Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating Creative Choice In K-12 Computer Science Curriculum, Kirsten L. Mork

Master's Theses

Computer Science is an increasingly important topic in K-12 education. Ever since the "computing crisis" of the early 2000s, where enrollment in CS dropped by over half in a five year span, increasing research has gone into improving and broadening enrollment in CS courses. Research shows the importance of introducing CS at a young age and the need for more exposure for younger children and young adults alike in order to work towards equity in the field. While there are many reasons for disinterest in CS courses, studies found one reason young adults do not want to study CS is …

Cmos Design Of An 8-Bit 1ms/S Successive Approximation Register Adc, Ameya Vivekanand Ganguli

Master's Theses

Rapid evolution of integrated circuit technologies has paved a way to develop smaller and energy efficient biomedical devices which has put stringent requirements on data acquisition systems. These implantable devices are compact and have a very small footprint. Once implanted these devices need to rely on non-rechargeable batteries to sustain a life span of up to 10 years. Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are key components in these power limited systems. Therefore, development of ADCs with medium resolution (8-10 bits) and sampling rate (1 MHz) have been of great importance.

This thesis presents an 8-bit successive approximation register (SAR) ADC incorporating an …

The Investigation Of Methylidyne Radical (Ch) Reactions With Furan, 2-Methylfuran, And 2,5-Dimethlyfuran And The Photoionization And Photodissociation Of Valeric Acid, Erica Carrasco

Master's Theses

This thesis presents the combustion study of three furanic compounds using synchrotron radiation coupled with multiplexed photoionization mass spectrometry at 298 K. The experiments were performed at the Chemical Dynamics Beamline 9.0.2 at the Advanced Light Source of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The reactions of the three furanic compounds with methylidyne (CH) radicals were analyzed based on their photoionization spectra and kinetic profiles.

Additionally, the unimolecular dissociation of valeric acid was also studied and presented in this work using the double imaging photoelectron photoion spectrometry (i2PEPICO) coupled with synchrotron radiation from the VUV beamline. The experiments were carried out …

Investigating The Rapid Curing Possibility Of Geopolymer Concrete, Ashlesh Banjara

Master's Theses

Recent studies of heat-cured fly ash based green geopolymer concrete have shown its suitability for fabrication of structural members. Fabrication of these structural members requires continuous moderate heating (145°F) for 24 hrs, and an oven essential, for a large member can quickly turn into an energy guzzler, potentially eliminating the green credentials of the product. The proposed research involves the development of a frontal polymerization (FP) method that achieves rapid curing of geopolymer at ambient condition after short-term heat application. Initial work shows thermal FP in geopolymer is a possibility and might be a solution to the problem. The process …

Development Of A Prototype System For Distributed Spectrum Sensing Via Wireless Sensor Networks, Christopher R. Barber

Master's Theses

This thesis describes the research and development results of designing a system that can detect an unknown transmitter that is operating within a wideband spectrum covering 240-960MHz. The system design, development, and integration of a Prototype Spectrum Sensing Platform for the MEMSIC IRIS wireless sensor network platform [1] can be used for detection, monitoring, and localization of emitters in diverse RF propagation environments. Decoupling the dependency of the Received Signal Strength (RSS) measurements from the primary transceiver by the addition of a secondary receiver provides for continuous real-time analysis of the RF environment signal levels. The goal is to provide …

Seizure Detection Using Teager-Kaiser Energy And A Channel Signal Quality Assessment Algorithm, Samuel Clary

Master's Theses

This study investigated the possibility of reducing the time required for accurate epileptic seizure detection through a retroactive analysis. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder affecting over 50 million individuals globally and is defined as a disorder which results in two seizures unprovoked by fever or medication. Diagnosis of epilepsy typically involves a monitored stay at an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU). The monitoring and diagnosis process ranges on average from $35,000 to $40,000 for a single stay, and the patient results from EMU are not instantly available to the patient. The collected electroencephalogram (EEG) must be analyzed by a trained EMU …

Physical Layer Security For Mimo Wireless Systems, Joseph R. Childress

Master's Theses

A steadily growing portion of modern communication systems in use today is based on wireless technologies that make use of smaller and more portable electronic devices. As a result, the need to provide a light-weight security strategy for these systems is becoming a more important problem. This thesis focuses on two techniques that belong to an active research area known as Physical Layer Security (PLS). While the underlying techniques of PLS have been known for some time, the potential secrecy benefits of them need further investigation. These potential benefits have generated a rising interest with the development of Multiple Input …

The Real-Time Application Of Control Theory To Pharmacokinetics, George W. Carpenter Iii

