Digital Commons Network^™

Create Your Own Car: A Motion Graphic Demo Of A New Game, Peng Peng

Theses

The project Create Your Own Car explores a realistic style of motion graphics through the car- assembling process using both 2D and 3D visual effects to popularize a new racing game to attract more people. The motion graphics illustrate the game features in an interactive game with personalized cars. This project includes two parts: one is the design of personalized vehicles, and the other is the animation stage, which presents the final motion graphics piece. The first stage explores two classic types of vehicles: the muscle car and the sports car. The main focus is on both the different interior …

Lost And Found, Che Chiang

Theses

Teenage boy Victor and his crush Emily; a bouquet of roses and a missing hair pin; an unrequited love with frustration and a bunch of glowing golden butterflies to cheer up; "Lost and Found" is a thesis film created with the intention of evoking the audience with the innocence and puppy love that he or she may once have had. With this idea the story surrounds a boy named Victor and his determination to impress his classmate, Emily, as he tries his best to win Emily's heart. The aftermath of an unsuccessful courtship brings about a surreal life experience of …

Terra Cotta Warrior, Bin Li

Theses

I am kind of worried when I set about writing this paper, since there are too much things to select in this process to talk about and share with you. Filmmaking process is amazing and exciting like magic, and everything needs to be created from nothing like a dove suddenly appears on illusionist's hand. However behind this glaring magic, so many people work deliberately and so many wonderful stories are going on, which are even more dramatic than our film itself. So I even have more enthusiasm to share our story than the story in the film. I want to …

Dream: A Short 3d Surrealistic Animation, Liwei Xia

Theses

"Dream"is a graduate thesis 3D animation, telling a surrealistic story about a man who tries to escape from a sand ocean and pursue his dream oasis. In this 3 minute 47 second story, the main character shows people, the way to pursue his dream, how to control his desires, resist temptation, conquer himself, drift with the tide, and finally persist in his dream to get away from the ocean. Because the story is surrealistic, I would like to try to approach many new fields in this animation. First, I conceived it as a combination of experimental and traditional 3D animation, …

Theoretical Prediction Of Joint Reaction Force In A Dynamic General 3-D Pendulum Tree Model For Human Or Animal Motion, Sucheta Goyal

Theses

Lagrangian dynamics and the method of superfluous coordinates are applied to predict dynamic joint reaction forces in an idealized flexible model of a branched 3-D pendulum tree system. The number of segments and joints on the tree are adjustable as is the branching tree pattern. The segments that comprise the tree are assumed to be one- dimensional rigid rods containing a discrete set of mass points that is both flexible in number and distribution on the tree. The idealized 3-D pendulum tree system is intended to provide a flexible theoretical framework to model and better understand the dynamics of human …

Development Of 3-D Liver Model For Drug Screening Applications, Divya Rajendran

Theses

The need for a an in vitro drug screening system that mimics the structural organization of natural liver for multi-functionality and maintenance of hepatocytes has become vital in the drug development process. The objective of this study was to engineer a three-dimensional (3-D) liver model using chitosan-based nanofiber scaffolds and co-culture system (adult rat hepatocytes and 3T3-J2 fibroblasts) to mimic the natural liver and to justify its application for in vitro drug screening. Chitosan nanofiber scaffolds were fabricated by electrospinning technique. In order to promote cell adhesion on the chitosan scaffolds, the scaffolds were coated with a cell adhesion molecule, …

Temperature Elevations Due To Nir Exposure In The Brain Tissue, Ali Ersen

Theses

Near infrared (NIR) lasers have been used in medical applications both for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Temperature elevation profile inside the tissue is a critical factor that needs to be better understood in these applications. The purpose of this study is to determine the temperature distribution due to a low power N I R laser irradiation in living neural tissue. Temperature measurements were made directly using a thermocouple probe inside the rat brain cortex within the sagittal plane. The spatial map indicates that N I R light penetrates more readily in the vertical directions than the spreading in the horizontal …

Alendronate Treatment Elicits A Reduction In Fatigue-Life Of Canine Cortical Bone, Joseph Ryan Geissler

Theses

Bone serves contradictory needs; bone must be strong yet light, and stiff yet flexible. At the tissue level bone material withstands cyclic loading without failing by dissipating energy via the formation and accumulation of microdamage. Proper removal of this damage in exchange for fresh tissue is vital to bone maintenance, and is achieved through a remodeling process. Imbalanced remodeling leads to osteoporotic fractures. Bisphosphonate drugs are proven to reduce fracture risk. However, the long-term effects of bisphosphonates on tissue-level properties are unknown. This study characterized the fatigue-life of cortical bone tissue after bisphosphonate treatment with alendronate (Aln). 1 1th ribs …

