Room – 2150 Ph.D and MS room
Subject Matter – Mixed
Morning Session
Room Chair – Dr. Dhireesha Kudithpudi
MS Students
9:00 a.m. – Kevin Cooke - Astrophysical Sciences and Technology MS
Title: Emission Line Analysis of Brightest Cluster Galaxies
Abstract: Brightest Cluster Galaxies are large elliptical galaxies at the heart of galaxy clusters.
Analysis of the emission features of 2 unique Brightest Cluster Galaxy systems presents new
information on galaxy interactions and star formation.
9:30 a.m. – Yuanhao Zhang Astrophysical Sciences and Technology MS
Title: Cross-Correlation Methods in Search of Gravitational Waves from Low-mass X-ray
Binaries
Abstract: The low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) Scorpius X-1 (Sco X-1) is a promising source of
gravitational waves in the advanced detector era. A modification of the cross-correlation
method has been developed to perform the directed search for gravitational waves from a
binary source in a known sky location with unknown frequency and residual uncertainty in
binary orbital parameters. This method takes into account the signal model of a rotating
neutron star to allow cross-correlation of data from different times. The presentation is to
describe the details of and prospects for application of this method to searches for Sco X-1 and
other LMXBs.
10:00 – David Narvaez – Computer Science
Title: Ramsey Numbers Involving Pentagons
Abstract: "Given k graphs G1, G2,..., Gk, the multicolor Ramsey number R(G1,G2,...,Gk) is the
smallest integer N such that, however the edges of a complete graph of order at least N are
colored using k colors, there is be a color I such that the graph formed by the edges of the I-th
color is contain a copy of Gi. For brevity, when the graphs Gi are all equal to a graph G, we write
this number as Rk(G).
The focus of our research is the case when the graph G is C5: the cycle of length 5. For this
particular graph, the numbers R2(C5) and R3(C5) are known, but only lower and upper bounds
for R4(C5) have been calculated so far. Our work aims to improve on these bounds. In this talk
we review the theoretical background, describe the computer-aided calculations we perform to
gather concrete information about relevant graphs and show the challenges we have found in
the process of implementing them."
10:30 – Jeremiah Parry-Hill – Human-Computer Interaction
Title: Action Figures as an Enabling Technology for Participatory Design Sessions
Abstract: Participatory design describes any number of techniques in which end users are
involved as partners in the design process. Building on prior work in playful participatory
design, this presentation covers new directions enabled by recent developments in 3D printing.
The relative affordances and advantages of both highly-specific embodiments, and of ""blank
canvas"" avatars will be discussed.
11:00 – Hardik Shah – Information Technology
Title: Ethnographic study on Rock Climbing Beginners
Abstract: An ethnographic study is research designed to probe an environment and the activity
of the users. The study explores the cultural and social phenomena of indoor rock climbing
beginners, their behaviors and activities, and problems faced by them, besides the several
constraints presented by the environment. Various research methods including Shadowing,
Contextual Inquiry, Surveys, Questionnaires, Cultural Probes and Focus Groups are used to get
data
The observations from this study will inform us about concrete problems faced by the
beginners, which we would solve using User Experience Design. The Minimum Viable Product
(i.e. a Prototype) would focus on solving three problems for the user. The iterative User
Experience Design process includes developing personas, prototyping, information architecture,
storyboarding and running the prototypes against the user for feedback.
11:30 – Johanna Maria Calderon Popa – Software Engineering
Title: Improving requirements with user feedback to achieve high quality on developing mobile
apps on time
Abstract: Given the fast advances in the mobile technologies these days, higher is the demand
of mobile applications (apps), requiring high quality and user satisfaction. Following this further,
user feedback is a key driving force in the software evolution of mobile apps, which enrich the
requirements to guarantee success. A common problem is the complexity that comprises the
mobile development, and conventional developments practices are difficult to follow.
Moreover the practice of integrating user feedback on time to requirements during changes
could be affected by the development process; and could have an impact on the decision of
using the user feedback or not. The goal of this study is to propose the use of user feedback to
improve the requirements elicitation to be used effectively in the development process of
mobile apps to deliver the product on time and with high quality. The intent is to analyze the
user feedback gathered on existing mobile Apps, to extract useful functional or non-functional
specifications to improve the requirements and improve the quality of the app. In addition
investigate challenges that exist during the development process to provide insights for
improvement. For this purpose some questions arise, such as: Is the analysis of user feedback
feasible to extract functional and nonfunctional specifications for the evolution of mobile Apps?
How efficient the user feedback analysis process is, and how it affects the requirements
elicitation process? How can the new requirements be adapted to the mobile development
process on time? And, does the process have influences on the proper adaption of the new
requirements?
