Engineering Commons^™

Multidimensional Spectroscopy Of Semiconductor Quantum Dots, Jason Michael Bylsma

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The coherent properties of semiconductor nanostructures are inherently difficult to measure and one-dimensional spectroscopies are often unable to separate inhomogeneous and homogeneous linewidths. We have refined and improved a method of performing multidimensional Fourier transform spectroscopy based on four-wave

mixing (FWM) experiments in the box geometry. We have modified our system with broadband beamsplitters in all interferometer arms, high-resolution translation stages and the ability to work in reflection geometry. By improving the phase-stability of our setup and scanning pulse delays with sub-optical cycle precision, we are able to

reproduce 2DFT spectra of GaAs multiple quantum wells. With the FWM signal …

Time-Weighted Average Spme Analysis For In Planta Determination Of Cvocs, Emily M. Sheehan, Matt A. Limmer, Philipp Mayer, Ulrich Gosewinkel Karlson, Joel Gerard Burken

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Potential of Phytoscreening for Plume Delineation at Contaminated Sites Has Promoted Interest in Innovative, Sensitive Contaminant Sampling Techniques. Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME) Methods Have Been Developed, Offering Quick, Undemanding, Noninvasive Sampling Without the Use of Solvents. in This Study, Time-Weighted Average SPME (TWA-SPME) Sampling Was Evaluated for in Planta Quantification of Chlorinated Solvents. TWA-SPME Was Found to Have Increased Sensitivity over Headspace and Equilibrium SPME Sampling. using a Variety of Chlorinated Solvents and a Polydimethylsiloxane/carboxen (PDMS/CAR) SPME Fiber, Most Compounds Exhibited Near Linear or Linear Uptake over the Sampling Period. Smaller, Less Hydrophobic Compounds Exhibited More Nonlinearity Than Larger, More …

Electro-Luminescent Area Illumination Device, Michael E. Miller, Ronald S. Cok

AFIT Patents

An electro-luminescent area illumination device that includes two or more area emitters formed on a substrate. Each of the two or more area emitters emit light having different area illumination profiles.

Understanding Design Requirements For Building Reliable, Space-Based Fpga Mgt Systems Based On Radiation Test Results, Kevin M. Ellsworth

Theses and Dissertations

Space-based computing applications often demand reliable, high-bandwidth communication systems. FPGAs with Mulit-Gigabit Transceivers (MGTs) provide an effective platform for such systems, but it is important that system designers understand the possible susceptibilities MGTs present to the system. Previous work has provided a foundation for understanding the susceptibility of raw FPGA MGTs but has fallen short of testing MGTs as part of a larger system. This work focuses on answering the questions MGT system designers need to know in order to build a reliable space-based MGT system. Two radiation tests were performed with a test architecture built on the Aurora protocol. …

Rainwater Harvesting Storage Methods And Self Supply In Uganda, Jonathan Peter Blanchard

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Self supply is an emerging approach to water supply which focuses on fostering household investment in incremental improvements to their water sources. When successful, it can lower costs and increase sustainability by offering users a larger share

of ownership in their own supply, and harnessing the already existing strengths of a community rather than trying to impose an external perspective. In addition to well upgrading and source protection, one of the key self supply areas is rainwater harvesting.

Uganda has a diverse selection of rainwater storage options, but many of them are scattered and disparate.

