Engineering Commons^™

Evaluation Of Swine-Specific Pcr Assays Used For Fecal Source Tracking And Analysis Of Molecular Diversity Of Swine-Specific "Bacteroidales" Populations, Regina Lamendella, Jorge W. Santo Domingo, Anthony C. Yannarell, Shreya Ghosh, Giovanni George Di, Roderick Ian Mackie, Daniel B. Oerther

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this study, we evaluated the specificity, distribution, and sensitivity of Prevotella strain-based (PF163 and PigBac1) and methanogen-based (P23-2) PCR assays proposed to detect swine fecal pollution in environmental waters. The assays were tested against 222 fecal DNA extracts derived from target and nontarget animal hosts and against 34 groundwater and 15 surface water samples from five different sites. We also investigated the phylogenetic diversity of 1,340 "Bacteroidales" 16S rRNA gene sequences derived from swine feces, swine waste lagoons, swine manure pits, and waters adjacent to swine operations. Most swine fecal samples were positive for the host-specific Prevotella-based PCR assays …

Orbital Propagators For Horizon Simulation Framework, Mitra Farahmand

Master's Theses

This thesis describes the models of four common orbital propagators and outlines the process of integrating them into the Horizon Simulation Framework (HSF). The results of the Two-Body, J2, and J4 propagators from the HSF are then compared against the outcomes of these propagators in MATLAB and Satellite Toolkit (STK). The MATLAB algorithms verify the functionality of the propagators and determine the accuracy of the HSF implementation. The compassion against STK validates the formulation of the HSF propagators. In order to equip the HSF with a more precise means of orbit determination, adding the Simplified General Perturbations 4 (SGP4) propagator …

Initial Framework For Measuring And Evaluating Heuristic Problem Solving, Zhisheng Huang, Annette Ten Teije, Frank Van Harmelen, Gaston Tagni, Hansjorg Neth, Lael Schooler, Sebastian Rudolph, Pascal Hitzler, Tuvshintur Tserendorj, Yi Huang, Danica Damljanovic, Angus Roberts

Computer Science and Engineering Faculty Publications

One of the key aspects in the development of LarKC is how to evaluate the performance of the platform and its constituent components in order to guarantee that the execution of a pipeline will match the user’s needs and provide the desired solutions (answers) to the user’s queries. Therefore, in this deliverable, the first in a series three documents concerned with the definition of a Framework for Measuring and Evaluating Heuristic Problem Solving, we make the first steps towards defining such framework by considering the theoretical foundations and principles of evaluation and measurement theory, discussing several important aspects related to …

3510-V 390-M Omega . Cm(2) 4h-Sic Lateral Jfet On A Semi-Insulating Substrate, Chih-Fang Huang, Cheng-Li Kan, Tian-Li Wu, Meng-Chia Lee, Yo-Zthu Liu, Kung-Yen Lee, Feng Zhao

Faculty Publications

The performance of high-voltage 4H-SiC lateral JFETs on a semi-insulating substrate is reported in this letter. The design of the voltage-supporting layers is based on the charge compensation of p- and n-type epilayers. The best measured breakdown voltage is 3510 V, which, to the authors' knowledge, is the highest value ever reported for SiC lateral switching devices. The R-on of this device is 390 m Omega . cm(2), in which 61% is due to the drift-region resistance. The BV2/R-on is 32 MW/cm(2), which is typical among other reported SiC lateral devices.

Self-Authentication Of Audio Signals By Chirp Coding, Jonathan Blackledge, Eugene Coyle

Conference papers

This paper discusses a new approach to ‘watermarking’ digital signals using linear frequency modulated or ‘chirp’ coding. The principles underlying this approach are based on the use of a matched filter to provide a reconstruction of a chirped code that is uniquely robust in the case of signals with very low signal-to-noise ratios. Chirp coding for authenticating data is generic in the sense that it can be used for a range of data types and applications (the authentication of speech and audio signals, for example). The theoretical and computational aspects of the matched filter and the properties of a chirp …

An Experimental Study Of The Impact Of Using Multi-Radio In Wlan Mesh Networks, Chenzhe Zhang, Karol Kowalik, Mark Davis

Conference papers

Next-generation wireless mobile communications will be driven by converged networks that integrate disparate technologies and services. Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) are expected to be one of the next generation of wireless interconnection technologies, providing flexible high bandwidth wireless backhaul over large geographical areas. While single radio mesh nodes operating on a single channel suffer from capacity constraints, equipping mesh routers with multiple radios using multiple non-overlapping channels can significantly alleviate the capacity problem and increase the aggregate bandwidth available to the network. However, it is well known that multi-radio Mesh platforms face many limitations such as interference, radiation leakage, crosstalk …

