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Hands-Free Tree Climbing Machine, Michael Kowalski, Sam Anderson, Matt Chambers, Matt Nelson

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

Team 18 was assembled and approached by Professor Nassersharif to develop a new product. This product was to carry an average individual up a tree at least 20 feet high, hands free. During discussion of the future of the product, the Tree Climbing team was told this device needed to have many different abilities. These abilities include adjustability to climb different size trees ranging from 12 inches in diameter, to 24 inches in diameter. The development of such a device needed to be researched, designed, and constructed within a budget of $300. To begin the process, a previous design was …

Static Electricity Generator, Trevor Bode, Evan George, Dylan Humphries, Jonathan Calico

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

KVH industries is a leader in telecommunications devices and has been known for world renowned satellite dishes. The company has set out to resolve every issue from software development to mechanical hardware. Recently, KVH has set upon a new endeavor which is to solve a problem with respect to a given theory discovered by deterioration of electric motors’ bearings used on satellite systems across Earth’s inner orbit. The theory is led to believe that there is a correlation between solar flares and bearing failures. The failures in the bearings are believed to be caused by the solar flares releasing a …

Automated Inspection Machine, Kevin Supino, William Santosuosso, Jordan Barbosa, Sindio Freitas, Evan Poland

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

Greystone of Lincoln approached URI Students with a problem statement hoping that they could work on a solution for a specific issue. They wanted to work with a team to design and build an Automated Inspection System capable of detecting and removing chips inside of a fuel union. These fuel unions are used for automotive applications, and are supplied to some of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers, so it is imperative that these fuel unions have no defects when they are shipped. The current Quality Control process employed at Greystone involves a worker checking every part that is manufactured by …

Optimization Of Structural Shapes To Minimize Drag And Increase Efficiency, Douglas Dean, Kevin Noonan, Joshua Tyler, Matthew Vittori

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

Nautical vessels are of huge importance as they are used for a vast amount of tasks all over the world. There are many characteristics that are desired in a nautical vessel stability, drag, and lift being the more important ones. Our team was challenged by Raytheon to optimize a structural shape focusing on minimizing drag and increasing stability for maritime applications.

After a few meetings Raytheon and the team deciding to apply this challenge to a boat hull as they are used in several applications. An engineering analysis with research and testing was used to find the best features to …

Hexagon Surface Finish Probe, Andrew Clements, Andrew Mclinden, Jonathan Mullen, Cristian Witcher

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

For the project “Hexagon Surface Finish Probe” the team assigned, team 4, was required to design a bracket, mounted on a 5mm diameter rod, to be converted from an optical z-sensor into a stylus profilometer. Hexagon approached the team to convert their existing surface roughness measurement machines which only used lasers, into an apparatus that combined both the accuracy of the lasers, and a stylus probe which would contact the surface. The newly designed system would correct for the shortcomings of the laser and allow for a more complete measurement of the surface. The team began the project by conducting …

Speaking Our Peace: Celebrating Twenty Years Of Women Of Color Feminist Transnational Knowledge Production In Meridians, Ginetta E. B. Candelario

Study of Women, Gender, & Sexuality: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Bridging The Expertise Of Advocates And Academics To Identify Reproductive Justice Learning Outcomes, Charisse M. Loder, Leah Minadeo, Laura Jimenez, Zakiya Luna, Loretta Ross, Nancy Rosenbloom, Caren M. Stalburg, Lisa H. Harris

Study of Women, Gender, & Sexuality: Faculty Publications

Phenomenon: Reproductive justice (RJ) is defined by women of color advocates as the right to have children, not have children and parent children while maintaining reproductive autonomy. In the United States, physicians have been complicit in multiple historical reproductive injustices, involving coercive sterilization of thousands of people of color, low income, and disabilities. Currently, reproductive injustices continue to occur; however, physicians have no formal RJ medical education to address injustices. The objective of this study was to engage leading advocates within the movement using a Delphi method to identify critical components for such a curriculum. Approach: In 2016, we invited …

Revisiting The Epistemic Terrains Of Gender, Sex, And Empowerment Through Four Sites Of Engagement In India: Introducing A Conversation, Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt, Richa Nagar, Amanda Gilbertson, Ahonaa Roy, Annie Mccarthy

Study of Women, Gender, & Sexuality: Faculty Publications

Knowledges that claim to end oppression and marginaliza- tion frequently end up feeding the same hierarchies that produce those oppressions. In the academy and in the development industry, it is not uncommon for ‘local’ or ‘subaltern’ knowledges to be positioned as ‘raw data’ to be utilised by the formally certified intellectual or expert, and even presented sometimes as obstacles to development goals that may have been imported from elsewhere . This introduction serves as an opening to a ‘conversation’ among five scholars who have different yet overlapping engage- ments with the complex terrain of knowledge-making on sex and gender, based …

