Engineering Commons^™

Inducing A Normal Phenotype In Breast Epithelial Cells Using A Three-Dimensional Basement Membrane Extract Culture System: A Study On The Reversion Of Cancer, Ross H. Booth

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Experimentally, traditional developmental models and transgenic animals consistently underscore the importance of studying cell behavior in the correct tissue context. However, live animal experimentation is inherently complex, and systematic assessment of the effects of individual variables, such as cell shape and matrix compliance on cell behavior, is extremely difficult at best. Two-dimensional monolayer culture of key individual cell types has provided abundant, fundamental information on cell response, but cannot be used to show the normal phenotype of breast epithelial cells. Furthermore, their results often fail to translate into in vivo and clinical studies. It has been previously established that normal …

Fractional Order Modeling And Control: Development Of Analog Strategies For Plasma Position Control Of The Stor-1m Tokamak, Shayok Mukhopadhyay

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This work revolves around the use of fractional order calculus in control science. Techniques such as fractional order universal adaptive stabilization (FO-UAS), and the fascinating results of their application to real-world systems, are presented initially. A major portion of this work deals with fractional order modeling and control of real-life systems like heat flow, fan and plate, and coupled tank systems. The fractional order models and controllers are not only simulated, they are also emulated using analog hardware. The main aim of all the above experimentation is to develop a fractional order controller for plasma position control of the Saskatchewan …

Object Trajectory Estimation Using Optical Flow, Shuo Liu

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Object trajectory tracking is an important topic in many different areas. It is widely used in robot technology, traffic, movie industry, and others. Optical flow is a useful method in the object tracking branch and it can calculate the motion of each pixel between two frames, and thus it provides a possible way to get the trajectory of objects. There are numerous papers describing the implementation of optical flow. Some results are acceptable, but in many projects, there are limitations. In most previous applications, because the camera is usually static, it is easy to apply optical flow to identify the …

Finite Element Modeling Of Full Depth Precast Concrete Transverse Bridge Deck Connections, Jacob Logan Julander

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The frequent use of precast concrete panels has been used to decrease the construction time for bridges. Cracking often occurs at the transverse connections of these panels, resulting in corrosion, and decreased bridge life. Previous laboratory testing of these connections was performed at Utah State University for the Utah Department of Transportation to determine maximum shear and moment capacities, cracking behavior, and cracking loads for five different connections. Two connections are Utah Department of Transportation standard connections. These connections are post tensioned and welded tie connection using shear studs. A different type of welded tie connection using rebar was also …

Development Of Mechanically Stabilized Earth (Mse) Wall Inspection Procedure For Failure Mode Analysis And Risk Assessment, Ryan Bruce Maw

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A large component of the State of Utah's transportation network involves the use of MSE walls, which have proven useful in infrastructure for their reduced costs and footprint compared to other alternatives. As effective as MSE walls have been in responding to demands in transportation, they also have inherent challenges. For the majority of MSE walls the structure is limited in observation as structural components are buried as part of the soils mass. This inability to observe at can lead to the development of complex failure mechanisms, which can be difficult to assess and anticipate. As society becomes increasingly reliant …

Graid: A Geospatial Real-Time Aerial Image Display For A Low-Cost Autonomous Multispectral Remote Sensing Platform (Aggieair), Austin M. Jensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Remote sensing helps many applications like precision irrigation, habitat mapping, and traffic monitoring. However, due to shortcomings of current remote sensing platforms - like high cost, low spatial, and temporal resolution - many applications do not have access to useful remote sensing data. A team at the Center for Self-Organizing and Intelligent Systems (CSOIS) together with the Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL) at Utah State University has been developing a new remote sensing platform to deal with these shortcomings in order to give more applications access to remote sensing data. This platform (AggieAir) is low cost, fully autonomous, easy to …

Water Allocation For Agricultural Use Considering Treated Wastewater, Public Health Risk, And Economic Issues, Ahmed E. Al-Juaidi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Increasing demand on limited water resources calls for more efficient and improved approaches to maximize the benefits of water use. Typically, agricultural water use has the largest share among all water use sectors. Therefore, finding the best agricultural water management alternatives to maximize profit and reduce financial and other related risks under limited water availability is essential. Treated wastewater is an important alternative source of agricultural water which has the potential to reduce the stress on freshwater sources from urban and industrial sectors. Thus, further research on optimal agricultural water management is needed to find the best management alternatives that …

