Digital Commons Network^™

Automated Transforms Of Software Models: A Design Pattern Approach, Brandon Adam Gump

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In the realm of software development, projects are plagued by continuous maintenance at the source code level as well as tedious transformations from formal specifications to source code. Such work consumes a large amount of time only to create complicated, un-intelligible, and un-reusable code that is completely detached from initial design rational. To cope with these problems, The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) Wide Spectrum Object Modeling Environment (AWSOME) was designed to generate specifications that can be transformed into abstract designs and finally into source code. The specifications are written in the AFIT Wide-spectrum Language (AWL) and parsed in …

Effects Of Chlorpyrifos-Oxon On Prohormone Convertase Enzyme Activity, Sean William Harshman

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Organophosphate (OP) compounds have been synthesized for various applications including medicine, pest control and weapons of terror. OPs irreversibly phosphorylate the active site of acetylcholinesterase, the primary target of toxicity, rendering it inactive causing a hypercholinergic state in the post synaptic cleft. However, very little is known about the effects of OPs on secondary targets of toxicity i.e. other serine hydrolases. The prohormone convertase (PC) enzymes, specifically PC1/3 and PC2, are serine hydrolases which are responsible for the processing of pro-opiomelanocortin in the anterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary. To test the direct interaction between OPs and the PC …

On The Satisfaction Of Modulus And Ambiguity Function Constraints In Radar Waveform Optimization For Detection, Lee Kenneth Patton

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We consider the design of radar systems that are capable of using knowledge of their interference environment to dynamically design transmit waveforms that afford optimum signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio while satisfying modulus and ambiguity function constraints. We begin by establishing the inextricable nature of modulus constraints in the waveform optimization problem. We then extend the state of the art in waveform optimization to accommodate these constraints. This is done by solving a secondary optimization problem using the method of alternating projections. We demonstrate that this approach can be a computationally efficient alternative to dynamic programming methods. We then consider the multiple-target detection …

The Development Of Preservice Elementary Teachers' Pedagogical Content Knowledge For Scientific Modeling, Michelle Elizabeth Cotterman

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For teachers to effectively engage students in scientific modeling, they require pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) for this practice. This study examines how preservice elementary teachers develop PCK for scientific modeling when given modeling centered instruction in a science methods course. Our findings indicate preservice teachers made significant pedagogical gains in this practice, shifting from using models as static products to using them as thinking tools for students to develop science content knowledge. However, few viewed learning the practice of scientific modeling as an important learning goal. Preservice teachers also had difficulty translating the depth of their understandings into lesson designs, …

Timing-Pulse Measurement And Detector Calibration Of The Osteoquant, Binu Eapen Enchakalody

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The OsteoQuant is a second-generation pQCT scanner, which can provide precisedensity assessment of bone. The scanner is being upgraded with an x-ray tube radiation source and a semiconductor CZT detector. This thesis provides solutions for two issues: motion-detector timing and dead-time/beam-hardening corrections. During translation, the motion-control system of the scanner repositions the source and detector by small intervals. However, the detector collects photon counts asynchronously with respect to the motor-timing pulses and reads photon counts (frames) at regular intervals based on its own clock. Since there needs to be correspondence between source/detector location and detector readout, the first part of …

Human Cognitive Biases And Heuristics In Image Analysis, Mary E. Fendley

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Humans often employ cognitive heuristic principles when making decisions. These cognitive heuristic principles allow the human to simplify the decision making task, and can, by their very nature, lead to deviations, referred to as cognitive biases, which influence the quality of the decisions.

