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Enhancing Simulation Composability And Interoperability Using Conceptual/Semantic/Ontological Models, Andreas Tolk, John A. Miller

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Faculty Publications

(First paragraph) Two emerging trends in Modeling and Simulation (M&S) are beginning to dovetail in a potentially highly productive manner, namely conceptual modeling and semantic modeling. Conceptual modeling has existed for several decades, but its importance has risen to the forefront in the last decade (Taylor and Robinson, 2006; Robinson, 2007). Also, during the last decade, progress on the Semantic Web has begun to influence M&S, with the development of general modeling ontologies (Miller et al, 2004), as well as ontologies for modeling particular domains (Durak, 2006). An ontology, which is a formal specification of a conceptualization (Gruber et al, …

The Influence Of Macrophage Depletion On Ligament Healing, Connie S. Chamberlain, Ellen M. Leiferman, Kayt E. Frisch, Sijian Wang, Xipei Yang, Nico Van Rooijen, Geoff S. Baer, Stacey L. Brickson, Ray Vanderby

Faculty Publications - Biomedical, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering

Despite a complex cascade of cellular events to reconstruct damaged extracellular matrix (ECM), ligament healing results in a mechanically inferior, scar-like tissue. During normal healing, the number of macrophages significantly increases within the wound site. Then, granulation tissue expands into any residual, normal ligamentous tissue (creeping substitution), resulting in a larger region of healing, greater mechanical compromise, and an inefficient repair process. To study the effects of macrophages on the repair process, bilateral, surgical rupture of their medial collateral ligaments (MCLs) was done on rats. Treatment animals received liposome-encapsulated clodronate, 2 days before rupture to ablate phagocytosing macrophages. Ligaments were …

Designing, Understanding, And Analyzing Unconventional Computation: The Important Role Of Logic And Constructive Mathematics, Vladik Kreinovich

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

In this paper, we explain why, in our opinion, logic and constructive mathematics are playing -- and should play -- an important role in the design, understanding, and analysis of unconventional computation.

Physical Impact Of Waterjet-Based Sediment Remediation On Benthic Organisms, Grace Harper, Andrew Curtis Elmore, Christopher Redell, Gavin Risley, Joel Gerard Burken

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Adding Activated Carbon to Sediments Has Been Shown to Be an Effective Means of Reducing the Bioavailability of Certain Contaminants. the Current State of the Practice is to Mechanically Mix Activated Carbon to a Target Concentration of 3 Percent at Depths of Approximately 30 Cm using a Rotovator or Similar Construction Equipment. Waterjets Have Been Used to Cut Hard Material using a Mixture of Water and an Abrasive. If Activated Carbon is Substituted for the Abrasive, Waterjets Have the Potential to Use Surface Injection as a Replacement for Mechanical Mixing during Sediment Remediation. a Perceived Benefit of Waterjet-Based Sediment Remediation …

A Critical Review On Recent Methods Used For Economically Viable And Eco-Friendly Development Of Microalgae As A Potential Feedstock For Synthesis Of Biodiesel, Yogesh C. Sharma, Bhaskar Singh, John Korstad

College of Science and Engineering Faculty Research and Scholarship

Microalgae are being considered as a viable feedstock for large-scale production of biodiesel. However, though it may look simpler to obtain lipids from microalgae, the overall process of choosing an algal strain, cultivation, harvesting, dewatering, and extraction of oil is quite complicated and not economically prudent at this time. A thorough understanding of algae and the overall biodiesel production process discussed in this paper is vital so that focused research might lower the costs involved. Various diverse species of microalgae are currently being used as feedstocks for biofuel. Heterotrophic culture may be preferred over photoautotrophic cultivation. For cultivation, specially fabricated …

Simulation, Application, And Resilience Of An Organic Neuromorphic Architecture, Made With Organic Bistable Devices And Organic Field Effect Transistors, Robert A. Nawrocki

