Engineering Commons^™

Synthetic Approaches Of Carbohydrate Based Self-Assembling Systems, Guijun Wang, Anji Chen, Pramod Aryal, Jonathan Bietsch

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Carbohydrate-based self-assembling systems are essential for the formation of advanced biocompatible materials via a bottom-up approach. The self-assembling of sugar-based small molecules has applications encompassing many research fields and has been studied extensively. In this focused review, we will discuss the synthetic approaches for carbohydrate-based self-assembling (SA) systems, the mechanisms of the assembly, as well as the main properties and applications. This review will mainly cover recent publications in the last four years from January 2020 to December 2023. We will essentially focus on small molecule self-assembly, excluding polymer-based systems, which include various derivatives of monosaccharides, disaccharides, and oligosaccharides. Glycolipids, …

Photoluminescence Switching In Quantum Dots Connected With Carboxylic Acid And Thiocarboxylic Acid End-Group Diarylethene Molecules, Ephraiem S. Sarabamoun, Pramod Aryal, Jonathan M. Bietsch, Maurice Curran, Sugandha Verma, Grayson Johnson, Lucy U. Yoon, Amelia G. Reid, Esther H. R. Tsai, Charles W. Machan, Christopher Paolucci, Guijun Wang, Joshua J. Choi

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

We contrast the switching of photoluminescence (PL) of PbS quantum dots (QDs) cross-linked with photochromic diarylethene molecules with different end groups, 4,4′-(1-cyclopentene-1,2-diyl)bis[5-methyl-2-thiophenecarboxylic acid] (1C) and 4,4′-(1-cyclopentene-1,2-diyl)bis[5-methyl-2-thiophenethiocarboxylic acid] (2T). Our results show that the QDs cross-linked with the carboxylic acid end group molecules (1C) exhibit a greater amount of switching in photoluminescence intensity compared to QDs cross-linked with the thiocarboxylic acid end group (2T). We also demonstrate that regardless of the molecule used, greater switching amounts are observed for smaller quantum dots. Varying these parameters allows for the fabrication of photoswitches with tunable PL change. We relate these observations to the …

Polarizable Amoeba Force Field Predicts Thin And Dense Hydration Layer Around Monosaccharides, Luke A. Newman, Mackenzie G. Patton, Breyanna A. Rodriguez, Ethan W. Summer, Valerie Vaissier Welbourn

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Polarizable force fields crucially enhance the modeling of macromolecules in polar media. Here, we present new parameters to model six common monosaccharides with the polarizable AMOEBA force field. These parameters yield a thinner, but denser, hydration layer than that previously reported. This denser hydration layer results in eliminating non-physical aggregation of glucose in water-an issue that has plagued molecular dynamics simulations of carbohydrates for decades.

‘I Know It When I See It’– Developing Quality Schedules Considering Subjective Or Unspecified Criteria, Douglas L. Moody

Publications and Research

Most timetabling problems have a given objective function to measure the quality of a solution. However, users may have a “I know it when I see it” recognition of a quality schedule, without specifying the complete basis for their judgment. In this situation, the objective function cannot be exclusively used as a solution quality measurement. This work presents an AI based approach to aid in categorizing the solution’s quality when the users have not explicitly defined all factors used in their criteria.

Developing A Model To Predict Bleeding Areas In Asphalt Pavements Using Artificial Neural Network, Rami Khalifah, Mena I. Souliman, Pratik Lama, Omar Elbagalati

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Bleeding can have a negative effect on the performance of a pavement, as the layer of asphalt on the surface can become slippery, reduce skid resistance, and lead to premature wear and tear. Therefore, predicting the bleeding area in asphalt pavements will help in maintaining better pavements, increasing the safety of the drivers, and delivering timely maintenance. The aim of the study is to develop a model using a highly sophisticated analysis tool called an artificial neural network (ANN) to predict the bleeding areas in asphalt pavements as output, with one hidden layer and several neurons and using several independent …

Eevmc: An Energy Efficient Virtual Machine Consolidation Approach For Cloud Data Centers, Attique Ur Rehman, Songfeng Lu, Mubashir Ali, Florentin Smarandache, Sultan S. Alshamrani, Abdullah Alshehri, Farrukh Arslan