While the role of heuristics and biases have been studied in judgmental decision making tasks, very little research on cognitive heuristics and biases has been done on decision making in complex, dynamic tasks. The research undertaken and discussed herein investigates the existence and impact of cognitive biases in time-critical decision making. To do so, this research uses …

A Spectroscopic Investigation Of A Surface-Discharge-Mode, Dielectric Barrier Discharge, Scott Alan Stanfield Ii

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The use of aerodynamic actuators, such as leading edge slats, trailing edge flaps, roughing strips and ailerons interact with the air during flight, providing maneuverability for air vehicles. These mechanical devices have many inherent, detrimental attributes, such as space requirements on the wing, added wing weight, second response times, increased drag, and increased airframe vibration, resulting in the production of noise. The potential to eliminate or improve upon these detrimental attributes may be realizable by replacing the current mechanical actuators with plasma actuators. Specifically, the surface-discharge-mode, dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD), plasma actuator has a response time on the order of …

Eco-Epidemiological Analysis For Screening-Level Ecological Risk Assessment: A Geographic Information Systems Approach, Katherine E. Kapo

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The identification and prioritization of multiple watershed stressors and the corresponding development of optimal management strategies remains a challenge in ecological risk assessment. Eco-epidemiological analysis of archival environmental spatial databases integrates available biological, physical and chemical information to generate hypotheses based on stressor-response data relationships. A geographic information systems-based technique incorporating Bayesian weights-of-evidence analysis and weighted logistic regression (WOE/WLR) developed for and currently utilized in minerals exploration was extrapolated to the eco-epidemiological analysis of aquatic ecosystem data. Case studies within state of Ohio (USA) and England and Wales were conducted to demonstrate a method proof-of-concept in the context of various …

Effect Of Finite Geometry On Solidification Microstructure In Beam-Based Fabrication Of Thin Wall Structures, Satish C. Kuchi

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With the advent of Rapid Protyping (RP) in the manufacturing industry, many newtechnologies came into development for quick fabrication of materials. One of the most versatile fabrication process among them is additive manufacturing. Laser based manufacturing (LBM) and electron beam manufacturing (EBM) processes use the energy from a laser or electron beam to build up structures layer by layer directly from powdered metals and wire feed stock. It has been determined from previous work that solidification cooling rate and thermal gradients are the important factors for controlling microstructure (grain size and morphology) and resulting mechanical properties of the deposit. The …

Semantics Enriched Service Environments, Karthik Rajagopal Gomadam

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During the past seven years services centric computing has emerged as the preferred approach to architect complex software. Software is increasingly developed by integrating remotely existing components, popularly called services. This architectural paradigm, also called Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), brings with it the benefits of interoperability, agility and flexibility to software design and development. One can easily add or change new features to existing systems, either by the addition of new services or by replacing existing ones. Two popular approaches have emerged for realizing SOA. The first approach is based on the SOAP protocol for communication and the Web Service …

Application Of Modern Principles To Demand Forecasting For Electronics, Domestic Appliances And Accessories, Gregory Daniel Noble

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Royal Philips is a large scale producer of consumer electronics, personal appliances, lighting, and healthcare appliances. Demand data from 12 Business Units (BU) of Royal Philips was examined in the study; four business units from each of three divisions: DAP, PA, and CE. From the data supplied, different forecast techniques were evaluated to determine which procedure produces the highest quality forecasts. Three forecasting techniques were evaluated using the provided data. The three forecasting techniques evaluated are the exponential smoothing forecasting method, the exponential smoothing with a linear trend forecasting method, and the Winters forecasting method.

The Visual Basic for Applications …

Inhibition Of Pro-Inflammatory Processes Reduces Sensitization Of The Behavioral Response To Maternal Separation, Kristopher Doojin Paik

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The current study examined the behavioral sensitization of guinea pig pups in response to consecutive days of maternal separation. In the first experiment, guinea pigs that received centrally administered artificial cerebrospinal fluid or IL-10 exhibited sensitization of passive behaviors from Day 1 to Day 2. IL-10 decreased the levels of passive behaviors on Day 1, as well as the increase on Day 2. The second experiment used unoperated pups, which also showed sensitization of the passive response from Day 1 to Day 2, though the effect appeared reduced relative to control pups of Experiment 1. Collectively, this investigation confirms previous …

A Lab To Stemulate Undergraduate Students Into Science, Technology, Engineering And Mathematics Majors, Nicole Lynn Speelman

