Engineering Commons^™

Talar And Calcaneal Coordinate Axes Definitions Across Foot Pathologies, Kassidy Knutson, Erika P. Muhlrad, Andrew C. Peterson, Thomas Leonard, Abigail M. Anderson, Katelyn C. Aragon, Zachary J. Eatough, Bruce A. Macwilliams, Karen M. Kruger, Amy L. Lenz

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The understanding of foot and ankle biomechanics is improving as new technology provides more detailed information about the motion of foot and ankle bones with biplane fluoroscopy, as well as the ability to analyze the hindfoot under weightbearing conditions with weightbearing computed tomography. Three-dimensional anatomical coordinate systems are necessary to describe the 3D alignment and kinematics of the foot and ankle. The lack of standard coordinate systems across research study sites can significantly alter experimental data analyses used for pre-surgical evaluation and post-operative outcome assessments. Clinical treatment paradigms are changing based on the expanding knowledge of complex pes planovalgus morphologies …

Phenotypes Of Velopharyngeal Tube Law In Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Devesh Kumar, B. Tucker Woodson, Guilherme J.M. Garcia

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

The biomechanics of upper airway collapse in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains poorly understood. The goal of this study is to compare the area-pressure relationship (tube law) of the velopharynx at peak inspiration and peak expiration.

Study Design

Cross-sectional.

Setting

Academic tertiary medical center.

Methods

The velopharyngeal tube law was quantified in a convenience sample of 20 OSA patients via step reductions in nasal mask pressure during drug induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). The velopharyngeal airspace cross-sectional area was estimated from endoscopy while luminal pressure was recorded with a catheter. The tube law was quantified for nasal mask pressures from …

Morphology Of The Normative Human Cone Photoreceptor Mosaic And A Publicly Available Adaptive Optics Montage Repository, Robert F. Cooper, Snega Kalaparambath, Geoffrey K. Aguirre, Jessica I. W. Morgan

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Adaptive optics ophthalmoscopy has enabled visualization of the in vivo human photoreceptor mosaic in health, disease and its treatment. Despite this, the clinical utility of the imaging technology has been limited by a lack of automated analysis techniques capable of accurately quantifying photoreceptor structure and a lack of an available normative image database. Here, we present a fully automated algorithm for estimating cone spacing and density over a complete adaptive optics montage along with a database of normative images and cone densities. We imaged the cone mosaics surrounding the fovea and along the horizontal and vertical meridians of fifty normal-sighted …

A Sophisticated Model Of Human Atherosclerosis On A Chip, Brandon J. Tefft

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Realtime And Noninvasive Assessment Of Endotracheal Tube Displacement Using Near-Infrared And Visible Cameras, Tongtong Lu, Pawjai Khampang, Ahmed Beydoun, Rebecca Rodhe, Wenzhou Hong, Joseph E. Kerschner, Bing Yu

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Endotracheal tube (ETT) intubation is a medical procedure routinely used for achieving mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients. Appropriate ETT placement is crucial as undetected tube migration may cause multiple complications or even fatalities. Therefore, prompt detection of unplanned movement of the ETT and immediate action to restore proper placement are essential to ensure patient safety. Despite this necessity, there is not a widely adopted tool for real-time assessment of ETT displacement. We have developed a device, a dual-camera endotracheal tube or DC-ETT, to address this unmet clinical need. This device uses a near-infrared (NIR) LED and a side-firing optical …

Simultaneous Modulation Of Pulse Charge And Burst Period Elicits Two Differentiable Referred Sensations, T. R. Benigni, A. E. Pena, S. S. Kuntaegowdanahalli, J. J. Abbas, R. Jung

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective. To investigate the feasibility of delivering multidimensional feedback using a single channel of peripheral nerve stimulation by complementing intensity percepts with flutter frequency percepts controlled by burst period modulation. Approach. Two dimensions of a distally referred sensation were provided simultaneously: intensity was conveyed by the modulation of the pulse charge rate inside short discrete periods of stimulation referred to as bursts and frequency was conveyed by the modulation of the period between bursts. For this approach to be feasible, intensity percepts must be perceived independently of frequency percepts. Two experiments investigated these interactions. A series of two alternative forced …

Experimental Study Of Coal Fines Migration Characteristics In Reservoirs With Diverse Coal Structures: Influence On Reservoir Behavior, Yingchun Wei, Ziliang Liu, Xianyue Xiong, Tiancheng Xie, Biao Li, Anmin Wang, Daiyong Cao, Zhenjiang You

