Digital Commons Network^™

Rote-Lcs Learning Classifier System For Classification And Prediction, Benjamin Daniels

Masters Theses

"Machine Learning (ML) involves the use of computer algorithms to solve for approximate solutions to problems with large, complex search spaces. Such problems have no known solution method, and search spaces too large to allow brute force search to be feasible. Evolutionary algorithms (EA) are a subset of machine learning algorithms which simulate fundamental concepts of evolution. EAs do not guarantee a perfect solution, but rather facilitate convergence to a solution of which the accuracy depends on a given EA's learning architecture and the dynamics of the problem.

Learning classifier systems (LCS) are algorithms comprising a subset of EAs. The …

Emi Analysis Of Dvi Link Connectors, Abhishek Patnaik

Masters Theses

"EMI problems are not uncommon in high speed communication systems. As the system clock frequencies increases, so does the challenges in controlling the EMI in such systems. A connector is a very important part of a high speed communication system. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is found to be tightly correlated to mode conversion: from differential-mode (DM) signals to common-mode (CM) currents and further to antenna-mode (AM) currents on the outside of cables or enclosures. Moreover, in such high speed systems, coupling to an adjacent cable-connector system is not uncommon. It is essential to understand and quantify this coupling path in order …

A Valuation Model For Two-Stage Contract Negotiations Over Multiple Interdependent Issues, Nnaemeka U. Amaeshi

Masters Theses

"Most real-world negotiation scenarios involve multiple interdependent issues over which the negotiating parties will seek an agreement. Simultaneous negotiation over multiple interdependent issues is an especially challenging problem because utility functions of negotiating agents are typically nonlinear and difficult to analyze. Also, negotiations often happen under circumstances of incomplete information, where either party has either little or inaccurate information about the preferences or utilities of the other party. Consequently, negotiations may go over multiple rounds until a mutually acceptable agreement is reached. The objective of this research is to create a quantitative model of decision-making that helps one negotiating party …

Cappack Devices For Enhanced Qnmr Measurements In 1H Nmr Spectroscopy, Lingyu Chi

Masters Theses

"Quantitative NMR analyses can be improved by adding well-defined external references for measuring sample properties on absolute scales. Special Capillary-tube Package (CapPack) devices were invented that provide in situ information (e.g., temperature, pH, pressure, integration, chemical shift, lock, etc.) about a sample with spectral imprimaturs. A new microscale glass-sealing technique produced CapPack devices that can survive high temperatures and pressures in harsh environments. Two CapPack devices are discussed: (1) Gradient CapPack-- a device for examining the irradiation bandwidth of solvent-suppression pulse sequences; (2) T₁ CapPack - a device for examining the T₁ robustness of solvent-suppression pulse sequences. A …

Ph Dependent Antibiotic Resistance Of An Alkaliphilic, Halotolerant Bacterium Isolated From Soap Lake, Washington, Tiffany Charlynn Edwards

Masters Theses

"Soap Lake, located in Washington State, is a meromictic, soda lake. Many bacterial isolates retrieved from Soap Lake have been noted to possess resistance to multiple antibiotics. A likely explanation for the wide range of antibacterial resistance exhibited by these strains is due to the impact of high alkalinity on the antibiotics themselves and not due to the presence of antibiotic resistance genes. The aim of our study was to determine if select antibiotics are effective against Halomonas eurialkalitoleranis, a bacterium capable of growth over a wide range of neutral to alkaline pH values, to investigate the influence of alkalinity …

Adjoint-Based Airfoil Shape Optimization In Transonic Flow, Joe-Ray Gramanzini

Masters Theses

"The primary focus of this work is efficient aerodynamic shape optimization in transonic flow. Adjoint-based optimization techniques are employed on airfoil sections and evaluated in terms of computational accuracy as well as efficiency. This study examines two test cases proposed by the AIAA Aerodynamic Design Optimization Discussion Group. The first is a two-dimensional, transonic, inviscid, non-lifting optimization of a Modified-NACA 0012 airfoil. The second is a two-dimensional, transonic, viscous optimization problem using a RAE 2822 airfoil. The FUN3D CFD code of NASA Langley Research Center is used as the ow solver for the gradient-based optimization cases. Two shape parameterization techniques …

