Digital Commons Network^™

Synthesis And Characterization Of Conducting Polymer Nanostructures And Their Application In Sensors, Zhe-Fei Li

Doctoral Dissertations

"A one-step synthesis technique has been used to fabricate sensors by growing polyaniline nanofibers and polyaniline/metal nanocomposites in the active area of an interdigitated electrode array. Polyaniline nanofiber sensors can be fabricated by irradiating an aqueous precursor solution containing aniline, HCl, a metal salt, and ammonium persulfate (APS) with a high pressure Hg lamp. The sensors are ready for operation after polymerization is complete, and no additional processing steps are necessary. These sensors showed faster and more intensity response to various organic vapors than conventional bulk polyaniline sensors due to their larger surface area. A chemisorption model and a diffusion …

Ultracapacitor Character Analysis And Its Application In Unified Power Quality Conditioner As Energy Storage System, Xiaomeng Li

Doctoral Dissertations

"This dissertation focuses on the Ultracapacitor (UCAP) character analysis and its application in Unified Power Quality Conditioner (UPQC) as an Energy Storage System (ESS) for improved UPQC performance. It includes three parts as described below. The first part is Paper I. The UCAP is a popular choice for the ESS because of its distinct characters. In the application UCAP's transient behavior need to be studied for design purpose. Usually these transient characters are not shown in the product data sheet. In this paper UCAP frequency analysis is performed, and based on the test data the equivalent model of the UCAP …

Impact. Of Environmental Conditions On Fiberglass-Reinforced Polyurethane Foam Composites, Aron Mark Fisk

Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

Incorporating reinforcement within a polymer (i.e. composite) can obtain substantial performance increases. However, composites may he susceptible to conditions that could have a significant impact on their performance. The objective of this study was to characterize SpaceAge Synthetics (SAS) fiberglass-reinforced rigid, closed-cell polyurethane foam (PU) after subjected to various environmental conditions. SAS composites were characterized as a function of material composition after conditioned to extreme temperatures, moisture, ultraviolet irradiation (UV), or a combination thereof. The experimental process involved accelerated conditioning to further induce property changes and assure long-term integrity. Empirical expressions for SAS composites were generated to represent performance changes …

Experimental Characterization Of A Novel Integrated Flow Control Method, Muhammad Niamul Baqui

Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

Flow control methods can be used in many areas of aerodynamics such as separation control, wind turbines, landing gears and micro satellites. Flow separation in the boundary layer is one of the fundamental problems of aerodynamics. Separated flow in the airfoil boundary layer causes the aircraft to stall. Blowing and Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) Plasma Actuator based techniques have proven successful in limited applications of separation control. However, Blowing techniques require high pressure source and Plasma Actuators are only successful in low speed application. The current research incorporated experimental techniques in characterizing a novel integrated flow control method by combining …

Implementation Of Particle Model Control Approach To A Fixed Axle Ugv, Nikhil Gupta

Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

Robotic vehicles are normally modeled as rigid bodies under general motion, combining translation and rotation motions. While such modeling results in motion controllers that are easy to implement, these controllers are also limited in the number of degrees of freedom (DOF) that can be controlled. The robotic vehicle with limited DOF operates well in structured terrain conditions with sufficient stability and friction. When the vehicle is operated in unstructured terrains, such as those that are sandy, snowy, or steep terrains, which might be slippery, such an approach fails to operate well. Since additional applications of robotic vehicles are in unstructured …

A Molecular Dynamics Study Of Mechanical Properties Of Carbon Nanotube Polymer Composites And Graphene Nanoplatelet Polymer Composites, Suchitra Reddy Yerramaddu

Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

Carbon nanotubes have been the main focus in science and engineering fields lately for their extraordinary properties. But carbon nanotube fabrication process is very expensive, particularly for reinforcements and structural composite applications. Instead of working towards developing lower cost nanotubes, an alternate solution to resolve the problem is to formulate a cost effective reinforcement referred to as graphene nanoplatelets. These nanoplatelets have excellent mechanical as well as electronic properties opening up for several applications in various fields. Their structure with carboncarbon bonds make them stronger and stiffer. Single nanotubes can be used as reinforcements in one direction, while the graphite …

Parametric Investigation Of A Dielectric Barrier Dishcarge Plasma Actuator, Narender Goud Bejawada

Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuator is considered an effective flow control device in various aerospace applications such as drag control, lift control, and stall control. The DBD plasma actuator has many potential benefits in active flow control applications, such as an absence of moving parts and low power draw. Numerous studies have been done to estimate the effect of plasma flow on specific aerospace applications. These studies have revealed that the performance of the plasma actuator depends on a number of parameters, such as operating voltage and currents, materials, and the surrounding air velocity, to name a few. …

