Engineering Commons^™

If Androids Dream, Are They More Than Sheep?: Westworld, Robots And Legal Rights, Amanda J. Dipaolo

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

The robot protagonists in HBO’s Westworld open the door to several philosophical and ethical questions, perhaps the most complex being: should androids be granted similar legal protections as people? Westworld offers its own exploration of what it means to be a person and places emphasis on one’s ability to feel and understand pain. With scientists and corporations actively working toward a future that includes robots that can display emotion in a way that can convincingly pass as that of a person’s, what happens when androids pass the Turing test, feel empathy, gain consciousness, are sentient, or develop free will? The …

Sensitivity Of Wavelet-Based Optical Flow Velocimetry (Wofv) To Common Experimental Error Sources, Bryan E. Schmidt, Gauresh Raj Jassal

Faculty Scholarship

The influence of several potential error sources and non-ideal experimental effects on the accuracy of a wavelet-based optical flow velocimetry (wOFV) method when applied to tracer particle images is evaluated using data from a series of synthetic flows. Out-of-plane particle displacements, severe image noise, laser sheet thickness reduction, and image intensity non-uniformity are shown to decrease the accuracy of wOFV in a similar manner to correlation-based particle image velocimetry (PIV). For the error sources tested, wOFV displays a similar or slightly increased sensitivity compared to PIV, but the wOFV results are still more accurate than PIV when the magnitude of …

Biodegradable Polymeric Microspheres For Magnetically Guided Drug Delivery To Tumors, Tyler Payson Green

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the feasibility of utilizing biodegradable polymeric microspheres loaded with the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) to magnetically deliver the cancer therapeutic 5FU to a target tumor in the human body. The primary method of material loading consisted of a w/o/w double emulsion mechanism which 1) loads and protects 5FU in the inner water phase consisting of distilled water and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), 2) dispersed SPIONs in the biodegradable polymeric organic phase consisting of methylene chloride (MeCl2) for eventual magnetic transport, and 3) suspended these w/o emulsion droplets in an outer aqueous phase …

Trisc: Low-Cost Design Of Trigonometric Functions With Quasi Stochastic Computing, Mehran Shoushtari Moghadam, M. Hassan Najafi

Faculty Scholarship

Low-cost and hardware-efficient design of trigonometric functions is challenging. Stochastic computing (SC), an emerging computing model processing random bit-streams, offers promising solutions for this problem. The existing implementations, however, often overlook the importance of the data converters necessary to generate the needed bit-streams. While recent advancements in SC bit-stream generators focus on basic arithmetic operations such as multiplication and addition, energy-efficient SC design of non-linear functions demands attention to both the computation circuit and the bit-stream generator. This work introduces TriSC, a novel approach for SC-based design of trigonometric functions enjoying state-of-the-art (SOTA) quasi-random bit-streams. Unlike SOTA SC designs of …

Boosting The Power Performance Of Microbial Fuel Cells By Using Dual Nanomaterial-Modified Carbon Felt Electrodes, Krishna Thapa, Wenyan Liu, Yuwei Zhang, David J. Westenberg, Yishu Zhou, Risheng Wang

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Innovative design enhancements to microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are pivotal for improving their viability as renewable energy sources. This study introduces a dual approach to electrode modification, integrating polyaniline (PANI) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on carbon felt (CF) anodes coupled with a unique cathode composed of DNA origami and chitosan. The synergistic effect of PANI and AuNPs significantly increases the hydrophilicity and conductivity of the anode, leading to a considerable surge in power density. Concurrently, the biocompatible DNA origami and chitosan-functionalized cathode facilitates efficient electron transfer without relying on conventional catalysts. Together, these modifications yield a 52.42% increase in the …

Deterministic Transport Of Coupled Energetic Light-Ions And Neutrons With Application To Inertial Confinement Fusion, Kyle Beling

Nuclear Engineering ETDs

Numerical simulations of an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) target during the implosion process require high fidelity models of the radiation transport process. This work is interested in the transport of high-energy light-ions and neutrons in a background ICF plasma. As these energetic particles slow down, they experience knock-on (recoil) and thermonuclear (TN) collisions with the light-ions in the background plasma. These recoil and TN collisions excite the background light-ions causing them to transport through the plasma further exciting background light-ions. Mathematically, this cascading effect is described as a system of linear Boltzmann transport equations coupled through recoil and TN collision …

