Digital Commons Network^™

Developing A Semantic Web-Based Distributed Model Management System: Experiences And Lessons Learned, Amit Deokar, Omar F. El-Gayar, Ruba Aljafari

Research & Publications

Distributed model management systems (DMMSs) are decision support systems with a focus on managing decision models throughout the modeling lifecycle and across the extended enterprise. The advent and proliferation of web services and semantic web technologies offers the possibilities of sharing and reusing models in a distributed setting. This paper presents the design and implementation of a semantic web-based DMMS. Key lessons learned, technical and organizational issues encountered are summarized and directions for future research have been outlined. From a technical perspective, future research will need to explore the viability of tools specifically designed to facilitate the semantic annotation of …

An Efficient Electrochemical–Thermal Model For A Lithium-Ion Cell By Using The Proper Orthogonal Decomposition Method, Long Cai, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

The proper orthogonal decomposition method was applied to develop an efficient, reduced order electrochemical–thermal model for a lithium-ion cell. This model was validated for discharge simulations over a wide range of C rates and various cooling conditions of the cell. The reduced order model agrees well with the COMSOL model, a commercial finite element method solver, and requires times less computation time than the COMSOL model. The model predictions indicate that the discharge time or percent of capacity removed from the cell at an end of discharge voltage of 3.0 V depends on the rate of the discharge and heat …

Maximizing The Life Of A Lithium-Ion Cell By Optimization Of Charging Rates, Saeed Khaleghi Rahimian, Sean Rayman, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

Using a dynamic optimization method, the optimum charge currents as a function of cycle number during cycling for the lithium-ion cell are obtained. A single particle physics-based model, which includes capacity fade, was applied to simulate the cell performance under low earth-orbit (LEO) cycling conditions. Useful cell life is defined as the number of cycles before the end of discharge voltage drops below 3.0 V or the cell discharge capacity becomes less than 20% of the original discharge capacity. The simulated useful cell life can be increased by ∼29.28% by varying the charge current.

Theoretical Analysis Of Stresses In A Lithium Ion Cell, Sindhuja Renganathan, Godfrey Sikha, Shriram Santhanagopalan, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

A mathematical model to simulate the generation of mechanical stress during the discharge process in a dual porous insertion electrode cell sandwich comprised of lithium cobalt oxide and carbon is presented. The model attributes stress buildup within intercalation electrodes to two different aspects: changes in the lattice volume due to intercalation and phase transformation during the charge/discharge process. The model is used to predict the influence of cell design parameters such as thickness, porosity, and particle size of the electrodes on the magnitude of stress generation. The model developed in this study can be used to understand the mechanical degradation …

Modeling The Noble Metal/Tio2 (110) Interface With Hybrid Dft Functionals: A Periodic Electrostatic Embedded Cluster Model Study, Salai Cheettu Ammal, Andreas Heyden

Faculty Publications

The interaction of Aun and Ptn (n=2,3) clusters with the stoichiometric and partially reduced rutile TiO2 (110) surfaces has been investigated using periodic slab and periodic electrostatic embedded cluster models. Compared to Au clusters, Pt clusters interact strongly with both stoichiometric and reduced TiO2 (110) surfaces and are able to enhance the reducibility of the TiO2 (110) surface, i.e., reduce the oxygen vacancy formation energy. The focus of this study is the effect of Hartree–Fock exchange on the description of the strength of chemical bonds at the interface of Au/Pt clusters and the TiO2 (110) surface. Hartree–Fock exchange helps describing …

A Comprehensive Investigation Of Variables Related To Children's Self-Perceptions, Renee Payton Cahill

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

In recent decades much has been revealed regarding children’s self-perceptions and sense of worth. Children engage in social comparisons to gauge their strengths and weaknesses relative to those around them. Thus one’s environment plays a critical role impacting one’s perceptions of self. Other variables suggested as contributing to children’s formulation of self-worth, include academic achievement, perception of victimization by peers, and academic placement. However, findings have been inconsistent in regard to the extent to which these variables relate to self-worth. The present study sought to discern if these variables relate to children’s self-perceptions. Results revealed a positive correlation between students’ …

Identification Of Quality Visual-Based Learning Material For Technology Education, Petros Katsioloudis

STEMPS Faculty Publications

[First Paragraph]

In learning environments, the visual elements of courses, lessons, and presentations play an important role in learning. Well-conceived and rendered visuals help any audience understand and retain information (Wileman, 1993).

