Digital Commons Network^™

A Comparison Of Metabolite Extraction And Data Manipulation Methods For ¹H Nmr Spectroscopy Of Skeletal Muscle Using Chicken Breast Tissue, Hannah Underhill

Theses

¹H NMR has become an incredibly useful tool in the field of metabolomics. Many tissue types may be examined via ¹H NMR in order to obtain a quantitative metabolic profile for an infinite number of phenotypes. In this study, I have tested three methods of metabolite extraction in conjunction with three methods of data analysis, in an attempt to determine which combination of the six methods (if any) are appropriate for extracting aqueous metabolites from skeletal muscle tissue for metabolite description and quantification via ¹H NMR. Metabolite extraction methods tested the use of methanol/ chloroform/ water, methanol/ …

A Case Study Of The 19 March 2018 Northern Alabama Tornadic Supercell And Its Relation To An Atmospheric Bore, Michael Graham

Theses

On 19 March 2018, a tornado outbreak affected Alabama. During this event a supercell that moved over northern Alabama into the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes EXperiment-Southeast (VORTEX-SE) mesoscale network produced several tornadoes, one of which was high-end EF-2. Preliminary data shows that this supercell storm formed in a buoyantly stable environment. Surface observations of pressure rises indicate the passage of an atmospheric bore. Development of the bore caused the buoyantly stable environment to become buoyantly unstable and led the storm to survive in an environment in which it would otherwise would have been difficult to survive …

Assessment Of Public Transit And Access To Essential Services And Facilities In Huntsville, Alabama, Sachin Shivashankar

Theses

This study aims to investigate the accessibility of public transit within the City of Huntsville, Alabama, in Madison County. Accessibility, in this context, refers to the distance between the residents in a certain census tract to essential amenities such as hospitals, schools, parks, workplaces, and other necessary services using public transportation. Data were obtained from the US Census Bureau and the City of Huntsville's Data Depot, focusing on aspects such as population socio-demographic attributes, and the distribution of essential amenities within the Huntsville city. Utilizing a range of Geographic Information System (GIS) methodologies and tools, including proximity analysis, random forest …

Connecting Bridges : A Critical Disability Reading Of A Silent Voice, Tyler Dickey

Theses

Disability scholars have read stories in the form of manga to see how their depictions of disabilities can be harmful or helpful to those possessing disabilities. Most manga examined in this way usually consists of a story where either only one character is present with a disability, or the story falls within the ‘supercrip’ narrative. Yoshitoki Ōima’s A Silent Voice differs from this trend as it displays multiple characters with different types of disabilities and falls into the slice-of-life genre. This thesis exists to do a critical disability reading of A Silent Voice as a piece of disability literature. I …

The Implications Of Information Load On Usability And Performance In Dashboards, Emily O'Hear

Theses

As learning analytics dashboards become ubiquitous in various industries, understanding how users process data and information is crucial to their design. Previous literature has brought valuable knowledge to dashboard design and cognitive load, but it is unclear how individuals perform with and digest a high or low information load. Tradeoffs are present as a dashboard with a lower information load requires more clicks and a dashboard with a higher information load could lead to information overload. This study presented a data-rich and minimalistic dashboard to active-duty airmen at Fairchild Air Force Base. Results indicated that participants largely preferred the data-rich …

Differences In Effectiveness Of Intrinsic And Extrinsic Motivation-Based Incentives In Promoting Use, Acceptance, And Adoption Of Automated Systems, Hannah M. Barr

Theses

This study examines the effectiveness of incentive mechanisms manipulating extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. Specifically, these incentives are used to promote use, acceptance, and adoption of an automated system in a simulated hostage-rescuing task. More frequent use of the automated system indicates increased acceptance and adoption. Participants are measured for how frequently they use the system. Participants also responded to questionnaires measuring their motivation, acceptance, and adoption. Bayesian ANOVAs are used to find differences in use, acceptance, and adoption between incentive mechanisms. It was expected that incentive mechanisms affecting intrinsic motivation will outperform incentive mechanisms affecting extrinsic motivation in promoting system …

Data In Action Story : Sharing And Exploring Earth Science Data, Dan Pham

Theses

To fill in the gap between the data vendors, who want to promote commercial datasets, and Earth Science researchers, who want an accessible method to the valuable datasets, the “Data in Action” story concept has been adopted by the NASA Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program to encourage creating and sharing data information in story form. To aid researchers in exploring similar stories in their fields of interest, this researcher created an “Influence Network” within the “Data in Action” framework. The Influence Network is a data visualization feature which gathers information related to story relationships using a concept called “influence.” …

Exergy Analysis Of Nuclear Power Devices For Lunar Power Applications, Griffin Smith

