Digital Commons Network^™

Improving Template-Based Nanomanufacturing Of Carbon Nanotube Arrays Via Polishing Wet Etching Method, Kosar Samadi

Theses

Multifunctional carbon nanotubes (CNTs) enable novel ways of interacting with complex biological fluid environments, such as single living cells and tissues. It has been shown that vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays can be utilized to deliver genes into cells with high efficiency. These arrays were produced through template-based nanomanufacturing, where chemical vapor deposition forms carbon nanotubes inside the pores and oxygen plasma and reactive ion etching (RIE) expose the tubes by selective etching. The same devices could be produced faster and cheaper by replacing oxygen plasma and RIE with mechanical polishing and wet etching. However, the biomedical utilization of CNT-based …

Bayesian Active Learning For Personalization And Uncertainty Quantification In Cardiac Electrophysiological Model, Jwala Dhamala

Theses

Cardiacvascular disease is the top death causing disease worldwide. In recent years, high-fidelity personalized models of the heart have shown an increasing capability to supplement clinical cardiology for improved patient-specific diagnosis, prediction, and treatment planning. In addition, they have shown promise to improve scientific understanding of a variety of disease mechanisms.

However, model personalization by estimating the patient-specific tissue properties that are in the form of parameters of a physiological model is challenging. This is because tissue properties, in general, cannot be directly measured and they need to be estimated from measurements that are indirectly related to them through a …

Cross-Modal Data Retrieval And Generation Using Deep Neural Networks, Premkumar Udaiyar

Theses

The exponential growth of deep learning has helped solve problems across different fields of study. Convolutional neural networks have become a go-to tool for extracting features from images. Similarly, variations of recurrent neural networks such as Long-Short Term Memory and Gated Recurrent Unit architectures do a good job extracting useful information from temporal data such as text and time series data. Although, these networks are good at extracting features for a particular modality, learning features across multiple modalities is still a challenging task. In this work, we develop a generative common vector space model in which similar concepts from different …

The Effect Of Prandtl Number On Heat Transfer In The Wake Of A Highly Confined Bubble In A Large-Aspect-Ratio Minichannel, Joseah K. Amai

Theses

A numerical study of the effect of Prandtl number on the heat transfer in the wake of a highly confined bubble in a large-aspect-ratio minichannel was performed. The channel height was 1.25 mm, and the precursor liquid flow was laminar at channel Reynolds numbers of 169 and 338. The upper channel was modeled as an electrically heated metal foil, and the lower wall was adiabatic. The simulation was performed using ANSYS Fluent, with the volume-of-fluid method was used to determine the phase boundary. A Lagrangian reference frame translating at the average bubble velocity was used to simulate a channel of …

Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function Measurements Of Spectralon® At 1.064 Micron, William Eugene Walker

Theses

The bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) is of substantial interest to those involved with laser radar (LADAR) target signature modelling. Measured, empirical data must often be used in place of mathematical models due to the complexity of targets encountered in real-world situations. When using a coherent illumination source, interference effects, such as coherent backscatter, must also be considered. This work demonstrates a calibration method for a reference standard as well as the material’s reflectance characteristics. The selected material, Spectralon, was chosen for its well-known diffuse scattering characteristics. Spectralon’s BRDF was measured for 0 through 80 degree incidence angles as well …

Moral Competence In Nursing: An Exploration Of The Giving Voice To Values Curriculum, Catherine Costa

Theses

The development of moral competence is central to the profession of nursing and its practice. Nurses engage in moral decision making that impacts the health of people, families, and communities. It is important, then, to ensure that nursing graduates possess the necessary moral development for engaging in professional practice. To this end, research was conducted, the principle premise of which was to explore the use of the introduction of the Giving Voice to Values curriculum (Gentile, 2010) and its contribution to the development of moral competence in nursing. The Giving Voice to Values curriculum is a values-based methodology enabling students …

Exploring The Validity Of Script Concordance Testing To Assess The Clinical Reasoning Of Medical Students, Micahel Sh Wan

Theses

Assessment of clinical reasoning is often challenging, as it is a complex process of thinking and decision making. Script Concordance Testing (SCT), using authentic clinical scenarios with diagnostic or management uncertainties, has been developed to assess clinical reasoning. As SCT is a relatively new assessment modality, more empirical evidence is needed to support the validity of SCT scores.

This thesis examines key aspects of the validity of SCT scores in the assessment of the clinical reasoning ability of medical undergraduates. A review of the current literature informs the use, design and standard setting of SCT, as well as evidence for …

The Importance Of Environmental Interventions In Eliminating Trachoma Infection In Africa: The Case Of Gashoho Health District, Burundi, Desire Ndisabiye

Theses

Gashoho Health District, Burundi, has not achieved the World Health Organisation (WHO) target of elimination of the blinding infectious disease, trachoma, by 2020. The work in this thesis addresses this problem using three different approaches.