Neural Differentiation Of Pluripotent Stem Cells And Applications To Micropatterned Agarose Hydrogel For Nerve Guidance, Jamila S. Gittens

Theses

Many central nervous system (CNS) disorders are attributable to damaged oligodendrocytes, the cells that form the myelin sheath of axons. An effective source of human oligodendrocytes is crucial, making pluripotent stem cells, such as embryonic stem (ES) cells, an attractive source for nerve tissue repair and regeneration due to their unlimited capacity for self-renewal and their ability to differentiate into all major cell lineages. Bioengineered 3-D hydrogel culture systems have the potential to elucidate mechanisms required for regeneration of CNS cells. The goals of this study are: (1) to investigate the effects of retinoic acid (RA), sonic hedgehog (shh) agonist, …

Neuralsta: A Software Tool For Neural Stimulation And Recording Applications With A Laser Control, Rimi Sahu

Theses

The subject of this thesis is a software tool created in Matlab ® for neural stimulation and recording of the evoked potentials. The stimulation output can be delivered in electrical units for immediate use for neural stimulation or as a power control signal to a laser. NeuralSTA is designed to generate arbitrary waveforms of stimulation and simultaneously record the neural response while implementing the spike triggered averaging (STA) method, hence the name NeuralSTA. The output (stimulation) signal can be created in monophasic, biphasic or inverted monophasic forms (for laser control applications). Controls for pulse modulation allow shaping of the pulse …

New Face, Old Myth, Ping-Chun Hsien

Theses

We live in a digital age where information on foreign cultures is no longer hard to come by. Designers can easily access any foreign religious symbols and mythical stories by simply searching the internet and then interpret in their own way without consideration as to their original meanings. With this convenience, however, information from the internet is sometimes misconstrued after several interpretations, or it simply may not be correct. As a result foreign cultural elements may seem misplaced or ridiculous to audiences who are familiar with the culture. As a 3D designer from Asian culture, I often sense these misappropriations …

Performance Comparison Between Ad Hoc On Demand Distance Vector And Dynamic Source Routing Protocols With Security Encryption Using Opnet, Jaseem Jafferi

Theses

Application for wireless networking has been evolving rapidly and is becoming an integral part in our everyday life. Also with the recent performance advancement in wireless communication technologies, mobile wireless ad-hoc networks has been used in many areas such as military, health and commercial applications. Mobile ad hoc networks utilize radio waves and microwaves to maintain communication channel between computers. 802.11 (Wi-Fi) is the pre-eminent technology for building general purpose wireless networks. Mobile ad-hoc networking (MANET) utilize the Internet Protocol (IP) suite and aims at supporting robust and efficient operation by incorporating routing functionality into the mobile nodes. MANET is …

Pulsed Laser Deposition Of Magnesium Oxide Nanowires And Their Physical, Structural, And Biological Properties, Dang The Ninh

Theses

One-dimensional (1D) nanostructures, such as nanowire, nanorods, and nanotubes, have shown great promise in both fundamental and application studies due to their size, structure, and several other unique properties. In this study, magnesium oxide (MgO) nanowires (NWs) with varying diameter have been grown on magnesium oxide (100) single crystal substrates using a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. Magnesium oxide was chosen due to its high melting point, high hardness, high tensile strength, excellence diffusion barrier, and good biocompatibility. In the fabrication of MgO nanowires, gold has been used as a catalyst. A systematic study has been carried out to identify …

Factors Affecting Minority Undergraduate Students' Enrollment In Agricultural Economics/Agribusiness, Sawde Salifou Labo

Theses

This study examines the factors that affect minority undergraduates' enrollment in agricultural economics/agribusiness at Land-grant institutions using a 2007 cross sectional demand model. Data for students enrolled in agribusiness, ethnicity, and sex were collected through Food and Agricultural Information Education Systems (FAIES). In-state tuition and financial aid were obtained via the Integrated Post Education Data System (IPEDS). The sample size is comprised of 53 land-grant institutions that offer undergraduate degree in agricultural economics/agribusiness. . Additionally, multiple regression models were used to identify factors that influence enrollment of minority. Results indicate that there are more males enrolled in agricultural economics/agribusiness than …

In Vitro Modulation Of Gene Expression In Bovine Blood Neutrophils, Ashley R. Turner

Theses

Concerns for animal welfare, food safety, and security fuel interest in understanding modulators of innate immunity. The accumulation of neutrophils and activation of toll-like receptors (TLRs) at infection sites are critical events of innate host defense. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of Lipopolysaccaride (LPS), Peptidoglycan (PGN), Nystatin (NYS), and Quebracho (Q) extract on bovine neutrophils activation in relation to expression of genes encoding TLR2, TLR4, natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (Nramp1), and the cytokines TNF-α and IL-10. Genes in genomic DNA were detected from blood samples, except IL-10. Neutrophils were isolated from four Holstein Friesian …

