Digital Commons Network^™

Characterization Of A Quantum Cascade Laser Based Emissivity Monitor For Corsair, Maung Lwin, Michael Wojcik, Harri Latvakoski, Deron Scott, Mike Watson, Alan Marchant, Shane Topham, Martin Mlynczak

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Continuous improvements of quantum cascade laser (QCL) technology have extended the applications in environmental trace gas monitoring, mid-infrared spectroscopy in medicine and life science, law enforcement and homeland security and satellite sensor systems. We present the QCL based emissivity monitor for the CORSAIR blackbody. The emissivity of the blackbody was designed to be better than 0.9999 for the spectral range between 5 to 50μm. To actively monitor changes in blackbody emissivity we employ a QCL-based infrared illumination source. The illumination source consisted of a QCL and thermoelectric cooler (TEC) unit mounted on a copper fixture. The stability of the QCL …

Preflight Assessment Of The Cross-Track Infrared Sounder (Cris) Performance, Vladimir V. Zavyalov, Chad S. Fish, Gail E. Bingham, Mark Esplin, Mark Greenman, Deron Scott, Yong Han

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

The Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) is a part of the Crosstrack Infrared and Microwave Sounding Suite (CrIMSS) that will be used to produce accurate temperature, water vapor, and pressure profiles on the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) and upcoming Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) operational missions. The NPP CrIS flight model has completed sensor qualification, characterization, and calibration and is now integrated with the NPP spacecraft in preparation for the launch. This paper reviews the CrIS performance during thermal vacuum tests, including the spacecraft integration test, and provides a comparison to the AIRS and IASI heritage sensors that it builds upon. …

The Spatial Distribution Of Solar Radiation Under A Melting Arctic Sea Ice Cover, Karen E. Frey, Donald K. Perovich, Bonnie Light

Geography

The sea ice cover of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas is currently undergoing a fundamental shift from multiyear ice to first-year ice. Field observations of sea ice physical and optical properties were collected in this region during June-July 2010, revealing unexpectedly complex spatial distributions of solar radiation under the melt-season ice cover. Based on our optical measurements of first-year ice, we found the under-ice light field in the upper ocean to be spatially heterogeneous and dependent on wavelength, ice thickness, and the areal and geometric distribution of melt ponded and bare ice surfaces. Much of the observed complexity in radiation …

Spatial And Interannual Variability Of Dissolved Organic Matter In The Kolyma River, East Siberia, Observed Using Satellite Imagery, Claire G. Griffin, Karen E. Frey, John Rogan, Robert M. Holmes

Geography

The Kolyma River basin in northeastern Siberia, the sixth largest river basin draining to the Arctic Ocean, contains vast reserves of carbon in Pleistocene-aged permafrost soils. Permafrost degradation, as a result of climate change, may cause shifts in riverine biogeochemistry as this old source of organic matter is exposed. Satellite remote sensing offers an opportunity to complement and extrapolate field sampling of dissolved organic matter in this expansive and remote region. We develop empirically based algorithms that estimate chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the Kolyma River and its major tributaries in the vicinity of …

A Synthesis Of The Long-Term Paleoclimatic Evolution Of The Arctic, Matthew O'Regan, Christopher J. Williams, Karen E. Frey, Martin Jakobsson

Geography

Since the Arctic Ocean began forming in the Early Cretaceous 112-140 million years ago, the Arctic region has undergone profound oceanographic and paleoclimatic changes. It has evolved from a warm epicontinental sea to its modern state as a cold isolated ocean with extensive perennial sea ice cover. Our understanding of the long-term paleoclimate evolution of the Arctic remains fragmentary but has advanced dramatically in the past decade through analysis of new marine and terrestrial records, supplemented by important insights from paleoclimate models. Improved understanding of how these observations fit into the long-term evolution of the global climate system requires additional …

Children‘S Protagonism At The Centro Cultural Da Criança: A Case Study, Claudia Protasio Ceccon

Dissertations

This dissertation provides a thick description and discussion of how child protagonism, participation and autonomy were implemented in an out of school center – The Children‘s Cultural Center – in a favela, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The researcher visited the center for more than two years, twice a week from February 2008 to June 2009, and once a week from June 2009 to July 2010. She conducted in-depth interviews with educators and children, recorded observation sessions in the activity rooms, and observed actualization sessions for educators and family days. This study describes the perspectives and expectations of the Center‘s …

