Digital Commons Network^™

Exciton Delocalization In A Fully Synthetic Dna-Templated Bacteriochlorin Dimer, Olga A. Mass, Devan R. Watt, Lance K. Patten, Ryan D. Pensack, Jeunghoon Lee, Daniel B. Turner, Bernard Yurke, William B. Knowlton

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A bacteriochlorophyll a (Bchla) dimer is a basic functional unit in the LH1 and LH2 photosynthetic pigment–protein antenna complexes of purple bacteria, where an ordered, close arrangement of Bchla pigments—secured by noncovalent bonding to a protein template—enables exciton delocalization at room temperature. Stable and tunable synthetic analogs of this key photosynthetic subunit could lead to facile engineering of exciton-based systems such as in artificial photosynthesis, organic optoelectronics, and molecular quantum computing. Here, using a combination of synthesis and theory, we demonstrate that exciton delocalization can be achieved in a dimer of a synthetic bacteriochlorin (BC …

Hydrological System And Water Balance Of Ungauged Crater Lakes Of The Northern Crater Highlands, Godwin Lucas

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The study aimed to unveil the hydrological system and water balance of the ungauged crater lakes with major focus on the Emakati Lake which occupy 46% of the Empakaai Crater associated to the East African Rift Valley and form part of the Northern Crater Highlands. Water samples for analysis of NO3- , Cl- and stable isotopes (2H and 18O) were collected from the Emakat lake, springs of the inner, outer and the foot of the Empakaai Crater rims. A combination of satellite data such as digital elevation model (DEM), Climate Hazards Group Infrared Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS), net shortwave …

A Bayesian Network-Based Methodology For Improved Bridge Load Rating And Asset Management, Jeffery Mark Roberts

Dissertations and Theses

From the day a new structure is made available for use, to the day that the structure is no longer able to fulfill an intended purpose, structural safety is a vital interest. Managing a portfolio of structures can be a difficult undertaking for an asset manager, particularly if different types of structures are being maintained. The goal is to manage assets in the most efficient manner which can be influenced by, at a minimum, safety and financial concerns.

A potential tool for an asset manager or owner is the use of Bayesian Networks (BNs). When a BN is used to …

Machine Learning Applications And Sustainable Development, Vishnu Pendyala

Open Educational Resources

This presentation, "Machine Learning Applications and Sustainable Development," explores the intersection of machine learning and its impact on privacy, equity, and societal well-being. It delves into the potential for re-identification of "anonymized" data through various techniques like k-anonymity, L-diversity, and the vulnerabilities of large language models, illustrating these concepts with real-world examples such as the AOL search data, Netflix Prize dataset, and Strava's fitness tracking. The presentation also discusses solutions to enhance data privacy, including differential privacy and the emerging field of machine unlearning, highlighting their applications and limitations. Finally, it addresses the broader implications for civil rights and ethical …

11.06.2023 Orsp Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

No abstract provided.

A Definition Of Reliable Water Supply For Public Water Systems, Easton Hopkins

Theses and Dissertations

"Reliable water supply" does not have a universal definition in Utah, or the Western United States, where water resources are limited and such a definition would be especially useful. Utah's three water agencies and 500 public water systems have no consistent method to define, evaluate, and report it, potentially leading to an inability to meet regulatory water demands. We propose a unified definition of reliable water supply for Utah's public water suppliers that can also be used elsewhere. The qualitative definition we propose is necessary to precede quantitative evaluations, set policy, and provide consistency to water resources management in Utah. …

An Ontology Design Pattern For Representing Causality, Utkarshani Jaimini, Cory Henson, Amit Sheth

Publications

The causal pattern is a proposed ontology design pattern for representing the structure of causal relations in a knowledge graph. This pattern is grounded in the concepts defined and used by the CausalAI community i.e., Causal Bayesian Networks and do-calculus. Specifically, the pattern models three primary concepts: (1) causal relations, (2) causal event roles, and (3) causal effect weights. Two use cases involving a sprinkler system and asthma patients are provided along with their relevant competency questions.

