List of student presenters

Yasmine Aly, Senior Student in Chemical Engineering, “Dosage Administration Using Dynamic Optimization Techniques”, (nominated by Professor A. Perna, advisor Professor L. Simon), Easel 41

This project focuses on the optimization of drug administration using a two-compartment model.  A two-compartment model divides the body into a central compartment (one) and a peripheral compartment (two).  Compartment one is comprised of the blood and well diffused organs (i.e. kidneys, liver, heart, etc.) while compartment two is comprised of the poorly perfused tissues (i.e. muscles, nerves, epithelia, etc.).  Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) were derived by performing component balances and using given initial drug concentrations.  These equations were then used to analytically solve for the drug concentrations in both compartments using given kinetic parameters.  A plot of drug mass concentrations versus time was then generated and evaluated to understand the overall relationship between the drug concentrations with respect to time.  The effects of administering a drug in the central compartment over four multi-dosage regimes were then analyzed to see which treatment would be most effective in maintaining a desired amount of a drug in the second compartment, an amount that would be efficient enough in treating a disease inside the body. Therefore, by understanding the correct dose and time schedule to administer a drug, we can then effectively treat a disease.   

Elizabeth Avery Gomez, PhD Student in Information Systems, “Community Responder Crisis Response: Leveraging Short Message Services (SMS) for Interoperable Communication”, (nominated by Professor S.R. Hiltz; advisors Professor N. Elliot and Professor M. Turoff), Easel 30

Community responders, such as volunteers from small grassroots organizations are often first to respond in a local emergency. These responders do not have adequate training and practice with quick-response tactics and mobile two-way device usage. The need exists for training and practice of two-way mobile device communication protocols to assist with interoperable communication and increase individual e-readiness for crisis response. The short  message service (SMS) used for text-messaging is one viable alternative that is highly-reliable in times of chaos and is portable, extending to both mobile and stationary computer technologies.. A crisis scenario delivered through a web-based training application has been developed for this research. The crisis scenario prompts for a written communication response from the study participant, for each of the five tasks completed. Each response simulates the 160 character limit of an SMS text- message and will measure speech acts using quantitative content analysis.

Rudina Bajrushi, Junior Student in Chemical Engineering, “Investigations of Mixing Dynamics in Chemical Reactors”, (nominated by Professor A. Perna, advisor Professor R. Barat), Table 4

Research involves the mixing study of two computer simulations of mixing in chemical reactors.

Anisha Banerjee, PhD Student in Mathematical Sciences, “Mathematical Modeling of Spreading Depression”, (nominated by Professor D. Papageorgiou, advisor Professor R. Miura), Easel 17

Spreading Depression (SD) was first observed by Leao in 1944. It is a slowly traveling wave phenomenon elicited in the cortex of various brain structures in many different animals. It is characterized by depression of electroencephalographic activity. The wave is accompanied by increased blood flow and is followed by a period of vasodilation. The wave propagates with a speed of 1-15 mm/min. SD is believed to be the underlying physiological process that causes migraine with aura.  The various factors affecting SD are ionic currents, pumps, neurotransmitters, spatial buffering, and osmosis. We consider the previous model of SD by Shapiro (2000) and try to simplify his complex model. We then will introduce additional factors that are believed to affect SD and build a new model. The model consists of nonlinear partial differential equations which are to be solved numerically.

Sibabrata Banerjee, PhD Student in Mathematical Sciences, “Problems Related to Efficacy Measurement and Analysis”, (nominated by Professor D. Papageorgiou, advisor Professor S. Dhar), Easel 25

In clinical research it is very common to compare two treatments on the basis of their primary efficacy variables. In this study, density estimation methods are developed for dependent variables and it is shown that the estimate has nice asymptotic properties. Then this is used as an efficacy measurement tool.

Swetha Basani, Senior Student in Biology, “The Effect of Mercuric Ion APTT on PT Clotting Tests”, (nominated by Ms. Karen Roach, advisor Professor C. Spillert, New Jersey Medical School), Easel 24

Mercuric ion (Hg2+) has been found to increase coagulant activity in whole blood. We conducted an in vitro study to determine whether mercuric chloride (HgCl2) has an effect on blood coagulation when added to whole blood solutions containing either PT or APTT reagent. We used 10 µl of 10% PT reagent and 10 µl of 10% APTT reagent and added them to separate solutions of 990 µl of human citrated whole blood (CWB). Mercuric chloride was added to each reagent sample and compared to the samples containing only reagent. The incubation period was 5 minutes at 37ºC. The blood clotting time was measured in seconds using a Sonoclot Coagulation Analyzer. PT and HgCl2 resulted in no change in clotting time when compared to that of just PT. APTT, in combination with HgCl2, resulted in a significant reduction in clotting time when compared to that of just APTT (p<0.01). The data in this study suggests that HgCl2 and APTT concurrently stimulate coagulation.

Lauren Beach, PhD Student in Chemical Engineering, “Effect of Dry Particle Coating on Packing Density of Cohesive Powders under Low Consolidation”, (nominated by advisor, Professor R. Dave), Easel 31

Flowability of fine powders is strongly dependent on memory effects such as the effect of previous consolidation stresses on the packing density of the powder. In this work we present measurements of the particle packing density of fine cohesive powders as a function of the consolidation stress previously applied on the sample. Cornstarch particles, with a mean size of around 15 microns are coated with 20nm hydrophobic fumed silica nanoparticles by a dry particle coating method to reduce the cohesiveness of the original powder. The weight percentage of additive is varied between 0.025% and 1%, which influences the cohesion of the coated powder. We examine the influence of the cohesion on packing density. Experiments are carried out using a conventional device for measuring the tapped density as well as the Sevilla Powder Tester apparatus, which is based on the use of gas flow either to fluidize to erase memory of the powder or to compress the bed in order to subject it to a controllable consolidation stress. The particle volume fraction is derived from the height of the bed, which is measured by a high accuracy sensor placed on top of the vessel. It is observed that powders with lower amounts of additive have larger cohesion and form larger agglomerate structures and hence show lower packing densities. As the amount of additive increases, cohesion is reduced and smaller agglomerates are formed which pack better in both fluidized and non-fluidized states. The effect of low consolidation stresses are also examined on the packing density.

