Digital Commons Network^™

High Torque Density Dual-Stator Vernier Motors With Flux Concentrating Rotors, Esmaeil Mohammadi, Ali Mohammadi, Mohammad Amin Jalali Kondelaji, Pedram Asef, Ion G. Boldea, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

Axial Flux Permanent Magnet (AFPM) machines are increasingly being studied for low-speed, direct-drive applications due to their compact structure and high torque output. This study proposes two novel dual-stator AFPM vernier machine topologies: a spoke-type rotor configuration and a back-to-back Halbach array rotor. Both designs employ dual outer stators with 12 double-layer concentrated windings, and high-polarity rotor configurations to enhance flux concentration. A three-dimensional finite element model, which was previously validated by a laboratory prototype motor was utilized to evaluate the electromagnetic characteristics of the proposed topologies. These characteristics include torque density, airgap flux distribution, and harmonic content. Comparative results …

Multi-Phase Wireless Power Transfer With High Power Density Inductive Coils For Electric Drone Charging, Lucas A. Gastineau, Donovin D. Lewis, Omer Onar, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

Wireless charging of unmanned ground vehicles and aircraft has been proposed to increase charging reliability and security, allow for autonomous functionality, and either reduce battery size or increase continuous flight time. This paper proposes a three-phase Litz wire primary and a two-phase PCB secondary for high secondary-side power density considering misalignment tolerances, surface and volumetric power density, and coil sizing. Electromagnetic 3D finite element analysis (FEA) simulations are conducted to study variation in mutual inductance and coupling coefficient with different secondary coil sizes and number of turns, horizontal and vertical misalignment between the primary and secondary, and a combination of …

Nonlinear Design Scaling Of Electric Machines Based On Hybrid De And Meta-Modeling Application To Synchronous Motors With Combined Pm Stator And Reluctance Rotor Excitation, Oluwaseun A. Badewa, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

This paper presents an innovative method for nonlinear scaling of electric machines by integrating machine learning (ML)-based meta-modeling with a differential evolution (DE) algorithm. The technique is applied to high-performance combined-excitation synchronous electric motors which exhibit highly nonlinear characteristics, making performance scaling challenging. The proposed approach employs an ML meta-model trained on data obtained from finite element analysis (FEA), utilizing an experimentally validated model for nonlinear scaling and performance prediction at different power ratings. The accuracy of the meta-model in capturing the nonlinear relationships between design parameters and motor performance is first assessed using metrics such as R-squared (R2) and …

Multi Electric Machines With Series And Parallel Electromechanical Combinations For Aircraft, David R. Stewart, Donovin D. Lewis, Matin Vatani, Diego A. Lopez-Guerrero, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

High-performance electric propulsion systems require fault tolerant, power dense, electric machines capable of maintaining high efficiency across a dynamic range of operation. To address these inherently conflicting requirements, multi-motor architectures employing electromechanically coupled modular configurations have been proposed to enhance system efficiency, fault tolerance, and redundancy. This paper investigates four mechanically coupled configurations for a coreless axial flux permanent magnet (CAFPM) motor unit integrating series, parallel, and hybrid architectures with differential and gearbox coupling. Performance and optimal sizing for motors in each configuration are determined through 3D finite element analysis (FEA). To assess fault tolerance and system redundancy, Markov chain …

Design Optimization And Scaling Of Coreless Afpm Machines Using Hybrid Fea-Based Differential Evolution And Machine Learning, Matin Vatani, David R. Stewart, Donovin D. Lewis, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

This paper presents a machine learning (ML) based design framework for the fast and accurate optimization of coreless axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) machines. Although the absence of magnetic cores eliminates material nonlinearity, the design process remains highly nonlinear due to the complex influence of geometric parameters. To overcome the computational challenges of finite element analysis (FEA)-based optimization, a series of multi-objective differential evolution (MODE) optimizations were conducted across various machine sizes at constant power output. The resulting design data was used to train an artificial neural network (ANN), enabling rapid prediction of machine performance without the need for repeated …

Coreless Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Machines With Concentrated Coils And Various Pole/Coil Combinations, Matin Vatani, Spencer M. Goode-Kulchar, John F. Eastham, Xiaoze Pei, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

This paper comprehensively analyzes coreless stator axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) machines by investigating rotor magnetic fields, stator winding factors, and 2D/3D finite element analysis (FEA) simulations. The torque production theory in coreless AFPM machines is studied with detailed derivations for flux density and current density. The impact of rotor permanent magnet (PM) width is examined for both surface-mounted and Halbach array configurations, followed by a discussion of its influence on the air-gap harmonic spectrum. The effect of stator coil side width is analyzed through a detailed winding factor study across various pole-to-coil ratios and a discussion on the trade-off …

