Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Object Oriented Partitioning For A Medical Vocabulary Based On Semantic Network, Mansnimar Singh

Theses

Computers have become ubiquitous and indispensable part of everyday life both for personal use and in the workplace. Medicine is one of the few domains that has not fully adopted computerization. One impediment to this emanates from a communication gap between the computer science professional and the medical professional. Besides, medical terminology is full of synonyms and medical professionals use them according to their personal preferences. This lack of common terminology has prevented sharing of knowledge and automating data processing, resulting in the healthcare information explosion.

Semantic network models have been developed to represent medical concepts and to provide a …

Parameters' Analysis Of 3d Random Stacking Palletization, Najeeb Syed

Theses

Palletization is a very important element of production, distribution and warehousing activities. The 3D random stacking palletization method is based on volume utilization instead of surface area optimization. Random stacking provides interlocking among the boxes and hence it improves the stability of the pallet load. Volumetric Pallet Utilization is normally the prime concern of any palletization process, with Work in Process and Palletization time being also important. This research uses data generated from a previous heuristic to establish mathematical relationships between the three mentioned performance indices and also three additional indirect variables, namely: Total Number of Sub Volumes, Partitioned Remaining …

Decontamination Of Aquifers Via Air Sparging/Biofiltration : An Experimental Study, Armando Mora Tellez

Theses

In this study experiments were performed in order to show feasibility of an integrated air sparging/biofiltration process for cleaning contaminated groundwater. Feasibility was also meant in the sense of meeting regulatory constraints. Using toluene as model compound and changing flowrates for the sparged air, it was shown that despite fluctuations in the toluene concentration at the inlet of the biofilter, the concentrations at the outlet of the unit were essentially constant over long periods of time and remained below the levels dictated by environmental regulations. However an increase in outlet concentrations at levels not meeting regulatory constraints was observed after …

Finite Element Analysis Of Skin Injuries By Water Jet Cutting, Syed Muhammad Arif

Theses

High pressure water jets are used in industry for cleaning and cutting purposes. These devices can generate pressure up to 400 MPa. As high pressure water jets become more widespread in industry, injuries will be seen with great frequency. Penetrating injuries by these devices can produce minimal external evidence of extensive soft tissue injury. To know the extent of injury, it is important to study the relationship between operating parameters of water jet and the skin layers. A computational analysis is carried out using finite element method to find the effects of water jet pressure on the skin layer. Finite …

An Investigation Into The Feasibility Of Utilizing Pneumatic Ultrasonic Devices Coupled With Pneumatic Fracturing In Enhancing Removal Of Volatile Organic Compounds From Soils, Hugo J. Fernandez

Theses

A bench scale investigation was conducted in a Plexiglass ™ Test cell 1 foot square by 2 feet in height, packed with 400 mesh sand to a density of 100 lb. /ft³. The sand was contaminated with a mixture of 10% ethanol and 90% water by weight having a total weight of 11.1 pounds, before it was packed in the test cell. A geotextile 1/2 inch thick was used as a simulated fracture and was placed 3 inches from the bottom of the tank. A siren and a whistle were tested in this fracture.

The data were divided …

Enhancing The Bioavailability Of Sorbed Pollutants From Sediments Using Ultrasound, Rachel Mathew

Theses

Many organic compounds, that enter aquatic systems have a strong tendency to sorb onto particulate matter which may be present in suspension or as sediment. Numerous studies have shown that the sediment in aquatic systems concentrate contaminants several orders of magnitude greater than the concentration in the aqueous phase. Particulate associated contaminants in sediments are not easily bioavailable. Hence the efficacy of any treatment technology would be strongly undermined if the contaminants are not made available for microbial utilization. Sediment associated contaminants can be made biologically available to various microorganisms under certain conditions.

