Digital Commons Network^™

The Sky’S The Limit: Factors That Affect Females’ Decisions To Become Professional Pilots, Debra Henneberry

Education Doctoral

Despite evidence of males and females having generally comparable abilities as pilots, very few women choose this career path. According to the Federal Aviation Administration database of aviators, approximately 7% of the total pilot population in the United States is female, and 5% of professional pilot ratings are held by women. These statistics have been consistent for several decades. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to gain a better understanding of why females decide to become professional pilots. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 women who, at the time of this study, were employed or had been previously …

Kinetics Of Higher Lying Potassium States After Excitation Of The D2 Transition In The Presence Of Helium, Austin J. Wallerstein

Theses and Dissertations

A kinetic model for the performance of a potassium Diode Pumped Alkali Laser (DPAL), including the role of higher lying states is developed to assess the impact on device efficiency and performance. A rate package for a nine level kinetic model including recommended rate parameters is solved under steady-state conditions. Energy pooling and far wing absorption populates higher lying states, with single photon and Penning ionization leading to modest potassium (K) dimer ion concentrations. The fraction of the population removed from the basic three levels associated with the standard model is less than 10% for all reasonable laser conditions, including …

Some New Discretization Methods With Application In Reliability, Gholamhossein Yari, Zahra Tondpour

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

Deriving discrete analogues (Discretization) of continuous distributions has drawn attention of researchers, in recent decades. Discretization has been playing a key role in modeling life time data because in real world, most of original life time data are continuous while they are discrete in observation. In this paper, we introduce three new two-stage composite discretization methods to meet the need of fitting discrete-time reliability and survival data sets. All three proposed methods consist of two stages where using construction a new continuous random variable by underlying continuous random variable in the first stage and so based on maintaining hazard rate …

Simplifying Coefficients In A Family Of Ordinary Differential Equations Related To The Generating Function Of The Laguerre Polynomials, Feng Qi

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

In the paper, by virtue of the Faà di Bruno formula, properties of the Bell polynomials of the second kind, and the Lah inversion formula, the author simplifies coefficients in a family of ordinary differential equations related to the generating function of the Laguerre polynomials.

Conformable Derivative Operator In Modelling Neuronal Dynamics, Mehmet Yavuz, Burcu Yaşkıran

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

This study presents two new numerical techniques for solving time-fractional one-dimensional cable differential equation (FCE) modeling neuronal dynamics. We have introduced new formulations for the approximate-analytical solution of the FCE by using modified homotopy perturbation method defined with conformable operator (MHPMC) and reduced differential transform method defined with conformable operator (RDTMC), which are derived the solutions for linear-nonlinear fractional PDEs. In order to show the efficiencies of these methods, we have compared the numerical and exact solutions of fractional neuronal dynamics problem. Moreover, we have declared that the proposed models are very accurate and illustrative techniques in determining to approximate-analytical …

Analysis Of A Recent Heat Conduction Model With A Delay For Thermoelastic Interactions In An Unbounded Medium With A Spherical Cavity, Bharti Kumari, Anil Kumar, Manushi Gupta, Santwana Mukhopadhyay

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

In this work, we study the thermoelastic interactions in an unbounded medium with a spherical cavity in the context of a very recently proposed heat conduction model established by Quintanilla (2011). This model is a reformulation of three-phase-lag conduction model and is an alternative heat conduction theory with a single delay term. We make an attempt to study the thermoelastic interactions in an isotropic elastic medium with a spherical cavity subjected to three types of thermal and mechanical loads in the contexts of two versions of this new model. Analytical solutions for the distributions of the field variables are found …

Parameter Estimation And Optimal Control Of The Dynamics Of Transmission Of Tuberculosis With Application To Cameroon, A. Temgoua, Y. Malong, J. Mbang, S. Bowong

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

This paper deals with the problem of parameter estimation and optimal control of a tuberculosis (TB) model with seasonal fluctuations. We first present a uncontrolled TB model with seasonal fluctuations. We present the theoretical analysis of the uncontrolled TB model without seasonal fluctuations. After, we propose a numerical study to estimate the unknown parameters of the TB model with seasonal fluctuations according to demographic and epidemiological data from Cameroon. Simulation results are in good accordance with the seasonal variation of the new active reported cases of TB in Cameroon. Using this TB model with seasonality, the tuberculosis control is formulated …

Coincidence Point With Application To Stability Of Iterative Procedure In Cone Metric Spaces, Ismat Beg, Hemant K. Pathak

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

We obtain necessary conditions for the existence of coincidence point and common fixed point for contractive mappings in cone metric spaces. An application to the stability of J-iterative procedure for mappings having coincidence point in cone metric spaces is also given.

