Digital Commons Network^™

Numerical Investigation Of Parameters Impacting The Wall Thickness Of Carbon Nanotubes Manufactured By Template-Based Chemical Vapor Deposition, Yashar Seyed Vahedein

Theses

Template-based chemical vapor deposition (TB-CVD) is a versatile technique for manufacturing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or CNT-based devices for various applications. In this process, carbon is deposited by thermal decomposition of a carbon-based precursor gas inside the nanoscopic cylindrical pores of anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) templates to form CNTs. Experimental results show CNT formation in templates is controlled by TB-CVD process parameters, such as time, temperature and flow rate. Optimization of this process is done empirically, requiring tremendous time and effort. Moreover, there is a need for a more comprehensive and low cost way to characterize the flow in the furnace …

Multiplayer Sound-Oriented Game Design: An Ios Brain And Hearing Training Game, Liwei Yu

Theses

Hearing (auditory perception) is one of the most important senses in our human bodies. There are millions of different sounds in our world; humans perceive the sounds from the outside world to get information, and respond to them.

It is beneficial to enhance hearing abilities and hand-ear coordination to boost brain fitness, engage in better communication with others, and enhance concentration abilities.

With the fast development of smart mobile devices and mobile internet, it is easy to get people connected no matter where they are. Some people usually play games during short fragments time.

Considering these factors, it is a …

Effects Of Persuasive Communication On Intention To Save Energy: Punishing And Rewarding Messages, Michell Patricia Garcia Mera

Theses

Communication can be used to persuade individuals to change their intentions. This study analyzes the use of rewarding and punishing messages for the purpose of changing intention towards energy saving. It also analyzes the use of social and individual rewards and punishments and their effects in motivating behavioral change positively towards energy saving. Results show that while reward and punishment are both effective in manipulating intention positively towards energy saving behaviors, overall there is no significant difference between the two. However, when individual reward was compared to individual punishment, individual punishment was found to be more effective than reward in …

Consistency And Inconsistency In Celebrity Endorsements, Vanessa Veras Victoria

Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate consumer attitudes towards brands when exposed to celebrity endorsements in cases where the personality of the celebrity does not match the personality of the brand (inconsistent). Theories used in this research included: Cognitive Dissonance Theory, how consumers are expected to react when receiving information that presents inconsistency; and Schema Theory, how information is stored in the form of schemas. A measure consisting of attractiveness, credibility, purchase intention and likeability was created based on studies by Spear and Singh (2004) and Halonen-Knight and Hurmerinta (2010) in order to evaluate consumer attitudes. A survey …

See A Different World: Interactive Storytelling For Children To Raise Awareness Of Color Blindness, Dan Yu

Theses

Children play with interactive applications to gain knowledge in their daily life. There are different kinds of interactive applications that help educate children through visual storytelling. In reviewing the current apps available, few of them were written or designed for children with disabilities, especially children with color blindness. Through research, it was discovered that children lack an awareness of color blindness. This thesis aims to design an effective, interactive visual storytelling application to raise awareness of color blindness for elementary school aged children. The project helps children gain knowledge about color blindness through reading and playing activities within the app. …

Left Ventricle Myocardium Segmentation From 3d Cardiac Mr Images Using Combined Probabilistic Atlas And Graph Cut-Based Approaches, Aditya Daryanani

Theses

Medical imaging modalities, including Computed Tomography (CT) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ultrasound (US) are critical for the diagnosis and progress monitoring of many cardiac conditions, planning, visualization and delivery of therapy via minimally invasive intervention procedures, as well as for teaching, training and simulation applications.

Image segmentation is a processing technique that allows the user to extract the necessary information from an image dataset, in the form of a surface model of the region of interest from the anatomy. A wide variety of segmentation techniques have been developed and implemented for cardiac MR images. Despite their complexity and performance, …

Experimental Study Of Heat Transfer And Pressure Drop Over An Array Of Short Micro Pin Fins, Aditya Bhat

Theses

Studies on thermal enhancement for electronic chips has been gaining prominence as increased transistor density in the chips calls for larger heat dissipation. Various enhancement techniques have been proposed ever since 1981, to enhance the heat dissipation from the chip surface. Micro pin fins have been gaining recognition as a highly favorable surface enhancement due to the design versatility it provides in the form of myriad geometric shapes and fin arrangements as opposed to convention microchannels. The micro pin fins however, present a larger pressure drop over the surface as compared to other conventional methods which reduces the thermal efficiency …

Mist, Huan Abby Liao

Theses

Mist is an abstract, animated graduate thesis film with a duration of five minutes. It is an extremely personal film, which is inspired by my childhood memories and Chinese culture. It is a reflection of my own life, which just like the fluid ink in the film, reacts with the environment naturally and leaves distinct marks on the paper of my life.

