Digital Commons Network^™

In-Plane Sensitive Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometer Using A Diffractive Holographic Optical Element, Raghavendra Jallapuram, Con Healy, Emilia Mihaylova, Vincent Toal

Articles

We describe a student project in electronic speckle pattern interferometry. The project includes holographic recording of diffraction gratings in thick, self-processing photopolymer layers made from off-the-shelf chemicals. The gratings are employed in a simple electronic speckle pattern interferometer to measure in-plane rotation.

Comment On C.E. Close, M.R. Gleeson And J.T. Sheridan "Monomer Diffusion Rates In Photopolymer Material Part 1. Low Spatial Frequency Holographic Gratings, Vincent Toal, Suzanne Martin, Izabela Naydenova

Articles

COMMENT: on C. E. Close, M. R. Gleeson and J. T. Sheridan “Monomer diffusion rates in photopolymer material.Part I. Low spatial frequency holographic gratings” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B / Vol. 28, No. 4 / April 2011 pp 658- 666 [1]

Increased Tolerance To Abiotic Stresses In Tobacco Plants Expressing A Barley Cell Wall Peroxidase, Philippe Pringuet, Norman Mcmillan, Greg Doyle, Stephen Smith, Sebastian Riedel

Articles

Tensiography is a technique that determines the physical and chemical properties of a liquid by illuminating a growing pendant drop from within using a source fibre. Light reflected internally at the surface of the drop is recieved by a collector fibre and is converted into an electric signal called a tensiotrace, which is a graph of reflected light as a function of drop volume. The instrument obtaining this signal is called multianalyser. A numerical model that simulates tensiotraces through a raytracing analysis (RAST - Raytracing Analysis for the Simulation of Tensiotraces) of the multianalyser as been developed to define theoretically …

Shaker Table Vibration Testing Of A Microsatellite, Tonya Michelle Sanders

Masters Theses

"In the satellite development process, structural testing is a means to gain confidence in analytical models and ultimately support qualification of the spacecraft for flight. Vibration testing, in particular, is motivated by the safety considerations of crew or launch personnel, the survivability of delicate hardware and electronics, and the avoidance of large stresses that cause structural fatigue or failure. The subject of this thesis is concerned with the shaker table vibration testing of a microsatellite pair designed and built by students at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri. A finite element model (FEM) used in structural …

An Investigation Into The Design, Development And Testing Of A Tool To Improve The Accessibility Of Access Information For People With Disabilities, Susan Codd

Masters

Independent access for all to the built environment is one of the most basic of human rights. It provides social inclusion, integration and acceptance in communities. People with disabilities often encounter barriers to such access, barriers that can discriminate and marginalise to the extent that it prohibits independent living. Visiting the built environment becomes a lottery whereby inaccessible features may be present around every corner. People with disabilities deserve more than operating on a system of chance; they require a tool to make an informed decision prior to embarking on a journey. However in order to provide such information three …

Findings: College Of Education Research Report, 2010, College Of Education, Illinois State University

Annual Report and Findings

No abstract provided.

Community Users In North American Academic Libraries, Wanda V. Dole, J.B. Hill

Faculty Scholarship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a two-year experiment at one NorthAmerican academic library with extending free borrowing privileges to community users.

Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews previous research on services to unaffiliated community users by academic libraries and employs quantitative measures to examine the costs and benefits of providing such services at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), Arkansas,USA.

Findings – The data indicate that services can be provided to unaffiliated community users with minimal effort and cost. However, the benefits to the organization, such as increase in good will …

Red Note New Music Festival Program, 2011, School Of Music

Red Note New Music Festival

The RED NOTE New Music Festival at Illinois State University is a week-long event which features outstanding performances of contemporary concert music.

