Digital Commons Network^™

Women's Voice, January/February 2005, Women's, Gender, And Sexuality Studies Program

Women's Voice (1991-2006)

No abstract provided.

The Inkwell, Armstrong Atlantic State University

The Inkwell

No abstract provided.

A Genetically Evolved Solution To The Firing Squad Problem, Brian J. Tajuddin

Theses

In 1957, J. Myhill presented the firing squad problem. A special case of k-color cellular automata (CA) synchronization, the firing squad problem offers more stringent rules allowing for a provable minimal running time. To date, CA solutions have been found that run in minimal time using as many as sixteen states and as few as six [5]. There have also been arguments against the existence of solutions using only 4 states [11]. Due to the extremely large search space involved with such problems, the existing solutions have all been analytic in nature. We attempt to apply genetic algorithms and genetic …

Query Engine Of Novelty In Video Streams, James Kang

Theses

Prior research on novelty detection has primarily focused on algorithms to "detect" novelty for a given application domain. Effective storage, indexing and retrieval of novel events (beyond detection) are largely ignored as a problem in itself. In light of the recent advances in counter-terrorism efforts and link discovery initiatives, the need for effective data management of novel events assumes apparent importance. Automatically detecting novel events in video data streams is an extremely challenging task. The aim of this thesis is to provide evidence to the fact that the notion of novelty in video as perceived by a human is extremely …

Influence Of Nationality On The Interpretation Of Ireland's Tourism Destination Imagery, Catriona Murphy-Underhill

Plymouth Business School Theses

This thesis investigates the influence of nationality on the interpretations of the tourism destination imagery of Ireland, drawing in particular on the views of tourists travelling from Britain. It involved an assessment of the influence (if any) of the nationality of the tourist and the nationality of the place on pre- and post-visit interpretations of Ireland's perceived and projected images, as well as an evaluation of the implications of such influences on Ireland's image as a tourist destination. By means of empirical research applied to the same sample of tourists travelling from Britain to Ireland via Shannon airport, the factors …

2005 January, Office Of Communications & Marketing, Morehead State University.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Morehead State University press releases for January of 2005.

Simulation Of Low-Re Flow Over A Modified Naca 4415 Airfoil With Oscillating Camber, Vamsidhar Katam

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Recent interest in Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have revived research on the performance of airfoils at relatively low Reynolds numbers. A common problem with low Reynolds number flow is that separation is almost inevitable without the application of some means of flow control, but understanding the nature of the separated flow is critical to designing an optimal flow control system. The current research presents results from a joint effort coupling numerical simulation and wind tunnel testing to investigate this flow regime. The primary airfoil for these studies is a modified 4415 with an adaptive actuator …

Genetic Regulation Of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Numbers In Mice, Ying Liang

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) transplantations are widely used for the treatment of hematological and non-hematological disorders in clinic. Successful transplantation requires sufficient number and efficient homing of HSCs. Many studies have focused on developing an effective strategy to expand functional HSC population. Some regulatory molecules have been recently shown great promise for controlling the amplification of HSCs. In these dissertation studies, I first aim to identify gene(s) and their allelic variants contributing to strain-specific difference in HSC numbers between C57BL/6 (B6, low) and DBA/2 (D2, high) mice by using a classic forward genetic approach. Firstly, 3 quantitative trait loci (QTL) …

Biosynthesis Of Trans-2-Hexenal In Response To Wounding In Strawberry Fruit And Interaction Of Trans-2-Hexenal With Botrytis Cinerea, Kyung Myung

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Intact strawberry fruit did not produce detectable t-2-H which is derived from -linolenic acid (18:3). However, in response to wounding by gentle bruising, strawberry fruit emitted t-2-H with the largest quantity produced within 10 min following injury. The level of total lipid 18:3 in the fruit increased two-fold in response to wounding whereas free 18:3 declined slightly (about 30%). At 10 min following wounding, fruit exhibited a 25% increase in 13-lipoxygenase (LOX) activity, which leads to the production of 13-hydroperoxyoctadecatrienoic acid (13-HPOT) from 18:3. The activity of hydroperoxide lyase (HPL), which catalyzes formation of cis-3-hexenal (c-3-H), the precursor of t-2-H, …

Parent-Child Storytelling During Joint Picture-Book Reading And Relation To Language Scores Of Children With Adhd, Melinda A. Leonard

