Engineering Commons^™

Identification And Validation Of A Measurement Of Emergency Physician Workload During End Of Shift Patient Handoffs, Steven Foster

All Dissertations

Recent increases in emergency physician (EP) workload have been identified as contributors to increased EP burnout, increased staff attrition, decreased patient safety, and increased patient admission rates. Patient handoffs have been extensively researched as critical points in patient care, with existing research primarily focusing on communication errors and interventions designed to standardize handoff communication protocols.

While end of shift handoffs in hospital emergency departments (EDs) intuitively represent a transfer of patient caseload from an outgoing EP to an incoming EP, there is a fundamental lack of literature examining how such handoffs contribute to EP workload, and a similar lack of …

On The Structure, Energy, And Segregation Behavior Of Grain Boundaries In Metallic Systems, Yasir Mahmood

All Dissertations

Nearly all structural metallic systems are multi-component polycrystalline aggregates; their microstructures are composed of crystalline grains that are internally joined at grain boundaries (GBs). This thesis focuses on GB structure, energy, and chemistry, as these greatly influence many material properties and processes, including boundary dynamics during processing treatments or under operating conditions.

Using atomistic simulations, we examine the impact of metastable GB structures on solute segregation. A wide range of GB geometries and metastable structures are used in our study. The Al-Mg alloy is used because it is of interest for light weighting. The atomistic simulation results are used to …

Computer Vision Algorithms For Assessment Of Surgical Suturing Skill Using Hand And Needle Motion, Jianxin Gao

All Dissertations

Surgical suturing skill assessment is a crucial part of surgical education. Vascular surgery educators have developed a simulation-based examination called Fundamentals of Vascular Surgery, which includes a clock-face model for assessing open surgical suturing skills. The clock-face model, however, requires the valuable time of expert surgeons to determine examinees' skills. Moreover, expert surgeons have different judgments for appropriate sutures, which leads to inconsistent grading. These limitations motivate us to use sensors to measure examinees' needle motions and hand motions during the clock-face suturing exercises, and then use the measurements for objective suturing skill assessment.

To assess suturing skills based on …

Novel Meta-Materials Application For Pressure-Offloading Of Diabetic Foot Ulcers, Kyle Walker

All Dissertations

Diabetes and its associated complications have seen their prevalence sharply rise in the United States over the past few decades. In fact, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes has nearly doubled from 5.1% of the US population in 1988, to 9% in the most recent CDC report, which does not include the large percentage of the population with undiagnosed or prediabetes. Of this diabetic population, it is estimated that up to 34% will experience at least one foot ulcer during their lifetime. In worst case scenarios, these ulcers can become infected and eventually require amputation of a portion of, or the …

The Development Of A Novel Cartilage Analog Scaffold For Chondral Regeneration, Vishal Thomas

All Dissertations

Focal Chondral Defects (FCDs) are cartilage injuries that affect about 900,000 Americans every year. Left untreated, these may lead to osteoarthritis and eventually necessitate painful knee replacements. Current treatment options are limited in terms of durability, cost, and availability of grafts. Tissue engineering, using natural scaffolds, are a highly attractive alternative promising cost efficiency, abundance, and long-term benefits. However, their low mechanical strength and dense matrices are impediments that could lead to sub-optimal repair.

In this work, a natural biomaterial, the bovine nucleus pulposus (bNP), derived from intervertebral disc tissue, was identified as a candidate scaffold for cartilage regeneration. Mechanical …

Vision-Based Autonomy Stacks For Farm Tractors And Intelligent Spraying Systems In Orchards, Shengli Xu

All Dissertations

Autonomous tractors equipped with intelligent sprayers have become a pivotal aspect of smart farming (SF), marking a transformative shift in traditional agricultural practices and holding the potential to revolutionize the farming industry. With 2,453,620 fruit-bearing acres in the United States as of 2022, there is a pressing need for the implementation of autonomous systems for farm tractors and intelligent spraying systems in orchards. These advancements can significantly reduce labor costs, address labor shortages, and minimize spray loss. Furthermore, to enhance profitability and productivity, it is essential to develop low-cost yet effective vision-based autonomy systems that can operate efficiently across various …

