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The Thermoelectric Properties Investigation Of X0.05Mo3Sb7-YTeY (X=Mn, Fe, Ni, Co; Y=1.5, 1.6, 1.7), Tim Holgate Dec 2008

The Thermoelectric Properties Investigation Of X0.05Mo3Sb7-YTeY (X=Mn, Fe, Ni, Co; Y=1.5, 1.6, 1.7), Tim Holgate

All Theses

With ever increasing energy costs, dwindling resources, and terms with the prefix 'green' filling headlines, the need for environmentally friendly energy sources has never been greater. Since the mid-20th century researchers have been pursuing greater efficiency in thermoelectric materials. Thermoelectric materials achieve energy conversion via the Seebeck effect (heat to electric power) and the Peltier effect (electricity to cooling power). Presented herein are the measured electrical and thermal transport properties and phenomenal analysis of the Ir3Ge7-type system: X0.05Mo3Sb7-yTey (X=Mn, Fe, Ni, Co; y=1.5, 1.6, 1.7) where 'X' are interstitially …


Circuit Modules For Six-Port Reflectometer On Chip, Chaojiang Li Dec 2008

Circuit Modules For Six-Port Reflectometer On Chip, Chaojiang Li

All Theses

Broadband signal generator is an indispensable module for broadband Six-Port Reflectometer (SPR). To integrate a whole SPR system on a chip, the source must be compact. In this thesis, a three-stage voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), using two parallel weak invertor-chain oscillators and sense amplifiers, is proposed and designed in a 0.13 µm CMOS process. These two parallel weak inverter-chain oscillators extend the low frequency operating range and the sense amplifiers expand the high frequency operation. The measurement results show that the oscillator can be tuned from 430 MHz to 12 GHz, which satisfies the targeted SPR operating frequency range.
In order …


Optimal And Heuristic Resource Allocation Policies In Serial Production Systems, Ramesh Arumugam Dec 2008

Optimal And Heuristic Resource Allocation Policies In Serial Production Systems, Ramesh Arumugam

All Theses

We have studied the optimal server allocation policies for a tandem queueing system under different system settings. Motivated by an industry project, we have studied a two stage tandem queueing system with arrival to the system and having two flexible servers capable of working at either of the stations. In our research, we studied the system under two different circumstances: modeling the system to maximize throughput without cost considerations, modeling the system to include switching and holding costs along with revenue for finished goods. In the maximizing throughput scenario, we considered two different types of server allocations: collaborative and non-collaborative. …


Fuel Dynamics Across Southern Appalachian Landscapes, Horace Gambrell Dec 2008

Fuel Dynamics Across Southern Appalachian Landscapes, Horace Gambrell

All Theses

Although there have been several individual studies measuring hardwood fuels, across the central Hardwood Region and southern Appalachian Mountains, little is known of how hardwood fuels are distributed across the landscape. Understanding this distribution is essential for fire management planning. Previous studies suggest that the decay rate of litter and fine woody fuel is greater on mesic sites as compared to dryer sites. In the southern Appalachian Mountains, northeast facing slopes and protected bottoms are generally the more mesic sites, while southwest facing slopes and exposed ridge tops receive sunlight for longer periods and should be more xeric.
The objectives …


Independent Torque Distribution Management Systems For Vehicle Stability Control, Indrasen Karogal Dec 2008

Independent Torque Distribution Management Systems For Vehicle Stability Control, Indrasen Karogal

All Theses

Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) systems, also called Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems, are active on-board safety systems intended to stabilize the dynamics of vehicle lateral motion. In so doing, these systems reduce the possibility of the driver's loss of control of the vehicle in some critical or aggressive maneuvers. One approach to vehicle dynamics control is the use of appropriate drive torque distribution to the wheels of the vehicle. This thesis focuses on particular torque distribution management systems suitable for vehicles with independently driven wheels.
In conducting this study, a non-linear seven degree-of-freedom vehicle model incorporating a non-linear tire model …


Three Dimensional Visualization Of Fire Spreading Over Forest Landscapes, Brian Williams Dec 2008

Three Dimensional Visualization Of Fire Spreading Over Forest Landscapes, Brian Williams

All Theses

Previous studies in fire visualization have required high end computer hardware and specialized technical skills. This study demonstrated fire visualization is possible using Visual Nature Studio and standard computer hardware. Elevation and vegetation data were used to create a representation of the New Jersey pine barren environment and a forest compartment within Hobcaw Barony. Photographic images were edited to use as image object models for forest vegetation. The FARSITE fire behavioral model was used to model a fire typical of that area. Output from FARSITE was used to visualize the fire with tree models edited to simulate burning and flame …


