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2023

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Articles 4621 - 4650 of 9780

Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Muons, Moody Weather, & Many Lines Of Code, Nathan Tanner, Jade Marchant, Matt Wilkinson May 2023

Muons, Moody Weather, & Many Lines Of Code, Nathan Tanner, Jade Marchant, Matt Wilkinson

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Muons are heavy, fundamental subatomic particles that are created in the Earth’s atmosphere by cosmic rays. Muons decay quickly after being formed, but because they are moving at nearly the speed of light they travel far before doing so, passing through almost everything in their path. This allows them to be detected on the ground. The purpose of this experiment is to see if there is any relation between weather and measured muon rates. Literature suggests that the density of the atmosphere has the most significant effect on muon rates, the connection being a direct negative correlation. To do this …

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Using Projected Sound To Create Specified Objects, Isaac Bentley, Noel Philips, Austin Everingham May 2023

Using Projected Sound To Create Specified Objects, Isaac Bentley, Noel Philips, Austin Everingham

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Light projection using sound creates unique circular shapes that are dictated by the frequency used. We attempt to characterize these relationships in order to determine a correlation between the individual frequency and the combination of multiple frequencies to predict and dictate the shape and rotation of the image presented. We are doing this through experimentation and research to optimize our results. We hope to develop this to aid in the creation of holograms and sound interaction analysis.

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The Benefits Of Bifidobacterium Longum And Its Viability In Different Environments, Lane Law, Aikhin Cheng May 2023

The Benefits Of Bifidobacterium Longum And Its Viability In Different Environments, Lane Law, Aikhin Cheng

Utah Space Grant Consortium

When we talk about bacteria, people usually think of it as a bad thing to ever exist in the human body. However, there are some bacteria such as Bifidobacterium that are not only not a bad thing, but they can even promote a healthier life. Studies have shown that probiotics have various health benefits. Through their biological mechanisms in the body, probiotics have been shown to adjust gut functionality, enhance immunity, lower cholesterol, and encourage metabolic balance. Additionally, they can produce short-chain fatty acids, vitamins, enzymes, organic acids, and peptides that fight off microbes. Bacteria species that are considered probiotics …

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Supplementation Of Martian Regolith Media For Sustained Cyanobacterial Growth, Alix Elliston May 2023

Supplementation Of Martian Regolith Media For Sustained Cyanobacterial Growth, Alix Elliston

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Cyanobacteria have been referred to as the architects of Earth’s atmosphere and are widely credited with being the planet’s first oxygenators. While it is speculated that cyanobacteria could similarly be utilized to oxygenate the atmosphere of Mars, one constraint is resource scarcity on the planet. Studies have shown that certain cyanobacteria can survive at least short term in media comprised of Martian regolith; however, their ability to thrive long term in such nutrient-deprived conditions is questionable. This study aims to investigate whether a cyanobacterial culture grown in a nutrient-deprived medium can be supplemented with urine and certain vitamin-producing bacteria to …

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Reducing Carbon Dioxide Levels On Mars Using Cyanobacteria, Lonnie Ernst May 2023

Reducing Carbon Dioxide Levels On Mars Using Cyanobacteria, Lonnie Ernst

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Cyanobacteria are the largest contributor to oxygen production on earth and play a substantial role in making earth a viable place to live. With increasing interest in the colonization of Mars, this project aims to use cyanobacteria to terraform the atmosphere of Mars. Carbon dioxide constitutes 98% of the Martian atmosphere making it uninhabitable for most forms of life. An emulation of the Martian atmosphere will be created using an anaerobic chamber, putting the pressure under vacuum, and supplementing the air with carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas. Cyanobacteria will be grown in a photobioreactor under these conditions and the oxygen …

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Thermally Powered Solar Panels, David S. Lewis May 2023

Thermally Powered Solar Panels, David S. Lewis

Utah Space Grant Consortium

To address the challenge of global energy, using the thermoradiative effect to harvest radiative energy from the sun is not only a promising approach for nighttime renewable energy, but potentially one to increase solar energy production during the day time as well. Current modeling predicts that an ideal and optimized nighttime thermoraidative diode (NTRD) can generate a maximum power density of 0.12 mW/cm2. For comparison the maximum for a photovoltaic panel is 5.48 mW/cm2. These results indicate that the maximum power generated is strongly influenced by external light efficiency as well as the ambient temperature and …

