Engineering Commons^™

Multifunctional Peptides To Improve Nucleic Acid Delivery For Ovarian Cancer Treatment, Kharimat Lora Alatise

All Dissertations

RNA interference (RNAi) therapies, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA), offer a high-precision approach to reducing the expression of disease-promoting genes with minimal off-target effects. For aggressive diseases like ovarian cancer, RNAi therapy can serve as a robust treatment modality if delivered successfully. Over 70% of ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed in stages three and four, where the disease becomes more difficult to treat. High relapse rates and drug resistance in these stages demonstrate the need for novel strategies to sensitize tumors to chemotherapy, making siRNA a promising avenue for targeting resistance-associated oncogenes.

However, the delivery of siRNA remains a …

Co2 Capture Utilizing Novel Deep Eutectic Solvents: Modeling, Process Simulation, And Cost Analysis, Nazneen Aspi Kolah

Masters Theses

One of the most pressing global issues that humans face is climate change caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide (CO2). Conventional solvents utilized for CO₂ capture, such as amines, are widely used in industrial applications due to their high CO2 absorption capacity. However, deep eutectic solvents (DES) have attracted a lot of academic attention recently due to their biodegradability and low energy for regeneration.

This research serves as a foundational proof-of-concept for using DESs in industrial gas separation processes. Five DES are evaluated for CO2 removal from flue gases. Aspen Plus is utilized to simulate the performance …

Perceptual Hash Based Content Matching, Nicholas Daniel Chenevey

Master's Theses

The proliferation of video content and AI generated imagery has introduced a number of new challenges in content identification and verification. The ability to trace content back to its source has become a critical problem as video content increases both naturally and synthetically through AI generation. This thesis provides the design, analysis, and experimental verification for a perceptual hash based framework aimed at addressing these challenges. Perceptual hashing is a method for encoding the visual content of images into compact and easily comparable binary strings. This process is used as the foundation for content matching in videos and source verification …

The Integration And Validation Of A Class 3b Laser For Stereo Particle Imaging Velocimetry, Jensen Lam

Master's Theses

Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV) is a laser flow diagnostic measurement technique used to measure spatial and temporal velocity fields. In an effort to promote experimental aerodynamic research, specifically an entry point for students to learn Particle Imaging Velocimetry, an in-house Class 3B laser PIV system was developed and its experimental results were verified with a Class 4 laser. Both systems were integrated on the Cal Poly Water Tunnel Laboratory. The work emphasizes the application of lasers controlled by a micro-controller to perform microsecond-based pulses and integrating a newly-developed device with an old system consisting of software, cameras, and synchronizers. The …

Design, Manufacturing, And Assembly Of Modular Snake-Like Robotic Arm, Alongside Design And Implementation Of System’S Digital-Twin, Scott Brown

Master's Theses

A unique modular snake-like robotic arm, also referred to as MA\RS – the Modular Arm \ Robotic System - was designed, manufactured, assembled, simulated, and programmed to create a modular robot which could move to a desired end position given the number of links, the position of the end link and the duration of motion. This robotic arm serves as the start of research into a modular space robotic system to be used in low-gravity environments. As such, this project focused on developing the initial design of the robot and its digital twin. The system’s modularity allows for changes to …

Cytotoxicity And Genotoxicity Of Glyphosate And Roundup Quickpro On Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells, Tasnimul Ferdous

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Glyphosate and Roundup products have become the most used herbicide worldwide. However, previous bans in Europe and recent reversal have caused confusion over their safety. This study aims to investigate the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of Roundup QuickPro and its main ingredient glyphosate using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Cytotoxicity was calculated by measuring CHO cell viability with 72 hours of exposure to each toxicant. Roundup exhibited higher cytotoxicity with LC50 of 511.2 μg/mL than glyphosate’s LC50 of 3389 μg/mL. The recommended application concentration (11,233.7 μg/mL) of Roundup QuickPro is much higher than the measured LC50, which caused complete cell …

