Engineering Commons^™

Spatially Varying Threshold Models For The Automated Segmentation Of Radiodense Tissue In Digitized Mammograms, Richard Edson Eckert Iii

Theses and Dissertations

The percentage of radiodense (bright) tissue in a mammogram has been correlated to an increased risk of breast cancer. This thesis presents an automated method to quantify the amount of radiodense tissue found in a digitized mammogram. The algorithm employs a radial basis function neural network in order to segment the breast tissue region from the remainder of the X-ray. A spatially varying Neyman-Pearson threshold is used to calculate the percentage of radiodense tissue and compensate for the effects of tissue compression that occurs during a mammography procedure. Results demonstrating the efficacy of the technique are demonstrated by exercising the …

Piezoresistive Properties Of Ito Strain Sensors Prepared With Controlled Nanoporosity, Otto J. Gregory, Tao You

Chemical, Biomolecular, and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

A ceramic strain gage based on reactively sputtered indium-tinoxide (ITO) thin films is being developed to monitor the structural integrity of components employed in aerospace propulsion systems operating at temperatures in excess of 1500°C. The hightemperature stability and piezoresistive properties depend to a large extent on the thickness of the active ITO strain elements comprising these ceramic strain gages. Scanning electron microscopy of the thick ITO sensors revealed a partially sintered microstructure consisting of a contiguous network of submicrometer ITO particles with well-defined necks and isolated nanoporosity. It appeared that densification of the ITO particles was retarded during high-temperature exposure …

Multi-Sensor Data Fusion Using Geometric Transformations For The Nondestructive Evaluation Of Gas Transmission Pipelines, Philip James Kulick

Theses and Dissertations

Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) plays a vital component in the operation and maintenance of large infrastructure such as gas transmission pipelines, nuclear power plants, aircraft, bridges and highways, etc. As this infrastructure continues to age it is essential that the inspection techniques reliably and accurately predict the integrity of these systems. No single NDE method is capable of inspecting all types of anomalies and extracting all required information – a combination of methods must be used and the resulting data fused. Moreover, newer systems that are developed are often made of composite materials that include metals and dielectrics. One interrogation modality …

Hdl Implementation Of A Controller Area Network Node, Anthony Richard Marino

Theses and Dissertations

With increasing technology inside automobiles, especially law enforcement vehicles, there is a growing need for centralized wiring and device interconnection methods. Each new technology, such as GPS navigation units and in-vehicle video systems, includes a corresponding wiring harness that needs installation. The summation of all these hardwired technologies leads to large volumes of wire that negatively affect safety, power demands, and future design opportunities. A new trend among automotive manufacturers is to design and implement innovative networks that allow for shared communications between technologies.

This thesis presents the design, development, and implementation of an in-vehicle network that will centralize connections …

Evaluation Of The Flail Space Model Utilizing Event Data Recorder Technology, Douglas John Gabauer

Theses and Dissertations

Developed in the early 1980's, the flail space model has become the standard method for estimating occupant risk in full-scale crash tests involving roadside safety features. The widespread availability of airbags and increased seat belt usage rates in today's vehicle fleet, however, raise serious questions regarding the validity of the model. Recent implementation of Event Data Recorder (EDR) technology in a number of late model vehicles presents a different perspective on the assessment of the validity of occupant risk based on the flail space model. EDRs are capable of electronically recording data such as vehicle speed, brake status and throttle …

Salt Balance, Fresh Water Residence Time And Budget For Non-Conservative Materials For Makoba Bay During Wet Season, As Ngusaru, Aj Mmochi

Tanzania Journal of Science

Water and salt budgets suggest that in order to balance the inflow and outflow of water at Makoba bay, there is net flux of water from the bay to the open ocean during wet season. Residual salt fluxes between the bay and the open ocean indicate advective salt export. Exchange of water between the bay with the open ocean plays a role of replacing exported salt via mixing. Calculated freshwater residence time for the bay is 63 days during wet season. Budget results for non-conservative materials indicate net DIP flux from the ocean to the bay and a net DIN …

Development Of An Augmented Haptic Control For In-Vehicle Law Enforcement Applications, Edward R. Guest Iii

Theses and Dissertations

Typical police vehicles are filled with as much technology as the department can afford. Everything from the newest digital camera system to a simple entertainment radio is within the reach of an officer. Currently, most of these systems are installed without any consideration toward the other systems or the interaction required between the driver and the car. The lack of a systems approach in the installation has spawned a project to look at the safety and overall system installation in the New Jersey State Police vehicles.

