Engineering Commons^™

A Data-Centric Analysis On Stem Majoring And Success: Attitude And Readiness, Xin James He, Myron Sheu, Jie Tao

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

This research studies attitude and readiness of STEM majoring and success with

the data from a survey with a total of 501 viable responses, with respect to STEM

(science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) related majors that are

essential and fundamental to skills relevant to big data business analytics.

Recruiting and keeping students in STEM areas have attracted a large body of

attention in pedagogical studies. An effective way of achieving such a goal is to

show them how rewarding and self-fulfilling STEM careers can be toward

perspective students. One example of the abundance of STEM careers is the rapid

growth …

Prediction And Recommendations On The It Leaners' Learning Path As A Collective Intelligence Using A Data Mining Technique, Seong-Yong Hong, Juyun Cho, Yonghyun Hwang

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

With the recent advances in computer technology along with pervasive internet accesses, data analytics is getting more attention than ever before. In addition, research areas on data analysis are diverging and integrating lots of different fields such as a business and social sector. Especially, recent researches focus on the data analysis for a better intelligent decision making and prediction system. This paper analyzes data collected from current IT learners who have already studied various IT subjects to find the IT learners’ learning patterns. The most popular learning patterns are identified through an association rule data mining using an arules package …

High-Temperature Corrosion Testing Of Uranium Silicide Surrogates, B. J. Jaques, G. Alanko, D. P. Butt

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The corrosion resistance of cerium silicide, a surrogate of uranium silicide, is investigated to gain insight into the reaction of uranium silicide with water. As-received and proton-irradiated Ce₃Si₂, CeSi₂, and CeSi_1.x monolithic pellets are subjected to corrosion tests in water at 300°C and 9 MPa for up to 48 h. Results show that an oxide layer composed of Ce_4.67 (SiO₄)₃O forms on the surface of all samples, and it grows thicker with extended exposure times. Irradiated samples corrode to a greater extent than their unirradiated counterparts, which is …

Sample Preparation Techniques For Grain Boundary Characterization Of Annealed Triso-Coated Particles, M. L. Dunzik-Gougar, I. J. Van Rooyen, C. M. Hill, T. Trowbridge, J. Madden, J. Burns

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Crystallographic information about layers of silicon carbide (SiC) deposited by chemical vapor deposition is essential to understanding layer performance, especially when the the layers are in nonplanar geometries (e.g., spherical). Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) was used to analyze spherical SiC layers using a different sampling approach that applied focused ion beam (FIB) milling to avoid the negative impacts of traditional sample polishing and address the need for very small samples of irradiated materials for analysis. The mechanical and chemical grinding and polishing of sample surfaces can introduce lattice strain and result in the unequal removal of SiC and the surrounding …

Computer Software Release: Open Photo Roster, Szymon Machajewski

Open Teaching Tools

Learning student names in a classroom course is important to creating an inclusive learning environment. Some Learning Management Systems, like Blackboard Learn, provide tools for student images, but such tools are insufficient. This software project creates a consistent and reliable way of identifying students for the needs of proctored exams as well as for learning student names.

Laser Doppler Velocimetry Using A Modified Computer Mouse, Edward D. Zaron

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A computer mouse has been modified for use as a low-cost laser Doppler interferometer and used to measure the two-component fluid velocity of a flowing soap film. The mouse sensor contains two vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, photodiodes, and signal processing hardware integrated into a single package, approximately 1 cm2 in size, and interfaces to a host computer via a standard USB port. Using the principle of self-mixing interferometry, whereby laser light re-enters the laser cavity after being scattered from a moving target, the Doppler shift and velocity of scatterers dispersed in the flow are measured. Observations of the boundary …

Angle Of Attack Visualization: A Proposal For A Tangible Interactive In-Flight Loss Of Control Recovery System, Nicholas Kasdaglis