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The Bio-Light; Increasing Auto-Bioluminescence, Paul Rodriguez, Lane Law May 2023

The Bio-Light; Increasing Auto-Bioluminescence, Paul Rodriguez, Lane Law

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Bioluminescence is a fascinating capability that has benefited society in a number of ways. One way bioluminescence has been used is in the medical field, where researchers use it to mark cancer cells in animal models. However, bioluminescence could be harnessed for another application. In this project, we will generate bioluminescent E.coli that can produce unnatural amounts of light. These auto-bioluminescent bacteria could rival NASA low activity lights on shuttles, that produce 20 to 300 lux of light. To achieve the minimum of 20 lux in a liquid culture of E.coli, we must first introduce a plasmid that contains the …

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Synthesis Of Optically Active Chiral Compounds Using Co2, Antonio Ruiz May 2023

Synthesis Of Optically Active Chiral Compounds Using Co2, Antonio Ruiz

Utah Space Grant Consortium

The proposed project aims to synthesize optically active chiral compounds. The current selected procedure for synthesizing chiral molecules utilizes carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that is harmful to the environment, as a feedstock to produce high value organic electronics for use on aboard spacecraft. These resulting chiral molecules offer a range of functional properties that can enhance device performance and reliability, critical for space applications. The procedure for synthesizing the compounds is currently under review to validate the method as reproducible and scalable. Ultimately, the project can have a significant impact on space exploration and technology by providing a sustainable …

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How Is A Clean Environment Making Astronauts Sick?, Mia Sheneman, Lane Law May 2023

How Is A Clean Environment Making Astronauts Sick?, Mia Sheneman, Lane Law

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Are astronauts deprived of bacteria? The irradiation process used to prepare astronaut food wipes out all harmful bacteria- as well as all beneficial bacteria found in their food. The stress of space travel can decrease the quality of GI bacteria due to low gravity, radiation, and a contained sterile environment. Is it important for astronauts to be eating probiotics?

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Photodegradation Of Self-Immolating Polymers As A Potential Solution To Optical Scattering, Alex Gallion, Sydney Mcfarland, David Allred, Walter Paxton May 2023

Photodegradation Of Self-Immolating Polymers As A Potential Solution To Optical Scattering, Alex Gallion, Sydney Mcfarland, David Allred, Walter Paxton

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Starshades and other sensitive optical devices require dust mitigation techniques to protect their surfaces. We investigate coating these surfaces with a photodegradable polymer film that will vaporize when exposed to ultraviolet light. A series of experiments was conducted in which we studied this phenomenon in vacuum after applying a photo-depolymerizing coating. Poly (2-methyl, 1-pentene) sulfone is shown to degrade in vacuum when exposed to 172 nm UV light. Future studies will examine whether the coating can be used to remove dust contaminants from sensitive optical devices upon photoirradiation..

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An Automated Stepper Motor-Driven System For Angular Sampling Of High Scattering Angles, Tyler Daynes, Jair Gonzalez, Jeremy Tait, Josh Jumper, Vern Hart May 2023

An Automated Stepper Motor-Driven System For Angular Sampling Of High Scattering Angles, Tyler Daynes, Jair Gonzalez, Jeremy Tait, Josh Jumper, Vern Hart

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Survival rates for most cancers have increased steadily over the past few decades as new technologies have led to better treatment outcomes. However, this process often relies heavily on the detection of cancer in its earliest stages, before symptoms occur or a tumor is visible in a CT or MR image. This is particularly true for diseases such as pancreatic cancer that exhibit almost nosymptoms until very late stages and have extremely low survival rates as a result. Even somecommonly treatable diseases, such as breast cancer, become far more problematic in later stages.As such, any efforts to improve cancer treatment …

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Atmospheric Modeling Of Brown Dwarfs, Brayden Roberts, Joshua Lothringer May 2023

Atmospheric Modeling Of Brown Dwarfs, Brayden Roberts, Joshua Lothringer

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Brown dwarfs are celestial bodies outside the solar system that are more massive than planets, but less massive than stars. Since they are less massive than stars, they do not fuse hydrogen in their core, but rather cool slowly over time. However, brown dwarfs still emit light. We can measure this light by taking its spectra. From this spectra, we can learn many characteristics and properties of brown dwarfs, such as their temperature, chemical composition, and much more. Brown dwarfs can be categorized by their spectra into M,L,T and Y spectral types.

