Digital Commons Network^™

Nsf Eec: Establishing Utrgv’S Center For Broadening Participation In Engineering: Engage, Educate, Enrich, Ala Qubbaj, Laura Benitez, Noe Vargas Hernandez, Constantine Tarawneh, Arturo A. Fuentes, Nazmul Islam, Edna Orozco-Leonhardt, Thuy Vu, Angela M. Chapman

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Hispanics are one of the fastest growing populations in the US, yet they are underrepresented in engineering. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), a major Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) with a student population over 95% Hispanic, is well-positioned to address this disparity. UTRGV established a Center for Broadening Participation in Engineering: Engage, Educate, Enrich (CBPE-E3) to enhance Hispanic participation in engineering from early awareness through professional employment. The CBPE -E3 aims to increase enrollment, retention, and advancement rates of Hispanic students in higher education engineering, especially Latinas facing intersectional barriers of race and gender. The CBPE -E3 envisions becoming …

Course Material Or External Factors?: Assessing Student Perceptions That Impede Learning In Engineering Education, Eleazar Marquez, Samuel Garcia Jr.

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Engineering courses are mathematically inclined and rigorous in nature. Numerous pedagogical methods such as communication strategies, learning environments, and visual supplements have been designed and implemented to promote student learning, engagement, and success in rigorous topics. As such, engineering students are encouraged to allot sufficient time to recurrently process lecture notes, attend office hours, or inquire about ambiguous technical content to fully assimilate course material. In this study, students enrolled in two engineering courses (Rigid Body Dynamics and Engineering Analysis) were evaluated to identify which aspects (course material or external factors) generated the most predicaments during a semester span. The …

From Strategy To Setback?: How A New Teaching Method Affected Exam Outcomes In An Engineering Course, Eleazar Marquez, Samuel Garcia Jr.

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Research indicates that student learning, engagement, and success in engineering education is highly attributed to the classroom environment and incorporating visual supplements to enhance the physical understanding of fundamental concepts. Despite the implementation and success of numerous pedagogical strategies in these domains, many universities across the country continue to struggle with retention rates, both at the institutional level and the college of engineering. To address such academic challenges and promote student success in engineering education, the authors in this study attempted an alternative pedagogical scheme in a Rigid Body Dynamics course taught at a Hispanic-serving institution (HIS) in the 2023 …

A Cfd Analysis Of Equipment Fires In An Underground Development Heading For Improved Auxiliary Ventilation Design, Oluwafemi B. Salami, Jurgen F. Brune, Guang Xu

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Abstract: This study investigates the intricacies of equipment fires in a blind development heading of an underground mine using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A series of fire dynamic simulations (FDS) were conducted for various ventilation velocities in the main airway, and with different distance between the auxiliary ventilation duct outlet to the blind working face. The impacts of the ventilation velocity in the main airway, and separation distance between the duct outlet to the blind face on temperature distribution and smoke spread mechanism were investigated. The findings indicate that the distance of the auxiliary ventilation duct outlet to the working …

Enhancing Autonomous Truck Navigation In Underground Mines: A Review Of 3d Object Detection Systems, Challenges, And Future Trends, Ellen Essien, Samuel Frimpong

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Integrating autonomous haulage systems into underground mining has revolutionized safety and operational efficiency. However, deploying 3D detection systems for autonomous truck navigation in such an environment faces persistent challenges due to dust, occlusion, complex terrains, and low visibility. This affects their reliability and real-time processing. While existing reviews have discussed object detection techniques and sensor-based systems, providing valuable insights into their applications, only a few have addressed the unique underground challenges that affect 3D detection models. This review synthesizes the current advancements in 3D object detection models for underground autonomous truck navigation. It assesses deep learning algorithms, fusion techniques, multi-modal …

Assessment Of White Matter Changes Using Quantitative T1Ρ Mapping In An Open-Field Low-Intensity Blast Mouse Model Of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (Mtbi), Dina Moazamian, Shengwen Xie, Jiyo S. Athertya, Qingbo Tang, Roland R. Lee, Eric Y. Chang, Jeffrey M. Tomlin, Catherine E. Johnson, Jiang Du, Yajun Ma

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Blast-induced mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) occurs when shock waves travel through blood vessels and cerebrospinal fluid, leading to cerebral demyelination, which results in cognitive impairments and neuropsychiatric issues that impact quality of life. This study aims to evaluate myelin changes in white matter in mice with mTBI induced by an open-field low-intensity blast (LIB) using a newly implemented 3D adiabatic T1ρ prepared fast spin echo (Adiab-T1ρ-FSE) sequence for quantitative T1ρ MRI mapping. Thirty male C57BL/6 mice, including 15 mTBI and 15 sham controls, were scanned on a 3T Bruker MRI scanner. Luxol fast blue (LFB) staining was performed to …

