Digital Commons Network^™

Structured Document Comparison And Scientific Data Mining On The World Wide Web, Philip B. Johnson

Theses

The usefulness and accessibility of programs and systems have become important issues for users and researchers alike. A program's usefulness can lw measured by the frequency with which it is used. From the author's or maintainer's point of view, the frequency of usage can be determined by how often a request for the software is received. In the past, a user became aware of a particular tool through various means, and contacted the author or maintainer to obtain a copy of it. This presented difficulties, ranging from language barriers to machine incompatibilities to control of the use of the program. …

The Socio-Economic Role Of Crude Oil In The United States And Finland, Judith Deak Kallo

Theses

Running a company requires daily assessment of opportunities, risks and trends which involve socio-economic changes and scientific uncertainties. Technical-material resources play a major role in the uncertainty of corporate economics. Overproduction combined with increasing efficiencies have resulted in accelerated use and misuse of resources, accompanied by socio-ecological abuses related to wars and pollution. A significant current threat is global warming. As a result of this global challenge several companies have moved towards a more comprehensive environmental business management model. This is seen in corporate management initiating life cycle assessment and risk analysis of their products.

The socio-economic role of crude …

Modeling Of Deformed Swept Volumes With Sde And Its Applications To Nc Simulation And Verification, Feng Lu

Theses

Representation of swept volumes has important applications in NC simulation and verification as well as robot-motion planning. Most research on .the representation of swept volumes has been limited to rigid objects. In this study, a sweep deferential equation (SDE) approach is presented for the representation of deformed swept volumes generated by flexible objects.

The deformed swept volume analysis is integrated with machining physics to account for tool deformation/deflection for the NC simulation. End milling is modeled and analyzed and the tool deformations are calculated and integrated with the SDE program. A program is developed in C++ for the generation of …

Characteristics Of Recycled Plastics And Applications For Highway Appurtenances, Keith Macbain

Theses

Recycling is gaining widespread support in many communities as an environmentally acceptable solution to the management of solid waste. The success of these recycling programs depends largely on the development of high-value end use for the recycled products. This research involves an experimental and analytical study on the development of high-value, high-volume end uses for recycled plastic shapes. The experimental part includes material tests to determine mechanical properties of various recycled plastics. A constitutive model is proposed and verified that can be used in characterization of recycled plastics. Bending tests of recycled plastic beams were performed to assess strength, stiffness …

Multi-Lifecycle Assessment Of Cathode Ray Tubes, Devendra Jayant Badwe

Theses

Over the past few years environmental issues and concerns have become more and more important, as they become a common part of most people's personal experience. In these regards, the electronics industry is facing substantial problems in terms of end-of-life management of its products, televisions and monitors in particular. The building blocks of this industry are usually viewed as relatively "clean". However, manufacturing by-products of the electronics industry and the disposition of electronics are becoming increasingly important technical, financial, and environmental issues.

Within the context of the above issues, environmentally responsible disposal of Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT's), which is still …

Removal And Recovery Of Vocs And Oils From Surfactant-Flushed Recovered Water By Membrane Permeation, Ashish Nagnath Saraf

Theses

Surfactant-enhanced subsurface remediation appears to be capable of removing efficiently contaminants from the source area as well as the concentrated plume. Initial research was conducted on separate removal of trichloroethylene (TCE) and an oil. It was found that oil permeation and modified pervaporation are effective techniques of removing oil and TCE respectively from the simulated feed. It was found that the oil permeation technique can effectively remove 98-99% of oil from an oil-in-water emulsion. The subsurface-entrapped organic pollutants often have high boiling components along with the VOCs. A combined permeation technique is applied here to simultaneously remove TCE and n-dodecane …

Testing Statistical Significance In Sequence Classification Algorithms, Tom Tien-Hua Shih

Theses

Multiple sequence alignment has proven to be a successful method of representing and organizing of protein sequence data. It is crucial to medical researches on the structure and function of proteins.

There have been numerous tools published on how to abstract meaningful relationship from an unknown sequence and a set of known sequences. One study used a method for discovering active motifs in a set of related protein sequences. These are meaningful knowledge abstracted from the known protein database since most protein families are characterized by multiple local motifs. Another study abstracts knowledge regarding the input sequence using a preconstructed …

Soot Capture In An Electrocatalytic Reactor, Thana Slanvetpan

Theses

A major problem with many soot emission control devices is the fact that they quickly become loaded with soot which must be removed by a regeneration process. A soot capture reactor using a large flow channel was studied in order to eliminate channel plugging and avoid regeneration. Electrostatic precipitation was used in order to enhance particle diffusion to the catalyst wall of the reactor tube. The system effectiveness for soot capture was measured with filter paper sampling of the incoming versus the outgoing flow through the reactor. Soot filter loadings were analyzed by laser optical transmission. From the soot filter …

Mechanical Design Of An Experimental Parallel Robot, Philip Song

Theses

OSCAR, or Operational Space Controlled Adjustable Robot, is a parallel-actuated manipulator, also known as Stewart Platform or platform manipulator. The apparatus consists of two platforms (base and top) and six prismatic actuators in between. The main advantage of a platform manipulator is the fact that it can out-perform serial manipulators in both load capacity and precision. However, there are disadvantages and weaknesses such as limited mobility. A platform manipulator has reduced workspace compared to serial manipulators. The problem of limited workspace is solved by enabling OSCAR to change its prismatic leg positioning about the base platform.

