Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2009

Discipline
Institution
Keyword
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 1741 - 1770 of 95668

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Inequality And Body Mass In Young Adulthood: Sex And Age Differences In Associated Effects, Jamie Lynn Boydstun Dec 2009

Inequality And Body Mass In Young Adulthood: Sex And Age Differences In Associated Effects, Jamie Lynn Boydstun

Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 63 percent of the U.S. adults are overweight or obese, however all groups are not affected equally. Little research has observed the obese compared to the overweight. This study aims to examine how measures associated with health differentially influence overweight and obesity. Data from the 2007 BRFSS were analyzed using logistic regression to assess variations due to socioeconomic, demographic, and health risk measures on overweight and obesity. Variations were assessed by age groups and sex. Differences across the subgroups were tested. The results showed that associated effects of overweight and obesity for young adults differ little from those of …


The Importance Of Soft Skills In The Workplace As Perceived By Community College Instructors And Industries, Laura Suzanne Tribble Dec 2009

The Importance Of Soft Skills In The Workplace As Perceived By Community College Instructors And Industries, Laura Suzanne Tribble

Theses and Dissertations

Soft skills include communication skills, problem-solving skills, conflict resolution, working well with other people, and ensuring customer satisfaction. Employers need employees who have adequate technical skills but who also have soft skills. There is limited information about the perceptions of which soft skills are needed in the workplace. This study attempted to close the gap in the literature concerning the perceptions of instructors and employers in the area of soft skills in the workplace. For this study, the Soft Skills Survey for Instructors and Employers was used to gather the perceptions of information technology instructors and employers in five community …


Movements, Relatedness And Modeled Genetic Manipulation Of White-Tailed Deer, Stephen Lance Webb Dec 2009

Movements, Relatedness And Modeled Genetic Manipulation Of White-Tailed Deer, Stephen Lance Webb

Theses and Dissertations

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have been intensively studied across their range. However, many aspects of the white-tailed deer’s ecology have not been studied or are difficult to study. The advent of global positioning system (GPS) collar technology and molecular genetics techniques now allows researchers to collect fine-scale and cryptic phenomena. In addition, selective harvest of male white-tailed deer, based on antler size, has not been critically evaluated. Thus, development and use of quantitative genetics models will be useful for elucidating the effects of selective harvest on mean population antler size. I used GPS collar technology to further understand white-tailed deer …


Enjoy Indigenous Dance, Song At Um Cultural Exchange, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations Dec 2009

Enjoy Indigenous Dance, Song At Um Cultural Exchange, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.


Solar Technology Innovation Meeting Summary, Solar Innovation And Technology Center Dec 2009

Solar Technology Innovation Meeting Summary, Solar Innovation And Technology Center

Meetings (SI)

On December 11, 2009, Senator Harry Reid and President Neal Smatresk (UNLV) conveyed a group of approximately 60 people (see attached lists) from the public and private sector to provide input on the structure, focus, and need for a Solar Innovation Technology Center. At this meeting, there were small group discussions followed by a larger group discussion on the needs in the areas of Workforce / Training, Marketing and Finance, Economic and Policy Making, Infrastructure and Manufacturing, Technology Transfer and Commercialization, and Research. The notes below summarize the major comments from the group. This represents individual comments and in other …


Long-Term Benefits Of Head Start: Evidence From The Panel Study Of Income Dynamics, Matthew Terrill Alford Dec 2009

Long-Term Benefits Of Head Start: Evidence From The Panel Study Of Income Dynamics, Matthew Terrill Alford

Theses and Dissertations

Cross-sectional and geographical data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics were combined with school-district level data from the Census Bureau’s F-33 Survey of Local Government. Use of this unique dataset, allows for the examination of the longterm effects of preschool participation while controlling for the quality of schooling encountered post-program. Former Head Start participants report better health status than individuals with no preschool experience or experience in preschools other than Head Start. Individuals who attended these other preschools outperformed the Head Start group when it came to high school graduation and overall educational attainment. No differences were detected in …


