In this thesis we conduct a numerical study of the 1D viscous Burgers' equation and several Reduced Order Models (ROMs) over a range of parameter values. This study is motivated by the need for robust reduced order models that can be used both for design and control. Thus the model should first, allow for selection of optimal parameter values in a trade space and second, identify impacts from changes of parameter values that occur during development, production and sustainment of the designs. To facilitate this study we apply a Finite Element Method (FEM) and where applicable, the Group Finite Element Method (GFE) due its demonstrated stability and reduced complexity over the standard FEM. We also utilize Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) as a model reduction technique and modifications of POD that include Global POD, and the sensitivity based modifications Extrapolated POD and Expanded POD. We then use a single baseline parameter in the parameter range to develop a ROM basis for each method above and investigate the error of each ROM method against a full order "truth" solution for the full parameter range. / Master of Science

Yes / Purpose: Reduced binocularity is a prominent feature of amblyopia and binocular cues are thought to be important for prehension. We examine prehension in individuals with amblyopia when the target-object was flanked, thus mimicking everyday prehension. Methods: amblyopes (n=20, 36.4±11.7 years; 6 anisometropic, 3 strabismic, 11 mixed) and visually-normal controls (n=20, 27.5±6.3 years) reached forward, grasped and lifted a cylindrical target-object that was flanked with objects on either (lateral) side of the target, or in front and behind it in depth. Only 6 amblyopes (30%) had measurable stereoacuity. Trials were completed in binocular and monocular viewing, using the better eye in amblyopic participants. Results: Compared to visual normals, amblyopes displayed a longer overall movement time (p=0.031), lower average reach velocity (p=0.021), smaller maximum aperture (p=0.007) and longer durations between object contact and lift (p=0.003). Differences between groups were more apparent when the flankers were in front and behind, compared to either side, as evidenced by significant group-by-flanker configuration interactions for reach duration (p<0.001), size and timing of maximum aperture (p≤0.009), end-of-reach to object-contact (p<0.001), and between object contact and lift (p=0.044), suggesting that deficits are greatest when binocular cues are richest. Both groups demonstrated a significant binocular advantage, in that in both groups performance was worse for monocular compared to binocular viewing, but interestingly, amblyopic deficits in binocular viewing largely persisted during monocular viewing with the better eye. Conclusions: These results suggest that amblyopes either display considerable residual binocularity or that they have adapted to make good use of their abnormal binocularity.

The topic of this thesis is the study of nitrogen functionalities in nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide using Raman spectroscopy. Specifically, the project set out to investigate if the Raman active nitrogen-related vibrational modes of graphene can be identified via isotope labelling. Previous studies have used Raman spectroscopy to characterise nitrogen doped graphene, but none has employed the method of isotope labelling to do so. The study was conducted by producing undoped, nitrogen-doped and nitrogen-15-doped reduced graphene oxide and comparing the differences in the first-order Raman spectrum of the samples. Results of this study are inconclusive. However, some indications linking the I band to nitrogen functionalities are found. Also, a hypothetical Raman band denoted I* possibly related to \spt{3} hybridised carbon is introduced in the same spectral area as I. This indication of a separation of the I band into two bands, each dependent on one of these factors could bring clarity to this poorly understood spectral area. As the results of this study are highly speculative, further research is needed to confirm them and the work presented here serves as a preliminary investigation.

The thesis describes the design of a fringe projection system to study the dynamics of condensation with potential application in a reduced gravity environment. The concept is that an optical system for imaging the condensation layer enables extraction of valuable data from the image because of the ability of the optical system to image the perturbations in the condensation films. By acquiring a sequence of images of the deformed fringe pattern, the change in the surface topology can be observed over time, giving greater understanding of condensation dynamics in reduced gravity.

No description available.

In this thesis, we build upon the work of Plate by advancing the theory and utility of Holographic Reduced Representations (HRRs). HRRs are a type of linear, associative memory developed by Plate and are an implementation of Hinton’s reduced representations. HRRs and HRR-like representations have been used to model human memory, to model understanding analogies, and to model the semantics of natural language. However, in previous research, HRRs are restricted to storing and retrieving vectors of random numbers, limiting both the ability of HRRs to model human performance in detail, and the potential applications of HRRs. We delve into the theory of HRRs and develop techniques to store and retrieve images, or other kinds of structured data, in an HRR. We also investigate square matrix representations as an alternative to HRRs, and use iterative training algorithms to improve HRR performance. This work provides a foundation for cognitive modellers and computer scientists to explore new applications of HRRs. / Thesis (Master, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2010-08-10 12:50:04.004

People in modern industrialized societies live a blessed life relative to those who do not when it comes to some modern conveniences. While many think nothing of flipping on a light switch or running electric appliances, there are people in third world countries could not imagine such things. As service projects are being undertaken to bring such conveniences to those less fortunate, there often is the harsh reality of a strict budget. An item that commands a large portion of said budget is often the diesel generator used to provide the facility with electricity. Generators serving motor loads are typically oversized due to a large kVA starting requirement. This paper addresses an approach to this problem by temporarily restricting the generator fuel supply by pulling back the rack of the mechanical governor reducing the frequency and voltage output as a motor load is switched onto the system. By reducing the voltage and frequency output of the generator, the motor is switched on at a time when its typically poor power factor and resulting kVA requirement is mitigated by the lower voltage and frequency allowing for a smaller generator to be used.

