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2010

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Application Of The Theory Of Planned Behaviour To Career Choice: The Role Of An Improved Measure Of Emotion, Saveta Tegova Jan 2010

Application Of The Theory Of Planned Behaviour To Career Choice: The Role Of An Improved Measure Of Emotion, Saveta Tegova

Theses : Honours

Adherents of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) propose that intention to perform behaviour can be predicted by attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control. Recent studies, however, have indicated that the standard TPB predictor variables account for 28% to 40% of the variance in intention, leaving a considerable percentage of the variance in intentions to be explained. Attitude is traditionally measured by the valence associated with the intention. The present study employed an improved measure of attitude, including both emotional dimensions of valence and arousal (Bradley & Lang, 1999), rather than using valence alone, and tested whether this enhanced …

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Motivated Learning As An Extension Of Reinforcement Learning, Janusz Starzyk, Pawel Raif, Ah-Hwee Tan Jan 2010

Motivated Learning As An Extension Of Reinforcement Learning, Janusz Starzyk, Pawel Raif, Ah-Hwee Tan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

We have developed a unified framework to conduct computational experiments with both learning systems: Motivated learning based on Goal Creation System, and reinforcedment learning using RL Q-Learning Algorithm. Future work includes combining motivated learning to set abstract motivations and manage goals with reinforcement learning to learn proper actions. This will allow testing of motivated learning on typical reinforcement learning benchmarks with large dimensionality of the state/action spaces.

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A Boosting Framework For Visuality-Preserving Distance Metric Learning And Its Application To Medical Image Retrieval, Yang Liu, Rong Jin, Lily Mummert, Rahul Sukthankar, Adam Goode, Bin Zheng, Steven C. H. Hoi, Mahadev Satyanarayanan Jan 2010

A Boosting Framework For Visuality-Preserving Distance Metric Learning And Its Application To Medical Image Retrieval, Yang Liu, Rong Jin, Lily Mummert, Rahul Sukthankar, Adam Goode, Bin Zheng, Steven C. H. Hoi, Mahadev Satyanarayanan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Similarity measurement is a critical component in content-based image retrieval systems, and learning a good distance metric can significantly improve retrieval performance. However, despite extensive study, there are several major shortcomings with the existing approaches for distance metric learning that can significantly affect their application to medical image retrieval. In particular, "similarity" can mean very different things in image retrieval: resemblance in visual appearance (e.g., two images that look like one another) or similarity in semantic annotation (e.g., two images of tumors that look quite different yet are both malignant). Current approaches for distance metric learning typically address only one …

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The Design And Implementation Of An Extensible Brain-Computer Interface, Scott Burns Jan 2010

The Design And Implementation Of An Extensible Brain-Computer Interface, Scott Burns

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

An implantable brain computer interface: BCI) includes tissue interface hardware, signal conditioning circuitry, analog-to-digital conversion: ADC) circuitry and some sort of computing hardware to discriminate desired waveforms from noise. Within an experimental paradigm the tissue interface and ADC hardware will rarely change. Recent literature suggests it is often the specific implementation of waveform discrimination that can limit the usefulness and lifespan of a particular BCI design. If the discrimination techniques are implemented in on-board software, experimenters gain a level of flexibility not currently available in published designs. To this end, I have developed a firmware library to acquire data sampled …

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Statistical Design And Imaging Of Position-Encoded 3d Microarrays, Pinaki Sarder Jan 2010

Statistical Design And Imaging Of Position-Encoded 3d Microarrays, Pinaki Sarder

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

We propose a three-dimensional microarray device with microspheres having controllable positions for error-free target identification. Here targets: such as mRNAs, proteins, antibodies, and cells) are captured by the microspheres on one side, and are tagged by nanospheres embedded with quantum-dots: QDs) on the other. We use the lights emitted by these QDs to quantify the target concentrations. The imaging is performed using a fluorescence microscope and a sensor. We conduct a statistical design analysis to select the optimal distance between the microspheres as well as the optimal temperature. Our design simplifies the imaging and ensures a desired statistical performance for …

