Engineering Commons^™

Engineering Education In Hong Kong Secondary Schools - The Applied Learning Course Approach, Ken Hui

Staff Publications

In Hong Kong, the efficacy of engineering education in secondary schools is always difficult to measure. This is mainly because there are limited engineering-oriented subjects and few teachers with backgrounds in engineering. Engineering education is often infused into the curriculum of secondary schools through science, technology and mathematics (STM) subjects. Students’ involvement in engineering related school-based and extracurricular activities are limited. Only a few technical schools in Hong Kong are offering engineering-oriented subjects such as Electronics & Electricity and Technology Fundamentals.

Some previous studies have identified that the lack of engineering education in secondary schools may affect the students’ aspiration …

Application Of Metagenomic And Molecular Microbiology Techniques To Elucidate Sources Of Fecal Pollution And Anthropogenic Antibiotic Resistance Genes To Surface Water: A Step Towards A “One Health” Approach To Watershed Management, Mehedi Hasan Tarek

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The use of fecal indicator bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, is a widely established regulatory and monitoring practice to detect surface water contamination associated with fecal pollution. However, the detection or quantification of fecal indicator bacteria alone does not accurately inform the sources of fecal pollution. The development of molecular and metagenomic methods that target the DNA of microorganisms has resulted in a host of new tools for monitoring fecal pollution and its sources, as well as for understanding emerging microbial threats, such as antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance is a critical “One Health” challenge presenting a high risk to …

Understanding Emerging Travel Behavior In New York City, Md Amdad Hossen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Many large cities face significant challenges in providing safe, economical, equitable, reliable, and efficient mobility services. Moreover, mobility service options have been changing unprecedentedly due to the advent of emerging mobility services. Understanding the impacts of emerging mobility services (e.g., for-hire vehicles, bike sharing) on other travel modes (e.g., transit, non-motorized modes, personal car) and evolving travel behavior is critical to promote sustainable modes for urban residents and reduce auto-dependency. New York City (NYC) has been conducting annual mobility survey since 2017 to understand the emerging travel behavior and mode choice characteristics. This dataset presents a unique opportunity for conducting …

A Methodology For Statistical Mean Wave Climate Regime Characterisation In Oceanic Islands: The Case Of The Southern Coast Of Tenerife, Emilio Megías, Manuel García-Román

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Oceanic islands of volcanic origin tend to have peculiar characteristics, such as: exposure to many wave directions; grouping in archipelagos; steep coastal slopes; and small coastal shelves. All these features require certain considerations in wave climate studies. These types of studies, when wave spectra are not available and have to be performed with parametric data, can be unreliable without an adequate systematic treatment. In this work we propose a methodology consisting of pre-classification according to the peak period and subsequent separation into different sectors according to the geographical fetch. The island of Tenerife is the case study, and in particular …

Histomorphology Of The Distal Urogenital Ducts In The Male Northern Crawfish Frog, Rana Areolata Circulosa (Anura: Ranidae), S.E. Trauth, R.G. Neal

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

We examined the microanatomy of the distal urogenital ducts in the male Northern Crawfish Frog (Rana areolata circulosa) from a small sample (n = 5) collected in February and March from central Arkansas over a 5-year period (2017–2022). Specifically, we sought information on the following structures: (1) the paired Wolffian (urogenital) ducts caudally from the kidneys to their merging with the urodeum of the cloaca, (2) the paired seminal vesicles (sperm storage structures), and (3) the paired Müllerian ducts and glands. This study provides new information on these urogenital ducts and promotes a clearer understanding of this anatomical region for …

Biocybersecurity And Deterrence: Hypothetical Rwandan Considerations, Issah Samori, Gbadebo Odularu, Lucas Potter, Xavier-Lewis Palmer

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Digitalization and sustainability are popular words within modern disciplines as practitioners each look toward the future of their respective fields. Specifically for the African continent, which is making great strides in developmental targets, those two terms are central to core aspects of policy initiatives that may foster cooperation across its varied lands and nations. One of the underlying challenges that confront Africa is a lack of strong regional integration across socioeconomic and political programs; there is value in African regions having more regional connectedness. We assess the rate of regional integration and development in Africa and discuss how to alleviate …

