Digital Commons Network^™

Factors Affecting The Information Quality Of Personal Web Portfolios, P. Katerattanakul, Keng Siau

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Personal Web portfolios have become a popular information source and an effective method for individuals to present themselves to others in cyberspace. Thus, the quality of personal Web portfolios is critical and affects the perception that others have of the individuals. But how do we measure quality of personal Web portfolios? What are the important factors affecting quality of personal Web portfolios? This study presents the development of an instrument measuring factors affecting information quality of personal Web portfolios. The proposed instrument, based on the Information Quality framework, was refined and validated to assess its construct validity, convergent validity, and …

Hispanic Citizenship, Registration, And Voting Patterns: A Comparative Analysis Of The 2000 And 2004 Presidential Elections, Debora Upegui

Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies

Introduction: This study examines citizenship, registration, and voting patterns among Latinos in the 2000 and 2004 Presidential Elections.

Methods: Data on Latinos and other racial/ethnic groups were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, reorganized for public use by the Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota, IPUMSusa. Cases in the dataset were weighted and analyzed to produce population estimates.

Results: There is no doubt that the Hispanic population in the United States has consistently grown in the last two decades and continues to be the largest growing minority group within the United States. According to the 2004 census, …

The Identification And Verification Of Hazardous Convective Cells Over Oceans Using Visible And Infrared Satellite Observations, Michael F. Donovan, Earle R. Williams, Cathy Kessinger, Gary Blackburn, Paul H. Herzegh, Richard L. Bankert, Steve Miller, Frederick R. Mosher

Publications

Three algorithms based on geostationary visible and infrared (IR) observations are used to identify convective cells that do (or may) present a hazard to aviation over the oceans. The performance of these algorithms in detecting potentially hazardous cells is determined through verification with Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite observations of lightning and radar reflectivity, which provide internal information about the convective cells. The probability of detection of hazardous cells using the satellite algorithms can exceed 90% when lightning is used as a criterion for hazard, but the false-alarm ratio with all three algorithms is consistently large (40%), thereby exaggerating …

White Dwarf Luminosity And Mass Functions From Sloan Digital Sky Survey Spectra, Steven Degennaro, Ted Von Hippel, D. E. Winget, S. O. Kepler, Atsuko Nitta, Detlev Koester, Leandro Althaus

Publications

We present the first phase in our ongoing work to use Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data to create separate white dwarf (WD) luminosity functions (LFs) for two or more different mass ranges. In this paper, we determine the completeness of the SDSS spectroscopic WD sample by comparing a proper-motion selected sample of WDs from SDSS imaging data with a large catalog of spectroscopically determined WDs. We derive a selection probability as a function of a single color (g − i) and apparent magnitude (g) that covers the range −1.0 < g − i < 0.2 and 15 < g < 19.5. We address the observed upturn in log g for WDs with Teff 12,000 K and offer arguments that the problem is limited to the line profiles and is not present in the continuum. We offer an empirical method of removing the upturn, recovering a reasonable mass function for WDs with Teff < 12,000 K. Finally we present a WD LF with nearly an order of magnitude (3358) more spectroscopically confirmed WDs than any previous work.

The U.S. Intra-Industry Trade With Caribbean Countries, E. M. Ekanayake, John R. Ledgerwood

Publications

This paper aims to measure the level of intra-industry trade with special focus on vertical and horizontal intra-industry trade (IIT) in United State's foreign trade with Caribbean countries. One of the main findings is that the observed increase in intra-industry trade between the United States and Caribbean is almost entirely due to two-way trade in vertical differentiation. The second important finding is that the level of per capita income, trade intensity, product differentiation, industry size, and product quality differences are found to affect the shares of all three types of IIT positively.

Environmental Regulations And The Increasing Seasonality Of Gasoline Prices, Michael C. Davis

Economics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We analyze gasoline prices over the past 27 years and find that there has been an increase in the seasonal variation since 2000. This finding is attributed to an increase in the environmental regulations on gasoline during the summer months.

A Winning Proposition: The Economic Impact Of Successful Nfl Franchises, Christian M. End, Michael C. Davis

Economics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Research has demonstrated that a Super Bowl victory increases the personal income of the individuals in the metropolitan area from which the winning teams come (Coates & Humphreys, 2002). We argue that the economic benefits should extend beyond just the championship team's city to the cities of teams who experience seasonal success and thus the winning percentages of NFL teams were included in our model. when controlling for sources of bias, winning percentage of the local professional football team had a significant positive effect on real per capita personal income. Explanations for these conclusions are offered from a psychological perspective.

