Digital Commons Network^™

Music Composition Portfolio, Daniel O'Neill

Masters by Practice

There are six pieces included in this M.Phil. These were completed over two years and are accompanied by a written text part. These pieces contain different instrumentations and range from solo to orchestral works. In this portfolio there is a set of two choir pieces, a trio for piano, clarinet and violin, an orchestral piece, a guitar quartet, three pieces for saxophone quartet and a solo piano piece. The written part of this portfolio examines in detail my compositions with reference to their inspiration, construction and overall shape. There is a detailed description of the six works along with musical …

Minimally Invasive Approaches For The Management Of “Difficult” Colonic Polyps, Roberto A. Cruz, Madhu Ragupathi, Rodrigo Pedraza, T. Bartley Pickron, Anne T. Le, Eric M. Haas

School of Medicine Publications

Traditionally, patients with colonic polyps not amenable to endoscopic removal require open colectomy for management. We evaluated our experience with minimally invasive approaches including endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), laparoscopicassisted endoscopic polypectomy (LAEP), and laparoscopic-assisted colectomy (LAC). Patients referred for surgery for colonic polyps were selected for one of three minimally invasive modalities. A total of 123 patients were referred for resection of “difficult” polyps. Thirty underwent EMR, 25 underwent LAEP, and 68 underwent LAC. Of those selected to undergo EMR or LAEP, 76.4% were successfully managed without colon resection. The remaining 23.6% underwent LAC. Nine complications were encountered, including two …

Detecting Specific Saccharides Via A Single Indicator, Soojin Lim, Jorge O. Escobedo, Mark Lowry, Robert M. Strongin

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

An improved synthesis of a rhodamine boronic acid indicator is reported. This compound is used in an optimized data collection protocol for wavelength- and time-dependent selectivity of sugars such as fructose and ribose derivatives. One indicator is thus used to selectively distinguish structurally related sugar analytes.

Commencement Address, "Just In Time", Linda Gregerson

2011 Highlights

No abstract provided.

A3p: Adaptive Policy Prediction For Shared Images Over Popular Content Sharing Sites, Anna Squicciarini, Smitha Sundareswaran, Dan Lin, Josh Wede

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

More and more people go online today and share their personal images using popular web services like Picasa. While enjoying the convenience brought by advanced technology, people also become aware of the privacy issues of data being shared. Recent studies have highlighted that people expect more tools to allow them to regain control over their privacy. in this work, we propose an Adaptive Privacy Policy Prediction (A3P) system to help users compose privacy settings for their images. in particular, we examine the role of image content and metadata as possible indicators of users' privacy preferences. We propose a two-level image …

Web Service Selection For Resolving Conflicting Service Requests, Guosheng Kang, Jianxun Liu, Mingdong Tang, Xiaoqing Liu, Kenneth K. Fletcher

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Web service selection based on quality of service (QoS) has been a research focus in an environment where many similar web services exist. Current methods of service selection usually focus on a single service request at a time and the selection of a service with the best QoS at the user's own discretion. the selection does not consider multiple requests for the same functional web services. Usually, there are multiple service requests for the same functional web service in practice. in such situations, conflicts occur when too many requesters select the same best web service. This paper aims at solving …

Clustering Web Video Search Results Based On Integration Of Multiple Features, Alex Hindle, Jie Shao, Dan Lin, Jiaheng Lu, Rui Zhang

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

The usage of Web video search engines has been growing at an explosive rate. Due to the ambiguity of query terms and duplicate results, a good clustering of video search results is essential to enhance user experience as well as improve retrieval performance. Existing systems that cluster videos only consider the video content itself. This paper presents the first system that clusters Web video search results by fusing the evidence from a variety of information sources besides the video content such as title, tags and description. We propose a novel framework that can integrate multiple features and enable us to …

Enhanced Photorefractivity In A Polymeric Composite Photosensitized With Carbon Nanotubes Grafted To A Photoconductive Polymer, Naveen Kumar Lingam, Sonali Kalghatgi, Jeffrey G. Winiarz

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

We report on the photosensitization of photorefractive (PR) polymeric composites through the inclusion of multiwalled and singlewalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), respectively, having poly(N -vinyl carbazole) (PVK) grafted to their surfaces. The PR nature of the holographic gratings was confirmed via the asymmetric exchange of energy in a two-beam-coupling (TBC) geometry, yielding TBC gain coefficients approaching 80 cm^-1. In addition, in degenerate-four-wave- mixing experiments the prepared composites exhibited diffraction efficiencies as high as 60% and overmodulation voltages as low as ∼40 V/μm. These notable figures of merit indicate that the grafting of the PVK polymer to the various CNTs …

Effective Professional Development For Teachers Of Students With Autism, Erin Marie Torruella

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The number of students with autism is on the rise. The main treatment for children with autism is their education. It is essential that teachers are prepared to work with students with autism. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a teacher training workshop held by Area Education Agency 267. Fifty-one participants of the workshop training responded to a survey regarding their implementation of strategies learned, their understanding of the content and strategies learned, the change in their planning and delivery of instruction, and the impact on their students' achievement.

