Digital Commons Network^™

Server-Based Desktop Virtualization, Anas Raqi Shabaitah

Theses

Virtualization can be accomplished at different layers in the computational stack and with different goals (servers, desktops, applications, storage and network). This research focuses on server-based desktop virtualization. According to the Gartner group, the main business drivers for adopting desktop virtualization are: application compatibility, business continuity, security and compliance, mobility and improved productivity [15]. Despite these business drivers, desktop virtualization has not been widely adopted. According to a survey conducted by Matrix42, only 5% of desktop computers are virtualized [37]. The research deals with the challenges preventing the wider adoption of server-based desktop virtualization while focusing on two of the …

Design Trade-Offs For Reliable On-Chip Wireless Interconnects In Noc Platforms, Manoj Prashanth Yuvaraj

Theses

The massive levels of integration following Moore's Law making modern multi-core chips prevail in various domains ranging from scientific applications to bioinformatics applications for consumer electronics. With higher and higher number of cores on the same die traditional bus based interconnections are no longer a scalable communication infrastructure. On-chip networks were proposed enabled a scalable plug-and-play mechanism for interconnecting hundreds of cores on the same chip. Wired interconnects between the cores in a traditional Network-on-Chip (NoC) system, becomes a bottleneck with increase in the number of cores thereby increasing the latency and energy to transmit signals over them. Hence, there …

Divine Motivation Theory: Psychology In The Guise Of Ethics, Kayla Emerson

Theses

Linda Zagzebski has recently proposed an ethical theory, based in virtue ethics, that builds in an essential role for God as an exemplar and thus the source of moral motivation. In this thesis, I examine Zagzebski’s Divine Motivation theory and argue that it fails to adequately meet the criteria for an ethical theory. I sketch out an alternative that leaves an essential role for God while avoiding the pitfalls of Zagzebski’s theory.

Pen Pal, By Francesca Forrest. Reviewed By Susan Dorman., Susan Dorman

Mythprint Book Reviews

Mythprint is the quarterly bulletin of the Mythopoeic Society, a nonprofit educational organization devoted to the study, discussion, and enjoyment of myth and fantasy literature, especially the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. To promote these interests, the Society publishes three magazines, maintains a World Wide Web site, and sponsors the annual Mythopoeic Conference and awards for fiction and scholarship, as well as local discussion groups.

Antenna Gain Enhancement And Beamshaping Using A Diffractive Optical Element (Doe) Lens, Christopher Torbitt

Theses

Dielectric and metamaterial lenses have been designed for gain enhancement and beam shaping. The motivation for this work came from a commercially available slotted waveguide antenna with a dielectric lens that shapes the beam and enhances the gain only in the azimuth plane. When two of these antennas, each with a dielectric lens, are stacked as an array to form the sum and difference patterns the elevation plane gain is low and the beam width too wide to be acceptable for radar applications.

The objective of the present work is to design a diffractive optical element (DOE) lens for gain …

Variability In The Phenolic Content Of Invasive And Non-Invasive Emergent Wetland Plants, Melissa M. Maurer

Theses

The colonization of wetlands by invasive plant species negatively impacts vegetation structure, nutrient and organic matter cycling, and ultimately alters native wetland ecosystem functions and services. It is unclear if the spread of invasive species can be attributed to their chemical composition. To further understand mechanisms of plant invasion, it is important to assess secondary chemistry of aggressive invaders. Phenolic compounds are important due to their diverse functionality including pathogen resistance, herbivore deterrence, and allelopathic interference. I conducted a broad field survey and a field experiment to better understand the importance and variability of wetland plant phenolic compounds and the …

Modern Islamic Motif Design: Developing New Arabesque Motifs By Mixing Styles, Shuruq Nahhas

Theses

"Modern Islamic Motif Design: Developing New Arabesque Motifs by Mixing Styles" focuses on developing modern arabesque motifs that are based on the method of mixing styles. This method is based on mixing the most representational characteristics of two styles from different period of time: modern and historical Islamic styles. The achievement will look modern and Islamic at the same time without losing the elements of the old style. The purpose of this research is to revive historical Islamic motifs and adding a contemporary look to them by keeping the Islamic look, which could be used perfectly in many fields of …

A New Covert Channel Over Cellular Network Voice Channel, Bushra Sulaiman Aloraini

Theses

Smartphone security has become increasingly more significant as smartphones become a more important part of many individuals' daily lives. Smartphones undergo all computer security issues; however, they also introduce a new set of security issues as various capabilities are added. Smartphone security researchers pay more attention to security issues inherited from the traditional computer security field than smartphone-related security issues. The primary network that smartphones are connected to is the cellular network, but little effort has been directed at investigating the potential security issues that could threaten this network and its end users.

