Engineering Commons^™

Fabrication Of Forcespinning® Nanofibers Incorporating Nopal Extract, Cristobal Rodriguez, Victoria Padilla, Karen Lozano, J. Andrew Mcdonald, Luis Materon, Alejandra Chapa, Fariha Ahmad, Carlos Trevino De Leon, Robert Gilkerson

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

In this study, nanofibers composed of Opuntia cochenillifera nopal mucilage (N) extract combined with chitosan (CH) and pullulan (PL) (N/CH/PL) were produced via Forcespinning®. The developed nonwoven composite membranes are comprised of long, continuous, and homogenous fibers with fiber average diameter varying between 251±77 nm and 406±127 nm depending on the concentration of N. After crosslinking, the developed membranes were highly stable in water. The water absorption capacity of the N/CH/PL composite nanofiber membranes was shown to be 65% higher when compared to the CH/PL nanofiber membranes. Nopal dipcoated membranes show inhibition of gram-negative Escherichia coli, indicating antibacterial properties. These …

Metabolic Profiling Of Radiation Resistance In Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Natalie Curry

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Radiation therapy is one of the most common treatments for HNSCC, however, many patients do not respond to radiation therapy. Currently, it takes about a month for clinicians to definitively determine whether a tumor is responsive to radiation therapy. Current studies have identified that the prevention of mitochondrial oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species can prevent DNA damage and lead to a decrease in apoptosis in radiation resistant cells Measuring the oxygen consumption rate through Seahorse metabolic assays allows us to quantify basal respiration, maximal …

Development Of A Solidworks Simulation Toolkit For A Sophomore Level Biomedical Engineering Course, Jordan Crosby

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

In the engineering industry, computer-aided design (CAD) programs are used to create models and create virtual experiments or studies that allow engineers to observe the real behavior of parts or assemblies under certain conditions. Companies hire students with experience in CAD, as professionals believe that CAD experience is beneficial [1,2]. SolidWorks is among the most popular CAD software used by engineers. SolidWorks has multiple functionalities that also allow for finite element analysis dependent on the license. Users can create simulation studies in SolidWorks Simulation that can be used as an accurate approximation for real results.

The goal of this study …

The Linear And Non-Linear Relationships Between Peripheral Venous Pressure, Arterial Circulation, And Patient Factors, Lauren Crimmins

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Peripheral venous pressure (PVP) can be used to measure blood volume status with a minimally invasive procedure. The pediatric cohort undergoing surgery for pyloric stenosis was studied to determine how arterial circulation and patient factors linearly impact PVP. The relationship between PVP and these confounding factors can provide valuable information for future PVP researchers.

To investigate the linear relationship between PVP and electrocardiogram (ECG) the waveforms were transformed into the frequency domain. A power spectral density was plotted, and the Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated for both preoperative and intraoperative settings. Linear regression models were computed for PVP and varying …

Static Force Analysis Of A Porcine Mitral Valve To Determine Self-Supporting Capabilities Of The Leaflets, Jacob Paris

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The mitral valve (MV) is responsible for controlling the flow between the left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV). This includes maintaining valve closure under high systolic pressures. Mitral regurgitation (MR) occurs when the valve fails to completely close and blood flows in the reverse direction, from the LV to the LA, during ejection. This type of valvular heart disease is prevalent among elderly individuals and is becoming increasingly common as the population ages. In order to better understand how to properly treat this large group of affected individuals, the mechanics of the MV during high systolic pressures must be …

Remote Performance Modulation Of Ultrafiltration Membranes By Magnetically And Thermally Responsive Polymer Chains, Arijit Sengupta, Anh Vu, Xianghong Qian, Sumith R. Wickramasinghe

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Ultrafiltration membranes, that respond to an external magnetic field and local temperature have been developed. Surface-initiated activator-generated electron transfer (AGET) atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) has been used to graft poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) from the surface of 300 kDa regenerated cellulose membranes. The polymerization initiator was selectively attached to the entire membrane surface, only the outer membrane surface or only the inner pore surface. A superparamagnetic nanoparticle was attached to the end of the polymer chain. The DI water flux as well as the flux and rejection of bovine serum albumin were investigated in the absence and presence of a 20 …

