Digital Commons Network^™

Bioethics? The Law And Biomedical Advance, Roger B. Dworkin

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Paradigms Of Medicine : Cooperation And Competition In The Provision Of Health, R. Colin Nelson

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

No abstract provided.

32_1_Gen_Info.Pdf, Marine Ornithology

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Stimulation Of Capacitative Calcium Entry In Hl-60 Cells By Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields, Jody A. White, Peter F. Blackmore, Karl H. Schoenbach, Stephen J. Beebe

Bioelectrics Publications

Nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) are hypothesized to affect intracellular structures in living cells providing a new means to modulate cell signal transduction mechanisms. The effects of nsPEFs on the release of internal calcium and activation of calcium influx in HL-60 cells were investigated by using real time fluorescent microscopy with Fluo-3 and fluorometry with Fura-2. nsPEFs induced an increase in intracellular calcium levels that was seen in all cells. With pulses of 60 ns duration and electric fields between 4 and 15 kV/cm, intracellular calcium increased 200-700 nM, respectively, above basal levels (similar to100 nM), while the uptake of …

Regionalization Of Indiana Watersheds For Flood Flow Predictions Phase I: Studies In Regionalization Of Indiana Watersheds, A. Ramachandra Rao

JTRP Technical Reports

The following five methods of regionalization of watersheds were tested with Indiana watershed and annual maximum flood data: (1) the L-moment based method, (2) the method based on hybrid cluster analysis, (3) the hybrid cluster method using rainfall data, (4) the fuzzy cluster method, and (5) the method based on artificial neural networks. The results of the L-moment based method and the hybrid cluster method with rainfall data were unacceptable because of the subjectivity involved with the former and the heterogeneity of the of the results obtained by the latter. The remaining three methods gave very similar results. The fuzzy …

Development And Validation Of The Impediments To Change Scale - Educational Version : A Study Of Children And Adolescents With Emotional Disturbance, Ray W. Christner

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study reviewed the development of the Impediments to Change Scale: Educational Version and evaluated its use with children and adolescents identified as having an Emotional Disturbance (ED) according to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The investigator examined the scale's internal consistency and conducted a hierarchical cluster analysis to identify indices related to “impediments of change.” The objective for the Impediments to Change Scale: Educational Version is to offer a clinically useful instrument to assist in identifying risk factors that impede a student's progress in his or her educational program. Pending future research, this tool has the potential …

Psychometric Study Of The Mahan And Ditomasso Anger Scale (Mad-As) In An Outpatient Cardiac Sample, Kimberly S. D'Andrea

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Psychometric evaluation of the Mahan and DiTomasso Anger Survey (MAD-AS) analysis in an outpatient cardiac population is herein described. The MAD-AS is a newer instrument that measures the cognitive, affective, and behavioral components of anger and is beneficial in that it is brief. One hundred fifty cardiac outpatients and one hundred fifty non-cardiac dental patients were administered a demographic form that requested information about cardiac risk factors, the MAD-AS, and the STAXI-2, a widely used valid and reliable measure of state and trait constructs of anger. The MAD-AS factor structure, construct validity, internal consistency, and reliability were examined and found …

Development And Validation Of A Scale Of Perceived Control Across Multiple Domains, Beth Arburn Davis

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The importance of perceived control in people's lives is vast. Indeed, there is much research to support the notion that the perception of control is as important, if not more important, than actual control. This idea can be instrumental in therapy. Patients may have a sense of control in one area, but not in another, and this may cause problems for them. It is likely that an understanding of how much control they believe they have could help patients in therapy. This study outlined the historical and research aspects of the constructs of control and of perceived control, its general …

Purification, Chemistry And Application Of Carbon Nanotubes, Hui Hu

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Purification, chemistry and application are three very important aspects of current research on carbon nanotubes (CNTs). In the dissertation, the purification of nitric acid treated single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), the dissolution and dichlorocarbene addition of SWNTs, and the effects of chemically functionalized CNTs on neuronal growth are discussed.The nitric acid treated SWNTs were purified by chemical treatment, cross-flow filtration, and centrifugation methods. The effects of nitric acid treatment on the SWNTs and the efficiency of different purification methods was evaluated by the measurement of purify of SWNTs via solution phase NIR. Nitric acid reflux followed with controlled pH centrifugation can …

Pressurized Solvents In Whole-Cell Bioprocessing: Metabolic And Structural Perturbations, Geoffrey D. Bothun

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Compressed and supercritical fluids, such as pressurized CO2, ethane, orpropane, provide a versatile and environmentally acceptable alternative to conventionalliquid organic solvents in bioprocessing applications – specifically in the areas ofproduct extraction, protein purification, microbial sterilization, and enzymatic and wholecellbiocatalysis. While their advantages have been well demonstrated, the effects ofcompressed and supercritical fluids on whole cells are largely unknown.Metabolic and structural perturbations of whole cells by compressed andsupercritical fluid solvents were examined. These perturbations exist as cell metabolismand membrane structure are influenced by pressure and the presence of a solventphase. Continuous cultures of Clostridium thermocellum (a model ethanol-producingthermophilic bacterium) were conducted …

Administrator Perceptions Of Internet-Based Distance Education In Adventist Colleges And Universities : A Mixed-Method Study, Pamela K. Cress

Dissertations

Problem . The quality of Internet-based distance education (IBDE) will increasingly become the standard by which students choose a program as higher educational options multiply due to the dramatic growth in distance education. A system-wide examination of perceptions of IBDE in Adventist highereducation is important to administrators for future institutional strategic planning purposes, systemic adoption of policies and practices that promote excellence, and identifying collaborative efforts.

