Digital Commons Network^™

Admissions Viewbook, 2013-2014, Illinois State University, Office Of Admissions

Admissions Viewbook

Recruitment booklet created by Illinois State University's Office of Admissions

Sex-Parate But Equal? The Legality Of Single-Sex Public Schools And Their Discriminatory Effect On Transgender Students, Bryana Turner

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

The note argues that single-sex public schools are both legally problematic and harmful, particularly to transgender students. It contends that such schools violate Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and are unconstitutional under the precedent set by Brown v. Board of Education. The analysis highlights the discriminatory effects of single-sex education, which perpetuates gender stereotypes and fails to accommodate transgender students, who are disproportionately affected by such policies.

Digital Heritage: Digitization Of Museum And Archival Collections, Genevieve A. Horan

Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to trace the utilization of computer technology within museums and archival institutions, and relate how they have adapted to survive in today’s society that is obsessed with technological advancement. Beginning in the 1960s, computer technology started to integrate into the federal government and professional business sectors. Because of its success in these sectors, museums and archival institutions, began to gradually recognize the use of computers and associated technologies as a means to not only increase administrative productivity, but as a way to enable staff to delve deeper into their available collections through the automation …

Logic, Truth And Inquiry (Book Review), G. C. Goddu

Philosophy Faculty Publications

Mark Weinstein’s, Logic, Truth and Inquiry is an ambitious and provocative case for a theory of truth and warrant strength that will undergird an “account of argument in the broad sense of current argumentation theory” (p. 12). I begin with a very schematic synopsis of Weinstein’s rich discussion through his six chapters. Weinstein himself notes that his arguments are “frequently presented in broad outline” (p. 1), so my quick sketch will be even broader. I conclude with some brief observations about both what the book leaves unresolved and the merits of Weinstein’s intriguing book.

Employing Learning To Improve The Performance Of Meta-Raps, Fatemah Al-Duoli, Ghaith Rabadi

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

In their search for satisfactory solutions to complex combinatorial problems, metaheuristics methods are expected to intelligently explore the solution space. Various forms of memory have been used to achieve this goal and improve the performance of metaheuristics, which warranted the development of the Adaptive Memory Programming (AMP) framework [1]. This paper follows this framework by integrating Machine Learning (ML) concepts into metaheuristics as a way to guide metaheuristics while searching for solutions. The target metaheuristic method is Meta-heuristic for Randomized Priority Search (Meta-RaPS). Similar to most metaheuristics, Meta-RaPS consists of construction and improvement phases. Randomness coupled with a greedy heuristic …

Applications Of High Throughput (Combinatorial) Methodologies To Electronic, Magnetic, Optical, And Energy-Related Materials, Martin L. Green, Ichiro Takeuchi, Jason R. Hattrick-Simpers

Faculty Publications

High throughput (combinatorial) materials science methodology is a relatively new research paradigm that offers the promise of rapid and efficient materials screening, optimization, and discovery. The paradigm started in the pharmaceutical industry but was rapidly adopted to accelerate materials research in a wide variety of areas. High throughput experiments are characterized by synthesis of a “library” sample that contains the materials variation of interest (typically composition), and rapid and localized measurement schemes that result in massive data sets. Because the data are collected at the same time on the same “library” sample, they can be highly uniform with respect to …

Abiotic Nitrate And Nitrite Reactivity With Iron Oxide Minerals, Prakash Dhakal

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Under iron (Fe³⁺)-reducing conditions where aqueous Fe²⁺ and unreduced solid Fe³⁺-oxides commonly coexist, soil Fe²⁺ oxidation has been shown to be coupled with nitrate (NO₃^-) reduction. One possible secondary reaction is the involvement of NO₃^- and nitrite (NO₂^-) with Fe-oxide minerals found in many natural environments. Yet, spectroscopic measurements and kinetic data on reactivity of NO₃^- and NO₂^- with Fe-containing oxide minerals such as goethite (a-FeOOH), and magnetite (Fe₃O­₄) are not found in the literature. The reactivity of …

Capacity Fade Model For Spinel Limn2O4 Electrode, Yiling Dai, Long Cai, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

A mathematical model for the capacity fade of a LiMn₂O₄ (LMO) electrode is developed in this paper by including the acid attack on the active material and the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film formation on the LMO particle surface. The acid generated by the LiPF₆ and the solvent decompositions are coupled to the manganese (Mn) dissolution. The decrease of the Li ion diffusion coefficient is involved as another contribution to the capacity fade, which is caused by the passive film formation on the active material surface. The effects of cell practical operation/fabrication conditions and kinetics of …

