Digital Commons Network^™

Piezoresistive Disposable Weight Sensor With Increased Sensitivity, Kuter Erdi̇l, Tuğçe Ayraç, Ömer Gökalp Akcan, Yi̇ği̇t Dağhan Gökdel

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

This study presents the design, simulation, implementation, and experimental characterization of a paperbased perforated disposable weight sensor system with a double piezoresistive layer. The demonstrated system is designed to achieve highly sensitive weight sensing operations with low-cost materials. For that purpose, the main fabrication material of the proposed disposable sensor is selected as a 289 $\mu$m thick Strathmore 400 series Bristol paper. Approximately 48 $\mu$m thick piezoresistive graphite paste is coated onto both sides of the paper-based cantilever beam with the aim of acquiring more sensitive weight-sensing capability. Additionally, the proposed paper-based structure has rows of closely spaced perforations at …

A Cellulose-Based Biological Sensor For The Quantitative Determination Of Glucose And Glycated Hemoglobin (Hba1c), Gilberto Henao-Pabon

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Importance: Diabetes is a common world-wide disease characterized by insulin resistance and as result there is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and other metabolic abnormalities, that contribute to irreversible end-organ damage. The cause of diabetes is multifactorial and includes genetic, inflammatory and environmental factors plus lifestyle issues. Because in diabetes there are high levels of glucose and glycated hemoglobin, these molecules are used in clinical settings for the acute and chronic management of diabetic patients.

Objectives: a. To design and build an electrochemical biological sensor using the enzyme Glucose Oxidase (GOX) to detect glucose in biological fluids.

b. …

Paper-Based Flexible Electrode Using Chemically-Modified Graphene And Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Composites For Electrophysiological Signal Sensing, Md Faruk Hossain, Jae Sang Heo, John Nelson, Insoo Kim

Bioelectrics Publications

Flexible paper-based physiological sensor electrodes were developed using chemically-modified graphene (CG) and carboxylic-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube composites (f@MWCNTs). A solvothermal process with additional treatment was conducted to synthesize CG and f@MWCNTs to make CG-f@MWCNT composites. The composite was sonicated in an appropriate solvent to make a uniform suspension, and then it was drop cast on a nylon membrane in a vacuum filter. A number of batches (0%~35% f@MWCNTs) were prepared to investigate the performance of the physical characteristics. The 25% f@MWCNT-loaded composite showed the best adhesion on the paper substrate. The surface topography and chemical bonding of the proposed CG-f@MWCNT …

Nonlinear Direct Torque Control Of Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Drive, Jackson Justo

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This paper presents a nonlinear direct torque control (NDTC) strategy of interior permanent magnet synchronous motors (IPMSMs) for electric vehicle (EV) propulsion. The proposed NDTC scheme applies a nonlinear model of IPMSM to dynamically determine the optimal switching states that optimize the EV drivers’ decision to reduce the workload. Moreover, the proposed NDTC method has a simple control structure and can explicitly handle system constraints and nonlinearities. The performance evaluation is conducted via a prototype IPMSM test-bed with a TMS320F28335 DSP. Comparative experimental results provide the evidence of improvements of the proposed NDTC strategy over the conventional DTC strategy by …

Wearable Biomedical Sensors, Wenyuan Shi

Electrical Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Focusing on current major research interests about the wearable biomedical sensors, numerous achievements contributed by researchers and engineers are reviewed in chapter 1. Development and research trends, as well as challenges of the wearable technologies are discussed. In chapter 2, a new double-resonance sensor was presented for monitoring body dehydration with two resonant frequencies. Using the waveguide method and the finite-element simulations, the sensor was designed with optimal parameters. Electromagnetic field distributions, Q factors, and sensitivities of the sensor are analyzed. The sensor’s equivalent circuit was deduced. The finite-element model and the equivalent circuit model were simulated for identifying various …

