Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of An Automated Template Selection And Alignment Tool For Protein Structure Homology Modeling, David R. Riley

Theses

DNA and protein sequence data sets have exploded in size over the past several years and have stimulated the development of new methods for closing the sequence/structure gap. Bench laboratory methods, while being the most accurate, are still far too time consuming and limited to breech this gap. Thus computational methods have become the standard. The work described here details the development of a system to automatically select a structural template, align the template and query sequence and model the query. The system was implemented fully for antibodies but maintains a modular design that can accommodate a wider variety of …

Dynamics And Control Of Tethered Satellite System, Royce L. Abel

Theses

Tethered Satellite Systems (TSS) has been an ongoing project around the world for many decades. This study examined the dynamics an dcontrols of tethered satellites. The equations of motion were developed and simulated with no control and small eccentric orbits. A control law was derived by associating the Hamiltonian of the system to a Lyapunov Function. This control law was then simulated to demonstrate ability and robustness. The tethered system can be retrieved and deployed in a small number of orbits, and return from a perturbation quickly. Examination of a non thruster controlled system resulted in asymptotic convergence in retrieval …

Print Process Identification For Forensic Document Examiners, Roxanne Stevens

Theses

The advent of current digital print technology has resulted in a drastic increase in the accessibility of counterfeiting currency and secure documents. In response, organizations such as the CIA, Secret Service and FBI must continually train and educate their employees and staff. To meet the increasing demands of these groups, the Rochester Institute of Technology has developed the Marking Engine Characterization (MEC) target to train and assist forensic document examiners in identifying print processes.

The MEC target's effectiveness in identifying print processes was tested by printing the target on a variety of marking engines and processes. These marking engines included: …

Polyvinylidene Fluoride Composites As An Option For Proton Exchange Membranes In Fuel Cells, Rohini P. Sajanpawar

Theses

This thesis details approaches for the preparation of composite membranes derived from poly (vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, or copolymers thereof. It was expected that these membranes would withstand the harsh thermal oxidative conditions of a practical fuel cell and might exhibit high proton mobility. Sulfonated carbon black was used as the proton conducting component in the membrane. The advantages and the disadvantages of the materials used for fabrication of proton exchange membranes were reviewed. This thesis provides procedures for the preparation of composites of PVDF with sulfonated carbon black (CB) which might be employed as proton exchange membranes. Thin films from …

Advanced Thermodynamic Analyses Of Energy Intensive Building Mechanical Systems, Erin N. George

Theses

A review of past research reveals that while exergetic analysis has been performed on various building mechanical systems, there has not been extensive efforts in the areas of air distribution systems or cooling plants. Motivations for this new work include demonstrating the merits of exergetic analysis in association with retrocommissioning (RCX) an existing building air handling unit (AHU), as well as conducting an advanced analysis on an existing chiller. The following research demonstrates the benefits of including a second law analysis in order to improve equipment operation based on lowered energy consumption and improved operation, and as a means for …

Implications Of Implementing Hdtv Over Digital Subscriber Line Networks, Thomas J. Lantier

Theses

This thesis addresses the different challenges a telecommunications company would face when trying to implement an HDTV video service over a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connection. Each challenge is discussed in detail and a technology, protocol, or method is suggested to overcome that particular challenge.

One of the biggest challenges is creating a network architecture that can provide enough bandwidth to support video over a network that was originally designed for voice traffic. The majority of the network connections to a customer premises in a telephony network consists of a copper pair. This type of connection is not optimal for …

Quantum Dot-Single Wall Carbon Nanotube Complexes For Tunable Optoelectronic Microsystems Sensors, Brian J. Landi

Theses

Quantum dot - single wall carbon nanotube (QD-SWNT) complexes have been investigated for use in optoelectronic applications. Quantum confinement effects imbue sizedependent properties in nanomaterials which can be controlled during synthesis and exploited in devices. The physical properties inherent to semiconducting quantum dots (QDs) and single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) render their chemical combination a unique nanomaterial complex for 11icrosystems. Synthesis proficiency has been demonstrated for two techniques: (1) a pulsed laser vaporization process for SWNTs, and (2) wet chemistry colloidal approaches for CdSe and CuInS2 QDs. A significant fraction of the work in this Dissertation has been devoted to establishing …

Base Cation Concnetration And Content In Litterfall And Woody Debris Across A Northern Hardwood Forest Chronosequence, Marty Acker

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Forest floor calcium (Ca) declines in northern hardwood forests are of interest because Ca availability may limit future forest growth. In the 1990s investigations into Ca pools and fluxes across a northern hardwood forest chronosequence showed decreases across stand age in the mass of forest floor base cations and litterfall cation concentrations. I undertook a study of factors that influence litterfall chemistry to develop a better understanding of base cation biogeochemistry in developing northern hardwood forests. Although Ca, potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg) concentrations in litterfall significantly declined with stand age, species composition and soil nutrient availability also influenced litterfall …

Lithologic And Stratigraphic Compilation Of Near-Surface Sediments For The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Mccracken County, Ky, Joshua L. Sexton

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The Jackson Purchase region of western Kentucky consists of Coastal Plain sediments near the northern margin of the Mississippi Embayment. Within this region is the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP), a uranium enrichment facility operated by the US Department of Energy. At PGDP, a Superfund site, soil and groundwater studies have provided subsurface lithologic data from hundreds of monitoring wells and borings. Despite preliminary efforts by various contractors, these data have not been utilized to develop detailed stratigraphic correlations of sedimentary units across the study area. In addition, sedimentary exposures along streams in the vicinity of PGDP have not been …

Minimum Flow Time Schedule Genetic Algorithm For Mass Customization Manufacturing Using Minicells, Phanindra Kumar Chadalavada

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Minicells are small manufacturing cells dedicated to an option family and organized in a multi-stage configuration for mass customization manufacturing. Product variants, depending on the customization requirements of each customer, are routed through the minicells as necessary. For successful mass customization, customized products must be manufactured at low cost and with short turn around time. Effective scheduling of jobs to be processed in minicells is essential to quickly deliver customized products. In this research, a genetic algorithm based approach is developed to schedule jobs in a minicell configuration by considering it as a multi-stage flow shop. A new crossover strategy …

An Intelligent System For The Defect Inspection Of Specular Painted Ceramic Tiles, Jinhua Li

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Product visual inspection is still performed manually or semi automatically in most industries from simple ceramic tile grading to complicated automotive body panel paint defect and surface quality inspection. Moreover, specular surfaces present additional challenges to conventional vision systems due to specular reflections, which may mask the true location of objects and lead to incorrect measurements. Some sophisticated optical inspection methods have already been developed for high precision surface defect inspection in recent years. Unfortunately, most of them are highly computational. Systems built on those methods are either inapplicable or costly to achieve real-time inspection. This thesis describes an integrated …

Experimental And Numerical Investigation Of Plasma-Jet Forming, Sailesh Kumar Tangirala

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Sheet metal forming has found increasing applications in modern industries. To eliminate use of expensive tools during product development, thermal forming, a rapid prototyping process that is flexible enough to decrease costs has been developed. Thermal forming processes use a heat source to perform the required deformation mainly by creating a thermal difference along the thickness of the sheet. Gas flames, lasers and plasma heat sources have been used for sheet metal bending by thermal forming. An alternative to laser and gas flames, plasma-jet forming has been developed that uses a non-transferred plasma arc as a heat source. The plasma-jet …

"Dr. Kyle Choe's Facial Plastic Surgery Patient Education Website", Eunju Park

Theses

Not Included

An Exploratory Study Of: Designers' Finishing Knowledge And The Communication Flow Between Designers And Finishing Professionals, Melissa A. Lyon

Theses

Several fundamental questions about graphic designers' print finishing knowledge motivated this thesis. Is there a gap in knowledge between the fields of finishing and design? What do designers actually know about finishing? Is this knowledge enough to enable them to communicate well with printers/finishers and design printed pieces efficiently so finishing runs smoothly? What happens when mistakes are made due to a lack of education and communication? If designers do need to know more information about finishing, what are the most important concepts? Are there any resources now that designers can use to learn more about finishing? Do printers/finishers have …

Validation Of The Miller Forensic Assessment Of Symptoms Test (M-Fast) In A Civil Forensic Population, Jessica A. Clark

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The Miller Forensic Assessment of Symptoms Test (M-FAST) is a relatively new measure shown to be a valid and effective tool for screening psychiatric malingering in criminal forensic and psychiatric inpatient settings. The present study attempts to cross-validate the M-FAST in civil forensic and neurologic samples. Three-hundred-eight civil forensic patients referred by their attorneys for neuropsychological testing were studied. Assessment batteries administered included tests of both psychiatric and neurocognitive feigning. Based on these gold standards, 4 sets of contrasts were formed in order to examine how the M-FAST performs in identifying psychiatric malingering, neurocognitive malingering, any malingering (including either or …

Developmental Changes In Attention And Comprehension Among Children With Adhd And Comparison Children, Ursula Louise Bailey

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Children with ADHD have significant attentional problems that affect their academic performance. Because many of the typical symptoms of ADHD manifest themselves in classrooms, these attentional problems may have an impact on comprehension and its course of development. This is a significant area of interest because the academic success of a child requires being able to recall and comprehend information. Effective comprehension requires being able to understand both causal (why?) and factual (what?) questions. The purposes of this study are use the television viewing methodology and 1) to employ a longitudinal investigation and compare patterns of developmental change among children …

Does Optimism Explain How Religiousness Affects Alcohol Use Among College Students?, Benjamin Lee Collier

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Alcohol use, because of its many negative consequences, is the number one health problem facing college students. Because of this, researchers have looked for factors associated with reduced drinking. Religiousness is one such factor. Religiousness is a complex, multidimensional construct, and while it tends to be negatively associated with alcohol use, research progress has been slow due to the tendency of researchers to poorly operationalize this construct and to design studies that fail to go beyond the bivariate relationship of religiousness and alcohol use. In order to address these shortcomings, this study will assess two dimensions of religiousness, religious commitment/motivation …

Wear Tolerance Of Seeded And Vegetatively Propagated Bermuda Grasses Under Simulated Athletic Traffic, Theresa A. Bayrer

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The use of seed-propagated bermudagrasses [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.], particularly for athletic fields, is rapidly increasing. Recently developed seeded cultivars have been bred for improved turfgrass quality (finer texture, darker green color, etc.) and for increased cold tolerance, but their ability to tolerate wear has not been investigated. This study was conducted to determine if three seeded cultivars could tolerate simulated athletic wear as well as one vegetative cultivar commonly used in Kentucky. The seeded cultivars, Riviera, Princess 77 and Yukon were planted at 24.4 and 48.8 kg PLS ha-1 and the vegetative cultivar Quickstand was sprigged at 1250 and …

Ecological Weed Management For Organic Farming Systems, Derek M. Law

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Two field studies examining direct ecological weed control practices were conducted in Lexington, Kentucky. The first evaluated weed control efficacy and influence on yields of several mulches in two organically-managed bell pepper (Capsicum annum) production systems for two years. Peppers were planted in double rows in flat, bare ground or on black polyethylene-covered raised beds with drip irrigation, and four mulches (straw, compost, wood chips, and undersown white dutch clover (Trifolium repens L.) living mulch) were applied to the two production systems. In both years, polyethylene-covered raised beds produced higher yields than the flat, bare ground system. In the second …

Parallelization Of A Maximum Parsimony Branch And Bound Algorithm For Phylogenetic Inference, Curtis J. Howard

Theses

Phyiogenetic inference involves the reconstruction of evolutionary relationships among species in the form of branching diagrams called trees. Specifically, certain biological structures common to all living organisms, such as morphological characteristics, protein sequences or DNA sequences can be compared Differences and similarities in these characteristics among species are used to reconstruct the evolutionary relationships and draw trees. Many methods of tree reconstruction are currently used. The method of maximum parsimony for phyiogenetic inference is a widely used algorithm which employs the hypothesis that the most likely tree for a given group of data will be the one which uses the …

Media Distribution In The Printing Industry: A Study Of The Movement Of Printed Materials And Electronic Files, Bernice Adjoa Lemaire

Theses

Change, according to Phillip Ruggles (2005), can be advantageous to one's business. It can sometimes be exciting and economically rewarding. At other times, change can be challenging and risky, bringing about chaos and disruption. The printing industry is undergoing both structural and cyclical change. Meeting the challenge to remain competitive in today's printing industry relies heavily on providing value for customers. Thus, print service providers are offering a variety of value added services in an effort to meet customer demands and to remain competitive. One such additional service is distribution (both physical and electronic), which includes shipping/delivery, mailing, warehousing, and …

Huayru, Cristian Mogrovejo

Theses

For this project, I will design a board game based on Huayru, a traditional ritual game played by some indigenous people from the Andes mountain range for centuries. Mostly played currently at funerals, this tradition is considered to be in extinction [...]. It is not among my objectives to reintroduce the practice of the ritual; instead, I will aim to rescue its memory and trnsmit knowledge about it by designing a different game using the elements of the original as inspiration.

