Digital Commons Network^™

An Analysis Of Multimodal Sensor Fusion For Target Detection In An Urban Environment, Brian M. Flusche

Theses

This work makes a compelling case for simulation as an attractive tool in designing cutting-edge remote sensing systems to generate the sheer volume of data required for a reasonable trade study. The generalized approach presented here allows multimodal system designers to tailor target and sensor parameters for their particular scenarios of interest via synthetic image generation tools, ensuring that resources are best allocated while sensors are still in the design phase. Additionally, sensor operators can use the customizable process showcased here to optimize image collection parameters for existing sensors. In the remote sensing community, polarimetric capabilities are often seen as …

Effect Of Real Video Streaming Over Virtual Manet Environment, Manoj Patil

Theses

Wireless Ad hoc Network is promising in solving many challenging real-world communication problems. Examples of these are: military field operation, emergency response system, and oil drilling and mining operation. However, the wide deployment of this type of network is still a challenging task. It is very difficult to manage quality of services for real time applications like video transmission over mobile nodes. Mobile ad hoc networks are not so resilient and reliable because of their dynamic topology due to the mobile nodes and impact of environmental circumstances. However, it provides multiple routes from the source to the destination, which gives …

Adaptive Kalman Filtering Scheme For The Simulation Of Benzene In Subsurface Environment, Linkel Kwabena Boateng

Theses

Environmental legislation in several states has become more stringent on the clean up procedures for benzene and other toxic chemicals since the enactment of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund). In order to comply with the Superfund requirements for hazardous pollutants, accurate information about the nature of contaminants is required to carry out risk assessment and effective site remediation. The use of subsurface contaminant transport models, coupled with stochastic data assimilation schemes, can provide accurate predictions of contaminant transport to enhance the reliability of risk assessment in the area of environmental remediation. In this study, a two-dimensional …

Thermal Characterization Of Carbon Composites, Jr. Darryl Baker

Theses

Thermophysical properties of materials such as, thermal conductivity, diffusivity, and specific heat, are very important in engineering design process. For example, thermal conductivity plays a critical role in the performance of materials in high temperature applications and it is essential in the selection of materials when optimum performance is desired. Other thermophysical properties, such as thermal diffusivity and specific heat capacity, play significant roles in design application as they determine safe operating temperature, form process control characteristics, and quality conditions in manufacturing plants. The objective of this research was to determine the thermal properties of carbon composite materials. The materials …

Economic Efficiency Of Cotton Farms: A Case Study From Torbali, Turkey, Manoi Athiaan Manoi

Theses

Sustainable cotton production is inextricably linked to the efficient use of resources. Suboptimum use of resources incurs opportunity costs and can exacerbate damaging externalities. In the Torbali region of Izmir, Turkey, overexploitation of ground water for irrigation and high fuel oil consumption for tractor operation affect cotton farms’ economic viability and the sustainability of cotton production in the region. Improving efficiency of resource use will improve enterprise viability, reduce harmful externalities and conserve ecological capital. This study explores technical, allocative and economic efficiency levels of cotton farms in the Torbali region of Izmir, Turkey by using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). …

The Role Of School , Teacher, And Student Characteristics In The Acquisition Of Computer Skills, Gladys Manginsay Andres

Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of school, teacher and student characteristics on student acquisition of computer skills. The theory of affordance is used to provide a theoretical framework for explaining how 1) school characteristics (e.g., access to computer, attendance rates, suspensions), 2) teacher characteristics (e.g., license status of teachers, years of teaching experience, teacher turnover rates), and 3) student characteristics (e.g., socio-economic status and minority status) are associated with the attainment of computer skills in 8th grade level of middle schools. s. A correlational research design is used to test the proposed research hypotheses. Regression …

Application Of Kalman Filter With Time Correlated Measurement Errors In Subsurface Contaminant Transport Modeling, Godfrey Mills

Theses

Contaminant transport modeling of a conservative solute in the subsurface is investigated by applying a Kalman filter (KF) with time correlated measurement errors. The usual method or assumption often employed is white Gaussian errors, but time correlated measurement errors were used instead for this research, since some hydrological observation data exhibit time correlated error characteristics. An observation data was generated from a two dimensional analytical solution with an additive time correlated random errors. This was used as the measurement Equation for the KF with time correlated measurement errors and the KF with white Gaussian errors. The measurement differencing algorithm was …

