Digital Commons Network^™

Implementation Of Bayesian Statistics To Answer Diverse Engineering Questions: Applications In Cancer Immunology And Engineering Education, Anika C. Pirkey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP) refers to a mechanistic modeling approach used for assessing potential therapeutics by linking the molecular and cellular level mechanisms of the disease and therapeutic to the system-wide dynamics and clinical endpoints relevant to the disease. Although the field of QSP is still in its relative infancy, the mathematical methodology employed to predict the kinetics of these systems are not new and can be applied to a wide variety of systems. For instance, similar to QSP’s goal of guiding the development of novel therapeutics for various disease states, there exists a need to develop novel interventions in …

Implementing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles To Collect Human Gait Data At Distance And Altitude For Identification And Re-Identification, Donn E. Bartram

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Gait patterns are a class of biometric information pertaining to the way a person moves and poses. Gait information is unique to each person and can be used to identify and reidentify people. Historically, this task has been achieved through the use of multiple ground-based imaging sensors. However, as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) advance, they present the opportunity to evolve the process of persons identification and re-identification. Collecting human gait data using UAVs at distances ranging from 20m to 500m and altitudes ranging from 0m to 120m is a challenging task. The current biometric data collection methods, primarily designed for …

Transparent And Conductive Gallium Oxide Electrode For Simultaneous Recording And Optogenetic Stimulation, Christopher Patrick Carey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Neural electrode technology has been around for centuries since the times of Galvani. In early electrophysiology experiments metal wires were used to induce contractions in dissected animals. The metal wire electrode has since been a standard tool to both stimulate and record neural activity. In the past two decades, a new strategy for neural stimulation has been formulated based on the emergent field of optogenetics. Optogenetics refers to the use of light-sensitive proteins genetically imbedded in the membrane of a neuron to elicit neural activity. This technique offers more selectivity in the stimulation of neurons. Typical optogenetic neural electrodes, or …

Computational Cognitive Modeling Of Pilot Performance In Pre-Flight And Take-Off Procedures, Rongbing Xu, Shi Cao, Suzanne K. Kearns, Ewa Niechwiej-Szwedo, Elizabeth Irving

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

While the current practice of pilot training relies on flight instructors’ subjective assessment, computational cognitive modeling may be used to support future objective assessment and diagnosis of pilot performance. We built two models in a cognitive architecture to simulate pilot flight performance during pre-flight and take-off tasks. Modeling results were compared with human results collected from the same tasks using X-Plane 11 flight simulator. The models were able to capture human pilot performance and workload results from both tasks with good levels of fitness (percentage errors ranging from 0.8% to 13.2%). This work demonstrated the capability and advantage of this …

Real-Time Detection Of Sea Turtles Using Uav And Neural Networks On Edge Devices, Jose A. Gonzalez Nunez, Jose G. Gonzalez Nunez, Mustafa I. Akbas, Patrick Currier, Nickolas D. Macchiarella

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

Sea turtle populations continue to diminish around the globe for various reasons. Therefore, the need for innovative solutions to monitor sea turtles has been increasing. This research paper focuses on an innovative application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) together with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to improve sea turtle conservation efforts. We outline the design, implementation, and evaluation of a system that deploys UAVs equipped with high-resolution cameras, coupled with a purpose-built neural network to recognize, classify, and monitor sea turtles. This project thus serves as a platform for understanding the wider applicability and limitations of this technology …

Novel Supercritical Biodiesel Plant Design & Process Scale-Up, Ghana Shyam Paudel

Doctoral Dissertations

"Current energy prices, national energy security, and global climate change fuel our momentum to find efficient advanced fuels choices. In this study, biodiesel processing, and a novel design for next generation biodiesel plants are explored. During a National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps project we identified three creative and profitable improvements to the process: 1. Incorporating Energy intensive separations and reactions 2. Utilizing Low commodity glycerol and 3. Applying process intensification principles.

Current biodiesel processes are catalyzed processes using continuous stir reactors with distillation systems to separate material constituents. We tested a lab-scale nocatalyst supercritical biodiesel process using waste cooking oil …

Development Of A Comprehensive Multi-Factored Methodology For Identification Of Landslides In The Buffalo National River Of Arkansas, Abdurraouf Okok

Doctoral Dissertations

"In northern Arkansas's Springfield and Boston Mountain Plateaus, distinctive geomorphological landslide features have shown historical continuity. USGS topographic maps (1:24,000, 7.5-minute series) serve as valuable resources for studying terrain characteristics and hydrological patterns.

