Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2012

Discipline
Institution
Keyword
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 751 - 780 of 47436

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

A Multiscale Modeling Methodology For Composites That Includes Fiber Strength Stochastics, Trenton M (Trenton Mitchell) Ricks Dec 2012

A Multiscale Modeling Methodology For Composites That Includes Fiber Strength Stochastics, Trenton M (Trenton Mitchell) Ricks

Theses and Dissertations

A modified Weibull cumulative distribution function, which accounts for the effect of fiber length on the probability of failure, was used to characterize the variation in fiber tensile strength in a SCS-6/ TIMETAL 21S material system and was implemented within the framework of the NASA code MAC/GMC. A parametric study investigating the effect of repeating unit cell architecture and fiber strength distribution on the RUC-averaged ultimate composite strength and failure was performed. Multiscale progressive failure analyses of a tensile dogbone specimen were performed using FEAMAC/ ABAQUS to assess the effect of local variations in fiber strength on the global response. …

Go to article

An Octree Surface Wrapping Algorithm To Recover Building Structures, Michal Trcalek Dec 2012

An Octree Surface Wrapping Algorithm To Recover Building Structures, Michal Trcalek

Theses and Dissertations

In the past twenty years, our world has experienced a number of disasters, ranging from hurricanes to acts of terrorism. While both natural and anthropogenic disasters are inevitable, being able to simulate their progression and impact can provide guidance for preemptive measures to mitigate casualties and property damage. Specifically, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations can be used to simulate wind forces associated with hurricanes or pressure waves associated with explosions. However, even a simple CFD simulation is time consuming and requires highly-specialized expertise. This paper aims to reduce the processing time by utilizing readily available geometry models, and a surface …

Go to article

Conceptual Change: The Integration Of Geologic Time Into The Teaching Of Evolution, David L. Ramseyer Dec 2012

Conceptual Change: The Integration Of Geologic Time Into The Teaching Of Evolution, David L. Ramseyer

Theses and Dissertations

This study attempts to discern if geologic time is a threshold concept for student understanding of evolutionary theory. A threshold concept enables the learner to unpack other concepts because of its importance in thought construction. In this study three teachers and ten sections of biology were investigated from the same high school. Each teacher used the same activities, in the same sequence, and with identical evaluation methods. Students in the treatment group covered a unit on geologic time prior to completing course work on evolutionary theory. Student misconceptions in both control and treatment groups were assessed using a composite concept …

Go to article

Creation And Testing Of A Semi-Automated Digital Triage Process Model, Gary Dewayne Cantrell Dec 2012

Creation And Testing Of A Semi-Automated Digital Triage Process Model, Gary Dewayne Cantrell

Theses and Dissertations

Digital forensics examiners have a growing problem caused by their own success. The need for digital forensics is increasing and so are the devices that need examining. Not only are the number of devices growing, but so is the amount of information those devices can hold. One result of this problem is a growing backlog that could soon overwhelm digital forensics labs across the country. One way to combat this growing problem is to use digital triage to find the most pertinent information first. Unfortunately, although several digital forensics models have been created, very few digital triage models have been …

Go to article

Effect Of Hand Pinching, Dikegulac-Sodium, And Gibberellic Acid On Chile Pepper (Capsicum Annuum), Abdulfatah Mousa Dec 2012

Effect Of Hand Pinching, Dikegulac-Sodium, And Gibberellic Acid On Chile Pepper (Capsicum Annuum), Abdulfatah Mousa

Theses and Dissertations

Hand Pinching increased branching and fruit yield. At first harvest dikegulac-sodium at 50 ppm increased fruit yield compared to the control. However, dikegulac sodium at 100 ppm reduced fruit yield initially but had no effect on fruit yield at 2-4th harvests. Digkegulac-sodium, Gibberellic acid, and hand pinching did not affect fruit length at third and fourth harvests. However, first and second harvests dikegulac sodium reduced fruit length whereas GA3 had no effect. None of the treatments affected fruit width. Dikegulac sodium and Hand pinching increased the number of branches after three weeks, but GA3 did not. At 8 weeks after …

Go to article

Evaluation Of Feeding Varying Levels Of Digestible Lysine On Broiler Breeder Male Reproductive Characteristics And Body Weight Changes, Chinwendu Nkechi Obi Dec 2012

Evaluation Of Feeding Varying Levels Of Digestible Lysine On Broiler Breeder Male Reproductive Characteristics And Body Weight Changes, Chinwendu Nkechi Obi

