Digital Commons Network^™

Studying The Hadronic Nature Of Ultra-High-Energy Gamma-Ray Emission Using Wide-Field-Of-View Instruments, Rhiannon M. Turner

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Since the discovery of cosmic rays, i.e., protons, electrons, and atomic nuclei originating from space, and the birth of astroparticle physics, scientists have searched for the most energetic particle accelerators in our galaxy. PeVatrons are astrophysical objects capable of accelerating cosmic rays to peta-electronvolt energies. Studying the nature of PeVatrons allows scientists to study particle physics at energies three orders of magnitude higher than those achievable with Earth-based particle accelerators. While PeVatrons can accelerate both electrons and protons, it is thought that searching for hadronic PeVatrons is more fruitful, given the limitations of accelerating electrons to such high energies. In …

Barbie Vlogger As Teen Influencer For Little Girls, Brilynn A. Janckila

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Mattel’s YouTube Barbie Vlogs series (2015-2022) targets 6–11-year-old girls with short narratives and prosocial messages addressing their prevalent interests and everyday experiences. While the vlog is clearly an attempt by Mattel to appeal to a market sector that includes both little girls and their Millennial parents, this analysis examines Barbie Vlogger as a social media influencer in order to explore how little girls learn to become older girls through the performance of teenage girlhood as enacted in the Barbie Vlogs. What is Barbie doing in the vlogs to show little girls who a teen girl is and what she …

Measuring Occupant Controlled Ventilation And Cooking Frequency To Aid In Modeling Energy Performance Of Northern Michigan Homes, Jacob J. Chizek

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This research investigates the real-world interplay between energy efficiency and indoor air quality. We explore how home ventilation strategies, heating systems, and weatherization levels in rural homes interact. As part of a larger study on air quality, 17 homes participated in the study. Specifically, this research shows the results and methods for monitoring cooking frequency, kitchen range hood use, and bathroom fan use over two, month-long study periods to build accurate energy and contaminant transport models of homes that were studied. Energy audits to document home characteristics were conducted, including blower door testing and detailed qualitative data regarding the homes’ …

Microbial Inactivation And Spray Drying For The Recovery Of Single-Cell Protein From Chemically Deconstructed Polyethylene Terephthalate, Reeba Elizabeth Reji

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most widely used polymers in plastics packaging. However, the increasing demand for PET has created challenges in waste disposal. Previous research has shown that PET can be deconstructed using ammonium hydroxide (CDPET). Microorganisms capable of utilizing the product as a sole carbon source can be converted to single-cell protein (SCP). A custom microbial inactivation unit was developed to ensure the safety and stability of generated SCP. Our study evaluated the effect of exposure time (45–60 minutes) at 140 °C with the goal of maximizing microbial inactivation. Our findings suggest that microbial inactivation can …

The Animated Frontier: Fluctuations Of Power Across Time And Space In Flows Of U.S. And Japanese Animated Media, Kendall Belopavlovich

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This project critiques the historical and contemporary relationships between the U.S., Japan, and marginalized groups through the lens of animation. The U.S. and Japan share a complex history, from the opening of Japan during the Edo period to events like Pearl Harbor and the atomic bombings, which shaped their present-day alliance. Furthermore, the U.S. and Japan are the central nodes in flows of animation, where both nation states have dominated the global market at various points in animation’s history. Today, Japan's soft power in media is significant, and the flow of power between these nations has influenced media forms and …

"An Ancient Vanished Race:" Industrial Mythistory And The Alternative Archaeology Of Lake Superior Copper, Donovan C. Murphy

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This thesis explores how the perspectives, biases, and values of Euro-Americans regarding the copper mining industry have shaped a mythology which centers Lake Superior copper in an imagined pre-Columbian global trade network. Notably, many iterations of this mythology are rooted in a rejection of Indigenous agency in the creation of these sites, ascribing them instead to a ‘vanished race’ which had surely once occupied the region. The core of this thesis is formed around a set of semi-structured interviews with representatives of regional heritage institutions and avocationalists which were conducted with the goal of identifying how and why these stories …

Thermionic Emission Computational Design Of Rare-Earth Hexaboride Cathodes In An Oxygen Environment, Sophia G. Brylinski

