Digital Commons Network^™

Electrospun Nanofiber Technology Based Energy Storage And Biosensor Devices For Wearable Electronics, Bianca Seufert

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As progress in the field of nanotechnology continues to evolve, it is becoming more and more prevalent to apply this small but powerful technology to portable wearable electronics. The unique scale of such a technology lends its expertise to the investigation of enzymes for biometric related diagnostics or in the development of light weight flexible energy storage devices. Furthermore, as the need for highly precise and durable wearable electronics grows, the next generation of electronics must keep pace with this development in terms of shape, flexibility, functionality, and performance.

The presented research reviews the current state of art of nanofiber …

Rfi Mitigation And Discrete Digital Signal Processing Rfsoc Algorithm Implementations For Radio Astronomy And Wideband Communication Systems, Devon Christopher Ward

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the massive increase of active transmitters broadcasting over wideband frequencies, such as 5G wireless systems, LEO/MEO satellites, satellite constellations, and the increase of IoT devices in the average home, the radio frequency spectrum is becoming more and more congested by interference. Passive receivers face additional challenges due to the growing use of wideband frequency transmissions aimed at boosting communication system throughput. As a result, passive receivers must adopt more robust and intricate techniques to mitigate radio frequency interference. A proposed RFI removal system, known as the true time delay Hadamard projection algorithm, has been introduced in previous work …

The Determination Of Pzc And Differential Capacitance Curve Of Platinum-Alkaline Polymer Electrolyte Interfaces, Chen-Xi Liu, Ze-Ping Zou, Mei-Xue Hu, Yu Ding, Yu Gu, Shuai Liu, Wen-Jing Nan, Yi-Chang Ma, Zhao-Bin Chen, Dong-Ping Zhan, Qiu-Gen Zhang, Lin Zhuang, Jia-Wei Yan, Bing-Wei Mao

Journal of Electrochemistry

Alkaline polymer electrolyte (APE) is the core component of modern alkaline hydrogen and oxygen fuel cells, and its single ion conductor nature makes the "electrode/APE" interfaces different from the conventional "electrode/solution" interfaces in terms of ion distribution, electrical double layer structure and polarization behavior. Due to the complexity of the APE and the associated solid-solid interfaces, fundamental investigations are challenging and deeper understanding of the structures and properties of such interfaces is in the infant stage. In this work, we aim to investigate the double layer structure from the aspects of differential capacitance curve and potential of zero charge (PZC) …

We Need A Solid Scientific Basis For Nature-Based Climate Solutions In The United States, Kimberly A. Novick, Trevor F. Keenan, William R. L. Anderegg, Caroline P. Normile, Benjamin R. Runkle, Emily E. Oldfield, Gyami Shrestha, D. D. Baldocchi, Margaret E.K. Evans, James T. Randerson, Jonathan Sanderman, Margaret S. Torn, Anna T. Trugman, Christopher A. Williams

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Nature-based climate solutions (NbCS) have courted both enthusiastic support and considerable controversy (1–8). Defined as deliberate human actions that manipulate ecosystems to improve the planet’s greenhouse gas balance, NbCS provoke disagreement, in large part because their implementation has so far outpaced a science-based understanding of their long-term climate mitigation potential.

Watercave: Virtual Reality For Engaging The Next Generation In Wastewater Management, Leeza Duller

Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Symposium

Within the next five to ten years, a significant portion of water and wastewater personnel are expected to retire, posing a substantial challenge for the utilities industry. The potential shortage of experienced workers poses inherent risks to the continuity of water services. WaterCAVE emerges as one of several tools designed to address this impending issue by engaging and inspiring the next generation to consider careers in the wastewater industry. This virtual reality (VR) simulation utilizes a ten-sided immersive display and was designed using Unity's 3D real-time development platform. Students from various educational levels, ranging from Pre-K to 12, are invited …

Development Of 3d Printed Anatomically Equivalent Thermoplastic Polyurethane Conduits For Peripheral Nerve Regeneration, Allen Zennifer M

Theses and Dissertations

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging tool for creating patient-specific tissue constructs analogous to the native tissue microarchitecture. In this study, anatomically equivalent 3D nerve conduits were developed using thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) by combining reverse engineering and material extrusion (i.e., fused deposition modelling) technique.

