Digital Commons Network^™

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.

Moving Ahead With Human-Machine Communication, Leopoldina Fortunati, Autumn P. Edwards

Human-Machine Communication

In this essay, we introduce the 10 articles comprising Volume 2 (2021) of Human-Machine Communication, each of which is innovative and offers a substantial contribution to the field of human-machine communication (HMC). As a collection, these articles move forward the HMC project by touching on four layers of important discourse: (1) updates to theoretical frameworks and paradigms, including Computers as Social Actors (CASA), (2) examination of ontology and prototyping processes, (3) critical analysis of gender and ability/disability relations, and (4) extension of HMC scholarship into organizational contexts. Building upon the insights offered by the contributing authors and incorporating perspectives …

Removal Of Carbamazepine Onto Modified Zeolitic Tuff In Different Water Matrices: Batch And Continuous Flow Experiments, Othman A. Al-Mashaqbeh, Diya A. Alsafadi, Layal Z. Alsalhi, Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt, Daniel D. Snow

Nebraska Water Center: Faculty Publications

Carbamazepine (CBZ) is the most frequently detected pharmaceutical residues in aquatic environments effluent by wastewater treatment plants. Batch and column experiments were conducted to evaluate the removal of CBZ from ultra-pure water and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent using raw zeolitic tuff (RZT) and surfactant modified zeolite (SMZ). Point zero net charge (pHpzc), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) were investigated for adsorbents to evaluate the physiochemical changes resulted from the modification process using Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA-Br). XRD and FTIR showed that the surfactant modification of RZT has created an amorphous surface with new alkyl …

Understanding The Effect Of Adaptive Mutations On The Three-Dimensional Structure Of Rna, Justin Cook

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are variations in the genome where one base pair can differ between individuals.¹ SNPs occur throughout the genome and can correlate to a disease-state if they occur in a functional region of DNA.¹According to the central dogma of molecular biology, any variation in the DNA sequence will have a direct effect on the RNA sequence and will potentially alter the identity or conformation of a protein product. A single RNA molecule, due to intramolecular base pairing, can acquire a plethora of 3-D conformations that are described by its structural ensemble. One SNP, rs12477830, which …

Developing A Multimedia Interface For Electrical Biosignal Interpretation, Christopher Cox

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

In the last ten years, a great deal of interest has been generated around the practice of using plants’ electrical signals to create sound or music. In order to render biosignals capable of producing sound electronically, some kind of interface is necessary that converts a plant’s natural electrical signals into data that a computer can understand. Existing commercial interfaces cost at minimum $3001,2 . Worse yet, two popular off-the-shelf interfaces conform their output signals to stereotypical human notions of what a plant might “sound like”. In this project we fabricated a simple but high-performance interface for less than $5 in …

Project Alien, Rebecca Mccallin, Madelyn Hoying, Alex Evans, Matthew Nestler, Karli Rae Sutton, Garett Craig, Lucia Secaia Del Cid, Alexander Guy, Rachel Fernandez, Amanda Trusiak, Paige Aley, Ingabire Gakwerere, Nina Dorfner, Maria Mosbacher, Mary Flavin, Selvin Hernandez, Audrey Steen, Benjamin Kazimer

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

Project ALIEN is a comprehensive plan to send humans to Mars to look for life on the Martian surface while exploring the viability and adaptability of terrestrial microbes in Martian atmospheric conditions. ALIEN will use a ballistic capture trajectory to get to Mars and stay in aerostationary orbit for a 30-day surface mission, during which two surface crewmembers will perform a variety of experiments to achieve the mission’s goals of Martian microbial discovery within brines of the Gale Crater and terrestrial microbe adaptability and viability to Martian conditions. Experimentation is based on the presumption that Martian microbes are metabolically similar …

A Barker Type Approach For Measuring And Interpreting Vle Of Polymer Mixed Solvent Systems, Vaishali Jain

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The environment around us has a great impact on human health. A polluted environment can adversely impact human health and cause diseases like cancer, skin diseases, breathing problems and many more and hence altering the quality of life. Hence it is very important to develop sensors that can efficiently detect these harmful substances from environment. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are carbon-based chemical substances that are volatile even at ambient temperature and pressure conditions which enter the atmosphere through industrial processes, building materials, etc.

Acoustic wave devices can detect very low concentrations (ppm, ppb) of organic compounds in the environment. A …

Nighttime Pedestrian Fatalities Across The United States And Their Relationship With Built Environment And Socioeconomic Factors: Gis-Based Analysis And Assessment, Amir Tarighi

Civil Engineering ETDs

Fatalities from motor vehicle collisions are the fifth leading cause of years of lost life worldwide (Foreman et al., 2018) and are a great concern for all communities. This road safety crisis has been especially pronounced for U.S. pedestrians over the last decade. National records show that between 2010 and 2019, pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. increased 44% while all other traffic fatalities increased only 4% and more than fifty percent of pedestrian fatalities occurred in dark lighting conditions. This study analyzed the relationship between pedestrian fatality locations at night and five demographic characteristics of those locations including population density, …

