Digital Commons Network^™

Fabrication, Characterization, Optimization And Application Development Of Novel Thin-Layer Chromatography Plates, Supriya Singh Kanyal

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation describes advances in the microfabrication of thin layer chromatography (TLC) plates. These plates are prepared by the patterning of carbon nanotube (CNT) forests on substrates, followed by their infiltration with an inorganic material. This document is divided into ten sections or chapters. Chapter 1 reviews the basics of conventional TLC technology. This technology has not changed substantially in decades. This chapter also mentions some of the downsides of the conventional approach, which include unwanted interactions of the binder in the plates with the analytes, relatively slow development times, and only moderately high efficiencies. Chapter 2 focuses primarily on …

Role Of Epistasis In Alzheimer's Disease Genetics, Mark T. Ebbert

Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer's disease is a complex neurodegenerative disease whose basic etiology and genetic structure remains elusive, despite decades of intensive investigation. To date, the significant genetic markers identified have no obvious functional effects, and are unlikely to play a role in Alzheimer's disease etiology, themselves. These markers are likely linked to other genetic variations, rare or common. Regardless of what causal mutations are found, research has demonstrated that no single gene determines Alzheimer's disease development and progression. It is clear that Alzheimer's disease development and progression are based on a set of interactions between genes and environmental variables. This dissertation focuses …

Language Use In Mathematics Textbooks Written In English And Spanish, Kailie Ann Bertoch

Theses and Dissertations

Research has suggested that although mathematics is a universal language, the notation, algorithms, and language in which it is taught varies from country to country. The literature has addressed the challenges associated with understanding the language of mathematics in English. Variable is a topic of mathematics where the literature has documented students' difficulty understanding the language of mathematics. Part of that difficulty is attributed to the fact that mathematics and English each have their own register and at times the differences in these registers conflict. This study examined the introduction and use of variable in the middle school textbooks of …

Classifying And Cataloging Cyber-Security Incidents Within Cyber-Physical Systems, William B. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

In the past, there were perceived delineations between the cyber world and the physical world. We are becoming increasingly aware of the overlap between these two worlds, and the overlap itself is increasing. The overlap between these two worlds is known as cyber-physical systems. There have been several incidents involving cyber-physical systems and the number of these incidents is increasing dramatically. In the past there has been no effort to identify methods for describing these incidents in the unique context of cyber-physical systems. This research provides a taxonomy for classifying these incidents that focuses on cross domain, impact oriented analysis. …

Language Pathways Defined In A Patient With Left Temporal Lobe Damagesecondary To Traumatic Brain Injury: A Qeeg & Mri Study, Janelle Lee Bailey

Theses and Dissertations

Though the current understanding of language processing is incomplete, it has been established that the left hemisphere is dominant for language in the majority of the population. Damage to language centers of the brain and to white matter tracts connecting these language centers results in a language deficit known as aphasia. Neuroplasticity in the brain can often compensate for these language deficits by strengthening neuronal connections between the right and left hemisphere, or by enhancing the neuronal connectivity of undamaged areas in the left hemisphere. Thus the brain can compensate for damaged language centers by using alternative cortical areas. These …

The Effect Of Students' Mathematical Beliefs On Knowledge Transfer, Kristen Adams

Theses and Dissertations

Students learn many different concepts throughout their mathematical careers. In order to be successful in mathematics, students should be able to transfer these mathematical concepts learned in one situation and apply them to a new situation. There are many factors that might affect how students transfer knowledge; however research has focused mostly upon cognitive factors, even though affective factors might also exhibit a strong influence. This study examined how students' mathematical beliefs, specifically beliefs about mathematics education and self-efficacy, affect the transfer process. Data were collected from three middle school students. These data were collected through in-class observations, students' written …

Self-Reported Mastery: Moving On From Self-Reported Gains In Assessing Learning Outcomes, Michael S. Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

As the learning outcomes movement gains strength, the need to effectively measure learning outcomes becomes more important. This study looked at the effectiveness of self-reported mastery in measuring learning outcomes by examining the correlations between (a) self-reported mastery, (b) self-reported gains, and (c) objective measures of learning outcomes. The objective measures of learning outcomes were final exams for two classes, Calculus (consisting of two forms) and Statistics. The self-reported mastery and self-reported gains items were taken from the pilot student ratings form and the old student ratings form. A total of 848 undergraduate students completed the final exam and the …

