Engineering Commons^™

Erk Builds A Population Of Short-Lived Nascent Adhesions That Produce Persistent Edge Protrusion And Cell Migration, Andrew P. Shepherd, Keith R. Carney, Majid Rostami, Jakaria Shawon, Andrew Elliott, Shiela C. Samson, Sangyoon J. Han, Michelle C. Mendoza

Michigan Tech Publications

Cell migration is realized through the fast and persistent protrusion of a leading edge in the direction of movement. The actin and adhesion structures that build edge protrusions are integrated such that pro-migration signaling pathways must control both assemblies to induce protrusion. Understanding the contribution of adhesion regulation has been complicated by the inability to selectively assay the nascent adhesions that promote edge protrusion. Here, we dissect how the core RAS → RAF → MEK → ERK pathway’s control of nascent adhesions contributes to edge protrusion and cell migration by targeting an ERK FRET biosensor to adhesions and quantifying ERK’s …

Expanding The Convergence Canon: Indigenous Knowledge Systems And Place-Based Convergence Research In Lake Superior’S Keweenaw Bay, Usa, Melissa Baird, Valoree Gagnon, Judith Perlinger, Noel Urban, Larissa A. Juip, Kelly Kamm, Evelyn Ravindran, Caren Ackley, Cassandra M. Reed-Vandam

Michigan Tech Publications

This study presents results from an NSF-funded convergence research project conducted in partnership with the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, USA. While convergence research frameworks often emphasize deep integration, we argue that participatory, place-based, and community-led convergence requires maintaining an integrity of difference. Through a systematic literature review, surveys and semi-structured interviews, we examined how team members operationalized convergence research and the Tribal Landscape System (TLS) framework. Across these data sources, convergence emerged as a negotiated practice shaped by distinct roles, institutional responsibilities, and long-term partnership commitments. Our findings demonstrate that ethical engagement, adaptive collaboration, and …

Interpretable Machine Learning For Predicting Splitting Strength Of Asphalt Concrete: Insights From Shap Analysis, Jianglei Xing, Xiao Tan, Yihao Li, Dongzhao Jin, Pengwei Guo, Yuhuan Wang, Huiya Niu

Michigan Tech Publications

This paper proposes an interpretable machine learning approach for predicting the splitting strength of asphalt concrete and supporting data-driven mixture design. A database consisting of 296 samples was constructed, and 14 input variables related to asphalt properties, aggregate gradation, and fiber characteristics were selected for modeling. Eight machine learning models, namely TabPFN, ANN, SVR, RF, XGBoost, LightGBM, FLAML, and FT-Transformer, were developed and compared. The results show that all eight models achieved satisfactory predictive capability, whereas TabPFN overall achieved the best performance in the Monte Carlo cross-validation, with the lowest average RMSE of 0.34 ± 0.10, the lowest average MAE …

Three Degree Of Freedom Wave Energy Converter Design For Resonant Motion, Greg Ballen, David G. Wilson, Rush Robinett, Shangyan Zou, Wayne Weaver

Michigan Tech Publications

As multiple-degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) wave energy converters (WECs) have demonstrated the ability to produce more power than single-degree-of-freedom devices, the challenge of designing buoys for efficient energy harvesting has increased in complexity. In this paper, a cylindrical WEC is designed to naturally resonate in surge, pitch, and heave modes at a specific target frequency of 0.2 Hz. By utilizing a penalty-based optimization method to balance buoyancy requirements with natural resonance, the design achieves minimal control force input, thereby reducing fluctuations in energy output and local energy storage requirements. The performance is evaluated under irregular sea states using a Bretschneider spectrum. Results …

Electrophoretic Deposition Of Chitosan-Based Coatings On Magnesium Alloys For Implant Applications: A Review, M. H. Payampur, D. Azimi, W. W. Milligan, M. Razzaghi, H. R. Bakhsheshi-Rad, J. Drelich

Michigan Tech Publications

Magnesium (Mg) alloys are highly promising materials for biomedical applications due to their excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. However, their rapid corrosion in physiological environments remains a significant barrier to their use in implantable devices. Surface modification techniques, particularly chitosan (CS)-based coatings, have shown considerable potential in addressing these challenges. CS, as a biopolymer, not only reduces the corrosion rate of Mg alloys but also enhances their biological performance. Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is a highly versatile technique that enables the uniform deposition of CS and CS-composite coatings on Mg alloys. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of depositing CS and …

