Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Brownian Dynamics Simulation Studies Of Ion Throughput During Cellular Electroporation, Juan A. Gonzalez-Cuevas

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the present research work is to analyze the flow of ions through pores formed in the plasma membrane of biological cells during electroporation. In this regard, simulations have been conducted to track the movement of ions in 3-D space based on a Brownian dynamics model, which is mostly deterministic but has some stochastic properties to account for ionic scattering. From the Brownian dynamics simulations, it has been possible to estimate the pore's conductance as well as transport parameters such as the diffusion coefficient and mobility within the pore region, of which there is no experimental data currently …

Unidirectional Cordic For Efficient Computation Of Trigonometric And Hyperbolic Functions, Satish Ravichandran

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

CORDIC (Coordinate Rotation Digital Computer) is an iterative algorithm to compute values of trigonometric, logarithmic and transcendental functions by performing vector rotations, which can be implemented with only shift and add operations in a digital system. CORDIC algorithms are extensively used in the areas of digital signal processing, digital image processing and artificial neural networks. A new technique, named unidirectional CORDIC, for efficient computation of trigonometric and hyperbolic functions is presented in this thesis. In the conventional CORDIC algorithm, the vector rotations are performed in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, but in the unidirectional CORDIC the vectors are rotated only …

Event Based Retrieval From Digital Libraries Containing Data Streams, Mohamed Hamed Kholief

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

The objective of this research is to study the issues involved in building a digital library that contains data streams and allows event-based retrieval. “Digital Libraries are storehouses of information available through the Internet that provide ways to collect, store, and organize data and make it accessible for search, retrieval, and processing” [29]. Data streams are sources of information for applications such as news-on-demand, weather services, and scientific research, to name a few. A data stream is a sequence of data units produced over a period of time. Examples of data streams are video streams, audio stream, and sensor readings. …

Atmospheric Water Vapor Lidar Measurements Using Analog And Photon Counting Techniques, Anuj Maheshkumar Shah

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Atmospheric water vapor measurements are essential for the understanding of Earth's weather and radiation budget, along with the water cycle. The remote sensing Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) technique is a commanding method used for water vapor measurements from aircraft, spaceborne, and ground-based platforms. The new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) water vapor DIAL system provides great feasibility due to the weight and size limitations. The system has significantly less weight, power consumption, and noise presence, thus making it great for UAV applications.

This thesis discusses a UAV water vapor DIAL system that was designed, developed, and evaluated. The research effort was …

Nucleon-Nucleon Spin Dependent Scattering Amplitudes To Describe Final State Interactions In Electromagnetic And Electroweak Nuclear Processes, William P. Ford

Physics Theses & Dissertations

There are currently no models readily available that provide nucleon-nucleon spin dependent scattering amplitudes at high energies ( s ≥ 6 GeV²⁾. This work aims to provide a model for calculating these high-energy scattering amplitudes. The foundation of the model is Regge theory since it allows for a relativistic description and full spin dependence. A parameterization of the amplitudes is presented. and comparisons of the solution to the assembled data set are shown. In addition, an application of the model to describe final state interactions in deuteron electrodisintegration is presented. Overall the model works as intended, and provides …

Superconvergence Of Iterated Solutions For Linear And Nonlinear Integral Equations: Wavelet Applications, Boriboon Novaprateep

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

In this dissertation, we develop the Petrov-Galerkin method and the iterated Petrov-Galerkin method for a class of nonlinear Hammerstein equation. We also investigate the superconvergence phenomenon of the iterated Petrov-Galerkin and degenerate kernel numerical solutions of linear and nonlinear integral equations with a class of wavelet basis. The Fredholm integral equations and the Hammerstein equations are considered in linear and nonlinear cases respectively. Alpert demonstrated that an application of a class of wavelet basis elements in the Galerkin approximation of the Fredholm equation of the second kind leads to a system of linear equations which is sparse. The main concern …

Analysis Of Multivariate Data Using Kotz Type Distribution, Kusaya Plungpongpun

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

Most of the inferential statistical methods for multivariate data are developed under the fundamental assumption that the data are from a multivariate normal distribution. Unfortunately, one can never be sure a set of data is really from a multivariate normal distribution. There are numerous methods for checking (testing) multivariate normality, but based on many published and our own simulation studies, provided in the first chapter of this dissertation, we observe that these tests are generally not very powerful, especially for smaller sample sizes. Hence it is always beneficial to have alternative multivariate distributions available along with the methodology for using …

Estimation Of Parameters In Replicated Time Series Regression Models, Genming Shi

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

The time series regression model was widely studied in the literature by several authors. However, statistical analysis of replicated time series regression models has received little attention. In this thesis, we study the application of quasi-least squares, a relatively new method, to estimate the parameters in replicated time series models with general ARMA( p, q) correlation structure. We also study several established methods for estimating the parameters in those models, including the maximum likelihood, method of moments, and the GEE method. Asymptotic comparisons of the methods are made bV fixing the number of repeated measurements in each series, and …