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Arsenic Removal From Drinking Water By Electrocoagulation, Wei Wan Jan 2010

Arsenic Removal From Drinking Water By Electrocoagulation, Wei Wan

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Exposure to arsenic through drinking water poses a threat to human health. Electrocoagulation is an emerging water treatment technology that involves electrolytic oxidation of anode materials and in-situ generation of coagulant. Electrocoagulation is an alternative to using chemical coagulants for arsenic removal and thus is beneficial for communities with better access to electricity than to chemicals.

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Synthesis Of Complex Plasmonic Nanostructures For Applications In Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy And Biomedicine, Claire Cobley Jan 2010

Synthesis Of Complex Plasmonic Nanostructures For Applications In Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy And Biomedicine, Claire Cobley

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

This research centers around techniques to engineer the properties of noble-metal nanostructures for applications in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy: SERS) and biomedicine. Many of these potential applications are made possible by the strong localized surface plasmon resonance: LSPR) of noble-metal nanostructures, which is heavily influenced by the particle's morphology. The first part of this work focuses on the solution-phase synthesis of Ag nanostructures. In this section, I demonstrate the synthesis of Ag nanostructures with two different morphologies that are interesting for fundamental SERS studies: anisotropically truncated octahedrons and large, single-crystalline spheres. In both syntheses, control over etching was critical to morphological …

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Magnetic Resonance Imaging And Surface-Based Analysis Techniques To Quantify Growth Of The Developing Brain, Andrew Knutsen Jan 2010

Magnetic Resonance Imaging And Surface-Based Analysis Techniques To Quantify Growth Of The Developing Brain, Andrew Knutsen

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Human brains, and those of most higher mammals, are gyrencephalic: folded) to accommodate a large cortical surface within the limited volume of the skull. Abnormal folding of the cerebral cortex in humans is associated with a number of neurological dysfunctions and diseases such as schizophrenia and Williams syndrome. To understand the mechanism of gyrification, and to illuminate the underlying causes of abnormal folding, objective, quantitative methods to characterize normal and abnormal development must be developed. The ferret is an excellent model in which to study the development of convolutions in the brain because folding occurs post-natally over a period of …

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A Study Of Published Journal Articles On Brain-Based Learning From 1985 To 2009, Janece Shaffer Jan 2010

A Study Of Published Journal Articles On Brain-Based Learning From 1985 To 2009, Janece Shaffer

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Educators are required to implement scientifically-based research interventions in their classrooms, but teachers and administrators may not be aware of the current laws and requirements of NCLB legislation. NCLB (2001) requires that educators implement research-based interventions. Brain-based learning programs have been implemented in classrooms throughout the country, even though the research base for such programs may be inadequate. This study presents the results of educational database searches for empirical studies involving brain-based or brain-compatible learning published in educational journals between 1985 and 2009. A total of 77 articles on brain-based learning were published during this time period but only 5 …

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Far-Field Optical Nanoscopy Based On Continuous Wave Laser Stimulated Emission Depletion, C. Kuang, Wei Zhao, Guiren Wang Jan 2010

Far-Field Optical Nanoscopy Based On Continuous Wave Laser Stimulated Emission Depletion, C. Kuang, Wei Zhao, Guiren Wang

Faculty Publications

Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy is one of the breakthrough technologies that belong to far-field optical microscopy and can achieve nanoscale spatial resolution. We demonstrate a far-field optical nanoscopy based on continuous wave lasers with different wavelengths, i.e., violet and green lasers for excitation and STED, respectively. Fluorescent dyes Coumarin 102 and Atto 390 are used for validating the depletion efficiency. Fluorescent nanoparticles are selected for characterizing the spatial resolution of the STED system. Linear scanning of the laser beams of the STED system along one line of a microscope slide, which is coated with the nanoparticles, indicates that a …

