Digital Commons Network^™

Policy Options To Enhance Technology Diffusion: Modeling The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Potential Of Solid-State Lighting, Amanda Slocum

Theses

Solid-state lighting (SSL) is an emerging technology that is projected to provide substantial energy savings over conventional lighting sources by 2025. There is a growing concern over the consequences of climate change, largely attributed to anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2; a greenhouse gas) from fossil fuel combustion. Currently fossil-fuel combustion accounts for 70% of electricity produced in the U.S., and end-use lighting applications alone consume approximately one-fifth of this electricity. Therefore, replacing conventional lighting sources with energy-efficient SSL has the potential to significantly reduce electricity consumption which can in turn reduce CO2 emissions. However, previous research has shown there …

The Implementation Of Homeland Security Efforts In Response Organizations: Monroe County, New York Case Study, Heather M. Savage

Theses

The events from 9/11 have prompted many changes in American society. Perhaps the biggest change can be seen in the Emergency Response field. The initial response to the events of 9/11 was a huge push at readying responders for future attacks. However, it can now be seen throughout the response community that the initial emphasis on terrorism readiness has turned into complacency and that the goal of fully preparing each responder has not yet been attained. There are many factors preventing the physical and mental preparation of each Emergency Responder and these factors range from lack of funding to lack …

Two New Cytotoxic Linderazulenes From A Deep-Sea Gorgonian Of The Genus Paramuricea., N. Srinivasa Reddy, John K. Reed, Ross E. Longley, Amy E. Wright

Faculty Scholarship

The known compound linderazulene (1) and two new linderazulenes (2, 3) were isolated from a deep-sea gorgonian Paramuricea sp. The structures of 2 and 3 were determined through spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1-3 show moderate in vitro cytotoxicity against the P388 murine leukemia cell line with IC50’s of 18.8, 2.7, and 15.6 íg/mL, respectively. Compound 2 showed moderate activity against the PANC-1 pancreatic cell line with an IC50 of 18.7 íg/mL.

Molecular Evidence For Multiple Lineages In The Gorgonian Family Plexauridae (Anthozoa: Octocorallia)., H. H. Wirshing, Charles G. Messing, C. J. Douady, John K. Reed, M. J. Stanhope, M. S. Shivji

Faculty Scholarship

Octocorals are diverse and abundant on many marine hard substrates, and, within this group, members of the family Plexauridae are an important component of tropical reef assemblages, especially in the Caribbean. To understand historical relationships within this large and diverse assemblage, and to test the monophyly of the family and some of its genera, DNA sequences of two mitochondrial loci (msh1 and ND2, _1,185 bp) were analyzed from 46 species in 21 genera from deep and shallow waters in the tropical western Atlantic and in the tropical western and eastern Pacific (plus 9 taxa in the closely related Gorgoniidae and …

Low Frequency Noise Modeling In Single- And Double-Gate Mosfets, Shailesh S. Rai

Theses

The Flicker or 1// noise dominates the noise spectrum at low frequency. A serious concern for MOSFETs for circuit application is much higher flicker (1//) noise because of the heterogeneous interface between silicon (Si) and silicon dioxide (Si02). Very high intrinsic flicker noise of CMOS transistors becomes a drawback for low-Intermediate Frequency (IF) or direct-conversion architectures. In spite of extensive research and efforts to understand the low-frequency noise origin in semiconductor devices, there exists no unique theory to explain the low-frequency noise generation mechanism. Flicker noise in MOSFETs is usually perceived to be caused by carrier density fluctuations, which is …

Guiding Object Recognition: A Shape Model With Co-Activation Networks, Timothy Lebo

Theses

The goal of image understanding research is to develop techniques to automatically extract meaningful information from a population of images. This abstract goal manifests itself in a variety of application domains. Video understanding is a natural extension of image understanding. Many video understanding algorithms apply static-image algorithms to successive frames to identify patterns of consistency. This consumes a significant amount of irrelevant computation and may have erroneous results because static algorithms are not designed to indicate corresponding pixel locations between frames. Video is more than a collection of images, it is an ordered collection of images that exhibits temporal coherence, …

Structural Advances For Pattern Discovery In Multi-Relational Databases, Juveria Kanodia

Theses

With ever-growing storage needs and drift towards very large relational storage settings, multi-relational data mining has become a prominent and pertinent field for discovering unique and interesting relational patterns. As a consequence, a whole suite of multi-relational data mining techniques is being developed. These techniques may either be extensions to the already existing single-table mining techniques or may be developed from scratch. For the traditionalists, single-table mining algorithms can be used to work on multi-relational settings by making inelegant and time consuming joins of all target relations. However, complex relational patterns cannot be expressed in a single-table format and thus, …

