Engineering Commons^™

Design And Construction Of A Subcooled Boiling Flow Loop With An Internally Heated Vertical Annulus For Use In Testing Departure From Nucleate Boiling (Dnb), Joseph Kreynin

Dissertations and Theses

The design and testing of an apparatus to use in subcooled boiling flow experiments. A vertical annulus flow loop was design to mimic a rod used in a reactor boiler. The system was tested at different velocities and temperatures to verify it could be used in a range of experiments to try and match real world conditions. The system managed to produce the desired outcome of bubble growth in a desired location as well as run with the PIV system showing good prospect in the intended use of the experimental set up.

A Comprehensive View Of Electrosleep: The History, Finite Element Models And Future Directions, Berkan Guleyupoglu

Dissertations and Theses

Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (tES) encompasses all methods of non-invasive current application to the brain used in research and clinical practice. We present the first comprehensive and technical review, explaining the evolution of tES in both terminology and dosage over the past 100 years of research to present day. Current transcranial Pulsed Current Stimulation (tPCS) approaches such as Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) descended from Electrosleep (ES) through Cranial Electro-stimulation Therapy (CET), Transcerebral Electrotherapy (TCET), and NeuroElectric Therapy (NET) while others like Transcutaneous Cranial Electrical Stimulation (TCES) descended from Electroanesthesia (EA) through Limoge, and Interferential Stimulation. Prior …

Effect Of Ionic Liquid Electrolytes In Dsscs With Titanium Dioxide (Tio2) Inverse Opal Structures, Naomi S. Ramesar

Dissertations and Theses

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are low-cost alternatives to conventional solar cells that can work well in low-light conditions. Despite considerable study on improving the efficiency of DSSCs, the current liquid electrolyte cell has plateaued at a conversion efficiency of ~ 12%. A major problem with these cells regarding their applicability is the low viscosity and high volatility of the toxic electrolyte, i.e., acetonitrile, which cause leakage and volatilization. We propose that using ionic liquids (ILs), which are more viscous, less volatile, and conductive, may be more suitable electrolytes. However, one unwanted side effect of the higher viscosity of the ILs …

Pre-Saccadic Modulation Of The Visually Evoked Potential, Leslie Guadron

Dissertations and Theses

Saccades are rapid eye movements that allow us to focus the fovea on different parts of our visual environment. Many psychophysical studies have shown that subjects can discriminate stimuli presented at the saccadic target better than at any other location before an eye movement is made. It is believed that covert attention allotted to the intended destination of a saccade, called pre-saccadic attention, accounts for the improved discrimination of stimuli. Covert top-down attention, which consists of orienting your attention, and not your gaze, to an object in your visual periphery, is known to facilitate behavioral performance in a manner similar …

Comparison Of Manufacturing Techniques For Composites Subjected To High Speed Impact, Kenneth Gollins

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

Responses Of Underground Structures Subjected To Blast Loading, Soufiane Nezilli

Dissertations and Theses

Terrorism against American citizens and assets is real and growing. The number and intensity of domestic and international terrorist events, along with the September 11, 2001, attacks, change the way Americans think and live. According to the Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP) on Bridge and Tunnel Security assigned by AASHTO, the US transportation system consists of 337 highway tunnels and 211 transit tunnels in 2003. The number is expected to grow in the near future. These tunnels are subjected to the threats of internal explosion, either accidental or maliciously intentional. Explosions inside transportation tunnels would result in direct casualties; and the …

Context-Aware Mobile Augmented Reality Visualization In Construction Engineering Education, Arezoo Shirazi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent studies suggest that the number of students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees has been generally decreasing. An extensive body of research cites the lack of motivation and engagement in the learning process as a major underlying reason of this decline. It has been discussed that if properly implemented, instructional technology can enhance student engagement and the quality of learning. Therefore, the main goal of this research is to implement and assess effectiveness of augmented reality (AR)-based pedagogical tools on student learning. For this purpose, two sets of experiments were designed and implemented in two different construction …

Conae Microwave Radiometer (Mwr) Counts To Brightness Temperature Algorithm, Zoubair Ghazi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation concerns the development of the MicroWave Radiometer (MWR) brightness temperature (Tb) algorithm and the associated algorithm validation using on-orbit MWR Tb measurements. This research is sponsored by the NASA Earth Sciences Aquarius Mission, a joint international science mission, between NASA and the Argentine Space Agency (Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales, CONAE). The MWR is a CONAE developed passive microwave instrument operating at 23.8 GHz (K-band) H-pol and 36.5 GHz (Ka-band) H- and V-pol designed to complement the Aquarius L-band radiometer/scatterometer, which is the prime sensor for measuring sea surface salinity (SSS). MWR measures the Earth's brightness temperature and …

