Digital Commons Network^™

Actuation And Stabilization Of Volume-Efficient Origami-Inspired Mechanisms, Hunter T. Pruett

Theses and Dissertations

Trends in the aerospace industry are driving payloads to be smaller and less expensive while yet delivering comparatively large antennas. Deployable reflectarray antennas (RA) are the object of much research to meet these demands because they operate in a flat plane and are easier to stow than parabolic reflector antennas. Because they operate in flat plane, deployable RAs are well-suited to thickness-accommodated origami-inspired mechanisms. This work addresses pattern selection and modification, thickness accommodation, actuation, and stabilization of origami-inspired mechanisms intended to be used as RAs. First, a modified Miura-ori pattern termed volume-efficient Miura-ori (VEMO) is introduced, selected for its ability …

Synthesis Of Neuronal Network Dynamics For Optimal Stimulus Encoding And Retention, Bethanna Thompson

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

A central goal in neuroscience is to understand the relationship between the structure and activity of the brain and the resulting experience of thought and behavior that the brain underpins. Within this goal is the specific study of working memory: the process of storing, managing, and integrating incoming sensory information in the context of ongoing tasks. The process of working memory is foundational to higher cognition and reasoning, determining how we comprehend and interact with the world around us. The neural circuits responsible for working memory are seemingly able to store and process afferent stimuli with other recent or relevant …

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Of Ultrasound Fields For Visualization And Measurement Of Pressure Amplitudes, Paul-Emile Victor Passe-Carlus

Theses and Dissertations

In vivo pressure estimations for therapeutic ultrasound has the potential of rendering treatments using non-invasive ultrasound targeting safer and more reliable. By quantifying pressures and their respective spatial locations, better acoustic predictions and models can be made. In this thesis, we aim to measure a pressure field from a piezo-electric transducer through a ballistic gel medium by using an external gradient coil to encode the pressure field in a way that can be read and quantified using an MRI scanner. We describe the methods and the results pertaining to visualizing a pressure field. The setup was able to capture pressure …

Development Of Temperature Measurement And Control Of 3d Printed Microfluidic Devices Towards Biomolecular Analysis, Derek A. Sanchez

Theses and Dissertations

Microfluidics are devices with channels or reservoirs that have dimensions in the range of micrometers. They have an increasing role in biological analysis processes due to their ability to use very small sample volumes. Many microfluidic processes rely heavily on precise temperature measurement and control. Advances in 3D printing have led to high resolution digital light processing stereolithography (DLP-SLA) printers capable of using bio-compatible materials, available at BYU. This custom 3D printer has a resolution of 7.6 µm in the XY plane and 10 µm in the Z axis. Combined with a custom-made resin, we can produce microfluidic features as …

Improving Ground-Based Measurements And Understanding Of Mineral Dust And Trace Elements In Ambient Particulate Matter On A Global Scale, Xuan Liu

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Mineral dust is a major component of ambient particulate matter (PM) globally, affecting visibility, air quality, human health, climate, and biogeochemistry. Dust mass cannot be directly measured and therefore is typically estimated using a dust equation to sum common oxides of major crustal elements based on measured elemental composition data. Both an accurate dust equation and reliable elemental data are essential to accurately estimate dust mass. However, most dust equations fail to account for all major dust compounds, exclude non-dust components of some elements, or account for regional variations in dust composition. Attenuation effects for light elements measured by the …

Joint Subarray Acoustic Tweezers Enable Controllable Cell Translation, Rotation, And Deformation, Liang Shen, Zhenhua Tian, Kaichun Yang, Joseph Rich, Jianping Xia, Neil Upreti, Jinxin Zhang, Chuyi Chen, Nanjing Hao, Zhichao Pei, Tony Jun Huang

Faculty Publications

Contactless microscale tweezers are highly effective tools for manipulating, patterning, and assembling bioparticles. However, current tweezers are limited in their ability to comprehensively manipulate bioparticles, providing only partial control over the six fundamental motions (three translational and three rotational motions). This study presents a joint subarray acoustic tweezers platform that leverages acoustic radiation force and viscous torque to control the six fundamental motions of single bioparticles. This breakthrough is significant as our manipulation mechanism allows for controlling the three translational and three rotational motions of single cells, as well as enabling complex manipulation that combines controlled translational and rotational motions. …

Innovative Integration Of Modern Facade Design With Traditional Bubungan Tinggi Facade: Towards A Sustainable Home, Nursyarif Agusniansyah, Gusti Novi Sarbini

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

This study investigates the transformation of Bubungan Tinggi, a traditional Banjar house with a high roof, into a modern home through the integration of modern facade design with traditional Bubungan Tinggi facade elements. Bubungan Tinggi is a monumental artifact in South Kalimantan representing the collective memory of the Banjar community with its distinctive typology and anatomy. With its unique typology and anatomy, this particular building has evolved into an iconic structure that symbolizes the collective memory of the Banjarese people.

This study uses a qualitative approach with design experiments to explore the integration of facade design, new form, and contemporary …

Influence Of Redox Engineering On The Trade-Off Relationship Between Thermopower And Electrical Conductivity In Lanthanum Titanium Based Transition Metal Oxides, Mohammad El Loubani, Gene Yang, Seyed Morteza Taghavi Kouzehkanan, Tae-Sik Oh, Santosh Kiran Balijepalli, Dongkyu Lee

Faculty Publications

Discovery of new materials plays a critical role in developing advanced high-temperature thermoelectric (TE) applications. Transition metal oxides (TMOs) are one of the attractive candidates for high-temperature TE applications due to their thermal and chemical stability. However, the trade-off relationship between thermopower (S) and electrical conductivity (σ) limits the maximum attainable power factor (PF), thereby hindering improvements in TE conversion efficiency. To overcome this trade-off relationship, the emerging approach of the redox-driven metal exsolution in TMOs shows promise in improving both S and σ. However, the effect of metal exsolution with different particle sizes and …

Improving Mechanical Properties Of Magnesium Phosphate Cement-Based Ultra-High Performance Concrete By Ultrafine Fly Ash Incorporation, Jihui Qin, Zhichao Zhang, Hongyan Ma, Xiaobing Dai, Xing Cheng, Xingwen Jia, Jueshi Qian

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Magnesium phosphate cement-based ultra-high-performance concrete (MPC-UHPC) develops strength rapidly but shows unsatisfactory ultimate strength (<150 >MPa). In this study, ultrafine fly ash (UFA) was incorporated in MPC-UHPC to improve mechanical properties. The effect of UFA content, varying from 0 % to 15 %, by weight of binder, on microstructure, fiber pullout behavior, mechanical strengths, flexural and tensile properties of MPC-UHPC reinforced with 2 vol% steel fibers was investigated. Experimental results indicate that the incorporation of 10 %–15 % UFA with mean particle size of 1.4 µm was effective in reducing porosity and microcracks of binder matrix and fiber–matrix interface, thereby …

Learning Outcomes, Benefits, And Challenges Of International Research Experiences For Students (Ires): An Exploratory Study Of An Ires Program In China, Yousef Jalali, James Barilla, Kirsten Davis, Vinod Lohani, Rolf Müller

Journal of International Engineering Education

Despite the increasing number of international programs targeting students’ learning of research and intercultural skills, there has been limited holistic investigation of students’ experiences employing both qualitative and quantitative methods. In this study, we incorporated several measures to explore students’ experiences in an International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program, which benefited from the existing partnership between Virginia Tech in the U.S. and Shandong University in China. We examined students’ intercultural competence and interdisciplinary research skills and explored students’ stories of their lived experiences across three cohorts, each with five students, who completed the IRES program. Both open-ended survey responses …

Spatial And Temporal Variations Of Seismic Azimuthal Anisotropy Following The 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence In Southern California, Yan Jia, Stephen S. Gao, Kelly H. Liu

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

To investigate the spatial and temporal variations of seismic azimuthal anisotropy in the vicinity of the conjugate fault network activated by the 4 July 2019 (UTC) M6.4 foreshock and the 6 July 2019 M7.1 mainshock in Ridgecrest, California, a total of 1,470 shear wave splitting measurements were obtained from local events recorded by five seismic stations over the period of July 2019 to January 2020. The results suggest a strong asymmetry in anisotropy forming mechanisms across the NW-SE striking Eastern Little Lake Fault, which is the main fault of the area. In the area located to the northeast of the …

Topography Of The 410 And 660 Km Discontinuities Beneath The Tibetan Plateau And Adjacent Areas, Zexin Miao, Stephen S. Gao, Muchen Sun, Kelly H. Liu

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

To investigate the three-dimensional spatial distribution of subducted oceanic slab segments and their consequential effect on the thermal and hydrous composition of the mantle transition zone (MTZ) beneath the entire Tibetan Plateau, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of approximately 655,000 P-to-s receiver functions (RFs), obtained from 735 broadband seismic stations. These RFs were utilized to delineate the 410 km (d410) and 660 km (d660) seismic discontinuities, which represent the upper and lower boundaries of the MTZ, respectively. The RFs were grouped within circular bins with a radius of 1 degree and stacked to image the discontinuities. The mean apparent depths …

A Deep Autoencoder For Electric Double Layer Capacitance Prediction In Electrochemical Sensors, Mason Mcgarrity, Feng Zhao

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study explores the application of a deep autoencoder neural network to accurately predict the electric double layer capacitance from real-world parameters in binary, asymmetric electrolytes under low concentration conditions. By utilizing a modest simulation-based dataset of just 250 samples, the deep autoencoder neural network model developed in this study effectively predicted the capacitance by learning the critical features and relationships of the electric double layer model and encoding this learned representation into a low-dimensional latent space. From the latent variables, the decoder block of the neural network learned to effectively recreate the high-dimensional input. To enhance the model's robustness, …

Novel Insights On The Setting Process, Hardened Properties, And Durability Of Sustainable Ultra-High-Performance Seawater Sea Sand Concrete, Wei Zhang, Dawei Ding, Jianxing Sun, Feng Guo, Haibao Feng, Hongyan Ma, Shuxian Hong, Biqin Dong, Dongshuai Hou

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Using seawater and sea sand to prepare concrete could effectively alleviate the shortage of freshwater and river sand resources and promote the sustainable development of concrete. However, the current research on the setting process, hardened properties, and sustainability of ultra-high-performance seawater sea sand concrete (UHPSSC) remain considerably limited. In this paper, the UHPSSC was designed to mitigate the autogenous shrinkage and enhance the sustainability, and the effect of seawater, untreated and desalinated sea sand on the setting process, mechanical properties, durability, and sustainability was explored by various tests. Results show that the abundant ions (e.g., Cl- and SO42-) in seawater …

Enhancing Human Aging Proteins Detection Based On Bio-Structural Deep Clustering Network, Sondos M. Hammad, Mohamed Talaat Saidahmed, Elsayed A. Sallam, Reda Elbasiony

Journal of Engineering Research

Aging is a major risk factor for numerous chronic diseases and declines in physical and cognitive functions, making it a critical focus of research. Identifying biomarkers that signify biological aging is crucial for developing interventions that can potentially delay age-related diseases. Among these biomarkers, human aging proteins are of significant interest. However, laboratory experiments to discover aging proteins are complex, costly, and time-consuming. Often focusing on single proteins at a time. To address this challenge, we used a clustering algorithm to detect potential human aging proteins. This approach aims to aid biologists in their experimental efforts. Deep clustering, particularly simultaneous …

A Review Of Effective Urban Strategies For Enhancing Pedestrian Thermal Comfort In High-Temperature Urban Environments, Norhan Mahmoud Mohamed Ibrahim Ali, Ahmed H. Aboulsaadat, Ingy I. El-Darwish, Ayman Gamal Eldin Ahmed Abdel Tawab

Journal of Engineering Research

Abstract- Pedestrian well-being is significantly influenced by the feeling of being thermally comfortable, and enhancing this comfort level contributes to the overall walkability. This study extensively compares the impact of different approaches in enhancing thermal comfort for pedestrians. The evaluation encompasses both fieldwork observations and computer simulations results. The investigated strategies include the urban geometry (arrangement, orientation and shape of urban structures), vegetation, solar-reflective materials, and water features. These strategies are considered the most effective means for improving outdoor thermal comfort. The findings reveal that the key climatic factors influencing outdoor thermal comfort in a microclimate are mean radiant temperature, …

A Parallel Methodology For Early Fake News Detection Based On Hybrid Features On Social Media, Asmaa Mohemed Elsaieed Dr

Journal of Engineering Research

The increased use of social media platforms has made it easier to publish and distribute news items, but it has also opened up new opportunities for distributing fake news. Fake news is information that has been written with the goal of misleading or deceiving readers. As a result, there is a need for efficient false news identification tools where the information can be gathered from the text of posts or from publicly available social data (such as user information or feedback on articles or the social network). The detection of fake news in its early stages is a major challenge. …

A Simple And Fast Optical Clearing Method For Whole-Mount Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (Fish) Imaging, Junwoo Suh, Yehe Liu, Jordan Smith, Michiko Watanabe, Andrew M. Rollins, Michael W. Jenkins

Faculty Scholarship

We report a single-step optical clearing method that is compatible with RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) imaging. We previously demonstrated microscopy imaging with immunohistochemistry and genetic reporters using a technique called lipid-preserving refractive index matching for prolonged imaging depth (LIMPID). Our protocol reliably produces high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) images with minimal aberrations using high magnification objectives, captures large field-of-view images of whole-mount tissues, and supports co-labeling with antibody and FISH probes. We also custom-designed FISH probes for quail embryos, demonstrating the ease of fabricating probes for use with less common animal models. Furthermore, we show high-quality 3D images using a …

On The Turbulent Viscosity Parameter Cμ In The K–Ε Model, Harshit Mishra, Subhas Karan Venayagamoorthy

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) models depend on empirical constants to close the Reynolds stress terms. The empirical constants were obtained using experiments conducted at low Reynolds numbers several decades ago. In this paper, we revisit the turbulent viscosity parameter Cμ, based on the stress–intensity ratio c² = |uw|/k. Here, |uw| and k are the absolute values of the Reynolds stress and turbulent kinetic energy, respectively. Through a priori comparisons, we find that the currently accepted value of Cμ = 0.09 does not agree with the latest direct numerical simulation (DNS) and experimental datasets of wall-bounded turbulent planar flows. Therefore, …

Study Of Am Electrodeposition From Amcl₃-Licl-Kci Molten Salt, Rohan Akolkar, Christine E. Duval

Faculty Scholarship

In this work, the electrodeposition reaction of Am in AmCl₃LiCl-KCl molten salt was studied using voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Electrodeposition of Am was shown to proceed via a two − step reaction scheme, involving the one-electron transfer reduction of Am³⁺ to Am²⁺, followed by the two-electron transfer reduction of intermediate Am²⁺ to Am⁰. A low Coulombic efficiency of Am deposition was measured despite the Am deposition occurring within the thermodynamic stability window of the supporting LiCl-KCl electrolyte. We hypothesize that the low efficiency is due to out-diffusion of the intermediate Am²⁺ species away from the electrode surface. Experimental observations provide evidence …

Atomic Layer Deposition Of Ru Nanoclusters On Ba-Laceox: A Highly Efficient Catalyst For Ammonia Synthesis Under Mild Conditions, Kaiying Wang, Baitang Jin, Xiaoqing He, Xinhua Liang

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Ammonia synthesis has significant implications for global energy and environmental issues, driving the need for highly active catalysts that operate under mild conditions. This study reports the successful deposition of uniform ∼1.0 nm metallic ruthenium (Ru) nanoclusters onto Ba-LaCeO_x particles via atomic layer deposition (ALD). The catalytic performance of the ALD-prepared Ru nanoclusters was assessed for ammonia synthesis and compared with two catalysts produced by conventional incipient wetness impregnation. For the ALD-prepared Ru nanoclusters, a pre-reaction H_2-reduction step induced partial encapsulation of suboxide species on Ru sites due to strong metal-support interactions, limiting Ru nanocluster sintering and …

Digital Assessments For Children And Adolescents With Adhd: A Scoping Review, Franceli L. Cibrian, Elissa M. Monteiro, Kimberley D. Lakes

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: In spite of rapid advances in evidence-based treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), community access to rigorous gold-standard diagnostic assessments has lagged far behind due to barriers such as the costs and limited availability of comprehensive diagnostic evaluations. Digital assessment of attention and behavior has the potential to lead to scalable approaches that could be used to screen large numbers of children and/or increase access to high-quality, scalable diagnostic evaluations, especially if designed using user-centered participatory and ability-based frameworks. Current research on assessment has begun to take a user-centered approach by actively involving participants to ensure the development …

Study Of The Synthesis Mechanism And Some Properties Of Oligomers Based On Epichlorohydrin And Diphenylguanidine, Rovshan Israilovich Ismailov, Normuhamad Edgarov, Alisher Israilovich Ismailov

Technical science and innovation

In this work, the synthesis and the scheme for obtaining an oligomer based on epiiodhydrin with diphenylguanidine were studied, the proportions of epiiodhydrin in the initial mixture, the yield of oligomers, and the reduced viscosity were studied. The results of spectroscopic and elemental analyzes are obtained, which show that changes in the ratio of monomers have almost no effect on the iodine content in the oligomer. This is apparently due to the fact that epiiodhydrin is much more active in reactions than amino compounds. By studying the degree of conversion on the viscosity of the oligomerization products, the effects on …

Study Of The Physical-Chemical Properties Of Chitosan Synthesized By The Cryogenic Method From Apis Mellifera Bees, Dilnoza Sohibovna Isomitdinova, Gulnora Akmalovna Ikhtiyarova, Jahongir Mustaqim O’G’Li Sharopov

Technical science and innovation

Chitosan was synthesized from Apis Mellifera dead bees by traditional and cryogenic methods, and the degree of deacetylation, viscosity, and molecular mass of the synthesized sample was studied. Chitosan was synthesized by deacetylation of chitin under cryogenic conditions. NaOH concentration 40%, temperature 90 ± 3 °C, time 120 min. The degree of deacetylation, and molecular mass was determined using an Ubbelode viscometer. DDA was determined by conductometric titration under standard conditions. The degree of deacetylation of Apis Mellifera chitosan was 87%. synthesized by cryogenic method DDA of chitosan was 83% synthesized by traditional method. Conducting the synthesis in liquid nitrogen …

Possibility Of Applying Methods Of Analysis And Synthesis Of Linear Electrical Circuits To Some Nonlinear Circuits, Qudrat Gayratovich Abidov, Anvar Ismatullaevich Rahmatullaev, Mexrnoz Odiljonovna Gafurova

Technical science and innovation

This article discusses the possibility of applying the analysis and calculation methods used in linear electric circuits to certain nonlinear circuits. It is shown that if we abandon the quantitative criteria for the analysis and synthesis of nonlinear circuits using linear principles, some problems in nonlinear electrical engineering can be correctly solved based on linear theory. As an example, the simplest ferroresonant voltage stabilizer is considered, using the method of superposition and the equivalence of ferroresonant circuits in series and parallel connections. The electrical diagram is shown, and a formula for the stabilization coefficient is derived, representing a complex nonlinear …

Algorithms And Solution To The Problem Of Parametric Identification Of The Gas Composition Of The Atmosphere, Baxodir Asatullayevich Xolxodjayev, Erkin Abduraxmanovich Esanov, Bekjon Abdullayevich Kuralov

Technical science and innovation

This article discusses the problem of identifying the gas composition of the atmosphere, which has important practical significance and allows us to illustrate the advantages of the proposed regularizing solution algorithms. Every еar, human industrial activity increasingly aggravates the problem of environmental protection. Among the diverse human impacts on nature, air pollution occupies a special place. Every еar, up to 500 thousand various pollutants are emitted into the atmosphere. In this regard, the task of monitoring the composition of the atmosphere is very relevant. Numerical studies of the problem of identifying the gas composition of the atmosphere have shown higher …

Pozzolanic Reactivity Of Carbonated High-Calcium Fly Ash: A Mechanism Study, Gao Deng, Nannan Zhang, Wenyu Liao, Hongyan Ma, Yongjia He, Linnu Lu, Lingyu Chi

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This research investigates the impact of accelerated carbonation treatment on the pozzolanic reactivity of high-calcium fly ash (HFA) by monitoring the reaction heat of HFA/carbonated HFA (CFA)-calcium hydroxide (CH) blends and elucidates the underlying factors influencing the pozzolanic reactivity. The results indicate that in HFA/CFA-CH blends, CFA exhibits a comparable pozzolanic reactivity to that of HFA. This is attributed to the carbonation products accelerating the formation of MonoCarb aluminate (main) and C-S-H, compensating for the reduced heat resulting from the diminished highly reactive components after the carbonation treatment. Additionally, the increased surface area due to carbonation treatment is favorable for …

Hydrogen Underground Storage For Grid Electricity Storage: An Optimization Study On Techno-Economic Analysis, Yunzhi Chen, Daniel Hill, Blake Billings, John Hedengren, Kody Powell

Faculty Publications

This study performs a techno-economic analysis of hydrogen underground storage systems for grid electricity storage, evaluating their economic viability at the plant scale using dynamic optimization. It explores the feasibility of various system configurations and revenue models in the context of volatile electricity prices and the necessity for multiple revenue streams. The hypothesis tested is that large-scale hydrogen storage, despite its low round-trip efficiency, can be economically viable with the right mix of revenue streams. This study uses scenario-based analysis to assess the impacts of different system configurations, including engaging in time-shifting arbitrage, ancillary service markets and blending hydrogen with …

The Chatgpt Dilemma: Opportunities Vs. Risks In Engineering Education, Ramiz Assaf, Amjad El-Qanni, Ihab H. Alsurakji, Mahmoud Assad

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

Objective: This research aims at exploring ChatGPT's features and benefits in engineering education, while presenting suggested best practices, potential challenges, and ethical considerations for its use in this field. Methodology: Descriptive analysis of ChatGPT applications in engineering education, focusing on benefits, challenges, and limitations. Key Findings: ChatGPT has diverse applications across various domains, with unprecedented attention in media, industry, and academia. ChatGPT can help enhance students' problem-solving and soft skills (21st century skills). There is a need to change the teaching and assignment approach in engineering to better harness ChatGPT's capabilities. Conclusions: Educators in the engineering field should emphasize the …

Pig Butchering In Cybersecurity: A Modern Social Engineering Threat, Sharon L. Burton, Pamela D. Moore

Publications

Pig butchering is an escalating cybersecurity threat that exploits social engineering to build trust and execute financial fraud. The relevance of this research problem lies in the growing incidence and sophistication of these scams, which have severe financial and psychological impacts on victims. The main purpose of this research is to uncover the methods used in pig butchering scams and their impact on individuals and businesses. The research focuses on digital platforms such as social media, dating apps, and professional networking sites, chosen for their wide user bases and the ease of establishing personal connections. The study period encompasses recent …