Engineering Undergraduate Research Theses and Honors Research Theses 2014-03-10T04:32:06Z Development and Validation of Control Moment Gyroscopic Stabilization Development and Validation of Control Moment Gyroscopic Stabilization Colvin, Gregory Two wheeled vehicles offer many advantages over other configurations such as greater maneuverability, smaller size, and greater efficiency. These advantages come at the sacrifice of stability and safety. The goal of this work is to improve the stability and safety of a two wheeled vehicle by the development of Control Moment Gyroscopic Stabilization. This technology integrated into a vehicle can deliver unparalleled maneuverability and stability for users compared to any vehicle in use today. The goal of my work was to develop and validate the system of gyroscopic stabilization to be implemented into a vehicle. To validate the concept, a MATLAB/Simulink program was created, modeling the behavior and response of an unstable body with gyroscopic stabilization applied. After completing multiple simulations on this model, a physical structure, similar to an inverted pendulum, was constructed and CMG stabilization has been tested on this setup. Gyroscopic stabilization has been validated in this configuration and has led to further study in multiple degree of freedom situations. The implementation of a vehicle which utilizes this technology can generate safer and more maneuverable vehicles for the public, military, and recreational users. 2014-05-01T00:00:00Z Colvin, Gregory Lithium-Ion Battery Thermal Management Systems Using Flexible Graphite Heat Dissipators Lithium-Ion Battery Thermal Management Systems Using Flexible Graphite Heat Dissipators Myers, Matthew Lithium-Ion batteries are used in a wide variety of devices over a broad range of powers. All batteries generate heat due to the internal resistance of the battery and entropic effects which is roughly proportional to amount of power being drawn from the cells. This heat can cause many problems in the operation of the battery including shortening the lifetime of the cells, reducing their power output, electrical imbalance between the cells due to non-uniform heating within a pack, and even the possibility of fire and explosion in extreme cases. Thermal management of the cells then becomes an important study. As technology progresses, higher power demands are put onto the battery packs. In addition, cells are routinely packed together as tightly as possible to conserve space. This increasing power density demands that heat be shared evenly between individual cells and ultimately removed from the battery pack. This research investigates the application of flexible graphite material in managing the heat production of lithium ion battery packs. The pack chosen for this study is a 10 cell, 36 volt pack consistent with the type found in modern hand-held rechargeable power tools. Three packs were designed including a control and two packs with different heat spreader geometries. The packs were constructed and instrumented with voltage leads on the individual cells and thermocouples. The packs were then subjected to a series of high-current charge/discharge cycles. Deviations in the voltages of the cells and the temperatures at several points within each pack were monitored as the batteries were cycled. When a iii predetermined exit condition based on a maximum limit on voltage and temperature spread within a pack, the experiment was concluded. While there was not enough data as of yet to detect a significant slowdown in voltage imbalance increase, there did appear to be a reduction in the rate of increase in temperature imbalance by using the graphite heat spreaders that should lead to an improvement in endurance as the experiment progresses. 2012-06-01T00:00:00Z Myers, Matthew Time-to-Contact Demonstrates Modulations of Postural Control During a Dynamic Lower Extremity Task Time-to-Contact Demonstrates Modulations of Postural Control During a Dynamic Lower Extremity Task Schloemer, Sarah Postural control deficits are associated with increased risk of loss of balance and potential injury. To assess for balance deficits and increased injury risk, there is a need to evaluate postural control during dynamic activities. Analysis during dynamic activities could assess if an individual’s ability to control their posture is a fixed condition or if it is dependent on the demands of a task. Time to contact (TtC) detects instantaneous modifications in postural control during dynamic tasks by estimating the time for the center of pressure, given its instantaneous trajectory, to move outside the base of support. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in postural control during a dynamic lower extremity task using TtC analysis. 3D motion capture with a force plate was used to evaluate 47 athletes performing the Star Excursion Balance Test. TtC was calculated for 27 valid trials per stance leg. For each trial, the time from the toe leaving the force plate to the toe touching the floor at the maximum reach distance was divided into five epochs of equal duration. TtC was averaged over each epoch. Differences in TtC were evaluated with an unbalanced mixed effects ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey’s HSD comparisons. Epoch was a significant main effect (p<0.001), with significantly different TtC between all epochs (p=0.001). Increasing TtC in later epochs suggests a higher demand for postural control when the task becomes more challenging as the subject’s reaching foot extends further from the body. No significant differences in TtC were present for either stance leg or reach direction. Average normalized reach distances were compared to average TtC during Epoch 5 by direction using a Pearson’s correlation analysis. A very weak correlation was found in the anterior direction (ρ = -0.317, p = 0.032), suggesting individuals modulate their postural control based on the demands of a task. Future work is necessary to evaluate how TtC relates to other facets of postural control, such as flexibility and strength. 2012-06-01T00:00:00Z Schloemer, Sarah Exploration of Reduction Catalysis for the Elimination of Nitrogen Oxides from Engine Exhaust Exploration of Reduction Catalysis for the Elimination of Nitrogen Oxides from Engine Exhaust Clark, Ryan In recent years there has been a push for more efficient lean-burn engines that operate with higher air-to-fuel ratios. In order to support this demand, the need has arisen for an effective catalytic system to control the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from such engines. In this work, a study was performed on reduction catalysts prepared with 0.3% Pd by mass supported on sulfated zirconia (0.3% Pd/SZ) through a single-pot sol-gel process. The catalysts were prepared with varying alkoxide concentrations and Zr:SO4^2- ratios. Surface area and pore volume characterizations were performed on the samples and it was found that increasing the Zr:SO4^2- ratio decreased the surface area and pore volume of the catalysts. Catalyst activity testing was performed on the catalysts in a simulated exhaust stream and the catalyst prepared with the highest alkoxide concentration (1.3 M) and the highest Zr:SO4^2- (3:1) ratio was found to have the highest activity per surface area. This catalyst was found to be highly resistant to increases in gas hourly space velocity. Pd supported on sulfated ceria and zirconia mixtures were prepared through incipient wetness impregnation. The addition of 10% Co/Ceria in varying ratios to 0.3% Pd/SZ (1.3/3) was found to significantly increase NOx conversion and fully oxidize CO species. The optimum ratio of 0.3% Pd/SZ (1.3/3) to 10% Co/Ceria was found to be 8:1 by mass. 2012-03-01T00:00:00Z Clark, Ryan Quantification of Brake Disc Runout Due to Assembly and Manufacturing Variations Quantification of Brake Disc Runout Due to Assembly and Manufacturing Variations Samodelov, Valentina Brake disc runout, which is defined as a variation in the distance of a brake surface to a reference plane, is a key contributor to torque variations. Runout also leads to disk thickness variation by inducing uneven wear of the disc and is affected by assembly and manufacturing inconsistencies. Dynamic frictional torques, as induced by disk thickness variation and runout, could then lead to vibrations in the seat track, steering wheel, chassis and brake pedal under high speed braking events in ground vehicles. This low frequency vibration phenomenon is often known as brake judder, and it poses customer satisfaction and warranty issues. The purpose of this undergraduate thesis is to identify and comparatively evaluate key parameters which cause or affect runout of the brake disc. Controlled static experiments are conducted to investigate several assembly variations. Statistical analyses, including a compensation for the wide variability in the control of the bolt tightening torque, show that the bolt tightening pattern has a significant effect on runout magnitude, while indexing of the rotor with respect to the hub has an effect on the maximum and minimum runout angles. The assembly variations are also studied using a computational finite element model. The model is further utilized to investigate thermal effects of the inherent manufacturing variation of casting core shift. Qualitative analysis of the cumulative effect of core shift and heating due to friction from a braking event illustrates the significance of this manufacturing variation in its effect on both disk thickness variation and runout. The key contribution of this thesis is a comparative evaluation of the parameters that affect runout. In particular, this work should lead to a better understanding of the assembly and manufacturing variation on brake judder and system dynamics. Outstanding Research and Leadership Award 2010-06-01T00:00:00Z Samodelov, Valentina ANALYSIS OF AN EXISTING BUILDING FOR PROGRESSIVE COLLAPSE BY COLUMN REMOVAL ANALYSIS OF AN EXISTING BUILDING FOR PROGRESSIVE COLLAPSE BY COLUMN REMOVAL Wade, John Progressive collapse, also called disproportionate collapse, is a structural engineering phenomenon defined as the failure of a building or other large structure with the sudden removal or failure of a major vertical load carrying component of the structure (such as a first floor column). Although numerous high-profile structures have failed due to progressive collapse (such as the World Trade Center Towers), and structural engineers have developed theories to account for progressive collapse in design, little experimental data exists to validate the theory. Large-scale structures can rarely, if ever, be test in a laboratory setting. The existing theory and design practices tend to produce overdesigned and expensive buildings, where more accurate or refined theory could economize design. This research involves analyzing models of progressive collapse scenarios and comparing the results of the model to experimental data from a recently demolished building on The Ohio State University Columbus Campus. In this experiment, the column of a steel frame building on the campus was removed with demolition equipment, and the response of nearby columns and beams was measured with strain gauges and displacement sensors. One perimeter frame of the building including the removed column was modeled in the structural analysis software SAP2000 and ASI Extreme Loading for Structures. 2013-12-01T00:00:00Z Wade, John Characteristics of a Linear Actuator for an Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) Characteristics of a Linear Actuator for an Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) Krishnarai, Gaurav The scope of this research is to design a suitable experiment that will allow to accurately find the parameters of the actuators that control the transmission. The purpose is to find these parameters in order to develop the dynamic model to enable model based control (mbc). An automated manual transmission (AMT) is an innovative type of transmission that combines the advantages of both a manual transmission (MT) and an automatic transmission (AT). The end goal of this research is to use existing actuators that are made by SKF and understand their behavior under extreme operating conditions to ensure their success as part of the AMT. The project also involved designing test stands such that actuators could be tested under identical conditions for each iteration of extension and retraction of the actuating end. These tests are carried out to find the parameters as well as the internal efficiency of the actuator system. The idea is to study the behavior of the actuator over a large number of tests and see the variance in the parameters with respect to changing voltage and load inputs. The efficiency is calculated based on these parameters. Finding the system efficiency helps in calculating internal losses as there is no accurate method for modeling the interaction between the different parts. These findings will be used by The Ohio State University EcoCAR 2 team for designing the control algorithm for the AMT that will be used in the development of a prototype plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) that is based on a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. This thesis also deals with the black box model of the electro-mechanical clutch actuator. Further work on this project will include the possibility of replacing the existing actuators with quicker and more efficient ones. 2013-12-01T00:00:00Z Krishnarai, Gaurav Development of a Carbon Fiber Wheel Rim Development of a Carbon Fiber