Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of Electroencephalography Based Brain Controlled Switch And Nerve Conduction Study Simulator Software, Kai Qian

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigated the development of an EEG-based brain controlled switch and the design of a software for nerve conduction study. For EEG-based brain controlled switch, we proposed a novel paradigm for an online brain-controlled switch based on Event-Related Synchronizations (ERDs) following external sync signals. Furthermore, the ERD feature was enhanced by 3 event-related moving averages and the performance was tested online. Subjects were instructed to perform an intended motor task following an external sync signal in order to turn on a virtual switch. Meanwhile, the beta-band (16-20Hz) relative ERD power (ERD in reverse value order) of a single EEG …

Development Of A Flexible Fpga-Based Platform For Flight Control System Research, Robert Demott

Theses and Dissertations

This work is part of ongoing research conducted at Virginia Commonwealth University relating to unmanned aerial vehicles. The primary objective of this thesis was to develop a flexible, high-performance autopilot platform in order to facilitate research on advanced flight control algorithms. A dual FPGA-based system architecture utilizing a stacked, multi-board design was created to meet this goal. Processing tasks were split between the two FPGA devices, allowing for improved system timing and increased throughput. A combination of analog and digital filtering techniques were employed in the new system, resulting in enhanced sensor accuracy and precision compared to the previous generation …

Global Dimension Of Ci: Compete Or Collaborate, Arden L. Bement Jr.

PPRI Digital Library

No abstract provided.

The Role Of The International Committee Of The Red Cross In Stability Operations, Laurent Colassis

International Law Studies

No abstract provided.

Legal Bases For Military Operations In Iraq, Raul A. "Pete" Pedrozo

International Law Studies

No abstract provided.

The "Fog Of Law": The Law Of Armed Conflict In Operation Iraqi Freedom, Marc Warren

International Law Studies

No abstract provided.

Concluding Observations: The Influence Of The Conflict In Iraq On International Law, Yoram Dinstein

International Law Studies

No abstract provided.

Flow Vision For Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Via An Artificial Lateral Line, Nam Nguyen, Douglas L. Jones, Yingchen Yang, Chang Liu

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Most fish have the capability of sensing flows and nearby movements even in dark or murky conditions by using the lateral line organs. This enables them to perform a variety of underwater activities, such as localizing prey, avoiding predators, navigating in narrow spaces, and schooling. To emulate this capability for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles, we developed an artificial lateral line using an array of Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) flow sensors. The signals collected via the artificial lateral line are then processed by an adaptive beamforming algorithm developed from Capon's method. The system produces 3D images of source locations for different hydrodynamic activities, including …

Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement Act Of 2010, United States 111th Congress

Native American Water Rights Settlement Project

Federal Legislation: Claims Resolution Act of 2010, Title V: Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement of 2010 (Sec. 501) Parties: Pueblo of Taos, NM, US, Town of Taos, El Prado Water & Sanitation District, Acequia Madre del Rio Lucero y del Arroyo Seco, Acequia Madre del Prado, Acequia del Monte, Acequia Madre del Rio Chiquito, Upper Ranchitos Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Assn, Upper Arroyo Hondo Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Assn, Llano Quemado Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Assn. Federal Legislation to approve, ratify, and confirm the Taos Pueblo Indian Water Rights Settlement; to authorize and direct the Secretary to execute the …

White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act Of 2010, United States 111th Congress

Native American Water Rights Settlement Project

Federal Legislation: Claims Settlement Act of 2010, TITLE III—White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification, PL111-291| 124 Stat 3064, 3073 (Dec. 8, 2010). Parties: White Mountain Apache Tribe, US, AZ. The Act ratifies, authorizes, and confirms the WMAT Water Rights Quantification settlement; authorizes the DOI Secretary to execute the and take all necessary action; to authorize appropriations; and, to permanently resolve certain damages and water rights in the general adjudication of the Gila River System and Little CO River System. The provides for: 1) environmental compliance; 2) tribal water rights; 3) CAP reallocation; 4) tribal leasing, distributing, exchanging or allocation …

