Engineering Commons^™

Smart Traffic Management At Intersections, Gezim Hoxha, Piotr Gorzelanczyk, Rame Likaj, Shaban Thaqi, Flori Cikaqi

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Effective traffic control methods, whether at intersections or other nodes within the road network, play a critical role in ensuring traffic quality and safety. An inappropriate choice of traffic control techniques or poorly optimized light signal programming at intersections often leads to unsatisfactory service levels. This study specifically addresses the issues related to intersections controlled by traffic lights. It aims to identify the key factors influencing the regulation and programming of traffic lights, with a focus on using different microcontrollers, particularly the Raspberry Pi. The primary objective of this research is to develop a methodology and an adapted programming approach …

Identification Of Barriers And Drivers In The Adoption Of Sustainable Construction Practices In The Turkish Construction Industry: Exploratory Factor Analysis, Tülay Çivici, Mustafa Serhan Ünlütürk

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Although the importance of sustainability in the construction industry has been emphasised by many researchers and endorsed by many authorities, it is clear that the practices in the industry still need to be improved. The primary issue for adopting sustainable practices in the construction industry is identifying the barriers and drivers. For this reason, the study analysed the literature to identify the critical barriers and incentives for adopting sustainable practices in the construction industry. In light of the information from the literature, the necessary barriers and motivators in adopting sustainable practices in the construction industry were determined, and a questionnaire …

Synergistic Effect Of Alccofine As Partial Replacement Of Cement And M-Sand As Sand Substitution In Concrete For The Assessment Of Mechanical And Microstructural Properties, Yellinedi Madhavi, R.S. Ravichandran, J. Saravanan, N. Venkatasairam Kumar

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Using supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and traditional binder mass has revolutionized concrete production technology in the building industry. This study examines how Alcofine-1203 affects the microstructure and mechanical characteristics of concrete. The mechanical qualities of the mixtures were evaluated using six different mixes prepared for each M25 and M40 Grade. In the proposed mixes, cement is substituted with alccofine at 0 to 25% and M-Sand as fine aggregate. The Compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity were assessed after 3, 7, 14, 28, 56, and 90 days of curing, and split tensile strength and flexure strength were evaluated after 28 and …

Sustainable Modification Of Stone Column Technique With Polyethylene Terephthalate (Pet) Plastic For Strengthening The Expansive Clay, Ng Jun Shen, Muzamir Hasan

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

This research investigated the modification of stone column application by the association of PET plastic as a coarse aggregate material for sustainable material replacement. Clay soil improvement with a granular material fabricated column substantially affected its soil-bearing capacity. Subsequently, it avoided severe problems such as soil settlement and structural instability. Previous studies have mentioned the function and alteration of stone columns using materials like bottom ash and fly ash. Still, no attention has been paid to the utilization of PET plastic for this area. This study examined the feasibility and reliability of materials, PET plastic, and kaolin clay S300 before …

Effect Of Reinforcement Thickness And Content On The Properties Of Compressed Earth Blocks, Salah Eddine Mokeddem, Abdelmadjid Hamouine, Rabia Abdeldjebar, Atef Hamaidi

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

This study explores the mechanical, hygroscopic, and thermal behavior of stabilized and unstabilized compressed earth blocks (CEB) by incorporating date palm wood chips (DPWC) as a natural fiber additive. The investigation covers a range of DPWC thicknesses (1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm) and content variations (0% to 1% by weight), focusing on the interaction between the bio-based reinforcement and the stabilized soil matrix, which is stabilized with 10% white Portland cement. The mixtures were compressed at a pressure of 5 MPa using a hydraulic press, providing a detailed examination of how these parameters impact the structural integrity and functional …

A Smart System For Detecting Anatomic And Histological Symptoms Of Diseased Agricultural Plants, Rustam Baratov, Himola Sunnatillayeva, Alimardon Mamatovich Mustafoqulov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This study describes a novel agricultural plant disease detecting smart system, capable of handling measured plant body parameters and images received by high resolution camera at the same time. The proposed plant disease detection method is based on evaluation of the signals received by measured and controlled plant body physical parameters like resistance, temperature and capacitance of the plant stem and image processing. An analogue plant model based on an electrical circuit with distributed parameters was developed. In addition, in the article the block diagram of the smart system for the early detection of plant diseases, the circuit diagram, its …

Advancements In Refreshable Braille Display Technology: A Comprehensive Survey, Maryam Etezad, Rajeev Joshi, Franceli L. Cibrian