Master's Theses

An optically-based injection control system has been developed as a proof-of- concept that such is of use for an intravenous drug delivery application. Current clinical drug delivery for oncology typically provides for intravenous administration without providing awareness of achieved plasma concentration, yet interpatient variability produces consequences ranging from toxicity to ineffectual treatments. We report a closed loop injection system integrating a pulse-photoplethysmograph to measure the concentration of indocyanine green (ICG) in the circulating blood of a one-compartment murine model. A proportional-derivative (PD) controller manages the injection rate in real-time. The target function for the controller is the population estimate of …

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Of Colorectal Cancer Screening Strategies Using Active Learning And Montecarlo Simulation, Amirhosein Fouladi

Master's Theses

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the deadliest types of cancer in the US due to its high incidence and mortality rates. Detection of CRC in the early stages through available screening tests increases the patient's survival chances. In this study, we investigate the cost-effectiveness of a wide variety of multi-modal CRC screening policies. More specifically, we develop a Monte Carlo simulation framework to model the CRC natural history and preventive interventions. Age-specific and size-specific progression rates of adenomatous polyps are estimated using an innovative active learning method. Specifically, we develop a decision tree model to estimate size-specific and age-specific …

Surface Engineering Solutions For Immersion Phase Change Cooling Of Electronics, Brendon M. Doran

Master's Theses

Micro- and nano-scale surface modifications have been a subject of great interest for enhancing the pool boiling heat transfer performance of immersion cooling systems due to their ability to augment surface area, improve wickability, and increase nucleation site density. However, many of the surface modification technologies that have been previously demonstrated show a lack of evidence concerning scalability for use at an industrial level. In this work, the pool boiling heat transfer performance of nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) films, copper oxide (CuO) nanostructure coatings, and 1D roll-molded microfin arrays has been studied. Each of these technologies possess scalability in …

Effects On Strength And Corrosive Characteristics Of Hardened Cement Paste Using Rice Husk And Sugarcane Bagasse, Travis D. Garrett

Master's Theses

Cement is one of the most used building materials in the world. The production of ordinary Portland cement contributes to the release of harmful greenhouse gasses. In an effort to reduce these emissions, different materials are being evaluated for their use as partial replacements for ordinary Portland cement. Rice husk and sugarcane bagasse are agricultural waste products and large amounts of these are currently landfilled, making them inexpensive and available. When combusted at high temperatures they form rice husk ash and sugarcane bagasse ash that have pozzolanic characteristics. The high silicon dioxide in these products makes them good options to …

Facilitating Greenhouse Gas Reduction And Climate Change Adaptation Within The Coastal Zone: A Policy Analysis For The California Coastal Commission, Nicole Young

Master's Theses

California is already experiencing impacts to its coastline due to climate change, and more severe impacts are anticipated if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. These climate change impacts are especially strong within the California coastal zone, which falls under the jurisdiction of the California Coastal Commission. The Commission has a history of rigorous environmental protection and is committed to protecting California’s coast through proactive planning and regulation, however they will need to initiate coastal policies with ambitious targets to facilitate effective climate change adaptation and mitigation. This study analyzed existing California climate policies and Coastal Commission policies to identify …

Breaking The Chains: Reversing The School-To-Prison Pipeline Through The Academic Experiences Of Formerly Incarcerated Black Males, Folasade Ogunbanwo

Master's Theses

This case study explores the academic experiences of formerly incarcerated Black males. The goal of the case study is to inform policymakers and critical race scholars who take interest in the prison-to-school pipeline and ultimately dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline. The historical impact of slavery has manifested into this vicious pipeline and the overrepresentation of Black males in the prison industrial complex. This case study is to demonstrate how the net is casted on those affected by the incarceration system and that break the cycle for themselves by pursuing an education to create an upward academic trajectory.

Bridging The Gender Gap: Women In Stem Management, Kathryn Skeeters

Master's Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to study the current effects of training and accommodations on women in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math fields. Currently, there is a lack of women at the senior levels in the STEM field. This study evaluates the current literature as well as the personal experiences of 14 subjects. This information was collected through interviews. No personal data besides gender and age is communicated in the paper, with company names and signifiers removed. With the information gleaned from this research, the study evaluates the current programs and assesses a path forward. The assumption from …

Alternative Paradigms For Synthesizing Household And Person-Level Attributes Jointly, Amit Ranjan Mondal