Optimal Fractional Order Proportional And Integral Controller For Processes With Random Time Delays, Varsha Bhambhani

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This thesis developed a new practical tuning method for fractional order proportional and integral controllers (FO-PI / PI^α) for varying time-delay systems like networked control systems (NCS), sensor networks, etc. Based on previously proposed FO-PI controller tuning rules using fractional Ms constrained integral gain optimization (F-MIGO), simultaneous maximization of the jitter margin and integrated time weighted absolute error (ITAE) performance for a set of hundred gain delay time-constant (KLT) systems having different time-constants and time-delay values are achieved. A multi-objective optimization algorithm is used to simultaneously maximize the ITAE factor and jitter margin of the plants at initial …

Meshed Patch Antennas Integrated On Solar Cell - A Feasibility Study And Optimization, Timothy W. Turpin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This thesis work presents the feasibility of integrating meshed patch antennas directly onto the solar cell assembly to save valuable surface real estate of a small satellite. The solar cell cover glass is used as the substrate for the patch antenna. The antenna topology is chosen to be a meshed patch so that it is transparent to light to ensure the proper operation of solar cells. We found that although there is a compromise between the antenna efficiency and see-through percentage, one is able to optimize the antenna by carefully designing the mesh. To verify the design and integration, a …

Energy Losses In Cross Junctions, Zachary B. Sharp

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Solving for energy losses in pipe junctions has been a focus of study for many years. Although pipe junctions and fittings are at times considered "minor losses" in relation to other energy losses in a pipe network, there are cases where disregarding such losses in flow calculations will lead to errors. To facilitate these calculations, energy loss coefficients (K-factors) are commonly used to obtain energy losses for elbows, tees, crosses, valves, and other pipe fittings. When accurate K-factors are used, the flow rate and corresponding energy at any location in a pipe network can be calculated. K-factors are well defined …

A Pipeline Analog-To-Digital Converter For A Plasma Impedance Probe, Mohamad A. El Hamoui

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Space instrumentation technology is an essential tool for rocket and satellite research, and is expected to become popular in commercial and military operations in fields such as radar, imaging, and communications. These instruments are traditionally implemented on printed circuit boards using discrete general-purpose Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) devices and other components. A large circuit board is not convenient for use in micro-satellite deployments, where the total payload volume is limited to roughly one cubic foot. Because micro-satellites represent a fast growing trend in satellite research and development, there is motivation to explore miniaturized custom application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) designs to reduce …

Anti-Islanding Schemes For Machine-Based Distributed Generation, Temesgen Tadegegn

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The most common method of detecting the islanding in a machine-based distributed generator (DG) is to establish an under/over frequency and under/over voltage window within which a synchronous DG is allowed to operate. When such a DG is islanded from the utility system, the frequency or voltage will quickly move outside the operating window if there is a sufficient difference between the local load and DG power generation level. However, there is a possibility that the system voltage and frequency will be maintained within the specified limits following loss of the grid in cases where the load and generator are …

Human Identification Using Pyroelectric Infrared Sensors, Aron E. Suppes

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The objective of this thesis is to discuss the viability of using pyroelectric infrared (PIR) sensors as a biometric system for human identification.

The human body emits infrared radiation, the distribution of which varies throughout the body, and depends upon the shape and composition of the particular body part. A PIR sensor utilizing a Fresnel lens will respond to this infrared radiation. When a human walks, the motion of the body's individual components form a characteristic gait that is likely to affect a PIR sensor field in a unique way.

A statistical model, such as a Hidden Markov Model, could …

Investigation Of Feasibility And Potential Mechanisms For The Bioregeneration Of Perchlorate Laden Gel-Type Anion Exchange Resin, Arjun Krishna Venkatesan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The feasibility and potential mechanisms for the bioregeneration of perchlorate laden gel-type anion exchange resin were investigated in this study. Bioregeneration is a sustainable process when compared to one time use of resin and disposal by incineration. Batch and bench-scale bioregeneration experiments were performed to evaluate the feasibility of the process and to gain insight into potential mechanisms that control gel-type resin bioregeneration. The results of the bioregeneration tests suggested that the initial phase of the bioregeneration process is controlled by kinetics, while the later phase is controlled by diffusion. Higher perchlorate load in the resin had a positive effect …

