Digital Commons Network^™

International Clustering And Foreign Subsidiary Performance, Jing'an Tang

WCBT Faculty Publications

The article discusses the development and testing of a network-based model of international clustering and foreign subsidiary performance in an attempt to determine how multinational companies (MNC) enter a foreign country to build their own foreign cluster. It focuses on the foreign peer network (FPN) to incorporate both the social and economic interactions within a cluster. An FPN is described as a set of social and economic relations among a group of foreign subsidiaries that are from the same home country and run same or similar businesses within a common geographic area in the host country. The initial condition of …

Mortgage Modification Meltdown: When Will Congress Take The Plight Of Homeowners Seriously?, Jesse D. Rodgers

Seton Hall Journal of Legislation and Public Policy

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Television Exposure On College Football Recruiting: An Analysis Of The Southeastern And Atlantic Coast Conferences From 1970 To 2010, Thomas Crouch

All Theses

A study was done to determine the effect of television exposure on the geographic distribution of recruits in the Southeastern and Atlantic Coast conferences from 1970 to 2010. Roster data was compiled for 23 teams, and this data was used to generate distances between every recruit's hometown and the school he would attend. Then, a conditional logit estimation was used to determine the effect of distance on a recruit's choice of schools over time. Also included were variables describing each school's academic and football quality and variables describing a recruit's choice of school by where it was located in relation …

An Exogenous Approach To Circumventing Demolition By Neglect: The Impact Of Agricultural Preservation On Historic Colonial Towns, Galen Newman

All Dissertations

The effects of city decentralization and counter-urbanization of the American landscape have resulted in simultaneous negative impacts on both historic structures and agricultural landscapes. Rapid conversion of farmland has helped to facilitate the relocation of both populations and commercial activities in communities across the United States, leaving inner cities replete with functionless, unused, and unmaintained heritage structures. As civic core areas have become shells of their former selves, many once-vital structures have been removed while others have been abandoned and left to decay--a process known as demolition by neglect. While historic preservation efforts have attempted to salvage these historic structures, …

A Diagnostic Examination Of Consecutive Extreme Cool-Season Precipitation Events At St. John's, Newfoundland, In December 2008, Shawn M. Milrad, Eyad H. Atallah, John R. Gyakum

Publications

St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada (CYYT), is frequently affected by extreme precipitation events, particularly in the cool season (October–April). Previous work classified precipitation events at CYYT into categories by precipitation amount and a manual synoptic typing was performed on the 50 median extreme precipitation events, using two separate methods. Here, consecutive extreme precipitation events in December 2008 are analyzed. These events occurred over a 6-day period and produced over 125 mm of precipitation at CYYT. The first manual typing method, using a backward-trajectory analysis, results in both events being classified as “southwest,” which were previously defined as the majority of the …

The Temple Recommend: A Solution To The Free-Rider Problem, Austin Bowles

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Temple worship and geographical boundaries are unique features of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Our research uses economic theory to understand how the organizational benefits of the temple recommend system and the geographical ward boundaries may solve the market failures associated with religious organizations. These features of the LDS Church will be used to create a framework for understanding how the church limits free-riding and sub-optimal participation, which would result in increased efficiency and production of large religious benefits. Because the market failures faced by the church are the same as those faced by other …

Is There A Link Between Money Illusion And Homeowners’ Expectations Of Housing Prices?, Lucy F. Ackert, Brian K. Church, Narayanan Jarayaman

Faculty Articles

Money illusion is a behavioral bias in which a person thinks in terms of nominal rather than real values. This paper reports homeowners’ responses to a survey designed to measure the extent of money illusion as well as homeowners’ expectations regarding home valuations. Our survey respondents suffer from money illusion, yet they have reasonable expectations of home prices. Our analysis did not identify any unique individual characteristic that correlates with homeowners’ choices and suggests that the relationship between money illusion and mispricing is subtle and multi-faceted.