Theses

An exergy-based analysis of a power generation system based on nuclear fission coupled to a Stirling converter is conducted to assess overall system performance. To determine the exergy characteristics of this system, exergy balances are derived for each subsystem and calculated in MATLAB codes. Exergy destruction and exergy efficiency are quantified over the lunar diurnal cycle for each of NASA’s Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology (KRUSTY) subsystem and the system as a whole. The presented results show that the KRUSTY integrated system efficiency is dependent on specific load profiles, and that constant load profiles result in the highest system exergy …

The Impact Of Framing Effects And User Role On Analytics Dashboard User Experience, Carly Gray

Theses

This study considered the design and formatting of data visualizations as framing effect catalysts among leader and subordinate Air Force personnel. Gain and loss framing was applied to dashboard prototypes by incorporating colors with known population stereotypes (i.e., red and green) and emphasizing completed or remaining tasks. Users’ performance, preferences, and risk tendency were measured in response. Risk-aversion, performance and preference were expected to be higher in the loss frame for leaders and higher in the gain frame for subordinates. Study results did not fully support the involvement of role with framing effects, and main effects were observed for some …

Large Scale Data Transfers In Cloud-Based Systems, Uday Kumar Bommala

Theses

My dissertation focuses on developing a High-performance, Scalable, and Efficient Data Transfer Framework with Configurable and Extensible Features. The exponential growth of high-volume data poses collaboration challenges for big data providers, particularly in global-scale scientific research. The Earth’s scientific sector experiences an ongoing trend of increasing temporal and spatial data resolution, resulting in massive data archives at organizations like NASA, ESA, and JAXA. To facilitate efficient scientific study with partner agencies worldwide, data transfer solutions must handle this vast data volume across platforms at reasonable costs. The dissertation proposes a 3-phase approach (Analysis, Evaluation, and Implementation) to address the implementation …

Bayesian Model Calibration Of A Mechanical Finite Element Model Of An Lr61 Alkaline Battery, William O'Donoghue

Theses

The growing use of batteries in vehicular applications and its associated risk of crashes that develop large deformations has raised the salience of how mechanical loads can lead to battery failure and cascade to battery pack fires. Batteries are complicated devices containing many materials with complex behaviors, making calibration of mechanical simulations an involved process. There are many techniques in the inverse problem field which could complement existing model tuning procedures through reducing the required number of experimental tests by extracting more information out of each data set and identifying which observations can most improve the model parameters at the …

Environmental Factors Influencing Selection Of Cave Entrances As Nesting Sites By The Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis Phoebe), J. Foster Sims

Theses

The Eastern Phoebe (Saynoris phoebe) is a medium-sized flycatcher found throughout eastern North America that traditionally nested in cave entrance zones. However, with the onset of human civilization and the adoption of man-made structures (e.g., barns, porches, bridges), the Eastern Phoebe’s population has dramatically increased (over 90%) in recent years. There has been little recent research regarding the continued use of cave entrances as nesting sites by the Eastern Phoebe. In this study, I surveyed 50 cave entrances in northern Alabama and south-central Tennessee to determine the environmental factors that influence the use of cave entrances as nesting …

Optical Transmission Of A Moving Fabry-Perot Interferometer, Nazar Pyvovar

Theses

In this thesis, I consider a novel way of using the Fabry-Perot interferometer - one of the most well-known optical instruments, extensively studied for over a century. I propose to use a moving Fabry-Perot cavity as part of a compound interferometer and find the most important implications of such design in the simplest case of uniform Fabry-Perot cavity motion. I separately build a general theoretical framework with which to analyze arbitrarily moving Fabry-Perot cavities and discuss leading-order effects resulting from non-uniform motion.

Design Of A High Altitude Simulation Apparatus For The Uah Solid Fuel Ramjet, Joseph Agnew

Theses

A modular high altitude simulation apparatus is designed and incorporated into the UAH connected-pipe flow facility for solid fuel ramjet studies. A literature review is conducted on solid fuel ramjets, high altitude simulation approaches, and parameters of gas ejectors. Next, a system-wide design process is detailed with validating calculations as well as high-level CFD simulations. Finally, a compilation of relevant test data is provided along with relevant analysis. The eductor system achieved 11 psia at 0.054 lbm/s of heated air flow rate, well short of the desired 8 psia at 0.062 lbm/s flow rate. Ejector efficiency was between 43 and …

The Spiral Generator : Theory And Methods For Modeling And Fabrication, Jacob Kinsey

