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Differential White Blood Cell Counting, Gregory Austin

Honors Scholar Theses

This thesis was completed with the goal of developing a model for the detection and differentiation of 8 different classes of white blood cells. Manual differential counting can be a time consuming and laborious task that would greatly be improved by an automated system. The model created in this project was to be used to automatically determine the number of each cell type in a sample, greatly reducing the need for manual counting. The model was produced using a convolutional neural network that utilized transfer learning from MobileNet_V2, an image recognition network produced by Google. After 20 epochs of training …

Measuring Pedestrian Level Of Stress In Urban Environments: Naturalistic Walking Pilot Study, Seth Lajeunesse, Paul Ryus, Wesley Kumfer, Sirisha Kothuri, Krista Nordback

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Walking is the most basic and sustainable mode of transportation, and many jurisdictions would like to see increased walking rates as a way of reducing congestion and emission levels and improving public health. In the United States, walking trips account for 10.5% of all trips undertaken. To increase this rate, additional research on what makes people feel more comfortable while walking is needed. Research on pedestrian quality of service (QOS) has sought to quantify the performance of the pedestrian facilities from a pedestrian’s perspective. However, the impact of pedestrian safety countermeasures on pedestrian QOS for roadway crossings is largely unknown. …

Theoretical Studies Of Metal-N-C For Oxygen Reduction And Hydrogen Evolution Reactions In Acid And Alkaline Solutions, Xue-Ping Qin, Shang-Qian Zhu, Lu-Lu Zhang, Shu-Hui Sun, Min-Hua Shao

Journal of Electrochemistry

Single atom catalysts (SAC) have been regarded as the promising alternatives to platinum group metals due to their low costs and potentially high catalytic activities in various electrocatalytic reactions. The atomic mechanism understanding of activity discrepancy among different metal and nitrogen co-doped carbon-based catalysts is still lacking. Here, non-precious metal and nitrogen co-doped carbons (Me-N-C, Me = Fe and Co) as the model catalysts are investigated by combining experimental and theoretical studies to explore the catalytic activities and corresponding reaction mechanisms toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at universal pHs. Atomic theoretical simulations suggest that Fe-N-C …

Preparation And Characterization Of "Water-In-Salt" Polymer Electrolyte For Lithium-Ion Batteries, Xu Hou, Xin He, Jie Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

Since the development of wearable and flexible electronic products, the demand of flexible energy storage devices such as batteries and super capacitors is in urgent. To enhance the safety and cycling stability for flexible lithium-ion batteries, “water-in-salt” polymer electrolyte was prepared by introducing 21 mol·kg^-1 LiTFSI electrolyte into cross-linked polyacrylamide (PAM) after freeze-drying. A great amount of holes with the size range of 10 ~ 20 μm can be found on the surface and in the bulk of polyacrylamide, which is benefited from the freeze-drying process and acts as a great support for the electrolyte uptake. The “water-in-salt” polymer …

Application Of Atomically Precise Metal Nanoclusters In Electrocatalysis, Zhi-Hua Zhuang, Wei Chen

Journal of Electrochemistry

Metal nanoclusters (M NCs) consist of only several to a few hundred of metal atoms and possess core sizes less than 2 nm. Owing to the quantum size effect, the electronic states of M NCs evolve to discrete levels similar to the molecule energy gaps, other than a continuous density of states to produce plasmon characteristic of bulk metal nanoparticles (M NPs). In comparison with the conventional M NPs, M NCs exhibit dramatically unique electronic and optical properties, such as molecule-like energy gaps, strong photoluminescence and high catalytic properties, which make them promising for potential application in numerous fields, such …

Detection And Aggregation Of Listeria Monocytogenes Using Polyclonal Antibody Gold-Coated Magnetic Nanoshells Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Substrates, Robert T. Busch, Farzia Karim, Yvonne Sun, H. Christopher Fry, Yuzi Liu, Chenglong Zhao, Erick S. Vasquez