Stability And Control Flight Testing Of The Dassault Falcon 10/100, Andres Mauricio Alarcon Vega

Theses and Dissertations

The Falcon 10/100 is a transport category aircraft developed by Dassault Aviation in 1971. Production of the aircraft ceased in 1989, but it remains available on the secondhand market. Certification for these types of aircraft follow FAR Part 25 of the code of federal regulations. Aircraft stability and control flying qualities are dependent on the mission profile and intended use case of the aircraft. External factors, such as turbulence, are relevant for transport category aircraft because poor stability could affect the flying characteristics and result in an unpleasant ride. On the other hand, in a trimmed condition, an aircraft with …

Design And Evaluation Of A Variable Camber Morphing Wing With Compliant Flex Core And Retractable Wing Skin, Ferruccio Rossi

Theses and Dissertations

Wing morphing was investigated as an alternative to conventional discrete flight control surfaces to provide aircraft attitude control, performance, and to enhance wing aerodynamic efficiency. A variable camber morphing wing design with 100 cm span and 34 cm chord was proposed for small UAVs operated at low velocity. The proposed morphing wing design generated trailing edge deflections via the combined action of an inner complaint flex core structure and a retractable wing skin. Wing morphing was produced by linear servos that extended and retracted the upper and lower wing skin and produced a controlled deformation of the inner complaint flex …

Testing And Performance Analysis Of A New Wireless Sensors Network (Wsn) System For Hurricane Monitoring, Jianing Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Researchers at the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) have developed the wireless sensor network system for the field measurement of hurricane wind and pressure on residential structures. A new version of the system is developed using the latest state-of-the-art technologies which performance is tested during the passing of hurricane Isaias (2020) and the Wall of Wind (WOW) at Florida International University (FIU). The old version system sensors were applied during hurricane Dorian (2019). For the three events, 25 pressure sensors and one anemometer were placed on the roof of a single-story house. Hurricane Dorian data was collected for 72 hours …

Cardiovascular Intelligence: Novel Quantitative Cardiology, Deep Learning And Machine Learning Models To Predict Clinical Outcomes, Vignesh Balasubramanian

Theses and Dissertations

Arterial compliance has been recognized as a critical parameter in governing pulsatile flow dynamics. It has traditionally been assumed constant throughout the cardiac cycle. Its computation has been based either on the classic Windkessel model in diastole or the stroke volume over pulse pressure method in systole. We proposed a novel compliance-pressure loop (CPP loop) approach to quantify arterial compliance and compare it to existing linear and nonlinear methods. This was followed by an analysis of increased pulse wave reflections in hypertension due to impedance mismatching and how the effective energy transmission to the vasculature is compromised. Their quantification in …

Analysis And Uncertainty Reduction Through Data Augmentation In Hurricane Risk Modeling In The State Of Florida, Daphne Raquel Otarola Farah

Theses and Dissertations

The Florida Public Hurricane Loss Model (FPHLM) and the Florida Public Flood Loss Model (FPFLM) project insurance losses due to hurricane events in the State of Florida from hurricane induced wind, rain, and flood. This hurricane catastrophe model estimates annual average loss costs, as well as mean loss levels for scenario events, for personal and commercial residential portfolios, including building structure, content, appurtenant, and additional living expenses. Insurance companies use these hurricane risk models in Florida, and in particular the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) mandates that the FPHLM be used for the stress test, that verifies the actuarial …

Modeling And Energy Simulation Of A Zero Energy Building: A Case Study For Florida, Mariana Migliori Favaretto