Firstly, a cross-sectional study was undertaken to establish the current trachoma prevalence in Gashoho and whether poor sanitation was a risk factor for infection. 468 individuals from 117 households across four villages were clinically examined for signs of trachoma infection, and completed a questionnaire about environmental risk factors. The current prevalence of trachoma in Gashoho was 7.9% (95 % CI 5.0 - 10.6%). Children under …

Exploring 4th Year Medical Students’ Learning And Understanding In Mental Health And Psychiatry, Kimberly Smith

Theses

The stigmatisation and disempowerment of mental health consumers led to the consumer recovery movement, which now underpins the reform of Western Australia’s (WA’s) mental health system. As medical professionals are one of the first lines of care for consumers, it is necessary to understand whether future doctors’ training aligns with the direction of the reform. This research explored a group of WA-based fourth-year medical students’ learning in mental health and psychiatry to understand how their knowledge and training prepared them for working with people experiencing mental or emotional distress. Conducted under a qualitative research paradigm using critical theory and underpinned …

A V-Linc Analysis Of Agrifood And Tourism Specialisations In West Cork: Analysis, Impressions And Policies For Future Growth, Brigid Mary Walsh

Theses

In recent years industry clusters have become recognised as a common feature of economies across the globe (Pouder and St. John, 1996; Porter, 1998a, 1998b; DTI, 2004; Sölvell, 2008; Ketels and Memedovic, 2008). Advantages associated with clusters include regional economic growth, new firm formation, employment growth, increased innovation and increased prosperity. The advantages associated with clusters are so great that cluster initiatives have become a widely accepted policy tool for regional economic development. As a small open economy, reliant on exports for economic growth, clusters appear to represent an opportunity for Irish industry to increase competitiveness. Theory argues that clusters …

Inquiry-Based Emergent Curriculum Using A Transdisciplinaryapproach To The Visual Arts In Early Childhood Education And Care:Implications For Policy, Education And Practice, Evelyn Mary Egan

Theses

This research aims to investigate current approaches used by practitioners in the design and delivery of visual arts curricula for children availing of the Irish Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme (DCYA, 2019). The study rationale is borne out of an interest in establishing what constitutes good practice in this domain. The focus of the study is to provide an extensive review of national and international literature debating approaches to visual arts curricula for young children and to establish how this translates into practice through a field study methodology within the Irish ECCE context. Underpinning the research is the …

Hybrid Frequency Modulated Silicon Photonic Crystal Laser, Andrei Bakoz

Theses

Silicon photonics takes advantage of the mature complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) infrastructure and processes, and is actively pursued for the implementation of complex optical components and photonic integrated circuits (PICs) at low cost and high volumes. Despite a constant refinement of silicon photonics technology to meet the evolving requirements for applications, the poor light emission ability of silicon remains a constraint. As a result, the most essential building block of an optical system, an efficient light emitter, remains absent in PICs based on silicon. This thesis is focused on study of the potential of an external cavity (EC) hybrid III-V …

Evaluating Information Flow In Medication Management Process In Australian Acute Care Facilities: A Multi-Professional Perspective, Seyi Lagoke

Theses

Over the years, various interventions have been introduced to improve the medication management process. While these interventions have addressed some aspects predisposing the process to inefficiencies, significant gaps are still prevalent across the process. Studies have suggested that the goal of optimal medication therapy is achievable when information flow integrates across the various medication management process phases, stakeholders and departments involved as the patient moves through the process. To provide a cross-sectional view of the process, this study utilised a systemic philosophy to evaluate the information flow integration across the process.

The research approach adopted for this study takes a …

Perspectives Of Year 12 Students From Five Catholic Secondary Schools In Western Australia Towards Teaching As A Career, Lucie M. Mccrory

Theses

The purpose of this research was to review the ways in which Year 12 Catholic school students perceive teaching as a career and to explore the people, contexts and factors that have influenced these perspectives. Schools are being increasingly challenged to revisit the role of the educator in today’s rapidly changing educational landscape. Best practice teaching and learning is at the forefront of this consideration. Attracting talented and committed students to the teaching profession is crucial if schools are going to play a part in adequately teaching and preparing future generations for society (Weldon, 2015). It follows therefore that both …

Motor Planning In Children With And Without Developmental Coordination Disorder: Behavioural And Neurological Evidence, Ranila Bhoyroo

Theses

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that is characterised by an inability to acquire and execute well-coordinated movements at an age appropriate level (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Converging evidence suggests that children with DCD experience motor planning difficulties compared to typically developing children; however, these difficulties may be task dependent. To our knowledge, the underlying nature of this deficit as well as the task parameters that might affect motor planning are not well established. Also, while it has been reported that alterations in areas of the frontal and parietal lobe may underlie poor motor planning in this population, …

