Engineering Commons^™

Quantification Of Intervertebral Disc Strain From High-Resolution Ultrasound Imaging During Dynamic Loading, Diya Sakhrani

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

High-resolution ultrasound imaging employs high-frequency sound waves that can be used to noninvasively visualize the structures within the body, facilitating medical diagnosis without the need for open surgery. The widespread utilization of ultrasound is attributed to its affordability, non-invasive characteristics, and use of non-ionizing radiation. Nevertheless, ultrasound is prone to artifacts originating from the surrounding environment, gas-liquid interfaces, or dense tissue. These artifacts are common in ultrasound images and can cause dropout, noise, and degraded resolution. In this study we analyzed intervertebral disc (IVD) strain during two axial compression testing cycles of bovine intervertebral discs with a 2-dimensional direct deformation …

Characterizing Intervertebral Disc Strain Under Dynamic Loading Conditions Using Ultrasound Texture Analysis, Radhika Kulkarni

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Herniated discs in the spine are a significant patient burden, with potential links to lower back and leg discomfort and a considerable impact on daily life. These discs, located between spinal vertebrae, are comprised of the annulus fibrosus (AF) and the nucleus pulposus (NP). Herniations happen when the NP protrudes through a full-thickness annular tear, possibly compressing spinal nerves. The mechanical factors underlying herniated discs are poorly understood, necessitating research into these mechanisms and accessible diagnostic techniques. Our study employs high-resolution ultrasound and texture correlation to quantify strain patterns in intervertebral discs during dynamic loading.

A motion segment from the …

Dielectric/Impedance Spectroscopy For In-Line Measurement Of Moisture Content, Sophie Zhou

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Pharmaceutical production requires strict moisture content control in order to ensure quality, stability, and efficacy of medicinal products. Moisture content can be manually tested but a rapid and reliable solution for real-time moisture content monitoring was necessary to improve overall efficiency in pharmaceutical manufacturing. This research delved into the practicality of using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) as a dependable technique to determine moisture content. By investigating the electrical properties of materials, we established a robust connection between shifts in electrical properties with variations in moisture levels. We employed an equivalent circuit model to unveil the underlying mechanism which provided valuable …

Scanning Electron Microscopy Analysis Of Murine Renal, Aortic, And Cardiac Tissue, Sarah E. Grev, Luke E. Schepers, Jennifer Anderson, Craig J. Goergen

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a tool that provides detailed insight into objects invisible to the human eye. As the name suggests, an electron beam is used to create an image down to the nanometer scale. The beam focuses on the surface of a sample using lenses in the electron column. In this project, we use SEM to study three types of murine tissue. First, we examine the glomerulus, found in the kidney, that is primarily responsible for filtering blood. Following a left renal vein (LRV) stenosis, SEM is used to observe changes to the glomeruli. Differences in the left …

Methods To Study Activity Dependent Protein Synthesis In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Megan Webb, Karin F K Ejendal, Tamara L. Kinzer-Ursem

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

It is estimated by the World Health Organization that 1 in 100 children have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a condition characterized by neurological differences that may impact a person’s learning or behavior. Clinically, ASD symptoms are alleviated with behavioral or pharmacological therapies, however, not all patients respond to these interventions. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a promising treatment of Parkinson’s disease that could also be effective in treating ASD. SynGAP1 is a protein involved in neuronal action that is crucial for regulating synaptic plasticity. Mutations in the SYNGAP1 gene causing haploinsufficiency can result in the manifestation of ASD symptoms. This …

Performance Evaluation And Thermal Management Solutions For A Sustainable Microsized Hydrogen-Powered Turbo-Shaft Engine, Nikolai Baranov

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Analyzing the aerospace and automotive industries, there is a transition to sustainable energy generation. Aiming to bridge industrial emissions with the worldwide net zero goal by 2050, one widely considered solution for long-range drones and small aircraft is compact turbo-shaft engines combusting clean hydrogen gas to produce shaft work. The small size and energy-dense fuel allow for a universal powerplant with high specific power output that fits a wide variety of existing solutions. One such micro-sized turboshaft internal combustion engine was created to test the potential power output, thermal management, and combustor optimization of the existing stainless steel assembly. The …

Investigation Of Fiber Orientation And Mechanical Properties Of Pyrolysis Recycled Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Thermoset Composite, Reva N. Simmons, Harry Lee, Garam Kim

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

With increasing demand of carbon fiber reinforced fiber thermoset composites, establishing a sustainable cycle for these materials becomes crucial. Pyrolysis is a process of reclaiming carbon fiber from thermoset composites by thermally degrading the polymer at high temperatures allowing the fibers to be extracted. Carbon fiber reclaimed through current pyrolysis processes for thermoset composites typically loses its original shape and orientation, making it difficult to reorganize the fibers. This study investigated the feasibility of maintaining the fiber orientations for continuous fiber reinforced thermoset composite during pyrolysis by stitching the carbon fiber layup to a conformable copper mesh during the manufacturing …