Afternoon Session
Room Chair – Dr. Iris Asllani
Ph.D and MS Students
3:00 – Zhijie Dong – Cornell – Civil Engineering – Ph.D
Title: Design of Efficient Inbound Logistics Networks: Multi-stop Collection Routes with
Operational Constraints
Abstract: Efficient design of routes and schedules for moving materials into manufacturing or
assembly plants is a central element of supply chain operations. Previous works focus on
solution approaches to the classical vehicle routing problem (VRP) and the Split Delivery Vehicle
Routing Problem (SDVRP). The work reported here adds two important constraints on customer
splitting to the problem formulation of the SDVRP by limiting the number of routes among
which a given supplier can be split, and the number of suppliers that can have split service. One
heuristic algorithm is developed in this research, which is efficient enough to solve large-scale
problems with very reasonable computation times. An illustrative example using locations in
northeastern Indiana and Ohio is used to demonstrate the effects of these two constraints on
the overall solution and how the algorithm works.
3:30 – Cory Merkel– Microsystems Engineering
Title: Neuromemristive Systems for Neuro-inspired Information Processing
Abstract: A neuromemristive system is a set of neuro-inspired modular circuits, hardware
adaptation algorithms, and architectures based on the integration of CMOS and memristor
technologies for complex hierarchical computation. These systems offer a promising new
approach to a decades-old problem which still lies at the
frontiers of computing: How can we integrate human-like characteristics, such as intelligence,
adaptation, learning, etc. into small, energy-efficient computing systems? Such systems would
be transformative in application domains such as anomaly detection, autonomous surveillance
and robotics, among many others. This presentation will provide an overview of our work
related to circuit-level building blocks for neuromemristive systems, including CMOS/memristor
hybrid neuron and synapses circuits, as well as hardware training algorithms that allow these
systems to learn and adapt.
4:00 – Chih-Yu Jen –
Microsystems Engineering Ph.D.
Title: Profile Recognition in Silicon Wafer using Terahertz Time Domain Spectroscopy
Abstract: This work studies the prospect of utilizing transmission mode terahertz time domain
spectroscopy (THz-TDS) to distinguish doping profile discrepancies in silicon for semiconductor
and photovoltaic industry applications. Non-destructive and fast measurements are major
advantages of this approach. Several boron and phosphorus doping profiles with junction depth
comparable to PV junctions were fabricated on p-type wafers. THz radiation, which have a
strong interaction with free carriers, gets more attenuated under higher implant dosages and
longer diffusion drive-in time corresponding to higher surface concentrations and deeper
junction depths. The terahertz interaction with both electrons and holes are strong enough so
that doping profile differences in both N and P type junctions could be identified. Differences
between boron and phosphor drive-in time and doping profiles will be discussed. The ability to
distinguish between junction depths, and the accuracy thereof, was studied by repeated
measurement. The ability to do measurements on commercial mc-Si wafers for solar cells at
various stages of production including after surface texturing was also investigated.
4:30 – Nathaniel Walsh – Microelectronic Engineering MS
Title: A Study on Performance and Stability of IGZO TFTs
Abstract: Backplanes on LCD and OLED displays have had a demand on the increase of
their performance in the last decade. Traditionally, these were made with
amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin-film transistors (TFTs), but there has been
an increase in research into amorphous oxide semiconductors (AOS) as a
replacement for a-Si:H. Amorphous Indium-Gallium-Zinc-Oxide (IGZO) is a
viable candidate to replace amorphous silicon because it exhibits a higher
mobility and it can be easily implemented into the current fabrication
process techniques utilized today. In order for this material to be
completely accepted as a replacement it must have exceptional uniformity when
deposited, and it must have an extremely high stability performance.
In this work bottom-gate top-contact TFTs are fabricated using RF sputtered
IGZO. Oxidized Si wafers are used as the substrate to simulate glass
substrates. Molybdenum was shown to be a better contact metal for IGZO over
Al, which is attributed to the formation of an AlOx barrier film. Annealing
of IGZO is key to acquiring a higher mobility and good stability. The IGZO
devices were annealed in various ambient conditions including air, oxygen,
nitrogen, vacuum, and forming gas (5%H2 in N2). N2 showed a noticeable
improvement in the device performance and stability over the other ambients.
Channel passivation adds stability and performance increase to the TFT. The
passivation layer materials currently being studied are e-beam Al2O3, e-beam
Quartz, sputtered quartz, SiF4 TEOS oxide, and ALD Al2O3. These details will
be discussed along with device and circuit operation results.