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents work done simulating a type of organic neuromorphic architecture, modeled after Artificial Neural Network, and termed Synthetic Neural Network, or SNN. The first major contribution of this thesis is development of a single-transistor-single-organic-bistable-device-per-input circuit that approximates behavior of an artificial neuron. The efficacy of this design is validated by comparing the behavior of a single synthetic neuron to that of an artificial neuron as well as two examples involving a network of synthetic neurons. The analysis utilizes electrical characteristics of polymer electronic elements, namely Organic Bistable Device and Organic Field Effect Transistor, created in the laboratory at …

Label-Free Biochemical Recognition Using Mems Resonators For Microarray Technology, Babak Tousifar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Highly sensitive biosensors capable of detecting and characterizing smallest quantities of cellular and molecular targets are needed in pharmaceutical and medical diagnostics industries. In this work, the importance of biological target recognition specifically proteins through microarray technologies has been discussed and the most successful tools and techniques have been studied. Moreover, a thermally actuated Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) resonator has been demonstrated and fabricated in this work as an accurate, reliable and low cost biotechnology tool. As a proof of concept, amine to epoxide coupling of octadecylamine to functionalized silicon dioxide surface have been shown through resonator frequency monitoring. The …

Landfill Temperatures Under Variable Decomposition Conditions, Nazli Yesiller, James L. Hanson, H. Yoshida

Civil and Environmental Engineering

This study was conducted to evaluate temperature, gas, and leachate data at two landfills in similar climatic regions (Detroit, Michigan, USA and Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan) to determine the interrelations between heat production and resulting waste temperatures and gas and leachate levels in landfills under variable decomposition conditions. Significant temperature increases occurred under long-term anaerobic conditions. Stable elevated temperatures under anaerobic conditions were observed for wastes at central locations. Seasonal fluctuations in both temperature and gas existed at shallow depths and near perimeter locations. Placement of an overfill of fresh wastes over old wastes affected temperatures, yet did not significantly influence …

Development Of A Continuum Mechanics Model Of Passive Skeletal Muscle, Duane A. Morrow

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

Skeletal muscle force evaluation is difficult to implement in a clinical setting. Muscle force is typically assessed through either manual muscle testing, isokinetic/isometric dynamometry, or electromyography (EMG). Manual muscle testing is a subjective evaluation of a patient’s ability to move voluntarily against gravity and to resist force applied by an examiner. Muscle testing using dynamometers adds accuracy by quantifying functional mechanical output of a limb. However, like manual muscle testing, dynamometry only provides estimates of the joint moment. EMG quantifies neuromuscular activation signals of individual muscles, and is used to infer muscle function. Despite the abundance of work performed to …

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 53 Number 1, Summer 2011, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

18 - WHAT DO INVESTORS REALLY WANT? By Meir Statman. A renowned behavioral finance expert reveals how our desires shape our actions when it comes to investing. (Hint: It's not just money that we're after.)

20 - LAW AT 100. A century of legal education at SCU. See snapshots from across the years-and look at the big picture of how the legal landscape has changed

22 - THE BIG IDEA!: Michael S. Malone '75, MBA '77 on Silicon Valley high tech gold and a brief history of intellectual property law.

24 - WOMEN'S WORK: Stephanie M. Wildman on jobs, the …

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 53 Number 2, Fall 2011, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

18 - CHANGE THE WORLD. OR AT LEAST HOW YOU SEE IT. Edited by John Deever and Steven Boyd Saum. The U.S. Peace Corps turned 50 this year, with more than 340 Santa Clara grads (and faculty and staff) having served as volunteers over the years. A few of them recount their time in-country-and where it's taken them.

