Digital Commons Network^™

Schottky Diodes From Cadmium Sulfide (Cds) Nanowires Deposited In Porous Alumina Templates, Shounak Mishra

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

This work aims to study the variation in electrical and optical properties of nanoscale Schottky diodes by varying their dimensions in the nanoscale. Experimental conditions for fabricating porous alumina with varying pore diameters and inter-pore distances were first optimized by anodizing Aluminum tape with variable currents. Cadmium Sulfide nanowires were then synthesized inside the membranes by dc electrodeposition. Finally a high work function metal was deposited on top as a contact for the metal-semiconductor Schottky diode junction. As a comparative study, Schottky diodes fabricated using the same metals and Cadmium Sulfide thin films deposited on conducting glass substrates using electro-deposition …

Modeling And Analysis Of Split And Merge Production Systems, Yang Liu

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Many production systems have split and merge operations to increase production capac- ity and variety, improve product quality, and implement product control and scheduling policies. This thesis presents analytical methods to model and analyze split and merge production systems with Bernoulli and exponential reliability machines under circulate, priority and percentage policies. The recursive procedures for performance analysis are de- rived, and the convergence of the procedures and uniqueness of the solutions, along with the structural properties, are proved analytically, and the accuracy of the estimation is justi¯ed numerically with high precision. In addition, comparisons among the e®ects of di®erent policies …

Comparison Of Nutritional Intake Of Home School Children And Public School Children: A Comparison Study, Stephen D. Perry

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Purpose: To compare selected food /nutrient consumption between families that educate their children at home with those that educate their children in the public school system.

Methods: The study sample included 112 children aged 7-11 years in Fayette Co Kentucky. The children were divided into groups according type of education. There were 65 home-schooled children and 47 children who attend public school. Subjects recorded their dietary intake for one week. The data were analyzed using Nutrition Data Software for Research (2006). Comparisons were made for the intake of selected nutrients using two tailed independent sample t-tests.

Results: The public school …

Integrated Geophysical Imaging Of Subsurface Geologic Conditions Across A Contaminant Plume, Mccracken County, Kentucky, Cora A. Blits

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Over 7.8 km of seismic reflection data and 2 km of electrical resistivity data were acquired, processed, and interpreted during this multi-method geophysical study. Objectives included the definition of geologic conditions underlying a contaminant plume in McCracken County, western Kentucky, and the determination of the potential for structural control on the rate and direction of plume migration. Both geophysical methods indicate the presence of multiple high-angle normal faults outlining a series of asymmetric grabens ranging in width from 160 m to almost 300 m and striking between N40°E and N45°E. There was agreement between the two methods on fault location …

Regional Differences And Associations With Obesity-Related Factors In Overweight And Obese U.S. Southern Elderly People, Akemi Sakamoto

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The growing prevalence of overweight and obesity among United States (U.S.) elderly people today is a health concern. Higher incidences of obesity and obesity-related health conditions and mortality exist in the southern area of the U.S. Understanding obesity in relation to obesity-related factors in this population is crucial. The purpose of this study was to identify regional differences and associations between obesity and obesity-related factors in Southern U.S. elderly people, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, using data from the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), an existing telephone health survey administered by the Centers for Disease Control …

Multiple Channel Coherent Amplitude Modulated (Am) Time Division Multiplexing (Tdm) Software Defined Radio (Sdr) Receiver, Veerendra Bhargav Alluri

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

It is often required in communication and navigation systems to be able to receive signals from multiple stations simultaneously. A common practice to do this is to use multiple hardware resources; a different set of resources for each station. In this thesis, a Coherent Amplitude Modulated (AM) receiver system was developed based on Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology enabling reception of multiple signals using hardware resources needed only for one station. The receiver system architecture employs Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) to share the single hardware resource among multiple streams of data. The architecture is designed so that it can be …

Using Microhistological Techniques To Predict Botanical Composition Of Horse Diets On Cool-Season Grass Pasture, Jesse Ira Morrison

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Microhistological analysis is a highly effective microscopic technique of determining botanical composition of animal diets by visual recognition of fecal plant fragments, and has been widely used in range studies. The objective of this study was to use microhistological techniques to predict the botanical composition of domesticated horse diets when grazing mixed cool-season pasture. Samples of tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) S.J. Darbyshire], Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) were evaluated for microscopically unique characteristics. Cool season pasture grazing studies were conducted in October 2006 and May 2007 in Lexington, KY. Eight thoroughbred mares were placed …

Determination Of The Extravascular Burden Of Carbon Monoxide (Co) On Human Heart, Kinnera Erupaka

