Engineering Commons^™

Internet Of Things And Modern Digital Evidence Collection, Muhammad T. Haider

Student Theses

The ever-evolving landscape of technology and its innovations are populating our houses, streets and all kinds of industries. The use of smart devices is booming from most developed nations to underdeveloped countries. The complications which come with the use of the Internet of Things has been an active discussion for the past many years. If we look around in a room of 30 people, we will most likely find double the amount of IoT devices than the people in that room. All of those devices are connected to the Internet, and are communicating with data servers across the world. The …

Low-Power Hardware-Based Real-Time Cervical Spine Localization Via Image Processing, Patricia Angela R. Abu, Chao-Shin Liu, Sung-Hsin Tsai, Po Lin Huang, Hong-Kai Wang, Shih Wei Chung, Chiung-An Chen, Shih-Lun Chen, Sze-Teng Liong, Tsung-Yi Chen

Department of Information Systems & Computer Science Faculty Publications

With the growing prevalence of cervical spine degeneration in the aging population, there is an urgent need for accurate and real-time cervical image analysis to assist in preliminary evaluations during neurosurgical outpatient visits. This study suggests a hard-ware-based real-time cervical spine localization system that uses image preprocessing algorithms to address this need. The system can quickly finish image enhancement and greatly speed up the localization process by turning preprocessing steps like median filtering and binarization into hardware modules. With a power consumption as low as 4.859 mW, the proposed hardware-based median filter demonstrates over 60% reduction in power and 35% …

Bilateral Leading Edges With Tubercle Modifications: An Experimental Study, Roberto Sanchez

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing demand for better performance and maneuverability from airfoils to sustain superior performance over a wide range of platforms, including vehicles, propellers, and wing designs, continues to grow. Researchers have drawn inspiration from nature, looking at birds of prey, dragonflies, and humpback whales for aerodynamic improvements. Among these, tubercle airfoils, inspired by the humpback whale’s flipper, have gained increasing interest. This experimental study presents the results of bilateral tubercle leading-edge airfoils based on a modified NACA 0018 design with a chord length of 1.82 inches, a span width of 7.5 inches, and an amplitude of 6.3c%. Five configurations were …

Development Of A Wearable Biosensor For Cortisol Detection In Human Sweat Utilizing Pani/Peo Polymer Blend And Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots, Cesar Sanchez

Theses and Dissertations

Since the development of the first biosensor in 1962, the evolution of commercially available wearable biosensors has been driven by an increasing consumer interest in real-time health tracking. However, challenges related to sensor sensitivity and cost have hindered progress. Deploying a novel approach, the biosensor integrates a blend of Polyaniline (PANi) and Polyethylene Oxide (PEO) along with Nitrogen-doped Graphene Quantum Dots (N-GQDs) to enhance sensitivity and electroactivity, crucial for cortisol detection. To optimize performance, three distinct synthesis methods for N-GQDs; hydrothermal, microwave, and hot plate synthesis were compared employing a bottom-up approach utilizing citric acid (CA) as the primary reactant …

Primary And Parametric Resonances Of Angled Mems And Nems Cantilever Resonators, Benjamin Matthew Huerta

Theses and Dissertations

This work investigates the resonances of electrostatically actuated micro- and nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS) uniform cantilever resonators positioned at an angle relative to a ground plate. The resonances considered in this work include primary and parametric resonance. For each resonance, the amplitude-frequency and amplitude-voltage responses are presented. The model is constructed using Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. Results are obtained by construction of a Reduced Order Model considering up to the first five modes of vibration. The Method of Multiple Scales is used when considering only the first mode shape, and the software AUTO 07p is used for higher terms. Two models are …

Low-Dimensional Learning For Remaining Useful Life Prediction Of Batteries Operating Under Various Environments, Rodrigo Benavides

Theses and Dissertations

In reliability, we typically define the standard operating conditions under which a component operates. However, the differences in battery operating conditions cause variability in the degradation patterns of identically manufactured batteries, rendering remaining useful life prediction a major challenge. To aid this task, several sensors are utilized to monitor battery state-of-health. However, traditional prognostics algorithms do not scale well to the volume of data generated. Furthermore, several authors do not explicitly consider operating environments in their prediction models. Therefore, we present a high-dimensional data analytics framework that integrates operating environment information for battery prognostics. This framework combines Multilinear Principal Component …

