Digital Commons Network^™

Automatic Segmentation Of Subfigure Image Panels For Multimodal Biomedical Document Retrieval, Beibei Cheng, Sameer K. Antani, R. Joe Stanley, George R. Thoma

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Biomedical images are often referenced for clinical decision support (CDS), educational purposes, and research. The task of automatically finding the images in a scientific article that are most useful for the purpose of determining relevance to a clinical situation is traditionally done using text and is quite challenging. We propose to improve this by associating image features from the entire image and from relevant regions of interest with biomedical concepts described in the figure caption or discussion in the article. However, images used in scientific article figures are often composed of multiple panels where each sub-figure (panel) is referenced in …

Evaluation Of The Physicochemical Properties And Stability Of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Designed For The Delivery Of Dexamethasone To Tumors, Melissa Howard

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Pre-clinical and clinical trials suggest that pre-treatment with dexamethasone (Dex) may facilitate enhanced uptake of subsequently administered chemotherapeutic agents. To reduce the side effects associated with systemic administration of Dex, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) containing dexamethasone palmitate (Dex-P) were prepared as a means of achieving tumor-targeted drug delivery. These studies were aimed at evaluating the physicochemical properties and both the physiological and storage stability of the SLNs.

SLNs were prepared using nanotemplate engineering technology. Stearyl alcohol (SA) was used as the lipid phase with Brij^® 78 and Polysorbate 60 as surfactants and PEG6000 monostearate as a long-chain PEGylating agent. …

Computer Simulation Of A Hollow-Fiber Bioreactor: Heparan Regulated Growth Factors-Receptors Binding And Dissociation Analysis, Changjiang Zhang

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

This thesis demonstrates the use of numerical simulation in predicting the behavior of proteins in a flow environment.

A novel convection-diffusion-reaction computational model is first introduced to simulate fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) binding to its receptor (FGFR) on cell surfaces and regulated by heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) under flow in a bioreactor. The model includes three parts: (1) the flow of medium using incompressible Navier-Stokes equations; (2) the mass transport of FGF-2 using convection-diffusion equations; and (3) the cell surface binding using chemical kinetics. The model consists of a set of coupled nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) for flow and …

Distal Radioulnar Joint Biomechanics And Forearm Muscle Activity, Joseph Scott Bader

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Optimal management of fractures, post-traumatic arthritis and instability of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) requires an understanding of the forces existing across this joint as a function of the activities of daily living. However, such knowledge is currently incomplete. The goal of this research was to quantify the loads that occur at the DRUJ during forearm rotation and to determine the effect that individual muscles have on those loads.

Human and cadaver studies were used to analyze the shear (A-P), transverse (M-L) and resultant forces at the DRUJ and to determine the role that 15 individual muscles had on those …

Development Of A Waterjet System For Direct Delivery Of Granular Iron And Activated Carbon To Remediate Contaminated Aqueous Sediments, Gavin H.R. Risley, Andrew Curtis Elmore, Joel Gerard Burken, Grzegorz (Greg) Galecki

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

While the Techniques and Technologies Associated with Contaminated Sediment Remediation Are Relatively Mature, There Are Several Issues Associated with These Practices that Make Them Unattractive. the Inability of Currently Used Mechanical Mixing Implements to Place Amendments in Aqueous Environments and their Intrusive Behavior toward Benthic Communities Are Just Two Examples of a Necessity for an Improved Delivery Method. Waterjets May Be a Viable Option for Placement of Particulate Remediation Amendments, Such as Activated Carbon and Granular Iron, at Depth. a Custom Waterjet Nozzle and Injection System Has Been Fabricated by the Authors to Examine This Delivery Concept. the Developed Injection …

Bs News January/February

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Modeling Of Novel Coaxial Cable Bragg Grating Sensor By Coupled Mode Theory, Songping Wu

