Digital Commons Network^™

Educational Robotics And Computational Thinking In Elementary School Students, Sonia D. Jordan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the role of educational robotics in fostering computational thinking in elementary settings, both in classrooms and extracurricular programs. Among growing concerns over K–12 students’ computational thinking deficits, the research evaluated the impact of Lego EV3 and VEX IQ platforms. Data was sourced from lesson plans, student work surveys, and teacher interviews and then subjected to thematic analysis using a qualitative approach. The participants were Texas educators engaged in robotics instruction, even though specific robotics statistics are absent in the Texas Education Agency. Instructional strategies varied from hands-on experiences to translating mathematical concepts into robotic actions. A key …

The Performance Analysis And Optimization Of Wave Energy Converters From Modeling To Basin Testing, Lauren Dickson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The successful development and optimization of wave energy converters (WECs) are pivotal to the pursuit of sustainable and renewable energy sources. This thesis explores the elements in a workflow that develops and demonstrates the protocols for the optimization of WECs using a rapid design\build\test procedure. This thesis establishes the characterization of scaled ocean test sites, develops the performance metrics, generates the performance modeling techniques to predict the optimum design geometries which will be produced for final testing, and finally, establishes the basin test plan which will be used to conduct the testing on the optimum design. The findings of this …

Engineering The Development Of Neuromuscular Circuitry On-Chip, Inès Khiyara

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neuromuscular development happens in a complex interconnected network of biochemical pathways. This complicated embryonic development follows a strong, functional, and precise neuromuscular network that has interested both scientists and engineers who seek to better understand neuromuscular diseases. These disorders can be inherited or acquired, and their severity and mortality can vary. Researchers first studied the neuromuscular network from an organismal perspective, and more recently from an embryological, cellular, molecular, biochemical, and genetic perspective. From these studies, the fundamental principles of motor neuron pathfinding to muscles are widely understood, but the molecular drivers of specific nerve-muscle pairing remain unknown. Although in …

The Water We Were Swimming In: Transgender And Gender Nonconforming Students' Lived Experiences In Engineering., Natalie Saroff Oliner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Few studies address the lived experiences of transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) students in engineering. Grounded in critical trans politics (Spade, 2015), this dissertation contributes to the literature on TGNC students in engineering by examining their experiences negotiating their identities while navigating interrelated systems of oppression in a field dominated by White, heterosexual, cisgender men. Using a critical constructivism framework, I conducted a narrative inquiry to explore the lived experiences of five TGNC students in engineering programs. Participants experienced TGNC oppression at their universities, built LGBTQ+ and TGNC communities, and described more welcoming climates in non-engineering contexts compared to engineering. …

Experimental Setup Of A Rapid Compression Machine For Spark Ignition Studies, Daniel Llaguno

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The main objective of this thesis is to document the design and development of a rapid compression machine (RCM). A series of tests were performed to verify the operation of the system using the compression of air. Finally, an experiment was conducted to validate the auto-ignition temperature of DME under HCCI mode. Based on the first version of the RCM, improvements were made to speed up the compression process, and to create the conditions required for the auto-ignition of a DME-air mixture. The inlet diameter of the pneumatic actuation cylinder was increased to reduce the choking effect of the air …

Improving Student Success And Engagement In Virtual And Hybrid Classrooms., Sydney Fogo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis examines virtual classes from the University of Louisville in the Fall 2020 semester to discover points of weakness relative to keeping students engaged in online courses. Three surveys were taken by a select group of participants over the course of the fall semester in order to collect student opinion on specific classes. Interviews were held with a subset of students from the group of participants and also with professors who taught the study’s participants in the fall of 2020. Their responses and conversations were used to determine possible areas of improvement for virtual classes. This information was …

Understanding Latina Undergraduate Engineering Student Persistence, Yarissa I. Ortiz-Vidal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In summary, this study focused on understanding the persistence of 20 Latina undergraduate engineering students enrolled at two public four-year Hispanic Serving Institutions. Key findings in this study showed that in order to contribute to their own persistence in engineering majors these Latina students activated their community cultural wealth: (a) not only to resist different forms of oppression, but also to thrive and excel in academic settings, (b) to take control of difficult and challenging experiences, (c) to take/receive knowledge from others, but also to give/share their knowledge (cyclical tendencies of CCW), (d) as well as revealing that helping others …

Student Retention In Community College Engineering And Engineering Technology Programs, Harrison Orr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An ex-pos-facto non-experimental quantitative study was conducted to examine the academic, financial, and student background factors that influence first-to-second year retention of engineering and engineering technology students at U.S. community colleges. Analysis of the five research questions was done using a chi-square test and multiple logistic regressions. Data were obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Beginning Postsecondary Students 2012/2014 (BPS: 12/14) study. Computations were performed using PowerStats, a web-based statistical tool provided by the NCES, as well as IBM SPSS 25.

