Digital Commons Network^™

Quantifying Cellulase In High-Solids Environments, Alicia Renée Abadie

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

In recent years, fungal and bacterial cellulases have gained popularity for the conversion of lignocellulosic material to biofuels and biochemicals. This study investigated properties of fungal (Trichoderma. reesei) and bacterial (Clostridium thermocellum) cellulases. Enzymatic hydrolysis was carried out with T. reesei using nine enzyme concentration and substrate combinations. Initial rates and extents of hydrolysis were determined from the progress curve of each combination. Inhibition occurred at the higher enzyme concentrations and higher solids concentrations. Mechanisms to explain the observed inhibition are discussed. Samples of C. thermocellum purified free cellulase after 98% hydrolysis were assayed to determine …

Evolutionary And Functional Characterization Of Os-Pollux, A Rice Gene Orthologous To A Common Symbiosis Gene In Legume, Cui Fan

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Root symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobial bacteria share a common signaling pathway in legumes. Among the common symbiosis genes are CASTOR and POLLUX, the twin homologous genes in Lotus japonicus that encode putative ion channel proteins. Orthologs of CASTOR and POLLUX are ubiquitously present in both legumes and non-legumes, but their function in non-legumes remains to be elucidated. Here, we use reverse genetic approaches to demonstrate that the rice (Oryza sativa) ortholog of POLLUX, namely Os-POLLUX, is indispensible for mycorrhizal symbiosis in rice. Furthermore, we show that Os-POLLUX can restore nodulation, …

Assessing The Demand For Weather Index Insurance In Shandong Province, China, Lisha Zhang

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Shandong Province, renowned as China’s greatest agricultural province, is dominated by smallholders growing rain-fed crops and vulnerable to severe weather shocks that can increase poverty rates. Weather index insurance, an innovative agricultural risk management product, may be an effective mechanism to address vulnerability to catastrophic weather risk in rural regions of China, including Shandong. This project evaluated current household livelihood and risk management strategies and farmer interest in weather index insurance. Data from 174 participants were collected using a methodology that included focus groups, questionnaires, and personal interviews. Despite limited access to formal financial services, Shandong farmers generally employ informal, …

Performance Optimization Of A Structured Cfd Code - Ghost On Commodity Cluster Architectures, Pavan K. Kristipati

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

This thesis focuses on optimizing the performance of an in-house, structured, 2D CFD code – GHOST, on commodity cluster architectures. The basic philosophy of the work is to optimize the cache usage of the code by implementing efficient coding techniques without changing the underlying numerical algorithm. Various optimization techniques that were implemented and the resulting changes in performance have been presented. Two techniques, external and internal blocking that were implemented earlier to tune the performance of this code have been reviewed. What follows is further tuning effort in order to circumvent the problems associated with using the blocking techniques. Later, …

Elastic-Plastic Indentation Deformation In Homogeneous And Layered Materials: Finite Element Analysis, Siva Naga Venkata Ravi Kiran Kurapati

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The complex phenomenon of indentation deformation is studied using finite element analysis for both homogeneous and layered materials. For the homogeneous materials, the elastic-plastic deformation at large indentation depth is studied. The variation of the load-displacement curves as well as the variation of the energy ratio with the applied indentation depth for different strain hardening indices is presented. The power law relation between the indentation load and depth for shallow indentation becomes invalid for deep indentation. The ratio of plastic energy to total mechanical work is a linear function of the ratio of residual indentation depth and maximum indentation depth. …

Effects Of Mindfulness And Experiential Avoidance In Responding To Emotional Film Clips, Erin Celine Walsh

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

This study examined if levels of self-reported mindfulness and experiential avoidance were associated with subjective and physiological outcomes following exposure to distressing film clips. Participants consisted of 108 college-aged young adults who completed self-report measures assessing levels of mindfulness, experiential avoidance, and negative affect. Several devices designed to monitor physiological activity, specifically sympathetic nervous activation, were also attached to participants. Participants were shown four brief film clips of neutral and unpleasant stimuli while these devices were attached. After each film, subjective distress ratings were gathered every 20 seconds for a period of two minutes to determine extent of emotional recovery. …

Food For Thought: An Examination Of The Relationship Between Binge Eating And Psychological Variables In A Diverse College-Student Population, Valentina Ivezaj

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Binge eating is associated with a host of adverse outcomes, but little is known about sex and racial differences among those who binge eat. The present study examined sex and racial group differences in binge eating within a college-student population. It was hypothesized that White women would endorse higher rates of binge eating than the other groups, and that predictors of binge eating would differ across groups. Participants completed a web-based survey assessing depression, anxiety, body image, weight history, physical activity, smoking, and body mass index. Findings highlight sex and racial differences in the predictors of binge eating, with depression …

A School-Based Approach To Increasing Fruit And Vegetable Intake Of High School Students, Rebecca Larson

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to establish whether nutrition education would increase high school student consumption of fruits and vegetables, increase knowledge and self-efficacy, and advance students through the stages of change. Additionally, factors that influence intake were studied.