Adaptive Spaceship Cockpit Architecture, Ondřej Doule

Theses and Dissertations

This research project is focused on a system design theory and practice of the most complex environment that a human-system architect can ever encounter. It is the environment of the spaceship cockpit or cabin that is affected by forces of propulsion and gravity accelerations and freefall while the direction and magnitude of gravity change during the flight. Furthermore, the hyperbaric, restrictive environment of Intra Vehicular Activity spacesuit adds another layer of complexity. In off-nominal or emergency situations, these environmental effects combine, which results in specific human-system interaction requirements. Considering human-system integration requirements on safety, comfort and efficiency of communication between …

Developmental Steps For A Functional Three-Dimensional Cell Culture System For The Study Of Asymmetrical Division Of Neural Stem Cells, Martina Zamponi

Biomedical Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Stem cells are a cell type present during and following development, which possess self- renewal properties, as well as the ability to differentiate into specific cells. Asymmetrical division is the cellular process that allows stem cells to produce one differentiated and one un-differentiated daughter cell during the same mitotic event. Insights in the molecular mechanisms of such process are minimal, due to the absence of effective methods for its targeted study. Currently, traditional methods of investigation include monolayer cell culture and animal models. The first poses structural limitations to the accurate representation of human tissue and cell structures, while animal …

Hybrid Brain-Computer Interface: A Novel Method On The Integration Of Eeg And Semg Signal For Active Prosthetic Control, Reza Darmakusuma, Ary Setijadi Prihatmanto, Adi Indrayanto, Tati Latifah Mengko

Makara Journal of Technology

This paper describes a novel method for controlling active prosthetics by integrating surface electromyography (sEMG) and electroencephalograph signals to improve its intuitiveness. This paper also compares the new method (RTA-2) with other existing methods (AND and OR) for controlling active prosthetics. Based on analysis, RTA-2 features higher true positive rate (TPR) and balanced accuracy (BA) than AND method. On the other hand, the new method (RTA-2) yields lower false detection rate (FPR) than OR method. Analysis also shows that RTA-2 possesses equal TPR, FPR, and BA with the detection of movement intention using sEMG-based system. Although the RTA-2 method shows …

Differentiating Human Populations Based On K-Mer Classification Of Hand Bacteria, Thrisha Doppala

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Bacterial communities found in and on the human body are not only used in studying human health conditions but are also effective in differentiating individuals due to their distinct profiles. Human palm regions harbor relatively more diverse bacterial communities and are indicative of population groups, life styles, geographic locations, age groups and health conditions. Sequences extracted from hypervariable region V3 of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene of hand bacterial samples from 9 different population groups were classified into Operational Taxonomic Units (OTU) with GreenGenes reference taxonomy using RDP (Ribosomal Database Project) classifier. Frequencies of identified OTUs were used to study …

Modeling Of Realistic Heart Electrical Excitation Based On Dti Scans And Modified Reaction Diffusion Equation, Ihab Elaff

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

A new method is proposed for modeling realistic heart activation using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scans based on biological properties of its tissues in addition to the working methodology of the DTI scanner. Modeling of the excitation propagation inside the heart is initiated by applying activation at only one pacing site at the root of the conduction network. The excitation propagation has been accomplished based on a proposed conduction system that is extracted from DTI heart scans and a modified version of monodomain reaction diffusion equation (RDE) that considers the heart inhomogeneous--anisotropic material. The Aliev--Panfilov method was used to model …

Formulation Of Nanoparticle Systems For Drug Delivery Application In Biomedical Sciences, Victor Alfredo Rodriguez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria may result in serious infections which are difficult to treat. In addition, the poor antibiotic pipeline has also contributed to the crisis. Recently, the complex of furosemide and silver (Ag-FSE) has been reported as a potential antibacterial agent. However, its poor aqueous solubility is limiting its activity as an effective antibacterial agent. The purpose of this study was to encapsulate Ag-FSE into chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) and evaluate antibacterial efficacy. Ag-FSE CSNPs were prepared using ionic gelation technique. The particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential of Ag-FSE CSNPs were determined using dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique. …

