Engineering Commons^™

Study Of Polymer-On-Polymer Cold Spray Deposition Windows Under Apparently Similar Conditions, Ülar Tiitma

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to explore and expand the capabilities of polymer-on-polymer cold spray demonstrated herein using polyamide 6 (PA6)-based powder and substrates. Experiments were conducted using three different cold spray systems described in this work, permitting more in-depth examination of process response to different cold spray process control parameters, such as nominal system pressure and temperature. Two specific responses of interest were the deposition window (DW) and deposition efficiency (DE) of PA6. The DW was determined by performing several sprays at different calculated particle impact velocities and temperatures. The composite result from these experiments was identification of …

Hardware Acceleration Of Numerical Methods For Solving Ordinary Differential Equations, Soham Bhattacharya

Theses and Dissertations

Along with the advancement in technology, the role of hardware accelerators is increasing consistently, delivering advancements in scientific simulations and data analysis in scientific computing, signal processing tasks in communication systems, matrix operations, and neural network computations in artificial intelligence and machine learning models. On the other hand, several high-speed computer applications in this era of high-performance computing often depend on ordinary differential equations (ODEs); however, their nonlinear nature can present a challenge to obtaining analytic solutions. Consequently, numerical approaches prove effective in delivering only approximate solutions to these equations. This research discusses the implementation of a customized hardware accelerator …

Federated Learning Based Autoencoder Ensemble System For Malware Detection On Internet Of Things Devices, Steven Edward Arroyo

Theses and Dissertations

New technologies are being introduced at a rate faster than ever before and smaller in size. Due to the size of these devices, security is often difficult to implement. The existing solution is a firewall-segmented “IoT Network” that only limits the effect of these infected devices on other parts of the network. We propose a lightweight unsupervised hybrid-cloud ensemble anomaly detection system for malware detection. We perform transfer learning using a generalized model trained on multiple IoT device sources to learn network traffic on new devices with minimal computational resources. We further extend our proposed system to utilize federated learning …

Back To The Future: A Case For The Resurgence Of Approximation Theory For Enabling Data Driven “Intelligence”, Michael Dominic Ciocco

Theses and Dissertations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has exploded into mainstream consciousness with commercial investments exceeding $90 billion in the last year alone. Inasmuch as consumer-facing applications such ChatGPT offer astounding access to algorithms that were hitherto restricted to academic research labs, public focus of attention on AI has created an avalanche of misinformation. The nexus of investor-driven hype, “surprising” inaccuracies in the answers provided by AI models – now anthropomorphically labeled as “hallucinations”, and impending legislation by well-meaning and concerned governments has resulted in a crisis of confidence in the science of AI. The primary driver for AI’s recent growth is the convergence …

Reconfigurable Modular Soft Robots With Modulating Stiffness And Versatile Task Capabilities, Joshua Knospler, Wei Xue, Mitja Trkov

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Faculty Scholarship

Soft robots have revolutionized machine interactions with humans and the environment to enable safe operations. The fixed morphology of these soft robots dictates their mechanical performance, including strength and stiffness, which limits their task range and applications. Proposed here are modular, reconfigurable soft robots with the capabilities of changing their morphology and adjusting their stiffness to perform versatile object handling and planar or spatial operational tasks. The reconfiguration and tunable interconnectivity between the elemental soft, pneumatically driven actuation units is made possible through integrated permanent magnets with coils. The proposed concept of attaching/detaching actuators enables these robots to be easily …

The Academic System Influence On Instructional Change: A Conceptual Systems Dynamics Model Of Faculty Motivation To Adopt Research-Based Instructional Strategies (Rbis), Juan M. Cruz Bohorquez, Stephanie G. Adams, Flor Angela Bravo

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Faculty Scholarship

Many universities have implemented initiatives to drive instructional change, yet their success has often been limited due to a lack of recognition of academia as a complex dynamic system. This paper explores how the interconnected and dynamic nature of academic systems influences faculty motivation to adopt instructional innovations, such as project-based learning (PBL) and small group collaborations (SGCs). We present a Conceptual Systems Dynamics Model (CSDM) that illustrates these interconnections, demonstrating how systemic factors create feedback loops that either reinforce or hinder faculty motivation, as well as other related factors. These loops, represented as Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs), were derived …

Engineering Education In The Age Of Ai: Analysis Of The Impact Of Chatbots On Learning In Engineering, Flor A. Bravo, Juan M. Cruz Bohorquez

