Engineering Commons^™

Laser-Induced Graphene Sensor For The Electrochemical Detection Of Acetaminophen, Abdellatif Ait Lahcen, Mazhar Sher, Sikander Ameer, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

Here we present a simple and efficient method for fabricating laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrodes for the electrochemical detection of acetaminophen (AAP), a crucial analgesic and antipyretic that can become toxic at elevated concentrations. Unlike conventional sensors that require intricate chemical modifications, the fabricated LIG-based sensor eliminates the need for functionalization, offering a streamlined sensing solution. The LIG electrodes were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, which confirmed the formation of a highly porous graphene network with excellent purity and conductivity. Cyclic voltammetry analysis with a ferricyanide redox probe revealed a large electroactive surface area of 1.21 …

Designing Public Parks To Enhance Quality Of Life: A Case Study Of Al-Eskan Park In Buraydah City, Basem Osama Elgendy, Essam Salem Almahmoud

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Public parks are essential elements for improving the quality of life, as they contribute to enhancing psychological comfort and creating spaces for social interaction. As the Kingdom moves towards achieving the goals of Vision 2030, the growth of green spaces, and the increasing interest of community members in public parks. However, many parks still lack a design that meets the needs of visitors, which calls for studies to understand the desires and behavior of park-goers.

This study focused on Al-Eskan Park as a case study, employing a mixed-methods approach that included observation and surveys of 34 participants from various age …

Centralized Deep Reinforcement Learning For Homogeneous Multi-Component Maintenance Optimization, Joseph W. Wittrock

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores an application of reinforcement learning (RL) in maintenance optimization. Recent advances in hardware-accelerated computation and deep learning have made RL a powerful tool for solving optimization problems which are too complex for traditional methods. Maintenance optimization involves improving the efficiency and effectiveness of maintenance activities through data-driven approaches, ultimately reducing costs and increasing asset availability. Making informed maintenance decisions is crucial to long-term sustainability.

A desirable maintenance policy maximizes a utility signal while minimizing the cost of maintenance. Techniques in sequential decision making such as dynamic programming (DP) and RL have found success in optimizing these maintenance …

Boys Build, Girls Glam: An Examination Of Adult Language Use In Informal Steam Education Settings, Alexandra Horton

Theses and Dissertations

Research on STEAM education has primarily focused on formal education settings such as schools, with more research needed in informal or non-traditional education settings. As children frequently engage with informal and non-traditional education settings, it is important to understand how we can transmit information in these settings to bolster and further the learning process and increase engagement. STEAM fields have been plagued by racial and gender inequities that have led to these groups being marginalized and excluded (Blair et al., 2017; Eaton et al., 2020; Martin, 2018; Martin & Phillips, 2019; Miller et al., 2018; Newall et al., 2018, Sheffield …

แนวทางการบูรณาการโครงการความรับผิดชอบต่อสังคม กรณีศึกษากองทัพอากาศไทย, ศิริกัญญารัตน์ สวนสีดา

