Engineering Commons^™

Nano-Biophysical Approaches For Assessing Nanoparticle Interactions With Biological Systems, Zachary Untracht

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Understanding interactions between nanoparticles and biological systems is fundamental for the development of emerging nano-biotechnology applications. In this thesis, I present an investigation of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles interactions with biomolecules in two separate studies. The first section of my thesis covers tracking and detection of ZnO nanoparticles using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). ZinkicideTM is a bactericidal ZnO nanoparticle which has been developed for agriculture. The characterization of Zinkicide in biological media and in solution has been difficult due to its high dispersibility and ultra-small size. SDS-PAGE is considered a golden standard for protein qualitative interpretations. In …

Terpene Synthase Genes Originated From Bacteria Through Horizontal Gene Transfer Contribute To Terpenoid Diversity In Fungi, Qidong Jia, Xinlu Chen, Tobias G. Kollner, Jan Rinkel, Jianyu Fu, Jessy Labbe, Wangdan Xiong, Jeroen S. Dickschat, Jonathan Gershenzon, Feng Chen

Nebraska Center for Biotechnology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Fungi are successful eukaryotes of wide distribution. They are known as rich producers of secondary metabolites, especially terpenoids, which are important for fungi-environment interactions. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is an important mechanism contributing to genetic innovation of fungi. However, it remains unclear whether HGT has played a role in creating the enormous chemical diversity of fungal terpenoids. Here we report that fungi have acquired terpene synthase genes (TPSs), which encode pivotal enzymes for terpenoid biosynthesis, from bacteria through HGT. Phylogenetic analysis placed the majority of fungal and bacterial TPS genes from diverse taxa into two clades, indicating ancient …

The Effect Of Impact Location On Brain Strain, Stephen Tiernan, Gary Byrne Mr

Articles

Objective: To determine the effect of impact direction on strains within the brain.

Research design: Laboratory drop tests of hybrid III head-form and finite element simulation of impacts.

Methods and procedures: A head-form instrumented with accelerometers and gyroscopes was dropped from 10 different heights in four orientations: front, rear, left and right hand side. Twelve impacts with constant impact energy were chosen to simulate, to determine the effect of impact location. A finite element head model was used to simulate these impacts, using 6 degrees of freedom. Following this a further set of simulations were performed, where the same acceleration …

Communication Of Deaf People Based On Myoware Muscle Sensor, Mohamad Ataya

Research Opportunities for Engineering Undergraduates (ROEU) Program 2018-19

The current project aims to create a product that enhances communication of deaf people. The developed product has the following features:

• a muscle sensor that transcribes sign language into actual letters

• a voice detector that translates speech into actual words

• the ability to receive and send emergency alerts.

Cichlid Size Vs Flow Rate, Amy E. Naumovski

STAR Program Research Presentations

Cichlids are a diverse group of fish that are known for their prenatal and postnatal care of their eggs and frys (baby fish). This unique characteristic creates a limitation on the amount of eggs a cichlid can lay and protect, which is particulalry effected by the size of the eggs. Cichlids have a large variance in their egg size, which correlates to a large variance in their fry size. This project explores the trade offs cichlids make in egg size and fry size by specifically testing the ability of varying sized cichlids to swim in different flow rates. This could …

Scada Preventative Maintenance: Reducing The Potential Of Unexpected Failures, Kyle Feist, Zachary Markow, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Irrigation district infrastructure utilizing Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems can perform a critical service to irrigators, but also present the risk of damage to nearby property and humans in certain failure scenarios. It is therefore prudent to minimize the scope, frequency, and duration of SCADA component failure. However, it is typical for irrigation districts to focus on corrective (post-failure) SCADA maintenance activities, instead of investing in preventive maintenance.

