Engineering Commons^™

Multiplexing H.264 Video With Aac Audio Bit Streams, Demultiplexing And Achieving Lip Synchronization During Playback, Harishankar Murugan

Electrical Engineering Theses - Archive

H.264, MPEG-4 part-10 or AVC [5], is the latest digital video codec standard which has proven to be superior than any early standards in terms of compression ratio, quality, bit rates and error resilience. However, the standard just defines a video codec and has no mention of any audio compression. In order to have a meaningful delivery of the video to the end user, we need to associate an audio stream along with it. AAC (advanced audio coding) [1] is the latest digital audio codec standard defined in MPEG-2 and later in MPEG-4 with few changes. The audio quality of …

Transcoding From H264 Bitstream To Mpeg-2 Bitstream, Sreejana Sharma

Electrical Engineering Theses - Archive

H.264/AVC was recently developed by the JVT (Joint Video Team). This new standard fulfills significant coding efficiency, simple syntax specifications and seamless integration of video coding into all current protocols and multiplex architectures. The H.264 specification represents a significant advancement in the field of video coding technology by providing MPEG-2 comparable video quality at an average of half the required bandwidth. Since widespread use of H.264 is anticipated, many legacy systems including all Digital TVs and home receivers use MPEG-2. This leads to the need for an efficient architecture that significantly employs the lower cost of H.264 video and does …

A Piecewise Linear Classifier, Abdul Aziz Abdurrab

Electrical Engineering Theses - Archive

A piecewise linear network is discussed which classifies N-dimensional input vectors. The network uses a distance measure to assign incoming input vectors to an appropriate cluster. Each cluster has a linear classifier for generating class discriminants. A training algorithm is described for generating the clusters and discriminants. A pruning algorithm is also described. The algorithm is applied after the network has grown completely, i.e, it has achieved the maximum number of clusters. The pruning algorithm eliminates the least important clusters, one at a time, leading to a more compact network. Theorems are given which relate the network's performance to that …

Rna Gene Finding With Biased Mutation Operators, Jennifer A. Smith

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The use of genetic algorithms for non-coding RNA gene finding has previously been investigated and found to be a potentially viable method for accelerating covariance-model-based database search relative to full dynamic-programming methods. The mutation operators in previous work chose new alignment insertion and deletion locations uniformly over the length of the model consensus sequence. Since the covariance models are estimated from multiple known members of a non-coding RNA family, information is available as to the likelihood of insertions or deletions at the individual model positions. This information is implicit in the state-transition parameters of the estimated covariance models. In the …

Variable Regularized Fast Affine Projections, Steven L. Grant, Asif Iqbal Mohammad, Deepak Challa

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper introduces a variable regularization method for the fast affine projection algorithm (VR-FAP). It is inspired by a recently introduced technique for variable regularization of the classical, affine projection algorithm (VR-APA). In both algorithms, the regularization parameter varies as a function of the excitation, measurement noise, and residual error energies. Because of the dependence on the last parameter, VR-APA and VR-FAP demonstrate the desirable property of fast convergence (via a small regularization value) when the convergence is poor and deep convergence/immunity to measurement noise (via a large regularization value) when the convergence is good. While the regularization parameter of …

Fabrication And Compressive Behavior Of Corrugated Aramid-Epoxy Cellular Solids, Jeffrey Arthur Schneider

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Cellular solids are materials whose base material does not always occupy the entire solid fraction available. A number of cellular solids can provide blast protection and absorb impact energy, but few perform well resisting blunt object (ballistic) penetration. In this thesis, a method is proposed for fabricating cellular solids from aramid-epoxy composites that can absorb impact energy and resist blunt object penetration. The aramid-epoxy samples were fabricated using wet-layup techniques, with two different styles of Kevlar 49 woven fabric in a variety of orientations. Test sample density ranged from 0.08 0.23 g/cm3. Different lamination orientations, assembly techniques, and bonding adhesives …

