Engineering Commons^™

Effectiveness Of Clay Nanotube Blended Coating Materials For Thermal Insulation, Hawa Hashm

Doctoral Dissertations

Studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy reported that heating and cooling systems use nearly 60% of the total energy consumed in a building, while approximately 31% of that energy loss occurs through the improperly insulated floor, walls, and ceiling. Hot summers or severely cold weather can make these problems worse. The passing of conditioned air through these building materials is a substantial source of energy loss, which has driven significant investigation into new environmentally friendly, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions. The main objective of the research was to experimentally evaluate the thermal conductivity of paints blended with halloysite nanotubes …

Weatherford Stafford Airport Celebrates New Terminal, Weatherford Daily News

Articles

The City of Weatherford and Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission will host a special public celebration and ribbon cutting of the new Weatherford Stafford Airport Terminal.

Unless stated otherwise within this repository collection, all materials are shared under the following Creative Commons license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License].

Stafford Highlights - Famed Astronaut Returns For 40th Anniversary Of Apollo Mission, Weatherford Daily News

Articles

Above, Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford speaks during the anniversary event in Weatherford December 7, 2012, of Apollo 17.

At top right, Michael, Thomas and Stas Stafford are pictured with Cosmonaut Valery Kubasov during the 40th Anniversary of Apollo 17 December 7, 2012.

Unless stated otherwise within this repository collection, all materials are shared under the following Creative Commons license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License].

Astronaut Snoopy’S 50-Plus Year History With Nasa, Weatherford Daily News

Articles

"Unknown to many, Snoopy has been working with NASA since the late 1950s"

Unless stated otherwise within this repository collection, all materials are shared under the following Creative Commons license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License].

New Schools Personal For Project Manager, Weatherford Daily News

Articles

Gen. Thomas P. Stafford Elementary started construction in 2020, having a hand in building Stafford Elementary and East Intermediate was personal for Project Manager Shawn Bonner.

Unless stated otherwise within this repository collection, all materials are shared under the following Creative Commons license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License].

Lewis-Base Thioacetamide Assisted Crystallization Of Lead-Free Perovskite Solar Cells For Improved Efficiency, Raja Sekhar Bobba

Dissertations - ALL

High-efficiency perovskite solar cells that are also very cheap to produce have been rapidly developed in response to the growing global demand for electricity. However, the light absorber materials used in cutting-edge perovskite solar cells include lead, which has been linked to health risks for people and other living organisms. Accordingly, the developing front in photovoltaic research is the discovery and development of new lead-free perovskite materials for the future global commercialization of non-toxic, stable, and efficient perovskite solar cells, by replacing hazardous lead with non-toxic metal elements in the same group as lead in the periodic table, lead-free PSCs …

A Patient-Specific Algorithm For Lung Segmentation In Chest Radiographs, Manawaduge Supun De Silva, Barath Narayanan Narayanan, Russell C. Hardie

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Lung segmentation plays an important role in computer-aided detection and diagnosis using chest radiographs (CRs). Currently, the U-Net and DeepLabv3+ convolutional neural network architectures are widely used to perform CR lung segmentation. To boost performance, ensemble methods are often used, whereby probability map outputs from several networks operating on the same input image are averaged. However, not all networks perform adequately for any specific patient image, even if the average network performance is good. To address this, we present a novel multi-network ensemble method that employs a selector network. The selector network evaluates the segmentation outputs from several networks; on …

Biomass Characterization And Insulation Optimization Studies, Hussein Awad Kurdi Saad

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

This study indicates how biomass materials can be effectively used as naturally sustainable alternatives to insulation materials. Barley grains and oak leaves, straw, and jute are collected, and crushed into powders/ chopped pieces. The physical characteristics are measured to characterize each powder. The biomass powder reinforced composites are manufactured in varying weight ratios. The density and thermal conductivity of composite materials are measured. The properties of composites compared to those of commercial insulation materials are found to be close to them. Furthermore, genetic algorithms (GA) can be used to achieve multi-objective optimization entailing maximizing insulation (minimizing heat transfer) and simultaneously …

Wind Plant Controls, Nicholas Hamilton, Dennice Gayme, Raúl Bayoán Cal

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The development of operational strategies for wind farms as an integrated plant system to achieve a variety of goals from elevating power production to reducing maintenance needs has generated a great deal of interest in recent years. Achieving these operational goals requires an estimate of the energy available and the wind conditions affecting each turbine. The importance of the aerodynamic interaction of wind turbines with the dynamic atmospheric resource means that wakes (the momentum deficit due to power extraction) and their interactions through the farm have the largest influence on the available energy. Predicting the influence of wakes and their …

Genetic Code Expansion In Pseudomonas Putida Kt2440, Xinyuan He, Tian Gao, Yan Chen, Kun Liu, Jiantao Guo, Wei Niu