Mammalian Herbivory Of Hardwood Seedlings On Afforestation Areas Of The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Tyler S. Harris Dec 2009

Mammalian Herbivory Of Hardwood Seedlings On Afforestation Areas Of The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Tyler S. Harris

Theses and Dissertations

The Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) has undergone losses of bottomland hardwood forests due to agricultural conversion. Hardwood establishment on marginal croplands has been proposed to mitigate effects of deforestation and related loss of carbon-capture potential. However, a possible concern with reforestation is low seedling survival from mammalian herbivory. I surveyed two afforested fields in the MAV of northwest Mississippi to assess damage and mortality from four herbivores on nine species of hardwood seedlings (n = 868). Percentage survival of seedlings was 35%. Mortality of seedlings caused by herbivores was: hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus; 6.45%), rabbit ((Sylvilagus spp.; 1.95%), pine …


Effects Of Various Fumigants And Alternative Processing Methods On The Safety, Volatile Composition, And Sensory Quality Of Dry Cured Ham, Ramandeep Kaur Sekhon Dec 2009

Effects Of Various Fumigants And Alternative Processing Methods On The Safety, Volatile Composition, And Sensory Quality Of Dry Cured Ham, Ramandeep Kaur Sekhon

Theses and Dissertations

Randomized complete block designs with three replications were utilized to evaluate the effects of fumigation with sulfuryl fluoride (SF) (0, 12, 24, 36 and 72 mg/L), phosphine (PH3) (0, 200 and 1000 ppm at 48 hr), methyl bromide (MB) (0, 4, 8, 16, and 32 mg/L for 48 hr), carbon dioxide (CO2) (0, 60% at 48 hr and 60% at 96 hr) and ozone (O3) (0 ppm and 175 ppm for 48 hr) on the volatile flavor compound concentrations in dry cured ham. Fluoride and SF concentrations increased (P < 0.05) in dry cured hams as SF fumigation concentration increased, but all samples contained fluoride and SF concentrations below the legal limits of 20 and 0.01 ppm, respectively. Also, as phosphine fumigation concentration increased, the residual concentration of phosphine also increased in the hams (P < 0.05), but all samples contained levels that were lower than the legal limit of phosphine in stored food products (0.01 ppm). Minimal differences existed in the presence and concentration of aroma active compounds in fumigated hams when compared to the control. Triangle tests indicated that consumers could not discern (P > 0.75) between the control hams and the fumigated hams. This study …


Efforts Toward Understanding Dietary Components And The Reproductive Behaviors And Limitations Of The Giant Panda (Ailuropoda Melanoleuca), Erin Donivan Trueblood Dec 2009

Efforts Toward Understanding Dietary Components And The Reproductive Behaviors And Limitations Of The Giant Panda (Ailuropoda Melanoleuca), Erin Donivan Trueblood

Theses and Dissertations

Preservation of giant pandas, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, is a worldwide concern. This study was designed to examine dietary and reproductive challenges associated with panda management. Phytoestrogens are natural plant compounds that mimic estrogen and often negatively impact mammalian reproduction. Phytoestrogens in bamboo, the panda’s primary food source, is unknown. Here, estrogen radioimmuno- and receptor-binding assays revealed estrogenic activity in three species of Phyllostachys bamboo. These results present indirect evidence of phytoestrogenic mimics in bamboo, but their relevance is still unknown. Studies were also conducted to observe panda reproductive behaviors in an attempt to augment the use of an artificial vagina (AV) …


Gamma-Ray Bursts: New Parameters For Measuring Energy Dependent Spectral Lag Times, Phillip Jefferson Durst Dec 2009

Gamma-Ray Bursts: New Parameters For Measuring Energy Dependent Spectral Lag Times, Phillip Jefferson Durst

Theses and Dissertations

A new method for measuring the hardness-intensity correlation (HIC) present in gamma-ray bursts (GRB) is developed. This method is used to measure the HIC for 100 single-peak gamma-ray bursts, 17 with known redshifts. The HIC is thus shown to be a consequence of energy-dependent lag times between hard and soft photons. Parameters derived from time profile fits using a modified double sigmoidal function are used to calculate a new set of lag time parameters for bursts, and these parameters are analyzed statistically to look for correlations with intrinsic GRB properties. This analysis shows that GRB red shift is related to …


