Stander Symposium Projects

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  MIS, OM and Decision Sciences, Political Science

  Nina Varney

  A LiDAR point cloud is 3D data which contains millions of data points represented in the form I (x, y, z) that stores the spatial coordinates and possibly RGB color information. This method of data collection is especially useful in collecting large scale scene information. The goal of this project is to develop a self-adaptive and automated methodology to extract features which effectively represent object regions, specifically man-made objects and vegetation regions. The point cloud will be initially segmented using a strip histogram grid approach. Once significant features are extracted, region refinement by surface growing will be performed. Finally after the regions of interest have been segmented a cascade classifier approach will be used for object classification.

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  Must Feedback Have a Dollar Value to Reduce Overconfidence?

  Kristen A. Kemp, Jamie Flannery

  When determining our ability to be accurate in accomplishing specific tasks, we tend to show overconfidence, which is defined as the inconsistency between how well we think we performed and our actual performance (e.g., Fischoff, Slovic, & Lichtenstein, 1977). On a daily basis, we are required to estimate our ability to accomplish certain tasks accurately. These estimations are greatly influenced by individual differences, such as narcissism--the enhancement of oneself in a positive way--, and risky behavior, defined here as the willingness to place high bets on uncertain answers (Campbell, Goodie, & Foster, 2004). Previous research suggests that those who are narcissistic are generally overconfident, greater risk-takers and more likely to bet on their answers even when their accuracy is low (Campbell et al., 2004). Undergraduate participants were asked to complete a series of general knowledge questions (GKQs) and personality questionnaires, including the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), Need for Achievement Scale, Indicators of Problematic Gambling, and the Risk Adverseness Scale. Participants were assigned to a confidence (n=81) or a betting condition (n=107). Both groups expressed their confidence in their answer: those in the confidence condition with a percent confidence, and those in the betting condition with virtual money. Half of the participants in the confidence condition received feedback about the accuracy of their answer; participants in the betting condition received feedback in the form of an increase or decrease in virtual money. Preliminary analyses reveal that participants in the betting condition were significantly less confident when they had received feedback on their performance. In contrast, in the confidence condition, participants were significantly less confident when no feedback was given. Overall, participants in the confidence condition were more under confident than those in the betting condition, regardless of whether or not they had received feedback.

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  Nonlinear Image Enhancement and Super Resolution for Enhanced Object Tracking

  Evan W. Krieger, Saibabu Arigela

  Tracking objects, such as vehicles and humans, in wide area motion imagery (WAMI) is a challenging problem because of the limited pixel area and the low contrast/visibility of the target objects. We propose an approach to make automatic tracking algorithms more effective by incorporating image enhancement and super resolution as preprocessing algorithms. The enhancement process includes the stages of dynamic range compression and contrast enhancement. Dynamic range compression is performed by a neighborhood based nonlinear intensity transformation process, which utilizes a locally tuned inverse sine nonlinear function to generate various nonlinear curves based on pixel’s neighborhood information. These nonlinear curves are used to select the new intensity value for each pixel. A contrast enhancement technique is used to maintain or improve the contrast of the original image. Local contrast enhancement using surrounding pixel information aids in extracting higher number of features a detector can find in the image, and therefore, improves the automatic object detection capabilities. Secondly, the super resolution technique is performed on an area surrounding the object of interest to increase the size of the object in terms of pixels. The single image super resolution process is performed in the Fourier phase space which preserves the local structure of each pixel in order to estimate the interpolated pixels in the high resolution image. As a result, super resolution increases the sharpness of edges and allows for addition tracking features to be extracted. The combination of these two techniques provides the necessary preprocessing enhancement to increase the effectiveness of tracking algorithms. A quantitative evaluation is performed to compare the results of the tracking with and without the proposed techniques. The analysis is based on results of an automatic detection and tracking technique, Gaussian Ringlet Intensity Distribution (GRID), evaluated using wide area motion imagery data.

