Digital Commons Network^™

Digital Library Services For Three-Dimensional Models, Hesham Anan

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

With the growth in computing, storage and networking infrastructure, it is becoming increasingly feasible for multimedia professionals—such as graphic designers in commercial, manufacturing, scientific and entertainment areas—to work with 3D digital models of the objects with which they deal in their domain. Unfortunately most of these models exist in individual repositories, and are not accessible to geographically distributed professionals who are in need of them.

Building an efficient digital library system presents a number of challenges. In particular, the following issues need to be addressed: (1) What is the best way of representing 3D models in a digital library, so …

An Investigation Of Dissolved Organic Matter In A Shallow Coastal Bay Subject To Aureococcus Anophagefferens Blooms, Jean-Paul Simjouw

OES Theses and Dissertations

Aureococcus anophagefferens, the pelagophyte responsible for brown tide blooms, was identified in Chincoteague Bay in 1997 and has “bloomed” there since at least 1998. Aureococcus anophagefferens is capable of using dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) substrates to support growth, and this utilization is hypothesized to give the organism a competitive advantage relative to other phytoplankton when inorganic nutrient concentrations are low or depleted. Because previous studies suggest dissolved organic matter (DOM) is important in initiating and sustaining brown tide blooms, a field study of the variations in DOC concentration and DOM composition was performed at …

Inter-Annual To Inter-Decadal Variability Of Upwelling And Anchovy Population Off Northern Chile, Jose L. Blanco-Garcia

OES Theses and Dissertations

The coastal ocean of northern Chile has persistent wind-driven upwelling that produces high nutrient and chlorophyll concentrations in a narrow band along the coast. The objective of this thesis is to study the low frequency temporal variability of the upwelling system, to understand the spatial and temporal changes in the wind field, and how these changes may affect the upwelling and anchovy variability. Data used in this thesis includes time series of wind, sea level, sea surface temperature, and atmospheric pressure at coastal stations, from 1960 to 2003, and oceanographic and acoustic cruises for the period 1993–2003. The time series …

An Economic Analysis Of Rice Production In Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Jonh Ngige Kuria

All Master’s Theses

This study aimed at comparing the economics of rice production for two different groups of farmers in Mwea Irrigation Scheme (MIS). One group is under the management of Mwea Multi-Purpose Rice Growers (MMRG) and grows a single crop of rice in a year without rotation. The other group is composed of the sons and daughters of MMRG tenant farmers and grows a double crop of rice in a year. It is however not clear which of the two production systems is efficient or realises higher returns to farmers. The objectives of the study were: (i) to identify major resources used …

Efficacy Of Xanthopimpla Stemmator Against Selected Lepidopteran Pest And Its Interaction With Pupal Endoparasitoid Pediobius Furvus In Graminaceous Plants In Kenya, Jamleck Muturi

All Master’s Theses

Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is a major pest and a threat to cultivated poaceous plants in many parts of Africa. The adverse ecological and environmental effects as well as the cost of chemical insecticides commonly used in its control, besides its limitations makes it necessary to explore environmentally friendly control methods. Classical biological control is one important approach in the . control of exotic pests. A larval parasitoid Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was introduced in Kenya from Pakistan against C. partellus. Though, it has reduced borer density in overall by 32% and by 55% for C. partellus, its …

Java-Based Digital Library Portal For Geography Education, Zehua Liu, Hai Yuan, Ee Peng Lim, Ming Yin, Dion Hoe-Lian Goh, Yin-Leng Theng, Wee-Keong Ng

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

G-Portal is a Java-based digital library system for managing the metadata of geography related resources on the Web. In addition to providing a flexible repository subsystem to accommodate metadata of different formats using XML and XML Schemas, G-Portal organizes metadata into projects and layers, and supports an integrated and synchronized classification and map-based interfaces over the stored metadata. G-Portal also includes a classification subsystem that creates category structures and classifies metadata resources into categories based on user-specified classification schemas. Furthermore, G-Portal users can annotate resources and make their annotations available to others. In this paper, we describe the design and …

Comment: A Public Choice Perspective On The Federal Circuit, Andrew P. Morriss

Faculty Scholarship

The Federal Circuit is different from other federal courts in important ways. Professor Dreyfuss has done pioneering work on the Federal Circuit as an institution and her article in this Symposium extends that work. As a nonexpert on patent law, my contribution to this Symposium is not to offer a substantive critique of the Federal Circuit's patent law jurisprudence. Instead, I will apply the public choice perspective to this particular judicial institution. This perspective includes some background thinking about how the federal judiciary works as an institution and about how judicial background affects how judges decide things.