Integration Of Micromachined Thermal Thermal Shear Stress Sensors With Microchannels - Design, Fabrication And Testing, Vinod Dilip Kulkarni

Theses

Rochester Institute of Technology, 2005 Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-96) "The emerging picture of microvascular flow strongly suggests that local gradients in shear rate along the arteriole walls play an integral role in the ability of a microvascular network to regulate and modify blood flow. The methods to estimate shear stress from approximations of the velocity profiles determined by in vivo particle tracking experiments in the hamster and computational simulation are limited by assumptions made about the flow and experimental techniques. Right now, our ability to relate wall shear stress in microvessels to corresponding biological function is limited by our …

Cognitive, Emotive, And Behavioral Techniques For Depressed Children And Adolescents, Brianna G. Wilcox

Graduate Research Papers

Cognitive, emotive, and behavioral techniques for treating depression in children and adolescents are outlined. The importance of prevention and early intervention is stressed, with an emphasis on application to the school setting. Cognitive contributors to depression, disputation strategies, and behavioral interventions are explicated within the framework of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT). The efficacy of REBT is cited in reference to numerous research studies.

Adopting, Implementing, And Managing Biometric Entry Systems In Campus Recreation Centers, Ann Elizabeth Nellis

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to examine the adoption, implementation, and management of biometric entry systems and produce information to assist to universities considering implementing a biometric entry system. Specifically, this study focused on the only seven campus recreation centers in the United States as of March 2005 to ever employ the biometric entry system. The study investigated the following research questions:

1. What were the decision-making factors for the adoption and implementation of the biometric entry system?

2. What obstacles were overcome during the implementation phase the of the biometric entry system?

3. What are the ongoing management …

Monteverde, Costa Rica: Balancing Environment And Development, 2005, Erin Cavanagh

Monteverde Institute: Economy and Resource Management

Two years ago I would have never imagined that I would see the glow of molten lava contrasting against the night sky, stand on the top of a mountain looking at the Pacific Ocean hundreds of miles away, or become the daughter of a family other than my own. I began my journey through the World Food Prize program in February 2004 when my friend Lindsey Negaard told me that she would be interning in Mexico for the World Food Prize. After explaining to me all the different steps necessary to compete for an internship, she asked me if I …

Green Network: Monteverde Institute [Sather Easement][Powerpoint], 2005, Monteverde Institute

Monteverde Institute: Sustainable Design, Planning and Community Development

Final presentation. Entirely bilingual

Landscape Ecology Of Birds On Mount Leconte, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Andreas P. Damalas

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Landbirds form a significant component of wildlife resources in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The present study explored how forest structure and composition of deciduous-coniferous ecotones influenced diversity, richness, and relative abundance of bird species and how bird species responded to the spruce-fir community.

Using a form of the variable-circular plot method, I conducted audio-visual censuses of diurnal birds on Mount LeConte. I established 212 geo-referenced census points on six trails, which were used as gradient-oriented transects (gradsects). I measured habitat characteristics at the same census points. I used forest community types for each point on gradsects to delineate …

A Case Study: The Thoughts On Pleasure Reading For Children Diagnosed With Adhd, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type; Adhd, Predominantly Inattentive Type; Or Adhd, Combined Type, Heather Whitman

Graduate Research Papers

Children diagnosed with attention difficulties may face increased reading difficulties and may choose not to read for pleasure. Research questions used to explore this issue focused on what difficulties these students face in learning to read and how these affect their attitudes on reading and school performance. A second set of questions asked whether these children enjoy reading and how watching television relates to their reading? The third set of questions asked about parents reactions to any difficulties their children had in learning to read and their thoughts involving their children and reading for p)easure? The fourth set of questions …

Why People Self-Injure And What School Counselors Can Do To Help, Emily M. Thole

Graduate Research Papers

Today school counselors are working more with students who choose self-injury. In order to do so effectively, it is important that counselors understand the nature of self-injury and effective ways to treat it. This paper looks at reasons behind self-injuring and explores the difference between self-injury and suicide attempts as well as the different classifications of self-injury. Knowing the risk factors such as loss, childhood illness, physical and sexual abuse, familial violence, familial self-injury, peer conflict, and impulse control problems will aid counselors in targeting at-risk students. Once risk factors were targeted, it was found that behavioral treatments that address …

Patenting The Minotaur, Bratislav Stanković

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

Half man, half bull, the Minotaur was the most fearsome monster in Greek mythology. Human torso and bull’s head, its horns were sharp as knives, its great hooves could kick the life out the strongest of heroes, and its food was human flesh. Yet under the surface, the Minotaur’s myth was sad; his insatiable existence originated in jealousy and lust.

