Engineering Commons^™

Nanotechnology Strategies For Endometrium Health: Are We On The Right Track?, Victoria Herrera, Dana Tarab-Ravski, Subhash Chauhan, Nikesh Narang, Mohammad Mirazul Islam, Dan Peer, Rajendra Prasad, Murali Yallapu

School of Medicine Publications

The endometrium is a vital mucosal tissue which undergoes cyclical regeneration, differentiation, and remodeling upon hormonal, cellular, and molecular signaling networks. Dysregulation of these processes can trigger a range of pathological conditions including chronic inflammatory disorders, hyperplastic lesions, malignancies, and infertility, necessitating the need for effective therapeutic interventions. Furthermore, we are still dependent on conventional treatment modalities which are often constrained by inefficient drug biodistribution, systemic toxicity, and emergence of therapeutic resistance. Recently, nanomedicines have gained tremendous attention in human healthcare, because they not only diagnose the disease but also deliver therapeutic agents to the targeted site without affecting healthy …

Polydopamine-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles Data, William G. Pitt

ScholarsArchive Data

This data archive contains raw data and processed data related to research and development of magnetic nanoparticles that adhere to bacteria. This data is the foundation of data in the MS thesis of Bowen Houser, and publications and presentations related to that research effort. Polydopamine-coated magnetic nanoparticles are found to be very adhesive to gram-positive bacteria, and less adhesive to gram-negative bacteria. These data files contain information for S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. mutans, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and N. perflava. Some data include the kinetics of capture.

Data Release Of 5-Fluorouracil From Polylactic Acid Microparticles Containing Magnetic Nanoparticles, William G. Pitt

ScholarsArchive Data

This data archive contains raw data and processed data related to research and development of the release of the chemotherapy drug 5-fluororacil from microparticles of poly(lactic acid) which also contain superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles. This data is the foundation of data in the MS thesis of Tyler Green, and publications and presentations related to that research effort.

Nanao/Organocatalyat Sio2/4-(2-Aminoethyl)-Morpholine As A New, Reusable, And Efficacious Catalyst For The Synthesis Of Polyhydroquinolines Derivatives And Antibacterially Active Evaluation, Leila Amiri-Zirtol, Zahra Karimi, Javad Farahbakhsh, Ahmad Gholami, Seyedeh Narjes Abootalebi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In this study, a new nanocomposite comprising 4-(2-Aminoethyl)-morpholine, an organic catalyst, was prepared on the surface of silica. The absence of metal in the catalyst structure contributes to its environmental friendliness. This novel nanocatalyst was used for multi-component reactions (MCRs). Having a nano size for the composite enhances the contact between the raw materials and the catalytic surface, leading to significant advancement in the reaction. The synthesized composite was identified and evaluated using FT-IR, EDX, EDX-Mapping, TGA, XRD, BET, TEM, and FE-SEM analysis. The characteristic analysis confirmed the synthesis of both nano-silica/4-(2-Aminoethyl)-morpholine catalyst and polyhydroquinoline. The composite’s catalytic properties for …

Breaking Through The Strength-Ductility Trade-Off Of Lpbf-Produced Ti-Xnb Alloys From Mixed Powders Via Ω-Phase Induced Heterostructure, Jian Bo Jin, Shengfeng Zhou, Huan Yang, Junjie Yang, Zhiguo Zhang, Baisong Guo, Lai Chang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Highlights Powder-mixed Ti-35Nb alloy produced by LPBF breaks through the strength-ductility trade-off. The ultimate strength, uniform elongation and Young’s modulus of heterostructured Ti-35Nb alloy are (806 ± 7) MPa, (18.0 ± 1.1)%, and (68 ± 6) GPa, respectively. In-situ laser re-melting improves elemental distribution uniformity in LPBF-produced powder-mixed Ti-xNb alloys. Optimized Nb content induces the phase transformation of β + α′ → β + ω in Ti-xNb alloy. Heterostructured β + ω/β enhances the strength-ductility synergy of Ti-35Nb alloy.

