Digital Commons Network^™

Modelling Terrestrial And Potential Extraterrestrial Photopigments Via Density Functional Theory, Dorothea Illner

Theses and Dissertations

In the search for extraterrestrial life, biosignatures play a crucial role in identifying its putative traces. A commonly known and robust biosignature is the Vegetation Red Edge (VRE), which can be described as a sharp increase of reflectance observed from a planet and stems from the light absorption of photopigments in specific regions in the electromagnetic spectrum. For Earth, this VRE is known to occur around 700 nm, however, if the photopigments absorb light in different regions and have different structures the VRE could experience a wavelenght shift.

In this work, Chlorophyll a and a potential photopigment precursor called Phot0 …

Microwave Imaging Technique For Breast Cancer Detection, Nure Alam Chowdhury

Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer is a global problem, and it is inevitable to detect cancerous cells at early stages. In recent years, microwave imaging technology has been widely applied in biomedical applications for its non-ionizing radiation. In this study, we design a micro-strip patch antenna with an inverted T-type notch in the partial ground to detect tumor cells inside the human breast. The size of the current antenna is small enough (18 mm × 21 mm × 1.6 mm) to distribute around the breast phantom. The operating frequency has been observed from 6–14 GHz with a minimum return loss of −61.18 dB …

An Investigation Into In-Flight Loss Of Control Accidents Due To Horizontal Stabilizer Changes On The Piper Cherokee, Connor John Geran

Theses and Dissertations

Loss of Control (LOC) while in-flight in General Aviation (GA) has been the subject of intense research by academic institutions and regulatory agencies in recent years [4] [9] [11] [19] [20] [21]. This interest is primarily due to a disproportionate number of all aircraft accidents occurring within the GA category of flight, with 94% of accidents in 2022 occurring within GA, caused primarily by pilot LOC, with 42% of accidents having LOC as the listed cause. Research into this subject at FIT yielded the results that many common GA aircraft tend to experience a strong pitch up response after undergoing …

Investigating Potential Improvements To Mbse Software To Support Dodaf, Jennifer Marie Kimpson

Theses and Dissertations

The integration of models created through model-based systems engineering methods with DoDAF is not a new concept. By creating DoDAF-aligned models, DoD program managers are following DoD guidelines to hopefully achieve more effective communication with stakeholders and improve efficiency of their programs. With the use of MBSE tools to create these models, DoD program managers are able to take further advantage of the benefits of MBSE methods. However, even with the use of MBSE tools, there continue to be issues throughout DoD programs. The literature has shown that a continuous improvement approach regarding the use of MBSE tools with DoDAF …

Improving Pitch Recognition By Fading Visual Prompts, Joshua Lawrence Ford

Theses and Dissertations

Behavioral Science and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) provides tools and technologies that can be used by players, coaches, and researchers to enhance the traditional training for student athletes. The current study was designed to examine whether stimulus prompts would facilitate collegiate baseball player’s accuracy of pitch identification for three pitches. A secondary measure was to decrease the latency from the launch of a pitch to identification of the pitch. Decreases in the latency of a hitter recognizing a pitch and increases in pitch recognition accuracy were noted using visual analysis. Stimulus fading showed mixed results across participants. Future directions and …

Space Transformation For Open Set Recognition, Atefeh Mahdavi

Theses and Dissertations

Open Set Recognition (OSR) is about dealing with unknown situations that were not learned by the models during training. In OSR, only a limited number of known classes are available at the time of training the model and the possibility of unknown classes never seen at training time emerges in the test environment. In such a setting, the unknown classes and their risk should be considered in the algorithm. Such systems require not only to identify and discriminate instances that belong to the source domain (i.e., the seen known classes contained in the training dataset) but also to reject unknown …

Caelus: Cubesat Array For The Exploration Of The Uranus System, Dylan George Heidenrich Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

