Digital Commons Network^™

Emotional First Aid Kit Design, Wenxi Qi

Theses

In contemporary society, the shift towards holistic well-being has highlighted the critical importance of emotional health in maintaining overall quality of life. Research indicates that emotional health issues now pose a greater threat to individual well-being and productivity than physical ailments. Despite this, there exists a significant gap in awareness and emphasis between physical and emotional health across various sectors, contributing significantly to the prevalence of mental health issues. This research paper introduces the "Emotional First Aid Kit," a novel design concept aimed at addressing emotional distress in everyday scenarios similar to conventional first aid kits managing physical injuries. The …

On The Naming Of Identifiers: A Survey Of Undergraduate Students, Stacy Skalicky

Theses

Alsuhaibani et al. state that 60% of the participants do not have strict or any naming standards in the workplace and developers surveyed desired clear method naming standards to promote code comprehension [2]. Martin indi-cated identifier names are responsible for 90% of what makes software readable and understandable [25] . Borstler et al. indicated readability was important to developers at every level of experience but few report their academic influences being effectively leveraged to make quality identifiers [5]. Keuning et al. surveyed teachers in programming-related fields and found that code quality although important, was not a big part of their …

Improving Design And Physical Boundary In Temporary Post-Disaster Relief Shelters: Analysis Of Existing Literature, Min-Hye Jang

Theses

Natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, cyclones, storms, earthquakes, wildfires, and landslides displace people. As responses at the community resilience level, the temporary post-relief shelter is critical for the community's rapid recovery. Converting existing public facilities is the fastest way to respond to a crisis. However, the Hurricane Katrina Superdome Shelter alerted society to the prevalence of sexual assault in transitory catastrophe contexts. Not only has sexual abuse occurred, but prior shelters did not equip every user with physical barriers to suit their needs. This study examined academic journals, articles, and books to identify issues with natural disaster shelters created …

Syn: Exploring Multi-Sensory Sound Experiences Through An Immersive Installation, Samara Sudhir

Theses

The project titled 'SYN.' is a thesis that explores the realm of multi-sensory experiences in visual communication by taking inspiration from synesthesia. Synesthesia is a phenomenon where sensory information is transmitted through multiple unrelated senses, causing individuals to experience more than one sense simultaneously, such as seeing music and hearing color/shapes. The project aims to create an immersive and interactive installation that evokes a feeling of being inside the music by blurring the boundaries between auditory and visual stimuli. Through meticulous mapping and projection of visuals onto various surfaces, a three-dimensional space is created where participants can interact and alter …

Pawssenger--Enhance The Experience Of Flying With Pets, Xinxin Li

Theses

As demand for long-distance air travel with pets surges, airlines must adapt by enhancing accommodations for safe, comfortable, and sustainable pet transport over extended periods. This paper presents a proposed, innovative, comprehensive approach to redesigning airplane cabin and cargo spaces to create a more pet-friendly, eco-conscious experience for travelers on long-haul flights with animal companions. A key innovation needed for pets accompanying owners in the cabin on lengthy journeys is seamlessly integrating lightweight, modular pet carriers into passenger seating units. These redesigned carriers prioritize ventilation, comfort, and easy access to food/water during extended travel. They eliminate cumbersome separate pet carriers …

Computational Framework For Parameter Identification In The Nearly Incompressible Linear Elasticity System, Rachel Hawks

Theses

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women and early detection is a key component in the treatment of cancer and can lead to drastic improvement of patient survival rates. Cancerous tissue is stiffer on average than healthy soft tissue, and in the presence of a compressive force, the stiffer areas tend to deform less than the softer areas. The problem being analyzed is based on a linear elasticity system that describes displacement in soft tissue under applied body forces in biomedical applications, specifically in the case of identifying soft tissue cancers. Elasticity imaging, or elastography, can …

Electron Counting, Dopant Implementation, & Electron Phonon Interaction Mesh Sensitivity Testing For Nanoscale Energy Transport Model, Dominick Velez

Theses

Managing thermal energy generation and heat transfer within nanoscale devices (transistors) of modern-day electronics is important as it limits speed, carrier mobility, and affects device reliability. In the nanoscale, heat conduction occurs primarily via phonon transport and heat generation is a result of electron-phonon interactions in these devices. Traditional methods of predicting physical behavior have proven to lack either physical accuracy, computational efficiency, or flexibility. The Nanoscale Energy Transport Model (NETM) is an engineering design tool introduced to calculate non-equilibrium transport of energy carriers in nanoscale devices and overcome the deficiencies of traditional models of energy-carrier transport The NETM previously …

Cut, Beth Lane

Theses

Abstract “cut” is a documentary film which explores themes of systemic sexism in the film industry. It was produced between September 2023-April 2024 including pre-production to post-production. This paper describes and analyzes the filmmaking process for Beth Lane, Director. In this paper I will also attempt to put to words the intangibles of that process, including the social dynamics of filmmaking, and larger cultural happenings at the time of production.

