Digital Commons Network^™

True Real Time Pose Independent Face Detection Using Color Information And Skin Region Segmentation, Ranjani Balaji

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The process of detecting a face from a video in real time is essential in applications such as human surveillance, human computer-interaction, and for further face recognition research purposes. In this paper, the face detection algorithm is divided into four stages namely, Video Database Acquisition (VDA), Frame Sequence Extraction (FSE), Skin Region Detection (SRD), and K-Mean Face Segmentation (KFS). Initially, the videos in MPEG format are converted to JPEG images depending on the user specified frame rate (FSE phase). During this conversion, the face detection process comprising of SRD and KFS phases runs on each of the images that are …

Melting Beeswax Bodies: The Queen Bee, The Hive, And Identity In Women's Writing, Leigh Johnson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The works examined are poetry by Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath, and Audre Lorede, novels by Starhawk, The Fifth Sacred Thing, and Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees, and a drama by Elizabeth Bussey Fentress, The Honey Harvest. In looking at how the women writers construct identity using bee imagery, I propose that they actually subvert the societal devaluation of women. The beeswax bodies represent gendered constructions of how women should behave. The characters "melt" these bodies by refusing to fit the mold and by redesigning the mold to fit themselves.

Full-Featured Web Conferencing Systems , Joel Foreman, Roy Jenkins

Innovate: Journal of Online Education

No abstract provided.

Effects Of A Small Mammalian Herbivore On A Grassland Undergoing Restoration, Margaret Murphy

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This thesis examines the effects of the prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster, on a grassland undergoing restoration. The study addresses these effects with respect to treatment plots (vole-enhanced enclosures and vole-excluded exclosures) and control plots, which have not had the small mammal community manipulated. This study has also been accepted as a manuscript for publication in the "Proceedings of the 18th North American Prairie Conference."1 Two ancillary studies were also conducted. The first, reported in Appendix I, examines the composition and effects on plant community structure by the unmanipulated, small mammal community from the control plots within the area undergoing restoration …

Relationships Between Environmental Factors And Fungi On Occupants' Perceptions Of Indoor Air Quality, Monica Rodriguez

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In recent decades, concerns about potential health effects resulting from exposure to contaminants that cause indoor air pollution have dramatically increased. The purpose of this study was to assess the indoor air quality of three buildings at Western Kentucky University and to examine and characterize indoor levels of basic comfort parameters, carbon dioxide, and fungi as well as occupants' perceptions of poor indoor air quality and the role of fungi on reported health symptoms. The three buildings included in the study were: Tate Page Hall (TPH), Jones Jagger Hall (JJH) and Science and Technology Hall (STH). Fifty-three questionnaires were completed …

The Patriot, V. 01, N. 03, Stony Brook University. Patriot.

The Patriot

v.: ill.; 32 cm (original analog pub.)

The Patriot, V. 01, N. 03, Stony Brook University. Patriot.

The Patriot

v.: ill.; 32 cm (original analog pub.)

An Investigation Of Recycling Habits Of Pet (E) Bottles In The Terre Haute Area, Alexander J. Hagedorn

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated recycling habits of PET (E) water and soft drink bottles in the Terre Haute area. The purpose of this research will be to determine the general recycling habits in the Terre Haute area. It allowed the researcher to examine specified areas within Terre Haute. The data was statistically analyzed to determine if age, gender, race, income, location have any influence on recycling behavior. The data for this research was obtained through a survey conducted at various locations.

University Of Minnesota Morris Historic Preservation Plan: A Plan For Landscape & Buildings, University Of Minnesota, Morris Historic Preservation Planning Team

Miscellaneous Campus Publications

This historic preservation plan explores the origins of UMM’s landscape and buildings, describes how they evolved through time, assesses their current condition, and recommends practical strategies to carry the resources into the future.

2002 Licensed Angler Survey: Summarized Results, Keith L. Hurley, Kristin L. Duppong-Hurley

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: White Papers, Conference Presentations, and Manuscripts

On October 22, 2002, 5000 six-page surveys (Appendix 3) were sent to a stratified-random sample of Nebraska anglers drawn from the 2001 licensed anglers database. The database included all anglers who purchased a fishing license in 2001 as well as all lifetime fishing permit holders who purchased their license before or during 2001. The database did not include those possessing a free permit, such as veteran’s or senior citizen permits. The survey subsample (2.6% of the 2001-licensed angler database) was stratified such that the proportions of surveys in the subsample (4366 residents and 634 non-residents) matched the proportions of resident/non-resident …

Architecture Of The Wilderness: Understanding Culture And Ecology In The Sandhills Of Nebraska Through Design, Patrick J. Moore

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

How might one—in creating a built environment—educate others about the natural environment, restore commerce to a dying community, and touch the earth as lightly as possible in the process? The intent of this project is to create an interpretive center for a proposed regional tourism network in a rural Nebraska County. The design will be based on issues of sustainability, including resource conservation, socio-economic improvement, and environmental protection. Specific issues addressed include: Green Buildings, Biomimicry, Mechanical Systems, Construction Methods, Biology and Geology Research and Education, Regional Planning, and Vernacular Buildings. This project, explores how architecture can be used in a …

