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2010

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Exploring International Economic Development Through Environmental Justice Movement Frame, Racquel Clarke May 2010

Exploring International Economic Development Through Environmental Justice Movement Frame, Racquel Clarke

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

In our global community 20% of the population controls 86% of the gross domestic product and 82% of the world market exports, according to the United Nations Development Program. This thesis explains where this inequality comes from and what can be implemented to help some countries miss out on economic prosperity while others enjoy fiscal bliss. The vast majority of countries with the lowest gross domestic product are non-European countries located in the global south. It is an economic problem for these countries that have been historically oppressed through the exploitation of slavery and colonialism. There has been little done …

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A Study Of Three Artificial Neural Networks Models' Ability To Identify Emotions From Facial Images, Timothy Scott Hyde May 2010

A Study Of Three Artificial Neural Networks Models' Ability To Identify Emotions From Facial Images, Timothy Scott Hyde

Theses and Dissertations

Facial expressions conveying emotions are vital for human communication. They are also important in the studies of human interaction and behavioral studies. Recognition of emotions, using facial images, may provide a fast and practical approach that is noninvasive. Most previous studies of emotion recognition through facial images were based on the Facial Action Coding System (FACS). The FACS, which was developed by Ekman and Freisen in 1978, was created to identify different facial muscular actions. Previous artificial neural network-based approaches for classification of facial expressions focused on improving one particular neural network model for better accuracy. The purpose of this …

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Kinetic And Finite Element Modeling For Firing Brick, Daniel Mckinney May 2010

Kinetic And Finite Element Modeling For Firing Brick, Daniel Mckinney

All Theses

Kinetic modeling and simulation were used to optimize the firing cycle for brick. This was done to develop a tool for the brick industry to reduce fuel consumption and emissions during firing. A kinetic model was built using shrinkage data from dilatometer measurements and mass loss data from thermogravimetry measurements in order to predict the density as a function of temperature and time. The density of brick was related to the absorption coefficient (C/B), an ASTM standard which is related to the durability of the brick. The kinetic model was used to optimize the firing curve using a rate controlled …

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Conservation Biology Of The Diamondback Terrapin In North America, Amanda Hackney May 2010

Conservation Biology Of The Diamondback Terrapin In North America, Amanda Hackney

All Theses

Reptiles are experiencing global declines and pond turtles (Emydidae) are particularly vulnerable. The diamondback terrapin uses multiple habitats to fulfill its life history requirements, in the estuarine environments of the Gulf Coast and Atlantic states (US). Interacting effects of coastal development, overharvesting, abandoned crabbing gear, road mortality, climate change, and nest predation are likely causing population declines throughout its distribution. Protection levels were assessed by referencing each state's Wildlife Action Plan for the species' Conservation Status Ranking Code. At least 7 federal laws directly or indirectly regulate take, wetland, and/or coastal activities (Lacey Act, CWA, FWCA, NAWCA, WPFPA, CBRA, NEPA). …

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Responses Of Problematic Algae To Algaecide Exposures, West Bishop May 2010

Responses Of Problematic Algae To Algaecide Exposures, West Bishop

All Theses

Excessive growths of algae can cause significant disruption of critical water resource usages including: drinking, irrigation, recreation as well as be aesthetically displeasing. Water resource managers are often compelled to take action to mitigate these nuisance algal infestations. Algaecides can be efficient and effective management options to rapidly suppress algal blooms and restore water usages. However, laboratory and field data are required to accurately predict responses to an application as well as potential risks to non-target organisms. Laboratory experiments were used to measure the responses of problematic algae to algaecide exposures and evaluate the margin of safety to sensitive, non-target …

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The Role Of Il-1beta, Il-6, And Tnf-Alpha In Radiation-Induced Bone Loss, Stephanie Riffle May 2010

The Role Of Il-1beta, Il-6, And Tnf-Alpha In Radiation-Induced Bone Loss, Stephanie Riffle

All Theses

Bone fractures greatly decrease an individual's quality of life, as well as increase an individual's risk for further complications, including death. Ionizing radiation causes bone loss, leaving bones at increased risk of fracture. This exposure, particularly in the context of cancer patients receiving radiotherapy, results in damage to normal (non-tumor) tissue. Inflammation is a common response to radiation-induced tissue damage, characterized by increased presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha. However, little is known about the roles of these cytokines in radiation-induced bone loss. This thesis hypothesized that the up regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, and …

