Digital Commons Network^™

Pattern Repeat, Brendan Miller

Theses

I am interested in creating work that explores and challenges ideas relating to modern civilization and contemporary culture. I plan on creating both three-dimensional and two-dimensional works in glass and mixed media that use elements of the domestic interior as a reference for our cultural identity. I will continue to develop my visual language through material where traditional decorative techniques in glass and other media can be re-appropriated for metaphoric and conceptual purposes. Through the use of well-developed visual references from the history of decorative media, I will create works that present potentially unsavory subject matter in an attractive and …

Home Security: The Psychological Threshold, David Strauss

Theses

Home Security: The Psychological Threshold, explores how a thoughtful, intelligent product design solution can psychologically affect two user groups (homeowners and intruders) into opposing emotional states; safety and intimidation.

Using available statistical data and research on home burglaries, as well as inspiration from nature, present day solutions, and the environment, a conceptual security system was designed to meet the needs of suburban homeowners.

The central product, a security system, employs the use of lighting notifications to create a variety of reactive states and monitor individuals who approach a home. Based on the users intentions the monitor can; notify surrounding people …

Integrated Marketing Campaign For The Land Freeride Bike Park, David R. Royka

Theses

This thesis is an exploration in how a multimedia marketing campaign can effectively brand an actual bike park business in development. It is divided into three main promotional components, a brochure, a website, and a video. Through compelling imagery, carefully crafted text, and thoughtful design, they successfully communicate key messages, creating a memorable and lasting impression of the brand.

Applying Social Presence Theory: What Effect Does Lifestyle Imagery Have On Website Persuasiveness?, Deni Paskojevic

Theses

Website design is a crucial element to instantly evoke a customer's interest and communicate the desired message in the clutter of internet sites available. Various research to date indicates that design is most successful when it projects considerable social presence, social presence being the impression that an individual is a part of a communication process. According to Social Presence Theory, the larger the social presence in the medium the better the human connection, and thus the better the communication and understanding. This was tested on an actual web page in the realm of luxury hospitality marketing to see if by …

Investigating Effects Of Amine-Based Modifier On Recycled Asphalt Shingles Blending Index, Govinda Sedhay

Theses

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of amine-based modifiers on the rheological characteristics of particle-filled viscous media such as recycled asphalt shingles (RAS). RAS are a recycled material that contains high concentrations of asphalt which has the potential for use in hot mix asphalt (HMA) when added to virgin asphalt. When using the RAS as a binder in HMA it is important to mix it with the virgin asphalt properly to achieve the best performance, which can also be enhanced by the incorporation of amine-based modifiers. Tear-off shingles were acquired from a roofing company and ground very fine …

Incidents In The Life Of Slave Girls 2.0: Rememory And Patriarchal Bargaining In Toni Morrison's A Mercy And Dolen Perkins-Valdez's Wench, Melody Y. Andrews

Theses

Through examining traditional slave narratives, such as Harriet Jacob's Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, as well as neo-slave narratives with female protagonists, such as Wench and A Mercy, it becomes evident that participating in patriarchal bargaining in the antebellum South existed as a form of resistance and leverage not in a feminist sense, but one that is inherently womanist. Nearly twenty-five years ago, feminist Deniz Kandiyoti coined the term "patriarchal bargain" to describe the way in which women navigate within patriarchal societies: "Women strategize within a set of concrete constraints, which I identify as patriarchal bargains. Different …

Sustainable Production Of Biofuels And Biochemicals From Aquatic Biomass, Quazi Mahzabin Rahman

Theses

In recent years, growing attention has been devoted to the conversion of biomass into biofuels and biochemicals. Biomass has several reasons to be considered as an attractive energy source. The main reason is that energy produced from biomass can contribute to sustainable development. Aquatic biomasses-microalgae, duckweed, and cattail-are considered as promising biomass sources due to their favorable characteristics such as high growth rate and low lignin content. The objective of this study was to produce biofuel- ethanol through Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) of fresh algae, duckweed and cattail biomass by E. coli and to produce acetic acid by C. …

Probabilistic Model To Identify Movement Patterns In Geospatial Data, Jeffrey Nii Anu

Theses

The task of trying to determine the movement pattern of objects based on available databases is a daunting one. Tracking the movement of these dynamic objects is important in different areas to understand the higher order patterns of movement that carry special meaning for a target application. However this is still a largely unsolved problem and recent work has focused on the relationships of moving point objects with stationary objects or landmarks on a map. Global Position System (GPS) is a widely used satellite-based navigation system. Popular use of these devices has produced large collections of data, some of which …