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

The dynamic landscape of cloud computing design presents significant challenges regarding power consumption and quality of service (QoS). Virtual machine (VM) consolidation is essential for reducing power usage and enhancing QoS by relocating VMs between hosts. OpenStack Neat, a leading framework for VM consolidation, employs the Modified Best-Fit Decreasing (MBFD) VM placement technique, which faces issues related to energy consumption and QoS. To address these issues, we propose an Energy Efficient VM Consolidation (EEVMC) approach. Our method introduces a novel host selection criterion based on the incurred loss during VM placement to identify the most efficient host. For validation, we …

Bv2trs Appraiser Model: Enforcing Bharat Version2 In Tree Soft Modelling For Appraising E-Mobility Hurdles, Mona Mohamed, Florentin Smarandache, Michael Gr. Voskoglou

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

Electric vehicles (EVs) are being introduced to lessen greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, air pollution, and reliance on fossil fuels. As a result of the government's aggressive promotion of EVs and rising environmental consciousness, EVs are quickly rising to the top of the low-carbon transportation market. Several viewpoints suggested that shifting to electric vehicles has been seen as a potential way to achieve sustainable mobility. Nevertheless, many studies discussed the obstacles and hurdles that obstruct the embracing of various electric-mobility (E-mobility) as EVs and electric-scooters (E-scooters) as eco-friendly means. Herein, we discussed these hurdles and determined them through surveys for prior …

Abmscore: A Heuristic Algorithm For Forming Strategic Coalitions In Agent-Based Simulation, Andrew J. Collins, Gayane Grigoryan

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Integrating human behavior into agent-based models has been challenging due to its diversity. An example is strategic coalition formation, which occurs when an individual decides to collaborate with others because it strategically benefits them, thereby increasing the expected utility of the situation. An algorithm called ABMSCORE was developed to help model strategic coalition formation in agent-based models. The ABMSCORE algorithm employs hedonic games from cooperative game theory and has been applied to various situations, including refugee egress and smallholder farming cooperatives. This paper discusses ABMSCORE, including its mechanism, requirements, limitations, and application. To demonstrate the potential of ABMSCORE, a new …

B(C₆F₅)₃ Co-Catalyst Promotes Unconventional Halide Abstraction From Grubbs I To Enhance Reactivity And Limit Decomposition, Austin W. Medley, Diya Patel, Calvin Utne, Trandon A. Bender

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Ruthenium based Grubbs metathesis has become a commonplace reaction for synthetic chemists. Development of new generations of catalysts evolving from Grubbs I (GI) have led to greater stability, functional group compatibility, and superior reactivities. However, these advancements lead to increased costs. To this end, we report here how the addition of the commercially available tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane Lewis acid, which has become a common place catalyst in its own right, leads to enhanced reactivity of GI. Moreover, the increased reactivity arises via halide abstraction rather than traditional phosphine dissociation, providing ring-opening metathesis polymerization products that are divergent from those synthesized without the …

Role Of Nitrogenous Functional Group Identity In Accelerating 1,2,3- Trichloropropane Degradation By Pyrogenic Carbonaceous Matter (Pcm) And Sulfide Using Pcm-Like Polymers, Han Cao, Jingdong Mao, Paul G. Tratnyek, Wenqing Xu

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Groundwater contamination by 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP) poses a unique challenge due to its human toxicity and recalcitrance to degradation. Previous work suggests that nitrogenous functional groups of pyrogenic carbonaceous matter (PCM), such as biochar, are important in accelerating contaminant dechlorination by sulfide. However, the reaction mechanism is unclear due, in part, to PCM's structural complexity. Herein, PCM-like polymers (PLPs) with controlled placement of nitrogenous functional groups [i.e., quaternary ammonium (QA), pyridine, and pyridinium cations (py⁺)] were employed as model systems to investigate PCM-enhanced TCP degradation by sulfide. Our results suggest that both PLP-QA and PLP-py⁺ were highly effective …

Type-B Energetic Processes: Their Identification And Implications, James Weifu Lee

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

We have now identified two thermodynamically distinct types (A and B) of energetic processes naturally occurring on Earth. Type-A energy processes, such as classical heat engines, apparently well follow the second law of thermodynamics; Type-B energy processes, such as the newly discovered thermotrophic function that isothermally utilizes environmental heat energy to perform useful work in driving ATP synthesis, follow the first law of thermodynamics (conservation of mass and energy) but do not have to be constrained by the second law, owing to their special asymmetric functions. Several Type-B energy processes such as asymmetric function-gated isothermal electricity production and epicatalysis have …