Master's Theses

In order to apply microsimulation-based models of land use and travel demand, socio-economic and demographic attributes are required for each individual in a region. This disaggregate level information is not readily available and planners resort to population synthesis procedures. This research includes two studies that are focused on developing alternative paradigms for population synthesis and for estimating sample household weights. In the first study, a simulation-based technique for multi-level population synthesis using a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) framework is presented. A comparative analysis is carried out to highlight the feasibility and applicability of the proposed approach in generating consistent multilevel …

Exploring Uncertainty In Real-Time Hybrid Substructuring, Connor H. Ligeikis

Master's Theses

Real-time hybrid substructuring (RTHS) is a cyber-physical vibration testing method that partitions a structural system into numerical and physical substructures. RTHS incorporates sensing, actuation, and computing technologies to couple these substructures in real time. RTHS can be used to realistically examine the performance of structural systems with rate-dependent structural components that may be difficult to accurately model. However, uncertainty can be found in many aspects of RTHS testing including noise in sensor measurements, actuator performance and tracking, non-linearities in the physical test specimen, and numerical modeling assumptions. In the numerical substructure, uncertainty in material properties, stiffness, damping, or geometry may …

Performance Comparison Of Alternative Representations Of Traffic Volume In Safety Performance Functions For Rural Road Intersections, Unica Khadka

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Temperature-Dependent Mechanics Of Human Articular Cartilage Under Large-Strain Shear, Lauren Marshall

Master's Theses

Articular cartilage is a soft tissue that facilitates joint movement and protects bone contact surfaces. Human articular cartilage sees a range of temperatures in vivodepending on external thermal conditions. Researchers recently demonstrated that cartilage dissipates energy during physiological loading to elevate the temperature to enhance cell viability. Despite these important insights, researchers often consider the knee isothermal, thus the large deformation mechanical response under transient thermal conditions remains largely unknown. We aimed to quantify the mechanical responses at 24°C, 40°C, 70°C, and 24°C repeated, and apply our data to determine whether the mechanical responses of cartilage vary within the …

Characterizing Groundwater Quality And Bacterial Community Composition In Chloride Impacted Drinking Water Wells In Sherman, Ct., Ryan Ordung

Master's Theses

The following chapters of this thesis are written with regards to the hydrogeologic investigations of the anthropogenically impacted fractured bedrock aquifer located in Sherman Connecticut. Several domestic and public water supply wells in the town center have consistently exhibited concentrations of chloride and sodium above state and federal drinking water standards over at least a four-year period. Using multiple methodologies and analysis to characterize subsurface conditions and flow pathways provides a greater understanding of the controls on water quality in the town center. Through the analysis of geochemical trends, spatial distribution of well locations and construction along with geologic context, …

The Impact Of Socioeconomic Status On Physical Literacy In Children, Emma Zuk

Master's Theses

Context: Physical literacy is a growing concept throughout the United States. In order to be physically active, children must develop physical literacy, which is the competency to control their body, and the confidence and motivation to be active. Socioeconomic status of children’s living communities may influence opportunities for physical activity and motor development, but this has not been examined in relation to physical literacy in the United States. The purpose of this study was to evaluate physical literacy competency between a low-resourced community and a high-resourced community. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to compare children between high-resourced (HIGH) …

Reachability Analysis Of Power Electronic Converters, Heqiang Wang

Master's Theses

This work presents a reachability analysis approach for dual active bridge (DAB) converters in the presence of heterogeneous uncertainties induced by manufacturing tolerance, temperature, humidity, etc. Reachability analysis can overapproximate the set of all possible reachable states from the set of initial states and parameter values based on the reachability algorithm. The novelty of this work includes: 1) it gives a comprehensive introduction of how to build a hybrid automata model for a DAB converter, and use the hybrid automata model for the purpose of reachability analysis through SpaceEx; 2) it develops the procedures of building the SpaceEx model for …

The Biomechanics And Evolution Of Air-Breathing In Anuran Tadpoles, Jackson Phillips

Master's Theses

The fact that tadpoles breathe air is an oft over-looked aspect of anuran biology. The air-breathing behavior of small tadpoles is particularly interesting, as they are not large enough to overcome the physical constraints imposed by surface tension. Instead of breaching the water’s surface to access air, small tadpoles perform “bubble-sucking”, a breathing mode that circumvents the need to breach the water’s surface tension. In my first chapter, I find that Hyla versicolor (Anura: Hylidae) tadpoles are bubble-sucking specialists that perform both the typical, single bubble-suck seen in other tadpole species as well as an undescribed, double bubble-suck. A combination …

