Engineering Commons^™

Sunbeams From Space Mirrors Feeding Solar Farms On The Ground At Dusk And Dawn, Tyler Goldberg, Zoe Zeszut, Steve Larkin, Colin Mercer, Shelby Roades, Jimmy Clark, Anthony Zoccola, Logan Hayes

Online Journal of Space Communication

For 40 years, the systems designers of space solar power have given their greatest attention to wireless power as microwave transmission from space to earth. The approach taken in this application is to place space satellites in lower sunsyncronous orbits for the purpose of gathering and focusing sun’s rays into a beam of reflected sunlight. The simple idea and application of this design is to extend the solar day of terrestrial solar farms, thereby increasing solar production capacity to 60 percent and reducing solar electricity costs to under 6 cents/kWh by delivering sunlight to a given location some 14 (rather …

Vision For Producing Fresh Water Using Space Power, W. Kent Tobiska

Online Journal of Space Communication

An escalating climate crisis is stressing the Earth's environment. One significantly affected area is the global water infrastructure that includes hydropower, flood defense, drainage, and irrigation systems. The effect of adverse climate change on freshwater systems aggravates population growth and weakens economic conditions. In the western U.S., for example, reduced water supplies plus increased demand are likely to provoke more interstate and urban-rural competition for over-allocated water resources. Seawater desalination has existed for decades as a proven technology for supplying water in coastal areas; however, desalination processes are energy intensive and this has reduced their widespread use. It is noted …

Sanitation Marketing In Uganda: The Impact Of Gender On Participation And Outcomes, Elizabeth Vicario

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Uganda aims to reach universal access to basic sanitation under Sustainable Development Goal #6, but achieving this target by 2030 would require doubling the annual rate of progress. Women are disproportionately affected by poor sanitation due to their health needs and risk of facing violence, but they have historically been excluded from sanitation planning. Low household demand and poor service delivery have stalled progress in Uganda. Market-based sanitation (MBS) is a novel method of developing a sanitation market through stimulating demand and supporting a competitive atmosphere for product and service providers. This research studies the sanitation marketing activities implemented by …

Community Assessment Of Water Perceptions And Household Point-Of-Use Treatment Methods In Madagascar, Isabella Rose Silverman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

One in four people around the world do not have access to safe drinking water, which means that two billion people globally lack access. In high-income countries, 0.02% of yearly deaths are attributed to unsafe water sources; however, an alarming 10.6% of deaths occur in Madagascar, for the same reason.

To achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all, a collaboration between public health and engineering is critical. Within the public health sector, social marketing is commonly utilized to address a problem by using commercial marketing principles to change behavior for the good of society. …

Laboratory Examination Of Lead Weights Harvested From Pitcher Pumps In Eastern Madagascar, Madelyn Wilson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Previous sampling campaigns in Tamatave, Madagascar, conducted by the University of South Florida (USF) have identified lead contamination in drinking water sourced from self-supply pitcher pumps. The pitcher pump piston and foot valves were identified as the primary source of lead contamination since they are often manufactured from recycled lead acid batteries. The previous field sampling technique consisted of collecting an aliquot of a 10-15-liter composite sample from the pitcher pump for dissolved lead analysis; however, this technique (1) neglects the contribution of particulate lead, (2) does not properly account for the effects of water stagnation inside the pitcher pump …

Visualizing Bacteriophage Evolution Through Sequence And Structural Phylogeny Of Lysin A And Terminase Proteins: An Analysis Of Protein Structure Across Phage Clusters, Maansi Asthana, Alyssa Easton, Julia Mollenhauer, Sean Renwick, Anita Golpalrathnam

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

Understanding how genes evolve and persist is a critical part of viral genomics. Bacteriophages can provide unique insight about viral evolution because of their abundance and largely unexplored history. Traditionally, phylogenetic trees have used DNA sequence comparison to visualize evolutionary paths between organisms. However, DNA sequence similarity does not reflect key alterations to protein structure and therefore how the protein performs its function. Phylogenetic trees based on predicted protein structure could provide an alternative lens through which to view evolutionary paths. From each of the 10 largest clusters included in the Actinobacteriophage Database, three mycobacteriophage genomes were selected. Lysin A …

Development Characteristics And Controlling Factors Of Coal-Measure Source Rocks In The Global Tethys Region, Qu Tong, Huang Zhilong, Wang Rui, Tan Sizhe, Li Zhiyuan, Guo Xiaobo, Zhao Jing, Pan Yongshuai

Coal Geology & Exploration

Under the control of tectonic activity in the Tethys region, a series of basins with coal measure source rocks developed, and the Tertiary coal in the circum Pacific belt is characterized by "hydrogen-rich" and has great hydrocarbon generation potential.This type of coal measure strata is an important source rock in petroliferous basins along the southeast coast of China.Therefore, it is particularly important to systematically analyze the development characteristics and controlling factors of coal measure source rocks under the Tethys background. Based on the systematic analysis of the development age, environments, geochemical characteristics and biomarker characteristics of the coal measure source …