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The central focus is the development and implementation of a research/lab module for first year chemistry courses. Electrochemical techniques are utilized to study oxidation and reduction reactions of neurotransmitters with a poly(2,2'-Bithiophene) modified electrode. The goal is to excite students about chemistry and encourage them to continue studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) during their undergraduate education. The lab module was created for Project REEL (Research Experiences to Enhance Learning) and will be illustrated with results typically obtained by students. The experiment is inquiry-based, which includes challenging questions students have to do collaboration and research to answer, as …

Creating Safety In The Diagnostic Testing Processes Of Family Medical Practices, Timothy Ryan Mcewen

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Four mid-Western family practices were studied using three methods (observations, interviews, and an audit of patient records) in effort to discover the dynamics and constraints of their diagnostic testing processes. We have found further evidence that errors do occur at many of the steps in the processes, but that the patterns of those errors are not independent of each other and are a function of systemic factors unique to each practice. Furthermore, while many employees or steps in the process may be considered a source of error, they were also shown to be major sources of quality and safety in …

Separation And Vorticity Transport In Massively-Unsteady Low Reynolds Number Flows, Charles Webb

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There is no doubt that nature has existed as the very inspiration for many of technological achievements of today. Flight is no exception though our conventional methods of flight seem to be completely devoid of any flapping modes commonly seen in insects and birds. This is because the unsteady characteristics of natures keen flight capabilities is very difficult to study. However, as our computational and experimental methods of investigation have improved, our imagination again begins to turn to this one aspect of flight that has eluded man thus far. Birds and more specifically insects are capable of flying at such …

Distribution And Host Specificity Of Erysiphe Cruciferarum (Powdery Mildew) Attacking Alliaria Petiolata (Garlic Mustard), In Southwestern Ohio, Victoria Lyn Ciola

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Garlic mustard is an invasive Eurasian biennial that has rapidly spread throughout the United States. In Southwestern Ohio, many garlic mustard populations are infected with the powdery mildew Erysiphe cruciferarum that can reduce the growth and fitness of garlic mustard. E. cruciferarum was assessed using a Decision Tree in regards to its potential use as a biological control agent. I determined the distribution of E. cruciferarum on garlic mustard and I determined the potential risk of E. cruciferarum to native Brassicaceous species and selected crops. I surveyed 19 parks in Southwestern Ohio and recorded the number of diseased garlic mustard …

A Comparison Of Physical And Electrochemical Properties Of Two Ionic Liquids Containing Different Cations: 1-Butyl-1-Methyl-Pyrrolidinium Beti And 1-Butyl-3-Methyl-Imidazolium Beti, Edward Nelson Kennedy

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A novel ionic liquid, 1,1-butyl-methyl-pyrollidinium bis-pentafluoroehthanesulfonylamide (BMPyrrBeti) was synthesized and characterized. Its physical and electrochemical properties compared to a similar ionic liquid containing the imidazolium cation, 1-methyl-3-butyl-imidizolium bis-pentafluoroehthanesulfonylamide (BMImBeti). The two ionic liquids contain the same anion, bis((pentafluoroethane)sulfonyl)imide (Beti), and the same two alkly group substituents (a methyl and a butyl group). The two ionic liquids differ only by the cation component, and the connectivity of the two substituents (1,1 for the former, and 1,3 for the latter).

The following physical properties of BMPyrrBeti were measured and compared to the same properties of BMImBeti: conductivity, viscosity, absorption and desorption of …

The Development Of The Wright Work Engagement Scale, Gene Michael Alarcon

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Recent developments in organizational attitude research have focused on the concept of engagement. Despite the growing literature on engagement there is little agreement on the conceptualization of engagement. The current study sought to conceptualize and measure work engagement using Item Response Theory. The Wright Work Engagement Scale was created using two samples, a student sample for exploratory analyses and a working sample for item analyses. Results indicate engagement is a unidimensional construct. The 12 item Work Engagement Scale was created and demonstrated sufficient convergent and discriminant validity.

