Design and Development of an FPGA-based Distributed Computing Processing Platform

This thesis presents two frameworks- a software framework and a hardware core manager framework- which, together, can be used to develop a processing platform using a distributed system of field-programmable gate array (FPGA) boards. The software framework providesusers with the ability to easily develop applications that exploit the processing power of FPGAs while the hardware core manager framework gives users the ability to configure and interact with multiple FPGA boards and/or hardware cores. This thesis describes the design and development of these frameworks and analyzes the performance of a system that was constructed using the frameworks. The performance analysis included measuring the effect of incorporating additional hardware components into the system and comparing the system to a software-only implementation. This work draws conclusions based on the provided results of the performance analysis and offers suggestions for future work.

Design and Use of an Alternative Fuel Testing Apparatus and Assessment of the Feasibility of Biodiesel

Petroleum supply and environmental pollution issues constantly increase interest in renewable low polluting alternative fuels. Published test results show decreased pollution with similar power output and fuel consumption from Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) burning alternative fuels. More specifically, diesel engines burning biodiesel derived from plant oils and animal fats not only reduce harmful exhaust emissions but are renewable and environmentally friendly. To validate these claims and assess the feasibility of alternative fuels, independent engine dynamometer and emissions testing was performed. A testing apparatus capable of making relevant measurements was designed, built, and used to test and determine the feasibility of biodiesel. The apparatus marks the addition of a valuable testing tool to the University and provides a foundation for future experiments. This thesis will discuss the background of biodiesel, testing methods, design and function of the testing apparatus, experimental results, relevant calculations, and conclusions.

Design and Preliminary Results of an Atmospheric-Pressure Model Gas Turbine Combustor Utilizing Varying CO2 Doping Concentration in CH4 to Emulate Biogas Combustion

Utilization of biogas can provide a source of renewable energy in both heat and power generation. Combustion of biogas in land-based gas turbines for power generation is a promising approach to reducing greenhouse gases and US dependence on foreign-source fossil fuels. Biogas is a byproduct from the decomposition of organic matter and consists primarily of CH4 and large amounts of CO2. The focus of this research was to design a combustion device and investigate the effects of increasing levels of CO2 addition to the combustion of pure CH4 with air. Using an atmospheric-pressure, swirl-stabilized dump combustor, emissions data and flame stability limitations were measured and analyzed. In particular, CO2, CO, and NOx emissions were the main focus of the combustion products. Additionally, the occurrence of lean blowout and combustion pressure oscillations, which impose significant limitations in operation ranges for actual gas turbines, was observed. Preliminary kinetic and equilibrium modeling was performed using Cantera and CEA for the CH4/CO2/Air combustion systems to analyze the effect of CO2 upon adiabatic flame temperature and emission levels. The numerical and experimental results show similar dependence of emissions on equivalence ratio, CO2 addition, inlet air temperature, and combustor residence time. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Design and Analysis of Partner Studies of HIV Transmission

Common goals in epidemiologic studies of infectious diseases include identification of the infectious agent, description of the modes of transmission and characterization of factors that influence the probability of transmission from infected to uninfected individuals. In the case of AIDS, the agent has been identified as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and transmission is known to occur through a variety of contact mechanisms including unprotected sexual intercourse, transfusion of infected blood products and sharing of needles in intravenous drug use. Relatively little is known about the probability of IV transmission associated with the various modes of contact, or the role that other cofactors play in promoting or suppressing transmission. Here, transmission probability refers to the probability that the virus is transmitted to a susceptible individual following exposure consisting of a series of potentially infectious contacts. The infectivity of HIV for a given route of transmission is defined to be the per contact probability of infection. Knowledge of infectivity and its relationship to other factors is important in understanding the dynamics of the AIDS epidemic and in suggesting appropriate measures to control its spread. The primary source of empirical data about infectivity comes from sexual partners of infected individuals. Partner studies consist of a series of such partnerships, usually heterosexual and monogamous, each composed of an initially infected "index case" and a partner who may or may not be infected by the time of data collection. However, because the infection times of both partners may be unknown and the history of contacts uncertain, any quantitative characterization of infectivity is extremely difficult. Thus, most statistical analyses of partner study data involve the simplifying assumption that infectivity is a constant common to all partnerships. The major objectives of this work are to describe and discuss the design and analysis of partner studies, providing a general statistical framework for investigations of infectivity and risk factors for HIV transmission. The development is largely based on three papers: Jewell and Shiboski (1990), Kim and Lagakos (1990), and Shiboski and Jewell (1992).

Model-based control of neuromuscular block using mivacurium: design and clinical verification

BACKGROUND: Short-acting agents for neuromuscular block (NMB) require frequent dosing adjustments for individual patient's needs. In this study, we verified a new closed-loop controller for mivacurium dosing in clinical trials. METHODS: Fifteen patients were studied. T1% measured with electromyography was used as input signal for the model-based controller. After induction of propofol/opiate anaesthesia, stabilization of baseline electromyography signal was awaited and a bolus of 0.3 mg kg-1 mivacurium was then administered to facilitate endotracheal intubation. Closed-loop infusion was started thereafter, targeting a neuromuscular block of 90%. Setpoint deviation, the number of manual interventions and surgeon's complaints were recorded. Drug use and its variability between and within patients were evaluated. RESULTS: Median time of closed-loop control for the 11 patients included in the data processing was 135 [89-336] min (median [range]). Four patients had to be excluded because of sensor problems. Mean absolute deviation from setpoint was 1.8 +/- 0.9 T1%. Neither manual interventions nor complaints from the surgeons were recorded. Mean necessary mivacurium infusion rate was 7.0 +/- 2.2 microg kg-1 min-1. Intrapatient variability of mean infusion rates over 30-min interval showed high differences up to a factor of 1.8 between highest and lowest requirement in the same patient. CONCLUSIONS: Neuromuscular block can precisely be controlled with mivacurium using our model-based controller. The amount of mivacurium needed to maintain T1% at defined constant levels differed largely between and within patients. Closed-loop control seems therefore advantageous to automatically maintain neuromuscular block at constant levels.

