Digital Commons Network^™

Against Notice Skepticism In Privacy (And Elsewhere), M. Ryan Calo

Notre Dame Law Review

The article explores innovative new ways to deliver privacy notice. According to the California law, a company offering an online service should be linked to a privacy policy due to the fact that consumers compare privacy policies in order to decide what services to use. It informs that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is responsible for enforcing consumer privacy online and is guided by a set of principles which include notice/awareness, choice/consent and integrity/security.

Charged Hadron Beam Therapy : Fast Computational Physics Methods, Roy William Keyes

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Charged hadron beams have been investigated for use in radiation therapy of cancer since the 1940s due to their unique potential to place tightly conformal radiation doses deep inside tissue. This is achieved by exploiting the phenomenon of the so-called Bragg peak. In both research and clinical settings, fast and accurate radiation calculations play a crucial role in charged hadron therapy physics. Unfortunately, physicists are often faced with the fundamental trade off of speed versus accuracy in their calculations. This dissertation addresses this trade off by presenting three computational physics methods for specific and general charged hadron beam therapy calculations. …

Bio+Terror: Science, Security, Simulation, Melanie Armstrong

American Studies ETDs

The United States government has spent more than $125 billion since 2001 to prepare the nation for bioterrorism. This dissertation examines the emergence of bioterrorism as a credible threat in the contemporary moment, considering how the preparedness practices of the security state constitute new biopolitical formations. To explore how changing ways of knowing disease and risk are reshaping communities, this multi-sited study investigates the material outcomes of biosecurity in people's lives. It shows how complex histories of disease and terror are remade in the modern age to bring about new spaces and forms of biological citizenship.Through interview, observation and detailed …

Gender Matters In Batterer Intervention Program Settings: Curriculum Topics Are Most Helpful In Fostering Positive Change In Domestic Violence Behavior, Courtney Cameron

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Abstract Domestic violence is truly a complex issue in terms of defining it — no single definition can be found, in terms of understanding its causality ,some view it as a gender issue, others perceived it a socio-political issue, many consider it a criminal issue, and others treat it a psycho-social issue, in terms of its impact , its magnitude, effect and impact are far reaching and may last for a life time, in terms of its dynamics, its victims and perpetrators come from all demographic groups, and in terms of the effective intervention, they tend to focus on victimization …

Frequency Specific Deficits In Schizophrenia, Anil Reddy Geeda

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Coherence estimation is one of the methods for understanding functional connectivity deficits and frequency specific deficits in schizophrenia. Coherence between different lobes of the brain from task related data at different frequency bands was investigated in patients with Schizophrenia (SP) and Healthy Normal Volunteers (HNV). The task was aimed to study the neural mechanisms underlying auditory and visual integration in patients with schizophrenia relative to healthy controls, which requires intact connectivity between the lobes of the brain in order to recombine the sensory information into a complete percept of the external world. Coherence was calculated from the processed magneto-encephalography (MEG) …

Evidence Of Microbial Activity From A Shallow Water Whale Fall (Voghera, Northern Italy), S Danise, B Cavalazzi, S Dominici, Et Al

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The fossil bones, associated carbonate cements and enclosing concretion of a Miocene mysticete from inner shelf deposits (Monte Vallassa Formation, northern Italy) were analyzed for evidence of microbial activity. Optical and scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and stable C and O isotope geochemistry were used for high spatial resolution microfacies and biosedimentological analyses. Whale cancellous bones were filled by different carbonate cements including microcrystalline dolomite, rhombohedral dolomite and sparry calcite. Biofabric and biominerals such as microbial peloids, clotted textures and pyrite framboids were associated with the dolomite cements. Dolomite inside cancellous bones and in the enclosing concretion showed similar isotopic …

Evolution Of Structure And Function Among Hotdog-Fold Thioesterases And Had Family Phosphatases, Wang Min