Addressing Nonlinear Combustion Instabilities In Highly Dilute Spark Ignition Engine Operation, Brian C. Kaul

Doctoral Dissertations

"Dilute operation is a promising approach for increasing spark-ignition engine efficiency, in the form of either lean burn (air dilution) or EGR (inert dilution). High levels of charge dilution, however, lead to cyclic variability that is largely deterministic in nature. The determinism and nonlinear nature of the system indicate that it should be possible to reduce the cycle-to-cycle variations by implementing an electronic controller. Several needs arise when considering the development of such a controller. Three topics of interest are covered herein. First, a method of analysis for nonlinear dynamical systems is applied to engine data in order to estimate …

A Comparison Of Alternating Minimization And Expectation Maximization Algorithms For Single Source Gamma Ray Tomography, R. Varma, S. Bhusarapu, J. A. O'Sullivan, M. (Muthanna) H. Al-Dahhan

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Lange and Carson (1984 J. Comput. Assist. Tomogr. 8 306-16) Defined Image Reconstruction for Transmission Tomography as a Maximum Likelihood Estimation Problem and Derived an Expectation Maximization (EM) Algorithm to Obtain the Maximum Likelihood Image Estimate. However, in the Maximization Step or M-Step of the EM Algorithm, an Approximation is Made in the Solution Which Can Affect the Image Quality, particularly in the Case of Domains with High Attenuating Material. O'Sullivan and Benac (2007 IEEE Trans. Med. Imaging 26 283-97) Reformulated the Maximum Likelihood Problem as a Double Minimization of an I-Divergence to Obtain a Family of Image Reconstruction Algorithms, …

Indian Law Clinics And Externship Symposium Roundtable Discussion: Lawyering For Indigenous People, Tribal Law Journal

Tribal Law Journal

Several native and non-native Indian Law clinicians and scholars participated in a roundtable discussion on June 22, 2007 in Albuquerque, New Mexico to discuss lawyering for indigenous people. The attendees were organized into three different groups: discussants, respondents, and participants. The discussants began the dialogue and discussed their experiences in representing tribes to representing individual native clients in various areas of law. They discussed what it means as a lawyer "to do no harm" and their roles and challenges in teaching students how to serve native populations. The respondents provided their responses to the various topics presented by the discussants. …

Intelligent Modular Tool For Emergency Surgical Treatment During Payloadcritical Missions, David J. Miller, Evan Luxon, Carl A. Nelson

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

During any extended mission to an extreme environment (i.e. the International Space Station, a lunar base or a manned mission to Mars) the chances of an otherwise minor mJury becoming life threatening grow to be significant. In order to address these concerns, equipment must be provided to diagnose and treat a wide range of possible afflictions while direct contact with Earth-based physicians is impossible. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is an excellent treatment option due to its history of decreasing trauma in patients and speeding recovery. In an effort to provide the maximum functionality for any given MIS procedure, an intelligent …

Continuous Source Of Care Among Young Underserved Children: Associated Characteristics And Use Of Recommended Parenting Practices., Esther K Chung, Leny Mathew, Kelly F Mccollum, Irma T Elo, Jennifer F Culhane

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to 1) assess sociodemographic and health characteristics associated with having a continuous source of care (CSOC) among young children and 2) determine the relationship between having a CSOC and use of parenting practices.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective, community-based survey of women receiving prenatal care at Philadelphia community health centers. We conducted surveys at the first prenatal visit and at a mean age +/- standard deviation of 3 +/-1, 11 +/- 1, and 24 +/- 2 months postpartum, obtaining information on sociodemographic and health characteristics, child's health care provider, and 6 parenting practices. …

The Effects Of Mismatching Teacher Candidates With Mentoring Teachers, Hibajene Shandomo, Jeremy Zelkowski

Journal of Inquiry and Action in Education

The majority of teacher candidates are eager to enter the field of teaching for their junior participation to try out methods such as Problem Solving Approach that they have been learning throughout their classes at college. In mathematics, for example, semester after semester, I place an emphasis on the use of Problem Solving Approach which is natural to children because the world is new to them. Children exhibit curiosity, intelligence, and flexibility as they face new situations (Principles and standards for school mathematics, 2000). In science, the inquiry method is emphasized. The challenge for preservice teachers is to build on …

The Anatomy Of A Teachable Moment: Implications For Teacher Educators, Phyllis Thompson

Journal of Inquiry and Action in Education

A university professor observes the use of a Native American stereotype by a cooperating teacher in an elementary art classroom while supervising a preservice teacher. She identifies ways that the teacher’s words potentially harmed her students and reflects on her own role. This “teachable moment” is described, and characteristics of institutionalized racism and white dominance are examined as a foundation for racist insensitivities in the classroom. The professor calls for preservice teachers to be prepared in their teacher education programs to be culturally responsive. She draws on a study of preservice teachers mentoring minority children to demonstrate how change can …

The Meaning Of Place And Community In Contemporary Educational Discourse, John Siskar, Paul Theobald

Journal of Inquiry and Action in Education

Place and community are terms used with ever more frequency in discussions, reports, and research related to education, yet there is little agreement related to what these terms mean. This article examines the concepts of place and community in an attempt to bring more clarity to the role they may play in educational theory and, ultimately, educational policy.

