Digital Commons Network^™

Supply Chain Risk Analysis, Venkata R. Kallepalli

Theses

A new decision support system is proposed and developed that will help sustaining business in a high-risk business environment. The system is developed as a web application to better integrate the supply chain entities and to provide a common platform for performing risk analysis in a supply chain. The system performs a risk analysis and calculates risk factor with each activity in the supply considering its interrelationship with other activities. Bayesian networks along with fault tree structures are embedded in the system and logical rules are used to perform a qualitative fault tree analysis, as the data required to calculate …

An Investigation Of Position And Force During Gait-Mimicking Finger Motions, Matthew Stephen Noesner

Theses

Spinal cord injuries are extremely debilitating, often leaving the injured person without the ability to use their legs (paraplegia) and sometimes, without the ability to use their arms and legs (tetraplegia or quadriplegia). Currently, primitive forms of feed-forward functional electrical stimulation (FES) and special orthotics are available for persons with paraplegia. However, these forms of FES do not allow the individual to actually control their movements on a real-time basis, nor do they offer the ability for the injured person to sense the ground on which they stand.

It is the goal of the researchers at the Neuromuscular Engineering Laboratory, …

Supply Chain Risk Mitigation, Roshan R. Pai

Theses

In recent years, especially post 9/11, there has been an increasing awareness for securing business supply chains against probable disruptions. With globalization and lean inventories, the efficiency of supply chain has greatly enhanced over the years, but at the expense of new vulnerabilities. Supply chain vulnerabilities have resulted in disruptions to the economic stability and security. As a result, risk analysis and mitigation has now grown to become one of the key links to business stabilization. To ensure business continuity, it is necessary to identify key assets (physical and operational) within the supply chain and secure them against probable threats. …

Voice Onset Time Variation In Stop Consonant To Vowel Transitions, Abhishek Gunvant Parikh

Theses

Reduced duration, increased consistency, and improved intelligibility are goals of reducing the motor complexity of speech for individuals with cerebral palsy having dysarthria. In this study, measurement and analysis were made to compare an individual with spastic Cerebral Palsy (CP) having dysarthria to an individual with athetoid CP having dysarthria as well as to a non-dysarthric individual. Each participant's normal speech, whispering, and speech using an artificial larynx was evaluated, utilizing the source-filter theory methodology. The plausibility of dysarthric speech duration reduction by minimizing vocalization is tested by stop consonant "P,, to vowel transitions. The data suggest that speech duration …

Extrusion And Evaluation Of Degradation Rate And Porosity Of Small Diameter Collagen Tubes, Bipinkumar G. Patel

Theses

The limited availability of autografts and failure of small diameter synthetic vascular grafts has stimulated continuing efforts to develop small diameter vascular grafts based on natural materials. The small diameter collagen tubes were extruded using bovine collagen type I. The biodegradation rate was determined and compared for small diameter collagen tubes crosslinked with glutaraldehyde and N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and Nhydroxysuccinimide (NHS) to evaluate physio-chemical properties. The samples were also evaluated for their surface area and porosity using mercury porosimeter. The noncrosslinked tubes almost completely degraded after 2 hours. The tubes crosslinked with EDC/NHS degraded slower than the ones crosslinked with …

Mathematical Modeling Of Transient State Transdermal Drug Delivery, Alison Nickol Weltner

Theses

In this work, a two-pathway mathematical model for transdermal drug delivery with iontophoresis is presented. The partial differential equations are described and then solved. An alternative, two-pathway, three-layer model is also presented, and the implications of the coefficients within the equation are discussed. Using Franz cell iontophoretic delivery data from three drug substances (amitriptyline HCl, clomipramine HCl, and nortriptyline HCl), the two-pathway model is regressed to determine the diffusion coefficient and the concentration within the skin at the drug reservoir interface. ANOVA analysis indicates a correlation between iontophoretic current and concentration of drug within the stratum corneum.