Iron Ore Tailings Reprocessing By Electrostatic Separation Plus Two-Stage Froth Flotation, Vincent Bailey Arohunmolase, Akintunde Stephen Samakinde, Palas Kamlakar Borkar, Daniel Amponsah-Berko, Timothy Eisele

Michigan Tech Publications

The reprocessing of tailings is crucial for recovering valuable iron and reducing the environmental impact associated with tailings disposal. The raw iron ore tailings used in this study had an initial iron oxide content of 24.05 wt% Fe2O3, as determined by ICP-OES analysis. This study investigates the practicality of tailings reprocessing to enhance iron oxide content by integrating electrostatic separation with a two-stage froth flotation process consisting of direct anionic flotation using oleic acid followed by reverse cationic flotation using amine collectors. The primary goal is to efficiently recover valuable iron from tailings, thereby reducing waste and promoting sustainable resource …

Sub-Nanometer Nanoclusters Of Copper Atop Single-Atom Copper Moieties Toward Electrochemical Co2 Hydrogenation To Methane, Ahmed Badreldin, Mohammad Bilal Minhas, Shengyao Wang, Gabriella Smith, Shaoqin Chen, Shiwen Wu, Carter Racine, Jin Feng, Yun Hang Hu, Tao Li, Ying Li

Michigan Tech Publications

The electrochemical CO2 reduction (eCO2R) offers a compelling route for converting CO2 into value-added fuels and chemicals. Among CO2-derived products, methane (CH4) occupies a distinct position, serving both as a key intermediate for emerging cascade electro-oxidation to oxygenates and as a strategically important extraterrestrial fuel that can be generated in situ from off-planet CO2 resources. Although Cu-based catalysts capable of selectively producing CH4 have been reported, they seldom sustain high selectivity at practically relevant current densities. Here, we created a single-step co-pyrolysis strategy toward generating and anchoring Cu sub-nanometer clusters (CuSNC) atop Cu-Nx single-atom (SA) motifs embedded within N-doped carbon …

Biomass Demineralization: A Critical Need For Future Biorefineries, Leoncio Santiago-Martínez, Styliani Avraamidou, Alejandro Ayala-Cortés, Ruth Azike, Santanu Bakshi, Chumki Banik, Ezra Bar Ziv, Fei Long, Rebecca Ong, Et Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Biomass contains up to 14 essential elements that serve as nutrients for plant growth and development, including photosynthesis and enzyme functionalities. These elements in different chemical forms (e.g., minerals) constitute the inorganic fraction of biomass and can cause operational issues in thermal and biochemical biomass conversion technologies. In biomass gasification and pyrolysis processes, for instance, inorganics can cause fouling, tar formation, and corrosion. In catalytic and biochemical processes, inorganics can poison catalysts, alter biochemical pathways, and modify product yields and selectivity. This review provides an overview of the inorganic content in biomass feedstocks, the critical role inorganics play in plant …

Using Machine Learning Algorithms To Clarify Relationships Between Soil Properties And Lead Stomach Bioaccessibility, Shehan Wijesinghe, Dibyendu Sarkar, Hadeer Saleh, Khalid Mustafa, Smitha Rao, Rupali Datta

Michigan Tech Publications

Featured Application: This paper has important applications in environmental health risk assessment and urban soil remediation planning. By demonstrating how machine learning can predict lead bioaccessibility in lead paint-contaminated soil, the study provides a scalable, cost-effective alternative to laboratory-based extraction methods. Such models could support rapid screening of contaminated sites, helping prioritize high-risk areas for intervention and allocate remediation resources more efficiently. This model is expected to advance data-driven decision-making for managing lead-contaminated soils and protect vulnerable urban populations from exposure. Lead contamination in urban soils, primarily from deteriorating lead-based paint, poses a significant health risk in the United States. …

