OpenSIUC

The University Imperative to Distribute Faculty Research

David Shulenburger — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:06:50 PST

UNDERSTANDING THE LINK BETWEEN ETHANOL PRODUCTION AND FOOD PRICES

Nathalia Ferreira Monteiro — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:32:12 PST

Food prices have increased rapidly in recent years, and so has ethanol consumption. Some studies have claimed that there is a connection between those two. Net exporters of food tend to benefit from higher prices, while regions that are net importers of food, tend to be adversely affected. The large amount of poor countries in the second group justifies an investigation of the causes of increasing food prices. This thesis aims to contribute to the discussion, analyzing, theoretically and empirically, the impact that the diversion of feedstock from food to ethanol production has on food prices. The interaction between food prices and ethanol is first examined in a two-good (food and ethanol), one input (land) theoretical model. The outcome of this model is that an increase in ethanol productivity will have a positive impact on food prices, which is confirmed in the empirical test. We also found that increases in area allocated to produce sugarcane based ethanol in Brazil had depressing effects on relative food prices. No significant conclusion could be found on the effect of the area allocated to produce corn based ethanol in the United States.

Consequences of Premature and Persistent Luteinizing Hormone Receptor Activation on Leydig Cell Development

Mary M. Coonce — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:32:12 PST

Luteinizing hormone (LH), one of the two gonadotropin hormones released from the pituitary gland, binds its receptor (LHR) in the gonads to initiate steroid hormone production, as well as gametogenesis and ovulation. Mutations of amino acid sequence within the receptor can render it either inactive or constitutively active. All activating mutations result in male-limited precocious puberty. Males afflicted with this condition undergo puberty around 4 years of age, with elevated testosterone levels and premature skeletal development. In order to better understand how chronic ligand-mediated activation of the LHR affects gonadal development and function, a mouse model expressing a yoked hormone-receptor (YHR) complex, engineered by covalently linking the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin to the rat LHR, has been studied. YHR+ males have prepubertally elevated testosterone and decreased gonadotropin levels. Histological evaluation of the testes of these animals show significantly smaller seminiferous tubules and Leydig cell clusters. Finally, testis gene expression analysis revealed a significant decrease in the relative mRNA expression of three Leydig cell specific genes. Based on these results, it was hypothesized that premature activation of the LHR impairs postnatal Leydig cell development. In the testis there are two morphologically and developmentally distinct populations of Leydig cells, the fetal and the adult. The first objective of this study was to quantify the populations of cells in the adult Leydig cell lineage in both the YHR+ and the WT controls. Real-time RT-PCR, for markers of the immature and adult Leydig cell populations, as well as Leydig cell quantification, suggested a delay in adult Leydig cell development. Interestingly, there was a significant increase in the fetal Leydig cell population in the YHR+ mice. The second objective was to determine if the decrease in the adult population is due to either a decrease in proliferation or an increase in apoptosis in the YHR+ animal. There was not a difference in apoptosis between the WT and the YHR+ at any age examined, however, there was a decrease in progenitor Leydig cell proliferation in the YHR+ animals at 2 weeks of age. The final objective was to determine if elevated neonatal testosterone levels impairs the development of the adult Leydig cell population. Seven-day old WT pups were subjected to testosterone supplementation via subdermal implant. Quantification of the total Leydig cell population revealed a significant decrease in the number of adult Leydig cells in the testosterone-treated group similar to that seen in the YHR+ animal. Taken together, these data suggest that elevated neonatal testosterone levels resulting from premature LHR activation inhibits the proliferation of progenitor Leydig cells, resulting in fewer adult Leydig cells in the YHR+ animals.

Neoclassicism in Edvard Grieg's Six Songs, Opus 48

Jamie Marie Mills — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:32:11 PST

"Style is the characteristic way elements are treated to form a unique whole" (Meyer, 1996). The major stylistic movements in music are Baroque, Classicism, Romanticism, Neoclassicism, and Modernism. Edvard Grieg is associated with the Romantic movement, however, this ignores the full breadth of his compositional qualities. Scholars studying his final stage have found, in his Songs, Op. 66 and Haugtussa, Op. 67 of the 1890's compositional period, techniques that point forward to Neoclassicism (Horton, 2007). In his Six Songs, Op. 48 of 1884-1889 there are also characteristics of Neoclassicism, as well as Romanticism and Classicism. According to D. Stevens, "Grieg admired Mozart's use of form and harmony, and often used segments as models for his own compositions" (Stevens, 1960). For this reason, a comparison of Op. 48 will be made to Mozart's leider An Chloe and Abendempfindung using a traditional harmonic analysis of the form, melody, harmonic structure, and a textural analysis of the poetry including rhyme scheme and meter.

FACTORS AFFECTING EROSION ON A NATURAL GAS PIPELINE IN THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS

Dan Holz — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:32:10 PST

High fuel prices have created an economic climate in which oil and gas development is increasingly profitable, and consequently, is increasing rapidly in the United States. The development includes drilling new wells and expanding the pipeline network to deliver gas and oil. This is especially true in the northern Appalachian region where the relatively undeveloped Marcellus shale formation is located. The Marcellus formation has been called a "super giant" gas reservoir possibly containing 50 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas (Harper, 2008). In Pennsylvania alone, over 375 wells targeting the Marcellus shale formation have been approved between 2003 and the end of 2007. However, environmental impacts from well pads and pipelines are relatively unknown. Sediment concentrations and yields were measured from four sections of an in-road pipeline in the Monongahela National Forest in Tucker County, West Virginia during summer and fall 2007 and spring 2008. The objectives of this study were to determine the influence of vegetation cover and precipitation characteristics on sediment concentrations in runoff and sediment yields from the in-road pipeline, and to compare sediment yields to forest roads. Poorly vegetated pipeline sections produced 30.92 kg of sediment throughout the study compared to 13.49 kg for the well vegetated sections. Despite this, percent vegetative ground cover had no statistically significantly effect on sediment concentrations or yields except during very intense storms. Several precipitation characteristics, especially intensity, played a significant role in explaining sediment yields and concentrations. Precipitation patterns changed with seasons, and therefore, sediment concentrations and yields varied significantly by season. The most intense storms occurred during the summer months, which is when most soil loss also occurred. Erosion rates from the pipeline were greater than from undisturbed or well-managed forest plots, but were less than rates reported for logging and skid roads when normalized for rainfall. The reduced erosion rates suggest that routing new pipelines along closed roads may be a good method to reduce erosion compared to clearing new pipeline rights-of-ways. To further reduce erosion potential, steps in the installation process that expose mineral soil should be timed to avoid periods of intense rainfall.

Set Screw Break-Off Study In Spinal Neurosurgery

Ganesh Gautham Aswapathi Ramesh — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:32:09 PST

This thesis describes the measurement of high g-forces, in the range of 400-800g's occurring in a spinal construct during the breaking of the set-screw head using a manual torquing instrument. The measurements were validated using a high speed camera. The design torque (11 N-m) required for breaking the set-screw was compared with the torque calculated from the distortion energy theory for material fracture (9.9 N-m) and an actual measurement using a torque wrench (11.3 N-m). A comparison between the manual and powered instruments showed a 27.68% reduction in g-forces and a 36.42% reduction in die-down time while using the powered instrument. 8.52% less energy was felt on the adjoining screw. The consistency in the powered instrument is higher because the standard deviation using the manual instrument is 8.46, compared to the powered instrument which was 8.31. Also 25g's was recorded on the surgeon's wrist and elbow. Based on previous work done, the external work done by the surgeon was about 60-120 KJ. The onset of fatigue was apparent in consecutive break events as illustrated by the change in EMG parameters over time.

The Geography of Ecosystem Service Value: The Case of the Des Plaines and Cache River Wetlands, Illinois

Justin Peter Kozak — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:32:08 PST

The purpose of this study is to show the importance of the geography of demand in ecological economics and to provide guidance for future research efforts to incorporate it. The analysis examines gaps in the literature that deal with the spatial variability of potential beneficiaries to ecosystem services and demonstrates the quantitative importance of defining the geography of demand. Since ecosystem service value is anthropocentric, incorporating those who receive benefits into the economic accounting method is a necessary requirement. As the total benefits received from ecosystem functioning declines over space, so too does its economic value. There are two study areas in Illinois used in the analysis. The first is the Des Plaines River wetlands in the Chicago metropolitan area and the other is the Cache River wetlands in rural southern Illinois. This study finds large ranges of value for ecosystem services when the decay of value over space is incorporated. Also, these findings suggest a minimum spatial requirement depending on the scale of aggregation. For a county level scale, a minimum economic jurisdiction of 1,000 km is suggested. Finally, the presence of large numbers of beneficiaries near an ecosystem has the greatest influence on value when the economic jurisdiction is spatially limited. From the steepest distance decay function to the shallowest the Des Plaines wetlands returned a range of values from approximately $971,000 to $2.3 billion and the Cache wetlands values ranged from $0 to $2.5 billion. This paper is not intended to be a case study for the economic valuation of a specific area but rather a demonstration of the necessity for a spatial economic framework that accounts for the delivery and receipt of ecosystem services over space.

In search of the Triassic-Jurassic boundary: Palynostratigraphy and carbon-isotope stratigraphy of the lower Dinosaur Canyon Member on the Colorado Plateau (Kanab, Utah)

Drew Tyler Downs — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:32:08 PST

The Triassic-Jurassic boundary remains an enigmatic event due to a lack of conformable, terrestrial sections. On the Colorado Plateau the Triassic-Jurassic boundary has been placed within the J-0 unconformity at the Chinle Formation-Glen Canyon Group contact. Recent tetrapod, palynofloral, and magnetostratigraphic data has suggested the J-0 unconformity is of Triassic age, and the Triassic-Jurassic boundary is preserved within the Dinosaur Canyon Member of the Moenave Formation (Glen Canyon Group). This study presents palynofloral and stable carbon-isotope data from a mudstone interval within the lower Dinosaur Canyon Member of the Moenave Formation on the Colorado Plateau at Kanab, Utah. Palynofloral analysis has yielded a high diversity palynofloral assemblage containing many bisaccate and monosaccate palynomorphs followed by a low diversity palynofloral assemblage containing greater than 90% Classopollis meyerianus. The high diversity palynofloral assemblage has yielded the Late Triassic index palynomorphs Camerosporites verrucosus, Patinasporites densus, Patinasporites toralis, and Vallasporites ignacii. It also contains the earliest Jurassic index palynomorphs Pityosporites parvisaccatus and Rugubivesiculites species 303, which according to this study are not Jurassic index palynomorphs. The high diversity palynofloral assemblage is separated from the low diversity palynofloral assemblage by a 60% species turnover (18 of 30 species), which corresponds to a rapid extinction event. The greater than 90% Classopollis meyerianus correlates to the basal Jurassic Classopollis meyerianus Palynofloral Zone of the Newark Supergroup and Europe. Thus, the Triassic-Jurassic boundary is located within conformable, terrestrial strata of the lower Dinosaur Canyon Member and not the J-0 unconformity. Stable carbon-isotope analysis has yielded one major negative isotopic excursion of -2 / in organic carbon with the possibility of another negative excursion. Whether this excursion corresponds to the initial or main excursion, or if oxidation has overprinted the signal cannot be determined at this time. Higher resolution sampling is needed to check for other excursions and their positions, as well as sampling higher and lower than the mudstone interval. More terrestrial boundary sections, especial those far removed from the opening of the Atlantic Ocean and the flood basalts of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) are needed to determine extinction event timing and the timing of evolutionary events of certain flora. This could also provide much need data and a new marine-terrestrial correlation to the Global Stratotype Section Boundary and Point (GSSP) candidate at New York Canyon, Nevada.

