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Articles 31 - 60 of 64
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Quantum-Mechanical Calculations Of Actinyl And Europium Sorption To Graphene Oxide, Edward Helvenston
Quantum-Mechanical Calculations Of Actinyl And Europium Sorption To Graphene Oxide, Edward Helvenston
All Theses
Quantum-mechanical calculations were performed to model the interactions of U(VI), Np(V), Pu(VI), and Eu(III) with carboxyl and hydroxyl functional groups of graphene oxide (GO). Models were created for sorption to a single sheet of GO. For U(VI) and Eu(III), models were also created for sorption to two sheets to evaluate the possibility of cation-induced GO aggregation via cation cross-linking of GO sheets. The quantum-mechanical calculations were used to characterize the sorption reactions in terms of energetics and vibrational peak shifts. The calculations performed used Gaussian09 with the B3LYP hybrid functional. Sorption was seen as favorable for all cations considered; the …
Self-Adapting Parallel Framework For Long-Term Object Tracking, Salim Mohammed Ali
Self-Adapting Parallel Framework For Long-Term Object Tracking, Salim Mohammed Ali
All Theses
Object tracking is a crucial field in computer vision that has many uses in human-computer interaction, security and surveillance, video communication and compression, augmented reality, traffic control, etc. Many implementations are introduced in practice, and yet recent methods emphasize on tracking objects adaptively by learning the object’s perspectives and rediscovering it when it becomes untraceable, so that object’s absence problem (in case of occlusion, cluttering or blurring) is resolved. Most of these algorithms have high computational burden on the computational units and need powerful CPUs to attain real-time tracking and high bitrate video processing. These computational units may handle no …
Understanding Molecular Interactions Between Proteins And Carbon Nanomaterials, Siva Dasetty
Understanding Molecular Interactions Between Proteins And Carbon Nanomaterials, Siva Dasetty
All Theses
Over the past few years there has been a rise in the number of nanomaterials engineered for a wide array of applications because of their unique properties. This rise in the development of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and its growing usage has also raised questions about its potential impact on the biological environment. Recent experimental studies suggest that these ENMs could be toxic due to the formation of a protein corona. Therefore, understanding the formation of a protein corona would provide some insights into the toxic behavior of ENMs. This requires understanding the interactions between proteins and ENMs. We employ molecular …
Primary Flexion Axis Selection In Total Knee Replacements Using Computational Analysis, Nicholas Marais
Primary Flexion Axis Selection In Total Knee Replacements Using Computational Analysis, Nicholas Marais
All Theses
Total knee replacements (TKR) are one of the most frequently implanted medical devices, with over 600,000 procedures performed in the United States in 2012. In order to ensure TKR longevity, wear tests are frequently conducted on these implants prior to patient implantation. Variations in implant geometry, material, and surface treatments are all tested, however, TKR alignment may also play a role in the long-term success of the knee implant. When testing knee designs with complex tibial and femoral geometries it is essential that the implant be aligned as the implant manufacturers intended so as to best represent the function of …
Exploring The Potential Impact Of Meditation Intervention On Stroke Trends In The United States., Raj Ambavane
Exploring The Potential Impact Of Meditation Intervention On Stroke Trends In The United States., Raj Ambavane
All Theses
Meditation has shown promise in clinical trials in reducing systolic blood pressure, one of the main causes of stroke. We explore the potential impact of expanding meditation intervention on stroke trends in the US. We developed a dynamic population simulation in which the progression of each individual is governed by a micro-simulation model. We calibrated the micro-simulation model for stroke incidence and further validated it by comparing the stroke-related mortality for each age group generated by the model with that observed in the US. We used the population simulation model to estimate the effects of mindfulness meditation intervention on stroke …
Microcosm Evaluation Of Enhanced Bioremediation For An Industrial Site Contaminated With Chlorinated Ethenes, Chlorinated Benzenes, And Benzene, Christopher Moss
