Digital Commons Network^™

Toward Wearable Pneumatic Haptic Devices For Microscale Force Feedback Applications, Athena Frazier

Theses

The addition of haptic feedback to systems and devices allows a human user to gain a more complete understanding of the remote environment they are working in. Several applications, such as robotic minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and virtual reality gaming, have drawn interests for integrating haptic or tactile feedback onto remote operating tools. While both research studies and commercial products have clearly demonstrated the benefits of adding haptic feedback, many open questions remain for reaching the full potential of haptic feedback. This research focuses on investigating how light-weight, low-cost pneumatic haptic devices can be deployed on human hands, possibly in …

Removal Of Selected Heavy Metals From Wash Water Generated From Ready-Mix Concrete Trucks, Dubai, Uae., Imad Juma Mohammed Abunqira

Theses

Dubai is one of seven Emirates that form the United Arab Emirates. The Emirate of Dubai is currently undergoing a fast-paced construction boom that involves huge amounts of concrete mixes. Such mixes are usually delivered to the site in ready form. The major environmental issue with ready-mix concrete production around the world is water pollution. The wash water generated from ready-mix concrete trucks is extremely alkaline and contains significant levels of heavy metals. Removal of heavy metals from the wash water is an environmental problem and economic concern. This demonstrates the urgent need for safe, feasible and economical methods for …

The Smart Helmet, Michael Walsh

Theses

This thesis addresses the design, development and testing of a wireless sensor network for a sports helmet. The objective is to monitor an athlete's physiology and also physical impacts using a sensor network. A detailed literature review is presented addressing currently available appropriate wireless technologies, sensors and their operation, packaging, interconnections and applications. It gives a brief introduction to each sensor used in the smart helmet, accelerometers, temperature sensors, heart rate and blood oxygen sensors, along with a review of possible sensors which could be added at a later stage. The specific sensors and other related components for the helmets …

Smart Home Technology For Aging, Fareedh Meeran

Theses

The majority of the growing population, in the US and the rest of the world requires some degree of formal and or informal care either due to the loss of function or failing health as a result of aging and most of them suffer from chronic disorders. The cost and burden of caring for elders is steadily increasing. This thesis focuses on providing the analysis of the technologies with which a Smart Home is built to improve the quality of life of the elderly. A great deal of emphasis is given to the sensor technologies that are the back bone …

Multifractal Analysis Of Heart Rate Variability Using Wavelet-Transform Modulus-Maxima Method, Chirag Jani

Theses

Physiological signals are complex and carry information of human health. Recent studies reveal that under normal conditions, the heart rate time series shows multifractal behavior. In contrast, HRV in the pathological state such as congestive heart failure exhibits more monofractal-like structure. Recent advances in the assessment of heart rate variability (HRV) uses a nonlinear dynamics approach. In this study, the main objective is to use the wavelet-transform modulus-maxima method for the multifractal analysis of the heart rate time senes.

The degree of the multifractality is defined by the singularities (a point in time series where a mathematical function is not …

The Social Construct Of Main Street, St. Charles, Missouri, Jennifer Marie Vanhouten

Theses

This thesis examines the revitalization of Main Street in St. Charles, Missouri, during the late twentieth century, focusing on how local actors reimagined and reconstructed the district’s historic character. At the center of this process was the restoration of the First Missouri State Capitol, a project undertaken by the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA) and other civic partners. This effort not only preserved a landmark but also catalyzed a broader campaign of urban renewal that recast Main Street as a heritage district and cultural destination.

The study situates this case within Dolores Hayden’s framework on the power of place …

Effects Of Sleep Deprivation On Autonomic Nervous System, Jaeyeaon Cho

Theses

Sleep deprivation (SD) has been thought a potential factor to trigger cardiovascular events by increasing the sympathetic nervous system activity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between sleep deprivation and the autonomic nervous system activity by means of heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure variability (BPV). All data were acquired in the sleep lab of Columbia University.

