Engineering Commons^™

Phosphate And Thermal Stabilization Of Heavy Metals In Dredged Sediments, Peter Kuria Ndiba

Dissertations

Treatment and reuse of dredged harbor sediments in construction as an alternative to disposal reduces costs and conserves resources. This research focused on leachability of metal contaminants subsequent to phosphate addition and thermal treatment at 700 °C. X- ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) in combination with principal component analysis, target transformation, and linear combination revealed that in the untreated sediments Zn precipitated as the relatively soluble smithsonite (ZnCO₃) (67%) and adsorbed to hydrous iron oxides (15%) and hydrous manganese oxides (18%). Phosphate addition and calcination resulted in sparingly soluble phases, hopeite (Zn₃₍PO₄)₂.4H_{2 …}

Enhanced Fluidization Of Nanoparticle Agglomerates, Daniel Lepek

Dissertations

Gas fluidization of nanoparticle agglomerates has recently received much attention due to the excellent way in which these novel nanornaterials can be dispersed in a gaseous medium. Nanopowders have a very high surface area to volume ratio which allows them have unique chemical and physical properties especially at the surface. Fluidization is a popular technique for the continuous dispersal of solid materials in the fluidlike state.

Recently it has been found that nanoparticles exist in a highly agglomerate state which allow them to become fluidizable. The fluidization behavior of the nanopowders is dependent on the bulk and material properties of …

Characterization Of Natural Organic Matter And Precursors To Trihalomethanes Using Spectral Flourescence Signatures, Krit Punburananon

Dissertations

Disinfection is an essential process to kill pathogens (i.e., disease causing organisms) in source water during the production of drinking water. Chlorine is most widely used disinfectant because it is effective, affordable, and also provides chlorine residual to ensure that the water is safe through the distribution system. Nonetheless, chlorine reacts with Natural Organic Matter (NOM) and forms potentially carcinogenic Disinfection By-products (DBPs). The major chlorination DBPs are dominantly Trihalomethanes (THMs). However, not all organic compounds are equally reactive to THMs formation.

NOM in water samples collected from the Delaware & Raritan Canal and its tributaries (Central New Jersey) was …

Optimizing Fare Structure And Service Frequency For An Intercity Transit System, Feng-Ming Tsai

Dissertations

This study presents an approach to jointly optimize service headway and differentiated fare for an intercity transit system with an objective of total profit maximization and with consideration given to the economic and social sustainability of the system. Service capacity and fleet size constraints are considered. The optimization problem is structured into four scenarios which are comprised of the combinations of whether the Ranges of Travel Distance (RTD) is fixed or variable and if the time period is for a single period or for multiple periods. A successive substitution method (specifically, a modified Gauss Southwell method) is applied to solve …

Kinematic Synthesis Of Planar Four Bar And Geared Five Bar Mechanisms With Structural Constraints, Yahia Mohammad Al-Smadi

Dissertations

In motion generation, the objective is to calculate the mechanism parameters required to achieve or approximate a set of prescribed rigid-body positions. This doctoral dissertation study is aimed to integrate the classical kinematic analysis of a planar four-bar and geared five-bar motion generation with three structural design constraints. These constraints consider driving link static torque, deflection of the crank and buckling of the follower for a given rigid-body load or constant external load.

This kineto-elastostatic analysis is based on the following assumptions to be considered during the analysis; the crank and the follower are elastic members and the coupler is …

A Novel Storage Area Network (San) Extension Solution Over Passive Optical Networks (Pons), Si Yin

Dissertations

After 9/11 and the 2003 power grid failure in North America, storage area network (SAN) extension has emerged as a critical option to ensure business continuity. However, SAN extension encounters challenges in the access network including the scalability, cost, bandwidth bottleneck, and throughput. In this dissertation, a new solution, SAN extension over passive optical networks (S-PONs), has been proposed to address the above problems. PONs are the mainstream wireline technology for upgrading the megabit-level access solutions (such as xDSL and Cable Modem) into gigabit-level broadband access. To tackle the scalability problem and cost challenge, the S-PON architecture has been designed …

Aptamer-Based Nano-Scale Dielectric Sensor For Protein Detection, Teena James

Theses

The specific detection and precise quantification of protein molecules play an essential role in basic discovery research as well as in clinical practice. In this research work, a novel protein detection mechanism based on nanoscale dielectric sensor functionalized with aptamer probes is developed. This work has been done in collaboration with Rational Affinity Devices LLC. The use of aptamer based detection offers several advantages over the traditional labor intensive antibody based immunosensing. In the initial phase of the work, the binding affinities of rationally designed oligomers towards a specific protein molecule (IgG) was studied and optimized under varying conditions of …

