Digital Commons Network^™

Role Of Nicotine In Oxidative Stress, Rakesh Kacham

Masters Theses

"Nicotine, a major alkaloid, is present in tobacco products as well as in smaller amounts in potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants. Although it is the addictive compound in cigarettes, nicotine is believed to play a protective role in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Researchers have found that the short-term administration of nicotine may help improve the memory process by reducing oxidative stress in the brain. Our studies have shown that, by blocking Fenton's reaction, nicotine is able to inhibit free radical generation, so this research has focused on the antioxidant properties of nicotine. The cell lines of the alveoli, blood …

Examining The Efficiency Of Multimodal Transportation Systems: A Systems Dynamics Approach, Lizzette Pérez-Lespier

Masters Theses

"With international trade becoming a big part of the world's economic activity, the demand for good freight transportation systems has grown substantially. The appropriate use of transportation is an integral part of the supply chain's effectiveness. Therefore, the continuous economic globalization, the growing demand for speed-to-market product delivery, and the need to manage global supply chains more effectively, has led to the sustained increase in demand towards multimodal transportation systems (MTS). MTS play an essential role in corporations competing in global markets in the 21st century. In transportation, the effectiveness and efficiency of the whole system depends upon the interconnectivity …

Trough-Silicon-Via Inductor: Is It Real Or Just A Fantasy?, Rongbo Yang

Masters Theses

"Through-silicon-vias (TSVs) can potentially be used to implement inductors in three-dimensional (3D) integrated system for minimal footprint and large inductance. However, different from conventional 2D spiral inductor, TSV inductors are buried in lossy substrate, thus suffering from low quality factors. This thesis presents how various process and design parameters affect their performance. A few interesting phenomena that are unique to TSV inductors are observed. We then proposed a novel shield mechanism utilizing the micro-channel, a technique conventionally used for heat removal, to reduce the substrate loss. The technique increases the quality factor and inductance of the TSV inductor by up …

A Calibration Free Vector Network Analyzer, Arpit Kothari

Masters Theses

"Recently, two novel single-port, phase-shifter based vector network analyzer (VNA) systems were developed and tested at X-band (8.2 - 12.4 GHz) and Ka-band (26.4 - 40 GHz), respectively. These systems operate based on electronically moving the standing wave pattern, set up in a waveguide, over a Schottky detector and sample the standing wave voltage for several phase shift values. Once this system is fully characterized, all parameters in the system become known and hence theoretically, no other correction (or calibration) should be required to obtain the reflection coefficient, (Γ), of an unknown load. This makes this type of VNA "calibration …

Stochastic-Optimization Of Equipment Productivity In Multi-Seam Formations, Elijah Adadzi

Masters Theses

"Short and long range planning and execution for multi-seam coal formations (MSFs) are challenging with complex extraction mechanisms. Stripping equipment selection and scheduling are functions of the physical dynamics of the mine and the operational mechanisms of its components, thus its productivity is dependent on these parameters. Previous research studies did not incorporate quantitative relationships between equipment productivities and extraction dynamics in MSFs. The intrinsic variability of excavation and spoiling dynamics must also form part of existing models. This research formulates quantitative relationships of equipment productivities using Branch-and-Bound algorithms and Lagrange Parameterization approaches. The stochastic processes are resolved via Monte …

Kinetics Of Human And Bovine Insulin Amyloid Fibril Formation In The Presence Of Solid/Liquid Interfaces, Paulina Barranco Morales

Masters Theses

"The purpose of this thesis was to study the rate and extent of aggregation of human and bovine insulin in bulk and in the presence of either polystyrene microspheres with different surface chemistries or liposomes of different composition. Insulin aggregation was followed by turbidimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and dynamic light scattering. The Congo red assay was used to corroborate the presence of amyloid deposits and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to analyze the morphology of the amyloid deposits. Our results show that not all the surfaces shortened the lag time. On the other hand, most surfaces had …

A Structural Analysis Of The El Kasr Structure In The Western Desert Of Egypt, Trevor Charles Ellis

Masters Theses

"The El Kasr structure was studied in order to investigate the origins and evolution of the enigmatic Desert Eyes structures of the Western Desert due to its accessibility and uniqueness among the structures. The El Kasr structure, an elongate structural basin with low limb dips, is unique among the "Desert Eyes" structures in that it: 1) occurs in isolation in otherwise horizontal sedimentary rock, 2) the long dimension of the basin is oriented NNW, 3) it is closely spatially associated with the less common NNW fault zones, and 4) is composite in nature. The structure was investigated using remote sensing …

