Digital Commons Network^™

Improving Cardiovascular Stent Design Using Patient-Specific Models And Shape Optimization, Timothy J. Gundert

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Stent geometry influences local hemodynamic alterations (i.e. the forces moving blood through the cardiovascular system) associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is frequently used to quantify stent-induced hemodynamic disturbances, but previous CFD studies have relied on simplified device or vascular representations. Additionally, efforts to minimize stent-induced hemodynamic disturbances using CFD models often only compare a small number of possible stent geometries. This thesis describes methods for modeling commercial stents in patient-specific vessels along with computational techniques for determining optimal stent geometries that address the limitations of previous studies.

An efficient and robust method was developed for virtually …

Design And Implementation Of An Enterprise Data Warehouse, Edward M. Leonard

Master's Theses (2009 -)

The reporting and sharing of information has been synonymous with databases as long as there have been systems to host them. Now more than ever, users expect the sharing of information in an immediate, efficient, and secure manner. However, due to the sheer number of databases within the enterprise, getting the data in an effective fashion requires a coordinated effort between the existing systems. There is a very real need today to have a single location for the storage and sharing of data that users can easily utilize to make improved business decisions, rather than trying to traverse the multiple …

Dr7a: Changes In Ecosystem Services And Migration In Low-Lying Coastal Areas Over The Next 50 Years, Robert Costanza, Ida Kubiszewski, Joe Roman, Paul Sutton

Institute for Sustainable Solutions Publications and Presentations

This paper examines the history and current status of ecosystem services in low-lying coastal areas (LLCAs), their potential changes because of wider environmental and social shifts, and the potential impacts of these changes on human migration. We synthesised information from a number of sources on the status and value of ecosystem services in LLCAs, including information about key ecosystems that are likely to be particularly vulnerable to environmental change. We created maps of ecosystem and human population changes in LLCAs and then estimated changes in ecosystem services. Estimating the impacts of these potential changes depends on the future scenario one …

Integrating Ecosystem Services, River Restoration And Community: A Case Study At Fisher's Bend, Michael Carlson

Environmental Science and Management Professional Master's Project Reports

Natural areas and ecosystem services at the edge of urban areas are threatened by increasing development. This paper examines how community based restoration partnerships can work to identify, protect and restore ecosystem services provided by salmon and our local rivers. Floodplains provide a wide range of ecosystem services to urban and rural communities and we should work collaboratively to protect and restore them. Floodplains are especially valuable and important for salmon recovery. By using a case study, we explore the process and feasibility of restoring off-channel salmon habitat at Fisher's Bend in the lower Clackamas river. A feasibility study was …

Green And Economic Fleet Replacement Modeling: Part I, David S. Kim, Miguel A. Figliozzi, J. David Porter

TREC Final Reports

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of how equipment replacement decisions are supported with data collection and quantitative models at state DOTs, and to determine if models found in the research literature offer any better decision support when applied to realistic fleet usage and cost data. This study also addressed the current state of equipment replacement at state DOTs with respect to using measurable “green” criteria in replacement decisions, and the development of new quantitative replacement models utilizing such criteria. The responses from 25 state DOTs indicates that there is little consistency in the criteria …

Value Of Travel-Time Reliability: Commuters’ Route-Choice Behavior In The Twin Cities, Carlos Carrion-Madera, David Levinson, Kathleen Harder, Miguel A. Figliozzi

TREC Final Reports

Travel-time variability is a noteworthy factor in network performance. It measures the temporal uncertainty experienced by users in their movement between any two nodes in a network. The importance of the time variance depends on the penalties incurred by the users. In road networks, travelers consider the existence of this journey uncertainty in their selection of routes. This choice process takes into account travel-time variability and other characteristics of the travelers and the road network. In this complex behavioral response, a feasible decision is spawned based on not only the amalgamation of attributes, but also on the experience travelers incurred …

The Influence Of Land Use And Climate Change On Forest Biomass And Composition In Massachusetts, Usa, Jonathan R. Thompson, David R. Foster, Robert M. Scheller, David Kittridge

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Land use and climate change have complex and interacting effects on naturally dynamic forest landscapes. To anticipate and adapt to these changes, it is necessary to understand their individual and aggregate impacts on forest growth and composition. We conducted a simulation experiment to evaluate regional forest change in Massachusetts, USA over the next 50 years (2010–2060). Our objective was to estimate, assuming a linear continuation of recent trends, the relative and interactive influence of continued growth and succession, climate change, forest conversion to developed uses, and timber harvest on live aboveground biomass (AGB) and tree species composition. We examined 20 …