Effect Of Silicon Content On The Corrosion Resistance And Radiation-Induced Embrittlement Of Materials For Advanced Heavy Liquid Metal Nuclear Systems, Ajit K. Roy

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

The purpose of this collaborative research project involving the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Idaho State University (ISU) is to evaluate the effect of silicon (Si) content on the corrosion behavior and radiation-induced embrittlement of martensitic stainless steels having chemical compositions similar to that of the modified 9Cr-1Mo 2 steel. Recent studies at LANL involving Alloy EP-823 of different Si content have demonstrated that increased Si content in this alloy may enhance the corrosion resistance in molten lead-bismuth-eutectic (LBE). Since very little data exists in the open literature on the beneficial effect of …

Zone Heating For Wean-To-Finish Facilities: A Performance Comparison, Rick R. Stowell

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Farm research trials were conducted in 2003 and 2004 to assess the effects of the type of zone heater and floor mat used in a wean-to-finish building on the thermal environment created for newly weaned pigs and resulting pig performance. Modulated LP gas-fired brooder heaters were compared to electric heat lamps, and floor mats made from farm-cut wood sheathing (3/8” oriented-strand board, OSB) were compared to commercial [unheated] rubber mats in a replicated 2x2 factorial experiment. No consistent differences in air temperature near the heating zone were found between either of the treatments, with treatment means within 1^oF …

Fuzzy And Probabilistic Models Of Association Information In Sensor Networks, Leon Reznik, Vladik Kreinovich

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

The paper considers the problem of improving accuracy and reliability of measurement information acquired by sensor networks. It offers the way of integrating sensor measurement results with association information available or a priori derived at aggregation nodes. The models applied for describing both sensor sensor results and association information are reviewed with consideration given to both neuro-fuzzy and probabilistic models and methods. The information sources, typically available in sensor systems, are classified according to the model (fuzzy or probabilistic), which seems more feasible to be applied. The integration problem is formulated as an optimization problem.

Wright State University College Of Engineering And Computer Science Bits And Pcs Newsletter, Volume 20, Number 7, May 2004, College Of Engineering And Computer Science, Wright State University

BITs and PCs Newsletter

An eight page newsletter created by the Wright State University College of Engineering and Computer Science that addresses the current affairs of the college.

A Vocalisation-Based Drawing Interface For Disabled Children, Ted Burke

Articles

In our work with disabled children at Ireland’s National Rehabilitation Hospital, a problem we have experienced in the facilitation of art activities is that traditional art materials and standard computer drawing programs sometimes prove inaccessible. In this paper, an original system, called “PaintMyVoice” is presented which facilitates the creation of two or three-dimensional images using a variety of novel input modalities. In particular, vocalisations can be used to create original images of a variety of objects, including trees, flowers and landscape elements. Additional input to the system can optionally be provided via mouse, keyboard, switch interface or digital camera depending …

Inside Unlv, Gian Galassi, Andy Grossman, Donna Mcaleer, Jennifer Vaughan, Carol C. Harter, Ronald Yasbin

Inside UNLV

No abstract provided.

Women In Aviation, Kari Anne Sparks-Webb

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

My goal during my enrollment in the USU Professional Pilot Program is to further the advancement of women in the aviation industry and increase the number of women in the flight program. So, when it came time to choose my senior project there was no better choice for me than to exhibit at the Women in Aviation Convention. It would be a huge step for the school and a great opportunity for me and other students in the program.

Interim Sediment Management Plan For First Dam, Logan River, Thirumurugan Bose

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Sediment is a serious problem in the management of dams all over the world. In this project an interim sediment management plan for First Dam, on the Logan River in northern Utah, is discussed. The objective of the plan is to control the sediment budget of the reservoir in such a way that other reservoir maintenance activities (e.g., unusual draw downs for structural repairs) will produce minimal downstream environmental impacts on water quality and aquatic resources.

This report presents a detailed literature review of the various sediment management practices used for reservoir sediment control. It also discusses the downstream effects …

Digital Design For A Sweeping Langmuir Probe Board, Omar Morales

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

In-situ probing of the Earth's upper atmosphere has greatly contributed to the understanding of the ionosphere's variations and structures. The purpose of this research project has been to develop the digital component of a Swept Langmuir Probe that will be used on a sounding rocket to be launched through the equatorial ionosphere. The probe will make measurements of the plasma density and temperature in the ionosphere.

