Engineering Commons^™

Electrospun Chitosan Nanofibers For Virus Removal, Bingyu Bai

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Electrospinning uses electrostatic forces to create nanofibers that are far smaller than conventional fiber spinning process. Nanofibers made with chitosan were created and techniques to control fibers diameter and were well developed. However, the adsorption of porcine parvovirus (PPV) was low. PPV is a small, nonenveloped virus that is difficult to remove due to its size, 18-26 nm in diameter, and its chemical stability. To improve virus adsorption, we functionalized the nanofibers with a quaternized amine, forming N-[(2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammonium) propyl] chitosan chloride (HTCC). This was blended with additives to increase the ability to form HTCC nanofibers. The additives changed the viscosity …

A Pseudo Spot Price Of Electricity Algorithm Applied To Environmental Economic Active Power Dispatch Problem, Celal Yaşar

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

In this study, an environmental economic active power dispatch problem is transformed into an optimization problem with a single-objective function by applying the weighted sum method (WSM) and the conic scalarization method (CSM). A pseudo spot price of electricity algorithm (PSPA) is used to solve the transformed problem. This is demonstrated on an example problem, which is a lossy electrical power system having only thermal units The WSM and CSM methods are applied to the example problem, and the weight factor values of these methods is increased from 0 to 1 by a step size of 0.1. For each possible …

Identification Of Starry Milia-Like Cysts In Seborrheic Keratoses And Malignant Melanomas Using Image Processing Techniques, Viswanaath Subramanian

Masters Theses

"Seborrheic keratoses are the most common benign tumors found in older individuals. Seborrheic keratoses are normally benign in nature, but sometimes in a large lesion area of seborrheic keratoses, secondary tumors, or squamous cell carcinoma in situ or malignant melanoma may occur. It has been found that seborrheic keratoses have a few features that distinguish them from melanomas. Milia-like cysts, comedo-like openings and network-like structures are the most prominent features found in seborrheic keratoses. Comedo-like openings are pigmented structures and are mostly oval yellowish, brown or black in appearance. They can also be observed in melanocytic lesions and melanomas. Milia-like …

Investigation On A Gas-Solid Fluidized Bed Hydrodynamics Using A Non-Intrusive Technology To Visualize Flow Field, Md Rashedul Hasan Sarker

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The biggest challenge for 21st century is to fulfill global energy demand and at the same time reduce detrimental impact on environment. Gasification technology can meet the requirement and also reduce emission without compromising its performance. In coal gasification, instead of burning coal completely a partial combustion takes place with presence of steam and limited amount of oxygen. In this controlled environment a chemical reaction takes place and produces a mixture of clean synthetic gas. Gas-solid fluidized bed is one type of gasification technology. During gasification mixing behavior of solid (coal) and gas and their flow pattern very complicated to …

Water Mass Balances For The Rio Grande/Bravo From Fort Quitman, Texas To Foster Ranch Near Langtry, Texas: An Assessment Of Factors, Ramiro Lujan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Water availability is declining in many regions of the planet, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Water bodies located in these regions, like the Rio Grande/Bravo at the U.S. - Mexico border, are subjected to high water demands. This research project makes an assessment of the spatial and temporal variability of elements intervening in the water mass balance for the section of the Rio Grande/Bravo between Fort Quitman and Langtry, Texas during the time period extending from January 1990 through December 2005. This document mentions the main Rio Grande/Bravo stakeholders from the U.S. and Mexico, and describes issues related …

Calling For Justice In The Goldfields Of Tanzania, Madoshi H. Makene, Jody Emel, James T. Murphy

Geography

Tanzania is the third largest gold exporter in Africa, thanks in part to the liberalization of the mining sector which started in the early 1990s. Neoliberal mining reforms promised a win-win situation in which government, investors and local host communities would benefit through export earnings, profits, local employment, andcorporate social responsibility initiatives (e.g., the building of schools and clinics). While the rising price of gold and foreign investments in mining activities have delivered on some of these promises, many residents in mining regions have not benefited socioeconomically. Worse still, their communities have unjustly borne the brunt of the environmental, social, …

Economics, Innovations, Technology, And Engineering Education: The Connections, John M. Ritz, P. Scott Bevins

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Throughout history the success of economies around the world has in large part been influenced by technological growth and innovations. Along with such growth and innovations came higher living standards and an improved quality of life for citizens residing and participating in those economies. However, not all countries were able to grow and develop at the same rate, resulting in considerable differences in economic welfare across populations. As nations around the world address the 21st century, economic growth and prosperity for some nations will depend upon how well their citizens are equipped and motivated to seek new technological discoveries and …