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The challenge of coal fines production within tectonic coal reservoirs during coalbed methane (CBM) development in China presents a significant concern. In this study, coal samples with distinct coal structures from Hancheng mining area were selected for experiments on coal fines migration. Our analysis focused on the distinctive characteristics of coal fines generated by various coal structures, the subsequent alterations in sample permeability, and the changes in pore and fracture structures before and after the experiments. By examining the reservoir properties across different structures, we aimed to uncover the migration characteristics of coal fines in these diverse coal reservoirs and …

Sub-Surface Geospatial Intelligence In Carbon Capture, Utilization And Storage: A Machine Learning Approach For Offshore Storage Site Selection, Mehdi Nassabeh, Zhenjiang You, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study introduces an innovative data-driven and machine-learning framework designed to accurately predict site scores in the site screening study for specific offshore CO2 storage sites. The framework seamlessly integrates diverse sub-surface geospatial data sources with human aided expert-weighted criteria, thereby providing a high-resolution screening tool. Tailored to accommodate varying data accessibility and the significance of criteria, this approach considers both technical and non-technical factors. Its purpose is to facilitate the identification of priority locations for projects associated with Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS). Through aggregating and analyzing geospatial datasets, the study employs machine learning algorithms and an expert-weighted …

Production Of Lioh·H2o From Lithium Chloride By Electrodialysis And Crystallisation, Kwang Loon Ang, Maryam Barmi, Yasaman Boroumand, Amir Razmjou, Aleksandar N. Nikoloski

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Laboratory bench scale experiments were performed to develop a process for electrodialysis (ED) of LiCl liquor from spodumene leaching and purification to produce LiOH solution, for subsequent conversion by evaporative crystallisation to LiOH·H2O crystals as the end-product. Nafion® 117 cation-selective membranes were used in all experiments. The small electrolytic test cell achieved an average LiOH production rate of 7.5 g/h with 83 % coulombic efficiency and specific electrical consumption of 6.5 kWh/kg LiOH. In the large electrolytic test cell, a higher average LiOH production rate of 11.2 g/h was attained but at lower coulombic efficiency (62 %) and greater specific …

An Overview Of Additively Manufactured Metal Matrix Composites: Preparation, Performance, And Challenge, Liang Yu Chen, Peng Qin, Lina Zhang, Lai Chang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Highlight Recent progresses in additive manufacturing on metal matrix composites are reviewed. Additive manufacturing technologies for metal matrix composites are summarized. The characteristics of feedstocks and reinforcements are introduced. Mechanical property of additively manufactured metal matrix composites is reviewed. Challenges of additively manufactured metal matrix composites are discussed.

Stability Of Two-Class Armour Berm Breakwaters: An Experimental Study, Mohammed Al-Ogaili, Amir Etemad-Shahidi, Nick Cartwright, Sigurdur Sigurdarson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The recession of a berm breakwater is a key parameter in ensuring its stability, and functionality, to protect coastal areas against wave impacts. Consequently, consideration of the expected recession in structural design is required to ensure the required objectives of the structure. In this study, physical model laboratory experiments were conducted to measure the recession of two-class armour berm breakwaters in response to varying sea state conditions (wave height, wave period, storm duration, and water depth at the structure's toe) and geometrical parameters (berm elevation from still water level, berm width, and rock size). A total of 110 tests were …

Carbon Fiber And Carbon Fiber Composites—Creating Defects For Superior Material Properties, Ashis Sutradhar Nitai, Tonny Chowdhury, Md Nafis Inam, Md Saifur Rahman, Md Ibrahim H. Mondal, M. A.H. Johir, Volker Hessel, Islam Md Rizwanul Fattah, Md Abul Kalam, Wafa Ali Suwaileh, John L. Zhou, Masoumeh Zargar, Mohammad Boshir Ahmed

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Recent years have seen a rise in the use of carbon fiber (CF) and its composite applications in several high-tech industries, such as the design of biomedical sensor components, 3D virtual process networks in automotive and aerospace parts, and artificial materials or electrodes for energy storage batteries. Since pristine CF have limited properties, their properties are often modified through a range of technologies, such as laser surface treatment, electron-beam irradiation grafting, plasma or chemical treatments, electrophoretic deposition, carbonization, spinning-solution or melt, electrospinning, and sol–gel, to greatly improve their properties and performance. These procedures cause faulty structures to emerge in CF. …

