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Aluminum-Free Steel Alloys And Methods For Making The Same, Daniel Morye Field, David C. Van Aken

Patents

Disclosed herein are TRIP (transformation induced plasticity) steel alloy thin metal strips or, stated differently, high strength, high ductility steel alloy thin metal strips formed of a composition described herein, being substantially free or free of aluminum. In being substantially free, the aluminum content is equal to or less than 0.01 % by weight.

Hot Rolled Light-Gauge Martensitic Steel Sheet And Method For Making The Same, James W. Watson, Paul Kelly, David C. Van Aken, Christopher Ronald Killmore

Patents

A hot rolled light - gauge martensitic steel sheet made by the steps comprising : ( a ) preparing a molten steel melt comprising : ( i ) by weight , between 0.20 % and 0.35 % carbon , less than 1.0 % chromium , between 0.7 % and 2.0 % manganese , between 0.10 % and 0.50% silicon , between 0.1 % and 1.0 % copper , less than 0.05 % niobium , less than 0.5 % molybdenum , and silicon killed containing less than 0.01 % aluminum , and ( ii ) the remainder iron and impurities result …

Fiber Assisted Re-Cross-Linkable Polymer Gel And Preformed Particle Gels For Fluid Loss And Conformance Control, Baojun Bai, Ze Wang, Zhe Sun, Jingyang Pu, Thomas P. Schuman

Patents

Described herein are compositions useful for controlling fluid flow, for example in a target zone of a subterranean environment, and methods of forming and using the same. The composition generally comprises a quantity of fibers and a quantity of swellable particles, which may be dispersed in a carrier fluid. The composition may be synthesized in the form of a bulk gel or may be gelatinated during use. The fibers in the compositions provide improved performance as compared to prior PPG and RPPG particle containing compositions. Specifically, the compositions reinforce the re-cross-linked/re-associated hydrogel plug in underground features and support proper rehydration …

Distributed Process State And Input Estimation For Heterogeneous Active/Passive Sensor Networks, Dzung Minh Duc Tran, Tansel Yucelen, Selahattin Burak Sarsilmaz

Patents

Systems and methods are described for estimating a state of a process and an input to the process using a sensor network. Each sensor node in the sensor network is directly to one or more adjacent sensor nodes and indirectly coupled to the remaining sensor nodes through the one or more adjacent sensor nodes. Each sensor node iteratively calculates a new estimated state based on estimations of the state and the input to the process calculated by the sensor node in a previous iteration. The new estimated state is then adjusted based on a difference between a predicted and actual …

Re-Crosslinking Particle Gel For Co2 Compliance Control And Co2 Filtration Blocking, Yifu Long, Baojun Bai, Thomas P. Schuman

Patents

The present invention generally relates to the composition of particle gels for CO2 - EOR and CO2 storage . More particularly , CO2 resistant particle gels are provided that can re - crosslink at subterranean conditions . These particle gels can be deployed to improve the conformance of CO , flooding , CO , huff - puff , or Water - Alternative - Gas ( WAG ) . The applications may also involve CO2 storage , such as the blocking of CO2 leakage and similar CO2 processing .

3d Printed Zeolite Monoliths For Co2 Capture, Fateme Rezaei, Harshul V. Thakkar

Patents

Carbon dioxide (CO2 ) capture materials comprising one or more 3D-printed zeolite monoliths for the capture and or removal of CO2 from air or gases in enclosed compartments, including gases or mixtures of gases having less than about 5% CO2 . Methods for preparing 3D-printed zeolite monoliths useful as CO2 capture materials and filters, as well as methods of removing CO2 from a gas or mixture of gases in an enclosed compartment using 3D-printed zeolite monoliths are provided.

Sars-Cov-2 Vaccine: First-Month Results Of A Six-Month Follow-Up Study, Burak Mete, Ferdi̇ Tanir, Hakan Demi̇rhi̇ndi̇, Ertan Kara, Fi̇li̇z Ki̇bar, Sali̇h Çeti̇ner, Aslihan Candevi̇r, Rabi̇a Adevi̇yye Dal

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Various COVID-19 vaccines are being developed around the world. Important questions to be answered regarding vaccines are efficacy, safety, and whether antibodies are protective when used in different communities. This study aimed to determine seroconversion rates of the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in healthcare workers in a hospital and short-term adverse events due to the vaccine. Materials and methods: The study carried out in Çukurova University, Turkey, comprised of 282 healthcare workers who received two doses of the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine administered in two 3 μg doses, 28 days apart. On day 28, after the second dose, anti- S-RBD IgG …

The Effects Of A Combination Treatment With Mesenchymal Stem Cell And Platelet-Rich Plasma On Tendon Healing: An Experimental Study, İlker Uyar, Zeynep Altuntaş, Siddika Findik, Mehmet Emi̇n Cem Yildirim, Serhat Yarar, Murat Aktan, Ahmet Avci