Shake Table Testing Of A Utility-Scale Wind Turbine, Ian Prowell, Chia Ming Uang, Ahmed Elgamal, J. Enrique Luco, Lanhui Guo

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Shake table tests were undertaken on a full-scale wind turbine (65-kW rated power, 22.6-m hub height, and 16-m rotor diameter) using the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table at the University of California, San Diego. Structural response characteristics and modal parameters are presented for base shaking imparted in two configurations, both parallel (configuration 1) and perpendicular (configuration 2) to the axis of rotation of the rotor. Results are summarized for a series of progressively stronger motions imparted in configuration 1, with analysis identifying damage sources leading to an overall loss in stiffness. Two sources of …

Evaluation Of A Prototype Desktop Virtual Reality Model Developed To Enhance Electrical Safety And Design In The Built Environment, Martin Barrett, Jonathan Blackledge

Articles

The use of Desktop Virtual Reality (VR) systems for enhancing electrical safety and engineering design is a novel prospect for both practicing and student electrical services engineers. This innovative approach, which can be readily accessed via the World Wide Web, constitutes a marked shift in conventional learning and design techniques to a more immersive, interactive and intuitive working and learning environment. This paper initially identifies the unique characteristics of desktop web based VR technologies and highlights the educational affordances offered by working in such an environment. Subsequently, using a prototype model titled ‘Virtual Electrical Services’, a case study is carried …

Non-Gaussian Anisotropic Diffusion Processing For Medical Imagining Using The Osirix Dicom Viewer, Jonathan Blackledge, Matthew Blackledge, Jane Courtney

Articles

Medical imaging is a fertile area for computer graphics, image processing and real time visualization. In this paper we present a method for reducing noise in CT (Computed Tomography) and MR (Magnetic Resonance) images that (in addition to other noise sources) is characteristic of the numerical procedures required to construct the images, namely, the (inverse) Radon Transform. In both cases, MR imaging in particular, an additional noise source is due to the process of diffusion thereby predicating use of the Anisotropic Diffusion method for noise suppression. This method is based on a diffusion model for noise generation where the Diffusivity …

Analysis Of Wind Velocity And The Quantification Of Wind Turbulence In Rural And Urban Environments Using The Levy Index And Fractal Dimension, Jonathan Blackledge, Eugene Coyle, Niall Mccoy, Derek Kearney, Keith Sunderland, Thomas Woolmington

Articles

This paper is concerned with a quantitative and comparative analysis of wind velocities in urban and rural environments. It is undertaken to provide a route to the classification of wind energy in a rural and urban setting. This is a common problem and the basis of a significant focus of research into wind energy. In this paper, we use a non-Gaussian statistical model to undertake this task, and, through a further modification of the data analysis algorithms used, extend the model to study the effect of wind turbulence, thereby introducing a new metric for this effect that is arguably superior …

An Assessment Of Phosphorus Recovery From Dairy Wastewater, Éanna Kelleher

Theses

Phosphorus is an important nutrient for plant and animal life. It is one of the three essential nutrients required for plant growth; Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. It plays a vital role in the quality and structure of plants. In animals it is essential for the transfer of energy around the body and for the development of the skeleton. Phosphorus is mined from deposits of phosphate rock and is mainly used to produce fertiliser which is applied to agricultural land to improve plant growth. However, phosphorus is a finite resource and, similar to oil, is expected to peak during this century. …

Life Cycle Cost Analysis Under Ireland's Capital Works Management Framework, Dermot Kehily, Alan Hore

Conference papers

The Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) is a structure that has been developed to deliver the Irish government’s objectives in relation to public sector construction procurement reform. This research provides practical guidance and assistance for construction cost professionals in carrying out Whole Life Cycle Cost Analysis (WLCCA) and producing Life Cycle Cost Models(LCCMs) under the CWMF. The research outlines how LCCA calculations can be carried out for cost planning purposes and recommends a standard methodology for presenting LCCMs under the CWMF. The CWMF states that Whole Life Costs (WLC) are an important consideration throughout the design process and should be …

Field And Laboratory Comparison Of The Hydraulic Performance Of Two Ceramic Pot Water Filters, Duncan Peabody

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Currently 884 million people worldwide are living without access to an improved source of drinking water (WHO/UNICEF, 2011). Piped-water on premises is the ultimate goal of World Health Organization (WHO) due to the ability to treat all of the water and distribute it safely in pressurized pipes. However, Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS) is an option for improving the quality of drinking water where that infrastructure is not yet developed, especially where there is a risk of recontamination between point of collection and point of use (Clasen, 2006).

