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In Vivo Immunotoxicological Evaluation Of Electrospun Polycaprolactone (Epcl) And Investigation Of Epcl As A Drug Delivery System For Immunomodulatory Compounds, Colleen Mcloughlin

Theses and Dissertations

Electrospun materials have potential use in many biomedical applications such as soft tissue replacements or as scaffolds to target drug delivery to local sites. Electrospinning is a polymer processing technique that can be used to create materials composed of fibers with diameters ranging from the micron to the nanoscale. We investigated the effects of microfibrous and nanofibrous electrospun polycaprolactone (EPCL) on innate, cell-mediated, and humoral components of the immune system. Results demonstrated that in both young (12 week) and old (6 month) mice, EPCL had no effect on various immune parameters. With its lack of immunotoxicity, EPCL presents an excellent …

Study Of Vocs Transport And Storage In Porous Media And Assemblies, Jing Xu

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering - Dissertations

Indoor VOCs concentrations are influenced greatly by the transport and storage of VOCs in building and furnishing materials, majority of which belong to porous media. The transport and storage ability of a porous media for a given VOC can be characterized by its diffusion coefficient and partition coefficient, respectively, and such data are currently lacking. Besides, environmental conditions are another important factor that affects the VOCs emission. The main purposes of this dissertation are: (1) validate the similarity hypothesis between the transport of water vapor and VOCs in porous materials, and help build a database of VOC transport and storage …

Thromboresistance Characterization Of Extruded Nitric Oxide Releasing Silicone Catheters, Kagya Amoako, Christopher Archangeli, Hitesh Handa, Terry Major, Mark E. Meyerhoff, Gail M. Annich, Robert H. Bartlett

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications

Intravascular catheters used in clinical practice can activate platelets, leading to thrombus formation and stagnation of blood flow. Nitric oxide (NO)-releasing polymers have been shown previously to reduce clot formation on a number of blood contacting devices. In this work, trilaminar NO-releasing silicone catheters were fabricated and tested for their thrombogenicity. All catheters had specifications of L = 6 cm, inner diameter = 21 gauge (0.0723 cm), outer diameter = 12 gauge (0.2052 cm), and NO-releasing layer thickness = 200 ± 11 µm. Control and NO-releasing catheters were characterized in vitro for their NO flux and NO release duration by …

Testing The Efficiency Of Vertically Aligned Gold Nanowires On A Titanium Needle Implantable Neural Electrodes In The Rattus Norvegicus Hippocampus, Lauren Kegley

Electrical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Miniaturized multi-electrode arrays are MEMS devices that have found use as neural prosthetics (Neuro-MEMS). As implants they can interface with neurons as sensors or actuators and help compensate for loss of sensory input, motor control, or cognitive function. The micro-electrodes, studied here, were developed in-house. They have a vertically aligned gold nanowire array and are mounted on a sturdy fine gauge titanium needle. Hence, the bill of materials and design characteristics encourage its use as neural probe. For this study, a probe was tested in vivo for signal acquisition in the hippocampus of a Rattus Norvegicus (Sprague Dawley Rat). Using …

Bioengineering Approach To Understanding Tmj Pathobiology, Jonathan Kuo

All Dissertations

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a load-bearing joint consisting of the condyle of the mandibular bone, the fossa eminence of the temporal bone, and a fibrocartilaginous disc held in between the bone surfaces by ligaments. The TMJ disc serves to distribute stress, lubricate movement, and protect the articular surfaces of the joint. Over ten million Americans suffer from TMJ disorders (TMD) that affect the movement and function of the joint, making everyday tasks like talking and eating difficult and painful. A wide variety of treatments and surgeries have been proposed and undertaken with limited success based on the varying degree …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Three Utah Wastewater Treatment Facilities In Removing Pharmaceuticals And Personal Care Products, Oksana Roth