Bombardier Beetle Fire Extinguisher, Elijah Yoder, Wayne Strasser

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Theoretical Proposal

Non-Linear Dimensionality Reduction Using Auto-Encoder For Optimized Malaria Infected Blood Cell Classifier, Aayush Dhakal

Honors Theses

Neural Networks have been widely used in the problem of Medical Image Analysis. However, when dealing with large images, deep networks easily exhaust computer resources, which in turn hinders training. This paper shows the efficacy of using Auto-Encoders as a dimensionality reduction tool to increase the efficiency of a Malaria Infected Blood Cell Image classifier. We show that using an autoencoder, we can reduce the dimensionality of large blood cell images effectively such that the features in the new space retain all the essential information from the original input. Then we show that the new features obtained from the autoencoder …

Modeling And Simulation Of Urination Assist System Based On Working Medium Saturated Vapor Pressure, Li Xiao, Li Shu, Weihong Peng, Ting Guan

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To design and analyze the urination assist system driven by ultrasonic-vaporized steam, a simulation model of the driving capsule and three mathematical models of working medium saturated vapor pressure, bladder pressure and urine flow are established. The simulation experiment system is built to verify the model. The effects of radiation time and sound intensity on the working medium temperature and driving pressure are simulated and analyzed. The results show that the working medium temperature and driving pressure are related to the radiation time and sound intensity. Prolonging radiation time and increasing sound intensity can increase the working medium …

Editorial: Forest Management Alters Forest Water Use And Drought Vulnerability, Christina Tague, Matthew D. Hurteau, Anthony J. Parolari

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

This collection of papers provides new insights into how forest management, forest water use and droughts are interrelated. The collection considers both ecohydrologic impacts of changes in forest density (through thinning or fire) and impacts that could occur via species management.

Evaluating Evapotranspiration Values In Rwanda Using The Fao-56 Pm, Turc, And Hargreaves-Samani Equations, Elizabeth Uwase

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

Evapotranspiration (ET) is an important component of the hydrologic cycle and involves exchange of water between the surrounding water bodies, soil, crop surfaces, and the atmosphere. Therefore, this research was aimed at determining ET and its trend across Rwanda using climatic data measured at five sites. Equations were used to calculate ET using extra-terrestrial radiations, solar radiations, evapotranspiration using the FAO-56 guidelines - Turc method (1961) and Hargreaves-Samani (HS) method (1983). The obtained data from the weather stations were analyzed using the two methods and graphs were plotted for visualization. The average monthly reference evapotranspiration for both equations ranges from …

Application Of A Self-Disinfecting Surface For Hemodialysis, Katie Christensen, Sierra Flores, Ivy Hansen, Cody Paraso, Andrea Peterson

Biological Engineering

The Biological Engineering Department at Utah State University (USU) is collaborating with Fresenius Medical Care (FMC) to develop a novel method of bacterial reduction for hemodialysis systems.

In the United States, approximately 34% of reported hemodialysis hospitalizations have been due to infections [1]. The water inlet line was identified as an area with potential to introduce bacteria into the system.

Nutrient Management: Heterotrophic Nitrification, Zac Mcclellan, Jaden Storrer, Anna Scribner, Jayce Bradley

Biological Engineering

The removal of nitrogen in the form of ammonia from wastewater is an important yet expensive step in treatment often done in two stages, typically by different autotrophic nitrifiers:

- Nitrification: Ammonia is converted to Nitrite and Nitrate.

- Denitrification: Nitrate is converted to nitrogen gas (N2)

Heterotrophic nitrifiers like Alcaligenes faecalis are able to perform both processes and reduce the two step treatment process to one.

Previously, experiments were performed on Alcaligenes faecalis in a synthetic wastewater environment to determine the kinetic constants for a substrate-dependent ammonia removal rate (Michaelis Mentin Kinetics).

Centrifugally Spun Mats Based On Biopolyesters/Hydroxyapatite And Their Potential As Bone Scaffolds, Victoria M. Padilla-Gainza, Heriberto Rodríguez-Tobías, Graciela Morales, Eduardo Saucedo, Karen Lozano, Vanessa Montaño-Machado,, Diego Mantovani

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

This work studied the potential of centrifugal spinning for the production of fibrous materials based on poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PDLLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (n-Hap). The influence of n-Hap concentration (5, 10, and 15 wt.%) and spinneret angular speed on the final fiber morphology were analyzed. Further experimental evaluations were implemented to determine the effect of n-Hap on the thermal and mechanical performance. The optimum parameters that show a balance among high yield production of homogeneous fibers with the smallest fiber average diameter were found to be at 5 wt.% of n-Hap processed at 7000 rpm for PDLLA, and …

Covid-19: Insights Into Virus-Receptor Interactions, Azadeh Sepahvandi, Maryann Ghaffari, Amir Hossein Bahmanpour, Fathollah Moztarzadeh, Payam Zarrintaj, Hasan Uludağ, Masoud Mozafari

