Digital Commons Network^™

Applications Of Femtosecond Laser-Processed And Nanoneedle-Synthesized Surfaces To Enhance Pool Boiling Heat Transfer, Peter Efosa Ohenhen

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In the present work, the integration of femtosecond laser surface processing (FLSP) with copper hydroxide on hybrid surfaces was examined. The goal was to determine the impact on pool boiling enhancement. The samples for the investigation were fabricated by first functionalizing with FLSP, and the process was then followed by citric acid cleaning (CAC) to eliminate the oxides generated on the copper surface during the FLSP process. After the citric acid cleaning, the samples were immersed in ethanol and subjected to an ultrasonic bath for 25 minutes. This step was performed to eliminate any residual citric acid and loose particles. …

Deep Learning-Based Automatic Stereology For High- And Low-Magnification Images, Hunter Morera

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Quantification of the true number of stained cells in specific brain regions is an important metric in many fields of biomedical research involving cell degeneration, cytotoxicology, cellular inflammation, and drug development for a wide range of neurological disorders and mental illnesses. Unbiased stereology is the current state-of-the-art method for collecting the cell count data from tissue sections. These studies require trained experts to manually focus through a z-stack of microscopy images and count (click) on a hundred or more cells per case, making this approach time consuming (~1 hour per case) and prone to human error (i.e., inter-rater variability). Thus, …

Normalized Linearly-Combined Chaotic System: Design, Analysis, Implementation And Application, Md Sakib Hasan, Anurag Dhungel, Partha Sarathi Paul, Maisha Sadia, Md Razuan Hossain

Faculty and Student Publications

This work presents a general framework for developing a multi-parameter 1-D chaotic system for uniform and robust chaotic operation across the parameter space. This is important for diverse practical applications where parameter disturbance may cause degradation or even complete disappearance of chaotic properties. The wide uninterrupted chaotic range and improved chaotic properties are demonstrated with the aid of stability analysis, bifurcation diagram, Lyapunov exponent (LE), Kolmogorov entropy, Shannon entropy, and correlation coefficient. We also demonstrate the proposed system’s amenability to cascading for further performance improvement. We introduce an efficient Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based implementation and validate its chaotic properties using …

Multichannel Low-Cost Sensor For Iaq Monitoring: Implementation And Guidelines, Isaac Ntiamoah

LSU Master's Theses

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is adversely affected by both indoor and outdoor environments, and rental homes occupied by low-income families suffer the most. Poor indoor air can be detrimental to the health of occupants, especially for susceptible populations like those with respiratory diseases such as asthma. Although IAQ monitoring is necessary, it is a challenging, costly, and time-intensive task. Moreover, the protocol for assessing IAQ in residential settings varies, and additional research is needed to establish a standard operating procedure that incorporates new monitoring technologies, such as low-cost air sensors. However, there is a dearth of comprehensive, evidence-based protocols for …

Executive Order On The Safe, Secure, And Trustworthy Development And Use Of Artificial Intelligence, Joseph R. Biden

Copyright, Fair Use, Scholarly Communication, etc.

Section 1. Purpose. Artificial intelligence (AI) holds extraordinary potential for both promise and peril. Responsible AI use has the potential to help solve urgent challenges while making our world more prosperous, productive, innovative, and secure. At the same time, irresponsible use could exacerbate societal harms such as fraud, discrimination, bias, and disinformation; displace and disempower workers; stifle competition; and pose risks to national security. Harnessing AI for good and realizing its myriad benefits requires mitigating its substantial risks. This endeavor demands a society-wide effort that includes government, the private sector, academia, and civil society.