Running On Empty: Municipal Insolvency And Rejection Of Collective Bargaining Agreements In Chapter 9 Bankruptcy, Richard W. Trotter

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

This Article conducts an in-depth analysis of the facts and law surrounding the potential modification and rejection of collective bargaining agreements by municipal debtors in Chapter 9 bankruptcy.  American municipal governments are in the midst of a widespread financial crisis.  Many are facing enormous budget deficits in 2011 and beyond.  As a result, the heretofore-unthinkable option of filing for bankruptcy protection pursuant to Chapter 9 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code is becoming increasingly viable.  One of the most vital issues presented by this poorly understood chapter of the Bankruptcy Code is if and how would-be municipal debtors can modify and …

Light In The Darkness? Reflections On Eleonore Stump's Theodicy, William Hasker

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.

Social, Political, Economic And Health Effects Of The Disi Aquifer On Jordanian Society, Ryan Greenwood

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

As one of the driest countries in the world, it is a challenge for Jordan to find adequate domestic and regional water resources to draw from that will provide long term, healthy solutions that are in the country’s political and economic interest. The use of the Disi Aquifer as a domestic water resource has been a contested subject for several decades. With the completion of the project nearly in sight, it is important to ensure that the government provides sustainable goals for the country in order to keep up with population growth and the increasing demand for water. This paper …

A Berber In Agadir: Exploring The Urban/Rural Shift In Amazigh Identity, Thiago Lima

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The Arab Spring has seen North African and Middle Eastern youth organizing against the status quo and challenging what they perceive as political, economic, and social injustices. In Morocco, while the Arab Spring may not have been as substantial as in neighboring countries, demonstrations are still occurring nearly everyday in major cities like Rabat as individuals protest issues including government transparency, high unemployment, and, for specific interest of this paper, the marginalization of the Amazigh people. The Amazigh, also popularly referred to as Berbers in most Western academia and literature, are regarded as the original inhabitants of Morocco and the …

Photography And Poetry In Children’S Literature: An Illustrated Journey Through Environment And Place, Hannah Crews

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This creative independent study project began as a photo documentation of the environment along a two-week hiking trip on the Great South West Walk in Victoria. It developed into a lesson in experiential education in nature and environmental education through children’s literature that ultimately produced a photographically illustrated children’s story called The Future of Cobboboonee. The story, written in poetry, takes the main characters on an adventure into an unfamiliar world in search of more space for expanding their population. Ultimately, they learn lessons of sustainability and conclude that they must conserve their home, for it is all they have. …

Exploring Marine Conservation Efforts In Tasmania: An Internship With Ocean Planet, Lauren Markram

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

I chose to conduct a dual internship with Environment Tasmania and Ocean Planet. Although I was located in the ET office and conducted participant observation within that environment, I specifically worked on the Ocean Planet campaign to promote marine conservation efforts throughout Tasmania. I was drawn to this internship because the oceans are often disregarded within the environmental movement despite the fact that they are the key to life on earth and are in a degraded state. Further, Tasmania’s marine environment is utterly unique, with ninety percent of its marine life found nowhere else on earth. Despite the magnificent biodiversity …

Effects Of Coral Stressing On The Feeding Preferences Of The Coral Predator, Acanthaster Planci, Harriet Booth

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Coral predators have always been a natural occurrence on coral reefs, but recent studies have begun to focus on the feeding preferences of these predators in relation to bleached and damaged corals. The recent mass bleaching events, mainly resulting from factors of climate change, have motivated researchers to study the effects of predation on the affected corals to determine the extent of harm these large-scale disturbances may be causing to reefs. This study examined how coral stressing affects the feeding preferences of Acanthaster planci, a coral-feeding starfish that has been known to cause widespread damage to coral reefs, especially during …

Local Solutions For A Global Problem: The Role Of Ngos In Maximizing The Efficacy Of Local Government Sanitation Efforts In Rural Maharashtra, Jorge Aceves

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This independent study project looks at the topic of sanitation within rural Maharashtra. Although the Government of India, through the state governments, has initiated nationwide campaigns against poor sanitation and waterborne illnesses, these programmes do not reach all communities or find significant success in improving sanitation. Recent revisions of these sanitations programs have shifted their focus from a centralized supply-driven approach to a localized demand-driven approach, yet the system requires more work to become fully functional. In some areas, non-government organizations, such as the Comprehensive Rural Help Project (CRHP), have stepped up to bridge the gap between the available government …

Portraits Of The Land: Environmentalism And Contemporary Art In Mongolia, Sarah Morgan

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Environmental concerns are globally relevant, but in Mongolia they hold special importance. Not only does Mongolia contain an unusual amount of pristine wilderness, but Mongolian history and culture are also deeply rooted in a close bond with the land. Now, increased development and globalization are placing new pressures on environmental systems. In response to these pressures, Mongolians artists are joining a national (and global) conversation about the interactions between art, environment, cultural heritage, and activism.

