Engineering Commons^™

Graphene/Polypropylene Nanocomposites, Carmen Karam Abuoudah

Theses

Graphene has been regarded as a multifunctional nanofiller for manufacturing polymer nanocomposites. A small amount of graphene nanosheets is expected to significantly improve the properties of base polymers. The property enhancement, however, is a function of the degree of exfoliation and dispersion of graphene as well as its compatibility with the polymer. The non-polar nature of polyolefins such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) restricts the homogeneous dispersion of graphene, leading to significant agglomeration of the nanosheets and thus, limiting the expected property improvements in polyolefins. Currently, more efforts are focused on finding strategies to improve graphene dispersion in polyolefins. …

Controlling Strain Energy Density In 3d Cellular Collagen Constructs During Complex Loads, Katherine Hollar

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Mechanical stimulation applied to damaged soft tissues, such as ligament, can promote tissue remodeling to accelerate healing. To help identify treatments that encourage ligament healing, bioreactors have been designed to subject 3D cellularized constructs to various loading conditions in order to determine the mechanical mechanisms that trigger cell-mediated repair. An innovative approach is to use a bioreactor to apply controlled states of biaxial stress to study the effects of strain energy density and distortion energy on cell activity. Tissue distortion has been linked to changes in the structure and function of ligament, yet the specific impact of distortion energy on …

Improved Study Of Side-Channel Attacks Using Recurrent Neural Networks, Muhammad Abu Naser Rony Chowdhury

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Differential power analysis attacks are special kinds of side-channel attacks where power traces are considered as the side-channel information to launch the attack. These attacks are threatening and significant security issues for modern cryptographic devices such as smart cards, and Point of Sale (POS) machine; because after careful analysis of the power traces, the attacker can break any secured encryption algorithm and can steal sensitive information.

In our work, we study differential power analysis attack using two popular neural networks: Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). Our work seeks to answer three research questions(RQs):

RQ1: Is it …

In Silico Sequence Optimization For The Reproducible Generation Of Dna Structures, Michael D. Tobiason

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Biologically, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules have been used for information storage for more than 3 billion years. Today, modern synthesis tools have made it possible to use synthetic DNA molecules as a material for engineering nanoscale structures. These self-assembling structures are capable of both resolutions as fine as 4 angstroms and executing programed dynamic behavior. Numerous approaches for creating structures from DNA have been proposed and validated, however it remains commonplace for engineered systems to exhibit unexpected behaviors such as low formation yields, poor performance, or total failure. It is plausible that at least some of these behaviors arise due …

Effects Of Magnetic Domain And Twin Boundary Interactions On Magneto-Mechanical Properties Of Magnetic Shape Memory Alloys, Medha Veligatla

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Magnetic shape memory (MSM) alloys deform substantially when exposed to a magnetic field. This recoverable plastic deformation occurs through crystallographic twinning. Thereby the internal magnetic domain structure modulates the deformation mechanisms through the interaction of magnetic domains with twin boundaries. We study the meso scale magneto-structural interactions that affect the macroscopic material properties of MSM alloys. The study at the meso length scale is most effective as it allows for resolving interactions at magnetic domain wall width resolution with reasonable computing cost. We apply micromagnetics simulations to evaluate the evolution of magnetic domains, their interaction with twin boundaries, the distribution …

Effect Of Corrective Surgery On Lower Limb Mechanics In Patients With Crouch Gait, Adelle Milholland

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Crouch gait a progressively degrading gait deviation associated with the neurological disorder cerebral palsy. If left untreated it can lead to anterior knee pain and a loss of ambulation. At present there exists no agreed upon metric for determining the surgical procedures used to treat crouch gait and there is insufficient means to analytically compare the results of different procedures. The aims of this thesis work were to create a pipeline to transform a patient’s gait analysis data into a finite element model, develop a model of sufficient complexity to evaluate a range of outcomes by which to judge the …