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

My doctoral research began with the function assignment to two domains of fusion protein BT4699, from Bacteriodes thetaiotaomicron, BF1314 from Bacteriodes fragilis and PG1653 from Porphyromonas gingivalis. BT4699, however, is insoluble, so its orthologue BF1314 and PG1653 were prepared and studied. The fusion proteins consist of a domain that belong to a large family of phosphatases known as Haloacid Dehalogenase (HAD) superfamily, and a domain belong to the hotdog-fold thioesterase superfamily. The genes encoding the fusion proteins located at an operon that encoding enzymes involved in the menaquinone biosynthetic pathway. So we assumed that the thioesterase domain is connected to …

Geochemistry Of Cave Pools In The Guadalupe Mountains, Nm : Implications For Geomicrobiology, Kooser Ara

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The study of the chemistry of waters in cave pools in the Guadalupe Mountains, NM was conducted to determine the variation in cave pool water geochemistry, explain hydrogeologic variations in a geologic context, identify the processes that control cave pool hydrologic variations and determine geochemical controls on modern and paleo-bacterial communities. Structural studies indicate cave pools align along NE and NW structures in the karst system. The intersection of Permian structures and Cenozoic related structures provide pathways for infiltrating water. Water samples were collected from 19 new cave pools; the results were integrated with published geochemistry from 192 cave pools, …

Geochemical Characteristics And Microbial Diversity Of Co2-Rich Mound Springs Of The Tierra Amarilla Anticline, New Mexico, Brandi Cron

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

This interdisciplinary research explores the water geochemistry, microbial heterogeneity, geochemical cycling, and paleohydrological longevity of a unique set of desert springs in north-central New Mexico. This series of travertine-depositing CO2-rich springs is located along the boundary zone between the Colorado Plateau and Rio Grande rift, on the southern extension of the Nacimiento fault at the Tierra Amarilla anticline (TA). Geochemical data on the spring waters show 3He/4He ratio of 0.17-0.20 RA which indicates the presence of mantle-derived helium in the groundwater. Carbon isotope values range from -4.6 to -8.1 per mil, suggesting that some of the CO2 is also deeply …

Function Assignment Within The Haloacid Dehalogenase Superfamily, Hua Huang

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

The HaloacidDehalogenase Enzyme Superfamily (HADSF) is a ubiquitous family of enzymes. Presently, more than 45,000 deposited gene sequences encode proteins of the HADSF, and only a fraction of these have defined structure and/or function. The work described in this thesis focuses on function determination in several members of the HADSF. An integrated bioinformatic-protein structure-enzyme mechanism approach was used to differentiate and track D-glycero-D-manno-heptose-1,7-bisphosphate phosphatase (GHMB) and histidinol phosphatephosphatase (HisB)orthologues; 2-keto-3-deoxynononic acid 9-phosphatephosphatase (KDN9PP) and 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid 8-phosphatephosphatase (KDO8PP)orthologues; inorganic pyrophosphatase and β-phosphoglucomutase(β-PGM) orthologues. In addition, a structure-function/bioinformatic analysis was carried-out on the bifunctional 1,3-diposphoglycerate acyltransferase/Cys-S-glyceryl-3-phosphate phosphatase (FKBH). Each study began …

Nano-Structured Platinum-Based Catalysts For The Complete Oxidation Of Ethylene Glycol And Glycerol, Akinbayowa Falase

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

Direct alcohol fuel cells are a viable alternative to the traditional hydrogen PEM fuel cell. Fuel versatility, integration with existing distribution networks, and increased safety when handling these fuels increases their appeal for portable power applications. In order to maximize their utility, the liquid fuel must be fully oxidized to CO2 so as to harvest the full amount of energy. Methanol and ethanol are widely researched as potential fuels to power these devices, but methanol is a toxic substance, and ethanol has a much lower energy density than other liquids such as gasoline or glucose. Oxidation of complex fuels is …

Integrated Cellular Systems, Jason Carl Harper

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

The generation of new three-dimensional (3D) matrices that enable integration of biomolecular components and whole cells into device architectures, without adversely altering their morphology or activity, continues to be an expanding and challenging field of research. This research is driven by the promise that encapsulated biomolecules and cells can significantly impact areas as diverse as biocatalysis, controlled delivery of therapeutics, environmental and industrial process monitoring, early warning of warfare agents, bioelectronics, photonics, smart prosthetics, advanced physiological sensors, portable medical diagnostic devices, and tissue/organ replacement. This work focuses on the development of a fundamental understanding of the biochemical and nanomaterial mechanisms …

