Engineering Commons^™

Substrate-Mediated Gene Delivery For Assessment Of Signal Transduction Pathways In Cancer Cells, Angela K. Pannier, Zain Bengali, Eric A. Ariazi, V. Craig Jordan, Lonnie D Shea

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

Gene delivery has the potential to be used in diagnostic applications, specifically to investigate cellular signal transduction pathways responsible for disease. Analysis of multiple pathways or genes in a parallel format can be achieved using a transfected cell array, a high throughput approach to correlate gene expression with functional cell responses, based on gene delivery from a substrate that supports cell adhesion. Substrate-mediated gene delivery functions by self-assembling DNA with nonviral vectors, resulting in positively charged complexes that can interact with a biomaterial or substrate. Cells cultured on the substrate are exposed to elevated DNA concentrations within the local microenvironment, …

Laurance Lake Temperature Model, Chris Berger, Scott A. Wells, Robert Leslie Annear

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Laurance Lake is a reservoir located in Hood River County, Oregon (Figure 1). It is located at the base on Mt. Hood in Oregon (see Figure 2 and Figure 3), discharges into the Middle Fork of the Hood River. The reservoir was constructed in 1968 for irrigation storage and has a capacity 3564 acre- feet at full pool. Since the river vio lates temperature standards, this study has been designed to construct a hydrodynamic and temperature model of Laurance reservoir in order to assess strategies for improving temperatures in the Middle Fork River.

The objectives of the study are then …

The Navigation Potential Of Signals Of Opportunity-Based Time Difference Of Arrival Measurements, Kenneth A. Fisher

Theses and Dissertations

This research introduces the concept of navigation potential, NP, to quantify the intrinsic ability to navigate using a given signal. NP theory is a new, information theory-like concept that provides a theoretical performance limit on estimating navigation parameters from a received signal that is modeled through a stochastic mapping of the transmitted signal and measurement noise. NP theory is applied to SOP-based TDOA systems in general as well as for the Gaussian case. Furthermore, the NP is found for a received signal consisting of the transmitted signal, multiple delayed and attenuated replicas of the transmitted signal, and measurement noise. Multipath-based …

High-Temperature Ferromagnetism In Transition Metal Implanted Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors, Jeremy A. Raley

Theses and Dissertations

Material with both semiconductor and magnetic properties, which is commonly called a dilute magnetic semiconductor (DMS), will prove most useful in the fabrication of spintronic devices. In order to produce a DMS at above room temperature, transition metals (TMs) were implanted into host semiconductors of p-GaN, Al_0.35Ga_0.65N, or ZnO. Magnetic hysteresis measurements using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer show that some of the material combinations clearly exhibit ferromagnetism above room temperature. The most promising materials for creating spintronic devices using ion implantation are p-GaN:Mn, Al_0.35Ga_0.65N:Cr, and Fe-implanted ZnO nanotips on …

Drag Estimates For The Joined-Wing Sensor Craft, Ryan L. Craft

Theses and Dissertations

This research studied the drag effects of the joined-wing sensor craft technology demonstrator being developed at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Although many performance parameters have been studied and evaluated for this vehicle, to date no detailed drag estimates have been conducted for the AFRL configuration. Previous performance parameters of the aircraft have been estimated based solely on a constant lift-to-drag ratio assumption. Using the Air Vehicles Technology Integration Environment created by Dr. Maxwell Blair, and supplemented by MATLAB code, this study explored three different drag prediction methods to determine accurate estimates of both parasite and induced drag. The …

An Investigation Of Starting Techniques For Inward Turning Inlets At Flight Speeds Below The On-Design Mach Number, John D. Mack

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to create and investigate starting techniques aimed at allowing complex, three-dimensional, inward-turning inlets to start by swallowing the shock wave associated with unstarted inlets. The techniques are rooted in supersonic diffuser theory and the Kantrowitz limit; they attempt to alleviate the over contraction that occurs in inward-turning inlets at flight speeds below the on-design Mach number. Five cases, three geometries at two flow conditions and the base non-modified inlet at the two flow conditions, were generated, and all were numerically simulated using a commercially produced numerical solver: CFD++. The simulations were computed using the …

