Engineering Commons^™

Visualization Of Nlp Extractions, K. Barbour, D. Vieth, D. Warraich

Capstone Design Expo Posters

The goal of this project is to design a visualization system for information extracted from large amounts of unstructured text. The importance of the project is for the system to display information in a more informative way than simple highlighting of the raw text. The data is obtained from a program that scans multiple files for entities and extracts the information in said files pertaining to those entities. The entities that the program scans for includes people, organizations, locations, dates, incidents and any relative key words. The information is extracted and stored in JSON files, specifically in a format that …

Print Estimation: Columbia Printing And Graphics, Alex Jacobi, Chris Wooten, Sahil Zubair

Capstone Design Expo Posters

Problem Statement: Can we create a web application to help facilitate the estimation of printing services as requested by clients and allow for the full interaction between a client, sales representative, and an administrator all through a single web application.

Rationale: The importance of this project is to create an easy to use online service that a user can access from either their smartphone or desktop computer. If successful, this project will allow users to have quick access to quotes regarding their printing needs anywhere they are without the need of contacting an actual printing company. This project will also …

Decellularization Of Porcine Lung Tissue, Kirsten Hulbert, Linh Ta, Lumumba Reid, Mahir Dagra, Baltej Dhillon

Capstone Design Expo Posters

Our project aims to standardize the decellularization of a porcine lung by creating a bioreactor to house the lung, automating the decellularization process and developing a protocol that will increase the precision and the repeatability of the process. Our deliverables include a working prototype, an automated system that will inform the user when the decellularization process is complete, a pressure sensor to control perfusion, and automated pressurized pulses that will increase the rate of decellularization.

Our accomplishments thus far include: a design for a working prototype that will decellularize a porcine lung, determining the proper rate to perfuse the lung, …

Device To Deliver Endodontic Material For Temporary Dental Fillings, Garrett N. Cyprus, Hisham Kamoun, Gireesh B. Reddy, Ali Salman

Capstone Design Expo Posters

Root canal therapy requires patients be treated over several visits to clean and shape the pulp chamber. In endodontic treatments, cotton wool is placed beneath the temporary filling to preserve the space of the pulp chamber and to prevent any blockage of the root canals with temporary filling between clinic visits. Despite its simple application and affordability, cotton wool can lead to fibrous remnants in the pulp chamber or become incorporated into the temporary filling, which can lead to micro-leakage or bacterial colonization on the cotton fibers and subsequent infection.

Gelatin capsules or silica gels are proposed endodontic materials which …

Photocell Optimization Through Thermoelectric Generation, Dante Johnson, Brian Nguyen, General Roberts, Taylor Powell

Capstone Design Expo Posters

Photovoltaic units, also known as solar cells have an ideal operating temperature of about 25 C or 77 F, for each degree Celsius above the optimal operating temperature, we can expect the efficiency of the unit to drop 0.5%. On any given summer day, it is not uncommon for solar cell temperatures to reach upwards of 70 C which is about 158 F, this results in a drop of 25% efficiency. If we think of efficiency as the quantity energy produced divided by energy supplied, we can quantitatively see how loss of efficiency corresponds to a loss in energy produced. …

Head-Tracking Wireless Streaming Device, Christopher Foster, Kyle Arpe, Zachary Somers

Capstone Design Expo Posters

In various businesses and services, there is a need for tight integration between visual media, human response to that media, and coordination of that response. For example, emergency responders may need information from a separate perspective using robotically controlled cameras in order to improve coordination efforts. The aim of this project is to design a low cost, high performance video streaming device. The essential feature of our design is to wirelessly send a video stream from a webcam to a micro-display and remotely control the orientation of the webcam using head movements. There are many future applications for this project …

Low-Cost Desalination Unit: Direct Contact Membrane Distillation, Meghan Herbert-Walters, Aubrey Martin, Lauren Scolese, Tina Trinh

Capstone Design Expo Posters

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 783 million people do not have access to a reliable clean water source. With this many people in the world without access to clean water, a solution to this problem is highly essential. The objective of this project is to create a low-cost compact desalination unit that can be used to turn contaminated water into pure drinking. For our design, a direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) approach was used. The DCMD system allows only for the evaporated feed water to pass through the membrane and therefore causes an increase …

The Perfect Coffee Cup, Suzanne Bowers, Jessica Ingram, David Murphy, Gillian Stavlas

Capstone Design Expo Posters

To design a coffee cup that will maintain the coffee at the optimal drinking temperature for several hours using Phase Change Material, PCM. The importance of this project is designing a coffee cup that will retain its temperature for a prolonged period of time giving the consumer plenty of time to finish their coffee at the desired consumption temperature. We designed a double walled cup that would contain the PCM. Heat transfer calculations were done for different materials such as acrylic, glass, and stainless steel with various thicknesses for each material. These calculations were used to decide on the ideal …

Nebraska Summary: S989 Massey Ferguson 8727, 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 …

2015 Nebraska Water Monitoring Programs Report, Marty Link, Ryan Chapman

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality: Reports

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) is charged with monitoring, assessing, and to the extent possible, managing the state’s water resources. The purpose of this work is to protect and maintain high quality water and encourage or execute activities to improve poor water quality. Monitoring is done on nearly 17,000 miles of flowing rivers and streams, more than 134,000 acres of surface water in lakes and reservoirs, as well as the vast storage of groundwater in Nebraska’s aquifers.