Doctoral Dissertations

"A new sensor based on the novel concept of coaxial cable Bragg grating (CCBG) has been developed for the integrity of civil infrastructure monitoring. In this dissertation work, fundamental research is conducted in sensor modeling and applications, which correspond to the first four papers of the dissertation. A coupled mode theory (CMT) is first applied to establish a physics-based model for CCBG. A numerical solution of the coupled wave equations for CCBG has been derived and validated. As an indicator of sensor sensitivity, the quality factor (Q-factor) of CCBG as a function of sensor structural/material parameters was analytically investigated by …

Ozone And Terpene Reactions On Indoor Surfaces: Reaction Rates And Implications For Indoor Air Quality, Shi Shu

Doctoral Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A New Approach To Algebraic Coding Theory Through The Applications Of Soft Sets, Florentin Smarandache, Mumtaz Ali

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

Algebraic codes play a signifcant role in the minimisation of data corruption which caused by defects such as inference, noise channel, crosstalk, and packet loss. In this paper, we introduce soft codes (soft linear codes) through the application of soft sets which is an approximated collection of codes. We also discuss several types of soft codes such as type-1 soft codes, complete soft codes etc. Further, we construct the soft generator matrix and soft parity check matrix for the soft linear codes. Moreover, we develop two techniques for the decoding of soft codes.

Development Of Lower Cost Imaging Systems For Laser Metal Deposition Process, Shyam Barua

Masters Theses

"Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) has been used as an additive manufacturing process in industries such as aerospace and die castings. LMD is especially useful in repair applications involving die repair. However, it is still not used widely in industry due to variations in the quality of parts. There are multiple interactions between various factors which influence the quality of deposit.

There exists a need for defect detection systems to detect any changes in the deposition quality during deposition. On demand detection enables adjustment in process parameters and minimization of rework cost.

Vision systems have been used extensively in the industry …

Diesel Particulate Matter Dispersion Analysis In Underground Metal/Nonmetal Mines Using Computational Fluid Dynamics, Yi Zheng

Doctoral Dissertations

"Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) is a natural by-product from operating diesel engines. Since diesel power is a major source of energy for mining operations today, the adverse health effects of DPM are of a great concern. To thoroughly resolve DPM problems, it is critical that DPM propagation characteristics be understood to arrive at a sensible and practical method for addressing DPM-related issues. To achieve this, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method is used to simulate DPM dispersion and to predict its concentration distribution. Industrial field studies were reconstructed to evaluate the possibility of different CFD models. Experiments were also carried …

Quantifying The Carbon Footprint Of Lean Waste, Kristen Donovan Balinski

Masters Theses

"The objective of this paper is to provide a method of quantifying lean wastes in terms of carbon dioxide emissions by using value stream mapping. Lean manufacturing, a process based on waste identification and reduction, is a growing trend in industry and a proven method of lowering costs. The environmental impact of these wastes can be quantified by identifying the metrics associated with them, and using existing reports to convert those metrics into measurements of carbon dioxide. Growing environmental concerns are prompting federal government regulation of greenhouse gas or carbon dioxide emissions, as seen in the American Clean Energy and …

The Feasibility Of Using Bifidobacteria Bifidum (Atcc 700541) For The Production Of Prebiotic Oligosaccharides, Candice Marie Luehrs

Masters Theses

"Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) are prebiotics that are being used to influence intestinal microbiota towards health promoting, beneficial bacteria like bifidobacteria. Natural sources of GOS are not found in suitable levels to achieve the desired health effects so economically viable commercial production methods are important. Enzymatic conversion of lactose to GOS through transgalactosylation is a preferred method since the starting material is inexpensive and readily available. Enzymes used in batch production are purified from fungal or bacterial sources or remain in whole cells cultured for GOS production. Purified or unbound enzymes are single use whereas enzymes retained within whole cells can potentially …

Waterjet Injection Of Powdered Activated Carbon For Sediment Remediation, Chris J. Redell