Ignis: A One-Dimensional Laminar Flame Code, Jansen P. Berryhill, Jacob K. Spinti, David O. Lignell

Faculty Publications

Laminar flame codes have an important role in combustion modeling. They can provide a fundamental understanding of flame dynamics and provide a basis for building subgrid scale models in turbulent flow simulations. This paper presents Ignis, an open-source laminar flame code with the capability to offload submodels, like soot formation and radiation, using external packages and libraries. Ignis is written in C++, is documented with Doxygen, and is available on GitHub. It contains three different flame formulations: diffusion flames, premixed flames, and laminar flamelets solved in the mixture fraction coordinate. An option to facilitate creation of a diffusion flame table …

A Distributed Secure System For Threads Detection In Crowded Environments Based On Biometric Facial Expression, Nourhan Zayed, Hassan I. Sayed, Ghada F. El-Kabbany

Mechanical Engineering

Ensuring security in crowded areas poses a significant problem due to the dense population and the intricate task of monitoring their behaviors. This research presents a real-time security system that utilizes facial expression analysis to identify potential threats. The technology utilizes sophisticated facial recognition and emotion detection techniques to accurately recognize emotions such as wrath, fear, and anxiety. These feelings can serve as indicators of suspicious activities or potential security risks. The system utilizes a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to classify facial expressions and recognize objects. In addition, it integrates an SVM classifier trained on features derived from the combined …

A Comparative Analysis Of Optimizing Classification Techniques On Fruits Images Dataset, Ghada F. Elkabbany, Youssef G. Fouad, Kerollos W. Youssef, Jannah A. Amir, Nourhan Zayed

Mechanical Engineering

Data mining; known as data dredging or data archeology; provides several techniques to extract new and interpretable information from existing datasets. This work presents a comparison of the performance of various classification techniques, specifically Support Vector Machine (SVM), Radial Basis Function (RBF), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and decision trees, using images of fruits. An open-source dataset called fruits360 is used focusing on three specific fruits: pineapple, cocos, and avocado. This selection allows testing the classification techniques in different ways, as pineapples and cocos are similar in color, while cocos and avocados resemble each other in shape due to their oval-like geometry. …

Nature Inspired Optimization For Spectrum Sensing And Allocation In Cognitive Radio Networks, Saravanan R

Theses and Dissertations

Cognitive radio (CR) refers to intelligent radio technology that scans its environment to optimize spectrum use and adjusts its parameters accordingly. It employs a communication system that is aware of its surroundings, including spectrum usage and availability. A key aspect of CR is identifying idle channels by analyzing traffic patterns using effective learning strategies.

However, CRNs face challenges such as cross-layer design issues, spectrum sensing errors, hidden node problems, and complex spectrum management. Spectrum sensing is critical for accessing unused radio spectrum while minimizing interference. Efficient sensing techniques must be cost-effective, fast, and capable of detecting weak primary signals. Although …

Biofabrication Of Tissue Constructs Using Protein-In-Polysaccharide Bioinks For Muscle Regeneration, Harshavardhan B

Theses and Dissertations

Myocardial infarction (MI) and volumetric muscle loss (VML) are debilitating conditions that severely affect patient quality of life and challenge healthcare systems, particularly in diagnosis and treatment. Conventional therapies often result in long recovery periods with limited functional restoration. Advances in regenerative medicine, especially extrusion-based 3D bioprinting, offer promising potential to improve the regeneration of complex tissues by precisely depositing cells and biomaterials layer-by-layer to create tailored tissue constructs.

A critical challenge in muscle tissue regeneration is developing protein-polysaccharide bioinks that closely mimic the native muscle tissue microenvironment. In this study, two protein-inpolysaccharide bioinks (alginate-fibrinogen and methylcellulose-gelatin-alginate) were developed to …

A Study Of Fit And Friction Force As A Function Of The Printing Process For Fff 3d-Printed Piston–Cylinder Assembly, Philippe A. Passeraub, Quentin Allen, Elizabeth Clark, Michael Miles, Siddartha Berns, Maija Pearson, Sterling Allred, Jonah Brooks, Sylvain Hugon

ScholarsArchive Data

Dataset DOI: https://doi.org/10.26067/hjm6-3d45

The shared data comprises the experimental measurements performed presented in the figures 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, and in the tables for the following article:

Passeraub, P.A.; Allen, Q.; Clark, E.; Miles, M.; Berns, S.; Pearson, M.; Allred, S.; Brooks, J.; Hugon, S. A Study of Fit and Friction Force as a Function of the Printing Process for FFF 3D-Printed Piston–Cylinder Assembly. J. Manuf. Mater. Process. 2024, 8, 249. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp8060249

Ai-Enabled Methodological Frameworks To Enhance The Robustness Of Machine Learning Models In Various Domains And Dynamic Environments, Mohammad Noroozi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores novel approaches to address complex challenges in various domains, focusing on ensuring that machine learning (ML) models can reliably detect both the data they are trained on and unseen data. Reliable detection of unfamiliar inputs is critical for deploying models in real-world applications, where performance can degrade when faced with novel or unexpected information. Each domain addressed in this work introduces a set of contributions aimed at enhancing model performance, broadening generalization through diverse training data, and improving robustness against adversarial attacks. Three sets of contributions are presented, each encapsulated in a chapter.

One of the contributions …

Experimental Investigation Of An Additively Manufactured Cold Plate For Multi-Chip Module Cooling Generated Using The Homogenization Approach To Topology Optimization, Serdar Ozguc, Peter Dionne, Mattias Thorsell, Martin Blennius, Torbjörn Nilsson, Liang Pan, Justin A. Weibel

CTRC Research Publications

The homogenization approach to topology optimization is promising for generating high-performance, liquid-cooled cold plates due to its ability to create sub-resolution features by optimizing the spatial distribution and porosities of physical microstructures. This optimization capability has been demonstrated for the design of compact microchannel heat sinks under uniform heating conditions. However, there is a need to understand its applicability for practical applications involving complex boundary conditions posed by modern electronics packaging requirements. This work performs the topology optimization, design for manufacturing, fabrication, and experimental testing of a liquid-cooled cold plate for an application-representative multi-chip module with eight devices. The cold …

Physical Layer Entropy Analysis For Physical Unclonable Functions, Jenilee Jao

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Process variations within Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) provide a rich source of entropy, making them well-suited for the implementation of Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs). This dissertation presents three studies on FPGA-based PUFs. First, we explore a ring-oscillator (RO) PUF that leverages localized entropy from individual look-up table (LUT) primitives, analyzing design bias. Next, we investigate delay variations that occur through the routing network and switch matrices of FPGAs using a feature of Xilinx called dynamic partial reconfiguration (DPR). Finally, we evaluate entropy across FPGAs from Xilinx, Altera, and Microsemi using the Shift-Register Reconvergent-Fanout (SiRF) PUF architecture to compare path …

Quantifying Chemomechanical Weakening In Muscovite Mica With A Simple Micromechanical Model, Jordan J. Sickle, William M. Mook, Frank W. Delrio, Anastasia G. Ilgen, Wendelin Wright, Karin A. Dahmen

Faculty Journal Articles

In response to gradual nanoindentation, the surface of muscovite mica deforms by sudden stochastic nanometer-scale displacement bursts. Here, the statistics of these displacement events are interpreted using a statistical model previously used to model earthquakes to understand how chemically reactive environments alter the surface properties of this material. We show that the statistics of nanoindentation displacement bursts in muscovite mica are tuned by chemomechanical weakening in a manner similar to how the statistics of model events are tuned by a mechanical weakening parameter that describes how easily system-spanning cracks can be nucleated. Because the predictions of this model are independent …

Single-Molecule Profiling Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances By Cyclodextrin Mediated Host-Guest Interactions Within A Biological Nanopore, Xiaojun Wei, Aditya Choudhary, Leon Y. Wang, Lixing Yang, Mark J. Uline, Mario Tagliazucchi, Qian Wang, Dmitry Bedrov, Chang Liu

Faculty Publications

Biological nanopores are increasingly used in molecular sensing due to their single-molecule sensitivity. The detection of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) like perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid is critical due to their environmental prevalence and toxicity. Here, we investigate selective interactions between PFAS and four cyclodextrin (CD) variants (α-, β-, γ-, and 2-hydroxypropyl-γ-CD) within an α-hemolysin nanopore. We demonstrate that PFAS molecules can be electrochemically sensed by interacting with a γ-CD in a nanopore. Using HP-γ-CDs with increased steric resistance, we can identify homologs of the perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid and the perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid families and detect common PFAS …