Passage, Shannon Wright Dec 2008

Passage, Shannon Wright

All Theses

This exhibition addresses reconciliation. Through the journey of understanding we are
able to either pass through our negative experiences or we can choose to accept that they
are what they are. Through the placement of images the viewer is brought through this
passage to a threshold for crossing from discomfort to reconciliation. At 40'x50' these
photographs have become environments that viewers become immersed in. When I
begin to make my images I have not yet fully realized the final photograph and there are
several camera controls that I utilize to complete my images. When I place an object in
my …


Trapping Small Hive Beetles, Aethina Tumida Murray, Inside Honey Bee Colonies, Maxcy Nolan Iv Dec 2008

Trapping Small Hive Beetles, Aethina Tumida Murray, Inside Honey Bee Colonies, Maxcy Nolan Iv

All Theses

The small hive beetle, Aethina tumida Murray, (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) is an economically important honey bee pest, particularly in the southeastern United States. One method of controlling this pest is the use of an in-hive trap. Many different attractants have been developed and are used in such traps. Part one of my thesis involved testing a new attractant, a pollen substitute inoculated with the yeast Kodamaea ohmeri (NRRL Y-30722). Thirty-two test colonies were established with 0.9-kg (2-lb) packages of bees with queens. Eight colonies were placed in each apiary, and colonies received one of three treatments: 1) yeast-based attractant 2) apple …


Temporary Organizational Change And Uncertainty: Applying Uncertainty Reduction Theory And Style Analyses To Email, Vicki Rhodes Dec 2008

Temporary Organizational Change And Uncertainty: Applying Uncertainty Reduction Theory And Style Analyses To Email, Vicki Rhodes

All Theses

This study explores how employees express uncertainty and enact uncertainty reduction techniques through electronic communication, specifically email, during temporary inter-organizational change. The context of the study is within the work environment of a nonprofit entity in the Southern region of the United States that employs just under 20 staff members and coordinates with approximately 135 partner staff affiliates on a daily basis. The Executive Director's medical leave of about three months requires that job responsibilities and organizational roles be temporarily restructured. Because email is the preferred and primary method of communication in this organization, such communications were chosen as the …


Identifying The Cis-Acting Sugar Response Elements That Facilitate Glucose Signaling In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Frank Barretta, Jr. Dec 2008

Identifying The Cis-Acting Sugar Response Elements That Facilitate Glucose Signaling In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Frank Barretta, Jr.

All Theses

Identifying the initial sugar sensing and response activating mechanisms in plants has been difficult due to the dual functions of sugars as nutrients and as signaling molecules. In this study, we have examined transcript expression and promoter features of different genes encoding proteins for actin remodeling that have been implicated as targets of plant glucose signaling. Using Reverse Transcription PCR analysis, we confirmed that expression of two actin-associated genes, actin depolymerizing factor 9 (ADF9) and actin related protein 8 (ARP8), are repressed following a short-term glucose treatment of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. Glucose did not repress the expression of other ADF …


Solarization Effects On Chemical Properties Of Soils Under Kudu (Pueraria Montana) Invasion, Nicole Gilbert Dec 2008

Solarization Effects On Chemical Properties Of Soils Under Kudu (Pueraria Montana) Invasion, Nicole Gilbert

All Theses

Solarization is an effective method for managing small areas with kudzu (Pueraria montana) invasions that may alter soil chemical properties. Conducted from 2005 to 2007 at the Clemson University Experimental Forest in Clemson, South Carolina on a Cecil clay loam (fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludult), this study compares soil chemical properties under thermally-treated and non-treated plots at different depths invaded by Kudzu.
The experimental factors of treatment and depth were arranged in a factorial treatment design with 15 treatments arranged in a split plot design. The five thermal treatments were the whole plot factors which were arranged in a randomized …


Comparison Of Caddisfly Species (Insecta:Trichoptera) In The Northern Saluda Watershed Over A Thirty-Seven Year Period, In Correlation With Land Development And Use., Michael Biondi Dec 2008

Comparison Of Caddisfly Species (Insecta:Trichoptera) In The Northern Saluda Watershed Over A Thirty-Seven Year Period, In Correlation With Land Development And Use., Michael Biondi