Probabilistic Verification Of Multi-Robot Missions In Uncertain Environments, Damian M. Lyons, Ronald Arkin, Shu Jiang, Dagan Harrington, Feng Tang, Peng Tang

Faculty Publications

The effective use of autonomous robot teams in highly-critical missions depends on being able to establish performance guarantees. However, establishing a guarantee for the behavior of an autonomous robot operating in an uncertain environment with obstacles is a challenging problem. This paper addresses the challenges involved in building a software tool for verifying the behavior of a multi-robot waypoint mission that includes uncertain environment geometry as well as uncertainty in robot motion. One contribution of this paper is an approach to the problem of a-priori specification of uncertain environments for robot program verification. A second contribution is a novel method …

15. Pharmacy, Northeastern State University

Oklahoma Research Day Abstracts

No abstract provided.

19. Zoology, Northeastern State University

Oklahoma Research Day Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Me-Em 2014-15 Annual Report, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Annual Reports

Table of Contents

• Human-centered Engineering
• Endowed Department Chair
• Enrollment & Degrees
• Graduates
• Department News
• Faculty & Staff
• Alumni
• Donors
• Contracts & Grants
• Patents & Publications
• Faculty & Staff Directory

Large Scene Sar Image Formation, Leroy A. Gorham

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

With new advances in digital signal processing technology, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems are capable of collecting high resolution data over very large scenes. Well known image formation algorithms such as the polar format algorithm (PFA) create image artifacts in large images due to phase errors introduced by the algorithm. In this dissertation, we analyze the nature of these artifacts by comparing PFA to an exact imaging algorithm, the backprojection algorithm (BPA). First, we perform a novel phase error analysis by decomposing the PFA phase errors into constant, linear, and quadratic terms for arbitrary flight paths. Second, we utilize the …

Direct Optimization For Classification With Boosting, Shaodan Zhai

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Boosting, as one of the state-of-the-art classification approaches, is widely used in the industry for a broad range of problems. The existing boosting methods often formulate classification tasks as a convex optimization problem by using surrogates of performance measures. While the convex surrogates are computationally efficient to globally optimize, they are sensitive to outliers and inconsistent under some conditions. On the other hand, boosting's success can be ascribed to maximizing the margins, but few boosting approaches are designed to directly maximize the margin. In this research, we design novel boosting algorithms that directly optimize non-convex performance measures, including the empirical …

Contrast Pattern Aided Regression And Classification, Vahid Taslimitehrani

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Regression and classification techniques play an essential role in many data mining tasks and have broad applications. However, most of the state-of-the-art regression and classification techniques are often unable to adequately model the interactions among predictor variables in highly heterogeneous datasets. New techniques that can effectively model such complex and heterogeneous structures are needed to significantly improve prediction accuracy. In this dissertation, we propose a novel type of accurate and interpretable regression and classification models, named as Pattern Aided Regression (PXR) and Pattern Aided Classification (PXC) respectively. Both PXR and PXC rely on identifying regions in the data space where …

National Science Foundation Soil-Bentonite Cutoff Wall Award Abstract, Jeffrey C. Evans, Michael A. Malusis, Robert W. Jacob

NSF Soil-Bentonite Slurry Trench Cutoff Wall Documents

This award abstract describes the purpose of constructing a soil-bentonite cutoff wall as well as the tests that were performed to analyze the performance of the wall.

