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Professor Receives Award From The Center For Women And Gender | College Of Engineering, Utah State University

College of Engineering News

USU engineering professor, Elizabeth Vargis was awarded the ‘Early Career-Faculty award’ from the Center for Women and Gender.

Fluoride Removal From Water Using A 3d Printed Calcium Carbonate Filter, Sophia Bakar, David Kahler, Benjamin S. Goldschmidt

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

Groundwater containing high concentrations of fluoride is the most common source of drinking water in rural areas in parts of east Africa, India, and China. The elevated levels of fluoride cause skeletal and dental fluorosis, which is the weakening and decay of bone structures due to the leeching of calcium from the body as calcium and fluoride bond by the process of adsorption. Over 150 million people are suffering from some form of fluorosis due to the consumption of groundwater. Calcium carbonate has been demonstrated to influence fluoride removal in several forms. To make fluoride removal a cost-effective and user-friendly …

Quantifying Iron Overload Using Mri, Active Contours, And Convolutional Neural Networks, Andrea Sajewski, Stacey Levine

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

Iron overload, a complication of repeated blood transfusions, can cause tissue damage and organ failure. The body has no regulatory mechanism to excrete excess iron, so iron overload must be closely monitored to guide therapy and measure treatment response. The concentration of iron in the liver is a reliable marker for total body iron content and is now measured noninvasively with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI produces a diagnostic image by measuring the signals emitted from the body in the presence of a constant magnetic field and radiofrequency pulses. At each pixel, the signal decay constant, T2*, can be calculated, …

Routing And Designing Networks For Two Transportation Problems, Liu Su

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Routing and designing are essential for transportation networks. With effective routing and designing policies, transportation networks can work safely and efficiently. There are two transportation problems: hazardous materials (hazmat) transportation and warehouse logistics. This dissertation addresses the routing of networks for both problems. For hazmat transportation, the routing can be regulated via network design. Due to catastrophic consequences of potential accidents in hazmat transportation, a risk-averse approach for routing is necessary. In this dissertation, we consider spectral risk measures, for risk-averse hazmat routing. In addition, we introduce a network design problem to select a set of closed road segments for …

Convolutional Neural Networks For Crystal Material Property Prediction Using Hybrid Orbital-Field Matrix And Magpie Descriptors, Zhuo Cao, Yabo Dan, Zheng Xiong, Chengcheng Niu, Xiang Li, Songrong Qian, Jianjun Hu

Faculty Publications

Computational prediction of crystal materials properties can help to do large-scale in-silicon screening. Recent studies of material informatics have focused on expert design of multi-dimensional interpretable material descriptors/features. However, successes of deep learning such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) in image recognition and speech recognition have demonstrated their automated feature extraction capability to effectively capture the characteristics of the data and achieve superior prediction performance. Here, we propose CNN-OFM-Magpie, a CNN model with OFM (Orbital-field Matrix) and Magpie descriptors to predict the formation energy of 4030 crystal material by exploiting the complementarity of two-dimensional OFM features and Magpie features. Experiments …

Application Of The Clayff And The Dreiding Force Fields For Modeling Of Alkylated Quartz Surfaces, Aleksandr Abramov, Stefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

To extend applicability and to overcome limitations of combining rules for nonbond potential parameters, in this study, CLAYFF and DREIDING force fields are coupled at the level of atomic site charges to model quartz surfaces with chemisorpt hydrocarbons. Density functional theory and Bader charge analysis are applied to calculate charges of atoms of the OC bond connecting a quartz crystal and an alkyl group. The study demonstrates that the hydrogen atom of the quartz surface hydroxyl group can be removed and its charge can be redistributed among the oxygen and carbon atoms of the OC bond in a manner consistent …

Low-Cost, Open-Source, And Low-Power: But What To Do With The Data?, Jeffery S. Horsburgh, Juan Caraballo, Maurier Ramírez, Anthony K. Aufdenkampe, David B. Arscott, Sara Geleskie Damiano