All Theses

Land use and development in South Carolina has greatly increased in the last 50 years. This study focused on land cover change in Northern Pickens County and changes in caddisfly populations at three sites in three sub-watersheds in the South Saluda River watershed. I collected caddisflies from March 31 to October 20 in 2005 and 2006 and compared them to collections performed at the same sites in the same manner in 1969 by John C. Morse for his Master's thesis. I used a geographic information system to assess the land cover change over this thirty-seven year period and correlated the …


The Effect Of Montmorillonite Nanoclay On Mechanical And Barrier Properties Of Mung Bean Starch Films, Bianca Stiller Dec 2008

The Effect Of Montmorillonite Nanoclay On Mechanical And Barrier Properties Of Mung Bean Starch Films, Bianca Stiller

All Theses

Starch is an interesting biodegradable polymer due to its excellent film forming properties, availability, and low cost. On the other hand, starch films are often limited by their poor mechanical properties, and water resistance. The addition of montmorillonite clays have improved these properties in both petroleum and biodegradable films.
The objective of the research was to determine the effect of montmorillonite clay on the mechanical and barrier properties on mung bean starch films.
The addition of 5% clay yielded the optimum balance between mechanical and barrier properties of these composite films with improved tensile strength (TS) of 20.8763± 0.789 MPa, …


Computational Analysis Of Input-Shaping Control Of Microelectromechanical Mirrors, Thomas Starling Dec 2008

Computational Analysis Of Input-Shaping Control Of Microelectromechanical Mirrors, Thomas Starling

All Theses

Advances in micromachining technology have enabled the design and development of high performance microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). There is a pressing need for control techniques that can be used to improve the dynamic behavior of MEMS such as the response speed and precision. In MEMS applications, open-loop control is attractive as it computes a priori the required system input to achieve desired dynamic behavior without using feedback, thus eliminating the problems associated with closed-loop MEMS control. While the input-shaping control is attractive due to its simplicity, the effectiveness of this control approach depends on the accuracy of the model that is …


Insights Into Biogeophysical Signatures Using Polarization Force Microscopy, Elizabeth Bartosik Dec 2008

Insights Into Biogeophysical Signatures Using Polarization Force Microscopy, Elizabeth Bartosik

All Theses

The success of bioremediation strategies is dependent upon effective monitoring of microorganisms in the subsurface. Induced polarization (IP) may represent a cost-effective, complementary technique to existing borehole-based microbe detection schemes. Recent studies show a significant, yet poorly understood IP effect associated with the presence of bacteria in aqueous and porous media. This effect is believed to be rooted in the physicochemical surface interactions between cells and minerals which we probe using polarization force microscopy. Polarization force experiments were conducted on a hydrated mica surface using the gram positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis and the gram negative bacterium Escherichia coli. On all …


Laboratory Studies Of Responses Of Anuran Amphibians To Roundup Exposures: Reference Toxicant And Components, Lindsay Moore Dec 2008

Laboratory Studies Of Responses Of Anuran Amphibians To Roundup Exposures: Reference Toxicant And Components, Lindsay Moore

All Theses

Roundup¨ has been implicated as a possible cause for the declining amphibian populations in North America. Carefully designed laboratory toxicity tests are crucial for accurate risk assessment of the responses of anuran populations to incidental exposures of Roundup¨ herbicides. The overall objective of these studies was to determine the response of North American anuran species to exposures of Roundup¨ formulations and components to support or refute the claim that Roundup¨ is a factor in amphibian decline in North America. Aqueous 96 hour static non-renewal laboratory tests were utilized to (1) evaluate the effectiveness of copper sulfate as a reference toxicant …


P-M Characteristics Of Reinforced Concrete Sections, Paul Johnson Dec 2008

P-M Characteristics Of Reinforced Concrete Sections, Paul Johnson

All Theses

This manuscript presents two parametric studies which were performed to evaluate a provision which originated in the 1994 Uniform Building Code (UBC). This provision states that if gravity-induced axial loads carried by a reinforced concrete member are greater than 35% of the pure axial load-carrying capacity (Po) of that member, then the member cannot be used as part of the lateral force resisting system (LRFS). Along with the UBC provision, the Structural Engineers Association of California's (SEAOC) Blue Book states that the value of 0.35Po corresponds to the level of axial load representing a balanced state of strain, i.e., the …


An Integrated Routing And Distributed Scheduling Approach For Hybrid Ieee 802.16e Mesh Networks For Vehicular Broadband Communications, Rahul Amin Dec 2008

