Engineering Commons^™

Biophysical Tools To Study Cellular Mechanotransduction, Ismeel Muhamed, Farhan Chowdhury, Venkat Maruthamuthu

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

The cell membrane is the interface that volumetrically isolates cellular components from the cell's environment. Proteins embedded within and on the membrane have varied biological functions: reception of external biochemical signals, as membrane channels, amplification and regulation of chemical signals through secondary messenger molecules, controlled exocytosis, endocytosis, phagocytosis, organized recruitment and sequestration of cytosolic complex proteins, cell division processes, organization of the cytoskeleton and more. The membrane's bioelectrical role is enabled by the physiologically controlled release and accumulation of electrochemical potential modulating molecules across the membrane through specialized ion channels (e.g., Na^⁺, Ca²⁺, K^⁺ channels). …

Comment On "Roles Of Bulk Viscosity On Rayleigh-Taylor Instability: Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics Due To Spatio-Temporal Pressure Fronts" Phys. Fluids 28, 094102 (2016), Robert L. Ash

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Augmenting Bottom-Up Metamodels With Predicates, Ross J. Gore, Saikou Diallo, Christopher Lynch, Jose Padilla

VMASC Publications

Metamodeling refers to modeling a model. There are two metamodeling approaches for ABMs: (1) top-down and (2) bottom-up. The top down approach enables users to decompose high-level mental models into behaviors and interactions of agents. In contrast, the bottom-up approach constructs a relatively small, simple model that approximates the structure and outcomes of a dataset gathered fromthe runs of an ABM. The bottom-up metamodel makes behavior of the ABM comprehensible and exploratory analyses feasible. Formost users the construction of a bottom-up metamodel entails: (1) creating an experimental design, (2) running the simulation for all cases specified by the design, (3) …

Data-Driven Spatial Modeling For Quantifying Networkwide Resilience In The Aftermath Of Hurricanes Irene And Sandy, Yuan Zhu, Kun Xie, Kaan Ozbay, Fan Zuo, Hong Yang

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Faculty Publications

In recent years, the New York City metropolitan area was hit by two major hurricanes, Irene and Sandy. These extreme weather events disrupted and devastated the transportation infrastructure, including road and subway networks. As an extension of the authors' recent research on this topic, this study explored the spatial patterns of infrastructure resilience in New York City with the use of taxi and subway ridership data. Neighborhood tabulation areas were used as the units of analysis. The recovery curve of each neighborhood tabulation area was modeled with the logistic function to quantify the resilience of road and subway systems. Moran's …

Controlling The Error On Target Motion Through Real-Time Mesh Adaptation: Applications To Deep Brain Stimulation, Huu Phuoc Bui, Satyendra Tomar, Hadrien Courtecuisse, M. Audette, Stéphane Cotin, Stéphane P.A. Bordas

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Faculty Publications

We present an error-controlled mesh refinement procedure for needle insertion simulation and apply it to the simulation of electrode implantation for deep brain stimulation, including brain shift.

Our approach enables to control the error in the computation of the displacement and stress fields around the needle tip and needle shaft by suitably refining the mesh, whilst maintaining a coarser mesh in other parts of the domain.

We demonstrate through academic and practical examples that our approach increases the accuracy of the displacement and stress fields around the needle without increasing the computational expense. This enables real-time simulations.

The proposed methodology …

Electrosensitization Increases Antitumor Effectiveness Of Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields In Vivo, Claudia Muratori, Andrei G. Pakhomov, Loree Heller, Maura Casciola, Elena Gianulis, Sergey Grigoryev, Shu Xiao, Olga N. Pakhomova

Bioelectrics Publications

Nanosecond pulsed electric fields are emerging as a new modality for tissue and tumor ablation. We previously reported that cells exposed to pulsed electric fields develop hypersensitivity to subsequent pulsed electric field applications. This phenomenon, named electrosensitization, is evoked by splitting the pulsed electric field treatment in fractions (split-dose treatments) and causes in vitro a 2- to 3-fold increase in cytotoxicity. The aim of this study was to show the benefit of split-dose treatments for in vivo tumor ablation by nanosecond pulsed electric field. KLN 205 squamous carcinoma cells were embedded in an agarose gel or grown subcutaneously as tumors …

