Digital Commons Network^™

3-D Image Registration Using Fast Fourier Transform, With Potential Applications To Geoinformatics And Bioinformaticsa, Roberto Araiza, Matthew G. Averill, George R. Keller, Scott A. Starks

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

FFT-based techniques are actively used to register 2-D images, i.e., to find the shift, rotation, and scaling necessary to align one image with the other. It is desirable to extend these techniques to the problem of registering 3-D images. Registration of 3-D images is an important problem in areas such as bioinformatics (e.g., in protein docking) and geoinformatics (e.g., in earth modeling).

Using Expert Knowledge In Solving The Seismic Inverse Problem, Matthew G. Averill, Kate Miller, George R. Keller, Vladik Kreinovich, Roberto Araiza, Scott A. Starks

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

For many practical applications, it it important to solve the seismic inverse problem, i.e., to measure seismic travel times and reconstruct velocities at different depths from this data. The existing algorithms for solving the seismic inverse problem often take too long and/or produce un-physical results -- because they do not take into account the knowledge of geophysicist experts. In this paper, we analyze how expert knowledge can be used in solving the seismic inverse problem.

Dissolution, Reactor, And Environmental Behavior Of Zro2-Mgo Inert Fuel Matrix: Quarterly Report, January 2006 To March 2006, Kiel Steven Holliday, Thomas Hartmann, Kenneth Czerwinski

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

This project will examine inert matrix fuels containing ZrO₂ and MgO as the inert matrix, with the relative amount of MgO varied from 30% to 70% in ZrO₂. Reactor physics calculations will be used to examine suitable quantities of burnable poisons from the candidate elements Gd, Er, or Hf with reactor grade Pu providing the fissile component, with up to 10% of ²³⁹Pu. Ceramics will be synthesized and characterized based on the reactor physics results. The solubility of the fuel ceramics, in reactor conditions, reprocessing conditions, and repository conditions, will be investigated in a manner to …

Synthesis And Properties Of Metallic Technetium And Technetium - Zirconium Alloys As A Radioactive Storage Waste Form To Stabilize The Technetium Waste Stream Of The Urex+1 Process, Frederic Poineau, Thomas Hartmann, Kenneth Czerwinski

Waste Forms Campaign (TRP)

In the AFCI program the UREX+1 process is proposed as one of the most promising technique to separate TRU (transuranic elements) form LWR spent nuclear fuel in the years to come. The application of UREX+1 results in good separation of the 5f-transuranics from the 4f-lanthanides, reduced waste volumes by eliminating the uranium content, and reduced waste package costs. Technetium-99 will be separated together with uranium and iodine within the first process steps. After the separation of uranium, technetium and iodine must be immobilized by their incorporation in a suitable waste storage form. Based on recent activities within the AFCI community, …

Interval-Based Robust Statistical Techniques For Non-Negative Convex Functions With Application To Timing Analysis Of Computer Chips, Michael Orshansky, Wei-Shen Wang, Gang Xiang, Vladik Kreinovich

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

In chip design, one of the main objectives is to decrease its clock cycle; however, the existing approaches to timing analysis under uncertainty are based on fundamentally restrictive assumptions. Statistical timing analysis techniques assume that the full probabilistic distribution of timing uncertainty is available; in reality, the complete probabilistic distribution information is often unavailable. Additionally, the existing alternative of treating uncertainty as interval-based, or affine, is limited since it cannot handle probabilistic information in principle. In this paper, a fundamentally new paradigm for timing uncertainty description is proposed as a way to consistently and rigorously handle partially available descriptions of …

Swarm Intelligence: Theoretical Proof That Empirical Techniques Are Optimal, Dmitry Iourinskiy, Scott A. Starks, Vladik Kreinovich, Stephen F. Smith

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

A natural way to distribute tasks between autonomous agents is to use swarm intelligence techniques, which simulate the way social insects (such as wasps) distribute tasks between themselves. In this paper, we theoretically prove that the corresponding successful biologically inspired formulas are indeed statistically optimal (in some reasonable sense).

