Digital Commons Network^™

Calcium Channel Dynamics In Hippocampal Neurons : Simulation And Physiological Studies, Prasad D. Jasthi

Theses

Mathematical modelling and computer simulations of neurons was presented by various researchers in the past. Computer simulations provide a time efficient and cost effective method to obtain required information about the physiological system. The objective of this project is to study the kinetics of calcium channels in hippocampal neurons. In an attempt to study the calcium channel activity we have developed a mathematical model for the CA3 region of the hippocampus and have analysed the calcium current noise obtained from the physiological recordings. The Simulation results had reproduced the action potential and activities of sodium and potassium channels, but did …

Development Of Technology For Glass Shaping By The Use Of Abrasive Water-Jet, Li-Yuan Shih

Theses

This study is to investigate the effects of AWJ properties on the results of glass machining and to develop a practical procedure for prediction of these results of abrasive waterjet (AWJ) machining. The use of glass in engineering and Abrasive Waterjet Cutting Technology are introduced. A practical technique to prevent defects and to improve the quality of the glass surface is suggested. A earlier parameter introduced, Exergy Distribution Density (EDD), is used in order to characterize the cutting conditions.

It was found that besides of EDD the results of machining are affected by the particles' destruction in the course of …

Disc Size Scale-Up In Rotating Biological Contactor System, Chi-Sheng Chang

Theses

Disc size scale-up of prototype and small-scale RBC plants are successfully developed by applying the 114 data sets obtained from 12 RBC plants to the evaluation of percent sBOD remaining. These data analyses are performed by the least square method, therefore, the scale-up factors of the prototype and the small-scale are determined at different hydraulic loading. Furthermore, the relationship between scale-up factor and the disc diameter are established under the given flow rate, the number of stages, and the number of discs. A group of Curves are obtained and can be utilized for the full-scale RBC plant preliminary design. The …

Design Optimization Of Laminated Fiber Composites, Ramarao G. Prasad

Theses

Laminated Fiber Composites are finding a wide range of applications in structural design especially for light weight structures that have stringent stiffness and strength requirements Finding an efficient composite structural design that meets the requirements of a certain application can be achieved not only by sizing the cross-sectional areas and member thicknesses but also by global or local tailoring of the material properties through selective use of orientation, number and stacking sequence of the laminae that make up the composite laminate.

The work presented here treats the design optimization problem involving minimum weight design of fiber composite laminates subject to …

Biodegradation Of Phenol And 4-Chlorophenol Using A Single Species In A Sequencing Batch Reactor, Kung-Wei Wang

Theses

Biodegradation of phenol and 4-chlorophenol (4CP) using Pseudomonas putida (ATCC 17514) was studied in batch and sequencing batch reactors. Batch experiments were first performed in order to reveal the kinetics of biodegradation for each substrate. 4-Chlorophenol was degradable only in the presence of phenol, or immediately after exposure of the organism to phenol. It was postulated that an enzyme induced by the presence of phenol was necessary to initiate degradation of 4-chlorophenol.

A mathematical model was then developed to describe the dynamic behavior of both substrates in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The model utilized rate parameters obtained from batch …

Stability Of Hot Mix Asphalt With Petroleum Contaminated Soils, De-Rong Lobo Huang

Theses

One of the most effective ways of reducing petroleum contaminated soil is to use it in the production of hot mix asphalt. Both asphalt cement and petroleum contaminates have similar chemical properties. Therefore, The contaminates will be locked within the asphalt matrix without potential leaching.

The six different petroleum contaminate soil samples from New Jersey were used in this research. Since those samples have different physical properties (such as moisture content, specific gravity, plastic limit, liquid limit, grain size distribution) and chemical properties( such as concentration of the contaminate, and type of contaminates) the maximum amount of petroleum contaminated soil …

Partnering: A Constructive Approach To Obtaining Engineer-Architect Services For The 1990s And Beyond, Donald E. Nations

Theses

This thesis will focus on a method of doing business in which two companies, whose businesses are complementary, work together in a relationship that strives to benefit both.

Large corporations continually examine ways to constructively manage the vast concept of change, and maintain their competitive posture. One way in which some corporations are beginning to strengthen their assets and their capabilities to deliver products or services is through a relationship known as "partnering."

As an oversimplified way of defining partnering, in a business-to-business relationship, one firm specializes in providing a service required by another company that the latter may not …

A Comparison Of Reliability Prediction Methodologies To Observed Field Failure Data, Randal Butturini

Theses

Reliability predictions of electronic equipment are considered highly valuable; yet the most widely used technique, Military Handbook 217 is criticized as inaccurate. The industry response to the Handbook has been to develop a myriad of methodologies for failure rate prediction. This paper uses four (4) reliability prediction methods to forecast the failure rate of two (2) circuit boards for which a field failure history exists. The predicted failure rate for each procedure on each board is compared to the actual failure rate; and a first-order correction factor is calculated.