THE EFFECT OF LIPID SUPPLEMENTS ON THE POPULATION OF SELECTED RUMINAL BACTERIA VARIES WITH THE FATTY ACID COMPOSITION

Ramesh Babu Potu — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:32:07 PST

There is an increasing body of evidence that conjugated linoleic acid (c9t11 CLA) suppresses chemically induced tumor development in cell cultures and animal models. Ruminant-derived foods make a major contribution to total fat consumption and are the main source of c9t11 CLA in the human diet. In light of the potential benefits to long-term human health, there has been increased interest in enhancing the concentrations of potentially beneficial fatty acids (FA) in milk and meat. Factors affecting c9t11CLA production and secretion into milk fat have been extensively studied the last 10 years and a large pool of knowledge has accumulated. However, little information is currently available about the effects of feeding c9t11 CLA- stimulating diets on rumen microbial ecology, particularly, bacterial species believed to be involved in the biohydrogenation (BH) process. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of lipid source on the DNA concentrations of selected ruminal bacteria. Four continuous culture fermenters were used in 4 x 4 Latin square design with four periods of 10 d each. Treatment diets were fed (45 g/d DM basis) in three equal portions during the day. The diets were 1) control diet (50% alfalfa pellets, 50% concentrate, CON), 2) CON plus saturated fat (rumofat; SAT), 3) CON plus soybean oil (SBO), and 4) CON plus fish oil (FO). Lipid supplements were added at 3% of diet DM. Lipid supplements had no effect on feed digestibility, total VFA and acetate concentrations or fermenter pH. Propionate concentration was higher with the FO diet in comparison with the other treatment diets. Butyrate concentration was similar between the SBO and FO diets and both were lower than the levels for the CON and SAT diets. The concentration of VA in effluents increased with SBO and FO diets and was highest with SBO diet. The concentrations of C18:0 in effluents were lowest for the FO diet compared with the other treatment diets. The concentrations of c9t11 CLA in effluents were similar between SBO and FO diets and both were higher than levels for the CON and SAT diets. Concentrations of DNA for total bacteria, A. lipolytica, C. proteoclasticum and S. dextrinosolvens were similar for all diets. The concentrations of B. fibrisolvens (69.1 pg/45ng total DNA) and R. albus (1.96 pg/45ng total DNA) were least with the FO diet but were similar among the other treatment diets (SAT-104.2; 5.4, SBO-121.2; 5.71, and CON-126.3; 5.17 pg/45ng total DNA). S. ruminantium DNA concentration was highest with the FO diet and was least with the SAT diet (177.5, 54.9, 75.5, and 691.1 pg/20ng total DNA for treatment diets 1 to 4, respectively). In conclusion, SBO had no effect on bacterial DNA concentrations tested in this study and the inhibitory effects of FO on BH may be due in part to its influence on B. fibrisolvens, R. albus and S. ruminantium.

DEPARTMENTAL POLICY EFFECT ON THE POLICE-MEDIA RELATIONSHIP

Lindsey McKinney — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:32:06 PST

This project uses secondary data to determine if the variables included could predict a relationship outcome. Police departments in areas with a population of 100,000 or more were surveyed. There were 255 surveys sent to departments and 194 cases were used. Cross-sectional data was used and the data was analyzed by logistical and OLS regressions. My four hypotheses were not supported by the analysis. Some of the dependent variables included in the project are the working relation with the media, media communication creates a positive image, the media sensationalizes crime, and the media interferes during investigations. Some of the independent variables are the existence of a media policy, the number of media outlets, number of sworn officers, and if the department employs a PIO. The four hypotheses were not supported, but help to show which variables fail to predict the relationship between the police and the media or how the respondents perceive how the department is viewed by the public.

Similarities and Differences in Females with Regards to Perfectionism in those with Anorexia Nervosa, High BMI (Binge Eaters vs. Non-Binge Eaters), and those Seeking a Healthier Lifestyle

Michelle Cristin Ostien — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:32:05 PST

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF MICHELLE OSTIEN, for the Master of Science degree in FOOD AND NUTRITION, presented on November 20, 2008, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN FEMALES WITH REGARDS TO PERFECTIONISM IN THOSE WITH ANOREXIA NERVOSA, HIGH BMI (BINGE EATERS VS. NON-BINGE EATERS), AND THOSE SEEKING A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Sharon Peterson One in five women in the United States struggle with an eating disorder or distorted eating patterns (National Institute of Mental Health, 2001). Perfectionism, one of the risk factors for developing an eating disorder, is a trait that many of these women have in common. While much research has been done on perfectionism in women with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, few studies have looked at perfectionism in women with binge eating disorder (Pratt, Telch, Labouvie, Wilson, & Agras, 2001). Our study sought to further understand the similarities and differences of the total and individual components of perfectionism in females seeking a healthier lifestyle, high BMI binge eaters, high BMI non-binge eaters, and anorexics. Our study found that the first component of the perfectionism scale (representing self-oriented perfectionism) was found to be significant between groups (p=0.002). When comparing females seeking a healthier lifestyle to high BMI binge eaters, females seeking a healthier lifestyle were more likely to answer "no", while high BMI binge eaters were more likely to answer "yes" (p=0.006). When comparing females seeking a healthier lifestyle to anorexics, females seeking a healthier lifestyle were more likely to answer "no" when compared to anorexics (p=0.033). When comparing high BMI binge eaters to high BMI non-binge eaters, high BMI binge eaters were also more likely to answer "yes" to this question when compared to high BMI non-binge eaters (p=0.048). Compared to 76.9% (N=10) of female anorexics, 74.4% (N=32) of female high BMI binge eaters, 50.0% (N=32) of female high BMI non-binge eaters, and 31.2 % (N=5) of females seeking a healthier lifestyle answered "yes" to perfectionism component one, which represented self-oriented perfectionism. Anorexics had the greatest tendency for perfectionism, followed by binge eaters, and then non-binge eaters. This study demonstrated that self-oriented perfectionism is the greatest indicator of perfectionism between subject groups and that perfectionism does exist in binge eaters.

HORSE RACE OVER POLICIES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE 2008 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN SOUTH KOREAN AND AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS

Jaesik Ha — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:32:04 PST

The purpose of this study was to compare media framing in the news coverage of South Korean and American newspaper media during the 2008 U.S. presidential election. The findings show that major newspapers in South Korea and the United States framed the election as a political game, focusing on tactics and polling. A horse race frame was used in 40.2% of South Korean news articles and in 37.8% of U.S. news articles. In addition, this study examines the kinds of topics that predominated in the election coverage. The findings suggest that the topic of `election politics' accounted for more articles than any other topic: 53.8% of South Korean news articles, and 41.3% of U.S. news articles, dealt with election politics. This category of `election politics' includes debate, campaign strategy, candidate qualifications, and polling. Foreign affairs and the economy occupied a relatively small percentage among topics. Another finding was that the national interest frame was insignificant in the election coverage of the two countries. In U.S. news coverage, news sources are diversified among politicians (34.6%), candidates (29.4%), civil society (e.g., citizens or civil organization, 14.1%), and other sources. In contrast, among South Korean news articles, 44.8% used foreign media as a primary source.

Exploring the Effects of Latino Subgroup Diversity On Panethnic Group Consciousness

Antonio Rodriguez — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:32:03 PST

Although scholars have begun to identify individual level predictors of panethnic group consciousness, we still do not have a full understanding of how it develops among Latinos (Padilla1985; Masuoka, 2006, 2008). This study seeks to add to the literature by determining if contextual factors affect panethnic group consciousness. Does the presence of many different Latino country of origin groups affect the development of Latino group consciousness? Relying on previously literature on intergroup relations, I argue that Latino intra-group diversity will lead to two possible outcomes. First, as Latinos of different country of origins subgroups come into more frequent contact this will have a positive effect on panethnic group consciousness because individuals would have developed shared experiences. An alternative possibility is that dominant subgroups (Mexican, Cubans and Puerto Ricans) will react negatively to an increase in out-subgroups due to perceived threat. This in turn would undermine Latino group consciousness. The 2006 Latino National Survey and the 2005-2007 American Community Survey were used to test the proposed relationship between context and group consciousness. Findings suggest that contextual factors do have an effect on group consciousness but only for certain components and country of origin groups.

ENZOOTIC PATTERNS OF INFECTION BY BATRACHOCHYTRIUM DENDROBATIDIS IN POND BREEDING ANURANS IN CENTRAL AMERICA

Sandra Patricia Galeano — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:32:02 PST

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has contributed to population declines and extinction of amphibians worldwide. Disease-caused extinction is rare, but may occur where reservoirs exist or where transmission is independent of host density. Because some species persist after Bd epizootic events, they may act as potential reservoirs of the infection. I studied seasonal and elevational patterns of prevalence and intensity of Bd infection in eight pond-breeding species that persisted after an epizootic event at three low- and three mid-elevation ponds in Central America. I visited each pond three times over the rainy season to sample for Bd and to quantify frog density. I recorded air and water temperature at each pond. I analyzed 1,288 samples and detected Bd in all six ponds and in six of the eight species. Elevation and time affected Bd prevalence (F2,7 = 8.90, p = 0.01) and Bd intensity (F2,8 = 9.09, p = 0.008). Frog density was not correlated with Bd prevalence (F1,7= 4.75, p= 0.06), and temperature did not affect prevalence or intensity of the infection. Bd is enzootic at all 6 sites and six pond-breeding species are reservoirs. The presence of abundant reservoirs at enzootic conditions explains the persistence of Bd in areas where other species declined without showing evidence of recovery. Low intensities of infection explain the survivorship of these reservoir species. I suggest that temperature might not be the principal factor molding Bd dynamics in the humid Neotropical forests, and present evidence that ponds are ecosystems where frogs might clean or reduce their infections

Perceptions of Writing Process: A Study of First-Year Composition Students

Karen Bernice Bontrager — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:32:01 PST

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF KAREN B. BONTRAGER, for the Master of Arts degree in ENGLISH, presented on June 18, 2009, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: PERCEPTIONS OF WRITING PROCESS: A STUDY OF FIRST-YEAR COMPOSITION STUDENTS MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Lisa J. McClure The purpose of this exploratory study was to ascertain the perceptions of the composing process held by English 101 students at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Questionnaires were distributed to students in twenty sections of English 101 in the first few weeks and the last few weeks of the fall semester of 2007. The questionnaires invited students to reflect and report on their writing processes. Results of the study indicate that students' perceptions of the writing process are colored by the Current Traditional paradigm: students place a high value on the final product and understand writing as a linear process. There is also evidence that students' perceptions of their revising habits may differ from their actual practices.

Is Mindfulness a Luxury? Examining the Role of Socioeconomic Status in the Relationship between Dispositional Mindfulness and Psychological Distress

Steven Matthew Andrews — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:32:00 PST

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF STEVEN M. ANDREWS, for the Master of Arts degree in PSYCHOLOGY, presented on 9 JUNE 2009, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: IS MINFULNESS A LUXURY? EXAMINING THE ROLE OF SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DISPOSITIONAL MINDFULNESS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Kathleen Chwalisz Mindfulness, or present-moment awareness, has its roots in Buddhism as a cultivatable tool for healing. Researchers have identified health benefits for those who possess higher levels of this trait without practice. This study was a survey-based investigation of the relations among dispositional mindfulness, socioeconomic status, and psychological distress in a diverse sample of university and community college participants (N = 123). Of interest was the notion that mindfulness may be a luxury of the less socioeconomically burdened. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to assess the role of SES in the relation between mindfulness and distress. Mindfulness was found to be a luxury, but its psychological benefits were not influenced by SES. Implications are discussed in the context of mindfulness-based interventions.

DEVELOPMENT OF BAMBOO DERIVED SORBENTS FOR GAS PHASE ADSORPTION OF ELEMENTAL MERCURY

Naved Ahmed Siddiqui — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:59 PST

Mercury is a serious hazard to humans, mammals and fish, which when emitted into the atmosphere reaches back to the earth. Coal-fired plants in the U.S. emit mercury upon the burning of coal in the particulate, oxidized and elemental state. Of these, elemental mercury is the most difficult to capture. U.S. coal-fired plants emit approximately 48 tons of mercury per year. Based on the U.S. EPA Clean Air Mercury Rule, these emissions need to be capped by 90%. This project deals with the Development of Bamboo Derived Sorbents for the capture of elemental mercury in gas phase. Raw bamboo is used to process sorbents using carbonization, activation and acidulation techniques. These sorbents are tested in a Batch Test, which includes a mercury permeation assembly, sampling bags, and uses nitrogen as a carrier gas. Many tests are conducted on sorbent samples with varying masses, samples with the presence or absence of skin material found on the bamboo stem along with various treatments, and varying initial concentrations of mercury. Other studies conducted also include Three-Point Bending tests for structural integrity, Surface Area Measurements, and Scanning Electron Microscopy for microstructure studies. Results and analyses of these sorbents depict successful capture of mercury in nitrogen atmosphere. Treatments such as carbon dioxide activation and hydrochloric acid functionalization are very effective in enhancing mercury adsorption. This project acts as a stepping stone for the development of bamboo derived material. Major recommendations include the optimization of the sorbents for adsorption properties, and the scaling up of experiments. Eventually, a bamboo derived sorbent could be applied in coal-fired plants on a large scale for the capture of mercury.

