The chlamydiae are a family of obligate intracellular bacteria that have a unique bi-phasic developmental cycle, unique cellular properties, and a unique set of challenges to studying its biology. While genetic manipulation is becoming routine in Chlamydia, there are significant challenges to working with this intracellular parasite. The body of...
Within this dissertation, we develop tools and techniques to demonstrate the feasibility of real-time optimization of a magnetohydrodynamics generator. To ease computational complexity, we work on the kinematic magnetohydrodynamic system, prescribing the fluid-flow and model the material response of the system through an updated Generalized Ohm’s law. We focus on...
Control issues are investigated for a parafoil and payload system with left and right parafoil brakes used as the control mechanism. It is shown through dynamic modeling and simulation that parafoil and payload systems can exhibit two basic modes of lateral control, namely, roll and skid steering. Using a small...
In this thesis we construct compatible discretizations of Maxwell's equations. We use the term compatible to describe numerical methods for Maxwell's equations which obey many properties of vector Calculus in a discrete setting. Compatible discretizations preserve the exterior Calculus ensuring that the divergence of the curl and the curl of...
There are three chapters of manuscripts in this dissertation and all of them are talking about a specific theme: stochastic control, but with completely different perspectives.
In the first manuscript, we solve the optimal barrier strategy for dividend distribution in a complicated Lévy system. In this system, the capital of...
Optimization of reservoir operation is involves various competing objectives for a scarce resource (water). To find the optimal operation of reservoirs, it is essential to consider multiple objectives simultaneously. There are various sources of uncertainty associated with the reservoir operation problem that should be considered as well.
The overarching goal...
Sweet corn (Zea mays L.) yields in the Willamette Valley of Oregon have been declining since the early 1990’s. Studies were done to determine if there is a relationship between ear weight and several disease parameters including necrotic crowns or stalk nodes, nodal root rot, radicle root rot, and sub-crown...
A procedure for evaluating the precision of atomic absorption
measurements is presented and applied to 21 elements under varying
instrumental conditions. The experimental relative standard deviations
(RSD's) in absorbance obtained from repetitive measurements made
with a high resolution voltmeter and on-line computer, are compared
to those predicted by a recently...
Development of a performance analysis for propeller type wind
turbines is presented. The analysis uses a strip theory approach
that includes tip-loss and blade interference. A comparison is
presented between analysis and test data. The comparison indicates
that the analysis predicts wind turbine performance to an accuracy
that is within...