Digital Commons Network^™

Influence Of Decision Making During Disasters And How It Impacts A Community, Jayanrtha Withanaarachchi, Sujeeva Setunge

International Institute for Infrastructure Resilience and Reconstruction (I3R2) Conference

The frequency of natural disasters occurrences has increased and is becoming noticed by many due to the impact on economy, society, and the environment.

Decision making during disasters contributes towards community safety and resilience. Decisions taken to protect people from disasters have an impact on society, economy, environment, travel patterns, and reliability and performance of transport networks.

Decisions often affect the performance of transport networks and critical infrastructure systems during disasters and during demand times. Decision making and decision styles which were observed during disaster events will show the areas that the decisions have worked well or created more risks …

First Responder/Private Industry Collaboration To Advance Disaster Response, Mark Shaurette, Randy Rapp, T R. Stahr

International Institute for Infrastructure Resilience and Reconstruction (I3R2) Conference

In most developed countries, well-established communities of first responder organizations have formed to provide a quick and coordinated reaction to disasters. In most cases these response organizations are controlled, organized, and funded by related governmental agencies. Because their disaster response contributes to the good of the public, the existence of government funded and coordinated first responder organizations are considered by many to be the most effective approach to provide disaster response. Unfortunately, these organizations do not always have ready access to all of the skills and resources required to efficiently respond to many of the physical challenges that result from …

Selecting A Temporary Debris Management Site For Effective Debris Removal, Jooho Kim, Abhijeet Deshmukh, Makarand Hastak

International Institute for Infrastructure Resilience and Reconstruction (I3R2) Conference

The overall debris removal after disasters is often prolonged due to the huge amount of debris and lack of capacities such as a Temporary Debris Management Site (TDMS) in the community. This results in a delay of overall recovery and increases the total recovery cost. Strategic planning and building a TDMS will help in providing extra time for proper disposal of debris and clearing a disaster-impacted site that will facilitate the reconstruction process. This paper presents a unique approach for identifying and selecting TDMS locations for expediting debris removal from the community. A hypothetical example of a community impacted by …

Catastrophic Response And Disaster Recovery: An Industry Panel On Best Practices, G Pete Consigli

International Institute for Infrastructure Resilience and Reconstruction (I3R2) Conference

Natural disasters and man-made failures or defects cause damage to buildings and its contents disrupting people’s lives, businesses and the communities they live in. On a worldwide scale billions of dollars are spent to mitigate, restore and recover from a one-time residential incident, a single site large loss or for an area wide catastrophe.

This 2 part panel presentation will offer a perspective on the best practices from 3 different industry sectors from initial response to full recovery.

Representatives from the Restoration, Demolition and Volunteer Assistance industries will provide valuable insights to best practices and offer solutions on how industry …

Estimating Gesture Accuracy In Motion-Based Health Games, Christian Barrett, Jacob Brown, Jay Hartford, Michael Hoerter, Andrew Kennedy, Ray Hassan, David M. Whittinghill

Computer Graphics Technology Faculty Publications

This manuscript details a technique for estimating gesture accuracy within the context of motion-based health video games using the MICROSOFT KINECT. We created a physical therapy game that requires players to imitate clinically significant reference gestures. Player performance is represented by the degree of similarity between the performed and reference gestures and is quantified by collecting the Euler angles of the player’s gestures, converting them to a threedimensional vector, and comparing the magnitude between the vectors. Lower difference values represent greater gestural correspondence and therefore greater player performance. A group of thirty-one subjects was tested. Subjects achieved gestural correspondence sufficient …

Common Metrics For Web-Based Mapping Applications In Academic Libraries, Ningning Kong, Tao Zhang, Ilana Stonebraker

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

Purpose – This study aims to establish common metrics for web-based mapping applications to facilitate user decision making and enhance information providers’ product design.

Design/methodology/approach – The metrics were developed from a combination of literature review and case studies. From the literature review, we identified three major areas of assessment for web-based mapping applications. We then studied six online applications to refine the metrics.