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  Numerical Study on the Characteristics of Metal-Insulator-Metal Diode Integrated with Spiral Optical Antenna

  Zhijun Yang

  Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) diode structures attract increasing interests in many technical areas including the solar cell technologies because of their capabilities to directly convert optical energy into electric current. During the process of energy transfer, surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) play an important role due to their intriguing properties such as high local field enhancement and short effective wavelength. As an important figure of merit, the field enhancement arising from the SPPs excitation is limited by the relatively large mode volume in the traditional MIM structure. A potential way to improve the field enhancement factor is to introduce an optical antenna in the design of MIM diode structure to efficiently couple the energy of free-space radiation into a confined region of subwavelength size with highly enhanced field. In this project, I present the numerical studies on the characteristics of a novel device design that integrates MIM structure with a spiral slot optical antenna. As a spin sensitive structure, the response of the spiral slot antenna strongly depends on the optical spin state of the illumination. Three-dimensional finite element method model has been built to numerically simulate the performance of the proposed structure. Modeling results show that this hybrid structure has the ability to achieve both extremely high field enhancement and circular polarization extinction ratio simultaneously. A field enhancement of 150 and circular polarization extinction ratio of 200 can be obtained with this design. Such a device may find useful applications in polarimetric imaging and remote sensing.

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  Operational Performance and Safety Comparison: Roundabouts vs. Traditional Signalized and Unsignalized Intersections

  Vincent Spahr

  As roundabouts become increasingly popular in Ohio, this study assesses their performance as a safe and functional alternative to traditional intersections. Focusing on three roundabout locations in Dublin, Ohio, the study compares accident reports with traditional intersections in the area as well as with the traditional intersections that existed before the roundabouts were installed.

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  Party Building: Factors to Encourage Third Party Support Among 18-24 Year Olds

  Amy Timmerman

  Third parties have always existed within American politics, yet have never claimed the ultimate political victory: the Presidency. Third parties often enjoy support from single issue voters, a strong, concentrated group of serious devotees, but they often fail to attract more consistent backing similar to that enjoyed by the two major parties. A major source of third party patronage is also found on the university campus, yet this support often fades shortly after college. Using survey data, this thesis analyzes the potential impact party building and media campaign strategies would have on third parties in gaining the lasting support of 18-24 year old voters. By combining this survey data with a literature review of studies done on past third party presidential hopefuls, this project also reveals the problems inherent in the Electoral College that a third party must overcome. This foundation could provide a path for third parties to begin building a coalition that would allow them to take the national stage with the same presence and power that the major two parties currently possess.

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  Phase-Shifting Holography Using Bragg and Non-Bragg Orders in Photorefractive LiNbO3

  Ujitha Abeywickrema

  The refractive index (RI) of a material can be changed due to several effects such as the optical Kerr effect and the photorefractive (PR) effect. The use of PR materials for implementing real time phase shifting holographic interferometry is discussed in this work. Holographic interferometry (HI) is an effective and rich method for measuring very small (order of a wavelength) displacements and it is widely used for non-destructive testing. Bragg and non-Bragg orders can be generated during two-beam coupling in a PR material due to the induced RI in the material and can be used to retrieve the phase information of the object, as well as the deformation of the object. In previous work, we have shown how object deformation can be determined from monitoring a Bragg order. Furthermore, we have reported on preliminary experiments for determining the depth profile of an object and provided approximate analytic solutions for the Bragg and non-Bragg orders for the case of interacting plane waves. In this work we numerically calculate the exact solutions for the intensities of the Bragg and non-Bragg (higher orders) orders for the case of two incident plane waves, as well as for the case when one of the incident fields is a profiled or image bearing beam. We show how the information from the diffracted order intensities can be used to determine the amplitude and phase of the 3D object. Similarities with phase shifting holography will be discussed. Numerical results are compared with experimental results performed using lithium niobate as the photorefractive recording material. Key words: Photorefractive materials, Photorefractive effect, Bragg and non-Bragg orders

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  Photoreactions of a Water Soluble Poly-Isoquinolpyrrole with Plasmid DNA

  Gregory H. Versteeg

  Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a treatment method for a variety of ailments, including different cancers. It involves light activation of a molecule (photosensitizer) which then reacts with molecular oxygen to destroy tumor cells. Porphyrins are commonly used as photosensitizers due to their light absorption properties and their ability to concentrate in tumor cells but not healthy cells. Unfortunately, porphyrins suffer from poor excitation when irradiated with visible light in the photodynamic therapy window (600-800nm). The photodynamic window is optimal due to the depth of penetration the light reaches and the lack of absorption from naturally occurring compounds in the body. This project involves the synthesis and characterization of a new type of photosensitizer with the goal of creating new molecules that are activated by low energy light.

