Digital Commons Network^™

High Resolution Mesoscale Weather Data Improvement To Spatial Effects For Doserate Contour Plot Predictions, Christopher P. Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Reanalysis weather data is obtained for dates surrounding historical nuclear tests and processed through Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) software to produce a high-resolution weather forecast. Output from RAMS is visualized to check for validity and input into Hazard Prediction and Assessment Capability (HPAC) software and modeled predictions are compared to historical observation data. Simulations are conducted using constant high resolution weather and varying terrain resolution. The HPAC prediction is numerically compared to historical observation data. The result of this research culminated in the knowledge that early-time, low-altitude wind data was neglected by HPAC's incorporation of the Defense Land Fallout …

Characterizationn Of Polumer-Based Mems Pyroelectic Infrared Detector, Mark E. Allard

Theses and Dissertations

AFRL/MLPJE had developed a novel thermal sensing material termed protein-impregnated-polymer (PIP). Thus far, a proof-of-concept has been demonstrated using a macro-sized pixel (0.64 mm²) as a bolometric detector. In an effort to better characterize this novel thermal sensing material, experimental data was used to determine figures of merit (FOMs) comparative to off-the-shelf thermal detectors. Microelectromechanical (MEMS) pixels were designed and used as the support structure for an inkjet-deposited droplet of the PIP. During the material characterization, two observations were made: PIP is a pyroelectric material, and the polymer (polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)) without the protein was found to be …

Biological Cell Identification By Integrating Micro-Fluidics, Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy And Stochastic Estimation, Karl R. Schwenn

Theses and Dissertations

The integration of micro-fluidics, electrical impedance spectroscopy and stochastic estimation will lead to a device with enhanced detection capabilities. The goal of this thesis was to build a micro-fluidic electrical impedance measurement device that can be used in combination with a stochastic estimator to accurately identify living cells. A microdevice capable of making impedance measurements on individual living cells was designed and built using a series of standard microelectronic fabrication techniques. A microchannel was patterned in SU-8 photoresist between two gold microelectrodes on a two inch Pyrex 7740 wafer. The design process, the fabrication techniques for the microchannel, the fluid …

Thermoeconomics Of Seasonal Latent Heat Storage System, Yaşar Demirel, H. Hüseyin Öztürk

Papers in Thermal Mechanics

A simple thermoeconomic analysis is performed for a seasonal latent heat storage system for heating a greenhouse. The system consists of three units that are a set of 18 packed-bed solar air heaters, a latent heat storage tank with 6,000 kg of technical grade paraffin wax as phase-changing material, and a greenhouse of 180m2. The cost rate balance for the output of a unit is used to estimate the specific cost of exergy for a yearly operation. Based on the cost rate of exergy, fixed capital investment, operating cost, and economic data, approximate cash-flow diagrams have been prepared. The systems …

Characterization Of Dairy Milk House Waste Water In Kentucky, Anshu Singh, Czarena L. Crofcheck, Gail M. Brion

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

This study focuses on characterization of milk house waste water from eight different farms in Kentucky. The farms were separated into three groups based on the number of cows: small (20-30), medium (30-60), and large (over 60 cows). Samples were collected once a month from four farms and twice a month from the remainder. Samples were analyzed for chemical, biochemical, and microbiological characteristics. Results indicated a large and significant variation in the chemical and microbiological characteristics between the farms. Farm size had a significant effect on the nutrient content of the waste water. Though samples exhibited seasonal variation, there was …

In Vitro Cell Culture Infectivity Assay For Human Noroviruses, Timothy M. Straub, Kerstin Höner Zu Bentrup, Patricia Orosz Coghlan, Alice Dohnalkova, Brooke K. Mayer, Rachel A. Bartholomew, Catherine O. Valdez, Cynthia J. Bruckner-Lea, Charles P. Gerba, Morteza A. Abbaszadegan, Cheryl A. Nickerson

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Human noroviruses cause severe, self-limiting gastroenteritis that typically lasts 24–48 hours. Because of the lack of suitable tissue culture or animal models, the true nature of norovirus pathogenesis remains unknown. We show that noroviruses can infect and replicate in a 3-dimensional (3-D), organoid model of human small intestinal epithelium. Cells grown on porous collage-coated beads under fluid shear conditions in rotating wall vessel bioreactors differentiate into 3-D architectures resembling both the morphologic and physiologic function of in vivo tissues. Microscopy, PCR, and fluorescent in situ hybridization provided evidence of norovirus infection. Cytopathic effect and norovirus RNA were detected at each …