High Resolution Time-Resolved Imaging System In The Vacuum Ultraviolet Region, Yuseong Jang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High-power debris-free vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light sources have applications in several scientific and engineering areas, such as high volume manufacturing lithography and inspection tools in the semiconductor industry, as well as other applications in material processing and photochemistry. For the past decades, the semiconductor industry has been driven by what is called "Moore's Law". The entire semiconductor industry relies on this rule, which requires chip makers to pack transistors more tightly with every new generation of chips, shrinking the size of transistors. The ability to solve roadmap challenges is, at least partly, proportional to our ability to measure them. The …

Evaluation Of Long Term Effects Of Erosion Due To Groin Placement In The Northern Yucatan Peninsula, Andrew V. Mahfood

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This thesis documents the results of a study conducted to evaluate the long term effects of groin placement on beach re-nourishment and beach restoration in the Yucatan peninsula. The study includes the evaluation of six control points located on Chelem beach in Yucatan, Mexico, very close to the Progreso pier. The control points were set up in an active groin field to record data on the re-nourishment project covering the Chelem beach area. These erosion control groins were constructed as part of an experimental project to see how the adopted U.S. Army Corps of Engineers guidelines, for installing groins, affected …

Membrane Efficiency Of A Dense Prehydrated Gcl, Michael A. Malusis, Akmal Daniyarov

Other Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Practical Implementations Of The Active Set Method For Support Vector Machine Training With Semi-Definite Kernels, Christopher Sentelle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Support Vector Machine (SVM) is a popular binary classification model due to its superior generalization performance, relative ease-of-use, and applicability of kernel methods. SVM training entails solving an associated quadratic programming (QP) that presents significant challenges in terms of speed and memory constraints for very large datasets; therefore, research on numerical optimization techniques tailored to SVM training is vast. Slow training times are especially of concern when one considers that re-training is often necessary at several values of the models regularization parameter, C, as well as associated kernel parameters. The active set method is suitable for solving SVM problem …

Complementary Layered Learning, Sean Mondesire

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Layered learning is a machine learning paradigm used to develop autonomous robotic-based agents by decomposing a complex task into simpler subtasks and learns each sequentially. Although the paradigm continues to have success in multiple domains, performance can be unexpectedly unsatisfactory. Using Boolean-logic problems and autonomous agent navigation, we show poor performance is due to the learner forgetting how to perform earlier learned subtasks too quickly (favoring plasticity) or having difficulty learning new things (favoring stability). We demonstrate that this imbalance can hinder learning so that task performance is no better than that of a suboptimal learning technique, monolithic learning, which …

Improved Internet Security Protocols Using Cryptographic One-Way Hash Chains, Amerah Alabrah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, new approaches that utilize the one-way cryptographic hash functions in designing improved network security protocols are investigated. The proposed approaches are designed to be scalable and easy to implement in modern technology. The first contribution explores session cookies with emphasis on the threat of session hijacking attacks resulting from session cookie theft or sniffing. In the proposed scheme, these cookies are replaced by easily computed authentication credentials using Lamport's well-known one-time passwords. The basic idea in this scheme revolves around utilizing sparse caching units, where authentication credentials pertaining to cookies are stored and fetched once needed, thereby, …

Transparent Oxide Semiconductor Gate Based Mosfets For Sensor Applications, Ashwin Kumar Saikumar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Starting from small scale laboratories to the highly sophisticated industrial facilities, monitoring and control forms the most integral part. In order to perform this continuous monitoring we require an interface, that would operate between the system and its processing conditions and in turn which facilitates us to act accordingly. This interface is called as a sensor. There are various types of sensors available which have wide range of functionality in various different fields. The use of transparent conducting oxide (TCO) in the field of sensor applications has increased and has been the subject of extensive research. Good electrical properties, good …

Electrospinning Applications Air Filtration And Superhydrophobic Materials, Negar Ghochaghi, Adetoun Taiwo

Graduate Research Posters

Electrospinning is a widely applicable technique that generates non-woven fibers in the micro and nano range. In this project two of its applications are highlighted namely filtration media and enhancement of wettability. The first project demonstrates that electrospinning can be used to produce new fiber filtration media with controlled microstructure. The bimodal and unimodal orthogonal and random filters were made and characterized against their filtration efficiency and pressure drop. Figure of Merit (FOM) was also calculated and discussed. It is shown that the FOM increases when the electrospun fibers are arranged into alternating layers of aligned course and fine fibers. …