The Semiotics Of Alpha Brands: Encoding/Decoding/Recoding/Transcoding Of Louis Vuitton And Implications For Trademark Laws, David Tan

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

Alpha brands are the most influential global brands that possess significant configurations of meanings and can offer peculiarly powerful affirmations of belonging and recognition in the lives of their consumers. The trademark, as the visual source-designating emblem of a brand, is also a semiotic sign that resonates with the structure of myths and archetypes within a cultural environment of desire. Focusing on the world-renowned Louis Vuitton trademark, this Article explores how an understanding of semiotics can be useful to a legal analysis of trademarks. Two decisions involving the iconic Louis Vuitton brand one from the United States and one from …

Ursinus Magazine, Winter 2013, Wendy Greenberg, Kathryn Campbell, Ellen Labrecque, Bobby Fong, Jessica Driscoll, Joseph F. Pirro

Ursinus Magazine, 1995–Present

A unique partnership between Ursinus and Columbia University • New Director for the Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art • Exploring consumer health literacy • City Year • Ursinus "Pause for Paws" a big, barking success • Heinzl first speaker for Center for Science and the Common Good • Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael Vitez • Alumni Gary R. McClellan lectures on career as Defense Intelligence Agency analyst • Book on educator Marcus Foster sets context of school reform debates • Senior athlete Tony Rosa in the spotlight for mentoring • Upcoming lectures • The Philip and Muriel Berman Museum …

Genetic Diversity Of Resident Soil Rhizobia Isolated From Nodules Of Distinct Hairy Vetch (Vicia Villosa Roth) Genotypes, N.V. Mothapo, J.M. Grossman, J. E. Maul, W. Shi, T. Isleib

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth, HV) is widely grown as a legume cover crop throughout the U.S.A., with biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) through symbiosis with Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae (Rlv) being one of the most sought after benefits of its cultivation. This study determined if HV cultivation history and plant genotype affect genetic diversity of resident Rlv. Soil samples were collected from within farmers’ fields at Graham, Cedar Grove and Ivanhoe sites in North Carolina and pairs of genetically similar hairy vetch genotypes used as trap hosts. A total of 519 Rlv strains were isolated from six paired field …

Sampling Error In Us Field Crop Unit Process Data For Life Cycle Assessment, Joyce Smith Cooper, Ezra Kahn, Robert Ebel

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Purpose The research presented here was motivated by an interest in understanding the magnitude of sampling error in crop production unit process data developed for life cycle assessments (LCAs) of food, biofuel, and bioproduct production. More broadly, uncertainty data are placed within the context of conclusive interpretations of comparative bioproduct LCA results.

Methods Data from the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Resource Management Survey were parameterized for 466 crop–state–year combinations, using 146 variables representing the previous crop, tillage and seed operations, irrigation, and applications of synthetic fertilizer, lime, nitrogen inhibitor, organic fertilizer, and pesticides. Data are described by Student's …

Feed Management Practices To Reduce Manure Phosphorus Excretion In Dairy Cattle, E. Kebreab, A. V. Hansen, B. Leytem

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Phosphorus (P) is an essential mineral that needs to be supplied in sufficient quantities for maintenance and growth and milk production in dairy cattle. However, over 60% of the P consumed can be excreted in faeces with a potential to cause environmental pollution. Concern over higher levels of P in intensively managed livestock systems has led to legislation such as the Water Framework Directive in the European Union. In this manuscript, several methods of reducing P pollution are discussed. A major source of environmental P pollution has been overfeeding P mainly due to addition of ‘safety margin’ over the animal’s …

A Federated Architecture For Managing Health Information In Ethiopia, Russell Gillen Ms

All Student Scholarship

Electronic health systems can be leveraged to aid in the delivery and management of health care for patients in developing countries. The delivery of health information by mobile devices is playing an increasing role in health information management.

Using Design Experiments To Conduct Research On Mathematics Professional Development, Paola Sztajn, Holt Wilson, Cyndi Edgington, M Myers, Lara Dick

Faculty Journal Articles

In this paper, we propose that the emerging transformation of mathematics professional development from a practice-based to a research field would benefit from stronger connections to research on learning. In particular, we contend that design experiments represent a premier emerging methodology to study learning, and we argue that a better understanding of teacher learning through the use of design experiments in mathematics professional development can lead to improvement of mathematics professional development as both an area of practice and a field of research.

