Digital Commons Network^™

Qualified Affordance-Based Design, Jun Hu

All Theses

Function-based approaches are taught by the engineering design community and implemented in practice. The most significant advantage of these approaches is that they can guide the designers to abstract the essential problems from the design requirements, build the function-based models, and consequently provide the direction of the solution. However, due to the lack of a consistent scientific definition on the meaning of the function, these approaches may be contradictory when representing human-centered aspects, features, and non-physical purposes. To address this issue, design researchers have pursued two general directions: (1) broadening the meaning of function and (2) introducing an alternative scientific …

Evaluation Of An Enrichment Culture That Reductively Dechlorinates Γ-Hexachlorocyclohexane, Christina Anderson

All Theses

In a previous study using microcosms from a site contaminated with γ- hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH), rapid anaerobic biodegradation of γ-HCH to benzene and chlorobenzene was observed. Enrichment cultures were developed and subsequently transferred to an anaerobic sulfate-free HEPES buffered medium without loss of γ-HCH dechlorination, thus suggesting γ-HCH undergoes anaerobic biodegradation via chlororespiration. The overall objective of this thesis was to further characterize the enrichment culture.
To do so, one specific objective was to determine the effect of vancomycin on γ-HCH in an enrichment culture grown in a sulfate-free HEPES buffered medium using hydrogen as the electron donor. This objective would …

Assessment Of A Safe Driving Program For Novice Drivers And Smart Jersey Barrier Design To Minimize Animal-To-Vehicle Collisions, Lance Clark

All Theses

Each year, the total number of vehicles, motorists, highway infrastructures, and distance traveled by drivers increases on a global basis. This rise in personal and commercial ground vehicle usage brings with it the advantages of the modern age, but it is not without societal cost. Vehicular incidents result in tens of thousands of deaths each year in the United States alone. For this reason, research has been performed to advance driver safety while simultaneously providing wildlife with means to avoid animal-to-vehicle collisions (AVC). In this thesis, two solutions are proposed: a driver education program with classroom experiences, in-vehicle resources, and …

Mathematical Modeling Of Fluid Spills In Hydraulically Fractured Well Sites, Oluwafemi Michael Taiwo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Improved drilling technology and favorable energy prices have contributed to the rapid pace at which the exploitation of unconventional natural gas is taking place across the United States. As a natural gas well is being drilled, reserve pits are constructed to hold the drilling fluids and other materials returned from the drilling process. These reserve pits can fail, and when they do, plant and animal life of the surrounding area may be adversely affected. This project develops a screening tool for a suitable location for a reserve pit. This work will be a critical piece of the Infrastructure Placement Analysis …

Predictive Simulation Of Gait At Low Gravity Reveals Skipping As The Preferred Locomotion Strategy, Marko Ackermann, Antonie J. Van Den Bogert

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The investigation of gait strategies at low gravity environments gained momentum recently as manned missions to the Moon and to Mars are reconsidered. Although reports by astronauts of the Apollo missions indicate alternative gait strategies might be favored on the Moon, computational simulations and experimental investigations have been almost exclusively limited to the study of either walking or running, the locomotion modes preferred under Earth's gravity. In order to investigate the gait strategies likely to be favored at low gravity a series of predictive, computational simulations of gait are performed using a physiological model of the musculoskeletal system, without assuming …

The Application Of Origami To The Design Of Lamina Emergent Mechanisms (Lems) With Extensions To Collapsible, Compliant And Flat-Folding Mechanisms, Holly Greenberg

Theses and Dissertations

Lamina emergent mechanisms (LEMs) are a subset of compliant mechanisms which are fabricated from planar materials; use compliance, or flexibility of the material, to transfer energy; and have motion that emerges out of the fabrication plane. LEMs provide potential design advantages by reducing the number of parts, reducing cost, reducing weight, improving recyclability, increasing precision, and eliminating assembly, to name a few. However, there are inherent design and modeling challenges including complexities in large, non-linear deflections, singularities that exist when leaving the planar state, and the coupling of material properties and geometry in predicting mechanism behavior. This thesis examines the …