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Three questions were investigated in the current study. First, do children with ADHD have language deficiencies in comparison to non-referred peers? Second, are there diagnostic group differences in parent and child storytelling when interacting in a joint picture-book setting or in parent reported home literacy habits? Third, are these differences related to child language scores? Parents of 25 children with ADHD and 39 comparison children, average age 7 years 6 months, told their children a story based on a wordless picture-book, and children then retold the story to an examiner without using the book. In addition, children made up two …

A Comparison Of Syntax Training For Students With Developmental Disabilities Utilizing Clinician-Directed Versus Self-Determined Session Paradigms, Jane O'Regan Kleinert

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Self-determination is the ability to control one’s life and to actively participate in the decisions which affect the direction of one’s life. This ability is considered a critical life skill for individuals with developmental disabilities. The ability to make choices, plan, and self-evaluate are among the primary skills included in the development of self-determination. Currently, there is very limited emphasis on the importance of self-determination in the literature of communication disorders. This study was designed to determine if a teaching paradigm which incorporates key elements of self-determination is as or more effective and efficient in teaching syntax than a traditional, …

Phylogenetic Analysis Of Kentucky Strains Of Xylella Fastidiosa, J. Nicole Mundell

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Phytopathogenic bacterium, Xylella fastidiosa, causes a number of economically important diseases, including Pierces disease (PD) of grape and bacterial leaf scorch (BLS) of a number of landscape trees. In Kentucky (KY), BLS affects a number of shade trees including many oak and maple species. In 2001, PD was diagnosed in grapevines in western KY. Xylella fastidiosa is also detected in many asymptomatic landscape plants and grasses. It was the goal of this research to identify hosts of X. fastidiosa around KY and use phylogenetic analysis to compare sequences of the 16S rDNA and gyrase B (gyrB) genes between samples. This …

Mechanism Of Cancer Selective Apoptosis By Par-4, Sushma Gurumurthy

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Despite distinct dissimilarities, diverse cancers express several common pro-tumorigenic traits. We present here evidence that the pro-apoptotic protein Par-4 utilizes one such common tumorigenic trait to become selectively activated and induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Elevated PKA activity noted in cancer cells activated the apoptotic function of ectopic Par-4 or its SAC domain, which induces apoptosis selectively in cancer cells and not in normal or immortalized cells. PKA preferentially phosphorylated Par-4 at the T155 residue within the SAC domain in cancer cells. Moreover, pharmacological-, peptide- or siRNA-mediated inhibition of PKA activity in cancer cells resulted in abrogation of both T155 …

Role Of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 In Therosclerosis And Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms In Apolipoprotein E Deficient Mice, Jing Huang

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2, gelatinase A, type IV collagenase) is a member of a family of zinc-dependent metalloendopeptidases that functions in the degradation of elastin, collagens, and other components of extracellular matrix (ECM). Both secretion and activation of MMP-2 are elevated in human atherosclerotic lesions and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). In this dissertation project, we sought to test the hypothesis that MMP-2 plays a critical role in both atherosclerosis and AAA. We also sought to determine the detailed mechanism. We first examined the atherosclerosis and AngII-induced AAAs development in MMP-2-/- x apolipoprotein (apoE)-/- mice in vivo. It was surprising that MMP-2 …

Business Graduate Studies In Croatia: An Exploration Of Educational Needs Of Working Professionals In The City Of Zagreb, Milena Kuznin

Theses

The particular attributes of an "ideal" business graduate program among middle managers in the city of Zagreb, Croatia were investigated. A mixed method of using both survey and indepth interviews was used to determine what specific educational needs the participants had. The results indicate that the majority of participants think the Republic of Croatia needs new business graduate programs designed in a way to develop new skills and deepen the knowledge in the new business economy. More specifically, they need programs offered by a reliable educational institution with expert professors and high face-to-face interaction. The opportunity for "networking" is stressed …

Effectiveness Of Preflighting Software In A Design Workflow, Gregory S. Zolan

Theses

The variables that can potentially impact the print quality of a digital file have necessitated the additional workflow step of "preflighting." Preflighting is a process by which all elements of a digital file are checked to ensure that they will properly work in a production workflow. This enables problems to be fixed as early as possible in the workflow and not hold up the printing process. Preflighting was originally a manual process, but can now be handled by software.