Linguistic human rights and the education of language minority children: The case of the Japanese Brazilian returnees

Tamara M. Constant — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:58 PST

In recent years, more groups have been moving from location to location as technological advancements, economic interconnections, and interdependence among nation states have made this movement easier. Within this new environment, identities and nation state affiliations are in flux. These movements have also influenced the process of education. National education systems have been partially globalized through student and teacher mobility, deterritorializing of academic institutions, widespread policy borrowing, teaching English as a foreign/second language, and attempts to enhance the global dimension of curricula at secondary and post-secondary levels. The present study examines the Japanese Brazilian transnational community in Japan to determine whether a case for strong forms of bilingual education can be made in the context of linguistic human rights under Article 27 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Even though, the Japanese government ratified the Covenant in 1979, it has not been properly addressing the issue of bilingualism for linguistic minorities within Japanese society. Therefore, this study uses a general qualitative approach to offer explanations for the current sociohistorical and ethnolinguistic situation facing Japanese Brazilians in Japan. A critical cultural meta-ethnography was chosen for this investigation as it aims to provide an interpretive synthesis of qualitative research and other secondary sources. The contextual situation is explored to understand the development of Japanese Brazilians position both in Japan and in Brazil. First, I explain the development of the concepts linguistic human rights and "Japaneseness" as a racial group. Next, I examine the social, historical, and ethnolinguistic positions of Japan's ethnic and immigrant minorities and the position of their language in the Japanese public educational system in order to consider possible modes of action for educating Japanese Brazilian children. Then, I analyze governmental policies at the national and at the local levels to understand what the government has done to address the issue. I then explore possible grassroots movements' models both within Japan and in other parts of the world in order to make recommendations for language education for Japanese Brazilian children. Finally, I investigate areas for possible future studies.

Left out when playing the recorder right: Effects of bimanual performance of melodic instruments in regards to hand asymmetry in musicians

Lee Fredric VanAlstine — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:58 PST

This experiment was based upon earlier research involving beginning musicians' perception of how handedness interferes with their performance of melodic instruments, (VanAlstine, 2006) and the analysis of earlier studies by Laeng and Park (1999) involving the impact of handedness in playing the piano traditionally and in a "reversed" fashion. This study was conducted involving the performance of musical examples on the recorder where the subjects played in a traditional manner, as well as with reversed hand position. Laeng and Park found left-handed beginning and experienced musician's grouped subjects performed better upon a reversed keyboard than performing upon a traditional keyboard, Laeng and Park (1999). VanAlstine hypothesized that beginning musicians would play more correct notes with their dominant hand when playing the melodic examples, whereas advanced students would show less specialization when performing the musical examples with either hand. There were 60 subjects total, 30 beginning players from Carterville Intermediate School and 30 advanced players from the southern Illinois area, including the Southern Illinois University Carbondale School of Music. Subjects were given an Edinburgh-styled handedness test to identify them as either left- or right-handed performers. The subjects were further divided into groups of 15 beginning left-handed players, 15 beginning right-handed players, 15 advanced left-handed players and 15 advanced right-handed players. Subjects played short musical examples on the recorder with traditional fingering and then with reversed hands. The performance was evaluated by two judges. Beginning right-handed musicians who performed upon the "reversed" recorder played as well as performers who were left-handed and played the soprano recorder traditionally, with their dominant hand on the top half of the instrument. The left- and right- handed advanced musicians played the musical examples equally well in both the traditional style and in the "reversed style."

Development and Performance Evaluation of a Mono-Valve Engine

Amit Shrestha — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:57 PST

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF AMIT SHRESTHA, for the Master of Science degree in MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, presented on July 6th 2009, at the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. TITLE: DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A MONO-VALVE ENGINE MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Suri Rajan A new Mono-Valve engine head was fabricated and assembled for a standard 4-stroke single cylinder Two-Valve gasoline engine with an aim to achieve an improved air flow characteristics than that of the Two-Valve engine. The Mono-Valve engine has only one valve in the cylinder head with the intake and exhaust ports controlled by an auxiliary Rotary-Valve. The two engines were tested under cold flow motoring conditions at engine speeds ranging from 1000 to 2500 rpm under fully open and half open throttle conditions in order to study and compare their volumetric efficiencies. Variable intake pipe lengths of 8.25, 25.5 and 39 inches were used to study their effect on volumetric efficiencies and in-cylinder pressure characteristics of both the engines. The results of the experiments showed that the average in-cylinder peak pressure, intake and exhaust pressures characteristics are similar for both the engine heads. However, the volumetric efficiency of the new Mono-Valve engine head was found to be 2-7% less than that of the original Two-Valve engine head depending upon the length of the intake pipe. This is mainly due to the opening angle in the Rotary-Valve that mostly controls the duration of the intake and the exhaust processes, and also due to the timing of the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust ports.

The Voluntary Lead Shot Ingestion Rate of Mourning Doves (Zenaida Macroura) on a Disked Field

Stephanie Plautz — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:56 PST

Previous field studies of hunter-harvested mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) have reported lead (Pb) shot ingestion rates of 1 &ndash 6.5%. However, considerable uncertainty exists concerning mechanisms affecting pellet ingestion across different habitats. To reduce some of this uncertainty, an experiment was conducted to test the Pb shot ingestion rate of mourning doves on bare soil (typical of a managed dove field). Wild doves were trapped and held in captivity 5 &ndash 13 weeks prior to treatment. One week prior to treatment, a blood sample was taken from each bird before placement in open-bottomed treatment pens on a disked field. Each of 3 treatment groups of 80 birds was divided into 35 low density (1.5 million pellets/ha), 35 high density (29.5 million pellets/ha), and 10 control (0 pellets/ha) animals. Five positive control birds were gavage &ndash dosed with 2 Pb shot in trials 2 and 3. Pb shot and mixed seed were scattered uniformly on the loosely packed soil of their pens and birds were exposed for 4 days. Birds were x &ndash rayed post &ndash treatment on days 2 and 4 for the presence of Pb shot in the digestive system, and euthanized following the drawing of a blood sample on day 4. Overall, 2.9% of doves voluntarily ingested &ge 1 pellet. The shot ingestion rate for birds in the high density Pb treatment (4.9%) was not statistically different (P = 0.0977) from birds in the low density Pb treatment (1.0%). Pb concentrations in liver, kidneys, and blood reached maxima of 94.402, 346.033, and 13.883 ppm wet weight, respectively, and were statistically greater in birds that had ingested shot than in controls (P < 0.0083). Delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity decreased by an average of 92.2% post-treatment as compared to pre-treatment in birds that had ingested shot, while increasing by 1.1% in control birds. Heterophil:lymphocyte ratio increased by 28.2% in birds that ingested shot as compared to 1.5% in controls, while packed cell volume decreased by 7.6% in birds that ingested shot and 0.6% in controls. No significant difference in weight among groups was observed post-treatment (P = 0.3131). If managers deem the number of mourning doves at risk of Pb shot ingestion unacceptable, some options are to ban Pb shot either on entire management areas or only on high shot deposition areas like dove fields, or to disk fields after dove hunting to reduce Pb shot availability.

Acculturation and Racial Identity Attitudes: An Investigation of First and Second Generation Ibos

Chinaka Agwu — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:55 PST

As the number of people immigrating to the United States of America increases, so too does the richness of U.S. American culture. However, research is lacking focusing on the impact race and race-related problems have on African and African-descent immigrants and their personal identities. The following research study investigates the influence of U.S. acculturation and Igbo acculturation on black racial identity attitudes of first generation and second generation Ibos of Nigeria living in the U.S. Results of the study indicated differences exist between first generation and second generation Ibos on levels of U.S. and Igbo acculturation, first generation Ibos were more likely to identify as being American rather than being a part of the black racial group in the United States, second generation Ibos were more likely to accept stereotypes about blacks, second generation Ibos less familiar with Igbo culture were more likely to perceive themselves as multicultural beings, length of stay in the U.S. mediated multicultural attitudes of Ibos, and both length of stay in the U.S. and generational status mediated Afrocentric attitudes of Ibos. Implications and discussion of the findings are followed by a suggested framework for practicing counselors to use, based on these results, when working with African and African-descent immigrants. i

Dismantling religious stereotypes: Effects of conditional discrimination training and media on the merger of Islamic and Christian stimulus equivalence classes

Sadie Laree Lovett — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:54 PST

The present study attempted to merge classes of Islamic and Christian stimuli. Using a match-to-sample procedure, participants were trained on a series of conditional discriminations that resulted in the formation of one equivalence class containing Islamic stimuli and one class containing Christian stimuli. These classes shared two common members. After demonstrating equivalence, participants were tested for a merger of the two classes. If the classes fail to merge, participants viewed a video outlining the parallels between Islam and Christianity and were subsequently tested for a merger of classes again. For participants still failing to merge the classes, direct training was provided before a final test for a merger of classes was conducted. Accuracy and response latencies on tests for a merger of classes were examined to determine if a nodal distance effect is observed. Six participants merged the classes following conditional discrimination training. An additional five participants were exposed to video training and direct training after which four participants still failed to merge the classes.

The Voices of Animals and Men

Alexander Hutchins Lumans — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:53 PST

This thesis is a collection of six short stories and a novella. These works follow sons, fathers, loners, and families as they must confront what haunts them. In "Brainbarn," a boy whose parents left him at a young age tries to rid himself of the memory of killing a horse by forcing himself on his cousin. In "Scavengers," a father guides his family of disparate parts on a hike in attempt to bring them together, but he instead comes face to face with what he actually wants his family to be like. In "Haruspices," shepherds disrupt an ancient burial practice with dire consequences. "Cenotaph" is about a son who, after his father dies, learns how to properly bury his father, and the memory of his father, through beekeeping. "Wands" is about two cousins who struggle over a lost fiddle. And "Dispatches from a Future Norwegian Futurist" follows a single survivor of a future plague whose job is to dispose of the bodies until he learns he is soon to be replaced in this position by a thing called Prometheus. The novella, entitled The Re-Enactors, follows a father and son--Brinkley and Drift--who, six months after the mother's sudden death from an antique Civil War weapon accident, find themselves riding on top of a train through South Carolina. Through the course of leaping off the train, hiking through a swamp, and confronting a violent mob in the countryside, Brinkley and Drift also confront each other concerning the mother's mysterious death and how they themselves must keep their family together.

A Simplified Routing Algorithm for Energy Efficiency in Wireless Sensor Networks

Ali Dheyaa Khudhair — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:52 PST

.Wireless Sensor Networks importance is rapidly increasing and becoming a vital element in the process of gathering information in almost every scientific and practical aspect, but since the sensor node is usually a small device and has a battery with very limited life, power consumption is turning out to be the main drawback of this significant technology thus a lot of work and researches is going on to find new ways to reduce the power needed to operate those sensors. One of the main power consuming functionality of this technology is the wireless transmission of the data that the sensors collect across the fields [5][6]. In order to overcome this restriction, many proposals have been made to create an optimal algorithm that can guide the way each sensor node transmit it's data in order to reduce the power needed for the transmission process. This research focuses on creating a simplified scheduling algorithm that can break up the transmission waves into chains of nodes, so that each node transmits the data that has been collected to the best available node around, and so on till the information is propagated to the main server that collects all the information and analyze them.This newly proposed algorithm takes many attributes into considerations, but the main ones are the geographical information and the load that each senor node carries. A simulation model has been created to verify the effectiveness of the algorithm and to compare how close the results to the ideal network configuration are.

Genetic Management Plan for the Endangered Pallid Sturgeon (Scaphirynchus albus) Captive Broodstock Maintained at Gavin's Point National Fish Hatchery

Melody Saltzgiver — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:52 PST

Pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) is a native North American fish that was listed as a federally endangered species in 1990 due to failure in spawning and recruitment, perhaps as a result of human modifications to their habitat. The upper Missouri River basin pallid sturgeon have been shown to be genetically distinct from other pallid sturgeon. Since there has been no natural recruitment in the upper Missouri River for several decades, perpetuation of this genetically distinct unit is reliant on propagation using remaining wild fish as broodstock. The expense associated with acquiring unique individuals from the remaining wild broodstock is causing wild collection to become a less viable option each year. It has been proposed that rearing progeny of wild broodstock fish in a hatchery setting as captive broodstock may be feasible alternative to wild collections. The genetic risks associated with the creation of a captive broodstock need to be investigated and a captive management plan needs to be developed prior to the implementation of a captive broodstock program. The relatedness values and the effective population size for the wild caught founders were determined by genotyping wild upper Missouri River pallid sturgeon at 16 previously developed microsatellite loci. The founding wild broodstock were shown to encompass an ample amount of genetic variation and a sufficiently large effective population size. The broodstock currently housed as Gavin's Point National Fish Hatchery can be exclusively used for the propagation of pallid sturgeon to be stocked in the upper Missouri River with the caveat that descendents from each wild fish will be spawned in the future and that the reproductive variance of the broodstock be controlled to maximize Ne and thus reduce inbreeding.