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

การศึกษาครั้งนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อเสนอแนวทางการบูรณาการโครงการความรับผิดชอบต่อสังคมขององค์กร (CSR Integration) ของกองทัพอากาศให้เชื่อมโยงกับวิสัยทัศน์ พันธกิจ ภารกิจหลักด้านความมั่นคง ยุทธศาสตร์ชาติ 20 ปีและเป้าหมายการพัฒนาที่ยั่งยืน (SDGs) โดยการทบทวนวรรณกรรมร่วมกับการสัมภาษณ์เชิงลึกกับผู้ที่เกี่ยวข้อง ซึ่งผลการศึกษาพบว่า กองทัพอากาศมีศักยภาพอย่างมากในการดําเนินกิจกรรมความรับผิดชอบต่อสังคมขององค์กรที่มุ่งเน้นการช่วยเหลือ สร้างความเข้าใจและความสัมพันธ์อันดีกับประชาชน แต่มีข้อจํากัดสําคัญ ได้แก่ การขาดความต่อเนื่องของโครงการจากการโยกย้ายกําลังพล ขาดระบบส่งต่องาน การประชาสัมพันธ์ที่ไม่ทั่วถึง ซึ่งแนวทางบูรณาการโครงการความรับผิดชอบต่อสังคมของกองทัพอากาศทั้งหมด 5 โครงการ ได้แก่ (1) โครงการด้านสุขภาพและคุณภาพชีวิต (2) โครงการพัฒนาศักยภาพคนและการศึกษา (3) โครงการสังคมปลอดภัยและวัฒนธรรมรับผิดชอบร่วม (4) โครงการชุมชนสีเขียว และ (5) โครงการพลังงานสีเขียวและการรับมือการเปลี่ยนแปลงสภาพภูมิอากาศ จะช่วยให้กิจกรรมความรับผิดชอบต่อสังคมของกองทัพอากาศที่มีอยู่ได้รับการต่อยอดและเชื่อมโยงกับเป้าหมายการพัฒนาที่ยั่งยืน (SDGs) จากเดิม 6 ด้านเป็น 13 ด้าน อีกทั้งขยายผลกรอบแนวคิด The “5 Ps” เพิ่มเติมใน 4 ด้าน ได้แก่ Planet People Prosperity และPartnership ที่ครอบคลุม ESG ได้ทุกด้าน รวมถึงเสนอการพัฒนาเชิงนโยบาย 4 ระดับ ตั้งแต่ระดับยุทธศาสตร์ องค์กร บุคลากร และสังคม เพื่อขับเคลื่อนกองทัพอากาศไปสู่การบูรณาการเชิงยุทธศาสตร์และการสร้างคุณค่าร่วม (CSV) สามารถพัฒนาเป็น “กองทัพเพื่อความมั่นคงและความยั่งยืนแห่งชาติ” ได้อย่างเป็นรูปธรรม

Lorawan-Enabled Iot Solution For Smart Farming, Talha Khan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The rising global demand for food, driven by population growth, alongside a declining rural workforce, presents a great challenge for agriculture. Precision agriculture, which relies on the widespread adoption of smart farming technologies, is anticipated to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. Emerging technologies, such as machine vision, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT), offer innovative and promising solutions to address these challenges. This study focuses on LoRaWAN, a prevalent Low-Power Wide-Area-Network (LPWAN) IoT technology, examining its application in crop and livestock farming as well as its associated cybersecurity challenges. LoRaWAN IoT systems were constructed for three application …

Electrical Homeostasis Of The Inner Mitochondrial Membrane Potential, Peyman Fahimi, Lázaro A. M. Castanedo, P. Thomas Vernier, Cherif F. Matta

Bioelectrics Publications

The electric potential across the inner mitochondrial membrane must be maintained within certain bounds for the proper functioning of the cell. A feedback control mechanism for the homeostasis of this membrane potential is proposed whereby an increase in the electric field decreases the rate-limiting steps of the electron transport chain (ETC). An increase in trans-membrane electric field limits the rate of proton pumping to the inter-membrane gap by slowing the ETC reactions and by intrinsically induced electroporation that depolarizes the inner membrane. The proposed feedback mechanism is akin to a Le Chatelier's-type principle of trans-membrane potential feedback control.

Study Of Deep Neural Network Trained With Salient, Compressed Medical Video Data For Enhanced Predication, Aileen Sengupta

Electrical Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The rapid growth of surgical video analysis presents a need for efficient deep learning models for surgical training, while reducing the need for excessive image and video image storage. Traditional training approaches typically rely on uniformly compressed video data, instead of selectively preserving the most surgically relevant regions. This dissertation investigates the impact of training deep neural networks (DNNs), both convolutional and transformer-based architectures, on saliency-guided, differentially compressed surgical video sequences. The study systematically evaluates how such compression influences prediction accuracy, computational efficiency and storage requirements. Experimental results demonstrate that models trained on ROI-focused compressed data combined with motion vectors …

Correlation Of Internal Pressure To The Fundamental Aging Mechanism Of Li-Ion Batteries, Kayla Garcia

Electrical Engineering Theses - Archive

As technology continues to evolve, the demand for more reliable and longer-lasting batteries is growing rapidly in the electronics industry. Batteries are vital for powering a wide range of technologies, from smartphones and consumer electronics to automotive systems and high-end tools used across multiple sectors. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have helped bridge the power and energy gap that these different technologies require while achieving sufficient efficiency and reliability to make carrying them around feasible and long lasting. To further enhance the performance and longevity of a these devices, a deeper understanding of the degradation mechanisms occurring inside LIBs is crucial. The …