Impact Of Clip Connection And Insulation Thickness On Bracing Of Purlins In Standing Seam Roof Systems, Michael W. Seek, Daniel Mclaughlin

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The flexural strength of purlins in standing seam roof systems is highly dependent upon the extent to which the sheathing provides lateral and torsional restraint. Typical models to predict the restraint provided by the sheathing assume that the plane of lateral resistance occurs at the top flange of the purlin. In reality, depending on the configuration of the clip and the amount of insulation located between the purlin and the clip, the plane of lateral resistance and corresponding center of rotation shifts above the top flange. This distance, referred to as the effective standoff, is important to evaluate the effectiveness …

Power Budgets For Cubesat Radios To Support Ground Communications And Inter-Satellite Links, Otilia Popescu

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

CubeSats are a class of pico-satellites that have emerged over the past decade as a cost-effective alternative to the traditional large satellites to provide space experimentation capabilities to universities and other types of small enterprises, which otherwise would be unable to carry them out due to cost constraints. An important consideration when planning CubeSat missions is the power budget required by the radio communication subsystem, which enables a CubeSat to exchange information with ground stations and/or other CubeSats in orbit. The power that a CubeSat can dedicate to the communication subsystem is limited by the hard constraints on the total …

Learning Module On Electric Motors Modeling, Control, And Testing (Lm-Emmct), Ana Djuric, Vukica M. Jovanovic, Ece Yaprak, Wen Chen

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The objective of this paper is to develop and integrate a learning module on Electric Motors Modeling, Control and Testing (EMMCT) into the Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) and Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET) programs. Preparing future engineers to work in highly automated production requires proper education and training in mechatronics theory and applications. Although Engineering Technology programs at various universities offer various courses related to the controls, electrical motors, and automation, they are not including the same methods when it comes to the selection of appropriate electrical motor for a specific application in mechatronic system. MET student do have exposure to …

Integrative Experiences Through Modeling And Simulation Of Mechatronic Systems, Mileta Tomovic, Cynthia Tomovic, Vukica M. Jovanovic, Cheng Y. Lin, Nan Yao, Petros J. Katsioloudis

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Learning is integrative lifelong process which requires continuous refreshing of old material and learning new material. This principle holds also for student experiences during their undergraduate studies. Students learn new material throughout their studies, and they may or may not have opportunity to use the material in different context and at different levels. As a result some of the acquired knowledge may be forgotten by the time student graduates or it may not be placed in the context of the overall program outcomes, thus material presented may not seem to have relevance to student's career. An effective method to address …

Developing A Curriculum For Marine Mechatronics Technicians, Vukica M. Jovanovic, Petros J. Katsioloudis, Ana Djuric, Mileta Tomovic, Thomas B. Stout

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

A growing trend within the U.S. Navy is to streamline operations by deploying ships with less sailors, who are more highly skilled technicians that are trained to do a wide array of jobs. Modern ships also include various automated systems that require more highly skilled technicians for maintenance. Outdated warship designs are now being replaced with industrial grade automation equipment. Such equipment is being used in warships that encounter harsher environments than what exists in the civilian industry. Hence, there is a need for training in regards to industrial grade automation equipment for military and civilian ship repair partners. Marine …

Hands-On Learning Environment And Educational Curriculum On Collaborative Robotics, Ana Djuric, Jeremy L. Rickli, Vukica M. Jovanovic, Daniel Foster

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The objective of this paper is to describe teaching modules developed at Wayne State University integrate collaborative robots into existing industrial automation curricula. This is in alignment with Oakland Community College and WSU’s desire to create the first industry-relevant learning program for the use of emerging collaborative robotics technology in advanced manufacturing systems. The various learning program components will prepare a career-ready workforce, train industry professionals, and educate academicians on new technologies. Preparing future engineers to work in highly automated production, requires proper education and training in CoBot theory and applications. Engineering and Engineering Technology at Wayne State University offer …

Unite 3d Rover Summer Workshop: An Overview And Assessment, Steve C. Hsiung, Walter F. Deal, Francis Tuluri

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The article offers information about UNITE, a program sponsored by the U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP, 2015). It mentions that the STEM Enrichment Activities of AEOP are designed to spark student interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) especially among the underserved and those in earlier grades and educators by providing exciting, engaging, interactive, hands-on STEM experiences (USAEOP).

