Digital Commons Network^™

Applying Text Timing In Corporate Spin-Off Disclosure Statement Analysis: Understanding The Main Concerns And Recommendation Of Appropriate Term Weights, Aravindh Sekar

Masters Theses

"Text mining helps in extracting knowledge and useful information from unstructured data. It detects and extracts information from mountains of documents and allowing in selecting data related to a particular data.

In this study, text mining is applied to the 10-12b filings done by the companies during Corporate Spin-off. The main purposes are (1) To investigate potential and/or major concerns found from these financial statements filed for corporate spin-off and (2) To identify appropriate methods in text mining which can be used to reveal these major concerns.

10-12b filings from thirty-four companies were taken and only the "Risk Factors" category …

Optimization Of Textual Affect Entity Relation Models, Ajith Cherukad Jose

Masters Theses

"Affective computing is a recent research area in computer science which deals with the design and development of systems that can recognize, interpret and process human affects/emotions. Various research projects in the past have focused on affect sensing and processing raw textual data. One such research effort conducted at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has introduced an affect propagation algorithm which can generate affective relationships between entities contained in a given textual document. The algorithm depends upon a set of real-valued numeric parameters for which the best possible values are unknown. This thesis describes three different contributions to ORNL's …

Eyes Don't Lie: Understanding Users' First Impressions On Website Design Using Eye Tracking, Sirjana Dahal

Masters Theses

"Websites are becoming more prevalent these days. They need to create a favorable first impression on the users during initial exposure. After allocating their attention to stimuli, users form a cognitive representation of the visual information leading to first impression. Hence, first impression is important to evaluate the effectiveness of a website. This research tries to examine the amount of exposure time needed to form first impression; identify the web design factors that influence the formation of users' first impression; study the emotional responses of users on website design; and finally understand the relationship between first impression and eye movement. …

Integration Of Model-Based Systems Engineering And Virtual Engineering Tools For Detailed Design, Akshay Kande

Masters Theses

"Design and development of a system can be viewed as a process of transferring and transforming data using a set of tools that form the system's development environment. Conversion of the systems engineering data into useful information is one of the prime objectives of the tools used in the process. With complex systems, the objective is further augmented with a need to represent the information in an accessible and comprehensible manner. The importance of representation is easily understood in light of the fact that the stakeholder's ability to make prompt and appropriate decisions is directly related to his understanding of …

Airline Revenue Management Using A Semi-Markov Critic Algorithm, Ketaki Dilip Kulkarni

Masters Theses

"This thesis presents a novel semi-Markov actor-critic algorithm to solve the airline revenue management (ARM) problem. The ARM problem has been the subject of much research since the deregulation of the airline industry in 1978. Various heuristics and numeric techniques have been developed and continue to be developed for solving this problem, but the search for more efficient techniques is still ongoing. This work focuses on the single-leg ARM problem modeled as a semi-Markov decision problem (SMDP). For Markov decision problems that suffer from the curses of dimensionality and modeling, it is difficult to obtain solutions with classical dynamic programming. …

Exploring Join Caching In Programming Codes To Reduce Runtime Execution, Swetha Surapaneni

Masters Theses

"This thesis describes an approach to reduce the runtime of a large program by exploring object querying and query caching in programming codes. Some object-oriented languages allow the programmers to express queries explicitly in the code, which are optimized using the query optimization techniques from the database domain. In this regard, Java Query Language (JQL) has been developed that allows object querying and performs the query optimization and query caching at runtime. The problem that has been addressed in this thesis is how to reduce the runtime of a large program during the single execution by employing an efficient cache …

Comprehensive Evaluation Of A Computer Based Learning System, Arun Sharma Chintalapati

Masters Theses

"This thesis presents the results of a comprehensive multi-method evaluation that was conducted on the Rapid Development System (RDS), a computer-based learning environment. The development of the project was funded by a National Science Foundation grant. Prior to this evaluation, the RDS had gone through two iterations.

A pre/post evaluation was conducted using questionnaires and eye tracking. Multi-method evaluation was employed to help triangulate the results and to provide additional insights. Data from the eye tracking was used to study the influence of the RDS interface on the attention and the cognitive workload of students with respect to the learning …

A Social Network Of Service Providers For Trust And Identity Management In The Cloud, Makarand Bhonsle

Masters Theses

"With the advent of a new paradigm in computing known as Cloud Computing which offers computing as a service, the inflow of a variety of service vendors is increasing constantly. One of the main challenges in this distributed network of service provisioning and deprovisioning system is the end user's privacy. Enforcing authentication and authorization protocols customized to the needs of every service provider evolves to a very intricate Identity Management System with respect to both the collaborating service providers as well as the user. This problem was addressed by the Federated Identity Management systems, where the user information is stored …

Development Of Virtual Engineering Simulation For Lean Education, Akalpit Kiran Gadre

Masters Theses

"Global competition and customer demands are pressing modern industry operations to become leaner. The race among the global corporations to "go lean" demands engineers with an in-depth understanding of lean philosophies. An overview of current methods for teaching lean shows that they include small scale hands-on projects, presentations, and guest lectures. There is a need to incorporate a more immersive virtual simulation to further inspire students. Many lean simulation games are available in the market; however, they lack simplicity, ability to store the results, and modeling power.