Printing parameters were optimized to fabricate nerve-equivalent TPU constructs. The TPU constructs printed with different infill densities supported the adhesion, proliferation, and gene expression of neuronal cells. Subcutaneous implantation of the TPU constructs for three months in rats showed neovascularization with negligible local tissue inflammatory reactions and was classified as a non-irritant biomaterial as per ISO …

Underwater Double Vortex Generation Using 3d Printed Acoustic Lens And Field Multiplexing, Chadi Ellouzi, Ali Zabihi, Farhood Aghdasi, Aidan Kayes, Milton Rivera, Jiaxin Zhong, Amir Miri, Chen Shen

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

The generation of acoustic vortex beams has attracted an increasing amount of research attention in recent years, offering a range of functions, including acoustic communication, particle manipulation, and biomedical ultrasound. However, incorporating more vortices and broadening the capacity of these beams and associated devices in three dimensions pose challenges. Traditional methods often necessitate complex transducer arrays and are constrained by conditions such as system complexity and the medium in which they operate. In this paper, a 3D printed acoustic lens capable of generating a double vortex pattern with an optional focusing profile in water was demonstrated. The performance of the …

Investigation Of Rare Earth Element Binding To A Surface-Bound Affinity Peptide Derived From Ef-Hand Loop I Of Lanmodulin, Geeta Verma, Jacob D. Hostert, Alex A. Summerville, Christine E. Duval, Julie N. Renner

Faculty Scholarship

Bioinspired strategies have been given extensive attention for the recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from waste streams because of their high selectivity, regeneration potential, and sustainability as well as low cost. Lanmodulin protein is an emerging biotechnology that is highly selective for REE binding. Mimicking lanmodulin with shorter peptides is advantageous because they are simpler and potentially easier to manipulate and optimize. Lanmodulin-derived peptides have been found to bind REEs, but their properties have not been explored when immobilized on solid substrates, which is required for many advanced separation technologies. Here, two peptides, LanM1 and scrambled LanM1, are designed …

Law Governing Variations In Water-Pressure Transmission Rate In Confined Aquifers, Wang Wenxue, Wang Bosen, Gao Yanwei, Wu Bing, Nie Tianyu

Coal Geology & Exploration

The water pressure in aquifers is transmitted as energy, with a transmission rate much higher than the migration rate of water particles. The water-pressure transmission rate holds great significance for the safe construction and disaster forecast and prediction of underground engineering under high-pressure water aquifers and bodies. Focusing on the confined aquifers bearing no cohesive soil, this study explored the law governing the changes in the water-pressure transmission rate through theoretical analysis, numerical simulations, field experiments, and laboratory physical model tests. Key findings are as follows: (1) The transmission of water-pressure changes in the aquifers exhibited noticeable hysteresis. The transmission …

Coal-Rock Interface Imaging Based On Acoustic Remote Reflection Logging Within Crossing Boreholes Using The Finite Element Method, Xu Hongyang, Zhai Cheng, Xia Jigen, Sun Yong, Dong Xingmeng, Lai Yongshuai, Yu Xu, Xu Jizhao, Cong Yuzhou

Coal Geology & Exploration

The presence of small geological structures is the main cause of coal and gas outbursts, making the precise detection of these structures an urgent need. High-precision detection of coal-rock interfaces is essential for identifying small structures and achieving transparent mining faces. The acoustic remote reflection logging technology, with a large detection range, a high resolution, and imaging capability, can accurately identify coal-rock interfaces. In this context, this study proposed a technique for coal-rock interface detection based on acoustic remote reflection logging within crossing boreholes. Specially, by placing acoustic detectors in crossing boreholes, the array waveforms generated by the coal-rock interfaces …

An Experimental Study Of Factors Influencing Gas Seepage In Confined Broken Anthracite, Li Zhen, Yu Yirui, Wang Hongwei, Feng Guorui, He Fulian, Wang Dezhang, Zhou Jinhui, Liu Luyan, Han Xinlei

Coal Geology & Exploration

The void structure evolution of broken coals in a caving zone directly affects the gas seepage characteristics of the zone, further influencing the gas migration and enrichment patterns in abandoned coal mine goaves. With the second generation of compaction-seepage-CT scanning experimental system for broken coals independently designed and developed, this study performed 162 sets of permeability experiments on broken anthracite samples with five particle size ranges under varying gas pressures, axial stresses, and void fractions. Key findings are as follows: (1) When gas migrated in broken anthracite, its pressure and flow rate kept dynamically changing until the adsorption equilibrium was …

