Browsing by Author "Dr. Jeff Thompson, Committee Member"

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    Algorithm to Systematically Reduce Human Errors in Healthcare
    (2006-03-02) Seastrunk, Chad Stephen; Dr. Jeff Thompson, Committee Member; Dr. Jeff Joines, Committee Co-Chair; Dr. Timothy Clapp, Committee Chair
    The purpose of the research was to develop an algorithm to permanently reduce human errors in the healthcare industry. The algorithm will be able to be applied to all healthcare organizations and provide a preventative approach to errors. The research involved looking at past methods of error reduction/prevention. Certain methods proved to be useful in generating the algorithm like the Healthcare Failure Modes and Effects Analysis while others like Root Cause Analysis proved to only have limited success. The algorithm takes a three phase approach to reducing errors. Phase One identifies the potential error producing situations. Phase Two uses error proofing principles and known solution directions to generate solutions while Phase Three uses a new method developed called Solution Priority Number to rank and evaluate the solutions. Throughout the algorithm many worksheets have been developed to aid in a team's progression through the process. Two case studies were performed. The first case study followed a traditional team through the error prevention process while the second case used the algorithm. When comparing the two cases the team using the algorithm finished the process in shorter time, produced more effective failure modes, and generated a richer set of solutions to error proof the process.
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    Application of Data Mining Tools for Exploring Data: Yarn Quality Case Study
    (2008-11-24) Daley, Caitlin Marie; Dr. Timothy Clapp, Committee Chair; Dr. Jeff Joines, Committee Co-Chair; Dr. Jeff Thompson, Committee Member
    Businesses are constantly striving for a competitive edge in the economy, and data-driven decision making is crucial to achieve this goal. Four data mining tools, principal component analysis, cluster analysis, recursive partitioning, and discriminant analysis, were used to explore the major factors that contribute to ends down in a rotor spinning manufacturing process. Principal component analysis was used to explore the research question about whether the large number of cotton properties used to classify cotton could be reduced to a significant few. Cluster analysis was used to gain insight about whether there were groups of gins, counties, or classing offices that produced better raw material than others and led to less ends down. The important research question of what raw material properties were affecting ends down was explored with both recursive partitioning and discriminant analysis. Additional research investigated the effect of cotton variety and atmospheric conditions on spinning productivity. Each of the four data mining tools used was informative and offered a different perspective to the overall research question. Several significant factors emerged including humidity, temperature, %DP 555, and uniformity in addition to micronaire and the color properties (+b and Rd). With these results the researcher developed an improvement plan for better control and increased spinning productivity in future operations. A designed experiment is necessary to thoroughly investigate the impact of certain factors beyond the exploratory conclusions obtained from this study.
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    Comparative Analysis of Compact Spun Yarns and Ring Spun Yarns
    (2008-06-09) Rajaney, Pooja Jaswant; Dr. William Oxenham, Committee Member; Dr. Tim Clapp, Committee Chair; Dr. Jon P. Rust, Committee Member; Dr. Jeff Thompson, Committee Member
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    Evaluation of Indirect Tensile Strength as Design Criteria for Superpave Mixtures
    (2010-02-24) Harvey, Nathaniel Lane; Dr. Jeff Thompson, Committee Member; Dr. Michael Leming, Committee Member; Dr. N. Paul Khosla, Committee Chair
    Many factors contribute to the degradation of asphalt pavements. When high quality materials are used, distresses are typically due to traffic loading, resulting in rutting or fatigue cracking. The presence of water (or moisture) often results in premature failure of asphalt pavements in the form of isolated distress caused by debonding of the asphalt film from the aggregate surface or early rutting/fatigue cracking due to reduced mix strength. Moisture sensitivity has long been recognized as an important mix design consideration. The tensile strength is primarily a function of the binder properties. The amount of asphalt binder in a mixture and its stiffness influence the tensile strength. Tensile strength also depends on the absorption capacity of the aggregates used. At a given asphalt content, the film thickness of asphalt on the surface of aggregates and particle-to-particle contact influences the adhesion or tensile strength of a mixture. Various studies have repeatedly proved that the tensile strength increases with decreasing air voids. The tensile strength of a mixture is also strongly influenced by the consistency of the asphalt cement, which can influence rutting. Thus, tensile strength plays an important role as a design and evaluation tool for Superpave mixtures Moisture damage of asphalt pavements is a serious problem. The presence of moisture tends to reduce the stiffness of the asphalt mix as well as create the opportunity for stripping of the asphalt from the aggregate. This, in combination with repeated wheel loadings, can accelerate pavement deterioration. Strength loss is now evaluated by comparing indirect tensile strengths of an unconditioned control group to those of the conditioned samples. If the average retained strength of the conditioned group is less than eighty-five percent of the control group strength, the mix is determined to be moisture susceptible. This research study shows that reliance on the Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) values only may be misleading in many cases. The individual values of tensile strength of conditioned and unconditioned specimens in conjunction with TSR values should be employed in assessing the effect of water damage on the performance of pavements. This study found that a minimum tensile strength should be established for a given ESAL range. The fatigue life of the mixtures decreases exponentially with decreasing tensile strength. This trend is explained by the loss in stiffness, the initiation of cracks, and stripping. There exists a minimum tensile strength for a given ESAL level that can be used as a surrogate criterion for fatigue life estimation. This research study also shows that the mixtures with lower tensile strength have higher rut depths. Rut depths of mixtures were shown to increase with decreasing tensile strength, which can be attributed to the fact that the aggregate structure is affected due to moisture damage and subsequent loss in tensile strengths of the mixtures. This study suggests that tensile strength can be used as a design parameter in the Superpave mix design stage and a modified mix design procedure is proposed based on individual tensile strength.