This is a live action and 2D animation mixed film that was produced with After Effects and Premiere software. The primary plan was to produce this film in 3D. However, in order to achieve a more dynamic look, …

Open Up, Jacquelyn Marie O'Brien

Theses

Humor in fine art has been considered low-brow. Frequently, “serious” artists have the notion that using humor or humorous materials reduces the validity of the work. Likewise, feminism seems to have similar implications, in that the word is not taken seriously because of stereotyping; straying away from the original meaning. I assert that humor and feminism can offer valid social and cultural critiques in a relatable way. Discussing concepts such as gender repression, contemporary feminism, and the accessibility of art, with the intention of removing the overarching exclusion often associated with these concepts, has required my work to be accessible …

Out Of Sync: Live Visual Performance Design, Charles Miller

Theses

Live visual performances are often combined with and serve as enhancement to musical performances. As a result, visual content is informed by, and responds to audio content. How does the situation change if the performance is based around visuals? Can audio accompaniment be performed independently, and the two come together during performance? Without a musical subtext, what form will the visuals take? What would be the ideal performance environment for optimal creative freedom and control of performance parameters?

Oil Painting 3d Scene: A Desert Survival Game Environment, Chien Hui Jarvis

Theses

Oil Painting 3D Scene: A Desert Survival Game Environment is a hand-painted, stylized game level. The whole environment includes desert, animals, plants, rocks, small particle effects and a shack built in Unreal Engine.

This report outlines the whole production process, from the very beginning of visual development stage till completion, and illustrates my ideas, sketches, obstacles, tests, design choices, failures and successes, as well as technical specifics.

American Sign Language Recognition System By Using Surface Emg Signal, Celal Savur

Theses

Sign Language Recognition (SLR) system is a novel method that allows hard of hearing to communicate with general society. In this study, American Sign Language (ASL) recognition system was proposed by using the surface Electromyography (sEMG). The objective of this study is to recognize the American Sign Language alphabet letters and allow users to spell words and sentences. For this purpose, sEMG data are acquired from subject right forearm for twenty-seven American Sign Language gestures of twenty-six English alphabets and one for home position. Time and frequency domain (band power) information used in the feature extraction process. As a classification …

Sophorolipid Production From Lignocellulosic Biomass Feedstocks, Abdul Samad

Theses

The present study investigated the feasibility of production of sophorolipids (SLs) using yeast Candida bombicola grown on hydrolysates derived lignocellulosic feedstock either with or without supplementing oil as extra carbon source. Several researchers have reported using pure sugars and various oil sources for producing SLs which makes them expensive for scale-up and commercial production. In order to make the production process truly sustainable and renewable, we used feedstocks such as sweet sorghum bagasse, corn fiber and corn stover. Without oil supplementation, the cell densities at the end of day-8 was recorded as 9.2, 9.8 and 10.8 g/L for hydrolysate derived …

Exploring The Quality Of Sme Audits In The Uae, Ahmad Abdul Fattah Odeh

Theses

[Purpose: The aim of this dissertation is to investigate audit quality in the UAE for small and medium sized companies, using the Framework for Audit Quality proposed by the IAASB]. [Design/Methodology/Approach: The methodology used was to describe the laws and regulations now in place in the GCC and to review some of the existing authorities that are working to regulate the audit industry in the country‟s private sector. Next, questionnaires were used to measure the perception of audit quality in SMEs, which was analyzed by means of factor analysis. A number of interviews were also conducted over the same variables …

Accelerated Fog Removal From Real Images For Car Detection, Rawan Ibrahim Khader Younis

Theses

Image de-hazing improves the visual quality of images in computer vision applications, such as object detection and object tracking. Fog removal from car photos taken by street cameras is considered essential to accurate car detection. An accelerated image enhancement technique is presented for car detection as part of an effort to count cars using existing street cameras for the purpose of traffic management. Two aspects of car detection are tackled: 1) An existing image fog removal technique is accelerated by replacing a time consuming image filter with a faster filter while maintaining negligible image degradation, 2) A quick and practical …

