Digital Commons Network^™

Improving Traceability Recovery Techniques Through The Study Of Tracing Methods And Analyst Behavior, Wei-Keat Kong

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

Developing complex software systems often involves multiple stakeholder interactions, coupled with frequent requirements changes while operating under time constraints and budget pressures. Such conditions can lead to hidden problems, manifesting when software modifications lead to unexpected software component interactions that can cause catastrophic or fatal situations. A critical step in ensuring the success of software systems is to verify that all requirements can be traced to the design, source code, test cases, and any other software artifacts generated during the software development process. The focus of this research is to improve on the trace matrix generation process and study how …

Novel Dense Stereo Algorithms For High-Quality Depth Estimation From Images, Liang Wang

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

This dissertation addresses the problem of inferring scene depth information from a collection of calibrated images taken from different viewpoints via stereo matching. Although it has been heavily investigated for decades, depth from stereo remains a long-standing challenge and popular research topic for several reasons. First of all, in order to be of practical use for many real-time applications such as autonomous driving, accurate depth estimation in real-time is of great importance and one of the core challenges in stereo. Second, for applications such as 3D reconstruction and view synthesis, high-quality depth estimation is crucial to achieve photo realistic results. …

Computer Methods For Pre-Microrna Secondary Structure Prediction, Dianwei Han

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

This thesis presents a new algorithm to predict the pre-microRNA secondary structure. An accurate prediction of the pre-microRNA secondary structure is important in miRNA informatics. Based on a recently proposed model, nucleotide cyclic motifs (NCM), to predict RNA secondary structure, we propose and implement a Modified NCM (MNCM) model with a physics-based scoring strategy to tackle the problem of pre-microRNA folding. Our microRNAfold is implemented using a global optimal algorithm based on the bottom-up local optimal solutions.

It has been shown that studying the functions of multiple genes and predicting the secondary structure of multiple related microRNA is more important …

Educational Migration: Brain Drain In Kentucky, Dustin Pugel

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Kentucky has been steadily growing in its bachelor degree holder production over the past ten years, with almost 4500 more college degree holders produced per year in 2010 than in 2000. The literature has shown that this is good news for the economic growth prospects of the state, because a more highly skilled work force means a higher potential for production. This newly educated workforce, however, will not help Kentucky to grow if they take those skills elsewhere.

Using five-year American Community Survey data for Kentuckians over the age of 17, I was able to determine that Kentucky is not …

Adequate Yearly Progress And Dropouts: An Analysis Of Kentucky High Schools & Districts, Michelle Schardein

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Education accountability measures, especially since the passage of No Child Left Behind, have been assessed for a variety of factors in empirical research. A large portion of this literature finds that overall, accountability measures increase performance, but also increase the achievement gap. These findings have inspired this research to examine what other marginal groups of students have been affected by the unintended reaction to the consequence-based incentives found in minimum competency accountability programs, such as No Child Left Behind.

In particular, this research looks at how the changes in a high school or school district’s Adequate Yearly Progress marks affect …

Estimation Of Gap Acceptance Parameters For Hcm 2010 Roundabout Capacity Model Applications, A. Gazzarri, Michael T. Martello, Antonio Pratelli, Reginald R. Souleyrette

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper deals with the field data observation and successive application of estimation procedures in order to estimate follow-up headway and critical headway at roundabouts. Average follow-up and average critical headway are two critical parameters in the new roundabout capacity model presented in the 2010 edition of the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM). The HCM 2010 capacity model was developed as an exponential regression model with parameter estimates based on gap acceptance theory. Gap acceptance models are strongly affected by driver behaviour and local habits. Follow-up headways can be field measured, while critical headway cannot be obtained directly. The paper mainly …

Solving Linear Equations: A Comparison Of Concrete And Virtual Manipulatives In Middle School Mathematics, Robin L. Magruder

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

The purpose of this embedded quasi-experimental mixed methods research was to use solving simple linear equations as the lens for looking at the effectiveness of concrete and virtual manipulatives as compared to a control group using learning methods without manipulatives. Further, the researcher wanted to investigate unique benefits and drawbacks associated with each manipulative.