Theses and Dissertations

A preliminary test was conducted evaluating the effect of digestible lysine (dLys) on broiler breeder (BB) male semen quality from forty-one to forty-nine wk of age. Five dietary treatments: corn-soybean meal diet with 1,000 mg dLys/rooser/day (Soy1,000), distillers dried grains with solubles diet with 1,000 (DDGS1,000), 850 (DDGS850), 700 (DDGS700), and 550 (DDGS550) mg dLys/rooster/day. Semen quality was similar except percentage dead sperm which was higher in DDGS550. A second trail was conducted using the same dietary treatments as the preliminary test during twenty to thirty-nine wk of age. Semen quality was similar except percentage dead sperm which was higher …

Go to article

A Classification System For Large Reservoirs Of The Conterminous U.S, Rebecca Misaye Krogman Dec 2012

A Classification System For Large Reservoirs Of The Conterminous U.S, Rebecca Misaye Krogman

Theses and Dissertations

Reservoirs represent a relatively young element of the U.S. landscape, with most reservoirs being built within the last century. Despite their recreational, ecological, and socioeconomic importance, reservoirs nationwide are suffering from severe habitat degradation. Habitat impairments related to siltation, eutrophication, poor water quality, water regime, lack of submerged structure, and macrophyte invasions affect reservoirs to differing degrees in different reservoirs. To adequately assess these issues, we needed to develop a classification system within which an assessment mechanism could function. I collected data for large reservoirs across the conterminous U.S. regarding fish habitat impairments and status of the fish community and …

Go to article

A Comparative Study Of Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy And Spark Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy For Rapid Analysis Of Mercury In Soils, Pavan Kumar Srungaram Dec 2012

A Comparative Study Of Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy And Spark Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy For Rapid Analysis Of Mercury In Soils, Pavan Kumar Srungaram

Theses and Dissertations

Elevated concentrations of mercury in soils are quite hazardous to flora and fauna and water bodies near these soils. This makes continuous monitoring of mercury very essential. This work compares two potential spectroscopic methods LIBS and SIBS at their optimum experimental conditions for mercury monitoring. The experimental conditions for Hg measurements with LIBS and SIBS were determined and calibration was developed. The limits of detection (LODs) of Hg in soil were calculated from the Hg calibration curves. The LOD for mercury (Hg) in soil calculated using LIBS and SIBS are 483 parts-per-million and 20 parts-per-million, respectively. The present study indicates …

Go to article

Evaluation Of B-Mode And Color Doppler Ultrasound As Alternative Tools For The Study Of Reproduction, Temperament, And Milk Production- Related Variables In The Bovine, Hector Luis Sanchez-Rodriguez Dec 2012

Evaluation Of B-Mode And Color Doppler Ultrasound As Alternative Tools For The Study Of Reproduction, Temperament, And Milk Production- Related Variables In The Bovine, Hector Luis Sanchez-Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

An adequate vascular perfusion status is essential not only to maintain life, but to ensure the proper physiology of the different systems that form the animal’s body. Due to its role in the transport of oxygen and nutrients toward, and the removal of cellular waste products away from the body’s tissues, the circulatory system is responsible for the maintenance of body homeostasis. Production related functions in farm animals are not an exception, and directly depend on sufficient vascular physiology. In the past, the study of blood flow in large domestic species was restricted to highly invasive techniques. However, even when …

Go to article

Distance-Weighted Regularization For Compressed-Sensing Video Recovery And Supervised Hyperspectral Classification, Eric W. Tramel Dec 2012

Distance-Weighted Regularization For Compressed-Sensing Video Recovery And Supervised Hyperspectral Classification, Eric W. Tramel

Theses and Dissertations

The compressed sensing (CS) model of signal processing, while offering many unique advantages in terms of low-cost sensor design, poses interesting challenges for both signal acquisition and recovery, especially for signals of large size. In this work, we investigate how CS might be applied practically and efficiently in the context of natural video. We make use of a CS video acquisition approach in line with the popular single-pixel camera framework of blind, nonaptive, random sampling while proposing new approaches for the subsequent recovery of the video signal which leverage interrame redundancy to minimize recovery error. We introduce a method of …

Go to article

Ecology Of The Tick-Borne Pathogen, Rickettsia Parkeri, In Its Primary Vector, Amblyomma Maculatum, And Select Vertebrate Hosts, Gail Miriam Moraru Dec 2012

Ecology Of The Tick-Borne Pathogen, Rickettsia Parkeri, In Its Primary Vector, Amblyomma Maculatum, And Select Vertebrate Hosts, Gail Miriam Moraru

