Digital Commons Network^™

A Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Study Of Gas Hydrate Formation And Dissociation, Meisam Adibifard

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The study of gas hydrates has increased significantly over the last two decades because of their potential application in energy storage, production and transportation, water desalination, refrigeration, gas separation, etc. There is a significant interest in commercially developing natural gas hydrates because the energy content of methane hydrate reservoirs (MHRs) is at least twice that of all conventional fossil fuels combined. Additionally, due to the higher storage capacity of hydrates, it is proposed to sequester CO₂ in the form of CO₂ hydrate, thereby reducing the amount of greenhouse gases. Hence, hydrates offer a dual solution to two of …

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

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

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

Investigations Of Cell Tower Antennas Parameters On Reduction Of Radio Frequency Radiation Levels From Radio Base Stations, Florence U. Rashidi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The widespread deployment of mobile cellular base stations in populated areas has raised public health concerns due to increased exposure to radio frequency (RF) radiation emissions. Exposure to high levels of RF radiation can have potential thermal and non-thermal biological effects. Optimizing the configuration of cell tower antenna parameters is crucial for mitigating these radiation levels. This study therefore aims at systematically investigating the influence of different cell tower antenna parameters on reducing the RF radiation levels from mobile base stations. Field measurements were conducted at two cell sites shared by multiple mobile operators. Electric field strengths were measured at …

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

Theses and Dissertations

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

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

Erodibility Of Sand-Silt-Xanthan Gum Mixtures, Edwin Kotey

Theses and Dissertations

The high frequency of earthen embankment failure recorded during floods has led to the general rule that embankments should not be overtopped. This notwithstanding, overtopping cannot be entirely avoided particularly during extreme events, such as winter storms and hurricanes. Reducing soil erodibility is thus fundamental to prevent and control disasters caused by embankment failure. Recent studies have explored the use of environmentally friendly additives, such as biopolymers, to improve soil properties. Geotechnical tests have shown that biopolymers can effectively increase soil strength, but little is known about biopolymer-treated soil resistance to erosion by flowing water. Results of flume experiments to …

Ga-Gesrgan: Document Images Super Resolution Using Gabor Filters, Esrgan Models And Genetic Algorithms, Zakia Kezzoula, Djamel Gaceb, Ayoub Titoun

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

In the last decade, we have witnessed significant progress in image super-resolution, thanks in particular to the emergence and improvement of deep learning models, which can adapt to the complexity of tasks and improve image quality. This article presents a novel approach to image super-resolution GA-GESRGAN to enhance the quality of document images through a multi-step methodology. Initially, document images are processed using Gabor filters to extract features across various spatial frequencies. These extracted features are then utilized to train Enhanced Super-Resolution Generative Adversarial Network (ESRGAN) models. Once improved images are obtained through ESRGAN models, a Genetic Algorithm combines these …

A Study Of Direct Sensitivity Method Solving Optimal Control Problems With Single And Multiple Time Grids With An Application In An Experimental Hybrid System, Hainan Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Computational methods for optimal control are important for dealing with bottlenecks in industries. By implementing optimal operation strategies obtained from the computational methods into dynamic systems, objectives such as saving energy, reducing cost, exploiting potential, and improving efficiency can be achieved. Computational methods for optimal control have been used in a broad range of disciplines, including aeronautics and astronautics, oil and chemical engineering, power systems, clean energy, biomedical engineering, economics, and management. Due to the great application value of optimal control, its computational methods have drawn worldwide attention. Direct methods are most effective in computational methods for optimal control. Direct …