Assessment of Parapet Loads Distributed to Prestressed Concrete I-Beams in Simple Span Bridges

Amelia Leigh Siegert — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:51 PST

In engineering practice, there is no clear reference or guidance for the computation of the superimposed parapet load distributed to each girder of a bridge. The purpose of this study is to determine the distribution of the parapet wall weight load to prestressed concrete girders for simple span bridges. The focus is on the reactions at the bearings of simple span bridges. It was found in this study that the exterior girder takes about fifty percent of the parapet load distribution in a case with five girders. This study presents background, introduction, data, and results pertaining to this research. Care is made to fully explain all procedures and terminology for complete understanding of the topic. This study implements the finite element analysis program NISA to test simple span bridge models and collect the data of the reactions at the bearings of these models. Multiple models are created that use AASHTO Types III prestressed concrete girders. The lengths of the girders as well as the cantilever span lengths of the deck will vary. The focus of this research is to determine the distribution of the parapet weight loading on the prestressed concrete girders of simple span bridges. The results are provided in table form showing the reactions on the bridge models. The ratios of the load distribution of the exterior beams to the load distribution of the interior beams are also shown. This data provides a reference for the load distribution of the parapet wall weight to the girders.

Reconfigurable Cache Memory

Jeffery Ramon Brewer — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:50 PST

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Jeffery R. Brewer, for the Master degree in Electrical Computer Engineer, presented on May 22, 2009 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: Reconfigurable Cache Memory MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Nazeih Botros As chip designers continue to push the performance of microprocessors to higher levels the energy demand grows. The increase need for integrated chips that provide energy savings without degrading performance is paramount. The cache memory is typically over fifty percent of the size of today's microprocessor chip, and consumes a significant percentage of the total power. Therefore, by designing a reconfigurable cache that's able to dynamically adjust to a smaller cache size without encountering a significant degrade in performance, we are able to realize power conservation. Tournament caching is a reconfigurable method that tracks the current performance of the cache and compares it to possible smaller or larger cache size [1] . The results in this thesis shows that reconfigurable cache memory implemented with a configuration mechanism like Tournament caching would take advantage of associativity and cache size while providing energy conservation. i

Comparison of Next Generation Attenuation (NGA) Models with Recorded Ground Motions

Zachary Thomas Bulva — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:49 PST

Earthquake Engineering

Assessment of Stresses in Steel Bridge Gusset Plate Connections using Finite Element Analysis

Donald William Tempinson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:49 PST

Gussets plates are used in truss structures to connect multiple members. It is for this reason that it is important that the gusset plate have adequate strength to transfer forces between members, otherwise a failure in a gusset plate can cause the entire truss structure to fail. This study will focus on a gusset plate that is believed to have been under designed on the I-35W Minneapolis bridge. Three possible sources of failure will be investigated: yielding of the gusset plate, fracture of the gusset plate, and buckling of the gusset plate. Various sources such as the plans for the truss and an interim report on its failure will be utilized to construct the model for the finite element analysis. The results obtained from the finite element analysis and the traditional analysis approach using uniform force method will be used to investigate the failure of the gusset plate.

DFT study of hydrogen storage in complex hydrides doped with transition metals

Jiamei Yu — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:48 PST

In this thesis, two types of complex hydrides doped with transition metals as potential hydrogen storage materials were investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. TiAl3 cluster as well as its interaction with hydrogen was characterized. Our calculation showed that Ti atom and three Al atoms form a tetrahedron in the most stable structure of TiAl3Hx for x=0~8. Starting from TiAl3H9, the Ti atom and three Al atoms form a planar structure. Our results also showed that a TiAl3 cluster can hold up to twelve hydrogen atoms, corresponding to dissociation of six hydrogen molecules. Further adding hydrogen to the clusters beyond TiAl3H12, hydrogen becomes molecularly adsorbed. Moreover, the formation energy, the hydrogen removal energy, HOMO-LUMO gap, and electron affinity of TiAl3Hx clusters were also investigated. The formation energy of TiAl3Hx varies almost linearly up to x = 8. Beyond 8, the energy gain with increasing x slows down. Correspondingly, the hydrogen removal energy decreases, indicating smaller energy cost for hydrogen release. The exploration of electronic charge on hydrogen activation indicates that both tetrahedral and planar TiAl3Hx- cluster can break hydrogen molecular bond. Combing with the previous analysis of hydrogen desorption from Ti-doped NaAlH4, we demonstrated that TiAl3Hx plays an important role in hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of Ti-doped NaAlH4 system. Hydrogen adsorption on Pt4, Ni4, and Pd4 doped Li3N were also studied. Since the transition metals play the catalytic role to dissociate H2, with the higher diffusivity and activity of hydrogen atom to spillover from metal sites to Li3N, the storage capacity and kinetic can be improved. Our calculation results showed that Pd is a better catalyst for hydrogen spillover than Pt and Ni. The calculated barrier for the diffusion of hydrogen from Pd4 to the N site is 25kJ/mol. It is in good agreement with the value from experimental analysis. These results indicated that the kinetic barrier for the hydrogenation process of Pd-doped Li3N is located at the migration of hydrogen from Pd to N sites. This work suggests that catalytic metals doped in hydrogen storing complex metals can ease the H-H bond cleavage, and the spillover of the resulting hydrogen can lead to the hydrogenation of complex metals via a kinetically more favorable pathway.

LAND SNAIL ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY WITH ASSOCIATED ECOLOGICAL VARIABLES IN SIX SOUTHERN ILLINOIS COUNTIES

Marla Lee Coppolino — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:47 PST

Various ecological parameters, including soil pH, calcium, and habitat complexity have been suggested in the literature as having influence on land snail abundance and diversity. I compared relationships between 15 ecological parameters and snail abundance and diversity. 5,393 snails of 72 species were collected from 60 sites in 2007. Habitat observations were recorded in the field and soil core samples taken at each site and later analyzed for soil moisture, organic matter, cation exchange capacity, pH, calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, sulfur, boron, manganese, iron and copper. Statistical analyses were run using these soil factors plus a habitat complexity index (from combined values assigned to different levels of vegetation, topography and exposed rock), for a total of 15 parameters. To reduce the number of parameters and arrive at a more biologically meaningful model, Bayesian Information Criteria analysis (BIC) was run for abundance and diversity. The resulting best-fitted BIC model for abundance contained 3 parameters (pH, S, and habitat complexity) (R2 = 0.47), all of which were positively associated with abundance in a multiple regression analysis. For diversity, the best-fitted BIC model also contained 3 parameters (Ca, Fe, and habitat complexity) (R2 = 0.54). Ca and habitat complexity showed a positive association in the multiple regression analysis, but Fe was inversely associated with diversity, suggesting Fe could potentially act as an ecological limiting factor to it. These results suggest that land snail abundance and diversity are best treated separately in analyses, as they are influenced by different variables, with the exception of habitat complexity, which is suggested to have a positive association with both abundance and diversity. The regression model equations have potential value in that they can be used to predict snail abundance and diversity in areas that have not been assessed.

A PILOT STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF A COMMUNITY-BASED LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE "AT RISK" FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES

Rebecca Faith Startzer — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:47 PST

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Rebecca Startzer, for the Master of Science degree in Community Nutrition, presented on November 6, 2008, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: A PILOT STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF A COMMUNITY-BASED LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE "AT RISK" FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Sharon Peterson The prevalence of childhood Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has increased by 33% over the last 15 years (Kaufman, 2002). With the growing number of adolescents with T2DM, it is important to identify adolescents who are "at risk" for T2DM and develop programs to help delay or prevent T2DM. Our pilot study, "R .U. A. Healthy Kid?" sought to examine the relationship of middle school students "at risk" for T2DM and lifestyle factors, including family meals, physical activity, and "screen time" in an effort to reduce their risk through a community-based intervention. At baseline a significant negative correlation was found between "screen time" levels and fruit (p= 0.041) and vegetable (p = 0.046) intake and a significant positive correlation between "screen time" levels and physical activity levels (p=0.006). At three months, a significant positive correlation was found between family meals at home and vegetable intake increased (p=0.024) and a significant positive correlation between family meal frequency increased and physical activity levels (p=0.047). From baseline to three months, frequency of family meals at home decreased (p=0.021). From this study, it could be concluded that improving "at risk" adolescent's behaviors related to family meals, physical activity, and "screen time" levels are critical while developing successful interventions for adolescents "at risk" for T2DM.

Generating Sustainable Weight Loss: Investigating the Efficacy of a Behavioral Based Weight Loss Intervention

Michael James Bordieri — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:46 PST

Two thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. Traditional obesity interventions (e.g. drug therapy, diets, behavior therapy) generate moderate short-term weight loss but have little evidence of long-term weight maintenance. The cultural phenomenon of "yo-yo dieting" mirrors empirical findings which suggest that weight loss, albeit demanding, is a far easier process to target than weight maintenance. The present study sought to evaluate the efficacy of an acceptance based behavioral intervention designed to generate improvements in psychological health and quality of life in obese and overweight adults as well as encourage gradual and sustainable weight loss. The therapy package combined the traditional behavioral interventions of self-monitoring and goal setting with an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) protocol across eight weekly individual therapy sessions. While no significant immediate weight loss was observed following the intervention, significant improvements in general psychological health, reductions in anxiety and escape maintained eating, and increases in weight related acceptance and action were found in the treatment group (n = 9) compared to a wait list control group (n = 10). These findings suggest that an acceptance based intervention targeting wide band outcomes might serve as a viable alternative to traditional approaches targeting only immediate weight loss.

Novel State Coding For Scalable Pattern Matching

Mini Mathew — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:45 PST

Security in computer networks has become an increasing concern with the increase in network tra�c. Signature-based Network Intrusion Detection Sys- tem(NIDS) is considered a preferable system in securing the network because of its e�cient detection capabilities. However, increasing tra�c rate and rapid increase in attack patterns in the present network requires this signature(pattern) match- ing engine to be fast, deterministic, recon�gurable and memory-e�cient. Works like [2] use Deterministic Finite Automaton(DFA) to provide deterministic perfor- mance and also provide solutions to reducing the large memory requirements of this DFA. In my thesis, I have adapted this method of using a DFA and proposed a software-based pattern matching engine that provides the deterministic performance comparable to the hardware-based system along-with the portability of software. A novel state coding approach has been presented for achieving the pattern matching requirements. Also, two methods, \Split-DFA(SDFA)" and \Character Aware" are introduced to achieve e�cient state coding. The results verify the reduced memory requirement of proposed system in comparison to the memory-based DFA and also gives their performance. The deterministic performance of this system is studied for a real network scenario . This software-based pattern matching engine therefore contributes to the need of achieving a fast, programmable, portable and resource- e�cient pattern matching engine in securing the present network.

Hanging out with the cool frogs: Do operative and body temperatures explain population response to disease?

Sarah Nthabiseng Becker — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:44 PST

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a fungal pathogen causing amphibian population declines. Bd has a narrow thermal tolerance and requires moisture to survive. Differences in frog biology, pathogen biology or temperature and moisture conditions may determine population response to disease. Population responses to Bd vary among sites, habitats, species and populations. In the tropics, stream-dwelling species decline to a greater degree than forest species, yet not all stream species decline to extirpation and not all forest species survive. I hypothesized that variation in operative temperature (T_e) or body temperature (T_b) might explain differences in host population change documented among sites, seasons, habitats, and species. I sampled three moist-forest Panamanian sites (elevation 375 - 1300 m) during 2.5 months of the 2008 wet season and four different moist-forest sites (elevation 400 - 1300 m) during 3 weeks of the 2008 dry season. I measured T_e and T_b of anurans along stream and forest transects. Additional environmental variables such as height, substrate, canopy cover and sunfleck presence were measured concomitantly. I used analysis of covariance to determine whether these factors influenced T_e and T_b. I compared frequency distributions of T_b and T_e to a Bd thermal growth curve to determine: 1) whether temperatures above Bd's critical thermal maximum were available to frogs, and 2) whether populations of species that have declined occupied habitats more frequently in Bd's optimal thermal range than species that have not. T_e and T_b differed among sites, with cooler temperatures at higher elevation. T_e was cooler during the dry season yet the presence of sunflecks and open canopy had greater effect on T_e during the dry season. Within a site, T_e and T_b were not different between habitats. Within a site, T_b did not vary among species. Average T_e and T_b for all sites fell within Bd's thermal tolerance range, but the low elevation sites had T_b ranges extending above Bd's critical thermal maximum. Although temperature may explain greater losses at higher elevations, I found no significant difference in operative temperatures between stream and forest habitats at any site which indicates that temperature alone does not explain greater losses of stream anurans. Species that have declined to extirpation elsewhere did not consistently have cooler body temperatures compared to surviving species. Within the Neotropics, moisture, instead of temperature, may explain patterns of Bd prevalence among seasons, habitats, and species.