The Nature And Origin Of Pebble Dikes And Associated Alteration: Tintic Mining District (Ag-Pb-Zn), Utah, Douglas M. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

In many ore deposits throughout the world, brecciation often accompanies or occurs in association with mineralization (Sillitoe, 1985). Such is the case in the Tintic Mining District (Ag-Pb-Zn) of north-central Utah, where unique breccia features called pebble dikes occur alongside significant mineralization. Pebble dikes are tabular bodies of breccia, which consist of angular to rounded clasts of quartzite, shale, carbonate, and minor igneous rock cemented in a fine-grained clastic matrix. All clasts now lie above or adjacent to corresponding source rocks. Dikes are thin, typically less than 0.3 m wide to as much as 1 m, and can exceed 100 …

Compliant Mechanisms For Deployable Space Systems, Shannon Alisa Zirbel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to develop fundamentals of compliant mechanisms in deployable space systems. The scope was limited to creating methods for thick origami, developing compliant deployable solar arrays, and developing methods for stowing and deploying the arrays. The research on actuation methods was focused on a one-time deployment of the array. Concepts for both passive and active actuation were considered. The primary objective of this work was to develop approaches to accommodate thickness in origami-based deployable arrays with a high ratio of deployed-to-stowed diameter. The HanaFlex design was derived from the origami flasher model and is developed …

Design And Analysis Of Robotically-Controlled Minimally Invasive Surgical Instruments, Jordan D. Tanner

Theses and Dissertations

Robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery is used to perform intricate surgical tasks through small incisions using long, slender instruments. The miniaturization of these instruments is advantageous to both surgeon and patient because smaller instruments reduce trauma to surrounding tissue, decrease patient recovery times, and can be used in confined spaces otherwise inaccessible using larger instruments. However, miniaturization of existing designs is limited by friction between moving parts, the volume occupied by the end effector, and manufacturing and assembly constraints. The objective of this work is to develop and analyze concepts that can be used in robot-assisted needlescopic surgery. The concepts are …

Fault Detection For Unmanned Aerial Vehicles With Non-Redundant Sensors, Brandon Jeffrey Cannon

Theses and Dissertations

To operate, autonomous systems of necessity employ a variety of sensors to perceive their environment. Many small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are unable to carry redundant sensors due to size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints. Faults in these sensors can cause undesired behavior, including system instability. Thus, detection of faults in these non-redundant sensors is of paramount importance.The problem of detecting sensor faults in non-redundant sensors on board autonomous aircraft is non-trivial. Factors that make development of a solution difficult include both an inability to perfectly characterize systems and sensors as well as the SWaP constraints inherent with small UAV. …

Design Considerations In The Development And Actuation Of Origami-Based Mechanisms, Eric W. Wilcox

Theses and Dissertations

Origami-based mechanisms have unique characteristics that make them attractive for engineering applications. However, origami-based design is still a developing area of design. Continued work to increase general understanding of key design parameters specific to origami-based mechanisms will increase the ability of designers to capture the potential benefits of origami-based mechanisms. This thesis presents a fundamental study of origami to assist designers in gaining a stronger understanding of the key parameters and capabilities of origami-based mechanisms. As a starting point a study of fundamental motions in action origami models (those that exhibit motions in their folded state) is presented to explore …

A Privacy Risk Scoring Framework For Mobile, Jedidiah Spencer Montgomery

Theses and Dissertations

Protecting personal privacy has become an increasingly important issue as computers become a more integral part of everyday life. As people begin to trust more personal information to be contained in computers they will question if that information is safe from unwanted intrusion and access. With the rise of mobile devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets, wearable technology) users have enjoyed the convenience and availability of stored personal information in mobile devices, both in the operating system and within applications.For a mobile application to function correctly it needs permission or privileges to access and control various resources and controls on the mobile …

Identifying Elementary School Student Understanding Of Learning Disabilities, Michael Quinn Bair

Theses and Dissertations

This school-based study examined the knowledge level of third through fifth grade students who are not being served in special education regarding learning disabilities, personal learning styles, and their perceptions of their peers with learning disabilities. This study circumvents teachers', administrators', and parents' awareness which has been thoroughly researched and instead, directly assesses through interviews what elementary students (n=45) know about learning disabilities. The goal of this study was to gain a greater understanding of what the students' perceptions are of their learning experience in general and what their understanding of learning disabilities are more specifically through interviews to give …