Belknap County Fair Book 2025, Alison Coleman

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

From Unmotivated To Motivated: Hermeneutic Inquiries Of Experience Of Community-Based Bsw Students In An Innovative Internship Seminar, Hyungjung Shin, Rana Hong, Philip Young P. Hong

Social Work: School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Other Works

Providing a pathway for disadvantaged community college students in social work education aligns with the goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion in social work education. This hermeneutic phenomenological study aims to explore the experiences of an innovative internship seminar incorporating an evidence-based workforce training model, Transforming Impossible into Possible (TIP), in a community college-based bachelor’s of social work program in South Korea. Of the 59 students who attended the TIP-infused social work internship seminar course in Spring 2018, 11 students participated in repeated in-depth interviews. The results revealed the themes of perception changes in self, others, and the lifeworld and …

June 2025, Robert Kelly

Robert Kelly Manuscripts

No abstract provided.

Engineering Microphysiological Systems To Investigate Cellular Responses To Biophysical Cues In Human Tissue Microenvironments, Mehran Mansouri

Theses

Cells constantly sense and respond to biophysical cues in their microenvironment. Understanding how they interpret these mechanical signals is essential for advancing tissue modeling, studying disease mechanisms, and developing more predictive in vitro platforms. This dissertation presents a series of engineered microphysiological systems (MPS) designed to investigate how mechanical stimuli shape cellular behavior in distinct human tissue microenvironments. In Aim 1, I developed a reconfigurable microfluidic platform that mimics key features of human vascular barriers. This system supports the integration of porous membranes, 3D hydrogels, and flow channels, enabling precise control over both mechanical and biochemical cues. The modularity of …

Mechanisms For Oxygen Vacancy Defect Migration In Srtio3/Nio Heterostructures, Anish Rajesh More

Theses

Perovskite-based oxide heterostructures display promising properties resulting from interface phenomena, making them good candidates for next-generation solid oxide fuel cell electrolytes. Amongst the different features exhibited by these interfaces, misfit dislocations play an important role in influencing ionic transport, yet their role remains poorly understood, which is the case in rock salt-perovskite interfaces too. In SrTiO3/NiO heterostructures, to comprehend interface ionic transport, we investigate oxygen vacancy migration near misfit dislocations. To this end, we developed a high-throughput framework that integrates atomistic simulations with nudged elastic band method to predict migration energy barriers across disparate interface atomic environments. By comprehensively mapping …

Identifying Success Characteristics Of First-Generation College Students: A Framework For Early Intervention In K-12 Education., Christopher Harmon

Dissertations

This dissertation examines how K–12 educators can better support first-generation college students by identifying the characteristics that promote success and developing early interventions using Wagner et al.’s (2006) 4 C’s model: Competencies, Conditions, Culture, and Context. Guided by Michael Quinn Patton’s Utilization-Focused Evaluation (UFE), it closely investigates how factors such as family background, academic preparation, finances, and social support shape first-generation students’ capacity to persist and excel in college. The research draws on interviews with first-generation doctoral students, offering a detailed, first-hand account of their educational journeys from early schooling through advanced degrees. Notably, the findings highlight the importance of …

25 Conference Program - Polymer Reaction Engineering Xii, Ivan Konstantinov, Piet Iedema, Mike Grady

Polymer Reaction Engineering XII

No abstract provided.

Drop Ceiling Inspection Robot, Kris Chon, Henry Fang, John Hoang, Kevin Zhang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Theses

Electricians face significant health and safety hazards when inspecting drop ceilings, including exposure to dust, asbestos, and the risk of falls. To address these challenges, this project proposes a lightweight, autonomous robot capable of inspecting drop ceilings and assisting with wire tracing tasks—thereby distancing electricians from hazardous environments. The robot employs tread-based mobility to navigate fragile ceiling panels, integrated ultrasonic sensors and bumpers for obstacle avoidance, and an antenna system to detect and follow energized wire signals. Visual feedback is provided to the operator through a real-time video feed over a secure NoMachine interface, with manual and semi-autonomous operation modes …

Dreamvisions+: Virtualizing Medieval Poetics In Multimedia Performance, Mac Waters

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

DreamVisions+ is a transdigital and transhistorical odyssey into the realm of fiction and truth, reality and virtuality. Rooted in the tradition of late medieval dream-vision poems—wherein religious or political allegories unfold through dreaming protagonists—DreamVisions+ stages a multimedia dream vision of the digital age, reading medieval dream visions as proto–virtual reality. Through the creation and analysis of DreamVisions+, a full-length solo multimedia performance, I synthesize live electroacoustic music, XR technologies, and 3D game environments with medieval textual and visual iconography to construct a porous, unstable dream world that collapses medieval and digital imaginaries.