Biochar As Additive And Modifier In Bitumen And Asphalt Mixtures, Chathurika Dassanayake, Nuha S. Mashaan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Incorporating biochar into pavement materials is a novel and environmentally sustainable approach that aligns with global sustainability goals and advances greener pavement technologies. Studies have shown that biochar significantly enhances the strength, durability, and stability of pavements, while also contributing to sustainability by lowering the carbon footprint associated with traditional construction materials. Additionally, the incorporation of biochar contributes to the sustainability of asphalt engineering by reducing reliance on petroleum-based products and promoting the valorization of biomass. The primary objective of this review is to critically evaluate and synthesize existing research on the use of biochar in bitumen and asphalt mixtures, …

Next-Generation Underwater Localization: Artificial Intelligence-Based And Energy-Aware Approaches, Mainul Islam Chowdhury, Quoc Viet Phung, Iftekhar Ahmed, Walid K. Hasan, Daryoush Habibi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Designing accurate, reliable, and energy-efficient localization techniques for underwater acoustic networks is highly challenging due to factors such as large propagation delays, the absence of Global Positioning System (GPS), node mobility, and limited acoustic link capacity. In any underwater sensor network (UWSN) monitoring application, data collected by underwater nodes becomes more meaningful when accompanied by location information. However, traditional localization methods often rely on geometric models and statistical filters that are highly sensitive to sensor noise and communication constraints. Energy consumption is another primary concern in UWSNs, not only because replacing and recharging underwater batteries are challenging, but also due …

Optimization Of Size And Siting Of Distributed Generation In Unbalanced Distribution Systems: A Literature Review, Pema Dorji, Stefan Lachowicz, Octavian Bass

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Renewable energy sources (RES) are essential for meeting the rising global electricity demand while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from conventional generation. As traditional systems approach capacity saturation, the integration of RES into power grids becomes increasingly vital. However, the intermittent and variable nature of RES introduces significant technical, economic, and operational challenges. This review focuses on the optimal planning and integration of distributed generation in unbalanced distribution systems, which more accurately reflect real-world power network conditions. Emphasis is placed on siting and sizing strategies aimed at enhancing voltage stability, minimizing power losses, and reducing system costs and emissions. The review …

Design Of A Novel Robust Adaptive Fractional-Order Model Predictive Controller For Boost Converter Using Grey Wolf Optimization Algorithm, Chao Peng, Seyyed Morteza [email protected] Ghamari, Hasan Mollaee, Omid Rezaei

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Boost converters play a crucial role in power electronics but present control challenges due to their non-minimum phase behavior and nonlinear dynamics at high switching frequencies. To address these issues, this work proposes a Fractional-order adaptive Model Predictive Control (FO-MPC) framework incorporating Exponential Regressive Least Squares (ERLS) for system identification. Traditional MPC frameworks often rely on accurate mathematical models, which are difficult to obtain in real-world scenarios. This adaptive modelling approach based on ERLS identification method eliminates the need for precise system models, improving robustness and adaptability under parameter variations. Additionally, a FO derivative term enhances damping, stability, and noise …

Enhanced Degradation Of Triclosan Using Aerated Hydrodynamic Cavitation: Turbulence-Based Modelling And Economic Evaluation, Mehdi Khiadani, Ensiyeh Taheri, Veena Bobade, Ali Fatehizadeh

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Pharmaceutical and personal care product (PPCP)-contaminated wastewater, particularly with triclosan (TCS), poses a significant environmental concern due to TCS persistence, ecotoxicity, and endocrine-disrupting effects, necessitating the development of efficient and sustainable remediation technologies. In this study, the degradation of TCS using hydrodynamic cavitation coupled with air injection (aerated HC process) is investigated as a green and chemical-free treatment method for wastewater treatment. Initially, the optimum operating conditions of the standalone HC process were determined by varying the inlet pressure and flow rate, which were found to be 2.34 bar and 0.45 L/s, respectively, corresponding to the highest turbulence frequency level …