During the course of …

Analysis Of The Protocol For The Handover In A Micro-Cell Packet Switched Mobile Network, Anna M. Thomas

Theses

The overlay of microcells over macrocells offers new opportunities and is cost effective, which makes the handover in such a micro-cellular environment an important issue. The objective of this study is to analyze and prove the truthfulness of a new protocol proposed, which guarantees no packet loss during the handoff. The study here emphasizes on the data integrity issue, since it is the key factor affecting the throughput performance of the transport layer. It is shown that usage of the Internet Protocol leads to packet loss in the presence of handover. Simulation results reveal that the proposed new protocol preserves …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Phosphosilicate Glass Films By Lpcvd For Sensor Application, Hui Wu

Theses

This study was dedicated to the synthesis of the thin film materials required to fabricate the waveguide and the reference arm barrier for integrated optical sensor. Phosphosilicate glass (PSG) thin films were synthesized on silicon and quartz wafers by LPCVD using Ditertiarybutylsilane(DTBS), Trimethylphosphite(TMP) and oxygen as precursors. The films were processed at different temperatures between 600°C and 700°C at a constant pressure, and at different flow rate of TMP.

The effect of TMP flow rate and deposition temperature on deposition parameters and the properties of PSG films were investigated. The films deposited were uniform, amorphous, low stress and the composition …

Algorithms And Tools For Splicing Junction Donor Recognition In Genomic Dna Sequences, Maisheng Yin

Theses

The consensus sequences at splicing junctions in genomic DNA are required for pre-mRNA breaking and rejoining which must be carried out precisely. Programs currently available for identification or prediction of transcribed sequences from within genomic DNA are far from being powerful enough to elucidate genomic structure completely[4]. In this research, we develop a degenerate pattern match algorithm for 5' splicing site (Donor Site) recognition.. Using the Motif models we developed, we can mine out the degenerate pattern information from the consensus splicing junction sequences. Our experimental results show that, this algorithm can correctly recognize 93% of the total donor sites …

Using Heart Variability To Measure The Effects Of Manual Medicine On Autonomic Activity, Michael Zullow

Theses

A pilot study was performed to test the theory that manual medicine techniques known as the CV4 (compression of fourth cerebral ventricle) maneuver and a sacral hold/iliac bridge hold combination increase parasympathetic activity. Manual medicine techniques are widely practiced by Doctors of Osteopathy and Chiropractors to treat physical and mental health problems. Those who have received manual therapy have reported to experience less pain, better mobility, and a greater feeling of relaxation. To help us learn about the effects of manual therapy, autonomic activity was measured scientifically rather than subjectively in this study by monitoring respiration rate and heart rate, …

Dreamscapes, Ingrid Mesa

Theses

The main purpose of this thesis is to experiment, investigate and incorporate different vehicles of visual communications, making them work together. The challenge is to work with the digital video medium, to create a video using the appropriate computer equipment and combining visual and sound effects which will complement and work to get her. The sound is going to be manipulated in such a way that will reflect and enhance the 2D visual imagery. This imagery will also be manipulated and animated using computer software in order to convey a message. Once the sound and the imagery are finalized, they …

Pervaporation-Assisted Esterification Of Salicylic Acid, Chaiya Chandavasu

Theses

The coupling of a pervaporation membrane unit with a reactor has been investigated as a means of improving the overall process efficiency. As model system, the esterification of salicylic acid with methanol in the presence of a homogeneous catalyst was studied in a unit consisting of a batch reactor externally coupled with a pervaporation module containing a composite poly(vinyl alcohol) membrane. The reaction was carried out at temperatures between 336 and 345 K. The catalyst was sulfuric acid at concentrations varying from 0.5 to 2.0 molar. Various initial molar ratios (Θ_B) of methanol and salicylic acid, ranging from …

Microstrip Zero-Sum Antenna; Cad And Experimental Study, Tuan H. Lam

Theses

A microstrip antenna array consisting of two elements combined with a stripline hybrid (rat-race) ring coupler is used to implement a zero-sum antenna. Numerical optimization of individual antenna elements in terms of feed location and patch size was achieved using IE3D (Zeland Software Inc., Fremont, CA), a fullwave 3-D planar electromagnetic simulation software. Further, design of a hybrid (rat-race) ring coupler in a stripline environment was carried out, yielding the sum and difference functions as 0.5 dB and 40 dB, respectively. A combination of a two-element antenna array and a hybrid (rat-race) ring coupler as a zero sum antenna has …

Determination Of Effects Of Stress On Polymeric Ankle-Foot Due To Weight Change: Experimental Stress Analysis, Lin Yu Wang

Theses

Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFOs) are devices that assist patients who sustained an abnormal motion at the ankle joint of the foot due to traumatic injury and stroke, etc. The objective of this project is to determine the stress patterns in AFOs under different loading conditions such as weights and genders. Thus, the location of failure can be predicted, and a redesign process can be developed. Furthermore, those experimental results will be used to verify the results obtained from the previous Finite Element Analysis (FEA) ^[11,10]. Results from the experiment showed a significant stress change due to load change. This stress …

Cycle, Suzanne Kaplan

Theses

Not Included

Zero, Charles Wilson

Theses

None provided.

