Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of A Smart Power Lab For Advanced Power Electronic Research, Joseph Lentz

Theses and Dissertations

In the pursuit of enhancing power systems efficiency, reliability, and sustainability, the establishmentof advanced research laboratories plays a pivotal role. This thesis dives into the development and integration of a cutting-edge power laboratory aimed at fostering innovation across three key domains: Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) analysis, Microgrid studies, and Energy Storage exploration. The first section focuses on the creation of an EMI laboratory tailored for the comprehensive evaluation of both radiated and conducted emissions. EMI poses significant challenges in modern electronic systems, necessitating meticulous analysis and mitigation strategies. By meticulously designing and equipping an EMI lab, researchers can gain insights into …

Identifying The Relationships Among Functional Motor Competence, The Army Combat Fitness Test, And Vertical Jump Performance In Rotc Cadets., Madison Mach

Theses and Dissertations

Context: Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) cadets are at high risk of injury, which results in high medical costs and affects the longevity of our future soldiers’ careers. Functional motor competence (FMC), defined as the coordination and control required to perform a wide range of motor skills, may be an underappreciated aspect of performance and injury in ROTC cadets because of how FMC is developed. Higher FMC has been speculated to be positively associated with better physical and neuromuscular fitness (power, dynamic balance, etc.), better performance on the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), the Army’s standardized physical test, and protective …

Addressing Lead Exposure Disparities In Milwaukee: A Geographical Analysis Of Interventions And Equitable Strategies, Miracle Mark

Theses and Dissertations

Lead exposure is still a major public health issue, especially for children who are the most vulnerable due to the negative effects on their development. Inner-city neighborhoods are often disproportionately impacted because they tend to have older housing stock, which includes sources of lead such as lead paint and lead service lines. While many studies have examined different types of lead interventions in the U.S., including both primary and secondary interventions, little is known about the lead intervention landscape in the city of Milwaukee. Specifically, it is unclear whether the geography of intervention matches up with the geography of exposure. …

Deep-Learning Assisted Short-Wave Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging For Microplastic Classification, Melisa Nyakuchena

Theses and Dissertations

Microplastics are small plastics with a size between a few microns and about 5mm. Due to their small size, microplastics can be ingested by living organisms including humans, which has become a global concern and a heated area of research. Various methods have been proposed to detect and characterize microplastics. In this study, we demonstrate a hyperspectral transmission imaging system operating in the short-wave range of 1100 nm–1650nm. The developed system incorporates Fourier-transform spectroscopy (FTS) to acquire a hyperspectral data cube at high spectral resolution and signal-to-noise ratio. Using the developed system, we characterize six types of microplastic powders of …

Astrophysics, Cosmology, And Fundamental Interactions With Gravitational Waves, Anarya Ray

Theses and Dissertations

Several unresolved mysteries remain in our understanding of the universe that can be elucidated with a growing catalog of gravitational wave~(GW) and multi-messenger observations of compact binary coalescences~(CBCs). Current and future catalogs, assisted by robust modeling and scalable inference frameworks, will lead to new insights into the poorly understood physics of compact binary formation, independent measurements of the cosmological expansion, and unprecedented empirical probes into the very nature of fundamental interactions. The scientific potential of GW observations from CBCs is significantly enhanced through the detection of their multi-messenger counterparts. Similarly, multi-probe explorations of compact object universal properties that combine GW …

Music And The Horse In Asia, Europe, And North America, Mykah Snyder

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the intersection between music and horses within three geographical regions: Asia, Europe, and North America. The horse and human relationship throughout regions and eras has been significantly intertwined and the horse has long been a symbol of moral standards, aesthetic values, and cultural meaning. The ways in which horses are depicted in music from these regions reinforces ethnic/national identities and strengthens the musical construction of place. Horse-related musical imagery and equestrian music can be considered from an ecomusicological perspective that foregrounds the ecological relationship between horses and human culture. This thesis also engages with concepts from anthropology, …

Unlocking The Past: The Raetian Culture And The Frankfurth Legacy At The Milwaukee Public Museum, Mikayla Fehring