Artificial Neural Network Application In Environmental Engineering., Xiaojue Tao

Theses

The objective of this thesis research is to apply two artificial neural network (ANN) methods, back-propagation neural network (BPN) and radial basis function generalized regression neural network (RBFGRNN) in two environmental engineering case studies to explore their ability to modeling the complex environmental engineering systems. The traditional environmental engineering systems modeling are frequently using the physical-based modeling methods. . Their performance is decided by the quantity of samples and quality of sampling methods, and it is also based on the physical laws they obeyed and the system knowledge they explored. But ANN offers a unique and alternative solution to bridge …

Use Of Controlled Release (Encapsulated Chemical Oxidant) Polymer For Remediation Of Contaminated Water Used For Intentional Biothreat Terrorism And Its Potential Application For Disinfection Of Agricultural Waste Pollution., Christopher Ross Jackson

Theses

The threat of biological agents being used to harm mass populations are of extreme importance in the 21st century. Pathogenic agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoan, and helminthes are of major concern in the wake that they can be used to cause death to anyone exposed. Agents like these can be disseminated by air, through water, or from animal, food, or human-to-human transmission. Controlled release methods are extensively used in the medical and agricultural industry to release chemicals at controlled rates for drug delivery in the human body or pesticide treatments for farming. Few researchers have investigated the use …

Space Radiation Countermeasures In A Life Support System Of Extraterrestrial Environments, Candice Thompson Young

Theses

A Life Support System (LSS) sustains life for an extended period of time in a closed system that includes waste recycling as a functional method of support. For future space missions, the goal is to build extraterrestrial space bases which employ the concept design of a radiation free LSS environment. Effectively maintaining a LSS in an extraterrestrial space environment is difficult without protection from harmful space radiation such as galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) and solar radiation. Radiation produces high energy ions which penetrates tissue and destroys DNA. Without radiation protection, life in an extraterrestrial environment will perish. Therefore, it is …

Comparative Proteomic Analysis Of The Impact Of Management Programs On Porcine Airways, Chakia Joi Mcclendon

Theses

In North Carolina, swine are reared in confinement housing or pasture-based operations and air quality in confinement operations is known to contribute to health status. However, few if any reports investigate the impact of swine management operations on porcine airways; thus the goal of this project. The hypothesis was that airways of pigs reared indoors have morphological and proteome differences compared to pigs reared outdoors. Three experimental trials were conducted to observe airway morphology and proteomes. Trial I included three breed types raised indoors, Tamworth X Berkshire, Berkshire X Berkshire and Hertford X Berkshire (n = 4- 5 each). Trials …

Activity Of Soil Enzymes In Constructed Wetlands Treated With Swine Wastewater, Ramgopal Baddam

Theses

Increased swine production in North Carolina has resulted in higher waste production. Continuous application of swine wastewater from lagoons to agricultural land can pose surface and ground water pollution. Constructed wetland (CW) treatment is an alternate to the lagoon spray field system that reduces the nutrients concentration through physical, chemical and biological mechanisms. One of the biological processes in the CW is enzymatic activity which plays a major role in releasing nutrients from organic substances. The objectives of this research were to investigate the activity of soil enzymes at different depths of CW treated with swine wastewater and to assess …

Effect Of Feeding A Probiotic, Prebiotic Source, And Synbiotic Diet To Gestational And Lactational Sows On The Mucosal Immunity Of Their Weaned Piglets, Lauren Kloc

Theses

A common practice, in the swine industry, is to administer antibiotics in piglet diets to reduce the incidence of post-weaning diarrhea (PWD). However, due to the link between the overuse of antibiotics in agriculture and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, alternatives to using antibiotics that boost natural immunity are being sought. Diets rich in probiotic, prebiotic, or synbiotics enhance intestinal health. Since research has shown that a mother’s diet during both gestation and lactation can play an important role in the development of their offspring, a study was designed to investigate whether feeding a probiotic, prebiotic source, or synbiotic diet …

Visualization And Collision Detection Of Direct Metal Deposition, Sufyan S.D. Fehe

Theses

Direct metal deposition (DMD) is a manufacturing technique that manufactures solid metal parts from bottom to top using powdered metal and a focused laser. In this research, the swept volume technique was used as framework to develop a computer program to perform volumetric visualization of the deposition process as a pre-processor, before the actual metal deposition commences. The program extracts coordinate values from a G-code; these extracted values constitute a point. These points are then defined as a swept path using VPython extrusion object library. A cross section is then swept through these points to perform the volumetric visualization of …

