Digital Commons Network^™

Task And Participant Scheduling Of Trading Platforms In Vehicular Participatory Sensing Networks, Heyuan Shi, Xiaoyu Song, Ming Gu, Jiaguang Sun

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The vehicular participatory sensing network (VPSN) is now becoming more and more prevalent, and additionally has shown its great potential in various applications. A general VPSN consists of many tasks from task, publishers, trading platforms and a crowd of participants. Some literature treats publishers and the trading platform as a whole, which is impractical since they are two independent economic entities with respective purposes. For a trading platform in markets, its purpose is to maximize the profit by selecting tasks and recruiting participants who satisfy the requirements of accepted tasks, rather than to improve the quality of each task. This …

Exploiting The Principal Parametric Resonance Of An Rlc" Circuit For Vibratory Energy Harvesting", Nicholas B. Caldwell

All Theses

The use of ambient energy sources to independently power small electronic devices, a process commonly known as energy harvesting, has recently become a focus of research due to advances in low-power electronic applications. A particular class of energy harvesting devices, known as vibratory energy harvesters (VEHs), utilizes low-level vibrations present in numerous natural and man-made environments to generate electrical energy for electronic devices.

This work investigates the use of a new technique to harvest energy from ambient vibrations by parametrically exciting a resonance condition of the electric current in a nonlinear oscillating circuit. To accomplish this parametric resonance phenomenon, we …

Laboratory Evaluation Of The Influence Of Aggregate Los Angeles (La) Abrasion On Performance Of Open Graded Friction Course (Ogfc) Mixtures, Thomas Stephen Repik

All Theses

Understanding how the aggregate structure changes during mixing andcompacting are critical for the performance of open graded asphalt designs. Open gradedfriction course (OGFC) consists of approximately 94% aggregate and if breakdownoccurs, the desired properties of the finished product will vary. The purpose of this studywas to investigate the influence of the Los Angeles (LA) abrasion value of the aggregateon the performance of open graded friction course mixtures. Aggregate from nine different sources in South Carolina, with LA abrasion valuesranging from low-20s to mid-50s, were used to create a 12.5mm nominal maximumaggregate size (NMAS) open graded design. Specimens, both with and …

Enhanced Mutual Performance Monitoring To Improve Backup Behaviors And Team Performance, Tiffany Nicole Cooper

All Theses

Organizations today are becoming increasingly dependent on teams, as often tasks that need to be completed are too complex for an individual alone. There are a multitude of factors that contribute to how effective a team is; however, an important process that needs to be studied more thoroughly is mutual monitoring and consequential backup behaviors. In the past backup behaviors have been studied solely through a task workload manipulation with methods of mutual monitoring rarely being addressed. The present study explores various types of team monitoring through the use of two experimental conditions: monitoring the task performance levels and a …

The Coronary Circulation In An In Vitro Multi-Scale Model Of The Stage 1 Norwood Procedure, Lauren Elizabeth Carter

All Theses

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) is a congenital heart disease where the left ventricle and ascending aorta are underdeveloped. The first of three palliative surgeries for this malformation is the Norwood procedure. In this surgery, an opening is made between the left and right atrium so that all blood can flow into the right ventricle (RV). A reconstructed aorta is anastomosed (connected) to the RV so that the RV can pump oxygenated blood to the body (the systemic circulation). To divert part of the systemic blood flow to the pulmonary circulation, the modified Blalock-Taussig Shunt (mBTS) is connected from the …

Soil Organic Carbon Distribution With Depth: Implications For Ecosystem Services, Rebecca Drayton Chandler

All Theses

Most current frameworks of ecosystem services represent soil organic carbon (SOC) as a bulk/composited stock without differentiating SOC ecosystem services in the top and subsoil. This study evaluated SOC, nitrogen (N), and C/N distribution with depth in glaciated soils at the Cornell University Willsboro Research Farm in upstate New York. Soil organic carbon, N, and C/N decreased with depth in all soils sampled. The vertical distribution of SOC was examined quantitatively by soil order, soil depth class (top soil versus subsoil), and other environmentally-relevant soil and landscape variables. Top soils (A horizon) contained more variable SOC concentrations compared with the …