Theses and Dissertations

The Trajectory Recovery System (TRS) is a proposed system that will help a pilot quickly restore the aircraft to controlled flight. In-flight Loss of Control (I-LOC) is the leading cause of aviation fatalities. While attempts to address this threat have mainly focused upon prevention and avoidance, there has been little offered for recovery from an I-LOC event. The work presented herein addresses this gap. Offered here will be a Human- Centered Design (HCD) solution to the problem of I-LOC. The TRS is a real-world application arising from robust multi-agent models of human-automation teaming. The use of such models transforms cognitive …

Inverse Structure Functions In The Canonical Wind Turbine Array Boundary Layer, Bianca Viggiano, Moira Gion, Naseem Ali, Murat Tutkun, Raúl Bayoán Cal

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Wind tunnel measurements for a 3×3 canonical wind turbine array boundary layer are obtained using hot-wire anemometer velocity signals. Two downstream locations are considered, referring to the near- and far-wake, and 21 vertical points are acquired per profile. Velocity increments and exit distances are used to quantify inverse structure functions at both downstream locations. Inverse structure functions in the near-wake show a similar profile for the main vertical locations, but diverge as the moment is increased. In the far-wake, inverse structure functions converge toward a single function for all vertical location and moments. The scaling exponents for inverse structure functions …

Direct Measurement Of Actual Levels Of Nitric Oxide (No) In Cell Culture Conditions Using Soluble No Donors, Weilue He, Megan C. Frost

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Applying soluble nitric oxide (NO) donors is the most widely used method to expose cells of interest to exogenous NO. Because of the complex equilibria that exist between components in culture media, the donor compound and NO itself, it is very challenging to predict the dose and duration of NO cells actually experience. To determine the actual level of NO experienced by cells exposed to soluble NO donors, we developed the CellNO Trap, a device that allows continuous, real-time monitoring of the level of NO adherent cells produce and/or experience in culture without the need to alter cell culturing procedures. …

Development And Optimization Of Voltammetry For Real Time Analysis Of Multi-Component Electrorefiner Salt, Chao Zhang, Devin Rappleye, Michael F. Simpson

Faculty Publications

Normal pulse voltammetry was performed on LiCl-KCl-UCl3- MgCl2 molten salt mixtures while varying parameters such as pulse time, relaxation potential, and interval time. Concentrations of UCl3 up to 7 wt% were tested with a fixed 1.5 wt% MgCl2 concentration. The correlation between diffusion limited partial current density to UCl3 concentration exhibited an excellent fit to a 2nd order polynomial. A similar fit was obtained for the correlation between MgCl2 concentration and the diffusion limited partial current density at a fixed UCl3 concentration of 1.0 wt%.

Photoreceptor Inner Segment Morphology In Best Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy, Drew Scoles, Yusufu N. Sulai, Robert F. Cooper, Brian P. Higgins, Ryan D. Johnson, Joseph Carroll, Alfredo Dubra, Kimberly E. Stepien

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

PURPOSE

To characterize outer retina structure in best vitelliform macular dystrophy (BVMD) and to determine the effect of macular lesions on overlying and adjacent photoreceptors.

METHODS

Five individuals with BVMD were followed prospectively with spectral domain optical coherence tomography and confocal and nonconfocal split-detector adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO). The AOSLO cone photoreceptor mosaic images were obtained within and around retinal lesions. Cone density was measured inside and outside lesions. In 2 subjects, densities were compared with published measurements acquired ∼2.5 years before. One subject was imaged 3 times over a 5-month period.

RESULTS

The AOSLO imaging demonstrated that …

Selecting Effective Examples To Train Students For Peer Review Of Open‐Ended Problem Solutions, Matthew Verleger Dr., Kelsey J. Rodgers Dr., Heidi Diefes-Dux

Publications

Background Students conducting peer review on authentic artifacts require training. In the training studied here, individual students reviewed (score and provide feedback on) a randomly selected prototypical solution to a problem. Afterwards, they are shown a side-by-side comparison of their review and an expert’s review, along with prompts to reflect on the differences and similarities. Individuals were then assigned a peer team’s solution to review.