Design And Validation Of A Multiple Axis, Passive 3d-Printed Ankle-Foot Prosthetic For Functional Gait, Brogan Rene Landeen

Dissertations and Theses

By 2050, an estimated 3.6 million individuals will be living with lower limb loss, with transtibial (below the knee) amputations being the most common type of lower limb surgery. Prosthetic devices are the standard of care for rehabilitating these amputees; each device is explicitly designed to enhance stability, energy storage and release, flexibility, and active propulsion. Prosthetic selection is based on user specifications, including activity level, comfort, and anthropometry. Despite the consensus that prosthetics help to restore impaired gait, traditional, commercial prosthetics fabricated with carbon fiber via injection molding are expensive and often require multiple modifications by a prosthetist before …

Coastal Flooding Along The Lower Brazos During The Landfall Of Hurricane Beryl -A Model-Based Investigation, Sabiha Tasnuva Khan

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Hurricane Beryl generated a complex hydrodynamic response along the Texas coast and Lower Brazos River, producing storm surge, elevated coastal water levels, intense rainfall, and widespread inundation. Low-gradient coastal rivers such as the lower portion of the Brazos River are particularly sensitive to the interaction of these drivers, yet the inland decay of surge energy and its interplay with watershed runoff remain poorly quantified. This study aims to characterize the physical mechanisms controlling water-level amplification, flow reversal, surge attenuation, and inundation development during Hurricane Beryl along the Lower Brazos and to determine the relative contributions of surge and rainfall to …

Private Property Vs. Public Access: Socio-Engineering Framework For Managing Non-Meandering Waters In South Dakota’S Prairie Pothole Region, Lydia Loken, Sushant Mehan

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

This study addresses the growing importance of balancing private ownership and public interest of Non-Meandering Waters (NMWs) overlaying private property in the South Dakota Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) through both a legal and socio-engineering lens. This study aims to develop an integrated management framework for Non-Meandering Waters in the South Dakota Prairie Pothole Region that combines water allocation principles, the Public Trust Doctrine, and water quality objectives to guide policy decisions, ensuring equitable access, long-term sustainability, and a balanced approach to both public and private interests. Data collection from October 2024 through February 2025 and included a literature review of …

Minimizing Cpu Utilization For Job Scheduling Problems By The Advanced Round Robin Method: A Pragmatic Perspective, Haribhau R Bhapkar, Pankaj R Chandre, Parikshit Mahalle

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

CPU scheduling issues include minimizing waiting time for processes, ensuring fairness in resource allocation, and optimizing throughput. Balancing these objectives can be challenging, as improving one aspect may negatively impact another, making it essential to design efficient scheduling algorithms. This work presents an innovative approach to enhance CPU utilization through the development of a Result-Based Round Robin Scheduling Algorithm. Traditional Round Robin Scheduling methods often face challenges in efficiently allocating CPU time, leading to suboptimal system performance. In response to these limitations, the proposed method introduces a result-oriented strategy that dynamically adjusts time quantum allocations based on the execution progress …

The Effect Of Blanching And Steaming Pretreatment On The Quality Of Durian (Durio Zibenthinus Murr.) Seed Flour, Nabilah Daniel, Rosnah Shamsudin, Mohd Sabri Pak Dek, Jhauharotul Muchlisyiyah, Masmunira Rambli

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.), the "King of Fruits," has seeds that offer nutritional benefits, including high fiber for gut health and high protein for muscle growth. However, natural browning enzymes can limit its use in baking. This study investigates the comparative effects of blanching and steaming durations (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 minutes) on the color and techno-functional properties of durian seed flour (DSF), providing an optimization-based approach rarely reported for this material.. Durian seeds were sourced from various stalls in Malaysia, washed, soaked in 0.6% sodium metabisulfite, and then blanched or steamed for for varying durations as …

Little Problems: Photosynthetic Textile Treatments As A Source Of Oxygen, Morgan Campbell

