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Nanoindentation Techniques For The Evaluation Of Silicon Nitride Thin Films, Weston T. Mangin

Master's Theses

Silicon nitride thin films are of interest in the biomedical engineering field due to their biocompatibility and favorable tribological properties. Evaluation and understanding of the properties of these films under diverse loading and failure conditions is a necessary prerequisite to their use in biomedical devices. Three wafers of silicon nitride-coated silicon were obtained from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and used to create 96 samples. Samples were subjected to nanoindentation testing to evaluate the mechanical properties of the film. Samples were subjected to nanoimpact testing to compare the damage resistance of the film to separate nanoimpact types. Samples were subjected to …

Evaluation Of Efficiency Of Various Materials To Shield From Radiation In Space Using The Monte Carlo Transport Code Called Fluka, Roman Savinov

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study is to improve spacecraft shielding from radiation in space. It focuses on the evaluation of shielding efficiency of different materials. The efficiency of a shield is evaluated by the dose profile within the shield and the amount of dose absorbed by a target using the Monte Carlo transport code called FLUKA. The output of this code is validated by recreating the experiments from published papers and comparing the results. Once the FLUKA’s output is validated, the efficiency of sixteen materials, subject to SPE and GCR sources, are evaluated. The efficiency comparison is made by fixing …

Metabolic Regulation And Cryotolerance Of In Vitro-Produced Holstein Embryos, Melissa Ann Roberts

Master's Theses

In vitro production and transfer of embryos has become a common practice within the dairy industry to efficiently breed superior animals and meet the consumption demand of the growing population. Cyropreservation is necessary for the application of commercialized embryo transfer, however, in vitro-produced embryos show morphological and physiological defects which negatively impact their ability to withstand cryopreservation in comparison to their in vivo counterparts. These artifacts result from culture conditions that cause stress to the embryo during development, leading to an accumulation of intracellular lipids, mitochondrial dysfunction, and ultimately poor ability to withstand freezing and thawing. The objective of …

Native Cryptography In The Browser, An Exploratory Approach, Joseph A. Wilson

Master's Theses

As applications move from the desktop to the web browser, security needs to be taken into consideration. The new Web Crypto API provides native support for web applications to perform cryptographic operations and key management functions. Client side cryptographic support is a critical component in the future development of secure web based applications. This thesis presents an exploration of the Web Crypto API. The aim of this research was to determine the feasibility of developing complex cryptographic applications in the browser. This evaluation was performed by building an end to end encrypted messaging system that implements the off the record …

The Importance Of The Multicomponent Display In Sexual Selection Of Black Morph Girardinus Metallicus (Pisces: Poeciliidae), Erin M. Wojan

Master's Theses

Multicomponent displays are composed of traits, such as coloration, structural ornaments, and behavior, that become integrated and signal information to conspecifics. Estimation of multicomponent displays in fishes often involves measurement of color traits. Fish color measurements are often obtained following immobilization via chemical anesthesia; however, the anesthetics may alter the resulting measurements, for example by darkening the skin. Girardinus metallicus, a poeciliid fish endemic to Cuba, has a multicomponent courtship and aggressive display. Black morph males exhibit black ventral coloration including the gonopodium (copulatory organ) and yellow in the non-black areas of their bodies. I investigated the effects of …

Effect Of Oxygen-Limiting Tidal Conditions On Muscle Metabolism And Structure In The Giant Acorn Barnacle, Balanus Nubilus, Katie O. Grady

Master's Theses

Crustacean muscle fibers are some of the largest cells in the animal kingdom, with fiber diameters in the giant acorn barnacle (Balanus nubilus) exceeding 3 mm. Sessile animals with extreme muscle sizes and that live in the hypoxia-inducing intertidal zone – like B. nubilus – represent ideal models for probing the effects of oxygen limitation on muscle cells. We investigated changes in metabolism and structure of B. nubilus muscle in response to: normoxic immersion, anoxic immersion, or air emersion, for acute (6h) or chronic (6h exposures twice daily for 2wks) time periods. Following exposure, we immediately measured hemolymph …

The Water Table And Soil Moisture Response Following The Removal Of Conifers From An Encroached Meadow, Thomas W. Sanford