Operational And Design Factors In Air Staging And Their Effects On Fouling From Biomass Combustion, Akram Elsebaie, Mingming Zhu, Yasir M. Al-Abdeli

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The global transition towards a carbon-neutral economy highlights the potential of biomass as a renewable fuel source. However, the sustainability of biomass energy systems is challenged by its complex fouling behaviours during combustion. This study investigates the impact of air staging on mitigating fouling in biomass combustion. By optimising the secondary-to-total air flowrate ratio (Qs/Qt) and the positioning of secondary air, this research investigates the impact of operational and design parameters on fouling deposits in biomass combustion. A fixed-bed combustor was used for the experiments, with hardwood pellets as fuel. This study employed TGA and SEM to analyse the fouling …

Investigating Gender Bias In Large Language Models Through Text Generation, Shweta Soundararajan, Sarah Jane Delany

Conference papers

Large Language Models (LLMs) have swiftly become essential tools across diverse text generation applications. However, LLMs also raise significant ethical and societal concerns, particularly regarding potential gender biases in the text they produce. This study investigates the presence of gender bias in four LLMs: ChatGPT 3.5, ChatGPT 4, Llama 2 7B, and Llama 2 13B. By generating a gendered language dataset using these LLMs, focusing on sentences about men and women, we analyze the extent of gender bias in their outputs. Our evaluation is two-fold: we use the generated dataset to train a gender stereotype detection task and measure gender …

Production Box Cost Estimating Relationships For Dod Avionics, Carla J. Cisneros, Edward D. White, Brandon M. Lucas, Jonathan D. Ritschel, Robert D. Fass, Shawn M. Valentine

Faculty Publications

The authors use historical information obtained from the Cost Assessment Data Enterprise to estimate recurring production unit cost for DoD avionics via cost estimating relationships (CERs). The specific modeled responses include mean unit cost, median unit cost, and the 100th production unit cost (T100) utilizing learning curve theory. For T100, the authors adopt both a multiplicative and an additive error for CER comparison. Recommended CERs consist of the mean unit cost and the T100 utilizing a multiplicative error. Moreover, results reveal that weight has a significant effect on cost as well as a potential underaccounting of real price change or …

High Mechanical Performance Of Lattice Structures Fabricated By Additive Manufacturing, Yuhua Li, Deyu Jiang, Rong Zhao, Xin Wang, Liqiang Wang, Lai Chang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Lattice structures show advantages in mechanical properties and energy absorption efficiency owing to their lightweight, high strength and adjustable geometry. This article reviews lattice structure classification, design and applications, especially those based on additive manufacturing (AM) technology. This article first introduces the basic concepts and classification of lattice structures, including the classification based on topological shapes, such as strut, surface, shell, hollow-strut, and so on, and the classification based on the deformation mechanism. Then, the design methods of lattice structure are analyzed in detail, including the design based on basic unit, mathematical algorithm and gradient structure. Next, the effects of …

Investigation Of The Operational Benefits Of Flipped Left Diamond Interchange, Nazmus Salehin Asif,

Theses (2016-Present)

Interchange is an important element to accommodate the critical movement between arterials and freeways. To operate efficiently, innovative interchange designs have been suggested by transportation professionals. Recently, an innovative interchange design called flipped left diamond interchange (FLDI) design has been proposed. That aims to increase capacity and improve efficiency by flipping the left-turn lanes in opposing directions, eliminating conflicts between opposing left-turn movements. So, the signal timing of the left turn movements and through movements are independent which indicates the signal timing of these movements can be determined based on their volume. Due to this independence, any signal timing sequences …

Final Report - Mixed Reality For Beyond Visual Line-Of-Sight Bridge Inspection Using Robot-Assisted Nondestructive Evaluation, Genda Chen, Joel Runji

Project IM-5

To improve data consistency, work efficiency, inspector safety, and cost effectiveness during routine inspections, drones have been increasingly used in recent years to support imaging and scanning over the surface of various elements in a bridge for surface condition assessment. Most drones are operated manually within a visual line of sight and unable to inspect river-crossing bridges completely since not all elements can be viewed by a drone operator using a binocular. Even for autonomous drones with collision-avoidance features, physical interaction with a bridge for nondestructive evaluation (NDE) is currently impossible in practice. An alternative solution with robot-assisted remote nondestructive …

Final Report - Probability Of Detection In Corrosion Monitoring With Fe-C Coated Lpfg Sensors, Genda Chen, Ying Zhou, Pengfei Ma