Integer-Based Fully Homomorphic Encryption, Michael Snook

Theses

The concept of fully homomorphic encryption has been considered the "holy grail" of cryptography since the discovery of secure public key cryptography in the 1970s. Fully homomorphic encryption allows arbitrary computation on encrypted data to be performed securely. Craig Gentry's new method of bootstrapping introduced in 2009 provides a technique for constructing fully homomorphic cryptosystems. In this paper we explore one such bootstrappable system based on simple integer arithmetic in a manner that someone without a high level of experience in homomorphic encryption can readily understand. Further, we present an implementation of the system as well as a lattice- based …

An Assessment Of Road Traffic Safety In Kosovo : {Presentation Given On September 6, 2011], Mentor Bislimi

Theses

During the last decade, Kosova has not developed clear and sufficient policies to improve road traffic safety. In the long term, in relation to this matter no strategies, plans, and adequate programs have been drafted. This issue is not yet a priority of Government, although there are some signs that this situation is soon to be reassessed. The lack of road information system, collision of laws, lack of the laws implementation and coordination among designated mechanisms, make this issue more complicated. Furthermore, there are many unregulated issues which are not in compliance with the EU Directives. This capstone project conduct …

Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Provides Protection Against Injury-Induced Thrombosis In Female Mice, Rita K. Upmacis, Hao Shen, Lea Esther S. Benguigui, Brian D. Lamon, Ruba S. Deeb, Katherine A. Hajjar, David P. Hajjar

Faculty Papers and Publications

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important vasoactive molecule produced by three NO synthase (NOS) enzymes: neuronal (nNOS), inducible (iNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS). While eNOS contributes to blood vessel dilation that is generally thought to protect against the development of hypertension, iNOS has been primarily implicated as a disease-promoting isoform leading to protein-bound 3-nitrotyrosine formation in aortic lesions and select organs during atherogenesis. Despite this, iNOS may also play a physiological role, via the modulation of cyclooxygenase and thromboregulatory eicosanoid production. Herein, we examined the role of iNOS in a murine model of thrombosis. Blood flow was measured in carotid …

Listening: Questions, Ideas, Reflections, And Mistakes From A Pre-Student Teacher, Grace-Ann Astrid Manes

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This autobiographical self-study thesis explores the growth of the pre-student teacher within the context of an exploration of differentiation. It is an in-depth, reflective study of the development of a curriculum unit based in environmental mathematics education, the teaching of that unit in three contrasting school systems, and the results of that teaching for the student and teacher. The importance of listening in differentiation is emphasized as the questions, ideas, reflections, and mistakes of a pre-service teacher are discussed. In order to maintain validity and perspective, the theisis is written in narrative style with particular attention to author context, chronological …

Explorations Of A Geek: A Survey Of The Digital Humanities And An Experiment Of Form, Erin Stratos

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

The Foster Care And Adoption Process Through The Eyes Of Prospective Parents, Nancy Hocking Berger

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Every year, thousands of children wait in the Michigan foster care system for a permanent family. Families that express interest in foster care or adoption encounter a complicated and complex child welfare system. In the end, the majority of families that express interest do no progress to fostering or adopting (Katz, Wilson & Green, 2005). There are potential barriers at every step of the process that can impact a family's progress towards providing a home and a family for a waiting child (McRoy, 2007). This study seeks to answer the question: Once interest has been expressed, what are the reasons …

English Teaching Methods: Comparing And Contrasting The Learning Processes Of Elementary Students In South Korea And American Students With Hearing Impairments, Katie Mchugh

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Causes Of Piracy In Medieval Japan, Joanna Abeli

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

In this thesis, I examine why there were phases of intense international raiding by Japanese pirates during Japan's medieval period. The scope of the study spans two distinct phases of piratical activity by Japanese marauders known as the wako, the first lasting from 1223 to 1265 and the second from 1350 to the early 1400s. As the wako have been studied before from the perspective of the central governments of the period affected by the raiding, namely those of Japan, China, and Korea, this is an examination of the causes of piracy from the perspective of those on the periphery …

Girls Group Survey On Adolescent Substance Use/Abuse, Heather Messina

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This research study focuses on adolescent substance abuse prevention. By involving a convenience sample of African American high school girls from an Ann Arbor nonprofit organization names, "Girls Group", a survey asked about their involvement in the after school program, their exposure to alcohol and drug use, influence, attitudes, coping skill and drinking context. A prevention-based educational workshop will later be designed and customized in response to the data from this survey. A cross-cultural comparison of the prevention of substance abuse in youth was approached by interviewing a substance abuse prevention specialist from Savannah-la-mar, Jamaica who conducts similar prevention workshops …

