Digital Commons Network^™

Present Day Plate Boundary Deformation In The Caribbean And Crustal Deformation On Southern Haiti, Steeve Symithe

Open Access Dissertations

The Caribbean plate and its boundaries with North and South America, marked by subduction and large intra-arc strike-slip faults, are a natural laboratory for the study of strain partitioning and interseismic plate coupling in relation to large earth- quakes. In this work, I use the available campaign and continuous GPS measurements in the Caribbean to derive a regional velocity field expressed in a consistent reference frame. I use this velocity field as input to a kinematic model where surface velocities result from the rotation of rigid blocks bounded by locked faults accumulating inter- seismic strain, while allowing for partial locking …

Optimal Monitoring And Mitigation Of Systemic Risk In Lending Networks, Zhang Li

Open Access Dissertations

This thesis proposes optimal policies to manage systemic risk in financial networks. Given a one-period borrower-lender network in which all debts are due at the same time and have the same seniority, we address the problem of allocating a fixed amount of cash among the nodes to minimize the weighted sum of unpaid liabilities. Assuming all the loan amounts and cash flows are fixed and that there are no bankruptcy costs, we show that this problem is equivalent to a linear program. We develop a duality-based distributed algorithm to solve it which is useful for applications where it is desirable …

Climate Change And Hazardous Convective Weather In The United States: Insights From High-Resolution Dynamical Downscaling, Kimberly A. Hoogewind

Open Access Dissertations

Global climate model (GCM) projections increasingly suggest that large-scale environmental conditions favorable for hazardous convective weather (HCW) may increase in frequency in the future due to anthropogenic climate change. However, this storm environment-based approach is undoubtedly limited by the assumption that convective-scale phenomena will be realized within these environments. The spatial resolution of GCMs remains much too coarse to adequately represent the scales at which severe convective storms occur, including processes that may lead to storm initiation. With the advancement of computing resources, however, it has now become feasible to explicitly represent deep convective storms within a high-resolution regional climate …

Toward A Genre Writing Curriculum: Schooling Genres In The Common Core State Standards, Michael J. Maune

Open Access Dissertations

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS), published in 2010 and adopted by the majority of U.S. states, established a set of expectations for student writing in K-12 education. In describing these expectations, the CCSS used three general “text type” classifications: Narrative, Informative/Explanatory, and Argumentative. While the CCSS outlines the general expectations for students writing in these text types, the linguistic and genre expectations were not fully expressed. This study examines 34 student exemplar texts provided in an appendix to the CCSS in order to determine the genre and linguistic expectations for student writing in K-12 education. Using a genre typology …

Coupled Resonator Based Wireless Power Transfer For Bioelectronics, Henry Mei

Open Access Dissertations

Implantable and wearable bioelectronics provide the ability to monitor and modulate physiological processes. They represent a promising set of technologies that can provide new treatment for patients or new tools for scientific discovery, such as in long-term studies involving small animals. As these technologies advance, two trends are clear, miniaturization and increased sophistication i.e. multiple channels, wireless bi-directional communication, and responsiveness (closed-loop devices). One primary challenge in realizing miniaturized and sophisticated bioelectronics is powering. Integration and development of wireless power transfer (WPT) technology, however, can overcome this challenge.

In this dissertation, I propose the use of coupled resonator WPT for …

Kernels Of Adjoints Of Composition Operators On Hilbert Spaces Of Analytic Functions, Brittney Rachele Miller

Open Access Dissertations

This thesis contains a collection of results in the study of the adjoint of a composition operator and its kernel in weighted Hardy spaces, in particular, the classical Hardy, Bergman, and Dirichlet spaces. In 2006, Cowen and Gallardo-Gutiérrez laid the groundwork for an explicit formula for the adjoint of a composition operator with rational symbol acting on the Hardy space, and in 2008, Hammond, Moorhouse, and Robbins established such a formula. In 2014, Goshabulaghi and Vaezi obtained analogous formulas for the adjoint of a composition operator in the Bergman and Dirichlet spaces. While it is known that the kernel of …

Energy Efficiency In Data Collection Wireless Sensor Networks, Miquel Andres Navarro Patino