Situating my work within broader political …

June 2025, Pacific Alumni Association

Alumni News & Events

No abstract provided.

Investigating Terrorist Use Of Improvised Explosive Devices In The United States: Evidence From Us Federal Court Cases, 2009 – 2024, Angie Benda, Austin C. Doctor

Political Science Faculty Publications

Terrorist use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) remains a persistent and evolving threat within the United States. Until now, few data collection and analysis efforts have focused on the systematic capture of terrorist bombing plots and attacks. Filling this evidence gap, this research note presents and analyses an original dataset of US federal charges associated with terrorism-related IED incidents in the United States observed from 2009 through 2024. The data features 110 related cases, the analysis of which indicates a sample peak in the use of IEDs in terrorist incidents occurred in 2024. Incidents are not siloed to a specific …

Pride And Joy: Nebraska History (Banners), Claire Du Laney Dunker, Haleigh Diltz

Pride and Joy: Nebraska History

Banners for the "Pride and Joy: Nebraska History" exhibit that explores the history of LGBTQIA2S+ communities throughout the state of Nebraska. LGBTQ+ individual and community histories are an important part of Nebraska and the nation. This traveling exhibit seeks to share evidence of community gatherings, activism, publications, organizations, and other important topics.

This history is more complex than can be expressed in a single exhibit. Communities continue to experience joy and sorrow, community engagement and turmoil, resilience and discrimination. This is not an exhaustive LGBTQIA2S+ history. At this time, no one has written that comprehensive history. There are more stories …

Quantifying Return On Controls In Llm Cybersecurity, Richard Helder Moulton

Masters Theses & Doctoral Dissertations

As large language models are increasingly deployed in real world systems, concerns about their security have grown. While these models demonstrate impressive fluency and utility, they are also susceptible to a variety of attacks, including prompt injection, data leakage, and adversarial manipulation. These vulnerabilities pose serious risks in high stakes environments where privacy, reliability, and trust are essential. Despite emerging efforts to document and mitigate such issues, a gap remains in the ability to systematically measure the effectiveness of proposed defenses in a quantifiable and reproducible manner.

This research addresses the question: how can security vulnerabilities in language model based …

Electroporation Protocol Development For Cal Poly Cell Therapy Laboratory Courses, Gabrielle Melamed

Biomedical Engineering

Cancer is a heterogeneous disease caused by unchecked cell proliferation. The disease contributed to 9.7 million deaths worldwide in 2022, with hematological malignancies (leukemias, lymphomas, and myelomas) accounting for over 1.4 million deaths in the United States from 1999 to 2020. This thesis focuses on the treatment of these cancers, with an emphasis on non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs). R-CHOP (Rituximab-Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin hydrochloride, Oncovin/Vincristine, and Prednisone) is the standard of care first-line treatment for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common subtype of NHL, and encompasses a mixture of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and corticosteroids. The R-CHOP regimen cures 50% to 70% patients, …

Biofeedback For Upper Limb Bionics, Arissa Anaya, Adam Moger, Connor Bly, Theodore R. Hughes

Biomedical Engineering

The purpose of this document was to present a senior design project from Cal Poly sponsored by Matt Robinson at the Hanger Clinic in San Luis Obispo to provide biofeedback for users of upper limb protheses. This project focuses on individuals with trans-radial upper limb amputations, including patients with congenital limb deficiencies who use trans-radial prosthesis, who receive very little or no sensory feedback from their prosthetic device. This sensory feedback device was intended to be used as a training tool with a myo-electric hand-like upper limb prosthesis in a clinical setting. This document provides an overview of the different …

Simulated Live Studio Audience, Theodore David Shellenberger

Computer Engineering

The Simulated Live Studio Audience is a Python based application that utilizes Vosk, Roboflow, and Llama 3.2 to provide a user with auditory feedback based upon both visual and audible input from their device's microphone and camera. This system functions with a custom trained computer vision model to detect a specified object and when individuals walk in and out of the camera frame, outputting sitcom style simulated crowd reaction sounds accordingly. The simulated studio audience program also takes in vocal input from users, converts it to text, and, using a large language model, analyzes it for content that can be …

High-Frequency Current And Voltage Sensing Buck Converter Compatible With Model Predictive Control, Cathy G. Chen, Lani K. Nguyen

Electrical Engineering

This paper presents the design and implementation of a high-frequency buck converter operating at 1 MHz, integrated with voltage and current sensing capabilities for enhanced output regulation. The primary objective is to minimize transient dips in output voltage commonly observed during load disturbances or switching events. The converter design is intended to be compatible with a Digitally Assisted Analog Computing Circuit (DAACC) for real-time model predictive control (MPC), which leverages fast analog elements with programmable digital components to solve a penalty-based reformulation of the quadratic optimization problem underlying conventional MPC.

