Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating Interactions Of Task Relevance And Visual Attention In Driver Multitasking, Teena Marie Garrison

Theses and Dissertations

Use of cellular phones while driving, and safety implications thereof, has captured public and scientific interest. Previous research has shown that driver reactions and attention are impacted by cellular phone use. Generally, previous research studies have not focused on how visual attention and driver performance may interact. Strayer and colleagues found lower recognition for items present in the driving environment when drivers were using a cellular phone than when not using the phone; however, the tested items were not directly relevant to driving. Relevance to driving may have an impact on attention allocation. The current project used a mediumidelity driving …

Alabama Community College Presidents' Perceptions Regarding Distance Education, Janina Lakeshea Nobles

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine Alabama community college presidents’ perceptions regarding distance education. Further, this study was intended to determine the adequacy of the training opportunities and support for faculty that teach distance education courses and what services are available for distance education students. This study was designed to investigate distance education in the Alabama Community College System and to provide information in an effort to create a comprehensive plan to maximize access to online learning for students within the system. A survey was given to a total of 26 Alabama 2-year college presidents (22 comprehensive community …

Understanding Of Digital Copyright Issues Among Business Career And Technical Educators In Mississippi, Jean Alice Walke Mcdavid

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the understanding of digital copyright issues among business career and technical educators in Mississippi. The areas considered were knowledge; perceptions of knowledge; areas of copyright knowledge including computers and software, the Internet, video, and multimedia; and demographics of teaching level, gender, participation in professional development activities, and teaching experience. Participants included 75 Mississippi business career and technical educators at both the secondary and postsecondary levels. The knowledge level of participants was judged to be low; only four participants reached the established competency level of 70%. Their self-rated perception level was higher than their knowledge level, with the …

Utilization Of Extracted Hardwood Flakes For Manufacturing Oriented Strand Lumber, Thomas Eric Mcconnell

Theses and Dissertations

Lignocellulosic ethanol production currently uses expensive and harsh methods to extract wood sugars from small-diameter hardwood trees that otherwise would have little or no marketability. A byproduct that adds no value to the conversion process results, thus alternative methods are needed to make this fuel source cost-effective. This dissertation proposes only partially hydrolyzing southern hardwoods, extracting some polysaccharides for ethanol fermentation while leaving behind a modified wood material which could be used as furnish for manufacturing strand-based wood composites. Three treating solutions, 1% sulfuric acid, water, and 1% sodium hydroxide, along with untreated controls, were utilized in a partial hydrolysis …

Vortices In The Near Field Of Optical Dipole Radiation, Xin Li

Theses and Dissertations

An oscillating electric dipole emits radiation, and the flow of energy is represented by the field lines of the Poynting vector. In the most general state of oscillation the dipole moment vector traces out an ellipse. We have evaluated analytically and numerically the field lines of the Poynting vector for the emitted light, and it appears that each field line lies on a cone, which has its axis perpendicular to the plane of the ellipse. The field lines exhibit a vortex structure near the location of the dipole, and they approach a straight line in the far field. The spatial …

Spatio-Temporal Characteristics Of Mississippi Wildfires, Saranee Dutta

Theses and Dissertations

Based on wildfire data acquired from Mississippi forestry commission from 1991- 2005 approximately 4,000 wildfires occur in Mississippi each year, burning over 60,000 acres of forest and grassland. This study focuses on Mississippi’s wildfires from 1991- 2005 for the summer/fall period defined for this study as the May-November fire season. Statistical analysis indicates that there is significant correlation between vegetation indices derived from remotely sensed data and wildfire size at various time lag periods. Forest areas are correlated with vegetation indices at longer lag periods, nonorested areas are correlated at shorter lag periods. The inverse correlation between wildfire size and …

The Conditioning Effects Of Religiosity On The Relationship Between Strain, Negative Emotions, And Delinquency: A Longitudinal Assessment Of General Strain Theory, Christopher W. Purser