Purpose This paper explores how the characteristics of five different prototypical solutions used in training (and their associated expert evaluations) impacted students’ abilities to score peer teams’ solutions.

Design/Method An expert rater scored the prototypical …

Evaluating The Mechanisms Of Erosion For Coarse-Grained Materials, Maureen K. Corcoran, Ghada Ellithy, Michael K. Sharp, Johannes L. Wibowo

Publications

Efforts are currently underway by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to perform a risk assessment of all dams and levees within their portfolio. The vast majority of that portfolio is earthen structures. Findings from the assessments have shown that the major risk drivers for these earth structures are related to erosion (internal and external), overtopping, poorly designed and constructed intrusions (such as pipe crossings), and other factors to a lesser degree (such as burrowing animals). Therefore, the USACE is currently investigating several of these failure modes with emphasis on internal and external erosion. This paper will highlight efforts …

Polynomial Chaos For The Computation Of Annual Energy Production In Wind Farm Layout Optimization, Santiago Padrón, Andrew P.J. Stanley, Jared Thomas, Juan Alonso, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Careful management of wake interference is essential to further improve Annual Energy Production (AEP) of wind farms. Wake effects can be minimized through optimization of turbine layout, wind farm control, and turbine design. Realistic wind farm optimization is challenging because it has numerous design degrees of freedom and must account for the stochastic nature of wind. In this paper we provide a framework for calculating AEP for any relevant uncertain (stochastic) variable of interest. We use Polynomial Chaos (PC) to efficiently quantify the effect of the stochastic variables—wind direction and wind speed—on the statistical outputs of interest (AEP) for wind …

A Comparison Of Specularly Reflective Boundary Conditions And Rotationally Invariant Formulations For Discrete Ordinate Methods In Axisymmetric Geometries, Jian Cai, Somesh Roy, Michael F. Modest

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

In simulations of periodic or symmetric geometries, computational domains are reduced by imaginary boundaries that exploit the symmetry conditions. Two boundary conditions are proposed for Discrete Ordinate Methods to solve axisymmetric radiation problems. Firstly, a specularly reflective boundary condition similar to that is used in Photon Monte Carlo methods is developed for Discrete Ordinate Methods. Secondly, the rotational invariant formulation is revisited for axisymmetric wedge geometries. Correspondingly, a new rotationally invariant boundary condition specially designed for axisymmetric problems on wedge shape is proposed to enforce the rotational invariance properties possessed by the radiative transfer equation (RTE) but violated by three-dimensional …

Four-Wheel Steering, Theodore Wisniewski, Andrew Sparrow, Phil Rowsell

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

This prototype Four-Wheel Steering system is designed for a Formula SAE racecar. Multiple steering geometries can be applied to optimize the handling across a range of speeds. Ackermann steering geometry at low speeds improves the car’s agility in tight, technical race courses. At high speeds the steering transitions to parallel steering geometry, improving stability and giving the driver more precise control over the vehicle. The system fits seamlessly within the rear suspension packaging of the existing WashU Racing vehicle design and minimizes addition of weight by using compact and lightweight electronic linear actuators to steer the rear wheels. In testing …

Group F: Cell Phone Forearm Holder, Jacob Aley, Emily Groth, Sinclair Hodge

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

Design a forearm device that stores cell phones while traveling and provides an easy access apparatus for one handed use on the go. A compression sleeve will be the main feature as it will be the way in which our device will stay on the users arm. An adjustable apparatus that securely holsters the cellphone will be another feature so that our device will be viable for cellphones of varying dimensions. A swivel apparatus that will allow users to select horizontal or vertical viewing of the cellphone while connected to our device. A track system that allows for the movement …

Mechanically Advantageous Wheelchair, Katy Hagerty, Noah Dromgoole, Carlo Balleria, Andrew Orona

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

This project will utilize a gear system to create a multispeed wheelchair. Multiple gears will allow users to adjust the speed of the wheelchair for appropriate scenarios. Our device will be modular and use a different gear mechanism than products currently in the marketplace.