Preventive SCADA maintenance requires budget and labor investment. However, it is anticipated that it is possible to balance the effectiveness and expenses of a preventative maintenance program with some strategic …

Mechanical Engineering Technology Newsletter 2019, Department Of Manufacturing And Mechanical Engineering Technology, Michigan Technological University

Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology Newsletters

Table of Contents

• Where Racing Will Take Him
• Irwin Wins Center for Teaching and Learning Instructional Award
• Five MET Students Inducted into Epsilon Pi Tau Honor Society
• 2018 and 2019 Scholarship Awards
• 2018 Bob Mark Business Model Competition
• Senior Design Projects
• What's New?

Special Edition: Surveying Engineering Newsletter, Department Of Civil And Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering Newsletters

Table of Contents

• Student News
• 2018 and 2019 Program Scholar Awards
• Alumni Notes
• Program News
• New Geospatial Data Act That Will Bring Changes to America and the World
• National Society of Professional Surveyors

2019 Civil And Environmental Engineering Department News, Department Of Civil And Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering Newsletters

Table of Contents

• PCA
• Department Awards
• Faculty Awards
• Faculty Features
• New Faculty
• Student Features
• Alumni Features
• Lifetime Donors
• Student Orgs
• Outreach

Irrigation Water Quality—A Contemporary Perspective, Arindam Malakar, Daniel D. Snow, Chittaranjan Ray

Nebraska Water Center: Faculty Publications

In the race to enhance agricultural productivity, irrigation will become more dependent on poorly characterized and virtually unmonitored sources of water. Increased use of irrigation water has led to impaired water and soil quality in many areas. Historically, soil salinization and reduced crop productivity have been the primary focus of irrigation water quality. Recently, there is increasing evidence for the occurrence of geogenic contaminants in water. The appearance of trace elements and an increase in the use of wastewater has highlighted the vulnerability and complexities of the composition of irrigation water and its role in ensuring proper crop growth, and …

Computationally Efficient, Multi-Domain Hybrid Modeling Of Surface Integrity In Machining And Related Thermomechanical Finishing Processes, Julius M. Schoop, David Adeniji, Ian S. Brown

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

In order to enable more widespread implementation of sophisticated process modeling, a novel, rapidly deployable multi-physics hybrid model of surface integrity in finishing operations is proposed. Rather than modeling detailed chip formation mechanics, as is common in numerical models, the proposed models integrates existing analytical and semi-empirical models of the plastic, elastic, thermal and thermodynamic domains. Using this approach, highly complex surface integrity phenomena such as residual stresses, grain size, phase composition, microhardness profile, etc. can be accurately predicted in a manner of seconds. It is envisioned that this highly efficient modeling scheme will drive new innovations in surface engineering.

Milton R. Johnson Collection, University Archives And Special Collections, Prescott Memorial Library, Louisiana Tech University

Manuscript Finding Aids

Materials from donor's student days at Louisiana Polytechnic Institute; and material from donor's tenure as professor in Tech's School of Engineering.

A-017 Louisiana Tech University, College Of Engineering Oral History Collection, University Archives And Special Collections, Prescott Memorial Library, Louisiana Tech University

University Archives Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

A-024 Louisiana Tech University, College Of Engineering, Department Of Electrical Engineering Collection, 1956 - 1970, University Archives And Special Collections, Prescott Memorial Library, Louisiana Tech University

University Archives Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

A-144 Louisiana Tech University,Department Of Civil Engineering, Student Chapter, American Society Of Civil Engineers, Annual Reports, 1978-1993, University Archives And Special Collections, Prescott Memorial Library, Louisiana Tech University

University Archives Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

A-194 Louisiana Tech University, Papers Of Dr. Joseph J. Thigpen, Dean Of College Of Engineering And Science, 1935-1985, University Archives And Special Collections, Prescott Memorial Library, Louisiana Tech University

University Archives Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

Experimental And Numerical Behavior Of Plain Hybrid Fiber Metal Laminate Composites, Aiea A. Elhabak, Mostafa Shazly, Tarek A. Osman, Aly A. Khattab

