Engineering Commons^™

Forgoing Nuclear: Nuclear Power Plant Closures And Carbon Emissions In The United States, Luke Petach

Funded Scholarship

This paper examines the effect of nuclear power plant decommissioning on electricity generation and carbon emissions in the United States. Using data on nuclear reactor closures in the United States between 1993 and 2022 and data on state-level carbon emissions and electricity generation from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), this paper adopts a difference-in differences (DiD) approach to estimate the effect of nuclear decommissioning. Two-way fixed-effects (TWFE) DiD estimates suggest a nuclear plant closure increases annual state-level per capita carbon emissions between 6% and 8%. The increase in state-level carbon emissions is driven by a substitution toward fossil fuel electricity—particularly …

Factors Contributing To Fatalities In Helicopter Emergency Medical Service Accidents, Jenna Korentsides, Joseph R. Keebler, Mihhail Berezovski, Alex Chaparro

Publications

INTRODUCTION: T his study aimed to update and reinforce previous research on helicopter emergency medical service accidents in the United States. By investigating predictors of fatalities after helicopter emergency medical service crashes through the application of machine learning techniques, we updated existing data sets and sought to uncover patterns that traditional analysis might not reveal.

METHODS: Using the National Transportation Safety Board database, the authors analyzed a dataset of 267 helicopter emergency medical service accidents between 1991–2022. We first calculated fatalities odds ratios for each condition. We then plotted geospatial locations of all reported accidents. Finally, we used XGBoost regression …

Safe Data-Enabled Control Of Human-In-The-Loop Robotic Manipulator Systems, Ritirupa Dey, Avimanyu Sahoo, Vignesh Narayanan

Publications

Safe control of human-in-the-loop (HIL) robotic manipulators is critical for applications such as assistive robotics, teleoperation in hazardous environments, and collaborative manufacturing. However, this remains challenging due to the lack of a unified framework that simultaneously addresses safety constraints, external disturbances, unmodeled dynamics, and dynamic role switching in the HIL setting. In this paper, we propose a novel NN-driven HIL control framework in which human–robot dyadic interaction occurs through the haptic channel. Using Lyapunov stability analysis, we theoretically show that the proposed NN-based controller ensures accurate joint trajectory tracking, compensates for system uncertainties, and adapts to human inputs modeled as …

Safeguard Cyberspace In Ransomware Era: Risk Analysis & Cyber Insurance, Li Huang

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The increasing frequency and severity of ransomware attacks pose significant challenges for organizational cybersecurity. Fragmentation across disciplines in cyber defense has created practical gaps in the development of the necessary capabilities needed to address rapidly evolving cyber threats. This study explores the impact of ransomware attacks and the evolving role of cyber insurance as a proactive cybersecurity partner. Bridging the gap between actuarial science and cyber risk management, it proposes an interdisciplinary framework that quantifies the impact of ransomware and integrates cyber insurance into cybersecurity strategies.

The primary contribution of this study is methodology. We present a framework that remains …

Preparing The Built Environment In Grenada For Future Sea Level Rise And Extreme Precipitation Events, Rocco D. Boyd, Meagan P. Duncan, Alivia D. Markham, Adelle K. Novak, Blaizen B. Bloom, Ashawne Edwards, Jai S. Lewis, Hans-Peter Plag

CCPO Publications

[Introduction] Communities across the globe are being affected by climate change in numerous ways. However, those most often affected, especially by sea level rise, are those small island nations that are pressed for space already; this includes the island of Grenada. Grenada is located in the southern portion of the Caribbean and is bordered by the Caribbean Sea (West) and the Atlantic Ocean (East). The planning and development authority (PDA) has been identified as the main stakeholder involved in this case study, but recommendations will be made to all parties involved to best accomplish our mission.

Key stakeholders were initially …

Ai-Generated Messaging For Life Events Using Structured Prompts: A Comparative Study Of Gpt With Human Experts And Machine Learning, Christopher Lynch, Erik Jensen, Ross Gore, Virginia Zamponi, Kevin O'Brien, Brandon Feldhaus, Katherine Smith, Joseph Martínez, Madison H. Munro, Timur E. Ozkose, Tugce B. Gundogdu, Ann Marie Reinhold, Hamdi Kavak, Barry Ezell

VMASC Publications

Large Language Models (LLMs) play an increasingly integrated and pivotal role in generating diverse types of texts, such as social media messages, emails, narratives, and technical reports, among other textual communication forms. As AI-generated messaging filters into human communication, a systematic exploration of their effectiveness for mimicking human-like communication of life events is needed. In this study, we employ a zero-shot structured narrative prompt to generate 24,000 life event messages for birth, death, hiring, and firing events using OpenAI's GPT-4. From this dataset, we manually classify 2880 messages and evaluate their validity in conveying these life events through the form …