Theses and Dissertations

Robert Agnew’s (1992) General Strain Theory significantly revitalized traditional scholarship in the anomie/strain tradition by offering a general theory of crime; purported to account for both criminal and analogous behaviors. GST specifically extends anomie/strain theory by introducing new sources of strain (i.e. loss of positively valued stimuli, presentation of noxious stimuli) into the theoretical framework, as well as elucidating the causal pathways (including mediating and moderating effects) leading from the experience of strain to deviant coping mechanisms. An emerging trend within GST is the identification of previously untapped sources of strain (e.g. victimization, discrimination) that ostensibly have deviancegenerating properties. Concerning …

The Economic Feasibility Of Producing Sweet Sorghum As An Ethanol Feedstock In Mississippi, Joseph Andrew Linton

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the feasibility of producing sweet sorghum as an ethanol feedstock in Mississippi. An enterprise budgeting system is used along with estimates of transportation costs to estimate farmers’ breakeven costs for producing and delivering sweet sorghum biomass. This breakeven cost for the farmer, along with breakeven costs for the producer based on wholesale ethanol price, production costs, and transportation and marketing costs for the refined ethanol, is used to estimate the amounts that farmers and ethanol producers would be willing to accept (WTA) and willing to pay (WTP), respectively, for sweet sorghum biomass. These WTA and WTP estimates …

Microstructure-Based Multistage Fatigue Characterization And Modeling Of An Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Copolymer, Jason Elvin Fountain

Theses and Dissertations

In this work, fatigue experiments and observations are used to experimentally and computationally quantify fatigue structure-property relationships and then capture these effects through a microstructure-based MultiStage Fatigue (MSF) model for a thermoplastic Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene copolymer. Completely reversed fatigue experiments were conducted over a range of strain amplitudes at two frequencies (1 Hz and 10 Hz). Scanning electron microscopy of fatigue fracture surfaces was used to quantify the microstructural notch root or initiating particle size for structure-property relations. Results were then processed in an MSF model sensitive to microstructural effects to capture the fatigue lifetimes for the thermoplastic ABS copolymer.

Helping Prepare Community College Students To Make The Transition From College To Work, Lagena Arlette Bradley

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to investigate students’ perceptions about the need for more student training on making the transition from community college enrollment to employment. The hypothesis was that community college students would perceive that additional career counseling services would help them transition successfully into the world of work. Examination of students’ thoughts about career counseling services assisted in finding factors that facilitate and impede students’ desires for career counseling services including career courses. A researcher-developed pen and paper self-report survey instrument was administered to students enrolled in English courses at Meridian Community College during the 2009 fall …

Social Enterprise: An Overlooked Approach To Addressing Economic Marginalisation, Gerard Doyle

Articles

No abstract provided.

Westside Of Bloomington: Crime Climate Survey, Ryan Lambert, '10

Projects

The city of Bloomington conducted a large city-wide survey at the end of 2009. One of the major revelations from this survey was that the west-side of Bloomington had a higher perception rate of crime in comparison to other parts of the city. Members of the Bloomington Police Department (BPD) theorized that one of the possible causes for this heightened perception was due to victimization. Victimization occurs when people refuse or neglect to report crimes, thus fostering an atmosphere where crimes could occur unpunished. This caused Karen Schmidt, a city council member, to set out and create a survey focused …

Demystifying Conventional Assumptions: Do African American Parents Anticipate Investing Less Toward Their Children’S College Costs Than Their White Peers?, Abebayehu Aemero Tekleselassie

Journal of Student Financial Aid

Some researchers and theorists tend to portray African American parents as lacking the cultural know-how to provide a supportive home environment that enhances college access and success for their children. Since contribution toward college costs is one tangible means by which researchers gauge parents’ commitment toward their children’s education, this study draws data from the National Longitudinal Study (NELS: 1988/2000) and examines how the amount and source of funding parents anticipate toward college costs differs between African Americans and Whites. Results indicate that while racial differences in anticipated college funding appear to favor Whites, who aggregately expect to contribute more …

