Engineering Commons^™

Improving Decision Support Systems With Machine Learning: Identifying Barriers To Adoption, Skye Brugler, Maaz Gardezi, Ali Dadkhah, Donna M. Rizzo, Asim Zia, Sharon A. Clay

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

Precision agriculture (PA) has been defined as a “management strategy that gathers, processes and analyzes temporal, spatial and individual data and combines it with other information to support management decisions according to estimated variability for improved resource use efficiency, productivity, quality, profitability and sustainability of agricultural production.” This definition suggests that because PA should simultaneously increase food production and reduce the environmental footprint, the barriers to adoption of PA should be explored. These barriers include: 1) the financial constraints associated with adopting DSS, 2) the hesitancy of farmers to change from their trusted advisor to a computer program often behaves …

Characterization And Estimation Of Musculoskeletal Pain Using Machine Learning, Boluwatife Faremi

Master's Theses

Traditional scales utilized for recording pain are known to be highly subjective and biased due to inaccuracies in recollecting actual pain intensities. As a result, machine learning (ML) models that are trained using these scores as ground truth are reported to have low performance for objective pain classification because of the huge disparity between what was felt in moments of pain and the scores recorded afterward.

In the present study, two devices were designed for gathering real-time, continuous in-session subjective pain scores and the recording of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) altered endodermal (EDA) activity. 24 participants were recruited to …

A Dynamical Systems Approach To Characterizing Brain–Body Interactions During Movement: Challenges, Interpretations, And Recommendations, Derek C. Monroe, Nathaniel T. Berry, Peter C. Fino, Christopher K. Rhea

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Brain–body interactions (BBIs) have been the focus of intense scrutiny since the inception of the scientific method, playing a foundational role in the earliest debates over the philosophy of science. Contemporary investigations of BBIs to elucidate the neural principles of motor control have benefited from advances in neuroimaging, device engineering, and signal processing. However, these studies generally suffer from two major limitations. First, they rely on interpretations of ‘brain’ activity that are behavioral in nature, rather than neuroanatomical or biophysical. Second, they employ methodological approaches that are inconsistent with a dynamical systems approach to neuromotor control. These limitations represent a …

Using Machine Learning And Distributed Hydrologic Modeling To Predict Soil Texture, Surface Soil Moisture And Evapotranspiration In Jornada Experimental Range, Southwestern U.S., Jorge Andres Mayo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In water-limited ecosystems, detailed knowledge of the soil, vegetation, and atmosphere interactions is critical to understand the processes that control the partitioning of energy, water fluxes, and biogeochemical cycles within the critical zone. This Master's thesis is divided into two main contributing sections. The first, is on the use of machine learning to reconstruct missing soil type information, and the second, on the calibration and validation of a physically-based distributed hydrological model to estimate soil moisture and evapotranspiration within the Jornada Experimental Range of the U.S. in southern New Mexico. For the first contribution, three explainable, shallow machine-learning techniques are …

Mitochondrial Transfer From Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Increases Migration In Aggressive Breast Cancer, Kevin F. Gwolas, Sarah Libring, Emily Berestesky, Shayan Gholizadeh, Samantha C. Schwager, Andra R. Frost, Thomas R. Gaborski, Jian Zhang, Cynthia A. Reinhart-King

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have distinct roles within the tumor microenvironment, which can impact the mode and efficacy of tumor cell migration. CAFs are known to increase invasion of less-aggressive breast cancer cells through matrix remodeling and leader–follower dynamics. Here, we demonstrate that CAFs communicate with breast cancer cells through the formation of contact-dependent tunneling nanotubes (TNTs), which allow for the exchange of cargo between cell types. CAF mitochondria are an integral cargo component and are sufficient to increase the 3D migration of cancer cells. This cargo transfer results in an increase in mitochondrial ATP production in cancer cells, whereas it …