Performance Study Of A Woody Downdraft Gasifier: Numerical Investigation And Experimental Validation, Md Sanowar Hossain, Showmitro Bhowmik, Mujahidul Islam Riad, Md Golam Kibria, Barun K. Das, Sanjay Paul

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Biomass gasification is an established and widely utilized renewable energy system. The research work aims to develop and construct a downdraft gasifier to investigate gasifier performance. The gasifier’s performance and cold gas efficiency were calculated for three volumetric airflow rates: 7.16 m3/h, 5.97 m3/h, and 4.78 m3/h. The efficiency was found maximum of 69.6% for an airflow rate of 7.16 m3/h. The oxidation zone and neck region of the gasifier reactor had the maximum recorded temperatures of 845 °C and 823 °C for Swietenia macrophylla (SM) and Mangifera indica (MI), respectively. A two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for a …

Photocatalytic Performance Of N-Doped Ti3o5 Nano-Catalyst For Phenolic Compounds Removal From Industrial Wastewaters, Mehdi Narimani, Maryam Gonbadi, Mahsa Navabi, Fatemeh Khezri-Shooshtari, Amin Ale Ebrahim, Mohammad Mahdi Zerafat

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study is focused on the synthesis and evaluation of TiO2 and N-doped Ti3O5 for the photocatalytic degradation of phenol as a noxious substance commonly present in the industrial process effluents with harmful effects on human and the environment. The research addresses the critical environmental challenge posed by phenol-contaminated effluents from petrochemical industries. Leveraging Response Surface Methodology with Box-Behnken design, 17 experiments were conducted to analyze the impact of independent variables such as photo-catalyst dosage, pH, and irradiation time on degradation efficiency. Notably, the average crystallite sizes were determined as 20 nm for TiO2 and 58.3 nm for N-doped Ti3O5. …

Biopolymer-Based Membranes And Their Application In Per- And Polyfluorinated Substances Removal: Perspective Review, Roham Ghanbari, Ratish Permala, Stefan Iglauer, Masoumeh Zargar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Over the past 2 decades, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have attracted considerable attention due to their widespread occurrence and adverse effects on both the environment and human health. PFAS possess strong carbon‑fluorine bonds that confer exceptional chemical stability and resistance to natural degradation; their fluorinated chains are highly hydrophobic and oleophobic, while their polar functional groups contribute to amphiphilic behavior and water solubility. Certain PFAS thus pose serious risks to living organisms, especially mammals. Membrane filtration is recognized as a particularly effective technique, achieving removal efficiencies greater than 99 % for long-chain-PFAS (including anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic PFAS molecules). …

Confinement-Dependent Transient Mi For The Hoek-Brown (H-B) Strength Criterion, Hao Li, Leo Pel, Zhenjiang You, David Smeulders

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The growing global demand for mineral resources necessitates deeper excavation, where increasing in situ stresses pose significant geomechanical challenges. Consequently, an accurate strength assessment of deep-seated rock masses is crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of underground excavations. The Hoek-Brown (H-B) strength criterion remains a widely applied rock strength criterion. However, its conventional form struggles to characterize the full nonlinear evolution of rock strength from pre-critical to critical conditions across varying confining stresses. To address this limitation, this study proposes a Confinement-dependent Transient mi Model (CTM) as an enhancement to the H-B criterion. By incorporating confinement-sensitive variations of mi, …

