Digital Commons Network^™

Experimental Investigation Of Shock Wave Boundary Layer Interaction Structure And Unsteadiness, Shannon R. Marko

Theses

No abstract provided.

Discrimination Of Freshwater Macrophyte Depth And Coverage In Situ Using Hyperspectral Remote Sensing, Timothy Klug

Theses

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of Transverse Electric And Transverse Magnetic Modes In Microstrip Patch Antennas, Tanzeela Mitha

Theses

Microstrip patch antennas are light weight and low cost antennas that are generally made of perfect electric conducting (PEC) materials and excite the transverse magnetic (TM) modes, when supported by a thin dielectric slab. In this thesis, a new type of patch antennas is investigated to excite the transverse electric (TE) modes, based on electromagnetic duality theorem. To this end, new sets of boundary conditions are enforced through utilizing perfect magnetic conductors (PMC) instead of PEC. That is, the zero-impedance PECs are replaced with high-impedance PMCs. Since a PMC does not exist in nature, artificial magnetic conductors (AMC), based on …

Bicycle Safety Investigation In Alabama Using Historical Crash Data And Stated-Preference Survey, Sydnie Fiocca

Theses

The study objectives were to analyze bicycle-vehicle crash data in Alabama using a detailed review of police reports to identify specific bicycle-vehicle crash causes and patterns and develop an online stated-preference survey to examine drivers’ and bicyclists’ behavior on shared roadways and their understanding of cycling regulations in Alabama. From the crash analysis, a detailed review of 1,311 bicycle-vehicle police reports (from 2011 to 2015) in Alabama was conducted. Nighttime riding (19:01-7:00) and crashes involving males and middle-aged persons (26 to 64) were more severe. Compared to intersections, more severe crashes occurred at midblock sections. No severe crashes have occurred …

Spec Cpu2017 : Performance, Energy And Event Characterization On Modern Processors, Ranjan Hebbar Seethur Raviraj

Theses

Computer engineers in both academia and industry rely on a standardized set of benchmarks to quantitatively evaluate the performance of modern computer systems and research prototypes. The SPEC CPU2017 benchmark suites are the most recent incarnation of standard benchmarks designed to stress a system’s processor, memory subsystem, and compiler. This thesis describes the results of measurement-based studies focusing on performance and energy-efficiency of modern Intel processors using SPEC CPU2017. The studies utilize SPEC CPU2017 run utilities as well as modern Linux tools for profiling that interface on-chip performance monitoring units. The thesis encompasses the following aspects of performance evaluation: (a) …

Solid Rocket Motor Static Fire Test Stand Optimization : Load Cell Effects And Other Uncertainties, Charles W. Freeman Ii

Theses

US military legacy missile systems must be periodically tested to ensure they will perform as designed during training and in times of armed conflict. The objective of this work was to assess the overall thrust measurement uncertainty of a tactical-sized solid rocket motor static thrust stand. Motor alignment, load cell / test stand dynamics, signal conditioning, data acquisition, and calibration procedures were examined as potential sources of uncertainty. The uncertainty analysis revealed that a 5,000 lbf thrust measurement can be made to within ±0.26% of full scale with 95% confidence. The load cell / test stand / motor structural resonance …

Solid-Liquid Phase Equilibria Near A Critical Point Of Solution, Xingjian Wang

Theses

Three experiments, including the dissolution of barium chromate in the isobutyric acid (IBA) + water and the dissolution of lead sulfate and lead iodide in the IBA + water, were performed to test the Griffiths and Wheeler postulate which predicts that when one density is held fixed, there should be a critical effect. The same critical effects on the solubility of both physical and chemical solid-liquid equilibria is predicted by the critical point universality. The existence and the strength of critical divergences can also be predicted by to the Griffiths and Wheeler postulates and the Gibbs phase rule analysis. The …

The Impact Of Humor On Stress Responses During A Listening Span Task, Cynthia L. Stanley

Theses

The current experiment examined how humor influences the effects of stress induced by mental workload. Participants completed a Modified Listening Span task (MLS) that was chosen to induce mental workload and measure working memory capacity. Participants also viewed a series of neutral and positive images, one of three videos, completed a workload measure before and after the MLS, and pulse wave amplitude readings were collected throughout the experiment. Participants reported higher workload ratings following completion of the MLS, demonstrating an increased mental workload. Subjective stress ratings and PWA readings were higher following the completion of the MLS, illustrating an increase …

Observational Analysis Of Small-Scale Magnetic Flux Ropes From Ulysses In-Situ Measurements, Yu Chen

