Digital Commons Network^™

Cybersecurity Of Agricultural Machinery: Exploring Cybersecurity Risks And Solutions For Secure Agricultural Machines, Mark Freyhof

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

Modern agriculture is reliant on agricultural machinery for the production of food, fuel, and other agricultural products. The need for producing large quantities of quality agricultural products while sustainably stewarding environmental resources has led to the integration of numerous digital technologies into modern agricultural machinery, such as the CAN bus and telematic control units (Liu et al., 2021). An unintended drawback of these integrated digital technologies is the opportunity for these components to become cyberattack vectors. Cyberattack instances have increasingly targeted critical infrastructures, with numerous reports from agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland …

3d Printed Multicomponent Polymer Based Materials Via Hybrid Filaments: Fabrication And Characterization, Erik Antonio

All Dissertations

Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, promises a manufacturing revolution for both industry and academic circles. One of the most widely used method of 3D printing is Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) or Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), which requires a thermoplastic filament to be directed towards a heating block and then deposited via extrusion layer by layer to produce a finished part. However, there are significant issues with this technology, mainly a limitation on the materials available for use and mechanical property deficiencies when compared to traditional manufacturing. These issues are brought about by the temperature limited nature of the …

Mild-Condition Fractionation Of Woody Biomass And Tandem Preservation Of Lignin And Carbohydrates, Danni Xie

Dissertations

Various fractionation processes like kraft, sulfite, and organosolv, usually need to be carried out in expensive reactors due to high temperatures (e.g., 160-260 °C) and high pressures (e.g., 5-50 atm). During fractionation, conventional chemicals such as mineral acids (e.g., sulfonic acid and hydrochloric acid), aliphatic organic acids (e.g., formic acid and oxalic acid) and alkalis (e.g., sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide) are typically used as catalysts, which could cause structural alterations or even losses to the fractionated components. Recently, aromatic sulfonic acids are expected to in situ solubilize the fractionated lignin through the pronounced hydrotropic effect during fractionation, besides acting …

Development Of Smart Wearable Sensory Systems On Flexible And Fabric Platforms For Health Monitoring Applications, Simin Masihi

Dissertations

Wearable sensing technology has recently received an increased attention in both research and commercialization phases and has moved from a vision of science fiction to reality with a wide variety of applications. This incredible growth can be attributed to several factors, such as affordability and ergonomics provided by advances in flexible electronics. The other factors that realized wearable sensing technology include a critical need for more accessible health care services experienced during the recent COVID pandemic, integration to the Internet of Things (IoT), and a growing consumer desire for health awareness. This dissertation presents the fulfillment of three main projects …

Microbiological, Environmental, And Compositional Factors In Efficacy Of Micp Treatment In Clayey Soils, Somaye Asghari

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Expansive clayey soils can cause billions of dollars of damage to infrastructure such as roads and foundations annually. Researchers propose many techniques (e.g., pre-wetting, soil replacement, and chemical stabilization) to improve the mechanical properties of these soils; however, some of these methods are impractical in certain situations, and are unsustainable in others due to the economic and environmental impacts. One possible method for enhancing soil’s mechanical properties is Microbial Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP). This environmentally friendly technique is a biological process where microbes play a key role in precipitating calcium carbonate. This precipitating calcium carbonate can coat soil particles …

A Snapshot Of Sars-Cov-2 In Wastewater Treatment Plants In Northwest Arkansas, Katie Loethen

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Because SARS-CoV-2, a coronavirus, is released in the fecal shedding of covid-positive patients, the virus enters the municipal waste stream and flows to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The goal of this research is to quantify the effectiveness of wastewater treatment processes at removing SARS-CoV-2 from wastewater and preventing its release into the environment. Sampling at Paul R. Noland and West Side WWTPs in Fayetteville, Arkansas, took place from August 2020 to May 2021, and samples were tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 using N1 and N2 primers via RT-qPCR. Sampling days which returned positive detection of one or both of …

