Digital Commons Network^™

Insulated Solar Electric Cooker, Paige Camacho, Ahmed Gouda, Caroline Hodes, Wyatt Johnson

General Engineering

The purpose of this Final Project Report is to highlight the work completed by the interdisciplinary engineering capstone project for the Insulated Solar Electric Cooker (ISEC) at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo under the supervision of Professor Jim Widmann (Mechanical Engineering) and Dr. Peter Schwartz (Physics). Dr. Schwartz, better known as Pete, has been working on the project with a team of students for the past five years and is working to integrate the ISEC in Ghanaian communities. This project focuses on making the ISEC mass-manufacturable and making the transition from biomass cooking to solar cooking as familiar …

The Effect Of Distal Core Flattening And Heat Treatment On 304 Stainless Steel Guide Wires, Andrew Spencer Yap, Bryce Eric Veit, Matthew Frederick Lopez Villena

Materials Engineering

The mechanical response of 304 stainless steel guide wires due to different temper conditions and amounts of flattening is to be explored in this project. For this specific project, there is no public literature on the mechanical properties of guide wires with the above conditions through tensile testing or Turns to Failure Testing. To address this, the project with Abbott Vascular will measure the mechanical properties of guide wires using the aforementioned factors. Due to a lack of previous literature on this research topic, there are no quantitative goals for the project, however, any new research compiled in this area …

Detection Of Hydroxyl Radicals Using Cerium Oxide/Graphene Oxide Composite On Prussian Blue, Surachet Duanghathaipornsuk, Sushil R. Kanel, Emily F. Haushalter, Jessica Ruetz, Dong-Shik Kim

Faculty Publications

A composite sensor consisting of two separate inorganic layers of Prussian blue (PB) and a composite of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNPs) and graphene oxide (GO), is tested with •OH radicals. The signals from the interaction between the composite layers and •OH radicals are characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The degradation of PB in the presence of H₂O₂ and •OH radicals is observed and its impact on the sensor efficiency is investigated. The results show that the composite sensor differentiates between the solutions with and without •OH radicals by the increase of electrochemical redox current in the presence …

Liquid Structure And Transport Properties Of The Deep Eutectic Solvent Ethaline, Henry Squire, Burcu E. Gurkan

Faculty Scholarship

A range of techniques including physical property measurements, neutron scattering experiments, ab initio molecular dynamics, and classical molecular dynamics simulations are used to probe the structural, thermodynamic, and transport properties of a deep eutectic solvent comprised of a 1:2 molar ratio of choline chloride and ethylene glycol. This mixture, known as Ethaline, has many desirable properties for use in a range of applications, and therefore, understanding its liquid structure and transport properties is of interest. Simulation results are able to capture experimental densities, diffusivities, viscosities, and structure factors extremely well. The solvation environment is dynamic and dominated by different hydrogen …

Provenance-Enabled Packet Path Tracing In The Rpl-Based Internet Of Things, Mohammad Abdellatif, Sabah Suhail, Rasheed Hussain, Shashi Raj Pandey, Abid Khan, Choong Seon Hong

Electrical Engineering

The interconnection of resource-constrained and globally accessible things with unreliable Internet make them vulnerable to attacks such as, but not limited to, data forging, false data injection, and packet drop. Such attacks may affect mission-critical applications that rely on sensor data for decision-making processes, hence, necessitates high assurance of trustworthy data. For the data trustworthiness, provenance is considered to be an effective mechanism that tracks both data acquisition and data transmission. However, provenance management for IoT networks is faced with several challenges such as low energy, bandwidth consumption, and efficient storage. In this paper, we propose a bi-fold Provenance-enabled Packed …

Parametric Nasopharyngeal Swab For Sampling Covid-19 And Other Respiratory Viruses: Open Source Design, Sla 3-D Printing And Uv Curing System, Nicole Gallup, Adam Pringle, Shane Oberloier, Nagendra Gautam Tanikella, Joshua M. Pearce

