Digital Commons Network^™

Modeling Guidance And Recognition In Categorical Search: Bridging Human And Computer Object Detection, Yifan Peng

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

Although various object detection methods have been widely studied, state-of-the-art performance of object detectors still lag far behind human performance. Humans can perform object detection tasks on various object categories hundreds of times a day in an effortless manner. The main effort in computer vision community is aiming at improving the performance of object detectors, while on the other side only little research has been done on understanding how humans perform in the object detection process. In this thesis, we analyze the relationship between human behaviors and object detection methods in computer vision on both guidance and recognition task. In …

Runtime Verification Of Kernel-Level Concurrency Using Compiler-Based Instrumentation, Justin Seyster

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

To approach the challenge of exploiting the performance potential of multi-core architectures, researchers and developers need systems that provide a reliable multi-threaded environment: every component of the underlying systems software must be designed for concurrent execution. But concurrency errors are difficult to diagnose with traditional debugging tools and, as not all schedules trigger them, can slip past even thorough testing. Runtime verification is a powerful technique for finding concurrency errors. Existing runtime verification tools can check potent concurrency properties, like atomicity, but have not been applied at the operating system level. This work explores runtime verification in the systems space, …

Building Distributed Data Models In A Performance-Optimized, Goal-Oriented Optimization Framework For Cyber-Physical Systems, Varun Subramanian

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

Cyber-physical systems (CPS) are large, distributed embedded systems that integrate sensing processing, networking and actuation. Developing CPS applications is currently challenging due to the sheer complexity of the related functionality as well as the broad set of constraints and unknowns that must be tackled during operation. Building accurate data representations that model the behavior of the physical environment by establishing important data correlations and capturing physical laws of the monitored entities is critical for dependable decision making under performance and resource constraints. The goal of this thesis is to produce reliable data models starting from raw sensor data under tight …

Efficient Reconstruction And Visualization Of Ct Data, Ziyi Zheng

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

Cone-beam CT (Computed Tomography) has become a major imaging technique thanks to its image-fidelity and scanning time. Scientists and practitioners frequently utilize volume visualization tools for diagnosis and decision-making. The thesis work presented here seeks to improve on the volume visualization pipeline for CT generated data. We summarize our contributions into three categories. Cone-beam CT scanners typically use analytical algorithms to reconstruct volumetric data. We studied the interpolation error of visualization tools and built a verifiable visualization tool and efficient data structure to enable users to enjoy interactive rendering speed to freely examine the high resolution data at minimal error. …

Novel Polymer Thin Film Process Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide As An Environmentally Green Solvent, Peter Gin

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

The utilization of supercritical fluids (SCFs) has recently become prominent in a number of polymer processes such as inducing the ordering of block copolymer templates, synthesizing nanoporous material, and spatially distributing nanoparticles in a matrix. For such processes, conventional techniques have relied heavily on the use of toxic organic solvents such as chloroform and toluene. In contrast, certain SCFs, such as supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2), have been distinguished as a "green" alternative because they are nontoxic, nonflammable, and inexpensive. Furthermore, the easily attainable critical temperature and pressure (Tc=31.3 ??C and Pc=7.38 MPa, respectively) make it an ideal solvent choice for …

Developing An Ecosystem-Based Approach To Management Of The Gulf Menhaden Fishery Using Ecopath With Ecosim, Tess Misak Geers

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

The Gulf of Mexico (GoM) is a valuable ecosystem both socially and economically, and fisheries contribute substantially to this value. Gulf menhaden, Brevoortia patronus, support the largest fishery in the Gulf (by weight) and provide forage for marine mammals, seabirds and commercially and recreationally important fish species. Understanding the complex interactions among multiple fisheries and myriad unfished species requires tools different from those used in traditional single-species management. Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) is increasingly being used to construct food web models of aquatic ecosystems and to evaluate fisheries management options within a broader, ecosystem context. An EwE model was developed …

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 …

Postmetaphysical Reason And Postsecular Consciousness: Habermas' Analysis Of Religion In The Public Sphere, Javier Aguirre

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

My dissertation is an exegetical, reconstructive and critical project on J??rgen Habermas' recent account of the role of religion in the public sphere. It is an exegetical dissertation insofar as it interprets Habermas' account as presented in his article Religion in the Public Sphere. It is reconstructive since it develops an analysis of Habermas' previous works as well as his new thoughts related to the key concepts involved in his argument. Finally, it is critical because it offers as well, based on the previous exegesis and reconstruction, a critical perspective of some of the weakness and deficiencies of Habermas?? account. …

Bag Of Feature Graphs: A New Method For Non-Rigid 3d Shape Retrieval, Xiaohua Hou

