Digital Commons Network^™

Scene Classification Using Spatial Pyramid Matching And Hierarchical Dirichlet Processes, Haohui Yin

Theses

The goal of scene classification is to automatically assign a scene image to a semantic category (i.e. "building" or "river") based on analyzing the visual contents of this image. This is a challenging problem due to the scene images' variability, ambiguity, and a wide range of illumination or scale conditions that may apply. On the contrary, it is a fundamental problem in computer vision and can be used to guide other processes such as image browsing, contentbased image retrieval and object recognition by providing contextual information. This thesis implemented two scene classification systems: one is based on Spatial Pyramid Matching …

Tricarbonylrhenium(I) And Manganese(I) Complexes Of 2-(Pyrazolyl)-4-Toluidine, Brendan J Liddle, Sarath Wanniarachchi, Sergey V. Lindeman, James R. Gardinier

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

A series of tricarbonyl rhenium(I) and manganese(I) complexes of the electroactive 2-(pyrazolyl)-4-toluidine ligand, H(pzAn^Me), has been prepared and characterized including by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The reactions between H(pzAn^Me) and M(CO)₅Br afford fac-MBr(CO)₃[H(pzAn^Me)] (M = Mn, 1a; Re, 1b) complexes. The ionic species {fac-M(CH₃CN)(CO)₃[H(pzAn^Me)]}(PF₆) (M = Mn, 2a; Re, 2b) were prepared by metathesis of 1a or 1b with TlPF₆ in acetonitrile. Complexes 1a and 1b partly ionize to {M(CH₃CN)(CO)₃[H(pzAn^Me)]^{+ …}

Service Innovation Framework, John Timmerman

Theses

The purpose of this study is to identify critical success factors and important approaches that service companies can utilize in the design of products, services, and programs. It is common for service companies to have design teams that are responsible for facilitating the innovation process. However, these design teams might not benefit from a systematic training and knowledge transfer process. Therefore, it is important to translate critical success factors and important approaches into a model that will serve as a common framework for both training and facilitating the innovation process. Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were utilized in this …

Intellectual Community Brochure, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Reports

No abstract provided.

Resin-Modified Glass-Ionomer Setting Reaction Competition, David W. Berzins, S. Abey, M. C. Costache, Charles A. Wilkie, H. W. Roberts

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

Resin-modified glass ionomers (RMGI) set by at least 2 mechanisms dependent upon reactant diffusion prior to gelation. Each reaction’s kinetics and setting mechanism may rely on and/or compete with the other. In this study, we investigated RMGI setting reaction interactions using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) by varying light-cure initiation times. A RMGI was analyzed with isothermal and dynamic temperature scan DSC with light-curing occurring immediately, or at 5 or 10 minutes after mixing as well as without light-activation. Results show that as time allowed for the acid-base reaction increased, the light-activation polymerization exotherm decreased. Conversely, analysis of DSC data suggests …

Characterization Of The Effects Of The Human Head On Communication With Implanted Antennas, Michael A. Pecoraro

Theses

Cranially implanted sensors and electrodes have been used in practice for several years; their applications range from the recording of neural signals for use in Brain-Computer Interfaces to help the disabled, to the treatment of diseases and conditions ranging from Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, depression, etc. Current communication methods with implants, however, are lacking; they run the gamut from physical, percutaneous connections that increase the risk of infection, to wireless links that are slow and uncomfortable for patients. The present work focuses on the characterization of the effects of the human head on communication with cranially implanted antennas for its …

The Everyday In America, Janet Bruhn

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract: My vanilla, Grade A, white bread, run-of-the-mill, middle-of-the-road, threadbare, well-worn, moth-eaten, potato sack, butterscotch, grass stained America: Mundane American life is an existence clinging to the ordinary, where a quilt of mass- mediated preferences and ingrained traditions define many people, specifically from north to south and east to west. Yet, the tastes and dialects of people within the mundane are complex. Ideological preferences are rooted in immigrant history and political persuasion. Various modes of realism have been used by American painters such as The Ash Can School, Regionalists of the 1930’s, and Pop Art. The notion of the real …

Character Memory Exploration: What It Is And How To Apply It To Your Classroom, Dana Giampiccolo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to implement Character Memory Exploration (a specific pathway towards character justification) within a BFA Acting II course. Primarily using given circumstances and magic if, Character Memory Exploration creates a rich and developed character history through a combination of visualization exercises, improvisation, and writing. The following summary will show individualized exercises and how to implement them, as well as their original purpose, placements, and pairings. This work also delves into student responses and my own successes and failures throughout the experience. The primary conclusion of this writing is that Character Memory Exploration leads to an …

The Adventures Of A Young Artist, And The Promise Of The Digital Culture In Art, Jonathan Marshall