James P. Barufaldi: Teacher Of Science Teachers, Martha May Tevis, John Mcbride

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Improving Service Through Just-In-Time Concept In A Dynamic Operational Environment, Kar Way Tan, Hoong Chuin Lau, Na Fu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This paper is concerned with the problem of Just-In-Time (JIT) job scheduling in a dynamic environment under uncertainty to attain timely service. We provide an approach, based on robust scheduling concepts, to analytically evaluate the expected cost of earliness and tardiness for each job and also the project. In addition, we search for a schedule execution policy with the minimum robust cost such that for a given risk level (epsilon), the actual realized schedule has (1 - epsilon) probability of completing with less than or equal to this robust cost. Our method is quite generic, and can be applied to …

Lightweight Delegated Subset Test With Privacy Protection, Xuhua Zhou, Xuhua Ding, Kefei Chen

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Delegated subset tests are mandatory in many applications, such as content-based networks and outsourced text retrieval, where an untrusted server evaluates the degree of matching between two data sets. We design a novel scheme to protect the privacy of the data sets in comparison against the untrusted server, with half of the computation cost and half of the ciphertext size of existing solutions based on predicate only encryption supporting inner product.

Would Price Limits Have Made Any Difference To The 'Flash Crash' On May 6, 2010, Wing Bernard Lee, Shih-Fen Cheng, Annie Koh

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

On May 6, 2010, the U.S. equity markets experienced a brief but highly unusual drop in prices across a number of stocks and indices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (see Figure 1) fell by approximately 9% in a matter of minutes, and several stocks were traded down sharply before recovering a short time later. The authors contend that the events of May 6, 2010 exhibit patterns consistent with the type of "flash crash" observed in their earlier study (2010). This paper describes the results of nine different simulations created by using a large-scale computer model to reconstruct the critical elements …

A Usability Study Of A Mobile Content Sharing System, Alton Yeow-Kuan Chua, Dion Hoe-Lian Goh, Khasfariyati Razikin, Ee Peng Lim

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

We investigate the usability of MobiTOP (Mobile Tagging of Objects and People), a mobile location-based content sharing system. MobiTOP allows users to annotate real world locations with both multimedia and textual content and concurrently, share the annotations among its users. In addition, MobiTOP provides additional functionality such as clustering of annotations and advanced search and filtering options. A usability evaluation of the system was conducted in the context of a travel companion for tourists. The results suggested the potential of the system in terms of functionality for mobile content sharing. Participants agreed that the features in MobiTOP were generally usable …

Ultra-Sensitive High-Precision Spectroscopy Of A Fast Molecular Ion Beam, A. Mills, B. Stiller, M. Porambo, Manori Perera, H. Kreckel, B. Mccall

Scholarship

Direct spectroscopy of a fast molecular ion beam offers many advantages over competing techniques, including the generality of the approach to any molecular ion, the complete elimination of spectral confusion due to neutral molecules, and the mass identification of individual spectral lines. The major challenge is the intrinsic weakness of absorption or dispersion signals resulting from the relatively low number density of ions in the beam. Direct spectroscopy of an ion beam was pioneered by Saykally and co-workers in the late 1980s, but has not been attempted since that time. Here, we present the design and construction of an ion …

Linear Position Control In The Presence Of Non-Linear Friction, Frank J. Breau Iii

Open Access Master's Theses

This thesis presents the design and simulation of a friction compensation technique for position control systems. Linear techniques are used to implement an “inner loop” velocity tracking system to compensate for friction-induced disturbances. Intended to mimic the effect of an analog tachometer feedback loop on a servo drive motor, inner loops employing proportional feedback, integral feedback, and observer based feedback are explored. Simulation results indicate that the observer-based feedback loop is most effective at friction compensation. Hardware demonstrations substantiate the simulated results.

Graduate Recital In Voice, Isaac D. Droscha

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

On Tuesday, March 22, 2011, Isaac Droscha, baritone, presented a recital in partial fulfillment of the Master of Music degree. The recital totaled approximately fifty-five minutes in length. The first half featured Gustav Mahler's Kindertotenlieder (1904), containing five songs to poetry of Friedrich Rückert. Following a brief intermission, the recital continued with two song sets; the first set contained five songs by Sergei Rachmaninoff from Ops. 4, 14, and 26; the second set was George Butterworth's Bredon Hill and Other Songs, containing five songs (1912). All the works were chosen to show a variety of perspectives on the theme of …

Data Compressive Paradigm For Multispectral Sensing Using Tunable Dwell Mid-Infrared Detectors, Woo-Yong Jang, Majeed M. Hayat, Sebastian E. Godoy, Steven C. Bender, Payman Zarkesh-Ha, Sanjay Krishna

