Engineering Commons^™

Autonomic Nervous System Evaluation Using Time-Frequency Analysis, Sanjay Fernando

Theses

Spectral analysis of heartrate variability (HRV) provided an estimate of the sympathetic and parasympatheticinfluences on heart rate without drugs or other invasive procedures.However, there are many situations where heart rate changed rapidlyover time and the control of those changes was of considerable interest.Time-frequency analysis was utilized to expand the concept of spectralanalysis of HRV to describe changes in vagal tone and sympatho-vagalbalance as a function of time. As a result the assessment of the autonomicnervous system during rapid changes in heart rate was made.

There were three advantagesto calculating vagal tone and sympatho-vagal balance by using timefrequencyanalysis. First, vagal tone …

Cebus Demonstration System, Liang-Chuang Chen

Theses

A CEBus demonstration system is constructed and applied to aspects of home automation security. Two M68HC16Z1 evaluation boards are used as CEBus nodes. Two CEBus spread spectrum power line modems (SSC PLCEMS) interconnect the nodes. An SSC PLCEMS handles all spread spectrum signal generation and reception.

The application programs in the two boards are written in assembly language based upon CAL (Common Application Language), a CEBus standard.

The standard CEBus frame format and FCS (Frame Check Sequence) are implemented by software in the Data Link Layer. Encoding and decoding binary information into UST format are implemented in the Physical Layer. …

Processor Allocation For Partitionable Multiprocessor Systems, Nicholaos C. Antoniou

Theses

The processor allocation problem in an n-dimensional hypercube multipro-cessor is similar to the conventional memory allocation problem. The main objective is to maximize the utilization of available resources as well as minimize the inherent system fragmentation. In this thesis, a new processor allocation strategy is proposed, and compared with the existing strategies, such as, the Buddy strategy, the Single Gray Code strategy (SGC), the Multiple Gray Code (MGC), and the Maximal Set of Subcubes (MSS). We will show that our proposed processor allocation strategy outperforms the existing strategies, by having the advantage of being able to allocate unused processors to …

An Adaptive Correlator Receiver For Combined Suppression Of Co-Channel Interference And Narrow-Band Jammers In A Slowly Fading Channel, Raymond Carbone

Theses

This work deals with the adaptive correlation of a direct sequence spread spectrum signal in the presence of narrow-band, multipath and multiple user interference. The Least Mean Square and Recursive Least Square algorithms are employed for the adaptive convergence of the correlator receiver to minimize the mean squared error.

The performance of the adaptive correlator is compared with the matched filter correlator receiver and the conventional prediction filter for the suppression of narrow-band interference by calculating the bit error probability rate. The adaptive correlator is also compared with the RAKE receiver for multipath suppression and compared to the decorelating detector …

Passive Radiosonde Transducer Design For Remote Pressure Sensing Applications, Yang Gao

Theses

Intracranial pressure can be measured to accuracies within 1 milliTorr using passive microtransponders that are micromachined using silicon as a base technology. These microtransponders can operate with either a dual-oscillator or a phase-locked loop frequency scanned control system.

The current work describes the design of a totally implantable microsensor for biomedical applications with the aim to monitor and measure the epidural intracranial pressure . The implanting microsensor is basically an RLC device in which capacitance varies with fluid pressure. The resonant frequency of RLC Series connected device varies with chemically etched diaphragm electrode spacing and thereby measures the variations with …

Control Of Smart Structure Using Adaptive Dither, Tian Hong

Theses

In this thesis, a mathematical model of a piezoelectric stack actuator is presented to describe its voltage versus displacement hysteresis characteristices. This model can accommodate a wide range of piezoelectric materials, including the PZT (lead zirconate-lead titanate) type which is most popular in industrial applications.

Besides describing the conventional "single-loop" hysteresis, this model also accounts for the off-axis minor loops by augmenting the algorithm with loop indexing.

It is shown that the PZT hysteresis possesses certain "weak scalability" that enables the use of spectral analysis to measure the level of nonlinearity.

After a suitable mathematical model has been obtained, a …

Influences Of Cardiac And Respiratory Parameters On Heart Rate Variability, Melissa Leifer

Theses

Heart rate variability is a result of variation in the activity of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Methods have been developed to determine the level of parasympathetic activity by observing the heart rate variability spectrum. Most of the previously published research uses only level of parasympathetic activity and respiratory rate to draw conclusions about the interactions of the autonomic nervous system with physiological parameters. In order to gain a complete understanding of the autonomic nervous system and the mechanisms responsible for heart rate variability, respiratory volume, cardiac variables and pulmonary variables need to be considered. In addition, amount of …

Data Broadcasting And Reduction, Prefix Computation, And Sorting On Reduced Hypercube (Rh) Parallel Computers, Arup Mukherjee

