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Armstrong Freshman Clayton Miller Named Georgia Player Of The Year, Armstrong State University

Armstrong Athletics: Men's Baseball News (Archived)

Armstrong Freshman Clayton Miller Named Georgia Player of the Year. Armstrong Atlantic State University freshman Clayton Miller has been named the 2010 Class AAAA Baseball Player of the Year by the Georgia Dugout Club. A 2010 graduate of Lakeside High School in Evans, Ga., Miller led the Panthers to the Class AAAA Georgia State Championship series in the spring as the team finished with a school-record 29 wins.

Investigations Of Factors Affecting Pine And Cottonwood Pyrolysis Oil Aging, Caitlin Durnin Naske

Theses and Dissertations

Studies of aging processes were conducted on pyrolysis oils produced from pine and cottonwood biomass (clear wood, whole tree, bark and needles/leaves). Accelerated aging at 80 °C for up to 504 h was employed to investigate the short and long-term effects of feedstock, phase separation, char particulates, and solvent addition on pyrolysis oil properties. Feedstock containing forestry residue was found to increase water content of neat pyrolysis oil and the collection method (total vs. fractionated) affects all of the properties with the largest impact on viscosity and as produced molecular weight. Post-condensation liquid filtration did not prevent aging-related water content …

Doctoral Recital, Micheal Lee Smith Jr., Karen J. Mccann

Graduate Student Recitals

Program listing performers and works performed

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 …

Navigation With Limited Prior Information Using Time Difference Of Arrival Measurements From Signals Of Opportunity, Christopher M. Rondeau

Theses and Dissertations

The Global Positioning System (GPS) provides world-wide availability to high-accuracy navigation and positioning information. However, the threats to GPS are increasing, and many limitations of GPS are being encountered. Simultaneously, systems previously considered as viable backups or supplements to GPS are being shut down. This creates the need for system alternatives. Navigation using signals of opportunity (SoOP) exploits any signal that is available in a given area, regardless of whether or not the original intent of the signal was for navigation. Common techniques to compute a position estimate using SoOP include received signal strength, angle of arrival, time of arrival, …

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 …

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 …

Effect Of Cooking And Packaging Methods On Consumer Acceptability And Shelf-Life Of Ready-To-Eat Gulf Brown Shrimp, Vimal Vinodchandra Kamadia

Theses and Dissertations

Shrimp is the most valued shellfish product in the United States, and is highly perishable with post mortem metabolic changes that are deteriorative to its shelf-life. The objective of this research was to utilize GC-MS Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Gas Chromatography Olfactometry (GCO), and sensory analysis to determine if the relationships exist between consumer acceptability, sensory descriptors and shelf-life of ready-to-eat shrimp. Three different cooking and packaging treatments were utilized: 63°C/15 s, 85°C/5 min, and 93°C/5 min for vacuum, MAP and aerobic packaging treatments, and stored at 2°±1 for 1, 3, 5, 6, 10, 15, 25, and 50 days or …

Cultural Predilection On Design In Planning Ecological Sanitation In Northern Uganda, Charles K. Mccall

Theses and Dissertations

Poor sanitation and open defecation is a major concern in many parts of the world. Ecological sanitation is a possible alternative to the global issue by using dry toilet systems that allow for recycling the waste for other uses. The purpose of this thesis is to determine the cultural perception and design implications toward ecological sanitation in developing countries. By surveying the local population in the proposed environments and implementing a corresponding system, the sanitation system has a much higher chance of sustainability and success. In Northern Uganda, the population was surveyed through a questionnaire and a Visual Preference Survey …

Deconvoluting The Link Between Weld Tool Geometry And Process Parameters, Joseph Andrew Querin

Theses and Dissertations

Advancing the process of friction stir welding (FSW) currently relies on a trial and error approach toward selecting tool geometries and determining process parameters. Before a more formalized design process can be established, a methodology for process parameter selection must be developed. In FSW, various flow paths, as influenced by the tool design, have been proposed to explain the formation of a high quality weld. Central to the discussion is whether the metal is extruded around the tool or whether the metal crosses a shear zone which differentiates the stir zone from the parent material. Probing the interaction between the …

Density Functional Theory And Modified Embedded-Atom Method: Applications To Steel, Magnesium Alloys, And Semiconductor Surfaces, Jeff Lynn Houze

Theses and Dissertations

We performed atomistic modeling to study structural and mechanical properties of materials. We used density functional theory (DFT) for all the studies presented and constructed a method for quickly optimizing semi-empirical modified embedded atom method (MEAM) potentials. In our first study, we show that the reconstruction model in the literature for GaSb(001) is not predicted to have the lowest surface reconstruction energy. A modification was proposed that improves the energy. The second study tries to validate a crystal structure for the Φ Phase of Al-Mg-Zn. The third study deals with plain carbon steel, including some microalloying of Vanadium and vacancy …

