Engineering Commons^™

A Real-Time Feature Indexing System On Live Video Streams, Aditya Chakraborty, Akshay Pawar, Hojoung Jang, Shunqiao Huang, Sripath Mishra, Shuo-Han Chen, Yuan-Hao Chang, George K. Thiruvathukal, Yung-Hsiang Lu

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Most of the existing video storage systems rely on offline processing to support the feature-based indexing on video streams. The feature-based indexing technique provides an effec- tive way for users to search video content through visual features, such as object categories (e.g., cars and persons). However, due to the reliance on offline processing, video streams along with their captured features cannot be searchable immediately after video streams are recorded. According to our investigation, buffering and storing live video steams are more time-consuming than the YOLO v3 object detector. Such observation motivates us to propose a real-time feature indexing (RTFI) system …

Memristive Architectures And Algorithms For Approximate Graph-Based Inference, Mohammad M.A. Taha

Dissertations and Theses

The goal of this thesis is to design fast, low-power, robust graph-based inference systems. Our approach to this is by using (1) in-memory computing, (2) approximate computing principles, and (3) memristive devices.

This work is motivated by the fact that conventional von Neumann architectures are not efficient for inference applications, mainly due to the data transfer bottleneck. Adding cache memories and using GPUs is a remedy, however, does not eliminate this bottleneck. In-memory computing is an alternative approach that performs all computations inside the memory, thus eliminating the data transfer bottleneck.

The memristor, which is a passive two-terminal device, is …

Polymeric Nanoparticles As An Antioxidant Delivery System For Age-Related Eye Disease, Sean M. Swetledge

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Advantages of polymeric nanoparticles as ocular drug delivery systems include controlled release, enhanced drug stability and bioavailability, and specific tissue targeting. Nanoparticle properties such as hydrophobicity, size, and charge, mucoadhesion, as well as administration route and suspension media affect their ability to overcome ocular barriers and distribute in the eye, and must be carefully designed for specific target tissues and ocular diseases. A review was conducted to serve as a guide to optimizing polymeric nanoparticle delivery systems for ocular drug delivery by discussing the effects of nanoparticle composition and administration method on their ocular penetration, distribution, elimination, toxicity, and efficacy, …

Olfaction Modulates Inter-Subject Correlation Of Neural Responses, Paul Deguzman, Anshul Jain, Matthias H. Tabert, Lucas C. Parra

Publications and Research

Odors can be powerful stimulants. It is well-established that odors provide strong cues for recall of locations, people and events. The effects of specific scents on other cognitive functions are less well-established. We hypothesized that scents with different odor qualities will have a different effect on attention. To assess attention, we used Inter-Subject Correlation of the EEG because this metric is strongly modulated by attentional engagement with natural audiovisual stimuli.We predicted that scents known to be “energizing” would increase Inter-Subject Correlation during watching of videos as compared to “calming” scents. In a first experiment, we confirmed this for eucalyptol and …

Geospatial Virtual Reality For Cyberlearning In The Field Of Topographic Surveying: Moving Towards A Cost-Effective Mobile Solution, Eugene Levin, Roman Shults, Zhongming An, William Roland

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

In spite of the tremendous success in artificial intelligence technology and a high level of automation in geospatial data obtaining processes, there is still a need for topographical field data collection by professional surveyors. Understanding terrain topology and topography is a cognitive skill set that has to be demonstrated by geospatial Subject Matter Experts (SME) for the productive work in the topographic surveying field. For training of the mentioned above skillset, one has to be exposed to the theory and must also practice with surveying instruments in field conditions. The challenge of any surveying/geospatial engineering workforce training is to expose …

Promoting Nuclear Security Education And Training Activities At Amity University, India, Arpita Datta, Dr. Alpana Goel

International Journal of Nuclear Security

In the present era of global nuclear governance, it is the responsibility of every individual not only the security personals to be accountable for the security of nuclear materials, facilities and radioactive materials. Amity university and other universities of India are the largest educational networks for young professionals who will enter the nuclear programme in India and will be involved in the management of nuclear and other radioactive materials in a wide variety of applications such as hospitals, industrial applications and nuclear facilities. Amity University Uttar Pradesh is taking leading part to sensitize the importance of nuclear security amongst the …

Eusectra: European Nuclear Security Training Centre Providing Hands-On Training And Education In Nuclear Security And Safeguards, Willem Janssens, Veronique Berthou, Abbas Kamel, Jean Galy, Klaus Luetzenkirchen, Klaus Mayer, Stefan Nonneman

