Engineering Commons^™

Intracellular Nanoparticle Dynamics Affected By Cytoskeletal Integrity, Martha E. Grady, Emmabeth Parrish, Matthew A. Caporizzo, Sarah C. Seeger, Russell J. Composto, David M. Eckmann

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The cell interior is a crowded chemical space, which limits the diffusion of molecules and organelles within the cytoplasm, affecting the rates of chemical reactions. We provide insight into the relationship between non-specific intracellular diffusion and cytoskeletal integrity. Quantum dots entered the cell through microinjection and their spatial coordinates were captured by tracking their fluorescence signature as they diffused within the cell cytoplasm. Particle tracking revealed significant enhancement in the mobility of biocompatible quantum dots within fibrosarcoma cells versus their healthy counterparts, fibroblasts, as well as in actin destabilized fibroblasts versus untreated fibroblasts. Analyzing the displacement distributions provided insight into …

Lightweight Three-Factor Authentication And Key Agreement Protocol For Internet-Integrated Wireless Sensor Networks, Qi Jiang, Sherali Zeadally, Jianfeng Ma, Debiao He

Information Science Faculty Publications

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) will be integrated into the future Internet as one of the components of the Internet of Things, and will become globally addressable by any entity connected to the Internet. Despite the great potential of this integration, it also brings new threats, such as the exposure of sensor nodes to attacks originating from the Internet. In this context, lightweight authentication and key agreement protocols must be in place to enable end-to-end secure communication. Recently, Amin et al. proposed a three-factor mutual authentication protocol for WSNs. However, we identified several flaws in their protocol. We found that their …

Using A Respiratory Navigator Significantly Reduces Variability When Quantifying Left Ventricular Torsion With Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, Sean M. Hamlet, Christopher M. Haggerty, Jonathan D. Suever, Gregory J. Wehner, Kristin N. Andres, David K. Powell, Richard J. Charnigo, Brandon K. Fornwalt

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Background: Left ventricular (LV) torsion is an important indicator of cardiac function that is limited by high inter-test variability (50% of the mean value). We hypothesized that this high inter-test variability is partly due to inconsistent breath-hold positions during serial image acquisitions, which could be significantly improved by using a respiratory navigator for cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) based quantification of LV torsion.

Methods: We assessed respiratory-related variability in measured LV torsion with two distinct experimental protocols. First, 17 volunteers were recruited for CMR with cine displacement encoding with stimulated echoes (DENSE) in which a respiratory navigator was used to measure …

Recent Advances On Iron Oxide Magnetic Nanoparticles As Sorbents Of Organic Pollutants In Water And Wastewater Treatment, Angela M. Gutierrez, Thomas D. Dziubla, J. Zach Hilt

Superfund Research Center Faculty Publications

The constant growth in population worldwide over the past decades continues to put forward the need to provide access to safe, clean water to meet human needs. There is a need for cost-effective technologies for water and wastewater treatment that can meet the global demands and the rigorous water quality standards and at the same maximizing pollutant efficiency removal. Current remediation technologies have failed in keeping up with these factors without becoming cost-prohibitive. Most recently, nanotechnology has been sought as the best alternative to increase access to water supplies by remediating those already contaminated and offering ways to access unconventional …

Analysis Of Autonomous Vehicle Policies, Bryan Gibson

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The rapid development and adoption of connected and autonomous vehicles will transform the U.S. transportation system over the next 30 years. Although the widespread use of fully connected and autonomous vehicles is still several years away, it is nonetheless critical that legislators, policymakers, and regulators understand how the presence of these vehicles will restructure the operation of roadway networks. Without a doubt, lawmakers and policymakers will need to develop new laws — and revise existing ones — to account for the presence of connected and autonomous vehicles. This report provides an overview of connected and autonomous vehicles — their positives …

Efficient Revocable Id-Based Signature With Cloud Revocation Server, Xiaoying Jia, Debiao He, Sherali Zeadally, Li Li

