Digital Commons Network^™

The Mitogenome Relationships And Phylogeography Of Barn Swallows (Hirundo Rustica), Gianluca Lombardo, Nicola Rambaldi Migliore, Giulia Colombo, Marco Rosario Capodiferro, Giulio Formenti, Manuela Caprioli, Elisabetta Moroni, Leonardo Caporali, Hovirag Lancioni, Simona Secomandi, Cristina Cereda, Valerio Carelli, Lauren Gillespie, Yang Liu, Yosef Kiat, Alfonso Marzal, Cosme López-Calderón, Javier Balbontín, Timothy Mousseau, Piotr Matyjasiak, Anders Pape Møller, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) poses a number of fascinating scientific questions, including the taxonomic status of postulated subspecies. Here, we obtained and assessed the sequence variation of 411 complete mitogenomes, mainly from the European H. r. rustica, but other subspecies as well. In almost every case, we observed subspecies-specific haplogroups, which we employed together with estimated radiation times to postulate a model for the geographical and temporal worldwide spread of the species. The female barn swallow carrying the Hirundo rustica ancestral mitogenome left Africa (or its vicinity) around 280 thousand years ago (kya), and her descendants …

Semantic Segmentation To Extract Coronary Arteries In Invasive Coronary Angiograms, Chen Zhao, Robert Bober, Haipeng Tang, Jinshan Tang, Minghao Dong, Chaoyang Zhang, Zhuo He, Michele L. Esposito, Zhihiu Xu, Weihua Zhou

Faculty Publications

Accurate semantic segmentation of each coronary artery using invasive coronary angiography (ICA) is important for stenosis assessment and coronary artery disease (CAD) diagnosis. In this paper, we propose a multi-step semantic segmentation algorithm based on analyzing arterial sements extraced from ICAs. The proposed algorithm firstly extracts the entire arterial binary mask (binary vascular tree) using a deep learning-based method. Then we extract the centerline of the binary vascular tree and separate it into different arterial segments. Finally, by extracting the underlyingarterial topology, position, and pixel features, we construct a powerful coronary artery segment classifier based on a support vector machine. …

Food Insecurity And Suicidal Behaviors Among Us High School Students*, Andrea D. Brown, Hilary Seligman, Sarah Silwa, Ellen Barnidge, Kathryn L. Krupsky, Zewiditu Demissie, Angela D. Liese

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Food insecurity (FI) rates in the United States are particularly high among households with children. This research set aims to analyze if high school students experiencing FI had higher risk for mental health and suicidal behaviors.

METHODS: Using combined data from 11 states that conducted the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a total of 26,962 and24,051 high school students were used to estimate race/ethnicity and sex-stratified prevalence ratios (PRs) from Poissonregression models. A single-question was used to measure the exposure of FI and outcomes of mental health and suicidalbehaviors.

RESULTS: Overall, 10.8% of students reported FI. Students experiencing FI …

Feasibility Of Obtaining Surface Layer Moisture Flux Using An Ir Thermometer, Steven T. Fiorino, Lance Todorowski, Jaclyn Schmidt, Yogendra Raut, Jacob Margraf

Faculty Publications

This paper evaluates the feasibility of a method using a single hand-held infrared (IR) thermometer and a mini tower of wet and dry paper towels to psychometrically obtain surface layer temperature and moisture gradients and fluxes. Sling Psychrometers have long been standard measuring devices for quantifying the thermodynamics of near-surface atmospheric gas–vapor mixtures, specifically moisture parameters. However, these devices are generally only used to measure temperature and humidity at one near-surface level. Multiple self-aspirating psychrometers can be used in a vertical configuration to measure temperature and moisture gradients and fluxes in the first 1–2 m of the surface layer. This …

Event-Based Imaging Polarimeter, Michael R. Hawks, Michael L. Dexter

Faculty Publications

The design and initial experimental results from an event-based, rotating-polarizer, imaging polarimeter are presented. The speed of division-of-time imaging systems is traditionally constrained by the frame rate of the focal plane sensor and the need to sample several polarization angles during rotation. The asynchronous event reporting of event-based cameras (EBCs) frees these constraints but introduces challenges. The Stokes vectors used to describe polarization are based on irradiance, but EBCs are inherently change-detection systems that struggle to estimate irradiance. Two methods of estimating the polarization state without first recovering irradiance images are presented and compared. The DAVIS 346 sensor enables simultaneous …

Scalable Deeper Graph Neural Networks For High-Performance Materials Property Prediction, Sadman Sadeed Omee, Steph-Yves Louis, Nihang Fu, Lai Wei, Sourin Dey, Rongzhi Dong, Qinyang Li, Jianjun Hu