This study uses a manual mapping approach with high-resolution LiDAR data and geological maps in a GIS environment. The method identifies historic landslide features by analyzing anomalous topographic contour patterns overlaid on LiDAR-derived hillshade maps, revealing various mass movements along the Buffalo National River. Data from the Office of State Geologist and fieldwork reconnaissance were utilized to map older landslide features with high confidence. Some previously unrecognized …

A Review On Biochar As An Adsorbent For Pb(Ii) Removal From Water, Pushpita Kumkum, Sandeep Kumar

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Heavy metal contamination in drinking water is a growing concern due to its severe health effects on humans. Among the many metals, lead (Pb), which is a toxic and harmful element, has the most widespread global distribution. Pb pollution is a major problem of water pollution in developing countries and nations. The most common sources of lead in drinking water are lead pipes, faucets, and plumbing fixtures. Adsorption is the most efficient method for metal removal, and activated carbon has been used widely in many applications as an effective adsorbent, but its high production costs have created the necessity for …

Understanding The Role Of Recalcitrant Organic Phosphorus Mineralization On Harmful Algal Blooms At The Sediment-Water Interface Of Freshwater System, Tasnuva Farnaz

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Over the past few decades, an enormous number of resources have been allocated to reduce the amount of phosphorus (P) entering the environment from both point and non-point sources. Nevertheless, the decrease in external P loading has not always resulted in a simultaneous decrease in the occurrence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in waters contaminated with phosphorus. A two-part study is currently being conducted to investigate and measure the role of legacy recalcitrant P forms in the overall pool of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP). However, the objective of this particular study is to evaluate the potential of Organic Phosphorus (PO) …

Alien Mystery Scavenger Hunt: Enhancing Intergenerational Interaction With Physical Web Technologies Through Location-Based Games, Folashade Fatima Badmos

Conference papers

The Physical Web is a powerful, easy-to-implement and inexpensive way to bridge the gap between the digital and physical realms compared to other technologies used for web location-aware interaction. In this study, we propose a Physical Web for an inter-generational game through the Alien Mystery scavenger hunt. Through the design and implementation of a Physical Web for outdoor intergenerational games, we show the potential of Physical Web technologies in presenting different interactions between the web and the user’s physical environment. The game utilises the ubiquity of QR codes and NFC in modern mobile devices, enabling users to seamlessly interact with …

Optimized Gadolinium-Do3a Loading In Raft-Polymerized Copolymers For Superior Mr Imaging Of Aging Blood-Brain Barrier, Hunter A. Miller, Aaron Priester, Evan T. Curtis, Krista Hilmas, Ashleigh Abbott, Forrest M. Kievit, Anthony J. Convertine

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The development of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) has been pivotal in advancing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), offering enhanced soft tissue contrast without ionizing radiation exposure. Despite their widespread clinical use, the need for improved GBCAs has led to innovations in ligand chemistry and polymer science. We report a novel approach using methacrylate-functionalized DO3A ligands to synthesize a series of copolymers through direct reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. This technique enables precise control over the gadolinium content within the polymers, circumventing the need for subsequent conjugation and purification steps, and facilitates the addition of other components such as targeting ligands. …

Empowering Urban Traffic Management: Elevated 3d Lidar For Data Collection And Advanced Object Detection Analysis, Nawfal Guefrachi, Hakim Ghazzai, Ahmad Alsharoa

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The 3D object detection capabilities in urban environments have been enormously improved by recent developments in Light Detection and Range (LiDAR) technology. This paper presents a novel framework that transforms the detection and analysis of 3D objects in traffic scenarios by utilizing the power of elevated LiDAR sensors. We are presenting our methodology's remarkable capacity to collect complex 3D point cloud data, which allows us to accurately and in detail capture the dynamics of urban traffic. Due to the limitation in obtaining real-world traffic datasets, we utilize the simulator to generate 3D point cloud for specific scenarios. To support our …

Injectable Dendrimer Hydrogel Delivers Melphalan In Both Conjugated And Free Forms For Retinoblastoma, Remy C. Cooper, Juan Wang, Hu Yang

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We report the successful synthesis of an injectable dendrimer hydrogel (DH) carrying melphalan, a clinical drug for retinoblastoma treatment, in both conjugated and free forms. Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer generation 5 (G5) is surface-modified with an acid-sensitive acetal-dibenzocyclooctyne linker and then undergoes azide-alkyne cycloaddition with melphalan-PEG-N3 conjugate to form G5-acetal-melphalan. During the DH gelation between G5-acetal-melphalan and PEG-diacrylate, free melphalan is added, resulting in a hydrogel (G5-acetal-melphalan-DH/melphalan) that carries the drug in both conjugated and free forms. Melphalan is slowly released from G5-acetal-melphalan-DH/melphalan, with the conjugated melphalan released more quickly at pH 5.3 due to acid-triggered acetal bond cleavage. The formulation's …

