Engineering Commons^™

Parametric And Non-Parametric Analysis Of Carotid Sinus Baroreflex System Using Electrically Induced Muscle Contraction, Sheetal D. Deshmukh

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

The arterial pressure is an important physiological parameter which if not maintained at desired level may lead to fatal disorders or in worst situations even death. The physiological feedback control mechanism in order to regulate the arterial pressure is performed by the baroreceptors. In this study the dynamic characteristics of carotid sinus baroreceptor are identified to obtain the open-loop characteristics of the carotid sinus pressure (CSP, mmHg) to the renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA, Arbitrary unit), RSNA to systemic arterial pressure (SAP, mmHg), CSP to SAP and CSP to heart rate (HR, bpm).The purpose of this study was to know …

Modeling Of Capacitor Impedance In Switching Converters, Jonathan W. Kimball, Philip T. Krein, Kevin R. Cahill

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Switched capacitor (SC) converters are gaining acceptance as alternatives to traditional, inductor-based switching power converters. Proper design of SC converters requires an understanding of all loss sources and their impacts on circuit operation. In the present work, an equivalent resistance method is developed for analysis, and equivalent resistance formulae are presented for various modes of operation. Quasiresonant converters are explored and compared to standard SC converters. Comparisons to inductor-based switching power converters are made. A number of capacitor technologies are evaluated and compared for applications to both SC converters and inductor-based converters. The resulting model can be used to accurately …

Dynamic Determinants Of Incisal Display, Shawn Paul Pesh

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The principal objective of this study was to use computer aided design (CAD) to better illustrate and quantify the relationship of mandibular arch depth, mandibular arch width, overbite, and overjet in the presence of mandibular dental crowding. To date, there has been no research examining how changes in the mandibular arch limit the orthodontist's ability to control overbite and overjet. Understanding how to effectively manage overbite and overjet are crucial to the clinician's ability to manipulate incisal display. Polyvinyl siloxane impressions of both maxillary and mandibular arches of a Caucasian patient were taken and used to pour dental stone models. …

Ricketts And Steiner Analysis Using Newtom 3g™ Scout Images, James I. Gibson Iii

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

NewTom 3G™ scout images have the general appearance of traditional lateral cephalometric radiographs. The purpose of this research was to determine if Ricketts and Steiner analyses could be accomplished on NewTom 3G™ scout images.

This was a retrospective study comparing the use of NewTom 3G™ scans in DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) format to scout images from 25 consecutive patients of the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry Department of Orthodontics, three of these patients did not meet the inclusion criteria. The DICOM images were used to create controls. The controls and scout images were digitized using QuickCeph™. …

An Investigation Of Employee Satisfaction And Employee Empowerment Specific To On-Site Supervisors In The Residential Construction Industry, David Lars Halvorsen

Theses and Dissertations

Employee satisfaction and empowerment are vital elements to businesses in most industries. The construction industry has various types of employees, ranging from managers and executives to on-site supervisors and laborers. This study was conducted to obtain a greater understanding about the elements and levels of satisfaction and empowerment of on-site supervisors in the residential construction industry. An on-site supervisor in the residential construction industry is responsible for coordinating and managing employees, materials, equipment, budgets, schedules, contracts, and the safety of employees and the general public. They are also the employees most frequently perceived as accountable for the success or failure …

Distributed Simulation Modeling For Manufacturing Systems Design Using Xml, Rawinkhan Srinon, Sreeram Ramakrishnan

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Discrete event simulations have been used to model manufacturing systems. Various decomposition methods such as distributed simulations have been employed for this modeling. in the context of distributed simulations, each federate must be able to share the embedded logic with the other federates, irrespective of the software used to design and build such systems. This paper provides an extensible Markup Language (XML)-Based representation for distributed models that can be shared across the federation of simulations. Specifically, the paper outlines three different model components that forms the basis of a design framework for distributed simulation models - object model (for simulation …

Harmony Search For Structural Design, Zong Woo Geem, Kang Seok Lee, Chung-Li Tseng

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Various algorithms have been developed and applied to structural optimization, in which cross-sectional areas of structure members are assumed to be continuous. in most cases of practical structure designs, however, decision variables (cross-sectional areas) are discrete. This paper proposes a combinatorial optimization model for structural design using a new nature-inspired algorithm, harmony search (HS). HS is also compared to genetic algorithms through a standard truss example. Numerical results reveal that the proposed HS is a powerful search algorithm for combinatorial structure optimization.