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation studies the problem of energy efficiency in resource constrained and heterogeneous wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for data collection applications in real-world scenarios. The problem is addressed from three different perspectives: network routing, node energy profiles, and network management. First, the energy efficiency in a WSN is formulated as a load balancing problem, where the routing layer can diagnose and exploit the WSN topology redundancy to reduce the data traffic processed in critical nodes, independent of their hardware platform, improving their energy consumption and extending the network lifetime. We propose a new routing strategy that extends traditional cost-based routing …

Monotonicity Formulas For Diffusion Operators On Manifolds And Carnot Groups, Heat Kernel Asymptotics And Wiener's Criterion On Heisenberg-Type Groups, Kevin L. Rotz

Open Access Dissertations

The contents of this thesis are an assortment of results in analysis and subRiemannian geometry, with a special focus on the Heisenberg group Hn, Heisenbergtype (H-type) groups, and Carnot groups.

As we wish for this thesis to be relatively self-contained, the main definitions and background are covered in Chapter 1. This includes basic information about Carnot groups, Hn, H-type groups, diffusion operators, and the curvature dimension inequality.

Chapter 2 incorporates excerpts from a paper by N. Garofalo and the author, [42]. In it, we propose a generalization of Almgren’s frequency function N : (0, 1) → R for solutions to …

Finite Dimensional Approximations And Deformations Of Group C*-Algebras, Andrew James Schneider

Open Access Dissertations

Quasidiagonality is a finite-dimensional approximation property of a C*-algebra which indicates that it has matricial approximations that capture the structure of the C*-algebra. We investigate when C*-algebras associated to discrete groups have such a property with particular emphasis on finding obstructions. In particular, we point out that groups with Kazhdan's Property (T) and only finitely many unitary equivalence classes of finite dimensional representations do not produce quasidiagonal C*-algebras. We then observe and note interactions with Property (T) and other approximation properties.

Property (QH) is a related but stronger approximation property with deep connections to E-Theory and …

An Evaluation Of Noise Reduction Strategies At Large Commercial Airports In The United States: A Policy Analysis And Framework Classification, Tyler Spence

Open Access Dissertations

Noise pollution from aircraft, specifically in the vicinity of airports as aircraft takeoff and land, is a problem that has been shown to have negative impacts on the welfare of humans, animals, and the surrounding environment. The problem may only become worse as air travel increases for cargo and passenger operations, populations increase, and the overall number of aircraft increase. Currently, guidance has been issued from the International Civil Aviation Organization on how to combat the issue of noise pollution through policy, both at that national regulatory level, and at the local airport level. This study evaluated the local airport …

Direct Drug Screening And Lipid Profiling Using Ambient Mass Spectrometry, Yuan Su

Open Access Dissertations

Mass spectrometry (MS) stands in an outstanding position in analysis of biological specimens owing to its abundant structural information, high accuracy, incomparable sensitivity, high speed, and the large variety of its applications. The ion source, an instrumental part for converting the analyte into ions, has played an important role in analyzing biological specimens by MS. However, the performance of conventional spray-based ionization methods always suffers from chemical interferences derived from complex biological matrices. A series of sample extraction, purification, and separation steps is required before the ionization, so as to ensure excellent performance of MS analysis. In order to simplify …

Advancing Multiple Model-Based Control Of Complex Biological Systems: Applications In T Cell Biology, Jeffrey P. Perley

Open Access Dissertations

Activated CD4+ T cells are important regulators of the adaptive immune response against invading pathogens and cancerous host cells. The process of activation is mediated by the T cell receptor and a vast network of intracellular signal transduction pathways, which recognize and interpret antigenic signals to determine the cell's response. The critical role of these early signaling events in normal cell function and the pathogenesis of disease ultimately make them attractive therapeutic targets for numerous autoimmune diseases and cancers.

Scientists increasingly rely on predictive mathematical models and control-theoretic tools to design effective strategies to manipulate cellular processes for the advancement …

Behavioral Responses And Policy Evaluation: Revisiting Water And Fuel Policies, Shanxia Sun

Open Access Dissertations

In my dissertation, I examine how policies regulating agricultural production and clean technology impact the environment. I focus on policies affecting water depletion, water pollution, and fuel consumption. I assess their cost-effectiveness by modeling and quantifying the behavioral responses of farmers and households.