Convex Approach To Data-Driven Optimal Control With Safety Constraints Using Linear Transfer Operator, Joseph Raphel Moyalan

All Dissertations

This thesis is concerned with the data-driven solution to the optimal control problem with safety constraints for a class of control-affine nonlinear systems. Designing optimal control satisfying safety constraints is a problem of interest in various applications, including robotics, power systems, transportation networks, and manufacturing. This problem is known to be non-convex. One of this thesis's main contributions is providing a convex formulation to this non-convex problem. The second main contribution is providing a data-driven framework for solving the control problem with safety constraints. The linear operator theoretic framework involving Perron-Frobenius and Koopman operators provides the convex formulation and associated …

Monitoring Vehicle Seat Occupancy Status And Tracking Human Passenger Activities Inside Vehicle Passenger Cabins, Rahul Prasanna Kumar

All Dissertations

An autonomous vehicle (AV) is a promising engineering innovation that can operate without a human driver. Nonetheless, to ensure passenger safety and comfort in the absence of human drivers, the vehicle must continuously monitor and predict how the cabin’s state will evolve in the immediate future. The two major factors influencing the cabin’s state are the occupancy statuses of vehicle seats and the activities of human passengers occupying them. Therefore, this dissertation presents a system employing a capacitance-sensing mat and a machine learning unit to monitor vehicle seat occupancy status and track passenger activities non-intrusively. While the mat integrates with …

Efficient And Secure Data Transmissions In Emerging Heterogeneous Wireless Networks, Sihan Yu

All Dissertations

The widespread deployment of wireless devices facilitates the Internet of everything, greatly enhancing communication efficiency and improving people’s daily experiences. The interconnectivity of wireless devices relies on wireless communication technologies. With the development of various emerging communication technologies, wireless networks have become increasingly vast and complex, giving rise to numerous new challenges such as efficiency and security concerns.

In wireless networks, different devices may utilize different communication protocols, resulting in heterogeneous wireless networks. Communication among heterogeneous devices is challenging, often leading to conflicts and low communication efficiency when utilizing limited communication resources (e.g., spectrum resources). Moreover, the coexistence of heterogeneous …

Mmwave Tx-Rx Self-Interference Suppression Through A High Impedance Surface Stacked Ebg, Adewale K. Oladeinde, Ehsan Aryafar, Branimir Pejcinovic

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper proposes a full-duplex (FD) antenna design with passive self-interference (SI) suppression for the 28 GHz mmWave band. The reduction in SI is achieved through the design of a novel configuration of stacked Electromagnetic Band Gap structures (EBGs), which create a high impedance path to travelling electromagnetic waves between the transmit and receive antenna elements. The EBG is composed of stacked patches on layers 1 and 2 of a four-layer stack-up configuration. We present the design, optimization, and prototyping of unit antenna elements, stacked EBGs, and integration of stacked EBGs with antenna elements. We also evaluate the design through …

Evaluation Of Roadway Reconfigurations In Louisville, Kentucky, William Staats, Adam Kirk

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In 2009, Louisville Metro Public Works undertook its first roadway reconfiguration project, converting a section of Eastern Parkway (US 60A) from a four-lane undivided road to a three-lane section with a two-way left-turn lane and one travel lane in each direction. Since this initial project, Louisville Metro Public Works and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) have completed 40 roadway reconfigurations to reduce the number of through lanes and reassign existing right-of-way to other roadway users. Additionally, the agencies have 25 more planned or proposed reconfiguration projects. This report documents the safety and operational performance of reconfigured roads. Across all projects, …

Integrating Building Information Modelling And Extended Reality In The Transportation Infrastructure Industry, Yosra El Maghraby, Shady Salem, Ahmed Alhady, Yasser Khodeir

Civil Engineering

No abstract provided.