Development Of Tio2/Nh2-Mil-125 Nanocomposite For The Removal Of Ciprofloxacin Under Induced Solar Irradiation, Bilkis Mojisola Ajiwokewu

Theses

This research focuses on the development and application of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)-based nanocomposites for the photocatalytic removal of pharmaceutical contaminants, with a specific emphasis on ciprofloxacin (CIP). The photocatalytic degradation of CIP was investigated using as-synthesized photocatalysts of TiO₂ nanowires (TiO₂NWs), bare MOF of NH₂-MIL-125, TiO₂NW/NH₂-MIL-125 composite, and Lanthanum (La)-doped composite. Intriguingly, the TiO₂NW/NH₂-MIL-125 composite exhibited the highest efficiency, achieving a photodegradation rate of 0.0111 min-1, surpassing the independent performances of bare MOF of NH₂-MIL-125 and TiO₂NW. The observed efficiency was attributed to …

A Review Of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Cold Atmospheric Plasma For Surface Sterilization And Decontamination, Kolawole Adesina, Ta Chun Lin, Yue-Wern Huang, Marek Locmelis, Daoru Frank Han

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Numerous investigations have shown that non-equilibrium discharges at atmospheric pressure, also known as "cold atmospheric plasma" (CAP) are efficient to remove biological contaminants from surfaces of a variety of materials. Recently, CAP has quickly advanced as a technique for microbial cleaning, wound healing, and cancer therapy due to the chemical and biologically active radicals it produces, known collectively as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). This article reviews studies pertaining to one of the atmospheric plasma sources known as Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) which has been widely used to treat materials with microbes for sterilization, disinfection, and decontamination purposes. To …

Liposomes-Encapsulating Double-Stranded Nucleic Acid (Poly I:C) For Head And Neck Cancer Treatment, Vidit Singh, Anna Chernatynskaya, Lin Qi, Hsin Yin Chuang, Tristan Cole, Vimalin Mani Jeyalatha, Lavanya Bhargava, W. Andrew Yeudall, Laszlo Farkas, Hu Yang

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Polyriboinosinic acid-polyribocytidylic acid (Poly I:C) serves as a synthetic mimic of viral double-stranded dsRNA, capable of inducing apoptosis in numerous cancer cells. Despite its potential, therapeutic benefits, the application of Poly I:C has been hindered by concerns regarding toxicity, stability, enzymatic degradation, and undue immune stimulation, leading to autoimmune disorders. To address these challenges, encapsulation of antitumor drugs within delivery systems such as cationic liposomes is often employed to enhance their efficacy while minimizing dosages. In this study, we investigated the potential of cationic liposomes to deliver Poly I:C into the Head and Neck 12 (HN12) cell line to induce …

Quantifying The Impact Of A Constructed Wetland On Downstream Nitrate Concentrations And Loads In The U.S. Midwest, Elliot Anderson, Keith E. Schilling, Craig L. Just, Bong Chul Seo

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Constructed wetlands are standard conservation practices used to reduce nitrate loads in agricultural watersheds. Many studies have examined the efficiency of denitrification in wetlands under various scenarios, but quantifying the watershed-scale impact of wetlands on downstream nitrate levels is rarely done using field observations. In this study, we estimated nitrate removal in a constructed wetland in the headwaters of Mud Creek, a HUC12 watershed in eastern Iowa, from May–September 2022 and May–September 2023 (a ten-month period). We also measured nitrate loads at four successive downstream sites, three along Mud Creek and one below its confluence with the larger Cedar River. …

Assessing The Feasibility And Mechanism Of Destructive Removal Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) From Water, Kaushik Vinaykumar Londhe

Dissertations

One of the most pertinent challenges faced by the drinking water community is the widespread contamination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These anthropogenic chemicals have been ubiquitously used in everyday products such as carpets, stain repellents, dyes, shampoos, non-stick cookware as well as in aqueous firefighting foams. PFAS are linked with adverse health effects in humans such as thyroid disease, obesity, immunological and reproductive disorders and linked to cancer in adults and low birth weight and developmental defects in infants.