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

This paper provides a comprehensive mapping literature review of the advancements in refreshable Braille display (RBD) technology, which employs dynamically movable pins or dots to render Braille characters for individuals with blindness and visual impairment. This literature review, which includes 96 papers, aims to summarize the current evidence on six distinct types of RBDs: piezoelectric, electromagnetic, electroactive polymer (EAP), pneumatic, shape memory alloy (SMA), and microfluidic technologies. For each type, we discuss the underlying mechanisms, alongside the current trends and research opportunities. This comparative analysis aims to inform the selection of appropriate RBD technology based on specific user needs and …

Leveraging Genai For Biometric Voice Print Authentication, Erica Brooks, Lijo Jacob, Lani Lewis, Gaurav Mittal, Shivam Negi, Faizan Javed

SMU Data Science Review

This paper presents the development of a secure voice authentication system that delivers an inclusive solution for all users, including those with disabilities. Leveraging a Text-Dependent Active Verification process, the system combines a spoken passphrase with voice biometric coefficients and audio vector embeddings for reliable user verification. A vector database is used to efficiently store data and perform similarity retrieval. Initially, the system achieves a 71% spoof detection accuracy, ensuring that only genuine samples proceed to the embedding stage, where it attains a 55.21% accuracy in vector embedding and similarity retrieval. Furthermore, this approach paves the way for user-specific voice-controlled …

Direct Arp2/3-Vinculin Binding Is Required For Pseudopod Extension, But Only On Compliant Substrates And In 3d, Tadamoto Isogai, Kevin M. Dean, Philippe Roudot, Evgenia V. Azarova, Kushal Bhatt, Meghan K. Driscoll, Shaina P. Royer, Nikhil Mittal, Bo Jui Chang, Sangyoon J. Han, Reto Fiolka, Gaudenz Danuser

Michigan Tech Publications

A critical step in cell morphogenesis is the extension of actin-dense pseudopods, controlled by actin-binding proteins (ABPs). While this process is well-understood on glass coverslips, it is less so in compliant three-dimensional environments. Here, we knocked out a series of ABPs in osteosarcoma cells and evaluated their effect on pseudopod extension on glass surfaces (2D) and in collagen gels (3D). Cells lacking the longest Arp3 gene variant, or with attenuated Arp2/3 activity, had the strongest reduction in pseudopod formation between 2D and 3D. This was largely due to reduced activity of the hybrid Arp2/3-vinculin complex, which was dispensable on glass. …

Ex Vivo And Simulation Comparison Of Leakage In End-To-End Versus End-To-Side Anastomosed Porcine Large Intestine, Youssef Fahmy, Mohamed Trabia, Brian Ward, Lucas Gallup, Whitney Elks

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research

Anastomotic leaks after colorectal resection are serious surgical complications. We have compared the integrity of two common colorectal anastomosis techniques, end-to-side (ES) and end-to-end (EE), to control specimens using a novel experimental setup that mimics anastomotic air leak tests, which are typically performed during surgeries. Freshly harvested porcine colonic sections from 23 F1 cross-species pigs were used. Pressure measurements and video imaging were used to monitor the ex vivo experiments on EE, ES, and Control specimens. Using EE (n = 16), ES (n = 12), and Control (n = 22) specimens, leak pressure was 282.6 ± 3.0 mm Hg for …

Adsorption And Electron Transfer Of Metal-Reducing Decaheme Cytochrome Protein Mtrf On Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Surfaces, Jiahuiyu Fang, Pranab Sarker, Xiaoxue Qin, Shuting Zhang, Size Zheng, Tao Wei

Faculty Publications

Dissimilatory metal-reducing bacteria (DMRB) transfer electrons to extracellular metal oxides via a multiheme cytochrome network. Coupling DMRB with iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) enables continuous redox processes for various applications such as bioremediation and bioenergy. The conformation of the terminal decaheme cytochrome MtrF on the surface critically influences electron transfer (ET) efficiency. In this work, we used molecular dynamics simulations and master equations to study MtrF adsorption on 3.6 and 6.0 nm α-Fe2O3 NPs and its steady-state ET in water. Our study shows that the heme cofactors can have strong electrostatic interactions with iron oxide NP surfaces, promoting protein adsorption and …

Advancing Novel Contrast Agents For Applications In Fluorescence-Guided Neurosurgery Using Fluorescence Cryotomography, Augustino Vittorio Scorzo

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Fluorescence guided surgery (FGS) is an emerging surgical technique that aims to help surgeons identify tissue types to assist in surgical decision making - ideally providing “cut-by-color” guidance. A primary application for this approach is the identification of tumor tissue to achieve more accurate and complete tumor removal while simultaneously minimizing damage to surrounding normal tissue. The cornerstone of tumor visualization for FGS is the administration of fluorescent contrast agents, or in some cases metabolic precursors, designed to accumulate specifically in tumor tissue, and a wide range of agents that use different targeting mechanisms are currently under investigation. Although these …