A Click Chemistry Amplified Nanopore Assay For High Performance Testing Of Protein Biomarkers In Diseases, Xiaoqin Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Nanopore detection technology enables nanometer-scale single-molecule detection, yielding valuable insights into analyte molecules' properties such as size, shape, charge, and concentration. Due to its label-free nature, high sensitivity, and real-time capabilities, it finds widespread application in genomics, proteomics, drug discovery, and environmental monitoring. Click chemistry, encompassing the attachment of a probe or substrate to a biomolecule, termed bioconjugation, features the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition as a quintessential reaction, forming a 5-membered heteroatom ring. This study harnesses this reaction to craft single-strand DNA probes for nanopore testing, leveraging copper's catalytic properties for signal amplification. Host-guest reaction, a noncovalent bond between molecules, specifically …

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

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

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

Faids: Artificial Intelligence Developmental Systems Framework For Predicting And Preventing Cyberattacks In Supply Chain Networks, Lordt Becklines

Research & Publications

Cyber threats and attacks disrupt and damages supply chain networks (SCNs), which are complex and interlinked. Current methods to predict and prevent cyberattacks are inadequate and ineffective. This research proposes an AI developmental systems framework (FAIDS) to protect SCNs from cyberattacks. The framework has four components: (1) an AI threat intelligence system; (2) an AI risk assessment system; (3) an AI decision support system; and (4) an AI learning and adaptation system. The framework is tested on a simulated retail SCN. The results show that the framework can predict and prevent cyberattacks and improve the network's resilience and security. The …

Zno Based Chemiresistive Sensor For Ammonia Detection, Anna Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

This work aims on the development of nanostructured sensing elements based on ZnO for detecting ammonia, specifically designed for applications in poultry and farm fields. To achieve this objective, we prepared sensing elements, including ZnO, CuO, WO3, NiO, ZnO/CuO, ZnO/WO3, ZnO/NiO, and rGO/ZnO, using the spray pyrolysis technique. Structural, morphological, and compositional analyses were studied using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Microscope (FESEM), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The vapour/gas detection studies of fabricated sensing elements were carried out in a home built sensing chamber.

The single oxides, ZnO, CuO, WO3, demonstrated ammonia detection in the range of 5-100 …

Utilization Of Sodium Flame Synthesis For The Formation And Deposition Of Pure Metal Materials For Applications In Additive Manufacturing, Zachariah Wargel

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Advanced material classes, such as high temperature alloys, ceramics, and refractory materials have become a key area of focus for expansion in the realm of additive manufacturing. Factors such as high melting points, material homogeneity, and physical properties such as ductility limit the application of popular additive manufacturing methods to these material classes. By utilizing sodium flame synthesis and deposition (SFD) technology, nanoparticle materials can be synthesized via combustion in a laminar co-flow diffusion burner and impacted such that the deposits can be used to manufacture designed components. By using the applicable precursor materials of metal chlorides and elemental sodium …

The Bioremediation Effect Of Microalgae On Wastewater: A Green Technology Approach, Mohamed Ahmed Reda Hamed Dr, Marwa Abdelfattah Abdallah Dr

Journal of Engineering Research

The present study lays an emphasis on the microalgae-based for simultaneous wastewater bioremediation using Chlorella vulgaris and Micrococcus luteus mixed algal cultures to remove its constituent pollutants, amazing green technology guarantees benefits with the decrease in the formation of dangerous solid sludge. Ten days of fully monitoring laboratory experimental program were performed in batch cultures to investigate the effect of various dominant mixing ratios for attaining wastewater concentrations and different governing temperature ranges on the performance of microalgae treatment. The results revealed that there is a significant impact of both wastewater concentrations and temperature treatment conditions on the capability of …

Mechanochemical Correlations And Spatial Distribution Of Components In Plant Cell Walls And Extracellular Matrices, Huiyong Li

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Plant cell walls and extracellular matrices (ECMs) are important to cellular activities in plant/animal organs. The organization of plant cell wall/ECM components (e.g., local composition, arrangement, and ultrastructure of cell wall/ECM polymers) plays a role in determining their local mechanical properties. As a result, the natural processes of cell and tissue growth, development, and function rely on the control of cell wall/ECM composition, arrangement, and ultrastructure to manipulate local mechanical properties. However, directly correlating cell wall/ECM composition, organization, and mechanics has been challenging. To overcome this barrier, one goal of this thesis is to develop probing methodologies at a sub-cellular …

