Digital Commons Network^™

In Vitro And In Vivo Study Of Sustained Nitric Oxide Release Coating Using Diazeniumdiolate-Doped Poly(Vinyl Chloride) Matrix With Poly(Lactide-Co-Glycolide) Additive, Hitesh Handa, Elizabeth J. Brisbois, Terry E. Robinson, Lahdan Refahiyat, Kagya Amoako, Robert H. Bartlett, Mark E. Meyerhoff

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications

Nitric oxide (NO) is an endogenous vasodilator as well as natural inhibitor of platelet adhesion and activation that can be released from a NO donor species, such as diazeniumdiolated dibutylhexanediamine (DBHD/N2O2) within a polymer coating. In this study, various Food and Drug Administration approved poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) species were evaluated as additives to promote a prolonged NO release from DBHD/N2O2 within a plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix. When using an ester-capped PLGA additive with a slow hydrolysis time, the resulting coatings continuously release between 7 and 18 × 10−10 mol cm−2 min−1 NO for 14 days at 37 °C in …

Bruno The Robotic Bear, Aaron Brauner, Ian Panzer

Computer Engineering

Creating homemade robots are becoming a popular hobby among engineers. With the dramatic reduction in costs over the past few decades, it is finally possible to build a personal automated mailbox. Microcontrollers needed to function as the brains of the robot are also becoming powerful enough that relatively complicated instructions could be programmed into the robot to handle a plethora of sensors and peripherals. In order to demonstrate how the Computer Engineering department models the synthesis of computer science and electrical engineering, the topic chosen was robotics, specifically, a stuffed bear robot.

The microcontroller chosen was the Arduino Mega 2560 …

Development Of A High Precision Quantum Dot Synthysis Method Utilizing A Microfluidic Reactor And In-Line Fluorescence Cell, Harry Lafferty, Jonny Hoadley

Materials Engineering

Quantum dots show great potential for use as spectral converters in solar cells, lighting applications and biological imaging. These applications require precise control of quantum dot size to maximize performance. The fluorescence profile of quantum dots in solution correlates directly with particle size. An alternative, high precision process was developed for the synthesis of cadmium-selenide quantum dots using a microfluidic reactor and fluorescence flow through cell. The process required creating separate cadmium and selenium precursors that were then mixed in a nitrogen environment at 17± 1°C. Using an NE-300^® syringe pump, the solution was pumped through a microfluidic reactor …

The Optimization And Packaging Of Materials Safari Science Educational Tool For K-4 Grade Levels, Elizabeth Chandy

Materials Engineering

An interactive materials-based learning kit for K-4 grade levels was refined to effectively be used in outreach and after-school programs. Different safari animals made of different materials are packaged in the kit, along with different activities to explore physical properties. An optimized number and variety of animals and materials were determined. The volume and weight of the Materials Safari learning kit was optimized to meet the user’s needs. One way the product was optimized was reducing the number of animal pieces in the product. Also, two of the testing stations were reduced in size by about fifty percent to fit …

Tmc Simulator, Stuart Heater

Computer Science and Software Engineering

The goal of this project was to design and implement a graphical user interface which simulates TriTech's VisiCad Inform computer- aided dispatch well enough for trainees to learn how to efficiently and accurately use the software in a risk-free environment. The simulator should also allow the training proctor to actively create new incidents during training in order to ensure that the trainees are able to respond properly. The structure of this project allowed me to work with both more- and less-experienced programmers, particularly those who are far more experienced with networking and hardware than myself. It was my first time …

Dynamic Paint For Maya: Creation And Use In The Animation Short "Color Clash", Christopher Wallis

Computer Science and Software Engineering

This write-up describes the creation and utilization of a paint effect from both the perspective of the programmer and the animator. The paint effect simulates a 2D fluid using the algorithm described in Jos Stam's ``Real-time Fluid Dynamics for Games'' \cite{stam}, bakes the results into an image sequence, and then wraps the sequence around a 3D mesh. The second half of this paper describes how the effect was integrated into the animation short, ``Color Clash'' and the animation pipeline that was used.