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The occurrence of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) in surface waters has become a growing concern within the last decade although the first mention of human PPCPs in the environment goes back to late 1970s. Pharmaceuticals include prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and veterinary drugs. Personal care products include products such as lotions, fragrances, and soaps. In addition to traditional personal care products, the term PPCPs has been adopted to represent a wide variety of chemicals used in consumer products including plasticizers and fire retardants. Wastewater effluents are thought to be the main source of PPCPs in surface waters since …

On-Farm Water Management Game With Heuristic Capabilities, Mohammed Z. Shaban

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Improved on-farm irrigation practices can result in more economical farming, and better productivity. Very little has been done with regard to improved training tools that can be used to promote better and more effective on-farm irrigation practices. Games considered as an effective decision support tools in which players are able to test alternatives, and demonstrate the effects of their decisions, in a short time, and without being afraid of making mistakes. Training tools in the form of games promotes what is called “learning based on experience” through a schematic version of reality, and observing the effects.

The WaterMan game was …

Using Stereo Particle Image Velocimetry To Quantify And Optimize Mixing In An Algae Raceway Using Delta Wings, Blake W. Lance

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Biofuel research has been continually growing over the past six decades. Of the potential sources for biofuels, microalgae is the most promising, and circulating (raceway) ponds are the most cost-effective method for growing microalgae in abundance. Nevertheless, biofuel production from algae must be more efficient to be competitive with traditional fuels. Previous studies using several airfoils, triangles, and squares at high angles to the flow direction (angle of attack) show an increase in mixing in raceways and can improve productivity by up to a factor of 2.2. Researchers show that increasing growth by increasing mixing is a repeatable effect that …

Cross Flow Filtration For Mixed-Culture Algae Harvesting For Municipal Wastewater Lagoons, Misheka Wilson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The City of Logan Environmental Department has a goal to remove chemicals from the municipal wastewater that can cause algae growth in Cutler Reservoir that will impair use for recreation. The proposed plan to accomplish the goal is to grow algae within the 460-acre Logan Lagoon wastewater system, and then remove the algae from the treated wastewater that enters Cutler Reservoir. The collected algae may be used to produce biodiesel to fuel the City solid waste vehicles. The City will coordinate the development and implementation of this project with the assistance of the Utah State University Biological Engineering Department. The …

Planning And Management Modeling For Treated Wastewater Usage, Leila Ahmadi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Population growth, urbanization and water scarcity in many parts of the world has resulted in transfer of agricultural water to municipal and industrial users on one hand and excessive production of wastewater on the other hand. Due to importance of agriculture in food production and in the economy of many regions around the world,
water resources management and considering new water resources (such as treated wastewater) is critical.This study focused on analyzing the effects of population and
urban growth on water demand for various users and municipal wastewater quantity changes; as well as investigating the feasibility of wastewater reuse projects. …

Duckweed Uptake Of Phosphorus And Five Pharmaceuticals: Microcosm And Wastewater Lagoon Studies, Jonathan Bay Farrell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Utah State University students under the direction of Dr. R. Ryan Dupont, Environmental Engineering, have been enthusiastically involved in researching ways to improve wastewater treatment at the nearby Wellsville Municipal Sewage Lagoons. Wellsville City, along with several other Cache Valley communities, has experienced some problems with their current wastewater facility, particularly with phosphorus removal, which will become more difficult to address as the population increases in the future. Excessive phosphorus causes unappealing algae blooms in ponds and reservoirs while also posing a threat to local fish. Brittany Wilkes, Brett Housley, and Naho Orita first looked into reducing phosphorus discharge by …

The Effect Of Chlorine And Ozone In Controlling Microbes On Organically Grown Cilantro And Carrots, Adam Holtz

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project investigates the relative efficacy of ozonated water and chlorinated water for the purpose of sanitizing freshly-harvested organic produce. The aim of this study was to assist the Cal Poly Organic Farm in deciding whether or not to invest in an ozone generator. The crops used for testing were grown organically in the same field. Carrots and cilantro were harvested and promptly treated with 5 ppm ozone solution or 25 ppm sodium hypochlorite solution. Carrots were sampled at 0, 7, and 14 days storage to determine microbial populations. Cilantro was similarly tested at 0, 6, and 12 days …

Best Management Practices Effectiveness To Reduce Sediment Transport To Morro Bay, Michael J. Randall

Master's Theses

The Morro Bay Watershed, which is located inSan Luis Obispo County,California, covers more than 48,000 acres of land and discharges intoMorroBaythrough the Morro Bay National Estuary (MBNE). The Chorro Creek Subwatershed consists of approximately 30,000 acres of the overall watershed. The MBNE provides an ecosystem that supports a variety of wildlife from the common sea gull to the endangered sea otter. The estuary is also home to over 200 species of birds. The operational waterfront of theMorroBayHarborwas and continues to be a strong supporter to the local economy of the City of Morro Bay. Numerous studies were conducted since the …

Engineering Design Of A Prototype Ammonia Absorption Tower, Andrew Warren Calogero

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

A Multi-Modal Sensing And Communication Platform For Continental-Scale Migratory Bird Tracking, David J. Anthony

Department of Computer Electronics and Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis presents a novel platform for tracking migratory birds on a continental scale. Cellular technology is used to augment the short-range radios that have traditionally been used in wireless sensor networks. The platform utilizes multiple sensors, including a GPS and solid state compass. By using these sensors, the platform is capable of not only tracking a bird’s migration path, but also provides information on a bird’s behavior during its life-cycle. Testing methodology utilizing simulations and aspect-oriented programming is used to reveal faults in the platform prior to deployment on wild animals. In collaboration with the International Crane Foundation, and …

Qualified Affordance-Based Design, Jun Hu

All Theses

Function-based approaches are taught by the engineering design community and implemented in practice. The most significant advantage of these approaches is that they can guide the designers to abstract the essential problems from the design requirements, build the function-based models, and consequently provide the direction of the solution. However, due to the lack of a consistent scientific definition on the meaning of the function, these approaches may be contradictory when representing human-centered aspects, features, and non-physical purposes. To address this issue, design researchers have pursued two general directions: (1) broadening the meaning of function and (2) introducing an alternative scientific …

Assessment Of A Safe Driving Program For Novice Drivers And Smart Jersey Barrier Design To Minimize Animal-To-Vehicle Collisions, Lance Clark

All Theses

Each year, the total number of vehicles, motorists, highway infrastructures, and distance traveled by drivers increases on a global basis. This rise in personal and commercial ground vehicle usage brings with it the advantages of the modern age, but it is not without societal cost. Vehicular incidents result in tens of thousands of deaths each year in the United States alone. For this reason, research has been performed to advance driver safety while simultaneously providing wildlife with means to avoid animal-to-vehicle collisions (AVC). In this thesis, two solutions are proposed: a driver education program with classroom experiences, in-vehicle resources, and …

Effects Of Different Microenvironmental Conditions On The Growth And Differentiation Of Dental Pulp Stem Cells, Matthew Cupelli

All Theses

Human teeth are very complex structures that are susceptible to many different pathologies due to poor dental health. Currently, there are many restorative methods to reestablish some of the function that teeth have, but the materials used in these methods all have drawbacks and cannot fully mimic the native teeth. Tissue engineering research groups have begun to explore regenerating bone or dental tissue using mesenchymal stem cells derived from the bone marrow. However, our group focuses on regenerating dental tissues using multipotent stem cells from dental pulp.
Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) have shown similarities to bone marrow stem cells …

Application Of Microbial Fuel Cells In A Forested Wetland, Jianing Dai

All Theses

ABSTRACT
Electricity can be generated from forest residues, especially the organic matter from litter fall, in freshwater forested wetland environments with a microbial fuel cell (MFC) system. Electricity generation efficiency was examined for cypress, tupelo, and pine litter extracts, using dual-chamber reactors. The maximum power density generated with cypress extracts was on the level of 320 mW/m2, higher than tupelo (230 mW/m2), and pine (210 mW/m2). The efficacy of cypress extracts was also higher than tupelo and
pine, demonstrating that organic matter from cypress litter is a preferred substrate for electricity generation with MFCs. Meanwhile, low aromaticity of the substrate …

Sediment Removal From The San Gabriel Mountains, Mary C. Ferguson

Pitzer Senior Theses

The issue of sediment removal from the San Gabriel Mountains has been a complex issue that has created problems with beach replenishment, habitat destruction and the need to spend millions of dollars at regular intervals to avoid safety hazards. Most recently 11 acres of riparian habitat, including 179 oaks and 70 sycamores, were removed for sediment placement. Other sites including Hahamongna Watershed Park and La Tuna Canyon also face a similar fate. This thesis questions: How did we get to this point of destroying habitat to dump sediment which is viewed as waste product? What are the barriers for creating …

Identification Of Spatiotemporal Nutrient Patterns And Associated Ecohydrological Trends In The Tampa Bay Coastal Region, Brent Wimberly

HIM 1990-2015

Improvements for environmental monitoring and assessment were achieved to advance our understanding of sea-land interactions and nutrient cycling in a coastal bay.; The comprehensive assessment techniques for monitoring of water quality of a coastal bay can be diversified via an extensive investigation of the spatiotemporal nutrient patterns and the associated eco-hydrological trends in a coastal urban region. With this work, it is intended to thoroughly investigate the spatiotemporal nutrient patterns and associated eco-hydrological trends via a two part inquiry of the watershed and its adjacent coastal bay. The findings show that the onset of drought lags the crest of the …

Improving Efficiency And Capacity Of Hydro-Turbines In The Western United States, Hoover Dam, Jonathan Sanchez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The goal for this thesis is to minimize clearances and tolerances, in order to prevent water leakage. A proper seal on the seal rings does not let excess water flow through the turbine runner, thus conserving more water and wasting less energy. Moreover, water leakage past worn wear plates allows for an extra load for the turbine when operating in condense mode. When the wicket gates are closed, water leakage past worn plates wastes mechanical energy in the water; thus, decreasing the efficiency of the Francis turbine, especially when operating at partial loads. Furthermore, the wicket gates also known as …

Kinetics Of Xylose Oligomers Decomposition, Christopher Mcdaniel

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Hemicellose-derived oligomers are key components in hemicellulose depolymerization into the five-carbon carbohydrate xylose, a key operation in the production of cellulosic biofuels. Unfortunately, hemicellulose oligomers do not only depolymerize directly into xylose, but also into degradation compounds that reduce the overall production of cellulosic biofuels. Because commercially available oligomers are prohibitively expensive, this study was carried out using relatively inexpensive commercial grade xylose. Understanding the degradation of xylose is important for its impact on the economic viability of the monomeric sugars-to-ethanol conversion. From experimental data and ensuing statistical analysis, initial xylose concentrations did not result in different xylose degradation rates, …

Formation Of Embryoid Bodies From Human Embryonic Stem Cells In Defined Medium, Ashley Kiene

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Embryonic stem cells have the characteristic of self-renewal and the ability to differentiate into tissues from all three germ layers. Many times, the first step in using human embryonic stem cells for regenerative medicine is often initiated by embryoid body (EB) formation. EBs are three-dimensional multicellular aggregates that resemble early post implantation embryos that still maintain the potential to form the three germ layers. Currently, generating EBs from human embryonic stem cells (hESC) that are adapted to feeder-independent medium is difficult, much more so than feeder cultured hESC. Using a chemically defined medium would not only help the application of …

Design And Use Of An Alternative Fuel Testing Apparatus And Assessment Of The Feasibility Of Biodiesel, Matthew Tanner

Master’s Theses

Petroleum supply and environmental pollution issues constantly increase interest in renewable low polluting alternative fuels. Published test results show decreased pollution with similar power output and fuel consumption from Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) burning alternative fuels. More specifically, diesel engines burning biodiesel derived from plant oils and animal fats not only reduce harmful exhaust emissions but are renewable and environmentally friendly. To validate these claims and assess the feasibility of alternative fuels, independent engine dynamometer and emissions testing was performed. A testing apparatus capable of making relevant measurements was designed, built, and used to test and determine the feasibility of …

Study Of The Anisotropic Frictional And Deformation Behavior Of Surfaces Textured With Silvr Nanorods, Thomas Ivanoff

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Friction is one of the most common and influential mechanical interactions of two structures on both the macroscopic scale and especially the microscopic scale. On the microscopic scale, friction becomes the prime component of mechanical forces exerted on devices. Frictional anisotropy is an interesting characteristic of certain materials and can be used to control frictional properties in various applications. In this study, we measured the anisotropic frictional behavior of two silver (Ag) thin films: a continuous film and a thin film consisting of tilted nanorods angled at an average angle of 70o to the surface normal. Scratches, eight microns in …

Catalyst Studies With Implications On The Design And Fabrication Of Microreactors, Eric Snider

Honors Theses

Biodiesel, or fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), 'is a potential alternative, renewable fuel source to lessen foreign fuel dependency. Dr. Frank Jones' microreactor research group is investigating the use of microreactors to produce biodiesel. Microreactors can increase reaction rates, heat transfer, and lessen production costs due to their small size. The first generation of microreactors, coated with a nickel oxide (NiO) catalyst, has been developed and needs to be tested to determine their performance. Also, a catalyst study comparing NiO and platinum oxide (PtO2) will be performed to find the better catalyst for FAME production.

Fluidized-Bed Gasification Of Dairy Manure By Box–Behnken Design, Hanjing Wu, Milford A. Hanna, David D. Jones

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Application of excessive animal manure to the land may cause some environmental problems such as eutrophication of surface waters, degradation of ground water quality, and threats to human health. This paper reports an experimental study on the technology of biomass gasification to treat animal waste by analyzing the effects of key operating parameters on gasification. In this research, dairy manure from the University of Nebraska dairy farm was first collected and dried, and then gasified in a fluidized-bed, laboratory-scale gasifier to generate syngas. The effects of three parameters, namely temperature, steam to biomass ratio (SBR) and the equivalence ratio (ER), …

Nutrient Losses In Runoff From Feedlot Surfaces As Affected By Unconsolidated Surface Materials, John E. Gilley, Jason R. Vogel, Roger A. Eigenberg, David B. Marx, Brian L. Woodbury

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Beef cattle feedlots contain unconsolidated surface materials (loose manure pack) that accumulate during a feeding cycle. The effects of varying amounts of unconsolidated surface materials on runoff nutrient losses are not well understood. The objectives of this study were to (1) compare runoff nutrient losses from feedlot surfaces containing varying amounts of unconsolidated surface materials, (2) determine if differences in runoff nutrient losses exist among rainfall simulation runs, (3) relate runoff nutrient losses to selected feedlot soil characteristics, and (4) identify the effects of varying runoff rate on nutrient loss rates from feedlot surfaces. This study was conducted on 0.75 …

Investigation Of A Commercial Product (Biowish™) For Nitrogen Management, Eva Lee

Master's Theses

Abstract

Investigation of a Commercial Product (BiOWiSH­­^TM) for Nitrogen Management

Eva Lee

BiOWiSH–Aqua, which has the capability of treating nitrogen from wastewater through bioaugmentation, is a commercial product consisting of a blend of microorganisms developed by BiOWiSH Technologies. A study of the treatment of nitrogen compounds (i.e. , , and ) using Biowish–Aqua was conducted using small scale experiments (flask experiments) and large scale experiments (column reactor experiments). In this work, column reactors were created to test Biowish–Aqua’s nitrogen treating capabilities by providing enough depth to simulate the dissolved oxygen gradient that can be observed in a pond. …