Engineering Commons^™

Regulation Of Dna Replication Initiation By Histone Acetylation And The Dna Unwinding Element Binding Protein Due-B, Michael George Kemp

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Duplication of the genome during S phase of the mitotic cell cycle begins at thousands of sites along chromosomes termed origins of replication. Although many of the essential protein components catalyzing events at these sites are known and are conserved throughout eukaryotes, the likelihood or efficiency of initiation of DNA synthesis at any given genomic site is expected to be influenced by other novel factors, including aspects of chromatin and DNA structure.

Here I show that increased histone H4 acetylation at replication origin loci occurs after treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor TSA and coincides with a loss of specific …

A Study Of The Impact Of Hardware Design Choices On The System Impulse Response Of A Signal-Level Radar Simulation, Kelly Renee Feirstine

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The main goal of this research is to study the effect of hardware design choices at the signal-level of an end-to-end radar system. An implementation of waveform diversity concepts, or the use of various waveforms in both transmit and receive is employed. An end-to-end Matlab simulation is developed such that the system impulse response to hardware imperfections and waveform parameters such as bandwidth and frequency channel spacing can be analyzed. Multiple frequency channels as well as multiple pulses are also considered in the research.

All hardware components are nonlinear to some degree. The nonlinearities of the hardware give rise to …

Characterizing Battlefield Human Decision Making With Value Focused Thinking And Reliability Modeling, Fawaz Al-Karaeen

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Military officers and soldiers in combat are faced with complex, time-critical decision problems. The battlefield, or combat, environment involves decisive operations under unpredictable and rapidly changing conditions. Decisions in battlefields take place under uncertain, time constrained conditions and in a tactical environment. A battlefield decision maker encounters a dynamic information environment. During combat, individuals gather and consider information from a variety of sources to determine what information is reliable and useful, and what information is not. There is a clear correlation between the decision making process and the value of information feeding that process. This research examines a decision making …

The Effect Of Process Variables On Microstructure In Laser-Deposited Materials, Srikanth Bontha

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The ability to predict and control microstructure in laser deposition processes requires an understanding of the thermal conditions at the onset of solidification. The focus of this work is the development of thermal process maps relating solidification cooling rate and thermal gradient (the key parameters controlling microstructure) to laser deposition process variables (laser power and velocity). The approach employs the well-known Rosenthal solution for a moving point heat source traversing an infinite substrate. Cooling rates and thermal gradients at the onset of solidification are numerically extracted from the Rosenthal solution throughout the depth of the melt pool, and dimensionless process …

A Formal Language Approach For Detecting Texture Paths And Patterns In Images, Prithviraj S. Patil

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This Master thesis considers the use of formal languages representation for image processing, especially texture patterns and determining texture paths in them. The texture paths are detected and extracted by using image processing techniques, such as image segmentation to isolate regions of interest, and then the extraction of repeating textures. The detection of the texture blocks is obtained by recursively using 27 X 27, 9 X 9, and 3 X 3 windows. Predefined repeating texture patterns are also searched for in each of the sets. For each set of texture blocks with similar or same characteristics, curve fitting techniques are …

Investigation Into The Behavior Of Bolted Joints, Steven M. Page

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Models to capture the physics of jointed structures have been proposed for over 40 years. These models approximate the behavior of the joint under carefully developed operating conditions. When these conditions change, the model has to be changed. Recent developments in numeric codes like finite elements have created interest in incorporating joint models into the design process but joint models need to represent the joined structure over a broader operating range. This work investigates the dynamic response of a structure with a joint. Isolation of a few dominant effects may give way to a model able to capture a broader …

Simulation And Analysis Of Rfid Localization Algorithms, Zubin Shah

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Radio frequency identification (RFID) based localization systems provide a unique approach to localize mobile entities equipped with RFID readers or tagged with RFID tags. UHF RFID systems using passive tags are a good choice considering their cost, reading range, and reliability. With global acceptance and deployment of UHF RFID systems using passive tags for tracking and identification, virtually everything around us can be tagged with small and low-cost passive RFID tags. This thesis describes a Monte Carlo Localization based algorithm to localize a mobile RFID reader within a tagged environment. A software tool is developed to validate this localization process, …

Robust Estimation Of Reliability In The Presence Of Multiple Failure Modes, Phani R. Adduri

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In structural design, every component or system needs to be tested to ascertain that it satisfies the desired safety levels. Due to the uncertainties associated with the operating conditions, design parameters, and material systems, this task becomes complex and expensive. Typically these uncertainties are defined using random, interval or fuzzy variables, depending on the information available. Analyzing components or systems in the presence of these different forms of uncertainty increases the computational cost considerably due to the iterative nature of these algorithms. Therefore, one of the objectives of this research was to develop methodologies that can efficiently handle multiple forms …