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Magnetic nanoshells with tailored surface chemistry can enhance bacterial detection and separation technologies. This work demonstrated a simple technique to detect, capture, and aggregate bacteria with the aid of end-functionalized polyclonal antibody gold-coated magnetic nanoshells (pAb-Lis-AuMNs) as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) probes. Listeria monocytogenes were used as the pathogenic bacteria and the pAb-Lis-AuMNs, 300 nm diameter, were used as probes allowing facile magnetic separation and aggregation. An optimized covalent bioconjugation procedure between the magnetic nanoshells and the polyclonal antibody was performed at pH six via a carbodiimide crosslinking reaction. Spectroscopic and morphological characterization techniques confirmed the fabrication of stable pAb-Lis-AuMNs. …

Sustainable Water Treatment Systems: A Direct Potable Proposal, Kayla Alsup, Kayla E. Alsup

Honors College Theses

A common need among all people is water—we cannot survive without it. And yet, all around the world, achieving a high quality of drinking water is a constant struggle. This water crisis is brought on by many different factors. Some are natural, such as droughts and flooding, but as the effects of climate change continue to reveal themselves, some areas are becoming drier, while other areas are experiencing less predictable and harsher weather patterns.

Our current approach towards water is not sustainable, and we are starting to see that in both under-developed and developed countries alike. Indiscriminate use of water …

Bibliometric Analysis Of Particle Swarm Optimization Techniques Used To Enhance Low-Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy Protocol For Wireless Sensor Networks, Anupkumar M. Bongale Dr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is a network of tiny wireless sensor nodes. The sensor nodes sense information and transmit the sensed information to a data collection point known as Base Station. WSNs have gained massive popularity due to their incredible benefits, and active research is ongoing for the past two decades. The primary concern with WSN is that the sensor operates on a limited power supply. Due to the nature of applications of WSNs and the hostile environment where the sensors are deployed, providing unlimited power or energy supply is not an option. Hence, the research work mainly focuses on …

Highly Branched Polymers Based On Poly(Amino Acid)S For Biomedical Application, Marisa Thompson, Carmen Scholz

PRC-Affiliated Research

Polymers consisting of amino acid building blocks continue to receive consideration for biomedical applications. Since poly(amino acid)s are built from natural amino acids, the same building blocks proteins are made of, they are biocompatible, biodegradable and their degradation products are metabolizable. Some amino acids display a unique asymmetrical AB2 structure, which facilitates their ability to form branched structures. This review compares the three forms of highly branched polymeric structures: structurally highly organized dendrimers, dendrigrafts and the less organized, but readily synthesizable hyperbranched polymers. Their syntheses are reviewed and compared, methods of synthesis modulations are considered and variations on their traditional …

Highly Branched Polymers Based On Poly(Amino Acid)S For Biomedical Application, Marisa Thompson, Carmen Scholz

PRC-Affiliated Research

Polymers consisting of amino acid building blocks continue to receive consideration for biomedical applications. Since poly(amino acid)s are built from natural amino acids, the same building blocks proteins are made of, they are biocompatible, biodegradable and their degradation products are metabolizable. Some amino acids display a unique asymmetrical AB2 structure, which facilitates their ability to form branched structures. This review compares the three forms of highly branched polymeric structures: structurally highly organized dendrimers, dendrigrafts and the less organized, but readily synthesizable hyperbranched polymers. Their syntheses are reviewed and compared, methods of synthesis modulations are considered and variations on their traditional …

Synthesis Of Some N-Oxides Of Pyridylacethylene Amines Based On 2-Methyl-5-Ethynylpyridine, Abduvakhab Ikramov, Odiljon Ziyadullayev, Adkham Khamidjanov, Shavkat Bojariev, Davron Khandamov