Ashish D. Borgaonkar, PhD Student in Environmental Engineering, “The Potential Advantages of Applying Operations Research Techniques to Waste Management in New  Jersey”, (nominated by Professor W. Konon, advisor Professor J. Meegoda), Easel 44

Solid waste generation in New Jersey has steadily increased from 11.4 million tons in 1985 to 19.8 million tons in 2003.  At the same time, operating landfills have drastically reduced from 578 in 1960s to the present 13 and the tipping fee is one of the highest in the US.  Recycling rate of the municipal solid waste stream in NJ stood at 32 % in 2003, down from a high of 45% in 1995. Therefore, management of the waste has always been a challenge.  Though NJ Department of Environmental Protection has proposed a Statewide Solid Waste Management Plan, it would be valuable to investigate utilizing operations research techniques to identify the possible areas of improvement in these plans. In this study we apply operations research techniques to optimize the waste flow in and out of state.  The current facility capacities and future waste generation will serve as the constraints, whereas the optimum quantities of waste to be sent to various locations and different facilities will be determined by the developed models. The main objective will be to reduce the total cost associated with waste management. In order to conduct this study, the necessary data were collected from various sources. The data include amount of waste, location of landfills, transportation and operational costs, and tipping fees.  Mathematical models are developed where the output is used for comparison purposes to the state plans in this vein.  Succinctly, the results of this work could serve as a validation mechanism for New Jersey's plans.

Corina Bot, PhD Student in Physics, “Membrane Potential and Dielectric Properties of Live Cells”, (nominated by advisor, Professor C. Prodan), Table 6

The electrochemical membrane potential is one of the most important electrical parameters of a cell since it distinguishes a viable cell from a dead cell. We present a new method for measuring membrane potential of a suspension of cells by dielectric spectroscopy at low frequencies. The complex dielectric permittivity, e, is measured through dielectric spectroscopy. We work in the low frequencies (1 Hz -10 kHz) domain and low electric field (below the invasive threshold of 1V/cm) and measure the transfer function of the solution. The real and imaginary parts of the transfer function are proportional with the conductivity s and e, respectively. Using the theoretical model, the membrane potential is extracted from the dispersion curves of e.The proposed method is tested against an established way of measuring the membrane potential, using voltage sensitive dyes embedded into cell membranes. A change in the membrane potential of cells triggers known changes in the fluorescence of the probes. Important contributions of this technique are: (a) it is non-invasive, (b) it is fast, and (c) it is inexpensive.

Justin Caputo, Master’s Student in Architecture, “Remembering Vietnam: Place, War, and Touristic Return”, (nominated by advisor, Professor Z. Celik), Table 52

This original research paper, based on primary visual and textual sources, examines how Vietnam Veterans return to sites of war to reconcile their memories with history, anchored in space.

Han-yun Chang, PhD Student in Electrical Engineering, “Optical Properties of Multiple, Delta-doped Si:B/Si Layers”, (nominated by advisor, Professor L. Tsybeskov). Easel 20

Reliable fabrication of high-speed, delta-doped transistors and a better understanding of two-dimensional metal-insulator phase transitions can be achieved using silicon molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). However, this fabrication technique should be performed with care, avoiding dopant segregation on epitaxial Si surfaces and improving the doping efficiency. Here we report comprehensive structural and optical investigations of MBE-grown Si/delta-doped Si:B multilayer structures. Measurements of Raman scattering, optical reflection and photoluminescence are performed. Our results indicate nearly metallic conductivity at room temperature with a metal-insulator phase transition near T ~100 K. In contrast to recently reported data, no enhancement of the near-band edge Si photoluminescence at room temperature is found. Occasionally, a few samples in specific areas exhibit strong photoluminescence at 1.4-1.6 μm attributable to structural defects, most likely due to B segregation.

Yuhong Chen, PhD Student in Mechanical Engineering, “Organic Solar Cells Using Single wall Nanotubes”, (nominated by advisor, Professor S. Mitra), Easel 29

Organic solar cells are an inexpensive alternative to silicon devices and can be effective in large-area coverage even on flexible plastic substrates. The active film is made from a polymer that when mass produced will be inexpensive enough that and one can envision even a wall painted with a solar cell. We demonstrated efficiency improvement of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)-fullerene (C60) bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells by the introduction of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) into the photoactive layer. A novel covalently bonded SWNT composite was synthesized via a microwave induced functionalization approach. As compared to control devices with only C60, the addition of SWNTs resulted in improvement of both the short circuit current density Jsc and the fill factor (FF). Such a device takes advantage of both C60 for electron accepting and SWNTs for efficient electron transport. The results indicate that this a promising approach for the development of inexpensive polymer based solar cells.

Yuhua Chen, PhD Student in Mechanical Engineering, “Polymer Encapsulation and Granulation of Ultrafine Powders”, (nominated by advisor, Professor R. Dave), Table 47

Handling and processing of ultrafine powders are very difficult due to the strong interparticle forces.  This work proposes two innovative approaches to coat and granulate submicron and micron particles.  Effects of operating parameters are presented.

Kung-E Cheng, PhD Student in Information Systems, “A Framework for Studying Voting in Group Support Systems”, (nominated by advisor, Professor R. Hiltz), Easel 45

Group decision making is essential in organizations. Group Support Systems (GSS) can aide groups in making decisions by providing tools and process support. Voting tools have been considered valuable assets in groups’ decision processes. However, there is an insufficiency of theory and experiments in research of voting in GSS. This paper presents a framework by identifying factors related to voting in GSS. These factors were scrutinized for their potential effects on processes and outcomes. Several ways of classifying voting methods are discussed. The framework can be used as a guiding basis for future research and usage of voting in GSS.

Ezinwa Elele, PhD Student in Mechanical Engineering, “Simultaneous Measurements of Fluid and Particle Mobilities in Strong Electric Fields”, (nominated by advisor, Professor B. Khusid), Easel 19

A new method for measuring simultaneously both the fluid and particle electrophoretic mobilities in strong electric fields is presented. The experiments were conducted in 50-micron capillaries containing dilute aqueous suspensions of 4-micron polystyrene spheres subjected to strong DC and AC fields. These measurements show that the predictions of classical linear theories for electrokinetic phenomena apply well beyond the range of relatively weak electric fields for which these theories were developed. The result of this study is critical for the quantification of microanalytical systems which makes use of electrokinetic phenomena for transport, control, and manipulation of fluid and particles.

Ryan Fernandez, Senior Student in Biomedical Engineering, “Generalization of Visuomotor Rotations”, (nominated by Professor A. Perna, advisor Dr. M. Smith), Easel 33

To study motor learning, we will assess how individuals adjust to unconventional visuomotor transformations that are applied by rotating a virtual display of limb position. We hope that these studies will show us how the brain optimizes the execution of voluntary reaching arm movements in healthy subjects and how it goes wrong in neurological diseases.

Kevin Field, Master’s Student in Architecture, “Through the Eyes of a New Yorker: The Reconstruction of Paris in the 19th Century”, (nominated by advisor, Professor Z. Celik), Table 51

This original research paper, based on the study of the New York Times correspondent “Malakoff’s” articles on the birth of modern Paris (1852-1869), provides a unique and unprecedented look at a well documented history from an American perspective.

Karolina A. Filipiak, Senior Student in Applied Statistics, “A Case Study on the Optimization of Municipal Solid Waste Collection”, (nominated by advisor, Professor L. Abdel-Malek), Easel 32

In this project we utilize operations research tools to investigate cost reduction of MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) collection in the township of Millburn. Our research identified that network models, specifically the Chinese Postman algorithms was one of the approaches that could be used to evaluate the truck routes and the optimum sequence of each of these vehicles needed to collect the generated waste.