Remapping Hand Movements In A Novel Geometrical Environment, Kristine M. Mosier, Robert A. Scheidt, Santiago Acosta, Ferdinando A. Mussa-Ivaldi

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The issue of how the Euclidean properties of space are represented in the nervous system is a main focus in the study of visual perception, but is equally relevant to motor learning. The goal of our experiments was to investigate how the properties of space guide the remapping of motor coordination. Subjects wore an instrumented data glove that recorded the finger motions. Signals generated by the glove operated a remotely controlled endpoint: a cursor on a computer monitor. The subjects were instructed to execute movements of this endpoint with controlled motions of the fingers. This required inverting a highly redundant …

Conducting Business In Network Centric Collaborative Environments, Vance Saunders, Paul Bailor, Charles Cohen, Ann K. Miller, Barbra Sorensen

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The development of the World Wide Web (or Internet) has provided the ability to connect the entire world together. Thousands of web servers located around the world allow users to connect and communicate with one another. Additionally, a huge transaction-based product sales business has evolved, via the Internet. for many, the next generation of the Internet needs to focus on collections of servers and users working collectively together to solve problems. Grids and the Global Information Grid (GIG) are terms associated with enabling technologies that provide the framework for collections of servers and users to work together. Network Centric Operations …

Solving Low Frequency Electromagnetic Problems With Fast Solvers, W. C. Chew, L. (Lijun) J. Jiang, Y. H. Chu, Y. A. Liu, M. K. Li, Z. G. Qian, J. Xiong, L. Sun

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

The Mixed-Form Fast Multipole Algorithm For Broadband Electromagnetic Simulations, L. (Lijun) J. Jiang, W. C. Chew

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

An Analog Vlsi Implementation Of A Multi-Scale Spike Detection Algorithm For Extracellular Neural Recordings, Christy L. Rogers, John G. Harris, Jose C. Principe, Justin C. Sanchez

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper discusses a multi-scale neural spike detection algorithm for a low-power analog circuit implementation. The key idea is to implement wavelet decomposition and improve spike detection by independently controlling thresholds for each scale. Each thresholder scale is then combined to provide a single output indicating a spike occurrence. This spike detection algorithm shows promising results towards a robust, compact, and unsupervised low power analog spike detection circuit. A low power front-end spike detection circuit can be added to a neural amplifier and dramatically reduce the required data bandwidth for BMI applications. © 2005 IEEE.

Guidelines For Traffic Counts On Local Roads And Streets, Indiana Ltap

Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Publications

The purpose of this document is to provide a series of guidelines to assist in the creation of a system that will enable the collection of complete and accurate traffic data.

Included within these guidelines is a list of all appropriate counting devices. There have been several listed so that a wide range of needs and budgets could be satisfied. Also included is a guide for planning a traffic count program and data collection session. Once the data is collected, it then becomes necessary to evaluate and analyze the data so that accurate traffic volume predictions can be made. This …

Composite Mechanical Property Enhancement Through The Use Of Y-End Shaped Short Fibers, Jin Tan

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study uses Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to predict the mechanical property enhancement of the composites reinforced by end-shaped short fibers with different aspect ratios and volume fractions at microscale. Fibers used include conventional straight short fibers (CSSF), dumbbell-end shaped short fibers (DSSF), bone-end shaped short fibers (BSSF) and Y-end shaped short fibers (YSSF) with various lengths and angles. The critical distances between neighboring fiber ends for FEA modeling were theoretically deduced and numerically verified. This study has never been done before and the results fill a gap to this field.

In conclusion, planar-end Y-shaped short fiber reinforced composites showed …

Simulating Discriminatory Profiling, Oscar Neal

Masters Theses

There is a concern that racial profiling is being used to invoke searches and stops in spite of its violation of the fourth amendment. Simulation methods are used to study the correlation test of stops, searches and citations with race, age, and gender. The design uses sensitivity analysis of inputs to determine their relationship to outputs statistics of a police department's citations and stops. Experimental results are than used to verify and predict departmental bias. A simulation program written in Visual Basic is used as a tool to explore simulation techniques. A formulation of simulation uses in studying discriminatory profiling …

Resilient And Residual Properties Of Asphalt Concrete: Superpave And Conventional Mix Design, Tamer Mohamed Breakah

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Simulation For Evaluating The Usability Of Integrated Flight Decks, Troy Ricardo Weeks