International Journal of Nuclear Security

The European Nuclear Security Training Centre (EUSECTRA) inaugurated under this global name about 10 years ago and operated by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), located both on the Karlsruhe (Germany) and Ispra (Italy) sites, includes a large variety of capacity building and professional development activities which span from the hands-on training for nuclear security and safeguards actors (e.g. respectively border guards or customs and nuclear inspectors) to educational efforts in both nuclear security and safeguards. Whereas the first ones, which gave rise to the new name, focus mainly on detection, on-site assistance, crime-scene management, technical reach-back and nuclear …

Multiple Salinity Equilibria And Resilience Of Persian/Arabian Gulf Basin Salinity To Brine Discharge, Hamed D. Ibrahim, Pengfei Xue, Elfatih A.B. Eltahir

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

The Persian/Arabian Gulf is the most important region for seawater desalination. Surrounding countries produce about 50% of global desalinated seawater. If Gulf salinity significantly rises because of desalination effluent (brine), marine ecosystems and the water supply for many population centers will be threatened. In order to quantify current and future impacts of seawater desalination on Gulf salinity and avoid costly environmental problems, it is vital to first examine the present Gulf salinity state and its response to salinity perturbation (i.e., determine its stability). Here, using a coupled Gulf-Atmosphere numerical climate model, we test the hypothesis that the Gulf has a …

A Market Diffusion Potential (Mdp) Assessment Model For Residential Energy Efficient (Ee) Technologies In The U.S., Momtaj Khanam

Dissertations and Theses

The Diffusion of Residential Energy Efficient (EE) Technologies has been studied for many years. Finding ways to bridge the energy efficiency gap and increase the diffusion of these technologies have been of much interest to researchers and practitioners alike. However, in most studies, diffusion is equated to adoption of EE technologies by consumers. The present study tries to break this mindset and develops a model to assess the diffusion of residential EE technologies from the market's perspective. The model assesses diffusion of an EE technology based on the market's ability to provide benefits to customers that are identified to be …

Adaptive Encoding For Constrained Video Delivery In Hevc, Vp9, Av1 And Vvc Compression Standards And Adaptation To Video Content, Gangadharan Esakki

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

The dissertation proposes the use of a multi-objective optimization framework for designing and selecting among enhanced GOP configurations in video compression standards. The proposed methods achieve fine optimization over a set of general modes that include: (i) maximum video quality, (ii) minimum bitrate, (iii) maximum encoding rate (previously minimum encoding time mode) and (iv) can be shown to improve upon the YouTube/Netflix default encoder mode settings over a set of opposing constraints to guarantee satisfactory performance. The dissertation describes the implementation of a codec-agnostic approach using different video coding standards (x265, VP9, AV1) on a wide range of videos derived …

Laboratory And Short-Term Field Performance Of Crumb Rubber Modified Asphalt Emulsion In Chip Seal Applications, Md Nafiur Rahman

LSU Master's Theses

Chip sealing is a commonly used pavement maintenance treatment that aims to delay pavement deterioration by reducing water infiltration and restoring skid resistance. Loss of aggregate and bleeding are considered the major failure mechanisms in chip seal, and therefore, are the main design criteria for this treatment method. The objective of this study was to evaluate the laboratory and short-term field performance of chip seals prepared with different types of asphalt emulsions, application rates, and aggregate blends. A newly introduced crumb-rubber modified asphalt emulsion was evaluated that allows chip seal installation at the same temperature of a standard emulsion. Types …

Advances In Materials Design For All-Solid-State Batteries: From Bulk To Thin Films, Gene Yang, Yuxi Ma, Myoungseok Lee, Evan Helfrick, Dahyun Oh, Dongkyu Lee

Faculty Publications

All-solid-state batteries (SSBs) are one of the most fascinating next-generation energy storage systems that can provide improved energy density and safety for a wide range of applications from portable electronics to electric vehicles. The development of SSBs was accelerated by the discovery of new materials and the design of nanostructures. In particular, advances in the growth of thin-film battery materials facilitated the development of all solid-state thin-film batteries (SSTFBs)—expanding their applications to microelectronics such as flexible devices and implantable medical devices. However, critical challenges still remain, such as low ionic conductivity of solid electrolytes, interfacial instability and difficulty in controlling …

Enhanced Water Electrolysis: Effect Of Temperature On The Oxygen Evolution Reaction At Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles Modified Glassy Carbon Electrodes, Aya Akl, Hany A. Elazab, Mohamed A. Sadek, Mohamed S. El-Deab