Data were acquired from the two groups, SD and control. Subjects in the SD group did not sleep for thirty-six hours but subjects in the control group slept at night as usual. There were five different data …

Transmission Of Light And Audible Sound In A Synthetic Fog Medium, Bhavin Babaria

Theses

The primary goal of the thesis was to study the propagation of visible light and auditory sound through a synthetic fog medium compared to an ambient air environment. It is known that the fog substantially decreases the visibility however; this has not been studied quantitatively. Further information regarding other energies such as sound is also needed to understand how the energy reacts in the fog medium. The extent of visual and auditory degradation in humans needs to be investigated. Researchers have studied light transmitted through water, air; however, no one has studied how light or sound is transmitted through a …

Investigation Of Heart Rate Variability During Sleep Apnea, Sekar Subramanian

Theses

Sleep apnea is a disorder, where there are repetitive pauses in respiratory flow of at least 10 seconds or longer duration, and which occur more than five times per hour. Apnea has strong modulating effects on the autonomic nervous system, with prominent heart rate variation. It can be assumed that during sleep, internal influences (sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activities) dominate the autonomic nervous system; in addition repetitive apneas are accompanied by a pronounced increase in average heart rate. The aim of this study was to investigate the heart rate variability using spectral analysis and time-frequency analysis during sleep apnea. …

Using System Call Analysis To Stop Evasion Attacks In Anomaly Based Intrusion Detection System, Ashish Liladhar Samant

Theses

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs) that operate on the principle of system call monitoring are known to be susceptible to mimicry or evasion attacks. It has been shown that an intelligent adversary armed with comprehensive knowledge of the target system or network, can penetrate these targets, hide his presence from the IDS, and continue to carry out damage. IDSs, which use system calls to define normal behavior, often leave out complimentary information about them, and intruders use precisely this drawback, to deceive the IDS. This thesis investigates the vulnerabilities of a system call based IDS and carries out a theoretical and …

Measuring Images: Differences, Quality And Appearance, Garrett M. Johnson

Theses

In order to predict the overall perception of image quality it is necessary to first understand and quantify the appearance of images. Just as color appearance modeling evolved from traditional colorimetry and color difference calculations, image appearance modeling evolves from color image difference calculations. A modular framework for the creation of a color image difference metric has been developed and tested using several psychophysical datasets. This framework is based upon traditional CIE color difference equations, and the S-CIELAB spatial extension to the CIELAB color space. The color image difference predictions have been shown to correlate well with experimental data. The …

An Interactive, Graphical Typeface Identification System, Charles Iii Myers

Theses

Most, if not all, published type identification books suffer from serious drawbacks which make them difficult to use by both typographic novices and professionals. Few effective computerized programs exist to simplify the identification of typefaces. The purpose of this project is to create an effective, visually attractive, interactive and easy-to-use model of a type identification system, which, if successful, will be fully developed. This is accomplished by combining the graphics and interactivity of the World Wide Web with the database management capabilities of modern database products. The user is given a series of "questions" regarding readily observable structural characteristics of …

Intensity Of Grief And Belief In Personal Control, Diana M. Alferink

Theses

Much research has focused on stress and its consequences. Some studies have indicated personal control helps an individual handle stress better and remain healthier. Little research, however, has examined the role personal control plays in bereavement as a stressful life event. This correlational study examined the relationship between belief in personal control and grief intensity experienced from losing a loved one to death. Volunteer subjects primarily from Grief Support Groups completed the Belief in Personal Control Scale and the Texas Revised Grief Inventory Results demonstrated some instances when higher belief in personal control resulted in lower intensity of grief in …

Intensity Of Grief And Belief In Personal Control, Diana M. Alferink

Theses

Much research has focused on stress and its consequences. Some studies have indicated personal control helps an individual handle stress better and remain healthier. Little research, however, has examined the role personal control plays in bereavement as a stressful life event This correlational study examined the relationship between belief in personal control and grief intensity experienced from losing a loved one to death. Volunteer subjects primarily from Grief Support Groups completed the Belief in Personal Control Scale and the Texas Revised Grief Inventory Results demonstrated some instances when higher belief in personal control resulted in lower intensity of grief in …

Effect Of Postural Tilt On The Autonomic Nervous System In Gulf War Veterans, Shrenik Dagli

Theses

Time-frequency signal representations characterize signals over a joint time-frequency plane. They combine time-domain and frequency-domain analysis to yield a potentially more revealing picture of the temporal localization of a signal spectrum. Time-frequency distributions (TFDS) of signals map a one-dimensional function of time, x (t), into a two-dimensional function of time and frequency, p(t, f). Most TFDs are "time-varying representations' which are similar conceptually to a musical score with time running along one axis and frequency along the other axis.