A Model Intercomparison Study To Investigate Mixing Characteristics In Non-Precipitating Stratocumulus Clouds, Fan Yang, Kyoung Ock Choi, Kamal Kant Chandrakar, Fabian Hoffmann, Pei Hou, Steve Krueger, Chunsong Lu, Mikhail Ovchinnikov, Yangze Ren, Shin Ichiro Shima, Peng Wu, Chongzhi Yin, Zeen Zhu, Seong Soo Yum

Michigan Tech Publications

Recent aircraft observations of marine stratocumulus clouds consistently showed that cloud microphysical relationships vary with altitude, indicating inhomogeneous mixing characteristics near cloud top and homogeneous mixing characteristics in mid-levels of clouds. Here, we conduct model intercomparison of an idealized, non-precipitating stratocumulus cloud to evaluate model consistency and examine whether simulations can reproduce the observed mixing characteristics. The results show that eleven large-eddy simulations with various dynamics and microphysics schemes show good agreement on the thermodynamical, microphysical, and dynamical properties of the stratocumulus-topped boundary layer in a steady state. The inter-model spread in steady-state liquid water path is significantly reduced compared …

Electronic Trap-State Modulation In Sm-Doped Sno Nanofibers Enables Ultrasensitive Hydrogen Sensing, Asky Fungura, Shan Hu, Shuang Gu, Yixin Liu

Michigan Tech Publications

The demand for sub-ppm hydrogen (H) sensing is growing across emerging applications such as environmental monitoring, breath-based disease diagnostics, and early-stage battery failure detection. However, achieving reliable ppb-level detection with chemiresistive metal oxide sensors remains challenging. At trace gas concentrations, resistance modulation is often insufficient, particularly in the absence of noble metal catalysts. Here, we report samarium-doped tin dioxide (Sm-SnO) nanofibers in which electronic trap-state modulation is exploited to enable ultrasensitive hydrogen sensing. The 2 at% Sm-doped SnO nanofibers exhibited markedly enhanced H sensitivity, achieving clear detection down to 25 ppb H at 200 °C, with a theoretical limit of …

Geospatial Analysis Of Primary Healthcare Accessibility And Qualitative Assessment Of Affordability In Rural Communities Of Twifo Ati-Morkwaa District, Ghana, Peter Ansah Boakye, Daniel Buor, Francis Tei-Nartey

Michigan Tech Publications

Regardless of the efforts of the government and the private sector to improve health facilities in Ghana, a significant number of rural communities still experience inadequate access to primary healthcare. This study used the mixed-methods approach to provide an overview of the geographic distribution of healthcare facilities and the accessibility and affordability of primary healthcare within the Twifo Ati-Morkwaa District. Accessibility was assessed using Euclidean buffer analysis around primary healthcare facilities, while affordability was examined qualitatively using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with community members, community leaders and health workers. Focus group discussions and interviews were conducted using the …

Structural Dynamic Response Assessment Of Clt Wall Structure Systems In Wind-Only And Sequential Seismic–Wind Scenarios, Yunxiang Ma, Qingli Dai, Xiang Zhao

Michigan Tech Publications

Because of concentrated connection damage, the impact of sequential hazards on CLT shear wall systems is much more severe than that on traditional concrete and steel structures considering ductile component behaviors. The present paper evaluated the dynamic response of CLT wall structures in wind-only and sequential seismic–wind scenarios and compared the structural dynamic responses and damage levels of different CLT wall systems. The structural models were established separately based on an SOM benchmark structure, a SOFIE project three-story CLT shear wall structure, and a PT CLT wall platform structure from the NHERI Tall Wood project. The equivalent fluctuating wind load …

Structural Dynamic Response Assessment Of Clt Wall Structure Systems In Wind-Only And Sequential Seismic–Wind Scenarios, Yunxiang Ma, Qingli Dai, Alexander Zhao

Michigan Tech Publications

Because of concentrated connection damage, the impact of sequential hazards on CLT shear wall systems is much more severe than that on traditional concrete and steel structures considering ductile component behaviors. The present paper evaluated the dynamic response of CLT wall structures in wind-only and sequential seismic–wind scenarios and compared the structural dynamic responses and damage levels of different CLT wall systems. The structural models were established separately based on an SOM benchmark structure, a SOFIE project three-story CLT shear wall structure, and a PT CLT wall platform structure from the NHERI Tall Wood project. The equivalent fluctuating wind load …