Protein Aggregation At Solid/Liquid Interfaces: A Monte Carlo Study With Explicit And Implicit Solvent Effects, Rehman Fazeem

Masters Theses

"Metropolis Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were performed with positively charged peptides in aqueous solution to study changes in peptide conformations at solid/liquid interface, and its effects on protein aggregation. Intermediate-resolution diblock model peptide, comprising of 10 units of ALA (non-polar) and LYS (polar) amino acid residues, was used for the simulations. In the first approach to modeling, solvent effects were considered explicitly. The explicit model was then used to study two peptide molecules, in helical structure, at solid/liquid interface. In order to increase the number of peptide molecules in the simulation box, with reduced computational cost, an implicit solvent model …

Development Of An Optimization Model To Determine Sampling Levels, Zlatan Hamzic

Masters Theses

"As the complexity of multi-component products increases the quality of these products becomes increasingly difficult to control. The first step to manufacturing a quality product is making sure that the components of the product meet specifications. Product quality can be controlled through sampling inspection of the components. Two models were developed in this research to determine the optimal sampling levels for incoming lots containing parts for production and assembly of multi-component systems. The main objective of the first model is to minimize the expected cost that is associated with a nonconforming item reaching assembly. In this model the time available …

Wideband Characterization Of Printed Circuit Board Materials Up To 50 Ghz, Aleksei Rakov

Masters Theses

"A traveling-wave technique developed a few years ago in the Missouri S&T EMC Laboratory has been employed until now for characterization of PCB materials over a broad frequency range up to 30 GHz. This technique includes measuring S-parameters of the specially designed PCB test vehicles. An extension of the frequency range of printed circuit board laminate dielectric and copper foil characterization is an important problem. In this work, a new PCB test vehicle design for operating up to 50 GHz has been proposed. As the frequency range of measurements increases, the analysis of errors and uncertainties in measuring dielectric properties …

Use Of Ultra-High Performance Concrete To Mitigate Impact And Explosive Threats, Julie Anne Willey

Masters Theses

"This study is a continuation of research conducted by Natalia Carey, Anthony Wulfers, and Dr. John Myers under the DHS ALERT Center. Carey investigated the use of polyurea coating systems to mitigate close range blast threats on wall panels. Wulfers continued this by using both polyurea coatings as well as a sacrificial wood fiber fly ash (WF-FA) layer to try to get increased performance. This research was aimed at the study of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) for the use in impact and blast mitigation. There is little information on the performance of UHPC under close range blast loading; therefore it …

A Study Of Clustering Rssi And Lqi From Wireless Network Communications, Yanwen Wang

Masters Theses

"In today's information world, different wireless sensor network topologies are permitted to exist in the same geographical region. For example, a city contains thousands of enterprise networks; a school might include different wireless network topologies used by students and faculties respectively. Even within a building, there might be multiple companies that use their own wireless networks. These networks might cause interference to other networks. How to detect, determine and locate the unknown wireless topologies in the same geographical area becomes quite significant in the wireless industry, especially in military use, such as spy-nodes detection and communication orientation systems. In this …

Effects Of Material Variables And Process Parameters On Properties Of Investment Casting Shells, Priyatham Tumurugoti

Masters Theses

"Manufacture of investment casting shells is a complex process. The choice of raw materials - refractory powders or grains, binders and additives - affects the properties of investment casting shells. In this study, different systems of shells were prepared, according to a design of experiments, with commercially available raw materials that differ in chemistry, particle size or particle size distribution. Shell strength was measured in green, fired and cooled, and hot conditions and the results were analyzed for strength-material property relation. Various microstructures of polished cross sections of these shells were characterized using scanning electron microscope. It was determined that …

Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Properties Of Metal-Ion Doped Borate Bioactive Glasses For Clinical Applications, Megan Ottomeyer

Masters Theses

"Bioactive glasses with antimicrobial properties can be implemented as coatings on medical devices and implants, as well as a treatment for tissue repair and prevention of common hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA A borate-containing glass, B3, is also undergoing clinical trials to assess wound-healing properties. The sensitivities of various bacteria to B3, B3-Ag, B3-Ga, and B3-I bioactive glasses were tested. In addition, the mechanism of action for the glasses was studied by spectroscopic enzyme kinetics experiments, Live-Dead staining fluorescence microscopy, and luminescence assays using two gene fusion strains of Escherichia coli.