Theses

This thesis attempts to confront shortcomings of spiral generator knowledge of testing at low voltages, design techniques of spiral generators, and fabrication methods. To achieve this, basic fabrication methods were employed for generators to be tested at low and high voltage. This effort allowed development of a simple two-frequency model and winding machine. This two-frequency model depicts output waveform amplitude as a scaler of charging voltage and has been found to be adequate for using the model in comparison to less trivial models which can be less accurate in time-domain behavior. An updated winding machine was proposed as a result …

An Investigation Of Mission Designs To The Outer Solar System Supported By Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Propulsion, William Ziehm

Theses

Centrifugal nuclear thermal propulsion (CNTP) has potential for supporting scientific missions to the outer solar system, shown by investigation of mission and vehicle architectures to the outer planets and Kuiper belt. The patched conic method provided initial guesses for numerical simulation and relationships between parameters of interest for trade studies, recommending engine performance parameters for missions supported by CNTP. Results of the patched conic model were validated by comparison to numerical results, which were within the expected variance for transit time with identical propellant margins based on literature. The trade studies gave a range of performance required to close rendezvous …

The Impact Of Mkp-2 Deficiency On Hematological Parameters In Diet Challenged Mice, Cassandra Secunda

Theses

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) regulate metabolic homeostasis and MAPK dysfunction promotes metabolic diseases. MAPK phosphatases (MKPs) regulate MAPKs and are implicated in obesity and platelet activation. To elucidate the role of MKP-2 in platelet function and NAFLD, tail bleed, platelet isolation, and western blot assays were performed. MKP-2 KO mice and control mice were fed either a chow or 12- 13 week high fat diet (HFD), a 10 week iron deficient (ID), or an iron supplement (IS) regimen. On the chow diet, the bleeding time was significantly reduced in female MKP-2 KO mice. Male MKP-2 KO IS mice showed significantly …

Assessing Activity Of Iot Smart Stuff Using Inertial Sensors, Juan Tarrat

Theses

Inertial sensors, including accelerometers and gyroscopes, are commonly used for capturing and quantifying motion and orientation data. IoT devices use inertial sensors to detect user activity. In this thesis we present the use of inertial sensors for determining user interactions with smart objects of everyday use, that we refer to as Smart Stuff. We present a novel use of inertial sensor to assess the use and state of the smart water bottle configured as IoT appliance. Staying hydrated is crucial for health and wellbeing; precise monitoring of user hydration is very important for the elderly and patients with chronic conditions. …

Enabling Multi-Modal Enhanced Search Using Self-Supervised Learning On Multispectral Images, Meghana Nagarahalli Paramesh

Theses

Advanced Deep Learning techniques have been widely used in Spatial Data Science specifically with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Petabyte scale data production is occurring due to advances in remote sensing capabilities within the commercial and government sectors. Discovering relevant data for science research and applications can become difficult with large volumes of spatially and temporally diverse data availability. The NASA Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program acquires and archives data from commercial satellite remote sensing vendors. While the underlying observation characteristics may be similar, such as being visible imagery, varying orbital and acquisition strategies result in a disparate data archive. …

On The Existence Of Transversals In Latin Squares Generated From Algebraic Structures, Patrick Eads

Theses

A Latin square in an n x n array of symbols in which each row and each column is a permutation of the n symbols. A selection of n cells from this array that lie on different rows and different columns and contain all n symbols is a transversal of the Latin square. Two longstanding conjectures concern the existence of transversals, Ryser’s conjecture and Brualdi’s conjecture. This thesis examines some of the results that have been achieved in investigating these conjectures, particularly in the cases of Latin squares generated from the Cayley tables of non-associative algebraic structures. A new method …

Method To Determine Refractive Index By Use Of Optical Focal Shift, Michael Burleson

Theses

Documentation for optical polymer refractive indices tend to be listed for one wavelength, λ_d = 587.56 nm, out to only 2 decimal places. Optical glass catalogues generally list index values to 5 decimal places for 10-15 different wavelengths. This thesis describes a new approach to an old method to determine the indices of polymer samples at λ_HeNe = 632.8 nm (HeNe). It begins by introducing methods for measuring refractive index and their limitations. The property of Snell’s Law is then presented and it is shown how, with specific interferometer equipment, to determine the refractive index of a …

Evaluating Transit Demand For Disadvantaged Riders And A New Performance Measure To Incorporate Disadvantaged Riders, Sahana Shankar

Theses

Access to transportation is a fundamental need for individuals to access employment, healthcare, education, and social activities. However, disadvantaged populations, such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and those with limited incomes, often face transportation challenges, resulting in social and economic disparities. The goal was to address these disparities by examining transit demand and introducing a new performance measure that factors in demographic characteristics, particularly for vulnerable populations. To achieve this, the study utilizes data from the United States Census and transit providers in Alabama. It relies on the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to pinpoint areas where vulnerable populations are …

