Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing The Spatiotemporal Variability Of Dissolved Organic Matter Fluorescence Composition In The Lake George, Ny Watershed, Aleksandar I. Goranov, Mark W. Swinton, David A. Winkler, Jeremy L. Farrell, Sandra A. Nierzwicki-Bauer, Sasha Wagner

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Lake George (LG) is a temperate, oligotrophic, medium-sized lake (114 km²) located in northeastern New York State (U.S.). Lakes are highly understudied environments where extensive dissolved organic matter (DOM) processing occurs. With this study we establish the foundation for researching the organic biogeochemistry of the LG watershed, in particular, the numerous tributaries flowing into the lake. Collected were 213 samples from 64 tributaries and 12 lake locations. Some of the tributaries had unique wastewater, agricultural, or wetland influences. We employed fluorescence spectroscopy, a common biogeochemical technique, to characterize the fluorescent DOM (FDOM) component. We developed a parallel factor …

Photoluminescence Switching In Quantum Dots Connected With Carboxylic Acid And Thiocarboxylic Acid End-Group Diarylethene Molecules, Ephraiem S. Sarabamoun, Pramod Aryal, Jonathan M. Bietsch, Maurice Curran, Sugandha Verma, Grayson Johnson, Lucy U. Yoon, Amelia G. Reid, Esther H. R. Tsai, Charles W. Machan, Christopher Paolucci, Guijun Wang, Joshua J. Choi

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

We contrast the switching of photoluminescence (PL) of PbS quantum dots (QDs) cross-linked with photochromic diarylethene molecules with different end groups, 4,4′-(1-cyclopentene-1,2-diyl)bis[5-methyl-2-thiophenecarboxylic acid] (1C) and 4,4′-(1-cyclopentene-1,2-diyl)bis[5-methyl-2-thiophenethiocarboxylic acid] (2T). Our results show that the QDs cross-linked with the carboxylic acid end group molecules (1C) exhibit a greater amount of switching in photoluminescence intensity compared to QDs cross-linked with the thiocarboxylic acid end group (2T). We also demonstrate that regardless of the molecule used, greater switching amounts are observed for smaller quantum dots. Varying these parameters allows for the fabrication of photoswitches with tunable PL change. We relate these observations to the …

Polarizable Amoeba Force Field Predicts Thin And Dense Hydration Layer Around Monosaccharides, Luke A. Newman, Mackenzie G. Patton, Breyanna A. Rodriguez, Ethan W. Summer, Valerie Vaissier Welbourn

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Polarizable force fields crucially enhance the modeling of macromolecules in polar media. Here, we present new parameters to model six common monosaccharides with the polarizable AMOEBA force field. These parameters yield a thinner, but denser, hydration layer than that previously reported. This denser hydration layer results in eliminating non-physical aggregation of glucose in water-an issue that has plagued molecular dynamics simulations of carbohydrates for decades.

Enhancing Decision-Making In Higher Education: Exploring The Integration Of Chatgpt And Data Visualization Tools In Data Analysis, Tristan Jiang, Elina Liu, Tasawar Baig, Qingrong Li

University Administration Publications

This chapter explores the potential of integrating conversational AI tools such as ChatGPT with data visualization (DV) tools such as Power BI in higher education settings. A brief history of chatbots is summarized and challenges and opportunities in higher education are outlined. The highlights include AI's prospects for enhancing data-informed decision-making while needing safeguards to mitigate risks. Through a pioneering exercise, we integrated ChatGPT's conversational capabilities with Power BI's interface via API and tested functionality. Suggestions for good practice and implications for higher education are discussed.

University Libraries Annual Report Fy 2023-2024, Jennifer Hoyt, Alisa Faumore, Alex Aycock

Libraries Reports and Documents

Annual Report of the Old Dominion University Libraries for FY 2023-2024. Contents include: Integration & Investment, A Stand for Scholarly Research & Resources, Launching the Naro Collection & New Spaces, Campus Connections, New Faces, Recognition, & Retirement, Committees, and Teams, & Projects Snapshot.