Student Engagement In Aviation Massive Open Online Courses (Moocs), Jennifer M. Edwards, Haydee M. Cuevas, Felix Brito, Mark Friend, Maryjo O. Smith

Publications

As online training in the aviation industry continues to expand, understanding how learners engage in open online courses may help inform course design. Currently little is known about student engagement in aviation Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and more information is needed about those who utilize, but do not complete them. Datasets from two aviation MOOCs were cluster-analyzed to determine subpopulations based on activity (discussions, videos, quizzes). Differences were examined for days of activity and completion. Survey data revealed differences in demographics and learning goals. Three significantly different subgroups were found for each MOOC. Engagement patterns were similar between corresponding …

Profile Of Britt Carina Horncastle, Mary Frost

Online Journal of Space Communication

Profile of and interview with Britt Carina Horncastle, Satellite Consultant

Increasing The Predictive Capability Of Mapping Technologies For Healthcare In Disaster Management, Simon O.M. Adebola

Online Journal of Space Communication

Health as defined by the WHO/EUROs Health 21 is 'the reduction in mortality, morbidity and disability due to detectable disease and disorder, and an increase in the perceived level of health' (WHO, 1999). Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a combination of procedures, methods and tools by which a policy, program or project may be judged as to its potential effects on the health of a population, and the distribution of those effects within the population (WHO, 1999).

Remote Sensing And Human Health: New Sensors And New Opportunities, Louisa R. Beck, Bradley M. Lobitz, Byron L. Wood

Online Journal of Space Communication

Remote sensing data enable scientists to study the earth's biotic and abiotic components. These components and their changes have been mapped from space at several temporal and spatial scales since 1972. A small number of investigators in the health community have explored remotely sensed environmental factors that might be associated with disease-vector habitats and human transmission risk. However, most human health studies using remote sensing data have focused on data from Landsat's Multispectral Scanner (MSS) and Thematic Mapper (TM), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), and France's Système Pour l'Observation de la Terre …

Use Of Google Earth™ To Strengthen Public Health Capacity And Facilitate Management Of Vector-Borne Diseases In Resource-Poor Environments, Saul Lozano-Fuentes

Online Journal of Space Communication

Novel, inexpensive solutions are needed for improved management of vector-borne and other diseases in resource-poor environments. Emerging free software providing access to satellite imagery and simple editing tools (e.g. Google Earth™) complement existing geographic information system (GIS) software and provide new opportunities for: (i) strengthening overall public health capacity through development of information for city infrastructures; and (ii) display of public health data directly on an image of the physical environment.

Collaborators include: Saul Lozano-Fuentes, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Darwin Elizondo-Quiroga, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort …

Opportunities And Challenges Of E-Health And Telemedicine Via Satelite, C. Dario, A. Dunbar, F. Feliciani, M. Garcia-Barbero, S. Giovannetti, G. Graschew, A. Güell, A. Horsch, M. Jenssen, L. Kleinebreil, R. Latifi, M. M. Lleo, P. Mancini, M. T.J. Mohr, P. Ortiz García, S. Pedersen, J. M. Pérez-Sastre, A. Rey

Online Journal of Space Communication

The introduction of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the health scenario is instrumental for the development of sustainable services of direct benefit for the European citizen. The setting up of satellite based applications will enhance rapidly the decentralisation and the enrichment of the European territory driving it towards a homogenous environment for healthcare.

Satellite Imagery In The Study And Forecast Of Malaria, David J. Rogers, Sarah E. Randolph, Robert W. Snow, Simon I. Hay

Online Journal of Space Communication

More than 30 years ago, human beings looked back from the Moon to see the magnificent spectacle of Earthrise. The technology that put us into space has since been used to assess the damage we are doing to our natural environment and is now being harnessed to monitor and predict diseases through space and time. Satellite sensor data promise the development of early-warning systems for diseases such as malaria, which kills between 1 and 2 million people each year.

A Review Of Ict Systems For Hiv/Aids And Anti-Retroviral Treatment Management In South Africa, Tove Sørensen, Ulrike Rivett, Jill Fortuin

Online Journal of Space Communication

HIV/AIDS is a major global health problem. In South Africa, it is estimated that 5.4 million people are infected by HIV, out of a population of nearly 48 million, giving a prevalence rate of about 11%. About 600,000 individuals are infected with AIDS. Furthermore, the estimates show that, by mid-2006, some 711,000 people were in need of anti-retroviral treatment (ART), while 225,000 were actually receiving it.