Design And Fabrication Of Nanodevice For Cell Interfacing, Prema Chinnappan

Theses

The goal of this thesis is to (a) design and fabricate a nanodevice that interface with cells and (b) optimize neuronal cell culturing protocol. The long term objective of this thesis is to perform intracellular electrical signal recording and stimulation of neuronal cells. To achieve this objective, a nanodevice with "Fin" shaped electrodes was designed that increases the electrode area and conductance so that it reduces the signal loss as shown in the case of traditional circular Nanopillar design. The overarching goal of neuroscience is to target and discover the relationships between the functional connectivity-map of neuronal circuits and their …

3d Variational Analysis In Subsurface Contaminant Transport Model, Anup Saha

Theses

Modeling of contaminant transport in a subsurface environment by a numerical model deviates from the real world environment because of the highly heterogeneous nature of the subsurface environment. In this study, the data assimilation techniques are integrated with the numerical model and are applied to the subsurface environment to predict the contaminant transport. The Forward Time Center Space (FTCS) model is used as a numerical approach to solve the classical advection-dispersion-reaction transport equation and the Kalman Filter, Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) and 3D Variational (3DVAR) analysis are used for data assimilation purpose. A hybrid scheme, termed as EnKF-3DVAR is developed …

Measurement Of Optical Properties Of Soot Using Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy And Integrating Nephelometry, Damon M. Smith

Theses

Since black carbon and brown carbon are among the greatest contributors to radiative forcing (black carbon being second only to carbon dioxide), this work focuses on the laboratory measurement of their optical properties using cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) and integrating nephelometry. Water soluble soot is collected using an impinger and cascade impactor by burning different fuel types to mimic ambient aerosols dominant in regions where biomass burning is the main source of aerosols. Using an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) as a light source, we are able to measure extinction and scattering over a wide range of wavelengths. A correction factor …

A Qualitative Study Of The Role Of Social Media In The Construction Industry, Ignatius Chukwu

Theses

Social media conversational and digital technology has redefined the communication landscape between consumers and the providers of goods and services. It has created a conversational dual carriageway among all interest groups. Increasingly, organizations and corporations are participating in the social media conversation for some good reasons: to engage customers and to get business in creative ways. The goal of this study was to assess the role of social media in the construction industry, considering that consumers are increasingly influenced by social media information. The limited documentation regarding the construction industry despite distribution cravings in current social media was the main …

In Vitro Mycelial Growth And Root Infection Of Loblolly Pine Seedlings By Bianchetto Truffle (Tuber Borchii), Osejie F. Oriaifo

Theses

Decline in Tuber borchii production has led to exploration of new cultivation strategies. Contemporary techniques including the use of spore slurry and root induction are both marred with low success rates, contamination, and are costly. Mycelia inoculation avoids the challenges of contemporary techniques, increases colonization rates, and increases the levels of mycorrization. In order to develop an optimized medium to culture T. borchii and use same for onward infection of Pinus taeda seedling, this research was conducted with two main intents: (1.) seeking the optimum growth conditions and concentrations of six strains of T. borchii on solid Modified Melin-Norkrans (MMN) …

Enhancing Asphalt Binder's Rheological Behavior And Aging Susceptibility Using Nano-Particles, Renaldo C. Walters

Theses

The life expectancy of Asphalt Binder (AB) has been negatively impacted by the harsh bombardment of UV rays. UV rays cause asphalt to oxidize faster which results in deterioration of asphalt rheological characteristics that can lead to pavement distresses. This study investigates the impact that nano-particles and bio modification have on the aging susceptibility of asphalt binder. As such, the following hypothesis was investigated: Introduction of nano particles to asphalt binder will reduce asphalt oxidation aging by increasing the inter layer spacing of the nano particles. Two nano scale materials were used for this study, nano-clay and bio-char as well …

Soft Micro-Channels For Cell Culturing And Migration Studies, Sara Abbasirazgaleh

Theses

Various techniques and methods have been studied and developed to aid nerve regeneration and repairing nerve injuries. Among all, nerve grafting is the gold standard for bridging the gap between the injured nerve stumps. Despite the advantages of this technique, there are also various drawbacks that have encouraged the exploration of alternative, less invasive methods for promoting nerve regeneration. In this thesis, we have fabricated soft micro-channels for cell culturing and migration studies which could act as an interface capable of long-term, reliable, and high-resolution stimulation device for nerve regeneration. Micro-channels fabrication is performed using a ombination of photolithography technique …

Stochastic Approach In Groundwater Modeling: A Case Study Of The Buffalo Creek Watershed, Jenberu Lemu Feyyisa

