Digital Commons Network^™

Wind- Chimney (Integrating The Principles Of A Wind-Catcher And A Solar-Chimney To Provide Natural Ventilation), Fereshteh Tavakolinia

Master's Theses

WIND-CHIMNEY

Integrating the principles of a wind-catcher and a solar chimney to provide natural ventilation

Fereshteh Tavakolinia

Abstract

This paper suggests using a wind-catcher integrated with a solar-chimney in a single story building so that the resident might benefit from natural ventilation, a passive cooling system, and heating strategies; it would also help to decrease energy use, CO2 emissions, and pollution. This system is able to remove undesirable interior heat pollution from a building and provide thermal comfort for the occupant.
The present study introduces the use of a solar-chimney with an underground air channel combined with a wind-catcher, all …

Sensitivity Of Seismic Response Of A 12 Story Reinforced Concrete Building To Varying Material Properties, Colin Leung

Master's Theses

The main objective of this investigation is to examine how various material properties, governed by code specification, affect the seismic response of a twelve- story reinforced concrete building. This study incorporates the pushover and response history analysis to examine how varying steel yield strength (Fy), 28 day nominal compressive concrete strength (f’c), modes, and ground motions may affect the base shear capacity and displacements of a reinforced concrete structure.

Different steel and concrete strengths were found to have minimal impact on the initial stiffness of the structure. However, during the post-yielding phase, higher steel and concrete compressive strengths resulted in …

Downtown Revitalization Strategy Report For Glenrock, Wy, Mary Phillips

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Downtown Revitalization Strategy Report for Glenrock, WY

Mary E. Phillips

The following project submitted for the Master of City and Regional Planning Professional Project is the Downtown Revitalization Strategy Report for Glenrock, WY completed November 25, 2009.

At the onset of the project, the Town of Glenrock, WY was recognized as an Aspiring Main Street Community, and sought guidance to become a Certified Main Street Community. This Strategy Report was prepared to provide an implementation plan for revitalization of the downtown following the Main Street Approach, as well as for achievement of a Certified Main Street Community status by …

Response To Management Strategies In Young-Growth Giant Sequoia Stands At Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest – Remeasurement Twenty Years After Treatment, Joshua Soderlund

Master's Theses

There is limited information on how young-growth giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum [Lindl.] Buchholz)/mixed conifer stands respond to forest management strategies. An applied research study was initiated in 1989 when 35 approximately 0.1 acre (0.04 hectare) plots were installed in six young-growth giant sequoia/mixed conifer stands. The objective of this study was to determine if there was a difference after 20 years between treatments (a) thin only, (b) thin and prescribe burn, and (c) control in terms of the effect on overstory growth and yield, understory plants, tree regeneration and downed woody debris. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for cubic-foot growth …

The Need For Specialized Programs For Lgbt Individuals In Substance Abuse Treatment, Erin E. Mooney

Research Papers

Specialized substance abuse treatment programs for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals are limited. Specialized treatment programs offer unique and tailored services to ‘special populations’ in order to provide effective treatment. The services offered in these programs are proven to be especially helpful and effective for LGBT individuals. Many researchers have suggested that LGBT-Specific substance abuse programs have better treatment outcomes for LGBT individuals than mainstream treatment programs. LGBT individuals have been said to have much higher rates of substance abuse than their heterosexual counterparts. They also face discrimination, prejudice, negative attitudes and behavior, and unique life experiences that …

Determining The Factors Associated With Unmet Need For Family Planning: A Cross-Sectional Survey In 49 Districts Of Pakistan, Waqas Hameed, Syed Khurram Azmat, Mohsina Bilgrami, Muhammad Ishaqe

Community Health Sciences

Introduction & Background: Around 137 million women in the developing world who would like to avoid childbearing are unable to do so, despite a huge increase in contraceptive access and use globally. Ironically, the prevalence of unmet need in Pakistan is among the highest in the world despite being one of the first countries in South Asia to launch national family planning program. The aim of this paper is to estimate the prevalence of unmet need for contraception and to indentify the factors associated with it.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in forty nine districts of Pakistan across all …

Meeting Extension Programming Needs With Technology: A Case Study Of Agritourism Webinars, Samantha Rozier Rich, Stephen Komar, Brian Schilling, Stacy R. Tomas, Jenny Carleo, Susan J. Colucci

Journal of Extension

As clientele needs diversify, Extension educators are examining new technologies, including online tools, to deliver educational programming and resources. Using agritourism as the educational topic, the study reported here sought to evaluate participants' acceptance of online educational programming (webinars) and the effectiveness of the technology in meeting the needs of participants and Extension educators. Overall, results provided favorable support of webinars for online educational programming and illustrated the effectiveness of this technology in reaching diverse audiences. Findings suggest webinars can enhance the value, availability, and sustainability of Cooperative Extension programming.

