Digital Commons Network^™

Electrodeposition Of Metallic Gas Diffusion Layers For Use In Pem Fuel Cells, Gargi Tandra

Masters Theses

"This work developed a novel method of using Electrodeposition techniques to fabricate metallic gas diffusion layers (GDLs) for application in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. These GDLs improve the electrical and thermal conductivity of the fuel cells, and their straight, noncircular pores remove water efficiently. The Electrodeposition technique used here relies on a sacrificial copper anode and an aluminum sheet 50 µm thick acts as a cathode. Unlike the other laboratory based methods available for the fabrication of metallic GDLs, this method is simple and cost effective. With controlled deposition parameters and a chemical lift-off process that corrodes the aluminum …

Improving Student Learning Outcomes Through Personal Response Systems (Clickers), Ran Cai

Masters Theses

"The main purpose of this research was to examine the impact of Personal Response Systems (PRS) or clickers, (as they are commonly called), on student learning outcome. Student learning outcomes as measured by course grades were compared between traditional lecture format and clicker use lecture format. Student perceptions on clicker use were observed in the mean time. Statistical analysis indicated that although student conveyed positive attitude on clicker adoption, there were no significant differences in course scores between students who used clickers and students who did not.

This study also considered the influence of other factors, such as gender, student …

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 …

Memristor Based Lookup Table - Novel Testing And Reconfiguration Techniques, Veeresh Anilkumar Hongal

Masters Theses

"Nanotechnology is soon predicted to replace the CMOS technology, as current CMOS lithographic techniques will become void for complex IC designs with smaller feature size, and are hence incapable of keeping up with Moore's law. The devices in nanotechnology are fabricated using bottom up self-assembly. Memristor is one promising nanotech device which can replace the transistor used as a switch or memory device as it is just half the size and uses only fraction of the energy. This work considers Memristor Look Up Table (MLUT) design, which is a building block for asynchronous FPGAs built with memristors. In spite of …

Risk Assessment For Conceptual Design Of Hydrokinetic Turbines, Praveen Kailkere Srinivas

Masters Theses

"Hydrokinetic energy is a relatively new concept in the field of renewable energy. The rotor of the turbine, immersed in water, uses the velocity from the flowing water to generate power. Thus the hydrokinetic turbines are also known as zero head turbines. These turbines can be installed in rivers, oceans and sea beds. The design of these systems depends on the site conditions, installation and maintenance costs. Since this technology has not been assessed for its potential power producing capabilities, not much research has been done in order to harness this form of renewable energy and to study the impact …

Optimized Testing And Logic Mapping Methodology For Caen-Based Nano-Circuits, Sambhav Kundaikar

Masters Theses

"Nanotechnology has been shown to have the potential to replace the existing CMOS technology in the race to maintain the Moore's Law increases in IC complexity. This work considers the Chemically Assembled Electronic Nanotechnology (CAEN), which fabricates nanofabric using a low cost self-assembly and self-alignment chemical process and provides very high density. However, the main disadvantage of this technology is the inherently high defect rate that hinders the efforts to commercialize such systems. Existing testing and design techniques, for example for FPGAs, are ill suited since they typically assume vary low defect rates.

This thesis is comprised of two papers. …

Development Of Virtual Cnc Machine Tools And Web-Based Machining Process Simulation: Mechanistic Cutting Force Models And Determination Of Specific Force Coefficients In Helical End Milling, Vinay Rao Talekar

Masters Theses

"This thesis presents the results of the investigations of mechanistic modeling and simulation of cutting forces in high speed end milling of titanium alloy, Ti-6Al-4V, and the determination of specific cutting and edge force coefficients for carbide bull-nose helical end-mill. A generalized mathematical model representing the outer geometry of an end-mill and the cutter edge geometry is presented. Mechanistic cutting force models have been developed for a general helical end-mill and modeled specifically for a bullnose helical end-mill. A MATLAB code for the mechanistic cutting force models have been developed for the simulation of cutting force components in end milling …

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 …

A Detailed Petrographic Analysis Of The Mt. Sheridan Roosevelt Gabbro And Associated Rock Types, Daniel Russell Lasco

Masters Theses

"The Mt. Sheridan Roosevelt Gabbro of the Wichita Mountains igneous province in Southwestern Oklahoma underwent dynamic crystallization, resulting in three distinct gabbro zones with a range of pegmatite morphologies spread throughout. The three zones are informally named the lower, central, and upper zones. The lower zone consists of a quartz and alkali feldspar poor, plagioclase and pyroxene rich, poorly altered, gabbro cumulate. The central zone is comprised of a heavily altered quartz and alkali feldspar rich gabbro with few cumulate textures. The upper zone is mineralogically and texturally identical to the lower zone, distinguished only by its higher elevation. The …

Electron Transport Through Two Irreducibly-Coupled Aharonov-Bohm Rings With Applications To Nanostructure Quantum Computing Circuits, Casey Andrew Cain