Wheel Rim Ressa, Aaron In order to improve The Ohio States FSAE student project vehicle performance and improve fuel efficiency, the mass of the vehicle must be reduced. An effective way to do this is to construct the wheels out of a woven carbon fiber composite. In doing so, not only is the overall weight of the vehicle reduced, but rotation inertia and unsprung mass are reduced as well. To do this, physical testing was used to create and validate an FEA model that was then in turn used to develop and analyze a laminated carbon fiber composite rim design. Several designs were evaluated and one was selected for refinement. The final refined design reduced the weight of the wheel by nearly 50%. The wheel was then fabricated and future plans were made to validate and test the wheel so that it may be used on The Ohio States FSAE vehicle during collegiate competitions in 2014 competition year. 2013-12-01T00:00:00Z Ressa, Aaron Evaluating Radio Frequency Interference Detection Algorithms for SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) Evaluating Radio Frequency Interference Detection Algorithms for SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) Salama, Omar SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) is a mission to be launched by NASA to measure soil moisture of the Earth’s land surface. The SMAP radiometer operates in the L-band protected spectrum (1400-1427 MHz) that is known to be vulnerable to radio frequency interference (RFI). Radiometric observations show substantial evidence of out-of-band emissions from neighboring transmitters and possibly illegally operating emitters. SMAP faces large levels of RFI and also significant amounts of low-level RFI equivalent to 0.1 K to 10 K of brightness temperature. Such low-level interference would be enough to jeopardize mission success without an aggressive mitigation solution. A decision has been made to employ an advanced digital microwave radiometer, the first of its kind for spaceflight, for use on SMAP. The mission takes a multi-domain approach to RFI mitigation utilizing an innovative on-board digital detector backend with DSP algorithms to detect and filter out harmful interference. Four different baseline RFI detectors are run on the ground and their outputs combined for a maximum probability of detection to remove RFI within a footprint. The SMAP radiometer outputs the first four raw moments of the receiver system noise voltage in 16 frequency channels for measurement of noise temperature and kurtosis as well as complex cross-correlation products for measuring the third and fourth Stokes parameters. Evaluating each of the four individual RFI detection algorithms is essential to ensure the highest efficiency produced by the maximum probability of detection. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves are generated for each of the different detectors to evaluate performance. ROC curves plot the probability of detection versus false alarm rate. The optimum case would correspond to the highest probability of detection (PD) and lowest false alarm rate (FAR). A given threshold for the RFI algorithms would produce a corresponding (PD, FAR). The rest of the line curve is graphed by varying threshold from a minimal value to a maximal value. The ROC curves are performed on all different RFI algorithm detectors which include time-domain, cross-frequency, kurtosis, and polarization detectors. Each detector operates differently and behaves differently under different injected RFI. Different injected RFI include pulsed and sinusoidal at different frequencies, amplitudes, and power. The focus of the study is to optimize each of the given RFI detectors given any RFI signal. For example, since the cross-frequency algorithm uses only frequency resolution and no time resolution, its performance should be best for RFI that is localized in frequency. Since continuous wave (CW) RFI are localized in frequency by definition, as expected, the cross- frequency detector performed very well against CW RFI relative to other detectors. The RFI detection performance that is ultimately achieved will be a function of the threshold (that returns the highest PD versus lowest FAR), the nature of the RFI encountered, and radiometer system parameters such as the number of frequency channels and the integration period. 2013-12-01T00:00:00Z Salama, Omar SWAN vs. DG-WAVE: A Comparison of Numerical Wave Prediction Models SWAN vs. DG-WAVE: A Comparison of Numerical Wave Prediction Models Sebian, Rachel A. Established wave models are frequently used by government organizations such as NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), and the Louisiana State University Hurricane Center. The Simulating Waves Near-shore (SWAN) model is a widely used spectral wave model, using the two-dimensional variance density spectrum to solve the action balance equation in five dimensions . SWAN solves its governing equation, the action balance equation, iteratively at discrete frequency and direction bins until some break-off criteria are met. This method performs well in application, but is computationally expensive and thus inefficient. This noted inefficiency leads to an interest in exploring the potential of a simpler wave model, the GLERL-Donelan wave model. This model utilizes a parametric approach to simplify the problem and reduce the number of dimensions, solving the momentum balance equation. A discontinuous-Galerkin method was selected as the approach to implementation and was then developed into a computer interface for the model, a Discontinious Galerkin-based Wave Prediction Model (DG-WAVE). The study presented herein is motivated by a desire to investigate a fair comparison of the accuracy and computational efficiency of both SWAN and DG-WAVE. We run the models in hind cast for several months of 2011 and present results for significant wave height shown in time series comparison with recorded buoy data for each month as well as average computational time for each model. Our results show that DG-WAVE and SWAN perform well when validating significant wave height against actual buoy data. Computational time results show that DG-WAVE is highly efficient. The DG-WAVE model is thus shown to be a robust and accurate wave model with the potential to be developed into a high powered and efficient computational tool for coastal water studies. With the development of a comprehensive model, domains such as the Great Lakes could be more efficiently studied with great accuracy and largely decreased cost. 2013-12-01T00:00:00Z Sebian, Rachel A. USE OF A PHASE CONJUGATE MIRROR TO INCREASE SIGNAL FOR RAYLEIGH SCATTERING MEASUREMENTS WITHOUT DEGRADATION OF SPATIAL RESOLUTION USE OF A PHASE CONJUGATE MIRROR TO INCREASE SIGNAL FOR RAYLEIGH SCATTERING MEASUREMENTS WITHOUT DEGRADATION OF SPATIAL RESOLUTION Marrinan, Daniel Rayleigh and Raman scattering describe the elastic and inelastic scattering of light, respectively, from molecules. Rayleigh scattering is proportional to the number density of the flow and can be used to measure concentrations or temperatures of mixing fluids. Raman scattering is species specific and can be used to measure major species concentration and mixture fraction in combustion systems. However, the signal collected from both Rayleigh and Raman scattering is weak. A retro-reflector is an optic that reflects an incident light beam back along its incoming direction. Thus, in principal, a retro-reflector can increase the collected Rayleigh and Raman signals by "N" times, where "N" is the number of retro-reflections. Typical retro-reflectors used to make high power multipass laser systems degrade the spatial resolution of Rayleigh and Raman measurements because it is not possible to reflect the laser beam back upon itself in environments with strong index of refraction gradients such as those found in combustion systems. A phase conjugate mirror (PCM) can reverse both the propagation direction and phase of an incoming light wave, thus providing the opportunity for "perfect" retro-reflection. This research will be used as a proof of concept showing that the unique characteristics of a PCM can be used to increase the signal for one dimensional Rayleigh scattering imaging without degrading the spatial resolution. Single pass Rayleigh scattering measurements will be compared to double pass Rayleigh scattering measurements using a conventional mirror and double pass Rayleigh scattering measurements using a PCM. Turbulent combustion flow fields will be used to study the effects of flows with index of refraction gradients. Initial Rayleigh scattering measurements using the PCM will serve as a proof of concept for Raman scattering experiments which are signal limited. 2013-12-01T00:00:00Z Marrinan, Daniel Stress Relaxation in Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) At Large Strains During The Process Of Hot Embossing Stress Relaxation in Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) At Large Strains During The Process Of Hot Embossing Kakumani, Akul Poly(methyl methacrylate) is a strong and lightweight polymer which has a number of applications, hot embossing being one of them. The output of an embossing process, a surface profile, involves monitoring a number of factors such as strain rate, total strain, embossing temperature and spring back. Due to its glass transition of around 107˚C, PMMA is an ideal candidate for this process and is used in multiple manufacturing techniques. Previous experimental work in this area had led to the development of a mechanical model which inaccurately predicted stress relaxation in the polymer at higher temperatures. The purpose of this project was to improve this model by performing experiments incorporating certain factors that were not included before, such as cooling the sample and spring back. For this, a number of samples were tested at temperatures above their glass transition temperature using an Instron testing machine. The samples were compressed between two compression plates, and held at a constant strain level for a specific period of time. During this period, the stress in the material was recorded by measuring the force exerted by the sample on the compression plate. Similar tests were carried out by varying the test parameters and the differences in stress relaxation behavior were observed. At the end of a test, spring back in the sample was recorded after a period of one hour. Percent spring back was calculated based on these values, and along with data obtained from the experiments, was incorporated in the mechanical model. Simulations from this mechanical model were compared with the experimental data and it was found that this model fits the new stress relaxation with cooling data reasonably well. By further improving this mechanical model, PMMA’s behavior under complex loading conditions can be determined which will ultimately reduce trial and error in the mold design procedure, and benefit the industry by saving time and money. 2013-12-01T00:00:00Z Kakumani, Akul Muscle Activation Patterns during Linemen Movements in NCAA Football Players Muscle Activation Patterns during Linemen Movements in NCAA Football Players Woodling, Katelyn Damage to articular cartilage in the knee can lead to pain and prevent knee functionality. Once damaged, cartilage has limited ability to self-repair, presenting significant danger for progression into severe conditions such as osteoarthritis. Some types of cartilage injuries are known as cartilage defects and are common in athletes, particularly in linemen participating in American football. It is known that excessive forces in the knee can cause cartilage defects; these forces may arise from excessive and repetitive torsional loading of the joint or single external traumas to the knee. However, it is unknown why linemen in particular are so commonly diagnosed with defects. It is possible that activation of certain muscles surrounding the knee could be an important factor in causing high forces in the knee. In this project, NCAA linemen were asked to walk, jog, and perform rush trials. During these movements, 3-D motion data of linemen were collected with the use of a motion capture system and electromyography (EMG) data was collected with surface electrodes. Each movement was broken down into multiple stages and EMG data were then used to calculate a co-contraction index for each stage. Additionally, these motion data were entered into an open-source software, OpenSim, which can be utilized to create subject-specific musculoskeletal simulations of movements. A statistical analysis was run on the results for co-contraction, and it was determined that antagonistic muscles surrounding the knee activate more and for a longer period of time in certain stages of rush and jog as compared to walking. In addition, it was found that, due to model simplifications of the lumbar spine, simulations of motion could not be performed. Engineering Experiment Station Honors Undergraduate Research Internship 2013-12-01T00:00:00Z Woodling, Katelyn Remotely Operated Reflectometer Remotely Operated Reflectometer Nagy, Jonathan In the field of electromagnetics, one of the most fundamental parameters that describe a system is the reflection coefficient. This is the ratio of the reflected fields to the incident field and is inherently a complex number describing both magnitude and phase. The reflection coefficient is typically measured by instruments called vector network analyzers (VNA). Although VNAs are very useful and necessary tools in a laboratory, their extensive capabilities are commonly underutilized by a single application. In addition, their size, weight and cost make them impractical in situations requiring mobility. Therefore, this research is being conducted with the goal of creating a wireless, portable and cost effective reflectometer. The device has been constructed from commercial-off-the-self (COTS) components to keep costs at a minimum. The core measurement component of the reflectometer is a magnitude and phase detector by Analog Devices. Other critical components are two directional couplers used to sample the incident and reflected signals and feed the detector. Also, a wideband stepped-frequency source is used to generate the incident signal. Finally, a microcontroller with a Bluetooth module is used to control the system as well as collect and send data to a smartphone for the user’s analysis. In the end, a portable reflectometer was developed that can measure the complex reflection coefficient over a wide bandwidth and wirelessly graph the data on an Android smartphone. Through data processing and calibration algorithms the measurements are fairly accurate, but suffer the most from a phase ambiguity in the magnitude and phase detector. Ultimately, this device is able to significantly reduce the cost and size of systems in need of reflection coefficient measurements while providing a convenient smartphone user interface. 