Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Video Enhancement In A Stated-Choice Experiment On Medical Decision Making, Susanne Hoffmann, Joachim Winter, Francis G. Caro, Alison Gottlieb

Gerontology Institute Publications

Background. The internet can be useful in administering stated-choice experiments to understand medical decision making and refine the content of patient decision aids. In internet-based stated-choice experiments, video and audio files can be used to provide information to respondents. Quality of data may or may not be affected.

Objectives. In a methodological experiment concerned with administration of a stated-choice experiment on the internet concerned with knee-replacement surgery, we compared the data quality obtained with video-enhanced and conventional text formats.

Methods. Members of the RAND Corporation’s American Life Panel and 50 years of age or older (n=1616) were randomly assigned to …

Designing Acoustics For Linguistically Diverse Classrooms: Effects Of Background Noise, Reverberation And Talker Foreign Accent On Speech Comprehension By Native And Non-Native English-Speaking Listeners, Z. Ellen Peng

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The current classroom acoustics standard (ANSI S12.60-2010) recommends core learning spaces not to exceed background noise level (BNL) of 35 dBA and reverberation time (RT) of 0.6 second, based on speech intelligibility performance mainly by the native English-speaking population. Existing literature has not correlated these recommended values well with student learning outcomes. With a growing population of non-native English speakers in American classrooms, the special needs for perceiving degraded speech among non-native listeners, either due to realistic room acoustics or talker foreign accent, have not been addressed in the current standard. This research seeks to investigate the effects of BNL …

Effects Of Feeding Distillers Grains Throughout A Yearling Heifer Beef Production System On Meat Quality Attributes And Effects Of Omnigen-Af With Ractopamine Hydrochloride On Animal Performance And Beef Carcass Characteristics Of Feedlot Steers, Kelby M. Sudbeck

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Heifers (n = 229; 225 kg ± 2) were used in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial to determine the effects of longterm exposure to corn distillers grains plus solubles (DGS) on meat quality characteristics. Factors included supplementing 0.91 kg (LW) or 2.3 kg (HW) modified DGS (MDGS) while grazing corn stalks; 0.6% BW dry DGS (SS) daily or none (NS) during summer grazing; and finishing diet containing 40% wet corn gluten feed (CGF) or 40% MDGS (DGF) on a DM basis. An interaction was observed within CGF for discoloration, with SS increasing discoloration 30%; but no differences between …

Metadata Determination For A Cadaveric Collection, Shamsi Rebecca Berry

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

The number, size and complexity of research databases continue to grow unabated. Yet, despite significant advances in information technology, scientists continue to struggle with 'data wrangling' or issues of finding, sharing, and reusing data, often for unanticipated future purposes. Most research databases are designed ad hoc, by native investigators for specific research functions and immediate needs with little to no input from database designers, informaticians, or other subject matter experts. Little thought is usually given to the implications of future data retrieval, sharing and reuse. When the needs of future investigators or research requirements change, the original design of the …

Coalition For Prisoners' Rights Newsletter, Vol 39-Tt, No. 12, Coalition For Prisoners' Rights

Coalition for Prisoners' Rights Newsletters

The Culture of Violence: A Can of Worms

Crime of the Month

Diez Maneras de Preparte para la Accíon Ejecutiva de Inmigración

Alliance of Incarcerated Canadians/Foreigners in U.S. Prisons (AICAP/AIFAP)

The Marshall Project

ABA National Inventory of Collateral Consequences of Conviction(NICCC)

The Greenback, The Humpback, And The Silverback: How A Third Wave Of Federal Water Policy Could Benefit The West, Reed D. Benson

Faculty Scholarship

Proposing any major new federal initiative regarding water in the western United States might seem preposterous, given conventional wisdom and entrenched positions on state control of water resources. But there is a strong rationale, and a growing imperative, for a new federal water .policy for the West. Many river basins face serious problems as limited water supplies are over-allocated, demands continue to increase, and climate change promises to exacerbate the West's perennial problems of scarcity and variability. Solutions to such problems are likely to be expensive and will need to address national interests as well as state and local concerns. …

Answering The "Serious Constitutional Question": Ensuring Meaningful Review Of All Constitutional Claims, George Bach

Faculty Scholarship

In 2012, the Supreme Court in Elgin v. Department of the Treasury clarified the standard that should apply when a federal statute purports to remove judicial review of all constitutional claims. The Court confirmed that, if a statute only channels judicial review of a constitutional claim into a specific avenue (for example, through administrative review and then the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals), then Congressional intent to do so need only be fairly discernible.' Alternatively, if a statute precludes all judicial review of a constitutional claim, there must be 'clear Congressional intent.' The Court explained that the reason for these …

A Highly Adaptive And Cost Effective Second Generation Incubator (Sgi) Towards Educational, Research And Clinical Processes, Yassir H. Al-Sayagh

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Today´s rising demand for more reliable and affordable alternatives to organ transplant has led to a growing market for in vitro tissue culture systems. The main objective of tissue engineering as a whole is to employ human tissue equivalents for commercial use. The state-of-the-art processes for producing these so called tissue models are still very expensive, difficult to produce and time-consuming.

To engineer tissues, in vitro, a three-dimensional support structure commonly termed scaffold is needed. Stem cells are then added to the scaffold. In order for tissue to materialize, the scaffold and the cells must be incubated (cultured) at a …

Litter Decomposition And Root Production In Response To Grazing On Sandhills Subirrigated Meadow, Ben W. Beckman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Stocking density can be manipulated by management factors including herd size, pasture size, and grazing period length. Ultrahigh stocking density (mob grazing) is commonly characterized at 200,000 kg animal live weight ha^-1 or higher with multiple movements of livestock per day. Practitioners claim increased plant production, soil development, and nutrient cycling rates because of high trampling percentages resulting from ultrahigh socking densities. This study was conducted on subirrigated meadow in the Nebraska Sandhills in 2012 and 2013 to determine grazing method effect on annual root production and litter decomposition. Stocking rates were held constant while stocking densities varied by …

Groundwater Trend Analysis And Salinity Risk Assessment For The South-West Agricultural Region Of Western Australia, 2007–12, G Paul Raper, Russell Speed, John Andrew Simons, A L. Killen, Andrew Blake, A T. Ryder, Rosemary H. Smith, Grantley Stainer, L Bourke

Resource management technical reports

Dryland salinity is a hydrologically driven land degradation hazard in the south-west agricultural region of Western Australia (WA). Shallow-rooted annual crops and pastures transpire significantly less water than the native vegetation they replaced, leading to an increase in recharge, rising groundwater levels and the development of shallow watertables in areas where often none existed previously. Rising groundwater levels mobilise soluble salts, naturally stored at high concentrations in the regolith. These salts can be concentrated in the root zone of vegetation by evapotranspiration.

Zombie Mortgages, Real Estate, And The Fallout For The Survivors, David P. Weber

New Mexico Law Review

Part I of this Article will briefly explain the context and scope of the problem, how it typically arises, and how the problem was exacerbated by the larger real estate crisis in the latter half of the 2000s. Zombie properties are problematic for the affected homeowners, but in many cases they are equally problematic for other individuals residing in the same neighborhood, the lenders and servicers, and the relevant municipalities who will have to face issues of negligence, blight and vandalism related to vacant properties. Part I will analyze current municipal approaches to dealing with the problem, primarily through vacant …

Delgado's Darkroom: Critical Reflections On Land Titles And Latino Legal Education, Richard Delgado

New Mexico Law Review

Comments from the U.S. Senator Dennis Chavez Endowed Lecturesheip/Symposium on Civil Rights hsoted by The University of New Mexico School of Law April 22, 2014

Thermal And Mechanical Response Of Particulate Composite Plates Under Inertial Excitation, Jacob K. Miller, Daniel C. Wood, Jeffrey F. Rhoads

Purdue Energetics Research Center Articles

The thermal and mechanical, near-resonant responses of particulate composite plates formed from hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) binder and varying volume ratios of ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) particles (50, 65, 75%) are investigated. Each test specimen is clamped and forced with three levels of band-limited, white noise inertial excitation (10–1000 Hz at 1.00, 1.86 and 2.44 g RMS). The mechanical response of each plate is recorded via scanning laser Doppler vibrometry. The plates are then excited at a single resonant frequency and the thermal response is recorded via infrared thermography. Comparisons are made between the mechanical operational deflection shapes of each plate and …

Misalignments: Challenges In Cultivating Science Faculty With Education Specialties In Your Department, Seth D. Bush, Nancy Pelaez, James A. Rudd Ii, Michael T. Stevens, Kimberly D. Tanner, Kathy S. Williams

PIBERG Publications

Science Faculty with Education Specialties (SFES) are increasingly being hired across the United States. However, little is known about the motivations for SFES hiring or the potential or actual impact of SFES. In the context of a recent national survey of US SFES, we investigated SFES perceptions about these issues. Strikingly, perceptions about reasons for hiring SFES were poorly aligned with perceptions about potential and actual contributions reported by SFES themselves, and the advice they extended to beginning SFES was varied. While preparation of future teachers and departmental teaching needs were common reasons offered for SFES hiring, the potential and …

Traffic Safety Primer For Local Agencies, Indiana Ltap, Michigan Ltap

Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Publications

The purpose of this booklet is to empower local agency personnel to make informed decisions that can improve roadway safety in your community. By identifying and addressing potential roadway hazards, you can reduce the likelihood of a future traffic crash for your community and your family. Adapted by permission from the Michigan LTAP’s 2008 Publication What Elected Officials Need to Know About Traffic Safety (And What YOUR Constituents Expect YOU to Know!)

2014 Owl Usability Report, Michael Salvo, Andrea Alvarez, Kira M. Cazenave, Carly A. Harmon, Tanner Heffner, Mary Mccall, Kristin Mcfarland, Kaitlyn Neis, Jessica Schwingendorf, Broc Smith, Andrew H. Yim

Purdue Writing Lab/Purdue OWL Research Reports

Consisting of six sections, this report was completed by groups composed of students registered for ENGL515: Advanced Professional Writing. Studying the concepts of User-centered Design, Usability, and User Experience Design (UxD), the students offer this report and accompanying redesign materials for the use of Purdue’s Online Writing Lab (OWL). It is presented to Tammy S. Conard-Salvo, Associate Director of the OWL, in support of user research conducted throughout fall 2014 and into spring 2015. This report is aimed at improving the user’s experience of the OWL and as such offers methods of learning more about the site’s audience and both …

Audrey Powers Profile

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Computational Investigation Of Microperforated Materials: End Corrections, Thermal Effects And Fluid-Structure Interaction, J Stuart Bolton, Nicholas Kim, Thomas Herdtle

Publications of the Ray W. Herrick Laboratories

The concept of microperforated noise control treatments was introduced by Maa 1975; in that theory, the transfer impedance of the microperforated layer was calculated based on oscillatory viscous flow within a small cylinder combined with resistive and reactive end corrections. Initially, microperforated materials were the subject of mostly academic study since practical implementations were rare owing to the cost of manufacturing the materials with acceptable accuracy. However, recently, new manufacturing procedures have dramatically lowered the cost of these materials, and perhaps as a result, there has been renewed interest in studying their properties. Since 1975, Maa’s original theory has been …

Enhancement Of The Low Frequency Performance Of Thin, Film-Faced Layers Of Foam By Surface Segmentation, J Stuart Bolton, Benoit Nennig, Nicolas Dauchez

Publications of the Ray W. Herrick Laboratories

While the control of high frequency noise by the use of porous treatments is relatively straightforward, it is correspondingly difficult to control low frequency noise owing to the general requirement that a porous layer should be a significant fraction of a wavelength in depth. Thus, it is of interest to develop low frequency sound absorbing treatments that are relatively compact by the use of surface treatments. Here, we illustrate an approach, in which a surface film is cut, to allow the incident sound to communicate directly with the air within the foam behind the film facing.

The present work was …

Collection Management Matters: Frienemies: Vendor Tech Support, Glenda Alvin

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Letters To The Editor, Katina Strauch

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Don's Conference Notes: Charleston Seminar: Introduction To Data Curation, Donald T. Hawkins

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Libraries In Battle: An Analysis Of The Image Of The Library In Texts By Swift, Borges, And Sloan, Elyssa M. Gould

All NMU Master's Theses

This essay examines the image of the library in texts by Jonathan Swift, Jorge Luis Borges, and Robin Sloan. Libraries are prevalent institutions in many cultures throughout the world, often known through positive or negative stereotypes. By studying texts whose time periods, subject matter, and genre all differ, an image of the library appears that takes into account both positive and negative aspects to create a holistic image. The methods used to evaluate the texts include close reading, Frye’s archetypal theory, and approaches to the semiotic method championed by both Tancheva and Stelmakh. This study found that each story reveals …