Glacier Lake Inventory And Lake Outburst Flood Hazard Assessment In Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, Nepal, Prabish Khadka Chhetri

Theses

This study presents a comprehensive assessment of glacial lakes and land surface temperature (LST) dynamics within the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA) from 2010 to 2023. The KCA holds significant ecological importance, serving as a critical habitat for diverse flora and fauna, while also playing a vital role in regional hydrological systems. Additionally, its stunning landscapes attract tourists and mountaineers from around the world, further emphasizing the need for understanding environmental changes within the area. Utilizing medium to high-resolution satellite imagery from PlanetScope for glacial mapping and Landsat for LST analysis, the research aimed to achieve two primary objectives: creating an …

Second-Order Permutation Variable Importance: Quantifying And Attributing Uncertainty In Future Coastal Risk, Dwight Dinkins

Theses

Sensitivity analysis (SA) systematically assesses and quantifies a model’s uncertainty by examining the impact of parameter variations on the model’s output. An objective of sensitivity analysis is to ascertain model-input parameters that contribute the most to the uncertainty of a model’s output and could serve as a gauge to determine whether a parameter’s variation is suitable, expected, or a realistic representation of the phenomenon being modeled. Incorporating sensitivity analysis for assessing the importance of a model feature is imperative for decision-making. Therefore, as a statistical methodology, SA’s application in investigating coastal regions that are vulnerable to sea-level rise and extreme …

Reduction Of The Length Of Stay At The Emergency Department Of The Audie L. Murphy Hospital, Arwa Al Shikrian

Theses

We implemented the DMAIC framework (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) and Lean Six Sigma methods to reduce the length of stay (LOS) in the Emergency Department (ED) at Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital, a crucial issue affecting operational efficiency and patient care quality. This project was conducted in conjunction with an internship at the Hospital; our efforts were an integral part of a Green Belt project being conducted by Mr. Roarke Verkaik-Bushby, Hospital Administration Service, to

whom this author reported.

We employed quantitative research design, meticulously observing, measuring, and analyzing ED processes. We tracked patient flow, identified bottlenecks, and …

Impact Of Data Reliability On Resilience-Based Decision Making In A Water Distribution System, Amrit Babu Ghimire

Theses

This thesis explores the increasing necessity for resilience in Water Distribution Systems (WDS) facing challenges like leakage, missing data, and cyber-physical attacks. Resilience-based strategies enhance WDS sustainability by minimizing losses and ensuring quick recovery. Integrating smart systems, utilizing real-time data, boosts infrastructure resilience by improving efficiency and responsiveness. Data precision is essential for practical system analysis, development of resilience strategy, and making real-time decisions. The study also investigates into the potential of decentralization, combined with smart systems, to enhance WDS resilience, considering diverse water resources and hybrid systems. It seeks to answer critical questions about resilience in various failure scenarios …

Efficient Quantum Multiplication In The Quantum Fourier Transform Domain, Aden Crimmins

Theses

The subject of Quantum Computing is in its early stages of development, and new technologies and algorithms are constantly evolving. Even with all of this progress it is important to recognize that current quantum computers are still in their infancy and, as such, have notable issues. The ``era" that we are in currently is known as the Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) era, which is characterized by machines of small size that are prone to quantum noise, which causes computational error the longer the circuit runs. In order to make use of these quantum computers, algorithms need to be developed that …

Revitalizing The Rochester Gorge Strategic Urban Site Planning To Enhance Water Quality In The Lower Genesee River, Stephen Adam Stoker

Theses

The project began with investigating a regional asset of interest: the Genesee River. Initial research into this area revealed that the river suffers from poor water quality. The causes and effects of poor water quality were explored, and it was determined that excess nutrients – namely phosphorus – play a critical role in the water quality of the Genesee River and present downstream risk at the river’s point of outflow in Lake Ontario. An examination of peer-reviewed literature, contemporary examples in the built environment where similar water quality issues were addressed, and existing watershed design frameworks were conducted to understand …

Crime Rate Analysis And E-Crime Prevention In Dubai Using Machine Learning., Mohammad Ahmad Hatam

Theses

Globally increasing criminal activity, such as E Crimes, presents a serious threat to both economic growth and social welfare. Nevertheless, Dubai is a safety haven in the middle of this trend, as seen by the significant decline in major and non-alarming crimes during the first quarter of 2023. This study uses an examination of the large crime dataset (about 34,567 events) from the Dubai Police Department that spans 2019 to 2021. Several main goals are to be achieved by this work by using geospatial methods, predictive modelling, correlation investigations, and exploratory analysis. First of all, it looks for complex trends …