Task-Based Analysis Of Augmented Reality In Collaborative Robotic Programming For Manufacturing Assembly, Medhavi Kamran, Snehesh Shrestha, Vinh Nguyen

Michigan Tech Publications

Augmented Reality (AR) is often promoted as a solution to the cognitive and physical demands of traditional Teach Pendant (TP) programming for collaborative robots. Although prior work has suggested advantages of the AR interface, many evaluations have been limited in scope and may not fully represent the complexities of real-world manufacturing tasks. This study compares the performance of an AR interface to that of a standard TP interface for manufacturing assembly tasks of varying difficulty. In a between-groups study, one group of operators completed standardized assembly tasks using the TP interface, while a separate group used the AR interface instead. …

Etv2 Mediated Differentiation Of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Results In Functional Endothelial Cells For Engineering Advanced Vascularized Microphysiological Models, Shun Zhang, Zhengpeng Wan, Lei Wang, Caihong Wu, Junkai Zhang, Sarah Spitz, Xun Wang, Marie A. Floryan, Mark F. Coughlin, Francesca M. Pramotton, Liling Xu, Ron Weiss, Roger D. Kamm

Michigan Tech Publications

Patient-specific microphysiological models have become a valuable tool for broad applications, revolutionizing biomedical research. However, limitations persist, with functional vasculature being a significant challenge. With the discovery of ETV2's determinant role in specifying EC lineages during differentiation, researchers have adopted techniques involving ETV2 overexpression to produce h-iECs more efficiently and consistently. Here, we generated multiple h-iPSC lines with inducible ETV2 expression, and subsequently differentiated them into h-iECs, which were validated functionally and by key endothelial markers and RNA-seq analysis. These cells are capable of reproducibly self-organizing into stable microvascular networks (MVNs) in a microfluidic chip, forming lumenized and functional vessels …

Electrochemical Deactivation Of High-Strength, Catechol-Based Adhesives Incorporated With Anhydrous Proton And Electron Conducting Elements, Han Peng, Zhongtian Zhang, Vedika Khare, Abhilash Arjan Das, Fatemeh Razaviamri, Kan Wang, Bruce P Lee

Michigan Tech Publications

Catechol offers switchable adhesion in response to electrochemical redox reaction. However, electrochemistry requires water for effective proton transport, but water weakens adhesive performance. Here, we incorporate proton and electron conducting elements (sulfonic acid-containing monomer and multiwalled carbon nanotube, respectively) into a water-free catechol-based adhesive to create a high-strength adhesive that is also susceptible to electrochemical control. These additions increase the proton and electrical conductivity by over 100-fold. The adhesive also exhibits elevated lap shear adhesion strength (4.6 MPa) to metal substrates and outperforms a commercial epoxy glue. Under mild electrical stimulation (9 V), the adhesive strength decreases by over 90%. …

An Ambient Acoustic Ice-Fracturing Dataset Taken In Shallow Freshwater, John Case, Andrew Barnard, Daniel Brown

Michigan Tech Publications

This paper describes an acoustic dataset collected on a frozen shallow freshwater lake between February and March of 2024. This collection took place over one full week on Portage Lake in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA. The first sub-dataset consists of ambient ice and environmental noises collected by an array of hydrophones, microphones and geophones placed below, above and on the ice respectively. The second sub-dataset consists of instrumented force hammer impacts at a series of locations on the the ice with the corresponding response at each acoustic sensor. All acoustic data were recorded at a sample rate f …

Interfacial Chemistry Involved In Selective Separation Of Nmc/Lmo And Lco/Lmo Binary Cathode Materials By Froth Flotation Using Oleic Acid, Richard Kofi Oboh, Kaiwu Huang, Seoung Bum Son, Lei Pan

Michigan Tech Publications

The variability in cathode compositions within recycled lithium-ion battery (LIB) feedstocks poses a significant challenge to efficient downstream refining processes. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using froth flotation with oleic acid as a collector to selectively separate lithium nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide (NMC) and lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) from lithium manganese oxide (LMO) materials. Laboratory-scale flotation tests achieved an 80% separation efficiency in a single stage, producing a froth product with >90% purity of NMC/LCO at approximately 90% yield. Concurrently, the LMO materials were enriched in the sink product with ∼90% purity and ∼90% yield. This approach was further validated using …