Reinforcement Learning Based Planning And Control For Robotic Source Seeking Inspired By Fruit Flies, Gauravkumar Koradiya

Master's Theses

In the exploration of mobile sensing agents such as robots equipped with sensors, these agents have the potential to measure unknown scalar fields, ranging from chemical concentrations to temperature fluctuations. One of the primary interests is the robots’ ability to gravitate towards the peaks or troughs of these fields, a phenomenon termed as “source seeking”. This behavior is invaluable in practical scenarios, like detecting chemical leaks or locating survivors after catastrophes. However, the challenge becomes significantly more pronounced when operating in turbulent flow fields, where the erratic nature of odorant plumes makes predictions and simulations highly unreliable. Interestingly, fruit flies …

Extraction, Preparation, And Characterization Of Alginate Biopolymer Films From Natural Seaweed, David Ly

Master's Theses

This study evaluates the use of naturally harvested seaweed from the Monterey Bay to produce a biodegradable film for food packaging applications. Two different film-forming methods were evaluated: solution casting and compression molding. The solution casting method using an alginate biopolymer produced the most consistent results. The seaweed biopolymer was extracted from the seaweed biomass using a modified method, resulting in a yield of 11-25 %. The highest yield was observed when using the lowest biomass concentration of 10 wt. %. The extracted alginate was then cast into films at different levels of glycerol plasticization (15-35 wt.%). The addition of …

Tribological Analysis Of Heat Treatments On Medical Grade Cobalt Chromium Molybdenum Alloys, Samuel Edis Bowden

Theses and Dissertations

Cobalt chromium molybdenum (CoCrMo) has many material properties that make it desirable as a medical hip implant. Due to the range of heat treatments available and the resulting material properties that are present in medical device manufacturing using CoCrMo, many implants are not able to withstand both the chemical and physical wear necessary as a hip replacement. This research looks to examine various heat treatments and their resulting properties to find a desirable heat treatment for CoCrMo in hip implant bearing surfaces. This study was accomplished by using five distinct variations of heat treatment on forged CoCrMo alloy that would …

Purpose, Performance, And Process Influence On Airline Pilot Trust In Automation Technology: A Quantitative Study, Thomas Robert Meyer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, descriptive survey study was to determine if purpose, performance, and process influence airline pilot trust in automation technology. The role of a tool is an extension of human capabilities. Initially limited to mechanical extensions of arms and legs, tools are more sophisticated and extend into mental abilities. Quantum leaps in computer and automation technology mitigate repetitive or complex calculations using developed cognitive processes. Through the Trust in Automation theoretical lens, this study used the Likert-based System Trustworthiness Scale offered online to approximately 3,000 airline pilots using simple random sampling methods comprising voluntary submissions. Data was …

63rd Annual Rocky Mountain Conference On Magnetic Resonance

Rocky Mountain Conference on Magnetic Resonance

Final program, abstracts, and information about the 63rd annual meeting of the Rocky Mountain Conference on Magnetic Resonance, co-endorsed by the Colorado Section of the American Chemical Society and the Society for Applied Spectroscopy. Held in the Copper Conference Center, Copper Mountain, Colorado, August 4-8, 2024.

Engineering Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Biosensors For Point Of Care Use, Tyler Jordan Free

Theses and Dissertations

Diagnostic tests can dramatically improve and save lives. Survival rates and patient outcomes related to cancer and other diseases can be improved when routine testing guides personalized treatment. Highly accurate laboratory tests exist for thousands of biomarkers, including those of interest in this dissertation, but cost and complexity limit access to life-saving lab tests in many cases throughout the world. To fill this need and increase accessibility of diagnostics, in this report we report our engineering advancements towards portable biosensors for colorimetric detection of glutamine, endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC), and pathogenic RNA which are key biomarkers in cancer treatment monitoring, …

Green Synthesis Of Carbonized Chitosan-Fe3o4-Sio2 Nano-Composite For Adsorption Of Heavy Metals From Aqueous Solutions, Dalia A. Ali Eng, Rinad Galal Ali Eng.