Informal Learning As Opportunity For Competency Development And Broadened Engagement In Engineering, Madeline Polmear, Shannon Chance, Roger Hadgraft, Corrinne Shaw

Books/Book chapters

Informal learning is increasingly being recognized as a way to complement the formal curriculum within engineering and provide additional opportunities for competency development while engaging diverse students. Learning about engineering occurs throughout life, via experiential and spontaneous opportunities that inform our understandings of the world. Learning is not confined to the engineering curriculum and class time but, rather, continues informally and implicitly throughout the daily lives and activities of university students. Often framed in contrast to formal learning, informal learning is more as it represents a significant portion of students’ time and effort and contributes to their persistence, competence development, …

Bridgewater Magazine, Volume 33, Number 2, Fall 2023, Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater Magazine

Taking Flight: Meet BSU students and alumni from the growing Aviation Science Program. Also in this issue: Two faculty members research the lives and times of early Black and Indigenous local citizens; Faculty researchers recount details of two of the enslaved in Colonial Bridgewater; and Alumna finds career satisfaction in helping others.

Swosu Research And Scholarly Activity Fair 2023, Swosu Office Of Sponsored Programs

SWOSU Research and Scholarly Activity Fair Programs

On behalf of the members of the University Research and Scholarly Activity Committee (USRAC) and the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) - Welcome to the Thirtieth SWOSU Research and Scholarly Activity Fair! There are 77poster presentations and 2 oral presentations involving over 130 student and faculty researchers, writers, presenters, artists, collaborators, and faculty sponsors encompassing activities from the SWOSU College of Pharmacy; SWOSU School of Nursing & Allied Health Sciences; and SWOSU Departments of Allied Health Sciences; Art, Communication & Theatre; Biological Sciences; Business; Computer Science; Chemistry & Physics; Engineering Technology; Language & Literature; …

A Critical Approach To Engineering Mathematics Activities For Sustainable Development, Matheus Oliveira De Andrade, Mariam Makramalla

Practice Papers

Engineering projects are frequently experienced through the complexity of knowledge co-production between experts and local communities. This involves an ability to work critically and creatively within unfamiliar epistemologies, drawing from quantitative, social and scientific methods to realise high-impact solutions. In this work-in-progress paper, we put forward a prototype for a case-control study aiming to evaluate student buy-in and learning outcomes for a cross-cultural implementation of critical mathematics approaches contextualised by sustainability challenges. We outline and discuss aspects of mathematical modelling activities that can scaffold an environment where human subjectivity amplifies the quality and relevance of quantitative arguments. As proof-of-concept, we …

Critical Space Infrastructure: A Complex System Governance Perspective, Adrian V. Gheorghe, James C. Pyne, Joseph Sisti, Charles B. Keating, Polinpapilinho F. Katina, William Edmonson

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper examines the applicability of Complex System Governance (CSG) to advance the Critical Space Infrastructure field (CSI). CSI encompasses space related hardware, workforce, environment, facilities, and businesses that are necessary for societal well-being. CSI is increasing in importance as more societal serving systems are becoming dependent on CSI to operate. Given this increasing dependence on CSI, societal sectors are increasingly at risk should something go wrong with CSI upon which they depend. CSI has been developing is a fragmented way and lacks coherent organization. CSG is focused on design, execution, and evolution of system functions that provide for communications, …

Data-Driven Strategies For Pain Management In Patients With Sickle Cell Disease, Swati Padhee

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

This research explores data-driven AI techniques to extract insights from relevant medical data for pain management in patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). SCD is an inherited red blood cell disorder that can cause a multitude of complications throughout an individual’s life. Most patients with SCD experience repeated, unpredictable episodes of severe pain. Arguably, the most challenging aspect of treating pain episodes in SCD is assessing and interpreting the patient’s pain intensity level due to the subjective nature of pain. In this study, we leverage multiple data-driven AI techniques to improve pain management in patients with SCD. The proposed approaches …

Advancing An Integrative Perspective Of Identity In Engineering Education (Chapter 9), James L. Huff Ph.D., Monique S. Ross Ph.D.

