Digital Commons Network^™

Automated Algorithm For The Identification Of Artifacts In Mottled And Noisy Images, Onome Augustine Ugbeme, Eli S. Saber, Wencheng Wu, Kartheek Chandu

Articles

We describe a method for automatically classifying image-quality defects on printed documents. The proposed approach accepts a scanned image where the defect has been localized a priori and performs several appropriate image processing steps to reveal the region of interest. A mask is then created from the exposed region to identify bright outliers. Morphological reconstruction techniques are then applied to emphasize relevant local attributes. The classification of the defects is accomplished via a customized tree classifier that utilizes size or shape attributes at corresponding nodes to yield appropriate binary decisions. Applications of this process include automated/assisted diagnosis and repair of …

Arkansas Water Resources Center Annual Technical Report, 2006, Arkansas Water Resources Center

Arkansas Water Resources Center Annual Report

No abstract provided.

Appalachian And Rural Student Performance Differences On Kentucky's Educational Assessment: Eighth Grade Results, D. Clayton Smith

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

For assessment and accountability, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) developed the Kentucky Instructional Results Information System (KIRIS). Because the KIRIS assessment relied on student performance and was “high stakes” for schools, the fairness of the assessment was important. This paper examined whether 8th grade students living in Appalachia and/or in primarily rural school districts perform differently on the assessment than their peers. The four years of data (1993-1996) for this study came from KIRIS Cycle 2 data. The dependent variable was a composite score of student performance on constructed-response reading, mathematics, science, and social studies tests. The study found …

Editor's Preface, D. Clayton Smith

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

introduction of Doug Smith as new editor of SRS

From Vulnerability To Resiliency: Assessing Impacts And Responses To Disaster, John J. Green, Duane A. Gill, Anna M. Kleiner

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Hurricane Katrina devastated the social, economic, and physical infrastructure of communities along the Gulf Coast, and many organizations responded in a massive effort to meet their needs. Building from a livelihoods theoretical framework emphasizing the vulnerability-resiliency continuum, this research note focuses on informing services provided during post-disaster relief, recovery, and redevelopment. Based on a case study conducted in East Biloxi, Mississippi, we describe a project that included a needs assessment survey and qualitative interviews. Research findings address the expressed needs of community members following the disaster, types of relief and recovery assistance provided to them, and the kinds of social …

The Effects Of Race, Place, Class, And Gender On Instructional Strategies In Kentucky's Seventh Grade Science Classes: Individual And School Level Analyses, Stephen K. Miller, D. Clayton Smith, Larry S. Ennis

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

This study explored the relationship of student demographics to teaching method in Kentucky’s seventh grade science classrooms for 1997-98, based on performance assessment data (student level N = 21,499; school level N = 264). Students’ perceptions of seven instructional strategies from the KIRIS student questionnaires were placed into three groups: traditional, inquiry-based, and computer. At the student level, these strategies were regressed on race, gender, free/reduced lunch, urbanity of the district, Appalachian status, and Educational Service Region. At the school level, the three approaches were regressed on aggregate school data for these same variables. Findings indicated that demographic factors do …

Population Change, Economic Restructuring, And The Evolving Landscape Of Retail Activities In The Rural Great Plains, Alexander C. Vias

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Over the past 15 to 20 years, changes such as retail concentration (fewer, larger stores owned by fewer corporations), technological innovation, and new labor practices have transformed the retail industry. These broad changes affect rural communities where the retail sector still employs a large portion of the workforce. When combined with the declining population of many rural areas in regions like the Great Plains, the impact of retail change is even more significant. Explored in this paper is how restructuring in the retail sector is accelerating the loss of retail firms in many rural parts of the Great Plains, a …

Poet Revisited: A Reanalysis Of Albrecht And Murdock's Part-Time Farming Model, Lisa A. Eargle

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

In this paper, I reanalyze Albrecht and Murdock’s (1984) POET (Population, Organization, Environment, and Technology) model of part-time farming prevalence using 2002 data and two indicators of part-time farming prevalence: percent of farm operators working 100 days or more off-farm and percent of farm operators whose principal occupation is not farming. I compare the results of analyses using these two measures to one another and to the results produced in Albrecht and Murdock’s earlier study using 1978 data. Findings from the analysis of 2002 are similar to those produced with 1978 data. However, the findings from the 2002 analyses do …

Deafdigest: Blue Edition, December 31, 2006, Barry Strassler

DeafDigest Blue 2006

No abstract provided.