Isolated Nucleus Stiffens In Response To Low Intensity Vibration, Joshua Newberg

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The nucleus, central to all cellular activity, relies on both direct mechanical input and its molecular transducers to sense and respond to external mechanical stimuli. This response occurs by regulating intra-nuclear organization that ultimately determines gene expression to control cell function and fate. It has long been known that signals propagate from an extracellular environment to the cytoskeleton and into nucleus (outside-in signaling) to regulate cell behavior. Emerging evidence, however, shows that both the cytoskeleton and the nucleus have inherent abilities to sense and adapt to mechanical force, independent of each other. While it has been shown that isolated nuclei …

A New Qpcr Assay To Detect Geosmin-Producing Cyanobacteria, Shane Brian Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Taste-and-odor (T&O) compounds are frequently produced by cyanobacterial blooms in bodies of water. Geosmin, perhaps the most common T&O compound produced by these blooms, is not effectively removed by conventional water treatment processes and frequently causes the tap water to have an off flavor. Although geosmin is not harmful when ingested, it damages the consumers' confidence in the cleanliness of their water. There are treatment options for geosmin removal, but the most common methods are often not implemented until complaints are made by consumers.There has been an increasing amount of research on the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods …

Durability Of Hybrid Large Area Additive Tooling For Vacuum Infusion Of Composites, Nathan Joseph Northrup

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to scientifically validate potential cost-saving measures for production of large area additively manufactured tooling for vacuum infusion of composites. These cost saving measures included using a hybrid additive/subtractive manufacturing system to fabricate the mold, requiring lower capital cost and creating shorter lead times. Fiberglass reinforcement was used instead of carbon in the mold material. The validation was done by designing and fabricating a mold for a custom test artifact and analyzing the surface geometry over the course of multiple infusions until tool failure.After printing and machining, the mold required a sealer in order to …

Design Optimization For A Compliant,Continuum-Joint, Quadruped Robot, Vallan Gray Sherrod

Theses and Dissertations

Legged robots have the potential to cover terrain not accessible to wheel-based robots and vehicles. This makes them better suited to perform tasks, such as search and rescue, in real-world unstructured environments. Pneumatically-actuated, compliant robots are also more suited than their rigid counterparts to work in real-world unstructured environments with humans where unintentional contact may occur. This thesis seeks to combine the benefits of these two type of robots by implementing design methods to aid in the design choice of a 16 degree of freedom (DoF) compliant, continuum-joint quadruped. This work focuses on the design optimization, especially the definition of …

Home Automation System By Voice Commands, Noor Kamil Abdalhameed

Theses and Dissertations

The Home Automation System is one of the most important technologies that are used by humans for controlling electrical devices to reduce manual efforts in their daily tasks. The home automation system by voice has the ability to understand thousands of voice commands and perform the required action to control various electrical devices. The voice recognition is a bit complex and challenging task since each person has his accent. Therefore, Bitvoicer Server used in the home automation system in this thesis since it supports 17 languages from 26 countries and regions, and has the ability to recognize an unlimited number …

Mitigating Pilot Contamination Through Optimizing Pilot Allocation In Massive Mimo Systems, Rand Abdul Hussain

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation has proposed several algorithms to optimize the allocation of pilots to the users’ equipment (UEs) to mitigate the effect of the pilot contamination problem in the massive MIMO systems. Pilot contamination reduces the performance of massive MIMO systems due to the reduction in the quality of the estimated channel between a UE and the serving base station (BS). The limitation of the number of samples in a coherence block limits the number of unique mutually orthogonal pilots, and hence, reusing the set of pilots across the cells causes inter-cell interference during pilot transmission, which is called pilot contamination. …