Daniel Fong, Senior Student in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, “Understanding Pattern Formation in Bacterial Colonies”, (nominated by Professor A. Perna, advisor Professor R. Stocker), Table 49

The project goal is to develop a set of partial differential equations as the mathematical model explaining the pattern formation of bacterial colonies with the help of experimental data analysis.  

Gian Francisco, Senior Student in Electrical Engineering, “IBM & History Channel’s City of the Future Competition”, (with Kiratbir Khurana, Arwa Gheith and Latha Singanamalli; nominated by advisor, Professor A. Dhawan, also advised by Professor M. Sosnowski), Table 12

New York City of the year 2106 is partly under water and overcrowded. Global warming and climate change have caused flooding and the population of the city peaks at 12 million. This growth in population requires permanent and reliable solutions for the energy needs of the people. To meet this demand it is proposed to use highly efficient solar panels to generate much of the need. These panels would be 80% efficient and would require an area of 13x13 square miles to power the entire city. To achieve efficiency, solar panels would be coated with nanocrystals that would absorb the higher percentage of visible light. Transparent solar panels would also be installed on transparent vanes or tube-like structures which would replace the streets in the flooded areas. The solar panels on the vanes would have nano prisms which would refract light directly on the solar cell no matter what the angle of the sunlight is. The prisms would be moved to an optimal angle by microscopic gears made from MEMS.

To transport the electricity, superconductive cables would be used so there is minimal loss. Mobile electricity (for automobiles) would be stored in nanotube super capacitors which would hold charge many times that of super capacitors today. These super capacitors would also power cars of the future and replace conventional chemical batteries. To heat and cool buildings of the future, Peltier heat pumps would be used on a large scale. Adding superconductive elements to the semi-conducting portions of a Peltier cooler would allow heat to be transferred to practically anywhere with minimal power consumption.

Gang Fu, PhD Student Computer Science, “Automatic Detection of Emerging Flux Regions in Consecutive MDI Magnetograms”, (nominated by advisor, Professor F. Shih), Easel 21

In this study, we present a novel method to detect Emerging Flux Regions (EFRs) in consecutive Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) magnetograms. To our knowledge, this is the first developed technique for automatically detecting EFRs. The method includes several steps. First, the projection distortion on the MDI magnetograms is corrected. Second, the bipolar regions are extracted by applying multi-scale circular harmonic filters. Third, the extracted bipolar regions are traced in consecutive MDI frames by Kalman filter as candidate EFRs. Fourth, the properties, such as positive and negative magnetic fluxes and distance between two polarities, are measured in each frame. Finally, a feature vector is constructed for each bipolar region using the measured properties, and the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier is applied to distinguish EFRs from other regions. Experimental results show that the detection rate of EFRs is 96.4% and of non-EFRs is 98.0%, and the false alarm rate is 25.7%, based on all the available MDI magnetograms in 2001 and 2002.

Arwa Gheith, Senior Student in Electrical Engineering, “IBM & History Channel’s City of the Future Competition”, (with Latha Singanamalli, Gian Francisco and Kiratbir Khurana; nominated by Professor A. Dhawan, advisor Professor M. Sosnowski), Table 12

New York City of the year 2106 is partly under water and overcrowded. Global warming and climate change have caused flooding and the population of the city peaks at 12 million. This growth in population requires permanent and reliable solutions for the energy needs of the people. To meet this demand it is proposed to use highly efficient solar panels to generate much of the need. These panels would be 80% efficient and would require an area of 13x13 square miles to power the entire city. To achieve efficiency, solar panels would be coated with nanocrystals that would absorb the higher percentage of visible light. Transparent solar panels would also be installed on transparent vanes or tube-like structures which would replace the streets in the flooded areas. The solar panels on the vanes would have nano prisms which would refract light directly on the solar cell no matter what the angle of the sunlight is. The prisms would be moved to an optimal angle by microscopic gears made from MEMS.

To transport the electricity, superconductive cables would be used so there is minimal loss. Mobile electricity (for automobiles) would be stored in nanotube super capacitors which would hold charge many times that of super capacitors today. These super capacitors would also power cars of the future and replace conventional chemical batteries. To heat and cool buildings of the future, Peltier heat pumps would be used on a large scale. Adding superconductive elements to the semi-conducting portions of a Peltier cooler would allow heat to be transferred to practically anywhere with minimal power consumption.

Jin Uk Ha, PhD Student in Chemical Engineering, “Functionalization of Nanoclays through Ionic Liquid Exchange Reactions”, (nominated by advisor, Professor M. Xanthos), Table 2

A cationic clay (sodium montmorillonite, MMT) was treated with two phosphonium based ionic liquids (ILs) having anions with different chemical structures. The cationic clay modified with both ILs had similar thermal stabilities since they contained the same cation although the original anions were different. The thermal stability of the modified clays was higher than that of a commercial organoclay and of clays modified in our group with smaller MW pyridinium and imidazolium based cations. Clays modified with the long chain phosphonium based ILs showed excellent dispersion in a PP matrix, by contrast to the poor dispersion of clays modified with smaller MW imidazolium and pyridinium cations. PP melt mixed with modified clays showed more improved thermal stability than PP mixed with unmodified nanoclay and commercial nanoclay. This study was examined by TGA, FTIR, SEM, and WXRD.

Kamilah Hylton, PhD Student in Environmental Science, “Trace Monitoring of Pesticides using Microscale Membrane Extraction”, (nominated by advisor, Professor S. Mitra), Easel 37

In recent times, a number of compounds such as pesticides and their metabolites, pharmaceuticals, arsenic, fluorinated surfactants and algal toxins have begun to show up in increased amounts in water sources, some have no standard methods for their analysis, many are unregulated and their effects on human health and the environment are unknown or recognized as toxic. A few decades ago, organophosphorus pesticides were replaced by the less toxic carbamate pesticides. However, exposure to these pesticides also results in dizziness, nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps and so are regulated by the USEPA. Current EPA protocol for the analysis of these pesticides involves filtration, followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with derivatization and fluorescence detection. Derivatization serves to produce lower detection limits, but requires additional equipment and reagents, heating and so increases the total cost of analysis. In this paper, a microscale extraction technique without any derivatization and requiring only a miniscule amount of solvent is presented. A membrane extraction method that uses a coated membrane [1] and solvent mixture enhances the enrichment. This technique is simple, inexpensive and easily lends itself to automation and therefore continuous real-time monitoring is a possibility [2]. High enrichment factors (EFs) (up to 2700), good precision and low detection limits (ppt level) were obtained.

