Digital Commons Network^™

Release And Removal Of Microcystins From Microcystis During Disinfection Treatments, Jie Ding

Masters Theses

"The presence of algal toxins, or cyanotoxins, in surface water has been increasingly reported. These highly hazardous toxins are potential threat to both human health and animals by contaminating drinking water sources over the world. In this research project, inactivation of Microcystis aeruginosa cells and release and removal of intracellular microcystins during several oxidative and physical treatments was studied. The results of this study show that chlorine dioxide, sonication, low salinity and quick blending with tissuemiser caused immediate release of microcystin-LR to water after treatment. No significant increase of toxin level was observed after treatment with free chlorine, ozone, permanganate, …

A Systematic Approach To Project Portfolio Selection For Economic Development In Municipalities: A Case Study In Vienna, Missouri, Amanda Danielle Alpaugh

Masters Theses

"Economic development is essential for the survival of all municipalities in the United States. Economic growth, created through project implementation, brings new capital into municipalities by increasing the tax base. Smaller municipalities often struggle to implement projects that promote economic growth. These municipalities run into problems because they lack resources to hire an economic consultant and capabilities to independently complete the strategic planning process. This thesis describes an easy-to-use and easy-to-implement systematic ten-step approach to project portfolio selection for economic growth within smaller municipalities...The ten-step approach was employed in a case study performed in Vienna, Missouri. The case study involved …

Multi-Application Deployment In Integrated Sensing Systems Based On Quality Of Monitoring, Sangeeta Bhattacharya, Abusayeed Saifullah, Chenyang Lu, Gruia-Catalin Roman

All Computer Science and Engineering Research

No abstract provided.

Transcriptome Analysis Of Alzheimer's Disease Identifies Links To Cardiovascular Disease, Monika Ray, Jianhua Ruan, Weixiong Zhang

All Computer Science and Engineering Research

No abstract provided.

Detailed Characterization Of The Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Transcriptome Reveals Novel Genes And Intergenic Splicing Associated With Pluripotency, Galih Kunarso, Kee-Yew Wong, Lawrence W. Stanton, Leonard Lipovich

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Background

Transcriptional control of embryonic stem (ES) cell pluripotency has been a subject of intense study. Transcriptional regulators including Oct4 (Oct3/4 index), Sox2 and Nanog are fundamental for maintaining the undifferentiated state. However, the ES cell transcriptome is not limited to their targets, and exhibits considerable complexity when assayed with microarray, MPSS, cDNA/EST sequencing, and SAGE technologies. To identify novel genes associated with pluripotency, we globally searched for ES transcripts not corresponding to known genes, validated their sequences, determined their expression profiles, and employed RNAi to test their function.

Results

Gene Identification Signature (GIS) analysis, a SAGE derivative distinguished …

The Effect Of Stirring On The Morphology Of Birnessite Nanoparticles, Marcos A. Cheney, Pradip K. Bhowmik, Shingo Moriuchi, Mario Villabos, Shizhi Qian, Sang W. Joo

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

The effect of mechanical stirring on the morphology of hexagonal layer- structure birnessite nanoparticles produced from decomposition of KMnO₄ in dilute aqueous H₂SO₄ is investigated, with characterization by X- ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high- resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and N₂ adsorption (BET). Mechanical stirring during an initial stage of synthesis is shown to produce black birnessite containing nanofibers, whereas granular particulates of brown birnessite are produced without stirring. This is the first reduction synthesis of black birnessite nanoparticles with dendritic morphology without any use …

Micromachined Nanoporous Membranes For Blood Oxygenation Systems, Vijayakrishnan Ambravaneswaran, Susheil Uttamaraj, Zeynep Çelik-Butler, Robert C. Eberhart, Charles J. Chuong, Richard E. Billo, Michael A. Savitt

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Nanostructured membranes with precisely engineered nanopores were fabricated on a thin silicon nitride membrane, using a combination of bulk micromachining and focused-ion-beam drilling. These membranes are designed to preserve microscale blood channel dimensions, thereby permitting the red cell shape change that enhances gas exchange in the pulmonary capillary. The membranes were tested for their mechanical stability and the results were verified with finite element analysis. Initial studies have proven the membranes to be robust, and capable of withstanding pressures typically experienced in blood oxygenator channels. A novel MEMS-based blood oxygenation system employing the nanoporous membranes is also presented. The oxygenation …

Deploying Mobile Pv Emergency Power System In A Disaster, Florida Solar Energy Center, William Young

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Disasters can be as destructive as Hurricane Katrina, leaving several hundred-thousand people homeless, or as minor as an afternoon thunderstorm that brings down local power lines to your home. After a disaster, utility services may be damaged or destroyed, leaving people without water, sanitation, communication and electricity. In response to a disaster, first responders are deployed with life supporting resources, such as water, food, and medical supplies. Energy resources are often lacking, making recovery efforts difficult in our high-tech world of cell phones, television, computers, refrigerators and many other electronic devices.