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Noninvasive measurements of myocardial carboxymyoglobin levels (%MbCO) and oxygen tensions (PtO2) are difficult to obtain experimentally. We have developed a compartmental model which allows prediction of myocardial %MbCO levels and PtO2 for varied carbon monoxide (CO) exposures. The cardiac compartment in the model consists of vascular subcompartments which contain two tissue subcompartments varying in capillary density. Mass-balance equations for oxygen (O2) and CO are applied for all compartments. Myocardial oxygen consumption and blood flow are quantified from predictive formulas based on heart rate. Model predictions are validated with experimental data at normoxia, hypoxia, exercise and hyperoxia. CO exposures of varying …

Support Vector Machine For High Throughput Rodent Sleep Behavior Classification, Shantilal

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

This thesis examines the application of a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier to automatically detect sleep and quiet wake (rest) behavior in mice from pressure signals on their cage floor. Previous work employed Neural Networks (NN) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) to successfully detect sleep and wake behaviors in mice. Although the LDA was successful in distinguishing between the sleep and wake behaviors, it has several limitations, which include the need to select a threshold and difficulty separating additional behaviors with subtle differences, such as sleep and rest. The SVM has advantages in that it offers greater degrees of freedom …

Parametrization And Shape Reconstruction Techniques For Doo-Sabin Subdivision Surfaces, Jiaxi Wang

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

This thesis presents a new technique for the reconstruction of a smooth surface from a set of 3D data points. The reconstructed surface is represented by an everywhere -continuous subdivision surface which interpolates all the given data points. And the topological structure of the reconstructed surface is exactly the same as that of the data points. The new technique consists of two major steps. First, use an efficient surface reconstruction method to produce a polyhedral approximation to the given data points. Second, construct a Doo-Sabin subdivision surface that smoothly passes through all the data points in the given data set. …

Single Event Upset Detection In Field Programmable Gate Arrays, Shadab Gopinath Ambat

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The high-radiation environment in space can lead to anomalies in normal satellite operation. A major cause of concern to spacecraft-designers is the single event upset (SEU). SEUs can result in deviations from expected component behavior and are capable of causing irreversible damage to hardware. In particular, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are known to be highly susceptible to SEUs. Radiation-hardened versions of such devices are associated with an increase in power consumption and cost in addition to being technologically inferior when compared to contemporary commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) parts. This thesis consequently aims at exploring the option of using COTS FPGAs in …

Merging Of Fingerprint Scans Obtained From Multiple Cameras In 3d Fingerprint Scanner System, Deepthi Boyanapally

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Fingerprints are the most accurate and widely used biometrics for human identification due to their uniqueness, rapid and easy means of acquisition. Contact based techniques of fingerprint acquisition like traditional ink and live scan methods are not user friendly, reduce capture area and cause deformation of fingerprint features. Also, improper skin conditions and worn friction ridges lead to poor quality fingerprints. A non-contact, high resolution, high speed scanning system has been developed to acquire a 3D scan of a finger using structured light illumination technique. The 3D scanner system consists of three cameras and a projector, with each camera producing …

Topology-Based Modeling And Analysis Of Orthogonal Cutting Process, Rajesh Kandibanda

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

This thesis presents the application of topology to machining at the micro and macro levels through an experimental study, modeling and analysis. Uncoated carbide tools of four different cutting edge radii and four different feed rates are used to perform orthogonal machining on AISI 1045 steel disks. The study analyzes the cutting forces, changing grain boundary parameters, micro-hardness, temperature and correlates them to the residual stresses that hold a key to the product life. This analysis helps to understand and evaluate the aspects of grain boundary engineering that influence the fatigue life of a component. The two components of residual …

A Quality Agricultural Education Program: A National Delphi Study, Charles Cordell Jenkins Iii

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The current body of knowledge concerning Agricultural Education quality in regards to its three components is not consistent and total program quality has not been defined scientifically. The purpose of this study was to determine quality indicators for instruction, SAE, and FFA according to experts (agricultural education teacher educators, state instructional staff, and high school teachers) across the United States. The conceptual framework for this study was the three circle model consisting of the three integral, intra-curricular components of Instruction, FFA, and SAE. This national study was descriptive in nature and utilized the Delphi technique to gather responses from an …

The Effectiveness Of Formulating A Story Representation Among Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder And Comparison Children, Benjamin D. Freer

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Children with ADHD perform more poorly in school than comparison children. Although many factors may play a role in this academic deficit, story comprehension deficits have been identified that reveal difficulties with higher cognitive processes. This study investigated how effectively children with ADHD formulate story representations when given little or no story structure. The production of goal-based stories was the major focus. Children with ADHD and comparison children created a story when no story structure was provided (free story) and when some story structure was provided (4-picture story). The stories were measured for coherence, use of goal-attempt-outcome (GAO) sequences and …

The Role Of Stem Cell Antigen-1(Sca-1) In Muscle Aging, Sonia Angela Richards-Malcolm

