Digital Commons Network^™

Interactive Learning Tools: Animating Statics, Nancy Hubing, David B. Oglesby, Timothy A. Philpot, Vikas Yellamraju, Richard H. Hall, Ralph E. Flori

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

Computer-Based Modules for Engineering Instruction Must Be Concise, Flexible, Educational and Engaging in Order to Effectively Supplement Traditional Classroom Teaching Tools. a Computer Example that Takes More Time Than a Chalkboard Presentation is Not Likely to Be Useful in Today's Engineering Classroom. Flexible Navigation is Necessary So that the Instructor Can Quickly and Easily Respond to Student Questions. Useful Modules Must Also Improve Problem-Solving Skills or Clarify Troublesome Concepts in Order to Be Considered Worthy of Inclusion in the Limited Class Time Available. Finally, and Perhaps Most Importantly, Effective Computer-Based Modules Must Meet the Challenge of Holding the Student's Attention. …

Coarsening Dynamics Of Biaxial Nematic Liquid Crystals, Nikolai V. Priezjev, Robert A. Pelcovits

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

We study the coarsening dynamics of two- and three-dimensional biaxial nematic liquid crystals, using Langevin dynamics. Unlike previous work, we use a model with no a priori relationship among the three elastic constants associated with director deformations. Biaxial nematics possess four topologically distinct classes of defects, three of which have half-integer charge, while the fourth, which plays a minor role in coarsening, is of integer charge. We find a rich variety of coarsening behavior, including the presence of one, two, or three of the half-integer classes at late times, depending on the relative values of the elastic constants and the …

Method, Apparatus And Article For Microfluidic Control Via Electrowetting, For Chemical, Biochemical And Biological Assays And The Like, James D. Sterling

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

An active-matrix microfluidic platform employs thin film transistor active ("TFT") matrix liquid crystal display ~ technology to manipulate small samples of fluid for chemical, biochemical, or biological assays without moving parts, for example, using a two-dimensional matrix array of drive electrodes. The active-matrix microfluidic platform may employ existing active matrix 0 addressing schemes and/or commercial "off-the-shelf" animation software to program assay protocols. A feedback subsystem may > determine an actual location of a fluid in the microfluidic structure, and provides location information to for display, for example, on an active-matrix display, and/or to control movement of one or more fluid bodies …

The Wpi/Goddard Space Flight Center Projects Program, Fred J. Looft, William W. Durgin

Office of the Provost Scholarship

The WP/IGSFC (Goddard Space Flight Center) Projects Program is an off-campus, multi-disciplinary opportunity for students to complete their capstone design project requirement during 10 weeks of on-site project work. Students accepted into this program are required to spend one term in a project preparation course where they carry out background research, interact with their project mentor(s) at the space center, and write a detailed project proposal. At the completion of the preparation course and several weeks before the start of the following academic year, the students relocate to the Washington area and work full time for ten weeks on their …

Flight Physician - November, 2002, Civil Aviation Medical Association

Browse all Civil Aviation Medical Association Newsletters

A sixteen page newsletter of the Civil Aviation Medical Association. The newsletter provided news about civil aviation medicine and information related to the organization.

Mechanical Properties Of Corn And Soybean Meal, Marek Molenda, Michael D. Montross, Jozef Horabik, Ira Joseph Ross

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Ground corn and soybean meal are common ingredients in feed mixes. The knowledge of their mechanical properties is important to the feed manufacturer and consumer. Changes in these properties can lead to abnormally high or low levels of active ingredients in finished feed, thus decreasing its quality. Mechanical properties of wheat, corn meal, and soybean meal were investigated using a modified direct shear apparatus. The moisture content (wet basis), uncompacted bulk density, and particle density were: 10.4%, 733 kg/m³, and 1410 kg/m³ for soft red winter wheat; 11.4%, 583 kg/m³, and 1350 kg/m³ for …