Evaluating The Impact Of Missouri Senate Bill 291 On Fifth And Ninth Grade State Physical Fitness Standards, Robert Scott Johnston

Dissertations

The current obesity rates of our nation’s youth continue to escalate at an alarming rate due to inactivity, poor nutrition, and lifestyle changes. The purpose of this research study was conducted to determine the effects of Missouri Senate Bill 291 on Missouri physical fitness scores as assessed by the Missouri Physical Fitness Assessment. The state of Missouri adopted new physical activity requirements starting in the 2010-2011 school year. This study evaluated the impact of Missouri Senate Bill 291 on fifth and ninth grade physical fitness assessments. Eleven years of statewide data, were examined to determine the impact of the physical …

Fabrication And Characterization Of Antioxidant Loaded Liposomes., Brian Gettler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Radiation exposure is both a major obstacle in space exploration and an occupational hazard for various careers causing DNA damage and ROS. In order to reduce the effects of radiation, the primary and most explored approach has been focused around mitigation in terms of exposure duration, exposure intensity, and shielding usage. In some situations none of these reduction strategies were viable and so the use of antioxidants is being explored as an alternate strategy for therapeutic purposes. One such antioxidant is curcumin, otherwise known as diferuloylmethane, is a component of turmeric with both antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory properties. Another antioxidant …

Fabrication Of A Thin Silver Nanowire Composite Film And Investigation Of A Patterning Technique., Richard S. Korte 1991-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Electrically conductive polymers encompass an exciting field of research for applications in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC’s). DSSC’s possess several advantages over other types of solar cells. They offer the potential for high quantum efficiency, solar conversion efficiency approaching that of traditional silicon panels, rapid charge transfer kinetics for photo-excited electrons, mechanical flexibility, and cost efficient manufacturing processes. However, key drawbacks to their large scale production and performance lifetime lie in their reliance on costly indium tin oxide (ITO), fluorinated tin oxide (FTO), and platinum for electrode materials, and the mechanical fragility inherent to a liquid electrolyte layer component. Much of …

A Social–Ecological Systems Approach To Non-Native Species: Habituation And Its Effect On Management Of Coqui Frogs In Hawaii, Emily A. Kalnicky, Mark W. Brunson, Karen H. Beard

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Non-native species introductions have the ability to affect both ecological and social systems, thus to address those outcomes both ecological and social influences on an invasion need to be understood. We use a social–ecological systems approach to investigate connections between human and ecological factors that affect efforts to control the non-native coqui frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui) on the island of Hawaii. The coqui frog is recognized as a ‘pest’ and ‘injurious wildlife’ by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Because the coqui occurs on many small private properties across the island, it is necessary to enlist private citizens in control efforts. Control …

Ecocriticism And National Image In 舌尖上的中国 (A Bite Of China), Mingwen Xiao

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

In his article "Ecocriticism and National Image in 舌尖上的中国 (A Bite of China)" Mingwen Xiao examines the multi-faceted contents of the popular 2012 television series. Instead of exhibiting delicacies made by professional chefs in luxury restaurants, A Bite of China displays local food and dishes made by ordinary people. By focus on every-day food preparation, the show constructs a performance where class, ethnicity, gender, age, and other social markers are blurred and the geographically and ethnically diverse ways of food preparation and consumption appear as a cohesive Chinese culinary identity. Xiao argues that A Bite of China plays a role …

The Urgency Of Ecocriticism And European Scholarship, Simon C. Estok

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

In his article "The Urgency of Ecocriticism and European Scholarship" Simon C. Estok argues that there continues to be unduly disproportionate attention within ecocriticism on US-based scholarship and proportionally less on ecocriticism from other parts of the world. Estok focuses on European ecocritical work written in English and published by Rodopi in recent years and argues that this work attests both to the urgency and resolve of European ecocritics. Estok looks at some of the primary contributions of twelve books published within the past ten years by Rodopi in order to show the importance of bending our ecocritical ears, to …

Atg Interviews: Peter Shepherd, Retiring Director, Counter Online Metric, Katina Strauch, Tom Gilson

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.