Theses

Small-scale magnetic flux ropes, which have similar magnetic field configuration as their large-scale counterparts (i.e., magnetic clouds), but with different sizes and origin, constitute an important element of solar wind structures. They are also considered to be associated with local particle energization and other related processes. In this thesis, we apply the Grad-Shafranov (GS) reconstruction method to detect these small-scale flux ropes with a set of quantitative criteria by utilizing data from the Ulysses spacecraft measurements for the first time. We conduct full range automatic detection for years 1994, 1996, 2004 and 2005 during the solar minimum periods. Based on …

Resilience And Coping In Survivors Of Unwanted Sexual Contact: Do Gender And Service Utilization Make A Difference?, Madeleine Frankford

Theses

While rates of sexual assault vary widely across studies, strong evidence exists that women, as well as men, face a risk of being sexually victimized during their college years (Artime & Buchholz, 2016; Krebs et al., 2007; Moors & Webber, 2013). The goal of the current study was to examine the association between gender and service utilization on measures of resilience and coping in victims of unwanted sexual contact. As part of a larger campus climate survey, college students who identified as having experienced an incident of unwanted sexual contact since becoming a student at the university were asked a …

The Use Of Machine Learning To Detect Suckling In Pre-Weaned Calves, Sukumar Katamreddy

Theses

The weaning of cattle is a process which is known to be labour intensive and to have stressful effects on both cow and calf Common methods used in the weaning process include the temporary removal of a mother from the calf and manual observation and intervention. Early and speedy weaning is known to have a number of benefits, including health benefits for both cow and calf, additional weight gains for the calves as well as reduced labour and feed requirements. The process known as Two-Stage Weaning is recognised to be an effective low-stress approach to weaning in which the calf …

Quantifying The Offset Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions At The University Of North Alabama, Paul Dunn Graham

Theses

No abstract provided.

The Design, Test And Evaluation Of A Sensing System For Process Analytical Technology (Pat), Trevor Murphy

Theses

Increased globalisation and competitiveness has given rise to a more dynamic and diverse global market that has begun to place incredible strain on manufacturing supply chains. Conventional manufacturing methods such as the batch manufacturing methods employed largely by the materials processing industries i.e. pharmaceuticals, polymers and magnesium processing plants are ill-suited to cope with the demands of today. As products evolve with technological advancements they become more complex to produce and require alternative approaches to manufacturing to ensure product quality while reducing costs and increasing manufacturing efficiencies.

A potential solution to the growing demands on today's supply chain is process …

Improving Methods To Estimate Time Of Death From Body Temperature, Carly Berdan

Theses

By protocol, ambient and body temperatures are collected at every investigated death scene. These data has been used since 1839 to estimate the time of death, a crucial factor when it comes to cases of unnatural deaths and homicides. The Glaister Equation and Henssge's nomogram, commonly used to calculate estimated time of death, are inconsistent and often do not agree with each other. Therefore, my objective was to evaluate and improve them.

I collected data in the field and consistently measured temperature data. Furthermore, I was granted access to a database of every death in New Jersey and published data. …

Passive Planar Terahertz Retroreflectors, Dhruvkumar Desai

Theses

As the application of the Terahertz (THz) band (0.1 - 10 THz) is investigated in various settings, wireless communication stands out as an important frontier to explore. The benefits of increased bandwidth and data rates it promises will only be realized if new technology is developed to support it. Specifically, since THz wireless communication links are typically line-of-sight (LoS), the LoS can be blocked by moving obstacles, thereby requiring alternative link paths. One proposed solution for indoor wireless communications involves systems of steerable antennas, reflective "wallpaper", and steerable mirrors which would redirect THz beams around a blocking obstacle.

As an …

Changes In Nadph Oxidase (Nox) Protein Isoforms And Downstream Reactions As Function Of Time And Overpressure In Blast Tbi, Smit Prakash Shah

Theses

Blast-induced Traumatic brain injury (bTBI) is a leading cause of morbidity in soldiers on the battlefield and training sites with long-term neurological and psychological pathologies. Among many pathological sequela of blast TBI, oxidative stress has been identified as a major factor contributing to the pathophysiology of bTBI. Recent studies have demonstrated activation of oxidative stress pathways following blast injury but their distribution among different brain regions as function of post injury time and Blast over pressure (BOP) have not been explored. The present study examines the protein expression of NADP oxidase (NOX) isoforms 1 & 2, corresponding superoxide production, a …

