Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Ozone Treatment On The Quality Of Biodiesel From Waste Cooking Oil, Sri Redjeki Setyawati, Singgih Wibowo

Makara Journal of Science

This research demonstrates the successful production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil (WCO) using the transesterification method. A methoxide solution, formed by employing a base catalyst and alcohol, facilitated the conversion of triglycerides into methyl esters and glycerol as the byproduct. The conversion process yielded 74% biodiesel and 13.5% glycerol content, with the remaining proportion consisting of water and contaminants. The application of ozone (O₃) aeration proved effective in reducing contaminants—such as alcohol, unreacted catalysts, food residues and water—by approximately 60%. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) testing affirmed that the biodiesel product—treated with O₃ aeration—maintained its original …

Face Off: Evaluating Virtual Human Expressions And Non-Tracking Control Methods In Vr, J K Sangeeth Chandran, Marisa Llorens Salvador, Cathy Ennis

Conference papers

Social virtual reality (VR) applications have become more ubiquitous in recent years; central to this is the communication pipeline, how users perceive virtual human facial expressions, and how they control them in real time, especially when using VR devices without face-tracking. We investigated both aspects in a set of experiments. Firstly, we compared the perception of virtual human emotions on a traditional 2D screen and in VR. In a second experiment, we used a validated set of stimuli to compare three different control methods for manipulating an avatar’s facial expressions in VR. These control methods utilize non-tracking control techniques, which …

Battery Management System For Solar Powered Li-Ion Battery In Electric Vehicle Applications: A Comprehensive Review, Mustafa Abdulelah Ali, Mohanad Aljanabi, Faris Mohammed Ali

The Nexus of Sustainability and Energy Technology Journal

Electric Vehicle (EV) charging use is going up solar installations on rooftops and on a large scale in power plants are increasing consequently. Therefore, a Battery Management System (BMS), which is the system for managing battery storage, was used to control the solar energy generation to coordinate charging. Such a connection gives the BMS the opportunity to modify charging/discharging patterns with the help of solar energy predictions and prices of electricity from the grid. Moreover, the battery is being protected from aging with the BMS to monitor the state of charge/health of the battery. The BMS protects the Li-ion batteries …

Sustainable Additive Manufacturing Of Polymer Composites: A Review, Wan Sharuzi Wan Harun, Faiz Ahmad, Farhana Mohd Foudzi, Fujio Tsumori, Arun Kumar Thirugnanasambandam, Mohammed Saber

The Nexus of Sustainability and Energy Technology Journal

Additive Manufacturing (AM) of polymer composites has matured from a prototyping tool into a viable process for functional components. This review critically assesses this progress, focusing on the intersection of performance, sustainability, and industrial readiness. Advancements in AM processes now accommodate diverse reinforcements, from nanoscale fillers to continuous fibres, yielding parts with exceptional mechanical properties. Concurrently, a sustainability strategy has emerged, prioritising bio-based and recycled feedstocks, enhanced process energy efficiency through novel out-of-oven curing, and circular economy principles. However, widespread industrial adoption is hindered by persistent challenges. These include managing fibre-matrix interfacial integrity, the inherent anisotropy of printed parts, complex …

Chacahoula 2025, Volume 92, Alayna Pellegrin

Chacahoula

The 2025 issue of Chacahoula includes December 2024 and May 2025 graduating classes, as well as stunning photography student life on the banks of Bayou Desiard. With features covering students, faculty, and staff, this year's time capsule preserves an academic year in the life of the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Evaluation Of Robotic Swabbing And Fluorescent Sensing To Monitor The Hygiene Of Food Contact Surfaces, Siavash Mahmoudi, Clark Griscom, Pouya Sohrabipour, Yang Tian, Chaitanya Palleria, Philip G. Crandall, Dongyi Wang

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Effective environmental monitoring is critical for preventing microbial and allergenic cross-contamination. However, manual swabbing methods, commonly used to verify hygienic conditions, are prone to inconsistent results because of variability in pressure, coverage, and techniques. Two novel solutions will be explored to address these challenges: a robotic swabbing system with tactile sensing control, and a fluorescence/absorbance spectrometer for non-contact, protein-based residue detection. The robotic system was evaluated against trained and untrained humans, measuring water pickup, surface coverage, and pressure consistency. Concurrently, the fluorescence system analyzed model poultry protein soil to correlate spectral patterns with contamination levels. The robotic system demonstrated statistically …

