Digital Commons Network^™

A Drama Of Discourse: Competing Narratives In The Book Of Job, Hannah Louise Coffey

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study engages the biblical Book of Job, subsequent medieval commentaries, and literary sources from the 15 through 20 centuries that use the language and motifs canonized in the Book of Job. This thesis is primarily concerned with the multiple stylistic elements used in the work and how they constitute a discourse of their own, or as has been sometimes asserted by critics, “competing narratives.” This discourse then finds voice in the usage of the Joban motif by other authors in works of ambiguous genre, lending credence to the complicated and multifaceted nature of the Book of Job’s genre and …

Complete Issue

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

No abstract provided.

Motivation While Designing In Engineering And Technology Education Impacted By Academic Preparation, Nathan Mentzer, Kurt Becker

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

The purpose of this study was to determine if high school students’ academic preparation was correlated with change in motivation during an engineering design challenge. The research was conducted in a high school classroom in which elements of engineering design were taught in a technology education context to eleventh-grade student from diverse academic backgrounds (measured by grade point average [GPA]). Participant motivation was assessed by the California Measure of Mental Motivation (CM3). The CM3 measures student motivation to apply critical thinking skills and reasoning to solve problems in five subscales: mental focus, learning orientation, creative problem solving, cognitive integrity, and …

Empirical Mode Decomposition Operator For Dewowing Gpr Data, Bradley M. Battista, Adrian Addison, Camelia C. Knapp

Faculty Publications

Signal processing tools available to ground penetrating radar data used for shallow subsurface imaging and hydrogeophysical parameter estimation are significantly handled using the same tools available to seismic reflection data. Overall, the same tools produce interpretable images from both data types, but particular noise (wow noise) in electromagnetic data must be removed before stable and accurate quantitative results can be produced. Wow noise is an inherent, nonlinear electromagnetic interference and a significant component of GPR data. Further, the nonlinear and non-stationary nature of wow noise provides a strong argument for preprocessing radar traces with time-domain operators. Time-domain operators designed for …

The Ecology Of The Peaks Of Otter Salamander (Plethodon Hubrichti) In Sympatry With The Eastern Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodon Cinereus), Norman Reichenbach, Andrew Kniowski

Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Peaks of Otter Salamander, Plethodon hubrichti, is found along a 19 km length of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia, USA, often in sympatry with the Eastern Red-backed Salamander, P. cinereus. In a sympatric area of Bedford County, Virginia, we conducted a mark-recapture study on a 10 × 10 m site. Surface densities of salamanders increased as the number of days without precipitation prior to a collection event increased. This suggests vertical movements in response to surface moisture. When salamanders returned to the surface after rain, individuals appeared to “shuffle” between rocks and likely, leaf litter. That is, we were …

Systematic Analysis Of Double-Ionization Dynamics Based On Four-Body Dalitz Plots, Daniel Fischer, Michael Schulz, Katharina R. Schneider, Marcelo F. Ciappina, Tom Kirchner, Aditya H. Kelkar, S. Hagman, Manfred Grieser, Kai Uwe Kuhnel, Robert Moshammer, Joachim Hermann Ullrich

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We report on an experimental and theoretical systematic study of double ionization of helium by ion impact in terms of four-particle Dalitz plots. Several collision systems covering abroad range of perturbation parameters η (projectile charge to speed ratio) were investigated. With increasing η we observe a systematic trend from features, characteristic to correlated double-ionization mechanisms, to signatures of higher-order processes not requiring electron-electron correlations [the mechanism called "two-step-two projectile-electron interaction" (TS-2)]. The data for the largest η can qualitatively be amazingly well described by a simple model only including the TS-2 mechanism.

Suitability Of Bench Top Metal Lathes In Education, Alex Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of Internationalised Domain Name Homograph Attack Mitigation, Peter Hannay, Christopher Bolan

Australian Information Security Management Conference

With the advent of internationalised domains the threat posed by non-english character sets has eventuated. Whilst this phenomenon remains well known in the development and internet industry the actual implementations of popular applications have been tested to determine their resilience to homograph based attack. The research found that most provided features that overcome such attacks, but there remain a few notable exceptions. Should an attacker take advantage of such oversights a victim would likely not be able to spot a fraudulent site or email and thus provide a perfect platform for subsequent attack.