Global Shipping Game '10, Doug Ducharme, Hank Brightman, Wargaming Department

Game Reports

During the period 8-9 December 2010, the United States Naval War College (NWC) in Newport, Rhode Island hosted the Global Shipping Game (GSG). The GSG was developed and executed at the direction of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). The purpose of the GSG was to explore strategic-level implications as a result of future changes in global shipping patterns. The CNO directed the NWC to develop a game that would explore changes in economic and trade patterns within the context of two future scenarios: expansion of the Panama Canal in 2020 and increased access of commercial shipping through the Arctic …

The Bates Student - Volume 140 Number 08 - December 7, 2010, Bates College

The Bates Student

No abstract provided.

In High Demand

News Releases

No abstract provided.

Laser Cutting Quality Control Of Melamine Using Artificial Neural Networks, Z. Mustafa, I. Amin, Y. Nukman, N. Haider, I. Haq

Research Publications (2006 to 2010)

Experimental analysis has been carried out to seek the optimum combination (cutting speed, laser power, assist pressure of air and standoff distance) of input controllable variables in the process of laser cutting in order to improve the laser cutting quality on non-metallic such as Urea formaldehyde (Melamine). Furthermore, the values of edge quality, kerf widths, percent overcut and material removal rate were measured for calculating quality. Taguchi method was used in experimental design using orthogonal array. The effect of input parameters on output quality variation was assessed by analysis of variance to determine the optimum combination of input. Artificial neural …

Unh Research Enhancing Patient Care With "Smart" Hospital Beds, Debra Williams

Media Relations

No abstract provided.

An Analytic Model Of Neutron Ambient Dose Equivalent And Equivalent Dose For Proton Radiotherapy, Rui Zhang, Angélica Pérez-Andújar, Jonas D. Fontenot, Phillip J. Taddei, Wayne D. Newhauser

Faculty Publications

Stray neutrons generated in passively scattered proton therapy are of concern because they increase the risk that a patient will develop a second cancer. Several investigations characterized stray neutrons in proton therapy using experimental measurements and Monte Carlo simulations, but capabilities of analytical methods to predict neutron exposures are less well developed. The goal of this study was to develop a new analytical model to calculate neutron ambient dose equivalent in air and equivalent dose in phantom based on Monte Carlo modeling of a passively scattered proton therapy unit. The accuracy of the new analytical model is superior to a …

Estimate Of The Uncertainties In The Relative Risk Of Secondary Malignant Neoplasms Following Proton Therapy And Intensity-Modulated Photon Therapy, Jonas D. Fontenot, Charles Bloch, David Followill, Uwe Titt, Wayne D. Newhauser

Faculty Publications

Theoretical calculations have shown that proton therapy can reduce the incidence of radiation-induced secondary malignant neoplasms (SMN) compared with photon therapy for patients with prostate cancer. However, the uncertainties associated with calculations of SMN risk had not been assessed. The objective of this study was to quantify the uncertainties in projected risks of secondary cancer following contemporary proton and photon radiotherapies for prostate cancer. We performed a rigorous propagation of errors and several sensitivity tests to estimate the uncertainty in the ratio of relative risk (RRR) due to the largest contributors to the uncertainty: the radiation weighting factor for neutrons, …

Assessment Of Targeting Accuracy Of A Low-Energy Stereotactic Radiosurgery Treatment For Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Phillip J. Taddei, Erik Chell, Steven Hansen, Michael Gertner, Wayne D. Newhauser

