Digital Commons Network^™

Skill Acquisition And The Influence Of Attentional Focus And Practice, Alison Beth Regal

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Attentional focus and practice schedules are important components in learning a new skill. For attention this includes focusing inward or outward, for practice this includes interference between tasks. Little is known about how the two interact. Four groups; blocked/extraneous (BE); blocked/skill-focused (BS); random/extraneous (RE); and random/skill-focused (RS), practiced 100 trials of golf putting and 64 trials of a key-pressing task in addition to responding to a random tone distracting attention towards or away from skill movement. Participants performed immediate and delayed retention tests. Results demonstrated the BE group had decreased RTE scores compared to the BS group. Immediate retention demonstrated …

Effects Of Ethylene On Secondary Xylem Formation In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Haley M. Rupp

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Ethylene has myriad roles as a plant hormone, ranging from senescence and defending against pathogen attacks to fruit ripening and interactions with other hormones. It has been shown to increase cambial activity in poplar, but the effect on wood formation in Arabidopsis hypocotyl has not previously been studied. The Auxin-Regulated Gene involved in Organ Size (ARGOS), which increases organ size by lengthening the time for cell division, was found to be upregulated by ethylene. We tested the effect of ethylene treatment at 10 and 100 µM ACC on three genotypes of Arabidopsis, Col0 (wild-type), an ARGOS deficient mutant (argos), and …

Factors Affecting Diporeia Growth Rates In Lake Superior, Miles J. Corcoran

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

An ability to predict population dynamics of the amphipod Diporeia is important in understanding how energy pathways in the Lake Superior food web might be altered by disturbances to the ecosystem. Estimating growth rates for this prominent prey item for fish requires information on the physiological effects of changes to its environment. These effects have been investigated for Diporeia in other Great Lakes, but little is known about Lake Superior populations. The primary objective of this study is to obtain quantitative data for rates of Diporeia respiration and consumption that can be incorporated into a bioenergetics model for Lake Superior. …

Validation Of A 'Displacement Tomography' Inversion Method For Modeling Sheet Intrusions, Sarah J. Menassian

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The study of volcano deformation data can provide information on magma processes and help assess the potential for future eruptions. In employing inverse deformation modeling on these data, we attempt to characterize the geometry, location and volume/pressure change of a deformation source. Techniques currently used to model sheet intrusions (e.g., dikes and sills) often require significant a priori assumptions about source geometry and can require testing a large number of parameters. Moreover, surface deformations are a non-linear function of the source geometry and location. This requires the use of Monte Carlo inversion techniques which leads to long computation times. Recently, …

Simulations Of Newtonian And Non-Newtonian Flows In Deformable Tubes, Abdallah A. Al-Habahbeh

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Computational models for the investigation of flows in deformable tubes are developed and implemented in the open source computing environment OpenFOAM. Various simulations for Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids under various flow conditions are carried out and analyzed. First, simulations are performed to investigate the flow of a shear-thinning, non-Newtonian fluid in a collapsed elastic tube and comparisons are made with experimental data. The fluid is modeled by means of the Bird-Carreau viscosity law. The computational domain of the deformed tube is constructed from data obtained via computer tomography imaging. Comparison of the computed velocity fields with the ultrasound Doppler velocity …

Selective Mercury Sequestration From A Silver/Mercury Cyanide Solution, Kristen L. Gabby

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Silver and mercury are both dissolved in cyanide leaching and the mercury co-precipitates with silver during metal recovery. Mercury must then be removed from the silver/mercury amalgam by vaporizing the mercury in a retort, leading to environmental and health hazards. The need for retorting silver can be greatly reduced if mercury is selectively removed from leaching solutions.

Theoretical calculations were carried out based on the thermodynamics of the Ag/Hg/CN- system in order to determine possible approaches to either preventing mercury dissolution, or selectively precipitating it without silver loss. Preliminary experiments were then carried out based on these calculations to determine …

Electrospun Quaternized Chitosan Fibers For Virus Removal From Drinking Water, Xue Mi

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Membrane filtration has become an accepted technology for the removal of pathogens from drinking water. Viruses, known to contaminate water supplies, are too small to be removed by a size-exclusion mechanism without a large energy penalty. Thus, functionalized electrospun membranes that can adsorb viruses have drawn our interest. We chose a quaternized chitosan derivative (HTCC) which carries a positively-charged quaternary amine, known to bind negatively-charged virus particles, as a functionalized membrane material. The technique of electrospinning was utilized to produce nanofiber mats with large pore diameters to increase water flux and decrease membrane fouling. In this study, stable, functionalized, electrospun …