Electrical & Magnetic Stimulation And Health, Yiyan Li

College of Engineering: Graduate Celebration Programs

1, Introduction Most of the patients with neural diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Stroke and Depression, cannot be cured by taking pills or conducting surgery. In contrast to the conventional therapies, physical therapies such as TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) (Fig. 1) and tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) (Fig. 2) are the most popular methods in treating neural disorders with a non-invasive way. TMS employs electromagnetic (1-3 Tesla) induction generates an Electric field suitable for neural stimulation; tDCS employs a weak current (1-2 mA) to modulate neuronal excitabilities.

Fermentation And Supercritical Extraction Studies Of Açaí Berry, Rosanna Iris Ayala

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The açaí berry has grown in popularity for dieters and the health conscious. The berry contains high levels of antioxidants. The main anthocyanins are cyanidin-3-rutinoside and cyanidin-3-glucoside. The berries also contain vitamins and nutrients that help boost energy and alertness, and fatty acids that help maintain normal cholesterol levels. As a result of the health benefits of the constituents, the berries are chosen for obtaining the active ingredients by extraction.

The solids left over after extraction still contain nutrients and useful components. There is a possibility of fermenting this residual and creating an açaí berry wine. Açaí berry wine is …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Doxorubicin Carrying Cetuximab-Pamam Dendrimer Bioconjugates, Gunjan Saxena

Theses and Dissertations

A tumor targeted dendrimer based drug delivery system was designed and synthesized to carry chemotherapy drug doxorubicin. Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer G4.5 was chosen as the underlying carrier. Anionic G4.5 is a good option for drug delivery as it consists of 128 surface groups, is less cytotoxic and favorably biodistributed. The delivery system was synthesized using a layer-by layer arrangement of three functional entities: chemotherapy drug doxorubicin, monoclonal antibody Cetuximab against EGF receptor, and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Doxorubicin was attached via an acid-sensitive hydrazon linkage to the dendrimer. Macromolecules are taken in by cells through endocytosis. pH inside the early endosomes …

One-Dimensional-Turbulence Simulation Of Flame Extinction And Reignition In Planar Ethylene Jet Flames, David O. Lignell, Devin Rappleye

Faculty Publications

A series of three simulations of temporally evolving, planar, nonpremixed ethylene jet flames are performed using the one-dimensional-turbulence (ODT) model. The simulations are performed at a fixed Reynolds number, but varying Damköhler numbers, under conditions that result in significant flame extinction and reignition. Results are compared to corresponding direct numerical simulations (DNSs), which exhibit 40, 70, and nearly 100% peak flame extinction among the three cases. The planar, temporal configuration is ideal for comparison and validation of the ODT model, and identical thermodynamic, transport, and kinetic models were used. The ODT model captures the jet evolution and heat …

Investigation Of Human-Structure Interaction Through Experimental And Analytical Studies, Nicholas Noss

Master’s Theses

Vibration serviceability is a widely recognized design criterion for assembly-type structures, such as stadiums, that are likely subjected to rhythmic human-induced excitation. Human-induced excitation of a structure occurs from the movement of the occupants such as walking, running, jumping, or dancing. Vibration serviceability is based on the level of comfort that people have with the vibrations of a structure. Current design guidance uses the natural frequency of the structure to assess vibration serviceability. However, a phenomenon known as human-structure interaction suggests that there is a dynamic interaction between the structure and passive occupants, altering the natural frequency of the system. …

