The biggest limitation to conventional gas chromatography (GC) is limited peak capacity, making the analysis of complex mixtures a difficult or even impossible task. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) significantly increases peak capacity and resolution, improves sensitivity and generates structured 3D chromatograms. This is achieved by connecting two columns coated with different stationary phases through a special interface (modulator). The interface samples the first column effluent and periodically injects fractions of this material, as narrow injection pulses, onto the second column for further separation. Commercial instruments achieve this with cryogenic agents. Since this expensive approach permits only in-laboratory analysis, the development of simple, economical and field-capable GC×GC systems is in demand. This report summarizes the fundamentals governing GC×GC separations and a brief history of technological advances in the field. It also documents the construction of a simple interface, devoid of moving parts and cryogenic consumables, and hence highly suitable for field analysis and monitoring applications. Evaluation of the interface suggests on-par performance with more complicated cryogenic modulators. GC×GC separations of technical mixtures of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), common environmental pollutants (EPA 8270), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides (toxaphene), as well as selected essential oils and major distillation fractions of crude oil indicate very good performance. Most notably, the interface prototype was applied for the first ever time-resolved on-site analysis of the semivolatile organic fraction of urban air particulate matter (PM2.5).

Ultrasonic anemometer (UA) is a core application in natural environment measurement. As well known, mechanical anemometer works well in good weather but it is not suitable to be applied in bad environment such as polar region and upper air. On the other hand, ultrasonic anemometer works well in most situations. Moreover, ultrasonic anemometer has wider detectable wind speed range. It can be said that ultrasonic anemometer is a more advanced instrument to measure wind velocity. In this paper, the theory of ultrasonic anemometer is first discussed. Using the theory, a test bed is then designed and constructed to measure one-dimensional wind speed. Active Butterworth filter is introduced into the circuit in order to increase the stability and accuracy. Furthermore, we test the one-dimensional ultrasonic anemometer and compare the measured wind speed with theoretical wind speed measured by a thermal anemometer device. Error is also discussed and improvement has also made during the experiment.

When modelling pollutants in the atmosphere, it is nearly impossible to get perfect results as the chemical and mechanical processes that govern pollutant concentrations are complex. Results are dependent on the quality of the meteorological input as well as the emissions inventory used to run the model. Also, models cannot currently take every process into consideration. Therefore, the model may get results that are close to, or show the general trend of the observed values, but are not perfect. However, due to the lack of observation stations, the resolution of the observational data is poor. Furthermore, the chemistry over large bodies of water is different from land chemistry, and in North America, there are no stations located over the great lakes or the ocean. Consequently, the observed values cannot accurately cover these regions. Therefore, we have combined model output and observational data when studying ozone concentrations in north eastern North America. We did this by correcting model output at observational sites with local data. We then interpolated those corrections across the model grid, using a Kriging procedure, to produce results that have the resolution of model results with the local accuracy of the observed values. Results showed that the corrected model output is much improved over either model results or observed values alone. This improvement was observed both for sites that were used in the correction process as well as sites that were omitted from the correction process.

This thesis explores the multi-dimensional aspects of space by engaging three primary “modes of knowing”: the corporeal, the virtual and the spiritual. The crossings of these modes are investigated through the development of three characters in a film; Kira is the earth-worshipping goddess; Kisho is the cyborg, a permanently uploaded information-seeker; and the Shaman is a shape-shifting lightworker. These characters evolve from the distillation of specific readings related to each of the aforementioned modes as well as from interviews and experiences that assist in their development. These readings range from Novalis and Ashley Montagu on corporeal knowledge, Donna Harraway and Neil Spiller on technologically enhanced trans-human states and Fritjof Capra and Alex Grey on the intersection of ancient mystical teaching with recent findings in quantum physics. This exploration is followed by the design portion of the thesis: a short film where each character occupies a separate world in the dystopian future. The radical and regenerative possibilities of their crossings are what the film initiates.

This thesis focused on modeling and simulation of simultaneous switching noise in packages as well as integrated circuits and the focus was mainly on the latter. Efficient and accurate methods have been developed for modeling the coupling due to SSN in multi-layered planes arising in electronic packages, extraction of the power grid in integrated circuits and simulation of the power supply noise in large size networks arising in power distribution network. These methods include conformal mapping, finite difference time domain and cavity resonator methods, using which the electrical performance of the power distribution system in a high speed electronic product can be predicted. The model developed for field penetration captured the effect of the magnetic field penetrating through planes in multi-layered packages. Analytical model for the extraction of the interconnect parasitics for a regular on-chip power grid has been presented. Complex image technique has been applied for modeling the dispersive interconnect on lossy silicon substrate. The Debye rational approximation has been used to approximate the RLGC parameters in order to simulate the frequency dependent elements in the time domain. The simulation of the entire network of the full-chip power grid has been carried out using the modified FDTD expressions. Several aspects of characterizing the generic on-chip power distribution network have been presented. The crossover capacitance has been evaluated using analytical model derived from conformal mapping. An analytical model has been proposed to extract parameters of on-chip multi-conductor transmission lines, which guarantees the stability and is applicable to general distribution of multi-conductor transmission lines. The above modeling procedures have been incorporated into a computer program, which generates the power grid model from the layout of chip power distribution networks automatically. Research on 3-D on-chip power distribution networks has been presented. The complex image technique has been extended from microstrip-type interconnects to stripline-type interconnects. Macromodel images have been derived with closed form expressions to capture the loss mechanism of the multiple conductive substrates. The effect of 3-D integration on switching noise has been illustrated in the time domain using examples.