Regresando A La Creación: Reflexiones Teológicas Sobre Principios Básicos De La Hermenéutica Bíblica Aplicada A La Ordenación De La Mujer, Jiri Moskala

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Prospective Teachers' Interpretations Of Mathematical Reasoning, Hyejin Park, Marta T. Magiera

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

Calls for teaching school mathematics with a focus on mathematical reasoning (MR) are included in curricular documents across the world, but little is known how prospective teachers (PSTs) understand MR. In this paper, we report on a study in which we engaged 24 PSTs preparing to teach grades 1-8 in analyzing a series of student-generated arguments for evidence of student reasoning with a focus on student-provided justifications. We examined PSTs’ interpretations of MR prior to and after instruction. Our results showed that PSTs interpreted MR broadly in terms of student thinking, validating thinking, problem-solving, connecting ideas, or sense-making. Some PSTs …

Prospective K-8 Teachers' Problem Posing: Interpretations Of Tasks That Promote Mathematical Argumentation, Marta T. Magiera

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

This study examines pre-service teachers’ (PSTs’) views of tasks that engage students in mathematical argumentation. Data were collected in two different mathematics courses for elementary school education majors (n = 51 total PSTs). Analyzed were (a) written journals in which PSTs defined tasks that promote student engagement in argumentation, (b) tasks PSTs posed to engage students in mathematical argumentation, and (c) accompanying explanations in which PSTs motivated tasks they posed. The analysis revealed that PSTs interpret tasks that foster argumentation in terms of activities of argumentation that a task elicits and space for argumentation that the task provides. Several features …

Internet Of Things For Sustainable Community Development: Introduction And Overview, Abdul Salam

Computer Information Technology Faculty Publications

The two-third of the city-dwelling world population by 2050 poses numerous global challenges in the infrastructure and natural resource management domains (e.g., water and food scarcity, increasing global temperatures, and energy issues). The IoT with integrated sensing and communication capabilities has the strong potential for the robust, sustainable, and informed resource management in the urban and rural communities. In this chapter, the vital concepts of sustainable community development are discussed. The IoT and sustainability interactions are explained with emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and communication technologies. Moreover, IoT opportunities and challenges are discussed in the context of sustainable community …

Internet Of Things For Water Sustainability, Abdul Salam

Computer Information Technology Faculty Publications

The water is a finite resource. The issue of sustainable withdrawal of freshwater is a vital concern being faced by the community. There is a strong connection between the energy, food, and water which is referred to as water-food-energy nexus. The agriculture industry and municipalities are struggling to meet the demand of water supply. This situation is particularly exacerbated in the developing countries. The projected increase in world population requires more fresh water resources. New technologies are being developed to reduce water usage in the field of agriculture (e.g., sensor guided autonomous irrigation management systems). Agricultural water withdrawal is also …

Internet Of Things For Sustainable Forestry, Abdul Salam

Computer Information Technology Faculty Publications

Forests and grasslands play an important role in water and air purification, prevention of the soil erosion, and in provision of habitat to wildlife. Internet of Things has a tremendous potential to play a vital role in the forest ecosystem management and stability. The conservation of species and habitats, timber production, prevention of forest soil degradation, forest fire prediction, mitigation, and control can be attained through forest management using Internet of Things. The use and adoption of IoT in forest ecosystem management is challenging due to many factors. Vast geographical areas and limited resources in terms of budget and equipment …

Internet Of Things For Sustainable Human Health, Abdul Salam

Computer Information Technology Faculty Publications

The sustainable health IoT has the strong potential to bring tremendous improvements in human health and well-being through sensing, and monitoring of health impacts across the whole spectrum of climate change. The sustainable health IoT enables development of a systems approach in the area of human health and ecosystem. It allows integration of broader health sub-areas in a bigger archetype for improving sustainability in health in the realm of social, economic, and environmental sectors. This integration provides a powerful health IoT framework for sustainable health and community goals in the wake of changing climate. In this chapter, a detailed description …

Internet Of Things In Sustainable Energy Systems, Abdul Salam

Computer Information Technology Faculty Publications

Our planet has abundant renewable and conventional energy resources but technological capability and capacity gaps coupled with water-energy needs limit the benefits of these resources to citizens. Through IoT technology solutions and state-of-the-art IoT sensing and communications approaches, the sustainable energy-related research and innovation can bring a revolution in this area. Moreover, by the leveraging current infrastructure, including renewable energy technologies, microgrids, and power-to-gas (P2G) hydrogen systems, the Internet of Things in sustainable energy systems can address challenges in energy security to the community, with a minimal trade-off to environment and culture. In this chapter, the IoT in sustainable energy …