Computational And Experimental Analysis Of Knee Kinematics And Gait Variability: The Effects Of Load, Speed, And Fatigue On Human Motion, Alfirio Trejo Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the biomechanical behavior of the human knee under varying conditions of motion, load, and fatigue, with a focus on clinical angle analysis and gait stability. Four studies were conducted using motion capture data and a modified Grood and Suntay Joint Coordinate System (JCS) to evaluate knee joint kinematics—specifically flexion-extension, abduction-adduction, and internal-external rotation. The first study examined the effects of incremental weight loads during isolated knee extension exercises, revealing dose-dependent increases in abduction and internal rotation that may contribute to joint stress. The second study assessed the impact of walking speed and asymmetric loading on gait, showing …

Interdigitated Gear-Shaped Screen-Printed Electrode Using G-Pani Ink For Sensitive Electrochemical Detection Of Stress Related Hormones Dopamine And Cortisol, Pritu Parna Sarkar

Theses and Dissertations

This research introduces a novel interdigitated gear-shaped graphene-based electrochemical biosensor for the simultaneous detection of dopamine (DA) and cortisol. Modified with graphene–polyaniline (G–PANI) conductive ink, the sensor increased active surface area—94.52% and 57% higher than Metrohm DropSens 110 and circular printed sensors, respectively. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed for physicochemical characterization. The sensor detects dopamine and cortisol over a linear range of 0.1–100 µM, with limits of detection of 0.043 µM (R² = 0.98) and 0.0577 µg/mL (R² = 0.976), respectively, in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) using redox probe. Electrochemical performance …

Succinctness Meets Transparency A Linking Framework Combining Hyrax And Kzg, And Its Applications, Argha Sardar

Master’s Dissertations

The thesis begins by introducing the concept of zero knowledge and exploring its various paradigms. It then focuses on a interesting problem: the construction of linking proofs. Chap- ter 2 addresses the challenge of binding two distinct polynomial commitment schemes so that they are consistent at a common evaluation point. The chapter further introduces a method for equating two different polynomials with different domains using an affine line construction. By applying certain optimizations to the bulletproofs protocol, the work achieves a reduction in both the prover’s time and the number of rounds required for proving a large committed inner product. …

Impact Of Cysteine And Tyrosine Dipeptides On Cho Cell Performance In A Perfusion Mimic, Corrin L. Pruitt

All Theses

Perfusion cell cultures typically achieve higher cell densities and generate higher volumetric productivities than fed-batch cultures due to continuous nutrient supply and spent media removal. Despite these advantages, perfusion cell cultures remain underutilized for licensed product manufacturing, primarily due to the lack of small-scale perfusion models for high-throughput process development and the complexities involved in media formulation capable of supporting high cell densities during long-term continuous operation. To avoid nutrient limitation at high cell densities, current perfusion processes rely on using higher perfusion rates, which results in significant media wastage and downstream product dilution. Therefore, there has been an effort …

Decision Field Theory For Human-Multi-Robot Collaboration: Human-Centric Decision-Making For Multi-Robot Systems, Ryan Mbagna Nanko

All Theses

At first glance, choosing between an apple and an orange appears to be a straightforward matter of personal taste; however, this seemingly simple preference opens a window into the multifaceted world of decision-making, revealing the complex interplay of cognitive processes, psychological, and behavioral-economic principles that guide our choices \cite{bandyopadhyayRoleAffectDecision2013}. By unpacking these nuanced perspectives, we uncover insights that can drive more effective human-robot interaction and collaboration.

Modeling human cognition requires understanding the evolution of choice utility and the influence of emotions. Decision Field Theory (DFT) stands out by capturing the fluctuating nature in human preferences over time, explaining why choices …

Wires, Roads, And Real-World Challenges: An Interdisciplinary Case Study Bridging Roadway And Electric Utility Design, Juliann A. Lloyd

All Theses

Electric utilities are a foundational component of modern society and depend heavily on civil engineers for planning, design, construction, and maintenance. However, educational content related to this industry is often underrepresented in civil engineering programs. To bridge this gap, a case study activity was implemented in two transportation engineering courses at Clemson University. The case study introduced students to the integration between electric utility infrastructure and roadway design by simulating a realistic and common conflict scenario faced by Departments of Transportation (DOTs) nationwide.