Computational Modeling Using A Novel Continuum Approach Coupled With Pathway-Informed Neural Networks To Optimize Dynein-Mediated Centrosome Positioning In Polarized Cells, Arkaprovo Ghosal, Padmanabhan Seshaiyar Dr., Adriana Dawes Dr., General Genomics Inc.

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

A Behavioral Epidemic Model: A Simulation And Empirical Analysis, Ann Osi, Navid Ghaffarzadegan

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Profess 12: Project Report Pr4: The Profess 12 Summer School Toolkit, Una Beagon, Margaret Morgan, Ruchita Jani, Rosalind M Henry, Janet Mckennedy, Brian Bowe

Reports

This document forms part of the PROFESS 12 Summer School Toolkit for engineering educators as a component of Work Package 3 in the HEA funded PROFESS 12 (PROFessional skills for Engineering students - Summer School to achieve SDG 12) Project.

This handbook outlines the pedagogical background to the design of the Summer School and describes in detail the components of each session, outlining the aims and objectives, teaching and learning activities and links to resources or templates as required. Educators are encouraged to provide feedback or additional relevant resources to the project team for inclusion as alternative options.

A student …

Multicellular And Multiscale Models Of Microbes And Host Systems, Elebeoba May

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

A Multi-Organ Maize Metabolic Model Connects Temperature Stress With Energy Production And Reducing Power Generation, Niaz Bahar Chowdhury, Margaret Simons- Senftle, Berengere Decouard, Isabelle Quillere, Martine Rigault, Karuna Anna Sajeevan, Bibek Acharya, Ratul Chowdhury, Bertrand Hirel, Alia Dellagi, Costas Maranas, Rajib Saha

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

Climate change has adversely affected maize productivity. Thereby, a holistic understanding of metabolic crosstalk among its organs is important to address this issue. Thus, we reconstructed the first multi-organ maize metabolicmodel, iZMA6517, and contextualized itwith heat and cold stress transcriptomics data using expression distributed reaction flux measurement (EXTREAM) algorithm. Furthermore, implementing metabolic bottleneck analysis on contextualized models revealed differences between these stresses. While both stresses had reducing power bottlenecks, heat stress had additional energy generation bottlenecks.We also performed thermodynamic driving force analysis, revealing thermodynamics-reducing power-energy generation axis dictating the nature of temperature stress responses. Thus, a temperaturetolerant maize ideotype can …

Nano Composite Piezo-Responsive Foam Enabled Pressure Mapping, Jake Duane Sundet

Theses and Dissertations

Pressure injuries cause pain both physically and financially. By creating a comfortable pressure mapping system, pressure injuries can more easily be prevented, and a large expenditure avoided. Nano composite piezo-responsive foam (NCPF) is an inexpensive foam that can be used to measure a static load while still providing a comfortable interface. As NCPF compresses, the impedance changes, correlating to a change in pressure. Optimizing electrode geometry is needed to take full advantage of the impedance change NCPF incurs upon deformation. To optimize electrode geometry, a design of experiment was performed which concluded that a one square inch area of interlaced …

A Novel Application Of Spinning Disk Technology To Collect Plasma From Whole Blood Prior To Quantifying Plasma Rna, Naomi Rapier-Sharman, Mae-Lynn L. Hutchinson, Carlos M. Moreno, Abraham Quaye, Brian D. Poole, K. Scott Weber, William G. Pitt, Brett E. Pickett

Faculty Publications

The spinning disk technology has previously been utilized to isolate bacterial components from blood in hours instead of days. We hypothesized that this platform could be applied as an alternative approach to isolating plasma RNA from a whole blood sample. We consequently tested the efficacy of the spinning disk technology to extract plasma from whole blood upstream of RNA isolation and analysis. To do so, we collected plasma using either the spinning disk or the typical two-spin centrifuge method. We found that the spinning disk method results in significantly more hemolysis during collection than the conventional two-spin centrifuge method. However, …