26 - HOW CAN YOU DEFEND THOSE PEOPLE? by Steven Boyd Saum. Public defenders on the Homicide Task Force in Chicago have heard that question time and again. Between them, Robert Strunck '76 and Crystal Marchigiani '78 have some 40 years on …

Safety And Protective Efficacy Of Ina-Inactivated Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus: Implication In Vaccine Development, Anuj Sharma, Paridhi Gupta, Pamela J. Glass, Michael D. Parker, Radha K. Maheshwari

United States Army: Publications

We have previously shown that a hydrophobic alkylating compound, 1,5-iodonaphthyl-azide (INA) can efficiently inactivate the virulent strain of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), V3000 in vitro. In this study, we have evaluated the safety of INA-inactivated V3000 and V3526 and the protective efficacy of INA-inactivated V3000. INA-inactivated V3000 and V3526 did not cause disease in suckling mice. RNA isolated from the INA-inactivated V3000 and V3526 was also not infectious. Immunization of adult mice with INA-inactivated V3000 induced an anti-VEEV antibody response and protected mice from virulent VEEV challenge. The protective efficacy of INA-inactivated V3000 increased with the use of adjuvants. …

A Parametric Study Of Pedestrian Vertical Force Models For Dynamic Analysis Of Footbridges, Paul Archbold, Joe Keogh, Colin C. Caprani, Paul Fanning

Conference papers

Footbridge vibration has received much attention in recent years. However, stochastic models for crowd loading are not common, and estimation of crowd-induced vibration is typically done through enhancement factors applied to single pedestrian loading models. This work compares two such models, a moving force model and a spring-mass-damper model (SMD). Typical ranges for various pedestrian parameters are examined, and it is found that the pacing frequency has by far the greatest influence on bridge vibration response. It is also found that the magnitude of the response for pacing frequencies near the bridge natural frequency is lower for the SMD model, …

Test 2012a: New Holland Workmaster 55, Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

Nebraska Tractor Tests

ABOUT THE TEST REPORT AND USE OF THE DATA The test data contained in this report are a tabulation of the results of a series of tests. Due to the restricted format of these pages, only a limited amount of data and not all of the tractor specifications are included. The full OECD report contains usually about 30 pages of data and specifications. The test data were obtained for each tractor under similar conditions and therefore, provide a means of comparison of performance based on a limited set of reported data. EXPLANATION OF THE TEST PROCEDURES Purpose The purpose of …

Computational Models Of Chemical Systems Inspired By Braess’ Paradox, Dante Lepore, Carl Barratt, Pauline Schwartz

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications

Systems chemistry is a new discipline which investigates the interactions within a network of chemical reactions. We have studied several computational models of chemical systems inspired by mathematical paradoxes and have found that even simple systems may behave in a counterintuitive, non-linear manner depending upon various conditions. In the present study, we modeled a set of reactions inspired by one such paradox, Braess’ paradox, an interesting phenomenon whereby the introduction of additional capacity (e.g. pathways) in some simple network systems can lead to an unexpected reduction in the overall flow rate of “traffic” through the system. We devised several chemical …

Nitric Oxide-Generating Silicone As A Blood-Contacting Biomaterial, Kagya Amoako

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications

Coagulation upon blood-contacting biomaterials remains a problem for short and long-term clinical applications. This study examined the ability of copper(II)-doped silicone surfaces to generate nitric oxide (NO) and locally inhibit coagulation. Silicone was doped with 3-micron copper (Cu(0)) particles yielding 3 to 10 weight percent (wt%) Cu in 70-μm thick Cu/Silicone polymeric matrix composites (Cu/Si PMCs). At 3, 5, 8 and 10 wt% Cu doping, the surface expression of Cu was 12.1 ± 2.8%, 19.7 ± 5.4%, 29.0 ± 3.8%, and 33.8 ± 6.5% respectively. After oxidizing Cu(0) to Cu(II) by spontaneous corrosion, NO flux, JNO (mol*cm−2*min−1), as measured by …

Effect Of Substrate Composition And Alignment On Corneal Cell Phenotype, Donna Phu '09, Lindsay S. Wray '08, Robert V. Warren '10, Richard C. Haskell, Elizabeth J. Orwin

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

Corneal blindness is a significant problem treated primarily by corneal transplants. Donor tissue supply is low, creating a growing need for an alternative. A tissue-engineered cornea made from patient-derived cells and biopolymer scaffold materials would be widely accessible to all patients and would alleviate the need for donor sources. Previous work in this lab led to a method for electrospinning type I collagen scaffolds for culturing corneal fibroblasts ex vivo that mimics the microenvironment in the native cornea. This electrospun scaffold is composed of small-diameter, aligned collagen fibers. In this study, we investigate the effect of scaffold nanostructure and composition …