Experimental Study On Stability, Rheology, And Co2 Storage Capacity Of Polymer-Enhanced Foams In Carbonates, Muhammad Mushtaq, Mudassar Mumtaz, Emad W. Al-Shalabi, Waleed Alameri, Georgios N. Karanikolos, Stefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Polymer-enhanced CO2 foam (PEF) is an emerging technology that improves gas mobility control in chemical enhanced oil recovery applications. It also has significant potential for storing CO2 in geological formations, which can help mitigate anthropogenic emissions. Traditional surfactant-based foams are often weak and unstable, particularly under the high-salinity and high-temperature conditions commonly found in Middle Eastern carbonate reservoirs. However, adding a small amount of stable polymer to these foams can enhance their stability, rendering them more suitable for harsh environments. This study focuses on designing and thoroughly evaluating a PEF formulation under supercritical CO2 conditions at 95 °C temperature, 1500 …

Interface Engineering And Safety In Solid-State Batteries: Advancing From Human-Centered Insights To Ai-Driven Innovations, Elnaz Karimi, Stefan Iglauer, Muhammad Rizwan Azhar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) represent a transformative advancement in energy storage, offering superior safety, higher energy density and extended cycle life compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, challenges related to interface engineering—particularly in ensuring stable electrochemical performance and preventing lithium dendrite formation—have hindered their widespread adoption and can compromise safety. Effective interface engineering is critical for mitigating interfacial resistance, enhancing mechanical stability and preventing thermal runaway, all of which are vital for improving battery reliability. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in this context accelerates battery optimization by enabling predictive modelling of interfacial behaviour, material discovery …

Machine Learning Assisted Quality Control In Metal Additive Manufacturing: A Review, Zeqi Hu, Changlin Huang, Lechun Xie, Lin Hua, Yujie Yuan, Lai Chang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Additive manufacturing (AM) promotes the production of metallic parts with significant design flexibility, yet its use in critical applications is hindered by challenges in ensuring consistent quality and performance. Process variability often leads to defects, insufficient geometric accuracy and inadequate material properties, which are difficult to effectively manage due to limitations of traditional quality control methods in modeling high-dimensional nonlinear relationships and enabling adaptive control. Machine learning (ML) offers a transformative approach to model intricate process-structure-property relationships by leveraging the rich data environment of AM. The study presents a comprehensive examination of ML-driven quality assurance implementations in metallic AM. First, …

Theory And Technology Of Enhanced Coal Seam Gas Production By Integrated Drilling, Hydraulic Punching And Fracturing In Coal Mine: Part 2 Technology, Shiyao Yu, Xianbo Su, Jinxing Song, Qian Wang, Zhenjiang You

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

To enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of coal seam gas extraction in coal mines, this study introduces an integrated approach combining drilling, hydraulic punching, and fracturing technologies. This method optimizes drilling media tailored to specific coal seams and fine-tunes technical parameters during drilling and permeability improvement processes. Furthermore, it clarifies the relationships among the coal breaking rate, discharge of drill cuttings, jet velocity, rotation speed, and displacement. This ensures precise and effective permeability improvement in both soft and hard coal formations. To implement this technology, a set of high-performance drilling tool with a large inner diameter, high pressure resistance, and …

Theory And Technology Of Enhanced Coal Seam Gas Production By Integrated Drilling, Punching And Fracturing In Coal Mine: Part 1 Theory, Shiyao Yu, Xianbo Su, Jinxing Song, Qian Wang, Zhenjiang You

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Coal seams in China are typically characterized by high coal seam gas content and low permeability, posing challenges for efficient coal seam gas extraction. However, achieving successful boreholes, especially in soft coal formations, remains a challenge. The mechanisms underlying permeability improvement in different coal structures need further exploration. Therefore, this paper is focused on the fundamental principles of permeability improvement in soft coal through hydraulic punching, and in hard coal via hydraulic jet fracturing. Firstly, borehole instability results from a dynamic interplay of four factors: in situ stress, coal structure, mechanical properties of coal with fluid, and drilling technology. While …

Optimal & Robust Control Of A Bidirectional Dc-Dc Converter In Ev Systems, Yasser Ayeva