Chemical Engineering

Water pollution with heavy metals owing to industrial and agricultural activities have become a critical dilemma to humans, plants as well as the marine environment. Therefore, it is of great importance that the carcinogenic heavy metals present in wastewater to be eliminated through designing treatment technologies that can remove multiple pollutants. A novel green magnetic nano-composite called (Carbonized Chitosan-Fe3O4-SiO2) was synthesized using Co-precipitation method to adsorb a mixture of heavy metal ions included; cobalt (Co2+), nickel (Ni2+) and copper (Cu2+) ions from aqueous solutions. The novelty of this study was the synthesis of a new

nano-composite which was green with …

Integrated Reference Single-Cell Rna Seq Atlas Of Healthy Human Female Tissues To Expand The Computational Drug Target Discovery Approaches For Female-Directed Non-Hormonal Contraceptives, Zhanel Nugmanova

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

The ovary is vital for fertility and the maintenance of endocrine homeostasis. It contains heterogeneous cell populations, including oocyte, granulosa, stromal, endothelial, smooth muscle, and immune cell types. Creating a harmonized dataset that enables cross-tissue comparisons, including the ovary, is essential for identifying genes specific to ovarian cell types and for facilitating drug discovery for contraception and fertility purposes. There are very few resources that allow for the assessment of the expression of potential gene targets across human and mouse tissues for female-directed non-hormonal contraceptives. This is because most of these publicly available datasets are from post-menopausal women. Through our …

Mushroom Mycelium Foam Cushioning Properties In Protective Packaging Application, Xiaojing Liu

Journal of Applied Packaging Research

Mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms, has a unique biology that can be leveraged to grow materials that self-assemble into complex, fully-formed structures. Mycelium-based composite material has developed quickly to commercial applications for textiles, packaging, and food industry for its unique biodegradable feature. However, there is little deep research on mycelium-based material cushion properties in protective packaging. This research fills the gap and examines and evaluates mushroom mycelium foam cushion performance. The mycelium-based composites in this research came from Ecovative company. Several groups of foams with the desired size and shape were grown in the lab. Samples’ density and weight …

Acousto-Dielectric Tweezers Enable Independent Manipulation Of Multiple Particles, Liang Shen, Zhenhua Tian, Kaichun Yang, Joseph Rich, Jinxin Zhang, Jianping Xia, Wesley Collyer, Brandon Lu, Nanjing Hao, Zhichao Pei, Chuyi Chen, Tony Jun Huang

Faculty Publications

Acoustic tweezers have gained substantial interest in biology, engineering, and materials science for their label-free, precise, contactless, and programmable manipulation of small objects. However, acoustic tweezers cannot independently manipulate multiple microparticles simultaneously. This study introduces acousto-dielectric tweezers capable of independently manipulating multiple microparticles and precise control over intercellular distances and cyclical cell pairing and separation for detailed cell-cell interaction analysis. Our acousto-dielectric tweezers leverage the competition between acoustic radiation forces, generated by standing surface acoustic waves (SAWs), and dielectrophoretic (DEP) forces, induced by gradient electric fields. Modulating these fields allows for the precise positioning of individual microparticles at points where …

Design And Validation Of Sensing Knee Sleeve Rehabilitation Device Utilizing Large Deflection Strain Gauges, Kurt Christian Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures are increasingly common in the US and globally. However, rehabilitation outcomes may be negatively affected by limited access to physical therapy and patients' tendency to not fully adhere to recommended exercises between therapy sessions. This study aims to develop a remote system to aid rehabilitation, building upon recent sensor development at Brigham Young University, providing physical therapy-like biofeedback during unsupervised at-home exercises. The system developed by this research consists of three primary components: (1) a sensor array for measuring leg/knee biomechanics, (2) a machine learning algorithm to predict knee flexion angle from the sensor data, …