Integrated Periphyton Biofilters In Marine Recirculating Aquaculture Systems, Adam N. Bell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Marine aquaculture is a growing industry that has the potential to reduce eutrophication, overfishing, and loss of biodiversity. Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are a type of aquaculture system that decreases discharge, raises biological control, and conserves water; however, RAS are challenged due to high energy cost, low biodiversity, water quality control, and waste nutrients. Periphyton biofilters are a new technology that allows for feed production, water quality control, microbial diversity, and resource recovery in marine aquaculture systems. The overarching question that this dissertation investigates is, how can periphyton biofilters be integrated into RAS to address the challenges of modern sustainable …

Research Outreach Interdisciplinary Activity To Classify Olive Oil Blends Integrating Multicolor Imaging, Image Processing, And Machine Learning, Allan Abraham, Kameshwaran Balachandran

Undergraduate Research (Journal)

This outreach undergraduate research project presents a low-cost method to distinguish the quality of different olive oils. The proposed method is based on an indirect measurement of the chlorophyll molecules present when a green laser diode illuminates the oil sample. Oil blends can be classified into five classes (no olive oil, light olive oil, medium olive oil, olive oil, and extra virgin olive oil) by quantifying the ratio of the red channel versus the green channel along the laser illumination path from a color image. After labeling each oil blend, a convolutional neural network has been implemented and trained to …

S-Net: A Multiple Cross Aggregation Convolutional Architecture For Automatic Segmentation Of Small/Thin Structures For Cardiovascular Applications, Nan Mu, Zonghan Lyu, Mostafa Rezaeitaleshmahalleh, Cassie Bonifas, Jordan Gosnell, Marcus Haw, Joseph Vettukattil, Jingfeng Jiang

Michigan Tech Publications

With the success of U-Net or its variants in automatic medical image segmentation, building a fully convolutional network (FCN) based on an encoder-decoder structure has become an effective end-to-end learning approach. However, the intrinsic property of FCNs is that as the encoder deepens, higher-level features are learned, and the receptive field size of the network increases, which results in unsatisfactory performance for detecting low-level small/thin structures such as atrial walls and small arteries. To address this issue, we propose to keep the different encoding layer features at their original sizes to constrain the receptive field from increasing as the network …

Exploring Older Adults' Mobility Challenges And Preferences Before And After Covid-19 Pandemic, Bernard Boakye

LSU Master's Theses

Seniors (65 years and above) are most disadvantaged with their mobility due to their declining health and limited travel options, especially after retiring from driving. They have been the most affected age group during the COVID-19 because of their weak immune systems. This study aimed to investigate the transportation mobility preferences and challenges of seniors and their willingness to use Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) before and during COVID-19.

Using a national survey, responses from 1507 senior Americans from the 50 U.S. states were gathered proportionally to reflect the senior population by age, gender, race, and state. A McNemar-Bowker Chi-Square test was …

Novel Method Of The Quantification Of Turbulent Fluid Flow In Silicone Artery Phantoms Using Acoustic Analysis, Julia Wong

Master's Theses

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally and is responsible for taking 17.9 million lives per year. Despite the use of clinical treatments and detection methods, there remains a large population of individuals that suffer from CVD whose symptoms are left undetected and untreated prior to a life-threatening cardiac event. This highlights a need for an early detection method that can prevent the manifestation and worsening of the disease as well as address limitations of current early detection methods. An area of interest for early detection of CVD is subclinical atherosclerosis, which is the long, early, asymptomatic stage …

Thermo-Mechanical Instabilities In Next-Generation Friction Materials In High-Speed Sliding Systems, Kingsford Koranteng

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For centuries, the manufacturing industry has incorporated metals like copper into friction materials to enhance thermal properties and minimize thermo-mechanical instabilities (TMI) in high-speed sliding systems. Unfortunately, these metals have adverse environmental effects due to the emission of hazardous particulate matter. As a result, there is a growing movement towards adopting next-generation friction materials as an alternative solution.