Click-Ready Gold Nanoparticles From Aqueous Mechanochemistry: 2-Propynylamine As A Reducing Agent And Surface Ligand, Amber L. Garcia, Brian S. Mitchell, Amanda Reusch, Mark J. Fink, Juan P. Hinestroza, Yelin Ko, Julie P. Vanegas

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We report a rapid aqueous method for synthesizing monodisperse gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), employing 2-propynylamine as both an intrinsic reducing agent and a surface-stabilizing ligand. This self-mediated process—achieved in a single step—yields spherical AuNPs with an average diameter of 4.0 ± 1.0 nm and a well-defined localized surface plasmon resonance band centered at 520 nm. Acting as a bifunctional molecule, 2-propynylamine simultaneously reduces HAuCl4·3H2O to elemental gold and passivates the nanoparticle surface through coordination via the amine group, while preserving a terminal alkyne (–C≡CH) functionality. This reactive moiety remains exposed and chemically accessible, enabling post-synthetic modification through Cu(I)-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition. Control …

Antioxidants And Metabolic Biomarkers: Clinical Insights In Breast Cancer Patients, Rania Kareem, Emad Yousif, Taghried Salman, Muna Bufaroosha

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

Breast cancer is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths among women and the most common life-threatening malignancy identified in this population. The second most common cause of cancer-related fatalities in women is breast cancer. According to the most recent Iraq Cancer Requisition, breast cancer is the most common kind of cancer in women in Iraq, making up almost one-third of all female malignancies. Total of 100 patients with breast cancer was used in this study and compared to 100 healthy groups. Serum levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, Triglycerides, HDL, prolactin, cysteine protease, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were measured …

Designing For Shalom: Deepening Faith Integration In Engineering And Technology, Fred Haan

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Presented on 9/22/2025 at the event, Integration of Faith and Learning in the Disciplines at the University Pelita Harapan in Jakarta, Indonesia

Engineering And Technology, Fred Haan

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

9/21/2025 for the event, Integration of Faith and Learning, at University Pelita Harapan in Jakarta, Indonesia

Advanced Microstructured Batio3-Embedded Pvdf–Hfp/Peo Film For Enhanced Triboelectric Interface In Self-Sufficient Energy Generation And Sensing, Rigobert Ybarra, Diego De Leon, Michael Moreno, Cesar Sanchez, Fernando Viesca, Kevin Alejandro, Shishir Timilsena, Nicholas Dimakis, Joseph H. Dumont, Tommy Rockward, Tarik J. Dickens, Md. Wasikur Rahman, Mohammed Jasim Uddin

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The global reliance on fossil fuels and natural gas has largely dominated the energy production field, but due to finite resource depletion and escalating greenhouse gas emissions, the immediate exploration of sustainable energy alternatives to mitigate climate change and ensure resource security has been a major concern. There has been extensive research into other more renewable methods of energy production, such as wind and hydropower. Of these current energy generation types, there are many areas of untapped potential from the mechanical movements generated ambiently not only in the large scale of power generation but also on a smaller scale. The …

Analysis Of Modifications To An Outdoor Field-Scale Rotating Algal Biofilm Reactor With A Focus On Biomass Productivity And Power Usage, Davis R. Haag, Phillip E. Heck, Ronald C. Sims

Biological Engineering Student Research

Filtrate from dewatering anaerobically digested biosolids is a side-stream of wastewater treatment that contains high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds that can serve as nutrients for cultivating microalgae biomass as biofilms for bioproduct production at Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRFs). One system used to cultivate attached microalgae biofilms is the rotating algal biofilm reactor (RABR). A pilot RABR with 72 m² growth surface area, 11.5 m² footprint area, and a liquid volume of 11,500 L was operated in an outdoor environment at the largest WRRF in Utah, U.S.A, the Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility (CVWRF). The configuration …

Solving The Vehicle Routing Problem Based On Deep Reinforcement Learning, Ming Jiang, Tao He

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: The capacitated vehicle routing problem (CVRP) is a well-known combinatorial optimization challenge recognized as NP-hard due to its significant complexity. Building upon existing research, this paper introduces a novel end-to-end deep reinforcement learning approach based on a multi-pointer Transformer to tackle the CVRP. The proposed algorithm employs an invertible residual network in the encoder to encode input features, effectively reducing memory consumption. In the decoder, a multipointer network determines the probability distribution of solutions. To further enhance the performance of CVRP solutions, the algorithm leverages the symmetry in combinatorial optimization by implementing multi-trajectory parallel processing during both training …

Bioresources And Bioproducts: A New Open Access Journal, Ronald C. Sims

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

Greetings to the bioresource and bioproducts community! I will serve as the Editor-in-Chief to collaborate with you as we promote the aims and scope of this new MDPI journal [1], with the help of its distinguished Editorial Board, by publishing Special Issues, Topics, Topical Collections, and Editorials, and by providing high-impact scholarship through the outstanding published work of each of our contributors.