The report was written by the Libraries' Department of Engagement:

• Jennifer Hoyt, head of Libraries’ Engagement
• Alisa Faumore, Communications Coordinator
• Alex Aycock, Assistant Communications Coordinator

Using Phenology To Unravel Differential Soil Water Use And Productivity In A Semiarid Savanna, Blake Steiner, Russell L. Scott, Jia Hu, Natasha Mcbean, Andrew Richardson, David J. P. Moore

University Administration Publications

Savannas are water-limited ecosystems characterized by two dominant plant types: trees and an understory primarily made up grass. Different phenology and root structures of these plant types complicate how savanna primary productivity responds to changes in water availability. We tested the hypothesis that productivity in savannas is controlled by the temporal and vertical distribution of soil water content (SWC) and differences in growing season length of understory and tree plant functional types. To quantify the relationship between tree, understory, and savanna-wide phenology and productivity, we used PhenoCam and satellite observations surrounding an eddy covariance tower at a semiarid savanna site …

Abmscore: A Heuristic Algorithm For Forming Strategic Coalitions In Agent-Based Simulation, Andrew J. Collins, Gayane Grigoryan

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Integrating human behavior into agent-based models has been challenging due to its diversity. An example is strategic coalition formation, which occurs when an individual decides to collaborate with others because it strategically benefits them, thereby increasing the expected utility of the situation. An algorithm called ABMSCORE was developed to help model strategic coalition formation in agent-based models. The ABMSCORE algorithm employs hedonic games from cooperative game theory and has been applied to various situations, including refugee egress and smallholder farming cooperatives. This paper discusses ABMSCORE, including its mechanism, requirements, limitations, and application. To demonstrate the potential of ABMSCORE, a new …

Numerical Investigation And Statistical Analysis Of The Flow Patterns Behind Square Cylinders Arranged In A Staggered Configuration Utilizing The Lattice Boltzmann Method, M. Abid, N. Yasin, M. Saqlain, S. Ul-Islam, S. Ahmad

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Flow past bluff bodies like square cylinders is important in engineering applications, but flow patterns behind staggered cylinder arrangements remain poorly understood. Existing studies have focused on tandem or side-by-side configurations, while offset orientations have received less attention. The aim of this paper is to numerically investigate flow dynamics and force characteristics behind two offset square cylinders using the single relaxation time lattice Boltzmann method. The effects of changing both the Reynolds number (Re = 1-150) and gap spacing ratio (g* = 0.5-5) between the cylinders are analyzed. Instantaneous vorticity contours, time histories of drag and lift coefficients, power spectra …

Shadow Hands: Solutions For Fermi Questions, September 2024, John Adam

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

The article titled "Shadow hands: Solutions for Fermi Questions, September 2024" discusses the enigmatic statement made by authors Dave Lynch and Bill Livingston in their book "Color and Light in Nature." The statement explains that the fuzzy outer edge of a shadow, known as the penumbra, is always a constant fraction of about 1/112 of its width divided by its distance from the object casting the shadow. The article provides a solution to Question 1, which asks for an explanation of this statement using elementary geometry. It also offers a solution to Question 2, which asks why the shadow of …

Can Multi-Species Plantings Alleviate Abiotic Stressors To Enhance Bald Cypress Restoration?, Victoria S. Ellis, Taylor M. Sloey

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Restoration researchers and practitioners alike advocate for novel restoration approaches, informed by ecological theories and principles, to enhance the likelihood of meeting restoration goals. Forested wetland restoration has historically focused on creating abiotic conditions that support the tolerance thresholds of desired species, but the stress gradient hypothesis provides guidance for potential new strategies that use biotic interactions to ameliorate stressful abiotic conditions. In this study, we tested whether multi-species planting approaches can be used to enhance the survival and growth of a target restoration tree species, Bald cypress, along multiple abiotic gradients. We conducted a fully factorial controlled greenhouse experiment …