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

While quantum dots-in-a-well (DWELL) infrared photodetectors have the feature that their spectral responses can be shifted continuously by varying the applied bias, the width of the spectral response at any applied bias is not sufficiently narrow for use in multispectral sensing without the aid of spectral filters. To achieve higher spectral resolutions without using physical spectral filters, algorithms have been developed for post-processing the DWELL’s bias-dependent photocurrents resulting from probing an object of interest repeatedly over a wide range of applied biases. At the heart of these algorithms is the ability to approximate an arbitrary spectral filter, which we desire …

Pulmonary Particle Deposition In Relation To Age, Body Weight, And Species, Lisa M. Weber

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As a result of dissimilarity in lung morphometry and physiological conditions, therapeutic aerosol particles deposit differently in humans of various ages and body weights. These particles also deposit differently in non-human species that are often utilized in inhalation and dosing studies. The focus of this work is to determine the optimal particle size and deposition (traditional efficiency and volume-weighted) of therapeutic particles in humans of both genders ranging in age from 3 months old to 21 years old and three non-human species (B6C3F₁ mouse, Long-Evans hooded rat, and Beagle dog). This study finds that in humans, both optimal …

Characterizations Of Exponential Distribution Via Conditional Expectations Of Record Values, George Yanev

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

We prove that the exponential distribution is the only one which satisfies a regression identity. This identity involves conditional expectation of the sample mean of record values given two record values outside of the sample.

Management Of Patient Adherence To Medications: Protocol For An Online Survey Of Doctors, Pharmacists And Nurses In Europe, W Clyne, C Mshelia, S Hall, S Mclachlan, Et Al

Peninsula Medical School

Introduction It is widely recognised that many patients do not take prescribed medicines as advised. Research in this field has commonly focused on the role of the patient in non-adherence; however, healthcare professionals can also have a major influence on patient behaviour in taking medicines. This study examines the perceptions, beliefs and behaviours of healthcare professionals—doctors, pharmacists and nurses—about patient medication adherence. Methods and analysis This paper describes the study protocol and online questionnaire used in a cross-sectional survey of healthcare professionals in Europe. The participating countries include Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, The Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Hungary, Italy …

Redistricting Effect In A Non-Partisan World: Toward A Theory Of Reapportionment At The County Board Level Of Government, Amy Uden

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

Electoral redistricting shapes political scientists' perceptions of partisan polarization and incumbency. This paper examines the redistricting process at the county level of government, using the cases of McLean and Champaign Counties, Illinois. This research analyzes the McLean County board's voting cleavages in order to highlight considerations of nonpartisan electoral bodies. With Champaign County as a comparison, it also uses a series of linear regression models to analyze redistricting's effects on county incumbency and board composition. Redistricting impact proved insignificant, but the study demonstrates correlations between county electoral composition and state-level electoral trends, and also confirms the important influence of partisanship …

Capacity Rationalisation And Exit Barriers In The Irish Printing Industry, Kathleen Hughes

Conference papers

Decisions regarding capacity and capital investment are among the most critical for firms, as reflected in the extensive literature devoted to this subject. However, substantially less work has been carried out on the decision to disinvest. This is unfortunate as in some situations, such as recessionary times, the main competitive moves pertain to disinvestment, rather than investment. This study aims to contribute to this subject, in particular it aims to identify why industries with a concentrated structure can when proactively rationalise when required, while fragmented ones cannot. Research methodology a case study approach, comprising in-depth interviews with six industry experts …

Dublin Institute Of Technology's Programme For Students Learning With Communities: A Critical Account Of Practice, Catherine Bates, Elena Gamble

Staff Articles and Research Papers

Purpose – This paper aims to focus on the process of critically evaluating Technological University City's Programme for Students Learning With Communities after its first year of operation. The programme supports and promotes community-based learning/service-learning across DIT.

Design/methodology/approach – The paper is presented in the form of a case study, wherein the context for the work is outlined, addressing both strengths and weaknesses of the practice to date, and comment briefly on wider implications.