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects that the application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) following tendon repair have on the strength and healing of the tendon and also to examine the possible mechanisms of action that take place. Materials and methods: The Achilles tendons of 80 rats were repaired and divided into eight groups. Following the repairs, MSCs obtained from humans were injected into the rat tendons in groups 1 and 2, a combination of MSCs from humans and PRP from rats was injected into the tendons in groups 3 and …

Striatal Dopaminergic Neurons As A Potential Target For Gdnf Based Ischemic Stroke Therapy, Mustafa Çağlar Beker, Merve Beker, Ahmet Burak Çağlayan, Busenur Bolat, Ülkan Kiliç, Gamze Köse, Ertuğrul Kiliç

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Glial cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a well-known regulatory neurotrophic factor on dopaminergic neurons. Several pathologies have been documented so far in case of any impairment in the dopaminergic system. This study aimed to investigate the potential protective role of lentiviral GNDF delivery on the small population of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive dopamine producing striatal neurons after ischemic stroke. Materials and methods: Fourteen C57BL/6J male mice (8-10 weeks) were intracerebrally treated with lentiviral GDNF (Lv-GDNF) or vehicle. Ten days after injections, cerebral ischemia was induced by blockage of the middle cerebral artery. Animals were terminated 72 h after ischemia, …

Experimental Investigation Of Asphaltene Deposition And Its Impact On Oil Recovery In Eagle Ford Shale During Miscible And Immiscible Co2huff-N-Puff Gas Injection, Mukhtar Elturki, Abdulmohsin Imqam

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

One of the challenges in extracting oil from unconventional resources using hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling techniques is the low primary recovery rate, which is caused by the ultra-small permeability of these resources. Consequently, it is essential to investigate gas injection methods to produce the trapped oil in shale formations. However, the injection process can cause asphaltene depositions inside the reservoir, leading to plugging of pores and oil recovery (OR) reduction. There has been limited research on using gas injection techniques to improve oil production in tight/unconventional resources, although carbon dioxide (CO2) and gas-enhanced oil recovery methods have been used …

Question 1: Space Telescope; Question 2: Jwst2, Larry Weinstein

Physics Faculty Publications

[Introduction] Space telescope

Question 1: If the James Webb Space Telescope could be turned to face Earth, how small an object could it resolve? How does that compare to the Hubble Space Telescope? ...

Question 2: How much heat from Earth is blocked by the Sun and Earth shade of the James Webb Space Telescope? ...

Question: While I was at a Norfolk Tides baseball game, a foul ball landed in the section above me and showered some of my friends with beer. What is the probability of a foul ball landing directly in a cup of beer during one …

Modified Vaccinia Ankara Expressing Eehv1a Glycoprotein B Elicits Humoral And Cell-Mediated Immune Responses In Mice, Taylor Pursell, Jennifer L Spencer Clinton, Jie Tan, Rongsheng Peng, Paul D Ling

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) can cause lethal hemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD) in Asian elephants and is the largest cause of death in captive juvenile Asian elephants in North America and Europe. EEHV-HD also has been documented in captive and wild elephants in their natural range countries. A safe and effective vaccine to prevent lethal EEHV infection would significantly improve conservation efforts for this endangered species. Recent studies from our laboratory suggest that EEHV morbidity and mortality are often associated with primary infection. Therefore, we aim to generate a vaccine, particularly for EEHV1 naïve animals, with the goal of preventing lethal EEHV-HD. …

Clonal Hematopoiesis Analyses In Clinical, Epidemiologic, And Genetic Aging Studies To Unravel Underlying Mechanisms Of Age-Related Dysfunction In Humans, Kenneth Walsh, Nalini Raghavachari, Candace Kerr, Alexander G Bick, Steven R Cummings, Todd Druley, Cynthia E Dunbar, Giulio Genovese, Margaret A Goodell, Siddhartha Jaiswal, Jaroslaw Maciejewski, Pradeep Natarajan, Anastasia V Shindyapina, Alan R Shuldiner, Erik B Van Den Akker, Jan Vijg

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Aging is characterized by increased mortality, functional decline, and exponential increases in the incidence of diseases such as cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, respiratory disease, etc. Though the role of aging in these diseases is widely accepted and considered to be a common denominator, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. A significant age-related feature observed in many population cohorts is somatic mosaicism, the detectable accumulation of somatic mutations in multiple cell types and tissues, particularly those with high rates of cell turnover (e.g., skin, liver, and hematopoietic cells). Somatic mosaicism can lead to the development of cellular clones that …

Using Zero-Knowledge To Reconcile Law Enforcement Secrecy And Fair Trial Rights In Criminal Cases, Dor Bitan, Ron Canetti, Shafi Goldwasser, Rebecca Wexler