Graphical User Interface (Gui) To Study Different Reconstruction Algorithms In Computed Tomography, Shital K. Abhange

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Computed tomography (CT) imaging relies on computational algorithms to reconstruct images from projections gathered from the CT scan. Depending on the scanner geometry, different types of reconstruction algorithms can be used. To study these different types of reconstruction algorithms in a user-friendly way, a software tool was built. The aim of the thesis was to provide a software platform to access a number of previously implemented reconstruction algorithms with ease and minimal knowledge of the reconstruction code. The goal was accomplished by building a Graphical User Interface (GUI) using MATLAB 7.7.0 (R2008b). In addition to creating mathematical objects and invoking …

Induction Of Socs-1 In Hsv-1-Infected Murine Keratinocytes: A Mechanism Of Inhibition Of Interferon Gamma, Kenneth Gene Frey

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Epidermal cells such as keratinocytes are the major site of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1) replication in active primary or recurring herpes infection. In this study, a murine keratinocyte cell line (HEL-30) was shown to be refractory to IFNγ induction of an antiviral state to HSV-1 infection, while IFNγ did induce an antiviral state in a murine fibroblast cell line (L929). Particularly, IFN-gamma and its peptide mimetic protected fibrobasts from viral-induced cytopathic effect while the keratinocytes were destroyed by the infection. Suppressor of cytokine synthesis-1 (SOCS-1) a negative regulator of IFNγ, was hypothesized to be responsible for the refractiveness …

Conservation Genetics Of A Near Threatened Freshwater Mussel Species (Lampsilis Cardium) And Improved Prospects For Recovery: How Nuclear And Mitochondrial Dna Analyses Inform Natural History And Conservation, Chad D. Ferguson

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Freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) are among the most imperiled organisms in North America. While there is an urgent need for effective conservation planning and management of these organisms, important basic biological information is lacking. This research characterizes levels of genetic diversity and population structure in the Near Threatened (IUCN) freshwater mussel Lampsilis cardium in populations from Twin Creek (southwest Ohio), Little Darby and Big Darby Creeks (central Ohio), and Little Muskingum River (eastern Ohio) and assesses the extent to which regional geological events explain population structuring. Data from the congener Lampsilis ovata from Clinch River (Tennessee) are included for comparison. …

Clamping Of Intracellular Ph In Neurons From Neonatal Rat Brainstem During Hypercapnia, Vivian C. Nanagas

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In this work, I have made attempts to clamp intracellular pH in the presence of hypercapnic acidosis (HA) in neurons from the locus coeruleus (LC) and nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) in neonatal rat (ages P3 to P17) brainstem slices. Two approaches were used to minimize hypercapnia-induced ΔpH_i: 1) an increase in intracellular buffering power with a high HEPES concentration using whole cell patching techniques in individual neurons, and 2) a weak acid diffusion technique that relies on an efflux of weak acid to counterbalance HA influx thereby clamping pH_i in multiple neurons at once. pH …

Hif-1 Alpha: A Master Regulator Of Trophoblast Differentiation And Placental Development, Kashmira Kulkarni

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Early embryonic development occurs under low oxygen levels. The placenta is an organ transiently formed during pregnancy and plays a crucial role during development of the embryo. Alterations in the placental structure or function have been associated with the pathologies such as preeclampsia in humans. In mammals, the hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) transcription factors have been identified as the major regulators of cellular responses in low oxygen. In the current study, we investigated the effects of low oxygen on the differentiation of trophoblast stem cells, lineage committed trophoblast giant cells and labyrinthine lineage-committed cells. We examined the effects of an …

Effects Of Big 5 Personality Traits On Outcomes For Error Encouragement And Error Avoidant Training, Keith Alan Leas

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The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the type of training used (error avoidant or error encouragement) as a moderator of the relationship between personality variables and training outcomes. Specifically, we hypothesized that we would observe stronger effects of personality (i.e., conscientiousness and openness) on performance (Hypothesis 1) and affectivity (Hypothesis 2) for individuals in the error encouragement condition than for individuals in the error avoidant condition. Further, we hypothesized that we would see stronger moderating effects for training type for the above personality variables than for extraversion or agreeableness (Hypothesis 3). We recruited 257 participants …