Un Estudio De Las Formas De Tratamiento De Inmigrantes Mexicanos, Andrew Walla

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Maintaining Relationships: Facebook's Affect On Long-Distance Friendships, Steven-Paul Lapid

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Technological advancements in media have made it easier to maintain relationships over long distances. Social networking interfaces and websites such as Facebook have changed the way people communicate in geographically separated relationships. However, is this new technology improving or hindering communication and the maintenance of these relationships? In this exploratory study, self reports of FAcebook users and nonusers are analyzed to examine the effect social networking technology has on relational maintenance and satisfaction. Participants reported their general use of Facebook and reported the quality of their relationships with long-distant acquaintances. This report provides new research opportunities in this growing field …

The Impact Of Leadership Training On Collegiate Student Athletes, Jerry Bergsma

Dissertations

This research is an exploratory study of the impact of leadership training on the student-athletes at an NCAA Division III member institution. Leadership education and training for athletics has seen a lack of research that could give insight into identifying attributes and actions that are associated with high-quality leadership training experiences. The purpose of this study is to identify the: (a) quality and outcomes of the Gainey Leadership Retreat training program, and (b) the attributes and impact of the Gainey program using the lens of Eich's (2008) wounded theory of high-quality student leadership programs.

The study participants are 60 female …

Incorporating Evidence In Clinical Education; Barriers And Opportunities In Allied Health, Clare Delany, Andrea Bailocerkowski

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Clinical education is a key component of health professional education. Clinical educators, like clinicians, are increasingly expected to access and apply evidence from clinical education theories to inform their teaching methods and approaches. Purpose: This study evaluated personal and organizational factors that influenced the ability to access and apply clinical education research evidence into clinical teaching in a group of allied health practitioners at one large metropolitan hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Method: A Cross-sectional survey based on a previously published survey of clinical physiotherapists was custom-designed to examine the factors that influence evidence based practices (EBP) of a range of …

Evanescent Wave Assist Features For Optical Projection Lithography, Neal Lafferty

Theses

Evanescent Wave Assist Features (EWAFs) are features that are sensitive to near-field radiation that modify diffracted order intensities from photomask patterns. In implementations studied in this thesis, the EWAFs increase a transmitting feature's image contrast and Normalized Image Log Slope (NILS). In this way, the EWAFs are a way to improve image fidelity for high-resolution features. The assist features consist of local, buried grooves located around transmitting mask regions. These grooves reside in otherwise unused areas, since they are located under or on top of opaque mask absorber regions. In these "buried" locations, they are not optically visible to the …

Impact Of Project Based Learning In Introduction To Engineering/Technology Class, Alok K. Verma

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Project based learning (PBL) has a proven record as a teaching tool. Concepts that are often hard to grasp are made easy by the use of project based activities. The constructivism learning theory suggests that people learn better by actively participating in the process of learning. The Introduction to Engineering and Engineering Technology class has been modified to include project based learning kits to engage freshmen early on in the program. The goal is to demonstrate students the link between the scientific principles and their engineering applications. The course is team taught by faculty from various engineering and technology disciplines …

Design And Implement A Cost-Effective Wireless Communication Project On A Pic Training System, Steve Hsiung, Walter F. Deal, Lacides Agustin Osorio, Mathew Henderson

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Wireless communication becomes popular and widely used in almost every electronic product in our daily life. The RF communication is one of the major wireless applications in consumer products. Usually, it is integrated with an embedded system (microcontroller) to control various applications such as temperature sensing, data logging, data exchange, actuator activation, and user interaction wirelessly. A project based model can be used as an effective instructional strategy to enhance learning about complex RF concepts and technologies. The project method can lead to improved understanding and create interest by actively engaging the student with hands-on and problem solving and critical …

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

Studies in Rio Grande Valley Regional History Series

Chupacabras, a poem / Milo Kearney -- The Texas Center for Border and Transnational Studies / Antonio Zavaleta with help from others -- History Through World War I : Comparative freedom in the borderlands: fugitive slaves in Texas and Mexico from the age of enlightenment through the U.S. Civil War / Francis X. Galan and Joseph Leon -- Contraband trade in Matamoros and its impact on the northern Mexican economy during the 1820s / Melisa Galvan -- Preparando los festejos para la inauguración del Ferrocarril a Monterrey / Andres F. Cuellar -- Adolf F. Dittman and Brownsville's first motion picture …