Learning To Drive A Simulator: Impact Of Prolonged Practice, Eyal Greenhouse, Samah Soki

Undergraduate Research Posters 2015

Most driving simulation experiments begin with a practice scenario, to allow participants to learn how to interact with the driving simulator. During practice, driving performance improves such that consistent steering and speed control is exhibited. It is unclear however, whether driver performance will degrade with prolonged practice, and whether the fidelity of the simulator contributes to this degradation. Therefore, a driving simulation experiment was conducted to examine the performance of drivers over one hour of driving, using two different simulators: DriveSafety RS-100 and RS- 600 models. The RS-100 is made up of a Logitech steering wheel and pedals attached to …

Power Electronics Design For A Transfemoral Prosthesis, Taylor Barto

Undergraduate Research Posters 2015

Prosthetic legs do not always properly emulate a human leg. However, recent advances have allowed prostheses to include motors and brakes in order to closely mimic the performance of human legs. Unfortunately, motorized prostheses are often inefficient, which results in a dependence on batteries. This project aims to use energy regeneration methods to increase the operating time of motorized prostheses. Regeneration occurs when the leg requires braking; instead of using an energy-wasting braking mechanism, energy flows through an electronic circuit into a bank of supercapacitors. The energy can also flow in the reverse direction so that the motors can be …

Stethoscope-Based Detection Of Detorqued Bolts Using Impact-Induced Acoustic Emissions, Joe Guarino, Robert Hamilton

Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Results of a preliminary study investigating a simple method for detecting looseness in bolted fasteners of a steel structure are presented. Extensive research by many investigators demonstrates that the frequency response of a bolted structural member changes when one or more bolts are loosened. A simple and effective method for detecting looseness can be applied to bolted joints, using inexpensive and commonly-available equipment and software. The difference between spectrograms associated with tight and loose bolts is clearly apparent due to the presence of a tell-tale mode when one or more bolts are loosened. Further, a striking difference can be elucidated …

Merging Two Worlds: Agent-Based Simulation Methods For Autonomous Systems, Andreas Tolk

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Faculty Publications

This chapter recommends the increased use of agent-based simulation methods to support the design, development, testing, and operational use of autonomous systems. This recommendation is motivated by deriving taxonomies for intelligent software agents and autonomous robotic systems from the public literature, which shows their similarity: intelligent software agents can be interpreted as the virtual counterparts of autonomous robotic systems. This leads to examples of how simulation can be used to significantly improve autonomous system research and development in selected use cases. The chapter closes with observations on the operational effects of possible emergent behaviour and the need to align the …

Potential Of Cognitive Computing And Cognitive Systems, Ahmed K. Noor

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Faculty Publications

Cognitive computing and cognitive technologies are game changers for future engineering systems, as well as for engineering practice and training. They are major drivers for knowledge automation work, and the creation of cognitive products with higher levels of intelligence than current smart products. This paper gives a brief review of cognitive computing and some of the cognitive engineering systems activities. The potential of cognitive technologies is outlined, along with a brief description of future cognitive environments, incorporating cognitive assistants - specialized proactive intelligent software agents designed to follow and interact with humans and other cognitive assistants across the environments. The …

Neuroimaging And Neuromodulation Approaches To Study Eating Behavior And Prevent And Treat Eating Disorders And Obesity, D. Val-Laillet, E. Aarts, B. Weber, M. Ferrari, V. Quaresima, L. E. Stoeckel, M. Alonso-Alonso, M. Audette, C. H. Malbert, E. Stice

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Faculty Publications

Functional, molecular and genetic neuroimaging has highlighted the existence of brain anomalies and neural vulnerability factors related to obesity and eating disorders such as binge eating or anorexia nervosa. In particular, decreased basal metabolism in the prefrontal cortex and striatum as well as dopaminergic alterations have been described in obese subjects, in parallel with increased activation of reward brain areas in response to palatable food cues. Elevated reward region responsivity may trigger food craving and predict future weight gain. This opens the way to prevention studies using functional and molecular neuroimaging to perform early diagnostics and to phenotype subjects at …

Planning Rural Water Services In Nicaragua: A Systems-Based Analysis Of Impact Factors Using Graphical Modeling, Jeffrey P. Walters, Paul S. Chinowsky

Faculty Publications - Biomedical, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering

The success or failure of rural water services in the developing world is a result of numerous factors that interact in a complex set of connections that are difficult to separate and identify. This research effort presented a novel means to empirically reveal the systemic interactions of factors that influence rural water service sustainability in the municipalities of Darío and Terrabona, Nicaragua. To accomplish this, the study employed graphical modeling to build and analyze factor networks. Influential factors were first identified by qualitatively and quantitatively analyzing transcribed interviews from community water committee members. Factor influences were then inferred by graphical …

การวิเคราะห์โครงสร้างพื้นฐานในเมืองของประเทศเพื่อนบ้านเพื่อรองรับนักลงทุนไทย, จิตติชัย รุจนกนกนาฏ, ณัชชา ลิมสถายุรัตน์

Journal of Transportation and Logistics (TRANSLOG)