Theses and Dissertations

Rickettsia parkeri is a tick-borne microorganism, only recently recognized to cause disease in humans. The ecology of this disease is largely unknown, and was addressed through a series of laboratory and field investigations. Feeding behavior of immature stages of the primary vector, Amblyomma maculatum, on mammalian, avian, and reptilian host models was investigated. It was determined that this tick does not feed on anoles, and nymphs do display longer periods of attachment to and are significantly heavier having fed on cotton rats as compared with quail. Field surveys indicate evidence of exposure to spotted fever group rickettsiae in small mammals …

Go to article

Geodetic Method To Estimate Mass Balance Of Himalayan Glaciers: A Case Study Of The Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal, Kabindra Joshi Dec 2012

Geodetic Method To Estimate Mass Balance Of Himalayan Glaciers: A Case Study Of The Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal, Kabindra Joshi

Theses and Dissertations

Mass balance records of glaciers help to understand long term climate change, yet there are very few in-situ measurements of mass balance in Himalayan glaciers. Mass balance of major glaciers in the Sagarmatha National Park was assessed using Digital Elevation Model prepared from ASTER images for period 2002 & 2005 and 2002 & 2008, employing geodetic model. Overall glacial mass balance during 2002-2005 was -2.978 plus/minus 0.89 and during 2002-2008 was -0.94 plus/minus 0.34 m.w.e per annum. Glacier melt could form glacial lakes in high Himalayas. One of the glacial lakes, Imja Lake in the study area increased its surface …

Go to article

Mechanisms And Patterns Of Invasion In Macrophyte Communities, Jonathan Paul Fleming Dec 2012

Mechanisms And Patterns Of Invasion In Macrophyte Communities, Jonathan Paul Fleming

Theses and Dissertations

Aquatic plants (macrophytes) are important components of freshwater ecosystems and serve numerous purposes, physical and biological, that help to structure aquatic communities. Although macrophytes represent an essential component of stable aquatic communities, invasive macrophytes may negatively alter ecosystem properties. Non-native, invasive species have been identified as a major cause of biodiversity loss and the increasing prevalence of invasive species has prompted studies to help understand their impacts and to conserve biodiversity. Studying mechanisms of invasion also gives insight into how communities are structured and assembled. This study examined mechanisms that contribute to macrophyte invasion. First, I reviewed literature concerning mechanisms …

Go to article

Multi-Scale Population Genetic Analysis Of Cogongrass (Imperata Cylindrica) In The Southeastern United States: Introduction History, Range Expansion, And Hybridization, Rima D. Lucardi Dec 2012

Multi-Scale Population Genetic Analysis Of Cogongrass (Imperata Cylindrica) In The Southeastern United States: Introduction History, Range Expansion, And Hybridization, Rima D. Lucardi

Theses and Dissertations

Biological invasions are a significant area of research due to perceived negative environmental and economic impacts. The study of biological invasions has identified three broad components involved in successful invasions: propagule pressure, abiotic and biotic conditions. Propagule pressure is the product of introduced propagules and the frequency of those introductions, and is considered a driver in all stages of invasion. Data to quantify propagule pressure is often unavailable, and therefore, this research approached genetic information to produce estimates of propagule pressure in the successful invasion of cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) in the United States. The following research utilized molecular methodologies to …

Go to article

Expanding Protection Motivation Theory: The Role Of Individual Experience In Information Security Policy Compliance, Leigh A (Leigh Ann) Mutchler Dec 2012

Expanding Protection Motivation Theory: The Role Of Individual Experience In Information Security Policy Compliance, Leigh A (Leigh Ann) Mutchler

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study is to make contributions to the area of behavioral information security in the field of Information Systems and to assist in the improved development of Information Security Policy instructional programs to increase the policy compliance of individuals. The role of an individual’s experience in the context of information security behavior was explored through the lens of protection motivation theory. The practical foundation was provided by the framework of Security Education, Training, and Awareness (SETA) programs which are typically used by organizations within the United States to instruct employees regarding information security. A pilot study …

Go to article

Grain Size And Texture Effects On Deformation Behavior Of Az31 Magnesium Alloy, W. Yuan, R. S. Mishra Dec 2012

Grain Size And Texture Effects On Deformation Behavior Of Az31 Magnesium Alloy, W. Yuan, R. S. Mishra

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Cold rolled AZ31 magnesium alloy sheet was subjected to friction stir processing to generate four average grain sizes ranging from 0.8 to 9.6 μm. the processed material exhibited a strong basal fiber texture with the c-axis tilted about 35-55° towards the processing direction. the grain size and texture dependence of mechanical behavior were evaluated by using tensile testing along two orthogonal directions. Remarkably high ductility of ~65% was achieved in relatively coarse-grained material that fractured without developing necking when tested in the processing direction. the ductility decreased significantly to ~10% for ultrafine grained material as the tensile yield strength increased …