The Flesh And Silicon Mesh: A New Materialist Conception Of Advanced Digital Machines, Joshua Nieubuurt

English Faculty Publications

Digital machines, including artificial intelligence (AI), have long been held as potential agents of social change. From their binary role in cultural productions to the real-world implementation of such, digital machines have typically been considered within the Heideggerian “readiness-to-hand” category of Being. This paper seeks to alter conceptually this dynamic through the use of new materialism and Morton’s concept of the “mesh” to provide a new understanding of the social and pragmatic roles advanced digital machines play in ecologies in which they dwell and continue to emerge. Through briefly tracing the complex intermingling of advanced digital machines in the realms …

Empowering And Educating Parents To Implement A Home Intervention: Effects On Preschool Children's Engagement In Hands-On Constructive Play, Michelle Boulanger Thompson, Yaoying Xu, Chin-Chih Chen, Kathleen Rudasill

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Constructive play is a creative process-oriented activity that promotes children’s engaged learning through building and designing with materials. This study investigated a parent-implemented intervention to promote active engagement in constructive play for preschool-aged children at risk for developmental delay. This study utilized a single-subject multiple-baseline across-participants design with four participants. Visual analysis of the data identified a functional relation between the temporal, physical, and social–emotional environmental support provided by the parents and the children’s active engagement in constructive play. Parents reported the intervention as meaningful to their lives, indicating strong social validity. These findings highlight the importance of centering and …

B(C₆F₅)₃ Co-Catalyst Promotes Unconventional Halide Abstraction From Grubbs I To Enhance Reactivity And Limit Decomposition, Austin W. Medley, Diya Patel, Calvin Utne, Trandon A. Bender

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Ruthenium based Grubbs metathesis has become a commonplace reaction for synthetic chemists. Development of new generations of catalysts evolving from Grubbs I (GI) have led to greater stability, functional group compatibility, and superior reactivities. However, these advancements lead to increased costs. To this end, we report here how the addition of the commercially available tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane Lewis acid, which has become a common place catalyst in its own right, leads to enhanced reactivity of GI. Moreover, the increased reactivity arises via halide abstraction rather than traditional phosphine dissociation, providing ring-opening metathesis polymerization products that are divergent from those synthesized without the …

Toxicity Of Crude Oil-Derived Polar Unresolved Complex Mixtures To Pacific Herring Embryos: Insights Beyond Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Maxwell L. Harsha, Yanila Salas-Ortiz, Alysha D. Cypher, Ed Osborn, Eduardo Turcios Valle, Jacob L. Gregg, Paul K. Hershberger, Yuri Kurerov, Sarah King, Aleksandar I. Goranov, Patrick G. Hatcher, Anastasia Konefal, T. Erin Cox, Justin B. Greer, James P. Meador, Matthew A. Tarr, Patrick L. Tomco, David C. Podgorski

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Crude oil toxicity to early life stage fish is commonly attributed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, it remains unclear how the polar unresolved complex mixture (UCM), which constitutes the bulk of the water-soluble fraction of crude oil, contributes to crude oil toxicity. Additionally, the role of photomodification-induced toxicity in relation to the polar UCM is not well understood. This study addresses these knowledge gaps by assessing the toxicity of two laboratory generated polar UCMs from Cook Inlet crude oil, representing the readily water-soluble fraction of crude oil and photoproduced hydrocarbon oxidation products (HOPs), to Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii …

The Impact Of Biochar's Physicochemical Properties On Sorption Of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (Pfoa), Karen Ane Skjennum, Katinka M. Krahn, Erlend Sørmo, Raoul Wolf, Aleksandar I. Goranov, Patrick G. Hatcher, Thomas Hartnik, Hans Peter H. Arp, Andrew R. Zimmerman, Yaxin Zhang, Gerard Cornelissen

