Digital Commons Network^™

Learning Visual Features For The Avatar Captcha Recognition Challenge, Mohammed Korayem, Abdallah A. Mohamed, David Crandall, Roman Yampolskiy

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Captchas are frequently used on the modern world wide web to differentiate human users from automated bots by giving tests that are easy for humans to answer but difficult or impossible for algorithms. As artificial intelligence algorithms have improved, new types of Captchas have had to be developed. Recent work has proposed a new system called Avatar Captcha, in which a user is asked to distinguish between facial images of real humans and those of avatars generated by computer graphics. This novel system has been proposed on the assumption that this Captcha is very difficult for computers to break. In …

Anthropological Apologetics: A Proposal Of An Anthropological Compendium As Evidence For The Imago Dei, Jeffrey R. Dickson

Masters Theses

Evangelical scholarship has shown great admiration for the work of Gary Habermas and others in their contribution to Christian apologetics by validating the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus Christ with a list of minimal facts generally agreed to by historical and biblical scholars. This thesis will explore the methodology of the minimal facts approach and appropriate it as a tool to explore the data within the field of anthropology which offers evidence for the biblical concept of the Imago Dei. This study will focus on Wolfhart Pannenberg in his critically acclaimed work demonstrating the importance of the theological perspective …

West Nile Virus Associations In Wild Mammals: A Synthesis, J. Jeffrey Root

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Exposures to West Nile virus (WNV) have been documented in a variety of wild mammals in both the New and Old Worlds. This review tabulates at least 100 mammal species with evidence of WNV exposure. Many of these exposures were detected in free-ranging mammals, while several were noted in captive individuals. In addition to exposures, this review discusses experimental infections in terms of the potential for reservoir competence of select wild mammal species. Overall, few experimental infections have been conducted on wild mammals. As such, the role of most wild mammals as potential amplifying hosts for WNV is, to date, …

"Alien" Litigation As Polity-Participation: The Positive Power Of A "Voteless Class Of Litigants", Daniel Kanstroom

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

No abstract provided.

Animal Services In Arlington, Texas: An Evaluation And Recommendation For Improvements, Angel Aymond

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Mcnair Team

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

R.A., Fred G. Leebron

English Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Dialogue: December 2012, Staff And Writers Of Dialogue

Dialogue

Prose

05 Robert Vander Lugt, My Puny Sacrifice; 08 Joshua Epperly, Pain, Loneliness, and Mediteranean Food; 16 Abby Zwart, JiVhen the Time Comes; 34 Benjamin Rietema, The Damn Dishes; Simply Bread; 39 James Li, Charlie; 50 Katie Van Zanen, Volcano Country; 56 Will Montei, Long Breaths

Haiku Contest Top 5

31 Katerina Parsons, Rivulets of rain; 31 Shen Leong, Your constant praising; 31 Jared Haverdink, Exuberant brook; 31 Carrie Field, I said I was lost; 31 Michael VanderMeer, A bottle of wine

Visual Art

18 Teressa Van Dam, Doorways; …

Custom, General Principles And The Great Architect Cassese, Mary Fan

Articles

Major advances in international criminal law and procedure rose on the trusses of judicially elucidated sources of international law—custom and general principles. These sources depend on the crucial art of derivation advanced by the architect of modern international criminal justice, President Antonio Cassese. What has transformed international criminal justice into flourishing law able to address changing configurations of violence is the development of the art of finding law in the dark and wilds of murky unwritten norms. [para] President Cassese pioneered paths through a perilous bog. "[T]he law lives in persons," and to understand the law one must study the …

Nebraska Bird Review (December 2012) 80(4), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Fall Field Report, August–November 2012 … 126

Bellevue Fall Field Days ... 158

Notes on a Greater Sage-Grouse Record by Levi L. Mohler ... 162

Index to Volume 80 ... 164

Subscription and Organization Information ... 175

Fall Field Report, August–November 2012, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

Some of you may be curious about the sources of sightings I use to compile these reports. The primary sources are reports posted to NEBirds, the Nebraska Listserv, along with the full reports (early and late dates, peak counts for all species) sent by a few faithful reporters around the state. The latter reports are very useful overviews of movements in the reporters' regions. Lately, thanks to a suggestion by Clem Klaphake, I have been receiving the eBird daily rarity report for Nebraska which I find to be an excellent check against reports posted to NEBirds, while providing a few …

Subscription And Organization Information [December 2012]

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal, and is sent to members not in arrears of dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $15 in the United States, $18 in Canada and $30 in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $4 each, postpaid, in the United States, $5 in Canada, and $8 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Anita Breckbill, NOU Librarian, c/o Music Library, WMB 30, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0101 (or at the email address listed below).