Go to article

A Nonlinear Statistical Algorithm To Predict Daily Lightning In Mississippi, Erin Amanda Thead Dec 2012

A Nonlinear Statistical Algorithm To Predict Daily Lightning In Mississippi, Erin Amanda Thead

Theses and Dissertations

Recent improvements in numerical weather model resolution open the possibility of producing forecasts for lightning using indirect lightning threat indicators well in advance of an event. This research examines the feasibility of a statistical machine-learning algorithm known as a support vector machine (SVM) to provide a probabilistic lightning forecast for Mississippi at 9 km resolution up to one day in advance of a thunderstorm event. Although the results indicate that SVM forecasts are not consistently accurate with single-day lightning forecasts, the SVM performs skillfully on a data set consisting of many forecast days. It is plausible that errors by the …

Go to article

The Effect Of Variable Organic Matter On Site Productivity, Soil Nutrients, And Carbon On A Southern Loblolly Pine Plantation, Jason Craig Mack Dec 2012

The Effect Of Variable Organic Matter On Site Productivity, Soil Nutrients, And Carbon On A Southern Loblolly Pine Plantation, Jason Craig Mack

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effect of manipulating forest floor and harvest residue inputs on nutrient availability and carbon content in the context of intensive forest management. Treatments were removal and addition of forest floor and slash, and a reference. Tree volume, litterfall, and root biomass were measured to assess aboveground productivity and soil moisture and temperature, available nitrogen and phosphorus, O-horizon, and mineral soil for below ground processes. Organic matter additions increased stand bole volume, carbon at 20-60cm, and total nitrogen in the mineral soil. Severely removing the floor and harvest residues did not result in any large differences in …

Go to article

Modulation Of Inflammation And Oxidative Stress In Canine Chondrocytes, David L. Dycus Dec 2012

Modulation Of Inflammation And Oxidative Stress In Canine Chondrocytes, David L. Dycus

Theses and Dissertations

Little research has focused on the involvement of oxidative stress as it relates to the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA); while inflammation has been extensively studied. The present study evaluates the ability to modulate the response of canine chondrocytes to both inflammation and oxidative stress in an in-vitro model. Chondrocytes were incubated and then stimulated to under-go oxidative stress by using hydrogen peroxide or inflammation using interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha. For inhibition of oxidative stress an antioxidant, N-acetyl-cysteine, was used prior to induction with hydrogen peroxide in a subset of chondrocytes. Measures of oxidative stress were superoxide dismutase …

Go to article

Field Survey Of Native And Non-Native Subterranean Termites In Southeastern United States Forests, Nathan Allen Blount Dec 2012

Field Survey Of Native And Non-Native Subterranean Termites In Southeastern United States Forests, Nathan Allen Blount

Theses and Dissertations

Subterranean termites are ecologically and economically important insects that play major roles in organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling. The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, is an invasive species known to cause significant damage in urban areas through aggressive consumption of wooden structures and infestations of living trees. Little is known about the presence and impact of C. formosanus in forested ecosystems of the southeastern U.S. as the majority of studies have taken place in urban settings. This study investigates the prevalence of C. formosanus in localized forests, as well as the utilization of living trees by C. formosanus …

Go to article

Genomic And Functional Analysis Of Next-Generation Sequencing Data, Philippe Chouvarine Dec 2012

Genomic And Functional Analysis Of Next-Generation Sequencing Data, Philippe Chouvarine

Theses and Dissertations

Advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have resulted in significant reduction of cost per sequenced base pair and increase in sequence data volume. On the other hand, most currently used NGS technologies produce relatively short sequence reads (50 - 150 bp) compared to Sanger sequencing (~700 bp). This represents an additional challenge in data analysis, because shorter reads are more difficult to assemble. At this point, production of sequencing data outpaces our capacity to analyze them. Newer NGS technologies capable of producing longer reads are emerging, which should simplify and speed up genome assembly. However, this will only increase the …

Go to article

Authority Enthusiasm And Its Importance As A Teaching Tool In The Team Up For Healthy Living Intervention Program., Caroline Crenshaw Dec 2012

Authority Enthusiasm And Its Importance As A Teaching Tool In The Team Up For Healthy Living Intervention Program., Caroline Crenshaw