Investigation Of Magnetic Field Profile Effects In Hall Thrusters, Oren Kornberg

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this study was to show the relationship of different magnetic field profiles to the acceleration region length of a Hall thruster. The general transport equations were simplified and solved using a one-dimensional analysis. Some of the model assumptions include quasineutrality, Maxwellian electrons, and negligible thruster wall effects. The solved equation kept magnetic field as an input to the model for the analysis. The magnetic field was altered by changing the shape through the thruster, while keeping the maximum point fixed, and by shifting the profile, while keeping the shape fixed. Results indicate a strong correlation between the …

Operations-Oriented Performance Measures For Freeway Management Systems: Year 1 Report, Robert E. Brydia, William H. Schneider, Stephen P. Mattingly, Melanie L. Sattler, Auttawit Upayokin

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications - Archive

This report describes the year 1 activities on the project titled “Using Operations-Oriented Performance Measures to Support Freeway Management Systems.” Work activities included a comprehensive statewide survey on the use of performance measurement, as well as the initial recommendation on both operations and emissions-oriented performance measures to use in support of daily operations.

Stated Preference Modeling And Analysis Of Managed Lanes, Kaveh Farokhi Sadabadi

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

The thesis deals with the Managed Lanes demand estimation problem in the state of Texas. Managed Lanes are a general type of High Occupancy Toll roads, whose lane management and operational features may be dynamically adjusted. A stated preference survey is designed in both English and Spanish to collect the required data. Each survey taker is presented with up to four scenarios. Scenarios are defined in terms of travel times in Managed Lanes versus General Purpose Lanes, as well as, the toll charged for access to the Managed Lane. Respondents were asked to choose among three modes and two lane …

Impulse, Kyle Johnson, Cindy Rickeman, Denise Watt

Impulse (Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering Publication)

Features:
[Page] 2 'Historic Day' at Jerome Lohr Structures Lab: October 25, 2006, is a day Nadim Wehbe will long remember.
[Page] 4 Jason Zemlicka: A former city road crew worker helps with bridge girder testing.
[Page] 5 Mountain Plains Consortium: SDSU accepted into a regional university transportation center.
[Page] 6 Turning grass into gas: Mechanical engineers help in researching new energy source.
[Page] 8 Weapons research: SDSU, four partners developing fatigue odometer sensor for military.
[Page] 9 A Ph.D. in ME?: The State Legislature is being asked to approved a doctorate in mechanical engineering.
[Page] 10Homestake Mine: SDSU has …

Stormwater Effectiveness Of An Operating Green Roof Stormwater Treatment System And Comparison To Scaled Down Green Roof Stormwater Treatment System Chambers (2007), Martin Wanielista, Mike Hardin

BMP Trains Research and Publications

This report presents the results of a successful operating green roof in the state of Florida. The green roof is located on the Student Union building at the University of Central Florida. This green roof has thrived for more than two years hosting more than 50 tours educating architects, engineers, and policy makers on the many benefits green roofs provide.

Comparison of this full sized operating green roof stormwater treatment system with scaled down green roof stormwater treatment system chambers showed that the full size system can be described by the previously reported equivalent experimental chamber data. Thus the experimental …

A Functional Link Network Using Ordered Basis Functions, Saurabh Sureka

Electrical Engineering Theses - Archive

A new function approximation and classification network based on Functional Link Network (FLN) with orthonormal Polynomial Basis Functions (PBF) is presented. By using an iterative Gram-Schmidt procedure, the PBF's are orthonormalized, ordered and selected based on their contribution to minimize the Mean Square Error (MSE). Linearly dependent and less useful PBF are detected and eliminated at an early stage thereby improving the approximation capabilities and reducing the possibility of combinatorial explosion. The number of passes through the data during network training is minimized through the use of correlations. A one-pass method is used for validation and network sizing. Equivalent function …

Engineering@Nebraska - Spring 2007

Engineering@Nebraska (Alumni Magazine)

Table of Contents:

From the Dean
Letters
Faculty Profile—Longtime Professor is a Student Again: Electrical engineering professor Khalid Sayood is taking science courses to learn how to use his expertise in data patterns for biomedical purposes.
Front and Center
A Little Luck, A Lot of Work: Three alumni share what it’s like to run their own companies.
COVER STORY: Rebuilding New Orleans: Construction faculty and students from Omaha are helping the Esplanade Ridge neighborhood recover from Hurricane Katrina.
Magic in the Making: Lance Pérez’s wireless sensor network could make it possible for more people to live independently after an accident …

Uncertainty And Error In Laser Triangulation Measurements For Pipe Profiling, Michael Kenneth Swanbom

Doctoral Dissertations

Underground pipeline infrastructure often receives insufficient attention and maintenance. Those responsible for ensuring the continuing functionality of this infrastructure primarily use subjective information in their decision making, and standards defining the level of damage acceptable before repair or replacement are difficult to implement. Laser pipe profiling is a relatively new technology that has emerged to take a step toward the objective assessment of buried assets. A laser profiler is a device that traverses a section of pipe, taking measurements of radius around the circumference of the inner pipe wall at multiple locations along the length of the pipe. The accuracy …

Code-Level Modeling Of The Hodgkin -Huxley Neuron Model Using An Open Source Version Of Spice, Anthony Stuart Carver

Doctoral Dissertations

There have been numerous studies presented in the literature demonstrating proof of principle neural-electronic circuitry. Some of these studies involve simulations of neural detection using synthetic electronic circuitry, while others involve simulations of neural excitation using external electronics. A common feature of these studies is the simplicity of the overall circuit topology. Some of these studies implement the circuit equations in conventional numerical ordinary differential equation solvers. This process involves the algebraic manipulation of the circuit equations which is a tedious process for all but the simplest circuit topologies. As the overall complexity of the network topology increases, the numerical …

Growth And Behavior Of Chondrocytes On Nano Engineered Surfaces And Construction Of Micropatterned Co-Culture Platforms Using Layer-By-Layer Platforms Using Layer -By -Layer Assembly Lift-Off Method, Jameel Shaik

Doctoral Dissertations

Several approaches such as self-assembled monolayers and layer-by-layer assembled multilayer films are being used as tools to study the interactions of cells with biomaterials in vitro. In this study, the layer-by-layer assembly approach was used to create monolayer, bilayer, trilayer, five, ten and twenty-bilayer beds of eleven different biomaterials. The various biomaterials used were poly(styrene-sulfonate), fibronectin, poly-L-lysine, poly-D-lysine, laminin, bovine serum albumin, chondroitin sulfate, poly(ethyleneimine), polyethylene glycol amine, collagen and poly(dimethyldiallyl-ammonium chloride) with unmodified tissue-culture polystyrene as standard control. Three different cell lines—primary bovine articular chondrocytes, and two secondary cell lines, human chondrosarcoma cells and canine chondrocytes were used in …

Electrical Characterization Of A Second-Gate In A Silicon-On-Insulator Transistor, Antonio Oblea

McNair Scholars Research Journal

As an independent double-gate, silicon-on-insulator transistor, the Flexfet^TM is suited for a wide range of applications in analog and digital circuitry. This study investigates the ability of the JFET bottom-gate to adjust and control several parameters in the Flexfet^TM as well as shield against performance degradation due to substrate biasing. The device parameters under investigation include drive current, leakage current, and threshold voltage. The newly assigned F-factor describes the ability of Flexfet^TM’s bottomgate to adjust the threshold voltage. Flexfet^TM exhibits nearly a 10x and 3.5x increase in drive current for the nMOS and pMOS devices, …

Investigation Of Single Pmosfet Gate Oxide Degradation On Nor Logic Circuit Operability, David Estrada

McNair Scholars Research Journal

The impact of gate oxide degradation of a single pMOSFET on the performance of the CMOS NOR logic circuit has been examined using a switch matrix technique. A constant voltage stress of -4.0V was used to induce a low level of degradation to the 2.0nm gate oxide of the pMOSFET. Characteristics of the CMOS NOR logic circuit following gate oxide degradation are analyzed in both the DC and V-t domains. The NOR gate rise time increases by approximately 30%, which may lead to timing or logic errors in high frequency digital circuits. Additionally, the voltage switching point of the NOR …