It was found that gram-positive bacteria were more …

Improving Life Cycle Management Plans For Power Plant Components, Srinath Raghavan

Masters Theses

"Life cycle management (LCM) combines a set of technical and economic activities with the specific goal of improving the long term economic value of an asset. It is necessary to perform a sound LCM exercise on the utility or industrial asset to maintain the profitability of a plant. In most industries, the maintenance budget is either higher than optimal or lower than required, that result in expensive outages, damages and accidents. An LCM plan is a guide to make operational decision for a component over its life cycle. LCM typically consists of a preventive maintenance schedule, condition monitoring, inspection activities, …

Processing And Properties Of Zrb₂-Zrsi₂ Matrix Composites Reinforced With Continuous Sic Fiber, Benjamin John Bowin Lai

Masters Theses

"The research presented in this thesis focuses on the processing, microstructure, and mechanical properties of ZrB₂-based composites. The main goal was to develop a process that incorporates high strength continuous SiC fiber in a ZrB₂-based matrix. In order to achieve this, the densification, microstructure, and mechanical properties of ZrB₂-ZrSi₂ monolithic ceramics were characterized along with various SiC fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) utilizing the same matrix.

There were two main areas of study in this thesis. The initial study demonstrated that additions of ZrSi₂ into a ZrB₂ ceramic increases densification at significantly reduced processing temperatures ≤1600ºC). This study revealed …

Social Cognitive Theory Vs. Social Comparison Theory: Examining The Relationship Between Social Influence And Weight Loss, Emily Grigg

Masters Theses

This qualitative study investigated the impact of social influence on weight loss, more specifically, the internal and external elements that effect response and success of those who are trying to lose weight. The research focused on three questions: (1) How great of an influence does self-efficacy have in weight loss success? (2) How great of an influence does social comparison have in weight loss success? (3) Which factor has the largest impact on weight loss: self-efficacy, peer efficacy, or positive social support, or negative social support? Data was collected by the researcher conducting semi-structured interviews. These interview were conducted with …

A Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Community Health Workers‘ Impact Upon The Birth Outcomes Of At-Risk Pregnant Women In Muskegon County, Edward Michael Jados

Masters Theses

The purpose of this case study was to investigate the effects of community health workers (CHWs) on at-risk pregnant women in Muskegon County through a cost-benefit analysis. CHWs are selected, trained and working in the communities from which they live. The role of the community health worker is extremely diverse, usually due to the communities and programs that they serve. Their purpose is to improve health outcomes in the communities they serve by increasing access to and coverage to basic health services and needs, notably for underserved and medically needy populations. Previous studies have showed that CHWs have a positive …

The Other In Henry Roth's Call It Sleep, Pauline Bleuse

Masters Theses

This thesis project focuses on the notion of the Other in Henry Roth's 1934 novel Call It Sleep. The novel follows David as his family moves to New York and struggles in poor areas. David's inner world is rendered through a style which is reminiscent of a modernist stream of consciousness while retaining the realism of the 1930s proletarian novel. Call It Sleep is a rich text for the study of immigration and multi-culturalism and approaching the novel through the theme of the Other allows for multiple interpretations. The first chapter uses Jacques Lacan's theories on Desire and analyzes …

Teacher's Attitudes Towards Integrating Technology: Case Studies In Saudi Arabia And The United States, Asma Mohammed Alharbi

Masters Theses

This study examines teachers' attitudes towards integrating technology in Saudi Arabia and the United States. A case study approach was used to identify several factors that challenge teachers and schools to adapt or integrate technology. And, the case study also reveals similarities and differences between the preparation and practice of teachers in Saudi Arabia and in the United States.

The data was collected through semi-structured interviews distributed to ten teachers from Saudi Arabia and the United States. These interviews were analyzed to determine teachers' attitudes in both countries and to compare and contrast these results. Findings reveal that teachers from …

Geographical, Linguistic, Social, And Experiential Demarcation: The River In Edwidge Danticat’S The Farming Of Bones, April Dawn Best

Masters Theses

This thesis is a reading of the Massacre River in Edwidge Danticat’s The Farming of Bones that takes into account the river’s role as a physical border as well as various social, linguistic, and experiential borders that are at work in the novel. The Massacre River physically divides Haiti from the Dominican Republic; it both unites and separates the two nations. This thesis examines the language and structure of the novel to make sense of the paradoxical opposing representation of the river and examines the various borders Amabelle Désir experiences and her search for belonging upon being exiled from places …

Service Learning And Social Justice: A Qualitative Study Of International Service Learning And Students' Perceptions Of Social Inequality, Sara Boro