An Optimization Model For The Allocation Of University Based Merit Aid, Paul K. Sugrue

Journal of Student Financial Aid

The allocation of merit-based financial aid during the college admissions process presents postsecondary institutions with complex and financially expensive decisions. This article describes the application of linear programming as a decision tool in merit based financial aid decisions at a medium size private university. The objective defined for the model is to maximize the quality of the incoming class as measured by average combined SAT scores. The approach involves using the yield rates from the previous year for each combination of SAT score and merit aid award while eliminating from consideration combinations for which insufficient data is available. Parameter estimation …

The Relationship Of Institutional Tuition Discounts With Enrollment At Private, Not-For-Profit Institutions, Nathan E. Lassila

Journal of Student Financial Aid

Empirical studies exploring the impact of student aid on postsecondary enrollment often stop short of the specific examination of institutional tuition discounting. This research uses separate empirical ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models to examine three questions using public choice theory, positing that enrollment decisions may be affected by many variables but will be driven primarily by discounted cost. These questions are: Does a relationship exist between institutional tuition discount and enrollment? Does institutional tuition discount have a measurably different effect on enrollment of different racial or ethnic groups? What is the relationship between institutional tuition discount and enrollment over …

Chimes: December 10, 2010, Calvin College

Chimes

'Wednesday' hits stage by Jasmine Wilson

Calvin gets new land for Christmas by Amanda Elliott

Foreign students face mistreatment by Rachel Hekman

Humans are a species unlike any other on the planet by Matthew Koh

Make, bake, share Christmas chear by Kendra Haan

Hope slashed and iced in Knight victory by Tim Clover

Swim and dive teams host annual Calvin Winter Invitational by Luke Leisman

Fatigue Behavior Of A Sic/Sic Composite At 1000⁰C In Air And In Steam, Michael W. Knauf

Theses and Dissertations

Tension-tension fatigue behavior of a prototype Silicon Carbide/Silicon Carbide (SiC/SiC) ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material was investigated at 1000°C in laboratory air and in steam environments. The material consists of a SiC matrix reinforced with CG NICALON™ fibers woven in an eight harness satin weave (8HSW) and coated with a BN/SiC dual-layer interphase. The composite was manufactured by a Polymer Infiltration and Pyrolysis (PIP) process. A seal coat of SiC and elemental boron was applied to the test specimens after machining. The tensile stress-strain behavior was investigated and the tensile properties were measured at 1000°C. Tension-tension fatigue behavior was studied …

Flow Control Application On A Submerged Inlet Characterized By Three-Component Ldv, Tina H. Reynolds

Theses and Dissertations

A submerged inlet investigation, using flow control in the form of discrete blowing, examined proximity and jet directionality to improve compressor face uniformity. The flow control locations were at the head of the ramp and part way down the ramp, providing four configurations under examination. Laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV)measurements at the throat determined the effect of the flow control based on the statistical velocity measurements. Blowing at closer proximity to the throat and targeting the largest velocity deficit region provided the best results. The airspeed and inlet velocity simulated takeoff and landing conditions; velocities ranged from Mach 0.1-0.3 at the …

Performance Characterization Of A Three-Axis Hall Effect Thruster, Spencer E. Temkin

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Prior Aging At 274⁰C In Argon On Inelastic Deformation Behavior Of Pmr-15 Polymer At 288⁰C: Experiment And Modeling, Joseph A. Wahlquist

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Network Security Toolkit Including Heuristic Solutions For Trust System Placement And Network Obfuscation, Gabriel H. Greve