Testing Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma : A Model For Cleaning Single-Use Urinary Catheters To Prevent Infections, Elanie Francease Briggs

Theses

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most abundant bacterial infections world-wide with over 10 million cases and 13,000 deaths each year in the United States alone. The use of urinary catheters in hospitals and in outpatients significantly increases the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) that are promoted by uropathogenic biofilm formation. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the dominant cause for both UTI and CAUTI, which are becoming increasingly multidrug-resistant. Uropathogenic biofilm accumulation on urinary catheters is very resistant to treatment by traditional sterilization methods. Cold atmospheric pressure plasmas (CAPP) have been known for their strong microbicidal …

Learning To Calibrate Trust Through Explainability, Amber F. Chesser

Theses

Automation has been implemented in a range of machinery. Providing supplementary information about system processes (i.e., explainability) could mitigate over-reliance and enhance operator awareness of potential anomalies. Trust plays a critical role in human- automation collaboration, as over-trust can lead to misuse or over-reliance, while under-trust can result in disuse or the failure to engage automation when it could enhance performance. Dynamic learned trust and situational trust fluctuate during an operator's interaction with a system and can be influenced by the rate of system failures or workload respectively. Design features like explainability can impact perceived usefulness and help users identify …

Using Ml Algorithms To Predict Real Estate Units Valuations In Ajman, Heba Al Yazouri

Theses

This project applies machine learning algorithms to predict the real estate unit’s values in the emirates of Ajman. Adopting machine learning techniques to predict real estate unit prices helps us produce more accurate valuations. It allows us to use historical data that can’t be used in traditional valuation techniques.

Datasets from the Department of Land & Real Estate were used to run an exploratory analysis to explore the most critical factors influencing real estate unit prices in Ajman. It shows that the unit area is the most significant factor affecting Ajman's real estate unit prices. It also shows how the …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Quality Of Homicide Evidence Provided To Law Enforcement, Reilly Calloway

Theses

The present study investigated the perceived quality of homicide evidence provided to law enforcement by the coroner versus medical examiner systems. Respondents (N=15) from county law enforcement agencies in three different Southeastern states that utilize either the coroner, medical examiner, or combination of both systems were presented with a 17-question virtual survey that included questions regarding personal background, educational background, employment history, knowledge of the medical examiner versus coroner systems, and personal experience with one or both systems involving homicide investigations. Participants who resided in the state that utilizes the medical examiner system reported mostly negative feedback regarding the collection, …

Looking In Jefferson's Mirror: Thomas Jefferson's Evolving Representation In Public History, Julie Spent

Theses

Thomas Jefferson's legacy entertains a high level of debate and controversy. Though he left a dense record of historical documents, the debate surrounding his words and actions has allowed for differing interpretations and representations over time. This study will focus on Jefferson's representations in public history with specific emphasis on examining the limitations or distortions present in these interpretations. Analysis of the image of Jefferson in public history reveals larger social and cultural influences in American society. This investigation will incorporate the way in which public history interpretations of Jefferson reflect and influence public views on race, class, and gender. …

Alabama's French Connection, Dixie Norwood

Theses

During the seventeenth century, a race to expand European empires into the New World was underway. Many explorers landed on shores that were far from where they had intended to arrive. What many perceived as mistakes, others saw as opportunities. Louis XIV was determined to expand his empire and establish a larger French dominance in North America. He and his minister of finance, Jean Baptiste Colbert, recognized that France was in a position to expand New France and the French Empire’s territory by following a previously spoken plan laid out by French explorer, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle in …

A Study Of Explainable Real-Time Object Detection And Human-Ai Teaming Interactions In Virtual Environments, Joseph Schwalb

Theses

The exponential nature by which Artificially Intelligent (AI) models grow enables evermore complex tasks to be achieved. Since these tasks tend to augment human capability, interacting with these models presents a unique way to commission assistive automation. The introduction of Explainable AI (XAI) enables AI stakeholders to converse with models, understand model reasonings, and comprehend biases while considering reliability requirements. The introduction of this Explainable capability in Human-AI teams presents a unique approach to addressing the complexities behind Human-Computer Interactions. Our application of Explainable AI for Intelligent Systems to augment decision-making is poised to shine a light on the challenges, …

Disjointed Cynicism, Jay Armstrong

Theses

Like most students, I started this writing MA program to become a better writer, which would be a tremendous benefit to me both personally and professionally. Put simply, I want to write books I would enjoy reading. While I have enjoyed a few of the short stories that I have written so far, my work is nowhere near the level of the action-lacked novels I love to read for leisure. I feel my biggest shortcoming is in framing up multiple storylines to make a well-paced novel, which is my long-term goal. My writing usually has a lot of action and …