Students were placed in interdisciplinary teams, with each member assigned a specialized role such as Land Agent, …

Grain Boundary Migration And Radiation Induced Segregation In Fe-Cr Alloys, Mohit Dhoriya

All Theses

Radiation-induced segregation (RIS) is a significant phenomenon that occurs in alloys subjected to irradiation, particularly in environments such as nuclear reactors. This thesis investigates RIS in ferritic Fe- Cr alloys through the use of Atomic Kinetic Monte Carlo (AKMC) simulations, focusing on the interaction between solute atoms and migrating grain boundaries. The study explores the influence of temperature, solute concentration, and grain boundary velocity on solute drag, a critical process driving RIS. The results show that solute migration is strongly influenced by the presence of vacancies and interstitials generated under irradiation, which are absorbed by grain boundaries and other defect …

Biological Hydrogen Process Improvements By High Temperature Simultaneous Saccharification And Fermentation, Frank W. Jeffries V

All Theses

The hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga neapolitana is established as a versatile organism for fermentative hydrogen (H₂) production. Batch experiments were carried out to investigate the cell yield, product yield, and kinetic parameter values for individual media containing five carbohydrates. The highest H₂ yield of 15.56±0.31 mmol-H₂/g-carbohydrate was reported for glucose medium. H₂ yield was measured to be 14.51±0.38, 14.44±1.15, 11.88±0.84, and 11.53±0.73 mmol/g for media containing xylose, cellobiose, arabinose and xylan respectively. Acetic acid yield followed a similar trend, where the obtained values were 0.470±0.01, 0.462±0.04, 0.431±0.01, 0.409±0.03, and 0.406±0.01 g-acid/g-carbohydrate for glucose, cellobiose, xylose, …

Dealuminated Metakaolin In Supplementary Cementitious Material And Alkali-Activated Systems: A Review, Amany G. Micheal Prof., Mostafa Adel Elsebaei Eng., Maria Mavroulidou Prof., Maria Centeno Assoc. Prof., Rabee Shamass Senior Lec., Ottavia Rispolio Mrs.

Architectural Engineering

This paper presents a comprehensive review of dealuminated metakaolin (DK), a hazardous industrial by-product generated by the aluminium sulphate (alum) industry and evaluates its potential as a component in cementitious systems for the partial or full replacement of Portland cement (PC). Positioned within the context of waste valorisation in concrete, the review aims to establish a critical understanding of DK formation, properties, and reactivity, particularly its pozzolanic potential, to assess its suitability for use as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM), or as a precursor in alkali-activated cement (AAC) systems for concrete. A systematic methodology is used to extract and synthesise …

Inter-Cellular Forces Modulate Cell-Ecm Traction Forces, Zaria Booth

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Epithelial cells are among the most abundant cell types in the human body, making up sheets of epithelial tissues that cover the linings of organs and body cavities. Cellular adhesion and force transmission across epithelial tissues are crucial in maintaining tissue integrity and ensuring proper tissue regeneration. Defects in cellular force transmission have been found in various diseases, including cancer. Force transmission at cell-cell and cell-ECM junctions drive cell survival and development. It has been previously shown that changes in cell-ECM traction directly modulates forces at cell-cell contacts. In this study, we aim to determine the effects of perturbations in …

Complex System Governance And Cyber Operations, Willie Gernard Mccallister

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examines the potential integration of Complex System Governance (CSG) within cybersecurity, emphasizing the development of a reference model for Cybersecurity Infrastructures. Traditional strategies for securing digital environments have struggled to address the intricate and dynamic layers inherent in modern cybersecurity systems. The purpose of this research is to explore the applicability of CSG as a framework to assess cybersecurity infrastructure using a case study research design. The research addresses two key questions: (1) How can the CSG reference model be adapted to explore cybersecurity infrastructure? (2) What results from CSG based exploration of cybersecurity infrastructure through a case …

Enhancing The Design Of Strained Superlattice Gallium Arsenide Based Photocathodes With Distributed Bragg Reflector, Adam D. A. Masters

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Particle accelerators play a crucial role in our understanding of matter and the universe and have numerous practical applications in various fields. These devices enable scientists to examine the smallest components of matter, study the forces that govern their interactions, and probe conditions from the early universe. Moreover, accelerators are valuable in medicine, industry, and research, enhancing imaging methods, cancer therapies, and manufacturing techniques. As the experiments conducted at these facilities evolve and require higher precision, improved particle sources must continue to advance to keep up with their requirements. To do that, we enhanced the design of spin polarized electron …

Computational Modeling For Automatic Superconducting Cavity Fault Prediction And Classification Using Time Series Signals, Md Monibor Rahman

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Processing multivariate time series signals collected from sensor networks is challenging because of complex temporal dependencies and non-stationarity. With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) like machine learning and deep learning, it has become possible to process sensor-driven time series data more effectively than traditional statistical methods.

