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Understanding Elderly Mitigation Strategies for Indoor Smoke During Wildfire Events
No full textThis study investigates how senior adults in the western United States perceive and respond to wildfire smoke risks, extending theoretical frameworks like the Protective Action Decision Model and Theory of Planned Behavior with senior specific insights. Through semi-structured interviews, the research team generated a framework highlighting how seniors’ sensory experience, health impacts, information sources and mitigation behaviors interact within a dynamic feedback system. Findings reveal that seniors’ risk perception is influenced by memorable sensory experiences, while health concerns drive independent research and adoption of protective behaviors. The study also identifies unique barriers seniors face, including economic constraints, limited housing modification options and social factors affecting mitigation implementation. These insights can inform public health and community policy makers, emphasizing targeted communication strategies, equitable resource distribution systems, community-based support networks and inventions that provide tangible feedback on mitigation effectiveness. Overall, the study contributes valuable understanding about protecting vulnerable senior populations during increasingly frequent wildfire smoke events while acknowledging limitations in sample diversity that future studies should address
Implementation of Acoustic Pressure Waves to Enhance PEM Fuel Cell Performance
No full textProton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells are a promising clean energy technology that converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity with water as the only byproduct. However, a major challenge facing their widespread application is the buildup of water in the flow channels, which can restrict gas flow and reduce power output. This Major Qualifying Project (MQP) investigates the use of acoustic waves to improve water management within PEM fuel cells by integrating a speaker system into the fuel cell manifold. Building upon previous research by Professor Medhi Mortazavi, we developed an experimental setup to test the effectiveness of sound-induced pressure waves in clearing water droplets from the channels. While initial testing on a standalone test cell faces challenges, such as electrical shorting and inadequate sealing, we gained a deeper understanding of fuel cell operation and construction. Our primary success came from adapting the acoustic system to a 1.5-kilowatt fuel cell system, where we observed improved water removal performance and implementation of turbulent airflow. This speaker integration reveals promise for enhancing fuel cell efficiency. Future work will focus on refining the design, improving speaker durability, emphasizing power density, and enabling real-time response to water buildup for optimal system performance
Design and Fabrication of a small-scale RCV Engine
No full textThis project aims to design, fabricate, and analyze a Rotating Cylinder Valve (RCV) four-stroke internal-combustion engine. The RCV engine eliminates the poppet valves of a conventional four-stroke engine in favor of a rotating cylinder in which the piston travels, with a port that interfaces with the air inlet and exhaust channels. The team reviewed past MQPs, iterated upon the work done by the previous team in 2023-2024, redesigned a number of key parts using CAD, modified parts that the previous teams obtained, and assembled the engine using components machined in Washburn Shops
Shedding Light on the Evolution of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A H5N1 with Mutagenic Analysis
No full textIn late 2024, a new strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A H5N1 belonging to clade 2.3.4.4b appeared in North America. This virus led to bovine and poultry outbreaks with human infections and deaths. The continual mammalian infections grant HPAI A H5N1 the opportunity to adapt from α-2,3 to α-2,6 sialic acids and possibly become the next pandemic virus. The mutated hemagglutinin(HA) protein from a Louisiana man and a British Columbia teen were analyzed to visualize the changes in sialic acid preference. Three mutations from each HA protein were studied using single-cycle lentiviral assays. As more mutations were introduced, decreases in α-2,3 sialic acid preference were observed across both strains. The lack of increase in α-2,6 sialic acid may indicate that other mutations, like E627K in the PB2 gene, were more influential. Continued study of this lineage is critical to learn and prepare for future infectious disease outbreaks
Undersea Deployment of an Encapsulated Aerial Vehicle
No full textThe goal of this Major Qualifying Project is to create a proof-of-concept prototype of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and its underwater deployment mechanism. The main objective is to design a canister that maintains a UAV at atmospheric pressure from a depth of approximately 10 feet and ascends at a controlled speed. Upon surfacing, the canister will then automatically open and deploy the UAV for an autonomous flight path and land safely on the ground. The team split into two sub-teams, UAV and Canister, and both utilized the iterative design process to produce a final prototype. The UAV team designed and developed multiple models of a quadcopter drone that performs an autonomous flight path with a flight time of 10 mins, a max speed of 20 ft/sec, and a payload of 10lbs, meeting expectations outlined in the engineering experimentation, while the Canister team tested the buoyancy, time to rise to the surface, and the opening mechanism. The final prototype successfully demonstrated UAV deployment from an underwater canister
Development of a Temperature Regulating Bra Insert for Lactational Assistance