Molecular Targets Of Manuka Honey In Human Breast Cancer, Sarah Saif Al Qubaisi

Theses

The medicinal properties of Manuka honey have been extensively studied, particularly in terms of its wound healing and antimicrobial activities. We have previously demonstrated that Manuka honey also has anti-cancer properties against a variety of cancer cell types in vitro as well as in preclinical cancer models. The cellular targets of the anti-cancer activity of Manuka honey, however, remain unknown. For the present study, we selected the triple negative human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231, to investigate susceptibility to Manuka honey and to identify the potential signaling pathways affected. MDA-MB-231 cancer cells are known to constitutively express activated STAT3 transcription …

A Game-Based Learning Model, Fatmah Mohamed Ali Ramsi

Theses

The purpose of this research is to design a conceptual model and develop an implementation as a proof of concept of game-based learning (GBL)to support linguistic skills acquisition. Our model lays the foundations of game-based learning by defining methods, processes, and procedures to support the development of game-based learning systems. Integration of learning and gameplay raises various issues, among them the learning process, learning content, and game characteristics. Language competency is fundamental to academic and social success. Vocabulary acquisition is a primary basis for language competency. Word lists and dictionaries have been used as a resource to enrich vocabulary. The …

Learning By Design, Design By Learning: An Investigation Into (Re)Designing A Rochester School For The Future Of Learning, Catherine C. Lange

Theses

School buildings and their learning environments have remained relatively static over time. Many of the classrooms still in use today were built for traditional, “chalk-n-talk” pedagogies and passive learning; they are not prepared for today’s more active learning approaches.1 Innovative schools are beginning to adopt new curricula and pedagogical strategies that align with research being done on student learning outcomes. In Rochester, New York, an initiative called the Rochester Schools Modernization Program (RSMP) has secured $325 million from New York State for Phase I of an effort to redesign, renovate and update 12 existing schools. Later phases will address the …

Developing Chemically Mutagenized Ems Forrest Soybean Population For High Oil Profile, Joshua William Gunther

Theses

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF JOSHUA GUNTHER, for the Masters of Science degree in Plant, Soil and Agricultural Systems, presented on November 2nd, 2015, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: DEVELOPING CHEMICALLY MUTAGENIZED EMS FORREST SOYBEAN POPULATION FOR HIGH OIL PROFILE. MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Khalid Meksem SUPERVISOR: Dr. Naoufal Lakhssassi Soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) are the most important crop that provides a sustainable source of oil and protein worldwide. Five major fatty acids are known, Palmetic, Stearic, Oleic, Linoleic and Linolenic acid, and each is essential for both nutrition and biodiesel. Oil demand for biodiesel production is constantly …

An Ambulance Made Of Whiskey, Maria Victoria Mejia Yepes

Theses

An Ambulance Made of Whiskey is the story of Sven, a famous writer who loses his inspiration. He becomes a target of bullying by his fans and falls into a deep depression, shutting himself off completely from the public and from his family. He tries to commit suicide several times with no success.

Suddenly, after overdosing on a mixture of drugs, he enters into a surreal world in which he is confronted with his own death. While he is hallucinating, he is traveling in an ambulance on the way to the hospital. This affects his perception, mixing with the parallel …

Latin On The Walls, Kent Walker

Theses

A dysfunctional family in rural southeastern Missouri learn to cope with death. During the fortification period after the invasion of Iraq, a soldier plays into the banality of war, pranks, drugs, and inspections create tension in an already tense environment.

Visualizing The News: An Analysis Of A Year In Interactive News From The New York Times And The Washington Post, Maria T. Olivo

Theses

In the past decade, newsrooms have been struggling to remain relevant while trying to keep and attract new audiences. Access to diverse online tools and big data has expanded the use of infographics and data visualization in news stories, increasing reader engagement with complex content. The increase of interactive visual content in journalism requires rethinking how journalistic and design elements are incorporated in a story. This study explores how The New York Times and The Washington Post incorporate principles of design and data visualization to present complex information for their readers. Using a mixed method approach, a sample of 275 …

Can Contested Primaries And Turnout In Primaries Reduce Corruption And Rent-Seeking?, Derek Beiter

Theses

Rent-seeking and corruption involving elected officials represent a betrayal of citizen trust, and many scholars believe these acts have detrimental impacts on economic growth. This makes the study of rent-seeking and corruption an important topic. The research question presented here is whether contested primary elections and primary election turnout can help reduce rent-seeking and corruption. The reasons this might be true can be seen through connections in the scholarly literature regarding the function of political parties and organized interests, the importance of citizen engagement in holding elected officials accountable, and the increase in safe seats among legislative bodies. With more …