Symposium: The Roles Of Markets And Governments: Introduction, Andrew P. Morriss

Faculty Scholarship

In 2003-2004, the new Center for Business Law and Regulation at Case Western Reserve University School of Law sponsored four public lectures on topics related to the roles of markets and regulation in American society. The Case Western Reserve University Law Review has kindly undertaken to publish the results in this volume. These four lectures examined the role of markets and governments from four different perspectives, but all four shared a common set of insights drawn from economic reasoning.

Homesteading Rock: A Defense Of Free Access Under The General Mining Law Of 1872, Andrew P. Morriss, Roger E. Meiners, Andrew Dorchak

Faculty Scholarship

The Mining Law of 1872 is one of the most reviled federal land laws, regularly drawing attacks as anachronistic, corporate welfare, a relic of pioneer days, and a source of major environmental problems. Born out of the experience of the nineteenth century mineral rushes, the Mining Law allows individuals to privatize both the surface estate and the mineral rights to public land containing minerals (with some exceptions) without requiring a significant payment to the public treasury for the land This "giveaway" aspect of the law draws the loudest protests. The authors argue that it is inappropriate to measure the net …

[N]Ot A Story To Pass On: Constructing Mothers Who Kill, Susan Ayres

Faculty Scholarship

Toni Morrison has said in her Nobel acceptance speech, “We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives.” How we “do language” in judicial decisions about infanticide can perhaps be compared to and informed by fiction such as Toni Morrison’s Beloved.

Beloved provides a fictional account of the life of a historical woman, a slave who escaped to freedom and then attempted to kill all four of her children, successfully killing one when her master came to claim her under the Fugitive Slave Act. In addition to …

Balance In The Taxation Of Derivative Securities: An Agenda For Reform, David M. Schizer

Faculty Scholarship

It is well understood that aggressive tax planning with derivatives threatens the U.S. income tax system. The conventional solution to this threat has been consistency, meaning that the same tax treatment should apply to all economically comparable bets, regardless of the form used. Yet familiar political and administrative barriers stand in the way of achieving this lofty goal.

This Article develops a reform agenda to eliminate tax planning without requiring consistency. Policymakers should strive instead for a new goal, which this Article calls "balance": For each risky position, the treatment of gains should match the treatment of losses. For example, …

Monogamy's Law: Compulsory Monogamy And Polyamorous Existence, Elizabeth F. Emens

Faculty Scholarship

Right now, marriage and monogamy feature prominently on the public stage. Efforts to lift prohibitions on same-sex marriage in this country and abroad have inspired people on all sides of the political spectrum to speak about the virtues of monogamy's core institution and to express views on who should be included within it. The focus of this article is different. Like an "unmannerly wedding guest," this article invites the reader to pause amidst the whirlwind of marriage talk and to think critically about monogamy and its alternatives.

Teaching Twice Exceptional Children: Gifted With Learning Difficulties: Professional Development And Provision In A Montessori School, Elaine Lewis

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study seeks to investigate the teaching of gifted children in a Montessori school, with particular reference to gifted students with learning difficulties in writing. A review of the literature on the Montessori method of education and on provision for gifted children, shows considerable philosophical and practical overlap in these two fields. However, it appears that this theoretical overlap is not necessarily realised in practice. Furthermore, although considerable research has been conducted on the characteristics, identification and classroom provision for the gifted, very little has been undertaken on the actual provision for gifted children in Montessori schools or gifted children …

Electroconvulsive Therapy : An Assessment Of Experience, Knowledge, And Attitudes Of Clinical Psychologists In Western Australia, Dawn A. Barrett

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Introduced to modern psychiatry in 1938, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the application of an electrical current to the brain, administered under a general anaesthetic and with the use of muscle relaxants. The procedure is primarily used for psychiatric disorders and remains a controversial intervention. Issues of contention centre on claims of efficacy, safety and the validity of “informed” consent. Prominent side effects include memory loss with psychological sequelae reported to include fear, grief and loss. Previous studies of mental health professionals report experience of working in a ECT environment increases knowledge and promotes a positive attitude. Very few studies have …

The Effect Of Cross-Linked Learning On Visual Arts Education, Cassandra Zervos

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study examined how computer technology had an effect on a Year 9 visual arts education class with regard to the Western Australian four Arts Learning Outcomes (WA 4ALO). The research was administered concurrently with a learning approach called Cross-Linked Leaming (CLL) (Zervos, 1997), which consisted of three components: (1) the subject (e.g., visual arts education in relation to the WA 4ALO); (2) the learner (i.e., a target group and how they learn); and (3) the tool (e.g., computer technology). This study addressed the problem of how to promote learning in visual arts education, especially with visual arts theory. Historically, …