Digital Performance Management: An Evaluation Of Manufacturing Performance Management Andmeasurement Strategies In An Industry 4.0 Context, Nathaniel David Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Manufacturing management and operations place heavy emphasis on monitoring and improving production performance. This supervision is accomplished through strategies of manufacturing performance management, a set of measurements and methods used to monitor production conditions. Over the last thirty years the most prevalent measurement of traditional performance management has been overall equipment effectiveness, a percentile summary metric of a machine's utilization. The technologies encapsulated by Industry 4.0 have expanded the ability to gather, process, and store vast quantities of data, creating opportunity to innovate on how performance is measured. A new method of managing manufacturing performance utilizing Industry 4.0 technologies has …

Potential For Climate-Based Financing Of Watershed Management To Restore Streams And Improve Water Quality Following A Wildfire: A Case Study Of The Provo River Watershed, Braxton Wayne Porter

Theses and Dissertations

Following wildfires, water quality in forested watersheds is prone to degradation, impacting drinking water treatment and causing increased emissions due to additional energy consumption. We explore the potential for climate-based financing to support wildfire mitigation and watershed restoration and thereby reduce potential water treatment energy demand within the Provo River watershed of Utah, USA. Pre- and post-wildfire erosion and water quality in the Provo River is modeled using GeoWEPP. Energy data from the Don A. Christiansen drinking water treatment plant in the watershed and related literature data are used to estimate the increase in energy use for treating degraded water. …

Development And Demonstration Of An Apparatus For Assessing Frost-Heave Susceptibility Of Soil, Becca Apgar, W. S. Guthrie

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The objective of this research was to develop and demonstrate an apparatus for assessing the frost-heave susceptibility of soil in a laboratory setting. Development of the frost-heave testing apparatus required several components, including a freezing system, a heating system, temperature controllers, a metal frame, a water delivery system, and an insulated specimen container. For the freezing system, a chest freezer was selected to provide a test environment that can be maintained at an adjustable air temperature below 32 °F. For the heating system, thermostat-controlled heat tape was selected for positioning around the base of the specimen and along the water …

How Individuals’ Opinions Influence Society’S Resistance To Epidemics: An Agent-Based Model Approach, Geonsik Yu, Michael Garee, Mario Ventresca, Yuehwern Yih

Purdue University Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund

Background

Protecting public health from infectious diseases often relies on the cooperation of citizens, especially when self-care interventions are the only viable tools for disease mitigation. Accordingly, social aspects related to public opinion have been studied in the context of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. However, a comprehensive understanding of the effects of opinion-related factors on disease spread still requires further exploration.

Methods

We propose an agent-based simulation framework incorporating opinion dynamics within an epidemic model based on the assumption that mass media channels play a leading role in opinion dynamics. The model simulates how opinions about preventive interventions change over …

Sanitation In Urban Areas May Limit The Spread Of Antimicrobial Resistance Via Flies, Drew Capone, Oliver Cumming, Abeoseh Flemister, Victor Ilevbare, Seth R. Irish, Ishi Keenum, Jackie Knee, Rassul Nala, Joe Brown

Michigan Tech Publications

Synanthropic filth flies are common where sanitation is poor and fecal wastes are accessible to them. These flies have been proposed as mechanical vectors for the localized transport of fecal microbes including antimicrobial resistant (AMR) organisms and associated antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), increasing exposure risks. We evaluated whether an onsite sanitation intervention in Maputo, Mozambique reduced the concentration of enteric bacteria and the frequency of detection of ARGs carried by flies collected in household compounds of low-income neighborhoods. Additionally, we assessed the phenotypic resistance profile of Enterobacteriaceae isolates recovered from flies during the pre-intervention phase. After fly enumeration at study …

Study On R&D Strategies In Nanoscale Science And Technology Of Powerhouses And Insights, Wenyue Bian, Xingjie Liang, Chunlei Ge, Zhongyang Hui, Xiaoqi Jia, Si Liu, Jing Ye, Xiaoyi Chen, Wenjun Wang, Huajun Ju