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Faculty Scholarship

The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of using AI chatbots on learning within the context of engineering education. We framed this study on the principles of how learning works in order to describe the contributions and challenges of AI chatbots in five categories: (1) facilitating the acquisition, completion, or activation of prior knowledge and helping organize knowledge and making connections; (2) enhancing student motivation to learn; (3) fostering self-directed learning and the acquisition, practice, and application of the skills and knowledge they acquire; (4) supporting goal-directed practice and feedback; and (5) addressing student diversity and creating …

Non-Contact Wind Turbine Blade Crack Detection Using Laser Doppler Vibrometers, Ali Zabihi, Farhood Aghdasi, Chadi Ellouzi, Nand Kishore Singh, Ratneshwar Jha, Chen Shen

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Faculty Scholarship

In response to the growing global demand for both energy and a clean environment, there has been an unprecedented rise in the utilization of renewable energy. Wind energy plays a crucial role in striving for carbon neutrality due to its eco-friendly characteristics. Despite its significance, wind energy infrastructure is susceptible to damage from various factors including wind or sea waves, rapidly changing environmental conditions, delamination, crack formation, and structural deterioration over time. This research focuses on investigating non-destructive testing (NDT) of wind turbine blades (WTBs) using approaches based on the vibration of the structures. To this end, WTBs are first …

Towards A Practical Method For Monitoring Kinetic Processes In Polymers With Low-Frequency Raman Spectroscopy, Robert Vito Chimenti

Theses and Dissertations

Unlike liquids and crystalline solids, glassy materials exist in a constant state of structural nonequilibrium. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of material kinetics is critical for understanding the structure-property-processing relationships of polymeric materials. Amorphous materials universally display low-frequency Raman features related to the phonon density of states resulting in a broad disorder band for Raman shifts below 100 cm-1, which is related to the conformational entropy and the modulus. This disorder band is dominated by the Boson peak, a feature due to phonon scattering because of disorder and can be related to the transverse sound velocity of the material, and a …

Comparison Of Four In Vitro Test Methods To Assess Nucleus Pulposus Replacement Device Expulsion Risk, Tahmanna Rahman, Matthew J. Kibble, Gianluca Harbert, Nigel Smith, Erik Brewer, Thomas P. Schaer, Nicolas Newell

Faculty Scholarship for the Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering & Sciences

Background

Nucleus replacement devices (NRDs) are not routinely used in clinic, predominantly due to the risk of device expulsion. Rigorous in vitro testing may enable failure mechanisms to be identified prior to clinical trials; however, current testing standards do not specify a particular expulsion test. Multiple methods have therefore been developed, complicating comparisons between NRD designs. Thus, this study assessed the effectiveness of four previously reported expulsion testing protocols; hula-hoop (Protocol 1), adapted hula-hoop (Protocol 2), eccentric cycling (Protocol 3), and ramp to failure (Protocol 4), applied to two NRDs, one preformed and one in situ curing.

Methods

Nucleus material …

Tunable Dual-Phase Dual-Drug Delivery System Using A Plga Microparticle/Pva Hydrogel Composite, Timothy John Eck

Theses and Dissertations

Current drug-eluting coatings have demonstrated controlled long-term, sustained release but have only tried to mitigate short-term burst release as a negative side effect. For applications like wound healing, there is a need for a drug-eluting coating which is adjustable in both short- and long-term release, independent of each other. We present a tunable dual-phase dual-drug delivery coating composed of drug-loaded polymer microparticles and drug-loaded hydrogel which can control short term and long term release individually in this study. This coating was created using lidocaine and dexamethasone encapsulated in poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) particles combined with lidocaine- and dexamethasone-loaded poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel. Hydrogel drug …

Engineering Transcriptional Regulation For Cell-Based Therapies., Matthias Recktenwald, Evan Hutt, Leah Davis, James Macaulay, Nichole M. Daringer, Peter Galie, Mary Staehle, Sebastian Vega

Faculty Scholarship for the Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering & Sciences

A major aim in the field of synthetic biology is developing tools capable of responding to user-defined inputs by activating therapeutically relevant cellular functions. Gene transcription and regulation in response to external stimuli are some of the most powerful and versatile of these cellular functions being explored. Motivated by the success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, transmembrane receptor-based platforms have been embraced for their ability to sense extracellular ligands and to subsequently activate intracellular signal transduction. The integration of transmembrane receptors with transcriptional activation platforms has not yet achieved its full potential. Transient expression of plasmid DNA is …

Watercave: Virtual Reality For Engaging The Next Generation In Wastewater Management, Leeza Duller

Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Symposium

Within the next five to ten years, a significant portion of water and wastewater personnel are expected to retire, posing a substantial challenge for the utilities industry. The potential shortage of experienced workers poses inherent risks to the continuity of water services. WaterCAVE emerges as one of several tools designed to address this impending issue by engaging and inspiring the next generation to consider careers in the wastewater industry. This virtual reality (VR) simulation utilizes a ten-sided immersive display and was designed using Unity's 3D real-time development platform. Students from various educational levels, ranging from Pre-K to 12, are invited …

Performance Assessment Of Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials With Low To High Thermoregulation Range In Asphalt Binder, Anil Kumar Baditha, Ayyaz Fareed

Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Symposium

Asphalt pavements face significant challenges due to low temperature cracking and rutting caused by extreme temperature fluctuations and traffic loading. These issues result in higher maintenance costs and reduced service life of the pavements. To address this, researchers explored the use of Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials (MPCMs) to induce thermoregulation in asphalt pavements. However, the existing research focused on high-temperature performance of binders, highlighting the need of research on evaluating the low-temperature performance. Therefore, the study aims to evaluate the impact of incorporating MPCMs on low to high temperature performance of binders. Three types of MPCMs were incorporated into asphalt …

Use Of Waste Plastics In Asphalt Mixes: Addressing The Variability Of Source, Venkatsushanth Revelli, Anil Kumar Baditha

Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Symposium

Use of waste plastics in asphalt mixtures suffers from a serious problem of significant variability with global sources; preventing proper guidelines for field applications. The aim of this study is to address the variability in source of waste plastic and its impact on asphalt mixture design. The study was designed to provide a selection criterion to evaluate the suitability of waste polyethylene (PE) for asphalt pavements. PE obtained from five sources was used as a replacement for asphalt binder. Dry mixing of plastics with asphalt and aggregate was performed at the dosage levels of 3%, 6%, and 9%. The changes …

Underwater Double Vortex Generation Using 3d Printed Acoustic Lens And Field Multiplexing, Chadi Ellouzi, Ali Zabihi, Farhood Aghdasi, Aidan Kayes, Milton Rivera, Jiaxin Zhong, Amir Miri, Chen Shen

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Faculty Scholarship

The generation of acoustic vortex beams has attracted an increasing amount of research attention in recent years, offering a range of functions, including acoustic communication, particle manipulation, and biomedical ultrasound. However, incorporating more vortices and broadening the capacity of these beams and associated devices in three dimensions pose challenges. Traditional methods often necessitate complex transducer arrays and are constrained by conditions such as system complexity and the medium in which they operate. In this paper, a 3D printed acoustic lens capable of generating a double vortex pattern with an optional focusing profile in water was demonstrated. The performance of the …

Hybrid Deloading Control Strategy In Mmc-Based Wind Energy Conversion Systems For Enhanced Frequency Regulation, Jimiao Zhang, Jie Li

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Faculty Scholarship

The growing integration of renewable energy sources, especially offshore wind (OSW), is introducing frequency stability challenges to electric power grids. This paper presents a novel hybrid deloading control strategy that enables modular multilevel converter (MMC)-based wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) to actively contribute to grid frequency regulation. This research investigates a permanent-magnet synchronous generator (PMSG)-based direct-drive configuration, sourced from the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) 15 MW reference turbine model. Specifically, phase-locked loop (PLL)-free grid-forming (GFM) control is employed via the grid-side converter (GSC), and DC-link voltage control is realized through the machine-side converter (MSC), both of which boost the energy …

Brain-Inspired Continual Learning: Robust Feature Distillation And Re-Consolidation For Class Incremental Learning, Hikmat Khan, Nidhal Carla Bouaynaya, Ghulam Rasool

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Faculty Scholarship

Artificial intelligence and neuroscience have a long and intertwined history. Advancements in neuroscience research have significantly influenced the development of artificial intelligence systems that have the potential to retain knowledge akin to humans. Building upon foundational insights from neuroscience and existing research in adversarial and continual learning fields, we introduce a novel framework that comprises two key concepts: feature distillation and re-consolidation. The framework distills continual learning (CL) robust features and rehearses them while learning the next task, aiming to replicate the mammalian brain's process of consolidating memories through rehearsing the distilled version of the waking experiences. Furthermore, the proposed …

Synthesis And Photopatterning Of Synthetic Thiol-Norbornene Hydrogels, Umu S. Jalloh, Arielle Gsell, Kirstene Gultian, James Macaulay, Abigail Madden, Jillian Smith, Luke Siri, Sebastian Vega

Faculty Scholarship for the Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering & Sciences