Development Of The Alabama Prisoner Quality Of Life Survey, Mckenzie L. Alden

Theses

Quality of life (QOL) is a subjective evaluation of an individual’s position in life, and is context dependent. No research to date focuses on QOL in general inmate populations in the United States (U.S.). The aim of this study was to develop a psychometrically sound inmate QOL scale beta version for use with inmates in the U.S. prison system. A 136- item inmate QOL questionnaire was administered to 216 inmates at Limestone Correctional Facility (LCF) in Harvest, Alabama. Items were developed based on interviews with 38 LCF Correctional Officers and 77 LCF inmates, and previous research conducted in England and …

Parent Rated Importance Of Active Play And Organised Physical Activity For Young Children, Casey Murphy

Theses

Background: Children participate in less daily physical activity, both organised and informal, often referred to as active play (AP), than in the past. For young children, parents are primarily responsible for planning their child’s day including their engagement in physical activity.

Purpose: As there has been little research in this area, the purpose of this study was to examine how parents rated the importance of their child’s level of AP and organised physical activity (OPA), how this affected the amount of time their child participated in these activities, and whether their child’s physical activity (PA) related to their own level …

The Identification Of The Role And Competencies Of The Graduate Nurse In Recognising And Responding To The Deteriorating Patient In An Acute Ward Environment: A Mixed Methods Study, Steven Hardman

Theses

The identification of the role and competencies of the graduate nurse in recognising and responding to the deteriorating patient in an acute ward environment: A mixed method study. Patients’ physiological condition can be unstable for prolonged periods before transfer to critical care units. Thus, it is imperative that ward based nurses are able to recognise, respond and initially manage patients with a deteriorating condition. Unfortunately, warning signs of physiological decline are often missed, or ignored by both experienced and newly graduated registered nurses. Complex systems and processes to recognise and respond to clinical deterioration have been developed to try to …

Macroeconomic Risk Factors Of Australian Mining Companies, Mohammed Kamruzzaman

Theses

This thesis identifies the priced macroeconomic risk factors for the Australian mining industry from January, 2004 to December, 2013, and the macroeconomic variables that have had an impact on stock returns. A rapid growth in the stock returns of the mining industry in Australia occurred during this period. This phenomenon is studied using a multifactor model and arbitrage pricing theory. The method involves analysis of two samples: the top ten mining firms and the aggregate mining industry. Firstly, unbalanced panel data containing 1550 yearly observations of 155 mining companies is selected for the aggregate industrial analysis. Secondly, data from the …

Beyond The Pink Ribbon: An Exploration Of The Experience Of Self-Compassion In Western Australian Women Survivors Of Breast Cancer, Helen Wilson

Theses

Using a phenomenological lens this qualitative study explored the experience of self-compassion in self and other relating in Western Australian women breast cancer survivors (BCS). A purposive sample of 17 participants were drawn from women aged between 35 and 70 years of age who had completed treatment for primary breast cancer and had been disease-free for a minimum period of 12 months.

Participants were asked to take part in an in-depth semi-structured interview.

Additionally, eight participants interviewed engaged in three, one-hour Opening to

Self-Compassion sessions and three, four-hour sessions (12-hours in total) of a

Personal Reflection Program.

Data was …

Sustainability Of Sprinkler- Irrigated Horticulture On Sandy Soils At Binningup - Swan Coastal Plain, W.A., Eric Law

Theses

The sustainability of sprinkler-irrigated vegetable crops in the Binningup–Myalup area of south-western Australia was investigated. The main crops are carrots, potatoes and onions. The crops are grown throughout the year in sandy soils and require large volumes of sprinkler irrigation during the summer growing period and little during winter. The irrigation water is extracted from the underlying superficial aquifer.

The combination of water with a relatively high salt content, evaporation between the sprinkler and the ground, and subsequent high evapotranspiration, leads to escalating soil water salinity during summer. At Binningup, the necessary horticultural practice of daily watering in summer to …

The Shadow In The Light: The Dark Romanticism Of Francisco De Goya, Elizabeth Burns-Dans

Theses

The work of Francisco de Goya (1746-1828) is impressive both in its skill, and in its scope; but perhaps most strikingly in its diversity. This diversity has cultivated a crisis-narrative of Goya’s life; his famed artistic darkness only appeared following significant ‘crisis moments’ in his life. This research contends with this narrative by analysing a collection of Goya’s earlier, lesser-known artworks, the Tapestry Cartoons. The cartoons provide a powerful comparison to the collections of his later years, such as the Black Paintings (1819–23) and the Disasters of War (1810–20). Framing this analysis is the influence of Dark Romanticism, which was …