The Efficacy Of Lactic Acid And Steam Vacuum Applications In Reducing Microbial Load And Prolonging The Shelf Life Of Beer Carcases, Rachel Smith

Theses

Many foodborne outbreaks occur globally each year compromising consumer confidence and highlighting the need for continued improvements with regards to product safety. Therefore, intervention decontamination applications are currently gaining a lot of attention within the beef industry as an additional measure to improve the microbiological condition of finished products. Many studies have shown decontamination methods to be effective, however variations within the published literature makes scientific comparison difficult. This aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of a 2-3% lactic acid solution and steam vacuum technologies as intervention methods in reducing the microbial load and extending the shelf …

Assessing The Food Safety Culture Of A Dairy Processing Facility In Ireland, Emer Marie Hughes

Theses

ood safety culture has become a prominent topic, with food safety management systems (FSMS), food safety regulations, training and auditing being challenged due to the reoccurrence of foodborne outbreaks. Due to its link with food safety performance, food organisations must have the ability to accurately measure their food safety culture to ensure it is an integral part of the company’s culture. The food safety culture of a dairy processing facility in Ireland was measured quantitatively using a questionnaire which was an adaptation of a food safety climate self-assessment tool. The questionnaire assessed the human dimension of food safety culture such …

Food Fraud In Nigeria: Challenges, Risks And Solutions, Joy Ewomazino Opia

Theses

Food fraud is one of the most urgent and active food research and regulatory areas. It is an evolving problem in Nigeria that has led to the deaths of many people especially the vunerable groups that includes mostly children, the elderly and immunocomprised persons. Therefore the aim of this study is to investigate the current challenges of food fraud in Nigeria, identify the risks it poses on the health and wellbeing of Nigerians and propose measures to tackle food fraud at local and international levels by regulatory and government agencies. This study explored the relationship between food fraud, food security …

Food Proteins: Sustainable Sources Of Proteins Responsible For Emulsions Stability In Food Products, Gleicy Kelly Oliveira Nogueria

Theses

One of the major challenges manufactures are facing is the fact that consumer’s personal health standards are changing constantly, modern consumers are willing to know more about the ingredients used in their food. The relationship with ethics and sustainability is leading to changes in the food industry. Seen this, manufactures are opting for other sources of ingredients, such as plant-based alternatives. However, the use of these sort of products need to be developed due to of their unknown properties. The use of sustainable plant proteins provides a variety of benefits to the product, such as added nutritional value as fiber, …

Feature Extraction For Classification Of Auroral Images, Shwetha Herga

Theses

Auroras are a dynamically evolving phenomenon. Different auroral forms are correlated with various physical processes in the magnetosphere and ionosphere system. Millions of auroral images are captured every year by the modern ground-based All-Sky Imager(ASI). In dealing with data from ASI, machine learning techniques play a critical scientific role, facilitating both efficient searches and statistical studies. In this work, we manually label night-side auroral images from various Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) all-sky imager based on the sky conditions; the labels are clear sky with auroras, cloudy with the moon, cloudy, clear-sky with the moon, …

Mcnp Design Of Radiation Shielding For Pulsed Fusion Propulsion, David Jason Hewitt

Theses

Pulsed fusion, fission and fission-fusion hybrid systems are currently being studied for advanced propulsion to enable rapid interplanetary space travel. A testbed for evaluating these technologies at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, called Charger-1, utilizes a form of Magneto-Inertial Fusion to implode small plasma loads with z-pinch that will produce thrust when coupled with a magnetic nozzle. Like all forms of nuclear propulsion, this experiment will also be able to produce significant amounts of ionizing radiation in the form of high energy neutrons and photons that need mitigation to protect personnel and equipment. The laboratory housing this testbed has …

Marsbee Preliminary Design Analysis Tool, Hunter Dunne

Theses

The Marsbee is a novel bioinspired flapping flight vehicle concept for aerial Martian exploration. The Marsbee design addresses the challenges of flying on Mars by mimicking the unsteady lift generation mechanisms seen in terrestrial insects. To enable the comparison of the Marsbee system to other flying Martian exploration concepts, a systems-based analyzer was created, consisting of several physics-based models. Constraints were used to maintain dynamic similarity between the Marsbee and insects on Earth. The current analyzer only models hovering flight. The functionality of the analyzer was demonstrated by analyzing 2 million randomly generated two-wing and 2 million randomly generated four-wing …

Control Of Energy Storage Utilisation For A Building Integrated Microgrid Using Multi-Objective Metaheuristic Optimisation Methods, Quang An Phan