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Muscle aging is associated with a decrease in the number of satellite cells and their progeny, muscle progenitor cells (MPCs) that are available for muscle repair and regeneration. However, there is an increase in non-immuno-hematopoietic cells (CD45 negative) in regenerating muscle from aged mice characterized by high stem cell antigen -1(Sca-1) expression. In aged regenerating muscle, 14.2% of cells are CD45neg Sca-1pos while 7.2% of cells are CD45neg Sca-1pos in young adult muscle. In vitro, CD45neg Sca-1pos cells over express genes associated with fibrosis, potentially controlled by Wnt2. These cells are proliferative, non-myogenic and non-adipogenic, and arise in clonally-derived MPCs …

Stages Of Relationship Change And Individual And Couple Adjustment, Jacob A. Lacoursiere

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Although Prochaska and DiClemente (1984) considered the Transtheoretical Model of Change (TTM) to be relevant to couples therapy, there is a paucity of research in this area. Understanding how couples initiate change in their relationship still proves difficult due to barriers in the collection of couple level data and the fact that the majority of research on the TTM is individualistic in nature (Fowers, 2001; Schneider, 2003). Schneider (2003) reported that research suggests a relationship between change processes and relationship adjustment in couples. To my knowledge this study is the first test of the reliability and correlates of relationship change, …

Home Range, Habitat Use, And Food Habits Of The Black Bear In South-Central Florida, Wade Allen Ulrey

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

I studied a small, enigmatic, and imperiled black bear population in south-central Florida from 2004 - 2006. Annual home ranges of males (96.0 km²) were larger than those of females (32.2 km²). Female home ranges were smaller in winter than in summer or fall. At the landscape scale, bears selected forests, scrub, and citrus, but avoided urban areas. At the home range scale, bears selected bay swamp and hardwood hammock, but avoided urban areas and grassland. Bears selected bay swamp in winter, forests and scrub in summer, and forests, scrub, and marsh in fall. The bear’s …

Precision Agriculture: Realizing Increased Profit And Reduced Risk Through Cost Map And Lightbar Adoption, Benjamin Michael Kayrouz

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

This thesis examines the use of two specific types of precision agriculture technologies: cost maps and lightbar. Cost maps visually depict spatial differences in production costs. The visual depictions of these costs are represented using ArcGIS in an attempt to aide farmers in further decision making. Results will show that cost maps have great possibilities in their addition to the set of tools that farmers use in decision making. This thesis will expand the understanding of lightbar from a partial budget study to a whole farm model incorporating competition across different enterprises for labor and capital. The results from the …

Stranded Core Transformer Loss Analysis, Xingxing Zhang

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

We will present the approaches used to investigating the power loss for the stranded core transformers. One advantage of using stranded core is to reduce power loss or enhance transformer efficiency. One difficulty in the modeling of this type of transformer is that the core is not solid (there are small gaps between core wires due to circular cross section). A two dimensional finite element method with nodal basis function for magnetostatic field was developed to study the effects of the small gaps between core wires. The magnetic flux densities are compared for the uniform (solid) cores and the stranded …

The Missing Link: Marital Virtues And Their Relationship To Individual Functioning, Communication, And Relationship Adjustment, Amanda Veldorale-Brogan

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Relationship adjustment research is being expanded beyond established connections with communication and individual functioning. In recent years, researchers have looked to positive psychology and virtues. That research shifts the focus from psychopathology and communication to more core values and ways of being. The present study seeks to expand this knowledge base using Blaine Fowers (2000) framework of marital virtues. His framework views what a person puts into an intimate relationship as an important predictor of relationship adjustment. The present study uses this framework in conjunction with previous research to examine the direct and indirect links amongst individual functioning, marital virtues, …

The Disabled Family Dynamic In Drama: The Glass Menagerie, A Day In The Death Of Joe Egg And Time For Ben, Terah Herman

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Early disability research in the social sciences focused on the individual, or the person with the disability. Only recently has disability research accepted that every family member is affected. The disabled does not suffer the disability alone; the entire family— as well as friends and relatives—suffer ramifications. Parental roles are altered, and grief, anger and guilt often blur the parameters of acceptable parental care. By using disabled family dynamic research in dialog with The Glass Menagerie, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, and Time for Ben, I argue that the disabled family dynamic is present, …

"Attention Must Be Paid," Cried The Balladeer: The Concept Musical Defined, Christine Margaret Young

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The concept musical, a fourth category of American musical theatre, has been accepted as a legitimate category but never fully defined. This study examined the attributes making up the category (theme, structure, character, and song), identified the hallmarks of the category, and provided a concise definition. Two concept musicals, Company and A Chorus Line were analyzed.

