Digital Commons Network^™

Biological And Biologically Inspired Polymers For Interface Modification, Lea Clayton Paslay

Dissertations

Naturally occurring macromolecules are produced for a specific function and have the selectivity to accomplish objectives with little waste in energy. The scientific community strives to develop smart, efficient molecules on an economical scale, thus lessons can be learned from nature and applied to cost effective synthetic systems. First, the mimicry of naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) will be described. AMPs show great potential as alternatives to conventional antibiotics as they can selectively bind and eliminate pathogenic bacteria without harming eukaryotic tissues. Aqueous reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization was utilized to prepare primary and tertiary amine containing AMP polymer …

Investigations Toward Tunability Of Mechanical, Thermal, And Impact Properties Of Thiol-Ene Networks For Novel High Energy Absorbing Materials, Olivia Devon Mcnair

Dissertations

The UV polymerization of thiols with electron rich alkenes is a highly resourceful reaction that has been utilized by scientists within various disciplines to produce an even more versatile display of applications. This dissertation focuses on a newer application, thiol-ene network (TEN) materials for energy absorption devices. TEN networks display a host of positive polymer properties such as low stress, high optical clarity and uniformity, but they also suffer from unfavorable mechanical properties such as low toughness and elongation at break. The poor mechanical properties demonstrated by TENs prohibit them as choice materials for applications requiring thicker material forms, including …

An Inquiry Into How Ipads Are Used In Classrooms, Phu Hoang Vu

Dissertations

This mixed method study combined the paradigms of quantitative and qualitative research to examine how iPads are used from teachers' perspectives. In the first phase, the researcher collected and analyzed the quantitative data from classroom observations. The second phase consisted of collecting and analyzing the qualitative data to help explain, or elaborate on the quantitative results in the first phase. The researcher utilized a convenient sample of 21 elementary and secondary working teachers who had been using iPads in their classroom at their school in southern Illinois. The findings showed that the majority of teachers did not have any iPad …

Photopolymerization And Characterization Of Modified Thiol-Ene Networks, Bradley James Sparks

Dissertations

Photopolymerization provides a unique ability to control variables typically uncontrollable using traditional thermally initiated polymerization, thus leading to its use in a broad range of commercial operations. Many of the traditional photopolymers suffer from several setbacks, including oxygen inhibition, unwanted stress buildup which leads to bulk shrinkage, etc., which ultimately lead to diminished polymer performance. The photopolymerization of multifunctional thiols and alkenes has been shown to provide a means to improve upon the weaknesses of traditional photoinitiated polymerizations. The free radical polymerization of thiol and –ene monomers occurs via a series of free radical chain transfer events, as a result, …

The Effects Of Word Prediction And Text-To-Speech On The Writing Process Of Translating, Robert Paul Cunningham

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the combination of word prediction and text-to-speech software on the writing process of translating. Participants for this study included 10 elementary and middle school students who had a diagnosis of disorder of written expression. A modified multiple case series was used to collect data over a three-week period. The participants were asked to describe in writing what was happening in a picture-based writing prompt. The participants responded in writing using a word processor software alone in the pretest condition and using a word processor in conjunction with the word …

Veteran Teachers And Novice Coaches: A Case Study Of Content Focused Coaching In Three Persistently Failing Midwestern Middle Schools, Brian E. Gamm

Dissertations

This research is a qualitative case study analysis of the experiences of six, veteran, English Language Arts teachers, and three, first-year, English Language Arts instructional coaches all of whom are implementing a district-mandated reform strategy called Content-Focused Coaching. The settings for this research study were three Persistently Lowest Achieving middle schools. The researcher began the data collection process with the organization of Professional Learning Community agendas and minutes. Following the organization of PLC meeting agendas and minutes, four categories were identified that were used as criteria for classroom observations as well as in assisting in organizing responses collected during the …

Engineered Interfaces And Nano-Scale Thin Films For Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrolytes, Manjula I. Nandasiri

Dissertations

Solid state electrolytes with high oxygen ionic conductivity at low temperatures are required to develop cost effective and efficient solid oxide fuel cells. This study investigates the influence of engineered interfaces on the oxygen ionic conductivity of nano-scale multilayer thin film electrolytes. The epitaxial Sm₂O₃ doped C_eO₂ (SDC) and Sc₂O₃ stabilized ZrO₂ (ScSZ) are selected as the alternative layers for the proposed multilayer thin film electrolyte based on the optimum structural, chemical, and electrical properties reported in the previous studies. The epitaxial SDC(111)/ScSZ(111) multilayer thin films are grown on high …

Artificial Immune Systems And Particle Swarm Optimization For Solutions To The General Adversarial Agents Problem, Jeremy Mange