After a disaster, the long time tradition used to …

Precision Coil Inspection, Karol Murphy

Theses

Boston Scientific produces the Guglielmi Detachable Coil in their Cork based facility. These are used in a surgical procedure to eliminate aneurysms. The first step in the process is to form a coil by wrapping a platinum wire around a mandrel. These coils have outer diameters ranging from 190 pm to 520pm. This is called the primary wind and is inspected to find any defects introduced into the coil from the winding process. These defects may be the result of wire defects in the raw material or possibly poor handling by the operators. These primary winds are processed further to …

Effects Of Orthophosphate Corrosion Inhibitor In Blended Water Quality Environments, Erica Stone

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluated the effects of orthophosphate (OP) inhibitor addition on iron, copper, and lead corrosion on coupons exposed to different blends of groundwater, surface water, and desalinated seawater. The effectiveness of OP inhibitor addition on iron, copper, and lead release was analyzed by statistical comparison between OP treated and untreated pilot distribution systems (PDS). Four different doses of OP inhibitor, ranging from zero (control) to 2 mg/L as P, were investigated and non-linear empirical models were developed to predict iron, copper, and lead release from the water quality and OP doses. Surface characterization evaluations were conducted using X-ray Photoelectron …

A Framework To Align Strategy, Improvement Performance, And Customer Satisfaction Using An Integration Of Six Sigma And Balanced, Adriana Rodriguez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigated the development, implementation, and evaluation of a management methodology founded on the alignment among the strategy, performance, and customer to bring value to any organization. A case study/action research in a service organization, called Institution "Z," provided the opportunity to assess the effects of the proposed Six Sigma Scorecard (SSS) methodology in the productivity indicators (measured by cycle time, line capacity, and number of errors). The Case study/action research was conducted in three phases: Model and Concepts Design, Data Collection, and Findings. During the research, validity was pursued by using triangulation and theory to help maintain the …

Evaluating Tactical Combat Casualty Care Training Treatments Effects On Combat Medic Trainees In Light Of Select Human Descripti, Teresita Sotomayor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The use of military forces in urban operations has increased considerably over the past years. As illustrated by the current conflict in Iraq, the Army finds itself fighting its toughest battles in urban areas facing unconventional forces. Soldiers face many threats in hostile fire environments, whether conducting large-scale mechanized warfare, low-intensity conflicts, or operations other than war. Through 1970, there has been no demonstrable reduction in battlefield mortality rate as a percentage of all casualties since data was kept since before the Civil War. For that period of time, nearly all the reduction in overall mortality rate occurred through reduced …

Multiplexed Predictive Control Of A Large Commercial Turbofan Engine, Hanz Richter, Anil V. Singaraju, Jonathan S. Litt

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Model predictive control is a strategy well-suited to handle the highly complex, nonlinear, uncertain, and constrained dynamics involved in aircraft engine control problems. However, it has thus far been infeasible to implement model predictive control in engine control applications, because of the combination of model complexity and the time allotted for the control update calculation. In this paper, a multiplexed implementation is proposed that dramatically reduces the computational burden of the quadratic programming optimization that must be solved online as part of the model-predictive-control algorithm. Actuator updates are calculated sequentially and cyclically in a multiplexed implementation, as opposed to the …

Ceg 355-01: Introduction To The Design Of Information Technology Systems, Thomas C. Hartrum

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

Introduction to the design of information systems comprising modem technologies such as SQL database programming, networks, and distributed computing with CORBA, electronic and hypertext (HTML) documents, and multimedia.

Ceg 355-01: Introduction To The Design Of Information Technology Systems, Thomas C. Hartrum

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

Introduction to the design of information systems comprising modem technologies such as SQL database programming, networks, and distributed computing with CORBA, electronic and hypertext (HTML) documents, and multimedia.