In this study, desorption studies were conducted …

An Analytical Approach To Toxic Substance Replacement In Support Of Pollution Prevention, Ithan B. Zimmer

Theses

In support of pollution prevention and in accordance with Executive Order 12356 concerning pollution prevention, all federal agencies must comply with the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) chemical release reduction and pollution prevention planning. The inventory lists hundreds of chemicals and choosing those to replace and finding actual replacement chemicals or procedures is not always clear. This study focuses on an analytical approach to this problem by understanding the application of two substances. The representative chemicals are two volatile organic compounds (VOC), ethyl ether and ethanol, used as solvents in ammunition manufacturing.

Thirteen military specifications provide the cases involving ether. Ethanol's …

The Life Cycle Of Moths And Butterflies, Mary Walter

Theses

None provided.

Quiet Beauty; A Contemporary Vision Of Tea, James White

Theses

Not Included

Autonomy, Well-Being, And Design, Paul James

Theses

The objective of this thesis is to demonstrate how product design can effectively improve the quality of our lives by promoting individual autonomy in light of diminished physical capabilities due to illness and/or aging. Critical to this demonstration is an understanding of the relationship between personal well-being and our built environments. Developing this understanding became the initial focus of my research.

Study On The Parasites Of Falcons In The United Arab Emirates, Mohammad Ismail M. A Sultan Al-Ulama

Theses

Sakers Falco cherrug, Gyrfalcons Falco rusticolus, Peregrines Falco peregrilllls, in addition to Hybrids (saker X gyrfalcon, or gyrfalcon X peregrine), were found to be the most popular species of falcons in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The importance of falcons and falconry in Arabia was highlighted with a brief history of falconry in Arabia.

The study focused on the prevalence of intestinal parasites (coccidia, helminthes and nematodes) and blood parasites (Haemoproteus sp. and Leucocytozoon sp.) as well as ecto-parasites (Ticks and Mites) of these falcons, with discussion on the possible sources of infection in view of the …

Screening Measures For Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Heather Foley

Theses

While performance-based measures have not typically been used by school psychologists in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessment, a growing body of evidence suggests that neuropsychological measures may provide valuable diagnostic information as part of a comprehensive evaluation of the disorder. The utility of two neuropsychological measures for use as screening measures in assessing ADHD was examined in the present study. The performance of 29 children with ADHD was compared with that of 96 controls on alternate forms of Trails B and a Figure Cancellation Task. Although a developmental trend was found suggesting increased performance with age, time to complete …

An Advisor / Advisee Program In The Middle School: Its Effect On Student Gpa And Daily Attendance, Cindy Norton

Theses

Fifty-three seventh grade students from a rural public school had their grade cards used as method of determining if an advisor/advisee program increases grade point averages and daily attendance. Students grade point averages (GPA) and daily attendance were compared using the t-test during the time they received an advisement period (1995-96) and the time he/she did not receive an advisement (\994-95).

A Correlational Study Of Infertility And Marital Satisfaction, Charles H. Mccomb Jr.

Theses

This study examined the correlation between infertility and marital satisfaction. Thirty-six subject participated in the study. The participants were recruited from a support group. Other recruits came from friends. The survey was sent, completed, and returned by mail as to retain anonymity. The subjects came from St. Louis, MO. Most of the individuals in the study were white, Non-Hispanic, middle class, and college graduates. Each individual completed a demographic questionnaire and the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale. The compiled results found that there is a significant relationship between gender and marital satisfaction in a group of individuals with fertility problems. Another …

Evolution Of Solutions To Real-Time Problems, Greg Semeraro

Theses

This thesis develops the theory and tools necessary for the determination of a near optimal Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) scheduling policy for an arbitrary multitasking problem specification. The solution is determined using a Genetic Algorithm (GA). All real-time operating systems provide some means of 'tuning' the characteristics of the scheduling policy to accurately meet the application requirements. This thesis shows the applicability of using a GA to determine these parameters for an arbitrary application. In addition, the RTOS parameters considered are broad enough to allow the results to be used for specifying and/or choosing an RTOS for the actual implementation …

Educating Adolescents With Emotional And Behavior Disabilities: A Bottom-Up Approach, Aimee Darmer