Neurocomputing And Interfacing Digital Tasting System: Research, Design, And Evaluation, Amira J. Zaylaa, Ahmad El Hajj

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The continuous evolution in computing and interfacing has been extended to develop multi-sensory experiences in many domains such as neurological, auditory, vision, and haptic domains. So far, only a few remarkable system approaches have been approved to be serving the taste sensation digitally. Although taste sensation is linked to the brain, there is a lack of optimal neurocomputing digital taste sensation systems. Our study provides a new neurocomputing method to digitally stimulate the sense of taste by electrical stimulation on the human tongue. We aim to link chemical stimulation and electrical stimulation in order to design an electronic interface for …

Three-Dimensional Higher-Order Compressive Sensing For Raypath Separation In An Acoustic Waveguide, Fengyan Zhong

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

In an acoustic waveguide, the separation of multiple raypaths, especially close raypaths, is a challenging task in the presence of colored noise due to interference in the acoustic eld. In this paper, a three-dimensional higher-order compressive sensing method for raypath separation is proposed. The method is applied on an array-to-array experimental conguration where both emitter and reception arrays are used. With the array-to-array conguration, the raypaths are characterized by three parameters including arrival direction, departure direction, and arrival time. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed algorithm is illustrated by simulations and experiments. The numerical results based on simulation illustrate that …

Projection Of Sea Surface Temperature Based On Empirical Mode Decomposition And Its Application In Typhoon Number Forecast, Wen-Cheng Huang, Jung-Chen Lee

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The primary objective of this paper is to demonstrate the applicability of empirical mode decomposition (EMD) in projecting non-stationary daily sea surface temperature (SST) series, and the other is to apply the projected series of SST to estimate the number of typhoons. The study focuses on an area ranging from 5°N~25°N and 110°E~170°E, collecting daily sea temperature data and typhoons records within this region. The findings conclusively indicate that the EMD-based data generation method proposed in this paper can effectively addresses the limitations of previous hydrological models in generating non-stationary series, signifying a significant advancement in hydrological time series modeling …

Mass Spectrometry Of The White Adipose Metabolome In A Hibernating Mammal Reveals Seasonal Changes In Alternate Fuels And Carnitine Derivatives, Frazer I. Heinis, Sophie Alvarez, Matthew T. Andrews

Nebraska Center for Biotechnology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Mammalian hibernators undergo substantial changes in metabolic function throughout the seasonal hibernation cycle. We report here the polar metabolomic profile of white adipose tissue isolated from active and hibernating thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus). Polar compounds in white adipose tissue were extracted from five groups representing different timepoints throughout the seasonal activity-torpor cycle and analyzed using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in both the positive and negative ion modes. A total of 224 compounds out of 660 features detected after curation were annotated. Unsupervised clustering using principal component analysis revealed discrete clusters representing the different seasonal timepoints throughout hibernation. One-way …

Acetate-Encapsulated Linolenic Acid Liposomes Reduce Sars-Cov-2 And Rsv Infection, Andrew R. Mcgill

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is an ongoing pandemic-endemic. In the United States, it remains the third leading cause of death in 2022. SARS-CoV-2, an RNA virus, has a genome prone to rapid mutation, generating variant species capable of resisting therapies and vaccination efforts. However, it has been estimated that more than 40% of SARS-CoV-2 infections may be asymptomatic, which calls into question any biological differences between the asymptomatic and afflicted groups. Additionally, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the most significant cause of bronchiolitis and asthma in neonates, with an increasing burden on the …

Peer Review Of Teaching: Et Theory, Deficit Irrigation And Consumptive Use, Derek M. Heeren, Saleh Taghvaeian

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

A BSE Peer Review of Teaching was carried out for a graduate level course on Advanced Irrigation Management. This course has been offered for several years; each time improvements are made, but there is always a need for additional improvement. In particular, ET theory, deficit irrigation, and consumptive use are topics that the students struggle to grasp. These topics involve a relatively high level of math for an MS-level (800-level) Agricultural Systems Technology course, and the available materials on these topics either were not well developed or were not a good fit for this class. The primary objective was to …