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A Discounted Cash Flow Method Of Valuation For Single Trees And Urban Forests, Kristin Heffelfinger May 2010

A Discounted Cash Flow Method Of Valuation For Single Trees And Urban Forests, Kristin Heffelfinger

All Theses

Urban foresters need a consistent method for valuing single trees with specific non-timber values. There are several accepted methods to accomplish this; comparison of results across the methods ensures consistency. Discounted cash flow analysis (DCF) is one of these methods, but many appraisers or others valuing urban tree are reluctant to use it because it requires complex calculations and assumptions. However, DCF has the advantage of accounting for the time value of money and certain intangible benefits presented by urban trees. Current models are adapted to specific locations and species; a general method for urban tree valuation has not been …

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Why Jerusalem? Why Then?, Erin Larson May 2010

Why Jerusalem? Why Then?, Erin Larson

All Theses

One of the fascinating aspects of this research is how what individuals believe to be true leads to collective action as a society. Research for this paper will show the evolution of Christian theology from the early Christian rejection of the physical world to the medieval reliance on physical people, places and objects as a connection to heaven. This paper will also track the creation of penitential warfare as a way of entering heaven. This paper will prove that Jerusalem was important to medieval Europeans for three reasons: saving the city from the Muslims was an act of penance, the …

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Communicating During An Economic Crisis: An Examination Of The Use Of Strategic Ambiguity Within The Banking Industry, Stephanie Tarbet May 2010

Communicating During An Economic Crisis: An Examination Of The Use Of Strategic Ambiguity Within The Banking Industry, Stephanie Tarbet

All Theses

The current economic crisis has adversely affected companies and organizations throughout our nation and around the globe. One of the industries hit hardest by the unprecedented downturn was the banking industry. During these critical times, these companies have a responsibility to communicate information to stakeholders about the economy's impact on financial results, operations, and future plans. The following research study describes how four major companies within the banking industry communicated with external stakeholder groups about the economic crisis. Specifically, I analyzed how these companies communicated with external stakeholder groups and whether their communications revealed instances of strategic ambiguity. Using Kathy …

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Orientalism In American Cinema: Providing An Historical And Geographical Context For Post-Colonial Theory, Samuel Scurry May 2010

Orientalism In American Cinema: Providing An Historical And Geographical Context For Post-Colonial Theory, Samuel Scurry

All Theses

Of the many criticisms leveled at Edward Said's seminal work, Orientalism (1978), and those of post-colonial theorists following in his wake, from an historian's perspective the most significant is that his argument is utterly lacking in historical context. In fact, post-colonial theorists do tend to mistrust the validity of history and often are suspicious of its complicity in the enterprise of western empires. Despite Said's undeniable ahistoricism, however, most historians agree that the basic tenants of his argument have merit. What is lacking, then, is an examination of orientalism not as an indictment, with all manner of evidence pulled seemingly …

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Making Rhetorical Scents: An Olfactory Grammar Of Motives Based On Kenneth Burke's Pentad, Janet Miller May 2010

Making Rhetorical Scents: An Olfactory Grammar Of Motives Based On Kenneth Burke's Pentad, Janet Miller

All Theses

Scent is inherently persuasive, but the language of scent is largely missing from rhetoric's vocabulary. This is because language cannot express the 'truth' of an odor. Identification of odor as substance is dependent on consubstantiality between the author and reader. We instead describe smells using metaphorical language, or by invoking episodic memories and emotional reactions. In this way, scent is dramatistic. In order to consider the possibility of a grammar of scent beyond metaphor, the author develops an olfactory pentad (Sniff, Context, Emanation, Odor Object, and Response) by applying the framework of Kenneth Burke's dramatistic pentad. In this way, scent …

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Immunomodulatory Properties Of Noni (Morinda Citrifolia), Madhukar Lohani May 2010

Immunomodulatory Properties Of Noni (Morinda Citrifolia), Madhukar Lohani

All Theses

Noni (Morinda citrifolia) is a popular medicinal plant of family Rubiaceae. Its fruit is rich in various phytochemicals and polysaccharides. Anecdotal evidence indicates that it was used to stimulate the immune system and, thus, to fight various infections. Limited in vitro studies also support the immunomodulatory role of Noni, however only one study utilized an animal model. The purpose of this study was to examine the immunomodulatory properties of Noni fruit the broiler chicken.
Different concentrations of dietary Noni were added to diets and fed to day-old broiler chickens for 3 to 6 weeks. Gut tissue and blood were sampled …