A new possible threat that could occur …

Follow Me! Followership, Leadership And The Multigenerational Workforce, Ronald M. Johnson

HCBE Theses and Dissertations

This research was designed to develop an understanding of today's multigenerational workforce with respect to a preferred styles or characteristics of followership and leadership. Specifically this research sought to determine if there was a relationship between an individual's generational cohort and the preferred styles of leadership and followership, as measured by implicit theories of leadership and followership. Therefore, this study draws upon generational theory (Mannheim, 1952), implicit theories of leadership (Epitropaki & Martin, 2004) and implicit theories of followership (Sy, 2010). The changes in the composition of the US workforce which have occurred, and which will continue to occur in …

The Impact Of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems On Small And Medium Enterprises, Miguel Buleje

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are considered the price of entry in today's business environment, and the number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) retiring legacy systems in favor of ERP systems is increasing exponentially.

However, there is a lack of knowledge and awareness of ERP systems and their potential benefit and effect on performance, and overall value to SMEs. While ERP adoption costs and potential benefits are high, it is not apparent whether the end result will translate into higher productivity for SMEs.

The goal of this study is to evaluate the benefits that accrue to a firm on …

Wisco Oil Field Special Waste Landfill : Final Design Report ; For Williams County, North Dakota Section 26 T. 154 N.R. 104 W, Jacob Friesz, Tanner Bryantt, Luke Hanson, Emily Delaney

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

The increasing amount of special waste generated from drilling activity in western North Dakota has created the need for a local special waste landfill for the region. A quarter section of land has been selected for landfill use 20 miles west of Williston on ND 2, (sec.26, T. 154 N, R. 104 W.), Williams County. WISCO Oil Co. recognized this site as an appropriate destination to deposit the special waste. ND 2 dividing the site into Northern and Southern divisions leaves the smaller Northern division to be used for processing waste and maintenance buildings, while the larger 7 4-acre Southern …

"Doing Everything Possible:" A Phenomenological Study Of Low-Income Black Female Experiences Of Managing Conflict In Romantic Relationships With Black Male Partners, Charlene Hightower

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

Research on intimacy among low income Black women with their Black male partners is limited. This dissertation describes a phenomenological study conducted to understand how low-income Black women in this study navigate and cope with conflict in their relationships with their Black male partners. In this study, a qualitative approach was used to analyze narrative interview data of 10 low-income Black women over the age of twenty-one, who had been or are currently in romantic relationships with Black men that have lasted for more than five years. Ten heterosexual Black women residing in the metropolitan Charlotte, North Carolina, area participated …

Autonomous Spacecraft Control During Close-Proximity Near-Earth Object Operations, Joshua Thomas Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

A control scheme is proposed for a satellite orbit controller around a small, irregularly shaped near-Earth object (NEO) combining classical control theory and orbital mechanics into a continuous hybrid control system that achieves and maintains a circular orbit in a perturbed environment. NEOs are asteroids and comets that approach Earth's orbit around the Sun. They are currently being studied for resource allocation and threat mitigation, while providing unique opportunities for control systems. The NEO environment consists of a weak and complex gravity field, as well as other perturbations such as solar radiation pressure (SRP) and third-body gravitational disturbances. This project …

Impact Of Cultural Identity On Mmpi-2 Profiles In Northern Plains American Indians, Colleen Kagan

Theses and Dissertations

American Indian populations experience high rates of psychological distress with 44.5% percent of Northern Plains American Indians reporting experiencing some depressive, anxiety, or substance use disorder over their lifetime. The MMPI-2 is a commonly used psychodiagnostic tool that has become widely used in the mental health treatment of different racial and ethnic groups. Research on the MMPI-2 with minority populations, and American Indian populations in particular, fails to account for the impact of level of acculturation. This study examined the impact of cultural identity on MMPI-2 profiles in Northern Plains American Indians and comparison Caucasian samples. Participants were administered a …

Depression, Negative Self-Disclosure, And The Response Of Others On Facebook, Daniel Barrett Landauer

Theses and Dissertations

Depression has a number of deleterious effects on the interpersonal functioning of adolescents and emerging adults. The interpersonal theory of depression posits that depression is developed and maintained by both the behaviors of the individual and the responses of others to the individual. Adolescents and emerging adults are spending a significant amount of time interacting on social networking sites, such as Facebook, yet few studies have looked at the interpersonal behavior of depressed youth in the context of the interpersonal theory of depression. This study examined the interpersonal behavior of 328 emerging adult college students on Facebook using questionnaires related …

Effect Of Bronsted And Lewis Acids On Biochemical Conversion Of Various Lignocellulosic Feedstocks Into Biofuels And Chemicals, Srinivas Reddy Kamireddy

Theses and Dissertations

A biochemical process was investigated in the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels and value added chemicals. Kenaf, two species of sorghum (brown mid rib (BMR) & non brown mid rib (NBMR)), sunn hemp, sunflower hulls, and cornstover were used as feedstocks in this study.