The 2009 Personal Firewall Robustness Evaluation, Ken Pydayya, Peter Hannay, Patryk Szewczyk

Australian Information Security Management Conference

The evolution of the internet as a platform for commerce, banking, general information and personal communications has resulted in a situation where many individuals who may not have previously required internet access now require this connectivity as part of their everyday lives. In addition to this the widespread adoption of mobile broadband has lead to an increasing number of individuals having public facing IP addresses with no firewall appliances present. This situation has dramatically increased reliance on personal firewalls as the first and often last defence against intruders (human and malware alike). The evaluation performed demonstrates the capabilities of current …

Electronic-Supply Chain Information Security: A Framework For Information, Alizera Bolhari

Australian Information Security Management Conference

Over the last few years, the materials and distribution management has developed into a broader strategic approach known as electronic supply chain management by means of information technology. This paper attempts to visibly describe supply chain management information security concepts which are necessary for managers to know about. So, the depth of information presented in this paper is calibrated for managers, not technical security employees or agents. Global supply chains are exposed to diverse types of risks that rise along with increasing globalization. Electronic supply chains will be more vulnerable from information security (IS) aspect among other types of supply …

Exploring The Relationship Between Organizational Culture And Information Security Culture, Joo S. Lim, Shanton Chang, Sean Maynard, Atif Ahmad

Australian Information Security Management Conference

Managing Information Security is becoming more challenging in today’s business because people are both a cause of information security incidents as well as a key part of the protection from them. As the impact of organizational culture (OC) on employees is significant, many researchers have called for the creation of information security culture (ISC) in organizations to influence the actions and behaviour of employees towards better organizational information security. Although researchers have called for the creation of ISC to be embedded in organizations, nonetheless, literature suggests that little past research examining the relationship between the nature of OC and ISC. …

Southern Alumni, Siu Alumni Association

SIU Alumni Magazine

No abstract provided.

The White Dwarfs Within 20 Parsecs Of The Sun: Kinematics And Statistics, Edward M. Sion, Jay B. Holberg, Terry D. Oswalt, George P. Mccook, Richard Wasatonic

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Faculty Publications

We present the kinematical properties, distribution of spectroscopic subtypes, and stellar population subcomponents of the white dwarfs within 20 pc of the Sun. We find no convincing evidence of halo white dwarfs in the total 20 pc sample of 129 white dwarfs nor is there convincing evidence of genuine thick disk subcomponent members within 20 parsecs. Virtually, the entire 20 pc sample likely belongs to the thin disk. The total DA to non-DA ratio of the 20 pc sample is 1.6, a manifestation of deepening envelope convection which transforms DA stars with sufficiently thin H surface layers into non-DAs. The …

Environmental Implications Of Francisella Tularensis Biofilms, Jeffrey J. Margolis '00

Doctoral Dissertations

Francisella tularensis survives in one of the widest environmental ranges of any pathogen. Numerous mammals and arthropod vectors are infected by this highly virulent organism. How this zoonotic pathogen persists outside of its many hosts remains unexplored. We aimed to examine how F. tularensis interacts with environmental surfaces, and hypothesized that biofilm formation may enable survival of this organism in nature. By understanding the role these surface-attached bacterial communities play in F. tularensis ecology, we hope to gain insight into the mechanisms of environmental persistence and transmission of this pathogen.

We identify chitin as a potential non-host niche for F. …

The Role Of Multiple Ccaat-Binding Factors In Candida Albicans Gene Expression, Lashall Lynn Bates

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The CCAAT-binding factor is a heterooligomeric transcription factor that is evolutionarily conserved in eukaryotes. In yeast, the DNA-binding component that interacts with the CCAAT consensus sequence in promoters consists of the subunits termed Hap2p, Hap3p and Hap5p. In yeast and fungi, a fourth subunit, Hap4p, is required for regulating gene expression. The goal of this research is to understand the function of the Candida albicans CCAAT-binding factor and how it relates to virulence and pathogenicity. C. albicans is a human opportunistic pathogen responsible for a variety of mucosal and systemic infections that result in significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in …

The Program Evaluation Standards Applied For Metaevaluation Purposes: Investigating Interrater Reliabiity And Implications For Use, Lori A. Wingate

Dissertations

Metaevaluation is the evaluation of evaluation. Metaevaluation may focus particular evaluation cases, evaluation systems, or the discipline overall. Leading scholars within the discipline consider metaevaluation to be a professional imperative, demonstrating that evaluation is a reflexive enterprise. Various criteria have been set forth for what constitutes excellence in evaluation. In the context of educational program evaluation, the dominant criteria are the Program Evaluation Standards, developed by the developed by the Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation.

