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Nanocomposite High Displacement Strain Gauges For Use In Human-Machine Interfaces: Applications In Hand Pose Determination, Thomas B. Calkins

Theses and Dissertations

Conductive nanocomposites are finding many uses as multi-functional materials. One recent development involves the creation of high displacement strain gauges, which have potential applications in a variety of engineering roles. The piezoresistive nature of the gauges makes possible their strain sensing capability. The intent of this research is to show that specific High Displacement Strain Gauges can successfully be used in one human-machine interface application that will demonstrate their potential for a range of other human-machine interface applications. This will be shown in the development of these sensors to accomplish hand pose determination. The flexible and inexpensive gauges are attached …

The Collegian (2011-04-18), Christine Cavazos

UTB/TSC Archives - The Collegian [Newspaper]

Vol. 63, No. 26

Domestic Violence In The United States: A Preliminary Report Prepared For Rashida Manjoo, U.N. Special Rapporteur On Violence Against Women, Brenda V. Smith, Caroline Bettinger-Lopez, Farrah Elchahal, Miraisy Rodriguez, Monika Siwiec, Christina Brandt-Young, Kirsten Carlson, Gabrielle Davis, Margaret Drew, Rebecca Landy, Adam Dubin, Rachel Natelson, Sandra Park, Ana Romes, Jessica Rubenstein, Cynthia Soohoo, Cheryl Thomas, Sandra Jezierski, Casey R. Schultz

Research Reports & White Papers

Domestic violence is a distinctive and complex type of violence. The intimate relationship between the victim and the perpetrator is historically construed as private and therefore beyond the reach of law. The often hidden site of the violence buttresses this conceptualization. The victim is often financially dependent on her abuser, and other economic and familial factors complicate the victim’s response to abuse. Moreover, women who complain of domestic violence frequently face intimidation, retaliation, and stigmatization, and thus incidents of domestic violence are notoriously under-reported and under-prosecuted throughout the world, including the United States.

Any meaningful analysis of the nature and …

Field Algae Measurements Using Empirical Correlations At Deer Creek Reservoir, Ryan A. Stephens

Theses and Dissertations

Deer Creek Reservoir in Utah has a history of high algae concentrations. Despite recent nutrient reduction efforts, seasonal algae continue to present problems. Cost effective, accurate, and comprehensive monitoring is important to understand the reservoir processes driving this problem and characterizing the algae spatial and temporal distributions are an important part of this effort. Current laboratory methods for accurately measuring algae are expensive and time consuming and are based on water samples taken in the field and transported to the laboratory. This approach only provides data for relatively few point samples because of the time and expense of sample collection …

Public Hearing Transcripts - North Eastern - Wajir - Rtjrc18.04 (Kenya Red Cross Hall Wajir), Truth, Justice, And Reconciliation Commission

I. Core TJRC Related Documents

No abstract provided.

Layers Of Meaning, Joan Wiberg

Theses and Dissertations

My artwork reflects my search for my own artistic voice. Life demands examination from me at inconvenient times, but with the intention of growing as a person I proceed willingly, and as an artist, equipped with a paintbrush. My search has led me to discover new materials and techniques and my structured self-reflection has uncovered a new source of inspiration. I now combine the physical layering of art materials with layers of personal meaning as well. My work has an autobiographical theme which I have interpreted through the filter of my sense of humor. Working so intimately with my own …

A Comparison Of Elastic Modulii Of Femurs From Genetically Modified Mice: Three-Point Bending Experiments And A Correction Factor Approach, Meagan Maureen Buechel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Studies into how genetic modifications affect bone development may help research into new treatments for bone diseases. In order to understand whether these treatments are effective, bones should be mechanically evaluated, because ultimately they support large mechanical loads. Three-point bend testing has been widely utilized in the mechanical evaluation of whole, long bones since these bones fail mostly in bending. The accuracy of the mechanical properties obtained from these tests using the Euler-Bernoulli beam equations is questionable; due to the complexity of the bending mechanics of long bones. Therefore, in this work, a correction factor approach was utilized to measure …

Unusual Prosodic Descriptors In Young, Verbal Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Rachel Diane Fields

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This study aimed to determine which prosodic descriptors best characterized the speech of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and whether these descriptors (e.g., sing-song and monotone) are acoustically different. Two listeners' auditory perceptions of the speech of the children with ASD and the pitch of the speech samples were analyzed. The results suggest that individual children are characterized by a variety of prosodic descriptors. Some thought groups were described as both sing-song and monotone, however, most children appear to be either more monotone or more sing-song. Furthermore, the subjective and acoustic data suggest a strong relationship between atypical intonation …

Anti-Feminism In Stephenie Meyer's Twilight And New Moon, Emily Alexis Dockery

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The novels Twilight and New Moon, written by Stephenie Meyer, present a barrier in media portrayal of feminist movements. Through the power of media, patriarchal dominated societies continue the reinforcement of maintaining women as figures of ownership. Examining Meyer’s characters, writing, and plot devices decode the underlying patriarchal ideals being pressed upon adolescent readers. Media influence upon society is a powerful means to promote the romanticizing of anti-feminist works, such as Twilight and New Moon. Understanding what comprises these characters as anti-feminist is crucial to understanding their influence upon society, and reveals the unknowing compliance many female adolescents perceive and …

Comparing Social Media Effects In Brazil Vs. Us: The Shift Of Interpersonal Relationships In The 21st Century, Nilse Furtado-Gilliam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The internet has changed the way we live. Social media has changed the way we communicate. The purpose of this study is to compare social media uses and gratifications in Brazil versus in the U.S. and test wether a shift in interpersonal communications from an offline setting to a digital one has taken place.Brazil was chosen for comparison because of its highly active online community despite of a very low rate (38%) of internet access by the general population. The U.S.A. was chosen because it is a pioneer user and developer of social media.The method of this study is survey. …

Effects Of A 21-Day Daniel Fast With And Without Krill Oil Supplementation On Blood Lipids And Lipid Peroxidation, John Francis Trepanowski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Aims: The purposes of this investigation were 1): to replicate or improve upon the findings of the initial study of the Daniel Fast, while 2) maintaining or improving high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) via krill oil supplementation.Methods: 39 subjects (12 men and 27 women) completed a 21-day Daniel Fast. During the fasting period, 19 subjects were randomly assigned to consume krill oil (2 grams per day in capsules), while the other 20 subjects consumed placebo capsules. Blood samples were collected immediately prior to and following the fast and assayed for blood lipids and malondialdehyde.Results: Krill oil supplementation had no effect on …

Vocal Quality Development In Children With Autism: The Role Of Flutter, Amber Nichole Bradley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Background: Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are frequently described as having unusual prosody. Studies in vocal quality in children with ASD have been limited in number and are generally descriptive in nature. The objective of this study was to examine the occurrence of a specific vocal quality, flutter, in children with ASD.Method: Vocal flutter was examined via subjective ratings and through acoustic analyses to determine if flutter occurred more frequently in children with ASD than in language delayed or typically developing peers.Conclusion: Vocal flutter was heard more frequently in children with ASD via the subjective ratings. The occurrence of …

Vagus Nerve Stimulator Implant Simulator Featuring Feedback System For Seizure Prediction And Treatment, Mark H. Myers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Utilizing EEG as a measurement of the changes between normal and abnormal (seizure) brain states, an enhanced vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) can be developed that can calculate the changes between local and remote brain sites as localized seizure events manifest into globalized synchronization throughout the cortex. A VNS simulator has been developed that captures the action potentials of human EEGs and measures the propagation of action potentials through the cortex by Phase/Amplitude Lock Values (PLV/ALV).PLV/ALV values are used to calculate the difference of phase and amplitude between local and remote electrodes. As the calculated difference between the channels approach one, …

Embracing The West: An Ancient Egyptian Family's Transition To The Afterlife, Sarah Marie Krueger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The tomb of Neferhotep, TT 49, contains a scene of the owner of the tomb being embraced by his parents. This scene shows Neferhotep being welcomed into the afterlife and the reunion with loved ones that is associated with this moment. Moreover, although the tomb dates to the post-Amarna period, parallels cited in this thesis suggest that the embracing scene in this tomb fits into a larger visual and textual tradition that originated in the Old Kingdom. This evidence contradicts the characterization by Davies that the decoration of this tomb is indicative of a continuation of the Amarna style and …

2011-04-18 Unm News Minute, University Of New Mexico Communication And Marketing Department

UNM News Minute 2011

No abstract provided.

Dialogue In The Galleries: Developing A Tour About Contemporary Art For The Virginia Museum Of Fine Arts, Elizabeth Reilly-Brown

Theses and Dissertations

This museum thesis project considers the challenges involved in developing engaging museum tours. The purpose of this project was to develop a fifty-minute, guided gallery tour that uses inquiry-based instruction to engage participants in dialogue and critical thinking about artworks. The tour was designed specifically for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) in Richmond, Virginia, using artworks selected from the museum’s twenty-first-century art collection that relate to the theme hybridity. This project contributes to the museum studies field by exemplifying how gallery tours can stimulate active learning, encourage visitors to find meaning in artworks, and form their own conclusions …

Mitigating Amphibian Disease: Strategies To Maintain Wild Populations And Control Chytridiomycosis., Douglas C. Woodhams, Jaime Bosch, Cheryl J. Briggs, Scott Cashins, Leyla R. Davis, Antje Lauer, Erin Muths, Robert Puschendorf, Benedikt R. Schmidt, Brandon Sheafor, Jamie Voyles

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

BACKGROUND: Rescuing amphibian diversity is an achievable conservation challenge. Disease mitigation is one essential component of population management. Here we assess existing disease mitigation strategies, some in early experimental stages, which focus on the globally emerging chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. We discuss the precedent for each strategy in systems ranging from agriculture to human medicine, and the outlook for each strategy in terms of research needs and long-term potential. RESULTS: We find that the effects of exposure to Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis occur on a spectrum from transient commensal to lethal pathogen. Management priorities are divided between (1) halting pathogen spread and …

Book Review: Alan M. Greaves, The Land Of Ionia: Society And Economy In The Archaic Period., Lee E. Patterson

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Sources Of Variation In The Symbiotic Association Between Alnus And Frankia In Interior Alaska, Michael D. Anderson

Biological Sciences

Symbioses between plants and nitrogen (N) fixing bacteria are ecologically and economically important interactions with complex evolution and ecology. Theoretical and experimental studies suggest that host specificity and environmental variation are important determinants of both evolutionary and ecological patterns in such interactions, but detailed descriptions of these parameters in natural habitats are lacking for most N-fixing systems. The aim of this set of studies was to provide such information for the symbiosis between alder ( Alnus spp.) plants and Frankia bacteria in interior Alaska. Major objectives were to determine whether: 1) different Alnus species (A. tenuifolia and A. viridis ) …

The Northway Wild Food And Health Project: Confronting The Legacy Of Toxic Waste Along The Alcan, Anna R. Godduhn

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Northway, Alaska is a small, mostly Athabascan community with a large Formerly Used Defense Site, located near the Alaska Highway in Eastern Interior Alaska. Despite remediation in the 1990s, local residents are concerned about the contamination of wild foods. This Community Based Participatory Research project comprised two studies: the Northway Wild Food Study, to investigate contaminant levels in locally prioritized traditional foods; and the Northway Health Study, to investigate locally suspected links between historic pollution sources and health problems. The project identifies multiple pathways of exposure that were more significant in the past, including a clear water creek, whitefish, a …

Preparing Culturally Responsive Teachers Of Science, Technology, Engineering, And Math Using The Geophysical Institute Framework For Professional Development In Alaska, Kathryn Berry Bertram

Indigenous Studies

The Geophysical Institute (GI) Framework for Professional Development was designed to prepare culturally responsive teachers of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Professional development programs based on the framework are created for rural Alaskan teachers who instruct diverse classrooms that include indigenous students. This dissertation was written in response to the question, "Under what circumstances is the GI Framework for Professional Development effective in preparing culturally responsive teachers of science, technology, engineering, and math?" Research was conducted on two professional development programs based on the GI Framework: the Arctic Climate Modeling Program (ACMP) and the Science Teacher Education Program (STEP). …

Uaa Student Showcase Journal: Recognizing Excellence (2011), N/A N/A

UAA Student Showcase Journal

No abstract provided.

Assessment And Prediction Of Potentially Mineralizable Organic Nitrogen For Subarctic Alaska Soils, Aiqin Zhao

Agriculture and Horticulture

The objective of this study was to identify a rapid laboratory technique to predict potentially mineralizable organic N for subarctic Alaska soils. Soil samples were taken from major agricultural area of subarctic Alaska. Laboratory incubation followed by kinetic model fit was first used to select a best model to estimate potential soil N mineralization. By correlating the model estimated organic N pool sizes and different chemical extracted organic N, I then found the best chemical method to estimate soil potentially mineralizable N. Spectroscopic properties of water extractable organic matter were also determined and correlated with model estimated organic N pool …

Aurora Vol. 03 No. 2 (Spring 2011), N/A N/A

Aurora

No abstract provided.

Aurora Vol. 04 No. 1 (Fall 2011), N/A N/A

Aurora

No abstract provided.

The Hydrologic Regime At Sub-Arctic And Arctic Watersheds: Present And Projected, Anna K. Liljedahl

Engineering

The wetlands in the Arctic Coastal Plain, Northern Alaska, support a multitude of wildlife and natural resources that depend upon the abundance of water. Observations and climate model simulations show that surface air temperature over the Alaskan arctic coast has risen in recent history. Thus a growing need exists to assess how the hydrology of these arctic wetlands will respond to the warming climate. A synthesis study was conducted combining the analysis of an extensive field campaign, which includes direct measurements of all components of the water balance, with a physically-based hydrologic model forced by downscaled climate projections. Currently, these …

Hydrologic Controls On Carbon Cycling In Alaskan Coastal Temperate Rainforest Soils, David V. D'Amore

Forest Sciences

The northern perhumid North American Pacific coastal temperate rainforest (NCTR) extends along the coastal margin of British Columbia and southeast Alaska and has some of the densest carbon stocks in the world. Northern temperate ecosystems such as the NCTR play an important role in the global balance of carbon flows between atmospheric and terrestrial pools. However, there is little information on key components of the forest carbon budget in this region. Specifically, the large pool of soluble carbon that is transferred from soils via streamwater as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) certainly plays a role in the total carbon balance in …

Agroborealis, Vol. 42, No. 1 (Winter 2011-2012), School Of Natural Resources And Agricultural Sciences

Agroborealis

[Geography] -- The Alaska Food Policy Council: Everyone knows that food is important, but our dependence upon Outside for the stuff of life has finally begun to seem, well, just a little discomfiting to Alaska's policymakers. Once again, Alaskans are searching for a way to feed themselves. / Deirdre Helfferich -- Supermarkets in Fairbanks: Food must be affordable as well as accessible for a community to achieve food security. How well does Fairbanks, Alaska's second-largest city, stack up in this regard? / Alison Meadow -- [High-Latitude Agriculture] -- Homegrown Alaska: Farmer Profiles Open the Eyes of the Interior to the …

Ice Box, Vol. 13 (2011-2012), N/A N/A

Ice Box

No abstract provided.

Postbreeding Ecology Of Shorebirds On The Arctic Coastal Plain Of Alaska, Audrey R. Taylor

Biological Sciences

Previous research on the Arctic Coastal Plain (ACP) of Alaska has shown that postbreeding shorebirds congregate at coastal sites prior to fall migration. Relatively little has been done to compare distribution, community characteristics, or behavior broadly across the ACP landscape, but this information is necessary to set the context for interpreting population demographics and setting conservation priorities. I collected data on distribution, species composition, phenology, and habitat use of postbreeding shorebirds in 2005--2007. I found that distribution of shorebirds across the ACP was not uniform: I identified persistent "hotspots" at Peard Bay, Pt. Barrow/Elson Lagoon, Cape Simpson, Smith Bay to …