(Mis)Appropriated Liberty: Identity, Gender Justice And Muslim Personal Law Reform In India, Cyra Akila Choudhury

Faculty Publications

This article argues that in order to emancipate Indian-Muslim women from an outdated family legal code, their position at the intersection of gender and a minority religion must be taken seriously. Proposals for reform that have been suggested by Western liberal, secular feminists that ignore the importance of women's religious affiliation fail to do this. Moreover, by making assumptions about the strength of secularism in India, the willingness of the state to enact legal reforms driven by gender concerns, and by failing to acknowledge the limits of formal rights alone in changing norms, these scholars do not account for the …

Consenting Adults? Why Women Who Submit To Supervisory Sexual Harassment Are Faring Better In Court Than Those Who Say No…And Why They Shouldn’T, Kerri Lynn Stone

Faculty Publications

Today, as a sexual harassment plaintiff who failed to report harassment before bringing suit, you likely will fare better under the law if you submitted to your harasser and engaged in relations with him, than you would if you had passively resisted until you were driven out of your employment. This Article examines the law’s illogical preference for plaintiffs who acquiesced to the propositions of their supervisors over those who resisted harassment but nonetheless failed to report it. It explores the roots of such a preference in society, as well as its consequences. Ultimately, this Article asks critical questions that …

License To Harass: Holding Defendants Accountable For Retaining Recidivist Harassers, Kerri Lynn Stone

Faculty Publications

Harassment victims who suffer a "tangible employment action," which the Supreme Court defines as a "significant change in employment status such as hiring, firing, failure to promote, reassignment, or a decision causing a significant change in benefits," enjoy unfettered recourse when they sue their employers. However, victims who do not endure what a court will deem a "tangible employment action" will have their prima facie case of harassment then rendered vulnerable to the interposition of an affirmative defense by a defendant-employer, who will escape liability if it can show "(a) that the employer exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct …

Risk Equity: A New Proposal, Matthew D. Adler

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Revocable Trusts And The Law Of Wills: An Imperfect Fit, Alan Newman

Akron Law Faculty Publications

Over the centuries that wills have been used to dispose of testators’ property at death, the law of wills has developed to address issues that arose. Similarly, over the centuries that trusts have been used for non-testamentary purposes, the law of trusts has developed to resolve resulting issues.

In recent decades revocable trusts have become the most commonly used trust in the United States. To avoid estate administration, particularly in states in which administration involves cumbersome, time-consuming, and expensive court supervision, settlors make inter vivos transfers of assets that otherwise would be subject to administration on their deaths in trust. …

Religious Pluralism: The Evangelical Christian Response, Matthew F. Rittgers

Honors Program Theses

The dawn of the twenty-first century has ushered in a new age in humankind. Information travels around the world at the speed of light thanks to the Internet, cell phones and communications satellites; industry and science have created advanced technologies and medicines, and transportation has continued to grant more and more humans the ability to leave their ancestral homeland and travel across the globe in a matter of hours. Due to these things, the world seems to be a smaller place. No longer do enormous mountains or vast oceans isolate nations and cultures from each other. Perhaps one of the …

What's In A Name? A Philosophical Critique Of 'Civil Unions' Predicated Upon A Sexual Relationship, Gerard V. Bradley

Journal Articles

'Civil unions' represent a fragile political armistice, not lasting peace. My interest in 'civil unions' is not, however, political. It is philosophical. I argue in this paper that 'civil unions' are wrong - and should be abandoned in law - because they are incoherent. This article is about what's in the name, marriage. My thesis is that the reason why same-sex couples may not marry defeats the case for 'civil unions' defined (even in part) as a sexual relationship. To reasonably deny these couples access to marriage is to deny them access to 'civil unions'. Conversely, to create 'civil …

Beyond Wealth: Stories Of Art, War, And Greed, Mary Ellen O'Connell

Journal Articles

The article tells three stories of great art and priceless antiquities: one about early Christian mosaics from Cyprus, another about five paintings by the Viennese master, Gustav Klimt, and the third about an ancient statute of a Sumerian king from Iraq. All three stories discuss the international law protecting cultural heritage in time of war and occupation. They all tell of individuals pursuing extraordinary profits from the sale of the objects despite the international law that, properly applied, should have protected them from damage and kept them all in places of public display.

