Digital Commons Network^™

Using Metal-Organic Frameworks (Mofs) In Producing Self-Curing Concrete, Lama Fathi Allan

Theses

Curing of concrete is the presence of adequate moisture content in concrete throughout its early stages to produce the desired properties, as it is significant in improving the concrete microstructure and pore structure and hence in developing its performance and durability. However, good curing is not always practical in several cases, such as in hot weather regions and areas of water inadequacy. For that reason, the need to develop self-curing concrete attracted several researchers. The use of self-curing agents minimizes the water evaporation from concrete and consequently increases its water retention capacity compared to conventional concrete. This thesis is concerned …

Characterization Of Piezoelectric Coefficient Using Combined Optical And Electrical Methods, Limna Sainudeen Attoor

Theses

The characterization of piezoelectric coefficients, specifically, the extraction of D33 charge constant versus applied voltage profiles plays an important role in MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) design and actuation. MEMS structures widely use piezoelectric thin films due to their advantages of possessing high piezoelectric constants and lightweight properties. Hence there is a need for characterizing piezoelectric materials so that one can predict their response during different operating conditions. In this work, a combined electrical and light-based methodology to characterize the voltage dependency profile of d33 is developed. A set of equations are extracted based on the electrical capacitance and light …

The Metaverse Adoption Rates & User Satisfaction, Shannon Ketura Kling

Theses

The Metaverse concept is inspired by the vision of a digital utopia where you can be and do anything and everything you want. The Metaverse is thought to provide access to all kinds of entertainment and projects through virtual spaces as a world completely free from human limitations. The Metaverse platform satisfies individuals who seek to escape reality through forms of addictive and appealing integrations solely available through virtual and digital media. Although primarily centered around social connectivity and entertainment through digital means, the Metaverse also offers an entirely new ecosystem for developers, ads, apps, and other new digital innovations. …

Building A New Bridge: Justin Favela's Puente Nuevo, Kelley Yost

Theses

This thesis analyzes an installation work, Puente Nuevo, created in 2019 by artist Justin Favela at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. In this large-scale, piñata-like mural, Favela asserts his Latinx identity while questioning cultural stereotypes and viewer expectations with a sense of humor and irony. The unique materiality of Favela’s work, based in the folk art forms of papel picado and cartonería, transforms spaces into immersive environments that are fun and provocative, and capable of housing darker associations as well. He builds layers of meaning into his pieces by revising historic works, such as picturesque landscapes by Casimiro …

The Effects Of Calisthenic Exercises On The Strength And Aerobic Abilities Of Sedentary Adult Women, Kathleen Langley

Theses

The thesis, The Effects of Calisthenic Exercises on the Strength and Aerobic Abilities of Sedentary Adult Women, investigates the impact of structured calisthenic training on sedentary women aged 18–40. The study was conducted over four weeks and measured participants' strength, aerobic abilities, balance, and perceived wellness before and after the intervention. Calisthenics, a form of strength training using bodyweight exercises, became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic due to its accessibility and minimal equipment requirements.

Participants engaged in a program consisting of dynamic warm-ups, high-intensity interval training circuits, and cooldowns three times a week. Results showed significant improvements in upper …

Re-Presenting The Spanish Civil War At The Museo Reina Sofía: Recordando Un Pasado “Olvidado” (Remembering A “Forgotten” Past), Gabrielle Estes

Theses

Upon opening in 1990, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid was intended as a modern and contemporary Spanish art museum that could stand on an international scale. It has since achieved this goal, with much of its success riding on the significant work of the second-floor gallery, Picasso’s 25-foot mural entitled Guernica. The painting sets the tone for the surrounding gallery space that narrates the story of the Spanish Civil War through paintings, propaganda, photographs, magazines, and films produced during the time period. The permanent collection in this gallery helps to display a violent past to …

Lead Scoring Using Low Code Ml Library, Ayad Aziz

Theses

Scoring leads manually can be time-consuming and ineffective because it relies on subjective criteria and human biases. On the other hand, automated lead scoring uses advanced algorithms to analyse large datasets and accurately predict a lead's potential value to the business. It provides valuable insights into customer behaviour and preferences that inform marketing and sales strategies. Machine learning algorithms are trained on historical sales data to identify patterns and correlations that indicate a lead's likelihood to convert. They consider variables like demographic information, web behaviour, and marketing engagement to generate a lead score that reflects the probability of converting into …