Geographic Variation And Speciation In Rough-Winged Swallows (Aves: Hirundinidae: Stelgidopteryx), M. Josephine Babin

LSU Master's Theses

This study is an examination of geographic variation and evolutionary history of Stelgidopteryx swallows. These swallows comprise two recognized species: Northern Rough-winged Swallow (S. serripennis) and Southern Rough-winged Swallow (S. ruficollis). A third species, Yucatan Rough-winged Swallow (S. ridgwayi)is also commonly recognized. The species are largely allopatric, except for a contact zone in Costa Rica. Using plumage and molecular variation, I examined the likelihood of two (or three) different species of rough-winged swallows, the genetic interrelationships among taxa, and their biogeographic history. Geographic plumage variation reveals a latitudinal cline across the genus from North to South America. Specimens from throughout …

Effects Of Fire On Home Range Size, Site Fidelity And Habitat Associations Of Grassland Birds Overwintering In Southeast Texas, Heather Quebedeaux Baldwin

LSU Master's Theses

Understanding habitat affinities of wintering grassland birds is pertinent to their conservation. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the 1) effect burn history has on vegetation structure in coastal prairie; 2) habitat associations of the most common avian species; and, 3) home range size and site fidelity of Le Conte's Sparrow (LCSP). Data were collected on sites with 1-, 2- and 3-year burn histories during the winter of 2002 at Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, Texas. Line transects were conducted to estimate bird abundance and vegetation measurements were recorded for herbaceous density, shrub density, and community type. Twenty-six Le …

Ethnic Differences Among Maltreated Youths With Respect To Posttraumatic Stress Disorder And Related Symptoms, Amie Marie Lemos-Miller

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Symptoms associated with the development and maintenance of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) were examined in a diverse group of maltreated adolescents. The first hypothesis was that levels of PTSD symptomatology, depression, dissociation, anger, and maladaptive cognitions were expected to significantly differ among African-American, Caucasian, Hispanic, and Multiracial adolescents. The second hypothesis was that ethnicity was expected to significantly moderate a relationship between (1) severity of PTSD as measured by symptomatology, and (2) the expression of related symptoms (i.e., depression, dissociation, anger, and maladaptive cognitions). Regarding hypothesis one, African-Americans reported less depressive symptoms overall than other ethnic groups, with Caucasians and …

Phytoremediation Of Perchlorate By Native And Exotic Riparian Phreatophytes Of The Las Vegas Wash, Nevada, Seth Adam Shanahan

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The potential to use native (Salix exigua) and exotic (Tamarix ramosissima) phreatophytes to remediate perchlorate from arid riparian environments was investigated by conducting a hydroponic greenhouse experiment. Salix exigua and Tamarix ramosissima exposed to ammonium perchlorate at concentrations of 10 mg L -1 and 100 mg L-1 removed 15 to 22% perchlorate mass from hydroponic solution, with 55 to 64% of removal being taken up into plant tissue. Total perchlorate taken up by plants or removed from solution was not significantly different between species on a mass or oven dry plant weight concentration basis. Significant differences in tissue specific uptake, …

2004 Long Term Care Report, Tennessee. Department Of Health.

Nursing Home Inspection and Enforcement Activities Report

No abstract provided.

The Social Significance Of Mint Tea Consumption In Morocco: Reflections On Its Symbolic Representation Of Muslim Faith, Gender Prescriptions, Socio-Economics And Hospitality, Monika Sudakov

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this analysis is to explore the ways in which the Moroccan ritual of mint tea consumption is symbolic of and informed by the underlying core values of Moroccan culture. In particular, issues of Muslim faith, gender prescriptions, socio-economics and hospitality will be explored in detail as they pertain to the ritual of mint tea consumption. The analysis will show that ultimately "what and how you drink is what you are." Understanding the particular consumptive practices of a culture is key to understanding what is considered to be "right" and "natural" behavior by individuals within that culture.