Findings – Our results suggest that web-based mapping applications can be evaluated from three major aspects: data content, GIS functionality, and usability. We have developed detailed measures for each factor through our evaluation of the six …

Experiences Of Informed Learning In The Undergraduate Classroom, Clarence Maybee

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

The same thing can be experienced in a variety of ways. For example, think of a time that you and a friend read the same book, but each got something quite different out of it. Essentially you experienced different aspects of the book. Applying this to higher education, we cannot assume that all students are experiencing their coursework in the same way. In fact, a number of studies reveal that this is not the case. Learning occurs when students begin to experience the thing being learned about in a new way. Learning designs that teach undergraduates to use information require …

Exploration Of A Rare Population Of Chinese Chestnut In North America: Stand Dynamics, Health And Genetic Relationships, Amy C. Miller, Keith E. Woeste, Sandra L. Anagnostakis, Douglass F. Jacobs

Department of Forestry & Natural Resources Faculty Publications

With the transport of plants around the globe, exotic species can readily spread disease to their native relatives; however, they can also provide genetic resistance to those relatives through hybrid breeding programmes. American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was an abundant tree species in North America until its decimation by introduced chestnut blight. To restore chestnut in North America, efforts are ongoing to test putative blight-resistant hybrids of Castanea dentata and Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima), but little is known about the ecology of C. mollissima. In a forest in northeastern USA in which C. mollissima has become …

Strain Modulations As A Mechanism To Reduce Stress Relaxation In Laryngeal Tissues, Eric J. Hunter, Thomas Siegmund, Roger W. Chan

School of Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Vocal fold tissues in animal and human species undergo deformation processes at several types of loading rates: a slow strain involved in vocal fold posturing (on the order of 1 Hz or so), cyclic and faster posturing often found in speech tasks or vocal embellishment (1–10 Hz), and shear strain associated with vocal fold vibration during phonation (100 Hz and higher). Relevant to these deformation patterns are the viscous properties of laryngeal tissues, which exhibit non-linear stress relaxation and recovery. In the current study, a large strain time-dependent constitutive model of human vocal fold tissue is used to investigate effects …

Self-Healing, Slippery Surfaces For Hvac&R Systems, Rong Yu, Anthony M. Jacobi

International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference

Enhancing water shedding behavior on aluminum surfaces is important in the design of energy-efficient heat exchangers. In this work, a method for fabricating oil-infused aluminum for HVAC&R systems is described for the purpose of exploiting the slippery nature of such surfaces, thereby improving the overall surface wettability. The goal of this work is to determine the feasibility of using these surfaces to more effectively manage condensate/frost formation on the heat exchanger. A microstructured, porous aluminum fin stocks with heterogeneous polyfluoroalkyl silane coating are infused with a secondary liquid acting as a lubricant that enhances slippery, liquid repellant and self-healing behavior. …

An Energy-Saving Control Strategy For Vrf And Vav Combined Air Conditioning System In Heating Mode, Yonghua Zhu, Xinqiao Jin, Zhimin Du, Xing Fang, Bo Fan

International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference

Although variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems have become attractive due to good energy performances in part load conditions, the shortcoming of no outdoor air intake has not been solved thoroughly. A VRF and VAV combined air conditioning system is proposed to solve this problem. VAV part of the combined system consists of an outdoor air processing (OAP) unit and VAV boxes. Generally the VRF unit operates to maintain indoor temperature and the OAP unit operates to process the outdoor air. A control strategy for the combined system aiming at reducing energy consumption is presented in this paper. When both VRF …

Energy Saving Measures For Automotive Air Conditioning (Ac) System In The Tropics, Alison Subiantoro, Kim Tiow Ooi, Ulrich Stimming

International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference

Air conditioning (AC) is an integral component of modern cars in the tropics. However, AC usage in this region consumes a large amount of energy. In conventional internal combustion engine cars, it consumes up to 30% of the fuel, while in battery electric cars, AC may reduce the battery range by up to 40%. Fortunately, there are various ways to improve the efficiency of automotive ACs in the tropics. In this paper, three energy saving measures are discussed. These include a higher indoor temperature setting, a smaller temperature lift and a separate dehumidification system. The study suggests that increasing the …

Novel Reduced Gwp Refrigerant Compositions For Stationary Air Conditioning, Thomas J. Leck, Pavan K. Naicker, Joshua Hughes, Bianca Hydutsky