Voltage And Reactive Power Combined Control Of Utility Devices And Smart Inverters On A Distribution Grid With Solar Pv, Steven B. Poore, Rosemary E. Alden, Evan S. Jones, Thomas Morstyn, Aron Patrick, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

With adoption of distributed energy resources (DERs) expected in future grids, voltage regulation methods need to be reevaluated and improved to ensure their effectiveness under the high volatility of renewable generation. A multi-timescale cluster-based method is proposed to optimize and disperse operation of voltage controlling utility devices including capacitor banks (CBs) and load tap changers (LTCs) while allowing faster response time with customer-owned smart inverters (SIs) in-between switching operations. The proposed method is tested on a digital twin (DT) of a very large utility distribution grid with 2,018 nodes and 8.65MW peak load to evaluate its effectiveness in future grid …

Do Honey Phytochemicals Modulate Forager Aggression And The Gut Microbiome In The Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera L.)?, Wade A. Pike, Jaesylin Stephens, Mariah Donohue, Katsuri Rajandran, Erin D. Tranore, Abdallah Sher, Emily Croteau, Clare C. Rittschof

Biology Faculty Publications

Plant phytochemicals found in nectar impact bee learning and memory and plant pollination success. Especially for generalist pollinators, dietary changes that alter phytochemical consumption could be common sources of behavioral variation. For honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) foragers, a major potential change in phytochemical consumption occurs when individuals switch from collecting nectar from flowers to collecting honey from neighboring colonies, a phenomenon known as honey robbing. In this study we investigated whether phytochemicals dominant in honey compared to nectar act as a short-term trigger of robbing behaviors in honey bee, which include increased aggression. We fed forager honey bees sucrose …

Estimating (Non)Linear Selection On Reaction Norms, Jordan S. Martin, Yimen G. Araya-Ajoy, Niels J. Dingemanse, Alastair J. Wilson, David F. Westneat

Biology Faculty Publications

Individual reaction norms describe how labile phenotypes vary as a function of organisms' expected trait values (intercepts) and plasticity across environments (slopes), as well as their degree of stochastic phenotypic variability or predictability (residuals). These reaction norms can be estimated empirically using multilevel, mixed-effects models and play a key role in ecological research on a variety of behavioral, physiological, and morphological traits. Many evolutionary models have also emphasized the importance of understanding reaction norms as a target of selection in heterogeneous and dynamic environments. However, it remains difficult to empirically estimate nonlinear selection on reaction norms, inhibiting robust tests of …

Estrogen Signaling Is Necessary For The Sex Difference In Simulated Jet Lag In Mice, Maria A. Venegas, Nicholas Westray, Samuel Nwadialo, Yuriko Katsumata, Julie S. Pendergast

Biology Faculty Publications

The circadian system coordinates 24-h cycles of internal biological processes with the environmental light-dark cycle. Abrupt shifts in the timing of the light-dark cycle misalign internal circadian clocks with the environment and cause jet lag until resynchronization occurs. The objective of this study was to investigate the sex difference in simulated jet lag in mice. Female mice resynchronized faster than male mice to 6-h advances of the light-dark cycle that mimicked eastward travel. Circulating estradiol was necessary and sufficient for rapid resynchronization in female mice since ovariectomized females resynchronized slower than mice treated with estradiol. Disabling estrogen receptor a (ERa), …

Mechanical Distention Of Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Culture Membranes For High-Throughput In Vitro Modeling Of Traumatic Brain Injury, Julia Jagielo-Miller, Caleb Bailey, Samir Patel, Paresh Prajapati, Cassidy Leibold, Patrick Sullivan, Mark Prendergast

Biology Faculty Publications

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results from impact to the head that induces both primary and secondary injuries. Secondary injuries are characterized by downstream inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and cell death manifest from the inflicting primary injury to the head. Secondary injury offers a window for therapeutic interventions, but the multifaceted nature of secondary injury is complicated, necessitating mechanistic tools to screen the efficacy of such interventions. As such, utilizing animal models to define the features of secondary injury mechanisms is critical for medications development. Various animal TBI models employ specialized equipment to recapitulate both primary and secondary injury aspects of human …

Torque-Speed Characteristic Estimation Based On Gaussian Processes And Adaptive Sampling Strategy For Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines, Marcelo D. Silva, Pedram Asef, Oluwaseun A. Badewa, Rosemary E. Alden, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