An Analysis Of The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service's Role In Bridging The Digital Divide, Antoine J. Alston, Lashawn Hilton, Chastity Warren English, Chanda Elbert, Dexter Wakefield

Journal of Extension

The study reported here sought to determine the perception of North Carolina County Cooperative Extension directors in regard to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service's role in bridging the digital divide. It was perceived by respondents that variables such as income, education, gender, disability status, race/ethnicity, age, and geographic location (rural versus urban) are major factors in the digital divide. Recommendations are made regarding North Carolina Cooperative Extension forming partnerships in order to narrow the digital divide in its regions, in addition to developing educational programming efforts in this area for all clientele served.

Development And Evaluation Of An On-Line Educational Module For Volunteer Leaders On Bio-Security In Washington State 4-H Livestock Projects, Jill L. Stevenson, Dale A. Moore, Jerry Newman, Janet L. Schmidt

Journal of Extension

An on-line module on disease prevention was created for 4-H volunteer leaders who work with livestock projects in Washington to better prepare them to teach youth about bio-security and its importance in 4-H livestock projects. Evaluation of the module and usage statistics since the module's debut were collected and evaluated. The module increases awareness of disease prevention and provides practical approaches to implementation of bio-security, but is underused by the target audience, possibly due to leaders' lack of computer access, time, or awareness of the module. Promotion of the module and incentives must be explored to increase module usage.

Strengthening 4-H Program Communication Through Technology, Karl Robideau, Karyn Santl

Journal of Extension

Advances in technology are transforming how youth and parents interact with programs. The Strengthening 4-H Communication through Technology project was implemented in eight county 4-H programs in Northwest Minnesota. This article outlines the intentional process used to effectively implement technology in program planning. The project includes: assessing current communication tools used; evaluating participants' preferences for receiving information; educating staff on current research trends; and training teams of youth and adults with the Forrester Research Model (2011) to implement social media as a program communication tool. The process helps staff identify audience and purpose of using technology for their specific needs.

Working In A Wiki: A Tool For Collaboration Among Virtual Teams, Joanne Kinsey, Amy L. Carozzino

Journal of Extension

A wiki can be a useful collaborative Web tool for managing virtual teamwork. Although a wiki is easy to use, the challenge comes with enlisting team members to adopt a wiki for collaborative projects. This article describes uses of a wiki, challenges to maintaining virtual teams, and five recommendations for implementation by universities, agencies, and institutions.

Extension Master Gardener Intranet: Automating Administration, Motivating Volunteers, Increasing Efficiency, And Facilitating Impact Reporting, Lucy K. Bradley, Jonneen Cook, Chris Cook

Journal of Extension

North Carolina State University has incorporated many aspects of volunteer program administration and reporting into an on-line solution that integrates impact reporting into daily program management. The Extension Master Gardener Intranet automates many of the administrative tasks associated with volunteer management, increasing efficiency, and facilitating impact reporting while inherently motivating volunteers by meeting their needs for achievement, affiliation, and power.

Better Kid Care Program Improves The Quality Of Child Care: Results From An Interview Study, Carol S. Ostergren, David A. Riley, Jenny M. Wehmeier

Journal of Extension

More high quality child care is needed in the United States. This article evaluates the Better Kid Care (BKC) program produced by Pennsylvania State University Extension. Child care staff in Wisconsin were interviewed about changes they had made in their early childhood programs following participation in the BKC program. Findings show that 2 months post-program, most participants could name specific skills or knowledge they learned and improvements they made in their early childhood programs as a result of BKC. The BKC program improves child care quality, and increasing program participation is recommended.

The Redesign Of Mechanical Engineering 574: An Exploration In Deductive And Inductive Methods, Alyssa Janae Walker

Theses and Dissertations

Changes in the engineering industry have motivated the redesign of engineering curriculum in recent years. This report documents the redesign of Mechanical Engineering 574, a graduate course in engineering offered at Brigham Young University. The redesign was divided into four phases and used a design narrative to report the design process. Research conducted by the instructor and designer informed the main content of the course. Although the course originally used mainly deductive methods of instruction, by the final phase of the project, the instruction evolved to be primarily inductive in strategy.