Krystian F. Jarosz, Senior Student in Biology-Accelerated Pre-Dental, “Assessing Genetic Susceptibility to Early Onset Periodontitis”, (nominated by Ms. Karen Roach, advisor Professor S. Diehl, New Jersey Dental School), Easel 22

Aggressive periodontitis is a rare destructive disease of the periodontal tissue that occurs in young individuals. Recently there has been an increased amassing of evidence for a genetic susceptibility to this classification of periodontal disease. This study aims to explore such a hypothesis of genetically programmed disease-genes via genotyping with SNP genetic markers. The study incorporates reaction plate preparation, assay operation, reading of the genotype, and lastly statistical analysis of obtained findings. Studies such as this are performed with the broad intention of future genetic therapy applications such as the preparation of personalized drugs that may ameliorate disease symptoms, or prevent disease altogether.

Jasneet Kaur, Senior Student in Biology, “Impact of Constitutively Active RhoA and Change in Cell Shape on Mitotic Spindle Orientation”, (with Tao Lin; nominated by Ms. Karen Roach; advisors Professor A. Bose and Professor E. Bonder), Easel 39

The orientation of the mitotic spindle in a cell determines the cleavage plane for cytokinesis. Expression of constitutively active RhoA, a member of Rho GTPase family that is involved in signaling the rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton, has been observed to lead to a rounded cell shape as well as the misorientation of the mitotic spindle. In this report, we have examined the relationship between the change in cell shape caused by RhoA and the misorientation of the mitotic spindle. Normal IAR-2 rat liver epithelial cells, RhoA activated IAR-2 cells, and RhoA activated IAR-2 cells treated with several different concentrations of Y-27632, a highly potent, cell-permeable, selective inhibitor of Rho-associated protein kinase, were observed by confocal microscopy. This inhibitory action of Y-27632 relaxes actin-myosin contraction and allows the cell shape of the RhoA activated cells to return to normal. As a result, the relationship between cell shape and spindle orientation can be studied by analyzing the shapes and spindle angles of the different cells. From the data, it was concluded that the change in cell shape caused by the effect of constitutively active RhoA did not directly lead to a misoriented spindle. We propose that the reduction in amount of cortical flow as a result of over expression of RhoA has a more significant role in regulating the mitotic spindle orientation. Through mathematical modeling we show that the effect of cell shape is minimal compared to the effect of cortical flow in determining the angle of the mitotic spindle. 

Mugdha Khaladkar, PhD Student in Computer Science, “RADAR: RNA Data Analysis and Research”, (nominated by advisor, Professor J. Wang), Table 46

Comparing and aligning RNA secondary structures is fundamental to knowledge discovery in biomolecular informatics. It assists scientists in performing many important RNA mining operations, including the understanding of functions of RNA sequences, the detection of structural RNA motifs and the clustering of RNA molecules, among others. RADAR is a web-based toolkit for RNA data analysis and research. The toolkit is capable of performing database search, multiple structure alignment, and pair-wise structure comparison. In addition, RADAR provides two salient features: (1) constrained alignment of RNA secondary structures, and (2) prediction of the consensus for a set of RNA secondary structures. It is fully operational and accessible on the web at http://datalab.njit.edu/biodata/rna/RSmatch/server.htm.

Christopher Khalil, Senior Student in Biomedical Engineering, “Measurements of Membrane Capacitance in Neurons”, (with Arif Patel and Arlene Pineda; nominated by Ms. Karen Roach; advisors Professor F. Nadim and Professor J. Golowasch), Table 5

Membrane capacitance (Cm) affects the electrical properties of excitable membranes and is directly related to cell size.  In neuronal measurements of Cm, different experimental techniques of cellular electrophysiology produce values that can vary up to an order of magnitude.  We propose that this discrepancy in measurement techniques may be due to the asymmetrically decentralized morphology of neuronal membranes.  In this study, we measured Cm using intracellular recordings of stomatogastric neurons in the crab Cancer borealis with three methods: current step injections in current clamp conditions and voltage step and voltage ramp injections in voltage clamp conditions.  In current step and voltage step injections, the membrane time constant and the total charge accumulation, respectively, were estimated.  In voltage ramp injections, the membrane potential was varied over time, and the resulting surge in injected current was estimated.  These estimated parameters are all directly proportional to Cm.  We analyzed compartmentalized models that simulated the real cells: two isopotential spheres coupled by an internal resistance, two isopotential spheres coupled by a multi-compartment cylinder, and an isopotential sphere coupled to a multi-compartment cylinder whose posterior end was connected to the anterior end of another multi-compartment cylinder of different diameter.  We estimated Cm in the models by using the three experimental methods, and we expressed the experimental values as a percentage of their actual values to quantify the accuracy of these methods.  The current step injections provided the most accurate estimate of Cm while the voltage step method provided the least accurate estimate. 

Olga Khorkova, PhD Student in Biology, “Long-Term Effects of Neuromodulatory Input on Ionic Current Interactions”, (nominated by Professor D. Papageorgiou, advisor J. Golowasch), Easel 18

Reliability of respiration, heartbeat and digestion depends on the stability of output (bursting activity) of the central pattern generators (CPGs) controlling these functions. The bursting activity in turn depends on the characteristics of the ionic currents expressed by CPG neurons. Here we show that CPG neurons with different functions (e.g. pacemaker vs follower neurons) have distinct regulation of their currents levels and of their correlations. We further demonstrate that neurons with different functions respond differently during adaptation to changes in environmental inputs, such as the loss of neuromodulator supply after decentralization of crab stomatogastric ganglion (STG). Such differences could be essential for the simultaneous maintenance of stable output of single neurons and CPG networks under constantly changing environmental conditions.

Kiratbir Khurana, Master’s Student in Electrical Engineering, “IBM & History Channel’s City of the Future Competition”, (with Arwa Gheith, Latha Singanamalli and Gian Francisco; nominated by Professor A. Dhawan, advisor Professor M. Sosnowski), Table 12

New York City of the year 2106 is partly under water and overcrowded. Global warming and climate change have caused flooding and the population of the city peaks at 12 million. This growth in population requires permanent and reliable solutions for the energy needs of the people. To meet this demand it is proposed to use highly efficient solar panels to generate much of the need. These panels would be 80% efficient and would require an area of 13x13 square miles to power the entire city. To achieve efficiency, solar panels would be coated with nanocrystals that would absorb the higher percentage of visible light. Transparent solar panels would also be installed on transparent vanes or tube-like structures which would replace the streets in the flooded areas. The solar panels on the vanes would have nano prisms which would refract light directly on the solar cell no matter what the angle of the sunlight is. The prisms would be moved to an optimal angle by microscopic gears made from MEMS.

To transport the electricity, superconductive cables would be used so there is minimal loss. Mobile electricity (for automobiles) would be stored in nanotube super capacitors which would hold charge many times that of super capacitors today. These super capacitors would also power cars of the future and replace conventional chemical batteries. To heat and cool buildings of the future, Peltier heat pumps would be used on a large scale. Adding superconductive elements to the semi-conducting portions of a Peltier cooler would allow heat to be transferred to practically anywhere with minimal power consumption.

