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Ibi-Dt: A Novel Approach Combining Individualized Bayesian Inference And Decision Tree For Identifying Cancer Drivers And Their Interactions, Md Asad Rahman, Gregory F. Cooper, Jinying Zhao, Xinghua Lu, Jinling Liu Sep 2025

Ibi-Dt: A Novel Approach Combining Individualized Bayesian Inference And Decision Tree For Identifying Cancer Drivers And Their Interactions, Md Asad Rahman, Gregory F. Cooper, Jinying Zhao, Xinghua Lu, Jinling Liu

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Cancer is mainly caused by a relatively small portion of somatic genome alterations (SGAs), called cancer drivers. Despite success in identifying a good number of cancer drivers, many more remain to be discovered to explain various cancers. Moreover, limited tools are available to identify potential interactions among cancer drivers for a better understanding of oncogenesis. To tackle these challenges, we have developed a novel approach called individualized Bayesian inference using a decision tree (IBI-DT). IBI-DT recognizes the genetic heterogeneity among cancer patients, where different individuals or patient subgroups of distinct genomic makeup may have different drivers. IBI-DT works by constructing …

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Understanding The Relationship Between Structural Failure And Fatalities In Tornadoes: A Quantitative Investigation Of The 2021 Midwest Tornado Outbreak, Yi Zhao, Ruwen Qin, John W. Van De Lindt, Justin Sharpe, Grace Yan Sep 2025

Understanding The Relationship Between Structural Failure And Fatalities In Tornadoes: A Quantitative Investigation Of The 2021 Midwest Tornado Outbreak, Yi Zhao, Ruwen Qin, John W. Van De Lindt, Justin Sharpe, Grace Yan

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

During 1950-2011, the number of fatalities caused by tornadoes in the U.S. significantly exceeded the fatalities caused by both hurricanes and earthquakes. To reduce tornado induced fatalities, it is essential to understand how structures/building failures correlate with fatalities and who are more vulnerable to tornadoes. Insights from this study are intended to help provide information to decision-makers on where to allocate limited resources for enhancing tornado resilience. By examining both the fatality data and structural damage data in the 2021 Midwest Tornado Outbreak, the objective of this study is to examine the occurrence of fatalities during tornadoes across various types …

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Synergetic Adsorptive Mechanisms, Reusability And Cost Evaluations Of Green Fabricated Hybrid Barium Cobalt Nanocomposites For Methylene Blue And Lead Removal From Wastewater, Titus Chinedu Egbosiuba, Chibuike Christogonus Njoku, Ijeoma Jacinta Ani, Godwin Ifeanyi Ogbuehi, Abdulkareem Omeiza Yusuf, Abiodun Azeez Saka, Ugochukwu Ewuzie, Ebuka Emmanuel Ezennajiego, Blessing Onyinye Okafor, Walter Chibuike Anene, Cecilia Chika Unegbu, Florence Acha, Monday Uchenna Okoronkwo Sep 2025

Synergetic Adsorptive Mechanisms, Reusability And Cost Evaluations Of Green Fabricated Hybrid Barium Cobalt Nanocomposites For Methylene Blue And Lead Removal From Wastewater, Titus Chinedu Egbosiuba, Chibuike Christogonus Njoku, Ijeoma Jacinta Ani, Godwin Ifeanyi Ogbuehi, Abdulkareem Omeiza Yusuf, Abiodun Azeez Saka, Ugochukwu Ewuzie, Ebuka Emmanuel Ezennajiego, Blessing Onyinye Okafor, Walter Chibuike Anene, Cecilia Chika Unegbu, Florence Acha, Monday Uchenna Okoronkwo

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Barium nanoparticles (BaNPs), cobalt nanoparticles (CoNPs), and hybrid barium-cobalt nanocomposites (BaCoNCs) were synthesized using an eco-friendly green technique with Anacardium occidentale leaf extract for sequestration of methylene blue (MB) dye and lead (Pb (II)) ions from industrial wastewater. The nanoparticles and nanocomposites were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis to assess their functional groups, crystalline structure, morphology, and surface properties, confirming successful synthesis. Batch adsorption studies showed that optimal pollutant removal occurred at pH values of 8 for MB and 5 for Pb(II), with a contact time …