Alabama Women Part 1 (Before 1900), Ashley S. Mcguire

Patent Coloring Books

Patent coloring book

Delineating Ground Subsidence And Flood Risk In Southeast Texas (Setx) Using Ps-Insar And Deep Learning, Arip Syaripudin Nur, Jinwoo An, Yong Je Kim

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

This study investigates ground subsidence and its impact on flood risk in Southeast Texas (SETX), a region particularly susceptible to inundation due to rising sea levels and subsidence. Understanding subsidence patterns is crucial for geotechnical risk management and ground-use planning. Employing Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PS-InSAR) with Sentinel-1 SAR data (2020-2023), the study delineates the spatiotemporal distribution of subsidence and its influence on flooding. PS-InSAR, wellsuited for urban areas, captures stable scatterers detected by SAR satellites, enabling detailed subsidence analysis. Time series analysis reveals subsidence evolution and its implications for flood risk management. Validation utilizes strategically placed GPS station data. Furthermore, …

A Hierarchical Framework For Interpretable, Safe, And Specialised Deep Reinforcement Learning, Ammar Abbas

Doctoral

Safety-critical systems, which are crucial for human safety and the environment, are difficult to control and operate. Traditional controllers need precise models of these complex systems, which is hard to develop. \acrfull{drl} offers a potential solution by learning from interactions rather than detailed models, but it faces limitations such as non-transparent decision-making and an expensive, unsafe learning process. Additionally, a key challenge in DRL is ensuring effective decision-making in rare situations.

This thesis proposes a novel approach called the \acrfull{prop_frame} that enables safe and reliable control of critical systems. SRLA combines probabilistic modelling with reinforcement learning to create an interpretable …

Design And Development Of Uio-67-Coated Pim-1-Based Composites And Demonstration Of Their Detoxification Performance, Sukanta K. Mondal, Peter O. Aina, Ali A. Rownaghi, Fateme Rezaei

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Polymer-supported MOF composites have emerged as versatile candidates for various separation and catalytic applications. In this study, we demonstrate design and development of UiO-67-coated Ce(OH)₄@PIM-1 composites via dip-coating, drop-casting, solid-phase coating, and supramolecular assembly, and assess their preparation-structure-performance relations. The catalytic performance of the composites was investigated through hydrolysis of dimethyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphate (DMNP), as a nerve agent simulant. The findings revealed that while dip-coating method was unable to achieve a thick and uniform coverage of the MOF layer on the Ce(OH)₄@PIM-1, the supramolecular assembly gave rise to 16 wt.% MOF loading and the composite prepared …

An Efficient Neutrosophic Approach For Evaluating Possible Industry 5.0 Enablers In Consumer Electronics: A Case Study, Mai Mohamed, Asmaa Elsayed, Bilal Arain, Jun Ye

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

With the use of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 5.0 represents a breakthrough move towards a sustainable and human-centered industrial future. Industry 5.0 endeavors to transform industries such as consumer electronics by emphasizing sustainability and collaboration, in contrast to its predecessors, who only concentrated on automation and efficiency. Along with improved manufacturing efficiency and product innovation, this change in the consumer electronics sector also redefines the human-machine interaction. This paper proposes a novel hybrid integrating model that combines the Entropy Weight Method (EWM), Best-Worst Method (BWM), and an acronym in Portuguese …

Review Of Fourth-Order Predictive Modeling And Illustrative Application To A Nuclear Reactor Benchmark. I. Typical High-Order Sensitivity And Uncertainty Analysis, Dan Gabriel Cacuci, Ruixian Fang

Faculty Publications

This work (in two parts) will review the recently developed predictive modeling methodology called “4th-BERRU-PM” and its applicability to nuclear energy systems as exemplified by an illustrative application to the Polyethylene-Reflected Plutonium (acronym: PERP) OECD/NEA reactor physics benchmark. The acronym 4th-BERRU-PM designates the “Fourth-Order Best-Estimate Results with Reduced Uncertainties Predictive Modeling” methodology, which uses the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) principle to incorporate fourth-order experimental and computational information, including fourth (and higher) order sensitivities of computed model responses to model parameters, while yielding best-estimate results with reduced uncertainties for the first fourth-order moments (mean values, covariance, skewness, and kurtosis) of the optimally …