Lignocellulosic biomass primarily consists of three different components, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. In order to separate different fractions, and acid pretreatment is generally employed. This was achieved by using a 300 ml internal volume batch reactor. The heating source used was steam. During acid pretreatment most of the hemicellulose is hydrolyzed into the liquid fraction. …

A Longitudinal Fiscal Neutrality Analysis Of The Minnesota K-12 Public School Funding Formula, Jeremy Larson

Theses and Dissertations

"Efforts to improve our school system must start with equity" (Department of Education's Equity and Excellence Commission, 2012). This study is a statistical analysis of the 2003-2012 Minnesota K-12 pubic school general education (foundation) formula in regard to fiscal equality and wealth neutrality. The analysis utilizes a longitudinal approach to compare the findings of previous equity studies to current relatable data as it pertains to the State of Minnesota. A number of modifications have been imposed on the original Minnesota funding formula over the past decade. This study tests the equity level of a selected number of revenue sources and …

An Experimental Investigation Of The Aerodynamic Losses For An Incident Tolerant Low Pressure Turbine Blade Over Moderate To Low Reynolds Numbers At Engine Representative Mach Numbers, Jonathan Long

Theses and Dissertations

In the interest of reducing airport congestion in the near future, researchers at NASA Glenn Research Facility have envisioned a new civilian transport aircraft which takes off vertically and cruises horizontally at Mach 0.5 using tilt-rotor technology. The engine under development consists of a four stage low pressure (LP) turbine. Many challenges are presented as the engine transitions from 100% shaft speed at takeoff to 54% shaft speed at cruise. The blading in this engine must be designed to optimize fuel efficiency, especially at cruise. The flow conditions in the LP turbine will change significantly from a Reynolds number of …

An Investigation On Relationship Between Epistemological Beliefs And Instructional Practice Of Preservice And Inservice Teachers, Jacob Manu

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative research sought to investigate the relationship between epistemological beliefs and instructional practice of preservice and inservice teachers. Despite the vigorous emphasis and investment on the need for teachers to adopt teaching and learning practices that are more authentic, learner-centered, project-based, meaningful, and context-based, there is a growing trend where inservice teachers are trained in constructivist learning environment but end up adopting traditional learning pedagogies. Thus, teachers are constantly struggling to incorporate the tenets of constructivism into the teaching and learning process. With the use of the discipline-focused epistemological beliefs questionnaire and instructional practice scale, preservice and inservice teachers …

Advanced Reactors And Novel Reactions For The Conversion Of Triglyceride Based Oils Into High Quality Renewable Transportation Fuels, Michael James Linnen

Theses and Dissertations

Sustainable energy continues to grow more important to all societies, leading to the research and development of a variety of alternative and renewable energy technologies. Of these, renewable liquid transportation fuels may be the most visible to consumers, and this visibility is further magnified by the long-term trend of increasingly expensive petroleum fuels that the public consumes. While first-generation biofuels such as biodiesel and fuel ethanol have been integrated into the existing fuel infrastructures of several countries, the chemical differences between them and their petroleum counterparts reduce their effectiveness. This gives rise to the development and commercialization of second generation …

Preparing Administrators For Leadership In The Rural Context, Michael David Mcneff

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify advantages and disadvantages, such as scarcity of resources, of the rural principalship in North Dakota. The study and review of literature explored availability and lack of resources that impact North Dakota rural principals' leadership. The unique challenges of a rural principalship had an impact and influenced instructional leadership of rural principals. An era of accountability has forced a shift in the principal's role, duties, and expectations (Rice, 2010). This shift has been difficult on both rural and urban principals. This study included a sampling of six rural principals in North Dakota. The …

Effect Of A Nutrition Program On Eating Habits In Female Collegiate Athletes, Jorid Dagfinrud Oiestad

Theses and Dissertations

In the present study, an intervention took place using two female collegiate NCAA Division 1 (D1) teams. One team was randomized to be the experimental group, receiving the intervention of the 6-week nutrition education class Fueling for Performance (FFP). And the other team served as the control group, receiving no treatment. The purpose was to examine the effect of the FFP intervention on energy balance, body composition and self-efficacy compared to the control group, pre- and post- intervention.