Faculty Research and Publications

Existing research has used identity as a theoretical construct to help us understand a wide array of phenomena, such as engagement and persistence in engineering. By understanding the personal, social, and sociocultural forces that operate in the developmental processes of an individual, we understand how they come to make sense of who they are. Further, we come to learn how they position themselves in relation to what it means to be an engineer. However, identity research in engineering education has supported a diffuse set of theoretical perspectives that do not organically coalesce. This chapter advances an integrated conceptualization of engineering …

Microplastic Contamination In The Coastal Environment: A Case Study From The Mae Klong River, Samut Songkhram, Pattraporn Chaisanguansuk, Suphak Ploenbuppa, Thitiphan Assawincharoenkij, Sumet Phantuwongraj, Akkaneewut Jiraphinyakul

Applied Environmental Research

To investigate the microplastic contamination in the coastal area in Samut Songkhram, we collected sediment samples from six locations in mangrove forests along the Mae Klong River estuary (MK) and the nearby Khlong Khon canal (KK). The microplastics were extracted by ZnCl2 density separation and subsequently H2O2 digestion. The microplastic abundance and physical properties, including their size, color, and shape, were determined under the binocular microscope. The selected microplastic samples were analyzed by µ-FTIR spectroscopy to identify their polymer types. Microplastic concentrations were c. 580 and 1690 items kg-1 d.w. in the samples from MK and KK. The lower microplastic …

Health Impacts From Pm2.5 Exposure Using Environmental Epidemiology And Health Risk Assessment: A Review, Thanakon Sukuman, Kayo Ueda, Sarunya Sujaritpong, Hirunwut Praekunatham, Kornwipa Punnasiri, Tuangsit Wimuktayon, Trakarn Prapaspongsa

Applied Environmental Research

Exposure to PM2.5 has been known to cause a variety of serious health consequences. Quantifying and investigating the health effects of PM2.5 pollution are imperative to understand and collect scientific evidence for supporting policies and associated actions. In this paper, we reviewed published environ-mental epidemiological studies and health risk assessments evaluating the health impacts of PM2.5 exposure in the PubMed database to identify the attributes of each method and aggregate the health impact results to perform analyses and summaries. Forty-two studies were identified after applying our search strategy, inclusion, and exclusion criteria. The epidemiological studies found an increased risk of …

Distribution Of Exchangeable Magnesium In Lowland Rice-Cultivated Soils Of Sri Lanka As Affected By The Differences In Climate, Soil, And Water Source, Indeera Hetti Arachchige, Buddhi Marambe, Mohomad Nijamudeen, Harsha Kadupitiya, Dinaratne Sirisena, Rohana Chandrajith, Lalith Suriyagoda

Applied Environmental Research

Magnesium (Mg) is an essential macronutrient for plants. Even though Sri Lankans consume rice as the staple food, the Mg status in Sri Lankan paddy soils as affected by its climate, soils, and water sources used are not well understood. This study was conducted to (i) determine the distribution of exchangeable Mg (ex-Mg) concentration, and (ii) examine the interactive effects of agro-climatic zones (ACZs), soil order, and water source in determining the ex-Mg concentra-tion in lowland paddy fields of Sri Lanka. A total of 9,038 soil samples representing six ACZs, six soil orders, and three water sources were collected using …

Context-Dependent Data-Envelopment-Analysis-Based Efficiency Evaluation Of Coastal Ports In China Based On Social Network Analysis, Yu Yu, Dai-Peng Ma, Guo-Ya Gan

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

An emerging trend in performance evaluation is combining social network analysis methods with data envelopment analysis (DEA) models and using network centrality methods to distinguish DEA results. One study employed an input-oriented variable-returns-to-scale DEA model to address referent decision-making units and the corresponding lambda values to construct a network. This study referenced the literature and improved on the use of DEA weight sets to construct a network. We employed a context-dependent DEA model to delineate multiple effective frontier planes, aggregate the reference set relationships on each frontier plane to construct a network relationship matrix, and assess the influences of the …

Closing The Modern Irish Municipal Wastewater Phosphorus Cycle, Ciaran O’Donnell

Theses

Phosphorus (P) is an essential life-supporting nutrient for which there is no substitute. P naturally cycles within nature. Modern farming practice and food production have altered the natural P cycle. Successive crop harvests remove P from the soil as crops and transport them to urban areas to feed the population. To replace P removed from the soil through these crop harvests, mineral P fertilisers are applied to the soil to sustain crop production. Mineral P fertilisers are derived from finite phosphate rock. The European Union does not have an indigenous supply of phosphorus rock, which poses a significant issue for …

