Digital Commons Network^™

Lifecycle Energy And Air Emission Differences Between Electric And Internal Combustion Vehicles, David L. Mccleese

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. Federal Government has encouraged shifting from internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) to electric vehicles (EVs) with three objectives, reducing foreign oil dependence, greenhouse gas emissions, and criteria pollutant emissions. This thesis uses Monte Carlo simulation to predict lifecycle emissions and energy consumption differences per kilometer driven from replacing ICEVs with three EV options: lead acid, nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd), and nickel metal hydride (NiMH). All three EV options reduce U.S. foreign oil dependence by shifting to domestic coal. The probabilities that lifecycle energy consumption per km driven improve are lead acid 76%, Ni-Cd 64%, and NiMH 90%. The probabilities …

Chromate Content Bias As A Function Of Particle Size In Aircraft Primer Paint Overspray, David B. Novy

Theses and Dissertations

Spray painting operations using chromate-containing primer paints produce particles which may expose workers to strontium chromate. Chromate contains hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) which is a confirmed human carcinogen. It is suspected that the smaller particles contain disproportionately less Cr(VI) than larger particles. In order to determine if a bias in chromate content exists, paint particles were collected and separated based on particle size and the Cr(VI) concentration was determined. Aviation primer paint from the DeSoto and Deft companies was sprayed in a booth and seven-stage cascade impactors were used to separate particles.

Pilot Mental Workload Calibration, Jeremy B. Noel

Theses and Dissertations

Predicting high pilot mental workload is important to the U.S. Air Force because lives and aircraft can be lost when errors are made during periods of mental overload and task saturation. Current research efforts use psychophysiological measures such as electroencephalography, cardiac, ocular, and respiration measures in an attempt to identify and predict mental workload levels. The primary focus of this effort is the development of a calibration scheme that allows a small subset of salient psychophysiological features developed using actual flight data for one pilot on a given day to accurately classify pilot mental workload for a separate pilot on …

A Verification And Validation Assessment Of Rapid Availability Prototyping For Testing Operational Readiness, Gurhan Tarman

Theses and Dissertations

Throughout the world, new techniques are developed to test and evaluate systems. The Department of Defense and the US Air Force conduct numerous studies into the reliability and maintainability of current and future weapons systems in an effort to understand the reliability, maintainability, and availability (RM&A) costs of these systems. Furthermore, they must verify RM&A characteristics of systems, which are still in the development phase. The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) is responsible for testing new equipment to ensure their RM&A characteristics meet specifications. Rapid Availability Prototyping for Testing Operational Readiness (RAPTOR) is the software tool developed …

Characterization And Validation Of The Gp-3 Experimental Radar System, Benjamin L. Crossley

Theses and Dissertations

The experimental GP-3 radar system was originally designed and built under contract for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). AFRL sought AFIT's support in characterizing the as delivered' performance of the GP-3. This research effort focused exclusively on software modifications and hardware validations related to the GP-3 post-processing mode. As modified, tested, and validated, the GP-3's post-processing mode is now fully operational. The GP-3 is capable of transmitting and receiving bandlimited (3.5 MHz) waveforms at X-Band frequencies. System characterization tests included, noise performance and frequency response. System noise performance characterization permitted establishment of the receiver 'noise floor' and enabled determination …

A Methodology For Simulating The Joint Strike Fighter's Prognostics And Health Management System, Michael E. Malley

Theses and Dissertations

The Autonomic Logistics System Simulation (ALSim) model was developed to provide decision makers a tool to make informed decisions regarding the Joint Strike Fighter's (JSF) Autonomic Logistics System (ALS). The ALS provides real-time maintenance information to ground maintenance crews, supply depots, and air planners to efficiently manage the availability of JSF aircraft. This thesis effort focuses on developing a methodology to model the Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) component of ALS. The PHM component of JSF monitors the aircraft status. To develop a PHM methodology to use in ALSim a neural network approach is used. Notional JSF prognostic signals were …

Pulmonary Arterial Remodeling Revealed By Microfocal X-Ray Tomography, Kelly L. Karau, Robert C. Molthen, Anita H. Dhyani, Steven Thomas Haworth, Christopher A. Dawson

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Animal models and micro-CT imaging are useful for understanding the functional consequences of, and identifying the genes involved in, the remodeling of vascular structures that accompanies pulmonary vascular disease. Using a micro-CT scanner to image contrast-enhanced arteries in excised lungs from fawn hooded rats (a strain genetically susceptible to hypoxia induced pulmonary hypertension), we found that portions of the pulmonary arterial tree downstream from a given diameter were morphometrically indistinguishable. This 'self-consistency' property provided a means for summarizing the pulmonary arterial tree architecture and mechanical properties using a parameter vector obtained from measurements of the contiguous set of vessel segments …