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Assessing The Effectiveness Of Crawlers And Large Language Models In Detecting Adversarial Hidden Link Threats In Meta Computing, Junjie Xiong, Mingkui Wei, Zhuo Lu, Yao Liu Sep 2025

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Crawlers And Large Language Models In Detecting Adversarial Hidden Link Threats In Meta Computing, Junjie Xiong, Mingkui Wei, Zhuo Lu, Yao Liu

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

In the emerging field of Meta Computing, where data collection and integration are essential components, the threat of adversary hidden link attacks poses a significant challenge to web crawlers. In this paper, we investigate the influence of these attacks on data collection by web crawlers, which famously elude conventional detection techniques using large language models (LLMs). Empirically, we find some vulnerabilities in the current crawler mechanisms and large language model detection, especially in code inspection, and propose enhancements that will help mitigate these weaknesses. Our assessment of real-world web pages reveals the prevalence and impact of adversary hidden link attacks, …

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Exploring The Adoption Of Construction Technologies In Infrastructure Projects: Bridging Perceptions Of Experts With Real Project Data, Fareed Salih, Islam H. El-Adaway Sep 2025

Exploring The Adoption Of Construction Technologies In Infrastructure Projects: Bridging Perceptions Of Experts With Real Project Data, Fareed Salih, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Infrastructure projects have progressively adopted construction technologies, yet previous studies have not fully explored technology utilization by comparing the perceptions of experts with actual project data. This research fills this knowledge gap. The authors (1) developed, distributed, and collected a survey completed by 52 construction practitioners to investigate the use of these technologies and their associated benefits; (2) checked the survey reliability and validity using Cronbach's alpha test; (3) investigated the perceptions of utilizing construction technologies across industry sectors; (4) explored the perceptions of benefits across industry sectors; (5) analyzed the impact of construction technologies on project objectives and phases …

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Data-Driven Shear Capacity Prediction Of Studs Embedded In Uhpc For Steel-Uhpc Composite Structures, Yanping Zhu, Woubishet Zewdu Taffese, Genda Chen Sep 2025

Data-Driven Shear Capacity Prediction Of Studs Embedded In Uhpc For Steel-Uhpc Composite Structures, Yanping Zhu, Woubishet Zewdu Taffese, Genda Chen

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study employs ensemble learning algorithms to accurately predict the shear capacity of studs embedded in ultrahigh performance concrete (UHPC), a critical aspect of structural engineering. Using a comprehensive data set featuring six UHPC slab features, seven stud features, and one shear pocket feature, 35 ensemble models are developed across five cases and seven algorithms (bagging, random forest, AdaBoost, gradient boosting, XGBoost, CatBoost, and LightGBM). The Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) analysis is conducted on the top-performing models to gain insights into their decision-making mechanisms. Results indicate that transforming UHPC slab geometry parameters into a volume, alongside different diameter ratios, proves …

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Amorphous Sio2-Stabilized High-Valent Iron-Oxo Complexes Derived From Fe- And Si-Rich Solid Wastes For Efficient Tetracycline Hydrochloride Degradation, Cuirong Yan, Hongyan Ma, Xiunan Cai, Zhongqiu Luo, Jinyu Shi, Wenhao Li, Xintao Zhou Sep 2025

Amorphous Sio2-Stabilized High-Valent Iron-Oxo Complexes Derived From Fe- And Si-Rich Solid Wastes For Efficient Tetracycline Hydrochloride Degradation, Cuirong Yan, Hongyan Ma, Xiunan Cai, Zhongqiu Luo, Jinyu Shi, Wenhao Li, Xintao Zhou