Using Discrete Event Simulation To Improve The Patient Care Process In The Emergency Department Of A Rural Kentucky Hospital., Molly Cassaro Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The patient care process of a rural Kentucky hospital is a complex process that must be flexible in order to deal with a large variety of patient needs and a fluctuating patient volume where all patients are unscheduled. A simulation model of an average month in the emergency department was built using the Arena Simulation package. Methods for creating a simulation using Arena are included in this work. Statistics were generated from a number of different sources to create an accurate representation of the model. The Hospital reporting shows a need to improve on two quality measures being tracked, the …

Off Grid Solar Powered Street Light, Justin Fang, Billy Pham

Electrical Engineering

Street lights are fixtures found in every city and serve the important purpose of illuminating the streets and keeping the roads safe for pedestrians and drivers. Current street lights are powered by the grid, power which is paid for by the taxpayers and could have been used to power homes instead. With this project, our goal is to design and implement an electric power system that collects and stores solar energy, and delivers power to an LED smart street light. The resulting system would reduce street light energy costs by 100% since they would not draw any power from the …

Differential Transformer Protection Using The Sel 387 And Sel 587 Microprocessor Relays, Ryan Chun

Electrical Engineering

The objective of this Senior Project is to use the SEL 387 current differential and overcurrent microprocessor relays to protect three-single-phase 1 KVA 120:208 transformers configured in ∆-∆, Y-Y, Y-∆, and ∆-Y connections. In the second phase of this project, is to create a functioning lab that uses the SEL 587 relay to teach basic differential transformer protection for the upcoming EE-444 students.

The protection schemes developed in both of the senior project phases require the use of differential and overcurrent protection elements by monitoring the changes of the input and output current through the transformer. When these currents fail …

Design Of Improved Distribution Panel For The Dc House, Nolan Joksch

Electrical Engineering

The DC House is a humanitarian project intended to provide electricity to rural areas that would benefit from electricity, but are too remote to have access to it. This particular project is to design and construct the feeder box for the electrical distribution system to distribute power to the system as well as protect it. Building an electrical panel that is easily maintained and, above all, safe for the user is key to this project.

Merry-Go-Round Human Powered Generator, Daniel Barnicle, Dario Romero

Electrical Engineering

This project entails the design and construction of a Merry-Go-Round Human Powered Generator for the DC House project. The Merry-Go-Round Human-Powered-Generator is a sustainable project focusing on utilizing renewable human mechanical energy. As young children play on the Merry-Go-Round, the generator converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy for the DC House. The Merry-Go-Round Generator boosts the generated voltage output to power a battery. This electrical energy then transfers from the battery to the DC House to provide power to it.

Buddy: A Breathalyzer For Iphone, Douglas Blaalid, Brandon Bevans

Electrical Engineering

Buddy is a Breathalyzer for the iPhone designed to be more a product than a project. Through proprietary hardware and a custom iOS application, Buddy provides users with a previously untapped link from the alcohol in their body to the display on their phones. Buddy uses an alcohol sensor connected to an Arduino Uno to accurately detect the BAC of the user’s breath. The BAC is then transmitted to an iPhone via the headphone jack where it is displayed and logged in a captivating app. The finished prototype successfully measured the approximate BAC of intoxicated users. The product website has …

Spread Spectrum Jamming - Part 2, Casey Burke, Christian Hume, Javier Meza

Electrical Engineering

Direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) is a special modulation technique used in many telecommunication devices which uses a wide bandwidth relative to single-frequency carrier modulation techniques. Like the name suggests, the spectral content of wireless signals are spread across a range of frequencies to increase the security of transmitted signals by reducing the potential impact of outside interference (i.e. noise, jamming). This resistance against outside interference and jamming has particular application in the field of electronic warfare where spread spectrum jamming techniques may prove to be an effective way of shutting down remotely controlled enemy vehicles.

Last year, a group of …

Near-Infrared Optical Imaging For Monitoring The Regeneration Of Osteogenic Tissue-Engineered Constructs., Elizabeth A. Cowles, Joy L. Kovar, Evan T. Curtis, Huihui Xu, Shadi F. Othman

All Faculty Articles - School of Engineering and Computer Science

Millions of cases of bone injury or loss due to trauma, osteoporosis, and cancer occur in the United States each year. Because bone is limited in its ability to regenerate, alternative therapy approaches are needed. Bone tissue engineering has the potential to correct musculoskeletal disorders through the development of cell-based substitutes for osteogenic tissue replacement. Multiple medical imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) were investigated recently; these techniques are able to provide useful information on the anatomical and structural changes of developing bone. However, there is a need for noninvasive approaches to evaluate biochemical constituents and consequent compositional …