A Novel Entropy Production Based Full-Chip Tsv Fatigue Analysis, Tianchen Wang

Masters Theses

"Through-silicon vias (TSVs) are subject to thermal fatigue due to stress over time, no matter how small the stress is. Existing works on TSV fatigue all rely on measurement-based parameters to estimate the lifetime, and cannot consider detailed thermal profiles. In this paper, we propose a new method for TSV fatigue prediction using entropy production during thermal cycles. By combining thermodynamics and mechanics laws, the fatigue process can be quantitatively evaluated with detailed thermal profiles. Experimental results show that interestingly, the landing pad possesses the most easy-to-fail region, which generates up to 50% more entropy compared with the TSV body. …

Compressed Sensing Techniques For Radial Ultra-Short Echo Time (Ute) Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Xiahan Yang

Masters Theses

"This thesis proposes two techniques, namely Compressed Sensing (CS) and self-gating, for pre-clinical (CMRI) to reduce scan time and RF exposure to mouse heart, simply experimental procedures, and improve imaging quality. The proposed CS technique reduces the number of radial trajectories in Ultra-short Echo Time (UTE) CMRI scans on a 7 Tesla MRI machine to acquire 13% to 38% of the fully sampled k-space data. To reconstruct the image, the Non-Uniform Fast Fourier Transform (NUFFT) is utilized in each iteration of the l1-norm optimization algorithm of the CS to reduce error and aliasing. Experimental results with a phantom and a …

Co₂ Miscible Flooding Application And Screening Criteria, Mingfei Yin

Masters Theses

"Field experience has shown that CO₂ miscible flooding is an effective method to improve oil recovery, but only with proper reservoir candidate selection and optimal project design. This paper discusses both CO₂ miscible and immiscible flooding mechanisms and offers some guidelines for flooding operations. New developments in MMP determination are also introduced.

This research is based on a summary of field data from 134 CO₂ projects in the U.S. Several numerical methods have been applied for data cleaning. After cleaning, data from 128 projects have been analyzed and correlated. Carbonate reservoirs and sandstone reservoirs are the two …

Thermodynamic And Chemical Kinetic Coupled Modeling For The Determination Of Cyclic Combustion Phasing In Hcci Engines, Krishawn Michele Goodwin

Masters Theses

"Homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) is a low temperature combustion mode that contains great potential for decreasing emissions while increasing efficiency in internal combustion engines. The limitation is in that it is inherently difficult to control based on the lack of an external combustion trigger. This thesis outlines the potential of using the combustion residual species of carbon monoxide as a method of controlling the location of combustion by using data from a computer model. The model is a nonlinear five-state thermodynamic model that is coupled with a skeletal chemical kinetic model for PRF96. The model computes the amount of …

Optimum Acquisition And Processing Parameters For Multichannel Analysis Of Surface Waves Using 3d Electrical Resistivity Tomography As Control, Uchenna Chibuzo Nwafor

Masters Theses

"Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) data were acquired in the Newburg, Missouri with the goal of determining optimum MASW acquisition parameters. Users of the MASW tool generally state that greater geophone intervals and greater shot-to-receiver offsets provide for more accurate results. The objective was to determine if this "rule of thumb" applies in karst terrain.

ERT data were acquired along four traverses with eighty-four (84) electrodes at five feet spacing with SuperSting R8 Resistivity System using dipole- dipole array. The data were processed using Earth Imager to generate 2-D resistivity inversion and thereafter, Voxler …

Design And Implementation Of Low Complexity Wake-Up Receiver For Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks, Ming Yue

Masters Theses

"This thesis designs a low-complexity dual Pseudorandom Noise (PN) scheme for identity (ID) detection and coarse frame synchronization. The two PN sequences for a node are identical and are separated by a specified length of gap which serves as the ID of different sensor nodes. The dual PN sequences are short in length but are capable of combating severe underwater acoustic (UWA) multipath fading channels that exhibit time varying impulse responses up to 100 taps. The receiver ID detection is implemented on a microcontroller MSP430F5529 by calculating the correlation between the two segments of the PN sequence with the specified …