The Fathead Minnow In Aquatic Toxicology: Past, Present And Future, Gerald T. Ankley, Daniel L. Villeneuve

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

This paper reviews the roles of the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) as a small fish model in the field of aquatic toxicology. The species has been (and is) extensively used both for regulatory testing and research, especially in North America. For example, tests with the fathead minnow, ranging from 48-h lethality through partial and full life-cycle assays, are routinely used for regulatory programs aimed at assessing potential risks of new chemicals such as high-production volume materials and pesticides, as well as impacts of complex mixtures like effluents. The species also has been used for a wide variety of …

Cracking Of Martensitic Alloy Ep-823 Under Controlled Potential, Ajit K. Roy, M. K. Hossain

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research

The susceptibility of martensitic Alloy EP-823 to stress corrosion cracking was evaluated with and without an applied cathodic potential using the slow-strain-rate (SSR) testing technique. The magnitude of the applied potential was based on the corrosion potential determined by cyclic polarization. The cracking susceptibility in an acidic environment at different temperatures was expressed in terms of the true failure stress (ơ_f), time to failure (TTF), and ductility parameters, including percent elongation (%El) and percent reduction in area (%RA). The data indicate that the magnitudes of ơ_r, TTF, %El, and %RA were reduced due to cathodic charging. …

University Of Nevada, Las Vegas Transmutation Research Program Annual Report Academic Year 2005-2006, Anthony Hechanova, Rebecca Arbour

Transmutation Research Program Reports (TRP)

It is my pleasure to present the UNLV Transmutation Research Program’s fifth annual report that highlights the academic year 2005 – 2006. Supporting this document are the many technical reports and scientific papers that have been generated over the past five years.

In the fifth year of our program, we saw amazing growth in the Radiochemistry Ph.D. program with a total of 12 students in the second year of the program (twice the number we anticipated in the program proposal). In the back of this issue, under Infrastructure Augmentation, you will find some news about the new academic programs sponsored …

Impact Of The Synthesis Process On Structure Properties For Afci Fuel Candidates, Thomas Hartmann

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative research on transmutation fuels includes mono-nitride ceramic fuel forms, and consists of closely coordinated “hot” actinide and “cold” inert and surrogate fuels work. Matrix and surrogate materials work involves three major components: (1) fuel matrix synthesis and fabrication, (2) fuel performance, and (3) fuel materials modeling. The synthesis and fabrication component supports basic material studies, as well as actinide fuel fabrication work through fuel fabrication process development. Fuel performance studies are examining the tolerance of nitride-type fuel to heavy irradiation damage. The fuel materials simulation work involves both atomistic and continuum scale modeling employing first principles, …

Solution-Based Synthesis Of Nitride Fuels, Kenneth Czerwinski, Thomas Hartmann

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

A wide variety of fuel concepts are considered for advanced reactor technology including metals, metal oxides or metal nitrides as solid solutions or composite materials. Nitride fuels have appropriate properties for advanced fuels including high thermal conductivity, thermal stability, solid-state solubility of actinides, fissile metal density, and suitable neutronic properties. A drawback of nitride fuels involves their synthesis. A key parameter for preparing oxide fuels is the precipitation step in the sol-gel process. For nitride fuels, the current synthetic route is carbothermic reduction from the oxide to the nitride. This process step is based on solid phase reactions and for …

Assimilating Non-Probabilistic Assessments Of The Estimation Of Uncertainty Bias In Expert Judgment Elicitation Using An Evidence Based Approach In High Consequence Conceptual Designs, Colin K. S. Barrows

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

One of the major challenges in conceptual designs of complex systems is the identification of uncertainty embedded in the information due to lack of historic data. This becomes of increased concern especially in high-risk industries. This document reports a developed methodology that allows for the cognitive bias, estimation of uncertainty, to be elucidated to improve the quality of elicited data. It consists of a comprehensive literature review that begins by defining a 'High Consequence Conceptual Engineering Environment' and identifies the high-risk industries in which these environments are found. It proceeds with a discussion that differentiates risk and uncertainty in decision-making …

