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Modeling an Incline Screening Ramp to Slow a Debris-Flow in a Post-Fire Environment Using HEC-RAS
No full textOver the past few years, debris-flows are becoming greater threats to the environment and people in the path of these flows due to devastating wildfires within those areas and changes in the environment. Various barriers, and few mitigation structures, have been used to weaken or completely halt debris-flows, but debris-flow screens have rarely been researched or utilised against debris-flows. The purpose of this study is to improve the debris-flow screen by inclining its angle to withstand and slow the harsher debris-flows that come from post-fire environments. The hypothesis was that the inclined debris-flow screen would reduce the velocity and shear stress of the debris-flow by at least 20% more than if the debris-flow screen was not inclined at all. The study was conducted in HEC-RAS using the environment of Los Angeles County, California and generating a debris-flow simulated in a post-fire environment for the debris-flow screen to be tested on. The reference lines at the entrance of the catchment showed that the velocity decreased around 19.892% at 15 degrees and the shear stress remained the same for each angle due to how the debris-flow was simulated. Future studies can improve upon the methods used to simulate the debris-flow screen and utilize other countermeasures that receive little attention to work alongside barriers
Design of Low-Cost Modular Camera Suites for Wildfire Data Collection
No full textEvery year, wildfires burn down thousands of acres, and it’s up to firefighters and park services to corral and stop wildfires before they endanger civilian lives. To avoid putting people in danger, wildfire research groups use drones equipped with an array of sensors and imaging equipment to gather data, but these drones can be prohibitively expensive. This project focused on creating camera modules that could be produced at a much cheaper cost. We produced three camera systems that could easily be removed or attached from a data collection vehicle. These systems utilized high power radio transmitters and different types of cameras for different use cases. The three units consisted of a dome carrying 3 cameras arranged for a 360 degree view, a rotating bracket called a gimbal to provide a long-distance camera with the flexibility to turn, and a ball joint to provide an unparalleled degree of control over the camera’s position. These camera systems enable research groups to focus their budget on other areas, and the 3D printed parts can be easily modified at the attachment points to be mounted to many drone platforms, making this a versatile tool. Using accessible hobbyist-grade electronics, we were able to cut costs by 77.5% when compared to commercial camera systems
Exploring the Effects of a Magnetic Plastic in the Identification and Recycling of Improperly Disposed of Plastic
No full textThe production of plastic has increased significantly in recent years, and not much research has been done regarding the disposal of these plastics. These plastics eventually degrade into microplastics and nanoplastics, which can pose risks to humans, other animals, and environmental health. Many approaches have been proposed, such as the One Health approach, a circular economy, and general global political involvement. However, these have not been very effective. A solution proposed to this is making the plastic magnetic so that it is more identifiable if it is discovered in the environment. This was done by combining three, four, and five grams of PET 1 plastic with one gram of nontoxic iron powder to see if having an AlNiCo magnet go through sand and water makes it more identifiable compared to traditional methods. Data was collected after five, ten, fifteen, and twenty seconds. A 2-way ANOVA test was conducted to test the statistical significance of the difference between the results of the six groups. It was found that there is a significant difference between the groups with a p-value \u3c 0.05. Line graphs were also made of the means from each of the five, tenth, fifteenth, and twenty second intervals. It was found that the three-to-one ratio of plastic to iron powder in water was the group that was identified the fastest. This demonstrates that although these methods have not been used before, and for that reason may not be accurate, incorporating iron powder with plastic does make it more identifiable compared to traditional methods. It is important to note that in order for this to be used in the real world, it would need to be implemented globally. Additionally, it is worth highlighting that this solution is not being proposed as a comprehensive solution to microplastic and nanoplastic pollution
The Effect of Structural and Material Modifications on Oscillating Water Column (OWC) Efficiency: A Computational Analysis
