Digital Commons Network^™

Cloning And Characterization Of The Maize Lesion Mimic Mutant Les23 And Its Suppressor Slml, Ross Zhan

Open Access Dissertations

Plants are under constant threat from various pathogens and have evolved a two-branched immune system to defend themselves. One aspect of plant defense involves the hypersensitive response (HR) which is characterized by localized cell death to prevent the spread of the pathogen. Lesion mimic mutants are a ubiquitous class of plant mutants that spontaneously develop lesions resembling HR. However, not all lesion mimic mutants have been found to encode genes involved in defense. les23 is a recessive lesion mimic mutant in maize that can be suppressed by the Mo20W allele of Slm1 (Suppressor of lesion mimics 1). Both QTLs have …

Towards Name Disambiguation: Relational, Streaming, And Privacy-Preserving Text Data, Baichuan Zhang

Open Access Dissertations

In the real world, our DNA is unique but many people share names. This phenomenon often causes erroneous aggregation of documents of multiple persons who are namesakes of one another. Such mistakes deteriorate the performance of document retrieval, web search, and more seriously, cause improper attribution of credit or blame in digital forensics. To resolve this issue, the name disambiguation task 1 is designed to partition the documents associated with a name reference such that each partition contains documents pertaining to a unique real-life person. Existing algorithms for this task mainly suffer from the following drawbacks. First, the majority of …

Damage, Tension/Compression Asymmetry And Inferred Crack Growth In Fatigue Title Of Aluminum Alloys, Colin Young

Open Access Dissertations

The idea of a quantity D, which tracks the damage state of a material from 0 (virgin) to 1 (failed) is a well-established concept. In fatigue tests, where a given load cycle is repeated until failure, it is common to define damage D per cycle as the fraction of total life consumed per cycle, or 1/Nf. We begin by using Maximum Entropy method to develop a curve to model the life vs. load cycle relationship for a wrought aluminum alloy 2024-T351 in the low cycle fatigue range. The approach is novel in that the loading is described in terms in …

Augmented Matrix Solvers For Dynamic Linear Systems Of Equations, Yu Hong Yeung

Open Access Dissertations

In this dissertation, the problem of updating in real time the solution to a linear system of equations when a sequence of small changes is made to the data is considered. This problem arises in many computational science and engineering applications, and we consider two of them. The first is surgical simulations, where a simulator used to train surgeons needs to provide haptic feedback by updating the system ten to hundred times per second. The second is contingency analysis in the power grids, when their operators need to simulate a large number of scenarios to predict what could happen when …

Using Multiple Ways To Investigate Cognitive Load Theory In The Context Of Physics Instruction, Tianlong Zu

Open Access Dissertations

Cognitive load theory (CLT) (Sweller 1988, 1998, 2010) provides us a guiding framework for designing instructional materials. CLT differentiates three subtypes of cognitive load: intrinsic, extraneous, and germane cognitive load. The three cognitive loads are theorized based on the number of simultaneously processed elements in working memory. Intrinsic cognitive load depends upon the number of interacting elements in the instructional material that are related to the learning objective. Extraneous cognitive load is the mental resources allocated to processing unnecessary information which does not contribute to learning as caused by non-optimal instructional procedure. It is determined by the number of interacting …

Formative Research On An Instructional Design Theory For Fostering Self-Efficacy Through Gamification, Stacey Zurek

Open Access Dissertations

The merits of gamification as a learner-centered pedagogy that positively influences learner engagement and motivation are widely established in the literature; yet, few studies have ventured beyond motivation to consider the impact gamification has on self-efficacy. Moreover, guidance for the effective design and development of gamified instruction is lacking. This study describes formative research conducted on the Gamification for Enhancing Learner Self-Efficacy (GELSE) instructional design theory, which was developed to guide the design of gamification aimed at fostering self-efficacy. The goal of formative research is to identify improvements for an instructional design theory based on a designed instance of the …

The Study Of Atomic Quasi-Stable States, Decoherence And Cooling Of Mesoscale Particles, Changchun Zhong