Saints In Sin City: Religion And Community Building In Twentieth Century Las Vegas, Matthew R. Davis

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Due to an absence of social and religious tradition, Las Vegas provided the perfect setting for Jewish and Mormon faiths to create communities closely linked to their own spiritual doctrine. This thesis traces the evolution of these groups from the turn of the twentieth-century to the present, focusing on issues such as education, geographic location, and business acumen as avenues for personal and spiritual growth. This thesis also considers the relatively small number of religious studies conducted in the American West, and serves as a possible example for future study by using an urban religious framework to synthesize the dearth …

Global Competence: Determination Of Its Importance For Engineers Working In A Global Environment, Gregg M. Warnick

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

We live and work in a world that is even more interconnected and interdependent than ever before. Engineers must now not only develop technical engineering competence, but must also develop additional skills and competencies including global competence to obtain success within a global engineering environment.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether multinational companies considered global competence an important skill in mechanical engineering graduates when making hiring decisions. The study was an exploratory study that utilized an extensive literature review to identify eight global competencies for engineering success within a global environment and also included a survey instrument …

Using An Ancient Saint For Contemporary Political Purposes: The Case Of Irenaeus Of Sirmium In Sremska Mitrovica Today, Marijana Vukoviæ

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Black And White And Read In Profile: The Silhouette As Race Manirhetoric In Flannery O'Connor And Kara Walker, Michelle Dacus Carr

All Dissertations

ABSTRACT
My research project, in fulfillment of the requirements for the dissertation in Rhetorics, Communication, and Information Design, utilizes the schema or trope of the silhouette as a binding metaphor for black/white race relationships in America. Specifically, I argue that there is no better model for examining social interactions between the races than the back- and fore-grounding that is transacted through this primarily visual--but also verbal and oral--technique of profiling and outlining. This is particularly true given its origins in discriminatory practice, dating as far back as the literary iconismos and characterismos used to categorize Greek and Roman slaves, and …

Hydroclimate Reconstructions Of The Potomac River Basin Using Tree Rings, Richard Stockton Maxwell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The following dissertation is composed of three separate manuscripts with the overall theme of hydroclimate reconstructions of the Potomac River Basin. The first manuscript investigated two methods of crossdating eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) and examined the dendroclimatic response of earlywood, latewood, and total ring-width. In the second manuscript, May precipitation for West Virginia Climate Region 6 was reconstructed using two millennial-length eastern redcedar chronologies from 750-1998. Comparisons were made to other paleoclimate proxy records of moisture in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The final manuscript focused on a multi-species reconstruction of Potomac River streamflow from 950-2001. In this manuscript, species importance …

The Uncivil War Waged Against Unionists In Texas 1860-1890, Randall Herman Adrian

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Texas was a log cabin frontier in 1860; nomadic Indian tribes still occupied half of the state and frequently raided settlements. Additional fear sprang from rumors that Kansas Jayhawkers planned to devastate Texas the way they already had wreaked havoc on the people of Kansas. During the Civil War, fear-inspired hysteria caused vigilantes to commit numerous atrocities across the State of Texas. During Reconstruction, hatred from past traumas carried forward generating more barbarity between Texans of different loyalties.

The diversity of the Texas population resulted in similarly divergent political beliefs and economic interests. The population of Texas exploded as Gotterdammerung …

Neural Network Classification Of Hyperspectral Imagery For Urban Environments: A Case Study., Vijay Lulla

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Urban environments are complex because many different artificial and natural objects occur in close proximity. Being able to understand the processes and workings of these environments requires the ability to observe and record data with high spatial and spectral resolution. Hyperspectral sensors have been gaining popularity for this task as they are becoming more affordable. In this research, a commonly used maximum likelihood (ML) classifier and artificial neural network (ANN) classifier have been compared for classifying urban land use and land cover (LULC) using AISA+ hyperspectral data. Further, the best set of bands were identified for classification of urban areas …

Assessing Mississippians’ Preparedness For Disasters Using The Citizen Corps National Survey 2009, Carl Huston Mangum Ii

Dissertations

Disaster preparedness, a shared responsibility of all citizens and disaster agencies, is the most critical component in minimizing risk and damage from disaster. Mississippi has been affected by some of the most devastating disasters in American history, both in terms of physical destruction and human life. The purpose of this study was to assess Mississippians’ disaster preparedness by replicating The 2009 Citizen Corps National Survey (CCNS). The 65 question 2009 CCNS was slightly modified to survey 678 randomly selected Mississippians about the Citizen Corps Personal Disaster Preparedness Model: Demographics, Volunteering, Drills/Exercises, Community Plan, Household Plan, Disaster Supplies, Prevention, Self-efficacy, Reliance, …

Managing Complexity And Change In International Relations: The Case Of Yemen, Michael J. Culton