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

High-valent iron-oxo complexes show promise as green oxidants for water remediation but suffer from critical limitations in stability and pH adaptability. Herein, we report a facile method to synthesize amorphous SiO2-stabilized high-valent iron-oxo complexes via Na+ diffusion activation of iron/silicon-rich copper smelting slag. In the complex, the synergistic coexistence of two distinct silica‑oxygen tetrahedral configurations-basic Na2SiO3 and acidic SiO2 oxides establishes a self-regulating pH buffering system that stabilizes solution neutrality. This unique structural design ensures sustained oxidative activity of the complex, representing a significant advancement over conventional silica-supported catalysts due to its intrinsic acid-base …

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Guiding State-Specific Studies On Highway Disasters: Examining Differences In Postdisaster Funding, Mariam Elazhary, Islam H. El-Adaway Sep 2025

Guiding State-Specific Studies On Highway Disasters: Examining Differences In Postdisaster Funding, Mariam Elazhary, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The highway sector is frequently and severely impacted by natural disasters. To mitigate these effects and reduce the need for large relief budgets or emergency funds, it is crucial to study the resilience of the transportation network. As such, defining resilience in absolute terms is not enough; instead, it is equally important to analyze specific case studies and build a lessons-learned rapport. This is critical because it helps identify unique vulnerabilities and strengths that might be overlooked in broader analyses. However, current research on highway resilience often lacks empirical evidence to support the selection of these unique and significant case …

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Temporal Evolution Of Workforce Fatality-Linked Factors In The Transportation Construction Sector, Mariam Elazhary, Islam H. El-Adaway Sep 2025

Temporal Evolution Of Workforce Fatality-Linked Factors In The Transportation Construction Sector, Mariam Elazhary, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Despite advancements in safety measures, fatalities in the transportation sector remain disproportionately higher than in other industries. Transportation sector fatalities arise from a combination of demographic, environmental, and occupational factors that amplify the overall risk. While strides have been made in understanding the factors contributing to fatalities, there remains a critical gap in research focused on their temporal evolution. The goal of this study is to investigate the temporal evolution of fatality-linked association factors in the transportation construction sector. The methodology encompassed three stages. Stage 1 was preprocessing the data: the US Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, covering 3,792 fatality …

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Interfacial Shear Transfer Between Steel H-Piles And Concrete Encased In Cfrp, Mohanad M. Abdulazeez, Binod Shrestha, Mohamed A. Elgawady Sep 2025

Interfacial Shear Transfer Between Steel H-Piles And Concrete Encased In Cfrp, Mohanad M. Abdulazeez, Binod Shrestha, Mohamed A. Elgawady

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Numerous in-service steel H-piles, a common structural element in the bridge industry, suffer severe corrosion. One of the adopted solutions is to use concrete jackets to encase the corroded sections. Therefore, interfacial shear strength between the uncorroded section and the jacket is crucial. This paper presents an experimental investigation of the interfacial shear stresses of 18 full-scale H-piles encased in concrete jackets and subjected to push-out static testing. The concrete jackets are confined using different carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) confinement ratios. Different cross-sectional areas and distributions of shear studs are investigated. The average and maximum bond stresses are evaluated and …

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Price Adjustment Clauses: Enhanced Price Volatility Forecasting For Construction Materials, Ahmed Shiha, Mariam Elazhary, Islam H. El-Adaway Sep 2025

Price Adjustment Clauses: Enhanced Price Volatility Forecasting For Construction Materials, Ahmed Shiha, Mariam Elazhary, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Price adjustment clauses (PACs) are used by state departments of transportation (DOTs) to share the risk of material price fluctuations. Existing models that depict the price fluctuations of materials forecast a mean within a horizon while relying on the assumption of a constant volatility throughout that horizon. However, none of them examine whether the prices of construction material exhibit similar volatility following a sudden price surge or a price drop. The prospect of PACs and their associated trigger values is hindered in the absence of empirical assessments of their capacity to capture the volatilities in material prices. This paper fills …

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Labor Productivity Losses Across Construction Trades: A Machine Learning Approach, Tamima Elbashbishy, Islam H. El-Adaway Sep 2025