A Comparison Of Developmental Gains For Preschool Children With Disabilities In Integrated And Self-Contained Classrooms, Annette Holahan

Theses

The effects of classroom integration on the developmental and social growth of preschool children with disabilities was investigated on 15 pairs of children (n=30) matched for chronological age, sex, initial level of functioning, related services received, and attendance schedules. Progress was measured using the Brigance Diagnostic Inventory of Early Development. Results indicate that children functioning at a lower level of social and emotional functioning perform equally well in integrated and segregated settings while children functioning at a relatively higher level performed better in integrated settings than in segregated settings. No significant differences were found between the integrated and segregated groups …

A Directorial Approach: Victor Gialanella's Adaptation Of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Tina L. Groghan

Theses

No abstract provided.

In-Scene Atmospheric Correction For Multispectral Imagery, Paul Barnes

Theses

In-scene techniques for atmospheric correction of remotely sensed multispectral imagery have been collected and applied to a series of image sets. The methods used rely on image derived statistics and a minimal use of ancillary data. Five different schemes for estimating upwelled radiance are presented. Upwelled radiance predictions are compared to estimates derived from reflectance panel calibrations and the radiative transfer model LOWTRAN. Inversion to reflectance space is performed with an in-scene technique that draws upon knowledge of surface material reflectance spectra and the upwelled radiance estimates generated by accompanying techniques. This research attempts to answer the following questions: What …

Sticker Land: Interactive Educational Game, Ji-Yoon Kim

Theses

None provided.

Animal Game, Suzana Fonseca

Theses

None provided.

Water As A Matter For Human Emotions, Ho-Jeong Jeong

Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the plastic image of water as the metaphor for specific human emotions. Given its fluid nature, water itself does not have its own particular form of existence. However, influenced by the external environment, water creates various forms that suggest specific human emotion. These forms are created by forces of nature. I intend to create sculpture of the motion of water that evokes human emotion. The format for the idea is sculpture that consists of structural, repetitive and organized modules. I exploit the repetitive and sequential use of forms that provide an immediate …

Segmentation Of Patient Motion From Other Mri System Instabilities, Wayne Prentice

Theses

Patient motion causes the same image artifacts or ghosting patterns as system instabilities cause in Magnetic Resonance images (MRI). Misinterpreting a patient-motion- induced artifact as a system instability can cause unnecessary system downtime and expense while a field engineer searches for a non-existent system problem. Although the images may look the same, the original sampled data is different and can be used to determine the cause of the image artifacts. The process for segmentation is to detect the existing instabilities and bulk motion vectors within the sampled frequency-space complex data. Because the imaged object is real, the frequency-space sampled data …

Characterization Of Feedback Sustained Pulsation For Wdm-Scm Networks, David Sackett

Theses

Most continuous wave laser diodes display varying degrees of self-sustained pulsation (SSP). This pulsation is due to an inhomogeneous cavity. Most SSP investigations have focused on 780 ran laser diodes. In general, SSP is considered a source of high frequency noise. SSP has, however, been used as a subcarrier for multiplexing. This thesis examines SSP characteristics in 1300 nm laser diodes. A 1300 nm SSP laser diode can be used to create a Subcarrier Multiplexing (SCM) Network. The 1300 and 780 nm SCM networks can be fiber spliced to create a Wavelength Division Multiplexing SCM network (WDM-SCM). The SSP laser …

System Identification And Control Of A 3d Truss Structure Using Plid And Lqg, Phillip Vallone

Theses

This thesis deals with the experimental application of a system identification tech nique called pseudo-linear identification (PLID). PLID is a discrete-time, multi-input, multi-output (MEMO), state space, simultaneous parameter estimator and one step ahead state predictor of linear time invariant systems. No measurements are assumed perfect under PLED; that is the inputs and outputs are allowed to have zero mean white gaussian (ZMWG) additive noise. Furthermore, the states are also assumed to have additive ZMWG noise. Like most system identification techniques, PLED requires the system to be completely controllable and observable under the given actuator and sensor suite. The only firm …

The Design And Modeling Of Input And Output Modules For An Atm Network Switch, Darin Murphy

Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to design, model, and simulate both an input and an output module for an ATM network switch. These devices are used to interface an ATM switch with the physical protocol that is transporting data along the actual transmission medium. The I/O modules have been designed specifically to interface with the Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) protocol. This thesis studies the ATM protocol and examines the issues involved with designing an ATM I/O module chipset. A model of the design was then implemented in both C++ and \TTDL. These models were simulated in order to verify …

Sensori-Neural Deafness And The Cochlear Implant, Margaret Pence

Theses

None provided.