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Access to nasopharyngeal swabs for sampling remain a bottleneck in some regions for COVID19 testing. This study develops a distributed manufacturing solution using only an open source manufacturing tool chain consisting of two types of open source 3-D printing and batch UV curing, and provides a parametric fully free design of a nasopharyngeal swab. The swab was designed using parametric OpenSCAD in two components (a head with engineered break point and various handles), which has several advantages: i) minimizing print time on relatively slow SLA printers, ii) enabling the use of smaller print volume open source SLA printers, iii) reducing …

Ultrasound Guided Diffuse Optical Tomography For Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Algorithm Development, K M Shihab Uddin

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

According to National Breast Cancer Society, one in every eight women in United States is diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. American Cancer Society recommends a semi-annual breast-cancer screening for every woman which can be heavily facilitated by the availability of low-cost, non-invasive diagnostic method with good sensitivity and penetration depth. Ultrasound (US) guided Diffuse Optical Tomography (US-guided DOT) has been explored as a breast-cancer diagnostic and screening tool over the past two decades. It has demonstrated a great potential for breast-cancer diagnosis, treatment monitoring and chemotherapy-response prediction. In this imaging method, optical measurements of four different wavelengths are …

Stochastic Simulation Of Cellular Metabolism, Emalie J. Clement, Thomas T. Schulze, Ghada A. Soliman, Beata Joanna Wysocki, Paul H. Davis, Tadeusz A. Wysocki

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

Increased technological methods have enabled the investigation of biology at nanoscale levels. Such systems require the use of computational methods to comprehend the complex interactions that occur. The dynamics of metabolic systems have been traditionally described utilizing differential equations without fully capturing the heterogeneity of biological systems. Stochastic modeling approaches have recently emerged with the capacity to incorporate the statistical properties of such systems. However, the processing of stochastic algorithms is a computationally intensive task with intrinsic limitations. Alternatively, the queueing theory approach, historically used in the evaluation of telecommunication networks, can significantly reduce the computational power required to generate …

Biomaterials For Bone Regeneration: Tunable Structural And Mechanical Characteristics, Anwer Mhanawee

Theses and Dissertations

Tissue engineering is a promising alternative treatment for damaged tissues. In bone regeneration, bone graft replacements can be made from different biomaterials (basically ceramic and polymer) and used for different treatment purposes. In the first section of this dissertation, the Compression test results showed that its modulus of elasticity depends on its porosity. Also, we developed a testing method to measure the swelling force of the material during expansion due to liquid absorption. The maximum swelling force was found to be proportional to the material modulus. In the second part, we successfully design, fabricate and characterize a novel expandable bone …

Study Of Upregulation Of Drug Resistance In H460 Lung Cancer Cells Via Microchannel Device, Nowmi Haider

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

Metastasis is the main reason of high mortality rates in cancer patients. Treating these patients becomes difficult once the cancer has metastasized, especially due to their drug resistance. Drug resistance is a common problem that occurs when treating cancer patients, as in most cancer types, the cells are capable of drug efflux. This makes treatments like chemotherapy ineffective. Therefore, it is important to find alternative methods of treatment that can effectively kill drug resistant cancer cells. Lung cancer is one type of cancer that is the second most diagnosed cancer in the U.S. In this study, microchannels were used to …

Mathematical Modeling Approaches In Sustainable Food Supply Chains, Amin Gharehyakheh

Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Access to high quality and safe food is vital for sustainable development in societies. Perishable foods lose a major portion of their quality after harvesting until the consumption point due to poor storage and distribution conditions. Thus, improvements in food supply chain operations are very critical in the sustainable development of society and the industry. The first part of this dissertation seeks to find a cost-effective and reliable tool to monitor the quality loss and implementation of the least shelf life first-out inventory management policy in food banks. Application of the Gompertz model and Arrhenius equation based on time-temperature data …

Characterizing Statin Use Among Prediabetic Patients With Predictive Analytics, Alexandra Gentile

Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and can cause severe impairments to those diagnosed. Prediabetes is a state when a patient has higher fasting plasma glucose levels than a non-diabetic person but is not quite high enough to be considered diabetes. Both diabetic and prediabetic patients are at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which is the leading cause of death in the United States. The primary form for prevention and treatment of CVD is through statin therapy. Statins are a class of medications used to treat and prevent CVD by limiting cholesterol …