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper analyzes the performance of PI, LQR, and H∞ controllers for the regulation of a bidirectional buck boost converter in electric vehicle systems. To get the system state space equations, a continuous conduction average model is linearized. For analysis a PI controller will be used as baseline, the LQR controller will be used to improve transient response, and the H∞ controller will be used for the system robustness and disturbance rejection. The simulation results show that the advanced controllers surpass the PI controller in terms of overshoot, settling time, and voltage ripple, with the H∞ controller offering the best …

Developing A Metabolic Engineering Chassis From A Metabolically Versatile Organism, Rhodopseudomonas Palustris Cga009, Mark William Kathol

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Metabolic engineering has made it possible to develop biological processes that were once considered economically unfeasible or uncompetitive. This field has enabled both a robust niche market, whereby products, such as pharmaceutical substances like monoclonal antibodies, are produced exclusively through biological means, as well as an emerging commodity production market. Nonetheless, significant challenges remain in harnessing the unique metabolic capabilities of genetically non-tractable organisms. This dissertation focuses on Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA009 as a potential chassis for metabolic engineering. To address the issue of genetic intractability, a synthetic biology toolkit was developed to facilitate the expression of heterologous proteins in R …

Reinforcement Learning Based Security Schemes For Distributed Ai Systems, Ashan Chamath Gunawardena

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Distributed machine learning (DML) is a component of modern intelligent systems, enabling collaborative training across devices such as mobile clients, vehicles, and edge networks. However, the decentralized nature of these systems introduces vulnerabilities, particularly data poisoning attacks that compromise model integrity and degrade performance. Traditional defenses, such as statistical filtering, robust aggregation, and privacy-preserving techniques, often struggle to adapt to overwhelming adversaries or operate under strict privacy and real-time constraints. This dissertation proposes the use of reinforcement learning (RL) and deep reinforcement learning (DRL) based misbehavior detection schemes that dynamically identify poisoning attempts in distributed AI systems, including federated learning, …

Making Deep Neural Networks Trustworthy: Intelligibility And Safety Through Symbolic Methods, Eleanor Catherine Quint

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The rapid adoption of deep learning has come at the cost of properties long valued in artificial intelligence: intelligibility and safety. This dissertation develops methods that restore these properties by coupling neural networks with symbolic structure.

First, for supervised classification, I propose a differentiable decision tree integrated with a supervised variational autoencoder. The resulting model maintains competitive accuracy and generative performance while exposing clear macro-features in its latent space, improving interpretability.

Second, for reinforcement learning, I extend constrained Markov decision processes by specifying constraints in formal languages. This formal language constrained MDP enables the use of automata for state augmentation, …

Ethical Decision-Making Processes In Authentic Environmental Engineering Contexts Through Systems Thinking And Team Collaboration Lenses: An Embedded Single Case Study, Toluwalase Eniola Brower

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Ethical and professional responsibility is a critical learning outcome emphasized in ABET accreditation. However, ethics instruction in engineering education often lacks integration of system-level considerations such as economic, environmental, and societal contexts, that are essential for developing engineering solutions that ensure the safety and welfare of diverse stakeholders. This embedded single-case study investigated the integration of authentic ethics instruction within a junior-level environmental engineering course at a Midwestern U.S. university during spring 2025 and explores how civil engineering student teams within the course engage in ethical decision-making process during authentic problem-solving.