Translating Graduate Level Engineering Methods For K12 Students, Ahmad Bshennaty, Joey Marano, Hoda Hatoum

Michigan Tech Publications

Purpose

Advanced engineering tools such as particle image velocimetry (PIV) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are rarely introduced in K12 education despite their relevance in modeling engineering systems. This study evaluates whether K12 students can meaningfully engage with these traditional graduate-level methods when applied to cardiovascular flows and delivered through structured modules.

Methods

A 5-day full-time summer class was designed and enrolled 13 secondary students (grades 9–11) to introduce them to 3D printing, coding, PIV, medical image segmentation, and CFD modeling. Students participated in both experimental and computational activities and completed two evaluation forms assessing learning outcomes, instructional methods, challenges, …

Decentralized Q-Learning Supervisory Control For Coordinated Multi-Loop Tuning In Pump Stations, David Brattley, Wayne Weaver

Michigan Tech Publications

This paper introduces a reinforced learning-based supervisory control architecture that oversees multiple Recursive Least Squares (RLS) based self-tuning pump controllers and determines when each loop is permitted to adapt its gains. The supervisor learns adaptation policies that minimize interaction between loops while preserving responsiveness to changing hydraulic conditions. A two-loop pump station simulation is used to evaluate performance under product changes and transient flow disturbances. The results show that the supervisory layer reduces the number of simultaneous adaptation events by over 70%, leading to a 32% lower pressure-tracking error and 45% fewer gain-induced oscillations compared to conventional independent adaptive control. …

Dynamic Deep Prompt Optimization For Defending Against Jailbreak Attacks On Llms, Doniyorkhon Obidov, Honggang Yu, Xiaolong Guo, Kaichen Yang

Michigan Tech Publications

Large Language Models (LLMs) demonstrate impressive capabilities across many applications but remain vulnerable to jailbreak attacks, which elicit harmful or unintended content. While model fine-tuning is an option for safety alignment, it is costly and prone to catastrophic forgetting. Prompt optimization has emerged as a promising alternative, yet existing prompt-based defenses typically rely on static modifications (e.g., fixed prefixes or suffixes) that cannot adapt to diverse and evolving attacks.

We propose Dynamic Deep Prompt Optimization (DDPO), the first jailbreak defense based on deep prompt optimization. DDPO uses the target LLM’s own intermediate layers as feature extractors to dynamically generate defensive …

Investigating Confounding Factors In Shear Wave Speed Measurements Of Fibrotic Liver Tissues: A Computer Simulation Study, Emily J. Miller, Yongmei Jin, Jingfeng Jiang

Michigan Tech Publications

Screening patients with liver fibrosis and identifying those at risk of developing advanced liver fibrosis is of clinical interest. Shear wave elastography (SWE), a promising non-invasive screening tool used to distinguish healthy tissue from diseased tissue, measures tissue shear wave speed (SWS) to describe tissue stiffness and identify liver fibrosis. However, considerable variations in the reported results have been found. We propose that the heterogeneity of the liver tissue background, such as the presence of fatty liver tissue and the preferred local orientation of the scarred fibrotic liver tissues embedded into the liver parenchyma, may contribute to the uncertainty in …

Investigation Of Material Properties Of Thermoplastic And Thermoset Polymer Materials At Cryogenic Temperatures Using Molecular Dynamics, Swapnil S. Bamane, Sagar Patil, Khatereh Kashmari, Benjamin D. Jensen, Brett A. Bednarcyk, Evan J. Pineda, Jeffery Hinkley, Ozgur Keles, Jin Ho Kang, Gregory Odegard

Michigan Tech Publications

Cryogenic fluids, such as liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, are critical for space operations as rocket fuel and life support. The fluids need to be contained in tanks that can withstand the effects of cyclic thermal and pressure loading throughout their lifecycle. Polymer matrix composites (PMCs) are prime candidates for these tanks because of their low mass, which is important for fuel savings. Although advanced PMC systems have been developed for a wide range of engineering applications, insight is still needed to identify optimal polymer matrix materials for cryogenic structural applications. The objective of this study is to use molecular …