A Biomechanical Analysis Of Three Humeral Fracture Fixation Systems, Alina Michelle Waite

Theses

Often, humeral fractures requiring internal fixation can be a challenging orthopaedic procedure. Each method of treatment possesses clinical and biomechanical advantages and disadvantages. Rigid plate fixation is highly successful in treating a large variety of long bone fractures. Nevertheless, excessive soft tissue dissection is necessary, and vascular and neural anatomy of the humerus can make plate application and removal difficult. An intramedullary nail offers a relatively simple procedure, thereby reducing these anatomical concerns. However, rotational instability at the fracture site is a common complication with a conventional intramedullary nail. Thus, a study was conducted to evaluate a new interlocking intramedullary …

Mobile Manipulator Path Planning By A Genetic Algorithm, Min Zhao

Theses

The thesis addresses the path planning problem for a mobile manipulator system which is used to perform a sequence of tasks specified by locations and minimum oriented force capabilities. The problem is to find an optimal sequence of base positions and manipulator configurations for performing a sequence of tasks given a series of task specifications. The formulation of the problem is nonlinear. The feasible regions for the problem are nonconvex and unconnected. Genetic algorithms applied to such problems appear to be very promising while traditional optimization methods cause difficulties. Computer simulation is carried out on a three degrees-of-freedom manipulator mounted …

Biodegradation Of Diflufenican Using Anaerobic Microbial Consortia, Velukumar T. Nanjagowder

Theses

In this thesis I examine the feasibility of using anaerobic microbial consortia from digested anaerobic sludge to degrade Diflufenican, a fluorinated herbicide released into the environment as a result of agricultural usage. The compound is manufactured by Rhone Poulenc and it is an active ingredient of agricultural herbicides. The anaerobic digested sludge served both as a source of microorganisms and as a growth medium. Initial studies were conducted by making a stock solution of 1 ppm concentration of Diflufenican in acetone, the optimal solubility of the compound as suggested in the material safety data sheet is 0.05 ppm in water. …

Work-Preserving Real-Time Emulation Of Meshes On Butterfly Networks, Alf-Christian Achilles

Theses

The emulation of a guest network G on a host network H is work-preserving and real-time if the inefficiency, that is the ratio W_G/W_H of the amounts of work done in both networks, and the slowdown of the emulation are O(1).

In this thesis we show that an infinite number of meshes can be emulated on a butterfly in a work-preserving real-time manner, despite the fact that any emulation of an s x s-node mesh in a butterfly with load 1 has a dilation of Ω(logs).

The recursive embedding of a mesh in a butterfly presented by …

An Approach To Improving The Antithrombogenesis Of Pneumatic Diaphragm Artificial Ventricle : Fabrication And Design Considerations, Hui-Sun Wang

Theses

Thrombus formation is one of the major problems in artificial heart development and its clinical applications. In order to improve the antithrombogenesis in the artificial ventricles, three aspects of investigation have been done in the laboratory.

1] the surface features and the surface defects on specially prepared samples made of polyurethane and silicon rubber were studied and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy ( SEM ), light microscopy and KEVEX Feature Analysis for understanding and controlling the blood contacting surface.

2] the polyurethane blood contacting surface with smooth surface fabricated by solution cast process, the material treatment, and the fabrication procedure …

Measurement Of The Electrical And Optical Properties Of Thermid Polymide, Zhixiong Zhu

Theses

Electrical and optical properties of spin-coated THERMID polyimide EL-5010 have been studied and evaluated in this thesis. The D.C. bulk resistivities of 0.96^-2.56 μm thick samples were measured to be 10¹⁶ Ω-cm over the 27-160°C range using a test system consisting of Keithley 236 Source-Measure Unit. The bulk resistivity decreased to 2 x 10¹⁴Ω-cm at 200?C. The surface resistivity, 10¹⁵Ω/0 , and breakdown voltage, 350 V/pm, were also measured. The fixed charge concentration and mobile ion concentration in the THERMID polyimide EL-5010 insulator of a MIS capacitor structure were measured using a high …

The Electronic Interpreter For The Deaf, Young-Jun Ko

Theses

None provided.

A Parameterized Cmos Standard Cell Library And A Full 8-Bit Grey Scale Morphological Array Processor, Lawrence H. Rubin

Theses

The creation of a parameterized, full custom CMOS VLSI design library is discussed. This library consists of a schematic component library that is integrated with both logic and circuit level simulators, as well as a corresponding layout cell library that is integrated with automatic place-and-route tools as well as several layout verification tools. The library enabled the design and implementation of a Morphological Array Processor (MAP). This VLSI chip fully implements the morphological operations of erosion and dilation using a 7x7 matrix. It will operate on a 512x512 image in real time (60 images per second). The chip is designed …

Fugitive Pieces/Pink, Jo Dagon

Theses

None provided.

Passionate Hours, Douglas E. Taylor

Theses

This is the written document to accompany the thesis project Passionate Hours (ill. 11). The project consists of five paintings arranged into a U-shaped configuration with one large panel in the center and two smaller panels on each side. The paintings are predominantly in primary colors and depict scenes from the Passion of Christ interspersed with scenes from the Old Testament. The panels present a nightmarish vision due to the expressive style with which I painted the figures. In the following pages, I will explain the meaning of the paintings, the theology behind the them, and the process of their …

Feminine Beauty: The Woman Of The World, Hsueh-Lan Yang

Theses

None provided.