Labor Productivity Losses Across Construction Trades: A Machine Learning Approach, Tamima Elbashbishy, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Labor productivity is a major concern in the construction industry. Existing research on construction labor productivity (CLP) within specific trades has produced inconsistent findings due to differences in the factors analyzed. This lack of consistency makes it difficult to identify the most critical drivers of productivity losses across trades. To address this gap, this study adopts a cross-trade analytical approach to systematically identify and evaluate the inefficiencies impacting labor productivity in multiple construction trades. Specifically, the study (1) identified common organizational and project-level inefficiencies that influence labor performance; (2) conducted an expert-based survey to measure the frequency and perceived impact …

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Risk Allocation Model For Price Escalations In Construction Projects: Integrating Bargaining Game Theory And Probabilistic Bayesian Modeling, Yasser Jezzini, Rayan H. Assaad, Islam H. El-Adaway Sep 2025

Risk Allocation Model For Price Escalations In Construction Projects: Integrating Bargaining Game Theory And Probabilistic Bayesian Modeling, Yasser Jezzini, Rayan H. Assaad, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Economic market uncertainties, like those witnessed during pandemics and supply chain-related challenges, introduce complexity in ascertaining precise price estimates for construction materials. Despite some studies on risk allocation in construction projects utilizing quantitative and qualitative approaches, these studies fail to explain the underlying process of risk allocation due to a lack of theoretical support, indicating a need for a more structured and theoretically grounded approach to understanding risk allocation, specifically under volatile market conditions. To bridge this knowledge gap, this study proposes a novel game-theoretical model integrating Bayesian statistics and bargaining game theory dynamics, offering a robust framework for optimal …

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Failure Analysis Of Prestressed Concrete Girder Bridges Under Over-Height Truck Impacts, Mohamed T. Elshazli, Mohamed Elgawady, Tao Xing, Ahmed Ibrahim Sep 2025

Failure Analysis Of Prestressed Concrete Girder Bridges Under Over-Height Truck Impacts, Mohamed T. Elshazli, Mohamed Elgawady, Tao Xing, Ahmed Ibrahim

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Accidental collisions between over-height trucks and bridge superstructures are a common threat to existing bridge infrastructure. These incidents often stem from illegal over-height vehicles or truck operators' unawareness of clearance limits, posing serious safety risks and causing substantial structural damage. This study presents a comprehensive numerical investigation of the dynamic response of prestressed concrete girder bridges subjected to over-height truck impacts. Large-scale finite element models were developed in LS-DYNA, with validation conducted against experimental results. The parametric study explored impact speeds ranging from 16 to 113 km/h (10 to 70 mph), impactor masses between 2 and 6 tons, impact locations, …

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Identification Of Flow Regime In A Co-Current Upflow Packed Bed Reactor (U-Pbr) Using Gamma-Ray Densitometry (Grd), Youssef Yatimi, Ahmed Alalou, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan Sep 2025

Identification Of Flow Regime In A Co-Current Upflow Packed Bed Reactor (U-Pbr) Using Gamma-Ray Densitometry (Grd), Youssef Yatimi, Ahmed Alalou, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Owing to their significant impact on the reaction rate, the comprehensive understanding of the hydrodynamics in any novel design of the Upflow Packed Bed Reactor (U-PBR) is essential for the optimization of its throughput. In this regard, the identification of the flow regime is of paramount importance. Therefore, in this work, we use the photon counts time-series data obtained using the non-invasive Gamma-ray densitometry (GRD) to identify, for the first time, the flow regimes and their transition velocities at two axial locations (Z/D=0.8,1.56) and five radial locations (r/R=0,±0.5,±0.9) within the packed catalysts' bed of U-PBR with a novel plenum design …

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Development Of A Balanced Mix Design Approach For Stone Matrix Asphalt Mixtures, Bo Lin, Yizhuang David Wang, Jenny Liu Sep 2025

Development Of A Balanced Mix Design Approach For Stone Matrix Asphalt Mixtures, Bo Lin, Yizhuang David Wang, Jenny Liu