Wind-Powered Continuous Reverse Osmosis Water Desalination, Aliah Adriana Binti Khairul Hisham

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Water scarcity is a grave issue that is faced by lots of people worldwide. This phenomenon is further exacerbated by climate change, overpopulation, and water-intense industrial activities. To combat this issue, reverse osmosis (RO) water desalination system is broadly introduced in order to produce freshwater while maintaining the desired thermodynamic efficiency and economic feasibility. RO water desalination is a process of separating freshwater from salt water using a semi-permeable membrane. In status quo, there are various forms of energy present in RO system (e.g: hydraulic, mechanical, electrical energy, etc.) to power the hydraulic components. The conversion from one form of …

Digital Platform To Aid Youth Substance Abuse Prevention, Bingxuan Li

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Through research and interviews, I discovered that a significant portion of students in Africa become drug addicts and drop out of school. The solution is to prevent youth substance abuse before it happens, so that more students in Africa may continue their education. With the strong motivation of expanding African student involvement in higher education, I participated DURI program to increase higher education rates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa. The local government is establishing rehabilitation centers to monitor at-risk students and prevent youth substance abuse, but due to extremely limited resources, it is critical to evaluate the …

Investigation Of Mechanical Properties Of Recycled Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites Reinforcing Cement, Caleb Mull, Fnu Archie, Harry Lee, Guyuan Zhang

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

The usage of fiber-reinforced polymer composites in various fields has increased significantly due to their advantageous physical and mechanical properties. However, the sustainability of composite parts has not been fully solved for a long time. Most end-of-life (EOL) composite parts have been landfilled without recycling due to the recycling cost and lack of application of recycled composites. Mechanical composite recycling that shred the EOL composite part and reuse it for downgraded applications is one of the most commonly used recycling processes for the EOL composite part. In this research, mechanical composite recycling process was demonstrated for the construction application. The …

Impact Of Spray Coating On The Performance Of Hydrophobic Membranes, Dominick J. Maiorano, Hamid Fattahijuybari, David Warsinger

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Membrane distillation (MD) is a rapidly emerging water treatment technology used to combat the global water crisis. Membrane pore wetting is a primary barrier to widespread industrial use of MD. The primary causes of membrane wetting are membrane fouling and an exceedance of liquid entry pressure. The development of different types of polymer membranes and the use of pretreatment have led to significant movement towards the prevention of wetting in MD. We sought to take a new approach to combat membrane wetting that involves coating these membranes with hydrophilic chemical compounds, which consequently would decrease their air permeability. Pulling data …

Designing A Self-Regulating And Portable Heating Device For A Microfluidic Based Biosensor, Riya Mahajan

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Paper-based biosensors are powerful microfluidic analytical devices that are potentially useful for a wide range of applications, ranging from medical diagnostics to agricultural and environmental monitoring. Molecular diagnostics have limitations because they need to send samples back to a centralized laboratory, which increases the cost and turnaround time of the test. This project aims to create a simple-to-use, low-cost, and portable heating system that would facilitate the creation of a field-deployable paper-based analytical device that can incubate the sample at elevated temperatures for conducting isothermal molecular assays. Our design aims to miniaturize a commercial water bath and will be fabricated …

Climate Justice In Engineering Education, Tyler J. Morgan, Donna Riley, Caroline M. Camfield

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

The goal of this research is to design a learning module for Purdue first-year engineering (FYE) students to learn climate fundamentals, and the role of engineers in responding to climate justice challenges. There is a lack of climate material within these classes currently, leading to a lack of climate conscious engineers in the future. The project entailed reviewing and synthesizing a wide variety of previous research on climate change education in engineering, including key learning objectives and their assessment. Because one of the key foci of the first-year engineering sequence relates to data analysis and management, we focused our work …

Modeling Energy Efficiency Of Solar Thermal Powered Batch Reverse Osmosis, Lahiri Chitturi

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Batch reverse osmosis is the most energy efficient water desalination method and when powered by renewable energy, suggests promise for a cost-effective, low-carbon solution. One abundant energy source on Earth is solar energy which can be implemented using solar panels which have an established maximum efficiency of 25%, or solar thermal engines which can outperform solar photovoltaic systems by achieving higher efficiencies between 20% and 40% according to market research. Here, an approach to model and quantify the energy efficiency of a direct-drive solar thermal powered batch reverse osmosis system is presented to indicate the feasibility of pursuing this technology. …

Managing Humidity In Electronics Using Water Vapor-Selective Membranes, Songhao Wu, Andrew J. Fix, Allison Mou, David M. Warsinger, James Braun

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Abstract: As outdoor electronics have become prevalent in every aspect of daily life, handling humidity in them is an emerging issue for reliable devices. As water vapor enters the electronics enclosure, there is a risk of condensation, which could prevent the electronics from functioning and further damage the device. Traditionally, the humidity removal for electronics is usually done by heating the air within the enclosure, which can be energy-intensive and less efficient. Vapor selective membrane systems are promising alternatives for air heating dehumidification as they do not require heating energy for water vapor removal. It allows water vapor transport through …

