Digital Commons Network^™

Phases And Dynamics Of Quantum Droplets In The Crossover To Two-Dimensions, Jose Carlos Pelayo, George Bougas, Thomás Fogarty, Thomas Busch, Simeon I. Mistakidis

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We explore the ground states and dynamics of ultracold atomic droplets in the crossover region from three to two dimensions by solving the two-dimensional and the quasi-two-dimensional extended Gross-Pitaevskii equations numerically and with a variational approach. By systematically comparing the droplet properties, we determine the validity regions of the pure two-dimensional description, and therefore the dominance of the logarithmic nonlinear coupling, as a function of the sign of the averaged mean-field interactions and the size of the transverse confinement. One of our main findings is that droplets become substantially extended upon transitioning from negative-to-positive averaged mean-field interactions. This is accompanied …

Tunable Pairing With Local Spin-Dependent Rydberg Molecule Potentials In An Atomic Fermi Superfluid, Chih Chun Chien, Seth T. Rittenhouse, S. I. Mistakidis, H. R. Sadeghpour

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We explore the energy spectrum and eigenstates of two-component atomic Fermi superfluids with tunable pairing interactions in the presence of spin-dependent ultralong-range Rydberg molecule (ULRM) potentials, within the Bogoliubov-de Gennes formalism. The attractive ULRM potentials lead to local-density accumulation, while their difference results in a local polarization potential and induces the in-gap Yu-Shiba-Rusinov (YSR) states whose energies lie below the bulk energy gap. A transition from equal population to population imbalance occurs as the pairing strength falls below a critical value, accompanied by the emergence of local Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO)-like states characterized by out-of-phase wave functions and lower energies compared to …

Reflections On Linear B, (Part 10): Linear B Sign *49 May Derive From An Egyptian Hieroglyph Denoting Sunrays, Gerald Leonard Cohen

Arts, Languages and Philosophy Faculty Research & Creative Works

Linear B sign *49 (and it's Linear A antecedent), evidently of unknown origin, may be interpreted as influenced by the ancient Egyptian veneration of the sun god, specifically the drawings of the sun sending forth its rays. The Egyptian drawings include the sun itself (a circle with a dot inside), whereas the Linear A and B sign presents a wavy line in its place. I suggest the wavy line derives from part of the Egyptian hieroglyph for ‘horizon,’ whose full picture represents the sun emerging over a mountain. If the sun is removed from the picture, the upper part of …

The Bridge Newsletter Spring 2025, Missouri University Of Science And Technology

The Bridge Newsletter

• S&T earns Research 1 designation
• New chair named
• Alumna talks about career in public service
• Chen receives Pankow Award
• ElGawady, Darwish granted patent

April 2025 Cafe Newsletter, Center For Advancing Faculty Excellence

CAFE Faculty Newsletters

No abstract provided.

The Interplay Between Endothelial Glycocalyx Maturity And Both The Toxicity And Intracellular Uptake Of Charged Nanoparticles, Claire A. Bridges, Lu Fu, Jonathan Yeow, Xiaojing Huang, Miriam Jackson, Rhiannon P. Kuchel, James D. Sterling, Shenda M. Baker, Megan S. Lord

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

Nanoparticles are widely studied for delivering treatments to target tissues, but few have reached clinical use. Most nanoparticles encounter blood vessels on their way to target tissues. The inner surface of these vessels is lined with endothelial cells covered by a glycocalyx, an extracellular matrix rich in anionic glycans. The role of the glycocalyx in nanoparticle interactions is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that endothelial cells need extended culture times to synthesize a mature glycocalyx. Our research shows that branched polyethyleneimine functionalized gold nanoparticles bind to endothelial cells expressing either a developing or mature glycocalyx, with the interaction involving …

Influence Of The Impact Parameter For Ionization Of Argon By Fast Positrons And Electrons On The Postcollision Kinematics And Triply Differential Spectra, Robert D. Dubois, K. Tokési

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Classical trajectory Monte Carlo calculations for fast positron and electron impact ionization of argon are used to provide information about how the pre- and post collision kinematics alter the triply differential spectra. It is shown that in addition to the scattering direction expected for a positive or negative projectile passing near a partially screened nuclear charge, scattering in the opposite direction also occurs. Independent of energy transfer, when the impact parameter is less than the mean radius of the 3p electron cloud, the expected direction of scattering always occurs. In contrast, for scattering in the opposite direction, the impact parameter …

Generic Transverse Stability Of Kink Structures In Atomic And Optical Nonlinear Media With Competing Attractive And Repulsive Interactions, S. I. Mistakidis, G. Bougas, G. C. Katsimiga, P. G. Kevrekidis