Computational Study Of Ring-Cusp Magnet Configurations That Provide Maximum Electron Confinement, Taiwo A. Ogunjobi

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Enhancing the confinement of primary electrons within the plasma in a discharge chamber of an ion thruster improves plasma ionization and consequently the thruster's performance. This work computationally calculates the location, position, and orientation of the permanent magnets that provide a ring-cusp magnetic field that maximizes electron confinement in an axi-symmetric cylindrical aluminum-wall discharge chamber. Small samarium cobalt magnets are circumferentially arranged in a ring around the front, side, or back wall of the chamber. The generated ring-cusp magnetic field for any specified magnet configuration is calculated using MAXWELL2D, a two dimensional electromagnetic field simulation computer code. For various magnet …

Methodology For Quantifying Biomechanical Bone Movement Of Transtibial Amputations, Johanna C. Bell

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A controversy has long existed about an alternate below knee amputation procedure that may be more beneficial than the traditional transtibial amputation. The proponents of this alternate procedure that stabilizes the distal tibia and fibula claim it reduces excessive movement of the fibula relative to the tibia that occurs with common movements, such as walking. The purpose of this study is to develop a methodology for quantifying excessive movement of the fibula bone relative to the tibia bone in traditional below the knee amputations. The methodology will measure the movement and rotation of the fibula relative to the tibia. These …

A Field Programmable Gate Array Architecture For Two-Dimensional Partial Reconfiguration, Fei Wang

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Reconfigurable machines can accelerate many applications by adapting to their needs through hardware reconfiguration. Partial reconfiguration allows the reconfiguration of a portion of a chip while the rest of the chip is busy working on tasks. Operating system models have been proposed for partially reconfigurable machines to handle the scheduling and placement of tasks. They are called OS4RC in this dissertation. The main goal of this research is to address some problems that come from the gap between OS4RC and existing chip architectures and the gap between OS4RC models and practical applications. Some existing OS4RC models are based on an …

Topology Optimization Of Engine Exhaust-Washed Structures, Mark A. Haney

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Aircraft structure subjected to elevated temperature and acoustic loading present a challenging design environment. Thermal stress in a structural component has typically been alleviated by allowing thermal expansion. However, very little work has been done which directly addresses the situation where such a prescription is not possible. When a structural component has failed due to thermally-induced tensile stresses, the answer to the question of how best to stiffen the structure is far from trivial. In this work, we demonstrate that conventional stiffening techniques, for example, those which add material to the thickness of a failing panel, may actually increase the …

Multi-Attribute Optimization Based On Conjoint Analysis, Hemanth K. Amarchinta

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Over the last thirty years, there were tremendous advances in multidisciplinary design optimization in reducing computational cost, developing algorithms for efficient sensitivity analysis in reaching an optimum. Most of these efforts assumed a single objective (attribute) function and a multitude of constraints. Very little work has been done in including the designer's preferences as part of the optimization scheme and in addressing the ability to handle multiple attributes simultaneously. This need to develop a systematic method for including designer's preferences is the main focus of this research work. The concept of modeling preferences among multi-attribute alternatives is prevalent in consumer …

Using In-Situ Error Tracking For Mode Selection In Proper Orthogonal Decomposition Reduced Order Modelling, Michael Richard Maddux

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Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) provides a method of analyzing data and/or creating a Reduced Order Model (ROM). In this thesis, POD is used to create a ROM comprised of basis functions onto which the governing equations of a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) problem are projected via Galerkin's method. The model is of reduced order since the basis functions span a space smaller than the space from which they were created. A full order simulation called the training period is conducted first to obtain data to be used for creating the ROM using POD. The dominant characteristics are extracted from the …

System Analysis And Rf-Floodlight Exploitation Of Short-Range Gotcha Repeaters, Jose A. Montes De Oca

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Emerging wide-area synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system concepts call for a single data collection platform to orbit a large ( e.g., 20-km) spot at a nominal range of 40-km. The large standoff distance and desire for fine resolution, coupled with a need for persistent real-time sensing, pose a significant challenge in terms of clutter-to-noise ratio (CNR) performance and data processing. Increased CNR and reduced processing load can be achieved by decreasing the range of the SAR system and the size of the area of interest. Employing multiple cooperating SAR systems allows the same overall coverage area to be maintained …