An Integrated Routing And Distributed Scheduling Approach For Hybrid Ieee 802.16e Mesh Networks For Vehicular Broadband Communications, Rahul Amin

All Theses

An integrated routing and distributed scheduling approach for fast deployable IEEE 802.16e networks is presented where distributed base stations with dual radios form a mesh backhaul and subscriber stations communicate through these base stations. The mesh backhaul is formed via an IEEE 802.16e mesh mode radio on each base station, while the subscriber stations communicate with base stations via PMP mode radios. The proposed routing scheme divides the deployed network into several routing zones. Each routing zone contains several base stations that form the mesh backhaul with one base station equipped with either a fiber, satellite or any other point-to-point …


Revision Of East Palearctic Apatania (Trichoptera: Apataniidae), Suvdtsetseg Chuluunbat Dec 2008

Revision Of East Palearctic Apatania (Trichoptera: Apataniidae), Suvdtsetseg Chuluunbat

All Theses

The East Palearctic genus Apatania Kolenati includes 34 species. Thirty-two of these have been described as adults and the other 2 are known only in the larval life stage. Immature stages of most species are not yet known.
A morphological study of these species suggested that 2 of the nominal species are synonyms of other species, reducing the number of valid East Palearctic Apatania species to 30. A phylogeny and classification of the reviewed 30 species is provided for this work. My work does not support Schmid's (1953) groupings of Apatania species. Although recognition of homologues was problematic among the …


Disability Insurance And Female Labor Supply, Rania Malik Dec 2008

Disability Insurance And Female Labor Supply, Rania Malik

All Theses

This paper studies the household characteristics where husbands receive disability income. It tries to analyze the characteristics of the married men based on age, race, education and wage. This paper also concentrates on the labor supply pattern of married women in the disabled households and tries to find whether women in these households work more in response to the disability income received by the husbands.


Transmission Error Analysis And Avoidance For Ieee 802.15.4 Wireless Sensors On Rotating Structures, Jobin Jacob Dec 2008

Transmission Error Analysis And Avoidance For Ieee 802.15.4 Wireless Sensors On Rotating Structures, Jobin Jacob

All Theses

Wireless sensors are increasingly adopted in manufacturing and vehicular systems for monitoring critical components under continuous operation. Many such components move rapidly and frequently in metallic containments with challenging radio propagation characteristics.
For wireless sensors mounted on rotating structures, previous studies identified an eminent increase in packet transmission errors at higher rotation speeds. Such errors were found to occur at specific locations around the rotating spindle's periphery and such locations depended sensitively on sensor location and surrounding geometry. This thesis presents a systematic study of the expected packet error rates due to such errors, and analytically derives the first transmission …


Investigation Of The Merging Of Two Axisymmetric Turbulent Jets, Jeffrey Smith Dec 2008

Investigation Of The Merging Of Two Axisymmetric Turbulent Jets, Jeffrey Smith

All Theses

A study was done to determine the converging distance of two axisymmetric turbulent jets and to compare the experimental results with the Reichardt hypothesis. This experiment consisted of measuring the velocity profiles of the two jets and manipulating the momentum ratio between the jets. Through testing, it was determined that the Reichardt hypothesis while efficient, over predicts the converging distance of the jets by up to 25% in some cases.
An Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) was used to take measurements across the path of the jets and monitored the velocity and the turbulent kinetic energy. After observing the velocity profiles, …


Synchrophasor's Application In State Estimation, Linwood Ross Dec 2008

Synchrophasor's Application In State Estimation, Linwood Ross

All Theses

This thesis presents an investigation into the effect of synchrophasor measurements on the accuracy of a state estimator. Two state estimation algorithms have been developed in Matlab and tested on several systems. The first state estimator is the traditional non-linear estimator that is currently being used by most utilities. The second estimator is a hybrid linear state estimator. A bad data detection algorithm has been developed as well to determine the effect of synchrophasor measurements in bad data detection. A total of seven different systems are used for testing the proposed algorithms. Six systems are used in testing the bad …


Probing Grb Environments Through X-Ray Absorption, Hala Eid Dec 2008

Probing Grb Environments Through X-Ray Absorption, Hala Eid

All Theses

Although long-duration GRBs (LGRBs) are highly transient in nature, their early afterglow can in principle be detected to very high redshifts (Lamb & Reichart, 2000). This makes them potent probes of the chemical evolution and content of the high-redshift universe. In this work, we use photoelectric absorption observed in the XRT spectra of LGRBs to investigate the evolution of metallicities and hydrogen column densities of LGRB host galaxies. Using a high-quality sample of LGRBs indicates the presence of a weak anti-correlation between the abundances and redshift. We also find an evolution trend in intrinsic column density. To confirm these correlations, …


