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2008

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Improved Constrained Global Optimization For Estimating Molecular Structure From Atomic Distances, Terri Marie Grant Jan 2008

Improved Constrained Global Optimization For Estimating Molecular Structure From Atomic Distances, Terri Marie Grant

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

Determination of molecular structure is commonly posed as a nonlinear optimization problem. The objective functions rely on a vast amount of structural data. As a result, the objective functions are most often nonconvex, nonsmooth, and possess many local minima. Furthermore, introduction of additional structural data into the objective function creates barriers in finding the global minimum, causes additional computational issues associated with evaluating the function, and makes physical constraint enforcement intractable. To combat the computational problems associated with standard nonlinear optimization formulations, Williams et al. (2001) proposed an atom-based optimization, referred to as GNOMAD, which complements a simple interatomic distance …

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The Influence Of Demographic Characteristics, Cognitive And Non-Cognitive Attributes On The Effectiveness Of The Ladders Probation Intervention Program, Terri M. Mathews Jan 2008

The Influence Of Demographic Characteristics, Cognitive And Non-Cognitive Attributes On The Effectiveness Of The Ladders Probation Intervention Program, Terri M. Mathews

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Retention is an important measure for institutions of higher education thereby making improved academic success and increased retention of paramount concern to university administrators. This concern has resulted in a body of literature addressing retention and the development of retention programs. Few of these programs however, have been empirically evaluated for their effectiveness and repeatedly, the literature has cited the need for evaluation of retention and probation programs across demographic, cognitive and non-cognitive characteristics. The purpose of this research was to determine whether the LADDERS (Let Academic Difficulty Disappear to Energize and Retain Students) program developed by Old Dominion University …

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Hypersonic Boundary Layer Receptivity To Acoustic Disturbances Over Cones, Kursat Kara Jan 2008

Hypersonic Boundary Layer Receptivity To Acoustic Disturbances Over Cones, Kursat Kara

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The receptivity mechanisms of hypersonic boundary layers to free stream acoustic disturbances are studied using both linear stability theory (LST) and direct numerical simulations (DNS). A computational code is developed for numerical simulation of steady and unsteady hypersonic flow over cones by combining a fifth-order weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) scheme with third-order total-variation-diminishing (TVD) Runge-Kutta method. Hypersonic boundary layer receptivity to free-stream acoustic disturbances in slow and fast modes over 5-degree, half-angle blunt cones and wedges are numerically investigated. The free-stream Mach number is 6.0, and the unit Reynolds number is 7.8×106/ft. Both the steady and unsteady solutions are obtained …

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The Impact Of Participation In A Virginia Community College Orientation Program Course On Student Engagement, Satisfaction, Academic Achievement, And Retention, Wendy L. Tighe Jan 2008

The Impact Of Participation In A Virginia Community College Orientation Program Course On Student Engagement, Satisfaction, Academic Achievement, And Retention, Wendy L. Tighe

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Participation in an orientation program course and several student engagement and satisfaction factors have been identified as positively related to desirable student outcomes. This study explored student engagement, satisfaction, academic achievement, and retention for students based on their enrollment in an orientation course at Tidewater Community College (TCC) in Virginia. This study used a cross-sectional, static group comparison secondary data analysis approach to explore four research questions. The Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) data used for this study came from the TCC spring 2005 Community College Student Report (CCSR) this study determined whether or not participation in an …

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Experimental Investigation Of Active Control Of Bluff Body Vortex Shedding, Ilteris Koc Jan 2008

Experimental Investigation Of Active Control Of Bluff Body Vortex Shedding, Ilteris Koc

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Mean and fluctuating forces acting on a body are strongly related to vortex shedding generated behind it. Therefore, it is possible to obtain substantial reductions of at least the unsteady forces if vortex shedding is controlled or its regularity is reduced. While conventional active flow control methods are mainly concerned with direct interaction with, and alteration of, the mean flow about a body, modern techniques involve altering existing flow instabilities using relatively small inputs to obtain large-scale changes of mean flows. Aerodynamic flow control may be intended to delay or suppress boundary layer separation through creation of a boundary layer …