The article also tells how in each …

Symposium: Stare Decisis And Nonjudicial Actors: Introduction, Amy Coney Barrett

Journal Articles

This essay is as an introduction to a symposium on stare decisis and nonjudicial actors. It frames the questions explored in the symposium by pausing to reflect upon the variety of ways in which nonjudicial actors have, over time, registered their disagreement with decisions of the United States Supreme Court. Both public officials and private citizens have battled the Court on any number of occasions since its inception, and historically, they have employed a diverse range of tactics in doing so. They have resisted Supreme Court judgments. They have denied the binding effect of Supreme Court opinions. They have sought …

Arbitrating Human Rights, Roger P. Alford

Journal Articles

Corporate liability for human rights abuses is one of the most important developments in current international law and practice. With the advent of human rights litigation against corporations, there is now the prospect of a deep-pocket defendant that is complicit in grave human rights abuses, subject to personal jurisdiction, and not immune from suit. Indeed, if a corporation is accused of "aiding and abetting" human rights abuses, this is all but a concession that the corporate actor is not the principal wrong-doer. It is of course possible that this controversial trend toward corporate responsibility may reflect a genuine concern about …

Pretrial And Preventative Detention Of Suspected Terrorists: Options And Constraints Under International Law, Douglass Cassel

Journal Articles

This article analyzes the grounds, procedures and conditions required by International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law for pretrial detention of suspected terrorists for purposes of criminal law enforcement, and for their preventive detention for security and intelligence purposes. Recognizing the difficulties in securing sufficient admissible evidence to prosecute terrorists within the tight time limits imposed by international law, the Article nonetheless suggests that indefinite detention, solely or primarily for purposes of intelligence interrogation, is probably not lawful under U.S. or international law. Preventive detention for security purposes, on the other hand, is generally permitted by international law, provided …

The Evangelical Debate Over Climate Change, John Copeland Nagle

Journal Articles

In 2006, a group of prominent evangelicals issued a statement calling for a greater response to climate change. Soon thereafter, another group of prominent evangelicals responded with their own statement urging caution before taking any action against climate change. This division among evangelicals concerning climate change may be surprising for a community that is usually portrayed as homogenous and as indifferent or hostile toward environmental regulation. Yet there is an ongoing debate among evangelicals regarding the severity of climate change, its causes, and the appropriate response. Why? The answer to this question is important because of the increasing prominence of …

Fourth Amendment Protection For Stored E-Mail, Patricia L. Bellia, Susan Freiwald

Journal Articles

The question of whether and how the Fourth Amendment regulates government access to stored e-mail remains open and pressing. A panel of the Sixth Circuit recently held in Warshak v. United States, 490 F.3d 455 (6th Cir. 2007), that users generally retain a reasonable expectation of privacy in the e-mails they store with their Internet Service Providers (ISPs), which implies that government agents must generally acquire a warrant before they may compel ISPs to disclose their users' stored e-mails. The Sixth Circuit, however, is reconsidering the case en banc. This Article examines the nature of stored e-mail surveillance and argues …

The Foundation, Education, And Practice Of Osteopathic Medicine, Anthony P. Salvador

Honors Theses

Osteopathic medicine has quickly grown into a successful and respectable branch of medical practice. It was created out of a necessity for change in the late 1800s, and continues to be a credible form of alternative medicine. After reviewing literary material, journal articles, and numerous osteopathic college sources it was seen that osteopathic medicine can be practiced in numerous settings and will become integral in the near future due to the shortage of physicians in the United States. Today, osteopaths work closely with all types of medical personal including medical doctors.

Season- And Herbivore-Dependent Competition And Facilitation In A Semi-Aridsavanna, Kari E. Veblen

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Empirical and theoretical evidence suggests that facilitation between plants, when it occurs, is more likely during periods of abiotic stress, while competition predominates under more moderate conditions. Therefore, one might expect the relative importance of competition vs. facilitation to vary seasonally in ecosystems characterized by pronounced dry (abiotically stressful) and wet (benign) seasons. Herbivory also varies seasonally and can affect the net outcome of plant-plant interactions, but the interactive effects of seasonality and herbivory on the competition-facilitation balance are not known. I experimentally manipulated neighboring plants and herbivory during wet and dry periods for two species of grass: Cynodon plectostachyus …