Theses and Dissertations

The study of energy consumption in buildings is an important area of research given the large share of building sector in the worldwide energy usage. The energy consumption of buildings has a high impact on carbon emissions, a greenhouse gas which has proved to play a major role in global warming. In the last decades, global warming has become an increasing concern and worldwide high energy demand have awaken a pressing quest towards improving building energy efficiency. Reducing buildings’ energy usage by implementing energy efficiency measures is one way towards a sustainable future for any country in the world. This …

Inverse Methods For Near-Real Time Estimation Of Surface Heat Flux In Thermal Protection Systems For Space Vehicles, Obinna Oluchukwu Ugochukwu Uyanna

Theses and Dissertations

With the increased goal of manned explorations to outer space, safety during the atmospheric entry/reentry process is paramount as the incident heat fluxes on the surface of vehicle can reach critical values. Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) are therefore essential components in space vehicles as they ensure the safety and protection of the payload and cargo. In order to ensure improved active control capabilities and prolonged used of the vehicle, TPS surface conditions need to be known and determined. Since direct measurement of the surface heat flux using sensors is not feasible, one alternative involves the use of temperature sensors located …

Low-Power And Reconfigurable Asynchronous Asic Design Implementing Recurrent Neural Networks, Spencer Nelson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Artificial intelligence (AI) has experienced a tremendous surge in recent years, resulting in high demand for a wide array of implementations of algorithms in the field. With the rise of Internet-of-Things devices, the need for artificial intelligence algorithms implemented in hardware with tight design restrictions has become even more prevalent. In terms of low power and area, ASIC implementations have the best case. However, these implementations suffer from high non-recurring engineering costs, long time-to-market, and a complete lack of flexibility, which significantly hurts their appeal in an environment where time-to-market is so critical. The time-to-market gap can be shortened through …

Surface Modified Polypropylene Membranes For Treating Hydraulic Fracturing Produced Waters By Membrane Distillation, Tharaka Hawpe Gamage

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Membrane distillation is an emerging technology for treating hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced waters. Suppression of membrane fouling by inorganic and polar and non-polar organic compounds is a challenge. Here polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate, polyacrylic acid, polvinylallyl imidazolium bromide and polyvinylhexyl imidazolium bromide chains have been grafted from the membrane surface. Fouling is initially due to adsorption of organic compounds followed by scale formation. When challenged with produced water, membranes modified with polvinylallyl imidazolium bromide chains provided the greatest resistance to fouling. For EC pretreated produced water and synthetic produced water that contained mainly inorganic species, the flux decline was much less.

Automated Bottling Station - Packaging System, Lauren Nicole Zinzilieta

Honors College Theses

This report focuses on the packaging system used at the end of the FESTO bottling station that is located in EP 2355. The system will be made up of an x-y 300 mm x 300 mm gantry system, an Arduino, two micro-stepping stepper drivers, and two 152.4 mm (6 in) single acting cylinders with a 3D printed bracket attached to both. The gantry system will be located at the end of the conveyor belt and will be programmed to pick up three bottles at a time and then will move a specified number of steps in both the x and …

Uplink Throughput Prediction And Device Geolocation In Cellular Communication System Using Machine Learning Methodology, Engin Eyceyurt

Theses and Dissertations

Continuously increasing the number of interconnecting devices, cloud services, and social media usage require enormous amounts of mobile data. Due to the rapid increase in cellular data demand, accurate cellular data prediction has become more critical. The increase in the number of mobile subscribers raised the issue of whether users' location can be determined. The most important uses of geolocation technology are emergencies and security purposes. In addition to emergency and security affairs, geolocation technology can decrease cellular network maintenance costs. Mobile network systems have become highly complex with a large number of parameter and feature add-ons. Along with the …

Dynamic Route Optimization For Waste Collection In Smart City, Abdullah Suliman Alwabli

Theses and Dissertations

Waste collection is a critical component of the municipal service to the community within urban set-ups. Increasing levels of waste generation present significant challenges in urban areas due to unprecedented population growth. Consequently, due to the accumulating amounts of waste, waste management has become a primary concern. Several problems also emanate from the current inadequate and inefficient waste management systems that rely on non-scientific techniques. This paper proposes using IoT-based smart bins to improve the waste management process by optimizing waste collection. Al-Awali District in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca will be the main focus of this study, where …