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  Power in Numbers?: The Impact of Female Formed Police Units of Women's Empowerment

  Laura Huber

  Advocates hailed the UN's deployment of female formed police units (FFPUs), or all-female units, in peacekeeping missions as a groundbreaking achievement for women's empowerment. Three FFPUs have been deployed to Liberia, Timor-Leste, and Haiti. Many supporters of FFPUs claim that female police are better peacekeepers, less prone to violence, better able to interact with local women, more concerned about sexual violence, and act as role models, challenge gender stereotypes, and encourage local women to participate in the security sector. However, little systematic research has been conducted to evaluate these claimed practical impacts of the units. This thesis evaluates the effects of these units on women in local communities based on empirical and anecdotal evidence and using the current unit deployed in Liberia as a case study to determine the nature and sustainability of any impacts on women’s empowerment.Advocates hailed the UN's deployment of female formed police units (FFPUs), or all-female units, in peacekeeping missions as a groundbreaking achievement for women's empowerment. Three FFPUs have been deployed to Liberia, Timor-Leste, and Haiti. Many supporters of FFPUs claim that female police are better peacekeepers, less prone to violence, better able to interact with local women, more concerned about sexual violence, and act as role models, challenge gender stereotypes, and encourage local women to participate in the security sector. However, little systematic research has been conducted to evaluate these claimed practical impacts of the units. This thesis evaluates the effects of these units on women in local communities based on empirical and anecdotal evidence and using the current unit deployed in Liberia as a case study to determine the nature and sustainability of any impacts on women’s empowerment.

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  Preparatory and Performance Self-Efficacy in Athletes

  Emily McCarty

  Self-efficacy establishes a relationship between people and their goal-directed behavior. The relationship helps determine whether people will initiate the behavior and how long they will persist in performing the behavior. Specific types of self-efficacy are preparatory self-efficacy in relation to a certain task, (i.e., that is, self-perception of anticipated ability in successfully completing a task) and performance self-efficacy regarding that task. Specifically, the present study examined these two types of self-efficacy in response to the performance on spatial tasks that assessed the ability to take different perspectives and picture the movement of objects in space. Participants were given preparatory, performance, and general self-efficacy questionnaires and two spatial tasks to test the research questions about self-efficacy. They were broken into two groups, a group who believed that they were in competition with other participants and a group who did not believe they were in competition. Results are hypothesized to show a difference in preparatory and performance self-efficacy between participants who believe they are in competition and those who do not. Specifically, for those participants who believe that they are in competition, there will be a difference between preparatory and performance self-efficacy after, but not before the spatial tasks. On the other hand, for those who do not believe that they are in competition, there will be no difference in preparatory and performance self-efficacy before and after the spatial task. Results are also hypothesized to show a gender difference, where male participants will report greater self-efficacy than female participants (as evidenced by the general, preparatory, and performance self-efficacy questionnaires).

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  Preparing Pre-Service Teachers to Work with English Language Learners

  Alexandra N. Hill

  English Language Learners (ELLs) can be misidentified as students with special needs. Teachers often watch these students struggle in school and assume they have a cognitive delay, when in reality; they may just be struggling with their language delay. To be identified as needing special education services, these students undergo assessments to test their abilities. These assessments were created for students who speak English. Studies have shown that “Familiarity with Standard English accounts for more than 50% of the total test variance on IQ and achievement test measures for fourth graders and 60% to 90% of the variance for seventh graders” (Abedi, 2002). Therefore, ELLs are put at a further disadvantage during the testing period. If placed in a special education program, the student rarely receives the language instruction needed. The current structure creates an environment where ELLs can easily be misplaced into special education programs where they will continue to fall further behind in their education. To prevent this problem, pre-service teachers need to gain experience with ELLs so that they can give them the instruction and support they need. Not all pre-service teachers have access to classrooms with ELLs. In order to try to replicate this experience, instructors turn to video case studies that show pre-service teachers authentic footage, assessments, and class work of an ELL. The goal of this research is to determine the effects of video case studies on pre-service teachers, and what questions were generated as a result of the in class clinical experience.

