Digital Commons Network^™

Optimization Of Scientific Computation For Multicore Systems, Andrew B. Mcclain

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With the rapid growth of semiconductor technology, chip density has increased significantly. As the power exponent is setting hard limits to frequency increases, multi-core and chip level multi-processors have become prevalent in recent years to take advantage of the increasing chip density. In the new generation of processors, multi-core architecture design is becoming the major trend: IBM/SONY/Toshiba's Cell Broadband Engine processors contain nine cores; NVIDIA graphics processors contain more than 30 cores.

One of the biggest challenges is to efficiently utilize the computational power provided by multi-core systems. The second challenge to achieving high performance in a computer system is …

Observer-Based Fault Diagnosis Of Wind Turbines, Songling Zhao

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Because wind is a clean and renewable energy, it is in high demand as an alternative resource of fossil fuels for our daily power supply. Thus, wind turbine technology is wildly applied to convert the wind energy to electrical power. With the size of the wind turbines increased, the maintenance cost of the wind turbines also goes up. Fault diagnosis can significantly help wind turbines to: reduce the maintenance cost, the machinery breakdown, spare parts inventories, total machine downtime, and overtime expenses, and increase machine life, overall productivity, and profit. The technical challenges for fault diagnosis of the wind turbine …

The Synthesis, Reduction, And Chlorination Of 5-Alkoxy-2,3-Diphenylterephthalates, Rachel Marie Sayers

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A series of alkoxy, phenylated terephthalates has been synthesized as monomer precursors to the corresponding poly(phenylene vinylene)s (PPV). The hydroxy, phenylated terephthalate was synthesized via: 1) a Diels-Alder cycloaddition between an ethynyl boronic ester and a cyclopentadienone (CPD) with subsequent hydrolysis/oxidation of the boronate ester or 2) a Diels-Alder cycloaddition between vinylene carbonate and CPD followed by thermolysis of the bridged adduct. The hydroxy, phenylated terephthalate was alkylated via a phase-transfer reaction with iodomethane, propargyl bromide, benzyl chloride, allyl bromide, and bromobutane to produce the alkoxy, phenylated terephthalates in yields from 38.6- 91.1%. The alkoxyterephthlates were reduced with lithium aluminum …

Poly(Arylene Ether Sulfone)S Carrying Pendant(3-Sulfonated) Phenyl Sulfonyl Groups For Use As Proton Exchange Membranes, Kimberly E. Kern

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A series of poly(arylene ether)s, containing a pendant mono sulfonic acid group, was synthesized using 3-sulfonated-3', 5'-difluorodiphenyl sulfone and a variety of bisphenols for use in proton exchange membranes (PEM). Nucleophilic aromatic substitution was utilized for homo and copolymerizations. In addition, the relationship between perfectly alternating and random copolymers and their effects on overall properties was studied. Polymerization reactions yielded linear sulfonated poly(arylene ether)s, sPAEs, with molecular weights ranging from 15,400 to 212,000 g/mol. All of the polymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), 13C NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). All polymers exhibited excellent …

A Domain Specific Language Based Approach For Developing Complex Cloud Computing Applications, Ashwin Kumar Manjunatha

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Computing has changed. Lately, a slew of cheap, ubiquitous, connected mobile devices as well as seemingly unlimited, utility style, pay as you go computing resources has become available at the disposal of the common man. The latter commonly called Cloud Computing (or just Cloud) is democratizing computing by making large computing power accessible to people and corporations around the world easily and economically.

However, taking full advantage of this computing landscape, especially for the data intensive domains, has been hampered by many factors, the primary one being the complexity in developing applications for the variety of available platforms.

This thesis …

Semi-Automated Dental Cast Analysis Software, Mathew Thomas

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Dental casts have been used extensively to study almost all aspects of the human dentition. These aspects varied from the study of tooth form and morphology, inheritance and genetics, growth and development, occlusion, arch alignment and crowding to mathematical determination of dental arch form.

The aim of this project was to develop a tool to semi-automate the measurement of dental casts that would be precise, accurate and efficient. Measurements include tooth widths, arch lengths and widths, angle of rotation and crown area for each tooth.