Study Of Magnetogasdynamic Flow Acceleration In A Scramjet Nozzle, Erik K. Ross

Theses and Dissertations

The research project studied the benefits of Magnetogasdynamic (MGD) acceleration on a scramjet nozzle. MGD is a technology that relies on electromagnetic fields to extract and/or add energy to flow fields. The scramjet engine in the "AJAX" concept proposed by D.I. Brichkii et al. (2001) of St. Petersburg, Russia would utilize an MGD power generator in the diffuser user which could potentially provide electrical power for the aircraft support systems and an MGD accelerator in the nozzle of the engine. Using an AFRL/VAAC CFD code that was modified for MGD computations, this project investigated the effect conductivity and load factor …

Mechanical Behavior Of Cracked Panels Repaired With Bonded Composite Patch, Michael A. Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

This research focuses on investigating the mechanical behavior of cracked aluminum panels repaired with bonded boron/epoxy composite patches. The effects of crack initiation and growth on the residual strength of the repaired panels are characterized. This research establishes a correlation between damage modes, residual strength and evolution of strain within as well as outside the patch. Monotonic tensile tests on specimens with a perfectly bonded patch were used to determine the base line strength. Likewise, fatigue tests on specimens with a perfectly bonded patch served to establish baseline fatigue life. In addition, several specimens with a perfectly bonded patch were …

Predicting The Cost Per Flying Hour For The F-16 Using Programmatic And Operational Variables, Eric M. Hawkes

Theses and Dissertations

This research analyzes operational and programmatic data from all Air National Guard and 13 of 14 active duty F-16C/D Fighter Wings (FW) from 1998 to 2004 in search of explanatory variables that influence a wing's Cost Per Flying Hour (CPFH). Using data from both the Air Force Total Ownership Cost database and from the Air Force Knowledge Systems database, this research evaluates the predictive ability of the following nine explanatory variables: aircraft age, average sortie duration, MajCOM, base location, utilization rate, percent engine type, percent block, percent deployed, and previous year's CPFH, the last four of which were previously untested. …

Afci Quarterly Input – Unlv April Through June, 2005, Harry Reid Center For Environmental Studies. Nuclear Science And Technology Division

Transmutation Research Program Reports (TRP)

Quarterly report highlighting research projects, activities and objectives of the Transmutation Research Program at the Nuclear Science & Technology Division, Harry Reid Research Center.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas supports the AFCI through research and development of technologies for economic and environmentally sound refinement of spent nuclear fuel. The UNLV program has four components: infrastructure, international collaboration, student-based research, and management and program support.

Secondary Electron Emission From Niobium At Cryogenic Temperatures, Anoop George, Robert A. Schill Jr., Richard Kant, Stan Goldfarb

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

• A Secondary Electron Emission test stand has been designed to study the initial conditions of secondary electrons emitted from niobium in cryogenic state.

• Secondary electron particle distributions have been studied for 0^o, 15^o, and 30^o beveled surfaces

• BCP and EP samples have been compared showing that the EP count is over twice as large as the BCP count

• Electron beam surface conditioning was examined. Conditioning appears to be sensitive to pulse duration and the number of impacts

• Good comparison have been shown between experiment and simulation

Neutron Multiplicity Measurements For The Afci Program Quarterly Progress Report April-June 2005, Denis Beller

Transmutation Sciences Physics (TRP)

This project was developed to test a Russian-built Neutron Multiplicity Detector System (NMDS) for measuring neutrons generated in a central target by a variety of accelerators. To assist in experiment design and evaluation, we use the most advanced high energy radiation transport code, MCNPX, to model experiments. Experimental results are compared to computational predictions and discrepancies are investigated. Initial plans were to conduct experiments using a 70-MeV proton cyclotron at the Crocker Nuclear Laboratory at the University of California at Davis and/or a 20 to 40 MeV electron linac (linear accelerator) at the Idaho Accelerator Center (IAC) at Idaho State …

Reactor Physics Studies For The Afci Race Project: Reactor-Accelerator Coupling Experiments Project: Quarterly Progress Report April-June 2005, Denis Beller