Security Of Mobile Radiological Sources: Overview Of Industry Applied Technologies, Ann M. Archer, Ashleigh Wickham

International Journal of Nuclear Security

Small radiological sources used in industrial settings recurrently require transit between job sites. Securing these sources, while stationary, can be addressed with standard security approaches and equipment. Transport of these sources increases the risk and complexity of managing and maintaining control of these sources. Implementing methodologies to securely monitor and locate sources improves response and resolution of anomalous events during transit. The Mobile Source Transit Security (MSTS) system was developed to improve security and provide situational awareness of these mobile sources throughout their job cycle. The MSTS development effort focused on creating a set of systems that could be successfully …

Zero-G Exercise Equipment, Charisse Biglete, Jake Brajevich, James Monroe, Ethan Siahpush

Mechanical Engineering

In a micro-gravitational environment, the body undergoes less loading than that found on Earth. This leads to muscular atrophy, Osteoporosis, decreases in protein synthesis, and various other undesirable outcomes. To prevent this, astronauts undergo a strict exercise regime to maintain their health. The current exercise equipment available for spacecraft is large, heavy, complicated to use, costly, and unsafe. There is a definite need for the re-engineering of the exercise equipment to be used by astronauts while in microgravity environments to rectify these issues.

Comparing Conventional And Modified Cage Wheel Performance In Lowland Conditions, Rosalinda Abad, Michael Duldulao, Arthur Fajardo

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

In agricultural production, significant cost consumption from tillage due to high energy input and low work performance may be reduced by improving the design of hand tractor components, specifically tractive devices. This study aimed to compare the field performance of conventional and modified cage wheels for hand tractors in terms of field efficiency (FE), wheel slip, and fuel consumption (FC). Using the Philippine standard methods of testing for walking-type tractors and a two-tailed t-test to analyze the data, results showed that the modified cage wheel had an FE of 90.09%, wheel slip of 7.78%, FC of 0.22 L/h, and FC …

Rehydration Kinetics Of Green Pea Grains Dried At Different Microwave Powers, Serap Kayisoglu

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

In this study, both untreated and pre-treated green pea grain samples dried at different microwave output powers (90, 180, and 360 W) were rehydrated at three different temperatures (30ºC, 50ºC, and 70ºC). The rehydration kinetics of dried peas were analyzed using both the Peleg and the first-order kinetic models. Observations revealed that the Peleg model exhibited better agreement with the experimental data. As both microwave power and rehydration temperature increased, the rehydration capacity also increased in both pre-treated and untreated peas. The highest moisture content was observed after rehydration in pre-treated peas dried at 360 W microwave power (2.80 g …

Surgical Suturing Skill Assessment Using Estimated Hand Roll Angle From A Deep-Learning Computer Vision Algorithm, Jianxin Gao, Amir Mehdi Shayan, Simar P. Singh, Joe Bible, Ravikiran Singapogu, Richard E. Groff

Publications

This paper proposes a deep-learning computer vision algorithm to estimate hand roll angles for metric-based assessment of surgical suturing skills. The number of rolls metric, previously calculated directly from IMU data, counts the number of hand roll reversals during a single suture. To calculate this metric using computer vision, we apply a deep-learning algorithm that can reliably estimate hand roll angles after training on suturing videos collected on the SutureCoach simulator. Results show that the estimation accuracy of the deep-learning algorithm is robust to different video backgrounds. The number of rolls metrics were used to analyze suturing performance in the …

Ellipticity-Controlled Exceptional Points From Nanoscale Metasurfaces, Benjamin Goldberg

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Precise control over light polarization is critical for advancing technologies in telecommunica- tions, quantum computing, and image sensing. However, existing methods for manipulating polarization around exceptional points in non-Hermitian systems, have exclusively focused on circular polarization and work with reflected light. To address this limitation, we de- velop a novel metasurface platform with high-Q resonators that enables tunable control of polarization exceptional points across arbitrary ellipticity for transmitted light. Our design uses orthogonally polarized guided mode resonators in a two-layer silicon metasurface, where careful tuning of the dipolar guided mode resonances (DGMRs) and layer spacing allows us to control the …