Open Access Dissertations

Quantum mechanics, since its very beginning, has totally changed the way we understand nature. The past hundred years have seen great successes in the application of quantum physics, including atomic spectra, laser technology, condensed matter physics and the remarkable possibility for quantum computing, etc. This thesis is dedicated to a small regime of quantum physics. In the first part of the thesis, I present the studies of atomic quasi-stable states, which refer to those Rydberg states of an atom that are relatively stable in the presence of strong fields. Through spectrally probing the quasi-stable states, series of survival peaks are …

Judicial Disqualification—Confusion, Clarification And Continued Considerations: A Closer Look At Arkansas's Judicial Disqualification Rules In Light Of Ferguson V. State, Elizabeth James

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Public Speaks, Again: An International Study Of Legal Communication, Christopher R. Trudeau, Christine Cawthorne

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review

No abstract provided.

A Proposal To Change Sentencing Appeals In Arkansas, Anthony L. Mcmullen

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review

No abstract provided.

Survey Of Legislation: 2017 Arkansas General Assembly, Amie Alexander, Sarah Giammo

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review

No abstract provided.

Making The Case For The Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (2013) In Arkansas, Carol Goforth

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review

No abstract provided.

Sparta Training Area Asian Carp Removal Report, Neil Rude, David Coulter, Alison Coulter, Gregory Whitledge

Reports

Aquatic invasive species have long been associated with negative ecological and socioeconomic impacts on freshwater ecosystems. In order to mitigate these potential negative effects of invasive species introductions, management and control techniques must be developed. Asian carp species (Silver Carp, Bighead Carp, Grass Carp, and Common Carp) are a problematic group of invasive species that can cause negative effects on native fish species and freshwater ecosystems through a series of trophic cascades. The current focus of Asian carp management and control techniques is directed at reducing population sizes in the upper Illinois River to reduce probability of invasion further upstream …

Creating Accountability With Interstate Cooperation: Unauthorized Water Use Enforcement On The Klamath River, Luke Fowler, Isaac Castellano

Public Policy and Administration Faculty Publications and Presentations

While lacking coercive power to compel enforcement, interstate compacts create accountability through multiple sources and layers connecting enforcement behavior to oversight. Using logistic regression, we test a model of accountability and enforcement of unauthorized water usage on the Klamath River. Findings indicate unauthorized water usage is far more likely to be reported and enforced on the Klamath River than on neighboring rivers in the same counties. Conclusions indicate the increased institutional layers of interstate compacts lead to more accountability and stringent enforcement and reporting of unauthorized water use.

Homeless, Hungry, And Targeted: A Look At The Validity Of Food-Sharing Restrictions In The United States, Samantha Holloway

Hofstra Law Review

No abstract provided.

Transforming The American Education System: A Program Evaluation Of A School District’S 1:1 Chromebook Pilot, Michael Marassa

Dissertations

The focus of this program evaluation is to determine the impact of a Google Chromebook 1:1 program on the learning process and educational experience for students and teachers. The participants attend two high schools of a high-performing public-school district in an affluent Chicago suburb. The following research questions guide the program evaluation:

• What is the measurable relationship between academic performance and engagement and the 1:1 Chromebook program?
• What changes in instructional practice occur with the implementation of 1:1 Chromebooks?

A literature review presents current research in areas that explore 21st Century Skills, Tony Wagner’s Global Achievement Gap, constructivist instructional pedagogy, …

Cognitive Trajectory Changes Over 20 Years Before Dementia Diagnosis: A Large Cohort Study., Ge Li, Eric B Larson, Jane B Shofer, Paul K Crane, Laura E Gibbons, Wayne Mccormick, J D Bowen, Mary Lou Thompson

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Longitudinal studies have shown an increase in cognitive decline many years before clinical diagnosis of dementia. We sought to estimate changes, relative to "normal" aging, in the trajectory of scores on a global cognitive function test-the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI).

DESIGN: A prospective cohort study.