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

Pseudomonas putida KT2440 is an emerging microbial chassis for bio-based chemical production from renewable feedstocks and environmental bioremediation. However, tools for studying, engineering, and modulating protein complexes and biosynthetic enzymes in this organism are largely underdeveloped. Genetic code expansion for the incorporation of unnatural amino acids (unAAs) into proteins can advance such efforts and, furthermore, enable additional controls of biological processes of the strain. In this work, we established the orthogonality of two widely used archaeal tRNA synthetase and tRNA pairs in KT2440. Following the optimization of decoding systems, four unAAs were incorporated into proteins in response to a UAG …

Splitting Gaussian Densities To Minimize Variance Along A Direction Of Nonlinearity, Amit Kumar

Dissertations and Theses

Nonlinear functions of random vectors are frequently used in signal processing, and especially in state space tracking algorithms. Many of these algorithms require a way of estimating the probability density of the state vector at the output of the nonlinear function. Algorithms derived from Kalman Filter, such as Extended Kalman Filter and Unscented Kalman Filter, are popular choices for this, but they only estimate mean and covariance which may be insufficient to describe the non-Gaussian densities. On the other hand, Monte Carlo methods such as particle filters can be more capable but require much more computation. Gaussian mixture filters aim …

Recent Progress In Two Dimensional Mxenes For Photocatalysis: A Critical Review, Tahir Haneef, Kashif Rasool, Jibran Iqbal, Rab Nawaz, Muhammad Raza Ul Mustafa, Khaled A Mahmoud, Tapati Sarkar, Asif Shahzad

All Works

Transition metal carbides and nitrides, generally known as MXenes have emerged as an alternative to improve photocatalytic performance in renewable energy and environmental remediation applications because of their high surface area, tunable chemistry, and easily adjustable elemental compositions. MXenes have many interlayer groups, surface group operations, and a flexible layer spacing that makes them ideal catalysts. Over 30 different members of the MXenes family have been explored and successfully utilized as catalysts. Particularly, MXenes have achieved success as a photocatalyst for carbon dioxide reduction, nitrogen fixation, hydrogen evolution, and photochemical degradation. The structure of MXenes and the presence of hydrophilic …

Journal Of Roleplaying Studies And Steam (Jrpssteam) Vol. 1 [2022], Issue 1., Cristo Leon, James Lipuma, Ricardo Morales-Carbajal, Miguel A. Bastarrachea-Magnani, Alain Arriaga, Christian Miguel Rudich De La Rosa, Edgar Meritano, Mauricio Rangel

Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM

Volumen completo del Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM (JRPSSTEAM) Vol. 1 [2022], Issue 1.

Histone Deacetylase 4 And 5 Translocation Elicited By Microsecond Pulsed Electric Field Exposure Is Mediated By Kinase Activity, Zahra Safaei, Gary L. Thompson Iii

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Electroporation-based technologies using microsecond pulsed electric field (µsPEF) exposures are established as laboratory and clinical tools that permeabilize cell membranes. We demonstrate a µsPEF bioeffect on nucleocytoplasmic import and export of enzymes that regulate genetic expression, histone deacetylases (HDAC) -4 and -5. Their μsPEF-induced nucleocytoplasmic transport depends on presence and absence of extracellular calcium ions (Ca2+) for both MCF7 and CHO-K1 cells. Exposure to 1, 10, 30 and 50 consecutive square wave pulses at 1 Hz and of 100 µs duration with 1.45 kV/cm magnitude leads to translocation of endogenous HDAC4 and HDAC5. We posit that by eliciting a rise …

Histone Deacetylase 4 And 5 Translocation Elicited By Microsecond Pulsed Electric Field Exposure Is Mediated By Kinase Activity., Zahra Safaei, Gary L. Thompson Iii

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Electroporation-based technologies using microsecond pulsed electric field (µsPEF) exposures are established as laboratory and clinical tools that permeabilize cell membranes. We demonstrate a µsPEF bioeffect on nucleocytoplasmic import and export of enzymes that regulate genetic expression, histone deacetylases (HDAC) -4 and -5. Their μsPEF-induced nucleocytoplasmic transport depends on presence and absence of extracellular calcium ions (Ca

Aeroacoustic Analyses For Noise Reduction Application, Mahmoud M. Abdalmola

Mechanical Engineering Theses

In this study, we examine the hypothesis that airflow noise can be reduced by adding metamaterials. The introduction of any obstacle will generate more disturbance in the airflow and therefore add noise. Hence an efficient metamaterial design is required, capable of reducing noise even at higher flow disturbance. In order to examine this hypothesis, we developed a platform to perform isogeometric aeroacoustic analyses to solve Navier stokes equations first. We obtained the velocity fields from fluid-structure analyses and utilized the light-hill analogy to calculate the noise generated as a result of airflow. Then the Helmholtz equation was solved to perform …