Longitudinal Academic Performance Analysis Using A Two-Step Clustering Methodology, Volkan Cakir, Adrian Gheorghe

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

The present study aims to examine the academic profiles of industrial engineering undergraduate students among a sample group of military college engineering students (N=276) in order to determine the factors impacting academic performance; to compare student groups that were identified by course scores, and to analyse performance changes over four academic years. The study started with data collection, database creation and preparation for clustering study. A two-step clustering methodology was used for grouping courses based on academic performance and context similarities. The clustering methodology results are validated by discriminant analysis. Student movements among clusters over the four years are identified …

Cockpit In The Systems Engineering Lenses, Aysen K. Taylor, Charles B. Keating, T. Steven Cotter

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

The commercial transport aircraft of today vary greatly from early aircraft in regards to how they are controlled and the feedback provided from the machine to the human operator. Automation has improved operational precision and efficiency but at the cost of providing less feedback. Pilots are the last line of defense and current technology cannot provide the human ability to solve novel problems for which no computer logic can be written. The automated cockpits of today have may sub-components that interact in a manner often opaque and unpredictable when a sensor or sub-component fails or even in situations where no …

Measuring Space Radiation Shielding Effectiveness, Amir Bahadori, Edward Semones, Michael Ewert, James Broyan, Steven Walker

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Passive radiation shielding is one strategy to mitigate the problem of space radiation exposure. While space vehicles are constructed largely of aluminum, polyethylene has been demonstrated to have superior shielding characteristics for both galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events due to the high hydrogen content. A method to calculate the shielding effectiveness of a material relative to reference material from Bragg peak measurements performed using energetic heavy charged particles is described. Using accelerated alpha particles at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Space Radiation Laboratory at Brookhaven National Laboratory, the method is applied to sample tiles from the Heat …

Sensitivity Analysis Method To Address User Disparities In The Analytic Hierarchy Process, Marie Ivanco, Gene Hou, Jennifer Michaeli

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Decision makers often face complex problems, which can seldom be addressed well without the use of structured analytical models. Mathematical models have been developed to streamline and facilitate decision making activities, and among these, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) constitutes one of the most utilized multi-criteria decision analysis methods. While AHP has been thoroughly researched and applied, the method still shows limitations in terms of addressing user profile disparities. A novel sensitivity analysis method based on local partial derivatives is presented here to address these limitations. This new methodology informs AHP users of which pairwise comparisons most impact the derived …

Effects Of Nonaerated Circulation Water Velocity On Nutrient Release From Aquaculture Pond Sediments, Xiangju Cheng, Dantong Zhu, Xixi Wang, Deguang Yu, Jun Xie

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Sustaining good water quality in aquaculture ponds is vital. Without an aerator, the dissolved oxygen in ponds comes primarily from mass transfer at the water-ambient atmosphere interface. As sediment can seriously affect water quality, this study used indoor experiments to examine the nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) release mechanisms and fluxes from sediment in aquaculture ponds with moving water but no aeration. The results showed that the ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) concentration in the overlying water was inversely proportional to flow velocity and that a higher flow velocity tended to result in a lower concentration in the overlying water, a …

Spatiotemporal Distribution Of Eutrophication In Lake Tai As Affected By Wind, Wenhui Zhang, Qiujin Xu, Xixi Wang, Xiaozhen Hu, Cheng Wang, Yan Pang, Yanbin Hu, Yang Zhao, Xiao Zhao

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

One common hypothesis is that wind can affect concentrations of nutrients (i.e., nitrogen and phosphorus) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) in shallow lakes. However, the tests of this hypothesis have yet to be conclusive in existing literature. The objective of this study was to use long-term data to examine how wind direction and wind speed affect the spatiotemporal variations of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and Chl-a in Lake Tai, a typical shallow lake located in east China. The results indicated that the concentrations of nutrients and Chl-a tended to decrease from the northwest to the southeast of Lake Tai, with …