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

This thesis presents a new paradigm for non-rigid 3D shape retrieval, which is also called Bag of Feature Graphs (BoFG). The main idea is to connect only the features on the shape to construct the graphs so that the number of points involved in the computation is greatly reduced. Given a vocabulary of geometric words, the BoFG approach generates a graph that preserves the spatial information among features for each word. The spatial information is weighted by its similarities to each word so that points unlike the word category are eliminated. And the graphs are captured by the affinity matrices …

Feature-Based Binding And Phase Theory, Andrei Antonenko

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

Current theories of binding cannot provide a uniform account for many facts associated with the distribution of anaphors, such as long-distance binding effects and the subject-orientation of monomorphemic anaphors. Further, traditional binding theory is incompatible with minimalist assumptions. In this dissertation I propose an analysis of anaphoric binding based on a feature-checking mechanism (Pesetsky & Torrego 2007), by introducing the feature rho, a formalization of the reflexivity proposal of Reinhart and Reuland 1993. I argue that the rho feature is responsible for establishing coreference between an anaphor and its antecedent, by being present and valued on reflexives while being unvalued …

A Stochastic Segmentation Model For Joint Dna-Rna Microarray Data Analysis, Yi Su

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

DNA copy number change and epigenetic alteration often induce abnormal RNA expression level and have been linked to the development and progression of cancer. While various methods have been proposed for studying microarray DNA copy number and RNA expression data respectively, little statistical work has been done in modeling the relationship between the two. We propose for the joint analysis of the two types of data a new stochastic change-point model with latent variables, and an associated estimation procedure. Our method integrates hidden Markov model with Bayesian statistics to yield joint posterior distribution of DNA and RNA signal intensities throughout …

Oregon City School District Enrollment Forecasts, 2012-13 To 2021-22, Portland State University. Population Research Center, Charles Rynerson, Vivian Siu, Kevin Rancik

School District Enrollment Forecast Reports

The main body of this report presents Oregon City School District (OCSD) district‐wide and individual school forecasts prepared by the Portland State University Population Research Center (PRC) for the 2012‐13 to 2021‐22 school years. The forecasts were prepared in March, 2012, before the school board’s April 16 vote to close Mt. Pleasant and King Elementary Schools and move 6th grade to middle schools. Therefore, the school forecasts represent the status quo as of March, including forecasts for the closed schools and for middle schools consisting of 7th and 8th grade only. A complete report was not issued with the March …

Evaluation Of Camera-Based Systems To Reduce Transit Bus Side Collisions – Phase Ii, Cutr

Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Implementing Transit Coordination In North Dakota Pilot Regions, Cutr

Research Reports

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Proximity To Urban Rail On Housing Prices In Ottawa, Christopher M. Hewitt, W. E. (Ted) Hewitt

Journal of Public Transportation

Increasingly, urban rail transit (URT) is seen as a desirable solution for transportation challenges faced by both urban planners and residents of suburban areas alike. The availability and ease of access to URT, in turn, may result in distortions in local real estate markets. The conventional wisdom, in fact, suggests that construction of urban rail lines serves as a magnet for new housing development and, in turn, can lead to increases in property values in proximity to URT stations. Existing studies have, in good measure, confirmed this belief, but largely on the basis of global area studies that can often …

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, …

Criminal Law, Franklin J. Hogue, Laura D. Hogue

Mercer Law Review

The Authors reviewed the most important criminal cases during this reporting period-from June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012-that will likely have an effect upon the way prosecutors and defense attorneys approach criminal cases in Georgia.

Who Owes How Much? Developments In Apportionment And Joint And Several Liability Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, Thomas A. Eaton

Mercer Law Review

For most of its history, Georgia followed the traditional common law rule of joint and several liability and the equally well-settled principle that negligence could not be compared with intent when apportioning liability. Both of those propositions were dramatically altered by the enactment of the 2005 amendments to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) section 51-12-33 as construed by the Georgia Supreme Court in two recent opinions. In McReynolds v. Krebs, the court held that pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33(b): (1) damages must be apportioned among persons who are liable according to percentages of fault of each person …

Evidence, John E. Hall Jr., W. Scott Henwood, Alex Battey

Mercer Law Review

This year represents the last survey period in which the "old" Georgia Evidence Code, Official Code of Georgia Annotated title 24, reigns. The "new" Georgia Evidence Code, which amends the O.C.G.A. and conforms in large part to the Federal Rules of Evidence, takes effect January 1, 2013. Therefore, next year's survey will undoubtedly report the ways in which Georgia courts have coped with the extensive changes. For now, courts continue to apply the existing Georgia Rules of Evidence. Cases covered in this Article were published between June 1, 2011 and May 31, 2012, and speak to a variety of topics …

Domestic Relations, Barry B. Mcgough, Elinor H. Hitt

Mercer Law Review

This Article addresses significant case law and statutory changes that arose during the survey period.2 Legislation passed by the Georgia General Assembly in 2011 regarding the appellate procedure and in 2012 regarding grandparent visitation rights took effect, and the Georgia Supreme Court continued to accept nonfrivolous appeals in divorce cases, providing guidance regarding domestic relations law.