Information Science Faculty Publications

Over the last few years, identity-based cryptosystem (IBC) has attracted widespread attention because it avoids the high overheads associated with public key certificate management. However, an unsolved but critical issue about IBC is how to revoke a misbehaving user. There are some revocable identity-based encryption schemes that have been proposed recently, but little work on the revocation problem of identity-based signature has been undertaken so far. One approach for revocation in identity-based settings is to update users' private keys periodically, which is usually done by the key generation center (KGC). But with this approach, the load on the KGC will …

Development Of A Research Project Tracking System, Joseph D. Crabtree, Bradley A. Rogers

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Center, in cooperation with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, has developed a Research Project Tracking System (RPTS). The RPTS is web-based and includes a database of active (and recently completed) research projects. The system allows authorized users to access and edit the project data, enter new projects into the system, and produce periodic progress reports. It produces a homepage (or dashboard) for each project, and it provides links to key project documents. It also has the capability to track the implementation of research results on a project-by-project basis.

A Programmatic Approach To Long-Term Bridge Preventive Maintenance, Danny Wells, Bobby W. Meade, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

State transportation agencies use cost-effective preventive maintenance (PM) programs to preserve existing roadway systems, slow down their deterioration, and improve their functional condition. Currently, KYTC’s bridge inventory includes approximately 10,000 structures, and by 2018, most of these structures will have been in use for at least 50 years. Because there is insufficient funding available to pursue a large-scale bridge replacement program, it is critical for the Cabinet to prolong the lives of its bridges by using economical strategies. This report provides guidance that the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) can use to develop and implement a statewide bridge PM program. Drawing …

Isbord: Internet Searching Based On Resource Description, Zhiwei Yan, Sherali Zeadally, Guanggang Geng

Information Science Faculty Publications

Based on the Information-Centric Networking (ICN) concept and the mature model of the current TCP/IP-based Internet, we propose content searching based on universal and scalable resource description, namely ISBORD (Internet Searching based on Resource Description). This novel concept aims to improve the efficiency of content searching and simplifies the end-user functionality to support the evolution of the content-centric Internet.

Incorporating Poly(3-Hexyl Thiophene) Into Orthogonally Aligned Cylindrical Nanopores Of Titania For Optoelectronics, Suraj R. Nagpure, James F. Browning, Stephen E. Rankin

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

The incorporation of hole conducting polymer poly(3-hexyl thiophene) (P3HT) into the 8-9 nm cylindrical nanopores of titania is investigated using films with a unique orthogonally oriented hexagonal close packed mesostructure. The films are synthesized using evaporation induced self-assembly (EISA) with Pluronic triblock copolymer F127 as the structure directing agent. The orthogonally oriented cylindrical nanopore structure was chosen over a cubic structure because confinement in uniform cylindrical channels is hypothesized to enhance hole conductivity of P3HT by inducing local polymer chain ordering. Orthogonal orientation of the cylindrical nanopores is achieved by modifying the substrate (FTO-coated glass slides) with crosslinked F127. After …

Air Exchange Rates And Alternatuve Vapor Entry Pathways To Inform Vapor Intrusion Exposure Risk Assessments, Rivka Reichman, Mohammadyousef Roghani, Evan J. Willett, Elham Shirazi, Kelly G. Pennell

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Vapor intrusion (VI) is a term used to describe indoor air (IA) contamination that occurs due to the migration of chemical vapors in the soil and groundwater. The overall vapor transport process depends on several factors such as contaminant source characteristics, subsurface conditions, building characteristics, and general site conditions. However, the classic VI conceptual model does not adequately account for the physics of airflow around and inside a building and does not account for chemical emissions from alternative “preferential” pathways (e.g. sewers and other utility connections) into IA spaces. This mini-review provides information about recent research related to building air …