Implementation Of Static And Semi-Static Versions Of A 24+8x8 Quad-Rail Null Convention Multiply And Accumulate Unit, R. Sankar, V. Kadiyala, S. Kumar, S. Mohan, F. Kacani, Waleed K. Al-Assadi, Scott C. Smith, Ravi Bonam

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper focuses on implementing a 2s complement 8x8 dual-rail bit-wise pipelined multiplier using the asynchronous null convention logic (NCL) paradigm. The design utilizes a Wallace tree for partial product summation, and is implemented and simulated in VHDL, the transistor level, and the physical level, using a 1.8V 0.18mum TSMC CMOS process. The multiplier is realized using both static and semi-static versions of the NCL gates; and these two implementations are compared in terms of area, power, and speed.

Impact-Induced Damage Characterization Of Composite Plates Using Neural Networks, Steve Eugene Watkins, Farhad Akhavan, Rohit Dua, K. Chandrashekhara, Donald C. Wunsch

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Impact-induced damage in fiber-reinforced laminated composite plates is characterized. An instrumented impact tower was used to carry out low-velocity impacts on thirteen clamped glass/epoxy composite plates. A range of impact energies was experimentally investigated by progressively varying impactor masses (holding the impact height constant) and varying impact heights (holding the impactor mass constant). The in-plane strain profiles as measured by polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric sensors are shown to indicate damage initiation and to correlate to impact energy. Plate damage included matrix cracking, fiber breakage, and delamination. Electronic shearography validated the existence of the impact damage and demonstrated an actual damage …

Application Of Neural Networks For Data Modeling Of Power Systems With Time Varying Nonlinear Loads, Joy Mazumdar, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, Ronald G. Harley

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Nowadays power distribution systems typically operate with nonsinusoidal voltages and currents. Harmonic currents from nonlinear loads propagate through the system and cause harmonic pollution. The premise of IEEE 519 is that there exists a shared responsibility between utilities and customers regarding harmonic control. Maintaining reasonable levels of harmonic voltage distortion depends upon customers limiting their harmonic current injections and utilities controlling the system impedance characteristics. Measurements of current taken at the point of common coupling (PCC) to a customer are expected to determine whether the customer is in compliance with IEEE 519. These measurements yield the combination of nonlinear load …

Assessment Of Preliminary Design Approaches For Metallic Stiffened Cylindrical Shell Instability Problems, Vicki Owen Britt

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A preliminary design tool for metallic stiffened fuselage cylindrical panels subjected to longitudinal compression has been developed and validated by comparison to test results. Several methodologies for stiffened panel buckling and failure predictions were examined and evaluated. An appropriate level of analysis fidelity was determined for different failure modes and design details. Results from panel tests conducted to verify analytical methods used to design the Gulfstream V aircraft were presented. The panels were representative of four general skin/stringer configurations on the aircraft. Finite Element analyses and standard analytical methods were used to predict panel failure loads. The accuracy of the …

Simulation And Modeling Of Nerve Impulse Propagation And Its Blockage By External Electrical Stimulation, Nidhi Nahar

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The electric nature of biological tissues permits the transmission of signals for information and for control and is, therefore, of vital importance for life. The latest scientific achievements and nanoscale probing techniques now allow scientists to research at the subcellular level by measuring the electric current flows through a single ion channel of the cell membrane with the patch-clamp method. With the latter approach, the effects of electrical stimulation can be quantified, understood, and applied to molecular biology and the development of medical diagnostic and therapeutic methods.