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We demonstrate the existence and stability of one-dimensional (1D) topological kink configurations immersed in higher-dimensional bosonic gases and nonlinear optical setups. Our analysis pertains, in particular, to the two- and three-dimensional extended Gross-Pitaevskii models with quantum fluctuations describing droplet-bearing environments but also to the two-dimensional cubic-quintic nonlinear Schrödinger equation containing higher-order corrections to the nonlinear refractive index. Contrary to the generic dark soliton transverse instability, the kink structures are generically robust under the interplay of low-amplitude attractive and high-amplitude repulsive interactions. A quasi-1D effective potential picture dictates the existence of these defects, while their stability is obtained numerically and analytically …

Synergy In Materials: Leveraging Phosphosilicate Waste Forms For Electrochemical Salt Waste, Jonathan S. Evarts, Brian J. Riley, Charmayne E. Lonergan, Michaella S. Harris, Jincheng Bai, Eric W. Bohannan, Iheanyichukwu Ajoku, Saehwa Chong, John S. Mccloy

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Waste forms containing glassy and crystalline phosphate and silicate phases were produced to immobilize salt waste simulants from pyro processing and characterized by using Raman spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, heat capacity, and chemical durability measurements. In this work, a phosphosilicate waste form is presented to leverage the benefits of both borosilicate glasses and iron phosphate glasses. To improve waste loading, prior to immobilization, salt simulants were successfully dechlorinated using ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, mixed with a borosilicate frit (5–30 wt. %) and Fe2O3, and vitrified. Additions of 2.5–15 wt. % borosilicate glass (NBS3) improved normalized release rates …

The Anorexigenic Peptide Nesfatin-1 Dampens The B Cell Response To Receptor-Mediated Stimulation Through Inhibition Of Nf-Kb Signaling, Tara L. Steffen, Joshua D. Stafford, Colleen R. Boche, Willis K. Samson, Gina Yosten

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Nesfatin-1, a posttranslational product of the protein encoded by the nucleobindin 2 gene (NUCB2), was functionally identified as an appetite regulatory molecule in rat hypothalamic nuclei. In the years following the discovery, those findings have been corroborated and expanded upon, and we now know that nesfatin-1 is expressed throughout peripheral tissues and exerts physiological effects beyond feeding control. Literature indicates that adipose tissue is one of the peripheral sources of NUCB2/nesfatin-1, and in this setting, it has anti-inflammatory effects that have recently been implicated in regulating chronic inflammation associated with diet-induced obesity. Currently, there are gaps in our understanding of …

Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (Pfas) Degradation In Water And Soil Using Cold Atmospheric Plasma (Cap): A Review, Victor Somtochukwu Mbanugo, Boluwatife Stephen Ojo, Ta Chun Lin, Yue-Wern Huang, Marek Locmelis, Daoru Han

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent organic chemicals found in numerous industrial applications and everyday products. The excessive amounts of PFASs in water and soil, together with their link to severe health issues, have prompted substantial public concerns, making their removal from the environment a necessity. Existing degradation techniques are frequently lacking due to their low efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and potential for secondary contamination. Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) technology has emerged as a promising alternative, utilizing energized reactive species to break down PFASs under ambient conditions. Therefore, this review examines the efficacy and effectiveness of CAP in degrading PFASs by …

Local Structure Of Zinc-Indium-Tin Oxide Films Via Grazing-Incidence X-Ray Pair-Distribution Functions And Theoretical Methods, G. B. González, C. J. Benmore, Julia E. Medvedeva, J. S. Okasinski, C. Riegger, O. Medina, M. M. Stulajter, T. Bsaibes, G. Cardenas, S. Cone, K. Edlund, M. Osorio, T. Holmes, I. Zhuravlev

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

A detailed experimental and theoretical study on the local (r ≤ 4.5 Å) atomic structure of amorphous and crystalline zinc-indium-tin oxide (ZITO) thin films using grazing-incidence x-ray Pair-Distribution Functions (PDFs), ab initio Molecular Dynamics (MD), and Empirical Potential Structure Refinement (EPSR) Monte Carlo simulations is presented. High-energy synchrotron x rays, a two-dimensional detector, and different incident angles were used to probe the depth uniformity of five (ZnO)0.15 (In2O3)0.70 (SnO2)0.15 films that were deposited via pulsed-laser deposition at growth temperatures (TG) ranging from 25 to 300 °C. Films deposited at TG ≤ 150 °C were amorphous. The partially crystalline (TG = …