Following recommendations from the 2023-2032 Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey, we propose a novel Pre-Phase A level Uranus exploration mission concept that is centered on using swarms of small spacecraft to observe the Uranus system. This mission could act as a supplement to the Flagship Uranus Orbiter and Probe mission detailed in said Decadal Survey. We propose launching a 4,500 kg spacecraft on an Earth-Jupiter-Uranus gravity assist transfer trajectory with a transfer time of six years, launching in 2033 and arriving at Uranus in 2039. This shorter transfer time and accelerated development timeline would allow for an earlier arrival …

Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Models Based Accelerated Mri, Alexander Francis Bugielski

Theses and Dissertations

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a cornerstone in obtaining intricate visualizations of anatomy and physiological processes within the human body. However, its extensive scan duration not only causes patient discomfort but also increases the likelihood of motion-induced artifacts in the images. To address such a challenge, this study investigates deep neural network models for reconstructing high-resolution MRI images from noisy and significantly undersampled data in a supervised learning manner. Specifically, it compares three models: a conventional U-Net, a self-attentive U-Net, and an innovative probabilistic diffusion model that builds upon the self-attentive U-Net architecture. These models are evaluated on their ability …

The Effects Of Performance Matrix Scorecards And Job Crafting On Student-Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork Experience And Burnout Levels, Mary Louise Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

Prioritizing behavior analyst well-being should start during coursework and concentrated supervised fieldwork (CSF) experience. Research shows burnout is highly likely in human service settings, and teaching individuals how to implement protective factors against burnout should be a focus in addition to required coursework and practicum experience. Experiment 1 will analyze the effects of a performance matrix scorecard on improved productivity and well-being for students starting their practicum experience. Experiment 2 will teach students how to practice job crafting to enhance the use of the performance matrix scorecard. Using these tools could teach students generalizable skills to maintain high levels of …

Artificial Neural Networks As The Solution Of Inverse Heat Conduction Problems In Multidimensional Domains, Andrea Carolina Martinez Mundarain

Theses and Dissertations

Surface heat flux measurement is essential in various industrial applications including atmospheric entry of space vehicles, machining processes, non-destructive testing and more. While direct measurement of surface heat flux is known to be a very difficult, if not infeasible, task, acquiring temperature measurement from sub- surface locations are often viable. The problem of evaluating the surface heat flux using internal temperature measurements is known as an inverse heat conduction problem (IHCP). IHCPs are considered as mathematically ill-posed as they are highly sensitive to measurement error. This research presents a solution based on the implementation of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to …

Ai-Powered Information Retrieval In Meeting Records And Transcripts Enhancing Efficiency And User Experience, Srushti Nitin Ghadge

Theses and Dissertations

This study compares the traditional search methods, which is to search from video recordings of the meetings by moving the slider back and forth or by keyword search in transcripts versus integrated AI video plus transcript search. Based on the previous test results, we introduced some human-centric design features to the AI and built a new enhanced AI search tool for information retrieval. For search technique efficiency testing, the method had two set of experiments. The first results of the experiment showed that AI-based search algorithms were more accurate and faster than conventional search approaches. Participants were also happier with …

The Dark Side Of Engagement: An Organizational Fairness Perspective, Katherine Naomi Rau

Theses and Dissertations

Employee engagement has long been regarded as a positive phenomenon for organizations and individuals. However, recent investigations into unintended, negative consequences of engagement have illuminated the potential “dark side” of engagement. This research applied an organizational fairness lens by investigating the relationship between engagement and psychological contract fulfillment to explain why engaged employees may experience emotional exhaustion and turnover intentions. Additionally, autotelic personality and job crafting were explored as potential mitigating factors in weakening the relationships between psychological contract breach and emotional exhaustion and turnover intention. While findings across two studies did not support the assertion that engagement was related …

High-Fidelity 3d Reconstruction Of Space Bodies Using Machine Learning And Neural Radiance Fields, Timothy Jacob Huber

Theses and Dissertations

In the era of burgeoning space exploration, the growing population of spacecraft heightens the inevitability of collisions. While traditional imagery remains effective for damage assessment, its lack of 3D representation of the object necessitates more advanced approaches. This research delves into cutting-edge methodologies, with a primary focus on leveraging machine learning and computer vision technologies to enhance the precision and efficiency of damage assessment by taking imagery of a space body and creating a 3D model. The study extensively investigates TransMVSNet, a neural network code employing classical computer vision techniques such as multi-vision stereo (MVS) and depth maps. This approach …