Theses

The binary hypercube parallel computer has been very popular due to its rich interconnection structure and small average internode distance which allow the efficient embedding of frequently used topologies. Communication patterns of many parallel algorithms also match the hypercube topology. The hypercube has high VLSI complexity. however. due to the logarithmic increase in the number of connections to each node with the increase in the number of dimensions of the hypercube. The reduced hypercube (RH) interconnection network. which is obtained by a uniform reduction in the number of links for each hypercube node. yields lower-complexity interconnection networks when compared to …

Integration Of Surfactants And Time Release Nutrients With Pneumatic Fracturing Process, Atiqur Md. Rahman

Theses

The objective of this laboratory study was the development of two novel improvements to the pneumatic fracturing process which would extend its present application. The first involved use of surfactant during pneumatic injection, and the second was subsurface injection of "time-release" dry nutrient pellets for enhancement of in situ biodegradation.

Bench scale tests demonstrated that pneumatic fracturing can be successfully performed with air containing a surfactant solution (foam fracturing). The results showed that foam fracturing followed by increased the rate of surrogate contaminant removal from 8% to 10% compared with regular pneumatic fracturing. These increases were attributed to enlarged fracture …

The Influence Of Hydrodynamics And Particle Size On The Rejection Properties Of Ultrafiltration Membranes, Usama M. Shahin

Theses

A mathematical model based on the flow hydrodynamics is developed to calculate the treatment efficiency of ultrafiltration process. This model relates the treatment efficiency with the consideration of both fixed parameters and variable parameters. The fixed parameters are function of the intrinsic rejection coefficient, diffusion coefficient, and viscosity whereas the variable parameters can be related to the fluid velocity, volume flux, and cartridge dimensions. The model has been examined by solutions with solutes that have different molecular weights. The experimental data fits the proposed mathematical model very closely suggesting its suitability to evaluate the rejection efficiency in ultrafiltration. As such …

Artificial Dielectric Materials : Synthesis And Optical Characterization Of Small Metal Clusters Embedded In Polymeric Matrix, Nazneen Karim Shilpee

Theses

This study is concerned with the fabrication of films made of gold, nickel, and silicon clusters dispersed in a polymeric matrix. The films were fabricated by use of metal or semiconductor sputtering and plasma polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate monomer in a capacitively coupled RF (13.56 MHz) sputtering system. Optical transmittance and optical reflectance were measured as a function of wavelength. The optical absorption of metal or silicon clusters was studied as a function of cluster size. Cluster size and content were determined from Transmission Electron Micrographs (TEM). The absorption band resulting from a plasma resonance in the clusters was found …

Cervical Spine Bone Anchoring System Csbas Pullout Testing And Comparisons, Konstantin Caploon

Theses

The purpose of this study is to prove the effectiveness of the newly designed and patented Cervical Spine Bone Anchoring System (CSBAS). It is a posterior fixation device intended to be used with spine bone-plate systems. Its purposes are to substitute for conventional bone screws, significantly decrease the neurological and vascular risks associated with screws, and have comparable bone purchase strength.

Three CSBAS sizes (10mm, 12mm, and 14mm) were compared to four conventional bone screws in six human cadaveric cervical spines (C2-C7). Post-implantation axial pullout tests of each device using an MTS servohydraulic testing machine yielded bone purchase strength.

In …

Dynamic Friction Measurement, Atif Aly

Theses

The friction force between two bodies sliding at constant relative velocity is a function of their relative velocity. Under conditions of time-variable relative velocity, the instantaneous friction is a function not only of the instantaneous velocity but also the velocity history. An understanding of the resulting dynamic friction function will allow for the design of control systems where velocity is time-varying, oscillatory andoften contained in a relatively small region centered around zero amplitude. Within the control system, a portion of the control force can be implemented to effectively counteract the friction present and allow for precise motion control.

In this …

Processing, Structural And Electrical Properties Of Sic, Mark Farhad-Garousi

Theses

Cubic silicon carbide films grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on silicon substrates typically have n-type conductivity at 300 °K dominated by a heavily compensated donor with a binding energy in the < 20 meV range. Binding energies <20 meV are not expected in SiC for isolated donors because the shallowest expected binding energy for an electron bound to an isolated donor is approximately 47 meV. The work done on this topic by a few group of scientists has been studied.

Performance Analysis Of The "Fiber Distributed Data Interface (Fddi) Network" Using Petri Nets And Spnp Software Package, Savvas Eteoclis Christodoulou

Theses

The main purpose of this thesis is to model a "Fiber Distributed Data Interface" (FDDI) Network using Petri Nets, and to analyze its performance with the help of the SPNP software package. The verification of a communication protocol, by modeling it as a discrete-event system using Petri Nets is a new approach.

