Digital Commons Network^™

Project Portfolio Management: An Investigation Of One Air Force Product Center, Bryan D. Edmunds

Theses and Dissertations

Over the last two decades, reducing product development times in the DoD has been the focus of many committees, commissions, and research efforts. Despite the implementation of numerous recommendations, the DoD still struggles with long acquisition cycle times. This research is part of the Air Force Cycle Time Reduction Research Program (CTRRP), which grew out of the Cycle Time Reduction Action Plan, developed in 1998. This research focuses on the portfolio management (project selection and resource allocation) part of the CTRRP. The purpose of this research effort was to investigate the use of portfolio management within the Air Force. Specifically, …

Circumferential Vascular Deformation After Stent Implantation Alters Wall Shear Stress Evaluated With Time-Dependent 3d Computational Fluid Dynamics Models, John F. Ladisa, Lars E. Olson, Ismail Guler, Douglas Anthony Hettrick, Judy R. Kersten, David C. Warltier, Paul S. Pagel

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The success of vascular stents in the restoration of blood flow is limited by restenosis. Recent data generated from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models suggest that stent geometry may cause local alterations in wall shear stress (WSS) that have been associated with neointimal hyperplasia and subsequent restenosis. However, previous CFD studies have ignored histological evidence of vascular straightening between circumferential stent struts. We tested the hypothesis that consideration of stent-induced vascular deformation may more accurately predict alterations in indexes of WSS that may subsequently account for histological findings after stenting. We further tested the hypothesis that the severity of these …

Antegrade Iliac Artery Stent Implantation For The Temporal And Spatial Examination Of Stent-Induced Neointimal Hyperplasia And Alterations In Regional Fluid Dynamics, John F. Ladisa, Heidi T. Meier, Lars E. Olson, Judy R. Kersten, David C. Warltier, Paul S. Pagel

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Neointimal hyperplasia remains an important problem after stent implantation. Previous investigations examining vascular responses to stent implantation and effects of drugs have used a retrograde deployment approach that may inadvertently alter the local fluid dynamics surrounding the stent. We present a model of antegrade iliac artery stent implantation that facilitates the analysis of stent-induced alterations in neointimal hyperplasia and wall shear stress in vivo. Methods: Stent delivery catheters were inserted through the left carotid artery in anesthetized rabbits (n=37). Catheters were advanced under fluoroscopic guidance to the distal iliac arteries, where the stent was deployed. Hemotoxylin and eosin …

Assessment Of Aquifer Vulnerability Due To Heavy Metals Using Ordinal Logistic Regression Analysis, N. K. Twarakavi, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

A methodology using ordinal logistic regression is proposed to predict the probability of occurrence of heavy metals in ground water. The predicted probabilities are defined with reference to the background concentration and the maximum contaminant level. The model is able to predict the occurrence due to different influencing variables such as the land use, soil hydrologic group (SHG), and surface elevation. The methodology was applied to the Sumas-Blaine Aquifer located in Washington State to predict the occurrence of five heavy metals. The influencing variables considered were (1) SHG; (2) land use; (3) elevation; (4) clay content; (5) hydraulic conductivity; and …

The Use Of X-Ray Pulsars For Aiding Gps Satellite Orbit Determination, Dennis W. Woodfork Ii

Theses and Dissertations

This research proposes the use of an existing "signal of opportunity" - namely x-ray pulsars - to improve the accuracy and robustness of the GPS satellite and clock estimation algorithm. Improvement in satellite and clock accuracy results in a direct benefit to the user. A simulation has been developed to determine the effects of using x-ray pulsar measurements on the GPS Operational Control Segment. The epoch-specific position, velocity, and clock errors of all GPS satellites in the constellation were estimated using both pseudoranges and time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) measurements from pulsars. The primary measure of accuracy is a constellation Signal-In-Space Range Error …

Surface Oxidation Study Of Uranium Dioxide Under Wet And Dry Conditions, Gary T. Brett

Theses and Dissertations

The surface oxidation of pressed uranium dioxide (UO₂) powder under controlled environmental conditions and the oxidation and reduction of pressed uranium trioxide (UO₃) powder are presented. This is a continuing research project in the investigation of the oxidation of UO₂ powder using Photoluminescence (PL) Spectroscopy. UO₂ particles exposed to the ambient atmosphere will oxidize into a number of chemical complexes (specifically hydrates, hydroxides, and carbonates). During certain of these oxidation processes, the uranium ion can lose two of its electrons and change from uranous (U^IV+) to uranyl (U^VI+). This research …