Estimating Freeway Traffic Volume Using Shockwaves And Probe Vehicle Trajectory Data, Khairul Anuar, Mecit Cetin

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Probe vehicle data are increasingly becoming the primary source of traffic data. In current practice, traffic volumes and speeds are collected from inductive loop or similar devices. As probe vehicle data become more widespread, it is imperative that methods are developed so that traffic state estimators like speed, density and flow can be derived from probe vehicle data as well. In this paper, a methodology to estimate traffic flow on a freeway based on probe vehicle trajectory data combined with traffic shockwave theory is proposed. In essence, probe vehicle trajectory can indicate the free-flowing and congested regimes. By using LWR …

A New Job Shop Heuristic Algorithm For Machine Scheduling Problems, Maryam Ehsaei, Duc T. Nguyen

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The purpose of this research is to present a straightforward and relatively efficient method for solving scheduling problems. A new heuristic algorithm, with the objective of minimizing the makespan, is developed and presented in this paper for job shop scheduling problems (JSP). This method determines jobs’ orders for each machine. The assessment is based on the combination of dispatching rules e.g. the "Shortest Processing Time" of each operation, the "Earliest Due Date" of each job, the "Least Tardiness" of the operations in each sequence and the "First come First Serve" idea. Also, unlike most of the heuristic algorithms, due date …

Heavy Metal Distribution And Groundwater Quality Assessment For A Coastal Area On A Chinese Island, Sha Lou, Shuguang Liu, Chaomeng Dai, An Tao, Bo Tan, Gangfeng Ma, Roman Sergeeyvich Chalov, Sergey Romanovich Chalov

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Chongming Island is located in the lower Yangtze Estuary in China. Due to the Leachate from a refuse landfill and the hydrodynamics of the Yangtze Estuary, the groundwater environment is particularly complicated on Chongming Island. Field observations were carried out around the landfill disposal site. The groundwater table, temperature, pH, salinity, and dissolved oxygen were measured in the field by portable equipment, and 192 water samples were collected at eight groundwater sites and one surface water site. Through laboratory analysis we found the highest measured concentration of Cr to be 54.07 μg/L, and the measured concentration of Zn was in …

Cfrp Retrofitting Schemes For Prestressed Concrete Box Beams For Highway Bridges, Hussein A. Herish, Zia Razzaq

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper investigates various retrofitting schemes for a prestressed concrete box beam using carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets with the goal of increasing flexural strength. A simply-supported box beam is studied with a constant uniformly distributed load and three gradually increasing concentrated loads proportional to HS20 truck loading of the Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Various retrofitting schemes are considered each with single, double, and triple CFRP sheets, respectively, installed in high compression and tension regions. Cross-sectional nonlinear moment-curvature relations are developed and coupled with a finite-difference solution algorithm to predict load-deflection relations for both retrofitted …

Numerical Modeling Of The Interactions Between Nonlinear Waves And Arbitrarily Flexible Vegetation, Navid Tahvildari

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Coastal wetlands are among the natural features with the capability to dissipate wave energy and reduce storm damage. Inadequate representation of wave and vegetation characteristics in numerical models may reduce their capability in predicting wave processes over wetlands. Previous numerical wave models have typically applied simplifications on vegetation behavior. For instance, vegetation stems were usually assumed to be rigid or semi-flexible and thus extreme stem deflections could not be captured. In this study, a time-domain nonlinear numerical model based on extended Boussinesq formulation is developed and coupled with a numerical model for vegetation blade dynamics that allows for arbitrary flexibility. …

Transient Alt Activation Protects Human Primary Cells From Chromosome Instability Induced By Low Chronic Oxidative Stress, Elisa Coluzzi, Rossella Buonsante, Stefano Leone, Anthony J. Asmar, Kelley L. Miller, Daniela Cimini, Antonella Sgura