Conversion Of Domain Type Enforcement Language To The Java Security Manager, James Walker

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

With today's prevalence of Internet-connected systems storing sensitive data and the omnipresent threat of technically skilled malicious users, computer security remains a critically important field. Because of today's multitude of vulnerable systems and security threats, it is vital that computer science students be taught techniques for programming secure systems, especially since many of them will work on systems with sensitive data after graduation. Teaching computer science students proper design, implementation, and maintenance of secure systems is a challenging task that calls for the use of novel pedagogical tools. This report describes the implementation of a compiler that converts mandatory access …

Innovative Human-Computer Interactions To Support Cognitive Collaborative Geospatial Environments, Kevin Takala

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

In the current world geospatial information is being demanded in almost real time, which requires the speed at which this data is processed and made available to the user to be at an all-time high. In order to keep up with this ever increasing speed, analysts must find ways to increase their productivity. At the same time the demand for new analysts is high, and current methods of training are long and can be costly. Through the use of human computer interactions and basic networking systems, this paper explores new ways to increase efficiency in data processing and analyst training.

Perspectives On Ict Adoption In Ugandan Schools, Anthony G. Markon

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

This report discusses steps for the integration and adoption of information and communication technologies (ICT) in Uganda schools. Barriers of ICT adoption for teachers were determined through surveys at three schools in Eastern Uganda. Teachers identified lack of familiarity of ICT resources and lack of ICT skills as the two greatest barriers to ICT integration. Administrators and staffs were also interviewed to determine current resources. Through observations, interviews and collected data the report addresses two major ideas, promoting utilization of ICT resources and development of sustainable ICT programs. Promotion of utilization not only relies on overcoming the major barriers listed, …

Simulating Large Deformation Of Intraneural Ganglion Cyst Using Finite Element Method, Sachin Lokhande

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Intraneural Ganglion Cyst is disorder observed in the nerve injury, it is still unknown and very difficult to predict its propagation in the human body so many times it is referred as an unsolved history. The treatments for this disorder are to remove the cystic substance from the nerve by a surgery. However these treatments may result in neuropathic pain and recurrence of the cyst. The articular theory proposed by Spinner et al., (Spinner et al. 2003) considers the neurological deficit in Common Peroneal Nerve (CPN) branch of the sciatic nerve and adds that in addition to the treatment, ligation …

Resilient Women, Metistic Scientists: A Multiple Case Study Of How Women Negotiate Their Situatedness In Science Fields, Isidore Kafui Dorpenyo

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The concept of feminist metistic resilience postulates that the voiceless, the marginalized and the minority in societies employ strategies in order to turn tables in their favor. This study presents a qualitative analysis of how women, considered to be the minority, negotiate their situatedness in science fields in order to effect change in their lives or that of the society and why they become successful. By “situatedness,” I refer to the everyday life of women as they live and encounter people, society and culture, especially, the life of women who have transcended the culturally stipulated role of women and are …

The Effect Of Eastern Kentucky Coal Fires On Local Air Quality And Personal Health, Eric C. Abbott

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The purpose of this project was to investigate student learning in the areas of earth science and environmental responsibility using the subject of coal fires. Eastern Kentucky, where this study was performed, has several coal fires burning that affect the local air quality and may also affect the health of people living near them. This study was conducted during the regular education of 9th grade Earth Science classroom in Russell Independent Schools, located in Russell, Kentucky. Students conducted internet research, read current articles on the subject of coal fire emissions and effect on local ecology, and demonstrated what they learned …

The Effects Of Black Locust (Robinia Pseudoacacia L.) On Understory Vegetation And Soils In A Northern Hardwood Forest, Keri A. Deneau

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

No abstract provided.

Sustainable Energy Production In The United States: Life Cycle Assessment Of Biofuels And Bioenergy, Jiqing Fan

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The United States of America is making great efforts to transform the renewable and abundant biomass resources into cost-competitive, high-performance biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower. This is the key to increase domestic production of transportation fuels and renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas and other pollutant emissions.

This dissertation focuses specifically on assessing the life cycle environmental impacts of biofuels and bioenergy produced from renewable feedstocks, such as lignocellulosic biomass, renewable oils and fats. The first part of the dissertation presents the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy demands of renewable diesel (RD) and hydroprocessed jet fuels (HRJ). The …

Production Of Recombinant Trichoderma Reesei Endoglucanase Protein Cel7b By Using Kluyveromyces Lactis, Zainab Ibrahim Alshoug

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

This research is about producing recombinant Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase Cel7B by using Kluyveromyces lactis, transformed with chromosomally integrated Cel7B cDNA, as a host cell (K. lactis Cel7B). Cel7B is one of the glycoside hydrolyze family of proteins that are produced by T. reesei. Cel7B together with other endoglucanases, exoglucanases, and â-glucosidases hydrolyze cellulose to glucose, which can then be fermented to biofuels or other value-added products.