Method . This was a sequential exploratory mixed-method study of the perceptions of administrators on IBDE. It was conducted collaboratively with Susan Smith who examined teacher perceptions. Data were collected for both studies from …

The Lsat, Law School Exams And Meritocracy: The Surprising And Undertheorized Role Of Test-Taking Speed, William D. Henderson

Articles by Maurer Faculty

Within the field of psychometrics, it is widely acknowledged that test-taking speed and reasoning ability are separate abilities with little or no correlation to each other. The LSAT is a univariate test designed to measure reasoning ability; test-taking speed is assumed to be an ancillary variable with a negligible effect on candidate scores. This Article explores the possibility that test-taking speed is variable common to both the LSAT and actual law school exams. This commonality is important because it may serve to increase the predictive validity of the LSAT. The author obtained data from a national and a regional law …

Constitutional Outlines Of Public Health's "New World Order", David P. Fidler

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Kinetic Family Drawings Of Firstborn And Second-Born Siblings, Lynn Anderson

Dissertations

Problem. While the Kinetic Family Drawing (KFD) is a popular assessment tool for clinicians, research on developmental issues and how siblings draw their families is lacking. The purpose of this study was to (a) describe the way siblings perceive themselves and their family interpersonal relationships as expressed in the KFD; and (b) to describe possible developmental age differences in the KFD.

Method. The KFD and a Family Dynamics Interview Schedule were administered to 50 pairs of first- and second-born children from Southwestern Michigan, ages 5-14. The data were analyzed quantitatively by the Wilcoxon Sign Test and Chi-Square, using …

Predictions And Prescriptions For The Endangered Species Act, Robert L. Fischman

Articles by Maurer Faculty

The thirtieth anniversary of the enactment of the modern Endangered Species Act (ESA) offers an irresistible excuse to suggest changes that are needed to set the statute, and the larger project of environmental protection, on course for greater effectiveness. The 1973 ESA is novel in its approach and reach, in that it reflects both the resource management and pollution control traditions in environmental law. Its evolution indicates broader trends in the legal landscape of environmental law.

Making predictions about the future of the ESA is a daunting task. Most predictions made thirty years ago about the statute proved to be …

Optimization Of Drill Design And Coolant Systems During Dental Implant Surgery, Varahalaraju Kalidindi

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Dental implants are an effective alternative for the replacement of missing teeth. The success of the implant depends on how well a bone heals around the implant, a process known as osseointegration. However, excessive heat generated during the bone drilling will cause cell death and may prevent osseointegration of the implant, resulting in early failure. There are many factors which contribute to the heat generation during drilling. Experiments were carried out to investigate the affect of variable drilling factors on heat generation during drilling operation. Natural bone is not an ideal material for such research, as it varies widely in …

Challenges In Estimating Size And Conservation Of Black Bear In West-Central Florida, Joshua Hager Brown

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The Greater Chassahowitkza Ecosystem black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) population of west-central Florida is likely to be the smallest documented population of the species. It has experienced almost no recruitment since 1997 and exhibits behavior that appears to be a response to human activities. The local diet is dominated by the fruit of saw palmetto and sabal palm, species that exhibit patchy distributions and irregular mast production. These food supplies are often separated by busy highways that have killed 6 bears since 1997, 21% of known individuals. Motion-activated camera surveys suggest that the bear population is declining in this rapidly …

Finite Element Simulation Of Indentation Of Porous Materials, Aditi Saran

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Finite element simulation of indentation is presented in this thesis. A rigid cylindrical indenter of flat end is used in all the cases, in which the simulation focuses on the effect of a hole on the indentation behavior of materials including elastic and elasto-plastic materials. In the simulation, the material is assumed to be a half-space. The relations between load and displacement are determined as a function of the hole size. Also indentation under cyclic loading is simulated for an elastic-perfect plastic half space. The influence of factors causing fatigue deformation like amplitude, median load and frequency is addressed. The …

Family Environment And Substance Use In Adolescent Males, Emily H. Brechting

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between several aspects of family environment and adolescent substance use. Participants included 372 (M = 15.45 years, range = 15-17) adolescent males with and without a paternal history of Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Participants completed measures of family functioning, family communication, parentadolescent communication, living arrangement, temperament, and substance use. Results indicated that family functioning and communication predicted a significant reduction in the number of drugs used, frequency of drug use, and problems associated with drug use beyond the effects of demographic covariates. Additionally, temperament and family history of SUD were …