Labor And Employment Law, W. Melvin Haas Iii, William M. Clifton Iii, W. Jonathan Martin Ii, Alyssa Peters

Mercer Law Review

This Article surveys revisions to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) and decisions interpreting Georgia law from June 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012.

Legal Ethics, Patrick Emery Longan

Mercer Law Review

This Article covers the period from June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012. As it does every year, the Georgia Supreme Court decided a number of lawyer-discipline cases and other matters related to licensure. The supreme court and the Georgia Court of Appeals decided cases involving legal malpractice, ineffective assistance of counsel, attorney disqualification, and judicial ethics. The State Bar of Georgia Formal Advisory Opinion Board took several actions that relate to the professional responsibilities of Georgia lawyers, and the supreme court promulgated a number of changes to the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct.

Torts, Phillip Comer Griffeth, Cash V. Morris

Mercer Law Review

This Article surveys recent developments in Georgia tort law between June 1, 2011 and May 31, 2012. Unlike previous years, this Article will not review apportionment of fault under section 51-12-33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) as this issue has garnered such significance so as to require a dedicated article in this edition of the Mercer Law Review.

Wills, Trusts, Guardianships, And Fiduciary Administration, Mary F. Radford

Mercer Law Review

This Article describes selected cases and significant legislation from the period of June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2012 that pertain to Georgia fiduciary law and estate planning.

Product Liability, Franklin P. Brannen Jr., Jacob E. Daly

Mercer Law Review

This Article surveys developments in Georgia product liability law between June 1, 2011 and May 31, 2012.'This Article covers noteworthy cases decided during this period by the Supreme Court of Georgia, the Court of Appeals of Georgia, the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the United States district courts located in Georgia.

Table Of Cases

Mercer Law Review

No abstract provided.

Force-Feedback High-Speed Atomic Force Microscope For Studying Large Biological Systems, Byung I. Kim, Ryan Boehm

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

We designed and developed a high-speed atomic force microscope (HSAFM) utilizing a force-feedback scheme for imaging large biological samples. The system collects three simultaneous images: a deflection image, a topographic image, and a force image. We demonstrated that this force-feedback HSAFM is capable of acquiring large topographic images of Escherichia coli biofilms at approximately one frame per second in air. We discuss how the self-actuating cantilever and the piezo tube follow those larger biological topographic features during the HSAFM imaging process.

Acuta Enews December 2012 Vol. 41, No. 12

ACUTA Newsletters

In this issue...

Strategic Planning & Tampa in January

ACUTA Is Looking for a Few Good Coordinators

Wi-Fi Goes Gigabit-802.11 ac

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Preparing the Workplace for "Deep Diversity"

Get Your Logos Here!

Webinar: Universal Service & Royalty Payments Due

Using Social Media to Connect

Thanks to Our 2012 Exhibitors

Number 10 on a List of 10 Hard Things IT Must Learn to Accepts

Welcome New Members

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Establishing A Student Organic Farm At The University Of Nebraska–Lincoln: Collected Ideas From Student Organic Farms At Other Midwestern Universities, Daniel Martin

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate and discover what is necessary to establish a Student Organic Farm (SOF) at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL). A case study evaluated student farms at three different Midwestern Universities: University of Wisconsin (UW), University of Minnesota (UM), and Iowa State University (ISU). The study consisted of an investigation into the establishment of each university’s SOF and the factors contributing to each SOF’s success. The investigation was conducted over the course of a six day field study in August 2012 at the three universities. Prior contacts with key players from the …

Delirium, Tayyeb Tahir

Brain and Mind Institute

Delirium is a common neuropsychiatric syndrome and can occur in various clinical settings. It has a multi-factorial aetiology. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Tools and strategies to screen and assess the severity of delirium can be used for an early intervention. Proactive screening for delirium has the potential to allow more optimal management, and thereby reduce morbidity and mortality significantly. Appropriate drug therapy may form part of multi-component interventions in the prevention and treatment of delirium. Further research is warranted in the systematic identification of high-risk patients undergoing major procedures as well as in the prophylactic or …