Quantifying The Influence Of Variations In Rock Mass Properties On Stope Stability, Shahé Shnorhokian, Hani Mitri

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Variations in rock mass properties are well-established in rock mechanics and underground mining. The literature is replete with methods of assessing them and determining values that are used in design or numerical analysis. In this paper, a simplified 3D model is constructed for a tabular orebody in the Canadian Shield and instability is quantified using the ”brittle shear ratio” criterion to calculate the volume at risk. A 1-4-7 stope pillar sequence is implemented on four active levels, and three variations in the properties of the host formation are assessed. It is observed that the locations of ore at risk follow …

Prospects For Thiourea As A Leaching Agent In Colombian Gold Small-Scale Mining: A Comprehensive Review, Johana Borda, Robinson Torres

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Thiourea, as an alternative medium, is one of the most promising leaching agents for gold recovery by its commercial benefits and research challenges associated with performance and environmental impacts. This review article describes the operational conditions for the use of Thiourea vs cyanide, its chemistry, limitations, toxicity factors, environment, and recovery processes. Although thiourea gold extraction processes have not been applied on a large scale due to the instability of the reagent, its potential to overcome the limitations of cyanide is attractive to the process; with pH, potential, oxidant dosage, and temperature control, solubilized gold thiourea species are achieved. These …

Panel Destressing Strategies For Remnant Pillar Extraction, Isaac Vennes, Hani Mitri

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Large-scale panel destressing is a rockburst mitigation technique employed in deep hard rock mines during remnant pillar extraction. Panels are choke blasted in the pillar footwall to cutoff the far-field major stress in the mining area and deviate them around the pillar. In this study, the effects of panel geometry and far-field stress magnitude are investigated. Destress blast performance is assessed by measuring change to the energy release rate (ERR) of all mining steps during the extraction of a simplified remnant pillar due to destressing. It is demonstrated that the energy release rate (ERR) of critical stopes is reduced by …

Remote Sensing Evidence For Significant Variations In The Global Gross Domestic Product During The Covid-19 Epidemic, Bin Guo, Wencai Zhang, Lin Pei, Xiaowei Zhu, Pingping Luo, Weili Duan

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been spreading rapidly and is still threatening human health currently. A series of measures for restraining epidemic spreading has been adopted throughout the world, which seriously impacted the gross domestic product (GDP) globally. However, details of the changes in the GDP and its spatial heterogeneity characteristics on a fine scale worldwide during the pandemic are still uncertain. We designed a novel scheme to simulate a 0.1° × 0.1° resolution grid global GDP map during the COVID-19 pandemic. Simulated nighttime-light remotely sensed data (SNTL) was forecasted via a GM(1, 1) model under the assumption that there …

Fluid Droplet Spreading And Adhesion Studied With A Microbalance: A Review, Youhua Jiang, Jaroslaw Drelich

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

A contact angle observed for a liquid–solid system is not necessarily a unique value, and a few contact angles need to be considered carefully in relation to liquid spreading, adhesion and phase separation. Understanding of the significance of different contact angles has improved in the last few years through direct measurements of interactive forces between droplets/bubbles and solids together with the simultaneous visualization of the changes in their shapes. A microelectronic balance system is employed to measure the force of spreading after either liquid droplet or gas bubble attachment to a substrate surface and the droplet/bubble–substrate adhesion forces after droplet/bubble …

Computer Engineering Education, Marilyn Wolf

School of Computing: Conference and Workshop Papers

Computer engineering is a rapidly evolving discipline. How should we teach it to our students?

This virtual roundtable on computer engineering education was conducted in summer 2022 over a combination of email and virtual meetings. The panel considered what topics are of importance to the computer engineering curriculum, what distinguishes computer engineering from related disciplines, and how computer engineering concepts should be taught.

Modeling Of High-Pressure Entrained-Flow Char Oxidation, Daniel Gundersen

Theses and Dissertations

Coal plays a significant role in electricity production worldwide and will into the foreseeable future. Technologies that improve efficiency and lower emissions are becoming more popular. High pressure reactors and oxyfuel combustion can offer these benefits. Designing new reactors effectively requires accurate single particle modeling. This work models a high-pressure, high-temperature, high-heating rate, entrained-flow, char oxidation data set to generate kinetic parameters. Different modeling methods were explored and a sensitivity analysis on char burnout was performed by varying parameters such as total pressure, O2 partial pressure, O2 and CO2 mole fractions, gas temperature, diameter, and pre-exponential factor. Pressure effects on …

Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics (Stem) Project-Based Learning (Pbl) Education: A New Mexico Case Study For Equity And Inclusion, Kimberly A. Scheerer

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

This research addresses how student participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) project-based learning (PBL) education activities encourages underrepresented minority student achievement in STEM career field trajectories. Seven New Mexico high school counselors and 12 STEM organization personnel were interviewed during this study. Their responses represent the nuanced professional voices where New Mexico public education intersects with STEM student interest and cultural influence.