No full textAlternative or renewable sources of energy, such as wave energy, are used by new technologies rather than non-renewable sources. Oscillating water columns (OWC) are wave energy converters (WEC) known for their effectiveness. Developments in the geometry and materials, such as dielectric elastomers, are significant to the performance of OWCs. The purpose of this study was to computationally determine whether enhancements such as stainless steel and dielectric elastomer generators (DEG) would increase the capture width ratio (CWR) of a pre-existing model and to compare the power outputs (kWh) extracted from the proposed device. It was hypothesized that the average values of CWR and power outputs would increase for the proposed device when compared to the unmodified device as a result of fluid flow behavior on Alloy 2507 (UNS S32750) and the resulting air intake on the DEG device. The proposed model was a floating V-shaped L-shaped OWC with the backward-bent-duct-buoy (BBDB) configuration (V-BBDB). Four cubic chambers were situated on top of the horizontal chamber, and the triangular-shaped chambers were angled at 79.6°. The rest of the structure contained UNS S32205 for simplicity. The outer walls were 200 mm thick, which would result in the structure to sink. It was discovered that the primary cause of the error was linked to Archimedes’ Principle, where the buoyancy provided by the buoy chambers was insufficient to support the weight of the device, altering the performance of the device. It would be beneficial to use thinner walls to maintain the efficiency of the OWC
The Effects of Macadamia Nut Oil and Coconut Oil on the Voltage Production of Perovskite Solar Cells
No full textPerovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as an innovative photovoltaic option because they combine high energy conversion efficiency with inexpensive manufacturing methods. However, their long-term stability remains a vital issue. This study investigated the impact of eco-friendly oils, macadamia nut and coconut, on the voltage of PSCs compared to untreated PSCs on voltage production. It was hypothesized that the combination of macadamia nut and coconut oil would result in the greatest voltage. Voltage output was measured across 30 trials in 1-minute intervals under controlled LED light. PSCs were replaced after every 10 trials, resulting in 12 total solar cells being used. Untreated PSCs initially produced high voltages up to 0.57 V but degraded rapidly, whereas macadamia nut and coconut oil PSCs showed low average voltages of 0.030 V and 0.038 V. In contrast, the macadamia and coconut combined PSC demonstrated an average voltage of 0.26 V. The macadamia and coconut combined PSC maintained consistent output with a standard deviation of 0.25 V, with the maximum voltage reaching 1.3 V. A one-way ANOVA test and post-hoc analysis showed that mean voltages differed significantly across all treatments: F(3, 116) = 14.23, p \u3c 0.001.Together, these findings suggest that eco-friendly combinations of oils can enhance stability and mitigate rapid degradation. This study contributes to the ongoing efforts to balance efficiency and stability in recent solar technologies
Bioplastics: Kappaphycus Alvarezii, Arrowroot, Chitosan
No full textBioplastics are materials that are either degradable to a certain percentage or are made from biobased materials. Throughout the world, the total plastic consumption has drastically increased. As of recent numbers, plastic has now reached approximately 450 million tons. Recycling becomes a big topic when considering the rise of this figure. Every year, only 14-18% of all plastic waste is collected to be recycled. This problem of plastic waste could be solved through bioplastics, however, it requires further research for a bioplastic to be considered on par with standard fossil-fuel plastics. In regards to this, a question was asked, To what extent is a rigid, multi-use bioplastic made from a mixture of seaweed polysaccharides and root starches equal in strength to other commonly used plastic polymers, such as HDPE? For this study, three main ingredients were used: a species of red algae known as Kappaphycus alvarezii, a type of starch from an Arrowroot plant, and Chitosan in the form of powdered crustacean shells. Along with these core materials, additional items were added to improve shelf stability and flexibility. When it comes to this study, the goal here was to find a certain composition of materials that can rival the strength of ready made plastic. This was done through 4 main tests, which include flexure strength, elongation at break, biodegradability, and water resistance. Finally, once these tests were complete, they were compared to that of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), a common rigid thermoplastic polymer made from petroleum
Utilizing a Hybrid Deep Learning Framework Model with Bias-Resistant Inputs on Improved Election Prediction Accuracy
No full textElections have become more difficult to model than ever due to the rise of social media and misinformation. Predictions remain essential as they inform future policy decisions. This study proposes a hybrid approach designed to improve election prediction accuracy by integrating a bias-aware and bias-resistant architecture with a deep learning framework. This model incorporates economic and demographic trends along with 11 binary factors. It was hypothesized that this approach would give more accurate predictions than traditional methods. Data were sourced from Yahoo Finance, the US Census Bureau, Kaggle, and Newberry (2024). The model was trained and tested on historical data, cross-validated, and ran on 100 simulations. Predictions were compared to the 2024 US congressional election results. A one-sample t-test under a 95% confidence interval indicated that every factor was significant, thereby supporting that the data and hybrid architecture meaningfully contributed to the model’s accuracy and efficiency