Theses and Dissertations

An analysis and explanation of my reasons for working in video, painting and drawing, and sculpture, considering the technological developments of the past decade; the possibility to use the internet as a distribution tool for works of art, and to shift the decision-making balance of the art-world; the ways that this approach is a democratic format for output in the arts and within communities of artists; an explanation of my studio practice while a graduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The Prognostic Potential Of The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor And Nuclear Factor Kappa B Pathways And Associated Therapeutic Strategies In Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of The Head And Neck, Pamela Wirth

Theses and Dissertations

Little is known about the signaling pathways that contribute to treatment response in advanced stage head and neck tumors. Increased expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and downstream pathways such as nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) are implicated in aggressive tumor phenotypes and limited response to therapy. This study explored the rationale for combining the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib with the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib in a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas with high EGFR gene amplification. Drug responses of gefitinib and bortezomib as single agents and in combination within head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines …

Interparental Conflict In Context: Exploring Relations Between Parenting Processes And Children's Conflict Appraisals., Renee Lynn Deboard-Lucas, Gregory M Fosco, Sarah R. Raynor, John H. Grych

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Children's appraisals of conflict are a mechanism by which parental discord can lead to child maladjustment. The cognitive-contextual framework proposes that parent-child relationships may affect how children perceive conflict, but this idea has rarely been examined empirically. This study investigated relations between conflict appraisals, parenting, and child adjustment in a sample of 150 8- to 12-year-old children, using a multi-informant, multimethod design. Mothers' coercive/controlling and emotionally unsupportive parenting magnified the relation between conflict and children's self-blame; emotionally supportive parenting diminished this association. Children's secure attachment with fathers was linked with less threat and self-blame; more security reduced self-blame for conflict. …

The Sagebrush Steppe Treatment Evaluation Project (Sagestep): A Test Of State-And Transition Theory., J. D. Mciver, Mark W. Brunson, S. Buntin, J. Chambers, N. Devoe, P. Doescher, J. Grace, D. Johnson, S. Knick, R. Miller

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Canadian Public Domain: What, Where, And To What End?, Carys J. Craig

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

In this article, I explore the important body of scholarship that has emerged over this time on the substance, nature, and role of the public domain. I offer some concrete definitions of the public domain in the copyright context, identify some ongoing sources of debate in the literature, and highlight some particularly significant voices in public domain discourse. In doing so, my aim is twofold: first, I mean to present a fairly comprehensive, but concise, review of this academic movement that has been directed towards substantiating and politicizing the concept of the public domain; and second, I hope to re-situate …

Fessing Up To Facebook: Recent Trends In The Use Of Social Network Websites For Civil Litigation, Pamela D. Pengelley

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

For professional “fact-gatherers” such as lawyers, insurance adjusters, claims handlers and private investigators, the vast wealth of information that people volunteer on Facebook can be a goldmine or a smoking gun, depending on your perspective. The personal information contained in a Facebook profile may be highly relevant to matters at issue in litigation; when dealing with claims, particularly in the personal injury context, the information contained on a Facebook page can make or break a case. It is, therefore, crucial that legal and insurance professionals stay informed of new developments in this emerging area of law. This article, written with …

Google Adwords And Canadian Trademark Law, Reed W. Taubner

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

This article aims to answer two questions: should business competitors be allowed to use each other’s goodwill in this way and, if so, can trademark law police the program without stifling competition? Part I examines the technical aspects of the AdWords program. Part II explores the underlying rationales of trademark law to start developing a normative position. Part III reviews the American jurisprudence and commentary to hone that normative position and to identify a compatible legal framework. Part IV compares that framework against Canadian law.

This article endorses the work of Misha Gregory Macaw who, unlike some trademark expansionists, argues …

Book Review: E-Discovery In Canada, Robert J. Currie

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

It is not hyperbolic to say that the proliferation of electronically stored information (ESI) is probably the most prominent change-harbinger and potential havoc-wreaker in civil litigation today — second only, perhaps, to the spiralling costs of litigation itself. Indeed, the practical and legal difficulties associated with the storage, gathering, preservation, disclosure and evidentiary use of ESI have the potential to act as a Trojan Horse, causing what would previously have been ordinary cases to implode under their weight. Increasing recognition of this is evident; electronic discovery (e-discovery) cases have begun to emerge in the reports, a successful co-operative effort by …

Downloading Personhood: A Hegelian Theory Of Copyright Law, Karla M. O'Regan

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

This article will examine these responses, identifying the competing interests at work in both traditional copyright schemes and contemporary Internet-based criticisms, and put forth a theory of copyright law capable of ad- dressing the needs of these rival interests in an advanced technological era.