Cross-Framework Validation Of Cnn Architectures: From Pytorch To Onnx, Shreya Nandanwar

Theses and Dissertations

This research presents CIPAC (CNN Inter-framework Parameter Analysis and Comparison), a validation approach designed to ensure the integrity of Deep Learning models during their transfer between computational frameworks. Although initially tested on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), CIPAC is versatile enough for various Deep Learning architectures. It goes beyond traditional methods that focus on output accuracy, by examining the models’ architecture, parameters, and components to maintain consistency after transitions, like moving from PyTorch to ONNX framework. Inspired by software architecture’s stringent validation standards, CIPAC addresses the challenges of working with Machine Learning models on different platforms, making it an essential tool …

Investigating Endothelial Damage During Ischemic Stroke Treatment Using In Vitro And Computational Models, Zackary Lorton

Theses and Dissertations

Large vessel occlusion during acute ischemic strokes requires mechanical thrombectomy (MT) procedures using stent retrievers (SR). However, complete clot removal typically takes several attempts, which can amplify endothelial cell injury (EI). This project aims to characterize the extent of EI during MT using an in vitro vascular platform and a finite-element model (FEM). Impact of SR diameter and characterization of SR mechanical forces are assessed and correlated with human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) response. HUVECs were seeded on fibronectin (4 µg/cm²) coated true-scale PDMS arterial phantoms with 2.5 mm luminal diameter. Test groups (n=6) either …

Synthesis Of Durable Zeolite 13x Insertion Coatings And Scaled-Up Experimental Demonstration For Co2 Capture, Daniel Jamil Hocheimy

Theses and Dissertations

Minimizing the energy requirement for capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from post-combustion sources is critical to efficient industrial decarbonization and subsequent mitigation of the effects of climate change. The current portfolio of CO₂ capture technologies includes absorption, membrane separation and packed bed adsorption, which suffer from high energy and temperature requirements, scalability, and location dependency issues. Adsorption-based systems could cater to these concerns; however, their current embodiments primarily use packed adsorbent bed design and electricity-driven vacuum pumps to regenerate them. While simple and easy to fabricate, these designs are not scalable and cannot use heat to regenerate them …

Computational Fluid Dynamics Study Of Perforated Monopiles, Mary Kathryn Walker

Theses and Dissertations

Monopiles are used in the construction of offshore wind turbines and typically have a design life of 25 to 50 years. Over their lifecycle, monopiles are exposed to a corrosive saltwater environment, facilitating a galvanic oxidation process that quickly degrades the structure. This process can be mitigated by coating the monopile in a protective barrier and implementing cathodic protection techniques. Historically, monopile designers assumed the interior of the pile would be completely sealed and the galvanic corrosion process would eventually consume all the available oxygen, halting the reaction. However, penetrations made in the pile wall for conduit often leaked and …

Analysis Of The Temperature Dynamics In General Aviation Brake System, Rajnea Anthony Coley

Theses and Dissertations

As aircraft brakes are subjected to intense heat generation during landings and braking maneuvers, comprehending the temperature dynamics is essential for ensuring optimal performance, longevity, and, most importantly, the safety of flight operations. This paper dives into understanding heating and cooling in the brake systems of the Piper Aircraft PA28. In order to investigate the thermal behavior of aircraft brake components, this study evaluates a variety of general aviation braking scenarios, from light to heavy braking, including stop-and-go landings, full-stop taxi backs, and continuous braking while taxiing. It was noticeable that light braking exhibits slight temperature increases and cooling rates. …

Experimental And Numerical Analysis Of Laminar And Transitional Flow Through Annular Corrugated Pipes, Joseph Russell Sargent