Chemical Engineering

Water splitting producing hydrogen and oxygen gases appears promising in view of the increasing need of renewable energy sources and storage strategies. Investigation of stable and highly efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is targeted in this study at cobalt oxide nanoparticle modified glassy carbon (nano-CoOx/GC) electrodes. The effect of the preparation (Tp) and measuring temperature (Tm) on the electrocatalytic activity of nano-CoOx/GC towards the OER is investigated under various operating conditions. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), cyclic voltammetry (CV) as well as SEM and XRD techniques were used to probe the electrocatalytic and morphological characteristics of nano-CoOx prepared under …

Combining High-Frequency Sensor Data And Nutrient Addition Experiments To Identify Uptake Dynamics In Streams, Justin Rae Nichols

Civil Engineering ETDs

Nutrient enrichment has led to impaired waterways across the globe with an estimated 90% of waterways in the U.S. being negatively impacted from anthropogenic sources. In the past 30 years, there has been significant focus on studying nutrient uptake within fluvial systems. However, there are still critical knowledge gaps about the controls of nutrient dynamics and how these processes scale. This study combined the results from traditional instantaneous nutrient addition experiments and sensor data averaged over ±5 days from the time of addition to determine mechanisms that affect nutrient dynamics in two contrasting streams within the same watershed, over almost …

A Data‐Driven Framework To Characterize State‐Level Water Use In The U.S., E Wongso, Roshanak Nateghi, Benjamin Zaitchik, Steven Quiring, Rohini Kumar

School of Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications

Access to credible estimates of water-use are critical for making optimal operational de-15 cisions and investment plans to ensure reliable and affordable provisioning of water. Fur-16 thermore, identifying the key predictors of water use is important for regulators to pro-17 mote sustainable development policies to reduce water use. In this paper, we propose18 a data-driven framework, grounded in statistical learning theory, to develop a rigorously19 evaluated predictive model of state-level, per capita water use in the US as a function20 of various geographic, climatic and socioeconomic variables. Specifically, we compare the21 accuracy of various statistical methods in predicting the state-level, …

Neuromotor Control Of The Hand During Smartphone Manipulation, Prasanna Kumar Acharya

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The primary focus of this dissertation was to understand the motor control strategy used by our neuromuscular system for the multi-layered motor tasks involved during smartphone manipulation. To understand this control strategy, we recorded the kinematics and multi-muscle activation pattern of the right limb during smartphone manipulation, including grasping with/out tapping, movement conditions (MCOND), and arm heights.

In the first study (chapter 2), we examined the neuromuscular control strategy of the upper limb during grasping with/out tapping executed with a smartphone by evaluating muscle-activation patterns of the upper limb during different movement conditions (MCOND). There was a change in muscle …

Legacy And Current Pesticide Residues In Syr Darya, Kazakhstan: Contamination Status, Seasonal Variation And Preliminary Ecological Risk Assessment, Daniel D. Snow, P. Chakraborty, B. Uralbekov, B. Satybaldiev, J. Brett Sallach, L. M. Thornton Hampton, M. Jeffries, A. S. Kolok, Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt

Nebraska Water Center: Faculty Publications

The Syr Darya is one of two major rivers in Central Asia supplying critical fresh water to the Aral Sea. In spite of the river’s importance and agriculturally-intensive history, few studies have provided a modern evaluation of and the occurrence of pesticide residues potential effects to aquatic life. The primary goal of this investigation was to determine seasonal variations in ambient concentrations of modern and legacy pesticides in bottom sediment and water of the Syr Darya in Kazakhstan (KZ) downstream from an agriculturally-intensive watershed in Uzbekistan. Grab samples and passive samplers were used at five remote sampling stations during June …

Method And Apparatus For Increasing Mass Transfer In Aqueous Gas Adsorption Processes, Kunlei Liu, Leland R. Widger, Zhen Fan, Joshuah Stolaroff

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty Patents

A method of removing and capturing an acid gas from a fluid stream includes exposing the fluid stream to an aqueous scrubbing solution in the presence of a packing element including alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic features or zones. A related apparatus is also disclosed.

