Digital Commons Network^™

The Development Of Attentional Skill In A Rapid Serial Visual Presentation Task: Effects Of Extended Practice On The ‘Attentional Blink’, Greg Simmons

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Are The Mara Salvatrucha And 18th Street Gangs A Threat To Our National Security, José A. Ortiz

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Study Of The Use Of Simd Instructions For Two Image Processing Algorithms, Eric Welch

Theses

Many media processing algorithms suffer from long execution times, which are most often not acceptable from an end user point of view. Recently, this problem has been exacerbated because media has higher resolution. One possible solution is through the use of Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) architectures, such as ARM's NEON. These architectures take advantage of the parallelism in media processing algorithms by operating on multiple pieces of data with just one instruction. SIMD instructions can significantly decrease the execution time of the algorithm, but require more time to implement. This thesis studies the use of SIMD instructions on a …

Breaking Free, Fatemah Alazmi

Theses

Written here is an account of my journey exploring and investigating a new artistic path. I showcase the ways in which my visual production is unique both within the field of art but also and more importantly is an imprint of my authorship and personality. As an abstract expressionist painter interested in formalism, my artwork suggests a universal language of color and form. Colors and distinctive shapes come to form a great energy and dynamism. Through the effect of the process, whereby all these elements are combined, I have attempted to transcend the norms of formalism and express the very …

The Search For Extension: 7 Steps To Help People Find Research-Based Information On The Internet, Paul Hill, Heidi B. Rader, Jeff Hino

Journal of Extension

For Extension's unbiased, research-based content to be found by people searching the Internet, it needs to be organized in a way conducive to the ranking criteria of a search engine. With proper web design and search engine optimization techniques, Extension's content can be found, recognized, and properly indexed by search engines and people. These techniques will improve the ranking of Extension websites on search engine result pages and drive added traffic to Extension's online content.

Preparation And Characterization Of Conducting Polymer Materials For Electrochromic Devices, Lavina Astratine

Doctoral

An attempt has been made to improve the physical-chemical properties of conducting polymers by switching from aqueous solutions towards ionic liquids as novel electrolytic media in order to fabricate novel electrochromic materials. Formation and electrochemical characterization of Poly (2,3,5,6- Tetrafluoroaniline) (PTFA) was performed in aqueous solutions. The optical response was observed in order to establish the electrochromic properties of this material. Electrochromic activity of PTFA conducting polymer in aqueous conditions was investigated. Results indicated a slow colour change of 40 seconds, from delicate orange to a much intense orange colour. Electrochemical copolymerization of two monomers pyrrole (Py) and 3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene …

Modified Delphi Investigation Of Lesson Planning Concepts For Physical Education Teacher Education, Jack W. Sager

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Improving the methods of instructing future educators, through program evaluation and improvement, should be a goal of all teacher education programs. In physical education, the National Association for Sport & Physical Education created standards for initial preparation of physical education teachers. The six standards for preparation include Planning and Implementation, which include tenants pertaining to unit and lesson planning. Despite the significant importance of planning in the growth of preservice teachers as they complete a Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) program, there is currently no consensus on what concepts to be included in lesson planning for physical education teacher education. …

Development Of A Software Tool To Estimate Airfoil Feature Variations, Prasheel Chaganti

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The objective of this thesis is to design and develop a software tool that analyzes the incoming raw material inspection data obtained from a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) and estimates feature variation created within the manufacturing process i.e. from the raw material stage to finished stage. This tool is used not only to disposition whether a lot is conforming or non-conforming, but also to provide the root installation operators an ideal N-angle, Leading Edge Angle (LEA) and Trailing Edge Angle (TEA) target that maximize the yield of the lot after further processing. The tool also helps reduce the number of …

Curriculum Design For An Integrated Language Arts Class At The High School Level Utilizing A Multi-Genre American Studies Approach, Susan K. Biddulph

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Curriculum integration and multi-genre approaches to education are acknowledged to be beneficial to both student learning styles and skill development; however, due to time and budget constraints, many teachers do not implen1ent these approaches. This language arts curriculum utilizes a theme-centered approach that smoothly integrates many subject areas and encourages skill development while adhering to the Utah Common Core Curriculum and incorporating multiple lean1ing styles. The theme of the curriculum is gender role expectations throughout history. While the units primarily rely on primary texts, they also incorporate numerous secondary texts in multiple subject areas and require both formal and informal …

Investigation Of The Noise Floor Of The Standard Piv Cross-Correlation Algorithm, Kyle L. Jones

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Particle image velocimetry (PIV) is a powerful measurement technique used to acquire instantaneous measurements of entire flow fields at a given instant in time. Quantifying the uncertainty and error in PIV is a critical part of realizing the full potential of PIV as a flow measurement technique.