Detection Of Sk2 Channels On Hippocampal Neurons, Jamie L. Maciaszek

Master's Theses

Calcium-activated small conductance potassium channels (SK) are crucial for synaptic plasticity, sleep, and learning and memory (Hammond, Bond et al. 2006; Cueni, Canepari et al. 2008; Lin, Lujan et al. 2008). Despite the recent progress on SK channel physiology, the precise spatial organization of SK channels in neurons has remained unknown. Such knowledge is critical as the subcellular distribution of SK channels is an important determinant of neuronal excitability. Currently, there are no techniques to image ion channel distribution quantitatively at the nanometer scale in living cells. Here, it is demonstrated that integration of natural toxins with single molecule atomic …

Defining Industry Expectations And Misconceptions Of Art And Technology Co-Creativity, Vanessa C. Brasfield

Department of Computer Graphics Technology Degree Theses

The primary purpose of this study was to establish whether or not students and industry professionals share the same views about what students should be learning in animation education, what skills are necessary, and whether or not students graduating with a bachelor’s degree would be adequately prepared for an entry level position. To establish where misconceptions lie, surveys were issued to three groups: undergraduate students, post-graduate students, and industry professionals. These surveys were then analyzed using paired t-test for validation and question relevance, and ANOVA models to establish whether or not groups shared viewpoints. These data established significance within the …

Real-Time Detection Of Implant-Associated Neutrophil Responses Using A Formyl Peptide Receptor-Targeting Nir Nanoprobe, Jun Zhou, Tsai Yi-Ting, Hong Weng, Ewin N. Tang, Ashwin Nair, Dave P. Digant, Liping Tang

Bioengineering Faculty Publications - Archive

Neutrophils play an important role in implant-mediated inflammation and infection. Unfortunately, current methods which monitor neutrophil activity, including enzyme measurements and histological evaluation, require many animals and cannot be used to accurately depict the dynamic cellular responses. To understand the neutrophil interactions around implant-mediated inflammation and infection it is critical to develop methods which can monitor in vivo cellular activity in real time. In this study, formyl peptide receptor (FPR)-targeting nearinfrared nanoprobes were fabricated. This was accomplished by conjugating near-infrared dye with specific peptides having a high affinity to the FPRs present on activated neutrophils. The ability of FPR-targeting nanoprobes …

Three Dimensional In Vitro Model Of Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Anna Bulysheva

Theses and Dissertations

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are among the leading causes of cancer related deaths throughout the world. The survival rate for this type of cancer is extremely low and has not changed significantly in recent decades. There is an imperative need to study tumor progression in a representative model in order to generate more knowledge about this disease as well as develop more effective treatment options. Multiple methods already exist for studying HNSCC and other types of cancers, including in vitro and in vivo models. Although in vivo models are more representative of the human carcinomas in terms …

Virtualization In High-Performance Computing: An Analysis Of Physical And Virtual Node Performance, Glendon M. Jungels

Purdue Polytechnic Masters Theses

The process of virtualizing computing resources allows an organization to make more efficient use of it's resources. In addtion, this process enables flexibility that deployment on raw hardware does not. Virtualization, however, comes with a performance penalty. This study examines the performance of utilizing virtualization technology for use in high performance computing to determine the suitibility of using this technology. It makes use of a small (4 node) virtual cluster as well as a 4 node physical cluster. The impacts on input/output operation are examined as well as performance of each cluster using two widely utilized tools, NAS Parallel Benchmarks …

Extending The Quikscat Data Record With The Oceansat-2 Scatterometer, Joshua P. Bradley

Theses and Dissertations

Originally designed for wind velocity estimation over the ocean, scatterometers have since been applied to climate studies of the Earth's cryosphere and bioshere. As an integral part of climatological studies of the planet, the NASA Scatterometer Climate Record Pathfinder (SCP) supplies scatterometer-based products designed to aid researchers in climatological studies of the planet. In this thesis, necessary steps are taken to facilitate data from the Oceansat-2 Ku-band scatterometer (OSCAT) to be used in extending the Ku-band SCP dataset of conically scanning pencil-beam scatterometers begun by the Seawinds scatterometer flown on the QuikSCAT mission 1999-2009. As a standard SCP product, a …