Master's Theses

Montane meadows play a key role in the physical and biologic processes of coniferous forests in the western United States. However, due to climate change, over grazing, and fire suppression, conifer encroachment into meadows has accelerated. In some western regions, nearly half of all meadow habitat has been loss due to conifer encroachment. To combat this issue, encroaching conifers can be removed in an attempt to increase meadow habitat and function. While multiple studies have assessed changes in soil structure and vegetation composition, few studies directly investigate changes in hydrology following meadow conifer removal projects. The goal of this study …

The Narrative Performances Of Teenage Girls: Participation, Identity, And Authority As The Foundation For Power, Chere M. Smith

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This thesis explores the ways in which teenage girls use narrative performance to negotiate participation, social and gender identity, and individual authority in order to establish ratified and equal statuses of power within their social peer group. Although previous work on narrative discourse has shown that narratives can act as the catalyst for the complex co/construction of identity especially in social situations of talk, little work has been done to focus on the way teenagers, particularly girls, use this discourse to their benefit as they fulfill social and gender goals in social and conversational settings. Furthermore, while multimodal, narrative performance …

The Proxy Rules And Restrictions On Shareholder Voting Rights, J. Robert Brown, Jr.

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

Optimal Operation Of A Northwest Grid Of Saudi Arabia Including Renewable Resources, Hani Albalawi

All Dissertations

The use of fossil fuel, which has been one of the major sources of energy of the modern world, has led to environmental concerns. One solution to these issues is the application of renewable energy, which can also address the fluctuation in fuel prices. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) faces a demand of energy expected to exceed 120 GW by 2032.

The government is taking appropriate actions, introducing sustainable renewable energy not only to meet the demand with clean energy sources but also to reduce the Kingdom’s consumption of fuel and gas. KSA, which has a high irradiation rate …

A Critical Analysis Of Factors That Contribute To Maasai Land Appropriation: The Case Of Maasai Land Appropriation In Kajiado And Narok Counties In Kenya, Ben R. Koissaba

All Dissertations

The aim of this case study was to analyze events, practices, laws, and decrees that have contributed to Maasai land appropriation and acquisition from the perspective of the Maasai in order to make policy recommendations. This case study was both intrinsic (how the Maasai understood the situation of land appropriation and acquisition) and instrumental (what can others learn from the situation of the Maasai).

This study used a form of qualitative research known as a case study. This particular study uses both intrinsic and instrumental case study designs (Denzin and Lincoln, 2006, Stake, 1995). The goal of the intrinsic component …

Physics-Based Models For Engine System Studies: Quasi-D Dual-Fuel Combustion And Real-Time Intake Charge Flow Estimation, Shuonan Xu

All Dissertations

Ever tightening emissions and fuel economy regulations provide a strong impetus for research on high-efficiency low-emission engine concepts. In addition, CO2 emission regulation and energy security considerations motivate investigations focused on alternative fuels. In the current heavy-duty fleet, diesel engines dominate the market due to their unmatched thermal efficiency. Nevertheless, they suffer from NOx and soot emissions and require complex aftertreatment systems to meet stringent regulations. Due to recent advancements of the Natural Gas (NG) extraction technology, its supply has become increasingly abundant. Conversion of Heavy Duty engines to NG operation provides a most effective way of increasing utilization of …

Gravitation And Cosmology With York Time, Philipp Roser

All Dissertations

Despite decades of inquiry an adequate theory of 'quantum gravity' has remained elusive, in part due to the absence of data that would guide the search and in part due to technical difficulties, prominently among them the 'problem of time'. The problem is a result of the attempt to quantise a classical theory with temporal reparameterisation and refoliation invariance such as general relativity. One way forward is therefore the breaking of this invariance via the identification of a preferred foliation of spacetime into parameterised spatial slices. In this thesis we argue that a foliation into slices of constant extrinsic curvature, …

The Impact Of Technological Developments On The Rules Of Attorney Ethics Regarding Attorney–Client Privilege, Confidentiality, And Social Media, Pamela A. Bresnahan, Lucian T. Pera