Predicting Culvert Deterioration Using Physical And Environmental Time-Independent Variables, Michael Wallace Stoner

All Theses

Given a database of approximately 8,000 culverts in South Carolina with varying sizes, types, configurations, and the associated ratings of different output categories, a predictive deterioration model was produced in an attempt to match the ratings of these output categories. These models used the physical culvert information given in the database of culverts and associated environmental characteristics including historical temperature, precipitation, pH, and estimated runoff coefficient as inputs for the model. The models used combinations of inputs that produced the model with the best performance measures. In addition, a separate group of models was created for each of the six …

Human Factors Considerations In Designing Home-Based Video Telemedicine Systems For The Geriatric Population, Shraddhaa Narasimha

All Theses

Telemedicine is the process of providing healthcare services when large distances separate the patient and the doctor, with the use of communication technology. Telemedicine serves as a substitute to in-person hospital visits and in large, reduces the need to travel and wait in line to visit the doctor. It is predicted to help the geriatric population in managing their healthcare requirements. In order for telemedicine to effectively help the older population, it is essential to understand their needs and issues in telemedicine systems. A study with 40 participants was conducted to understand the usability issues of telemedicine systems with the …

Cerium Doped Glasses: Search For A New Scintillator, Matthew William Kielty

All Theses

Single crystals have been the standard material when it comes to scintillators, but with the ability to easily be produced at a considerably lower cost and fabricated into tailored sizes and shapes there is increasing interest in the development of glass scintillators as an alternative. Ce-doped borosilicate and phosphate glasses were investigated focusing on the effect of different modifiers on their optical properties and luminescence. The borosilicate glasses were prepared aiming at the detection of thermal neutrons, utilizing B-10, while the phosphate glasses were targeting the detection of gamma-rays taking advantage of high Z elements such as, Ba, Bi, Ta, …

Consistent Asymptotic Homogenization Method For Lattice Structures Based On The Virtual Power Principle, David Bracho

All Theses

The properties of mechanical meta-materials in the form of a periodic lattice have drawnthe attention of researchers in the area of material design. Computational methods for solvingelasticity problems that involve a large number of repeating structures, such as the ones presentin lattice materials, is often impractical since it needs a considerable amount of computationalresources. Homogenization methods aim to facilitate the modeling of lattice materials by definingequivalent effective properties. Various approaches can be found in the literature, but few followa consistent methodology applicable to any lattice geometry. In the present work, the asymptotichomogenization method developed by Caillerie and lated by Dos …

Drawing Conclusions: The Use Of Room-By-Room Probate Inventories To Study The Terminology, Evolution, And Function Of Charleston Drawing Rooms And Parlors 1728-1866, Michelle Marie Thompson

All Theses

This thesis examines the contents of seventy-five entertaining rooms called eitherparlor or drawing room in a sample of fifty room-by-room probate inventories recordedin Charleston, South Carolina between 1728 and 1866. Analysis of these inventoriesrevealed that the usage of the term parlor declined in favor of the term drawing room inthe late eighteenth century until the former appears to have supplanted the term parlorabout 1810. Analysis of this sample of inventories also revealed that the furnishingsCharlestonians acquired to appoint their principal entertainment rooms shifted as thesocial activities staged in them changed. Eighteenth-century parlors tended to be multi-functional, sometimes containing beds and …

Development Of The Modified Hot Box: A Convective Heat Transfer Device For Measuring The Steady State And Transient Thermal Properties Of Non-Homogenous Building Materials, Stephen K. Smith Ii