Sketching 3d Animation, Innfarn Yoo

Department of Computer Graphics Technology Degree Theses

This thesis presents a method for creating natural 3D animation based on sketches. Our method provides novice and professional sketchers an easy, fast, and intuitive way to create three dimensional animations by drawing sketches, enhanced by strokes, and joint trajectory or rotation curves. It also allows searching massive databases of 3D animation as an application for motion capture system and major animation software. We extract 2D skeletons from strokes and find similar motion sequences by comparing all the important pre-generated key poses in database. To give the system more hints, users can draw joint trajectory and rotations curves that are …

Effects Of Manure Handling And Application Method On Odor And Gas Emission Potential Of Swine Manure, Rick R. Stowell

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Manure composition and emissions potential of swine manure were investigated in opposing contexts of desired and undesired methane generation. In the main study, the full-scale treatment effects of anaerobic digestion on the air emissions potential of swine manure were investigated. Manure slurry and digester effluent samples were collected from a pork production facility in eastern Nebraska that utilizes a complete-mix anaerobic digester to treat the manure and produce biogas for use in generating electricity. Samples were collected from three sites in the manure stream (below-barn pit, digester outlet, and holding pond) from 9/22/08 through 12/2/09 in order to observe changes …

Extensions Of Multistage Stochastic Optimization With Applications In Energy And Healthcare, Ludwig Charlemagne Kuznia

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on extending solution methods in the area of stochastic optimization. Attention is focused to three specific problems in the field. First, a solution method for mixed integer programs subject to chance constraints is discussed. This class of problems serves as an effective modeling framework for a wide variety of applied problems. Unfortunately, chance constrained mixed integer programs tend to be very challenging to solve. Thus, the aim of this work is to address some of these challenges by exploiting the structure of the deterministic reformulation for the problem. Second, a stochastic program for integrating renewable energy sources …

Functional Magnetic Nanoparticles, James Gass

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nanoparticle system research and characterization is the focal point of this research and dissertation. In the research presented here, magnetite, cobalt, and ferrite nanoparticle systems have been explored in regard to their magnetocaloric effect (MCE) properties, as well as for use in polymer composites. Both areas of study have potential applications across a wide variety of interdisciplinary fields.

Magnetite nanoparticles have been successfully dispersed in a polymer. The surface chemistry of the magnetic nanoparticle proves critical to obtaining a homogenous and well separated high density dispersion in PMMA. Theoretical studies found in the literature have indicated that surface interface energy …

Model-Based Systems And Methods For Analyzing And Predicting Outcomes Of Vascular Interventions And Reconstructions, Yuris A. Dzenis, Alexey Kamenskiy, Iraklis I. Pipinos, Jason N. Mactaggart

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Systems and methods for analyzing and predicting treatment outcomes of medical procedures such as vascular interventions and reconstructions are disclosed. An illustrative system for analyzing and predicting therapeutic outcomes of medical procedures comprises a relational database configured for classifying and storing patient specific input data for multiple patients, a fluid-solid interaction biomechanical model configured for performing a biomechanics simulation and generating biomechanics data, and a graphical user interface.

Assessing The Validity Of Brain Glucose Concentration Measurement Using Microdialysis, Damon Anthony Vinciguerra

Master’s Theses

Brain functions, such as learning, orchestrating locomotion, memory recall, and processing information, all require glucose as a source of energy. During these functions, the glucose concentration decreases as the glucose is being consumed by brain cells. By measuring this drop in concentration, it is possible to determine which parts of the brain are used during specific functions and consequently, how much energy the brain requires to complete the function. One way to measure in vivo brain glucose levels is with a microdialysis probe. The drawback of this analytical procedure, as with many steadystate fluid flow systems, is that the probe …

A Model Of Housing Design And Neighborhood Planning In Abuja - Nigeria, Ekanem Amba

Master of Technology Management Plan II Graduate Projects

The need for shelter is one of the most important necessities for mankind after sustenance. Over the years, the term ‘shelter’ has undergone series of modification either in shape, space, location or the materials used in constructing them but one thing remains the same; the need for a roof over one’s head is as vital to survival as time in itself.