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Dgm-Fd: A Finite Difference Scheme Based On The Discontinuous Galerkin Method, Anne Marguerite Fernando Jan 2008

Dgm-Fd: A Finite Difference Scheme Based On The Discontinuous Galerkin Method, Anne Marguerite Fernando

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

Accurate and efficient numerical wave propagation is important in many areas of study such as computational aero-acoustics (CAA). While dissipation and dispersion errors influence the accuracy of a method, efficiency can be assessed by convergence rates and effective adaptability to different mesh structures. Finite difference and finite element methods are commonly used numerical schemes in CAA. Finite difference methods have the advantages of ease of use as well as high order convergence, but often require a uniform grid, and stable boundary closure can be non-trivial. Finite element methods adapt well to different mesh structures but can become difficult to implement …

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Social-Cognitive Biases In Simulated Airline Luggage Screening, Jeremy R. Brown Jan 2008

Social-Cognitive Biases In Simulated Airline Luggage Screening, Jeremy R. Brown

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The study examined the role that social-cognitive biases play in decision making processes during airline luggage screening, Participants (n = 96) performed a computer simulated task where they tried to detect hidden weapons in 200 x-ray images of passenger luggage. Participants saw each luggage image for either two seconds (high time pressure) or six seconds (low time pressure). In addition, on each trial, participants observed the pictures of the "passenger" to whom the luggage purportedly belongs. The "pre-anchor group" answered questions about the passenger before the luggage image appears, the "post-anchor" group answered questions after the luggage appears, and the …

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The Relationship Between Rural Middle School Student Mathematics Achievement And Classroom Sense Of Community, John E. Donlan Jan 2008

The Relationship Between Rural Middle School Student Mathematics Achievement And Classroom Sense Of Community, John E. Donlan

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

This study addressed the need for more information about academic growth and achievement in mathematics, and how it relates to sense of community in middle school settings. This was accomplished by applying the Classroom and School Community Inventory (CSCI) construct (Rovai, Wighting, & Lucking, 2004) to all three middle schools in one rural county. The CSCI was utilized to measure sense of community in mathematics classes to determine if differences existed between grades six, seven, and eight, including gender subgroups, among the three middle schools in the same rural county. This study examined academic growth in the subject of mathematics …

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School District Budgeting In The Era Of Increased Accountability And No Child Left Behind: A Mixed Methods Case Study Of School District Budgeting Processes And The Correlation To Student Achievement, Scott Alan Burckbuchler Jan 2008

School District Budgeting In The Era Of Increased Accountability And No Child Left Behind: A Mixed Methods Case Study Of School District Budgeting Processes And The Correlation To Student Achievement, Scott Alan Burckbuchler

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

School district budgeting decisions take on added significance in light of fulfilling the objectives of No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). If NCLB's goal of 100% student proficiency by 2014 is to be realized, school districts, as part of their improvement plans, need to focus on how to ensure that appropriate resources are available to fund proven instructional strategies which produce results. Budgeting merges resources and results. This study examines school district budgeting processes in light of NCLB. Overall, it appears that, in the school districts represented, budgeting practices have changed since the introduction of NCLB. More specifically, there has …

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The Non-Cognitive Attributes Of First-Year At-Risk Students Who Are Academically Successful And Retained At Old Dominion University, Tisha M. Paredes Jan 2008

The Non-Cognitive Attributes Of First-Year At-Risk Students Who Are Academically Successful And Retained At Old Dominion University, Tisha M. Paredes