Advances In Bacterial Cellulose-Based Scaffolds For Tissue Engineering: Review, Rewati Raman Ujjwal, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has emerged as a highly versatile and promising biomaterial in tissue engineering, with potential applications across skin, bone, cartilage, and vascular regeneration. Its exceptional properties like high mechanical strength, superior biocompatibility, excellent moisture retention, and inherent ability to support cell adhesion and proliferation, make BC particularly effective for wound healing and skin regeneration. These attributes accelerate tissue repair and foster new tissue formation, highlighting its value in skin-related applications. Additionally, BC's capacity to support osteogenic differentiation, combined with its mechanical robustness, positions it as a strong candidate for bone tissue engineering, facilitating regeneration and repair. Recent advancements …

Electrochemical And Nanomaterial Based Strategies For Nonenzymatic Glucose Detection: A Review, Reagan Aviha, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

Electrochemical glucose sensing technologies have undergone significant evolution, with continual advancements aimed at improving sensitivity, selectivity, and user convenience. This review systematically explores the development of emerging nonenzymatic glucose sensor designs. Nonenzymatic sensors are critically evaluated for their ability to overcome enzymatic limitations, leveraging novel materials and catalytic mechanisms. Additionally, the emergence of smartphone-integrated glucose monitoring systems is highlighted as the fifth generation, representing a paradigm shift toward personalized, real-time healthcare management. Emphasis is placed on the strategies employed to reduce the working electrode potential and enhance analytical performance. Key analytical metrics and real-sample applicability are evaluated, and persistent challenges …

Gold Nanoparticle-Enhanced Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Electrode For Non-Enzymatic Lactate Sensing, Christopher Animashaun, Abdellatif Ait Lahcen, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

We are reporting the development of a high-performance, non-enzymatic electrochemical biosensor for selective lactate detection, integrating laser-induced graphene (LIG), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) synthesized from poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). The LIG electrode offers a highly porous, conductive scaffold, while electrodeposited AuNPs enhance catalytic activity and signal amplification. The PEDOT-based MIP layer, electropolymerized via cyclic voltammetry, imparts molecular specificity by creating lactate-specific binding sites. Cyclic voltammetry confirmed successful molecular imprinting and enhanced interfacial electron transfer. The resulting LIG/AuNPs/MIP biosensor demonstrated a wide linear detection range from 0.1 µM to 2500 µM, with a sensitivity of 22.42 µA/log(µM) and …

Development Of Group Iii-V Quantum Confinement-Enabled Detectors: Bias-Tunable Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (Qwip) And Quantum Dot Scintillation Detector (Qdsd), Gyana R. Biswal

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This dissertation discloses the physics, fabrication, characterization, and analysis of two novel types of group III-V semiconductor detectors relying on quantum confinement of carriers, namely voltage-tunable quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIP) and a high-yield ultrafast quantum dot scintillation detector (QDSD). Both QWIP and QDSD heterostructures presented here were grown on 3” GaAs (001) substrates using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE).

A major part of the dissertation focuses on development of the voltage-tunable QWIPs targeting detection in the mid-wave infrared region (MWIR) (3μm -5μm) and long-wave infrared region (LWIR) (8μm -12μm) with control of sensitivity by the applied bias. The QWIPs utilize …

Pan-Caribbean Airlines: Unlocking Regional Aviation Potential, Dimitrios V. Siskos, Alexander Maravas, Jordan Karatzas

Publications

The Caribbean's air transport system is facing significant challenges, including operational fragmentation, excessive costs, and inadequate inter-island connectivity. These challenges limit its ability to support the region’s heavily tourism-dependent economies. This research evaluates whether consolidating small Caribbean airlines into a single or virtual Pan-Caribbean carrier could transform regional air travel. Based on financial analysis, historical traffic data, and case comparisons with airline mergers in South America and the US, the paper simulates the anticipated efficiencies resulting from route consolidation, fleet standardization, and common operational services. The research concludes that consolidation may create a regional GDP impact of up to $3.3 …

An Operational Field Study: A Comparison Of Piloting Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles And Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, David Thirtyacre, Joseph Cerreta, Pete Miller, Kimberly Luthi, Jolee Thirtyacre