The research presented in this thesis suggests consolidation of the various controls into one …

A Selection And Comparison Of Risk Assessment Methods And Models To Be Used For The International Ship And Port Facility Security Code, Fidel Eduardo Reyes Melendez

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Impacts Of Automatic Identification System On Collision Avoidance And The Need For Training, Junzhong Bao

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Integrated Model For Technology Assessment And Choice For Rural Development In Developing Countries, Abdallah Chungu

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Abstract

Evaluation Of Pollution Loading Into Msimbazi River By Rapid Assessment And Direct Measurement Methods, J. H. Y. Katima

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This paper assesses the suitability of Rapid Assessment (RA) methodology as a tool for making an environmental pollution inventory in data poor situation. The RA method was applied to estimate Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), nitrogen and phosphorous loading into the Msimbazi River in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. The Direct Measurement (DM) was done to validate the results obtained from RA. The methodology is based on estimating waste loads from function variables such as production rate, population, etc. and pollution intensities from domestic, industry and agricultural sources. The incorporation of penetration factors for waste loads reduction refines the assessment procedure. The …

Surface Titration Of Colloidal Alpha-Alumina, J. W. Ntalikwa

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The surface charge density (σ₀) of colloidal alumina (α-Al₂O₃) suspended in 1:1 electrolytes (NaCl, NaNO₃, CsCl and CsNO₃) at different electrolyte concentration (c₀) was determined using acid-base titration. The data were described in terms of the Triple Layer Model (TLM) of electric double layer. It was observed that the polarity of σ₀ could be varied through a point of zero charge (PZC) by varying the pH of the suspension. The PZCs were observed to occur at pH = 7.8 ± 0.1, 7.6 ± 0.2, 8.5 ± 0.1 and 8.3 ± 0.1 in NaCl, NaNO₃, CsCl and CsNO₃, respectively. It was …

Prediction Of The Response Of Rectangular Cladding Panels To Wind Loading In The Time Domain, Ambrose Shirima

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The analysis and subsequent design of cladding panels is traditionally based on quasi-static calculation of the wind loads. Pressure coefficients, which are derived from wind tunnel measurements and a design wind speed, are used to compute the wind loading. The codes of practice give the pressure coefficients and the guidelines of deriving the design wind speed from factors, which are specific to the site namely basic wind speed, topography, ground roughness and height above the ground. The concept of design wind speed is simple but it overlooks the resonant vibrations caused by the wind. The paper discusses a procedure for …

Centrifugal Extraction Of Avocado Oil From The Pulp, J. W. Ntalikwa

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Absract

Load Flow Solution For Three-Phase Mv Radial Distribution Connected Network Supplying Different Line Topologies, B. J. Kundy

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

In this paper, a load flow solution for the Medium Voltage (MV) three-phase radial distribution in delta-delta (Δ–Δ) connected network supplying different line topologies such as three phase, phase to phase and single-wire earth return (SWER) networks is presented. The general voltage related network equations are developed using Kirchhoff’s voltage and current laws. Development of a solution to the load flow analysis applying the developed general voltage related network equations is proposed in order to evaluate the network voltage profile. Various numbers of arrays are developed for the identification of the network under study. The proposed method is a new …

The Inclusion Behaviothe Inclusion Behavior Of Sodium Compounds In Sub-Micron Particles Formed During Coal Combustionr Of Sodium Compounds In Sub-Micron Particles Formed During Coal Combustion, Iddi Mkilaha

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

During combustion of coal, biomass and sewage sludge, metallic compounds especially alkali metals such as sodium and potassium vaporize and form fumes which are emitted with the exhaust gases. These fumes are corrosive to the turbine blades of power plants. To minimize corrosion, efforts have been made to control the condensation phase of these metals. In this study, the evolution and inclusion of sodium in sub-micron particles was investigated using a drop tube furnace and a low-pressure impactor (LPI). Four types of coal with different chemical properties were tested. The results suggest that a reaction-controlled mechanism and nucleation via chemical …