Comparing Detection Methods Of Aflatoxin And Exploring Aflatoxin Decontamination Methods, Rebecca Burgett Singleterry

Theses and Dissertations

Ethanol fermentation of highly concentrated aflatoxin-contaminated corn (Zea mays) was conducted on a lab scale to determine if aflatoxin concentrated in the distilled ethanol and/or dry distillers grain end-products. Alliquots of fermented mash, distilled ethanol, stillage, and dry distillers grain (DDG) were analyzed via LC-MS/MS and immunoassay detection methods for aflatoxin. Results indicate that aflatoxin does not greatly concentrate during fermentation in the DDGs and is undetectable in distilled ethanol. Addition of binders, MTB-100®, to aflatoxin-contaminated DDGs showed great reduction in aflatoxin concentrations when analyzed via LC-MS/MS. Also, an experiment investigating detoxification of aflatoxin using Clorox® was conducted. Results obtained …

A Comparative Analysis Of Alabama Praxis Ii Examination Scores Between Online And Traditional Graduate Students At An Alabama Institution Of Higher Learning, Winston Donnie Cobb

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the Alabama Praxis II test score outcomes between students who received degrees online versus traditional students at an Alabama regional institution of higher learning. A random sample consisted of 50 online graduate students and 50 on campus graduate students. The following 2 graduate master’s degree programs were selected for this study: the Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) degree in School Counseling and the Master’s of Science in Continuing Education (M.S.C.E.) degree in Guidance Counseling. A summarization of the research questions for this study include the following: Is there a significant difference between online …

Development Of Current Injection Based Three Phase Unbalanced Continuation Power Flow For Distribution System, Shilpa Toppo

Theses and Dissertations

Voltage stability studies (VSS) of the electric network is a crucial factor to make the system operate in stable region and to prevent power blackouts. There are several commercial tools available for VSS of electric transmission systems (TS) but not many for distribution systems (DS). With increasing penetration of distributed renewable generations and meshed network within DS, shipboard power system (SPS) and microgrid, these VSS tools need to be extended for DS. Due to inherent characteristic like high R/X ratio, three phase and unbalanced operation, DS or SPS requires different mathematical approach than TS. Unbalanced three phase power flow and …

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 …

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 …

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

Exploration Of Microbial Deposits Known As Giant Hams From The Lower Permian Laborcita Formation, Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico, Kevin Martin Moore

Theses and Dissertations

The Lower Permian Laborcita Formation, Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico crops out along a narrow, 27 km strip, and is 240 m at its thickest. The objective of this study was to document ham-shaped microbial deposits through petrography and scanning electron microscopy. The study concluded that the hams began as microbial oncoids, and only the third growth zone exhibited in situ growth giving the deposit its shank-like shape. They are believed to have originated as oncoids on the presence of irregular, concentric, biogenic micritic laminae surrounding a nucleus. A microbial origin is based upon the presence of irregular laminations, fenestral fabrics, …

Modeling Moisture Absorption And Thickness Swelling For Oriented Strand Board (Osb), Robert Aaron Slay

Theses and Dissertations

The dimensional stability of oriented strand board (OSB) can be affected by processing variables. This study investigated the water absorption and thickness swelling of OSB based on its board layup, type of resin, resin content, and percentage of wax. The experiment data was measured inside an environmental chamber from oven dry (OD) conditions to 80% relative humidity (RH), and from OD to 90% RH. The results suggest that single layer boards and isocyanate resin provide greater dimensional stability to OSB than three layer boards or phenol formaldehyde resin. In addition, the water absorption and thickness swell data were effectively modeled …

Innate Immunity And Inflammation In Sepsis In A Mouse Model For Binge Drinking, Basit Latief Jan

Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol consumption is a significant riskactor for mortality in patients with sepsis. This study was carried to investigate the mechanisms by which acute ethanol exposure alters the course of sepsis and the effect of TLR4 signaling. Ethanol administration decreases resistance to E. coli and causes decrease in the ability to clear bacteria both from the peritoneal-cavity as well as the spleen. At early time-points, ethanol also suppresses the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. TLR4 is dispensable for survival in E. coli sepsis but it also contributes to lethality in wild-type mice. Although TLRs have been implicated as an important element of …

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 …

Prayer Walk, John David Walt

ATS Chapel Services

No abstract provided.