Centre for Advanced Materials

This study presents an investigation to the mechanical properties of FML components under static axial and bending loads. Two types of Fiber Metal Laminates (FMLs), namely, FML 1 and 2 were considered in the present research. FML1 contains 4 layers of laminated glass/epoxy laminate while FML 2 contains two aramid fiber laminates that replaced the glass/epoxy laminates and adjacent to the inner metal layer. Experimental stiffness and strength are discussed and compared with the theoretical values. Under bending loads, two different end conditions are considered, free and fixed and the results both ends were compared. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was …

Mechanical Behavior Of Aluminum Hybrid Laminates, Aiea A. Elhabak, Mostafa Shazly, Tarek A. Osman, Aly A. Khattab

Centre for Advanced Materials

This work has been dedicated to investigating the stiffness and strength of FML components under static axial and bending loads. There are two types of fiber metal laminates (FML) called Al3G4 and Al3G2K2 labeled according to the plate design. Al3G4 is Glare 3/2 -0.4 contains 4 layers of laminated glass/epoxy laminate. Al3G2K2, is a hybrid fiber laminate, has two aramid fiber laminates adjacent to the inner metal layer. Experimental stiffness and strength are discussed and compared with the theoretical data. The relationship between tensile and bending forces is discussed. Referred to the end bending condition, results of free end support …

Towards More Stable And Ion-Conductive Organic Electrolytes For Rechargeable Batteries, Shuting Feng

Link Foundation Energy Fellowship Reports

The global society urgently needs to remedy the effects of climate change resulting from burning fossil fuels and significantly increase the utilization of renewable energy. Rechargeable batteries are important enablers of sustainable energy use, as they can be employed to store energy generated from renewable but intermittent source. Enhancing the functionality of battery electrolytes, such as (electro)chemical stability and ion conductivity, can improve battery energy density, operation efficiency, and safety. This project explores strategies to improve the stability and ion conductivity of organic electrolytes for rechargeable batteries. Special attention is given to aprotic lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries, which offer theoretical energy …

Rc Baja: Drivetrain, Nick Paulay

All Undergraduate Projects

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) annually hosts an RC Baja challenge, testing a RC car in three events: slalom, acceleration and Baja. Although ASME will not be holding an event this year, CWU will be holding an event with three RC Baja car teams from CWU as well as other teams from local colleges. The RC car that is tested in these events is designed and manufactured typically in teams of two. The RC car that each team submits must be able to complete these events to score points. One part of great importance for the RC car …

Feed Control: Composite Recycle, Rosy Perez

All Undergraduate Projects

The Boeing Company gave Central Washington University an opportunity for students to research and come up with an idea to reduce costs and landfill waste caused by the trimmings from the 777x composite wing pieces. The engineering and manufacturing for this project is about transporting composite material through to the delamination and chipper process. The delamination process uses a ram to press two claw shaped devices together that bends and deforms the material in opposite directions. The chipper process uses counter rotating saw blades spaced 1/8” apart to produce small shredded material. It is important for this newly designed feed …

Carbon Fiber Recycler : Fiber Reclaimer, Alexander Edwards

All Undergraduate Projects

Boeing uses composite components for the 777x aircraft. The production of composite parts results in flashing (excess material) that must be trimmed and "thrown away" as scrap. Boeing is investigating means of recycling these scraps. The method proposed for this project is to delaminate and shred the composite material. The delamination process uses a ram to press two claw shaped devices together that bends and deforms the material in opposite directions. The chipper process uses counter rotating saw blades spaced 1/8” apart to produce small shredded material. This shredding material is pyrolyzed (heated) to decay the resin leaving the carbon …

Medallion Manufacturing, Luis Perez

All Undergraduate Projects

A more efficient manufacturing process is needed to create the approximately 30 MET medallions, given to the graduating class. The process must be repeatable, consistent, and efficient. The objective is to create a method that can remain the same year to year, save time, and be repeated by anybody. Two approaches were developed: a casting method, and a machining method involving a computer numerically controlled (CNC) mill. The casting method began with a match plate was developed by attaching 3D printed models and runners to plywood. The design was evaluated before the pour using SolidCast software. Special attention was directed …