Using A Virtual World For Robot Planning, D. Paul Benjamin, John V. Monaco, Yixia Lin, Christopher Funk, Damian M. Lyons

Faculty Publications

We are building a robot cognitive architecture that constructs a real-time virtual copy of itself and its environment, including people, and uses the model to process perceptual information and to plan its movements. This paper describes the structure of this architecture. The software components of this architecture include PhysX for the virtual world, OpenCV and the Point Cloud Library for visual processing, and the Soar cognitive architecture that controls the perceptual processing and task planning. The RS (Robot Schemas) language is implemented in Soar, providing the ability to reason about concurrency and time. This Soar/RS component controls visual processing, deciding …

Department Of Biological Systems Engineering Newsletter, Volume 8, Number 1, April 2012

BSE Department Magazine

No abstract provided.

Nebraska Blueprint – Spring/Summer 2012

Nebraska Blueprint (Student Publication)

Table of Contents:

From the Editor

Engi-Briefs

UCARE Experience – Interview with senior Computer Engineering major Dongpu Jin about his involvement with the Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experiences (UCARE) program

History of E-Week

E-Week 2012 Events and Results [photographs]

E-Week Keynote Speaker: Pete Ludovice

The Museum in Nebraska Hall – The research branch of the University of Nebraska State Museum

Nebraska Hall's 80th Birthday – A history of the building at 16th and W Streets

Do You Remember . . . The Day Reunion Died – A brief history and photographs of the demolition of the Reunion building across …

Mathematical Modeling Of Pipeline Features For Robotic Inspection, Yang Gao

Doctoral Dissertations

Underground pipeline systems play an indispensable role in transporting liquids in both developed and developing countries. The associated social and economic cost to repair a pipe upon abrupt failure is often unacceptable. Regular inspection is a preventative action that aims to monitor pipe conditions, catch abnormalities and reduce the chance of undesirable surprises. Robots with CCTV video cameras have been used for decades to inspect pipelines, yielding only qualitative information. It is becoming necessary and preferable for municipalities, project managers and engineers to also quantify the 3-D geometry of underground pipe networks. Existing robots equipped specialized hardware and software algorithms …

Accounting For Indirect Land-Use Change In The Life Cycle Assessment Of Biofuel Supply Chains, Susan Tarka Sanchez, Jeremy Woods, Mark Akhurst, Matthew Brander, Michael O'Hare, Terence P. Dawson, Robert Edwards, Adam J. Liska, Rick Malpas

Adam Liska Papers

The expansion of land used for crop production causes variable direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions; and other economic, social and environmental effects. We analyze the use of life cycle analysis (LCA) for estimating the carbon intensity of biofuel production from indirect land-use change (ILUC). Two approaches are critiqued; direct, attributional life cycle analysis (ALCA) and consequential life cycle analysis (CLCA). A proposed hybrid “combined model” of the two approaches for ILUC analysis relies on first defining the system boundary of the resulting full LCA. Choices are then made as to the modeling methodology (economic equilibrium or cause-effect), data inputs, …

Development Of Best Management Practice Design Guidance For Roadway Applications In Nebraska, Benedict Vacha

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Runoff from roadways carries pollutants which may be detrimental to aquatic ecosystems. The primary pollutants of concern for roadway runoff are solids and heavy metals, particularly cadmium, copper, and zinc. Roadway runoff falls under the legislation of the Clean Water Act (CWA) via the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). CWA regulates discharge of nonpoint source pollutants, such as roadway runoff, by issuing permits to public entities which manage Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s). Part of the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) permitting requirement is to create a design guide for Best Management Practices (BMPs) tailored to remediate roadway …