A Probabilistic Kp And Hp Driven Auroral Boundary Model Using 28 Years Of Dmsp Data, Riley N. Troyer, Russell Landry, Michael David, Vincent Eccles, Adrian E. Acosta

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

This paper uses energy flux data from the DMSP F6 thru F19 satellites to construct a new equatorward auroral boundary model. This method of processing the data allows one to easily extend boundary detections to different instrument generations because it is based on a standard deviation value instead of hard thresholds. Using this method, the paper provides statistics from just under 1 million auroral boundaries between 1986 and 2014. These statistics are based on normal distribution fits for each Kp/Hp and MLT bin, which allows one to specify the boundary for an arbitrary distribution percentile. The paper compares …

Digital Health Intervention For Children With Adhd To Improve Mental Health Intervention, Patient Experiences, And Outcomes: A Study Protocol, Nancy Herrera, Franceli L. Cibrian, Lucas M. Silva, Jesus Armando Beltran, Sabrina E. B. Schuck, Gillian R. Hayes, Kimberley D. Lakes

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent childhood psychiatric condition with profound public health, personal, and family consequences. ADHD requires comprehensive treatment; however, lack of communication and integration across multiple points of care is a substantial barrier to progress. Given the chronic and pervasive challenges associated with ADHD, innovative approaches are crucial. We developed the digital health intervention (DHI)—CoolTaCo [Cool Technology Assisting Co-regulation] to address these critical barriers. CoolTaCo uses Patient-Centered Digital Healthcare Technologies (PC-DHT) to promote co-regulation (child/parent), capture patient data, support efficient healthcare delivery, enhance patient engagement, and facilitate shared decision-making, thereby improving access to …

Integrating Gis And Ca-Markov Model To Study Urban Dynamics Of Salem, India In Terms Of Pattern, Intensity And Direction, Linda Theres B

Theses and Dissertations

Urban populations have grown substantially in the modern era and the information age as people seek better living prospects. Currently, more than half of the world's population resides in the cities. Such growth must be monitored to ensure that people enjoy the boons of urban spaces, not the banes. Recognising the significance of urban studies, several researchers have attempted to analyse and predict urban dynamics using remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems, and machine learning methods. However, certain limitations exist, especially in improving the CAMarkov model's prediction performance. In addition, studies have suggested that growth characteristics, such as pattern, intensity, and …

Advancing Drug Discovery And Disease Understanding Through Knowledge Graphs And Machine Learning Techniques, Swastika Tenkila Purushotham

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

This thesis investigates knowledge graphs with particular reference to the NIH-funded Common Fund Data Ecosystem Data Distillery project. By combining data from nine Common Fund projects and other sources, this project has created a large knowledge graph using Neo4j. To find new and undiscovered drug targets, UNM’s Illuminating the Druggable Genome (IDG) Data Coordinating Center has supplied data and use cases. Condensed Knowledge Graph, a condensed version that is based on the Data Distillery Knowledge Graph, improves usability for IDG applications. Condensed Knowledge Graph research endeavors to enhance data organization through the categorization of disease terms, examination of Cerebellar Stroke …

Reducing Carbon Footprint In Ai: A Framework For Sustainable Training Of Large Language Models, Sunbal Iftikhar, Steven Davy

Conference papers

In the world of artificial intelligence (AI), large language models (LLMs) are leading the way, transforming how people understand and use language. These models have significantly impacted various domains, from natural language processing (NLP) to content generation, sparking a wave of innovation and exploration. However, this rapid progress brings to light the environmental implications of LLMs, particularly the significant energy consumption and carbon emissions during their training and operational phases. This requires a shift towards more energy-efficient practices in training and deploying LLMs, balancing AI innovation with environmental responsibility. This paper emphasizes the need for improving the energy efficiency of …

Active Grid Turbulence Anomalies Through The Lens Of Physics Informed Neural Networks, Sofía Angriman, Sarah E. Smith, Patricio Clark Di Leoni, Pablo J. Cobelli, Pablo D. Mininni, Martín Obligado