Design Of A "Figure-8" Spherical Motion Flapping Wing For Miniature Uav's, Zohaib Parvaiz Rehmat

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Hummingbirds and some insects exhibit a Figure-8 motion, which allows them to undergo variety of maneuvers including hovering. It is therefore desirable to have flapping wing miniature air vehicles (FWMAV) that can replicate this unique wing motion. In this research, a design of a flapping wing for FWMAV that can mimic Figure-8 motion using a spherical four bar mechanism is presented. To produce Figure-8 motion, the wing is attached to the coupler point of the spherical four bar mechanism and driven by a DC servo motor. For verification of the design, a prototype of the wing and mechanism is fabricated …

Development Of A Distributed Artificial Neural Network For Hydrologic Modeling, Rebecca Logsdon

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Development of a distributed artificial neural network for hydrologic modeling

Specificity Analysis Of Site-Directed Mutated Glucose Indicator Proteins, Tanushree Thote

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Specificity analysis of site-directed mutated glucose indicator proteins

Analysis Of Ecosystem Services At Mullins Creek On The University Of Arkansas Campus, Kathryn Mccoy

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The University of Arkansas has been a site of population and urban growth since its inception in 1871. This urban development has caused extreme changes in land use, and with this has also come a change in ecosystem services provided by the area. Ecosystem services are benefits acquired by humans that are provided by functions are an ecosystem (Constanza et al., 1997). Constanza developed a method for quantifying ecosystem services. In this method, Constanza valuated ecosystem services for biomes. These service values were based on the economic value of the service provided, and were given in dollar per hectare-year. A …

Analysis Of Phase Ii Metabolites Of Methamphetamine By Solid-Phase Extraction And Liquid Chromatography With Tandem Mass Spectrometric Detection, Jordan Carbary, Howard P. Hendrickson

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Methamphetamine (METH) abuse is one of the most serious health problems in the United States and Europe due to its addictive properties and potential neurotoxic effects [1, 2, 3]. METH abuse appears to have stabilized or decreased slightly in the general populations, however abuse in certain populations is increasing [4, 5]. Treatments for drug abuse are often tested in animal behavioral pharmacology models. One of the first in vivo tests conducted in animals is to follow the concentration of the drug and its metabolites as a function of time. In this way, one can determine how long a potential medication …

Carbon Nanotube Cluster Based Micro-Fluidic System For Bacteria Capture, Concentration, And Separation, Christopher Nelson

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Disease-causing pathogens continue presenting enormous global health problems, especially due to their easy transmittance to people via water supply systems. The detection, filtration, and purification of bacteria contaminated water samples are complex and subject to a great amount of error. Here we present a new and highly effective micro-fluidic system with carbon nanotube clusters for effective and efficient detection, filtration, and purification of bacteria contaminated medium. The developed system is based upon two unique properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs): high bacterial affinity and magnetic susceptibility. The CNTs' high affinity to bacteria cells makes them a key candidate for the bacteria …

Practices For Seamless Transmission Of Design Data From Design Phase To Construction Equipment Operation: A Synthesis Study, Philip S. Dunston, James Monty

JTRP Technical Reports

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), in response to requests from the construction contracting community, has chosen to examine how to facilitate their contractors’ use of three-dimensional machine control (3D-MC) systems, especially GPS-based systems. INDOT recognizes that the prerequisite 3D project model, if available in its intelligent electronic form, may be leveraged by both INDOT and its project partners to automate the performance of tasks other than construction. Therefore, INDOT was compelled to initiate this study to investigate the state of technology and the experiences of other state transportation agencies (STAs) and to synthesize that information to formulate recommendations for …

Biology-Inspired Adaptive And Nonlinear Robust Control Of Bauv Using Pectoral-Like Fins, Subramanian Ramasamy

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Aquatic animals have splendid ability to move smoothly through water using variety of oscillating fins. Presently researchers are involved in developing biorobotic autonomous underwater vehicles (BAUVs) which have the ability to swim like marine animals. Multiple oscillating fins (dorsal, caudal, pectoral, pelvic, etc.) can be mounted on BAUVs to generate control forces for propulsion and maneuvering. In this research work, control of the BAUVs using pectoral fins alone is considered. The oscillating pectoral fins produce unsteady periodic forces. The control of motion of an BAUV in yaw and dive planes are considered.