Remediation Of Crude Petroleum Oil-Water Emulsions Using Microalgae, Mohamed Shafi

Civil and Environmental Theses

Crude petroleum oil spills are among the most important organic contaminations, which result from uncontrolled releases and spillages during transportation or storage. The separated oils on that accumulate on top of the water can be removed by various conventional skimming methods. However, the emulsified portions that remain within the water phase are more difficult to remove and pose significant threats to the environment and could tamper the tertiary treatment in a wastewater treatment plant. Biological treatment, using bacteria, have proven to be an effective method in the removal of the emulsified oils. However, the biomass produced in this case does …

Development Of An In Vitro Intervertebral Disc Innervation Model To Screen Neuroinhibitory Biomaterials, Sarah M. Romereim, Caleb A. Johnston, Adan L. Redwine,, Rebecca A. Wachs

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Pain originating from an intervertebral disc (discogenic pain) is a major source of chronic low back pain. Pathological innervation of the disc by pain‐sensing nerve fibers is thought to be a key component of discogenic pain, so treatment with biomaterials that have the ability to inhibit neurite growth will greatly benefit novel disc therapeutics. Currently, disc therapeutic biomaterials are rarely screened for their ability to modulate nerve growth, mainly due to a lack of models to screen neuromodulation. To address this deficit, our lab has engineered a three dimensional in vitro disc innervation model that mimics the interface between primary …

Using Infrared Radiometry Thermometer For Irrigation Management Of Dry Edible Beans In Western Nebraska, Isabella Presotto Possignolo

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Proper irrigation management requires farmers to determine the right timing and amount to irrigate. Soil water sensors are one of the most popular sensor-based approach used by farmers to decide when and how much to irrigate. However, installation and retrieval of soil water sensors require excavation of soil and can be challenging. Other than soil water sensors, there are plant-based water stress monitoring technologies that are less soil disturbing such as infrared radiometry thermometer (IRT). Using canopy temperature measured from IRT, researchers can calculate thermal-based indices such as crop water stress index (CWSI) for many crops around the world. Yet …

Microgravity Emergency Medical Containment System – A Concept Of Architecture, Prototyping, And Usability Research, Keith Elliott Crisman

Theses and Dissertations

Exploration is intrinsic to human nature but is well understood to be accompanied by inherent risks to the explorer. This is particularly evident in the exploration of extreme environments such as long-duration space habitation; in which risk is increased due in particular to the distance from assistance, services, and replenishment of consumables. One of the major risks to extreme environment survivability is lack of access to emergency medical care. This risk is further amplified in the microgravity environment where terrestrial non-life-threatening conditions can become life threatening due to lack of next-level-care capabilities. The question posed within this research asks, ‘What …

Characterization Of Rhodopseudomonas Palustrus Strains For The Production Of Fixed Nitrogen Fertilizer For Mars, Daniel Kade Derrick

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project was to characterize the potential of various strains of purple non-sulfur bacteria for the production of fixed nitrogen fertilizers for the manned Mars missions. Six strains of Rhodopseudomonas palustris (CGA009, CGA010, TIE-1, NifA*, and PB23) were all investigated. Through initial growth trial experiments, R. palustris NifA* and PB23 were selected for their engineered nitrogen fixation and rapid growth respectively. Growth curves and ammonium concentrations were collected over time in pilot scale batch photobioreactors (200 mL). Biomass production was then scaled up to benchtop photobioreactors (1.5 L) and then 14 L total volume for both NifA* …

Ranchers Adapting To Climate Variability In The Upper Colorado River Basin, Utah, Hadia Akbar

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Changes in climate influence agricultural production. This study looks at the impacts of climate variability in the Utah regions of the Upper Colorado River Basin by combining regression techniques with interview data to explore how climate variability affects agricultural production and how the farmers are adapting their practices to these changes. The results show that climate does not have any significant impact on cattle and hay production in the study area on a decadal scale. However, on an annual basis temperature seems to have more impact than precipitation. Among non-climatic variables, commodity prices and their regulations by the government are …