Resource Recovery From Crew Metabolic Wastes In Lunar And Martian Habitats: Reuse Of Effluent From An Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Treating Fecal Organic Matter As Fertilizer Source For Plants, Alexandra A. Smith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As humans set their sights on exploration of the Moon and Mars human focused challenges like providing potable water, supplying nutritious food to the astronaut crew, and managing their waste present themselves. There are no readily available resources on the Moon and Mars, therefore nothing should be considered unusable including the organic wastes (i.e., feces and urine) produced by the crew. Fecal matter is not currently recycled and is treated as solid waste. After collection, it is discarded out of the International Space Station where it is incinerated upon re-entry. This approach will not work on the Moon’s surface. There …

Sample Article, Sample Author

Teknotan: Jurnal Industri Teknologi Pertanian

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Sample Article, Sample Author

Teknotan: Jurnal Industri Teknologi Pertanian

Abstract here.

Sample Article, Sample Author

Teknotan: Jurnal Industri Teknologi Pertanian

Abstract here.

Artificial Scaffold And Neural Stem Cell For Neural Regeneration In Rats With Spinal Cord Injury, Krishna Deo Sharma

Student Theses and Dissertations

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that often leads to permanent loss of sensory and motor function. Unfortunately, current treatments only manage symptoms and do not provide a complete cure. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of 3D printed scaffolds and nanomaterials (gold nanorods substrate, nanocellulose-lysine, and TEMPO cellulose) in supporting the growth and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro. We found that these materials were biocompatible, non-toxic, and able to promote the growth and differentiation of NSCs. Additionally, the unique mechanical properties of these nanomaterials make them a promising candidate for use in neuroregeneration …

Oxymatrine Loaded Crosslinked Pva Nanofibrous Scaffold: Design And Characterization And Anticancer Properties, Salahuddin Ahmed, Megan Keniry, Narcedalia Anaya-Barbosa, Victoria Padilla, Md Noushad Javed, Robert Gilkerson, Acharan S. Narula, Eman Ibrahim, Karen Lozano

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

This study focuses on the fabrication, characterization and anticancer properties of biocompatible and biodegradable composite nanofibers consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), oxymatrine (OM), and citric acid (CA) using a facile and high-yield centrifugal spinning process known as Forcespinning®. The effects of varying concentrations of OM and CA on fiber diameter and molecular crosslinking were investigated. The morphological and thermo-physical properties, as well as water absorption of the developed nanofiber-based mats were characterized using microscopical analysis, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. In vitro anti cancer studies were conducted with HCT116 colorectal cancer …

Fungi In Flux | Designing Regenerative Materials And Products With Mycelium, Arvind Bhallamudi

Masters Theses

As the world grapples with the escalating crisis of climate threats and environmental degradation, this research delves into the synergistic potential of design and biology, developing safe and sustainable materials for applications in prototyping, furniture and interior design. Harnessing the power of a unique organism - fungi, the study proposes an accessible, efficient, and resilient material resource system. It utilizes local waste streams and mycelium (the vegetative part of fungi) to grow functional structures. An experimental and small-scale protocol is modeled by testing bio-fabrication and bio-printing methods. The composites' performance qualities and characteristics are evaluated through mechanical testing and a …

The Santa Clara, 2023-06-02, Santa Clara University

The Santa Clara

No abstract provided.