The noise floor of PIV is the minimum amount of random error that can be achieved for a particular standard cross-correlation (SCC) algorithm. The noise floor of the SCC used by DaVis in correlating image pairs is explored. Two methods for creating image pairs for correlation are compared, namely pseudo image pairs and …

Three Essays On Institutions, Financial Markets And Foreign Direct Investment, Tuan Viet Le

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation is composed of three essays in financial economics and development economics. The underlying theme in three essays is about the impact of institution quality on financial markets and foreign direct investment (FDI). There are five chapters included in this dissertation. Chapter one is the introduction. Chapter two of my dissertation investigates the connection between freedom of the press and equity returns in emerging market firms. Freedom of the press is argued to affect systematic risk in financial markets and thus, has impact on returns of financial assets. The study reveals that there is significant connection between freedom of …

Quantification Of Mixing In Microchannels, Vijaymaran Manickam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Microchannels are used for delivery of two-or more fluids for multiple purposes, such as drug delivery, where good mixing is desired in a very short time (or distance). For this purpose, many design options are being proposed in the literature. For example herringbone baffles at the bottom of a rectangular channel are commonly proposed to enhance mixing in a drug delivery device. To assess the effectiveness of such devices many experiments need to be performed thus increasing the design cycle time and the cost involved. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can and is being used to shorten this design cycle by …

"Aliens Say What Humans Can't": Popular Culture And Totalitarianism In "The Twilight Zone", Lisa M. Howell

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study analyzes the political and social context of key episodes from 1959 to 1964 of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone. His science fiction television series, nestled against the backdrop of the Cold War, showcased his viewpoints on controversial issues from the Holocaust, postwar gender issues, McCarthyism, nuclear war and totalitarianism. As he was often fond of saying, “Aliens Can Say What Humans Can’t.” Also integrated in this study is showing how The Twilight Zone served as both an agent of change as well as a reflection of the times. This in turn, encouraged the masses to question and modify …

Effective Use Of Interactive Learning Modules In Classroom Study For Computer Science Education, Goldee Jamwal

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is spending substantial resources to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in the United States. The ultimate goal of these programs is to produce students with a better knowledge of math and science and who are more likely to pursue careers in STEM fields. Interactive learning modules can be used in the classroom environment for effective learning.

This study examines the learning preferences of Logan High School (located in Logan, Utah) students and evaluates the impacts of using interactive learning modules with classroom lectures compared to other traditional methods of teaching.

Urban Trail System Planning In The Western United States: An Analysis Of The Trail-Specific Planning Efforts Of Four Cities That Have Implemented Urban Trail Systems, Kenneth C. Richley

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

States in the Western United States are growing at rates outpacing the rest of the nation. This growth is placing pressure on communities to develop their current open space for residential or commercial use. As cities develop a comprehensive open space plans, several elements arise. One critical element is connectivity. This connectivity is most often realized in the form of greenways. In many cities these greenways contain urban trail systems that provide significant recreation and connectivity benefits.