Recognition through Misrecognition: Kant, Hegel and the Problem of United Life in Modernity

Kenneth Knight — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:43 PST

This thesis provides an examination of the theory of recognition presented in the Phenomenology of Spirit. My objective is to demonstrate that Hegel's theory of recognition seeks to address the problem of united life as it emerges in modernity. For Hegel, the modern subject is characterized by negativity. In the context of his discussion of united life, this means that the modern subject separates itself from the community and fractures united life by acting in excess of shared social norms. Hegel's theory of recognition can be read as an attempt to conceive united life in terms that accommodate and affirm the ethical significance of the modern subject. Chapter 1 examines Hegel's initial attempt to think through the problem of united life as it appears in "The Spirit of Christianity and its Fate." This attempt is inadequate because, although it is designed to confront the limitations of Kantian morality, it hinges on a metaphysic of love that is intelligible only in terms of the family-based traditional community. It therefore fails to accommodate certain features of modern life, centrally the individuation of the modern subject. Chapter 2 turns to Hegel's attempt to overcome this failure in the theory of recognition that appears in his Phenomenology of Spirit. I demonstrate that Hegel's famous dialectic of lordship and bondage presents the essential problem of misrecognition in his theory of recognition, yet it is not itself the key to this theory, as it has sometimes been taken to be. Chapter 3 shows how the dialectic of evil and forgiveness fulfils Hegel's thought on recognition and misrecognition. I first detail the dialectic's emergence in relation to Kant's moral philosophy. I then explore its two central features: the experience of misrecognition in the relationship between the two forms of consciousness that enact the dialectic; and the non-symmetrical nature of mutual recognition that ensues from the experience of misrecognition. I show, thereby, that Hegel's theory of recognition is an attempt to conceive united life in terms that accommodate and rest on the negativity of the modern subject.

3-D Face Recognition using the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT)

Neda Hantehzadeh — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:42 PST

Face recognition can be used in various biometric applications ranging from identifying criminals entering an airport to identifying an unconscious patient in the hospital With the introduction of 3-dimensional scanners in the last decade, researchers have begun to develop new methods for 3-D face recognition. This thesis focuses on 3-D face recognition using the one- and two-dimensional Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) . A feature ranking based dimensionality reduction strategy is introduced to select the DCT coefficients that yield the best classification accuracies. Two forms of 3-D representation are used: point cloud and depth map images. These representations are extracted from the original VRML files in a face database and are normalized during the extraction process. Classification accuracies exceeding 97% are obtained using the point cloud images in conjunction with the 2-D DCT.

Crowd Evacuation for Indoor Public Spaces

Pejman Kamkarian — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:41 PST

Rapid evacuation of occupants from indoor public indoor spaces will saves lives in emergency responses. To determine optimal configurations, we examine number and locations of exit doors on hypothetical rooms and participant crowds. We have used multiagent system modeling techniques with some inspiration from swarms and grid communications. Our other inspirations come from the crowd dynamics that is an emerging discipline for study of pedestrian traffic in densely populated urban environments. Our simulations allow testing common intuitions and current building codes. This will serve as a useful tool for forecasting and future design practices.

DEVELOPMENT OF CHEMICALLY MUTAGENIZED SOYBEAN POPULATIONS FOR FORWARD AND REVERSE GENETICS ANALYSES

EN HUANG — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:40 PST

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is one of the most economically important crop species in the world. Allelic series that increase genetic variability are very important resources for crop improvement and gene function studies by reverse genetics. Moreover, mutant varieties are not required to comply with the international Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) regulations, which makes them more acceptable to consumers. Two chemical mutagenized soybean populations of approximately 2,260 and 2,450 M2 families from cultivars `Forrest' and `Williams 82' were successfully developed in 2007 ~ 2008. These mutagenized populations with high genetic variability were useful resources for both forward and reverse screening of desired agronomic traits. A large number of visible morphological phenotypes were identified in the mutagenized population, such as albinism, abnormal leaflets and black seed coats, which suggested the success of generating genetic variability by mutagenesis. Additionally, a database was established consisting of the pictures of each plant at maturity, some of the morphological and yield characteristics of each plant. Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes (TILLING) was used to identify the induced mutations in this project. TILLING combines the advantages of conventional mutation breeding to increase the genetic variability with the high throughput screening of induced mutations for genes of interest. TILLING is a PCR-based method to identify mutations with the aid of the mismatch endonuclease enzyme ENDO1, which detects and cleaves the mismatches between mutant and wild-type DNA amplicons. The presence of a mutation can be visualized using denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis on a LI-COR 4300 DNA analysis system. The soybean Nodule Autoregulation Receptor Kinase (NARK) gene was targeted in this project to examine the mutation rate of the developed populations. Two mutants in the soybean NARK gene were identified after screening of 768 `Forrest' soybean mutant lines. The mutation rate of the NARK gene in the tested population was 1 mutation/ 540 kb. We obtained this mutation density using EMS at a dose of 0.78% (v/v), which resulted in ~50% seed lethality after treatment. One of the mutants (F262) carried a non-sense mutation in the targeted region of the NARK gene, which resulted in increased nodulation in soybean. Mutant line F262 produced 9 times more nodules than the experiment control. Therefore, TILLING is an efficient approach to identify allelic series in soybean for both gene function studies and crop improvement by providing germplasm with increased genetic variability. Allelic series identified by TILLING are useful resources to link the genotype to particular phenotype.

TEACHING EFFICACY OF NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE TEACHERS OF ENGLISH IN VIETNAM: A TRIANGULATION OF STUDENT AND TEACHER PERCEPTIONS

Vien Cao — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:39 PST

Studies about native and non-native language teachers have found that these two groups are perceived as different from each other in language abilities and teaching styles. However, most of the existing research has investigated the perspective of teachers or students separately and has rarely triangulated their opinions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to contribute to the body of literature related to the native and non-native teacher dichotomy by triangulating perceptions from native and non-native teacher samples and a student sample. Particularly, this study set out to examine the problem in the context of the English language teaching and learning system in Vietnam. This study involved three participant groups: 30 native English teachers (NETs), 30 Vietnamese teachers (VETs), and 30 Vietnamese EFL students in Vietnam. The instrument included two versions of an online Likert scale survey, one for the students and the other for the teachers (both NETs and VETs). The questions covered 4 areas of teaching efficacy: teaching language skills, teaching language aspects, teaching methodology, and assessment. The data were analyzed through statistical analyses, including Cronbach alpha, two MANOVAs, and 16 dependent t-tests. The results of this study revealed that NETs, VETs, and students did not differ significantly in how they perceived the teaching efficacy of NETs and VETs. Instead, they had similar judgments which overall were in the upper part of the scale, showing rather positive perceptions of the teaching efficacy of both NETs and VETs. NETs were favored in teaching pronunciation; teaching culture; teaching speaking; involving students; balancing lecture, pair work, and group work; organizing classes; measuring students' progress; and grading. VETs were found more effective in teaching grammar and giving feedback. Both NETs and VETs were perceived as equally effective in teaching listening, teaching reading, teaching writing, teaching vocabulary, preparing classes, and giving an appropriate number of tests.

Office Design: Designing for Productivity in the Workplace

Garret Lee Lukens — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:38 PST

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Garret L. Lukens, for the Master of Architecture Degree in Architecture, presented on June 26, 2009, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: Office Design: Designing for Productivity in the Workplace MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Craig Anz This paper presents the potential for productivity in the workplace and the factors that influence it as it pertains to an architectural design project in Carbondale, IL. The project focuses on the physical, psychological, and functional affects that the built environment has, both negatively and positively, on the occupants of the facility. The design project is a 3-story office building for Leo Burnett Advertising Agency that will strive to increase the productivity of the staff within the spatial structure. As companies struggle to meet the financial demands of today's market, they tend to lose sight of the potential for productivity when faced with the initial and operational costs of the facility in which they work. Instead of trying to bring in an over abundance of employees to compensate for the lack of quality and production, employers should consider what can be done to unveil the potential of the current employees and increase their productivity. There are many factors that affect the productivity of people within their work environment. Environmental and workplace design plays a significant role on the productivity levels of the employees that work in an office building. Ensuring that employees have proper workstations to meet their needs, comfortable and healthy work conditions, and spaces that they enjoy to work in aids in their productivity. The building typology as well as the unique programmatic demands would challenge any designer to create a space that increases productivity for the workers and inspires their minds to create for themselves.

AMELIORATING AERIAL NEAR MISSES WITH PCA DEVICES AND MOTL

Naren Bhosle — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:36 PST

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Naren Bhosle, for the Masters of Science degree in Computer Science, presented on March 02, 2009, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: AMELORIATING AERIAL NEAR MISSES WITH PCA DEVICES AND MOTL MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Henry Hexmoor A near miss is an unplanned event in air traffic that does not result in direct injury, illness or material damage. However, since an air craft come close to one another, there is threat of collision. An immediate consequence of near miss is tremendous psychological fear. Near misses are headline news and each case is investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Every pilot during flying hours has to record near misses. Although human error is commonly an initiating event, a faulty process or system invariably permits or compounds the harm, and should be the focus of improvement. Statistics tell us that for every 300 near misses there is one serious injury. To help every pilot to navigate with ease and to avoid collision and reduce the number of near misses, public collision avoidance systems are inexistence. There are many Commercial Collision Avoidance Systems exist such as Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS), Beacon-based Collision Avoidance System (BCAS), Air Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), Air Traffic Controller (ATC), Portable Collision Avoidance System (PCAS), etc,. Portable Collision Avoidance System as it is a decentralized system and has many benefits. Our objective is to count the number of near misses and to calculate the efficiency of a Portable Collision Avoidance System. Our inputs to achieve my objective would be a PCAS plus Flight simulator environment. We would like to simulate the environment using Net Logo. In this simulation we would compute the relative locations of the flights and check whether it can be considered as a near miss. Finally, we would like to enumerate the results in presence of a Portable Collision Avoidance System and in absence of it. With the help of which we can tell, to what level does a Portable Collision Avoidance System yields a good result when compared to the environment with the absence of PCAS.

THE RURAL TOWN SQUARE AND ITS NEW IDENTITY

Matthew Jacob Highlander — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:35 PST

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Matthew J. Highlander, for the Masters of Architecture degree in Architecture, presented on July 6, 2009, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: THE RURAL TOWN SQUARE AND ITS NEW IDENTITY MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Craig K. Anz This thesis investigates the current complex nature that is the American town square and its identity in rural heartland communities. Historically, the town square in this context becomes an image of civic pride in its community through the incorporation of essential civic buildings such as county courthouses, city halls, community centers, guest houses as well as functioning playhouses, gathering spaces such as a parks, gazebos, or green space for public use within the town square. However, through the advent of the automobile, one-stop shopping, and urban sprawl, rural town squares have become a shell or fossil of their former selves as citizens visit this district of town less frequently due to a lack of business and public activities. Hence, these spaces become subjugated to other forms of planning and thus become dens for poverty and areas for crime. However there are many present solutions that can facilitate a movement towards improvement in this area. One such solution is the redesign of surrounding square spaces in conjunction with the incorporation of mix-use facilities within the town square streetscape. Mix-use buildings offer a variety of options that can introduce daily use businesses such as coffee houses, bookstores, deli shops, etc..., have night hours, and do not require a large amount of space to operate business. Along with these businesses, mix-use facilities can also incorporate a variety of residential living quarters such as lofts, studios, and townhomes to foster life within these places. Again, as a result, there is a substantial increase in the amount of public activity within the towns square between residents, business proprietors, and shoppers. This activity alone can transform a once dim light of the community into a shining example of the image and identity that the community wishes to project to its participants. The mix-use building and square together also have the ability to co-operate as a self-sustaining entity of the community due to the type of businesses that it incorporates and its proximity to other businesses within the town square and the community as a whole.

Conceptus Effects on Endometrial Gene Expression during Implantation in Mice

Melinda McConaha — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:33 PST

Decidualization involves the differentiation of the endometrial tissue into the decidual tissue of the pregnant uterus in several species including humans and rodents. This differentiation occurs only after the onset of implantation in mice and can be artificially-induced causing the formation of deciduomal tissue. The purpose of this study was to identify a group of differentially expressed genes between the developing decidua and deciduoma and study their expression as it may relate to conceptus influenced changes in endometrial gene expression during decidualization. In this study we artificially induced decidualization by transferring blastocyst-sized ConA-coated agarose beads into the uterus on Day 2.5 of pregnancy as we had previously found this model to be more "physiological". Total RNA was isolated from implantation sites of the uteri of pregnant mice as well as pseudopregnant mice that received beads. This RNA was then used for microarray analysis using Mouse Illumina Beadarray chips. This revealed potential differential mRNA levels of over 1,000 genes between the decidua and bead-induced deciduoma tissues of Day 7.5 pregnant and pseudopregnant mice, respectively. Of these, the mRNA levels of 102 genes were 2-fold greater in the decidual tissue while almost twice as many were 2-fold greater in the deciduoma. The broad functions of the protein encoded by the mRNAs included protein binding (e.g. Copz1, Gjb2, Dctn1, Islr, Nisch, Wwc1, Cdc20, Rxrb, Klhl7, Adam10), calcium transport (e.g. Anxa6, Itga11, Clta, Smoc2, Vdr), hydrolase/peptidase activity (e.g. Klk5, Klk26, Klk24, Tmprss4, Ptpn14, Ddx3x, Atp1a2, Usp25, Smarca1), ligase activity (e.g. Iars, Farsla, Ube2v1, Cbll1, Rnf19, Mccc1), and transcription (e.g. Irf1, Hip1, Bhlha15, Supt6h, Scand1, Myocd, Sp3, Mitf, Papolg). We confirmed the differential mRNA levels of a number of gene transcripts using quantitative RT-PCR. Finally, the level and localization of some of the mRNA's identified by our microaray analysis were examined in the mouse uterus during decidualization in more detail and included: Aldh3a1, Bcmo1, Guca2b, GCC, and Inhbb. Localization of mRNA expression in the Day 7.5 implantation site occurred in the mesometrial region near the lumen (Aldh3a1), luminal and glandular epithelia (Guca2b), and endothelial cells lining the sinusoids (Inhbb). This study provides the identity and expression analysis of steady-state mRNA levels of genes whose expression may be influenced by the conceptus using a physiological model for implantation.

