Digital Commons Network^™

2008 (Winter), University Of Dayton. Department Of Mathematics

Colloquia

Abstracts of the talks given at the 2008 Winter Colloquium.

Leadership Founded In Habits Of Inquiry And Reflection (Abstract), Robert C. Bolz Jr.

Kenneth C. Schraut Memorial Lectures

Leadership in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines has been the foundation of leadership in the world for over 600 years.

Theophrastus And The Intellect As Mixture, Myrna Gabbe

Philosophy Faculty Publications

De Anima III 5 introduces one of Aristotle’s most perplexing doctrines. In this short and obscure chapter, Aristotle distinguishes between an intellect that becomes all things, the so-called potential intellect, and an intellect that makes all things, the so-called productive intellect (430a14-15). It is generally held that the intellect that becomes all things is described in De Anima III 4, since Aristotle there tells us that the intellect knows by becoming its objects (429a15-18). This intellect has acquired the title “potential intellect” since it must be potentially the objects of thought in order to become and think the objects of …

Radicalism And Cultural Dislocation In Ethiopia, 1960-1974, Messay Kebede

Philosophy Faculty Publications

During the 1960s and early 1970s, a majority of Ethiopian students and intellectuals adopted a Marxist-Leninist ideology with fanatic fervor. The leading force in an uprising against the imperial regime of Emperor Haile Selassie, they played a decisive role in the rise of a Leninist military regime. In this original study, Messay Kebede examines the sociopolitical and cultural factors that contributed to the radicalization of the educated elite in Ethiopia, and how this phenomenon contributed to the country's uninterrupted political crises and economic setbacks since the Revolution of 1974.

Offering a perspective garnered from his direct participation in the student …

The Influence Of Biological Sex, Previous Experience, And Preparation Time On Classroom Public Speaking Grades, Judy C. Pearson, Jeffrey T. Child

Basic Communication Course Annual

How does biological sex affect public speaking grades? Students completed journal entries over the course of the semester. Hierarchical multiple regression incrementally examined competency measures (previous experience and overall preparation time) then biological sex on public speaking grade averages. Competency measures predicted higher speech grade averages, but women still earned higher speech grades even after the effects of competency had been removed. Among the explanations offered are that women may be more competent than men, a combination of competence and compliance explains women’s higher grades, or public speaking classrooms perpetuate a female competency bias.

Meshless Hemodynamics Modeling And Evolutionary Shape Optimization Of Bypass Grafts Anastomoses, Zaher El Zahab

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: The main objective of the current dissertation is to establish a formal shape optimization procedure for a given bypass grafts end-to-side distal anastomosis (ETSDA). The motivation behind this dissertation is that most of the previous ETSDA shape optimization research activities cited in the literature relied on direct optimization approaches that do not guaranty accurate optimization results. Three different ETSDA models are considered herein: The conventional, the Miller cuff, and the hood models. Materials and Methods: The ETSDA shape optimization is driven by three computational objects: a localized collocation meshless method (LCMM) solver, an automated geometry pre-processor, and a genetic-algorithm-based …

Evaluation Of Climatic And Ecohydrological Effects On Longwave Radiation And Evapotranspiration, Maria Rizou

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Modern tools, nontraditional datasets and a better understanding of the interaction between climate and ecohydrology are continuously being developed as today's society is in critical need for improving water management, predicting hydrometeorological hazards and forecasting future climate. In particular, the study of the intra- and inter-annual variations in grass productivity and evapotranspiration caused by variations in precipitation/soil moisture and other biophysical factors is of great significance due to their relation to future climatic changes. The research presented here falls in three parts. In the first part of the dissertation, a land use adaptable model, based on the superposition of the …

Sustainable Fault-Handling Of Reconfigurable Logic Using Throughput-Driven Assessment, Carthik Sharma