Consumers’ Communication Channels Preferences: High-Stake Versus Low-Stake Brands, Carolina Rondon Diplan

Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore which communication channels consumers are more likely to use when they want to provide feedback or acquire information about high-stake and low-stake brands. This research relies on the results of a survey and an analysis of the literature to gather findings. Results suggest that consumers prefer to talk more about high-stake brands than low-stake brands. They also show that consumers are more inclined to use face-to-face, Facebook, and websites to communicate experiences and acquire information about brands than other evaluated communication channels. Finally, consumers are more likely to express negative experiences than …

Media Influence And Third-Person Effect On Perception Formation About Immigrants In The State Of New York, Leslie S. Ramirez Soto

Theses

The present study examines hostile media bias and the third-person effect in those with anti-immigrant sentiments and those with pro-immigrant sentiments to determine the variables that influence their beliefs about immigrants and immigration in the state of New York. Based on McKeever, Riffe, & Dillman’s (2012) survey conducted in North Carolina, this study builds on their results to evaluate if factors such as geographic location, concentration of immigrants, or political inclinations can change the results. Five-hundred respondents from New York State participated in a survey about their attitudes concerning immigrants and immigration. Results confirm that those with anti-immigrant sentiment will …

Boundary Between Human And Machine, Seulgi Cho

Theses

John McCathy and Peter Wright, who are technology philosophers while also being engineers, analyzed the technology of today and found that it transcends the mere role of being everyday tools, and claim that technology has such a significant existence that it can influence the emotions of humans. The products of technology such as machines that have become everyday parts of our lives are no longer simple tools, but their meanings in our lives have expanded into something more complex. The products of technology, they point out, influence and change the sense of perception and emotional state of people. But, to …

Wireless Sensor Platform For Pulse Oximetry, Anusha Aithal

Theses

Pulse rate and oxygen saturation are two important clinical measurements that indicate the state of a person’s essential body functions. Oxygen saturation is the measurement of oxygenated hemoglobin in arterial blood i.e. it indicates the level of oxygen in the blood. Pulse oximeters, consisting of LEDs and photodetectors, offer a simple and low cost means of monitoring both pulse rate and blood oxygen saturation non-invasively.

The primary objective of this project was to develop a wireless platform for MEMS devices. For this project, a pulse oximeter was also developed as a demonstration vehicle for this wireless platform. A microcontroller and …

Exploring Negative Sexual Experiences, Attitudes, And Behaviors By Auditory Status, Taylor Victoria Vogt

Theses

Sexual assault is a significant problem on college campuses across the United States and an extensive amount of research has been conducted to address the issue. However, only a limited number of empirical studies have examined sexual victimization among the Deaf and hard of hearing population. Using a survey instrument with a sample of Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing students (n = 3,970) at the Rochester Institute of Technology, this study examined the associations between auditory status, prior sexual victimization, rape myths and behaviors. The results showed that Deaf and hard of hearing students are more likely to experience …

Assessment Of Scientific Graphical Literacy Of 10th Grade Students In Al-Ain Educational Office, United Arab Emirates, Sarah Elheir Elhassan Hamad

Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the scientific graphical literacy level of the 10th grade science students, and explore the extent to which students at 10th grade have the essential skills to process and interpret visual scientific graphs in the private and public schools in Al Ain educational Zone. This study was exploratory survey design in which an attempt was made to explore student understanding of scientific graphs. A Graphical Literacy Test was developed for this study to evaluate the student ability to interpret, and construct graphical information. 125 grade10th science students participated in the present study. Sixty …

Identification Of Arabidopsis Candidate Genes In Response To Biotic And Abiotic Stresses Using Comparative Microarrays, Salma Omar Al Ameri

Theses

Plants have evolved with intricate mechanisms to cope with multiple environmental stresses. To adapt with biotic and abiotic stresses, plant responses involve changes at the cellular and molecular levels. The current study was designed to investigate the effects of combinations of different environmental stresses on the transcriptome level of Arabidopsis thaliana genome using public microarray databases. We investigated the role of cyclopentenones in mediating plant responses to environmental stress through TGA (TGACG motif-binding factor) transcription factor, independently from jasmonic acid. Candidate genes were identified by comparing plants inoculated with Botrytis cinerea or treated with heat, salt or osmotic stress with …