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The Effects Of Aerobic Exercise On Embryonic And Fetal Development In The Pregnant Mare, Jason Anton May 2010

The Effects Of Aerobic Exercise On Embryonic And Fetal Development In The Pregnant Mare, Jason Anton

All Theses

Horses are natural athletes and are commonly competed during early pregnancy. Because horses have singleton pregnancies and are conditioned to human interaction, they may prove to be a useful model in lending greater understanding of the numerous etiologies of intra-uterine growth restriction that is found in women and other mammals. Currently, there has been little research conducted to determine the effects that stress, in the form of aerobic exercise, has on early embryonic and fetal development in the horse. More research is needed to further understand the effects that stress has on early conceptus development in the mare.
The research …

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Biodegradable Polymer Blends And Composites From Proteins Produced By Animal Co-Product Industry, Bernice Nzioki May 2010

Biodegradable Polymer Blends And Composites From Proteins Produced By Animal Co-Product Industry, Bernice Nzioki

All Theses

ABSTRACT
Development of new green materials from by-products of animal rendering industries would provide a substantial economic return to animal rendering processors. Meat and bone meal (MBM), one of the products of the rendering industry, has potential for numerous bio-based applications. This research focuses on fabrication of plastics blends made of MBM (Meat and bone meal) and UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene). We investigated thermal, morphological, water absorption and mechanical properties of the plastics. The plastics were compression molded and their properties were examined.
DSC thermographs of the blends indicated that the thermal properties of UHMWPE did not change …

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'Werner Fecit': Christopher Werner And Nineteenth-Century Charleston Ironwork, Kelly Ciociola May 2010

'Werner Fecit': Christopher Werner And Nineteenth-Century Charleston Ironwork, Kelly Ciociola

All Theses

A recent discovery of Christopher Werner's account book has inspired and informed this investigation into the life and business of this nineteenth-century ironworker. This book was hidden for many years, preserved by a child's scrapbook clippings. A restoration of this book through the removal of later additions was done, and significant information pertaining to Werner's situation in the nineteenth century was revealed. This provided not only new knowledge on the blacksmith, but also context and perspective for additional research completed.
Comprehensive studies of Charleston craftsmen are scarce. While the products of their skills are appreciated throughout the city, a general …

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Sex Ratio Of Embryos From Hyperstimluated Beef Cows, Sterling Davis May 2010

Sex Ratio Of Embryos From Hyperstimluated Beef Cows, Sterling Davis

All Theses

Sex selection is economically and genetically advantageous in cattle production. The only commercially available reliable sex selection technique is sexed semen; however, the technology is expensive and inefficient. Maternal manipulation could be beneficial to sway sex ratio. Frequent ultrasound coupled with rectal palpation has been shown to sway sex ratio towards female. In the preliminary study, cows with a corpus luteum (CL) ≥ 18 mm were randomly assigned to Treatment or Control (n=4 / group). Follicles > 5 mm were destroyed using ultrasound-guided ablation, a CIDR was inserted, and PGF2α (25 mg IM) was administered. Ovarian hyperstimulation began 48 h post-ablation …

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Piecing It Together: The Introduction Of Delftware Tiles To North America And Their Enduring Legacy In Charleston, South Carolina, Josslyn Kay Stiner May 2010

Piecing It Together: The Introduction Of Delftware Tiles To North America And Their Enduring Legacy In Charleston, South Carolina, Josslyn Kay Stiner

All Theses

The economic and social history of delftware tiles in North America has not yet been synthesized and the use of delftware tiles south of Virginia is even less documented. In fact, even though Charleston, South Carolina exhibits numerous examples of this decorative art, there has been very little research conducted on this topic regarding the southern city. The following thesis presents an overview of delftware tile manufacture and use in Europe and America. Narrowing in scope, it compiles all of the published information on the subject in colonial America, focusing specifically on the use of delftware tiles in Charleston. It …

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A Christmas Tree And Other Stories, Jillian Lang May 2010

A Christmas Tree And Other Stories, Jillian Lang

All Theses

The stories presented in this thesis are written mainly in the vein of literary minimalism and post-Modernism. The stories focus on a variety of themes, as related to human emotions and reactions. The thesis begins with A Christmas Tree, which focuses on the opinions and reactions of a mentally-handicapped man as he struggles with his desires to be an average, contributing member of society. The second story in the collection, The Little Red Schoolhouse, focuses on sexuality and how pride and dishonesty can ruin an otherwise successful relationship.A Learned Helplessness and Supper Club, stories three and four in the collection, …

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The Scarf Club, Mari Ramler May 2010

The Scarf Club, Mari Ramler

All Theses

A novel comprises this creative thesis, which has been submitted in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Arts in English literature. This manuscript is the story of Lucy Merdock and how two major losses during her senior year of high school change the way she sees herself.