A Gaze-Driven Manufacturing Assembly Assistant System With Integrated Step Recognition, Repetition Analysis, And Real-Time Feedback, Haodong Chen, Niloofar Zendehdel, Ming C. Leu, Zhaozheng Yin

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Modern manufacturing faces significant challenges, including efficiency bottlenecks and high error rates in manual assembly operations. To address these challenges, we implement artificial intelligence (AI) and propose a gaze-driven assembly assistant system that leverages artificial intelligence for human-centered smart manufacturing. Our system processes video inputs of assembly activities using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network for assembly step recognition, a Transformer network for repetitive action counting, and a gaze tracker for eye gaze estimation. The application of AI integrates the outputs of these tasks to deliver real-time visual assistance through a software interface that displays …

Coupled Oscillators And Dielectric Function, T. Das, C. A. Ullrich, Ulrich D. Jentschura

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

A generalized Sellmeier model, also referred to as the Lorentz-Dirac model, has been used for the description of the dielectric function of a number of technologically important materials in the literature. This model represents the frequency-dependent dielectric function as a sum over Green functions of classical damped harmonic oscillators, much in analogy with the functional form used for the dynamic polarizability of an atom, but with one important addition, namely, a complex-valued oscillator strength in the numerator. Here, we show that this generalized functional form can be justified based on the response function of coupled damped oscillators. The encountered analogies …

Refugium Amidst Ruins: Unearthing The Lost Flora That Escaped The End-Permian Mass Extinction, Huiping Peng, Wan Yang, Mingli Wan, Jun Liu, Feng Liu

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Searching for land refugia becomes imperative for human survival during the hypothetical sixth mass extinction. Studying past comparable crises can offer insights, but there is no fossil evidence of diverse megafloral ecosystems surviving the largest Phanerozoic biodiversity crisis. Here, we investigated palynomorphs, plant, and tetrapod fossils from the Permian-Triassic South Taodonggou Section in Xinjiang, China. Our fossil records, calibrated by a high-resolution age model, reveal the presence of vibrant regional gymnospermous forests and fern fields, while marine organisms experienced mass extinction. This refugial vegetation was crucial for nourishing the substantial influx of surviving animals, thereby establishing a diverse terrestrial ecosystem …

Intelligent Turning Cyber-Physical Systems Modeling Using Sysml, Prithbey Raj Dey, David Lee Enke, Mario F. Buchely

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) support industrial automation that incorporates people, hardware, signal, computation, and control using networking to achieve desired results. The complex automated CPS design demands a standard and comprehensive approach to appropriately identify the system requirements, define the architecture, and model the relationships among the software and hardware components. Systems Modeling Language (SysML) provides the capability for a comprehensive modeling to capture the desired design requirements in the systems architecture. SysML enables performance estimation of the model by analyzing constraints while identifying interactions among the components through various behavioral diagrams. In this paper, SysML is applied to the design …

Martensitic Transformation Induced Strength-Ductility Synergy In Additively Manufactured Maraging 250 Steel By Thermal History Engineering, Shahryar Mooraj, Shuai Feng, Matthew Luebbe, Matthew Register, Jian Liu, Tianyi Li, Baris Yavas, David P. Schmidt, Matthew W. Priddy, Michael B. Nicholas, Victor K. Champagne, Mark Aindow, Haiming Wen, Wen Chen

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Maraging steels are known for their exceptional strength but suffer from limited work hardening and ductility. Here, we report an intermittent printing strategy to tailor the microstructure and mechanical properties of maraging 250 steel via tuning the thermal history during wire-arc directed energy deposition. By introducing a dwell time between adjacent layers, the maraging 250 steel is cooled below the martensite start temperature, triggering thermally driven martensitic transformation during the printing process. Thermal cycling during subsequent layer deposition results in the formation of reverted austenite which shows a refined microstructure and induces elemental segregation between martensite and reverted austenite. The …

The Interplay Between Endothelial Glycocalyx Maturity And Both The Toxicity And Intracellular Uptake Of Charged Nanoparticles, Claire A. Bridges, Lu D. Fu, Jonathan A. Yeow, Xiaojing D. Huang, Miriam D. Jackson, Rhiannon P. Kuchel, James D. Sterling, Shenda M. Baker, Megan S. Lord

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

Nanoparticles are widely studied for delivering treatments to target tissues, but few have reached clinical use. Most nanoparticles encounter blood vessels on their way to target tissues. The inner surface of these vessels is lined with endothelial cells covered by a glycocalyx, an extracellular matrix rich in anionic glycans. The role of the glycocalyx in nanoparticle interactions is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that endothelial cells need extended culture times to synthesize a mature glycocalyx. Our research shows that branched polyethyleneimine functionalized gold nanoparticles bind to endothelial cells expressing either a developing or mature glycocalyx, with the interaction involving …