Theses

Simulation and prediction of groundwater flow and solute (contaminant) transport highly depends upon aquifer parameters and their spatial distribution. Since this variability in space is in fact random, solutions for groundwater flow and contaminants transport are better defined through a statistical approach. This study acknowledges and considers spatial variability of horizontal hydraulic conductivity values and compares calibrated steady-state condition groundwater flow both in deterministic and stochastic approach using MODFLOW model. Based upon the discretized model, for each model run 10, 495 different horizontal hydraulic conductivity values (set) were generated using Kriging statistical distribution method and results of groundwater depth was …

Processing And Modeling Of Porous Copper Using Sintering Dissolution Process, Mustafa Abualgasim Salih

Theses

The growth of porous metal has produced materials with improved properties as compared to non-metals and solid metals. Porous metal can be classified as either open cell or closed cell. Open cell allows a fluid media to pass through it. Closed cell is made up of adjacent sealed pores with shared cell walls. Metal foams offer higher strength to weight ratios, increased impact energy absorption, and a greater tolerance to high temperatures and adverse environmental conditions when compared to bulk materials. Copper and its alloys are examples of these, well known for high strength and good mechanical, thermal and electrical …

Determining The Presence, Genetic Variability, And Function Of Cytolethal Distending Toxin In Samoa Strains Of Haemophilus Ducreyi, Andrea Faye Anstead

Theses

Haemophilus ducreyi is the causative agent of the genital ulcerative disease chancroid. Chancroid is an important facilitator for increased transmission of HIV amongst heterosexuals. Chancroid is endemic to Asia, Africa, and Latin America, but there have been several outbreaks within the United States. Chancroidal ulcers are categorized as soft, painful, bloody ulcers that may remain chronic if untreated. H. ducreyi produces and secretes a cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) that causes various cell types to undergo cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. The CDT holotoxin consists of three genes: cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC. In 2006, the first report of nonsexual transmission of …

Evaluating The Interaction Between Protein Kinase C And Meprins In Diabetic Nephropathy, Sada Boyd

Theses

Meprin metalloproteinases have been shown to play a role in the progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in both mice and humans. However, the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Protein Kinase C (PKC) family members are a group of phospholipid-dependent serine/threonine kinases that regulate signaling pathways involved in cellular growth, proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. PKC signaling pathways have also been implicated in diseases such as DN. Specifically, PKCα has been shown to play a role in the development of albuminuria in mice with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes. The objective of this study was to determine whether PKCα is …

Mechanical Properties Of Neat Cement Paste: Investigation Of Correlation To Degree Of Hydration And Water-To-Cement Ratios, Sean J. Walker

Theses

The mechanical strength of cement paste is the property of the material that is most obviously required for structural use. The strength of mortar or concrete depends on the cohesion of the cement paste and its adhesion to the aggregate particles. Cement paste consists of two parts, cement and water. When water is added to cement, it reacts with the cement in what is known as the hydration process. The scope of this study is to determine the mechanical properties of hydrated cement paste with respect to the degree of hydration for different water-to-cement ratios, for developing a molecular macroscopic …

Efficiency Of Ensemble Square-Root Kalman Filter In 3d Subsurface Contaminant Transport Modeling, Torupallab Ghoshal

Theses

A three dimensional subsurface contaminant transport model with advection, dispersion and reaction has been developed to predict transport of a reactive continuous source pollutant. Numerical Forward-Time-Central-Space (FTCS) scheme has been used to solve the advection-dispersion-reaction transport model and Kalman Filter (KF), Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) and Ensemble Square Root Kalman Filter (EnSRKF) schemes have been used for data assimilation purpose. EnKF and EnSRKF both use Monte Carlo simulation in Bayesian implementation to propagate state estimation. The key difference between EnKF and EnSRKF is that EnSRKF does not require perturbation of observation during analysis stage. In this study, contaminant concentration is …

Understanding Cell Viability And Mechanics Of Actin Filament Response Of Nih/3t3 Fibroblasts Under Biaxial Stretch, Hamed Ghazizadeh

Theses

Cells are constantly subjected to mechanical stress during various physical activities. Understanding the role of the resultant mechanical stresses on cellular mechanotransduction is critical for considerate various cellular activities in the body such as control of cell growth, migration, differentiation, apoptosis and wound repair. The long-term goal is to understand whether it is possible to control cell functions through mechanical forces. Specifically, in this work, we report on the cellular and mechanistic response of NIH/3T3 fibroblastic cells (cultured on silicone membrane), when subjected to cyclic biaxial stretch generated in a custom-built stretching system, as described in Karumbaiah et al (Karumbaiah …

Secure Android Code Helper (Sach): A Tool For Assisting Secure Android Application Development, Edward B. Hill