The effectiveness and accuracy of preflighting software was tested by creating files to include common errors, such as fonts not embedded …

What Prospective College Students Say Matters During The College Selection Process, Kari L. Steger

Theses

For most prospective college students, selecting a college is a highly involved, lengthy process. While past research has examined how high school students determine their college choice subsets and what information sources they use most during the college selection process, further research is needed to determine the most effective means of reaching prospective students. The current study employs focus group research to examine students' college selection processes to gain a better understanding of the types of information students seek during their college selection process, the media they use to find it, and the people whose guidance they seek when making …

An Online Guide For Traveling In Southern Spain Using Gui Design And Actionscripting, Yun-Ju Peng

Theses

My project is a personal travel experience website as well as a traveling aid for those who are interested in southern Spain, including Cordoba, Seville and Granada. To differentiate it from the traditional media, I've created an online travel book with many movies, flamenco guitar music, attractive Spain photos and other interesting features for users to enjoy. With user-friendly interface and appealing parts, my thesis enables users to experience how and what southern Spain looks like. The users can not only flip the pages, jump to a specific page directly by clicking the part they want, they can also play …

Novel Vlsi Architecture For Quantization And Variable Length Coding For H-264/Avc Video Compression Standard, Suneetha Kosaraju

Theses

Integrated multimedia systems process text, graphics, and other discrete media such as digital audio and video streams. In an uncompressed state, graphics, audio and video data, especially moving pictures, require large transmission and storage capacities which can be very expensive. Hence video compression has become a key component of any multimedia system or application. The ITU (International Telecommunications Union) and MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) have combined efforts to put together the next generation of video compression standard, the H.264/MPEG-4 PartlO/AVC, which was finalized in 2003. The H.264/AVC uses significantly improved and computationally intensive compression techniques to maximize performance. H.264/AVC …

Development Of Control Algorithm And A Simulation Tool For Self-Assembly Of Microsystems Based On Swarm Technology, Siddharth Mestry

Theses

"Chunxel" Technology is a novel concept of constructing 3-dimensional structures using a group of intelligent, autonomous, and cooperating micro robots. Chunxels are small robotic modules, cubical in shape, which are immersed in a tank containing a viscous fluid. The chunxels are propelled by the electromagnetic forces created by passing direct current through a set of large coils placed on each face of the tank and small coils embedded in the micro device. The chunxels follow a set of rules which mimic a swarm behavior and selfassemble in the liquid to form a 3-D structure. Swarm behavior is a dynamic problem …

Breeding Contempt, Amanda C. Lee

Theses

The thesis describes the artist's sculptural exhibition, Breeding Contempt, a body of work that explores the artist's struggle for individuation and creative empowerment, against the restrictions of a dysfunctional environment. The author details how she incorporates her life experiences into the thematic basis of this artwork, as well as the techniques used in the making of the sculptures.

Interview, Stacy Finkelstein

Theses

By means of digital imaging tools, specifically Adobe Photoshop, my art work uses painterly references to explore diverse themes. Using painting as a filter, my work explores the tradition of landscape in painting and photography, panorama suburbia through a photographic lens and surrealist art. The convergence of these ideas is captured in the constructed digital images that comprise my thesis work.

The interview format is the beginning of my progression into performance art, where I am exploring more avant-garde avenues of artistic representation that seeks to eliminate the viewer.

Towards Full-Body Gesture Analysis And Recognition, Muthukumar B. Puranam

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

With computers being embedded in every walk of our life, there is an increasing demand forintuitive devices for human-computer interaction. As human beings use gestures as importantmeans of communication, devices based on gesture recognition systems will be effective for humaninteraction with computers. However, it is very important to keep such a system as non-intrusive aspossible, to reduce the limitations of interactions. Designing such non-intrusive, intuitive, camerabasedreal-time gesture recognition system has been an active area of research research in the fieldof computer vision.Gesture recognition invariably involves tracking body parts. We find many research works intracking body parts like eyes, lips, face …

Role Of Replication Protein A (Rpa) And Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (Pcna) In Dna Mismatch Repair, Shuangli Guo