Memberships in the NOU …

Notes On A Greater Sage-Grouse Record By Levi L. Mohler, Mark A. Brogie

Nebraska Bird Review

In Nebraska, Greater Sage-Grouse has been considered an uncommon casual winter visitor in the extreme northwest (Sharpe et al. 2001). This species may now be extirpated in Nebraska due to habitat loss. There have been no known Nebraska observations of Greater Sage-Grouse in the last 25 years. The only documented record accepted by the NOURC of Greater Sage-Grouse in Nebraska (Accession #243) is a description of an adult male in September 1987 in extreme northwest Sioux County by Douglas Kapke (Grenon AG. 1990).

In 2002 Wayne Mollhoff received the following record from Levi L. Mohler and submitted it to the …

Updated Manuscript Submission Guidelines For The Prairie Naturalist, Christopher N. Jacques, Troy W. Grovenburg, Jonathan A. Jenks

The Prairie Naturalist

These guidelines present updated policies and procedures for submitting scientific manuscripts for consideration for publication in The Prairie Naturalist (PNAT). These guidelines incorporate substantial changes that have occurred following a change in Editorial staff during January 2009, and update the online “Suggestions for Contributors” guidelines provided on the PNAT website (http://www.sdstate.edu/nrm/organizations/gpnss/tpn/index.cfm); these instructions supersede all previous guidelines.

Tables and appendices are included for common word expressions with superfluous wording (Table 1), examples of correct format and style guidelines for tables accompanying manuscripts (Table 2, Appendix A), guidance in properly preparing Research notes (Appendix B) and citing literature (Appendix …

Terrestrial And Semi-Aquatic Vertebrates In Diets Of Largemouth Bass In Central Nebraska, Seth A. Lundgren, Keith Geluso, Casey W. Schoenebeck

The Prairie Naturalist

Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) are opportunistic predators often feeding in littoral areas during crepuscular periods (Snow 1971). Adult largemouth bass primarily are piscivorous, whereas juveniles generally consume zooplankton, insects, and small fish (Zweiacker and Summerfelt 1974, Carlander 1977, Post 2003). Age-0 largemouth bass generally consume zooplankton and macroinvertebrates (Keast and Webb 1966, Keast 1985, Phillips et al. 1995, Post 2003) and shift to piscivory at 50-70 mm in length (Phillips et al. 1995, Olson 1996, Post 2003). Few studies have documented detailed accounts of other vertebrates besides fish in diets of largemouth bass, which include amphibians (Hodgson and …

What's In A Name?, Paul Murrell

The R Journal

Any shape that is drawn using the grid graphics package can have a name associated with it. If a name is provided, it is possible to access, query, and modify the shape after it has been drawn. These facilities allow for very detailed customisations of plots and also for very general transformations of plots that are drawn by packages based on grid.

Rfit: Rank-Based Estimation For Linear Models, John D. Kloke, Joseph W. Mckeen

The R Journal

In the nineteen seventies, Jureĉková and Jaeckel proposed rank estimation for linear models. Since that time, several authors have developed inference and diagnostic methods for these estimators. These rank-based estimators and their associated inference are highly efficient and are robust to outliers in response space. The methods include estimation of standard errors, tests of general linear hypotheses, confidence intervals, diagnostic procedures including studentized residuals, and measures of influential cases. We have developed an R package, Rfit, for computing of these robust procedures. In this paper we highlight the main features of the pack age. The package uses standard linear …

Bellevue Fall Field Days, Janis Paseka

Nebraska Bird Review

The 2012 NOU Fall Field Days was held in conjunction with the Inland Bird Banding Association meeting at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center in Bellevue on October 26–28. The meeting, organized by Betty Grenon and Rick Schmid, drew a total of 104 attendees, including 33 members of the Inland Bird Banding Association.

