The increased growth of cyber-physical systems, controlling multiple production processes within the manufacturing industry, has led to an industry susceptible to cyber-physical attacks. Differing from traditional cyber-attacks in their ability to alter the physical world, cyber-physical attacks have been increasing in number since the early 2000's. To combat and ultimately prevent the malicious intent of such attacks, the field of cyber-physical security was launched. Cyber-physical security efforts can be seen across many industries that employ cyber-physical systems but little work has been done to secure manufacturing systems. Through the completion of four research objectives, this work provides the foundation necessary to begin securing manufacturing systems from cyber-physical attacks. First, this work is motivated through the systematic review of literature surrounding the topic. This objective not only identifies and highlights the need for research efforts within the manufacturing industry, but also defines the research field. Second, a framework is developed to identify cyber-physical vulnerabilities within manufacturing systems. The framework is further developed into a tool allowing manufacturers to more easily identify the vulnerabilities that exist within their manufacturing systems. This tool will allow a manufacturer to utilize the developed framework and begin the steps necessary to secure the manufacturing industry. Finally, game theoretic models is applied to cyber-physical security in manufacturing to model the interactions between adversaries and defenders. The results of this work provide the manufacturing industry with the tools and motivation necessary to begin securing manufacturing facilities from malicious cyber-physical attacks and create a more resilient industry. / PHD

Engineering faculty and administration at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) have recognized the importance of producing competent scientists and engineers to work in the vast semiconductor industry, especially in the emerging technologies of microelectronics, optoelectronics, and nanotechnology. For this reason, the development of an undergraduate microelectronics minor as well as a more rigorous graduate curriculum has been actively pursued for several years. This paper details the development of an advanced semiconductor processing laboratory course, which serves as a three credit hour capstone course. The course covers circuit layout, semiconductor fabrication, and electrical testing. The following steps were taken in order to accomplish this task: choosing and customizing a computer aided design (CAD) software package for device layout, pMOS process integration on the toolset in the cleanroom facilities at Virginia Tech, and the development of a laboratory manual. / Master of Science

Master of Science / Department of Physics / Nobel S. Rebello / Over the past 20 years there have been limited efforts to improve students’ interest and knowledge of electronics and to offer students experiences to integrate and apply their knowledge of electronics with experimental physics. None of the reform efforts cited in the literature have performed a careful assessment of student learning and attitudes, and most of them report anecdotal success. These programs share several commonalities. They typically have a capstone project experience in which students apply their knowledge and skills in electronics and instrumentation to a particular context. The KSU Physics Department has embarked on an endeavor to improve the PMI (Physical Measurement and Instrumentation) class taken by physics majors. Capstone project experiences for students in PMI will provide them with an opportunity to revisit experiments they completed in previous courses. They then apply the knowledge and skills in electronics and instrumentation learned at the beginning of the PMI course to automate these experiments. The use of LabVIEW and NI ELVIS provides a range of opportunities to students due to their visual interface and easy learning curve. However, they do have some disadvantages such as speed and resolution when compared to more traditional measurements with oscilloscopes. Three specific capstone experiences have been developed in PMI. These include saturated absorption in Rubidium, the Franck-Hertz experiment, and the speed of light measurement. In each case, students first complete the traditional experiments and then use NI ELVIS and LabVIEW to automate these experiments. Students are provided minimal explicit guidance in completing the capstone projects. These include one-page handouts describing the goals, basic procedures and questions that students have to answer for themselves. Comparing data from traditional experiments and those from automated using LabVIEW and NI ELVIS provides a context in which to discuss the trade-offs between the traditional and automated experiments. Future efforts include the development of more experiments as well as careful assessment of student learning and attitudes as a result of the capstone experiences in the PMI class. This project can potentially inform similar efforts at other institutions in the future.