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  Purification and Biochemical Characterization of a Xylanolytic Glycoside Hydrolase from Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus

  Caroline Wise

  In response to the current global energy crisis, biofuels have become a viable renewable energy solution and require a carbohydrate source to begin their production. One such carbohydrate source option is biomass, which is comprised of complex sugars that can be broken down into simple sugars and then fermented for the production of bioethanol. The bacterium called Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus contains many glycoside hydrolase enzymes that have the potential for metabolizing the complex sugars in several carbohydrate sources, including those in biomass. This project is focused on the cloning of the Csac_2410 gene from C. saccharolyticus, expression of the gene as a protein, purification of the protein, and biochemical characterization of the protein. The biochemical characterization determines the substrate specificity, pH optima and temperature optima of Csac_2410, and the results are used to determine the effectiveness of Csac_2410 in metabolizing complex sugars for the upstream processing of biofuels.

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  Quasi-Plagiarism vs. Human Universality in the Dystopian Genre

  Taylor Kingston

  Dystopian literature characteristically addresses the plight of the “everyman” as he copes with the oppression imposed by a totalitarian regime. Touchstone writers of the genre known for novels including Nineteen Eighty-Four, Brave New World and Anthem have, however, been scrutinized for creating uncannily similar plots. While scholars have linked the writers’ ideas back to a Russian predecessor, the novel We, this research explores how a charge of quasi-plagiarism is a shallow explanation. The great question being explored in any dystopian novel is whether government can save mankind from itself by eradicating individual will. The commonalities among that individual will dictate the appearance of a world without it. It is because of human universals such as love, family and a desire for knowledge that these dystopian novels focus on the prevention of love through the regulation of sex, communal rearing of children, and thought-level censorship of ideas.

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  Refined Skills of Physicians in Independently Owned Hospitals in India Reduce Healthcare Costs for Patients

  Anam Hussain

  In America, we are currently striving to provide adequate healthcare to all, regardless of income level. We had the opportunity to travel to India to observe how patients of different income levels are treated in the different facilities available. For two months we shadowed physician, Dr. Mahmood Osmani, who owns a hospital with in-patient facility in Hyderabad, India, serving middle and lower income families. There we observed how treatments are provided for patients who pay minimum fees: by relying on more direct knowledge of the physician and less use of technology. The physician would palpate the abdomen at a particular location and immediately correctly diagnose acute appendicitis, or diagnose a heart condition by auscultating the heart and doing simple investigations such as an EKG and chest X-rays. His education and skills had so finely developed that scans and technological protocols did not need to be utilized to help diagnose and treat the patients. Though these technological advances are indeed available in the large corporate hospitals, these are mostly used for those who can afford the cost of these services, as all medical costs in India are out of pocket pay. Nevertheless, because of the particular training of doctors, many families who cannot afford high cost modalities are receiving effective treatments because of the skills of the physician in privately owned hospitals. In this project, we will highlight several cases we observed while shadowing Dr. Osmani, and show how physical touch and expertise helped treat the many patients with various illnesses.

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  Rejection Sensitivity as a mediator of the Effects of Parental Support on Friendship Alienation

  Allison Cremering

  Previous research has shown an association between parental relationship and friendship quality, so that with higher quality relationships with parents, there is an increased probability of higher friendship quality. However, the process by which these variables are related remains unclear. The present study tested rejection sensitivity, or the tendency to readily perceive and expect social humiliation or rejection, as a possible mediator of the relationship between parental relationship quality and friend alienation. The current study hypothesized that parental relationship quality would be inversely associated with friendship alienation; and that the association between parental relationship quality and friendship alienation would be mediated by rejection sensitivity. The current study analyzed data collected from college students. Results from multiple regression revealed that parental relationship quality was significantly negatively associated with rejection sensitivity (b = -1.808, p < 0.0001) and negatively associated with friendship alienation (b = -0.193, p < 0.0004). Additionally, rejection sensitivity was significantly associated with friendship alienation (b = 0.087, p < 0.0001). Lastly, rejection sensitivity mediated the association between parental relationship quality (communication) and friendship alienation (b = -0.158, p < 0.0001), such that the significant inverse relationship between parental relationship quality and friendship alienation was accounted for by rejection sensitivity. These results further the understanding of the relationship between parent-child relationship quality and friendship quality and suggest that young adults with poor quality parental relationships may be at risk of developing high levels of rejection sensitivity, leading them to be at an increased risk for experiencing alienation in their relationships with friends.