An Ir And Rf Based System For Functional Gait Analysis In A Multi-Resident Smart-Home, Erich Reinhardt Schafermeyer

Dissertations and Theses

Changes in the gait characteristics, such as walking speed and stride length, of a person living at home can be used to presage cognitive decline, predict fall potential, monitor long-term changes in cognitive impairment, test drug regimens, and more. This thesis presents a novel approach to gait analysis in a smart-home environment by leveraging new advances in inexpensive sensors and embedded systems to create novel solutions for in-home gait analysis. Using a simple, non-invasive hardware system consisting entirely of wall-mounted infrared and radio frequency sensor arrays, data is collected on the gait of subjects as they pass by. This data …

Semantic Inference On Clinical Documents: Combining Machine Learning Algorithms With An Inference Engine For Effective Clinical Diagnosis And Treatment, Shuo Yang, Ran Wei, Jingzhi Guo, Lida Xu

Information Technology & Decision Sciences Faculty Publications

Clinical practice calls for reliable diagnosis and optimized treatment. However, human errors in health care remain a severe issue even in industrialized countries. The application of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) casts light on this problem. However, given the great improvement in CDSS over the past several years, challenges to their wide-scale application are still present, including: 1) decision making of CDSS is complicated by the complexity of the data regarding human physiology and pathology, which could render the whole process more time-consuming by loading big data related to patients; and 2) information incompatibility among different health information systems (HIS) …

Wind Turbine Noise And Wind Speed Prediction, Tyler H. Blanchard

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In order to meet the US Department of Energy projected target of 35% of US energy coming from wind by 2050, there is a strong need to study the management and development of wind turbine technology and its impact on human health, wildlife and environment. The prediction of wind turbine noise and its propagation is very critical to study the impacts of wind turbine noise for long term adoption and acceptance by neighboring communities. The prediction of wind speed is critical in the assessment of feasibility of a potential wind turbine site. This work presents a study on prediction of …

Analysis Of Arm Movement Prediction By Using The Electroencephalography Signal, Reza Darmakusuma, Ary Setijadi Prihatmanto, Adi Indrayanto, Tati Latifah Mengko, Lidwina Ayu Andarini, Achmad Furqon Idrus

Makara Journal of Technology

Various technological approaches have been developed in order to help those people who are unfortunate enough to be afflicted with different types of paralysis which limit them in performing their daily life activities independently. One of the proposed technologies is the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). The BCI system uses electroencephalography (EEG) which is generated by the subject’s mental activity as input, and converts it into commands. Some previous experiments have shown the capability of the BCI system to predict the movement intention before the actual movement is onset. Thus research has predicted the movement by discriminating between data in the “rest” …

Detection Of Electrical Alternans In Ventricular Depolarization Phase Of Human Electrocardiogram, David R. Wasemiller

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

T-wave Alternans (TWA) in an electrocardiogram (ECG) has received considerable interest as a potential predictor of sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, large clinical trials have shown that while TWA has a very high negative predictive value, its positive predictive value is poor. Results of previous studies suggest that arrhythmia onset can be affected by the phase relationship of alternans of the depolarization and repolarization phase of the action potentials of the ventricles. To assess this relationship, one would first need to establish that depolarization alternans can be detected and then develop methods to determine its relationship with repolarization alternans, which …

Implementation Of New System For Oxygen Generation And Carbon Dioxide Removal, Angelo Peter Karavolos

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This research effort develops an integrated system for CO2 removal and O2 production. A unique material, dodeca-tungsto-phosphoric acid (H3PO4W12O3; henceforth referred to as DTPA) is mixed with tetra-ethyl-ortho-silicate Si(OC2H5)4 or TEOS. This mixture exhibits unique properties of heat absorption and high electrical conductivity. In the system described herein, the DTPA resides within a cross linked arrangement of TEOS. The DTPA furnishes a source of O2, while the TEOS furnishes structural support for the large DTPA crystals. In addition, the large amount of H2O within the crystal also adsorbs CO2. It can also be cross-linked with other polymers such as polycarbonate, …