Quantitative Regional Associations Between Remodeling, Modeling, And Osteocyte Apoptosis And Density In Rabbit Tibial Midshafts, Nicole L. Hedgecock, Tamer Hadi, Andrew A. Chen, Shane B. Curtiss, R. Bruce Martin, Scott J. Hazelwood

Biomedical Engineering

Evidence suggests that osteocyte apoptosis is involved in the adaptive response of bone, although the specific role of osteocytes in the signaling mechanism is unknown. Here, we examined and correlated regional variability in indices of remodeling, modeling, osteocyte apoptosis, and osteocyte density in rabbit tibia midshafts. Histomorphometric analysis indicated that remodeling parameters (BMU activation frequency, osteon density, forming osteon density, and resorption cavity density) were lower in the cranial region compared to other quadrants. In addition, pericortical subregions displayed less remodeling relative to intracortical and endocortical ones. Modeling indices also demonstrated regional variability in that periosteal surfaces exhibited a greater …

Medical Diagnostic Ultrasound, E. Carr Everbach

Engineering Faculty Works

As early as 250 BCE, captains of ancient Greek ships would drop lead weights overboard to provide an estimate of water depth. They would count until those “sounders” produced an audible thud and in that way measure the propagation time of the falling weight. Even though the practice has given way to other technologies for sounding, one still hears the phrase “to sound something out.” In the 17th century, Isaac Newton became fascinated with sound propagation and was one of the first to describe relationships between the speed of sound and measurable properties of the propagation medium, such as density …

Updating Optimal Decisions Using Game Theory And Exploring Risk Behavior Through Response Surface Methodology, Jeremy D. Jordan

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis utilizes game theory within a framework for updating optimal decisions based on new information as it becomes available. Methodology is developed that allows a decision maker to change his perceived optimal policy based on available knowledge of the opponents strategy, where the opponent is a rational decision maker or a random component nature. Utility theory is applied to account for the different risk preferences of the decision makers. Furthermore, response surface methodology is used to explore good risk strategies for the decision maker to approach each situation with. The techniques are applied to a combat scenario, a football …

Analysis Of Routing Worm Infection Rates On An Ipv4 Network, James Gorsuch

Theses and Dissertations

Malicious logic, specifically worms, has caused monetary expenditure problems to network users in the past. Worms, like Slammer and Code Red, have infected thousands of systems and brought the Internet to a standstill. This research examines the ability of the original Slammer worm, the Slammer based routing worm proposed by Zou et al, and a new Single Slash Eight (SSE) routing worm proposed by this research to infect vulnerable systems within a given address space. This research investigates the Slammer worm's ability to generate a uniform random IP addresses in a given address space. Finally, a comparison of the speed …

Finite Element Solution: Nonlinear Flapping Beams For Use With Micro Air Vehicle Design, Robert L. Walker

Theses and Dissertations

The development and use of Micro Air Vehicles is becoming more and more important to the military. Size, weight, maneuverability, stealth, and fuel consumption are just some of the constraints on a future Micro Air Vehicle. Perfect blueprints for a small scale flying machine are both insects and humming birds. Medium sized hummingbirds are found to have wings-beats at a frequency of 18-28 Hz. There is a vast amount of complexity to just how these creatures can create lift; however, this study looks at different beams made of common materials with 1st natural bending frequencies in this range. This study …

Characterization Of Chlorinated Ethene Degradation In A Vertical Flow Constructed Wetland, James M. Waldron

Theses and Dissertations

Chlorinated solvents, including perchloroethene (PCE) and trichlorethene (TCE), are among the most common groundwater contaminants found in the United States. Once released into the environment, chlorinated solvents are extremely persistent and often require costly and lengthy remedial actions. The use of constructed wetlands has shown promise as an effective and less costly alternative for the treatment of chlorinated solvent contaminated groundwater. This study characterized and evaluated the concentration of chlorinated ethenes within a vertical flow constructed wetland, fed with PCE contaminated groundwater, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), Ohio. Chlorinated ethene concentrations were characterized within three distinct layers of the …