Safety Impacts Of Rural Road Construction, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Crash data in Kentucky show that the fatal crash rate on two-lane rural roads is substantially higher than on any other type of road. Improvements have been proposed at some locations on this type of road which involve either upgrading the existing two-lane road or adding lanes resulting in a four-lane road. As part of the public information process, highway officials have been asked to document the previous results of this type of construction. The objectives of this study were to: 1) identify sections of two-lane rural roadways where either the two-lane road had been realigned and reconstructed or additional …

Object Detection And Activity Recognition In Digital Image And Video Libraries, Ibrahim Burak Ozer

Dissertations

This thesis is a comprehensive study of object-based image and video retrieval, specifically for car and human detection and activity recognition purposes. The thesis focuses on the problem of connecting low level features to high level semantics by developing relational object and activity presentations. With the rapid growth of multimedia information in forms of digital image and video libraries, there is an increasing need for intelligent database management tools. The traditional text based query systems based on manual annotation process are impractical for today's large libraries requiring an efficient information retrieval system. For this purpose, a hierarchical information retrieval system …

Development And Application Of A Computer Simulation Tool For Ecological Risk Assessments, Haiyi Lu

Theses

In an effort to improve tools in ecological risk assessment (ERA), an ERA software tool was developed and applied. Based on a preliminary evaluation of existing ecorisk models, the relative deficiencies were identified and included the need for a user-friendly interface, an interactive database management system (DBMS), and a comprehensive evaluation of exposure pathways. In this research, Visual Basic (VB) 6.0 and Microsoft SQL server were selected for developing the Windows-based interface and local DBMS, respectively. For the exposure estimate, Yuma and Aberdeen Proving Grounds were identified as baseline ecosystems. Terrestrial and aquatic plant and animal receptor selection was based …

System And Process For Producing Biodiesel Fuel With Reduced Viscosity And A Cloud Point Below Thirty-Two (32) Degrees Fahrenheit , Hossein Noureddini

Papers in Biomaterials

Triglycerides are reacted in a liquid phase reaction with a homogeneous basic catalyst and alcohol, such as ethanol or methanol. The reaction yields a spatially separated two phase result with an upper located non-polar phase consisting principally of transesterified triglycerides and a lower located phase consisting principally of crude glycerol and residual transesterified triglycerides. The transesterified triglycerides and/or glycerol phase is/are optionally, each separately passed through strong cationic ion exchanger(s) to remove anions, resulting in neutral product(s). The crude glycerol is then flashed to remove alcohol and is reacted with an etherifying agent, such as isobutylene or isoamylene, in the …

A Site Specific Impact Study: Valley Fill Construction Impacts On Water Chemistry And Benthic Macroinvertebrate Assemblages, Terry Morton Tomasek

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Downstream impacts of contour surface mining and valley fill construction were evaluated utilizing both water chemistry and EPA approved Rapid Bioassessment Protocol III. Wiley Branch was sampled in February of 1999 before mining perturbation. Five downstream stations were established with benthic macroinvertebrates and water samples collected seasonally for a period of sixteen months. Water chemistry parameters, pH, total aluminum, iron, and manganese, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, sulfates, alkalinity, acidity and specific conductivity fluctuated but generally remained within acceptable governmental limits. Initially, benthic macroinvertebrate communities were well balanced within the stream. There was a high abundance of EPT individuals …

Report Of The State Nuclear Safety Advisor Submitted To The Governor And 120th Legislature As Of January 15, 2001, Paula M. Craighead

Maine Collection

Report of the State Nuclear Safety Advisor submitted to the Governor and 120th Legislature As of January 15, 2001

Paula M. Craighead, State Nuclear Safety Advisor, Executive Department, Maine State Planning Office, Augusta, Maine, 2001.

Contents: Introduction and Executive Summary / I. Maine Yankee Decommissioning / II. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNS) / III. Low-Level Radioactive Waste (LLRW) / IV. High Level Radioactive Waste / V. Transport Routes and Safety Response / VI. Shipments / VII. Status of Federal and State Legal and Administrative Proceedings / References and Resources / Glossary

Design And Implementation Of Car Rental System, Fadi Fayez Abdel-Jaber

Theses Digitization Project

When someone wants to rent a car, the customer will usually think twice about the company from which they want to rent. The decision will be based on factors such as good rates, quality and customer service. The service the company representative offers the client should be fast, clear and accurate. This goal cannot be achieved without an informative system that will enable the customer representative to answer the various questions the client might have.