Theses and Dissertations

For Part I, a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) network consists of a group stations and substations in a portion of the power grid. The use of Internet technology in SCADA communications as well as other factors has caused vulnerabilities. One idea to help mitigate this risk is to strategically place trust nodes to compartmentalize and secure the SCADA systems without disturbing its finely honed processes. The trust nodes combine firewall and intrusion detection technology to provide more secure communication. An optimal solution to this problem has already been developed using a mixed-integer linear programming model. Because the problem …

A Linear Combination Of Heuristics Approach To Spatial Sampling Hyperspectral Data For Target Tracking, Barry R. Secrest

Theses and Dissertations

Persistent surveillance of the battlespace results in better battlespace awareness which aids in obtaining air superiority, winning battles, and saving friendly lives. Although hyperspectral imagery (HSI) data has proven useful for discriminating targets, it presents many challenges as a useful tool in persistent surveillance. A new sensor under development has the potential of overcoming these challenges and transforming our persistent surveillance capability by providing HSI data for a limited number of pixels and grayscale video for the remainder. The challenge of exploiting this new sensor is determining where the HSI data in the sensor's field of view will be the …

Tunable Optical Delay In Doppler-Broadened Cesium Vapor, Monte D. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Variable-delay tunable optical delay line or optical buffers are critical for the development of all-optical networks components as well as interferometry and analytic instruments. Recent research on slow light may hold the key for the development of the first practical tunable optical delay device. In this research the linear dispersion delay effects in an alkali vapor. The hyperfine relaxation observations present insight into the complex bleach wave dynamics during a high-intensity pulsed pump in DPAL systems.

A Space Acquisition Leading Indicator Based On System Interoperation Maturity, Jason T. Shibata

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense‘s space acquisition enterprise has experienced numerous challenges since the advent of space power. Space borne capabilities are needed more than ever, but space acquisition frequently fails to meet its goals. The decades of space acquisition experience form a rich history that can be used to build a leading indicator of success to enable effective program execution. First, the space acquisition areas of greatest concern were determined to be cost, schedule and requirements. These areas are considered as systems composed of the people, processes and products that execute the program. Second, the vital interoperation characteristics, or attributes …

Conceptual Design And Analysis Of Service Oriented Architecture (Soa) For Command And Control Of Space Assets, Eric B. Snyder

Theses and Dissertations

The mission-unique model that has dominated the DoD satellite Command and Control community is costly and inefficient. It requires repeatedly “reinventing” established common C2 components for each program, unnecessarily inflating budgets and delivery schedules. The effective utilization of standards is scarce, and proprietary, non-open solutions are commonplace. IT professionals have trumpeted Service Oriented Architectures (SOAs) as the solution to large enterprise situations where multiple, functionally redundant but non-compatible information systems create large recurring development, test, maintenance, and tech refresh costs. This thesis describes the current state of Service Oriented Architectures as related to satellite operations and presents a functional analysis …

An Evaluation Of Cardiorespiratory Responses And Ventilatory Efficiency During Treadmill And Cycling Exercise In Overweight Adolescents, Amanda Scheps

Theses and Dissertations

The assessment of ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO2 slope) is increasingly being utilized to complement traditional cardiorespiratory fitness testing during graded exercise. The purpose of this study was to compare cardiorespiratory responses and ventilatory efficiency in obese children during a progressive exercise test to volitional fatigue performed on a treadmill and a cycle ergometer. Fifteen obese male (N=3) and female (N=12) adolescents aged 10 to 18 years were recruited in the study and completed both the treadmill and cycle ergometer trials. Mean age and BMI of the sample was 13.3 years and 38.0 kg/m2, respectively. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and ventilatory efficiency …

Business Innovation Group (Big) News, Georgia Southern University

Business Innovation Group: News & Publications

• Center Founding Professor Publishes New Book

The Immorality Of The Soul. A Reply To Mr. Thaddeus B. Wakeman., Paul Carus

The Open Court

No abstract provided.

Some Old Time Conjurers., Henry Ridgely Evans

The Open Court

No abstract provided.

Schiller's Religion., W. H. Carruth

The Open Court

No abstract provided.