The objective of this study …

Novel Encapsulation Of Oxidizer Applied To Galvanic Cells: Aluminum / H2o2 Galvanic Cell As A Case Study, Marlyn Colon

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The work presented in this thesis aims to address the obstacles that side reactions create in aluminum / H2O2 galvanic cells by proposing to control the cathodic reactant, H2O2, via encapsulation. Encapsulation of the cathodic reactant is achieved utilizing a non-ionic surfactant vesicle (i.e. niosome). Once encapsulated, a second control element over the cathodic reactant is provided. The use of a polymer will be implemented to achieve stability and render further control over the encapsulated H2O2 solution. Implementation of the proposed novel cathodic control system in aluminum / H2O2 galvanic cells aims to minimize aluminum consumption and increase cell efficiency. …

Willingness-To-Pay For Maintenance And Improvements To Existing Sanitation Infrastructure: Assessing Community-Led Total Sanitation In Mopti, Mali, Justin Vern Meeks

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, much focus has been put on the sustainability of water and sanitation development projects. Experts in this field have found that many of the projects of the past have failed to achieve sustainability because of a lack of demand for water and sanitation interventions at a grassroots level. For years projects looked to create this demand through various subsidy schemes, with the "software" of behavior change and education taking a backseat to the "hardware" of infrastructure provision. Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) is a fairly new way of looking at the issues of increasing basic sanitation coverage, promoting …

Poster Session, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

• Western Kentucky Deep Saline Reservoir CO₂ Storage Test: Shallow Groundwater Monitoring Results, E. Glynn Beck and others, Kentucky Geological Survey
• Baseline Soil Properties of a Central Kentucky Riparian Buffer, Amanda Gumbert and others, Dept of Plant and Soil Science, UK
• The Kentucky Water Well Driller’s Certification Program, Scotty E. Robertson and David A. Jackson, Kentucky Division of Water, Frankfort, KY
• Influences of Cladophora Bloom on the Diets of Amblema plicata and Elliptio dilatata in the Upper Green River, Kentucky, Jennifer M. Yates and others, Dept of Biology, Western Kentucky University
• Using Electrical Resistivity to Locate …

Session 2c, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

• The Developing Need for the Regulation of Geothermal Closed Loop Borehole Installations, David A. Jackson, Kentucky Division of Water, Frankfort, KY
• Strategies for Effective Management and Mitigation of Nonpoint Source Pollution within Wellhead Protection Areas, Jessica Moore and others, Kentucky Division of Water, Frankfort, KY
• Status and Early Findings at the Kentucky Horse Park Monitoring Station, James C. Currens and others, Kentucky Geological Survey
• Fluid Evolution in Cambrian-Ordovician Knox Group Reservoirs, Marty Parris and M.W. Bradley, Kentucky Geological Survey and USGS, Tennessee Water Science Center, Nashville, TN
• Simulating Long-Term Fate of CO₂ for a Western …

Technology Trends And Predictions: Is A Flying Car In Our Future?, Carol A. Watson

Continuing Legal Education Presentations

Discusses the future of legal research and technologies that are currently available for law offices. Highlights current technology trends and predictions and the latest innovations in courtroom technology. Concludes with a list of general technology predictions that will hopefully provide food for thought and generate excitement about the coming prospects of technology.

Session 2b, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

• Agriculture Producer Responses to Government-Funded Conservation Programs to Address Water Quality, Wuyang Hu and others, Dept of Agricultural Economics, UK
• Abatement Costs for Agricultural Non-Point Source Polluters, Jack Schieffer and others, Dept of Agricultural Economics, UK
• Point Source Polluters in the Kentucky River Watershed and the Potential for Water Quality Trading, Ron Childress and others, Dept of Agricultural Economics, UK
• Point Source Abatement Costs and Preferences for Trading Market Mechanisms in the Kentucky River Watershed, Andrew McLaughlin and others, Dept of Agricultural Economics, UK

Session 2a, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

• The Potential for Using a P Loss Model to Improve the Accuracy of the Kentucky Phosphorus Index, Carl H. Bolster, USDA-ARS, Bowling Green, KY
• Additive State Space Model – A Promising Approach to Water- Quality-Related Treatment Experiments in Heterogeneous Landscapes, Ole Wendroth, Dept of Plant and Soil Sciences, UK
• Development and Application of Numeric Interpretations of Kentucky’s Narrative Water Quality Standards for Nutrients, Lara Panayotoff, Kentucky Division of Water, Frankfort, KY
• Arsenic Removal in Reactor Systems, Aniruddha Dastidar and Y.T. Wang, Watershed Management Branch and Dept of Civil Engineering, UK
• Trends in Water Quality Issues for …