งานวิจัยนี้ได้ศึกษาระดับความพร้อมของโครงสร้างพื้นฐานในเมืองยุทธศาสตร์ของประเทศเพื่อนบ้าน โดยเน้น ไปที่อุตสาหกรรม 3 กลุ่มคือ สิ่งทอและเครื่องนุ่งห่ม ชิ้นส่วนอิเล็กทรอนิกส์ และเกษตรแปรรูป โดยโครงสร้างพื้นฐานที่ พิจารณาประกอบด้วยโครงสร้างพื้นฐานการขนส่งจากการนำ เข้าวัตถุดิบและการส่งสินค้าไปยังตลาด ไฟฟ้า ประปา และโทรคมนาคม โดยศึกษา 10 เมืองหลักคือเมียววดี ย่างกุ้งและทวายในพม่า ปอยเปต-ศรีโสภณ เกาะกง- สีหนุวิลล์และ พนมเปญในกัมพูชา เวียงจันทน์ สะหวันนะเขต ปากเซและบ่อแก้วในสปป.ลาว โดยได้ประเมินคุณภาพและความเพียง พอของโครงสร้างพื้นฐานเหล่านั้นจากการสำรวจภาคสนามและการสัมภาษณ์ผู้ประกอบการในพื้นที่ จากนั้นจึงนำมา เปรียบเทียบกับความต้องการของนักลงทุนจากแบบสอบถามรวม 51 ชุด และการสัมภาษณ์เชิงลึกภาครัฐและเอกชนที่ เกี่ยวข้องรวม 7 ราย เพื่อเป็นข้อมูลฝั่งอุปสงค์ ข้อมูลทั้งอุปทานและอุปสงค์นั้นได้นำมาเปรียบเทียบกันเพื่อแสดงระดับ ความพร้อมของโครงสร้างพื้นฐานในแต่ละพื้นที่สำหรับนักลงทุนไทย ท้ายที่สุดได้นำมาซึ่งข้อแนะนำไปยังหน่วยงานรัฐ ไทยเพื่อวางแผนพัฒนาโครงสร้างพื้นฐานให้เหมาะสมกับความต้องการของนักลงทุน

Spatial Time-Dependent Reliability Analysis Of Reinforced Concrete Slab Bridges Subject To Realistic Traffic Loading, Donya Hajializadeh, Mark Stewart, Bernard Enright, Eugene J. Obrien

Articles

Resistance and loads are often correlated in time and space. The paper assesses the influence of these correlations on structural reliability/probability of failure for a typical two-lane RC slab bridge under realistic traffic loading. Spatial variables for structural resistance are cover and concrete compressive strength, which in turn affect the strength and chloride-induced corrosion of RC elements. Random variables include pit depth and model error. Correlation of weights between trucks in adjacent lanes and inter-vehicle gaps are also included and are calibrated against Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) data. Reliability analysis of deteriorating bridges needs to incorporate uncertainties associated with parameters governing the …

Indoor Characterisation Of A Photovoltaic/ Thermal Phase Change Material System, Maria Browne, Keith Lawlor, Adam Kelly, Brian Norton, Sarah Mccormack

Articles

Photovoltaic/ thermal (PV/T) systems integrate photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies and have the added advantage of producing both electrical and thermal energy simultaneously. This study has been carried out to investigate the performance of a PV/T phase change material (PCM) system under experimental climatic conditions. Electricity is generated by the PV during daylight hours and the heat produced is absorbed and stored in PCM. Water flows through a pipe network within the PCM and absorbs the stored heat in the PCM. In the PV/T-PCM system, water remained at a higher temperature for an extended period of time as well as …

Optical Microfibre Based Photonic Components And Their Applications In Label-Free Biosensing, Pengfei Wang, Lin Bo, Yuliya Semenova, Gerald Farrell, Gilberto Bramilla

Articles

Optical microfibre photonic components offer a variety of enabling properties, including large evanescent fields, flexibility, configurability, high confinement, robustness and compactness. These unique features have been exploited in a range of applications such as telecommunication, sensing, optical manipulation and high Q resonators. Optical microfibre biosensors, as a class of fibre optic biosensors which rely on small geometries to expose the evanescent field to interact with samples, have been widely investigated. Due to their unique properties, such as fast response, functionalization, strong confinement, configurability, flexibility, compact size, low cost, robustness, ease of miniaturization, large evanescent field and label-free operation, optical microfibres …

Identifying And Modelling Permit Trucks For Bridge Loading, Bernard Enright, Eugene J. Obrien, Cathal Leahy

Articles

Accurate estimates of characteristic traffic load effects are essential in order to optimize bridge safety assessment. Permit trucks dominate the extreme upper tail of the truck loading distribution and as a result need careful examination. This paper proposes rules for filtering these trucks from Weigh-In-Motion data for both the US and Europe. The importance of these trucks in critical bridge loading events is then examined for both regions. A Monte Carlo traffic simulation model is developed which focuses on the accurate simulation of permit trucks.