The task was divided into two different parts: first, the development of semi-automatic software to …

Analysis Of An Eocene Bone-Bed, Contained Within The Lower Lisbon Formation, Covington County, Alabama, Angela Ann Clayton

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A fossiliferous lag layer is exposed, at low water levels, next to Point "A" Dam north of River Falls, Alabama. The location of the research site was a coastal region, during the Middle Eocene, and most likely an estuary with complex depositional systems due to the interaction of fluvial and tidal processes. Most of the vertebrate remains at this locality are well preserved and indicate a low-energy environment. The exposure consists of unconsolidated sands rich with Chondrichthyan and Reptilian remains. Little work has been conducted at this location and the exposure was thought to be conformable. With a thorough lithological …

Effects Of Crystal Orientation On The Dissolution Kinetics Of Calcite By Chemical And Microscopic Analyses, Michael Edward Smith

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The purpose of this work was to examine the effects of polished crystal-surface orientation and degree of solution undersaturation (Ω_calcite) on the dissolution kinetics of calcite as a means of improving our understanding of fundamental reactions that may influence the efficacy of CO₂ sequestration in geological formations. Crystallographic surface orientations utilized in this study included ~ 1 cm² areas of natural calcite specimens polished approximately parallel to the (104) plane, giving rise to surfaces with flat terraces with few steps, as well as fully kinked surfaces created by sectioning approximately parallel to the (001) plane. Results …

Small-Signal Modeling Of Resonant Converters, Agasthya Ayachit

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Resonant DC-DC converters play an important role in applications that operate at high-frequencies (HF). Their advantages over those of pulse-width modulated (PWM) DC-DC converters have led to the invention of several topologies over the traditional forms of these converters. Series resonant converter is the subject of study in this thesis. By variation in the switching frequency of the transistor switches, the optimum operating points can be achieved. Hence, the steady-state frequency-domain analysis of the series resonant converter is performed. The operational and characteristic differences between the series resonant and parallel resonant and series-parallel resonant configurations are highlighted. In order to …

Determining The Optimal Aisle-Width For Order Picking In Distribution Centers, Sheena R. Wallace-Finney

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Many companies use distribution centers (DC) as hubs for storing and distributing products to customers (e.g., wholesalers, retailers, or consumers). Order picking, a critical activity in every DC, refers to retrieving products from the storage locations to fulfill customer orders. It accounts for over 50% of the DC operating cost. Order picking system design involves several decisions, such as layout of the picking area, storage policy, picking method, material handling equipment, and information technology, to name a few. Aisle configuration (number, length, width, and orientation) is a critical layout decision as it directly affects picker productivity and required space. Previous …

Aerosol Jet Printing Of Lscf-Cgo Cathode For Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Paul Gardner

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Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology has attracted great attention due to advantages such as low emissions and high efficiency. In this work, solid oxide fuel cells were fabricated by incorporating functional layers deposited by a novel aerosol jet® printing method. The buffer and cathode layers were printed from gadolinium doped ceria (Ce0.9Gd0.1)O1.95 (CGO) and La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (LSCF) inks, respectively. The CGO layer was deposited on the sintered electrolyte and then LSCF was subsequently deposited onto the CGO layer. The polarization curves showed a 19% improvement in current density using LSCF as the cathode instead of LSM. Cathode grain size was …

Ab Initio Simulations Of Graphene-Based Nanosensor For Detecting No2 And Li, Ahmed Jama Hassan

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Nanosensors, i.e., sensors based on nanomaterials, have the potential of superior performance owing to their size effect, and can have significant effects on detection of pollutants in the environment. Various nanowires have been used in this context. Here we investigate the possibility of NO2 and Li detection using the quantum conductance change in graphene nanoribbon. Quantum conductance modification in graphene nanoribbon upon NO2/Li adsorption was calculated using ab initio methods. The optimized structures of the adsorbed NO2 indicated two different geometries where either nitrogen or oxygen was closer to the graphene lattice. The former resulted in charge transfer from NO2 …

Marine Vertebrate Remains From Middle-Late Devonian Bone Beds At Little Hardwick Creek In Vaughns Mill, Kentucky And At The East Liberty Quarry In Logan County, Ohio, John M. James

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Stratigraphic, lithologic, faunal and condont biozone analysis will provide insight to whether or not East Liberty Bone Bed, in Logan County, Ohio, and Little Hardwick Creek Bone Bed C, in Vaughns Mill, Kentucky, are chronostratigraphic correlations to one another; they are separated by 370 kilometers (230 miles). Material from each bed was collected and broken down in acid and analyzed. Remaining residue after acid treatment was analyzed under a dissecting microscope for lithological and fossil contents, identified from previous fossil vertebrate findings at other locations.