Re-Inventing Health Care Training In The Developing World: The Case For Satellite Applications In Rural Environments, Krishnan Haridasan, Srinivasan Rangarajan, Gregory Pirio

Online Journal of Space Communication

The rapid advance of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in low and middle income countries has created an unprecedented opportunity to change the way that pre-service and in-service education of health care workers is delivered. The virtual ubiquity of satellite delivery, the dramatically increasing accessibility to the Internet, and the ever expanding mobile phone platform means that there is virtually no part of the world that cannot take advantage of ICT to deliver more effective and less costly learning experience to health care practitioners. ICT can play a vital role in training healthcare professionals, across the board - in nursing schools, …

The Possible Use Of Telemedicine In Developing Countries, R. Wootton

Online Journal of Space Communication

Since the place of telemedicine in the industrialized world is by no means properly worked out yet, it might seem premature to consider its use in developing countries. Nonetheless, there is interest in the possible use of telemedicine in developing countries, from at least two organizations:

1. The Midjan group, an impromptu committee that was formed following the African Regional Telecommunications Development Conference in Abidjan in March 19963. This European telemedicine collaboration group aims to explore the use of telemedicine in developing countries. At present, the group includes representatives from 22 telecommunication and medical informatics suppliers, telecommunication operators, universities, hospitals and …

Cluster Forecasting Of Corruption Using Nonlinear Autoregressive Models With Exogenous Variables (Narx)—An Artificial Neural Network Analysis, Seyedali Ghahari, Cesar Queiroz, Samuel Labi, Sue Mcneil

Purdue University Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund

Any effort to combat corruption can benefit from an examination of past and projected worldwide trends. In this paper, we forecast the level of corruption in countries by integrating artificial neural network modeling and time series analysis. The data were obtained from 113 countries from 2007 to 2017. The study is carried out at two levels: (a) the global level, where all countries are considered as a monolithic group; and (b) the cluster level, where countries are placed into groups based on their development-related attributes. For each cluster, we use the findings from our previous study on the cluster analysis …

Manufacturing: The Qualitative Study Of A Transition To A Green Facility, Brandon David Staves

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This qualitative study focused on answering three core questions: How have facilities reduce pollutions in regards to the quality of air, water, land, light and noise? Which Types of pollution reduction projects are more or less successful to implement? What types of pollution are facilities focusing on and why? The results of the 15 companies surveyed show a variety of projects that facilities have used to reduce pollution, it also shows that cost is a major factor in the unsuccessful projects, and that facilities are actively focused on reducing Air, Land, and Water pollution. While the data shows a variety …

The Impact Of Gemba Walks On Preventative Maintenance Productivity, Jake Donald Taylor

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Gemba Walks are a tool to get management involvement in areas where the work is taking place. Gemba Walks allow individuals involved first-hand to voice and reduce waste within the process and general operations. This research measured the benefits and improvements Gemba Walks had on the availability of equipment. For example, reducing the number of events that equipment is down for maintenance and its duration to repair these events, therefore improved availability. Maintenance is a critical aspect of keeping a company running, and making improvements found during this research significantly impacted the company by creating lean improvements. The improvements focused …

Development-Induced Displacement In Kiryandongo District: A Case Study Of The Karuma Hydroelectric Power Plant, Remington Fritz

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper assesses the effects of the development induced displacement due to the Karuma Hydroelectric Power Plant on the Awoo village and surrounding areas in Karuma Town. Recently, Uganda has pursued several large-scale development projects that have repeatedly displaced people. Despite having strong displacement and resettlement framework, there is a continued pattern of failing to implement such framework, threatening the livelihood and well-being of those displaced.

Interview with key informants from several government agencies, such as the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development the National Environmental Management Authority and Ugandan Generation Electricity Company Ltd have illustrated the political framework and …

Occurrence And Probabilistic Health Risk Assessment (Pra) Of Dissolved Metals In Surface Water Sources In Southern Peru, Alexander Ccanccapa-Cartagena, Betty Paredes, Corina Vera, Francisco D. Chavez-Gonzales, Elizabeth Joy Olson, Lisa Welp, Nadezhda N. Zyaykina, Timothy R. Filley, David M. Warsinger, Chad T. Jafvert

School of Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Often, metal and metalloid ions are present in water at concentrations that seriously affect human health; understanding their occurrence is critical, especially in regions such as Peru, where natural volcanic activity and anthropogenic activity have made them more prevalent in local waterbodies. In this study, river, lake, aquifer, and irrigation water samples, collected from the Chili-Quilca, Camana-Majes, Colca-Chivay-Siguas, Oco˜na, Urubamba-Vilcanota, and Titicaca river basins in Southern Peru, were analyzed for transition metals, other metals, metalloids, and other inorganic water constituents. Special emphasis was placed on metals and metalloids regulated by Peruvian Water Quality Standards and those categorized as of “primary …

Mems 411: Safely Capturing Giant African Pouch Rats, Anthony Brown, John Christensen, Jared Harrison

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

We were tasked with designing a trap to safely capture Giant African Pouch Rats. The traps are used in both urban and rural environments that include city streets, basements, farms, river beds, and bushes among other locations. Pouch rats are much larger than most rats and are a very ferocious species; they will harm themselves if there are any non-smooth surfaces when captured. It is very important that we designed a trap with this safety top of mind.