My Administration places the highest urgency …

Dynamic Spectrum Management In 3d Networks Inspired By Biological Systems, Jordan Anthony Patrizi

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

In this thesis, the challenge of dynamic spectrum management is treated following an economic-based perspective. In particular, a novel bioinspired spectrum allocation from the Network Service Providers (NSPs) to the users is introduced, exploiting the theory of symbiosis under the free competition. The overall objective is to determine the NSPs optimal bandwidth prices to maximize their profit, while satisfying the users bandwidth needs. The aforementioned spectrum management framework is analyzed while exploiting a novel 3D network architecture consisting of High Altitude Platforms (HAPs), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and ground gNBs NSPs, each one of them presenting different operational characteristics and …

A Critical Review Of Risk Matrices Used In Water Safety Planning: Improving Risk Matrix Construction, Kaycie Lane, Steve E. Hrudey

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Risk matrices are used in water safety planning to prioritize improvements to drinking water systems. While water safety plans (WSPs) are promoted globally, no study has evaluated whether risk matrices are comprehensively constructed to accurately assess risk. We used risk matrix criteria adapted from previous risk matrix research to evaluate risk matrices found in twelve templates across global jurisdictions. WSP templates were found using the WSPortal website and definitions of likelihood and impact were extracted from each template to assist in the evaluation of WSP risk matrices. Application of the criteria developed from a detailed mathematical analysis by revealed that …

Evaluation Of The Oxidation Process Of Steel Fibers In The Presence Of A Potato Dextrose And Calcium Chloride Solution For The Self-Healing Of Cementitious Matrices, Nahúm Gamalier Cayo Chileno, Gabrielle Avelar Silva, Laércio Mesquita Júnior, Saulo Rocha Ferreira, Maria Alves Ferreira, Joaquin Humberto Aquino Rocha, Jacinta Veloso De Carvalho, Gabriele Melo De Andrade

UBT International Conference

The objective of the research was to experimentally examine the corrosion of steel fibers in two media: a solution containing potato dextrose and calcium chloride (S1) (nutrient of the biological agent Oomicetum Pythium aphanidermatum that facilitates the self-healing of cementitious matrices), and water (S2). The corrosion process was accelerated by the Cebelcor method for 15 days, with immersion/emersion cycles of 5 and 19 hours, respectively. The results revealed that the corrosion of the fibers in solution S1 was 10.64% higher than that in S2. Regarding cross-sectional loss, the corroded fibers in S2 showed linear behavior, unlike those in S1, which …

Urban Wastewater Before And After Treatment At The Plant Of Skenderaj, Sami Gashi, Vehbi Sofiu, Shkëlzim Ukaj, Besar Veseli

UBT International Conference

Wastewater and atmospheric treatment are of particular importance for agriculture and for the well-being of citizens so that after treatment they can be placed in a healthy way in nature. In this paper, we have analyzed some basic physicochemical parameters of urban wastewater of Skenderaj, untreated atmospheric water before entering the plant and after treatment of these waters, which after reaching the degree of purity from 80 to 85%, the water flows into Klina River. In this paper, we have reflected detailed data on how wastewater undergoes changes in the parameters that we analyzed after its treatment and this was …

Indoor Air Quality Impacts Into Life Cycle Assessments Of Buildings And Building, Afrim Syla

UBT International Conference

Human exposure to indoor pollutant concentrations is receiving in-creasing interest in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Products used during con-struction and operation of a building can contribute to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) problems that affect occupants’ well-being. However, IAQ is conventionally not addressed in the life cycle assessments (LCAs) of buildings and building re-lated products even though IAQ leads to one of the areas of protection under LCA - human health impacts. In this study, we proposed an overall framework for integrating IAQ into LCA using the standard steps of LCA. The framework focused on IAQ and LCA modeling from two …

Analysis Of The Pros And Cons Of The Acquisition Of Training Ships By Metis, Jeremiah Yaw Frimpong

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Exploring Underwater Noise Issues : A Study Of Decentralized Approach, Takanori Uzumaki

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Dynamic Online Dashboard For Tracking The Performance Of Division 1 Basketball Athletic Performance, Erica Juliano, Chelsea Thakkar, Christopher B. Taber, Mehul S. Raval, Kaya Tolga, Samah Senbel

School of Computer Science & Engineering Undergraduate Publications

Using Data Analytics is a vital part of sport performance enhancement. We collect data from the Division 1 'Women's basketball athletes and coaches at our university, for use in analysis and prediction. Several data sources are used daily and weekly: WHOOP straps, weekly surveys, polar straps, jump analysis, and training session information. In this paper, we present an online dashboard to visually present the data to the athletes and coaches. R shiny was used to develop the platform, with the data stored on the cloud for instant updates of the dashboard as the data becomes available. The performance of athletes …

