Engineering Commons^™

An Evaluation Of The Relationships Between Collegiate Aviation Safety Management System Initiative, Self-Efficacy, Transformational Safety Leadership And Safety Behavior Mediated By Safety Motivation, Daniel Kwasi Adjekum

Aviation Faculty Publications

The study conceptualized Safety Management System (SMS) initiative, self-efficacy, and transformational safety leadership as constructs that relates to safety behavior (measured by safety compliance and safety participation) when mediated by safety motivation using a quantitative approach. Structural equation modeling techniques was used to derive a final measurement model that fit the empirical data and was used to test the study hypotheses. Utilizing a sample of 282 collegiate flight students and instructors from a large public university in the US, a 46-item survey was used to measure respondent’s perceptions on the study variables. The results indicate that perceptions of SMS policy …

Primary Blast Waves Induced Brain Dynamics Influenced By Head Orientations, Yi Hua, Yugang Wang, Linxia Gu

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

There is controversy regarding the directional dependence of head responses subjected to blast loading. The goal of this work is to characterize the role of head orientation in the mechanics of blast wave-head interactions as well as the load transmitting to the brain. A three-dimensional human head model with anatomical details was reconstructed from computed tomography images. Three different head orientations with respect to the oncoming blast wave, i.e., front-on with head facing blast, back-on with head facing away from blast, and side-on with right side exposed to blast, were considered. The reflected pressure at the blast wave-head interface positively …

The Impact Of A Dynamic Environment On Deposition And Cellular Response To Silver Nanoparticles, Robert F. Uhrig

Honors Theses

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are utilized in many different applications, such as an antibacterial agents or as protective coating against ultraviolet light. However, these AgNPs are known to cause potentially harmful biological effects, including toxicity, induction of stress, and immune activation. In this study, the effects of AgNPs on a human lung cell model were examined within both a static and dynamic environment. Most NP-based research is carried out in static environments, but do not accurate reflect dynamic physiological conditions. Dynamic fluid movement was introduced to the cell culture through the use of a multi-channel peristaltic pump. To further characterize the …

Assessing Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory As A Computational Tool To Model Chromophores Intercalated Into Dna Scaffolds, Eric Nelson

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Understanding first-principles energy transport in organic molecules reveals novel energy harvesting systems, quantum computing, and solar power energy transportation and production. DiSC₂(5), also named Cy5, exhibits bright fluorescence signals and has shown promising lossless exciton transport properties, as well as tunable energy absorption and emission when conjoined with DNA. This paper focuses on functional groups of organic molecules, specifically the chromophoric red dye DiSC₂(5) and its interaction with H- and J-aggregates and with DNA. Density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) are applied to investigate the chromophore Cy5 in vertically stacked (H-aggregates) …

Implementing Online Updating To Complex Hysteresis Models In Real- Time Hybrid Simulation Using Constrained Unscented Kalman Filter, Bilal Ahmed Mohammed

Masters Theses

Although conventional experimental methods, such as quasi-static testing, shake table testing, etc., perform well to evaluate structural seismic performance necessary for modern seismic design, the quasi-static loading and/or reduced scale specimen used in shake table testing may not provide true dynamic responses of structural systems. To overcome these limitations, real-time hybrid simulation (RTHS) was developed, which is a combination of physical testing of the experimental substructure and analytical simulation of the numerical substructure. With the advancement of hybrid simulation, it is now possible to economically test large to full-scale specimens in laboratories at the real earthquake rate. Online model updating …

Computing Spatiotemporal Heat Maps Of Lipid Electropore Formation: A Statistical Approach, Willy Wriggers, Frederica Castellani, Julio A. Kovacs, P. Thomas Vernier

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

We extend the multiscale spatiotemporal heat map strategies originally developed for interpreting molecular dynamics simulations of well-structured proteins to liquids such as lipid bilayers and solvents. Our analysis informs the experimental and theoretical investigation of electroporation, that is, the externally imposed breaching of the cell membrane under the influence of an electric field of sufficient magnitude. To understand the nanoscale architecture of electroporation, we transform time domain data of the coarse-grained interaction networks of lipids and solvents into spatial heat maps of the most relevant constituent molecules. The application takes advantage of our earlier graph-based activity functions by accounting for …