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  Related Self-Motives? Examining the Association between Self-Verification and Self-Handicapping

  Katharine Ellis

  This research examines the association between self-verification and self-handicapping. Self-verification theory states that people tend to seek information verifying how individuals see themselves. Individuals seek verifying feedback about traits or attributes when they are certain about that attribute, regardless of whether the attribute is positive or negative. However, when individuals are uncertain about a particular trait, they tend to engage in a self-presentational strategy called self-handicapping. Self-handicapping is a self-protecting behavior that mitigates the effect of a potential failure that would otherwise be perceived as threatening to one’s sense of self by providing pre-emptive excuses for poor performances. Using data obtained from a series of questionnaires, this research addresses the question: Given that self-verification occurs when individuals are certain about their self-concept and self-handicapping occurs when they are uncertain, do self-handicappers avoid self-verification?

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  Reseach exercise: The "Genocide" of Timor-Leste: A Study of Human Suffering and International Ignorance

  Molly Ledwith

  The Indonesian occupation of Timor-Leste in 1975 resulted in the deaths of an estimated 200,000 Timorese, which accounted for more than a quarter of the territory’s total population. Unfortunately, this terrible injustice went almost completely unrecognized by the international community. Even more disturbing, there is evidence to suggest that the United States was not only aware of these injustices, but perhaps encouraged the Indonesians’ violent invasion. A mass killing of this magnitude is normally dubbed ”genocide.” However, the situation that occurred in Timor-Leste has never been labeled as an actual “genocide,” most likely due to the involvement of the United States and other Western countries trying to avoid blame. In this presentation, I will explore the “genocide” of Timor-Leste and the level of involvement of other nations, specifically the United States, in this tragedy.

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  Research exercise: Analyzing Circuit Court Rulings in Shield Law Cases

  Andy Kurzhals, Concetta Reda

  Journalists in most states are permitted under state law to protect the identities of their confidential sources. Those seeking the identities include defendants in criminal cases, prosecutors, and plaintiffs and respondents in various civil actions. Journalists usually decline to reveal their confidential sources so as not to become “an arm of the law” or an advocate for any cause or party. They also often want to shield people who genuinely have something serious to fear if their identities became known. Even so, some courts in some cases have defied shield laws and ordered journalists to reveal their sources under penalty of jail and fines. These papers analyze how various courts have interpreted state shield laws and determined who is a journalist with statutory protection. One major challenge is that anyone now can “publish” via the Internet. These papers compare rulings in different jurisdictions, and make recommendations.

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  Research exercise: Analyzing Shield Law Cases in the Midwest

  Megan Nelson, Thomas Stankard

  Most states have enacted shield laws that allow journalists to protect the identities of confidential sources. The federal government has considered a federal shield law several times over the years but has yet to enact such legislation. These papers analyze how state courts determine who is and who is not a journalist under states’ shield laws. Also considered is whether the press can legally refuse to identify anonymous commentators on news organizations’ websites.

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  Research exercise: Analyzing the Actual Malice Standard in New York and Virginia Defamation Cases

  Abraham Keller, Nathan Vicar

  Public figures suing the press for defamation must show that the journalist acted with knowledge that the material was false or recklessly disregarded evidence of the truth. This is what is known as actual malice. These papers analyze the actual malice standard as applied in defamation cases against the press in New York and Virginia state courts. Also considered are the circumstances under which actual malice would be required in a defamation case brought against a blogger.

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  Research exercise: Betting Against Beta: A Low Volatility Investment Strategy for Market Period 2008-2012

  Anthony Caruso

  The objective of this study is to examine the risk/return relationships of "style/size" ETFs over the period 2008-2012. The ETFs are (1) Large cap growth, (2) Large cap value, (3) Mid cap growth, (4) Mid cap value, (5) Small cap growth, (6) Small cap value. The measure of risk used in this study is beta. Typically, higher beta ETFs are expected to outperform in up markets and underperform in down markets. Conversely, lower beta ETFs would perform best in a down market and underperform in an up market. The overall period of analysis is 2008-2012. The following three sub periods will also be analyzed: (1) Downswing Period (12-31-07)-(3-31-09), (2) Rebound period (3-31-09)-(12/31/09), (3) Upswing-Trading Range (12-31-09)-(12-31-12). Using monthly data, betas will be calculated for the overall period as well as the three sub periods. In order to carry out the Betting Against Beta strategies, the inverse of the betas will be used as the portfolio weighting mechanism for the 6 ETFs.