The goal of this research is to develop a virtual simulation platform, enabling …

A Time Series Approach To Electric Load Modelling, Matthias Benjamin Noller

Masters Theses

"With resources becoming more and more scarse [sic] as well as increasing competition caused by the liberalisation of the energy markets electric load modelling becomes ever more important for proper resource allocation.

This work tries to bridge the gap between long-term modelling done mainly via econometric approaches and short-term modelling in which time series models are more commonplace by focussing [sic] on pure time series modelling [sic] and exploring its limits in the process. Due to various seasonalities present in the data the approach chosen starts with a subdivision of the time axis in different time frames: A model for …

Shaker Table Vibration Testing Of A Microsatellite, Tonya Michelle Sanders

Masters Theses

"In the satellite development process, structural testing is a means to gain confidence in analytical models and ultimately support qualification of the spacecraft for flight. Vibration testing, in particular, is motivated by the safety considerations of crew or launch personnel, the survivability of delicate hardware and electronics, and the avoidance of large stresses that cause structural fatigue or failure. The subject of this thesis is concerned with the shaker table vibration testing of a microsatellite pair designed and built by students at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri. A finite element model (FEM) used in structural …

Comparison Of Matrix Pencil And Prony Analysis For Estimating Electromechanical Modes In Noisy Signals For Power System Applications, Lisa L. Grant

Masters Theses

"As modern power systems continue to grow and evolve, accurate system stability analysis and oscillation control become increasingly important to guarantee system security. Network instability due to power system oscillations caused by the natural modes of the system is becoming a common occurrence. Modal analysis techniques can estimate the eigenvalues of large nonlinear systems from their dynamics responses. The extracted modal information can be applied to detect low frequency oscillations and assess stability margins for power system monitoring and preventive control. Modal information is also useful for low-frequency oscillation damping controller design. This thesis examines two techniques for modal identification …

Geological And Geomorphological Evolution Of The Egyptian Nile Between Aswan And Kom Ombo: A Remote Sensing And Field Study Approach, Leslie Lansbery

Masters Theses

"This work uses field and remote sensing studies to examine structural controls of the Egyptian Nile between Aswan and Kom Ombo (referred here to as AKN). This segment of the Egyptian Nile incises through Cretaceous Nubian sandstone and Precambrian crystalline rocks separated by a shallowly-dipping to theN unconformity. It was only 0.8 Ma that the Egyptian Nile connected to the rest of the sub-Sahara Africa drainage system. Prior to this time, the Egyptian Nile evolved independently through 8 phases: Pre-Eonile (Ma), Eonile (6.0-5. 4 Ma), Gulf Phase (5.4-3.3 Ma), Paleonile Phase (3.3-1.8 Ma), Desert Phase (1.8-0.8 Ma), Prenile Phase (0.8-0.4 …

Mesh Optimization Of Finite Element Models Of Wellbore Stress Analysis, Ming-Yen Lee

Masters Theses

"Numerical modeling methods such as the widely used finite element method provide an excellent opportunity to analyze the wellbore state of stress for a variety of applications such as wellbore integrity, wellbore design or hydraulic fracturing. However, numerical modeling methods introduce errors by nature and may not precisely match the analytical solution if the meshing of the numerical model is not carefully taken care of. This study presents a parametric study of the meshing parameters mesh density, element type, and model size for 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional vertical wellbore models under three different types of boundary conditions, and a guideline for …

Grid Frequency And Voltage Support Using Photovoltaic Systems With Energy Storage Assist, Ravi Bhatt

Masters Theses

"An optimized operating scheme for a grid-connected community based photovoltaic (PV) system is described. The system can participate in grid ancillary services like frequency and voltage regulation functions based on the Smart Grid framework. The proposed model comprises of a PV plant with Li-ion batteries coupled to the grid by means of a three-phase inverter. A two-way communication between the PV plant and the grid is assumed. The PV/storage plant provides constant updates on its current kW/kVar capability and the grid transmits the demand for specific amounts of power and for specific lengths of time. The battery charging energy can …