This study analyzed one such HWTS, the ceramic pot water …

Maximum Power Point Tracking Control Of Hydrokinetic Turbine And Low-Speed High-Thrust Permanent Magnet Generator Design, Hailong Zhou

Masters Theses

"River-based hydrokinetic turbine power generation systems have been studied to introduce an effective energy flow control method. Hydrokinetic turbine systems share a lot of similarities with wind turbine systems in terms of physical principles of operation, electrical hardware, and variable speed capability for optimal energy extraction. A multipole permanent magnet synchronous generator is used to generate electric power because of its ability to reach high power density and high thrust at low speed. A 3-phase diode rectifier is used to convert AC power from the generator into DC power and a boost converter is used to implement energy flow control. …

Fractal Oxidation Kinetics And Risk Evaluation Of Spontaneous Combustion In Coal Mines, Yutao Zhang

Doctoral Dissertations

"The spontaneous combustion of coal occurs when air supply is sufficient for the oxidation of coal and air velocity is insufficient for the dissipation of generated heat. Spontaneous combustion, if not eradicated immediately, may lead to coal ignition and even a full-blown fire. The fire may engulf a large area and spread further if they are not immediately attended to. This will not only endanger miners and mining operations, but also result in possible mine closures and even fatalities.

Porous structure has a significant effect on coal adsorption and spontaneous combustion. In this research, fractal theory was utilized to quantitatively …

Glycerin Reformation In High Temperature And Pressure Water, Jason W. Picou

Doctoral Dissertations

"The noncatalytic reformation of glycerin in supercritical water was studied in a Haynes 282 tubular reactor. In order to determine which parameters were the most influential, a 2³ experimental matrix was conducted, with temperatures of 500 and 700⁰C, water/glycerin molar ratios of 3:1 and 13:1, and residence times of 30 and 90 seconds, all at a pressure of 24 MPa. It was found that temperature had the largest effect on the two gasification parameters deemed most important, gasification percentage and hydrogen yield. Based on this, the effect of temperature was further investigated by looking at 5⁰C intervals from 500 to …

Dynamic Model-Based Systems Engineering Using Xml Metadata Interchange, Dustin Scott Nottage

Masters Theses

"Designing systems presents an engineer with numerous design choices based on multiple conditions and constraints. Base camp planning must take into account the number of soldiers, the permanency of the base, the location of the base, etc. To help alleviate the complexity of constructing a base camp, a model-based systems engineering approach is used. This method creates and integrates models for all of the facilities that can make a base camp, as well as interactions between facilities and required utilities for each. The goal is to have a camp design, and then solve a system of equations to solve for …

Effects Of Coal Comminution In Relation To Waterjet And Selected Feed Properties, Yaqing Li

Masters Theses

"The necessity to develop a viable alternative to oil means that the development of coal-water fuels (CWF) has become increasingly important. However, the existing methods of comminution to prepare ultrafine particles for CWF are very inefficient. Consequently, a number of novel methods of comminution have been investigated in order to increase the efficiency of the process.

In this research, a new method of comminution using a high-pressure waterjet has been tested to produce ultrafine particle sizes necessary for efficient CWF process. To establish the fundamental performance of the waterjet mill, the influence of the operational pressure, standoff distance, feed size, …

The Value Of Modeling And Simulation Standards, Andrew J. Collins, David Meyr, Solomon Sherfey, Andreas Tolk, Mikel Petty

VMASC Publications

In the current economic climate, there is a requirement to justify all government spending by demonstrating the added-value that the expenditure gives. Modeling and Simulation (M&S) community is not exempted from this rule. This paper focuses on attempts to value standards and demonstrates that even though a myriad of different standards exist in the United States today, no one has "cracked the nut" on determining their value. This does not mean that standards are without value. The paper highlights their importance to our society and human development as a whole. Thus if we cannot give a value to M&S standards, …

Magnetic Cell Separation By Inkjet Printing For Disease Monitoring, Sylvia Lucia Natividad

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The standard analysis technique for cell sorting, flow cytometry, requires centralized facilities such as tertiary Medical Centers. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) Statistics, in this country alone, more than 35 million people live in medically underserved areas, many of which need access to diagnostic procedures for proper management of their diseases. A cell sorting technique that can be done in low-resource settings at a decreased cost to the medical organization and the patient has been developed through this research project. By combining inkjet printing technology and magnetic labeling of …