Theses

This study presents a review of the literature describing the characteristics of students with severe emotional and behavioral disabilities (SED). Studies examining the best educational practices for this population of students are also reviewed and discussed. The author concludes that the best educational programs for students with SED contain an emphasis on personal responsibility and academic success within a day treatment setting. To test this hypothesis, the author examined one such program, the Avalon School of Rochester, New York, which exhibits many of the features correlated in the literature with student success. This study concludes that, given the choice to …

Study Of The Wear Of Dental Composites Using An Atomic Force Microscope, Dale E. Ewbank

Theses

This work presents a study of the wear of four dental composites (Concept, XRV, Maxxim, and Belleglass) which are in commercial use. The wear testing was performed using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). Several scanning techniques and various cantilevers were attempted. Finally use of a stainless steel cantilever with a tungsten bead attached resulted in quantifiable wear. AFM imaging in contact mode was used for evaluation of the wear tests. Wear rates are reported as volume per 100,000 scans. The AFM measured wear rates rank the tested composites from most to least wear as follows: Concept highest volume of wear …

A Cost Model For Multi-Lifecycle Engineering Design, Bin Zhang

Theses

Design for Environment aims to yield a product whose aggregate environmental impact is as small as possible. This thesis characterizes a product recovery system and defines the concepts of product lifetime and part lifetime. A multi-lifecycle product recovery model is developed based on the concepts of product tree and disassembly path representation, four product recovery choices, time varying costs, cost comparison. The four product recovery choices of a part in the product tree are: Reconditioning, Part Remanufacturing, Material Recycling, and Landfill. This thesis focuses on how to improve the product design while minimizing environmental impact of the product and introduces …

Oxidized Sterols In Patients With Diabetic Heart Disease And Microwave-Mediated Stereoselective Synthesis Of 3-Keto Cholesterol And Cholesterol Epoxide, Cholesteryl Ester Epoxides, Meenakashi N. Kothavale

Theses

Oxidized low density lipoproteins (ox-LDL) may play important role in mediating hypercholesterolemic endothelial dysfunction. The uptake of modified LDL by macrophages to form foam cells has been implicated in the enhancement of atherosclerosis. Recent reports have suggested that when LDL undergoes oxidation in vitro , it is accompanied by a substantial loss of free and esterified cholesterol leading to the formation of oxidation products of cholesterol ( oxysterols). These compounds are present in human atherosclerotic plaques and in human foam cells.

In this regard we have recently studied the plasma sterol composition in diabetic heart patients We have found cholesterol …

Three-Dimensional Stress Analysis Of The Femur With Prosthetic Hip Stem Utilizing Computed Tomography Scans Of The Femur For Geometry And Material Properties, Thomas J. Lavin

Theses

Three-dimensional finite element stress analyses of the femur with prosthesis hip stem were performed for two cases, one male and one female, using ideally bonded cemented titanium prostheses. Computed tomography data files were used to derive the three-dimensional femur geometry and material properties for each cortical bone element. The maximum shear stress (4.7 MPa) in the cement was greater then the maximum tensile stress and occurred at the cement-bone interface. The tensile stresses in the cement were less then the fatigue strength of the cement. The stress patterns were quite similar for the two cases.

A data analysis program was …

Application Of Geometric Hashing Techniques To Retrieval Of High Dimensional Objects In Scientific Databases, Joyce Ye Lu

Theses

An approach to designing very fast algorithms for tackling the problem of approximate object matching in very large databases of high-dimensional objects is proposed. Given are a target object C and a database D containing information about a set of high-dimensional objects each of which is represented as a set of points. Our algorithms have an off-line object preprocessing (shape representation) phase and a recognition phase. The described algorithms determine those objects from D which are the closest to object C, according to delete or insert some points, move and rotation. All of these can be achieved very efficiently with …

Optimization Of Ion-Exchange Chromotography With Multiple Gradient Inputs For Protein Separations, Tariq Mahmood

Theses

Gradient elution chromatography is an efficient technique for adjusting the retention of sample components during liquid chromatographic separations. However, the optimization of gradient elution is usually done by trial and error. Thus, for large scale processes this results in expensive and time consuming design and operations. Peak resolution that describes the degree of separation is a commonly used parameter for chromatographic processes. However, in processes where operating time and product dilution are of great importance, resolution alone is not adequate for describing the separation efficiency.