Dataset For Equity And Justice In Water Pricing And The Effects On Water Distribution System, Brian Barkdoll

Michigan Tech Research Data

“Equity and Justice in Water Pricing and the Effects on Water Distribution System Management” Equity and justice regarding access to potable drinking water are paramount. Municipal Water Distribution Systems supply potable water to users and are essential to public health. They comprise a complicated set of source(s), pump(s), tank(s), and pipes. The price of water to users can affect the amount of usage. To find the optimal price of water to maximize utility revenue and allow changes to the system components for capital and maintenance expenditures, network modeling using the network solver fixed was performed for 15 real MDWSs.  A …

The Effect Of Si And Zr On The Formation Of Al3x And V-Phase In A 6005a Alloy With Sc—Part 1: Alloy Design And Heat Treatment Selection, Eli A. Harma, Timothy Langan, Paul Sanders

Michigan Tech Publications

Adding Sc to 6xxx series alloys has led to inconsistent results due to the formation of the high-temperature, thermodynamically stable V-phase (AlSc2Si2). Thermo-Calc single-axis equilibrium and phase diagram calculations were employed to identify V-phase formation with varying Si and Zr concentrations, indicating that increasing Zr and decreasing Si lowered the V-phase equilibrium volume fraction. Increasing Zr also shifted the V-phase equilibrium to higher Si concentrations. To access real-world influences of Zr and Si, four compositions were cast with different Si and Zr concentrations: a high-Si, low-Zr alloy; a medium-Si, medium-Zr alloy; a low-Si, high-Zr alloy; and a baseline alloy without …

Informing Consumer Product Sound Quality Analysis Using Generative Adversarial Networks, Daniel Jeffery Lesko, Vinh Nguyen

Michigan Tech Publications

Sound quality attributes have been proven important predictors of customer satisfaction with consumer goods and appliances. The results of several studies indicate that level-based, tonal, and temporal aspects of sound influence the perceived quality of consumer products. The current state-of-the-art of inferring consumer satisfaction with sound attributes is based on the jury test methodology. However, product engineers often find the models generated from these studies incomplete, resulting in products that fail to meet consumer expectations. Therefore, this study aims to utilize generative data-driven approaches to create a range of acceptable sound quality attributes given consumer satisfaction requirements. A baseline sound …

A Pathfinder Lunar Construction Mission Concept Using Regolith Filled Bags, Cameron S. Dickinson, Fu Nan Shi, Ketan Vasudeva, Rudranarayan M. Mukherjee, Joshua Blanchard, Steve Dubrule, Paul Van Susante, Et Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Two challenges that have a permanent presence on the Moon are solar and cosmic radiation, as well as the large surface temperature variation between lunar day and night. To address these problems, we propose a lunar pathfinder mission concept that uses robotic systems to investigate whether regolith-filled bags can be used as a versatile construction medium for lunar surface structures and sensors to obtain data on the lunar regolith. The primary objectives of this mission are as follows: evaluation of the surface and subsurface regolith as fill material, lunar excavation using a robotic manipulator equipped with a bucket scoop, bag …

Remote Sensing Of Dynamic Ground Motion Via A Moiré-Based Apparatus, Adrian Ali Moazzam, Nontawat Srisapan, Gregory Waite, Durdu Guney, Roohollah Askari

Michigan Tech Publications

Highlights: What are the main findings? A Moiré-based optical apparatus enables long-range, non-contact ground displacement measurement in hazardous environments. Controlled indoor and outdoor experiments demonstrate reliable detection of dynamic and seismic-like ground motions with sub-millimeter resolution. What are the implications of the main findings? System performance is evaluated under atmospheric turbulence and wind, revealing key limits and mitigation strategies for field deployment. The proposed approach provides a low-cost, scalable complement to traditional seismic and geodetic monitoring techniques. Ground-based remote sensing of seismic and geophysical displacements remains a major challenge due to environmental hazards, signal attenuation, and practical deployment limitations of …

Mae Enewsbrief Oct-Dec 2025, Department Of Mechanical And Aerospace Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.