Examining The Influence Of Instructional Strategy On Student Learning And Self-Efficacy In Science, Carolyn Hushman

Individual, Family, and Community Education ETDs

This study investigated whether the level of instructional guidance affected student learning and science self-efficacy when nine- and ten- year old children learn to design unconfounded experiments using control of variable strategies (CVS). Specifically, the goal of this study was to replicate and extend prior research that examines the impact of the level of guidance on ability to successfully design scientifically credible experiments that isolate the relationship between two variables (Klahr & Nigam, 2004). Sixty children, who were enrolled in a summer sports program, were randomly assigned in equal numbers to one of the three following conditions: 1) guided instruction, …

Stem Cell Research: A Bibliometric Analysis From 1999-2008, A. Thirumagal

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Stem cell research is a vital area of study. It is of interest to scientists in India and all countries [1]. Bibliometrics is a truly interdisciplinary research field. Bibliometrics comprises mathematics, social science, natural sciences, engineering, and life sciences. Bibliometric studies such as a work on the research productivity in ophthalmic and vision research used both the number of publications and qualitative measures of journals.[2] This article is a bibliometric study of a part of the literature on stem cell research.

Bibliometrics

The terms bibliometrics and scientometrics were introduced by Pritchard and by Nalimov and Mulchenko in 1969. Pritchard explained …

An Analytical Study Of Institutional Digital Repositories In India, Bijan Kumar Roy, Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay, Subal Chandra Biswas

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The Open Access movement is a social movement. The movement traces its history at least back to the 1960s, but became much more prominent in the 1990s with the advent of digital communications, in particular the Internet. Before the advent of internet, File Transfer Protocol, gopher, and the World Wide Web were used to increase availability of scholarly material by lowering the barriers to distribution. It has since become the subject of much discussion among researchers, academics, librarians, university administrators, funding agencies, government officials, commercial publishers, and learned-society publishers. Prior to the advent of the Internet publishers and academic societies …

Idealized Images Of Science In Law: The Expert Witness In Trial Movies, David S. Caudill

St. John's Law Review

No abstract provided.

Re-Examining Motions To Compel Psychological Evaluations Of Sexual Assault Victims, Oriana Mazza

St. John's Law Review

No abstract provided.

Why Do They Do It?: The Motives, Mores, And Character Of White Collar Criminals, Pamela H. Bucy, Elizabeth P. Formby, Marc S. Raspanti, Kathryn E. Rooney

St. John's Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Original Understanding Of The Political Status Of Indian Tribes, Matthew L.M. Fletcher

St. John's Law Review

No abstract provided.

Religiously Based Discrimination: Striking A Balance Between A Health Care Provider's Right To Religious Freedom And A Woman's Ability To Access Fertility Treatment Without Facing Discrimination, Kristin M. Roshelli

St. John's Law Review

No abstract provided.

Empiricism: An Environment For Humanist Mathematics, Carl E. Behrens

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Humanists have extended some links between mathematics and the physical world, but most mathematicians still believe they operate in an immaterial realm of the mind, with unquestionable logic and abstract thought. By rehabilitating the empiricism of John Stuart Mill and combining it with growing knowledge of the character of the human mind, we can escape from the indefinable Platonic universe of immaterial consciousness and abandon the futile quest for certainty that has plagued philosophy since the time of the Greeks.

Mathematics In Literature, Donald A. Preece

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

A lightly edited version of a Public Talk intended for a general audience, this essay examines significant appearances of mathematics, mathematical education, and attitudes to mathematics in, particularly, English and French literature. Both serious and light-hearted sources are considered. No attempt is made to be comprehensive.

Personal Revival Trusts: If You Can't Take It With You, Can You Come Back To Get It?, Igor Levenberg

St. John's Law Review

No abstract provided.

Cal Poly Sponsors Master Storyteller Kendall Haven On Feb. 10, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Leadership Gifts Endow Scholarship Honoring Student’S Legacy, Winthrop University

Winthrop News 2012

• Significant leadership gifts from Hannah’s mother, Fran Floyd McNaughton ’79 of Chester, S.C., and Hannah’s father, Bill Floyd of Chester, have pushed the scholarship beyond the $25,000 endowment threshold.
• The Hannah Ruth Floyd Endowed Scholarship honors Hannah Floyd ’10, who was killed in a car accident in December 2010 shortly after her graduation.

