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Winter Commencement: December 19, 2008, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Winter Commencement program from December 19, 2008.

Discovery Of Very High-Energy Gamma-Ray Radiation From The Bl Lac 1es 0806+524, P. T. Reynolds, Et Al

Physical Sciences Publications

The high-frequency-peaked BL Lacertae object 1ES 0806+524, at redshift z = 0.138, was observed in the very high energy (VHE) gamma-ray regime by VERITAS between 2006 November and 2008 April. These data encompass the two- and three-telescope commissioning phases, as well as observations with the full four-telescope array. 1ES 0806+524 is detected with a statistical significance of 6.3 standard deviations from 245 excess events. Little or no measurable variability on monthly timescales is found. The photon spectrum for the period 2007 November to 2008 April can be characterized by a power law with photon index 3.6 ± 1.0stat ± 0.3sys …

Uab Receives Carnegie Foundation Recognition For Engagement And Outreach, Staff

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Reconstructing Textual File Fragments Using Unsupervised Machine Learning Techniques, Brian Roux

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This work is an investigation into reconstructing fragmented ASCII files based on content analysis motivated by a desire to demonstrate machine learning's applicability to Digital Forensics. Using a categorized corpus of Usenet, Bulletin Board Systems, and other assorted documents a series of experiments are conducted using machine learning techniques to train classifiers which are able to identify fragments belonging to the same original file. The primary machine learning method used is the Support Vector Machine with a variety of feature extractions to train from. Additional work is done in training committees of SVMs to boost the classification power over the …

Beyond Katrina, Designing A Unique Charter School In New Orleans: Community, Pedagogy, Governance, Finance, And Bureaucracy, Patricia Glaser

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This study is a qualitative, autoethnographic study documenting the process of writing and submitting a charter school application in Post-Katrina New Orleans. The focus of the study is my professional journey to this point, and the journey the charter team. The school's mission and curriculum is unique and centered on special needs students who are "at-risk" for learning due to language and learning differences. Particular aspects of curriculum and instruction, climate and culture, professional development, student achievement goals, administration, and operational issues were developed by this team. The aim of the study is for this investigation to contribute to the …

Abrupt Climate Change And Storm Surge Impacts In Coastal Louisiana In 2050, Jay Ratcliff

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The most critical hazards impacting the world today are the affects of climate change and global warming. Scientists have been studying the Earth's climate for centuries and have come to agreement that our climate is changing, and has changed, many times abruptly over the history of our planet. This research focuses on the impacts of global warming related to increased hurricane intensities and their surge responses along the coast of the State of Louisiana. Surge responses are quantified for storms that could potentially occur under present climate but 50 years into the future on a coast subjected to current erosion …

Salinity Transport In A Finite-Volume Sigma-Layer Three-Dimensional Model, Angel Gabriel Retana

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to develop a 3-D model for The Pontchartrain Estuary that was capable of long-term mass conservative simulation of salinities. This was accomplished in a multi-stage approach involving: a physical model of salinity exchange through a pass; a 3-D FVCOM model of the physical experiment; the development and testing of an FVCOM model for an idealized Pontchartrain Basin; and for the entire estuary. The data from the physical model tests were used to validate the performance of the FVCOM model with density-driven flows. These results showed that hydrostatic FVCOM captured the primary internal wave movement. …

Application Of X-Ray Diffraction Methods And Molecular Mechanics Simulations To Structure Determination And Cotton Fiber Analysis, Zakhia Moore

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The results of three very different studies are presented. X-ray diffraction has been utilized for single-crystal structure determinations, fiber diffraction analyses, and in conjunction with molecular modeling of Cellulose IIII. Although each technique is different in its sampling, data acquisition, data treatment, and identification, the common denominator has been the use of x-rays. The single-crystal structure determination of ethylene glycol bis(tropane-3-carboxylate) is presented as an example of the use of modern single-crystal x-ray instrumentation including the use of coupled charged devices (CCDs) as detectors for accurate data collection and rapid elucidation of crystal structures. The structure determination of Cellulose IIII …

Multiple Solutions On A Ball For A Generalized Lane Emden Equation, Abeer Khanfar