Investigating The Potential Of Using Off-Axis 3d Woven Composites In Composite Joints’ Applications, Mohamed Nasr Saleh, Ying Wang, Arief Yudhanto, Adam Joesbury, Prasad Potluri, Gilles Lubineau, Constantinos Soutis

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The effect of circular notch has been evaluated for three different architectures of three-dimensional (3D) carbon fiber woven composites (orthogonal, ORT; layer-to-layer, LTL; angle interlock, AI) through open-hole quasi-static tension and double-lap bearing strength tests in the off-axis (45°) direction. Damage characterization is monitored using Digital Image correlation (DIC) for open-hole testing and X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) for double-lap bearing strength test. The off-axis notched 3D woven composites exhibit minor reduction (less than 10 %) of the notched strength compared to the un-notched strength. DIC strain contour clearly show stress/strain localization regions around the hole periphery and stress/strain redistribution away …

How Student Written Communication Skills Benefit During Participation In An Industry-Sponsored Civil Engineering Capstone Course, Ryan N. Fries, Bradford Cross, Jianpeng Zhou, Chad Verbais

SIUE Faculty Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Because many engineering programs use capstone design courses and value strong communication abilities, authors sought to identify how student written communication skills changed because of industry-sponsored capstone design projects. A student exit survey was collected at the end of the capstone design course during faculty-led projects and projects led by practicing engineers in industry. These results led the researchers to subsequently evaluate two semesters of before-andafter writing samples using a rubric. Student surveys suggested a statistically significant increase in learning about professional issues, problem solving, and written/oral communication. Evaluation of student writing samples suggests that the students significantly improved their …

Linear Precoding For Fading Cognitive Multiple-Access Wiretap Channel With Finite-Alphabet Inputs, Juening Jin, Chengshan Xiao, Meixia Tao, Wen Chen

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We investigate the fading cognitive multiple-access wiretap channel (CMAC-WT), in which two secondary-user transmitters (STs) send secure messages to a secondary-user receiver (SR) in the presence of an eavesdropper and subject to interference threshold constraints at multiple primary-user receivers (PRs). We design linear precoders to maximize the average secrecy sum rate for a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) fading CMAC-WT under finite-alphabet inputs and statistical channel state information at STs. For this nondeterministic polynomial-time NP-hard problem, we utilize an accurate approximation of the average secrecy sum rate to reduce the computational complexity and then present a two-layer algorithm by embedding the convex-concave procedure …

Inclusion Of An Introduction To Infrastructure Course In A Civil And Environmental Engineering Curriculum, Esmaeili Behzad, Philip J. Parker, Steven D. Hart, Brooke K. Mayer, Led Klosky, Michael R. Penn

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Civil infrastructure refers to the built environment (sometimes referred to as public works) and consists of roads, bridges, buildings, dams, levees, drinking water treatment facilities, wastewater treatment facilities, power generation and transmission facilities, communications, solid waste facilities, hazardous waste facilities, and other sectors. Although there is a need to train engineers who have a holistic view of infrastructure, there is evidence that civil and environmental engineering (CEE) programs have not fully addressed this increasingly recognized need. One effective approach to address this educational gap is to incorporate a course related to infrastructure into the curriculum for first-year or second-year …

Fabrication And Characterization Of Alₓcofenicu₁₋ₓ High Entropy Alloys By Laser Metal Deposition, X. Chen, L. Yan, S. Karnati, Y. Zhang, Frank W. Liou

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

White Matter Hyperintensity Associations With Cerebral Blood Flow In Elderly Subjects Stratified By Cerebrovascular Risk, Ahmed A. Bahrani, David K. Powell, Guoqiang Yu, Eleanor S. Johnson, Gregory A. Jicha, Charles D. Smith