Socialization Of Veterans Using Virtual Reality, Joan M. Savage

Theses and Dissertations

Virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, and video games are growing in popularity and fulfilling genuine human needs that the real world is currently unable to satisfy. Games are providing rewards that reality is not. They are teaching and inspiring and engaging us in ways that reality is not (McGonigal, 2011). The purpose of this study was to capture the essence of socialization in virtual reality as a Ph.D. dissertation topic at Florida Institute of Technology - Human-Centered Design. This study used a phenomenology methodology to capture the experiences of beneficial features of players who use virtual reality. The study …

Mdt Geolocation Through Machine Learning: Evaluation Of Supervised Regression Ml Algorithms, Aria Canadell Solana

Theses and Dissertations

Minimizing Drive Test is a statistical protocol used to evaluate the network performance. It provides several benefits with respect to traditional drive test analysis; however, multiple inconveniences exist that prevent cell companies from precisely retrieving most of the locations of these reports. . MATLAB and Jupyter Notebook were used to prepare the data and create the models. Multiple supervised regression algorithms were tested and evaluated. The best predictions were obtained from the K-Nearest Neighbor algorithm with one ‘k’ and distance-weighted predictions. The UE geolocation was predicted with a median accuracy of 5.42 meters, a mean error of 61.62 meters, and …

Performance Evaluation Of Speech Recognition System Using Conventional And Hybrid Features And Hidden Markov Model Classifier, Hussien Elharati

Theses and Dissertations

Extracting the auditory information from speech signal is considered a computationally demanding task. However, past researches in mathematics, acoustics, and speech technology have provided many methods for signal processing and modeling. Although, all methods have their strengths and weaknesses, but they remain a serious attempt towards speech recognition system. Using multivariate statistical machine learning (Hidden Markov Model), this work investigates the performance of selected conventional and new hybrid feature extraction algorithms in both clean and noisy environments. The resultant conventional features include MFCC, LPCC, PLP, and RASTA-PLP, while the new hybrid features include LPR, MLP, MLR, and MPR. The whole …

Dual-Task Multimodal Web Browsing In Semi-Autonomous Vehicles, Jarrett William Clark

Theses and Dissertations

Drivers should remain alert when operating semi-autonomous vehicles as human intervention is required when the automated systems fail, or an unusual situation is encountered. However, drivers do not always focus solely on the road and sometimes divert their attention to look at cell phones, laptops, tablet computers, or in-dash infotainment systems. In this research, software was created to enable operators of a simulated self-driving car to browse the Human-Centered Design Institute (HCDI) website using multimodal interaction. The software used synthesized speech to read the website aloud and visually highlighted the content on the screen as it was read. Web analytics …

Multi-Facet Retrofit Approach To Improve Energy Efficiency Of Existing Class Of Single-Family Residential Buildings In Florida, Kwame Baffour Ohene Amoah

Theses and Dissertations

There are many approaches to incorporate energy efficiency measures (EEMs) into building through retrofit projects. Single-family buildings are an essential target for energy improvements because of their energy-saving potential and considerable market share. This study evaluates energy savings and cost-effectiveness of individual retrofit options. It proposes energy efficiency measures for an existing class of single-family homes constructed between the years of 1950 and 1970. The study uses a baseline building located in Melbourne, FL, as a case study. A survey via clustering data mining was conducted on Florida Single-Family Residential (SFR) buildings (1950 – 1970) to establish patterns of construction, …

Monitoring And Correlating Toxic Gases Emitted By Cars In Public Indoor Garage In Real-Time Using Internet Of Things (Iot), Khalid Altheiab

Theses and Dissertations

The study was developed to adequately depict the behavior of indoor pollutant matter in public garages, the underlying factors influencing this behavior and gauge the pollutant exhaust emission patterns. In depicting the behavior of indoor pollutant matter, the research aimed at studying the emission-pollutant relationship and any variations in concentrations found at different locations within the study site. In terms of measuring the factors influencing the pollutant behavior, the research quantified the concentrations of four gaseous contaminants. The pollutant behavior was studied to better understand the different variables influencing the indoor air-quality. Finally, based on these parameters overall patterns in …

Application Of Solar Water Heaters For Industrial Use, Lucas T. Atkins

Theses and Dissertations

Solar water heating is a technology that is mainly used for domestic water heating in residential homes. In most applications, the idea is to make a home “off the grid” in that there is no requirement for outside infrastructure or need for energy utility to provide power to this home. This falls in line with the trend of “going green” in an effort to reduce energy use, increase efficiency, or reduce emissions and other harmful byproducts.