Making An Impact On The Obesity Epidemic By Deploying A Mobile Fitness Suite On The Android Market, Chad Richards

Computer Science and Computer Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Mobile Fitness Suite aims to make an impact on the obesity epidemic by deploying a set of mobile fitness applications on the Android Market. The thesis details the health and financial issues with the obesity epidemic, along with its causes, and how a set of fitness applications can aid with the obesity epidemic. It also explains the reasons for releasing the program on the Android Market and details each step in the process of deploying a mobile application to the Android Market. Further, it discusses the design and architecture that went into the development of the Mobile Fitness Suite …

Fabrication Of Mineralized Collagen From Bovine Waste Materials By Hydrothermal Method As Promised Biomaterials, Faheem A. Sheikh, M. A. Kanjwal, Javier Macossay-Torres, Muneeb A. Muhammad, Travis Cantu, Ioannis S. Chronakis, N. A. M. Barakat, Hak Yong Kim

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Chemistry)

In the present study, we aimed to produce mineralized-collagen by hydrothermal process. A simple method not depending on additional foreign chemicals has been employed to isolate the mineralized-collagen fibers from bovine waste. The process of extraction involves the use of hydrothermal method from available bovine bones. The structural and morphological properties of the collagen fibers were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. These results indicated well received collagen fibers, having a diameter less than 1 μm and with established mineral content in the individual fibers. The X-ray diffraction showed the crystalline feature of the obtained nano-compounds. …

Cultural Psychology Of African Americans, James M. Jones, Santiba Campbell

Online Readings in Psychology and Culture

The cultural psychology of African Americans involves the evolution of African patterns of thought, feeling and behavior and their utilization as adaptive mechanisms in a context of racism and oppression. Assumptions about cultural psychology as the intersection of psyche and culture, and African American psychology as the multidimensional response to dehumanization and psychic conflict are discussed. Time, Rhythm, Improvisation, Orality, and Spirituality (TRIOS) are proposed as psycho-cultural mechanisms of adaptation, innovation, and psychological control for African Americans. Sources of variability among African Americans (both psychological and societal) are a basis for black subcultures within Black Culture. TRIOS is offered as …

Assessment Of Acculturation: Issues And Overview Of Measures, Ozgur Celenk, Fons J.R. Van De Vijver

Online Readings in Psychology and Culture

Publicly available acculturation measures are systematically reviewed based on three criteria: scale descriptors (name of the scale, authors, year, target group, age group, subscales, and number of items), psychometric properties (reliabilities) and conceptual and theoretical structure (acculturation conditions, acculturation orientations, acculturation outcomes, acculturation attitudes, acculturation behaviors, conceptual model and life domains). Majority of the reviewed acculturation measures are short, single-scale instruments that are directed to specific target groups. Additionally, they mainly assess behavioral acculturation outcomes than acculturation conditions and orientations. Regarding the psychometric properties; most measures have an adequate internal consistency; yet cross-cultural validity of the instruments have not been …

The Writing And Reading Of Fan Fiction And Transformation Theory, Veerle Van Steenhuyse

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

In her article "The Writing and Reading of Fan Fiction and Transformation Theory" Veerle Van Steenhuyse discusses the experience of immersive reading fan fiction offers to fans based on her analysis of fan fiction about the television series House, M.D. (2004-). Van Steenhuyse postulates that a text is immersive when it evokes a mental construct with the presence of a text-independent reality. In the case of fan fiction, this reality is a "transformed universe" that builds on and deviates from particular primary texts. Following the work of Marie-Laure Ryan and Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, Van Steenhuyse argues that readers feel immersed when …

A Case Study In Discourse Analysis Of "Community Arts" In Cultural Policy And The Press, An De Bisschop, Kris Rutten, Ronald Soetaert

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

In their article "A Case Study in Discourse Analysis of 'Community Arts' in Cultural Policy and the Press" An De bisschop, Kris Rutten, and Ronald Soetaert explore theoretical and applied aspects of the phenomenon of community arts. Community arts in Flanders have developed into a professional practice during the past few years and have received increased recognition from policy makers, scholars, and critics. This attention has caused a growing need to define the nature of a practice diverse in form, goal, and process. De bisschop, Rutten, and Soetaert discuss the problematics of community arts projects in comparative discourse analysis in …

About Society: A Book Review Article Of Work On Roth And Kundera By Shostak And Ivanova, Gustavo Sánchez-Canales

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

Psychology, Science, Feminisms, And Cultural Studies: A Book Review Article Of New Books By Bell And Hardin, Adolfo Campoy-Cubillo

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

No abstract provided.