Students (n=260) enrolled in Health and Nutrition & Wellness classes were randomly assigned to intervention or control by class. Intervention consisted of 1 ½ hours for five days of fruit and vegetable focused education. Students completed pre- and post-surveys.

Results showed that fruit and vegetable intake did not change in intervention classes but significantly decreased (p<0.0484) in control classes. Knowledge significantly increased (p<0.0151) in intervention classes. No changes in self-efficacy or stage of change were observed.

Nutrition education must be …

The Development Of A Novel And Potentially Nondestructive Pretreatment For The Radiocarbon Dating Of Archaeological Artifacts, Mary Ellen Ellis

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Because the traditional acid-alkali-acid method for pretreating archaeological artifacts prior to radiocarbon dating is destructive to most materials, the possibility of developing an alternative pretreatment is important to preserving culturally- and historically-significant artifacts. The alkali step usually involves a 1M or higher concentration NaOH wash to remove humic acid contamination. The purpose of this work is to replace the alkali step with an equally effective, yet less harsh treatment. Charcoal soaked in a humic acid standard was used to mimic a contaminated artifact. Residues from treatments with NaOH, phosphate buffer (pH 8), and deionized water were characterized using THM-GC-MS. Preliminary …

The Development Of Caching Behavior, Cache Site And Cache Item Defense Tactics, And Cache Site And Cache Item Sharing In Orphaned Fledgling Blue Jays (Cyanocitta Cristata) At A Songbird Rehabilitation Center, Deanna Martinez

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

One of the primary goals of songbird rehabilitators is to promote controllable factors that increase survivorship in orphaned songbirds upon to release. As caching serves an important function in corvid life, this study sought to determine if this behavior would develop with or without outside input. Eight orphaned blue jays (consisting of both hatchlings and nestlings) were brought into the care of the Bird Center of Washtenaw County, Inc. in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Birds were videotaped and observed for the development of caching behavior, cache item and cache site sharing, and cache defense tactics. Caching behavior and cache defense tactics …

Differential Virtualization For Large-Scale System Modeling, Jason Koppe

Theses

Today’s computer networks become more complex than ever with a vast number of connected host systems running a variety of different operating systems and services. Academia and industry alike realize that education in managing such complex systems is extremely important for computer professionals because, with computers, there are many levels of detailed configuration. Configuration points can occur during all facets of computer systems including system design, implementation, and maintenance stages. In order to explore various hypotheses regarding configurations, system modeling is employed – computer professionals and researchers build test environments. Modeling environments require observable systems that are easily configurable at …

Evaluation Of Virtual Routing Appliances As Routers Virtual Environment, Ahmed Al-Amoudi

Theses

A virtual routing appliance is a system for the rapid, automated management and employment of virtual networks. Virtual routing appliances utilize virtual machines to enable virtual infrastructure, and they have been used commonly in order to implement experimental networks and devoted subnets over a virtual network. Existing research in this area such as cluster-based virtual routers, and Xen routers require the use of physical resources to establish connectivity and to guarantee efficient resource utilization. The virtual routing appliance uses dynamic routing protocols such as RIP, and OSPF to forward traffic between different subnets and manage IP packets at the IP …

The Development Of A Graduate Course On Identity Management For The Department Of Networking, Security, And Systems Administration, Marsha Mitchell

Theses

Digital identities are being utilized more than ever as a means to authenticate computer users in order to control access to systems, web services, and networks. To maintain these digital identities, administrators turn to Identity Management solutions to offer protection for users, business partners, and networks. This paper proposes an analysis of Identity Management to be accomplished in the form of a graduate level course of study for a ten-week period for the Networking, Security, and Systems Administration department at Rochester Institute of Technology. This course will be designed for this department because of its emphasis on securing, protecting, and …

Multigrid Convergence For Second Order Elliptic Problems With Smooth Complex Coefficients, Jay Gopalakrishnan, Joseph E. Pasciak

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

The finite element method when applied to a second order partial differential equation in divergence form can generate operators that are neither Hermitian nor definite when the coefficient function is complex valued. For such problems, under a uniqueness assumption, we prove the continuous dependence of the exact solution and its finite element approximations on data provided that the coefficients are smooth and uniformly bounded away from zero. Then we show that a multigrid algorithm converges once the coarse mesh size is smaller than some fixed number, providing an efficient solver for computing discrete approximations. Numerical experiments, while confirming the theory, …