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This project seeks to optimize a rare-earth hexaboride cathode material for thermionic emission Hall-effect thruster in an air breathing electric propulsion system for the very low earth orbit (VLEO). The main atmospheric constituents in VLEO are nitrogen and atomic oxygen. The presence of oxygen causes the Hall-effect thruster cathode to poison, sharply decreasing its electron emission, thus reducing thrust. Two cathodes used for thermionic emission are dispenser cathodes and lanthanum hexaboride (LaB₆) cathodes, with the LaB₆ cathodes having better resistance to oxygen poisoning. It is desired to develop a cathode that can better tolerate the oxygen environment …

Nickel Superalloy Composition And Process Optimization For Improved Weldability, Anna Cole

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

In order to improve the efficiency of advanced ultra-supercritical power plants, materials must be designed to maintain mechanical properties in high pressure and high temperature environments. Nickel superalloys are a viable option, but are expensive and are difficult to weld, leading to joint failures. The goal of this project is to experimentally evaluate computationally-designed nickel superalloys for increased weldability and decreased alloy cost, while maintaining mechanical properties. Two optimized nickel alloys were designed to these targets and compared to benchmark nickel superalloys. Both optimized alloys had lower cost, with a 5Co-4Ti alloy exceeding room temperature hardness and elastic modulus values, …

Community Diversity And Makeup Affect The Capacity For Bioconversion Of Chemically Deconstructed Pet Plastic Waste Into Biomass, Hunter Stoddard

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Plastic waste management is an issue worldwide, particularly for locations with challenging logistics, such as remote locations, those impacted by natural disasters, and regions with armed conflict. These locations also struggle with food logistics and malnutrition. It is possible to tackle both issues by combining chemical deconstruction to depolymerize plastic waste with microbial conversion of the liquid product into biomass that can be used as an edible protein powder. The focus of this work is on the bioconversion of products from the chemical deconstruction of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) using ammonium hydroxide. Microbial communities have previously been shown to utilize the …

Intelligent Systems For Synergistic Optimization Of Vehicle Dynamics And Energy Consumption In Connected And Automated Vehicles, Aman Poovalappil

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This dissertation focuses on the development and validation of on-board, real-time estimation algorithms and the investigation of energy-saving strategies for modern light-duty vehicles, including connected and automated vehicles (CAVs). The accurate estimation of key vehicle parameters is critical for enhancing energy efficiency, enabling advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and optimizing vehicle performance and energy efficiency. First, this research introduces a novel real-time algorithm to dynamically learn vehicle mass using readily available sensor data. Based on longitudinal vehicle dynamics, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to identify the conditions under which mass estimation is most robust. The algorithm was extensively validated through on-road …

Holistic Energy Efficiency Analysis Of Electrified Off-Highway Material Handler: From Drive Cycle Characterization To Powertrain, Hydraulic, And Thermal System Performance, Alexander Czarnecki

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Three complexities surrounding the operation and testing of hybrid electric, heavy-duty nonroad machines have been addressed experimentally and using 1D simulation. Their resolutions have been intertwined with the development of a prototype machine that was proven to reduce fuel consumption in excess of 20%. A real-world drive cycle that leveraged hydraulic cylinder position was developed and utilized to ensure accurate reproduction of hydraulic work between the baseline and hybrid machines, while simultaneously maintaining less than 5% RMS error in position for main load handling functions. The newly developed, machine-specific drive cycle also contributed towards making equivalent comparisons in energy consumption …

Direct Methane Capture Via Aerobic Methanotrophs, Waaseyaaban Landgren

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Methane, a greenhouse gas with global warming potential 80 times greater than carbon dioxide, heavily contributes to global warming. Removing 1 Gt of atmospheric methane by 2050 would limit global temperature increase from reaching 1.5°C. Currently, biotrickling filter systems for removing atmospheric methane via methanotrophs exist, but not for very low methane concentrations (< 1 v%). Current research work at the University of Washington isolated and engineered a microbe strain which thrives at 500 ppmv methane, solving one obstacle in making this technology feasible. In this thesis, techno-economic analysis and environmental life cycle assessment conducted on this process have assessed its economic feasibility, greenhouse gas reduction potential, and possible areas of improvement. Study results show that at 500 ppmv methane, this process could remove atmospheric methane at a cost of $3,992-5,224 per tCH₄. The ideal case also produces annual net reduction in warming potential by 276-311 tCO₂e per process unit deployed.