Classification Of Civilian Vehicle Sounds Using A Large Database Of Vehicle Sounds, David Tettey

Theses

We have completed the building of an extensive database of civilian vehicle sounds. The database consists of correlated acoustic and seismic signatures of a large number (exceeding 850) of civilian vehicles. Each acoustic signature is obtained through two high-quality microphones separated by 25 feet, and whose signals are exactly synchronized. In this work, spectral and tristimulus features of civilian vehicle sounds are computed and then submitted to further processing using principal component analysis. The "super" features, derived after principal component analysis is performed, are then used for classification. In this research effort, the performance of the quadratic classifier with that …

Chinese Market Access Barriers Of U.S. Oilseeds And Grains, Gloria Appiah-Danquah

Theses

China was admitted into the WTO in December 2001 and this raised the hopes of the U.S that China will open up to agricultural trade with the U.S. This is due to the fact that China is the most populated country in the world with a rising mile income and therefore has the potential for increasing its food consumption. However, this potential has not been realized. China has used various strategies such as devaluing the Yuan against the dollar to promote exports and impede imports. The U.S currently has a trade deficit of 252 billion dollars with China. China is …

Development Of Theoretical Modeling And An Optical Characterization Systemfor Photodetectors In The 8-12 Îœm Wavelength Region, Jonathan Poe

Theses

A system was developed for characterizing molecular beam epitaxially grown III-V semiconductor materials and devices by measuring their photoluminescence and photoconductivity. The experimental system was tested on InSb substrates and a photoluminescence peak at 5.2 ± 0.1 µm was found, agreeing with published values. A photomask and photolithographic process for the fabrication of a P-I-N type photodetector device was developed, and a system was prepared for the measurement of the photoconductivity of the photodetector. A theoretical study was done for calculating the energy band structure of the semiconductor materials using the Kronig-Penney model. This model can predict the results of …

A Stochastic Capacitated Facility Location Model For Pre-Positioning Port Commodities During A Disaster, Jessye Leigh Bemley

Theses

As the intensity of natural disasters increases, there is a need to develop policies and procedures to assist various humanitarian relief groups, industry or government agencies with moving aid to affected areas. One of the biggest hindrances to this process is damage to transportation networks, in particular, waterways. To keep waterways safe, aids to navigation (ATONs) are placed in various areas to guide mariners and ships to their final destinations. If the ATONs are damaged, then the waterways are left unsafe and it is difficult to move supplies to repair them and recover from a disaster. A stochastic facility location …

Probabilistic Analysis Of Property Uncertainties Using Resin Infusion Flow Modeling And Simulations - Resin Viscosity And Preform Permeability, Henok Shiferaw

Theses

Physics based flow modeling provides an effective way to simulate the resin infusion process in liquid composite molding processes for polymer composite structures. These are effective to provide optimal injection time and locations for given process parameters of resin viscosity and preform permeability prior to resin gelation. However, there could be significant variations in these two parameters during actual manufacturing due to differences in the resin batches, mixes, temperature, ambient conditions for viscosity; in the preform rolls, compaction, etc., for permeability. The influence of uncertainties in these parameters on the resin infusion time is investigated via a probabilistic modeling methodology …

Performance Analysis And Optimal Utilization Of Inter-Process Communications On A Commodity Cluster, Saqib Ali Khan

Theses

Classical science is based on theory, observation and physical experimentation. Contemporary science is characterized by theory, observation, experimentation and numerical simulation. With the use of hardware and software we can simulate lots of phenomenon. This saves time, money and physical resources. Simulation of a certain phenomenon requires lots of computing power. Answer to these computational power needs is high performance computer. High performance computers consist of numerous processors working on same task in parallel. In the past, high performance computers were very expensive and affordable by few institutions. After Message Passing Interface library is ported to PC platform, commodity clusters …

Supply Shock: The Case Of Argentina And Export Taxes, Jashaun Antoni Carter

Theses

Because of Argentina's drastic change in its domestic export tax rate, there was a shortage of soybean supply in the global market and global soybean prices were inflated. Simultaneous equations are used to develop supply and demand equations for the global soybean market. The variables used in the simultaneous equations to help explain global quantity supplied and demanded for soybeans are: the price of soybeans (Psoy), the price of corn (Pcorn), export taxes (Tax), the technology (Tech), a dummy variable (novice), and real gross domestic product (Rgdp). The outcome of the simultaneous equations estimates that there is an inverse relationship …

