Simplicity and Functionality in Technology Uptake

Social and Behavioral Sciences (The Ohio State University Denman Undergraduate Research Forum)To study people’s willingness to try new technology, we draw from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT; Workman, 2014). The theory has four key constructs namely performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions. The present study adds to this by manipulating functionality and simplicity in predicting intention to use the new technology. The main objective of this project is to test the UTAUT model with college students by adding variables of simplicity and functionality to test this theory with a sample of Ohio State University students. To study this theory, I conducted a survey with 174 college students recruited from communication classes that tested variables in the UTAUT model. To conduct my survey, I presented a mock ad for an upcoming commercially launched wearable technology device. In my survey, I asked about an individual’s interest in purchasing, trying as well as using such a futuristic device. Then I asked how much an individual would be willing to pay for this device. The mock ads varied in their emphasis on functionality and simplicity of the device. Functionality and simplicity were manipulated in a 2X2 factorial design so there were four different versions of the ad. The results will permit a clear and in-depth understanding of what individuals prefer in wearable technology with respect to simplicity and functionality. I will also be able to analyze the results and test the UTAUT model which is the primary purpose of my research thesis. This will help me explore how an individual’s previous experience with technology and their identity as technology users will affect their usability and understanding of newer wearable technologies.Undergraduate Research Office, The Ohio State UniversityAcademic Major: Communicatio

Interaction of Droplet and Sidewalls with Modified Surfaces in a PEMFC Gas Flow Channel

A Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) is a clean and highly efficient way of power generation used primarily for transportation applications. Hydrogen and air are supplied to the fuel cell through gas channels, which also remove liquid water generated in the fuel cell. The clogged channels prevent reactant transport to the electrochemically active sites which comprise one of the channel walls and thus, degrading the performance of the cell. Proper management of the product water is a current topic of research interest in commercialization of fuel cell vehicles. Liquid water, produced as by-product of the fuel cell reaction, can clog the gas channels easily since surface tension of water is significant at this length scale. In a PEMFC channel cross-section, water is assumed to be produced in the channel at the center along the flow axis. This assumption is primarily valid and extensively used for experimental purposes. However in a real PEMFC, the water entry is not constrained at the channel center. Hence, more investigations are made using water entry at channel corner (land region) which resulted in contradicting prior results for the water feature behavior for all relevant PEMFC operating conditions, leading to adverse two-phase flow behavior- including slug blockage and fluctuations at channel end. Very limited research is available to study the effect of gas channel surface modifications on the two-phase flow behavior and local PEMFC performance. In this study, the droplet-sidewall dynamic interactions and two-phase local pressure drop across the water droplet present in a PEMFC channel with trapezoidal geometries with surface modifications are studied. These surface modifications include micro-grooves that possess a hybrid wetting regime that will initiate and guide the water feature at channel ends to eject with general ease. Slugs are reduced to films after ejection and thus channel blockage is avoided overcoming the problems caused by water influx at channel corner or under the land

A Bayesian Inference Comparing Collegiate Female Cyclists to Elite Female Cyclists from a Meta-Analysis

Physiological characteristics of competitive female cyclist can be used as a reference to enhance performance. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological characteristics of competitive, collegiate female cyclists (CFC) to data of elite female cyclists (EFC) obtained from a meta-analytic review. Methods: Eleven (n=11) CFC volunteered as subjects. All subjects signed a university approved informed consent. Means and standard deviation (SD) were obtained from the following measurements: age (y), 22.5± 5.1; height (cm) 167.22 ± 6.2; weight (kg) 63.78 ± 9.71; body fat (%) 22.9 ± 3.6. Each subject performed a maximal cycling ergometer test to volitional fatigue. During the test, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max, mL*kg-1*min.-1) was analyzed using a gas analyzer. VO2 max, maximal blood lactate (mM), maximal power (W), lactate threshold (mM), ventilatory threshold (VT ,% of maximal) and heart rate threshold (HRT, % of maximal) were used to compare the performance of CFC to the data of EFC obtained from a past meta-analysis. An independent samples t-Test was used to compare the measures of the CFC vs. EFC data from the meta-analysis. Alpha was set a priori at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Results showed the following comparisons between CFC vs. EFC, respectively: body fat %, C value* vs. Elite value: 22.9( 3.6) vs 15.2( 3.3); VO2 max (mL/kg/min) 58.07(6.94) vs 52.5 ( 5.5); max power (W) 275.0( 42.5 ) vs 450.7( 256) ;lactate threshold (mM) 3.74(0.79) vs 2.8( 0.28); VT (%) 87.0( 4.1) vs 73.2 ( 9.8) and HRT (%) 93.1( 2.2) vs 79.7 values. There was a significant difference * (p \u3c 0.05) in the aforementioned measures. Conclusion: The CFC did fit the norm reference of female cyclist obtained from the past meta-analysis. The results of the data show that CFC had favorable performance measures compared to EFC from the meta-analysis on most, but not all measures