International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference

The current fluids most widely used for small and mid-sized air conditioning systems globally are R-410A and R-22. While these fluids have many positive attributes for cooling, they are the subject of valid criticisms regarding their high direct global warming potential (GWP) and, in the case of R-22, ozone depletion potential (ODP) also. In the interest of improved environmental sustainability, a new class of refrigerant molecule has been developed, the hydrofluoroolefin, or HFO. While the very low direct GWP values of these molecules are attractive, none of the HFOs by themselves are fully satisfactory for use in conventional stationary AC …

Comparison Between Hfc-134a And Alternative Refrigerants In Mobile Air Conditioners Using The Green-Mac-Lccp© Model, Stella Papasavva, William Moomaw

International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference

The transition from CFC-12 (GWP=10,900) to HFC-134a (GWP=1,430) in the 1990’s in new vehicle air conditioners eliminated the potential contribution to ozone depletion from new vehicles and reduced the direct Global Warming Potential (GWP) by over 80%. One proposed alternative is HFC-1234yf (GWP=4). Despite the phase-in success of HFC-134a as a zero ODP automotive refrigerant it is still a potent greenhouse gas and the European Union (EU) issued Directive 2006/40/EC that prohibits the use of automotive refrigerants with GWP greater than 150, starting from January 1st, 2011. Due to such regulations, the automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), chemical manufacturers and …

Hfo-1336mzz-Z: High Temperature Chemical Stability And Use As A Working Fluid In Organic Rankine Cycles, Konstantinos Kontomaris

International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference

Global demand for power continues to grow as populations and living standards continue to increase around the world. One example is mechanical power from mobile internal combustion engines to drive heavy-duty vehicles (e.g Diesel trucks), ships and rail-cars. Another example is electrical power from decentralized power plants co-generating heat and power from a variety of primary energy sources. Increasing energy prices and increasing awareness of the environmental impacts associated with energy use are motivating an exploration of opportunities to generate power through Organic Rankine Cycles (ORCs) from abundantly available and largely underutilized low temperature heat. Heat at temperatures lower than …

Fire Hazards Of Refrigerants In Air Conditioning Control System, Y.W. Ng, W.K. Chow

International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference

Air conditioning control systems are commonly installed in restaurants, commercial buildings, office buildings and institutional buildings in Hong Kong. The systems invariably involve the use of fans for moving the air, filters for cleansing, ducts for air distribution, a control system for regulating the amount of heating or cooling automatically and a refrigerating plant connected to the heat exchange surface. The ducts in turn present the possibility of spreading fire and smoke throughout the building or areas served. According to the local Code of Practice for Minimum Fire Service Installations and Equipment [1], when a ventilation or air conditioning control …

Hvac System Cloud Based Diagnostics Model, Fadi M. Alsaleem, Robert Abiprojo, Jeff Arensmeier, Gregg Hemmelgarn

International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference

We present a new monitoring and diagnostics model for residential Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. This model will provide a new diagnostics technology system that leverages the latest technology advancements. The model benefits from the cloud computing advantages and offers continuous diagnostic capabilities. Using embedded sensors and monitoring modules for the indoor and outdoor HVAC units, various measurements are transmitted to a cloud sever utilizing the homeowner pre-existing Wi-Fi network. On the cloud side, algorithms process the data and generate triggers that a problem may exist. Relevant information is then shared with home owners and contractors via e-mail …

Different Oral Sensitivities To And Sensations Of Short-, Medium-, And Long-Chain Fatty Acids In Humans, Cordelia Running, Richard D. Mattes

Department of Nutrition Science Faculty Publications

Fatty acids that vary in chain length and degree of unsaturation have different effects on metabolism and human health. As evidence for a “taste” of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) accumulates, it may be hypothesized that fatty acid structures will also influence oral sensations. The present study examined oral sensitivity to caproic (C6), lauric (C12), and oleic (C18:1) acids over repeated visits. Analyses were also conducted on textural properties of NEFA emulsions and blank solutions. Oral thresholds for caproic acid were lower compared with oleic acid. Lauric acid thresholds were intermediate but not significantly different from either, likely due to lingering …

Blast-Induced Tinnitus: A Combined Behavioral, Memri, And Electrophysiology Study, Jessica Pengyun Ouyang