Automated 3d Reconstruction Using Optimized View-Planning Algorithms For Iterative Development Of Structure-From-Motion Models, Samuel Arce, Cory Vernon, Joshua Hammond, Valerie Newell, Joseph Janson, Kevin Franke, John Hedengren

Faculty Publications

Unsupervised machine learning algorithms (clustering, genetic, and principal component analysis) automate Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) missions as well as the creation and refinement of iterative 3D photogrammetric models with a next best view (NBV) approach. The novel approach uses Structure-from-Motion (SfM) to achieve convergence to a specified orthomosaic resolution by identifying edges in the point cloud and planning cameras that “view” the holes identified by edges without requiring an initial model. This iterative UAV photogrammetric method successfully runs in various Microsoft AirSim environments. Simulated ground sampling distance (GSD) of models reaches as low as 3.4 cm per pixel, and generally, …

Discovery Of A Novel Analogue Of Fr901533 And The Corresponding Biosynthetic Gene Cluster From Streptosporangium Roseum No. 79089, Fuchao Xu, Yonghong Liang, Jie Ren, Siyuan Wang, Jixun Zhan

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

FR901533 (1, also known as WS79089B), WS79089A (2), and WS79089C (3) are polycyclic aromatic natural products with promising inhibitory activity to endothelin-converting enzymes. In this work, we isolated five tridecaketide products from Streptosporangium roseum No. 79089, including 1-3, benaphthamycin (4) and a novel FR901533 analogue (5). The structure of 5 was characterized based on spectroscopic data. Compared to the major product 2, the new compound 5 has an additional hydroxyl group at C-12 and an extra methyl group at the 13-OH. The configuration of C-19 of these compounds …

Compiler-Based Tools To Aid In Data Transfer Optimization And On-Chip Debug Of Heterogeneous Compute Systems, Matthew B. Ashcraft

Theses and Dissertations

First, we present techniques to efficiently schedule data transfers through compiler analyses. Compared to transferring data immediately before and after the kernel executes, our scheduling results in orders of magnitude improvements in execution time, number of data transfers, and number of bytes transferred. Second, we demonstrate techniques to provide on-chip debugging for heterogeneous systems through recording execution on the software in addition to debugging circuitry in the hardware, and provide a temporal correlation between the hardware and software traces through synchronization. This allows us to follow debug data between the hardware and software trace buffers. Due to the added cost …

Generation Of Correlated Dual Frequency Combs With Pm Fiber Lasers For High-Precision Metrology, Hanieh Afkhamiardakani

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

Intracavity Phase Interferometry (IPI) using two correlated, counter-propagating frequency combs (pulse trains) in mode-locked lasers has evolved into a powerful technique for high-precision metrology. In this method a physical parameter to be measured imparts a phase shift onto a pulse circulating in the laser cavity. Inside a laser cavity, that phase shift becomes a frequency shift (phase shift/round-trip time) applied to the whole frequency comb created by this pulse as it exits the cavity at each round-trip. This frequency shift is measured by interfering this comb with a reference comb created by a reference pulse circulating in the same mode-locked …

High‐Tensile Strength, Composite Bijels Through Microfluidic Twisting, S. P. Kharal, Robert P. Hesketh, Martin F. Haase

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Rope making is a millennia old technique to collectively assemble numerous weak filaments into flexible and high tensile strength bundles. However, delicate soft matter fibers lack the robustness to be twisted into bundles by means of mechanical rope making tools. Here, weak microfibers with tensile strengths of a few kilopascals are combined into ropes via microfluidic twisting. This is demonstrated for recently introduced fibers made of bicontinuous interfacially jammed emulsion gels (bijels). Bijels show promising applications in use as membranes, microreactors, energy and healthcare materials, but their low tensile strength make reinforcement strategies imperative. Hydrodynamic twisting allows to produce continuous …

Comparison Of Plantar Pressure Profile Of Young Adults During Training On Elliptical Devices And Overground Walking: A Pilot Study, Guilherme Manna Cesar, Thad W. Buster, Judith M. Burnfield

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Background: Elliptical training may offer advantages over other cardiorespiratory exercises for those requiring podiatric care, since its constant double-limb support diminishes recurring high-impact plantar forces while allowing exercise in a functional, upright posture. Unknown is the impact of distinct elliptical models, that can alter user’s body mechanics, on potential variations in plantar pressure patterns.

Purpose: To compare plantar pressure variables while exercising on four ellipticals and walking.

Methods: For this cross-sectional pilot study, plantar pressure data were recorded from ten young adults while exercising on four ellipticals (True, Octane, Life Fitness, SportsArt) and walking overground. One-way repeated measures ANOVA identified …

A Comparison Of Two Techniques For Center Of Pressure Measurements, Jessica Deberardinis, Conner Neilsen, Daniel E. Lidstone, Janet S. Dufek, Mohamed B. Trabia