Image-Based Models For Left Heart Flow Morphodynamics In Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy, Abdelrahman A. Sultan

Theses and Dissertations

Relieving flow obstruction in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy is highly effective in reducing symptoms and promoting left ventricular remodeling. However, existing characteristics in the disease, such as the systolic anterior motion of the mitral, mitral regurgitation, and papillary muscle motion, and their effect on ventricular flow and vortex formation, have not been thoroughly addressed. This study aims to develop image-based computational fluid dynamics models to evaluate flow morphodynamics in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. A computational fluid dynamics model is constructed to investigate the interaction between inflow and outflow in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, with a focus on how the motion of the left …

Mechanistic Insights Into The Flash Effect: The Role Of Oxygen And Radiation Chemistry In Ultra-High Dose Rate Radiation Therapy, Jacob Pierce Sunnerberg

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

The development of new cancer therapies focuses on widening the therapeutic ratio between tumor control and normal tissue toxicity. Over the last decade, ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) radiation therapy, commonly known as FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH-RT), has shown promising potential to reduce normal tissue toxicity while maintaining tumor control. However, the underlying mechanisms of the FLASH effect remain poorly understood. This thesis explores the radiation-chemical basis of FLASH-RT, focusing on the role of oxygen and reactive oxygen species in modulating biological outcomes.

A comprehensive set of in vitro studies demonstrated that UHDR delivery significantly alters radiation chemistry compared to conventional dose …

Advances In Bone And Orthopedics 2025 – 5th Edition, Jean-Philippe Berteau, Laurent Pujo-Menjouet, Hélène Follet, Aurélie Levillain

Publications and Research

This volume brings together selected works from the 2025 Bone and Orthopedics Interdisciplinary Symposium (BONITOS), underscoring our community’s ongoing commitment to advancing research in biomechanics, bone health, and orthopedic science. The symposium unites leading experts from around the world, fostering collaboration and the exchange of ideas across disciplines. Organized in partnership with the French-speaking Society of Biomechanics, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), the University of Lyon, the College of Staten Island of the City University of New York (CUNY), and the American Association of Physical Therapists (APTA) – Brooklyn Staten Island Chapter, BONITOS 2025 represents …

Computational Fluid Dynamics And Fluid Structure Interaction Modeling In Healthy Vertebral Arteries: A Comparative Study, Bryce Clinkenbeard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cerebral perfusion is critical for maintaining proper brain function, with each cerebrovascular artery playing an integral role in the overall cerebrovascular system. When these arteries become damaged or develop plaque, cardiovascular disease (CVDs) such as atherosclerosis can arise, leading to conditions like arterial stenosis. While CVDs are most prevalent in older individuals, they are also observed in young adults, particularly those engaged in high-endurance occupations such as military service. Diagnosis and prediction of CVDs often rely on imaging modalities supported by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) which account for low resolution in fluid flow. CFD models assume rigid arterial walls, which …

Tunable Methacrylated Decellularized Heart Matrix: A Versatile Scaffold For Cardiac Tissue Engineering, Valinteshley Pierre, Douglas H. Wu, Chao Liu, Elif Ertugral, Chandrasekhar R. Kothapalli, Samuel E. Senyo

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Therapeutic tissue regeneration remains a significant unmet need in heart failure and cardiovascular disease treatment, which are among the leading causes of death globally. Decellularized heart matrix (DHM) offer promising advantages for tissue engineering, including low immunogenicity and seamless integration into biological processes, facilitating biocompatibility. However, DHM is challenged by weak mechanical properties that limit its utility to biomedical applications like tissue engineering. To address this limitation, we functionalized DHM with methacryloyl functional groups (DHMMA) that support UV-induced crosslinking to enhance mechanical properties. By modulating the degree of methacryloyl substitution, a broad range of stiffness was achieved while maintaining cell …

Highly Adaptable Dendrimer Gel Nanoparticles With Dual Targeting Of Upar And Ribonucleotide Reductase R2 For Better Retention And Improved Therapeutic Outcomes In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Hsin Yin Chuang, Da Huang, Lin Qi, Vidit Singh, Anna Chernatynskaya, Yue-Wern Huang, Hu Yang

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for approximately 15% of breast cancers and lacks estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), rendering it unresponsive to hormonal or anti-HER2 therapies. Due to its poor prognosis and limited treatment options, there is an urgent need for targeted therapies. In this study, we developed highly adaptable polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer-based gel nanoparticles with dual-targeting capabilities against urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and ribonucleotide reductase R2 (R2). These nanoparticles were designed to target both TNBC cells and cancer-associated stromal cells by leveraging uPA-uPAR interactions and delivering the antisense oligonucleotide …