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) has been widely used as a durable, high-quality mixture for primary roads. With the growing interest in incorporating innovative materials into SMA designs, developing effective and reliable mix design methodologies has become essential to ensure durability, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. While performance tests have gained national acceptance for asphalt mix design and balanced mix design (BMD) methods have been adopted in many states for hot mix asphalt (HMA), SMA has not been fully considered with the BMD implementation. This study aimed to develop a BMD approach for SMA, incorporating both SMA-specific volumetric parameters and performance requirements. To …

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Experimental Study Of Dehydration Performance Of Re-Crosslinkable Preformed Particle Gel During Extruding Through An Open Fracture, Shu Da Zhao, Baojun Bai, Thomas P. Schuman Sep 2025

Experimental Study Of Dehydration Performance Of Re-Crosslinkable Preformed Particle Gel During Extruding Through An Open Fracture, Shu Da Zhao, Baojun Bai, Thomas P. Schuman

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Re-cross linkable preformed particle gel (RPPG) has been considered to be one of the most promising gels for dealing with fracture and void space conduit (VSC) conformance problems. However, the dehydration of RPPG during its propagation in the fracture-type features and its effect on gel properties remains unclear. This paper investigates the dehydration behavior during RPPG propagating in an open fracture using matrix-free fracture model. Then the results were verified using real fractured sandstone core model. Moreover, the gel properties after extruding a fracture were studied in detail including gel dehydration and gel strength. Results reveal that the RPPG properties …

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Predicting Groundwater Withdrawals Using Machine Learning With Limited Metering Data: Assessment Of Training Data Requirements, Dawit Asfaw, Ryan G. Smith, Sayantan Majumdar, Katherine Grote, Bin Fang, B. B. Wilson, V. Lakshmi, J. J. Butler Sep 2025

Predicting Groundwater Withdrawals Using Machine Learning With Limited Metering Data: Assessment Of Training Data Requirements, Dawit Asfaw, Ryan G. Smith, Sayantan Majumdar, Katherine Grote, Bin Fang, B. B. Wilson, V. Lakshmi, J. J. Butler

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The future of major aquifer systems supporting irrigated agriculture is threatened due to unsustainable groundwater pumping. Metering of pumping is key for implementing robust groundwater management, but metering is limited in most aquifers. Although machine learning methods have been used to estimate pumping over certain regions, these studies have not fully demonstrated the data quantity and input parameter requirements to accurately estimate regional groundwater pumping. This study determined the data quantity required and identified relevant features to develop Random Forests-based annual groundwater pumping estimates (2008–2020) over the Kansas High Plains aquifer. We predicted pumping at two spatial scales, i.e., point …

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Physics-Based Machine Learning Framework For Predicting Structure-Property Relationships In Ded-Fabricated Low-Alloy Steels †, Atiqur Rahman, Md Hazrat Ali, Asad Waqar Malik, Muhammad Arif Mahmood, Frank Liou Sep 2025

Physics-Based Machine Learning Framework For Predicting Structure-Property Relationships In Ded-Fabricated Low-Alloy Steels †, Atiqur Rahman, Md Hazrat Ali, Asad Waqar Malik, Muhammad Arif Mahmood, Frank Liou

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Directed Energy Deposition (DED) process has demonstrated high efficiency in manufacturing steel parts with complex geometries and superior capabilities. Understanding the complex interplays of alloy compositions, cooling rates, grain sizes, thermal histories, and mechanical properties remains a significant challenge during DED processing. Interpretable and data-driven modeling has proven effective in tackling this challenge, as machine learning (ML) algorithms continue to advance in capturing complex property structural relationships. However, accurately predicting the prime mechanical properties, including ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS), and hardness value (HV), remains a challenging task due to the complex and non-linear relationships among process …

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Preliminary Investigation Of The Potential Health Risks Of Non-Formfitting Body Armor With A Focus On Female Warfighters, Melissa Sutter, Catherine E. Johnson Sep 2025

Preliminary Investigation Of The Potential Health Risks Of Non-Formfitting Body Armor With A Focus On Female Warfighters, Melissa Sutter, Catherine E. Johnson