Impact Of Irrigation Systems On Water Use And Water Productivity: A Case Study Using Aquacrop In Khartoum, Sudan, Abdalhakam Almagzoop

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Masters Project Reports

Water scarcity significantly challenges agricultural productivity in arid regions like Khartoum, Sudan. This study evaluates the impact of three irrigation systems—furrow, sprinkler, and surface drip—on the water use and productivity of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) under different climatic conditions using the AquaCrop model. Simulations were conducted for three representative years: a wet year (2022), a normal year (2015), and a dry year (2018). The results demonstrate that irrigation substantially improved water use efficiency and crop yield compared to non-irrigated (rainfed) conditions. Rainfed crops resulted in lower biomass, harvest index, and yield, particularly in the dry year, highlighting the importance …

Enhancing Water Sustainability In North Africa: Literature Review And Synthesis Of Current Knowledge Gaps In Sudan, Osman M. A. Adam

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Masters Project Reports

This study delves into the critical role of groundwater in addressing global water challenges, with a focus on the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) in north Africa. Groundwater constitutes a source of potable water, irrigation, and industrial use, especially in arid regions where surface water is limited. We analyzed the status of water quantity, withdrawals, recharge, and geological characteristics in the NSAS, specifically in Sudan, Egypt, and Libya. Though the NSAS is largely an untapped resource, water withdrawals from the NSAS in Egypt, Sudan, and Libya are projected to increase substantially from 2000 to 2100 due to population growth, with …

Development And Characterization Of Organic Electrocatalysts For Use In Zinc-Air Batteries, Christopher John Merkel

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The global deployment of solar photovoltaic and wind power is projected by the International Energy Agency as the primary pathway to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. However, these technologies face a critical bottleneck: their inherently intermittent power generation. For “intermittent renewables” to become the dominant source of electrical energy, efficient energy storage systems are essential. Current storage solutions are not viable on a global scale due to material scarcity, safety concerns, and high capital costs. Among emerging technologies, zinc-air batteries (ZABs) have garnered significant interest. ZABs offer a theoretical energy density five times greater than traditional lithium-ion batteries, utilize safe …

Impacts Of Stream Bed Adjustment On Local Bridge Morphology At Highway 281, Molly G. Likins

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Nebraska sand-bed rivers have long been a part of sediment transport studies and have been used in the development of numerous well-known empirical bedload equations. Some of these studies have shown how adjustments in streambed elevation led to changes in local stream morphology. The sand-bed rivers of Nebraska are highly susceptible to such changes due to their wide, shallow cross-sections and erodibility. The objective of our study is to synthesize a hydrodynamic model with high-resolution field data and improved methods of representing sediment transport to better predict both short and long-term channel adjustments for an aggraded sand-bed river.

The field …

Numerical Study On The Behavior Of Natural And Recycled Aggregate Concretes, Shahriar Mardpour

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis investigates the mechanical behavior of natural and recycled aggregate concretes (NAC and RAC) using a multi-phase numerical approach to predict performance. Growing interest in sustainable materials has led to using recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) to replace natural aggregates, creating Recycled Aggregate Concrete (RAC). Due to their different structural components, RAC and NAC exhibit varying mechanical properties, particularly in strength and durability.

This study validated tension and bending (flexural) test models by comparing numerical results with similar models from the literature. Following validation, a multi-phase approach modeled NAC and RAC for the bending (flexural) and tension tests, providing a …

Development And Evaluation Of Highly Thixotropic Uhpc Mixtures For Bridge Overlay Applications, Akbota Aitbayeva

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is an advanced construction material renowned for its exceptional strength and durability. However, conventional UHPC is typically self-consolidating, making it unsuitable for bridge deck overlay applications due to challenges posed by potential surface slopes. UHPC overlay construction requires a highly thixotropic material that not only responds well to vibration but also maintains workability over an extended period and remains stable on sloped surfaces. Despite the complex rheological properties of highly thixotropic UHPC, limited testing methods are available to effectively assess the workability and rheology of overlay mixtures. To address this gap, the present study provides a comprehensive …