Foreign Language Houses: Identities In Transition, Jennifer Brown, Dan Dewey, Rob A. Martinsen, Wendy Baker

Faculty Publications

This study examined the lived experience of students participating in foreign language houses to improve their skills in Russian, French, or Japanese. American students residing in apartments with other language learners and a nativespeaking resident facilitator were required to speak with one another exclusively in the target language and participate in activities such as preparing and eating dinner together. Data sources for the study included interviews, observations, and video recordings. The data, which were analyzed qualitatively, revealed that the central experience of living in the foreign language house was the creation of a livable community and that use of the …

Behavioral Economics Perspectives On Public Sector Pension Plans, John Beshears, James J. Choi, David Laibson, Brigitte C. Madrian

Faculty Publications

We describe the pension plan features of the states and the largest cities and counties in the U.S. Unlike in the private sector, defined benefit (DB) pensions are still the norm in the public sector. However, a few jurisdictions have shifted towards defined contribution (DC) plans as their primary savings plan, and fiscal pressures are likely to generate more movement in this direction. Holding fixed a public employee‘s work and salary history, we show that DB retirement income replacement ratios vary greatly across jurisdictions. This creates large variation in workers‘ need to save for retirement in other accounts. There is …

Detection Of The Timing And Duration Of Snowmelt In The Hindu Kush-Himalaya Using Quikscat, 2000-2008, Prajjwal K. Panday, Karen E. Frey, Bardan Ghimire

Geography

The Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region holds the largest mass of ice in Central Asia and is highly vulnerable to global climate change, experiencing significant warming (0.21 ± 0.08 °C/decade) over the past few decades. Accurate monitoring of the timing and duration of snowmelt across the HKH region is important, as this region is expected to experience further warming in response to increased greenhouse gas forcing. Despite the many advantages and applications of satellite-derived radar scatterometer data shown for capturing ice and snow melt dynamics at high latitudes, similar comprehensive freeze/thaw detection studies at lower latitudes (including the HKH region) are …

The West Africa-Latin America Drug Trafficking Epidemic; An Institutional Analysis, Madi Ceesay

Dissertations and Theses

"West Africa, like any other region in the world, has had to swallow its fair share of modern-day political, economic and social dilemmas. One phenomenon that has had huge negative implications on the political, economic and social spheres of almost every country on the face of the earth is the production, trafficking, marketing and consumption of illicit drugs. The countries in West Africa have not been spared of the negative consequences of illicit drugs. While some countries have an illicit drug production problem, others have a consumption problem. The countries in West Africa have an illicit drug trafficking problem. The …

Neofunctionalism Vs Liberal Intergovernmentalism; The Creation Of The European Stability Mechanism And The Limits Of Political Theory, Holger Scheidt

Dissertations and Theses

"The aim of this study is to determine the expanatory and predictive value of the two predominant schools of thought on state integration, namely neofunctionalism and liberal intergovernmentalism, of supranationalist or state-centric theory, with respect to the creation of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and the ""Pact for the Euro"" on March 25, 2011 in Brussels. After a 14-month long period of great controversy among the supranational agentsof the European Commission and the representatives of member states of the Economic and Monatery Union (EMU) during 2010, the European Council established a permanent mechanism, which is supposed to grant the stability …

Sexual Gender-Based Violence In The Democratic Republic Of Congo, James Aldworth

Dissertations and Theses

"This thesis explores the issue of Sexual Gender-Based Violence in the Democratic of Congo, focusing specifically on the Eastern region of the country. An analysis of the United Nations peacekeeping operation forms a large part the study because the operation remains the most significant multilateral attempt to protect Congolese civilians from sexual violence and other human rights abuses. The objective of the thesis is to highlight the issue of Sexual Gender-Based Violence, describe the background to the continued violence in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and offer an explanation of the causal factors behind the sexual crimes …

Anatomical Identification Of Primary Auditory Cortex In The Developing Gerbil, Luis Pendola

Dissertations and Theses

Cortical development is an active field of study. The gerbil provides an excellent model for research because at the moment of birth its brain is rather immature, anatomically and functionally. Furthermore, the gerbil auditory cortex is particularly amenable to investigation in that the gerbil's onset of hearing occurs approximately after 14 days of postnatal life. Despite these advantages of the gerbil for auditory cortex development not much is known about the anatomy of the postnatal gerbil auditory cortex. For example, where is the gerbil auditory cortex? Prior to the onset of hearing, sounds cannot be used to localize auditory cortex. …