The Family Science Starter Kit: A Manual To Assist You In The Development Of A Family Aeronautical Science Program, Henry R. Leher, Uno Aviation Institute

Faculty Books and Monographs

UNOAI Report 02-6

This book is designed to involve families working together on several different hands-on activities during evening meetings at school. The basis for these activities is the in-school study of related science and mathematical concepts and topics by the students in each family. The program provides an opportunity for families to work together in an interesting and enjoyable manner. The Family Aeronautical Science demonstration project consisted of three parts: (1) the in-school study of aeronautics during select science classes; (2) the extensive after-school use of the school’s computer laboratory; and (3) evening Family Aeronautical Science Nights. Key parts …

Mineralization Of Manure Nutrients, Bahman Eghball, Brian J. Wienhold, John E. Gilley, Roger A. Eigenberg

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

In order to apply manure or compost to fulfill the nutrient requirements of a crop, knowledge of the amount of nutrients mineralized following application is needed. Nutrient mineralization from applied manure depends on temperature, soil moisture, soil properties, manure characteristics, and microbial activity. Since these factors cannot be accurately predicted, nutrient mineralization from applied manure can only be approximated. Nitrogen (N) availability from applied manure includes the inorganic N (NO₃-N and NH₄-N) in manure plus the amount of organic N mineralized following application. Nitrogen mineralization differs for different manure types since the inorganic/organic fraction and quality …

Wright State University College Of Engineering And Computer Science Bits And Pcs Newsletter, Volume 19, Number 1, October 2002, College Of Engineering And Computer Science, Wright State University

BITs and PCs Newsletter

A sixteen page newsletter created by the Wright State University College of Engineering and Computer Science that addresses the current affairs of the college.

Nebraska Blueprint – Fall 2002

Nebraska Blueprint (Student Publication)

Table of Contents:

From the Editor

You Never Know Where the Road Will Lead – Civil engineering graduate student takes research on the road.

Feel the POWER! – Quarter-scale tractor team strives for excellence in competition and continues to move up in the ranks.

Independent Study Team Goes Robotic – The story behind the making of a robot by an undergraduate independent study team.

A Fine-Tuned Balance – Biological systems engineering student balances school and musical interests.

100 Hundred Years of Nebraska Blueprint – Serving engineering students of NU for a century, the Nebraska Blueprint celebrates its 100th Anniversary with …

Evaluation Of 70/30 D,L-Pla For Use As A Resorbable Interbody Fusion Cage, Jeffrey M. Toth, Mei Wang, Jeffrey L. Scifert, G. Bryan Cornwall, Bradley T. Estes, Howard Seim, Simon Turner

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Titanium lumbar interbody spinal fusion devices are reported to be 90% effective for single-level lumbar interbody fusion, although radiographic determination of fusion has been debated. Using blinded radiographic, biomechanic, histologic, and statistical measures, researchers in the present study evaluated a radiolucent 70/30 poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) (70/30 D,L-PLa) interbody fusion device packed with autograft or rhBMP-2 on a collagen sponge in 25 sheep at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. A trend of increased fusion stiffness, radiographic fusion, and histologic fusion was demonstrated from 3 months to 24 months. Device degradation was associated with a mild to moderate chronic inflammatory response at …

Recurrent Neural Networks And Algorithms For Reconstruction Of Images From Noisy And/Or Partial Data, Ming-Jung Seow

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

In this thesis, modular architectures and neighborhood-distance based learning algorithms for fast and effective convergence with increased storage capacity of Hopfield neural networks are presented. The main objective of this research work is to better understand the function of recurrent neural networks and the influence of modularity within a network, and to design, implement, and test the performance of modular Hopfield neural networks for pattern association. Mathematical analysis and results are provided to show that the speed, storage capacity, and generalization capability of the recurrent networks are improved significantly by incorporating the modular architectures and learning algorithms. A new ratio …

Support For Statistical Analysis Of The Configurable Port Simulation (Cports), Saurav Mazumdar