Open Access Master's Theses

During human space travel, oxygen (O2) must be stored and carried aboard the shuttle for the entire journey; compressed O2 is highly flammable and combustible, thus doing so puts the crew’s lives at risk in the event of a fire (Mandel, 2019). By creating O2 onsite, the necessity of compressed O2 canisters and the associated risks can be reduced or erased entirely. Photosynthesis, the process through which plants convert atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) into O2, is one method of creating O2 (Lorch, 2020). The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has experimented with photosynthetic O2 systems since its inception but …

Strategic Trailing Edge Reinforcement Of Wind Turbine Blades Using Honeycomb Polymer Inserts, Raffaele Cuorvo

Open Access Master's Theses

The structural integrity of wind turbine blades is critical to their performance and durability, particularly under compressive loads at the trailing edge, which is prone to local buckling and material failure. This study explores a reinforcement strategy of a glass fiber composite blade trailing edge involving the integration of a honeycomb-structured thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) core spanwise, aiming to enhance compressive strength and mitigate material failure. Finite element analysis was employed to assess the baseline performance of a composite blade and to evaluate the effects of the proposed reinforcement. The results demonstrate a substantial reduction in failure indicators within the critical …

Advancing Wind Turbine Blade Longevity Through Innovative Trailing Edge Reinforcement Using Auxetic Tpu Structures, Gianluca Provvisiero

Open Access Master's Theses

The trailing edge of wind turbine blades represents one of the most failure prone regions due to local buckling phenomena and repeated mechanical stresses. This thesis explores a specific reinforcement strategy aimed at extending blade longevity by integrating Re-entrant honeycomb structures made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) within the trailing edge. By numerically identifying and targeting high stress zones, the insertion of lightweight auxetic TPU foam enhances local stiffness and mitigates premature failure without compromising aerodynamic performance. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach when compared to blades models without any internal reinforcement. The methodology of this …

Development Of An Autonomous Lab-On-Paper Device For Enzymatic Activity Assays- Proof Of Concept, Cameron Hahn

Open Access Master's Theses

This work aims to build on URI’s autonomous Lab on Paper (LoP) platform technology, which was used to conduct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), to conducting enzymatic activity assays. This requires new optimizations and designs to accommodate the test. In this work we use alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme as the model analyte for the proof-of-concept. To accompany the new device, new MATLAB analytical tools were written and tested, to aid in robust colorimetric signal analysis. The test fixture was designed to be reusable, when a new paper circuit and reagent vials are supplied, however, it was assumed that an eventual final …

Quantification Of The Effects Of Irradiation On The Dynamic Compressive Properties And Fracture Toughness Of Naval Materials, Keevan Winters

Open Access Master's Theses

The investigation of materials used in naval environments, especially those exposed to radiation, is crucial for ensuring the structural integrity and longevity of naval vessels. This study explores the mechanical properties of high-strength steel (HY-80), two types of epoxy-based syntactic foam (Pink and White), and polyurea, provided by General Dynamics Electric Boat. These materials were tested in both virgin and irradiated states under dynamic and quasi-static loading conditions using a Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) and an INSTRON 3366 for fracture testing. The study particularly focuses on changes in strain energy density and fracture toughness as indicators of material behavior in …

Design And Deployment Of A Compact Rov For Deep-Sea Research And Exploration, Joshua F. Wood

Open Access Master's Theses

The scientific community has utilized unmanned underwater vehicles for ocean exploration since the mid-twentieth century, resulting in a well-cultivated and ever-changing discipline of ocean technology. The deep-sea environment, specifically, presents unique and harsh criteria due to the increased pressure found at depth and the vehicle components necessary to overcome it. The size and weight of underwater vehicles typically increase as operational depth increases, resulting in physically large systems with high operational costs to accommodate deep-sea research. This project first characterized the effect of length and diameter on carbon fiber pressure housing’s depth tolerance. It then leveraged this data to reduce …

A Compact Frequency Comb Generator For Large-Format Superconducting Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors, Sungyoun Seo

Open Access Master's Theses

Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs) are promising superconducting detectors that achieve superior sensitivity to silicon-based photo detectors by leveraging a small bandgap of superconductors. They are advantageous for sensitive imaging instruments, particularly space telescopes. However, a large-format array with several hundreds of thousands of detectors is required for large-scale observations in space, and it encounters multiple challenges. The biggest challenge is the absence of compact, energy-efficient, and radiation-tolerant readout solutions. Of multiple functions in the MKID readout, the new frequency comb generator is presented in this thesis. It features a low on-chip memory requirement while promising the relaxed frequency resolution …