2013-12-01T00:00:00Z Nagy, Jonathan Rapid Synthesis in a Microcombustion Environment and Transfer Process Development for Few Layer Graphene Rapid Synthesis in a Microcombustion Environment and Transfer Process Development for Few Layer Graphene Silleck, Alexander Graphene is a nanomaterial that consists of a carbon monolayer (one atom thick) arranged in the graphitic structure. Since the 2004 discovery of graphene as a material useful for applications using nanotechnology, there has been significant interest in the synthesis and applications of graphene. Possible applications focus on areas that utilize the excellent properties of graphene for high electrical conductivity, stronger composite materials, and increased rate of fluid flow through graphene. However, current methods for synthesis are either not easily scalable for industrial production or require complex, slow, and expensive methods. Recent work has shown that microcombustion presents a novel, rapid, and efficient method for targeted graphene synthesis. The objective of this undergraduate honors project is to deposit few layer graphene (FLG) on Cu (copper) wires and then transfer these to a silicon substrate for application in a biosensor towards prostate cancer cell detection. Several experimental methods for transferring FLG layers from Cu wires were compared and evaluated. After each test, Si samples were analyzed using Raman spectroscopy to check for chemical integrity and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to identify size and structure. Each method had pros and cons. For instance, chemical etching of Cu wires adhered to Si substrates with adhesive led to Si fouled by etched particles and adhesive residue. Attempts to dissolve the adhesive by solvent treatment led to encapsulation of FLG layers with the adhesive. Sonicating Cu wires to release FLG followed by filter collection has shown ability to collect small flakes with size yet to be determined. Unfortunately, filter capture requires a high degree of precision and an elaborate set-up to achieve successful transfer. Due to these obstacles, successful transfer and implementation of FLG into an application was not achieved. Additional work is required to further the work and results seen in the project and create a robust transfer process for the FLG flakes. 2013-08-01T00:00:00Z Silleck, Alexander CO2 Assisted Impregnation of Electrospun Polymer Blends for Biomedical Applications CO2 Assisted Impregnation of Electrospun Polymer Blends for Biomedical Applications Karandikar, Prathamesh Nanoscale polymer composites have revolutionized regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications. The key challenge is to make scaffolds that mimic the extra-cellular matrix. In this study we wish to analyze the efficacy of blends of polymers that provide both structural and biological compatibility for the above applications. Polycaprolactone(PCL)-Gelatin scaffolds have proven to be successful for the purpose of Supercritical CO2 infusion, which is a “green” and benign alternative to organic solvent processing. We hypothesize that incorporation of Polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) to the scaffold allows alteration of mechanical properties and degradation rate. Using electrospinning we have developed nanoscale scaffolds from various blends of PMMA, PCL and Gelatin. Characterization of these blends was done using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and mechanical testing. The blends were infused with Rhodamine – B dye using supercritical and subcritical carbon dioxide for controlled release applications. Mechanical testing indicates that pure PMMA and Gelatin scaffolds were brittle as compared to PMMA-PCL-Gel tri-blends. The ultimate tensile strength increased significantly with incorporation of PCL. XRD reveals amorphous nature in all scaffolds except the PCL doped tri-blend. This indicates that the PCL phase is being constrained by the PMMA and Gelatin phases. DSC shows similar results with no distinct melting point of PCL detected. This indicates an amorphous nature of the blend and is advantageous for infusion applications. In the initial release study the tri-blend scaffolds show extended release and higher dye loading for both subcritical and supercritical infusion conditions. This study will optimize the blend composition of biocompatible polymers for diverse tissue engineering applications like wound healing, bone regeneration and drug delivery devices. Honors Research Distinction 2013-08-01T00:00:00Z Karandikar, Prathamesh IMPROVEMENT OF A CONSTITUTIVE MODEL FOR PREDICTING FLOW BEHAVIOR OF NANOCOMPOSITES IMPROVEMENT OF A CONSTITUTIVE MODEL FOR PREDICTING FLOW BEHAVIOR OF NANOCOMPOSITES Kremer, Timothy This research project focuses on the development of a constitutive model to predict the flow properties of polymer/nanoparticle composites (nanocomposites). Nanocomposites have gained much interest due to the ability of the nanoparticle to improve properties of the pure polymer such as electrical and thermal conductivities and mechanical strength. The high surface area/volume ratio of the nanosize particles gives these improved properties at small loading levels compared to larger conventional particles. Predicting the flow behavior is important when using the nanocomposite in processes such as spraying, extruding and molding. Two types of experiments were performed. Shear flows at a constant shear rate and small amplitude oscillatory shear flows. These flows were induced on the pure polymer or nanocomposite and the stress recorded as a function of time. Steady shear flows were studied both in the forward and reverse directions with varying rest periods between flow reversals. A constitutive model is used for predicting nanoparticle orientation and flow behavior. There are several parameters in the model that need to be fit to experimental data to accurately predict flow properties of the nanocomposite. Two model parameters were fit to experimental data to give the most accurate prediction of flow behavior. These optimized parameters allow the model to give more accurate predictions of shear viscosity. The model was also expanded to be able to make stress predictions for small amplitude oscillatory shear flows. The predictions from this model can be used to develop and optimize large scale nanocomposite manufacturing processes. 2013-08-01T00:00:00Z Kremer, Timothy PHOTOCLEAVABLE QUANTUM DOT-GOLD NANOPARTICLE SYSTEMS FOR SUPER-RESOLUTION IMAGING PHOTOCLEAVABLE QUANTUM DOT-GOLD NANOPARTICLE SYSTEMS FOR SUPER-RESOLUTION IMAGING Kevlich, Nikita The ability to directly see structures and observe biological processes below the 200 nm resolution limit of traditional optical imaging methods would enable substantial advances in biology. Super-resolution imaging techniques use the bright/dark states of fluorescent probes and computer algorithms to image beyond that barrier by imaging probes in small groups rather than all at once. Quantum dots (QDs) have advantages over the florescent dyes and proteins currently used because of their increased brightness, stability, and resistance to photobleaching. However, they cannot be turned on and off stochastically. Here, we describe a QD-gold nanoparticle (AuNP) system that uses Förster (fluorescence) nonradiative energy transfer (FRET) for potential application in super-resolution imaging. When the composite is formed using a linker, it is dark, but when the linker is cleaved by light energy, QD fluorescence is restored. The initial conjugation was not successful because of instability of the AuNP. The AuNP was stabilized by using triethylene glycol mono-11-mercaptoundecyl ether, but no FRET was detected. Analysis with a transmission electron microscope demonstrated very few conjugated samples. FRET was tested using high concentrations of AuNPs and QDs, but without clear quenching. Future work would include using a shorter, reversible linker, such as molecules that change conformation upon UV light or shrinkable/stretchable polymers. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Kevlich, Nikita Remote Debugging of Embedded Systems Remote Debugging of Embedded Systems Zhao, Xiaoxi Microcontrollers (MCUs) conventionally are programmed by connecting the MCU to a debugger then to the computer where a graphical user interface (IDE) is installed. The necessity of wired connection limits the easiness in programming the MCU after it has been installed in a product that may be used at remote or hard to reach locations, like a patient’s body or deep inside a volcano. The goal of our research is to address the shortcomings of wired programming and debugging of microcontrollers by designing and implementing a remote debugging framework using WiFi technology so that scientists and engineers can manage, monitor, modify and debug embedded systems (at the register level) from remote locations. In our research, the feasibility of this idea is tested and proven by using the MSP430FR5739 microcontroller (later in this document we will refer to it as FR5739 for short) with CC3000 wireless module and a Graphical User Interface implemented in Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) using the C# programming language. We were able to communicate register level information between the GUI and FR5739 for debugging purposes which is key to microcontroller debugging. We also developed a method to modify executable memory locations inside the microcontroller to enable programing at the level of machine language. A prototype of a framework for debugging within Local Area Networks will be proposed and discussed in this thesis. As future work we will extend the framework with web services using Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) to enable remote debugging across cities or continents. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Zhao, Xiaoxi Progressive Collapse Testing and Analysis of a Steel Building Progressive Collapse Testing and Analysis of a Steel Building Akah, Ebiji This research investigates the progressive collapse vulnerability of an existing steel building, Haskett Hall, on the Ohio State University (OSU) campus. The building was tested by removing one of the first-story columns to observe its collapse resistance and to evaluate the effectiveness of current modeling and analysis guidelines. Progressive collapse is a partial or complete collapse of a structure due to the loss of a supporting element, a column in this case. Few researchers have been able to conduct full-scale experiments to understand the progressive collapse mechanism. One previous OSU study tested the vulnerability for progressive collapse of a steel building in Northbrook, Illinois, and another building on the OSU campus. It was concluded that more detailed models are needed to account for nonlinearity, three-dimensional and dynamic effects in analysis of a building frame including beams and columns surrounding the removed column. To address these issues, in this research deflections and deformations within the neighboring beams and columns were measured during column removal. A structural analysis program, SAP2000, is used to predict building response which is then compared to the experimental data. The goal of this study is to develop recommendations for improved procedures for static progressive collapse analysis of buildings. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Akah, Ebiji Energy and Feasibility Analysis of Gasoline Engine Start/Stop Technology Energy and Feasibility Analysis of Gasoline Engine Start/Stop Technology DeBruin, Luke The national mandate set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 5% each year for all new model mid-size cars, medium-duty cars, and light-duty trucks is pushing automobile makers to convert their fleets to hybrid-electric and micro-hybrid vehicles. Implementing automated start/stop (SS) technology in a passenger vehicle is a cost effective way to improve fuel economy (FE) and reduce emissions without affecting consumer acceptance. In urban areas, where much of the vehicle driving time is spent idling at stop lights or in traffic, the engine can be shut down when the vehicle is stopped to save fuel. Then, the engine is quickly and quietly restarted as the driver demands torque for acceleration. This operating strategy is often utilized in full hybrid-electric vehicles that have powerful electric systems, but is becoming more popular in micro-hybrid vehicles that use traditional starter/battery configurations. It is challenging to maintain drivability and achieve efficient startups using a micro-hybrid configuration. This research investigated the feasibility of using a micro-hybrid configuration to achieve efficient start transients for SS technology. The energy consumption of the starter/battery was analyzed by creating a model of the engine SS dynamics. The model was calibrated and validated through experimental testing on a vehicle and engine that had been provided. The model was used to simulate start transients for different component packages. Preliminary simulation results suggest that traditional starter/battery combinations may be appropriate and a fuel savings of over 5% may be expected in regulatory urban driving cycles. The model and selected component package will be used for development and control of a SS system in a test vehicle. Subject matter won 1st Prize at Denman Undergraduate Research Forum 2013 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z DeBruin, Luke The Development and Effect of Serious Games The Development and Effect of Serious Games Burl, David Serious games - games that are intended to educate in addition to simply entertain - can be a valuable asset in an effort to educate teenagers and young adults, who prefer learning through programs that they can control, such as video games (Corriveau, Shi, 2010). In this thesis we present the development of this mobile multi-platform serious game intended to teach the basic information about asthma to teenagers and young adults. We review the design of the game and the mobile technologies used to create the game. We present conclusions based on observations made while interviewees played the game, and detail the changes made to the game based on these observations. Each interviewee also provided feedback on the game, and completed several assessments to measure their knowledge of asthma before and after playing the game. We review the knowledge each interviewee gained from the interaction with the game, and draw and present conclusions based on the background each subject comes from. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Burl, David Arsenic Release Batch Test for Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria Arsenic Release Batch Test for Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria Zheng, Zhihao The United States Environmental Protection Agency revised regulations related to the drinking water content of arsenic (As) in 2006 lowering the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) from 50 μg/L to10 μg/L. The concentration of arsenic in ground water is associated with iron-reducing, sulfate-reducing and methanogenic conditions. In highly reducing systems, the dominant pathway for arsenic release is poorly understood, but reflects contributions from sulfide minerals (e.g., pyrite) and acid-volatile monosulfides (AVS). This research will evaluate arsenic release and sequestration processes under highly-reducing conditions, with the goal of identifying mechanisms and pathways responsible for arsenic release from aquifer solids under such conditions using a single culture of sulfate-reducing organisms (insert name). During the 4 week anaerobic incubation, sampling was conducted over 20 days. Samples were analyzed to determine dissolved concentrations of inorganic elements (e.g. As, S,), and concentration of anion such as acetate. Based on the first 20 days data, the result shows that the iron started being reduced, but sulfate reduction still cannot be clearly observed due to the slow rate of anaerobic bacteria growth. This suggests, more time of sampling and analytical experiments are still needed to be conducted in the following two months. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Zheng, Zhihao Nitric Oxide and Mitochondria Regulate Cytosolic Ca2+ Signaling in Sheared Vascular Endothelial Cells Nitric Oxide and Mitochondria Regulate Cytosolic Ca2+ Signaling in Sheared Vascular Endothelial Cells Lloyd, Colton Vascular endothelial cell (EC) exposure to arterial-level fluid mechanical shear stress is known to cause an increase in cytosolic calcium levels ([Ca2+]c). The [Ca2+]c increase is mediated by both extracellular Ca2+ influx and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stored Ca2+ release. ECs are exposed to shear stress under physiological conditions and shear stress, via the [Ca2+]c increase, activates the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) that produces nitric oxide (NO). Despite progress in understanding Ca2+ signaling, the exact intracellular pathways that determine Ca2+ homeostasis during mechanotransduction still need to be determined. In particular, it is not known whether NO has an effect on Ca2+ signaling and whether the mitochondria play a role in shaping the Ca2+ signal. The close proximity of mitochondria to the ER is thought to cause the mitochondria to experience higher local Ca2+ levels than the cytosol, which suggests that they could be involved in [Ca2+]c signaling possibly by helping to refill the ER. To answer some of these questions, we preincubated cultured human ECs with the Ca2+-sensitive fluorophore fluo-4 and discovered that shear-induced [Ca2+]c shows a different spatiotemporal profile in the presence of the eNOS inhibitor L-NAME, compared to its absence. Under control conditions, 30% of ECs transiently increase their [Ca2+]c within the first min of shear exposure followed by oscillations at a frequency of ~1.55/min. In the presence of L-NAME, 90% of ECs transiently increase their [Ca2+]c within the first min of shear exposure, but the oscillatory response is dampened to ~1.45/min. The NO-dependent [Ca2+]c response may be due to effects of NO on the cGMP-PKG-IP3R and may involve changes in the mitochondrial buffering capacity. Understanding endothelial Ca2+ homeostasis is important, since deregulation of Ca2+ signaling is the hallmark of endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. OSU Honors and Scholars Summer Research Fellowship; OSU Engineering Undergraduate Honors Scholarship for Research 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Lloyd, Colton Complex Behavior from a Simple Rule: Demonstration with Lego Mindstorms NXT Kit Complex Behavior from a Simple Rule: Demonstration with Lego Mindstorms NXT Kit Yang, Ruochen This report describes the successful implementation of two robots, built using Lego Mindstorms, that demonstrate how complex animal behaviors can be replicated using a simple algorithm to replicate a two neuron nervous system. The process of cognition and decision making inside the mammalian brain occurs subtly but near instantaneously and in a way that makes it hard to replicate synthetically. However, the understanding of its behavior is valuable in multiple disciplines and it may be applied to future technologies. In order to explore some behavior that relates to sensing and cognition, the Lego Mindstorms NXT robot kit has been used. It is a sophisticated kit that includes a programmable embedded computer, known as ‘the Brick’. This brick controls the mechanical system made up from a set of modular Lego sensors and motors as well as Lego parts. The base set of equipment and the customized add-ons provide an open-ended platform that makes it possible to test a number of complex theories. The main objective of the proposed project is to demonstrate how a complex behavior can be simulated just based on some simple rule that represents the operation of neurons. After investigating the capability and limitation of critical sensor used for the robot and the motor specifications, the female cricket’s behavior of locating her mate in dark with sound signals only, has been mechanically mimicked on Lego using two sound sensors and two motors. Subsequently the echo location process of a bat using echoic flow theory has been studied for collision avoidance. Preliminary results have had successful and constant performance showing the potential of using Echoic Flow for steering control on vehicles. This approach offers scientific researchers with an alternative to test and experiment their hypothesis before applying it to large scale or real-life test subjects, especially in cognitive sensing or intelligent control. 2013 Denman Undergraduate Research Forum Winner. Second Place. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Yang, Ruochen An Examination of Active Drag Reduction Methods for Ground Vehicles An Examination of Active Drag Reduction Methods for Ground Vehicles Metka, Matthew Aerodynamic drag accounts for a sizable portion of transportation energy consumption. Transportation of goods and people always involves moving objects through air, which leads to a force opposing motion. This force can account for more than 60% of power consumed by a ground vehicle, such as a car or truck, at highway speeds. There is a wide range of drag coefficient seen on ground vehicles with a strong correlation to vehicle shape. The shape of the vehicle is often determined by functional necessity, which places a limit on vehicle aerodynamic improvements. It is desirable to increase the aerodynamic performance of a vehicle with little penalty in functionality, which leads to the investigation of active flow control methods. Active flow control methods can involve a type of air jet at critical locations on the vehicle shell and require little to no shape modification. The focus of this experimental study is drag reduction on an Ahmed body vehicle analogue using a variety of configurations involving fluidic oscillators to promote attachment and reduce wake size. A fluidic oscillator is a simple device that converts a steady pressure input into a spatially oscillating jet. This type of actuator may be more efficient at influencing the surrounding flow than a steady jet. The model is tested in the OSU subsonic wind tunnel. Changes in drag are measured using a load cell mounted within the vehicle model. Different flow visualization methods are used to characterize the flow structure changes behind the model. A 7% drag decrease is realized with the 25 degree spanwise oscillator array configuration, attributed to the reduction of the closed recirculation bubble size. Testing shows that attachment is promoted on high angle configurations with a Coanda surface and steady blowing however this leads to a drag increase, possibly due to the formation of longitudinal vortices. This indicates that future methods must include vortex control in conjunction with separation control to achieve a net base pressure increase on the high angle slant configurations. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Metka, Matthew Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Bulk Characteristics Determination and Analysis Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Bulk Characteristics Determination and Analysis Spellacy, Matt The goal of this research is to begin to characterize the chemical composition of residual fracturing and flowback fluids being produced by hydraulic fracturing of Marcellus Shale in our region. During the summer of 2012, fracturing and flowback fluid samples were collected from three wells in Pennsylvania. Samples were shipped to OSU for determination of conductivity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, and pH. Further chemical analysis was conducted to determine concentrations of select anions, cations, carbon, and nitrogen species. Most analyte species increased in concentration dramatically in the days immediately following fracturing and gradually plateaued during the subsequent 82 days of flowback. Data was compared to that published in recent years and to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) and secondary maximum contaminant levels (SMCLs). Every constituent measured for which the EPA has set an MCL or SMCL—including the actinide uranium and the trace metals strontium and arsenic—was present at concentrations significantly higher than that constituent’s respective MCL or SMCL. Furthermore, total dissolved solids, barium, calcium, chloride, iron, magnesium, sodium, and strontium concentration magnitudes and trends were consistent with the limited existing data available, providing confidence that our data accurately represents the chemical characteristics of fluids produced from hydraulically fracturing Marcellus Shale. Better characterization of fracturing and flowback fluids will help shed light on appropriate treatment technologies and impacts these fluids might have if accidentally released to the environment. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Spellacy, Matt Encapsulation of Stem Cells in Core-Shell Hydrogel Microcapsules of Various Stiffness using Microfluidics Encapsulation of Stem Cells in Core-Shell Hydrogel Microcapsules of Various Stiffness using Microfluidics Bielecki, Peter Stem cell based therapies serve as a potential option to treat a variety of organ dysfunctions such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal diseases because stem cells can be coaxed to differentiate into many types of more specialized cells. However, it is challenging to control the niches including bio-chemical and mechanical factors that regulate the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells. One potential way to resolve this challenge is to encapsulate stem cells in 3D biocompatible matrices of various core compositions. In this project, we successfully encapsulated human embryonic palatal (HEPM) stem cells in microcapsules with a 3D collagen core matrix and alginate shell using a novel multilayer microfluidic chip. This was done by creating a device that shears cell suspension and alginate flow using mineral oil flow infused with calcium ion to solidify alginate. Studies were conducted to illustrate how stiffness and fiber geometry of the collagen core matrix affect cell viability and proliferation in the core-shell hydrogel microcapsules. These stem cell laden microcapsules could be very useful for cell-based therapy and regenerative medicine applications. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Bielecki, Peter Development of Fast One-Dimensional Model for Prediction of Coupled Electrochemical-Thermal Behavior of Lithium-Ion Batteries Development of Fast One-Dimensional Model for Prediction of Coupled Electrochemical-Thermal Behavior of Lithium-Ion Batteries Lu, Jiheng Spatially and temporally resolved one-dimensional transient models for the prediction of performance of lithium-ion batteries have been prevalent in the literature for over a decade. It is generally believed that such models that take into account the detailed mass transfer and electrochemistry within the battery are unsuitable for real-time control of batteries. As a result, several attempts have also been made to develop reduced-order approximate models that are suitable for real-time control. While these reduced models are efficient, they fail in non-linear regimes of operation. In this thesis, it will be shown that full spatial and temporal resolution of the battery with the inclusion of detailed transport phenomena and electrochemistry is possible with faster-than-real-time computing times provided appropriate numerical techniques are employed. The model presented here employs the same governing conservation equations of mass, energy, and charge as employed in previous studies. Only, the numerical procedure and solution algorithms are different. These are presented in some detail. The model was first successfully validated against experimental data for both charge and discharge processes in a — battery. Finally, it was demonstrated for an arbitrary load typical of a hybrid electric vehicle drive cycle. The model was able to predict the cell voltage of a 15-minute drive cycle in less than 9 minutes of compute time on a laptop with a 2.3 GHz Intel i7 processor. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Lu, Jiheng Characterization of Nonlinear Material Damage Behavior Using Vibration Response Functions Characterization of Nonlinear Material Damage Behavior Using Vibration Response Functions Bialek, Andrew The presence of cracks and other forms of material damage in structures can alter mode shapes and cause reductions in natural frequencies depending on their orientation. Previous research has examined high density microscopic dislocation behavior in the cohesive region of a crack. This behavior has been characterized by quadratic nonlinearities and hysteresis on a microscopic level. Current studies are limited to small amounts of this nonlinear behavior. This thesis presents a time domain analysis of the nonlinear longitudinal forced vibration of an elastic bar using the Finite Element Method. This study extends the types of solutions in previous research to include stronger nonlinearities previously limited by frequency domain methods. This formulation can also be later extended to include more general and complex nonlinear mechanisms than possible when using frequency domain approaches. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Bialek, Andrew Method for Reducing Engine Cold Start Emissions from Transient Fueling in an Alternative Fueled Engine Method for Reducing Engine Cold Start Emissions from Transient Fueling in an Alternative Fueled Engine Spiegel, Andrew EcoCAR 2 is a three year competition among 15 North American Universities dedicated to reduce the negative environmental impact of a 2013 Chevy Malibu while maintaining standard vehicle operation. The planned E85 (85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) internal combustion engine for the vehicle produces harmful emissions during its cold startup. Previous research has shown that the majority of unwanted emissions from modern vehicles occur during engine cold starts. The inability to control the stoichiometric air fuel ratio from transient fuel dynamics as the engine warms is a major cause of these emissions. The purpose of this study was to create an engine control algorithm that compensates for the transient fuel dynamics during a cold start. The algorithm will be developed by determining fuel dynamic parameters describing the fuel evaporation time constant (τ) and fraction of liquid fuel entering the engine intake manifold (X). The fuel dynamic parameters are determined from comparing the exhaust air fuel ratio traces with step input perturbations of injected fuel. Because the fueling dynamics depend on temperature, engine speed, and manifold air pressure, the data from perturbation testing was collected over several engine speeds and manifold pressures during the engine’s cold start. Lookup tables of τ and X parameters for different engine operating conditions were created and will be implemented into the engine control unit (ECU) to compensate the transient fueling. The research will help achieve the goals of the EcoCAR 2 competition to reduce the vehicle’s environmental impact while maintaining standard operation. The procedure to create the algorithm can be implemented to control emissions of production E85 vehicles. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Spiegel, Andrew The Representation and Analysis of Dynamic Networks The Representation and Analysis of Dynamic Networks Griscom, Michael Many real-world phenomena, such as article citations and social interactions, can be viewed in terms of a set of entities connected by relationships. Utilizing this abstraction, the system can be represented as a network. This universal nature of networks, combined with the rapid growth in scope of data collection, has caused significant focus to be placed on techniques for mining these networks of high-level information. However, despite the strong temporal dependencies present in many of these systems, such as social networks, substantially less is understood about the evolution of their structures. A dynamic network representation captures this additional dimension by containing a series of static network “snapshots.” The complexity and scale of such a representation poses several challenges regarding storage and analysis. This research explores a novel bit-vector representation of node interactions, which offers advantages in its ability to be compressed and manipulated through established methods from the fields of digital signal processing and information theory. The results have demonstrated high-level similarity between the considered datasets, giving insights into efficient representations. By way of the discrete Fourier transform, this research has also revealed underlying behavioral patterns, particularly in the social network realm. These approaches offer improved characterization and predictive capacity over that gained from analyzing the network as a static system, and the extent of this descriptive power obtainable through the bit-vector representation is a question which this research aims to address. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Griscom, Michael Steering by Wire System Development, Modeling, and Characterization for Lightweight Vehicles Steering by Wire System Development, Modeling, and Characterization for Lightweight Vehicles Sun, Allen This experiment was to study the characteristics of a steering – by – wire (SBW) system for a lightweight vehicle (LWV). Specifically, the relationship between the Hand Wheel Steering Angle (HWSA) and the Road Wheel Steering Angle (RWSA) was examined. The SBW system was first developed and tested on a lightweight electric ground vehicle (EGV)—an experimental platform developed at the Vehicle Systems and Control Laboratory (VSCL) led by Dr. Junmin Wang. The SBW was installed near the existing steering column of the EGV. A newly fabricated mounting system was also designed to allow for quick connection or disconnection of the SBW system and the steering column. The control of the HWSA was developed through programming in MATLAB and Simulink, using the measurements from an angle encoder for feedback. Based on a previous work of Xiaoyu Huang, a two degree of freedom bicycle model incorporating a simple linear lateral tire model was developed for the estimation of the RWSA, utilizing only signals related to vehicle motions. With the measured HWSA and the estimated RWSA, the steering system hysteresis model that takes HWSA as an input and RWSA as an output was derived using the recursive general identification algorithm (RGIA) developed by Dong. This model was validated through dynamic tests using the EGV. The developed model for the advanced SWB system will be applied towards refining the LWV dynamic model for the purpose of subsequent control systems designs. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Sun, Allen Measurement of SMN protein in Blood samples Biomarker test for SMA Measurement of SMN protein in Blood samples Biomarker test for SMA Pi, Hongyang Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe motor neuron disease that is the leading genetic cause for infant mortality. This disease arises from mutations in the Survival of Motor Neuron (SMN) gene that are implicated in reducing the overall expression of SMN. Drug development in the SMA field has focused on discovering therapeutic agents that counter these mutations by increasing the expression of SMN. Valproic acid (VPA), a Histone Deacetylase inhibitor, was identified to increase SMN expression in cell culture. However, a recent clinical trial suggested that VPA has no effect on motor function in ambulant adult SMA patients. The interpretation of this result depends upon proof that VPA had the desired effect within cellular nuclei in these patients. In this study, blood samples collected during the course of the clinical trial were analyzed to determine the effect of VPA on molecular biomarkers. Using mass spectrometry, ELISA and immunoassay, we measured histone acetylation and the expression of both SMN protein and mRNA. Systematic analyses showed that while the administration of VPA increased histone acetylation and mRNA, it did not increase the expression of SMN protein. Hence we conclude VPA would not be an efficient drug against SMA and the increase in histone acetylation level does not improve motor functions in SMN patients. VPA fails to improve SMN proteins in vivo. However, due to the potential for SMA biomarker tests, the systematic methods used for the study of SMN protein expressions may still be used for future SMA clinical trial design and biological analysis. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Pi, Hongyang Design of a Scaled Down Acoustic Experiment with Anechoic and Reverberation Chambers Design of a Scaled Down Acoustic Experiment with Anechoic and Reverberation Chambers Ricciardi, Eric D. The focus on this research is to design and evaluate a split chamber that can be used for measuring random incidence properties of acoustic materials and achieve reliable results for frequencies larger than 500 Hz. A split chamber consists of an anechoic section and a reverberant section; therefore the sound field in each portion must be designed to simulate direct and diffuse field conditions in the far field. The challenge in this test chamber design is adhering to small scale dimension constraints of 2.4m x1.2m x 1.2m and a maximum cost of \$1000, while maintaining a certain level of performance in terms of lowest frequency that can be characterized. By analyzing both acoustical field theory and absorption characteristics this chamber is found to have a cutoff frequency of approximately 570 Hz. The far field sound pressure distribution in the reverberant chamber was determined to be sufficiently uniform, both in the room and across the panel. Sound pressure measurements in the anechoic chamber correlated well to the inverse square law, given by ideal direct field conditions. The noise reduction of the room to the outside ranged from 27 dB to 40 dB across the designed frequency range, which indicates that the chamber is sufficiently sealed from the ambient sound. The chamber was built to be within the sizing constraints and met a final construction cost under \$1000. This split chamber will be used to assist in student projects and as a teaching tool for mechanical engineering courses. Future work on this project will consider the addition of diffusers in the reverberant chamber; this study will be done using boundary element modeling software and experimental measurements. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Ricciardi, Eric D. Developing Methodology to Prepare a Nanoparticle Coated Crystal for Infrared Analyses in Order to Specifically Identify Changes to Molecules that Coat the Surface Developing Methodology to Prepare a Nanoparticle Coated Crystal for Infrared Analyses in Order to Specifically Identify Changes to Molecules that Coat the Surface Ayres, Craig The widespread use of nanomaterials demonstrates a tremendous benefit to society; however, as nanomaterials are inevitably introduced to the environment, it is unknown how their compositions and coating agents alter in different settings and over a prolonged period of time. Coating agents are applied either during or post synthesis to prevent aggregation. Tracking changes to the molecules that coat the surface of nanomaterials is imperative to understanding the inherent risk when nanomaterials are released to the environment. The purpose of my research is to develop a method to prepare a nanoparticle coated crystal for infrared (IR) analyses in order to specifically identify changes to molecules that coat the surface. The two nanomaterials analyzed in this study were hematite and nanosilver. Citrate was the primary coating agent used on both materials. The particles were coated to IR crystals and the coating layers were evaluated under static and dynamic conditions. Variables included coating agent (water, citrate, phthalic acid) and pH. Previously collected data from batch adsorption experiments of citrate and phthalic acid on hematite were used to validate the static system method for hematite. The static experiments successfully detected the adsorption of citrate on the surface of both hematite and nanosilver. The largest issue involved resolving the spectra; specifically, removing the IR absorption of water. This presence of water proved to be an even greater obstacle in the flow-through cell; however, the most successful method involved subtracting water spectra from each component before resolving. No spectra were obtained from silver perhaps due to the silver not adhering to the flow-through cell surface. Significant progress has been made and once the influence of water is removed, these processes should have a vast potential for further research to determine specific changes to nanoparticle surfaces, particularly with the flow-through cell for greater control over variability. 2013 Denman Undergraduate Research Forum Winner, Second Place 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Ayres, Craig The Frequency Response of Porous Polymer/Ceramic Pressure-Sensitive Paint The Frequency Response of Porous Polymer/Ceramic Pressure-Sensitive Paint McMullen, Ryan There are two relevant timescales in Pressure-Sensitive Paint (PSP) dynamic response. The first is the luminescent lifetime of the chosen luminophore, and the second is the time required for oxygen molecules to diffuse through the paint layer. In order to evaluate the relative importance of these two mechanisms for Polymer/Ceramic PSP, its frequency response characteristics were studied using an acoustic resonance tube. Treating the paint system as a black box, the typical paint structure was altered in several ways, and the observed changes in response characteristics were used to infer information about the roles of the luminescence and diffusion processes in the dynamic response. These alterations include surface roughness, luminophore application method, and basecoat optical density. The experiments suggest that although luminescence is the more important of the two mechanisms, diffusion effects are still present. To verify this, the experimental data were compared with existing theoretical models. One model accounts for only the luminescence process, and the other accounts for both luminescence and diffusion. It was then shown that the luminescence and diffusion model agrees well with the data, while the luminescence only model does not, thereby demonstrating that diffusion effects need to be included for accurate determination of the Polymer/Ceramic PSP transfer function. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z McMullen, Ryan Voltage Control of FPGA and CPLD Devices Voltage Control of FPGA and CPLD Devices Engelken, Corey Power consumption of components is of high importance to circuit designers. Lowering the power consumption of the components in the circuit can help the circuit be more energy efficient and lower the heat dissipated to the rest of the circuit. FPGAs and CPLDs are devices found in circuits. Depending on the digital circuit programmed onto them, the recommended supply voltage may be too large. The devices may be able to use a lower supply voltage while maintaining a high degree of accuracy. If this is the case, then an opportunity exists to save power and become more energy efficient while simultaneously decreasing the heat dissipated to the rest of the circuit. This paper aims to answer that question. The initial approach was to isolate the device and test it directly. This method had problems however, as we were not able to program the devices purchased with the materials at hand. Another approach was tried using an Altera DE2 Board which contains a Cyclone II FPGA. However, no change could be seen in the current consumed by the FPGA for various circuits because the DE2 consumed much more current than the FPGA and more precise measuring instruments would be needed. To fully test this idea, the FPGA or CPLD would need to be isolated. Even though our attempts were unsuccessful, a large amount of design work was put into the circuit and is included in this paper. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Engelken, Corey Design of a Solar Thermoelectric Generator Design of a Solar Thermoelectric Generator Watzman, Sarah In a world where fossil fuels dominate as energy sources, the need for an economically and commercially viable renewable energy source is dire. The processes through which fossil fuels are formed do not occur fast enough to replenish their sources to meet society’s demands, and combustion of fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas linked to global warming. Solar energy has proven itself to be a promising alternative, with the field dominated by photovoltaics on the consumer-scale and solar thermal power on the plant-scale. Yet solar thermal systems have an innate advantage in their use of all wavelengths of incident radiation as opposed to just light. In this research, thermoelectrics are being explored as a viable option for small-scale solar thermal applications. Thermoelectrics are based on the Seebeck effect, stating that a voltage is induced when a temperature gradient is applied to the junctions of two differing materials; in the case of a solar thermoelectric generator (STEG), the hot side is the solar absorber and the cold side is the heat sink. This research proposes to design, build, and test a prototype STEG to contribute to the further development of STEGs as reasonable solar thermal energy sources for the consumer market. The design process involved calculating and optimizing the energy balance across the absorber, minimizing heat losses, analyzing heat transfer through the thermoelectric elements, and analyzing the electrical power system. The testing process involved assembling the system, measuring the balance of heat and heat losses, and measuring the electrical power generated by the thermoelectric module connected to varying resistive loads in order to ultimately measure the STEG’s efficiency. Literature suggests that STEGs can reach 5.2% efficiency when operating in a vacuum and 0.03% in air, both without optical concentration, although this STEG only reached a peak efficiency of approximately 0.03%. 3rd Place in Engineering at the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, 2013 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Watzman, Sarah Examination of Tuning Concepts Using Rubber Mounts Examination of Tuning Concepts Using Rubber Mounts Joodi, Benjamin Rubber mounts are common components within automotive vehicle powertrains and suspensions. They provide compliance at joints between substructures as well as provide vibration isolation between structures. These mounts are often designed to certain stiffness and damping values within a given frequency range. Narrow band tuning with regards to dynamic stiffness is difficult to achieve using mechanical force transmission elements without the incorporation of internal hydraulic elements. This project analytically and experimentally investigates the feasibility of rubber mount designs without hydraulic elements that have a notch-type behavior in its dynamic stiffness near 100-125 Hz over a frequency range of 0 to 500 Hz, with a dynamic stiffness range between 50 and 500 N/mm, and with a maximum mass of 5 kg. Based on these constraints, multiple dynamic stiffness component-level models (with displacement input and force output) are examined analytically. A prototype is designed, fabricated, and evaluated using finite element analysis and experimental testing. The prototype evaluation shows notch-type behavior in its transmitted force through the mount in a bench experiment; however, future evaluation is still required to evaluate the load capacity of the component and determine its effect within a system-level environment. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Joodi, Benjamin Effect of Early Weight-Bearing Training on Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier Function in Mice Effect of Early Weight-Bearing Training on Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier Function in Mice Black, Nicholas Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in a breakdown of the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) that permits a robust inflammatory response responsible for further damage to neural tissue. Neurotoxicity is thought to result from movement of inflammatory cells into the spinal cord through the damaged and permeable blood vessels. Activities such as treadmill training attempt to utilize spinal plasticity to promote recovery, but recent animal studies have shown increased BSCB permeability with early swim training. Exercise-regulated matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is a potent regulator of vascular permeability known to increase acutely following SCI, degrading endothelial tight-junctions. Bloodborne leukocytes may then extravasate into spinal cord tissue. Therefore, the goal of this study was to elucidate whether acute weight-bearing exercise contributes to greater BSCB permeability after SCI through MMP-9 activity. Vascular permeability after moderate/severe (75 kilodynes) contusive SCI at T9 was evaluated in both C57BL/6 wild type (WT) and MMP-9 null (KO) mice. Groups include treadmill-trained and untrained WT and untrained KO mice that survived 1 or 7 days post-injury (dpi). BSCB permeability at injury epicenter was identified using vascular delivery of Evans Blue Dye (EBD) and quantified via fluorescent stereology. Functional recovery was determined using the Basso Mouse Scale for Locomotion (BMS). We demonstrated markedly lower permeability at the lesion with treadmill training than without at 7 dpi in WT mice. In KO mice, we saw much less permeability, as expected. Similar differences remote to the epicenter were not observed. However, functional recovery was much lower following training at 7 dpi. Our results help establish potential cellular effects of activity-based interventions after SCI. Such findings may lead to the development of a more effective timecourse of treatment for human SCI patients to maximize functional recovery. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Black, Nicholas Torsional Wave Dispersion in a Composite Cylinder with a Functionally Graded Core and an Imperfect Interface Torsional Wave Dispersion in a Composite Cylinder with a Functionally Graded Core and an Imperfect Interface Dean, Michael A functionally graded material (FGM) is a kind of composite in which material properties vary continuously as a function of position. FGMs were first proposed in 1984 and have been in use ever since due to advances in manufacturing to suit specific applications in structural mechanics and materials science. The case of a composite cylinder with a radially graded core imperfectly bonded to a homogeneous cladding is the subject of the present work. The goal of this project is to calculate the dispersion relations of this type of composite cylinder subject to guided time-harmonic torsional waves. The methods include determination of proper equation forms for the circumferential displacements in both the core and cladding. Relevant shear stresses are then calculated from these displacements. Boundary conditions are applied so that the stresses in the core and cladding are continuous across the interface. It is also assumed that the outer surface of the cladding is stress free. Imperfect interface conditions are modeled by setting the circumferential displacement jump at the interface radius proportional to the shear stress through a parameter which represents the compliance of the interface. Placing the resulting expressions in matrix form leads to a dimensionless frequency equation that is solved numerically using Maple. Dispersion relations for three cases are plotted in MATLAB and discussed. The effect of interface damage is most easily distinguished in cases of high radial grading of the core, at low wavenumbers with frequencies associated with the third torsional mode. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Dean, Michael From Electrode Materials to Dynamic Models of Li-Ion Cells From Electrode Materials to Dynamic Models of Li-Ion Cells Jiang, Bo Batteries play a fundamental role in electric vehicles, and help to reduce the environmental impact associated with fossil fuels. Li-ion battery is a promising candidate for vehicles due to its specific energy. This project is focused on experimental characterization and modeling of Li-ion batteries, and the objectives are to analyze battery aging at an electrode level and to better predict battery performance.The project consists of fabricating half cells of Lithium Iron Phosphate coin cells from unaged and batteries aged under different conditions, and measuring relevant parameters including capacity, state of charge, impedance, and open-circuit voltage. An equivalent circuit was developed from charging and discharging profile and impedance measurements with parameters calibrated to model the cell behavior. The governing equation of the non-linear system can be approximated by a Pade-function with second-order numerator and denominator. The disadvantage of Pade-function is that coefficients in the function do not have a physical meaning. The simple equivalent circuit and the linear Pade-function will allow fast calculations during design and prediction, and improve the efficiency of predictive maintenance. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Jiang, Bo Effects of Eye-Rubbing on Corneal Biomechanical Properties Effects of Eye-Rubbing on Corneal Biomechanical Properties Liu, Mengyu Keratoconus is a disorder characterized by progressive non-inflammatory corneal degeneration that leads to abnormal shape of the cornea which impairs vision. The disease affects about one per two thousand people worldwide. A potential cause of keratoconus is believed to be abnormal eye-rubbing. Previous clinical studies have shown a significant mechanical trauma to the corneal epithelium after rubbing on the eyes in normal human subjects. However, the mechanism by which eye-rubbing could contribute to the development and progression of keratoconus is not well understood. This project aims to study the effects of eye-rubbing on the mechanical properties of the cornea in a canine eye model. Six pairs of dog eyes were collected from a local animal shelter and the simulated eye-rubbing were induced in one eye per pair while the intraocular pressure (IOP) is monitored. Cornea samples were collected after eye-rubbing and tested using a dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and ramp test protocols by a Rheometrics System Analyzer (RSA) to compare mechanical responses between rubbed eyes and control eyes. The complex modulus and dynamic viscosity showed a decreased trend in the samples that experienced eye-rubbing as compared to the control samples. These results suggested that the cornea’s ability to resist dynamic loading may be altered after eye-rubbing. The results of this research provided insight into whether corneal biomechanical properties are altered by eye-rubbing which contributes to keratoconus risk. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Liu, Mengyu Magnetic Characterization of Ferritin Magnetic Characterization of Ferritin Zeng, Yuzhi Many diseases including hemochromatosis, chronic anemia, and cirrhosis result in abnormal levels of iron stores. Due to its correspondence with different physiological conditions, iron content is often used as a disease marker. 30%-50% of iron storage within the body is performed by the protein ferritin. Currently, there are indirect methods of measuring iron content using immuno-detection of iron binding proteins. The objective of this project is to develop a highly sensitive technique that can directly measure iron content based upon the magnetic character of iron; the first step is to understand the magnetic characterization of ferritin. Magnetic force microscopy (MFM), a mode of the atomic force microscope (AFM), has been shown by other research groups and our own group to be a promising method of characterizing magnetic particles. Our research uses this method to characterize ferritin in its iron bound and unbound states (termed apoferritin). MFM uses a magnetized probe to record topographical and magnetic information from samples. We compare the widely used medium moment probe to the less widely used high moment probe for our project; high moment probes were found to detect ferritin proteins with greater sensitivity than medium moment probes. Our work also reveals that MFM can characterize and differentiate between ferritin and apoferritin. MFM phase data is used to measure the iron content of our ferritin samples. The high resolution and sensitivity of MFM makes it a promising method for measuring iron content in blood samples. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Zeng, Yuzhi Real-Time Hardware Implementation of Telephone Speech Enhancement Algorithm Real-Time Hardware Implementation of Telephone Speech Enhancement Algorithm Obnamia, Forrest Hearing impairment detrimentally affects communication over the telephone. Since phone lines reduce bandwidth and dynamic range, the poor quality speech signal can cause hard of hearing (HoH) listeners to experience extreme frustration and inefficient communication. One possible solution has been developed at the Ohio State University to help combat this problem. The Telephone Speech Enhancement Algorithm (TSEA) has been created to improve telephone signals so that speech is more intelligible for HoH listeners. Tests for TSEA have been run on human subjects and proven the algorithm effective. However, a hardware implementation of TSEA has yet to be designed. In this thesis, the BeagleBoard-xM development board is used to run TSEA. The software for TSEA is modified so that it can be implemented on the BeagleBoard-xM and tested in a real-time environment. This hardware model runs TSEA but introduces noise into the system due to its analog nature. The model accepts analog audio signals, processes them using TSEA, and outputs the processed signal for transmission. A device such as this has the potential to improve communication in scenarios such as telemedicine clinics where a failure to communicate properly with their HoH customers could have potentially devastating consequences. Ideally if a commercial model was developed, TSEA could be implemented everywhere to help improve communications for the HoH community. This project is the next step in making it a reality. 2013 Denman Undergraduate Research Forum Winner. Third Place 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Obnamia, Forrest Effect of Prostaglandin on Corneal Stiffness and Intraocular Pressure Measurement Effect of Prostaglandin on Corneal Stiffness and Intraocular Pressure Measurement Liew, Yi Juin Glaucoma is a critical eye condition that would eventually cause vision loss and irreversible blindness due to the damage of optic nerves. High intraocular pressure (IOP) is frequently associated with this disease and hence often used as a diagnostic parameter for screening and management of glaucoma. Topical anti-glaucoma drug, Prostaglandin, has been shown to be effective in lowering IOP with few side effects. However, it was also found that Prostaglandin could alter the structural properties of ocular tissue such as the cornea. Goldmann Applanation Tonometry (GAT), which has been the clinical standard in measuring intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients, is used with assumptions that the structural and biomechanical properties of cornea are negligible. The change in corneal properties due to drug effect may thus directly interfere the IOP measurements, resulting in artificially low IOP readings. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the potential influence of prostaglandin drugs on cornea stiffness and the IOP measurement. This is accomplished by treating canine eyes with Prostaglandin analog, Bimatoprost at two different concentration; 200nM and 500nM, and vehicle solution was applied to the contralateral eyes as controls. GAT was used to measure the IOP of both the treated and control eyes. Mechanical testing was then performed on dissected corneal strips to determine the treatment effect of the drug on the corneal stiffness. The experimental results (n=12) showed that there was a significant reduction in corneal stiffness in lower concentration group but not in the higher concentration group. There was no significant difference found in the GAT readings relative to reference IOPs and the change of thickness before and after testing was minimal. This suggested that the IOP measurement was not significantly altered after a one-day administration of Bimatoprost. However, the drug effect was significant only in the lower concentration group proposed that there was some confounding factors in the higher concentration group. This result could also suggest that the drug effect was more effective at low concentration. One of the limitations of this study was the small sample size. Therefore, a larger sample size and also a longer drug exposure time would be required to verify the drug effect on corneal stiffness and its influence on IOP measurement. Although current study did not demonstrate a strong evidence of the drug effect on corneal stiffness and IOP measurement, it provided some preliminary data for research direction as well as a good framework for future work. Undergraduate Research Scholarship 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Liew, Yi Juin Design, Modeling, and Fabrication of a Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicle Design, Modeling, and Fabrication of a Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicle Kohler, Jeffrey The purpose of this research is to design and fabricate a flapping wing micro air vehicle (MAV) using compliant mechanisms and shape deposition manufacturing (SDM). A compliant mechanism is a device that transfers motion, force, or energy and gains at least some of its mobility through the elastic deformation of flexible members. This allows for a reduction of parts and weight, low friction and maintenance, and high precision. Shape deposition manufacturing is a rapid prototyping technology for building up material layers to form complex-shaped, multi-material, embedded-component structures. It allows for lower-cost, near net shape fabrication. A preliminary design was created and analyzed using kinematic software to determine the mechanism’s functionality and the overall structure’s ability to maintain flight. The prototype was fabricated using shape deposition manufacturing, but was not functional due to an error in the design calculations. Changes were made to the design and a second prototype was fabricated. The second prototype is currently not functional due to a problem with the motor. Design iterations will continue to improve the design and once a functioning prototype is produced, the MAV will be tested to determine how much lift it can produce. Experiments will be conducted with different wing designs to find optimal lift performance. If successful, this could lead to a new approach used by designers around the world. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Kohler, Jeffrey Study of Novel High Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging Traveling Wave System Study of Novel High Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging Traveling Wave System Li, Yue The main challenge of high field strength conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), as a means of high quality medical imaging without ionizing radiation, is to maintain a homogeneous field excitation. Recently, a new mode of operation based on traveling electromagnetic (EM) waves has been introduced. A patch antenna instead of the usual RF coil has been utilized to transmit radio-frequency signals. This technique applies the theory of waveguides and travelling waves at RF frequencies. The first step to optimize this new imaging scheme will be to determine the optimal waveguide modes based on the imaging application. Once these modes are determined, they have to be strongly excited in the cylindrical structure of the MRI with an appropriately designed waveguide exciters. An exciter, similar to the well-known microstrip antenna was recently built and tested on a Philips 7 Tesla MRI scanner at OSU; however, the images obtained had unsatisfactory signal-to noise ratios. In this study, a complete computer model of a traveling wave MRI has been built and used to understand the key mechanisms of this novel imaging method. Preliminary calculations of the propagation and evanescent modes can be used in the future optimum design of the waveguide exciter. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Li, Yue Automating Music Production with Music Information Retrieval Automating Music Production with Music Information Retrieval Hawkins, Jordan Prior research in the field of Music Information Retrieval has yielded techniques for extracting musical information from digital audio, and made it possible to analyze human music production computationally. I hypothesize that a computer can be programmed to produce output similar to that of a musical artist on two production tasks performed by disk jockeys. The first, “mixing,” aims to create seamless transitions between songs in a playlist. The second, “mashup” creation, aims to overlay multiple similar tracks to create a new combined song. To automate these tasks, I first created example sets of my own mixes and mashups, and looked for patterns and relationships in the audio analysis data from the public music analysis API provided by The Echo Nest, Inc. I used my findings to write Python scripts that automatically perform the mixing or mashing tasks on any input audio files. The software was udged by a sample of individuals for its ability to produce output similar to that of a human DJ. Preliminary results support the claim that automatic music production processes can be convincing, but also show how programs perform poorly when processing unexpected input, suggesting that tasks are most easily replicated within specific, predefined artistic styles. 2013-05-01T00:00:00Z Hawkins, Jordan