Induced Hesitant 2-Tuple Linguistic Aggregation Operators With Application In Group Decision Making, Tabasam Rashid, Ismat Beg, Raja N. Jamil

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

In this article, hesitant 2-tuple linguistic arguments are used to evaluate the group decision making problems which have inter dependent or inter active attributes. Operational laws are developed for hesitant 2-tuple linguistic elements and based on these operational laws hesitant 2- tuple weighted averaging operator and generalized hesitant 2- tuple averaging operator are proposed. Combining Choquet integral with hesitant 2-tuple linguistic information, some new aggregation operators are defined, including the hesitant 2-tuple correlated averaging operator, the hesitant 2-tuple correlated geometric operator and the generalized hesitant 2-tuple correlated averaging operator. These proposed operators successfully manage the correlations among the elements. After …

On Processability Of Lemke’S Algorithm, R. Jana, A. K. Das, S. Sinha

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

Lemke’s algorithm is a pivotal kind of algorithm which is developed based on principal pivot transform. We consider several matrix classes to study the relationship among them in the context of linear complementarity problem. These classes are important from Lemke’s algorithmic point of view. In this article we discuss about the processability of Lemke’s algorithm with respect to some selective matrix classes.

Restricted Three-Body Problem Under The Effect Of Albedo When Smaller Primary Is A Finite Straight Segment, Shipra Chauhan, Dinesh Kumar, Bhavneet Kaur

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

This paper addresses the dynamics of the infinitesimal body in the restricted three-body problem under the effect of Albedo when the smaller primary is a finite straight segment and bigger one is a source of radiation. The measure of diffusive reflection of solar radiation out of the total solar radiation received by a body is Albedo which is measured on a scale from 0 to 1. The equations of motion of the infinitesimal body are derived and it is found that there exist five libration points, out of which three are collinear and the rest are non-collinear with the primaries. …

Evaluation Of Presage® As A 3d Dose Verification To Ol In Proton Beams, Mitchell Carroll

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Radiotherapy techniques have advanced and radiation dose plans have become much more complex over the last decade. This is especially true in proton therapy, which involves extremely steep dose gradients as a result of positioning the Bragg peak to cover the volumes to be treated. The Bragg peak can be shifted significantly in the patient as a result of nonuniformities in the tissue composition in its path, which can result in treatment complications. Some traditional dose verification tools used in proton beam commissioning and treatment plan verification are film, TLD, and ionization chambers. Such 0D and 2D dosimeters are incapable …

Discovering Countries And Their Cultures Through Movement: Fifth-Grade Students Developing Awareness And Empathy Toward Each Other, Rebecca S. Epstein

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate and answer the following essential questions: 1) What are students’ responses to use of movement and dance to teach multi-cultural lesson content? 2) What movement and dance-based methods can be used to help fifth-grade students develop empathy towards classmates from different cultures and countries from around the world? 3) Which movement and dance-based lessons seemed to be most effective to develop student empathy for other students from a different culture and country? One goal of the study was to help students become more empathetic toward one another through movement. There were twenty-four …

Dancing The Diaspora: Discovering The Influence Of Traditional And Tribal African Dance In The History Of African-American Social And Concert Dance In The Caribbean And The United States, Kerri-Noelle Humphrey

Master's Theses

The primary goal of this research project was to identify the influence of traditional African dance on African diasporic dance in the Caribbean and the United States. The study demonstrated how movement connects people and gives them the opportunity to share common experiences, ideas, and traditions. This qualitative and quantitative study was designed to answer four essential questions. Q1 What is traditional African dance? Q2 What is Black (Africanist) dance? Q3 How the elements of dance (Time, Space, Energy) can be used to help students make comparisons between African tribal dance and a variety of Africanist dance genres? Q4 How …

Patterns Of Authorship In Ecology And Evolution: First, Last, And Corresponding Authorship Vary With Gender And Geography, Charles W. Fox, Josiah P. Ritchey, C. E. Timothy Paine

Entomology Faculty Publications

The position of an author on the byline of a paper affects the inferences readers make about their contributions to the research. We examine gender differences in authorship in the ecology literature using two datasets: submissions to six journals between 2010 and 2015 (regardless of whether they were accepted), and manuscripts published by 151 journals between 2009 and 2015. Women were less likely to be last (i.e., “senior”) authors (averaging ~23% across journals, years, and datasets) and sole authors (~24%), but more likely to be first author (~38%), relative to their overall frequency of authorship (~31%). However, the proportion of …