Analysis Of One Structured Fitness Motivation Intervention On Self-Efficacy, Achievement Goal Orientations And Exercise Adherence In Sedentary And Moderately Active Adults, Matthew R Martin

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Currently, many Americans spend extended periods of time in sedentary activities, potentially contributing to a variety of health concerns such as obesity and the onset of many chronic diseases. Given this widespread societal challenge, and using intact university undergraduates as a study sample, this dissertation research first provided descriptive information concerning psychological characteristics of physical appearance self-efficacy and goal orientation as potentially correlated with exercise adherence behavior. A second purpose of this research examined how known effective behavior analytic interventions of instructor-set goals/modeling, public posting, and peer-feedback might affect the research sample's exercise adherence behavior, and might affect linked psychological …

Self-Determination In International Mediation: Some Preliminary Reflections , Jacqueline Nolan-Haley

Faculty Scholarship

Few concepts have generated as much discussion in the post-war international legal system as that of “self-determination.” Scholars debate the proper identity of the "selves" endowed with this right, its boundaries, and its normative relevance. When the focus turns to mediation, the discussion becomes murky because the concept of self-determination has both procedural and substantive components, and is noticeably different in the private and public sectors. The generic concept of self-determination relates to ideas of democratic governance and the Enlightenment belief that legitimate government depends upon the consent of the governed. As adapted to private mediation theory, the right of …

Probing Attractive Forces At The Nanoscale Using Higher-Harmonic Dynamic Force Microscopy, S. Crittenden, A. Raman, R. Reifenberger

Department of Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We systematically investigate higher harmonics in the vibration spectrum of scanning force microscope cantilevers operating in the attractive regime. We show that (a) the magnitudes of the higher-harmonic signals in the vibration spectrum should be directly correlated to the local van der Waals forces for systems without significant electrostatic interactions and (b) the higher-harmonic resonances are much sharper than the fundamental harmonic. Consequently, and unlike the case of the tapping mode operation, contrast in the amplitudes of the higher harmonics over a scanned sample with small electrostatic forces reflects changes in specific chemical composition. Dynamic force-distance curves and higher-harmonic images …

Reliability Of The 0-1 Test For Chaos, J. Hu, W. W. Tung, J. B. Gao, Y. H. Cao

Department of Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

In time series analysis, it has been considered of key importance to determine whether a complex time series measured from the system is regular, deterministically chaotic, or random. Recently, Gottwald and Melbourne have proposed an interesting test for chaos in deterministic systems. Their analyses suggest that the test may be universally applicable to any deterministic dynamical system. In order to fruitfully apply their test to complex experimental data, it is important to understand the mechanism for the test to work, and how it behaves when it is employed to analyze various types of data, including those not from clean deterministic …

Adaptive Optical Biocompact Disk For Molecular Recognition, L. L. Peng, M. M. Varma, F. E. Regnier, D. D. Nolte

Department of Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We report the use of adaptive interferometry to detect a monolayer of protein immobilized in a periodic pattern on a spinning glass disk. A photorefractive quantum-well device acting as an adaptive beam mixer in a two-wave mixing geometry stabilizes the interferometric quadrature in the far field. Phase modulation generated by the spinning biolayer pattern in the probe beam is detected as a homodyne signal free of amplitude modulation. Binding between antibodies and immobilized antigens in a two-analyte immunoassay was tested with high specificity and without observable cross reactivity. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.

Relative Effectiveness Of Interposed Abdominal Compression Cpr: Sensitivity Analysis And Recommended Compression Rates, Charles F. Babbs

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Interposed abdominal compression (IAC)-CPR incorporates alternating chest and abdominal compressions to generate enhanced artificial circulation during cardiac arrest. The technique has been generally successful in improving blood flow and survival compared to standard CPR; however some questions remain. Objective: To determine "why does IAC-CPR produce more apparent benefit in some subjects than in others? and "what is the proper compression rate, given that there are actually two compressions (chest and abdomen) in each cycle?" Method: Computer models provide a means to search for subtle effects in complex systems. The present study employs a validated 12-compartment mathematical model of the human …

Multivariate Analysis Of Prokaryotic Amino Acid Usage Bias: A Computational Method For Understanding Protein Building Block Selection In Primitive Organisms, Douglas Whitmore Raiford Iii

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Organisms expend a significant fraction of their overall energy budget in the creation of proteins, particularly for those that are produced in large quantities. Recent research has demonstrated that genes encoding these proteins are shaped by natural selection to produce the proteins with low cost building blocks (amino acids) whenever possible. The negative correlation between protein production rate and their energetic costs has been established for two bacterial genomes: Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. This thesis provides scientific validation of this theory by automating the analysis and extending the research to additional genomes. Investigations into building block selection are highly …

Fate Of Chemistry Branch Libraries: Onward Toward 2015, Jeremy R. Garritano

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

The pressures of technology, multidisciplinary research, and shrinking budgets have caused many librarians to rethink the roles of chem. branch libraries in recent decades. Some of these libraries have reinvented themselves, while others have been consolidated into general science and technology libraries. The author will report on the results of a 2005 survey of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) institutions and the status of their chem. related library resources and facilities. The survey will look at the past, present and future of their chem. information resources, paying particular attention to those that have been or will be combined with other …