An Electrooculogram-Based Binary Saccade Sequence Classification (Bssc) Technique For Augmentative Communication And Control, Johnalan Keegan, Ted Burke, James Condron

Conference Papers

In the field of assistive technology, the electroocu-logram (EOG) can be used as a channel of communication and the basis of a man-machine interface. For many people with severe motor disabilities, simple actions such as changing the TV channel require assistance. This paper describes a method of detecting saccadic eye movements and the use of a saccade sequence classification algorithm to facilitate communication and control. Saccades are fast eye movements that occurs when a person's gaze jumps from one fixation point to another. The classification is based on pre-defined sequences of saccades, guided by a static visual template (e.g. a …

Analysis Of Traffic Crash Data In Kentucky (2004 – 2008), Eric R. Green, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents an analysis of traffic crash data in Kentucky for the years of 2004 through 2008. A primary objective of this study was to determine average crash statistics for Kentucky highways. Average and critical numbers and rates of crashes were calculated for various types of highways in rural and urban areas. These data can be used in Kentucky’s procedure to identify locations that have abnormal rates or numbers of crashes.

The other primary objective of this study was to provide data that can be used in the preparation of the problem identification portion of Kentucky’s Annual Highway Safety …

Dielectric Nanocomposites: An Inside-Out Approach To Storing Electrostatic Energy, Stephen Ducharme

Stephen Ducharme Publications

The ability to achieve high-energy densities is the central challenge in energy storage and recovery. A promising strategy for increasing energy storage is to use highperformance dielectric materials, such as highly polarizable nanoparticles or polymers, or nanocomposites of the two. In this issue, Kim et al. use a molecular coating and clever chemistry to combine oxide nanoparticles with a polymer matrix, thereby producing an improved nanocomposite dielectric. Some advantages and challenges of using nanocomposites as improved dielectric materials are presented in this Perspective.

Classification Of Organic Soils, Pao-Tsung Huang, Mital Patel, Maria Caterina Santagata, Antonio Bobet

JTRP Technical Reports

The presence of organics in soils is generally associated with high compressibility, significant secondary compression, often unsatisfactory strength characteristics, and low unit weight. As a result of the above, many state DOTs (Departments of Transportation) in the United States have strict limits on the maximum value of the organic content (2-7%) that can be present in soils to be used as sub grades and backfills. The loss on ignition test is the most widely used technique for measuring organic content. However, especially for low organic content soils, this method can lead to significantly overestimate the true organic content. As a …

An Elaborate Data Set Characterizing The Mechanical Response Of The Foot, Ahmet Erdemir, Pavana A. Sirimamilla, Jason P. Halloran, Antonie J. Van Den Bogert

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Mechanical properties of the foot are responsible for its normal function and play a role in various clinical problems. Specifically, we are interested in quantification of foot mechanical properties to assist the development of computational models for movement analysis and detailed simulations of tissue deformation. Current available data are specific to a foot region and the loading scenarios are limited to a single direction. A data set that incorporates regional response, to quantify individual function of foot components, as well as the overall response, to illustrate their combined operation, does not exist. Furthermore, the combined three-dimensional loading scenarios while measuring …

Rayleigh Flow Of Two-Phase Nitrous Oxide As A Hybrid Rocket Nozzle Coolant, Lauren May Nelson

Master's Theses

The Mechanical Engineering Department at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo currently maintains a lab-scale hybrid rocket motor for which nitrous oxide is utilized as the oxidizer in the combustion system. Because of its availability, the same two-phase (gas and liquid) nitrous oxide that is used in the combustion system is also routed around the throat of the hybrid rocket’s converging-diverging nozzle as a coolant. While this coolant system has proven effective empirically in previous tests, the physics behind the flow of the two-phase mixture is largely unexplained. This thesis provides a method for predicting some of its …

Spacecraft Attitude Control (Mission Design), Norhizam Hamzah

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Norhizam Hamzah titled "Spacecraft Attitude Control (Mission Design)" from September 10, 2009.

Turkish Satellite Technology Applications For Sustainable Development And Capacity Building, Burcu Dikmen

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Burcu Dikmen titled "Turkish Satellite Technology Applications for Sustainable Development and Capacity Building" from September 8, 2009.

The Role Of Education In Small Satellite Programmes, Olaleye Salu

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint presentation created by Olaleye Salu titled "The Role of Education in Small Satellite Programmes" from September 9, 2009.

