Digital Commons Network^™

High Tech Vanity: Efficient Design With The Help Of Technology, Cassandra Krul

Theses

On a daily basis, humans execute multiple tasks. With technology becoming more prevalent in our everyday lives, we find it creeping into these rituals. This makes it easier to accomplish many tasks at once. The root of the success of technology is its ability to allow us to communicate in ways beyond a simple conversation. That is to say, means of communication are constantly being reinvented and developed.

With these developments, people are finding creative ways of implementing technology into everyday tasks For example, many of us start our day by waking up and taking a shower. Following that shower, …

Exploring Taoism Philosophy: A Visual Interactive Interpretation, Yang Dan

Theses

Thesis URL: http://www.yangdan.info/thesis Exploring Taoism Philosophy: A Visual Interactive Interpretation is an interactive graphic design project which introduces the Taoism philosophy to college students, it's also a personal graphic interpretation of Taoism. This project is a flash website that runs on any computer that has access to the Internet. My goal for this project is to explore the history, principles, and rules of Taoism philosophy, its applications in modern society and to interpret Taoism through creative interactive graphic solutions based on personal understanding. My targeted audience is college students from 18 to 25 who have interests in Taoism, philosophy, or …

Daughter Of Nepal, Surbhi Dewan

Theses

Living in exile since the age of 9, Manushi Yami Bhattarai, now 23, is back in the political chaos of Kathmandu, Nepal to carry on the legacy of her parents in the Maoist party. The film DAUGHTER OF NEPAL explores Manushi's childhood years through poignant correspondence with her parents, her politics, and her dream of creating a new Nepal. The filmmaker Surbhi Dewan writes here about her experiences during the making of this documentary film.

Interactive Stem Cells: Education Through Game Design, Sarah Hudson

Theses

In my thesis I developed an interactive website intended to educate the non-scientific or lay public about stem cells. Most people have heard about stem cells but few truly understand them. It would be beneficial to those wishing to engage in the current stem cell debate to be more thoroughly educated. Currently, the information available is all geared towards scientists or from a biased source. I used a series of Flash games to convey the important information in an engaging way. The site is intuitive enough that even users unfamiliar with the Internet and basic high-school science knowledge will be …

Appendages, Emily Winton

Theses

Appendages explores my sexuality, identity and the concepts of heteronormativity, queer theory, and gender norms. Through the creation of sculptures called DilNO's, I was able to engage the audience in experiencing my interpretation of my own sexuality. By mocking and bending the concept of the dildo, I was challenging the stereotypes of gender, and lesbian sexuality and intimacy. The sensations of touching and feeling played a vital role in both the creation and presentation of the pieces in my thesis exhibition. Moving from my previous photographic work into the three-dimensional realm of sculpture helped me express the physical and sensual …

Slow & Steady, Christin Boggs

Theses

Slow & Steady explores the contemporary movement away from mass-produced food and towards creative alternatives that offer vitality and potency to participants and their surroundings. Within the Greater Rochester Region, individuals have rejected convenience food to responsibly grow, prepare and share sustenance in cooperative groups. The photographs in this thesis depict scenes from community gardens, community supported agriculture (CSA) farms, farmers markets, and other organizations associated with local food production. Here exists a community of resourceful people, coming together in pursuit of good food. Slow & Steady points to one of the ways in which art can effect social change …

Autonomous Robot Patrolling Of A Sparsely Populated Unknown Environment, Patrick Larocque

Theses

The increasing availability and affordability of autonomous robots has expanded their uses for many new applications, such as exploration, surveillance and threat containment. Most research considers a team of a large number of robots that contain global information. This work explores distributed and low overhead algorithms for patrolling and threat containment within a region sparsely populated with few robots. The robots patrol the area without the global knowledge of the region, but each is equipped with an omni-directional range finder and a positioning system for keeping track of its location and metering distance and directions of events. This study presents …

Eucalyptus, Jiny He

Theses

Young boy Joey and his teddy bear; a witch with a nasty cold and a baby koala to hold; a magical cough drop and a mystical forest; "Eucalyptus" is a thesis film created with the intention to illuminate the powerful ingenuity of children's imagination. With the intended audience of children between ages 3 to 8 years old, "Eucalyptus" follows the journey of a boy named Joey, and his sidekick, Teddy, as they battle the wicked witch in order to save the native Eucalyptus Forest dwellers--the koalas. The film is an animated fable created in the realm of 3D Computer Graphics, …