Selection And Application Of Distorted Risk Measures, Edwin J. Offutt

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis develops and illustrates a methodology for the selection of probability distributions and distortion functions associated with risk scenarios resulting from military capability shortfalls. Distorted (or transformed) risk measures are analyzed and applied to account for loss scenarios that may occur with low frequency but result in catastrophic outcomes. After reviewing the rudimentary concepts of distortion, four well-known continuous distributions, suitable for modeling risk scenarios, are chosen using defined criteria. Based on subject matter expert inputs, a simple method for assigning exactly one of the four distributions to any risk scenario is proposed. Four parametric distortion functions from the …

Optimal Sampling Of A Chemical Hazard Area, Jennifer R. Plourde

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis proposes a methodology for optimally sampling a chemical hazard area subsequent to a chemical weapons attack. The objective is to identify the maximum number of areas that no longer require protective gear for safe operations. We model the area as an undirected graph and employ network analysis techniques to provide a methodological framework for identifying an optimal sampling sequence within a fixed time limit. We propose four models that characterize the secondary vapor concentrations: i) static and deterministic, ii) static and stochastic, iii) dynamic and deterministic, and iv) dynamic and stochastic. Comparisons of the static cases and their …

A Qualitative Study Of Industry And Air Force Commodity Council Processes, Robert J. Irvine

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to compare industry and Air Force commodity council processes. More specifically, this research used a survey to gather strategic sourcing philosophies and procedures (with respect to small business participation in procurement strategies) from successful industry firms. Industry source selection documentation, applicable government contracting guidelines, and a literature review of strategic sourcing materials were also reviewed. The current Air Force commodity council process and associated historical documents were then studied using a business process modeling tool. It was determined that the Air Force process differs from industry in how small business participation is addressed, the …

Modeling Application Of Hydrogen Release Compound To Effect In Situ Bioremediation Of Chlorinated Solvent-Contaminated Groundwater, Ryan C. Wood

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates how application of Hydrogen Release Compound (HRC) might be implemented to remediate a site contaminated with tetrachloroethene (PCE) or its daughter products, under varying site conditions. The 3-D reactive transport model RT3D was coupled with a dual-Monod biodegradation submodel to simulate the effect of the hydrogen generated by HRC on accelerating the biodegradation of dissolved chlorinated solvents. Varying site conditions and injection well configurations were investigated to determine the effect of these environmental and design conditions on overall treatment efficiency. The model was applied to data obtained at a chlorinated solvent contaminated site at Vandenberg AFB, where …

Information Technology Implementation And Sustainment Model: Data Collection Instrument, Walter K. Yazzie

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research was to develop a data collection instrument for an existing information technology implementation and sustainment model. In 2003, a unique system dynamics model was developed at the Air Force Institute of Technology to predict the behavior of information technology implementation and sustainment (Fonnesbeck, 2003). However, no empirical data was used during the model development. In order to collect the needed empirical data, this research develops a data collection instrument for the model. The instrument was sent to 60 Air Force community planners who are currently implementing a geographical information system (Air Force GeoBase) into their …

Barriers To Electronic Records Management (Erm): An Exploratory Case Study Investigating Erm In The Deployed Environment During Operations Enduring Freedom And Iraqi Freedom, Brian G. Hobbs

Theses and Dissertations

Corporate and government organizations can use electronic records as an important strategic resource, if the records are managed properly. In addition to meeting legal requirements, electronic records can play a vital role in the management and operation of an organization's activities. Corporate America is facing challenges in managing electronic records, and so too is the U.S. Air Force (USAF). The deployed environment is particularly problematic for electronic records management (ERM). This research, thus, investigates ERM in the deployed environment to identify and characterize the barriers faced by USAF personnel who deployed to locations supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. …

Medical Devices, Support Networks, And Their Vulnerabilities: A Case Study Of The Integration Of Medical Networks Into The Air Force Information Network, Paul G. Oleksiak