A new parameter "resolution optimization factor" is used for the optimization of gradient elution processes. …

Size-Frequency Distribution Of Palaemonetes Pugio In Two New Jersey Estuaries And Predator-Prey Interactions With Fundulus Heterocolitus, Celine Santiago

Theses

Predation by Fundulus heteroclitus is known to be an important factor regulating the abundance and size distribution of Palaemonetes pugio in the salt marsh habitat.

A preliminary study showed that P. pugio from a polluted estuary, Piles Creek, were relatively larger than those found in a more pristine estuary, Little Sheepshead Creek. Possible causes could be differences in competition, inherent environmental components, reproductive effort, or predation. To investigate the differences in size frequency, data on relative abundances of both species and size frequency distribution of P. pugio were collected for comparison from the two estuaries.

It was determined that P. …

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 …

Oxidative Response Of Immobilized Bovine Blood To The Model Pollutant Phenol, Michael George Nickey

Theses

The primary purpose of this work is to determine if bovine blood can be studied in an immobilized cell bioreactor to determine if a phenol induced oxygen releasing optimum exists. This method of study has the potential to be used to determine what effects xenobiotics have on the oxidative activities of blood.

Three blood fractions containing approximately 21, 44, and 70% red blood cells (RBCs) were immobilized and placed in a recirculating bioreactor. These fractions were exposed injections of 0 ml, 3 ml, or 10 ml amounts of 2000 ppm phenol. The most active fraction was the 21% red cell …

Microporous Silicon Dioxide/Vycor Membranes For Gas Separation, Justin R. Barone

Theses

This study focused on producing membranes for molecular sieving of gases by reducing the pore size of an already existing membrane structure. To do this, SiO₂ was deposited inside the pores of a Vycor tube with initial pore diameter of 4 nm. The film deposition took place by a low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) process where diethylsilane (DES) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) were used as precursor gases. A counterflow reactant geometry was used where the precursor gases were flowed on both sides of the porous membrane. This deposition geometry gave higher selectivities and better mechanical stability. …

A Methodology For The Design Of An Integrated Air Stripping/Biofiltration Process To Clean Contaminated Aquifers, Pothitos Ioannis Stamatiadis

Theses

This thesis deals with the conceptual design of an integrated air stripping/biofiltration process for cleaning aquifers contaminated with volatile organic pollutants. In this technology, the pollutant is transferred from the aquifer to an air stream which is subsequently treated in a biofilter. The work presented here is an effort to develop a design methodology for the integrated process and suggests a general, quantitative approach which can be used in preliminary technology evaluation. This methodology involves relatively simple equations for the stripping process and detailed (oftentimes complex) models for biofiltration under conditions of continuous variation of the properties of the polluted …

Business Ethics...A Contradiction In Terms?, Kimberly Rose Crawford

Theses

Business ethics occupies a unique position in the field of ethics. It consists of uneasy applications of some very general ethical principles (ie: duty or utility) to rather specific and often unique situations and crises. Unlike the professions of medicine and law, business ethics is concerned with an area of hum.an enterprise whose practitioners do not, for the most part, enjoy professional status and whose motives, to put it mildly, are often thought (and said) to be less than noble. Breed is often cited as the sole purpose of business, and much of the history of business ethics, accordingly, is …

The Treatment Of Vegetable Processing Waste Water Using A Pilot Scale Sequencing Batch Reactor Activated Sludge Process, Peter Hassett

Theses

The SBR process is a discontinuous, unsteady state process and has developed popularity in many countries assisted by reliable control technology for example programmable logic control. A typical SBR installation achieves equalisation, aeration and clarification of batches of wastewater on a timed sequence in one basin. This is in contrast to a volume sequenced process such as the conventional continuous stirred tank reactor where individual treatment objectives are met in separate basins. Advantages include, flexability, minimum energy input, consistent effluent quality and inhibition of filament organism growth by properly controlling substrate concentration and aeration sequences. Nitrification, denitrification and Bio-P removal …