Developing A Lagrangian Sediment Transport Model For Natural Streams, Saman Baharvand

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Sediment transport in natural streams is a complex process that can significantly affect the stream’s water quality, ecosystem, and morphology. Suspended sediment concentrations can adversely affect the health of the ecosystem and aquatic species, and the deposited sediment particles can change the morphology and have irreparable environmental impacts. Several numerical models that can be used to manage and mitigate the adverse effects of sediment released into rivers by natural or anthropogenic activities have been developed to estimate the sediment and pollutant transport in waterbodies. However, the goal of the research for this thesis was to develop a Lagrangian stochastic sediment …

Evaluation Of Decision-Making Prediction Models For Sewer Pipes Asset Management, Salar Shirkhanloo

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Wastewater collection systems deteriorate over time, requiring continuous adjustments and the development of asset management frameworks on the part of utility owners to maintain the performance of their assets. Any asset management framework should emphasize the importance of asset inspection and condition evaluation for efficient system operation and maintenance. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is the most widely used tool in the United States for inspecting the interior of sewer pipes, which is a somewhat expensive and time-consuming process given the extensive inventory of pipes in a city. Due to their vast inventory of these pipes, no municipality can inspect every individual …

Implementation Of Secondary And Tertiary Treated Wastewater In Concrete Manufacturing, Amany G. Micheal Prof., Haidy Abdel Salam, Gouda Ghanem

Civil Engineering

Water scarcity is a problem that faces many regions. In a developing and arid country like Egypt, the need for freshwater is exponentially increasing. This research is an evaluation of the recycled wastewater to be used in concrete manufacturing. The treated wastewater is blended with potable water with percentages of 25%, 50%, and 100%. The mixture of the two types of water is used in concrete mixing and curing. Control specimens with pure potable water are cast for comparison. The setting time for Ordinary Portland Cement is tested using the different water mixes. The hardened concrete is tested in compression …

Design, Manufacture, And Characterization Of A Novel Miniature Coaxial Ion Trap Mass Analyzer, Kyle Davis Lyman

Masters Theses

In the ever-evolving field of mass spectrometry, a void exists in the availability of field-portable devices that can provide in situ analysis with suitable performance characteristics. In this work, a miniaturized coaxial ion trap mass analyzer is developed, simulated, and characterized. This work, funded by the National Science Foundation, is carried out in conjunction with Brigham Young University. The device in discussion is novel in that it utilizes a rectilinear ion guide (RIG), a simplified toroidal ion trap (STorIT), and a cylindrical ion trap (CIT) in the device’s center. The inclusion of the STorIT provides a high trapping capacity, and …

Design, Microfabrication And Characterization Of Vibrating Mesh Atomizer For Viscous Fluids, Pallavi Sharma

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

This research focuses on a new piezoelectrically driven Micro Electromechanical Systems based vibrating mesh atomizer that generates the pressure differential required for droplet ejection or spray production using frequency resonances in the 100 kHz range. This study involves device construction and experimental characterization to comprehend the device's operation and the influence of various factors on its performance and determine the limitations of a range of working fluids to atomize.

A novel approach to integrating polymer-based micro heaters with a vibrating mesh atomizer as a monolithic component is presented to expand the range of working liquids for the MEMS device. The …

Production Of Polyhydroxybutyrate From Corn Fiber Using Paraburkholderia Sacchari, Twissa Mitra

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

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is one of the most broadly studied members of the polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) family. It is a fully biodegradable thermoplastic produced by microbial fermentation having properties similar to polypropylene. PHB has a market price that is three times higher than the cost of synthetic plastics. Substrate cost makes up 50 to 60 % of that cost; hence, researchers have been exploring various cheap natural resources with high carbohydrate content to be used as a substrate for PHB production.