My first essay focuses on decreasing groundwater depletion through increasing irrigation efficiency in Mexico. I quantify the impacts of different sources of inefficiency on groundwater extraction, and I evaluate the effectiveness of alternative policies that aim to reduce the over-extraction of groundwater. I find that mechanisms of electricity cost-sharing implemented in many wells have a sizable impact …

Collecting To The Core--Advanced Astronomy Texts, Dianne Dietrich, Anne Doherty

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Don's Conference Notes--Data Sparks Discovery: The 2016 Nfais Annual Conference, Donald T. Hawkins

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Implementation And Validation Of A Probabilistic Open Source Baseball Engine (Posbe): Modeling Hitters And Pitchers, Rhett Tracy Schaefer

Open Access Theses

This manuscript details the implementation and validation of an open source probabilistic baseball engine (POSBE) that focuses on the hitter and pitcher model of the simulation. The simulation produced outcomes that parallel those observed in actual professional Major League Baseball games. The observed data were taken from the nineteen games played between the New York Yankees (NYY) and Boston Red Sox (BOS) during the 2015 season. The potential hitter/pitcher outcomes of interest were singles, doubles, triples, homeruns, walks, hit-by-pitch, and strikeouts. The nineteen game series was simulated 1000 times, resulting in a total of 19,000 simulations. The eighteen hitters and …

Gesture Based Non-Obstacle Interaction On Mobile Computing Devices For Dirty Working Environment, William B. Huynh

Open Access Theses

The dominant way of interacting with tablets, smartphones, or wearable devices are through touchscreen or touchpad, which requires the user to physically touch the device’s screen. However, in certain situation, for example, a dirty working environment, touching is not ideal or feasible. This study examined a new method that allows for a non-touch interaction by using the devices’ back camera along with simple gesture to simulate mouse clicking. Cameras are used to capture motion-based gestures coupled with object detection, achieving a non-touch interaction. With human subject evaluation, the researcher found that using the back camera on mobile devices for gesture …

A Study Of How Chinese Ink Painting Features Can Be Applied To 3d Scenes And Models In Real-Time Rendering, Muning Cao

Open Access Theses

Past research findings addressed mature techniques for non-photorealistic rendering. However, research findings indicate that there is little information dealing with efficient methods to simulate Chinese ink painting features in rendering 3D scenes. Considering that Chinese ink painting has achieved many worldwide awards, the potential to effectively and automatically develop 3D animations and games in this style indicates a need for the development of appropriate technology for the future market.

The goal of this research is about rendering 3D meshes in a Chinese ink painting style which is both appealing and realistic. Specifically, how can the output image appear similar to …

Op Ed--Opinions And Editorials--Little Red Herrings--The Sky Is Falling, But Not For The Reason You Think, Mark Y. Herring

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Book Reviews--Monographic Musings, Regina Gong

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Damage Accumulation On The Kinetics Of Network Strength Recovery For A Physical Polymer Gel Subjected To Shear Deformation, Travis Thornell, Krithika Subramaniam, Kendra Erk

School of Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Shear rheophysical experiments were used to quantify the kinetics of strength recovery of model thermoreversible polymer gels that were fractured and ultimately sheared to different total magnitudes of strain (700 and 4000%) before resting for set periods of time. Relationships between the amount of strength recovered and the normalized ratio of resting times to characteristic relaxation times were developed. It was found that gels displayed fully healed networks within timescales that were 2-3 orders of magnitude greater than the gel’s characteristic relaxation time. Gels deformed to 700% applied strain either healed slower at lower gel concentrations as compared to experiments …

Noise Expands The Response Range Of The Bacillus Subtilis Competence Circut, Andrew Mugler, Mark Kittisopikul, Luke Hayden, Jintao Liu, Chris H. Wiggins, Gürol M. Süel, Aleksandra M. Walczak

Department of Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Gene regulatory circuits must contend with intrinsic noise that arises due to finite numbers of proteins. While some circuits act to reduce this noise, others appear to exploit it. A striking example is the competence circuit in Bacillus subtilis, which exhibits much larger noise in the duration of its competence events than a synthetically constructed analog that performs the same function. Here, using stochastic modeling and fluorescence microscopy, we show that this larger noise allows cells to exit terminal phenotypic states, which expands the range of stress levels to which cells are responsive and leads to phenotypic heterogeneity at the …

Laying The Foundation: Digital Humanities In Academic Libraries, John W. White, Heather Gilbert

Purdue University Press Books

Laying the Foundation: Digital Humanities in Academic Libraries examines the library’s role in the development, implementation, and instruction of successful digital humanities projects. It pays special attention to the critical role of librarians in building sustainable programs. It also examines how libraries can support the use of digital scholarship tools and techniques in undergraduate education.

