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Smarts2, A Simple Model Of The Atmospheric Radiative Transfer Of Sunshine, Florida Solar Energy Center, Christian Gueymard

FSEC Energy Research Center®

An upgraded spectral radiation model called SMARTS2 is introduced. The solar shortwave direct beam irradiance is calculated from spectral transmittance functions for the main extinction processes in the cloudless atmosphere: Rayleigh scattering, aerosol extinction, and absorption by ozone, uniformly mixed gases, water vapor, and nitrogen dioxide. Temperature-dependent or pressure-dependent extinction coefficients have been developed for all these absorbing gases, based on recent spectroscopic data obtained either directly from the experimental literature or, in a preprocessed form, from MODTRAN2, a state-of-the-art rigorous code. The NO2 extinction effect, in both the UV and visible, is introduced for the first time in a …

Applications Of Nonlinear Control Using The State-Dependent Riccati Equation, David K. Parrish

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the relatively new theory of nonlinear control using state dependent coefficient factorizations to mimic linear state space systems. The control theory is a nonlinear quadratic approach, analogous to linear quadratic regulation. All implementations examined in this thesis are done strictly numerically. This thesis is meant to provide a proof of concept for both satellite control and for an artificial pancreas to regulate blood glucose levels in diabetics by automatic insulin injection. These simulations represent only a first step towards practical use of the NQR method, and do not address noise rejection or robustness issues.

Design, Fabrication, Processing, And Testing Of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Chemical Sensors, Brian S. Freeman

Theses and Dissertations

Chemical microsensors are a new field integrating chemical thin film technology with solid-state fabrication techniques to make devices capable of detecting chemicals in the environment. This thesis evaluated commercially available fabrication processes and numerous sensor designs for working chemical sensors. The commercial processes used were MUMPS for surface micromachined devices and MOSIS for bulk micromachined devices. Overall, eight fabrication runs and 29 different designs were made. Of these designs, two were shown to work effectively. Other designs failed due to fabrication problems and design errors that caused release problems. One design that worked was a surface micromachined chemoresistor with interdigitated …

Comparison Of Gravel Substrate Vs Soil Substrate For The Construction Of An Experimental Fen, Carolyn S. Langley

Theses and Dissertations

Under the Clean Water Act Section 404 of 1972 and 33 CFR 320-330 and 40 CFR 230 moderate the destruction of wetlands by the Air Force to make way for other uses. To obtain a permit for a design or construction project which affects a wetland, the Air Force must agree to create new wetlands, or replace lost wetland acreage through wetland creation or restoration. The Air Force is interested in building 'successful' wetlands as inexpensively as possible. It has been common practice to use hydric soil, which often had to be hauled in, as the substrate at the restored …

A System Dynamics Approach To Modelling The Degradation Of Biochemical Oxygen Demand In A Constructed Wetland Receiving Stormwater Runoff, Leslie A. Mudgett

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to develop a tool to aid the Air Force Environmental Manager in the identification of the design parameters of a constructed wetland system that may be optimized to provide a desired biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) removal efficiency during the treatment of Air Force stormwater runoff. The objective is achieved through the development and use of a system dynamics model which simulates the hydrological functions of a constructed wetland as well as the processes within the wetland responsible for degradation of BOD. Based on literature review, the primary mechanism responsible for the degradation of BOD …

The Effects Of Risk Management Program Implementation On Worker Safety Knowledge, John C. Donnelly

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the effect of the implementation of a risk management program tool on worker safety knowledge in a composite building material fabrication facility whose workers suffered from an increasingly high injury (incidence) rate in recent years. Risk assessment codes (RACs) and job safety analyses (JSAs) were the primary tools used to introduce workers to the concept of risk. Because employee involvement is a crucial element in JSA development. employee input was frequently solicited throughout JSA development.

The study instrument consisted of a pre-test and post-test survey, to which an experimental and control group were subjected. The instrument was …

An Interferometric Technique For B/A Measurement, E. Carr Everbach, R. E. Apfel

Engineering Faculty Works

An isentropic phase method is described for measuringin vitro the acoustic nonlinearity parameterB/A of several aqueous buffers, protein solutions, lipid oils, and emulsions. The technique relies upon the use of an acoustic interferometer to measure the small changes in sound speed that accompany a rapid hydrostaticpressure change of between one and two atmospheres. Average accuracies of 0.85% are attainable with this method.

Calibration And Measurement Of Dielectric Properties Of Finite Thickness Composite Sheets With Open-Ended Coaxial Sensors, Stoyan I. Ganchev, Nasser N. Qaddoumi, Sasan Bakhtiari, R. Zoughi

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The application of open-ended coaxial sensors for dielectric measurement of finite thickness composite sheets is studied. Expressions for calculation of the complex aperture admittance for two geometries are presented. These expressions are used to calculate the dielectric constant of infinite half-space as well as finite thickness slabs. A more efficient method of such calculations, using a personal computer, for low to medium loss dielectrics is demonstrated. The question of when a dielectric layer may be considered as infinitely thick is also addressed, and examples are presented. A different calibration technique (compared to the conventional ones) is described and successfully implemented. …

Validation Of Operational Multiscale Environment Model With Grid Adaptivity (Omega), Gordon R. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

The Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) is improving the military's capability to forecast dosage and hazard levels due to release of chemical, biological, and nuclear agents. During Operation DESERT STORM the military realized the need for models to predict risk levels for military personnel assigned proximate to missile attacks. One project associated with this is the continuing development of the Operational Multiscale Environmental Model with Grid Adaptivity (OMEGA). DNA has sponsored AFIT to validate OMEGA with focus on incorporating weather data obtained from Air Force Combat Climatology Center for the period of the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident. The physics of the model …

A Comparison Of Remediation Priorities Developed By The Defense Priority Model, The Relative Risk Evaluation Method, And A Quantitative Risk Assessment Approach, David M. Hunter

Theses and Dissertations

The Superfund, established by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, seriously underestimated both the number of severely contaminated sites and the associated cleanup cost. The magnitude of projected cleanup costs, coupled with shrinking federal budgets, necessitated the development and use of risk-based prioritization models among some federal agencies. Among these tools, the DOD prioritization models are meant to give priority to sites posing the greatest threat to human health. Their failure to properly rank sites could incorrectly shift the focus from those that pose substantial risk to sites of lesser risk. The DOD site ranking …

Critical Assessment Of The Operator-Splitting Technique In Solving The Advection-Dispersion-Reaction Equation: 1. First-Order Reaction, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi, Jahangir Morshed

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Operator-splitting technique (OST) is a common mathematical approach used in the solution of the advection-dispersion-reaction equation (ADRE), especially in the presence of biological decay, where the scales of transport and biological decay are far apart. The OST introduces a time-lag between the advection-dispersion and reaction stages by splitting the ADRE causing a breakdown of the physics of the problem, thus limiting its applicability. In this work, the applicability of the operator splitting technique is studied in parts. This first manuscript addresses the critical limitations of the operator-splitting technique as related to first-order decay, and the second manuscript extends the work …

Activation Of Precipitated Iron Fischer-Tropsch Catalysts, Mehul D. Shroff

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

The Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) is an important step in the manufacture of synthetic fuels from coal. The use of iron catalysts for FTS, though desirable from the standpoint of process economy, is hampered by problems relating to catalyst attrition and carbon buildup. In addition, from a research perspective, there has been a long-standing controversy in the literature with regard to the nature of the active phase.

The effect of activation and reaction treatments on the resulting phase transformations in a commercial, precipitated and spray-dried, Fe₂O₃ - CuO - K₂O Fischer-Tropsch catalyst have been studied. Different …

Wright State University College Of Engineering And Computer Science Bits And Pcs Newsletter, Volume 11, Number 9, November 1995, College Of Engineering And Computer Science, Wright State University

BITs and PCs Newsletter

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

Fertigation Techniques For Different Irrigation Methods, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

- The irrigation method influences whether or not chemicals must be injected at a constant rate.
- The irrigation method influences the optimum duration of chemical injection.
- Chemical injection rates may inadvertently vary during an irrigation set for many reasons: improper mixing, system flow rate fluctuations, and system pressure fluctuations
- Drip systems must account for the disposal of filter flush water.

Analysis Of Soil Vapor Extraction Expenses To Estimate Bioventing Expenses, Steven M. Loken

Theses and Dissertations

An in-depth analysis of the expenses incurred with five soil venting petroleum remediation projects was accomplished. The data was obtained from receipts provided by a major United States petroleum refiner and distributor. Cost categories were designed that incorporated all costs and provided a method to analyze the data. The five cost categories used were: permits, equipment, management, utilities, and analysis. Further analysis showed trends and described the behavior of the costs related to remediation events. The relative percentile for each cost category was found to be consistent among the projects. Many costs were also found to be very linear throughout …

Fatigue Behavior Of The Equine Third Metacarpus: Mechanical Property Analysis, V.A. Gibson, S.M. Stover, R.B. Martin, J.C. Gibeling, N. H. Willits, M.B. Gustafson, L.V. Griffin

Biomedical Engineering

This is the first in a series of experiments to study the fatigue properties of equine cannon (third metacarpal) bone specimens from Throughbred racehorses. Monotonic and fatigue tests to failure were performed in four-point bending on diaphyseal specimens in a 37°C saline bath to answer three initial questions. (a) Will a linear variable differential transducer yield the same elastic modulus as strain gauges? (b) Will fatigue results depend on whether the periosteal or endosteal side of the beam is in tension? (c) Are there regional variations in the monotonic and fatigue properties of the cannon bone midshaft? Eighteen left-right pairs …

Fault Tolerant Training For Optimal Interpolative Nets, Daniel J. Simon, Hossny El-Sherief

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The optimal interpolative (OI) classification network is extended to include fault tolerance and make the network more robust to the loss of a neuron. The OI net has the characteristic that the training data are fit with no more neurons than necessary. Fault tolerance further reduces the number of neurons generated during the learning procedure while maintaining the generalization capabilities of the network. The learning algorithm for the fault-tolerant OI net is presented in a recursive formal, allowing for relatively short training times. A simulated fault-tolerant OI net is tested on a navigation satellite selection problem

Computer-Aided Process Design For Waste Minimization, Konstadinos Abeliotis

Dissertations

Problems related to process design with environmental considerations have been studied in this dissertation. A new heuristic design methodology has been formulated with the objective of minimizing the adverse environmental impact of chemical processes.

This hierarchical methodology starts with the definition and analysis of a process flowsheet followed by quantification of the process environmental loads. The quantification of environmental loads is an essential aspect of this methodology, because it serves as the comparative measure for environmental performance.

If the calculated environmental loads do not satisfy the environmental constraints (e.g., regulatory limits), waste minimization is investigated in the following order:

• Pollution …

A Theoretical Analysis Of Volatile Contaminant Removal By The Pneumatic Fracturing Process, Yuan Ding

Dissertations

A mathematical model that simulates the process of contaminant removal from a pneumatically induced fracture within a porous medium is presented. It includes: (1) model development; (2) parameter evaluation; (3) statistical sensitivity analysis; and (4) model validation.

Based on the dual porosity approach, a mathematical model for a fractured porous formation is developed for both two dimensional and axial symmetrical cases. This model constitutes a pair of coupled partial differential equations for the porous medium and discrete fracture, respectively. The initial and boundary conditions have been determined based on field considerations of a soil vapor extraction system. By means of …

Reverse Osmosis As A Pretreatment Of Ion Exchange Equipment At Pse & G'S Hudson Generation Station, Steven Leon

Theses

Public Service Electric and Gas Company's Hudson Generating Station has historically had problems providing sufficient high quality water for its two once through, supercritical design boilers. The station requires over 60 million gallons annually to compensate for system losses.

The stations' ion exchange demineralizers proved to be costly to operate and overall inefficient in performance. Drawbacks include: short service cycles, periodic contamination of storage tanks due to premature breakthrough, prohibitively high chemical regenerant costs, excessive labor requirements, frequent resin replacement, and overall unreliable plant operations.

A reverse osmosis unit was installed as a pretreatment to the demineralizers to offset these …

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 37 Number 4, Fall 1995, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

8 - OF QUARKS, OBJECT IDENTIFICATION, AND PORPHYRIN MOLECULES SCU undergraduates get a taste of scientific research. By Miriam Schulman

14 - WHAT'S YOUR BOTTOM LINE? By investing in mutual funds that reflect their values, an increasing number of shareholders hope to put their money where their morals are. But can socially responsible investing really change the world? By Jeff Brazil ' 85

22 - A BIG ENOUGH UMBRELLA Tens of thousands of women from around the world gather for a unifying-albeit rainy- conference in China. Photographs By Kim Johnson ' 87

26 - THE ART OF MATHEMATICS For every …

Bulletin - October, 1995, Civil Aviation Medical Association

Browse all Civil Aviation Medical Association Newsletters

A sixteen page newsletter of the Civil Aviation Medical Association. The newsletter provided news about civil aviation medicine and information related to the organization.