Compact Furniture Dolly, Gary Hu, Jieun Yim, Jason Xie, Jiayi Hou

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

One problem faced by people during moving is how to move large pieces of furniture, i.e. sofa, mattress, table, refrigerator, etc., conveniently without damaging them. A typical small dolly is incapable of carrying such large pieces, and a bulky dolly is inappropriate for an indoor use because it can damage the furniture and the floor. Besides, in either case, the user should lift up and put the load on the dolly. People who want to change positions of their furniture regularly to get a fresh look for the house, it is cumbersome to call a moving company every time. Our …

A Maximum Entropy Approach To Identifying Important Statistical Moments To Best-Represent Spray Distribution Data, Cheng Chen

Theses and Dissertations

To obtain accurate spray droplet size and velocity distributions, higher-order statistical moments are needed. The Maximum Entropy formalism has been successfully used to predict the motion of spray flow in different models. This work is mainly focused on the use of the fourth-order moment combinations to calculate droplet probability density functions using the Maximum Entropy Formalism. Beginning with the second-order moment combinations, Lagrange multipliers have been calculated subject to given moment constraints, defining the probability density function. All lower moments are included when calculating the possible different higher-order moment combinations. From the results, each moment combination generated a set of …

Exploring Access To Portable Water And Sanitation Practices In A Post-Conflict Environment: The Case Of Gulu District, Northern Uganda, Peyton Going

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Over the course of 30 days of fieldwork in October and November of 2016, data was collected through interviews conducted with local government officials, researchers and academics, and village community members of Gulu District.

The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which agencies have improved water and sanitation in the region. The case study of Gulu utilized in-depth interviews with key informants, focus groups, and observations, and sought to determine who the local stakeholders in water and sanitation are, the water sources and sanitation facilities available and their uses, the perception local people have about their …

Violating Of Individual Privacy: Moroccan Perceptions Of The Ban Of Voip Services, Tyler Delhees

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

On January 6, 2016, the Moroccan telecommunications regulatory agency, the ANRT, announced a ban onVoice Over Internet Protocol(VoIP) calling services such as Skype, WhatsApp, and Viber. The ban triggered sweeping opposition among the Moroccan public, opening discussion of digital rights, censorship, and Internet governance. Considering liberal democratic rights in the 2011 Moroccan Constitution and a history of censorship, this study analyzes the official justification of the ANRT alongside additional explanations involving business interests and the security services. The purpose of this study is to gauge the perceptions of Moroccans on the decision of the ANRT and provide a holistic explanation. …

On Phase Change Material Heat Exchangers: A Computational And Experimental Investigation, Christian Omar Rodriguez Dieppa

Theses and Dissertations

The emergence of ground- and airborne-based high energy laser (HEL) weapon systems has created a need for high-rate thermal energy storage (TES) devices that meet demanding size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements for integration into the HEL thermal management system (TMS). Current and near-term HEL weapon systems produce thermal loads on the order of 30-300 kW when emitting, and approximately 5-10% of the peak load when in a non-emitting standby state. Emission to standby duty cycles of 10-50% are common, and therefore, sizing the TMS for real-time rejection of the peak thermal load is not practical. Accordingly, TES components can …

Cortical Oscillations During A Lateral Balance Perturbation While Walking, Joseph Lee

Dissertations (1934 -)

The role of sensory systems in the cortical control of dynamic balance was examined using electroencephalography (EEG) recordings during balance perturbations while walking. Specifically, we examined the impact of sensory deficits on cortical oscillations using vibratory stimuli to suppress sensory feedback and by comparing cortical oscillations during balance perturbations while walking in people with sensory deficits associated with cervical myelopathy and neurologically intact controls. Balance during walking provides a rich framework for investigating cortical control using EEG during a functionally relevant task. While this approach is promising, substantial technical challenges remain in recording and processing EEG in the noisy, artifact …