Dark Souls' online play is similar to that of its spiritual predecessor, Demon's Souls, in many ways. The game may be played and completed offline, although these unique features can be used to help or create more challenge for a player. While maintaining the overall format of a single-player game, multiplayer activity is seamlessly integrated into the world. Players can choose to help others by assisting them through an area to defeat a boss, or they can choose to invade and attempt to kill other players in their world. Interactive bloodstains will reveal the last moments of another player before they died, and players can also leave messages on the ground for others to see. A community website to seek or post for Dark Souls online play is DksFind.

Players are able to write messages on the ground, so that other players may read them in their own worlds. Many of these messages will inform you of nearby dangers and items, while others may be deceiving or irrelevant. An Orange Guidance Soapstone is required to write messages. To rate messages, the player can press the [Select] or [Back] button while reading a message, or use the Orange Guidance Soapstone after reading it. The miracle Seek Guidance reveals the separate +/- ratings on messages you find, helping you determine if the message is truly recommended by others or not.

Ghostlike Apparitions

Soul Signs

Soul Signs are used to summon or invade other players for cooperative play or PvP

Image Type Created By Conditions for Seeing Purpose
Player must have a Dragon Scale in their inventory.
Cannot have another player summoned.
Summons others for PvP.

Cooperative Play (Summoning)

Players may summon other players into their world as phantoms to help them in their journey. To summon other players for help, the host must be in human form and in an area where the boss has not yet been defeated. With those conditions met, a player will be able to see summon signs left by other players on the same network.

To help another player, the White Sign Soapstone is used to leave a sign for a host to use. Because the network being used is information that's hidden from the player, summoning a friend can be made tricky by not knowing if you're connected to different networks. Reusing the White Sign Soapstone periodically will cause it to cycle through networks, usually making your sign appear for a friend after several tries if it doesn't appear right away.

Upon defeating a boss, a summoned player will return to their own world with more humanity and souls.

Player versus Player

Various conditions exist for PvP to occur. For a host to be invaded, they must be in human form (reverse-hollowed by using a humanity at a bonfire), and the area boss must still be alive. For a player to successfully invade, the conditions are specific to the type of invasion.

There's several signs when the host's world is getting invaded, before the invasion message shows up: Bonfires will temporarily lose their flame and become unusable; fog gates will appear, blocking the exits; and several items becomes greyed-out (mostly Multiplayer Items and Homeward Bone).

Players in the Gravelord covenant may use an Eye of Death to infect three other players at random, with Gravelord Black Phantoms. This infection will last until the Gravelord Servant is defeated or quits the game. The infected and others with a level range similar to the Gravelord Servant have an opportunity to invade the Gravelord if they find their Gravelord Soul Sign, to remove the infection by killing them.

Vagrants are very rare enemies that spawn when a player loses a large amount of humanity or has dropped and abandoned certain items. These lost humanity or items are sent to another player's world and transformed into a vagrant.

Kindling Bonfires

When playing online, kindling a bonfire will also give a free single Estus charge to other players who previously rested at the same bonfire. If this happens, the recieving player will see a "soul-sucking" animation but colored orange.

When the player explores the world and plays the game, there will be opportunities which allow the player to make an oath to a person or on a specific subject, known as a Covenant. When an oath is made, it determines the players position on that topic, and will impact the interaction with other players online. This could mean that taking an oath for something could make you allies with another player, or deadly enemies. The Oath system is not an all encompassing fixed alliance like a MMO guild; instead it should be thought of as a system which serves as a guide for active roleplaying.

See the Covenants page for more information.

Miracle Synergy

Certain Miracles, one of the three classes of spells in Dark Souls, have a "resonance" property. When used, miracle resonance signs can appear in other players' worlds. Miracle resonance signs appear as white rings of light that float on the ground. Standing near a miracle resonance sign will then boost the strength of these miracles, a buff known as Miracle Synergy.

PvE Covenants

The covenants Way of White, Warrior of Sunlight, and Princess's Guard is for helping out other players online. Players who are in these covenants will automatically be drawn closer to each other on the network. This makes the above mentioned Miracle Resonance easier to perform, as well as helps block people from antagonistic covenants from coming closer on the network.

switch language to: français