Network Security With Smart Switches, Sahil Gupta

Theses

The inspection of packet contents, Deep Packet Inspection (DPI), is an important component in network security. However, DPI is provided by complex black-box firewalls which the network administrator has no choice but to trust. This raises the question: Can network administrators build their own DPI-capable filter using a standard programmable switch? The commonly-accepted answer is that standard switches are not powerful enough; the standard they support (the P4 language) does allow users to specify how to parse packet headers, but not packet payload fields (e.g. URL), as required by DPI. Even though software-defined networks are quite capable of handling various …

Online Fourier Analysis Of Time-Varying Signals In A Real-Time Embedded Environment, Ty Freeman

Theses

A software-based, constant-flow implementation of the radix-2 Cooley-Tukey fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm is presented in this paper. The program is built within a real-time embedded environment running FreeRTOS. The system is used for the online frequency anal- ysis of time-varying, one-dimensional signals of an arbitrary length. The system’s design is validated through testing to produce results accurately on signals within specific boundaries. The proposed system has a maximum transform size of 256 samples due to the memory limitations on the development board. The hardware in use is an STM32L476 Nucleo development board which simulates the lightweight, low power, and …

Memory Protection With Cached Authentication Trees, Andy Belle-Isle

Theses

The use of embedded systems and the amount of data they process is rapidly growing in the modern information age. Given physical access to a device, an attacker can monitor the signals between the CPU and Memory to intercept, and possibly even inject new data into the system. A variety of attacks are possible including, replay, spoofing, and splicing attacks, each one threatening the safety of the system. Ensuring this data is intact is imperative, and as physical protection is difficult, data protection hardware is a must. Protecting memory was researched in the past, and there are several methods of …

A Bit-Exact Hierarchical Systemc Model Of Ppim For Verification And Performance Modeling, Dhana Lavanya Balasubramanian

Theses

The semiconductor industry has seen tremendous advancement lately and is expected to continue to grow since multiple industries like automobile, health care, meteorology, etc are developing dedicated chips with advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI). These improvements also come with increased complexities. Engineers now require advanced ways to model the designs in addition to existing Hardware Description Languages (HDLs) such as Very High-Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language (VHDL) and Verilog. One such way to model the designs is by using SystemC, which is a library of C++ classes and macros that can be used similar to an HDL for modeling …

Quantum Acceleration Of Linear Regression For Artificial Neural Networks, Martin A. Hoffnagle

Theses

Through proofs and small scale implementations, quantum computing has shown potential to provide significant speedups in certain applications such as searches and matrix calculations. Recent library developments have introduced the concept of hybrid quantum-classical compute models where quantum processor units could be used as additional hardware accelerators by classical computers. While these developments have opened the prospect of applying quantum computing to machine learning tasks, there are still many limitations of near and midterm quantum computing. If implemented carefully, the advantages of quantum algorithms could be used to accelerate current machine learning models. In this work, a hybrid quantum-classical model …

New Intimacies, Louis Chavez

Theses

“New Intimacies” is a photographic study situated in environments known for gay cruising and public sex. Taking influence from Peter Hujar and the photographs he created in the cruising areas around Manhattan’s meatpacking district, I made experimental images that sought to envision the intangible and fleeting qualities of these geographic spaces. The inclusion of various photographic strategies (such as landscapes, portraits, and abstraction) implores the audience to consider the social and cultural elements that contributed to the formation of these sites as spaces of community and public intimacy. The work is also influenced by queer zines, experimental cinema, and other …

An Examination Of The Effects Of The Cost Volume On Vision Transformer-Based Optical Flow Models, Andrew Thompson

Theses

The optical flow task is an active research domain in the machine learning community with numerous downstream applications such as autonomous driving and action recognition. Convolutional neural networks have often been the basis of design for these models. However, given the recent popularity of self-attention architectures, many optical flow models now utilize a vision transformer backbone. Despite the differing backbone architectures used, consistencies in model design, especially regarding auxiliary operations, have been observed. Perhaps most apparent is the calculation and use of the cost volume. While prior works have well documented the effects of the cost volume on models with …

Single-Mode Distributed-Feedback Lasing In Coupled Dissimilar Photonic Waveguides, Bryce A. Tennant

Theses

Distributed-feedback (DFB) lasers support a wide range of applications including fiber-optic and free-space optical communications, sensing and measurement, military warfare, and manufacturing and metrology. The desire for a reduction in size, weight, power, and cost (SWAP-C) for each of these applications continues to aggressively drive integrated- and silicon-photonic circuit development. Since DFB lasers based on uniform refractive-index diffraction gratings are naturally dual-mode, a variety of techniques have been introduced to impose single-mode operation, including the currently ubiquitous λ/4-grating phase-shift technique. This grating phase shift, however, creates an undesirable peaky-power profile within the laser cavity resulting in nonlinear behavior ultimately limiting …