Kitae Kim, PhD Student in Civil Engineering (Transportation), “Cost and Benefit Analysis for Optimized Signal Timing - Case Study: New Jersey Route 23” (nominated by advisor, Professor S. Chien), Table 3

Funded by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), this study develops a practical and efficient method to calculate costs and benefits associated with the implementation of optimized signal timing plans with SYNCHRO.

Seon Woo Lee, PhD Student in Electrical Engineering, “Single Electron Devices Based on As-Grown Individual Carbon Nanotube Bridges and Conductive Polymers”, (nominated by advisor, Professor H. Grebel), Easel 35

Carbon nanotube (CNT) and electrically conducting polymers (ECP) have gained much interest recently, each component for its own merit. Here we combined these two material components in the realization of optoelectronic circuits on the nano-scale. CNT Field-Effect Transistors (CNT-FET) were fabricated by combining as-grown CNT intra-connects and ECP. Intra-connects (bridges) were realized on a pre-patterned and addressable electrodes layout by using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. These were later electroplated with ECP by using conventional three-compartment electrochemical cell. The morphology, electrical conductivity, photoconductivity, optical properties were studied by Raman spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), photoconductivity measurements, current-voltage (I-V) and current-gate voltage (I-VG) measurements. The CNT bridges grown by CVD were well-aligned from tip to tip and the electrical conductivity was measurable without further processing. The results for all measurements were compared before and after electrochemical deposition of the ECP. Such construction may find applications in optoelectronic switches and radiation sensors on the nano-scale.

Daniel Lepek, PhD Student in Chemical Engineering, “The Effect of Gas and Particle Properties on the Fluidization State of APF and ABF Nanopowders”, (nominated by Professor R. Dave; also advised by Prof. Robert Pfeffer), Easel 23

Previous work has shown that an increase in the viscosity of a fluidizing gas can improve the agglomerate fluidization state of micron-sized particles and APF (agglomerate particulate fluidization) nanopowders. Theoretical work has been shown that the viscosity of a fluidizing gas does not greatly affect the size of the fluidized nanoparticle agglomerates; however, positive effects such as larger bed expansion and an increase in the minimum bubbling velocity have been observed when a higher viscosity gas is used.

In this work, we will show how the gas viscosity can improve the fluidization characteristics of ABF (agglomerate bubbling fluidization) nanopowders, which are typically difficult to fluidize. The effect of gas density, as well as viscosity, will also be studied. In-situ laser imaging and image analysis techniques to determine the average agglomerate size will be improved and bed pressure fluctuations will be studied to determine at which gas velocities the bed is homogeneously fluidized. The setting velocity of these powders will also be measured and compared to the fluidizing gas velocity to determine the regions of homogeneous fluidization.

Tao Lin, Sophomore Student in Biology and Mathematical Sciences, “Impact of Constitutively Active RhoA and Change in Cell Shape on Mitotic Spindle Orientation”, (with Jasneet Kaur; nominated by Ms. Karen Roach; advisors Professor A. Bose and Professor E. Bonder), Easel 39

The orientation of the mitotic spindle in a cell determines the cleavage plane for cytokinesis. Expression of constitutively active RhoA, a member of Rho GTPase family that is involved in signaling the rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton, has been observed to lead to a rounded cell shape as well as the misorientation of the mitotic spindle. In this report, we have examined the relationship between the change in cell shape caused by RhoA and the misorientation of the mitotic spindle. Normal IAR-2 rat liver epithelial cells, RhoA activated IAR-2 cells, and RhoA activated IAR-2 cells treated with several different concentrations of Y-27632, a highly potent, cell-permeable, selective inhibitor of Rho-associated protein kinase, were observed by confocal microscopy. This inhibitory action of Y-27632 relaxes actin-myosin contraction and allows the cell shape of the RhoA activated cells to return to normal. As a result, the relationship between cell shape and spindle orientation can be studied by analyzing the shapes and spindle angles of the different cells. From the data, it was concluded that the change in cell shape caused by the effect of constitutively active RhoA did not directly lead to a misoriented spindle. We propose that the reduction in amount of cortical flow as a result of over expression of RhoA has a more significant role in regulating the mitotic spindle orientation. Through mathematical modeling we show that the effect of cell shape is minimal compared to the effect of cortical flow in determining the angle of the mitotic spindle. 

Murtaza Lukmani, Master’s Student in Information Systems, “Small Scale Systems Integration Model (S3IM) – an Integrated Resource Planning System (IRP) for SMEs”, (nominated by advisor, Professor M. Chumer), Table 8

The project consists of the design of an Integrated web based information system for the SME (Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.) The design of the Information systems allowed cross-functional and cross-organizational conglomeration of the SMEs, in order to achieve higher economies of scale in performance, and greater international market exposure. The Thesis end with the design of an Integrated web based ERP package for the SMEs. 

Felix Mbuga, Junior Student in Chemical Engineering, “Advances towards the Development of a Bioartificial Kidney”, (nominated by Professor A. Perna, advisor Professor K. Sirkar), Table 7

We are trying to design and build a bioartificial device that goes beyond the mechanical separation functions of dialysis. The aim is to create and optimize a device that utilizes the active transport properties of live cells to reabsorb the vital components that are lost during conventional dialysis in the dialyzate.

Nebojsa Murisic, PhD Student in Mathematical Sciences, “‘Octopus’-shaped Instabilities of Evaporating Drops”, (nominated by Professor D. Papageorgiou, advisor Professor L. Kondic), Easel 34

The motivation for this work stems from curious phenomena recorded in semiconductor industry. Peculiar "octopus"- shaped instabilities appear close to the contact line of evaporating 2-propanol. The experiments were performed with 4 liquid/solid setups, and instabilities occurred for 2-propanol/Si combination only. We have developed a mathematical model, based on Navier-Stokes equations and lubrication approximation to obtain the equation for evolution of drop thickness. Linear stability analysis (LSA) of the full equation tells us that, indeed, 2-propanol/Si setup is most unstable. Finally, we compare our results to numeric and experimental data.  We find that instabilities for 2-propanol/Si combination are recovered, and relate them to evaporation induced Marangoni effects and the thermal conductivity of both liquid and solid.

Samin Nawaz, Sophomore Student in Biology, “Structural Insights into Hydrolytic Mechanism of Antibiofilm Agent Dispersin B”, (nominated by Ms. Karen Roach, advisor Dr. N. Ramasubbu, New Jersey Dental School), Easel 27

Bacteria in a biofilm are enmeshed in a self-synthesized extracellular polysaccharide matrix (PGA) which is a linear polymer of N-acetylglucosamine residues in β(1,6)-linkage. Dispersin B (DspB), a soluble glycoside hydrolase produced by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) degrades PGA. DspB, is an (β/α) TIM-barrel protein and belongs to family 20 glycosyl hydrolases in which a conserved amino acid pair, aspartate-glutamate, is present (Asp183-Glu184, DspB numbering). In addition, the active site of DspB contains another acidic residue Glu332 at about 5Å away from Glu184. Objective: To understand the role of each of these acidic residues in the hydrolytic mechanism.