Asymptotic And Numerical Techniques For Resonances Of Thin Photonic Structures, Jay Gopalakrishnan, Shari Moskow, Fadil Santosa

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

We consider the problem of calculating resonance frequencies and radiative losses of an optical resonator. The optical resonator is in the form of a thin membrane with variable dielectric properties. This work provides two very different approaches for doing such calculations. The first is an asymptotic method which exploits the small thickness and high index of the membrane. We derive a limiting resonance problem as the thickness goes to zero, and for the case of a simple resonance, find a first order correction. The limiting problem and the correction are in one less space dimension, which can make the approach …

The Indefinite Metric Of R. Mrugala And The Geometry Of The Thermodynamical Phase Space, Serge Preston, James Vargo

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

We study an indefinite metric G which was introduced by R. Mrugala and is defined on the contact phase space (P, θ) of a homogeneous thermodynamical system. We describe the curvature properties and the isometry group of the metric G. We established an isomorphism of the space (P, θ, G) with the Heisenberg Lie group H_n, endowed with the right invariant contact structure and the right invariant indefinite metric. The lift of the metric G to the symplectization of contact space (P, θ) and its properties are studied. Finally we introduce the "hyperbolic projectivization" of the space …

Uniform Materials And The Multiplicative Decomposition Of The Deformation Gradient In Finite Elasto-Plasticity, Vincenzo Ciancio, Marina Dolfin, Mauro Francaviglia, Serge Preston

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this work we analyze the relation between the multiplicative decomposition F = F e F p of the deformation gradient as a product of the elastic and plastic factors and the theory of uniform materials. We prove that postulating such a decomposition is equivalent to having a uniform material model with two configurations – total φ and the inelastic φ1. We introduce strain tensors characterizing different types of evolutions of the material and discuss the form of the internal energy and that of the dissipative potential. The evolution equations are obtained for the configurations (φ, φ1) and the material …

On The Spectra Of Certain Directed Paths, Carlos Martins Da Fonseca, J. J. P. Veerman

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

We describe the eigenpairs of special kinds of tridiagonal matrices related to problems on traffic on a one-lane road. Some numerical examples are provided.

Noise Coupling Between Signal And Power/Ground Nets Due To Signal Vias Transitioning Through Power/Ground Plane Pair, Jun Fan, Matteo Cocchini, Bruce Archambeault, James L. Knighten, James L. Drewniak, Samuel Connor

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Signal vias are often used to move a signal from one PCB layer to another. as a result, these vias can penetrate power/ground plane pair and cause noise coupling (crosstalk) between signal and power/ground nets. This paper studies the noise coupling mechanism using a segmentation approach combined with a via capacitance model and a plane-pair cavity model. Noise coupling from signal to power/ground, and vice versa, is demonstrated in the modeling results.

Perceptions Of Advertising In Online Social Networks: In-Depth Interviews, Zeljka Hadija

Theses

Advertising in online social networks is a major unexplored advertising area. However, interactivity on the Internet shifts the ways in which users perceive advertising, and whether they perceive it at all. This research study focuses on college students, users of online social networks, as main sources of information that helps advertisers understand the ways in which advertisements are perceived online. Through the personal in-depth interviews, using Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique, it has been revealed that only 20% of online social network users notice advertisements while using online social networks. The content found in online social networks inhibits viewing advertisements. This …

A Follow-Up Study Of Technology Education Graduates From Old Dominion University 2002-2006, Johnny F. Mack

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

Through this follow-up study, survey data were collected toward fulfilling the following objectives: Determine whether graduates of Old Dominion University's Technology Education undergraduate program were adequately prepared to assume teaching positions; Determine what improvements can be made to the undergraduate curriculum at Old Dominion University based upon graduate's feedback; and Determine whether the standards established through the Standards of Technological Literacy framework were being attained.

Establishing Universal Screening Risk Indicators Using Reading Curriculum-Based Measurement And The Developmental Reading Assessment, Adrienne M. Zonneville

Theses

The current study examined the abilities of Dynamic Indicator of Basic Early Literacy Skills Oral Reading Fluency (DORF) and the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) to be used as screening measures for predicting performance on the yearly state reading assessment in New York. Data from 194 students’ performance on DORF, DRA, and the English Language Arts (ELA) assessment were examined from an existing data base. Participants’ scores on the DORF and the DRA in third grade were compared to their performance on the fourth grade ELA. Screening cut scores were developed for each benchmarking period to assist in identifying students who …

The Use Of Career Assessments In Transition Planning: An Exploratory Study, Annmarie J. Schimmel