The correlation between the throughput rate, voice and data throughput, and the parameters of the system, such as the network load and the network speed are investigated. An overview of the "Fiber Distributed Data Interface" is provided, along with its network protocol and the limitations of its operating …

Narrow-Band Interference Rejection In Spread Spectrum Using An Eigen Analysis Based Approach, Aparna Vadhri

Theses

A new adaptive technique is suggested for rejecting narrow-band interferences in spread spectrum communications. When data is coded using a pseudo-noise code, the received signal consists of a wide-band signal with almost white spectral properties, thermal noise, and correlated narrow-band interferences. A new approach is proposed which exploits the statistical properties of the received signal via eigenanalysis of the received data. While the energy of the wide-band signal is distributed over all the eigenvalues of the signal autocorrelation matrix, the energy of the interference is concentrated in a few large eigenvalues. Hence, the eigenvectors corresponding to the large eigenvalues are …

Derivation Of Respiration From Electrocardiogram During Heart Rate Variability Studies, Lingeng Zhao

Theses

A method was developed to derive the respiration signal from the ECG signal based on the observation that the body-surface ECG is influenced by electrode motion relative to the heart and that fluctuations in the mean cardiac electrical axis accompany respiration. S-Plus programs were developed to calculate the changes in the value of the mean cardiac electrical axis during respiration from a two lead ECG signal and to generate a continuous ECG-derived respiratory signal from the angle information.

Data were taken from 9 healthy subjects during rest, paced breathing and exercise. The respiration was derived from the recorded ECG signals. …

Programmable Microstrip Dipole Antenna Design, Jing Zhu

Theses

The narrow bandwidth of microstrip dipole antennas is a major limitation for many applications. A method to increase the microstrip dipole antenna bandwidth is illustrated in this thesis. The proposed method utilizes micromechanical actuators to adjust the electrical length of the dipole antenna. The length change is realized by the activities of several microactuators arranged on both arms of the antenna. The radiation pattern and input impedance, as well as the microactuator mechanisms are detailed in this thesis. A programmable microstrip dipole antenna including the microactuators has been designed with the feedline taken into consideration. The fabrication techniques for this …

Multi-Disk Subsystem Organizations For Very Large Databases, Zhiyi Huang

Theses

This thesis investigates efficient mappings of very large databases with non-uniform access to its data. to a. multi-disk subsystem.

Two algorithms are developed to distribute the database across multiple disks, possibly with replication, in order to minimize latency and maximize throughput. These algorithms are compared with respect to the amount of replication overhead incurred to achieve desired throughput.

A simulator is developed to simulate these two mapping algorithms and investigate the efficiency of these two mappings.

An Integrated Approach To Implement Iso 9000 Series Standards To United States Manufacturing Industry, Jatin N. Amin

Theses

Implementation of ISO 9000 series quality system standards to the U.S. manufacturing industry is discussed by developing a generic model for implementation. In recent past, quality became a prime performance issue to formulate strategy to improve market share and profit for U.S. manufacturing industry. Many companies seeks for ISO 9000 registration. Manufacturing industry and other industries as well, are facing numerous problems in implementing ISO 9000 quality system standards. At present, about 400 U.S. companies have gained certification under this standard.

In this work an attempt has been made, to highlight problems which are most likely to be critical to …

Characterization Of Lightning Induced Voltages On Overhead Power Lines, Wen-Ta Hsiao

Theses

The transient voltage surge caused by lightning is the major source contributed to the disturbance on power systems. The calculation of induced voltages, which is the propagated voltage surge on overhead power lines due to indirect lightning strokes, has been the subject of theoretical and experimental studies. The objective of this research is to develop a comprehensive numerical method to study the induced voltages on an overhead power line caused by a lightning return stroke with arbitrary shapes, for examples inclined lightning, zigzag lightning, etc.

A finite-length lightning channel of any direction in 3-D space has been modelled and closed-form …

3-D Reconstruction And Morphological Analysis Of Normal Rectum, Saritha Sundaresan

Theses

There is no documentation of the 3-D dimensions of normal rectum. We present a method for the architectural and volumetric analysis of the rectum which makes use of a computerized 3-D reconstruction and CT scans of cross-sections of the rectum. The technique is simple, fast, yet potentially reliable. An attempt has been made to calculate the volume, area and average diameter of non-distended rectums (normal). Once we can standardize the technique, then we can study dimensions of the rectum in adult males and females. This thesis constitutes a unified presentation of the essential aspects of the method used in this …

Simulation Analysis Of Fddi Network Using Network Ii.5 Software Package, Anastassis A. Lazarides