Publications

and operations, the ability to cross-train personnel in both Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles and Small Uncrewed Aircraft System operations has become a focal point for efficiency and workforce optimization. This study presents a comparative analysis of the operational and human factor considerations involved in piloting mini UUV and sUASs, highlighting the key similarities and differences in control methods, environmental influences, navigation, emergency procedures, and situational awareness. A qualitative experimental field study was conducted between July 2024 and October 2024, involving real-world deployments of both systems in maritime and aerial environments. Findings indicated that while UUV and sUAS operators relied on remote …

Electronics Hardware Assembly And Pcb Design For Lv3.1 Rocket And Cubesat Systems, Shaelin Olton

Maseeh Summer Undergraduate Research Experience

The Portland State Aerospace Society (PSAS) develops open-source rockets and CubeSats for research and education. This work involved electronics projects across multiple active systems, from assembling hardware for the LV3.1 rocket to redesigning PCBs for CubeSat testing equipment and lab instruments. The Roll Control System (RCS) boards for LV3.1 were populated using surface-mount technology (SMT) assembly techniques. The Card Debug Board was redesigned to troubleshoot various cards within the "flat-sat" engineering model of the most recent CubeSat iteration. This work involved assembling the electronics hardware for LV3.1, the most recent rocket model in development. Much of the initial work focused …

Hyper-Gravity Model Construction For Soil Behavior Under Cone Penetration Tests, Brandon Auyeung

Maseeh Summer Undergraduate Research Experience

Modeling of soil at full scale is often impractical and expensive. Centrifuge tests allow for hyper-gravity conditions where scaling laws allow for model behavior to capture full scale behavior. Centrifuges allow models to constructed and tested with faster turnarounds than full scale experimentation. Cone penetration tests (CPT) – a common geotechnical site investigation method – were preformed with centrifuge modeling to improve interpretation of CPT data for a larger range of soils. Large-scale centrifuge testing with CPT of known initial conditions allows for research on non-standard soils. Hyper-gravity effects of centrifuge tests allow for complex, cost-effective geotechnical models. The CGM …

Lv 3.1, Jacob Lutz

Maseeh Summer Undergraduate Research Experience

The LV 3 rocket was designed over a number of years with a variety of different modules. There does not exhist a full integrated system. In this work, I worked to combine a number of the modules to have a more complete rocket.

Zephyr Rtos Integration On The Nxp Mcxn947 For Oresat Programming, Blen Ermias

Maseeh Summer Undergraduate Research Experience

The objective of this work is to implement and test the Zephyr RTOS on the NXP MCXN947 board with debugger support, then integrate the MCU into OreSat protocards to program and develop applications for OreSat1. Zephyr is a Soft real time operating system, open-source, designed for embedded devices. OreSat is a fully open-source CubeSat project. A CubeSat is a standardized, modular satellite with a compact box-shaped design. The basic unit, called a 1U CubeSat, measure 10 x 10 x 10 cm. Zephyr RTOS can be utilized to program and debug this board. A board directory for the breakout board has …

Zephyr Rtos On Nxp Mcxn947 For Oresat Protocards: Bring-Up, Drivers, And Debug, Las Meman

Maseeh Summer Undergraduate Research Experience

OreSat Project: Oregon’s first student-built satellite, designed as a CubeSat (10×10×10 cm) to make space research more accessible and affordable. Why it matters: CubeSats let students and researchers test new technology in space at a fraction of the cost of traditional satellites. Our challenge: To prepare OreSat for future missions, we need reliable software and hardware that can run on small, low-power computers. Our solution: Use Zephyr RTOS (an open-source operating system for microcontrollers) with the new NXP MCXN947 board to test and build satellite applications. (Transitioning from the STM32F091 that has ChibiOS) Goal: Bring up and test the Zephyr …

Modeling Residential Water Heater Usage With Ochre, Josephine Deline

Maseeh Summer Undergraduate Research Experience

Energy Demand and Flexible Loads U.S. electricity use is projected to rise in 2025–2026 after years of little growth, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Residential water heaters (WHs) can serve as flexible loads by shifting use to off-peak times. CTA-2045 The CTA-2045 protocol allows utilities to coordinate with WHs, signaling optimal operation without sacrificing comfort or performance. The OCHRE model, developed by NREL, simulates household energy use and appliance behavior. OCHRE shows how flexible WH loads can improve grid stability and lower consumer costs. The goal is to compare simulated results with field test data to validate …

Portable Low-Cost Spectrophotometer, Ian Bozovich

Maseeh Summer Undergraduate Research Experience

The goal of this project was to build a spectrophotometer that is: Inexpensive (~$300 USD), portable (4” L x 4” W x 2.5” H), capable of producing replicable results, and capable of producing results that are comparable to a higher cost spectrophotometer (~$3000+ USD). Six samples and a blank were prepared by making solutions containing various concentrations of vitamin B12. Measurements of light intensity across the visible spectrum were taken for each sample and used with the Beer-Lambert Law to obtain an absorbance spectrum for the various concentrations of vitamin B12. Results indicate that this device could be an excellent …