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Objective: This study aims to add clarity to the relationship between deep and periventricular brain white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and cerebrovascular risk in older persons. Methods: Deep white matter hyperintensity (dWMH) and periventricular white matter hyperintensity (pWMH) and regional gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) blood flow from arterial spin labeling were quantified from magnetic resonance imaging scans of 26 cognitively normal elderly subjects stratified by cerebrovascular disease (CVD) risk. Fluidattenuated inversion recovery images were acquired using a high-resolution 3-dimensional (3-D) sequence that reduced partial volume effects seen with slicebased techniques. Results: dWMHs but not …

A Mechanistic-Empirical Impact Analysis Of Different Truck Configurations On A Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (Jpcp), Lubinda F. Walubita, Tito P. Nyamuhokya, Stefan A. Romanoschi, Xiaodi Hu, Mena I. Souliman

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Until the last decade, the 1993 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) design guide has been traditionally used for the design of flexible and rigid pavements in the USA and some parts of the world. However, because of its inability to meet the new traffic and material challenges, a Mechanistic Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) was introduced based on an NCHRP 1-37 A study conducted in 2004. This study used the MEPDG software and associated models to determine, through comparative truck damage analysis, the effects of nine different truck configurations on a 12 inch-jointed plain concrete pavement …

High Throughput In Vivo Analysis Of Plant Leaf Chemical Properties Using Hyperspectral Imaging, Piyush Pandey, Yufeng Ge, Vincent Stoerger, James C. Schnable

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

The possibility of predicting plant leaf chemical properties using hyperspectral images was studied. Sixty maize and 60 soybean plants were used, and two experiments were conducted: one with water limitation and the second with nutrient limitation, with the purpose of creating wide ranges of these chemical properties in plant leaf tissues. A hyperspectral imaging system with a spectral range from 550 to 1700 nm was used to acquire plant images in a high throughput fashion (plants placed on an automated conveyor belt). Leaf chemical properties were measured in the laboratory. Partial least squares regression was implemented on spectral data to …

Genetic Code Expansion In Biochemical Investigations And Biomedical Applications, Nanxi Wang

Department of Chemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Genetic code expansion provides a powerful tool for site-specific incorporation of unnatural amino acids (unAAs) with novel biochemical and physiological properties into proteins in live cells and organisms. To achieve this, a nonsense codon suppression system, which consists of an orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) and tRNA pair that specifically decodes a nonsense codon (e.g., amber codon and quadruplet codon) with an unAA but do not “cross talk” with their endogenous counterparts, was established. This Ph.D. thesis presents our efforts on evolution and application of nonsense codon suppression systems for biochemical and biomedical investigations.

In Chapter 1, a brief overview of …

Using Polymerization, Glass Structure, And Quasicrystalline Theory To Produce High Level Radioactive Borosilicate Glass Remotely: A 20+ Year Legacy, Carol M. Jantzen

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Vitrification is currently the most widely used technology for the treatment of high level radioactive wastes (HLW) throughout the world. Most of the nations that have generated HLW are immobilizing in borosilicate glass. One of the primary reasons that glass has become the most widely used immobilization media is the relative simplicity of the vitrification process, e.g. melt a highly variable waste with some glass forming additives such as SiO₂ and B₂O₃ in the form of a premelted frit and pour the molten mixture into a stainless steel canister. Seal the canister before moisture can enter …

Research: South Dakota State University, Spring 2017, Christie Delfanian, Emily Weber

State of Discovery South Dakota State University's Research Magazine

Pharmacy researcher investigates how aspirin kills cancer cells [page] 1
Problem-solving, cornerstone of SDSU research [page] 2
Fluid flow model evaluates clotting risk in new stent graft design [page] 2
Sanford research project inspires graduate student [page] 3
Experience key to nurses' comfort in communicating with terminally ill patients [page] 4
Nondigestible starch feeds gut microbes, reduces inflammation [page] 5
Researchers investigate workings if antibody therapeutics [page] 6
DNA, RNA sequencing available in campus to researchers statewide [page] 7
QUBIC-R software helps researchers model, visualize gene expression networks [page] 8
Scientists assess survival of swine viruses in imported feed ingredients …