Academic libraries are nexuses of research and technology; as such, they provide fertile ground for cultivating and curating digital scholarship. However, adding digital humanities to library service models requires a clear understanding of the resources and skills required. Integrating digital scholarship into existing models calls …

4-H Nfpa Fluid Power Challenge, Erika D. Bonnett

Engagement & Service-Learning Summit

The 4-H NFPA Fluid Power Challenge partnered Purdue Polytechnic Institute and Indiana 4-H with the National Fluid Power Association and Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power to provide teams of Indiana youth in 6-8th grades with opportunity to learn about hydraulics, engineering design, and other STEM skills. This created an opportunity to give youth a learning experience with STEM through hands-on, experiential learning activities. Youth experienced a one day workshop in which they worked as teams to learn concepts of fluid power through hands-on learning. Teams then went back to their communities and created and designed a fluid power …

Promoting Discussions Of A Mathematics Concept With Real-World Contexts: Eighth-Grade Students’ Understandings Of The Area Formula, Elizabeth Suazo-Flores

Engagement & Service-Learning Summit

No abstract provided.

Developing Probability Maps For Locating And Scouting Unprotected Areas Of Gravel Hill Prairies On Rodman Soils Along The Wabash River Valley Near Lafayette, Indiana, Ryan W.R. Schroeder

Engagement & Service-Learning Summit

No abstract provided.

Managing Your Professional Identity: Leveraging Social Media And Emerging Metrics To Demonstrate Professional Impact, Megan R. Sapp Nelson

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

This session will assist graduate students to deliberately develop an online professional identity that will uniquely identify them as an academic as well as positively highlight their personal strengths.

Students will walk away with a plan to create a unique professional identifier and an understanding of how to measure the impact of online scholarly communication.

Topics included are:

ORCID ID

social media, such as LinkedIn & ResearchGate

Alternative Metrics (Altmetrics), such has Kudos, ImpactStory, & AltMetric

Data repositories, such as GitHub & FigShare

Mechanical Dispersion Of Semi-Solid Binders In High-Shear Granulation, Nathan J. Davis

Open Access Dissertations

Granulation is an important industrial process used to produce many foods, medicines, consumer products, and industrial intermediate products. This thesis focuses on high shear wet granulation with the specific case study of detergent manufacture using a high shear pin mixer. The key rate process in detergent manufacturing was determined to be the mechanical dispersion of the semi-solid surfactant binder. The pin mixer and mechanical dispersion utilized experiments, population balance models, and discrete element method (DEM) models.

The mechanical dispersion of the surfactant binder was studied using a lab scale 6 liter pin mixer. An experimental method was developed to isolate …

Learning The Language Of Academic Engineering: Sociocognitive Writing In Graduate Students, Catherine G. P. Berdanier

Open Access Dissertations

Although engineering graduate programs rarely require academic writing courses, the indicators of merit in academic engineering, such as journal publications, successful grants, and doctoral milestones (e.g. theses, dissertations) are based in effective written argumentation and disciplinary discourse. Further, graduate student attrition averages 57% across all disciplines, with some studies classifying up to 50% of these students as “ABD” (All But Dissertation.) In engineering disciplines specifically, graduate attrition rates across the U.S. average 36% (both Master’s and PhD students), according to the Council of Graduate Schools. The lack of socialization is generally noted as a main reason for graduate attrition, one …

Hydrologic And Water Quality Impacts From Perennial Crop Production On Marginal Lands, Qingyu Feng

Open Access Dissertations

Marginal lands are proposed as a viable option for producing biofeedstocks as these lands are not heavily engaged in agricultural production or may not be suitable for intensive row-crop food/feed production. However, meeting biofeedstock production goals will require large amount of marginal lands and the unintended consequences of producing biofeedstocks on marginal lands are not fully clear. The overall goal of this study was to evaluate the productivity of biofeedstocks on marginal lands and the potential impacts on hydrologic and water quality processes from the land use conversion.

This study was conducted in the Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMRB). First, …