Using Value-Focused Thinking To Evaluate The Use Of Innovative Stormwater Management Technologies On Air Force Installations, Jeffrey T. Falcone

Theses and Dissertations

Stormwater runoff occurs naturally after every storm event; however, traditional development practices have created many impervious surfaces, such as buildings, parking lots, and streets that increase runoff volume and flow rate. Conventional stormwater management practices focus on collecting runoff into centralized channels and conveying it as quickly as possible to local bodies of water. This type of conveyance system decreases the opportunity for stormwater to naturally infiltrate back into the ground. It also prevents contaminants from being naturally filtered out of stormwater flows. As a result, centralized conveyance systems can cause flooding, erosion, and terrestrial and aquatic habitat degradation. Innovative …

A Decision Model For Selecting Energy Efficient Technologies For Low -Sloping Roof Tops Using Value-Focused Thinking, Michael J. Mccourt

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force has a large inventory of low-sloping built up roofs (BURs) and millions of dollars are spent each year retrofitting these systems. The DOD has been directed to reduce non-renewable energy consumption by using energy-efficient technologies. These two details present a great opportunity to use the open roof space to install energy-efficient roofing technologies. The purpose of this research is to provide Air Force decision makers with a tool to assist them in deciding what roofing technologies should be installed on facilities. Value Focused-Thinking is the methodology used to construct the model, in which values were used, instead …

The Chaos Of Katrina: A Nonlinear Analysis Of Federal Logistics Support During Hurricane Katrina Relief Operations, Gerald W. Morris Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a case study of federal logistics support during Hurricane Katrina disaster relief operations. Data from federal contracts covering the first 10 weeks of Katrina are used to measure federal logistics activity. The study investigates whether chaos theory, part of complexity science, can extract information from Katrina contracting data to help managers make better logistics decisions during disaster relief operations. The study uses three analytical techniques: embedding, fitting the data to a logistic equation, and plotting the limit-cycle. Embedding and fitting a logistic equation to the data were used to test for deterministic chaos. The logistic equation and …

Analyzing The Interdiction Of Sea-Borne Threats Using Simulation Optimization, Kristen L. Cavallaro

Theses and Dissertations

Worldwide, maritime trade accounts for approximately 80% of all trade by volume and is expected to double in the next twenty years. Prior to September 11, 2001, Ports, Waterways and Coastal Security (PWCS) was afforded only 1 percent of United States Coast Guard (USCG) resources. Today, it accounts for nearly 22 percent of dedicated USCG resources. Tactical assessment of resource requirements and operational limitations on the PWCS mission is necessary for more effective management of USCG assets to meet the broader range of competing missions. This research effort involves the development and validation of a discrete-event simulation model of the …

Crop Residue Effects On Runoff Nutrient Concentrations Following Manure Application, Jeffrey E. Nicolaisen, John E. Gilley, Bahman Eghball, David B. Marx

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Manure is applied to cropland areas managed under diverse conditions, resulting in varying amounts of residue cover. The objective of this study was to measure the effects of crop residue on nutrient concentrations in runoff from areas where beef cattle or swine manure were recently applied but not incorporated. Plots 0.75 m wide by 2 m long were established at the study site. Existing residue materials were removed, and corn, soybean, or winter wheat residue was added at rates of 2, 4, or 8 Mg ha⁻¹. Manure was then applied at rates required to meet estimated annual nitrogen …

Quantification Of Risk For Usaf Fire And Emergency Services Flights As A Result Of Shortage In Manpower, Timothy D. Dalby

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force (USAF) is currently experiencing a period of high operations tempo and overseas deployments have become frequent. These deployments will leave home installations short manned. Some amount of risk is incurred by the home installation as a result of the short manning. For an organization, such as an USAF Fire and Emergency Services (FES) flight, whose primary responsibility is the protection of life and property, the incurred risk could be catastrophic. Still no attempt has been made to quantify risk in terms of manpower for the USAF FES flights. The primary purpose of this research was …

Modified Luciferase, Eileen H. Kim Choi, David R. Shonnard, Irina V. Rybina

Michigan Tech Patents

The invention comprises modified luciferase proteins which are more resistant to inhibition by test chemicals than wild type luciferase. The modified luciferases also contain greater thermostability than wild type luciferase.