Structure And Thermodynamics Of H3o+(H2o)8 Clusters: A Combined Molecular Dynamics And Quantum Mechanics Approach, Berhane Temelso, Thorsten Koddermann, Karl K. Kirschner, Katurah L. Klein, George C. Shields

Faculty Journal Articles

We have studied the structure and stability of (H₃O⁺)(H₂O)₈ clusters using a combination of molecular dynamics sampling and high-level ab initio calculations. 20 distinct oxygen frameworks are found within 2 kcal/mol of the electronic or standard Gibbs free energy minimum. The impact of quantum zero-point vibrational corrections on the relative stability of these isomers is quite significant. The box-like isomers are favored in terms of electronic energy, but with the inclusion of zero-point vibrational corrections and entropic effects tree-like isomers are favored at higher temperatures. Under conditions from 0 to 298.15 K, the …

Geographical Literacies And Their Publics: Reflections On The American Scene, Karen M. Morin

Faculty Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Meme World Syndrome: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of The First World Problems And Third World Success Internet Memes, Robert Chandler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis applies the theory and method of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to examine the ideological components of the First World Problems (FWP) and Third World Success (TWS) Internet memes. Drawing on analytical concepts from CDA and related perspectives, such as multimodal discourse analysis and social semiotics, the paper analyzes the visual and textual elements of a sample of the FWP and TWS memes. The paper argues that the text and images featured in the memes are ideologically salient and discursively construct oppositional binaries between “us” and “them” in terms of wealth disparity.

Dynamically Adjusting Game-Play In 2d Platformers Using Procedural Level Generation, Daniel Wheat

Theses : Honours

The rapid growth of the entertainment industry has presented the requirement for more efficient development of computerized games. Importantly, the diversity of audiences that participate in playing games has called for the development of new technologies that allow games to address users with differing levels of skills and preferences. This research presents a systematic study that explored the concept of dynamic difficulty using procedural level generation with interactive evolutionary computation. Additionally, the design, development and trial of computerized agents the play game levels in the place of a human player is detailed. The work presented in this thesis provides a …

The Association Between Allelic Variation In Bdnf, Scholastic Achievement, And Cognition, Andrew Carl Shore

Public Health Theses

Background

There is a growing need to understand the role of genetics in determining innate ability and cognition. The Brain Derived Neurologic Factor (BDNF) gene codes for a nerve growth factor protein whose association with cognitive disorders makes it a plausible candidate gene for association with cognitive functioning. This study looks at the association between allelic variation in six SNPs in the BDNF gene and cognition.

Methods

Demographic and schooling information was gathered from school aged children in the Eastern Province of Zambia. The four subtests of the Zambian Achievement Test were used to capture academic achievement. Three subtests of …

Modeling The Epidemiological Impact Of Human Hookworm Infection, Laura Skrip

Public Health Theses

Background: Chronic hookworm infection affects an estimated 576 to 740 million people worldwide. Despite mass drug administration efforts, the morbidity associated with this soil-transmitted helminth remains a significant public health issue. Due to inter- and intra- community heterogeneity in susceptibility to infection, mathematical modeling can serve as an effective and efficient tool for investigating hookworm transmission in different settings and for guiding policymakers to consider new treatment and prevention strategies.

Methods: Here we developed an age-structured, compartmental S-I model to identify epidemiological parameters for hookworm infection and to assess rates of attributable anemia within the population of Zanzibar. The model …

Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Adolescents In Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, Jasmine Winslow Carver

Public Health Theses

Introduction: In the past decade, young people in Haiti have been engaging in riskier sexual behavior. The present study investigates correlates of sexual risk behaviors among adolescents in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Methods: The cross-sectional study included anonymous face-to-face interviews with 200 (108 male and 92 female) 13 to 18 year old participants. Data were collected on demographic, family and psychosocial characteristics and four sexual risk outcomes: having a history of sexual intercourse, early sexual debut, multiple sexual partners and condom use at last sexual intercourse. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models were generated for each outcome and a composite sexual risk …

Measuring The Growth Of Science Teaching Efficacy Of Participants In The Inspire Program, Loren Thalacker

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this research project is to measure the growth of INSPRE participant's comfort in teaching scientific concepts, as measured through science teaching self-efficacy (as defined on page 6). It will also function to measure the effect of the program in general.