Internet Of Things In Water Management And Treatment, Abdul Salam

Computer Information Technology Faculty Publications

The goal of the water security IoT chapter is to present a comprehensive and integrated IoT based approach to environmental quality and monitoring by generating new knowledge and innovative approaches that focus on sustainable resource management. Mainly, this chapter focuses on IoT applications in wastewater and stormwater, and the human and environmental consequences of water contaminants and their treatment. The IoT applications using sensors for sewer and stormwater monitoring across networked landscapes, water quality assessment, treatment, and sustainable management are introduced. The studies of rate limitations in biophysical and geochemical processes that support the ecosystem services related to water quality …

Internet Of Things For Sustainability: Perspectives In Privacy, Cybersecurity, And Future Trends, Abdul Salam

Computer Information Technology Faculty Publications

In the sustainability IoT, the cybersecurity risks to things, sensors, and monitoring systems are distinct from the conventional networking systems in many aspects. The interaction of sustainability IoT with the physical world phenomena (e.g., weather, climate, water, and oceans) is mostly not found in the modern information technology systems. Accordingly, actuation, the ability of these devices to make changes in real world based on sensing and monitoring, requires special consideration in terms of privacy and security. Moreover, the energy efficiency, safety, power, performance requirements of these device distinguish them from conventional computers systems. In this chapter, the cybersecurity approaches towards …

Treatment Of Bakken Produced Water Using Supercritical Water Desalination, Joshua Oloruntimilehin Oluwayomi

Theses and Dissertations

Recent advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have significantly increased freshwater usage. Oil and gas wells in the United States tend to generate over 23 billion barrels of produced water per year of which about 32 million b/day are high total dissolved solids (TDS > 200,000 mg/L) while the world is gradually running short of fresh water. Environmental concerns associated with water usage and concentrated wastewater disposal have led to the growing consideration to treat and recycle brine for reusable purposes like crop irrigation, livestock watering and hydraulic fracturing.

In this study, an emerging and promising technology called supercritical water …

An Autoencoder And Artificial Neural Network-Based Method To Estimate Parity Status Of Wild Mosquitoes From Mear-Infrared Spectra, Masabho Peter Milali, Samson S. Kiware, Nicodem J. Govella, Fredros Okumu, Naveen K. Bansal, Serdar Bozdag, Jacques D. Charlwood, Marta F. Maia, Sheila B. Ogoma, Floyd E. Dowell, George Corliss, Maggy T. Sikulu-Lord, Richard J. Povinelli

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

After mating, female mosquitoes need animal blood to develop their eggs. In the process of acquiring blood, they may acquire pathogens, which may cause different diseases in humans such as malaria, zika, dengue, and chikungunya. Therefore, knowing the parity status of mosquitoes is useful in control and evaluation of infectious diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, where parous mosquitoes are assumed to be potentially infectious. Ovary dissections, which are currently used to determine the parity status of mosquitoes, are very tedious and limited to few experts. An alternative to ovary dissections is near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), which can estimate the age in days …

Cosmic: Us-Based Conversion Master's Degree In Computing, Gary S. Krenz, Thomas Kaczmarek

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

COSMIC is an NSF S-STEM graduate curriculum initiative/conversion program that strives to provide an accelerated pathway to a Master of Science (MS) degree for individuals who do not have an undergraduate degree in computing, but who wish to cross over into the computing field. The structure of our conversion program, the context that motivated it, and insights from conversion students' instructors are presented. Program successes with students from under-represented populations and the limitations that are also experienced are discussed. Our conversion program is based on a highly focused summer bridge course, combined with a customized curriculum pathway that enables people …

A New Flexible Bathtub-Shaped Modification Of The Weibull Model: Properties And Applications, Qinghu Liao, Zubair Ahmad, Eisa Mahmoudi, Gholamhossein Hamedani

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

Many studies have suggested the modifications and generalizations of the Weibull distribution to model the nonmonotone hazards. In this paper, we combine the logarithms of two cumulative hazard rate functions and propose a new modified form of the Weibull distribution. The newly proposed distribution may be called a new flexible extended Weibull distribution. Corresponding hazard rate function of the proposed distribution shows flexible (monotone and nonmonotone) shapes. Three different characterizations along with some mathematical properties are provided. We also consider the maximum likelihood estimation procedure to estimate the model parameters. For the illustrative purposes, two real applications from reliability engineering …

Colored Multipermutations And A Combinatorial Generalization Of Worpitzky’S Identity, John Engbers, Jay Pantone, Christopher Stocker