Final analysis of these beds showed that lithologically and faunally they are very similar. However, …

A Computational Tool For Biomolecular Structure Analysis Based On Chemical And Enzymatic Modification Of Native Proteins, Deacon John Sweeney

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Chemical and enzymatic modification of proteins is a well-established treatment technique for probing the conformational properties of these macromolecules. Investigators have recently extended the approach to probe many sites on a protein's structure in parallel manner, such that conformational properties of a target protein can be inferred. The modern approach uses mass spectrometry to quantify reactant loss and product formation. Rigorous analysis is challenging due to the high volume of mass spectrometric data that must be processed and interpreted.

An extensively interactive software suite has been developed to assist various aspects of the analytical protocol. The software offers a variety …

Cervical Spine Biomechanical Behavior And Injury, Mbulelo T. Makola

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A finite element model of the cervical spine including the C2 through C7 levels was developed in order to study the behavior of the cervical spine region. The model was validated in flexion extension, bending, and rotational load scenarios. The model was found to represent the biomechanical behavior of the cervical spine. The validated cervical spine finite element model was used to study spinal injury and disease processes. The model provided qualitative estimates of load carrying and stress distribution as well as range of motion.

The Molecular Basis Of The Interaction Between The Coxsackievirus And Adenovirus Receptor (Car) And Magi-1, Abimbola Olayinka Kolawole

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A major factor in virus entry into cells is localization and abundance of the primary receptor. The Coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) is the primary receptor for group B coxsackievirus and many serotypes of adenovirus. In most epithelia, a seven exon isoform of CAR (CAR^Ex7) is exclusively localized at the basolateral surface where it behaves as a homophilic adhesion protein and is inaccessible for viral infection. However, in well-differentiated human airway epithelia, we recently discovered an alternatively spliced, low abundance isoform of CAR (CAR^Ex8) that is apically localized where it may initiate apical viral infection. The …

The Impact Of Non-Reading Language Performance On The Estimation Of Premorbid Iq Among Normal Elderly Individuals, Abraham Maniparambil-Eapen

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The influence of non-reading language ability was studied in the context of estimating premorbid IQ among normal elderly individuals. Non-reading language performance was measured by the Controlled Oral Word Association (COWA) Test and the Animal Naming (AN) Test. Non-reading language disturbances were divided into three levels (i.e., no disturbance on COWA and AN, either COWA or AN disturbance, and both COWA and AN disturbances). Intellectual ability was primarily measured by the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI). Additionally, reading measures such as the New Adult Reading Test- Revised (NART-R) and the Wide Range Achievement Test- Fourth Edition (WRAT-4) Word Reading …

Animal-Assisted Therapy: An Adjunctive Intervention For Reducing Depression And Anxiety In Female College Students With Physical Disabilities And Guidelines For Implementation Into Psychotherapy Practice And Research, Erin Nicole Armour

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The existing literature has indicated that women with physical disabilities are at greater risk for depression and anxiety compared to men with similar limitations and their able-bodied counterparts (Nosek & Hughes, 2003). In addition to this, female college students with physical disabilities are at greater risk for attrition than able-bodied female college students (Gmelch, 1998). This dissertation discusses the benefits and criticisms of animal-assisted therapy as an adjunctive intervention for depression and anxiety in this population. It also provides guidelines for implementing it into psychotherapy practice and research.

Spatial Semantics For Better Interoperability And Analysis: Challenges And Experiences In Building Semantically Rich Applications In Web 3.0, Amit P. Sheth

Kno.e.sis Publications

No abstract provided.

Wsu Board Of Trustees Meeting Minutes, November 18-19, 2010

Board of Trustees Minutes

Minutes from the Wright State University Board of Trustees Meeting held on November 18-19, 2010.

Flexible Bootstrapping-Based Ontology Alignment, Prateek Jain, Pascal Hitzler, Amit P. Sheth

Kno.e.sis Publications

BLOOMS (Jain et al, ISWC2010) is an ontology alignment system which, in its core, utilizes the Wikipedia category hierarchy for establishing alignments. In this paper, we present a Plug-and-Play extension to BLOOMS, which allows to flexibly replace or complement the use of Wikipedia by other online or offline resources, including domain-specific ontologies or taxonomies. By making use of automated translation services and of Wikipedia in languages other than English, it makes it possible to apply BLOOMS to alignment tasks where the input ontologies are written in different languages.