Project SN-8

This project aimed to develop and evaluate two statistical methods for determining the probability of detection (POD) in corrosion monitoring using Fe–C coated long-period fiber grating (LPFG) sensors. These methods, referred to as the Size-of-Damage-at-Detection (SODAD) method and the Random Parameter Model (RPM), addressed limitations in traditional POD models by considering the time dependency inherent in sensor data. The goal was to assess steel mass loss at 90% detection probability and establish the largest undetectable mass loss threshold at a 95% lower confidence bound. Both methods were assessed for computational efficiency, sensitivity to distribution assumptions, and robustness under varying model …

Final Report - Hyperspectral Imaging And Analysis For Steel Paint Condition Assessment, Hongyan Ma, Genda Chen, Pengfei Ma

Project SN-9

This project aimed to understand the durability of multiple coating settings that had been widely used in highway bridges. Coatings can prevent their substrate from being contacted by aggressive particles and thus corrosion to preserve structural components. However, the wide selection of coatings for steel girders or truss can greatly impact the serviceability of bridges. This project studied four types of top-coat materials (epoxy, Alkyd, acrylic, and polyurethane) and two types of under-coat materials (epoxy and acyclic). The coatings were configured as two-layer and three-layer systems to evaluate their difference in durability. The degradation process of the coatings was monitored …

Final Report - Robot-Assisted Underwater Acoustic Imaging For Bridge Scour Inspection, Genda Chen, Peter Ogunjinmi, Son Nguyen

Project AS-8

This report details the development and testing of an innovative robotic system for underwater mapping and bridge scour inspection, integrating a 3D sonar with a modified remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The system addresses limitations in traditional scour monitoring methods, such as safety concerns and poor visibility after flooding. The research approach included laboratory experiments, pool testing, and field trials at two bridge sites in Missouri, with procedures developed for both water surface and underwater deployments. The system effectively mapped underwater structures and scour conditions, especially in hard-to-reach areas, revealing critical scouring, exposed pier footings and debris accumulation. The water surface …

Final Report - An Interactive System For Training And Assisting Bridge Inspectors In Inspection Video Data Analytics, Genda Chen, Ruwen Qin, Mohammad Hossein Afsharmovahed, Kevin Lai, Ritesh Sharma

Project WD-4

This project aims to develop an interactive, web-based system to assist bridge inspectors in machine learning and video analytics for a rapid condition state assessment of bridge elements in accordance with the 2019 Manual for Bridge Element Inspection. Referred to BridgeNet, the system includes region-based convolutional neural network (RCNN) models for bridge element and defect segmentation and an inspection video analytic tool that is integrated into a unified graphical user interface (GUI). It provides users with an image-based testbed of modulated RCNN models. The BridgeNet has evolved in four phases: (1) backend and frontend framework setups, (2) Mask-RCNN-based bridge segmentation, …

Final Report - Bridge Inspection Robot Deployment Systems (Birds), Genda Chen, Son Nguyen, Alec Reven, Bo Shang

Project AS-4

This study aims to develop and evaluate Bridge Inspection Robot Deployment Systems (BIRDS) that support automated bridge inspection. BIRDS include uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), structural crawlers, and/or their combination. A particular type of the BIRDS, which is a hybrid flying and traversing system called BridgeBot, is designed to aid in the inspection of steel and concrete girder bridges. BridgeBot has evolved in four prototypes (I-IV) for improved structural, mechanical, electronic, and control systems over the past five years. The first two prototypes built in Phases I and II were tested in laboratory to understand the feasibility of hybrid flying and …

Design Of An Above Pavement Wireless Sensor Node (Apwsn) For Real-Time Roadway Monitoring Using Piezoelectric Energy-Harvesting, Jochy Jonathan Perez

Theses and Dissertations

The evolution of Smart Highway and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies offers new opportunities to improve the safety and efficiency of vehicular traffic on roads. This research effort describes the development of a wireless pavement sensor that provides a novel method to detect key pavement parameters while incorporating low-power energy harvesting that leverages the kinetic energy generated by vehicular traffic. The Above Pavement Wireless Sensor Node (APWSN) is the embodiment of the approach. APWSN can facilitate the strategic deployment of sensors on a wide variety of roads to enable real-time data collection to support decision-making processes for road infrastructure maintenance …