This research aligns with the goals of Iowa's Governor STEM Advisory Council by creating authentic opportunities for pre-service teachers to participate in and later utilize the experience to increase their students' interest and achievement in STEM (Governor's STEM Advisory Council, 2012). This project also aligns with goals of the Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership by helping …

A Comparison Of Brazil And The United States: How Higher Education Can Shape And Be Shaped By History, Politics, Culture, And Economy, Cassandra Mae Oliveira

Honors Program Theses

This thesis will argue that, in order to cooperate, negotiate, and coexist in the future with Brazil, it is necessary to understand the way in which Brazil is educating its youth in comparison to how the United States is doing so since the products of these educational systems are the future leaders of their nations. Also, this thesis will analyze the reasons these educational institutions evolved so differently by reviewing how they were influenced by the intricate histories, the differing political leadership, the eccentric cultures, and the fluctuating economies of each nation. It will also evaluate how these different university …

A Study In Merger Induced Galaxy Evolution Through Post-Starburst Systems, Zachary Dean Griffith

Honors Program Theses

We discuss an optical study of a triple galaxy system at a redshift of 0.06. In optical images from Data Release 7 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), the system consists of a close pair plus another galaxy at a projected distance of 35 kpc. Tidal features extending at least 30 kpc are visible to the southeast of both the galaxy pair and the third member of the system, suggesting significant interaction. One of the the pair and the more isolated galaxy are low-luminosity radio sources. The lone galaxy appears extended in a radio map from the FIRST survey. …

Learning Styles: A Viable Approach To Instruction?, Lauren A. Hanzelka

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of the project is to research the concept of learning styles, a common theory used in education, through a critical lens, then take the information, and apply it to a classroom environment. Numerous sources of literature that address the background, research, and efficacy of learning styles will be critically analyzed in order to determine the effectiveness. The research and conclusion will discuss the implications for learning styles in the K-8 classroom

Clean Up Our Home: Ellen Swallow Richards' Human Ecology And Emerging Environmental Ideologies, 1890-1915, Raeann Lillian Swanson

Honors Program Theses

In the late 1880s, after years of study and hard work, Ellen Richards began publishing her ideas on the home and the natural and urban environment. She called for the knowledge of basic scientific principles to be available to everyone. She believed that ignorance was holding back the public from altering their environment to make life healthier, happier, and safer. Over one hundred years later, Malcolm Gladwell wrote the book The Tipping Point. In his book, Gladwell explores the Broken Windows Theory that social scientists claimed they developed in the 1980s. The Broken Windows Theory states that there is a …

Library Publishing Toolkit, Allison Brown, Cyril Oberlander, Patricia Uttaro, Katherine Pitcher, Kathleen M. Miller

IDS Project Press

Both public and academic libraries are invested in the creation and distribution of information and digital content. They have morphed from keepers of content into content creators and curators, and seek best practices and efficient workflows with emerging publishing platforms and services. The Library Publishing Toolkit looks at the broad and varied landscape of library publishing through discussions, case studies, and shared resources. From supporting writers and authors in the public library setting to hosting open access journals and books, this collection examines opportunities for libraries to leverage their position and resources to create and provide access to content.

The …

Short Chain Fatty Acid Production By Probiotic Organisms In The Gastrointestinal Tract, Elyssa Rautiola

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Interest in determining the mechanism by which pro biotic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract produce short chain fatty acids (SCFA) has increased over the past few years. This study uses gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to characterize lactate production in aerobic test tube cultures, aerobic bioreactor cultures, and anaerobic bioreactor cultures. To collect anaerobic bioreactor samples, a novel in vitro anaerobic model was developed. The pH and colony forming units of each bacterial sample was also measured in order to understand the correlation between lactate production and bacterial growth. The purpose of this study was to analyze production of SCFA …

Teaching Common Core Exemplary Texts For Today's Elementary Students, Elizabeth Drada

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This project explores the purpose and objectives of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) as they apply to the instruction of complex texts for elementary students. This project includes an analysis and short history of the Standards and how to successfully implement a unit of instruction for elementary students, based on a text that the Standards identify as "exemplary" The information presented in the thesis is backed by online research and educational articles. The unit based on the novel Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis was created for a fourth grade class that adheres to the Standards and …