An Investigation Of Image Processing Techniques For Paint Defect Detection Using A Machine Vision System, Ashish V. Kamat

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Detection and inspection of metal surface corrosion in the ballast tanks of U.S. Navy ships has been a long time problem. The adverse climatic conditions to which the ballast tanks are exposed and the uneven geometry of ballast tanks makes the visual inspection process of surface coatings a difficult job. Thousands of tanks are inspected yearly, with the average cost of an individual tank inspection at approximately $8-15 thousand/each. To aid the visual inspection process, this research is conducted to develop a new technique to automate the visual task of metal surface inspection by image acquisition and post processing. The …

The Role Of Tombusvirus Replicase Proteins And Rna In Replicase Assembly, Replication And Recombination, Zivile Sliesaraviciute Panaviene

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Tombusviruses are single, positive strand RNA viruses of plants, often associated with parasitic defective interfering (DI) RNAs. Two viral- coded gene products, namely p33 and p92, are required for tombusvirus replication. The overlapping domains of p33 and p92 contain an arginine/proline-rich (RPR) RNA binding motif. In this study, the role of RPR motif and viral RNA in tombusvirus replication and recombination, as well as involvement of viral RNA in tombusvirus replicase assembly was examined. Using site-directed mutagenesis I generated a series of RPR mutants of Cucumber necrosis tombusvirus (CNV). Analysis of RPR mutants defined that wild type RPR motif, especially …

International Law And Weapons Of Mass Destruction: End Of The Arms Control Approach?, David P. Fidler

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Avoiding The Mistakes Of Terrell R.: The Undoing Of The California Tort Claims Act And The Move To Absolute Governmental Immunity In Foster Care Placement And Supervision, Austen L. Parrish

Articles by Maurer Faculty

This article addresses the issue of governmental immunity and mandatory duty liability in the context of foster child abuse. The article should be of interest to children's rights organizations, legal scholars, practitioners and judges who face governmental liability issues related to the California foster care system.

The California Tort Claims Act has, until recently, long served as an important means by which foster children may obtain recourse from the government for injuries caused by social worker negligence. In the late 1990s, however, the California courts of appeal retreat - without justification - from the dictates of the Tort Claims Act. …

Methyl Bromide In Preindustrial Air: Measurements From An Antarctic Ice Core, Eric S. Saltzman, Murat Aydin, Warren J. De Bruyn, Daniel B. King, Shari A. Yvon-Lewis

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

This paper presents the first ice core measurements of methyl bromide (CH3Br). Samples from a shallow Antarctic ice core (Siple Dome, West Antarctica), ranging in mean gas dates from 1671 to 1942, had a mean CH3Br mixing ratio of 5.8 ppt. These results extend the existing historical record derived from air and Antarctic firn air to about 350 years before present. Model simulations illustrate that the ice core results are consistent with estimates of the impact of anthropogenic activity ( fumigation, combustion, and biomass burning) on the atmospheric CH3Br burden, given the large current uncertainties in the modern atmospheric CH3Br …

Byu Marriott School Executive Master Of Business Administration Program Market Research Evaluating Demand For Emba Schedule Variants, Byu Marriott School

Student Works

Executive MBA programs have become an important educational option for both students and universities in recent years. EMBA programs allow students flexible schedules and provide universities with additional sources of revenue. As more and more employers require more educated managers, the demand for EMBA programs will only increase. Executive MBA programs are part-time programs usually offered weekday evenings, weekends, or online. Highly ranked universities across the globe offer EMBA's. The cost of the education varies from program to program and university to university. As more individuals pursue undergraduate education. those holding degrees seek post-graduate education to differentiate themselves and further …

Harding University Course Catalog 2004-2005, Harding University

Harding Academic Catalogs

Catalog of Harding University 2004-2005

The Cult Of The White Goddess In Alasdair Gray's Lanark, Gavin Miller

Studies in Scottish Literature

No abstract provided.

"Wild Justice" In The Works Of Irvine Welsh, David Leon Higdon

Studies in Scottish Literature

No abstract provided.

Size And Temperature In The Evolution Of Fish Life Histories, Eric Charnov, James Gillooly

Biology Faculty & Staff Publications

Body size and temperature are the two most important variables affecting nearly all biological rates and times, especially individual growth or production rates. By favoring an optimal maturation age and reproductive allocation, natural selection links individual growth to the mortality schedule. A recent model for evolution of life histories for species with indeterminate growth, which includes most fish, successfully predicts the numeric values of two key dimensionless numbers and the allometry of the average reproductive allocation versus maturation size across species. Here we use this new model to predict the relationships of age-at-maturity, adult mortality and reproductive effort to environmental …

The Optimal Balance Between Growth Rate And Survival In Mammals, Eric Charnov

Biology Faculty & Staff Publications

Evolutionary theory for life-history allometry in mammals is extended to include a trade-off between body-size growth rate and adult lifespan.