Boosting Predictive Accuracy Of Single Particle Models For Lithium-Ion Batteries Using Machine Learning, Emmanuel Olugbade, Jonghyun Park

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The accuracy of single particle (SP) models for lithium-ion batteries at high C-rates is constrained by lithium concentration gradients in the electrolyte, which affect ionic conductivity, overpotential, and reaction rates. This study addresses these limitations using extreme gradient boosting machine learning (ML). By training our ML model with data from a comprehensive electrochemical (P2D) model and performing sensitivity analysis on key battery parameters, we enhance predictive accuracy. Compared to conventional SP and P2D models under constant current loading, our ML-based SP model achieves similar predictive accuracy to P2D, with significant improvements in computational efficiency. Additionally, the ML-based SP model demonstrates …

A Novel Approach To Evaluate Seatbelt Non-Compliance Of Drivers In New Jersey, Md Arifuzzaman Nayeem

Theses and Dissertations

This study intends to investigate the non-compliant behavior of drivers with seatbelt use in New Jersey. By examining various factors such as temporal and roadway characteristics, this study seeks to identify the underlying causes of this seatbelt non-compliance behavior. To overcome the limitations of traditional methods like cross-sectional data collection, a novel approach known as moving vehicle method was employed. To gain further insights, hypothesis tests were performed across the entire dataset to pinpoint significant temporal, roadway, and geometric factors contributing to non-compliant behaviors. In the subsequent step, the association of other risky behaviors like speeding and distracted driving with …

Conversion Of Fish Waste Oil Into Biofuel: An Experimental Study, Mahmoud A. Mohamed, Hany A. Elazab, Mamdouh A. Gadalla, Fatma A. Ashour

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Egypt is famous for its fish wealth, given its large coasts and freshwater resources, especially of Nile Tilapia and Mugilid fish. It was estimated that domestic fish production increased from 889 thousand tonnes in 2005 to 1620 thousand tonnes in 2016. Thousands of tonnes of fish are consumed yearly, generating substantial amounts of fish waste and residues. Some 26% of the fish consumed is a typical waste. Fish wastes have a significant role in many processes and applications. They are used as feedstock for producing fish meals, a major by-product of fish waste oil. Fish oil is extracted for medical …

Atmospheric Waves Experiment (Awe) Advanced Mesopheric Temperature Mapper (Amtm) Optical System Design, Alignment, And Image Quality Verification, James Champagne, Roy Esplin, Tyrel Rupp, Greg Hopkins, Burt Lamborn, Erik Syrstad, Mike Holt, Matt Ralphs

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

The AWE AMTM is a wide field-of-view (WFOV) infrared imaging radiometer designed for use in measuring the P₁(2) and P₁(4) emission lines of the earths OH layer. From these measurements, the atmospheric temperature is determined and finally images of gravity waves will be produced as the AWE field of view transverses the OH layer. Designed, built, and characterized by Utah State University (USU) and its Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL), the sensor has been externally mounted to the International Space Station (ISS) looking nadir. Images will be collected and analyzed for a minimum of two years. The …

Self-Oxidation Of The Atmospheres Of Rocky Planets With Implications For The Origin Of Life, Anders Johansen, Eloi Camprubi, Elishevah Van Kooten, H. Jens Hoeijmakers

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Rocky planets may acquire a primordial atmosphere by the outgassing of volatiles from their magma ocean. The distribution of O between H2O, CO, and CO2 in chemical equilibrium subsequently changes significantly with decreasing temperature. We consider here two chemical models: one where CH4 and NH3 are assumed to be irrevocably destroyed by photolysis and second where these molecules persist. In the first case, we show that CO cannot coexist with H2O, since CO oxidizes at low temperatures to form CO2 and H2. In both cases, H escapes from the thermosphere within a few 10 million years by absorption of stellar …

Unveiling The Risks Of Speeding Behavior By Investigating The Dynamics Of Driver Injury Severity Through Advanced Analytics., Mouyid Islam, Parisa Hosseini, Anahita Kakhani, Mohammad Jalayer, Deep Patel

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Single-vehicle crashes, particularly those caused by speeding, result in a disproportionately high number of fatalities and serious injuries compared to other types of crashes involving passenger vehicles. This study aims to identify factors that contribute to driver injury severity in single-vehicle crashes using machine learning models and advanced econometric models, namely mixed logit with heterogeneity in means and variances. National Crash data from the Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS) managed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) between 2016 and 2018 were utilized for this study. XGBoost and Random Forest models were employed to identify the most influential variables …