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The aim of this work is to study the reaction of 2-methyl-5-ethynylpyridine N-oxide with some aliphatic and aromatic amines to obtain N-oxides of pyridylacetylenic amines. 2-Methyl-5-ethylpyridine converted to 2-methyl-5-vinylpyridine by dehydrogenation, and 2-methyl-5-ethynylpyridine obtained by bromination and dehydrobromination. 2-methyl-5-ethynylpyridine N-oxide synthesized by oxidation of 2-methyl-5-ethynylpyridine with perhydrol in acetic anhydride. The synthesis of N-oxides of pyridylacetylenic amines by the Mannich reaction carried out. The effect of the solvents: methanol, ethanol and n-dioxane, the catalyst, and the reaction time on the yield of the final product studied. The structure and composition of the synthesized PAA N-oxides were established using IR and …

Synthesis And Structure Of The Coordination Complex Of Copper Ion With Collagen, Dildorа Sadikova, Adham Rafikov, Oybek Tursunqulov, Dilnoza Soyibova

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The aim of this work is to synthesize, determine the composition and microstructure of complexes of copper (II) sulfate with collagen for use as a dye for textile material. Coordination complexes of copper (II) sulfate with collagen synthesized at different ratios of the initial substances by the interaction of solutions of different concentrations of copper sulfate and collagen of raw skin. With an increase in the salt content, the yield of the reaction product increases. With an excess of collagen, some of it does not bind into a complex and precipitates. With an excess of salt, almost the weight of …

Geochemical Characteristics And Genesis Of Coalbed Methane In Baode Area, Li Yangbing, Zeng Lei, Hu Weiqiang, Chen Xin, Ma Litao, Liu Cheng, Huang Ying, Qiao Fang

Coal Geology & Exploration

In order to find out the geochemical characteristics and origins of coalbed methane(CBM)in Baode area, coal, CBM and water samples were collected, gas component analysis, quality detection of CBM well-produced water and stable isotope analysis were carried out. The results show that CH₄ is the main hydrocarbon gas in CBM composition and its volume fraction ranges from 88.60% to 97.59%; a small amount of ethane is contained, and the volume fraction is only 0.01%-0.14%. The drying coefficient is greater than 0.99, the CBM belongs to the extremely dry CBM. The non-hydrocarbon components mainly contain CO₂ and N_{2 …}

Effect Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi And Hippophae Rhamnoides On The Improvement Of The Dump Of Open-Pit Coal Mine In The Eastern Grassland, Miao Chunguang, Yang Huihui, Bi Yinli, Song Ziheng, Guo Nan

Coal Geology & Exploration

The land barren, grassland degradation and difficult ecological restoration are serious in the open-pit mining area of eastern China. The symbiosis between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF) and Hippophae rhamnoides and the effect of mycorrhiza on the development of Hippophae rhamnoides root system and the improvement of soil in the dumping site were analyzed. It was found that the plant height and crown width of inoculated AMF(+M) were increased by 20% and 21%, respectively. The root length and root volume of +M were 1.46 and 1.97 times of CK, respectively. The content of Glomalin in the rhizosphere soil of Hippophae rhamnoides in …

Model Curricula: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Online Journal of Space Communication

Many universities have added courses and curricula related to satellites and space. A search of the Internet reveals that few of these are designated degree programs in space studies degree, rather they are traditional programs offering courses and concentrations which involve study of space and space applications from several perspectives. The Internet search also reveals a large variation in both the titles and the curricula for these programs. The author has sought to standardize definitions, identify workable program names and suggest core courses. Five programs and their core courses are outlined for consideration.

Peptoid Microsphere Coatings To Improve Performance In Sandwich Elisa Microarrays, Jesse L. Roberts, German R. Perez Bakovic, Shannon L. Servoss

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) microarray performance is limited by low assay sensitivity and dynamic range. Increasing the surface area for reagent binding can help to improve performance, but standard techniques such as roughening the surface or adding a polymer coating lead to increased non-specific fluorescence and do not have reproducibly improved performance. Another approach to increase surface area is adding a microsphere coating on the surface. Poly-N-substituted glycine (peptoid) microspheres are ideal for this application due to low immunogenicity, protease-resistance, and biocompatibility. Peptoids are polymers with a backbone similar to peptides, but with the side chains appended to nitrogen rather …