Seismic Structural Investigation And Reservoir Characterization Of The Moki Formation In Maar Field, Taranaki Basin, New Zealand, Mohammed Dhaifallah M Alotaibi

Masters Theses

"The Maari Field is a large oil field located in the southern part of the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand. The field is bounded by two major structures, the Eastern Mobile Belt and Western Stable Platform. The Maari Field produces 40,000 BOPD (Barrels of Oil per Day) from five wells from reservoirs in the Moki Formation. The Miocene Moki Formation was deposited as part of the Wai-iti Group and consists of sandstone interbedded with siltstone and claystone. The sandstone of the Moki Formation is characterized by a submarine fan. It is distributed along the southern and central Taranaki shelf. Three-dimensional seismic …

Performance Metrics For Powder Feeder Systems In Additive Manufacturing, Venkata Sivaram Bitragunta

Masters Theses

"In blown powder Direct Metal Deposition (DMD) process, parts are built by adding metal powder on the melt pool created by the laser system. At low feed rates powder feeder systems have perturbations. The study focused on relationship between the perturbation frequencies by inherent powder feeder designs and its impact on deposition quality. Performance metric determine the relation between perturbations in the powder flow and quality of the deposit. To determine performance metric, various powder feeder designs were analyzed. Perturbation frequencies were introduced to the disk feeder design. The quality of the deposit was determined by the surface roughness of …

1-D Coordination Polymer Of Transition Metal As A Precursor To Generate Surface Active Transition Metal Catalyst, Siddharth Gopalakrishnan

Masters Theses

"The work describes the synthesis, characterization and properties of Ni, Co and Cu based 1-D coordination polymer with 1, 4-benzenedicarboxylic acid as linker and 1-methylimidazole as co-ligand. The structure of the coordination polymers were investigated employing SCXRD and showed the formation of supramolecular 3-D architecture of the 1-D coordination polymer through non covalent CH..π, π.. π, and H-bonding interaction. These 1-D coordination polymers were further characterized by IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Thermal decomposition of these polymeric metal complexes gave rise to carbon coated metal and metal carbides nanoparticles, for the 1-D structures of Co and …

The Effects Of Short Delay Times On Rock Fragmentation In Bench Blasts, Margaret Ruth Hettinger

Masters Theses

"Optimized rock fragmentation is essential for minimizing downstream costs to mining operations. Photographic fragmentation analysis, vibration monitoring, and high-speed video all provide measurements of blast effectiveness and supply data that allows operations to modify blasts to achieve downstream goals.

This study evaluates the effects of short hole-to-hole delay times on rock fragmentation. Photographic fragmentation analysis and various delay times were used on the same bench blast, the effects of timing on fragmentation were determined. This analysis provides a representative understanding of timing effects on fragmentation in the field, different from previous blast models which either negate the effects of timing …

An Improved Planar Cavity Model For Dielectric Characterization, Benjamin Jay Conley

Masters Theses

"Accurate characterization of the dielectric properties of the laminate materials used in printed circuit board fabrication is critical for maximizing the performance of modern high speed circuitry. While many techniques exist for characterizing dielectric materials, most existing techniques are either limited in accuracy or highly impractical for use with planar, copper-clad laminate sheets. A common method involves forming a cavity from the printed circuit board material and calculating the permittivity and dissipation factor from the measured resonant frequencies and quality factor of the cavity. This resonance technique makes the assumption of an ideal cavity, which leads to errors in both …

Fault Interpretation And Reservoir Characterization Of The Farewell Formation Within Kerry Field, Taranaki Basin, New Zealand, Waleed Deefallah M Alotaby

Masters Theses

"The Kerry Field, located in the southern offshore Taranaki Basin, is a large liquid-rich gas accumulation with a thin (20 m) oil rim. The field was discovered by the New Zealand Oil & Gas in 1986 (well Kupe South-1). The gas and oil are trapped within a 9.2 km² fault-dependent three-way dip closure in the Paleocene Farewell Formation reservoir. Pressure, volume, and temperature (PVT) data indicate that the gas and oil columns in the field are in equilibrium with one another and are saturated at current reservoir conditions.