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Analysis Of Egg-Lay Dates Of Bald Eagles As A Potential Indicator Of Global Climate Change, Jennifer Garrison May 2010

Analysis Of Egg-Lay Dates Of Bald Eagles As A Potential Indicator Of Global Climate Change, Jennifer Garrison

All Theses

The effects of climate change on many wildlife species is a new area of research. Long&ndashterm data sets on raptor populations may hold the key to documenting these impacts from local to ecosystem scales. The Michigan bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) population has been monitored continuously since 1961, and virtually all reproductive outcomes are known since 1963. The bald eagle population at Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota has been monitored continuously since 1973. Though these data sets are extensive, little is known about the effects of climate change on egg laying dates in sea eagles (Haliaeetus spp). Understanding these effects could ultimately …

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Turning `The Angel Of The House' Out Of The House: Privacy In The Nineteenth Century Sensation Novel, Ashley Crider May 2010

Turning `The Angel Of The House' Out Of The House: Privacy In The Nineteenth Century Sensation Novel, Ashley Crider

All Theses

This thesis explores nineteenth-century transatlantic sensation fiction. My examination of George Lippard's The Quaker City: Or the Monks of Monk HallThe Quaker City: Or the Monks of Monk Hall (1845) and Mary Elizabeth Braddon's Lady Audley's Secret investigates the construction of the Angel of the House in both the domestic and public spheres. I pay particular attention to `feminine' spaces such as the boudoir, and how the sensation novel represents physical space and commodity culture to comment on female sexual agency and how nineteenth century classes constructed womanhood. In addition to Braddon and Lippard, my thesis explores such American texts …

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Growth And Hydrogen Production From Carbohydrates And Switchgrass By Thermotoga Neapolitana, Divya Dharshini Chandrasekaran May 2010

Growth And Hydrogen Production From Carbohydrates And Switchgrass By Thermotoga Neapolitana, Divya Dharshini Chandrasekaran

All Theses

Thermotoga neapolitana is an anaerobic thermophilic marine bacterium that has been reported to degrade cellulose. This hyperthermophilic bacterium grows at 77¡C and could be used in large scale applications because of its ability to withstand extreme conditions. The aim of this study was to analyze the growth and production of hydrogen by T. neapolitana when grown on various carbon sources including the bioenergy crop switchgrass. Switchgrass was provided by the Clemson University Pee Dee Research and Education Center and was milled to about 4mm in size. Switchgrass was then added to an anaerobic medium and inoculated with T. neapolitana . …

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Modified Method For The Microbial Enumeration Of High Fat Foods, Robert Valerio May 2010

Modified Method For The Microbial Enumeration Of High Fat Foods, Robert Valerio

All Theses

Foods of high fat content, such as peanut butter and ground beef, can be of particular interest to food microbiologists due to their role in harboring microorganisms that lead to spoilage and/or foodborne illnesses. In previous studies on raw poultry rendering materials, Glenn (2006) determined standard phosphate buffer serial dilutions produced erratic microbial enumeration results. As the material contained high fat, it was
hypothesized that the immiscibility of fat in the aqueous buffer caused the errors. This could occur by fat globules entrapping microorganisms in foods. Upon serial dilution with aqueous buffers, the fat globules may not be evenly dispersed …

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Forced Exercise Influences Embryo Quality And Blood Perfusion Of The Dominant Follicle In Mares, Rachael Smith May 2010

Forced Exercise Influences Embryo Quality And Blood Perfusion Of The Dominant Follicle In Mares, Rachael Smith

All Theses

Athletic mares are commonly utilized in an embryo transfer regimen during the breeding season, which allows owners to continue to train and compete with these animals. Evidence suggests exercising mares in a hot and humid environment detrimental to embryo recovery rates. However, the effects of exercise under milder temperatures and its influence on mare reproduction have not been thoroughly examined. Our goal was to compare embryo recovery rates and embryo quality scores of mares under mild environmental conditions of two differing exercise regimens versus a single Control group. Color Doppler ultrasonography was used to capture images of the blood flow …