The Sorption Of Chemical And Nuclear Contaminants From Soil And Water Using Nanosize Particles Of Hydroxyapatite, Chyrene Joseph

Masters Theses

"High surface area (>200 m²/g) crystals composed of nanosize (30-50nm) hydroxyapatite; (Ca₅(PO₄)₃OH) particles are being investigated as an alternative in cleaing [sic] contaminated groundwater and soil by removing toxic wastes and radionuclides. Static batch tests were carried out at 2, 4, 8, 24 and 120 hour time periods by reacting hydroxyapatite with individual solutions prepared with specific elements to evaluate the applicability of hydroxyapatite in removing potential contaminants. Chemical analyses on leachant solutions, leachate solutions, and post-reaction digested solids were conducted by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy to determine the extent of ion removal. Removal of these ions is expected …

Optimal Control Of A Helicopter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Uav), David John Nodland

Masters Theses

"This thesis addresses optimal control of a helicopter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Helicopter UAVs may be widely used for both military and civilian operations. Because these helicopters are underactuated nonlinear mechanical systems, high-performance controller design for them presents a challenge. This thesis presents an optimal controller design via both state and output feedback for trajectory tracking of a helicopter UAV using a neural network (NN). The state and output-feedback control system utilizes the backstepping methodology, employing kinematic and dynamic controllers while the output feedback approach uses an observer in addition to these controllers. The online approximator-based dynamic controller learns the …

Synthesis And Toxicity Studies Of Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids, Ninu Madria

Masters Theses

"There is a considerable recent interest in the applications of room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) as green solvents in organic synthesis and as nonvolatile electrolytes in lithium ion batteries. A variety of commercially available imidazolium based RTILs have been used for these applications, mainly due to their negligible vapor pressures, high thermal stabilities, wide liquid range, wide electrochemical windows and high anodic stability. The state of the art lithium ion batteries require the use of electrolytes that have relatively low viscosities at temperatures as low as -35°C. This thesis describes the synthesis of novel oxygenated and fluorinated imidazolium based RTILs …

Novel Transparent Conductive Materials: Understanding And Prediction, Yaou Song

Masters Theses

"Transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) such as doped In₂O₃, ZnO, SnO₂ or CdO are highly attractive due to their special properties, which are electrical conductivity and optical transparency. The lack of complete understanding of the fundamentals behind this unique phenomena and rapidly increasing commercial demand draw a lot of interest in investigating this kind of materials. More efficient, environmentally friendly and less expensive transparent conductive materials are needed for a variety of applications, and a general understanding of the origins of the unusual behavior would help further search for potential transparent conductive (TC) candidates. Understanding the basic properties of conventional TCOs …

Improvements To Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Blades To Aid In Self-Starting, Joseph P. Tillman

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Near Minimum Energy Distributions On The Sphere Using Voronoi Cells, Benedictus Sitou Mensah

Masters Theses

In this thesis we investigate the use of Voronoi cells to estimate a minimum energy configuration on the sphere. We introduce the notion of a Voronoi cell and give examples of its uses in various areas of mathematics. We consider the icosahedral decomposition of the sphere and apply a minimal energy configuration on the planar equilateral triangle to obtain spherical coordinates of a near minimal energy configuration on the sphere.

Structural And Photochemical Behavior Of Phenyl And Dihydrophenyl Sulfonamidecinnamic Acids, Sergey Zinovchik

Masters Theses

Controlling chemical processes and directing product formation has been a long sought-after goal of synthetic chemists. Most synthesis techniques focus on reactions performed in solution. Such traditional approaches have several disadvantages including unwanted side products, disrupting chemical processes and low reaction yields. A proposed approach to circumvent these drawbacks focuses on performing reactions in the solid state. This method promises better control and higher reaction yields due to the controlled environment of the reaction components. Because molecules in the solid state are effectively fixed, reactions can be performed with a high degree of selectivity, reducing side products and eliminating unwanted …

Method Developments To Analyze Caffeine And Acesulfame-K Concentrations In Natural Waters In And Around Charleston, Il, Usa, Laleen Bodhipaksha

Masters Theses

Analytical methods using batch solid phase extraction were developed for two chemical markers, caffeine and acesulfame-K, to assess anthropogenic water contamination of natural water bodies in and around Charleston, Illinois.

Measurements were conducted on 12 different extracted samples using reverse phase HPLC. Two creek samples showed the presence of acesulfame-K (0.45 ± 0.10 and 0.25 ± 0.06 ppb) and two creek samples showed the presence of caffeine (3 .1 ± 1.2 and 1.6 ± 0.6 ppb ). Effluent from the Charleston waste water treatment plant showed an acesulfame-K concentration of 0.67 ± 0.15 ppb.