Comparing Two Fast-Response Air Pollution Dispersion Modeling Tools For Emergency Management Scenarios, John Abed

Maseeh Summer Undergraduate Research Experience

The oversight of the research is conducted by the Healthy Buildings Research Lab (HBRL), which utilizes two dispersion modeling tools for emergency management, namely ALOHA and QUIC Plume/URB. This experiment aims to explore the key differences between the two and to gain a deeper understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. For this project, using 2 different software programs to show the true dangers of what could happen if an Earthquake were to strike. We’re focused on comparing emissions from a single tank and comparing across ALOHA and QUIC. QUIC gave a better representation of what would happen if a leak …

A Comprehensive Guide To Construction Documentation: From Hand Drafting To Bim, Cesar Salazar

Open Educational Resources

The construction industry relies heavily on precise and clear documentation to ensure the successful completion of projects. This book is a comprehensive guide to creating construction drawings, focusing on the principles and best practices that lead to high-quality outputs. Unlike manuals that teach specific software tools, this book emphasizes the effective use of various drawing tools to produce detailed graphic narratives that support the entire construction process, from inception to completion.

Enhancing Acetone Gas Sensor Performance With Cobalt Oxide Doping In Lafeo3 Prepared By Co-Precipitation, Andhy Setiawan, Farah Aprisza Sheelmarevaa, Muhamad Taufik Ulhakim, Dani Gustaman Syarif, Endi Suhendi

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Semiconductor-based gas sensors frequently encounter difficulties in attaining optimal performance due to challenges such as temporal stability and low sensitivity, stemming from their insulating properties at room temperature. To address these limitations, this study proposes a novel approach by preparing cobalt-doped LaFeO3 (LaFeO3-Co) using the co-precipitation method, with doping concentrations of 2.5 mol% and 5.0 mol%. The acetone gas sensors were fabricated into thick films via the screen-printing technique, and their performance was thoroughly characterized. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed a cubic crystal structure, and the addition of 2.5 mol% cobalt was found to reduce the particle size of LaFeO3, …

Enhanced Photocatalytic Reduction Of Cr(Vi) Under Visible Light A Magnetically Separable Tio2-Fe/Fe3o4 Photocatalyst Prepared From Iron Rusty Waste, Khoirunisa Khoirunisa, Novianti Dwi Lestari, Endang Tri Wahyuni, Taufik Abdillah Natsir

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This research deals with enhancing the visible activity and generating the magnetic property of TiO2 by Fe doping and Fe3O4 impregnation respectively, using rusty iron waste as Fe source. The prepared TiO2-Fe/Fe3O4 photocatalysts were characterized by SR-UV/Visible, FTIR, XRD, and SEM-EDX instruments. The resulting photocatalysts are responsive to visible light and can be separated magnetically and used for photoreduction of Cr (VI) ions. In the photoreduction of Cr(VI) over TiO2-Fe/Fe3O4 photo-catalysts with various amounts of Fe dopant and alteration of Fe3O4 fraction, the photocatalyst mass, irradiation time, and solution pH were optimized. The research results assign that doping Fe to …

Hydroxyl Combined With Nitrogen On Biomass Carbon Promotes The Electrocatalytic H2o2 Selectivity, Jiabi Jiang, Danni Deng, Yuchao Wang, Yingbi Chen, Yu Bai, Meng Wang, Xiang Xiong, Yongpeng Lei

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Elevating the selectivity of two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e‒ ORR) is challenging. Herein, the hydroxyl combined with nitrogen on biomass carbon exhibits a high H2O2 selectivity over a wide potential range of 0 V to 0.5 V vs. RHE, which is nearly 97% at 0.3 V vs. RHE. The combination of hydroxyl and nitrogen improves the adsorption and desorption of intermediates, finally changing the reaction pathway and promoting the selectivity of 2e‒ ORR. The Faradaic efficiency (FE) reaches 98% at 0.3 V vs. RHE. Furthermore, the typical organic pollutants were degraded on site in flow cell. This work illustrates the …

Elucidating The Corrosion Of Carbon Steel In Hybrid Monoethanolamine Solutions Containing Methanol Or N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone, Pui Yee Tan, Lian See Tan, Swee Pin Yeap, Peck Loo Kiew, Mee Kee Wong, Azmi Mohd Shariff