Experiment-Based Superposition Thermal Modeling Of Laser Powder Bed Fusion, Cody S. Lough, Tao Liu, Robert G. Landers, Douglas A. Bristow, James A. Drallmeier, Ben Brown, Edward C. Kinzel

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Parts experience significant local thermal variations during the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) metal Additive Manufacturing (AM) process, providing a potential source of defects. Near real-time thermal predictions can enable better process planning and facilitate corrections on subsequent layers to enable the engineering of laser parameter and scan path combinations that avoid defect inducing scenarios. This paper considers an experiment-based Discrete Green's Function (DGF) thermal model for temperature field prediction in LPBF. An analytical framework is developed and used to calculate an experimental DGF (i.e., powder bed's single pulse temperature response) from spatiotemporal Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) camera data. The extracted …

March 2025 Cafe Newsleter, Center For Advancing Faculty Excellence

CAFE Faculty Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Aggregate Characteristics On Frictional Performance Of Asphalt-Based High Friction Surface Treatments, Alireza Roshan, Magdy Abdelrahman

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

High Friction Surface Treatments (HFST) are recognized for their effectiveness in enhancing skid resistance and reducing road accidents. While Epoxy-based HFSTs are widely applied, they present limitations such as compatibility issues with existing pavements, high installation and removal costs, and durability concerns tied to substrate quality. As an alternative to traditional Epoxy-based HFSTs, this study investigated the effects of aggregate gradation as designated by agencies on the performance of asphalt-based HFST. Various aggregate types were assessed to evaluate friction performance and the impact of polishing cycles on non-Epoxy HFST. It was found that adjustments in aggregate size and gradation may …

Design And Function Of Thermoresponsive-Ultrafast Stiffening Suspension Formulations For 3d Printing, Sharu Bhagavathi Kandy, Sebastian Remke, Thiyagarajan Ranganathan, Shubham Kiran Wani, Xiaodi Dai, Narayanan Neithalath, Aditya Kumar, Mathieu Bauchy, Edward Garboczi, Torben Gädt, Samanvaya Srivastava, Gaurav Sant

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

An inability to accurately control the rate and extent of solidification of cementitious suspensions is a major impediment to creating geometrically complex structural shapes via 3D printing. In this work, we have developed a thermoresponsive rapid stiffening system that will stiffen suspensions of minerals such as quartz, limestone, portlandite, and Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) over a wide pH range. When exposed to trigger temperatures between 40 °C and 70 °C, the polymer binder system undergoes a thermally triggered free radical polymerization (FRP) reaction, leading to an ultrafast stiffening of the suspension at an average rate on the order of 1 …

Phases And Phase Transitions Of The Disordered Quantum Clock Model, Pulloor Kuttanikkad Vishnu, Gaurav Khairnar, Rajesh Narayanan, Thomas Vojta

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We study the phases and phase transitions of a disordered one-dimensional quantum q-state clock Hamiltonian using large-scale Monte Carlo simulations. Making contact with earlier results, we confirm that the clean, translational invariant version of the model, for q=6, hosts an intermediate emergent quasi-long-range ordered (QLRO) phase between the symmetry-broken true long-range ordered (TLRO) phase and the disordered (paramagnetic) phase. With increasing disorder strength, the quasi-long-range ordered phase shrinks and finally vanishes at a multicritical point, beyond which there is a direct transition from the TLRO phase to the paramagnetic phase. After establishing the phase diagram, we characterize the critical behaviors …

A Low-Carbon Approach For Lime Production Using Self-Propagating High Temperature Synthesis-Driven Limestone Calcination, Shubham Agrawal, Sayee Srikarah Volaity, Srinivas Kilambi, Aditya Kumar, Narayanan Neithalath

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Limestone calcination produces calcium oxide (or lime), that forms the basis for the manufacturing of many critical engineering materials such as cement and iron-and-steel. Limestone calcination—an endothermic reaction—is regarded as one of the most energy-and-CO₂ intensive industrial chemical reactions, and is facilitated by fossil fuels, since the high temperature requirement (∼900 °C) renders it less conducive to electrification through renewable energy sources. In this study, a novel, low-temperature (∼450 °C) pathway for ultrafast calcination of limestone using combustion synthesis or self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) is developed. SHS leverages exothermic heat from the combustion of lignin or biomass—as low-carbon fuels—mixed …