Methods: Using site-directed mutagenesis, biological and biochemical characterization, we investigated the role of Asp183, Glu184 and Glu332. Results: We found that Glu184 and Glu332 residues are essential for DspB activity. Mutation of each of these causes a significant reduction in the enzymatic activity. The variant Glu184Gln requires a 10-fold increase in enzyme concentration (>1000 nM) for measurable activity in kinetic as well as biofilm assay whereas Glu332Gln is inactive even at 1000 nM. In contrast, both DspB and Asp183Ala exhibited similar kinetics at 100 nM concentration; however, Asp183Ala showed a 12-fold loss in activity compared to DspB. Similar results were obtained in a 96-well biofilm detachment assay as well.

Conclusion: The loss of activity in the Glu184 and Glu332 variants suggests that DspB might hydrolyze PGA through a mechanism similar to the substrate-assisted mechanism proposed earlier. Based on our results, it appears that Asp183, Glu184 and Glu332 play a significant role in the hydrolysis of PGA. 

Jillian Nguyen, Junior in Biomedical Engineering, "An fMRI Investigation in Oculomotor Learning through Vergence Eye Movements", (nominated by Professor A. Perna, advisor T. Alvarez), Table 50

Binocular dysfunction in today's population is expected to become an increasing problem as technological advances rely on near work, such as computer related activities. With an inability to fixate on an object, oculomotor learning within the vergence system must be understood to facilitate therapies for individuals with binocular dysfunction. Using fMRI to study oculomotor learning, cortical areas of the brain are to be located that are associated with motor learning in vergence eye movements. Preliminary data from two subjects show cortical activity in the occipital gyrus, V5/ MT, somatosensory area, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex which are correlated to motor learning when prediction is utilized by vergence.

Mojisola Kike Otegbeye, PhD Student in Industrial Engineering, “On Global Supply Chain Inventory Management Utilizing Extensions of the Multi-Product Newsboy Models”, (nominated by advisor, Professor L. Abdel-Malek), Table 9

In this research, we established an optimal ordering strategy for a concern faced with competing global suppliers with random yields as well as random demands. Our algorithms , which apply separable programming and duality concepts to develop novel closed form solutions methodologies to the nonlinear stochastic newsvendor problem, serve to simultaneously select among competing vendors based, inter alia, on their yield and cost structures, as well as establish the optimal lot size of each of the considered products subject to operating constraints, while providing avenues of studying the relationship between supplier yield and cost structures in a global environment.

Vivian Ozoka, Senior Student in Biomedical Engineering, “Qualitative Analysis of a Base Functionalized Silica”, (nominated by Professor A. Perna, advisor Professor B. Pfister), Easel 43

The project is an alternative method of catalyst synthesis and characterization, designed to understand what causes low number of active site protonation in previous experiments. Alternatively, surface modification and synthesis of mesoporous silica SBA-15 was performed, followed by fictionalization with aminopropyl group, and properties analysis through titration and Gas Chromatography.

Ku-Il Park, PhD Student in Material Sciences and Engineering, “Preparation and Characterization of Polymeric Capsules Containing Functional Additives”, (nominated by advisor, Professor T. Tyson), Easel 36

In attempts to develop novel functional additives for thermoplastic and thermoset polymer coatings, various sizes of microcapsules containing a silicone fluid which could facilitate the release of the coating from a  metallic substrate were prepared by in-situ polymerization. Fill content, size of capsules, wall-thickness, and surface morphology were observed by TGA, TEM, SEM, EDX, optical and NMR microscopy. The capsules were dispersed in polymeric coatings and the release of their content through mechanical means was followed microscopically.

Arif Patel, Senior Student in Biomedical Engineering, “Measurements of Membrane Capacitance in Neurons”, (with Arlene Pineda and Christopher Khalil; nominated by Ms. Karen Roach, advisors Professor F. Nadim and Professor J. Golowasch), Table 5

Membrane capacitance (Cm) affects the electrical properties of excitable membranes and is directly related to cell size.  In neuronal measurements of Cm, different experimental techniques of cellular electrophysiology produce values that can vary up to an order of magnitude.  We propose that this discrepancy in measurement techniques may be due to the asymmetrically decentralized morphology of neuronal membranes.  In this study, we measured Cm using intracellular recordings of stomatogastric neurons in the crab Cancer borealis with three methods: current step injections in current clamp conditions and voltage step and voltage ramp injections in voltage clamp conditions.  In current step and voltage step injections, the membrane time constant and the total charge accumulation, respectively, were estimated.  In voltage ramp injections, the membrane potential was varied over time, and the resulting surge in injected current was estimated.  These estimated parameters are all directly proportional to Cm.  We analyzed compartmentalized models that simulated the real cells: two isopotential spheres coupled by an internal resistance, two isopotential spheres coupled by a multi-compartment cylinder, and an isopotential sphere coupled to a multi-compartment cylinder whose posterior end was connected to the anterior end of another multi-compartment cylinder of different diameter.  We estimated Cm in the models by using the three experimental methods, and we expressed the experimental values as a percentage of their actual values to quantify the accuracy of these methods.  The current step injections provided the most accurate estimate of Cm while the voltage step method provided the least accurate estimate. 

Davi G. Pereira, Senior Student in Mechanical Engineering, “Development of Gait Generation Devices for Leg Rehabilitation”, (nominated by Professor A. Perna, advisor Professor Z. Ji), Easel 28

The objective of this research is to design gait generation devices that will help the rehabilitation of people who are disabled with paralyzed legs.

Arlene Pineda, Junior Student in Biomedical Engineering, “Measurements of Membrane Capacitance in Neurons”, (with Arif Patel and Christopher Khalil; nominated by Ms. Karen Roach, advisors Professor F. Nadim and Professor J. Golowasch), Table 5

Membrane capacitance (Cm) affects the electrical properties of excitable membranes and is directly related to cell size.  In neuronal measurements of Cm, different experimental techniques of cellular electrophysiology produce values that can vary up to an order of magnitude.  We propose that this discrepancy in measurement techniques may be due to the asymmetrically decentralized morphology of neuronal membranes.  In this study, we measured Cm using intracellular recordings of stomatogastric neurons in the crab Cancer borealis with three methods: current step injections in current clamp conditions and voltage step and voltage ramp injections in voltage clamp conditions.  In current step and voltage step injections, the membrane time constant and the total charge accumulation, respectively, were estimated.  In voltage ramp injections, the membrane potential was varied over time, and the resulting surge in injected current was estimated.  These estimated parameters are all directly proportional to Cm.  We analyzed compartmentalized models that simulated the real cells: two isopotential spheres coupled by an internal resistance, two isopotential spheres coupled by a multi-compartment cylinder, and an isopotential sphere coupled to a multi-compartment cylinder whose posterior end was connected to the anterior end of another multi-compartment cylinder of different diameter.  We estimated Cm in the models by using the three experimental methods, and we expressed the experimental values as a percentage of their actual values to quantify the accuracy of these methods.  The current step injections provided the most accurate estimate of Cm while the voltage step method provided the least accurate estimate. 