Revisiting The One-Sided Ewma Control Chart Design, Duy Anh Duong-Tran

Masters Theses

Over the past half-century, Exponential Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) control charts have been widely used in Statistical Process Control to detect small and persistent process shifts. In theory, EWMA control limits monotonically increase over time to account for the continual growth of the EWMA statistic’s variance. These control limits are often assumed constant and are set to their respective asymptotic limits. While not theoretically correct, this simplifies the process of applying and analyzing the EWMA control chart while having little effect on the chart’s performance. One-Sided EWMA charts are often implemented when it is only desirable to detect shifts in …

Adopting Unmanned Flight Operations Into Controlled Airspace, Jennah C. Perry, Johnny Young, Jacqueline Luedtke, Benjamin Cook, Holly Hughes, Allison M. Little, Kyle Wilkerson

Publications

Unmanned aircraft activity is becoming more common within the National Airspace System (NAS) and is expected to dominate the NAS in the near future. Specific procedures for adopting unmanned aircraft into the National Airspace System (NAS).

A variation of the Military Grid Reference System was developed and digitally overlaid onto the radar display. To incorporate this grid system, a customized flight plan database was created for the storage of operator submitted flight plans. Instead of verbal communication, a computer chat system is used for communication because of the low altitude operations in the field.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has …

Architecture, Simulation, And Implementation Of Commodity Computer Components In Software Defined Radio Systems, Amean Al-Safi

Dissertations

Radio communications have evolved through an extended history of theoretical and practical component development into modern devices most often envisioned as the ubiquitous smart phones found in almost everyone’s hand on a university campus. During this development, radios have evolved from analog devices operating at low frequencies into nearly all digital processing systems referred to as Software Defined Radio (SDR) operating in frequency bands over 1 Gigahertz. Although specific forms and types of communication are fiercely pursued by commercial communication companies and industry, there remain numerous concepts where further advancement is possible, and applications, possibly less commercially viable, where advancements …

Multiprocessing Real Time Vision Based System For Condition Monitoring In Solar Panels, Moath Hashim Alsafasfeh

Dissertations

Enabling an algorithm to be executed in parallel on a multicore or a multiprocessor system has become a necessity for many real time applications. Multicore systems are widely used to improve performance and satisfy time and power demands. In this dissertation, solar energy, which has proved itself as the future clean source of energy, is also considered in real time. Optimum utilization of this energy propelled research efforts into many directions of the solar system components. However, while real time operations of Photovoltaic (PV) systems occur without any supervisory mechanisms, many internal and/or external obstacles can occur and hinder a …

Dynamic Understeer Control Using Active Rear Toe, Mark Oliver Dixon Kaufman

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

This thesis was conducted to show the ability of Active Rear Toe to control the understeer characteristics of a vehicle. Active rear toe is the ability to control the angle of the rear wheels around the vertical axis, allowing the car’s turning radius to change. By changing this radius, the lateral acceleration can be controlled, therefore the understeer of the vehicle can be controlled. The controls scheme is a sliding mode control, specifically a hyperbolic tangent boundary layer and a type 1 zeno controller. The system shows effectiveness to control the understeer of the vehicle up until limit grip on …

Feasibility Of Neural Networks For Maritime Visual Detection On A Mobile Platform, Robert Goring

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Object detection through computer vision has traditionally been difficult to reliably implement due to various lighting conditions caused by weather and time of day. Any changes in conditions can be detrimental to the detector’s ability to accurately identify objects. A modern approach implements deep learning techniques to classify and train a neural network. While highly effective, this approach can be cumbersome and computationally intensive. This project will investigate the feasibility of using deep learning to detect, classify, and track objects in near real-time while being processed on a mobile platform. I will investigate the feasibility of these processes on a …

The Extent Of Distraction Of Cell Phone Conversations For Passengers In Simulated Flight, Tianhua Li