Validation Of Superpave Mixture Design And Analysis Procedures Using The Ncat Test Track, Sivaranjan Sivasubramaniam, John E. Haddock

JTRP Technical Reports

The Indiana Department of Transportation was among the first to adopt the Superpave mixture design method and relevant specifications. When the National Center for Asphalt Technology decided to build a pavement test track, the Indiana Department of Transportation saw an opportunity to validate the mixture design method. It participated in the test track pooled fund study by sponsoring two pavement sections that were part of a larger investigation involving ten pavement test sections. Further, efforts were made to establish rutting performance relationships between the Accelerated Pavement Tester, the Purdue Wheel Laboratory Tracker, and the in-service pavement as represented by the …

Indiana Furniture Supply Chain, Ananth V. Iyer, Svenja Sommer, Amanda Thompson, Justina Mikals

JTRP Technical Reports

An initial survey assessing overall supply chain issues was reviewed with twenty Indiana wood products companies. A longer follow up survey accompanied by in-person interviews, assessed more specific supply chain issues, and was reviewed with ten Dubois County wood products companies. From this, a supply chain map of major suppliers and customers located both inside and outside of Indiana was developed. The research also attempted to capture the industry trends and characteristics in a formal model, to explore the impact of INDOT projects on the competitiveness of the industry.

Study Of Salt Wash Water Toxicity On Wastewater Treatment, Mostafa F. Hashad, Surabhi Sharma, Loring F. Nies, James E. Alleman

JTRP Technical Reports

This research effort focused on evaluating the toxicity of the saline waste water generated from washing of Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) deicing trucks and to study the feasibility of discharging it into wastewater treatment plants. Performance of activated sludge treating wastewater under varying levels of salt concentration was studied by measuring the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), activated sludge oxygen uptake rate (OUR) and Turbidity. For the COD tests, wastewater was tested with salt concentrations ranging from 0 mg/L – 1500 mg/L. Within this range there is no impact of salt on COD stabilization, suggesting that the microorganisms are not …

Stiffness Of Hot-Mix Asphalt, Terhi K. Pellinen, Shangzhi Xiao

JTRP Technical Reports

This research was initiated from a need to evaluate marginal mixtures that do not meet the Superpave mix design criteria for the air voids content requirements for the construction of hot mix asphalt pavements. The developed criteria is comprised of the base criteria derived from test data of as-placed field cores normalized to 7.5% air voids content, which provides the minimum stiffness and strength requirements for a mixture as a function of the traffic level. The stiffness of pavement cores is measured using Simple Shear Tester to obtain shear stiffness |G*| of mix and strength is measured using indirect tensile …

Corridor Mapping Using Aerial Technique, James Samuel Bethel, Boudewijn H W Van Gelder, Ali Fuat Cetin, Aparajithan Sampath

JTRP Technical Reports

With properly designed LIDAR control, assessment of 3D as-builts is attainable with an average over-all horizontal (planimetric) error of 0.324 ft (9.9 cm). Specifically, with an RMS error of 0.284 ft (8.7 cm) in Northing, and 0.255 ft (7.8 cm) in Easting. The average over-all vertical (height) error is 0.003 ft (0.1 cm) with a 0.108 ft (3.3 cm) RMS error. Lidar recognizable control (2m x 2m chevrons) was spaced at approximately 200m parallel to the direction of the axis of the project corridor, and at 60m sideway intervals. The project corridor was about 6 km long. Least Squares Image …

Filter Performance And Design For Highway Drains, Sangho Lee, Philippe L. Bourdeau

JTRP Technical Reports

The research is an investigation of soil filtration by geotextile fabrics, with the ultimate objective of improving design and long-term performance of underdrain systems in Indiana highways. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory using the best available techniques, Flexible Wall Gradient Ratio Test and Rapid Retention Test, in order to assess soil-filter compatibility and monitor geotextile clogging, for a range of materials and testing conditions. Field information was also collected and samples from highway reconstruction project were examined for their long-term performance. The main findings relate to the influence of the amounts of silt and clay and the state of …

Investigation Of Coarse Aggregate Strength For Use In Stone Matrix Asphalt, Brandon J. Celaya, John E. Haddock

JTRP Technical Reports

Stone Matrix Asphalt is a gap-graded hot-mix asphalt mixture composed of a coarse aggregate skeleton and a binder-rich mortar. The mixture type was first introduced to the United States in 1991, with one of the first test sections placed on I-70 near Richmond, Indiana. To help control the selection of coarse aggregate, the Indiana Department of Transportation specified a maximum Los Angeles Abrasion loss value of 30 percent. An investigation into the coarse aggregate specifications for use in Stone Matrix Asphalt was completed in this study. Emphasis was placed on evaluating various tests that may be useful is specifying coarse …