A Fourier Description Of Covariance, And Separation Of Simultaneously Encoded Slices With In-Plane Acceleration In Fmri, Mary C. Kociuba

Dissertations (1934 -)

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies aim to identify localized neural regions associated with a cognitive task performed by the subject. An indirect measure of the brain activity is the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal fluctuations observed within the complex-valued spatial frequencies measured over time. The standard practice in fMRI is to discard the phase information after image reconstruction, even with evidence of biological task-related change in the phase time-series. In the first aim of this dissertation, a complex-valued time-series covariance is derived as a linear combination of second order temporal Fourier frequency coefficients. As opposed to magnitude-only analysis, …

Pattern Reconfigurable Back-To-Back Microstrip Patch Antenna, Kansheng Yang, Xiulong Bao, Patrick Mcevoy, Max Ammann

Articles

A back-to- back microstrip patch antenna with a switchable pattern is proposed for WLAN applications. The patch elements, printed on FR-4 substrates with a common ground plane, are switched with a single-pole double-throw PIN diode circuit. Switching the feed selects either of two identical radiation patterns in the opposing hemispheres for spatial diversity that would benefit a distributed network.

Safety Of Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide Battery Packs In Transit Bus Applications, Timothy Cleary, Marc Serra Bosch, Jim Kreibick, Joel Anstrom

Mineta Transportation Institute

The future of mass transportation is clearly moving toward the increased efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction of hybrid and electric vehicles. With the introduction of high-power/high-energy storage devices such as lithium ion battery systems serving as a key element in the system, valid safety and security concerns emerge. This is especially true when the attractive high-specific-energy and power-chemistry lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA) is used. This chemistry provides great performance but presents a safety and security risk when used in large quantities, such as for a large passenger bus. If triggered, the cell can completely fuel its own fire, …

Testing And Analysis Of An Exergetically Efficient 4 K To 2 K Helium Heat Exchanger, Peter N. Knudsen

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Modern experimental nuclear physics programs that utilize advanced superconducting devices require refrigeration below the lambda temperature of helium (2.1768 K) and involve sub-atmospheric helium at some point in the process. They typically operate between 1.8 and 2.1 K (16 to 40 mbar) and can require refrigeration ranging from tens to thousands of watts. These processes are very energy intensive, requiring roughly 850 W/W even for large and well-designed refrigerators, though they can easily require much more. Adiabatic expansion of sub-cooled liquid helium to these sub-atmospheric pressures will result in a two-phase mixture with a large liquid to vapor density ratio. …

Dynamic Elasto-Plastic Behavior Of Steel Building Sub-Assemblage Including Cfrp Retrofitting Under Impact Load, Ali Mohammed Salih Aloosi

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation presents the outcome of a theoretical and experimental study of the dynamic as well as the quasi-static elasto-plastic behavior of a steel building sub-assemblage including carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) retrofitting. The steel sub-assemblage consists of a beam-column attached to a pair of beams at its top end while its bottom end is fixed. An apparatus is constructed and used for conducting a series of experiments by applying a lateral impact load on the beam-column in the presence or absence of a static axial load. An innovative procedure for determining the shape of the forcing function caused by …

Effects Of Auditory Vection Speed And Directional Congruence On Perceptions Of Visual Vection, Isabella Alexis Gagliano

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Spatial disorientation is a major contributor to aircraft mishaps. One potential contributing factor is vection, an illusion of self-motion. Although vection is commonly thought of as a visual illusion, it can also be produced through audition. The purpose of the current experiment was to explore interactions between conflicting visual and auditory vection cues, specifically with regard to the speed and direction of rotation. The ultimate goal was to explore the extent to which aural vection could diminish or enhance the perception of visual vection. The study used a 3 × 2 within-groups factorial design. Participants were exposed to three levels …