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The use of peer facilitators is considered to be an effective method used in various settings, both educational and other forms of support and therapy groups. Though there is an extensive amount of research using peer facilitators, there is a minimal amount describing the effects that these various groups have on the facilitators themselves. Teacher enthusiasm has been researched and proven to be an important and effective tool when enhancing the learning experience and knowledge outcomes of students. The Team Up for Healthy Living program is a grant funded program utilizing peer facilitators in an attempt to educate high school …

Go to article

The Needs Of The Stakeholders Are The Seeds Of Growth For The Organisation (Interview With Mr. G. Narayana), Shashank Shah Dec 2012

The Needs Of The Stakeholders Are The Seeds Of Growth For The Organisation (Interview With Mr. G. Narayana), Shashank Shah

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

A rare interview with a well-regarded leader of commerce in India is presented by the author, Dr. Shashank Shah. The interviewee, Mr. G. Narayana, is Chairman Emeritus of Excel Industries Ltd. (Excel). Mr. Narayana is noted for his ability to positively motivate people through kindness and the integration of spirituality in the workplace. His brand of leadership is characterized by a type of management philosophy that integrates the scientific principles of the West with the profound thought of Indian scriptures.

Go to article

A Model For Implementing A Successful Sustainability Strategy, David B. Brauer Dec 2012

A Model For Implementing A Successful Sustainability Strategy, David B. Brauer

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

The process of implementing sustainability within national and international corporate functions requires senior management commitment and a sustainability team which employs the correct leadership knowledge and skills. Additionally, all stakeholders must fully understand, accept, routinely monitor, and participate in the strategy of sustainability. This core business value must also be clearly articulated throughout the organization.

Go to article

The Personal Values Of School Leaders In Pakistan: A Contextual Model Of Regulation And Influence, Sharifullah Baig Dec 2012

The Personal Values Of School Leaders In Pakistan: A Contextual Model Of Regulation And Influence, Sharifullah Baig

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

The author presents a unique comparative case study which explores the types of personal values and the motivational bases for the acquisition of ethical leadership practices in the context of two schools in Pakistan. Baig notes that the data shows that the inherent religious and communal values of one‘s community and social structure constitute strong, motivational factors in cultivating a school and forging relationships with members of the external community.

Go to article

The Character X Factor In Selecting Leaders: Beyond Ethics, Virtues, And Values, Robert Mckenna, G. Victoria Campbell Dec 2012

The Character X Factor In Selecting Leaders: Beyond Ethics, Virtues, And Values, Robert Mckenna, G. Victoria Campbell

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

Leading with character requires a person to maintain a delicate balance of certain traits and understand the tensions which exist between humility and conviction, reluctance and courage, and vulnerability and integrity. A true leader must look beyond the content of a problem and rather examine the context of his or her individual make-up in relationship to themselves as well as to their surroundings.

Go to article

Conflict Resolution: Cultural Understanding Imperative, Livingston S. Tindal Dec 2012

Conflict Resolution: Cultural Understanding Imperative, Livingston S. Tindal

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

Business transactions and other potential incidences of conflict resolution must be met by participants who have transcended the isolating and often arrogant traits of individualism and must expand to embrace the collective — to realize the importance of learning and understanding cultural differences and whatever creates the uniqueness of the individual. This is particularly critical for success in the global marketplace.

Go to article

The Story Of Ethicus: India's First Ethical Fashion Brand, Ajith Sankar Dec 2012

The Story Of Ethicus: India's First Ethical Fashion Brand, Ajith Sankar

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

Historically, cotton has played a significant role in India’s independence from British rule and continues to be a factor in that nation’s growth and recognition as a premier trading partner. Now, the Ethicus brand has provided the world with a template of how to create and develop an industry sustainably, giving due regard to the process and to each employee.

Go to article

Redemption In The Dean’S Office, Christine Clements Dec 2012

Redemption In The Dean’S Office, Christine Clements

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

Academic deans, like all leaders trying to create principled-based positions, are subject to the hubris of power and the often divergent demands of many stakeholders. Dean Clements discusses how a leader’s failures, as well as successes, are all necessary to properly cultivate this role.

Go to article

Values-Based Leadership: A Shift In Attitude, Joseph Hester Dec 2012

Values-Based Leadership: A Shift In Attitude, Joseph Hester

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

To genuinely refer to leadership as “values-based,” a shift in attitude is required and the “ethics of care” must be embraced. This modification will ostensibly involve a subjective commitment to reason consistently and prudently, to care for others, and to dedicate oneself to reconsider his or her actions and behaviors.

Go to article

First Prev Next Last