Mems 411: Giant Pouched Rat Trap, Shannon Wang, Isha Shah, Vaishali Shah, Elizabeh Saliba

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

Our goal is to design a giant pouched rat trap that meets the customer needs from professor Stan Braude. The giant pouched rats are to be breed and trained to find land mines. Therefore, the rats must be captured in good condition. However, giant pouched rats are not passive once caught and tries to escape every way possible. In the past, with traditional trap wires, they tend to get caught in the wire and hurt themselves. Our solution offers a completely smooth inner wall of the trap to prevent damage to the rats, while improving on the functionality of the …

Mems 411: Q.T. B-Bar, Gambian Pouched Rat Trap, Benjamin W. Horine Jr., Ileane Ho, Sarangi Pathirana

Mechanical Engineering Design Project Class

To design and build an improved rat trap that will effectively capture a Gambian Pouched Rat of larger size ensuring the rodents' safety, easy deployment in natural environments, simple mechanical release mechanisms, and cost-effectiveness.

The Effect Of Low Dose Penicillin On Tumor Development In ApcMin/+ Mice, Kinsey Ann Sierra Meggett

Theses and Dissertations

Antibiotics have been our most effective weapon against bacterial infections since their discovery in the early 1900s. Their use has been critical in reducing mortality rate from infectious diseases. However, in the last few decades, the overuse of antibiotics, beginning at an early age and into adulthood, has become a growing concern globally. Penicillin is one of many extensively used antibiotics in early childhood that has been used to treat childhood infections. Recent studies showed that exposure to low dose penicillin can have adverse effects leading to chronic illness such as diabetes, allergies, inflammation, and susceptibility to obesity, with the …

Aessa Young Professionals Forum Webinar “Technologies And Skills That Will Gearup The Aerospace Industry Post Pandemic” - A Global Perspective With An Emphasis On South Africa October 2021, Linda Vee Weiland

Publications

A webinar presentation for AeSSA Young Professionals.

Asphaltene Thermodynamic Flocculation During Immiscible Nitrogen Gas Injection, Mukhtar Elturki, Abdulmohsin Imqam

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Gas-enhanced oil recovery is one of the most advantageous enhanced oil recovery methods. Nitrogen is one of the most investigated gases because of its beneficial properties. However, during its interaction with crude oil, nitrogen can induce asphaltene deposition, which may result in severe formation damage and pore plugging. Few works have investigated the impact of nitrogen on asphaltene instability. This research studied the immiscibility conditions for nitrogen in nanopores and the impact of nitrogen on asphaltene precipitations, which could lead to plugging pores and oil recovery reduction. A slimtube was used to determine the minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) of nitrogen …

Socio-Ecological Analysis Of Artisanal Gold Mining In West Africa: A Case Study Of Ghana, Richard Takyi, Rasha Hassan, Badr El Mahrad, Richard Adade

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The surge in artisanal gold mining (AGM) activities and the associated environmental impact in Ghana have elicited several stakeholders' attempts to curb the problem. However, due to little understanding of the underlying issues, these efforts have been ineffective. This study aims to use a socio-ecological framework to analyze drivers of AGM activities, the environmental pressures, the state change, their impact on human welfare, and the management response as measures (DAPSI(W)R(M)) to the problem. Evaluate AGM's impact on Ghana's ability to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Data were collected from relevant literature on the subject and analyzed with …

Hydrocracking Of Octacosane And Cobalt Fischer–Tropsch Wax Over Nonsulfided Nimo And Pt-Based Catalysts, Wenping Ma, Jungshik Kang, Gary Jacobs, Shelley D. Hopps, Burtron H. Davis

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty and Staff Publications

The effect of activation environment (N₂, H₂ and H₂S/H₂) on the hydrocracking performance of a NiMo/Al catalyst was studied at 380 °C and 3.5 MPa using octacosane (C₂₈). The catalyst physical structure and acidity were characterized by BET, XRD, SEM-EDX and FTIR techniques. The N₂ activation generated more active nonsulfided NiMo/Al catalyst relative to the H₂ or H₂S activation (X_C28, 70–80% versus 6–10%). For a comparison, a NiMo/Si-Al catalyst was also tested after normal H₂ activation and showed higher activity at the same process …