A Tutor Design For Multicolumn Addition In Elementary Education, Moise Burgess

Theses

Individual tutoring provides a substantial improvement over traditional classroom instruction. Researchers in tutoring and tutoring systems have approached the study of why tutoring is effective and came to varying conclusions. Both quantitative and qualitative research was performed. The quantitative research addresses the questions: would students use the tools of student construction to help solve problems, and would a tutor designed using elements from tutoring theory allow students to solve multicolumn addition problems without assistance. The tutor was designed to scaffold for student construction, help students resolve impasses, provide positive and negative feedback, and use a five step dialog frame. Cognitive …

Biodegradation And Mushroom Cultivation Studies On Peanut Shells And Corn Stalks By Pleurotus Ostreatus Under Solid State Fermentation Conditions, Mansuru Usif

Theses

Peanut shells (PS) and corn stalks (CS) are abundant agro-industrial wastes that are mainly disposed of by burning or soil incorporation. The biodegradation of PS and CS in various substrate combinations (SCs) was studied under solid state fermentation with Pleurotus ostreatus. A two factorial experiment in a completely randomized design (CRD) was used in this study. The abilities of the selected SCs to support fruit body yield was also investigated as a one factorial experiment in a CRD. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine significant differences at 5% level of significance. The results from the biodegradation studies showed …

Identification Of Pan-Ligands For Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (Ppar) Using Computational Virtual Screening With Molecular Docking, Hamid Dafalla Ismail

Theses

Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptors (PPARs) are ligand-activated nuclear receptors known for their major role in metabolic syndrome (MS). Abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, increased glucose levels and low concentrations of high-density lipoprotein characterize MS. Numerous studies proposed developing pan-agonists as potent drug candidates for the treatment and control of metabolic syndrome. The objective of this study was to use virtual screening with molecular docking to identify potential pan-PPAR ligands from the ZINC database. The 3D structural files of the receptor ligand binding domains (LBD), obtained from the Protein Data Bank (PDB), were energetically minimized and the binding pockets on each LBD …

Soil And Water Remediation Using Controlled Release Polymer, Jerrine Theresa Foster

Theses

Water and soil treatment for the eradication of pathogens are important today and will forever be of importance in the future. It has been noted that poor water quality poses major threat to human health and is responsible for the deaths of 1.8 million people annually worldwide, with over 90% (1.6 million) of the reported cases being children under the age of five (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, 2005). Fresh water can be accessed for personal use and recreation through fresh water sources, such as rivers, lakes, groundwater and springs. These sources, especially surface water sources, are exposed to …

Examination Of Virulence-Associated Lipoproteins In Novel Strains Of Haemophilus Ducreyi, Quantil M. Melendez

Theses

Haemophilus ducreyi is a gram negative, sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen. This strict human pathogen causes the genital ulcer disease chancroid, which results in the formation of deep, painful ulcers. Chancroid infection has also been associated with high transmission rates of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. H. ducreyi virulence has been attributed, in part, to the extracellular virulence factors large supernatant protein A (LspA) and large supernatant protein B (LspB). Recently, H. ducreyi strains were assigned to two classes, Class I (CI) and Class II (CII). Strains were grouped based on common DNA sequences, expression of several known virulence factors, and differences …

Essential Learning Objectives For Graphic Designers, Post Secondary, William Joshua Weaver

Theses

Graphic designers today need to possess a wide variety of skill sets in order to adequately perform their duties. The skill sets include areas of study in Art, Design, Computer Technology, and Print Technology. My goal is to find what learning objectives in these areas and others are essential for a person to become a graphic designer. A need for this arose from an observation of a growing gap between Art and Technology with emphasis on academic setting to professional setting. The reasons for the gap are that the range of knowledge and skills needed by today’s graphic designers has …

Visualising Urban Flooding Scenarios Using Video Game Technology, William Elliott Lynn

Theses

This thesis investigates the application of computer graphics to the visualisation of urban flooding scenarios. The demand for urban flooding visualisations is presented in the context of an EU wide climate change response strategy. An analysis of the requirements from various stakeholders is presented and a strategy that addresses these requirements is synthesised. A study on the appropriate computer graphics methods and technologies is outlined and limitations of current technologies are assessed. Systems that solve these limitations are described and the result of usability and user acceptance testing are offered as evidence.

An Evaluation Of Entrepreneurial Difficulties In Ireland Since The Economic Downturn Of 2008, Edward Keogh

Theses

This Research Study looks at the Irish entrepreneurial landscape in the aftermath of the collapse of the Celtic Tiger, particularly at the small businesses sector. This study also looks at what entrepreneurs think of the effectiveness of the current policies in Ireland in helping entrepreneurs and businesses to cope and survive the current recession. The study looks at people who lost their businesses during the collapse of the Celtic Tiger and asks the question 'Can these people be supported to start-up back into business again?’

A qualitative research approach was undertaken in this study using the semi-structured interview method to …