Some New Nonlinear Second-Order Boundary Value Problems On An Arbitrary Domain, Ahmed Alsaedi, Mona Alsulami, Ravi P. Agarwal, Bashir Ahmad

Mathematics and System Engineering Faculty Publications

In this paper, we develop the existence theory for nonlinear second-order ordinary differential equations equipped with new kinds of nonlocal non-separated type integral multi-point boundary conditions on an arbitrary domain. Existence results are proved with the aid of fixed point theorems due to Schaefer, Krasnoselskii, and Leray–Schauder, while the uniqueness of solutions for the given problem is established by means of contraction mapping principle. Examples are constructed for the illustration of the obtained results. Ulam-stability is also discussed for the given problem. A variant of the problem involving different boundary data is also discussed. Finally, we introduce an associated boundary …

Collaborative Robotic Path Planning For Industrial Spraying Operations On Complex Geometries, Steven Brown

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Implementation of automated robotic solutions for complex tasks currently faces a few major hurdles. For instance, lack of effective sensing and task variability – especially in high-mix/low-volume processes – creates too much uncertainty to reliably hard-code a robotic work cell. Current collaborative frameworks generally focus on integrating the sensing required for a physically collaborative implementation. While this paradigm has proven effective for mitigating uncertainty by mixing human cognitive function and fine motor skills with robotic strength and repeatability, there are many instances where physical interaction is impractical but human reasoning and task knowledge is still needed. The proposed framework consists …

Vol 63 #6, Melanie Argo

MPLA Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Sequential Inference For Hidden Markov Models, Michael Ellis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In many applications data are collected sequentially in time with very short time intervals between observations. If one is interested in using new observations as they arrive in time then non-sequential Bayesian inference methods, such as Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling, can be too slow. Increasingly, state space models are being used to model nonlinear and non-Gaussian systems. The structure of state space models allows for sequential Bayesian inference so that an approximation to the posterior distribution of interest can be updated as new observations arrive. In special cases, the exact posterior distribution can be updated through conjugate Bayesian …

The Intersection Of Literacy And Digital Literacy: Incorporating Writing Standards With Computer Technology Standards, Grace Mcpherson

Honors Theses

This project aims to increase access to computer science/computer technology education by providing teachers resources to enable them to teach computer science/computer technology. A survey was taken to discover the interests and needs of teachers in Hamilton County, Tennessee. The project resulted in the creation of several lesson plans that integrate English and computer science through hands-on web development exercises, computational thinking opportunities, and critical thinking.

Use Of Stereolithographic 3d Printing For Fabrication Of Micro And Millifluidic Devices For Undergraduate Engineering Studies, Cooper Thome

Honors Theses

Undergraduate STEM student performance is greatly benefited by supplementary, hands-on laboratory experience. Micro and millifluidic devices provide a multitude of opportunities for interactive study of concepts and phenomena encountered in nearly every field of engineering, as well as in chemistry, biology, and other disciplines. Unfortunately, due to the cost and difficulty of standard micro and millifluidic device fabrication methods, many undergraduate students do not have access to these versatile educational tools. Luckily, 3D printing offers an inexpensive and simple solution to this issue. This work aims to demonstrate the capability of stereolithographic (SLA) 3D printing for the fabrication of micro …

Computational Prediction, Characterization, And Methodology Development For Two-Dimensional Nanostructures: Phosphorene And Phosphide Binary Compounds., Congyan Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, a comprehensive computational simulation was carried out for predicting, characterizing, and applications of two-dimensional (2D) materials. The newly discovered GaP and InP layers were selected as an example to demonstrate how to explore new 2D materials using computational simulations. The performance of phosphorene as the anode material of Lithium-ion battery was discussed as the example of the application of 2D material. Furthermore, the semi-empirical Hamiltonian for phosphorous and lithium elements have been developed for our future work on the application of phosphorus and lithium-based systems. The novel 2D materials of GaP and InP binary compounds were found …

Student Engagement In Post-Soviet Higher Education: Coping With Academic Quality Problems., J. L. Mettille

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the experiences of administrators, instructional faculty, and students within a post-Soviet higher education institution in the Kyrgyz Republic using qualitative field research and case study methods. This study identifies the perceived potential of Western benchmarks of effective educational practice to evince positive change in the institution as well as their propriety and relevance in this context. In addition, the propositions underlying the student engagement construct and overarching the benchmarks are evaluated based upon participant responses and classroom observation data. Twenty higher education practitioners and twenty students participated in semi-structured interviews preceding and following seven classroom observations. The …