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

This article focuses on the development of the law of ethics and technology. Emphasis is placed on how technological developments have affected the rules and means by which lawyers practice law and certain ethical pitfalls that have developed hand-in-hand with technological advancements. Topics examined include: (1) the ways by which electronic communication has increased the potential for the attorney–client privilege to be waived and the resulting impact on the present-day practice of law; (2) the effect of social media on lawyers’ ethical obligations, including counseling clients regarding the client’s use of social media and the lawyer’s own use of social …

Am I A “Licensed Liar”?: An Exploration Into The Ethic Of Honesty In Lawyering . . . And A Reply Of “No!” To The Stranger In The La Fiesta Lounge, Josiah M. Daniel Iii

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

After hearing for the first time the lawyer-disparaging phrase, “licensed liar,” the author investigated its significance. This article presents the question of those two words’ meaning and explains how the author reached the conclusion that, as applied to attorneys, the phrase is an unmerited epithet. The phrase is known and utilized in nonlegal texts in fields such as fiction, poetry, literary criticism, and journalism, but the two words are absent from legal texts. The author’s discovery of the phrase in various criticisms of lawyers in other publications illuminates and confirms that the phrase constitutes the pejorative allegation that an attorney …

Noise: Its Impact In The Operating Room, Brennon Wesley Sloan

Doctoral Projects

Orthopedic and neurologic cases routinely reach noise levels exceeding 120 decibels (Katz, 2014). Modern equipment and monitors used by anesthesia personnel only reach 85 decibels (Katz, 2014). These monitors can go undetected during peak noise levels creating a serious safety concern for patients that could lead to patient injury or death (Gawande, Zinner, Studdert, & Brennan, 2003). A clinical question was developed to determine if the education of noise levels in the operating room affects change in practice. For operating room managers and staff, does education of noise levels in the operating room compared to no education initiate a change …

Charles Bridges V. Commissioner Social Security

2016 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Put Privity In The Past: A Modern Approach To Determining When Washington Attorneys Are Liable To Nonclients For Estate Planning Malpractice, Kaitlyn C. Kelly

Washington Law Review

Even in the best of circumstances, an estate plan may leave intended beneficiaries frustrated. Occasionally, an attorney’s alleged mistake in the execution of a will or administration of a trust sparks the beneficiaries’ anger. Under Washington law, it is unclear whether intended beneficiaries may sue an estate planning attorney for malpractice. Generally, an estate planning attorney’s client is a testator, not a testator’s intended beneficiaries; thus, the intended beneficiaries are not in privity of contract with the attorney. Rather, the only individual in privity with the accused attorney is usually deceased at the time of a malpractice lawsuit. If a …

An Initial Examination Of Relationships Between Early Intervention Services, Family Outcomes, And Andragogical Factors, Kelly Hantak

Dissertations

This study is an examination of early intervention services for infants/toddlers with visual impairments, as related to home-based services and andragogy learning theory. Early intervention refers to therapeutic services provided to eligible infants/toddlers while andragogy emphasizes how adults learning. Research discussed the implementation of andragogical factors with parents of infants/toddlers appeared limited. The null hypotheses statements addressed four variables related to infant/toddler with visual impairments assessment scores, the number of home visit units authorized by the child’s Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and implemented by the early intervention service provider, responses on the family outcome survey, and service provider responses …

Hydraulic Performance Evaluation Of Evapotranspiration Cover Systems, Brett James De Vries

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Although alternative covers such as the evapotranspiration (ET) landfill cover system promise to provide equivalent or greater performance than conventional cover systems, uncertainties remain on the performance of these type of cover systems. The uncertainties associated with performance may derive from the relative newness of these covers (when compared to conventional landfill cover systems); and their dependency on relatively site-specific factors such as: climatic, vegetation, and soil conditions. As a results, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requires a landfill facility to design and then verify the design and performance through site specific field scale testing (TCEQ 2012). Utilizing …

Harmful Algal Blooms And Biological Toxins Productions; From Integrated Monitoring Approach To On-Site Solar Photocatalytic Decomposition, Hesam Zaman Khan Malayeri

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Occurrence of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) worldwide has caused concern to environmental and health authorities because of their potential to generate and release biological toxins. In particular, microcystins (MCs) produced from cyanobacteria are of great concern. MCs are among the most powerful natural poisons. The presence of MCs in drinking water sources has raised major concern. The overall goal of this research is to predict formation of biological toxins in water bodies and to develop a new sustainable approach to decompose them, if feasible, on-site and in real-time with minimal efforts, less chemicals, and low energy inputs. In order to …