Methods In Statistics, Machine Learning, And Deep Learning For Combining Multi-Omics Dataset, Md Mutasim Billah

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) have emerged as a powerful strategy to bridge genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with gene regulatory mechanisms by integrating genotypic data with gene expression data. While early TWAS methods typically rely on linear models and single-tissue expression references, recent advances underscore the need for flexible, multi-tissue approaches that can capture heterogeneous regulatory architectures and tissue-specific expression patterns. This dissertation introduces a three‑part research project that advances multi‑tissue transcriptome‑wide association studies (TWAS) along complementary axes of methodology, statistical power, and modelling flexibility.

In chapter One, TWAS‑CTL introduces a two‑stage cross‑tissue learner that trains any user‑chosen single‑tissue imputers (STLs) …

Examining Student And Faculty Perspectives On Hidden Curriculum In Computing Education, Joseph R. Teahen

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Hidden curriculum (HC) consists of the assumed behaviors, cultural norms, and collective knowledge that students are expected to know, but never taught. Knowledge such as version control tools, interview and resume skills, and self-regulation can fall into the HC. HC exists in a specific institutional and individual context and can change over time, making it hard to address and examine.

My thesis work is situated around uncovering and addressing HC in computing education. In this thesis I will present relevant background about HC and computing related HC, present my previous work on the College of Computing Resource Hub and the …

Generalizing Medical Image Segmentation Task With Efficient Deep Learning Models, Abel A. Reyes-Angulo

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Medical Image Segmentation is a critical task in the field of medical imaging, playing a crucial role in diagnostics, treatment planning, and disease monitoring. The emergence of Deep Learning (DL) has ushered in a new era in Artificial Intelligence (AI), propelling remarkable advancements in key domains like language translation, object recognition, and recommendation systems. This evolution has been accompanied by continuous enhancements in computational efficiency and improvements in predictive accuracy. The introduction of sophisticated algorithms, such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and transformers, exemplifies these advancements. DL algorithms have demonstrated exceptional efficacy in medical image segmentation tasks, showcasing the potential …

Growth, Survival, And Herbivore Browsing Preferences Of Seedlings Planted In Black Ash Stands Of Northern Michigan And Wisconsin, Seth W. Davenport

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

To mitigate the cascading ecosystem impacts of widespread black ash (Fraxinus nigra) mortality due to the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), forested wetlands can be underplanted with seedlings of alternative species that later repopulate the vacated canopy. This study examined the survival and growth, factors influencing performance, and herbivore browsing preferences of seven non-ash species planted in northern Michigan and Wisconsin. The best performing species were river birch (Betula nigra), silver maple (Acer saccharinum), and swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor). The worst performing species was black spruce (Picea …

Estimating Unconfined Compressive Strength (Ucs) Of Rocks From Measurement While Drilling (Mwd) Data, Can Erdem

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Measurement-while-drilling (MWD) technology enables the real-time monitoring of drilling parameters during the drilling process. MWD data can provide valuable insight into the mechanical behavior of intact rocks and rock masses, which is essential for geotechnical applications such as foundation design and underground construction. The aim of this study is to correlate real-time drilling parameters, recorded using a laboratory-developed MWD system, with the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of rocks. A custom laboratory MWD system was designed to simultaneously record four key drilling parameters: thrust (axial force, crowd), torque, penetration rate, and rotational speed. The custom-built MWD system was used to continuously …

Design And Control Of Reversible Adhesion: Switchable Adhesive Molecules And Electrochemical Approaches, Kan Wang

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Smart adhesives are materials that can reversibly gain or lose adhesion in response to external stimuli such as temperature, pH, electric fields, or light. Their switchable and temporary adhesion makes them highly promising for applications in wound healing, manufacturing, and robotic locomotion. Among them, catechol-based polymers have been widely studied for pH- and electro-responsive adhesion, due to their reversible non-covalent crosslinking. However, their performance is limited by irreversible covalent crosslinking reactions and the need for conductive surfaces in electrochemical systems. While boronic acid has been used to protect catechol, its reversibility remains limited. Therefore, new adhesive molecules and system designs …

