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A Hybrid Technique of Energy Harvesting from Mechanical Vibration and Ambient Illumination
Get PDFHybrid energy harvesting is a concept applied for improving the performance of the conventional stand-alone energy harvesters. The thesis presents the analytical formulations and characterization of a hybrid energy harvester that incorporates photovoltaic, piezoelectric, electromagnetic, and electrostatic mechanisms. The initial voltage required for electrostatic mechanism is obtained by the photovoltaic technique. Other mechanisms are embedded into a bimorph piezoelectric cantilever beam having a tip magnet and two sets of comb electrodes on two sides of its substructure. All the segments are interconnected by an electric circuit to generate combined output when subjected to vibration and solar illumination. Results for power output have been obtained at resonance frequency using an optimum load resistance. As the power transduced by each of the mechanisms is combined, more power is generated than those obtained by stand-alone mechanisms. The synergistic feature of this research is further promoted by adding fatigue analysis using finite element method
The 2016 Senate and Presidential Elections in Louisiana
Get PDFThe University of New Orleans’ Survey Research Center (SRC) conducted a live interviewer telephone poll of 603 likely voters in Louisiana. Those interviewed were randomly selected from a list of likely voters from the voter file obtained from the Louisiana Secretary of State. A likely voter is defined as an individual who has voted at least three times in the last five statewide elections.1 Interviews were conducted from October 15 through October 21, 2016. The combined landline and cell phone sample matches the regional, gender, age, and race parameters of the population of likely voters in Louisiana. The overall survey has a margin of error +/- 4.0 percent at a 95 percent level of confidence
You Gotta Crack A Few Begs To Make An Honest
Get PDFThis thesis explores childhood, relationships, teaching, and god
Parenting Style and Adolescent Gender as Moderators of the Association between Parental Restrictions and Adolescents\u27 Risky Driving
Get PDFMotor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of teenage deaths in the United States, highlighting the need for ways to reduce teenage driver crash rates. Adolescents (n = 176, M age = 16.4 years, 53% female) and their parents (n = 204, 71% mothers) self-reported on parenting style, driving restrictions, and risky driving. Results showed that more parental restrictions were associated with less adolescent risky driving. Three-way interactions were found such that more restrictions were associated with less concurrent risky driving in boys only under conditions of high parental warmth, structure, or autonomy support. Parenting style generally did not moderate the association for girls, although more restrictions were associated with less risky driving one year later for girls only in the context of low autonomy support. Findings are discussed in terms of how parenting may differentially affect risky driving as a form of risk-taking versus risky driving stemming from inexperience
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Stimuli-Responsive Polymers
Get PDFPolymers that undergo dramatic changes in structural conformations in response to numerous stimuli such as temperature, pH, electric and magnetic fields, light inten- sity, biological molecules, and solvent polarity, are known as stimuli-responsive or ”smart” polymers. There is a broad range of very promising applications of these materials in catalysis, environmental remediation, sensors or actuator systems, and as delivery systems of therapeutic agents. Researchers have been trying to mimic smart polymers based on properties of polymers found in nature such as proteins, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. Novel bio-compatible polymers with a variety of chemical functional groups, diverse topologies, and cross-linking patterns with the ability to self-assemble in vivo are being engineered.
Experimental and theoretical studies indicate that the thermodynamic properties relating to the hydrophobic effects play a pivotal role in determining the self-assembly process in smart polymers. At the same time, computational approaches based on simulation and modeling provide an understanding of this phenomenon on the micro- scopic level. Building empirical models based on statistical mechanics methods and
simulation data helps to design polymeric materials with desirable traits.
My research is mainly focused on investigating physicochemical characteristics of stimuli-responsive polymers under different conditions. I used atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to investigate these effects on polymer conformation. Given the size and complexity of our polymeric systems, we employed Graphical Process- ing Units (GPU) and enhanced sampling techniques such as REDS2 to increase the sampling time. These methods allow for the study of polymeric structural dynamics in solvents of varying polarity and in human skin epidermis.
Our constant pH simulation of poly(methacrylic acid) revealed that the overall response is made up of local and global structural changes. The local structural re- sponse depends on the tacticity of the polymer, which leads to distinct cooperative effects for polymers with varying stereochemistry. Such simulations help to under- stand the principal driving forces behind the mechanism of self-assembly processes
Vela & Niyah
Get PDFIn this thesis paper, I will document and analyze the process of making my graduate thesis film, Vela & Niyah. I will start by stating my overall goal of the film, then move into each specific area of the filmmaking process and what was done to accomplish this goal. I will detail my successes and struggles throughout the process. I will analyze my own work, and reflect on the important lessons learned while making my thesis film. In the end, I will determine if my thesis proves true, and if I was successful in the individual aspects of filmmaking, as well as the thesis film as a whole
“The Mary Janes”
Get PDFIn this paper I will discuss, analyze, and explain the process of creating my thesis film, The Mary Janes. I will begin with a discussion of the theme, and continue with explaining each aspect of making the film in relation to that theme. I will recount my greatest challenges during the process. I will also relate my use of knowledge and skills accumulated through study. Finally, I will analyze the outcome of the work of art, and question how well my theme was actualized and understood. I will evaluate the film as whole, including the process of creation, successes and failures, and determine how well I was able to create a clearly articulated story with a strong genre style
GRAND: A Short Film
Get PDFIn this paper I will describe the creative process throughout the making of my short film thesis GRAND. I will describe this in three parts: pre-production, wherein I will detail developing the concept, writing the script, and funding/preparing for production; production, wherein I will detail the set construction, visual planning, and the day-to-day operations on set; and post-production, wherein I will detail the editing of the film and the composition of the score. All of this will be framed in reference to the proposed theme of the film, and I will conclude by evaluating whether or not the finished short film achieves what I initially set out to achieve