ATTITUDINAL DIFFERENCES ABOUT DISABILITIES AMONG REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS

Heaven L. Hollender — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:32 PST

Attitudes towards persons with disabilities have been a concern for years. This study examined the attitudes of rehabilitation professionals towards persons with disabilities and toward educational accommodation. The attitudes were examined through the collection and analysis of three components of data. The components were included demographics, intensity of disability contact, and attitudes toward education accommodation.

Looking to the Past to Plan a Future

Ryan Elizabeth Keutzer — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:32 PST

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Ryan Elizabeth Keutzer, for the Master degree in Architecture, presented on July 10, 2009, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: LOOKING TO THE PAST TO PLAN A FUTURE MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Craig Anz Preserving, conserving, rehabilitating, renovating and adaptively reusing historic buildings is one of the most "sustainable"*; building practices today. "Older and historic buildings comprise more than half of the existing buildings in the United States and the retention and reuse of these buildings preserves the materials, embodied energy, and human capital already expended in their construction. The recycling of buildings is one of the most beneficial `green' practices, and stresses the importance and value of historic preservation in the overall promotion of sustainability." The focus of this project will be Shryock Auditorium, located within Southern Illinois University's campus. The research will establish significance of the 1917 building through analysis of the Architect**, the University, the architecture, and the social framework surrounding its inception. Analysis of the current needs of the Auditorium will be done by working with its users and staff. By comparing the current needs with the original intent of the building, the design solution, will be a compromise of both old and new. * "Sustainable", in the context of this project, refers to the idea of preserving the sense of place within a "community" - in this case the community of SIU, Carbondale, and southern Illinois. ** Placing the building in its historical narrative and studying the architect, James B. Dibelka, a prominent Bohemian Chicagoan and also the State Architect of this time, gives significance to the importance of preserving its spirit within the context. Technical Committee on Sustainable Preservation, "Greening Preservation through Collaboration," The Association for Preservation Technology International, http://www.apti.org/about/technical.cfm#A5A (accessed June 25, 2009).

THE USE OF INTESTINAL MICROFLORA MODIFICATION TO MAXIMIZE THE ANTI-OBESITY AND ANTI-DIABETIC EFFECTS OF SOY PROTEIN DIETS IN FEMALE ZUCKER DIABETIC FATTY RATS

Michele Marie Martin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:31 PST

With obesity and type 2 diabetes on the rise, research is trying to find ways to reverse or slow its progress. Soy diets have been shown to be effective in doing so but have variable results. One variable that may affect soy's effectiveness is intestinal microflora. This experiment used female Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats that develop type 2 diabetes when fed high-fat diet and is similar to that of human development of type 2 diabetes. This study used soy diets designed to modify intestinal bacteria with probiotics or prebiotics: control, 2.5% fructooligosaccharide (FOS), 2.5% B. lactis, or 2.5% L. acidophilus. Food intake, body weight, and glucose levels were evaluated weekly throughout the study. At the end of a 23 day period total body lipids were assessed, as well as, glucose levels. The percent body lipids in the B. lactis group were higher than all other groups (p>0.05). The B. lactis and L. acidophilus groups had seemingly higher glucose levels; however, the statistical analysis was insignificant due to high variation between groups. Urine samples showed B. lactis and L. acidophilus groups had three rats with glucose levels of 500 mg/dl or above while control and FOS groups had one rat each in this category. This study showed no improvement to obesity and diabetic parameters through the microflora modifications used. In fact, some parameters worsened indicating a need for continuing research of soy with intestinal microflora modification.

The Utilization of Expert Advice: Effects of Cost and Accuracy

Steven C. Sutherland — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:30 PST

Effects of cost and accuracy on the decision to request and to utilize expert advice were investigated in 2 experiments using a choice task. Experiments 1 and 2 found that experienced accuracy significantly predicted requesting expert advice. Participants in Experiment 2 used very inaccurate experts to rule out the expert's option. Cost affected requesting advice in Experiment 1 only when cost was able to exceed the amount that could be gained for a correct choice. Experiment 2 found a significant interaction between cost and experienced accuracy. Both experiments found requesting advice was the only significant predictor for changing answers. The results did not support an adherence to sunk costs in the decision to change answers.

THE EFFECT OF A COMMUNITY-BASED LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION ON THE CHANGES IN SNACKING HABITS FROM BASELINE TO THREE MONTHS AMONG ADOLESCENTS AT-RISK FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES

Kristin Michelle Caravelli — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:29 PST

Currently there is little research on the snack habits of adolescents at-risk for Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM). Healthy snacks are an important part of an adolescent's diet because they provide energy between meals, additional calories important for children's growth and development, and may be beneficial by helping to curb overeating at meals. This pilot study sought to examine the changes in snacking habits by adolescents at-risk for T2DM participating in a community-based lifestyle intervention. The design of this pilot study was a prospective cohort of adolescents at-risk for T2DM. Nine males and 8 females, 10-15 years of age participated in a baseline and 3 month intervention in the fall/winter of 2008. Snack habits were assessed through a self-reported questionnaire completed by participants at baseline and 3 months. From baseline to 3 months, a statistical trend (p<0.10) toward an increase in consumption of yogurt was seen as well as a significant (p<0.05) increase in consumption of potato chips and snack cakes or pies and significant (p<0.05) decrease in consumption of water. At 3 months, income was negatively correlated with frequency of use of the "Nutrition Facts" food label, number of snacks eaten on a typical day, and self-reported servings of fruit eaten on a typical day. At both baseline and 3 months, a positive correlation was seen between servings of fruit eaten on a typical day and servings of vegetables eaten on a typical day. Whereas there were significant increases in self-reporting of selected unhealthy snack foods and significant decreases in self-reporting of selected healthy snack foods, this study has proven valuable to the understanding of what adolescents who are at-risk for T2DM are eating and correlations between snack habits.

The Effect of Supplementing Grazing Dairy Cattle Diets with Fish Oil and Linseed Oil on Milk CLA and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Content

Leah Holmes-Miller — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:28 PST

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF TITLE: THE EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTING GRAZING DAIRY CATTLE DIETS WITH FISH OIL AND LINSEED OIL ON MILK CLA AND OMEGA-3 FATTY ACID CONTENT In the recent years, there has been considerable interest in the potential health-promoting properties of both conjugated linoleic acid (cis-9, trans-11 CLA), a fatty acid produced naturally in ruminant animals, and omega-3 fatty acids. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the effects of supplementing grazing dairy cows' diet with fish oil(FO)-linseed oil(LO) blend on milk cis-9, trans-11 CLA and omega-3 fatty acids milk content. In experiment one, fourteen lactating Holstein cows were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (7 cows/treatment) and fed either a control or oil supplemented diet for 21 d. Treatment groups were: 1) confinement cows with free access to corn silage and hay mix plus 10 kg/d (DM basis) grain mix supplementation (CONT), or 2) grazing cows with free access to grass pasture plus 10 kg/d grain mix supplementation containing 300 g FO plus 700 g LO (FOLO). Milk samples were collected during the last 3 d of the study and analyzed for chemical and fatty acid composition. Milk production (37.05 vs. 37.29 kg/d), milk protein percentages (3.16 vs. 3.21), and milk protein yield (1.05 vs. 1.25 kg/d) were not affected (P > 0.05) by treatment diets. Milk fat percentages (3.71 and 2.28) and yield (1.25 and 0.87 kg/d) were higher (P < 0 .05) with the CONT group. The concentrations of cis-9, trans-11 CLA (0.29 vs. 2.56 g/100g fatty acid) and vaccenic acid (VA; 0.81 vs. 7.14 g/100g fatty acid) in milk fat were higher (P < 0.05) with the FOLO group. The concentrations of milk omega-3 C18:3n3, C20:5n3, and C22:6n3 were also higher (P < 0.05) with the FOLO group. In experiment two, eighteen lactating Holstein cows who were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups for 21 d. Treatment groups were 1) indoor cows with free access to corn silage and alfalfa hay plus 10 kg/d (DM basis) grain mix supplementation (CONT), 2) indoor cows with free access to corn silage and alfalfa hay plus 10 kg/d grain mix supplementation containing 300 g FO plus 700 g LO (FOLO), and 3) grazing cows with free access to grass pasture plus 10 kg/d grain mix supplementation containing 300 g FO plus 700 g LO (FOLOP). Milk samples were taken from each cow during the last 3 d of the study. Milk production, milk protein percentages and milk protein yield were not affected (P > 0.05) by treatment diets. Milk fat percentages (3.55, 2.85, and 2.39) and yield (1.20, 0.98, and 0.84 kg/d) were lower (P < 0 .05) among the oil supplemented cows with cows on the FOLOP diet having the lowest values. Concentrations of milk cis-9 trans-11 CLA (0.33, 1.78, and 2.94 g/100g fatty acid) and VA (0.83, 5.09, and 7.15 g/100g fatty acid) were higher (P < 0 .05) among the oil supplemented cows and they were highest with cows on the FOLOP diet. Concentration of milk omega-3 fatty acids (0.5, 1.11, and 1.47 g/100g fatty acid) were higher (P < 0.05) among oil supplemented cows and was also highest for cows on the FOLOP diet. In conclusion cows fed diets containing the FO-LO blend resulted in higher milk concentrations of cis-9, trans-11 CLA and omega-3 fatty acids when compared to cows fed the CONT diet. However, greatest increases in cis-9, trans-11 CLA and omega-3 concentrations in the milk were achieved when the FO-LO blend was fed along with grazing.

Effects of Repeated Prescribed Fire and Thinning From Below on Understory Components of Southern Illinois Oak-Hickory Forests

Dennis Frank Carril — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:27 PST

Fire has influenced species composition within the Central Hardwood Forest for millennia. Since the last glacial retreat, Native Americans followed by European settlers used fire as a tool to manipulate their environment. This fire use by humans helped maintain the dominance of well-adapted oak-hickory species across eastern forests. By the 1940's, land fragmentation from increased settlement and actively enforced suppression policies effectively eliminated fire from the landscape. Without the disturbance of recurrent fire that alters succession, the fertile loess-capped hills of southern Illinois have undergone several decades of compositional and structural change manifested by encroachment of mixed mesophytic competitors that are maladapted to fire. Today, land managers seek practical methods to restore declining oak-hickory forests. Southern Illinois forests in particular are lacking information on how cutting and prescribed fire techniques can be applied to encourage regeneration of oak-hickory species. In 2002, five sites were chosen across the Greater Shawnee Hills geographic region for similar ecological characteristics. A factorial combination of thinning and a fire treatment consisting of two burns was used to test the response of understory components including: seedling density, seedling height, seedling diameter, non-tree cover and available sunlight. Results showed a distinct improvement in oak-hickory seedling competitive position as compared to non oak-hickory species. Seedlings of sassafras out-competed all other groups in this study and were the only species to increase in both density and height following repeated fire. The non-tree vegetation layer increased as a result of thin from below treatments, while burning had no effect on the amount of available sunlight. Generally, woody seedlings benefited from thinning based on their physiological adaptations and fire essentially acts as a filter selecting for traits of disturbance-prone vegetation.

The Effect of Urbanization on Flight Initiation Distance and Alert Behaviors in Woodchucks

Kiersten Elizabeth Lippmann — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:26 PST

Animals that thrive in urban settings show a variety of adaptations to the highly disturbed, fragmented, and human-influenced environment present in cities. One adaptation is to decrease the flight response to human disturbance while increasing alert behaviors. This change increases fitness because frequent flight in response to increased human disturbance associated with a city environment would result in decreased foraging time, increased energy expenditure and increased stress levels. I tested the flight behavior of 66 woodchucks at various levels of urbanization and observed 20 woodchucks for vigilance behavior. I collected land-use and disturbance data on-site at each burrow, and recording these data in a binary code. I used hierarchical clustering to sort burrows based on similarity of landscape and behavioral features into 4 clusters of varying degrees of urbanization. Results showed that woodchucks in the urban clusters allowed a human to approach closer than rural woodchucks (i.e., shorter flight initiation distances). Although urban woodchucks spent less time fleeing, they spent more time alert while foraging, indicating increased vigilance. These results suggest that urban woodchucks have behavioral plasticity when exposed to the frequent disturbances present in urban environments. This plasticity is reflected in their ability to adjust flight behavior to minimize energy expenditure, while increasing alert behavior so that true threats can be identified.