Real Time Rendering Engine, Kevin Ubay-Ubay

Computer Engineering

Entertaining and playable content in computer graphics requires real time rendering. Real time rendering essentially demands that frames need to be rendered within milliseconds in order to deliver an interactive experience for the client. Video games are an example of such a medium that needs real time rendering. Without frame rates in the realm of real time, video games cannot deliver an enjoyable experience. Behind virtually every video game is an engine. The architecture of video game engines usually comprises of sub engines that are specifically designed to handle physics, audio, user input and rendering. The purpose of this project …

Programming Tools For Artificial Intelligence Classes, Christopher Mckee

Computer Engineering

This project was begun in Winter of 2013 at California Polytechnic State University by myself, Christopher McKee, and was advised by Foaad Khosmood. The main goal of this project was to create an alternative to a current program that was being used in the Artificial Intelligence course on campus. The previous program used Java to create a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for students to use when learning how to create the various intelligent agents. In the versions created within the scope of this project, one of the environments used Java as the programming language, while the other two environments leveraged …

Channels: Easy Video Content Consumption, Alexander R. Ledwith

Computer Engineering

The idea for this project is to take a user’s digital movie and television show library, and organize the individual videos into lists that will continuously and concurrently play like cable TV channels. This means that when a list of channels is switched to, video content will automatically start playing, possibly in the middle, based on a schedule. It should serve the needs of the user by allowing the user to quickly watch any of their existing channels, easily add a new channel based on chosen criteria or manual selection, and easily add new video content. In addition, the product …

Aurora: Experience Music Like Never Before, Jason Dreisbach

Computer Engineering

Choreographing musical light shows has previously required expensive professional equipment and experienced personnel. A Mac application, Aurora, was developed to control Phillips Hue Light LED light bulbs to emulate the effects of more complex professional lighting systems. Aurora makes it possible to choreograph dazzling lighting effects to musical tracks.

Autocad Course Book Update, Todd Sammons

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This project is a proposed updated version of the course book used in the BRAE 151 course. The book that is currently used is a product of Doug Phillips (BRAE ’03). Since Mr. Phillips designed the book currently used, many new features have been added and the user interface is drastically different. This purpose of this book is to bring the course book used in BRAE 151 up the current version.

Settling Performance In Wastewater Fed High Rate Algae Ponds, Elliott Blake Ripley

Master's Theses

Although high rate algae ponds (HRAPs) are a proven wastewater treatment technology with numerous environmental, social, and economic benefits, their widespread use has been hindered by inconsistent and unreliable settling performance. Hence, the goal of this thesis is to investigate how specific operational parameters affect the settling performance of HRAPs. Nine HRAPs (30 m² surface area, 0.3 m depth) were operated as three triplicate sets, with each set run on either a 2, 3, or 4 day HRT continuously from January 25, 2012 through April 11, 2013. Settling performance was determined (i) by measuring the TSS of Imhoff cone …

Computational Modeling To Evaluate Helical Electrode Designs For Use In Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Anthony W. Cowley

Master's Theses

An estimated 0.5% of world’s population has been diagnosed with epilepsy. Of these patients 20-30% will be unable to achieve seizure control with anti-epileptic drugs. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) may be an appropriate treatment option for some patients with pharmaceutically refractory, partial-onset seizures.

VNS therapy uses a helical electrode to interface between the implantable pulse generator and the vagus nerve. While there have been several studies related to the mechanical and electrical safety of such electrodes, little work has been done toward understanding the effectiveness of the helical electrode in nerve stimulation. A better understanding of the voltage field and …

Design, Construction And Cost Analysis Of Manufacturing Horse Bits, Erica L. Timmermans

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This report discusses the design, fabrication and cost analysis of two unique horse bits. On the market today, there are many different kinds of bits to serve a multitude of purposes. However, this project explored the option of having two different shanks types made of stainless steel in addition to three mouthpieces that are able to fit in both types of shanks.

Animatronic Robot Development Using Pulse Width Modulation Microcontroller Programming, Laura Mcdonald

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

No abstract provided.