Utilizing Bayesian Optimization In Technoeconomic Analyses For Integrated Energy Systems, Anthoney Griffith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Technoeconomic analysis is a key element in the study of integrated energy systems. The goal of this analysis is the sizing of technologies resulting in the best economic outcome for the system. The evaluation of this system involves sizing the components and simulating the resulting market to determine an outcome. This simulation incorporates multiple possible values of uncertain parameters like grid price and wind generation. This problem is currently approached with the gradient descent optimization method. An alternative approach, Bayesian optimization, sees success on simple problems of a similar nature to technoeconomic analyses. These results motivate applying Bayesian optimization as …

Dynamic Site Characterization For Los Alamos National Laboratory: Topographic Amplification Array Studies And Deep Shear Wave Velocity Profiling Using Masw And Mam Surface Wave Methods, Kyle S. Cannon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

An assessment of seismic hazard must be performed for any critical structures designed or built in seismically active regions, where critical structures are defined by ASCE as those that, if damaged excessively, could pose a threat to national security, the economy, or public health, safety, and welfare. This is done, in part, through a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) and incorporated site response analysis (SRA). One of the many pieces of information needed to perform a PSHA and an incorporated SRA is the shear wave velocity structure of the site. Additionally, if there are significant topographic features at the site …

Anomaly Detection On Wind Turbine Blades Using Aerial Imaging, Image Processing, And Deep Learning, Bridger Kohl Altice

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

In reaction to rising global temperatures and carbon dioxide emissions, many countries are looking to use energy sources other than fossil fuels. One such source of energy is wind energy, which can be harvested by wind turbines. By rotating at high speeds, the blades of these large turbines are able to convert wind energy to kinetic energy, which is then converted to electricity usable by the power grid. Traditional methods for inspecting these turbines for damages are expensive, unsafe, and susceptible to human error. These turbines are so tall and so large that inspectors run the risk of falling from …

Effect Of Nutrient And Temperature Conditions On The Production Of Microcystins From Cyanobacteria In Pineview Reservoir, Brent G. Jacobson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Cyanobacteria, sometimes known as harmful algae, are an aquatic bacteria capable of producing toxic compounds. Cyanobacteria are found worldwide in both saltwater and freshwater environments. Depending on the environment, toxic cyanobacteria species can outcompete other aquatic species, grow in large numbers, and produce these toxic compounds. Further understanding of what environmental conditions promote the production of these harmful bacteria and toxins is needed to protect and inform the public.

In order to understand why cyanobacteria produce toxins in certain environments, samples containing cyanobacteria were taken from a Pineview Reservoir, Utah, and cultured at the Utah State Water Research Laboratory. Cyanobacteria …

Thermal Management Of Roadway-Embedded Power Electronics For Electric Vehicle Dynamic Wireless Charging Systems, Conner R. Sabin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity worldwide. However, concerns raised by the public about purchasing EVs include the limited availability of charging infrastructure, high costs, and the inconvenience of current charging methods. Dynamic wireless charging systems enable electric vehicles to charge while driving, thereby extending the range of EVs and reducing the necessity for large, expensive batteries. Moreover, these systems can initiate charging automatically without user interaction, enhancing charging convenience.

The ground assembly of existing dynamic wireless charging systems consists of an electromagnetic assembly, power electronics for the transmitter pad, and power electronics for grid connection. Installation of these systems …

Crowdstrike Cyber Incident Vs. Past Major Cyber Incidents: Analysis And Solutions, Priyant Banerjee

Himalayan Research Papers Archive

On July 19, 2024, a technical malfunction in CrowdStrike’s Falcon sensor software led to a global ITdisruption, affecting millions of devices across multiple sectors. This incident, although not a direct cyber-attack, caused significant operational upheavals reminiscent of major past cyber incidents. This paperexplores the CrowdStrike incident in detail, compares it with previous major cyber events, and proposescomprehensive solutions to mitigate such risks in the future.The faulty update from CrowdStrike resulted in widespread system crashes, notably the "Blue Screen ofDeath," paralyzing operations in critical sectors such as healthcare, finance, and transportation. The paperexamines the immediate and cascading effects of the incident, …

Penetration Thresholds Of Porcine Limbs For Low Sectional Density Projectiles In High-Rate Impact, Joseph Lesueur, Jared Michael Koser, Carolyn E. Hampton, Michael Kleinberger, Frank A. Pintar

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction

With similar prevalence to injuries from fires, stings, and natural disasters, soft tissue injuries may occur from fireworks, industrial accidents, or other explosives. Surgeons are less familiar with treating high-velocity penetration from small debris, which may increase the chance of infection and subsequent fatality. Penetration risk curves have been developed to predict V₅₀, the velocity with 50% probability of penetration, for various sized projectiles. However, there has been limited research using nonmetallic materials to achieve lower density projectiles less than 1 g cm−2, such as sand or rocks.

