Engineering Commons^™

Generating Strong Diversity Of Opinions: Agent Models Of Continuous Opinion Dynamics, Christopher W. Weimer

Theses and Dissertations

Opinion dynamics is the study of how opinions in a group of individuals change over time. A goal of opinion dynamics modelers has long been to find a social science-based model that generates strong diversity -- smooth, stable, possibly multi-modal distributions of opinions. This research lays the foundations for and develops such a model. First, a taxonomy is developed to precisely describe agent schedules in an opinion dynamics model. The importance of scheduling is shown with applications to generalized forms of two models. Next, the meta-contrast influence field (MIF) model is defined. It is rooted in self-categorization theory and improves …

Comparison Of Left Ventricular Strains And Torsion Derived From Feature Tracking And Dense Cmr, Gregory J. Wehner, Linyuan Jing, Christopher M. Haggerty, Jonathan D. Suever, Jing Chen, Sean M. Hamlet, Jared A. Feindt, Walter Dimitri Mojsejenko, Mark A. Fogel, Brandon K. Fornwalt

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Background: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) feature tracking is increasingly used to quantify cardiac mechanics from cine CMR imaging, although validation against reference standard techniques has been limited. Furthermore, studies have suggested that commonly-derived metrics, such as peak global strain (reported in 63% of feature tracking studies), can be quantified using contours from just two frames – end-diastole (ED) and end-systole (ES) – without requiring tracking software. We hypothesized that mechanics derived from feature tracking would not agree with those derived from a reference standard (displacement-encoding with stimulated echoes (DENSE) imaging), and that peak strain from feature tracking would agree with …

Quantifying Cancer Cell Receptors With Paired-Agent Fluorescent Imaging: A Novel Method To Account For Tissue Optical Property Effects., Negar Sadeghipour, Scott C. Davis, Kenneth M. Tichauer

Dartmouth Scholarship

Dynamic fluorescence imaging approaches can be used to estimate the concentration of cell surface receptorsin vivo. Kinetic models are used to generate the final estimation by taking the targeted imaging agent concentration as a function of time. However, tissue absorption and scattering properties cause the final readout signal to be on a different scale than the real fluorescent agent concentration. In paired-agent imaging approaches, simultaneous injection of a suitable control imaging agent with a targeted one can account for non-specific uptake and retention of the targeted agent. Additionally, the signal from the control agent can be a normalizing …

A Heuristic Method For Task Selection In Persistent Isr Missions Using Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Christopher C. Olsen

Theses and Dissertations

The Persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (PISR) problem seeks to provide timely collection and delivery of data from prioritized ISR tasks using an autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). In the literature, PISR is classified as a type of Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP), often called by other names such as persistent monitoring, persistent surveillance, and patrolling. The objective of PISR is to minimize the weighted revisit time to each task (called weighted latency) using an optimal task selection algorithm. In this research, we utilize the average weighted latency as our performance metric and investigate a method for task selection called the …

Mechanical Engineering News, Georgia Southern University

Mechanical Engineering: News & Publications (2013-2023)

• MSME Graduate Student Selected for ASME Collegiate Council

Techniques Of Energy-Efficient Vlsi Chip Design For High-Performance Computing, Zhou Zhao

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

How to implement quality computing with the limited power budget is the key factor to move very large scale integration (VLSI) chip design forward. This work introduces various techniques of low power VLSI design used for state of art computing. From the viewpoint of power supply, conventional in-chip voltage regulators based on analog blocks bring the large overhead of both power and area to computational chips. Motivated by this, a digital based switchable pin method to dynamically regulate power at low circuit cost has been proposed to make computing to be executed with a stable voltage supply. For one of …

Taking Professional Development From 2d To 3d: Design-Based Learning, 2d Modeling, And 3d Fabrication For Authentic Standards-Aligned Lesson Plans, Darran R. Cairns, Reagan Curtis, Konstantinos A. Sierros, Johnna J. Bolyard

Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning

There is currently significant interest in 3D fabrication in middle school classrooms. At its best 3D printing can be utilized in authentic design projects that integrate math, science, and technology, which facilitate deep learning by students. In essence, students are able to tinker in a virtual world using 3D design software and then tinker in the real world using printed parts. We describe a professional development activity we designed to enable middle school teachers who had taken part in a three-year Math Science Partnership program to authentically integrate 3D printing into design-based lessons. We include some examples of successful design-based …

Using Electromyography Of Five Muscles And Joint Angle To Predict Knee Joint Moment, Mohamadreza Karimi Bokti, Alireza Hashemi Oskouei

