Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 8 of 8

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Assessment Of The Lactation Index For Managing White-Tailed Deer Populations, Kamen Lee Campbell Aug 2012

Assessment Of The Lactation Index For Managing White-Tailed Deer Populations, Kamen Lee Campbell

Theses and Dissertations

I analyzed precision and accuracy of lactation data to reflect actual fawn recruitment for various levels of fecundity, neonatal mortality, harvest intensity, and hunter selectivity. I evaluated and developed a correction equation to adjust for harvest date effects on lactation detectability. I compared metrics of site-specific fawn recruitment (e.g., lactation rates, hunter observation fawn-to-doe ratios, and post-season fawn-to-doe ratios) among themselves, and to site-specific indices of carnivore abundance, for 18 properties across Mississippi and Alabama. Accuracy of lactation rates are compromised due to variation at minimal harvest intensity and insensitivity to change in fetal rate or neonatal mortality. Lactation data …


Mathematical Model And Experimental Exploration Of The Nanoinjector Lance Array, Nathan C. Toone Jul 2012

Mathematical Model And Experimental Exploration Of The Nanoinjector Lance Array, Nathan C. Toone

Theses and Dissertations

The Nanoinjector Lance Array has been developed to inject foreign material into thousands of cells at once using electrophoresis to attract and repel particles to and from the electrically-charged lances. A mathematical computer model simulating the motion of attracted or repelled proteins informs the design of the nanoinjection lance array system. The model is validated by accurately predicting protein velocity in electrophoresis experiments. A complete analysis of parameters is conducted via simulations and specific research questions regarding the counter electrode of the nanoinjector lance array system are explored using the model. A novel technique for fabricating lance arrays from collapsed …


Understanding Managerial Decisions About Global Sourcing: Offshoring And Reshoring Of Production, Raymond George Purnell May 2012

Understanding Managerial Decisions About Global Sourcing: Offshoring And Reshoring Of Production, Raymond George Purnell

Theses and Dissertations

As international commerce continues to emerge due to telecommunication and transportation breakthroughs, the eagerness of companies to send particular business functions offshore increases. Offshoring is the removal of a company function (particularly, manufacturing) from a domestic location to a remote destination. Since many developing economies contain low labor wages, companies in the United States and Europe are able to leverage cost savings by paying low compensation to foreign production employees. The low cost concept, though, does not always offer significant financial reward. For companies with particular product types, business models, or limited experience, offshoring proves to be an expensive mistake …


A Phenomenological Investigation Of Ignition And Combustion In Alternative-Fueled Engines, Saroj Kumar Jha May 2012

A Phenomenological Investigation Of Ignition And Combustion In Alternative-Fueled Engines, Saroj Kumar Jha

Theses and Dissertations

Current diesel technologies involve a broad spectrum of combustion regimes. Previous diesel combustion models either lack the universality across various combustion regimes or suffer computational cost. This dissertation discusses the development of a phenomenological framework to identify and understand key in-cylinder processes that influence the overall performance of a compression ignition engine. The first part of this research is focused on understanding the ignition delay (ID) of diesel fuel in a pilot-ignited partially premixed, low temperature natural gas (NG) combustion engine. Lean premixed low temperature NG combustion is achieved by using small pilot diesel sprays (2-3% of total fuel energy) …


Multi-Processor Computation Of Thrombus Growth And Embolization In A Model Of Blood-Biomaterial Interaction Based On Fluid Dynamics, Brandon Thomas Andersen Apr 2012

Multi-Processor Computation Of Thrombus Growth And Embolization In A Model Of Blood-Biomaterial Interaction Based On Fluid Dynamics, Brandon Thomas Andersen

Theses and Dissertations

This work describes the development and testing of a real-time three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulation of thrombosis and embolization to be used in the design of blood-contacting devices. Features of the model include the adhesion and aggregation of blood platelets on device material surfaces, shear and chemical activation of blood platelets, and embolization of platelet aggregates due to shear forces. As thrombus develops, blood is diverted from its regular flow field. If shear forces on a thrombus are sufficient to overcome the strength of adhesion, the thrombus is dislodged from the wall. Development of the model included preparing thrombosis and …


Performance Evaluation Of Optimal Rate Allocation Models For Wireless Networks, Ryan Michael Padilla Apr 2012

Performance Evaluation Of Optimal Rate Allocation Models For Wireless Networks, Ryan Michael Padilla

Theses and Dissertations

Convex programming is used in wireless networks to optimize the sending or receiving rates of links or flows in a network. This kind of optimization problem is formulated into a rate allocation problem, where each node in the network will distributively solve the convex problem and all links or flows will converge to their optimal rate. The objective function and constraints of these problems are represented in a simplified model of contention, interference, and sending or receiving rates. The Partial Interference model is an optimal rate allocation model for use in wireless mesh networks that has been shown to be …


Using Agent-Based Models To Understand Multi-Operator Supervisory Control, Yisong Guo Mar 2012

Using Agent-Based Models To Understand Multi-Operator Supervisory Control, Yisong Guo

Theses and Dissertations

As technology advances, many practical applications require human-controlled robots. For such applications, it is useful to determine the optimal number of robots an operator should control to maximize human efficiency given different situations. One way to achieve this is through computer simulations of team performance. In order to factor in various parameters that may affect team performance, an agent-based model will be used. Agent-based modeling is a computational method that enables a researcher to create, analyze, and experiment with models composed of agents that interact within an environment [12]. We construct an agent-based model of humans interacting with robots, and …


Emergency Department Design Evaluation And Optimization Using Discrete Event Simulation, Irinie Wanis Tadros Rofaeel Feb 2012

Emergency Department Design Evaluation And Optimization Using Discrete Event Simulation, Irinie Wanis Tadros Rofaeel

Theses and Dissertations

The proposed research would help any architect/owner decide the number of rooms/ cubicles for each sub-department of the ED, as well as have an estimated price for the ED, in order to optimally serve patients entering the ED with a known arrival rate. A thorough literature review was undertaken to collect data concerning the application of decision support tools for minimizing patient waiting times and maximizing the utilization rate in health care systems. Interviews were made with hospital managers in order to verify process flow, waiting times, activity durations, and resources. In addition, several floor plans of EDs have been …