In this thesis, the Hodgkin-Huxley approach for unmyelinated fibers, coupled with a transmission …

Long-Range Target Classification In A Cluttered Environment Using Multi-Sensor Image Sequences, Cenk Yaman

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Accurate identification of unknown contacts is crucial in military intelligence. Automated systems which quickly and accurately determine the identity of a contact could be a benefit in backing up electronic signal identification methods such as Identification Friend and Foe (IFF) systems. Radio Detection and Ranging (RADAR) images are often undesirable in military applications since they reveal the location of the imaging system. So we explore the use of visible and infrared images of which are generally more consistent than RADAR images and for which it is easy to compensate for environmental effects. Recent advances in visible and IR imaging technology …

An Exploratory Study Of Iso 9001:2000 Quality Management Systems Using The Iso/Iec 15504 Architecture, Paul Richard Shimp

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this paper is to provide an exploratory study on the implementation and issues regarding Quality Management Systems as defined by ISO 9001 :2000 using the architecture of ISO/IEC 15504. The recently published ISO/IEC 15504 series of standards provides a framework to assess processes and determine levels of capability. With the use of this framework, the study will focus on the assessment and identification of problem areas requiring focus for continual improvement within an ISO 9001 :2000 quality management system.

The structure of this paper is as follows: Section 1 provides a background discussion of ISO 9001 :2000. …

Bactericidal Effects Of Cold Plasma Technology On Geobacillus Stearothermophilus And Bacillus Cereus Microorganisms, Angela Dawn Morris

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

Non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma, also known as cold plasma, is a state of matter that consists of a mix of neutral and charged particles. Plasma generates chemically reactive species and ultraviolet radiation making them useful in decontamination applications (Kong & Laroussi, 2003). Research regarding the inactivation of gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus atrophaeus, by cold plasma has been studied by Laroussi et al. (2003); however, there is limited research regarding the germicidal effectiveness of cold plasma on the microorganisms Geobacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus cereus. The purpose of this study was to determine if cold plasma technology inactivates heat …

Development Of An Acoustic Measurement Capability For Automobile Testing In Open-Jet Wind Tunnels, Brianne Y. Williams

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Automobile aeroacoustics is still in its beginning stages. Understanding where control of the noise sources is addressed using mainly exploratory experimental methods and idealized models. The difficulty of reducing noise levels lies in the mechanisms that generate noise. Sound sources are generated from unsteady aerodynamics which arises from turbulent boundary layers and from regions of separated flow over the vehicle. These regions are subjected to unsteady pressures which are interpreted by the driver as undesirable noise. In order to reduce the noise around an automobile, the individual sources are best identified by . performing full-scale wind tunnel testing. This identification …

Discrepancy In Determination Of Chi Parameters By Melting Point Depression Versus Small-Angle Neutron Scattering In Blends Of Deuterated Polycarbonate And Isotactic Poly(Methyl Methacrylate), Thein Kyu, Rushikesh A. Matkar, Dong Soo Lim, Chechian Ko

College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering

The discrepancy in the chi interaction parameters of deuterated polycarbonate/isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) blends as determined by the melting point depression approach and the small-angle scattering technique is reported. We have modified the Flory diluent theory by removing the inherent assumption of complete rejection of the solvent from the crystal solid by taking into consideration the crystal-amorphous, amorphous-crystal, and crystal-crystal interactions. The discrepancy in chi values obtained by the two methods is discussed.

A Correlation Between Velocity Profile And Molecular Weight Distribution In Sheared Entangled Polymer Solutions, Pouyan E. Boukany, Shi-Qing Wang

College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering

In this work we attempt to answer several questions concerning the flow characteristics of entangled polymer solutions in a sliding plate shearing cell. We explore (a) how the molecular weight distribution affects the velocity profile in simple shear, (b) whether the observed shear banding is consistent with a nonmonotonic constitutive model, (c) whether the flow response and velocity profiles are different in simple shear depending on the different modes of shear. Our results provide a comparison with recent reports on a polydisperse polymer sample [Tapadia and Wang, Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 016001 (2006); Tapadia, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, …

Wimax Software Defined Radio, Assad Saleem

Masters Theses

As processors and configurable devices are getting faster and smaller, they are giving rise to better solutions for various communications systems and standards. In this paper, the implementation of a software defined radio for WiMAX is presented. This paper highlights the system model for simulation to achieve better understanding of the system, which was developed in MATLAB. Also, included in the paper is the discussion of the physical implementation of this communication system. The system is build around National Instruments’ PCI 5640 hardware which features a Xilinx Virtex-II FPGA. Naturally, LabVIEW was the tool used to implement the hardware/software co-design.