Dissertations

The general adversarial agents problem is an abstract problem description touching on the fields of Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, decision theory, and game theory. The goal of the problem is, given one or more mobile agents, each identified as either “friendly" or “enemy", along with a specified environment state, to choose an action or series of actions from all possible valid choices for the next “timestep" or series thereof, in order to lead toward a specified outcome or set of outcomes. This dissertation explores approaches to this problem utilizing Artificial Immune Systems, Particle Swarm Optimization, and hybrid approaches, along with …

Weighted Shifts Of Finite Multiplicity, Daniel S. Sievewright

Dissertations

We will discuss the structure of weighted shift operators on a separable, infinite dimensional, complex Hilbert space. A weighted shift is said to have multiplicity n when all the weights are n x n matrices. To study these weighted shifts, we will investigate which operators can belong to the Deddens algebras and spectral radius algebras, which can be quite large. This will lead to the necessary and sufficient conditions for these algebras to have a nontrivial invariant subspace.

Breaking The Boundaries: Decision Factors That Lead Male Students To Enroll In Associate Degree Nursing Programs In Illinois Community Colleges, Leandro Alcovendaz Resurreccion

Dissertations

Male nurses are but a small percentage of the total nurse population in the United States, and most certainly have potential to increase in numbers if the profession appeared more attractive as a career option for men. The purpose of this research was to discover the decision factors used by males that led them to enroll in Associate Degree nursing programs in Illinois community colleges. To set the background and context, the study explored the history of community colleges and that of nursing. Included was nursing as a profession, nursing in the United States, the country’s impending nursing shortage and …

Evaluation Of A Successful High Risk Nursing Student Assistance Program: One Adn Program's Journey, Ciaran O'Sullivan

Dissertations

A college education is, for many in America, part and parcel of the American Dream, and is certainly achievable. For countless reasons, students may enroll at community colleges underprepared, unprepared, anxious, and destined for a high risk of failure. Although community colleges are higher education institutions open and accessible to all who want to pursue an education, some degree programs are selective enrollment programs, such as nursing. Considering the stringent admission criteria and rigors of an associate degree in nursing (ADN) program, few are admitted. However, due to the pending shortage of registered nurses, assistance programs to help high risk …

Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Induced Structure-Property Relationships Of Metal Nanostructures, Subramanian Vilayurganapathy

Dissertations

The confluence of nanotechnology and plasmonics has led to new and interesting phenomena. The industrial need for fast, efficient and miniature devices which constantly push the boundaries on device performance tap into the happy marriage between these diverse fields. Designing devices for real life application that give superior performance when compared with existing ones are enabled by a better understanding of their structure-property relationships. Among all the design constraints, without doubt, the shape and size of the nanostructure along with the dielectric medium surrounding it has the maximum influence on the response and thereby the performance of the device. Hence …

Metal-Organic And Supramolecular Architectures Based On Mechanically Interlocked Molecules, Isurika Rosini Fernando

Dissertations

The focus of this work is on mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs), which have unusual physicochemical and mechanical properties with potential applications in nano-scale/molecular devices and high strength materials.

Rotaxanes, for example, consist of an axle-like molecule threaded through a wheel-like molecule, with bulky groups at the two ends of the axle preventing the wheel from dissociating. The position of the wheel along the axle can be switched in a controllable and reversible manner by applying external stimuli, a feature that might lead to the next generation of computers. Molecularly woven materials (MWMs), another example of molecules with mechanically interlocked features, …

Student Thoughts And Perceptions On Curriculum Reform, Douglas D. Vanderjagt

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine how students experience and respond to Michigan’s increased graduation requirements. The study was conducted in a large, suburban high school that instituted a change to a trimester system in response to the state mandate. A criterion-based sample of 16 students, both college bound and non-college bound, participated in one-on-one interviews regarding their knowledge about, their understanding of, and their experience with the new Michigan Merit Curriculum, and how this increase impacted the student participants’ high school academic choices and/or postsecondary plans. Additionally, this study engaged focus groups of one or …

Compositional And Structural Analysis Of Nitrogen Incorporated And Ion Implanted Diamond Thin Films, Elias James Garratt

Dissertations

Significant progress in area of nano-structured thin film systems has taken place in recent decades. In particular, diamond thin film systems are being widely studied for their wear resistant, optical and electronic properties. Of the various methods researchers use to modify the structure of such films, three techniques in particular are of interest due to their versatility: modification of the growth atmosphere, growth on metalized substrates, providing an interfacial layer, and modification through post-growth ion implantation. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects each has to the structure and composition of elements. Different techniques are applied in …

Principal Leardership Behaviors Which Teachers At Different Career Stages Perceive As Affecting Job Satisfaction, Valari Hill

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of teachers as to how the leadership of their principal affects their job satisfaction. This study collected the view of teachers at different career stages and examined their perceptions and needs. The participants consisted of 12 elementary school teachers at three different career stages (beginning, middle, and late).