Design Optimization Of A Small Scale Hydropower Harvesting Device, Rishav Aryal

Master's Theses

This study presents a semi-analytical model that facilitates the optimum design of small-scale hydropower systems, so that maximum possible energy can be harvested under such settings. The model comprises a rotating cylinder attached to a piston producing reciprocating motion when placed in moving water. Taking this model as base, the semi-analytical model employs Genetic Algorithm based optimization and develops optimal dimensions for the system, with the objective to minimize the time period while at the same time maximizing stroke of the piston. The model is tested first with single-parameter optimization and then with multi-objective optimization. As many energy harvesting approaches …

Hbn-Acrylate Composite Printing: Stereolithography And Uv-Assisted Direct Write, Zachary Bauman

Master's Theses

3D printing is an additive manufacturing technique capable of creating highly customizable and uniquely-shaped structures that are difficult or completely impossible to produce using conventional methods, such as injection molding. Stereolithography and UV-assisted direct write printing are two 3D printing processes, each of which can create complex geometries through photopolymerization. As the 3D printing market is transitioning from prototyping to industrial-use parts, there is a growing demand for improved resins and filled composites to satisfy the needs of various, specific industrial applications. The introduction of hexagonal boron nitride in different composites has been shown to enhance several properties over a …

The Context Of Disorder: How The Physical Environment Affects Judgments Of Police-Citizen Interactions, Cassidy Burt

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

“Flowing Along The Wall”: Anarcha-Feminist Bioethics And Resistance In Octavia E. Butler’S Dawn 2019., Theresa Mendez

Master's Theses

Science fiction (sf) texts conversant with the temporal play between past, present, and future push readers to imagine the extremes of human and environmental existence, interaction, and potential. Simultaneously, despite the sf genre’s tendency to traffic in extremes, these texts provoke readers to consider the ways in which these imagined worlds are grounded in history as well as in the contemporary social moment. As Donna Haraway has argued, “the boundary between science fiction and social reality is an optical illusion” (306). This illusory boundary must continue to be traversed in order to consider how sf literatures, particularly those which imagine …

Posthuman And Alien Breeding: The Implications Of Cybersex In Octavia Butler’S Dawn 2019., Elizabeth Rutkowski

Master's Theses

Speculative science fiction affords new ways for authors to represent social problems of the modern day in an apocalyptic manner. Authors such as Octavia Butler use science fiction to analyze social injustices revolving around race, gender, and sexuality. Throughout her novel Dawn, Butler uses the posthuman to represent minority groups in the late twentieth century. The posthuman represents those who have moved from humanity towards a new opportunity that is mixed with the potential for struggle. 1 As demonstrated through Butler’s work posthumanism blurs the lines between binaries such as male / female, straight / gay, and consensual / nonconsensual …

A Machine Learning Technology For Rapid Detection Of Carbon Nanotubes/Dna Hybridization In Biosensor Healthcare Applications, Steven K. Ang

Master's Theses

In molecular biology, the term “DNA hybridization” generally refers to the process of forming a double stranded nucleic acid from joining two complementary strands of DNA. The degree of genetic similarity of the DNA resulting from hybridization can be detected ei ther by using the chemical characteristics of DNA samples or by utilizing reliable biosensors which transform the chemical characteristics into a source of electrical measurements. In past research about such sensors, known as DNA Hybridization Detection Systems, the thermal and electrical characteristics of carbon nanotubes are utilized to detect whether hybridization takes place or not. However, human interpretation of …

Characterizing Vegetative Communities Across The Salt Marsh To Upland Ecotone In Connecticut: Indications Of Tidal Inundation Stress In The High Marsh, Matthew J. Ormrod

Master's Theses

The viability of Connecticut’s future salt marshes remains uncertain as pressure from multiple anthropogenic stressors and accelerated relative sea level rise continue to undermine the dynamic ecogeomorphic mechanisms that allow these landscapes to persist in times of environmental change. Observed rates of relative sea level rise in the Long Island Sound estuary appear to be accelerating since recording began in the early 1930s. Furthermore, as much as 90% of the land parcels expected to undergo habitat change as marine ecosystems migrate landward are privately owned and managed. This finding suggests that, in addition to these intrinsic ecogeomorphic feedbacks that make …

Dynamic Shifting Of Virtual Network Topologies For Network Attack Prevention, Lenoy Avidan

Master's Theses

Computer networks were not designed with security in mind, making research into the subject of network security vital. Virtual Networks are similar to computer networks, except the components of a Virtual Network are in software rather than hardware. With the constant threat of attacks on networks, security is always a big concern, and Virtual Networks are no different. Virtual Networks have many potential attack vectors similar to physical networks, making research into Virtual Network security of great importance. Virtual Networks, since they are composed of virtualized network components, have the ability to dynamically change topologies. In this paper, we explore …