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

To better characterize properties governing the sorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to biochar, twenty-three diverse biochars were characterized and evaluated as sorbents for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Biochars were produced at various temperatures, using two different technologies, and made from sewage sludge, food waste reject, wood wastes, and one reference substrate (wood pellets). The biochars were characterized in terms of surface area, pore volume and pore size distributions, elemental composition, leachable elements, ash content, pH, zeta potential, condensed aromatic carbon (ConAC) content (determined by benzenepolycarboxylic acid (BPCA) markers), and their -OH functional group content (infrared spectroscopy). PFOA sorption isotherms …

Antarctic Polar Stratospheric Cloud Analysis Of Ace-Fts Data From 2005 To 2023, M. Lecours, C. D. Boone, P. F. Bernath

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

We present an analysis of Antarctic polar winters from 2005 to 2023 as observed by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE). The unique broad band infrared spectral features in ACE “residual” spectra are used to classify the spectra of polar aerosols by composition into polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) and sulfate aerosols. The spectra of PSCs are further classified into nitric acid trihydrate, supercooled ternary solutions, supercooled nitric acid, ice-mix, and mixtures of PSCs. A breakdown of PSC composition is presented for each year. Antarctic winter seasons with unusual compositions are: 2011, in which volcanic ash mixed with PSCs was observed from …

Machine-Learning-Enabled Diagnostics With Improved Visualization Of Disease Lesions In Chest X-Ray Images, Md. Fashiar Rahman, Tzu-Liang (Bill) Tseng, Michael Pokojovy, Peter Mccaffrey, Eric Walser, Scott Moen, Alex Vo, Johnny C. Ho

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

The class activation map (CAM) represents the neural-network-derived region of interest, which can help clarify the mechanism of the convolutional neural network’s determination of any class of interest. In medical imaging, it can help medical practitioners diagnose diseases like COVID-19 or pneumonia by highlighting the suspicious regions in Computational Tomography (CT) or chest X-ray (CXR) film. Many contemporary deep learning techniques only focus on COVID-19 classification tasks using CXRs, while few attempt to make it explainable with a saliency map. To fill this research gap, we first propose a VGG-16-architecture-based deep learning approach in combination with image enhancement, segmentation-based region …

Cumulative Distribution Function And Spatially Resolved Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy For The Quantitative Analysis Of Emtricitabine, Jana Hrncirova, Marguerite R. Butler, Sucharita Dutta, Meredith R. Clark, John B. Cooper

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has exceptional analytical sensitivity and selectivity. However, SERS irreproducibility presents an obstacle when using it for precise quantitative measurements. In this study, colloidal nanoparticles evaporated to dryness are used as a SERS active surface for the detection of the HIV drug emtricitabine (FTC; trade name Emtriva). Despite the irreproducibility of the SERS resulting from the stochastic process of evaporation, using a SERS scanning instrument, the SERS enhancement factors of spatially resolved spectra have a well-defined distribution of signals for a given analyte concentration. This distribution follows a power law function ranging from weak (very abundant signals) …

Role Of Nitrogenous Functional Group Identity In Accelerating 1,2,3- Trichloropropane Degradation By Pyrogenic Carbonaceous Matter (Pcm) And Sulfide Using Pcm-Like Polymers, Han Cao, Jingdong Mao, Paul G. Tratnyek, Wenqing Xu

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Groundwater contamination by 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP) poses a unique challenge due to its human toxicity and recalcitrance to degradation. Previous work suggests that nitrogenous functional groups of pyrogenic carbonaceous matter (PCM), such as biochar, are important in accelerating contaminant dechlorination by sulfide. However, the reaction mechanism is unclear due, in part, to PCM's structural complexity. Herein, PCM-like polymers (PLPs) with controlled placement of nitrogenous functional groups [i.e., quaternary ammonium (QA), pyridine, and pyridinium cations (py⁺)] were employed as model systems to investigate PCM-enhanced TCP degradation by sulfide. Our results suggest that both PLP-QA and PLP-py⁺ were highly effective …

