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Tympanostomy Tube Efficiency Study
Get PDFThe ventilation of the middle ear, crucial for maintaining optimal ear health, is often impeded by factors such as swelling, inflammation, and mucus in the eustachian tubes, particularly during upper respiratory infections or allergies. This issue, prevalent in children due to their narrow and horizontal eustachian tubes, prompts the insertion of tympanostomy tubes by ENT surgeons to establish an alternative airway for pressure equalization and fluid drainage. Despite the common belief in the effectiveness of these tubes, there is a notable dearth of research validating their optimal functionality. This study aims to address this gap by systematically comparing the efficiency of various ear tubes available in the market, considering metrics such as material, length, diameter, and additional features. The experimental approach involves using a video camera to observe the inflow and outflow of liquid droplets introduced into the ear tubes under diverse conditions. Post-processing of the gathered data will inform insights into potential enhancements for optimal ear tube design. Subsequent to data evaluation, new ear tube designs will be developed using Computer-Aided Design (CAD), 3D printed, and subjected to rigorous testing and validation. The ultimate objective is to create an improved ear tube design that not only facilitates efficient drainage but also ensures a high success rate of eardrop inflow, contributing to advancements in ear health interventions
Extending Trailer
Get PDFThe goal of this research project is to revolutionize the convenience in towable transportation. This innovative design aims to enhance the versatility of pull-behind trailers by incorporating an extendable feature, allowing users to effortlessly adjust the length according to their specific needs. Whether navigating tight spaces or accommodating extra cargo, our trailer adapts to diverse situations, providing unmatched flexibility. In addition to its adjustable length, the trailer is engineered to be compactable, addressing the storage constraints often faced by users with limited space. The collapsible design ensures easy storage without compromising on functionality, making it an ideal solution for individuals seeking a compact yet dynamic trailer. Emphasizing user-friendly adaptability and space optimization, our Expandable Trailer Project redefines the towing experience, promising a seamless blend of convenience and innovation for a wide range of applications
Optimized PI Compound Mixing Strategy
Get PDFThe project focuses on developing an optimal mixing strategy for a polyisoprene (PI) compound at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. The aim is to optimize performance objectives of the compound. The project involved research, design iterations, mixing analyses, and performance evaluations, while adhering to engineering codes and standards.
The design process includes analyzing differences between two mixing technologies, intermesh and tangential rotors; altering mixing conditions; and exploring additional polymer systems and coupling technology of the compound.
Validation data confirms that the mixing technology and compound recipe meets all success metrics, including stiffness, hysteresis, adhesion, cure rate, and tear performance objectives, and ensures repeatability.
This project exemplifies innovation and engineering efforts by addressing compounding challenges and improving mixing processes within the tire and rubber industry
“Breathe Easy and Get A Good Night Sleep” : Exploring Parental Relationships in Hardship
Get PDFThis project explores parental relationships with a focus on mother-daughter relationships. I want to focus on the attachment between a parent and a child, and how mental illness and abuse from the other parent affect that relationship. This project derives from a deep love for my mother and the changes between us that I noticed as I grew older. I hope to create a choreographed work that explores our relationship with a hope of creating a stronger bond that suits our new relationship and who we are as people now. I want this dance to aid in our reconnection.
I will include academic research on parental relationships that gets integrated into the choreography, but I chose dance as the main method of exploration and research because a research paper alone will not do this topic justice. This topic has emotions, stories, and entire livelihoods involved, and dance is a great way to explore and portray these elements. This project will be an intersection of academic research and the ways choreography can be a medium to bring that research to life
Restoration for The Small and Slimy: How Pond-breeding Amphibians Utilize Natural, Restored, and Created Wetlands
Get PDFThis research project for the Williams Honors College sought to examine how local pond-breeding amphibians utilized natural, restored, and created wetlands. Presence/absence data was gathered from field surveys, historical records, and iNaturalist data for the six study sites. It was predicted that created and restored wetlands may support less sensitive species with lower coefficient of conservatism scores, based on past surveys of a similar nature. No statistically significant results were found in this survey, but that could be due to low sample sizes and limited data sets, among other considerations. Therefore, more in-depth studies should still be undertaken to examine this question in our local ecosystems. Restoration and habitat creation are becoming more common practices as natural spaces are lost and climate change worsens. When restoring and creating wetland habitat, more considerations should be made for sensitive, pond-breeding species, and extra care should be taken to not cause harm via hydrology changes, human disturbance, introduction of predatory species, etc. In Ohio, our wetland protections and restoration practices likely need an overhaul to truly support and protect sensitive, pond-breeding amphibian species