This technology can be adapted to reduce the energy costs of industrial manufacturing plants. By eliminating the need for certain sections of a process …

Graphene-Fibers Hybrid Structures As Adsorbents For Heavy Metal Ions In Aqueous Solutions, Dulce C. Capitanachi

Theses and Dissertations

The project focuses on the study of graphene-fiber hybrid structures for adsorption of heavy metal ions in aqueous solutions. Polyvinyl alcohol-based graphene–fiber structures were created using centrifugal spinning and a carbonization process.

Characterization methods of the graphene–fiber hybrid structures (GFHS) include SEM, FTIR, TGA, and EDX. Single-step batch-type adsorption studies were performed to analyze the interaction of Cu (II) and Pb (II) ions onto GFHS surface. Different heavy metal ion concentrations were used, as well as a variation of pH values. Elemental analysis of the adsorbent’s surface after filtration experiments was studied by EDX and spectroscopy to verify the presence …

Design And Testing Of A Modular Laser System With Laser Machining And Bioprinting Capabilities, Jesus Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis introduces the applications of ultrafast lasers while focusing on their bioprinting capabilities. A custom system was designed to utilize a femtosecond laser for 2D and 3D applications. The characteristics of lasers allow them to be efficiently used in machining, 3D printing, research, and more. Their power and precision allow them to be used for delicate work such as bioprinting. Bioprinting is a field holding great potential to benefit society. Studies conducted over the years prove its usefulness in printing cells and biomaterials, while showing there is still much to improve upon before being able to print fully functioning …

A Case Study: The First Coastal Nuclear Decommissioning Project In California, Willie Aaron Quiros

Construction Management

San Onofre Nuclear Generating System (SONGS) is one of two nuclear power plants in California. Since the shut down in 2012, there is only one actively remaining, Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, which is set to shut down in 2024. This paper will examine the decommissioning of SONGS thus far; the first coastal nuclear decommissioning project in California’s stringent permitting process. This project was awarded as a joint venture to AECOM and Energy Solutions, both having experiencing in the field of nuclear decommissioning. This paper will outline what nuclear decommissioning challenges have been in the past; general steps of decommissioning …

Comparison Of Naïve Bayes Algorithm And Decision Tree C4.5for Hospital Readmission Diabetes Patientsusing Hba1c Measurement, Utomo Pujianto, Asa Luki Setiawan, Harits Ar Rosyid, Ali M. Mohammad Salah

Knowledge Engineering and Data Science

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder disease in which the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body cannot use insulin produced effectively. The HbA1c examination, which measures the average glucose level of patients during the last 2-3 months, has become an important step to determine the condition of diabetic patients. Knowledge of the patient's condition can help medical staff to predict the possibility of patient readmissions, namely the occurrence of a patient requiring hospitalization services back at the hospital. The ability to predict patient readmissions will ultimately help the hospital to calculate and manage the quality of patient care. …

Impact Of Metazooplankton Filter Feeding On Escherichia Coli Under Variable Environmental Conditions, Niveen S. Ismail, Brittney M. Blokker, Tyler R. Feeney, Ruby H. Kohn, Jingyi Liu, Vivian E. Nelson, Mariah C. Ollive, Sarah B. L. Price, Emma J. Underdaha