Chemical-Free Iron Removal And Disinfection Unit Of Drinking Water For Single House Application, Michael O'Hehir

Masters

The supply of safe drinking water is a major worldwide problem. In the developed world the frequency of water related problems are increasing The shortage of fresh water supply is as a result of pollution from industrial, agricultural and natural disasters. To make water suitable for human consumption, it must first be treated. However, consumers do not always receive potable water even after public treatment. In some cases the consumer must treat the water being supplied to them, or have to source their own water from private wells and treat it prior to use. The purpose of this research was …

Defining A Framework For Knowledge Sharing In A Dynamic Sales Oriented Organisation, Joern Hussock

Dissertations

The analysts of Datamonitor describe the knowledge management and collaboration as 2009 trends to watch. Why is collaboration and KM so important? It can be managed for unstructured business processes through sharing knowledge, best practices and experience on the business process context, soliciting feedback on problem resolution, seeking support from colleagues or communicating with other partner and customer communities. The challenge for organisations, especially for sales oriented teams is finding a way of structured managing and supporting the combination of the benefits based on the exchange of information in already existing unstructured activities in collaborative environments. This research aims to …

Anomaly Detection In Hyperspectral Imagery: Comparison Of Methods Using Diurnal And Seasonal Data, Patrick C. Hytla, Russell C. Hardie, Michael T. Eismann, Joseph Meola

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The use of hyperspectral imaging is a fast growing field with many applications in the civilian, commercial and military sectors. Hyperspectral images are typically composed of many spectral bands in the visible and infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and have the potential to deliver a great deal of information about a remotely sensed scene. One area of interest regarding hyperspectral images is anomaly detection, or the ability to find spectral outliers within a complex background in a scene with no a priori information about the scene or its specific contents. Anomaly detectors typically operate by creating a statistical background …

The Influence Of Work Of Fracture On Six Orthodontic Bonding Systems, Tyler S. Pritchard

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Introduction: Bonding is the primary method of attaching brackets to teeth in modem orthodontics. Thus, many studies have focused on the maximum shear bond strength values of orthodontic adhesives. In contrast, very little research has been performed considering the work of fracture of orthodontic bonding systems. Work of Fracture is defined as the area under the curve of a stress-strain graph. Previous shear bond strength studies measured the force necessary to produce bond failure. The purpose of this study was to measure the maximum shear force and displacement of six bonding systems and to calculate the work of fracture.

Materials …

Worker Injury Prevention Strategies, Carlos A. Ferreira-Diaz, Alma Torres-Zapata, Christopher A. Nanovic, Dulcy M. Abraham

JTRP Technical Reports

As the trend of increased highway construction and/or rehabilitation continues to grow, the public often demands that delays in work zones be kept to a minimum. Thus, the flow of traffic through the construction zone must be maintained while performing pavement maintenance/ repair/ reconstruction activities. At the same time, the safety of personnel and property in highway construction work zones must be ensured. Three types of risks are encountered by construction and maintenance workers in construction workzones: (a) risks due to underprotection or lack of protection against potential hazards (including lack of hearing protection, eye protection, respiratory protection); (b) effect …

Unmanned Aircraft System Propulsion Systems Technology Survey, Christopher Griffis, Timothy Wilson, Jeffrey Schneider, Peter Pierpont

Publications

This technology survey is an investigation of various propulsion systems used in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Discussed are existing and near-future propulsion mechanisms of UAS, such as reciprocating piston engines, Wankel rotary engines, gas turbine engines, rocket-powered systems, electric motors, and battery-based systems. Also discussed are systems that use proton exchange membrane fuel cells, photovoltaics, ultracapacitors, and propellers. Each system is described in reference to a larger conceptual framework, with instances and profiles of existing UAS employing the system being described. Advantages and disadvantages of each type of propulsion system are identified along with associated technical issues and their respective …

Heavy-Fueled Intermittent Ignition Engines: Technical Issues, Jeffrey Arthur Schneider, Timothy Wilson, Christopher Griffis, Peter Pierpont

Publications

This report contains an overview of the technology and engineering issues with nonturbine heavy-fueled engines for general aviation aircraft and Unmanned Aircraft Systems. In recent years, interest in these types of engines has grown, partly due to the cost, safety, and worldwide availability of gasoline fuels. Within 3 to 5 years, up to five engines will seek Federal Aviation Administration certification as heavy-fuel powerplants. Although there has been some progress, there is no universal standard for certification of these engines (under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 33), or their installation into normal category fixed-wing aircraft or rotorcraft …

Optical Acquisition And Polar Decomposition Of The Full-Field Deformation Gradient Tensor Within A Fracture Callus, Wangdo Kim, Sean S. Kohles

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Tracking tissue deformation is often hampered by material inhomogeneity, so local measurements tend to be insufficient thus lending to the necessity of full-field optical measurements. This study presents a novel approach to factoring heterogeneous deformation of soft and hard tissues in a fracture callus by introducing an anisotropic metric derived from the deformation gradient tensor (F). The deformation gradient tensor contains all the information available in a Green-Lagrange strain tensor, plus the rigid-body rotational components. A recent study [Bottlang et al., J. Biomech. 41(3), 2008] produced full-field strains within ovine fracture calluses acquired through the application of electronic speckle pattern …