Elucidating Basis Of Rice Discoloration And Developing Prevention Strategies, Zeinab Mohammadi Shad

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Economically, discolored rice kernels have less market value, which can seriously impact farm net profit. The reasons for rice discoloration during storage have not been studied extensively and many questions remain. Therefore, the primary goal of this study was to improve understanding of the role and contributions of storage practices on rice quality degradation and discoloration. In this study, three rice cultivars including XL753 (hybrid), Roy J (pureline), and Titan were assessed for changes in quality and microbial kinetics. The rice samples at a high moisture content (MC) of 21% w.b. and a low MC of 16% were stored at …

Research Tools And Their Uses For Determining The Thermal Inactivation Kinetics Of Salmonella In Low-Moisture Foods, Soon Kiat Lau

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The reputation of low-moisture foods as safe foods has been crumbling over the past decade due to repeated involvement in foodborne illness outbreaks. Although various pasteurization technologies exist, a majority are thermal processes and have not been well-characterized for pasteurizing low-moisture foods. In addition, the nature of a low-moisture food matrix introduces various experimental complications that are not encountered in high-moisture foods. In this dissertation, the development, building instructions, and characterization of various open source tools for studying the inactivation kinetics of microorganisms in low-moisture foods are described. The first tool is the TDT Sandwich, a dry heating device for …

A System Dynamics Model Of Supply-Side Issues Influencing Beef Consumption In Nigeria, Kelechukwu G. Odoemena, Jeffrey P. Walters, Holger Maximilian Kleemann

Faculty Publications - Biomedical, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering

The per capita consumption of beef in Nigeria is reducing amidst a rising population that is dependent on beef as a major source of animal protein. In this paper, a system dynamics (SD) model was developed with the aim of testing exploratory policies aimed at reversing this trend. The simulations of various policy tests showed that, of all the policies tested, having a higher carcass yield seems to be the most efficient solution, but its feasibility faces some steep biological and ecological challenges. However, a combination of policies that cuts across the land–cattle–market nexus is necessary to obtain a consumption …

In Vivo Silicon Lance Array Transfection Of Plant Cells, Taylor Andrew Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Arrays of silicon lances were made using photolithographic and STS DRIE Bosch techniques. Arrays consist of a 10 mm square grid pattern of lances measuring 100 m tall and having a 3 mm diameter, each lance being spaced 30 mm apart. The tips of lances are pointed, allowing easier penetration through plant cell walls. A nanoinjector device was also made to accept the silicon lance arrays and perform nanoinjections. A nanoinjection consisted of 2 silicon lance arrays, with lances oriented towards each other, being moved into and out of a plant cotyledon placed between them. Prior to the nanoinjection, polar …

Pengujian Efektivitas Jenis Media Tanam Dan Nutrisi Terhadap Produksi Kubis Bunga (Brassica Oleracea L. Var. Botrytis, Subvar. Cauliflora Dc) Kultivar Mona F1 Pada Sistem Hidroponik, Rommy Andhika Laksono

Jurnal Kultivasi

Ada beberapa faktor yang menyebabkan penurunan produksi kubis bunga di Indonesia, diantaranya sistem budidaya yang kurang tepat, nutrisi yang kurang optimal, kurangnya pemanfaatan unsur organik dalam teknik budidayanya, serta pemanfaatan lahan sempit perkotaan. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mempelajari dan mendapatkan jenis nutrisi yang memberikan produksi tertinggi kubis bunga (Brassica oleracea L. Var. botrytis) kultivar Mona F1 pada setiap jenis media tanam dengan hidroponik sistem fertigasi untuk menciptakan pertanian berkelanjutan. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di screen house bertempat di Desa Karang Mekar, Kecamatan Kedungwaringin, Kabupaten Bekasi, Provinsi Jawa Barat. Tempat penelitian berada pada ketinggian 15 meter di atas permukaan laut. Penelitian …

Bibliometric Survey On Impact Of Sound Therapy On Blood Pressure And Covid-19., Vaishali Rajput, Preeti Mulay