Challenges And Opportunities To Rural Nutrition Education Programs In Kentucky's Superfund Communities, Carolyn L. Hofe

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The National Electric Coil Company/Cooper Industries, Inc. plant in Harlan County, Kentucky was a mining support operation primarily engaged in the cleaning and repair of mining equipment from 1951 to 1987. Trichloroethylene (TCE) and degradation byproducts, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and vinyl chloride were released into the areas surrounding the plant periodically for decades. Routine water sampling of area wells by the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection Division of Water revealed significant levels of TCE, PCBs, and vinyl chloride. The toxicology of these chemicals implicates various systems, including cardiovascular, dermal, endocrine, and neurological.

University of Kentucky’s Superfund Basic Research Program’s (UK-SBRP) …

Parental Perceptions Of Nutritional Status Of Children With Autism, Rachel Corliss Holt

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Literature shows that nutritional deficiency and feeding behaviors in neurodevelopmentally disabled children is secondary to an underdeveloped gastrointestinal tract. Fifty (50) parents with children with autism responded to a Nutritional Perception Assessment that they believe their children are at adequate nutritional status. They reported confidence in their nutritional knowledge, yet admitted to concern about the nutritional status of their children. The survey revealed that parents are not seeing a registered dietitian for their nutritional advice, leading to the question of soundness in nutritional information received. A marginal correlation was found between belief in adequate nutritional status of children and the …

Effects Of Fescue Herbicides Plateau® And Cimarron® On Pregnancy Maintenance In Broodmares And On Alkaloid Concentrations In Endophyte Infected Tall Fescue, Kathleen Scarlett Black

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Ingestion of endophyte infected (E+) fescue by pregnant mares can cause significant reproductive problems. Plateau® and Cimarron® herbicides suppress fescue while leaving desired forages unharmed. To determine if these herbicides are harmful to pregnant mares, they were allowed to graze pastures treated with Plateau®, Cimarron®, or vehicle carrier. Pregnancies were monitored via ultrasonography, blood chemistry, and hematology. Of the components measured only creatinine differed among treatments over time (P=0.0003) and that increase was only significant in one of four studies.

Two additional experiments were conducted to determine the effect of the herbicides on alkaloids within E+ fescue. A greenhouse experiment …

Being A Man In Kentucky: Perspectives Of Rural Migrant Workers, Mitchell Beam Snider

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

This thesis concerns identity constructions among rural migrant workers in Kentucky in relation to experiences and articulations of transnational spaces, networks, and identities. It was conducted through semi-structured interviews of migrant laborers on two rural Kentucky horse farms with 13 men. In this project, the men’s identities could be seen to have access to and utilize social, economic, cultural, and familial connections across national borders. These aspects of transnational identities were contrasted and compared to aspects of these men’s masculine identities to problematize popular representations of masculinities. This thesis shows how traditional notions of masculinities are questioned, reinforced, discarded, touted …

Phylogenetic Methods For Testing Significant Codivergence Between Host Species And Their Symbionts, Skyler Speakman

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Significant phylogenetic codivergence between plant or animal hosts (H) and their symbionts or parasites (P) indicate the importance of their interactions on evolutionary time scales. However, valid and realistic methods to test for codivergence are not fully developed. One of the systems where possible codivergence has been of interest involves the large subfamily of temperate grasses (Pooideae) and their endophytic fungi (epichloae). Here we introduce the MRCALink (most-recent-common-ancestor link) method and use it to investigate the possibility of grass-epichloё codivergence. MRCALink applied to ultrametric H and P trees identifies all corresponding nodes for pairwise comparisons of …

Assessment Of Terrain Attribute Models For The Identification Of Erosion Prone Areas Suitable For The Establishment Of Grassed Waterways In An Agricultural Field Setting In The Out Bluegrass Region Of Kentucky, Adam Clellon Pike

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The speed and accuracy of conservation planning could be improved if maps indicating areas where grassed waterways should be placed to reduce erosion could be easily created. For five central Kentucky fields, elevation data were obtained with real time kinematic (RTK) global positioning system (GPS) and from US Geological Survey (USGS) digital elevation models (DEMs). Terrain attributes were calculated from these datasets which were used as predictor variables for neural network and logistic regression analyses. Grassed waterway prediction models were developed with these analyses. The type of activation function, type of standardization procedure, number of neurons, number of preliminary runs, …

Content Preparation Of Pre-Service Agricultural Education Teachers And Its Influence On Their Content Knowledge, Amber Houck

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Content knowledge preparation for teachers is a crucial component of the modal curriculum model for education. The purpose of this study was to determine if the amount and quality of coursework preparation of pre-service University of Kentucky agriculture teachers influences their content knowledge as defined by the Praxis II agriculture exam scores. This study concluded that there was variability in coursework preparation of pre-service agriculture teachers at the University of Kentucky. Praxis II exam scores of pre-service teachers indicated that most students are meeting an adequate content knowledge level based on the exam material. It can also be concluded that …