Microcosm Evaluation Of Enhanced Bioremediation For An Industrial Site Contaminated With Chlorinated Ethenes, Chlorinated Benzenes, And Benzene, Christopher Moss
All Theses
Groundwater contaminants at an industrial site in South Carolina include tetrachloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE), cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE), vinyl chloride (VC), 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB), 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB), 1,4-dichlorobenzene (1,4-DCB), chlorobenzene (CB), and benzene. The source areas at the site include a tank farm area, a grease trap area, the former wastewater lagoons (WWTP) and the former oil retention pond (ORP). A microcosm evaluation was preformed to determine the potential for bioremediation to treat the organic contaminants in the four source areas (within the saturated zone) and in a downgradient portion of the groundwater plume. The objectives were to evaluate 1) anaerobic treatment at the …
Using Connected Vehicle Technology To Implement A Pay For Priority System At Signalized Intersections, Melissa Gende
Using Connected Vehicle Technology To Implement A Pay For Priority System At Signalized Intersections, Melissa Gende
All Theses
This research evaluated a mixed vehicle environment that included connected and non-connected vehicles in which connected vehicles (CV) were allowed to pay a small fee to request priority at a signalized intersection, similar to a transit signal priority system. Connected vehicles with signal priority were simulated with penetration levels ranging from 10% to 100% as well as with various priority directions (all directions, major street movements in both directions, and major street movements in the direction of highest flow) being allowed to request priority. These scenarios were compared to optimized signal timings to determine the effectiveness of the technology in …
Biodegradation Of Hexahydro-1,3,5-Trinitro-1,3,5-Triazine (Rdx) Using Photosynthetic Bacteria, Sarah Galloway
Biodegradation Of Hexahydro-1,3,5-Trinitro-1,3,5-Triazine (Rdx) Using Photosynthetic Bacteria, Sarah Galloway
All Theses
Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) is an emerging contaminant according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). RDX was introduced as a secondary explosive during World War II. It is still used in many explosive such as hand grenades. RDX enters the environment mostly through the manufacturing process or from the use of explosives. RDX is a suspected carcinogen and can also affect the nervous system of humans. Therefore, RDX has become a chemical of concern across many United States military bases and open and closed manufacturing plants. The goal of this research was to evaluate the biodegradation of RDX via two phototrophic bacteria: …
Feasibility Analysis Of Steam Ventilation In Supercavitation Design, Austin Culberson
Feasibility Analysis Of Steam Ventilation In Supercavitation Design, Austin Culberson
All Theses
The complete envelopment of a submerged object by a continuous cavity, or supercavity, results in significant reduction of the skin drag acting on the object, allowing for substantial increases in the maximum speeds of underwater devices. The formation of supercavities often requires supplemental ventilation, traditionally by non-condensable gasses, as natural supercavitation occurs at relative speeds between the object and liquid medium that are infeasible for the device to reach without supercavitation itself. The aim of this research is to investigate the feasibility of vaporous ventilation in supercavitation design with the hope of reducing non-condensable ventilation requirements which are inherently limited …
The Effect Of High-Pressure Devitrification And Densification On Ballistic-Penetration Resistance Of Fused Silica, Vasudeva Avuthu
The Effect Of High-Pressure Devitrification And Densification On Ballistic-Penetration Resistance Of Fused Silica, Vasudeva Avuthu
All Theses
Despite the clear benefits offered by more advanced transparent materials, (e.g. transparent ceramics offer a very attractive combination of high stiffness and high hardness levels, highly-ductile transparent polymers provide superior fragment-containing capabilities, etc.), ballistic ceramic-glass like fused-silica remains an important constituent material in a majority of transparent impact-resistant structures (e.g. windshields and windows of military vehicles, portholes in ships, ground vehicles and spacecraft) used today. Among the main reasons for the wide-scale use of glass, the following three are most frequently cited: (i) glass-structure fabrication technologies enable the production of curved, large surface-area, transparent structures with thickness approaching several inches; …