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

A New Generalized-Upper Record Values-G Family Of Lifetime Distributions, Omid Kharizmi, Ali Saadatinik, Gholamhossein Hamedani

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

A new family of lifetime distributions is introduced via distribution of the upper record values, the well-known concept in survival analysis and reliability engineering. Some important properties of the proposed model including quantile function, hazard function, order statistics are obtained in a general setting. A special case of this new family is proposed by considering the exponential and Weibull distribution as the parent distributions. In addition estimating unknown parameters of specialized distribution is examined from the perspective of the traditional statistics. A simulation study is presented to investigate the bias and mean square error of the maximum likelihood estimators. Moreover, …

Marshall-Olkin Power Lomax Distribution: Properties And Estimation Based On Complete And Censored Samples, Muhammad Ahsan Ul Haq, Gholamhossein Hamedani, M. Elgarhy, Pedro Luiz Ramos

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

We study a new distribution called the Marshall-Olkin Power Lomax distribution. A comprehensive account of its mathematical properties including explicit expressions for the ordinary moments, moment generating function, order statistics, Renyi entropy, and probability weighted moments are derived. The model parameters are estimated by the method of maximum likelihood. Monte Carlo simulation study is carried out to estimate the parameters and the performance of the estimates is judged via the average biases and mean squared error values. The usefulness of the proposed model is illustrated via real-life data set.

Cubic Rank Transmuted Modified Burr Iii Distribution: Development, Properties, Characterizations And Applications, Fiaz Ahmad Bhatti, Gholamhossein Hamedani, Seyed Morteza Najibi, Munir Ahmad

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

We propose a lifetime distribution with flexible hazard rate called cubic rank transmuted modified Burr III (CRTMBIII) distribution. We develop the proposed distribution on the basis of the cubic ranking transmutation map. The density function of CRTMBIII is symmetrical, right-skewed, left-skewed, exponential, arc, J and bimodal shaped. The flexible hazard rate of the proposed model can accommodate almost all types of shapes such as unimodal, bimodal, arc, increasing, decreasing, decreasing-increasing-decreasing, inverted bathtub and modified bathtub. To show the importance of proposed model, we present mathematical properties such as moments, incomplete moments, inequality measures, residual life function and stress strength reliability …

Characterizations Of Three (2020) Introduced Discrete Distributions, Gholamhossein Hamedani, Shirin Nezampour

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

The problem of characterizing a probability distribution is an important problem which has attracted the attention of many researchers in the recent years. To understand the behavior of the data obtained through a given process, we need to be able to describe this behavior via its approximate probability law. This, however, requires to establish conditions which govern the required probability law. In other words we need to have certain conditions under which we may be able to recover the probability law of the data. So, characterization of a distribution plays an important role in applied sciences, where an investigator is …

Characterizations Of The New Poisson-Weighted Exponential And The Exponentiated Weibull-Geometric Discrete Distributions, Gholamhossein Hamedani

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

Certain characterizations of the new Poisson-weighted exponentiated and the exponentiated Weibull-geometric discrete distributions introduced by Altun(2019) and by Famoye(2019), respectively, are presented here with the intention of completing, in some way, their works.

Odd Generalized N-H Generated Family Of Distributions With Application To Exponential Model, Zubair Ahmad, M. Elgarhy, Gholamhossein Hamedani, Nadeem Shafique Butt

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

A new family of distributions called the odd generalized N-H is introduced and studied. Four new special models are presented. Some mathematical properties of the odd generalized N-H family are studied. Explicit expressions for the moments, probability weighted, quantile function, mean deviation, order statistics and Rényi entropy are investigated. Characterizations based on the truncated moments, hazard function and conditional expectations are presented for the generated family. Parameter estimates of the family are obtained based on maximum likelihood procedure. Two real data sets are employed to show the usefulness of the new family.

Paleohydrology And Machine-Assisted Estimation Of Paleogeomorphology Of Fluvial Channels Of The Lower Middle Pennsylvanian Allegheny Formation, Birch River, Wv, Oluwasegun O. Abatan, Amy Weislogel

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Rivers transport sediments in a source to sink system while responding to allogenic controls of the depositional system. Stacked fluvial sandstones of the Middle Pennsylvanian (Desmoinesian Stage, ∼310–306 Ma) Allegheny Formation (MPAF) exposed at Birch River, West Virginia exhibit change in sedimentary structure and depositional style, reflecting changes in allogenic behavior. Paleohydrologic and numerical analysis were used to quantify geomorphological and paleohydrologic variations reflected by MPAF fluvial deposits with the goal of understanding the controls on resulting fluvial sandstone architecture in these different systems. Channel body geometry, sedimentary structures, and sandstone grain size distribution were used to reconstruct the paleoslope …