Conference Presentations

Forces and moments acting on joints is of great importance in different fields of biomechanics such as ergonomics, sports biomechanics, and rehabilitation. EMG driven models can be used to estimate forces and moments acting on joints. The current study aimed to propose a model for prediction of knee joint moment using EMG signals detected from muscles and knee joint angle. Electromyography of knee muscles, knee joint angle and moment were recorded simultaneously during the extension-flexion movement in three young men using an isokinetic system. The model for estimating knee joint moment was developed using multiple linear regression. In order to …

College Of Engineering News, Georgia Southern University

College of Engineering & Computing: News & Publications (2010-2023)

• MechE Student Ouedraogo named to 2018-19 ASME Council

Secondary Atomization During Droplet Impingement Of Water-Glycerol Admixtures On Heated Superhydrophobic Surfaces, Alexander White, Dr. Julie Crockett

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of the given document is to remind the reader of goals initially set in conjunction with the ORCA Grant project proposal in October 2016, to present experimental findings obtained during the grant period, and to discuss the results of the work and their implications for future investigations. As stated in the proposal, the main purpose of this ORCA project was to compare the droplet atomization (expulsion of a fine spray) of various water-glycerol mixtures upon impact on superheated, superhydrophobic surfaces. The major goal to that end was to use a certain unique experimental procedure in quantifying the data …

Mechanical And Sorptivity Characteristics Of Edge-Oxidized Graphene Oxide (Eogo)-Cement Composites: Dry- And Wet-Mix Design Methods, Yousef Alharbi, Jinwoo An, Byoung Hooi Cho, Mohammad Khawaji, Wonseok Chung, Boo Hyun Nam

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper aims to investigate the effects of edge-oxidized graphene oxide nanoflakes (EOGO) on the mechanical properties and sorptivity of cement composites. The EOGO used in this study was produced by a mechanochemical process that assists the production of EOGO in large quantities at significantly reduced costs, enabling its practical use for infrastructure construction. The scope of this work includes the use of EOGO as an additive in cement composites, including cement paste and mortar. This study explores two mixing methods: The dry-mix method and the wet-mix method. The dry-mix method uses EOGO as dry powder in cement composites whereas …

Suitability Of Active And Intelligent Packaging For Local And Organic Food – A Case Study In Southern Finland, Sara Paunonen, Marja Pitkänen, Mika Vähä-Nissi, Ville Leminen, Mika Kainusalmi

Journal of Applied Packaging Research

This study explores the suitability of innovative packaging for local and organic food. Attitudes and opinions in local and organic food chains in Southern Finland were collected via eighteen semi-structural interviews. The respondents were small-scale producers and processors of fish, meat, berries, and mushrooms, wholesalers, retailers, and institutional kitchens. The aim of this study was to understand factors promoting and preventing the penetration of innovative packaging solutions into the organic and local food market. A clear majority (89%) of respondents considered active and intelligent solutions to be equally suitable for local and organic food as for conventional food. However, less …

Post-Wrapping Behavior Of High-Performance Stretch Film, Jake Wyns, John Cook, Kyle Dunno

Journal of Applied Packaging Research

Compressive force is the energy a stretch film exerts onto the corners of a unit load of product, this paper analyzes the effects of compressive force overtime after application to a unit load. Previous research has shown how storage conditions, pallet configurations, and storage duration affect the performance of various packaging materials, however, there is a lack of this type of study relating to stretch film and load unitization. This paper looks at trends in compressive force depending on whether a film is applied with negative or positive secondary stretch. When a load is stretch wrapped with negative secondary stretch, …

Functional Optimization Of Carbon Nanotubes, Taylor Davis, Sr. Brian Iverson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The objective of this project was to create, characterize, and optimize carbon nanotube (CNT) films as a surface functionalization strategy through modifying the growth, infiltration, and patterning during fabrication.

Carbon nanotubes have drawn attention in various disciplines in the scientific community because of their incredible strength, hardness, wettability (hydrophobicity), as well as their kinetic and electrical properties. At BYU specifically, they are being used in diverse applications including fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces and interdigitated electrode biosensors.

