Engineering Commons^™

Optical Investigation Of A Low-Pressure Plasma In A Superconducting Radio-Frequency Cavity, Zachary A. Caudell

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The state-of-the-art cryomodules for particle accelerators use superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities. It is known that accumulation of hydrocarbon impurities reduces the cavity surface work function, decreasing cryomodule performance metrics such as field emission, thermal stability, and accelerating gradients. An in-situ method of plasma processing has recently been developed to clean the cavities and restore cryomodule performance [1]. This study is to understand the properties of the low-pressure plasmas generated in a C100 SRF cavity and ultimately to improve the performance of plasma surface cleaning using optical emission spectroscopy. Using a 500 mm focal length Czerny-Turner monochromator coupled with a photomultiplier …

Production Box Cost Estimating Relationships For Dod Avionics, Carla J. Cisneros, Edward D. White, Brandon M. Lucas, Jonathan D. Ritschel, Robert D. Fass, Shawn M. Valentine

Faculty Publications

The authors use historical information obtained from the Cost Assessment Data Enterprise to estimate recurring production unit cost for DoD avionics via cost estimating relationships (CERs). The specific modeled responses include mean unit cost, median unit cost, and the 100th production unit cost (T100) utilizing learning curve theory. For T100, the authors adopt both a multiplicative and an additive error for CER comparison. Recommended CERs consist of the mean unit cost and the T100 utilizing a multiplicative error. Moreover, results reveal that weight has a significant effect on cost as well as a potential underaccounting of real price change or …

Talar And Calcaneal Coordinate Axes Definitions Across Foot Pathologies, Kassidy Knutson, Erika P. Muhlrad, Andrew C. Peterson, Thomas Leonard, Abigail M. Anderson, Katelyn C. Aragon, Zachary J. Eatough, Bruce A. Macwilliams, Karen M. Kruger, Amy L. Lenz

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The understanding of foot and ankle biomechanics is improving as new technology provides more detailed information about the motion of foot and ankle bones with biplane fluoroscopy, as well as the ability to analyze the hindfoot under weightbearing conditions with weightbearing computed tomography. Three-dimensional anatomical coordinate systems are necessary to describe the 3D alignment and kinematics of the foot and ankle. The lack of standard coordinate systems across research study sites can significantly alter experimental data analyses used for pre-surgical evaluation and post-operative outcome assessments. Clinical treatment paradigms are changing based on the expanding knowledge of complex pes planovalgus morphologies …

Phenotypes Of Velopharyngeal Tube Law In Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Devesh Kumar, B. Tucker Woodson, Guilherme J.M. Garcia

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

The biomechanics of upper airway collapse in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains poorly understood. The goal of this study is to compare the area-pressure relationship (tube law) of the velopharynx at peak inspiration and peak expiration.

Study Design

Cross-sectional.

Setting

Academic tertiary medical center.

Methods

The velopharyngeal tube law was quantified in a convenience sample of 20 OSA patients via step reductions in nasal mask pressure during drug induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). The velopharyngeal airspace cross-sectional area was estimated from endoscopy while luminal pressure was recorded with a catheter. The tube law was quantified for nasal mask pressures from …

Morphology Of The Normative Human Cone Photoreceptor Mosaic And A Publicly Available Adaptive Optics Montage Repository, Robert F. Cooper, Snega Kalaparambath, Geoffrey K. Aguirre, Jessica I. W. Morgan

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Adaptive optics ophthalmoscopy has enabled visualization of the in vivo human photoreceptor mosaic in health, disease and its treatment. Despite this, the clinical utility of the imaging technology has been limited by a lack of automated analysis techniques capable of accurately quantifying photoreceptor structure and a lack of an available normative image database. Here, we present a fully automated algorithm for estimating cone spacing and density over a complete adaptive optics montage along with a database of normative images and cone densities. We imaged the cone mosaics surrounding the fovea and along the horizontal and vertical meridians of fifty normal-sighted …

A Sophisticated Model Of Human Atherosclerosis On A Chip, Brandon J. Tefft

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Lumbar Spine Orientation Affects Compressive Fracture Outcome, Rachel Cutlan, Muhammaed Khokhar, Nader Shammout, Alok Shah, Lance Frazer, Narayan Yoganandan, Barry S. Shender, James Sheehy, Glenn Paskoff, Daniel Nicolella, Timothy B. Bentley, Saman Shabani, Brian D. Stemper

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose

Understanding how spinal orientation affects injury outcome is essential to understand lumbar injury biomechanics associated with high-rate vertical loading.