A Partial Discharge Measurement Technique For Applied Square Pulse Voltage With 50 Ns Rise Times, Clayborne Dudley Taylor Dec 2009

A Partial Discharge Measurement Technique For Applied Square Pulse Voltage With 50 Ns Rise Times, Clayborne Dudley Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

During the fabrication of solid electrical insulation, small cavities known as micro voids may form in the material. As electrical stress increases in this micro void, the breakdown probability also increases. This type of electrical breakdown is commonly known as partial discharge. Magnitudes of partial discharge currents are typically small but enough to cause degradation of the electrical insulation. To study degradation for fast-rise time voltage square pulse train, partial discharge measurement is needed. In current studies, partial discharge pulse widths have been measured in the range of nanoseconds. The best approach for measurement at ultra wide band frequencies is …


Dynamic Message Sign And Diversion Traffic Optimization, Jizhan Gou Dec 2009

Dynamic Message Sign And Diversion Traffic Optimization, Jizhan Gou

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation proposes a Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) diversion control system based on principles of existing Advanced Traveler Information Systems and Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS). The objective of the proposed system is to alleviate total corridor traffic delay by choosing optimized diversion rate and alternative road signal-timing plan. The DMS displays adaptive messages at predefined time interval for guiding certain number of drivers to alternative roads. Messages to be displayed on the DMS are chosen by an on-line optimization model that minimizes corridor traffic delay. The expected diversion rate is assumed following a distribution. An optimization model that considers …


Do The Design Principles Established By William Hollingsworth Whyte For Creating Successful Urban Parks Apply To Parks In The New Urbanism Community Of Mt. Laurel?, William Miller Allen Dec 2009

Do The Design Principles Established By William Hollingsworth Whyte For Creating Successful Urban Parks Apply To Parks In The New Urbanism Community Of Mt. Laurel?, William Miller Allen

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis will study the resident’s perceptions of a community park in the new urbanism community of Mt Laurel, Alabama by evaluating the thirteen principles established by William Hollingsworth Whyte for creating successful urban parks. The thirteen principles established by Whyte for creating successful spaces are: •The parks proximity/relationship to the street •Location of the sidewalks to the street •Its ability to consistently sustain a constant flow of people through its boundaries •Its amount of defined spaces rather than large open spaces •Its amount of sitable space, in terms of ledges, steps, planters, chairs etc. •The parks sense of security …


A Cross Cultural Validation Of Perceptions And Use Of Social Network Service: An Exploratory Study, Chengqi Guo Dec 2009

A Cross Cultural Validation Of Perceptions And Use Of Social Network Service: An Exploratory Study, Chengqi Guo

Theses and Dissertations

The rapid developments Social Network Service (SNS) have offered opportunities to re-visit many seminal theoretical assumptions of technology usage within socio-technical environment. Online social network is a rapidly growing field that imposes new questions to the existing IS research paradigm. It is argued that information systems research must necessarily evolve in response to the emerging trends (Lyytinen and King, 2004). Specifically, one stream of research has been heavily lacking is SNS usage prediction (Hargittai, 2007). In SNS, the form of social network is realized by computing networks where the individual assumes an identity of an “avatar”. People are merging their …


An Examination Of Crisis Preparedness At Christian-Affiliated Institutions Of Higher Education, Stacy M. Burrell Dec 2009

An Examination Of Crisis Preparedness At Christian-Affiliated Institutions Of Higher Education, Stacy M. Burrell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine crisis preparedness at Christian-affiliated institutions of higher education. Second, this study examined Christian-affiliated institutions of higher education presidents’ perspective of their institution’s ability to prepare for crises based upon the four critical indicators of organizational crisis preparedness as described by Zdziarski (2001): a) the types of crisis institutions prepare for, b) the phase of crisis prepared for, c) the systems in place to respond to crisis, and d) the stakeholders involved and considered in preparations. Implications from this study provided recommendations for crisis preparedness that are specific to Christian-affiliated colleges and universities. …


