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2014

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Dynamic Bayesian Approaches To The Statistical Calibration Problem, Derick Lorenzo Rivers Jan 2014

Dynamic Bayesian Approaches To The Statistical Calibration Problem, Derick Lorenzo Rivers

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of statistical calibration of a measuring instrument can be framed both in a statistical context as well as in an engineering context. In the first, the problem is dealt with by distinguishing between the "classical" approach and the "inverse" regression approach. Both of these models are static models and are used to estimate "exact" measurements from measurements that are affected by error. In the engineering context, the variables of interest are considered to be taken at the time at which you observe the measurement. The Bayesian time series analysis method of Dynamic Linear Models (DLM) can be used …

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Characterization Of The Discriminative Stimulus Properties Of The Atypical Antipsychotic Amisulpride In C57bl/6 Mice, Timothy J. Donahue Jan 2014

Characterization Of The Discriminative Stimulus Properties Of The Atypical Antipsychotic Amisulpride In C57bl/6 Mice, Timothy J. Donahue

Theses and Dissertations

Amisulpride, a benzamide derivative, is an atypical antipsychotic drug used to treat both schizophrenia and depression. Amisulpride is a selective antagonist at dopamine D2 and D3 receptors and at serotonin 5-HT2B and 5-HT7 receptors and displays an atypical clinical profile with reduced extrapyramidal motor effects. The drug has a chiral center and is a mixture of two optical isomers: (S)-amisulpride and (R)-amisulpride. The present study used a two-lever drug discrimination assay to allow a direct comparison between amisulpride and its two isomers. Additionally, substitution testing was conducted with the typical antipsychotics, atypical antipsychotics, antidepressants, …

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Latent Variable Models Given Incompletely Observed Surrogate Outcomes And Covariates, Chunfeng Ren Jan 2014

Latent Variable Models Given Incompletely Observed Surrogate Outcomes And Covariates, Chunfeng Ren

Theses and Dissertations

Latent variable models (LVMs) are commonly used in the scenario where the outcome of the main interest is an unobservable measure, associated with multiple observed surrogate outcomes, and affected by potential risk factors. This thesis develops an approach of efficient handling missing surrogate outcomes and covariates in two- and three-level latent variable models. However, corresponding statistical methodologies and computational software are lacking efficiently analyzing the LVMs given surrogate outcomes and covariates subject to missingness in the LVMs. We analyze the two-level LVMs for longitudinal data from the National Growth of Health Study where surrogate outcomes and covariates are subject to …

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Atm, Brca1, And Aurora A: Mechanisms Of G2/M Checkpoint Control In Human Embryonic Stem Cells, Jason Beckta Jan 2014

Atm, Brca1, And Aurora A: Mechanisms Of G2/M Checkpoint Control In Human Embryonic Stem Cells, Jason Beckta

Theses and Dissertations

When cultured in vitro, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) acquire genetic abnormalities that have slowed their therapeutic use. As hESCs have a “leaky” G1/S boundary, the pressure of ensuring genetic integrity falls on the G2/M checkpoint, which can be activated by failed chromosomal decatenation (among other stimuli). It is hypothesized that hESCs have a deficient decatenation checkpoint, but little data supports this. Evidence suggests that the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase controls the G2/M decatenation and DNA damage checkpoints, though previous reports are conflicting on this point. My work demonstrates that inhibition of decatenation activates ATM and arrests hESCs in …

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Pools / Dreams / Parental Gaze, Tal Gafny Jan 2014

Pools / Dreams / Parental Gaze, Tal Gafny

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a testimony of thoughts and ideas that have been circulating in my studio for the past few years, in their current form. It is also an experiment in writing an autobiographical piece of prose. It was written parallel to, and after, making the film Double Take with Perrin Turner. The film is an exploration of a number of relationships, related and sometimes haunted by one another. I wish for this text to operate not only as an after-the-fact recollection of thoughts, but also in relation to what will follow it – similarly to the way a trailer …

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Predicting And Classifying Packet Transmission Efficiency In Bio-Inspired Wireless Sensor Networks, Ahmad Alkazzaz Jan 2014