Selective Anti-Tumor And Normal Tissue Sparing Effects Of Flash Radiotherapy In A Simple Algebraic Model Of Radiochemical Kinetics, Charles F. Babbs

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Working Papers

Background: This short paper presents the solution to an open problem in medical physics: how and when FLASH radiotherapy can have a selective anti-tumor effect. FLASH radiotherapy gives a single large dose of ionizing radiation to a cancer patient within a time span of a few milliseconds, unlike conventional radiotherapy which is divided into several dose fractions given weekly, each lasting about 10 minutes. In some animal models FLASH seems to improve tumor cell killing without damaging normal tissues. However, the mechanism of the selective anti-tumor effect remains elusive. Methods: To explore effects of tissue hypoxia in tumors, a model …

Microfluidic Intracranial Pressure Monitoring Sensor, Andrea Pader, Anthony Sukendro, Tripti Pandey

Bioengineering Senior Theses

This thesis presents the design of a novel microfluidic sensor for continuous monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP), intended as a less invasive alternative to current monitoring techniques. The sensor targets patients with critical and chronic neurological conditions, aiming to provide real-time data on ICP fluctuations. The microfluidic intracranial pressure sensor is designed for implantation beneath the skull, on the dura mater, and integrates a PDMS-based microfluidic strain sensor with wireless data transmission. Initial testing focuses on optimizing sensor design and integration with a microcontroller. Preliminary benchtop testing demonstrates the sensor's capability to detect ICP with a minimum sensitivity of 5 …

Continuous Monitoring Of Dynamic Levels Of Sepsis-Associated Biomarkers In Blood For Early Diagnosis, Aidan Burke, Jake Chansky, Anders Kouhia, Brian Mostofi

Bioengineering Senior Theses

Sepsis is a general diagnosis related to a dysregulated immune response to a source of infection that, if left untreated, will most likely result in organ failure and eventual death. Sepsis affects 49 million people annually, and is responsible for 11 million annual deaths, according to Jarczak 1. A recent study has shown that over 80% of sepsis deaths may be preventable with earlier diagnosis and treatment, and that the risk of mortality increases by 8% for every hour that sepsis goes untreated 5. Thus, our team identified that the timeliness of sepsis diagnosis is a paramount healthcare need.

We …

A Hybrid Ai-Based Framework For Real-Time Epileptic Seizure Detection In Intracranial Eeg Signals Using Brain-Computer Interfaces, Ahmed, M. Salaheldin Dr., Manal Abdel Wahed Prof., Neven Saleh

Future Engineering Journal

Epilepsy is a serious neurological disorder that can significantly impact an individual's quality of life. This study proposes a novel method for the detection and mitigation of epileptic seizures through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and a brain-computer interface (BCI) system. Statistical features were extracted from intracranial electroencephalography (IEEG) signals using a multi-resolution decomposition technique and used to train five classification algorithms: support vector machines (SVM), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), Naïve Bayes (NB), artificial neural networks (ANN), and long short-term memory (LSTM). The model demonstrated strong performance, achieving classification accuracies of 98.28% (SVM), 93.88% (KNN), 95.73% (NB), 95.73% (ANN), and …

Novel Electrospinning Techniques For Fabricating Scaffolds To Model Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease In Tissue Engineered Blood Vessel Mimics, Isaac "Squeaky" Buentipo

Master's Theses

Novel Electrospinning Techniques for Fabricating Scaffolds to Model Intracranial

Atherosclerotic Disease in Tissue Engineered Blood Vessel Mimics

Isaac “Squeaky” Buentipo

Dr. Kristen Cardinal’s Tissue Engineering Lab at California Polytechnic State University specializes in fabricating customized vascular models, known as Blood Vessel Mimics (BVMs), for medical device testing. BVMs are simplified in vitro vascular models designed to bridge the gap between bench testing and in vivo evaluation of intravascular medical devices. BVMs are produced by combining a polymer scaffold with human vascular cells. Through novel scaffold fabrication techniques, such as silicone injection molding, silicone dip casting and electrospinning, the capabilities of …

Evaluation Of Antibiotic Testing Protocols For Biofilm-Forming Escherichia Coli In A Microfluidic Platform, Caleb R. Telander