The Farewell Formation is the uppermost formation of the Kapuni Group …

An Investigation Of Shear-Friction Of Lightweight Aggregate Concretes, Kristian Krc

Masters Theses

"This thesis reports the results of research initiated to evaluate the influence of lightweight aggregate type and casting procedure on shear transfer across an interface of concretes cast at different times. The topic of shear transfer has been evaluated and revisited in recent PCI Design Handbooks. In this test program, a series of cold joint as well as monolithic specimens are evaluated. The peak shear strength and post peak behavior are examined. The experimental matrix included 28 push-off specimens that were either cast monolithically or cast at different times creating the condition referred to as a cold joint. The variables …

Healing Of Bone Defects In A Rodent Calvarial Defect Model Using Strong Porous Bioactive Glass (13-93) Scaffolds, Yinan Lin

Masters Theses

"The main objective of this project was to evaluate the capacity of strong porous silicate (13-93) bioactive glass scaffolds prepared by a robocasting technique to regenerate bone and stimulate angiogenesis in a rat calvarial defect model. The scaffolds were created with the same grid-like microstructure but in a variety of formulations: (i) as-fabricated, (ii) pretreated in an aqueous phosphate solution to convert the glass surface to hydroxyapatite, (iii) loaded with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) (1 µg per scaffold), and (iv) doped with copper (0.4-2.0 wt. % CuO). When compared to the as-fabricated scaffolds, the pretreated scaffolds enhanced bone regeneration at …

Studies On The Role Of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Polyacrylamides In Fine Coal Flotation, Ontlametse Kenneth Molatlhegi

Masters Theses

"The current study investigated the effect of novel organic/inorganic (hybrid) polyacrylamide polymer as ash (slimes) depressant in fine coal flotation for the possibility to enhance the combustible recovery and ash rejection. Raw coal samples contain about 25% of ash-forming minerals were crushed, grinded to -75um and floated in the presence of in-house synthesized hybrid Polyacrylamide (Al(OH)₃-PAM or Al-PAM) at different operational parameters. Denver flotation cell with a 5-Liters capacity was used and the parameters investigated include: Al-PAM dosage, Al-PAM conditioning time, dual use of Al-PAM and a dispersant, impeller rotation speed and pulp's pH. For comparison purposes, commercially …

Cyber Security Research Frameworks For Coevolutionary Network Defense, George Daniel Rush

Masters Theses

"Cyber security is increasingly a challenge for organizations everywhere. Defense systems that require less expert knowledge and can adapt quickly to threats are strongly needed to combat the rise of cyber attacks. Computational intelligence techniques can be used to rapidly explore potential solutions while searching in a way that is unaffected by human bias.

Several architectures have been created for developing and testing systems used in network security, but most are meant to provide a platform for running cyber security experiments as opposed to automating experiment processes. In the first paper, we propose a framework termed Distributed Cyber Security Automation …

Hyper-Heuristics For The Automated Design Of Black-Box Search Algorithms, Matthew Allen Martin

Masters Theses

"Within the field of Black-Box Search Algorithms (BBSAs), there is a focus on improving algorithm performance over increasingly diversified problem classes. However, these general purpose problem solvers have no guarantee to perform well on an arbitrary problem class that a practitioner needs to solve. The problem classes that the research in this thesis most applies to are difficult problems that are going to be solved multiple times. BBSAs tailored to one of these problem class can be expected to significantly outperform the more general purpose problem solvers, including canonical Evolutionary Algorithms (EAs). The first paper in this thesis explores a …

A New Equivalent Dipole-Moment Source Reconstruction Method For Ic Radiated Emissions Based On Near-Field Scanning, Xiao Ren

Masters Theses

"In this paper, a new dipole-moment model based on near-field scanning for representing equivalent IC radiation emissions on a PCB (Print Circuit Board) is presented. One set of dipoles (both electric dipoles and magnetic dipoles) are used to characterize near-field and far-field radiation from the source. In order to build the model, tangential electric field and magnetic field on a Huygens's box enclosing the radiation source are needed. Both the phase and magnitude of these tangential fields are obtained either in simulation or in measurement by near-field scanning method. Two steps are established to reconstruct the dipole moment. Firstly, a …