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Structural Health Monitoring With Piezoelectric Wafer Active Sensors—Predictive Modeling And Simulation, Victor Giurgiutiu Jan 2010

Structural Health Monitoring With Piezoelectric Wafer Active Sensors—Predictive Modeling And Simulation, Victor Giurgiutiu

Faculty Publications

This paper starts a review of the state of the art in structural health monitoring with piezoelectric wafer active sensors and follows with highlighting the limitations of the current approaches which are predominantly experimental. Subsequently, the paper examines the needs for developing a predictive modeling methodology that would allow to perform extensive parameter studies to determine the sensing method’s sensitivity to damage and insensitivity to confounding factors such as environmental changes, vibrations, and structural manufacturing variability. The thesis is made that such a predictive methodology should be multi-scale and multi-domain, thus encompassing the modeling of structure, sensors, electronics, and power …

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Structural Health Monitoring With Piezoelectric Wafer Active Sensors--Predictive Modeling And Simulation, Victor Giurgiutiu Jan 2010

Structural Health Monitoring With Piezoelectric Wafer Active Sensors--Predictive Modeling And Simulation, Victor Giurgiutiu

Faculty Publications

This paper starts a review of the state of the art in structural health monitoring with piezoelectric wafer active sensors and follows with highlighting the limitations of the current approaches which are predominantly experimental. Subsequently, the paper examines the needs for developing a predictive modeling methodology that would allow to perform extensive parameter studies to determine the sensing method’s sensitivity to damage and insensitivity to confounding factors such as environmental changes, vibrations, and structural manufacturing variability. The thesis is made that such a predictive methodology should be multi-scale and multi-domain, thus encompassing the modeling of structure, sensors, electronics, and power …

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Affirmative Action Plan 2010, Office Of Equal Opportunity, Ethics, & Access Jan 2010

Affirmative Action Plan 2010, Office Of Equal Opportunity, Ethics, & Access

Affirmative Action Plans

Illinois State University Affirmative Action Plan

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On Motion Parameterizations In Image Sequences From Fixed Viewpoints, Manfred Georg Jan 2010

On Motion Parameterizations In Image Sequences From Fixed Viewpoints, Manfred Georg

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

This dissertation addresses the problem of parameterizing object motion within a set of images taken with a stationary camera. We develop data-driven methods across all image scales: characterizing motion observed at the scale of individual pixels, along extended structures such as roads, and whole image deformations such as lungs deforming over time. The primary contributions include: a) fundamental studies of the relationship between spatio-temporal image derivatives accumulated at a pixel, and the object motions at that pixel,: b) data driven approaches to parameterize breath motion and reconstruct lung CT data volumes, and: c) defining and offering initial results for a …

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Electrospray Methodologies For Characterization And Deposition Of Nanoparticles, Luis Balam Modesto Lopez Jan 2010

Electrospray Methodologies For Characterization And Deposition Of Nanoparticles, Luis Balam Modesto Lopez

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Electrospray is an aerosolization method that generates highly charged droplets from solutions or suspensions and, after a series of solvent evaporation - droplet fission cycles, it results in particles carrying multiple charges. Highly charged particles are used in a variety of applications, including particle characterization, thin film deposition, nanopatterning, and inhalation studies among several others. In this work, a soft X-ray photoionization was coupled with an electrospray to obtain monodisperse, singly charged nanoparticles for applications in online size characterization with electrical mobility analysis. Photoionization with the soft X-ray charger enhanced the diffusion neutralization rate of the highly charged bacteriophages, proteins, …

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Biologically Inspired Sensing And Mimo Radar Array Processing, Murat Akcakaya Jan 2010