Using The Vehicle Routing Problem To Reduce Field Completion Times With Multiple Machines, Hasan Seyyedhasani, Joseph S. Dvorak

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) is a powerful tool used to express many logistics problems, yet unlike other vehicle routing challenges, agricultural field work consists of machine paths that completely cover a field. In this work, the allocation and ordering of field paths among a number of available machines has been transformed into a VRP that enables optimization of completion time for the entire field. A basic heuristic algorithm (a modified form of the common Clarke-Wright algorithm) and a meta-heuristic algorithm, Tabu Search, were employed for optimization. Both techniques were evaluated through computer simulations in two fields: a hypothetical basic …

Toxicity Evaluation Of Magnetic Hyperthermia Induced By Remote Actuation Of Magnetic Nanoparticles In 3d Micrometastasic Tumor Tissue Analogs For Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Nathanael A. Stocke, Pallavi Sethi, Amar Jyoti, Ryan Chan, Susanne M. Arnold, J. Zach Hilt, Meenakshi Upreti

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Magnetic hyperthermia as a treatment modality is acquiring increased recognition for loco-regional therapy of primary and metastatic lung malignancies by pulmonary delivery of magnetic nanoparticles (MNP). The unique characteristic of magnetic nanoparticles to induce localized hyperthermia in the presence of an alternating magnetic field (AMF) allows for preferential killing of cells at the tumor site. In this study we demonstrate the effect of hyperthermia induced by low and high dose of MNP under the influence of an AMF using 3D tumor tissue analogs (TTA) representing the micrometastatic, perfusion independent stage of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) that infiltrates the lungs. …

Timing And Magnitude Of Lumbar Spine Contribution To Trunk Forward Bending And Backward Return In Patients With Acute Low Back Pain, Iman Shojaei, Milad Vazirian, Elizabeth G. Salt, Linda R. Van Dillen, Babak Bazrgari

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Alterations in the lumbo-pelvic coordination denote changes in neuromuscular control of trunk motion as well as load sharing between passive and active tissues in the lower back. Differences in timing and magnitude aspects of lumbo-pelvic coordination between patients with chronic low back pain (LBP) and asymptomatic individuals have been reported; yet, the literature on lumbo-pelvic coordination in patients with acute LBP is scant. A case-control study was conducted to explore the differences in timing and magnitude aspects of lumbo-pelvic coordination between females with (n=19) and without (n=19) acute LBP. Participants in each group completed one experimental session wherein they performed …

Side Information In Coded Aperture Compressive Spectral Imaging, Laura Galvis, Henry Arguello, Daniel L. Lau, Gonzalo R. Arce

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Coded aperture compressive spectral imagers sense a three-dimensional cube by using two-dimensional projections of the coded and spectrally dispersed source. These imagers systems often rely on FPA detectors, SLMs, micromirror devices (DMDs), and dispersive elements. The use of the DMDs to implement the coded apertures facilitates the capture of multiple projections, each admitting a different coded aperture pattern. The DMD allows not only to collect the sufficient number of measurements for spectrally rich scenes or very detailed spatial scenes but to design the spatial structure of the coded apertures to maximize the information content on the compressive measurements. Although sparsity …

Laser Shock Wave Assisted Patterning On Niti Shape Memory Alloy Surfaces, Dovletgeldi Seyitliyev, Peizhen Li, Khomidkhodza Kholikov, Byron Grant, Haluk E. Karaca, Ali O. Er

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

An advanced direct imprinting method with low cost, quick, and less environmental impact to create thermally controllable surface pattern using the laser pulses is reported. Patterned micro indents were generated on Ni₅₀Ti₅₀ shape memory alloys (SMA) using an Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 nm combined with suitable transparent overlay, a sacrificial layer of graphite, and copper grid. Laser pulses at different energy densities which generates pressure pulses up to 10 GPa on the surface was focused through the confinement medium, ablating the copper grid to create plasma and transferring the grid pattern onto the NiTi surface. Scanning …