The instructional intervention consisted of four problem-based ethics modules, …

In-Field Tractor Operational Load Profile Generation In Support Of Advanced Tractor Testing In Mixedmode Power, Andrew Donesky

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation addresses the need to better characterize real-world tractor power requirements across drawbar, power take-off (PTO), and hydraulic modes to support more representative tractor testing. Conventional testing protocols, such as OECD Code 2, emphasize steady-state performance under controlled high-load conditions, which do not reflect the mixed and dynamic demands of modern field operations. To address this gap, a Tractor Instrumentation System (TIS) was developed, validated, and deployed to collect high-resolution, mixed-mode power data during planting, anhydrous ammonia application, and grain cart operations. The TIS integrates physical sensors, including custom load pins, hydraulic pressure/flow sensors, and a redesigned PTO torque …

Rapid State-Of-Health Estimation Of Batteries Using Machine Learning With Limited Eearly-Discharge Voltage Data, Mohammad Bakhtiari

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The utilization of lithium-ion batteries has been rapidly expanding across diverse sectors, including electric transportation, stationary energy storage systems, and the built environment. Ensuring a high level of reliability in these applications is essential, as the performance and safety of such systems depend strongly on the accurate assessment of the battery’s State of Health (SOH). Conventional SOH estimation techniques—often based on complex electrochemical models or extensive laboratory testing—tend to require a large number of measurements, advanced instrumentation, and high computational cost. These factors make them impractical for large-scale deployment or real-time monitoring. This study introduces a simplified machine-learning-based approach for …

An Integrated Modeling Framework To Evaluate Circularity Of The Corn–Water–Ethanol–Beef Nexus, Heydi Han

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation examines the transition from conventional linear agricultural and food bioenergy systems toward more circular, resilient, and resource-efficient configurations. Prior research indicates that spatial and temporal variability in soil, weather, animal biological responses, and management decisions strongly influences productivity, nutrient-use efficiency, and profitability. Studies have also shown that a diversified circular system can buffer these sources of variability, improving stability and adaptive capacity. Building on these insights, the central focus of this work is to develop an integrated modeling framework to evaluate circularity within the Corn-Water-Ethanol-Beef (CWEB) nexus and explore how climate variability and management choices shape system-wide performance. …

Synthesis And Study Of Stable Organic Radicals For Mri Contrast Agents And New Materials, Sabina Dhakal

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The first part of this dissertation focuses on the design, synthesis, and characterization of a thermally robust S =1/2 phototetrazolinyl monoradical and the development of synthetic methodologies for a high-spin (S = 1) phototetrazolinyl diradical. Electrochemical studies of the phototetrazolium cation (precursor to the monoradical) revealed a remarkably narrow electrochemical band gap (Ecell ≈ 0.82 V), suggesting promising electrical conductivity. Thermal analysis of the monoradical demonstrated excellent stability, with the onset of decomposition at 232 °C. Building on the excellent thermal stability and promising properties for electrical conductivity of the monoradical, we developed two condensation-based synthetic routes that provide viable …

Rainfall-Runoff Modelling In An Indonesian Humid Tropical Area Using Satellite-Based Precipitation Products, Noordiah Helda

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation explores three rainfall-runoff models in the humid tropical regions of Indonesia using satellite-based precipitation products (SBPPs) and develops integrated machine-learning modeling frameworks. Several ground-based observations from BMKG (Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (also known as the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics)) stations across Indonesia (133−165 stations) are compared and evaluated against satellite products, indicating that GPM performs well, with R-squared values ranging from 0.54 to 0.76 and correlation coefficients ranging from 0.45 to 0.69, respectively.

In the Martapura Watershed, South Kalimantan, due to a lack of observational discharge data, streamflow was generated using the FJ Mock …

Residential Hvac Installation Faults: Field Prevalence, Drivers, And Energy Impacts, Seyed Ali Rooholghodos

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Faults in residential comfort systems can have detrimental effects on the performance of the system, reducing the energy efficiency, affecting indoor comfort, and shortening equipment lifespan. Many of the faults occur at installation. However, there has not previously been a systematic and nationally representative study to indicate the prevalence of the faults, meaning the distribution of faults by fault type and fault intensity. Understanding true fault prevalence is essential to be able to identify derivers, and to assess the incremental electricity consumption of the new installation systems.

This study presents on-site data from 341 new central cooling systems—air conditioners and …