Digital Commons Network^™

Simulation Of A Neural Network-Driven Fuzzy Controller, Karl Ver Schneider

Theses

A software simulation package was developed to facilitate the analysis of a fuzzy logic tracking system constructed by first training a neural network. The adaptive vector quantization neural network used a competitive learning algorithm to classify control data from a controller in a noisy environment. The neural network memory generated rules for a fuzzy controller by mapping the state of the network into a predetermined fuzzy database. The software is intended to be expanded to allow further analysis of neural dynamics and to compare the performance of the resulting fuzzy controller to conventional controllers.

Features And Neural Net Recognition Strategies For Hand Printed Digits, Jeffrey R. Pink

Theses

The thesis goal is to develop a computer system for hand printed digit recognition based on an investigation into various feature extractors and neural network strategies. Features such as subwindow pixel summation, moments, and orientation vectors will be among those investigated. Morphological thinning of characters prior to feature extraction will be used to assess the impact on network training and testing. Different strategies for implementing a multilayer perceptron neural network will be investigated. A high-level language called MatLab will be used for neural network algorithm development and quick prototyping. The feature extractors will be developed to operate on small (less …

Management Of Hospital Wastes In The United Arab Emirates, Hanan Ahmed Ali Shuwaiter

Theses

The gradual expansion and development of new public and private medical complexes have resulted in the production of various types of wastes which include hazardous materials. Such wastes require appropriate handling and management schemes based on safer disposal methods. There are no reliable figures for quantifying the amount of medical waste generated or appropriate legislation and guidelines for handling, storage, transport and disposal of medical waste in the United Arab Emirates. No previous detailed studies have been conducted for the management of medical waste in the UAE. In general there is insufficient awareness of the health hazard associated with improper …

The Morphology Of Uhmwpe Wear Debris Generated By A Hip Joint Simulator, Aaron P. Essner

Theses

The size, quantity and shape of total hip replacement wear debris may identify wear mechanisms as well as play a role in osteolysis. Characterization of wear particles generated from a hip joint simulator was conducted followed by comparison with literature reported in vivo results. The effect of counterface material and lubricant type on particle morphology was assessed. Biomaterial pairs including UHMWPE articulated against CoCr, Alumina and Zirconia were considered. Deionized (D.I.) water and bovine serum were used as lubricants. Particles generated from Alumina/UHMWPE in serum were slightly larger than those for CoCr and Zirconia against UHMWPE in serum. Particle shape …

Hydrodynamic And Water Quality Modeling Of The Whippany River, John E. Krohn

Theses

The Whippany River is located in northern New Jersey and is a major tributary to the Passaic River System. This waterway accepts a wide variety of wastes from the diverse communities within its watershed. These wastes contribute to a rather complex network of biological, chemical and physical interactions.

The purpose of this study is to develop a water quality model using QUAL2E. This model will be used as a tool to simulate the complex interactions that take place within the river system. The river must he considered from physical, biological and chemical perspectives. A successful model can determine current water …

Effect Of Fiber-Matrix Coupling On The Mechanical Properties Of A Totally Bioabsorbable Composite, Barbaro Jesus Perez

Theses

The mechanical properties of a new class of bioabsorbable polymer-composite based on the amino acid tyrosine and calcium phosphate fibers were studied. The effect of the fiber aspect ratio on the elastic modulus of a discontinuous fiber composite was analyzed using the SMC composite micromechanics computer model. The mechanical stiffness of this polymer was found to be superior to that of poly-p-dioxanone, caprolactone and poly-o-ester.

The fiber surface was modified with methane plasma spray to improve the fiber-matrix coupling. The treated fiber composites had 16-40% higher tensile modulus than the untreated fiber composites. From the flexural test results it is …

A Comparison Of Anhydrous Ethanol Production From Ethylene And From Corn Utilizing Life Cycle Analysis Methodology, Gregory Morse

Theses

There is currently much concern with the impact on the environment due to industrial processes. One method to assess this impact is to perform a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) on the process. Life Cycle Analysis is made up of three stages; Life Cycle Inventory Analysis, Life Cycle Impact Assessment, and Life Cycle Improvement Assessment. In this study, Life Cycle Inventory Analysis methodology was applied to two industrial processes for producing anhydrous ethanol. The first process is the fermentation of corn, and the second is the hydration of ethylene using water and a catalyst. Each process was first modeled using the …

Analysis Of The Oxidation Of Isotox By Immobilized Bacteria, Chad Sheng

Theses

The purpose of this work is to show the effects of bio-oxidation of a pesticide through a spiral wound bioreactor using immobilized mixed culture bacteria. The pesticide used for this study is Isotox® and its active ingredients are acephate or O,S-dimethyl acetylphosphoramidothioate and vendex or hexakis (2-methyl-2-phenylpropyI)- distannoxane. Qualitative analysis of the product indicated presence of sulfate.