Master's Theses

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections remain an ongoing clinical problem due to biofilm persistence and antibiotic resistance. Standard antibiotic susceptibility testing cannot accurately reproduce flow conditions and the spatial complexity of the in vivoenvironment and is thus questionable in relevance to device-related infections. This study examines a microfluidic device designed to simulate physiologically relevant wall shear stress and antibiotic gradients in Escherichia coli biofilms. The polydimethylsiloxane-based system integrates a 16-well culture chamber with a gradient generator. Biofilm growth was observed using fluorescence microscopy of green fluorescent protein-labeled bacteria. Simulations performed using COMSOL Multiphysics software estimated the appropriate range of wall …

Microplastic Eaters, Alanna Boze

Bioengineering Senior Theses

This thesis evaluated Alcanivorax Borkumensis’ (A. Borkumensis) ability to degrade polystyrene in a pyruvate-rich environment to determine if the bacteria could degrade the microplastic when grown in pyruvate. The thesis explored the metabolic behavior of A. Borkumensis when pyruvate is used to start the gluconeogenesis pathway, which is the start of the metabolic pathway when degradation occurs. The bacterium was grown in ONR7a medium, that was adjusted to a pH of 8.1, and 1% pyruvate; then it was processed by centrifugation and washing before experimentation began. Trials were conducted to iteratively refine the process and verify trial results. Bacterial growth …

Efficacy Of Monophasic And Biphasic Pulsed Field Ablation Waveforms: A Model Study, Natalia Dekock

Master's Theses

Cardiac arrhythmias are conditions where the heart’s normal sinus rhythm is interrupted by accelerated or premature rhythms. The most prevalent of these rhythms is atrial fibrillation (AF), where disorganized impulses cause the atria to quiver and pump blood inefficiently. As of 2025, AF affects over 10 million people. Aside from invasive surgical treatments, antiarrhythmic drugs, or one time cardioversions, atrial fibrillation is treated with catheter ablation. The longstanding ablation solutions for AF have been the cryoballoon or radiofrequency catheter ablation. However, limitations for these two ablation modalities are due to the nature of cell destruction; both thermal methods pose a …

Effect Of Foot Strike Pattern On Joint Kinetics On A Downhill Slope, Evan Manley

Master's Theses

With recent increases in participation in outdoor running events, there is a need for research in downhill gait biomechanics. One change that could impact joint loading is foot strike pattern. Foot strike patterns have been categorized into rearfoot-strike (RFS), midfoot-strike (MFS), and forefoot-strike (FFS) [1]. While 75-99% of distance runners naturally RFS on level surfaces, they tend to move towards FFS when it is necessary to reduce vertical loading conditions at the knee [1]. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in peak vertical knee and ankle forces, knee moment, and ankle power, as well as cumulative force …

Opensim Analysis Of The Aymara Indigenous People Performing Ancestral Tasks: Exploring Trends Of Muscle Activity With Tiwanaku Skeletal Indicators, Noah M. Taylor

Master's Theses

The Tiwanaku civilization (AD 500-1100) of the Andean highlands exhibited occupational specialization in communities, with archeological evidence suggesting the existence of labor- and residential-communities, or “taskscapes”, based on an individual’s livelihood. Prior bioarcheological studies have examined Tiwanaku skeletal remains for musculoskeletal stress markers, osteoarthritis, and cross-sectional geometry to infer activity patterns. Their descendants, the Aymara Indigenous people, currently live in the same highlands and until recently lived a lifestyle like their ancestors. Over the past 20 years, the global quinoa demand has risen, thrusting the Aymara into globalization and moving them away from the traditional tasks previously performed. This study …

Acoustic And Hemodynamic Analysis Of Phantoms: Roughness And Flow Dynamics, Ethan Erik Olof Sundberg

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether different vascular phantoms, with and without a surrogate arm, could serve as effective analogs to the human brachial artery for assessing endothelial dysfunction, an early indicator of cardiovascular disease, particularly atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is characterized by plaque buildup and endothelial damage, which precede more severe clinical events and are often detectable through changes in vascular function. A 40” water tower was used to simulate diastolic pressure, enabling water flow through each phantom. Strain gauge pressure transducers were placed at both ends of the phantoms to measure pressure drop, while a microphone captured …

A Manufacturing Process For Interdigitated Microelectrodes On Glass Wafers, Wyatt W. Warfield

Master's Theses

This study presents work done to optimize the process parameters to produce interdigitated electrodes on a borosilicate wafer. Using designed experiments and statistical analysis, the error in pattern transfer was minimized using for key process steps including exposure time, develop time and post exposure bake duration. Similarly, statistical analysis was used with profilometry data to fine tune the develop times. Qualitative analysis was used to assess thin film deposition. The resulting process produced wafers with improved pattern transfer and adequate film adhesion