A System Thinking Approaching Maintenance, Production And Quality, E. A. M. Mjema

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The concepts of system thinking and its applicability in maintenance management was analysed in this article. The author analysed various maintenance policies, which have inclination to the concept of system thinking. The maintenance policies revisited include the Integration of Maintenance (IM), Total Quality Maintenance (TQMain), Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM). All these strategies are aimed at utilising effectively the maintenance personnel by giving some of the responsibilities of maintenance to production personnel. It was found that, although the founder of these techniques did not mention the concepts of system thinking in their methods, however, …

Simulation Of The Communication Process In A Pin Mill, Ambrose J. M. Itika

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Prediction of the performance of comminution equipment by mathematical models and simulation poses a great challenge to the chemical engineer. This paper describes the simulation of grinding results obtained using an impact mill. Single particle results have been used to generate breakage and selection coefficients that were used for the evaluation of the model. Results have shown that simulation model is in good agreement with the experimental data obtained at a circumferential speed above 60 m/s. At lower speeds, the models shows only partial agreement in the middle particle size ranges. The application of the model is therefore limited for …

Using Pedotransfer Functions To Predict Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity For Layered Soil Profiles A Case Study At The Sokoine University Of Agriculture Farm, Tanzania, M. K. Mulengera

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Saturated soil hydraulic conductivity (SHC), is useful for land resources management. But it is difficult, time consuming, and labour intensive to measure in the field. These problems can be overcome through the use of pedotransfer functions (PTFs), which relate the SHC to readily available soil physical, chemical, and biological parameters. The existing PTFs were developed in temperate countries using homogeneous core soil samples. Thus, these PTFs are not useful for tropical soils with different properties and for layered soil profiles. In this paper, field measured SHC values are related to representative profile soil properties (RSPSPs) that are determined using horizons’ …

Trailer Mounted Bursting Energy Absorption System, John D. Reid, John R. Rohde, Dean L. Sicking

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

A portable crash attenuation System having a trailer frame and an energy absorption mechanism attached thereto. The absorption mechanism has a first Stage pivotably connected to a Second Stage and the Second Stage is pivotably connected to the frame. By pivoting the Stages about hinges the attenuation System may be folded from an extended, deployed position or mode to a shortened transit mode for easy relocation of the entire attenuation System.

Solid-Like Dynamics In Ultrathin Films Of Polymeric Liquids, Gaurav Singh, Ravi F. Saraf, Yves Martin

Papers in Nanotechnology

In this letter, we demonstrate that, at mesoscales, nonferroelectric liquid films of polydimethyl siloxane. exhibit significant electrostriction not present in the corresponding bulk state. Remarkably, the observed electrostrictive effect has a response time ,20 ms in contrast to .5 ms recorded in conventional bulk ~ferroelectric polymers. The emergence of this fast electrostrictive strain in thin films is explained in terms of the amalgamation of two contrasting dynamic features—the influence of a highly mobile, viscous layer ~at the air/film interface. on the less-mobile, but fast responding, solid-like layer at the film/substrate interface. The effect is observed for thickness below 200 nm.

Wind Scatterometry With Improved Ambiguity Selection And Rain Modeling, David W. Draper

Theses and Dissertations

Although generally accurate, the quality of SeaWinds on QuikSCAT scatterometer ocean vector winds is compromised by certain natural phenomena and retrieval algorithm limitations. This dissertation addresses three main contributers to scatterometer estimate error: poor ambiguity selection, estimate uncertainty at low wind speeds, and rain corruption. A quality assurance (QA) analysis performed on SeaWinds data suggests that about 5% of SeaWinds data contain ambiguity selection errors and that scatterometer estimation error is correlated with low wind speeds and rain events.

Ambiguity selection errors are partly due to the "nudging" step (initialization from outside data). A sophisticated new non-nudging ambiguity selection approach …

Enhanced Practical Photosynthetic Co₂ Mitigation, David J. Bayless, Morgan Lefay Vis-Chiasson, Gregory G. Kremer

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This process is unique in photosynthetic carbon sequestration. An on-site biological sequestration system directly decreases the concentration of carbon-containing compounds in the emissions of fossil generation units. In this process, photosynthetic microbes are attached to a growth surface arranged in a containment chamber that is lit by solar photons. A harvesting system ensures maximum organism growth and rate of CO₂ uptake. Soluble carbon and nitrogen concentrations delivered to the cyanobacteria are enhanced, further increasing growth rate and carbon utilization.

Preliminary Report On December 22, 2003 San Simeon Earthquake, Rakesh K. Goel

Civil and Environmental Engineering

A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.5 ( M_w) struck the Central Coast of California at 11:15:56 AM PST (19:15:56 UTC) on Monday, December 22, 2003. The epicenter (Figure 1) was 11 km (7 mile) NE of San Simeon, at a depth of about 8 km (5 mile). Two people were killed and about 40 buildings collapsed or severely damaged at Paso Robles which is located about 39 km (24 mile) from the epicenter. At least 40 people were reported to be injured in the Paso Robles-Templeton area. This preliminary report presents basic information on the epicenter location, intensity …

Establishing A Quantitative Foundation For Exactly Constrained Design, Alisha M. Hammond

Theses and Dissertations

Exactly constrained (EC) design is a robust design method which can be used for mechanical assemblies. It entails using the minimum number of constraints to eliminate all desired motion.

While found by some engineers in industry to have many benefits (including robust assembly, no binding or play, ease of assembly, and the ability to tolerate the wear of parts), EC designs remain somewhat unrecognized by academia. One reason for this minimal exposure may be the lack of a quantitative foundation for such designs. This thesis describes the history and current background for EC designs, and it also begins to develop …

On The Generalized Borel Transform And Its Application To The Statistical Mechanics Of Macromolecules, Marcelo Marucho, Gustavo A. Carri

College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering

We present a new integral transform called the generalized Borel transform (GBT) and show how to use it to compute distribution functions used to describe the statistical mechanics of macromolecules. For this purpose, we choose the random flight model (RFM) of macromolecules and show that the application of the GBT to this model leads to the exact expression of the polymer propagator (two-point correlation function) from which all the statistical properties of the model can be obtained. We also discuss the mathematical simplicity of the GBT and its applicability to macromolecules with other topologies. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.

Selecting Appropriate Product Concepts For Manufacture In Developing Countries, Danielle Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

There is a noticeable lack of production of indigenously engineered and manufactured products in Less Developed Countries (LDC's). Few products developed in these LDC's could be viable in competitive markets or even sold as components and supplies to other manufacturers of competitive goods. Assumintg that these less developed countries do not innovate and manufacture because they cannot, the next logical question to ask is why can they not?

This thesis looks at the problems of manufacture and design in LDC's from the standpoint of Product Development. It begins by looking at development theories, namely top down and bottom up and …

Manufacturing Of Novel Continuous Nanocrystalline Ceramic Nanofibers With Superior Mechanical Properties, Yuris A. Dzenis, Ruqiang Feng, Gustavo F. Larsen, Joseph Turner, Xiao Cheng Zeng

Papers in Nanotechnology

This project is in the area of nanomanufacturing of advanced nanostructured materials. Nanostructured materials (NSMs) with unusual and extreme properties will play a key role in many emerging technologies. However, manufacturing of NSMs with the desired properties is highly complex and currently is over-reliant on empirical data. In this project, a novel manufacturing process producing a new class of ceramic materials, i.e. continuous ceramic nanofibers, is addressed. The novel sol-gel electrospinning technique (patents pending), invented recently by two of the PI’s (Dzenis and Larsen), produces ceramic fibers of submicron diameters with potentially extreme thermomechanical properties. This technique is being analyzed …

Method For Forming An Antenna And A Radio Frequency Transponder, Ravi F. Saraf

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Patents

A method is disclosed for forming an antenna and a radio frequency transponder. The method comprises the steps of (1) forming a paste comprising metal powder, polymeric material, and solvent; and (2) screening the paste through a screen onto a substrate. Additional steps couple electrical components to the paste and dry the paste.

Dec 2003, Tractor Museum

Lester F. Larsen Tractor Museum: Planning and Development Documents

Introductions Curator's Report Treasurer's Report