Recoverable Stress Induced Two-Way Shape Memory Effect On Niti Surface Using Laser-Produced Shock Wave, Dovletgeldi Seyitliyev, Peizhen Li, Khomidkhodza Kholikov, Byron Grant, Zachary Thomas, Orhan Alal, Haluk E. Karaca, Ali O. Er

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The surfaces of Ni50Ti50 shape memory alloys (SMAs) were patterned by laser scribing. This method is more simplistic and efficient than traditional indentation techniques, and has also shown to be an effective method in patterning these materials. Different laser energy densities ranging from 5 mJ/pulse to 56 mJ/pulse were used to observe recovery on SMA surface. The temperature dependent heat profiles of the NiTi surfaces after laser scribing at 56 mJ/pulse show the partially-recovered indents, which indicate a "shape memory effect (SME)" Experimental data is in good agreement with theoretical simulation of laser induced shock wave propagation inside NiTi SMAs. …

Single Molecule-Level Study Of Donor-Acceptor Interactions And Nanoscale Environment In Blends, Nicole Quist, Rebecca Grollman, Jeremy Rath, Alex Robertson, Michael Haley, John E. Anthony, Oksana Ostroverkhova

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Organic semiconductors have attracted considerable attention due to their applications in low-cost (opto)electronic devices. The most successful organic materials for applications that rely on charge carrier generation, such as solar cells, utilize blends of several types of molecules. In blends, the local environment strongly influences exciton and charge carrier dynamics. However, relationship between nanoscale features and photophysics is difficult to establish due to the lack of necessary spatial resolution. We use functionalized fluorinated pentacene (Pn) molecule as single molecule probes of intermolecular interactions and of the nanoscale environment in blends containing donor and acceptor molecules. Single Pn donor (D) molecules …

A Novel Composite Hydrogen Sensor Based On Pd Nanoclusters/Tio2 Nanotube Arrays, X. B. Wei, X. H. Yang, T. Wu, H. Y. Pang, G. D. Lv, S. H. Wu, S. B. Li, Zhi Chen

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

A novel composite hydrogen sensor, consisting of Pd nanoclusters/TiO₂ nanotube arrays, was fabricated and evaluated at room temperature. The Pd nanoclusters layer was deposited on top surface of the nanotube arrays by using a direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering method. Resistive response of the composite sensors to 0.5% hydrogen was measured. Experimental results indicated that the Pd nanoclusters can quickly and continually form or break multiple passages by absorbing or desorbing hydrogen, so that the composite hydrogen sensors have promising hydrogen sensitivity at room temperature.

Nitrate Radicals And Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds: Oxidation, Mechanisms And Organic Aerosol, Nga Lee Ng, Steven S. Brown, Alexander T. Archibald, Elliot Atlas, Ronald C. Cohen, John N. Crowley, Douglas A. Day, Neil M. Donahue, Juliane L. Fry, Hendrik Fuchs, Robert J. Griffin, Marcelo I. Guzman, Hartmut Hermann, Alma Hodzic, Yoshiteru Iinuma, José L. Jimenez, Astrid Kiendler-Scharr, Ben H. Lee, Deborah J. Luecken, Jingqiu Mao, Robert Mclaren, Anke Mutzel, Hans D. Osthoff, Bin Ouyang, Benedicte Picquet-Varrault, Ulrich Platt, Havala O. T. Pye, Yinon Rudich, Rebecca H. Schwantes, Manabu Shiraiwa, Jochen Stutz, Joel A. Thornton, Andreas Tilgner, Brent J. Williams, Rahul A. Zaveri

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) by the nitrate radical (NO₃) represents one of the important interactions between anthropogenic emissions related to combustion and natural emissions from the biosphere. This interaction has been recognized for more than 3 decades, during which time a large body of research has emerged from laboratory, field, and modeling studies. NO₃-BVOC reactions influence air quality, climate and visibility through regional and global budgets for reactive nitrogen (particularly organic nitrates), ozone, and organic aerosol. Despite its long history of research and the significance of this topic in atmospheric chemistry, a number …