A consistent and unique DO pattern for Isotox^® showed at least 4 minima, whereas phenol has only one minimum. The consistency of the DO pattern for Isotox^® has been observed for over 30 injections into the bioreactor system. For both an …

Modeling The Fate Of Volatile Organic Compounds In Wastewater Treatment Facilities; Implementation Of Volatilization Models In Envirocad, Vinita Chhahira

Theses

The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments have identified wastewater treatment facilities as a major source of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. VOCs present in wastewater discharges affect the quality of receiving waters, while emissions to the air affect downwind populations. The primary mechanisms involved in VOC removal from a wastewater treatment facility are volatilization and stripping, biodegradation, and sorption to either suspended or biological solids. Although many models have been developed to predict the fate of VOCs in wastewater treatment facilities, no model completely predicts emissions for an entire wastewater treatment facility. The focus of this work is to incorporate …

Secret Places, K. Leigh Taylor

Theses

None provided.

A Study Of The Effects Of Child Sexual Abuse, Treatment, And Interventions, Catherine P. Coyle

Theses

The last two decades have seen the topic of child sexual abuse emerge from an issue that was considered rare, or at least uncommon, to one currently viewed as a leading concern of mental health professionals. Public reaction to incest and sexual abuse has changed from one of disbelief to one of active concern. Public awareness and education about the issue of child sexual abuse has developed into a critical area of concern.

Sexual abuse of children is now recognized as a serious mental health problem, both because it is so widespread, and because of increasing evidence of its traumatic …

Imaging Modes In Force Regulated Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy: Amplitude, Polarization, And Interference Contrast, Ricardo Toledo-Crow

Theses

This dissertation describes the force regulated near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) and two important adaptations: one for imaging polarization contrast with a linear response, and the other for interference imaging. An introduction to near- field optics is first presented, followed by a description of the background to this work that includes the relevant references to the literature and previous results. A simple theoretical description of the NSOM in terms of scalar fields is then presented, followed by an exposition of an early but relevant rigorous vectorial interpretation of the experiment. The basic force regulated NSOM is presented: its parts, operation, …

Organ Donation And Transplantation, Lila Pummer-Verté

Theses

None provided.

Preparation Of Enzyme - Analyte Conjugates Containing Linker Arms, Tong Zhu

Theses

In this study, we are examining the effect of the length and polarity of peptide linker arms on the performance of enzyme - analyte conjugates in a reagentlimited heterogeneous immunoassay which utilizes a solid phase format. In our model system, our goal is to attach benzoylecgonine, the primary urinary metabolite of cocaine, to glucose oxidase by a series of peptide linker arms. Peptide linker arms were synthesized using the fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) solid phase peptide synthesis strategy described by Stewart and Young (1). We attached the BEC to the exposed amino - terminal end of the peptide linker arm by the …

Spectral Analysis Of Blood Velocity In The Human Fetus, Francis J. Gallagher

Theses

None provided.

A Vhdl Model Of A Digi-Neocognitron Neural Network For Vlsi, Troy Brewster

Theses

Optical character recognition is useful in many aspects of business. However, the use of conventional computers to provide a solution to this problem has not been very effective. Over the past two decades, researchers have utilized artificial neural networks for optical character recognition with considerable success. One such neural network is the neocognitron, a real-valued, multi-layered hierarchical network that simulates the human visual system. The neocognitron was shown to have the capability for pattern recognition despite variations in size, shape or the presence of deformations from the trained patterns. Unfortunately, the neocognitron is an analog network which prevents it from …

The Ritual Of Painting, Allen Vaughan Fowler

Theses

My thesis began to coalesce in the Spring of 1994 when I stretched my first triptych based on the golden mean and produced my first large landscape (Figure 1). I decided upon a title for the series, Dusk Informs Our Designs (D.I.O.D.), that functioned on several levels: as dusk is a period of shifting light, it is a time which informs through shadows and filtered light our manifest designs (patterns or motifs); simultaneously, it is a time which can obscure the clarity of imposed structures and divisions, thus informing the often less obvious nature of our designs (intentions or schemes); …