The Partially Rechargeable Electric Vehicle Routing Problem With Time Windows And Capacitated Charging Stations, Navid Matin Moghaddam
The Partially Rechargeable Electric Vehicle Routing Problem With Time Windows And Capacitated Charging Stations, Navid Matin Moghaddam
All Theses
Electric vehicles are potentially beneficial for both the environment and an organization's bottom line. These benefits include, but are not limited to, reduced fuel costs, government tax incentives, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and the ability to promote a company's "green" image. In order to decide whether or not to convert or purchase electric trucks and install charging facilities, decision makers need to consider many factors including onboard battery capacity, delivery or service assignments, scheduling and routes, as well as weather and traffic conditions in a well-defined modeling framework. We develop a model to solve the partially rechargeable electric vehicle routing …
Sensitivity And Precision Analysis Of The Graph Complexity Connectivity Method, Sudarshan Sridhar
Sensitivity And Precision Analysis Of The Graph Complexity Connectivity Method, Sudarshan Sridhar
All Theses
In the Graph Complexity Connectivity Method (GCCM), twenty nine complexity metrics applied against engineering design graphs are used to create surrogate prediction models of engineering design representations (assembly models and function structures) for given product performance values (assembly time and market value). The performance of these prediction models has been previously assessed solely based on accuracy. In this thesis, the predictive precision of the surrogate models is evaluated in order to assess the GCCM's ability to generate consistent results under the same conditions. The Assembly Model - Assembly Time (AM-AT) prediction model performed the best in terms of both accuracy …
Microcosm Evaluation Of Enhanced Bioremediation For Halogenated Methanes At A Former Industrial Site, Hao Wang
Microcosm Evaluation Of Enhanced Bioremediation For Halogenated Methanes At A Former Industrial Site, Hao Wang
All Theses
Halogenated methanes are among the most frequently encountered contaminants at hazardous waste sites. One such site in California is contaminated with chloroform (CF), carbon tetrachloride (CT), and trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11). CF, CT and CFC-11 are the main focus of this research; they are present at the California site at concentrations in the mg per liter range and a plume of contaminated groundwater emanating from a source zone is approaching a property boundary, necessitating remediation. Anaerobic bioremediation is one of the technologies under consideration for addressing the source zone and the less concentrated downgradient plume. A microcosm study was performed to evaluate …
Comparison Gmm And Svm Classifier For Automatic Speaker Verification, Shamama Afnan
Comparison Gmm And Svm Classifier For Automatic Speaker Verification, Shamama Afnan
All Theses
The objective of this thesis is to develop automatic text-independent speaker verification systems using unconstrained telephone conversational speech. We began by performing a Gaussian Mixture Model Likelihood ratio verification task in speaker independent system as described by MIT Lincoln Lab. We next introduced a speaker dependent verification system based on speaker dependent thresholds. We then implemented the same system applying Support Vector Machine. In SVM, we used polynomial kernels and radial basis function kernels and compared the performance. For training and testing the system, we used low-level spectral features. Finally, we provided a performance assessment of these systems using the …
A Compact Driving Simulator To Support Research And Training Needs - Hardware, Software, And Assessment, Qimin Yao
All Theses
In 2009, there were 10.8 million automotive crashes in the United States. When reviewing these incidents, young drivers were the over-represented group who were involved in these vehicular crashes. One reason that these young drivers have such high crash rates is that they often do not possess extensive driving knowledge and typically lack driving experience. Over the past three decades, researchers have investigated the driver training process which includes the classroom and behind the wheel to help address teaching the deficiencies in the driver education program. To complement the current driver education process, automotive simulators can be utilized to teach …
Acoustic Scattering Response Of Hierarchic Honeycomb Structures For Cylindrical And Spherical Structures, Arun Mor
All Theses
Sandwich panels with honeycomb core are often employed in structures for improved mechanical properties with lightweight. Honeycombs are defined by non-overlapping and periodic unit cells. Most research conducted on these sandwich panels focuses on stiffness and strength properties. The acoustic aspect of these panels has been focused on sound transmission loss. For acoustics, previous studies used effective honeycomb orthotropic elastic moduli based on Cartesian unit cell geometry to model the core as a homogeneous structure. While efficient, this modeling approach loses accuracy at higher frequencies. Furthermore, when used for curved panels, the effective moduli are only approximate. In this work, …
Influence Of Low Shear And Cyclic Strain On Hyperglycemic Rat Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells: An In Vitro Dynamic Disease Model, Varun Chawla
Influence Of Low Shear And Cyclic Strain On Hyperglycemic Rat Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells: An In Vitro Dynamic Disease Model, Varun Chawla
All Theses
Vascular complications are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality amongst diabetic patients which represent a major proportion of patients undergoing coronary artery revascularization. Major advances in drug eluting stent technologies have reduced the overall rates of restenosis in general however diabetic patients still remain at a high risk thus requiring target lesion revascularization more commonly as compared to non-diabetic cohort. Phenotypic modulation demonstrated by smooth muscle cells is essential for normal wound healing response however is also contributive to initiation and development of various vascular complications including neointimal hyperplasia which ultimately leads to the lumen re-narrowing or restenosis. Hyperglycemia …
Development And Validation Of An Optically-Based Strain Measuring Orthopaedic Screw For Fracture Fixation Implants, Nakul Ravikumar
Development And Validation Of An Optically-Based Strain Measuring Orthopaedic Screw For Fracture Fixation Implants, Nakul Ravikumar
All Theses
In the USA over 28 million musculoskeletal injuries are treated annually, including 2 million fracture fixation surgeries (about 0.5% of the population).[1] Treatment of large osseous defects use allografts which have failure rates of up to 25%, and complication rates as high as 30-60%.[2] Fracture fixation usually involves mechanical fixation with rods, plates and/or screws which repair slowly and are susceptible to infection. Implant infection and loosening are serious concerns, but can currently only be measured through expensive instrumented implants, biopsy culture, or radiographs. However, none of these directly quantify implant loading and stability. There is therefore a need for …
Inertial Focusing Of Particles In Curved Microchannels, Ketaki Joshi
Inertial Focusing Of Particles In Curved Microchannels, Ketaki Joshi
All Theses
Since the beginning of microfluidics, the ability to control motion of particles in microchannels has always been fascinating. Microfluidic techniques such as dielectrophoresis, magnetophoresis rely on externally applied fields to separate particles while others like hydrophoresis and deterministic lateral displacement depend on low Reynolds number operation for particle manipulation. One of these techniques is inertial focusing of particles in microchannels. The particles and channel interact to cause lateral migration of particles to equilibrium positions within channel cross-section in flow regime where inertia and viscosity of fluid are finite. Inertial focusing has wide range of applications in fields of chemical synthesis, …
The Effect Of Procedural Changes On The Rate Of Clinical Alarms In The Intensive Care Unit, Puneeth Kalavagunta
The Effect Of Procedural Changes On The Rate Of Clinical Alarms In The Intensive Care Unit, Puneeth Kalavagunta
All Theses
Clinical alarms have become an indispensable part of medical environment, but issues related to alarm artifacts, false alarms, and alarm fatigue have been identified. A national online survey administered to hospitals stated healthcare workers determined that 81% of respondents agreed that alarms occur frequently, 77% agreed that excessive clinical alarms disrupt patient care, and 78% agreed that reduced trust in alarms cause caregivers to disable them (Korniewicz, Clark, & David, 2008). Studies have suggested that preparation of skin of the patient improves electrode-skin contact, thereby resulting in fewer artifacts (Hermens, Freriks, Disselhorst-Klug, & Rau, 2000). Additionally, clinical studies have shown …