Qualitative research methods such as observation, teacher interviews, and student focus group interviews were employed. Quantitative data analysis techniques were used to analyze pretest and posttest data of middle school students (n=76). ANCOVA, analysis of covariance, uncovered statistically significant differences in favor of the …

Student And Instructor Perceptions Of Factors Important For Student Success In Online And In-Person Algebra Classes At Somerset Community College, Richard S. Matika

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

Online mathematics courses at Somerset Community College (SCC) have traditionally had a lower retention rate than their in-person counterparts. This study looked at online and in-person students at SCC in the courses Intermediate Algebra and College Algebra. Beginning of semester student demographics were considered to determine whether or not the online and in-person student populations were comparable. End of semester student demographics, retention rates, and grades on the final exams were examined to determine whether or not there were patterns among completer students. Finally, a survey was administered to students and instructors to determine their perceptions of several factors …

A Descriptive, Survey Research Study Of The Student Characteristics Influencing The Four Theoretical Sources Of Mathematical Self-Efficacy Of College Freshmen, Tonja Motley Locklear

Theses and Dissertations--Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education

The Sources of Middle School Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale (Usher & Pajares, 2009) was adapted for use in this study investigating the impact that gender, race, sexual orientation, hometown location (rural, suburban, or urban), high school GPA, college GPA and letter grade of a mathematics course in the previous semester had on the four sources of mathematical self-efficacy of 102 college freshmen attending three small, private, liberal arts institutions. Even though this study found no interaction effects between the student characteristics, the four sources of mathematical self-efficacy, or the three subcategories of the vicarious experience construct, this study did find statistically …

Measuring Job Satisfaction Among Kentucky Head Principals Using The Rasch Rating Scale Model, Xavier J. Webb

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

The continued expansion of principals' responsibilities is having a detrimental effect on their job satisfaction; therefore, it is increasingly challenging to retain these important leaders. Effective principals can impact student learning and other vital outcomes; thus, it is important to be able to retain effective school leaders. Examining the perceived sources of principals’ satisfaction and dissatisfaction with their work has strong implications for policies and practices that can be implemented to increase principal retention.

The purpose of this study was to measure the job satisfaction of head principals in Kentucky. The research conducted was an exploratory study using survey research …

A New Geometric Model And Methodology For Understanding Parsimonious Seventh-Sonority Pitch-Class Space, Enoch S. A. Jacobus

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Parsimonious voice leading is a term, first used by Richard Cohn, to describe non-diatonic motion among triads that will preserve as many common tones as possible, while limiting the distance traveled by the voice that does move to a tone or, better yet, a semitone. Some scholars have applied these principles to seventh chords, laying the groundwork for this study, which strives toward a reasonably comprehensive, usable model for musical analysis.

Rather than emphasizing mathematical proofs, as a number of approaches have done, this study relies on two- and three-dimensional geometric visualizations and spatial analogies to describe pitch-class and harmonic …

Artificial Intelligence And The Technological Sublime: How Virtual Characters Influence The Landscape Of Modern Sublimity, Kyle Craft-Jenkins

Theses and Dissertations--English

The principle objective of this thesis is to expand the term “technological sublime” to include technologies of artificial intelligence. In defining new realms of the technological sublime, we must not only consider the ecological integration of technology within natural surroundings, but also appreciate modern technological objects that instigate sublime experiences. This work examines science fictional portrayals of interactions with sentient artificial intelligence in I, Robot, 2001: A Space Odyssey and other major works of science fiction. In each of these works, characters who encounter technologies possessing artificial intelligence share sublime experiences. This thesis considers various levels of embodiment associated with …

The Effects Of Spatial Configuration Of Populations On The Maintenance Of The Sexes In A Clonal Organism, Christopher Stieha

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Despite the two-fold advantage to asexual reproduction and its prevalence in a variety of organisms, sexual reproduction is prevalent across all taxa. The maintenance of two sexes is required to ensure genetic diversity and to prevent “evolutionary dead ends,” especially in clonal organisms. Many mechanisms have been proposed for the maintenance of two sexes, ranging from environmental variation and stochasticity, parasites and predators, and mutation rates. Spatial configuration, the size and location of populations with respect to other populations, can allow two competitors to coexist when one would normally be lost. This is especially important when the two competitors are …

Empirical And Conceptual Approaches To Life-History Trade-Offs: The Size And Number Of Offspring In Broods Of A Parasitoid Wasp, Yoriko Saeki