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The primary objective of this thesis is to provide support for statistical analysis of CPortS: a transportation logistics simulation, which models the movement of military traffic through seaports and the interaction of the traffic with port infrastructure. By any standards, CPortS is a very large, data intensive simulation. It provides capabilities for analyzing many important issues such as port clearance and throughput. CPortS was classically run in single run mode. Only a single replication of the simulation was performed and conclusions were drawn from the results obtained. Users and analysts of CPortS performed multiple runs only to see the effect …

Approaching High Fidelity Human Tracking And Representation In Interactive Virtual Environments, Taimur K. Khan

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This thesis revolves around an Office of Naval Research (ONR) grant known as Virtual Environments for Training (VET). The primary goal is to determine the effectiveness of an immersive environment for training; the secondary goal is to compare the results of this study to a similar study conducted in an environment that is less immersive.

Effectiveness will be determined by the performance of trainees manning a virtual military checkpoint. A four-wall immersive environment employing cave technology will be compared to a three dimensional desktop version of the scenarios employed in the more immersive environment. In order to make this comparison, …

A Mechanical System For Soil Reconstruction, John Patrick Fulton, Larry G. Wells, Timothy D. Smith

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

One of the most perplexing problems associated with reclaiming surface–mined lands is excessive compaction of soil due to the heavy earthmoving equipment used during the reclamation process. Over the years, some innovative material handling schemes have been devised to limit vehicle traffic during reclamation on reconstructed soil. However, final grading operations can often create root–limiting bulk densities, which affect plant growth and yield. The purpose of this article is to describe a mechanism designed at the University of Kentucky whereby mine soil can be reconstructed without introducing compaction caused by surface traffic in order for the soil to sustain desirable …

Microbial Cellulose Utilization: Fundamentals And Biotechnology, Lee R. Lynd, Paul J. Weimer, Willem H. Van Zyl, Isak S. Pretorius

Dartmouth Scholarship

Fundamental features of microbial cellulose utilization are examined at successively higher levels of aggregation encompassing the structure and composition of cellulosic biomass, taxonomic diversity, cellulase enzyme systems, molecular biology of cellulase enzymes, physiology of cellulolytic microorganisms, ecological aspects of cellulase-degrading communities, and rate-limiting factors in nature. The methodological basis for studying microbial cellulose utilization is considered relative to quantification of cells and enzymes in the presence of solid substrates as well as apparatus and analysis for cellulose-grown continuous cultures. Quantitative description of cellulose hydrolysis is addressed with respect to adsorption of cellulase enzymes, rates of enzymatic hydrolysis, bioenergetics of microbial …

Residual Effects Of Compost And Fertilizer Applications On Nutrients In Runoff, John E. Gilley, Bahman Eghball

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The application of compost or fertilizer at rates that exceed crop nutrient requirements can result in phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) accumulation in soil. This study was conducted to determine the influence of soil P and N contents on the concentrations and total amounts of P and N transported in runoff. Composted beef cattle feedlot manure or inorganic fertilizer were added from 1992 to 1995 to a Sharpsburg silty clay loam soil at rates sufficient to meet P or N requirements for corn and incorporated following application. After four years of corn production following the last compost application, P concentration, …

An Automated Coronary Artery Occlusion Device For Stimulating Collateral Development In Vivo, Richard Rys, John F. Ladisa, John P. Tessmer, Weidong Gu, Judy R. Kersten, David C. Warltier, Paul S. Pagel

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction: Repetitive, brief coronary artery occlusions produce collateral development in experimental animals. This model causes coronary collateralization in a highly reproducible fashion, but the process is very labor intensive. We report the design and use of a fully automated hydraulic coronary occlusion device capable of producing repetitive coronary occlusions and enhancement of coronary collateral development in dogs.