Not All Samples Are Created Equal: Task-Aware Informative Sampling And Adaptive Inference For Efficient Edge Ai, Rebati Gaire

School of Computing: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The rapid proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has resulted in an unprecedented influx of data generated at the edge by billions of sensors. Traditional approaches relying on cloud-based processing are increasingly inadequate due to constraints in bandwidth, latency, and privacy. Edge computing has emerged as a transformative paradigm, enabling real-time data processing and decision-making by decentralizing computation to the edge. While the integration of deep learning into edge environments—termed edge intelligence—promises autonomous and personalized operations, it is hindered by challenges such as limited computational resources, energy constraints, and data redundancies.

This thesis addresses these challenges by presenting three …

Using Symbolic Execution To Analyze The Hardware Tcp Protocol, Nianhang Hu

School of Computing: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

As the demand for high performance and flexible networking capabilities increases, the shift from software to hardware implementations of stateful networking functions (such as TCP) is becoming increasingly important. This transition not only enhances processing efficiency in modern networking environments where data transmission rates are rising, but it also reduces the inherent CPU overhead found in software implementations, allowing hardware devices to handle network traffic more efficiently. However, validating the correctness of these hardware designs poses significant challenges due to the complex timing requirements and the vast input space associated with packet-level properties.

The verification of packet-level properties requires coverage …

Landslide Inventory And Unstable Slope Monitoring Along Highways In Eastern Tennessee, Robert Mcsweeney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research introduces an unstable slope management program (USMP) for Tennessee based on federal slope management standards, along with improved methods for landslide monitoring with unmanned aerial systems (UAS) lidar and photogrammetry. In mountainous regions, monitoring slope hazards is a critical function of transportation management. A mobile field assessment form created with Survey123 was used to collect 22 unstable slope ratings in eastern Tennessee. Location points were appended with photographs, notes, and site information. Landslide scores ranged from 325 (Fair) to 1005 (Poor). UAS monitoring of a slow-moving soil landslide along I-40 near Rockwood, TN, produced high-resolution lidar and photogrammetry …

Assessing Khumbu Region Glaciers Mass Balance Change Using Geospatial Techniques From 2012 To 2024, Yashvi Jagatbhai Shah

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalaya are critical for sustaining the water supply of South Asia's major rivers, upon which over 230 million people, both in the mountainous regions and lowland areas, depend. Climate change is driving rapid glaciers melt near the summit of Mount Everest, located at an elevation of approximately 7,906 meters (25,938 feet). This has resulted in glacier thinning occurring up to 80 times faster than the original ice formation. However, due to their disposition in a complex topographic setting and inaccessible terrain, continuous glacier observations pose significant challenges.

This study evaluated the mass balance of …

The Practical Adoption And Application Of Blockchain Technology Within The Beverage Industry, Alexander Adams Jr

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Abstract

The beverage industry is facing heightened scrutiny as the demand for transparency and accountability reaches new heights. In the age of information technology, companies must prioritize enhanced traceability to ensure product safety, comply with government regulations, maintain customer trust, and protect brand integrity. This thesis explores the potential of blockchain technology as a solution to these challenges, focusing on its ability to decentralize data, improve traceability, and expedite response times during safety recalls. The research provides an overview of the evolution of food safety regulations, beginning with the first establishment by Upland Sinclair, and examines current traceability practices and …

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Vidhya Lakshmi Jeevarathinam

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis requires an integrative approach that combines behavioral, biomedical, and computational methodologies for enhanced accuracy. This study introduces a comprehensive framework that employs machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques alongside linear regression to model relationships between behavioral traits, biomedical markers, and ASD likelihood. Behavioral inputs, such as social interaction patterns, repetitive behaviors, and communication characteristics, are analyzed using linear regression to identify significant predictors of ASD. Simultaneously, a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is trained on image datasets to detect visual cues, such as facial expressions, associated with ASD. Advanced techniques, including transfer learning and …