Findings – After nine months an evaluation of the programme was carried out. It identified four main areas where it was felt there was potential for …

Alternatives To Industrial Work Placement At Technological University City, Catherine Bates, Elena Gamble

Staff Articles and Research Papers

In the current economic crisis, higher education graduates need transferable professional skills more than ever. They need resourcefulness, an ability to work reflectively, a sense of civic awareness and an impressive curriculum vitae. This case study analyses how Technological University City’s Programme for Students Learning With Communities provides cost-effective, sustainable solutions to these needs, offering an alternative to industrial work placement. Community-based learning and research involve collaboration between staff and/or students and community partners to design real-life, course-based projects which meet the learning needs of the students and those of the community. The programme not only enriches the curriculum; it …

Engineering Graduates: Preparation And Progression: Institutes Of Technology Honours Bachelor Degree Engineering Graduate Study, June, 2011, James Shivnan, Austin Hanley, Mike Murphy

Reports

The national strategy for higher level education underlines the importance of innovation and enterprise; and well qualified engineers are central to furthering that strategy. This honours bachelor degree engineering graduate study represents an intense dialogue between engineering faculties across the Institutes of Technology to gain insight into the quality of our engineering education. The study provides a fresh insight into how NFQ Level 81honours bachelor degree engineering graduates from the Institutes are perceived by employers, how well the graduates themselves feel they are prepared to perform as engineers, and how both employers and graduates judge the strengths and weaknesses of …

Riordan Arrays Associated With Laurent Series And Generalized Sheffer-Type Groups, Tian-Xiao He

Scholarship

A relationship between a pair of Laurent series and Riordan arrays is formulated. In addition, a type of generalized Sheffer groups is defined using Riordan arrays with respect to power series with non-zero coefficients. The isomorphism between a generalized Sheffer group and the group of the Riordan arrays associated with Laurent series is established. Furthermore, Appell, associated, Bell, and hitting-time subgroups of the groups are defined and discussed. A relationship between the generalized Sheffer groups with respect to different power series is presented. The equivalence of the defined Riordan array pairs and generalized Stirling number pairs is given. A type …

Forex Trading Using Metatrader 4 With The Fractal Market Hypothesis, Jonathan Blackledge, Kieran Murphy

Conference papers

This paper reports on the results of a research and development programme concerned with the analysis of currency pair exchange time series for Forex trading in an intensive applications and services environment. In particular, we present some of the preliminary results obtained for Forex trading using MetaTrader 4 with a new set of trend indicators deigned using a mathematical model that is based on the Fractal Market Hypothesis. This includes examples of various currency pair exchange rates considered over different time intervals and use of the indicators in a live trading environment to place a buy/sell order.

On The Applications Of Deterministic Chaos For Encrypting Data On The Cloud, Jonathan Blackledge, Nikolai Ptitsyn

Conference papers

Cloud computing is expected to grow considerably in the future because it has so many advantages with regard to sale and cost, change management, next generation architectures, choice and agility. However, one of the principal concerns for users of the Cloud is lack of control and above all, data security. This paper considers an approach to encrypting information before it is ‘placed’ on the Cloud where each user has access to their own encryption algorithm, an algorithm that is based on a set of iterated function systems that outputs a chaotic number stream, designed to produce a cryptographically secure cipher. …

Magnetic Resonance Image Processing Using Levy Distributed Anisotropic Diffusion, Jonathan Blackledge, Matthew Blackledge

Conference papers

We consider the physical nature of the self-diffusion of water molecules in tissue and explore how (Nuclear) Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging may be used as a means of measuring the rate of diffusion in vivo. A discussion is presented on how these techniques may be implemented as a non-invasive means of assessing the response of tumours to novel therapeutics including some of the basic advantages and disadvantages when compared to other methods. The physical basis and mathematical models for diffusion are considered together with models for the distribution of the diffusion co-efficient including a Levy distributed model. Using a …

Currency Trading Using The Fractal Market Hypothesis, Jonathan Blackledge, Kieran Murphy

Articles

We report on a research and development programme in financial modelling and economic security undertaken in the Information and Communications Security Research Group (ICSRG, 2011) which has led to the launch of a new company - Currency Traders Ireland Limited - funded by Enterprise Ireland. Currency Traders Ireland Limited (CTI, 2011) has a fifty year exclusive license to develop a new set of indicators for analysing currency exchange rates (Forex trading). We consider the background to the approach taken and present examples of the results obtained to date.