Theses and Dissertations

There is a modern revolution of pilot interface designs as technological advancements force industrial progress in general aviation (GA). Recent accident statistics and safety reports indicate that computerized flight decks in Technically Advanced Aircraft (TAA) present novel safety hazards. Little empirical data have been used to measure the usability of integrated flight decks due to the complexity and time-consuming nature of flight data assessment. The objectives of this thesis are (1) to describe the human factors issues that are induced by the design of the integrated flight deck, (2) to demonstrate the evaluative capabilities of a TAA flight simulator, and …

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Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Modeling, Parameter Identification, And Validation Of Reactant And Water Dynamics For A Fuel Cell Stack, D. A. Mckay, W. T. Ott, A. G. Stefanopoulou

Engineering: Faculty Publications

This paper describes a simple two-phase flow dynamic model that predicts the experimentally observed temporal behavior of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack and a methodology to experimentally identify tunable physical parameters. The model equations allow temporal calculation of the species concentrations across the gas diffusion layers, the vapor transport across the membrane, the degree of flooding in the electrodes, and then predict the resulting decay in cell voltage over time. A nonlinear optimization technique is used for the identification of two critical model parameters, namely the membrane water vapor diffusion coefficient and the thickness of the liquid water …

An Ultra Wide Band Simulator Using Matlab/Simulink, Peter Vial, Beata J. Wysocki, Tadeusz A. Wysocki

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications (to 2015)

Ultra Wide Band (UWB) is a promising technology for sensor networks, broadband wireless data access and location finding applications. This study outlines the development and validation of a single transmitter and receiver system across the multipath channel proposed by Saleh-Valenzuela. We have designed and tested a UWB simulator using MATLAB’s Simulink in combination with the Real Time Workshop(RTW) Tool box for Simulink using the Fixed Step Discrete Solvers of RTW which is required to produce executable simulations on multiple computers (both Linux and Microsoft based devices). This paper outlines the basic design and modules chosen for the simulation and compares …

Using Asterisms To Decode Multi-User Mimo Systems, Phillip Conder, Tadeusz A. Wysocki

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications (to 2015)

The area of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) communications systems has received enormous attention recently as they can provide a roughly linear increase in data rate by using multiple transmit and receive antennas. MIMO combined with an Turbo coding has been shown as a promising way to achieve near capacity for wireless channels. This paper proposes applying an Asterism based decoder to produce an additional multi user access scheme on top of the primary access method for Ad Hoc networks. After reviewing Sphere and Asterism decoding for MIMO systems with a larger number of transmit than receive antennas, this paper …

Background Radio Frequency Interference Measurements For Wireless Devices In The Electricity Supply Industry, Duane Robinson, Tadeusz A. Wysocki, V. Smith, K. Popovski

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications (to 2015)

Incorporation of radio controller units into heavy equipment used in the electricity industry provides numerous advantages including: improved electrical isolation between plant and operator, ability to incorporate an additional remote operator, and reductions in vehicle wiring and hydraulic hoses for equipment control. However, secure operation of vehicles and plant incorporating radio control rely on establishing suitable levels of immunity to possible radio frequency interference. Interference levels in close proximity to high voltage power lines are of special concern to the electricity industry. This paper reports on a preliminary investigation into quantifying the levels of background radio interference at such locations …

An Analysis Of Seawinds-Based Rain Retrieval In Severe Weather Events, David G. Long, Jeffrey R. Allen

Faculty Publications

The Ku-band SeaWinds scatterometer estimates near-surface ocean wind vectors by relating measured backscatter to a geophysical model function for the near-surface vector wind. The conventional wind retrieval algorithm does not explicitly account for SeaWinds' sensitivity to rain, resulting in rain-caused wind retrieval error. A new retrieval method, termed "simultaneous wind/rain retrieval," that estimates both wind and rain from rain-contaminated measurements has been previously proposed and validated with Tropical Rain Measuring Mission data. Here, the accuracy of rains retrieved by the new method is validated through comparison with the Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) in coastal storm events. The rains detected …

Statistics-Based Approaches To Stochastic Optimal Control Problems, Aihong Wen

Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation develops practical approaches to stochastic optimal control problems in the absence of linear system transition functions, quadratic cost functions, and/or Gaussian random disturbances. In such type of problems, an analytical solution is impossible and numerical synthesis techniques have to be applied. The ''classic'' algorithms existing in the literature suffer from the problem of the''curse of dimensionality,'' an exponential increase of computation time and memory requirements as the dimension of the problem grows. The statistics-based numerical approaches are presented as the main tools for mitigating the ``curse of dimensionality'' phenomenon. Two approaches are explored: (A) stochastic dynamic programming (SDP), …