Predicting And Classifying Packet Transmission Efficiency In Bio-Inspired Wireless Sensor Networks, Ahmad Alkazzaz

Theses and Dissertations

Biological networks (specifically genetic regulatory networks) are known to be robust to various external perturbations. Bio-inspired wireless sensor networks (WSN) are known to be smart communication structures and have a have high packet transmission efficiency. In earlier work neural network models that correlate the average packet receival rates to the five topological features of the bio-inspired WSN were investigated. These features include the degree index, sink coverage, network density, hub node density, and motif index. In this thesis, an appropriate classification algorithm that works with these five features is investigated. The random forest algorithm is the best classification algorithm compared …

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Assembly And Mechanical Characterization Of Suspended Boron Nitride Nanotubes, Rachel Waxman Jan 2014

Assembly And Mechanical Characterization Of Suspended Boron Nitride Nanotubes, Rachel Waxman

Theses and Dissertations

This study details the dielectrophoretic assembly and mechanical characterization of boron nitride nanotubes on silicon chips with gold electrodes. The chips were fabricated from 4in round silicon wafers with a 100nm-thick low stress silicon nitride insulating layer on the top and bottom. The electrodes were patterned using photo- and electron-beam lithography and dry etching, and the wafers were cut into 4 x 6mm chips. The boron nitride nanotubes studied were obtained from NIA and were synthesized via a unique pressurized vapor/condensor method, which produced long, small-diameter BNNTs without the use of a catalyst. These nanotubes were studied due to their …

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Fathering And Child Maltreatment: A Grounded Theory Study, Jennifer Shadik Jan 2014

Fathering And Child Maltreatment: A Grounded Theory Study, Jennifer Shadik

Theses and Dissertations

Literature related to fathers and child physical abuse and neglect is lacking (Guterman & Lee, 2005; Lee, Bellamy, & Guterman, 2009). The purpose of this study was to better understand several pertinent aspects of fathering related to maltreatment. Three research questions were examined: 1.What are the attitudes, behaviors and contexts of fathers who have abused or neglected a child that relate to maltreatment? 2. What are the resources and capacities of these fathers which could be capitalized on? 3. How does goodness-of-fit or a poor fit between the father and child impact the parenting relationships of these fathers? Fifteen fathers …

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Reproductive Success In Hatchery-Produced Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica (Gmelin), April Piggott Jan 2014

Reproductive Success In Hatchery-Produced Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica (Gmelin), April Piggott

Theses and Dissertations

The eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica Gmelin 1791) has great ecological and economic importance but populations have declined, especially in Chesapeake Bay, to historically low numbers. Hatcheries strive to produce oysters with beneficial characteristics for supplementation and commercial purposes, both natural and stimulated mass spawning. Unequal contribution of parents in mass spawnings potentially can lead to high levels of inbreeding and a loss of beneficial characteristics in offspring. In this study, we determined microsatellite genotypes for parents (n^parents =24, 49, and 77 parents) and progeny (n=96 each) of three hatchery-produced families and used the data for parental assignment. We observed the …

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Legislating The Danville Connection, 1847-1862: Railroads And Regionalism Versus Nationalism In The Confederate States Of America, Philip Stanley Jan 2014

Legislating The Danville Connection, 1847-1862: Railroads And Regionalism Versus Nationalism In The Confederate States Of America, Philip Stanley

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the effect regionalism had upon North Carolina and Virginia during the 1847-1862 legislative battles over the Danville, Virginia, to Greensboro, North Carolina, railroad connection. The first chapter examines the rivalry between eastern and western North Carolina for internal improvement legislation, namely westerners’ wish to connect with Virginia and easterners’ desire to remain economically relevant. The second chapter investigates the Tidewater region of Virginia and its battle against the Southside to create a rail connection with North Carolina. The third chapter examines the legislation for the Danville Connection during the American Civil War in the Virginia, North Carolina, …

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Toward A Cross-Cultural Aesthetic: Directing A Kabuki-Inspired Madame De Sade, Kathryn Ruth Letrent Jan 2014