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Nanoscale science and technology (nano S&T) are at the frontier of global strategic high-tech competition. After examining nearly 160 strategy and planning documents released by scientific and technological powerhouses from 2000 to 2023, the study finds ten common approaches adopted by the powerhouses to advance nano S&T as follows. (1) Recognizing nano S&T as a key area for the economy and global competition. (2) Establishing cross-department organizations to meet the cross-disciplinary nature of nano S&T. (3) Developing strategic plans to guide the development of nano S&T and implementing major programs with significant investment. (4) Establishing multidisciplinary nano S&T research centers …

Dissolved Nitrogen Removal In Biochar Amended, High Permeability Media For Urban Stormwater Treatment, Mark Vicciardo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nutrient pollution in stormwater drives the eutrophication of inland and costal waterbodies which leads to sea grass retreat and the proliferation of harmful algal blooms (HAB). These anthropogenic effects destabilize ecosystems, and some HABs can pose direct human health risk. Bioretention, or the storage and controlled discharge of stormwater run-off in an ecologically engineered setting, is a potential solution to this problem. However, it relies heavily on the settling of particles as a nutrient removal mechanism, and thus struggles with pollutants, such as dissolved nitrogen, which is a particular problem in Florida where the geological prominence of phosphorus leaves nitrogen …

Development Of Accurate Embedded Fracture Models For Naturally Fractured Reservoirs, Harun Ur Rashid

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Natural fractures play a critical role in the performance of unconventional oil, gas, and geothermal reservoirs due to their prevalent occurrence within these systems. However, modeling these fractures accurately and efficiently is still challenging. This work centers on an extensive analysis of naturally fractured systems and proposes new fracture modeling algorithms that can predict the performance of fractured tight rocks accurately and efficiently. Several researchers have explored various methodologies to accurately and efficiently model fractured reservoirs. Among the approaches that can account for each individual fracture in these reservoirs, the embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM) is one of the most …

Understanding Lightning Damage Formation In A Carbon-Epoxy Pultruded Rod Stitched Efficient Unitized Structure (Prseus) Composite, Dounia Boushab, Aniket Mote, Khari Harrison, Juhyeong Lee, Charles U. Pittman Jr., Thomas E. Lacy Jr.

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Lightning damage to composite aircraft structures results from a concurrent and sequential interaction between arc discharge multi-physics and the anisotropic electrical and thermal composite properties. In this study, the impact of nominal 50 and 125 kA lightning strikes on damage formation in a carbon-epoxy Pultruded Rod Stitched Efficient Unitized Structure (PRSEUS) was investigated. A combination of visual inspection, ultrasonic phased array testing, destructive sectioning, and various microscopy techniques was employed to characterize the damage. Localized damage, including severe matrix decomposition, melting of polyester warp-knitting yarns, fiber splitting, and large-scale delamination, was confined to the immediate vicinity of the lightning attachment …

Using Lean Six Sigma Methodologies To Improve The Patient Experience At A Local Health Center, Marshall S. Butler

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Lean Six Sigma is a methodology originally designed for a manufacturing context but has process improvement applications that can be used in many fields including medical and business. These tools were applied to addressing issues at a local health center with the aim to help patients receive better medical treatment and have a more positive overall experience. Initial baseline data was collected to identify the core problems patients were experiencing with the health center. Adjustments were made in the survey process to capture more accurate results about the patient experience, which led to the creation of a patient-focused action plan …

Advanced Hyperthermia Treatment: Optimizing Microwave Energy Focus For Breast Cancer Therapy, Burak Acar, Tuba Yilmaz Abdolsaheb, Ali Yapar

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

This paper presents a fast antenna phase optimization scheme to enable microwave power focusing for breast cancer hyperthermia. The power focusing is achieved through the maximization of the deposited electric field on the target malignant tumor tissue. To do so, a malignant breast tumor, the surrounding breast medium, and the skin of the breast are modeled as a cylindrical structure composed of eccentric cylinders, and electric field distribution is computed analytically in terms of cylindrical harmonics. This approach minimized the computational cost and simplified the breast medium model. To ensure applicability across various breast types, the dielectric properties (DPs) of …

Nutrient Removal Of Biochar Amended Modified Bioretention Systems Treating Nursery Runoff, Nicholas Richardson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Excess inputs of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, to surface water bodies can lead to the presence of harmful algal blooms (HABs). HABs can damage their surrounding environments and the economies dependent on them. Nutrient pollution can be properly controlled and monitored at point-sources, such as wastewater treatment plants, but is more difficult to control for non-point sources, such as fertilizer runoff. One form of fertilizer runoff that remains overlooked is runoff from plant nurseries. Controlled release fertilizers (CRFs) embedded in plant containers at nurseries can leach excess nutrients into the runoff. For nurseries in Florida, best management practices …

Local Agency Workforce Challenges & Opportunities, Jennifer L. Sharkey

Purdue Road School

This session will explore the workforce issues faced by Indiana’s local road agencies and provide strategies to inform local leaders and policy makers.