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

With a decrease in state and federal funding, higher educational institutions need to focus on retaining students. However, student retention is a multifaceted problem that requires varied solutions. Traditional measures, or cognitive measures, of student success, such as pre-college knowledge (SAT and high school grade point average) have not explained how higher education institutions retained students, especially students who are considered at-risk. Since the nature of student retention is idiosyncratic, research needs to focus on other measures, such as students' non-cognitive factors. Tinto has outlined non-cognitive factors, such as pre-college characteristics, goals and commitments, and institutional experiences, which influence students' …

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Rapid Prototyping For Virtual Environments, Emre Baydogan Jan 2008

Rapid Prototyping For Virtual Environments, Emre Baydogan

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Development of Virtual Environment (VE) applications is challenging where application developers are required to have expertise in the target VE technologies along with the problem domain expertise. New VE technologies impose a significant learning curve to even the most experienced VE developer. The proposed solution relies on synthesis to automate the migration of a VE application to a new unfamiliar VE platform/technology. To solve the problem, the Common Scene Definition Framework (CSDF) is developed, that serves as a superset/model representation of the target virtual world. Input modules are developed to populate the framework with the capabilities of the virtual world …

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Russian Wheat Aphid, Erin W. Hodgson, Jay B. Karren Jan 2008

Russian Wheat Aphid, Erin W. Hodgson, Jay B. Karren

All Current Publications

Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Hemiptera: Aphididae), was first found in the U.S. in 1986, and is currently found in 16 western states (Fig. 1). In Utah, Russian wheat aphid was first detected in wheat and barley in San Juan County in 1987; now it is confirmed in every Utah county but Daggett, Piute, and Rich. Russian wheat aphids can build up to high numbers and cause significant plant damage.

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Snow Mold On Turfgrass, Kent Evans, Erin Frank, Taun Beddes, Jaydee Gunnell Jan 2008

Snow Mold On Turfgrass, Kent Evans, Erin Frank, Taun Beddes, Jaydee Gunnell

All Current Publications

Shothole borers (Fig. 1) are bark beetles that may attack stressed or injured trees. They have a wide host range, including all fruit trees grown in Utah, quince, loquat, serviceberry, wild cherry, chokecherry, mountain ash, hawthorn and elm. In Utah, apple, cherry, pear, and hawthorn are preferred hosts.

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Wheat Stripe Rust, Mike Pace, Clark Israelsen, Kent Evans, James Barnhill Jan 2008

Wheat Stripe Rust, Mike Pace, Clark Israelsen, Kent Evans, James Barnhill

All Current Publications

Stripe rust, or yellow rust, is primarily a foliar fungal disease of wheat, although it can infect spike and stem tissues. If the pathogen infects the spike (head) it causes extensive quality and grain yield loss. The disease is caused by the fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici. The fungus can only survive and reproduce on wheat. It survives from one season to the next on volunteer plants.

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Fleas, Erin W. Hodgson, Jay B. Karren, Alan H. Roe Jan 2008

Fleas, Erin W. Hodgson, Jay B. Karren, Alan H. Roe

All Current Publications

Fleas transmit disease and parasitic worms, and cause allergic dermatitis to humans and animals. There are about 2,000 different flea species in the world and at least 325 species in North America, all belonging to the order Siphonaptera. Fleas are not likely to be confused with other insects because adults are flattened dorsal-ventrally, or side-to-side.

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Human Lice, Erin W. Hodgson Jan 2008

Human Lice, Erin W. Hodgson

All Current Publications

Lice infestations on humans, called pediculosis, is very common worldwide. Lice can transmit disease and are parasitic insects on humans, pets and livestock. Lice belong to the order Phthiraptera and are generally divided into two groups based on mouthparts and feeding preferences. Chewing lice (Mallophaga) have well developed mandibles and eat skin, feathers, and fur from birds and mammals.