Influence Of Tidal Current On Heavy Metal Dynamics In The Chao Phraya River Estuary, Kansiri Silrat

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The Chao Phraya River estuary, a vital ecological and economic region in Thailand, faces significant contamination challenges due to anthropogenic activities. This study aims to investigate the influence of tidal currents on the dynamics of heavy metals (HMs) in the estuarine ecosystem, focusing on cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn). A sampling was conducted over two tidal periods on April 29-30, 2021, including both surface and vertical water samples and surface sediment collected at multiple tidal currents. The results reveal notable variations in HMs concentrations influenced by tidal cycles. For water samples, cadmium concentrations ranged …

Unveiling Similarities And Differences Between Cutaneous And Ocular Melanomas, Abdallah Badou, Nour El Imane Issam Salah, Mohamed Elbelhadji

Health Sciences

Melanomas are outstandingly aggressive cancers, still their incidence is increasing. They can occur in the skin as cutaneous melanoma or in the eye as ocular melanoma. Their pathogenesis is generally similar; however, the prognosis of ocular melanoma patients is still poor, due to its special genetic profile and tumor microenvironment. Here we review the similarities and differences between cutaneous and ocular melanoma, with a focus on their prognostic significance, their molecular signature, and their tumor microenvironment, in order to understand the strategies adopted to escape immune response. Gathering and understanding available knowledge of melanomas and their specificities may help to …

The Development Of Dark Hyperspectral Absolute Calibration Model Using Extended Pseudo Invariant Calibration Sites At A Global Scale: Dark Epics-Global, Padam Bahadur Karki

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research aimed to develop a novel dark hyperspectral absolute calibration (DAHAC) model using stable dark targets of "Global Cluster - 36" (GC-36), one of the clusters from "300 Class Global Classification." The stable dark sites were identified from GC-36 called "Dark EPICS-Global" covering the surface types viz; dark rock, volcanic area, and dark sand. The Dark EPICS-Global shows a temporal variation of 0.02 unit reflectance. This work uses the Landsat-8 (L8) Operational Land Imager (OLI) , Sentinel-2A (S2A) Multispectral Instrument (MSI) , and Earth Observing One (EO-1) Hyperion data for the DAHAC model development, where well-calibrated L8 and S2A …

A Type-2 Fuzzy Rule-Based Model For Diagnosis Of Covid-19, İhsan Şahi̇n, Erhan Akdoğan, Mehmet Emi̇n Aktan

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

In this study, a type-2 fuzzy logic-based decision support system comprising clinical examination and blood test results that health professionals can use in addition to existing methods in the diagnosis of COVID-19 has been developed. The developed system consists of three fuzzy units. The first fuzzy unit produces COVID-19 positivity as a percentage according to the respiratory rate, loss of smell, and body temperature values, and the second fuzzy unit according to the C-reactive protein, lymphocyte, and D-dimer values obtained as a result of the blood tests. In the third fuzzy unit, the COVID-19 positivity risks according to the clinical …

Transmission Network Planning For Realistic Egyptian Systems Via Encircling Prey Based Algorithms, Abdullah M. Shaheen, Ragab Elsehiemy, Mohammed Kharrich, Salah Kamel

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Transmission network planning problem (TNPP) is one of the pertinent issues of the planning activities in power systems. It aims to optimally pick out the routs, types, and number of the new installed lines to confront the expected future loading conditions. In this line, this study proposes a new economic model to the TNPP. The aim of the model is to find the optimal transmission routes at least investment and operating costs. Three recent algorithms called grey wolf optimization algorithm (GWOA), spotted hyena optimization algorithm (SHOA) and whale optimization algorithm (WOA) are developed to solve the TNPP. The concept of …

Liquid Waste Treatment For Sustainable Tapioca Industry: A Comparison Between Biogas And Liquid Sugar, Lilik Sulistyowati, Novi Andareswari, Rifqi Rahmat Hidayatullah, Nurul Amri Komarudin, Yuni Yolanda