Contemporary And Future Characteristics Of Precipitation Indices In The Kentucky River Basin, Somsubhra Chattopadhyay, Dwayne R. Edwards, Yao Yu

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Climatic variability can lead to large-scale alterations in the hydrologic cycle, some of which can be characterized in terms of indices involving precipitation depth, duration and frequency. This study evaluated the spatiotemporal behavior of precipitation indices over the Kentucky River watershed for both the baseline period of 1986–2015 and late-century time frame of 2070–2099. Historical precipitation data were collected from 16 weather stations in the watershed, while future rainfall time-series were obtained from an ensemble of 10 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) global circulation models under two future emission pathways: Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5. Annual …

A Multi-Institutional Approach To Delivering Shared Curricula For Developing A Next-Generation Energy Workforce, Lawrence E. Holloway, Zhihua Qu, Margaret J. Mohr-Schroeder, Juan Carlos Balda, Andrea Benigni, Donald G. Colliver, Paul A. Dolloff, Roger A. Dougal, M. Omar Faruque, Zongming Fei, Yuan Liao, Roy A. Mccann, R. Mark Nelms, Vijay P. Singh, Azadeh Vosoughi, Qun Zhou

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

In this paper, we consider collaborative power systems education through the FEEDER consortium. To increase students' access to power engineering educational content, the consortium of seven universities was formed. A framework is presented to characterize different collaborative education activities among the universities. Three of these approaches of collaborative educational activities are presented and discussed. These include 1) cross-institutional blended courses (“MS-MD”); 2) cross-institutional distance courses (“SS-MD”); and 3) single-site special experiential courses and concentrated on-site programs available to students across consortium institutions (“MS-SD”). This paper presents the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.

Develop A Highway Inventory Data Quality Control Scheme (Pl-26), Mei Chen, Obaidur Rahman Kazi, Tony Fields

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Since passage of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), transportation agencies have become increasingly reliant on data for planning and programming, asset management, and performance tracking. An efficient asset inventory database with accurate data is critical for states to comply with MAP-21 (and now FAST Act) requirements.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) Division of Planning maintains the Highway Information System (HIS), which is a primary source of this information for transportation professionals at the Cabinet (KYTC). Because highway system is continually changing, it is a challenging task to keep the information in the HIS up to …

Us Residential Building Air Exchange Rates: New Perspectives To Improve Decision Making At Vapor Intrusion Sites, Rivka Reichman, Elham Shirazi, Donald G. Colliver, Kelly G. Pennell

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Vapor intrusion (VI) is well-known to be difficult to characterize because indoor air (IA) concentrations exhibit considerable temporal and spatial variability in homes throughout impacted communities. To overcome this and other limitations, most VI science has focused on subsurface processes; however there is a need to understand the role of aboveground processes, especially building operation, in the context of VI exposure risks. This tutorial review focuses on building air exchange rates (AERs) and provides a review of literature related building AERs to inform decision making at VI sites. Commonly referenced AER values used by VI regulators and practitioners do not …

Kentucky Vehicle License Plate Study, Valerie J. Keathley, Andrew Martin, Jerry Kissick, Gray Forlines, Jennifer R. Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study assesses Kentucky’s options for potentially re-plating all motor vehicles registered in the Commonwealth. The report begins with a background and discussion of Kentucky’s plate production processes, the difference between flat and embossed plates, and the structure of license plate labor at the Kentucky State Reformatory in La Grange. It details current plate production costs and processes, along with fees and production numbers. It evaluates three scenarios for future plate production: flat plate production, a hybrid system with embossed general issue plates and flat specialty plates, and an embossed plate system with in-house printed sheeting. Also included is an …