Examining The Effectiveness Of Oiled Ballast Water Treatment Processes: Insights Into Hydrocarbon Oxidation Product Formation And Environmental Implications, Maxwell L. Harsha, Danielle E. Verna, Yanila Salas-Ortiz, Eduardo Osborn, Eduardo Turcios Valle, Aleksandar I. Goranov, Patrick G. Hatcher, Ana M. Aguilar-Islas, Patrick L. Tomco, David C. Podgorski

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Ballast water released from ships into coastal environments has been identified as a mechanism that introduces contaminants of concern into coastal ecosystems. This study investigates the treatment processes employed at a ballast water treatment facility in Valdez, Alaska, that remove hydrocarbons from unsegregated ballast water. Specifically, the aim is to quantify and characterize hydrocarbons of emerging concern, known as dissolved hydrocarbon oxidation products (HOPs) and heavy metals (HMs), throughout the treatment process. Specialized analytical techniques were employed, such as non-volatile dissolved organic carbon analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance-mass spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Results …

Eece 7220/8220: Scientific Computing (Syllabus), Madhusudhanan Balasubramanian

Electrical and Computer Engineering Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Review of scientific computing mathematical preliminaries. Topics include numerical linear algebra, orthogonality, eigenvalues, boundary value problems, integral equations and Green's functions, numerical integration, basic iterative methods, preconditioning, parallel programming, and advanced topics.

Development Of A Low-Cost Resistivity Meter For Local Groundwater Survey, Jose Claro N. Monje, Ma. Leonora Guico, Carlos M. Oppus, Mark Glenn F. Retirado, Alfonso Rafael Cuezon, Justin Bryce M. Torres

Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering Faculty Publications

The researchers developed a low-cost resistivity meter with a built-in data file storage system using locally available parts. This effort was done in partnership with the National Water Resources Board and the Department of Science and Technology under the Water for Tourism project for water quality monitoring in tourist areas in the Philippines such as Boracay and Caticlan. The resistivity meter system consists of a power supply module, a sensor module, and an equipment module, built using locally available materials and equipment, emulating the commercially available PASI model 16 GL-N. Due to pandemic restrictions, the developed prototype could only be …

Impacts Of Open-Source Hardware Movements On Electronics Engineering Educational Outcomes, Angelica Tolentino Masa, Ralph Anthony Ramos Rafael, King Harold A. Recto

Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering Faculty Publications

The integration of the Open-source Hardware (OSHW) movement into electronics engineering education has not only democratized access to intricate designs but has also transformed the pedagogical landscape. OSHW's principles, inspired by the open-source software paradigm, have given rise to a collaborative learning environment where students bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. This research, conducted through a rigorous methodology encompassing literature review, thematic analysis, and purposive sampling from reputable academic sources like IEEE Xplore, highlights the significant potential of OSHW. It not only enhances curriculum development and practical skill acquisition but also fosters a sense of global community …

Training Practitioners For Real-Time Product Development Using Generative Artificial Intelligence, Antoine J. Jetter, Ameeta Agrawal, Dahm Mongkol Hongchai, Charles Weber, Yufei Tao

Engineering and Technology Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

A workshop to train practitioners in real-time new product development (NPD) using generative artificial intelligence (AI) was conducted. Three teams of graduate students in Engineering and Technology Management (many with work experience as managers and engineers) were given minimalist instructions to develop a product concept and a preliminary marketing plan for a product of their choosing within six hours using ChatGPT, search engines, and other Internet-based tools. The product was to be novel, and the plan was to include customer identification, market analysis, generating personas, and a 15-minute presentation at the end of the workshop. The goal was to 'inspire …

Methods That Support The Validation Of Agent-Based Models: An Overview And Discussion, Andrew Collins, Matthew Koehler, Christopher Lynch

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Validation is the process of determining if a model adequately represents the system under study for the model’s intended purpose. Validation is a critical component in building the credibility of a simulation model with its end-users. Effectively conducting validation can be a daunting task for both novice and experienced simulation developers. Further compounding the difficult task of conducting validation is that there is no universally accepted approach for assessing a simulation. These challenges are particularly relevant to the paradigm of Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation (ABMS) because of the complexity found in these models’ mechanisms and in the real-world situations they …