Hybrid Energy Harvesting, Nazanin R. Ghavamabadi

Graduate Research Posters

Between 20% to 50% of industrial energy input is lost as waste heat in the form of hot exhaust gases, cooling water and energy loss from generating equipment. Vibrations and variable heating are a common form of waste energy in motors, generators, power cables exposed to ambient temperatures, fuel exhausts from vehicles, and various types of heavy machinery. The recovery of even a fraction of this lost energy would have a transformational impact on the utility industry since the demand for energy is increasing and the impact of this demand on the environment is significant. Recent technical breakthroughs in new …

Rfbr: Radio Frequency Beacon Receiver, Space Dynamics Laboratory

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

The Space Dynamics Laboratory at Utah State University (SDL/USU), the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) have teamed together to provide a portable ground-based radio frequency beacon receiver (RFBR) system capable of characterizing ionospheric parameters, including total electron content (TEC), amplitude, and phase scintillation. The system, derived almost entirely of COTS parts, can be configured to receive RF beacons such as those transmitted by existing on-orbit Coherent Electromagnetic Radio Tomography (CERTO) instrumentation, the upcoming Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC2), or other frequencies from VHF to S-band. By …

Timekeeping Issues In Ultra-Quality Metering Systems, David D. Haynes, Steven M. Corns

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The improvements made to smart metering systems in terms of performance and accuracy have in many cases created a gap in the requirements for timekeeping performance. When clock errors accumulate in different metrology systems, data collected from one system cannot be compared to data collected from another system. This paper recommends the use of a common time base for all data gathering systems, and that systems clocks are corrected with numerous minor corrections when possible, rather than major corrections. © 2013 IEEE.

Efficient Cooperative Mimo Paradigms For Cognitive Radio Networks, Wei Chen, Liang Hong, Xiaoqian Chen

Computer Science Faculty Research

This paper investigates the benefits that cooperative communication brings to cognitive radio networks. We focus on cooperative Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology, where multiple distributed single-antenna secondary users cooperate on data transmission and reception. Three cooperative MIMO paradigms are proposed to maximize the diversity gain and significantly improve the performance of overlay, underlay and interweave systems. In the paradigm for overlay systems the secondary users can assist (relay) the primary transmissions even when they are far away from the primary users. In the paradigm for underlay systems the secondary users can share the primary users’ frequency resources without any …

Array Of Surface-Confined Glow Discharges In Atmospheric Pressure Helium: Modes And Dynamics, D. Li, D. X. Liu, Q. Y. Nie, H. P. Li, H. L. Chen, M. G. Kong

Bioelectrics Publications

Array of atmospheric pressure surface discharges confined by a two-dimensional hexagon electrode mesh is studied for its discharge modes and temporal evolution so as to a theoretical underpinning to their growing applications in medicine, aerodynamic control, and environmental remediation. Helium plasma surface-confined by one hexagon-shaped rim electrode is shown to evolve from a Townsend mode to a normal and abnormal glow mode, and its evolution develops from the rim electrodes as six individual microdischarges merging in the middle of the hexagon mesh element. Within one hexagon element, microdischarges remain largely static with the mesh electrode being the instantaneous cathode, but …

Joint Kinematics, Muscle Activity And Postural Strain For Finger- Intensive Operation Of Small Hand- Held Devices, Farhana Afreen Proma

Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Background: Extensive movement of fingers while playing video games, and while browsing or texting in a smartphone often result in medically recognized repetitive strain injuries such as "PlayStation thumb" or "Blackberry thumb". In order to understand the strenuous effects of these tasks, it is important to study the geometry of the movement of fingers (kinematics), corresponding muscle activities (physiology), and the overall posture of the tasks (ergonomics). There is almost no information available in the present literature regarding the finger kinematics of video gaming. Although texting and browsing tasks have been studied, a multifaceted approach including kinematic, physiological and postural …

Stationary And Non-Stationary Time Series Prediction Using State Space Model And Pattern-Based Approach, Kin Ming Kam

Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The motion-adaptive radiotherapy techniques are promising to deliver ablative radiation doses to tumor with minimal normal tissue exposure by accounting for real-time tumor movement. However, a major challenge of successful applications of these techniques is the real-time prediction of target motion to accommodate system delivery latencies. Predicting respiratory motion in real-time is challenging. The current respiratory mo-tion prediction approaches are still not satisfactory in terms of accuracy and interpretability due to the com-plexity of breathing patterns and the many sources of variability across patients. In this paper, we propose a novel respiratory motion prediction approach based on future values of …

Mechanical And Transport Properties Of Alkali-Activated Natural Pozzolans As Sustainable Binders, Brittany Radke

Calvert Undergraduate Research Awards

OPC production accounts for 5 to 7% of the global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, contributing to global warming. The desire to reduce CO₂ emissions and produce more durable concrete has given impetus to search for new binders. It is suggested that alkali-activated natural pozzolans have the potential for use as a sustainable replacement for OPC in concrete.