Roshan Prabhu, Senior in Biology, “Temperature Dependency of Circadian Clocks in Drosophila”, (nominated by Ms. Karen Roach, advisor Professor I. Edery, Rutgers New Brunswick), Easel 13

The circadian clock, an internal biological clock, allows, among other things, an organism to adjust its daily activity patterns by sensing changes in environmental queues such as light/dark (LD) cycles and temperature. Splicing of the Drosophila melanogaster period (per) intron 8 (dmpi8) in the 3’UTR has been associated with temperature sensitivity of circadian clocks in Drosophila. High splicing efficiency is linked with early evening activity peak and low splicing efficiency with later mainly nocturnal evening activity peaks in D. melanogaster (Canton-S; a strain originating from N. America). Cold temperatures are associated with high splicing efficiency and warm temperatures with low splicing efficiency. This makes biological sense by providing a mechanism whereby flies avoid the hot midday hours during warm days.  The SR proteins sc35, srp54, nop5, xl6, rbp1, sf2 may play a role in splicing regulation, however, silencing expression of a single protein at a time showed no affect. Silencing multiple related proteins at a time may be the key to determining the role of these SR proteins in splicing regulation of dmpi8.

Rene Rivero, PhD Student in Materials Science and Engineering, “Magnetic Field Assisted Assembly of Semiconductor Devices”, (representing Sudhakar Shet), (nominated by Professor N.M. Ravindra), Easel 16

In a novel approach, using Magnetic Field Assisted Assembly technique (MFAA) semiconductor devices are assembled on a substrate or embedded with silicon integrated circuits using a magnetic field. Magnetic field-assisted assembly is an integration technique for the efficient placement of a large number of devices into receptor sites etched in semiconductor wafers with or without circuitry. Massively parallel micro-assembly of heterogeneous devices on to the same substrate is an efficient, low-cost alternative to the conventional pick-and-place assembly of semiconductor devices. Prior art of micro-assembly is explained with its advantages and disadvantages. Assembly process of the MFAA technique is presented. A model for the magnetic forces required to efficiently place a device in a pre-determined location on the substrate for the magnetic field assisted assembly of semiconductor devices is presented. The strong close-range attractive magnetic forces that govern the magnetic field assisted assembly technique are approximated using a simple geometric argument that employs relative size, distance, mass and energy considerations. The results of the model are plotted as function of various physical parameters. Advantages and disadvantages of the Magnetic Field Assisted Assembly technique over other micro-assembly techniques is presented.

David Rodriguez, Junior in Computer Engineering, “A Peer to Peer Network Model Approach to Speech Recognition Training”, (nominated by Professor A. Perna, advisor Professor M. Zhou), Easel 15

A novel approach to training a speech recognition system is proposed. To achieve high recognition rates, a user must train the system extensively. The method proposed uses distributed computing practices in order to obtain large amounts of training data without much burden on a single user. A peer to peer network is constructed in which training data of multiple users, given similar speaker characteristics, is used to retrain the acoustic model of the system. As the network increases in number of users, the goal is to have a system that needs little or no training for a new unknown user to achieve fairly high recognition rates.

Abraham Rosales, Senior Student in Computer Science, “Understanding Colonial Wading Bird Metapopulation Dynamics in the NJ Meadowlands and NY Harbor”, (nominated by Ms. Karen Roach and Professor A. Perna, advisor Professor G. Russell), Table 10

The goal of this project is to understand the reason for fluctuations in the wading bird population in the NJ Meadowlands and NY Harbor by using Metapopulation dynamics and aggregation behavior to get a better understanding of the health of the system and then manage it in a more efficient way. 

Jo Ann Saitta, PhD Student in Information Systems, “A Content Analytical Longitudinal Study – A Strategic Model for Information Technology Outsourcing in the Financial Services”, (nominated by advisor, Professor J. Fjermestad), Table 1

An integrated strategic management framework was developed from a literature evaluation of IT outsourcing and strategic management articles in an effort to identify synergies and success factors (Saitta and Fjermestad, 2005).  The collection of success factors was developed into a single, integrated, strategic ITO framework.   The framework consists of the following components:  business alignment, contracts, culture, strategic partnership, management support, governance, and economics.  This doctoral research will conduct a content analytical longitudinal study of trade and industry publications between the years 1989-2006 within the financial services industry.  The purpose of this doctoral research is to demonstrate the validity of the ITO framework within the context of real industry examples.

Sudhakar Shet, PhD Student in Materials Science and Engineering, “Magnetic Field Assisted Assembly of Semiconductor Devices”, (represented by Rene Rivero), (nominated by advisor Professor N.M. Ravindra), Easel 16

In a novel approach, using Magnetic Field Assisted Assembly technique (MFAA) semiconductor devices are assembled on a substrate or embedded with silicon integrated circuits using a magnetic field. Magnetic field-assisted assembly is an integration technique for the efficient placement of a large number of devices into receptor sites etched in semiconductor wafers with or without circuitry. Massively parallel micro-assembly of heterogeneous devices on to the same substrate is an efficient, low-cost alternative to the conventional pick-and-place assembly of semiconductor devices. Prior art of micro-assembly is explained with its advantages and disadvantages. Assembly process of the MFAA technique is presented. A model for the magnetic forces required to efficiently place a device in a pre-determined location on the substrate for the magnetic field assisted assembly of semiconductor devices is presented. The strong close-range attractive magnetic forces that govern the magnetic field assisted assembly technique are approximated using a simple geometric argument that employs relative size, distance, mass and energy considerations. The results of the model are plotted as function of various physical parameters. Advantages and disadvantages of the Magnetic Field Assisted Assembly technique over other micro-assembly techniques is presented.

Latha Singanamalli, Senior Student in Computer Engineering, “IBM & History Channel’s City of the Future Competition”, (with Gian Francisco, Kiratbir Khurana and Arwa Gheith; nominated by Professor A. Dhawan, advisor Professor M. Sosnowski), Table 12

New York City of the year 2106 is partly under water and overcrowded. Global warming and climate change have caused flooding and the population of the city peaks at 12 million. This growth in population requires permanent and reliable solutions for the energy needs of the people. To meet this demand it is proposed to use highly efficient solar panels to generate much of the need. These panels would be 80% efficient and would require an area of 13x13 square miles to power the entire city. To achieve efficiency, solar panels would be coated with nanocrystals that would absorb the higher percentage of visible light. Transparent solar panels would also be installed on transparent vanes or tube-like structures which would replace the streets in the flooded areas. The solar panels on the vanes would have nano prisms which would refract light directly on the solar cell no matter what the angle of the sunlight is. The prisms would be moved to an optimal angle by microscopic gears made from MEMS.