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The current situation of spread of Corona Virus is really worth to worry and critical. As we are moving from stage 2 to stage 3, it is really our duty and right to prevent its spread effectually, as its threat to life of every individual. As per the expert opinion from Health Organizations, the elder people are most at risk of Corona infection. But if the people with high blood pressure or high cholesterol fail to take their prescribed medication, then they are also prone to various infections, due to low immunity levels. Along with regular medication, Sound Therapy is …

Design And Analysis Of A Piezoelectric Pulse Wave Velocity Sensor, Haley Richards, Andrew Closson, John Xj Zhang

ENGS 88 Honors Thesis (AB Students)

Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) is strongly correlated with blood pressure and a valuable biomarker in assessing hypertension. This report evaluates the feasibility of noninvasive blood pressure determination from piezoelectric PWV measurements. A wearable piezoelectric prototype was developed to detect PWV in the radial artery, and a computational model of the sensor was designed to simulate a piezoelectric sensor response under ideal conditions. These methods provide insight into the relationship between PWV and blood pressure, and the ability of piezoelectric materials to detect blood flow characteristics. This work lays the groundwork for future device development in this field.

Lego Robotics Club, Keith Tran

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

An after school club focused on problem solving and computational thinking using LEGO Mindstorm EV3.

Maize Growth, Yield, Water Productivity And Evapotranspiration Response To Different Irrigation Methods And Amounts And Different Timing And Methods Of Nitrogen Applications, Ali T. Mohammed

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Declining the quantity and quality of freshwater resources in many parts of the world, including Midwestern USA, especially in the light of rapidly growing world’s population and changing climate, imposes significant and, in some cases imminent, challenges for producers, policy- and decision-makers to produce more yield with less water and other inputs, particularly in water scarcity regions.

There is not comprehensive previous research has quantified and evaluated coupled impacts of irrigation rates and nitrogen timing management strategies and their interactions on maize (Zea mays L.) productivity and its various attributed efficiency index metrics under different irrigation methods under the …

Spring 2020, Joëlle Walls

The Investigator Research Magazine

Dear readers,

We are proud to present the spring issue of The Investigator, giving you an inside look into the varied research and scholarly activities taking place at Kennesaw State.

In a new interview, President Pamela Whitten discusses KSU's growing research reputation and lessons learned from her own experiences as a researcher and mentor. Similarly, our cover story follows three First-Year Scholars as they explore the possibilities of research in Martin Hudson's lab through a new Office of Undergraduate Research initiative.

This publication would not have been possible without the contributions of the editorial team, including undergraduates Kaelyn Ireland, Geena …

Comparison Of Phytoremediation And Filtration For Diamond-Mine-Tailings Water Treatment, M. Hafidhuddin Noor, Mijani Rahman, Akhmad Gazali, Nia Kania, Aulia Rahma, Erdina L.A. Rampun, Amalia E. Pratiwi, Muthia Elma

Makara Journal of Technology

The water pollution caused by diamond mine activities can kill aquatic life. In this work, we used phytoremediation and filtration to treat pond water polluted by the tailings of a diamond mine located in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Einchhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) was utilized as the biomass for the phytoremediation process. Gravel (10–15 mm) and sand (0.1–1 mm) were used as filter media in the simple filtration setup, using an up-flow system (bottom to top). In the experiment, 16 L of diamond tailing water was poured into five phytoremediation reactors (each 60 L in volume), which were then tested over seven …

Occurrence And Persistence Of Antibiotics Administered To Cattle In A Newly Established Feedlot, Brittany Trejo

Department of Environmental Engineering: Theses and Other Student Research

The common practice of using therapeutic antibiotics in livestock farming is a worldwide phenomenon. Over the last decade, there has been a growing concern of antibiotics entering the environment via animal manure. Similar studies have focused on the occurrence and biological effects of antibiotics in land-applied animal feedlots; however, limited research has been conducted on the occurrence and persistence of antibiotics in animal feedlots. A study was conducted to investigate the occurrence and persistence of four injected antibiotics (ceftiofur enrofloxacin, florfenicol, and tulathromycin) and two continuously fed antibiotics (monensin and tylosin) in feedlot sediment, runoff, and sediment runoff. For antibiotics …