Qualitative analysis of the interview data revealed three major themes and nine subthemes.

The first theme reveals that principal leadership style is not consistent and includes the subthemes: (1.1) principals are not successfully sharing their vision with teachers, (1.2) principals attempt …

A Computational Method For Estimating And Finding The Hconfidence Interval Of The Ratio Scale Parameters In The Two-Sample Problem, Mona Abdullah Alduailij

Dissertations

Testing equality of variances between two samples is applied in various fields. However, in the absence of non-normal assumptions, equality of variance tests would not yield robust results. In real life situation, the absence of such assumptions is even evident, which calls for more reliable tests to accommodate for the lack of these assumptions. There are abundant parametric and nonparametric methods for estimating the scale parameter; yet a distribution-free method for estimating and finding the confident interval ratio of scale parameters in the two-sample problem would be a reliable alternative. A comparison between existing parametric and non-parametric rank tests for …

A Comparative Study Of Exact Versus Propensity Matching Techniques Using Monte Carlo Simulation, Mukaria J. J. Itang'ata

Dissertations

Often researchers face situations where comparative studies between two or more programs are necessary to make causal inferences for informed policy decision-making. Experimental designs employing randomization provide the strongest evidence for causal inferences. However, many pragmatic and ethical challenges may preclude the use of randomized designs. In such situations, subject matching provides an alternative design approach for conducting causal inference studies. This study examined various design conditions hypothesized to affect matching procedures’ bias recovery ability.

See attachment for full abstract.

Taking The Right Path: A Two-Year Journey Through School Turnaround By Katherine O., Katherine O. Chambers

Dissertations

The researcher conducted a statistical examination of a two-year journey through school turnaround to identify factors that had a direct impact on student performance on state exams. Following 31 students through sixth and seventh grades, the researcher collected data in alignment with five target areas for school improvement defined by the state of Missouri: (1) student performance, (2) highly qualified staff, (3) facilities, support and instructional resources, (4) parent and community involvement, and (5) governance and leadership. Applying ANOVA and z-tests at a 95% confidence interval, the researcher analyzed the data to examine for statistically significant differences in scores on …

The Relationship Of Academic Courses To Skills Required Of Automobile Repair Technicians, Stephen H. Freund

Dissertations

The primary objective was to show the important need of academic skills, specifically general education coursework, to the effectiveness of the technician’s expertise in the field of automobile repair. Additionally, I emphasized that one of the keys to the quality of the technician’s education is the method of instruction analyzed through Henschke’s Five Building Blocks. I communicated with 35 diversely selected and cooperative employers located in the Midwestern section of the United States. I obtained this arbitrary selection from the Yellow Pages of this region. I conducted personal visits to their locations at which time I informed them of the …

Synthesis And Characterization Of New Light Emitting Probes For Sensitive Detection Of Bio-Molecules And Live Cells, Shyamala Pravin Pillai

Dissertations

A variety of contemporary analytical platforms in technical and biological applications take advantage of labeling the objects of interest with fluorescent or luminescent tracers. Luminescent tracers take advantage of the unique property of some lanthanide metals to absorb and emit light. Long lifetime of lanthanide emission allows temporal gating of the signal, which avoids the short-lived background of interfering sample components. This property in combination with large Stokes shift contributes to extreme sensitivity of detection (ca. 10^-13-10^-14 M), which makes lanthanide-based probes suitable for large variety of challenging tasks ( e.g., intracellular detection of single DNA/RNA, or …

Extension To Pv Optics To Include Front Electrode Design In Solar Cells, Debraj Guhabiswas

Dissertations

Proper optical designing of solar cells and modules is of paramount importance towards achieving high photovoltaic conversion efficiencies. Modeling softwares such as PV OPTICS, BIRANDY and SUNRAYS have been created to aid such optical designing of cells and modules; but none of these modeling packages take the front metal electrode architecture of a solar cell into account.

A new model, has been developed to include the front metal electrode architecture to finished solar cells for optical calculations. This has been implemented in C++ in order to add a new module to PV OPTICS (NREL’s photovoltaic modeling tool) to include …

Driver Injury Severity At U.S. Highway-Rail Crossings, Wei Hao

Dissertations

There are approximately 240,000 highway-rail grade crossings in the United States and highway-rail grade crossing areas have been considered in this study as these are locations where crashes frequently occur. Existing studies on crash models at highway- rail grade crossings can be classified into two categories: accident frequency prediction models and driver injury severity models. Accident frequency prediction at highway-rail grade crossings have been investigated by previous studies using varied statistical models. Few studies, however, have focused on driver injury severity studies. Three drawbacks will be addressed in this research including limitations in traditional highway- rail grade crossings studies, limited …

