Digital Commons Network^™

Igos And Juridical Organs, Janeth Diaz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Do the number of members, the level of democracy, and the level of institutionalization contribute to the creation and use of a juridical organ in IGOs? This study utilizes 495 IGOs in order to answer this question and examine which of these three elements, or all of them, are relevant to the creation and use of any type of juridical mechanism in an IGO. For each of these characteristics five dependent variables were tested. Empirical results indicate that neither the level of democracy nor the number of membership contributes to the creation and use of a juridical mechanism. In contrast, …

Effects Of Concurrent Task Performance On Object Processing, Gabriela Durán

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Most research on visual object identification focus on the bottom-up processes of the visual what? and where? pathways. However, such research has not been able to fully account for many visual abilities (e.g., identifying an object among many other objects and across changing conditions). Neurological evidence has shown that feedback from high-level areas (i.e., top-down processing) makes object processing more efficient. However, there are no behavioral studies that have tested this. Thus, four experiments used a concurrent n-back task to occupy higher-level areas and tested its effects on visual object processing relative to a number-repetition control task.

Experiment 1 examined …

Partial Order Based Reduction In Planning: A Unifying Theory And New Algorithms, You Xi, Yixin Chen

All Computer Science and Engineering Research

Partial order based reduction (POR) has recently attracted research in planning. POR algorithms reduce search space by recognizing interchangable orders between actions and expanding only a subset of all possible orders during the search. POR has been extensively studied in model checking and proved to be an enabling technique for reducing the search space and costs. Recently, two POR algorithms, including the expansion core (EC) and stratified planning (SP) algorithms, have been proposed. Being orthogonal to the development of accurate heuristic functions, these reduction methods show great potential to improve the planning efficiency from a new perspective. However, it is …

Non-Programmers Identifying Functionality In Unfamiliar Code: Strategies And Barriers, Paul Gross, Caitlin Kelleher

All Computer Science and Engineering Research

Source code on the web is a widely available and potentially rich learning resource for non-programmers. However, unfamiliar code can be daunting to end-users without programming experience. This paper describes the results of an exploratory study in which we asked non-programmers to find and modify the code responsible for specific functionality within unfamiliar programs. We present two interacting models of how non-programmers approach this problem: the Task Process Model and the Landmark-Mapping model. Using these models, we describe code search strategies non-programmers employed and the difficulties they encountered. Finally, we propose guidelines for future programming environments that support non-programmers in …

Performance-Engineered Network Overlays For High Quality Interaction In Virtual Worlds, Mart Haitjema, Ritun Patney, Jon Turner, Charlie Wiseman, John Dehart

All Computer Science and Engineering Research

Overlay hosting systems such as PlanetLab, and cloud computing environments such as Amazon’s EC2, provide shared infrastructures within which new applications can be developed and deployed on a global scale. This paper ex-plores how systems of this sort can be used to enable ad-vanced network services and sophisticated applications that use those services to enhance performance and provide a high quality user experience. Specifically, we investigate how advanced overlay hosting environments can be used to provide network services that enable scalable virtual world applications and other large-scale distributed applications requiring consistent, real-time performance. We propose a novel network architecture called …

Architectures For The Future Networks And The Next Generation Internet: A Survey, Subharthi Paul, Jianli Pan, Raj Jain

All Computer Science and Engineering Research

Networking research funding agencies in the USA, Europe, Japan, and other countries are encouraging research on revolutionary networking architectures that may or may not be bound by the restrictions of the current TCP/IP based Internet. We present a comprehensive survey of such research projects and activities. The topics covered include various testbeds for experimentations for new architectures, new security mechanisms, content delivery mechanisms, management and control frameworks, service architectures, and routing mechanisms. Delay/Disruption tolerant networks, which allow communications even when complete end-to-end path is not available, are also discussed.