A Text Analytics Model For Agricultural Knowledge Discovery And Sustainable Food Production: A Case Study From Oklahoma Panhandle, Ali Bagheri, Saleh Taghvaeian, Dursun Delen

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

With recent increases in the use of social media in agricultural communities, many farmers are showing more and more interest in participating in social media and sharing different aspects of their profession with peers and policymakers. However, researchers have not explored this valuable data source well enough to help improve agribusiness decision-making. This study aims to investigate the potential capability and richness of social media for agricultural knowledge discovery, which can help monitor, detect, and predict critical agricultural events and activities and develop more sustainable food production and agricultural economy. This research utilizes text-mining tools and techniques to collect, process, …

Cellulose Ester As Membranes For Controlled Release Fertilizer’S, Muhammed Salman Fajis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Growing environmental pollution and non-sustainable materials has escalated the need for research in sustainable practices for many areas including crop production and fertilization. The conventional coating for the controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) is non-biodegradable. Hence, the development of novel biodegradable coatings for fertilizer prills has emerged as an important area of study. In this thesis, conducting synthesis and application of cellulose esters (biomass membrane) as an encapsulation for the controlled release fertilizers. Therefore, the coating would be effective for a controlled release of nutrients to the crops by sustaining nature. Here, synthesized biodegradable cellulose esters by 8 and 16-carbon fatty acids …

Wastewater Treatment Using Encapsulated Chabazite In Polyvinyl Alcohol-Sodium Alginate Hydrogel Biofilm Carriers, Susieanna Nevada Persaud

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen discharge from wastewater is a global issue and with increased urbanization as well as industrialization, it has become even more essential to develop more efficient wastewater treatment systems. The dominant form of nitrogen in wastewater is ammonium. Biological oxidation of ammonium to nitrite and nitrate is the first step in biological nitrogen removal processes. If left untreated, nitrogen can cause toxicity to aquatic life, unsafe changes in water quality, and eutrophication.

Biofilm carriers can help to improve the efficiency of traditional activated sludge wastewater treatment systems by reducing operating costs and reducing hydraulic retention time. Biofilm carriers also promote …

Arms Control And Deterrence In The Age Of Cross-Domain Coercion, Damon Coletta

Space and Defense

For deterrence, now, first seek arms control. The old relationship linking deterrence, defense, and arms control served U.S. policy makers for decades during the Cold War. It was manifest through the Spirit of Geneva (1955) and the Reykjavik Summit (1986). Much later, during the rise of cross-domain coercion and following Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the same idea reemerged in NATO’s Warsaw Communique (2016).

Legislating For Humanity's Next Step: Cultivating A Legal Framework For The Mining Of Celestial Bodies, Joseph Crombie

Space and Defense

Rapid expansion in the space sector by state and private sector actors highlights the need for a new legal regulatory framework, particularly regarding property rights. The exploitation of space-based resources through the mining of asteroids is currently subject to a cold-war era international agreement that did not include clear consideration about how future off-world commercial exploitation might be regulated or property rights assigned. This article explores two empirical examples, the International Seabed Authority and the International Telecommunication Union, to determine whether they provide useful models of a future international legal framework for off-world property rights.

Planning For The Lake Izabal Basin Research Endeavor (Libre) Continental Scientific Drilling Project In Eastern Guatemala, Jonathan Obrist-Farner, Andreas Eckert, Peter M.J. Douglas, Liseth Perez, Alex Correa-Metrio, Bronwen L. Konecky, Thorsten Bauersachs, Susan Zimmerman, Stephanie Scheidt, Mark Brenner, Steffen Kutterolf, Jeremy Maurer, Omar Flores, Caroline M. Burberry

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

As Earth's atmospheric temperatures and human populations increase, more people are becoming vulnerable to natural and human-induced disasters. This is particularly true in Central America, where the growing human population is experiencing climate extremes (droughts and floods), and the region is susceptible to geological hazards, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and environmental deterioration in many forms (soil erosion, lake eutrophication, heavy metal contamination, etc.). Instrumental and historical data from the region are insufficient to understand and document past hazards, a necessary first step for mitigating future risks. Long, continuous, well-resolved geological records can, however, provide a window into past …

