Digital Commons Network^™

Laboratory Scale Concept Validation And Evaluation Of Compromising Plant Nodal Integrity As A Means To Increase Bale Density, Aaron P. Turner

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Transportation costs represent a significant role in the economics of packaged hay and biomass crops. The material’s low bulk density limits transportation efficiency. Density is currently limited by the ability of the baling twine to withstand the expansion forces generated by the baled material shortly after it is ejected from the bale chamber. It was hypothesized that compromising the structure of the plant, particularly the plant nodes could reduce the amount of energy stored in the material as it is compressed and thereby reduce the material’s elastic response to compression. Literature pertinent to the biomass material’s behavior in compression was …

Nuclei/Cell Detection In Microscopic Skeletal Muscle Fiber Images And Histopathological Brain Tumor Images Using Sparse Optimizations, Hai Su

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

Nuclei/Cell detection is usually a prerequisite procedure in many computer-aided biomedical image analysis tasks. In this thesis we propose two automatic nuclei/cell detection frameworks. One is for nuclei detection in skeletal muscle fiber images and the other is for brain tumor histopathological images.

For skeletal muscle fiber images, the major challenges include: i) shape and size variations of the nuclei, ii) overlapping nuclear clumps, and iii) a series of z-stack images with out-of-focus regions. We propose a novel automatic detection algorithm consisting of the following components: 1) The original z-stack images are first converted into one all-in-focus image. 2) A …

Application Of Tubular Crossflow Microfiltration In Harvesting Microalgae, Mostafa Khademi

LSU Master's Theses

Separation of microalgal cells from culture medium is a challenging phase of algal production. Application of microfiltration as Stage 1 harvesting technology to pre-concentrate algal suspension from 0.2 g-dry/L to 10 g-dry/L (1% solids) prior to the final dewatering stage by centrifugation (Stage 2) was studied in this research. A bench-scale filtration setup with three tubular crossflow membrane modules (pore sizes: 0.05 µm, 0.1 µm, 0.5µm) equipped with data acquisition systems was constructed. In phase-1 experiments, the influence of algal species and the size of particles in the culture media on the filterability of microalgae were studied. It was found …

Distributed Stabilization Of Nonlinear Multi-Agent Systems, Jianming Zhou

LSU Master's Theses

The study of multi-agent systems (MASs) is focused on systems in which many autonomous agents interact and operate within a limited communication environment. The general goal of the MAS research is to design interconnection control laws such that all the dynamic agents in the group are synchronized to a desired common trajectory by exchanging information with adjacent agents over certain constrained communication networks. Based on the review and modification of existing results concerning the consensus control of linear heterogeneous MASs in Moreau (2004) [21], Scardovi and Sepulchre (2009) [25], Wieland et al (2011) [30], and Alvergue et al. (2013) [1], …

Finding Evidence Of Wordlists Being Deployed Against Ssh Honeypots – Implications And Impacts, Priya Rabadia, Craig Valli

Australian Digital Forensics Conference

This paper is an investigation focusing on activities detected by three SSH honeypots that utilise Kippo honeypot software. The honeypots were located on the same /24 IPv4 network and configured as identically as possible. The honeypots used the same base software and hardware configurations. The data from the honeypots were collected during the period 17th July 2012 and 26th November 2013, a total of 497 active day periods. The analysis in this paper focuses on the techniques used to attempt to gain access to these systems by attacking entities. Although all three honeypots are have the same configuration settings and …

Plasma Processes And Polymers Special Issue On: Plasma And Cancer, Mounir Laroussi, Michael Keidar

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

During the last two decades, research efforts on the application of low temperature plasmas in biology and medicine have positioned nonequilibrium lowtemperature plasmas as a technology that has the potential of revolutionizing healthcare.[1,2] Low temperature plasmas can be applied in direct contact with living tissues to inactivate bacteria,[3] to disinfect wounds and accelerate wound healing,[4] and to induce damage in some cancer cells.[5–11]