Control Of The Electroporation Efficiency Of Nanosecond Pulses By Swinging The Electric Field Vector Direction, Vitalii Kim, Iurii Semenov, Allen S. Kiester, Mark A. Keppler, Bennett L. Ibey, Joel N. Bixler, Ruben M. L. Colunga Biancatelli, Andrei G. Pakhomov

Bioelectrics Publications

Reversing the pulse polarity, i.e., changing the electric field direction by 180°, inhibits electroporation and electrostimulation by nanosecond electric pulses (nsEPs). This feature, known as “bipolar cancellation,” enables selective remote targeting with nsEPs and reduces the neuromuscular side effects of ablation therapies. We analyzed the biophysical mechanisms and measured how cancellation weakens and is replaced by facilitation when nsEPs are applied from different directions at angles from 0 to 180°. Monolayers of endothelial cells were electroporated by a train of five pulses (600 ns) or five paired pulses (600 + 600 ns) applied at 1 Hz or 833 kHz. Reversing …

Fate And Distribution Of Orally-Ingested Ceo2-Nanoparticles Based On A Mouse Model: Implication For Human Health, Xingmao Ma, Xiaoxuan Wang, Lei Xu, Honglan Shi, Hu Yang, Kerstin K. Landrock, Virender K. Sharma, Robert S. Chapkin

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

The use of nanoparticles in agrichemical formula and food products as additives has increased their chances of accumulation in humans via oral intake. Due to their potential toxicity, it is critical to understand their fate and distribution following oral intake. Cerium oxide nanoparticle (CeO2NP) is commonly used in agriculture and is highly stable in the environment. as such, it has been used as a model chemical to investigate nanoparticle's distribution and clearance. based on their estimated human exposure levels, 0.15–0.75 mg/kg body weight/day of CeO2NPs with different sizes and surface charges (30–50 nm with negative charge and <25 >nm with positive …

Biopolymer-Based Sustainable Food Packaging Materials: Challenges, Solutions, And Applications, Kalpani Y. Perera, Amit Jaiswal, Swarna Jaiswal

Articles

Biopolymer-based packaging materials have become of greater interest to the world due to their biodegradability, renewability, and biocompatibility. In recent years, numerous biopolymers—such as starch, chitosan, carrageenan, polylactic acid, etc.—have been investigated for their potential application in food packaging. Reinforcement agents such as nanofillers and active agents improve the properties of the biopolymers, making them suitable for active and intelligent packaging. Some of the packaging materials, e.g., cellulose, starch, polylactic acid, and polybutylene adipate terephthalate, are currently used in the packaging industry. The trend of using biopolymers in the packaging industry has increased immensely; therefore, many legislations have been approved …

Novel Approach For Non-Invasive Prediction Of Body Shape And Habitus, Emma Young

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While marker-based motion capture remains the gold standard in measuring human movement, accuracy is influenced by soft-tissue artifacts, particularly for subjects with high body mass index (BMI) where markers are not placed close to the underlying bone. Obesity influences joint loads and motion patterns, and BMI may not be sufficient to capture the distribution of a subject’s weight or to differentiate differences between subjects. Subjects in need of a joint replacement are more likely to have mobility issues or pain, which prevents exercise. Obesity also increases the likelihood of needing a total joint replacement. Accurate movement data for subjects with …

Deconstructed Plastic Substrate Preferences Of Microbial Populations From The Natural Environment, Lindsay I. Putman, Laura G. Schaerer, Ruochen Wu, Daniel G. Kulas, Ali Zolghadr, Rebecca Ong, David Shonnard, Stephen Techtmann

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Over half of the world's plastic waste is landfilled, where it is estimated to take hundreds of years to degrade. Given the continued use and disposal of plastic products, it is vital that we develop fast and effective ways to utilize plastic waste. Here, we explore the potential of tandem chemical and biological processing to process various plastics quickly and effectively. Four samples of compost or sediment were used to set up enrichment cultures grown on mixtures of compounds, including disodium terephthalate and terephthalic acid (monomers of polyethylene terephthalate), compounds derived from the chemical deconstruction of polycarbonate, and pyrolysis oil …

Assessing The Resilience Of Mycorrhizal Networks Following Central Tree Removal, Deon Lillo