Civilization And Self-Determination: Interpreting R.G. Collingwood For The Twenty-First Century - Part I, Gautam Ghosh

Comparative Civilizations Review

This article – the first of two – elaborates and endorses the understanding of civilization as advanced by R. G. Collingwood. Particular attention is given to two of his most neglected works, The New Leviathan and "What 'Civilization' Means." The New Leviathan in particular was written in the context of the rise of fascism and the prosecution of World War II. To support the war effort, Collingwood reconceptualized notions of civilization and linked it to a rationality of self-determination. Central to his argument are the distinctions he draws between civilization and barbarism, on the one hand, and between social, economic …

Particle Dispersion In Homogeneous Turbulence Using The One-Dimensional Turbulence Model, Guangyuan Sun, David O. Lignell, John C. Hewson, Craig R. Gin

Faculty Publications

Lagrangian particle dispersion is studied using the one-dimensional turbulence (ODT) model in homogeneous decaying turbulence configurations. The ODT model has been widely and successfully applied to a number of reacting and nonreacting flow configurations, but only limited application has been made to multiphase flows. Here, we present a version of the particle implementation and interaction with the stochastic and instantaneous ODT eddy events. The model is characterized by comparison to experimental data of particle dispersion for a range of intrinsic particle time scales and body forces. Particle dispersion, velocity, and integral time scale results are presented. The particle implementation introduces …

Health Literacy And Obesity Among Native Hawaiian And Pacific Islanders In The U.S., Jane Lassetter

Faculty Publications

Objectives: Our purpose was to describe relationships between demographic characteristics, body mass index (BMI), and health literacy among Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (NHPIs).

Design and Sample: In this cross-sectional survey, we interviewed 364 NHPI adults.

Measures: We used Newest Vital Sign (NVS), a health literacy tool; measured heights and weights; and demographic questions.

Results: According to participants’ NVS scores, 45.3% had at least a possibility of low health literacy. Lower NVS scores were associated with increased BMI (r = -0.12, p = 0.027) and increased age (r = -0.26, p < 0.001). Higher NVS scores were associated …

The Anyu Of Siku Quanshu Zongmu, Mao Ruifang

Journal of East Asian Libraries

Anyu案语/按语, found in ancient Chinese bibliographies, is an author’s note that adds extra information to the prefaces of different classificatory sections, and may record annotations concerning individual books. Siku quanshu zongmu四库全书总目, which contains 127 occurrences of anyu案语, may be regarded as typical. While anyu案语 are valuable and beneficial to the bibliographical study of ancient Chinese books and to Chinese literary history, study of them has long been neglected and only a few articles have been written. This paper tries to redress this neglect by providing a more comprehensive investigation of the distribution, content and contribution to the bibliographical study of …

Can Civilization Save Us? A Study In Civilizational Analysis And Legal History, Toby E. Huff

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Comparative Civilizations Review

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

Islamic Capitalism: The Muslim Approach To Economic Activities In Indonesia, Hisanori Kato

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

Development Of Ultrasound Sensitive Eliposomes Containing Doxorubicin For Drug Delivery, Chung-Yin Lin, William G. Pitt, Kuo-Chen Wei

Faculty Publications

Aims: A novel nanocarrier was formulated by remote loading of doxorubicin (Dox) into a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposome that also contains various perfluorocarbon (PFC) droplets within its aqueous interior. It was shown that Dox can be loaded to a level of up to 67% into these large unilamellar vesicles composed of DPPC and cholesterol by employing a transmembrane pH gradient technique.