Revitalizing Retail, Caleb Buland

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

This project formulates a new retail center in downtown Kansas City, MO. The project looks at historical records and precedents to help design and program a successful retail center. This project creates an updated and modern version of the retail and gallery malls that once occurred in downtown Kansas City. Issues that many retail projects fail to study, but are necessary in an urban setting, will be considered and developed. These issues include: the pedestrian scale, various types of parking excluding surface, the homeless population, day lighting, dealing with the problems of dead hours, the concept of mixed use and …

The Leading Object: May 2005

Leading Object

Content:
Perspectives by John C. Owens
UNL’s NAMA Chapter Captures Top Award
Nebraska Food Cooperative in the Works
Biochemistry Professor Honored
Raun’s Career Focused on Helping Others with Farming
Students’ Floral Designs Complement Artwork
Farming Together Workshop Helps Families
Mayo New Interim Associate Dean of ARD
Wagner Receives KUDO
Roeber Takes Post at Academic Affairs
OEA Goes to Larsen
Early Pickup on Display at Tractor Museum
ARDC, Barta Building Celebrations Planned

Agricultural Research Division News --June 2005

Agricultural Research Division: News and Annual Reports

Comments from the Dean- Darrell W. Nelson; ARD Internship Richard Ferguson; Strategic Planning in IANR; Sampson Range and Pasture Management Endowments; IANR Priority Goals 2005-2008; Anna Elliott Proposals; ARD Interdisciplinary Research Grants Program; Recognition of Junior Faculty for Excellence in Research; Layman Awards; ARD Advisory Council Election Results; Undergraduate Honors Research Program; William G. Whitmore Student Travel Endowment; David H. & Annie E. Larrick Fund 2005; ARD Web site has a “New Look” ; Revised UNL Commodity Board Guidelines; New or Revised Projects — March and April 2005; Proposals Submitted for Federal Grants —March and April 2005; Grants and Contracts …

An Exploration Of Developed Forest Camping Experiences And Meanings In The Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, Barry A. Garst

Publications

Developed forest camping has received little attention in the recreation research since the late 1960s and early 1970s. Changes in socio-demographics, technology, and the publicâ s expectations for amenities over the past forty years suggested that the nature of the developed camping experience may have changed. Thus, the purpose of this study was to understand the modern developed forest camping experience and associated meanings and the influence of technology on developed forest camping. In-depth interviews were conducted in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area with thirty-eight camping groups in three campgrounds which varied in their level of development. Developed forest …

Interstate Commerce And Interstate Endangered Species: The Controversy And The Need For Compromise, Paul Ziel

Brigham Young University Journal of Public Law

No abstract provided.

The 5 Pillars Of Islam, Jennifer Hitchcock

Verbum

In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay's first paragraph.

"The basic rites of Islam that were revealed to the Prophet are the “pillars” of Islam. These are considered to be the entire ritual structure of the Islamic religion because they are the five essential and obligatory practices that all Muslims follow. These pillars also “have certain disciplinary effects in curbing the excess desires of the believers, in teaching them to do things together for the welfare of the group and for the purification of their souls” (Farah, 135). The five rituals consist of: 1.) Shahada, the profession of …

Water Current, Volume 37, No. 2. Spring 2005

Water Current Newsletter

• Gleick Headlines April Water Management and Policy Conference by Steve Ress

• Water and Natural Resources Tour Looks at LB962, Sandhills, Pine Ridge Issues by Steve Ress

• From the Director

• Meet the Faculty

• Holz Named Water Center Assistant Director

• Water Resources Research Initiative One of 11 “Programs of Excellence”

• Cooperative Extension Ready With Algae Test Kits by Steve Ress

• Blue-green Algae a Known Health Risk

• Revisions to Water Well Construction, Pump Installation and Water Well Decommissioning Standards by Sharon Skipton • “Optimizer” Computer Tool Helps With Crop Production Under Limited Irrigation By …

Refuge Update – May/June 2005, Volume 2, Number 3

RefugeUpdate (USFWS-NWRS)

Table of Contents:
Friends Flourish, page 3
Yukon Delta Refuge Hosts Major Shorebird Research, pages 4-5
Focus on…Nature Photography, pages 8-14
Learning a New Language, pages 18-19

Nebline, May 2005

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Successful Shade Gardening: Key is Proper Plant Choice, Care
Why So Many Weeds?
2005 All-America Roses
Flowers That Tower
Be Good to Your Worms
Winged Termites or Ants?
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrels
What is Mange?
Soybean Rust is on the Horizon
Effect of Increasing Energy Prices on Farming Costs
Pioneer Farm Award Nominations Due May 1
Buying High-Quality Trees
Conserving Water in the Landscape
NEP Partners with LPS to Teach Nutrition in Teen Parenting Classes
Cocoa-Berry Yogurt Tarts Recipe
Enjoy Beef Nutrition during May, National Beef Month
Mexican Beef Salad Recipe
Fruit Slush Recipe
Spicy Ranch Dressing Recipe
President’s Notes — …

Ereview, Print Industry Center

RIT Digital Archives

No abstract provided.