Finite Element Modeling Of Offshore Wind Monopile Impact Pile Driving In Comsol Multiphysics, Brendan J. Giordano

Open Access Master's Theses

The primary foundation type for offshore wind farms are large-diameter monopiles, which are installed with an impact hammer that produces a high-intensity, broadband impulsive signal that radiates acoustic energy in the water column and seafloor. This signal generates multiple waves such as compressional, shear and Scholte (or interface) waves. Scholte waves travel on the water-sediment interface and contain high-intensity, low-frequency energy that benthic species of fish and invertebrates could possibly detect. COMSOL Multiphysics, which is a finite element modeling software, was used to develop two transient models of impact pile driving to measure Scholte wave particle motion (displacement, velocity, acceleration) …

Implosion Of Aluminum Cylindrical Shells Within Varying Confinement Structures, Samuel Hayden

Open Access Master's Theses

The objective of this work was to further understand the fluid-structure interaction resulting from the instability of aluminum cylindrical shells within underwater pressurized confined environments. A confined environment is defined as a restricted fluid domain in which nearby structures influence fluid motion and limit the potential energy available in the system. This work consisted of multiple experimental implosion investigations involving various confinement structures while systematically varying parameters which influence the implosion event. The first study examined the effects of varying one-dimensional fluid flow into a partially confined cylindrical structure, along with variations in the geometry of the implodable volume, while …

Predicting The State Of Health Of Samsung 25r Lithium Ion Batteries, Matthew O'Donnell

Open Access Master's Theses

This thesis may contain material at the Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) level. The full document cannot be released.

Flexural Response Of Inflatable Drop-Stitch Panels, Alex J. Watterson

Open Access Master's Theses

All CUI (Controlled Unclassified Information) is U.S. government property and has been removed from this thesis.

A System To Test Selective Directional Laser Melting Of 3d Printed Metal Surfaces, Daniel A. Marasco

Open Access Master's Theses

This thesis contains Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). CUI has been removed from this copy of the thesis.

Hardware Implementation Of An Efficient Frequency Comb Generator For Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors, Frank Atobrah Danso

Open Access Master's Theses

The frequency comb generator is an essential component in the readout of superconducting detectors. This component is responsible for generating the resonant frequencies necessary to detect photon interaction with the detectors. This component however has not received the much needed attention in terms of readout systems optimization. Conventional implementations rely on either inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) engines, which scale poorly in power with increasing frequency resolution requirement but allow flexible tone updates, or lookup tables (LUTs), which demand large memory for high frequency resolution.

Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs) are superconducting detectors which have gained significant interest for cryogenic …

Design And Development Of A System That Characterizes Highintensity Gamma Fields From Rinsc Nuclear Fuel, Michael Peters

Open Access Master's Theses

Nuclear energy is a form of energy that utilizes the fissile nature of uranium, or other fissionable elements, to produce heat. In a uranium core, this reaction consists of a thermalized neutron being absorbed by the uranium nucleus, splitting the atom, and thus creating two subsequent fission products, along with the release of three neutrons, heat, and gamma radiation. These fission products are randomly generated elements, commonly in the form of isotopes of iodine, cesium, strontium, xenon, and barium. Although the type of fission products is known, much is still unknown about the nature of these isotopes, such as their …

Evaluation Of Polymer Coated Fabrics Subjected To Various Multiaxial Stress States, Shane Marx

Open Access Master's Theses

All CUI (Controlled Unclassified Information) is U.S. government property and has been removed from this thesis.

Tracking Control Of A String Actuated Soft Trunk Robot Using State-Space Modeling, Jacob Trivisonno

Open Access Master's Theses

Soft robots, primarily composed of compliant materials, exhibit highly complex and nonlinear dynamics, making precise control a significant challenge. Traditional control methods often struggle with these complexities, requiring more advanced and data-driven methods. In our previous work, “Automatic Control of a Soft Trunk Robot Actuated by Strings” [1], a proportional controller was developed to drive the steady-state tracking error to zero. While this method was effective, it required time-consuming manual tuning and was not easily adaptable to physical modifications of the robot.

To address these limitations, this research implements gain-scheduled feedback control with state-space models calculated through a multiple linear …