Engineering: Faculty Publications

The fecal indicator bacterial species Escherichia coli is an important measure of water quality and a leading cause of impaired surface waters. We investigated the impact of the filter-feeding metazooplankton Daphnia magna on the inactivation of E. coli. The E. coli clearance rates of these daphnids were calculated from a series of batch experiments conducted under variable environmental conditions. Batch system experiments of 24 to 48 h in duration were completed to test the impacts of bacterial concentration, organism density, temperature, and water type. The maximum clearance rate for adult D. magna organisms was 2 ml h1 organism1. Less than …

A Survey Of Mathematical Models Of Human Performance Using Power And Energy, Vijay Sarthy Mysore Sreedhara, Gregory M. Mocko, Randolph E. Hutchison

Publications

The ability to predict the systematic decrease of power during physical exertion gives valuable insights into health, performance, and injury. This review surveys the research of power-based models of fatigue and recovery within the area of human performance. Upon a thorough review of available literature, it is observed that the two-parameter critical power model is most popular due to its simplicity. This two-parameter model is a hyperbolic relationship between power and time with critical power as the power-asymptote and the curvature constant denoted by W′. Critical power (CP) is a theoretical power output that can be sustained indefinitely by …

Design And Development Of A Comprehensive And Interactive Diabetic Parameter Monitoring System - Betictrack, Nusrat Chowdhury

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A novel, interactive Android app has been developed that monitors the health of type 2 diabetic patients in real-time, providing patients and their physicians with real-time feedback on all relevant parameters of diabetes. The app includes modules for recording carbohydrate intake and blood glucose; for reminding patients about the need to take medications on schedule; and for tracking physical activity, using movement data via Bluetooth from a pair of wearable insole devices. Two machine learning models were developed to detect seven physical activities: sitting, standing, walking, running, stair ascent, stair descent and use of elliptical trainers. The SVM and decision …

Intracellular Electrometer, Lucas M. Essenburg

Masters Theses

The Western Michigan University Neurobiology Engineering Laboratory conducts re- search in energy-efficient electrical stimulation of biological neurons. Experimental work re- quires an intracellular electrometer to inject nanoamp-level currents into a biological neuron and to measure its membrane voltage response. In order to fully understand the generation of such minute currents, an `in-house' electrometer was designed, constructed, and validated. This required exploration of various design trade-offs including precision of generated nanoamp-level currents vs. susceptibility to noise, portability vs. functionality, and cost vs. functionality. The electrometer was successfully used to stimulate and measure responses of neurons from the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana …

Shell House Demo, Cameron Tilmont

Construction Management

The Shell House demo was recommended by the Associate Dean of CAED as a potential senior project for students. Built decades ago it had deteriorated over time. The purpose of this project was to clean up Poly Canyon Architecture Graveyard, making it a nice, safe place to visit. This project interested the author because it was something different and was geared more towards heavy civil.

To get started, a permit had to be submitted to the CAL POLY building department. This process took longer than expected. The permit wasn’t released until an environmental impact test was conducted, resulting in asbestos …

Cal Poly Construction Management Student’S Main Determinants For Potential Employment Opportunities: A Guide For Employers, David Joseph Van Buskirk Ii

Construction Management

California Polytechnic State University’s Construction Management department has an excellent reputation. This reputation, boosted by a 100% placement rate, attracts an abundant number of recruiters, a number that continues to grow every year. With the large number of recruiters coming to campus, students often find themselves in the fortunate situation of having multiple offers and having the opportunity to select amongst various companies. To be competitive, employers would best serve to cater their recruitment process to suit the needs of the students they are trying to hire. While plenty of research has been conducted to investigate and determine how recruiters …

The Impact Of Education On Career Growth In The Construction Industry, Luis F. Rodrigues

Construction Management

A construction management degree and an apprenticeship are the two educational routes for a career in the construction industry. There are divisions within the workforce that reflect these educational pathways. Ideally, an alternative education would allow individuals without access to a university education to develop their career from an entry level position. However, if education has a long-term career impact, then limiting factors on education are consequently limiting on career growth. In examining if there is a ceiling on career growth relative to educational backgrounds, both education and experience were identified as key variables. In the case study presented, the …