Within Normal Limits, Hikmet Safuoglu

Theses

None provided.

A Graphic Identity System For The Genesee Land Trust, Maria Delauro

Theses

None provided.

A Promotional Campaign For A Self-Created Computer Animation "Ernie The Bird", Barbara-Leigh Chesnut

Theses

None provided.

Marks: The Adorned Self, Tom Santelli

Theses

None provided.

Effect Of Dietary Lipids On Rat Alveolar Macrophage Function, Sangeeta R. Mehta

Theses

An in vitro assay has been developed to measure bacterial uptake by rat alveolar macrophages. The assay is used to study the effect of a diet rich in high omega-6 linoleic acid on the phagocytic response of the macrophages obtained from young and old rats. Within the range of diets studied, no significant difference (p<0.05) is observed in the phagocytic capability of macrophages from young rats. Significant difference is observed between diet groups for the old rats (p<0.05), with the group on a fat-rich diet showing suppressed phagocytic response. Significant difference is also found between age groups for the same diet (p<0.05), older animals showing suppressed response.

Performance Analysis Of Symbol Timing Recovery Circuits Employed In Digital Communications Systems, Elisha Yegal Bar-Ness

Theses

An analytical approach is presented for the jitter performance of a timing recovery circuit consisting of a prefilter, a zero-memory nonlinear device, and a narrow band postfilter tuned to the pulse repetition frequency. Assuming first a squarer type of nonlinearity, analytical expressions for the rms jitter in the timing wave are obtained as a function of the pre and post filtering characteristics. These expressions are suitable for judging the case where the baseband signal is bandlimited. Also for some specific examples, the jitter performance of this kind of STR circuit is evaluated.

Secondly, a general type of nonlinerity is assumed, …

Biological Coal Desulfurization, Ming Le

Theses

Sulfur removal from coal before combustion is of considerable interest to avoid emission of oxides of sulfur(SO_x). Chemical and physical methods have been developed for removing the inorganic sulfur component in coal. This component is generally associated with pyrites(FeS2). However, no commerical methods have been developed for the removal of the organic sulfur conponent. This study describes microbial methods for removing organically bound sulfur from coal. The specific goals of this study were to ascertain whether a robust biologically active population such as activated sludge biomass can remove organic sulfur from coal and to devise sulfur analytical methods …

Simulation Of Voice And Data Integration, Urmila S. Patel

Theses

A simulation model of integrated voice and data is developed. The data packets are transmitted during voice inactivity (i.e. silence duration). A statistical model of voice (talkspurt) and silence duration is generated. inter-arrival time between data packets is modeled using geometrical distribution. The data traffic statistics is simulated for a given voice activity model and various data packet arrival rates. Four important results are obtained by performing this simulation: 1. Average data packet delay versus arrival rate. 2. The optimal ratio of data packet arrival rate to average data packet delay. 3. Probability of wait time for various data packet …

Experiments In Aerobic And Anaerobic Biodegradation Of Methylene Chloride Using Activated Sludge, Vivek Chandrakant Sinkar

Theses

Biological removal of methylene chloride was studied under aerobic and anaerobic conditions using activated sludge cultures. Shaker flask experiments were conducted to test the ability of the microorganisms to degrade methylene chloride under aerobic conditions. Hydrogen peroxide was used a as source of dissolved oxygen to minimize physical removal of methylene chloride due to aeration. The effect of secondary substrates like glucose, cellulose acetate, ammonium acetate and nutrient broth on biodegradation of methylene chloride was studied. Biodegradation in the presence of surfactant and alkaline stress was also investigated.

No significant degradation was observed in all aerobic experiments.

Anaerobic sludge was …

Acid Recovery Of Cadmium And Lead From Immobilized Activated Sludge Used To Biosorb Metals, Chandrakanth Hartman

Theses

A study of the adsorption and subsequent desorption of heavy metals using various concentrations of hydrochloric acids has been performed.

To accomplish this task, the following areas were investigated : immobilization of the sludge, adsorption of heavy metals, various concentrations of acid used as stripping agents, examination of the relative fractions of heavy metals obtained using various stripping agents, and the actual concentration of the acid at a particular fraction.

It was observed that water helps in extraction of cadmium to a certain extent, but lead cannot be extracted with water. Also, water mixed with dilute hydrochloric acid is more …

The Application Of Adaptive Step-Size Control In The Numerical Simulation Of Calcium Release In Vascular Smooth Muscle, Michael John Sydor

Theses

An algorithm for the adaptive control of numerical integration step-size is developed and implemented for the simulation of a three compartment model for Vascular Smooth Muscle. The three compartment model accounts for the simultaneous diffusion of Ca, ⁴⁵Ca, EGTA, Ca-EGTA, and ⁴⁵Ca-EGTA, and is an extension of a two compartment model by Diecke for the simultaneous diffusion of Ca, EGTA, and Ca-EGTA. The addition of the third compartment is to account for the presence of the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum which stores the calcium needed for contraction and is the primary regulator of calcium in the VSM cell. The SR …