All Theses

The literature data on fired clay brick and other building materials is limitedin scope, necessitating better data for more accurate modeling. A convective heattransfer device for measuring the thermal properties of building materials wasdesigned based on the existing hot box method. This new device is suited tomaterials whose heterogeneous structure does not allow the use of existingdevices such as laser flash or transient plane sensor apparatuses. This device,known as the Modified Hot Box, uses Peltier thermoelectric modules to create aclimate-controlled environment in highly insulated dual chambers. The ModifiedHot Box was calibrated to acquire data that can be used to calculate …

Seasonal Habitat Use And Activity Of Bats In Relation To Prescribed Fire And Environmental Conditions, Leanne Katherine Leala Burns

All Theses

North American bats are becoming increasingly threatened due to stressors such as wind energy development and the emerging infectious disease white-nose syndrome. A better understanding of the seasonal behavior and habitat associations of temperate bat species can inform conservation strategies in the face of current threats, aiding effective management of remaining populations. To this end, we used acoustic bat detectors to examine summer occupancy and winter activity of bats in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area on the Cumberland Plateau. Our specific objectives were 1) investigate the effects of post-fire landscape conditions on the summer occurrence of commuting …

Uptake Of Actinides And Nuclear Fission Products In Graminaceous And Nongraminaceous Plants, Stephanie Lynn Ely

All Theses

Radionuclides exist within the environment naturally and also from release during nuclear power and weapons production. The ability of plants to uptake radionuclides may prove beneficial for exploitation in the field of phytoremediation and as a biomonitor within the field of nuclear forensics. The fact that plants have the ability to take up radionuclides as an unintended metabolic process is well known, however, the mechanisms through which uptake occur present large gaps within the current research. Therefore, gaining further knowledge regarding overall plant radionuclide uptake and specific mechanisms may prove as an invaluable tool to enhance phytoremediation and nuclear forensic …

Mapping Natural Gestural Inputs To Traditional Touchscreen Interface Designs, Katherina Jurewicz

All Theses

Gestures are a natural means of every day human-human communication, andwith the introduction of gestural input technology, there is an opportunity to investigatethe application of gestures as a means of communicating with computers and otherdevices. The primary benefit of gestural input technology is that it facilitates a touchlessinteraction, so the ideal market demand for this technology is an environment wheretouch needs to be minimized. The perfect example of an environment that discouragestouch are sterile environments, such as operating rooms. Healthcare-associated infectionsare a great burden to the healthcare system, and gestural input technology can decreasethe number of surfaces, computers, and other …

Remembering Meriwether: White Carolinian Manipulation Of The Memory Of The Hamburg Massacre Of 1876, Jenny Heckel

All Theses

This thesis examines the manipulation of the memory of the Hamburg Massacre of 1876. During the massacre, one white Carolinian and six black Carolinians were killed. Forty years later, in 1916, a monument was erected in North Augusta, South Carolina to honor and remember Mckie Meriwether, who was described as the only person killed during the massacre. The monument does not mention the true horrific history of the white terrorism against black Carolinians. After white Carolinians reclaimed power in the state, they were able to alter the memory of the Hamburg Massacre from a horrific to heroic event. By utilizing …

Estimation Of Annual Average Daily Traffic (Aadt) And Missing Hourly Volume Using Artificial Intelligence, Sababa Islam

All Theses

Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) is one of the most important traffic parameters used in transportation engineering analysis. Moreover, each state Department of Transportation (DOT) must report the AADT data to Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) annually as part of the Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) requirements. For this reason, state DOTs continually collect AADT data via permanent count stations and short-term counts. In South Carolina, only interstates and primary routes are equipped with permanent count stations. For the majority of the secondary routes, AADT data are estimated based on short-term counts or are simply guesstimated based on their functional classifications. …

An Examination Of Food Insecurity And Its Impact On Violent Crime In American Communities, Jonathan Randel Caughron