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents studies on pressure loss through annular corrugated pipes to determine a friction factor coefficient using nitrogen. Ten different corrugated pipes’ geometries were evaluated via testing and experimentation. The ratio of corrugation height to inner diameter varied from 0.233 to 0.333 and the ratio of corrugation pitch to inner diameter varied from 0.181 to 0.446. Nitrogen flow rates between 0.25 to 94.4 standard liters per minute were used, resulting in Reynolds numbers, based on the corrugated pipe inner diameter, from 100 to 23,000. The experimental set-up was validated using smooth-pipe pressure loss measurements and the derived friction factor …

Investigating Factors Influencing Blockchain Adoption In Saudi Healthcare Data Management, Noura Mohammad Alkhalifah

Theses and Dissertations

Blockchain technology can potentially address security and privacy issues concerning the collection, storage, and sharing of healthcare data. However, its adoption within the healthcare sector is nascent in Saudi Arabia. This underutilization prompted our investigation into the determinants influencing blockchain adoption, intending to fully empower the Saudi healthcare sector to leverage blockchain capabilities. To achieve this, an extensive literature review was conducted to identify the pivotal factors encompassing technology, organization, and environment (TOE) that affect the successful implementation of blockchain technologies in managing healthcare data within the Saudi context. Utilizing the TOE framework, this study formulated three hypotheses concerning the …

Thermal Conductivity Of Thin Porous Ceramic Coatings: An Analytical And Experimental Study, Lei Zhao

Theses and Dissertations

An analytical model of the thermal conductivity of the porous yttrium-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) layer used in the thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) is presented. Such high-temperature resistant coatings are essential to protect the metallic components of gas turbine engines. The model calculates the conductivity based on the coating's porosity, pore size distribution, and pore morphology, including the individual pore cross-section area, aspect ratio, and orientation, which are extracted from the scanning electron microscopy images. The model was verified through comparisons with numerical simulation results from a multiphysics software tool. A laser temperature gradient test was performed to validate the analytical model …

High Intraspecific Diversity Of Pocillopora Damicornis In Southeast Asia Reflects Adaptive Potential To Climate Change, Maria Lucille Carr

Theses and Dissertations

Marine heatwaves are increasing in intensity and frequency because of increased emissions of greenhouse gases. On coral reefs, warmer temperatures cause coral bleaching, mortality, and shifts in benthic composition. However, coral bleaching responses and survival vary geographically. Several hypotheses may explain such geographical differences in thermal tolerance, including the possibility that some localities may support higher intraspecific diversity than other localities, increasing the likelihood of survival of some individuals through heatwaves. Here we assessed geographic patterns of intraspecific genetic diversity in the ubiquitous coral Pocillopora damicornis. Intraspecific genetic diversity was assessed for 428 sequences across 44 sites in the Pacific …

Controlled Delivery Of Peptide And Gasotransmitter For Promoting Vascular Endothelialization, Shirin Changizi

Theses and Dissertations

Endothelial cells (ECs) are vital for maintaining proper vascular function and regulating processes such as hemostasis and inflammation. Disruption of endothelial cells integrity can lead to several pathological conditions, including coronary artery disease, vascular cognitive impairment, and dementia (VCID). Alterations in ECs distribution may lead to compromised blood-brain barrier (BBB) function, facilitating the passage of blood components and contributing to conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, disruptions in ECs function can lead to early-stage thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia, resulting in graft failure in small-diameter (

This study aimed to develop innovative approaches for drug delivery to the BBB and TEVGs …

Deep Learning System Identification, Linearization And Control Of Dynamical Systems Utilizing Koopman Theory With Applications In Orbital Systems, George Mario Nehma

Theses and Dissertations

The computational and complexity burden of current linearization techniques is one that is a hinderance in the application of real world guidance, navigation and control systems. With the advancements in Deep Neural Networks, large data handling and Koopman Theory, the possibility of global linearizations of nonlinear systems is more prominent. This work demonstrates the capability of a Deep Neural Network learned Koopman operator to transform a nonlinear system into a Linear Time-Invariant system. The method presented is applied to both two purely dynamical systems and one controlled system to emphasize the ability for the technique to be applied in all …

