Digital Commons Network^™

Methods Development For Determination Of Trace Polar Volatile Organics In Environmental Samples, Qingchu Peng

Theses

The determination of trace levels of organic compounds in water samples is well developed for the less polar compounds, but the polar compounds are more difficult. The development of reliable and reproducible methods for such compounds as volatile alcohols and ketones is necessary if environmental monitoring is to be extended to these compounds.

The purge-and-trap method is frequently used for determination of volatiles in water samples. The method has problems when hydrophylic substances are being analyzed, since these are less easy to purge from the solution and more difficult to trap and desorb quantitatively. The high amount of water carried …

Petri Net Modeling And Analysis Of An Fms Cell, Paresh A. Patel

Theses

Petri nets have evolved into a powerful tool for the modeling, analysis and design of asynchronous, concurrent systems. This thesis presents the modeling and analysis of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) cell using Petri nets. In order to improve the productivity of such systems, the building of mathematical models is a crucial step.

In this thesis, the theory and application of Petri nets are presented with emphasis on their application to the modeling and analysis of practical automated manufacturing systems. The theory of Petri nets includes their basic notation and properties. In order to illustrate how a Petri net with …

Design For Manufacturability : Re-Design Of Pencil Sharpener For The Ease Of Assembly, Amit R. Rathod

Theses

A Design For Manufacturability (DFM) approach is used to analyze the existing design of a pencil sharpener, and to reduce and re-design the parts of pencil sharpener for the ease of assembly. The procedure for the selection of a suitable and economical assembly method is based on the Boothroyd and Dewhurst methods. Analysis of the initial design for manual assembly and re-design for automatic as well as manual assembly is presented. An algorithmic approach for simplified generation of all mechanical assembly sequences and selection of the assembly sequences is presented using De Fazio and Whitney approach.

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 …

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 …

3-D Structure Recovery Using Unified Optical Flow Field Approach, Anees Ahmad

Theses

Recovery of the 3-D structure that is characterized by an N^th order factorable and/or non-factorable polynomial equation is studied in this thesis. Analytical tools have been employed to analyze and solve the problem. The solution is based on the direct method, which is derived from the unified optical flow field, which, in turn, is an extension of optical flow to spatial image sequences. Least squares formulation has been employed for optimum estimation. The method used does not require the establishment of point to point correspondence, nor the estimation of the optical flow, as an intermediate step.

The theoretical results …

Minimized Test Patterns For Sequential Logic, Chetan Patel

Theses

This thesis presents a novel algorithmic approach which can be used to reduce the total test pattern lengths for testing a sequential logic circuit. Test generation for sequential circuits has long been recognized as a difficult task. Several approaches have been made in the past to solve the problems of test generation stage for sequential circuits but they were either an extension of the classical D-algorithm or based on the random techniques. When number of states of the sequential circuit is larger and the test demands long input sequences, they can be quite ineffective for the test generation. The STALLION …

Effect Of Shrinkage On The Design And Manufacture Of Plastic Parts In Injection Molding Using Cad/Cam Techniques, Deepak M. Shastri

Theses

Computer aided design software in injection molding has revolutionized injection molding in the design and manufacturing processes. Computer Aided Engineering can be applied to injection molding to increase the process efficiency, reduce part costs, and produce accurate parts in less time. The mold designer has many software programs to choose from to produce satisfactory mold designs from part geometries, and a correct selection can produce profitable results. A study of the need for and the scope of computers in injection molding is performed to evaluate the suitability of a CAE package by considering the value added to the parts using …

Primitive Dreams: In Search Of Judgment, Catherine Lasch Ramdin

Theses

None provided.

High Precision Laser Radar Tracking Device, V. P. Raghavan

Theses

This thesis explores a relatively new Solid Silver Thin Film Source technology, for the implementation of a novel High Precision Laser Radar Tracking device. The process which consists of a Ag+-Na+ ion exchange, is designed in two steps. It utilizes an initial electric field-aided ion exchange step for a predeposition, and a subsequent second diffusion step to force the profile latitude necessary for optimization of the device. While the entire project of implementing this device, consists of analyzing, processing, polishing and testing, this thesis covers only the process aspect in detail. The success achieved by obtaining the required Power Coupling …

Direct Schottky Injection Image Sensors, Subramanyam V. Ayyagari

Theses

This thesis describes the analysis and simulations of Direct Schottky Injection (DSI) imagers which have 100% fill factor. Frame transfer (FT) and interline transfer (IT) DSI imager structures have been investigated. Theoretical Poisson solution for the PT and P-NP FT-DSI structures is presented, which closely agrees with simulation results. Simulation for frame transfer FT-DSI imagers has been done in SUPREM III since 1-D effects are more dominant. Single carrier transit time for both the structures were estimated from the electric fields.