Toward A Cross-Cultural Aesthetic: Directing A Kabuki-Inspired Madame De Sade, Kathryn Ruth Letrent

Theses and Dissertations

This text is a record of the preparation and rehearsal of a kabuki-inspired production of Madame de Sade by Yukio Mishima in an English translation by Donald Keene. The goals of this production were both artistic and pedagogical. I applied my knowledge of Japanese theatre and skills in directing skills in a new way to create a work of theatre with a cross-cultural aesthetic appropriate to both the play and the audience. This production also gave the cast of undergraduate acting students the experience of combining truthful and stylized acting and introduced them to both kabuki and Stella Adler acting …

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Computational Study Of Protein-Protein Interactions In Misfolded States, Oscar Bastidas Jan 2014

Computational Study Of Protein-Protein Interactions In Misfolded States, Oscar Bastidas

Theses and Dissertations

Protein-protein interactions (PPI’s) play important roles in biological systems. In particular, intra-protein interactions help create and maintain correctly folded protein states and mutations that result in misfolded states may be associated with significant changes in PPI behavior. Six unrelated protein systems with known structure files, each consisting of a wild-type and mutant strain, were studied using the computational algorithm OpenContact©. OpenContact© is a simple tool that can be used to rapidly identify or map interactions “hot-spots” in a protein and was, consequently, used in this study as a starting point to examine the potential or possible role of PPI’s on …

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Characteristics Of Effective Communication About Mental Health In An African American Urban Community: A Qualitative Analysis, Jeannette Porter Jan 2014

Characteristics Of Effective Communication About Mental Health In An African American Urban Community: A Qualitative Analysis, Jeannette Porter

Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown African Americans experience mental health issues at the same rate as the general population but seek treatment at only one-third that rate. Eleven African American low-income urban community leaders with basic training in mental health issues were interviewed about their perceptions of African American patterns of communication on mental health issues. Findings included a general consensus that the topic is generally not discussed, although passing references to a party’s perceived mental illness may be made using humor. When such discussion does take place, it happens only in a “safe space” with a trusted dialogue partner. Non-verbal cues …

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Ramp Loss Svm With L1-Norm Regularizaion, Eric Hess Jan 2014

Ramp Loss Svm With L1-Norm Regularizaion, Eric Hess

Theses and Dissertations

The Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification method has recently gained popularity due to the ease of implementing non-linear separating surfaces. SVM is an optimization problem with the two competing goals, minimizing misclassification on training data and maximizing a margin defined by the normal vector of a learned separating surface. We develop and implement new SVM models based on previously conceived SVM with L_1-Norm regularization with ramp loss error terms. The goal being a new SVM model that is both robust to outliers due to ramp loss, while also easy to implement in open source and off the shelf mathematical programming …

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Historical Tidal Forest Composition And Contemporary Woody Recruitment Following Dam Removal From A Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain Tidal Freshwater Wetland, Richard E. Ward Jr. Jan 2014

Historical Tidal Forest Composition And Contemporary Woody Recruitment Following Dam Removal From A Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain Tidal Freshwater Wetland, Richard E. Ward Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Tidal freshwater forest restoration after dam removal has been unexplored to date. This study elucidated pre-dam forest composition, as well as post-dam edaphic and microtopographical attributes and woody species recruiting along a narrow ecotone of a 29.3-ha tidal freshwater wetland. The ≈65-year-old historical forest (15 species, 200 stems ha-1) and ≈7-year-old contemporary forest (40 species and 11,009 stems ha-) community dominants were dissimilar (Fraxinus spp. vs. Liquidambar styraciflua, respectively). Pre-dam environmental conditions were unknown. Post-dam edaphic water content, organic matter, redox potential and microtopography differed significantly across tidal sites but were less variable in non-tidal sites. Shifts in the contemporary …

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An Automated Dental Caries Detection And Scoring System For Optic Images Of Tooth Occlusal Surface, Leila Ghaedi Jan 2014

An Automated Dental Caries Detection And Scoring System For Optic Images Of Tooth Occlusal Surface, Leila Ghaedi