To transport the electricity, superconductive cables would be used so there is minimal loss. Mobile electricity (for automobiles) would be stored in nanotube super capacitors which would hold charge many times that of super capacitors today. These super capacitors would also power cars of the future and replace conventional chemical batteries. To heat and cool buildings of the future, Peltier heat pumps would be used on a large scale. Adding superconductive elements to the semi-conducting portions of a Peltier cooler would allow heat to be transferred to practically anywhere with minimal power consumption.

Latha Singanamalli, Senior Student in Computer Engineering, “Application of High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) Cable in Future Power System”, (nominated by advisor, Professor A. Dhawan), Table 11

High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) cables are one of best alternatives for the conventional cables and are widely used in electrical networks. HTS cables can be designed to have electric characteristics like resistance, capacitance, and reactance, which are not achievable with conventional cables.

Roger Solano, PhD Student in Industrial Engineering, “Design of a Service Supply Chain for Business Process Outsourcing”, (nominated by advisor, Professor S. Das), Table 53

A variety of businesses experience high variability in the demand for services (e.g., loan processing, advanced consulting services, emergency repair crews, claims processing, etc.). To avoid excess capacity cost, while at the same time increasing their ability to respond to customer demand, many companies are a network of providers to deliver the service product. We define Service Supply Chain (SSC) as a network of services provider facilities, each of which is able to process one or more service tasks on an as-needed basis. These facilities may be outsourced or owned by the primary company, and are often located in multiple geographies to exploit local cost advantages and expertise. The key motivation for a company to setup a SSC is to decrease their labor resource costs by the increased labor flexibility (lower hiring and firing costs) of the service provider network. We propose a 2-Level hierarchical model for the design and operation of a SSC. Level-1 is the strategic model and decides which providers, from a list of candidates, are selected to construct the SSC, and what service tasks are assigned to each, while Level-2 is the tactical model and this dynamically controls the capacity levels at each provider. The models are formulated as mixed integer programs.

Purushothaman Srinivasan, PhD Student in Electrical Engineering, “Low-Frequency (1/f) Noise Studies in High-k based Transistors”, (nominated by advisor, Professor D. Misra), Easel 40

The ITRS roadmap clearly outlines the necessity to implement high-k dielectrics for sub 45 nm technology nodes and there is a clear trend that Hf-based dielectrics will play a dominant role. However, in order to overcome the associated mobility degradation compared to SiO2, gate stacks based on FUSI or metal gate electrodes are gaining high interest. In recent years, it has become obvious that low frequency noise diagnostics is a powerful tool for device performance and reliability characterization. For deep sub micron technologies a low 1/f noise value is essential for both analog and digital applications.

This work demonstrates the necessity of gate stack engineering for achieving a low 1/f noise performance. The impact of several gate processing parameters, such as thickness of the interfacial layer and the high-k oxide, bulk properties of the high-k layer, high-k deposition technique, percentage of hafnium content, post deposition anneal (PDA) treatments, choice of gate electrode material (poly-silicon, fully silicided or metal), gate electrode processing is investigated in detail and the role of the different interfaces and bulk layers of the gate stack is understood. The physical origin and the mechanisms of low-frequency noise are identified. The dependence of low-frequency noise on high and low temperatures was also investigated.  Improved drain current noise modeling for high-k dielectrics was derived as for these gate-dielectrics the standard noise models is no longer applicable.

Igor Stanojev, PhD Student in Electrical Engineering, “Optimal Design of a Multi-Antenna Access Point with Decentralized Power Control Using Game Theory”, (nominated by advisor, Professor Y. Bar-Ness), Easel 26

Power control for uplink channels with non-cooperative and rational mobile stations (MS) can be studied in the framework of game theory. We investigate the optimal design of a multi-antenna access point (AP) in such a scenario by modeling the interaction between the AP on one side, and the distributed set of MSs on the other, as a Stackelberg game. As a game leader, the AP determines the network parameters (bandwidth and the number of receiving antennas) for the power control game played between the MSs (follower), so as to maximize the network utility per system resource (bandwidth and antennas). Two game models are considered, whereby the network utility is measured either in terms of power minimization or power efficiency maximization.

Ramani Susarla, PhD Student in Chemical Engineering, “Mathematical Modeling of Drug Release from Lidocaine Loaded Biodegradable Nanospheres without Film Resistance”, (nominated by advisor, Professor N. Loney), Table 48

A closed form solution has been obtained for the release kinetics of a solute from a spherical reservoir into a volume of liquid with a biochemical reaction and flow. This model could potentially provide both the length of time needed for a drug to reach its effective concentration once it is placed in the compartment and the length of time the drug concentration will stay above an effective concentration before a second dosage of drug needs to be administered. This is an improvement over diffusion-only models for systems where a chemical is expected to be assimilated in addition to diffusion. The most important feature of the mathematical relationship between the liquid concentrations versus time is its capability to predict the change of performance of the drug by manipulating the parameters in the equation. Therefore a substantial number of experiments can be eliminated when the optimal performance of the drug is sought after. The parameters include the initial concentrations of the drug in the solid and liquid phase, the radius of the solid drug carrier and the liquid phase diffusivity of the drug in the solid, the equilibrium constant of the solid-liquid inter phase (may be pH dependent) and the kinetic rate constant of the drug in the liquid phase.

Naruemon Suwattananont, PhD Student in Material Sciences and Engineering, “In situ Microdiffraction Investigation of Multilayer Boron Coating on Steel Substrate”, (nominated by advisor, Professor R. Petrova), Easel 38

A novel technique is used to investigate the microstructure of multilayer coating across the coating thickness. With the small beam size about 200-300 nm, the microstructure of multilayer coatings can be identified in every 2-3 micron depth along the coating thickness. Phase identification and internal stress in each layer depth profile can be detected.

Rosa E. Tolentino, Senior Student in Biomedical Engineering, “The Axon Stretch Growth System”, (nominated by Professor A. Perna, advisor Professor B. Pfister), Easel 42

How the axon stretch growth system works and what are the future uses of it.

Swati M. Umbrajkar, PhD Student in Mechanical Engineering, “Kinetic Analysis of Thermite Reaction in Reactive Nanocomposites”, (nominated by advisor, Professor E. Dreizin), Easel 14

In order to overcome the drawbacks of traditional energetic materials, highly reactive nanocomposites were synthesized using Arrested Reactive Milling. A methodology relying on both thermal analysis and high heating rate ignition experiments has been developed; to quantify the ignition kinetics and identify the related reaction mechanisms in these nanocomposites.