This dissertation aims to develop machine learning and deep learning models to address machine fault diagnosis using multivariate time series signals collected from the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) at Jefferson Lab. The first goal of the proposed work is to develop deep learning–based classification models and an unsupervised fault clustering approach …

Multimedia Forensics: Identification And Verification Of Source Camera, Vehicle Speed Estimation, And Deepfakes Detection, Jiajun Jiang

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation advances multimedia forensics by addressing three critical research areas that enhance the authenticity verification and analysis of digital media. Multimedia forensics, which encompasses techniques for examining images, videos, audio, and text, faces increasing challenges due to sophisticated editing tools and massive data volumes. In the first study, a fast source camera identification and verification method based on PRNU analysis is proposed for video forensic investigations. By integrating camera rolling and I-frame analysis, this approach achieves a processing speed improvement of at least 15 times over conventional frame-by-frame methods while reducing false positives. The second study focuses on vehicular …

Effect Of Moderate Decrease In Contractility On Epithelial Cell-Cell Contacts Under External Stretch, Saika Sharmin

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Epithelial tissues are characterized by extensive cell–cell contacts and often subject to stretch during normal function. Cell-cell contact adhesion strength maintains mechanical continuity from cell to cell. Mechanical forces exerted by cells via actomyosin contractility are known to strengthen cell-cell adhesions to a certain extent. While it is known that a large decrease in contractility causes cell-cell contact rupture due to weakened adhesions, it is unclear how a moderate reduction in contractility affects cell-cell junction stability. Here, we studied how a moderate inhibition of non-muscle myosin II (NMII) affects the integrity of epithelial cell-cell contacts, especially when subject to the …

Systems Statistical Engineering – Hierarchical Fuzzy Constraint Propagation, Hengameh Fakhravar

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Driven by the growing need in the 21st century for integrating rigorous statistical analysis into engineering research, there is a movement to develop an integrated statistical engineering science within statistics and quality communities (Hoerl & Snee, 2010; Anderson-Cook et al., 2012). Systems Statistical Engineering research seeks to integrate the Causal Bayesian hierarchical modeling (Pearl, 2009) and cybernetic control theory within Beer’s Viable System Model (1972, 1979, 1985) and the Complex Systems Governance framework (Keating, 2014; Keating & Katina, 2015, 2016) to produce multivariate systemic models for robust dynamic systems mission performance. Cotter & Quigley (2018) set forth the Bayesian systemic …

Two Analytic Issues Arising From Models In Probability And Materials Science, Giang Vu Thanh Nguyen

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation explores two distinct topics centered on mathematical models in probability theory and materials science. The first part investigates a series of functions derived from an adaptive algorithm designed to address the score-based secretary problem, a classic challenge in probability theory. This problem involves making immediate decisions to select the best candidate from a sequence of interviews. The algorithm aims to maximize the probability of selecting the optimal candidate based on observed scores. We prove two fundamental analytic properties of this sequence of functions as a theoretic support of the algorithm: first, the functions in the sequence each possess …

A Methodology For Model-Based Certification, Jay Albert Silverman

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A need for a single source of knowledge for design decisions has led to the development of a new field of systems engineering, model-based systems engineering (MBSE) (Delligati, 2014). System certification is defined as affirming that regulatory requirements for a system have been met (Goodwin & Juzaitis, 2006). System certification is a specific application of system validation. System verification can be defined as ensuring that the system of interest (SOI), as designed, is in accordance with the design inputs/requirements. System validation can be defined as ensuring that the SOI, as designed, meets the defined system needs (Wolfgand, Katz, & Wheatcraft, …

Ev Charging Management In A Real-Time Optimization Framework Considering Operational Constraints, Hilmi Cihan Güldorum, Ayşe Kübra Erenoğlu, İbrahim Şengör, Barry P. Hayes, Ozan Erdinç

Department of Computer Science Publications

The electrification of transportation plays a central role in the decarbonization of energy systems. Although electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to reduce energy related emissions, the increasing demand imposed by large scale EV adoption presents serious challenges for distribution systems (DSs), which were not originally designed to accommodate such loads. This study proposes a mixed integer quadratically constrained programming (MIQCP) framework to optimize the operation of an EV parking lot (EVPL) under DS constraints. The model compares three widely adopted objective functions: minimization of active power loss, charging cost, and uncontrolled charging impact, which is represented by minimizing the total …