Ieee Cibcb 2014-Computational Intelligence In Bioinformatics And Computational Biology [Conference Reports], Steven Corns

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The 2014 Conference on Computational Intelligence in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (CIBCB) was held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu, from May 21-25. The papers presented at the conference covered the full range of computational intelligence techniques and applications. James Hughes from Brock University received the best student paper award from General Chair Steven Corns for his paper titled, 'Recentering and Restarting Genetic Algorithms Variations for DNA Fragment Assembly.' The best overall paper was awarded to Jennifer Hallinan, Owen Gilfellon, Goksel Misirli and Anil Wipat, all of Newcastle University, for their work 'Tuning Receiver Characteristics in Bacterial Quorum Communication: An …

Zein Film: Effects Of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Atmospheric Cold Plasma, Shashi Pankaj, Carmen Bueno-Ferrer, N. Misra, Paula Bourke, Patrick J. Cullen

Articles

Dielectric barrier discharge atmospheric plasma is a novel non-thermal technology for the food and packaging industry. The effects of dielectric barrier discharge plasma on the surface, structural, thermal and moisture sorption properties of edible zein films have been examined. Plasma treatment increased the surface roughness and equillibrium moisture content of the zein film in a direct relationship with the applied voltage level. No significant difference in the thermal stability of the zein film is also observed after plasma treatment. Dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatments of zein film lead to a change in the protein conformation which is confirmed by X-ray …

Stereoselective Transformations Of Α-Trifluoromethylated Ketoximes To Optically Active Amines By Enzyme-Nanometal Cocatalysis: Synthesis Of (S)-Inhibitor Of Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase, Guilin Cheng, Qi Wu, Zeyu Shang, Xinhua Liang, Xianfu Lin

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

One-pot cascade synthesis of optically active α-trifluoro methylated amines directly from ketoximes was accomplished with the use of Candida antarctica lipase B and catalysts prepared by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Compared to the commercial palladium catalyst, the ALD-prepared catalysts showed much higher activity and afforded various α-trifluoro methylated amides in good yields and with high enantioselectivity. One of the enantiopure amides was further hydrolyzed into the corresponding amine, which was treated as a crucial starting material for total synthesis of (S)-inhibitor of phenyl ethanolamine N-methyltransferase without loss of chiral information. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Modeling And Simulation Of Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Ceramic Composites, Venkata Bheemreddy

Doctoral Dissertations

"Finite element modeling framework based on cohesive damage modeling, constitutive material behavior using user-material subroutines, and extended finite element method (XFEM), are developed for studying the failure behavior of continuous fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composites (CFCCs) by the example of a silicon carbide matrix reinforced with silicon carbide fiber (SiC/SiCf) composite. This work deals with developing comprehensive numerical models for three problems: (1) fiber/matrix interface debonding and fiber pull-out, (2) mechanical behavior of a CFCC using a representative volume element (RVE) approach, and (3) microstructure image-based modeling of a CFCC using object oriented finite element analysis (OOF). Load versus displacement behavior …

Field Implementation Of Phanerochaete Chrysosporium Biomass Pretreatment: Fungal Identification And Inoculation Techniques, Bobby D. Carey Jr

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Scaling biological pretreatment from the bench scale to the production scale may be more economical if unsterilized feedstock are used, however these allow for microbial competition from contaminates. An accurate and rapid method for identifying the desired biological pretreatment organism is necessary to confirm the presence of the desired organism when contaminates are morphologically similar to the target organism. Traditional methods, such as visual identification, sequencing, and selective plating can be time consuming and are sometimes still inconclusive. Based on methods described in the literature, plasmid DNA containing the marker genes gus (�-glucuronidase), LacZ, and gfp (green fluorescence protein) …

Asme Early Career Technical Journal (Front Matter), Asme Ectc Coordinating Committee

Early Career Technical Journal (ECTJ)

Proceedings of the ASME Early Career Technical Conference, November 1-2, 2014. School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; pp. i-xii