Part I delineates some of the more prominent theories copyright scholars have offered in response to the “IP-IT crisis.” Part II attempts to identify the source of these problems by first examining conventional justifications for copyright and the competing interests inherently at work in its conception. Part III identifies three specific factors I argue are particularly …

Sodexo Leading Environmental Change At Lehigh Valley Health Network, Andrew Barsky Cdm, Cfpp

Clinical Nutrition Service

No abstract provided.

Essays On Information Assurance: Examination Of Detrimental Consequences Of Information Security, Privacy, And Extreme Event Concerns On Individual And Organizational Use Of Systems, Insu Park

Research & Publications

No abstract provided.

Standards And Interoperability In Healthcare Information Systems: Current Status, Problems, And Research Issues, Patti Brooks

Research & Publications

Data interoperability is a key ingredient for modern health information technology. Interoperability of healthcare information systems is essential for the communication of critical data, as well as for leveraging the vast amounts of data gathered to conduct research, analyze trends, improve safety, and reduce healthcare costs. One of the critical components for enabling interoperability is the availability of data standards. This paper presents, from a practitioner’s perspective, a broad overview of the current status of healthcare data standards and an analysis of the problems with current standards including gaps, redundancies, and varying data exchange requirements that prevent seamless data exchange …

Clinical Knowledge Management Systems: Literature Review And Research Issues For Information Systems, Matthew J. Wills, Surendra Sarnikar, Omar F. El-Gayar, Amit Deokar

Research & Publications

Knowledge Management (KM) has emerged as a possible solution to many of the challenges facing U.S. and international healthcare systems. These challenges include concerns regarding the safety and quality of patient care, critical inefficiency, disparate technologies and information standards, rapidly rising costs and clinical information overload. In this paper, we focus on clinical knowledge management systems (CKMS) research. The objectives of the paper are to evaluate the current state of knowledge management systems diffusion in the clinical setting, assess the present status and focus of CKMS research efforts, and identify research gaps and opportunities for future work across the medical …

A Web-Based Multi-Perspective Decision Support System For Information Security Planning, Omar F. El-Gayar, Brian D. Fritz

Research & Publications

With the increasing exposure and vulnerability to cyber attacks, it becomes necessary to develop methodologies and systems that are capable of dealing with the complex and multifaceted nature of decision situations encountered in security planning and management. In this paper we present the theoretical basis, architecture and design of a web-based multi-perspective decision support system (DSS) and an underlying decision multi-criteria decision framework that is consistent with security and decision theory. The system is illustrated through a multi-stakeholder scenario that captures the complexity encountered in a multi-criteria security control selection decision problem.

Tablet Personal Computer Integration In Higher Education: Applying The Unified Theory Of Acceptance And Use Technology Model To Understand Supporting Factors, Mark Moran, Mark Hawkes, Omar F. El-Gayar

Research & Publications

Many educational institutions have implemented ubiquitous or required laptop, notebook, or tablet personal computing programs for their students. Yet, limited evidence exists to validate integration and acceptance of the technology among student populations. This research examines student acceptance of mobile computing devices using a modification of the "Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology" (UTAUT) recently developed by leading researchers in the technology acceptance field. The objective of the study is to identify the variance of selected acceptance elements that contribute to the overall behavioral intent to use Tablet PCs (TPC). These outcomes are then used as a means …

Solar Wind And Energy Resource Assessment (Swera): A Usability Case Study, Lucas Michels, Omar F. El-Gayar, Matthew J. Wills

Research & Publications

The Solar Wind and Energy Resource Assessment (SWERA) project focused on providing renewable energy planning resources to the public. Examples include wind, solar, and hydro assessments. A major component of the SWERA website is the archive search. This provides for a discovery DSS upon which users can find and access renewable energy data and supporting models. The RREX component of SWERA provides a visualization DSS as an addition to the website archive. RREX provides the discovery through a couple different avenues. RREX maps the renewable energy data that it provides along with a graphing application of the same data. RREX …

Spiritual Abuse In The Christian Community, Barbara Olivia Berry

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Evaluation Of The 2009 Mindanao Training Event For Camacop Evangelists Involved In Public Proclamation For Church Planting : Its Impact On The Attitudes, Knowledge, And Practices Of The Participants, Isaias F. Catorce

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of Public Leadership Formation In Select Zimbabwe Churches, Kurai Chitima

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Preaching The Cross On The Healing Of Shame In Jiksan-Eup Korean Methodist Church, Sung Kwon Han

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Barriers In Conversion (Missional And Indigenous Barriers) : Identifying The Potential Barriers Contributing To The Stagnant Progress Of Evangelistic Work Among The Burman Buddhists, Zam Sian Khai

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Leadership Of The Umc As A Prophetic Community For The Holistic Transformation Of Post-Conflict Liberia, Jerry Paye-Manfloe Kulah

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.