The Effect of Linseed and Tung Oils on the Friction Coefficient of Wood in Weathered Conditions
No full textSlippery wooden surfaces in outdoor recreational settings present a serious safety risk for users of these areas. Slippery surfaces can become increasingly concerning when these surfaces are exposed to moist conditions. This study analyzed whether natural oil treatments such as linseed oil and tung oil were effective in improving the static friction coefficient of the surface of yellow pine wood after environmental weathering. It was hypothesised that linseed or tung oil would increase the friction coefficient of the wood due to their hydrophobic properties and their ability to resist the growth of fungi. To assess the hypothesis, 3 types of wood treatment (untreated, tung oil, and linseed oil treated) were applied to planks of yellow pine wood and then exposed to moist soil for one week with the intent of introducing moisture and fungi to the surfaces of the wood. After this period, a hinged incline apparatus was constructed to determine the critical angle at which a weighted shoe and bicycle tire each began to slide down the treated wood surface. After these angles were determined, the static friction coefficient between the given surfaces was calculated using mechanics-based formulas. The results showed that tung oil was the strongest overall wood treatment with significant increases present in both the shoe and bicycle tire tests while linseed oil only had minimal effects on the bicycle tire. A two-way ANOVA test demonstrated a p-value of less than 0.001 deeming the results statistically significant meaning that a noticeable difference was found between the trials with different treatments. The mean of tung oil illustrated an increase of around 5% and linseed oil about 0.1% when compared to the untreated wood plank. The untreated board had the greatest range and standard deviation with tung oil and linseed oil following in a decreasing pattern
The Application of Natural Products Chemistry and Techniques for the Isolation of Sponge Secondary Metabolites with Bioactivity In Vitro
No full textMarine sponges are a unique source of complex and bioactive natural products from the deep-sea. This includes secondary metabolites, such as the iminoquinones from Latrunculia, with potent cytotoxic activity and selectivity against cancer cells. Isolating and characterizing such molecules involves the application of natural products chemistry techniques. To elucidate the structure, the following techniques were employed: the sponges were soaked in ethyl acetate and isolated using a rotary evaporator and identified using flash chromatography. We also employed characterization (e.g., NMR spectroscopy) to further separate the fractions we have obtained and identify the compounds. We discovered that some fractions contained alkaloids such as discorhabdins and makaluvamines which are known for their biological activity, especially the in vitro inhibition of pancreatic cancer cells. In addition, the scientific literature of data and results, which is a product of ‘lab benchwork’ research was used. Further testing is still ongoing, but the successful isolation of these compounds can help with future therapeutic potential. The project contributes to the field of natural products in drug discovery by identifying novel marine-derived compounds. More research is needed to verify the cytotoxicity and mechanism of the isolated compounds and may offer an alternative to conventional cancer therapies
Integrating the Use of a Modified Biochar Compartment in Drip Irrigation Systems as a Water Contaminant Filter for Lower Resource Settings
No full textWater scarcity and water contamination threaten agricultural sustainability, particularly in lower-resource settings that rely heavily on irrigation for crop production. Agriculture is the largest consumer of freshwater, and polluted water sources further limit water availability and economic growth (Ali et al., 2019). Biochar is a low-cost, environmentally sustainable material with strong potential for removing contaminants from water; however, limited research has examined its integration directly within irrigation delivery systems (Zheng, 2023). This study investigated the effect of a modified drip irrigation system containing a modular biochar sleeve on the amount of fluorescent dye in contaminated water. A small-scale drip irrigation system was constructed and tested under control (no biochar) and experimental (biochar sleeve) conditions across 30 trials. Flow rate was measured to assess system efficiency, and fluorescein absorbance was analyzed using a spectrophotometer at 490 nm (Tadesse et al., 2025). Results showed that the biochar-modified system maintained comparable flow performance to the control system, with no meaningful reduction in efficiency. Fluorescein absorbance was significantly lower in the biochar-treated samples compared to both the initial solution and control. One-way ANOVA indicated significant differences among groups with a p value of less than 0.001. Post-hoc Tukey tests confirmed that the biochar sleeve significantly reduced dye concentration, showing significance in the biochar vs. control comparison. These findings support the use of biochar-integrated drip irrigation as a cost-effective approach to improving irrigation water quality