Many Gulf War Veterans complained of symptoms like unexplainable tiredness. This condition is known as the Gulf War Syndrome. The purpose …

Role Of Sympathovagal Imbalance In Syncope Using Heart Rate Variability Analysis, Jayadeep Krishnah Unni

Theses

One of the common and challenging problems confronting the physician in clinical practice is recurrent syncope. Despite extensive evaluations, the causes of these cases Of syncope are not found in more than 40% of the patients.

It is thought that most patients who experience unexplained syncope do so because of transient, unpredictable episodes of vasovagally mediated hypotension and bradycardia. It is hypothesized that impaired inhibition of parasympathetic tone during stress accompanies the development of syncope. Head-up tilt table testing reportedly provokes vasovagal episodes effectively in susceptible persons.

This study attempts to explain the role played by the sympathetic and parasympathetic …

Paramaterized Beams As Effective Human Lip Models, Ron Dufort

Theses

There are numerous mathematical equations used by animators and modelers to describe the curves of the human face and, specifically, the human lip. Physically-based polynomial models, b-splines, and other arbitrarily parameterized equations are used to describe facial and lip contours, though with varied degrees of complexity and resolution. This study examined the constraints and conditions necessary to utilize a standard Euler-Bernoulli beam as an effective model for the human lip. Through this analysis it was determined that general beam theories are flexible enough to create models that can generate curves comparable to actual lip shapes, though no single model studied …

Model And Clinical Device Development For Noninvasive Diagnosis Of Low Back Pain And Dysfunction, Ravi Patraju

Theses

Millions of people suffer from acute or chronic low back pain. In order for proper treatment to be administered, a patient must receive an accurate diagnosis. Therefore, it is critical to develop an objective model to measure the motion and any dysfunction of a patient's low back. Only then can a physician effectively implement the correct therapy and measure its effectiveness through follow-up to minimize or eliminate low back pain.

Numerous cadaveric, active and passive studies have been done to understand the mechanics of low back disorders. However, only living human subjects suffer from low back pain and therefore cadaveric …

The Modified Parks Procedure: A Patient's Guide To Sugery And Care, Bethany Macy

Theses

None provided.

Computer Synthesis Of Spectroradiometric Images For Color Imaging Systems Analysis, Garrett M. Johnson

Theses

A technique to perform full spectral based color calculations through an extension of OpenGL has been created. This method of color computations is more accurate than the standard RGB model that most computer graphics algorithms utilize. By maintaining full wavelength information in color calculations, it is also possible to interactively simulate and display many important color phenomena such as metamerism and fluorescence. This technique is not limited to creating simple images suitable for interactive display, however. Using this extension, it is also possible to synthesize spectroradiometric images of arbitrary spatial and spectral resolution, for use in color imaging system analysis.

Measurement Of The Baroreceptor Sensitivity Index (Brsi) In The Frequency Domains, Tanvir Raquib

Theses

Time domain analysis for calculating the Baroreceptor Sensitivity Index (BRSI) did not always provide an accurate result. It also had another limitation in that it could not show the influence of the autonomic nervous system for different subjects. The correlation coefficient is a mechanism that was used to either accept or reject the BRSI values in the time domain but the correlation coefficient values changed drastically depending on how many sample points were selected for the calculation.

On the other hand, frequency domain analysis for the BRSI calculation was relatively easier and provided more accurate information compared to the time …

Investigation Of Pathophysiologic Trends In Caucasian And Afro-American Hypertensives By Means Of Heart Rate Variability Recording During Upright Tilt-Table Testing, Jose F. Torrealba

Theses

The incidence of hypertension is more prevalent among the Afro-American population than the Caucasians and there is not a satisfactory explanation for this discrepancy.

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) has been demonstrated to reflect the relative activities of the sympathetic (SMP) and parasympathetic (PSMP) divisions of the autonomic nervous system (ANS).

This study consisted in comparing the HRV, as well as the blood pressure (BP) of four different groups during up-right tilt table testing. The subjects were grouped by age, gender, race and health condition. Analysis in time and frequency domain was applied to the data. In the frequency domain, the …

Proactive Technique For Workplace Chemical Exposure, James A. Duru

Theses

The rapid increase in the number and quantities of chemicals released into the environment has been accompanied by a lack of adequate pre-released testing for advance health outcomes. Chemicals which serve as feed stock to millions of industries all around the world to produce and process food, cosmetics, equipment, and energy to propel industries, automobiles, home heating and electricity have serious adverse health consequences. They are hazardous. These substances can explode, ignite, react and corrode. Adapting the definition of the international program on chemical safety, a "hazard" is a source of danger. This thesis proposes some proactive prevention techniques useful …

Introduction To Pollution Prevention Concepts In Freshman Chemistry Through Simulations And Hypermidia, Aniraban Bhaumik

Theses

As citizens of the 20th century, a key issue we all are aware of is degradation of the environment. In the interest of teaching the environmental issues to freshmen engineers, this study develops a computer aided learning/teaching (CAL/T) tool.