A Forward-Backward Fluence Model For The Low-Energy Neutron Boltzmann Equation, Gary Alan Feldman

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

In this research work, the neutron Boltzmann equation was separated into two coupled integro-differential equations describing forward and backward neutron fluence in selected materials. Linear B-splines were used to change the integro-differential equations into a coupled system of ordinary differential equations (O.D.E.'s). Difference approximations were then used to recast the O.D.E.'s into a coupled system of linear equations that were solved for forward and backward neutron fluences. Adding forward and backward fluences gave the total fluence at selected energies and depths in the material. Neutron fluences were computed in single material shields and in a shield followed by a target …

Geographic Variation In The Morphology Of Crotalus Horridus (Serpentes: Viperidae), John Robert Allsteadt

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) occurs in discontinuous populations throughout the eastern and central United States. The species exhibits high levels of polymorphism in morphological traits, especially in coloration and pattern. Previous studies recognized either distinct northern and southern subspecies or three regional morphs (northern, southern, and western), but conflicting data sets and limited geographic sampling of previous studies have left the relationships among those regional variants unclear. In this study, univariate and multivariate statistics, together with a geographic information system, were used to analyze geographic variation in 36 morphological characters recorded from 2,420 specimens of C. horridus …

Evolution Of The Band Structure Of Β-In2 S3−3x O3x Buffer Layer With Its Oxygen Content, N. Barreau, S. Marsillac, J. C. Bernède, L. Assmann

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The evolution of the band structure of β-In2 S3−3x O3x (BISO) thin films grown by physical vapor deposition, with composition x, is investigated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is shown that the energy difference between the valence-band level and the Fermi level remains nearly constant as the optical band gap of the films increases. As a consequence, the difference between the conduction band level and the Fermi level increases as much as the optical band gap of the films. The calculation of the electronic affinity [ ] of the BISO thin films shows that it decreases linearly from 4.65 …

Circulation, Vol. 10, No. 1, Center For Coastal Physical Oceanography, Old Dominion University, Thomas Royer

CCPO Circulation

Spring 2003 issue of CCPO Circulation featuring article "R/V Fay Slover Is Here" by Dr. Thomas Royer

Modeling The Decision Process Of A Joint Task Force Commander, John Anthony Sokolowski

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The U.S. military uses modeling and simulation as a tool to help meet its warfighting needs. A key element within military simulations is the ability to accurately represent human behavior. This is especially true in a simulation's ability to emulate realistic military decisions. However, current decision models fail to provide the variability and flexibility that human decision makers exhibit. Further, most decision models are focused on tactical decisions and ignore the decision process of senior military commanders at the operational level of warfare. In an effort to develop a better decision model that would mimic the decision process of a …

Parallel Implementation Of A Face Recognition [Sic] System Based On Modular Pca Approach, Rajkiran Gottumukkal

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This thesis describes research in automated methods for the recognition of human faces. The research is driven by the need to design a method, which would ensure high accuracy under the conditions of facial expression, illumination and pose variations. The resulting method is able to cope with uncontrolled nature of facial expression, illumination and head rotations. The main novelty of this work is the idea that some of the local facial features do not vary even when the facial expression, illumination and pose vary. This idea is applied to the existing principle component analysis lPCA) method to arrive at a …

Output Analysis Of Configurable Port Simulation, Ravikiran Jogu

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The Configurable Port Simulation (CPortS) is a simulation of military cargo moving through a commercial seaport during a force deployment. CPortS simulates cargo at the individual entity level of detail. Simulation at the individual entity level generates huge amounts of output data making the output analysis difficult. To understand the reasons as to why bottlenecks occur in the process of cargo clearance, an analyst needs to be able to partition the data during analysis, not a priori. This makes the estimation of required graph generation impossible, which demands a very dynamic output analysis tool that can enable the analyst to …

A Framework Of Cooperating Agents Hierarchies For Local-Area Mobility Support, Ayman Adel Abdel Hamid

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

Host mobility creates a routing problem in the Internet, where an IP address reflects the network's point of attachment. Mobile IP, relying on a mapping between a home address and a care-of address, and a home registration process, is widely accepted as a solution for the host mobility problem in wide-area mobility scenarios. However, its home registration requirement, upon each change of point of attachment, makes it unsuitable to handle local-area mobility, resulting in large handoff latencies, increased packet loss, and disrupted services. In this dissertation, we introduce a local-area mobility support framework for IPv4 based on the deployment of …