Biologically Inspired Sensing And Mimo Radar Array Processing, Murat Akcakaya

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

The contributions of this dissertation are in the fields of biologically inspired sensing and multi-input multi-output: MIMO) radar array processing. In our research on biologically inspired sensing, we focus on the mechanically coupled ears of the female Ormia ochracea. Despite the small distance between its ears, the Ormia has a remarkable localization ability. We statistically analyze the localization accuracy of the Ormia's coupled ears, and illustrate the improvement in the localization performance due to the mechanical coupling. Inspired by the Ormia's ears, we analytically design coupled small-sized antenna arrays with high localization accuracy and radiation performance. Such arrays are essential …

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The Effect Of Equal Channel Angular Extrusion (Ecae) And Boron Additions On The Mechanical Properties Of A Biomedical Ti-Nb-Zr-Ta (Tnzt) Alloy, Gian Colombo Jan 2010

The Effect Of Equal Channel Angular Extrusion (Ecae) And Boron Additions On The Mechanical Properties Of A Biomedical Ti-Nb-Zr-Ta (Tnzt) Alloy, Gian Colombo

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

New metastable-beta type titanium alloys based on the biocompatible elements Ti-Nb-Zr-Ta: TNZT) have been developed to address the shortcomings: e.g. incomplete biocompatibility, high modulus, etc.) of the traditionally used materials in joint replacement prostheses. Equal channel angular extrusion: ECAE) processing has the capability to improve the mechanical properties of these alloys to broaden their potential biomedical applications. The focus of this investigation is to evaluate and optimize the ECAE process to produce maximum property improvement, and explore the effectiveness of boron as a grain refining agent. Deformation mechanisms are identified for various processing conditions, and the strain distribution induced during …

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Modeling And Dynamic Resource Allocation For High Definition And Mobile Video Streams, Abdel-Karim Al-Tamimi Jan 2010

Modeling And Dynamic Resource Allocation For High Definition And Mobile Video Streams, Abdel-Karim Al-Tamimi

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Video streaming traffic has been surging in the last few years, which has resulted in an increase of its Internet traffic share on a daily basis. The importance of video streaming management has been emphasized with the advent of High Definition: HD) video streaming, as it requires by its nature more network resources. In this dissertation, we provide a better support for managing HD video traffic over both wireless and wired networks through several contributions. We present a simple, general and accurate video source model: Simplified Seasonal ARIMA Model: SAM). SAM is capable of capturing the statistical characteristics of video …

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Opium And Insurgency: Development And Decay In Southern Afghanistan, Adam Ebrahim Jan 2010

Opium And Insurgency: Development And Decay In Southern Afghanistan, Adam Ebrahim

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

No abstract provided.

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Geochemical Conditions Affecting Uranium(Vi) Fate And Transport In Soil And Groundwater In The Presence Of Phosphate, Abhas Singh Jan 2010

Geochemical Conditions Affecting Uranium(Vi) Fate And Transport In Soil And Groundwater In The Presence Of Phosphate, Abhas Singh

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Soil and groundwater contamination with actinides like uranium is a serious environmental concern. Phosphate addition to uranium-contaminated soil and groundwater can potentially provide long-term in-situ U(VI) immobilization by precipitation of low solubility U(VI)-phosphates. Reactions at the iron: oxy)hydroxide-water interface can control macroscopic transport and long-term stability of uranium. First, the interactions among phosphate, U(VI), and goethite: alpha-FeOOH) were investigated in a year-long batch experimental study. Dissolved U(VI) and phosphate concentrations were interpreted within a reaction-based modeling framework. U(VI) uptake mechanism varied with the aqueous composition. For most initially supersaturated conditions, chernikovite, H3O(UO2)(PO4)*3H2O(s), nucleated homogeneously, but heterogeneous nucleation probably occurred in …

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An Airloads Theory For Morphing Airfoils In Dynamic Stall With Experimental Correlation, Loren Ahaus Jan 2010

An Airloads Theory For Morphing Airfoils In Dynamic Stall With Experimental Correlation, Loren Ahaus