The study begins by conducting experimental and numerical investigations to examine the instabilities found in metal-based friction materials. The primary objective is to utilize the insights gained from the investigations to computationally explore effective strategies for mitigating various instabilities that may arise …

Molecular Dynamics Study Of Characterization In Metal-Free Friction Materials, Yizhan Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Metallic friction materials currently used in industry may adversely impact the environment. Substitutions for metals in friction materials, on the other hand, can introduce operational safety issues and other unforeseeable issues such as thermal-mechanical instabilities and insufficient strength. In view of it, this dissertation focuses on developing different kinds of materials from simple structure to complex structure and evaluating the material properties with the assistance of molecular dynamics (MD) tools at the nano scale.

First, the concept of the contacted surfaces in friction at the atomic scale was introduced in order to get accurate understanding of the friction process compared …

Changes In Balance With Brain Inflammation: Sensitivity In Dual Motor Mechanisms, Hannah Mcdade

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Concussion assessment in athletes has gained prominence due to potential long-term consequences of traumatic brain injuries. Evaluating balance alterations is crucial for understanding post-injury motor control strategies. This study introduces a novel approach to understanding center of pressure (COP) dynamics during quiet stance tasks for assessing balance impairments in athletes recovering from concussion. Concussed athletes often experience impaired motor function and cognitive deficits, increasing the risk of orthopedic injury. Traditional balance assessments focus on total COP (COPt), overlooking nuanced hip and ankle mechanisms. This research investigates COP variations between constant loading (COPc) and variable loading (COPv) signals in concussed athletes …

2023 - The Fourth Annual Fall Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the Fall 2023 Symposium of Student Scholars, held in November 2023. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.

Chain Conformation And Exciton Delocalization In A Push-Pull Conjugated Polymer, Yulong Zheng, Rahul Venkatesh, Connor P. Callaway, Campbell Viersen, Kehinde H. Fagbohungbe, Aaron L. Liu, Chad Risko, Elsa Reichmanis, Carlos Silva-AcuñA

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Linear and nonlinear optical line shapes reveal details of excitonic structure in polymer semiconductors. We implement absorption, photoluminescence, and transient absorption spectroscopies in DPP-DTT, an electron push−pull copolymer, to explore the relationship between their spectral line shapes and chain conformation, deduced from resonance Raman spectroscopy and from ab initio calculations. The viscosity of precursor polymer solutions before film casting displays a transition that suggests gel formation above a critical concentration. Upon crossing this viscosity deflection concentration, the line shape analysis of the absorption spectra within a photophysical aggregate model reveals a gradual increase in interchain excitonic coupling. We also observe …

Pedicle Screw Placement Accuracy In Robot-Assisted Spinal Fusion In A Multicenter Study, Victoria L. Volk, Keegan A. Steele, Mia Cinello‑Smith, Richard V. Chua, John Pollina, Gregory Poulter, Eiman Shafa, Peter Busselberg, Clare K. Fitzpatrick

Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Pedicle screw fixation is a spinal fusion technique that involves the implantation of screws into vertebral pedicles to restrict movement between those vertebrae. The objective of this research is to measure pedicle screw placement accuracy using a novel automated measurement system that directly compares the implanted screw location to the planned target in all three anatomical views. Preoperative CT scans were used to plan the screw trajectories in 122 patients across four surgical centers. Postoperative scans were fused to the preoperative plan to quantify placement accuracy using an automated measurement algorithm. The mean medial–lateral and superior–inferior deviations in the pedicle …

Smartphone Based Object Detection For Shark Spotting, Darrick W. Oliver

Master's Theses

Given concern over shark attacks in coastal regions, the recent use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, has increased to ensure the safety of beachgoers. However, much of city officials' process remains manual, with drone operation and review of footage still playing a significant role. In pursuit of a more automated solution, researchers have turned to the usage of neural networks to perform detection of sharks and other marine life. For on-device solutions, this has historically required assembling individual hardware components to form an embedded system to utilize the machine learning model. This means that the camera, neural processing …