Internal Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines (IPMs) are widely used and typically optimized to meet specific performance requirements. Parameters such as base speed, maximum torque, and maximum speed commonly define the torque- speed characteristic of a given design. This study introduces a novel machine learning approach for statistically estimating the torque-speed characteristics of IPMs using Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), which models predictions as random variables. By leveraging uncertainty quantification, the study explores sampling strategies that enable the construction of a high-precision meta-model with minimal error and uncertainty. The proposed adaptive sampling strategy, combined with GPR, accurately estimates torque-speed characteristics and associated …

Degradation Minimization Of Utility-Scale Li-Ion Bess Through Operational Optimization Employing An Equivalent Circuit Model, Kwabena A. Kyeremeh, Grant M. Fischer, Donovin D. Lewis, Aron Patrick, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

The increasing deployment of utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) necessitates effective strategies for supporting grid services while minimizing degradation that may compromise system longevity. High charge/discharge rates (C-rate) and imbalanced operation of multi-unit BESS configurations may accelerate degradation. This paper proposes a degradation-aware operational optimization based on Model Predictive Control (MPC) for coordinating multiple BESS units under physical and operational constraints. The multi-objective optimization model imposes penalties on C-rate magnitude, operational state-of-charge (SoC) disparity, and battery internal resistance modeled using an equivalent circuit model. A case study conducted for a fleet of BESS units over a one-week load profile …

Investigation Of Its-Cvo Technologies, Mallory Brown, Andrew Martin, Valerie Keathley-Helil, Jennifer Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Staff shortages and reduced budgets have made transportation agencies increasingly reliant on intelligent transportation systems (ITS) for commercial motor (CMV) vehicle enforcement activities. Technologies such as license plate readers, US Department of Transportation (USDOT) number readers, weigh-in-motion scales, static scales, and preclearance systems like PrePass and Drivewyze help automate enforcement and free up personnel to focus on inspecting those vehicles most likely to pose compliance and/or safety risks. To document adoption rates of different technologies, researchers surveyed transportation agencies, vendors, and law enforcement agencies. Surveys responses provided useful insights into how jurisdictions are approaching the use of advanced technologies to …

Air Traffic–Collegiate Training Initiative Program Feasibility In Kentucky, Gayle Marks, Bryan Gibson

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Each day, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control specialists (ATCSs) handle over 44,000 flights and oversee 29 million square miles of the United States National Airspace System. However, staffing shortages have grown more acute over the past 10 years, which has led to delayed and cancelled flights, a higher number of close misses over a short period of time, and frustrating air travel experiences. While the FAA has redoubled its efforts to recruit more ATCSs, it has limited training capacity. To expand training options available to prospective ATCSs, the FAA is working with postsecondary educational institutions to expand its …

Data Center Developments For Flexible Generation Dispatch, Advanced Infrastructure, And Ultra-Fast Digital Twins, Grant M. Fischer, Rosemary E. Alden, Donovin D. Lewis, Aron Patrick, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

The rapid advancement and widespread integration of artificial intelligence (AI) is driving demand for unprecedented deployment of power-intensive computational infrastructure, including multi-megawatt data centers with the potential for facilities with gigawatt-scale capacity in the near future. In this paper, load growth projections for the US are reviewed, and an example energy dispatch solution considering a mixed energy portfolio with flexible, renewable, distributed, and load-based generation is employed. The brief technology review included in the paper covers aspects of electric power, cooling, and computational infrastructures. The concept of a data center digital twin for transient load, grid interaction, and hybrid energy …

Hypogammaglobulinemia And Infection Rates In Patients With Multiple Sclerosis Treated With Ocrelizumab For Up To Six Years, B. Khatri, P. Van Zealand, S. Tarima, S. Schutten, A. Baker, T. Perea

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Objectives and aims: Ocrelizumab (OCR) is disease-modifying therapy that depletes B cells for the treatment of patients with relapsing and progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study was to evaluate occurrence of hypogammaglobulinemia and infection rates in patients with MS treated with OCR for up to 5.9 years in a real-world, single-center study. Methods: We assessed immunoglobulins IgG, IgM, IgA; CD19, CD4, CD8 cell counts, anti-JCV antibodies, at baseline and every six months prior to each OCR infusion. Mixed effects regression models controlling for random patient intercept were used to analyze immunological trends. Infections requiring oral or intravenous …

“A Blessing And A Curse”, Danielle M. Davidov, Caterina Defazio, Desireé N. Williford, Emily R. Clear, Heather M. Bush, Ann L. Coker

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Purpose: Examining the influence of policy change and socio-political factors is paramount for contextualizing and addressing sexual violence. The purpose of this paper is to provide findings from a secondary qualitative analysis of the impacts of national and local high-profile events on the dialogue and actions surrounding violence prevention and response on college campuses. Methods: Data from mcBEE, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded project exploring the adoption and implementation of violence prevention programming on multiple college campuses in the United States were used for this analysis. Data include responses from 60-min telephone interviews with key informants (i.e., campus …