Assessment And Selection Of Stormwater Best Management Practices For Highway Construction, Retrofitting, And Maintenance, Lynn A. Corson

JTRP Technical Reports

The objectives of this research were:

1. Research existing data for structural and non-structural BMPs pertaining to the Phase II NPDES Stormwater Construction and Post-Construction Minimum Control Measures. Identify BMPs suitable for use in construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation and retrofitting activities along INDOT roadways and facilties.

2. Give consideration to the Indiana geological and meteorological conditions and the INDOT resources available for maintenance of water quality BMPs.

3. Review documents on the INDOT Publications List and make recommendations regarding potential revisions and/or additions to the documents to adequately address the NPDES Stormwater Program requirements as they pertain to INDOT activities.

Afci Quarterly Input – Unlv October 1 Through December 31, 2005, Harry Reid Center For Environmental Studies. Nuclear Science And Technology Division

Transmutation Research Program Reports (TRP)

Quarterly report highlighting research projects, activities and objectives of the Transmutation Research Program at the Nuclear Science & Technology Division, Harry Reid Research Center.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas supports the AFCI through research and development of technologies for economic and environmentally sound refinement of spent nuclear fuel. The UNLV program has four components: infrastructure, international collaboration, student-based research, and management and program support.

Monte-Carlo-Type Techniques For Processing Interval Uncertainty, And Their Potential Engineering Applications, Vladik Kreinovich, J. Beck, Carlos M. Ferregut, A. Sanchez, George R. Keller, Matthew G. Averill, Scott A. Starks

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

In engineering applications, we need to make decisions under uncertainty. Traditionally, in engineering, statistical methods are used, methods assuming that we know the probability distribution of different uncertain parameters. Usually, we can safely linearize the dependence of the desired quantities y (e.g., stress at different structural points) on the uncertain parameters xi - thus enabling sensitivity analysis. Often, the number n of uncertain parameters is huge, so sensitivity analysis leads to a lot of computation time. To speed up the processing, we propose to use special Monte-Carlo-type simulations.

Afci Quarterly Input – Unlv July 1 Through September 30, 2005, Harry Reid Center For Environmental Studies. Nuclear Science And Technology Division

Transmutation Research Program Reports (TRP)

Quarterly report highlighting research projects, activities and objectives of the Transmutation Research Program at the Nuclear Science & Technology Division, Harry Reid Research Center.The University of Nevada, Las Vegas supports the AFCI through research and development of technologies for economic and environmentally sound refinement of spent nuclear fuel. The UNLV program has four components: infrastructure, international collaboration, student-based research, and management and program support.

Design Considerations For Compact Ceramic Offset Strip-Fin, High Temperature Heat Exchangers, S. Subramanian, V. Ponyavin, C.R. Delosier, Y. Chen, A.E. Hechanova

Enhanced, Compact and Ultra-Compact Heat Exchangers: Science, Engineering and Technology

No abstract provided.

Interval-Type And Affine Arithmetic-Type Techniques For Handling Uncertainty In Expert Systems, With Applications To Geoinformatics And Computer Security, Martine Ceberio, Vladik Kreinovich, Sanjeev Chopra, Luc Longpre, Hung T. Nguyen, Bertram Ludaescher, Chitta Baral

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

Expert knowledge consists of statements Sj (facts and rules). The expert's degree of confidence in each statement Sj can be described as a (subjective) probability (some probabilities are known to be independent). Examples: if we are interested in oil, we should look at seismic data (confidence 90%); a bank A trusts a client B, so if we trust A, we should trust B too (confidence 99%). If a query Q is deducible from facts and rules, what is our confidence p(Q) in Q? We can describe Q as a propositional formula F in terms of Sj; computing p(Q) exactly is …

From Intervals To Domains: Towards A General Description Of Validated Uncertainty, With Potential Applications To Geospatial And Meteorological Data, Vladik Kreinovich, Olga Kosheleva, Scott A. Starks, Kavitha Tupelly, Gracaliz P. Dimuro, Antonio C. Da Costa Rocha, Karen Villaverde

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

When physical quantities xi are numbers, then the corresponding measurement accuracy can be usually represented in interval terms, and interval computations can be used to estimate the resulting uncertainty in y=f(x1,...,xn).