Foaming Kinetics Of Closed Cell Rigid Polyurethane Foam, Kimberly Nicol Meyer

Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

Rigid polyurethane foams have shown promise in several applications as a means to reduce weight without compromising structural properties. Information about the chemical formula of the liquid components, the reaction to produce foaming, and the curing kinetics of rigid polyurethane foam are discussed. The chemical formulas of the liquid components are described, and the reaction required to produce foaming and cure of the polyurethane is stated. The foaming kinetics of the polyurethane were determined based on experimental work as well as theoretical modeling. It was determined that there was a relationship between the initial load the frame was placed under …

The Role Of Inspiration In The Helping Professions, Kari A. O'Grady, P. Scott Richards

Faculty Publications

This qualitative research study examined the ways that helping professionals experi- ence inspiration, as defined as divine guidance or influence, in their therapeutic work. It also explored their beliefs about how helping professionals can seek inspiration in their work. Open-ended survey questions from 333 respondents from a diverse range of religious and professional backgrounds were qualitatively analyzed. The themes ex- tracted give insight into the ways that these helping professionals have experienced inspiration in their work and about how helping professionals can facilitate a spiritual space in the therapeutic context.

Composting Animal Manures: A Guide To The Process And Management Of Animal Manure Compost, Chris Augustin, Shafiqur Rahman

NM Series – Nutrition Management

No abstract provided.

On-Farm Turkey Carcass Composting And Management Issues Under North Dakota Climatic Conditions, Shafiqur Rahman, Charles L. Stoltenow

NM Series – Nutrition Management

No abstract provided.

Sentence Processing: Linking Language To Motor Chains, F Chersi, S Thill, T Ziemke, Am Borghi

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

A growing body of evidence in cognitive science and neuroscience points towards the existence of a deep interconnection between cognition, perception and action. According to this embodied perspective language is grounded in the sensorimotor system and language understanding is based on a mental simulation process (Jeannerod, 2007 ; Gallese, 2008 ; Barsalou, 2009 ). This means that during action words and sentence comprehension the same perception, action, and emotion mechanisms implied during interaction with objects are recruited. Among the neural underpinnings of this simulation process an important role is played by a sensorimotor matching system known as the mirror neuron …

Compliance Safety And Health Officer Apprenticeship Program Expenditure Analysis, Marie Lopez

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The purpose of this study was to explore ways to reduce expenditures in the compliance safety and health officer's apprenticeship program at Virginia Department of Labor and Industry.

Tobacco Indemnification Money And Its Impact On Education In Southwest Virginia, Mark Miller

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine the educational impact of tobacco settlement funds on quota holders and growers in Southwest Virginia.

Impacts Of The Stem Education Movement On Technology Education Ph.D. Graduate Programs, Keith Upchurch

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The problem of this study was to determine if technology education Ph.D. granting institutions have blended STEM concepts into their graduate education programs.

Determining Attitudes Of Middle School History Teachers Toward Integrating Contextual Learning Projects Into The Core Curriculum, Amanda Roberts

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The problem of this study was to determine the attitudes of middle school history teachers toward integration of contextual learning activities into their academic curriculum to enhance student learning.

Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Hands-On Corrosion Control Training Using Metered Resistance Measurements To Assess Sailors' Comprehension, Douglas Nichols

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The problem of this study was to evaluate the success of combat systems topside preservation training using a cost effective method to self-assess the efficiency of shipboard corrosion control procedures.

Perceptions Of Company Officer Competency By Firefighters And Company Officers Of Norfolk Fire-Rescue, Paul Savage

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The problem of this study was to compare the perceptions of Norfolk Fire-Rescue firefighters, Lieutenants, and Captains of the level of competency of Norfolk Fire-Rescue company officers as prescribed by NFPA Standard 1021.

Certification Pass Rates Of Students Following Multiple Years Of Drafting Courses, Austin Mantay

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine if the number of high school drafting courses taken increases the pass rate on the Brainbench AutoCAD certification examination.

Standardization Of Learning Management Systems, Deborah J. B. Richard

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine if sharable content object model, the aviation industry CBT committee, and extensible markup language standards are compatible as they pertain to the effective and productive use of a standards management systems for e-learning courses among systems.

Availability Of Electronic Copies Of Instructional Materials For Career And Technical Education, Farid Safarmamadov

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine the availability of electronic copies of state level curriculum materials for career and technical education.