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

BLAST-INDUCED TINNITUS: A COMBINED BEHAVIORAL, MEMRE, AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY STUDY

by

JESSICA OUYANG

May 2014 Advisor: Drs. Steve Cala & Jinsheng Zhang

Major: Physiology

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Tinnitus and hearing loss are the frequent auditory-related co-morbidities of blast trauma. The etiology of blast-induced tinnitus is also muddled by brain mechanisms associated with emotional and cognitive problems such as anxiety, memory loss, and depression. We set out to develop a realistic and ecologically valid model to address changes of cognitive status and psychological state that are associated with blast- induced tinnitus. In this study, 19 adult rats were randomly divided …

Molecular Studies On The Anti-Tumor Effects Of Metal-Based Complexes: Involvement Of The Ubiquitin-Proteasome And Apoptotic Pathways, Sara M. Schmitt

Wayne State University Dissertations

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is crucial to normal cellular function, and as such, has been extensively investigated as a potential target for cancer therapeutics. Many compounds have been tested for their proteasome inhibitory ability, including various small peptide aldehydes, and, following the success of cisplatin, several metal-containing complexes. The efficacy of these compounds in preclinical studies ultimately resulted in the development and approval of the first-in-class proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, the use of which, unfortunately, has been hindered by toxicity and resistance. These limitations have led to a massive push toward designing and developing new, less toxic proteasome inhibitors for clinical use. …

Influence Of Target Population Misspecification On Employee Perceptions At A, Joe Lee Smith

Wayne State University Dissertations

Numerous researchers have conducted qualitative and quantitative studies examining employee perceptions related to changes in their work environment based upon management/top-down (deductive) communication of vision, mission, and envisioned organization goals Hofstede, Neuijen, Daval, Ohayv, & Sanders (1990), but research on the influence of subgroup/identity types on workforce perception is sparse Dutton, Dukerich, & Harquail (1994). Data on subgroup identification with the mission and strategic goals envisioned by management/administration is limited. Also limited is knowledge of the influence they have over their members, which places management at a disadvantage in planning strategic organization objectives Albert & Whetten, (1985). These subgroups have …

Cxcr2 Macromolecular Complex In Pancreatic Cancer: A Potential Therapeutic Target In Tumor Growth, Shuo Wang

Wayne State University Dissertations

The signaling mediated by the chemokine receptor CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) plays an important role in promoting the progression of many cancers, including pancreatic cancer, one of the most lethal human malignancies. CXCR2 possesses a consensus PSD-95/DlgA/ZO-1 (PDZ) motif at its carboxyl termini, which might interact with potential PDZ scaffold/adaptor proteins. We have previously reported that CXCR2 PDZ motif-mediated protein interaction is an important regulator for neutrophil functions. Here, using a series of biochemical assays, we demonstrate that CXCR2 is physically coupled to its downstream effector phospholipase C-β3 (PLC-β3) that is mediated by PDZ scaffold protein Na(+)/H(+) exchange regulatory …

Interdepdence Of Community Mental Health Care Providers In An Urban County: A Spatial Panel Approach, Lizi Wu

Wayne State University Dissertations

This dissertation empirically investigates mental health care expenditures between community mental health care providers, using a spatial panel data model. Specifically, it explores the spatial interdependency in the publicly funded mental health care system of Detroit-Wayne County with a spatial dynamic panel data model with individual effects and other controls. A transformation approach is applied to ensure consistency of the estimates. Results support some degree of interdependence between neighboring sites/clinics and time dynamics in terms of their gross revenue. The study also provides other implications like significance of mental health managed care and Medicaid expansion. As the first study to …

Study Of Chaotic Ultrasound And Frequency Sweep Excitations In Sonic Ir Nde Technology, Ding Zhang

Wayne State University Dissertations

Sonic Infrared (IR) Imaging Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) technology has shown inherent advantages, such as fast detection for all direction and all dimension flaws, for both metal and composite materials. The purpose of this dissertation is to study and investigate the physical process of two most important methods, frequency sweep excitation and chaotic excitation, to improve the defect detection ability of Sonic IR technology.