Theses and Dissertations

The cultural group called the Raetians, also known as the Fritzens-Sanzeno Culture, inhabited the Tirol area of the Alps (modern day north-east Italy and south-west Austria) between the 6th century BCE and the 1st century CE. Defined largely based on their material culture, which incorporated elements borrowed from the Etruscans and the continental Celts, the Raetians were eventually annexed by the Roman empire. German American antiquarian William Frankfurth excavated Raetian remains in various locations in the Tirol in the late 19th century. Following his unexpected death in Vienna in 1891, several crates of artifacts from his excavations were shipped back …

Organic Residue Analysis And Archaeology: A Critical Evaluation Of Ora Methods, Christopher James Rowe

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACTORGANIC RESIDUE ANALYSIS AND ARCHAEOLOGY: A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF ORA METHODS by Christopher James Rowe The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 2024 Under the Supervision of Professor Bettina Arnold

In recent years the field of archaeology has been increasingly interested in applying hard science techniques to different aspects of ancient life in new ways. One area of research that has been pushing the boundaries of hard science applications to understanding past societies is the archaeology of ancient alcohol. The rise of Organic Residue Analysis (ORA) has resulted in increased interdisciplinary collaborations between anthropologists, archaeologists, biochemists and other ancillary disciplines interested in revealing …

“This Knowledge Bears With It Certain Responsibilities To God And Our Fellow Men”: Missionary Motivations, Collecting Behavior, And The J.H. Wenberg Collection At The Milwaukee Public Museum, Hailey Lorenzen

Theses and Dissertations

Missionaries have contributed greatly to the ethnographic collections of museums, yet the connection between ethnographic objects and the Christian project that prompted their collection is often lost in the museum record. This thesis aims to reconcile a collection at the Milwaukee Public Museum (Accession Number 24531) with the evangelization work of its collectors, Joseph Hugo and Edna Wenberg. From 1902 to 1920, J.H. Wenberg served as a colporteur and missionary across South America; during that time, he developed a passionate interest in the Aymara of Bolivia and became an advocate for Indigenous people within the Methodist Church. This thesis combines …

A Non-Invasive Approach To Historic Cemetery Studies In Milwaukee And Germany: Was The American Dream Worth It?, Bryan John Schutte

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis tests a non-invasive approach using readily accessible historic cemetery data to examine 19th-century immigration to the United States, with a focus on the narrative of the American Dream. This narrative, which is embedded within modern American culture and history, is an inspiring tale of people, mainly immigrants, starting over in a new country and creating a better life for themselves and their posterity. What motivates immigration is the idea that anybody can achieve the American Dream. But is this true? Are immigrants necessarily going to have a better life in a new country? What do we know about …

Artistry And Entertainment: Class And Race Navigations Of Duke Ellington And Louis Armstrong, Zachary Russell Childress

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the early careers of Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong and holds them against the larger cultural, social, and economic landscape of the United States during the early twentieth century. Black Americans had been freed from slavery by Emancipation, but the rise of the racist Jim Crow laws, starting in the late 1880s, had stripped away many of their freedoms once again and kept them in a lower caste of the American system. On top of Jim Crow, the United States was facing Prohibition laws, the Great Depression, and World War I, creating a tumultuous landscape for any …

The Impact Of Discharge Type On Military To Civilian Reintegration: Conformity To Masculinity As A Moderating Factor, Kirsten Thiemke

Theses and Dissertations

Literature has shown that reintegrating back into civilian life and mentality has proven to be one of the most difficult aspects of transitioning from military service. Based on aspects such as qualifications for benefits, perceived stigma, and amount of community support, discharge status at the time of separation has been shown to have an impact on how separated service members reintegrate. Additionally, rigid adherence to the hypermasculine environment of the United States military could serve to further complicate reintegration for service members. The current study evaluates the relationship between discharge status and military to civilian reintegration, with adherence to traditional …

Pemātesen Atāēqnōhkakan: A Divergent Subset Of The Life Is Sacred Project, Rachel Skarsten