Positive Reinforcement Versus Aversive Therapy Techniques When Dealing With Tantrum Behaviors Of Mentally Retarded Individuals, Cynthia A. Simmons

Theses

This thesis examines the comparative effectiveness of positive reinforcement and aversive therapy techniques in managing tantrum behaviors among mildly mentally disabled adults residing in group homes in Marshall, Missouri. The study involved twenty-one participants, ages thirty-one to sixty, who regularly exhibited tantrum behaviors. Data were collected from historical records spanning 1992–1994, as well as from ongoing observations during the research period. Six trained staff members documented the frequency, duration, and responses to both therapeutic approaches.

Positive reinforcement techniques included verbal praise, token economies, and the Premack principle, while aversive methods consisted of ignoring behaviors, time-out procedures, scolding, and overcorrection. The …

Simulation Of Activity Rhythms In The Hamster, Paul Qassis

Theses

In this research, an effort was made to better understand light-dark cycles which influence the physiological and psychological rhythms, circadian rhythms and their behavior. The research concentrated on mathematically modeling circadian rhythms (specifically hamsters' circadian activity rhythms) and establishing a physical correlation and creating a meaningful relationship between the mathematical model's parameters and the real biological oscillators which are responsible for these rhythms. The internal nature of the circadian rhythms is unclear. There is insufficient information and empirical data that describe them. Indirect means have to be employed for the description and exploration of such rhythms. Extensive real data analysis …

Wear And Friction Of Hylamer And Polyethylene Against Cobalt Chromium A Pin-On-Disc Study, Jerry D'Alessio, Ii

Theses

Understanding friction and wear of biomaterials is essential to the success of any prosthetic joint. A pin-on-disc wear tester is used to find the friction and wear of pins of one material on a coupon of medical grade cobalt chrome. In this experiment six pins of UHMWPe (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) and six pins of Hylamer® from Du Pont Manufacturing were tested. Four separate runs were made. The tests were performed for ten million cycles, stopping every one to one and a half million cycles for data acquisition. Volumetric wear, wear rate, and coefficients of friction were measured. Both …

Heart Rate Variability Studies On Ambulatory Subjects Using Ekg Derived Respiration, Xiaorui Tang

Theses

Power spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) provides a powerful non-invasive too] for exploring the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic components of the autonomic nervous system. In the spectrum of HRV, there are three distinct peaks. The high frequency (HF) band (0.15 to 0.4 Hz) is correlated with parasympathetic activity and this is the band of interest 'in the study.

Two OTOUPS Of SL113jeCtS were considered in this work, stroke survivors and subjects performing an oral presentation in front of an audience. Data were collected with a Holter monitor to allow for ambulatory recording. Respiration was derived from the …

Aeration And Operation Of An Immobilized Cell Oxidative Bioreactor, James Joseph Woods

Theses

The primary purpose of this work is to help define the optimum window of operations for an immobilized cell oxidative bioreactor. The analytical technique employed requires no outside verification (such as G.C. analysis) and is independent of liquid flow rate. Method of aeration has been determined to be an important parameter for optimizing bioreactor efficiency, and optimization of the quantity of hydrogen peroxide added to provide oxygen during bio-oxidation has been investigated. Ammonium hydroxide as a fixed nitrogen source can be used to restore the vitality of the bioreactor under certain conditions.

The effects of several different methods of providing …

Quantitative Studies Of An Immobilized Cell Oxidative Bioreactor, Timothy Lance Borkowski

Theses

The purpose of this work was to determine a suitable method of utilizing dissolved oxygen in reservoir solution data to quantitatively measure the amount of oxygen and substrate consumed for an immobilized cell batch bioreactor in a recirculation configuration. Statistical analysis was performed on multiple phenol injections to determine the mathematical relationship between dissolved oxygen readout and the amount of phenol degraded.

Factors considered in the mathematical analysis include amount of substrate degraded, reaction time, recirculation flow rate, measured dissolved oxygen concentration and oxygen consumption, oxygen conversion per pass through the bioreactor during steady state, and vitality of the microorganisms. …

Implementation Of Time-Frequency Distribution Software And Its Use To Study Biological Signals, Mansour Adib

Theses

The joint time-frequency signal representation has received considerable attention as a powerful tool for analyzing biological signals. It combine time-domain and frequency-domain analyses to yield a potentially more revealing picture of the temporal localization of a signal's spectral components. In this research we have developed algorithm which implement time-frequency signal analysis techniques on a computer system. Its primary function is to produce a variety of time-frequency representations and plots from the time series. Numerous generated signals were used to justify our computer algorithm.