Wright State University College Of Engineering And Computer Science Bits And Pcs Newsletter, Volume 11, Number 8, October 1995, College Of Engineering And Computer Science, Wright State University

BITs and PCs Newsletter

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

Job Satisfaction And Dissatisfaction Factors Of Airport Security Screeners: National Survey Results, Francis X. Goeddeke Jr.

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study is to accurately and reliably determine what factors are most important to airport security screeners that effect job satisfaction and excessive employee turnover. Using survey items generating in a previous study, job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction survey scales for this population were developed and validated. A modified version of the Rensis Likert Scale of Organizational Climate was also developed. These surveys, including a demographic questionnaire, were administered to a large nationwide sample of airport security screeners. The results were analyzed using chi-square contingency tables, one-way analysis of variance tests, and the Fisher post-hoc procedure. Post-hoc …

Wright State University College Of Engineering And Computer Science Bits And Pcs Newsletter, Volume 11, Number 7, September 1995, College Of Engineering And Computer Science, Wright State University

BITs and PCs Newsletter

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

In Vitro Activity Of Levofloxacin, Singly And In Combination With Rifamycin Analogs, Against Mycobacterium Leprae, Arvind Madhav Dhople, Maria Antonia Ibáñez

Biomedical Engineering and Sciences Faculty Publications

The in vitro susceptibility of Mycobacterium leprae to levofloxacin was studied by using two biochemical parameters to measure the metabolic activity of the organism. Levofloxacin consistently exhibited twofold greater bactericidal activity than ofloxacin, with the MIC being 0.75 μg/ml. When combined with one of the three rifamycin analogs, synergism was obtained with KRM-1648 and rifabutin but not with rifampin.

Lead Distribution In A Simulated Aquatic Environment: Effects Of Bacterial Biofilms And Iron Oxide, Yarrow M. Nelson, Waihung Lo, Leonard W. Lion, Michael L. Shuler, William C. Ghiorse

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Biofilms influence the transport and fate of heavy metals in aquatic environments both directly by adsorption and complexation reactions and indirectly via interactions with oxides of iron and manganese. These reactions were investigated by introducing lead into a continuous-flow biofilm reactor that was designed to simulate conditions in a flowing freshwater aquatic environment. The reactor provided controlled conditions, and use of a chemically-defined growth medium allowed calculation of lead speciation with a chemical equilibrium program (MINEQL). Pseudomonas cepacia was employed as a test cell strain because of its ability to grow and form biofilms in the defined medium. This bacterium …

Preprocessing Of Microcirculatory Images., Mohamed S. Mansour

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis project consists of the development of a computerized image processing system to preprocess microvascular images of the mouse Latisimus Dorsi Muscle (LDM). This research has been conducted in association with the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Louisville. The input to the system is a set of 35 or more overlapping microscopic fields or sub_images containing segments of the LDM microcirculation, the output is an adjacent single montage encompassing the entire LDM microvasculature. The developed system presents practical solutions to the problems of image registration, overlap resolution, and image segmentation, in addition, the results …

Optimal Pumping Strategies To Maximize Dissolved Tce Extraction At Central Base Area, Norton Afb, California, Richard C. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Norton Air Force Base (NAFB) is located in the San Bernardino Valley, part of the California Peninsular Range geomorphic province (Figure 1). The elevation at NAFB is about 1,100 feet above mean sea level (msl). The ground slopes gradually to the southwest.

37th Rocky Mountain Conference On Analytical Chemistry

Rocky Mountain Conference on Magnetic Resonance

Final program, abstracts, and information about the 37th annual meeting of the Rocky Mountain Conference on Analytical Chemistry, co-sponsored by the Colorado Section of the American Chemical Society and the Rocky Mountain Section of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy. Held in Denver, Colorado, July 23-27, 1995.