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Hollow Hair And How Its Structure Helps Big Game Animals Thermoregulate, Taylor Millett, Wendy Schatzberg, Samuel Tobler May 2023

Hollow Hair And How Its Structure Helps Big Game Animals Thermoregulate, Taylor Millett, Wendy Schatzberg, Samuel Tobler

Utah Space Grant Consortium

The Pronghorn antelope is the animal known to have hollow hair strands among hunters and conservationists, yet no one seems to know what it actually looks like on the inside. In this study we examined what a hollow hair strand looks like under a microscope and how it helps with an animal’s thermoregulation. Thermoregulation is the ability to regulate body temperature within a livable range even when external temperatures fluctuate. We studied animals like Mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, and Pronghorn antelope, as well as other big game animals, as they exhibit this trait in a unique manner. These animals …

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Acoustical Measurements Of The Space Launch System Artemis-I Launch, Carson Gardner, Zachary Hendry, Bradley Mclaughlin, Kent L. Gee, Grant Hart, Mark Anderson, Logan Matthews, Carson Cunningham, Levi Moats, Taggart Durrant, Matthew Yancey May 2023

Acoustical Measurements Of The Space Launch System Artemis-I Launch, Carson Gardner, Zachary Hendry, Bradley Mclaughlin, Kent L. Gee, Grant Hart, Mark Anderson, Logan Matthews, Carson Cunningham, Levi Moats, Taggart Durrant, Matthew Yancey

Utah Space Grant Consortium

No abstract provided.

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Cosmic Ray Muons & True Random Numbers, Ryan Gardner May 2023

Cosmic Ray Muons & True Random Numbers, Ryan Gardner

Utah Space Grant Consortium

The Earth is under a constant barrage of high-energy protons that smash into upper-atmospheric nuclei, such as oxygen and nitrogen, triggering a chain reaction of subatomic particles that rain down onto the planet’s surface. This process is entirely random with a high degree of entropy – a perfect system for harvesting true random numbers.

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Measuring Solar Activity With Cosmicwatch Muon Detectors, Jade Marchant May 2023

Measuring Solar Activity With Cosmicwatch Muon Detectors, Jade Marchant

Utah Space Grant Consortium

To expand upon the knowledge gained from the construction of the CosmicWatch detectors, we conducted an experiment that had specific aims to measure the correlation between muon detection and current solar activity. This was done by taking daily muon count measurements and comparing it to daily sunspot and solar flare activity data retrieved from various space weather agencies. This experiment allowed us to test the capabilities of the detectors while also exploring fascinating astrophysical phenomena. Our results indicate that muon detection through the CosmicWatch detectors does not correlate with changes in daily solar activity.

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Are They Really Muons: Determining The Viability Of Cosmicwatch Muon Detectors In ‘Coincidence Mode’, Matt Wilkinson May 2023

Are They Really Muons: Determining The Viability Of Cosmicwatch Muon Detectors In ‘Coincidence Mode’, Matt Wilkinson

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Our project went forward in two stages, the first stage being the building and testing of the detectors and the second being the primary experiment to test the detectors in their coincidence modes. Experiences with the build phase, particularly with the setting of thresholds for the detectors, lead to the interest in determining the statistical significance of these values.

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Rover Propulsion In Frozen Environments, Kyler Ingles May 2023

Rover Propulsion In Frozen Environments, Kyler Ingles

Utah Space Grant Consortium

The goal of this study is to find the optimal propulsion system for a rover on snowy terrain. The purpose of the study is to test multiple methods of driving a rover in deep fresh snow to later be used when designing a rover intended to traverse steep snowy terrain on other planets. The exploration of this topic is important for our study of other celestial bodies. A significant portion of the planets and moons in our solar system has a surface covered in frozen substances like carbon dioxide, methane, and oxygen. This research will help create a rover to …

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Optimization Of Nozzle Profiles To Achieve Higher Thrust Performance And Lowering Manufacturing Costs, Chandler Taylor May 2023

Optimization Of Nozzle Profiles To Achieve Higher Thrust Performance And Lowering Manufacturing Costs, Chandler Taylor

Utah Space Grant Consortium

With the growing popularity in high-powered rockery the question of cost and performance is on every rocketeer’s mind. Then paired with the interest of flying higher and breaking records for armature rocketry flight the question is proposed, how does one make a rocket motor to increase its performance and lower its costs? In this we intend to answer that question. We will design a test for ammonium perchlorate motors and define methods to increase the performance and lower the cost. The way we can achieve this is testing in computer simulations with focused being on nozzle and materials optimization. Computer …