Educational Technology Research Past And Present: Balancing Rigor And Relevance To Impact School Learning, Steven M. Ross, Gary R. Morrison, Deborah L. Lowther

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Today, the exponential growth of technology usage in education, via such applications of distance education, Internet access, simulations, and educational games, has raised substantially the focus and importance of educational technology research. In this paper, we examine the past and present research trends, with emphasis on the role and contribution of research evidence for informing instructional practices and policies to improve learning in schools. Specific topics addressed include: (a) varied conceptions of “effective” technology uses in classroom instruction as topics for research, (b) historical trends in research approaches and topics of inquiry; (c) alternative research designs for balancing internal (rigor) …

Green Ships: Keeping Oceans Blue, Petros J. Katsioloudis

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The article discusses the contribution by the marine transport sector to air and water pollution. According to a congressional research report, cruise ships produce large volume of wastes like sewage, wastewater from sinks, showers, and galleys, hazardous wastes, solid wastes, oily bilge water, ballas water and polluted air. Ship manufacturers are advised to create Green Ships that prevent pollution while governments are urged to strengthen the laws that prohibit dumping of waste to oceans to alleviate pollution.

Development Of Reductive Metal Systems For The Degradation Of Energetic Compounds (Tatp, Tnt, And Rdx), Rebecca L. Albo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a cyclic peroxide explosive, is frequently used by terrorists and amateur chemists due to the ease of synthesis and the availability of reagents. TATP is extremely sensitive to shock, heat, and friction thus a safe and rapid method for treating TATP is needed. The major objective of this dissertation was to develop in situ methodologies that could safely degrade TATP in various field situations. Initial studies focused on using zero-valent metals and mechanically alloyed metals to decompose TATP samples in both aqueous and organic solutions. The metal systems tested included zero-valent iron, magnesium, and magnesium bimetal, Mg/Pd. …

Synthesis And Applications Of Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerization Based Functional Block Copolymers, Sanchita Biswas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) is established as one of the efficient controlled living polymerization methods which have various applications in polymer science and technology fields. The research presented in this dissertation addresses several applications of multifunctional well-defined norbornene-based block copolymers synthesized by ROMP using ruthenium-based Grubbs catalysts. These novel block copolymers were applied to stabilize maghemite nanoparticles, creating the superparamagnetic polymeric nanocomposites. The Jaggregation properties of the porphyrin dyes were improved via self-assembly with a customized norbornene polymer. Novel multimodal copolymer probes were synthesized for two-photon fluorescence integrin-targeted bioimaging. In Chapter 1 a brief overview of ROMP along with …

Troubleshooting With Surveys, Sandra Pereira

ECU Research Week

This presentation discusses ways to identify and avoid the problems commonly encountered in draft surveys.

Risk Modelling In Finance, Dave Allen

ECU Research Week

Examines the measurement of risk in finance and the shortcomings of the various approaches to this measurement.

Whose Loss Is It Anyway - Effects Of The Lost-Chance Doctrine On Civil Litigation And Medical Malpractice Insurance, Steven R. Koch

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Climate Control Of Terrestrial Carbon Exchange Across Biomes And Continents, Chuixiang Yi, Runze Li, John Wolbeck, Xiyan Xu, Mats Nilsson, Luis Aires, John D. Albertson, Christof Ammann, M. Altaf Arain, Alessandro C. De Araujo, Marc Aubinet, Mika Aurela, Zoltán Barcza, Alan Barr, Paul Berbigier, Jason Beringer, Christian Bernhofer, Andrew T. Black, Paul V. Bolstad, Fred C. Bosveld, Mark S.J. Broadmeadow, Nina Buchmann, Sean P. Burns, Pierre Cellier, Jingming Chen, Jiquan Chen, Philippe Ciais, Robert Clement, Bruce D. Cook, Peter S. Curtis, D. Bryan Dail, Ebba Dellwik, Christopher A. Williams

Geography

Understanding the relationships between climate and carbon exchange by terrestrial ecosystems is critical to predict future levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide because of the potential accelerating effects of positive climate-carbon cycle feedbacks. However, directly observed relationships between climate and terrestrial CO2exchange with the atmosphere across biomes and continents are lacking. Here we present data describing the relationships between net ecosystem exchange of carbon (NEE) and climate factors as measured using the eddy covariance method at 125 unique sites in various ecosystems over six continents with a total of 559 site-years. We find that NEE observed at eddy covariance sites is …

Creating Units For Second Grade Learners Of English As A Foreign Language, Laura Elizabeth Messerly

Honors Program Theses

Teaching English as a Foreign Language is becoming more popular as English is in high demand in countries throughout the world because of globalization (Niklov, 2006). The chief difference between English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) is that the language is being learned in a non-English speaking community (.EFL) versus an English speaking community (ESL). These non-English speaking communities are being affected by multinational corporations. As businesses grow and globalize, flourishing across continents, factories and branches are sprouting up in places all over the world. Technology, too, has contributed to the spread of …