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Introduction Body armor is an important piece of protective equipment for warfighters in battlefield environments. With more women now filling military roles, body armor designs may need to be further refined to accommodate the female anatomy instead of the male-based unisex designs. Unisex designs have been found to have negative effects on female warfighter performance, resulting in discomfort, breathing difficulty, and air gaps forming between the armor and torso. This study aimed to investigate increased injury risk because of air gaps from shock wave exposure on warfighters wearing nonform-fitting armor and the influence of material properties. Based on literature, lowered …

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Enabling Carbon Dioxide Mineralization And Active Set Control In Portlandite-Based Cementitious Suspensions, Xiaodi Dai, Sharu Bhagavathi Kandy, Rui Xiao, Manas Sarkar, Shubham Wani, Thiyagarajan Ranganathan, Narayanan Neithalath, Aditya Kumar, Mathieu Bauchy, Edward Garboczi, Torben Gädt, Samanvaya Srivastava, Gaurav Sant Sep 2025

Enabling Carbon Dioxide Mineralization And Active Set Control In Portlandite-Based Cementitious Suspensions, Xiaodi Dai, Sharu Bhagavathi Kandy, Rui Xiao, Manas Sarkar, Shubham Wani, Thiyagarajan Ranganathan, Narayanan Neithalath, Aditya Kumar, Mathieu Bauchy, Edward Garboczi, Torben Gädt, Samanvaya Srivastava, Gaurav Sant

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The real-time control of concrete's stiffening allows users to better control pumping and extrusion during 3D-printing processes. Here, a portlandite-based cementitious formulation (i.e., slurry or suspension) that features the potential for rapid CO2 uptake is adapted for 3D-printing applications. In particular, we showcase a portlandite-fly ash binder system combined with a thermo responsive polymer, wherein precise control via thermal activation allows set control and rapid solidification. Through the thermally induced polymerization of polyacrylamide, the hybrid binder system rapidly undergoes stiffening at trigger onset temperatures ranging from 60 °C to 80 °C, exhibiting average stiffening rates of up to 2600 …

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Experimental And Theoretical Studies Of Novel Resilient Smart Shear Keys For Speedy Functional Recovery Of Highway Bridges After Extreme Events, Xinzhe Yuan, Jun Han, Jian Zhong, Haibin Zhang, Genda Chen Sep 2025

Experimental And Theoretical Studies Of Novel Resilient Smart Shear Keys For Speedy Functional Recovery Of Highway Bridges After Extreme Events, Xinzhe Yuan, Jun Han, Jian Zhong, Haibin Zhang, Genda Chen

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Sacrificial shear keys in small-to-medium-span highway bridges mainly provide lateral support to the bridge superstructure under extreme events such as earthquake and/or tsunami. However, such support could lead to irreparable harm to important bridge elements like abutments and bent caps (base), delaying the functional recovery of bridges in the aftermath. In addition, existing designs of the shear key primarily emphasize resistant capacity but overlook resilience. This study introduces a new sliding, modular, adaptive, replaceable, and two-dimensional (SMART) shear key designed to enhance the resilience of I-girder highway bridges. The SMART shear key has three primary goals: 1) enabling the rapid …

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Positive Effects Of Sulfates On Performance Of Cement Paste Incorporating Low-Grade, High-Aluminum Steel Slag, Nannan Zhang, Gao Deng, Wenyu Liao, Chuanlin Hu, Hongyan Ma Sep 2025

Positive Effects Of Sulfates On Performance Of Cement Paste Incorporating Low-Grade, High-Aluminum Steel Slag, Nannan Zhang, Gao Deng, Wenyu Liao, Chuanlin Hu, Hongyan Ma

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Steel slag with high aluminum (Al) content significantly delays the early hydration of cement when used as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM). To address this challenge, this study investigates the effects of gypsum (Gy) and sodium sulfate (SS) additions on the performance of cement pastes with 30 % high-Al ladle metallurgy furnace (LMF) slag. The mechanical properties, hydration kinetics, phase evolution, as well as the early-age hydration mechanism were explored. The results indicate that C3S hydration is substantially inhibited under high-Al conditions, mainly attributed to the rapid dissolution and reaction of reactive aluminates (particularly mayenite) in the slag. Both Gy …