An Investigation Of A Rural Community College Meeting The Needs Of Nontraditional Students, Kishki Hall Dec 2009

An Investigation Of A Rural Community College Meeting The Needs Of Nontraditional Students, Kishki Hall

Theses and Dissertations

This study’s general purpose was to examine nontraditional students’ satisfaction with services provided by community colleges. A survey was administered to 81 Coahoma Community College students who identified themselves as nontraditional students. The Nontraditional Students’ Satisfaction survey was designed to examine the needs and satisfaction of nontraditional students. The nontraditional students at Coahoma Community College deemed getting information on financial aid opportunities, studying and test taking, computers and Internet use, job opportunities in their majors and academic tutoring as most important. The nontraditional students at Coahoma Community College deemed getting information on campus events and/or campus job opportunities as least …


Analysis Of Extratropical Transition Of Cyclones In The North Atlantic Ocean Using Geostationary Satellite Imagery, Amy Rebecca Wood Dec 2009

Analysis Of Extratropical Transition Of Cyclones In The North Atlantic Ocean Using Geostationary Satellite Imagery, Amy Rebecca Wood

Theses and Dissertations

Tropical cyclones in the Atlantic basin often undergo a process called extratropical transition (ET) and transform from warm-core to cold-core systems while retaining strong winds, heavy rainfall, and large ocean waves. Infrared satellite imagery from channels 2 and 4 of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) were used to examine key structural changes, synoptic interactions, and loss of deep centered convection in order to determine onset and completion of ET. The primary indicator for ET onset in 75% of cases was found to be a persistent increase in storm asymmetry along with the appearance of warm frontogenesis in its northern …


Evaluation Of A Novel Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue Cultivar As A Safe Forage For Pregnant Mares, Hussain Ali Al Rashed Dec 2009

Evaluation Of A Novel Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue Cultivar As A Safe Forage For Pregnant Mares, Hussain Ali Al Rashed

Theses and Dissertations

Fescue toxicosis is a condition that afflicts livestock grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue and is particularly detrimental to pregnant mares. A two year evaluation study of a novel endophtye-infected cultivar, AGRFA-144 (A-144), did not induce fescue toxicosis in late-term pregnant mares. All mares delivered viable foals except in E+ group which had two viable foals, one stillborn-dystocia and one compromised foal which was euthanized at 72 h pp. Serum P4 concentrations were similar among A-144, NE+, and E- mares (p>0.05). Foal BW and foal/placental weight ratios were similar for A-144, NE+, and E- (p>0.05). Foal serum P4 was similar …


Experimental Investigations On Near-Threshold Events On Fatigue Crack Growth, Yoshinori Yamada Dec 2009

Experimental Investigations On Near-Threshold Events On Fatigue Crack Growth, Yoshinori Yamada

Theses and Dissertations

In the past, the disagreement of near-threshold fatigue-crack growth (FCG) rate data generated from constant Kmax tests, high load ratio (minimum to maximum load) constant R tests, and ΔKeff based data was a mysterious issue. Because of the disagreement, a variety of test or analysis methods were created to correlate FCG rate data. It was suspected that the ASTM threshold test method using load reduction was inducing remote crack closure due to plastically deformed material, which caused elevated thresholds and slower rates than steady-state behavior. The first goal of this study was the development of a test method to eliminate …


Factors And Perceptions That Affect Enrollment In Career And Technical Education Programs In Rural East Central Mississippi, Aimee Chandler Brown Dec 2009

Factors And Perceptions That Affect Enrollment In Career And Technical Education Programs In Rural East Central Mississippi, Aimee Chandler Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the factors and perceptions that affect enrollment in career and technical education (CTE) programs in rural East Central Mississippi. Specifically, the study had four key purposes. First, the academic grades of CTE students and non-CTE students were examined to determine whether academic grades differ significantly between the CTE enrollers and non-CTE enrollers. Secondly, the study determined the perceptions that students in rural East Central Mississippi have toward CTE programs. Next, the study examined the internal and external factors that cause students to enroll or not enroll in a CTE program. Finally, …