The study found that the training …

A Comparison Of Face-To-Face And Online Instructional Delivery Methods In Large-Group Settings In A University Undergraduate Wellness Course, Lea Ann Shaddox

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Utilization of online delivery of the lecture component in an undergraduate wellness course is unique and undocumented in research. Wellness courses are traditionally taught with face-to-face lectures plus an activity component. This discipline is distinctive in terms of its activity components that are not conducted online.

The purpose of this study was to investigate two large group face-to-face and online courses to determine if the students enrolled were demographically equivalent and if there were differences in academic achievement in terms of final course grades and between subgroups of students. For the fall 2006 and spring 2007 semesters, 1,814 students were …

Our Voices: A Descriptive Account Of African American Parental Involvement In An Urban Elementary School, Charletta D. Sudduth

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Parent involvement may have implications for student achievement (Epstein, 1986; Hoover-Dempsey, Bassler, & Brisse, 1987; Lopez, Scribner, & Mahitivanichcha, 2001). Today African-American parents are frequently criticized for not being involved enough in their students' education (Dearing, Kreider, Simpkins, & Weiss, 2006). African-American parent involvement can be limited due to a lack of time, monetary resources, or transportation; past negative experiences with school; a non-welcoming school environment; or a different definition of parent involvement (Epstein, 2001, Hamre & Pianta, 2001; Hill, Castellino, Lansford, Dodge, Bates, et al., 2004; Hughes & Kwok, 2007). Missing from the research of both Hoover Dempsey and …

Best Management Practices Monitoring Guide For Stream Systems, Nancy Mesner

All Current Publications

Best Management Practices Monitoring Guide for Stream Systems provides guidance on establishing a water quality monitoring program that will demonstrate the effectiveness of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce nonpoint source pollution in stream systems.

The Use Of Visuals In Health Education, Ying Yan Vigenia Njoo-Lau

Graduate Research Papers

America has a very complex health care system. It is often required a welleducated individual "to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions" (Nielsen-Bohlman, 2004). It is also required multiple skills, like reading, writing, listening, speaking, mathematic, and decision-making (Safeer & Keenan, 2005).

90 million American adults have limited health literacy to navigate of the health care system in the United States. People with limited health literacy have trouble communicating with their health care providers, understand and adherence of medical information, medical usage. $73 billion health care cost was estimated in 1998 …

Laboratory Schools Annual Report, 2010-2011, Laboratory Schools, Illinois State University

Annual Reports – Laboratory Schools

Illinois State University Laboratory Schools annual report

The Application Of Data Mining Techniques To Interrogate Western Australian Water Catchment Data Sets, Ajdin Sehovic

Theses : Honours

Current environmental challenges such as increasing dry land salinity, waterlogging, eutrophication and high nutrient runoff in south western regions of Western Australia may have both cultural and environmental implications in the near future. Advances in computer science disciplines, more specifically, data mining techniques and geographic information services provide the means to be able to conduct longitudinal climate studies to predict changes in the Water catchment areas of Western Australia.

The research proposes to utilise existing spatial data mining techniques in conjunction of modern open-source geospatial tools to interpret trends in Western Australian water catchment land use. This will be achieved …

Preparation And Characterizations Of Lithium Titanate (Li4ti5o12)., Nor Aini Alias

Student Works (2010-2019)

Li4Ti5O12 is a potential anode material for lithium-ion batteries. This serves as the motivation for the present study. Li4Ti5O12 compound has been obtained through the sol-gel technique. From thermo gravimetric analysis, Li4Ti5O12 is thermally stable at temperatures above 700 oC. Organic compounds are observed to decompose at 600 oC and below. From XRD diffractograms peaks due to Li2TiO3 and anatase TiO2 phases observed, Li4Ti5O12 has a cubic structure. The lattice parameters for all Li4Ti5O12 are sintered at different temperatures and times are approximately 8.3 Å. The discharge capacity of a cell employing Li4Ti5O12 as electrode is ~60 mAh g-1 for …