The research objective of this MS project is to examine favorable fermentation conditions for recombinant Cel7B enzyme production and improved activity. Production of enzyme on different types of media was examined, and the activity …

Plant-Mediated Effects On Microbial Diversity In Mesocosms Of An Oligotrophic Bog, Karl J. Romanowicz Iv

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Globally, peatlands occupy a small portion of terrestrial land area but contain up to one-third of all soil organic carbon. This carbon pool is vulnerable to increased decomposition under projected climate change scenarios but little is known about how plant functional groups will influence microbial communities responsible for regulating carbon cycling processes. Here we examined initial shifts in microbial community structure within two sampling depths under plant functional group manipulations in mesocosms of an oligotrophic bog. Microbial community composition for bacteria and archaea was characterized using targeted 16S rRNA Illumina gene sequencing. We found statistically distinct spatial patterns between the …

Magneto-Photonic Crystals For Optical Sensing Applications, Neluka Dissanayake

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Among the optical structures investigated for optical sensing purpose, a significant amount of research has been conducted on photonic crystal based sensors. A particular advantage of photonic crystal based sensors is that they show superior sensitivity for ultra-small volume sensing. In this study we investigate polarization changes in response to the changes in the cover index of magneto-optic active photonic band gap structures. One-dimensional photonic-band gap structures fabricated on iron garnet materials yield large polarization rotations at the band gap edges. The enhanced polarization effects serve as an excellent tool for chemical sensing showing high degree of sensitivity for photonic …

A Novel Approach To Carbon Dioxide Capture And Storage, Brett P. Spigarelli

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The novel approach to carbon capture and storage (CCS) described in this dissertation is a significant departure from the conventional approach to CCS. The novel approach uses a sodium carbonate solution to first capture CO₂ from post combustion flue gas streams. The captured CO₂ is then reacted with an alkaline industrial waste material, at ambient conditions, to regenerate the carbonate solution and permanently store the CO₂ in the form of an added value carbonate mineral. Conventional CCS makes use of a hazardous amine solution for CO₂ capture, a costly thermal regeneration stage, and the underground storage …

Evaluation Of Sugar Maple Dieback In The Upper Great Lakes Region And Development Of A Forest Health Youth Education Program, Tara L. Bal

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Acer saccharum Marsh., is one of the most valuable trees in the northern hardwood forests. Severe dieback was recently reported by area foresters in the western Upper Great Lakes Region. Sugar Maple has had a history of dieback over the last 100 years throughout its range and different variables have been identified as being the predisposing and inciting factors in different regions at different times. Some of the most common factors attributed to previous maple dieback episodes were insect defoliation outbreaks, inadequate precipitation, poor soils, atmospheric deposition, fungal pathogens, poor management, or a combination of these. The current sugar maple …

Security Evaluation Of Substation Network Architectures, Pingal Raj Sapkota

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

In recent years, security of industrial control systems has been the main research focus due to the potential cyber-attacks that can impact the physical operations. As a result of these risks, there has been an urgent need to establish a stronger security protection against these threats. Conventional firewalls with stateful rules can be implemented in the critical cyberinfrastructure environment which might require constant updates. Despite the ongoing effort to maintain the rules, the protection mechanism does not restrict malicious data flows and it poses the greater risk of potential intrusion occurrence.

The contributions of this thesis are motivated by the …

Influence Of Mechanical And Thermal Boundary Conditions On Stabilizing/Destabilizing Mechanisms In Evaporating Liquid Films, Aneet Dharmavaram Narendranath

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Liquid films, evaporating or non-evaporating, are ubiquitous in nature and technology. The dynamics of evaporating liquid films is a study applicable in several industries such as water recovery, heat exchangers, crystal growth, drug design etc. The theory describing the dynamics of liquid films crosses several fields such as engineering, mathematics, material science, biophysics and volcanology to name a few.