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

There are now many ongoing efforts to develop low-cost, open-source, low-power sensors and datalogging solutions for environmental monitoring applications. Many of these have advanced to the point that high quality scientific measurements can be made using relatively inexpensive and increasingly off-the-shelf components. With the development of these innovative systems, however, comes the ability to generate large volumes of high-frequency monitoring data and the challenge of how to log, transmit, store, and share the resulting data. This paper describes a new web application that was designed to enable citizen scientists to stream sensor data from a network of Arduino-based dataloggers to …

An Optimization Approach Based On The Interior-Point Methodology For The Tertiary Control Of Modernized Microgrids, Isaiah D. Woodruff

Honors College Theses

With the rise in popularity of the modernized microgrids (MMGs), the addition of a controller to maximize economic efficiency while considering environmental impact is crucial. Tertiary control is at the highest control level, considering economic concerns related to the optimal operation of the microgrid and using a sampling time from minutes to hours; tertiary controls manage the flow of power between the microgrid and the connected grid. In MMGs' tertiary controls, the use of optimization algorithms to minimize an objective function with equality and inequality constraints allows for powerful control over the system. In this paper, the interior-point algorithm is …

General Aviation Hypoxia And Reporting Statistics, Timothy Holt, Jacqueline Luedtke, Jennah Perry, Michelle Hight, Claire Schindler, Pamela Ward

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

Hypoxia is defined as a lack of oxygen throughout the body, which can be caused by several factors at any altitude. General aviation (GA) pilots may argue that most GA aircraft cannot attain the required altitudes where one might be more affected by hypoxia, but it is exactly that attitude that may makes pilots more susceptible to hypoxia. The impact of this hazardous attitude is even more apparent if one considers that out of the 590,038 certificated pilots in the USA, a little over 30% of them are GA pilots (FAA, 2015). The problem is that unlike airline pilots or …

Green Synthesis Nanocomposite Membranes, Dibakar Bhattacharyya, Vasile Smuleac, Rajender S. Varma, Subhas K. Sikdar

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Patents

A nanocomposite membrane includes a macroporous polymer membrane having a plurality of pores. A plurality of metal nanoparticles are synthesized and immobilized within those plurality of pores. The nanoparticles are reduced and capped with a green reducing and capping agent such as green tea extract.

Novel Calibrated Short Tr Recovery (Castrr) Method For Brain-Blood Partition Coefficient Correction Enhances Gray-White Matter Contrast In Blood Flow Measurements In Mice, Scott W. Thalman, David K. Powell, Ai-Ling Lin

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

The goal of the study was to develop a novel, rapid Calibrated Short TR Recovery (CaSTRR) method to measure the brain-blood partition coefficient (BBPC) in mice. The BBPC is necessary for quantifying cerebral blood flow (CBF) using tracer-based techniques like arterial spin labeling (ASL), but previous techniques required prohibitively long acquisition times so a constant BBPC equal to 0.9 mL/g is typically used regardless of studied species, condition, or disease. An accelerated method of BBPC correction could improve regional specificity in CBF maps particularly in white matter. Male C57Bl/6N mice (n = 8) were scanned at 7T using CaSTRR …

Aviation Safety, Quality, And Economic Impact: A Policy Research System, Calissa Spooner, Tori Kobayashi, Cindy Greenman, Brent D. Bowen, Kaetlyn Blocker

Student Works

The United States airline industry is experiencing an underlying mix of challenges in areas of Quality, Safety, and Economics. This research focuses on three major components and the economic impact of each. The first aspect, Airline Quality and Safety Analysis, lays down a focus on imperative safety factors that affect major airlines in overall performance. Quality and Safety findings relate to potential safety shortcomings in the second aspect, aviation maintenance Safety Management Systems (SMS). The third aspect involves implementing the Policy Research Construct (PRC) methodology, which relates the underlying challenges in Airline Quality, Safety, and Economic areas by conducting research …

Information Technology News, Georgia Southern University

Information Technology: News & Publications (2012-2023)

• Synovus Information Security Co-op -- Columbus, GA

Nematic Liquid Crystal Composite Materials For Dc And Rf Switching, Mohiuddin Munna, Farhana Anwar, Ronald A. Coutu Jr.