The combustion of petroleum-based fuels leads to the formation of several pollutants. Among them, soot particles are particularly harmful due to their severe consequences on human health. Over the past decades, strict regulations have been placed on automotive and aircraft engines to limit these particulate matter emissions. This work is primarily focused on understanding the fundamental behaviour of soot particles and their formation. Though the focus of this work is on soot formation and growth pathways, the study of the gas-phase combustion process was also an integral part to validate the mechanism. A reduced mechanism is developed with retaining the larger PAH species till coronene from KAUST-ARAMCO mechanism. Counterflow diffusion flames had emphasized the simulation of canonical configuration where the reduced mechanism is validated and the soot growth pathways are evaluated. The importance of the significant contribution of larger PAH species on the soot growth pathways in both SF and SFO flames is evident in this analysis. The sensitivity of these flames with respect to strain rates, dilution, and at higher pressures are analysed. Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) of two-dimensional counterflow diffusion flames is conducted to understand the impact of vortex interactions on soot characteristics. The results indicate that the larger PAH species contributes to the soot formation in the air-side perturbation regimes, whereas the soot formation is dominated by the soot transport in fuel-side perturbation. The study is extended to simulate and compare coflow laminar flame using different statistical moment methods MOMIC, HMOM and CQMOM.

Capillary flows continue to be important in numerous spacecraft systems where the effective magnitude of the gravity vector is approximately one millionth that of normal Earth gravity. Due to the free fall state of orbiting spacecraft, the effects of capillarity on the fluid systems onboard can dominate the fluid behavior over large length scales. In this research three investigations are pursued where the unique interplay between surface tension forces, wetting characteristics, and system geometry control the fluid behavior, whether in large systems aboard spacecraft, or micro-scale systems on Earth. First, efforts in support of two International Space Station (ISS) experiments are reported. A description of the development of a new NASA ground station at Portland State University is provided along with descriptions of astronaut training activities for the proper operation of four handheld experiments currently in orbit as part of the second iteration of the Capillary Flow Experiments (CFE-2). Concerning the latter, seven more vessels are expected to be launched to the ISS shortly. Analysis of the data alongside numerical simulations shows excellent agreement with theory, and a new intuitive method of viewing critical wetting angles and fluid bulk shift phenomena is offered. Secondly, during the CFE-2 space experiments, unplanned peripheral observations revealed that, on occasion, rapidly compressed air bubbles migrate along paths with vector components common to the residual acceleration onboard the ISS. Unexpectedly however, the migration velocities could be shown to be up to three orders of magnitude greater than the appropriate Stokes flow limit! Likely mechanisms are explored analytically and experimentally while citing prior theoretical works that may have anticipated such phenomena. Once properly understood, compressed bubble migration may be used as an elegant method for phase separation in spacecraft systems or microgravity-based materials manufacturing. Lastly, the stability of drops on surfaces is important in a variety of natural and industrial processes. So called 'wall-edge-vertex bound drops' (a.k.a. drops on blade tips or drops on leaf tips which they resemble) are explored using a numerical approach which applies the Surface Evolver algorithm through implementation of a new file layer and a multi-parameter sweep function. As part of a recently open sourced SE-FIT software, thousands of critical drop configurations are efficiently computed as functions of contact angle, blade edge vertex half-angle, and g-orientation. With the support of other graduate students, simple experiments are performed to benchmark the computations which are then correlated for ease of application. It is shown that sessile, pendant, and wall-edge bound drops are only limiting cases of the more generalized blade-bound drops, and that a ubiquitous 'dry leaf tip' is observed for a range of the critical geometric and wetting parameters.

Det rapporteras flitigt i media om att sjukskrivningar pga. av utbrändhet fortsätter att öka under 2000-talet, att människor i Sverige har svårt att få ihop sin tillvaro på ett långsiktigt hållbart sätt. Målet med denna uppsats är att genom en fallstudie undersöka om en reduktion av arbetstiden påverkat arbetstagarens psykiska hälsa positivt. Studien bygger på en enkätundersökning och två uppföljande djupintervjuer riktade mot ett enda företag. Efter att ha sammanställt materialet har uppsatsens författare kunnat dra vissa slutsatser om kopplingen mellan arbetstidsförkortning och förbättrat psykiskt mående.   Resultatet visade att alla respondenter i studien upplevt en betydande positiv förbättring av sin psykiska hälsa och sitt välbefinnande.