Variety of time-frequency distribution were utilized to expand the concept of spectral analysis of heart rate variability, …

Removal Of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons From Water By Air Stripping And Solvent Sublation, Alpana Gami

Theses

Removal of trichloroethylene, monochlorobenzene and 1,3 dichlorobenzene from water by air stripping and solvent sublation into an organic phase was investigated. The sublation solvents used were paraffin oil and decyl alcohol. The rate of removal from water by solvent sublation and air stripping was highest for trichloroethylene, followed by chlorobenzene and finally 1,3 dichlorobenzene. For the three compounds, solvent sublation had the greatest advantage over air stripping in the reduction of emission of the compounds to the atmosphere. For the three compounds, the removal was enhanced at higher flowrate in both air stripping and solvent sublation. For the removal of …

Catalytic Oxidation Of Trichloroethylene Over 5% [Alpha]-Fe2o3/[Gamma]-Alumina On A Honeycomb Monolith, Jeongho Han

Theses

This study addresses the ability of iron oxide to catalytically oxidize low concentrations of trichloroethylene (TCE) with air. The catalytic oxidation of trichloroethylene in a tubular reactor system was evaluated experimentally as a function of temperature and space velocity. A gas chromatograph with electron capture and flame ionization detectors was used for quantitative analysis of feed and product streams. X-ray diffraction measurement were used to qualitatively analyze the catalyst. The result indicate that over 99% conversion of 109 ppmv trichloroethylene in air is achieved at 1,490 v/v/hr and 450 °C, and at 21,768 v/v/hr, 550 °C. The major products from …

The Growth, Enrichment, And Dehalogenating Properties Of Pyrococcus Gbd And Desulfurococcus Sy, Siegfried Georg Mueller

Theses

Recent investigations of volcanic smoker chimneys along the Atlantic Rift has lead to the discovery of hyperthermophilic bacteria. In particular, Pyrococcus GBD and Desulfurococcus SY were studied, optimizing growth conditions. This was achieved using elemental sulfur amendments, artificial sea water, and dehydrated marine broth. The microbes were then acclimated to enriched cultures containing 2,4,6 trichlorophenol in 0.0126 mM, 0.063 mM, and 0.126 mM amendments. The amended cultures showed dehalogenating properties and were subjected to a data qualifying program. This program indicated that the dehalogenation was a function of microbial gowth. A mass balance experiment showed that both microbes were able …

Volatilization Of Volatile Organic Compounds From Complex Wastewaters, Syed Sikandar Qadry

Theses

A variety of volatile organic solvents used in the pharmaceutical and specialty chemical industries end up in wastewater collection and treatment systems. EPA has classified these VOCs into groups depending on their potential to volatilize from the wastewaters. In making this classification, Henry's Law, which is valid at very low concentrations, has been used to describe the vapor-liquid equilibrium. But, in reality the concentrations observed in the wastewaters are often too high for Henry's Law to be valid and it is inappropriate to assume that equilibrium has been achieved for every compound.

This project evaluates the volatilization rates, both experimental …

Bioremediation Of 2-Chlorophenol In A Laboratory Soil Column, Timothy A. Coon

Theses

In-situ bioremediation offers the prospect of rendering organic contaminants harmless without having to remove them from the subsurface. It involves the modification of environmental factors to stimulate the biodegradation of chemicals in the subsurface by microorganisms. However, for the cost-effective use of in-situ bioremediation, it is necessary to develop accurate engineering models to quantify biodegradation.

In this thesis, the biodegradation of 2-chlorophenol in a laboratory soil column was examined in order to experimentally verify an engineering model. Experiments were performed to obtain the physical and biological parameters required by the model, and the steady-state 2-chlorophenol distribution in the column.

A …

The Cyberspace Workplace : An Argument And Design For The Virtual Office, Richard C. Jones

Theses

The Virtual Office has become a viable solution to the need for a changing workplace. Technology, design, and a redefinition of work have combined to create something entirely new. An office not of walls and doors but of electronic peripherals, networks, and global digital communication. This concept allows workers to be free from their physical surrounding to conduct work from remote locations or in some instances in a totally electronic world commonly referred to as Cyberspace. Through research, interviews, and problem solving the virtual office concept presented will redefine the use of space as we know it. These concepts will …