Teaching Analytics Online: A Self-Study Of Professional Practice, Andrew J. Collins, Brandon Butler, James F. Leathrum Jr., Christopher J. Lynch

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

As the COVID-19 pandemic caused severe disruption to education enterprises throughout the world, the main response by educational institutions was to move to online learning environments. The purpose of this study was to understand better how instructors could improve online learning for a professional-level week-long short course in a highly technical area (data analytics), which had, pre-COVID, been a hands-on computer, laboratory-based learning experience. The authors used self-study of professional practice to elicit and understand the major issues and concerns of the transition to an online learning environment. Under the guidance of a colleague in teacher education, three course instructors …

Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields Increase Antibiotic Susceptibility In Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, Alexandra E. Chittams-Miles, Areej Malik, Erin B. Purcell, Claudia Muratori

Bioelectrics Publications

Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs). SSTIs caused by bacteria resistant to antimicrobials, such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), are increasing in incidence and have led to higher rates of hospitalization. In this study, we measured MRSA inactivation by nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF), a promising new cell ablation technology. Our results show that treatment with 120 pulses of 600 ns duration (28 kV/cm, 1 Hz), caused modest inactivation, indicating cellular damage. We anticipated that the perturbation created by nsPEF could increase antibiotic efficacy if nsPEF were applied as a co-treatment. To test this …

Machine Learning Applications In Spine Biomechanics, Farshid Ghezelbash, Amir Hossein Eskandari, Xavier Robert-Lachaine, Shufan Cao, Mehran Pesteie, Zhuohua Qiao, Aboulfazl Shirazi-Adl, Christian Larivière

Études primaires

Spine biomechanics is at a transformation with the advent and integration of machine learning and computer vision technologies. These novel techniques facilitate the estimation of 3D body shapes, anthropometrics, and kinematics from as simple as a single-camera image, making them more accessible and practical for a diverse range of applications. This study introduces a framework that merges these methodologies with traditional musculoskeletal modeling, enabling comprehensive analysis of spinal biomechanics during complex activities from a single camera. The real-world applications explored in this study include assessment in workplace lifting, evaluation of whiplash injuries in car accidents, and biomechanical analysis in professional …

Fostering Trust In Artificial Intelligence In Commercial Aviation: An Exploratory Study, Leila Halawi, Mark Miller, Sam Holley

Publications

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a transformative force, compelling industries to adapt their operations, management systems, and workforce capabilities. The aviation sector finds itself at the forefront of this transformation, confronted with the imperative to navigate the complex dynamics of trust amidst AI's integration. Through a comprehensive survey involving 310 professionals from across the US commercial aviation sector, the research aims to shed light on the trust construct. The exploratory study provides critical insights for strategic AI adoption within the industry. A crosstabulation explored how employee trust in AI for decision-making differed across various demographic groups. In addition, a onesample T-test …

Tractor Test #2294: Kubota M7-154, Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

Nebraska Tractor Tests

ABOUT THE TEST REPORT AND USE OF THE DATA The test data contained in this report are a tabulation of the results of a series of tests. Due to the restricted format of these pages, only a limited amount of data and not all of the tractor specifications are included. The full OECD report contains usually about 30 pages of data and specifications. The test data were obtained for each tractor under similar conditions and therefore, provide a means of comparison of performance based on a limited set of reported data. EXPLANATION OF THE TEST PROCEDURES Purpose The purpose of …

Bloominbeds, Joshua Keene, Marshall Hayduk, Michael Dattolo, Keely Doyle, Mathew Hartung

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

BloominBeds is an innovative, eco-friendly garden bed monitoring system designed to foster the optimal growth environment for plants. This system tackles a significant gardening challenge, sustaining an ideal environment for plant life, particularly in conditions of intense sunlight, which can result in overheating and plant stress. Central to BloominBeds is an array of sensors and a control mechanism, all powered by solar panels, guaranteeing that your garden flourishes and contributes positively to the environment. The collaboration between Professor Harris's DEE students and culinary students/professors ensured that BloominBeds was crafted with precision, usability, and sustainability in mind. The DEE students focused …

Campus Essence: Passion In Light & Shadows, Brynne Kneeland

Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium

"College Essence: Passion in Light & Shadow" captures the dual facets of college life. The project unfolds the journey of students throughout their years at JWU, utilizing lighting to convey moods and emphasize the essence of their actions. In a world that glamorize college experience, these visuals provide as a reminder of the tangible work that students must do to pursuit their academic future. The images reveal the struggles, confusion, and dedication behind each endeavor, portraying the pursuit of graduation as both a silver lighting and a closed door.