Multidisciplinary Evaluation Of No-Till Corn Grazing Systems In Mississippi, Dawn Holland Manning Dec 2009

Multidisciplinary Evaluation Of No-Till Corn Grazing Systems In Mississippi, Dawn Holland Manning

Theses and Dissertations

To ascertain potential ecological and landowner benefits of non-conventional agricultural systems, this project was designed to monitor cattle production and mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) utilization of land areas that allowed grazing cattle to harvest corn planted with no-till methods. In 2005-2008, study sites were located in four counties of MS, including four steer/heifer-grazed and harvested corn fields (SHS) and four conventionally-managed and combine-harvested corn fields (CHS). Vegetation characteristics, residual grain quantities, and use by doves were measured on SHS and CHS. Steer average daily gains (ADG), quality grades, and feedlot days were compared to traditional cattle production methods. Mourning dove …


Obstacle Array Drag Coefficient Parametric Response Surface Analysis, Mouthgalya Ganapathy Dec 2009

Obstacle Array Drag Coefficient Parametric Response Surface Analysis, Mouthgalya Ganapathy

Theses and Dissertations

Throughout literature, one finds where numerous methodologies and models have been developed to predict the effect of surface roughness on a flat surface. Many of the models utilize a drag coefficient as one of the necessary parameters. In urban settings with groups of buildings, the drag coefficient on an individual obstacle would be determined by parameters like wind direction and the relative positioning of a building, in addition to Reynolds number and shape. Computational experiments were performed to simulate the fluid flow around a single row and two rows of “cube” obstacles. Based on dimensional analysis, the drag coefficient was …


In Vitro Digestibilty Of Ryegrass Supplemented With Hay, Corn, Or Soybean Hulls, Chadwick Warren Dunaway Dec 2009

In Vitro Digestibilty Of Ryegrass Supplemented With Hay, Corn, Or Soybean Hulls, Chadwick Warren Dunaway

Theses and Dissertations

An in vitro continuous culture rumen fermentation experiment was conducted to evaluate digestibility of annual ryegrass either fed alone or annual ryegrass supplemented with hay, corn, or soybean hulls. Nutrient disappearance of feedstuffs offered were not different (P > 0.05) as a percentage of the diet however there were differences (P < 0.05) in amounts of individual nutrients digested for each treatment. Ammonia-N concentrations of culture samples were less (P < 0.05) for vessels fed corn as a supplement however there was no difference (P > 0.05) among vessels fed either ryegrass alone or supplemented with hay or soybean hulls. This may indicate a more efficient use of available nutrients from annual ryegrass when corn was supplemented.


The Effectiveness Of Distance Education For Computer Application Software Instruction Versus The Cost Of Development And Implementation, Martha Anne Brock Dec 2009

The Effectiveness Of Distance Education For Computer Application Software Instruction Versus The Cost Of Development And Implementation, Martha Anne Brock

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine if various types of distance education formats would be suitable for conducting a training course for a computer application. The study sought to determine if a face-toace format, interactive video format, minimally interactive online format or highly interactive and multimedia rich online format produced similar results in student performance in a training course for a computer application. The secondary purpose of this study was to determine if the increased cost of development of a highly interactive and multimedia rich online format was justified based on observed differences in student achievement in …


The Role Of Cattle And Gulf Coast Ticks (Amblyomma Maculatum) In The Epidemiology Of Rickettsia Parkeri Infection, Kristine T. Edwards Dec 2009

The Role Of Cattle And Gulf Coast Ticks (Amblyomma Maculatum) In The Epidemiology Of Rickettsia Parkeri Infection, Kristine T. Edwards

