Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 91-92).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Purdue University, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 167-170). Also available online via the Purdue University website (http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Maryland, College Park, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 127-133). Also available online via the Digital Repository at the University of Maryland website (https://drum.umd.edu/).

Master of Science / Food Science Institute / Fadi M. Aramouni / Since the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law in 2011, the government has taken huge strides toward making the food safety system preventive rather than reactive. Specifically, the Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF) final rule has required collaboration from government officials, educational institutions, industry professionals, and stakeholders to assist in the rulemaking, education, and implementation of the new rule. The rulemaking process for the PCHF final rule took 4 years to finalize. The Food and Drug Administration funded a grant to the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Institute for Food Safety and Health (IIT IFSH) to help create an educational program about food safety risk-based preventive controls. Since then, the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) has been coordinating training programs to certify food professionals as Preventive Controls Qualified Individuals (PCQI). After gathering minor statistical evidence through course evaluations for 10 FSPCA facilitated education programs, extension personnel of the Food Science Institute at Kansas State University found that the educational materials are a big help to those in industry and in regulatory agencies.

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are highly-capable alternatives to traditional problem solving schemes due to their ability to solve non-linear systems with a nonalgorithmic approach. The applications of ANNs range from process control to pattern recognition and, with increasing importance, robotics. This paper demonstrates continuous control of a robot using the deep deterministic policy gradients (DDPG) algorithm, an actor-critic reinforcement learning strategy, originally conceived by Google DeepMind. After training, the robot performs controlled locomotion within an enclosed area. The paper also details the robot design process and explores the challenges of implementation in a real-time system.

This dissertation concentrates on the development of two new tomographic techniques that enable wide-area inspection of pipe-like structures. By envisioning a pipe as a plate wrapped around upon itself, the previous Lamb Wave Tomography (LWT) techniques are adapted to cylindrical structures. Helical Ultrasound Tomography (HUT) uses Lamb-like guided wave modes transmitted and received by two circumferential arrays in a single crosshole geometry. Meridional Ultrasound Tomography (MUT) creates the same crosshole geometry with a linear array of transducers along the axis of the cylinder. However, even though these new scanning geometries are similar to plates, additional complexities arise because they are cylindrical structures. First, because it is a single crosshole geometry, the wave vector coverage is poorer than in the full LWT system. Second, since waves can travel in both directions around the circumference of the pipe, modes can also constructively and destructively interfere with each other. These complexities necessitate improved signal processing algorithms to produce accurate and unambiguous tomographic reconstructions. Consequently, this work also describes a new algorithm for improving the extraction of multi-mode arrivals from guided wave signals. Previous work has relied solely on the first arriving mode for the time-of-flight measurements. In order to improve the LWT, HUT and MUT systems reconstructions, improved signal processing methods are needed to extract information about the arrival times of the later arriving modes. Because each mode has different through-thickness displacement values, they are sensitive to different types of flaws, and the information gained from the multi-mode analysis improves understanding of the structural integrity of the inspected material. Both tomographic frequency compounding and mode sorting algorithms are introduced. It is also shown that each of these methods improve the reconstructed images both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Doctor Educationis / Recent research has highlighted the importance of cut-and-fill cycles in valley-bottom wetlands. This study considers the impact of longitudinal and lateral sediment connectivity on the natural recovery potential of valley-bottom wetlands. Pietersielieskloof is a Prionium serratum (commonly known as palmiet) dominated discontinuous valley-bottom wetland. P. serratum is considered to be a peat-forming ecosystem engineer that enhances sediment infill in valleybottom wetlands. Due to its ecological importance and potential as a carbon store, this wetland has been earmarked for rehabilitation by Working for Wetlands. The study ascertains the importance of including sedimentological and geomorphological input in wetland rehabilitation and management strategies. A study of wetland geomorphology was conducted to develop an understanding of the natural dynamic of cut-and-fill processes as context for recent erosion and deposition events. Sediment samples from gully walls and cores were collected for organic content and particle size analysis and five sediment samples predating the current phase of erosion were radiocarbon dated. The valley form was surveyed using cross-sections and long profiles, and historical change was digitised using 30 m – 5 to 30 mm resolution aerial imagery from 1938-2016 in ArcMap.

The purpose of this thesis is to discuss the design and development of a platform used to automate a stock 2013 Ford Focus EV. The platform is low-cost and open-source to encourage collaboration and provide a starting point for fellow researchers to advance the work in the field of automated vehicle control. This thesis starts by discussing the process of obtaining control of the vehicle by taking advantage of internal communication protocols. The controller design process is detailed and a description of the components and software used to control the vehicle is provided. The automated system is tested and the results of fully autonomous driving are discussed.

The Purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the role of economic, political, and religious power as it relates to a person's ability to get zoning decisions passed in his favor by the Logan City Commission and the Logan Planning and Zoning Commission. Data for the study was collected from the minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Commission. The theory behind the incentives to seek zoning alterations is discussed prior to the actual work.