Form Perception: An Interactive Guide To The Gestalt Principles, Hend Alawadhi

Theses

The term Gestalt literally means "form" in German. In the early 20th century, the Gestalt Principles of Perception were developed by German psychologists from the Berlin School. These principles describe the different ways the human mind organizes visual elements into groups or unified wholes. The definition of Gestalt in relation to these principles is "unified whole." This thesis is an endeavor to examine the five major principles of Gestalt perception through the use of short animations and illustrated examples, presented in a website. It will also allow the user to test the knowledge provided through a short multiple-choice quiz and …

A Life Reviewed: George Eastman Through The Viewfinder, Emma Powell

Theses

How do we look back on a time that has gone by? On a life that is over? How do we appraise and commemorate those responsible for making photography what it is today? A Life Reviewed: George Eastman through the Viewfinder addresses the legacy of George Eastman, the founder of Kodak and one of photography's most significant entrepreneurs. A visionary who sought to expand the scope of photography from the wealthy to the average person, he recognized photography's power in the context of many scientific advances in industry and society. A Life Reviewed serves as visual biography as well as …

The Image – By Any Means, Richard Minard

Theses

Art is inherently a reflection of the human condition. As I am working, my intention is to make images that, at the very least, capture the audience's attention. By adding layers and fracturing the images, I want the audience to see through various visual relationships. These visual relationships can be interpreted as a metaphor of the often hectic and unstable qualities of daily life. As the human figure is my connection to the work, it also serves as the viewer's connection. The blending of media and mixing up of figurative representation with abstraction is my attempt to challenge the viewer …

Mtprimer3: Pcr Primer Design For Mtdna, Psalm Mizuki

Theses

Due to their usefulness in tracking the evolution of man and the discovery that they cause many different diseases, the scientific community has become extremely interested in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations. PCR is a key component in nearly all genotyping methods, but using it can be problematic for mtDNA since mtDNA's highly polymorphic nature makes it difficult to design adequate primers. This is because polymorphisms can easily obscure the source sequence, preventing primers from annealing properly. For this reason, we modified a popular online primer design program, Primer3, to create mtPrimer3, a primer design program specially designed to create primers …

Visual Inspiration From Modern Art- My Reflections On Symbolism, Surrealism, And Impressionism, Ning Su

Theses

My thesis project is a digital graphics book demonstrating my reflections on three schools of Modern Art: Symbolism, Surrealism, and Impressionism. I was inspired by the artists' elegant masterpieces, so I created my own characters and scenes inspired by the three schools, and integrated them into my art world to express my aesthetic taste. It will take the viewers on a trip of the visual appreciation of Modern Art through my eyes. All the images in the book are implemented in 3D computer-generated environment and with 2D stylized hand drawings. The 3D images are the representation of my comprehension of …

Exploratory Analysis Of Pathogen Resistance Responsible Genetic Elements In Two Eudicots From Whole Genome Sequence, Aubrey Bailey

Theses

Agricultural products are becoming more homogenous in order to conform to consumer expectations. In doing so, they have become a high-risk target for widespread crop failure due to pathogens or other agricultural maladies. Presented here are a collection of tools and a work-flow for the wholesale detection and characterization of disease resistance-associated proteins from whole-genome sequences. These techniques were also adapted for identifying potential miRNA regulatory sequences. Putative R-gene sequences identified from the Malus x Domestica 'Golden Delicious' genome were acquired for verification against wild apple species. Resistance gene analogs were PCR amplified from R-gene associated domains (TIR, NBS, and …

Family Mugs, Erin Zellefrow

Theses

Family Mugs is a Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences in candidacy for the degree of Master of Fine Arts. Family Mugs by Erin Zellefrow is a formal documentation of artwork, conceptual thought process, and technical skills used to facilitate the creation of MFA thesis work and its successive gallery installation. It additionally reviews the artist's personal background, and artist influences that informed and drove the final body of work. Depicted in Family Mugs is the artist's deeply personal process of examining fleeting memories of childhood and departed loved ones. Zellefrow struggles to …

Waste Management Action Plan For The Municipality Of Prishtina : [Presentation Given August 23, 2010], Ibrahim Krasniqi

Theses

Not provided.