Sarcopenia Is Associated With Osteopenia And Impaired Quality Of Life In Children With Genetic Intrahepatic Cholestatic Liver Disease, Julia Boster, Nathan P. Goodrich, Cathie Spino, Kathleen M. Loomes, Estella M. Alonso, Binita M. Kamath, Ronald J. Sokol, Saul J. Karpen, Alexander Miethke, Benjamin L. Shneider, Jean P. Molleston, Rohit Kohli, Simon P. Horslen, Philip Rosenthal, Pamela L. Valentino, Jeffrey Teckman, Thomas N. Hangartner, Sundaram Shikha

Biomedical, Industrial & Human Factors Engineering Faculty Publications

Background:
Sarcopenia occurs in pediatric chronic liver disease, although the prevalence and contributing factors in genetic intrahepatic cholestasis are not well-described. The objective of this study was to measure muscle mass in school-aged children with genetic intrahepatic cholestasis and assess relationships between sarcopenia, clinical variables, and outcomes.

Methods:
Estimated skeletal muscle mass (eSMM) was calculated on dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry obtained in a Childhood Liver Disease Research Network study of children with bile acid synthesis disorders(BASD) alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (a1ATd), chronic intrahepatic cholestasis (CIC), and Alagille syndrome (ALGS). Relationships between eSMM, liver disease, and transplant-free survival were assessed.

Results:
eSMM was …

Innovative Approaches To Poultry Processing Wastewater Treatment: The Stainless Steel Ultrafiltration Membrane As A Viable Option, Saubana Olorunrola Dada, Chidambaram Thamariselvan, Mahmood Jebur, Sumith Ranil Wickramasinghe

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

In pursuit of sustainability, we explored replacing conventional dissolved air floatation (DAF) in poultry processing wastewater (PPW) treatment with a precisely tuned 0.02 µm stainless-steel ultrafiltration (SSUF) membrane. SSUF is a robust, homogenously porous membrane with strong chemical resistance, ease of cleaning, and exceptional resistance to organic fouling. Unlike polymeric membranes, it can be regenerated multiple times, making it a cost-effective choice due to its compatibility with harsh chemical cleaning. The PPW used for the study was untreated wastewater from all processing units and post-initial screening. Our study revealed the SSUF membrane’s exceptional efficiency at eliminating contaminants. It achieved an …

Peroxi-Electrocoagulation For Treatment Of Trace Organic Compounds And Natural Organic Matter At Neutral Ph, Donald R. Ryan, Patrick J. Mcnamara, Claire K. Baldus, Yin Wang, Brooke K. Mayer

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Iron-based oxidation technologies can be advantageous for mitigating trace organic compounds (TOrCs) during water and wastewater treatment due to their production of hydroxyl radicals. However, iron-based oxidation often occurs at acidic pH to promote Fenton's reaction, which limits the processes' feasibility for treatment applications. This study focused on utilizing iron-electrocoagulation (EC) paired with ex situ H₂O₂ addition (peroxi-electrocoagulation [EC:H₂O₂]) to promote oxidative reactions at neutral pH conditions. The hydroxyl radical probe para-chlorobenzoic acid (pCBA) was used to gauge oxidant activity and serve as a representative TOrC. The impact of water …

Cost Modelling For Dimension Stone Quarry Operations, M. A. Raza, S. Raza, M. U. Khan, M. Z. Emad, K. Jalil, S. A. Saki

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Dimension stone mining is Increasing because of growing demand from the building and construction industries. Diamond wire saw cutting is a popular dimension stone mining technique around the world. Estimation of the production cost for this method is critical for these operations. In this research a production cost model was developed for the mining of granite using a diamond wire saw. Cost and production data were collected from a granitic dolerite operation in Pakistan for a 4.5-year period and analyzed to identify the cost components. Fuel (34%), labor (15%), consumables (40%), and maintenance (5%) were found to be the four …