Session 1c, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

• The Effects of Prescribed Fire on Amphibian and Reptile Diversity in an Oak-Grassland Restoration Area, Robert Knopp and Howard Whiteman, Dept Biological Sciences and Watershed Studies, Murray State University
• Results of a Data Evaluation to Establish Priority Remediation Areas for Dry Weather Fecal Contamination in a Karst Influenced Watershed, Steve Evans and others, Third Rock Consultants, Lexington, KY
• Development of In-House Methods for High-Throughput DNA Extraction, Kimberly L. Cook and LorraBelle Hill, USDA-ARS, Bowling Green, KY
• Validation of the Sanitary Category Value Model (SCV) for the Identification of Leaking Sewer Lines: A Study of the West Hickman …

Session 1b, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

• University – Habitat for Humanity Green Infrastructure Demonstration Project, Nancy Givens and Terry Wilson, WKU Center for Environmental Education and Sustainability, Bowling Green, KY
• Effectiveness of Pollutant Removal in the McConnell Springs Stormwater Quality Wetland Pond and the Gainesway Pond Retrofit Project, Year Two, David J. Price and Susan L. Plueger, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
• Coca-Cola Stormwater Replenish Project, Eric Dawalt and Russ Turpin, Ridegewater, LLC and EcoGro, Lexington, KY
• ITEST and LFUCG Stormwater Professional Development, Brian Radcliffe and Carol D. Hanley, Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment, UK

Session 1a, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

• A Regionally-Calibrated Critical Flow for Stream Channel Protection, Bob Hawley and others, Sustainable Streams LLC, Louisville, KY
• Monitoring Wetland Restoration Success at North Fork of Irish Creek, Brian C. Reeder, Center for Environmental Education and Institute for Regional Analysis and Public Policy, Morehead State University
• NC2D Open Channel Flow Model: Development and Applications for Stream Restoration Design in Kentucky, Brian J. Belcher, Beaver Creek Hydrology LLC, Lexington, KY
• Using Remote Sensing Tools to Target Stream Protection and Wastewater Treatment BMPs in Rural Kentucky, Catherine Carter and others, Tetra Tech, Research Triangle Park, NC
• Improving Water Quality …

Plenary Session: Water Research Needs In Kentucky, Alan E. Fryar, Peter T. Goodmann, Michael S. Griffin, James A. Kipp

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

Four panelists were invited to present their visions/predictions of current and future water research needs in Kentucky in an opening plenary session at the 2012 Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium. The requested overall general focus was ground water research needs.

Proceedings Of 2012 Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, University Of Kentucky

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

This symposium was planned and conducted as a part of the state water resources research institute annual program that is supported by Grant/Cooperative Agreement Number G11AP20081 from the United States Geological Survey. The contents of this proceedings document and the views and conclusions presented at the symposium are solely the responsibility of the individual authors and presenters and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USGS or of the symposium organizers and sponsors. This publication is produced with the understanding that the United States Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for government purposes.

A Unified Wireless Sensor Network Framework, Joshua Kiepert, Sin Ming Loo

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have been a significant area of research over the past decade. WSN systems are used in a wide range of applications such as surveillance, environmental monitoring, target tracking, wildlife tracking, personal health monitoring, machinery monitoring, and many others. With such wide ranging applications, there is active research in nearly every facet of the field including network topologies, communication protocols, node localization, time synchronization, and sensor data processing. This movement has largely been the result of the advances in microelectronics and low-power radio systems. These advancements have enabled the design and implementation of small, powerful, low-power, wireless …

Design Of Three-Well Indirect Pumping Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers For High Optical Gain Based On Nonequilibrium Green's Function Analysis, Tao Liu, Tillmann Kubis, Qi Jie Wang, Gerhard Klimeck