All Theses

Food insecurity has been shown to have a negative impact on the health andpsychological well-being of those who suffer from it. Brinkman and Cullen (2011) havealso conducted research that shows food insecurity leads to increased incidences ofviolence and civil conflict in developing nations. However, very little research has beenconducted to examine a potential link between food insecurity and violence in developednations. This paper examines a potential link between food insecurity and the violentcrime rate in the United States at a county level using a least squares regressiontechnique. It also examines how the relationship between food insecurity and violentcrime varies in …

Neighborhood Environment And Self-Rated Health In Mainland China, Japan And South Korea, Jing Liu

All Theses

Neighborhood environments are considered crucial factors in affecting self-ratedhealth. Previous empirical research has documented a positive association between self ratings of neighborhood environments and health status. Although this relationship has been studied extensively in western countries, the relationship between neighborhoodratings and health status in East Asian countries has received far less attention by researchers. Using data from the East Asian Social Survey 2010, this thesis examines the relationship between self-rated health and the three main types of neighborhood environment (built, physical, and social) in Mainland China, Japan, and South Korea. This study also compares the neighborhood effects on self-rated health …

Studying The Use Of Hidden Markov Models In The Detection And Classification Of Eeg Epileptiform Transients Using Lpc Features, Kartikeya Shrikant Bagalore

All Theses

The process of identifying the presence of an AEP (Abnormal Epileptiform Paroxysmal) in a subject's EEG, normally done by neurologist experts, is a particularly long one and involves considerable financial expenses. This research aims to pave an automatic method of detecting and classifying streams of EEGs as to whether or not it has any AEPs present in it. This is a two step process, where step 1 is the classification problem and step 2 is the detection problem. There are many different activities on the EEGs, and the classification task helps to identify which of these activities are AEPs. So, …

Modeling, Optimizing And Testing Thermoelectric Generators For Liquid-To-Liquid Low Grade Waste Heat Recovery, Ali Eyddan Hamil

Masters Theses

The use of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) for producing electricity from low grade waste heat is thought to be a great solution in the future to reduce the power generation cost because of their advantages of reliability and environmental friendliness. Therefore, the current project aims to study thermoelectric generators for low grade waste heat recovery. In this work, a single unit cell of liquid to liquid thermoelectric generator attached with heat exchangers (heat sinks) is modeled using an internal flow. Its optimum design is obtained based on heat sink optimization and the optimal design method. An analytical model of four unit …

Analytical Study Of Miniature Thermoelectric Device, Mohammed Dhannoon

Masters Theses

Miniature thermoelectric devices (TE) have been regarded as hopeful devices to attain efficient cooling in microprocessors and other small-scale devices. To recognize the performances of miniature thermoelectric coolers, a thermoelectric cooling module is theoretically analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the impact of the thermoelectric element length effect and the substrate material type influence on the cooling performance. The electrical contact resistance and thermal contact are taken into account.

Furthermore, miniature thermoelectric is compared with large thermoelectric, and effective material properties of miniature thermoelectric are studied. The obtained results also demonstrate power density (cooling/heating power per unit area of the …

Triclosan: An Instructive Tale, Patrick J. Mcnamara, Stuart B. Levy

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released a final rule to ban triclosan and 18 other antimicrobial chemicals from soaps. We applaud this rule specifically because of the associated risks that triclosan poses to the spread of antibiotic resistance throughout the environment. This persistent chemical constantly stresses bacteria to adapt, and behavior that promotes antibiotic resistance needs to be stopped immediately when the benefits are null.

An Equivalent Plate Model With Orthotropic Material Properties For Adjacent Box-Beam Bridge Superstructure, Timothy Alexander Schnell

Masters Theses

Reflective cracking over the longitudinal joints of adjacent box-beam bridges is a welldocumented and recurrent problem; it is a concern because it leads to poor durability performance. These cracks develop during early stages of bridge construction and have not been eliminate by the design revisions implemented so far.

This study is aimed at developing a rational load demand analysis model for calculating the moment acting at the longitudinal joints in order to determine the impact of post-tensioning on mitigating reflective cracking.