Effective Simulation And Optimization Of A Laser Peening Process, Gulshan Singh

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Laser peening (LP) is a surface enhancement technique that has been applied to improve fatigue and corrosion properties of metals. The ability to use a high energy laser pulse to generate shock waves, inducing a compressive residual stress field in metallic materials, has applications in multiple fields such as turbomachinery, airframe structures, and medical appliances. In the past, researchers have investigated the effects of LP parameters experimentally and performed a limited number of simulations on simple geometries. However, monitoring the dynamic, intricate relationships of peened materials experimentally is time consuming, expensive, and challenging.

With increasing applications of LP on complex …

Genetic Differentiation In Ambystomatid Salamanders Across A Fragmented Landscape, Joseph E. Bartoszek

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It is generally recognized that amphibian populations declining across the globe. Habitat loss is the primary cause of decline. The salamander family Ambystomatidae has experienced significantly more rapid decline than the average for amphibians. Coefficients of Conservatism (CoC) have been developed for amphibians in Ohio. These are based primarily on habitat requirements with high CoCs for amphibians with stringent habitat requirements (e.g. vernal pools associated with large, intact, undisturbed forest), and low CoCs for amphibians with less stringent habitat requirements. Genetic diversity in five species and one hybrid complex of ambystomatid salamander in southwest Ohio were examined and compared to …

Characterization Of Microtubule Depolymerization By The Hiv Protein Rev, Shimpi Bedi

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The HIV-1 Rev protein enables the nucleocytoplasmic export of unspliced or partially spliced mRNAs that is required for the synthesis of structural proteins. By doing so, it regulates the switch to the late phase of the viral replication cycle (Cullen, 1992). This regulatory control over viral replication makes Rev an attractive target for anti-viral intervention. The development of anti-viral remedies is hindered because the three-dimensional structure of Rev has not yet been solved by X-ray crystallography and NMR. Rev, which polymerizes into regular hollow filaments at high concentrations, forms side-to-side and end-to-side interactions making it prone to aggregation and precipitation …

Using Two Channel Communication To Study Selective Auditory Attention Using Air And Bone Conducted Interfaces, Kutbi Nuruddin Kaliyakuwawala

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the human capability to use selective auditory attention across the two different hearing pathways, air conduction and bone conduction. Four two channel communication systems were used as a basis for comparison: (1) both channels presented via headphones (left ear and right ear each represent a different channel), (2) two channels presented via loudspeakers placed at 135° and 225°, (3) one channel presented via headphones (both ears) and one channel to bone vibrator (placed at the condoyle), and (4) one channel presented via bone vibrator and one channel via loud speakers (placed at …

The Role Of Nucleotide Signaling In The Regulation Of Icl,Swell In Human 1321n1 Astrocytoma Cells, Ian C. Wenker

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Swollen cells expel osmolytes to decrease volume in a process referred to as Regulatory Volume Decrease, or RVD. The plasma membrane current ICl,swell is ubiquitously expressed in mammalian cells and contributes significantly to RVD. In a variety of cell types, activation of ICl,swell is enhanced by nucleotide signaling. In this study, we used human astrocytoma cells to examine whether nucleotide signaling is necessary or sufficient for ICl,swell activation. Three clones of the 1321N1 human astrocytoma cell line were used for voltage clamp recordings. One clone was transfected with P2Y1 receptors, another with P2Y2 receptors and a third was devoid of …

A Software Framework For The Design, Testing And Deployment Of Control Systems For Autonomous Robotics, Duane Stanley Bolick Jr.

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Simulation and control of robotic agents are common enough tasks among computer science and engineering researchers that there exists a large variety of software applications, toolkits, and programming frameworks designed to facilitate such research. The intent of this project is to provide an autonomous robotics simulation and control framework with sufficiently useful tools and reference implementations so as to be immediately useful to basic users, as well as easily understood and extended by software developers and robotics researchers.

As such, this document describes the implementation of a general networking toolkit, an autonomous robotics extension framework, and an autonomous robotics simulator …