A Coarse Grain Model For Dna, Thomas A. Knotts, Nitin Rathore, David C. Schwartz, Juan J. De Pablo

Faculty Publications

Understanding the behavior of DNA at the molecular level is of considerable fundamental and engineering importance. While adequate representations of DNA exist at the atomic and continuum level, there is a relative lack of models capable of describing the behavior of DNA at mesoscopic length scales. We present a mesoscale model of DNA that reduces the complexity of a nucleotide to three interactions sites, one each for the phosphate, sugar, and base, thereby rendering the investigation of DNA up to a few microns in length computationally tractable. The charges on these sites are considered explicitly. The model is parametrized using …

Estimating The Probability Of Failure And Associated Risk Of The California Bay Delta Levee System, Robb E.S. Moss, J. Michael Eller

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Recent events in New Orleans have shown the magnitude of life loss and property damage that can occur due to the failure of man-made levees. The California Bay Delta and Sacramento levee systems in California pose a similar or greater level of risk to life and property. In order to effectively mitigate the hazard associated with levee failure a systematic evaluation of risk must be carried out. This paper presents preliminary research into the risk associated with the California Bay Delta. A comprehensive list of failure modes for man-made levees is presented. Preliminary empirical data on the temporal frequency of …

Identification And Characterization Of Calcium And Manganese Transporting Atpase (Pmr1) Gene Of Pichia Pastoris, Michael P. Dux, Mehmet Inan

Papers in Biotechnology

A gene homologous to Saccharomyces cerevisiae PMR1 has been cloned in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris.The entire P. pastoris PMR1 gene (PpPMR1 ) codes a protein of 924 amino acids. Sequence analysis of the PpPMR1 cDNA and the genomic DNA revealed that there is no intron in the coding region. The putative gene product contains all of the conserved regions observed in P-type ATPases and exhibits 66.2%, 60.3% and 50.6% identity to Pichia angusta (Hansenula polymorpha), Saccharomyces cerevisiae PMR1 and human ATP2C1 gene products, respectively. A pmr1 null mutant strain of P. pastoris exhibited growth defects in media with the …

Hyperthermic Effects Of Gold Nanorods On Tumor Cells, Terry B. Huff, Ling Tong, Matthew N. Hansen, Ji-Xin Cheng, Alexander Wei

Other Nanotechnology Publications

Plasmon-resonant gold nanorods, which have large absorption cross sections at near-infrared frequencies, are excellent candidates as multifunctional agents for image-guided therapies based on localized hyperthermia. The controlled modification of the surface chemistry of the nanorods is of critical importance, as issues of cell-specific targeting and nonspecific uptake must be addressed prior to clinical evaluation. Nanorods coated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (a cationic surfactant used in nanorod synthesis) are internalized within hours into KB cells by a nonspecific uptake pathway, whereas the careful removal of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide from nanorods functionalized with folate results in their accumulation on the cell surface over the …

Threshold Power Of Canonical Antennas For Inducing Sar At Compliance Limits In The 300-3000 Mhz Frequency Range, Mohammod Ali, Mark G. Douglas, Abu T.M. Sayem, Antonio Faraone, Chung-Kwang Chou

Faculty Publications

A study of the specific absorption rate (SAR) in an exposed body induced by canonical antennas is presented, with the aim of determining an upper bound for the antenna transmit power that demonstrates that a product is inherently compliant with internationally accepted radio frequency (RF) exposure limits. Starting from the fundamental limits in antenna quality factor (Q) and the corresponding bandwidth, several antenna sizes are selected, and their SAR distributions are computed using the method of moments (MoM) and finite-difference time domain (FDTD) method in the frequency range 300-3000 MHz. The threshold powers are then determined, below which the peak …

Effect Of Coating Viscoelasticity On Quality Factor And Limit Of Detection Of Microcantilever Chemical Sensors, Isabelle Dufour, Frederic Lochon, Stephen M. Heinrich, Fabien Josse, Dominique Rebiere