Conventional water treatment technologies have proven to be largely ineffective in PFAS remediation, due to their extreme stability and …

Distributed Intelligence: Exploring Federated Paradigms Across Computing And Networking On The Edge, Yang Deng

Dissertations

Computer Graphics (CG) revolves around virtual content creation using computational methods, spanning applications from games to visual effects. Typically, the creation of CG content is led by expert practitioners who guide computational algorithms towards satisfactory results. Thus, creating CG content often requires manual iterations encompassing algorithm design, parameter tuning, and aesthetic feedback. This work investigates how to leverage crowd-sourcing to streamline such creation processes, focusing on animation and simulation. In animation, a novel crowd-sourcing framework is proposed for combat animation, enabling users to analyze motion similarities, and retrieve matching motions using novel crowd-sourced motion features. Such features enable quantifying previously …

Seasonal Variability On Microplastic Polutions In Water And Sediment Of Ciliwung River, Hefty Clarissa Wilyalodia, Elgrytha Victoria Tybeyuliana, Alloysius Pamurda Dhika Mahendra, Mochamad Adhiraga Pratama, Suphia Rahmawati, Fajri Mulya Iresha, Setyo Sarwanto Moersidik

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

Microplastics, recognized as emerging contaminants, have been detected in numerous rivers globally. This study focuses on the Ciliwung River in Jakarta, examining the influence of seasonal variations—specifically the rainy and dry seasons—on microplastics' concentration, types, and colors. Sampling was conducted during November 2022 (dry season) and March 2023 (wet season) using a plankton net for water (10 liters) and an Ekman grab sampler for sediment (400 mililiters). Microplastic abundance was analyzed following the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) adaptation method, and their material characteristics were identified using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) testing. Results revealed a notable seasonal impact: …

The Presence Of Memory Through Materiality, Spatial Configuration, And Collective As A System For Sustainable High-Rise Residence, Arnis Rochma Harani, Brigitta E. Mekarwangi, Muhamad I. Hasan

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

This paper aims to explore the multifaceted elements involved in the design of residential buildings, encompassing both landed and high-rise structures, with a particular focus on memory. The ever-increasing urban population density has prompted a shift towards high-rise living, leading many individuals to transition from traditional landed homes. However, in urban environments where closely-knit communities have been the norm, high-rise living is often perceived as a potential obstacle to fostering social interactions akin to those experienced in landed residential areas. This challenge presents a compelling opportunity for designers to create vertical residential spaces that maintain the vibrant communal ambiance found …

The Effects Of Blue Light From Digital Displays On Visual Fatigue, Victor Taboadela

Theses

With the ever-increasing viewing time of digital displays, the potential effects of blue light emitted from these displays on eye health and eye fatigue are a real concern. This study presents a literature review of six laboratory studies conducted between 2014 and 2022 on the effect of using filters to attenuate the harmful effects of blue light. The review delves into smartphone and computer screen effects, recent literature reviews on blue light, and potential hazards associated with short-wavelength light. Although the majority of the studies recommended blue light filters, only three of the six laboratory studies (Shi et al. 2021, …

Foundation Of Revolutionary Topologies: An Overview, Examples, Trend Analysis, Research Issues, Challenges, And Future Directions, Florentin Smarandache

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

We now found nine new topologies, such as: NonStandard Topology, Largest Extended NonStandard Real Topology, Neutrosophic Triplet Weak/Strong Topologies, Neutrosophic Extended Triplet Weak/Strong Topologies, Neutrosophic Duplet Topology, Neutrosophic Extended Duplet Topology, Neutrosophic MultiSet Topology, and recall and improve the seven previously founded topologies in the years (2019-2023), namely: NonStandard Neutrosophic Topology, NeutroTopology, AntiTopology, Refined Neutrosophic Topology, Refined Neutrosophic Crisp Topology, SuperHyperTopology, and Neutrosophic SuperHyperTopology. They are called avantgarde topologies because of their innovative forms.

Preliminary Water Quality Assessment Using Canadian Water Quality Index Of Ras El-Ain Ponds, South Lebanon, Hussien Ali Fayad, Safaa Baydoun, Mohamad Reda Soliman

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Water quality deterioration in Lebanon is a pressing national issue and there is a high need for continuous water quality assessment and monitoring of water bodies in the country. This study aims at assessing water quality of Ras El-Ain Ponds, a major natural water resource for domestic use in Tyre district, South Lebanon by using the widely applied Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI). Sampling was conducted during February-March, 2023 and physiochemical and microbiological water quality parameters were determined using standardized methods. Assessed parameters in our study are temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), total …

Classification Of Oil Products According To The Nomenclature Of Goods, Kurbankul Mavlankulovych Karimkulov Profesor, Azoda Abdurahmanova