Thin Film Based Biocompatible Sensors For Physiological Monitoring, Yihao Zhu

Theses and Dissertations

The development and evolution of physiological sensors, from wearable to implantable, has enabled long term continuous physiological monitoring, making possible for the out-of-clinic treatment and management of many chronic illnesses, mental health issues and post-surgery recovery. This technology advance is gradually changing the definition of health care and the way it is delivered, from clinic/emergency room to patient’s own environment. In this dissertation, three general types of sensors have been proposed for physiological monitoring of blood pressure, oxygen content and electrolyte ion concentration level in human body, respectively. The study proved the device concepts and shows promising results with the …

On The Selection Of Just-In-Time Interventions, Luis Gabriel Jaimes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A deeper understanding of human physiology, combined with improvements in sensing technologies, is fulfilling the vision of affective computing, where applications monitor and react to changes in affect. Further, the proliferation of commodity mobile devices is extending these applications into the natural environment, where they become a pervasive part of our daily lives. This work examines one such pervasive affective computing application with significant implications for long-term health and quality of life adaptive just-in-time interventions (AJITIs). We discuss fundamental components needed to design AJITIs based for one kind of affective data, namely stress. Chronic stress has significant long-term behavioral and …

Quantitative Comparison Of Time-Frequency Decomposed Gait Emg Signals, L. Patrick Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations

Falls in the senior population represent an immediate threat to both current and future generations’ quality of life. The results of falls can be disastrous, create a long road to recovery, and in many cases result in death. Hypertension represents a difficult-to-quantify condition which is known to contribute to gait and balance dysfunction. Accurate assessment of conditions such as these represents an area of primary investigative need. In order to meet this need, a new experimental setup is developed which combines time-frequency analysis with surface electromyography (sEMG) signals obtained during ambulation. 3-bit pressure data is acquired using a pressure-sensitive mat, …

High Frequency Devices And Circuit Modules For Biochemical Microsystems, Jiwei Sun

All Dissertations

This dissertation investigates high frequency devices and circuit modules for biochemical microsystems. These modules are designed towards replacing external bulky laboratory instruments and integrating with biochemical microsystems to generate and analyze signals in frequency and time domain. The first is a charge pump circuit with modified triple well diodes, which is used as an on-chip power supply. The second is an on-chip pulse generation circuit to generate high voltage short pulses. It includes a pulse-forming-line (PFL) based pulse generation circuit, a Marx generator and a Blumlein generator. The third is a six-port circuit based on four quadrature hybrids with 2.0~6.0 …

Design, Simulation, Prototype, And Testing Of A Notched Blade Energy Generation System, Henry Cabra

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses the design, simulation, prototype, and test of a new energy generation system, which transforms rotational motion into electricity by the use of an innovative turbine-generator. The system is divided in two assembled subsystems that interact to finally transform kinetic energy into electricity. The first subsystem is a miniaturized notched impulse turbine system, and the second one is a millimeter permanent magnet generator (PMG) assembled into the turbine.

The conversion of biomechanical energy to electric energy, using clean and free energy produced by a living organism, is being increasingly researched [1]-[11]. These are all viable options, but advantages …

Use Of Cosine Modulated Filter Bank To Quantify Human Muscle Fatigue Using Electromyography Signals Obtained During Isometric Voluntary Contractions, Liza Stephanie Rodriguez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As technology continues to advance, there continues to be an interest in applying engineering theories to solve medical problems. Technology has allowed researchers to investigate the properties and characteristics of the human body in hopes of emulating their complexities. The rising interest in the study of biopotentials for use in prosthetic limbs, exoskeletons and machine interfacing has led to a necessity to validate that the understanding of these signals is accurate. The study of biopotentials generated by muscles via a method known as electromyography (EMG) has improved the understanding of effects of rehabilitative treatments, assisted in diagnosing diseases, control of …

Multimodal Wearable Sensors For Human-Machine Interfaces, Mark Nolan

Doctoral

Certain areas of the body, such as the hands, eyes and organs of speech production, provide high-bandwidth information channels from the conscious mind to the outside world. The objective of this research was to develop an innovative wearable sensor device that records signals from these areas more conveniently than has previously been possible, so that they can be harnessed for communication. A novel bioelectrical and biomechanical sensing device, the wearable endogenous biosignal sensor (WEBS), was developed and tested in various communication and clinical measurement applications.

One ground-breaking feature of the WEBS system is that it digitises biopotentials almost …

Discrimination Between Child And Adult Forms Using Radar Frequency Signature Analysis, Stephanie R. Keith

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis we develop a method to discriminate between adult and child radar signatures. In particular, we examine radar data measured from behind a wall, which introduces radar signal attenuation and multipath effects. To investigate the child/adult discrimination problem in a through-wall, multipath scenario, a previously developed free-space human scattering model was expanded to incorporate multiple paths, and the effects of transmission through, and reflections from, walls and ground. The ground was modeled as a perfectly reflecting surface, while the walls were modeled as homogeneous concrete slabs. Twenty-five reflection paths were identified, involving the direct paths, as well as …

Strategic Optimization Techniques For Frtu Deployment And Chip Physical Design, Chen Liao

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Combinatorial optimization is a complex engineering subject. Although formulation often depends on the nature of problems that differs from their setup, design, constraints, and implications, establishing a unifying framework is essential. This dissertation investigates the unique features of three important optimization problems that can span from small-scale design automation to large-scale power system planning: (1) Feeder remote terminal unit (FRTU) planning strategy by considering the cybersecurity of secondary distribution network in electrical distribution grid, (2) physical-level synthesis for microfluidic lab-on-a-chip, and (3) discrete gate sizing in very-large-scale integration (VLSI) circuit.

First, an optimization technique by cross entropy is proposed to …

Improving The Throughput And Reliability Of Wireless Sensor Networks With Application To Wireless Body Area Networks, Gabriel Arrobo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation will present several novel techniques that use cooperation and diversity to improve the performance of multihop Wireless Sensor Networks, as measured by throughput, delay, and reliability, beyond what is achievable with conventional error control technology.

We will investigate the applicability of these new technologies to Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) an important emerging class of wireless sensor networks. WBANs, which promise significant improvement in the reliability of monitoring and treating people's health, comprise a number of sensors and actuators that may either be implanted in vivo or mounted on the surface of the human body, and which are …

Does A Link Exist Between Examination Performance And Lecture Attendance For First Year Engineering Students ?, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

The objective of this study is to examine if a link exists between lecture attendance and examination performance of Level 7, Year 1, Electrical Engineering students at Dublin Institute of Technology in the Electrical Systems subject. Lecture attendance was monitored and analysed over four academic years (2007-8, 2008-9, 2009-10 and 2010-11). The average lecture attendance for students in the three academic years from 2007-10 was 55%, increasing noticeably in the 2009-10 academic year. A statistically significant weakly positive correlation between lecture attendance and examination performance was established. Each 10% increase in student attendance at lectures improved both Module 1 examination …

Programmable Household Led Light Fixture, Jordan Locano

Electrical Engineering

This report details the development and construction of a LED light fixture to be used for household lighting. This document details background information, design ideas, project specifications, production, assembly, testing, and conclusions involved with this project. The goals of this project is to design and build a cost-effective replacement for traditional room lighting that can perform better and last longer than traditional methods.

Time-Frequency Analysis Of Intracardiac Electrogram, Erik Brockman

Master's Theses

The Cardiac Rhythm Management Division of St. Jude Medical specializes in the development of implantable cardioverter defibrillators that improve the quality of life for patients diagnosed with a variety of cardiac arrhythmias, especially for patients prone to sudden cardiac death. With the goal to improve detection of cardiac arrhythmias, this study explored the value in time-frequency analysis of intracardiac electrogram in four steps. The first two steps characterized, in the frequency domain, the waveforms that construct the cardiac cycle. The third step developed a new algorithm that putatively provides the least computationally expensive way to identifying cardiac waveforms in the …