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Microcantilevers with polymer coatings hold great promise as resonant chemical sensors. It is known that the sensitivity of the coated cantilever increases with coating thickness; however, increasing this thickness also results in an increase of the frequency noise due to a decrease of the quality factor. By taking into account only the losses associated with the silicon beam and the surrounding medium, the decrease of the quality factor cannot be explained. In this paper, an analytical expression is obtained for the quality factor, which accounts for viscoelastic losses in the coating. This expression explains the observed decrease of the quality …

Theoretical Analysis Of Strong-Axis Bending Mode Vibrations For Resonant Microcantilever (Bio)Chemical Sensors In Gas Or Liquid Phase, Isabelle Dufour, Stephen M. Heinrich, Fabien Josse

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The frequency stability, sensitivity, and limit of detection of a coated-cantilever chemical sensor operating in a dynamic mode are mainly determined by its mechanical quality factor. While a coated-cantilever operating in the gas phase exhibits a large reduction in quality factor, immersion in liquids results in an even greater reduction in the Q-factor due to displaced fluid mass and losses in the surrounding liquid. In this paper, two different bending vibration modes are studied in order to minimize both the losses induced by the surrounding medium and the displaced fluid mass, thus increasing the quality factor and sensitivity and improving …

Modeling And Sensitivity Analysis Of Acoustic Release Of Doxorubicin From Unstabilized Pluronic P105 Using An Artificial Neural Network Model, Ghaleb A. Husseini, Nabil M. Abdel-Jabbar, Farouq S. Mjalli, William G. Pitt

Faculty Publications

This paper models steady state acoustic release of Doxorubicin (Dox) from Pluronic P105micelles using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). Previously collected release data werecompiled and used to train, validate, and test an ANN model. Sensitivity analysis was thenperformed on the following operating conditions: ultrasonic frequency, power density, Plu-ronic P105 concentration, and temperature. The model showed that drug release was mostefficient at lower frequencies. The analysis also demonstrated that release increases as thepower density increases. Sensitivity plots of ultrasound intensity revealed a drug releasethreshold of 0.015 W/cm2 and 0.38 W/cm2 at 20 and 70 kHz, respectively. The presence ofa power density threshold …

Nanoparticle Formation And Coating Using Supercritical Fluids, Abhijit Aniruddha Gokhale

Dissertations

Jet breakup phenomenon and nanoparticle formation

The focus of this dissertation is to study the SAS process to manufacture nanoparticles with minimum agglomeration, controlled size and size distribution. Solution jet breakup and solvent evaporation into supercritical fluid (SC CO₂) is studied using high speed charged coupled device (CCD) camera facilitated with double shot particle image veloimetry (PIV) laser and a high pressure view cell. Particles formation using SAS is studied. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) particles are formed using micron size capillary nozzles and combination of thermodynamically good and poor solvents in order to achieve nano-sized particles with reduced agglomeration and …

A Dynamic Supine Stander For Subjects With Disabilities Leading To Prolonged Immobility, Luis Alberto Espina

Theses

Bone tissue needs to be exposed to loading in order to stimulate the osteogenic response of the body. Disabilities that lead to prolonged immobility will result in a decrease of the osteogenic processes and an increase in resorption of bone by osteoclast cells. This disuse modeling can lead to osteopenia, osteoporosis, and subsequent non-traumatic fractures. These disabilities are varied in nature and duration, and can include load bearing bone fracture, excessive obesity, spinal cord injury, and cerebral palsy.

The following describes the concept and design of a novel dynamic supine stander that will provide loads simulating ambulation to the lower …

Inverse Dynamic Modeling For Characterization Of Spasticity, Katharine Markel Swift

Theses

Spasticity affects subjects with cerebral palsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury. The need to develop a deeper understanding of spasticity is driven by the existing limited understanding and the lack of satisfactory interventions for this disabling phenomenon.

An inverse model is implemented to describe the motion in the pendulum knee drop test. Inverse kinematic modeling is implemented to investigate the pathophysiology of spasticity.

Using the equilibrium point hypothesis as a conceptual framework to explain disabled and non-disabled neuromuscular control, it has been demonstrated that the equilibrium point of the passive knee is dynamic and exhibits a pseudo-exponential trajectory …