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In this work we study the Generalized Lane-Emden equation and the interplay between the exponents involved and their consequences on the existence and non existence of radial solutions on a unit ball in n dimensions. We extend the analysis to the phase plane for a clear understanding of the behavior of solutions and the relationship between their existence and the growth of nonlinear terms, where we investigate the critical exponent p and a sub-critical exponent, which we refer to as ^p. We discover a structural change of solutions due the existence of this sub-critical exponent which we relate to the …

Search For The Standard Model Higgs Boson In The Missing Energy And Acoplanar B-Jet Topology At √S = 1.96 Tev, V. M. Abazov, Kenneth A. Bloom, Gregory R. Snow, D0 Collaboration

Kenneth Bloom Publications

We report a search for the standard model Higgs boson in the missing energy and acoplanar b-jet topology, using an integrated luminosity of 0.93 fb^-1 recorded by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron pp Collider. The analysis includes signal contributions from pp → ZH → ννbb, as well as from WH production in which the charged lepton from the W boson decay is undetected. Neural networks are used to separate signal from background. In the absence of a signal, we set limits on σ (pp → VH) x B(H → bb) at the 95% …

Text Mining In Radiology Reports, Tianxia Gong, Chew Lim Tan, Tze-Yun Leong, Cheng Kiang Lee, Boon Chuan Pang, C. C. Tchoyoson Lim, Qi Tian, Suisheng Tang, Zhuo Zhang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Medical text mining has gained increasing interest in recent years. Radiology reports contain rich information describing radiologist's observations on the patient's medical conditions in the associated medical images. However as most reports are in free text format, the valuable information contained in those reports cannot be easily accessed and used, unless proper text mining has been applied. In this paper we propose a text mining system to extract and use the information in radiology reports. The system consists of three main modules: a medical finding extractor a report and image retriever and a text-assisted image feature extractor In evaluation, the …

Preferences In Musical Rhythms And Implementation Of Analytical Results To Generate Rhythms, Shashidhar Sorakayala

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Rhythm is at the heart of all music. It is the variation of the duration of sound over time. A rhythm has two components: one is the striking of an instrument – called the "onset" – and the other is silence. Historically, musical forms and works were preferred and became popular by their rhythmic properties. Therefore, to study rhythm is to study the underpinnings of all of music. In this thesis, we explore basic rhythmic preferences in traditional music and, using this as a point of reference, methods are implemented to generate similar types of rhythms. Finally, a software platform …

Council On Academic Affairs Minutes, Dec 18, 2008, Eastern Kentucky University

Council on Academic Affairs

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of A Research-Based Intervention Program On Kindergarten Student Achievement, Melvin J. Bishop Jr.

Dissertations

The current system for identifying at-risk students, which employs the wait-and-see method, provides teachers no formal way of getting the necessary interventions needed in order for their students to be successful. The purpose of this study was to determine if the implementation of a research-based intervention program, Response To Intervention, would increase the academic performance of kindergarten students identified as at-risk.

Kindergarten students entering school for the first time were tested for basic knowledge of alphabetical letter recognition and letter sound recognition. Children who demonstrated a deficit were given a series of research-based reading interventions by an intervention specialist to …

A Trust-Based Secure Service Discovery (Tssd) Model For Pervasive Computing, Sheikh Iqbal Ahamed, Moushumi Sharmin

Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

To cope with the challenges posed by device capacity and capability, and also the nature of ad hoc networks, a Service discovery model is needed that can resolve security and privacy issues with simple solutions. The use of complex algorithms and powerful fixed infrastructure is infeasible due to the volatile nature of pervasive environment and tiny pervasive devices. In this paper, we present a trust-based secure Service discovery model, TSSD (trust-based secure service discovery) for a truly pervasive environment. Our model is a hybrid one that allows both secure and non-secure discovery of services. This model allows Service discovery and …

Resonance Raman Characterization Of The Peroxo And Hydroperoxo Intermediates In Cytochrome P450, Ilia G. Denisov, Piotr J. Mak, Thomas M. Makris, Stephen G. Sligar, James R. Kincaid