Evaluation Of Shiryaev-Roberts Procedure For On-Line Environmental Radiation Monitoring, Mara Watson
Evaluation Of Shiryaev-Roberts Procedure For On-Line Environmental Radiation Monitoring, Mara Watson
All Theses
An on-line radiation monitoring system that simultaneously concentrates and detects radioactivity is needed to detect an accidental leakage from a nuclear waste disposal facility or clandestine nuclear activity. Previous studies have shown that classical control chart methods can be applied to on-line radiation monitoring data to quickly detect these events as they occur; however, Bayesian control chart methods were not included in these studies. This work will evaluate the performance of a Bayesian control chart method, the Shiryaev-Roberts (SR) procedure, compared to classical control chart methods, Shewhart 3-σ and cumulative sum (CUSUM), for use in on-line radiation monitoring of 99Tc …
Bioprinting As A Tool To Evaluate Interactions Of Cancerous And Noncancerous Cells, Holly Jordan
Bioprinting As A Tool To Evaluate Interactions Of Cancerous And Noncancerous Cells, Holly Jordan
All Theses
Cancer is becoming one the leading causes of death worldwide, and in particular, breast cancer, which is the second highest cause of cancer death for women. Approximately 12 percent of US women will develop invasive breast cancer, and about 40,000 of US women will die from breast cancer in 2015. With better detection and treatment options, breast cancer death has been decreasing over the past two decades. Despite declining rates in breast cancer death, cancer progression is not well understood. There are many studies focused on cancer, but in situ cancer studies are often hard to reproduce and can even …
Acoustic Performance Of Reiterated Hierarchical Honeycomb Structures, Naveen Nainar
Acoustic Performance Of Reiterated Hierarchical Honeycomb Structures, Naveen Nainar
All Theses
Sandwich panels constructed from honeycomb structures have been found to reduce sound transmission and improve vibration isolation. In this work, reiterated hierarchical honeycomb structures have been modeled for the core in sandwich panels and studied for sound transmission properties using finite element analysis. Several honeycomb unit cell geometries are considered, including, regular hexagonal, auxetic with properties of negative Poisson’s ratio, and different reiterated hierarchical structures. Previous studies have shown that auxetic honeycomb structures exhibit improved sound transmission loss compared to regular honeycomb sandwich panels. Two different orientations of the honeycomb unit cell geometry have been studied, namely, the zigzag and …
Microcosm Study Of 1,4-Dioxane Biotransformation, Philip Arve
Microcosm Study Of 1,4-Dioxane Biotransformation, Philip Arve
All Theses
1,4-Dioxane is an emerging groundwater contaminant and probable human carcinogen with considerable potential remediation costs due to its hydrophilic and recalcitrant nature. Commonly occurring with 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA) plumes due to its application as a solvent stabilizer, 1,4-dioxane is also used in industrial lubricants and occurs as an impurity in numerous personal care products. Current treatment strategies to treat dioxane contamination include advanced oxidation processes and biological treatment, though only aerobic paths of biodegradation are currently understood. Laboratory and field studies have indicated the possible inhibitory effects of 1,1,1-TCA and its abiotically transformed daughter product, 1,1-dichloroethene (1,1-DCE) on the aerobic biodegradation …
Estimation Of Pcb Contamination In The Twelve Mile Creek Arm Of Lake Hartwell Using Gis And Statistical Techniques, Arjun Bharadwaj
Estimation Of Pcb Contamination In The Twelve Mile Creek Arm Of Lake Hartwell Using Gis And Statistical Techniques, Arjun Bharadwaj
All Theses
The Lake Hartwell and its Twelve Mile Creek watershed were contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mainly Aroclor 1016 and 1254, which resulted in a designation as a Superfund site. The Twelve Mile Creek arm is the most heavily contaminated portion of the lake. The Twelve Mile Creek arm of Lake Hartwell was placed on the National Priorities List (NPL) in the year 1990. In the Record of Decision (ROD) by the EPA in 1994, natural attenuation, primarily through burial by uncontaminated sediment, was declared as the chosen remedy to reach the EPA recommended level of 1 µg/g. Several studies have …
Continuum Robots For Space Applications Based On Layer-Jamming Scales With Stiffness Capability, Jessie Lee C. Santiago