Structure And Physical Properties Of Srniru5O11 Single Crystals: An R-Type Ferrite Based On Ordered Kagome Nets, L. Shlyk, Lance E. De Long, R. Niewa

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Single crystals of the R-type ferrite SrNiRu₅O₁₁ were grown from a chloride flux. The hexagonal crystal structure contains ruthenium located on distorted kagome nets. The low-temperature dc magnetic susceptibilities (χ_⊥ and χ_∥, perpendicular and parallel to the c axis, respectively) diverge as T^−0.3, and do not exhibit any indication of long-range magnetic order down to 4.5 K. The electrical resistivity varies as T^1.6 below 40 K, which is typical of non-Fermi liquids, and may originate from a competition between residual magnetic interactions among Ni²⁺ (S = 1) spins …

Field-Induced Formation And Growth Of Pillars On Films Of Bisphenol-A-Polycarbonate, Yu-Fan Chuang, Jyun-Siang Peng, Fuqian Yang, Donyau Chiang, Sanboh Lee

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

An electric field is used to construct pillars on films of bisphenol-A-polycarbonate (BPAPC) between two parallel electrodes. Both the size and density of the pillars are dependent on the film thickness. For the same experimental conditions, thicker films will lead to the formation of pillars of larger sizes and smaller densities. The time dependence of the average diameter of the pillars is found to be a linear function of the square root of the difference between the annealing time and incubation time. The temperature dependence of the temporal evolution of the pillars follows the Arrhenius relation with an activation enthalpy …

Coreless Multidisc Axial Flux Pm Machine With Carbon Nanotube Windings, Vandana Rallabandi, Narges Taran, Dan M. Ionel, John F. Eastham

Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky Faculty Publications

Coreless axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) machines are attracting increasing attention due to their compact structure and high torque density. The torque to weight ratio can be further enhanced by the use of alternate conductor materials, such as carbon nanotube (CNT), or aluminum windings in place of the copper material coils. This paper proposes a coreless AFPM synchronous motor with CNT windings. Analytical equations are developed to allow a systematic comparison of machine designs with different conductor materials. The performance of machine designs with different coil materials, namely, copper, aluminum, and CNT, is evaluated and compared. The calculations are also …

Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis: Effect Of Ammonia On Product Selectivities For A Pt Promoted Co/Alumina Catalyst, Venkat Ramana Rao Pendyala, Wilson D. Shafer, Gary Jacobs, Michela Martinelli, Dennis E. Sparks, Burtron H. Davis

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty and Staff Publications

The effects of co-fed ammonia in synthesis gas on the activity and product selectivities of a typical cobalt catalyst (0.5% Pt–25% Co/Al₂O₃) were investigated during the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis using a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR). The product selectivities were compared at a similar CO conversion level for various concentrations (10–1000 ppmv) of ammonia, as well as clean (un-poisoned) conditions. The addition of 10–1000 ppmv ammonia (concentration of ammonia with respect to the syngas feed) significantly decreased activity; the percentage of deactivation was similar (∼40%) for the various concentrations of ammonia used. At similar CO conversions, the …

Fatigue Properties And Damage Mechanism Of A Cr-Mn Austenite Steel, Z. Q. Lv, Pei Cai, T. Yu, Yan Jin, H. F. Zhang, Tongguang Zhai, W. T. Fu

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

The fatigue properties and the damage mechanism of a Cr-Mn austenite steel were investigated using four-point bend fatigue testing. The stress-number of cycles to failure (S-N) curve of the Cr-Mn austenite steel was measured at room temperature, at the frequency of f=20 Hz and the stress ratio of R=0.1. The fatigue strength of this Cr-Mn austenite steel was measured to be 503 MPa in the maximum stress. Multiple cracks are initiated on the sample surface after fatigue failure tests, and usually only one or two of them can lead to the final failure of the samples. Most of the cracks …