In this study, corn fiber, a lignocellulosic biomass has been studied as an option for a substrate to produce PHB. This …

Telotristat Ethyl Reverses Myxomatous Changes In Mice Mitral Valves, Xinmei Wang, Danielle Kuban-Johnston, Pablo Lapuerta, Carla M.R. Lacerda

Jasper Department of Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Rationale: Myxomatous mitral valve degeneration is a common pathological manifestation of mitral valve regurgitation, with or without valvular prolapse. In addition to similarities between naturally occurring and serotonergic valve degeneration, an increasing body of evidence has recently suggested that serotonin signaling is a regulator of degenerative valvulopathies. Studies have found that serotonin can be synthesized locally by valvular cells and serotonin receptors in turn may be activated to promote signaling. Recently, telotristat ethyl (TE) has been introduced as a treatment for carcinoid disease, by selectively inhibiting tryptophan hydroxylase 1, the rate-limiting enzyme in peripheral serotonin synthesis. TE provides a unique …

Brain Electrophysiology In The Presence Of Acoustic Stimuli, Kristen Howorka

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Neuroscience is the study of the structure and function of the brain. This is inclusive of neurochemistry, physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, computer science, engineering and many adjacent disciplines. While there have been a multitude of studies in this field, there are still so many questions left unanswered about the brain. One such question pertains to how animals and humans perceive stimuli from the environmental periphery, a neuroscience sub-area known as sensory processing.

By design, humans have neurological states and receptors which organically take in all of these stimuli and decipher them for everyday needs. Sensory input enables subjects to perform …

Innovative Foundation Alternative Inspired From Tree Roots, Macie Larranaga

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

It is not easy to find a more efficient foundation system than the roots of a tree. Trees create a vast three-dimensional network of roots to support and anchor the critical above-ground trunks, leaves, and limbs. In this work, investigations are made for the feasibility of imitating such a technique and creating similar networks to support civil infrastructure, particularly those subjected to moment loads such as traffic signal posts. Some of the raised questions were: Is it feasible to have a shallow tree root-based foundation system to provide the same capacities as conventional foundation alternatives? If this is feasible: What …

Measuring Engineering Students' Engagement In Sustainability Design Concepts, Karen Aide Perez

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Within industries, governments, and accreditation organizations, there has been a push to incorporate sustainability concepts into their models. Universities like Boise State University (BSU) have already begun to place greater emphasis in inclusion of sustainability concepts in different engineering department curricula. As part of this effort, BSU plans to redesign courses to integrate sustainability concepts using active learning modules (ALMs) suited for each grade level and discipline. The effectiveness of these modules will be evaluated across disciplines. In support of this larger goal, the work in this study will specifically focus on mechanical engineering students.

A survey instrument was developed …

Study As Form-Of-Life: Meditations On Schooling, Enjoyment, And The Inoperative Life, Bryan K. Weeks

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this thesis is to explore what potential that the concept of 'inoperativity' has in the philosophy and theory of education. I will discuss the method of critique used which aims to think through the problems in existing theory rather than discard good thinking when problems are found. The strengths and weaknesses of deschooling and democratic approaches will be at the center of this critique. As a response to the weaknesses of both, the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas, focusing on the way that interiority and enjoyment are essential concepts for the philosophy of education, as well as Giorgio …

Towards Sustainable Cities: Life Cycle Cost Analysis Of The Construction Of A Novel Wastewater Management System, Bibhas B. Tanmoy

Theses and Dissertations

Wastage of water is one of the most common environmental issues in the modern era. However, if this level of usage can be controlled, or recirculated properly, the wastage can be lowered down to a very minimum. In the conventional residential plumbing system, blackwater and greywater gets mixed and goes through the same sewage pipe. This mixture turns the whole wastewater amount into blackwater, which requires complex treatment before discharge. Greywater on the other hand can be discharged to waterbodies requiring almost zero treatment. In this study, a new wastewater management method is proposed where the plumbing system is split …

Tree Ring Reconstructions Of Streamflow For The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, Adedolapo Mutiyat Adeyanju