Section 1: Bio-Medical/Bioengineering, Asme Ectc Coordinating Committee

Early Career Technical Journal (ECTJ)

Proceedings of the ASME Early Career Technical Conference, November 1-2, 2014. School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; pp. 1-10

Section 2: Materials, Asme Ectc Coordinating Committee

Early Career Technical Journal (ECTJ)

Proceedings of the ASME Early Career Technical Conference, November 1-2, 2014. School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; pp. 11-46

Asme Early Career Technical Journal (Complete Issue), Asme Ectc Coordinating Committee

Early Career Technical Journal (ECTJ)

Proceedings of the ASME Early Career Technical Conference, November 1-2, 2014. School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama

Section 5: Numerical Methods, Asme Ectc Coordinating Committee

Early Career Technical Journal (ECTJ)

Proceedings of the ASME Early Career Technical Conference, November 1-2, 2014. School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; pp. 113-156

Paper-Based Microfluidic Low-Cost Diagnostic Devices, Stephanie B. Collins, Ramana M. Pidaparti

Early Career Technical Journal (ECTJ)

Section 1: Bio-Medical/Bioengineering; pp. 3-6

Design Concepts Mimicking A Biological System: Nuclear Pore Complex, Mitchell A. Lynn, Ramana M. Pidaparti

Early Career Technical Journal (ECTJ)

Section 1: Bio-Medical/Bioengineering; p. 7

Dynamic Mechanical Analysis Of Woven Fiber-Glass Composites With Embedded Vertically Aligned Carbon Nano Tubes (Vacnt), Kiyun Kim, P Raju Mantena, Veera M. Boddu

Early Career Technical Journal (ECTJ)

Section 2: Materials; pp. 14-18

A Finite Element Model Of The Synthesis, Degradation, And Spatial Spread Of Camp, R C. Salter, K J. Webb, A V. Phan, T C. Rich

Early Career Technical Journal (ECTJ)

Section 5: Numerical Methods; pp. 115-120

Asme Early Career Technical Journal (Conference Program), Asme Ectc Coordinating Committee

Early Career Technical Journal (ECTJ)

Program of the ASME Early Career Technical Conference, November 1-2, 2014. School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama

Application Of Ce-Qual-W2 On Tigris River In Iraq, Muhanned Al-Murib

Civil and Environmental Engineering Master's Project Reports

The Tigris River is the eastern member of the two great rivers in Iraq. Two big rivers pass through Iraq, Mesopotamia. Tigris and Euphrates Rivers with their tributaries form a major river system in the Middle East. Four riparian countries, Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq, share the Tigris River basin area and Iraq has the majority of this basin area. The total length of the Tigris is 1850 km from which 1418 km is within Iraq. A study area of 880 km from Mosul dam to Kut barrage is modeled using a water quality CE-QUAL-W2 model. CE-QUAL-W2 is a two-dimensional …

Evaluation Of Different Harvesting And Storage Practices: Sweet Sorghum And Energycane, Ana Lucia Amaya Arroyave

LSU Master's Theses

Two attractive potential feed stocks for biofuel production are energycane and sweet sorghum due to the environmental adaptability, sugars concentration and yield. Evaluation and development of harvesting, transportation and storage practices is critical for bringing the production of these crops to industrial levels. This research aims to analyze the supply system of energy crops and evaluate the effect of different harvesting and storage in the yields of the feedstock and the efficiencies of the processes. Harvesting trials were conducted at St. Gabriel, LA for evaluating the feasibility of using energy crops as inputs for ethanol production. The parameters that were …

Physical Stability Of Poly (Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid) And Plga/Chitosan Nanoparticles And Chemical Stability Of Entrapped Alpha-Tocopherol And Lutein, Meocha Whaley