The digital component uses an FPGA to perform three main functions in parallel which are generating a sweeping voltage on the probe, sampling data channels, and communicating measured data to external devices. The FPGA …

Dynamic Mechanical And Thermal Analysis Of Aligned Vapor Grown Carbon Nanofibers Reinforced Polyethylene, Jose Jaime Taha-Tijerina

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Dynamic-mechanical and thermal characterization of aligned vapor grown carbon-nanofibers (VGCNFs)-reinforced high-density polyethylene (HDPE) has been performed. VGCNFs with diameters ranging from 50–200nm were used. Nanofibers were purified to remove amorphous carbon and metal catalyst, resulting in deagglomeration, and creating an open network that allowed polymer infiltration during mixing. High-shear mixing was used to disperse and distribute the nanofibers uniformly within the matrix. Extensional flow at different draw ratios (λ) was used to obtain anisotropic nanoreinforced composite (NC) tapes. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) showed a dual increase, in storage and loss modulus, with draw ratio. This behavior is attributed to the …

A System For Monitoring Pressures And Spinal Curvature In Spinally Injured People Immobilised On A Spinal Raft, Ruairí De Fréin, Eoin Flinn, Ted Burke

Articles

We present a system designed to study the pressure at various ‘hot spots’ on the back of the body and the deformation of the spine experienced by a patient when strapped to a spinal board, and the potential alleviation of both by the addition of an inflatable “spinal raft” (or other similar device). In measuring pressure we devised a system of air-filled sacks interfaced with a PC. Each sack, placed under a particular key point on the body, is inflated until its faces just begin to separate and a switch thereby opens. The pressure reading is then captured and displayed …

Use Of Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy For Stress-Strain Measurements, Ajit K. Roy

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

The purpose of this collaborative research project involving the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) and Idaho State University (ISU) is to evaluate the feasibility of determining residual stresses of welded, bent (three-point-bend), and cold-worked engineering materials using a new nondestructive technique based on positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS). The proposed technique is to use γ-rays from a small MeV electron linear accelerator (Linac) to generate positrons inside the test sample via 2 pair production. This method can be used for materials characterization and investigation of defects in thick samples that usually cannot be accomplished by conventional positron technique or other …

Developing A Sensing System For The Measurement Of Oxygen Concentration In Liquid Pb-Bi Eutectic, Bingmei Fu, Yingtao Jiang, Jian Ma

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research

Although liquid lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) is a good candidate for the coolant in the subcritical transmutation blanket, it is known to be very corrosive to stainless steel, the material of the carrying tubes and the containers. Such a corrosion problem can be prevented by producing and maintaining a protective oxide layer on the exposed surface of stainless steel. The proper formation of this oxide layer critically depends on the accurate measurement and control of the oxygen concentration in the liquid LBE. YSZ (Yttria Stabilized Zirconia) oxygen sensors, using molten bismuth saturated with oxygen as the reference, have been utilized to …

A Tutorial On Text-Independent Speaker Verification, Frédéric Bimbot, Jean-François Bonastre, Corinne Fredouille, Guillaume Gravier, Ivan Magrin-Chagnolleau, Sylvain Meignier, Teva Merlin, Javier Ortega-García, Dijana Petrovska-Delacrétaz, Douglas A. Reynolds

Presidential Fellows Articles and Research

This paper presents an overview of a state-of-the-art text-independent speaker verification system. First, an introduction proposes a modular scheme of the training and test phases of a speaker verification system. Then, the most commonly speech parameterization used in speaker verification, namely, cepstral analysis, is detailed. Gaussian mixture modeling, which is the speaker modeling technique used in most systems, is then explained. A few speaker modeling alternatives, namely, neural networks and support vector machines, are mentioned. Normalization of scores is then explained, as this is a very important step to deal with real-world data. The evaluation of a speaker verification system …

Hazards Identification Model For Rail Rapid Transit Accidents, Lung-Chuang Wang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

In comparison with the other transportation modes, rail rapid transit already enjoys a higher degree of safety as it is designed with the exclusive right of way and the automatic train control and monitoring systems. Nevertheless, rail rapid transit systems are not free from serious accidents, which often led to human injuries and facility damages. The planning of accident prevention and emergency measures, therefore, are still important issues of the rail rapid transit operations. The model presented in this study analyses the process of hazard identification in two stages, which clearly indicate the factors of the inherent and direct hazard …

2004 - The Ninth Annual Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the Ninth Annual Symposium of Student Scholars, held on April 16, 2004. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.