These results indicate measurement of both …

Synthesis Of Molecular Containers Based On Modifications Of Resorcin(4)Arene And Calix(4)Arene, Anupama Makineni

Masters Theses

This research work was mainly focused on the synthesis of molecular containers based on modifications ofresorcin[4]arene and calix[4]arene.

The modifications of resorcin[ 4 ]arene include the attempts to attach a phthalimide featured linker onto the phenol hydroxyl groups of resorcin[4]arene. A few halogen leaving groups were used, including fluorine, chlorine, and bromine. The substitution with tetraflorophthalimide resulted in a mixture of regio-isomeric products, whereas for 4,5-dichloro- and 4,5-dibromophthalimides, no desired substitution product was formed. It was, however, discovered that both 4,5-dichloro- and 4,5-dibromophthalimides forms monoclinic crystals. The second modification of resorcin[4]arene focused on functionalizations of both upper and lower rims …

A Between Subjects Analysis Of The Additive Interspersal Technique For Multiplication Assignments, Lindsay A. Nash

Masters Theses

Adding easy problems to an assignment with more difficult target problems, known as additive interspersal, has demonstrated the potential to enhance students' perceptions of assignments and also seem to be preferred over non-interspersal assignments. The purpose of this study is to examine the additive interspersal method accomplished by using assignment types (3 x 2 multiplication) that are relevant to the participants (fifth grade students) as well as using a between-subjects design. Specifically, this study examined student's ratings of difficulty, time to complete, and effort required to complete mathematics assignments. In addition, the effects of the different pairs of math assignments …

The Influence Of Taking High School Physics As [A] Junior On Act Science Scores, Bartholomew T. Frey

Masters Theses

In recent years, policymakers, parents, and business leaders have expressed concern about the lack of student success on standardized tests in science. While the consensus is that the problem needs to be addressed, there is little agreement about how to achieve the increased test scores. This study examines the role of the specific science sequencing of biology, chemistry and physics completed by the junior year and increased ACT science test scores. This study compared the achievement of students who took physics as a junior with students who took physics as a senior on the ACT science test. This study continued …

Using Alternating Treatment Design To Determine Math Interventions For Linear Equations, Bridget Mckenna

Masters Theses

Although algebraic skills are vital to continuing success in higher order mathematics, few studies have examined the effectiveness of mathematics interventions with high school students. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of four mathematics interventions, contingent reinforcement, repeated practice, mathematic problem previewing, and immediate corrective feedback, with six students working on linear equations. Three participants were performing instructional level and four at frustration level. After a curriculum based assessment and baseline, an alternating treatment design examined the effectiveness of each intervention across participants. The distance between the data and the x axis was analyzed to determine …

The Impact Of Remedial Coursework On Transfer Student Success, Cathy Lee Feely

Masters Theses

This study focuses on the academic achievement and retention of community college transfer students. The research looks at how non-transferrable coursework effects transfer students' academic success based on grade point average. Gender, ethnicity, and type of community college attended are factors all considered in the study. The sample of students being studied are all undergraduate students a Midwestern four year comprehensive university that transferred from an Illinois community college. The research indicates that students who have completed non-transferrable courses at the community college have greater academic success based on grade point average at the university than those without non-transferrable courses. …

Simulink As A Tool For Modelling Communication Systems, Chaitri Avinash Aroskar

Masters Theses

"Simulink is a graphical tool provided by MathWorks to enable model-based design and simulation. This thesis consists of two papers which take advantage of Simulink features in order to model communication systems.

The first paper employs Simulink to create projects to supplement a purely lecture oriented course: Communication Systems I. The projects cover Linear systems, Analog modulation and Digital modulation concepts in a set of six projects. These projects have been designed based on Gagne's nine events of instruction to enhance their impact on students' learning process. The paper also outlines the advantages of this approach over the conventional programming …

Creating A Sustainable Transportation Workforce: Identifying Skills, Abilities And Knowledge For Future Transportation Workforce, Sandhya Gopalakrishnan

Masters Theses

"The recruitment and retention of a transportation workforce capable of adapting to the requirements of emerging sustainable technologies is an important concern for engineering managers in transportation. Although there is an increasing demand for transportation professionals to fill positions stemming from retirement or created by innovations in sustainable transportation systems, the supply is decreasing. The objective of this research was to fill the gap between the supply and demand of skilled workforce by presenting a life-cycle framework for recruiting and retaining the transportation workforce as part of succession planning efforts funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Transportation Education Development …