New Frontiers

The University of Cincinnati (UC) mobile app is a crucial tool for students, faculty, and staff to access important information, resources, and services on-the-go. However, the current app has received criticism for its outdated design, lack of user-friendliness, and limited functionality. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to redesign the UC mobile app through surveying and the engineering design process. Our specific question is: How can we improve the UC mobile app to better serve the needs of its users? To answer this question, we conducted research and surveyed the UC community on their experience with the current app and what improvements they would like to see. We also conducted research on apps in the same space and how they were designed. The outcome of our work will be a new and improved UC mobile app that is user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and highly functional. The app will provide easy access to key information, resources, and services, such as course schedules, campus maps and dining options. The value of this outcome can be split into two types of effect. Firstly, it will benefit the UC community by providing a more efficient and effective tool to navigate campus life. Secondly, it will demonstrate the practical application of engineering design principles in solving real-world problems.

The purpose of hydrogenation is to rise melting points for oils and processed foods, increasing shelf life and texture of products, using palladium membranes. Palladium (Pd) membrane electrodes can be used to physically separate the formation of reactive hydrogen atoms from the hydrogenation of substrates. In this study, we demonstrate how dual hydrogenation of substrates through electrocatalysis, utilizing Pd membranes at both reducing and oxidizing ends. This dual hydrogenation system produces hydrogen that can penetrate through the chemical membrane at one end and the adsorbed hydrogen on the other end. This design enables the hydrogenation to simultaneously separate chambers of the same substrate. Palladium Membrane catalysts are also used to help absorb hydrogen from the Pd membrane, therefore with an increase in the number of Pd ions absorbed, the rate of hydrogenation will increase. Compared with other hydrogenation methods, this system can save vastly more energy and doubles the hydrogenation process. The limitations in this research will be overcome by using dual hydrogenation to increase shelf life, texture and stability for products such as oils and many processed foods by increasing their melting points. The outcome of this work will allow companies to reduce manufacturing cost, since the product will be stored over a longer period of time.

The increased use and demand for petroleum-based plastics have created a need for sustainable and degradable plastic. Polyethylene furanoate is a close replacement for petroleum-based plastics. Polyethylene furanoate is biodegradable and is made from sustainable resources. However, Polyethylene furanoate is made from 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid has limited synthesis pathways. Using carbon dioxide and bromide, FDCA can be made from biomass feedstocks. After working with this pathway, it was discovered that this pathway has a high yield and will produce a sufficient amount of FDCA. If this pathway can be implemented, a sufficient amount of FDCA will be created which can be used to create Polyethylene furanoate. Polyethylene furanoate can be used to replace petroleum-based plastics which would help to eliminate the demand for petroleum. Additionally, Polyethylene furanoate is biodegradable therefore reducing the amount of waste generated from petroleum-based plastics.

As climate change devastates ecosystems across the world, further research is performed in an attempt to preserve the wildlife and biodiversity of these ecosystems. Our research is an attempt at understanding the elemental composition of the endangered desert plant Jones Cycladenia, native to the deserts of southwestern Utah and northern Arizona. The plant samples (donated by The Cincinnati Zoo) were separated into three sections, ranging from the top, middle, and bottom sections of the plant. The plant sections were then analyzed using inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry to analyze chemical makeup and determine which section is the best for regrowing of the plant. After determining the best way to regrow Jones Cycladenia, measures can be taken to restore this species by creating protective areas, captive breeding, reintroduction to its native environment, conservation legislation, and public awareness.

The objective of this experiment was to try and develop a new method to be able to test for certain DNA molecules in a matrix. Usually, these tests need to be performed in a lab which is very time consuming and can be quite expensive depending on what you are testing for. The use of the new sensor will allow for quick and cheaper field testing that will reduce time needed to perform labs and will reduce the number of materials needed to run such tests.