Digital Commons Network^™

Analysis Of The Thermal Aging Kinetics Of Tallow, Chicken Oil, Lard, And Sheep Oil, Yun-Chuan Hsieh, Hao Ouyang, Yulin Zhang, Donyau Chiang, Fuqian Yang, Hsin-Lung Chen, Sanboh Lee

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Understanding the thermal aging kinetics of animal oils is of vital importance in the storage and applications of animal oils. In this work, we use four different techniques, including UV-Vis spectrometry, viscometry, impedance spectroscopy, and acid–base titration, to study the thermal aging kinetics of tallow, chicken oil, lard, and sheep oil in the temperature range from 120 ◦C to 180 ◦C. The evolutions of the UV-Vis absorbance, dynamic viscosity, electric impedance, and acid titration are discussed with the defect kinetics. The evolutions of the color centers, defects for dynamic viscosity, and electric dipoles follow second-order, first-order, and zero-order kinetics, respectively. …

Behind Armor Blunt Trauma: Liver Injuries Using A Live Animal Model, Narayan Yoganandan, Alok Shah, Brian D. Stemper, Lewis Somber, Valeta Carol Chancey, Joseph Mcentire

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction

While the 44-mm clay penetration criterion was developed in the 1970s for soft body armor applications, and the researchers acknowledged the need to conduct additional tests, the same behind the armor blunt trauma displacement limit is used for both soft and hard body armor evaluations and design considerations. Because the human thoraco-abdominal contents are heterogeneous, have different skeletal coverage, and have different functional requirements, the same level of penetration limit does not imply the same level of protection. It is important to determine the regional responses of different thoraco-abdominal organs to better describe human tolerance and improve the current …

Enhancing Ammonium And Bicarbonate Tolerance In Chlorella Sorokiniana Through Ems-Induced Mutagenesis, Wentao Yang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

This study explores the enhancement of ammonium and bicarbonate tolerance in Chlorella sorokiniana via EMS-induced mutagenesis, aimed at improving the microalgae's resilience and growth under high-stress conditions of elevated NH4+ and HCO3 concentrations. By mutating C. sorokiniana using EMS, we developed mutant strains capable of thriving in conditions that are inhibitory to the wild type strain. The successful adaptation of these strains demonstrates a significant increase in biomass production and tolerance to environmental stressors, highlighting the potential of EMS mutagenesis in industrial algal applications for sustainable biofuel production and environmental remediation.

A Systematic Unified Approach For Addressing Temporal Instability In Road Safety Analysis, Kazi Redwan Shabab, Tanmoy Bhowmik, Mohamed H. Zaki, Naveen Eluru

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Multivariate models are widely employed for crash frequency analysis in traffic safety literature. In the context of analyzing data for multiple instances (such as years), it becomes essential to evaluate the stability of parameters over time. The current research proposes a novel approach, labelled the mixed spline indicator pooled model, that offers significant enhancement relative to current approaches employed for capturing temporal instability. The proposed approach entails carefully creating independent variables that allow us to measure parameter slope changes over time and can be easily integrated into existing methodological frameworks. The current research effort compares four multivariate model systems: year …

Study On The Storage Stability And Rheological Property Of Bio-Oil/Lignin Composite-Modified Asphalt, Guixiu Guo, Junfeng Gao, Dongzhao Jin, Xuan Wang, Yanqiu Bi, Peng Guo

Michigan Tech Publications

The objective of this study is to investigate the storage stability and rheological property of bio-oil/lignin composite-modified asphalt. The composite-modified asphalt with different proportions of bio-oil was prepared and cured at 105 °C, 135 °C, and 165 °C for 24 h and 48 h. The storage stability of the composite-modified asphalt was evaluated based on the softening point difference, the storage stability index derived from rotational viscosity, the segregation rate based on temperature sweep, and the non-recoverable creep compliance measured through the Multiple Stress Creep Recovery test. The storage stability of bio-oil/lignin composite-modified asphalt was evaluated through testing and analysis …

Slo Children’S Museum Music Education Exhibit, Charles Coffen, Madeline Carleton-Sniff, Yael Castillo, Anthony Ramos

Mechanical Engineering

The Children’s Museum in San Luis Obispo is a non-profit facility providing education to young children through interactive exhibits. The proposed project would address a basic introduction to musical theory through mechanical engineering principles. The target audience for this musical art installation would be young children, aged 5-10, who would be regularly interacting with this exhibit, as well as their parents, and the employees of the museum. The installation will educate children in basic musical understanding through interaction while still being engaging enough to hold their attention. This document describes the final concept design and various methods of verification in …

Autonomous Experimentation For Accelerated Calibration Of Fused Deposition Modeling 3d Printers, Graig S. Ganitano

Theses and Dissertations

Additive Manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, has emerged as a key component of Industry 4.0, enabling reduced cost, quick production, greater sustainability, and increased design complexity compared to its traditional manufacturing counterpart. Currently, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology dominates the AM market with respect to the number of 3D printers in use. However, the FDM process is sensitive to changes in system configuration, especially the feedstock material. Utilizing a new feedstock requires a time-consuming trial-and-error process to identify optimal settings for a large number of process parameters, acting as a barrier to the technology.

To enable greater accessibility …

Optimal Placement Of Artificial Hair-Cell Airflow Sensors For Bioinspired Flight-By-Feel, Alex C. Hollenbeck

Theses and Dissertations

The Sparse Sensor Placement Optimization for Prediction (SSPOP) algorithm reduces highdimensional airflow data to a low-dimensional sparse approximation to identify an optimal placement for any number of sensors on airfoil or wing models of arbitrary shape and size, and outperforms conventional optimization techniques in accuracy and speed. For 2D flow this algorithm found a sensor placement solution (design point, or DP) which predicts AoA to within 0.10 degrees and ranks within the top 1 percent of the design space. On 3D wing models SSPOP found four-sensor DPs ranked well within the top 0.10 percent. Experimental validation with velocity and pressure …

Seal Counting On Our Plages (S.C.O.O.P.), Kaanan Kharwa

Master's Theses

The Vertebrate Integrative Physiology (VIP) lab monitors the population of northern elephant seals at the largest mainland breeding colony, located at Piedras Blancas (San Simeon, CA). As the population expands, more human-seal interactions and conflicts over land use occur. The VIP lab's work informs California State Parks and helps with the management of the rookery. Currently, members of the VIP lab fly a drone over the beaches, capture multiple images, and manually count the seals, which takes around 14 to 21 hours of analysis per survey. Machine learning methods such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Region-based Convolutional Neural Networks …

Development Of Tissue-Engineered Model Of Fibrotic Scarring After Spinal Cord Injury To Study Astrocyte Activation And Neurite Outgrowth In Vitro, Nikolas Ala-Kokko, Inha Baek, Younghye Song

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCI) are debilitating injuries affecting twenty-seven million people worldwide and cause functional impairments. Despite decades of research and medical advancements, current treatment options for SCI remain limited, in part due to the complex pathophysiology of spinal cord lesions including cellular transformation and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Recent studies have increased focus on fibrotic scarring after SCI, and yet much remains unclear about the impact of fibrotic scarring on SCI lesion progression. Here, using collagen and decellularized spinal cord-based composite hydrogels, a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture model mimicking the fibrous core of spinal cord lesions was implemented …

Microwave Catalysis-Enabled Membrane Processes For Microbial Inactivation, Fangzhou Liu

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for advanced technologies to combat virus transmission. Traditional membrane filtration technologies primarily serve as physical barriers, capturing pollutants but failing to inactivate microbial agents such as bacteria and viruses. These membranes typically target larger particles but are ineffective against sub-micrometer viral particles. Thus, there's a critical demand for membrane filtration processes that combine robust filtration with antifouling and reaction -enabled functions for efficient pathogen disinfection. This research explores a novel microwave-assisted membrane filtration process incorporating catalytic reactions to enhance microbial disinfection and prevent membrane fouling, offering a groundbreaking solution to global challenges …

Investigation On Production, Kinetic Modelling, Downstream Processing, And Characterization Of Microbial Dextran Using Sucrose-Rich Alternate Feedstocks, Sameeha Syed Ar

Theses and Dissertations

Microbial exopolysaccharides (EPS) synthesized by microorganisms have a wide range of applications from thickener agents in the field of food to formulations in the field of pharmaceuticals. Owing to their rheological, structural, and physicochemical characteristics in addition to its biodegradability, low antigenicity, antioxidant activities, etc., several EPS have gained research focus in recent years. Dextran is one such example of EPS, which is synthesized by lactic acid bacteria (LAB). However, its production is limited to utilization of sucrose medium with a yield of 0.3-0.4 g dextran/ g sucrose. Hence, this thesis work focuses on dextran production using sucrose-rich alternate feedstocks …

Development Of Electrochemical Sensors For The Detection Of Pesticide Residues In Water, Indhu S

Theses and Dissertations

Intentional and unintentional events of pesticide poisoning and their accidental exposure have significantly raised the concerns of global organizations to classify these chemical compounds based on their toxicity, to assign permissible limits, and to appoint task force for periodic monitoring of their presence in water bodies.

In this context, researchers are continually seeking potential alternatives to develop water quality sensors with higher selectivity to obtain the desired performance during real-time assessment. Electrochemical sensors involving interface materials of distinguishing capacity at elevated matrix complexity are desirable. However, there remains a challenge in designing suitable techniques, methodologies, and appropriate validations to support …

Investigation On Strength Durability And Crack Healing Efficiency Of Natural Fiber Reinforced Bacterial Concrete Under Various Exposures, Rajesh A

Theses and Dissertations

Concrete is the most broadly utilized construction material due to its availability and cost. It is more susceptible to cracks, allowing chemical substances and water to enter and deteriorate the materials over time, as well as affecting the durability properties of structures. In recent years, the use of bacteria and natural fibers in concrete has not only reduced cracks but also enhanced its strength and durability.

Microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is highly acceptable in concrete to improve rheological and crack repair properties. In the current research isolated five bacteria from various locations and subjected to basic tests such as urease …

Thermomechanical Analysis Of Biomass Plastic Composite (Bpc), Solomon Chijioke Madu, Victor Sunday Aigbodion, Ikechukwu Ike-Eze

Makara Journal of Technology

High-performance electrical insulation material can be manufactured using biomass plastic composite (BPC), which is a new type of composite material that is either made up of one or a combination of natural plant fibers/particulates, such as bamboo, cellulose fiber, rice husks, or hemp, and thermoplastic granules. In this study, the BPC composite material that was developed comprised polyethylene (PE), rice husk, and oyster shell. The results of the study showed a significant optimal improvement in the morphological, thermodynamic, and mechanical properties during the addition of 20% to 30% biomass particulates (i.e., rice husk and oyster shell). The thermogravimetric analysis, storage …

In Silico Modelling And Docking Simulation Of Egfr-Targeted Diphtheria Toxin Chimera With Various Targeting Moieties, Muhammad Afif Naufal Bmed, Benedictus Ansell Susanto Bmed, Talitha Dinda Gunawan Bmed, Azhar Ridha Lukman Bmed, Alifa Rahma Rizqina Bmed, Muhammad Misbahul Fuad Bmed

Indonesian Journal of Medical Chemistry and Bioinformatics

Introduction: Cancer is a major etiology of death worldwide due to high mortality and suboptimal medicine. However, an emerging field, targeted therapy enabled a more selective and effective therapeutic action. This article aims to analyze in-silico the hypothetical targeted therapy agent that is combinations of conjugate consisting of EGFR targeting moieties and diphtheria toxin (DT-390).

Method: Our novel peptide is a conjugate of a novel EGFR targeting peptide and DT-390, forming a chimera. The tertiary structure was predicted using AlphaFold 2.0. The best IDDT scoring and stereochemistry profiles were utilized. The HADDOCK2.4 webserver modelled the docking between our …

Scla 521 Ai In Society, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

Provides access to information resources on societal impacts of artificial intelligence from multiple libraries databases covering multiple disciplines including government information resources.

A Technical Review On Reservoir Sedimentation And Their Mitigation Strategies, Sadique Khan

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

Sedimentation in reservoirs is a critical concern of the 21^st century which has affected the sustainability and functionality of water retaining structures. This technical review paper on reservoir sedimentation provides a comprehensive analysis of their causes, mechanisms, and their mitigation/control techniques. The paper starts with sedimentation in the reservoir at a global scale focusing on natural (Soil Erosion) and anthropogenic (man-made) factors such as deforestation, land clearing for agricultural purposes, and urbanization contributing to sedimentation in the reservoir. The origin of sediment is heavily influenced by topographical features, with origins located far-reach, mid-reach and near the reservoir. The sedimentation …

A Novel Perfused Contusion Spinal Cord Injury Model To Assess Rapid Mechanical Properties Changes After Blood Spinal Cord Barrier Breakdown, Laura De Marchi

Theses and Dissertations

Blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) disruption exacerbates the tissue damage caused by spinal cord injury (SCI), but the mechanisms and dynamics of how the barrier breakdown affects the mechanical properties of the tissue remain unclear. The perfused bovine ex vivo indentation injury model described here represents a new platform to investigate the short-term effects of altered blood flow and vascular permeability following traumatic spinal cord injury. Our results indicate that injured cords exhibit changes to bulk perfusion, as evidenced by laser speckle contrast imaging, in addition to decreased barrier function shortly after injury. Indentation tests that simultaneously simulate a crush injury …

Phosphorene As A Chemical Nanosensor For Volatile Organic Compound Vapours - A Dft Outlook, Saravanan S

Theses and Dissertations

Based on the density functional theory framework, the structural stability of phosphorene allotropes and its various nanostructures are ensured. The various allotropes of phosphorene and its nanostructures such as nanosheets, nanoribbon and nanotubes are used as adsorbing materials for various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as alcohols, chloroform, amines and aldehydes. The results of adsorption energy are used to confirm physisorption or chemisorption of VOCs on phosphorene. In addition, the charge transfer outcome suggests whether phosphorene is acting as acceptor or donor of electrons upon interaction of target VOCs.

The electronic attributes such as band structure, projected density of states …

On The Effects Of Personalizing Vibrotactile Feedback To Facilitate User Interaction With A Robotic System, Sudip Hazra, Panos S. Shiakolas

Open Initiatives Grant Funded Publications-Archive

Distinguishable vibrotactile feedback can convey information non-verbally and complete the sensory loop when using assistive devices. Feedback can increase acceptance of assistive devices but could require personalization as these devices need to adapt to user capabilities and preferences that may affect the location for inducing feedback. Developing personalized feedback for each user may be ideal, but impractical if demand for these devices increases. In this research, we evaluate the hypothesis that the ability to define, generate, and use personalized feedback is preferred and should be provided. The hypothesis is evaluated using a system capable of capturing and recognizing non-verbal inputs, …

Integrating Authentication Schemes In Augmented And Virtual Reality Classrooms, Naheem Noah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) technologies are revolutionizing educational experiences, but their widespread adoption hinges on addressing critical security and usability challenges, particularly in the domain of user authentication. This research presents an investigation into the security landscape of AR/VR and explores a graphical authentication scheme called “Things” that enhances both security and usability in immersive learning environments. Through a systematic evaluation of popular AR/VR devices and applications, potential vulnerabilities and limitations were identified, such as high usage of pin/passwords which are susceptible to shoulder-surfing attacks, lack of multi-factor authentication, and unclear data-sharing practices. A review of existing knowledge-based …

Micropatterning Of Biologically Derived Surfaces With Functional Clay Nanotubes, Nisha Lama

Doctoral Dissertations

In this study, we have generalized an assembly of 50 nm diameter clay nanotubes on larger 20-50 μm diameter biological microfibers such as human hair (protein), cotton (cellulose) and synthetic polyethylene terephthalate- PET. We developed a common set of parameters and nanoclay coating techniques on these naturally different microfibers. We exploited and optimized the electrostatic interaction of the components through strategic adjustments in the solvent pH, employing polycation treatment, as well as selectively modifying the halloysite nanotubes with silanes. For 5 mins, a 5 wt% aqueous dispersion of halloysite nanotubes were applied to get approximately 1-2 μm thick fiber coating …

Robotic Odor Source Localization Using Vision And Olfaction Sensing, Sunzid Hassan

Master's Theses

Robotic Odor Source Localization (ROSL) technology allows autonomous agents like robots to find an odor source in unknown environments. A successful odor source location depends crucially on an effective navigation algorithm that directs the robot towards the odor source. This thesis is a combination of three projects. First, we detail development of a versatile multi-modal robotic platform for ROSL real-world ROSL experimentation and discussed real-world validation of a traditional olfactionbased ROSL algorithm. Secondly, we introduced vision in ROSL by proposing a fusion navigation algorithm that integrates deep-learning enabled vision and olfaction-based navigation. This hybrid approach tackles challenges such as turbulent …

Consistent Intraocular Pressure Reduction By Solid Drug Nanoparticles In Fixed Combinations For Glaucoma Therapy, Da Huang, Pedro Norat, Lin Qi, Anna Chernatynskaya, James D. Cole, Vimalin Jeyalatha Mani, Lei Xu, Xiaorong Liu, Hu Yang

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Efficient topical drug delivery remains a significant challenge in glaucoma management. Although nanoparticle formulations offer considerable promise, their complex preparation processes, co-delivery issues, and batch consistency have hindered their potential. A scalable fabrication strategy is developed here for preparing solid drug nanoparticles (SDNs) with enhanced drug delivery efficiency. Utilizing hydrophobic antiglaucoma drugs brimonidine (BM) and betaxolol (BX), uniform fixed combination BM/BX SDNs are fabricated through a continuous process, improving batch-to-batch consistency for combined glaucoma treatment. With trehalose being used as a lyoprotectant, BM/BX SDNs can be stored as dry powder and easily reconstituted in phosphate buffered saline. Importantly, reconstituted BM/BX …

Development And Testing Of Small-Scale Flash Dryer For Maize Bran, Eden Ngowi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Sun drying is the most common technique used to dry various food products due to its economic convenience. However, it is not effective owing to its unreliable nature leading to microbial deterioration and aflatoxin contamination of food. In Tanzania, about 1.3 million tonnes of maize bran are at risk of deterioration annually due to improper drying. The aim of this study was to design, fabricate and test an efficient small-scale flash dryer for maize bran. Using principles of material and energy balance, a small-scale flash dryer with a throughput of 500 kg of dry product per hour was designed resulting …

Assessment Of The Factors Affecting The National Ict Broadband Backbone (Nictbb) Systems Restoration Time, Victoria Mahabi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This study investigates the factors affecting the prolonged system restoration time when national ICT broadband backbone (NICTBB) services are affected by breakdown incidents. NICTBB is the government-owned backbone infrastructure constructed nationally by the Republic of Tanzania to increase the usage of ICT for equitable and sustainable socio-economic development and accelerate poverty reduction. This study utilised a mixture of exploratory and descriptive study approaches. The sample size determination was executed using purposing and simple random sampling, thus involving 289 respondents. The data reliability test was undertaken. It was followed by factor analysis, analysis of variances (ANOVA), linear regression analysis, and confirmed …

Investigation Of Heavy Metal Composition And Associated Health Risks From Selected Groundwater Wells In Temeke, Dar-Es-Salaam, Justin M. Jeremiah

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Water quality continues to be the challenge to residents in Dar es Salaam due to various anthropogenic activities in the city. This study was conducted to assess groundwater quality by determining concentrations of heavy metals. Both probability and Nonprobability sampling techniques were used to collect samples from 40 groundwater wells in 24 wards of Temeke municipal and analysed using Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer (Agilent 4210 MP-AES) at the Geochemistry Laboratory of the University of Dar es Salaam. Results indicated varying heavy metal concentrations ranging from 0.71 ± 0.08 to 6.64 ± 0.21 mg/l for As, 0.02 ± 0.01 to …

Guiding 3d Chiral Self-Assembly At Nano/Micro Length Scales Via 3d Printing, Mohsen Esmaeili

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis delves into the intricate realm of 3D printing bio-inspired materials with tailored nano/microscale architectures. The first chapter investigates the flow-induced alignment of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) during 3D printing, employing a microfluidic strategy integrated with polarized optical microscopy (POM). Birefringence measurements under varying conditions reveal the influence of initial CNC suspension structures on flow-induced patterns, particularly in the chiral nematic phase. Hydrodynamic simulations complement experimental findings, elucidating the impact on CNC particle alignment, providing insights for designing 3D printed architectures with internal chirality for advanced applications.

The second chapter explores the 3D printing of complex geometries inspired by Bouligand …

In-House Polydimethylsiloxane Microfluidic Device On Single Cell Trapping And Culturing Of Leukemia Cell Line: Comparison Between Conventional And Conventional With Centrifugal Methods, Alongkorn Pimpin, Sudchaya Bhanpattanakul, Tepparit Wongpakham, Chomkwan Tawatcharaporn, Thanawit Siha-Umphai, Mookdapa Sinsiriphan, Atikan Chalermchuang, Tewan Tongmanee, Attawut Thanomsridetchai, Thammawit Suwannaphan, Witsaroot Sripumkhaie, Pattaraluck Pattamang, Mayuree Chanasakulniyom, Praprudee Piyaviriyakul, Wutthinun Jeamsaksiri, Achariya Sailasuta, Theerawat Tharasanit, Theerayuth Kaewamatawong

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

To develop a suitable model to study biological and characterization of Cancer stem cells (CSCs), single cell trapping and culturing using microfluidic techniques have become a high-through put system that can manage and control microenvironment and practical intracellular analysis. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a microfluidic device for single cell trapping and culturing using the leukemia cell line as a cell model. Comparison between conventional and conventional with centrifugal methods was also analyzed. To compare trapping efficacy between these 2 methods, leukemia cell concentration of 1.5×106 cells/ml was loaded with a flow rate of 0.25 …