Impact Of Camera And Lighting Position On Video Detection Precision, Avery Rhodes, Kristofer Jennings, Darcy M. Bullock

JTRP Technical Reports

On well-illuminated approaches, vehicle headlight reflections on the pavement were observed to cause video detection units to activate early. This early activation results in a dramatic increase in the length of the effective vehicle detection zone. This observed variation in the effective length of the vehicle detection zone that varies by ambient lighting condition and camera placement presents a very serious impediment for traffic engineers to design vehicle extension intervals that operate correctly during day, night and transition periods. Furthermore, the stochastic variation in the length of the vehicle detection zone length has the potential to create driver expectancy issues. …

Remediation Of Aromatic Hydrocarbons In Low Permeability Soils: Updating The Remediation Decision Tree (Synthesis Study), Inez Hua, Andy Hopf

JTRP Technical Reports

Because of the large number of technologies for in situ remediation, the very different types of contaminants to which these technologies are applicable, and the wide range of field conditions, it can be difficult to choose an optimal technology for a specific site. Sorting and prioritizing the various factors which contribute to the success of a particular clean-up can be daunting. Furthermore, non-technical factors, such as those in the legal, political, or financial realm, may also influence which technology is ultimately chosen. Most in situ treatment methods are effective in permeable soil. However, much of Indiana soil is low-permeability, so …

Blind Pedestrians And Their Ability To Navigate Indiana Intersections – A Review Of The Technology Available For Audible Signals, Robert Bertram Jacko

JTRP Technical Reports

Accessible pedestrian signals (APS) that combine audible and vibrotactile signals to a blind or visually impaired and/or disabled pedestrian for both locational and navigational information are available for purchase and installation “off the shelf”. APS systems that have a locating tone produce an audible language statement when it is safe to begin crossing the intersection as well as a vibrating activation button for the hard of hearing and an audible status count-down for the crossing pedestrian are available now. Purdue University has retrofitted two campus intersections with audible, vibrotactile APS and the intersections are regularly used by blind students. Discussions …

Freight Flows Of Indiana, William R. Black

JTRP Technical Reports

Using data primarily from the 1997 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) this report develops a series of models for estimating the production and attraction of 41 different SCTG commodity groups for 145 geographic units in the United States; 92 of these are the counties of Indiana. This is followed by the calibration of fully-constrained gravity models for the flow of these commodities. Using modal share data from the CFS the generated traffic is divided between the various modes. This project looked primarily at the highway sector and used digital representations of these networks for traffic assignment purposes. A very detailed Indiana …

A Survey On Networking Games In Telecommunications, E. Altman, T. Boulogne, R. El-Azouzi, T. Jiménez, Laura Wynter

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In this survey, we summarize different modeling and solution concepts of networking games, as well as a number of different applications in telecommunications that make use of or can make use of networking games. We identify some of the mathematical challenges and methodologies that are involved in these problems. We include here work that has relevance to networking games in telecommunications from other areas, in particular from transportation planning.

Parameter Inference Of Queueing Models For It Systems Using End-To-End Measurements, Laura Wynter, Cathy H. Xia, Fan Zhang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

As Information Technology (IT) matures and expands in the scope of available applications, IT systems increase at a fascinating rate in both size and complexity. For example, today, a typical Web service hosting center may have hundreds of nodes and dozens of different applications simultaneously running on it. Each of the nodes in turn has often multiple processors and layered caches. These nodes make use of both local and shared storage systems. The size and complexity of such systems make performance modeling much more difficult, if at all tractable. Detailed modeling, fine tuning and accurate analysis can be carried out …

Chirp Signaling Offers Modulation Scheme For Underwater Communications, Edit J. Kaminsky

Electrical Engineering Faculty Publications

Information contained in the slope of chirp signals can be employed for digital underwater acoustic communications across a broad range of applications.

Fuzzy-Neural Cost Estimation For Engine Tests, Edit J. Kaminsky, Holly Danker-Mcdermott, Freddie Douglas

Electrical Engineering Faculty Publications

This chapter discusses artificial computational intelligence methods as applied to cost prediction. We present the development of a suite of hybrid fuzzy-neural systems for predicting the cost of performing engine tests at NASA’s Stennis Space Center testing facilities. The system is composed of several adaptive network-based fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS), with or without neural subsystems. The output produced by each system in the suite is a rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost estimate for performing the engine test. Basic systems predict cost based solely on raw test data, whereas others use preprocessing of these data, such as principal components and …