The sample population consisted of students who entered postsecondary education for the first time in the …

Assessment Of The Seismic Vulnerability Of West Tennessee School Buildings, Christine Maurice Moore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

West Tennessee is a seismically active area. However, West Tennessee has been building structures long before strides in earthquake engineering. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) developed a procedure, Rapid Visual Screening (RVS) Method, to quickly determine if a structure is likely to suffer major damage from earthquake or not by documenting aspects of the structure and its site and then calculating a score for the building that indicates the seismic vulnerability of the structure. A more sophisticated government software called Hazus-MH was developed to produce results with five damage categories: None, Slight, Moderate, Extensive, and Complete. It costs more …

Design, Construction And Application Of A Home-Built, Two-Photon Microscope, William P. Breeding

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Two-photon microscopy (TPM) is a powerful, versatile imaging modality for the study of biological systems. This thesis overviews the relevant physics involved in TPM, design considerations and process of constructing a home-built, two-photon microscope, and provides a set of procedures to operate the system. Furthermore, this work explores several applications of TPM through the study of single-cell metabolism and imaging the cellular-material interface. Explored in particular depth was the imaging of cellulose nanofiber (CNF) materials, with the goal of understanding the three-dimensional nature of fibroblast cell growth when embedded within the materials. This work uncovered several optical properties of CNF, …

A Study On The Comparison Of Sample Location Of Pultruded Composites Exposed To Corrosive Environment, Md Mahmudul Hasan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Composite structures may experience different environments during their prolonged service life. These environments may include corrosive, acidic or both or many others that can adversely affect the mechanical properties of the structural composites. Various studies have been done on the environmental effects on the composites but only a few are on structural shaped pultruded composites. More specifically, none of the studies tell anything about the effects of corrosive media on the locations of the structural shaped pultruded composites coupon samples. Hence, this current study focused on two primary objectives, 1) the durability characterization of structural shaped pultruded composites after an …

Investigative Study Of Poly(Ionic) Liquid Incorporation In Resin Wafer Electrodeionization For Improved Specific Energy Consumption, Angela Fasuyi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An electrokinetic separation method known as Resin Wafer Electrodeionization (RW-EDI) is recognized as a promising technology for energy efficient desalination of brackish water. However RW-EDI is limited by an inherent drawback of its ion exchange media that prevents the largescale deployment of this technology. This research was undertaken to optimize the conventional resin wafer used in RW-EDI through the incorporation of high conducting polyionic liquids (PILs). It was hypothesized that by the changing non-conducting polyethylene binder with a PIL binder in conventional resin wafer configurations ion conductivity within the resin bed would be enhanced and could lead to an improvement …

Feedback In The Flipped High School Stem Classroom, Trisha Michele Gilbreath

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how much feedback students received in the flipped high school science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) classroom. The flipped classroom is a pedagogical technique where students watch video instruction at home and complete collaborative activities in class. This technique has gained popularity in recent years, especially in STEM classrooms. The literature on the flipped classroom is inconclusive, with studies mainly conducted in higher education. Student and instructor perceptions were often studied, and those perceptions are generally positive about the flipped classroom, though there are concerns to consider. Student performance shows that the flipped classroom is at least …

Simulation Of Pipe Hydroforming, Yang Jin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The importance of investigating the formation of a torsion beam and understanding how it can be manipulated to perform at an optimum condition is crucial to car manufacturers. Developing and remodelling the torsion beam can allow both a simpler structure and quicker assembly while reducing the space required for a car suspension’s system, thus saving time and costs for manufacturers. Nowadays, the use of hydroforming technology has become widespread because it is able to obtain complex hollow parts more easily and has been continually developed to become a globally applied technology in the formation of a torsion beam of a …

Optimization Of Heat Sinks In A Range Of Configurations., Archibald Allswell Amoako

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this study, different heatsink geometries used for electronic cooling are studied and compared to each other to determine the most efficient. The goal is to optimize heat transfer of the heat sinks studied in a range of configuration based on fin geometry. Heat sinks are thermal conductive material devices designed to absorb and disperse heat from high-temperature objects (e.g. Computer CPU). Common materials used in the manufacturing of heat sinks are aluminum and copper due to their relatively high thermal conductivity and lightweight [1]. Aluminum is used as the material for the heatsinks studied in this research project. To …