Theses and Dissertations

I hypothesized cattle and Gulf Coast ticks (GCT), Amblyomma maculatum, may be involved in epidemiology of Rickettsia parkeri infection. I demonstrated transient rickettsemia by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the 17 kilodalton (kDa) gene in 33% (2/6) of calves experimentally exposed to R. parkeri either by direct inoculation or by placement of R. parkeri-infected GCT on calves’ ears. Calves (4/4) receiving GCT developed lesions at attachment sites consistent with a pathologic condition known as “gotch” ear whether or not GCT were infected with R. parkeri, suggesting the condition is related to GCT attachment and not to rickettsial infection. In calves …


Perceptions Of School From Students In A Rural School Environment, Helen Ruth Patton Kennard Dec 2009

Perceptions Of School From Students In A Rural School Environment, Helen Ruth Patton Kennard

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the perceptions of school from students of differing ages, genders, ethnic groups, and grade levels in a rural school environment. The ages were divided into four categories: 11–12 years of age, 13–14 years of age, 15–16 years of age, and 17–19 years of age. The ethnic groups in the school population were African Americans and Caucasians. The different grade levels were 7th through 12th. Wilson and Corbett (1999), in the Report for the Philadelphia Education Fund, “No Excuses”: The Eighth Grade Year in Six Philadelphia Middle Schools, discussed students’ views of what they want their teachers to …


Racial Exemplars And Their Effects On The Race-Implicit Association Test, Ashley Ann Walker Dec 2009

Racial Exemplars And Their Effects On The Race-Implicit Association Test, Ashley Ann Walker

Theses and Dissertations

Research on prejudice has long been skewed by participants’ ability to monitor their reactions on overt measures of such attitudes. Accordingly, researchers created an implicit measure to study prejudice (Greenwald & Banaji, 1995). The Implicit Association Test (IAT) was thus developed. Though the IAT has long been purported as the only ‘true’ measure of participants’ feelings and cognitions, recent research has suggested the measure is not as infallible as once purported (e.g., Smith & Zarate, 1990). The purpose of this study was to integrate existing research on exemplars and how they affect scores on the IAT. Results showed that priming …


Flower Forcing In Banana Shrub (Michelia Skinneriana Dunn.) And Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea Wild.), Shen Ma Dec 2009

Flower Forcing In Banana Shrub (Michelia Skinneriana Dunn.) And Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea Wild.), Shen Ma

Theses and Dissertations

Flower forcing to meet holiday market can increase the value of potted flowering plants. This study was to investigate the effects of chilling and post-chilling photoperiod treatments on flowering of banana shrub and the effects of water stress, daminozide, chlormequat, and ethephon on flowering of bougainvillea. Experiments were conducted at R.R. Foil Plant Science Research Center and MSU Dorman Greenhouse at Mississippi State University (MSU), Mississippi State, MS. Results from banana shrub experiment indicated that 8-week chilling at 8 ºC was necessary for banana shrub to break bud dormancy and a tank mix of daminozide and chlormequat was able to …


Governors State University Board Of Trustees Human Resources Committee Meeting Minutes - December 11, 2009, Board Of Trustees Dec 2009

Governors State University Board Of Trustees Human Resources Committee Meeting Minutes - December 11, 2009, Board Of Trustees

Board of Trustees Meetings Materials and Recordings

Agenda and Minutes for the Governors State University Board of Trustees Human Resources Committee Meeting - December 11, 2009


The Ecological Importance Of Extrinsic And Intrinsic Drivers Of Animal Movement, Josh Earl Rasmussen Dec 2009

The Ecological Importance Of Extrinsic And Intrinsic Drivers Of Animal Movement, Josh Earl Rasmussen

Theses and Dissertations

The movement of individuals is foundational to many ecological processes. For example, the movement of an organism from one place to another alters population density at both sites and has potential for affecting the genetic dynamics within the new population. Individual movement events may be in synchrony with overall trends in populations, e.g. spawning migrations, or may be atypical (asynchronous). This latter movement type can affect population and metapopulation dynamics, depending on its prevalence within a population. Nevertheless, given the complexity of interactions, the causative factors of movement are understood vaguely, much less for aquatic organisms. Drivers of movement are …