Microbial Hydrocarbon Degradation And Carbon Cycling In Marine And Freshwater Sediments: A Comparative Metagenomic Analysis, Yogita M. Warkhade

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Microbes are essential in keeping our environment balanced, especially by fixing carbon dioxide and breaking down hydrocarbons in aquatic sediments. This thesis explores how microbial communities perform these tasks in different sediment environments, including marine areas (Caspian Sea and Mediterranean Sea) and freshwater ecosystems (Great Lakes). The first part of this thesis reviews current knowledge about how microbes degrade hydrocarbons. It highlights the importance of different pathways microbes use depending on oxygen availability. The second part provides a detailed study of the microbial communities found in marine sediments from the Caspian Sea and Mediterranean Sea, showing that microbes in these …

Performance And Environmental Impact Of Waste Glass Asphalt In Cold Regions, Kai Xin

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The reuse of waste glass in asphalt mixtures has significant potential in sustainable pavement engineering, yet its performance under cold, freeze–thaw conditions remain underexplored. This dissertation presents a first-of-its-kind comprehensive evaluation of glass asphalt for cold regions, simultaneously assessing its low-temperature cracking resistance, moisture susceptibility, field performance, and life-cycle environmental impacts. A series of laboratory tests were performed on asphalt mixtures incorporating various proportions of crushed waste glass aggregate, including Disk-Shaped Compact Tension (DCT) and Indirect Tensile (IDT) tests for low-temperature fracture resistance, and Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) and Hamburg Wheel Tracking (HWTT) tests for moisture damage and rutting susceptibility. …

Dam It All: A Multi-Scalar Investigation Into The Ecological Role And Function Of Beaver Dams, Kenneth Larsen

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The central theme of this dissertation is ecological scaling, which examines how small, localized features, such as beaver ponds, contribute to large-scale watershed processes and how different modeling approaches at various scales reveal distinct insights. Through a combination of probabilistic modeling and high-resolution empirical research, this work demonstrates that small ponded systems, particularly those created by beavers (Castor canadensis), serve as critical biogeochemical control points, whose contributions to sediment and nutrient dynamics have been historically underestimated.

In Chapter 1, I contextualize this research within the broader fields of freshwater ecology, watershed modeling, and ecological restoration. I introduce the …

Identifying Patterns In Avian Plasma Metabolites For Use In Comparing Between-Site Differences In Habitat Quality, Katherine A. Brouwer

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Habitat loss and degradation are especially important considerations for migratory songbirds, since they depend on a variety of distinct habitats within different life phases (such as breeding, wintering, and migration) that are widely dispersed across a spatial scale. Additionally, abundance of migratory songbirds has been in severe decline, making habitat maintenance and recovery of particular interest as a research avenue. Identifying high quality habitats across a bird’s annual range is therefore of increasing importance and represents fundamental information for guiding management decision making. Free-floating metabolites found in blood are frequently used to determine short-term mass changes in birds and have …

Three-Sided Skyline Counting Queries, Suruchi Kushwaha

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

A two-dimensional point p=(p.x,p.y) dominates another point p'=(p'.x,p'.y) if p.x ≥ p'.x and p.y>p'.y or p.x>p'.x and p.y ≥ p'.y. The skyline of a point set P is a subset P' ⊆ P such that every point in P' is not dominated by any other point in P. An orthogonal skyline counting query Q on a set of points P asks for the number of points on the skyline of P ⋂ Q.

In this work we study data structures that support orthogonal skyline counting queries in the special case when the query range is bounded on three …

Innovations In Balanced Mix Design: Establishing Gwp Thresholds For Various Nmas And Evaluating Superpave Vs. Bmd In High Content Rubber Asphalt, Kai Xin

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Traditional volumetric asphalt mix design methods, such as Superpave, frequently struggle to address critical performance parameters, leading many agencies to seek more robust approaches. Balanced Mix Design (BMD) has emerged as a forward-looking alternative by directly measuring rutting and cracking resistance in the laboratory. In this study, BMD principles were applied to asphalt mixtures featuring three distinct NMAS mixes and two high content rubber mixes, introduced through both dry and semi-wet processes. Compared with conventional volumetric constraints, BMD provided greater flexibility in adjusting binder content and gradation to accommodate elevated crumb-rubber levels. The resulting mixtures satisfied both rutting and cracking …