Faculty Scholarship

The use of hidden investigative software to collect evidence of crimes presents courts with a recurring dilemma: On the one hand, there is often clear public interest in keeping the software hidden to preserve its effectiveness in fighting crimes. On the other hand, criminal defendants have rights to inspect and challenge the full evidence against them, including law enforcement's investigative methods. In fact, in the U.S. adversarial legal system, the defendant's rights to scrutinize the government's tools are crucial to the truth-seeking process and to keeping law enforcement conduct lawful and constitutional. Presently, courts balance these conflicting interests on a …

Adversarial Scrutiny Of Evidentiary Statistical Software, Rediet Abebe, Moritz Hardt, Angela Jin, John Miller, Ludwig Schmidt, Rebecca Wexler

Faculty Scholarship

The U.S. criminal legal system increasingly relies on software output to convict and incarcerate people. In a large number of cases each year, the government makes these consequential decisions based on evidence from statistical software — such as probabilistic genotyping, environmental audio detection and toolmark analysis tools — that the defense counsel cannot fully cross-examine or scrutinize. This undermines the commitments of the adversarial criminal legal system, which relies on the defense’s ability to probe and test the prosecution’s case to safeguard individual rights.

Responding to this need to adversarially scrutinize output from such software, we propose robust adversarial testing …

Vulnerabilities In Discovery Tech, Neel Guha, Peter Henderson, Diego A. Zambrano

Faculty Scholarship

Recent technological advances are changing the litigation landscape, especially in the discovery context. For nearly two decades, technologies have reinvented document searches in complex litigation, normalizing the use of machine learning algorithms under the umbrella of “Technology-Assisted Review” (“TAR”). The latest technological developments are placing discovery beyond attorney understanding and firmly in the realm of computer science and engineering. As lawyers struggle to keep up, a creeping sense of anxiety is spreading in the legal profession about a lack of transparency and the potential for discovery abuse. Judges, attorneys, bar associations, and scholars warn that lawyers need to closely supervise …

Hands Off The Drawers: Tempo Drawer Lift Cart, Ryan Anderson, Max Hooker, Runcheng (Frank) Li, Phoebe Bills

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

The main objective of this project was to investigate how the drawers of the TEMPO system can be moved in an ergonomic and safe manner. This is done with the bare minimum of human force. To achieve this objective countless meetings were held with Hexagon and visitations to better understand the system and the problem at hand. After these meetings, the team was able to build a prototype that would later be used as a baseline for the upcoming modifications. After modifications were made the team was able to test the design to see how it worked, with respect to …

Optimal Shape Estimation And Methodologies For Towed Undersea Vehicles, Matthew J. Dellavalle, Peter Jasinski, Owen Driskill, Nick Sellers

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

Team 02 in part with Dr. Nassersharif, has been commissioned by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center to provide an optimal design and modeling for towed undersea vehicles. The proposed effort served to study, evaluate, and model the drag for the towing of cylindrical undersea vehicles. This project will model towing configurations for both single and multiple vehicle configurations. Recommendations were also made regarding the propulsion configuration of the leading vehicle. The proposed design solution aimed to achieve a drag coefficient of less than 0.3 to minimize the effect the towed vehicle may have on the range and endurance of its …

Magseal Design And Build Of Seal Testing Device, Ty Bulley, Jake Badick, Nicholas Moshier, Kevin Dusseault, Erick Jellen

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

MAGSEAL has entrusted team 18 “The Challengers” with creating a new system for tribology testing of seals with a 1.5” inner diameter. The device is also expected to work with Team 17’s seal design. Obtaining understanding of seals and tribology testing was vital for a well-designed machine. This knowledge was obtained through literary research and a patent search. After touring the MAGSEAL facility to get an even better understanding of how they currently run tests the team was ready to begin. Each member generated 30 preliminary design concepts for a total of 150. The best designs were selected through QFD …

Effects Of Radiation Dose On Material Properties, Brandon Fogarty, Aidan Sylvester, Emily Veader

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

Conducting experiments is a vital process for any progression. Nuclear science is a complex subject that still requires immense research. With progression in this field there are many technological advancements that are possible. Our student design team has the unique opportunity to help make this process more efficient for the employees at the RINSC.