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Active grids operated with random protocols are a standard way to generate large Reynolds number turbulence in wind and water tunnels. But anomalies in the decay and third-order scaling of active-grid turbulence have been reported. We combine Laser Doppler Velocimetry and hot-wire anemometry measurements in a wind tunnel, with machine learning techniques and numerical simulations, to gain further understanding on the reasons behind these anomalies. Numerical simulations that incorporate the statistical anomalies observed in the experimental velocity field near the active grid can reproduce the experimental anomalies observed later in the decay. The results indicate that anomalies in experiments near …

Rad-Quasi-Prime Submodules, Rana Noorimajeed, Ghaleb Ahmed Hammood, Mahmood S. Fiadh, Lemya Abd Alameer Hadi

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Consider a left J-module I. The present study introduces the conception of rad-Quasi- Prime submodule, that serves as a dual popularization of both Quasi-Prime submodules and primary submodules. An apposite submodule A of an J-module named as rad- Quasi Prime if for all and with implies that either or . Numerous facts and characterizations that concerning are acquired.

Synthetic Network Creation And Visualization, Kaylee Sloat, Jeremy Evert

Student Research

The code in the repository, “synthetic_network_creation_and_visualization” is inspired by the foundational work presented in "NetProbe: A Fast and Scalable System for Fraud Detection in Online Auction Networks" by Shashank Pandit, Duen Horng Chau, Samuel Wang, and Christos Faloutsos.

Link to the original paper:https://kilthub.cmu.edu...

Impaired Speech Recognition Of Neurological Disorder Persons Using Machine Learning And Deep Learning Techniques, Vishnika Veni S

Theses and Dissertations

Speech Assistive Tools have emerged in recent years to support individuals with cognitive and neurological disorders in the field of assistive technology. People affected by neurological disorders such as autism, stroke, cerebral palsy, dysarthria, Parkinson’s disease, and brain injury often find it difficult to articulate desired sounds, resulting in impaired speech. As the population of impaired speakers continues to increase every year, there is a strong need to develop intelligent speech recognition systems for affected individuals. The primary objective of this research is to develop an Impaired Speech Recognition (ISR) system for the Tamil language. Word Recognition Accuracy (WRA) is …

11.04.2024 Orsp Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Small Grant Program for Faculty

Mid-South REACH Product Dev Grant

NSF Virtual Grants Conference

Evaluation Of Green Supercapacitor For Low Pass Rc Filter Implementation, Ramakrishna Kanneganti

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The need for use of sustainable and eco-friendly methods and processes in electronics is the need of the hour. The demand for electronics is growing by the day, consequently the use of passive components such as capacitors, resistors, and inductors is ever growing. It is desirable to manufacture and utilize passive components that are easily disposable and are biodegradable. Our research focuses on evaluating PolyMaterials APP’s supercapacitor in RC filter circuits replacing the conventional capacitor. The evaluated supercapacitor is biodegradable and does not use any heavy or contaminating metals. In this work, we have successfully evaluated various green supercapacitor component …

Theoretical And Numerical Investigation Of An Ultra-Broadband Near-Perfect Absorption In Auxetic Metamaterials, Md. Rezwan Ahmed, Oishi Jyoti,, Ferdous Farjana, Pritu P. Sarkar, Alok Kumar Paul, Md. Samiul Habib

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

In this paper, we present and numerically investigate an auxetic metamaterial absorber based on vanadium dioxide (VO2), achieving more than 90% absorption of the incident terahertz (THz) waves between 4.15 THz to 8.43 THz with an average absorption of 98.4%. To our knowledge, the absorption bandwidth is higher than previously reported VO2-based absorbers. The proposed absorber contains two VO2 based resonator rings placed diagonally at the top of the dielectric substrate in such a way as to create an auxetic shape and provide more design space than the existing absorbers. Considering the vector nature of electromagnetic fields in three-dimensional space, …

A Novel Maximum Likelihood Based Probabilistic Behavioral Data Fusion Algorithm For Modeling Residential Energy Consumption, Tanmoy Bhowmik, Naveen Chandra Iraganaboina, Naveen Eluru

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The current research effort is focused on improving the effective use of the multiple disparate sources of data available by proposing a novel maximum likelihood based probabilistic data fusion approach for modeling residential energy consumption. To demonstrate our data fusion algorithm, we consider energy usage by fuel type variables (for electricity and natural gas) in residential dwellings as our dependent variable of interest, drawn from residential energy consumption survey (RECS) data. The national household travel survey (NHTS) dataset was considered to incorporate additional variables that are not available in the RECS data. With a focus on improving the model for …