Hybrid Sensing And Adaptive Control For Direct Brain Actuation Of Artificial Limbs, Christopher Aasted

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Developing a non-invasive direct brain control of artificial limbs is both challenging and desirable. Such a sensory and control system, if successful, will have a profound impact on the disabled. In this dissertation, we present the design and development of a non-invasive, hybrid sensory system, which uses near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG) to measure brain activity with simultaneous electromyography (EMG) to provide feedback data in a healthy limb. Through the combination of these sensory techniques, we have successfully trained a control system capable of mapping brain activity onto muscle actuation. The design of a control algorithm capable of automatic …

Cottonwood Management Plan/Programmatic Environmental Assessment Proposed Implementation Of A Cottonwood Management Plan Along Six Priority Segments Of The Missouri River

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) proposes to preserve existing stands and reestablish new stands of plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides) at selected public/government lands along the Missouri River in accordance with the Cottonwood Management Plan (CMP). The Proposed Action is the implementation of the CMP. The goal of the plan is to be a living document that preserves, creates, or restores cottonwood habitats along the Missouri River and meets the requirements of the USFWS 2003 Amended Biological Opinion (BiOp) concerning the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). The principal immediate focus of the CMP includes measures in …

2010/11 Research, Development, And Activities, College Of Engineering And Applied Sciences

Electrical and Computer Engineering Newsletter

• Center for Advanced Smart Sensors and Structures (CASSS)
• Vehicular Ad Hoc Network Augmenting GPS Systems
• In-Flight Discreet Wireless Communication System
• Dual-Use Ground Vehicle Condition-Based Maintenance
• Neurobiology Engineering Laboratory
• CEAS Students Win Stryker Challenge!
• Earth Today iPhone Application for JPL’s Earth Sciences Directorate

A Possible Pathway For High School Science In A Stem World, Cary Sneider

Publications

Today‘s high school science teachers find themselves in a period of transition. For the past decade there have been calls for replacing a narrow focus on science education—the traditional courses in physics, chemistry, biology, and Earth and space science—with a broader curriculum on STEM (that is, the four allied fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). However, at present there are no guidelines on what that broader curriculum should include or how it should be designed, and the gulf that has separated science and mathematics seems as wide as ever, despite decades of efforts to bridge the two disciplines. Next …

Mapping Engineering Concepts For Secondary Level Education, Jenny L. Daugherty

Publications

Much of the national attention on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education tends to concentrate on science and mathematics, with its emphasis on standardized test scores. However as the National Academy of Engineering Committee on K-12 Engineering Education stressed, engineering can contribute to the development of an effective and interconnected STEM education system (Katehi, Pearson, & Feder, 2009). In addition, engineering can provide authentic learning contexts for science, technology, and mathematics. Numerous K-12 engineering initiatives have emerged across the U.S. developing curriculum and conducting teacher professional development (Brophy, Klein, Portsmore, & Rogers, 2008). The focus of pre-college engineering education …

Mapping Engineering Concepts For Secondary Level Education, J. L. Daugherty

Publications

No abstract provided.

Engineering Design Thinking And Information Gathering Final Report, Nathan Mentzer

Publications

The objective of this research was to explore the relationship between information access and design solution quality of high school students presented with an engineering design problem. This objective is encompassed in the research question driving this inquiry: How does information access impact the design process? This question has emerged in the context of an exploratory DR-K12 grant project titled, Exploring Engineering Design Knowing and Thinking as an Innovation in STEM Learning. The research work presented here has expanded the data set developed in the DR-K12 and examined the larger data set with a focus on how information access impacts …

Understanding Of Student Task Interpretation, Design Planning, And Cognitive Strategies During Engineering Design Activities In Grades 9-12, Oenardi Lawanto