Masters Theses

Using qualitative methodology the researcher analyzed the perspectives of students on service trips taken to Haiti by the Newman Catholic Center in (1) educating students about social injustice and (2) cultivating a desire for students to advocate for social change. Overall participants were impacted by their experience in Haiti. Participants articulated a deeper awareness and understanding of social inequality and of their own privilege. Participants also communicated a commitment to continue service, change their career plans and change their lifestyles. Student development occurred in three phases including pre-departure, experience, and re-entry. Engaged preparation, reflection, consequential connection, and human connection were …

A Decade Of Aid: The Increase, Impact And Alternative To Foreign Aid, Ryan Piers

Masters Theses

The first term of George H.W. Bush's presidency saw an increase in governmentally distributed foreign aid unparalleled in United States' history. This increase came at time in which the debate over the practicality of foreign aid had never been higher amongst academics. Historically, there are two separate branches of research in the study of foreign aid. The first examines the effects of the practice, while the other investigates the determinants of foreign aid, namely which donors give to which recipients and why. This study is twofold in a sense that it touches on both topics.

This thesis analyzed President George …

Imprisonment, Punishment, And Progress In Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, Ashley Breanne Waggoner

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Freeze Tolerance Conferred By Transgenic Expression Of Late Embryogenesis Abundant Protein In Insect Cells, Alyssa N. Walser

Masters Theses

Anhydrobiotic organisms such as the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana have developed strategies to survive and thrive under conditions of limited water availability. One strategy is the accumulation of late embryo genesis abundant (LEA) proteins. Cells of Drosophila melanogaster (Kc167), which had previously been genetically modified to express a group 1 LEA protein (LEA1.3) found in A. franciscana, were used to test the impact of water stress due to freezing to -80°C. Two different freezing devices were used to determine the impact of the freezing protocol on the viability of cells after freezing and thawing. The first method used a 12-well …

Seventy Years Of The African American Male Experience At Eastern Illinois University, Rovion D. Reed

Masters Theses

Using qualitative methodology the researcher analyzed the lived experiences of seven African American men who attended Eastern Illinois University over the past seven decades including one who is currently enrolled. Data was collected by conducting archival research as well and semi-structured interviews. Overall participants reported having good experiences at Eastern Illinois University. The participants' experiences were categorized into seven themes including faculty or staff relations, race relations, intra-racial relations, campus involvement, mentoring, campus climate, and Black Greek organizations. In addition, minor themes were also discovered including only-ness, lowered expectations, positive influence of student organizations, and sense of care from mentors.

Consumer Behavior Relationship Between Mothers And Their Adult Daughters, Helen M. Marcotte

Masters Theses

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the consumer behavior relationship between mothers and their adult daughters. Intergenerational influences (IGI), communication patterns, and the length of time adult daughters lived with their mothers are variables explored in this study. The results of this study suggested that, although the adult daughter seems to have a meaningful relationship with her mother, the only significant correlation was between mother-daughter communication patterns and the mother's role in her adult daughter's consumer behavior.

Relationship Between Fundamental Movement Skills And Body Mass Index In Rural Elementary Age Children, Mariah L. Bolin

Masters Theses

A factor of how much physical activity a child gets could be determined by the level of mastery of fundamental movement skills that are needed for the establishment of skills used in many forms of adult physical activity. Children who master a number of fundamental movement skills are more likely to be physically active and they also may be more likely to take part in physical activity when being compared to peers with a lesser level of motor skill proficiency. Children who are considered overweight tend to engage less often in physical activities, which in turn may prevents them from …

Effects Of Combining Whole Body Vibration And Moderately-Heavy Back Squat On Vertical Jump Height In Collegiate Level Volleyball Players, Franklin M. Benik

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine whether a combination of a low volume, moderately-heavy (80% 1RM) back squat combined with whole body vibration would optimize the post activation potentiation (PAP) response compared to a set of low volume, moderately-heavy back squat without vibration in Division I collegiate female volleyball players. The study design consisted of two groups (n = 5, n = 5) of current Eastern Illinois University female volleyball players matched by 1RM back squat strength. Prior to the experimental intervention, subjects in each group attended two sessions during which standing reach height and demographic information ( …

Improving The Rate Of Voluntary Compliance In Investigative Police Reporting Through The Application Of A Training Model And Job Aid, Kent D. Martin

Masters Theses

This study examines the immediate effect of a training module and job-aid on the percentage of police reports that lack pertinent information relating to the identity and contact information for suspects, witnesses and victims. A random sampling of reports was examined to determine if the initial responding officer obtained all available information needed to identify and contact these individuals for further investigation.

This analysis resulted in the creation of a training module, which was provided to all members of the patrol division. The module included a job aid to which each officer could refer during the report writing process. An …