This thesis investigates the current recommended models used to plan for greenway, synthesizes them into a recommended model process, and analyzes case studies …

The Role Of Bip Nucleotide Exchange Factor Sil1 In Immunoglobulin Biosynthesis, Tyler Sanford

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

BiP is an essential endoplasmic reticulum resident molecular chaperone of the HSP70 family that binds exposed hydrophobic regions of unfolded proteins. Substrates bound by BiP are protected from dangerous non-specific interaction with other unfolded proteins via their aggregation prone exposed hydrophobic regions, which are normally buried in the native state, and act as BiP binding targets. For these substrates to mature into the native state, BiP must be released. Like all HSP70 family members, cycles of BiP binding and release are nucleotide dependent and facilitated by two genres of cochaperones, HSP40s, and nucleotide exchange factors (NEFs). HSP40s function in stimulating …

Participatory Methods In Sociolinguistic Sign Language Survey: A Case Study In El Salvador, Julia Ciupek-Reed

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes a three-week sociolinguistic survey of El Salvador's Deaf community that was carried out in June and July 2009. The survey utilized various traditional tools that have been used in previous sign language surveys, as well as some new tools derived from participatory research methodology. Results from the various tools were analyzed to form conclusions about the language community and its goals for language development. El Salvador's Deaf community uses Salvadoran Sign Language (LESSA) most commonly, but various subgroups also use American Sign Language (ASL), and Costa Rican Sign Language (LESCO), as well as switching between language varieties …

Agent-Based Virtual Humans In Co-Space: An Evaluative Study, Yilin Kang, Ah Hwee Tan, Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

Co-Space refers to interactive virtual environment modelled after the real world in terms of look-and-feel, functionalities and services. We have developed a 3D virtual world named Nan yang Technological University (NTU) Co-Space populated with virtual human characters. Three key requirements of realistic virtual humans in the virtual world have been identified, namely (1) autonomy: Agents can function on their own, (2) interactivity: Agents can interact naturally with players, and (3) personality: Agents can exhibit human traits and characteristics. Working towards these challenges, we propose a brain-inspired agent architecture that integrates goal-directed autonomy, natural language interaction and human-like personality. We conducted …

Hiv/Aids Intervention In Ghana: A Constructivist Approach To Understanding Aids Policy, Nat Papa Kobina Markin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study is about how donor policy, NGO policy and public policy work together in Ghana's national strategic response to HIV and AIDS. The dissertation touches on two areas of public policy - development policy and health policy specifically relating to HIV/AIDS to determine congruity of the policy approaches of the three groups. Based on a survey done in Accra, Ghana in summer 2010 and on documentary sources of data collection, the study captures areas of agreement and disagreement of the three groups and discusses their effects on policy implementation. In broader terms, it analyzes assistance for HIV/AIDS in the …

Information Needs Of The Rural Farmers : A Study From Maharashtra, India: A Survey, Nitin Bhagachand Bachhav

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Nowadays, information is a basic necessity of everyday life. For anything and everything information is required. Information can be obtained or retrieved from a variety of sources. Farmers constitute a particular group of users whose information needs is very specific. The present paper deals with the information needs of the farmer community in rural areas. The study conducted through survey method and reveals that 71 (40.58%) farmers requires daily information for various agriculture work. It is also found that the first preferred sources of the information of the farmers is colleague or fellow farmers following by newspapers and Government office.

Social Media Marketing - A Consumer's Perspective On What Works And What Does Not, Rakesh Tennamthotam

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

South Mississippi High School Seniors’ Perceptions Of Civic Duties And Responsibilities, Chelsea L. Lewis

Honors Theses

Former United States Representative Lee Hamilton once explained what it takes to be a citizen of the United Stated. He stated, “Citizenship requires both knowledge about government and the ability to be involved in governance. It means knowing how to identify and inform oneself about issues, explore and evaluate possible solutions, and then act to resolve problems. It demands that you know how to interact respectfully with others. And it asks that you accept responsibility for meeting your community’s and the nation’s challenges.” (Hamilton, 1) This quote comes from a well-known civics program used in American high schools today called …

Improvisation And Visual Thinking Strategies In Art Education, Jason Jaros

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examines the characteristic elements and possible educational benefits of spontaneity and improvisation in visual art education. The research draws from current practices and philosophies in music and drama education with the aim of developing collaboration, communication, problem solving, and creative and innovative thinking skills in students through the experience of making and appreciating art involving activities that encourage spontaneous decision making. Visual Thinking Strategies and the six continua for assessing thinking serve as the tools with which to investigate the effect of these activities on interpretive narratives of 40 fourth grade students in a public school setting.