Carbon nanotubes can be delicate with a diameter of only a few nanometers when grown. However, the process of carbon infiltration can be used …

Measuring Up: Engineering Stronger And Faster Cardiomyocytes, Kaitlyn Mcentire, Dr. Alonzo Cook

Journal of Undergraduate Research

If a heartbeat connotes life, then cardiomyocytes are the life givers. When heart disease results in cardiomyocyte death, however, these life-giving, beating cells are unable to reproduce, and portions of the heart irreversibly die. Despite modern technology and developments in heart disease treatment and prevention, heart disease remains the number one cause of death in America. With an inability to meet an ever-increasing demand for heart transplants, any potential alternative must be pursued.

Sunflowers, Solar Panels, And Beeswax: Improving Solar Power For The Developing World, Ivyann Oveson Running, Dr. John Salmon

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Inspired by the mechanics of how sunflowers follow the sun, we designed a system to increase output from solar panels by only using simple mechanics and beeswax. Solar power is becoming increasingly popular even in developing countries. We wanted to create a way to increase the power output of solar panels in such areas that lack technical support for current panel rotating mechanisms. When temperatures increase, beeswax expands, and we harness the motion by filling a piston with the beeswax. We use this motion to cause solar panels to turn, following the sun throughout the day and increasing electrical output.

A New Twist On Archimedes’ Screw | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

At the Utah Water Research Lab, engineers are conducting full-scale tests on a unique water-powered turbine that will provide new solutions to distributed energy needs.

Differentiation Of Kidney Progenitors Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells And Conditioned Media Of Renal Cortical Tubular Epithelial Cells, Steven Passey, Dr. Alonzo Cook

Journal of Undergraduate Research

According to the National Kidney Foundation, 26 million American adults have kidney disease, 47,000 Americans died from kidney disease in 2013, and over 100,000 people await kidney transplants. Current treatment of kidney failure includes dialysis and kidney transplant. Unfortunately, those undergoing dialysis may experience fatigue and other complications. In addition, there is a vast shortage of available kidneys for transplant.

Oxygen And Silver-Oxygen Defects In Ge2se3 Electrochemical Metallization Bridge Memristors, Jau-Tzuoo Chen

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

We present density functional theory (DFT) calculations of oxygen and silver defects in a crystalline model of amorphous Ge₂Se₃. We studied defects arising from atomic oxygen and dioxygen, as well as interstitial silver and silver displacing germanium, following Campbell's conjecture on the mechanism of dendrite formation. For oxygen defect concentrations below 2%, we show that O₂ dissociates in Ge₂Se₃, oxygen atoms are immobile, and oxygen atoms do not cluster. Within this model, the most preferred oxygen defect in intrinsic Ge₂Se₃ is Ge-O-Ge bridge. We conclude that oxygen defects …

Equilibration Of Chloride Ions In Concrete Bridge Decks After Rehabilitation Using Hydro-Demolition And Concrete Overlay, Elizabeth Newbill, Dr. Spencer Guthrie

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In cold regions like northern Utah, harsh winters can lead to decreases in the service life of concrete bridge decks. Chloride-based deicing salts, which are commonly used to remove snow and ice from the surface of concrete bridge decks during winter months, are of particular concern. Even in uncracked concrete, chloride ions can diffuse into the bridge deck and eventually lead to corrosion of the embedded reinforcing steel. When chlorides corrode the steel, expansive rust forms, which causes cracks to form in the deck. These cracks allow for greater chloride ingress, accelerating the corrosion and deterioration processes within the bridge …

Engineering Metal-Ligand Interface For Selective Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide Reduction, Yuxin Fang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Unsustainable exploitation of fossil fuel and its massive greenhouse gas emission necessitates the development in alternative energy sources. Chemical fuels (CH₃OH or C₂H₅OH) outperform other choices, such as batteries for their high energy densities, which is key to portability. Electrochemical reduction of CO₂is capable of producing a wide range of valuable fuels (Syngas, formic acid, methane and methanol, etc.). Converting CO₂into carbon-based fuels further closes the carbon neutral cycle, which contributes to the effort in reducing global CO₂emission. Integration of organic ligands with transition metals shows great potential …

In Vivo Brainstem Imaging In Alzheimer’S Disease: Potential For Biomarker Development, David J. Braun, Linda J. Van Eldik

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

The dearth of effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the largest public health issues worldwide, costing hundreds of billions of dollars per year. From a therapeutic standpoint, research efforts to date have met with strikingly little clinical success. One major issue is that trials begin after substantial pathological change has occurred, and it is increasingly clear that the most effective treatment regimens will need to be administered earlier in the disease process. In order to identify individuals within the long preclinical phase of AD who are likely to progress to dementia, improvements are required in biomarker development. …