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

Resonance Raman (RR) studies of intermediates generated by cryoreduction of the oxyferrous complex of the D251N mutant of cytochrome P450_cam (CYP101) are reported. Owing to the fact that proton delivery to the active site is hindered in this mutant, the unprotonated peroxo-ferric intermediate is observed as the primary species after radiolytic reduction of the oxy-complex in frozen solutions at 77 K. In as much as previous EPR and ENDOR studies have shown that annealing of this species to ∼180 K results in protonation of the distal oxygen atom to form the hydroperoxo intermediate, this system has been exploited to …

Improving Library Searches Using Word-Correlation Factors And Folksonomies, Maria Soledad Pera

Theses and Dissertations

Libraries, private and public, offer valuable resources to library patrons; however, formulating library queries to retrieve relevant results can be difficult. This occurs because when using a library catalog for library searches, patrons often do not know the exact keywords to be included in a query that match the rigid subject terms (chosen by the Library of Congress) or terms in other fields of a desired library catalog record. These improperly formulated queries often translate into a high percentage of failed searches that retrieve irrelevant results or no results at all. This explains why frustrated library patrons nowadays rely on …

Clemson Commencement Program, December 2008, Clemson University

Clemson Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Cyber Power In The 21st Century, Joseph M. Elbaum

Theses and Dissertations

Historically, the United States Congress has acknowledged that a separate branch of military service is required to exert supremacy over each of the recognized Domains of Operation. Throughout the evolution of modern warfare, leading minds in military theory have come to the conclusion that due to fundamental differences inherent in the theory and tactics that must be employed in order to successfully wage war within a domain’s associated environment, a specialized force was needed - until now. With the recent inclusion of Cyberspace as an operational domain by the Department of Defense, the case should be made that it, too, …

2008 Fall Engr333 Project Final Report, 2008 Fall Engr333

ENGR 333

The Calvin College Engineering 333 class of 2008 was challenged with the question, “What would it take to implement an energy efficiency fund at Calvin?” Before addressing this question, another had to be asked: “What is an energy efficiency fund?” An energy efficiency fund is a revolving fund which takes seed money from donations, tuition, or grants and invests it into projects that save energy. Energy cost savings from the projects are routed back to the fund to help it grow and enable it to finance future projects. In order to begin this, the senior engineering students began organizing and …

Archaeology Via Underwater Robots: Mapping And Localization Within Maltese Cistern Systems, Christopher M. Clark, Christopher S. Olstad, Keith Buhagiar, Timmy Gambin

Computer Science and Software Engineering

This paper documents the application of several underwater robot mapping and localization techniques used during an archaeological expedition. The goal of this project was to explore and map ancient cisterns located on the islands of Malta and Gozo. The cisterns of interest acted as water storage systems for fortresses, private homes, and churches. They often consisted of several connected chambers, still containing water. A sonar-equipped Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) was deployed into these cisterns to obtain both video footage and sonar range measurements. Four different mapping and localization techniques were employed including 1) Sonar image mosaics using stationary sonar scans, …

Semantic Sensor Web, Amit P. Sheth, Cory Henson, Krishnaprasad Thirunarayan

Kno.e.sis Publications

No abstract provided.

The Distribution Of Nitric Oxide At 150 Km, Timothy E. Stern

Physics

"The objectives of this thesis are to determine the morphology of nitric oxide at the altitude of 150 km and to determine what drives the observed variability. Those objectives are accomplished by characterizing satellite observations of nitric oxide at that altitude and comparing them with those at 106 km, the altitude of peak density. The global distribution of nitric oxide and its response to geomagnetic activity vary between the two altitudes. At 150 km, nitric oxide is most abundant at high latitudes in the sunlit summer hemisphere, in contrast to nitric oxide at 106 km, which is most abundant at …

The Acetylcholine Binding Protein Of Lymnaea Stagnalis As A Biosensor And Model For Ligand Gated Ion Channel Proteins, Abraham Edward Harms-Smyth