Simulations of IT-DSI structures was done using PISCES llb, to get the local electric fields, which define the directionality …

Centrifugal Modeling Of Leaking Underground Storage Tanks, Kuo-Neng George Chang

Theses

There are between 2 to 3.5 million Underground Storage Tanks (UST) located through this nation. Most of these tanks store gasoline and fuel oil. Many tanks in fact are or will soon be leaking, thus making them one of the major sources of groundwater contamination in USA. The fate and transport of chemicals from the leaking USTs is estimated from mathematical models. A major difficulty in these modeling efforts has been a crucial lack of information concerning the constitutive relationships governing multiphase contaminant movement.

Centrifugal modeling is an alternative to mathematical modeling, which may give an insight to the problem …

Development Of Techniques Of Artificial Intelligence In Identifying The Different Machined Surfaces, Yi-Ching Chou

Theses

This thesis deals with the identification of different machined surfaces with artificial inteligence techniques. There are five kinds of machining operations: grinding, turning, milling, EDM and waterjet which determine the characteristics of resulting surfaces. Topology of various specimens is measured using the surfanylizer. Twenty one parameters are extracted from the measurements to describe the characteristics. In this thesis, we develop neural and expert systems that recoginize and classify surfaces according to the machining methods.

Tri-Color Led Display System Using Microcontroller, Costakis A. Constantinou

Theses

A seven-by-forty-eight tricolor LED display panel is designed and built around the 68HC11 MCU.

Four bilateral switching transistors (4066) are used in a Wien bridge configuration to drive each tri-color LED. With this circuitry one is able to drive the tricolor LED symmetrically. An alternative design that uses only two switching transistors is also offered.

A software program was developed to output on the display scrolling and fixed messages. Each message could be displayed in a different color (Red, Green and Yellow) and at a different speed (Slow, Fast, and Medium). The program also includes an editor with insertion and …

The Bandwidth Allocation Of Atm Through Genetic Algorithm, Hong Pan

Theses

In this thesis, we develop an optimization method based on Genetic Algorithm to achieve the bandwidth allocation of ATM network. In Broadband Integrated Service Digital Network (BISDN), the Asynchronous Transfer Model (ATM) is already adopted as the transfer standard by CCITT. ATM is a high-bandwidth, low-delay, fast-packet switching and multiplexing technique. Using ATM technique, we can flexibly reconfigure the network and reassign the bandwidth to meet the requirement of all types of services. As an effective optimization method, Genetic Algorithm(GA) is applied to implement the bandwidth allocation of ATM. GA is a class of search algorithm based on the mechanics …

Anaerobic Biological Treatment Of Incinerator Ash To Immobilize Toxic Metal Residues, Uma Parasar

Theses

In this study, a reliable and inexpensive method for biologically immobilizing toxic heavy metal residues present in very high concentrations in incinerator ash was developed. Desulfovibrzo, a genus of sulfate-reducing bacteria was cultured and treated with combined ash under anaerobic conditions. The carbon source, lactate, and the electron acceptor, sulfate, were provided to the cultures for their normal growth. Since the sulfate reducers utilize organic matter using sulfate as the oxidizing agent, sulfides are the corresponding end products of the reaction. Ash was added to well established cultures of desu f ovibrio. Immobilization of the heavy metals in the ash …

Hot : A Timing Optimizer For Hierarchical Vlsi Circuits Using The Charge Conservation Delay Model, Yumei Quan

Theses

The primary benefits of VLSI chips are their high speed, small area, and lower power. These performance attributes are dependent on the quality of chip design. As a result, performance can be optimized by proper design decisions. One of the decisions in chip design is the selection of gate delays and/or transistor sizes (channel width of an MOS transistor).

To optimize the performance of VLSI chips, transistor delay models and optimization algorithms are very important since accurate analytical models for signal delay are essential to replace expensive device level simulation and the high efficient algorithms assist designers in developing high …

An Efficient Annealing Algorithm For Global Optimization In Boltzmann Machines, Rajendra Sarasakrishna

Theses

This thesis proposes a new annealing algorithm for Boltzmann Machines. This algorithm uses an Exponential Formula for temperature scheduling that produces remarkably better solutions for global optimization. The superiority of the new algorithm is shown by computer simulations of several examples on Boltzmann Machine and its variants. This is also shown to have better properties than algorithms like Generalized Simulated Annealing which possess somewhat similar dynamics.

Coexistence Of Three Pure And Simple Competitors In Four Interconnected Bioreactors, Ming Wu

Theses

It is known that a homogeneous environment having invariant inputs cannot allow for steady state coexistence of any number of pure and simple competitors. However, it has been proven that two pure and simple competitors can coexist at a steady state in two interconnected chemostats, if the conditions are such that they allow a different species to grow faster in each one of the two vessels. It has been also shown that three pure and simple competitors cannot coexist in three interconnected chemostats, even if the conditions are such that a different population could grow faster (have the competitive advantage) …

Investigations Of Substitution Of Bi And Tl For Rare Earth Elements In Superconducting Rba2cu3oy, Jian Tang

Theses

Substitution of some other elements for rare earth or yttrium in high-T_c superconducting RBa₂Cu₃O_y compounds (R = Y, Nd, etc.) may improve chemical and physical properties of the materials, shed light on the superconducting mechanism of the new materials, and help to find new superconducting materials with even higher transition temperatures.