A Study And Implementation Of An Electronic Commerce Website Using Active Server Pages, Soumaya Boutkhil

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this project is to design an electronic commerce site for MarocMart company. MarocMart.com is an one-stop shopping company for a number of high quality products: carpets, jewelry, pottery, wood, leather, metals, and fashion items, etc... Each article is unique, hand-made by Moroccan craftsmen.

Implementation Business-To-Business Electronic Commercial Website Using Coldfusion 4.5, Teerapong Euawatana

Theses Digitization Project

This project was created using ColdFusion 4.5 to build and implement a commercial web site to present a real picture of electronic commerce. This project is intended to provide enough information for other students who are looking for a guideline for further study and to improve their skills in business from an information management aspect.

Application Of Digital Image Processing To Marker-Free Analysis Of Human Gait, Jane Courtney, David Burke, Annraoi Depaor

Articles

The standard method of human gait analysis in use in gait laboratories today invariably involves marker-based motion tracking systems. Although somewhat effective, these methods require accurate placement of awkward external markers. We report on an enhanced approach being researched and developed at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dublin based on marker-free motion tracking incorporating advanced digital image processing techniques.

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 43 Number 3, Winter 2001, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

4 - UNIVERSITY RESPONDS TO TRAGEDY By SCM Staff. The September terrorist attacks had many repercussions at SCU, including the loss of at least two members of the University family.

12 - BEERS AND DOGS By Adam Breen. English Professor Terry Beers and his wife, Melissa '88, MBA '95, spend many early mornings sledding with their eight huskies.

14 - CALIFORNIA DREAMERS By Susan Vogel. Three current SCU students were dreaming of college long before many people do, thanks to dedicated mentors from the I Have A Dream Foundation .

Lab Fattening And Non-Invasive Estimates Of Body Composition In Deer Mice, Edward T. Unangst, Michael J. Blair, Matthew W. Granger, David W. Hale

United States Air Force: Publications

Total body electrical conductivity measurements and lipid composition were determined for the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) to derive species specific calibration equations for use with EM-SCAN estimates of lean and fat tissue. For each individual, total body electrical conductivity was measured by EM-SCAN, and actual lipid content was determined by chemical extraction. Then, using estimated and actual lipid values, separate calibration equations were generated for freshly captured (lean) and laboratory maintained (fat) individuals, and a combined equation was derived for all individuals. These equations were variable in the accuracy of lipid estimates; the lowest relative error estimate (percent …

Webquests As An Integrative Experience In Introductory Environmental Engineering, Mary P. Cardenas

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

An Integrative Experience was developed as part of an introductory environmental engineering course at Harvey Mudd College. The Integrative Experience was developed to help the college students consider the relationship of science and technology with contemporary society. Junior and senior students enrolled in the course designed WebQuests for middle school students. The WebQuests involved the integration of an environmental issue, problem, or technology and societal effects. WebQuests were designed for a middle school audience in order to expand the amount of engineering outreach that is done at the K-12 level. The HMC students chose WebQuests topics including nuclear and alternative …

Submerged And Solid-State Phytase Fermentation By Aspergillus Niger: Effects Of Agitation And Medium Viscosity On Phytase Production, Fungal Morphology And Inoculum Performance, Maria Papagianni, Sue E. Nokes, Keith Filer

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Qualitative relationships between agitation levels and medium viscosity, Aspergillus niger morphology and phytase production were investigated in submerged and solid-state fermentations. Overall phytase production increased with increasing shaker speeds from 150 to 300 rpm, although specific growth rates and phytase production rates were higher at 150 rpm for 72 h from inoculation. Fungal morphology was greatly influenced by agitation with the morphological forms of small pellets and entangled mycelia predominating at 150 rpm, while the free filamentous form was obtained at 300 rpm. Upon inoculation of SSF, increased productivities were obtained from inocula grown at 150 rpm. A shift towards …

Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute Annual Technical Report Fy 2000, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

KWRRI Annual Technical Reports (USGS’s 104b Grant Program)

The FY 2000 Annual Technical Report for Kentucky consolidates the reporting requirements of the Section 104(b) base grant and previous regional competitive grant awards in a single technical report that includes: 1) a synopsis of each ongoing research project and each project completed during the period, 2) a list of related reports published, 3) a description of information transfer activities, 4) a summary of student support during the reporting period, and 5) notable achievements and awards during the year.