Faculty Publications

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in the United States, is a neovascular disease that may be controlled with radiation therapy. Early patient outcomes of external beam radiotherapy, however, have been mixed. Recently, a novel multimodality treatment was developed, comprising external beam radiotherapy and concomitant treatment with a vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor. The radiotherapy arm is performed by stereotactic radiosurgery, delivering a 16 Gy dose in the macula (clinical target volume, CTV) using three external low-energy x-ray fields while adequately sparing normal tissues. The purpose of our study was to test the sensitivity of the delivery …

Adjustment Of The Lateral And Longitudinal Size Of Scanned Proton Beam Spots Using A Pre-Absorber To Optimize Penumbrae And Delivery Efficiency, Uwe Titt, Dragan Mirkovic, Gabriel O. Sawakuchi, Luis A. Perles, Wayne D. Newhauser, Phillip J. Taddei, Radhe Mohan

Faculty Publications

In scanned-beam proton therapy, the beam spot properties, such as the lateral and longitudinal size and the minimum achievable range, are influenced by beam optics, scattering media and drift spaces in the treatment unit. Currently available spot scanning systems offer fewoptions for adjusting these properties. We investigated a method for adjusting the lateral and longitudinal spot size that utilizes downstream plastic pre-absorbers located near a water phantom. The spot size adjustment was characterized usingMonte Carlo simulations of a modified commercial scanned-beam treatment head. Our results revealed that the pre-absorbers can be used to reduce the lateral full width at half …

Methodology For Determining Doses To In-Field, Out-Of-Field And Partially In-Field Organs For Late Effects Studies In Photon Radiotherapy, Rebecca M. Howell, Sarah B. Scarboro, Phillip J. Taddei, Sunil Krishnan, Stephen F. Kry, Wayne D. Newhauser

Faculty Publications

An important but little examined aspect of radiation dosimetry studies involving organs outside the treatment field is how to assess dose to organs that are partially within a treatment field; this question is particularly important for studies intended to measure total absorbed dose in order to predict the risk of radiogenic late effects, such as second cancers. The purpose of this investigation was therefore to establish a method to categorize organs as in-field, out-of-field or partially in-field that would be applicable to both conventional and modern radiotherapy techniques. In this study, we defined guidelines to categorize the organs based on …

Risk Of Second Malignant Neoplasm Following Proton Versus Intensity-Modulated Photon Radiotherapies For Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Phillip J. Taddei, Rebecca M. Howell, Sunil Krishnan, Sarah B. Scarboro, Dragan Mirkovic, Wayne D. Newhauser

Faculty Publications

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the sixthmost common cancer in theworld, is a global health concern. Radiotherapy for HCC is uncommon, largely because of the likelihood of radiation-induced liver disease, an acute side effect that is often fatal. Proton beam therapy (PBT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)may offer HCC patients a better option for treating the diseased liver tissue while largely sparing the surrounding tissues, especially the nontumor liver. However, even advanced radiotherapies carry a risk of late effects, including second malignant neoplasms (SMNs). It is unclear whether PBT or IMRT confers less risk of an SMN than the other. The purpose …

Predicted Risks Of Second Malignant Neoplasm Incidence And Mortality Due To Secondary Neutrons In A Girl And Boy Receiving Proton Craniospinal Irradiation, Phillip J. Taddei, Anita Mahajan, Dragan Mirkovic, Rui Zhang, Annelise Giebeler, David Kornguth, Mark Harvey, Shiao Woo, Wayne D. Newhauser

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to compare the predicted risks of second malignant neoplasm (SMN) incidence and mortality from secondary neutrons for a 9-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy who received proton craniospinal irradiation (CSI). SMN incidence and mortality from neutrons were predicted from equivalent doses to radiosensitive organs for cranial, spinal and intracranial boost fields. Therapeutic proton absorbed dose and equivalent dose from neutrons were calculated using Monte Carlo simulations. Risks of SMN incidence and mortality in most organs and tissues were predicted by applying risks models from the National Research Council of the National Academies to the …

Flyer News, Vol. 58, No. 19 (Dec. 7, 2010), University Of Dayton

Flyer News

Student-run newspaper of the University of Dayton.