The participants provided pre- and post intervention data through 3-day food records entered in MyPlate Super Tracker, wearing of a BodyMedia Senswear …

Some Versions Of Timon's Epitaph: Performance, Text, And Gift In Shakespeare And Middleton's Timon Of Athens, Silas Frederick Pera

Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines how notions of textuality influence the production of William Shakespeare and Thomas Middleton's Timon of Athens in both scholarly, print editions and in theatrical performances of the play. It focuses specifically on the scenes involving Timon's epitaph, which have proven difficult to handle both editorially and theatrically, and seeks to show how changing views of the nature of textuality has significantly altered the way that different readers and audiences encounter this play. These issues regarding the idea of textuality begin with the play itself, which enacts its own ideas about the power of texts to intervene in …

Estimating The Effect Of Poverty On Violent Crime, Jose Gabriel Ramos

Theses and Dissertations

I examine the effect of poverty on violent crime in the United States during the years between 2000 and 2012. My analysis contributes to the literature by utilizing state-level poverty rates as the main variable of interest, and directly studying its effect on violent crime rates. I use panel data and a group (state) and time fixed effects estimation method in the study. The results confirm prior research that concludes that poverty does not have a significant effect on violent crime.

Bayesian Modeling For Dealing With Uncertainty In Cognitive Radios, Hector Ivan Reyes Moncayo

Theses and Dissertations

Wireless communication systems can be affected by several factors, including propagation losses, co-channel interference, and multipath fading. Uncertainty affects all of these factors making it even more difficult to model these systems. This dissertation proposes the use of probabilistic graphical models (PGM), such as Bayesian Networks and Influence Diagrams, as the core for reasoning and decision making in adaptive radios operating under uncertainty. PGM constitute a tool to understand and model complex relations among random variables. This dissertation explains how to build effective communication models that perform its functions under uncertainty. In addition, this work also presents a spectrum sensing …

The Instruction Of Mindfulness: Developing Standards And Objectives For Mindfulness Training In Graduate Programs, Crystal Rofkahr

Theses and Dissertations

Mindfulness is an effective therapeutic tool for multiple disorders and

conditions. A set of standards, methods, assessments, and teacher characteristics had

not been formulated to effectively teach future mental health providers mindfulness.

This study utilized a Delphi Method to meet this need in the field. This methodology

was used to assemble a panel of experts to provide data on the best practices in teaching

mindfulness. The experts participated in three rounds of data collection. They provided

information pertaining to their ideal and real teaching standards, methods, and

assessments. They, then, narrowed down the concepts in each domain until consensus

was …

Educational Experiences Of Rural Minnesota High-Ability Mathematics Learners, Jodi Lynn Sandmeyer

Theses and Dissertations

Meeting the educational needs of rural Minnesota high school high-ability learners in mathematics can be challenging for educators. This qualitative study involved interviewing high school graduates who scored between 30 and 36 on the mathematics subtest of the ACT and high school mathematics teachers who observed high-ability mathematics students. The graduates were from four different one-section or two-section schools from three counties in rural Minnesota. The purpose of this study was to use phenomenological qualitative research methods to identify educational experiences of high-ability mathematics learners from rural one-section and two-section high schools. There were two research questions guiding this study. …

Identifying Landscape-Level Trends In Prairie Songbirds With Fragmented Habitats, Jessica Shahan

Theses and Dissertations

Grassland songbirds are experiencing significant population declines due to habitat loss and degradation. This study investigated the relationship between landscape-level patterns and prairie-level patterns in presence/absence, richness, and diversity for seven individual species, the total grassland songbird community, and three community subgroups. Overall, grassland songbirds did respond to landscape-level variables, although the strength of the relationship and the variables involved differed by species and functional group.

Forecast Bias Analysis Using Object-Based Verification Of Regional Wrf Summertime Convective Forecasts, Mariusz Starzec

Theses and Dissertations

Forecast verification remains a crucial component of improving model forecasts, but still remains a challenge to perform. An objective method is developed to verify simulated reflectivity against radar reflectivity at a 1 km altitude utilizing the Method for Object-based Diagnostic Evaluation (MODE) Tool. Comparing the reflectivity field allows for an instantaneous view of what is occurring in simulations without any averaging that may occur when analyzing fields such as accumulated precipitation. The objective method is applied to high resolution 3 km and 1 km local convective WRF summertime forecasts in the Northern Plains region. The bulk verification statistics reveal that …

Human Performance Profiles For Planetary Analog Extra-Vehicular Activities: 120 Day And 30 Day Analog Missions, Tiffany M. Swarmer

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding performance factors for future planetary missions is critical for ensuring safe and successful planetary extra-vehicular activities (EVAs). The goal of this study was to gain operational knowledge of analog EVAs and develop biometric profiles for specific EVA types. Data was collected for a 120 and 30 day analog planetary exploration simulation focusing on EVA type, pre and post EVA conditions, and performance ratings. From this five main types of EVAs were performed: maintenance, science, survey/exploratory, public relations, and emergency. Each EVA type has unique characteristics and performance ratings showing specific factors in chronological components, environmental conditions, and EVA systems …