A systematic investigation into the growth of one-dimensional nanostructures of select II-VI compounds with the wurtzite crystal structure. Two process parameters are systematically altered to observe how each affects deposition. The results of which give a further understanding into the formation of one nanostructure over another, as well as experimental parameters for optimizing the growth of particular CdSe nanomaterials. A statistical analysis is conducted on the experimental data to quantitatively determine the variability and robustness of the experimental setup and process. The information complied from this extensive study will yield a more complete understanding of the experimental setup and how improvements can be made to reduce variability, increase yield, and gain insight into the mechanisms controlling this class of materials.

The increasing demand for high density storage devices has led to innovative data recording paradigms like optical holographic memories that record and read data in a two-dimensional page-oriented manner. In order to overcome the effects of inter-symbol-interference and noise in holographic channels, sophisticated constrained modulation codes and error correction codes are needed in these systems. This dissertation deals with the information-theoretic and signal processing aspects of holographic storage. On the information-theoretic front, the capacity of two-dimensional runlength-limited channels is analyzed. The construction of two-dimensional runlength-limited codes achieving the capacity lower bounds is discussed. This is a theoretical study on one of the open problems in symbolic dynamics and mathematical physics. The analysis of achievable storage density in holographic channels is useful for building practical systems. In this work, fundamental limits for the achievable volumetric storage density in holographic channels dominated by optical scattering are analyzed for two different recording mechanisms, namely angle multiplexed holography and localized recording. Pixel misregistration is an important signal processing problem in holographic systems. In this dissertation, algorithms for compensating two-dimensional translation and rotational misalignments are discussed and analyzed for Nyquist size apertures with low fill factors. These techniques are applicable for general optical imaging systems

Each year in the United States over a million people experience a myocardial infarction. The majority of these attacks are caused by coronary artery plaque cap rupture with subsequent thrombus formation. Because rupture is a mechanical event and the tendency of a plaque to rupture is due in part to increases in the mechanical stresses in the fibrous cap, mechanical analyses are important to understanding plaque stability. Histology is the only method capable of identifying plaque features that are associated with vulnerability. Therefore, minimally distorted histologic sections should serve as a basis for constructing the models used in mechanical analyses. Further, because substantial longitudinal variations in geometry and mechanical properties often exist, models should be three-dimensional (3-D). Finally, given the complex geometries of atherosclerotic plaques and the fact that they are composed of different materials, the finite element (FE) method should be used to determine the distribution of stress under physiological loading. Until now, a critical need has existed to determine the distribution of stress in 3-D FE models of human coronary atherosclerotic plaques based on minimally distorted histologic sections. In this research study, a method to measure and correct for distortions caused by acrylic histologic processing was first created. The devised strain-based method yields a limited set of parameters needed for a first order correction. Thus, corrections can be easily implemented using FE methods. Next, a methodology to create 3-D finite FE models of human coronary atherosclerotic plaques based on stable acrylic histologic sections was developed. Models of plaques, ranging in disease severity, were generated using the developed methodology. Lastly, the distributions of stress in these models were obtained and the effects of some plaque features on stresses were determined. Results from this study confirm that morphological description of a plaque is not sufficient to predict plaque rupture. The findings suggest that in many cases the 3-D stress field within a plaque must be known in order to assess plaque stability. Finally, the results show that patient specific models must be developed if the 3-D stress field within a plaque is to be determined.

Elastic cylinder vibration due to different shear parameter in the water flow is investigated experimentally in this research. The water flow ranges from 0.4 m/s to 1.06 m/s. It is found from the experiment that shear parameter has a significant influence on the amplitude of the cylinder vibration. The greater the shear parameter becomes, the later the delaying phenomenon also becomes. The delaying phenomenon will bring about resonant procrastination. Additionally, the greater shear parameter lessens the cylinder¡¦s drag force, but the lift force will be augmented, and the vibration orbit will be asymmetric. At lower flow velocity, cylinder¡¦s displacement is greater. With the enhancement of the shear parameter or the reduced velocity, the flow type and the vortex street behind the cylinder will turn more and more impalpable, and eventually become chaotic.

The ability to create large-scale high-resolution models of biological tissue provides an excellent opportunity for expanding our understanding of tissue structure and function. This is particularly important for brain tissue, where the majority of function occurs at the cellular and sub-cellular level. However, reconstructing tissue at sub-cellular resolution is a complex problem that requires new methods for imaging and data analysis. In this dissertation, I describe a prototype microscopy technique that can image large volumes of tissue at sub-cellular resolution. This method, known as Knife-Edge Scanning Microscopy (KESM), has an extremely high data rate and can capture large tissue samples in a reasonable time frame. We can therefore image complete systems of cells, such as whole small animal organs, in a matter of days. I then describe algorithms that I have developed to cope with large and complex data sets. These include methods for improving image quality, tracing filament networks, and constructing high-resolution anatomical models. These methods are highly parallel and designed to allow users to segment and visualize structures that are unique to high-throughput microscopy data. The resulting models of large-scale tissue structure provide much more detail than those created using standard imaging and segmentation techniques.