Theses

The Self Directed Search (SDS) and the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) were administered to a group of college age students who were either School Psychology graduate students or undergraduate students enrolled in a Career Exploration course at a local, private university. It was hypothesized that the SDS and the 16PF profiles for the students would differ between the two groups, showing that the profiles for those enrolled as School Psychology graduate students would be similar to the career summary codes previously identified for their chosen careers. Independent t-tests showed that on the SDS the School Psychology graduate students scored …

Hidden Structure Revealed, Minkyu Lee

Theses

This MFA Thesis is based on the aesthetic philosophy that all forms and structures are essentially made from cubes. This premise has inspired and shaped my explorations over the last two years of graduate study. Shape and meaning of ‘cubes’ can be simplified to the smallest molecular units of objects. The geometric forms I construct reflect this. I have mostly created vessel-oriented forms, but now I find that I can also make sculptures that reflect the same point of view. The shape of the earth is a theme and inspiration for this thesis project. Craters, which show their inner side, …

Kentucky Traffic Collision Facts 2008 Report, Kentucky Transportation Center, Kentucky State Police

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KENTUCKY’S TRAFFIC COLLISION FACTS report for 2008 is based on collision reports submitted to the Kentucky State Police Records Branch. As required by Kentucky Revised Statutes 189.635, “every law enforcement agency whose officers investigate a vehicle accident of which a report must be made...shall file a report of the accident...within ten days after investigation of the accident upon forms supplied by the bureau.” The stated purpose of this requirement is to utilize data on traffic collisions for such purposes as will improve the traffic safety program in the Commonwealth. Data contained in this report are based solely on the observations …

Muir Studies Of Nonlinear Ionospheric Interactions At Haarp, Margaret Eileen Bacon

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Studies of nonlinear ionospheric interactions were undertaken at the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) site in Alaska using the co-located Modular UHF Incoherent scatter Radar (MUIR). High frequency heating of the ionosphere produced plasma wave decay processes, the signatures of which were received by MUIR and interpreted with spectral analysis in MATLAB. The most commonly observed decay scheme was that of the Parametric Decay Instability, producing the distinct multifrequency cascade feature in the HF backscatter. The results presented here are intended to contribute to the understanding of HF heating facility capabilities, plasma wave decay processes, and diagnostic instrument …

Application Of Project Management Methodology From Idea Generation To New Bundle Development In Personal Care Packaging Projects, Fikri Bilir

Theses

The purpose of this study was to conduct an analysis of the current packaging development process used by Colgate-Palmolive sub-country teams and to provide suggestions for implementing an improved process. The analysis of the current approach to packaging development and project management in the personal care business category was done using a shampoo packaging change case study. A new Stage-Gate approach, which used project management methodologies, was proposed for packaging development projects. Additionally, a series of project management template documents (such as project charter, scope of work, work breakdown structure, responsibility matrix, and project timeline) applicable to other packaging development …

Guidelines For Material Selection For Sustainable Packaging Solutions, Susan Parra

Theses

With the growing concern on environmental issues, many companies are developing research studies to reduce its negative effects on the environment and become more sustainable. Packaging has been one of the most significant issues of concern because of its environmental impact and end-of-life cycle. The overall goal of this project is to quantify how packaging material selection plays a key role in developing sustainable practices in industry. This study will evaluate the importance of the selection of materials during the packaging design process and focus on the effects of material decisions in the life cycle of the package. In particular, …

Assessment Of Practitioner Intervention In Physical Activity, Kristin Thea Schley

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Lack of physical activity is a serious epidemic that affects one’s health. Primary care physicians can play a key role in influencing and changing people’s behaviors. The objective of this study was to assess primary care physicians’ role in physical activity counseling and what if any guidelines they use. One hundred and forty-seven primary care physicians completed and returned the 23-item Physical Activity Counseling Questionnaire. Most of the respondents were over the age of 50 (58.5%), group practitioners (60.5%), male (59.9%), and have been practicing more than 20 years (50.3%). The majority of physicians “almost always” (47.6%) counseled their patients …

The Meaning Of Natural Environment Occupations: Exploring The Experiences Of Sierra Club Members, Tulin Roselynn Ture

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Poets and writers have long lauded the beauty and necessity of nature. More recent literature and research has provided support for the healthful benefits of the natural environment. This literature spans the breadth of many disciplines. Yet, very little occupational therapy literature focuses on the natural environment. This is somewhat surprising given occupational therapy’s focus on space and place.

This thesis explores the experience of participation in natural environment occupations by adult members of the Sierra Club. Five Sierra Club members were interviewed and two local Sierra Club outings were observed. Qualitative data analysis revealed two major themes: childhood beginnings …