Living With Dying — A Pastoral And Congregational Guide, Kristian Kincaid

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

The death of a loved one impacts the grieving emotionally, physically, socially, and spiritually. Interviews were conducted with members of the congregation experiencing loss to ascertain insights into the grieving process as well as pastoral and congregational acts deemed significantly helpful. Findings reveal both pastor and congregation have much to offer the grieving. A pastoral and congregational guide will help focus these offerings.

Integrating Transnational Legal Perspectives Into The First Year Curriculum, Gerald Torres

Penn State International Law Review (1982 - 2011)

No abstract provided.

International Law And Contemporary Forms Of Slavery: An Economic And Social Rights-Based Approach, A. Yasmine Rassam

Penn State International Law Review (1982 - 2011)

No abstract provided.

Yellow Starthistle In Utah: An Investigation Of Centaurea Solstitialis Invasion Patterns, Processes, And Population Dynamics, Julie Patrice Rieder

Biology

In a series of observational studies and experiments in the field, I investigated the general biology of yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) within a landscape in Utah in light of three main phases of invasion: arrival and establishment, spread, and equilibrium. During the establishment phase, the effect of disturbance on yellow starthistle establishment and performance was context dependent; disturbance positively influenced establishment and fecundity on relatively large disturbed plots that were artificially seeded, but had no significant effect on YST performance on small disturbed plots receiving ambient seed rain. Importantly, disturbance was not essential for establishment of yellow starthistle. …

A Kinetic Analysis Of Bluetongue Virus Messenger Rna And Protein, Margaret K. Buccambuso

Biology

Bluetongue virus (BTV) of the family Reoviridae has a segmented double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) genome with ten dsRNA segments which encode seven structural proteins and four nonstructural proteins. Previous studies have revealed that newly synthesized RNA transcripts during viral replication were found in equimolar ratios within BTV virions. However, synthesized mRNA transcripts intended for translation into viral proteins are not equimolar. The levels of expression of these BTV mRNAs are still unknown although the number of viral proteins present in each BTV virion had been defined. The purpose of this research was to establish a kinetic analysis of the ten BTV …

Testing Species Disputes And Population Genetics In The Genus Phragmatopoma Using Molecular Characters, Carrie A. Drake

Biology

Phragmatopoma californica (found in the Pacific Ocean) and P. caudata (found in the Atlantic Ocean) are intertidal, marine reef-building polychaete worms that have been found to produce viable larvae in a laboratory setting, but are otherwise geographically isolated. The first study was aimed at determining their specific status by analyzing the DNA sequences of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the first internal transcribed spacer region (ITS-1). Phylogenetic analyses revealed that P. californica individuals shared no COI haplotypes or ITS-1 sequences with P. caudata individuals and formed well supported separate clades. The molecular data therefore supports the status of …

Characterization Of Monoclonal Antibodies That Recognize Myxobolus Cerebralis, The Causative Agent Of Whirling Disease, Carey A. Wicks

Biology

Twenty-five monoclonal antibodies produced against myxospores and triactinomyxon spores of M. cerebralis, the causative agent of whirling disease of salmonids, were selected in the initial screening for their reactivity to myxospores. Twelve were found to be effective and accordingly they were characterized fully for their potential as diagnostic reagents for isolated myxospores, pre-spore stages, and spores in frozen sections. Comparative detection assays using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescent assay (IFA), and immuno dot-blot were conducted. Six antibodies bound to developing stages and mature spores of the parasite. Localization of antibody binding in IFA was affirmed by electron microscopy. …

Hypoxia Signaling In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Julie C. Johnson

Biology

The oxygen level at or below which respiration is limited is termed hypoxia. Hypoxia can be induced by several different environmental factors, including flooding and microgravity. Plants have developed mechanisms to survive and acclimate to these conditions through changes in morphology, metabolic pathways, and protein synthesis. One mechanism used by plants to signal stress environments is a signal transduction pathway involving membrane phospholipids that can induce calcium mobilization, or the movement of calcium into the cytosol from extracellular or in-tracellular stores. However, the data from this study indicates that hypoxic stress did not result in phosphoinositide accumulation or calcium mobilization …

Locke V. Davey: The Fine Line Between Free Exercise And Establishment, Brett Thompson

Mercer Law Review

In Locke v. Davey, the United States Supreme Court held that a state-sponsored scholarship program that excluded students who were majoring in devotional theology did not violate the Free Exercise Clause of the United States Constitution. The Court's holding left a great deal of uncertainty on when states may withhold benefits on the basis of religion.