Faculty Publications

The recent outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) calls for rapid mobilization of scientists to probe and explore solutions to this deadly disease. A limited understanding of the high transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) relative to other coronavirus strains guides a deeper investigation into the virus/receptor interactions. The cutting-edge studies in thermodynamic and kinetic properties of interactions such as protein-protein interplays have been reviewed in many modeling and analysis studies. Highlighting the thermodynamic assessments of biological interactions and emphasizing the boosted transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 despite its high similarity in structure and sequence with other coronavirus strains …

Quantifying Surface Morphology Of Manufactured Activated Carbon And The Waste Coffee Grounds Using The Getis-Ord-Gi* Statistic And Ripley’S K Function, Sanghoon Lee, Sukjoon Na, Olivia G. Rogers, Sungmin Youn

All Engineering Faculty Research

Activated carbon can be manufactured from waste coffee grounds via physical and/or chemical activation processes. However, challenges remain to quantify the differences in surface morphology between manufactured activated carbon granules and the waste coffee grounds. This paper presents a novel quantitative method to determine the quality of the physical and chemical activation processes performed in the presence of intensity inhomogeneity and identify surface characteristics of manufactured activated carbon granules and the waste coffee grounds. The spatial density was calculated by the Getis-Ord-Gi* statistic in scanning electron microscopy images. The spatial characteristics were determined by analyzing Ripley’s K function and complete …

Numerical Modeling Of The Fiber Deposition Flow In Extrusion-Based 3d Bioprinting, Dhanvanth Jaya Talluri

Theses and Dissertations

Extrusion bioprinting involves the deposition of bioinks in a layer-wise fashion to build 3D structures that mimic natural living systems' behavior in tissue engineering. Hydrogels are the most common bioinks, in which their viscosity properties are dependent on the shear-rate, such as Non-Newtonian fluids. Numerical simulation of extrusion bioprinting may help study the flow properties of hydrogels and designing improved bioinks. In this thesis, the instability caused by the shear-thinning or -thickening parameter during extrusion is numerically compared with the theoretical estimations. The process of fiber deposition of hydrogels onto a substrate through the single and coaxial nozzle is done …

Effects Of Historical Land-Use Change On Surface Runoff And Flooding In The Amite River Basin, Louisiana, Usa Using Coupled 1d/2d Hec-Ras–Hec-Hms Hydrological Modeling, Alexandre G. H. Cowles

LSU Master's Theses

The Amite River Basin is a largely rural watershed spanning parts of four counties in southern Mississippi and seven parishes in southeast Louisiana, with basinwide imperviousness increasing from 0.82% in 1938 to 3.85% in 2016. The Basin has been the subject of significant research interest since catastrophic flooding in 2016 caused 13 deaths and widespread damages. Rapid development in recent decades has led to an expansion of impervious surfaces in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas, encroaching on floodplains and wetlands. At the basin scale, differences in flooding due to impervious cover changes were found to be somewhat limited, particularly along …

Analysis Of Data To Evaluate The Performance Of Air Filters Used For Filtering Nanoscale Particles Generated By Smoke, Pascal J. Wagemaker

Honors College Theses

The main goal of this research project is to determine the effectiveness of commercially available air filters and to compare different kinds of commercially available air filters in certain categories. With recent record-breaking wildfires and the Covid-19 pandemic, research on the effects and features of nanoparticles has become increasingly important. Inhalation of nanoparticles in smoke can result in severe health effects on humans, affecting especially the respiratory system. As nanoparticles can pass through cell membranes, absorption occurs rapidly and affects many different parts and functions of the human body. While air filters are an effective method of reducing small-sized particles …

Insights Into The Role Of Metal Composition, Preparation Method, Catalyst Pretreatment For Application In The Development Of Catalytic Reforming Materials For Intensified Conversion Of Biogas Sourced Methane, Yetunde Oluwatosin Sokefun

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The combustion of fossil fuel sources, crude oil, natural gas, and coal to meet the world’s energy demand has contributed to the increased emissions of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases to the environment. These negative contributions and their resulting impact on environmental conditions and several reports of their peak production and eventual depletion have influenced the need for cleaner and alternative energy production using renewable energy sources.

From the available renewable energy sources ranging from wind, solar, hydrothermal, geothermal, and biomass, biomass is an attractive option because it is largely ubiquitous and a waste commodity that can be converted …

Establishment Of Regional Phytoremediation Buffer Systems For Ecological Restoration In The Great Lakes Basin, Usa. I. Genotype X Environment Interactions, Ronald S. Zalesny, Andrej Pilipović, Elizabeth R. Rogers, Joel Gerard Burken, For Full List Of Authors, See Publisher's Website.

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Poplar remediation systems are ideal for reducing runoff, cleaning groundwater, and delivering ecosystem services to the North American Great Lakes and globally. We used phytorecurrent selection (PRS) to establish sixteen phytoremediation buffer systems (phyto buffers) (buffer groups: 2017 × 6; 2018 × 5; 2019 × 5) throughout the Lake Superior and Lake Michigan watersheds comprised of twelve PRS-selected clones each year. We tested for differences in genotypes, environments, and their interactions for health, height, diameter, and volume from ages one to four years. All trees had optimal health. Mean first-, second-, and third-year volume ranged from 71 ± 26 to …