Measuring The Effectiveness Of A Two-Period Algebra Class: A Program Evaluation, Tracey K. Landry

Dissertations

This paper details a program evaluation of a two-period freshman Algebra course in a two-high school district. The study examines the degree to which the two-period course is an effective intervention for freshman math students as compared to the one-period freshman Algebra course by reviewing student assessment data, student growth indicators, and course enrollment data. In addition to quantitative data, student, teacher, and administrator perceptions of the course inform the investigation into the two-period remedial math class. The paper concludes that the two-period math program is not having the desired impact and should be reconfigured or reconsidered altogether.

Teaching Deal Skills In Contracts And Contract Drafting Courses, Melinda Marbes, Tina Stark

Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law

No abstract provided.

Experiential Learning: Simulated Client Interviews & Videos In The Classroom, Stacey Bowers, Shelley Dunck, Karl Okamoto

Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law

No abstract provided.

Fresh Approaches To Teaching Transactional Drafting, Richard K. Neumann Jr., J. Lyn Entrikin, Joan M. Heminway

Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law

No abstract provided.

Keynote: Encouraging This Particular Form Of (Very Fun) Madness - Roles For Deans & Faculty Members, Martin J. Katz, Phoenix Cai

Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law

No abstract provided.

Assessing A District's Culture Through An Annual School Culture Audit: A Policy Advocacy Document, Robert Tomic

Dissertations

Healthy school cultures play a significant role in improving a student’s educational experience as well as creating a professional environment for staff. Sustaining a positive school culture throughout a K-8 district allows for similar experiences for students and provides stability at the staff level throughout the district. The recommended policy for Yorktown School District would require each school to complete an annual school culture audit to ensure the presence of a strong foundation for all stakeholders. Utilizing the School Culture Triage Survey on an annual basis to determine strengths and areas to focus on will provide a school and district …

Applying Ahp And Clustering Approaches For Public Transportation Decisionmaking: A Case Study Of Isfahan City, Alireza Salavati, Hossein Haghshenas, Bahador Ghadirifaraz, Jamshid Laghaei, Ghodrat Eftekhari

Journal of Public Transportation

The main purpose of this paper is to define appropriate criteria for the systematic approach to evaluate and prioritize multiple candidate corridors for public transport investment simultaneously to serve travel demand, regarding supply of current public transportation system and road network conditions of Isfahan, Iran. To optimize resource allocation, policymakers need to identify proper corridors to implement a public transportation system. In fact, the main question is to adopt the best public transportation system for each main corridor of Isfahan. In this regard, 137 questionnaires were completed by experts, directors, and policymakers of Isfahan to identify goals and objectives in …

Investigation Of Wheeled Mobility Device Orientation And Movement On Streetcars And Light Rail Vehicles During Normal And Emergency Braking, Andrea J. Mather, Katharine M. Hunter-Zaworski

Journal of Public Transportation

Wheeled mobility devices have been accessing public transit vehicles for decades, and most new rail transit systems are accessible. This has increased ridership by people with disabilities. Side-facing orientation on rail transit vehicles often is considered an option to increase capacity for wheeled mobility devices. This paper reports findings of a study of vehicle dynamics and wheeled mobility device orientation on rail transit vehicles. The study used acceleration data and field observations to evaluate wheeled mobility devices in longitudinal and side-facing orientations on streetcar and light rail vehicles. Results from the study include recommendations for longitudinal-oriented areas for wheeled mobility …

Qos And Trust Prediction Framework For Composed Distributed Systems, Dimuthu Undupitiya Gamage

Open Access Dissertations

The objective of this dissertation is to propose a comprehensive framework to predict the QoS and trust (i.e, the degree of compliance of a service to its specification) values of composed distributed systems created out of existing quality-aware services. We improve the accuracy of the predictions by building context-aware models and validating them with real-life case studies. The context is the set of environmental factors that affect QoS attributes (such as response time and availability), and trust of a service or a composed system. The proposed framework uses available context-QoS dependency information of individual services and information about the interaction …