Transmutation Sciences Physics (TRP)

In the RACE Project of the U.S. Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI), a series of accelerator driven subcritical systems (ADSS) experiments is being conducted at the Idaho State University’s Idaho Accelerator Center (ISU-IAC), at will be conducted at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin, and at the Texas A&M University. In these experiments we will use electron accelerators to induce bremsstrahlung photon-neutron reactions in heavy-metal targets; this source of about 10¹² to 10¹³ n/s will then initiate fission reactions in the subcritical systems. These systems will include a compact, transportable assembly at ISU and TRIGA reactors at …

Dissolution, Reactor, And Environmental Behavior Of Zro2-Mgo Inert Fuel Matrix: Quarterly Report, April 2005 To June 2005, Earl Wolfram, Thomas Hartmann, Kenneth Czerwinski

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

This project will examine inert matrix fuels containing ZrO₂ and MgO as the inert matrix, with the relative amount of MgO varied from 30% to 70% in ZrO₂. Reactor physics calculations will be used to examine suitable quantities of burnable poisons from the candidate elements Gd, Er, or Hf with reactor grade Pu providing the fissile component, with up to 10 % of ²³⁹Pu. Ceramics will be synthesized and characterized based on the reactor physics results. The solubility the fuel ceramics, in reactor conditions, reprocessing conditions, and repository conditions, will be investigated in a manner to …

Dissolution, Reactor, And Environmental Behavior Of Zro2-Mgo Inert Fuel Matrix: Neutronic Evaluation Of Zro2-Mgo Inert Fuels, E. Shwageraus, A. Galperin, E. Fridman, S. Kolesnikov

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

This report presents results of the analysis performed within the framework of “Dissolution, Reactor, and Environmental Behavior of ZrO₂-MgO Inert Fuel Matrix” project managed by University of Nevada at Las Vegas, Harry Reid Center for Environmental Studies. The main objective of the study was to explore the basic neutronic feasibility of using MgO-ZrO₂ as inert fuel matrix for Pu recycling in conventional Light Water Reactors (LWR).

A Cartilage Growth Mixture Model For Infinitesimal Strains: Solutions Of Boundary-Value Problems Related To In Vitro Growth Experiments, Stephen M. Klisch, Robert L. Sah, Anne Hoger

Mechanical Engineering

A cartilage growth mixture (CGM) model is linearized for infinitesimal elastic and growth strains. Parametric studies for equilibrium and nonequilibrium boundary-value problems representing the in vitro growth of cylindrical cartilage constructs are solved. The results show that the CGM model is capable of describing the main biomechanical features of cartilage growth. The solutions to the equilibrium problems reveal that tissue composition, constituent pre-stresses, and geometry depend on collagen remodeling activity, growth symmetry, and differential growth. Also, nonhomogeneous growth leads to nonhomogeneous tissue composition and constituent pre-stresses. The solution to the nonequilibrium problem reveals that the tissue is nearly in equilibrium …

Effects Of Piconet Saturation On A Bluetooth Streaming Audio Channel, Theodore L. Josue

Theses and Dissertations

Bluetooth is a technology for wireless personal area networks (WPAN) that eliminates the need for cables, standardizes interfaces, and can automate many standard office processes such as sending and receiving email, synchronizing schedules, or exchanging business cards. With each workstation creating its own Bluetooth network, called a piconet, different Air Force environments have the potential, in some cases, to create more than 50 overlapping piconets, which significantly increases the potential for inter-piconet interference. This research investigates the effects of inter-piconet interference on a Bluetooth channel, streaming audio, offered at 24, 40, and 64 Kbps. It shows that as the number …

Insulator Charging In Rf Mems Capacitive Switches, Jay F. Kucko

Theses and Dissertations

While capacitive radio frequency microelectromechanical (RF MEM) switches are poised to provide a low cost, high isolation, low power alternative to current RF switch technologies, there are still reliability issues limiting switch lifetime. Previous research identified insulator charging as a primary cause of switch failure. Changes in switch pull-in and release voltages were measured to provide insight into the mechanisms responsible for charging and switch failure. A spatial and temporal dependent model was developed to describe silicon nitride's time-dependent charging as a function of applied bias. This model was verified by applying constant biases to metal-silicon nitride-silicon capacitors and tracking …