Using Occupant-Centric Control For Commercial Hvac Systems, Burak Gunay, Zoltan Nagy, Clayton Miller, Mohamed Ouf, Bing Dong

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Occupant-centric controls (OCC) are defined in a new position paper1 as an indoor climate control approach whereby occupancy and occupant comfort information are used in the sequences of operation of building energy systems. In addition to basic OCC techniques that have been adopted by building codes,2,3 more advanced algorithms have been implemented to reduce energy use and cost and to improve occupant comfort and indoor environmental quality (IEQ). Commercial solutions tailored for OCC applications also have begun to emerge. This article categorizes information available for OCC implementations into six information grades (IGs) formed by three levels for occupant data and …

Peptoid-Based Microsphere Coatings For Biomaterial Applications, Jesse Leland Roberts

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Peptoids are peptidomimetic oligomers that predominantly harness similarities to peptides for biomimetic functionality. The incorporation of chiral, aromatic side chains in the peptoid sequence allows for the formation of distinct secondary structures and self-assembly into supramolecular assemblies, including microspheres. Peptoid microspheres can be coated onto substrates for potential use in biosensor technologies, tissue engineering platforms, and drug-delivery systems. They have the potential for use in biomedical applications due to their resistance to proteolytic degradation and low immunogenicity. This dissertation focuses on the physical characteristics and robustness of the peptoid microsphere coatings in various physiological conditions, along with their ability to …

Si-Based Germanium Tin Photodetectors For Infrared Imaging And High-Speed Detection, Huong Tran

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Infrared (IR) radiation spans the wavelengths of the windows: (1) near-IR region ranging from 0.8 to 1.0 μm, (2) shortwave IR (SWIR) ranging from 1.0 to 3.0 μm, (3) mid-wave IR (MWIR) region covering from 3.0 to 5.0 μm, (4) longwave IR (LWIR) spanning from 8.0 to 12.0 μm, and (5) very longwave IR extending beyond 12.0 μm. The MWIR and LWIR regions are important for night vision in the military, and since the atmosphere does not absorb at these wavelengths, they are also used for free-space communications and astronomy. Automotive and defect detection in the food industry and electronic …

Oxone® Mediated Tempo-Oxidized Cellulose Nanomaterials: Material Characterization, Ultrafiltration Membrane Separations, And Thin Film Composite Gas Transport Analysis, John Phillips Moore

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cellulose nanomaterials (CNMs) are derived from plant matter and are comprised of nanoscopic cellulose crystals and fibers. They have a diverse set of applications, from cosmetics to oil recovery. This study focuses on the properties of Oxone® mediated TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanomaterials (OTO-CNMs) and their use in controlling the transport properties of polymeric substrates. Synthesis and characterization of cellulosic nanoparticles have resulted in the creation of OTO-CNMs with properties that increase hydrophilicity. With added hydrophilicity, OTO-CNMs possess lower fouling propensity, making them ideal membrane additive for transport limited separations such as hemodialysis.

To utilize the material and unique properties thereof, this …

Quantum Dynamical Phenomena In Non-Hermitian And Magnomechanical Systems, Saeid Vashahri Ghamsari

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, we have investigated quantum dynamics via three case studies. First, we studied a system of two coupled waveguides respectively carrying optical damping and optical gain in addition to squeezing elements in one or both waveguides. Such a system is expected to generate highly entangled light fields in the two waveguides. We, however, show that the degree of the created entanglement is significantly affected by the quantum noises associated with the amplification and dissipation. Because of the noise effect, one can only have nonzero entanglement for a limited time interval. Second, we generalized the first project by considering …

Improving Logistics Efficiency Through Collaborative Truck Routing, Patrick Dougherty

Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The logistics industry is among the world’s largest and most essential. Specifically, trucking is a massive component of the modern logistics system. In 2012, truck transportation carried 68% of all freight tonnage in the U.S. However, trucking currently faces significant problems with efficiency and sustainability. Of all miles driven by trucks yearly in the U.S., 25% are driven with empty loads and 36% are driven with underutilized loads. In addition to this economic inefficiency, the industry faces social and environmental challenges. Driver turnover rates are near 100%, and trucking accounts for a significant level of greenhouse gas emissions. One potential …

Replication And Tribological Engineering Of Physical Surfaces Using Two-Photon Lithography, Shelby Robert Maddox

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Up to one-fifth of all energy consumed each year goes directly to overcoming frictional effects. This waste will remain even if renewable energy becomes feasible as a large-scale replacement for conventional fuel sources. If that wasted energy could be saved instead, then overall energy consumption could either decrease or be redirected to where it would be most beneficial to human and environmental flourishing. To this end, there is a need for strategies and techniques to reduce frictional energy loss. It is well established that surface texturing can be used to reduce friction. There are many industrial methods in current use …

Designing Cryogenic Strain Device For 2d Materials, Jake Carter

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Churchill lab working within the Physics Department at the University of Arkansas is working to create important quantum states including weak topological insulators (TIs) through the use of symmetry engineering and topological electronic states in two-dimensional (2D) crystals of WHM materials. Experimental results of these topological states have been obstructed due to the difficulty to perform controlled in situ strain. This project strives to create a mount to utilize a piezoelectric nanopositioner within cryostats achieving an in situ strain that creates the quantum states the lab is looking to observe. This report also examines the necessary equations to determine …

Thermal Testing And Characterization Of Nanoparticles Synthesized For Biological Treatment, Tonie Butler

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The overall goal of this research project is to synthesize iron core, silica capped nanoparticles that, when they are exposed to a particular magnetic field, will react by increasing in temperature and emitting substantial thermal output. They will be injected into the human body for biological benefit by targeted thermal radiation. Once in the human body, ideally, they will be able to target a specific area, and then a magnetic field will be applied to induce thermal output through the process of hyperthermia. As the nanoparticles emit heat, they will mimic the natural bodily behavior seen by way of hyperthermia, …

Algorithm Development Of Topology Optimization For Pcm Based Heat Sinks, Diego L. De Los Reyes

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

With the inherent usage of the computer when dealing with additive manufacturing, it only makes sense to use that higher computing power through simulation and iterative design to use the mathematical concept of topology and optimize the kind of geometry and shapes to be produced for a certain application, especially thermal ones since most 3D printing applications focus on purely the mechanical. To determine what the shape will be, an objective function of how much heat can be dispersed from a hypothetical heat source, assumed to be a type of electronic device, is maximized while being constrained by other variables, …

Using Blade Element Momentum Methods With Gradient-Based Design Optimization, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Blade element momentum methods are widely used for initial aerodynamic analysis of propellers and wind turbines. A wide variety of correction methods exist, but common to all variations, a pair of residuals are converged to ensure compatibility between the two theories. This paper shows how to rearrange the sequence of calculations reducing to a single residual. This yields the significant advantage that convergence can be guaranteed and to machine precision. Both of these considerations are particularly important for gradient- based optimization where a wide variety of atypical inputs may be explored, and where tight convergence is necessary for accurate derivative …

Interactive Search Vs. Automatic Search: An Extensive Study On Video Retrieval, Phuong-Anh Nguyen, Chong-Wah Ngo

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This article conducts user evaluation to study the performance difference between interactive and automatic search. Particularly, the study aims to provide empirical insights of how the performance landscape of video search changes, with tens of thousands of concept detectors freely available to exploit for query formulation. We compare three types of search modes: free-to-play (i.e., search from scratch), non-free-to-play (i.e., search by inspecting results provided by automatic search), and automatic search including concept-free and concept-based retrieval paradigms. The study involves a total of 40 participants; each performs interactive search over 15 queries of various difficulty levels using two search modes …