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Helicopter rotor blades frequently encounter dynamic stall during normal flight conditions, limiting the applicability of classical thin-airfoil theory at large angles of attack. Also, it is evident that because of the largely different conditions on the advancing and retreating sides of the rotor, future rotorcraft may incorporate dynamically morphing airfoils: trailing-edge flaps, dynamic camber, dynamic droop, etc.). Reduced-order aerodynamic models are needed for preliminary design and flight simulation. A unified model for predicting the airloads on a morphing airfoil in dynamic stall is presented, consisting of three components. First, a linear airloads theory allows for arbitrary airfoil deformations consistent with …

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Dissolution, Formation, And Transformation Of The Lead Corrosion Product Pbo2: Rates And Mechanisms Of Reactions That Control Lead Release In Drinking Water Distribution Systems, Yanjiao Xie Jan 2010

Dissolution, Formation, And Transformation Of The Lead Corrosion Product Pbo2: Rates And Mechanisms Of Reactions That Control Lead Release In Drinking Water Distribution Systems, Yanjiao Xie

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

As one of the major lead corrosion products in lead service lines, lead(IV) oxide: PbO2) can react with water through reductive dissolution, resulting in elevated lead concentrations in tap water. Limited data are available on the rates and mechanisms of PbO2 dissolution. Information regarding the impact of water chemistry on the rates and mechanisms of PbO2 dissolution can provide potential strategies to control the release of lead from corrosion products to drinking water. The present study investigated effects of water chemistry on the rates and mechanisms of PbO2 dissolution, the equilibrium solubility of PbO2 …

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The Social Psychological Dimensions Of Us-Iranian Relations, Mariah Levison Jan 2010

The Social Psychological Dimensions Of Us-Iranian Relations, Mariah Levison

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

I argue that the material and strategic factors underlying the US-Iranian relationship do not add up to the actual level of conflict between the parties and that a social-psychological analysis can explain why there is so much conflict between the parties. The social-psychological perspective is a different lens than that provided by more traditional approaches to peacebuilding and can address aspects of conflict that material and strategic analyses cannot account for. Social psychology explains the subjective elements of conflict: perception, cognition, attitude, emotion, needs, and values.

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Dual-Modality Thermoacoustic And Photoacoustic Imaging, Manojit Pramanik Jan 2010

Dual-Modality Thermoacoustic And Photoacoustic Imaging, Manojit Pramanik

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Diagnosis of early breast cancer is the key to survival. The combined contrasts from thermoacoustic and photoacoustic tomography: TAT and PAT) can potentially predict early stage breast cancer. We have designed and engineered a breast imaging system integrating both thermoacoustic and photoacoustic imaging techniques to achieve dual-contrast: microwave and light absorption), non-ionizing, low-cost, high-resolution, three-dimensional breast imaging. We have also developed a novel concept of using a negative acoustic lens to increase the acceptance angle of an unfocused large-area ultrasonic transducer: detector), leading to more than twofold improvement of the tangential resolution in both TAT and PAT when the object …

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A Numerical Investigation Of Hybrid Flow Control Optimization With Considerations In Optimization, Matthew Lakebrink Jan 2010

A Numerical Investigation Of Hybrid Flow Control Optimization With Considerations In Optimization, Matthew Lakebrink

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

The fundamental effects of micro-ramp, synthetic-jet, and hybrid flow control devices are studied through the use of numerical simulations. The beneficial flow control effect is then optimized using the response surface methodology. The effectiveness of each device is judged based on how it influences the shape factor of the boundary layer far downstream of the device. The mechanism of flow control action of each device is a pair of streamwise oriented counter rotating vortices; however, the nature of the vortices produced is unique in each case. The micro-ramp reduced the shape factor by 3.31%, the synthetic-jet by 3.32%, and the …