A Ubiquitous Mobile System For Stem Education Enhancement Using Cellular Phone Messaging, Social Networking Technology And High Level Computation/Visualization, Brandon C. Judd

Theses

There is a dire need for more STEM degrees in America. Recent studies have shown that there is a surge in motivating the youth in STEM areas of research. One key motivator is the use of pervasive computing concepts such as SMS/MMS messaging and social networking. Teens of today send text messages more than ever; in fact research shows that teens (ages 13 to 19) use cell phones to text far more than to actually make phone calls. Thus SMS/MMS messaging presents itself as an excellent segue into STEM motivation and education. Computational/visualization engines, with their broad application development capabilities, …

State And Parameter Estimation With A Sequential Monte Carlo Method In A Three Dimensional Transport Model, Tushar Chowhan

Theses

Due to the inherent randomness and heterogeneity of the transport process, macrodispersion, non-fickian motion, and ergodicity, general assumptions of linearity and Gaussian distribution do not hold for the real field. Therefore, a state-space transport model for the non-linear and non-Gaussian system is proposed in this study. In this study, the state variable (concentration vector) and parameter (first-order decay) are updated with the available measurements. The probabilistic state-space formulation and updating of information on receipt of new measurements is formulated in the Bayesian framework. particle filter, a sequential Monte Carlo method, provides a rigorous general framework for dynamic state estimation problems …

“An Exploration Of The Barriers To Independent Study And Learning In First Year Undergraduate Engineering Students”, Robert Martin Morris

Theses

Abstract

This mixed method case study was based in the Institute of Technology and was conducted with the co-operation of four experienced lecturers of engineering and three groups of first year undergraduate engineering students. The main aim of the research was to identify factors which constitute barriers to the independent study and learning of first year engineering students.

A large proportion of first year engineering students do not return to college for the second year of their programmes. Many reasons for this are identified in the research, including the failure to pass assessments and examinations as a result of the …

Analysis Of A Vertical Axis Wind Turbine For Water Treatment Applications, Hernando F. Gauto

Theses

No abstract provided.

High Resolution Hybrid Mass Spectrometry For The Determination Of Marine Biotoxins, Azaspiracids, And Their Biotransformation Products., Zuzana Skrabakova

Theses

Azaspiracids (AZAs), polyether marine toxins, are produced by marine microalgae and accumulate in filter-feeding bivalve molluscs, such as mussels, clams, oysters and scallops, while grazing on phytoplankton, from which they derive nutrition. Although being discovered quite recently, AZAs have caused several human intoxication events and thus became a problem for health authorities and shellfish industries. The rapid development of highly sensitive liquid chromatography multiple tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS, LC-MS") methods enabled the identification of numerous AZA analogues and added to the control of shellfish contamination. Tandem mass spectrometry techniques, while being highly selective and sensitive for determination of AZAs in …

Patience Sorting And The Longest Increasing Subsequence On The Development Of Hma Failure Low Severity Transverse Cracking, Deirdre Toney

Theses

No abstract provided.

A Numerical Investigation Of Flow Induced Vibrations In A Rocket Engine Manifold, John W. Peugeot

Theses

No abstract provided.

Surface Profile Measurement Techniques For Large Aperture Optical Thin Film Membrane Structures, Kevin D. Spradley

Theses

No abstract provided.

An Empirical Study Of The Eclipse Project, Pitamber Tiwari

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No abstract provided.

A Neural Network Approach To Tornado Forecasting In North Alabama And Southern Middle Tennessee, Sandra G. Lacorte

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No abstract provided.

Determining The Refractive Index Of Liquids Using A Modified Michelson Interferometer, Satyanarayana Rao Kachiraju

Theses

No abstract provided.

Computational Features And Performance-Evaluation Of Discrete/Continuous Type Discrete-Time Control Systems, Ashley N. Hunt

Theses

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Cryptographic Construction Properties And Security Requirements Of Modern Secure Hashing Algorithms, Benjamin Denton

Theses

No abstract provided.

On The Method Of Combustion Instability Mode Determination In A Cylindrical Chamber And Usage With Experimental Data, Benjamin M. Richman

Theses

No abstract provided.

Direct Retroreflective Laser Strobography Shadowgraphs, Destin Sandlin

Theses

No abstract provided.

Multi-Component Droplet Evaporation Model, Omid Samimi Abianeh

Theses

No abstract provided.