commencement Programs

Non-Linear Dynamics Of Marine Ecosystem Models, Georgina Anne Gibson

Marine Biology

A Comparison Of The Pulmonary Function Of Older Endurance Athletes With Age-Matched Sedentary Controls, James Carroll Buras

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Be Still My Heart: Determinants Of Support For Capital Punishment Attitudes, Patrick Thomas More Hall

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

A Comparison Of Multiple-Model Target Tracking Algorithms, Ryan Pitre

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Relationship Between The Sludge Settling Characteristics And The Parameters Of The Activated Sludge System, Jose Angel Rojas

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Environmental Performance Of Steel Grit And Specialty Sand As Abrasives, Xavier Silvadasan

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

A Novel Chirp Slope Keying Modulation Scheme For Underwater Communication, Lastri Simanjuntak

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Essence And Meaning In Professional Development: The Writing Project Experience, Kenneth Farizo

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

International Cross Section Estimates Of Demand For Use In The Gtap Model, Jeffrey J. Reimer, Thomas W. Hertel

GTAP Technical Papers Archive

Genetics And Sex Expression In Alaskan Populations Of Silene Acaulis, Amber Klaas

Biological Sciences

Foraging Ecology Of Yellow-Rumped Warblers In An Alaskan Boreal Forest Following A Spruce Beetle Outbreak, Kristen Bartecchi Rozell

Biological Sciences

Towards A Regression Test Selection Technique For Message-Based Software Integration, Sriram Kuchimanchi

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Axisymmetric Numerical Heat Transfer Analysis Of Natural Gas Hydrates Reservoir, Vijayagandeeban Subbaihaannadurai

Engineering

Stability Of Milling Using Chebyshev Collocation Method, Praveen Nindujarla

Engineering

Simulation Of Coal Gasification Process Inside A Two-Stage Gasifier, Armin Silaen

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Neotectonic Framework Of The North-Central Alaska Range Foothills, Sean Patrick Bemis

Geosciences

Estimating Percentile-Specific Causal Effects: A Case Study Of Micronutrient Supplementation, Birth Weight, And Infant Mortality, Francesca Dominici, Scott L. Zeger, Giovanni Parmigiani, Joanne Katz, Parul Christian

Johns Hopkins University, Dept. of Biostatistics Working Papers

A Hybrid Newton-Type Method For The Linear Regression In Case-Cohort Studies, Menggang Yu, Bin Nan

The University of Michigan Department of Biostatistics Working Paper Series

Clemson Commencement Program, December 2004, Clemson University

Clemson Commencement Programs

2004-12-16, Morehead State University. Board Of Regents.

Morehead State Board of Regents Agenda Books and Meeting Minutes