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Trade-offs in resource allocation underlie key life history traits of organisms. My dissertation focuses on the size-number trade-off in clonal broods of offspring using the polyembryonic wasp, Copidosoma bakeri parasitizing immature stages of the moth Agrotis ipsilon. I aim to characterize responses of wasp brood size and individual body mass by manipulating the environments in order to understand the allocation pattern in the size number trade-off. In reviewing the functional forms of trade-off relationships in relation to resource constraints, I distinguish among three main trade-off types based on graphical representations of the relationship between the trade-off variables: linear, convex …

The Ecological And Evolutionary Effects Of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds On Sexually Selected Traits In Male Guppies, Kausalya Shenoy

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Male mating signals convey important mate-quality information to females and are regulated by androgens. Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are chemicals that interfere with proper hormonal functioning in exposed animals, causing altered hormone levels and resulting in changed reproductive characteristics, including mating signals. Altered signals can have ecological implications by influencing population and community dynamics and evolutionary implications via trans-generational reduction in signal reliability leading to reduced preference and eventual loss of the signal trait. I examined the effects of exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of atrazine, a widely used herbicide and EDC, on mating signals and behaviors in male guppies, …

Adult Bmi Change And Risk Of Colon Cancer In Postmenopausal Women, Lyla Blake-Gumbs, Zhengyi Chen, Cheryl L. Thompson, Nathan A. Berger, Thomas C. Tucker, Li Li

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Purpose. We recently reported an association of adult BMI change with colon cancer risk. Here, we sought to further explore this association with respect to postmenopausal HRT use in a larger study population. Methods. We included 1,457 postmenopausal women participating in an ongoing population-based case-control study of colon cancer. Results. We confirmed a previously reported association of adulthood weight gain and increased risk of colon cancer: compared to those with <5 kg/m² change of BMI, women who reported moderate (5–10 kg/m²) and large (>10 kg/m²) BMI changes since their 20s had OR estimates …

Metallic Patterning Using An Atomic Force Microscope Tip And Laser-Induced Liquid Deposition, Carlos Andrés Jarro Sanabria

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

The development of nanoscale patterns has a vast variety of applications going from biology to solid state devices. In this research we present a new direct patterning technique in which laser photoreduction of silver from a liquid is controlled by a scanning atomic force microscope tip. While pursuing the formation of patterns using the plasmonic field enhancement of an electromagnetic wave incident on a metallic Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) tip, our group discovered that contrary to expectations, the tip suppresses, rather than enhances, deposition on the underlying substrate, and this suppression persists in the absence of the tip. Experiments presented …

Method Development For Detecting And Characterizing Manufactured Silver Nanoparticles In Soil Pore Water Using Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation, Annie R. Whitley

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Recent advances in nanotechnology have led to the production of materials with nanoscale dimensions (nm) and properties distinctly different from their bulk (>100 nm) counterparts. With increased use, it is inevitable that nanomaterials will accumulate in the environment and there is concern that the novel properties of nanomaterials could result in detrimental environmental and human health effects. In particular, there has been concern recently regarding the use of silver (Ag) based nanomaterials as antimicrobial agents in consumer and medical products. Current regulations dealing with the discharge of metals into the environment are based on total concentrations with no consideration …

Organometallic Heterocycles And Acene-Quinone Complexes Of Ruthenium, Iron And Manganese, Uttam Raj Pokharel

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

A variety of organometallic-fused heterocycles and acene quinones were prepared and characterized. This work was divided into three parts: first, the synthesis of 5,5-fused heterocyclic complexes of tricarbonylmanganese and (1’,2’,3’,4’,5’-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)ruthenium; second, the synthesis of 1,2-diacylcyclopentadienyl p-cymene complexes of ruthenium(II); and third, synthesis of cyclopentadienyl-fused polyacenequinone complexes of ruthenium, iron and manganese.