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

PCNA and RPA are required for DNA mismatch repair (MMR), but their rolesin the pathway are not fully understood. Using an affinity pull-down approach, weshow that (1) increased PCNA binding to DNA heteroduplexes is associated withthe appearance and accumulation of excision products; and (2) RPAphosphorylation occurs when DNA polymerase ?? binds to the DNA substrate. Wetherefore hypothesize that PCNA plays an important role in mismatch-provokedexcision and that RPA phosphorylation plays an important role in DNA resynthesis.To determine the role of PCNA in MMR, mismatch-provoked and nick-directedexcision was assayed in a cell-free system in the presence of the PCNA inhibitor,p21CIP1/WAF. We …

Three Dimensional Finite Element Modeling Of Pavement Subsurface Drainage Systems, Yinhui Liu

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Pavement subsurface drainage systems (PSDS) are designed to drain the entrapped water out of pavement. To investigate the effects of various factors on the performance of PSDS, three dimensional models were developed using the finite element method to simulate the unsaturated drainage process in pavement. The finite element models were calibrated using the field information on outflow, peak flow, layer saturations, and time to drain. Through a series of parametric analyses, the factors that significantly influence the performance of PSDS were screened out, and a set of recommendations were made to improve our current drainage practices.The effects of pavement geometry …

Can Interactivity Make A Difference? Effects Of Interactivity On Young Adults' Comprehension Of Online Health Content, Mia Liza Alcantara Lustria

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

The Internet is growing in popularity as a health information sourceespecially among young adults. Interactivity has been pinpointed as the keyfeature that makes the Internet a potentially powerful health communicationtool. It is being heralded as a hybrid channel that has the capacity not only todisseminate health information to mass audiences both asynchronously andsynchronously, but also has the capacity to provide an engaging and stimulatingenvironment that can promote exploratory learning and active processing ofinformation. Despite these exciting claims, there is still a dearth of theoreticallydrivenempirical studies providing support for or against these assumptions. Westill know very little about how interactive technologies …

Efficient Integral Equation Method For 2.5d Microwave Circuits In Layered Media, Wee-Hua Tang

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

An efficient integral equation method based on a method of moment (MoM) discretization of the Mixed-Potential Integral Equation (MPIE) for the analysis of 2.5D or 3D planar microwave circuits is presented. The robust Discrete Complex Image Method (DCIM) is employed to approximate the Greens functions in layered media for horizontal and vertical sources of fields, where closed-form formulations of the z-integrations are derived in the spectral domain. Meanwhile, an efficient and accurate numerical integration technique based on the Khayat-Wilton transform is used to integrate functions with 1/R singularities and near singularities. The fast iterative solver - Quadrature Sampled Pre-Corrected Fast …

Mediating Indigenous Identity: Video, Advocacy, And Knowledge In Oaxaca, Mexico, Laurel Catherine Smith

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

In the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, many indigenous communities further their struggles for greater political and cultural autonomy by working with transnational non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Communication technology (what I call comtech) is increasingly vital to these intersecting socio-spatial relations of activism and advocacy. In this dissertation, I examine how comtech offer indigenous individuals and organizations with the means for visualizing their political-cultural agendas. Approaching the access and use of comtech, especially video technologies, as a partial and situated technoscience, I inquire into how and why these activities reconfigure the production and evaluation of authoritative knowledge about indigenous peoples, places, …

Identity In Evangelical Ukraine: Negotiating Regionalism, Nationalism, And Transnationalism, Esther Grace Long

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation examines identity formation among evangelical Protestants in contemporary Ukraine. The overarching question is this: how do Ukrainian evangelicals view themselves and their churches in the context of Ukrainian regionalism, Ukrainian nationalism, and religious transnationalism? This question demands a closer look at Ukrainian regional variation, the status of Ukrainian national identity among evangelical practitioners, and the process of religious transnationalism, including how evangelicals perceive the West. This project is primarily based on qualitative research methods carried out over a ten month period. Field methods included participant observation, focus group interviews, and individual interviews. A set of maps produced by …

The Promise Of Internet Intermediary Liability, Ronald J. Mann, Seth R. Belzley

Faculty Scholarship

The Internet has transformed the economics of communication, creating a spirited debate about the proper role of federal, state, and international governments in regulating conduct related to the Internet. Many argue that Internet communications should be entirely self-regulated because such communications cannot or should not be the subject of government regulation. The advocates of that approach would prefer a no-regulation zone around Internet communications, based largely on the unexamined view that Internet activity is fundamentally different in a way that justifies broad regulatory exemption. At the same time, some kinds of activity that the Internet facilitates undisputedly violate widely shared …