Theses

Mobile devices now store a lot of sensitive data. With many users adapting to the technical advancement of mobile devices, security of the user's sensitive data becomes imperative. Security vulnerabilities in the mobile apps will lead to leakage of user's sensitive data. The goal of this research is to propose a tool to help programmers create secure Android applications. The tool will warn developers about specific classes or methods that include security vulnerabilities such as data leakage and access control vulnerabilities. The tool analyzes Android source code using two approaches: 1) Parse the source code and XML to report vulnerabilities …

An Investigation Into The Marketing, Advertising And Labelling Of Processed Food In Ireland And Its Influences On Consumer Choice And Subsequent Health Issues, Jane Healy

Theses

Ireland has experienced much economic and social change in recent years, and as a result of this, many new food choices and commodities are on offer to the consumer. The simple diet of fresh, unprocessed foods that existed in Ireland in the past has for many consumers been replaced by processed, convenience food products. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects which the marketing, advertising and labelling of processed food in Ireland has on consumers, and how these strategies influence their choice of food. The advertising claims and the labelling of these processed foods is of interest …

Service And Communication Management In Cooperative Vehicular Networks, Olivia Brickley

Theses

The concept of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) presents new R&D challenges for the transportation and ICT sectors and is currently receiving considerable interest from the research community. The primary objective of ITS is the creation of advanced road traffic systems for improved traffic safety, efficiency, and travelling comfort. Basic vehicle and roadside infrastructure collaboration allows for an increase in efficiency and safety and acts as the foundation for an extensive service set to achieve these ITS goals. Applications such as journey planning, automatic tolling and emergency warnings, among others, are envisaged in a system which can potentially reform modern transportation. …

3d Modeling Of Heat Transfer And Gas Flow In A Grooved Ring Fuel Element For Nuclear Thermal Propulsion, Laura Ashley Barkett

Theses

In the past, fuel elements with multiple axial coolant channels have been used in nuclear propulsion applications. A novel fuel element concept that reduces weight and increases efficiency uses a stack of grooved rings. Each fuel ring consists of a hole on the interior and grooves across the top face. Many grooved ring configurations have been modeled, and a single flow channel for each design has been analyzed. For increased efficiency, a fuel ring with a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio is ideal. When grooves are shallower and they have a lower surface area, the results show that the exit temperature is …

Measurement Of The Group Velocity Dispersion Of Air Using A Femtosecond Comb, Reem Al Salamah

Theses

In this thesis, the Group Velocity Dispersion (GVD) of air has been measured by using a femtosecond frequency comb at 1.5 µm. By comparing the spectra from a balanced and unbalanced Mach - Zehnder interferometer, the need for vacuum tube is eliminated. The method employs the Fast Fourier Transform of both auto- and cross correlation to find the spectral and their differences. The GVD of air is then calculated from these spectral phase differences. With twenty-five independent measurements, the GVD of air was found to be 0.0120 fs²/mm, with a standard deviation of 0.0075 fs²/mm.

The Role Of Values Education In Primary School Bullying Prevention And Mediation, Janine Brown

Theses

This study explores the incidence and implications of bullying in primary school and the beliefs parents and educators share about the explicit application of a values based approach to bullying interventions and mediations. Interviews and focus group discussions explored current anti-bullying practices employed by teachers and principals. The study also examined specific values perceived to be relevant by parents and educators, in the endeavour to successfully resolve the growing incidence of bullying conflict situations and the serious implications for both victims and bullies.

Individual interviews and focus group discussions were administered in three Catholic systemic primary schools to a sample …

Adaptations Of Bacterial Flagella To Animal And Plant Hosts, Alshae’ R. Logan

Theses

Flagella have been studied for more than a hundred years, yet there remains a simple and powerful question about how to further make use of the recent wave of genomic data to find differences between flagellar genes across diverse bacterial strains. With the comparative power of bacterial genomic data, we propose that flagellar gene sequences may be used as genetic markers that indicate evolutionary adaptations of different bacteria for different hosts. We specifically proposed to identify and utilize genetic sequence differences that may diagnose for the presence of bacterial pathogens found to infect different hosts, specifically animal versus plant hosts. …

About Me, Wenyao Jia

Theses

I am inspired by my life experiences and try to reflect them in my art. The main media in my work is silver, along with resin and fabric, which I use to express my thoughts and observations about my life. During the procedure of creation, I have been influenced by Louise Josephine Bourgeois and Vincent van Gogh, and, a book called The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck. While my perspective is that of a Chinese female living in the U.S. for four years, I believe that we all share similarities as human beings.

My hands, guided by my …