Active Membrane Energy Exchanger For Air Cooling And Dehumidification, Songhao Wu, Andrew Fix, David M. Warsinger, James E. Braun

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment consume 35% of total building energy use in the US, among which a large share is used for cooling and dehumidification. The majority of air dehumidification systems take the conventional approach of moisture condensation removal. It requires air to be cooled below its dew point temperature and is an energy-intensive process, especially for areas with hot and humid climates. Vapor selective membrane systems are promising alternatives for air dehumidification as they do not require cooling energy for latent (humidity) heat removal. It allows water vapor transport through the membrane while blocking air. Previous …

Deep Learning Approach To Improved Image Quality For Medical Diagnostics, Olivia Loesch, Katie Leyba, Halyley Chan, Craig Goergen

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

The United Nation’s health-related Sustainable Development Goals are difficult to achieve in low- and middle-income countries due to workforce shortages and inadequate health surveillance systems. However, with the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and computer algorithms, it is possible to apply AI to healthcare technologies to improve progress towards these UN standards. This project aims at using and improving computer algorithms and deep learning to aid in the extraction of important structural and functional information from murine carotid artery ultrasound and photoacoustic images. First, we created a large database of simulated photoacoustic images to optimize the algorithms. These images were …

Robust Data Submission Pipeline For Agmip Global Economics Modelers, Raziq Ramli

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) is an international effort to improve agricultural models and scientific and technological capabilities for assessing the impacts of climate variability and other driving factors on agriculture, food security, and poverty. The Global Economics (GlobalEcon) team in AgMIP conducts extensive model intercomparison to assess the agricultural effects of climate change, bioenergy policies, and socioeconomic factors. Currently, the preparation and sharing of GlobalEcon model data are done manually, which is time-consuming and error-prone. This project aims to address this problem by designing a robust data submission pipeline capable of harmonizing data from diverse modeling groups …

Radiation Effects On Space Solar Cells At Various Earth And Jupiter Orbital Altitudes, Naazneen Rana

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Solar cells are used as the primary power source for earth-orbiting satellites and as a primary/secondary power source for various missions within the solar system. However, high energy particles from the sun, planetary magnetospheres, and the galaxy can affect the performance and life expectancy of the space solar cell and associated power systems. As the interests for interplanetary travel and the exploration of planets within our solar system increase, the need to understand a device’s performance within a particular planet’s environment is necessary. Therefore, this study will analyze the performance of space solar cells, particularly the SolAero IMM-α, at various …

Characterizing Students’ Engineering Design Strategies Using Energy3d, Jasmine Singh, Viranga Perera, Alejandra Magana, Brittany Newell

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

The goals of this study are to characterize design actions that students performed when solving a design challenge, and to create a machine learning model to help future students make better engineering design choices. We analyze data from an introductory engineering course where students used Energy3D, an open source computer-aided design software, to design a zero-energy home (i.e. a home that consumes no net energy over a period of a year). Student design actions within the software were recorded into text files. Using a sample of over 300 students, we first identify patterns in the data to assess how students …

Verifying Spi With Universal Verification Methodology (Uvm), Yueting Zhao

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Nowadays, system-on-chips (SoC) are widely applied to perform any computing task. They are used in personal computers, embedded systems, and mobile computing. During the design of an SoC, testing and debugging play important roles to ensure the correct functionalities before sending the chip for fabrication. There are several different verification methods, among which the Universal Verification Methodology (UVM) is the one we are using. It is written in SystemVerilog and is an efficient method for verifying digital designs that is standardized in the industry. Following UVM, we can create scalable and well-formatted testbenches that can be reused for other components …

Experimental And Design Effort To Understand A Wider Sense Of Memory Application, Nicholas Zogbi

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Magnetic Random-Access Memory (mRAM) is a more efficient, smaller, and less power-hungry memory device that can be implemented into computers. Using Magnetic Tunnel Junctions (MTJ) we store memory in devices that are far less complex than other types of memory with just the use of currents and magnetic fields changing the data.

In collaboration with the System-on-Chip Extension Technologies (SoCET) and Computing Advances by Probabilistic Spin Logic (CAPSL) groups, we have been working on using the characteristics of MTJs to characterize available commercial mRAM devices so we can have a better understanding of the thresholds of the MTJs. The SoCET …

Photocatalytic Inactivation Efficacy Of Sars-Cov-2 In Hvac Systems, Andrew J. Freeman, Sudharshan Anandan, Ernest R. Blatchley Iii, W. Travis Horton, David M. Warsinger

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

The coronavirus pandemic has emphasized a need for robust and reliable air purification systems in buildings; with that comes a need for a standardized testing methodology for air purification technologies in HVAC air circulation systems. One such method of air purification is photocatalytic oxidation (PCO), a mechanism in which a catalyst irradiated by light produces reactive molecules that degrade a wide range of pollutants, including the aerosols that carry COVID. This technology has primarily been used in aqueous applications, but there have recently been developments in air purification that have made it a promising contender to existing technologies. One of …