The first examples of the convenient, versatile and symmetric cyclopentadienyl-fused heterocycle complexes of (1’,2’,3’,4’,5’-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)ruthenium(II) and tricarbonylmanganese(I) were synthesized starting from (1,2-dicarbophenoxycyclopentadienyl)sodium. The sodium salt was transmetalated using [MnBr(CO)₅] and 1/4 [Ru(μ3-Cl)(Cp*)]₄ to give [Mn(CO)₃{η⁵-C₅H₃(CO₂Ph)₂-1,2}] …

How A Silent Mutation Suppresses The Activity And Iron Incorporation In Superoxide Dismutase, Xiaonan Mei

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

A mutation (CTG to TTG) of FeSOD gene was found in Escherichia coli. Since they both encode leucine, it is a silent mutation. Site-­‐directed mutagenesis was applied to correct the mutation, and the mutant FeSOD (before gene correction) and wild type FeSOD (after gene correction) were purified. The FeSODs from the two genes were Characterized using different assays and spectroscopic methods including EPR and CD. The requirement for the rare codon TTG may result in slowed translation and heavy demand on a scarce tRNA. Cultures expressing wild type FeSOD are better able to grow for long times after addition of …

Investigations Into Modulation Of Brain Oxidative Stress By Various Interventions, Jessica Lynn Harris

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

In this thesis study we examined glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and its effects over Nrf2 and Pin 1 as it relates to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by a prolonged high oxidative environment. Transcription factor Nrf2 is vital in the brain’s defense against oxidative insults through its up-regulation of over 100 antioxidants. Depletion of the brain’s antioxidant defense system results in intolerance to an oxidative environment, contributing to the progression of AD. The regulatory Pin 1 protein promotes cellular homeostasis, and when down-regulated results in increased deposits of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, the …

Bifunctional Bisphosphonates For Delivering Biomolecules To Bone, Jivan N. Yewle

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Active targeting with controlled delivery of therapeutic agents to bone is an ideal approach for treatment of several bone diseases. Since bisphosphonates (BPs) are known to have high affinity to bone mineral and are being widely used in treatment of osteoporosis, they are well-suited for drug targeting to bone. For this purpose, bifunctional hydrazine-bisphosphonates (HBPs) with spacers of various lengths and lipophilicity were synthesized and studied. Crystal growth inhibition assays demonstrated that the HBPs with shorter spacers bound more strongly to bone mineral, hydroxyapatite (HA), than did alendronate. HBPs were also demonstrated to be non-toxic to MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts. The targeted …

Investigations Of Oxidative Stress Effects And Their Mechanisms In Rat Brain After Systemic Administration Of Ceria Engineered Nanomaterials, Sarita S. Hardas

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Advancing applications of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) in various fields create the opportunity for intended (e.g. drug and gene delivery) or unintended (e.g. occupational and environmental) exposure to ENM. However, the knowledge of ENM-toxicity is lagging behind their application development. Understanding the ENM hazard can help us to avoid potential human health problems associated with ENM applications as well as to increase their public acceptance. Ceria (cerium [Ce] oxide) ENM have many current and potential commercial applications. Beyond the traditional use of ceria as an abrasive, the scope of ceria ENM applications now extends into fuel cell manufacturing, diesel fuel additives …

Removal Of Arsenic(Iii) From Water With A New Solid-Supported Thiol, Partha Jana

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Arsenic is a highly toxic, easily transportable and widespread contaminant in groundwater throughout the world. Arsenic causes acute toxicity by disrupting biological functions. In groundwater arsenic concentrations can reach up to a few milligrams per liter. Current regulations on arsenic content in drinking water are becoming more stringent and require the standard to be reduced to a few parts per billion. Arsenic exists as oxyanions in aqueous solution in either trivalent or pentavalent oxidation states depending on the oxidation-reduction potential and pH of the medium. Several treatment methods are available for removing arsenic from water. However, cost, operational complexity of …

Biosensing Systems For The Detection Of Bacterial Quorum Sensing Molecules: A Tool For Investigating Bacteria-Related Disorders And Food Spoilage Prevention, Nilesh G. Raut

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Quorum sensing enables bacteria to communicate with bacteria of the same or different species, and to modulate their behavior in a cell-density dependent manner. Communication occurs by means of small quorum sensing signaling molecules (QSMs) whose concentration is proportional to the population size. When a QSM threshold concentration is reached, certain genes are expressed, thus allowing control of several processes, such as, virulence factor production, antibiotic production, and biofilm formation. Not only many pathogenic bacteria are known to produce QSMs, but also QSMs have been identified in some bacteria-related disorders. Therefore, quantitative detection of QSMs present in clinical samples may …