In collaboration with the RINSC and General Dynamics Electric Boat, our student capstone team will design and implement a machine to make testing more efficient. As of now the RINSC has a tedious process to test the effects of gamma radiation on samples. The reactor pool …

The Pod Rod, Marshall Pollack, Kyle Araujo, James Baccala, Tori Britton

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

Through the filtration process used in Amgen, pods are used to filter out cell particles and extract the protein. These filter pods are disposed of after every filtration process, and the disposal process can take a long time. Employees currently must remove filter pods manually from unsafe heights, which could potentially cause issues. Along with the unsafe heights, the filters weigh around 30 pounds when soiled and two employees currently remove 30 pods per rack with 5 racks in the centrifuge room. Pods are removed one-by-one from multiple levels and placed into a trash bin, which is then wheeled to …

Automated Visual Inspection System, Justin Haddock, Greyson Kennedy, Ben Eason, Keith Stephenson

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

Team 8 was tasked with working collaboratively with Miniature Casting Corporation with the goal of providing assistance to solve a complication within the company’s quality control process. The problem at hand involved solving an issue where manual visual inspection is inefficient for time and costs, by halting not only the quality process, but also the production process. Miniature Casting Corporation currently has a stockpile of parts in their factory that must be inspected. The Rejector Inspector automated visual inspection system will allow them to turn their assets into usable product. The final design consisted of the Keyence Vision Sensor attached …

Automated Pill Dispenser, Amy Chicaiza, Cullen Burns, Akash Shah, Alex Nocera, Jared Brule

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

Team 15 was given a task from Professor Nassersharif. He tasked us with creating an automated pill dispenser that would improve people's lives who have timed medications. This project was given the past few years but our team has redesigned and improved that dispenser. We look to improve on previous designs and widen the market value of our device for customers on the go or sheltered at home. In the Fall 2021 semester we developed concepts for the problem, started to create a prototype to prove how this device can improve lives, and also have used outside data and literature …

Underwater Jet Propulsion Module, Evan Chaffey, Colt Dean, Elvis Garcia, Ryan Vallier

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

Manta rays move through the water by the wing-like movements of their pectoral fins, which drive water backwards. Much like a manta ray, the “Manta Jet”, the underwater module which was developed, was designed to propel itself by driving water in and back out of the impeller inlet. Based on the preliminary design concepts, a test housing was developed to ensure the efficacy of the 200 KV motor, 6-cell Lithium Polymer battery and electronic speed controller. Following the positive findings from the initial testing, design of a full module was initiated. Following the evaluation of multiple iterations of the design, …

Rejected Part Sorting System, Alex Belanger, Ethan Patel, George Wicker, Jacob Carella

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

Greystone as a company manufactures high quantities of tight tolerance metal machined parts. They have several devices at their Lincoln, RI location called Automated Inspection Machines known as AIMs. The problem Greystone presented to the capstone design team is that the defective parts recognized by the AIM are offloaded into a single defect bin. The problem arises that sorting the defects by type is currently a costly and time consuming process that Greystone hopes to automate. Greystone requested that the team’s system works with the existing PLC and RSlogix software used by their AIMs, is portable around their facility, as …

High-Speed Rotation Of Nuclear Fuel Elements In Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Propulsion System Applications, Honghao Zhen, Danny Kruzick, Morgan O'Connor, Anthony Veroline, Collin Treacy

Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects

Team 20 was charged with the responsibility of developing solutions to produce high speed rotations (up to 5000 RPM at full scale) of nuclear fuel rods within a centrifugal nuclear thermal rocket (CNTR) under the guidance of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. With Mars as the next space frontier, NASA is continuing to pursue nuclear capability within their aerospace fleet in order to accomplish the travel distances associated with the red planet (approximately 200x further than the Moon). The current CNTR designs house nineteen nuclear fuel rods within a reactor, providing a continual supply of heat for the rocket’s hydrogen …

Effect Of Trigonometric Transformations On The Machine Learning Prediction And Quality Control Of Air Temperature, Andrea Fenoglio, Torrey J. Wagner, Paul Auclair, Brent T. Langhals

Faculty Publications

Conducting effective quality control of weather observations in real time is vital to the 14th Weather Squadron’s mission of providing authoritative climate data. This study explored automated quality control of weather observations by applying multiple machine learning techniques to 43,487 surface weather observations from 5 years of data at a single location. Temperature predictors were evaluated using recursive feature elimination on linear regression and XGBoost algorithms, as well as using a neural network hyperparameter sweep. Modeling was repeated after calculating trigonometric transforms of temporal variables to give the models insight into the diurnal heating cycle of the Earth. All models …

Teaching Income Inequality With Data-Driven Visualization, Sang T. Truong, Humberto Barreto

School of Business and Leadership Working Papers

The distribution of household income is a central concern in economics due to its strong influence on society’s well-being and social cohesion. Yet, non-expert audiences face serious obstacles in understanding conventional measures of inequality. To effectively communicate the extent of income inequality in the United States, we have developed a novel technique for visualizing income distribution and its dispersion over time by using U.S. household income microdata from the Current Population Survey. The result is a striking dynamic animation of income distribution over time, drawing public attention and encouraging further investigation of income inequality. Detailed implementation is available at https://github.com/sangttruong/incomevis. …