Mining Multibeam Transit Data For Deep Ocean Polymetallic Nodules: Case Study In Se Pacific Ocean, Mark E. Mussett

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Occurrences of nodules on the seafloor represent benthic habitats and present potential deposits of economically important metals. Better understanding their extent throughout Earth’s oceans will aid in resource management and determining different factors which influence their formative factors and respective local characteristics. Multibeam bathymetry and backscatter data, along with auxiliary data suggest an area of seafloor near the Foundation Seamount chain in the southern Pacific Ocean, centered around -36.84° latitude, -119.75° longitude, contains a previously uncharted polymetallic nodule occurrence. Our analysis of Simrad EM12 DUAL (12 kHz) multibeam data, collected during a 1997 transit, shows an area of strong backscatter …

Hurricanes And Tropical Storms’ Impact On Water Quality In Lake Okeechobee, Florida, Daniela Vasquez Diaz

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hurricanes are natural events with catastrophic outcomes, while climate change's effects on their intensity and frequency remain discussed. However, it is crucial to analyze these through models and statistics to understand their behavior and impact on the basins. Particularly in lakes on tropical coasts since disruptive events such as hurricanes tend to be highly affected. Lake Okeechobee is a unique lake located in Florida and one of the largest freshwater lakes. The lake and some of its significant stations are the locations chosen to perform the investigation. The main focus of the investigation is determining the effect that hurricanes have …

Statistical And Machine Learning Approaches To Describe Factors Affecting Preweaning Mortality Of Piglets, Md Towfiqur Rahman, Tami M. Brown-Brandl, Gary A. Rohrer, Sudhendu R. Sharma, Vamsi Manthena, Yeyin Shi

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

High preweaning mortality (PWM) rates for piglets are a significant concern for the worldwide pork industries, causing economic loss and well-being issues. This study focused on identifying the factors affecting PWM, overlays, and predicting PWM using historical production data with statistical and machine learning models. Data were collected from 1,982 litters from the United States Meat Animal Research Center, Nebraska, over the years 2016 to 2021. Sows were housed in a farrowing building with three rooms, each with 20 farrowing crates, and taken care of by well-trained animal caretakers. A generalized linear model was used to analyze the various sow, …

Knowledge Integration In Domain-Informed Machine Learning And Multi-Scale Modeling Of Nonlinear Dynamics In Complex Systems, Phat K. Huynh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nonlinear dynamical systems have been extensively used to model various phenomena in the changing world around us, especially in science and engineering fields. Thanks to breakthrough advancements in sensing technologies, an increasingly high volume of multi-modal sensor data has been collected, which enables us gain better insights into complex systems dynamics and build sophisticated data-driven machine-learning-based dynamic models without having the access to the underlying governing equations. However, integrating domain-specific knowledge in machine learning algorithms remains pivotal for various reasons: it promises enhanced predictive accuracy, better model interpretability, and increased generalizability. This dissertation delves into three core research questions, each …

Analyzing Multi-Robot Leader-Follower Formations In Obstacle-Laden Environments, Zachary J. Hinnen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Observations in biological formation from nature likes flocks of birds, herds of mammals and packs of wolves have inspired the innovation of robotic architectures. This thesis presents an approach that aims to use robotic systems to mimic leader-follower behaviors in the navigation and formation of sparse and dense environments. The goal of this work is to extend and further analyze the original work of Weitzenfeld et al [3] to evaluate new swarm and pack based multi-robot architectures with the inclusion of obstacle avoidance and variations in group formations. The multiple robot architecture is based off a wolf pack with a …

Discovery And Generation Mechanisms Of Epigenetic Biogenic H2S From Coal Seams In The Fukang Block, Southern Junggar Basin, China, Yan Peipei, Su Xianbo, Zou Chenglong, Zhao Weizhong, Wang Lufei, Fu Haijiao

Coal Geology & Exploration

In the Fukang block located in the eastern part of the southern Junggar Basin, coalbed methane (CBM) from CBM wells exhibits a gradually increasing H₂S concentration in the process of CBM production via water drainage, severely threatening production safety. Based on the CBM exploration and extraction data, as well as the anaerobic fermentation experiments, this study preliminarily investigated the causes of abnormal H₂S concentrations during the CBM production in the Fukang block. As indicated by the gas content test in the CBM exploration stage, the original CBM showed a low H₂S concentration of only …