An Analysis And Comparison Of Predominant Word Sense Disambiguation Algorithms, David J. Craggs

Theses : Honours

This thesis investigates research performed in the area of natural language processing. It is the aim of this research to compare a selection of predominant word sense disambiguation algorithms, and also determine if they can be optimised by small changes to the parameters used by the algorithms. To perform this research, several word sense disambiguation algorithms will be implemented in Java, and run on a range of test corpora. The algorithms will be judged on metrics such as speed and accuracy, and any other results obtained; while an algorithm may be fast and accurate, there may be other factors making …

The Effects Of Urban Habitat Fragmentation On The Population Genetic Structure Of The Scincid Lizard Ctenotus Fallens, Jösef Krawiec

Theses : Honours

Species occurring in fragmented urban habitats often exhibit low genetic diversity which can be attributed to restricted gene flow and elevated levels of inbreeding. This can have serious implications for the survival of species especially when faced with additional pressures caused by urbanisation. The population genetic structure of the generalist skink Ctenotus fallens was examined within and among three urban vegetation remnants in the Perth metropolitan area in Western Australia, using both microsatellite and AFLP markers. Historic genetic connectivity between the populations of each remnant was shown as well as weak patterns of genetic differentiation which appeared to suggest isolation …

Estimating Pulse Wave Velocity Using Mobile Phone Sensors, Rohan Anchan

Theses : Honours

Pulse wave velocity has been recognised as an important physiological phenomenon in the human body, and its measurement can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases. It is the gold standard for arterial stiffness measurements, and it also shares a positive relationship with blood pressure and heart rate. There exist several methods and devices via which it can be measured. However, commercially available devices are more geared towards working health professionals and hospital settings, requiring a significant monetary investment and specialised training to operate correctly. Furthermore, most of these devices are not portable and thus generally not feasible …

Pre-Adulthood Developmental Psycho-Social Influences Behind Women Becoming Engineers In Contemporary Australia, Andrew Ruscoe

Theses : Honours

This study explored the pre-adulthood development of female engineers with a focus on influences behind their career choice. Pre-adulthood encompasses the ages 0. to 23 and includes all development prior to settling on a career (Levinson, Darrow, Klein, Levinson, & McKee, 1979). ,This area of study derives its importance from the continuing low proportion of women in engineering (9.6%; Kaspura, 2009), the gender bias that this may indicate (Burke & Mattis, 2007), and the benefits of increasing the number of women• in engineering (Engineers Australia, 20 I 0). A phenomenological methodology was applied, utilising semi-structured interviews with 10 female graduate, …

A Comparative Study Of Selected Saxophone Quartet Repertoire From The Mule, Rascher And Apollo Saxophone Quartets Between 1928 And 1995, Jesse G. Deane

Theses : Honours

This research will investigate the nature of saxophone quartet repertoire that has resulted from the careers of the Mule, Rascher and Apollo saxophone quartets, who have played important roles in creating a base of concert repertoire for the ensemble. This research aims to identify trends in the styles of repertoire produced, along with the techniques that are required of the performers. This research will discuss nine works that have been commissioned by, or dedicated to, three professional saxophone quartets; the Marcel Mule Quartet, the Rascher Saxophone Quartet, and The Apollo Saxophone Quartet. The quartets have been chosen as they have …

Enhancing Automated Red Teaming With Monte Carlo Tree Search, Daniel Beard

Theses : Honours

This study has investigated novel Automated Red Teaming methods that support replanning. Traditional Automated Red Teaming (ART) approaches usually use evolutionary computing methods for evolving plans using simulations. A drawback of this method is the inability to change a team’s strategy part way through a simulation. This study focussed on a Monte-Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) method in an ART environment that supports re-planning to lead to better strategy decisions and a higher average score

Predictive And Adaptive Game Development A Practical Application Of Development Models To The Independent Video Game Industry, Liam A. Hunt

Theses : Honours

Through the process of researching a number of game and system development models, this study defines two archetypical development models - the predictive and the adaptive. Using each of these models, two video games have been developed in order to measure the practical effect that they can have on the design, development process and player experience of a game. Using the knowledge gained through playtesting and an analysis of the relationship between each game and its development methodology, a number of development guidelines and recommendations have been specifically constructed for use by independent games developers. The practical development and written …

Synthesis And Characterisation Of Macrocycles Containing Both Tetrazole And Pyridine Functionalities, Adrienne Fleming, Jackie Gaire, Fintan Kelleher, John Mcginley, Vickie Mckee

Articles

The syntheses of tetra-tetrazole macrocycles containing at least one 2,6-bis(tetrazole)pyridine unit, linked by a variety of n-alkyl (n = 3, 5, 7 or 9 carbon atoms) chain lengths, are described. There has been no previous incorporation of the pyridine moiety into a tetra-tetrazolophane macrocycle. The crystal structure of one such tetra-tetrazole macrocycle has also been structurally characterised and revealed a bowl-shaped conformation.