Coupled Oceanic-Atmospheric Variability And U.S. Streamflow, Glenn A. Tootle, Thomas C. Piechota, Ashok Singh

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

A study of the influence of interdecadal, decadal, and interannual oceanic-atmospheric influences on streamflow in the United States is presented. Unimpaired streamflow was identified for 639 stations in the United States for the period 1951–2002. The phases (cold/negative or warm/positive) of Pacific Ocean (El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)) and Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)) oceanic-atmospheric influences were identified for the year prior to the streamflow year (i.e., long lead time). Statistical significance testing of streamflow, based on the interdecadal, decadal, and interannual oceanic-atmospheric phase (warm/positive or cold/negative), was performed by …

Preliminary Design Approach For Prosthetic Ankle Joints Using Compliant Mechanisms, Jason Matthew Wiersdorf

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis is to develop design approaches and models for prosthetic ankle joints using kinematic models of the human ankle and compliant mechanisms technology. Compliant mechanisms offer several potential design advantages over traditional rigid-body designs including high reliability and low cost. These design advantages are ideal for use in prosthetics. Some prosthetic ankle/foot systems currently on the market have multiple degrees of freedom yet are expensive. Additionally, even though these systems have multiple degrees of freedom, none of them are designed after the actual movements of the biological ankle. In this thesis a two, single degree-of-freedom hinge …

Lattice Quantum Algorithm For The Schrodinger Wave Equation In 2+1 Dimensions With A Demonstration By Modeling Soliton Instabilities, Jeffrey Yepez, George Vahala, Linda L. Vahala

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

A lattice-based quantum algorithm is presented to model the non-linear Schrödinger-like equations in 2 + 1 dimensions. In this lattice-based model, using only 2 qubits per node, a sequence of unitary collide (qubit-qubit interaction) and stream (qubit translation) operators locally evolve a discrete field of probability amplitudes that in the long-wavelength limit accurately approximates a non-relativistic scalar wave function. The collision operator locally entangles pairs of qubits followed by a streaming operator that spreads the entanglement throughout the two dimensional lattice. The quantum algorithmic scheme employs a non-linear potential that is proportional to the moduli square of the wave function. …

Modeling Microwave Emissions Of Erg Surfaces In The Sahara Desert, David G. Long, Haroon Stephen

Faculty Publications

Sand seas (ergs) of the Sahara are the most dynamic parts of the desert. Aeolian erosion, transportation, and deposition continue to reshape the surface of the ergs. The large-scale features (dunes) of these bedforms reflect the characteristics of the sand and the long-term wind. Radiometric emissions from the ergs have strong dependence on the surface geometry. We model the erg surface as composed of tilted rough facets. Each facet is characterized by a tilt distribution dependent upon the surface roughness of the facet. The radiometric temperature (Tb) of ergs is then the weighted sum of the Tb from all the …

A Generic Object-Oriented Tabu Search Framework, Hoong Chuin Lau, Xiaomin Jia, Wee Chong Wan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Presently, most tabu search designers devise their applications without considering the potential of design and code reuse, which consequently prolong the development of subsequent applications. In this paper, we propose a software solution known as Tabu Search Framework (TSF), which is a generic C++ software framework for tabu search implementation. The framework excels in code recycling through the use of a well- designed set of generic abstract classes that clearly define their collaborative roles in the algorithm. Additionally, the framework incorporates a centralized process and control mechanism that enhances the search with intelligence. This results in a generic framework that …

Atr-Ftir Spectroscopic Analysis Of Sorption Of Aqueous Analytes Into Polymer Coatings Used With Guided Sh-Saw Sensors, Yolanda K. Jones, Zhonghui Li, Michael M. Johnson, Fabien Josse, Jeanne Hossenlopp

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

Attenuated total internal reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy was used for the investigation of sorption of aqueous solutions of analytes into polymer coatings. A series of simple model polymers, such as poly(dimethylsiloxane), poly(epichlorhydrin), and poly(isobutylene), and films and analytes, such as aqueous solutions of ethylbenzene, xylenes, toluene, and nitrobenzene, were used to evaluate the use of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy as a screening tool for sensor development. The ratios of integrated infrared absorption bands provided a simple and efficient method for predicting trends in partition coefficients. Responses of polymer-coated guided shear horizontal surface acoustic wave (SH-SAW) sensor platforms to the series …