This dissertation presents an integrated high-level computer-aided design (CAD) environment, the VAR (VHDL-based Array Reconfiguration) system, for the tasks of design, diagnosis, reconfiguration, simulation, and evaluation in a defect tolerant VLSI/WSI (Wafer Scale Integration) parallel architecture modeled by VHDL. Four issues in the VAR system are studied: (1) the development of a CAD framework for reconfigurable architectures, (2) the development of an array model, and its VHDL description and simulation, (3) the development of efficient fault diagnosis techniques, and (4) the development of a systematic method for evaluating architectures and yield. The first issue describes the modules in the CAD framework and their functionalities. The second issue addresses the hierarchical VHDL description and simulation of the array model, and the detailed designs of its components. The third issue proposes two fault diagnosis algorithms based on the parallel partition approach and the self-comparison approach respectively, and an optimal group diagnosis procedure. These fault diagnosis techniques all have the contribution of reducing testing time significantly under different application scenarios. The fourth issue depicts a complete set of figures of merits for quantitative architecture and yield evaluation. Although an easily diagnosable and reconfigurable two-dimensional defect tolerant array is used as an example to illustrate the methodology of VAR, the VAR environment can be equally applied to other parallel architectures. VAR allows the designers to study and evaluate fault diagnosis and reconfiguration algorithms by inserting faults, which are generated according to actual manufacturing yield data, into the array and then locating the faulty elements as well as simulating the reconfiguration process. Thus, VAR can assist the designers in evaluating different combinations of fault patterns, fault diagnosis and reconfiguration techniques, and reconfigurable architectures through the figures of merit with aim at architectural improvements. Extensive simulation and evaluation have been performed to demonstrate and support the effectiveness of VAR. The results from this research can drive the applications of large area VLSI or WSI closer to reality and result in producing low cost and high yield parallel architectures.

No description available.

Doctor of Philosophy / Food Science Institute / J. Scott Smith / Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) are formed in many cooked meat products via Maillard browning reactions. Current research suggests consumption of these compounds may be a contributor to chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart diseases. Thus, information on the prevalence and inhibition of these compounds in food is desirable. The first objective was to determine the AGE content, as determined as N[superscript]ε-carboxymethyllysine (CML) level, in cooked meat and fish prepared by general cooking methods recommended by U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS). We found AGE was detected in all the cooked samples, but the levels depended on the different cooking conditions. Broiling and frying at higher cooking temperatures produced higher levels of CML and broiled beef contained the highest CML content (21.84 μg/g). However, the baked salmon (8.59 μg/g) and baked tilapia (9.72 μg/g) contained less CML as compared to the other samples. In order to investigate the inhibitory effect of selected natural antioxidant on AGEs formation in cooked meat, four cereal brans, wheat (Jagger, JA), triticale (Spring Triticale, ST; Thundercale, TH), and Rye (RY) bran were added to beef patties before cooking. RY (42.0% inhibition), ST (27.5% inhibition), and TH (21.4% inhibition) brans significantly decreased CML formation compared with the control. The inhibition of CML was correlated to the water-holding activity (WHC) of the samples, and the radical scavenging activity of the brans. The effect of cereal bran extracts (JA, ST, TH, and RY), was studied in a bovine serum albumin and glucose (BSA-GLU) model system. The ST extract significantly (P <0.05) inhibited CML formation compared to the control group. ST particularly contained vanillic acid (VA), chlorogenic acid (CHA), gentisic acid (GEA), and ferulic acid (FA), where GEA and CHA mitigated CML with an average percentage decrease of 29.6% for CHA and 51.1% for GEA. It therefore may be useful in preventing AGEs formation by using ST bran as a food addictive, which contains abundant phenolic acids. In summary, current dietary AGEs database will provide important information for use in estimating AGEs exposure, and also these data demonstrate that a significantly reduced intake of dietary AGEs can be achieved by low heat AGE cooking methods such as baking, which can be used at home or in the meat industry. Cereal bran addition to meat products may reduce formation of AGEs that is a desired attribute for the processed meat products industry.

Class of 2007 Abstract / Objectives: To design and assess a novel evaluation tool for advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs). Methods: APPE students and faculty of the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy (UA COP) completed an electronic survey assessing their level of agreement with nine questions regarding the evaluation tool’s format, content, and usefulness; they were also asked to select which of two grading systems, current (S, P, C, D, E) or alternate (pass/fail), they prefer. Results were compared with a 50% satisfaction benchmark using a Chi-square test (p<0.05). No identifying/demographic data was collected. Results: Surveys were completed by 48 of 107 eligible participants, giving a 45% response rate. The averaged response rank reflected agreement with all survey questions but number six. When compared to the benchmark, the results were significantly positive except for question number six (p=0.07). No significant difference existed between the current grading system group and the alternate group preferences (p=0.449). Conclusions: UA COP faculty and students should continue to use this evaluation tool to assess proficiency during the APPE portion of their college of pharmacy curriculum. The subjects responded positively to the evaluation, indicating that it is valuable to both faculty and students. Subjects, however, were reluctant to endorse that it facilitates communication between students and preceptors. Future changes to the adjectival scale, accessibility, and the grading system could be investigated.