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Systematic Hazard Analysis Of Flare System Nodes In Chemical Process Safety, Hayder A. Alhameedi, Athmar A. Alzubaidi, Joseph D. Smith, Doug Allen, Saud Aldawood, Paul Ani Sep 2025

Systematic Hazard Analysis Of Flare System Nodes In Chemical Process Safety, Hayder A. Alhameedi, Athmar A. Alzubaidi, Joseph D. Smith, Doug Allen, Saud Aldawood, Paul Ani

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Multidimensional consequences may arise from an accident in the flare system of any chemical or petrochemical plant due to the improperly managed flare system, which can lead to the presence of the toxic and flammable gases. The Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP) is a systematic method used to assess and identify risks that can occur during operation, ensuring risk reduction and the safety of using equipment or units. This study aims to apply the HAZOP technique to identify the hazards associated with the gas flaring process in an air-assisted flare. The air-assisted flare system was subdivided into four sections (nodes), …

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In Situ High-Temperature Raman Spectroscopy For Online Eaf Slag Analysis, Bohong Zhang, Hanok Tekle, Ronald J. O'Malley, Jeffrey D. Smith, Farhan Mumtaz, Jie Huang Sep 2025

In Situ High-Temperature Raman Spectroscopy For Online Eaf Slag Analysis, Bohong Zhang, Hanok Tekle, Ronald J. O'Malley, Jeffrey D. Smith, Farhan Mumtaz, Jie Huang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Real-time monitoring of slag chemistry is critical for optimizing Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking operations, where dynamic variations in slag composition directly influence slag foaming, refractory degradation, and thermal efficiency. Conventional techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) are commonly used to analyze slag composition, but their offline nature and equipment constraints limit their applicability for online monitoring in harsh industrial environments. To address this challenge, we present an in situ, high-temperature analytical approach that integrates Raman spectroscopy with a custom-designed fiber-optic probe for real-time slag characterization at …

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Mantle Flow And Fault Zone Related Seismic Anisotropy Revealed By A Dense Linear Broadband Array In Southeast Tibet, Jing Wu, Yinshuang Ai, Stephen S. Gao, Peixi Huang, Fansheng Kong, Deke Xu, Jianguo Song, Xinyu Gao, Mengyi Wei, Long Li, Jien Zhang, Yanbin Zhang, Yingying Zhang Aug 2025

Mantle Flow And Fault Zone Related Seismic Anisotropy Revealed By A Dense Linear Broadband Array In Southeast Tibet, Jing Wu, Yinshuang Ai, Stephen S. Gao, Peixi Huang, Fansheng Kong, Deke Xu, Jianguo Song, Xinyu Gao, Mengyi Wei, Long Li, Jien Zhang, Yanbin Zhang, Yingying Zhang

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Southeast Tibet, a key region for the southeastward extrusion of the Tibetan Plateau, remains debated in terms of its tectonic deformation in response to the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates. In this study, we applied shear-wave splitting analysis of core-refracted phases recorded by a newly deployed dense seismic array and six permanent stations to delineate crustal and mantle deformation processes. The observed fast polarization directions are predominantly aligned NNW–SSE, while the splitting delay times vary across four sub-blocks. The anisotropy pattern suggests a dominantly asthenospheric origin, consistent with southeastward-directed mantle flow associated with the extrusion of the …

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Detection Of Bacterial Genomic Dna Fragments Using The Mxene Crispr-Cas9 Field-Effect Transistor, Jiaoli Li, Ali Taheri, Weijia Liu, Ying Zhuo, Pengfei Ma, Chenglin Wu Aug 2025

Detection Of Bacterial Genomic Dna Fragments Using The Mxene Crispr-Cas9 Field-Effect Transistor, Jiaoli Li, Ali Taheri, Weijia Liu, Ying Zhuo, Pengfei Ma, Chenglin Wu