Engineering Pamam Dendrimers For Optimized Drug Delivery, Amin Aleebrahim Dehkordi, Shirin Mollazadeh, Amirreza Talaie, Mostafa Yazdimamaghani

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Dendrimers, first introduced by Fritz Vögtle in 1978, have emerged as promising nanocarriers for drug delivery due to their unique branched architecture, large internal cavities, and numerous surface amine groups. These dendrimers efficiently load various drugs through electrostatic interactions, covalent bonding, or encapsulation, owing to their high density of terminal amine groups. However, the inherent cationic nature of PAMAM dendrimers can lead to cytotoxicity and limited systemic circulation due to interactions with negatively charged biomolecules. To address these limitations, surface modification strategies have been developed to enhance targeting, trigger-controlled drug release, and decrease cytotoxicity. This review critically examines recent advancements …

How Shearing Affects Air Dissolution In Fresh Cement Pastes Under Pressure, Daniel Galvez-Moreno, Dimitri Feys, Kyle Riding

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The air-void system of concrete is of paramount importance to ensure freeze–thaw durability. Pumping induces detrimental changes in the air-void system of concrete by dissolving the air bubbles in the surrounding water when pressure increases due to the pump action. This research work investigates the influence of shear rate and air-void size distribution on air dissolution with time of cement pastes under pressure. Steady-state shear rheology at different shear rates was applied on samples of different air-void size distributions but similar air contents. Due to the low capillary number of the mixtures, the application of pressure caused a decrease in …

Correlating The Compositional Changes To The Rheological Properties Of Recovered Asphalt Binders From Recycled Asphalt Mixtures: Insights From The Thermogravimetric Measurements, Eslam Deef-Allah, Magdy Abdelrahman

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Assessing the binder performance of thermal characterization is critical for quality control. This is pertinent for recovered binders from mixtures, which may not be in adequate quantities to evaluate their performance, particularly in mixtures containing reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). The present study deployed a thermogravimetric analyzer to evaluate compositional changes in recovered binders from RAP-containing mixtures, focusing on thermograph and derivative of thermograph (DTG) characteristics and correlating the results to rheological features. Incorporating RAP in mixtures influenced recovered binders' DTG shapes, reducing low-combusted components (%LCC) and increasing residues (%R). The recovered binder from the zero-RAP-containing mixture showed a 4.36% increase …

Willingness To Pay Estimates For Carbon Capture And Management: Evidence From A Pilot Choice Experiment, Bruktawit M. Ahmed, Mahelet G. Fikru

Economics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Utilizing a discrete choice experiment with 250 US electricity consumers, this study estimates willingness to pay (WTP) for each percentage increase in carbon dioxide captured and the preferred carbon management technique—permanent storage or industrial utilization. Results from an alternative-specific conditional logit model suggest a WTP of $0.13 for each percent increase in carbon capture, and an additional $5-$6 per month for industrial utilization over storage. In contrast, the estimated WTP for each percent increase in renewable energy is $0.25, suggesting that consumers value renewable energy nearly twice as much as carbon capture. These preliminary results indicate some preference for carbon …

Deep Learning-Based Gain Estimation For Multi-User Software-Defined Radios In Aircraft Communications, Viraj K. Gajjar, Kurt L. Kosbar

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

It may be helpful to integrate multiple aircraft communication and navigation functions into a single software-defined radio (SDR) platform. To transmit these multiple signals, the SDR would first sum the baseband version of the signals. This outgoing composite signal would be passed through a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) before being up-converted and passed through a radio frequency (RF) amplifier. To prevent non-linear distortion in the RF amplifier, it is important to know the peak voltage of the composite. While this is reasonably straightforward when a single modulation is used, it is more challenging when working with composite signals. This paper describes …

Compositionally Complex Alb2-Type Diborides In Dissociated Air Plasma, F. Monteverde, C. Pellegrini, M. Balat-Pichelin, William Fahrenholtz, Greg Hilmas

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Multi-metal compositionally complex (CC) AlB2-type diboride solid solutions (SS) containing IV-V-VI group elements are garnering a steadily growing research interest. The present work explores the composition dependence of oxidation resistance on nominally equiatomic (Hf,Me,Ta,Ti,Zr)B2 SS, Me = Nb or Cr, exposed to a dissociated air plasma (total pressure of about 1 kPa): specimens were exposed for 5 min at some selected set points between 1800 K and 2500 K using a solar furnace. The CC diboride with Nb showed superior resistance to oxidation compared to that with Cr. The experimental results showed good agreement with predictions based on a thermodynamic …