Thesis advisor: Pamela J. Grace / Purpose/Specific Aims: Van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenological method was used to design this study aimed at better understanding the meaning of day-to-day living with advanced breast cancer in young women. Rationale/Significance of Study: There is a gap in knowledge about the particular needs and daily life experiences of this cohort. Very little data specifically addresses this population. The limited literature that exists suggests that, due to the particular stage of life, their needs differ from those at other life stages as well as those coping with earlier stages of breast cancer. These women have described themselves as being invisible and having to live with the knowledge that their future is uncertain. Thus, this qualitative study is an important initial step in expanding our understanding of what daily life is like for this population. Sample and Recruitment: Women aged 25–39 with Stage III or IV breast cancer were purposively recruited via private FacebookTM groups specifically for women with breast cancer. The final sample consisted of 12 participants from across the U.S. Incidentally, all were parents. Data Analysis: Data were collected through two or more semistructured interviews and written journals. Analysis followed van Manen’s method of immersion, reading, and rereading, and using manual coding and NVivo software to develop themes to capture the participants’ lifeworlds. Findings: The meaning of their experiences is captured by the overarching theme: Wearing the mask of wellness in the presence of life-threatening illness. Five major themes were identified: Wanting to be known as the person I am, I’m still Mom, Living is more than surviving, Getting through it, and Being connected to others. Conclusions: Findings highlight that these young women are managing multiple roles and responsibilities despite the ongoing challenges of treatment and symptom management. They feel that their needs and struggles are not well understood because to outsiders they do not look ill. This study provides a base for further research and eventually interventions. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. Connell School of Nursing. / Discipline: Nursing.

"Tris-2-chlorethyl phosphate (TCEP) is a flame retardant and plasticizer that has been detected in drinking water sources and wastewater effluents in many countries. TCEP has been proven to be a recalcitrant compound that is also toxic and carcinogenic. The incomplete removal of TCEP in water and wastewater treatment plants necessitates that treatment processes be identified or developed that will completely remove TCEP from waters. Ozonation has been successfully used as an oxidant to degrade many problematic contaminants in water and wastewater. This research examined the effectiveness of ozone and ozone/hydrogen peroxide oxidation for removing TCEP from water. In laboratory experiments, batch reactions of TCEP solutions were conducted in purified water at different pH conditions and O3:H2O2:TCEP doses. The samples were tested at O3:TCEP molar ratios of 6:1, 15:1, and 30:1 and with O3:H2O2:TCEP molar ratios of 6:4.2:1, 15:10.5:1and to 30:21:1 respectively. Solution pHs of 4, 7, and 9 were investigated to cover the typical water and wastewater pH range. The Indigo Method was used to measure the starting ozone concentrations in sample water. TCEP concentrations were quantified by liquid-liquid extraction followed by gas chromatography (GC). Greater than 90% reduction of TCEP was achieved at equilibrium conditions with an O3:H2O2:TCEP molar ratio of 30:21:1 at all pH levels examined. Greater than 80% TCEP removal in diluted wastewater was observed at purified water to wastewater dilution of 4:1. The kinetics of oxidation of TCEP with ozone and ozone/hydrogen peroxide were explored in this research. It was found that the reaction rate constants of TCEP are lower than those of other contaminants typically found in water and wastewater. "

A thorough delineation of the extent of processing possible without visual awareness is necessary to elucidate the neural mechanisms of visual awareness. Despite extensive research, it is presently unclear whether invisible stimuli can undergo advanced processing. To introduce existing work on this topic, previous behavioral efforts to investigate the extent of processing possible without visual awareness and the psychophysical methods used to render stimuli invisible, such as visual masking and interocular suppression-based techniques, are discussed. Physiological evidence that provide support for and against the possibility that advanced information processing can occur without visual awareness are addressed. The basics of multivariate pattern classification techniques are outlined. The potential of using multivariate pattern classification analyses in conjunction with neuroimaging in the temporal domain to investigate whether advanced processing can occur without visual awareness is discussed. An original study using electroencephalography (EEG) and pattern classification techniques to investigate the extent of processing possible without visual awareness is outlined. The results of the analyses reveal that a pattern classifier did not extract neural signatures of categorical processing from EEG recordings when participants viewed an image that remained invisible for the duration of its presentation. In contrast, the results from a second experiment reveal that the pattern classifier was able to decode the category of invisible images from the EEG time series when the images would eventually become visible. The results provide support for the idea that under certain circumstances, such as when the depth of interocular suppression is reduced, advanced processing for invisible stimuli can occur. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection