Digital Commons Network^™

Annealing Of Encapsulated Heavy Metals From Brine Water Utilizing Microwave Enabled Sol-Gel Process, Adam Michael Flynn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Various waste encapsulation strategies have been investigated to solidify and stabilize heavy metal wastewater for proper long-term storage. This work aims to enhance a method of novel sol-gel encapsulation of heavy metals from mock brine waters using tetramethyl orthosilicate with the addition of an annealing step at various temperatures in order to reduce leaching of metals from the silica monoliths when exposed to water. The metals tested for encapsulation and leaching were mercury (II) chloride, potassium dichromate, sodium selenite, boric acid, cadmium chloride, and copper (II) acetate. The annealing of the silica monoliths led to an increased degree of for …

Healthy Aging In Place: An Integrated Smart Home Using Alexa-Compatible Technology, Tyler Kryst

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this research was to address current healthcare concerns among the aging population. Around the globe, the average life expectancy is projected to continue increasing resulting in a higher prevalence of age-related disease. With the ever-increasing capabilities of modern technology, it is necessary to apply this technology to increase the health and safety of older adults. This work had three objectives. The first objective was the establishment of an integrated smart home aimed at creating a healthy aging-in-place environment through the use of Alexa. The second objective was the development and integration of a completely custom health device …

Aloe Vera Extract-Based Composite Nanofibers For Wound Dressing Applications, Raul Barbosa, Alexa Villarreal, Cristobal Rodriguez, Heriberto De Leon, Robert Gilkerson, Karen Lozano

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Natural, biocompatible, and biodegradable composite nanofibers made of Aloe vera extract, pullulan, chitosan, and citric acid were successfully produced via Forcespinning® technology. The addition of Aloe vera extract at different weight percent loadings was investigated. The morphology, thermal properties, physical properties, and water absorption of the nanofibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The developed nanofiber membranes exhibited good water absorption capabilities, synergistic antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, and promoted cell attachment and growth. Its porous and high surface area structure make it a potential candidate for wound dressing …

Exploration Of Antimicrobial And Cell Proliferation Properties Of Nanofibers Incorporating Nopal (O. Cochenillifera) Extract, Cristobal Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on the fabrication of Forcespinning® nanofibers composed of Opuntia cochenillifera, ‘nopal’, mucilage (N) extract, chitosan (CH), and pullulan (PL) (N/CH/PL) were developed with an optimum fiber average diameter of 406±127 nm, and studied for their ability to sustain adhesion and proliferation of mouse embryonic fibroblast (NIH 3T3) cells. After a 6-day incubation period, N/CH/PL nanofibers displayed robust cell proliferation, while also exhibiting inhibitory properties through an N extract dip-coating process against gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli in a 24 h bacterial growth study. A demonstration of integrated natural bioactive compounds with combined biodegradable polymers, provide an enhanced …

Neural Network For Monitoring Infant Feeding Process In The Smartbottle Device, Jiajun Guan

Master's Theses

To research the relationship between Childhood obesity and infant feeding patterns, the Electrical Engineering Department at California Polytechnic State University has designed a SmartBottle device attaching to the bottom of a baby bottle to monitor the infant feeding process. This project mainly focuses on the software and firmware design, as well as the neural network design of the SmartBottle device. The SmartBottle device is designed to identify infant feeding activities and to record related data for overweight and obesity research on children. This device includes a 6-dimensional inertial sensor that contains a 3-axis digital accelerometer and a 3-axis digital gyroscope. …

A Review Of Harmful Algal Bloom Prediction Models For Lakes And Reservoirs, Jade Snyder Echard

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Anthropogenic activity has led to eutrophication in water bodies across the world. This eutrophication promotes blooms, cyanobacteria being among the most notorious bloom organisms. Cyanobacterial blooms (more commonly referred to as harmful algal blooms (HABs)) can devastate an ecosystem. Cyanobacteria are resilient microorganisms that have adapted to survive under a variety of conditions, often outcompeting other phytoplankton. Some species of cyanobacteria produce toxins that ward off predators. These toxins can negatively affect the health of the aquatic life, but also can impact animals and humans that drink or come in contact with these noxious waters. Although cyanotoxin’s effects on humans …

U.S. Potential Of Sustainable Backyard Distributed Animal And Plant Protein Production During And After Pandemics, Theresa K. Meyer, Alexis Pascaris, David Denkenberger, Joshua M. Pearce

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

To safeguard against meat supply shortages during pandemics or other catastrophes, this study analyzed the potential to provide the average household’s entire protein consumption using either soybean production or distributed meat production at the household level in the U.S. with: (1) pasture-fed rabbits, (2) pellet and hay-fed rabbits, or (3) pellet-fed chickens. Only using the average backyard resources, soybean cultivation can provide 80-160% of household protein and 0- 50% of a household’s protein needs can be provided by pasture-fed rabbits using only the yard grass as feed. If external supplementation of feed is available, raising 52 chickens while also harvesting …

Co2-Wettability Reversal Of Cap-Rock By Alumina Nanofluid: Implications For Co2 Geo-Storage, Muhammad Ali, Adnan Aftab, Faisal Ur Rahman Awan, Hamed Akhondzadeh, Alireza Keshavarz, Ali Saeedi, Stefan Iglauer, Mohammad Sarmadivaleh

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The usage of nanofluids is vast in different applications of nano-energy. These minute nanoparticles can be used to alter the hydrophobicity into hydrophilicity for CO2-brine-mineral systems in the presence of organic acids. Nonetheless, the literature lacks the information for the behavior of nanoparticles and its associated concentrations in the presence of organic acids at the reservoir (high temperature and high pressure) conditions. In this study, we have investigated that how different alkyl chain organic acids impact the wettability of mica muscovite for different ageing times (7 days and one year) and how this impact can be reversed by nanofluid priming …

2021- The Twenty-Fifth Annual Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the Twenty-fifth Annual Symposium of Student Scholars, held on April 29, 2021. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.

Effect Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi And Hippophae Rhamnoides On The Improvement Of The Dump Of Open-Pit Coal Mine In The Eastern Grassland, Miao Chunguang, Yang Huihui, Bi Yinli, Song Ziheng, Guo Nan

Coal Geology & Exploration

The land barren, grassland degradation and difficult ecological restoration are serious in the open-pit mining area of eastern China. The symbiosis between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF) and Hippophae rhamnoides and the effect of mycorrhiza on the development of Hippophae rhamnoides root system and the improvement of soil in the dumping site were analyzed. It was found that the plant height and crown width of inoculated AMF(+M) were increased by 20% and 21%, respectively. The root length and root volume of +M were 1.46 and 1.97 times of CK, respectively. The content of Glomalin in the rhizosphere soil of Hippophae rhamnoides in …

Effect Of Humic Acid On Co2-Wettability In Sandstone Formation, Mujahid Ali, Faisal Ur Rahman Awan, Muhammad Ali, Ahmed Al-Yaseri, Muhammad Arif, Mónica Sánchez-Román, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Hypothesis: Millions of tons of CO2 are stored in CO2 geological storage (CGS) formations (depleted oil reservoirs and deep saline aquifers) every year. These CGS formations naturally contain small concentrations of water-soluble organic components in particular humic acid (HA), which may drastically affect the rock wettability - a significant factor determining storage capacities and containment security. Hence, it is essential to characterise the effect of humic acid concentration on CO2-wettability and its associated impact on storage capacity.

Experimental: To achieve this, we measured advancing and receding contact angles at reservoir conditions using the pendant drop tilted plate method for various …

The Green Synthesis Of 2d Copper Nanosheets And Their Light Absorption, Suhyun Lee, Suming Wang, Chien Wern, Sung Yi

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this study, a new green synthesis method for two-dimensional (2D) copper nanosheets is developed using methylsulfonylmethane (DMSO₂). The chemical composition and light absorption of 2D copper nanosheets are also studied. A new green method is mainly to utilize DMSO₂, which is environmentally friendly enough to be considered a food-grade chemical, unlike the conventional method using toxic chemicals, such as ammonia and hydrazine (N₂H₄). With a reducing agent, the aggregation of uncertain copper products was produced in the absence of DMSO₂, while 2D copper nanosheets were formed in the presence …

"Inclusive Inquiry." 14th Annual Research Week: Event Proceedings, University Of The Incarnate Word

Excellence Summit (Research Week) Archived Proceedings

Presentations of completed and ongoing research activity conducted by graduate and undergraduate students and faculty at University of the Incarnate Word. Coordinated and presented by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies.

Preliminary Study On Beetle Biodiversity And Its Role As A Metric For Ecosystem Heterogeneity In The Rowan County Area, Belinda Candra, Sara Monfalcone, Charles Lydeard, Sean O'Keefe

2021 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Biodiversity is important for maintaining ecosystem function, including the adaptation of the organisms to reflect the change in the ecological community. Many ecological roles are performed by insects, including keystone organisms, ecosystem engineers and soil modifiers, part of the food chain, general symbionts, and pollinators, and creating a cumulative database of the variety of insect types allows for an effective overview of the different aspects of the environment from which samples are collected. With approximately 400,000 described species, beetles are immensely diverse in their lifestyles and ecological roles, thus making them valuable tools in environmental assessments of terrestrial and freshwater …

The Effects Of Nurse's Mental Health On Quality Patient Outcomes: A Quality Improvement Study, Alexandria Kincaid, Mara Walker, Mila Osborne, Tiyanna Jones, Victoria Clevenger, Suzi White

2021 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Morale among nurses is declining rapidly, this could be due to the rising mental illnesses like anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, stress, worry and post-traumatic stress disorder. Not to mention the rate of suicide in female nurses is 11.97/ 100,000 compared to non-nurse females having a rate of 7.58/ 100,000. Also, male nurses have an incidence of suicide at a rate of 39.8/ 100,000 compared to non-nurse males at 28.2/ 100,000. A thorough literature review was conducted and a total of 40 studies were reviewed. Common themes that emerged were "A decrease in nursing staff retention related to low satisfaction, lack …

Coding Club, Nicole Livingston, Madalyn Meyer

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

Lesson plans for an about 12-week club designed to introduce middle schoolers to coding using Scratch. By the end of the club, every student will have made a game they can share with the class and have learned basic coding and game creation tools. Students can also miss classes or join late and still be able to join and enjoy the club with a different focus lesson every week.

Anisotropic Scaffolds For Peripheral Nerve And Spinal Cord Regeneration, Wen Xue, Wen Shi, Yunfan Kong, Mitchell Kuss, Bin Duan

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The treatment of long-gap (>10 mm) peripheral nerve injury (PNI) and spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a continuous challenge due to limited native tissue regeneration capabilities. The current clinical strategy of using autografts for PNI suffers from a source shortage, while the pharmacological treatment for SCI presents dissatisfactory results. Tissue engineering, as an alternative, is a promising approach for regenerating peripheral nerves and spinal cords. Through providing a beneficial environment, a scaffold is the primary element in tissue engineering. In particular, scaffolds with anisotropic structures resembling the native extracellular matrix (ECM) can effectively guide neural outgrowth and reconnection. In …

Development And Mechanical Characterization Of A Composite Biomaterial Made From Agricultural Waste Reinforcement In A Fungal Mycelium Matrix., John Adam Howe

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Consequence Of Seawater Intrusion On Soil Properties In Agricultural Areas Of Nonthaburi Province, Thailand, Napaporn Phankamolsil, Kiattisak Sonsri, Yutthana Phankamolsil

Applied Environmental Research

Seawater intrusion associated with climate change and sea level rise (SLR) has been postulated for the last decade that causes negative impact on worldwide environmental resources. In Thailand, however; the information pertaining to its effect on soil properties in agricultural areas has not been clearly reported yet. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the seawater intrusion effect on soil properties in agricultural areas of Nonthaburi Province, Thailand. Five study locations, which anticipated to be affected by seawater intrusion, were selected based on the different distances from the Chao Phraya River. Soil morphological properties were recorded, besides undisturbed soil samples at …

Current Trends In Steroidal 17Α-Ethynylestradiol (Ee2) Removal From The Environment: A Review, Wasiu A. Abibu, Gafar Bamigbade, Amos O. Kolawole, Taiwo Ajayi, Abdul W. Sakariyau

Applied Environmental Research

Emerging contaminants have posed major environmental and health challenges to human and aquatic lives. They include pharmaceuticals, endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), persistent environmental pollutants and many more. EE2 is an example of an endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) increasingly gaining acceptance and used to augment the deficiencies of other reproductive hormones. EE2 constitutes environmental nuisance via discharge into aquatic bodies, thus, threatening aquatic lives and resulting in health defects in human. It is worthy of note that previous researchers have channeled their studies to identifying ways of expelling EE2 from the environment. However, they remain persistent in the environment. The current …

Moderate Heat-Assisted Gene Electrotransfer For Intradermal Dna Vaccination And Protein Replacement Therapy In The Skin, Chelsea Marie Edelblute

Biomedical Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Gene electrotransfer (GET) holds great promise for the delivery of therapeutic agents. The skin serves as an attractive target for GET due to its availability and unique cellular composition. Protein replacement therapy and DNA vaccination are potential applications for intradermal GET. The combination of moderate tissue preheating and GET has been shown to achieve elevated gene expression levels while reducing the necessary applied voltage. In the current work, we utilized a 16-pin multi-electrode array (MEA) and incorporated nine optical fibers, connected to an infrared laser, to pre-heat the tissue to 43°C before application of GET. In a guinea pig model, …

Conversion Of Lignocellulose Biomass From Date Palm Waste To High Value Chemicals, Emmanuel Galiwango

Dissertations

Lignocellulose biomass has gained growing popularity because of its low cost of production compared to food crops, it solves problems of food and energy security, can grow in various climates and land, and it is CO₂ neutral. Date palm trees produce large amounts of fibrous wastes that are good sources of lignocellulose. There are over 40 million date palm trees in UAE and most of their lignocellulosic wastes (i.e., leaves, surface fibers, bunches, etc.) are currently used for low value applications such as compost or electric generation. However, the lignocellulosic components of this waste stream have the potential to …

Development Of An Algorithm For Optimization Of Continuous Technological Process Of Cultivation Of Microorganisms, Sh.R. Rakhmanov

Irrigation and Melioration

In article the analysis of possible modes of microalgae cultivation has been carried out. Two optimization algorithms are substantiated. The first one is based on the method of random search with an absolute bias, an algorithm for optimizing the process of cultivating microorganisms with continuous regeneration of the flow in one cultivator. The second is an algorithm for determining the optimal residence time of chlorella particles in multistage cultivators, focused on the method of dynamic programming, implemented in Wellman's recurrence relation. The developed algorithm for operational forecasting and automatic control of the chlorella cultivation process allows, under given production conditions …

Covid-19 Impact To Family Food Consumption And Income In Uzbekistan: Results Of An Online Survey, Kh. Pardaev, Sh. Hasanov, S. Mamasoliev, Sh. Muratov, R. Kalandarov, U. Nurullaev

Irrigation and Melioration

This article aims to study the impact of the pandemic on food consumption by families in Uzbekistan. The shock of the pandemic is threatening the well-being of families in Uzbekistan, as in all developing countries. The study focuses on the effects of changes in food prices, declining consumption, and changes in household incomes. The Instrumental regression model was used in the factor impact analysis. Data for analysis were collected online by messenger groups from families in urban and rural areas of Uzbekistan. Results of the Econometric analysis demonstrated that the decline in food consumption in households was assessed by a …

Research Results For The Selection Of Working Body Types For Strip Tillage Of Soil, F Alimova, B Primkulov, A Tolibaev, M Gulamov

Technical science and innovation

The article describes the results of research on the selection of working body types for strip tillage of soil. Information on the advantages of the technology of minimal soil tillage (Strip-Till) is presented. The data obtained as a result of experimental studies to determine soil moisture and hardness, as well as the quality of soil tilling by the recommended working bodies, are presented. The arrangement schemes of working bodies for the considered technology have been drawn up. The general concept of the development of a combined aggregate on energy-resource-water-saving technologies for the cultivation of crops in permanent furrows and in …

Chemical Properties Of Ordinary Chernozem Under Oil Contamination And Salinization Under The Conditions Of A Laboratory Experiment (Evidence From Republic Of Bashkortostan), Elena Timofeeva Phd., Associate Professor, Alisa Alexandrova Master, Sadritdin Turabdzhanov Dr., Professor

Technical science and innovation

The Republic of Bashkiria, Russia, is both an agricultural and crude producing region. Soil pollution and as the related process soil salinization are often caused by crude production. One of the most fertile soils - chernozems, represent more than a third of the soil cover of the Bashkortostan Republic. The research crucial task is to study chernozem salinization caused by petroleum pollution, it aims to research the chemism of soil salinization upon condition that crude oil and stratal waters flow into the soil simultaneously. The practical implementation of the proposed research is comprehension that we need to regulate the negative …

Understanding The Leaching Mechanism For Lead (Pb) Found In Components Of Locally Manufactured Handpumps In Eastern Madagascar, Nidhi Shah

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research sought to determine the lead leaching mechanism impacted by an inorganic scale observed from lead valve weights of the pitcher pump systems used in Tamatave, Madagascar. Based on previous research, these valve weights are considered to be a major source for high lead levels in pump water consumed by the residents. As a part of the study, Raman Spectroscopy, X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM-EDS) were performed to address the objectives of this research. The pump component samples for the analysis were selected based on the amount and visual characteristics of …

Project Home Hydroponic Operations For Mars Exploration, Deanna Demattio, Nick Mcguire, Ruben A. Rosa Polonia, Benjamin T. Hufendick

Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal

This report considers the challenges NASA, SpaceX, and other private companies will face in the approaching two decades when sending astronauts on missions to Mars. The longest exploration is planned to take place in the 2030's, sending a crew of, at minimum, four astronauts to Mars for a year of research. The research conducted is assisting space exploration companies’ with ways to grow a complete diet on a planet that does not receive enough sunlight. Agriculture in enclosed and buried structures on Mars will enable astronauts to conduct extended surface exploration missions. We evaluated a deep-water culture indoor hydroponics system …

Unconventional Agriculture: An Exploration Of Hydroponics And Aquaponics And Their Role As A Solution To Food Scarcity, Kai Meacham

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Unconventional agriculture includes methods of farming that are defined by unique farming practices and a focus on sustainability. Unconventional agriculture can take many forms, including hydroponic systems and aquaponic systems. These two systems are unique in the sense that they are soilless methods of growing plants. Both of these systems require careful monitoring because they do not have soil to act as a buffer and help maintain normal levels. Though these two systems are very similar they have some key differences in how they function, which ultimately leads to differing advantages and disadvantages of both systems. Additionally, these systems have …

Fatigue And Its Management In The Aviation Industry, With Special Reference To Pilots, Rajee Olaganathan, Timothy B. Holt, Jackie Luedtke, Brent D. Bowen

Publications

Abstract Fatigue is a significant contributing factor that reduces human ability and leads to accidents and threatens the safety of aircraft and human lives. Approximately 70% of fatal accidents that occur in commercial aviation operations are due to human factors. More specifically, crew fatigue contributes to nearly 15 to 20% of the accidents (Akerstedt, 2000). These accidents and incidents are associated with pilot fatigue because of the long duty periods, disruption of circadian rhythms, and inadequate sleep that are common among both commercial and military pilots. Though fatigue is seen in all the disciplines associated with the aviation industry, this …