Band Gap Engineering Of Titania Systems Purposed For Photocatalytic Activity, Cameron Robert Thurston

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ab initio computer aided design drastically increases candidate population for highly specified material discovery and selection. These simulations, carried out through a first-principles computational approach, accurately extrapolate material properties and behavior. Titanium dioxide (tio2) is one such material that stands to gain a great deal from the use of these simulations. In its anatase form, titania (tio2) has been found to exhibit a band gap nearing 3.2 ev. If titania is to become a viable alternative to other contemporary photoactive materials exhibiting band gaps better suited for the solar spectrum, then the band gap must be subsequently reduced. To lower …

De-Icing In Photovoltaic Devices By Ultrasonic Waves And Surface Engineering, Ryan Matthew Fillion

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A review of the literature shows there is much potential for the decrease and prevention of ice accumulation and adhesion on many materials including renewable energy devices with the use of well-designed hydrophobic coatings. It has also been shown that the addition of ultrasonic vibration can dramatically decrease or break the adhesion of ice altogether. A combination of hydrophobic coatings and ultrasonic vibration could result in a system capable of delaminating accumulated ice efficiently and remotely, which could replace outdated and expensive de-icing alternatives. Currently, however, there is not a standard method for measuring the ice adhesion of various materials …

Nanoarchitectured Energy Storage Devices, Zenan Yu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Supercapacitors, the devices that connect the gap between batteries and conventional capacitors, have recently attracted significant attention due to their high specific capacitance, substantially enhanced power and energy densities, and extraordinary cycle life. In order to realize even better performance with supercapacitors, rejuvenated effort towards developing nanostructured electrodes is necessary. In this dissertation, several strategic directions of nanoarchitecturing the electrodes to enhance the performance of supercapacitors are investigated. An introduction and background of supercapacitors, which includes motivation, classification and working principles, recent nanostructured electrode materials studies, and devices fabrication, are initially presented. A facile method, called Spin-on Nanoprinting (SNAP), to …

The Perceived Effectiveness Of Mixed Reality Experiences In A Master Of Arts In Teaching (Mat) Program For Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics Degreed Individuals, Chana Speir

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived effectiveness of mixed reality experiences on resident teachers who successfully completed an undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) degree and were enrolled in a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree program as part of RTP3 at a large research university in Orlando, Florida. The population for this study consisted of those selected to be in the RTP3, which included being in the Masters in the Art of Teaching (MAT) and becoming a middle or high school science, mathematics, or engineering teacher. The resident teachers experienced mixed reality as …

A Comparison Of Emissions-Reduction Strategies To Improve Livability In Freight-Centric Communities, James Lewis Mersereau

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 2009, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development entered into an interagency “Partnership for Sustainable Communities” to cooperatively increase transportation mode choices while reducing transportation costs, protecting the environment, and providing greater access to affordable housing through the incorporation of six principals of livability (U.S. Department of Transportation, 2014a). This study focuses on strategies to reduce vehicle emissions and improve livability along the Lamar Corridor in Memphis, Tennessee, a location that was designated by the U.S. Government in 2010 as an area to be targeted for livability …

Sounds Like Something A White Man Should Be Doing: Academic Identity In African American Female Engineering Students, Rashunda Laruth Stitt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study exposed the way African American female engineering students constructed their academic identities by focusing on their lived experiences. Participants included nine engineering students at Mid-South University (pseudonym) who identified as African American females. Participants were required to sit for one semi-structured academic life history interview that focused on their academic experiences from early childhood to present. This study employed two levels of theory in order to obtain a comprehensive view of participants' experiences. Black feminist theory, which accounts for the intersectionality of participants' race and gender, served as the macro level theory and academic identity, which accounts for …

Joining Vacuum High Pressure Die Cast Aluminum Alloy A356 Subjected To Heat Treatment To Wrought Alloy 6061, Meng Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of the present work was to investigate the feasibility of joining high pressure die cast aluminum alloy A356 for automotive applications. Joining of vacuum high pressure die cast aluminum alloy A356 subjected to different heat treatments with wrought 6061 was carried out by using the Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) process. The results of tensile testing showed that the order of the welded samples with the overall engineering performance combining the strengths and ductility from the highest to the lowest were T5- A356 alloy, as-cast A356 alloy, T6-A356 alloy and T4-A356 alloy. The SEM microstructure analysis indicated the …