A Multicamera System For Gesture Tracking With Three Dimensional Hand Pose Estimation, Evan M. Clark

Theses

The goal of any visual tracking system is to successfully detect then follow an object of interest through a sequence of images. The difficulty of tracking an object depends on the dynamics, the motion and the characteristics of the object as well as on the environ ment. For example, tracking an articulated, self-occluding object such as a signing hand has proven to be a very difficult problem. The focus of this work is on tracking and pose estimation with applications to hand gesture interpretation. An approach that attempts to integrate the simplicity of a region tracker with single hand 3D …

A Low-Power Interface Design For Intelligent Sensor Nodes Utilized In Wireless Sensor Networks, Shruti Lakdawala

Theses

This thesis describes a means for performing complex event detection at a single sensor node of a wireless sensor network (WSN) by interfacing a low-power mixed signal Programmable System on Chip (PSoC) to a MICA2 wireless sensor node. The proposed system helps to reduce the overall power consumption of the node, by lending it the advance computational capability to process a significant amount of data at the node rather than transmitting it. This allows the node to "intelligently" monitor a signal for impending events instead of transmitting the "raw" signal to the base constantly. Previous work by others has indicated …

The Fit Between Task And Medium In Sending Equivocal And Unequivocal Messages: How Self-Reported Skill Creates Self-Reported Attitude In Using The Medium, Teresa Merritt

Theses

Communication channels selected by members of an organization can have an impact on the outcome of the messages sent. The media richness theory proposes that task performance can be optimized when task information is matched with the medium's ability to convey information richness. The current study surveyed 25 support staff within the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology to evaluate the best media fit between task and medium for sending equivocal (ambiguous) and unequivocal (clear and concise) messages. The findings supported the media richness theory, and employees report positive attitudes associated with media use.

The Relationship Between Emotional Recognition And Personality Traits, Lyndon A. Mitchell

Theses

This study investigated the relationship between personality traits and the ability to recognize emotions from facial expressions. A sample of undergraduate and graduate students (n = 52) were administered the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire 5th Edition (16PF-5) (Cattell, 1993) and an abbreviated version of Ekman's Pictures of Facial Affect (Ekman & Friesen, 1976). Pearson product-moment correlations revealed that the personality trait, Apprehension, was associated with the accurate recognition of most of the emotions. Further, regression analyses revealed that the recognition of fear was best predicted by the 16PF factors Dominance, Self Reliance and Apprehension. Personality differences were also identified between …

Putting The Community Back Into Community Networks: A Content Analysis, Michael A. Horning

Theses

This study examines the role that community networks can take in fulfilling McQuail's call for a more democratic participant form of media. Community networks, which are grassroots organizations designed to promote local community initiatives, increased their presence on the Internet in the 1990s. However, in recent years their number has declined. Research suggests that community networks fail because they lack a unified identity, have not determined their specific purpose on the Web, and do not provide relevant information to network members. Findings suggest that community networks wishing to achieve sustainability should concentrate their efforts on developing social capital and fostering …

Modeling Radiated Emissions From Cables Attached To Printed Circuit Boards Driven By Power Bus Noise, K. Morishita, N. Kobayashi, T. Harada, H. Ke, Todd H. Hubing

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper describes a two-step technique for modeling the radiated electromagnetic emissions from a printed circuit board with attached cables when the source of the emissions is noise between the board's power and ground planes. the first step calculates the electric fields at the edges of the power-ground plane pair. the second step replaces the power plane with equivalent sources embedded within the ground plane structure. Examples are provided that demonstrate the accuracy of this approach. © 2006 IEEE.

Molecular Viewer Using Spiegel, Pavani Baddepudi

Theses

Study of nucleic acids and proteins has evoked great interest for its role in research involving areas such as human genome and drug design. Understanding the core structure and behavior of these protein molecules requires reading and analyzing large amounts of data about atoms derived from a plethora of experiments. In recent years, computer graphics has gained popularity for its ability to translate these large datasets into three dimensional structures providing easy visualization. This project has implemented one such 3-D molecular viewer to display different models of molecules and study their properties. The project was developed in Java3D using the …

Tuple Board: A New Distributed Computing Paradigm For Mobile Ad Hoc Networks, Chaithanya Bondada

Theses

In this project, we introduce a new distributed computing paradigm called "tuple board" which is based on the tuple space abstraction originated by Gelernter and the blackboard architecture popular in distributed artificial intelligence. Most prominent implementations of tuple space systems including JavaSpaces and T-Spaces follow a centralized architecture where the space itself resides on a server, akin to a database server. Recently, researchers have attempted to develop decentralized architectures for tuple space systems. Some work includes LIME and PeerSpaces. In our opinion, the traditional implementation of tuple spaces is not well suited for ad hoc networks where devices frequently lose …