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

There have been many studies examining the processing of tapioca wastewater. However, most studies have only researched at a laboratory scale without considering whether the treatment is appropriate. The study's purpose is to compare the processing technology of biogas and liquid sugar using technical, environmental, social, and cost-benefit analysis criteria to determine the appropriate technology to be applied. Literature study, observation, and interviews were used to determine the characteristics of each criterion. Cost-benefit analysis is calculated using the R/C Ratio. Furthermore, priority determination is carried out using the Exponential Comparison Method (MPE) using assessments from environmental and industrial experts on …

Biogeography Of Functional Traits And Fire Regimes In Oak Species (Quercus) Across The United States, Ashley Selee

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This thesis is submitted in the form of two chapters. The first chapter encompasses background research, a literature review, important information, as well as motivation for our study. This first chapter provides insight into fire ecology, functional traits, and context about Quercus. The second chapter is written as a standalone paper for submission to the journal of Global Ecology and Biogeography, thus this second chapter can be read and understood independently of the first chapter. The study of biogeography is a discipline encompassing a species distribution across varying ecosystems in space and time. Biogeography allows for the synthesis of large-scale …

Climate Change And The Law Of National Security Adaptation, Mark P. Nevitt

Faculty Articles

The Department of Defense (DoD) is the largest employer in the world, owns and operates an enormous global real estate portfolio, and emits more Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) than many nations. Entrusted with the national security, the DoD is now threatened by a new enemy—climate change. Climate change imperils national security infrastructure while undermining the military’s capacity to respond to climate-driven disasters at home and abroad. However, legal scholarship has yet to address what I call “the law of national security adaptation” and related questions. For example, how do environmental and climate change laws apply to the U.S. military? What laws …

Evaluation Of Recreational Surface Water Quality According To Water Quality Index And Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Of Noroviruses And Sars-Cov-2, Parichart Soisoongnern

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Outbreak of waterborne virus are the major concern worldwide. The Water Quality Index (WQI) is a tool used to assess water quality for related activities. However, its suitability for assessing risks associated with waterborne pathogens remains questionable. This study aims to identify potential limitations and gaps in the WQI, especially in the context of risks from waterborne pathogens. The WQI of Maha Sawat Canal (MSC), Thailand was evaluated during both wet and dry seasons. The results were then integrated with the quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) methodology for norovirus GI (NoV GI) and SARS-CoV-2. The results have shown that NoV …

Correlation Between Virus Reduction And Trihalomethanes Risk After Chlorine Disinfection, Waraporn Khantong

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

While wastewater disinfection is essential to mitigate the threats from waterborne pathogens, there arises a potential risk from disinfection byproducts. Striking a balance between achieving microbial reduction and managing the occurrence of disinfection byproducts is crucial for maintaining both microbial and chemical risks at acceptable levels. The cancer risk assessment was based on THMs through of oral ingestions, inhalation absorptions, and dermal absorptions exposure. This study aims to investigate the relationship between virus reduction and THMs formation, and to assess their respective cancer risk levels post-chlorination, and determined treatment process was used to decreased cancer risk post-chlorination. Effluent wastewater was …

A Computational Mapping Of Online News Deserts On African News Websites, Dani Madrid-Morales, Joan Ramon Rodríguez‐Amat, Peggy Lindner

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

To date, the study of news deserts, geographic spaces lacking local news and information, has largely focused on countries in the Global North, particularly the United States, and has predominantly been interested in the causes and consequences of the disappearance of local media outlets (e.g., newspapers and TV stations) to the social fabric of a community. In this article, we extend the concept of "news deserts" by drawing on literature on the geography of news in Africa, where information voids have long been documented but have not been studied within the conceptual framework of news deserts. Using computational tools, we …

Machine-Learning Based Stacked Ensemble Model For Accurate Multi Classification Of Cbc Anemia, Asmaa Mohamed El-Boghdady, Sherif Kishk, Mohamed M Ashour, Eman Abdelhalim

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Anemia Disease (AD) is one of the most common blood problems in the world. According to the World Health Organization, it leads to lack of oxygen and red blood cells. The problem of classifying anemia is crucial in prescribing an appropriate treatment plan. Unfortunately, it is difficult to accurately diagnose the type of anemia as early as possible in order to properly treat the patient. Such a diagnosis can be complicated by the exponential increase in patient numbers, priority rules set by hospitals, and issues of access to adequate medical professionals. This paper proposes the use of a computer-based model …