Methods

Whole-column human lumbar spines (T12–L5) were dynamically loaded using a drop tower to simulate peak axial forces associated with high-speed aircraft ejections and helicopter crashes. Spines were allowed to maintain natural lordotic curvature for loading, resulting in a range of orientations. Pre-test X-rays were used to quantify specimen orientation at the time of loading. Primary fracture types were identified (wedge, n = 6; burst, n = 4; hyperextension, n = 4) and compared for loading parameters and lumbar orientation. …

Realtime And Noninvasive Assessment Of Endotracheal Tube Displacement Using Near-Infrared And Visible Cameras, Tongtong Lu, Pawjai Khampang, Ahmed Beydoun, Rebecca Rodhe, Wenzhou Hong, Joseph E. Kerschner, Bing Yu

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Endotracheal tube (ETT) intubation is a medical procedure routinely used for achieving mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients. Appropriate ETT placement is crucial as undetected tube migration may cause multiple complications or even fatalities. Therefore, prompt detection of unplanned movement of the ETT and immediate action to restore proper placement are essential to ensure patient safety. Despite this necessity, there is not a widely adopted tool for real-time assessment of ETT displacement. We have developed a device, a dual-camera endotracheal tube or DC-ETT, to address this unmet clinical need. This device uses a near-infrared (NIR) LED and a side-firing optical …

Intercellular Mitochondrial Transfer Contributes To Microenvironmental Fate Redirection Of Mammary Cancer Cells, Julie Sofie Bjerring

Biomedical Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The dynamic cellular microenvironment, made up of resident cells and various macromolecules, differs markedly across tissues in the body. The multidirectional signals that cells receive from this microenvironment, along with the signaling they send back, heavily influence their physiology and behavior. Recent important findings have further validated this notion as the mammary microenvironment has been shown to suppress tumor progression by redirecting cancer cells to adopt a normal mammary epithelial progenitor fate in vivo. However, the mechanism(s) driving changes in metabolic reprogramming and cancer fate redirection is understudied. The work presented in this dissertation focuses on exploring the impact of …

Real-Time Navigation System For Breast Cancer Surgery With Pre- And Intra-Operative Imaging Using Neural Networks, Motaz Alqaoud

Biomedical Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies in women worldwide, necessitating precise diagnosis and treatment. Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is the primary treatment for nonpalpable cases, yet current approaches often lack accuracy due to the absence of real-time 3D imaging during surgery. This limitation impairs surgeons’ ability to visualize tumor locations, compromising outcomes and potentially leading to repeat surgeries with higher risks, undesirable cosmetic results, increased costs, and, in some cases, mastectomy. Thus, there is a critical need for a navigation system to facilitate accurate tumor excision in nonpalpable breast cancer through real-time patient-specific 3D tracking.

This study …

Effects Of Low-Cycle Fatigue Fracture Of Longitudinal Reinforcing Steel Bars On The Seismic Performance Of Reinforced Concrete Bridge Piers, Yu-Fu Ko, Jessica Gonzalez

Mineta Transportation Institute

Earthquakes, which can cause tremendous local stress and strain on infrastructure, can cause reinforced concrete (RC) bridges to collapse due to the concrete cracking and fracture of the steel reinforcement rebars. The fracture of longitudinal reinforcing steel due to low-cycle fatigue is one of the main causes of failure in RC structures under earthquake loading. The purpose of this research is to include the effects of low-cycle fatigue fracture of longitudinal reinforcing steel bars on the seismic performance of reinforced concrete bridge piers. To obtain a greater understanding of low-cycle fatigue failure of steel reinforcement of RC bridge piers subjected …

Data Provenance Via Differential Auditing, Xin Mu, Ming Pang, Feida Zhu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

With the rising awareness of data assets, data governance, which is to understand where data comes from, how it is collected, and how it is used, has been assuming evergrowing importance. One critical component of data governance gaining increasing attention is auditing machine learning models to determine if specific data has been used for training. Existing auditing techniques, like shadow auditing methods, have shown feasibility under specific conditions such as having access to label information and knowledge of training protocols. However, these conditions are often not met in most real-world applications. In this paper, we introduce a practical framework for …