Supercharged Planetlab Platform Architecture, Jonathan Turner, Patrick Crowley, John Dehart, Mart Haitjema, Fred Kuhns Kuhns, Ritun Patney, Michael Wilson, Charlie Wiseman, David Zar

All Computer Science and Engineering Research

This report describes the Supercharged Planetlab Platform (SPP), a system designed as a prototype of an internet-scale overlay hosting platform. Overlay networks have become an important vehicle for delivering Internet applications. Overlay network nodes are typically implemented using general purpose servers or clusters. The SPP offers a more integrated architecture, combining general-purpose servers with high performance Network Processor (NP) subsystems. SPP nodes have recently been deployed as part of the Global Environment for Network Innovation (GENI) and are available for use by research users.

Augmented Lagrangian Algorithms Under Constraint Partitioning, You Xu, Yixin Chen

All Computer Science and Engineering Research

We present a novel constraint-partitioning approach for solving continuous nonlinear optimization based on augmented Lagrange method. In contrast to previous work, our approach is based on a new constraint partitioning theory and can handle global constraints. We employ a hyper-graph partitioning method to recognize the problem structure. We prove global convergence under assumptions that are much more relaxed than previous work and solve problems as large as 40,000 variables that other solvers such as IPOPT [11] cannot solve.

Design Of An Extensible Network Testbed With Heterogeneous Components, Charlie Wisemen, Jyoti Parwatikar, Ken Wong, John Dehart, Jonathan Turner

All Computer Science and Engineering Research

Virtualized network infrastructures are currently deployed in both research and commercial contexts. The complexity of the virtualization layer varies greatly in different deployments, ranging from cloud computing environments, to carrier Ethernet applications using stacked VLANs, to networking testbeds. In all of these cases, there are many users sharing the resources of one provider, where each user expects their resources to be isolated from all other users. Our work in this area is focused on network testbeds. In particular, we present the design of the latest version of the Open Network Laboratory (ONL) testbed. This redesign generalizes the underlying infrastructure to …

Efficient Tracking Of Many Objects In Structured Environments, Nathan Jacobs, Michael Dixon, Scott Satkin, Robert Pless

All Computer Science and Engineering Research

We consider the special case of tracking objects in highly structured scenes. In the context of vehicle tracking in urban environments, we offer a fully automatic, end-to-end system that discovers and parametrizes the lanes along which vehicles drive, then uses just these pixels to simultaneously track dozens of objects. This system includes a novel active contour energy function used to parametrize the lanes of travel based only on the accumulation of spatio-temporal image derivatives, and a tracking algorithm that exploits longer temporal constraints made possible by our compact data representation; we believe both of these may be of independent interest. …

Advent Devotional Guide 2009, Belmont University

Advent Devotional Guides

No abstract provided.

Fixing The Mandatory Arbitration Problem: We Need The Arbitration Fairness Act Of 2009, Jean R. Sternlight

Scholarly Works

No abstract provided.

The "Other" Intermediaries: The Increasingly Anachronistic Immunity Of Managing General Agents And Independent Claims Adjusters, Jeffrey W. Stempel

Scholarly Works

This article addresses the "other" intermediaries involved in the administration of insurance policies, specifically "downstream" intermediaries, who are engaged in the administration of insurance claims. The focus is on managing general agents, third-party administrators and independent contractor claims adjusters, who perform the nuts-and-bolts tasks of the insurance industry, and are generally less well compensated than commercial insurance brokers. Since these "other" intermediaries are immune from judicial claims by policyholders, they are also less incentivized to perform their duties well. The article argues that, in order to improve the claims process, the "other" intermediaries should be held accountable for their misconduct, …

Borders And The Environment, Andrew P. Morriss, Roger E. Meiners

Faculty Scholarship

Despite regular acknowledgement of the interconnectedness of global ecosystems, government policies at the national level focus on environmental problems within their borders. As a result, the level of public and private resources expended on environmental protection in rich and poor countries is dramatically different on both a per capita and an absolute basis. While this outcome is readily explained by the politics of environmental issues, in which voters reward governments for domestic expenditures but are skeptical of expenditures outside the jurisdiction, these differences mean that the total amount of environmental quality purchased across nations is lower than it could be. …

Introduction: Contains Cover, Table Of Contents, Letter From The Editor, And Masthead, Jessica M. Yoke

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

The Richmond Journal of Law and Technology is proud to present the third issue of the 2008–2009 academic school year, which also is our Annual Survey on E-Discovery.