Theses and Dissertations

Dental caries are one of the most prevalent chronic diseases. Worldwide 60 to 90 percent of school children and nearly 100 percent of adults experienced dental caries. The management of dental caries demands detection of carious lesions at early stages. The research of designing diagnostic tools in caries has been at peak for the last decade. This research aims to design an automated system to detect and score dental caries according to the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) guidelines using the optical images of the occlusal tooth surface. There have been numerous works that address the problem of …

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Affinity Enrichment And Mass Spectrometric Quantitation Of Protein Carbonyls, Suresh Narayanasamy Jan 2014

Affinity Enrichment And Mass Spectrometric Quantitation Of Protein Carbonyls, Suresh Narayanasamy

Theses and Dissertations

The importance of the role of oxidative stress in aging and numerous age-related diseases has become undeniable due to enormous weight of supporting evidence from the field of free radical biology. One of the most prominent oxidative modifications of proteins is the introduction of carbonyl groups. As with oxidative stress, protein carbonylation has been correlated with various disease states and natural aging. While protein carbonyls are relatively stable, reproducible detection and modification site localization are still challenging. This thesis details attempts to improve the analytical methodology used for the identification and quantitation of carbonylated proteins. We have studied the impact …

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Examining The Sensory Characteristics Of Preschool Children With Retentive Fecal Incontinence, Isabelle Beaudry-Bellefeuille Jan 2014

Examining The Sensory Characteristics Of Preschool Children With Retentive Fecal Incontinence, Isabelle Beaudry-Bellefeuille

Theses and Dissertations

Occupational therapists are concerned with individuals´ abilities to engage in daily occupations. When a daily activity such as bowel management is problematic, participation in key occupations can be limited. Retentive fecal incontinence is a common disorder in children. Behavior seems to be partly responsible for this condition. Occupational therapists have hypothesized that some behaviors could be related to sensory over-responsivity. This study investigated the relationship between retentive fecal incontinence and sensory over-responsivity and examined the Toileting Habit Profile Questionnaire, a tool designed to screen for toileting difficulties. The study showed that a group of children (n=16) with retentive fecal incontinence …

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Why Ms. Daisy Was Not Allowed To Drive Herself: An Examination Of The Need For Federally Mandated Driver's License Renewal Procedures For Elderly Drivers, Hope M. Collis Jan 2014

Why Ms. Daisy Was Not Allowed To Drive Herself: An Examination Of The Need For Federally Mandated Driver's License Renewal Procedures For Elderly Drivers, Hope M. Collis

Transportation Law Journal

No abstract provided.

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Air Wisconsin Airlines Corp., V. Hoeper, 571 U.S. _ (2014), Emma Tauchman Jan 2014

Air Wisconsin Airlines Corp., V. Hoeper, 571 U.S. _ (2014), Emma Tauchman

Transportation Law Journal

No abstract provided.

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Characterization Of Individual Charged Au25(Sg)18 Clusters And Their Enhancement Of Single Molecule Mass Spectrometry, Christopher Angevine Jan 2014

Characterization Of Individual Charged Au25(Sg)18 Clusters And Their Enhancement Of Single Molecule Mass Spectrometry, Christopher Angevine

Theses and Dissertations

Metallic quantum clusters are stable structures that can exhibit many useful magnetic, chemical, and optical properties. Developing clusters for specific applications requires accurate methods for characterizing their physical and chemical properties. Most cluster characterization methods are ensemble-based measurements that can only measure the average values of the cluster properties. Single cluster measurements improve upon this by yielding information about the distribution of cluster parameters. This investigation describes the initial results on a new approach to detecting and characterizing individual gold nanoclusters (Au25(SG)18) in an aqueous solution with nanopore-based resistive pulse sensing. We also present a new application where the clusters …

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School Violence Perpetrators Speak: An Examination Of Perpetrators Views On School Violence Incidents, Gordon A. Crews Jan 2014

School Violence Perpetrators Speak: An Examination Of Perpetrators Views On School Violence Incidents, Gordon A. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