Implementation of Generic and Efficient Architecture of Elliptic Curve Cryptography over Various GF(p) for Higher Data Security

Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) has recognized much more attention over the last few years and has time-honored itself among the renowned public key cryptography schemes. The main feature of ECC is that shorter keys can be used as the best option for implementation of public key cryptography in resource-constrained (memory, power, and speed) devices like the Internet of Things (IoT), wireless sensor based applications, etc. The performance of hardware implementation for ECC is affected by basic design elements such as a coordinate system, modular arithmetic algorithms, implementation target, and underlying finite fields. This paper shows the generic structure of the ECC system implementation which allows the different types of designing parameters like elliptic curve, Galois prime finite field GF(p), and input type. The ECC system is analyzed with performance parameters such as required memory, elapsed time, and process complexity on the MATLAB platform. The simulations are carried out on the 8th generation Intel core i7 processor with the specifications of 8 GB RAM, 3.1 GHz, and 64-bit architecture. This analysis helps to design an efficient and high performance architecture of the ECC system on Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) and Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA).Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) has recognized much more attention over the last few years and has time-honored itself among the renowned public key cryptography schemes. The main feature of ECC is that shorter keys can be used as the best option for implementation of public key cryptography in resource-constrained (memory, power, and speed) devices like the Internet of Things (IoT), wireless sensor based applications, etc. The performance of hardware implementation for ECC is affected by basic design elements such as a coordinate system, modular arithmetic algorithms, implementation target, and underlying finite fields. This paper shows the generic structure of the ECC system implementation which allows the different types of designing parameters like elliptic curve, Galois prime finite field GF(p), and input type. The ECC system is analyzed with performance parameters such as required memory, elapsed time, and process complexity on the MATLAB platform. The simulations are carried out on the 8th generation Intel core i7 processor with the specifications of 8 GB RAM, 3.1 GHz, and 64-bit architecture. This analysis helps to design an efficient and high performance architecture of the ECC system on Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) and Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)

Half-Barrel Planter Mover

A device for transporting heavy barrel planters is needed. Barrel planters are wooden wine barrels that have been cut in half along the circumference. They are used to store and grow a variety of plants. As such, they can contain more than 300 pounds of soil. The products currently on the market are not designed for such heavy planters, are cost prohibitive, and do not take advantage of the tapered design of a wine barrel half. A solution is needed that is durable, easy to use, and low cost. This final design report will show the steps used to find a solution to the problem, beginning with research and problem definition and ending with a final design. The timeline of steps taken in completing each deliverable for this project will be discussed along with future iterations and goals. The project culminates in the development and testing of a verification prototype which was able to successfully lift and move a planter when tested by our Sponsor. The prototype was manufactured mostly using steel tubing coupled with a manual hydraulic pump and cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder allowed the device to safely and effectively lift the heavy barrel, and the steel frame with all-terrain caster wheels allowed the device to be moved

Enhancement of the Illinois Scan Architecture for Multiple Scan Inputs and Transition Faults

Coordinated Science Laboratory was formerly known as Control Systems LaboratorySemiconductor Research Corporation / SRC 99-TJ-717Ope