Final Report - Mixed Reality For Beyond Visual Line-Of-Sight Bridge Inspection Using Robot-Assisted Nondestructive Evaluation, Genda Chen, Joel Runji

Project IM-5

To improve data consistency, work efficiency, inspector safety, and cost effectiveness during routine inspections, drones have been increasingly used in recent years to support imaging and scanning over the surface of various elements in a bridge for surface condition assessment. Most drones are operated manually within a visual line of sight and unable to inspect river-crossing bridges completely since not all elements can be viewed by a drone operator using a binocular. Even for autonomous drones with collision-avoidance features, physical interaction with a bridge for nondestructive evaluation (NDE) is currently impossible in practice. An alternative solution with robot-assisted remote nondestructive …

Final Report - Probability Of Detection In Corrosion Monitoring With Fe-C Coated Lpfg Sensors, Genda Chen, Ying Zhou, Pengfei Ma

Project SN-8

This project aimed to develop and evaluate two statistical methods for determining the probability of detection (POD) in corrosion monitoring using Fe–C coated long-period fiber grating (LPFG) sensors. These methods, referred to as the Size-of-Damage-at-Detection (SODAD) method and the Random Parameter Model (RPM), addressed limitations in traditional POD models by considering the time dependency inherent in sensor data. The goal was to assess steel mass loss at 90% detection probability and establish the largest undetectable mass loss threshold at a 95% lower confidence bound. Both methods were assessed for computational efficiency, sensitivity to distribution assumptions, and robustness under varying model …

Final Report - Hyperspectral Imaging And Analysis For Steel Paint Condition Assessment, Hongyan Ma, Genda Chen, Pengfei Ma

Project SN-9

This project aimed to understand the durability of multiple coating settings that had been widely used in highway bridges. Coatings can prevent their substrate from being contacted by aggressive particles and thus corrosion to preserve structural components. However, the wide selection of coatings for steel girders or truss can greatly impact the serviceability of bridges. This project studied four types of top-coat materials (epoxy, Alkyd, acrylic, and polyurethane) and two types of under-coat materials (epoxy and acyclic). The coatings were configured as two-layer and three-layer systems to evaluate their difference in durability. The degradation process of the coatings was monitored …

Final Report - Robot-Assisted Underwater Acoustic Imaging For Bridge Scour Inspection, Genda Chen, Peter Ogunjinmi, Son Nguyen

Project AS-8

This report details the development and testing of an innovative robotic system for underwater mapping and bridge scour inspection, integrating a 3D sonar with a modified remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The system addresses limitations in traditional scour monitoring methods, such as safety concerns and poor visibility after flooding. The research approach included laboratory experiments, pool testing, and field trials at two bridge sites in Missouri, with procedures developed for both water surface and underwater deployments. The system effectively mapped underwater structures and scour conditions, especially in hard-to-reach areas, revealing critical scouring, exposed pier footings and debris accumulation. The water surface …

Final Report - An Interactive System For Training And Assisting Bridge Inspectors In Inspection Video Data Analytics, Genda Chen, Ruwen Qin, Mohammad Hossein Afsharmovahed, Kevin Lai, Ritesh Sharma

Project WD-4

This project aims to develop an interactive, web-based system to assist bridge inspectors in machine learning and video analytics for a rapid condition state assessment of bridge elements in accordance with the 2019 Manual for Bridge Element Inspection. Referred to BridgeNet, the system includes region-based convolutional neural network (RCNN) models for bridge element and defect segmentation and an inspection video analytic tool that is integrated into a unified graphical user interface (GUI). It provides users with an image-based testbed of modulated RCNN models. The BridgeNet has evolved in four phases: (1) backend and frontend framework setups, (2) Mask-RCNN-based bridge segmentation, …

Final Report - Bridge Inspection Robot Deployment Systems (Birds), Genda Chen, Son Nguyen, Alec Reven, Bo Shang

Project AS-4

This study aims to develop and evaluate Bridge Inspection Robot Deployment Systems (BIRDS) that support automated bridge inspection. BIRDS include uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), structural crawlers, and/or their combination. A particular type of the BIRDS, which is a hybrid flying and traversing system called BridgeBot, is designed to aid in the inspection of steel and concrete girder bridges. BridgeBot has evolved in four prototypes (I-IV) for improved structural, mechanical, electronic, and control systems over the past five years. The first two prototypes built in Phases I and II were tested in laboratory to understand the feasibility of hybrid flying and …