Balkan As A Metaphor In The Film Composition Of Goran Bregovic, Nela Trifkovic

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The focus of this paper is the film composition of composer Goran Bregovic (born 1950) and the country of his birth Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia has undergone many major political changes over the past century and its ethno-political history over the past fifteen years could be considered as one of the most turbulent of our time. The aim of this thesis is to uncover the conceptual principles behind Bregovic’s unique approach to soundtrack music in order to create appropriate musical analogies in film composition. Bregovic’s musical career in the iconic Yugoslav rock band Bijelo dugme (White Button), his interest in the traditional …

Proprioceptive And Muscle Activation Changes In Triceps Surae Associated With Exercise Induced Muscle Damage, Carmel Nottle

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The aim of this thesis was to examine proprioceptive and activation changes that occur in triceps surae in response to exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD). While proprioceptive changes have previously been demonstrated in association with EIMD, the present investigation examined the role of a number of potential contributing factors to these changes, following both single and repeated bouts of eccentric exercise.

The Construction Of Alienated Students And Students At Educational Risk : A Study Of The Justice And Education Discourses In Western Australia, Melanie Zan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis locates, examines and interprets the written sources of information guiding how delinquent school-aged young people are viewed in relation to their education in Western Australia. The study involved an examination of texts discussing post industrial socio-historical events and currently policy, practice and research in relation to students who are alienated from school, including those who have criminal histories. An exploration of the discourses assembled around the costruction of Western Australian school-aged offenders as alienated students revealed an ongoing assumption that children and youth from low socio-economic backgrounds are often governed as low school achievers who are less likely …

Early Education : Experiences And Perceptions Of Minority Group Parents And Young Children, Judith Candy

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

In Australia there has been little research into the experiences and perceptions of education of parents from different minority groups whose young children attend school in this country. This study investigated the experiences that overseas born parents from non-English speaking backgrounds have of their own and their children's education in countries outside Australia, experiences of their children's early education in Australia, as well as those of their young children between 6 and 9 years of age attending school in this country. Despite marked differences in educational policies and practices operating in the participants' countries of origin, almost all parents in …

Factors Influencing Academics' Usage Of Electronic Journals, Margaret Krikorian

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Through a survey of academics at Edith Cowan University, Australia, this study explored their usage of and attitudes towards academic electronic journals (EJs). The data provided insights into the way academics were using EJs at the time of the study and their thoughts on how they will use them in the future. The emergence of academics publishing their work in EJs is a fairly recent phenomenon compared to the established tradition of publishing in paper-based journals. Many publishers have also begun to replace paper journals with electronic ones and many librarians have begun incorporating EJs into their resource collections. Librarians …

The Effect Of Strength Training On 3km Performance In Recreational Female Endurance Runners, Cherina M. Rice

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a strength training program, as an additive to endurance training, would cause significant improvements in 3km run time in a group of recreational female endurance runners when compared to endurance training only. Subjects were 16 active women, randomly assigned to either a running only group (control group, n=9) or a combined strength and endurance training group (experimental group, n=7). The ten-week training program for both groups consisted of an endurance running program three times per week, which included steady-state endurance running, tempo runs and interval training. The experimental group however, participated …

The Effects Of A Heavy Resistance Training Intervention Of The Plantar Flexors On The Recovery Of Strength, Power, Acceleration, And Agility In Recreational Athletes, Naomi A. Forrest

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Resistance training is a highly utilised form of exercise that is used to develop strength, power, speed and muscular endurance. Although it is associated with many positive benefits it also has some potentially unfavourable effects. These are manifested in the form of altered muscle function through the effects of muscle fatigue and exercise induced muscle damage. Various aspects muscle fatigue and damage have been well studied, however research into the effects of these on tests of strength, power, acceleration and agility is sparse. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a heavy resistance intervention on …

Meeting The Challenge : The Female Carers' Perspective Of Managing Dyspnoea, Kim A. Skett

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The aim of this descriptive, explorative study was to describe the lived experience of informal carers providing care within the home, to a family member who has lung cancer and the symptom of dyspnoea. Many studies have highlighted the stressors associated with care provision, but no studies have focused on the experience associated with caring for a family member who is dyspnoeic. Ten carers were interviewed regarding their experiences of providing care to the family member during the palliative phase of the illness and while the family member was experiencing the symptom of dyspnoea. Analysis of the initial data highlighted …