A Two-Disk Extended Jeffcott Rotor Model Distinguishing A Shaft Crack From Other Rotating Asymmetries, Xi Wu, Jim Meagher

Mechanical Engineering

A mathematical model of a cracked rotor and an asymmetric rotor with two disks representing a turbine and a generator is utilized to study the vibrations due to imbalance and side load. Nonlinearities typically related with a “breathing” crack are included using a Mayes steering function. Numerical simulations demonstrate how the variations of rotor parameters affect the vibration response and the effect of coupling between torsional and lateral modes. Bode, spectrum, and orbit plots are used to show the differences between the vibration signatures associated with cracked shafts versus asymmetric shafts. Results show how nonlinear lateral-torsional coupling shifts the resonance …

Experimental Analysis Of The Hydrogen Sulfide Absortion Phenomena In Brine/Oil Mixtures As A Function Of System Pressure And H2s, Luis Zea

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In underground oil reservoirs, Hydrogen sulfide is usually found coexisting with the oil due to bacteria reduction over a long period of time. The amount of H2S in the oil varies from place to place around the globe. When the oil extraction process begins, the presence of Hydrogen sulfide becomes noticeable as drilling tools, piping and other equipment suffer from sulfide stress cracking, electrochemical corrosion and corrosion fatigue. For this reason, the oil industry invests millions of dollars per year trying to find better ways to reduce the amount of H2S in oil. An important part of the current investigations …

The Acute Toxicity Of Ground Recycled Automobile Tires On Aquatic Life With Model Species P. Promelas, Trillian Baldassari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Used tires have the potential for becoming popular in pollution control media used in stormwater applications including pervious pavement sub bases, green roof growth media, and upflow filters. Using tire crumb to decrease nutrients can minimize impacts on ecology while reducing the human footprint left by used tires. However, if tire crumb is not examined for toxicity, the ecological balance could unknowingly be disrupted. This research tested the acute toxicity of tire crumb in aquatic systems by finding the Lethal Concentration for 50% kill (LC50). Using an extreme tire crumb load, P. promelas (fathead minnow) were exposed to leachates created …

Metadata And Data Management In High Performance File And Storage Systems, Peng Gu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the advent of emerging "e-Science" applications, today's scientific research increasingly relies on petascale-and-beyond computing over large data sets of the same magnitude. While the computational power of supercomputers has recently entered the era of petascale, the performance of their storage system is far lagged behind by many orders of magnitude. This places an imperative demand on revolutionizing their underlying I/O systems, on which the management of both metadata and data is deemed to have significant performance implications. Prefetching/caching and data locality awareness optimizations, as conventional and effective management techniques for metadata and data I/O performance enhancement, still play their …

Data Communication With A Nano-Satellite Using Satellite Personal Communication Networks (S-Pcns), Khudeja Khan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Satellites typically communicate with locations on the ground to receive commands and send data back. Establishing reliable communications generally requires dedicated ground stations, which in turn require hardware and expertise. Developers of nano-satellites, however, may not have the expertise or resources necessary for establishing a dedicated ground station. Therefore, the use of an existing communication system, such as the Satellite Personal Communication Networks (S-PCNs), is attractive. Another shortcoming of the fixed ground stations, already available, is that they are normally only able to communicate with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) nano-satellites four times per day (two10-minute windows separated by 90 minutes, …

Reducing Effluent Phosphorus And Nitrogen Concentrations From A Stormwater Detention Pond Using A Chamber Upflow Filter And Skim, Patrick Ryan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stormwater runoff is a known pollutant source capable of causing surface water degradation, especially in highly populated areas such as Central Florida. Wet detention ponds manage this stormwater, but most of the ponds do not remove enough nutrients, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus, to meet TMDL regulations. This research provides a possible addition to a detention pond in Seminole County, Florida using a Chamber Upflow Filter and Skimmer (CUFS), which can increase the removal of phosphorus and nitrogen by the system. Water enters the system through the skimmer, which floats on the surface of the detention pond. It travels from the …

A Surrogate Measure Of Customer Satisfaction In The Manufacture Of Printed Wiring Boards, Adam Y. Maamoun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research is to determine and develop a model that is capable of accurately measuring customer satisfaction for different industries and in particularly for the Printed Wiring Boards (PWB) Manufacturers. The new model will incorporate data not being collected or utilized by the survey method of determining customer satisfaction. The method used is a weighted average of satisfaction among several researched categories with percentages that accurately represent the relative importance of multiple facets of the PWB manufacturers customer satisfaction. A very common term in quality assurance is that "What is not measured accurately can not be evaluated …