On Friday evening, Phil Swanson's photographic presentation "Welcome to Omaha . . . It's for the Birds" included a brief history of Omaha, an overview of area birding hotspots, and photos of many of the birds which can be seen in the area. Following the presentation, a group led …

Index To Volume 80

Nebraska Bird Review

Addy, Darren 47, 75

Albrecht, Jeff 75

Albright, Patty 111

Allen, Edward 128

Allison, Scott 28, 48

American Ornithologists' Union 120

Anderson, Leif 129

Anthony, Courtney 75

Armknecht, Henry 88

Arnett, Gladys 128

Avocet, American 54, 79, 93, 137

. . .

Wren: Bewick's 99; Carolina 13, 36–37, 63, 99, 110, 147, 161; House 63, 81, 99, 106–110, 147; Marsh 13, 36-37, 63, 81, 99, 147, 161; Rock 63, 99, 119, 147; Sedge 63, 81, 99, 108, 147; Winter 13, 36–37, 63, 147, 160

Wright, Rick 48

Yellowlegs: Greater 10, 54, 93, 137, 160; Lesser 46, 54, 79, 93, 137 …

A List Of Scale Insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) Intercepted In Quarantine On Imported Succulent Plants In Korea 2006-2010, Jungyoun Ji, Soo-Jung Suh

Insecta Mundi

A list of scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) intercepted on imported succulent plants at the plant quarantine of Korea from 2006 to 2010 is provided. A total of 15 species belonging to four families are listed. Of the 15 species that were intercepted, some species are potential pests that could gain entry and establish in Korea through the importation of plant material. Current information on intercepted scale insects is required to alert inspectors at quarantine sites to look carefully at succulent plants to prevent the introduction of an exotic species.

Vitamin D Deficiency And Cultural Influences Among Muslim Women In Southern Illinois, Durar Kassim Shakir

Theses

This study is an analysis of the cultural influences that affect the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among Muslim women from sun-rich countries, who now reside in Southern Illinois. Previous studies examine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among this population, while neglecting to examine the extent of cultural influences which can affect the likelihood of having this disorder. Low serum levels of 25(OH)D can occur when there are low levels of vitamin D intake, and when exposure to sunlight is limited. Muslim women are more prone to vitamin D deficiency due to traditional attire, regardless of migration. Upon surveying …

Examining Pre-Service Teachers' Instructional Strategies For Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge Via Video-Conferencing, Hsiu-Jen Cheng, Hong Zhan

Publications

This action research observes instructional strategies and appropriateness of the strategies that pre-service teachers have applied during their training based on the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) training model. Participants include 14 pre-service teachers who were enrolled in a Distance Education training course in Taiwan. During the course, pre-service teachers were trained to develop teaching skills based on the TPACK training model and applied their skills in video-conferencing teaching which involved 14 American students who were learning Mandarin Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL) in an intermediate level course in the United States. Data were collected via screen recordings of …

Novel Carbon Nanomaterial Coating For Dispersibility, Delivery And Sensing, Magdalena Swierczewska

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Carbon nanomaterials have been cited to provide great potential in biomedical applications such as in vivo imaging, drug delivery, and biomarker detection. Yet poor dispersibility in physiological conditions greatly limits their biomedical promise. As with most nanoparticles, the surface interaction with biological systems is the driving force towards effective activity in vivo, namely exhibiting dispersion, low cytotoxicity, and molecular targetability. Therefore, by surface engineering carbon nanomaterials with a distinct biocompatible coating, their applications in imaging, drug delivery, biomarker detection, and therapy can be empowered. We render carbon nanomaterials useful for such in vivo biomedical applications by providing dispersibility, delivery and …

Role Of Fluid Shear Modulation On Bone Cell Metabolism During High-Frequency Oscillatory Vibrations, Gunes Uzer

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Human, animal and cell studies indicate that the application of vibrations can be anabolic and/or anti-catabolic to bone. Dynamic oscillations create a complex mechanical environment which generates forces not only through accelerations but also through fluid forces. The specific mechanical signal which cells respond has not been identified, in-part because the generated fluid shear is coupled with the magnitude of the applied acceleration in most in vivo and in vitro studies. Looking at how these two mechanical parameters previously proposed to drive the cellular response to vibration - fluid shear and accelerations, act together is critical for understanding their effects …