To Teach Or Not To Teach? The Experiences And Self-Perceptions Of Early Career Teachers In Western Australian Catholic Primary Schools That Led Them To Remain In The Profession, Deborah Black

Theses

The focus of this research was Early Career Teachers (ECTs) in Western Australian Catholic primary schools, their experiences and self-perceptions that led them to remain in the profession. The review of literature highlighted four aspects that were pertinent to ECTs’ decisions to remain in the profession. These four areas were: motivation to join the teaching profession; likes and dislikes of teaching; challenges faced as a teacher; and, strategies used for coping with challenges faced that maintained motivation to remain in the teaching profession.

The study focused on an instrumental case study, the conduct of which was located predominantly in the …

World Youth Day: An Australian Perspective, Anthony Cleary

Theses

World Youth Day has become the largest regular gathering of young people in the world, attracting hundreds of thousands, and on occasions, millions of participants. The size and scale of this Catholic religious event, and its generation of tourism and mass media coverage, help define the gathering as a mega-event with international significance.

Since its inception, Australians have participated in each of the international World Youth Days, and this participation has grown and diversified. Perhaps the most significant factor in this period, described by some as a ‘watershed moment’, was the influence and impact of an Australian city hosting World …

Investigation Into The Effect Of The Upsee On The Cognitive, Social And Physical Development Of Young Children With Down Syndrome., Diana Issac

Theses

Young children with Down syndrome face developmental delay in walking compared to a typically developing child. This delay in upright exploration can in turn affect other areas of development such as cognitive, social, self- help and emotional development. Acquisition of particular motor milestones is therefore vital. UPSEE is a new mobility device designed to help children with movement delays to stand and move with the help of an adult. This research investigated the use of UPSEE and measured children’s progress covering areas such as cognitive, social and physical development. Moreover, active parental, siblings and peer group involvement during the UPSEE …

Australian Dollar Price Shocks And The Australian Stock Market, Ramzi E.N Tarazi

Theses

This thesis presents three studies on the Australian dollar price shocks and the Australian stock market. In this thesis, we study the volatility of the major currencies, identify the effect of the Australian dollar return and volatility on six sectors of the Australian stock market, evaluate volatility from the Australian dollar to the big four banks’ shares volatility in Australia, and finally identify the risk factors for the real estate market in Australia at the fundamental factors and macroeconomies level.

In chapter two, we investigate the influence of volatility of the foreign exchange rate of the US, the UK, Euro-zone, …

“First Time Here, I Didn’T Know It Was Hospital”. Travelling For Treatment: The Structural Complexities Identified Via The Stories Of Aboriginal Women Who Relocated For Treatment In The State Adult Burns Unit At Fiona Stanley Hospital., Tiffany Ryan

Theses

Background: International and national research confirms the disparity in life expectancy between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations. Inequity of access to healthcare for remote and very remote Aboriginal people makes relocation for specialist medical services a necessity. The aim of this research is to investigate the effects of relocation on Aboriginal patients admitted to the State Adult Burn Unit at Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Aims: This qualitative study sought to define and describe this experience of relocation, with a strong focus on structural complexities. Aboriginal women were asked to describe their experiences of relocating from remote and very remote communities to the …

Cork International Airport: A Fulcrum For Business And Tourism Sectors In The Southern Region?, Kieran Moynihan

Theses

This research finds that aviation delivers many economic and social benefits for a region. European airports have undergone a major business transformation over the last two decades - from facilitators of air travel to fully-fledged businesses, competing for business and traffic in a liberalised market. This study focuses on Cork International Airport, in a national and international context, to assess its infrastructural importance to the economic performance of the region. A post-positivistic approach was applied to research the topic, and interviews were conducted with relevant authorities on the subject matter. The researcher interviewed twelve contributors with a fixed list of …

Exploring Organisations’ Awareness Of The Costs Associated With Millennial Employee Turnover., Ray Cronin

Theses

There has been much commentary in recent years regarding younger people, particularly Millennials, and that discussion has focused on whether they change employment more than previous generations. Additionally there has been debate regarding whether the Millennial generation show less loyalty to employers today. Loyalty, for the purposes of this study, is considered not m terms of dedication, commitment or dependability, but rather in terms of medium to long term allegiance, tenure and faithfulness to the existing employer. The counter argument to this theory is that tenure has more to do with life stage and nothing to do with being Millennial …