This study explores the sources of inspiration and motivation for these artists. Through this research, I hope to bring to light the role of the …

La Calidad Y Accesibilidad Del Agua Potable Rural Chile: Arica – Parinacota, Eileen Kapples

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The World Health Organization (WHO) affirms that clean drinking water is an essential resource and deems it a basic human right. The principle objective of this investigation is to study the quality and accessibility of drinking water in rural Chile, in the northern most region, XV Arica – Parinacota. Specific objectives include the investigation of the functioning and management of water services, determining the percentages of populations who do not have access to water services, and conducting analyses of the physical-chemical and bacteriological content of the water. The study was completed through interviews, observation, and visits to water systems and …

Feeling, Experiencing, Learning: Environmental Education At Escola Vila, Isabelle Aida Heilman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Teaching children about the importance of the protecting environment is a key step in preparing future generations to solve environmental issues. The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze how Escola Vila in Fortaleza, Brazil integrates environmental education into its curriculum to promote positive environmental actions later in the children’s lives. Classroom observations revealed how environmental education is incorporated into the curriculum in an interdisciplinary way. Students at Escola Vila learn about the environment through creative projects, experiential learning, sustainable practices on the campus and human rights education. Interviews with alumni showed that these four ways that Escola …

An Assessment Of Icthyofauna And Artisanal Fishing From The Port Of Pedregal In The Golfo De Chiriquí., Kathleen A. Carey

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The artisanal fishery based out of Pedregal, on the Pacific Coast of Panama in the Chiriqui Province was studied to analyze the biodiversity and community structure of the icthyofaunal population and investigate the practices and opinions of the fishermen there. The study area is located in the Gulf of Chiriqui, and is heavily influenced by freshwater runoff from anthropogenically influenced rivers during. This is especially relevant during the rainy season. During two weeks in November, at the end of the rainy season, fishermen from one port in Pedregal were accompanied for the purposes of data collection and interviewing. The data …

What Is The Value Of A Sea Turtle?: A Case Study Of The Conservation Ethics Of Sea Turtle Fishermen In The Caribbean Coast Of Nicaragua, Alicia Conte

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The sea turtle populations on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua have dramatically decreased as a result of human use and consumption. All species of sea turtles are endangered and at risk of extinction. This is an environmental issue because if sea turtles go extinct, many other plants and animals in marine ecosystems will be negatively impacted by this loss, and the environment will be drastically altered. This is also problematic for locals who depend on this resource for food and as a source of income. Conservation efforts have been initiated by an international NGO, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS); however, …

Preferencias Sexuales De Aves A Las Carreteras Los Efectos De La Carretera Cuenca - Molleturo – Naranjal En Las Proporciones De Los Sexos En Los Individuos De La Especies De Phrygilus Unicolor En El Parque Nacional De Cajas, Sarah Takushi

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Through the recent years, the Cuenca-Molleturo-Naranjal highway that cuts through the Cajas national park has been the object of much environmental research. In particular, the effects of the highway on the territorial distribution of the local avifauna—that includes many endemic and endangered species—has been a very important subject of study for the conservationists and the park managers. The following study is supplementary to the work of the University of Azuay and the University of Stoneybrook in New York. Here, we analyze how the highway may influence the sex ratios of one of the most commonly found specie—Phrygilus unicolor. Using observations …

El Agua O El Oro: La Lucha Por Quimsacocha, Laura Moulton

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

El 2 de octubre, del 2011, en la comunidad de Victoria del Portete, los usuarios del Sistema Comunitario de Agua de Tarqui y Victoria del Portete participaron en una consulta popular para decidir si están de acuerdo o no con el proyecto minero de oro de Quimsacocha. A través de esta consulta, se dio a conocer la voluntad de la gente. De los 1.047 votos, 958 se pronunciaron “No” a la minería a gran escala, siendo el 92,38% del total. “Con la consulta, dijimos no al oro, si al agua,”[1] dijo Fanny Paute, habitante de Tarqui. Para la gente …

Bills, Bribery And Brutality: How Rampant Corruption In The Electoral System Has Helped Prevent Democracy In Uganda, Sam Tabachnik

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study looks at the electoral system in Uganda and the corruption and inefficiencies that go with it. In addition, this study delves into the most common electoral crimes and the way they are committed. Going even deeper, the study examines the reasons for bribery pervasiveness, the role of money in politics and the views locals have of their government and its leaders. Crucial institutions such as police, military, judiciary, Electoral Commission and civil society groups were also discussed in how they relate toelections and politics in Uganda.