3D Printed Drone (Body and Controls)
Get PDFThe objective is to build a scaled down model of a 3D printed drone capable of carrying a payload scalable to 50 lbs. for a wide array of applications. Some applications of the drone could include delivering support materials during natural disasters, such as foam to put out fire or medical aid packs to provide aid to injured people, food or package delivery, or military applications. The project has been split up into two groups. One group will be focusing on the propulsion aspect of the project, such as the electric motors and airfoil. Simultaneously, this group will design the body and control aspects of the drone, such as the structure, circuit board, and software. The manufacturing method of 3D printing has been chosen to study and address the various challenges associated with it and to prove this concept can be easily manufactured if critical parts are damaged or need replaced in the remote, emergency locations that the drone may be used in
Systems Engineering in Zips Aero Design
Get PDFThis research project has the goal of implementing systems engineering in the Zips Aero Design team at the University of Akron at a general member level. The use of systems engineering techniques will be employed to keep every member on track throughout the competition season. The deliverables of this project are the PDR, CDR, AIAA DBF Proposal, AIAA Technical Design Report, the Prototype Aircraft, and the Competition Aircraft
Yankee Manufacturing Multi-Assembly PVC-Gasket Assembly Mechanism
Get PDFThis project focuses on designing and implementing an efficient mechanism to connect PVC and gasket pieces in the door assembly process at Yankee Manufacturing. The aim is to improve process efficiency and productivity by increasing the assembly rate from 130 to 195 assemblies per hour, a 38% improvement. The project involved research, design iterations, performance evaluations, and adherence to engineering codes and standards, particularly focused on safety, ergonomics, and sustainability. The design process includes addressing challenges from a previous attempt, redefining project scope, and incorporating new elements such as transitioning to the packaging process seamlessly. Ethical considerations include promoting operator safety and well-being, aligning with OSHA standards, and minimizing environmental impact through responsible material selection. Validation data confirms that the designed mechanism meets all success metrics, including consistent connection, near-perfect alignment, and a simplified transition to packaging. The project’s societal impact extends to enhancing profitability, retaining skilled labor, and promoting sustainable engineering practices. The actual cost for this project is only $48.97 considering that many of the resources were sourced in-house and labor was not compensated. This project exemplified collaborative engineering efforts in addressing real-world challenges and driving positive change in industrial processes
Smart Roadside Safety Vest
Get PDFThe objective of this project is to design a vest to be worn by pedestrians and cyclists, or anyone who may be working near traffic. This vest will utilize an LED display on the back of the vest to increase the visibility of the wearer and convey information to nearby drivers. The vest will also be able to detect and alert the wearer to approaching vehicles. If it is detected that the wearer has been involved in an accident, the vest will send a message to the wearer’s designated emergency contact(s), which will include the GPS coordinates of the wearer at the time of the suspected accident
Sources and Termination Patterns of Cholinergic Input to the Ventral Nucleus of the Lateral Lemniscus
Get PDFNeurons transmit signals through an electrochemical reaction: synapses on dendrites and the cell body receive neurotransmitters, and their effect on the cell determines the signal the cell will transmit. From dendrites to axon and then to another cell at a synaptic cleft, signals can propagate, enhance each other, or inhibit other transmissions until the message is received by the target area. Understanding the science behind neural signaling and structural function begins at the level of the synapse. The neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) plays a substantial role in modulating neural activity in the auditory system, but for many brainstem nuclei the source of cholinergic input is unknown. Identifying the source of ACh holds such significance because different sources are likely to perform different functions. The present study categorizes cholinergic input to the Ventral Nucleus of the Lateral Lemniscus (VNLL), one of the largest sources of inhibitory input to the Inferior Colliculus (IC), a midbrain center that processes nearly all auditory information received by the brain. Using retrograde and anterograde labeling of cholinergic cell bodies and axons, we identified three regions- the Pontomesenphalic Tegmentum (PMT), the Superior Olivary Complex (SOC), and the Lateral Paragigantocellular Nucleus (LPGi)- transmitting acetylcholine to the VNLL in mouse. Mouse models allowed for selective manipulation of cholinergic axons through viral injection of fluorescent protein in transgenic-bred mouse lines. Retrograde experiments identified cholinergic cell bodies in the three regions of interest communicating with the VNLL by labeling cells with a RetroBead marker originally injected into the VNLL followed by antibody tissue staining, and anterograde studies validated this communication pattern by labeling cholinergic axons in the VNLL coming from fluorescent injections placed in each of the three regions of interest. Axon termination patterns demonstrate the degree of communication between these areas and also suggest that individual VNLL neurons receive converging input from multiple cholinergic sources, likely to be active for different roles in modulating VNLL neurons and their responses to sound