Modeling Cell Proliferation In A Perfusion Tissue Engineering Bioreactor, Jeffrey Vincent Pohlmeyer

Dissertations

In this dissertation we develop a comprehensive model to simulate a tissue engineering experiment. The experiment takes place in a bioreactor in which a cell seeded porous scaffold is placed, and the scaffold experiences a perfused flow of a nutrient-rich culture medium. The goal of the model is to assist experimentalists in evaluation of different parameter scenarios as the time needed to simulate an experiment is significantly less than the time needed for the experiment itself. We provide the full two-dimensional model development, as well as investigation into possible variations of specific model choices, and we demonstrate the robustness and …

The Goodness-Of-Fit Tests For Geometric Models, Feiyan Chen

Dissertations

We propose two types of goodness-of-fit tests for geometric distribution and for a bivariate geometric distribution called BGD(B&D), based on their probability generating function (PGF). The first type is a special-case application of the general testing procedure for discrete distributions proposed by Kocherlakota and Kocherlakota (1986). The second type utilizes the supremum of the absolute value of the standardized difference between the PGF’s maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) and its empirical counterpart as the test statistic. We verify the asymptotic properties of the test statistics for the first type of test and explore the asymptotic behaviors of the test statistics for …

Development Of Luminescent Probes For Ultrasensitive Detection Of Biopolymers, Their Complexes, And Living Cells, Laura A. Wirpsza

Dissertations

New luminescent probes with enhanced brightness convenient for bioconjugation were synthesized and tested in major biological applications including the detection of nucleic acids and living cells. The first project used luminescent lanthanide ion probes that take advantage of hyper-sensitive acquisition of their long-lived emission signal in time- resolved mode, which avoids short-lived background fluorescence of the medium. Two model carbostyril fluorophores (cs 124-CH₃ and cs 124-CF₃) were modified by inclusion of two spacers (diamino and bi-phenyl) for the attachment of amine and thiol reactive cross-linking groups. In this project, time-resolved measurements are presented for spectroscopy and microscopy. …

Eye Detection Using Discriminatory Features And An Efficient Support Vector Machine, Shuo Chen

Dissertations

Accurate and efficient eye detection has broad applications in computer vision, machine learning, and pattern recognition. This dissertation presents a number of accurate and efficient eye detection methods using various discriminatory features and a new efficient Support Vector Machine (eSVM).

This dissertation first introduces five popular image representation methods - the gray-scale image representation, the color image representation, the 2D Haar wavelet image representation, the Histograms of Oriented Gradients (HOG) image representation, and the Local Binary Patterns (LBP) image representation - and then applies these methods to derive five types of discriminatory features. Comparative assessments are then presented to evaluate …

Mathematical Modeling Of Heavy Metals Diffusion And Removal From Cylindrical Cement Forms Coated With Bio-Film, Mojdeh Tabatabaie

Dissertations

A mathematical model is developed to predict bioleachi ng of heavy metals from long cylindrical shape cementitious samples. In this model, the metal concentration difference within the solid and its surface is considered as the main driving force for transport of metals to the surface of a sample at a given temperature and pressure. Fick’s first and second law are applied to explain the motion of contaminants in a long and uniform cylindrical solid. In addition, the model considers Michaelis-Menten type kinetics, a special case of the widely accepted Langmuir-Hinshelwood reaction mechanism, at the surface of the encapsulating cylinder. The …

Theoretical Studies Of Structural And Electronic Properties In Transition Metal Oxides, Tsezar F. Seman

Dissertations

The following studies are presented: theory of K-edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering and its application for La_0.5Sr_1.5MnO₄, effects of rare earth ion size on the stability of the coherent Jahn-Teller distortions in undoped perovskite manganites, and symmetry-mode-based classical and quantum mechanical formalism of lattice dynamics.

The formula based on tight-binding approach for the calculation of K-edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) spectrum for transition metal oxides is presented first, by extending the previous existing result to include explicit momentum dependence and a basis with multiple core-hole sites. This formula is applied to layered charge, …

Handel's Maser-Soliton Theory Of Ball Lightning: The Creation Of Stable Three-Dimensional Cavitons By An Atmospheric Maser Within An Open Resonator, Glenn Andrew Carlson

Dissertations

This dissertation develops details of Handel’s Maser-Soliton Theory of ball lightning. The atmosphere between a thundercloud and the Earth’s surface is modeled as an idealized stable open resonator with water vapor as the active medium and the thundercloud and Earth’s surface as reflecting surfaces. The stable resonator generates a maser beam that narrows to the beam waist at the Earth’s surface, which is assumed to be planar. Two candidate rotational transitions are identified within the v1v2v3 = 010 vibrational band of water having wavelengths of 13.9 cm and 1.12 cm, and relevant spectroscopic parameters are retrieved from the HITRAN 2008 …