The research design was qualitative, historical and descriptive. Information was gatheredby in-person …

The Role Of Information In Enabling Community Response To Mining Threats In Palmares Ii, Christine Gerbode

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The case of Palmares II is examined to understand the role that knowledge (or misinformation/lack thereof) of specific geologic interests and rights of surface communities plays in enabling those communities to respond to the possibility of mining on their land. Palmares II is an MST settlement located near the Carajás mining complex in southern Pará. Currently, a number of companies are authorized or requesting permission to conduct research for mineral ores such as gold, copper, manganese, diamond, and nickel within the borders of the settlement; it is therefore potentially possible that this community will face mining interest on their land …

In The Realm Of Supay: The Stories Of The Miners, Graham Sutherland

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Ah, El Cerro Rico. She’s beautiful, no? Looming over Potosí with her red-tinted earth. But her real beauty is hidden within. Her body filled with veins of silver, the very silver that shimmered in the eyes of the Spanish empire and made Potosí one of the largest cities in the world. Oh, and the tin, the tin that helped Simon Patiño own mansions on 3 continents, living in villas in the United States and France while the ones here in Bolivia only collected dust. Mineral wealth you wouldn’t believe. They say that the Cerro Rico has twelve polleras of riches, …

Above The Mukpa: The Shifting Ground Of Khumbu's Sacred Geography, Noah Brautigam

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The Himalayan region is suffering from global warming,2 and the effects are felt at all scales, from the local to the global. Himalayan glaciers feed ten major Asian rivers, and 1.3 billion people in southern and southeast Asia reside in those river basins (Eriksson, et al. 2009:1). Global warming is melting these glaciers at a rapid rate, with retreat ranging from 10 to 60 meters per year on average, and many smaller glaciers already disappearing (Mool, Bajracharya and Shrestha 2008:1). This research is a study of local perceptions of global warming and glacial melt among the Sherpas of Khumbu, Nepal. …

El Manejo De Recursos Marinos En El Área De Yandub-Narganá, Kuna Yala: Estrategias, Objetivos Y Dificultades, Hannah Marie Colton

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The Kuna people are dependent on marine resources for sustenance, income, and protection. Coral reefs, mangrove stands, and sea grass beds provide food and shelter for marine animals which fuel the bodies and economy of Kuna communities. However, practices such as traditional coral mining and overfishing threaten the future of these resources. Recent scientific surveys have recommended the establishment of several larger Marine Protected Areas in Kuna Yala, in order to conserve habitats and allow the gradual repopulation of marine animals (Guzmán et al, 2003). The Kuna General Congress, the autonomous government of the Comarca of Kuna Yala, has the …

Adapt-Lite: Privacy-Aware, Secure, And Efficient Mhealth Sensing, Shrirang Mare, Jacob Sorber, Minho Shin, Cory Cornelius, David Kotz

Dartmouth Scholarship

As healthcare in many countries faces an aging population and rising costs, mobile sensing technologies promise a new opportunity. Using mobile health (mHealth) sensing, which uses medical sensors to collect data about the patients, and mobile phones to act as a gateway between sensors and electronic health record systems, caregivers can continuously monitor the patients and deliver better care. Although some work on mHealth sensing has addressed security, achieving strong security and privacy for low-power sensors remains a challenge. \par We make three contributions. First, we propose Adapt-lite, a set of two techniques that can be applied to existing wireless …

News From Hope College, Volume 43.2: October, 2011, Hope College

News from Hope College

No abstract provided.

Predicting Student Success In Passing The Exit Exam For Writing Proficiency, Cheryl Ann Latko

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the Exit Exam of Writing Proficiency (EEWP) and the variables that may impact the probability of a student passing the EEWP. The EEWP is one of the graduation requirements for all undergraduate students at a mid-sized four-year university in the mid-Atlantic region. The purpose of the EEWP is to ensure that undergraduates demonstrate clear, concise, and professional writing skills.

The literature discusses general issues with student writing skills specific to the field of human services, as they relate to teacher educators, developmental education, and the field of human services. Student demographics, such …