Hotline Press Newspaper- December 2010 Vol 28 No 26, Hotline Press Newspaper

Hotline Press Newspaper 2010

No abstract provided.

Scholarship In Action And The Public Mission Of Universities, Nancy Cantor

Chancellor's Collection

At key points in our nation’s history, we’ve turned to our colleges and universities to serve as engines for prosperity and agents of social mobility. This is such a moment. Times are hard, and we are called to help revive our economy and sustain our communities while opening our doors even wider to a whole generation of talented youth: the fast-growing population of students who will be the first in their families to go to college, the sons and daughters of newly immigrated families, veterans returning from post 9/11 conflicts, and the students who are now in often under-resourced inner-city …

Direct Patterning Of Silanized-Biomolecules On Semiconductor Surfaces, Dorjderem Nyamjav, Richard C. Holz

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

A novel approach to pattern silanized-biomolecules directly onto glass (SiO_x) substrates via Dip-Pen nanolithography (DPN) and microcontact printing (μCP) is presented. Subsequent hybridization reactions of DPN patterned silanized-DNA with its complementary strands provide “proof-of-concept” that the patterned oligonucleotides maintain their biological activities. The fabrication strategy does not require premodification of substrates and offers a cheap and robust way to immobilize molecules on electronically important semiconductor surfaces.

Backpack Relocator, Sebastian Mahler, Alec E. Beasley, Ramy Wassef, Vanja Kravarusic, Shawn Shoemaker

USF Patents

A device to help an individual with a disability carry his or her bag or storage unit on their wheelchair or other mobility device, without requiring a large space to deploy the storage and retrieval product. The invention consists of a set of arms, connected to a sliding mechanism along a track. When the user wishes to access his or her belongings, the bag slides from a storage position behind the wheelchair to a retrieval position perpendicular to the wheelchair's armrest. The deployment process is accomplished without rotating the entire mechanism around a central axis. Thus, the invention keeps the …

Is Leed A True Leader? Studying The Effectiveness Of Leed Certification In Encouraging Green Building, Megan M. Turner

Pomona Senior Theses

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (or LEED) is the most commonly used green building rating system in the United States, bestowing upon LEED certified buildings the prestige of being considered more sustainable than their non-certified neighbors. The public often assumes that LEED certified buildings are completely sustainable or even net-zero with regards to greenhouse gas emissions, but in actuality buildings certified under the most popular version of LEED are only required to be 15% more energy efficient than required by most state building codes – a far cry from the energy usage cuts needed to stave off global warming. …

Defining Teaching Excellence: A Phenomenological Study Of Seven Nationally Recognized Secondary Educators, Rosalee A. Swartz

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Change has been an integral part of the American education system since the 1830s (Lucas, 1999) when universities began preparing students to teach. Over the past 20 years, changes including federal mandates (Disabilities Education Act, 1990; No Child Left Behind, 2003) and increasing diversity in school populations require a responding sensitivity from classroom teachers. In the midst of challenges that these changes present, teachers are increasingly asked to do more.

Research shows that nearly 50 percent of new teachers leave within the first five years of teaching, citing issues such as lack of preparation and mentorship, working conditions, pay, and …

Investigation Of Spatial And Temporal Processes Of Lake–Aquifer Interactions In The Nebraska Sand Hills, John T. Ong

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Interaction between surface water and groundwater is an important component of the water cycle that affects the physicochemical and biological characteristics of lakes, streams, wetlands, and seacoasts. Due to the complex interaction of geologic, topographic, and hydrologic factors, flow between lakes and groundwater remains poorly understood. Evolution of conceptual models over the past 30 years describes processes of advection, dispersion, and free convection that occur in different lake flow regimes. Few detailed field studies document the validity of these conceptual models because of the difficulty of studying the subsurface and the prohibitive cost of instrumenting large areas. In the semi-arid …