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

Matters of war and peace may be as old as civilization itself but the definitions and practices of each are constantly evolving. Innumerable theories and models have been developed over the past few centuries, which are designed to explain modern international politics. As academics and policymakers debate their assumptions regarding conflict and cooperation, current events challenge their intellectual foundations and may even serve to overturn them. The scholars and practitioners of foreign policy may have reached the point where the traditional explanations of political behavior can no longer account for the pressing issues of the day. In such an age …

Walking Atm’S: A Criminological Examination Of Hispanic Robbery Victimization Pre And Post Hurricane Katrina In Metropolitan New Orleans, Dennis Thornton

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina sparked the largest influx of Hispanic laborers in the metropolitan New Orleans area ever recorded in Louisiana’s history. Inhabiting impoverished neighborhoods with minimal resources, unable to speak the language and illegal in status, may prime this migrant class as vulnerable targets of robbery. Hence, robberies against Hispanics have increased in Jefferson Parish, which is the basis for the present study. The intention of this research is to ascertain whether such robbery victims sustain greater secondary violence during the commission of the crime than that of Non-Hispanics and also if geographic confinement is contributory factor to …

An Assessment Of The San Miguel County Economy, Jeffrey Mitchell

BBER Publications

An analysis of economic conditions in San Miguel County, New Mexico. Economic growth in San Miguel County has lagged behind the average rate for New Mexico, as seen in the county's slow population growth, below average labor force participation rates, low income levels, and high rate of poverty. Examining the area's pull factors and then using a location quotient analysis of local industries, the author assesses the county's economic competitiveness and gives recommendations for future economic growth. Includes tables and charts.

Analysis Of Lidar Point Data And Derived Elevation Models For Mapping And Characterizing Bouldery Landforms, Aaron Edward Maxwell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This thesis assessed the viability of using LiDAR-derived elevation data in accurately mapping and characterizing bouldery geomorphic features in a study area in the Allegheny Mountains. This study showed that the ground returns classification process conducted by the Canaan Valley Institute (CVI) for their property using the TerraScan software generally removed 5 to 10 m scale local topographic variability and bouldery landforms in creating the CVI classified ground returns data. In open areas, last returns elevation and intensity data were successfully used in this study to map bouldery landforms in the study area. Identifying and describing boulders under a tree …

Linking Tourism Resources And Local Economic Development: A Spatial Analysis In West Virginia, David Dyre

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Tourism has proven to be a major contributor to West Virginia's economy after much of the states agricultural, mining, and chemical manufacturing have ceased. This study created a database of cultural tourism resources (battlefields, historic sites, festivals, and museums) and tourism businesses (camping sites, lodging, and restaurants) and created a location map of each resource type, determined their spatial distribution across the state, categorized counties based on cultural tourism resources, tourism businesses and travel spending, and examined the relationship of the tourism resources and travel spending at the county level. Two large portions of the state were found to rank …

Performance And Economics Of Methane Hydrate Reservoirs, Lavanya Nyayapathi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In order to address the world's growing energy demand, the necessity to explore more and more unconventional sources of energy arises. Recently there has been increased interest in the potential of natural gas hydrates as an alternate energy resource. Hydrates are distributed worldwide and have a high energy density in that 1 m3 of methane hydrates can release as much as 164 m3 of gas.;Hydrates were studied as a laboratory curiosity until and then naturally occurring hydrates were discovered in 1934 clogging gas and oil pipelines. The first naturally occurring hydrate deposits were suggested in 1965 by Makogon in Russia. …

Ethnicity, Boundaries, And Nationalism In A "European" Croatia, Jennifer L. Titanski

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Despite the E.U.'s attempts to create a sense of European homogeneity between its members, issues of nationality and identity continue to play a vital role in both its function and expansion. This research examines the shifting role that the nation plays in Croatia's transition to the European Union. Employing discourse analysis of state documents and online surveys of Croatian youth, this study analyzes the role of the state in perpetuating an image of stability and westward thinking toward greater Europe; identifies the perspective young Croatian adults have on European integration; gauges the importance of nationalism for a post-socialist generation; and …

Hegemonic Conflict In The Caspian Region: Accumulation By Dispossession And The Spatial Fix, Patrick L. Ehland

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research examines the political-economic and military activities of three major powers, the United States, China and Russia, in the Caspian region, comprising the nation states of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan, since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The activities of these three powers have been guided primarily by resource and strategic needs, and they have had a significant effect on the uneven development of the Caspian states. The interests and actions of the three powers have frequently come into conflict with each other, and the responses of the individual Caspian states have varied widely. …