Evaluating The Influence Of Trypanosomiasis On Murine Model Using Corchorus Olitorius Leaf Extract As A Trypanocidal Agent, Fatima M. Madaki, Adamu Y. Kabiru, Ogunrombi D. Clinton, Sakariyau A. Waheed, Yunusa O. Ibrahim

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Trypanosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by trypanosomes, which are flagellate protozoa transmitted through the bite of the tsetse fly, manifests with symptoms including substantial weight loss, anemia, fever, edema, adenitis, dermatitis, and nervous disorders. This research investigated the impact of trypanosomiasis on a murine model while utilizing Corchorus olitorius leaf extract as a potential trypanocidal agent. An acute toxicity analysis was conducted following Lorke's method, and the antitrypanosomal efficacy was assessed in rats at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg over three weeks, monitoring changes in parasitemia count, body weight, and hematological parameters. Additionally, lipid profile, electrolyte concentration, and …

Type-B Energetic Processes: Their Identification And Implications, James Weifu Lee

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

We have now identified two thermodynamically distinct types (A and B) of energetic processes naturally occurring on Earth. Type-A energy processes, such as classical heat engines, apparently well follow the second law of thermodynamics; Type-B energy processes, such as the newly discovered thermotrophic function that isothermally utilizes environmental heat energy to perform useful work in driving ATP synthesis, follow the first law of thermodynamics (conservation of mass and energy) but do not have to be constrained by the second law, owing to their special asymmetric functions. Several Type-B energy processes such as asymmetric function-gated isothermal electricity production and epicatalysis have …

Examining The Effectiveness Of Oiled Ballast Water Treatment Processes: Insights Into Hydrocarbon Oxidation Product Formation And Environmental Implications, Maxwell L. Harsha, Danielle E. Verna, Yanila Salas-Ortiz, Eduardo Osborn, Eduardo Turcios Valle, Aleksandar I. Goranov, Patrick G. Hatcher, Ana M. Aguilar-Islas, Patrick L. Tomco, David C. Podgorski

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Ballast water released from ships into coastal environments has been identified as a mechanism that introduces contaminants of concern into coastal ecosystems. This study investigates the treatment processes employed at a ballast water treatment facility in Valdez, Alaska, that remove hydrocarbons from unsegregated ballast water. Specifically, the aim is to quantify and characterize hydrocarbons of emerging concern, known as dissolved hydrocarbon oxidation products (HOPs) and heavy metals (HMs), throughout the treatment process. Specialized analytical techniques were employed, such as non-volatile dissolved organic carbon analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance-mass spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Results …

Advancements In The Synthesis Of Polyoxygenated Oxepanes And Thiepanes For Applications To Natural Products, Aditya R. Pote, Shayne M. Weierbach, Mark W. Peczuh, Kyle M. Lambert

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Oxepanes are central motifs and tenants of many biologically important molecules, and their synthetic construction often presents a challenge to chemists due to consequential entropic and enthalpic barriers that have limited the synthetic toolbox to access these seven-membered oxacycles. This review covers the breadth of synthetic methods to afford the oxepane/thiepane moiety, with a focus on polyoxygenated oxepanes and includes radical cyclizations, Lewis acid-mediated cyclizations, ring closing-metathesis, Nicholas-Ferrier rearrangement, homologations, and ring-expansion strategies. Implementation of these tactics towards sugar-based and non-sugar based (de novo) approaches is presented alongside their extensive application to the total synthesis of several complex polyoxygenated oxepane-containing …

The Promise And Pitfalls Of Genai In Education, Helen Crompton

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Since ChatGPT was made available to the public, artificial intelligence (AI) has had accelerated growth in the field of education at an unprecedented rate. This study examined the misuses and limitations of ChatGPT and similar generative AI as well as the affordances of these tools for teaching and learning. Using PRISMA protocol, this thematic systematic review examined extant literature from November 2022 to June 2024. The findings reveal five misuses and limitations trends in the literature of cheating, inaccuracies, plagiarism, bias, and data privacy. Affordances highlighted six areas of content creation, personalization, engagement, student coaching and assistance, assessment, and task …