Design Of An Above Pavement Wireless Sensor Node (Apwsn) For Real-Time Roadway Monitoring Using Piezoelectric Energy-Harvesting, Jochy Jonathan Perez

Theses and Dissertations

The evolution of Smart Highway and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies offers new opportunities to improve the safety and efficiency of vehicular traffic on roads. This research effort describes the development of a wireless pavement sensor that provides a novel method to detect key pavement parameters while incorporating low-power energy harvesting that leverages the kinetic energy generated by vehicular traffic. The Above Pavement Wireless Sensor Node (APWSN) is the embodiment of the approach. APWSN can facilitate the strategic deployment of sensors on a wide variety of roads to enable real-time data collection to support decision-making processes for road infrastructure maintenance …

Boosting Predictive Accuracy Of Single Particle Models For Lithium-Ion Batteries Using Machine Learning, Emmanuel Olugbade, Jonghyun Park

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The accuracy of single particle (SP) models for lithium-ion batteries at high C-rates is constrained by lithium concentration gradients in the electrolyte, which affect ionic conductivity, overpotential, and reaction rates. This study addresses these limitations using extreme gradient boosting machine learning (ML). By training our ML model with data from a comprehensive electrochemical (P2D) model and performing sensitivity analysis on key battery parameters, we enhance predictive accuracy. Compared to conventional SP and P2D models under constant current loading, our ML-based SP model achieves similar predictive accuracy to P2D, with significant improvements in computational efficiency. Additionally, the ML-based SP model demonstrates …

A Novel Approach To Evaluate Seatbelt Non-Compliance Of Drivers In New Jersey, Md Arifuzzaman Nayeem

Theses and Dissertations

This study intends to investigate the non-compliant behavior of drivers with seatbelt use in New Jersey. By examining various factors such as temporal and roadway characteristics, this study seeks to identify the underlying causes of this seatbelt non-compliance behavior. To overcome the limitations of traditional methods like cross-sectional data collection, a novel approach known as moving vehicle method was employed. To gain further insights, hypothesis tests were performed across the entire dataset to pinpoint significant temporal, roadway, and geometric factors contributing to non-compliant behaviors. In the subsequent step, the association of other risky behaviors like speeding and distracted driving with …

Conversion Of Fish Waste Oil Into Biofuel: An Experimental Study, Mahmoud A. Mohamed, Hany A. Elazab, Mamdouh A. Gadalla, Fatma A. Ashour

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Egypt is famous for its fish wealth, given its large coasts and freshwater resources, especially of Nile Tilapia and Mugilid fish. It was estimated that domestic fish production increased from 889 thousand tonnes in 2005 to 1620 thousand tonnes in 2016. Thousands of tonnes of fish are consumed yearly, generating substantial amounts of fish waste and residues. Some 26% of the fish consumed is a typical waste. Fish wastes have a significant role in many processes and applications. They are used as feedstock for producing fish meals, a major by-product of fish waste oil. Fish oil is extracted for medical …

Atmospheric Waves Experiment (Awe) Advanced Mesopheric Temperature Mapper (Amtm) Optical System Design, Alignment, And Image Quality Verification, James Champagne, Roy Esplin, Tyrel Rupp, Greg Hopkins, Burt Lamborn, Erik Syrstad, Mike Holt, Matt Ralphs

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

The AWE AMTM is a wide field-of-view (WFOV) infrared imaging radiometer designed for use in measuring the P₁(2) and P₁(4) emission lines of the earths OH layer. From these measurements, the atmospheric temperature is determined and finally images of gravity waves will be produced as the AWE field of view transverses the OH layer. Designed, built, and characterized by Utah State University (USU) and its Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL), the sensor has been externally mounted to the International Space Station (ISS) looking nadir. Images will be collected and analyzed for a minimum of two years. The …

Self-Oxidation Of The Atmospheres Of Rocky Planets With Implications For The Origin Of Life, Anders Johansen, Eloi Camprubi, Elishevah Van Kooten, H. Jens Hoeijmakers