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A sustainable Evolvable Hardware (EH) system is developed for SRAM-based reconfigurable Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) using outlier detection and group testing-based assessment principles. The fault diagnosis methods presented herein leverage throughput-driven, relative fitness assessment to maintain resource viability autonomously. Group testing-based techniques are developed for adaptive input-driven fault isolation in FPGAs, without the need for exhaustive testing or coding-based evaluation. The techniques maintain the device operational, and when possible generate validated outputs throughout the repair process. Adaptive fault isolation methods based on discrepancy-enabled pair-wise comparisons are developed. By observing the discrepancy characteristics of multiple Concurrent Error Detection (CED) configurations, …

Modeling Lane-Based Traffic Flow In Emergency Situations In The Presence Of Multiple Heterogeneous Flows, Amani Saleh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, natural, man-made and technological disasters have been increasing in magnitude and frequency of occurrence. Terrorist attacks have increased after the September 11, 2001. Some authorities suggest that global warming is partly the blame for the increase in frequency of natural disasters, such as the series of hurricanes in the early-2000's. Furthermore, there has been noticeable growth in population within many metropolitan areas not only in the US but also worldwide. These and other facts motivate the need for better emergency evacuation route planning (EERP) approaches in order to minimize the loss of human lives and property. This …

Alayzing The Effects Of Modularity On Search Spaces, Ozlem Garibay

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We are continuously challenged by ever increasing problem complexity and the need to develop algorithms that can solve complex problems and solve them within a reasonable amount of time. Modularity is thought to reduce problem complexity by decomposing large problems into smaller and less complex subproblems. In practice, introducing modularity into evolutionary algorithm representations appears to improve search performance; however, how and why modularity improves performance is not well understood. In this thesis, we seek to better understand the effects of modularity on search. In particular, what are the effects of module creation on the search space structure and how …

Development Of Hydraulic And Soil Properties For Soil Amendments And Native Soils For Retention Ponds In Marion County, Florida, Lisa Naujock

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The vadose zone plays an important role in managing stormwater. Predicting the water balance and water movement is crucial in ground water remediation to keep water suitable for use. To aid in understanding soils ability to transmit and store water, soil and hydraulic properties were analyzed for soils in Marion County, Florida, and potential soil amendments. Soil and hydraulic properties were examined for two soil amendments and for the soils in Marion County, Florida, at the South Oak and the Hunter's Trace locations. The hydraulic properties measured were the soil moisture retention curve (SMRC) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks). The …

Reducing Effluent Phosphorus And Nitrogen Concentrations From A Stormwater Detention Pond Using A Chamber Upflow Filter And Skim, Patrick Ryan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stormwater runoff is a known pollutant source capable of causing surface water degradation, especially in highly populated areas such as Central Florida. Wet detention ponds manage this stormwater, but most of the ponds do not remove enough nutrients, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus, to meet TMDL regulations. This research provides a possible addition to a detention pond in Seminole County, Florida using a Chamber Upflow Filter and Skimmer (CUFS), which can increase the removal of phosphorus and nitrogen by the system. Water enters the system through the skimmer, which floats on the surface of the detention pond. It travels from the …

Developmemnt Of A Modeling And Simulation Training Needs Model For Selected Defense Acquisition Workforce Communities, Lik Chun Peh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The DoD Modeling and Simulation Steering Committee (M&S SC) identified Modeling and Simulation (M&S) as an educational objective for the Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT&L) workforce. Notably, past usages of M&S in system acquisitions for both DoD and commercial industry have demonstrated improvements in efficiency and effectiveness over traditional acquisition techniques. However, to achieve expected and consistent performance by this workforce in these new techniques, the M&S essential skill requirements for this workforce may be extensive. This research aims to validate the content and level of competency in selected M&S tools and technology necessary for consistent workforce performance. The notion …

Determining Florida Landfill Odor Buffer Distances Using Aermod, Veronica Figueroa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As U.S. landfills continue to grow in size, concerns about odorous gas emissions from landfills are increasing. For states that are expanding in population, such as Florida, odors from landfills are a major concern because new housing developments, needed to accommodate the rapid population growth, are creeping closer and closer to the existing landfills. As homes get closer to landfills, odor complaints are likely to become more frequent, causing landfill managers increased problems with public interactions. Odor buffer zones around landfills need to be established to give municipalities tools to help prevent the building of future homes too close to …