A Review Of Bast Fibres And Their Composites. Part 1 - Fibres As Reinforcements, John Summerscales, Nilmini P.J. Dissanayake, Amandeep S. Virk, Wayne Hall

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Bast fibres are defined as those obtained from the outer cell layers of the stems of various plants. The fibres find use in textile applications and are increasingly being considered as reinforcements for polymer-matrix composites as they are perceived to be "sustainable". The fibres are composed primarily of cellulose which potentially has a Young's modulus of similar to 140 GPa (being a value comparable with man-made aramid [Kevlar/Twaron] fibres). The plants which are currently attracting most interest are flax and hemp (in temperate climates) or jute and kenaf (in tropical climates). This review paper will consider the growth, harvesting and …

A Review Of Bast Fibres And Their Composites. Part 2 - Composites, John Summerscales, Nilmini Dissanayake, Amandeep Virk, Wayne Hall

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Bast fibres are defined as those obtained from the outer cell layers of the stems of various plants. The fibres find use in textile applications and are increasingly being considered as reinforcements for polymer matrix composites as they are perceived to be "sustainable". The fibres are composed primarily of cellulose which potentially has a Young's modulus of similar to 140 GPa (being a value comparable with man-made aramid [Kevlar/Twaron] fibres). The plants which are currently attracting most interest are flax and hemp (in temperate climates) or jute and kenaf (in tropical climates). Part 2 of this review will consider the …

Context-Dependent Partitioning Of Motor Learning In Bimanual Movements, Ian S. Howard, James N. Ingram, Daniel M. Wolpert

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

No abstract provided.

Grounding Action Words In The Sensorimotor Interaction With The World: Experiments With A Simulated Icub Humanoid Robot., D Marocco, A Cangelosi, K Fischer, T Belpaeme

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

This paper presents a cognitive robotics model for the study of the embodied representation of action words. The present research will present how an iCub humanoid robot can learn the meaning of action words (i.e. words that represent dynamical events that happen in time) by physically interacting with the environment and linking the effects of its own actions with the behavior observed on the objects before and after the action. The control system of the robot is an artificial neural network trained to manipulate an object through a Back-Propagation-Through-Time algorithm. We will show that in the presented model the grounding …

Strange And Charmed Baryons Using Nf = 2 Twisted Mass Qcd, M Papinutto, J Carbonell, V Drach, C Alexandrou

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

We compute the mass spectrum for strange/charmed baryons in the partially quenched approach using Nf = 2 twisted mass QCD configurations. We investigate two main issues: the size of lattice artefacts using three values of the lattice spacing (the smallest of which is approximately 0.05 fm) and the dependence of baryon masses on meson (or quark) masses. We thus perform a global fit in order to extrapolate simultaneously to the continuum limit and to the physical point. We estimate the masses of Ωsss, Ξdss, Λuds, Ωccc, Ξdcc, Λudc

Stability, Creation And Annihilation Of Charges In Gauge Theories, Anton Ilderton, Martin Lavelle, David Mcmullan

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

We show how to construct physical, minimal energy states for systems of static and moving charges. These states are manifestly gauge invariant. For charge–anticharge systems we also construct states in which the gauge fields are restricted to a finite volume around the location of the matter fields. Although this is an excited state, it is not singular, unlike all previous finite volume descriptions. We use our states to model the processes of pair creation and annihilation.

Spring Grazing Impacts On The Vegetation Of Reed Canarygrass–Invaded Wetlands, Heidi Hilhouse, Susan J. Tunnell, James L. Stubbendieck

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The Rainwater Basin region in Nebraska is critically important stopover habitat for spring waterfowl migrations, but the ability of these sites to produce sufficient food for migrating waterfowl is endangered by the invasion of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.). This species produces thick litter layers and abundant aboveground biomass, reducing germination and seedling survival of the annual plant species responsible for much of the seed production in the area. Cattle grazing often is used as a management tool in the Rainwater Basin to slow or reverse reed canarygrass invasion and to improve growing conditions for more desirable plant species. …

Chinese Civil-Military Relations In The Post-Deng Era, Nan Li

CMSI Red Books

This study addresses two analytical questions: What has changed in Chinese civil-military relations during the post Deng Xiaoping era? What are the implications of this change for China's crisis management and its naval modernization?

Spring Seed Guide 2010: Nebraska Variety And Hybrid Tests -- Soybeans, Teshome Regassa, Robert N. Klein, Bruce Anderson, Charles A. Shapiro, Jim Krall

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

NEBRASKA SOYBEAN VARIETY TESTS 2009

Crop Production Summary: The November 2009 estimated soybean yield for Nebraska was 52 bushels per acre from 4.800 million harvested acres. The total production of soybeans for the state was forecasted at 247 million bushels. These estimates are from the November National Agricultural Statistics Service.