Preparation Of Nanovehicles For Targeted Drug Delivery, Anagha Avinash Bhakay

Theses

Application of nanotechnology in pharmaceutical research has opened new frontiers for drug development and its efficient delivery. In recent years, the focus of the research has been on the engineering of nano/micro-particulate structures for efficient and targeted delivery of drugs for selective and enhanced absorption. This work throws light on the preparation of biodegradable and non-toxic nanoparticulate systems for targeted drug delivery. The drug vehicles were made by two different processes namely electrostatic interactions and desolvation process. The drug carriers made by these processes were found to be in the size range of 150-200nm which is necessary for cellular uptake …

Deciphering The Biology Of Axon Stretch-Growth, Joseph R. Loverde

Theses

Traditional nerve regeneration strategies focus on growth cone-mediated growth, a form of nerve growth that occurs primarily during embryogenesis. Early axons continue to grow from the end distal to the soma, seeking targets on which to synapse. It is believed that once the axons synapse, stretch-growth takes over and is responsible for the great lengths achieved by nerves of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Recent work has demonstrated stretch-growth in vitro resulting in dramatically increased growth rates compared to the growth cone. Here, the aim was to decipher the underlying biology associated with axon stretch-growth using two approaches. First, …

Nano-Structured Platforms As A Spectroscopic Tool, Ruiqiong Li

Theses

Nano-structured platforms have been studied for the purpose of enhancing weak fluorescence signals. Each platform was constructed as a thin oxide layer on top of a metal (aluminum) The oxide was perforated with hexagonal array of nano-holes. The pitch of the array was much smaller than the optical wavelengths used. Surface charge waves (Surface Plasmons) could be excited when the platform was oriented at specific direction with respect to the incident optical beam. At this point one can demonstrate that fluorescence signals could be amplified. Since the oxide (alumina) is bio-compatible, one can envision using such platforms in the study …

Finger Walking Control Of A Two-Dimensional Walking Model Through Inverse Kinematics, Jordan Ratcliff

Theses

Those people who have spinal cord injuries (SCI) must remain in wheelchairs due to disruption of the neural signaling to their muscles. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) has proved itself to be an option for restoring some motion and some walking for the patient. Electrodes can either be placed on the skin or muscle to provide an electrical impulse that stimulates the muscles into contraction. Current systems provide buttons that use set functions for left and right steps with constant direction and size. It is desired however that the user be allowed a more natural and variable control method of controlling …

Dual Parametric Sensors For Highly Sensitive Nucleic Acid Detection, Manu Sebastian Mannoor

Theses

The primary focus of this research work was on the design and development of a molecular scale (nano-scale) capacitive sensing mechanism for the highly sensitive and label-free detection of Nucleic Acid hybridization. These novel capacitive sensors with nano-scale electrode spacing offer solutions to many problems suffered by the conventional signal transduction mechanisms, thereby immensely improving the sensitivity of the biomolecular detection processes. Reducing the separation between the capacitive electrodes to the same scale as the Debye length of the sample solution, results in the overlapping of the electrical double layers of the two electrodes, thereby confining them to occupy a …

Evaluation Of Medical Alarm Sounds, Elizbha Philip

Theses

Auditory alarms in medical equipments perform considerably below their optimal level. Concern has been expressed about the quality of medical alarms by a large number of researchers in recent years. A detailed literature survey on the medical alarm related problems has been carried out. Hospital visits were made to obtain real life information and data of alarm sounds in various type of monitors used in OR and ICU. A laboratory experiment has been conducted on selected melodic alarm sounds. These melodic alarm sounds are being implemented in medical equipments and the idea of design is proposed in ISO / IEC …

Study And Development Of Ultrasound Monitoring Of Skeletal Defects, Kavil Patel

Theses

Fatigue fractures are fine disruptions of normal bone architecture whose identification is often unreliable or difficult using x-rays (Robinson, Wilson et al.; Kundel 2004; Swischuk and Hernandez 2004). A fatigue fracture results from the application of abnormal loads to a bone with normal elastic resistance and is associated with new or different activity, and strenuous or repeated activity. The feasibility of using ultrasound to detect and monitor fatigue fractures and other structural damage in bone was established in this study.