Single And Multiphase Mixing In Partially Filled Stirred Vessels, Shilan Motamedvaziri

Dissertations

In many industrial applications, mixing vessels have a liquid height-to-tank diameter ratio, H/T, equal to, or larger than 1. However, there are many instances where this ratio is lower than 1, as in all those cases in which the vessel is either emptied or filled. Even when H/T<1, sufficient agitation must still be provided in order to attain the desired process objectives. When the impeller submergence is reduced as a result of lowering the liquid level, the fluid dynamics of even a single-phase stirred liquid can become quite complex, with different regimes possibly existing depending on the geometric characteristics of the system (such as impeller clearance, liquid height, or liquid submergence above the impeller). The objectives of this work were to study in detail the hydrodynamic changes that occur when H/T is decreased, and to determine the minimum liquid levels and the critical impeller submergence for different impeller off-bottom distances, impeller diameters and agitation speeds where adequate mixing process can still be achieved, both in a single liquid phase and in solid-liquid suspensions.

Flat-bottomed, baffled vessels (5L, 12L, 20L and 170L) equipped with a single disk turbine (DT) of four different sizes placed at five different impeller off-bottom clearances were used here to study the system's hydrodynamics and related mixing phenomena. A number of experimental tools were used to analyze the systems under investigation, including: …

Consequences Of Stochastic Mrna Synthesis In A Gene Regulatory Pathway, Khyati Shah

Dissertations

Gene expression is a stochastic process, with elements of randomness present in both transcription and translation. This stochasticity results in cell-to-cell variation in the amounts of gene products, mRNAs and proteins, and is observed in organisms ranging from bacteria and yeast to higher eukaryotes. Randomness in the activation and inactivation of a gene is the preliminary cause of this variation. At the level of proteins, these variations are buffered compared to levels of mRNA, due to the longer lifespan of proteins. Nevertheless, there is substantial variation observed at the level of proteins, resulting in phenotypic diversity among genetically identical cells. …

Terahertz Wireless Communication, Ke Su

Dissertations

The goal of this thesis is to explore Terahertz (THz) wireless communication technology. More specifically the objective is to develop and characterize several THz communication systems and study the effect of atmosphere propagation through fog droplets and dust particles on THz communications.

For demonstration, a THz continuous wave (CW) photomixing system is designed. Terahertz signals are phase encoded with both analog ramp signals and pseudorandom binary data, transmitted over a short distance, and detected. The limitation of transmission bandwidth, low single to noise ratio, vibration effects are also analyzed. In order to study and compare propagation features of THz links …

Design And Implementation Of A Cyberinfrastructure For Rna Motif Search, Prediction And Analysis, Dongrong Wen

Dissertations

RNA secondary and tertiary structure motifs play important roles in cells. However, very few web servers are available for RNA motif search and prediction. In this dissertation, a cyberinfrastructure, named RNAcyber, capable of performing RNA motif search and prediction, is proposed, designed and implemented.

The first component of RNAcyber is a web-based search engine, named RmotifDB. This web-based tool integrates an RNA secondary structure comparison algorithm with the secondary structure motifs stored in the Rfam database. With a user-friendly interface, RmotifDB provides the ability to search for ncRNA structure motifs in both structural and sequential ways. The second component of …

Hot-Melt Mixing Of Partially Miscible Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient-Polymer Mixtures, Min Yang

Dissertations

Solid dispersion/solution processes for producing pharmaceutical oral dosages such as hot-met extrusion (HME) have received increasing attention by industry and academe because they can enhance drugs’ solubility and even bioavailability to a great extent by converting drugs from crystalline to amorphous form. HME can be carried out at two process temperature regimes: one where T_process > T_m of the drug and the T_g of the polymer (or the T_m for the case of semi-crystalline polymers); the other at T_m > T_process > T_g (T_m for the case of semi-crystalline polymer). Processing below the drug’s …