Mitochondrial Control Region Variation Among The Subspecies Of Sarus Crane (Grus Antigone), Ranajit Das

Theses

Sarus cranes (Grus antigone) are the tallest members of the crane family, Gruidae. They are found in four geographically distinct regions: northwest India (Indian Sarus- Grus antigone antigone), southeast Asia (Burmese Sarus- Grus antigone sharpei) and northern Australia (Australian Sarus- Grus antigone gillae). Although the three subspecies are morphologically distinct, their genetic distinctness is unclear. In this study, I focused on control region sequences of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to assess the genetic and phylogeographic distinctness of Sarus subspecies. I used samples from four fragmented populations, seven from India, 16 from southeast Asia, five from Myanmar and eight from Australia. Phylogenetic …

Variables Affecting Hand Sanitizer Use In Public Facilities, Amy Katherine Loukus

Theses

The following research was conducted to contribute to the greater understanding of the impact that most often utilized methods of public awareness and education have on behaviors relative to sickness and disease for the general public in terms of action toward prevention behaviors within a healthcare setting. The psycho educational approach is often considered an effective means to promote behavior change as it relates to preventative behavior, and in the clinical therapeutic setting has shown some relevance as an effective procedure. Unfortunately, no research as of yet speaks to the comparative effectiveness this approach may have over other approaches often …

Identification Of Disease Resistance Networks In Maize Involved In Resistance To Aspergillus Flavus And To Aflatoxin Accumulation, Aparna Natarajan

Theses

Aspergillus flavusis a filamentous fungusthat causes an ear and kernel rot in maize (Zea mays L.). It produces a toxic secondary metabolite, aflatoxin, on the colonized maize kernels. Aflatoxin is a carcinogen to humans and animals. The toxin is also an immunosuppressant and causes aspergillosis in immune compromised individuals. Therefore, the presence of aflatoxin in food is strictly regulated by governmental agencies. Contaminated food leads to severe loss in profit and in marketable yield. There has been extensive research to investigate resistance of maize toA. flavus. Certain lines of maize exhibit increased resistance to A. flavus and aflatoxin accumulation compared …

The Effects Of A Community-Based Lifestyle, Cassidy Maria Scoggins

Theses

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Cassidy Scoggins, for the Masters of Science degree in Food and Nutrition, presented on November 19, 2009, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: THE EFFECTS OF A COMMUNITY-BASED LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION ON SNACKING PATTERNS, SCREEN TIME PATTERNS, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AMONG ADOLESCENTS WHO ARE AT-RISK FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Sharon Peterson Previous research has shown that overweight and obesity in adolescents is one of the leading risk factors for developing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). There are several risk factors for obesity that are modifiable in adolescents. Of these, snacking patterns, …

Medical Image Segmentation Using Gpu-Accelerated Variational Level Set Methods, Nathan Prosser

Theses

Medical imaging techniques such as CT, MRI and x-ray imaging are a crucial component of modern diagnostics and treatment. As a result, many automated methods involving digital image processing have been developed for the medical field. Image segmentation is the process of finding the boundaries of one or more objects or regions of interest in an image. This thesis focuses on accelerating image segmentation for the localization of cancerous lung nodules in two-dimensional radiographs. This process is used during radiation treatment, to minimize radiation exposure to healthy tissue. The variational level set method is used to segment out the lung …

Swimsmart: An Interactive And Instructional Multimedia Application, Rebecca Berent

Theses

The thesis project, SwimSmart, created by Rebecca Natalie Berent, is an instructional CD-ROM designed for coaches and intermediate to advanced swimmers seeking to improve upon their swimming skills. It is designed for use on both a projector for group training and on a personal computer as an individual teaching aid, and it runs by inserting it into a computer. The CD includes videos depicting proper swimming technique and is organized within a graphical interface broken down by stroke technique, coach advice, and tips, exercises, and downloadable practice routines. There are two additional sections devoted to credits and an explanation of …

Memory Box, An Interactive Teaching Application For Young Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Itai Shperber