Cadmium Toxicity On Arterioles Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats, Benny Washington, Shunta Williams, Patrice Armstrong, Charlie Mtshali, John T. Robinson, Elbert L. Myles

Biology Faculty Research

Cadmium (Cd) is frequently used in various industrial applications and is a ubiquitous environmental toxicant, also present in tobacco smoke. An important route of exposure is the circulatory system whereas blood vessels are considered to be main stream organs of Cd toxicity. Our previous results indicate that cadmium chloride (CdCl2) affects mean arterial blood pressure in hypertensive rats. We hypothesized that Cd alters the intracellular calcium transient mechanism, by cadmium-induced stimulation of MAPKs (ERK 1 & 2) which is mediated partially through calcium-dependent PKC mechanism. To investigate this hypothesis, we exposed primary cultures of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from …

Emergence Of Diseases Of Affluence In Oman : Where Do They Feature In The Health Research Agenda?, Samir Al-Adawi

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Lipids-Risk Categories In Omani Type 2 Diabetics : Impact Of The National Cholesterol Educational Program, Ali I. Al-Bahrani, Riad Bayoumi, Said A.

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the National Cholesterol Educational Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) and the Framingham Offspring Study on Omani diabetic subjects. Methods: 221 subjects with type 2 diabetes (86 females and 135 males) and 156 non-diabetic subjects (70 females and 86 males) aged 30-70 years attending Sultan Qaboos University Hospital between 1999-2002 were recruited. Lipid profile, glucose, %HbA1c, apoprotein A-1 and apoproteinB were measured. Low density lipoprotein was calculated using the Friedwald formula. ATP-III and Framingham Offspring Study guidelines were used to classify lipid parameters into coronary heart disease-risk categories. Results: Diabetic compared to non-diabetic …

Correlation Between Serum Leptin Levels, Body Mass Index And Obesity In Omanis, Masoud Y. Al Maskari, Adel A. Alnaqdy

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objective: To ascertain the relationship between serum leptin levels and related variables (weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) and fat percentage) in a group of Omani obese and non-obese healthy subjects. Methods: Leptin levels were assessed in serum samples from 35 obese Omanis and 20 non-obese healthy subjects. Results: There was a significant difference (p< 0.001) in serum leptin between the obese group (34.78 + 13.96 ng/ml) and the control non-obese subjects (10.6 ± 4.2 ng/ml). Leptin levels were higher in females compared to males. There was a significantly positive correlation between leptin levels in obese subjects with weight (p=0.002), body fat percentage (p=0.0001) and BMI (p=0.001). Conclusions: We concluded that serum leptin levels are higher in the Omani obese group and correlate positively with body fatness and obesity.

Laboratory Studies On The Prevalence And Cercarial Rhythms Of Trematodes From Bulinus Truncatus And Biomphalaria Pfeifferi Snails From Khartoum State,Sudan, Abdel Aziz M. Ahmed, Nidal A. Ibrahim, Mohamed A.

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

ObjectiveS: (a) To determine the natural infection rate of Bulinus truncatus and Biomphalaria pfeifferi snails with trematodes’ cercariae. (b) To determine the emergence and rhythmicity of cercariae. (c) To elucidate the high-risk time for man and other animals to acquire infection. Methods: Snails were collected from Dawar El Mahadi Agricultural Scheme, Khartoum State, identified in the laboratory, kept at room temperature and fed on lettuce. The snails were screened weekly for six weeks for natural infection and infected snails were kept in the dark. The swimming patterns and resting position of the freshly emerged cercariae were studied using a stereomicroscope. …

The Role Of Mathematics On Human Structure, Omar A. Habbal, Mohieddin Al-Baali

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Back Matter

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

No abstract provided.

Interagency Science And Research: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending December 31, 2006, Margaret N. Rees

Interagency Science and Research Strategy

• Completed draft review and analysis of 6 interagency and 2 single-agency science strategies.
• Developed an outline for a Southern Nevada Agency Partnership Science Strategy based upon these reviews.
• Initiated a beta-test of a science proposal review process.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Vegetation Monitoring And Management: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending December 31, 2006, Margaret N. Rees

Vegetation Monitoring

Executive Summary

• Two new Weed Sentry research assistants were hired.
• Weed Sentry staff surveyed for exotic species on 89 miles of roads on NPS and BLM land and treated more than 21,000 exotic plants in incipient populations.
• A grid-based rare plant monitoring method was tested this quarter.
• A manuscript detailing vegetation succession on a water pipeline at Lake Mead NRA was submitted for review to the journal Crossosoma.
• New integrative projects undertaken this quarter included establishing a competition study between a native grass and the exotic Sahara mustard, salvaging plants for research purposes from private sites with permission from landowners, …

Take Pride In America In Southern Nevada: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending December 31, 2006, Margaret N. Rees

Anti-littering Programs

• Don’t Trash Nevada roll-out event held on October 12, 2006.

• Program website launched.

• 74 people have taken the on-line anti-litter and dumping pledge.

• Public-private partnership with Republic Services of Southern Nevada generated $11,917.97 in donations to Don’t Trash Nevada.