Continuum Robots For Space Applications Based On Layer-Jamming Scales With Stiffness Capability, Jessie Lee C. Santiago
All Theses
Continuum robots, which have continuous mechanical structures comparable to the flexibility in elephant trunks and octopus arms, have been primarily geared toward the medical and defense communities. In space, however, NASA projects these robots to have a place in irregular inspection routines. The inherent compliance and bending of these continuum arms are especially suitable for inspection in obstructed spaces to ensure proper equipment functionality. In this paper, we propose a new solution that improves on the functionality of previous continuum robots, via a novel mechanical scaly layer-jamming design. Layer-jamming assisted continuum arms have previously required pneumatic sources for actuation, which …
Endothelialization Using Protein Substrates And Hydrogels For Aortic Valve Applications, Elizabeth A. Fontaine
Endothelialization Using Protein Substrates And Hydrogels For Aortic Valve Applications, Elizabeth A. Fontaine
All Theses
Aortic valve disease is currently the leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity in the United States.1 In 2003, approximately 290,000 patients required heart valve replacement and that number is estimated to continue to rise as the average age of the population continues to increase.2 However, the current valve replacement options have multiple limitations. Tissue engineering hopes to address these shortcomings by providing a viable valve that more closely mimics the native valve, structurally and functionally.3 An ideal valve replacement should contain endothelial and interstitial cells, with the ability to remodel the extra-cellular matrix. While tissue-engineered heart valves are not uncommon in …
Engineering Hospital Discharge Instructions: An Eye-Tracking Based Study, Haley Marie Vaigneur
Engineering Hospital Discharge Instructions: An Eye-Tracking Based Study, Haley Marie Vaigneur
All Theses
With new healthcare reform initiatives, (e.g., the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) hospitals have additional requirements to reduce avoidable readmissions. This results in identifying the needs for improving the hospital discharge process, improving care transitions and discharge instructions, and increasing overall patient health literacy. In terms of discharge instructions, one of the most influential factors to patients' understanding and compliance with their prescribed health regimen is the document's readability. The study goal is to examine how adjusting the discharge instructions' reading level and using human factors design guidelines can influence a novice user's ability to read, comprehend, and recall …
Benefits Of A State Driveway Database With Qualitative And Quantitative Crash Analysis, Andrew Bryant Stokes
Benefits Of A State Driveway Database With Qualitative And Quantitative Crash Analysis, Andrew Bryant Stokes
All Theses
The primary goal of this research is to show how a fully developed driveway database will improve access management practices resulting in a reduction in crashes, injuries, and fatalities on our roadways. The results of this thesis highlight a close relationship between driveway characteristics and the incidence of crashes. Thus, it is critical to be proactive in enforcing access management strategies and policies that are designed to enhance driveway safety without compromising the economic vitality of land use along roads. The analysis identified several significant independent variables that influence crash rates either positively or negatively. The data driven approach to …
Computational Modeling Of Alternating Current Potential Drop Measurement For Crack Detection Of Multi-Functional Ceramic Coated Structures, Simha Sandeep Rao
Computational Modeling Of Alternating Current Potential Drop Measurement For Crack Detection Of Multi-Functional Ceramic Coated Structures, Simha Sandeep Rao
All Theses
Non-destructive testing and evaluation (NDT&E) is a set of techniques commonly used to evaluate a material for the presence of any flaws without actually degrading the material itself. The Alternating Current Potential Drop (ACPD) test method is one of the NDT surface methods used to determine the electrically insulating defects beneath the surface by injection of currents in the structure and measurement of the resulting voltage difference between two or more points on the surface. The presence of defects generally increases the resistance of the structure and hence causes the drop of measured voltage. The inversion of this data can …