The Role Of Interpersonal Conflict As A Cause Of Work-Related Stress In Construction Managers In Ireland, Patrick J. Bruce, Victor Hrymak, Carol M. Bruce Dr, Joseph Byrne

Articles

Construction is a project-driven industry that places a high premium on product delivery on time, within budget and to required standards. Modern construction projects have become more complex in nature, the complex relational and lengthy process of designing and building makes construction a process in which conflict is virtually ensured (Jaffar et al., 2011; Wang et al., 2023). These characteristics of the industry contribute to workplace stress. Therefore, it is not surprising that research has confirmed a strong presence of workplace stress within the industry, (Lingard and Francis, 2004; Vaux and Dority, 2020). Many construction managers experience excessive levels of …

Fake News Detection In Online Platforms, Elena Shushkevich

Doctoral

This thesis presents research conducted during a Ph.D. program at Technological University Dublin from 2020 to 2024. The objective of this research is to develop and evaluate effective methods for detecting and classifying fake news in social media and press, addressing the critical issue of misinformation in the digital age. The relevance of this study is underscored by the increasing prevalence of fake news and its potential societal impact, emphasizing the importance of advanced tools for identifying and mitigating misinformation.

Outdoor Navigation Support Using Machine Learning For People With Visual Impairment, Fatmaelzahraa Eltaher

Doctoral

Navigating urban environments is challenging for People with Visual Impairments (PVI). Many PVI opt to use navigation systems, such as Google Maps. However, current navigation systems often lack information crucial for PVI, such as the presence of traffic lights or roadworks. Knowing these features would enable PVI to understand their surroundings better and choose routes that suit their preferences. For instance, 79.6\% of PVI surveyed in this thesis prefer road junctions (termed intersections) controlled by traffic lights.

This research contributes to advancing navigation support for PVI in urban environments by focusing on annotating maps with useful environmental information. It proposes …

Towards Interpretable Propaganda Detection In News Text Through The Use Of Rhetorical Devices As Features, Kyle Hamilton

Doctoral

This doctoral thesis presents research undertaken towards interpretable propaganda detection in news text. Propaganda and mis/disinformation in the media have been identified in the social sciences literature as a major threat to the functioning of democratic society. While mis/disinformation is false by definition, propaganda is intended to modify the beliefs and behaviors of the information consumer but does not have to be false. Propagandistic text is often characterized by the use of rhetorical devices and linguistic style designed to exploit the reader’s cognitive and emotional biases. One way of counteracting this effect is by shifting the focus from “what” is …

Calculation Of Elastic Constants Of Bulk Metallic Glasses From Indentation Tests, Zhitong Xu, Ming Liu, Fuqian Yang

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

One of the challenges in the applications of instrumented indentation is to simultaneously measure elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of homogeneous, isotropic materials. This work proposes empirical equations for simultaneous calculation of elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) from the ratio of the short diagonal length to the long diagonal length and the area of the Knoop imprint. The parameters pre- sented in the empirical equations are determined first by Knoop microhardness tests of 24 BMGs, whose elastic moduli and Poisson’s ratios are measured by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy. These empirical equations are further validated by the …

“Zero” Porosity High Loading Nmc622 Positive Electrodes For Li-Ion Batteries, Haidar Y. Alolaywi, Kubra Uzun, Yang-Tse Cheng

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

LiNi0.6 Mn0.2Co0.2 O 2 (NMC622) is a widely used positive electrode material for lithium-ion batteries, including electric vehicles. In this work, we investigated the effects of porosity, ranging from “zero” to the typical 35%, on the electrochemical behavior of high- loading NMC622 electrodes. Although it is well known that the energy density of the electrode increases with increasing areal capacity and decreasing porosity, NMC-positive electrodes with exceedingly low porosity (e.g., near zero) and high loading (e.g., 4 mAh cm−2 ) have not been investigated. Here, we report an intriguing observation that the “zero porosity” NMC electrode can have higher capacity …