Masters Theses

"In situ sediment remediation through waterjet-activated carbon amendment delivery is an innovative means to mitigate the dangers posed by hydrophobic organic compounds. Ease of use and applicability to inundated environments makes this technique valuable. This work made feasible low-pressure injections of a 15% (by dry weight) carbon/water slurry through a pulsating piston pump waterjet. The project fabricated nozzle tips and a unique injection apparatus comprising a quantitative system for the evaluation of bench scale models. Based on a series of iterative processes, injections of carbon were analyzed for depth and concentration. Injections varied in duration and they were made into …

Development Of Novel Copolyoxetanes: Antimicrobial Agents, Allison King

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis focuses on solution antimicrobial effectiveness for copolyoxetanes with quaternary ammonium and PEG-like side chains. Ring opening copolymerization of 3-((4-bromobutoxy)methyl)-3-methyloxetane (BBOx) and 3-((2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethoxy) methyl)-3-methyloxetane (ME2Ox) yielded random copolymers with 14-100 (m) mole% BBOx designated P[(BBOx-m)(ME2Ox)]. Reaction of P[(BBOx-m)(ME2Ox)] with dodecyl dimethylamine gave the corresponding quaternary P[(C12-m)(ME2Ox)] polycation salts, designated C12-m. Mole ratios and molecular weights were obtained from 1H-NMR and end group analysis. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies showed Tg’s between 69 and -34 °C. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed MIC decreasing with increasing C12 mole% reaching a minimum between …

A Wireless System For Crack Monitoring In Concrete Structures, Souhail M. Saad

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The formation of cracks in concrete is a normal phenomenon. However, effective control and prevention of the formation of cracks is the key for successful life of concrete structures. Specifically, cracks represent a path of least resistance for moisture and corrosive ionic agents from de-icing salts to reach embedded steel in concrete. Commercial wireless sensor networks utilizing crack gauge sensors can be applied for crack monitoring in the common concrete structure. The crack sensors circuits' boards, which are used to stimulate the cracks, are currently unavailable for the SG-Link module platform.

The SG-Link module is an ultra-low-power module for use …

Dynamic Ergonomic Analysis And Simulation Of Fastening Operation, Akul Joshi

Doctoral Dissertations

"Operator performing fastening operation with powered hand-tools at awkward postures is subjected to external forces that may pose a risk of developing ergonomic injuries. For design of safe workplaces and selection of tools it is necessary to identify the probable causes of discomfort by simulating the work conditions and quantifying the risk factors. An ergonomic simulator is developed to simulate the fastening operation and quantify the effects of posture and force in fastening operation. The effect of dynamic forces is analyzed using two approaches. The first approach analyzes the effect of tool vibration while the second analyzes the hand-arm system …

Leaching Characteristics Of Inorganic Contaminants From Coal Fly Ash, Tingzhi Su

Doctoral Dissertations

"Leaching of trace elements raises environmental concerns in coal fly ash disposal and reuse. US EPA is in the process of creating the first national rule on coal ash management. However, due to the complexity of coal fly ash composition, the leaching characteristics of trace elements are not well understood. Meanwhile, driven by the tightening emission regulations, new types of coal fly ashes are continuously generated as a result of the technological evolution at coal energy industry. The changing landscape highlights the needs for a comprehensive database to assess the leaching characteristics of different types of coal fly ashes, evaluation …

Preserving Useful Info While Reducing Noise Of Physiological Signals By Using Wavelet Analysis, Jeffrey Lam

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Wavelet analysis is a powerful mathematical tool commonly used in signal processing applications, such as image analysis, image compression, image edge detection, and communications systems. Unlike traditional Fourier analysis, wavelet analysis allows for multiple resolutions in the time and frequency domains; it can preserve time information while decomposing a signal spectrum over a range of frequencies. Wavelet analysis is also more suitable for detecting numerous transitory characteristics, such as drift, trends, abrupt changes, and beginnings and ends of events. These characteristics are often the most important and critical part of some non-stationary signals, such as physiological signals. The thesis focuses …