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Establishment And Management Practices Of Two New Warm-Season Turfgrasses In The Southern Transition Zone, John Stiglbauer May 2010

Establishment And Management Practices Of Two New Warm-Season Turfgrasses In The Southern Transition Zone, John Stiglbauer

All Theses

Seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum O. Swartz) is a turfgrass that has become increasingly popular in southern coastal regions of the US because of its ability to tolerate salt stress. Another reason that this turfgrass is increasing in popularity is its aesthetically appealing striping ability. Seashore paspalum could also be beneficial in areas where potable water cannot be used for irrigation. Information on this turfgrass is limited in literature, particularly on the topics of establishment, scalping, and growing this turfgrass on inland sites in the transition zone. A field experiment was conducted in Clemson, SC from May 2007 and 2008 to …

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Mult1e-Rgd Fusion Protein Drives Nk Cell-Mediated Anti-Tumor Response, Meg Steiner May 2010

Mult1e-Rgd Fusion Protein Drives Nk Cell-Mediated Anti-Tumor Response, Meg Steiner

All Theses

A growing body of evidence indicates that natural killer (NK) cells are paramount to the identification and elimination of cancerous and pre-cancerous cells during normal immunosurveillance. In addition, NK cells provide a vital link between the innate and adaptive immune systems during an anti-tumoral response. In the present study, a novel fusion protein was designed from the extracellular portion of mouse UL16-binding protein-like transcript 1 (MULT1), a ligand for the activating NKG2D receptor on NK cells, and a short arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) -containing peptide, which binds the integrin αvβ3 of tumor-specific neovasculature. In vitro studies showed that the fusion protein …

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In The Time Of The Fireflies, Kathy Hoormann May 2010

In The Time Of The Fireflies, Kathy Hoormann

Arrow Rock

No abstract provided.

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Battery And Abuse In The Elderly: A Forensic Analysis, Amy Y. Carney Phd, Mfs, Np May 2010

Battery And Abuse In The Elderly: A Forensic Analysis, Amy Y. Carney Phd, Mfs, Np

Dissertations

Elder abuse is a recognized social problem in the United States. First labeled as "granny battering" and originally studied under the umbrella of family violence, maltreatment of the elderly has received more funding and research in recent years. Multiple aspects of elder abuse have been examined in the literature including measures for detection, assessment, and documentation. Although studies have examined the circumstances surrounding abuse as well as theories of causation and characteristics of the abuser and the abused, studies of the relationship between the abuser and the abused are less well documented. The purpose of this research was to examine …

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Violence, Depression, Parental Stress, And Child Neglect Among High Risk Postpartum Women, Kristen D. Lambert Phd, Msn, Rn May 2010

Violence, Depression, Parental Stress, And Child Neglect Among High Risk Postpartum Women, Kristen D. Lambert Phd, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to characterize a vulnerable population of postpartum women at risk for family violence and maladaptive outcomes and to determine the degree the identified attributes increase the risk of child neglect and psychological aggression. Lazarus' Appraisal Theory and Scaer's Traumatic Spectrum framework provided a conceptual basis to examine the interrelationships between intimate partner violence (IPV), depression, previous traumatic history, and child neglect. A descriptive correlation design using secondary analysis of longitudinal data collected for the Healthy Families San Diego Clinical Trial was used. Standardized measures including the CTS, CTS2, CTSPC, CES-D and PSI were administered …

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Cooperative Learning: Attitudes, Perceptions, And Achievement In A Traditional, Online, And Hybrid Instructional Setting, Allison Hardin Duckworth May 2010

Cooperative Learning: Attitudes, Perceptions, And Achievement In A Traditional, Online, And Hybrid Instructional Setting, Allison Hardin Duckworth

Dissertations

Cooperative learning has been sufficiently studied to be accepted as an effective method of education. Student reception of cooperative learning, and therefore the degree of its success in a given situation, will depend on the mode of delivery. New technology for delivering courses totally online challenges many aspects of traditional education, and is particularly difficult for cooperative learning that relies heavily on intense face-to-face communication among students. This study was conducted to compare cooperative learning in a traditional setting to that in hybrid and online settings. A model for delivering a cooperative learning experience has been developed utilizing concept maps …

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