Theses and Dissertations

Murder-suicide constitutes a particularly tragic form of violence that has a powerful effect on communities. However, it remains severely understudied. No research to date has examined the incidence of death by murder-suicide events within American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) communities, despite AI/AN persons being at a disproportionately high risk for suicide and other forms of violence such as stalking, trafficking, physical violence and psychological aggression by intimate partners, and sexual violence. This project represents a subset of a larger Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin (MITW)/University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) partnership to address suicide mitigation within the Menominee tribal community. This project’s purpose …

Pemātesen Atāēqnōhkakan: A Three-Year Subset Of The Life Is Sacred Project, Tory Skye Mertz

Theses and Dissertations

The science of suicidology is in its infancy empirically. While some critical risk and protective factors have been identified (Nock et al., 2020 ), the field struggles for a coherent approach to conceptualizing, evaluating, and intervening with those who present with risk for death by suicide, as death rates climb in the United States. Suicide (completion) Rates among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons are currently the highest, and disproportionately impact tribal communities and AI/AN populated urban area at an alarming rate that should call the attention of all healthcare professionals and researchers. (CDC, 2023). Presently, mainstream approaches and …

Exploration Of Muslim Children's Engagement In Religion And Spirituality And Associations With Academic Functioning, Social Behaviors, And Well-Being, Isha Hammad

Theses and Dissertations

Evidence suggests that religion and spirituality contribute to positive outcomes in youth, including academic functioning, social behaviors, and well-being. Islamic psychology merges psychological and spiritual well-being within the individual. Studies have shown positive outcomes for adult engagement in Islamic religious practices (i.e., salat prayer and dua), however studies have yet to explore whether these relationships exist for Muslim children. This study examined the relationship between Islamic religious practices (i.e., salat prayer and dua) and academic functioning, prosocial behaviors, happiness, and satisfaction with life in a sample of Muslim school children attending an urban private Islamic school. In addition, this study …

Solving Large Job Shop Scheduling Problems: Using Graph Classification Via Graph Neural Networks To Pre-Seed A Genetic Algorithm For Machine Dispatching Rule Optimization, Isaac Schwab

Theses and Dissertations

The job shop scheduling problem is a difficult problem to solve, and it is also difficult to implement solutions found in research into real shops. In this research, a methodology is proposed to develop schedules for real shops. The methodology utilizes a genetic algorithm to select dispatching rules for each machine cell and accesses these schedules through a simulation optimization framework. The simulation framework allows for the study of random elements including variable job processing times and random machine breakdowns. This creates a robust schedule that is easy to understand, and therefore implement, while scaling to large, real-world job shops. …

Disproportionation Of Polysulfides Facilitated By A Bi-Functional Carbon Host In Li-S Batteries, Dantong Qiu

Theses and Dissertations

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are regarded as one of the promising alternatives to conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high theoretical energy density (2600 Wh kg-1), abundant resources on Earth, and low cost of sulfur. Nevertheless, several significant challenges persist in the practical application of Li-S batteries, including the insulating nature of sulfur, volume changes of cathodes, and, most critically, the shuttle effect of dissolved long-chain lithium polysulfide (PS) species during cycling. In this thesis, a novel carbon host for sulfur cathode, derived from natural silk and denoted as NC, was developed. This carbon host possesses excellent cycling performance because …

Using Polonium-210 To Estimate Particulate Organic Carbon Consumption By Dreissenid Mussels In Lake Michigan, Rachel Ann Smith

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, I examine the potential of using the naturally occurring radionuclide Polonium-210 (half-life = 138.376 days) to estimate the in situ consumption of particulate organic carbon (POC) by dreissenid mussels in Lake Michigan. To estimate POC uptake, I measured the ratio of POC to particle-bound 210Po in the water column above the lakebed, as well as the inventory of 210Po being stored in mussel tissue on the lakebed at three sites with depths of 40, 50 and 80 meters. Additionally, I conducted lab incubation experiments to determine the biological half-life of 210Po in mussel tissue. These measurements were …