Adaptive Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy Planning Optimization With Changing Tumor Geometry And Biology Enforcing Both Cumulative And Fraction Size Dose Constraints, Behlul Saka

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is a modern technique of delivering radiation treatments to cancer patients. In IMRT technology, intensities must be chosen for the many small unit grids into which the beams are divided to produce a desired distribution of dose at points throughout the body with the goal of maximizing dose delivered to the tumor while sparing healthy tissues from excessive radiation and keeping dose homogeneous across the tumor. Although IMRT plans are optimized as a single overall treatment plan, they are delivered over 30-50 treatment sessions (fractions) and both cumulative and per-fraction dose constraints apply. The extended …

Foliar Symptoms Of Acute Ozone Injury And Exposure Response Characteristics Of Select Native Perennials, Susan Denise Frey

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Twenty seven perennial species native to the Eastern Temperate Forests Level I Ecoregion were exposed to an acute ozone (O3) treatment consisting of a target peak O3 concentration of 2.0 ppm for 30 minutes in a closed chamber environment, during the summer of 2010. Plants were evaluated for visible foliar injury symptoms and symptoms were described and photographically documented. Ten of the 27 species developed visible foliar injury in which interspecific and intraspecific response to O3 was observed. A severity index was used to compare response to acute ozone exposure for the ten species displaying visible foliar injury. Species showing …

Systematics Of Protosteloid Amoebae, Lora Lindley Shadwick

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Because of their simple fruiting bodies consisting of one to a few spores atop a finely tapering stalk, protosteloid amoebae, previously called protostelids, were thought of as primitive members of the Eumycetozoa sensu Olive 1975. The studies presented here have precipitated a change in the way protosteloid amoebae are perceived in two ways: (1) by expanding their known habitat range and (2) by forcing us to think of them as amoebae that occasionally form fruiting bodies rather than as primitive fungus-like organisms. Prior to this work protosteloid amoebae were thought of as terrestrial organisms. Collection of substrates from aquatic habitats …

Crisis Communication Needs Assessment: A Delphi Study To Enhance Instruction For Agricultural Communicators And Other Stakeholders, Allyson Ceary Mcguire

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Agricultural communicators and industry stakeholders need to be able to develop, prepare and implement crisis communication plans to help assure the sustainability of the agriculture industry should a crisis event occur. A thorough exploration of possible options and needs for training crisis communicators is a needed study in the agriculture industry. Students learning to prepare for managing crises in real life situations are rarely taught in a hands-on, experiential manner. Students can read and analyze case studies pertaining to crises, but without having an actual crisis; little means exist for preparing students for real world situations. There is a need …

Integrated Planning For Rural Rail Transportation, Jeffrey Cohan Gwaltney

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Population growth in rural areas has led to new interest in rail transportation. Planning a passenger rail system involves numerous difficult decisions, most representing a trade-off between customer service and cost. In this work, we attempt to integrate many of these planning decisions. We consider strategic decisions such as station location and vehicle procurement, as well as tactical issues that include vehicle scheduling. Our integrated model exploits the linear network structure that best suits many rural American communities, including Northwest Arkansas. Due to the intractability of the integrated rail planning problem, we have developed a customized heuristic approach to solve …

The Effects Of Phosphorus Enrichment On Leaf Litter Stoichiometry In A Forested Stream, Bryant Baker

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The effects of nutrient (N and P) enrichment on leaf litter decomposition in streams have been investigated extensively, but few have explored how P addition alone affects leaf litter stoichiometry (namely the C:P ratio). This study examined how the P content, C:P ratio and decomposition of two types of leaf litter (the recalcitrant Quercus stellata and the more labile Acer saccharum) responded to P enrichment from nutrient diffusing substrata (NDS) which was either unenriched agar or agar enriched with a moderate or high level of P. Leaf litter was sealed in 0.05 mm mesh bags, which excluded invertebrates, housed with …

Application Of Genetic Algorithm For Synthesis Of Large Reversible Circuits Using Covered Set Partitions, Maher Mofeid Hawash, Baker Abdalhaq, Amjad Hawash, Marek Perkowski

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

We present the results of application of Evolutionary Algorithms to the problem of synthesizing quantum circuits which belong to the class of reversible circuits, represented as an input/output mapping vectors. The paper specifically focuses on large quantum circuits where many valid solutions exist in an exponentially inflating search space. Valid solutions represent the set of all input vector permutations (arrangements) which satisfy the circuit specification. The search space for circuits with large number of variables grows exponentially making it impossible to discover the set of optimal solutions. The paper compares three methods for selecting valid solutions of input vector sequences: …

Mayas, Spirituality, And The Unfinished History Of Conflict In Guatemala [Los Mayas, La Espiritualidad Y La Historia Incompleta Del Conflicto En Guatemala], Servando Z. Hinojosa

Anthropology Faculty Publications

Maya spiritual practice in Guatemala has been actively challenged by mainstream religions and by pressures originating from other institutions. Many Maya ritualists have been directly reproached by religious leaders and have been targeted by a state apparatus that associates rural Maya life with insurgency. As a result, many Maya spiritual elements have been pushed to, and kept at, the margins of society. Focusing on the past two decades, this essay reviews how Mayas nevertheless maintain an active ritual life. They do this by engaging in a close relationship with the spirit-owners of the landscape, beings upon whom humans depend for …