Integration Of A Nanostructure Embedded Thermoresponsive Polymer For Microfluidic Applications, Ghanashyam Londe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work describes the modeling, synthesis, integration and characterization of a novel nanostructure embedded thermoresponsive material for microfluidic applications. The innumerable applications of thermoresponsive surfaces in the recent years have necessitated the development of a rigorous mathematical treatment for these surfaces to understand and improve their behavior. An analytical model is proposed to describe the transfer characteristic (variation of contact angle versus temperature) of a unique switchable, nanostructured, thermoresponsive surface consisting of silica nanoparticles and the thermoresponsive polymer, Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide ) (PNIPAAm) which changes its wetting angle upon heating. Important metrics such as the absolute lower critical solution temperature, threshold & …

User-Defined Patterning Of Neural Progenitor Cells On 3d Micropillar Arrays Using Round Cross-Sectional Geometry, Specific Dimen, Andrea Wesser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The ability to control stem cell functions, particularly neuronal progenitors, has long since been believed to be the key to successful treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and accidents involving head trauma. The neurology field calls for many new solutions to address the controlled neural stem cell seeding and placement of cells for neural tissue regeneration. Self-assembled monolayers (SAM) from the alkanethiol group provide a straightforward applicable, reliable treatment for cell adhesion. An ODT/gold treatment was used to adhere the cells to patterned areas, due mainly to a high confluence of cells attracted to it, as well as …

A Comparative Analysis Of Green Roof Designs Including Depth Of Media, Drainage Layer Materials, And Pollution Control Media, Matt Kelly

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Population growth has lead to an increase in development and impervious areas in urban settings. Post-development conditions cause several problems for stormwater management such as limited space for stormwater storage systems and the conveyance of pollution picked up by runoff to near by water bodies. Green Roofs with cisterns have been shown to attenuate the peak flow of storm events and reduce the pollution load leaving a site and entering nearby water bodies. The purpose of this research is to expand the available research data on green roofs with cisterns by investigating the water quality and hydrology effects of different …

Dordt College 2008-2009 Catalog, Dordt College. Registrar's Office

Academic Catalogs

Academic Catalog for 2008-2009

Splitting Genes: The Future Of Genetically Modified Organisms In The Wake Of The Wto/Cartagena Standoff, Samuel Blaustein

Penn State Environmental Law Review (1991 - 2011)

No abstract provided.

The Bison: 2008, Howard University

Howard University Yearbooks

This digital object was funded in part through a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The digitalization of this object was part of a collaborative effort with the Washington Research Library Consortium and George Washington University.

Environmental Cooperation In The (Partially) Disaggregated State: Lessons From The Security And Prosperity Partnership Of North America, Neil Craik, Joseph Dimento

Chicago Journal of International Law

On August 20 and 21, 2007, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, US President George W. Bush, and Mexican President Felipe Calder6n met in Montebello, Quebec to discuss the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America ("SPP"), a trilateral initiative that has as its objective enhanced regulatory cooperation between the three North American states in order to improve continental security and regional competitiveness. Despite being described in prosaic terms by government officials and industry supporters as a primarily technical exercise, the SPP has attracted trenchant criticism across the political spectrum. The SPP has been described variously as "integration by stealth," the …

The Wto And Biofuels: The Possibility Of Unilateral Sustainability Requirements, Enrique Rene De Vera

Chicago Journal of International Law

This Development introduces the international legal issues raised by increasing trade in biofuels. Section II of the Development surveys the current biofuel landscape, providing statistics on the use and trade of biofuels, and discusses the prospect for increased production and trade in biofuels. Section III discusses the concept of sustainability-particularly in the context of biofuel production-as well as WTO treatment of past efforts to regulate trade based on environmental concerns. In conclusion, Section IV argues that current WTO jurisprudence leaves open the possibility that WTO members may rightfully discriminate against unsustainably produced biofuels.