No full textBreastfeeding offers critical health benefits to both infants and lactating individuals, yet many discontinue prematurely due to common complications such as low milk supply, clogged ducts, and breast infections. Heat therapy has been shown to support milk flow by increasing blood circulation and alleviating discomfort, while real-time breast temperature monitoring may assist in early detection of complications. However, existing technologies are often non-wearable, clinic-based, or fail to provide continuous, comfortable heating and sensing. To address this gap, our team developed a wearable, silicone-based bra insert capable of both controlled heating and precise temperature sensing to support lactational success and breast health monitoring. The final design integrates six thermistors and a Kanthal A-1 heating wire, embedded in alternating concentric channels of thermally conductive and insulating silicone. The insert delivers regulated heat (up to 42 °C) and captures spatial temperature data across the breast surface. A key innovation in our process was the use of three-stage molding to form insulated pathways that prevent thermal interference between heating and sensing components. This structural design was optimized through iterative prototyping and material testing. Verification testing demonstrated that the system achieved temperature sensing precision with an average root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.25 °F (0.14 °C), indicating highly reliable thermal tracking. Heat distribution testing confirmed even warmth across the conductive regions after 10 minutes of operation, validating the system’s efficacy in delivering therapeutic heat. The device also includes a built-in shut-off logic that halts heating upon reaching the target temperature, allowing the same level of control precision as the sensing system. This project successfully meets predefined design objectives for comfort, safety, and performance. With further development, the system holds potential for integration with mobile applications and clinical communication tools, offering a new avenue for personalized lactation support and breast health diagnostics
DermaMend: A wound healing patch incorporating tissue derived ECM
No full textEvery 17 seconds, an individual in the U.S. is diagnosed with diabetes, totaling nearly 38.4 million people in 2024. Many cases result in immunocompromised environments such as hyperglycemia, causing chronic inflammation and impaired immune function, which contribute to Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs). With over 750,000 new cases annually, DFUs are a prevalent challenge, with a high occurrence rate (65%) and 20% of cases resulting in amputation. The team developed an off-the-shelf band-aid device that incorporates adipose tissue extracellular matrix with growth factors to enhance the vasculature and tissue repair at the hyperglycemic wound site. The final product, DermaMend hydrogel, was found to induce angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and migration in hyperglycemic environments using in vitro models. In addition, the patch was able to withstand uniaxial and cyclic loads while containing the hydrogel. The raw materials to make 5 mL of DermaMend and patch costs $13.36. Future considerations for this product include developing an in vivo DFU model and characterizing the hydrogel’s shelf life and manufacturability on a larger scale
Analyzing the Impact of Excess Dietary Sugar on Metabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans
No full textExcess dietary sugar requires a systematic response of lipid metabolism pathways to restore ideal membrane function. Previously, it has been shown that when excess glucose is introduced into the diet of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), there is an increase in saturated fatty acids. The PAQR-2 membrane fluidity sensor responds to the resulting rigidity by upregulating FAT-7, an enzyme essential in the production of unsaturated fatty acids, restoring appropriate membrane fluidity. This study quantifies the effect of other carbohydrates including excess fructose, sucrose, and galactose on the membranes of C. elegans through HPLC-MS/MS. We observed that excess fructose causes a trend towards shorter fatty acid chain lengths in phospholipids with phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) headgroups. Excess fructose also causes an increase in the ratio of PE to PC headgroups in the membrane. We hypothesize these changes could be due to environmental stress, altered metabolism, or oxidative damage. Additionally, it was found that galactose consistently interacts with metabolism in a manner comparable to glucose resulting in PC and PE double bonds and chain length exhibiting the same trends. Finally, sucrose exhibits complexities that warrant additional investigation including significant fluctuations in PC double bonds that oppose the trends of all other saccharides tested. Taken together, this project begins to uncover the complex effects that various dietary sugars have on lipid metabolism
Creating a Rhetorical Framework for Effective RBE Laboratory Instruction Documents
No full textHands-on lab assignments form the backbone of the core curriculum in WPI’s undergraduate robotics program. In recent years, however, students have been increasingly struggling to complete the programming tasks in these labs in a timely manner. The third course in the core curriculum—Unified Robotics III—proved a particular pain point, with students spending upwards of 20 hours a week on each lab. This MQP works to re-align Unified Robotics III’s lab curriculum with the course’s desired learning outcomes, and present lab activities in a more accessible format. I start by using Bloom’s Taxonomy to formalize learning objectives for the course. I then use techniques from the field of instructional design to create useful but concise lab activities that reinforce those learning outcomes. I create well-organized lab documents that combine instructions with executable code to aid student comprehension of programming concepts. The revised documents that I create in this MQP were tested in the C-term offering of Unified Robotics III and were found to reduce the amount of time students struggled with programming concepts. This report details the development of the lab documents and highlights the key moves that they make to reduce the amount of time students spend in labs
Cation intercalation in 1DL Titania: Applications in Lithium Storage and Cementitious Materials
No full textOne-dimensional lepidocrocite-like (1DL) titania is a nanomaterial that has previously been studied for properties including semiconductivity, photocatalyic behavior, and capacity for intercalation of various cations. This work further explored and quantified the cation intercalation capabilities with two practical applications in mind: 1) Use as a reusable material for extraction and storage of lithium and 2) interaction with calcium cations during the curing process in cementitous materials. Here, 1DL materials were synthesized in the conventional tetramethylammonium (TMA+) intercalated form, and then derivatized to other cation intercalated forms. For lithium storage, the repeatability of a lithium exchange cycle was explored by using dilute acid washing to reset the cation capacity of the 1DL. Potential interferences from other cations such as sodium and calcium were quantified using ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) and by constructing isotherms for the uptake mechanism. For cementitious material strength, 1DL in the Li intercalated form was dosed to a standard mortar mix using Portland cement and fourteen day compressive strength of each sample was measured. Powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to confirm cation intercalation and elucidate structural properties of the 1DL materials