A Clustering Comparison Measure Using Density Profiles And Its Application To The Discovery Of Alternate Clusterings, Eric Bae, James Bailey, Guozhu Dong

Kno.e.sis Publications

Data clustering is a fundamental and very popular method of data analysis. Its subjective nature, however, means that different clustering algorithms or different parameter settings can produce widely varying and sometimes conflicting results. This has led to the use of clustering comparison measures to quantify the degree of similarity between alternative clusterings. Existing measures, though, can be limited in their ability to assess similarity and sometimes generate unintuitive results. They also cannot be applied to compare clusterings which contain different data points, an activity which is important for scenarios such as data stream analysis. In this paper, we introduce a …

The Positive Solutions Of The Matukuma Equation And The Problem Of Finite Radius And Finite Mass, Jurgen Batt, Yi Li

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

This work is an extensive study of the 3 different types of positive solutions of the Matukuma equation 1r2(r2ϕ′)′=−rλ−2(1+r2)λ/2ϕp,p>1,λ>0 : the E-solutions (regular at r = 0), the M-solutions (singular at r = 0) and the F-solutions (whose existence begins away from r = 0). An essential tool is a transformation of the equation into a 2-dimensional asymptotically autonomous system, whose limit sets (by a theorem of H. R. Thieme) are the limit sets of Emden–Fowler systems, and serve as a characterization of the different solutions. The emphasis lies on the study of the M …

Ontology Alignment For Linked Open Data, Prateek Jain, Pascal Hitzler, Amit P. Sheth, Kunal Verma, Peter Z. Yeh

Kno.e.sis Publications

The Web of Data currently coming into existence through the Linked Open Data (LOD) effort is a major milestone in realizing the Semantic Web vision. However, the development of applications based on LOD faces difficulties due to the fact that the different LOD datasets are rather loosely connected pieces of information. In particular, links between LOD datasets are almost exclusively on the level of instances, and schema-level information is being ignored. In this paper, we therefore present a system for finding schema-level links between LOD datasets in the sense of ontology alignment. Our system, called BLOOMS, is based on the …

Defects At Oxygen Plasma Cleaned Zno Polar Surfaces, Y. F. Dong, Z-Q. Fang, David C. Look, Daniel R. Doutt, G. Cantwell, J. Zhang, J. J. Song, L. J. Brillson

Physics Faculty Publications

Depth-resolved cathodoluminescence spectroscopy (DRCLS) reveals the evolution of surface and near surface defects at polar surfaces with remote oxygen plasma (ROP) treatment. Furthermore, this evolution exhibits significant differences that depend on surface polarity. ROP decreased the predominant 2.5 eV defect emission related to oxygen vacancies on the O face, while creating a new 2.1 eV defect emission on the Zn face that increases with ROP time. The surface-located 2.1 eV emission correlates with carrier profiles from capacitance-voltage measurements and a shift of the E3 trap to higher binding energy from deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS). This result suggests that ROP …

Learning Computational Thinking From Rapid Digital Game Creation, Praveen Kuruvada, Daniel Asamoah, Nikunj Dalal, Subhash Kak

Management Information Systems Faculty Publications

Computational Thinking (CT) has been described as a universally applicable ability such as reading and writing. In this paper, we describe an innovative pedagogy using Rapid Digital Game Creation (RDGC) for learning CT skills. RDGC involves the rapid building of digital games with high-level software that requires little or no programming knowledge. We analyze how RDGC supports various CT concepts and how it may be mapped to equivalent Java concepts by building the same game using both RDGC and Java. We discuss the potential benefits of this approach for attracting computing majors, as a precursor to learning formal programming languages, …

Three-Dimensional Stereoscopic Exploration System For The Heart, Thomas Wischgoll

Computer Science and Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Wsu Board Of Trustees Meeting Minutes, October 7-8, 2010

Board of Trustees Minutes

Minutes from the Wright State University Board of Trustees Meeting held on October 7-8, 2010.

Undergraduate Curriculum And Academic Policy Committee Minutes, October 6, 13, 20, And 27, 2010

Undergraduate Curriculum and Academic Policy Committee Minutes

Minutes from the Wright State University Faculty Senate Undergraduate Curriculum and Academic Policy Committee meetings held on October 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2010.

Wsu Research News, Fall 2010, Office Of Research And Sponsored Programs, Wright State University

WSU Research News

A twenty-four page newsletter of the WSU Research News. The WSU Research News was published monthly beginning in June of 1968 and issued by the Office of Research Development. This newsletter was created to provide information to the WSU faculty about the availability of outside funds for research and educational programs, new developments that may affect availability of funds, and general information on research and educational activities at Wright State University.