Theses and Dissertations

The Rio Grande River is a major water source for people living within the USA-Mexico border. The Rio Grande River has its headwaters in the San Juan Mountains in Colorado and the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico before flowing into Texas through El-Paso. The water supply issues facing the Lower Rio Grande Basin (LRGB) are extremely complex from international restrictions to severe climate change. The river shares its flow between the U.S.A and Mexico based on the provisions of the 1944 treaty between the U.S.A and Mexico. The LRGB flow is regulated by releases from Falcon and Amistad Reservoirs managed …

Tap Water Disinfection In The Electrochemical Precipitation Process By Using Novel Conductive Concrete, Md Shoriful Islam

Theses and Dissertations

Electrochemical precipitation (EP) is tested to learn about its impact on disinfectants in tap water. The EP process involves applying electricity through electrodes submerged in water to precipitate dissolved metals like water hardness out without chemical additives. In the study, tap water was tested to learn about EP’s impact on disinfectants. Tap water contains not only hardness but also residual disinfectants. It is very essential for the safety of drinking water against the potential ingress of pathogens before the water reaches the end-users. USEPA mandates that the free chlorine level in drinking water should be 0.2mg/L to 4 mg/L. …

Feature Analysis Of Indus Valley And Dravidian Language Scripts With Similarity Matrices, Sarat Sasank Barla, Sai Surya Sanjay Alamuru, Peter Revesz

School of Computing: Conference and Workshop Papers

This paper investigates the similarity between the Indus Valley script and the Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu scripts that are used to write Dravidian languages. The closeness of these scripts is determined by applying a feature analysis of each sign of these scripts and creating similarity matrices that describe the similarity of any pair of signs from two different scripts. The feature list that we use for the analysis of these Dravidian language-related scripts includes six new features beyond the thirteen features that were used for the study of Minoan Linear A and related scripts by Revesz. These new features …

Tissue-Engineered Living Pulmonary Valve For Young Adult Patients, Erica Hoskins

All Theses

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a non-communicable disease responsible for 659,000 deaths annually in the United States. While CVD can affect all components of the cardiovascular system, heart valve disease is responsible for 25,000 deaths yearly. Of specific interest is the pulmonary valve since there is limited research on resolving pathologies that affect it. Like the aortic and mitral valves, common pathologies include stenosis, regurgitation, and atresia. Notably, the pulmonary valve requires repair and replacement in pediatric patients and young adults due to congenital disabilities. Even with technological advances in valve replacements, limitations still present themselves for use with younger patients …

Using In Vitro, In Silico, And In-Classroom Techniques To Address The Gender Data Gap In Health Care, Kelsey Watts

All Dissertations

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide in males (XY) and females (XX). Prior to menopause, females have a relative protection against serious cardiac pathologies compared to age-matched males. This phenomenon is widely attributed to the ovarian hormone estrogen. Unfortunately, hormone replacement therapy to maintain estrogen levels in postmenopausal females has overall adverse effects, and it is not recommended for long-term use or as a preventative measure for eCVDs. A major driver of CVDs, specifically heart failure, is cardiac fibrosis: the continued buildup of scar tissue that reduces the heart’s ability to pump. There are currently no …

Integration Of Techno-Economic Analysis (Tea) And Life Cycle Assessment (Lca) For Sustainable Process Design, Roksana Mahmud

All Dissertations

For sustainable design, technology developers need to consider not only technical and economic aspects but also potential environmental impacts while developing new technologies. Techno-economic analysis (TEA) evaluates the technical performance and economic feasibility of a technology. Life cycle assessment (LCA) evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated with a product system throughout its life cycle from raw material extraction to disposal. Generally, TEA and LCA are performed separately for technology assessment. Understanding of the trade-off between economic and environmental performances is crucial for sustainable process design, which is not fully available if TEA and LCA is performed separately. In contrast, integration …

Tessellated Structural-Architectural Systems: Experimental Testing And Interdisciplinary Student Projects, Grace F. Crocker

All Dissertations

This dissertation discusses a new structural system called a Tessellated Structural-Architectural (TeSA) system. These TeSA systems utilize architecturally appealing tessellations in load-bearing structures comprised of interlocking tiles in a pattern. This dissertation focuses on the design, construction, and structural behavior of these TeSA systems, as well as their value as an interdisciplinary learning tool.