For students, STEM PBL can foster deep integration across educational disciplines and enhance STEM career trajectory interest and readiness. STEM education converged with PBL methodologies has the ability to leverage community support while broadening student networks. …

Integrating Computing Into Preservice Teacher Preparation Programs Across The Core: Language, Mathematics, And Science, Lauren E. Margulieux, Patrick Enderle, Pier Junor Clarke, Natalie King, Caroline Sullivan, Michelle Zoss, Joyce Many

Journal of Computer Science Integration

This paper describes the beginning of a design-based research project for integrating computing activities in preservice teacher programs throughout a middle and secondary education department. Computing integration activities use computing tools, like programming, to support learning in non-computing disciplines. The paper begins with the motivation for integrating computing that encouraged widespread buy-in, design goals, and design parameters. The primary motivating factor for this work was preparing teachers to use technology to support learning in their classrooms. Involving computing education faculty in the preparation enabled the activities to include computer science and spread computational literacy. The paper also describes the process …

Techno-Economic Analysis Of Atmospheric Water Harvesting Across Climates, Natalie Gayoso

Civil Engineering ETDs

Drinking water scarcity is a global challenge as ground water and surface water availability diminishes. The atmosphere is an alternative freshwater reservoir that has universal availability and an abundance of water within the air. This makes the atmosphere a great source to capture drinking water. In order to effectively perform Atmospheric Water Harvesting (AWH) we need to 1) understand how different climate regions (e.g., arid, temperate, and tropical) drive the amount of water being produced, and 2) determine the cost to purchase, operate, and power AWH. This research pairs thermodynamics with Techno-Economic Analysis, a method of analyzing the economic performance …

Investigation Of Laser And Nonlinear Properties Of Anderson Localizing Optical Fibers, Cody Ryan Bassett

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

In this dissertation, I investigate the possibility of lasing and nonlinear phenomena in completely solid-state transverse Anderson localizing optical fibers (TALOFs). I examine three areas within this range of topics. The research in nonlinear phenomena focuses on four-wave mixing (FWM). FWM is of high interest in TALOFs due to the fact that guided localized modes of the fiber each have different propagation constants, and thus unique possible FWM pairs can be generated from the same input pump beam. I demonstrate the generation of FWM in the TALOF by pumping it with 532 nm light into a localized mode and observing …

Particle Image Velocimetry Methodology For Calculating The Advective Losses At The Solar Tower For The Gen 3 Concentrated Solar Power System, Guillermo Anaya

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

The Falling Particle Receiver (FPR) built by Sandia National Laboratory (SNL) at the National Solar Thermal Testing Facilities (NSTTF) is one of the latest concentrated energy harvesting systems for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). The FPR system at the NSTTF uses solid particles as both the heat transfer fluid and storage media. This FPR operates by having a gravity-driven particles curtain being irradiated through an open cavity by CSP, provided by a heliostat field. However, during operation plumes of particles being expelled out of the receiver cavity can be observed, resulting in heat losses as well as particle inventory losses. The …

Higher Corrections Of The Ilkovich Equation, S. Jon Chapman, Charles W. Monroe, Shiv Krishna Madi Reddy, Alexander Van-Brunt, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

A short-time asymptotic analysis is performed to establish corrections of the Ilkovich equation, which describes the polarographic response of a dropping mercury electrode. The convective diffusion equation governing diffusion limited reactant flux for small drop times is solved by a regular perturbation based on powers of the sixth root of time. This produces a framework within which higher terms of the Ilkovich equation can be derived systematically. As well as reproducing Ilkovich’s original formula and verifying Newman’s correction of Koutecky’s first-order term, we calculate the second-order term for the first time. The calculation is compared to the Newman–Levich procedure and …

The Impact Of Murals On Traffic Safety: A Behavior And Crash Analysis, Maria Cecelia Cruz

Civil Engineering ETDs

ABSTRACT

This research analyzed changes in motor vehicle volumes and motor vehicle speeds after the installation of an intersection mural in Albuquerque, NM and changes in crash frequency after mural installations in Philadelphia, PA. Data was collected manually on site for the Albuquerque study and secondary data – including installation dates and physical characteristics – were used for the Philadelphia crash analyses. Statistics were computed to determine trends in motor vehicle speeds and volumes relative to the Albuquerque mural installation. A geographic information system (GIS) spatial analysis and t-test statistical analyses were used to determine which Philadelphia murals saw significant …