Material and Methods

To emulate the size and density …

Mitochondrial Function In Lungs Of Rats With Different Susceptibilities To Hyperoxia-Induced Acute Lung Injury, Pardis Taheri, Devanshi D. Dave, Ranjan K. Dash, Guru P. Sharma, Anne V. Clough, Elizabeth R. Jacobs, Said H. Audi

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Adult rats exposed to hyperoxia (>95% O₂) die from respiratory failure in 60–72 h. However, rats preconditioned with >95% O₂ for 48 h followed by 24 h in room air acquire tolerance of hyperoxia (H-T), whereas rats preconditioned with 60% O₂ for 7 days become more susceptible (H-S). Our objective was to evaluate lung tissue mitochondrial bioenergetics in H-T and H-S rats. Bioenergetics was assessed in mitochondria isolated from lung tissue of H-T, H-S, and control rats. Expressions of complexes involved in oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) were measured in lung tissue homogenate. Pulmonary endothelial filtration coefficient …

A Study Of Commuting Conditions For Construction Professionals In The San Francisco Bay Area, Ethan John Argue

Construction Management

This paper investigates the commuting experiences of workers in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a focus on construction industry professionals. Numerous scientific studies and reports have been done regarding both traffic congestion in the Bay Area and commuting conditions for construction workers. By comparing points of information on Bay Area workers like their job type, commute length and commute satisfaction, this study aims to uncover correlations and understand who is affected the most by traffic congestion. After extensive surveys and interviews of Bay Area workers, average commute times were calculated and reported for several industry subsets, along with averages …

Moving Towards The Electrification Of Medium- And Heavy-Duty Vehicles In The Inland Empire, Kimberly Collins, Raffi Der Wartanian, Francisca Beer, Yunfei Hou

Mineta Transportation Institute

This report investigates the transition to zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MDHD) within California’s Inland Empire (IE), emphasizing the significance of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and opportunity charging strategies in facilitating sustainable transportation. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach that combines a systematic literature review, geospatial and big data analytics, and thematic analysis of expert interviews, the study explores the multifaceted challenges and opportunities of electrification. The literature review assesses policies at various governance levels, while geospatial analysis identifies regional traffic patterns and infrastructure needs. Big data analytics examine vehicle movements, complemented by insights from interviews with 16 regional experts, offering a …

Integration Of Matlab And Machine Learning To Accelerate Evaluation Of Biological Activity In Agricultural Soils And Promote Soil Health Improvement Goals, Andrew Stiven Ortiz Balsero

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Traditionally, assessments of soil biological activity have been confined to laboratory settings, creating a disconnect with practical in-field methods. To bridge this gap, cotton fabric degradation has been used to illustrate soil microbial activity under different management practices. While effective, these demonstrations are subjective and labor-intensive.

Researchers have explored using image processing software like ImageJ and Adobe Photoshop to streamline this process. Although these tools accurately quantified fabric degradation under varying soil conditions, the methods remained labor-intensive and complex. Consequently, these methods were still not ideal for on-farm use by agricultural practitioners.

To further address labor and complexity limitations, the …

Development Of An Egg-Specific Mass Spectrometry Targeted Method For Processed Food Matrices, Liyun Zhang

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Egg is a major food allergen in the United States, causing symptoms from mild reactions to severe anaphylaxis. An egg-free diet remains the only management approach for egg allergy. Therefore, individuals and families living with egg allergies rely heavily on allergen statements on packaged food products for informed food choices. Currently, no labeling regulations exist for unintentionally introduced allergens, posing risks to consumers with egg allergies. Therefore, it is critical to have an accurate and reliable detection method in allergen control and management to determine the concentration of total protein from allergenic food sources. Traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays are routinely …