The tool used in our study is known as finite element analysis (FEA). According to test process of Sonic IR technology, some special technologies were developed in FEA simulation, such as creating cracks with flat contact surfaces …

Matriptase Mediated C-Met Signaling In Breast Cancer, Gina Lynn Zoratti

Wayne State University Dissertations

MATRIPTASE MEDIATED c-MET SIGNALING IN CRITICAL FOR BREAST CANCER PROGRESSION

by

GINA ZORATTI

Historically proteases have been associated with tumor progression and metastasis through degradation of the basement membrane. However, in recent years these enzymes have also been shown to play key roles in the activation of growth factors and cytokines, thereby activating pro-oncogenic signaling pathways. Matriptase (MT-SP1, ST14) is an epithelia-specific pericellular protease which has received considerable attention in recent years spurred by the consistent dysregulation of the protease in human epithelial tumors including breast cancer. We have performed both functional and mechanistic studies of matriptase in breast cancer …

The Effect Of Body Position On Cerebral Bllod Flow, Cognition, Cardiac Output, Map,And Motor Function In Patients Undergoing Shoulder Surgery : Lateral Versus Beach Chair Position Under General Anesthesia, Kelley Labonty

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The Effect of Body Position on Changes in Cerebral Blood Flow, Cognition, and Motor Function in Patients Undergoing Shoulder Surgery: Lateral versus Beach Chair Position Under General Anesthesia

By

KELLEY LABONTY

December 2013

Advisor: Dr. Steven Cala

Major: Physiology

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

This study aims to determine if there are alterations in cerebral perfusion in patients undergoing general anesthesia in the sitting position. With the reporting of 15 catastrophic cerebral vascular accidents recently being published during shoulder surgery in the sitting position, an increase of 90 times from previously reported data, there has become a clear need for …

Economic Determinants Of Quality Of Care In Nursing Homes, Wei Lu

Wayne State University Dissertations

ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF QUALITY OF CARE IN NURSING HOMES

This dissertation examines the factors that will affect nursing home quality of care using several national data sources on market regulation, county demographic characteristics, market structural and the characteristics of different types of long-term care providers in 2010.

The first study examines how nine different measures of nursing home care quality respond to the greater levels of local market competition from these alternative providers of long-term care, as well as other nursing homes. Findings reveal that faced with greater competition from assisted living facilities, nursing homes are left to care for …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Resilience And Job Satisfaction In Direct Care Workers Who Work With Traumatic Brain Injured Clients, Michele Terese White

Wayne State University Dissertations

The direct care worker occupation is a very fast and growing workforce. In fact, by the year 2016, it is estimated that it might be the largest workforce in the country. With the rapid growth come difficulties. One of those difficulties is a high turn over rate. Research shows that people that are resilient stay longer at a job versus those who are not resilient. Is there a relationship between resilience and job satisfaction? This research sought to determine if a relationship existed. The research delved into a particular field, traumatic brain injury. This research study attempted to determine if …

The Modulation Of Mucosal Immune Markers, Urs, And Psychological Parameters Following Acute And Chronic Exercise, Carole Ann Sloan

Wayne State University Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to evaluate changes in two antimicrobial markers, upper respiratory symptom (URS) variables, and mood state following participation in an acute (N = 93) and chronic (N = 88) observational study of college aerobic exercise, yoga exercise, and non-exercise classes.

METHODS: Unstimulated whole saliva was collected pre/post-acute (50 minutes) and pre/midpoint/post-chronic (12 weeks) during the study period. Saliva was analyzed for salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and salivary alpha amylase (SAA) using protocols and assay kits by Salimetrics, upper respiratory symptoms (URS) were evaluated using the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey (WURSS), and mood states were …

Economic Analysis Of Preventive Care Utilization Among Older Adults, Boon Peng Ng

Wayne State University Dissertations

This dissertation seeks to examine the economic determinants of the use of preventive services among older adults. It contains two studies that focus on the effects of public health policy and health shocks on the initiation of use of preventive services among older adults.

In January 2005, Medicare began covering a one-time initial preventive physical examination (IPPE), also called a "Welcome to Medicare" visit, for new beneficiaries. This benefit was only available during a beneficiary's first six months after enrolling in Part B. The first study examines the effects of covering an IPPE on the use of mammograms, breast self-exams, …