Design and in vitro characterization of highly sst2-selective somatostatin antagonists suitable for radiotargeting

Radiolabeled sst 2 and sst 3 antagonists are better candidates for tumor targeting than agonists with comparable binding characteristics (Ginj, M.; Zhang, H.; Waser, B.; Cescato, R.; Wild, D.; Erchegyi, J.; Rivier, J.; Mäcke, H. R.; Reubi, J. C. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2006, 103, 16436-16441.). Because most of the neuroendocrine tumors express sst 2, we used the known antagonists acetyl- pNO 2Phe (2)- c[ dCys (3)-Tyr (7)- dTrp (8)-Lys (9)-Thr (10)-Cys (14)]- dTyr (15)-NH 2 ( 1) (Bass, R. T.; Buckwalter, B. L.; Patel, B. P.; Pausch, M. H.; Price, L. A.; Strnad, J.; Hadcock, J. R. Mol. Pharmacol. 1996, 50, 709-715. Bass, R. T.; Buckwalter, B. L.; Patel, B. P.; Pausch, M. H.; Price, L. A.; Strnad, J.; Hadcock, J. R. Mol. Pharmacol. 1997, 51, 170; Erratum.) and H-Cpa (2)- c[ dCys (3)-Tyr (7)- dTrp (8)-Lys (9)-Thr (10)-Cys (14)]-2Nal (15)-NH 2 ( 7) (Hocart, S. J.; Jain, R.; Murphy, W. A.; Taylor, J. E.; Coy, D. H. J. Med. Chem. 1999, 42, 1863-1871.) as leads for analogues with increased sst 2 binding affinity and selectivity. Among the 32 analogues reported here, DOTA- pNO 2Phe (2)- c[ dCys (3)-Tyr (7)- dAph (8)(Cbm)-Lys (9)-Thr (10)-Cys (14)- dTyr (15)-NH 2 ( 3) and DOTA-Cpa (2)- c[ dCys (3)-Aph (7)(Hor)- dAph (8)(Cbm)-Lys (9)-Thr (10)-Cys (14)]- dTyr (15)-NH 2 ( 31) had the highest sst 2 binding affinity and selectivity. All of the analogues tested kept their sst 2 antagonistic properties (i.e., did not affect calcium release in vitro and competitively antagonized the agonistic effect of [Tyr (3)]octreotide). Moreover, in an immunofluorescence-based internalization assay, the new analogues prevented sst 2 internalization induced by the sst 2 agonist [Tyr (3)]octreotide without being active by themselves. In conclusion, several analogues (in particular 3, 31, and 32) have outstanding sst 2 binding and functional antagonistic properties and, because of their DOTA moiety, are excellent candidates for in vivo targeting of sst 2-expressing cancers.

Review of assessment, design, and mitigation of multiple hazards

Large parts of the world are subjected to one or more natural hazards, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, tropical storms (hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons), costal inundation and flooding. Virtually the entire world is at risk of man-made hazards. In recent decades, rapid population growth and economic development in hazard-prone areas have greatly increased the potential of multiple hazards to cause damage and destruction of buildings, bridges, power plants, and other infrastructure; thus posing a grave danger to the community and disruption of economic and societal activities. Although an individual hazard is significant in many parts of the United States (U.S.), in certain areas more than one hazard may pose a threat to the constructed environment. In such areas, structural design and construction practices should address multiple hazards in an integrated manner to achieve structural performance that is consistent with owner expectations and general societal objectives. The growing interest and importance of multiple-hazard engineering has been recognized recently. This has spurred the evolution of multiple-hazard risk-assessment frameworks and development of design approaches which have paved way for future research towards sustainable construction of new and improved structures and retrofitting of the existing structures. This report provides a review of literature and the current state of practice for assessment, design and mitigation of the impact of multiple hazards on structural infrastructure. It also presents an overview of future research needs related to multiple-hazard performance of constructed facilities.

Design and implementation of a 3D computer game controller using inertial MEMS sensors

Though 3D computer graphics has seen tremendous advancement in the past two decades, most available mechanisms for computer interaction in 3D are high cost and targeted for industry and virtual reality applications. Recent advances in Micro-Electro-Mechanical-System (MEMS) devices have brought forth a variety of new low-cost, low-power, miniature sensors with high accuracy, which are well suited for hand-held devices. In this work a novel design for a 3D computer game controller using inertial sensors is proposed, and a prototype device based on this design is implemented. The design incorporates MEMS accelerometers and gyroscopes from Analog Devices to measure the three components of the acceleration and angular velocity. From these sensor readings, the position and orientation of the hand-held compartment can be calculated using numerical methods. The implemented prototype is utilizes a USB 2.0 compliant interface for power and communication with the host system. A Microchip dsPIC microcontroller is used in the design. This microcontroller integrates the analog to digital converters, the program memory flash, as well as the core processor, on a single integrated circuit. A PC running Microsoft Windows operating system is used as the host machine. Prototype firmware for the microcontroller is developed and tested to establish the communication between the design and the host, and perform the data acquisition and initial filtering of the sensor data. A PC front-end application with a graphical interface is developed to communicate with the device, and allow real-time visualization of the acquired data.