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based field-effect transistor (FET) sensors provide a promising platform for highly specific and amplification-free nucleic acid detection. However, their direct application in identifying target sequences within intact genomic DNA remains underexplored. We developed a CRISPR-Cas9 FET sensor for detecting DNA sequences by immobilizing Cas9 onto a graphene-MXene sensing interface via (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) functionalization. The sensor targeted Stx1, a 440 bp laboratory-amplified fragment associated with Shiga toxin production in pathogenic E. coli. Gel electrophoresis confirmed the precise cleavage of Stx1, while the nontarget sequence Stx2 remained undetected. FET measurements further validated the sensor's specificity, showing …

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Dissolution Mechanism Of Nonionic Polyether Surfactants In Supercritical Co2, Ning Xu, Yanling Wang, Baojun Bai, Shizhang Cui, Zan Gao, Yu Zhang, Di Li, Wenjing Shi, Wenhui Ding, Peixu Ma Aug 2025

Dissolution Mechanism Of Nonionic Polyether Surfactants In Supercritical Co2, Ning Xu, Yanling Wang, Baojun Bai, Shizhang Cui, Zan Gao, Yu Zhang, Di Li, Wenjing Shi, Wenhui Ding, Peixu Ma

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Polyoxyethylene ether is an efficient CO2-philic compound with significant potential applications in CO2 flooding, which requires CO2-philic surfactants with high solubility in supercritical CO2 (scCO2). This study elucidates the molecular and atomic-level dissolution mechanism of the fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (AEO) in scCO2 by combining phase-behavior experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. The solubility of AEO in scCO2 is measured using a semiconductor laser. AEO containing three polyoxyethylene (EO) groups exhibited the highest solubility in scCO2.The solubility of AEO in scCO2 decreased with an increase in the number …

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Polymeric Nanocarriers Functionalized With Peptides For Improved Glioblastoma Targeting And Blood–Brain Barrier Permeability, Cristian Antonio Wieczorek Villas Boas, Aaron Priester, Buck E. Rogers, Anthony J. Convertine Aug 2025

Polymeric Nanocarriers Functionalized With Peptides For Improved Glioblastoma Targeting And Blood–Brain Barrier Permeability, Cristian Antonio Wieczorek Villas Boas, Aaron Priester, Buck E. Rogers, Anthony J. Convertine

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We report the synthesis of polymeric conjugates designed to penetrate the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and selectively bind glioblastoma (GBM) cells through reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The resulting materials were engineered to contain peptide macromonomers for cell-specific targeting and integrated DOTA units to facilitate radiolabeling with copper-64 (64Cu), yielding radiolabeled conjugates with greater than 95% radiochemical purity. In biodistribution assessments conducted in mice, C1C2 peptide-conjugated polymers showed significantly improved accumulation in brain tissue, supported by brain perfusion analyses confirming efficient BBB penetration. Additionally, flow cytometry evaluations demonstrated specific affinity of GBM-targeted polymer formulations toward U87 glioblastoma cells. …

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Efficient Decontamination Of Organophosphate-Based Pesticides And Nerve Agent Simulants Mediated By N-Containing Nucleophiles, Emmanuel Kingsley Darkwah, Puspa Aryal, Saidulu Todeti, Jared Kenik, Samuel Insall, V. Prakash Reddy, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis Aug 2025

Efficient Decontamination Of Organophosphate-Based Pesticides And Nerve Agent Simulants Mediated By N-Containing Nucleophiles, Emmanuel Kingsley Darkwah, Puspa Aryal, Saidulu Todeti, Jared Kenik, Samuel Insall, V. Prakash Reddy, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

There is a growing interest in developing safer and more effective decontaminating agents for organophosphate-based pesticides and nerve agents. In this study, we present an effective method for the nonaqueous decontamination of these compounds using small-molecule-based decontaminating agents under ambient conditions. Our approach utilizes aryl and heteroaryl carboxaldehyde hydrazones and hydrazides to effectively hydrolyze nerve agent simulants into their nontoxic degradation products. The effectiveness of this method was evaluated using a range of nerve agent simulants, including dimethyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphate (DMNP), dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP), and triphenyl phosphate (TPhP). In the presence of the heteroaryl hydrazone, the rate of hydrolysis …

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