Masters Theses

"A thorough investigation was conducted into the six fundamental classes of two coupled Aharonov-Bohm rings that share a finite center common path, when the phase of the electron wave function was modulated by two distinct magnetic fluxes. The coupling is similar to two coupled atoms. The behavior of charge accumulation along the center common path or equivalently the bonding and anti-bonding of the two rings can be achieved as the two applied fluxes are varied. Thus when three external terminals are connected to such coupled rings, the behavior of the electron transport is divided into several classes depending on the …

Evaluation Of Skin-Core Adhesion Bond And Low-Velocity Impact Behavior Of Honeycomb Sandwich Structures, Ramanjaneya R. Butukuri

Masters Theses

"Composite sandwich structures offer several advantages over conventional structural materials such as lightweight, high bending and torsional stiffness, superior thermal insulation and excellent acoustic damping. Some of the failure mechanisms in a composite sandwich structure are de-bonding of the composite facesheets from the core structure and damage due to low-velocity impact. In the first part of this work, adhesive fillet formation and adhesive mechanical strength are evaluated as a function of several different sandwich construction design variables. The effect of film adhesive thickness is studied. A process for reticulation of the adhesive is applied and studied. Optimized combinations of core …

Intelligent Control Of Smartparks And Wind Farms In Smart Grids, Priyam Chakravarty

Masters Theses

"With development in wind turbine technology, wind energy has become an important contestant in the utility market. However, wind energy has the intrinsic property of variations which causes fluctuations in the power grid.

Plug-in electric vehicles are drawing the attention of researchers and the electric power industry because of its need for charging from the grid and its ability to store energy. With increase in the numbers of plug-in electric vehicles, there will be significant penetration of distributed energy resources and hence plug-in electric vehicles connected to the grid in parking lots (SmartParks) can be used as energy storage sink …

Life Expectancy Evaluation And Replacement Schedule Development For Led Traffic Indicators, Casey Robert Noll

Masters Theses

"LED (light-emitting diode) technology is being widely adopted for use in sustainable traffic signal management. However, the useful life and luminosity characteristics have not been sufficiently studied in the field to provide departments of transportation with cost-effective replacement strategies based on the realities for LED indicators. LED indicators fail when their luminous intensity (LI) falls below a pre-specified threshold, posing a danger to traffic. This research details a field study of LED indicators in Missouri and develops a replacement schedule based on key findings. Rates of degradation and subsequently the useful life of each type of LED indicator were calculated …

Pressed Powdered Titanium And Aluminum Conical Shaped Charge Penetration Of Geological Targets, Dominique John Nolan

Masters Theses

"Conical Shaped Charge penetration into rock is dependent on the physical characteristics of the rock itself and the design and composition of the shaped charge conducting the work. This study looks at the effects of a non-typical conical shaped charge and its penetration into four different rock targets. The shaped charge is made of a liner, which is not a typical solid but instead is a pressed powdered metallic compound of Titanium (Ti) and Aluminum (AI).

The study presents the raw data from testing against rock targets that range in density, uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), tensile strength, hardness scales, and …

Design, Analysis, And Optimization Of Composite Structures For Aerospace Applications, Tyler Jason Keil

Masters Theses

"This thesis contains three papers that focus on composites that pertain to a variety of structures commonly found in the aerospace industry. The first paper presents an investigation of the stowage and deployment strength of a thin carbon fiber-reinforced polymer shell capable of being rolled and stowed in a tight rolled configuration. The intent of this structure is for use as a segment of a larger deployable reflective aperture. This study involved finite element analysis of several laminates, coupon-level and full-scale prototype testing, which provided a much needed insight and benchmark of composite shells used in this manner.

The second …

Special Education Teachers' Perspectives Of The Functional Behavior Assessment Process, Stephanie A. Woodley

Masters Theses

This study investigated special education teachers' perspectives of the functional behavior assessment (FBA) process including assessment methods, behaviors warranting an FBA, and perceptions. It also explored FBA training, time commitments, and participants. Ninety-eight special education teachers who graduated from a special education program at a state regional comprehensive university two or more years ago completed a survey designed for this study. Results indicated FBA training and time commitments as concerns. Overall, assessment methods and behaviors leading to FBA development were similar; however, some variances were found when compared by grade levels. Significant statistical differences were found in the use of …

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

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Design And Evaluation Of Laboratory Practices For An Advanced Computer Networking Curriculum, Jorgealberto Zetino

Masters Theses

Educators in the area of computer networking face the challenge of developing successful academic courses that can increase students' comprehension and interest while improving their competitiveness in the job market. This situation requires the development of a curriculum with emphasis on current industry needs and practical activities that can provide students with hands-on experience. This study focuses on the development oflaboratory practices in three areas of significant importance for the industry: network security, wireless networks and voice over IP. The objectives of the laboratory practices are to improve the use of equipment in the telecommunication laboratory at Eastern Illinois University, …

Turning The Silver Screen To Gold: An Analysis Of Opening Weekend Box Office Success, Jennifer Muser

Masters Theses

Success at the box office can be difficult to predict. While one combination of stars, budget, or praise produces a blockbuster, the slightest tweaking in a sequel can produce a bomb. The objective of this research is to model the opening weekend box office revenue per screen based on a set of variables parsed from the Internet Movie Database and using a critical review index variable retrieved from Rotten Tomatoes.com. First, the author estimates opening weekend revenue per screen from a sample of 1116 movies as a function of the movies' characteristics, such as genre, MP AA rating, critical rating, …