Publications

The objective of this study was to describe the task interpretation of students engaged in a design activity and determine the extent to which students translate their understanding of their design task to their planning and cognitive strategies. Twenty-nine students at one Colorado high school participated in this study. Students worked individually in the Architectural Design class (n=7), and in teams in the Robotics Design class (n=22). To capture students’ perceptions of their understanding of the task, planning strategies, and cognitive strategies, the Engineering Design Questionnaire (EDQ) was used. The development of the EDQ was guided by Butler and Cartier’s …

Spatial And Temporal Patterns Of Mercury Accumulation In Lacustrine Sediments Across The Laurentian Great Lakes Region, Paul E. Drevnick, Daniel R. Engstrom, Charles T. Driscoll, Edward B. Swain, Steven J. Balogh

Civil and Environmental Engineering - All Scholarship

Data from 104 sediment cores from the Great Lakes and “inland lakes” in the region were compiled to assess historical and recent changes in mercury (Hg) deposition. The lower Great Lakes showed sharp increases in Hg loading c. 1850-1950 from point-source water dischargers, with marked decreases during the past half century associated with effluent controls and decreases in the industrial use of Hg. In contrast, Lake Superior and inland lakes exhibited a pattern of Hg loading consistent with an atmospheric source - gradual increases followed by recent (post-1980) decreases. Variation in sedimentary Hg flux among inland lakes was primarily attributed …

Harmony Oriented Architecture, Kyle A. Martin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents Harmony Oriented Architecture: a novel architectural paradigm that applies the principles of Harmony Oriented Programming to the architecture of scalable and evolvable distributed systems. It is motivated by research on Ultra Large Scale systems that has revealed inherent limitations in human ability to design large-scale software systems that can only be overcome through radical alternatives to traditional object-oriented software engineering practice that simplifies the construction of highly scalable and evolvable system. HOP eschews encapsulation and information hiding, the core principles of objectoriented design, in favor of exposure and information sharing through a spatial abstraction. This helps to …

Investigation Of Singlemode-Multimode-Singlemode And Singlemode-Tapered Multitmode-Singlemode Fibre Structures And Their Application For Refractive Index Sensing, Pengfei Wang, Gilberto Brambilla, Ming Ding, Yuliya Semenova, Qiang Wu, Gerald Farrell

Articles

All-fiber in-line single-mode–multimode–single-mode (SMS) and single-mode–tapered-multimode–single-mode (STMS) fiber structures are investigated. A wide-angle beam propagation method in cylindrical coordinates is developed and employed for numerical simulations of the light propagation performance of such fiber devices. The effect of strong mode interference on the performance of the devices is studied and verified numerically; results indicate that the proposed STMS structure can be exploited for measuring a broad refractive index range with reasonable high resolution, compared with the conventional SMS structure.

Design Principles For High School Engineering Design Challenges: Experiences From High School Science Classrooms, Christian Schunn

Publications

At the University of Pittsburgh, we have been exploring a range of approaches to design challenges for implementation in high school science classrooms (Apedoe, Reynolds, Ellefson, & Schunn, 2008; Ellefson, Brinker, Vernacchio, & Schunn, 2008; Schunn, Silk, & Apedoe, in press). In general, our approach has always involved students working during class time over the course of many weeks. So, our understanding of what works must be contextualized to that situation (i.e., without significant home support, by students enrolled in traditional classrooms, involving content that is connected to traditional science classrooms). However, our approach has been implemented with thousands of …

Engineering Design Challenges In High School Stem Courses A Compilation Of Invited Position Papers, Daniel L. Householder

Publications

Since its initial funding by the National Science Foundation in 2004, the National Center for Engineering and Technology Education (NCETE) has worked to understand the infusion of engineering design experiences into the high school setting. Over the years, an increasing number of educators and professional groups have participated in the expanding initiative seeking to acquaint all students with engineering design. While there is strong support for providing students with engineering design experiences in their high school STEM courses, the lack of consensus on purposes and strategies has become increasingly apparent as the work continues. Among the unsettled issues are the …