An Investigation Of The Equity Premium Using Habit Utility And Equity Returns: Australian Evidence, Lurion De Mello

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The gap between the return on stocks and the return on the risk free assets represented by bonds is named the 'Equity Premium' or 'Equity Risk Premium'. In the history of asset pricing models, one of the most serious problems for the equity premium is that the average equity premium is too large to be explained by standard general equilibrium asset pricing models. Researcher's have tried to use variables such as dividend yield's to explain the gap between stocks and bonds with mixed results. After retrieving around a one percent equity premium with the most standard consumption base asset pricing …

Learning To Belong: A Study Of The Lived Experience Of Homeless Students In Western Australia, Simone Glasson-Walls

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This is a phenomenological study of the lived experiences of homeless young people in Western Australia. Its focus is the reasons why homeless young people leave education, although many of them make a serious effort to complete post-compulsory schooling. The study was qualitative, and was designed as an in-depth analysis of the experiences of five young people aged between 15 and 17, all attending the same school. Data collection consisted of two in-depth interviews with each participant, and a focus group discussion with all five. Although the study’s focus as the issue of homelessness and schooling, it quickly expanded when …

An Examination Of The Capabilities Required By University Tutors In Online Learning Environments And The Factors Affecting The Relative Importance Of These Capabilities, Douglas Reid

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The Internet is influencing some would say revolutionizing most aspects of our society, including distance education (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek,2003). There has been a worldwide movement to implement online education technologies in Universities. In Australia, use of these technologies has coincided with the development of pedagogics to improve the merging of distance education and asynchronous, anywhere / anytime learning (Cashion & Palmieri, 2002; Harper, Hedberg, Bennett, & Lockyer, 2000). However, using technology to teach at a distance requires different capabilities than traditional face-to-face teaching. In the revolutionary situation which distance education finds itself, online tutors find themselves acting as …

Self-Reported Business Leadership Competencies Of Middle-Level Managers, Philip Teo

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study aims to investigate self-reported managerial leadership competencies of middle-level managers in business organisations in Australia, and stems from the Karpin Report (1995) on perceived weaknesses in Leader hip and Management skills in Australia. The report leads to a need to investigate the perceptions of the current middle level business managers in regard to leadership competency and to develop a scale to measure leadership competency. A model of leadership competency, based on a literature review, was developed for this study and involves four aspects: Leading, Managing, Communicating and Best Practice. Data were collected in two parts-a questionnaire and interviews. …

Male Sexuality And Masculinity: Implications For Stis/Hiv And Sexual Health Interventions In Bangladesh, Sharful I. Khan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

My thesis concerns male sexuality as revealed by men living in contemporary urban and rural Bangladesh. I pursue what men think it means to be a man. dimensions of manliness and manhood, and male influences in the construction of male/female relationships. Significant meanings men attribute to sexual acts, pleasure, pain,. risk and safety in multiple social realities, particularly in the era of HIV/AIDS, were explored. A social constructionist perspective guided my research. Using qualitative research methods, I conducted 50 in-depth interviews with men aged between 18 and 58 years from diverse socio-occupational backgrounds. Twenty key informants included religious leaders. traditional …

The Effect Of Money As A Context On Students' Mental Computation Performance In Years 3, 5, 7 And 9, Anne Paterson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this study was to research the effect of money as a context on school students’ mental computational performance and strategy choices across a range of ages. This study adds to existing research, which has compared students' mental computational methods with their written methods, by the provision of the single common context of money. The content topics of whole and other rational numbers (simple fractions, decimals, and some percentages) were covered. Forty-eight primary school students plus sixteen secondary school students were involved in this study, with equal numbers of both genders from the two primary schools and one …

When The Carnival Is Over : Peter Barnes' Red Noses And The Theories Of Mikhail Bakhtin, Duncan A. Sharp

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Peter Barnes, acknowledged as one of Britain's most important contemporary playwrights, writes plays that are of an enormous scale, both physically and intellectually. Red Noses is one such play. Like Barnes' other works, Red Noses makes great technical demands on directors, designers, actors and audiences. As with all of Barnes' plays, Red Noses is, moreover, informed by a wide variety of theatrical styles. As Bernard Dukore (1990, p. 65) states, actors may be required to quickly "switch from intellectual discourse, to period argot, to poetry, to modern slang, to rhetoric, to musical comedy, to ritual, to dance, to opera, to …