Using Lead-210, Bismuth-210, And Polonium-210 To Estimate Particulate Organic Carbon Flux To The Benthos Of Lake Michigan, Gage Justman Hunter

Theses and Dissertations

210Bi is a short-lived (t1/2: 5.01 days) naturally occurring radionuclide and a potential tracer of particle dynamics in high flux aquatic environments such as lakes, coastal oceans, and continental shelves. While its parent, 210Pb, and daughter, 210Po, have been used to estimate particle removal rates from the ocean, few studies have investigated the behavior of 210Bi in aquatic systems or its use as a tracer of particle export fluxes. In this study, a time series experiment was conducted where 210Pb, 210Bi, and 210Po activities were measured in rainwater and in the water column on the slope of southwestern Lake Michigan. …

“When They Say, ‘I Hear You,’ They Truly Hear Me”: An Application Of Theories Of Resilience To Occupational Trauma Exposure, Jacki Willenborg

Theses and Dissertations

Trauma workers, or those who regularly encounter psychologically distressing situations as part of their job, are at increased risk of mental illness, PTSD, and emotional burnout. However, not all trauma workers develop PTSD despite their regular exposure to traumatic scenes. This study sought to answer the question of how trauma workers’ co-worker relationships contribute to their resilience (i.e., their ability to buffer the negative psychological effects of their work) and the ways in which trauma workers communicate about their work and their stressors with one another. In-depth, semi-structured interviews with 17 trauma workers sought to identify processes involved in trauma …

Is It The Player Or The Game: A Metanalytic Study Of Video Games And Aggression, Brandon Straight

Theses and Dissertations

The present study is a comprehensive meta-analytic investigation exploring the relationship between exposure to violent video games and aggressive behavior. The present study explores the underlying effects of violent video game exposure and individuals’ aggressive behavior. The literature review examines previous research; including contradictory findings on the influence of violent video games on aggression, the significance of social learning theory in behavior comprehension, and the impact of age on aggressive behaviors. Furthermore, it explores the Buss-Perry model of trait aggression and its application to video game studies. The study outlines its methods which encompass literature search strategies, inclusion criteria, variables, …

Bangladeshi Working Mothers’ Work-Life Experience, Jannatul Ferdous Zinia

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explores the experiences of educated working mothers in Dhaka, Bangladesh, focusing on challenges encountered and the communication strategies they utilized for managing work-life boundaries. Grounded in Clark’s (2000) work-family border theory, an in-depth interview study with nine participants was conducted. Key findings of the thematic analysis highlight that the challenges faced by Bangladeshi working mothers are influenced by societal expectations, familial pressures, and workplace dynamics about boundary management. Participants navigated these challenges using various communication strategies, such as directly requesting childcare support from extended family members, communicating work schedules with family, having purposeful conversations with their spouse, …

Use Of Geomagnetic Paleointensity As A Correlation Tool In The Eastern Snake River Plain Lava Flows, Melissa Marie Sikes

Theses and Dissertations

The Snake River Plain volcanic province stretches 600 km from eastern Oregon across southern Idaho and into northwest Wyoming. Over the past ~14 million years, olivine tholeiitic lava flows have accumulated. To assess ongoing volcanic hazards, it is important to quantify the number, timing, and size of eruptive events. This assessment requires correlating lava flows across coreholes within the Eastern Snake River Plain. Previous paleomagnetic research applied paleomagnetic inclinations to correlate flows between coreholes. This study tests whether using geomagnetic paleointensity – in addition to inclination – can increase confidence in the correlation of these flows. Pilot samples were retrieved …

Contraction Rates For Mckean-Vlassov Stochastic Differential Equations, Dan Noelck

Theses and Dissertations

In response to the pressing need of modeling, analyzing and applying complex systems with inherent distribution- and memory-dependent dynamical behaviours, this dissertation investigates both distribution- and memory-dependent stochastic differential equations. Following the establishment of the well-posedness of these stochastic differential equations, this dissertation is focused on asymptotic properties of the underlying processes. Under suitable conditions on the coefficients of the stochastic differential equations, this dissertation derives explicit quantitative contraction rates for the convergence in Wasserstein distance for McKean-Vlasov stochastic differential equations (MVSDEs) and McKean-Vlasov functional stochastic differential equations (MVFSDEs). The obtained contraction results for MVSDEs are further utilized to demonstrate …

The Effects Of Orienting Attention During Production Training In Learning Nonnative Segmental And Prosodic Contrasts, Dong Jin Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Research on language learners' attention suggests that manipulating attention is beneficial in the language learning process as it facilitates the "noticing" of specific linguistic aspects. The current study investigated the effects of directing learners' attention to segments and prosody in English phonetic training. Korean learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) were divided into two groups: one received segment-oriented training focusing on coda voicing contrasts, and the other received prosody-oriented training focusing on low vs. high attachments in relative clauses.The results showed that both groups successfully acquired segmental contrasts, with no significant difference between the two groups, suggesting that …

Evaluation Of Factors Impacting Predictor Importance Results In Multilevel Models, Soonhwa (Suna) Paek

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Dominance Analysis (DA) was originally proposed to determine the relative importance of predictor variables in OLS regression models by comparing the change in model fit (i.e., R2) resulting from adding each predictor to each possible subset model (Azen & Budescu, 2003; Azen, 2013; Budescu, 1993). Although various educational studies show that DA can provide useful information in research, the DA procedure has not been studied extensively with Multilevel Linear Models (MLMs), which are commonly used to analyze nested data structures.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify appropriate multilevel measures of fit for the DA procedure in various MLMs, and …

Examining Individual Document Evaluation: An Eye-Tracking Analysis, Sukwon Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research on relevance judgment while searching for information on the web has been investigated in various contexts by scholars. This dissertation examines the behavior of users seeking health-related information online, specifically how those users operationalize both list and document evaluation. It focuses especially on document evaluation because it reflects the symbiotic relationship between the computer and the human. One of the broader aims of this study is to understand how users’ relevance judgments change during individual document evaluation. It examines whether there are any associations between eye-tracking variables and the perceived importance of each document. The perceived importance of …

Race As A Symptom Of Injustice, Henry Kelley Weiss

Theses and Dissertations

It is often assumed that racial distinction – the existence of racially distinct populations within the same society – will persist after the elimination of racial injustice. This paper disputes that assumption. I adopt a framework under which racial distinction may persist due to three broad causes: racial segregation, pressure from social institutions to practice racial endogamy, and personal preferences for racial endogamy. I examine the conditions under which each of these causes is likely to obtain and argue that each is characterized by injustice. I conclude that racial distinction is a symptom of injustice, and is unlikely to persist …

Depth Structure Of The Rocky Nearshore Benthic Community In Lake Michigan, Anna Christine Kryshak

Theses and Dissertations

Invasive dreissenid mussels (the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, and quagga mussel, Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) have altered nutrient cycling, light availability, and trophic dynamics in Lake Michigan since their introduction. Benthic resources have become more important as pelagic nutrients have been consumed due to dreissenid mussel productivity. Light and nutrient availability are two factors that influence benthic algal growth and are known to vary spatially, particularly with depth. Variation in benthic algal quantity and nutritional quality with depth has implications for the entire benthic community, and a better understanding of the effects of depth on the nutritional quality of benthic algae …

A False “Choice”: Embodied Rhetoric For A Sex Education Rooted In Reproductive Justice, Rachel La Due

Theses and Dissertations

Sex education in Wisconsin, which the state refers to as Human Growth and Development (HGD) instruction, has long been a topic of great controversy amongst community members, school board members, parents, educators, and students. This Master’s project leans into this discomfort by exploring the public rhetoric that takes place over Wisconsin’s HGD curriculum as outlined under Wisconsin state Statute 118.019 in two school districts: Madison Metropolitan and Wauwatosa. This project uses archival school board meeting footage to analyze the embodied rhetoric of students while discussing their district’s HGD curriculum in school board meetings and analyzes students’ embodied rhetoric within the …