• Conducted 3 volunteer and 1 alternative workforce clean-ups this quarter.

• Fulfilled deliverable of 12 clean-ups for 2006 (9 volunteer / 3 alternative workforce).

• 16 volunteer clean-ups scheduled for 2007. • Two tons of agency-generated paper recycled this quarter, saving 14,000 gallons of water, 34 trees, and almost 8 cubic yards of landfill space.

• …

Cooperative Conservation: Increasing Capacity Through Community Partnerships: Cultural Site Stewardship Program: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Ending December 31, 2006, Margaret N. Rees

Cultural Site Stewardship Program

• The Cultural Site Stewardship Program now has 249 enrolled site stewards, an increase of 732% since program inception in 2004.

• Four training classes were held in 2006, adding 72 new stewards.

• Site Stewards reported 55 significant impacts during the 12-month period compared to 25 impacts during the same period last year.

Front Matter

City University of New York Law Review

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Family Factors On The Development Of Alcohol-Related Problems Among Males From Pre-Adolescence To Adulthood

Florida Public Health Review

Alcohol use is a leading risk factor in suicides, homicides and unintentional injuries (including motor vehicle crashes and drownings) among adolescents, and is associated with adolescent health risk behaviors such as cigarette smoking, illicit drug use, and risky sexual behavior. The purpose of this study was to determine if family factors would predict alcohol-related problems as the study cohort transitioned into young adulthood, and to determine if early alcohol use remained a significant influence on the development of alcohol-related problems in young adulthood. Results of the analyses indicate that three of the family factors measured in mid-adolescence were statistically significant …

Assessment Of Client Satisfaction In Six Urban Wic Clinics, Catherine Christie, Judy E. Perkin

Florida Public Health Review

Customer service is a measure of support and courtesy provided to individuals who patronize an organization, and is a factor vital to the success of any business. Programs that strive to meet critical needs of at risk populations, such as the Special Supplementation Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), may also benefit from assessment of client satisfaction. The purpose of the study was to examine factors related to customer satisfaction in Duval County Florida WIC clinics and identify potential barriers to participation through a two-year project initiated by the health department and the state university. The study examined …

Smallpox Vaccination Outcomes And Adverse Event Surveillance Of 18 Counties In North Central Florida

Florida Public Health Review

Based on the directive from President George W. Bush to prepare the nation better for a possible smallpox attack, Florida enacted Operation Vaccinate Florida- Stage I (OVF I). Between February 10, 2003, and March 31, 2003, Florida vaccinated 4,434 individuals against smallpox. During this period a smallpox vaccine surveillance study was conducted in 18 counties in North Central Florida. The study was conducted via journal log, which participants completed daily by recording all symptoms, vaccination site stage development, and demographic information. The study included 350 vaccinees from Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Hamilton, Gilchrist, Lafayette, Levy, Flagler, Marion, …

Conducting Surveys Among Immigrants: Methodology And Implementation Of A Health Needs Assessment In The Haitian Community Of Miami, Florida

Florida Public Health Review

Lack of reliable data about foreign-born groups creates gaps in demographic measurement methodology leading to a cycle of misinformed policy development. Haitian immigrants represent one of the largest foreign-born groups in Florida. Only limited information is available on the health care issues that they face. This paper describes the methodological design and strategies employed for the implementation of a study whose primary purpose was to identify and evaluate basic health care needs and barriers to health care access for the Haitian immigrant population of Miami, Florida. Information was collected during face-to-face interviews on demographic characteristic and health needs and access …

Drinking Water In Egypt: The Effects Of Water On Egyptian’S Health, Aneesa Akbar-Uqdah, Sam Highsmith, Sara Tonsy

The Undergraduate Research Journal

The Nile River, often thought of as the backbone of Egypt, has been source of great sustenance and mobility throughout the years. Due to the failure of a multilayered system, however, Egypt has had difficulty providing its citizens with clean drinking water. This paper examines the perceptions regarding this matter, as well as causes and solutions as provided by experts.

Coverage Of Avian Flu: A Case Study Of Al Ahram Newspaper, Mirray Fahim

The Undergraduate Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Masthead

Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law

No abstract provided.

Transportation Of Stowaways, Drugs And Contraband By Sea From The Maghreb Region : Legal And Policy Aspects, Semir T. Maksen

World Maritime University Dissertations

This dissertation is a study of the sensitive and complex maritime security issues of transportation of stowaways, smuggling drugs and contraband goods by sea from the Maghreb region. It considers the national and international contexts within which those threats have grown and discusses the root causes and consequences of this menace with emphasis on legal and policy aspects. This latter represents a challenge for the Maghreb States related to strategies, decision making fostering new reforms and proactive countermeasures. A particular focus on the notion of “maritime crime” is offered. An overview of the new maritime security concerns faced by the …