Bi³⁺ and Tl³⁺ have been reported earlier to result in higher T_c's in the related layer-structure compounds. The effect of electronegativity on superconductivity could be studied if substitution of Bi or Tl for Y or other rare earth elements …

Fault Tolerant Clos Network, Preet Mohan S. Ahluwalia

Theses

Multistage interconnection networks, or MINs, provide paths between functional modules in multiprocessor systems. The MINs are usually segmented into several stages. Each stage connects inputs to appropriate links of the next stage so that the cumulative effect of all the stages satisfies input-output connection requirements.

This thesis deals with a fault tolerant Clos network. The fault tolerance technique involves addition of extra switches per stage to compensate for any switch failure The reliability analysis of both ordinary and fault tolerant Clos networks is presented. The optimal number of extra switches required to get the best reliability results has been analyzed.

Multiple Expert System, Umesh Kumar Mittal

Theses

In many domains, for example medical diagnosis, there are several sources of knowledge, e.g., several domain experts. These domain experts may have disagreements over some issues in the domain. Research in the area of human decision making suggests that a human decision is not always made based on the advice of a single expert. Many current expert systems, however, expect consistency in their knowledge bases. An expert system does not deliberate by reasoning that "on one hand..." but "on the other hand..." The knowledge engineer, who is not necessarily an expert in the same domain, ensures consistency by eliminating all …

Restaurant Meal Cost Trends In Five Of The Top 100 United States Business Travel Cities, Rebecca J. Englehart

Theses

Not listed.

Identifying Rural Touristic Preferences: A Case Of Orleans County, Rene Corene Rhodey

Theses

Not listed.

Food Marketing Distribution: A Pilot Study Of Ardmore Farms, Michele Ann Musella

Theses

Ardmore Farms is one product group that in part comprises the Food-service Division of Quaker Oats Company. They produce portion-controlled, USDA approved citrus and fruit juices. The juice is produced by one plant located in Deland, Florida. It is then shipped throughout the United States via a fleet of more than 120 refrigerated trucks. in fiscal year 1990 Ardmore experienced a financial crunch due to a freeze in Florida. To counteract the negative financial effects of the freeze, Ardmore hastily raised their orices. This aggravated the food-service operators resulting in a "fallout" of Ardmore's customer base. Also many regional juice …

A Descriptive Study On Trekking Attributes In Nepal Using Importance-Performance Analysis, Pasi Ryhanen

Theses

Since the opening of its doors to the outside world, Nepal has seen a large growth in tourist arrivals. One of the fast growing tourist markets attracted to Nepal is the trekking vacationers. In order for the suppliers and decision makers of the trekking product to be able to meet the demand of users it is important that they are able to target the development in the appropriate direction. A lack of communication among the components of the tourism industry has resulted in a lack of cooperation. The purpose of this study is to develop an instrument that enhances communication …

A Tourism Market/Rural Hub Analysis: The Case Of Genesee County, New York, Tammy L. Thompson

Theses

Tourism planning is essential for counties like Western New York's Genesee County. It provides the opportunity to maximize tourism potential, thereby increasing County revenues. This study analyzed tourism of Genesee County in 1990. Some of the major findings were the following: there was a strong market of tourism in Genesee County, not only coming from within New York State, but also surrounding states and Canada. There was also a strong tendency for visitors to go directly to the Northwest after their stay in the County. In general, the typical tourist to Genesee County was described by the following characteristics: was …

Breeding Biology Of The Black Storm-Petrel At Islas Los Coronados, Baja California, Mexico, William T. Everett

Theses

Twenty-nine visits to Middle Rock, Islas Los Coranados, were made between March 1989 and September 1990, including 10 overnight visits. Breeding phenology was studied, including timing of colony attendance by adult birds, timing of egg laying, hatching, and fledging. Over 200 birds were banded to determine nest site tenacity and pair bond retention. Details were recorded on nest site selection, interspecific competition, breeding success, chick growth and plumage development, adult morphometrics, molt, food items, vocalizations, and ectoparasites.

Employee Turnover: Housekeeping Department Of Rochester Hotels, Monica Nyamusa Tembi

Theses

This study was undertaken in order to ascertain the high rate of turnover and to find out the causes of turnover in the housekeeping department of Rochester hotels. The survey population was made up of housekeeping employees from 17 hotels. Information for the study was from responses to a four page questionnaire that was designed and later approved by the Rochester Hotel and Motel Association. Data gathered was computed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, (SPSS) . Statistics generated showed the response rates to each question. Responses were later used to do cross tabulations in order to find …