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    Mathematics Teachers and Professional Learning Communities: Understanding Professional Development in Collaborative Settings
    (2009-04-21) Campbell, Matthew Paul; Dr. Paola Sztajn, Committee Member; Dr. Jeff Thompson, Committee Member; Dr. Hollylynne Stohl Lee, Committee Chair; Dr. Allison W. McCulloch, Committee Member
    As a result of the recent increased emphasis on mathematics professional development (MPD), studies have attempted to identify a set of features that are commonly part of successful MPD programs. While recommendations that professional development should be collaborative, sustained, and practice-based are common across all subjects, MPD is often highlighted by activities that address the specific needs of mathematics teachers. Professional learning communities (PLC) are also considered valuable for the growth of teachers. However, PLCs only provide a general guideline for how teachers can make meaningful changes to instruction, regardless of subject. In order for PLCs to be used as a form of MPD, more work needs to be done to identify the extent to which mathematics teachers in PLCs engage in the activities that improve their content and pedagogical knowledge and, ultimately, improve student achievement. Based on literature on teacher collaboration, PLCs, and MPD initiatives, a conceptual framework was developed to describe the collaborative work of mathematics teachers. This framework was used to guide the design of this study and the analysis of data. The study described here employed case study methodology to investigate two teams of teachers attempting to implement principles of PLCs as part of a district-wide intervention. The goal of this study was to discover both teams’ success in implementing these principles and to what extent they engage in activities that are commonly found in effective MPD. To do this, the teams were observed during their set meeting time and individual teachers took part in interviews and surveys to further explicate the team dynamic as well as individual’s dispositions and values. The teams provided two distinct cases of the collaborative work of mathematics teachers. One team had strong collaborative norms yet did not engage in the activities commonly found in effective MPD programs while the other team struggled with implementing the principles of PLCs but were able to focus more on mathematical content and pedagogy. Based on the findings, the role of PLCs as the sole source of professional development for mathematics teachers is questioned. Additionally, other factors that could be attributed to a group of teachers’ inclination to engage in activities found in effective MPD are highlighted. These factors contributed to a refinement of the conceptual framework that classifies the growth of mathematics teachers in collaborative settings. From this, suggestions for future research on collaborative MPD are presented as well as how findings from such research could be used to inform the development and replication of MPD.
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    Three Dimensional Virtual Try-on Technologies in the Achievement and Testing of Fit for Mass Customization
    (2009-07-21) Lim, Hosun; Dr. Trevor J. Little, Committee Co-Chair; Dr. Jeff Thompson, Committee Member; Dr. Michelle R. Jones , Committee Member; Dr. Cynthia Istook , Committee Chair
    Currently, the Internet along with the rapidly growing power of computing has emerged as a compelling channel for sale of garment products. However, online shopping has the problem that garments don’t exactly fit on consumers’ bodies and high product return rates persist because consumers can’t try on garments before purchasing. Therefore, apparel companies currently focus more on providing mass customization and three-dimensional virtual try-on for consumers who shop online. Online apparel shopping currently provides virtual avatars created by manual method, but the avatars aren’t the same as consumers’ bodies. To overcome this disadvantage, the study for virtual avatars directly imported from 3D body scanners is required in the future market. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the fit and appearance of virtual try-on garments and develop an exchange between a database of three-dimensional body scanning systems and virtual try-on software. From all subjects measured using the [TC]2 body scanner, five final subjects were selected to represent the top five body types; “Hourglass†, “Bottom Hourglass†, “Oval†, “Rectangle†, and “Spoon†. The bodyscan data and measurements of the final subjects were then input to Optitex and Browzwear 3D software systems. In this study, the 3D virtual avatars directly transferred from [TC]2 body scan data and manually input from body measurements were created. The 2D patterns for tank top, pants, and jacket were developed using the Gerber AccuMark PDS system. The 2D patterns were transferred into two virtual try-on software systems and fabric properties were input. The 3D virtual garments made by OptiTex and V-stitcher were then tried on the 3D direct and manual virtual avatars. Finally, the fit of the real garments and the virtual garments was compared using a survey instrument. Comparing the virtual avatars, the direct avatar (Avatar 1) was the most similar to the real body, while the manual avatars (Avatar 2 and 3) were different from the real body. In the Oval, Spoon, and Rectangle shapes, the manual avatar was quite different from the real body shape. Also, comparing the virtual garments, the similarity of the virtual garments was related to the similarity of the virtual avatars. In the survey, the older subjects, the less satisfied they are with the size/fit of ready-to-wear clothing in the market. The middle-aged females are proportionately in the Oval and Rectangle body shapes and the virtual avatars for the middle aged females are required for the apparel industry. The manual avatars of Oval, Spoon, and Rectangle shapes were very different from the real body and direct avatars may be required to be used for these (somatotypes). Also, most respondents reported best “real garment (P)†and “virtual garment with the direct avatar (OA)†regardless of types of body and patterns of clothing displayed. The real garments with the real body and the virtual garment with the direct avatar were preferred by most respondents.