Remote Sensing Of American Revolutionary War Fortification At Butts Hill (Portsmouth, Rhode Island), James G. Keppeler, Marcus Rodriguez, Samuel Koontz, Alexander Wise, Philip Mink, George Crothers, Paul R. Murphy, John K. Robertson, Hugo Reyes-Centeno, Alexandra Uhl

Anthropology Faculty Publications

The Battle of Rhode Island in 1778 was an important event in the revolutionary war leading to the international recognition of U.S. American independence following the 1776 declaration. It culminated in a month-long campaign against British forces occupying Aquidneck Island, serving as the first combined operation of the newly formed Franco-American alliance. The military fortification at Butts Hill in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, served as a strategic point during the conflict and remains well-conserved today. While LiDAR has assisted in the geospatial surface reconstruction of the site’s earthwork fortifications, it is unknown whether other historically documented buildings within the fort remain …

Neotectonic Origins For The Meadow Bank Scarp, Wabash Valley Seismic Zone, Usa, Edward W. Woolery, William J. Stephenson, Kevin Woller, Alena Leeds, Noah Lindberg, Jack K. Odum, Cooper Cearley, Ronald Counts

Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications

The Meadow Bank scarp (MBS) in southeastern Illinois is a linear geomorphic expression, ∼10 km long and ∼8 m high above a relatively flat landscape. It parallels an underlying northeast-oriented Late-Precambrian–Early-Cambrian structural fabric, called the Wabash Valley fault zone, and is within an area of modern, historic, and paleo seismicity, called the Wabash Valley seismic zone. In addition, the MBS acts as a boundary of the Wabash River floodplain, as well as Pleistocene glacial outwash channels, which show evidence of frequent outburst flood events. To better understand the MBS’s equivocal origin in this complex geologic environment, we acquired a 917-m-long …

Antibiotic Treatment Duration For Isolated Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus Aureus Native Tricuspid Valve Endocarditis, Sami El-Dalati, Bennett Collis, Evan Hall, Talal Alnabelsi, Chloe Cao, Meredith Johnson, John Gurley, Luke Strnad, Hassan Reda, Michael Sekela, Armaghan E.Rehman Mansoor, David Olafsson, William Harris, Bobbi Jo Stoner

Surgery Faculty Publications

Background MSSA tricuspid valve infective endocarditis (TVIE) is associated with significant morbidity and there is not consensus surrounding the optimal duration of antibiotic therapy. We report the outcomes of treating MSSA TVIE endocarditis using a multidisciplinary team and cardiovascular infectious diseases consult service. Methods Patients were identified from the multidisciplinary endocarditis team registry in a single-centre retrospective study. Results Between 7 September 2021 and 7 September 2024, 34 patients, including 27 who inject drugs, with isolated native MSSA TVIE were identified. Patients received a median of 28 days (IQR 11–41) of antibiotics and 50% transitioned to oral antibiotics for a …

Partial Oral Versus Intravenous Antibiotic Therapy For Endocarditis With Management By A Multidisciplinary Team, Sami El-Dalati, Bennett Collis, Takaaki Kobayashi, Evan Hall, Talal Alnabelsi, Chloe Cao, Meredith Johnson, John Gurley, Luke Strnad, Corey Adams, Victoria Weaver, Hassan Reda, Michael Sekela, Tessa London, Kara Kennedy, Armaghan E.Rehman Mansoor, David Olafsson, Grant Laugherty, Alyssa Tremblay, Angella Linder, Deborah Gill, Nicholas J. Van Sickels, Alexander Pomakov, William Harris, Bobbi Jo Stoner

Surgery Faculty Publications

Background. Despite trial data supporting oral stepdown therapy for infective endocarditis (IE), its use remains limited, especially in North America. We evaluated outcomes of patients with IE managed by a multidisciplinary team and treated with either intravenous (IV) or partial oral antibiotics. Methods. This was a single-center retrospective study of patients with definite IE identified from an institutional registry between 7 September 2021 and 1 March 2025. Clinical and outcomes data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Results. Of 236 patients, 143 received IV therapy alone and 93 were transitioned to partial oral therapy. Baseline characteristics were similar, though valve …

An Animal Interest Approach Method As A Gateway To A One Health Educated Pipeline, Meghan C. Wulster-Radcliffe, Sarah A. Reed, James N. Macleod, Rebekah B. Epps, J. Scott Radcliffe, Robert J. Coleman, Steven A. Zinn