The use of Low Transient Pulse (LTP) technology to drive the ultrasound transducers proved to enhance detection resolution and quality …

Assessing Trainer Hand Forces For Manual Body Weight Supported Walking, Manish Raval

Theses

Spinal cord injuries occur in approximately 12,000 to 15,000 people per year in the U.S. About 10,000 of these people are permanently paralyzed. Most spinal cord traumas occur in young, healthy individuals. Males between 15 and 35 years old are most commonly affected.

Recently new approaches to facilitate walking recovery for individuals after a spinal cord injury, have been directed towards a therapy known as Locomotor Training (LT) that implements repetitive stepping on a treadmill using body weight support. A major intent of LT research is to investigate the effect of an extended period of LT on bilateral muscle activation …

Comparing Stent Design Using Computational Fluid Dynamics To Predict Wall Shear Stress Based Parameters, Jonathan Murphy, Fergal Boyle

Conference Papers

No abstract provided.

Ceas E-News 01.29.2009, College Of Engineering And Applied Sciences

College of Engineering and Applied Sciences News

Sunseeker 295 retires again ... this time to the Air Zoo

Light Extraction Improvement Of Gan-Based Light Emitting Diodes Using Patterned Undoped Gan Bottom Reflection Gratings, Simeon Trieu, Xiaomin Jin, Bei Zhang, Tao Dai, Kui Bao, Xiang-Ning Kang, Guo-Yi Zhang

Electrical Engineering

The Gallium Nitride (GaN) Light-Emitting-Diode (LED) bottom refection grating simulation and results are presented. A microstructure GaN bottom grating, either conical holes or cylindrical holes, was calculated and compared with the non-grating (flat) case. A time monitor was also placed just above the top of the LED to measure both time and power output from the top of the LED. Many different scenarios were simulated by sweeping three parameters that affected the structure of the micro-structure grating: unit cell period (A) from 1 to 6 microns, unit cell width (w) from 1 to 6 microns, and …

Valley Degeneracies In (111) Silicon Quantum Wells, Neerav Kharche, Seongmin Kim, Timothy B. Boykin, Gerhard Klimeck

Birck and NCN Publications

(111) silicon quantum wells have been studied extensively, yet no convincing explanation exists for the experimentally observed breaking of sixfold valley degeneracy into two- and fourfold degeneracies. Here, systematic sp(3)d(5)s(*) tight-binding and effective mass calculations are presented to show that a typical miscut modulates the energy levels, which leads to breaking of sixfold valley degeneracy into two lower and four raised valleys. An effective mass based valley-projection model is used to determine the directions of valley minima in tight-binding calculations of large supercells. Tight-binding calculations are in better agreement with experiments compared to effective mass calculations.

Performance Study Of Series Loaded Resonant Converter Using Super Barrier Rectifiers, Taufik, Michael Mccarthy, Scott Watkins, Makbul Anwari

Electrical Engineering

In power electronics efficiency improvement is constantly being sought out through venues such as improved topologies or improved devices. Series loaded resonant (SLR) DC-DC converter is a type of soft-switching topology widely known for providing improved efficiency. This paper investigates the efficiency and transient performance of SLR when a new type of diode called Super Barrier Rectifier^TM is being used. The design of SLR, results from computer simulations, and hardware measurements will be discussed. The efficiency measurements from all conduction modes in SLR using three types of diodes (pn, schottky, and SBR) will be presented along with transient study …

Experimental Harmonic Analysis Of A Network Of Adjustable Speed Drives, Makbul Anwari, M.I. M. Rashid, M. Imran Hamid, Taufik

Electrical Engineering

Harmonic analysis of a network of Adjustable Speed Drives (ASDs) has been experimentally investigated. A small-scale laboratory of the network of two ASDs connected to two induction motors was setup. Load of motor 1 was fixed while load of motor 2 was varied. In the experiment, measurements have been done at both side of power transformer to analyze power system harmonic.

Mechanical Characterization Of Nanocomposite Cdse Quantum Dot – Meh-Ppv Polymer Thin Films Via Nanoindentation, Edward Mccumiskey