Root Cause Analysis Of Leakage Tube Boiler: A Study Case, Lydia Kartika Basaria Sitompul, Dedi Priadi

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

Oil and gas industry can have catastrophic implications for human life, the environment, and the economy. This paper investigated failure analysis using root cause analysis especially for boiler tube leakage of Heat Exchanger. Identify the issue using microscopic examination and energy dispersive x-ray analysis were conducted on the tube inside and outside surface to determine root cause of the failure. The formation of a protective film in the aluminum-brass tube during the starting stage is very important for ensuring adequate film protection throughout the service life of the heat exchanger. During this stage, exposure to unpolluted water is essential. The …

Charlotte: A Modern Tool For Cave Surveying, Luca Tringali Mr., Giacomo Canciani Dr., Alexander Debenjak, Tecla Tripari

International Journal of Speleology

The future of cave surveying is a full 3D scan, as automatic as possible, capturing all morphologically relevant details. However, the vast majority of cavers are still using tools designed more than 15 years ago. The advancements in tools for architects, CAD designers, programmers of VR and robotics could be helpful also for the caving community. That’s why Charlotte, a cheap DIY 2.5D scanner designed for cave surveying, was developed and built. To demonstrate its capabilities, a new survey of Grotta Regina del Carso cave (cad. nr. 2328/4760VG), the biggest cave in the Gorizia Karst, has been realized and published. …

Activity Map Generation And Event-Based Sensor Processing With Spiking Autoencoders And Sparse Dictionary Learning, Jack Easton

Computer Science and Engineering Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the potential of Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) in processing event sensor data and generating high-fidelity activity maps. Event sensors capture asynchronous binary events with high dynamic range, but traditional processing methods often fail to leverage their advantages fully. SNNs, with their asynchronous, event-driven nature, offer a promising alternative.

A Spiking Autoencoder (SAE) was employed in this thesis to handle the stochastic and sparse event data, integrating deep dictionary learning to enhance the feature space and improve activity map quality. The encoder, modeled after the VGG network, extracts features from event streams generated by speckle patterns, which are …

Knowledge Management Of Historical Data: Ontology Development For Chemical Reactions, Quynh D. Tran, Alexander Harding Bradley, Balashanmuga Priyan Rajamohan, Jonathan E. Gordon, Van D. Tran, Kiefer Lin, Erika I. Barcelos, Laura S. Bruckman, Roger H. French

Researchers, Instructors, & Staff Scholarship

Knowledge management of the literature and historical data is critical to accelerated drug and materials discovery. Currently, literature knowledge is scattered in journal articles in various formats: diagrams, texts, plots, etc. Historical data from past experiments are saved in a number of local computers under confusing folder structures with ambiguous file names. To manage and organize historical data and knowledge, our group (SDLE) at CWRU follows FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles, which outline the best practices for data stewardship and data provenance, and ontology, a formal representation of terms and concepts and their relationships, as a tool to improve …

Development Of A Nephelometer For Characterization Of Calcium Oxalate Crystal Concentrations Within Solution, Conrad Small

Electrical Engineering Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of kidney stones has been steadily increasing over the last 30 years, affecting both men and women across all age groups. This rise is largely attributed to lifestyle changes associated with technological advancements, such as more sedentary lifestyles, dietary shifts towards more processed foods, and an increased incidence of metabolic diseases like diabetes. Despite the growing prevalence of kidney stones, the methods for early detection have remained relatively unchanged. Current testing involves collecting urine samples over a 24-hour period and sending them to a lab for microscopic and dipstick analysis. This process provides a comprehensive overview of urine …