Automatic Hydraulic Vehicle Jack – “Auto-Jack” Frame, Nick Stadelman

All Undergraduate Projects

The Automotive Industry faces extreme safety concerns during the vehicle lifting process, how can these safety concerns be mediated for the personals in the automotive industry during this process? A revolutionary vehicle jack (“The Auto-Jack”) was developed to remove all unnecessary safety concerns that are presented to the user during the vehicle lifting process. Removing the user from having to position a standard vehicle jack and/or jack stands underneath the vehicle once the vehicle is lifted will eliminate all safety concerns surrounding user inflicted failure. A hydraulic circuit is used to operate the Auto-Jack, this allows the user to operate …

Composite Recycler: Frame, Alfonso Olivera

All Undergraduate Projects

How can composites be recycled? The Composite Recycler is an ongoing project that started in September 2017. The purpose of this project was to create a machine that will delaminate the composites, cut them, and heat them up to separate the resin from the composites so they can be recycled. A group was put together for the 2018-2019 academic year to further the project as a whole improve the operation of the device. The existing base was used as well as the cutter and the power sources. The upgrades included; a housing to support the transport rollers and changing from …

R/C Mini Baja: Drivetrain, Kyle Aitken

All Undergraduate Projects

A device is needed that can power the back wheels of R/C car and allow it to drive smoothly. This drivetrain also has to transmit power to the axles in an acceptable height range to comply with the frame and suspension. The project was supported by a team member who designed the frame and suspension. The design of this project consists of two sub-assemblies that make up the drive train assembly. The transmission assembly uses gears to convert the rotational speed from the motor to the drive shaft. The gearbox assembly also uses gears and converts the rotational speed from …

Electrathon Vehicle: Electrical Power, Samuel Johnson

All Undergraduate Projects

The Electrathon Vehicle: Electrical Power proposal is an in depth dive into theorizing, constructing and testing the design of an electrical circuit. A breakdown of this report gives an extensive and thorough analysis of the problem. How do you efficiently deliver 1kw/hr of power to an electric motor? The methods used to face this challenge and the results seen after are laid out in this report.

The challenge of competing in the Electrathon Race is delivering power to an electric motor for an entire hour without exceeding 1kW/hr of power. The goal is to travel as much distance in the …

Laboratory Water Distiller Project, Duncan Njunge

All Undergraduate Projects

Abstract

The goal of the water distiller project is to provide purified water to all hospitals and laboratories for daily use. As per WHO standards, purified water is a great necessity in these facilities for DNA sequencing, protein research, among others. Available water is not always clean because it is transported through pipes and can get into contact with organisms thereby causing the spread of waterborne diseases. Water distillation processes remove 99.9% of contaminants and water chemicals like fluorine and calcium to produce pure water. For every use, the distiller mechanism uses an electric current as the source of energy …

Custom Designed Wall Mounted Shop Crane, Bradley Lewis

All Undergraduate Projects

The objective of this project was to design and fabricate a custom wall mounted jib crane to specific, non-standard dimensions. The crane was designed to be industry rated for 2000 pounds, rotate at least 180 degrees, and be designed to have a maximum boom length tailored to the specific installation site. Two potential installation sites and purposes were selected for construction: inside the bay doors of a fabrication shop, intended to transfer large pieces of material to and from a plasma table, and inside a car maintenance garage, intended to lift and remove engines and transmissions from cars.

Design of …

Toward The Design And Implementation Of Traceability Engineering Tool Support, Subik Pokharel, Hassan Reza

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Requirements of a system keep on changing based on the need of stakeholders or the system developers, making requirement engineering an important aspect in software development. This develops a need for appropriate requirement change management. The importance of requirements traceability is defining relationships between the requirements and artefacts extracted by the stakeholder during the software development life-cycle and gives vital information to encourage software understanding. In this paper, we have concentrated on developing a tool for requirement traceability that can be used to extend the requirement elicitation and identification of system-wide qualities using the notion of quality attribute scenarios to …