Databases, E-Discovery And Criminal Law, Ken Strutin

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

The enduring value of the Constitution is the fundamental approach to human rights transcending time and technology. The modern complexity and variety of electronically stored information was unknown in the eighteenth century, but the elemental due process concepts forged then can be applied now. At some point, the accumulation of information surpassed the boundaries of living witnesses and paper records. The advent of computers and databases ushered in an entirely new order, giving rise to massive libraries of factual details and powerful investigative tools. But electronically collected information sources are a double-edged sword. Their accuracy and reliability are critical issues …

Electronic Discovery In Large Organizations, Jason Fliegel, Robert Entwisle

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

The continuing expansion and virtually limitless array of technology and media available to store electronic information has had an immeasurable impact on the amount of information large organizations create and maintain. In many instances, this information continues to be available long after it has served the originator’s purposes. Yet, such information is not exempt from discovery in litigation, and attempting to identify, preserve, collect, review, and produce that information results in a significant burden on litigants, while the failure to do so can result in draconian sanctions or adverse publicity.

Qualcomm Inc. V. Broadcom Corp.: 9,259,985 Reasons To Comply With Discovery Requests, Kristen Mcneal

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

Evolving technology has advanced communication throughout the business industry. Corporations use various communication methods to initiate conversation, propose business ventures, and relay correspondence from one place to another. Quite naturally, with the development of different means of communication, various innovations in the legal profession have materialized and gained popularity. One of these innovations is electronic discovery.

Introduction: Contains Cover, Table Of Contents, Letter From The Editor, And Masthead, Robert Michaux

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

The Richmond Journal of Law and Technology is proud to present the first issue of the 2009–2010 academic year.

Dissonant Paradigms And Unintended Consequences: Can (And Should) The Law Save Us From Technology?, Donald Labriola

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

Technologies like digital audio, the Internet, and broadband communications spur economic growth and foster new patterns of commerce and social interaction. But they also spawn disruptive innovations that force established industries to forge novel responses or risk falling by the wayside. The horse-and-buggy industry, vaudeville, and video-rental stores are but a few examples of thriving markets that found themselves on the scrap heap of obsolescence because they failed to react quickly to the devastating effects of new technology.

How “Choruss” Can Turn Into A Cacophony: The Record Industry’S Stranglehold On The Future Of Music Business, Andrey Spektor

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

A sixty year-old man is delighted when his son shows him how to use Pandora—an interactive, hip Internet radio site that puts the listener in control. Having grown up a huge Louis Armstrong fan, the man quickly selects the jazz singer as one of his “stations.” When listening to this station, Pandora will only play songs by Armstrong and other similar artists for him. When he hears Armstrong’s classic, “What a Wonderful World,” the man immediately clicks the “Thumbs Up” icon, indicating his approval of Pandora’s recommendation. Pandora’s recommendations are drawn from its “Music Genome Project,” a database of song …

The Regulation Of Nanomedicine: Will The Existing Regulatory Scheme Of The Fda Suffice?, Shanna Harris

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

Nanotechnology is the science and technology of manipulating molecules and atoms at the molecular level to create devices with new molecular properties, organizations and functions.1 Devices such as new computers that are billions of times more powerful than any currently available2 and boxes the size of sugar cubes that can hold the entire content of the Library of Congress are examples of the power of nanotechnology.

Symbol Or Substance: An Empirical Assessment Of State Responses To Kelo, Andrew P. Morriss

Faculty Scholarship

The Kelo decision provoked considerable legislative activity as 46 states adopted legislation on eminent domain in its aftermath. Only about half adopted restrictions that were more than symbolic, however. This paper examines those responses using a logistic regression analysis and finds that all else equal: (1) states where legislatures were more constrained by tax and expenditure limits were less likely to adopt substantive restrictions; (2) a larger number of Republicans in the state legislature made a state more likely to adopt a substantive restriction; (3) overall Republican strength (as measured by gubinatorial [sic] elections) made states less likely …

Trademarks And Human Rights: Oil And Water - Or Chocolate And Peanut Butter, Megan M. Carpenter