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The Influence Of Mycorrhizal Associations On Monoterpene And Isoprene Emissions In Plants, Luis Valdez, Lane Law May 2023

The Influence Of Mycorrhizal Associations On Monoterpene And Isoprene Emissions In Plants, Luis Valdez, Lane Law

Utah Space Grant Consortium

The Purpose of this research is to determine the extent of the influence of AMF symbiosis can exert on the VOC emissions profiles of plants, particularly whether AMF symbiosis has a positive or negative effect on isoprene and monoterpene emissions.

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Development Of A Nano-Encapsulation Platform With A Novel Antioxidant Indigoidine For The Mitigation Of Space Radiation, Kyle Jackson, Jie Ren, Jixun Zhan, Yu Huang May 2023

Development Of A Nano-Encapsulation Platform With A Novel Antioxidant Indigoidine For The Mitigation Of Space Radiation, Kyle Jackson, Jie Ren, Jixun Zhan, Yu Huang

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Space includes many hazards to the human species, one of the most detrimental to us is the biological damage from radiation. Loading an astronaut's immune system with free radical scavenging molecules as a potential shield from this damage is one method to prevent biologically relevant damage that has only been slightly explored. Unfortunately, the pharmacological potential of many antioxidants is severely restricted because of their low solubility/absorption. Here, I characterize a powerful delivery system that can deliver many different hydrophobic antioxidants to the cell, increasing their bioavailability. The novel antioxidant Indigoidine has been explored in this delivery system. It has …

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Magnetically-Stabilized Let Joints For Origami-Based Space Arrays, Hunter Pruett, Spencer Magleby May 2023

Magnetically-Stabilized Let Joints For Origami-Based Space Arrays, Hunter Pruett, Spencer Magleby

Utah Space Grant Consortium

A review of surrogate folds is presented. From said review, a concept set of surrogate folds is generated and concept selection criteria are generated. The surrogate fold concept set is refined and the LET array is selected with justification. Novel stress considerations are presented for LET arrays seeking to minimize panel thickness and be as proximate as possible in the stowed state. The MaNO hinge is introduced, and the MaLDO, MaLO, and MaNO hinges are successfully incorporated into LET arrays demonstrating viable options for actuation and stabilization of origami-inspired mechanisms and arrays.

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Ultra-Low Power Adcs For Space Sensors And Instruments, Shea Smith, Wood Chiang May 2023

Ultra-Low Power Adcs For Space Sensors And Instruments, Shea Smith, Wood Chiang

Utah Space Grant Consortium

A 28nm 0.1V 10-bit 20kS/s time domain ADC with 225Hz bandwidth is proposed. This design opens the doors to both low supply and low power space sensors and instruments. Due to the stringent voltage supply, unique challenges arise that are met with innovation in the sample switch and the quantizer design. These components of the ADC architecture are aggressively optimized to perform successfully at a 0.1V supply with a sample rate suitable for most sensor applications.

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Preliminary Exploration Of Approaches To Increase The Stability Of Flat-Foldable Origami-Adapted Designs In The Open, Flat State, Collin Ynchausti, Spencer Shirley, Larry L. Howell May 2023

Preliminary Exploration Of Approaches To Increase The Stability Of Flat-Foldable Origami-Adapted Designs In The Open, Flat State, Collin Ynchausti, Spencer Shirley, Larry L. Howell

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Deployable spacecraft-based systems are benefitted from origami-adapted systems because they can be folded compactly and then deployed to larger areas. This unfolding motion must be stopped and held in specific configurations. In the case of reflectarrays, the panels need to deployed to flat and be kept there. Strain energy can be utilized to stabilize these systems. This works shows three ways, based on three different thickness accommodation techniques, that strain energy may be used to stabilize the systems in their deployed, flat positions. Additionally, each technique shown creates co-planar top surfaces to benefit reflectarray antenna design cases.