This dissertation has 4 research objectives: 1) Demonstrate the fabrication and construction of a precast reinforced concrete (RC) TeSA shear wall system; 2) Measure the structural performance of the RC TeSA shear wall system; 3) Compare simplified shear and flexural analysis methods for RC TeSA shear …

Fabrication Of Lab-Scale Polymeric And Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticle-Enabled Thin Film Composite Reverse Osmosis Membranes For Potable Reuse Applications, Timothy J. Dinh

Master's Theses

Reverse osmosis (RO) is widely used for water reclamation and is one of the most feasible technologies for addressing water scarcity around the world. RO membrane fabrication procedures are continually being optimized and modified to enhance the treatment performance and efficacy of the RO process. A review of the existing literature published on membrane fabrication revealed that a detailed and reproducible methodology consistent among prior studies was not available. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to utilize techniques from prior research to develop a reliable lab-scale membrane fabrication process for studying the potable reuse applications of TFC RO …

Integrated Grating Couplers On-A-Chip: Characterizations And Applications, Xuemei Wang

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

We demonstrate two applications based on grating coupled phase matching to a slab waveguide: lab-on-a-chip spectrometer using a transversely chirped grating and indoor lidar plenoptic sensor array for Time of flight (ToF) position mapping system. In the first application, a chirped grating waveguide coupler serves as a spatially dependent narrow-band filter. The transversely-chirped-input grating is fabricated on a SiO₂-Si₃N₄-SiO₂ waveguide atop a Si substrate by interferometric lithography. Light with wavelength from 400- nm to 700 nm couples into Si₃N₄ waveguide through transversely chirped grating incident at a 33.5⁰ angle and …

Land Use/ Land Cover Change Patterns And Trends In Two Dryland Regions, Omar Sulaiman Belhaj

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Development and climate change affect the environment in numerous ways and to varyingdegrees. This effect appears prominent and more influential in arid regions. Therefore, land use/ land cover in these regions experience profound changes such as plant cover decrease and extinction of some plant species. Also, land use/ land cover in these regions has critical impacts on the environment and its components, such as shrublands shrinking and losing the habitat of animal species. The degree of changes and effects reaches severe levels that become urgent to figure out the impacts and find solutions to stop or mitigate the negative consequences. …

Characterization Of 3d Stereolithography (Sla) Printed Polymer For Autonomous-Flow Microfluidic Devices, Michelle Gamboa

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

3D Stereolithography (SLA) printing is a high-throughput, precise and reproducible manufacturing platform which makes it a desirable technique to develop microfluidic devices for bioanalytical applications. However, limited information exists regarding the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the polymer resins used in 3D SLA printing. This project demonstrates the characterization of a commercially available 3D SLA printed resin polymer used to develop an autonomous-flow (self-driven) microfluidic device. In this investigation, time-dependent materials characterization was done on the Formlabs clear V4 resin to observe changes in mechanical and surface properties. The clear, printed polymer was analyzed with attenuated total reflectance (ATR), …

Multi-Material/Fiber/Particulate Selective Laser Sintering System Capable Of Local Composition Control And Material Gradients, Jonathan James Slager

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Multi-material (M2) manufacturing with functional gradients and local composition control (LCC) is an emerging technology with high demand in numerous industries. This research investigated multi-material technology that has potential impact to joint implants, synthetic joints, and damage resistant parts. Novel manufacturing subsystems within established selective laser sintering (SLS) additive manufacturing processes were pioneered to enable printing M2 parts with LCC and functionally graded materials. Powder bed fusion (PBF) material blends consisting of low temperature thermoplastics, low temperature thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), carbon fibers (CF), and hydroxyapatite (HA) particulates were explored to match the designed and tested M2 SLS prototype. M2 sintering, …