Interfacial instabilities typically manifest by the undulation of an interface from a presumed flat state or by the onset of a secondary flow state from a primary quiescent state or both. To study the instabilities affecting liquid films, an evaporating/non-evaporating Newtonian …

A Cost-Benefit Analysis Of A 25% Rps In Michigan, Fei Li

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Michigan depends heavily on fossil fuels to generate electricity. Compared with fossil fuels, electricity generation from renewable energy produces less pollutants emissions. A Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is a mandate that requires electric utilities to generate a certain amount of electricity from renewable energy sources. This thesis applies the Cost-Benefits Analysis (CBA) method to investigate the impacts of implementing a 25% in Michigan by 2025. It is found that a 25% RPS will create about $20.12 billion in net benefits to the State. Moreover, if current tax credit policies will not change until 2025, its net present value will increase …

Study Of Spark Ignition Engine Combustion Model For The Analysis Of Cyclic Variation And Combustion Stability At Lean Operating Conditions, Hao Wu

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

A fundamental combustion model for spark-ignition engine is studied in this report. The model is implemented in SIMULINK to simulate engine outputs (mass fraction burn and in-cylinder pressure) under various engine operation conditions. The combustion model includes a turbulent propagation and eddy burning processes based on literature [1]. The turbulence propagation and eddy burning processes are simulated by zero-dimensional method and the flame is assumed as sphere. To predict pressure, temperature and other in-cylinder variables, a two-zone thermodynamic model is used. The predicted results of this model match well with the engine test data under various engine speeds, loads, spark …

Effective Function Choice In The R Scripting Language, Trevor D. Fisher

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

This project examines the current available work on the explicit and implicit parallelization of the R scripting language and reports on experimental findings for the development of a model for predicting effective points for automatic parallelization to be performed, based upon input data sizes and function complexity. After finding or creating a series of custom benchmarks, an interval based on data size and time complexity where replacement becomes a viable option was found; specifically between O(N) and O(N³) exclusive. As data size increases, the benefits of parallel processing become more apparent and a point is reached where those …

Evaluation And Monitoring Of Ash (Fraxinus Spp.) Tolerant To Long-Term Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus Planipennis [Coleoptera: Buprestidae]) Exposure, Kathryn G. Hietala

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Invasive insects that successfully establish in introduced areas can significantly alter natural communities. These pests require specific establishment criteria (e.g. host suitability) that, when known, can help quantify potential damage to infested areas. Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis [Coleoptera: Buprestidae]) is an invasive phloem-feeding pest which is responsible for the death of millions of ash trees (Fraxinus spp. L.). Over 200 surviving ash trees were previously identified in the Huron-Clinton Metroparks located in southeast Michigan. Trees were assessed over a four year period and a hierarchical cluster analysis was performed on dieback, vigor, and presence of signs and …

The Problematic Of Privacy In The Namespace, Randal Sean Harrison

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

In the twenty-first century, the issue of privacy--particularly the privacy of individuals with regard to their personal information and effects--has become highly contested terrain, producing a crisis that affects both national and global social formations. This crisis, or problematic, characterizes a particular historical conjuncture I term the namespace. Using cultural studies and the theory of articulation, I map the emergent ways that the namespace articulates economic, juridical, political, cultural, and technological forces, materials, practices and protocols. The cohesive articulation of the namespace requires that privacy be reframed in ways that make its diminution seem natural and inevitable. In the popular …

The Effects Of Web-Based Technological Resources In A Rural Science Classroom, Joseph D. Heflin

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Today’s technology is evolving at an exponential rate. Everyday technology is finding more inroads into our education system. This study seeks to determine if having access to technology, including iPad tablets and a teacher's physical science webpage resources (videos, PowerPoint® presentations, and audio podcasts), assists ninth grade high school students in attaining greater comprehension and improved scientific literacy.

Comprehension of the science concepts was measured by comparing current student pretest and post test scores on a teacher-written assessment. The current student post test scores were compared with prior classes’ (2010-2011 and 2009-2010) to determine if there was a difference in …

Technology, Transportation, And Scale In The Koyokuk Placer Mining District 1890s - 1930s, Jessica Sarah Peterson

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The Koyukuk Mining District was one of several northern, turn of the century, gold rush regions. Miners focused their efforts in this region on the Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River and on several of its tributaries. Mining in the Koyukuk began in the 1880s and the first rush occurred in 1898. Continued mining throughout the early decades of the 1900s has resulted in an historic mining landscape consisting of structures, equipment, mining shafts, waste rock, trash scatters, and prospect pits. Modern work continues in the region alongside these historic resources. An archaeological survey was completed in 2012 as part …

Migration Patterns Among Young Adults In The United States: Environmental, Social, And Economic Explanations, Fangming Liu

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Young adult migration is a key factor in community development. The goal of this paper is to study what kinds of places attract young adults and what kinds are losing them. Linear regression is conducted to analyze what place-specific factors explain migration patterns among young adults. These factors include economic, social, and environmental variables. This study finds that social and environmental factors are just as important as economic ones. Specifically, employment in the arts increases young adult net migration. Environmental variables, for example, natural amenities and protected federal lands are particularly important in rural settings in attracting young adults. These …