Methods: The device consists of analog electronics that allow adjustment of occlusion number, frequency, pressure and duration, and mechanical components responsible for the coronary occlusion. The motor and piston of the device are coupled to a chronically implanted hydraulic vascular occluder …

Investigation Of Lower-Limb Tissue Perfusion During Loading, Barbara Silver-Thorn

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

An extant tissue indentor used for amputee residual limb tissue indentation studies was modified to include laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) to enable measurement of tissue perfusion during indentation. This device allows quantitative assessment of the mechanical and physiological response of soft tissues to load, as demonstrated by indentation studies of the lower-limb tissues of young healthy subjects. Potential measures of interest include the relative change in tissue perfusion with load and the time delays associated with the perfusion response during tissue loading and unloading. Such measures may prove useful in future studies of residual limb tissues, improving our understanding of …

Dimensional Study Of Desaminotyrosyl Polyarylates, Kalsank Vaishali Pai

Theses

Synthetic polymers have found widespread usage and acceptance in various areas of the medical device industry. The recognition that no polymeric biornaterials are truly biocompatible has led to the search for bioerodible materials with desirable biological and physical properties for use as tissue engineering scaffolds and to enable in-vivo devices. Several methodologies have been tried and tested to invent the "ideal" biopolymer. The ideal polymeric biomaterial would be one that offers a favorable response at both the cellular and the systemic level with minimum alteration to its mechanical properties and chemistry. The systematic investigation of process-structure-property space to determine the …

Quantitative Assessment Of Reflex Blood Pressure Regulation Using A Dynamic Model Of The Cardiovascular System, Tanha Patel

Theses

A quantitative understanding of the changes in coronary, pulmonary and systemic hemodynamic variables and their effects on the regulation mechanism is important to the better postoperative management of patients with impaired cardiac function. The arterial baroreflex plays a key role in blood pressure homeostasis, and its impairment may result in exaggerated blood pressure fluctuations and an increased risk of cardiovascular morbid events.

The objective of this work was to construct a mathematical model of the cardiovascular system, which will allow us to simulate the effects of the baroreceptor reflex regulation on sudden changes in blood pressure, caused by sudden changes …

Cortical Response To Facial Expressions Of Young Adult Males With Autism Spectrum Disorders And Controls Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Fmri), Jagriti Arora

Theses

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is defined by deficits in social and emotional impairments and this study aims to identify specific brain regions involved during facial processing. The simple task of focusing on the face during social interactions for the normal group is found difficult by the autistic group.

In this study, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used as subjects performed two experimental tasks (EXPLICIT and IMPLICIT) in which a series of photographs of nine males and nine females displaying three affective states (6 fear, 6 happy and 6 neutral) and six scrambled- face control stimuli were presented …

Design And Evaluation Of Processes For Fuel Fabrication: Year 1 Final Report, Georg F. Mauer

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

The project objective is the design and evaluation of manufacturing processes for transmuter fuel fabrication. The large-scale deployment of remote fabrication and refabrication processes will be required for all transmutation scenarios. Current program emphasis is on a five-year effort to determine the feasibility of transmutation as a technology to limit the need for repository storage of spent commercial fuel. The evaluation of the fabrication processes will create a decision support data base to document design, operations, and costs. Fabrication processes required for different fuel types differ in terms of equipment types, throughput, and cost. The year 1 project was focused …

Masseter Muscle Activity Resulting From Stimulation Of Hypothalamic Behavioral Sites : Wavelet Analysis, Anne Marie Petrock

Theses

Patterns of electromyographic (EMG) activity can give an insight into muscle activity associated with a given behavioral state. The masseter muscle is positioned closely to the temporomandibular joint and controls the position and movement of the jaw. The hypothalamus is the region of the brain associated with emotional behavior. In an effort to further understand the muscle activity underlying emotional display, the hypothalamus in two cats was stimulated to evoke a stereotyped emotional response, known as the "rage response." Unsheathing of the claws, retraction of the ears, significant pupillary dilation and vocalization (hissing) characterize this behavior. EMG data obtained at …

Design And Evaluation Of Processes For Fuel Fabrication: Year 1 Final Report, Georg F. Mauer