The Meek Shall Inherit, Chris Houchens

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

John Savage, John Klyczek

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Violence, Christianity, And The Anglo-Saxon Charms, Laurajan G. Gallardo

Masters Theses

Concentration in Literary Studies

The thesis focuses on violence reinterpreted through the Anglo-Saxon charms that exhibit a fusion of Christian and pagan elements. In order to comprehend the impact of this fusion, I provide ecclesiastical and social histories of the Anglo-Saxons, stressing upon the interconnectedness of both-an essential concept in understanding the AngloSaxon view of the world. This interconnectedness is seen in the Anglo-Saxon perception of magic, which in their understanding was synonymous to science or religion. I provide a brief introduction on magical practices and beliefs that applied to the charms, shedding light on how they were expected to …

Comparison Of Nutritive Value, Cost, Viscosity, And Acceptability Among Three Developed Oral Nutritional Supplements And A Standard Commercially-Prepared Supplement, Christa R. Huxel

Masters Theses

The consumption of oral nutritional supplements may help prevent, or delay, malnutrition in the older adult population. Developing acceptable supplements, and discovering alternative methods to providing nutrition to older adults, is vital. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate three oral nutritional supplements in chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla flavors that were similarly priced and contained similar nutritive value as compared to the standard commercially-prepared supplement Ensure®. The study also focused on the comparison of appearance, smell, flavor, aftertaste, viscosity, and overall acceptability and preference between the researcher-developed and standard supplements. The researcher-developed supplements were less expensive per …

An Examination Of Implicit And Explicit Attitudes Toward Steroids/Hgh In A Sample Of College Athletes And Nonathletes, Dominic Gray Morais

Masters Theses

Recently, media has placed more attention on the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) and human growth hormone (HGH) due to confessions and positive drug tests by professional athletes concerning their use. The idolization of these athletes by younger individuals, especially athletes, incites concern about their attitudes toward such substances. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes toward AAS and HGH in athletes and nonathletes. One hundred forty three male and female intercollegiate athletes (N = 83) and undergraduate and graduate Kinesiology and Sports Studies majors (N=60) at a Division I Midwestern University volunteered for the study. …

Existence Of Burnout In Undergraduate Athletic Training Students In An Accredited Athletic Training Education Program, Holli Ann Newcomer

Masters Theses

Athletic training is an American Medical Association (AMA) - recognized allied health care profession. With long hours, limited time off, and a variety of people to care for, this profession is one in which the athletic trainer may experience high stress loads and burnout. Burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment that can occur among individuals who work with people in some capacity (Maslach, Jackson, & Leiter, 1996). The purpose of this study was to examine undergraduate athletic training students and determine whether or not they displayed symptoms of burnout and to what extent. Thirty …

An Analysis Of Selected Band Works With Composer Perspective, Christopher Lawrence Mroczek

Masters Theses

Concentration in Conducting

This project contains the detailed study of three works for wind band. Each study includes direct input by the composers whose pieces are represented. The author interviewed all the composers by e-mail.

The pieces analyzed are:

• At Morning's First Light by David Gillingham
• Hebrides Suite by Clare Grundman
• Undertow by John Mackey

Questions asked in the interviews were unique to the particular musical elements present in the works. Each piece was analyzed with the same criteria using the following elements:

1. Composer Information
2. Composition Background Information
3. Score Description / Instrumentation
4. Form Analysis
5. Melodic Analysis
6. Harmonic Analysis
7. Meter/Tempo/Rhythm
8. Texture/Dynamics …

Undergraduate Leadership Development Perceptions, Jordan Baumgardner

Masters Theses

Since the founding of America's first institution of higher education in 1636, one of our primary purposes has been to develop leaders. There is a plethora of literature focused on leadership, yet there is a dearth of literature from the perspectives of student. The purpose of the present study was to understand how undergraduate student leaders defined leadership, their perceptions of how they experience this phenomenon, and how they perceive their development ofleadership skills and abilities. Through a mixedmethod approach, this study sought to understand leadership from the students' perspectives. Findings from the present study suggest that a single definition …

Analysis Of Extinction Of Fibroblast-Specific Gene Expression In Somatic Hepatic Hybrids Using Cdna Microarray Technology, Sushma K. Shrestha

Masters Theses

Extinction of tissue-specific genes in mammalian somatic cell hybrids is a well known epigenetic phenomenon and knowledge of this process is useful in understanding molecular mechanisms underlying tissue specific gene expression. Signaling proteins critical for the activation of transcription including transcription factors, co-activators, and repressors, play a role in the establishment and maintenance of tissue-specific phenotypes. Tissue-specific transcription factors are the key driving force of tissuespecific gene expression. However, mechanisms responsible for gene silencing are largely unknown.

Extinction of liver specific traits in somatic hybrids generated by the fusion of hepatoma and fibroblast cells has been well documented and is …