Utilization Of Wet Corn Distillers Grain For The Production Of Cellulase Enzymes And Value Added Products, Hunter R. Flodman

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Distillers grain, a byproduct from the dry grind corn ethanol industry, is an industrially available, abundant, preprocessed material comprised primarily of cellulose, hemicellulose, protein, oil, and minerals. This research investigated the utilization of distillers grain as a substrate for solid-state fermentation (SSF). SSF is the growth of microorganisms on a moist, solid substrate in the absence of free water. The substrate acts as both the nutrient source and as a solid support for the microorganisms, typically filamentous fungi. SSF has the unique ability to convert agricultural byproducts into valuable bioproducts such as enzymes and organic acids without hydrolyzing polysaccharides to …

Extra-Matrix Mg2+ Limits Ca2+ Uptake And Modulates Ca2+ Uptake-Independent Respiration And Redox State In Cardiac Isolated Mitochondria, Age D. Boelens, Ranjan K. Pradhan, Christoph A. Blomeyer, Amadou K.S. Camara, Ranjan K. Dash, David F. Stowe

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Cardiac mitochondrial matrix (m) free Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_m) increases primarily by Ca²⁺ uptake through the Ca²⁺ uniporter (CU). Ca²⁺ uptake via the CU is attenuated by extra-matrix (e) Mg²⁺ ([Mg²⁺]_e). How [Ca²⁺]_m is dynamically modulated by interacting physiological levels of [Ca²⁺]_e and [Mg²⁺]_e and how this interaction alters bioenergetics are not well understood. We postulated that as [Mg²⁺]_e modulates Ca²⁺ uptake via the CU, it also alters bioenergetics in a matrix Ca²⁺–induced and …

Meat Smoker, Rhianna Topp

Electrical Engineering

This Senior Project consists of designing and building a meat smoker. The design of this meat smoker incorporates knowledge of control systems, programming, hardware, and materials manufacturing. This smoker is made to allow the user an easy experience of smoking food. The smoker provides the user with a programmable temperature and timer. It also has an automatic wood chip loader as deemed necessary to keep the correct amount of smoke distributed. Lastly, this smoker has an automatic application of the user’s choice of liquid to the meat. By designing a smoker with these capabilities, an untrained person desiring to smoke …

Electrospun Plant Protein Scaffolds With Fibers Oriented Randomly And Evenly In Three-Dimensions For Soft Tissue Engineering Applications, Shaobo Cai

Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In this work, electrospinnable and water stable soyprotein was extracted by using a reducing agent in mild alkaline condition, and novel 3D zein and 3D pure soyprotein electrospun scaffolds with three-dimensionally and randomly oriented fibers and large interconnected pores were successfully fabricated by reducing surface resistivity of materials. This unique structure is different from most electrospun scaffolds with fibers oriented mainly in one direction. The structure of novel 3D scaffolds could more closely mimic the 3D randomly oriented fibrous architectures in many native extracellular matrixes (ECM). Confocal laser scanning microscope shows that instead of becoming flattened cells when cultured in …

Structural Health Monitoring Data Transmission For Composite Hydrokinetic Turbine Blades, A. Heckman, Joshua L. Rovey, K. Chandrashekhara, Steve Eugene Watkins, Daniel S. Stutts, Arindam Banerjee, Rajiv S. Mishra

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Design And Modeling Of Centralized Distribution Network For The Dc House Project, Harpreet S. Bassi

Master's Theses

This thesis focuses on the design, modeling, simulation, and performance evaluation of Centralized Distribution Network for the DC House Project. Power System Computer Aided Design (PSCAD) is used to model a Centralized PV Source, Battery Bank, and Distribution Network for 25 DC Houses. Design and modeling of each component in the proposed system are described. For the performance evaluation, emphasis is on voltage stability and system reliability under different operating conditions. Results from the simulation demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed Centralized Distribution Network for the DC House Project to support the houses during non-generation periods and distribution network voltage …

Dairy Manure Flushwater Treatment By Packed-Bed Anaerobic Digesters, Neal Cary Adler

Master's Theses

Wastewater treatment performance of three pilot-scale packed-bed anaerobic digesters with walnut shell medium was researched for treating dairy freestall barn flushwater. Reciprocation mixing was evaluated as a means to lessen channelization in the media bed and to improve biogas production and organic matter removal at ambient temperatures. Reciprocation has been used in biological nitrogen removal systems to introduce air into the system to repeatedly oxygenate nitrifying biofilm along with mixing (Behrends et al. 2003), but the anaerobic systems benefit from mixing. Two tanks were used in each system, where one was full and one was empty at any given time. …