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

The project objective is the design and evaluation of manufacturing processes for transmuter fuel fabrication. The large-scale deployment of remote fabrication and refabrication processes will be required for all transmutation scenarios. Current program emphasis is on a five-year effort to determine the feasibility of transmutation as a technology to limit the need for repository storage of spent commercial fuel. The evaluation of the fabrication processes will create a decision support data base to document design, operations, and costs. Fabrication processes required for different fuel types differ in terms of equipment types, throughput, and cost. The year 1 project was focused …

Atomic Force Microscopy Used To Determine The Young's Modulus Of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells, Samuel C. Lieber

Theses

The Young's modulus of cultured mouse and rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) was measured with an atomic force microscope (AFM). The AFM can image the three-dimensional structure of biological cells in a physiological environment enabling real-time biochemical and physiological processes to be monitored at a resolution similar to that obtained for the electron microscope (EM). Cellular mechanical properties were determined by indenting the cell's body, and analyzing the indentation data with classical infinitesimal strain theory. This calculation was accomplished by modeling the AFM probe as a cone. as well as a blunted cone. The blunted cone geometry fits the …

Analysis For Cooperative Behavior Effectiveness Of Autonomous Wide Area Search Munitions, Sang M. Park

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate how a simulation model can accurately represent the performance of the autonomous wide area search munitions, and to find the effectiveness of the cooperative behavior on the autonomous munitions. Though it does not provide a practical solution for the development of the autonomous wide area search munitions, this research will show some meaningful allocations of the munitions tasks that are applicable to the development of the autonomous munitions. For the first phase, this thesis presents how accurately a simplified simulation model can represent a proposed weapon system by comparing the simulation results …

On The Selection Of Simulation Software For Manufacturing Application, Amr Arisha, Mohie El Baradie

Conference papers

The growing complexity of manufacturing along with the need for higher efficiency, greater flexibility, better product quality and lower cost urged the use of simulation in manufacturing systems. The number and variety of simulation software packages on the market increased as well. Consequently, the varieties of these packages led to some bewilderment on the part of potential users when faced the selection process. The present article addresses an overview of material addressed in journals, conferences, and textbooks on the selection of appropriate simulation software. It also suggests a classification of main criteria to be considered in evaluating simulation software packages. …

Field Guide To The Geology Of The Harlan County Lake Area, Harlan County, Nebraska, With A History Of Events Leading To Construction Of Harlan County Dam, Robert F. Diffendal Jr., Duane R. Mohlman, R. George Corner, F. Edwin Harvey, K. J. Warren, Scott Summerside, Roger K. Pabian, Duane A. Eversoll

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

The year 2002 will mark the fiftieth anniversary of completion of the Harlan County Dam and Multi-Purpose Reservoir. This seems a good time to write about the history of and reasons for building the dam, the effects of the dam and reservoir on the Republican River valley, and the geologic features seen along the shores of the lake and areas nearby. As many junior authors helped produced this educational circular, they are listed in the table of contents. All other sections were written by the senior author.

Includes July 2016 update: Addendum of photographs showing fault traces on drought-exposed lake …

A Study On The Factors That Influence The Acoustic Performance Of A Steel Stud Wall Assembly, Hyun-Suk Chung, Gap-Deug Kim, Kwan-Seob Yang, Kyung-Woo Kim

CCFSS Proceedings of International Specialty Conference on Cold-Formed Steel Structures (1971 - 2018)

With the recent introduction of light gauge steel framing systems in the concrete-dominated Korean construction industry, more buildings are built with drywall that is mainly composed of steel studs and gypsum boards. While load-bearing steel studs are extensively applied in residential construction, nonload-bearing steel studs are applied in various building fields such as commercial, educational, as well as residential. As building projects involving steel stud walls are becoming to increase, higher demands in performance are requested from architects and builders, especially in the field of sound performance. A series of acoustic test were performed in the nationally certified sound-testing laboratory …