SETTING: Community-dwelling members of a U.S. health maintenance organization.

PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 65 and older who had no dementia diagnosis at baseline and had at least two visits with valid CASI test score (N = 4,315).

MEASUREMENTS: Average longitudinal trajectories, including changes in trajectory before clinical diagnosis in those who would be diagnosed …

Popularity Prediction, Andrew Furgiuele

Computer Science

With the rise in popularity of the Internet, data describing unique types of items has been collected into easy to access sources. Using this newly acquired data, is it possible to predict if an item will become a bestseller while another fade away with time? Popularity prediction is a problem that has attracted a great deal of research recently, and for good reason. The ability to predict an items future rise to popularity or fall to obscurity is a possibly priceless skill and sought out in many different industries such as sales, investments, and marketing. This report enumerates and analyzes …

The New Sister-State Sovereign Immunity, Michael H. Hoffheimer

Washington Law Review

The Article reviews the constitutional status of sister-state sovereign immunity. It argues that the parity requirement announced in Franchise Tax Board v. Hyatt (2016) is a temporary compromise that is supported by neither the purposes of the Full Faith and Credit Clause nor by cases cited by the Court. It further argues that parity is bad policy because parity overprotects states for acts they commit beyond their borders and under protects the interests of forum states in regulating conduct within their territorial jurisdiction. But the Article breaks from most scholarship. It suggests that the Court went too far in Nevada …

A Design Methodology For Continuous Fiber Additive Manufacturing Using Advanced Computer Aided Engineering Techniques, Nicholas Venter

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Theses - Archive

A design methodology for Continuous Carbon Fiber Additive Manufacturing (CCFAM) developed using Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) techniques takes advantage of both the mechanical strength of composite materials and the Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) method. By performing topology optimization and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) on a load-bearing part, engineers can design much lighter optimized parts that are just as strong as those produced using FFF. This weight reduction is achieved by relying on the mechanical strength of continuous carbon fibers printed alongside a traditional thermoplastic matrix. The FFF additive manufacturing method enables the production of complex shapes, which can match the …

Effect Of Underfill Material & Gap Height On Reliability Of Low-K Large-Die Flip Chip Package Under Thermal Loading, Paul Crisanth

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Theses - Archive

The reliability assessment of package assembly is important to predict the performance of any microelectronic devices. Formation of fatigue cracks at the interface between the solder joint and component is the common failure occurring in widely used microelectronic devices. Lead-free solders and advanced silicon process nodes with the low-k dielectrics flip chip package are used and are facing significant reliability challenges. The mismatch of coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between the chip and substrate affect solder joint reliability. The underfill encapsulant packaging is widely used to improve chip device reliability. In this paper, we are studying the effect of different …

Fall Of Saigon, 30 April 1975, Karen Owen

The Prairie Light Review

No abstract provided.

Biological Condition Of Money Pont Benthic Communities, Southern Branch Of The Elizabeth River (2010, 2013, 2016), Daniel M. Dauer

Elizabeth River Reports

Executive Summary

This report summarizes the ecological condition of the subtidal macrobenthic communities off Money Point in the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River based upon quantitative sampling in summer 2016. The designated Money Point study area was part of a sediment contaminant remediation effort. The primary objectives were to: (1) characterize the biological health of the benthos of Money Point comparing pre-remediation condition (2010) to post-remediation condition in 2013 and again in 2016, and (2) assess the effectiveness of the sediment contamination remediation efforts with respect to the ecological condition of the Money Point benthos.