Synthesis, Co-Polymerisation And Electrochemical Evaluation Of Novel Ferrocene-Pyrrole Derivatives, Mary Deasy, Eithne Dempsey, Geok Hong Soon, Oliver Worsfold

Articles

New ferrocene derivatives, ((4-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenoxy)carbonyl) ferrocene (4) and (6-(4-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)phenoxy)hexyl) ferrocene (7) were synthesised, characterised and electrochemically evaluated as redox active films formed via anodic oxidation with pyrrole. Thin film studies were conducted and films formed from both compounds resulted in a stable Fe ^II/III redox couple with E^o = 0.04V and 0.36V vs. Ag/Ag⁺ for (7) and (4) respectively. Both potential sweeping and chronocoulometry were employed for film formation with the former resulting in controllable, reproducible film deposition. Growth conditions and solution concentrations were varied in the case of both compounds in order to assess …

Complete And Exact Small Signal Analysis Of Dc-To-Dc Switched Power Converters Under Various Operating Modes And Control Methods, Justin French Simmons

Dissertations and Theses

A method to obtain the exact control-to-output and input-to-output transfer functions for switched DC-to-DC pulse-width modulated power converters is applied to different combinations of operating conditions such as continuous conduction mode (CCM), discontinuous conduction mode (DCM), and discontinuous voltage mode (DVM) and methods of control such as normal voltage mode (NVM), current programming mode (CPM), and V-squared control. The majority of these combinations have not previously had their transfer functions of interest derived to the accuracy provided by the method. The derivation of the method is covered, and the results from its application are verified by simulation. The simulation method …

Hierarchical Temporal Memory Cortical Learning Algorithm For Pattern Recognition On Multi-Core Architectures, Ryan William Price

Dissertations and Theses

Strongly inspired by an understanding of mammalian cortical structure and function, the Hierarchical Temporal Memory Cortical Learning Algorithm (HTM CLA) is a promising new approach to problems of recognition and inference in space and time. Only a subset of the theoretical framework of this algorithm has been studied, but it is already clear that there is a need for more information about the performance of HTM CLA with real data and the associated computational costs. For the work presented here, a complete implementation of Numenta's current algorithm was done in C++. In validating the implementation, first and higher order sequence …

Closed Loop Satisfaction Measurement: New Wine From Old Bottles, Michael Thomas O'Connell

Dissertations and Theses

A field experiment examines within a financial services firm the impact of a customer satisfaction survey-based intervention that enables front-line employees to identify and contact less-than satisfied customers (less than 9 on a 10-point scale) to proactively prevent potential customer defections. The impact is measured using operational data from 28,000 new customers and their associated defection behavior over a period of eight years. The experiment applies binomial Z-tests of proportions to assess the difference in defection rates of targeted and non-targeted customers before and after the intervention. The research finds that the use of closed loop satisfaction measurement reduces customer …

Sustainable Event Management Of Music Festivals: An Event Organizer Perspective, Stephanie L. Stettler

Dissertations and Theses

Sustainably managed music festivals have significant value and can provide a multitude of benefits to a healthy, sustainable and desirable society if their negative impacts are mitigated and positive impacts cultivated. To reach this great potential, sustainable event management of music festivals must become widely adopted and expanded as common practice. To drive this improvement of sustainable event management, there is a need to first understand the barriers and success factors event organizers face moving their music festivals toward sustainability. This study uses a research design of mixed quantitative-qualitative methods: a survey of thirty diverse music festival organizers across the …

Modeling Market And Regulatory Mechanisms For Pollution Abatement With Sharp And Random Variables, Thomas Robert Fielden

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation is motivated by the problem of uncertainty and sensitivity in business- class models such as the carbon emission abatement policy model featured in this work. Uncertain model inputs are represented by numerical random variables and a computational methodology is developed to numerically compute business-class models as if sharp inputs were given. A new description for correlation of random variables is presented that arises spontaneously within a numerical model. Methods of numerically computing correlated random variables are implemented in software and represented. The major contribution of this work is a methodology for the numerical computation of models under uncertainty …