Steerable Acoustically Powered Starfish-Inspired Microrobot, Cornel Dillinger, Justin Knipper, Nitesh Nama, Daniel Ahmed

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Soft polymeric microrobots that can be loaded with nanocargoes and driven via external field stimuli can provide innovative solutions in various fields, including precise microscale assembly, targeted therapeutics, microsurgery, and the capture and degradation of unwanted wastewater fragments. However, in aquatic environments, it remains challenging to operate with microrobotic devices due to the predominant viscous resistances and the robots’ limited actuation and sensing capabilities attributed to their miniaturization. The miniature size prevents the incorporation of onboard batteries that can provide sufficient power for propulsion and navigation, necessitating a wireless power supply. Current research examines untethered microrobot manipulation using external magnetic, …

A 3d-Printed Blood-Brain Barrier Model With Tunable Topology And Cell-Matrix Interactions., Louis S Paone, Mohammed Mehdi Benmassaoud, Aidan Curran, Sebastián L Vega, Peter A Galie

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Recent developments in digital light processing (DLP) can advance the structural and biochemical complexity of perfusable in vitro models of the blood–brain barrier. Here, we describe a strategy to functionalize complex, DLP-printed vascular models with multiple peptide motifs in a single hydrogel. Different peptides can be clicked into the walls of distinct topologies, or the peptide motifs lining channel walls can differ from those in the bulk of the hydrogel. The flexibility of this approach is used to both characterize the effects of various bioactive domains on endothelial coverage and tight junction formation, in addition to facilitating astrocyte attachment in …

Transepithelial Electrical Impedance Increase Following Porous Substrate Electroporation Enables Label-Free Delivery, Justin R. Brooks, Tyler C. Heiman, Sawyer R. Lorenzen, Ikhlaas Mungloo, Siamak Mirfendereski, Jae Sung Park, Ruiguo Yang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Porous substrate electroporation (PSEP) is a promising new method for delivering molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids into cells for biomedical research. Although many applications have been demonstrated, fundamentals of the PSEP delivery process are not yet well understood, partly because most PSEP studies rely solely on fluorescent imaging for evaluating delivery and quantifying successful outcomes. Although effective, only utilizing imaging alone limits our understanding of the intermediate processes leading to intracellular delivery. Since PSEP is an electrical process, electrical impedance measurements are a natural addition to fluorescent imaging for PSEP characterization. In this study, we developed an integrated …

In Silico Prediction Of Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter-2 (Sglt2) Inhibition Activity By Allium Fistulosum Compound Based On Skelspheres Molecular Descriptor, Rudy Heryanto, Aryo Tedjo, Dimas Noor

Indonesian Journal of Medical Chemistry and Bioinformatics

The Sodium-Glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor represents a novel agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Drugs of this class function by inhibiting glucose reabsorption in the kidneys, thereby controlling blood glucose levels. It is known that SGLT2 inhibitors activate the AMPK signaling pathway by increasing the expression and activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In vivo tests have demonstrated that ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Welsh onion leaves (Allium fistulosum L) can reduce body weight, liver weight, adipocyte size, and enhance AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) expression. In this study, the inhibitory activity (IC50) of compounds within Allium fistulosum against …

Bioinspired Materials For Underwater Adhesion With Pathways To Switchability, Chanhong Lee, Huiqi Shi, Jiyoung Jung, Bowen Zheng, Kan Wang, Ravi Tutika, Rong Long, Bruce Lee, Grace X. Gu, Michael D. Bartlett

Michigan Tech Publications

Strong adherence to underwater or wet surfaces for applications like tissue adhesion and underwater robotics is a significant challenge. This is especially apparent when switchable adhesion is required that demands rapid attachment, high adhesive capacity, and easy release. Nature displays a spectrum of permanent to reversible attachment from organisms ranging from the mussel to the octopus, providing inspiration for underwater adhesion design that has yet to be fully leveraged in synthetic systems. Here, we review the challenges and opportunities for creating underwater adhesives with a pathway to switchability. We discuss key material, geometric, modeling, and design tools necessary to achieve …