Assessing The Cumulative Impact Of Disturbance On Canopy Structure And Chemistry In Appalachian Forests, Lindsay N. Deel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Eastern forests experience a range of disturbance events over time, from stand-replacing disturbances, such as clear cuts, to ephemeral disturbances, such as insect outbreaks. By understanding the cumulative impact of disturbances on canopy structure and chemistry, we can gain insight into management strategies, assess a variety of ecosystem services, and even contribute to a larger body of knowledge on global climate change. I transformed a series of Landsat images spanning approximately 25 years into cumulative disturbance maps covering Green Ridge State Forest and Savage River State Forest in western Maryland. Intensive field surveys collected during the summer of 2009 provided …

Seasonal Trends In Separability Of Leaf Reflectance Spectra For Ailanthus Altissima And Four Other Tree Species, Aaron Burkholder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This project investigated the spectral separability of the invasive species Ailanthus altissima, commonly called tree of heaven, and four other native species. Leaves were collected from Ailanthus and four native tree species from May 13 through August 24, 2008, and spectral reflectance factor measurements were gathered for each tree using an ASD (Boulder, Colorado) FieldSpec Pro full-range spectroradiometer. The original data covered the range from 350-2500 nm, with one reflectance measurement collected per one nm wavelength. To reduce dimensionality, the measurements were resampled to the actual resolution of the spectrometer's sensors, and regions of atmospheric absorption were removed. Continuum removal …

One-Room Schools And Their Role In The Development Of The Appalachian Hills Of West Virginia: 1863--1940s, James Seth Caudill

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

One-room schools provided the educational settings for the majority of West Virginians until well into the twentieth century. The distribution of the population throughout the rural, rolling, and mountainous terrain resulted in the location of schools within walking distance for most students. The school population consisted of students of various ages and different grades contained in one room. Teachers required diverse skills, in order to perform as academic instructor, nurse, custodian, and entertainment leader at recess. The rural schools gave students in these communities an opportunity to achieve an education, offering both academics and life lessons. The thesis will examine …

Distributed Storage And Queryng Techniques For A Semantic Web Of Scientific Workflow Provenance, Jaime Alberto Navarro

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In scientific workflow environments, scientists depend on provenance, which records the history of an experiment. Resource Description Framework is frequently used to represent provenance based on vocabularies such as the Open Provenance Model. For complex scientific workflows that generate large amounts of RDF triples, single-machine provenance management becomes inadequate over time. In this thesis, we research how HBase capabilities can be leveraged for distributed storage and querying of provenance data represented in RDF. We architect the ProvBase system that incorporates an HBase/Hadoop backend, propose a storage schema to hold provenance triples, and design querying algorithms to evaluate SPARQL queries in …

The Market For Affordable Housing In Taos, New Mexico, Jeffrey Mitchell, Michael O'Donnell

BBER Publications

This report presents the findings of a study done by the UNM Bureau of Business and Economic Research on contract for the Town of Taos, New Mexico, and UNMs Taos branch campus to analyze the Taos housing market. The initial objective was to assess the potential demand for student housing at the UNM-Taos Klauer campus; a broader objective was to understand the dynamics of housing supply and demand in the Taos economy. The study's findings confirm the perception that the Taos residential housing market is distorted; fewer than five percent of working households could afford a median-priced home in Taos …

Denison House: Women's Use Of Space In The Boston Settlement, Heather Marie Capitanio

Graduate Masters Theses

Established in 1892, Denison House Settlement in Boston, Massachusetts was the third college settlement of its kind in the United States. Like other settlement houses of the time, Denison House was established as a base for community refurbishment and statistical study. Located at 93 Tyler Street in the rundown South Cove area of Boston, it offered its lower class "neighbors" a variety of activities and facilities within its perimeters. Judging only from late nineteenth-century attitudes and mores, one would assume that the women who worked and lived at Denison House would have been turned away by the poor residents of …

Historical Memory Of Mount Rushmore, Justin J. Mayer

Theses and Dissertations

The Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hilis of South Dakota lias differing economic, cultural, political and religious meanings. Particularly, an American or "white" interpretation and the interpretations of the Sioux Nation. These different perspectives of Mount Rushmore reveal more about the history of the Black Hills of South Dakota and how cultures redefine events to meet contemporary needs. This thesis examines the original intentions for the Mount Rushmore National Memorial and traces how the monument was described to others during construction. An examination of presidential speeches and remarks made about Mount Rushmore during construction helps discern one political …