College Students' Perceived Behavioral Expectancy Violations By Instructors In The Zoom Classroom, Kaleb Kronimus

Theses

As of the COVID-19 pandemic, video conferencing briefly usurped face-to-face as the primary medium of communication for education and professional settings. Even now in 2022 as the impact of the pandemic begins to be felt less, video conferencing remains an integrated part of educational settings, with Zoom being the most prominent video conferencing application in education. This study used expectancy violations theory to explore both the behavioral expectations students have of their instructors on Zoom, as well as what instructors themselves believe their students' expectations to be when on Zoom. This paper explores both the general expectations held by students, …

Hot Pot-Palatable Tour, Dian Jiao

Theses

Palatable Tour is an innovative project that aims to introduce Chinese culture to people through an interactive website that uses information design and motion graphics. The project utilizes visual communication and information visualization techniques to present cultural-related information in an engaging and easily understandable manner. The primary goal of the Palatable Tour is to increase cultural awareness by presenting the significance of Chinese culture through the exploration of ingredients in traditional hot pots. This project is unique in that it combines information design, illustration, 3d motion graphics, and interactivity to create an engaging and informative user experience. The website will …

A Comparative Analysis Of Malware Written In The C And Rust Programming Languages, Meghna Koorikkattil Praveen

Theses

The use of malware as a tool for cybercrime has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, resulting in significant economic losses and security threats. Conventionally, malware is written in C/C++. However, a recent trend has been observed where other languages are being used to write malware. One such language is the Rust programming language. This thesis aims to explore the aspects of the Rust programming language that contribute to its preference for the development of malware, limitations in current analysis tools and remediation for the same. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted to identify the trends of current research …

Exploring Search-By-Video Technology For Searching Structured Human Movements: Insights From Sign Language Look-Up Systems, Saad Hassan

Theses

Identifying unfamiliar human movements is crucial across several tasks and fields, including skill acquisition and human movement analysis research. With the advancements in computer vision technology, search systems can be developed that allow users to search for human movements by submitting a video sample. A clear example of such systems is search-by-video sign-language look-up systems. The advances in sign-language recognition technology have made it feasible to design these systems, which allow users to generate queries by either submitting a video of themselves performing the word or by submitting a video segment containing the unknown sign. These systems can be particularly …

Netzero Insight: The Role Of Data Analytics And Machine Learning In Combating Climate Change, Tariq Najar, Chrissie Aldo

Theses

Countries must act urgently to achieve the SDGs and make significant progress for the planet and people by 2030. But there are some key challenges that the world must address. Climate change is one of the most significant challenges of our time, and its impacts can undermine the ability of all countries to achieve sustainable development. However, countries committed to limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre- industrial levels in the Paris Agreement. Member nations pledge to take urgent action on climate change to save the planet from global warming.

Using data analysis techniques and methodologies, such as CRISP-DM, and …

Demonstration Of A Virtual Reality Driving Simulation Platform, Mingming Wang

Theses

Modern autonomous driving is undergoing a period of rapid evolution. Image processing, computer vision, and remote sensing, among others, have played crucial roles in the creation of safe and reliable robotic automobiles. However, some robotic vehicles still have difficulties in their driving mechanisms even though the current mainstream autonomous driving approaches seem to be effective in fulfilling driving duties. There have been several high-profile incidents in the early years of testing that have prompted some to question whether or not all relevant domains have been explored in order to attain human-like driving. The current sensor technique based on machine learning …

Advanced Control Of Vapor Compression Liquid Chillers, Suliman Awad

Theses

Chillers are one of the most sophisticated and most important equipment in cooling plants. Due to its complexity and importance, a cost effective and accurate control technique is a necessity to ensure system reliability and longevity. As the chiller contains multiple inputs and outputs, two advanced multivariable control techniques were selected to control the chillers cooling capacity, exit chilled liquid temperature of the evaporator as well as to reject disturbances. The advanced techniques covered in this framework are the Linear Quadratic Integral (LQI) and Model Predictive Control (MPC). Both were successfully applied to the chiller’s model for multiple testing cases …

Techniques To Create A Realistic Digital Collection Of Near Planar Cultural Heritage Objects, Snehal A. Padhye

Theses

Cultural heritage objects like paintings and manuscripts are a rich source of information about human history and a lot has been discovered through their study. A great collection of such artifacts is scattered around the globe in various libraries and research institutions. Digital images of the objects make them accessible to a greater audience, but images offer only a limited experience compared to observing the real thing. Public access to institutions got further limited during pandemic times, further increasing importance of techniques that enable rich access to such objects remotely. In addition, due to the physical nature of these often …