Hydrogels are a class of soft biomaterials and the material of choice for a myriad of biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and highly tunable mechanical and biochemical properties. Specifically, light-mediated thiol-norbornene click reactions between norbornene-modified macromers and di-thiolated crosslinkers can be used to form base hydrogels amenable to spatial biochemical modifications via subsequent light reactions between pendant norbornenes in the hydrogel network and thiolated peptides. Macromers derived from natural sources (e.g., hyaluronic acid, gelatin, alginate) can cause off-target cell signaling, and this has motivated the use of synthetic macromers such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). In this study, commercially available …

Mri Image Regression Cnn For Bone Marrow Lesion Volume Prediction, Kevin Yanagisawa

Theses and Dissertations

Bone marrow lesions (BMLs), occurs from fluid build up in the soft tissues inside your bone. This can be seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and is characterized by excess water signals in the bone marrow space. This disease is commonly caused by osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative join disease where tissues within the joint breakdown over time [1]. These BMLs are an emerging target for OA, as they are commonly related to pain and worsening of the diseased area until surgical intervention is required [2]–[4]. In order to assess the BMLs, MRIs were utilized as input into a regression …

A Tale Of Two Low-Income, First-Generation Engineering Students: Well-Being, Belonging, And The Role Of Chosen Family, Justin C. Major

First-Generation Symposium

Belonging has been identified as an important, if not the most important, factor impacting the success of college students, especially (multi)marginalized students in engineering programs. Well-being and belonging are deeply entwined, helping to explain how the strength of students affinities lead them to feel a sense of true happiness that guide their holistic success. In this presentation, I present two differing narrative stories from Samantha and Rocky, two non-white, low-income, first-generation women in engineering. At the time of their narratives, both women were in the fourth year of their engineering degrees; however, Samantha was graduating and Rocky was not. In …

Reliability-Based Analysis Of Horizontal Curve Design By Evaluating The Impact Of Vehicle Automation On Roadway Departure Crashes And Safety Performance, Omar Al-Sheikh, Seyed Hooman Ghasemi, Mohammad Jalayer

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Faculty Scholarship

Roadway departure (RwD) crashes are significant safety concerns, especially at horizontal curves. The design of these curves plays a crucial role in mitigating RwD crashes. Thus, a thorough understanding of the interaction between driver behavior, vehicle automation, and geometric design is vital. Substantive safety, which emphasizes the inherent safety in a road's design and function, serves as the foundation of our approach. Building on this, the study employs a safe system approach to investigate the performance of horizontal curves under both non-automated and partially automated conditions, using a reliability-based analysis focusing on Stopping Sight Distance as the primary driver demand. …

Laboratory Evaluation Of Warm Mix Additives At Lower Than Traditional Compaction Temperatures, Abdelrahman Mahmoud Waheish Ali

Theses and Dissertations

The study aims to evaluate the impact of warm mix additives (WMA) on the rheological and performance properties of asphalt binders and mixtures. For this purpose, PG 76-28 and PG 58-28 were obtained with one organic (Sasobit Redux) and three chemical WMA (Rediset, Evotherm, and Zycotherm). All WMA-modified asphalt binders were aged at three different aging levels. Laboratory tests such as performance grade (PG), critical temperature differential (ΔTc), asphalt binder cracking device (ABCD), linear amplitude sweep test (LAS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were performed. In addition to the binder testing plan, this study also evaluated the impact of …

Adversarial Robustness With Partial Isometry, Loic Shi-Garrier, Nidhal Carla Bouaynaya, Daniel Delahaye

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Faculty Scholarship

Despite their remarkable performance, deep learning models still lack robustness guarantees, particularly in the presence of adversarial examples. This significant vulnerability raises concerns about their trustworthiness and hinders their deployment in critical domains that require certified levels of robustness. In this paper, we introduce an information geometric framework to establish precise robustness criteria for (Formula presented.) white-box attacks in a multi-class classification setting. We endow the output space with the Fisher information metric and derive criteria on the input–output Jacobian to ensure robustness. We show that model robustness can be achieved by constraining the model to be partially isometric around …

No Difference In Pullout Strength Between A Bio-Inductive Implant And A Semitendinosus Tendon Graft In A Biomechanical Study Of Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Repair Augmentation, Austin Wetzler, Sean Mcmillan, Erik Brewer, Aakash Patel, Samuel Handy, Merrick Wetzler

Faculty Scholarship for the Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering & Sciences