Faculty Scholarship

In recent years, there has been a growing discourse at the intersection of intellectual property and human rights. Whether there is a direct connection between intellectual property, or the subjects of intellectual property, on the one hand, and human rights, on the other, has been the subject of lively debate. Most recently, the discussion has turned to the field of trademarks, which has prompted the question, Are trademarks human rights? In this article I seek to explore this question, and to consider directly whether there is a proper place for trademarks within the human rights framework-whether trademarks and human rights …

Change, Dependency, And Regime Plasticity In Offshore Financial Intermediation: The Saga Of The Netherlands Antilles, Craig M. Boise, Andrew P. Morriss

Faculty Scholarship

The legal regimes of offshore jurisdictions have historically differed in significant ways from those applicable in onshore jurisdictions. Inevitably, legal and financial professionals have seized upon these differences to develop strategies for reducing transactions costs. A prominent example of such cross-border arbitrage was the routing of Eurodollar loans through a small group of former Dutch island colonies in the Caribbean, a practice which peaked in the mid-1980s, when virtually every major U.S. corporation made interest payments to a Netherlands Antilles finance subsidiary. The "Antilles sandwich" strategy exploited the difference between high U.S. withholding tax rates that applied to interest payments …

Urban Gas Symposium Commentary, Frederic White

Faculty Scholarship

Undoubtedly, like any new discovery, the Barnett Shale, has brought wealth and prosperity to a considerable number of people. Great wealth, however, does not come without a price. Accordingly, new discoveries always lead to new controversies, new misunderstandings, and new disputes. The articles in this issue of the Law Review offer a diverse and well-rounded examination of some of these items and make an effort at offering some explanation and guidance for the future.

Dna Profiling And Fourth Amendment Privacy, Daniel. Ohm

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2003 - 2009

DNA profiling is a newly developed technique used by law enforcement agencies in the United States as a form of individual identification to prove whether a suspect is guilty. Due to the fact that it is a newly developed technology there is little legislation to regulate its proper uses and restrictions. Therefore restrictions are largely determined by court decisions as to whether DNA profiling violates constitutional rights. Current decisions in state and federal district courts tend to permit use of DNA profiling without a warrant. These decisions violate principles of privacy guaranteed by the US Constitution as interpreted in pre-DNA …

We Are Limestone Creek, Sara M. Stout

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2003 - 2009

Limestone Creek is an unincorporated community existing within the planning and zoning boundary lines of Jupiter, Florida. Contrasting the economically flush and rapidly developing surrounding municipality of Jupiter, Limestone Creek is a predominantly African American community with an apparent economic gap that leaves the community untouched by development. This thesis project attempts to capture the voices of Limestone Creek and Jupiter residents pertaining to their accounts with an unincorporated area surrounded by a much wealthier municipality. Interviews were conducted with the residents of the community, Palm Beach County and the Town of Jupiter residents and officials, in an effort to …

Analyzing The Growth Of Protestantism, Amanda. Hoogkamp

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2003 - 2009

There are several competing theoretical explanations for why Pentecostal Protestantism is growing rapidly in Latin America including affinities with the indigenous religions of the region, a recent increase in the supply of Pentecostalism due to missionary movements, a reduction in government regulation of religion, social anomie theory, and the pull of economic upward mobility through conversion. This study analyses the growth of Pentecostal Protestantism in the case of Mexico, utilizing state by state comparative data measuring these variables. While higher percentages of indigenous residents are correlated significantly with Pentecostal growth, government regulation and supply are less so. Social anomie and …

Correlation Between Specific Carcinogenic Chemicals And Specific Mitotic Defects And The Restorative Role Of Antioxidants, Travis. Yates

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2003 - 2009

The progression of cancerous cells towards a more aggressive tumor can be linked to external elements called carcinogens. The goal of this project is to examine the correlation between exposure to specific carcinogens and an increase of mitotic defects. These defects can manifest as lagging chromosomes, multipolar spindles, and anaphase bridges. Some of these instabilities are associated with the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are known to damage DNA. The potential for damage to the genome can be averted via antioxidants. Using the oral cancer cell line UPCI:SCC103, we established a baseline for the mitotic defects in the …