Challenges And Artificial Intelligence Solutions For Clinically Optimal Hepatic Venous Vessel Segmentation, Håvard Bjørke Jenssen, Varatharajan Nainamalai, Egidijus Pelanis, Rahul P. Kumar, Andreas Abildgaard, Finn Kristian Kolrud, Bjørn Edwin, Jingfeng Jiang, Joseph Vettukattil, Ole Jakob Elle, Smund Avdem Fretland

Michigan Tech Publications

Background:: Liver vessel identification is crucial for clinical disease assessment and treatment planning, especially concerning local treatment of liver tumors. As artificial intelligence (AI) develops in radiology, opportunities arise to craft models adept at hepatic venous vessel segmentation, opening possibilities for creating patient-specific models of the liver anatomy quickly, despite the diverse features of CT images encountered in clinical settings. Objective: This research evaluates the performance of AI models combined with various pre-processing filters for liver vessel segmentation, emphasizing clinically relevant results. A novel evaluation method was introduced to offer more anatomically accurate assessments, moving beyond traditional metrics like the …

Development Of A Machine Learning Framework For An Irrigation Decision Support System, Eric Wilkening, Derek M. Heeren, Yeyin Shi, Laila A. Puntel, Guillermo R. Balboa, Abia Katimbo, Kuan Zhang, Precious Nneka Amori, Bruno Lena

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Currently used irrigation scheduling techniques often require significant human intervention and are time consuming, particularly for variable rate irrigation. This research aimed to develop a conceptual framework that incorporates disparate data sources leveraging both mechanistic and machine learning (ML) approaches. The overarching objective is to utilize the growing availability of data and technology to manage irrigation more precisely, which will minimize negative impacts of irrigation on our water resources. An initial irrigation machine learning model was proposed and tested in this study as a key component of an edge-cloud computing and federated learning decision-making framework. The specific objectives were (1) …

Curved Confinement Directs Anchoring-Mediated Structural Transitions In Highly Chiral Liquid Crystal Shells, Sepideh Norouzi, Jeremy Money, Stiven Villada-Gil, José Martínez-Gonález, Monirosadat Sadati

Faculty Publications

Cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) confined in curved geometries exhibit a rich spectrum of defectmediated morphologies governed by the interplay between chirality, curvature, surface anchoring, and confinement. This study systematically investigates structural transitions in highly chiral CLC shells under asymmetric anchoring conditions, focusing on the effects of shell thickness and curvature on pitch axis reorientation and defect formation. Utilizing microfluidic techniques, we generate core–shell droplets with independently tunable anchoring at inner and outer aqueous interfaces. Transitioning from planar–planar to planar-homeotropic boundary conditions via surfactant-mediated modulation induces profound reorganizations in the director field, giving rise to focal conic domains (FCDs), stripe patterns, …

Assessing The Robustness Of Test Selection Methods For Deep Neural Networks, Qiang Hu, Yuejun Guo, Xiaofei Xie, Maxime Cordy, Wei Ma, Mike Papadakis, Lei Ma, Yves Le Traon

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Regularly testing deep learning-powered systems on newly collected data is critical to ensure their reliability, robustness, and efficacy in real-world applications. This process is demanding due to the significant time and human effort required for labeling new data. While test selection methods alleviate manual labor by labeling and evaluating only a subset of data while meeting testing criteria, we observe that such methods with reported promising results are simply evaluated, e.g., testing on original test data. The question arises: are they always reliable? In this article, we explore when and to what extent test selection methods fail. First, we identify …

Advancing Real-World Implementation Of The Well Optimized Linear Finder (Wolf) High-Speed Atmospheric Turbulence Compensation Method, Timothy Evan Coon

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation advances the real-world implementation of the Well Optimized Linear Finder (WOLF) method for high-speed Atmospheric Turbulence Compensation (ATC). Atmospheric turbulence introduces phase aberrations into optical wavefronts and degrades image quality in terrestrial imaging systems. Traditional phase diversity methods are computationally intensive and poorly suited to real-time operation. The WOLF method addresses these limitations through a novel, point-wise formulation of the optical transfer function (OTF) as a structured autocorrelation of the generalized pupil function (GPF). This formulation enables the estimation of phase aberrations at individual spatial coordinates with distributed computational complexity.

The research begins by developing a MATLAB-based simulation …