Hilbert Transform Applications In Signal Analysis And Non-Parametric Identification Of Linear And Nonlinear Systems, Zuocai Wang

Doctoral Dissertations

"Hilbert Huang Transform faces several challenges in dealing with closely-spaced frequency components, short-time and weak disturbances, and interrelationships between two time-varying modes of nonlinear vibration due to its mixed mode problem associated with empirical mode decomposition (EMD). To address these challenges, analytical mode decomposition (AMD) based on Hilbert Transform is proposed and developed for an adaptive data analysis of both stationary and non-stationary responses. With a suite of predetermined bisecting frequencies, AMD can analytically extract the individual components of a structural response between any two bisecting frequencies and function like an adaptive bandpass filter that can deal with frequency-modulated responses …

A Database For Estimating Scanner-Specific Ct Dose, Taly Gilat-Schmidt

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose: To develop a database for estimating scanner-specific organ dose in a voxelized patient model for any spectral shape and angular tube current modulation setting. The database enables the estimation of organ dose for both existing and novel acquisition techniques without requiring Monte Carlo simulations.

Methods: The transport of monoenergetic photons through three phantoms was simulated with the PENELOPE Monte Carlo radiation transport routines at 5 – 150 keV in 1 keV increments at 1000 projections in 0.36 degree increments. The source-to-detector distance for each simulation was 100 cm, with a source-to-isocenter distance of 50 cm. The lateral and axial …

An Occupational Analysis Of Prepress In The Des Moines And Eastern Iowa Regions, Lee John Geisinger

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

It is important that educators use a relevant, up-to-date curriculum when educating on a specific occupation. Job task analysis is an effective way for educators to understand an occupation and provide students with valuable information. This study analyzed prepress technicians' duties and tasks.

This research used the occupational analysis method called the DACUM (Developing a Curriculum) process. The DACUM process uses an expert worker panel to identify the duties and tasks of an occupation. This study found that there are 9 duties and 55 tasks for a prepress technician. After identifying the duties and tasks, the study confirmed those duties …

Exploratory Study Of Barriers To Use Of Feigenbaum's Quality Cost Strategy Within Design Engineering Firms, David Patrick Loduca

Doctoral Dissertations

"It has been more than a half century since Armand Feigenbaum first conceived of the strategy for the manufacturing sector, yet quality costing strategies have not found a foothold among engineering firms. This study was aimed at constructing a set of theories that explains possible barriers to acceptance of the Feigenbaum strategy by analyzing attitudes and opinions of players in an actual engineering firm and the culture in which they work.

Modeled after the Feigenbaum approach and tailored to the business model of engineering and architectural firms, a system was developed to classify and record costs of quality. A local …

The Integrated Wrf/Urban Modeling System: Development, Evaluation, And Applications To Urban Environmental Problems, Fei Chen, Hiroyuki Kusaka, Robert Bornstein, Jason Ching, C.S.B. Grimmond, Susanne Grossman-Clarke, Thomas Loridan, Kevin W. Manning, Alberto Martilli, Shiguang Miao, David J. Sailor, Francisco P. Salamanca, Haider Taha, Mukul Tewari, Xuemei Wang, Andrzej A. Wyszogrodzki, Chaolin Zhang

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

To bridge the gaps between traditional mesoscale modeling and microscale modeling, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), in collaboration with other agencies and research groups, has developed an integrated urban modeling system coupled to the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model as a community tool to address urban environmental issues. The core of this WRF/urban modeling system consists of: 1) three methods with different degrees of freedom to parameterize urban surface processes, ranging from a simple bulk parameterization to a sophisticated multi-layer urban canopy model with an indoor outdoor exchange sub-model that directly interacts with the atmospheric boundary layer, …