There has been widespread acceptance and application of the Program Evaluation Standards, and their use is advocated by major organizations and several of …

The Prevalence Of Osteoarthritis In Wild Vs Captive Great Ape Skeletons, Demelza J. Poe

Anthropology ETDs

This research examined whether the prevalence and skeletal distribution of osteoarthritis (OA) differed between wild and captive great ape skeletons. A secondary, but important, aspect of this research focused on the development of improved aging techniques based on methods commonly used on human osteological samples. Tests were conducted pertaining to the effect that wild versus captive status, sex, and species has on vertebral body lipping, marginal lipping, and eburnation. Age was considered a co-factor. Of the aging methods examined, use of the basilar suture to distinguish between adult and old adult specimens proved to be very imprecise. The ribs and …

User Study Of Information Extracted From Engineering Representations, Rachel Hannah

All Theses

It is important for designers to understand the usefulness of different engineering representations in order to save time and money throughout a project. Designers often rely on past experience to decide which model to construct; yet students without this experience have no help. Interestingly there are noticeable gaps in the research literature with respect to how and when to select representations and modeling approaches for engineering designs. This thesis examines the differences between three types of engineering representations, specifically sketches, drawing packages, and physical prototypes. The amount of information designers can extract from these representations and also the correctness and …

Biological Sciences Collection Development Policy, Jacquelyn Petzold

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries: Collection Development Policies

The biological sciences collection exists to support the teaching, research, and service functions of the School of Biological Sciences and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln community. The public may benefit from the biological sciences collection, although specific materials are not collected to meet their needs. Biology-related materials not available in the library’s collection are generally readily available through Interlibrary Loan. The collection is focused on the biologically-based subsections of the Q Library of Congress call number range, although the heavily interdisciplinary nature of scientific study necessitates some overlap with R, S, T, and other areas.

The Bapcpa, The Gag Rule, And The First Amendment: A Proposal For Alignment Through Interpretive And Analytical Change, Cullen Ann Drescher

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

No abstract provided.

A Case Study Of How A Large Multilevel Efl Writing Class Experiences And Perceives Multiple Interaction Activities, Hsien-Chuan Lin

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine students' experiences and perceptions of multiple interaction activities (self-directed, peer, and teacher feedback) implemented in a large multilevel EFL writing class in one private technological university in the southern part of Taiwan. Large size writing classes, quite common in private institutions of higher education in Taiwan, cannot be effectively operated to meet individual students' needs in improving their writing performance. Low achievers have difficulties in keeping up with competent writers in learning writing skills while advanced students complain of their learning too little from the class. This research, based on the activity …

A Critical Analysis Of Rural Teachers' Usage Of Online Communities, Sherri A. Snider

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze data related to rural teachers' use of online communities. Rural teachers are often isolated in their practice and sometimes have difficulty connecting with other teachers with their same assignments or needs due to their professional setting. As Internet availability increases and online communities proliferate, teachers have more opportunity than ever to seek personal and professional support in virtual relationships when face-to-face ones are not easily available. In small schools such as the ones included in this study, teachers can become burned out as they perform the difficult task of teaching with few …

The Impact Of Training And Its Integration In The Firm's Business Strategies On The Firm's Competitiveness, Vichet Sum

Dissertations

The problem of the present study was to determine training professionals' perceptions of their awareness of and involvement in the integration of training in the firm's business strategies and the impact of training on the firm's competitiveness. The analysis of data obtained from the online survey of 111 participants who were training professionals employed in small, medium, and large firms across three different industries - service, retailing, and manufacturing - revealed that more than 50% of the participants indicated that they either had some understanding of or understood in depth the integration of training in their firms' business strategies. And …

Mechanics Of Stimulus & Response Generalization In Signal Detection & Psychophysics: Adaptation Of Static Theory To Dynamic Performance., Blake Allen Hutsell