Continuous Mobile Authentication Protocol For Iot Based Environment Supporting User Behavioural Profile, Saleem Emad Saleem Abdo

Theses

As the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem continues to spread, many researchers are addressing the need for robust and lightweight authentication mechanisms for both continuous and mobile IoT devices. However, the main issue that many face is the lack of a consensus on the definitions of both continuous and mobile IoT authentication. This thesis aims to investigate the diverse definitions and approaches surrounding continuous and mobile IoT authentication. We delve into the evolving landscape of authentication methods, protocols, and security measures tailored for IoT devices that operate in dynamic and mobile environments. A comprehensive survey navigates through the multifaceted dimensions …

A Comprehensive Study Of Gain Characterization In Mosfets, Elaine Greenfield

Theses

The functionality of MOSFETs makes them a crucial component in modern electrical engineering. These devices play a fundamental role in a wide range of applications. Understanding the behavior and characteristics of MOSFETs is essential for their effective utilization in circuit design. One crucial parameter that significantly impacts MOSFET performance is voltage gain. It represents the ratio of output voltage to input voltage and varies depending on the circuit configuration employed. When selecting a MOSFET for a specific circuit, understanding the parameters and characteristics that influence voltage gain becomes crucial. This research project aims to delve into the realm of MOSFETs, …

Seeing With New Eyes: A Costume Design Thesis On Wedding Band: A Love/Hate Story In Black And White, Jennifer Nielson Helms

Theses

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OFJennifer N. Helms, for the Master of Fine Arts degree in Theater Design, presented on March 26, 2024, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: SEEING WITH NEW EYES: A COSTUME DESIGN THESIS ON WEDDING BAND: A LOVE/HATE STORY IN BLACK AND WHITEMAJOR PROFESSOR: Wendi R. Zea This thesis document is a presentation and exploration of the process involving the costume design for Wedding Band: A Love/Hate Story in Black and White by Alice Childress. The play was produced in the Christian H. Moe Laboratory Theatre at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and ran from November 30 …

Selenate-Mediated Impacts On Mercury Methylation By Pseudodesulfovibrio Mercurii With Dissolved And Nanoparticulate Mercuric Nitrate, Md Sayeduzzaman Sarker

Theses

Inorganic mercury (Hg) is converted to potential neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg) by a natural process called Hg methylation. MeHg can be biomagnified in the food chain, thus the consumption of Hg-contaminated fish contributes to harmful human health issues. Selenium (Se) inhibits the Hg bioavailability to the methylating bacteria by forming mercuric selenide (HgSe). Pseudodesulfovibrio mercurii, a type of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) cultures were grown in anaerobic environments using an estuarine sulfate lactate growth medium to evaluate the effects of Hg concentrations, bacterial growth phase, and sodium selenate in the Hg methylation process. Bacterial cultures contained two types of mercuric (II) nitrate, …

Creating A Unified Brand Identity For United Way Chapters In New York, Sarah Dejoy

Theses

Consistent and effective web design plays a role in enhancing the online presence and supporting the mission of nonprofit organizations (NPOs), which utilize online spaces to provide information to their constituents and the general public. This study centers on the web presence of United Way, presenting an analysis of the official websites of chapters in New York State. Visual rhetoric was used as the conceptual framework orienting the analysis, considering websites typically include written and visual texts intended to appeal to various audiences. The Brand Standards & Guidelines provided by United Way Worldwide were utilized to identify various website characteristics. …

Neural Network Characterization Methods For Noisy Quantum Hardware Results, Daniel Richard Breslawski

Theses

As the nascent quantum computing paradigm matures and quantum devices become widely available, discrete "eras" are emerging which characterize evolving quantum computing technologies, much like semiconductor technology node classifications. The current period has been coined the Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) era, as devices above 50 qubits in size exist but computations using these devices accumulate error quickly from classical interference sources and state decoherence. NISQ machines may surpass the capabilities of modern classical computers in ideal circumstances, but the accumulation of error from physical noise limits the size and implementability of reliable quantum algorithms. Because of these limitations, strategies are …

Exploring The Phase Space Of Binary Neutron Star Simulations And Photon Geodesics In The Presence Of Black Holes, Ben Fisler

Theses

Here, we investigate the use of the Lorene code to generate quasi-equilibrium initial data for close binary neutron star configurations. The code has been widely used throughout the field of numerical relativity, and is capable of generating initial data for a wide range of neutron star equations of state and binary mass ratios. We also explore the ranges of parameter space for which the code can generate accurate initial data, and the nature of the instabilities that arise when the code is asked to produce data outside this range. This work should aid other groups performing merger simulations of binary …