Preclinical Development Of Single Walled Carbon Nanotube-Based Optical Biosensors, Eric M. Hofferber

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

High resolution, long-term monitoring of key biological analytes would improve patient outcomes by providing earlier detection of disease states and improved efficacy of treatment. One class of biosensors that have gained much attention in recent years are optical biosensors. Optical probes are attractive biosensors due to their noninvasive nature of detection, as certain light can pass through tissue, water, and blood. Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) are a specific type of optical biosensor that fluoresce in the near infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum and offer unparalleled spatial and temporal resolution. SWNT have been applied as biosensors in vitro, …

Adaptive And Neural Network-Based Aircraft Tracking Control With Synthetic Jet Actuators, Joshua Teramae

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Wing-embedded synthetic jet actuators (SJA) can be used to achieve maneuvering control in aircraft by delivering controllable airflow perturbations near the wing surface. Trajectory tracking control design for aircraft equipped with SJA is particularly challenging, since the controlling actuator itself has an uncertain dynamic model. These challenges necessitate advanced nonlinear control design methods to achieve desirable performance for SJA-based aircraft (e.g., micro air vehicles (MAVs)). In this research, adaptive and neural-network based control methods are investigated, which are specifically designed to compensate for the SJA dynamic model uncertainty and unpredictable operating conditions characters tic of real-world MAV applications. The control …

An Alternative Approach To Nucleic Acid Memory, George D. Dickinson, Golam Md Mortuza, William Clay, Luca Piantanida, Christopher M. Green, Chad Watson, Eric J. Hayden, Tim Andersen, Wan Kuang, Elton Graugnard, Reza Zadegan, William L. Hughes

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

DNA is a compelling alternative to non-volatile information storage technologies due to its information density, stability, and energy efficiency. Previous studies have used artificially synthesized DNA to store data and automated next-generation sequencing to read it back. Here, we report digital Nucleic Acid Memory (dNAM) for applications that require a limited amount of data to have high information density, redundancy, and copy number. In dNAM, data is encoded by selecting combinations of single-stranded DNA with (1) or without (0) docking-site domains. When self-assembled with scaffold DNA, staple strands form DNA origami breadboards. Information encoded into the breadboards is read by …

Improving Accuracy Of Unmanned Aerial System Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing For Use In Energy Balance Models In Agriculture Applications, Mitchell S. Maguire, C.M.U. Neale, Wayne E. Woldt

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Unmanned aerial system (UAS) remote sensing has rapidly expanded in recent years, leading to the development of several multispectral and thermal infrared sensors suitable for UAS integration. Remotely sensed thermal infrared imagery has been used to detect crop water stress and manage irrigation by leveraging the increased thermal signatures of water stressed plants. Thermal infrared cameras suitable for UAS remote sensing are often uncooled microbolometers. This type of thermal camera is subject to inaccuracies not typically present in cooled thermal cameras. In addition, atmospheric interference also may present inaccuracies in measuring surface temperature. In this study, a UAS with integrated …

Dynamic Loading Directed Neural Stem Cell Differentiation, Abdullah Revaha Akdemir

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) are among the biggest challenges for medical and engineering fields in the modern era. Many people experience various accidents every year that cause major irreversible trauma in the spinal cord. Damaged neural cells caused by SCI cannot be regenerated, and patients have to live with pain, spasms, or loss of movement. Stem cell differentiation can be a potential solution to generate enough neurol cells in vitro to apply at the defective region. In this research, the impact of dynamic mechanical stimulation on the differentiation of PC-12 cell lines towards neurol cells was studied. Models to apply …

Funtionalization Of Morphologically Different Nanoclays For Enhanced Mechanical Properties, Malachi Kent