Rural Electrification For Heating And Cooling: Challenges And Opportunities For Equitable Development In The Rural North, Nelly Aghaei

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Abstract

This study examines the opportunities and challenges of electrifying heating and cooling systems in rural northern communities, with a focus on equity and justice. Anchored in three community case studies—Baraga County, Michigan; Ashland and Iron Counties, Wisconsin; and Beltrami and Clearwater Counties, Minnesota—the research investigates socio-economic and infrastructural barriers to electrification in regions historically impacted by extractive industries. These case studies, selected for their shared histories of resource extraction and active participation of Tribal Nations, including the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) and the Red Lake Reservation, reveal significant disparities in energy access and affordability. Using a mixed-methods approach, …

Method For Assessing Gasoline Powered Internal Combustion Engine Exhaust Accumulation When Idling In Enclosed Space By Automatic Shut Off, Eamon Mcclintock

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

About 120 fatalities/year are caused by Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning outside of the vehicle which can take place in the garage or attached house. A controlled test environment was created to mimic a garage with representative ventilation, volume, and instrumentation. Tests were performed with vehicles of varying engine displacement size using parameters tuned to replicate four scenarios of vehicle operation including vehicle start state, HVAC operation, and ambient temperature. A house model was built to model CO accumulation using realistic air exchange rates to simulate air transfer between the garage and attached house. Depletion of Oxygen (O2) in the garage …

Risk Of Oak Wilt Expanding Northward: Examining Nitidulidae Vector Communities And Host Phenology Beyond The Current Disease Range, Kathleen E. Bershing

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Oak wilt is a fatal fungal pathogen to oak trees, caused by the fungus Bretziella fagacearum. This fungus targets oak species (Quercus spp.), where members of the red oak group (sect. Lobatae) are at greatest risk of mortality. Oak wilt is widespread throughout the eastern United States, currently present in 24 states. Recently in 2023, oak wilt was detected in trees for the first time in Canada. Although removed from the locations of the first Canadian detections, there is continual concern that the range of oak wilt is at risk for expansion northward. This is further evident …

Overcoming Obstacles To Equitable Energy Transitions And Promoting Energy Sovereignty For Us Tribal Nations, Don Lee

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This dissertation explores the potential of equitable energy transitions guided by the tenets of energy justice with a focus on Tribal energy sovereignty through renewable energy development. It contributes to the literature on the social acceptance of energy systems, public perceptions of renewable energy transitions, the ramifications of US federal Tribal law on Tribal energy development and sovereignty, and the implications of conforming to capitalist logics in the energy justice literature.

To understand the importance of building reciprocal and collaborative relationships, our team of researchers and Tribal members collaborated on the development of a methodology to survey respondents in a …

Batteryless Nfc-Enabled Wireless Sensor Node: Design, Optimization, And Implementation, Rishin Patra

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This thesis presents the design, construction, and testing of a batteryless Near-field communication (NFC) powered wireless sensor node intended for maintenance free, short range Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The work focuses on harvesting energy from a 13.56 MHz NFC field to power a very low-power sensing platform capa- ble of measuring temperature, pressure, and humidity without the use of batteries or wired power. The motivation behind this approach is the growing need for reliable, sustainable, and low-maintenance sensing systems that can operate in environments where battery replacement is impractical, undesirable, or environmentally costly. The prototype is built around a …

Bridging Indigenous And Western Knowledge Systems: Centering Ojibwe Perspectives For Just Forest-Climate Futures, Tran Thi Mai Anh

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This dissertation addresses critical gaps in how environmental science and policy engage with Indigenous knowledges that hinder just and sustainable environmental futures. Through a multi-year partnership with the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC), this research tackles a literature gap on applying Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) to forest restoration, an experiential gap in understanding differential climate impacts, and a governance gap perpetuated by colonial metrics that devalue relational ecosystem health.

A multi-method approach systematically addresses these gaps. First, a literature review confirms TEK's application in restoration is under-researched and often extractive. Second, a comparative survey of 232 Tribal and non-Tribal community …