The Roles Of The L4-22k And L4-33k Proteins During Adenovirus Infection, Kai Wu

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Adenoviruses are a common cause of upper respiratory tract infection, conjunctivitis, and gastroenteritis. Fortunately, most of these infections are self-limiting and rarely cause severe or lethal diseases. Based on its characteristics of safety, easy manipulation and production, adenovirus has been widely used as a gene therapy vector in preclinical settings. Despite the intensive study of adenovirus in the past four decades, the mechanism for viral genome packaging is not fully understood. My dissertation focuses on two viral late gene products, L4-22K and L4-33K, to explore their functions during adenovirus infection, with an emphasis on their roles in viral genome packaging. …

Interneuron Subgroups Identified In The Mouse Visual Cortex, Jessica Helm

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

As information flows through a cortical circuit, layers 2/3 provide an important area for signal processing and integration, and inhibitory interneurons are crucial to this function. Diversification of inhibitory interneurons provides the means for diversification of function. Inhibitory interneurons have been classified based on morphology, electrophysiology, and molecular markers, and each classification provides additional insight into how an interneuron type could shape information flow in the cortical circuit. Parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SOM) are markers for two of the most common, distinct, and well-characterized groups of inhibitory interneurons in the cortex. Studies in the somatosensory cortex have divided SOM interneurons …

The Impact Of Dna Transposable Elements On Allelic Diversity In Maize, Jong-Jin Han

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Transposable elements (TE) are indispensible to understand the evolution of genes and genomes in almost all organisms. DNA transposable elements, class 2 elements, have become a source of material for coordination of eukaryotic gene regulatory systems and for chromosomal reconstruction. In particular, mobility of DNA transposons has been used for insertional mutagenesis to generate new alleles in plants and animals. The well-known MuDR/Mu system in maize has been adopted for saturation mutagenesis and allowed for the production of myriads of novel mutant alleles in the Maize-Targeted-Mutagenesis (MTM) collection. However, the potential value of this collection has not been properly realized …

Expression And Functional Significance Of Maguks On Cortical Interneurons, Gulcan Akgul

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

GABAergic inhibitory interneurons, which constitute twenty percent of the entire neuron population, are crucial to the function of brain. They have several subgroups with distinct morphological, biochemical and most importantly physiological properties. Parvalbumin (PV) and Somatostatin (SOM) expressing inhibitory interneurons represent two major subgroups of interneurons in the cortex as well as most other brain regions. Their activity is driven by the excitatory input they receive from pyramidal neurons. SAP97 is a scaffolding protein at the postsynaptic density of the excitatory synapses. It has important functional roles in trafficking and clustering of various types of ion channels and therefore is …

Evaluation Of Very High- And Very Low-Dose Intravitreal Aflibercept In Patients With Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration., Quan Dong Nguyen, Peter A. Campochiaro, Syed Mahmood Shah, David J. Browning, Henry L. Hudson, Peter L. Sonkin, Seenu M. Hariprasad, Peter K. Kaiser, Jason Slakter, Julia A. Haller, Diana V. Do, William Mieler, Karen Chu, Avner Ingerman, Robert Vitti, Alyson J. Berliner, Jesse Cedarbaum, Clear-It 1 Investigators

Journal Articles: Ophthalmology

PURPOSE: To determine bioactivity and duration of effect of intravitreal aflibercept injection (also known as vascular endothelial growth factor Trap-Eye) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

METHODS: In this double-masked, phase 1 study, 28 patients with lesions ≤12 disc areas, ≥50% active choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ≤20/40 were randomized 1:1 to a single intravitreal injection of aflibercept 0.15 or 4 mg. The primary end point was the change from baseline in central retinal/lesion thickness (CR/LT) at week-8. Secondary outcomes were the change from baseline BCVA, the change in CNV lesion size and area of leakage, …

Immunoproteomics: The Key To Discovery Of New Vaccine Antigens Against Bacterial Respiratory Infections, Ruth Dennehy, Siobhan Mcclean

Articles

The increase in antibiotic resistance and the shortage of new antimicrobials to prevent difficult bacterial infections underlines the importance of prophylactic therapies to prevent infection by bacterial pathogens. Vaccination has reduced the incidence of many serious diseases, including respiratory bacterial infections. However, there are many pathogens for which no vaccine is available and some vaccines are not effective among all age groups or among immunocompromised individuals. Immunoproteomics is a powerful technique which has been used to identify potential vaccine candidates to protect against pathogenic bacteria. The combination of proteomics with the detection of immunoreactive antigens using serum highlights immunogenic proteins …