Police Case Notifier

Incidences of accidents, sexual harassment and violence aggravate the socio-economic dimension of society. The profound and extensive impact of such cases makes it imperative for society in general and policy makers in particular to make earnest efforts at reducing such incidents by relevant policy interventions and technological advancement from the perspective of prevention as well as remedy. If we see the present scenario for the police cases in the above mentioned cases, the reporting system is much complex, time consuming due to which the victims and the family members are under much pressure. This project aims at transforming manual process to digitization in an attempt for an effective e-governance which is widely promoted by the current Indian Government. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.15034

Improving Database Performance on Simultaneous Multithreading Processors

Simultaneous multithreading (SMT) allows multiple threads to supply instructions to the instruction pipeline of a superscalar processor. Because threads share processor resources, an SMT system is inherently different from a multiprocessor system and, therefore, utilizing multiple threads on an SMT processor creates new challenges for database implementers. We investigate three thread-based techniques to exploit SMT architectures on memory-resident data. First, we consider running independent operations in separate threads, a technique applied to conventional multiprocessor systems. Second, we describe a novel implementation strategy in which individual operators are implemented in a multi-threaded fashion. Finally, we introduce a new data-structure called a work-ahead set that allows us to use one of the threads to aggressively preload data into the cache for use by the other thread. We evaluate each method with respect to its performance, implementation complexity, and other measures. We also provide guidance regarding when and how to best utilize the various threading techniques. Our experimental results show that by taking advantage of SMT technology we achieve a 30\% to 70\% improvement in throughput over single threaded implementations on in-memory database operations

Wireless impact sensing headband - W.I.S.H.

The prevalence of undiagnosed head injuries in the athletic world, and their associated health risks, is too great to ignore. This is especially true in non-helmeted sports where the availability of impact monitoring technologies is few and far between. In this paper, we discuss our wireless impact sensing headband technology that aids in the awareness and detection of potential concussions, from inception through design completion. Through the use of a custom-built validation system capable of simulating impact collisions, along with a series of experiments and revisions, our team was able to build a device that can sense and transmit data throughout the majority of the impact range of standard concussions. This system has the potential to help millions of athletes around the world be much better prepared in the event of a potentially life-threatening head impact. However, while our system is able to accurately detect and transmit impact data in real time, we found that additions such as the ability to sample at a much higher rate than experimented with, a more ergonomic design, and a lightweight, durable enclosure would be needed in order for our product to be a viable mass-market competitor. Although the product is not ready for the mass market as of today, it will be a vital part to larger systems used for predictive analytics and more innovative and robust athletic game strategy

Laparoscopic Appendectomy Outcomes on the Weekend and During the Week are no Different: A National Study of 151,774 Patients

Background: The "weekend effect” is defined as increased morbidity and mortality for patients admitted on weekends compared with weekdays. It has been observed for several diseases, including myocardial infarction and renal insufficiency; however, it has not yet been investigated for laparoscopic appendectomy in acute appendicitis—one of the most prevalent surgical diagnoses. Methods: The present study is based on the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 1999 to 2008. The following outcomes were compared between patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis admitted on weekdays versus weekends: severity of appendicitis, intraoperative and postoperative complications, conversion rate, in-hospital mortality, and length of hospital stay. Unadjusted and risk-adjusted generalized linear regression analyses were performed. Results: Overall, 151,774 patients were included, mean age was 39.6years, 52.6% (n=79,801) were male, and 25.3% (n=38,317) were admitted on weekends. After risk adjustment, the conversion rate was lower [odds ratio (OR): 0.94, p=0.004, number needed to harm (NNH): 244], whereas pulmonary complications (OR: 1.12, p=0.028, NNH: 649) and reoperations (OR: 1.21, p=0.013, NNH: 1,028) were slightly higher on weekends than on weekdays. Overall postoperative complications (OR: 1.03, p=0.24), mortality (OR: 1.37, p=0.075) and length of hospital stay (mean on weekday: 2.00days, weekends: 2.01days, p=0.29) were not statistically different. Conclusions: The present investigation provides evidence that no clinically significant "weekend effect” for patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy exists. Therefore, hospital or staffing policy changes are not justified based on the findings from this large national stud