Bioelectrics Publications

Cells are often subjected to the effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a result of both intracellular metabolism and exposure to exogenous factors. ROS-dependent oxidative stress can induce 8-oxodG within the GGG triplet found in the G-rich human telomeric sequence (TTAGGG), making telomeres highly susceptible to ROS-induced oxidative damage. Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes that protect the ends of linear chromosomes and their dysfunction is believed to affect a wide range of cellular and/or organismal processes. Acute oxidative stress was shown to affect telomere integrity, but how prolonged low level oxidative stress, which may be more physiologically relevant, affects telomeres …

Secrecy Rates And Optimal Power Allocation For Full-Duplex Decode-And-Forward Relay Wire-Tap Channels, Lubna Elsaid, Leonardo Jimenez-Rodriguez, Nghi H. Tran, Sachin Shetty, Shivakumar Sastry

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper investigates the secrecy rates and optimal power allocation schemes for a decode-and-forward wiretap relay channel where the transmission from a source to a destination is aided by a relay operating in a full-duplex (FD) mode under practical residual self-interference. By first considering static channels, we address the non-convex optimal power allocation problems between the source and relay nodes under individual and joint power constraints to establish closed-form solutions. An asymptotic analysis is then given to provide important insights on the derived power allocation solutions. Specifically, by using the method of dominant balance, it is demonstrated that full power …

Impact Of Connected Vehicles On Mitigating Secondary Crash Risk, Hong Yang, Zhenyu Wang, Kun Xie

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Faculty Publications

Reducing the risk of secondary crashes is a key goal for effective traffic incident management. However, only few countermeasures have been established in practices to achieve the goal. This is mainly due to the stochastic nature of both primary and secondary crashes. Given the emerging connected vehicle (CV) technologies, it is highly likely that CVs will soon be able to communicate with each other through the ad-hoc wireless vehicular network. Information sharing among vehicles is deemed to change traffic operations and allow motorists for more proactive actions. Motorists who receive safety messages can be motivated to approach queues and incident …

Hoeffding Tree Algorithms For Anomaly Detection In Streaming Datasets: A Survey, Asmah Muallem, Sachin Shetty, Jan W. Pan, Juan Zhao, Biswajit Biswal

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Faculty Publications

This survey aims to deliver an extensive and well-constructed overview of using machine learning for the problem of detecting anomalies in streaming datasets. The objective is to provide the effectiveness of using Hoeffding Trees as a machine learning algorithm solution for the problem of detecting anomalies in streaming cyber datasets. In this survey we categorize the existing research works of Hoeffding Trees which can be feasible for this type of study into the following: surveying distributed Hoeffding Trees, surveying ensembles of Hoeffding Trees and surveying existing techniques using Hoeffding Trees for anomaly detection. These categories are referred to as compositions …

Comparing An Atomic Model Or Structure To A Corresponding Cryo-Electron Microscopy Image At The Central Axis Of A Helix, Stephanie Zeil, Julio Kovacs, Willy Wriggers, Jing He

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Three-dimensional density maps of biological specimens from cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) can be interpreted in the form of atomic models that are modeled into the density, or they can be compared to known atomic structures. When the central axis of a helix is detectable in a cryo-EM density map, it is possible to quantify the agreement between this central axis and a central axis calculated from the atomic model or structure. We propose a novel arc-length association method to compare the two axes reliably. This method was applied to 79 helices in simulated density maps and six case studies using cryo-EM …

Semantic Inference On Clinical Documents: Combining Machine Learning Algorithms With An Inference Engine For Effective Clinical Diagnosis And Treatment, Shuo Yang, Ran Wei, Jingzhi Guo, Lida Xu

Information Technology & Decision Sciences Faculty Publications

Clinical practice calls for reliable diagnosis and optimized treatment. However, human errors in health care remain a severe issue even in industrialized countries. The application of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) casts light on this problem. However, given the great improvement in CDSS over the past several years, challenges to their wide-scale application are still present, including: 1) decision making of CDSS is complicated by the complexity of the data regarding human physiology and pathology, which could render the whole process more time-consuming by loading big data related to patients; and 2) information incompatibility among different health information systems (HIS) …