How Does The University Of Northern Iowa's Recycling Program Compare To The Recycling Programs Of Its Peer Institutions?, Anna J. Schrad

Honors Program Theses

In recent years, the concept of sustainability has become mainstream and has begun to be incorporated into the decisions that businesses, organizations, and institutions make. With over 12,000 students, the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) has great potential to generate large quantities of recyclables (Kaplan & von Kolnitz, 2004). By expanding its recycling program, UNI can increase its appeal to prospective students while gaining economic benefits in addition to protecting the environment. Waste managers at 8 of UNI’s peer institutions (Appendix B) were interviewed to determine how UNI’s recycling and waste diversion efforts compared to similar schools for a variety …

Paternal Religiosity And Parenting Style: Influence On The Quality Of Daughter's Friendships, Abigail Anne Buenneke

Honors Program Theses

Research shows that parenting styles fall into three basic categories: authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive (Baumrind, 1971). Also, a high amount of parental involvement has been found to exert a positive influence on children’s academic performance and personality development (Heaven & Ciarrochi, 2008). This study examines the hypothesis that a daughter who reports that her father figure only allows her to develop highly regulated friendships will have a more negative perception of her father figure than a girl who is given more freedom in developing friendships. Secondly, the study examines the hypothesis that a daughter who reports highly regulated friendships will …

Using Mathematics As A Gateway To Literacy For English Language Learners, Krista Hemphill

Honors Program Theses

One teaching approach that alleviates language barriers involves teachers using what students know and can do to develop students‟ understanding of and ability in another area. Thus, 2 teachers can promote ELLs‟ literacy development by integrating knowledge and skills ELLs have from another subject area into their literacy instruction. Specifically, teachers can integrate mathematics into literacy instruction because research suggests that ELLs often understand and successfully carry out mathematical tasks. For example, Gunning (2003) points out that ELLs tend to perform well on mathematical computations. The universality of mathematical symbols seems to promote ELLs‟ understanding of mathematics instruction although lessons …

Ecological Niche Modeling Of Potential West Nile Virus Vector Mosquito Species In Iowa, Scott R. Larson, John P. Degroote, Lyric C. Bartholomay, Ramanathan Sugumaran

Faculty Work

Ecological niche modeling (ENM) algorithms, Maximum Entropy Species Distribution Modeling (Maxent) and Genetic Algorithm for Rule-set Prediction (GARP), were used to develop models in Iowa for three species of mosquito – two significant, extant West Nile virus (WNV) vectors (Culex pipiens L and Culex tarsalis Coquillett (Diptera: Culicidae)), and the nuisance mosquito, Aedes vexans Meigen (Diptera: Culicidae), a potential WNV bridge vector. Occurrence data for the three mosquito species from a state-wide arbovirus surveillance program were used in combination with climatic and landscape layers. Maxent successfully created more appropriate niche models with greater accuracy than GARP. The three Maxent species’ …

Anatomy Of A Regional Conflict: Tarija And Resource Grievances In Moraless Bolivia, Denise Bebbington, Anthony J. Bebbington

Geography

In 2008, the Department of Tarija became the epicenter of national political struggles over political autonomy for lowland regions at odds with the Morales administration. In September, following a series of regional referenda on autonomy and a national recall election, citizen committees in Tarija mobilized urban-based sectors and organized a general strike against the central government. It is unhelpful to understand the strike as simply an act of political sabotage orchestrated by racist regional elites. The factors driving protest and interest in autonomy are varied and deeply related to patterns of hydrocarbons extraction in the department that have allowed for …

Robust Dynamic Balance Of Ap-1 Transcription Factors In A Neuronal Gene Regulatory Network., Gregory M Miller, Babatunde A Ogunnaike, James S Schwaber, Rajanikanth Vadigepalli

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The octapeptide Angiotensin II is a key hormone that acts via its receptor AT1R in the brainstem to modulate the blood pressure control circuits and thus plays a central role in the cardiac and respiratory homeostasis. This modulation occurs via activation of a complex network of signaling proteins and transcription factors, leading to changes in levels of key genes and proteins. AT1R initiated activity in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), which regulates blood pressure, has been the subject of extensive molecular analysis. But the adaptive network interactions in the NTS response to AT1R, plausibly related to the development of …

Computational Studies Of Stereochemical Effects In The Synthesis Of Sugar Mimics, Louis Anthony Lello