Comparative Analysis Of Life Cycle Assessment Of Traditional And Contemporary Timber Buildings, Sadık Akşar, Gökçe Tuna

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Wood has long been used as a primary building material, but with the Industrial Revolution and the spread of multi-story structures, its structural limitations became evident. In the 21st century, engineered timber products have reintroduced wood as a sustainable alternative, offering advantages such as lightness, rapid assembly, and recyclability. At the same time, buildings are responsible for significant environmental impacts, making assessment methods essential. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is one of the most widely used tools for evaluating these impacts across all stages of a building’s life cycle. This study applies LCA to timber construction systems, focusing on both traditional …

Smart Dressings Accelerating Wound Healing With Tranexamic Acid-Infused Aligned Electrospun Nanofibers: In Vitro And In Vivo Assessments, Samar A. Salim, Abdullah Elbadry, Eman Gomaa, Mennatullah Faisal, Elbadawy A. Kamoun

Nanotechnology Research Centre

The development of advanced wound dressings capable of accelerating healing and achieving effective hemostasis remains a critical challenge in managing traumatic and surgical wounds. This study reports the fabrication and comprehensive evaluation of a novel multilayered, sandwich-structured nanofiber scaffold composed of Tranexamic acid (TXA), chitosan (CS), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), L-arginine, and polylactic acid (PLA) for biodegradable wound dressing applications. Using sequential electrospinning, a four-layered scaffold was developed as a smart wound dressing, comprising an immediate-release TXA-CS-PVA layer for rapid clotting, a hydrophobic PLA barrier layer for protection, a sustained-release L-arginine-PVA layer to promote tissue regeneration, and a final PLA protective …

Tissue-Like Fracture Toughness And Stress–Relaxation Ability In Pva-Agar-Based Hydrogels For Biomedical Applications, Ismael Lamas Jr., Bhuvana L. Chandrashekar, Cláudia C. Biguetti, Mohammad R. Islam

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Soft tissues exhibit remarkable stretchability, fracture toughness, and stress–relaxation ability. They possess a large water content to support cellular processes. Mimicking such a combination of mechanical and physical properties in hydrogels is important for tissue engineering applications but remains challenging. This work aims to develop a hydrogel that can combine excellent mechanical properties with cellular viability. The research focused on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/agar double-network (DN) hydrogels, fabricated by thermal gelation and freeze–thawing methods. Their mechanical properties were characterized through tension, compression, fracture, and stress–relaxation tests, and their cellular viability was measured through cytotoxicity tests. The results show that the PVA/agar …

Novel Biomolecule-Infused Gelatin Injectable For Treatment Of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury, Ananya Tadikonda, Sunjay Anekal, Lena W. Chen, Gabriel Sobczak, Troy Wesson, Carmilya Jackson, Marisa A. Egan, Julie C. Liu, Patrick R. Finnegan, Stacey Halum

School of Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications

Objective

Unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) due to recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (RLN) is a major cause of voice disorders. We have recently identified three biomolecules (agrin, acetylcholine, and neuregulin) with the potential to promote reinnervation after RLN injury. This study aimed to determine if a gelatin injectable with the reinnervating biomolecules will induce site-specific amplification of neurotrophic factor release and reinnervation after RLN injury in unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

Methods

C57BL/6 mice underwent RLN transection with the following treatment allocations: saline control (N = 16), biomolecule cocktail only (N = 16), and biomolecule-infused gelatin (N = …

Flexural Behavior Of Sustainable Concrete Beams Containing Waste Tire Fibers And Recycled Aggregates, Wael M. Montaser Ass.Prof

Journal of Engineering Research

The increasing accumulation of diverse waste materials poses a significant societal challenge, highlighting the importance of developing methods to reuse such waste effectively. One promising solution involves incorporating recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) obtained from demolished concrete into new concrete mixtures. Additionally, tire-derived fibers (TDF), sourced from recycled tires, present an environmentally friendly substitute for conventional reinforcement materials. The integration of RCA with TDF in reinforced concrete beams offers a sustainable approach to enhancing structural performance. This experimental study investigates the flexural performance of reinforced concrete beams containing recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) and tire-derived fibers (TDF). Four mixes with varying RCA …