Design Of Experiments As A Means Of Lean Value Delivery To The Flight Test Enterprise, Aaron A. Tucker, Cihan H. Dagli

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Modern flight test tends to be a complex, expensive undertaking, so any increases in efficiency would result in considerable savings. Lean thinking is an effective method to identify value and eliminate waste and is particularly effective when applied to the entire flight test enterprise. Design of experiments is a statistical methodology that results in highly efficient flight test where only the samples needed are collected and analyzed. the application of design of experiments to flight test's value stream can result in a significant increase in lean value to the stakeholders and a reduction of waste. Design of experiments uses objective, …

Emerging Nonequilibrium Bound State In Spin-Current-Local-Spin Scattering, Fatih Dogan, Lucian Covaci, Wonkee Kim, Frank Marsiglio

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Magnetization reversal is a well-studied problem with obvious applicability in computer hard drives. One can accomplish a magnetization reversal in at least one of two ways: application of a magnetic field or through a spin current. The latter is more amenable to a fully quantum-mechanical analysis. We formulate and solve the problem whereby a spin current interacts with a ferromagnetic Heisenberg spin chain, to eventually reverse the magnetization of the chain. Spin flips are accomplished through both elastic and inelastic scattering. A consequence of the inelastic-scattering channel, when it is no longer energetically possible, is the occurrence of a nonequilibrium …

Reliability Analysis For The Advanced Electric Power Grid: From Cyber Control And Communication To Physical Manifestations Of Failure, Ayman Z. Faza, Sahra Sedigh, Bruce M. Mcmillin

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The advanced electric power grid is a cyber-physical system comprised of physical components, such as transmission lines and generators, and a network of embedded systems deployed for their cyber control. The objective of this paper is to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the reliability of this cyber-physical system. The original contribution of the approach lies in the scope of failures analyzed, which crosses the cyber-physical boundary by investigating physical manifestations of failures in cyber control. As an example of power electronics deployed to enhance and control the operation of the grid, we study Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) devices, which are …

Methods For Calculating Coronary Perfusion Pressure During Cpr, Michael P. Otlewski, Leslie A. Geddes, Michael Pargett, Charles F. Babbs

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) is a major indicator of the effectiveness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in human and animal research studies; however methods for calculating CPP differ among research groups. Here we compare the 6 published methods for calculating CPP using the same data set of aortic (Ao) and right atrial (RA) blood pressures. CPP was computed using each of the 6 calculation methods in an anesthetized pig model, instrumented with catheters with Cobe pressure transducers. Aortic and right atrial pressures were recorded continuously during electrically induced ventricular fibrillation and standard CPR. CPP calculated from the same raw data set by …

Evaluation Of Regression Ensembles On Drug Design Datasets, M. Fatih Amasyali, Okan Ersoy

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technical Reports

Studies on drug design datasets are continuing to grow. These datasets are usually known as hard modeled, having a large number of features and a small number of samples. The most common problems in the drug design area are of regression type. Committee machines (ensembles) have become popular in machine learning because of their high performance. In this study, dynamics of ensembles on regression related drug design problems are investigated on a big dataset collection. The study tries to determine the most successful ensemble algorithm, the base algorithm-ensemble pair having the best / worst results, the best successful single algorithm, …

Design And Applications Of Drilled Displacement (Screw) Piles, Prasenjit Basu, Monica Prezzi

JTRP Technical Reports

Drilled displacement (DD) piles (commonly known as „screw piles‟ in Europe) are being increasingly used as foundation elements for structures, particularly in projects requiring accelerated construction or involving the rehabilitation of foundations of existing, overstressed structures. Different types of DD piles are available in practice; each type is classified according to the design of the drilling tool and associated installation method. Installation of DD piles causes substantial changes in the state of the soil surrounding the pile. These changes result from the complex loading imposed on the soil by expansion of a cylindrical cavity to make room for the specially …

Automated Vehicle Location (Avl) For Road Condition Reporting, Bob G. Mccullouch, Michelle Leung, Wonjin Kang

JTRP Technical Reports

This project developed an AVL system for INDOT that utilized the statewide wireless network, SAFE-T. This option was chosen after doing a cost analysis of commercial AVL systems that use cellular data communications. The system developed provides real time information collected during snow and ice removal. Information includes weather and road conditions, truck speed, amount of chemicals spread, time, location, plow position, and road temperature. This information is displayed on INDOT GIS maps available through a browser on the INDOT network. The data is also transferred to the MDSS that INDOT uses in winter activities. This system experienced significant data …