Theses

The aim of this thesis was to develop and analyse optimisation strategies for commercial buildings with integrated microgrids, in order to find optimal trade-offs between maximising profitability and facilitating renewable energy from the national power grid. The continued proliferation of microgrids, as well as the increase in electricity produced by renewable energy sources on the Irish national grid has necessitated the requirement for these strategies. Models to simulate the performance of a photovoltaic system, wind turbine and battery bank were developed and validated. The most suitable optimisation algorithm to generate an optimal charge/discharge rate schedule for a battery bank was …

Conservation Grazing With Native Irish Cattle In High Nature Value Environments, Kilian Kelly

Theses

Marrying conservation objectives with farming practices is a challenging necessity in the current era of anthropogenically-driven biodiversity loss. Upland habitats created by traditional farming are havens for wildlife but face multiple threats, including overgrazing and abandonment. Extensive cattle farming in the uplands has been mooted as a useful conservation measure, but Irish evidence supporting this approach is lacking. This thesis examines home range, habitat preferences and activity budgets for Dexter cattle in an extensive upland setting in southwest Ireland. It investigates the effects of the grazing regime on EU-protected habitats and ground beetles. Free-ranging cattle grazed the site over three …

Effects Of Spreading Rate On The Formation Of Langmuir Films Of Quantum Dots, Jimmie Mitchell

Theses

Films of quantum dots (QDs) are utilized in applications such as television displays and solar cells because they have unique opto-electrical properties. Highly ordered, uniform thin films of QDs are required to reduce component size/cost, increase efficiency, and facilitate utilization in portable and/or flexible products. The Langmuir film method has been used to create monolayer films of QDs. The issue is that numerous defects such as gaps, voids, aggregates, rings and/or islands formed during the film spreading process make the film less suitable for transfer onto a solid substrate. In this study, we show that decreasing the solvent spreading rate …

Application Of Metaheuristics To A Subset Selection Graph Problem, Michael Volz

Theses

A graph problem is presented in which the objective is to remove links from a graph while maintaining path length and redundancy requirements. A branch-and-bound solution is presented, which is able to deterministically solve the problem for smaller inputs but fails to scale with graph size. An ant colony optimization approach is then presented, which is able to solve the problem stochastically with high probability and low runtime.

An Implementation Of The Wireless Body Area Network Of Synchronized Inertial Sensors For Balance Testing, Harsha Ganegoda

Theses

In an aging society with increased lifespans, falls represent a serious risk for older adults. Balance is a key indicator of mobility, stability, and risk of falls. Wireless body area networks (WBAN) provide opportunity for unobtrusive monitoring and assessment of balance impairments and mobility. This thesis presents an implementation of WBAN system for monitoring of balance in older adults in smart homes. The system features two wireless inertial sensor nodes, a smart watch, an always-on home server, and an Android smartphone application. The sensors are placed on the user’s lower back and forehead. We designed and implemented custom smart inertial …

Partially Averaged Navier-Stokes : A (K-Omega)/(K-Epsilon) Bridging Model, Christopher Harrison

Theses

A new Partially Averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) bridging model has been derived from existing (k-ω) and (k-ε) PANS formulations using Menter’s approach. The model was tested with well-known benchmark wall-bounded and free-shear flows: a backward facing step and a circular cylinder, respectively. The simulation results are compared to existing experimental data and previous simulations using (k-ω) and (k-ε) PANS. The bridging model was shown to be superior at predicting velocity profiles in both flows. Prediction of Reynolds stresses also showed improvement. Several inlet conditions were studied for the backward facing step. Imposition of a turbulent boundary layer profile at the inlet …

Experimental Investigation Of A Liquid-Gas Dual-Swirl Coaxial Injector Under Self-Pulsation, Isheeta Sunil Ranade

Theses

Liquid-gas swirl coaxial injectors in liquid rocket engines can produce self- excited, and self- sustained oscillations called self- pulsations that result in spray oscillations and high-intensity pressure fluctuations. The objective of this thesis is to determine the onset of self-pulsations, marked by a stability boundary over a range of liquid and gas momentum flux values. Cold-flow injector tests are performed to investigate the self- pulsation phenomenon in a dual- swirl coaxial injector using water and nitrogen to simulate liquid and gas propellants used in liquid rocket engines. Three geometric configurations are tested: non-recessed, and recesses of 1 mm and 2 …

Verifying Predictive Temperature Gradients For An As-Built Additively Manufactured Part, Jared Stone

Theses

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a fabrication process that provides a cost effective alternative to conventional subtractive methods for small volume, complex parts. To accelerate development, numerical modeling methods are being evaluated to establish processing parameters thereby reducing the current trial and error methods. Resulting microstructure of an AM build is determined by the thermal profile it undergoes in-situ. This study uses a nominal approach to verify modeling predictions with metallurgical analysis of an as-built AM part. The finite difference additive thermal model (DATM) was used to construct temperature gradients from its generated temperature and time data simulated for a single …