In some practical problems, we are interested in more complex structures such as functions, operators, etc. Examples: we may be interested in how the material strain depends on the applied stress, or in how a physical quantity such as temperature or velocity of sound depends on a 3-D point.

For many such structures, there are ways to represent uncertainty, but usually, for each new structure, we have to perform …

Interval Versions Of Statistical Techniques With Applications To Environmental Analysis, Bioinformatics, And Privacy In Statistical Databases, Vladik Kreinovich, Luc Longpre, Scott A. Starks, Gang Xiang, Jan Beck, Raj Kandathi, Asis Nayak, Scott Ferson, Janos Hajagos

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

In many areas of science and engineering, it is desirable to estimate statistical characteristics (mean, variance, covariance, etc.) under interval uncertainty. For example, we may want to use the measured values x(t) of a pollution level in a lake at different moments of time to estimate the average pollution level; however, we do not know the exact values x(t) -- e.g., if one of the measurement results is 0, this simply means that the actual (unknown) value of x(t) can be anywhere between 0 and the detection limit DL. We must therefore modify the existing statistical algorithms to process such …

Modular Neural Network To Predict The Distribution Of Nitrate In Ground Water Using On-Ground Nitrogen Loading And Recharge Data, M. Almasri, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Artificial neural networks have proven to be an attractive mathematical tool to represent complex relationships in many branches of hydrology. Due to this attractive feature, neural networks are increasingly being applied in subsurface modeling where intricate physical processes and lack of detailed field data prevail. In this paper, a methodology using modular neural networks (MNN) is proposed to simulate the nitrate concentrations in an agriculture-dominated aquifer. The methodology relies on geographic information system (GIS) tools in the preparation and processing of the MNN input–output data. The basic premise followed in developing the MNN input–output response patterns is to designate the …

Towards Combining Probabilistic And Interval Uncertainty In Engineering Calculations: Algorithms For Computing Statistics Under Interval Uncertainty, And Their Computational Complexity, Vladik Kreinovich, Gang Xiang, Scott A. Starks, Luc Longpre, Martine Ceberio, Roberto Araiza, J. Beck, R. Kandathi, A. Nayak, R. Torres, J. Hajagos

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

In many engineering applications, we have to combine probabilistic and interval uncertainty. For example, in environmental analysis, we observe a pollution level x(t) in a lake at different moments of time t, and we would like to estimate standard statistical characteristics such as mean, variance, autocorrelation, correlation with other measurements. In environmental measurements, we often only measure the values with interval uncertainty. We must therefore modify the existing statistical algorithms to process such interval data.

In this paper, we provide a survey of algorithms for computing various statistics under interval uncertainty and their computational complexity. The survey includes both known …

Kaluza-Klein 5d Ideas Made Fully Geometric, Scott A. Starks, Olga Kosheleva, Vladik Kreinovich

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

After the 1916 success of General relativity that explained gravity by adding time as a fourth dimension, physicists have been trying to explain other physical fields by adding extra dimensions. In 1921, Kaluza and Klein has shown that under certain conditions like cylindricity (dg_{ij}/dx^5=0), the addition of the 5th dimension can explain the electromagnetic field. The problem with this approach is that while the model itself is geometric, conditions like cylindricity are not geometric. This problem was partly solved by Einstein and Bergman who proposed, in their 1938 paper, that the 5th dimension is compactified into a small circle S^1 …

Afci Quarterly Input – Unlv April Through June, 2005, Harry Reid Center For Environmental Studies. Nuclear Science And Technology Division

Transmutation Research Program Reports (TRP)

Quarterly report highlighting research projects, activities and objectives of the Transmutation Research Program at the Nuclear Science & Technology Division, Harry Reid Research Center.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas supports the AFCI through research and development of technologies for economic and environmentally sound refinement of spent nuclear fuel. The UNLV program has four components: infrastructure, international collaboration, student-based research, and management and program support.