Evaluation Of The Precision Of Magnetic Resonance Phase Velocity Mapping For Blood Flow Measurements, George P. Chatzimavroudis, John N. Oshinski, Robert H. Franch, Peter G. Walker, Ajit P. Yoganathan, Roderic I. Pettigrew

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Evaluating the in vivo accuracy of magnetic resonance phase velocity mapping (PVM) is not straightforward because of the absence of a validated clinical flow quantification technique. The aim of this study was to evaluate PVM by investigating its precision, both in vitro and in vivo, in a 1.5 Tesla scanner. In the former case, steady and pulsatile flow experiments were conducted using an aortic model under a variety of flow conditions (steady: 0.1–5.5 L/min; pulsatile: 10–75 mL/cycle). In the latter case, PVM measurements were taken in the ascending aorta of ten subjects, seven of which had aortic regurgitation. Each velocity …

Kentucky Traffic Collision Facts 2001 Report, Kentucky Transportation Center, Kentucky State Police

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KENTUCKY’S TRAFFIC COLLISION FACTS report for 2001 is based on collision reports submitted to the Kentucky State Police Records Branch. As required by Kentucky Revised statutes 189.635, “every law enforcement agency whose officers investigate a vehicle accident of which a report must be made...shall file a report of the accident...within ten days after investigation of the accident upon forms supplied by the bureau.” The stated purpose of this requirement is to utilize data on traffic collisions for such purposes as will improve the traffic safety program in the Commonwealth. Data contained in this report are based solely on the observations …

Factory Automation: A Controls Course For Every University, Kelvin T. Erickson

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The majority of new control engineering positions is now in manufacturing and involves programmable logic controllers (PLCs). The paper describes two courses developed at the University of Missouri-Rolla to satisfy this demand. Both courses present the subject of programming PLCs with an emphasis on the design of the programs. Both courses contain an integral laboratory component that solidifies the concepts presented in the lectures. The philosophy and pedagogical features of the two courses are first described, followed by the structure of the lecture and the laboratory exercises.

Legends As A Device For Interacting With Visualizations, Mihail E. Tudoreanu, Eileen Kraemer

All Computer Science and Engineering Research

Users and developers of visualization tools must deal with the problem of specifying what information to show and how to represent it. Typically, the user's focus of interest will change over time, and the specifications must change with the user's interests. Techniques for the simple, direct, and intuitive creation and refinement of these specifications can be useful. In this paper we show how legends, a natural element of graphical displays, may be used as a direct and unobstrusive interaction device through which users may interactively specify new visualizations and animations.

Agglomerated Die Casting Lubricant, Mary R. Reidmeyer

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A lubricant for use in lubricating the shot sleeve of a machine for die casting molten metals is in the form of agglomerated particles. The particles have an inorganic high pressure lubricant agglomerated, with a binder material and with an organic material. The solid lubricant is resistant to dusting, caking and breakage, can be fed through an automatic dispensing machine, and combines inorganic and organic materials to achieve excellent lubrication properties. The product has low flash and low smoke release into the environment.

Adaptive Notch Filter For Single And Multiple Narrow-Band Interference, Selina Kuek Lin Mei

Theses : Honours

In this project, the adaptive notch filter for single and Multiple narrow-band interference is implemented using simplified LMS algorithm. Performances of the LMS adaptive algorithms is evaluated and analysed through simulation on the computer using Matlab. The algorithm are then written in C programme and implemented using Texas Instrument Tool which consist of TMS320C54x EMV board and Code Composer Studio.

Consensus Ontologies: Reconciling The Semantics Of Web Pages And Agents, Larry M. Stevens, Michael N. Huhns

Faculty Publications

As you build a Web site, it is worthwhile asking, "Should I put my information where it belongs or where people are most likely to look for it?" Our recent research into improving searching through ontologies is providing some interesting results to answer this question. The techniques developed by our research bring organization to the information received and reconcile the semantics of each document. Our goal is to help users retrieve dynamically generated information that is tailored to their individual needs and preferences. We believe that it is easier for individuals or small groups to develop their own ontologies, regardless …

Middle-Ear Function With Tympanic-Membrane Perforations. I. Measurements And Mechanisms, Susan E. Voss, John J. Rosowski, Saumil N. Merchant, William T. Peake

Engineering: Faculty Publications

Sound transmission through ears with tympanic-membrane ~TM! perforations is not well understood. Here, measurements on human-cadaver ears are reported that describe sound transmission through the middle ear with experimentally produced perforations, which range from 0.5 to 5.0 mm in diameter. Three response variables were measured with acoustic stimulation at the TM: stapes velocity, middle-ear cavity sound pressure, and acoustic impedance at the TM. The stapes-velocity measurements show that perforations cause frequency-dependent losses; at low frequencies losses are largest and increase as perforation size increases. Measurements of middle-ear cavity pressure coupled with the stapes-velocity measurements indicate that the dominant mechanism for …