Methods: The different encapsulation efficiencies for these eLipoDox constructs of differing PFC composition are 45.5% (PFC5), 31.5% (PFC6) and 66.7% (PFC5/PFC6 mixture, PFCm). At 30 seconds of insonation, the eLipoDox formulation with PFCm droplets appeared to release more Dox than …

Scalable Detection And Extraction Of Data In Lists In Ocred Text For Ontology Population Using Semi-Supervised And Unsupervised Active Wrapper Induction, Thomas L. Packer

Theses and Dissertations

Lists of records in machine-printed documents contain much useful information. As one example, the thousands of family history books scanned, OCRed, and placed on-line by FamilySearch.org probably contain hundreds of millions of fact assertions about people, places, family relationships, and life events. Data like this cannot be fully utilized until a person or process locates the data in the document text, extracts it, and structures it with respect to an ontology or database schema. Yet, in the family history industry and other industries, data in lists goes largely unused because no known approach adequately addresses all of the costs, challenges, …

Application Of Variation Of Parameters To Solve Nonlinear Multimode Heat Transfer Problems, Travis J. Moore

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this work is to apply the method of variation of parameters to various direct and inverse nonlinear, multimode heat transfer problems. An overview of the general method of variation of parameters is presented and applied to a simple example problem. The method is then used to obtain solutions to three specific extended surface heat transfer problems: 1. a radiating annular fin, 2. convective and radiative exchange between the surface of a continuously moving strip and its surroundings, and 3. convection from a fin with temperature-dependent thermal conductivity and variable cross-sectional area. The results for each of these …

Teaching Teachers: Five Features Of Effective Teacher Training, Mark A. Mathews

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Stability Of Eliposomes At Elevated Temperatures, Ghaleb A. Husseini, William G. Pitt, Marjan Javadi

Faculty Publications

eLiposomes encapsulate a perfluorocarbon nanoemulsion droplet inside a liposome. Ultrasound is then used as a trigger mechanism to vaporize the perfluorocarbon, break the liposome, and release the desired drug to the tumor tissue. The purpose of this research is to show that eLiposomes synthesized using perfluoropentane are stable above the normal boiling point of the perfluoropentane and at body temperature and thus has potential for use in vivo. Experiments involving the release of fluorescent calcein molecules were performed on eLiposomes to measure the release of calcein at various temperatures in the absence of ultrasound. Results showed that eLiposomes are stable …

Investigating The Stability Of Eliposomes At Elevated Temperatures, Ghaleb A. Husseini, William G. Pitt, Marjan Javadi

Faculty Publications

eLiposomes encapsulate a perfluorocarbon nanoemulsion droplet inside a liposome. Ultrasound is then used as a trigger mechanism to vaporize the perfluorocarbon, break the liposome, and release the desired drug to the tumor tissue. The purpose of this research is to show that eLiposomes synthesized using perfluoropentane are stable above the normal boiling point of the perfluoropentane and at body temperature and thus has potential for use in vivo. Experiments involving the release of fluorescent calcein molecules were performed on eLiposomes to measure the release of calcein at various temperatures in the absence of ultrasound. Results showed that eLiposomes are stable …

Measuring Human Workload In Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Timothy J. Gledhill

Theses and Dissertations

Unmanned aerial systems (UASs) often require multiple human operators fulfilling diverse roles for safe and correct operation. Reliably designing the human interaction, autonomy, and decision making aspects of these systems requires the use of modeling. We propose a conceptual model that models human machine interaction systems as a group of actors connected by a network of communication channels. We present a simulation framework implemented in Java, with an optional XML model parser that can be analyzed using the Java Pathfinder (JPF) model checker. We propose two human workload metrics based on a taxonomy extracted from the relevant literature. Using the …

Ion Structure And Energetics In The Gas Phase Characterized Using Fourier Transfom Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry, Chad A. Jones

Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, I use Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) to study the structure and energetics of gas phase ions. Infrared multiphoton dissociation spectroscopy (IRMPD) is a technique for measuring the IR spectrum of gas phase ions in a Penning trap. I use this technique to investigate the conformation of cucurbituril complexes, terminal diamines, and protonated amino acids. Cross sectional areas by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (CRAFTI) is a technique developed by the Dearden lab to measure the cross section of gas phase ions. In this work, I further develop a fundamental understanding of …

All Ye Need To Know, John D. Lamb

BYU Studies

Chemistry and biochemistry professor John D. Lamb, recipient of the 2013 Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award, delivered this forum address on May 20, 2014 at Brigham Young University. Taking his theme from Keats's "Ode on a Grecian Urn," Lamb discusses the value of learning and different ways of gaining knowledge. He contrasts opportunities for light and learning with forces that promote evil and ignorance. Quoting Hugh Nibley, Lamb warns against the dangers of "evading the responsibility of directing our minds to the highest possible object. . . . If the mind is denied functioning to capacity, it will …