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  Research exercise: Biopsy Report Turnaround Time Analysis

  William Blount, Michael Bodde, Linda Moodie, Chris Patzelt

  The purpose of this proposal is to present the University of Dayton project management group’s plan of optimization methods. The optimization methods are to improve efficiency of the lab reporting techniques and retrieval at the University of Cincinnati's Dermatology Lab. Currently, the time from the date the biopsy is completed to the date the report is posted and available to the client and physician is too long. While the average time the results are reported is around six days, it is not uncommon for the results not to be posted for over a week or more. The program management group was contacted in order to improve efficiency so that UC Health may continue to carry out its mission to serve the Cincinnati community. In addition, the methods will provide an understanding of the issue and the best methods to correct the turnaround time. The objective of this proposal is to describe process in which the team will optimize the University of Cincinnati Health lab turnaround time. The optimization will be done in several steps. The first will be the analysis of the labor needed and the analysis of the operation and technology. A hard copy of all the analysis is to be reported for further action. Once that is established, execution of an alternative itself will begin. The general plan is for all variables and possibilities to be considered with a full and complete understanding, followed by execution of a corrective plan.

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  Research exercise: Characterization of WNT Signaling During Dorsal versus Ventral Iris-Derived Newt Lens Regeneration

  Georgios Tsissios, Konstantinos Sousounis

  There are many animals that have the ability to regenerate different tissues during embryonic stage, but only newts have the ability to regenerate whole organs throughout their entire life. Our primary focus is lens regeneration through transdifferentiation of pigment epithelial cells (PECs). This process has been previously shown to be highly topological, that is, trasdifferentiation always occur from the dorsal iris and never from the ventral iris. In order to understand why we have regenerative and non-regenerative tissues in dorsal and ventral iris, respectively, we examined the role and expression of several genes. My research aimed to discover the potential for ventral iris cell regeneration, through the in vivo manipulation of the Wnt pathway. The Wnt pathway regulates beta-catenin, which moves through the cytoplasm into the nucleus and binds to TCF/LEF transcription factor for transcription of target genes to occur. After staining with an antibody that detects the activated form of beta-catenin, we observed that beta-catenin is present at both ventral and dorsal nucleus at 12 days post lentectomy and not detected in the previous days. Knowing that the next step was to inhibit the Wnt pathway and observe the effects on lens regeneration. A beta-catenin/Tcf inhibitor chemical, called FH535 was injected to the newts every other day till 12 days post lentectomy. We hypothesized that there will be no lens development for either dorsal or ventral iris. Our preliminary results suggest that the chemical we used cannot inhibit lens regeneration from the dorsal iris. Future studies need to investigate further the importance of Wnt pathway during lens regeneration.

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  Research exercise: Dimensions of Support in Schools

  Virginia A. Saurine, Molly E. Stanifer, Zachary L. Valletta

  Standards for the teaching profession emphasize the importance of awareness, understanding, and integration into practice of current research in education. The goal of EDT 110 H1 class project was to present synthesis of related literature on pertinent topics to P-12 education, specifically dimensions of support in schools.

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  Research exercise: Dispense-A-Roll Project for PM Company

  Kevin Eversole, Ibrahim Abdul-Karim, Ryan Shea, Garret Ervin, Matthew Srnoyachki

  The current method of shipping receipt paper is very wasteful in regards of packaging and leads to inadequate storage. The inadequate storage of the rolls wastes time and energy when consumers have to reach in difficult, inaccessible places to refill the machine with a roll. The PM Company has contracted the University of Dayton Project Management Team to develop a roll dispenser. The Dispense-A-Roll dispenser will bring a convenient, sustainable, and cost saving method to dispense electronic transaction receipt paper rolls at the point of sale location for our client. The ease of use of the dispenser will allow for the consumer to quickly and effectively change the receipt paper roll when needed. In addition, the dispenser will enable customers to buy the receipt paper in bulk, reducing the waste associated with unnecessary packaging. The project will start upon acceptance of this project proposal and end on April 25th. Our team’s plan is to survey point of sales users to collect data for the product, develop three conceptual designs, select a final design concept from those designs, and create a prototype Dispense-A-Roll. Manufacturing the final dispenser will be outsourced. It is the clients request that each dispenser will cost about $8 with the budget for the prototype to cost approximately $25. Once made, the Dispense-A-Roll will be found in a variety of places that use PM Company’s paper for point of sales service, such as convenience stores, gas stations, retail stores, and restaurants.