Birck and NCN Publications

The nonequilibrium Green's function approach is applied to the design of three-well indirect pumping terahertz (THz) quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) based on a resonant phonon depopulation scheme. The effects of the anticrossing of the injector states and the dipole matrix element of the laser levels on the optical gain of THz QCLs are studied. The results show that a design that results in a more pronounced anticrossing of the injector states will achieve a higher optical gain in the indirect pumping scheme compared to the traditional resonant-tunneling injection scheme. This offers in general a more efficient coherent resonant-tunneling transport of …

Enhanced Optical Nonlinearity In Beta-Agvo3 Nanobelts On Decoration With Ag Nanoparticles, Manas R. Parida, C. Vijayan, Chandra Sekhar Rout, C.S. Suchand Sandeep, Reji Philip

Birck and NCN Publications

This paper reports on the optical nonlinearity of beta-AgVO3 nanobelts and the modification in the physical mechanisms of nonlinear response on decorating with silver nanoparticles. The nanobelts are synthesized by a hydrothermal technique and characterized using SEM, TEM, and XRD etc. The nanobelts are found to exhibit large nonlinear optical absorption as revealed by open Z-scan measurements using 5 ns laser pulses at 532 nm. Nonlinearity appears to be arising from a combination of mechanisms of two photon absorption and saturable absorption (SA). Decoration with Ag nanoparticles is found to enhance the saturable absorption and alter the coefficient of nonlinear …

Evaluation Of Transfer Technologies To Preserve Shoulder Function In Sci, Karen Michelle Mann

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated a series of independent unassisted and device-assisted transfers from a wheelchair to vehicle mock-up and vice versa while simultaneously capturing kinematic, kinetic and electromyographic (EMG) data of impaired volunteers. The study provides a venue for observation and evaluation of upper extremity (UE) joint stresses, muscular force and functional demands associated with transfers in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) to ultimately prevent UE injury, minimize excessive stress, preserve functionality and limit pain. If people with SCI lose function of their UEs, due to pain and/or degeneration, they must then rely on others for everyday tasks.

Five paraplegic …

Development Of An Integrated Process Model For Algae Growth In A Photobioreactor, Mehregan Jalalizadeh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

While understanding the kinetics of algae growth plays an important role in improving algae cultivation technology, none of the existing kinetic models are able to describe algae growth when more than three growth limiting factors are involved. A model was developed in this study to describe algae growth in a photobioreactor. Two expressions were proposed based on the Monod model to relate the specific growth rate of algae to the concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus, inorganic carbon and light intensity in the culture media. Algal biomass concentration as a function of time was calculated by solving mass and energy balances around …

Speaker Recognition Using Shifted Mfcc, Rishiraj Mukherjee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Speaker Recognition is the art of recognizing a speaker from a given database using speech as the only input. In this thesis we will be discussing a novel approach to detect speakers. Here we will introduce the concept of shifted MFCC to add improvement over the performance from previous work which has shown quite a decent amount of accuracy of about 95% at best. We will be talking about adding different parameters which also contributed in improving the efficiency of speaker recognition. Also we will be testing our algorithm on Text dependent speech data and Text Independent speech data. Our …

Incorporating Reverse Engineering Methodology Into Engineering Curricula, Trevor Wanamaker

Purdue Polytechnic Masters Theses

Wanamaker, Trevor W., M.S., Purdue University, May 2012. Incorporating Reverse Engineering Methodology into Engineering Curricula. Major Professor: Craig L. Miller.