Prior to sediment contaminant …

The Value Of Choice: An Exploratory Case Study On The Intrinsic Motivation Of Dance Students Within The Creative Process, Jenna M. Gonsalves

Master's Theses

This exploratory case study was designed to analyze the impact choice making has on the intrinsic motivation of middle school dance students including self determination theory’s basic needs of competence, relatedness, and autonomy. Data were collected using multiple sources including observation rubrics and semi-structured pre- and post- group interviews. Two groups of students ages 11-14 created dances for performance. One group participated in a collaborative approach to the creative process and had the opportunity to make choices. The other group participated in a teacher-led creative process and did not have the opportunity to make choices. A thematic content analysis of …

Building The More Confident Student Choreographer Through Writing: The Use Of Prompts To Guide The Choreographic Process, Yvette Bennett

Master's Theses

The purpose of this research was to implement specific writing prompts into a high-school curriculum that aids in the choreographic process in an effort to bring about confident student choreographers. This research evaluated the choreographic process using a series of writing prompts to support participants with the goal of producing successful student choreographed dance works throughout a semester long high school dance course. The researcher posed the following three essential questions: How does the writing prompt aid in the choreographic process? What did the participants learn about the choreographic process by using writing prompts? Do the participants feel a sense …

Dance For Special Needs Students: Building Confidence And Motor Skills, Jennifer Monique Dabalsa

Master's Theses

Participating in a dance class is influential in the development of young people’s creative, imaginative, individual, and communicative skills. The use of dance within a classroom increases physical fitness, enriches motor skills, coordination, and enhances social skills. Dance also increases muscular endurance, builds balance, as well as encourages teamwork and group skills. Most, if not all individuals crave to be socially accepted on some level. Many individuals with special needs are limited in verbal communication, or they are completely non-verbal. Connecting to individuals with these types of limitations proves to be challenging in comparison with a typical abled bodied individual. …

Screening For Diabetes In At-Risk Populations In Primary Care: A Practice Guide, Vera Louise Pillitteri

Doctoral Scholarly Projects & Capstones

Diabetes mellitus (DM), a disease with far-reaching cardiovascular and physiological consequences, continues to grow at epidemic proportions despite efforts by the medical community to manage the disease, placing an enormous financial burden on the healthcare system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report in 2014 reporting 29.1 million people in the United States have diabetes including 8.1 million undiagnosed cases. Colorado is one of eight states with the most significant increases in DM diagnoses, nearly doubling between 2003 and 2014. An estimated 300,000 adults have diabetes in Colorado and an estimated 110,000 more are undiagnosed (Colorado Department …

Community Foundation-Led Giving Days: Understanding Donor Satisfaction And Philanthropic Patterns, Benjamin S. Bingle

The Foundation Review

This article examines Give Local America 2016, a giving day beset by a technology failure that created challenges for donors and community foundations throughout the United States, and explores the experiences of donors as giving day participants.

Philanthropic giving days have gained popularity as opportunities for community foundations to engage new donors, create excitement about organized philanthropy, and democratize charitable giving. This article, examining survey data collected after a giving day led by a community foundation in northern Illinois, provides unique insight into donor satisfaction levels, opinions, and giving patterns.

Data suggest that giving days are not crowding out donations …

Between Equal Rights: Primitive Accumulation And Capital's Violence, Onur Ulas Ince

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

This paper attempts to elaborate a political theory of capital’s violence. Recent analyses haveadopted Karl Marx’s notion of the “primitive accumulation of capital” for investigating theforcible methods by which the conditions of capital accumulation are reproduced in the present.I argue that the analytic function accorded to primitive accumulation can be better performedby a pair of new concepts: “capital-positing violence” and “capital-preserving violence.” Irefine the conceptual core primitive accumulation (coercive capitalization of social relations ofproduction) by focusing on the role of colonial violence in the history of capitalism, which Ithen elucidate with reference to Carl Schmitt’s account of European colonial expansion …

Internet Addiction: Implications And Assessment Education For Providers, Marie Nicole See

Student Projects for Graduate Degrees

The proliferation of internet accessibility and electronic devices has allowed problematic internet use or internet addiction (IA) to explode worldwide in the past two decades. Popular Applications such as gaming, pornography, gambling, and social media are wildly popular internet pastimes with resulting high abuse potential. Social, occupational, fiscal, and interpersonal problems have been reported, as have high levels of co-morbid mental illnesses. In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) added Gambling Disorder to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), the first behavioral addiction recognized by the APA. In light of the mounting evidence supporting IA …