This CAL/T tool consists of Internet based multimedia courseware and intelligent simulations. The courseware assembles the fundamentals of chemistry associated with current environmental issues such as air pollution, stratospheric ozone layer depletion and environmentally sensitive or 'clean' manufacturing. The courseware targets early and comprehensive understanding of pollution prevention concepts with a focus on environmentally friendly manufacturing. The courseware includes: on-line text, …

Using Heart Variability To Measure The Effects Of Manual Medicine On Autonomic Activity, Michael Zullow

Theses

A pilot study was performed to test the theory that manual medicine techniques known as the CV4 (compression of fourth cerebral ventricle) maneuver and a sacral hold/iliac bridge hold combination increase parasympathetic activity. Manual medicine techniques are widely practiced by Doctors of Osteopathy and Chiropractors to treat physical and mental health problems. Those who have received manual therapy have reported to experience less pain, better mobility, and a greater feeling of relaxation. To help us learn about the effects of manual therapy, autonomic activity was measured scientifically rather than subjectively in this study by monitoring respiration rate and heart rate, …

The Differential Effects Of Residential Placement And Exercise Activity Of Aging Persons With Mental Retardation, Sandra K. Wise

Theses

No abstract provided.

Renin-Angiotensin System And Its Relationship To Arterial Pressure Regulation, Sami D. Saume

Theses

The renal system is known to participate in the natural regulation of blood pressure. A renal system model that simulates interaction responses of renal output to arterial blood pressure was developed. The major components of this model are glomerular filtration rate, tubular sodium reabsorption, the renin-angiotensin system, Aldosterone secretion, and antidiuretic hormone secretion. The model's differential equations were coded using Vissim 1.2 student version. It was found that, the renal output increased as glomerular filtration rate, Aldosterone concentration, and blood pressure increased. Conversely, increasing antidiuretic hormone concentration lead to decreased renal output.

Additionally, Angiotensin II and Aldosterone concentrations increased as …

The Relationship Between Thermoregulatory And Haemodynamic Responses Of The Skin To Relaxation And Stress, Paul O. Nketia

Theses

The present study investigated the effects of stress and relaxation on (1) EEG coherence and (2) peripheral blood flow.

EEG coherence of two meditators in two different but adjacent rooms was measured during eyes opened, eyes closed, single meditation and group meditation. The skin temperatures of the subjects together with their room temperatures were also recorded. EEG coherence plots (Cospar) showed a spread out of the alpha band to the beta, theta and occasionally to the delta wave bands during group meditation. The area above the 0.98 coherence threshold in the alpha band was greater during group meditation than during …

Safety Guidelines For Occupational Hazards To The Reproductive System, Laverne Raquel Ogieste

Theses

Most workers are unaware of the hazards to the reproductive system that surround them in the workplace, and therefore, few if any precautions are taken to avoid unnecessary exposures. In this research, safety guidelines were developed in order to eliminate such dangers from occurring or reoccurring.

These guidelines were developed by reviewing case studies of occupational hazards to the reproductive system, including federal laws and regulations related to safety within the workplace. The following forms were also developed in order to formulate suitable safety guidelines for occupational hazards to the reproductive system. They are: an occupational reproductive survey, a reproductive …

Comparison Of Different Signal Processing Algorithms To Extract The Respiration Waveform From The Ecg, David J. Caggiano

Theses

Power spectral analysis of heart rate variability is a powerful tool to measure the activity of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system noninvasively. To determine the parasympathetic activity, the frequency of respiration must be known. However, during ambulatory studies, the frequency of respiration is not acquired. To alleviate this problem, methods have been proposed in the past to derive the respiration from the ECG. Unfortunately, these previous methods are unreliable if the subject's breathing rate is uncontrolled. In this study, four methods to derive the respiration waveform from the electrocardiogram (ECG) were developed. Two leads of ECG and …