Field Emission Based Sensors Using Carbon Nanotubes, Changkun Dong

Physics Theses & Dissertations

A number of sensitive applications would be greatly benefited by the development of better cold cathodes that employ the electron field emission process. Among the many kinds of field emitters that could be tried, carbon nanotubes (CNT) have a number of distinct advantages because of their unique geometrical structure, chemical inertness, mechanical stiffness, and high thermal and electrical conductivities. This dissertation describes research in which CNT cathodes were fabricated and their emission characteristics were measured.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on various substrates: Ni and Hastelloy gauze, 304 stainless steel (SS) plates, and Ni-coated …

Measurement Of Proton Transfer Reaction Rates In A Microwave Cavity Discharge Flowing Afterglow, George M. Brooke Iv

Physics Theses & Dissertations

The reaction rate coefficients between the hydronium ion and the molecules ethene (C₂H₄), propene (C₃H₆), 1-butene (C₄H₈) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) were measured at 296 K. The measured reaction rates were compared to collision rates calculated using average dipole orientation (ADO) theory. Reaction efficiency depends primarily upon the proton affinity of the molecules. All the measurements were obtained using the newly developed microwave cavity discharge flowing afterglow (MCD-FA) apparatus. This device uses an Asmussen-type microwave cavity discharge ion source that is …

Coherent Backscattering Of Light From An Ultra Cold Gas Of Rubidium-85 Atoms, Pasad B. Kulatunga

Physics Theses & Dissertations

This thesis reports on the experimental study of coherent radiative transport in an ultracold gas of ⁸⁵Rb atoms confined in a magneto-optic trap. Measurements are made of the polarization dependence of the spatial and spectral profile of light backscattered from the sample. The results shows an interferometric enhancement sensitive to coherent multiple scattering in the atomic gas, and strong variations with the polarization of the incident and detected light. Effects due to coherent enhancement of weak non-resonant transitions are also observed. Comparison of the measurements with realistic quantum Monte Carlo simulations of Kupriyanov, et al [1] yield very good …

Measurments Of Correlated Pair Momentum Distributions In 3he(E,E'Pp)N With Clas, Rustam Niyazov

Physics Theses & Dissertations

We have measured the ³He(e,e'pp)n reaction at 2.2 and 4.4 GeV over a wide kinematic range. The kinetic energy distribution for ’fast’ nucleons (p > 250 MeV/c) peaks where two nucleons each have 20% or less and the third or ‘leading’ nucleon carries most of the transferred energy. These fast nucleon pairs (both pp and pn) are back-to-back and carry very little momentum along q, indicating that they are spectators. Experimental and theoretical evidence indicates that we have measured N N correlations in ³He(e,e'pp)n by striking the third nucleon and detecting the spectator correlated pair.

A Combinatorial Technique For Face Detection Based On Color And Statistical Analysis, Harishwaran Hariharan

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Automatic detection of faces from video sequences is an important task in security applications. The number, location, size and orientation of human faces in a video frame are unpredictable and can vary from frame to frame. A face detection algorithm for color images in the presence of varying lighting conditions and complexity in background relying upon color and statistical analysis is presented in this thesis. The new method detects skin regions over the entire image and then classifies the skin regions as faces and non-faces. Segmentation of skin regions is performed by a novel color space merging procedure named Integrated …

Creating Enterprise Simulations Using High Level Architecture, Anton R. Lidums

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Despite an established need, there are two remaining roadblocks to building distributed simulations and enterprise simulation systems. First, commercial simulation packages and engineering modeling tools are not readily distributable across multiple computers and have traditionally had very little impetus for utilizing a distributable format. Second, although HLA simulations have been built and there are tools to facilitate those efforts, very little has been done or written that specifically describes a "non-standard" integration implementation in sufficient detail to make the process reusable or repeatable. This thesis introduces a proof of concept prototype that was developed to integrate simulations. The paper presents …

Automatic Speaker Identification Using Reusable And Retrainable Binary-Pair Partitioned Neural Networks, Ashutosh Mishra

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This thesis presents an extension of the work previously done on speaker identification using Binary Pair Partitioned (BPP) neural networks. In the previous work, a separate network was used for each pair of speakers in the speaker population. Although the basic BPP approach did perform well and had a simple underlying algorithm, it had the obvious disadvantage of requiring an extremely large number of networks for speaker identification with large speaker populations. It also requires training of networks proportional to the square of the number of speakers under consideration, leading to a very large number of networks to be trained …

Analysis Of Ingaassb/Aigaassb Photodetectors For Applications At The 2.0 Micron Wavelengths, Phani Pendyala

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The study of an InGaAsSb-based heterojunction avalanche photo detector has been carried out for 2-μm applications. A separate absorption and multiplication structure was used because it minimizes the tunneling component of the dark current in the absorption region, and also provides single-carrier injection into the multiplication region. This is a well-known requirement for reducing the multiplication noise. The primary goal was to evaluate the potential of InGaAsSb-AlGaAsSb photo-detectors for photodetection at the two-micron wavelength.