Steam Flooding Screening And Eor Prediction By Using Clustering Algorithm And Data Visualization, Na Zhang

Masters Theses

"Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) techniques are vitally important in the oil industry because these techniques could not only extend the life of wells, but also produce 10% to 30% additional oil from the reservoir. However, selecting the most suitable EOR techniques for unknown reservoirs is not easy for decision making. Based on literature, EOR screening criteria could help to find the best candidates for unknown projects, which is classified into two categories: conventional EOR screening and advanced EOR screening. In this research, an artificial intelligent (AI) method, hierarchical clustering algorithm, is adapted to analyze both steam flooding projects and worldwide …

Investigation Of Decoupling Capacitor Connection Methods Using Peec And Study Of Alien Crosstalk From A Broadr-Reach® Protocol Based System, Tamar Makharashvili

Masters Theses

"Power Distribution Network (PDN) for Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design requires proper power integrity analysis. In order to deliver a low-ripple DC voltage from a Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) to an Integrated Circuit (IC), a certain target input impedance should be achieved. Developing simple physics-based equivalent circuit models are essential for understanding how a system works and making crucial design decisions. In this work, the input impedance of a decoupling capacitor due to traces, pads and via discontinuities are investigated using the Physics-based Model Size Reduction (PMSR) method. Various decoupling capacitor connection methods are compared and design guidelines are provided …

A Geochemical Investigation Of Co₂ Sequestration And Site Characterization At Two Missouri Locations, Robert Allen Swain

Masters Theses

"The feasibility of sequestering CO₂ in saline aquifers of Lamotte Formation sandstone was investigated at wells located near Thomas Hill power plant, Moberly, MO and Sioux City Power Plant in Florissant, MO. Governing factors of using aquifers for CO₂ disposal include water salinity, potential for carbonic acid buffering, rate of precipitation of carbonate minerals following CO₂ introduction into the host aquifer, and the integrity of the Davis and Derby-DoeRun shale as a trap rock to prevent migration of the CO₂ phase and carbonic acid into the overlying potable Ozark Aquifer.

Both in situ and laboratory methods …

The Impact Of A Strong Local Supply Chain On Regional Economic Impacts Of Mining, Meiyu Xing

Masters Theses

"With growing social conflicts due to social and environmental concerns mines need to be able to create shared value for all stakeholder in their quest to promote sustainable development. Given the sensitivity of a mine's regional economy contribution to its supply chains, any improvement in supply chains strategy will be beneficial for mines and their stakeholders. The objectives of this work were to: (i) test the hypothesis that supply chain management strategy, by mines in a region, significantly affects regional economy; and (ii) develop a methodology to identify the critical backward commodities of a regional mining sector.

Valid methods have …

Uncertainty Quantification Of Turbulence Model Closure Coefficients For Transonic Wall-Bounded Flows, John Anthony Schaefer

Masters Theses

"The goal of this work was to quantify the uncertainty and sensitivity of commonly used turbulence models in Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes codes due to uncertainty in the values of closure coefficients for transonic, wall-bounded flows and to rank the contribution of each coefficient to uncertainty in various output flow quantities of interest. Specifically, uncertainty quantification of turbulence model closure coefficients was performed for transonic flow over an axisymmetric bump at zero degrees angle of attack and the RAE 2822 transonic airfoil at a lift coefficient of 0.744. Three turbulence models were considered: the Spalart-Allmaras Model, Wilcox (2006) k-ω Model, and the …

Analysis And Comparison Of Two High-Gain Interleaved Coupled-Inductor Boost Converters, Venkat Sai Prasad Gouribhatla

Masters Theses

"The main objective of this thesis is to compare and analyze two different high-gain dc-dc power electronic converters based on coupled inductors and capacitor-diode multiplier cells. The idea of these converters is to integrate the solar energy with a 400V DC microgrid. DC microgrids are more efficient, less expensive, and more reliable compared to AC microgrids. They also favor the integration of renewable energy sources. With the growing need for the utilization of more renewable sources of energy, photovoltaic panels have become one of the trending technologies which convert the energy from the sun to a useable electrical power. But …