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Multiomics Analysis Of Skeletal Muscle Identifies Dysregulation Of Hypoxia-Induced Genes In Peripheral Artery Disease, Ahmed Ismaeel, Emma Fletcher, Evlampia Papoutsi, Nicholas T. Thomas, William T. Bohannon, Iraklis I. Pipinos, Yuan Wen, Dimitrios Miserlis, Panagiotis Koutakis

Physiology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation play a critical role in hypoxic cell programs. However, no previous studies have investigated the epigenetic regulation of gene expression in peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition characterized by intermittent ischemia. Our study aims to examine how PAD affects the DNA methylome in skeletal muscle of patients with PAD with intermittent claudication or critical limb ischemia compared with non-PAD controls. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study evaluating differences in the DNA methylome and transcriptome using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing, and small and bulk RNA sequencing, in skeletal muscle from non-PAD controls, intermittent claudication, …

Scaling Symmetry Of The Hodgkin-Huxley Mathematical Model, Vladimir Valerievich Galanin

Progress in Scale Modeling, an International Journal

A computational method based on the application of a scaling transformation to the Hodgkin-Huxley mathematical model of the biological neuron and its generalizations to the case of various neural systems is proposed. The method makes it possible: 1) to obtain invariants of the scaling transformation of the Hodgkin-Huxley model; 2) to find self-similarity regions corresponding to the modes of neural activity; 3) to determine the conditions for the similarity of models of various types of biological neurons; 4) to reduce the order of the system of differential equations of the Hodgkin-Huxley model for neural systems with synchronous activity. The capabilities …

Health On The Rocks: Geohealth In Kentucky, Rachel L. Washburn

Special Publication--KGS

Geohealth bridges the earth and life sciences, revealing how Kentucky’s unique geology directly shapes public health risks, clinical outcomes, and opportunities for innovation. This factsheet highlights the critical intersections between geologic processes and human health across the Commonwealth—from landslides, floods, and tornadoes to radon, mine drainage, and microbial contamination. It outlines how natural and anthropogenic forces influence respiratory illness, cancer, trauma, and infectious disease, and how bedrock and weather extremes define local exposure pathways. Beyond risk, it also showcases Kentucky’s leadership in developing geoscience-informed health solutions: bioremediation, microbial drug discovery, and geologic-health monitoring networks that strengthen preparedness and resilience. Understanding …

Iodinated Disinfection Byproduct Formation From Iohexol In Sunlit And Chlorinated Urban Wastewaters, Reagan Patton Witt, Marcelo I. Guzman

Chemistry Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Leveraging Academic Health Departments For Place-Based Disaster Response: Lessons From Helene In Western North Carolina, Danny Scalise Ii, Sarah B. Thach, Ellis V. Matheson

Journal of Appalachian Health

This article examines the role of two Academic Health Departments (AHDs) in Buncombe and Burke Counties, North Carolina in responding to Hurricane Helene in 2024. The partnership between local health departments and the UNC Asheville – UNC Gillings Master of Public Health (MPH) Program fostered a place-based approach to public health. After the hurricane disrupted regional infrastructure, the AHDs integrated students and faculty into recovery efforts. This paper identifies key lessons for strengthening public health preparedness through academic-practice partnerships and highlights the importance of embedding education in local contexts.

Understanding Rural Health Through Rae Garringer's Country Queers: A Love Letter, Bradley A. Firchow

Journal of Appalachian Health

Rae Garringer’s Country Queers: A Love Letter examines the experiences of queer individuals in rural America, emphasizing the relationship between place and identity. Through oral histories, the book presents perspectives on community, resilience, and healthcare access. While not centered on medical care, it highlights challenges in obtaining affirming services in rural areas. Garringer’s experience as a standardized patient provides additional context on healthcare gaps. For public health professionals, Country Queers offers insight into the structural and social factors affecting rural LGBTQ2+ populations, contributing to a broader understanding of community health and identity in Appalachia and similar regions.

Evidence-Based Best Practices For Diabetes Education And Self-Care In Appalachia: A Literature Review, Angela J. Occidental, Inga M. Zadvinskis, Jacqueline Hoying

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: The Appalachian Region has a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and associated adverse health outcomes. Although numerous papers report best practices for diabetes care and education, a clinician-friendly, synthesized summary of best practices tailored to Appalachian cultural preferences is lacking.

Purpose: This paper uses the Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt evidence-based framework to identify the best practices for T2DM care and education for Appalachian residents.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search using the databases CINAHL, Academic Search Complete, and PubMed was guided by a PICOT question. Quality appraisals were completed for fifty-two articles; thirty papers were selected to synthesize …