Determining Florida Landfill Odor Buffer Distances Using Aermod, Veronica Figueroa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As U.S. landfills continue to grow in size, concerns about odorous gas emissions from landfills are increasing. For states that are expanding in population, such as Florida, odors from landfills are a major concern because new housing developments, needed to accommodate the rapid population growth, are creeping closer and closer to the existing landfills. As homes get closer to landfills, odor complaints are likely to become more frequent, causing landfill managers increased problems with public interactions. Odor buffer zones around landfills need to be established to give municipalities tools to help prevent the building of future homes too close to …

User-Defined Patterning Of Neural Progenitor Cells On 3d Micropillar Arrays Using Round Cross-Sectional Geometry, Specific Dimen, Andrea Wesser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The ability to control stem cell functions, particularly neuronal progenitors, has long since been believed to be the key to successful treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and accidents involving head trauma. The neurology field calls for many new solutions to address the controlled neural stem cell seeding and placement of cells for neural tissue regeneration. Self-assembled monolayers (SAM) from the alkanethiol group provide a straightforward applicable, reliable treatment for cell adhesion. An ODT/gold treatment was used to adhere the cells to patterned areas, due mainly to a high confluence of cells attracted to it, as well as …

A Comprehensive Multi-Faceted Approach For Simultaneously Analyzing Organizational Performance Measures Essential For Company Su, Ana Ferreras

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Profit, ergonomics, safety, employee morale, quality, efficiency, and productivity are critical components that greatly impact company success within manufacturing organizations. Therefore, it is essential that a valid and reliable systematic approach that encompasses all of these factors be developed for use by top management in today's rapidly changing manufacturing environment. Organizational-level decisions made based upon a single goal or narrow perspective that only considers one of the aforementioned components, such as profit, while ignoring others, such as employee morale, have proven harmful to the long term viability and success of manufacturing companies. Often organizational leaders are not adequately equipped to …

A Comparative Analysis Of Green Roof Designs Including Depth Of Media, Drainage Layer Materials, And Pollution Control Media, Matt Kelly

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Population growth has lead to an increase in development and impervious areas in urban settings. Post-development conditions cause several problems for stormwater management such as limited space for stormwater storage systems and the conveyance of pollution picked up by runoff to near by water bodies. Green Roofs with cisterns have been shown to attenuate the peak flow of storm events and reduce the pollution load leaving a site and entering nearby water bodies. The purpose of this research is to expand the available research data on green roofs with cisterns by investigating the water quality and hydrology effects of different …

Drive-Based Modeling And Visualization Of Crew Race Strategy And Performance, Jeffrey Cornett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Crew race strategy is typically formulated by coaches based on rowing tradition and years of experience. However, coaching strategies are not generally supported by empirical evidence and decision-support models. Previous models of crew race strategy have been constrained by the sparse information published on crew race performance (quarterly 500-meter splits). Empirical research has merely summarized which quarterly splits averaged the fastest and slowest relative to the other splits and relative to the average speed of the other competitors. Video records of crew race world championships provide a rich source of data for those capable and patient enough to mine this …

Rolls Royce Declares Bankruptcy, John Alfred Heitmann

History Faculty Publications

Despite more than sixty years of engineering excellence, Rolls-Royce failed in its attempt to design and manufacture a radically new jet engine to meet contractual obligations with the Lockheed Corp. Consequently, both British and U.S. governments had to step in to avoid an unprecedented economic catastrophe.

Agricultural Systems: Agroecology And Rural Innovations For Development [Book Review], Charles A. Francis

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

To welcome yet another book on sustainable development, a reviewer must look for what is unique and what adds value to the volumes already published. In Agricultural Systems, editors Sieglinde Snapp and Barry Pound have assembled a collection of chapters that goes beyond the usual praise and criticism of the green revolution and the focus on economic development. Their book provides a first-hand story by people with lengthy experiences in the field, especially in Africa, who have developed and tested grassroots, participatory development approaches. The result is a valuable set of principles, strategies and case studies that paint a new …

Development Of A Framework To Leverage Knowledge Management Systems To Improve Security Awareness., Dennis Lupiana

Dissertations

Security awareness is very essential in securing intellectual property, in particular internal corporate information assets and its “Knowledge”. The dynamic nature of security attacks and the need to comply with government policies in protecting organisation’s data has a major influence on seeing organisations focus on strengthening against threats from the human element. This is a difficult challenge. Organisations must have a degree of trust their employees. They must trust their employees to interact responsibly as end-users with their information systems. They must trust their employees who work as developers to work responsibly and be motivated to develop systems with the …