Clusteredlog: Optimizing Log Structures For Efficient Data Recovery And Integrity Management In Database Systems, Mariha Siddika Ahmad, Brajendra Panda

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

In modern database systems, efficient log management is crucial for ensuring data integrity and facilitating swift recovery from potential data corruption or system failures. Traditional log structures, which store operations sequentially as they occur, often lead to significant delays in accessing and recovering specific data objects due to their scattered nature across the log. ClusteredLog addresses the limitations of traditional logging methods by implementing a novel logical organization of log entries. Instead of simply storing operations sequentially, it groups related operations for each data item into clusters. As a result, ClusteredLog enables faster identification and recovery of damaged data items …

Basic Safety Message Generation Through A Video-Based Analytics For Potential Safety Application, Abyad Enan

All Theses

With the advancement of modern artificial intelligence techniques, computer vision can play a vital role in enhancing roadway safety by reducing the risk of imminent collisions. To do so, a vision-based safety application is required, where a roadside camera can monitor the roadway traffic and predict potential risks of crashes in real-time. If any risky situation or behavior is observed that may lead to a crash, then a safety application can send warnings to the vehicles at risk. For vision-based safety applications on a roadway section, it is important to accurately monitor each vehicle’s location, speed, acceleration, heading direction, etc. …

Prediction Of Dislocation Density During Casting Of 316 Stainless Steel Based Alloys As A Function Of Chromium And Nickel Composition, Abhishek Chitradurga Ranganath

All Theses

By the 1990s, computational methods were beginning to be used to study dislocation density in mental casting. Prior to that time research was based heavily on laboratory studies. This move was encouraged by the need to overcome limitations that experimental approaches had, including high costs and time-consuming processes, and needs of researchers to understand atomic-scale phenomena. Computational techniques allow complex materials to be simulated in cost effective way and can provide insight into behaviour that could never be determined through experimental methods alone.

This work utilized molecular dynamics (MD) simulations along with machine learning approaches to examine the dislocation density …

Hardware Applications Of High-Speed Fault Detection Algorithms, Daniel Zintsmaster

All Theses

The growing need for a sustainable electric energy infrastructure has driven research into control, protection, and optimization of power systems. A key challenge is that the changing grid must operate at increasingly higher speeds, but many current hardware devices cannot meet these demands. This thesis focuses on power system protection, aiming to design a hardware solution that can detect and isolate faults in microseconds, ensuring faster, more reliable grid operations. The first hardware developed was for a low-voltage direct current (LVdc) microgrid, which faces challenges due to a lack of protection schemes and novel speed requirements. This thesis presents protection …

Comparative Analysis Of Design-Build And Design-Bid-Build Project Delivery Methods Through Cost, Schedule And Quality Performance For Warehousing And Storage Facilities, Vijaya Ravi Prasanth Reddi

All Theses

Storage facilities are essential for e-commerce operations, providing inventory, distribution, and delivery space. As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of warehousing and storage businesses in the United States increased from 15,152 in 2010 to 21,287 in 2024, showing continuous growth over the decade. Given the recent surge, there is a need to understand the performance of these facilities better. This study aims to contrast the measure of quantitative performance of design-build (DB) versus traditional design-bid-build (DBB) project delivery methods (PDM) based on cost, schedule, and quality metrics for storage facilities. This research conducted a literature review to …

Application Of Lossy And Lossless Compression To Dicom Files, Yizhe Yang

All Theses

The Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standard is widely utilized for the management, storage, and transfer of medical images. However, the substantial file sizes associated with DICOM data present challenges in terms of storage and data transmission. Data reduction techniques help address these challenges by minimizing the size of the data while preserving its integrity. This thesis examines various compression methods aimed at reducing the size of DICOM files. We evaluate five lossless compressors and four lossy compressors on DICOM data to compare and assess their performance. Through an analysis of each compressor’s compression efficiency and resulting image …