Turn Constrained Path Planning Problems, Victor M. Roman

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

We consider the problem of constructing multiple disjoint paths connecting a source point s to a target point t in a geometric graph. We require that the paths do not have any sharp turn angles. We present a review of turn constrained path planning algorithms and also algorithms for constructing disjoint paths. We then combine these techniques and present an O(nlogn) time algorithm for constructing a pair of edge disjoint turn constrained paths connecting two nodes in a planar geometric graph. We also consider the development of a turn constrained shortest path map in the presence of …

An On-Sun Parametric Study Of Solar Hydrogen Production Using Wo3 Photoanodes, Christopher K. Halford

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The solar production of hydrogen using photoactive electrodes is a topic receiving much attention in recent years. The use of thin metal oxide films as photoanodes allows the water splitting reaction to occur at a much lower applied voltage than would be necessary with a straight electrolysis process. Researchers have reported up to 18% solar to hydrogen efficiencies over short periods. The University of Nevada Las Vegas in conjunction with the UK based firm Hydrogen Solar have developed a prototype of this type of cell using a WO3 photoanode. An on-sun test facility has been constructed by the UNLV Center …

Highway-Railway At-Grade Crossings: Trackbed And Surface Pressure Measurements And Assessments, Jerry G. Rose, Daniel M. Durrett, Lindsay A. Walker, Jason C. Stith

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Techniques are described for installing instrumentation within highway/railway crossings – to measure vertical pressures under moving highway and railway loadings – using earth pressure cells. Also, techniques are described for installing instrumentation between rail base/tie plate interfaces – to measure vertical pressures under moving railway loadings – using pressure sensitive ink sensors. In addition, the sensors were used to measure the surface pressures imparted by highway vehicles on crossing surfaces. Data is presented for several crossings including a wide variety of conditions and loading intensities. The data serves to quantify pressure gradients within highway/railway crossings for application to structural design …

Dynamic Programming Approximations For Partially Observable Stochastic Games, Akshat Kumar, Shlomo Zilberstein

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Partially observable stochastic games (POSGs) provide a rich mathematical framework for planning under uncertainty by a group of agents. However, this modeling advantage comes with a price, namely a high computational cost. Solving POSGs optimally quickly becomes intractable after a few decision cycles. Our main contribution is to provide bounded approximation techniques, which enable us to scale POSG algorithms by several orders of magnitude. We study both the POSG model and its cooperative counterpart, DEC-POMDP. Experiments on a number of problems confirm the scalability of our approach while still providing useful policies.

Distributed Constraint Optimization With Structured Resource Constraints, Akshat Kumar, Boi Faltings, Adrian Petcu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Distributed constraint optimization (DCOP) provides a framework for coordinated decision making by a team of agents. Often, during the decision making, capacity constraints on agents' resource consumption must be taken into account. To address such scenarios, an extension of DCOP-Resource Constrained DCOP - has been proposed. However, certain type of resources have an additional structure associated with them and exploiting it can result in more efficient algorithms than possible with a general framework. An example of these are distribution networks, where the flow of a commodity from sources to sinks is limited by the flow capacity of edges. We present …

An Agent-Based Commodity Trading Simulation, Shih-Fen Cheng, Yee Pin Lim, Chao-Chi Liu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In recent years, the study of trading in electronic markets has received significant amount of attention, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence and electronic commerce. With increasingly sophisticated technologies being applied in analyzing information and making decisions, fully autonomous software agents are expected to take up significant roles in many important fields. This trend is most obvious in the financial domain, where speed of reaction is highly valued and significant investments have been made in information and communication technologies.Despite the successes of automated trading in many important classes of financial markets, commodity trading has lagged behind, mainly because of …

Influence Of Structural Flexibility On Flapping Wing Propulsion, Aaron M. Mcclung

Theses and Dissertations

The inelastic deformation behavior of PMR-15 neat resin, a high-temperature thermoset polymer, was investigated at 288 degrees C. The experimental program was designed to explore the influence of strain rate on tensile loading, unloading, and strain recovery behaviors. In addition, the effect of the prior strain rate on the relaxation response of the material, as well as on the creep behavior following strain controlled loading were examined. The experimental data were modeled with the Viscoplasticity Based on Overstress (VBO) theory. A systematic procedure for determining model parameters was developed and the model was employed to predict the response of the …

Smallsats, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "SmallSats" from April 30 2009.