In the last few decades researchers have attempted to determine correlates for school violence. While the number of extreme incidents of school violence remains relatively small, extreme incidents cause the most concern for parents, teachers, law enforcement, and educational administrators. In addition to the fear these types of events cause, they also bring about a great deal of debate regarding proper responses. Some feel that stringent zero tolerance policies are the answer, while others argue for more gun control in society. Some feel that increased counseling and service to young people is the answer, while others argue for the increased …

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Toward A Theory Of Equitable Federated Regionalism In Public Education, Erika K. Wilson Jan 2014

Toward A Theory Of Equitable Federated Regionalism In Public Education, Erika K. Wilson

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

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Evaluation Of An Early Intervention System At A Law Enforcement Agency, Robert Scott Russell Jan 2014

Evaluation Of An Early Intervention System At A Law Enforcement Agency, Robert Scott Russell

Theses and Dissertations

Evaluation of an Early Intervention System at a Law Enforcement Agency. Robert Scott Russell, 2014: Applied Dissertation, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler School of Education. ERIC Descriptors: Computer Software Evaluation, Crime Prevention, Law Enforcement, Police Community Relationship, Program Evaluation. The problem addressed through this program evaluation was that no formal study had been conducted regarding the implementation and effectiveness of the BlueTeam Program (BTP) within the law enforcement agency (LEA) serving as the study site. The BTP is a program that utilizes a computer application to track officer behaviors and alert administrators to potential trends in officer misconduct and …

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The Contribution Of Forced Medical Retirement To Symptoms Of Depression, Anxiety And Stress In Law Enforcement Officers, Kimberley Blackmon Jan 2014

The Contribution Of Forced Medical Retirement To Symptoms Of Depression, Anxiety And Stress In Law Enforcement Officers, Kimberley Blackmon

Theses and Dissertations

This research explored whether a statistically significant difference exists between symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in police officers who were forced into medical retirement as compared to those who retired after years of completed service. The sample population of retired police officers as well as the appropriate testing instruments for these targeted individuals is discussed. In addition, the dissertation addresses how the survey determined the type of retirement they were subjected to (voluntary or involuntary) and any depressive or other psychological symptoms since that retirement. The findings from this study show that a statistically significant difference exists in the …

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The Essential Role Of Courts For Supporting Innovation, Erin O'Connor Jan 2014

The Essential Role Of Courts For Supporting Innovation, Erin O'Connor

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

Commercial parties commonly resolve their disputes in arbitration rather than courts. In fact, some estimate that as many as 90 percent of international commercial contracts opt for arbitration of future disputes, and others claim that some industries never resort to courts. However, a study of arbitration clauses in a wide variety of contracts, including franchise agreements, CEO employment contracts, technology contracts, joint venture agreements and consumer cell phone contracts, reveals that parties very often carve out a right to resort to courts for the resolution of claims designed to protect information, innovation, and reputation. Studies of international and cross-border contracts …

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The Judicialization Of Politics: The Challenge Of The Ali Principles Of Election Law Project, Steven F. Huefner, Edward B. Foley Jan 2014

The Judicialization Of Politics: The Challenge Of The Ali Principles Of Election Law Project, Steven F. Huefner, Edward B. Foley

Brooklyn Law Review

No abstract provided.

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Hedge Fund Activism Coming To Europe: Lessons From The American Experience, Alexandros Seretakis Jan 2014

Hedge Fund Activism Coming To Europe: Lessons From The American Experience, Alexandros Seretakis

Brooklyn Journal of Corporate, Financial & Commercial Law

No abstract provided.

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Sec Regulatory Analysis: "A Long Way To Go And A Short Time To Get There", Jerry Ellig, Hester Peirce Jan 2014

Sec Regulatory Analysis: "A Long Way To Go And A Short Time To Get There", Jerry Ellig, Hester Peirce

Brooklyn Journal of Corporate, Financial & Commercial Law

No abstract provided.

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Preserving The Secured Creditor's Bargain In Chapter 11 Cramdown Scenarios, Brian P. Hanley Jan 2014

Preserving The Secured Creditor's Bargain In Chapter 11 Cramdown Scenarios, Brian P. Hanley

Brooklyn Journal of Corporate, Financial & Commercial Law

No abstract provided.

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