Types Of Teacher-Ai Collaboration In K-12 Classroom Instruction: Chinese Teachers' Perspective, Jinhee Kim

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The advancing power and capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) have expanded the roles of AI in education and have created the possibility for teachers to collaborate with AI in classroom instruction. However, the potential types of teacher-AI collaboration (TAC) in classroom instruction and the benefits and challenges of implementing TAC are still elusive. This study, therefore, aimed to explore different types of TAC and the potential benefits and obstacles of TAC through Focus Group Interviews with 30 Chinese teachers. The study found that teachers anticipated six types of TAC, which are thematized as One Teach, One Observe; One Teach, One …

Methods That Support The Validation Of Agent-Based Models: An Overview And Discussion, Andrew Collins, Matthew Koehler, Christopher Lynch

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Validation is the process of determining if a model adequately represents the system under study for the model’s intended purpose. Validation is a critical component in building the credibility of a simulation model with its end-users. Effectively conducting validation can be a daunting task for both novice and experienced simulation developers. Further compounding the difficult task of conducting validation is that there is no universally accepted approach for assessing a simulation. These challenges are particularly relevant to the paradigm of Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation (ABMS) because of the complexity found in these models’ mechanisms and in the real-world situations they …

Teaching Analytics Online: A Self-Study Of Professional Practice, Andrew J. Collins, Brandon Butler, James F. Leathrum Jr., Christopher J. Lynch

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

As the COVID-19 pandemic caused severe disruption to education enterprises throughout the world, the main response by educational institutions was to move to online learning environments. The purpose of this study was to understand better how instructors could improve online learning for a professional-level week-long short course in a highly technical area (data analytics), which had, pre-COVID, been a hands-on computer, laboratory-based learning experience. The authors used self-study of professional practice to elicit and understand the major issues and concerns of the transition to an online learning environment. Under the guidance of a colleague in teacher education, three course instructors …

The Educational Affordances And Challenges Of Chatgpt: State Of The Field, Helen Crompton, Diane Burke

STEMPS Faculty Publications

ChatGPT was released to the public in November 30, 2022. This study examines how ChatGPT can be used by educators and students to promote learning and what are the challenges and limitations. This study is unique in providing one of the first systematic reviews using peer review studies to provide an early examination of the field. Using PRISMA principles, 44 articles were selected for review. Grounded coding was then used to reveal trends in the data. The findings show that educators can use ChatGPT for teaching support, task automation, and professional development. These were further delineated further by axial sub …

A Generative Approach For Document Enhancement With Small Unpaired Data, Mohammad Shahab Uddin, Wael Khallouli, Andres Sousa-Poza, Samuel Kovacic, Jiang Li

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Shipbuilding drawings, crafted manually before the digital era, are vital for historical reference and technical insight. However, their digital versions, stored as scanned PDFs, often contain significant noise, making them unsuitable for use in modern CAD software like AutoCAD. Traditional denoising techniques struggle with the diverse and intense noise found in these documents, which also does not adhere to standard noise models. In this paper, we propose an innovative generative approach tailored for document enhancement, particularly focusing on shipbuilding drawings. For a small, unpaired dataset of clean and noisy shipbuilding drawing documents, we first learn to generate the noise in …

Pices At 32: An External Review, Eileen E. Hofmann, David Checkley, Fangli Qiao, Jörn Schmidt, Sinjae Yoo

CCPO Publications

[Introduction] The North Pacific Marine Science Organization (Pacific ICES, PICES) has been an effective voice and proponent for North Pacific marine science for more than 30 years. During this time, PICES has provided a safe and active venue for the open exchange of science, developed an international science network that includes participants from academic and government institutions, and non- and inter-governmental organizations, and has taken on leadership roles in studying North Pacific ecosystems.