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Liquid Crystals (LCs) are widely used in display devices, electro-optic modulators, and optical switches. A field-induced electrical conductivity modulation in pure liquid crystals is very low which makes it less preferable for direct current (DC) and radio-frequency (RF) switching applications. According to the literature, a conductivity enhancement is possible by nanoparticle doping. Considering this aspect, we reviewed published works focused on an electric field-induced conductivity modulation in carbon nanotube-doped liquid crystal composites (LC-CNT composites). A two to four order of magnitude switching in electrical conductivity is observed by several groups. Both in-plane and out-of-plane device configurations are used. In plane …

Examining The Effect Of Multiple Route Choice Criteria On Hurricane Evacuation Traffic Through External Validation Of Simulations, Haggai D. Davis Iii

LSU Master's Theses

Hurricane evacuations can be a chaotic experience for individuals involved, but researchers have attempted to find patterns in the routes people take. One paper laid out a model for predicting route choice based upon features that are different than standard route choice influencers. This thesis attempted to evaluate the accuracy of that model by using TransModeler modeling software. Using the building blocks of the HEMP project, this project compared the new model to the standard model and evaluated the two based upon the ability to reproduce real-world results. Interestingly, the two did not come out significantly different possibly because the …

Influence Of Sonication Parameters On The Morphology Of Nanocellulose Aerogels, Dexter Cox, Tim Kidd

Research in the Capitol

Nanocellulose is a renewable and biocompatible material that has a tensile strength similar to aluminum, is stiffer than Kevlar, and has a strength to weight ratio eight times that of stainless steel. There has been a range of studies on nanocellulose materials for potential use as a low-calorie food substitute, biomedical wound dressings, and as a structural component for buildings. Throughout this research experiment, nanocellulose aerogels of different mass compositions were created through a mechanical process using an ultrasonic processor with a titanium probe attachment. The purpose of this study was to develop a method that reduces the amount titanium …

Dual-Battery Empowered Green Cellular Networks, Xilong Liu

Dissertations

With awareness of the potential harmful effects to the environment and climate change, on-grid brown energy consumption of information and communications technology (ICT) has drawn much attention. Cellular base stations (BSs) are among the major energy guzzlers in ICT, and their contributions to the global carbon emissions increase sustainedly. It is essential to leverage green energy to power BSs to reduce their on-grid brown energy consumption. However, in order to furthest save on-grid brown energy and decrease the on-grid brown energy electricity expenses, most existing green energy related works only pursue to maximize the green energy utilization while compromising the …

Scu Courses, Conner Davis, Matthew Wong

Computer Science and Engineering Senior Theses

Registering for classes is a nightmare that students at Santa Clara University undergo three or more times a year while juggling midterm exams. It’s hard to find a schedule that works well for you, balancing the need to take classes that will satisfy degree progress with the need to work around obligations outside of class and avoid getting stuck in an 8am lecture. SCU Courses is a web app where students input their current degree progress and receive a list of possible schedules to take next quarter, collapsing the time-consuming process of carefully crafting a schedule into just one step: …

Comparing Past Board Assembly Inemi Roadmaps To Technology Outcomes, Annaka Rose Balch

ENGS 86 Independent Projects (AB Students)

This project compares past board assembly roadmaps with actual technological outcomes, examining the progression of predictions across seven significant aspects of board assembly covered in the 1994, 2002, 2007, 2013 and 2017 roadmaps: 1) Conversion Costs, 2) NPI Cycle Time, 3) Component Trends, 4) Solder Paste, 5) Bar Solder, 6) Wave Solder Flux and 7) Die Attach Adhesives. It should be noted that there are discrepancies between these roadmaps—from general outline to the many aspects of board assembly that are investigated. This project aims to bridge these discrepancies in a comprehensive fashion to better inform iNEMI and identify possible areas …

Engineering News, Spring 2019, School Of Engineering

Engineering News

No abstract provided.