Master's Theses

Mycorrhizal networks (MNs), or the networks of fungal mycelia that connect plants to each other, are vital in contributing to the well-being of ecosystems. They not only assist in the transport of nutrients across an ecosystem, but also help protect an ecosystem from disease and adverse conditions. However, more research into these networks is needed and modelling these networks as graphs can help us achieve this. By applying centrality analysis and performing k-core partitioning on these networks, we are able to identify the trees that are most important and central to a MN and observe the effects of removing these …

Clinical Utility Of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells In Regenerative Medicine And Cellular Therapy, Vitali V. Maldonado, Neel H. Patel, Emma E. Smith, C. Lowry Barnes, Michael P. Gustafson, Raj R. Rao, Rebekah M. Samsonraj

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have been carefully examined to have tremendous potential in regenerative medicine. With their immunomodulatory and regenerative properties, MSCs have numerous applications within the clinical sector. MSCs have the properties of multilineage differentiation, paracrine signaling, and can be isolated from various tissues, which makes them a key candidate for applications in numerous organ systems. To accentuate the importance of MSC therapy for a range of clinical indications, this review highlights MSC-specific studies on the musculoskeletal, nervous, cardiovascular, and immune systems where most trials are reported. Furthermore, an updated list of the different types of MSCs used in …

Neural Correlates Of Post-Traumatic Brain Injury (Tbi) Attention Deficits In Children, Meng Cao

Dissertations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children is a major public health concern worldwide. Attention deficits are among the most common neurocognitive and behavioral consequences in children post-TBI which have significant negative impacts on their educational and social outcomes and compromise the quality of their lives. However, there is a paucity of evidence to guide the optimal treatment strategies of attention deficit related symptoms in children post-TBI due to the lack of understanding regarding its neurobiological substrate. Thus, it is critical to understand the neural mechanisms associated with TBI-induced attention deficits in children so that more refined and tailored strategies can …

Biomechanical And Psychophysical Underpinnings Of Balance Dysfunction In Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury, Naphtaly Ehrenberg

Dissertations

Falls are a major burden on healthcare infrastructure, especially in older adults and even more so in older individuals that are living in institutions. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 2010 to 2020, unintentional falls were the leading cause of nonfatal emergency department visits for all age groups except among individuals from 15-24 years of age, where unintentional falls ranked a very close second to being unintentionally struck by or against. Among older individuals living in the community, approximately 30-35% fall at least once in a given year, and around three times as …

Development Of Non-Viral Nano-Carriers For Gene Delivery And Covid-19 Vaccines, Zhongyu Li

Dissertations

Gene therapy is one of the most promising medical fields with the potential to effectively advance the treatment of difficult diseases by producing therapeutic proteins or repairing defective gene sequences. However, gene therapy presents severe challenges in delivery including renal clearance, phagocytosis, enzymatic degradation, protein absorption, and cellular internalization barriers, which have been barriers for translation into the clinic. Naked nucleic acids, with their intrinsic negative charge, electrostatically repulse the anionic cell membrane, preventing cellular uptake. Also, they are considered foreign genetic material when introduced into the body and are rapidly cleared by the reticuloendothelial system or degraded by nucleases, …

Development Of Novel Nanocarbon Based Materials And Membranes With Enhanced Biocidal Capabilities For Clean Water Generation, Indrani Gupta

Dissertations

Water scarcity is one of the major challenges facing humanity today, driven by population growth, economic development, and dietary shifts towards more water-intensive animal products. To address this issue, efficient water resource management and recycling of wastewater are essential. However, around 80% of wastewater globally is discharged into water bodies without treatment, posing a risk to ecosystems and human health. Pathogens, or harmful microorganisms, are a primary cause of water impairment and the transmission of waterborne diseases, leading to increased mortality rates. Traditional methods of treating pathogens involve the use of radiation or chemical disinfectants. Nonetheless, these methods have drawbacks, …