Purpose: To compare the pullout strength of a bio-inductive implant (BI) used to augment a medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) repair with the pullout strength of semitendinosus graft in a biomechanical cadaveric model. Methods: Six matched pairs of cadavers (12 knees) were used in the biomechanical testing comparing semitendinosus tendon (Semi-T) versus a BI. The Semi-T was harvested from 1 of the matched pairs. A standard double-bundle technique using 2 sockets in the upper two-thirds of the patella 15 mm apart was performed. After docking of the graft into the patella, the patella was dissected free of soft tissues and potted …

Fibrin Glue Acutely Blocks Distal Muscle Contraction After Confirmed Polyethylene Glycol Nerve Fusion: An Animal Study., Alec H Fisher, Parker H Johnsen, Andrew Simon, Cameron J Burns, Vineeth Romiyo, Elliot B Bodofsky, Sebastian Vega, David A Fuller

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Faculty Scholarship

BACKGROUND: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a synthetic, biodegradable, and hyperosmotic material promising in the treatment of acute peripheral nerve injuries. Our team set out to investigate the impact of fibrin glue upon PEG fusion in a rat model.

METHODS: Eighteen rats underwent sciatic nerve transection and PEG fusion. Electrophysiologic testing was performed to measure nerve function and distal muscle twitch. Fibrin glue was applied and testing repeated. Due to preliminary findings, fibrin glue was applied to an uncut nerve in five rodents and testing was conducted before and after glue application. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare median values …

Development Of A Xenograft For Annular Repair Using Pulsed Electric Field Exposures For Enhanced Decellularization, Prince Mensah Kwaku Atsu

Theses and Dissertations

Severe back injuries and chronic pain necessitate surgical replacement of damaged intervertebral disc (IVD) cartilage in advanced disease stages. Bovine IVD tissue has been exposed to an upper threshold pulsed electric field (PEF) dose, causing cell death without thermal damage to the tissue. Subsequent PEF exposures at lower magnitudes have accelerated the removal of immunogenic biomolecules though electrokinetic extraction using optimized aqueous solutions. This approach yields a natural scaffold, ready for biocompatibility and mechanical strength assessment. The effects of microsecond pulsed electric fields (µsPEF) on primary bovine AF fibroblast-like cells have been characterized in vitro. PEFs of 10 and 100 …

Integrated Computer-Aided Design, Experimentation, And Optimization Approach For Perovskites And Petroleum Packaging Processes, Swapana Subbarao Jerpoth

Theses and Dissertations

According to the World Economic Forum report, the U.S. currently has an energy efficiency of just 30%, thus illustrating the potential scope and need for efficiency enhancement and waste minimization. In the U.S. energy sector, petroleum and solar energy are the two key pillars that have the potential to create research opportunities for transition to a cleaner, greener, and sustainable future. In this research endeavor, the focus is on two pivotal areas: (i) Computer-aided perovskite solar cell synthesis; and (ii) Optimization of flow processes through multiproduct petroleum pipelines. In the area of perovskite synthesis, the emphasis is on the enhancement …

Cancer Treatment By Targeting Hdac4 Translocation Induced By Microsecond Pulsed Electric Field Exposure: Mechanistic Insights Through Kinases And Phosphatases, Zahra Safaei

Theses and Dissertations

Epigenetic modifications, arising from sub-cellular shifts in histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity and localization, present promising strategies for diverse cancer treatments. HDACs, enzymes responsible for post-translational histone modifications, induce these epigenetic changes by removing acetyl groups from ε-N-acetyl-lysine residues on histones, thereby suppressing gene transcription. Within the HDAC group, class IIa HDACs are notable for their responsiveness to extracellular signals, bridging the gap between external stimuli, plasma membrane, and genome through nuclear-cytoplasmic translocation. This localization offers two significant mechanisms for cancer treatment: nuclear accumulation of HDACs represses oncogenic transcription factors, such as myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C), triggering various cell death …

Electrochromic Polymers: From Electrodeposition To Hybrid Solid Devices, Haradou Sare, Dongmei Dong

Faculty Scholarship for the College of Science & Mathematics

This paper reports on the linear colorimetric and electrochromic (EC) characteristics of electrodeposited polyaniline (PANI) films. This paper also investigates the infrared EC properties of acid-doped PANI films. The electrochemical polymerization method was employed to create a porous and thin PANI film layer onto PET-ITO substrates. This layer was capped with WO3 film to create a gel electrolyte sandwich structure that demonstrates the compatibility of PANI films with cathodic WO3 films in full devices. The electrodeposition of the film was fabricated by applying different voltages and time, with the optimal film quality achieved with the 1.7 V voltage and a …