Coumarin/Nitrogen-Bearing Heterocyclic Hybridloaded Electrospun Pmma/Pvp Nanofibrous Scaffolds For Accelerating Topical Wound Healing Rates: Synthesis And In Vitro Bio-Evaluation, Samar A. Salim, Mohamed Ali, Tasneem Abed, El Badawy Kamoun

Nanotechnology Research Centre

Coumarin-nitrogen heterocyclic compounds (e.g. quinoline, acridine, and phthalazine) were synthesized by facile reactions and elucidated by FTIR, 1H, and 13C-NMR analyses, which showed consistency with the expected structures. Coumarin-quinoline (drug A)- and coumarin-acridine (drug B)-loaded electrospun PMMA/PVP nanofibrous scaffolds were fabricated using electrospinning techniques. Results showed a successful PMMA/PVP blend, which formed the matrix that was used as the main scaffold for drug loading/release. The drugs (A and B) were encapsulated within the matrix as verified by IR and SEM results. Bio-evaluation through cytotoxicity and anticancer screening was conducted using the MTT assay against lung fibroblast (Wi-38), colon carcinoma (Caco-2), …

Development Of A Water Temperature Modeling Platform To Support Short- And Long-Term Water Temperature Management In Reservoir-River Systems, Michael Deas, Yung-Hsin Sun, John Degeorge, Benjamin T. Saenz, Thomas A. Evans, Scott Burdick-Yahya, Stephen Andrews, Jeff Schuyler, William Candy, Lin Zheng, Scott Wells, Multiple Additional Authors

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) supports water temperature management for fishery species protection in downstream river reaches below Central Valley Project (CVP) reservoirs in the Sacramento, American, and Stanislaus River systems. The Water Temperature Modeling Platform (WTMP) Project was initiated to modernize and enhance modeling capabilities to predict summer–fall water temperature through reservoir cold water pool management using temperature control facilities designed for temperature management. The WTMP supports forecasts, historical analyses, and long-term planning efforts and advances previous modeling approaches by using an integrated modeling platform. This platform includes a data management system that acquires …

Leveraging Computational Modelling/Simulation, Machine Learning, And Additive Manufacturing For Customized Design Of Periodontal And Bone Tissue Scaffolds, Rakesh Pemmada

All ETDs from UAB

The current dissertation presents an overarching pipeline for the development and production of custom-made scaffolds for periodontal tissue regeneration using finite element analysis (FEA), machine learning (ML), and additive manufacturing (AM).CAD anatomically realistic scaffolds were generated from CT-based maxilla and mandible models. The FEA simulation results under masticatory (100 N), parafunctional (500–550 N), and traumatic (800–850 N) loads showed region-specific distribution of stresses and strains, which guided structural reinforcement strategies. Over 1000 3D-printed PCL scaffolds were printed using various pore diameters (200–300 µm) and filament diameters. Five ML models were constructed for predicting print quality based on process factors. Classification …

Terra Lunaris: Assessment Of A Lunar Habitat For Scientific Astronauts, Space Miners, Or Space Tourists, Dirk Schumann, Robert A. Goehlich

Publications

This conceptual paper explores ground- based habitable space modules for various applications. The Terra Lunaris concept serves as the baseline and is evaluated in comparison to existing and theoretical studies in this field. Terra Lunaris is a compact hybrid habitat that expands to offer nearly four times its transport volume by combining rigid modules with an inflatable shell. With most interior elements pre-installed and foldable, setup time and complexity are minimized. The design integrates technical zones, living quarters, and shared spaces, while also supporting psychological well-being under extreme conditions. The paper provides both qualitative and quantitative analyses of lunar habitation …

Underwater Acoustic Integrated Sensing And Communication: A Spatio-Temporal Freshness For Intelligent Resource Prioritization, Ananya Hazarika, Mehdi Rahmati

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Underwater acoustic communication faces significant challenges including limited bandwidth, high propagation delays, severe multipath fading, and stringent energy constraints. While integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) has shown promise in radio frequency systems, its adaptation to underwater environments remains challenging due to the unique acoustic channel characteristics and the inadequacy of traditional delay-based performance metrics that fail to capture the spatio-temporal value of information in dynamic underwater scenarios. This paper presents a comprehensive underwater ISAC framework centered on a novel Spatio-Temporal Information-Theoretic Freshness metric that fundamentally transforms resource allocation from delay minimization to value maximization. Unlike conventional approaches that treat all …

