Faculty Proceedings April 3-4, 2018

Wei He

Named Collaborators:

College(s) Represented: COB

Title: Stakeholder Loyalty in Mergers: An Application of Theory of Planned Behavior

Abstract: The current research employed the Theory of Planned Behavior as a theoretical foundation to test the loyalty of employees and customers to remain with a company during a merger behavioral intention. The hypothesized model proposed that communication, perceived control, and subjective norm are associated with attitude, and perceived behavioral control and attitude are associated with intended behavior. The data and hypotheses were examined using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results showed that communication, subjective norm, were positively related to attitude and attitude is positively related to behavioral intention. Perceived control was negatively related to attitude and behavioral intention. Findings of this study demonstrate that the proposed modification of the Theory of Planned Behavior is applicable in measuring stakeholders’ loyalty to remain with an organization during a merger.

Wei He

Named Collaborators: Dr. Wei He, Department of Managerial Studies; Dr. Susan E.Conners, Department of Quantitative Business Studies; Maj (R) Tedd L. Goth, US Army

College(s) Represented: COB

Title: Turning Attractiveness into Effectiveness—A Structural Analysis to the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Industry

Abstract: Initially funded exclusively for military applications, drones have been increasingly used for governmental and commercial purposes (Byrne, 2018). The US non-military drone industry had expanded into a more than 2.5 billion-dollar industry by 2016, and it doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon with projections of a 19 per cent compound annual growth rate (Weissback & Tebbe, 2016). Although we have been observing increasing use of drones across different industries—transportation, delivery service, agriculture, entertainment, sports, etc., we know little about the driving forces that determine the design, production and deployment of drones in different industries. It remains unclear how the dynamics of those factors reshape the landscape of this fast-moving industry. In this study we attempt to fill the above research gaps by investigating the major driving forces that have been impacting the emergence and evolution of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry. We apply a modified model of Porter’s Five Forces framework to investigate the factors that impact the structure and evolution of the UAV industry. In particular, we focus on the critical roles played by the complementors. While the production of the physical vehicle is the mature part of the industry, usages of the UAV are determined by complementor businesses producing sensors that attach to the vehicle and software to collect and analyze data. Through examining the interactions between the complementors and the key structural factors, we assess the attractiveness of the UAV industry from a comprehensive perspective. Overall, this study contributes to the existing knowledge base by shedding insights on the structural and dynamic features of the UAV industry and revealing the future trends and business opportunities existing in this industry for the related practitioners. Byrne, E. F. (2018) Making drones to kill civilians: Is it ethical? Journal of Business Ethics, 147(1), 81-93. Weissback, D. & Tebbe, K. (2016) Drones in sights: Rapid growth through M&A’s in a soaring new industry. Strategic Direction, 32(6), 37-39.

Gail Hoover King

Named Collaborators:

College(s) Represented: COB

Title: A TEACHING CASE ON STOCK OPTION EXPENSING

Abstract: The measurement and reporting issues of stock option expenses have been the topic for debate for many years. In 1995, Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) released Statement of Financial Accounting Statement No. 123 (SFAS 123) “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”. SFAS 123 required companies to present the pro forma earnings as if the value of the stock options granted for the current period were expenses. The revision of SFAS 123, titled “Share-Based Payment” was subsequently released in 2004. Effective in 2006, SFAS 123R mandates public companies to use the fair value on the grant day when measuring stock options granted to employees in exchange for their services. Additionally, public companies are required to report the costs over the requisite service period. This case follows the history of accounting treatments of stock options and the related controversial issues. The primary objective of this case is to provide students an opportunity to understand the development of stock options, different accounting considerations of stock options, and the implications of various accounting treatments on financial statements and stock price performance. This case attempts to encourage students to think critically outside of the box, and to research beyond text to gather more information from available sources for decision making. This instructional case can be used in accounting research, financial statement analysis courses on upper undergraduate or graduate levels.

Nasser Houshangi

Named Collaborators:

College(s) Represented: CES

Title: Mobile Robot Localization and Mapping

Abstract: Robot learning is going to be the key ingredient for the future of autonomous robots. Recent trends in robot learning are to use Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) techniques and reinforcement learning to scale complex robotic systems. Probabilistic reinforcement learning methods and function approximation in addition to increased computational power and multiprocessing have contributed to steadily increase interest in robot learning. Vehicle position determination was identified as key for autonomous navigation utilizing information from multiple sensors. In robotics, SLAM means to estimate the position and orientation of mobile robot and to construct the model of environment, essential and critical for autonomous navigation which is used in large number of applications. The SLAM technique can improve the performance of localization using map information that is made by map building. However, to apply the SLAM algorithm to actual mobile robots is challenging due to operating time needed. Improving the practical capability of SLAM require effective sensor fusion to cope with large uncertainties from sensors and environment. In this research, an algorithm is proposed to find the position of autonomous robot in absolute coordinates using vision, wheel encoders, a gyro and LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors. Fusing vision and LIDAR sensors possesses advantage of both economical efficiency and complementary cooperation. The sensory information will be integrated using Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF). As shown in the literature, the UKF is more effective combining information for position estimation than Extended Kalman Filter for nonlinear systems. In addition, a virtual environment-based interface for the control and supervision of autonomous and semi-autonomous mobile robots is developed to visualize mobile robot location within the map. The development will build virtual reality-based teleoperation interfaces for autonomous systems. The proposed method has advantages over previous works which only either use vision features or LIDAR information, especially in large environment. Vision sensors are cheap and relatively have good cost performance. However they suffer from insufficient Camera resolution, lighting changes, surfaces with lack of texture and blurred images due to fast movements. In particular when a robot executes data association using vision, it is possible to make false data associations. LIDAR sensors are appropriate to compensate for the weakness of vision because they have abundant information which can achieve reliable data association.

Christine Hunter

Named Collaborators:

College(s) Represented: CHESS

Title: Representations of Women and War in Drama and Theatre

Abstract: Representations of Women and War in Drama and TheatreMy thesis: the dramatic art of performance depicting violence against women in war onstage can motivate an audience to consider activism through the visibility, audibility and personal dramatization of what violence against women in war has meant to women globally and locally. I have chosen to focus on rape, domestic violence, and combat situations as the most appropriate, most critical topics to explore in my three chapters simply due to the fact that they are the ideal trifecta of subtopics that comprise the complex overall topic of violence against women in war. By breaking down the overall topic of violence against women in war into what I consider to be the three most crucial subtopics, I am better able to present and construct a more organized vision of what violence against women in war actually signifies and represents, onstage and offstage. Realistic dramatic performance depicting the violence perpetrated on women in war onstage has the potential to spur on dramatic performance in real-world situations, reflecting and refracting the atrocities thrust upon women, children, and men in war. The recursive actions of the performance of violence against women in real life, is written about by women playwrights and brought to gut-wrenching life when performed on the stage, whereby the possibility exists for the creation of a visual and visceral call to action to end the violence. Therefore, the dramatic performances themselves can potentially become a catalyst for change, uniting and empowering women to perform and engage in the activism that is necessary for the transformation of not only gender roles but the long-term effects that such violence on families, cultures and societies as well.

Grethe Hystad

Named Collaborators: Ahmed Eleish, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Robert M Hazen, Carnegie Institution for Science; Shaunna M. Morrison, Carnegie Institution for Science; Robert T Downs, University of Arizona

College(s) Represented: CES

Title: Estimating Earth's undiscovered, mineralogical diversity using a Bayesian approach

Abstract: A Bayesian approach is introduced to estimate the total number of mineral species in Earth’s crust. Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations are used to generate samples from a posterior distribution of the model parameters such that estimates and inference are directly obtained. A variety of zero-truncated abundance distributions are fitted and compared and species accumulation curves are constructed and employed to estimate the population size as a function of sampling size. In addition, the population size estimates obtained by Bayesian methods are compared to the empirical Bayes estimates.

Adrian James

Named Collaborators:

College(s) Represented: COB

Title: Increasing Global Perspective in the Classroom

Abstract: This study investigated increases in global perspective after students completed an in-class activity designed for cultural awareness. Students were enrolled in BUSM200, a one credit-hour, second-year seminar in business at PNW. This study utilized the Global Perspectives Inventory (GPI) which was designed to measure a student's journey to becoming global citizens in a complex world. The GPI measures a holistic view of a person's understanding of global society (cognitive domain), an awareness of their identity in relation to other cultures (intrapersonal domain), and the degree of their interaction with other cultures (interpersonal domain). Students who completed the in-class activity scored significantly higher in the cognitive and interpersonal domains of the GPI. This result is significant as it provides evidence that even brief activities can increase a student's global perspective. Increasing global perspective means increasing willingness to move from independence to interdependence. The ability to understand structures and organizations as interrelated systems can allow for better team relations.

Ge Jin

Named Collaborators:

College(s) Represented: COT

Title: Development of Additive Manufacturing Education Modules for Biomedical Technology

Abstract: Although the additive manufacturing technology is not currently suitable for mass manufacturing, it has significant advantage in making custom parts in short production run. The additive manufacturing becomes an ideal technology for biomedical industry to personalize and customize medical products and equipment. Nevertheless, there is no clearly defined education modules for biomedical additive manufacturing curriculum. The objective of this project is to develop educational modules to train our future workforce with the skills required for the biomedical additive manufacturing boom. The additive manufacturing education modules consists of medical image analysis, 3D reconstruction from radiological data, 3D printing technology, and interactive Virtual Reality components. We developed interactive Virtual Reality modules to pre-visualize the 3D printed anatomical structures and assistive medical devices in simulated virtual environment.