Paying For Performance: Public School Property Taxes And Public-School District Performance In Missouri, Keenan Daniela Kinder

Dissertations

An increase in the property tax rate of a school district creates an increase in local revenues for the district (Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. [MODESE], 2017). The overarching question becomes: Do increases in the local tax levy compare to improved student performance? The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the difference between property tax rates of Missouri public school districts to student performance as viewed through the lens of benefit tax theory (Duff, 2004). Secondary data were obtained via the MODESE which included property tax rates and information from the Annual Performance Reports for public …

An Interpolation Process On The Roots Of Ultraspherical Polynomials, R. Srivastava, Yamini Singh

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

The paper is devoted to studying a Pál-type interpolation problem on the roots of Ultraspherical polynomials of degree n-1 with parameter k+1 on the closed interval -1 to 1. The aim of this paper is to find a unique interpolatory polynomial of degree at most m equal to 2n+2k+1 satisfying the interpolatory conditions that is, function values of the polynomial of degree m at the zeros of the function values of the ultraspherical polynomials and the first derivative values of the polynomial of degree m at the zeros of the first derivative values of the ultraspherical polynomials.We will use the …

Stability And Bifurcation Analysis Of A Delayed Three Species Food Chain Model With Crowley-Martin Response Function, Ashok Mondal, A. K. Pal, G. P. Samanta

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

In this paper we have studied the dynamical behaviors of three species prey-predator system. The interaction between prey and middle-predator is Crowley-Martin type functional response. Positivity and boundedness of the system are discussed. Stability analysis of the equilibrium points is presented. Permanence and Hopf-bifurcation of the system are analyzed under some conditions. The effect of discrete time-delay is studied, where the delay may be regarded as the gestation period of the super-predator. The direction and the stability criteria of the bifurcating periodic solutions are determined with the help of the normal form theory and the center manifold theorem. Extensive numerical …

Experimental Evaluation Of Fatigue Test Setup For A Gusset-Less Truss Connection, Duncan William Mcgeehan

Master's Theses and Capstones

In 2013, the newly designed Memorial bridge, located between Portsmouth, NH, and Kittery, ME, was opened to traffic. The structural system of the bridge is composed of truss elements with a unique “Gusset-less” connection which utilizes curved steel to transition from the chords to the diagonals where splice plates join the members. With such a unique connection, it is important to verify the design assumptions and assess the performance. In this study, the fatigue performance of the Gusset-less connection is investigated through an experimental fatigue test of a scale model of the connection.

In a high-cycle fatigue test, it is …

Bayesian Integrative Analysis Of Omics Data, Youyi Zhang

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Technological innovations have produced large multi-modal datasets that range in multiplatform genomic data, pathway data, proteomic data, imaging data and clinical data. Integrative analysis of such data sets have potentiality in revealing important biological and clinical insights into complex diseases like cancer. This dissertation focuses on Bayesian methodology establishment in integrative analysis of radiogenomics and pathway driver detection applied in cancer applications. We initially present Radio-iBAG that utilizes Bayesian approaches in analyzing radiological imaging and multi-platform genomic data, which we establish a multi-scale Bayesian hierarchical model that simultaneously identifies genomic and radiomic, i.e., radiology-based imaging markers, along with the latent …

Understanding The Experiences Of Students Re-Admitted After Academic Suspension As Part Of A University-Initiated Process: A Qualitative Study, Gary L. Versalle

Dissertations

Student persistence and retention continues to be a major issue facing most institutions of higher education. With ever more diverse student populations, researchers studied a multitude of groups and sub-groups of students based on ethnicity, sex, socioeconomic status, or age. These studies looked at how these various student groups can be supported and retained. Students who returned to school after having been academically dismissed are one group which has been consistently underreported. Reentry practices remained largely unchanged and still require the student to initiate the process. This phenomenological study examined the experiences of students accepted into the Reclaim the W …

Photocatalytic Degradation Of Simazine Using Zno/Go Composites, Kenneth Ray Flores

Theses and Dissertations

The photocatalytic degradation of simazine (SIM) by Zinc oxide/graphene oxide (ZnO/GO) composites, under visible light irradiation, was investigated to determine various reaction parameters, of initial pH, ZnO loading on GO, and catalyst mass. A pH of 2 was determined to be the optimal reaction pH for all ZnO/GO catalysts. A loading mass of 40mg for the 20 & 30mmol composites; whereas a 10mg mass was determined to be most effective for the 10mmol composite. The reaction followed second order kinetics for the degradation process, the reaction dependence was determined to be on the concentration of SIM in solution. All ZnO/GO …