Dissolution, Reactor, And Environmental Behavior Of Zro2-Mgo Inert Fuel Matrix: Quarterly Report, April 2005 To June 2005, Earl Wolfram, Thomas Hartmann, Kenneth Czerwinski

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

This project will examine inert matrix fuels containing ZrO₂ and MgO as the inert matrix, with the relative amount of MgO varied from 30% to 70% in ZrO₂. Reactor physics calculations will be used to examine suitable quantities of burnable poisons from the candidate elements Gd, Er, or Hf with reactor grade Pu providing the fissile component, with up to 10 % of ²³⁹Pu. Ceramics will be synthesized and characterized based on the reactor physics results. The solubility the fuel ceramics, in reactor conditions, reprocessing conditions, and repository conditions, will be investigated in a manner to …

Dissolution, Reactor, And Environmental Behavior Of Zro2-Mgo Inert Fuel Matrix: Neutronic Evaluation Of Zro2-Mgo Inert Fuels, E. Shwageraus, A. Galperin, E. Fridman, S. Kolesnikov

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

This report presents results of the analysis performed within the framework of “Dissolution, Reactor, and Environmental Behavior of ZrO₂-MgO Inert Fuel Matrix” project managed by University of Nevada at Las Vegas, Harry Reid Center for Environmental Studies. The main objective of the study was to explore the basic neutronic feasibility of using MgO-ZrO₂ as inert fuel matrix for Pu recycling in conventional Light Water Reactors (LWR).

Outsourcing Of Kytc Project Delivery Functions, Donn E. Hancher, April Brenneman, Robin Meagher, Paul M. Goodrum

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The rise in daily travelers on highways due to population growth, and higher quality and service expectations of the public, are putting increased demands on DOTs today. These demands, combined with decreasing staff sizes and changing resources, are causing DOTs to investigate alternative methods for accomplishing their essential functions. A major option is to contract out more of their work to external parties, commonly called “outsourcing .” The purpose of this project was to evaluate the potential effectiveness, benefits, concerns and implementation requirements of outsourcing by the Kentucky Department of Highways.

This report looks at current outsourcing practices in other …

New Algorithms For Statistical Analysis Of Interval Data, Gang Xiang, Scott A. Starks, Vladik Kreinovich, Luc Longpre

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

It is known that in general, statistical analysis of interval data is an NP-hard problem: even computing the variance of interval data is, in general, NP-hard. Until now, only one case was known for which a feasible algorithm can compute the variance of interval data: the case when all the measurements are accurate enough -- so that even after the measurement, we can distinguish between different measured values Xi. In this paper, we describe several new cases in which feasible algorithms are possible -- e.g., the case when all the measurements are done by using the same (not necessarily very …

Inside Unlv, Erin O'Donnell, Diane Russell, Carol C. Harter

Inside UNLV

No abstract provided.

Developing A Gis And Hydrological Modeling Approach For Sustainable Water Resources Management In The West Bank -- Palestine, Walid Wajeeh Sabbah

Theses and Dissertations

This research deals with setting up a GIS and hydrological modeling based approach for sustainable water resources management in the West Bank of Palestine. This water sustainability approach took into consideration the water balance, the social, the economic, the demographic, the environmental, and the institutional components in order to enhance and promote the sustainable development in Palestine, both on the short and long runs. To evaluate the water balance component, a methodology was introduced to create the Water Sustainability Map (WSM). Since the groundwater is currently the only accessible water source by the Palestinians, the WSM is represented by the …