Honors College Theses

Nanoclays are microscopic clays that are comprised of layered nanoparticle aluminosilicates that are naturally arranged in several morphologies. Halloysite nanotubes (HNT) are hollow, double-layered tubes, bentonite (BNT) clays are trapezoidal platelets, and nanosilica or silica dioxide (SiO₂) are spherical. These nanoclays were chosen for sustainable purposes as they are naturally derived and for economical purposes because of their cheap commercial availability. In this study, the nanoclays are functionalized with an epoxy organosilane group through reflux conditions at 120 °C for 24 hours. The pristine and functionalized nanoclays were extensively characterized with infrared radiation (IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope …

A Novel Jumbo Phage Phima05 Inhibits Harmful Microcystis Sp., Ampapan Naknaen, Oramas Suttinun, Komwit Surachat, Eakalak Khan, Rattanaruji Pomwised

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

Microcystis poses a concern because of its potential contribution to eutrophication and production of microcystins (MCs). Phage treatment has been proposed as a novel biocontrol method for Microcystis. Here, we isolated a lytic cyanophage named PhiMa05 with high efficiency against MCs-producing Microcystis strains. Its burst size was large, with approximately 127 phage particles/infected cell, a short latent period (1 day), and high stability to broad salinity, pH and temperature ranges. The PhiMa05 structure was composed of an icosahedral capsid (100 nm) and tail (120 nm), suggesting that the PhiMa05 belongs to the Myoviridae family. PhiMa05 inhibited both planktonic and aggregated …

Virtual Learning On Swayam Platform By Engineering And Technology Students During Covid-19: An Analysis, Suryakanta Jena, Puspanjali Jena Prof.(Dr)

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Democratization of education has formed the base for open and free education. The movement of Open Education is gaining its impetus through the emerging trends of new educational technologies. In the context of OER (Open Education Resource), the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) concept is providing a framework for virtual classroom and collaborative learning. ‘Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds’ (SWAYAM), as an Indian MOOC, has been providing several courses in various disciplines. The present study tries to analyse the courses in engineering and technology category on SWAYAM during the COVID-19 situation. The present study has critically …

Implementing Gasification Of Organic Matter In Developing Countries, Nicholas Veeder, Wayne Strasser

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Three Minute Thesis

Free Vibration Analysis Of Rotating Beams Based On The Modified Couple Stress Theory And Coupled Displacement Field, Alireza Babaei, Masoud Arabghahestani

Mechanical Engineering Graduate Research

In this paper, transverse vibration analysis of rotating micro-beam is investigated based on the modified couple stress theory. The simply-supported micro-beam is modeled utilizing Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko beam theories. The system is rotating around a fixed axis perpendicular to the axial direction of the beam. For the first time, displacement filed is introduced as a coupled field to the translational field. In other words, the mentioned rotational displacement field is expressed as a proportional function of translational displacement field using first (axial), second (lateral), and third (angular or rotational) velocity factors. Utilizing Hamilton’s approach as a variational method, dynamic-vibration equations …

Controlling The Orientation Of Fluorescent Dyes Using External Electric Fields, Henry J. Kantrow

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Surface-Eroding Drug Delivery Films For Sequential And/Or Intermittent Release Of Psychoactive Drugs, Jason Price

Honors Theses

ABSTRACT JASON BLAKE PRICE: Surface-Eroding Drug Delivery Films for Sequential and/or

Intermittent Release of Psychoactive Drugs For patients with psychiatric diseases, adherence to medication schedules, medication

errors, and abuse are common issues. Promising new forms of therapy for these patients, such as micro-dosed lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), where patients receive 10-20% of a full dose every third day, present further drug delivery challenges. Sequential or intermittent release of drugs from an implanted device could ensure long-term drug compliance, automate drug dosing during the life of the implant, and eliminate potential for abuse and medication errors. To this end, we generated …

Drones And Spatial Artificial Intelligence For Improving Crop Yield, Carson Farmer, Hector Medina

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Applied

Human-Machine Communication: Complete Volume. Volume 2

Human-Machine Communication

This is the complete volume of HMC Volume 2.