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Reduced Order Modeling Of Time-Dependent Reflectance Profiles From Purely Scattering Media, R. Scott Larson, Matthew R. Jones Jan 2008

Reduced Order Modeling Of Time-Dependent Reflectance Profiles From Purely Scattering Media, R. Scott Larson, Matthew R. Jones

Faculty Publications

Due to the widespread existence and importance of foam, inverse techniques for characterizing industrial foams are of interest. An essential element in an inverse method used to characterize a foam layer is a model of the time-dependent reflectance of a laser pulse. Monte Carlo methods may be used to accurately model reflectance, but these methods are computationally expensive. Computationally efficient methods based on the diffusion approximation have been developed, but this approach is not sufficiently accurate in many cases of interest. Therefore, a computationally efficient and robust method is desirable. This paper presents a computationally efficient method for modeling the …

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A Fragment On Euler's Constant In Ramanujan's Lost Notebook, Bruce C. Berndt, Timothy Huber Jan 2008

A Fragment On Euler's Constant In Ramanujan's Lost Notebook, Bruce C. Berndt, Timothy Huber

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

A formula for Euler’s constant found in Ramanujan’s lost notebook and also in a problem he submitted to the Journal of the Indian Mathematical Society is proved and discussed.

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Patient Simulator Sessions And Critical Thinking, Patricia K. Ravert Jan 2008

Patient Simulator Sessions And Critical Thinking, Patricia K. Ravert

Faculty Publications

The project purpose was too determine whether measures of critical thinking show differences between three groups (simulator, non-simulator, control) of baccalaureate nursing students. The second purpose was to determine the moderating effect of students' preferred learning style. All groups experienced a moderate to large effect size in critical thinking scores. The corrected model for the total scale gain score was statistically significant but not significant for learning style or group.

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Critical Thinking As Disciplinary Practice, Stephen C. Yanchar, Brent D. Slife, Russell Warne Jan 2008

Critical Thinking As Disciplinary Practice, Stephen C. Yanchar, Brent D. Slife, Russell Warne

Faculty Publications

Critical thinking in psychology has traditionally focused on method-centered tasks such as the assessment of method use, data analysis, and research evidence. Although helpful in some ways, this form of critical thinking fails to provide resources for critically examining the scientific-analytic foundation on which it rests and, when used exclusively, prohibits sufficiently critical analysis of theory and research. An alternative view of critical thinking—that emphasizes the identification and evaluation of implicit theoretical assumptions—is advocated. It is suggested that this alternative approach improves upon method-centered approaches by addressing not only implicit assumptions but also rule-following concerns. This approach is intended to …

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An Action For A Classical String, The Equation Of Motion And Group Invariant Classical Solutions, Paul Bracken Jan 2008

An Action For A Classical String, The Equation Of Motion And Group Invariant Classical Solutions, Paul Bracken

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

A string action which is essentially a Willmore functional is presented and studied. This action determines the physics of a surface in Euclidean three space which can be used to model classical string configurations. By varying this action an equation of motion for the mean curvature of the surface is obtained which is shown to govern certain classical string configurations. Several classes of classical solutions for this equation are discussed from the symmetry group point of view and an application is presented.

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Quantum Phases For A Generalized Harmonic Oscillator, Paul Bracken Jan 2008

Quantum Phases For A Generalized Harmonic Oscillator, Paul Bracken

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

An effective Hamiltonian for the generalized harmonic oscillator is determined by using squeezed state wavefunctions. The equations of motion over an extended phase space are determined and then solved perturbatively for a specific choice of the oscillator parameters. These results are used to calculate the dynamic and geometric phases for the generalized oscillator with this choice of parameters.

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Perceived Versus Used Workplace Flexibility In Singapore: Predicting Work–Family Fit, Blake L. Jones, D. Phillip Scoville, E. Jeffrey Hill, Geniel Childs, Joan M. Leishman, Kathryn S. Nally Jan 2008

Perceived Versus Used Workplace Flexibility In Singapore: Predicting Work–Family Fit, Blake L. Jones, D. Phillip Scoville, E. Jeffrey Hill, Geniel Childs, Joan M. Leishman, Kathryn S. Nally