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Corrosion has been a persistent issue in carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption unit that needs to be resolved in order to prolong the life span of the absorber unit. In this regard, understanding the corrosion behaviour, particularly in hybrid monoethanolamine (MEA) solutions, is crucial. This study aims to give detail information on the role of different process parameters, encompassing types of amine solution, temperature, and CO2 loading on the corrosion behaviour of carbon steel in system containing hybrid solution of monoethanolamine (MEA) and methanol (MeOH) or N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Here, the corrosion extent of the carbon steel was evaluated using gravimetric experiments. …

High-Binding Affinity Nanobody Against Sars-Cov-2 Xbb.1.5: Computational-Based Protein Engineering, Phoomintara Longsompurana, Napat Kongtaworn, Rungtiva P. Poo-Arporn, Thanyada Rungrotmongkol

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 variant XBB.1.5 has triggered a global health crisis by enhancing viral entry into cells via its spike protein. This study addresses the urgent need to develop neutralizing nanobodies (Nbs) to counteract the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Our aim was to identify a lead Nb and enhance its binding affinity to the receptor-binding motif (RBM) on the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S-protein) using computational methods. A total of 29 Nbs were screened against the XBB.1.5 RBD using the HDOCK server to select a lead Nb. This investigation revealed that Nb_7KGK exhibited the highest binding …

Electrochemical Study Of Zn-Fe Alloy Coatings On Mild Steel For Automotive Applications, Ramesh Bhat, A. Chitharanjan Hegde

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This study investigates the electrochemical behavior of Zn-Fe alloy deposited on mild steel (MS) substrates for automotive applications. The electrodeposition of a Zn-Fe alloy onto MS using an acid chloride bath, with 1,2,4-Triazole as an additive to enhance the uniformity of the deposit. The hull cell method was used to optimize the bath composition and operating conditions. The coatings were produced using electrodeposition at varying current densities, with 3 A∙dm‒2 identified as the optimal current density (CD) for achieving uniform coatings. The microstructural properties, including crystallite size and micro-strain, were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Williamson-Hall (W-H) analysis, revealing …

Influence Of The Casting Processes And Aging Times On The Microstructure And Hardness Of Alsi12 Cu Cast Alloys, Said Beroual, Pascal Paillard, Yann Borjon-Piron

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

The present study investigated the effects of the casting processes and aging times on the micro-structure and hardness of commercial AlSi12Cu alloys. The primary goal was to assess how various aging times affect the maximum hardness of the alloy and to evaluate the influence of cooling rates on hardness values obtained from sand casting (SC) and High-pressure die casting (HPDC). For both casting alloys, the solution heat treatment was performed at 540℃, followed by quenching. The alloys were then aged at 180℃ for various durations, ranging from 10 min to 50 h. The results reveal significant microstructural changes in the …

Photodegradation Of Malachite Green Using 2d G-C3n5 Nanosheet: A Promising Metal Free Catalyst, Sonali Biswal, Swayam Aryam Behera, Asima Subhadarshini, P. Ganga Raju Achary, Binita Nanda

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Environmental issues have become more serious these days due to the growth of modern industries. The paper and textile industries, in particular, were heavily dependent on the printing and discharge of dye, which constantly leaked into the water ecology and constituted a serious risk to public health. Organic wastewater treatment and remediation for its associated risks have received a lot of attention lately. This work explored the potential of the g-C3N5 nanostructure as a novel photocatalyst for malachite green degradation in aqueous solution while exposed to visible light. The nanocomposite was fabricated through an ultrasonicate-assisted technique. A number of analysis …

Regulating Copx/Co Heterostructures For Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity Toward Hydrazine Oxidation Reaction, Qinquan Lin, Rui Zhang, Changli Yan, Qizhao Hu, Shangbin Sang, Qiumei Wu, Kaiyu Liu, Hongtao Liu

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Hydrazine hydrate (N2H4∙H2O) is considered an ideal fuel for fuel cells. Constructing a cobalt phosphide/cobalt (CoPx/Co) heterostructure can achieve efficient electrocatalytic activity for hydrazine oxidation reaction. Traditional strategies for constructing CoPx/Co heterostructures took less consideration on the exposure of the active sites. In this study, 3D nanoflower-like nano CoPx/Co heterostructures with highly exposed active sites were obtained on a nickel foam (NF) through a dual-component phosphating strategy, i.e., regulating the relative content of Co and Co(OH)2 with cathodic current density and utilizing the differences in their phosphating behaviors. The potential at 100 mA∙cm‒2 and Tafel slope of the optimized CoPx/Co(375)@NF …