Theses

In recent years, one of the most exciting advances in media has been the use of fiber optics in LANs. The bandwidth provided by Fiber Optic Technology has drastically increased the number of new applications that can be supported by communication networks. In order to support a variety of services, in 1986, the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) X3, and the ASC X3T9.5 Task Group developed a new standard; the Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) [1]. This is a high speed (100 Mbps) optical communication network based on a token passing mode of operation. The Medium …

A Novel Beam-Assisted Thickness Measurement Technique For Nanostructures, Luis Manual Casas

Theses

A novel method for measuring thickness of thin films has been developed. This method is straightforward, quickly accomplished, and offers resolution of device layers approaching that given by transmission electron microscopy. Ion beam bombardment of a multi-layer structure forms a crater in which the crater sidewalls are beveled at a very shallow angle, revealing various layers within the sample at a high degree of magnification. Beveled film thicknesses are measured by scanning Auger electron spectroscopy. Depth profilometry is used to measure the shallow beveling angle. Through knowledge of the beveled layer thickness and the bevel angle, actual film thicknesses are …

Kinematic And Kinetic Analysis Of Geneva Mechanisms And Their Applications To Synchronization Of Motion, Bijan Sepahpour

Theses

Geneva mechanisms have been used for generating intermittent motion for use in indexing and packaging operations. Due to their popularity, cost effectiveness and diversified applications in industry, it is desirable to optimize their design.

Optimization techniques and modifications have been developed to provide long life, trouble-free high-speed indexing and intermittent motion while minimizing the undesirable inherent dynamic characteristics of this class of mechanisms.

A general information base of the motion characteristics and types of geneva mechanisms available has been established. Development of the full spectrum of the required equations, generation of the normalized values of critical design parameters along with …

A Study Of The Biofiltration Process Under Shock-Loading Conditions, Helen Androutsopoulou

Theses

Biofiltration is a new technology for treating airstreams contaminated with emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It employs porous particles which are placed in reactors, in packed-bed configurations, after appropriate microorganisms have been immobilized on the solid support.

Biofiltration involves complex processes, and is not yet well understood. In this thesis the response of biofilter units to quantitative and qualitative changes in the inlet airstreams was examined. Steady state data were also analyzed through the use of an existing detailed model.

Experiments were performed with two small-scale biofilters, and with ethanol and butanol as model compounds. Each biofilter was dedicated …

An Interactive Computer Graphics Based Off-Line Avail Programming Environment For Coordinate Measuring Machines, Nayanesh B. Bhandutia

Theses

Productivity can be increased by providing computer aided off-line program development environment to operate direct computer controlled Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM). Such an environment not only results in reduced operational downtime of the CMM but also eliminates the need for the operators to learn and debug the complicated CMM programming language.

An application software was developed to provide a computer based graphical environment for on-the-screen CMM inspection simulation and AVAIL part program development. A comprehensive, menu driven front-end was developed as a foundation for this software. Algorithms were designed and coded to read and interpret CAD software part design information …

Deterministic And Adaptive Routing Algorithms For Mesh-Connected Computers, Yikui Cai

Theses

The two-dimensional mesh topology has been widely used in many multicomputer systems, such as the AMETEK Series 2010, Illiac IV, MPP, DAP, MasPar MP-1 and Intel Paragon. Its major advantages are its excellent scalability and simplicity. New generation multicomputer uses a switching technique called wormhole routing. The essential idea of wormhole routing is to advance a packet directly from incoming to outgoing channel without sorting it, as soon as enough information has been received in the packet header to select the outgoing channel. It has advantages of low latency and low error rate. The problems addressed by this thesis are …

Remediation Of Contaminated Sites Using Hot Gas Injection, Sanjay Jayabal

Theses

Remediation of contaminated subsurface sites at lower cost and time than currently used technologies are being demonstrated for a systems concept using new technology developed at the Hazardous Substance Management Research Center at New Jersey Institute of Technology. A technique for pneumatic fracture is employed to "open" subsurface passages to enhance vacuum extraction of contaminants. Economical and environmentally sound destruction of these contaminants is then accomplished using catalytic oxidation followed by scrubbing to remove air pollutants. The hot gas from this phase of the process is then injected into the subsurface formation after being used to preheat the fuel/air mixture …

Fast Adaptive Algorithms For Signal Separation, Robert A. Manzo

Theses

LMS and RLS type algorithms are suggested for decorrelation of multi-channel systems outputs. These algorithms act as signal separators when applied to unknown linear combinations of the inputs. The performance of the suggested algorithms is compared with that of the conventional LMS and RLS algorithms that minimize the mean square error. It. is shown that the correlation matrix eigenvalue spread associated with the LMS decorrelator is always smaller than the eigenvalue spread corresponding to the conventional LMS. resulting in faster convergence speed for the decorrelator. A new RLS type decorrelator algorithm is suggested. The RLS decorrelator is shown to be …