Technical science and innovation

The article analyzes types of vegetable oils. Simple methods of determining their quality using liquid gas chromatography have been developed. Recommendations for improving the classification of foreign economic activity based on commodity nomenclature were developed and recommended for customs operations. “Fats and oils of animal, vegetable or microbiological origin and products of their breakdown; prepared edible fats; waxes of animal or vegetable origin” was called. Animal fats, including pork, beef, sheep, goat, fish and oils of animals such as marine mammals are classified according to the Nomenclature of Foreign Economic Activities of the Republic of Uzbekistan in commodity headings 1501-1506 …

Red Cabbage Juice-Mediated Gut Microbiota Modulation Improves Intestinal Epithelial Homeostasis And Ameliorates Colitis, Emily Jean Wilson, Nagabhishek Sirpu Natesh, Parsa Ghadermazi, Ramesh Pothuraju, Dipakkumar R. Prajapati, Sanjit Pandey, Jussuf T. Kaifi, John R. Dodam, Jeffrey Bryan, Christian L. Lorson, Aude A. Watrelot, Jason M. Foster, Thomas J. Mansell, Siu Hung Joshua Chan, Surinder K. Batra, Jeyamkondan Subbiah, Satyanarayana Rachagani

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Gut microbiota plays a crucial role in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and can potentially prevent IBD through microbial-derived metabolites, making it a promising therapeutic avenue. Recent evidence suggests that despite an unclear underlying mechanism, red cabbage juice (RCJ) alleviates Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Thus, the study aims to unravel the molecular mechanism by which RCJ modulates the gut microbiota to alleviate DSS-induced colitis in mice. Using C57BL/6J mice, we evaluated RCJ’s protective role in DSS-induced colitis through two cycles of 3% DSS. Mice were daily gavaged with PBS or RCJ until the endpoint, and gut microbiota composition …

Smart System For Wheat Diseases Early Detection, Rustam Baratov, Himola Sunnatillayeva, Almardon Mamatovich Mustafoqulov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This paper presents a smart system for early detection of wheat plant diseases in the vegetation period. The proposed smart system allows detecting three types of wheat diseases, particularly yellow rust, powdery mildew and septoria at early stage and significantly improves the soil and ecology by locally spraying harmful chemicals just to sickness plants. The proposed diagnostic program is created in the C++ programming language. The basic structure of the smart system consists of Raspberry PI 4 MODULE, Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920, buzzer, HC-SR04 distance sensor, DC motor driver, AC motor, power supply, relay and some digital devices.

Determining The Presence And Size Of Shoulder Lesions In Sows Using Computer Vision, Shubham Bery, Tami M. Brown-Bandl, Bradley T. Jones, Gary A. Rohrer, Sudhendu Raj Sharma

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Shoulder sores predominantly arise in breeding sows and often result in untimely culling. Reported prevalence rates vary significantly, spanning between 5% and 50% depending upon the type of crate flooring inside a farm, the animal’s body condition, or an existing injury that causes lameness. These lesions represent not only a welfare concern but also have an economic impact due to the labor needed for treatment and medication. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of computer vision techniques in detecting and determining the size of shoulder lesions. A Microsoft Kinect V2 camera captured the top-down depth and …

Numerical Study Of Owls' Leading-Edge Serrations, Asif Shahriar Nafi, Nikolaos Beratlis, Elias Balaras, Roi Gurka

Physics and Engineering Science

Owls' silent flight is commonly attributed to their special wing morphology combined with wingbeat kinematics. One of these special morphological features is known as the leading-edge serrations: rigid miniature hook-like patterns found at the primaries of the wings' leading-edge. It has been hypothesized that leading-edge serrations function as a passive flow control mechanism, impacting the aerodynamic performance. To elucidate the flow physics associated with owls' leading-edge serrations, we investigate the flow-field characteristic around a barn owl wing with serrated leading-edge geometry positioned at 20° angle of attack for a Reynolds number of 40 000. We use direct numerical simulations, where …

The Role Of Colony Morphology And Substratum Inclination On The Distribution Of Eunicella Verrucosa On Shallow Reefs, Luke Thompson

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Eunicella verrucosa plays an important role in shallow reefs, where they produce a complex 'sheet tree' morphology that supports a variety of benthic-dwelling organisms. E. verrucosa is considered 'vulnerable' by the IUCN Red List, which validates the importance of understanding the biotic and abiotic factors influencing the species morphology and survival. This study analyses how horizontal and vertical slope inclinations influence colony morphology. A population of 115 E. verrucosa colonies were observed at Plymouth's inner breakwater fort at 8–13.8m in depth. The influence of inclination on morphology was investigated by observing colony height, encrusting branch diameter and branch complexity for …