Floating Active Baffles, System And Method Of Slosh Damping Comprising The Same, Dae Won Kim, Rudy L. Baum, Vijay Santhanam, Balaji Sivasubramanian, Sathya Gangadharan

Publications

This disclosure provides a system for damping slosh of a liquid within a tank, a baffle for use in the system, and a method of damping slosh using the system. The system includes a plurality of baffles. Each baffle has a body configured to substantially float upon the liquid. Each baffle also has an activation material received along at least a portion of the body. The activation material is magnetically reactive provided in a quantity sufficient to enable the body to be manipulated in the presence of a magnetic field (M). The system further includes an actuator configured to pro­vide …

Analysis Of Isotruss Joints, Robert Thompson, Dr. David Jensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this project was to identify how different winding patterns of composite tow affects the strength of interwoven joints, like those that exist in IsoTruss and other composite lattice structures. Three different winding configurations were analyzed to compare and determine how the pattern of carbon fiber strand layup would affect the strength of the joints on an IsoTruss member.

Hips Turbulent Flow Modeling For High Schmidt Number Flow A Novel Approach To An Old Problem, Joshua Frei, Dr. David Lignell

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The whorls and vortices of smoke plumes, churning waterfalls, and crashing waves have a captivating sense of mystery about them. This chaotic, seemingly random fluid motion is known as turbulent flow, and it is ubiquitous both in day-to-day life and in engineering problems. Despite the many advances in technology, much of turbulence remains a mystery. It has been called the most important unsolved problem in physics [1].

Estimating Joint Configuration For Soft Robots, Jacob Olson, Dr. Marc Killpack

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Soft robotics are still a relatively new technology. As seen in Figure 1, they are made entirely from compliant materials that use pressurized fluid for both structure and actuation. These robots have great potential in the world of robotics. Soft robots can excel in many areas where rigid robots fall short due to their incredible compliance and low inertia. As soft robotic technologies develop, robots will be much less limited in the scope of what they can do without risk of human injury. They will be able to do tasks working more closely with humans in current industries, and be …

Hierarchal Parcel Swapping (Hips) A Comprehensive Multiscale Subgrid Model For Turbulent Reacting Flow, Justin Ward, Dr. David Lignell

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this project is to address the unmet need for a comprehensive, multiscale, regime- and fuel-independent turbulent reacting model by using a novel, physics-based strategy called Hierarchal Parcel Swapping (HiPS). Turbulent flow has been called the most important unsolved problem of classical physics. Modeling turbulent flow is extremely important due to the fact that nearly all flows in the real world are turbulent. Though the exact details of turbulent flow are not of great importance to an engineer, the effect turbulence has on chemical reactions and the overall chemical properties is vital. The solution to the turbulence problem …

Hand-Powered Washing Machine For The Developing World, Chris Bailey, Sean Larson, Megan Peffer, Sarah Ann Skousen, Judith Westwood, Dr. Randy Lewis

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many countries still hand wash all their clothing. The community of the Uros Islands in Peru is no exception. Our goal was to develop a hand powered washing machine that will be useful to and improve the quality of life of the Uru people. The washing machine must be built out of materials that are inexpensive and readily available to the community. It must also be simple enough for the people to perform any necessary repairs. Furthermore, the final washing machine system could be implemented any developing area with similar needs.

An Ultra-Low Power Analog-To-Digital Converter For Neural Signal Recording: Comparator Research, Alexander Petrie, Dr. Shiuh-Hua Wood Chiang

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Brain diseases, such as depression and strokes, affect an ever-increasing number of the human population. Much scientific research has been devoted to finding ways towards alleviating the negative symptoms of these diseases. However, much more research must be conducted before these maladies are no longer a problem. Neural implantable devices are an essential part of such research. These tiny, electronic devices monitor electrical brain activity and wirelessly transmit the collected data to computers so scientists can analyze it. A common issue with these neural recording devices is battery life. Current technology allows for a battery to last only 3-5 years. …

Static And Dynamic Obstacle Avoidance For Small Uav, Michael Farrell, Dr. Tim Mclain

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are becoming increasingly prevalent in society today. One of the most important problems for such vehicles is obstacle avoidance. Common applications for small UAV require them to navigate through an environment containing many obstacles, both static and dynamic. As part of the 2017 SUAS-AUVSI undergraduate competition, this common problem was simulated with several virtual stationary and moving objects that were to be avoided during flight. The purpose of this research project was to develop a robust obstacle avoidance algorithm to be demonstrated during the mission demonstration of the 2017 SUAS-AUVSI competition.