Internal Damage Detection And Assessment In Beams Using Experimental Natural Frequencies, Frances K. Durham

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the frequency response of a cantilever beam with the intent of establishing a reliable nondestructive method of damage detection. The test specimens were 12 aluminum 2024 T3 beams, each identical except for a unique, eccentrically located notch, and one reference notchless beam. The machined notches varied in length and location to simulate varying degrees of damage. Laser doppler vibrometry enabled the data acquisition. The changes in natural frequencies were correlated to notch length and notch location. A comparison of eccentric and centered notch influence on the natural frequencies also is discussed.

Cost Comparison Of Existing Coatings For A Hypervelocity Test Rail, Mark A. Blomer

Theses and Dissertations

This study compared the relative costs, to the Department of Defense, of two different coatings used to protect a high speed test rail. Each coating was compared to the case of an uncoated rail with test conditions that caused catastrophic failure just after the test sled reached its maximum velocity. The total cost was finalized on a per test basis in order to sum cost of various expenditures that may only happen once every few tests. To compare the protective properties of each coating, various coated and uncoated samples were tested via a cylinder specimen Taylor Impact Test. Each coating's …

Characterization Of A Rotary Flat Tail As A Spoiler And Parametric Analysis Of Improving Directional Stability In A Portable Uav, Troy A. Leveron

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force Research Lab, Munitions Directorate, Flight Vehicles, Integration Branch (AFRL/MNAV), has developed a flexible wing micro air vehicle (MAV) to be used with special tactics groups. In keeping with the requirement that this MAV be compact, previous research developed a rotatable tail mechanism which resulted in tail movement similar to that of a bird's tail. In this study the design of this tail was modified to produce a more storable vehicle. The redesign also allowed the tail to deflect upward to large angles, enabling the tail to be used as a spoiler. The aerodynamic effects of …

Determination Of The Constitutive Equations For 1080 Steel And Vascomax 300, Zachary A. Kennan

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research is to establish a better representation of the components utilized in a gouging event being considered in research leading to a better understanding of the Holloman High Speed Test Track. Gouging occurs when two metals are traveling at a slight incline to each other at velocities nearing 1.5 kilometers per second, and results in a structural failure of both the metals. The gouging process occurs at very high strain rates, which results in non-linear stress-strain relations. The coefficients that lead to the Johnson-Cook equations have been determined by the Split Hopkinson Bar test for 1080 …

High Temperature Chemical Degradation Of Pmr-15 Polymer Resins, Grant W. Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

PMR-15 is a polymer resin for glass and carbon reinforced composites used for high temperature, civilian and military aerospace applications. The harsh environments of PMR-15 applications lead to long term structural degradation and, in turn, impact the readiness capabilities of the system. This study investigated the thermal and oxidative degradation of PMR-15 neat resin powder through the use of thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) in oxygen, argon and air at isothermal hold temperatures of 260, 288, 316, and 343 °C for 250 hours. The TGA measured the degradation by recording the change in neat resin powder mass versus time. The qualitative …

Wide-Angle Multistatic Synthetic Aperture Radar: Focused Image Formation And Aliasing Artifact Mitigation, Jonathan E. Luminati

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional monostatic Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) platforms force the user to choose between two image types: larger, low resolution images or smaller, high resolution images. Switching to a Wide-Angle Multistatic Synthetic Aperture Radar (WAM-SAR) approach allows formation of large high-resolution images. Unfortunately, WAM-SAR suffers from two significant implementation problems. First, wavefront curvature effects, non-linear flight paths, and warped ground planes lead to image defocusing with traditional SAR processing methods. A new 3-D monostatic/bistatic image formation routine solves the defocusing problem, correcting for all relevant wide-angle effects. Inverse SAR (ISAR) imagery from a Radar Cross Section (RCS) chamber validates this approach. …

Boundary Layer Control Of A Circular Cylinder Using A Synthetic Jet, Christopher K. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Active control of flow around a circular cylinder at a sub-critical Reynolds number was studied experimentally. The flow was controlled by using a synthetic jet which ran span wise along the cylinder and emanated radially from the cylinder. The experiments were conducted over a two dimensional cylinder in a water tunnel at a Reynolds number of approximately 5800. Seven different jet locations and seven different jet oscillation frequencies were examined. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used for flow visualization. The synthetic jet proved to delay flow separation at a wide range of locations and oscillation frequencies. The greatest positive effect …

Differentiation Between Melt And Freeze Stages Of The Melt Cycle Using Ssm/I Channel Ratios, David G. Long, Ivan S. Ashcraft

Faculty Publications

Microwave remote sensing detection of snow melt and ablation generally focuses on the detection of liquid moisture in the snow-pack. For ablation estimation, it is important to determine if wet snow is in the process of melting or freezing. The different stages of the melt cycle are observed in the diurnal variation of Tb measurements from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) over Greenland. SSM/I channel ratios exhibit patterns indicating that they are sensitive to melt and freeze stages of the daily melt cycle. The horizontal to vertical polarization ratio is sensitive to surface wetness associated with melting. The 19-37-GHz …

Manufacture Of Near Net Shaped 3-Dimensional Components For Industrial Applications, David Kennedy, Donal Brosnan

Conference Papers

The development of near net shape 3-Dimensional products for industrial applications has been one main goal for Manufacturing Industries over the last few decades. Processes such as polymer blow moulding and its various stages of development, glass forming, extrusion, forging, centrifugal and sand casting, bulge forming and vacuum forming are typical processes that have contributed to this development. Current practices centre on Surface coatings, Rapid Prototyping, laser forming and nanotechnology manufacture of complex 3-D shapes and assemblies. The work described in this paper is a new and highly efficient and cost effective technique for producing 3-Dimensional thin walled shapes by …

The Effect Of Reactor Configuration On No Conversion And Energy Consumption In Non-Thermal Plasma Parallel Tube Reactors, Morris D. Argyle, Gui-Bing Zhao, S.V.B. Janardhan Garikipati, Xudong Hu, Maciej Radosz

Faculty Publications

This work shows that the configuration of a pulsed corona discharge reactor strongly affects the rate of electron collision reactions. Experiments involving the decomposition of NO in N2 were performed in a reactor in which the number or parallel reactor tubes varied from 1 to 10 at a constant pressure of 147.6 kPa and ambient temperature. A previously developed lumped model of the reactions accurately predicted the effects of varying the initial concentrations of NO (from 240ppm to 593ppm) and gas residence time (from 1.93 to 742 s). With an increasing number of parallel reactor tubes, the rate of the …

The Effect Of Oxygen On Nonthermal-Plasma Reactions Of Nitrogen Oxides In Nitrogen, Morris D. Argyle, Gui-Bing Zhao, S.V.B. Janardhan Garikipati, Xudong Hu, Maciej Radosz

Faculty Publications

NO is mainly converted to NO2 by chemical oxidation in the presence of oxygen. Initial selectivity analysis shows that three electron collision reactions are important for NOX evolution in O2/N2. The rate constants of these reactions decrease with increasing oxygen concentration. This is because oxygen is electronegative and hence reduces the electron concentration. The rate constant of O2 dissociation by electron collision reaction is almost two orders of magnitude higher than that of N2 dissociation. NO formation occurs predominantly through N(2D) + O2 → NO + O. The critical oxygen concentration, defined as the concentration above which the NOX formation …

Forest Fire Monitoring With Multiple Small Uavs, David W. Casbeer, Randal W. Beard, Timothy W. Mclain, Sai-Ming Li, Raman K. Mehra

Faculty Publications

Frequent and detailed updates of the development of a forest fire are essential for effective and safe fire fighting. Since a forest fire is typically inaccessible by ground vehicles due to mountainous terrain, small Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) are emerging as a promising solution to the problem of monitoring large forest fires. In this paper we present an effective path planning algorithm for a UAV utilizing infrared images that are collected on-board in realtime. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of our path planning algorithm in realistic scenarios, we implemented the forest fire propagation model EMBYR to simulate the time …