The scope of the study includes calculating moment demand at the shear keys using a rational analysis model based …

Preliminary Study Of Optical-Flow Based Background-Oriented Schlieren Measurements, Hassan A. Ghazwani

Masters Theses

This research describes an experimental study on the density gradient by applying the Background Oriented Schlieren technique with the physics-based optical flow using a simple setup. The design of the BOS setup primarily consists of a background which has random dots, and a high-speed camera focused on the dots. Variation of the density between the undisturbed image and the disturbed image led to a shift of the dots, which is used to generate displacement field by using the optical flow method. In addition: different pressure conditions were applied, to provide distinct displacement fields. Finally, the density gradient of flow was …

A Location Allocation Model For Retention Basin Placement On Vacant Land In Detroit, Mi, Keith Chapman

Masters Theses

The principal objective of this research is to develop a location-allocation model for vacant lots in the City of Detroit, MI, to analyze for the suitability of retention basin placement. The model will place the retention basins in areas that will effectively reduce the amount of stormwater runoff that reaches the surrounding storm drains. Detroit needs stormwater mitigation to relieve the burden that is currently on the outdated combined sewer system (CSS). The Detroit Future City strategic framework suggests the use of blue infrastructure controls to alleviate the sewer system and reduce the number of combined sewer overflows (CSOs). The …

An Analysis Of The Act Sub-Scores’ Ability To Predict The Outcome Of College Algebra Through The Lens Of Modern Chaos Theory, Johnathan Jay Mcewen

Dissertations

ACT scores are widely used to predict outcomes in coursework and serve as placement guidelines for college level courses such as college algebra. Due to a changing college environment, the appropriateness of these placement decisions takes on a new, more critical light. Given the rate of success for current predictions in college algebra, and the resulting consequences for misplacement, this study examines the predictive potential of the ACT scores through the examination of non-linear variables and a metaphorically chaotic interpretational lens.

The literature base for this study reveals, almost to exclusion, the use of linear models for the prediction of …

Character Interpretation In Poulenc's La Voix Humaine: A Performer's Guide, Stefanie Nicole Anduri

Dissertations

Francis Poulenc’s 1959 opera, La Voix humaine provides uncommon opportunities for divergent character interpretations and unique challenges to the performer. The opera chronicles the final telephone conversation between the sole character and her estranged lover. The opera’s format is unprecedented; because the audience does not hear Monsieur’s responses, the performer must create and portray them through her reactions, a challenge unique to this work. Through the exploration of four distinct characterizations, I discuss the choices and ramifications for the woman’s demeanor towards other people on the telephone line, her relationship with the man, the function of the various musical motives …

The Role Of Performance And Gender In Hiring Decisions, Hayley Capshaw

Applied Economics Theses

Gender is likely the first trait a person will notice when meeting someone new. Typically, there isn’t much thought behind it when it is observed. There is just a basic understanding that this new individual is either male or female. Every characteristic going forward is built on that building block of gender. What if this first observation has a much deeper effect on the outcomes going forward than just knowing someone is male or female? What if it changes the entire relationship structure going forward? This thesis will discuss findings on a gender, negotiation, and risk preferences. These findings are …

Advanced Training Of Trainers: Inclusive Supervision, Amy Wilson Ph.D., Carmen M. Mccallum Lmsw, Ph.D.

NYS Child Welfare/Child Protective Services Training Institute

This workshop is designed to facilitate personal reflection and action through the introduction of a new model of supervision, called inclusive supervision. This workshop will challenge participants to look inwardly at themselves, their identities, and how they interact with those they supervise. An inclusive model of supervision will be presented and participants will be challenged to think about how to enact and practice inclusive supervision in the workplace, creating more inclusive spaces and satisfied employees. In

an increasingly diverse world and workforce, supervisors who can create inclusive workspaces will be more effective in creating meaningful work, ultimately leading to retention …