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Advances In Noninvasive Urine Oxygen Monitoring For Detection Of Acute Kidney Injury, Lars Lofgren, Kai Kück, Natalie Silverton May 2023

Advances In Noninvasive Urine Oxygen Monitoring For Detection Of Acute Kidney Injury, Lars Lofgren, Kai Kück, Natalie Silverton

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of cardiac surgery that is associated with increased hospital length of stay and mortality risk. The most common diagnostic criteria come from the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes Guidelines. These criteria rely on detecting changes in serum creatinine relative to a baseline measurement and decreased urine output. These markers are meant to capture a decrease in the overall filtration rate. However, the filtration rate may or may not change depending on the baseline health of the individual patient and the type and severity of the injury. In addition, these markers are influenced …

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Notes Of Black Holes, A. B. Chanson May 2023

Notes Of Black Holes, A. B. Chanson

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Fully leveraging Analysis onto physics proves fruitful, as a number of results are displayed; in particular, emergent symmetries are, generally, categorized as information symmetries; together with Noether’s theorems, these laws are found dual to the Laws of Thermodynamics as well as the Three Isomorphism Theories (alongside the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra). Most remarkably, the fine structure constant is analytically derived (using monodromy techniques), the cosmological hierarchy problem is resolved (using thermodynamic techniques), and a new duality between quantum information, celestial holography, and black holes is exhibited and exploited to resolve the Arrow of Time.

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Aerodynamic Effects Of Phase Offset Between Synchronized Propellers In Hover, Nathan Welker, Daniel Maynes May 2023

Aerodynamic Effects Of Phase Offset Between Synchronized Propellers In Hover, Nathan Welker, Daniel Maynes

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Emerging advances in electric-propulsion technology are enabling aircraft to use distributed electric propulsion (DEP) to increase performance and maneuverability. Distributed electric propulsion can also provide unique take-off and landing abilities which are not commonly found on traditional aircraft. The implementation of DEP effectively decreases the spacing between propellers, introducing complex aerodynamic interactions that are not well understood. This study aims to present the findings of the effects of phase offset on the flow fields of synchronized propellers at close-proximity using a particle image velocimetry system. The tip vortex locations and peak vorticities were tracked and plotted for various phase offset …

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Steering Colloids Using Chemical Gradients And Model Predictive Control, Mark N. Mcdonald, Cameron K. Peterson, Douglas R. Tree May 2023

Steering Colloids Using Chemical Gradients And Model Predictive Control, Mark N. Mcdonald, Cameron K. Peterson, Douglas R. Tree

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Creating the next generation of dynamic colloidal materials that change their structure based on external stimuli may require the capability to precisely manipulate colloidal particles. Colloidal particles can be manipulated using a variety of forces, such as electric, magnetic, and optical, but so far chemical reactions have been neglected. We consider here a novel paradigm for using chemical gradients to precisely manipulate colloidal particles in a microfluidic device. Specifically, we show in simulation that model predictive control can be applied to a set of spatially localized chemical reactions to move a small number of colloidal particles on a circular trajectory.

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Modeling The Effects Of Space Travel On The Cardiovascular System Using A Bio-Mimetic In Vitro Hagfish Protein Model Of The Myocardium, Emilee Rickabaugh, Elizabeth Vargis May 2023

Modeling The Effects Of Space Travel On The Cardiovascular System Using A Bio-Mimetic In Vitro Hagfish Protein Model Of The Myocardium, Emilee Rickabaugh, Elizabeth Vargis

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Long-term space travel is a harsh experience for the human body. Astronauts exposed to the effects of space travel often experience bone and muscle loss, as well as an increased risk of diseases, including heart disease[1]. While the human heart has shown an impressive ability to adapt to spaceflight, many of the long-term effects on cardiovascular health are unknown [2]. To plan for missions requiring longer flight durations, understanding these effects is neccessary to assess the risk to the astronauts undertaking these missions. However, evaluating these risks is difficult due to the lack of a sufficiently accurate model. While animal …

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Using Landsat And Sentinel To Investigate Drivers Of Algal Growth In Utah Lake, Kaylee B. Tanner May 2023

Using Landsat And Sentinel To Investigate Drivers Of Algal Growth In Utah Lake, Kaylee B. Tanner

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Earth observation satellites provide a valuable opportunity to study spatial and temporal water quality trends in ways that are not possible with research based on in-situ water sampling. We used data from Sentinel 2 and the Landsat missions to analyze algae blooms on Utah Lake, a large, shallow, freshwater lake in Utah that is experiencing water quality challenges. We found that algae blooms mainly occur in the shallow bays and along the eastern shoreline of the lake, and are correlated with water temperature and turbidity. Our results suggest a need for further research and use of remote sensing data to …

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