Theses and Dissertations

With the implementation of "one Air Force, one network" under way it is important to look at how the Air Force plans to incorporate the medical field and its unique systems, networks, and mission. The medical field presents distinctive problems not seen in other areas. Open network vulnerabilities in the medical information systems not only pose a problem for the individual, but to the military service also. Possible security holes provide both access to vital military & personal information (end strength numbers, current status of personnel, social security), and a door way into the "network". Intruders now can possibly access …

Reply To Comment By Jonathan J. Rhodes On ‘‘Modeling Of The Interactions Between Forest Vegetation, Disturbances, And Sediment Yields’’, Charles H. Luce, David G. Tarboton, Erkan Istanbulluoglu, Robert T. Pack

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Rhodes [2005] brings up some excellent points in his comments on the work of Istanbulluoglu et al. [2004]. We appreciate the opportunity to respond because it is likely that other readers will also wonder how they can apply the relatively simple analysis to important policy questions. Models necessarily reduce the complexity of the problem to make it tractable and synthesize some diverse sources of information. It may be helpful at times for readers to understand the high dimension of the complexity sacrificed in order to obtain the synthesis and the reasons for reducing the complexity in a particular manner. Rhodes …

A Macroscopic Kinetic Model For Dna Polymerase Elongation And High-Fidelity Nucleotide Election, Steve Viljoen, Mark A. Griep, Michael Nelson, Hendrik J. Viljoen

Papers in Enzyme Kinetics

The enzymatically catalyzed template-directed extension of ssDNA/primer complex is an impor-tant reaction of extraordinary complexity. The DNA polymerase does not merely facilitate the insertion of dNMP, but it also performs rapid screening of substrates to ensure a high degree of fidelity. Several kinetic studies have determined rate constants and equilibrium constants for the elementary steps that make up the overall pathway. The information is used to develop a macro-scopic kinetic model, using an approach described by Ninio [Ninio J., 1987. Alternative to the steady-state method: derivation of reaction rates from first-passage times and pathway probabili-ties. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. …

Learning Rules For Time Series Anomaly Detection, Matthew V. Mahoney, Philip K. Chan

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

We describe a multi-dimensional time series anomaly detection method in which each point in a test series is required to match the value, slope, and curvature of a point seen in training (with an optional sequential constraint), and a method of generating a model in the form of concise, human-comprehensible, and editable rules. Training time complexity is O(n log n), and testing is O(n). The method generalizes to multiple training series by allowing test points to fall within the range bounded by the training data. We use this approach to detect test failures in Marotta fuel control valves used on …

Carbon Fiber Filters, Marit Jagtoyen, Francis John Derbyshire, Rosemary Anne Alexander Derbyshire, Mario E. Tremblay, Steve G. Fishter, Dimitris I. Collias

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty Patents

Disclosed is a filter comprised of activated carbon fibers, wherein said filter has a Virus Removal Index (hereafter “VRI”) of at least about 99%, as measured in accordance with the test method described in the specification. The filter may comprise unbound fibers, or the fibers may be bound with a binder to form a composite of fibers. Also disclosed is a method of removing viruses from a liquid, the method comprising contacting the liquid with a filter comprising activated carbon fibers wherein said filter has a VRI of at least about 99%. Also described is an article of manufacture comprising: …

Katysat: Kids Aren’T Too Young For Satellites, Robert J. Twiggs, Ben Yuan

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs and Bob Yuan titled "Katysat: Kids Aren’t Too Young for Satellites" from February 8, 2005.

Acuta Enews February 2005, Vol. 34, No. 2

ACUTA Newsletters

ln This lssue

Nominate for Board of Directors

President's Message................................... Tamara Closs, Georgetown University

FTC Postpones Effective Date of Can-Spam Rule

Tech Talk: VolP Installation Costs Vary Widely...................... Kevin Tanzillo, Dux Public Relations

Regional Workshop in Los Angeles

Efficiency of National Do-Not-Catt List lmproved ................... FCC

Thanks to Journal Advertisers for 2004

Overheard on the Listserv: Phones in Student Rooms?

Board Report.................................... Carmine Piscopo, Providence College

DC Update ........................... Whitney Johnson, Retired, Northern Michigan Univ.