Faculty Publications

This study examined the relationship of 2 types of workplace flexibility to work–family fit and work, personal, and marriage–family outcomes using data (N 􏰀 1,601) representative of employed persons in Singapore. We hypothesized that perceived and used workplace flexibility would be positively related to the study variables. Results derived from structural equation modeling revealed that perceived flexibility predicted work–family fit; however, used flexibility did not. Work–family fit related positively to each work, personal, and marriage–family outcome; however, workplace flexibility only predicted work and personal outcomes. Findings suggest work–family fit may be an important facilitating factor in the interface between work …

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Fall 2008 Jan 2008

Fall 2008

University of Richmond Magazine

No abstract provided.

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Spring 2008 Jan 2008

Spring 2008

University of Richmond Magazine

No abstract provided.

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Winter 2008 Jan 2008

Winter 2008

University of Richmond Magazine

No abstract provided.

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An Outcomes Assessment Of Two Therapeutic Group Homes Serving Children With Reactive Attachment Disorder In A Rural Community, Brooke Rose Spangler Jan 2008

An Outcomes Assessment Of Two Therapeutic Group Homes Serving Children With Reactive Attachment Disorder In A Rural Community, Brooke Rose Spangler

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Archival data collected on 35 4-12-year-old children, each of whom completed treatment for reactive attachment disorder (RAD), was used to evaluate a treatment program in a rural northwestern community. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) (Achenbach, 1991) and Youth Outcomes Questionnaire (Y-OQ) (Burlingame, Wells, & Lambert, 1996) were completed by coding behaviors early in treatment and late in treatment from behavioral records. A correlational design was used, and t-test, repeated measures and fixed factor analyses of variance were conducted. Results showed that there was an overall decrease in the amount of maladaptive behaviors at the conclusion of residential treatment for attachment …

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Book Review – Situated Fathering: A Focus On Physical And Social Spaces, Erin K. Holmes Jan 2008

Book Review – Situated Fathering: A Focus On Physical And Social Spaces, Erin K. Holmes

Faculty Publications

When it comes to scholarship on fatherhood (especially my own), I have too often found myself asking the question, "Could this argument really hold up in a variety of fathering circumstances?" However, by the time I finished Situated Fathering: A Focus on Physical and Social Spaces, I no longer needed to ask that question. Instead, I felt confident that the volume's editors and authors offered a more sound theoretical and empirical foundation for the exploration of fathering settings and circumstances than most other work I have read.

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Program Accountability In Teacher Education: A Study Of The Perceptions Of University And State Government Leaders In The State Of Washington, Gary W. Ballou Jan 2008

Program Accountability In Teacher Education: A Study Of The Perceptions Of University And State Government Leaders In The State Of Washington, Gary W. Ballou

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation explored the perceptions of accountability in teacher education programs in the State of Washington across three different stakeholder groups: university deans and/or program directors, legislators, and executive staff members (Governor). This qualitative study involved three (3) rounds of interviews. First, individual open-ended interviews were conducted with 30 individuals (10 Washington state legislators, 5 executive staff members, and 15 university deans/program directors). Second, individual follow-up interviews were conducted with 5 participants from the first round of interviews. Third, a focus group comprised of the same 5 participants from the follow-up interviews were asked for even deeper specifications and insights …

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Promoting Supportive Relationships In Youth Programs: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective, Mat D. Duerden, Ann Gillard Jan 2008

Promoting Supportive Relationships In Youth Programs: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective, Mat D. Duerden, Ann Gillard

Faculty Publications

Although research suggests that positive contact with nonparental adults is developmentally beneficial for youth; many adolescents do not have access to such relationships. It is important that adults structure existing relationships to optimize positive youth development. Relationships with adults, who support youth’s needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence, provide youth with scaffolding as they navigate their way through adolescence. Self-Determination Theory offers a straight-forward approach to understanding the elements of contexts that best promote the development of supportive relationships. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature concerning youth-adult relationships, including their associated prevalence and developmental benefits across …

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