The current study presented herein evaluated fresh, mechanical, and transport properties of alkali-activated natural pozzolan mortars containing various concentrations of sodium hydroxide solutions as an alkaline activator. To this aim, alkali-activated natural pozzolan mortars were made with concentrations of sodium …

Cracking The Code On Stem: A People Strategy For Nevada's Economy, Jessica A. Lee, Mark Muro, Jonathan Rothwell, Scott Andes, Siddharth Kulkarni

Brookings Mountain West Publications

Nevada has in place a plausible economic diversification strategy—and it’s beginning to work. Now, the state and its regions need to craft a people strategy. Specifically, the state needs to boost the number of Nevadans who possess at least some postsecondary training in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or math—the so-called “STEM” disciplines (to which some leaders add arts and design to make it “STEAM”).

The moment is urgent—and only heightened by the projected worker needs of Tesla Motors’ planned “gigafactory” for lithium-ion batteries in Storey County.

Even before the recent Tesla commitment, a number of the more high-tech …

Ambulatory Extracorporeal Arterioveous Co2 Removal Via Subclavian Vessels, Alejandra Macias, Alvaro Rojas-Pena

McNair Poster Presentations

Lung transplantation is the last recourse for patients with severe respiratory failure. However, transplantable lungs do not keep up with the demand, and 15.4% of patients die awaiting transplant. An alternative therapy is extracorporeal life support (ECLS), which uses a pump and an oxygenator to serve as a bridge to transplant. However, this technology limits ambulation and requires ICU care. This novel study implements pumpless arteriovenous (AV) ECLS technology to remove CO2 via the subclavian vessels, providing respiratory support and hypercapnia (excessive CO2 retention) sympton relief for patients while allowing ambulation.

Feasibility Of Hydrogen Peroxide Production From Wastewater Treatment Using Bioelectrochemical Systems, Chenjie Wu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Recent developments of bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) have shown promising advancements in applying these innovative technologies for municipal wastewater treatment. These systems promise several distinct energy and environmental benefits over the existing activated sludge processes including electricity conservation and production, less biological sludge production, significant reduction in greenhouse gas emission, and potential useful chemical production from wastewater treatment. The goal of this research is to evaluate the feasibility of using a two-chambered BES to generate an environmental friendly oxidizer, hydrogen peroxide, from wastewater treatment. Five research objectives were proposed to achieve the research goal by filling several identified knowledge gaps: 1) …

Electroplating Of Cr-Ni Alloy And Ni-Cr/Ni Multilayer Coatings, Liaowang Liu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The major interests of developing Ni-Cr alloy plating lie in the possible formation of a passive film by chromium and its good chemical and mechanical properties. And nano scale multilayer coatings exhibit improved properties due to nano scale effects (e.g.: high hardness and strength) and they combine and enhance different properties from individual components. Thus, electroplating of Ni-Cr multilayer coatings could have high potential for numerous engineering applications. Electroplating in aqueous and in organic solution by direct current were studied for Ni-Cr alloy coatings, and Ni-Cr multilayer coatings were prepared by pulse current electroplating in single bath.

Traditionally, chromium or …

Chemosensitive Neurons Of The Locus Coeruleus And The Nucleus Tractus Solitarius: Three Dimensional Morphology And Association With The Vasculature, Cathy D. Graham

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

We studied the 3 dimensional structure of LC and cNTS neurons from neonatal rats. Neurons were identified as either chemosensitive or nonchemosensitive based on their firing rate response to hypercapnia, using whole-cell patch clamping and were passively loaded with Lucifer Yellow. The identified, loaded neurons were reconstructed and analyzed using Neurolucida Neuron Tracing Software. Chemosensitive LC neurons have less rounded soma than nonchemosensitive neurons, and they have dendrites arising from two poles to produce a fusiform appearance. The dendritic branches extend a greater distance from the soma of chemosensitive than nonchemosensitive neurons. Conversely, chemosensitive cNTS neurons were found to have …

Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Activity Of Phospholipase D2 And Its Regulation, Madhupriya Mahankali

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Phospholipase D2 (PLD2) is a cell membrane lipase that catalyzes the break down of phosphatidyl choline (PC) to phosphatidic acid (PA) and choline. PA is one of the major lipid second messengers that modulate a wide variety of signaling pathways, which are crucial for various cellular functions. In addition to this, PLD2 via binding to a large number of proteins and thereby regulates them independent of its lipase activity. Whereas PLD2 is involved in plethora of cellular functions, high levels of protein and/or activity of PLD2 are reported in variety of disease conditions, such as cancer metastasis and chronic inflammation …