Incorporating High Dynamic Range Into Multispectral Imaging For Cultural Heritage Documentation, Gabrielle Brogle

Theses

The dynamic range that can be captured using traditional image capture devices is limited. While an image sensor cannot capture the entire dynamic range that the human eye can see, imaging techniques have been developed to help accomplish this. High dynamic range imaging has been incorporated into digital photography pipelines to produce high-quality images with correctly exposed regions with varying illumination. The multiple exposures are fused together in post- processing. By capturing a broader dynamic range, the range of contrast captured is also increased, helping to improve color accuracy. Cultural heritage institutions face limitations when trying to capture color accurate …

Harnessing Crispr-Cas12a And Nanotechnology For The Rapid And Accurate Detection Of Dna Viruses, Mengdi Bao

Theses

In recent years, the world has faced numerous pandemics caused by viral diseases, leading to considerable morbidity, mortality, and economic disruptions. Developing vaccines for pandemics can be a challenging task due to the rapid mutation of viruses and the significant investment of time required for their development. While real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunoassay techniques are frequently utilized for viral diagnostics, they possess inherent limitations. Therefore, there is a pressing need to rapidly and accurately identify viral infections to manage diseases effectively. This work explores the use of nanotechnology and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated (Cas) proteins to …

Housing Conditions And Needs In Urban District 5, Delan Almazrooei

Theses

Dubai remains one of the key tourist attraction areas in the world. However, the city has witnessed significant population growth over the past decade, which has resulted in problems associated with urbanization, such as pollution. The formulation of the DUBAI 2020 Urban Master Plan was meant to create a supple yet workable and viable formula to balance urban development and sustainability of the environment. The plan was based on population growth, utilization of infrastructure facilities, and advancement of effectual and environmentally sustainable energy sources. The master plan will affect critical areas, including Dubai Silicon Oasis Centre (DSO). With the key …

Effects Of Matching Images Of Natural And Built Environments On Delay Discounting: A Systematic Replication Of Berry Et Al. (2014), Elizabeth Fillmore

Theses

Decision making is heavily influenced by the environment around us. Berry et al. (2014, 2015, 2019) showed that viewing images of natural environments during the delay discounting task resulted in lower impulsive choice, as compared to viewing images of built environments or geometric figures. Berry et al. proposed that attentional factors could explain this effect, however, recent attempts to reproduce Berry et al.’s findings in a different laboratory have been unsuccessful (Johnson 2017, 2018, 2019). The present study tested if manipulating the participants’ observing responses towards different types of images (natural, built, and no images) modulates the effect reported by …

A Microchemical Analysis To Assess Contributions Of Stocked And Wild Channel Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus) To State-Owned Lakes In Arkansas, Morgan Reeves Winstead

Theses

Channel Catfish are broadly distributed in the U.S. and are important commercially and recreationally in many rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and streams. Since they are a popular sportfish, many state-owned lakes are stocked with a variety of sizes to enhance population sizes and provide angling opportunities. The goals of this study were to determine the contributions of stocked fish, determine the fish size at stocking, and to assess the contribution of yearling and catchable sizes to the stocked percentage. Fish samples were obtained from three hatcheries and six lakes within different ecoregions across Arkansas to assess whether chemical signatures were different …

Potential For Bioaccumulation And Biotransformation Of Bifenthrin And 4, 4’-Ddt Through Sediment Exposure To Chironomus Dilutus, Eleni K. Robinson

Theses

The ecological role of chironomids has been described as an abundant and ubiquitous prey item for not only aquatic species, but terrestrial and avian species as well. Global use of pesticides in urban and agricultural applications have introduced a potential threat not only to chironomid populations, but to the individuals that prey on chironomids. Chironomids direct contact with the sediment has resulted in both legacy and current-use pesticides being detected in the individuals throughout their life cycle. The capacity for contaminant uptake and biotransformation among each midge life stage and from larvae to adults, however, is poorly understood. The lipophilic …

Beyond The Page: Multimodal Lab-Based Research And Development In Creative Writing, Matthew Jacob Gordon

Theses

This collection acts as the supporting evidence of the hypothesis that, while acting as Graduate Director of SIU’s Digital Xpressions Lab, Matthew Gordon was able to successfully provide effective support for the digital expression of collaborator’s and client's domains of knowledge while forming innovative research partnerships with academics within the SIU system and beyond. A unique form for a MFA in Creative Writing’s thesis, this collection represents the multimodal creative work a contemporary narrative designer can undertake in a single academic year when given the ability to lead a facility like Southern Illinois University’s Digital Xpressions Lab. Qualitative evidence in …