Analysis Of Speed-Related Crashes Using Event Data Recorder Data, Swathi Korpu Dec 2008

Analysis Of Speed-Related Crashes Using Event Data Recorder Data, Swathi Korpu

All Theses

Safety in general is defined as 'the absence of unintended harm to living creatures or inanimate objects' (Evans, 2004). Traffic safety is measured in terms of motor vehicle crashes. A crash is an unplanned event which results in either fatality, or injury or property damage. Of all the factors that contribute to a crash, speed is a major issue, as more than 31 percent of all fatal crashes involve speeding (NHTSA, 2007). The speed-safety relationship can be determined by knowing the effect of speed on the frequency and severity of crashes. The relationship between speed and frequency of crashes is …


A Microbiological Survey And Characterization, Andrew Daane Dec 2008

A Microbiological Survey And Characterization, Andrew Daane

All Theses

In our study, two dairy compost heaps and one vegetable scrap compost heap were constructed on two research farms in Clemson, SC. Samples were taken from each heap from different locations at 8 elected intervals and analyzed for enterococci and VRE counts by spread plating on Bile Esculin agar (BEA) and BEA containing 6 g/ml of vancomycin, respectively. The initial populations of enterococci and VRE in compost were in the range of 6.46-7.43 and 5.36-6.70 log CFU/g, respectively. After 30 days of active composting the average VRE populations declined ca. 4.6, 4.07, 3.97 and 1.6 logs at the top, center, …


Characterization Of Campus Parking Lot Stormwater And Remediation Of Risks Using Constructed Wetland Treatment Systems, Andrew Mcqueen Dec 2008

Characterization Of Campus Parking Lot Stormwater And Remediation Of Risks Using Constructed Wetland Treatment Systems, Andrew Mcqueen

All Theses

Campus parking lot stormwater (CPLSW) runoff mobilizes a variety of constituents from vehicular and atmospheric deposition that may pose risks to receiving aquatic systems. The overall objective of this research was to provide an approach for risk characterization, toxicity identification, and remediation of constituents of concern in CPLSW. The specific objectives of this research were to: (1) Characterize campus parking lot stormwater (CPLSW) to discern the constituents of concern present in these waters; (2) Perform TIE manipulations to identify possible fractions of concern in CPLSW, and; (3) Evaluate the performance of a pilot-scale constructed wetland treatment system (CWTS) designed to …


Analysis Of In-Flight Vibration For A Turbo Propeller Aircraft, Kyle Dunno Dec 2008

Analysis Of In-Flight Vibration For A Turbo Propeller Aircraft, Kyle Dunno

All Theses

A data recorder was utilized to record in-flight vibration of a turbo propeller aircraft. The data recorded produced power spectral density (PSD) profiles which are currently used in laboratory settings to drive vibration tables in order to simulate a particular vehicle type. Overall Grms values from the averaged data were then statistically compared to published standards and other studies to determine if there were differences in overall Grms values.
The data recorder was rigidly mounted to the cargo area of the turbo propeller aircraft. Thirty flights were recorded which varied in flight time from less than one hour to greater …


Building A Knowledge Economy Index For Southern Metropolitan Areas, Kristine Koutout Dec 2008

Building A Knowledge Economy Index For Southern Metropolitan Areas, Kristine Koutout

All Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to determine if the methodology used to build the South Carolina Research Authority Knowledge Economy Index (KEI) for states can be replicated and applied to Southern Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). Data to imitate the KEI measures for workforce education and fast growth firms were available at the MSA-level; however, academic R&D was used as a proxy for industrial R&D in this index because data was not available for MSAs. An index for Southern MSAs was built based on the coefficients from the OLS results. Workforce education was the most important factor for increasing mean …


Discarded To The Transcendent, Robert Brownlow Dec 2008

Discarded To The Transcendent, Robert Brownlow

All Theses

My current body of work strives to elevate the discarded to the transcendent, to take the unwanted and bring it to new life. I choose to transform materials in a way that challenges perceptions of space and material. The work also serves to create an experience for the viewer, an experience that may allow an escape from the mundane of every day life and journey, for a moment, to a world that embraces unexpected emotion.
With obsolescence in mind, I tend to use materials that are found throughout scrap yards, surplus warehouses, and anywhere else I may find underutilized materials …