Business Process lmprovement................................ Buck Bayliff, Pinnacle Software/PAETEC

Welcome New Members

ACUTA Online Press Room

Cec Agricultural Peak Load Reduction Program - Water Agencies Final Report, Charles M. Burt, Daniel J. Howes

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

During the winter of 2000-2001, California experienced a severe imbalance in electricity supply and demand that resulted in blackouts and brownouts. The state legislature initiated a number of emergency programs, one of which was Senate Bill 5x. The primary goal of SB 5x is to reduce peak period electric demand throughout California. The California Energy Commission (CEC), acting under authority of Section 5(b) of the legislation, developed the “Agricultural Peak Load Demand Program”. The program was funded in early June 2001, and the Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC) of California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo was …

A Virtual Environment For Remote Testing Of Complex Systems, Loredana Cristaldi, Alessandro Ferrero, Antonello Monti, Ferdinanda Ponci, William Mckay, Roger A. Dougal

Faculty Publications

Complex systems, realized by integration of several components or subsystems, pose specific problems to simulation environments. It is, in fact, desirable to simulate the complex system altogether, and not component by component, since the operation of the single part depends on the surrounding system and an early verification can prevent damages and save time for modifications. The availability of detailed and validated models of the single parts is therefore critical. This task may be difficult to achieve. In fact, in industrial applications, where a system can be a mix of different devices produced by different manufacturers, the physical device may …

The Value Of Mobile Applications: A Utility Company Study, Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah, Keng Siau, Hong Sheng

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The value proposition of mobile applications i.e. the net value of the benefits and costs associated with the adoption and adaptation of mobile applications is discussed. A means-ends network that depicts the fundamental relationships among the objectives such as efficiency, effectiveness, customer satisfaction, security, cost, and employee acceptance, was developed. The network is useful to researchers as it highlights the issues, concerns, and values of mobile applications. The network help the managers and practitioners to achieve their companies' objectives of implementing mobile and wireless applications.

Working Postures Of Dentists And Dental Hygienists, Richard W. Marklin, Kevin Cherney

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

A joint study was conducted by a manufacturer of dental stools in the Midwest of the United

States and Marquette University to measure the occupational postures of dentists and dental hygienists. The postures of 10 dentists and 10 dental hygienists were assessed using work sampling and video techniques. Postura! data of the neck, shoulders and lower back were recorded from video and categorized into 30-degree intervals: O (neutral posture of respective joint), 30, 60 and 90 degrees. Each subject's postures were observed while they were treating patients during a four-hour period, during which 100 observations of postures were recorded at …

Catalytic Wet Air Oxidation Of Phenol In Concurrent Downflow And Upflow Packed-Bed Reactors Over Pillared Clay Catalyst, Jing Guo, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

An Experimental Study is Presented for Comparing the Behavior of a Packed Bed Reactor in the Catalytic Liquid-Phase Oxidation of Aqueous Phenol with Two Modes of Operation, Downflow and Upflow. the Operating Parameters Investigated Included Temperature, Reactor Pressure, Gas Flowrate, Liquid Hourly Space Velocity and Feed Concentration. Because of the Completely Wetted Catalyst, the Upflow Reactor Generally Performs Better for High Pressures and Low Feed Concentrations When the Liquid Reactant Limitation Controls the Rate. the Interaction between the Reactor Hydrodynamics, Mass Transfer, and Reaction Kinetics is Discussed. for Both Operation Modes, Complete Phenol Removal and Significant Total Organic Carbon (TOC) …

Development And Application Of Fractionation Procedure For Drinking Water Organic Matters, Yong Pu