Numerical Optimization Of Sound Absorption Systems With Constrained Single-Layer Absorber, Ying-Chun Chang, Long-Jyi Yeh, Min-Chie Chiu, Gaung-Jer Lai

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The thickness and the attached area of the sound absorber are confined in the practical engineering design while the sound absorber is applied inside the machine room to eliminate the reverberant sound energy. The optimization of the shape of the absorber and the quantification of the exact area of the absorber (in order to meet the required value of sound pressure level (SPL) at the concerned receiving point) becomes essential. For purposes stated above, two powerful gradient techniques with a logical control algorithm are applied during the optimization of the sound absorption system. Both the optimization of shape and the …

Restoration Of Path Service To Lower Manhattan, Raymond E. Sandiford, Samuel Leifer, Mark Mcneilly

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

When the World Trade Center was destroyed the transit link connecting Lower Manhattan and New Jersey, the Port Authority’s Trans Hudson system or PATH, was cut. The PATH station, which was located beneath the WTC, was destroyed, the two tunnels under the Hudson River were flooded, and the first PATH station in New Jersey was rendered useless for train movements. Immediately after Sept 11, the re-establishment of the downtown PATH service was identified as a key element in the revitalization of Lower Manhattan. The re-establishment of PATH service required that three elements of major construction be completed. These were the …

Experimental Investigations On Four Electric-Generators Foundation Systems, Ion Vlad, Mirela-Nausica Vlad

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Machinery can affect engineering structures, as well as foundations supporting them and resting directly on the soil. Machines cause distinct dynamic forces depending on its manufacturing purposes, operating conditions, maintenance, design details a.s.o. The study presents the behavior of four machine – foundation systems in a dynamic operating regime. Two of the foundation systems support electric generators groups (CATERPILLAR type), operating at a speed of 1500 rpm, the other two sustaining similar PERKINS models, operating at the same speed. Steady state horizontal and vertical vibration tests were performed on the four foundations. The natural frequencies and amplitudes of vibrations were …

Observations And Performance Of A Soil Nail Shoring Wall In Seattle Silts And Clays, Shaun D. Stauffer, Daniel J. Campbell, Andrew E. Sparks, Keith Miller, Michelle Leviant

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The Seattle Central Library project, which replaced the existing downtown library, consists of a twelve-story building with several below-grade levels. The excavation encompassed an entire city block and had plan dimensions of approximately 250 feet by 240 feet. The original excavation depth was up to 53 feet in height. The excavation was made in highly overconsolidated Seattle silts and clays (Lawton Clay). The Lawton Clay has been documented to exhibit expansive behavior along planes of weakness associated with stress relief upon excavation. The original excavation was designed to be supported using a tieback soldier pile wall, typical of shoring systems …

Rock Tunnelling With Tbms On The East Side Access Project A New Perspective, Subal Sarkar, Amitabha Mukherjee, Aomar Benslimane

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

The East Side Access (ESA) Project to connect the Long Island Railroad to New York’s Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan will be one of the largest tunneling projects ever undertaken in New York. The Manhattan segment of the project includes a series of tunnels and caverns that will be excavated in rock to connect the existing 63rd Street tunnels to twin three-level station caverns beneath Grand Central Terminal, accommodating eight tracks and four platforms. A comprehensive geotechnical investigation program has been conducted and the data has been analyzed to develop a geological model along the tunnel route and rock mass …

Groundwater Abstraction From Aquitard, Aquiclude And Thin Aquifer In Barind, M. Asad Uz Zaman

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Barind is the land where the quality of life is inextricably linked to the availability of water. We are trying to help the section of people of such area where water is considered only from the viewpoint of quantity; they do not have the scope to think from quality aspect for their survival. The scale of poverty level here is normally measured on the basis of per capita income; however, to give a better indication about the quality of life, the accessibility for food, education, health, safe drinking water, sanitation, medicine and social empowerment for decision-making should also be included …

A Novel Approach To Remediation Of A Waterfront Chromium Facility, Christian Lavallee, Raj Rajaram

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

A chromium ore processing facility in Maryland was mandated by the State to undertake remedial steps to prevent further migration of contaminants to the soil, groundwater and surface water. The owner of the facility entered into a Consent Decree (CD) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to submit and execute a remedial design based on findings of site investigations. These investigations found that the soils were contaminated with hexavalent chromium. Additionally, both the shallow and deep aquifers, and surface water were found to be contaminated with chromium. The remedial action completed at …

Fifth International Conference On Case Histories In Geotechnical Engineering, Multiple Authors

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

No abstract provided.