Hansung Kim

Named Collaborators:

College(s) Represented: CES

Title: Effects of Mechanical Damage and Temperature on the Electrical Performance of CIGS Thin Film Solar Cells

Abstract: Copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar cells are one of the most widely used thin film solar cells. Since those thin film solar cells are rollable and bendable, they can be easily transported in a backpack through rolling and bending. This frequent bending and stretching can result in significant internal stress, making the thin-films subject to mechanical damage. Therefore, reliability evaluation of solar cells due to mechanical damage by external loading is essential for developing a new type of flexible solar cell. Moreover, evaluation of temperature effect on solar cells is critical to accurately predicting the solar cell performance. We investigated the effect of mechanical damage and temperature on CIGS thin film solar cells through experiments and modeling. After generating mechanical damage on CIGS solar cell with 20% increments, electrical performance was measured (Current-Voltage curve) while temperature was varying from 10 to 70 degrees Celsius at 20 degree increments. Other measured values are open circuit voltage (Voc), short circuit current (Isc), Efficiency (?). Those electrical values (Voc, Isc, ?) are found as a function of temperature and percent damage. Moreover, the parameters of single diode solar cell model were obtained as a function of temperature and percentage damage: light generation current (IL), saturation current (I0), shunt resistance (Rsh), series resistance (Rs). Our research contributes to the deeper understanding of the concurrent effect of temperature and mechanical damage to solar cells.

Kenneth Kincaid

Named Collaborators:

College(s) Represented: CHESS

Title: The No Sale Hotel that Cost Six Indigenous Lives in Northern Ecuador

Abstract: This essay explores the history of the Hotel Chicapan, an international tourist complex designed to accommodate hundreds of delegates visiting Ecuador for the XI Inter-American Conference. The hotel was the brainchild of Senator Alejandro Jaramillo and several other highland elites based in Otavalo and Quito who wanted to construct the tourism complex on the banks of the magnificent Lake San Pablo. The naming of Quito as the host city of the XI Inter-American Conference at the 1954 Conference in Bogotá was viewed as a godsend to the Hotel Chicapan supporters who recognized that national and international assistance would be available towards the construction of the hotel. The challenge would be acquiring the land. Despite being offered a tract of land on the northeast shore of the land, Jaramillo chose to build the hotel complex on the northwest side of the lake in an area heavily populated with indigenous communities. Jaramillo spent years attempting to convince the Indigenous communities to sell their land adjacent to the lake, but to no avail. In early 1959 as Otavalo's hotel commission was meeting at the lake hundreds of Indigenes from the part of the lake that would have been most affected by the transfer confronted them. Tensions escalated leading to violence that resulted in the killing of six of the Indigenous protesters and the incarceration of dozens more. The national press took Jaramillo as the person responsible for the deaths of the unarmed Indigenes and as being representative of a colonial mindset that still plagued Ecuador. The hotel that Jaramillo envisioned on the shoreline belonging to the Pucará Bajo de Velásquez never materialized....nor did the conference for which the hotel was to be built.

Assen Kokalov

Named Collaborators:

College(s) Represented: CHESS

Title: Urban Space and Queer Appropriation in Naty Menstrual’s Short Stories

Abstract: I will be presenting this paper in Spanish at the 42nd Congress of the International Institute of Ibero-American Literature in Bogota, Colombia (June 2018). It focuses on Argentine writer and performer Naty Menstrual and her short-story collection, Batido de trolo (2012). My work explores the ways in which Menstrual’s stories portray several types of queer urban space such as bathhouses, movie theaters, and public parks. These have an important function for queers as places where they can gather and practice an array of non-heteronormative sexual activities including anonymous sex, group sex, or other types of sexual practices not dependent on patriarchal social structures traditionally seen as prerequisites to sexual intimacy (e.g. dating, courtship, engagement, marriage, etc.). From a theoretical perspective, my project is based on concepts such as queer space and urban space appropriation, originally developed by Henri Lefebvre, Diane Chisholm, and Allan Bérubé, among others. My work uses them to study the complexity of urban space and to demonstrate that the space in question is not a passive background for people’s actions, but rather an organic social entity. I argue that in the particular case of Menstrual’s narrative, this entity occupies a protagonistic space that determines the exploits and destinies of many of its main characters. I also explore the ways in which the processes of urban appropriation allow, on one hand, for the production of new expressions of physical and psychological pleasure, and, on the other, for the challenging of dominant abstractions created by traditional urban planning. Finally, I contend that the appropriation and queering of urban space in Menstrual’s short stories serves to reproduce important aspects of queer subjectivity through the use of diverse collective practices.