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Synthesis And Investigation Of Uv-Cured, Complex Amphiphilic Polymer Films For Use In Anti-Biofouling Applications, Jeremy Bartels Jan 2010

Synthesis And Investigation Of Uv-Cured, Complex Amphiphilic Polymer Films For Use In Anti-Biofouling Applications, Jeremy Bartels

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

The overall emphasis of this dissertation research included the development of novel amphiphilic anti-fouling coatings having complex surface topography and compositional heterogeneity and a fundamental investigation of their properties. These films were cultivated as non-fluorinated or non-fluorinated/non-PEGylated analogs to the hyperbranched fluoropolymer-poly(ethylene glycol): HBFP-PEG) film system. The coating compositions consisted of the mixing and crosslinking of either two disparate polymers or a complex amphiphilic block copolymer with crosslinking agents. A variety of crosslinking methods was analyzed, including vulcanization and UV-promoted thiol-ene reactions. The coatings were analyzed using a variety of advanced methods, including thermomechanical techniques, tensile testing and surface analysis. …

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Seeking Alternatives To Marijuana Prohibition, Rachel Kiesel Jan 2010

Seeking Alternatives To Marijuana Prohibition, Rachel Kiesel

Honors Program Theses

Marijuana legality is a highly controversial social issue. Although our society continues to be bombarded by negative images of drugs and crime in the media, cultural perceptions regarding marijuana have been changing over the past few years. Today, many people are more accepting of marijuana use than ever before. As a result of these shifting attitudes, several states have taken the initiative to pass new legislation on regulating marijuana with reduced restrictions.

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Analysis Of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Characteristics And The Synoptic-Scale Weather Pattern At The Potosi, Wi Slams Monitor, Sean K. Newlin Jan 2010

Analysis Of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Characteristics And The Synoptic-Scale Weather Pattern At The Potosi, Wi Slams Monitor, Sean K. Newlin

Honors Program Theses

Boundary layer parameters were analyzed for high impact fine-particulate pollution days for the years 2006 through 2009 in Potosi, Wisconsin. Potosi has seen recent 24-hour PM2.s design values at or near the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 35 micrograms per cubic meter. Every sampling date in the years 2006 through 2009 with a 24- hour PM2.5 particulate concentration above the year's trend line was studied as were the cleanest 10 days of each year. In particular, composite upper air profiles were constructed using observations from the nearby radiosonde stations, surface and S00mb weather maps were retrieved, the virtual …

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International Commercial Transactions, Franchising, And Distribution, Arnold S. Rosenberg, Alfredo L. Rovira, Michael R. Daigle, Florian S. Jörg, Marc Ryser, William P. Johnson, Anders Forkman, Alan S. Gutterman, Ed., Calvin A. Hamilton, Ed. Jan 2010

International Commercial Transactions, Franchising, And Distribution, Arnold S. Rosenberg, Alfredo L. Rovira, Michael R. Daigle, Florian S. Jörg, Marc Ryser, William P. Johnson, Anders Forkman, Alan S. Gutterman, Ed., Calvin A. Hamilton, Ed.

All Faculty Scholarship

With the encouragement of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and other international financial institutions, in 2008-09 several countries modernized their secured transactions laws, expanded the types of moveable property that can serve as collateral for a debt, and established and streamlined registries for non-possessory security interests in moveable property.

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Candoluminescence Of Cave Gypsum, John R. Sweet, John W. Hess, William B. White Jan 2010

Candoluminescence Of Cave Gypsum, John R. Sweet, John W. Hess, William B. White

International Journal of Speleology

A selection of gypsum specimens from a variety of caves as well as CaSO4 synthesized in the laboratory emit both a green and yellow candoluminescence when excited by a hydrogen diffusion flame. The green emission is attributed to dehydration of gypsum to bassanite and the yellow emission appears upon further dehydration to anhydrite. The source of the luminescence is ascribed to minor concentrations of Mn2+ in the gypsum.

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