Dissertations

USEPA mandates a control of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in finished drinking water and recommends reduction of natural organic matters (NOM), DBP precursors, to achieve this regulatory goal. Studies relating NOM with DBP include fractionation of water samples, characterization of collected organic fractions, fractions' formation potential tests, and jar or similar tests to remove NOM. This study discussed a current resin fractionation procedure on principle, procedure, and its efficiency when applied to water samples of low NOM (< 5mgIL). The primary objective of this research is to develop a fractionation procedure intended for water of low NOM by carefully applying mass balance concept through each fraction's fractionation and a selection of stable ion exchange resins. A new protocol was presented with triple columns of XAD-8 adsorption resin, one column of AG-MP-50 cationic resin, and another column of WA 10 weak anionic resin in sequence. This protocol was experimented and confirmed for its efficiency (±10% loss of mass) with samples from Canal Road (CR) and Raritan Millstone (RM) surface water treatment plants (WTPs) in central New Jersey. The second objective of this study is to develop a statistical model with a potential of online delineation of organic fractions of NOM. The resulting model based on samples of Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) WTP in northern New Jersey was applied to predict organic fractions of samples from CR and RM plants. Paired T-test (paired t ratio 1.15 < t critical 2.02) indicated a good correlation between the predicted and actual fraction concentration. Finally, samples of Middlesex Water Company (MWC) were fractionated and Trihalomethane formation potential tests (THMFP) on collected fraction showed hydrophilic matters possessed a higher potential to produce TTHM in finished water than hydrophobic matter. Jar tests indicated while coagulation was effective in removing hydrophobic matter, it may not be optimum for removal of hydrophilic matter.

This study developed an accurate fractionation procedure for low NOM waters. It provided a better understanding of organic matter transformation at different treatment …

Executive Summary: Evaluation Of The Impact Of Vacant Home Space Conditioning Strategies On Summer Relative Humidity, Energy, And Peak Load, Florida Solar Energy Center, Charles Withers, Jr.

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Vacant Home Space Conditioning Study was sponsored by Florida Power & Light (FPL) as part of its Conservation R&D Program and carried out by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC). In the US, about one in four retiree "snowbirds" make Florida their destination to escape the northern cold. Snowbird residents number more than 900,000 in Florida during the winter. In some counties of FPL's territory these seasonal residents compose up to 15% of the population (Shih, 1981). This pattern of seasonal occupancy creates a need for space conditioning guidelines for vacant homes to avoid mold problems while minimizing both …

Labview Controlled Study Of The Propagation Properties Of Ultrasound In Synthetic Fog Environment, Aparna Venkataraman

Theses

Diagnostic ultrasound employs pulsed, high frequency sound waves that are reflected back from body tissues and processed by ultrasound receivers to create characteristic images in varied applications such as cardiology, obstetrics and gynecology neurology and urology. Ultrasound intensity is primarily affected by the changes in acoustic impedance of the medium. Literature on ultrasound indicates that the propagation of ultrasound increases gradually as the density increases from air to water. Such studies have been confined to only the three states of matter and have never discussed a fog medium.

The primary objective of this thesis study was to design a system …

Ambulatory Measurement Of Body Position, Swetha Vennamaneni

Theses

Ambulatory monitoring is playing an important role in the clinical and research field. In the modem era, physicians are showing much interest in measuring heart rate, blood pressure and many other physical and cardiac conditions and recording electrocardiogram (ECG, a popular technique for diagnosing heart related disease), while the patient is ambulatory. Heart rate, blood pressure and ECG waveform can change because of body position. In the case of the ECG, the changes caused by body position are can change the ST-T segment and also the QRS amplitude. The heart rate and blood pressure changes when there is a change …

An Investigation Of The Heat Affected Zone In Cortical Bone Sawing, Hamid Khalili Parsa, Ger Reilly, Brendan Mccormack, Andrew Macey

Conference Papers

Surgical procedures such as osteotomy and hip replacement involve the cutting of bone with the aid of various manual and powered cutting instruments including manual and powered bone saws. Frictional rubbing between the blade of the saw and the bone results in the generation of localised heating of the cut bone and increased cutting forces (Ark et al, 1997). Overheating in localised areas can cause bone necrosis and have an impact on the rate of healing of the bone post operation and overheating also affects the sharpness life of the blade. A review of the literature indicates that work has …

A Study Of Style Effects On Ocr Errors In The Medline Database, Penny Garrison, Diane Davis, Tim Andersen, Elisa Barney Smith

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The National Library of Medicine has developed a system for the automatic extraction of data from scanned journal articles to populate the MEDLINE database. Although the 5-engine OCR system used in this process exhibits good performance overall, it does make errors in character recognition that must be corrected in order for the process to achieve the requisite accuracy. The correction process works by feeding words that have characters with less than 100% confidence (as determined automatically by the OCR engine) to a human operator who then must manually verify the word or correct the error. The majority of these errors …