Using a qualitative research approach, this study investigated the thoughts and feelings of students regarding the question, “what factors need to be considered when Reverse Engineering (RE) methodology is incorporated into engineering curricula?” The participants in the study were from the Introduction to Graphics for Manufacturing course at the West Lafayette campus of Purdue University. An RE survey was given to the all students enrolled in the course and 10 select students were given the opportunity to use a 3D …

Prediction Of Respiratory Motion, Suk Jin Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment method that employs high-energy radiation beams to destroy cancer cells by damaging the ability of these cells to reproduce. Thoracic and abdominal tumors may change their positions during respiration by as much as three centimeters during radiation treatment. The prediction of respiratory motion has become an important research area because respiratory motion severely affects precise radiation dose delivery. This study describes recent radiotherapy technologies including tools for measuring target position during radiotherapy and tracking-based delivery systems. In the first part of our study we review three prediction approaches of respiratory motion, i.e., model-based methods, …

Life-Cycle Cost Analysis Of Alternative Reinforcement Materials For Bridge Superstructures Considering Cost And Maintenance Uncertainties, Christopher D. Eamon, Elin A. Jensen, Nabil F. Grace, Xiuwei Shi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research Publications

A life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) was conducted on prestressed concrete bridges using carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) bars and strands. Traditional reinforcement materials of uncoated steel with cathodic protection and epoxy-coated steel were also considered for comparison. A series of deterministic LCCAs were first conducted to identify a range of expected cost outcomes for different bridge spans and traffic volumes. Then, a probabilistic LCCA was conducted on selected structures that included activity timing and cost random variables. It was found that although more expensive initially, the use of CFRP reinforcement has the potential to achieve significant reductions in life …

Theory Of Charging And Charge Transport In “Intermediate” Thickness Dielectrics And Its Implications For Characterization And Reliability, Sambit Palit, Muhammad A. Alam

Birck and NCN Publications

Thin film dielectrics have broad applications, and the performance degradation due to charge trapping in these thin films is an important and pervasive reliability concern. It has been presumed since the 1960s that current transport in intermediate-thickness (IT) oxides (∼10–100 nm) can be described by Frenkel-Poole (FP) conduction (originally developed for ∼mm-thick films) and algorithms based on the FP theory can be used to extract defect energy levels and charging-limited lifetime. In this paper, we review the published results to show that the presumption of FP-dominated current in IT oxides is incorrect, and therefore, the methods to extract trap-depths to …

Temperature Dependent Droplet Impact Dynamics On Flat And Textured Surfaces, Azar Alizadeh, Vaibhav Bahadur, Sheng Zhong, Wen Shang, Ri Li, James Ruud, Masako Yamada, Liehui Ge, Ali Dhinojwala, Manohar Sohal

College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering

Droplet impact dynamics determines the performance of surfaces used in many applications such as anti-icing, condensation, boiling, and heat transfer. We study impact dynamics of water droplets on surfaces with chemistry/texture ranging from hydrophilic to superhydrophobic and across a temperature range spanning below freezing to near boiling conditions. Droplet retraction shows very strong temperature dependence especially on hydrophilic surfaces; it is seen that lower substrate temperatures lead to lesser retraction. Physics-based analyses show that the increased viscosity associated with lower temperatures combined with an increased work of adhesion can explain the decreased retraction. The present findings serve as a starting …

What Kind Of Residential Property Market Do We Really Want?, Lorcan Sirr

Media

No abstract provided.

Chemical Modification Of Polysaccharides Using Reactive Extrusion, Pratik Bhandari

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The objective of this dissertation was to study the use of reactive extrusion for the chemical modifications of starch and cellulose. A carboxymethyl derivative of starch and carboxymethyl and acetate derivatives of cellulose were prepared using reactive extrusion.

Carboxymethyl starch with rapid swelling properties in water was prepared using reactive extrusion. This was achieved by controlling the gelatinization and through the use of NaOH by controlling the water/ethanol ratio. The effects of NaOH, H₂O, temperature, ethanol, sodium mono chloro acetate, sodium tripolyphosphate, citric acid, epichlorohydrin and extruder screw configuration on the degree of substitution of carboxymethyl starch were …