Development Of Gelma-Based Hydrogel Scaffolds With Tunable Mechanical Properties For Applications In Peripheral Nerve Regeneration, Kylie M. Schmitz, Tanner L. Larson, Michael W. Borovich, Xianfang Wu, Geyou Ao, Megan Jack, Liqun Ning

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) have a significant impact on the quality of life for patients suffering from trauma or disease. In injuries with critical nerve gaps, PN regeneration requires tissue scaffolds with appropriate physiological properties that promote cell growth and functions. Hydrogel scaffolds represent a promising platform for engineering soft tissue constructs that meet key physiological requirements. Nonetheless, ongoing innovation remains essential, as current designs continue to fall short of replicating the functional performance of autografts in bridging critical-sized nerve defects. In this study, gelatin methacrylate (gelMA)-based hydrogels are evaluated to fully characterize their pore structure, compressive stiffness, viscoelasticity, and …

09.08.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

• Researcher training opportunities
• Project to increase PhD student success
• ORED online training opportunities

Valuing Fruit Tree Lease Contracts Under Uncertainty: A Probabilistic Framework For Fair Pricing, Abdurakhman Abdurakhman, Agus Sihabuddin, Kurniawan Chandra Wijaya, Evita Purnaningrum, Di Asih I Maruddani

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Fruit tree lease contracts are a prevalent economic practice in Indonesia, especially within rural communities. This study addresses the challenge of establishing equitable contract prices for both lessees and tree owners, specifically by integrating the inherent uncertainties associated with crop yield and fruit price fluctuations. To achieve this, we develop and employ two distinct models: Fixed-Time Discount Model (FTD) and the Dynamic-Time Discount Model (DTD). Each model is mathematically formulated, leveraging a Poisson distribution to capture yield uncertainty and a Uniform distribution to represent fruit price variability. Through computations, we evaluate the impact of key parameters - average yield ( …

Retracted: Hotspot Issue Handling And Reliable Data Forwarding Technique For Ocean Underwater Sensor Networks, Omar Adil Mahdi, Yusor Rafid Bahar Al-Mayouf, Sameer Sami Hassan Al-Obaidi, Bourair Al-Attar, Hamed Balogun, Suleman Khan

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSNs) have emerged as a promising technology for a wide range of ocean monitoring applications. The UWSNs suffer from unique challenges of the underwater environment, such as dynamic and sparse network topology, which can easily lead to a partitioned network. This results in hotspot formation and the absence of the routing path from the source to the destination. Therefore, to optimize the network lifetime and limit the possibility of hotspot formation along the data transmission path, the need to plan a traffic-aware protocol is raised. In this research, we propose a traffic-aware routing protocol called PG-RES, …

The Green Approach Of Arabic Gum-Based Adsorbent In Wastewater Treatment, Atheel H. Alwash

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

The natural polysaccharide Arabic gum is a multifunctional, sustainable material used widely in wastewater treatment technology. Its active functional groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amino groups facilitate the efficient removal of heavy metals, dyes, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and persistent organic pollutants. The high surface area and active functional groups facilitate its modification to form various structures such as hydrogels, nanocomposites, or biochar integrated into hybrid adsorption–photocatalysis systems. This review highlights the most familiar forms of Arabic gum in wastewater treatment technology, such as hydrogels, hydrogels nanocomposite, stabilizing agents, coating agents, and bio-activated carbon derived from Arabic gum using different preparation …

Memf-Net: A Mega-Ensemble Of Multi-Feature Cnns For Classification Of Breast Histopathological Images, Alaa Hussein Abdulaal, Ali H. Abdulwahhab, Aqeel Majeed Breesam, Zahra Hasan Oleiwi, Riyam Ali Yassin, Morteza Valizadeh, Saja Nafea Mohsin

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Pathological anatomical images play a pivotal role in diagnosing diseases, notably breast cancer, which affects women globally. These images, obtained through biopsies or post-mortem examinations, are preserved to maintain their structural integrity. Software tools, like computer-aided diagnosis, aid doctors in early detection and treatment planning, contributing to reduced mortality rates. In this context, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have emerged as valuable tools for diagnosing benign and malignant breast cancers. This paper introduces a Mega Ensemble Net method, leveraging multi-scale combination features on the breast histopathology dataset. Three fine-tuned deep learning models, namely ResNet-18, ResNet-34, and ResNet-50, are integrated into this …