Robert Kramer

Named Collaborators:

College(s) Represented: CES

Title: Optimizing Highway Lighting

Abstract: Over the past few years light emitting diode technology has evolved to a degree that it is now applicable for high lumen highway lighting. Highway lighting is challenging due to the high light levels that are employed and associated increases in power and heat removal requirements. The Energy Efficiency and Reliability Center is currently providing laboratory and field testing services for the Indiana Department of Transportation as part of a program to change current highway lighting in Indiana to LED technology. As part of this effort various designs and options are considered both theoretically and experimentally to optimize this applications. Various aspects of the developmental process and its results will be considered.

Robert Kramer

Named Collaborators:

College(s) Represented: CES

Title: Nuclear Science Program

Abstract: The Nuclear Science concentration in Physics has been established at PNW in the Chemistry and Physics Department. This concentration considers various aspects of Nuclear Science including Nuclear Power. This concentration has been correlated with requirements from the Nuclear Engineering Department in W. Lafayette and is designed as a pipeline program for entry into the W. Lafayette graduate program in Nuclear Engineering. A total of 3 new courses in Nuclear and Reactor Physics were developed at PNW for this concentration. This poster will describe current activities and future plans for the concentration.

Chen Kuan-Chou

Named Collaborators: Weihua Ruan, Department: Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Sciences

College(s) Represented: COB CES

Title: A Study of Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman Equation Systems Arising in Di

Abstract: This project is an interdisciplinary study of modeling and analyzing political processes related to changing societies and involving dynamic state variables. The goal of the project is to explore the use of stochastic differential game models in the political studies, in conjunction with incorporating dynamics of state variables. Society changing processes will be modelled and analyzed using dynamic and differential game models, with an emphasis on the latter. Especially this study is concerned with a system of Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations coupled with an autonomous dynamical system. The mathematical system arises in the differential game formulation of political economy models as an infinite-horizon continuous-time differential game with discounted instantaneous payoff rates and continuously and discretely varying state variables. The existence of a weak solution of the PDE system is proven and a computational scheme of approximate solution is developed for a class of such systems. A model of democratization is mathematically analyzed as an illustration of application.

Seung Won Lee

Named Collaborators: Brandon Byunghwan Lee, Indiana University Northwest; Sung-Jin Park, Indiana University South Bend

College(s) Represented: COB

Title: Corporate Innovation and Audit Fees

Abstract: We investigate the effects of firms’ R&D intensity and innovation on audit fees. We find that high R&D intensity is related to greater audit fees suggesting that higher R&D intensity of a firm requires more auditor’s effort and use of auditor’s resources. In contrast, we find that a firm’s innovation measured by the number of patents or citations scaled by R&D capital is negatively associated with audit fees, which indicates that a firms’ innovation efforts are perceived by auditors to reduce risks associated with R&D spending and audit, thus reducing audit fees. We also find that a firm’s good internal control system is related to fewer audit fees for R&D intensity and more audit fees on innovation, while high information certainty proxied by firm size is associated with fewer audit fees for both high R&D intensity and innovation efforts.

Jiliang Li

Named Collaborators:

College(s) Represented: CES

Title: Integrated Instruction Improvement with Innovative Mnemonics, Intuition, Insight and Inspiration for Interdisciplinary Impact (I4MI5) --- A Case Study and Application to Soil Mechanics and Engineering

Abstract: This interdisciplinary poster proposal focuses on soil mechanicsphysics engineering education with mnemonics, intuition, insight and inspirational study. One of the early giants of soil mechanics pioneers, Ralph Peck, Prof. Karl Terzaghi’s assistant once said that “Soil has a merit of memory and it never lies, … ”. Nene and Lsssandge (2009) [10] summarized mnemonics as “the art of assisting the memory, by using a system of artificial aids - rhymes, rules, phrases, diagrams, acronyms and other devices—all to help in the recall of fundamentals of soil mechanics concepts, names, principles, facts and figures, etc.” We all have used this technique knowingly or unknowingly in our life and educational learning. Many engineering subjects, for example, soil mechanics, contain abstract concepts, principles and ideas. In the beginning, soil mechanics may appear hard for students to visualize, comprehend and remember at first. As a professor instructing soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering, we are obligated to help and motivate students to learn as much as possible besides developing their enthusiasm for the soil mechanics subject. To achieve these objectives, educators and many authors of classical textbooks on geotechnical engineering have used effective methods of teaching which strengthens these concepts and help students to retain, retrieve and apply the concepts mastered in soil mechanics class. The poster summaries and presents some of the effective mnemonics techniques learned or created over the years which should be helpful for teaching and learning soil mechanics and engineering. Students are also encouraged to cultivate their own mnemonics, intuition, insight and become inspired by their independent study or reading inspiring pioneers of soil mechanics creators and developers.