Fabrication Of Photonic Lpcvd Silicon-Nitride Waveguides, Robert Dalheim

Journal of the Microelectronic Engineering Conference

The purpose of this project was to develop a repeatable process flow for Silicon-Nitride optical waveguides at RIT. Previous projects have fabricated optical waveguides out of amorphous silicon and polymers but never out of Nitride. The grating coupler pitch was varied from 700nm to 1500nm and the length was varied from 100μm to 1000μm. A target Nitride deposition thicknesses of 250nm, 500nm, and 750nm were deposited through LPCVD methods and were measured to be 150nm, 450nm, and 770nm. The thicknesses were chosen to be half the waveguide width for optimal transmission. Fabrication was successful for all three waveguide widths on …

Fabrication Of Algan/Gan High Electron Mobility Transistors, Vijay Gopal Thirupakuzi Vangipuram

Journal of the Microelectronic Engineering Conference

A first attempt at fabricating AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs) on a Si substrate was made at RIT. A basic process flow was developed to fabricate enhancement-mode devices. The proposed fabrication flow was attempted and completed. The single metallization step using Ni as the metal yielded Schottky contacts in source, drain and gate regions.

Fabrication Of Algan/Ganhigh Electron Mobility Transistors, Vijay Gopal T.V.

Journal of the Microelectronic Engineering Conference

No abstract provided.

Etching Process Characterization Of Nitride And Polysilicon Layer Using Trioniii Etcher, Sudmun Habib

Journal of the Microelectronic Engineering Conference

No abstract provided.

Transfer Process With 2d Transitional Metal Dichalcogenides Materials, William Huang

Journal of the Microelectronic Engineering Conference

The goal of this project is to expand RIT’s knowledge on non-traditional 2D materials and to develop a tape-transfer process for single to double atomic layers of Molybdenum Disulfide from a substrate containing bulk MoS2 to a blank substrate. The exfoliated materials will be inspected and characterized through both optical microscope and Raman Spectroscopy. The ultimate goal is to build it into devices to conduct electrical testing for its material and electrical properties. Material and electrical properties of the exfoliated materials will further be investigated and compared to MedeA simulation results.

Transfer Process With 2d Transitional Metal Dichalcogenides Materials, William Huang

Journal of the Microelectronic Engineering Conference

No abstract provided.

Capping Layers For Increased Thermal Stability Of Igzo Thin-Film Transistors, Jason Konowitch

Journal of the Microelectronic Engineering Conference

The goal of this project was to initially re-establish a baseline process for the fabrication of Indium-Gallium-Zinc Oxide thin-film transistors, shown in Figure 1, that have been a part of ongoing research here at RIT. After bringing the fabricated devices back into a reliable process, capping layer differences were investigated to determine their effects on device thermal stability. The time of the passivation layer anneal was varied between 3 and 4 hours for the primary lot and the temperature of the ALD capping layer was varied between 150°C and 200°C. The devices were tested and then thermally stressed on a …

Capping Layers For Increased Thermal Stability Of Igzo Thin-Film Transistors, Jason Konowitch

Journal of the Microelectronic Engineering Conference

No abstract provided.

Biristor Array Investigation, Jeremiah Dyson Leit

Journal of the Microelectronic Engineering Conference

No abstract provided.

Fefet Process Integration And Characterization, Jordan Merkel

Journal of the Microelectronic Engineering Conference

Hafnium oxide-based ferroelectrics are gaining popularity in the field of non-volatile memory due to their superior scalability in reference to traditional, lead-based ferroelectric materials and their compatibility with CMOS technology. Ferroelectric field-effect transistors (FeFETs) incorporate such materials in their gate stack, providing for bi-stable transfer characteristics and threshold voltages, which can be interpreted as storage values of 0 or 1. The difference between these threshold voltages is a FeFET figure of merit, referred to as the memory window (MW) of the device.

A process for fabricating n-channel FeFETs in-house at RIT has been developed, incorporating atomic layer deposition (ALD) of …