LSU Master's Theses

The published benefits of polymeric nanoparticles as a system for antioxidant delivery have encompassed topics of improved oral delivery, bioavailability, and modified release to name a few. Generally accepted as safe polymers Poly(lactic-coglycolic acid) and the mucoadhesive chitosan were selected to entrap alpha-tocopherol and lutein. This study proposed to assess the physical stability of PLGA and Chi/PLGA nanoparticles with entrapped bioactives in varying biological suspension medias ( water, pbs, hbss and cell media). Also, to assess the chemical stability of the entrapped antioxidants lutein and alpha-tocopherol within the same media as deemed relevant for in-vitro and and in-vivo studies. Of …

Theoretical And Experimental Investigations To Improve The Performance Of Surface Acoustic Wave (Saw) Biosensors, Mandek Richardson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this dissertation is to improve the performance of surface acoustic wave (SAW) biosensors for use in point-of-care-testing (POCT) applications. SAW biosensors have the ability to perform fast, accurate detection of an analyte in real time without the use of labels. However, the technology suffers from the inability to differentiate between specific and non-specific binding. Due to this limitation, direct testing of bodily fluids using SAW sensors to accurately determine an analyte's concentration is difficult. In addition, these sensors are challenged by the need to detect small concentrations of a biomarker that are typically required to give a …

Its All In The Mind: Mind Controlled Prosthetics, Tziril Joselit

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The problem with prosthetics is a longstanding problem that researchers have been working on for many years. They are attempting to create a prosthetic that acts as if it is the original limb or body part. In recent years they have discovered a technology that has assisted many of those who are greatly in need of a prosthetic, such as an amputee or someone who is “locked in”. “Locked in” refers to a person who is technically confined in his own body and has no methods of communication with the world. Brain-computer interface (BCI) has opened up a whole new …

Occurrence Of Synthetic Amino-Polycarboxylate Chelating Compounds In Oregon Surface Waters, Nathan A. Hersey

Civil and Environmental Engineering Master's Project Reports

Cation sequestering compounds are contained in many industrial, commercial and personal care products. The most widely used chelating agents, EDTA and DTPA, are commonly found in natural and industrial settings. When chelating compounds are present, the activity and transport of metal cations in the environment and the uptake of metals in natural systems can be affected. Surface water samples from across the United States were analyzed, as well as local collection and analysis of surface waters and wastewater treatment plant effluent from around Northwest Oregon. Results indicate presence of synthetic chelating compounds in areas with human activity, and absence in …

Water Access And Maintenance In Karonga, Malawi, Donald A. Norris

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

This report is a case study of how Mwangalala community accesses water and how that access is maintained. Mwangalala community is located in the northern tip of Karonga district in Malawi, Africa. The case study evaluates how close the community is to meeting target 10 of the Millennium Development Goals, sustainable access to safe drinking water, and evaluates the current water system through Human Centered Design’s criteria of desirability, feasibility, and viability. It also makes recommendations to improve water security in Mwangalala community.

Data was collected through two years of immersive observation, interviews with 30 families, and observing two wells …

Virus Purification, Detection And Removal, Khrupa Saagar Vijayaragavan

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The biopharmaceutical industry has a growing demand and an increasing need to improve the current virus purification technologies, especially as more and more vaccines are produced from cell-culture derived virus particles. Downstream purification strategies can be expensive and account for 70% of the overall manufacturing costs. The economic pressure and purification processes can be particularly challenging when the virus to be purified is small, as in our model virus, porcine parvovirus (PPV). Our efforts are focused on designing an easy, economical, scalable and efficient system for virus purification, and we focused on aqueous two-phase systems. Industry acceptable standards for virus …

Utilizing Dielectrophoresis To Determine The Physiological Differences Of Eukaryotic Cells, Tayloria Nicole Gail Adams

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Type 1 diabetes affects over 108,000 children, and this number is steadily increasing. Current insulin therapies help manage the disease but are not a cure. Over a child’s lifetime they can develop kidney disease, blindness, cardiovascular disease and many other issues due to the complications of type 1 diabetes. This autoimmune disease destroys beta cells located in the pancreas, which are used to regulate glucose levels in the body. Because there is no cure and many children are affected by the disease there is a need for alternative therapeutic options that can lead to a cure.

Human mesenchymal stem cells …