A Novel Approach To Residence Time Distribution, Jackson W. Wolfe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

An increased knowledge in the solids flow in multiphase flow systems can be applied in the design of industrial systems used for power generation, gasification, pneumatic transport of material, drying, and various other tasks. An instrument was constructed for the activation, injection, and measurement of phosphorescent tracer particles in a fluidized bed riser to determine the Residence Time Distribution (RTD) of solids flow within a fluidized bed riser. The instrument was implemented in a dual-stage transparent scale model fluidized bed riser. Testing of the instrument system validated the functionality of the instrument. It was proven to be capable of determining …

Study Of Chemical States, Composition And Adsorption Behavior Of Iron Coated Granular Activated Carbon (Fe-Gac) For Selenate Removal And Feasible Adsorbent Modifications, Ning Zhang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined the adsorptive removal of selenate using iron coated granular activated carbon (Fe-GAC) and further investigated its complexation mechanisms and coordination structures using spectroscopic techniques. Adsorption kinetics and equilibrium experiments with initial selenium concentration of 1 mg/L were conducted under three different ionic strengths to study selenate adsorption behavior. Selenate adsorption reached equilibrium within 48 hours with more than 85% of the equilibrium capacities being obtained within the first 6 hours. High removal efficiency (i.e., > 75%) was achieved for pH range 2 - 5. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model characterized selenate adsorption kinetics well (R2 = 0.999) and the rate …

Design And Evaluation Of A Marine Scrubber System, Louise S. Ayre

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Increasingly stringent oxides of nitrogen (NOX) emissions regulations for diesel marine engines are resulting in the development of newer engines with inherent NOX emissions reduction technologies. With typical useful service lives over 20 years, older diesel marine engines are producing disproportionate amounts of NOX emissions when compared with their newer counterparts. The development of retrofit exhaust aftertreatment technologies would therefore aid in reducing the total NOX emissions from these engines.;A marine scrubber system for the reduction of NOX emissions from diesel marine engines was designed, constructed, and evaluated. This work focused on gathering data for the design of a marine …

Neuropsychological Outcomes In Adults Commencing Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Treatment In South Africa: A Prospective Study, Ja Joska, J Westgarth-Taylor, J Hoare, Kgf Thomas, Et Al

Peninsula Medical School

BACKGROUND: Infection with HIV may result in significant neuropsychological impairment, especially in late stage disease. To date, there have been no cohort studies of the impact of highly active anti-retroviral treatment (HAART) in South Africa where clade C HIV is predominant. METHODS: Participants in the current study were recruited from a larger study of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) and included a group of individuals commencing HAART (n = 82). Baseline and one-year neuropsychological function was assessed using a detailed battery, and summary global deficit scores (GDS) obtained. Associations with change in GDS were calculated. RESULTS: Participants had a median CD4 …

Murray Ledger And Times, December 1, 2012, Murray Ledger And Times

The Murray Ledger & Times

No abstract provided.

Experiencing Sexism And Young Women's Body Esteem, Debra L. Oswald, Stephen L. Franzoi, Katherine Frost

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

This two-study investigation examined the relationship between sexist attitudes and experiences with young women’s body esteem. Specifically, we examined whether young women's body esteem was related to their own and their parents' endorsements of benevolent and hostile sexist beliefs and also whether women’s body esteem was related to their actual everyday experiences with benevolent and hostile sexism. In Study 1, fathers' endorsement of benevolently sexist beliefs was positively correlated with daughters' weight-related and physical condition body esteem. No similar evidence was found for mothers or for either parent's endorsements of hostile sexist beliefs. In Study 2, young women’s body esteem …

Teacher And Administrator Perceptions Of In-School Suspension Programs On Changing Student Behavior And Academic Success In Schools, John Scott Rimes

Dissertations

This study was performed to examine the perception of teachers, in-school suspension (ISS) staff, and administrators on the effectiveness of the in-school suspension program in changing students’ behavior and academic success at various schools with different performance levels according the current Mississippi Accountability Model. The 32 schools included in this study were located in the central region of Mississippi. The survey was administered during the spring semester of 2012. Data from the ISS survey determined that there was no relationship between the school performance level and the perceptions of ISS.

Overall, the researcher found that there was no evidence supporting …