Judicious Modification, Gary L. Mcdowell

Jepson School of Leadership Studies articles, book chapters and other publications

As Thomas Jefferson neared the end of his long life ("with one foot in the grave and the other uplifted to follow it", as he put it), he had occasion to reflect on that extraordinary generation of which he so proudly had been a part. He was convinced that the "host of worthies" that comprised his "generation of 1776" had secured to all mankind in all future times the philosophical grounds for "the blessings and security of self-government", and thereby "the rights of man". Yet his pride in the accomplishments of his own generation was tempered by the nagging fear …

Gene Network Inference And Expression Prediction Using Recurrent Neural Networks And Evolutionary Algorithms, Heather Y. Chan

Theses and Dissertations

We demonstrate the success of recurrent neural networks in gene network inference and expression prediction using a hybrid of particle swarm optimization and differential evolution to overcome the classic obstacle of local minima in training recurrent neural networks. We also provide an improved validation framework for the evaluation of genetic network modeling systems that will result in better generalization and long-term prediction capability. Success in the modeling of gene regulation and prediction of gene expression will lead to more rapid discovery and development of therapeutic medicine, earlier diagnosis and treatment of adverse conditions, and vast advancements in life science research.

First Order Analysis Of Nitrate Loading In The Upper Elbe River Basin, Czech Republic, Daniel J. Ritter

Theses and Dissertations

Nitrate contamination of water is a worldwide issue. Nitrate is especially dangerous for young children, and may result in potentially fatal blue baby syndrome when concentration in drinking water is > 10 mg/L N-NO3. Nitrate in surface water may also lead to eutrophication. Sources of NO3- contamination include nitrate fertilizers, wastewater treatment plants, individual domestic septic systems, runoff from animal feedlots, and natural soil nitrogen. Nitrate contamination in the Elbe River drainage, covering 148,270 km2 in Germany and the Czech Republic, has been a long-term issue. This study examines the upper one-third of the basin, located almost entirely in the Czech …

Classification Of Generalized Hadamard Matrices H(6,3) And Quaternary Hermitian Self-Dual Codes Of Length 18, Masaaki Harada, Clement Lam, Akihiro Munemasa, Vladimir Tonchev

Department of Mathematical Sciences Publications

All generalized Hadamard matrices of order 18 over a group of order 3, H(6,3),are enumerated in two different ways: once, as class regular symmetric (6,3)-nets,or symmetric transversal designs on 54 points and 54 blocks with a group of order 3 acting semi-regularly on points and blocks, and secondly,as collections of fullweight vectors in quaternary Hermitian self-dual codes of length 18. The second enumeration is based on the classification of Hermitian self-dual [18,9] codes over GF(4), completed in this paper. It is shown that up to monomial equivalence, there are 85 generalized Hadamard matrices H(6,3), and 245 inequivalent Hermitian self-dual codes …

4-D Modeling Of Displacement Vector Fields For Improved Radiation Therapy, Elizabeth Zachariah

Theses and Dissertations

In radiation therapy, it is imperative to deliver high doses of radiation to the tumor while reducing radiation to the healthy tissue. Respiratory motion is the most significant source of errors during treatment. Therefore, it is essential to accurately model respiratory motion for precise and effective radiation delivery. Many approaches exist to account for respiratory motion, such as controlled breath hold and respiratory gating, and they have been relatively successful. They still present many drawbacks. Thus, research has been expanded to tumor tracking. This paper presents a spatio-temporal model for four dimensional CT reconstruction. The method begins with a set …

Does Growth Data Make A Difference?: Teacher Decision Making Processes Using Growth Data Versus Status Data, Patricia Fox

Theses and Dissertations

This experiment examined decisions made by teachers using only status data with those made by teachers using growth and status data. Middle school math teachers from five schools within a single school division located in Virginia participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to either the status only or growth and status group. They were then asked to analyze a sample set of class data and complete a survey in which they rated the success of four types of students, identified teacher strengths and weaknesses, and rated their confidence in and the usefulness of the data received. Teachers with …

Relations Of Depression, Social Support, And Socio-Demographic Factors On Health Behaviors Of Mothers With Premature Infants Hospitalized In A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu), Surbhi Kanotra

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the relationships of depression, social support, and socio-demographic factors on health behaviors of mothers with preterm infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). In addition, the study also assessed the moderation effect of social support on the relationship between depression and health behaviors. Eighty-nine mothers with hospitalized infants in the central Richmond area participated in the study. Analyses found that mother’s education level and her marital status to be significantly associated with her health behaviors. Mothers with a higher level of education and those who were married, were less likely to smoke and more …

Factors Influencing Macroinvertebrate Diversity And Community Composition In Riverine Freshwater Rock Pools, Chtaura Jackson

Theses and Dissertations

I examined a system of 378-riverine rock pools situated along the James River in Richmond, Virginia, to uncover the factors influencing their macroinvertebrate diversity and community composition. I characterized (total = 60) the physical characteristics, water quality, hydrology, and community assemblages in July 2009 for a subset of pools. I examined whether selected environmental factors (pH, nearest neighbor distance, depth, surface area and inundation height) were related to macroinvertebrate diversity and community composition. Species richness and total abundance of all taxa increased with pool pH and surface area. Ordination indicates that nearest neighbor distance (NND) and pH varied significantly among …