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Currently, passengers are forbidden from making cell phone calls during flights in the United States due to cellular electronic interference. However, some related research has demonstrated that the use of cell phones has little interference with avionics. Furthermore, any potential electronic interference can be eliminated by using new technology. Although talking on the cell phone does not cause electronic interference, the distraction of a passenger caused by a cell phone may negatively impact safety. The cell phone calls have been found to affect people’s attention and performance. In-flight announcements are popular methods to inform commercial airliner passengers of their situation …

Effects Of Graphical Weather Information Versus Textual Weather Information On Situation Awareness In Meteorology, Stefan Melendez

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Prior to a flight, pilots gather meteorological information to assess the weather conditions pertaining to their flight and to make decisions based on it. This information can come in various formats, such as text and graphical weather information. Research has shown that people have varying learning preferences and that most people prefer visual learning to verbal learning (i.e., graphical over text). It is hypothesized that this difference in learning preference can affect the way pilots interpret and apply the information they obtain prior to their flight. The researcher hypothesizes that graphical weather information has a greater, more positive impact on …

Multi-Agent Path Planning For Locating A Radiating Source In An Unknown Environment, Stephanie M. Schwartz

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

A situation is addressed in which multiple autonomous agents are used to search an unknown environment for a target, the position and orientation of which is known with respect to each agent. A controlling framework is proposed to inform and coordinate the agents’ movements in order to reduce the time required to locate the target. Four primary variables are considered: the cost function used to select the agents’ paths, the number of agents in a given scenario, the distance over which the agents are assumed to communicate, and the size of the environment in which the agents are operating. It …

Securing Database Users From The Threat Of Sql Injection Attacks, Nisharg Shah

Electrical Engineering Theses and Dissertations

In the 21^st century, there has been a significant rise in dependency on the Internet for daily activities. Web applications such as online banking, web-based emails, social networking, and many more services have become an instant means of communication. These web applications and the data to which they have access are often targeted using malicious attacks, including SQL (Structured Query Language) Injection Attacks (from now on referenced as SQLIAs), which may cause serious damage. In particular, attackers use SQLIAs to target interactive web applications that incorporate database services. In a SQLIA, an attacker can insert malicious SQL code as …

Evaluation Of Tack Coating Practices For Asphalt Overlays In Nebraska, Soroosh Amelian, Yong-Rak Kim

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

The strength of the bond between asphalt layers affects the lifespan of pavement structures. It is also a key factor in preventing major pavement distresses, such as slippage cracking and delamination. This research project evaluates and compares the effectiveness and performance of different tack coating approaches to ensure the proper bond strength is achieved in asphalt concrete (AC) interlayers through an experimental study. Various tack coat materials, including different types of emulsified asphalt and asphalt binders, at multiple application rates and dilution ratios were investigated. In the first part of this study, laboratory-prepared samples were used to evaluate the sensitivity …

Biomass Cookstoves: An Empirical Study Into The Relationship Between Thermal Efficiency And Tending Practices For The Developing World, Erin Peiffer

Honors Theses

More than 2 billion people in the world use biomass stoves for cooking and heating their homes. Due to incomplete combustion, toxic byproducts such as soot, nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide gasses form. These toxic substances contribute to pollution and can lead to serious health issues over time if inhaled leading to approximately 4 million premature deaths each year. The formation of these toxic substances can be mitigated, in part, through the introduction of increased turbulence intensity allowing for the so-called “well-stirred combustion regime”. Here we will be exploring the health, environmental, and social effects of biomass combustion in the …

Evaluation Of Protection Of Frp Wrap On Bridge Piers From Corrosive Effects Of Snow And Ice Chemicals, Lizzie Miller

Honors Theses

Highway bridge components, such as decks and piers, are structures that are often exposed to chlorine-heavy chemicals. Corrosion of rebar, one of the main contributors to structural deficiencies in highway bridges, is largely caused by chloride contamination from exposure to deicing salts and chemicals. Current forms of external protection to highway bridge piers include paint coatings, shells, and wraps. This thesis will focus on the protective capabilities that Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) wraps could provide to bridge piers. ASTM C666 was utilized to recreate environmental conditions, during which concrete samples were exposed to calcium chloride. ASTM C1760-12 was utilized to …