Single-Sided Hearing Assistance Application, Harryson Nguyen, Jp Haratani

Electrical Engineering

The product is a hearing assistance smartphone application which aims to improve the quality of life of people with single-sided hearing loss/deafness by providing them with a cheaper and more reliable alternative to medically-prescribed hearing aids. Due to development setbacks, the product instead uses open-ear earbuds. Since the earbuds are not directly inserted into the user’s ear canals, they will not obstruct the hearing of the user’s non-deaf ear, and the user will still be able to hear the sounds that come from their non-deaf side. Some users may find that Bluetooth earbuds can be quite expensive, but are ultimately …

Wireless Communication In Autonomous Vehicles, Ethan Paul Spalard, Alan Rubalcava, Jarnail Singh Sanghera

Electrical Engineering

This project focuses on building a realistic, standards based V2X communication platform using DSRC (IEEE 802.11p) to support future autonomous vehicle control research. The system is built around commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware, specifically the NXP i.MX 8XLite – V2X Evaluation Kit, which integrates an automotive-grade processor and the SAF5400 V2X modem to handle low-level DSRC transmission in the 5.9 GHz band.

We successfully completed the hardware bring-up, verified over-the-air communication between two nodes, and performed initial RF characterization using a spectrum analyzer. The SAF5400 was confirmed to operate on all seven DSRC channels (172–184), maintaining the correct 10 MHz bandwidth …

Piezoelectric Actuator Driver System, Daniel Hoefer

Electrical Engineering

This work presents the design, fabrication, and testing of a high-voltage piezoelectric actuator driver system purposed for integration into defense and aerospace precision motion control applications, particularly those in laser optics. The core challenge addressed was the mismatch between the standardized 28V DC power bus used in military systems and the significantly higher voltage requirements of piezoelectric actuators. Existing commercial drivers were evaluated and found unsuitable for field deployment due to inadequate ruggedness, excessive complexity, or power limitations. Consequently, a modular system architecture was designed featuring four independent driver channels, each using a high-voltage, high-current linear amplifier topology to scale …

Direction Finding From Aerial Platforms With Amateur Radio Arrays, Ben Duval Iii, Esteban Perez

Electrical Engineering

This senior project presents the development of a communication network designed to remotely control and program a distributed digital antenna array for autonomous synchronization and calibration. The system facilitates command transmission using a custom BPSK communication protocol operating in the UHF band (430–450 MHz) and employs a two-tone waveform to extract frequency, phase, and timing offsets between array nodes. These offsets are critical for aligning received signals in preparation for digital beamforming. The array comprises four nodes: three aerial units and one ground-based control unit. Each node is built using a LimeSDR Mini 2.0, Raspberry Pi, portable battery pack, and …

Mesh-Networked Uav Swarm: Experimental Leader-Follower Formation Control, Toma Grundler, Jack Ryan

Electrical Engineering

In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have demonstrated significant potential for multi-agent coordination applications, yet reliable formation control algorithms remain challenging to implement in real-world environments. This report presents the design, simulation, and hardware implementation of four leader-follower formation control strategies for UAV swarms. The implemented algorithms include a semi-rigid PI controller based on forward and lateral distance error, a hybrid PID controller utilizing mixed error signals with velocity and position feedback, a simplified velocity-based PID controller operating on individual coordinate components, and a GPS offset controller with direct positional control. MATLAB simulation validated controller performance in four different …

Framework For Multi-Agent Coordination And Distributed Localization In Micro-Uavs, Minwoo Park, Nikolas Tambornini

Electrical Engineering

Micro-UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) due to their inexpensive nature and compact form factor have shown an increase in prevalence throughout a multitude of applications including, but not limited to: search and rescue, military reconnaissance, and agriculture monitoring. However, for a majority of these high impact applications, a swarm of micro-UAVs are required and furthermore mandate that they are able to cooperatively and autonomously coordinate with each other. For long, controlling and communicating between a user and a singular micro-UAV has been a well known and solved problem, however the same can't be said for swarms of micro-UAVs. This project seeks …

Marine Energy Collegiate Competition - Polywave Energy, Beneda Loya, Isaiah Martinez, Emily Nicoletta, Michael Weber

Electrical Engineering

This document is the final Electrical Engineering senior project report for Cal Poly’s 2025 Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC) team. The goal of this project is to build and test a wave-energy converter designed to address the need for sustainable power generation for remote coastal community microgrids. These existing systems often rely on costly, fossil-fuel generators, creating both logistical and environmental challenges. Our device aims to provide a renewable, low-maintenance solution that can operate reliably in offshore environments and serve commercial or research applications. The goal of the electrical engineering team was to develop a system that can convert rotational …