Integrated Health Sciences Faculty Research

Introduction: Force platforms and pressure-measuring insoles are the most common tools used for measuring center of pressure. Earlier studies to assess these instruments suffered from limited sample sizes or an inadequate range of participant foot sizes. The purpose of this study was to propose new methods to extract and calculate comparably accurate center of pressure for the Kistler (R) force platform and Medilogic (R) insoles. Methods: Center of pressure data were collected from 65 participants wearing pressure-measuring insoles (six different sizes). Participants walked over consecutive force platforms for three trials while wearing pressure-measuring insoles within socks. Onset force thresholds and …

Techno-Economic Comparative Analysis Of Renewable Energy Systems: Case Study In Zimbabwe, Loiy Al-Ghussain, Remember Samu, Onur Taylan, Murat Fahrioglu

Mechanical Engineering Graduate Research

Fluctuations in fossil fuel prices significantly affect the economies of countries, especially oil-importing countries, hence these countries are thoroughly investigating the increase in the utilization of renewable energy resources as it is abundant and locally available in all the countries despite challenges. Renewable energy systems (RES) such as solar and wind systems offer suitable alternatives for fossil fuels and could ensure the energy security of countries in a feasible way. Zimbabwe is one of the African countries that import a significant portion of its energy needs which endanger the energy security of the country. Several studies in the literature discussed …

Parking Garage Measurements Indicating A Gamma Spectrometer-Neutron Counter Background Correlation, Jackson N. Wagner, Craig Marianno, Thomas Mccullough

International Journal of Nuclear Security

Gamma spectroscopy and gross neutron counting systems are commonly employed together during nuclear security operations, particularly mobile searches. The data from these systems are typically analyzed independently; however, operational data suggest a relationship between the background signals from both systems. This relationship appears to occur between the neutron count rate and the high energy (greater than 3 MeV) gamma spectrometer count rate for background conditions. To verify the presence of this correlation, high energy gamma ray and neutron count rates were measured in five parking garages on the Texas A&M University campus. These measurements employed one 4” x 4” x …

Consideration Of Administrative Monetary Penalties In Nuclear Safety And Security, Jelena Vucicevic, Edward Waller

International Journal of Nuclear Security

An Administrative Monetary Penalty (AMP) is a penalty imposed by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), without court involvement for a violation of a regulatory requirement. An AMP can be applied against any individual or corporation subject to the Nuclear Safety Control Act, which regulates the development, production and use of nuclear energy and the production, possession and use of nuclear and radioactive material. However, AMPs are not the same as criminal offences. They are civil sanctions which try to secure compliance through the application of monetary penalties for non-compliance with regulatory requirements. The AMP program was introduced in 2013 …

0.03 V Electrolysis Voltage Driven Hydrazine Assisted Hydrogen Generation On Nico Phosphide Nanowires Supported Nicohydroxide Nanosheets, Mujie Li, Zhongyi Zhang, Hailang Xiong, Linan Wang, Shuxian Zhuang, Morris D. Argyle, Yang Tang, Xiaojin Yang, Yongmei Chen, Pingyu Wan, Maohong Fan

Faculty Publications

In order to decrease the electricity consumption of hydrogen generation, hydrazine-assisted water electrolysis is intensively investigated recently. Herein, hierarchical nanostructure of ultrathin NiCo(OH)_x nanosheets (NSs) that in-situ grown on the NiCoP nanowires (NWs) was deposited on nickel foam (NF) to construct NiCo(OH)_x@NiCoP/NF electrode. NiCoP NWs extend the surface area, spatial utilization of NF and enhance the electron conduction to the outmost NiCo(OH)_x NSs. NiCo(OH)_x NSs interlace to form regular mesoporous channels, which improve the structural stability and mass transfer rate. Moreover, NiCoP NWs enhance the adsorption of protons and the transfer of electrons, while NiCo(OH) …

Β-Amyloid And Tau Drive Early Alzheimer's Disease Decline While Glucose Hypometabolism Drives Late Decline, Tyler C. Hammond, Xin Xing, Chris Wang, David Ma, Kwangsik Nho, Paul K. Crane, Fanny Elahi, David A. Ziegler, Gongbo Liang, Qiang Cheng, Lucille M. Yanckello, Nathan Jacobs, Ai-Ling Lin

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Clinical trials focusing on therapeutic candidates that modify β-amyloid (Aβ) have repeatedly failed to treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD), suggesting that Aβ may not be the optimal target for treating AD. The evaluation of Aβ, tau, and neurodegenerative (A/T/N) biomarkers has been proposed for classifying AD. However, it remains unclear whether disturbances in each arm of the A/T/N framework contribute equally throughout the progression of AD. Here, using the random forest machine learning method to analyze participants in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative dataset, we show that A/T/N biomarkers show varying importance in predicting AD development, with elevated biomarkers of Aβ …