Dissertations

The area of perceptual decision-making research seeks to understand how our perception of the world affects our judgment. Laboratory investigations of perceptual decision-making concentrate on observers' ability to discriminate among stimuli and their biases towards reporting one stimulus more frequently than others. Choice theories assume that these performance measures are determined by generalization of reinforcement along both stimulus and response dimensions. Historically the majority of research has addressed situations in which the difference among stimuli and resulting consequences of a perceptual decision are static. Consequently, little is known about the dynamics of stimulus and response generalization. The present research investigated …

First-Principles Density Functional Theory Studies Of Reactivities Of Heterogeneous Catalysts Determined By Structure And Substrate, Lei Cheng

Dissertations

In this dissertation, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to investigate (1)NO₂ adsorption on BaO in NO_x Storage Reduction (NSR) catalyst affected by the morphology of BaO and the γ-Al₂O₃ support, (2) energy barrier of H₂ dissociative adsorption over Mg clusters affected by its electronic structure, and (3) comparison of the activities of CeO₂ clusters affected by two different supports--monoclinic ZrO₂ and non-spinel γ-Al₂O₃. Our results showed that the electronic effect caused by the non-stoichiometry of the bare BaO clusters and surfaces improves their reactivities toward NO …

Influence Of Technology On Adolescent Development And Spiritual Formation, Kevin Daniel Monahan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adolescence is the time when a person develops perceptions about religious thoughts and with proper guidance, can be a stronger follower of Christ. The purpose of this project is to analyze the effects of technology on young people and to show a direct correlation between the influence of technology and spiritual growth of adolescents. I will argue that both the positive and negative influences of technology have made our students more informative yet less personally intimate. This shift of personal interaction presents a challenge to the cognitive development and spiritual formation of all students.

Kernel-Based Interior-Point Algorithms For The Linear Complementarity Problem, Jason N. Brandies

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In this thesis, we consider the Linear Complementarity Problem (LCP), which is a well-known mathematical problem with many practical applications. The objective of the LCP is to find a certain vector that will satisfy a set of linear inequalities and (non-linear) complementary equation. A kernel-based primal-dual Interior-Point Method (IPM) for solving LCP was introduced and analyzed. The class of kernel functions used in this thesis is a class of so-called eligible kernel functions that are fairly general. We have shown for a positive semi-definite matrix M, that the algorithm is globally convergent and has very good convergence properties. For some …

Modeling Of Jet Engine Abnormal Conditions And Detection Using The Artificial Immune System Paradigm, Jaclyn Marie Porter

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Previous research at WVU has yielded promising results in the detection of aircraft sub-systems malfunctions using the artificial immune system (AIS) paradigm. However, one aircraft component that requires improvement is the aircraft propulsion system. In this research effort, MAPSS, a non-real time low-bypass turbofan engine model distributed by NASA, has been linearized and interfaced with the WVU F-15 model and the WVU 6 degrees-of-freedom flight simulator to provide a more complex engine model and create more options for engine failure modeling and engine failure detection. A variety of engine actuator and sensor failures were modeled and implemented into the simulation …

Incremental Development And Cost-Based Evaluation Of Software Fault Prediction Models, Yue Jiang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

It is difficult to build high quality software with limited quality assurance budgets. Software fault prediction models can be used to learn fault predictors from software metrics. Fault prediction prior to software release can guide Verification and Validation (V&V) activity and allocate scarce resources to modules which are predicted to be fault-prone.;One of the most important goals of fault prediction is to detect fault prone modules as early as possible in the software development life cycle. Design and code metrics have been successfully used for predicting fault-prone modules. In this dissertation, we introduce fault prediction from software requirements. Furthermore, we …

Preadmission Academic Achievement Criteria As Predictors Of Nursing Program Completion And Nclex -Rn Success, Tanya L. Rogers

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Admission policies and practices in higher education, including those in nursing programs, are diverse; yet administrators have traditionally relied upon preadmission academic achievement for selection of qualified students. Higher education administrators have the responsibility to serve the institution and all of its constituents, ensuring that admission policies and regular systematic evaluation of those policies are important aspects of that service.;The nursing shortage and limited resources have pressed nursing schools to implement innovative strategies to increase the number of qualified graduates. State University's School of Nursing has used a score sheet to rank associate degree nursing applicants since 1984. The preadmission …