Advancement Of Shock-Wave Induced Spraying Process Through The Study Of Gas And Particle Flow Fields, Mohammad Karimi Esfahani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research advances the knowledge of the working principles of the Shock-wave Induced Spraying Process (SISP), a thermal spray material deposition technique. Pulses created by a fast acting valve pass through a heated line increasing energy content and interacting with metered batches of heated or non-heated powder introduced into the line. The powder is accelerated to high velocities before bonding to the substrate upon impact. Advantages over other cold spray processes include cost savings and a more effective transfer of thermal energy to the powder. The shock-wave occurring near the substrate in other cold spray processes is avoided. The SISP …

Healthcare Technology: A Strategic Approach To Medical Device Management, Chad A. Kinley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The constant evolution of medical technology has increased the demand for managing medical devices to ensure safety and effectiveness. In this paper I will investigate how biomedical engineering has addressed the issue of equipment management and identifies strategies to successfully maintain an inventory of medical devices. Through research, on-the-job experience, and in-depth discussions with various biomedical engineering managers, I have been able to document possible equipment strategies and best practices for managing medical devices. There is really no "one size fits all" to medical equipment management due to the various clinical environments, but there are many aspects that remain necessary …

The Implementation Of Engineering Design Challenges On 4th Grade Students' Attitudes Towards Engineering, Classroom Climate, And Writing Ability, Tara L. Newby

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if my practice of having 4th grade students participate in engineering design challenges impacted their attitudes towards engineering, the classroom climate, and writing ability. In this action research students were given a pre and posttest that measured their attitudes towards engineering and their perceptions of the classroom climate. A pre and post written reflection was also examined and compared for the use of predicting, observing, thinking, explaining, reflecting, and yearning to learn more. A triangulation of data included the use of pre and posttest statistical analysis, rubrics, teacher observation, and student interviews. …

An Approach To Improve The Failure Rate Model Of A Solid State Laser By Utalizing The Physics Of Failure Methodology, Omar L. Thompson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The ability to predict the failure rate of any military laser is very critical. In-field laser usage does not support the troubleshooting and repairing of a complex electro optical system. The only published laser failure rate model was last updated by the Department of Defense in 1975. Consequently, the failure rate predicted is inaccurate due to model deficiencies. This dissertation has developed a laser failure rate model for diode pumped lasers with improved failure rate prediction accuracy. The model has surpassed the capabilities of the Department of Defense model by the inclusion of key performance attributes that are currently not …

Patterns Of Motion: Discovery And Generalized Representation, Imran Saleemi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, we address the problem of discovery and representation of motion patterns in a variety of scenarios, commonly encountered in vision applications. The overarching goal is to devise a generic representation, that captures any kind of object motion observable in video sequences. Such motion is a significant source of information typically employed for diverse applications such as tracking, anomaly detection, and action and event recognition. We present statistical frameworks for representation of motion characteristics of objects, learned from tracks or optical flow, for static as well as moving cameras, and propose algorithms for their application to a variety …

Free Surface Confinement Effects On A Round Jet, Jiahao Tian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this study, the characteristics of a round turbulent jet in the vicinity of a free surface are investigated. The results reveal that the velocity normal to the free surface is diminished, and the velocity components parallel to the free surface are enhanced in the region near the free surface. The magnitude of shear stress in the vertical central plane of the surface jet is smaller than that noticed in the free jet near the free surface, while the magnitudes of profiles are larger compared to that of the free jet. A higher magnitude of the vorticity is observed in …

Efficient Motion Estimation And Mode Decision Algorithms For Advanced Video Coding, Mohammed Golam Sarwer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

H.264/AVC video compression standard achieved significant improvements in coding efficiency, but the computational complexity of the H.264/AVC encoder is drastically high. The main complexity of encoder comes from variable block size motion estimation (ME) and rate-distortion optimized (RDO) mode decision methods. This dissertation proposes three different methods to reduce computation of motion estimation. Firstly, the computation of each distortion measure is reduced by proposing a novel two step edge based partial distortion search (TS-EPDS) algorithm. In this algorithm, the entire macroblock is divided into different sub-blocks and the calculation order of partial distortion is determined based on the edge strength …

A Game Theoretic Approach In Green Supply Chain Management, Hong Shi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Common social issues are usually criticized considering the potential interrelationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and supply chain management. Companies and manufacturers in supply chain networks have been pressured by a growing concern for CSR from governments, organizations, and consumer, and have to bear at least some CSR under policies and regulations. However, naturally, members in a decentralized supply chain network make decisions to maximize their individual net profits. This thesis aims to allocate CSR to members in a non-integrated supply chain over time. Specifically, we formulate a model that crosses through multi-periods by a dynamic discreet Stackelberg game. We …