Modeling Ash Deposition During Oxy-Coal Combustion Of A High Alkali Earth Metal (Powder River Basin) Coal: Insights From Turbulence Modeling, Mohamed Zamzam

Theses and Dissertations

Coal production has waned in recent years despite its historical significance, driven by mounting concerns over climate change and the escalating adoption of renewable energy sources. With coal production in the U.S. expected to continue its decline and stricter environmental regulations looming due to increasing greenhouse gases and SO2 emissions, there is a critical need to identify an economically viable and environmentally friendly coal type. Embracing carbon capture-based technologies such as oxy-fuel combustion without compromising boiler performance is essential in this endeavor. Sub-bituminous coal varieties like Powder River Basin (PRB) coal boast lower sulfur and nitrogen content compared to bituminous …

Water Quality Hotspot Analysis On Chlorophyll-A To Monitor Harmful Algal Blooms In Small And Medium Lakes Of North Dakota, Sae Young Lee

Theses and Dissertations

The water quality of recreational lakes degrades with Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). HABs can block sunlight, lower oxygen levels, and may produce toxins. Industrial and domestic waste and fertilizer runoffs can enrich nutrients for HABs. Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) is a significant indicator for tracking HABs and has been monitored increasingly using remote sensing techniques. In search for significant trends in hotspots of Chl-a concentrations in small and medium lakes of northeastern North Dakota, Chl-a water samples were collected in summer and fall of 2023. The study lakes include: Fordville Dam Recreation Area, Larimore Dam RecreationArea, Homme Dam Recreation Area, and South …

Evaluating Distributed Software Design Conformance Through Trace Comparison, Reid Barry Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The design of a system and its implementation are two tasks often carried out by different individuals on a development team and can occur weeks or months apart. This creates a potential for divergence between real behavior and the designed model that the implementation is intended to match. Particularly as time passes and individuals that were present for the original conception of the design leave, a system can begin to lose coherence and drift apart from intended design principles. Even with a robust and high-quality design for a software system, more is needed to guarantee that the key details of …

Exploring The Role Of Restorative Practices Facilitators In The Secondary School Setting: Self-Efficacy, Collective Efficacy, And Systemic Implementation Recommendations, Rachel K. Bachmeier

Theses and Dissertations

While restorative practices (RP) is hailed as one of the oldest criminal justice models in the world, the official advent of RP in education did not occur until the 1990s. Mirroring the reemergence of RP into legal systems, educators began experimenting with the application of RP in the educational setting. Today, restorative work in schools has expanded beyond an alternative to exclusionary discipline measures into an effort to build, maintain, and, when necessary, restore community. More and more teacher preparation programs address restorative justice principles and the rising dedication to Social Emotional Learning and Culturally Responsive Teaching often embraces RP. …

Synthesis Of Highly Selective Fluoroionophores For Metal Cations And Their Biological Applications, Md Abdur Rahim Badsha

Theses and Dissertations

Fluoroionophore for ionic and neutral analytes are extensively used in a number of fields for example: pharmacology, physiology, biology, and environmental sciences. The concept of this fluoroionophore in other word fluorescent chemo sensor has been used in the past 150 years. In recent years, a wide range of fluoroionophores have been developed for the detection of chemical species which are important for environment and biology. Instead of the progress, still there are challenges and problems in this area of research. This thesis addresses novel sensors for the measurement of biologically important cations. The sensors are based on fluoroionophores which shows …

The Effects Of Juror Characteristics And Case Type On Trans Panic Defense Verdicts, Isabella Noel Coppa

Theses and Dissertations

The trans panic defense is a provocation defense that uses the victim’s transgender identity as justification for the defendant’s violent actions. Previous research has identified juror characteristics that predict support for the gay panic defense (Michalski & Nunez, 2022) and trans panic defense (Michalski et al., 2022), but less is known about whether case type impacts support for the trans panic defense. This study sought to fill this gap by manipulating case type and further exploring juror characteristics that predict greater support of the trans panic defense. This study utilized 188 participants that read crime vignettes featuring transgender or cisgender …