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Density Functional methods are used to model the tandem aza-Cope rearrangement – Mannich cyclization reaction leading to substituted acylpyrrolidines. The ultimate goal is to determine optimum reaction conditions that maximize stereoselectivity, as only one set of stereoisomers is pharmacologically active. Three aspects of the reaction are investigated. First, we determine the relative size of three rotational barriers in the interconversion of two iminium cation stereoisomers that are precursors to the aza-Cope rearrangement. The lowest energy pathway for the interconversion is identified, as well as the relative stability of the two stereoisomers for two different substituents: diphenyl and methyl. Activation barriers …

Implementation Of Multi-Clb Designs Using Quantum-Dot Cellular Automata, Chia-Ching Tung

Theses

CMOS scaling is currently facing a technological barrier. Novel technologies are being proposed to keep up with the need for computation power and speed. One of the proposed ideas is the quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) technology. QCA uses quantum mechanical effects in the device at the molecular scale. QCA systems have the potential for low power, high density, and regularity. This thesis studies QCA devices and uses those devices to build a simple field programmable gate array (FPGA). The FPGA is a combination of multiple configure logical blocks (CLBs) tiled together. Most previous work on this area has focused on …

Continuing Studies In Rio Grande Valley History, Milo Kearney, Anthony K. Knopp, Antonio Zavaleta

Studies in Rio Grande Valley Regional History Series

Coming to the Valley, a poem / Vivian Kearney -- The ghosts of historic Palmito Hill Ranch / Antonio N. Zavaleta -- Against the odds : Dr. Juliet V. García, border educator / Manuel F. Medrano -- Lucile Champion's Brownsville : remembrances of another time / Frank Champion Murphy -- The restored courthouse and Judge Oscar Dancy / Anthony Knopp -- Francesco Voltaggio and the Port Isabel shrimp industry / Virginia Voltaggio Wood -- Mario Barrera : a border success story / Milo Kearney -- Selected figures from the Sierra/Valerio family history / Luciano Valerio Sierra and Amy Sierra Frazier …

Use Of A Segmented Electrode To Control Current Distribution In Electrochemical Systems, Barry Van Tassell

Dissertations and Theses

"The goal of this project was to investigate the use of segmented electrodes to control the current distribution through an electrochemical cell. To achieve this goal, the project was separated into two parts, designing a scalable piece of hardware that could create a current distribution, and then using that hardware to create noticeable changes in a system by changing the current distribution within the system. Prior to building the current distribution device, a basic 3-electrode galvanostat was built in order to test its fundamental design characteristics. The design stressed a simplistic hardware, relying on software to control the current. A …

Selective Adsorption Of Dibenzothiophenes On Activated Carbons With Metal Species Deposited On Their Surfaces, Jakub Lison

Dissertations and Theses

"The objective of this thesis is an investigation of influence of porosity, surface chemistry, material composition and effects of metals oncarbon adsorbents in desulfurization of liquid fuels. Materials are derived from poly (4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) salts (sodium or transition metals). They are investigated in a dynamic breakthrough process using model diesel fuel containing dibenzothiophene (DBT) and 4, 6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (DMDBT). The performance of adsorbents is evaluated in terms of the capacity and selectivity. Differences in performance are investigated considering the porosity, surface chemistry and the type of material used."

Modular Synthesis Of Weinreb Amides Of 2-Fluoro-2,4-Dienoic Acids, Mohammad Chowdhury

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

Acceleration Of Monte Carlo Value At Risk Estimation Using Graphics Processing Unit (Gpu), Wei Wu

Dissertations and Theses

"Value at Risk (VaR) is one of the most popular tools used to estimate the exposure to market risks, and it measures the worst expected loss at a given confidence level. Monte Carlo simulation is one of the best methods to calculate VaR and it is widely used in financial industry. Unfortunately, it is time consuming especially when the simulated samples and the number of assets in a portfolio are very large. The graphics processing unit (GPU) is a specialized multiprocessor which has highly parallel structure supporting more effective than general-purpose CPUs for a range of complex algorithms. In this …

2010 Piscataqua Region Comprehensive Conservation And Management Plan (Ccmp), Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership

PREP Reports & Publications

In the fall of 2010, the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP) completed an 18-month effort to understand current and future environmental issues affecting the Region’s estuaries, to establish realistic goals and objectives for the next 10 years, and to create effective action plans to systematically achieve the shared environmental goals of a broad base of Regional stakeholders.

With input from more than 150 individuals, representing 82 organizations, PREP compiled the 2010 Piscataqua Region Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) that lays the foundation for work over the next decade to protect and restore the Region’s estuaries and associated watersheds