Theses and Dissertations

Progress in the burgeoning field of organic electronics is enabling the development of novel technologies such as low-cost, printable solar cells and flexible, high-resolution displays. One exciting avenue of research in this field is nanostructured hybrid organics such as quantum dot (QD)-polymer devices. The incorporation of QDs can greatly improve a device’s efficiency and gives one the ability to tune its electrical and optical characteristics. In order for such technologies to be commercially viable, it is important to classify their mechanical integrity and reliability. Surprisingly little is known about the mechanical properties of QD-polymer thin films (<100 nm). This is in part due to challenges of: (1) isolating the mechanical response of a thin film from the underlying substrate, (2) obtaining a homogeneous dispersion of QDs in the film, and (3) the sensitivity of mechanical properties to the inherent rate dependence of polymer deformation (i.e., viscoelasticity). All of these challenges can introduce significant errors in the measurement of mechanical properties. Furthermore, the deformation mechanisms in nanocomposites are not well understood, so it is difficult to predict the effect of adding QDs on the mechanical behavior of films. In this thesis, these challenges are addressed for characterizing the mechanical properties of thin films of CdSe QD-poly[2-methoxy-5-2(2΄-ethylhexyloxy-p-phenylenevinylene)] (MEH-PPV) nanocomposites using quasi-static nanoindentation testing. Elastic modulus, hardness, and creep are measured as a function of QD concentration and loading and unloading rates. The QDs' ligands are removed by pyridine treatment prior to mixing with MEH-PPV to improve dispersion. The films are prepared via spin-coating onto glass substrates and subsequent annealing in air. Efforts are taken in the mechanical testing to minimize errors due to viscoelastic creep and interference from the substrate. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that the QDs are relatively well-dispersed in the polymer matrix. It is observed that adding QDs increases the elastic modulus (E) and hardness (H) of the films, while reducing the viscoelastic creep. Both E and H increase linearly with the volume percent of QDs. E ranges from 14.5 GPa to 52.7 GPa for pure MEH-PPV (0% QDs) and 100% QD films, respectively, while H ranges from 220 MPa to 1430 MPa for the same films, respectively. The films behave viscoelastically at lower QD loading, but assume a more granular character as the loading approaches 100%.

Reconfigurable Communication Systems For Cubesats Xat-52100-Pre-001-Uvigo.Inta, Gabriel Gonzalez Fernandez, Fernando Aguado-Agelet, Cesar Martinez-Fernandez

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Gabriel González Fernández, Fernando Aguado-Agelet, and César Martínez-Fernández titled "Reconfigurable communication systems for CubeSats XAT-52100-PRE-001-UVIGO.INTA" from January 22, 2009.

A System Approach For A Double Cubesat, Sindre Persen, Anton Bolstad

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Sindre Persen and Anton Bolstad titled "A system approach for a double CubeSat" from January 22, 2009.

Cubesat Technology Demonstration Mission, Tanya Vladimirova, Christopher Bridges, Saad Malik, Muhammad Fayyaz, Muhammad Owais, Adeel Shahzeb, Robert Barnes, Asim Qureshi, Jean Paul, Guoxia Yu, Abdul-Halim Jallad, Martin Sweeting

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Tanya Vladimirova, Christopher Bridges, Saad Malik, Muhammad Fayyaz, Muhammad Owais, Adeel Shahzeb, Robert Barnes, Asim Qureshi, Jean Paul, Guoxia Yu, Abdul-Halim Jallad and Martin Sweeting titled "CubeSat Technology Demonstration Mission" from January 22, 2009.

Analysing Multi‐Mission Capability In Cubesat Design, Steve Greenland

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint presentation created by Steve Greenland titled "Analysing multi‐mission capability in CubeSat design" from January 22, 2009.

Novel Electric Propulsion Technology Demonstration On Estcube-1 Mission, Urmas Kvell

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Urmas Kvell titled "Novel electric propulsion technology demonstration on EstCube-1 mission" from January 22, 2009.

Xatcobeo Engineering Process Xat-20000-Pre-001-Uvigo.Inta, Jorge Iglesias, Ricardo Tubio, Fernando Aguado, Cesar Martinez, Estefania Sarmiento, Ivan Lora

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint presentation created by Jorge Iglesias, Ricardo Tubío, Fernando Aguado, César Martínez, Estefanía Sarmiento, and Iván Lora titled "Xatcobeo Engineering Process XAT-20000-PRE-001-UVIGO.INTA" from January 21, 2009.

Canadian Advanced Nanospace Experiment 2: On-Orbit Experiences, Michael Greene, Guy De Carufel

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint presentation created by Michael Greene and Guy de Carufel titled "Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment 2: On-orbit Experiences" from January 21, 2009.

Move: The Munich Orbital Verification Experiment, Technische Universität München – Lehrstuhl Für Raumfahrttechnik / Institute Of Astronautics

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint presentation created by the Technische Universität München – Lehrstuhl für Raumfahrttechnik / Institute of Astronautics titled "MOVE: The Munich Orbital Verification Experiment" from January 21, 2009.