Predictive Analytics: Assessing Air Pollution’S Influence On Real Estate Prices In Dubai, Hani Khalaf

Theses

This study examines the link between air pollution and property prices in Dubai. It aims to find the relationship between environmental and economic factors in Dubai’s rapidly expanding real estate market and concerns about city livability. The research is centered on investigating how differences in air quality between various neighborhoods in Dubai affect property pricing. To achieve this goal, the thesis adopted the Hedonic Pricing Method (HPM) typical for this type of analysis. The Hedonic Pricing Method (HPM) provides insights on the price of a product from its components. The study utilized records of housing transactions and air quality measurements …

Revisiting The Phenomenology Of Merleau-Ponty In The Context Of Contemporary Cognitive Science, Gareth E. Smith

Theses

Maurice Merleau-Ponty was a mid-twentieth century French philosopher whose work was influenced by the German phenomenologists Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger. Merleau-Ponty went on to influence existentialism, philosophy of perception, the study of consciousness and subjectivity, and, eventually, contemporary cognitive science. His work uses phenomenological methods to examine embodied perception. He grapples with inherited philosophical questions about mind-body dualism and methods of inquiry. Like most twentieth century French philosophers, Merleau-Ponty engages with philosophical problems that were set by René Descartes in the 17th century. In fact, his main thesis—that the mental and the material are continuous through one's experience as …

Uvm Verification Of A Dtmf Receiver Core, Clayton Koppi

Theses

Integrated circuits grow more complex as digital designers implement more features on a project. All modern integrated circuits require some form of testing in order to prove that their functionality matches the design requirements. As the complexity of a design increases, the number of potential bugs increases dramatically. The need for a testbench that is reusable, modular, and organized is apparent for modern integrated circuits. Verification is the process of proving the design matches its requirements, and discovering bugs in simulation. The business motivation behind verification is ensuring the product will work before starting the costly and long fabrication process. …

Digital Beamforming Implemented In Hardware, Nicole Dulieu

Theses

Digital beamforming is a popular method used in modern communication systems. The ability to track and locate a transmitting signal adaptively is necessary in communication systems. Beamforming is one solution to this problem. Beamforming uses an array or matrix of isotropic antenna elements. This eliminates the need to create a physically larger antennas to achieve the same radiation pattern and gain of a phased array of antenna elements. Additionally, the antennas are electronically controlled allowing the radiation pattern and gain to adapt quickly. It is necessary to use a digital platform for beamforming because hardware can digitize analog signals efficiently. …

New Trigger Board Design For An Inductive Adder Topology Circuit, Htet A. Kyaw

Theses

After working at Laboratory for Laser Energetics for about 10 months, I was assigned in doing the research for replacing the obsolete parts on the trigger board of the high voltage and high current system. After studying the system, it was noticed that the circuit topology used was part of the pulse power system. Hence, the pulse power system was studied further to understand how it was used and its advantages. The inductive adder topology was studied thoroughly so that the trigger board design would meet the requirements. The components such as MOSFETs and Gate Drivers were studied and compared …

Benchmarking Of Matrix Multiplication Acceleration Methods, Ashish Tondwalkar

Theses

With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), performance and model runtime feasibility poses a challenge to the advancement of AI technology. Novel methods of accelerating the core mathematical functions of AI applications are being explored. The crux of AI computations that would benefit from hardware acceleration is matrix multiplication. This thesis explores the acceleration of matrix multiplication using systolic arrays and the strassen algorithm, methods known for enhancing computational efficiency through parallel processing. The research focuses on the design, implementation, and comprehensive testing of these architectures to expedite matrix multiplication tasks, crucial for applications in deep learning and signal processing. …

If The Last Petals Fall, Soomin Kim

Theses

During the Spring of 2023, I visited my mother in Los Angeles. I unpacked my belongings and sat down for a light snack with her. Watching her cut fruits, I noticed for the first time that her face had aged significantly. If The Last Petals Fall is a photographic series that delves into the concept of memory. With the handful amount of what’s left of my family archives, I have accepted the fact that I can no longer contribute to my past but rebuild the missing in-between moments. These photos represent my childhood, adulthood, and everything in between. Through this …

Color Change: Illumination And Observers, Che Shen

Theses

While color change is often associated with physical or chemical alterations in an object, this thesis focuses on perceptual color changes due to factors like color inconstancy under different lighting conditions, observer metamerism due to varying color matching functions, and individual differences in hue perception despite identical tristimulus values. Based on the complexities of color change phenomenon, a psychophysical experiment was conducted to establish the threshold of color inconstancy, where observers were tasked with categorizing colors under varying lighting. A major advancement in this thesis is the development of the Weighted Geometric Mean (WGM) model, an advanced chromatic adaptation model …