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Rocky planets may acquire a primordial atmosphere by the outgassing of volatiles from their magma ocean. The distribution of O between H2O, CO, and CO2 in chemical equilibrium subsequently changes significantly with decreasing temperature. We consider here two chemical models: one where CH4 and NH3 are assumed to be irrevocably destroyed by photolysis and second where these molecules persist. In the first case, we show that CO cannot coexist with H2O, since CO oxidizes at low temperatures to form CO2 and H2. In both cases, H escapes from the thermosphere within a few 10 million years by absorption of stellar …

Unveiling The Risks Of Speeding Behavior By Investigating The Dynamics Of Driver Injury Severity Through Advanced Analytics., Mouyid Islam, Parisa Hosseini, Anahita Kakhani, Mohammad Jalayer, Deep Patel

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Single-vehicle crashes, particularly those caused by speeding, result in a disproportionately high number of fatalities and serious injuries compared to other types of crashes involving passenger vehicles. This study aims to identify factors that contribute to driver injury severity in single-vehicle crashes using machine learning models and advanced econometric models, namely mixed logit with heterogeneity in means and variances. National Crash data from the Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS) managed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) between 2016 and 2018 were utilized for this study. XGBoost and Random Forest models were employed to identify the most influential variables …

Nanopore Signal Deviations From Pseudouridine Modifications In Rna Are Sequence-Specific: Quantification Requires Dedicated Synthetic Controls, Amr Makhamreh, Sepideh Tavakoli, Ali Fallahi, Xinqi Kang, Howard Gamper, Mohammad Nabizadehmashhadtoroghi, Miten Jain, Ya-Ming Hou, Sara H Rouhanifard, Meni Wanunu

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Chemical modifications to mRNA respond dynamically to environmental cues and are important modulators of gene expression. Nanopore direct RNA sequencing has been applied for assessing the presence of pseudouridine (ψ) modifications through basecalling errors and signal analysis. These approaches strongly depend on the sequence context around the modification, and the occupancies derived from these measurements are not quantitative. In this work, we combine direct RNA sequencing of synthetic RNAs bearing site-specific modifications and supervised machine learning models (ModQuant) to achieve near-analytical, site-specific ψ quantification. Our models demonstrate that the ionic current signal features important for accurate ψ classification are sequence …

Zhong-Qun Tian, Academician And Honorary Member Of Electrochemistry Committee Chinese Chemical Society, Achieved "Raman Lifetime Award", Editorial Office Of J.Electrochem.

Journal of Electrochemistry

No abstract provided.

2024 Tianmulake Advanced Anode Materials Innovation Forum And Sixth National Conference Of Advanced Battery Failure Analysis And Testing Technology Concluded Successfully, Editorial Office Of J.Electrochem.

Journal of Electrochemistry

No abstract provided.

Aging Characteristics Of Lithium-Ion Battery Under Fast Charging Based On Electrochemical-Thermal-Mechanical Coupling Model, Dong-Xu Zuo, Pei-Chao Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

The aging characteristics of lithium-ion battery (LIB) under fast charging is investigated based on an electrochemical-thermal-mechanical (ETM) coupling model. Firstly, the ETM coupling model is established by COMSOL Multiphysics. Subsequently, a long cycle test was conducted to explore the aging characteristics of LIB. Specifically, the effects of charging (C) rate and cycle number on battery aging are analyzed in terms of nonuniform distribution of solid electrolyte interface (SEI), SEI formation, thermal stability and stress characteristics. The results indicate that the increases in C rate and cycling led to an increase in the degree of nonuniform distribution of SEI, and thus …

Optimization Of Channel Structure Of Alkaline Water Electrolyzer By Using An Expanded Mesh As A Bipolar Plate, Hai-Yan Xiong, Zhen-Xiao Zhu, Xin Gao, Chen-Ming Fan, Hui-Bao Luan, Bing Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) is the most mature technology for hydrogen production by water electrolysis. Alkaline water electrolyzer consists of multiple electrolysis cells, and a single cell consists of a diaphragm, electrodes, bipolar plates and end plates, etc. The existing industrial bipolar plate channel is concave-convex structure, which is manufactured by complicated and high-cost mold punching. This structure still results in uneven electrolyte flow and low current density in the electrolytic cell, further increasing in energy consumption and cost of AWE. Thereby, in this article, the electrochemical and flow model is firstly constructed, based on the existing industrial concave and …