Reproductive Tourism And The Role Of The European Union, Elizabeth Ferrari Morris

Chicago Journal of International Law

This Development will focus on the role that the EU can and should play in administering the reproductive technology needs of its Member States. First, this Development will delve into the specific problems that have arisen from lack of central regulation. The discussion will then turn to current EU regulation practices of donated cell material and how these initiatives are insufficient to confront the public health problems produced by reproductive tourism. Finally, the argument concludes by discussing how the EU can administer cell donations more effectively and in a manner that is more consistent with its other bioethical practices without …

Loving Before And After The Law, Loving Before And After The Law, Angela P. Harris

Fordham Law Review

No abstract provided.

Loving Gender Balance: Reframing Identity-Based Inequality Remedies, Darren Rosenblum

Fordham Law Review

No abstract provided.

A Novel Method For The Production Of Potentially Therapeutic Human Monoclonal Antibodies In Vitro, Adria L. Bykowski

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

We have developed a novel approach for the production of potentially therapeutic human monoclonal antibodies in vitro. This method holds great promise for generating therapeutic antibodies against infectious disease, cancer, and inflammation. The complex nature of current methods for producing human monoclonal antibodies is a major impediment to large scale passive transfer immunotherapy. Our novel technique utilizes Epstein-Barr virus immortalized tonsil or peripheral blood B cells from healthy human volunteers. These B cells are forced to undergo non-specific differentiation to become mature IgG antibody producing plasma "like" cells that continuously proliferate in vitro. Using this method, millions of transformed B …

Rapid Identification Of New England Freshwater Copepods Using A Novel Genetic Barcode, Elisah B. Allan

Master's Theses and Capstones

Identification of freshwater calanoid and cyclopoid copepods is limited to adults of certain sexes because morphological keys are mostly based on mature reproductive structures, necessitating an alternate method. Genetic barcodes are an additional tool for distinguishing species using variation in short segments of DNA. I tested the utility of the 28S rDNA D3 expansion segment as a barcode for identifying five species of calanoids and five species of cyclopoids from multiple lakes from New England. Neighbor-joining trees grouped all conspecifics together with high bootstrap support, except for Leptodiaptomus minutus. Comparisons of intra- vs. interspecific variation revealed a barcode gap for …

Exploring Decision Making By Occupational Therapists In A School Setting, Jason J. Backes

Master's Theses and Capstones

Occupational therapists working in schools make many decisions regarding evaluation and services to support a student's special education. Six school-based occupational therapists from the Midwest shared, through interviews, how they chose assessment methods and tools for a particular student and how their evaluation findings were used to make service delivery decisions for that student. This group of therapists addressed team members' concerns, focusing on how sensory processing, handwriting, and functional skills influence a student's schoolwork performance. Their decisions regarding assessments were determined by the needs of the student and the questions raised by the educational team. Their evaluation information contributed …

Use Of Genetic Tagging To Estimate Abundance And Detect Spatial Patterns Of Black Bears In New Hampshire, Stephanie Coster

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abundance estimates for black bears (Ursus americanus) are an important tool for effective management. Recent advancements in DNA technology have enabled genetic tagging mark-recapture population estimates using DNA from hair samples. I conducted a population estimate using genetic tagging in 2 study sites presumed to have different bear densities in northern New Hampshire (Pittsburg and Milan). To test repeatability, I conducted the genetic tagging estimates in 2 consecutive years. I also compared these estimates to those derived from traditional methods used by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFG) using hunter harvest and mortality data. I found that the …

Effects Of Vegetated Buffers On Salt Marsh Plant Composition And Groundwater Nitrogen Uptake, Joanne Singfield Glode

Master's Theses and Capstones

Vegetated shoreline buffers are a best management practice to reduce anthropogenic nitrogen influences on estuarine ecology. This study examined the effects of buffers on (1) groundwater chemistry; (2) the salt marsh border plant community (fertilized and control); and (3) Agropyron pungens response to fertilization. All buffer widths (5 to 15 meters) were somewhat effective at removing groundwater nutrients, with greater concentrations of TDN, NO3--N, NH4 +-N, and DOC found in groundwater wells upslope of the buffer. Although on-site manure storage resulted in 30-fold greater groundwater nitrate concentrations (mean 23 mg/L) at the widest buffer, no differences were found in nitrate …