A Pilot Study on the Effects of a Community-Based Lifestyle Intervention on Emotional Eating and Body Image Disparities Among Adolescents Who Are Overweight and "At-Risk" For Type 2 Diabetes

Colleen Marie Humann — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:26 PST

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF COLLEEN HUMANN, for the Masters of Science degree in Food and Nutrition, presented on November 13th, 2008, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: A PILOT STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF A COMMUNITY-BASED LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION ON EMOTIONAL EATING AND BODY IMAGE DISPARITIES AMONG ADOLESCENTS WHO ARE OVERWEIGHT AND &Idquo;AT–RISK” FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Sharon Peterson Previous studies have shown that overweight and obesity in youth and adolescents is one of the leading risk factors for developing Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Besides being &Idquo;at–risk” for T2DM, the possibility also exists for development of major psychological issues. Thus, overweight adolescents who are &Idquo;at–risk” for T2DM may have increased levels of emotional eating, and poor self–esteem and body image. The design of this pilot study (&Idquo;R. U. A Healthy Kid”) was a prospective cohort of 17 free–living middle school students &Idquo;at–risk” for T2DM. Each participant was previously screened and found to have three or more risk factors for T2DM. The intervention targeted four main topics: Family Meals, Healthy Snacks, Physical Activity and &Idquo;Unique U” (emotional eating, self–esteem, body image and stress management). The &Idquo;Unique U” component forms the basis of the current study. After three months in the program, participants’ self–esteem significantly increased since the beginning of the program. Many relationships were found between self–esteem, body image, stress and emotional eating questions. Community– based lifestyle interventions that include issues such as improving self–esteem, body image, stress and emotional eating are critical in helping adolescents who are &Idquo;at–risk” for T2DM.

Understanding Differences in Male and Female Participation in Post-Secondary Correctional Education

Kristin Reschenberg — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:25 PST

The main goal of post-secondary prison education programs is to increase the education level of prisoners and improve their chances of success upon release. However, in order to accomplish this goal of success after release, prisoners must first participate in the education programs. This is especially crucial for female prisoners, many of whom enter prison more socially, economically, and educationally disadvantaged than male prisoners. This analysis aims to determine whether there is a difference is male and female participation in post-secondary prison education programs. In addition, this analysis also aims to determine what factors make male and female inmates more likely to participate in post-secondary prison education programs. The results demonstrate that sex alone is not a significant predictor for participation in post-secondary prison education. However, when combined with other factors sex does become a significant predictor of participation. Factors that are significant predictors of participation for both males and females include previous education, income prior to incarceration, receiving visits from children, time served on the current sentence, participation in a racial or ethnic group, participation in parenting classes, and participation in life skills or community adjustment programs.

Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Understand Seniors' Fruit and Vegetable Purchasing Intentions at Farmers' Markets

Crystal Middleton — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:24 PST

This study examined senior citizens' fresh fruit and vegetable purchasing intentions at farmers' markets using the Theory of Planned Behavior. A survey instrument that measured fruit and vegetable shopping habits in relation to TPB constructs was used to collect information from seniors at farmers' markets. Surveys were administered at four farmers' markets in Southern Illinois. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS 15.0 for Windows. Results showed that attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control were correlated with intention to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets. Multiple regression analysis indicated that attitude and perceived behavioral control most strongly predicted intentions to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets. When comparing the means of seniors with Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program coupons and seniors without coupons, the only construct that was significantly different between the two groups was perceived behavioral control. Results of this study may be useful to senior programs and those in the food and nutrition field because it gives insight on factors that influence fruit and vegetable purchasing intentions.

A Component Analysis of Interteaching in an Undergraduate Rehabilitation Course

Stephen Filipiak — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:23 PST

Traditional techniques and pedagogies of higher education institutions often fail to provide students with optimal arrangements for learning. Interteaching (Boyce & Hineline, 2002) introduces a beneficial way to arrange learning in the college class room and mitigates resistance towards earlier behavior analytic educational systems. A multielement design was used to alternate three conditions in an undergraduate research methods class: (a) lecture, (b) interteaching with points available for completion of preparation guides, and (c) interteaching with no points available for preparation guide completion. Results showed that Interteaching conditions with or without points produced higher quiz scores as compared to lecture. However, approximately three times as many students turned in preparation guides when points were available for doing so. Interteaching conditions also lead to higher rates of student participation, and may be preferred by students.

Accumulator Based Test Set Embedding

Samara Simha Reddy Sudireddy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:22 PST

In this paper a test set embedding based on accumulator driven by an odd additive constant is presented. The problem is formulated around finding the location of the test pattern in the sequence generated by the accumulator, given a odd constant C and test set T, in terms of linear Diophantine equation of two variables. We show that the search space for finding the best constant corresponding to the shortest length, is greatly reduced. Experimental results show a significant improvement in run time with practically acceptable test length.

IMPACT OF ULTRAVIOLET ENERGY ON STRAWBERRY SHELF LIFE

Christopher E. Carpenter — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:21 PST

Ultraviolet energy has been used in the past to disinfect drinking water and fruit juice. This paper will discuss the impact of ultraviolet energy on strawberry shelf life. The ultraviolet tunnel used in the study utilizes lamps that are designed to emit specific narrow wavelength spectrum, of 253.7 nanometers. The tunnel was made of polished aluminum and reflects beams of energy within the tunnel. Ultraviolet energy can improve food safety by destroying the microorganisms, such as E coli and salmonella that cause food-borne illnesses. Ultraviolet energy can extend shelf life of produce and make it possible to keep these foods for greater periods of time while keeping the integrity of the berry intact. A review of literature was conducted to identify the pathogens that affected this study, these pathogens were: Grey Mold, Botrytis cinerea ; Dry Crown Rot Botryotinia fuckeliana ; Phomopis Leaf Blight, Phomopsis obscurans and Dendrophoma obscurans ; Rhizopus Rot (leak), Rhizopus stolonifer ; and Tan-brown rot, Discohainesia oenotherae . It was found that ultraviolet viable application range rate were 88.1mj/cm3, 140mj/cm3, 191.9mj/cm3, 243.8mj/cm3, 295.7mj/cm3 and 347.6mj/cm3 lasted longest and these rates were used in the full test run. Results indicated that a significant shelf life extension of strawberries was achieved at each of these treatment levels. The average shelf life of non-treated berries was 14.9 days whereas the average treated strawberries range from 17.25 to 20.9 days. A lowest level of treatment was reached at 15 seconds or 88mj/cm3. A statistical relationship between application rates and shelf life was determined. Using an ANOVA table at 95% confidence interval, it was determined when all samples, as individuals, were considered that the shelf life was extended by exposure to ultraviolet energy. Another ANOVA table was used for each treatment group versus the control group, all treatment groups showed a significant difference opposed to the control group. In conclusion, this study shows that applying ultraviolet energy to strawberries significantly improves shelf life. There was not a significant benefit to exposing the strawberries to added ultraviolet energy.

Photocatalytic Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol

Emmanuel Okpo — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:20 PST

The photocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to methanol was investigated. The procedure for the carbon dioxide conversion was carried out using a small scale filter type photocatalytic reactor. In conducting the experiments, carbon dioxide mixed with water vapor was discharged into the photocatalytic reactor in the presence of a catalyst and light irradiation from a UV lamp for conversion to methanol. The catalyst that were used for the experiments were titanium dioxide (titania) and copper-loaded titania which were impregnated on a ceramic filter that was initially treated with gamma-alumina which was a good catalyst support for the catalyst. SEM, XRD and particle size analysis was performed as a means of characterization of the catalyst. The effect of the flow rate of carbon dioxide on the conversion process using a UV lamp with a wavelength of 254 nm was studied.

Tribological Properties of Mo2N-based Adaptive Coatings

William Jeffrey Simonson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:19 PST

Adaptive coatings are an important development in tribology. These coatings widen the range at which solid lubricants are useful in various environments. In this paper, coatings founded on molybdenum nitride are studied, with a focus on thermal cycling. These coatings were fabricated by unbalanced magnetron sputtering and characterized with techniques including x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and pin-on-disk tribometer. The results of two sets of coatings are reported. The first set of coatings is a nanocomposite of Mo2N/MoS2/Me (Me = Ag, Au, Cu). The second is a complex multi-layer system of Mo2N/Ag and a diffusion barrier of TiN which has been etched, then filled and coated with a layer of MoS2. After heating, these compounds produced silver molybdates. The Mo2N/MoS2/Ag nanocomposite shows promise with a 0.02 coefficient of friction at room temperature, while the multi-layer system eventually equilibrated at approximately 0.6. At high temperatures, again the nanocomposite was better, producing a 0.25 frictional coefficient compared to a 0.3 from the multilayer system. These results provide insight into what is needed to achieve thermal cycling.

The Role of Previous Experience with Piscovory and Exposure to Fish Predators on Survival of Walleye (Sander vitreus) fingerlings

Richard Franklin Echols — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:18 PST

Walleye (Sander vitreus) culture for maintenance stocking in lakes has always been fraught with challenges. Their propensity to cannibalize at an early age and their reluctance to accept a prepared diet make the production of advanced fingerlings extremely costly. Hatchery reared walleye fingerlings are extremely vulnerable to predation when stocked into impoundments with established fish populations. This study was conducted to determine if fish culturists could increase walleye survival by exposing summer fingerlings to fish predators and/or providing experience with piscivory before being stocked for recreational angling. Tank studies were conducted to minimize environmental variation among experimental treatments and replicates. In 2005, 5 treatment groups were tested, including a group that was allowed to feed on zooplankton only, a group that was habituated to feed, a group that was exposed to a fish predator, a group that was given an opportunity to prey on fish, and a group that was exposed to a fish predator and given an opportunity to prey on fish. In 2006, the feed habituated group was lost to disease, but a feed habituated group that was given experience avoiding fish predators and opportunity to forage on fish prey and a feed habituated group that was given opportunity to forage on fish prey were added. Walleye fingerlings from the 5 treatment groups in 2005 were placed in tanks with cover and a 250 mm largemouth bass as a predator. Walleye survival was measured after 24 hours; no significant differences in survival were detected among treatment groups in 2005. In 2006, 10 walleye fingerlings from each of the 6 treatment groups were added to tanks fitted with a cedar reef for cover and two 250 mm largemouth bass. Fingerling walleye survival was highest in the feed habituated prey exposed group and the feed habituated predator and prey exposed group after 14 days; higher survival in these groups may have been due to their larger initial size. Pond studies were also conducted in 2005 and 2006 to evaluate differences in survival among treatment groups under conditions that more closely resemble environments into which fingerling walleye are stocked. Twelve 0.4-hectare ponds were prepared by placing 15 adult bluegill (~200 mm total length) and 5 adult largemouth bass (~300 mm total length) into each pond along with a 6.5 m cedar reef for cover. Survival of fingerling walleye in ponds was measured on days 3, 7, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 post-stocking. Pond and tank trials indicated no apparent post-stocking increase in survival for walleye fingerlings that were given prior exposure to predators or fish prey. Additionally, a multiple batch tagging / marking procedure was needed to separate walleye fingerling groups in ponds and tanks. Visible Implant Elastomer (VIE) tags and liquid nitrogen freeze brands were chosen and retention rates were determined for fingerling walleye, as little published information on retention rates for these techniques was available. VIE tags were lost steadily over time (41.67% retention at 270 days), while freeze branding showed much better retention (87.88% retention at 270 days).

Differing Perceptions and Functioning Following Discharge from Post-Acute Brain Injury Rehabilitation

Nicholas Joseph Cioe — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:17 PST

Brain injury affects nearly 1.5 million people in the United States every year and estimated that 124,000 of those affected will have some form of long-term disability. Impaired Self Awareness (ISA) has been identified as one of the largest obstacles to successful brain injury rehabilitation and adaption to living with a brain injury. Research on the relationship between the awareness of individuals with acquired brain injury (IwABI) and their significant others has been inconsistent. This study examined the role IwABI and their significant others perception concordance&mdashagreement concerning functioning&mdashhas on maintenance of rehabilitation gains at a follow-up date after completion of adolescent brain injury rehabilitation services. Contrary to the hypotheses, the data showed a strong correlation (.872, p&le.01) and significant relationship (t=35, p&le.001) between IwABI and their significant others Functional Area Outcomes Menu (FAOM) scores at follow-up. There was no relationship between functioning at discharge and perception concordance at follow-up or time post-discharge and perception concordance at follow-up. Several explanations for the findings are provided along with suggestions for future investigation of the research subject.