Primary Closure Without Diversion In Management Of Operative Blunt Duodenal Trauma In Children, Katherine Smiley, Tiffany Wright, Sean Skinner, Joseph A. Iocono, John M. Draus

Surgery Faculty Publications

Background. Operative blunt duodenal trauma is rare in pediatric patients. Management is controversial with some recommending pyloric exclusion for complex cases. We hypothesized that primary closure without diversion may be safe even in complex (Grade II-III) injuries. Methods. A retrospective review of the American College of Surgeons' Trauma Center database for the years 2003-2011 was performed to identify operative blunt duodenal trauma at our Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center. Inclusion criteria included ages < 14 years and duodenal injury requiring operative intervention. Duodenal hematomas not requiring intervention and other small bowel injuries were excluded. Results. A total of 3,283 hospital records were reviewed. Forty patients with operative hollow viscous injuries and seven with operative duodenal injuries were identified. …

Effect Of Ionic Surfactants On Electrostatic Charging Of Spray Droplets, Mark T. Warren

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Dust capture for small coal particles (<2.5µm) can be improved if one takes advantage of electrostatic charges that resides on the surface of coal dust particles and on the surface of water spray droplets used to capture coal dust. Traditional dust capture methods that use water sprays are ineffective in capturing small dust particles since the motion of small dust particles is governed by electrostatic forces. If additives such as ionic surfactants could be added to water that would enhance the surface charge on water spray droplets, dust capture with water sprays could be improved.

The results presented show that n-sodium octyl sulfate causes the greatest charge enhancement versus the longer chained n-sodium dodecyl sulfate and n-sodium octadecyl sulfate. This can be explained by considering the factors that lead to droplet charge enhancement. Those factors are the mass of surfactant ions at the droplet surface, and the diffusion rate of the surfactant ions from the bulk droplet to the surface of the droplet. Sodium octyl sulfate will have a faster diffusion rate to the droplet surface because of its relatively short length, and will also maximize the mass …

Application Of Thin Film Analysis Techniques And Controlled Reaction Environments To Model And Enhance Biomass Utilization By Cellulolytic Bacteria, Hsin-Fen Li

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Cellulose from energy crops or agriculture residues can be utilized as a sustainable energy resource to produce biofuels such as ethanol. The process of converting cellulose into solvents and biofuels requires the saccharification of cellulose into soluble, fermentable sugars. However, challenges to cellulosic biofuel production include increasing the activity of cellulose-degrading enzymes (cellulases) and increasing solvent (ethanol) yield while minimizing the co-production of organic acids. This work applies novel surface analysis techniques and fermentation reactor perturbations to quantify, manipulate, and model enzymatic and metabolic processes critical to the efficient production of cellulosic biofuels.

Surface analysis techniques utilizing cellulose thin film …

Membrane Immobilized Reactive Fe/Pd Nanoparticles: Modeling And Tce Degradation Results, Ruo He

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Detoxification of chlorinated organic compound is an important and urgent issue in water remediation nowadays. Trichloroethylene (TCE), as a model compound in this study, has been proved to be degraded effectively by bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) in solution phase. In this study, Fe/Pd bimetallic NPs were synthesized in poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) functionalized polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) microfiltration membranes. TCE dechlorination with these bimetallic NPs was conducted under different pH values and different metal loadings to study the role of corrosion on reaction rates.

One-dimensional mathematical model with pseudo first-order reaction kinetic was introduced to discuss the TCE dechlorination profile in membrane …

Finite Element Analysis Of The Contact Deformation Of Piezoelectric Materials, Ming Liu

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Piezoelectric materials in the forms of both bulk and thin-film have been widely used as actuators and sensors due to their electromechanical coupling. The characterization of piezoelectric materials plays an important role in determining device performance and reliability. Instrumented indentation is a promising method for probing mechanical as well as electrical properties of piezoelectric materials.

The use of instrumented indentation to characterize the properties of piezoelectric materials requires analytical relations. Finite element methods are used to analyze the indentation of piezoelectric materials under different mechanical and electrical boundary conditions.

For indentation of a piezoelectric half space, a three-dimensional finite element …