Theses

This thesis presents an outline and fundamental design for the development of an interactive teaching application for young students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or (ADHD). The project proposes a visual teaching aid used by sixth to ninth grade middle school students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders. The author argues that the combination of various modern instructional methods, focusing on user experience and interactivity, can improve the learning experience for students with ADHD. He also argues that students can achieve higher marks and improve their overall educational experiences by adding visual and interactive elements to the written educational material. The …

Fighting For Family: French Kin Networks And The American Revolution In The Illinois Country, 1780-1781, Steven Philip Stuckey

Theses

“Fighting for Family” exposes an often overlooked and incomplete history behind the Battle of St. Louis in 1780, and the retaliatory raids on Fort St. Joseph in 1780-1781. Scholars have long interpreted these events as minor skirmishes of the American Revolution, or focused on Spain’s motives in trying to lay claim to the Great Lakes in postwar treaty negotiations. However, this thesis adds a crucial new perspective regarding those events. Utilizing genealogical records and personal correspondences, “Fighting for Family” argues that the vitality of French kin networks in the Illinois Country, which included members of key Indian nations, played a …

Music, Skill And Artifact: The Pursuit Of Physical Opportunities, Cindy Staton

Theses

As a musician being faced with the option to create music on a primarily digital and intangible level, I found this new digital experience to be problematic when compared to the experience of playing a physical instrument. This thesis explores this idea on a macro scale extending it to examine our everyday lives and the effects technology in the digital age have had upon us specifically in the United States. We live in a country where our jobs primarily involve sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Having once worked on farms or made a living as a …

Assessment Of Healthcare Waste Management In The Uae With Emphasis On Radioactive Waste, Maryem Ahmad Joan Al-Dahiri

Theses

During coastline cleaning campaign carried out in the UAE in 1993, various amounts of waste classified as medical waste were identified. As a result, public concern has been raised concerning the handling and disposal of medical waste in the country. Despite that, little work has been conducted to assess medical waste management in the UAE and no published work has been found that assesses the management of radioactive medical waste. The main objective of this research was to assess the process of implementation of medical waste management applied at major hospitals in the UAE in comparison with the guidelines established …

Impact Of Traffic On Ambient Air Quality In Al Ain City – Uae, Saleh Mohamed Al Saqaf Bani Hashim

Theses

Road traffic is considered a major source of air pollution in congested areas. The number of vehicles in Al Ain city has increased over the last seven years due to population and economic growth. The rapid growth in motor vehicles in Al Ain could contribute to an increased level of urban air pollution that may threaten human health, damage ecosystems and influence climate. No study has been conducted to assess the effects of roadway traffic on air quality in the city of Al Ain. Such study will further be useful as a baseline for future planning and development of the …

A Comparison Of Software Engines For Simulation Of Closed-Loop Control Systems, Sanket D. Nikam

Theses

A wide array of control system design and simulation software engines is available in market. It includes MATLAB-Simulink, LabVIEW, Maple-MapleSim, Scilab-Scicos, VisSim and Mathematica-Control Professional Suite (CPS). Among all of them MATLAB-Simulink is dominant and widely used software engine. The main aim of this study is to implement different state space control methods for non-linear Furuta pendulum system in each one of them and to compare performance against MATLAB-Simulink.

Different parameters like learning curve, interoperability, flexibility, control design tools, documentation and tech support are considered for efficiency comparison. It is shown that MapleSim has multi-body intuitive physical modeling (acausal) approach …

Axon Guided Axon Growth In Drg Neurons From The Spinal Cord Of Rat Embryos, Neha Jain

Theses

Early studies in the area of neuronal physiology and injury have shown that axons are guided by a number of physical as well as chemical cues. Although the guidance effect of initial axons and their processes on later axons has been shown from a development point of view, little light has been thrown on the subject from the injury point of view. This important ability of axons which plays a key role during development and formation of neuronal networks could become crucial in repairing damaged nerves and disrupted neuronal tracts.

In the following study, the guidance effect of an older …

Milk Winter, Elizabeth Cundiff Mcconaghy

Theses

Milk Winter is a collection of non-fiction essays and fiction short stories representing defining moments in the life of the writer as she navigates early married life, social landscapes, fear and neurosis, devastation and attempts at grace. This collection explores the narrow space between tragedy and hilarity, concluding that to cross that space is to receive circumstances as they are given. Milk Winter shows early adult life in its searing, soaring moments and resolves, in the end, to accept them all.