InGaAsSb is a relatively new material, and, therefore, characterization and photodetector response analysis based on this material are not available in the literature. In this thesis …

Dynamics Of Phase Transitions On Low-Index Metal Surfaces, Bo Lin

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The surface superheating and phase transitions at the low-index surface of metal were investigated using conventional continuous and 100-ps time-resolved reflection high-energy electron diffraction. Three metal surfaces, In(111), Au(110) and Pb(111), have been investigated in this work. The high temperature behavior of the In(111) surface was investigated using reflection high-energy electron diffraction with 100-ps temporal resolution. The change of surface vacancy density on In(111) is observed from 300 K to near the bulk melting point. The vacancy-formation energy of In(111) surface is estimated from experimental results. The surface vacancy density is observed to increase with temperature; however, the average random …

Multi-Symplectic Integrators For Nonlinear Wave Equations, Alvaro Lucas Islas

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

Symplectic (area-preserving) integrators for Hamiltonian ordinary differential equations have shown to be robust, efficient and accurate in long-term calculations. In this thesis, we show how symplectic integrators have a natural generalization to Hamiltonian PDEs by introducing the concept of multi-symplectic partial differential equations (PDEs). In particular, we show that multi-symplectic PDEs have an underlying spatio-temporal multi-symplectic structure characterized by a multi-symplectic conservation law MSCL). Then multi-symplectic integrators (MSIs) are numerical schemes that preserve exactly the MSCL. Remarkably, we demonstrate that, although not designed to do so, MSIs preserve very well other associated local conservation laws and global invariants, such as …

The Temporally Filtered Navier-Stokes Equations: Propertes Of The Residual Stress, C. D. Pruett, T. B. Gatski, Chester E. Grosch, W. D. Thacker

CCPO Publications

Recent interest in the development of a unifying framework among direct numerical simulations, large-eddy simulations, and statistically averaged formulations of the Navier-Stokes equations, provides the motivation for the present paper. Toward that goal, the properties of the residual (subgrid-scale) stress of the temporally filtered Navier-Stokes equations are carefully examined. This includes the frame-invariance properties of the filtered equations and the resulting residual stress. Causal time-domain filters, parametrized by a temporal filter width 0infinity, the residual stress is equivalent to the long-time averaged stress, and the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations are recovered from the temporally filtered equations. The predicted behavior at the …

Near-Surface Currents In Desoto Canyon (1997–99): Comparison Of Current Meters, Satellite Observation, And Model Simulation, Dong-Ping Wang, Lie-Yauw Oey, Tal Ezer, Peter Hamilton

CCPO Publications

This study evaluates a data-assimilated model simulation of near-surface circulation in DeSoto Canyon (DSC), Gulf of Mexico, with emphasis on analyzing moored current-meter observations and comparing them with satellite data and model results. The study period is for two years from April 1997 to April 1999. The model results are from a high-resolution Gulf of Mexico model forced by analyzed wind and surface heat flux. Two types of data are used to deduce near-surface circulation: moored current meters at 13 locations in the DSC, and satellite sea level anomaly. The moored currents are mapped through multivariate objective analysis to produce …

The Variability Of Currents In The Yucatan Channel: Analysis Of Results From A Numerical Ocean Model, Tal Ezer, Lie-Yauw Oey, Hyun-Chul Lee, Wilton Sturges

CCPO Publications

The flow through the Yucatan Channel and into the Gulf of Mexico is a major component of the Gulf Stream and the subtropical gyre circulation. Surprisingly, however, little is known about the forcing and physical parameters that effect the current structures in the Channel. This paper attempts to improve our understanding of the flow through the Channel with a detailed analysis of the currents obtained from a primitive-equation model that includes the Gulf and the entire Caribbean Sea and forced by 6-hourly wind from ECMWF. The analysis includes two parts: First, the overall statistics of the model results, including the …

Bio-Optical Properties Of The Labrador Sea, Glenn F. Cota, W. Glen Harrison, Trevor Platt, Shubha Sathyendranath, Venetia Stuart

CCPO Publications

Three cruises were conducted during fall and spring in the Labrador Sea to investigate the effects of bio-optical properties on satellite retrievals of phytoplankton chlorophyll in this important high-latitude ecosystem. Taxon-specific and regional differences were found. Diatoms had similar to 1.5 lower chlorophyll-specific absorption but significantly higher reflectance ratios than prymnesiophytes. Particulate absorption at 443 nm for total, phytoplankton, and "detrital'' fractions was related to chlorophyll, but values were lower than reported for lower latitudes. Decreased particulate absorption is attributed primarily to pigment packaging, while low backscattering to scattering ratios result from a lower relative abundance of bacteria and picophytoplankton …