Fiber-Reinforced Calcium Sulfate Bone Cement Composites With Enhanced Bioactivity, Mechanical Properties And Controlled Biodegradability, Nuha Fathi Hussien

Theses

Hard tissues are natural composites of inorganic and organic components. The inorganic component is a basic Calcium phosphate; known as hydroxyapatite (HAp) while the organic is a natural polymer; known as collagen. The interlocking between the collagen nanofibers and the Hap nanocrystals growing on them offers the known unique mechanical stability of hard tissues. In case of partial fractures; bone or dental cements are often used. Cements such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) has been long used in this regard. However, this polymer is classified as a bio inert material that can be accepted by the human body without having a positive …

Development, Validation, And Application Of A Noninvasive Spinal Motion Measurement System, Shaun Kevin Stinton

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Spontaneous vertebral fractures are a large and growing health care problem. Biomechanical factors, specifically, abnormal posture or gait‐related spinal motion may interact with age‐weakened bone to induce altered spinal biomechanics that in turn increase the likelihood of vertebral body fracture. This research takes steps towards the goal of reducing the number of vertebral fractures in two phases: 1) Validation of a noninvasive spinal motion measurement system in cadaver torsos and 2) Application of the measurement system in human subjects.

The cadaver study compared vertebral motion at 4 levels (T7,T12,L3,L5) as measured by adhesive skin markers versus motion measured by bone …

Computational Analyses Of The Uptake And Distribution Of Carbon Monoxide (Co) In Human Subjects, Kinnera Chada

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that binds to hemoglobin with high affinity. This property underlies the use of low doses of CO to determine hemoglobin mass (M_Hb) in the fields of clinical and sports medicine. However, hemoglobin bound to CO is unable to transport oxygen and exposure to high CO concentrations is a significant environmental and occupational health concern. These contrasting aspects of CO—clinically useful in low doses but potentially lethal in higher doses—mandates a need for a quantitative understanding of the temporal profiles of the uptake and distribution of CO …

Proving Sustainability: The International Development Monitoring Initiative, Evan A. Thomas, Zdenek Zumr

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Nearly a billion people in the world lack access to safe drinking water, two billion have inadequate sanitation facilities, three billion use biomass for their daily energy needs and nearly half the world's population live in rural isolation, lacking access to the most basic human services. Combined, these limitations are a leading cause of the perpetuating cycle of poverty and political insecurity. Meanwhile, the majority of international development agencies are responsible for self-reporting project outcomes. At best, expert spot-checks are conducted in the field occasionally. These results tend to show individual project success, while meta- surveys indicate on-going challenges in …

Development Of Risk Uncertainty Factors From Historical Nasa Projects, Tahani R. Amer

EMSE Doctoral Projects

NASA is a good investment of federal funds and strives to provide the best value to the nation. NASA has consistently budgeted to unrealistic cost estimates, which are evident in the cost growth in many of its programs. In this investigation, NASA has been using available uncertainty factors from the Aerospace Corporation, Air Force, and Booz Allen Hamilton to develop projects' risk posture. NASA has no insight into the developmental of these factors and, as demonstrated here, this can lead to unrealistic risks in many NASA Programs and projects (P/p). The primary contribution of this project is the development of …

Separation Of Humic Matter From Groundwater Via Anion Exchange Resin: Comparison Of Bead And Powder Form, Sandra June Everett

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This work describes a comparison of a bead and powder form of anion exchange resin for removing humic matter from groundwater. The materials and procedures described herein involve a manufactured dry humic matter and two forms of the same anion exchange resin. Spectroscopy was the chosen procedure for analysis of organics.

Preliminary experiments were required to gain a better understanding of the materials and to prepare the best conditions for actual experimental research. Five concentrations of humic acid were used for experimental purposes at 0.5, 1, 5, 10 and 20 mg/L. Three concentrations of resin were used: 500, 750 and …