Lessons Learned From Helicopter Air Ambulance Accident, Mary E. Johnson, Gustavo A. Sanchez

Purdue Road School

Helicopter Air Ambulances (HAA) are a vital component of the healthcare system by bridging the gap between traditional ground-based ambulances and hospitals and transporting patients from remote areas to medical facilities. However, the accident rates during aeromedical transports remain high compared to other commercial air operations. This session presents an analysis of HAA accidents from the human factors perspective and changes in regulation, technology, and training during HAA operations over the last decade.

Five Generations Walk Into An Office…, Kerrie Leonard

Purdue Road School

Attendees will discover what can happen when five generations step into the workplace. There is greater age diversity than ever before in the workforce and the transportation industry serves as a prime example. Each generation has unique wants, viewpoints, and motivations which may cause misinterpretations and conflict. Learn about the characteristics of the different generations, areas of potential friction, and resolutions to create an inclusive environment for all.

Resolving The Nanoscale Structure Of Β-Sheet Peptide Self-Assemblies Using Single-Molecule Orientation–Localization Microscopy, Weiyan Zhou, Conor L. O'Neill, Tianben Ding, Oumeng Zhang, Jai S. Rudra, Matthew D. Lew

Electrical & Systems Engineering Publications and Presentations

Synthetic peptides that self-assemble into cross-β fibrils are versatile building blocks for engineered biomaterials due to their modularity and biocompatibility, but their structural and morphological similarities to amyloid species have been a long-standing concern for their translation. Further, their polymorphs are difficult to characterize using spectroscopic and imaging techniques that rely on ensemble averaging to achieve high resolution. Here, we utilize Nile red (NR), an amyloidophilic fluorogenic probe, and single-molecule orientation-localization microscopy (SMOLM) to characterize fibrils formed by the designed amphipathic enantiomers KFE8^L and KFE8^D and the pathological amyloid-beta peptide Aβ42. Importantly, NR SMOLM reveals the helical (bilayer) …

Purple Line Bus Rapid Transit Project Overview, Michael Schneider, Rachel Wilson

Purdue Road School

The Purple Line will be Indianapolis’ second Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Line, opening for revenue service in the fall of 2024. It will provide rapid transit service along 15.2 miles of E. 38th Street and Post Road, between Indianapolis and Lawrence, for a total cost of $188 million. This presentation will provide an overview of IndyGo’s overall capital program with a focus on the Purple Line project—its unique design features and successful project delivery—from design through construction.

Tips For Successful Lpa Engineers & Supervisors, Michael M. Gavelek, Jennifer L. Sharkey

Purdue Road School

The session will present lessons learned, tips, tricks, and lifehacks for LPA staff. We’ll unpack common traffic requests, HMA inlay and construction, nuggets from a long-lost LPA manual, and a long-range asset management strategy. resources. We’ll share valuable resources throughout the presentation that will save you time and money and position you to successfully serve your LPA.

6d Single-Fluorogen Orientation-Localization Microscopy For Elucidating The Architecture Of Beta-Sheet Assemblies And Biomolecular Condensates, Tingting Wu, Weiyan Zhou, Jai S. Rudra, Rohit V. Pappu, Matthew D. Lew

Electrical & Systems Engineering Publications and Presentations

We develop six-dimensional single-molecule orientation-localization microscopy (SMOLM) to measure the 3D positions and 3D orientations simultaneously of single fluorophores. We show how careful optimization of phase and polarization modulation components can encode phase, polarization, and angular spectrum information from each fluorescence photon into a microscope’s dipole-spread function. We used the transient binding and blinking of Nile red (NR) to characterize the helical structure of fibrils formed by designed amphipathic peptides, KFE8^L and KFE8^D, and the pathological amyloid-beta peptide Aβ42. We also deployed merocyanine 540 to uncover the interfacial architectures of biomolecular condensates.