Chemistry and Biochemistry

The structural similarity of the Acetylcholine Binding Protein (AChBP) from Lymnaea stagnalis to the extracellular ligand binding domain of Ligand Gated Ion Channel (LGIC) receptors suggests that the AChBP could be used to mimic cys-loop ligand-gated ion channel (LGIC) receptors. An LGIC mimic could be used as a sensor molecule in a range of biotechnology applications including high throughput drug screening as well as in vivo and in vitro sensing of biologically active compounds. It could also be used as a lead molecule for engineering novel proteins with binding characteristics similar to non-acetylcholine receptor LGIC's. The soluble AChBP is easily …

Gene By Environment Interactions Between Three Candidate Genes For Obesity And Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Renee Leigh Pasker

Biological Sciences

Multi-factorial diseases, like obesity, are caused by genetic and environmental factors. Few studies examine potential interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Understanding these interactions can lead to better disease prevention. One important environmental factor related to obesity is omega-3 fatty acids. Yup’ik Eskimos consume a high amount of two omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This study examined 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in three genes: ADIPOQ, PPARG, and PPARGC1A. Also, 7 obesity phenotypes were examined: BMI, percent body fat, waist circumference, sum of skin-folds, plasma adiponectin, plasma triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol. Associations between these SNPs …

Shallow Surface Thermogenic Hydrocarbon Migration Over Western Prudhoe Bay Region, Alaska, Sudipta Sarkar

Geosciences

"Hydrocarbons leak from petroleum reservoirs to the surface. In continuous permafrost regions like the Alaska North Slope, surface migration of thermogenic hydrocarbons may be hindered by the presence of ground ice. However, suitable permeable migration pathways in the permafrost can exist. Unfrozen sediments at the bottom of the lakes, or open faults can facilitate thermogenic hydrocarbon migration. I studied the nature and distribution of gaseous alkanes (C1 to C6) and helium in the shallow permafrost cores (2 m depth); depth profiles of alkanes (C1 to C7) in the two wells (1500 m deep); and stable isotopes of CH₄ trapped in …

An Engineering Study To Investigate The Methane Hydrate Resource Potential Associated With The Barrow Gas Fields In Alaska, Praveen Kumar Singh

Engineering

"Previous studies on the Barrow Gas Fields (BGF) in Alaska have suggested that accumulations of natural gas hydrates could exist within these reservoirs. In consideration of future energy challenges, and the potential of gas hydrates in meeting them, a comprehensive engineering study was undertaken to investigate the BGF for hydrates, and to recommend an optimal plan for future field development. The methane hydrate resource potential of the BGF, viz. the East Barrow (EB), South Barrow (SB), and Walakpa (WAL) gas pools, was analyzed by developing gas hydrate stability models. Material balance studies were performed on the EB gas field to …

The Effects Of Scale And Spatial Heterogeneities On Diffusion In Volcanic Breccias And Basalts: Amchitka, Alaska, Jennifer Lyn Benning

Engineering

Aqueous phase diffusion of molecules in fractured crystalline rock can play a dominant role in the fate and transport of contaminants, particularly if advective flows are very slow. The importance of the role of diffusion, typically a very slow process, also becomes an important mechanism to consider if the contaminants are long-lived in the subsurface, and thus their fate and transport must be considered over very long time-scales. Owing to the inherently heterogeneous nature of the subsurface, quantification of diffusive transport in the subsurface is extremely complex. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the …

Non-Volcanic Tremor In The Alaska/Aleutian Subduction Zone And Its Relationship To Slow-Slip Events, Chloe L. Peterson

Geosciences

"We document non-volcanic tremor (NVT) in Southcentral Alaska and the Aleutian Arc in terms of durations and locations. In Southcentral Alaska, we tabulate NVT events occurring during the summer months of each year between 1999 and 2001 to test for a relationship with a slow-slip event that occurred during this time frame. We tabulate NVT events in the Aleutians starting in the summer of 2005 through the summer of 2008. The observed NVT events in both Southcentral Alaska and the Aleutian arc are sequences of emergent pulses with frequencies of 1-10 Hz. The majority of the events have durations ranging …

Statistical Targeting To Support Reemployment Services, Christopher J. O'Leary, Scott Gibbons, Cheryl Atkinson, Gary Gonzalez

Conference Papers

No abstract provided.