Using the Stimulus Equivalence Paradigm to Teach Course Material in an Undergraduate Rehabilitation Course

Brooke Walker — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:16 PST

The current research study examined the formation of derived stimulus relations consisting of course content material in an undergraduate rehabilitation class. Specifically, the study examined the degree to which the stimulus equivalence instructional paradigm could be effectively used to teach the relationships between the names, definitions, causes, and common treatments for disabilities using a paper-and-pencil training format. Twenty-two participants were pre and post-tested on definition-to-name, cause-to-name, and treatment-to-name relations by the experimenter in a flashcard-style fashion. Training was conducted using an instructional package consisting of multiple-choice questionnaires in which name-to-definition, name-to-cause, and cause-to-treatment relations were taught and feedback was delivered from the experimenter until mastery. Results suggest that the stimulus equivalence paradigm can be effectively trained in a paper-and-pencil training format with great ease.

Environmental Effects on Student Performance

Garrett Paul Lunsford — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:15 PST

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Garrett P. Lunsford, for the Masters degree in Architecture, presented on July 10th 2009, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ON STUDENT PERFORMANCE MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Walter Wendler With the increasing concern for sub par student performance in America, it has become more vital than ever for designers to create optimal learning environments. Student performance is significantly dependent on the quality of teaching as well as the pupil-instructor relationship. However, it is rare for even our best instructors to receive adequate performance from their students when teaching in poor environments. Research for more than 30 years has displayed explicit correlation between physical characteristics of school buildings and educational outcomes. These physical characteristics include lighting, acoustics, thermal control, indoor air quality, as well as class size. By taking each of these factors into consideration, architects can produce settings that do not hinder student performance. Better educated children today will make the world a smarter, improved, more sustainable environment tomorrow.

SOLVING CONFLICT IN ACADEMIC CONTEXTS: A COMPARISON OF US AND TAIWANESE COLLEGE STUDENTS

Li-Jung Huang — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:14 PST

In today's globalized society with intense interaction between and among cultures, cross cultural understanding is becoming of crucial importance for successful communication. Whenever there is communication among people from different cultures, disagreement, argument and interpersonal conflict may occur. For this reason, the study of cultural differences in conflict resolution is of great value to society at large. Yet, the number of studies that have examined conflict resolution approaches across cultures is insufficient. This study sought to contribute to this area of research by investigating conflict resolution strategies employed by US and Taiwanese college students in academic contexts and the motives underlying participants' preferences for certain strategies. The US and Taiwanese samples were chosen as representative of two different cultures, individualistic and collectivistic, respectively. Specifically, 15 US college students and 15 Taiwanese college students were selected from a US college campus. The Taiwanese group included students who have spent less than one year in the United States. The instrument consisted of a written questionnaire with four conflict scenarios and an audio-recorded interview with six randomly selected participants from both groups. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, Discriminant Function Analysis and content analysis. Both the descriptive and the Discriminant Function analyses showed that the US college students were significantly associated with the use of direct or avoidance conflict resolution approaches, while the Taiwanese college students showed a significantly higher inclination towards an indirect approach often involving a third party. The qualitative results revealed that the motives underlying the participants' responses stemmed from both cultural and personal factors, such as individualistic and collectivistic values as well as family and religious background.

A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF GIS ENTERPRISE MODEL FOR A MEDIUM-SIZED CITY; A CASE OF LIOUSVILLE, KENTUCKY

Tawane D. Burks — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:13 PST

Enterprise GIS (EGIS) is a multiple purpose system that contributes to the operational framework of an organization. The development and implementation of EGIS is evolutionary and its success relies on a number of factors. The main characteristic of implementing a good EGIS depends greatly on good management and the ability to share data efficiently. Since the middle 1990's the efficiency of implementing an EGIS has improved, but many organization still fall short of implementing a successful system. The expected benefits of management and data sharing within EGIS have not achieved its maximum. It is believed that through the evaluation of a medium-sized successful EGIS system and the examination of related literature one can identify the important issues of EGIS implementation and management. This research identifies factors that are important to management and data sharing regarding the implementation of an EGIS. This research shows that the successful implementation of an EGIS relies greatly on an organization establishing good management practices. The key factors identified in the research regarding good management practices involves establishing a "champion", having an in-house technical staff, and the involvement of users during implementation. The research also identifies important concepts regarding data sharing and lists some best practices of EGIS.

Defining a Southern Illinois Eco-Regionalist Approach to Architecture

Alan Lee Knepp — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:11 PST

Architecture professionals discuss methods to create sustainable or "green" buildings. Professions agree that constructing buildings which are ecologically responsive to its local context and climate offer numerous benefits. With this, especially in today's economy; however, the benefits offer future advantages. This research will investigate sustainable ideas using local building materials that promote lower initial costs, yet foster design solutions, rooted in a regionalist approach. The subsequent architectural project will then incorporate these building materials and create building systems that respond to the Southern Illinois temperate but humid climate. To promote a distinct eco-regionalist style of architecture; methods and materials must be competitive with traditional practices, yet offer a more evident use of local products, as well as respect to the clients and builders' expenses and construction methods. This proposed sustainable method will come with a learning curve for the contractor, yet will offer a method that will sustain itself. The subsequent research will offer alternative methods of construction, built with local materials and responsive to the local climate and context, applicable to vernacular building practices promoting sustainability. The following will serve as a case study for the proposed alternative construction methods and materials. The Union County Soil and Water Conservation District plans to construct a complex known as the Abraham Lincoln Environmental Center on an area of 350 feet by 200 feet located northeast of Anna, Illinois. The environmental center is expected to have an exhibition area that would "show the history and development of "green" conservation work."1 The building will also house three different government agencies, Union County Soil and Water Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Farm Service Agency. An added goal of the group is to link this project to the site of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debate, only a mile away. In addition, the facility is planned to include a scenic trail with educational stations in the natural area surrounding the complex. "Stations would include: an open theatre, a rain garden, a roof garden, a wetland, a hill prairie, an oak-savanna plain, a switch grass plantation, a watershed model, soil displays, environmental statistics for the area, an example of carbon footprint tracking and many others to be determined later."2 The overall goal of this architectural thesis project is to create the Abraham Lincoln Environmental Center in Anna, Illinois as a case study of architecture methods and materials that are responsive to the local climate and context. Another goal is to set an example for sustainability construction that is cost effective and will have a quality and meaning with its regional setting to both architectural professionals and clients. 1Union County Soil and Water Conservation District, Conservation World of Union County, (Anna: UCSWCD, 2008) 1-2. 2Ibid

Analysis of Myogenin Function in Rhabdomyosarcoma Cells

Jamie Marie Feldmann — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:10 PST

Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are the most common soft tissue cancer among children and are characterized by their expression of the myogenic regulatory factors MyoD and myogenin. Yet RMS cells cannot undergo normal myogenesis and are caught between the proliferation program and the terminal differentiation program. Many questions still remain about the defects present in rhabdomyosarcoma cells. In this work, we set out to understand the role of myogenin in these cells. To begin, we found that myogenin and its co-factors were present in rhabdomyosarcoma cells at levels that should support terminal differentiation. We examined the expression profile of several myogenin target genes in rhabdomyosarcoma cells and then assayed for myogenin activity using luciferase reporter constructs that contain myogenin dependent promoters to test for myogenin function. Many myogenin target genes were down regulated in RMS cells but that the target promoters on the luciferase constructs were activated. Terminal differentiation is a complicated process that involves many proteins. In cancer cells, it is important to compare the levels proteins with known functions to those levels in wild-type cells at the protein and RNA levels. Establishing the defect of rhabdomyosarcoma cells can lead to further insights into normal myogenesis, and may also lead to new therapeutic approaches in the treatment of this childhood cancer.

IMPLEMENTATION OF SITUATIONAL LEADERSHIP AS AN EFFECTIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MODEL IN THE TRADITIONAL MIDDLE GRADE LEVEL CLASSROOM

Kimberly Jo Lillig — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:09 PST

This quantitative research study was designed and conducted to determine if the situational leadership model could be used successfully for teacher classroom management. This study drew from Hersey and Blanchard's (1982) Situational Leadership Model and Babkie's (2006) outline for proactive management of classroom behavior. The study was conducted with sixteen teachers employed at six public schools serving grades 6-8 in traditional regular education classrooms within Region #30 in the State of Illinois. Three data collection instruments were utilized in this study. Subjects' mean scores from the Leadership Style Assessment for Classroom Teachers - Self (Hayden, 1982) and Other were compared with mean scores attained on the Classroom Behavior Management Checklist. Findings revealed that a positive correlation was achieved between the Leadership Style Assessment for Classroom Teachers and the Classroom Behavior Management Checklist beyond the predetermined level of significance (Olds, 1938 and Fisher & Yates, 1963).

Associations of Tree Species and Environment along Hiking Trails within the Hemlock-Silverbell Forest Type in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Erin Kathleen Bugle — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:08 PST

The hemlock-silverbell (Tsuga canadensis-Halesia tetraptera) forest type is known to exist in only two places, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) and the Joyce Kilmer National Memorial Forest. The hemlock component of this forest type is currently threatened by the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelgis tsugae), an invasive aphid-like insect native to Japan. This current status has given rise to the need to investigate the ecological resources of this rare forest type before the hemlock component dies out. The objectives of this study were to determine the nature of the plant/environment and plant/plant associations within this forest type. Within this forest type hemlock was negatively related to protection, aspect, and slope steepness and silverbell was positively related to aspect and slope steepness. This study also identified some interspecific associations such as the negative relationship in the understory between hemlock and striped maple, and provided evidence that understory stems are exhibiting a growth response to hemlock decline in these stands. The information obtained from this study characterizing the plant/environment interactions and even the structural and species components of this forest type will serve as a baseline of data from which to measure change and will provide insight into the mechanisms of species distribution and perhaps into short term scenarios of forest response to hemlock decline and mortality.

Classifying the Fire Regime Condition Class for Upland Oak-Hickory Forests

Paul David Tikusis — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:05 PST

Several reports of widespread establishment of mesophytic vegetation within oak-hickory upland forests have been documented throughout the Central Hardwoods Region. Previous studies suggest deviations from historic disturbance regimes may be a primary driver of vegetation change, necessitating the use of Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) guidelines to measure changes in forest structure. Current parameters of forest structure and fuel loading were assessed within mature oak-hickory uplands throughout the ecological subsections of the Shawnee National Forest, including the Greater Shawnee Hills, Lesser Shawnee Hills, Cretaceous Hills, and the Illinois Ozarks. Present species importance values and forest structure were compared with reference conditions developed from General Land Office records(Fralish et al. 2002). Current uplands contained an average 214.72 � 16.52 SE trees/ac and 103.37 � 2.16 SE ft2 BA/ac, while reference stands harbored less than 90 trees/ac with a range of 16 and 120 ft2 BA/ac. Due to the high levels of fragmentation and a lack of large contiguous upland stands within the Shawnee National Forest, stand level criteria for FRCC values were developed as opposed to landscape level FRCC values which are commonly used. FRCC values determined during initial surveys were compared with plot level ratios of forest structure parameters regarding oaks:mesophytes and xerophytes:mesophytes, yielding clear relationships between species composition and FRCC values. Fuel loading (tons/ac) was assessed as a determinant of FRCC values, however a significant relationship between FRCC values and fuel loading was not discovered. Since widespread deviations from the historic fire regime have taken place since the early 20th century, Fire Regime Condition Class values were found to fall into the FRCC 2 and 3 categories without any stands representing FRCC 1. This determination requires future management practices to follow Fire Regime Condition Class guidelines. The study proved that mesophytic species have become established within all canopy strata, with a strong probability of gaining future dominance without active forest management. Although it is clear that forest structure has deviated from reference conditions, a strong oak-hickory overstory component found throughout the study area provides a potential resource to sustain future oak-hickory upland ecosystems.

PATHWAY ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VOTER TURNOUT AND HOURS WORKED USING VOTER TURNOUT AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COVERAGE AS INTERMEDIARIES

Andrew Notier — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:04 PST

This study explores the hypothesis that high voter turnout leads to increased leisure. The path is hypothesized to begin with high voter turnout, which creates a political environment that enables strong labor protection. The path then extends from collective bargaining to income equality, which is the final necessary step to increasing leisure time. This study examines data on voter turnout, collective bargaining coverage, income equality as measured by the GINI Index and hours worked in order to determine if a significant relationship exists between voter turnout and the number of hours worked. Twenty nations were used in this study: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States. It was concluded that although significant relationships were found to exist between each of the variables studied, there is no significant statistical relationship between voter turnout and the number of hours worked per capita within each country.