Faculty Publications

Machine-learning-based materials property prediction models have emerged as a promising approach for new materials discovery, among which the graph neural networks (GNNs) have shown the best performance due to their capability to learn high-level features from crystal structures. However, existing GNN models suffer from their lack of scalability, high hyperparameter tuning complexity, and constrained performance due to over-smoothing. We propose a scalable global graph attention neural network model DeeperGATGNN with differentiable group normalization (DGN) and skip connections for high-performance materials property prediction. Our systematic benchmark studies show that our model achieves the state-of-the-art prediction results on five out of six …

Needs Assessment Of Southeastern United States Vector Control Agencies: Capacity Improvement Is Greatly Needed To Prevent The Next Vector-Borne Disease Outbreak, Kyndall C. Dye-Braumuller, Jennifer R. Gordon, Danielle John, Josie Morrissey, Kaci Mccoy, Rhoel R. Dinglasan, Melissa Nolan Ph.D., Mph

Faculty Publications

A national 2017 vector control capacity survey was conducted to assess the United States’ (U.S.’s) ability to prevent emerging vector-borne disease. Since that survey, the southeastern U.S. has experienced continued autochthonous exotic vector-borne disease transmission and establishment of invasive vector species. To understand the current gaps in control programs and establish a baseline to evaluate future vector control efforts for this vulnerable region, a focused needs assessment survey was conducted in early 2020. The southeastern U.S. region was targeted, as this region has a high probability of novel vector-borne disease introduction. Paper copies delivered in handwritten envelopes and electronic copies …

Temperature Across Vegetation Canopy-Water-Soil Interfaces Is Modulated By Hydroperiod And Extreme Weather In Coastal Wetlands, Xiaochen Zhao, Victor H. Rivera-Monroy, Chunyan Li, Ivan A. Vargas-Lopez, Robert V. Rohli, Z. George Xue, Edward Castañeda-Moya, Carlos Coronado-Molina

Faculty Publications

Environmental temperature is a widely used variable to describe weather and climate conditions. The use of temperature anomalies to identify variations in climate and weather systems makes temperature a key variable to evaluate not only climate variability but also shifts in ecosystem structural and functional properties. In contrast to terrestrial ecosystems, the assessment of regional temperature anomalies in coastal wetlands is more complex since the local temperature is modulated by hydrology and weather. Thus, it is unknown how the regional free-air temperature (TFree) is coupled to local temperature anomalies, which can vary across interfaces among vegetation canopy, water, and soil …

Shining A Light On Marginal Food Insecurity In An Understudied Population Comment, Angela D. Liese

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

All-Sky Search For Gravitational Wave Emission From Scalar Boson Clouds Around Spinning Black Holes In Ligo O3 Data, Ligo Scientific Collaboration, Virgo Collaboration, Kagra Collaboration, Tiffany Z. Summerscales

Faculty Publications

This paper describes the first all-sky search for long-duration, quasimonochromatic gravitational-wave signals emitted by ultralight scalar boson clouds around spinning black holes using data from the third observing run of Advanced LIGO. We analyze the frequency range from 20 to 610 Hz, over a small frequency derivative range around zero, and use multiple frequency resolutions to be robust towards possible signal frequency wanderings. Outliers from this search are followed up using two different methods, one more suitable for nearly monochromatic signals, and the other more robust towards frequency fluctuations. We do not find any evidence for such signals and set …

Influence Of Heuristic Techniques And Biases In Investment Decision-Making: A Conceptual Analysis And Directions For Future Research, Mensah Morris Ayaa, Williams Kwasi Peprah, Maxwell Okpoti Mensah, Adu Bismark Owusu-Sekyere, Bamfo Daniel

Faculty Publications

Purpose: The primary purpose of the study was to examine the roles of heuristic techniques and cognitive biases in Investment decision making and suggest directions for future research. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study adopted the literature review method to solicit an understanding of the heuristics and biases central to behavioural finance and influence investment decision-making. Findings: The paper provides conceptual insights into the influence of heuristic techniques and cognitive biases in investment decision-making. Results from the conceptual analysis show that in recent times, investors in their bid to minimise losses and maximize gains employ a range of heuristics which often lead to …

Machine Learning Techniques For Pile-Up Rejection In Cryogenic Calorimeters, G. Fantini, A. Armatol, E. Armengaud, W. Armstrong, Frank Avignone Iii, O. Azzolini, A. Barabash, G. Bari, D. Baudin, F. Bellini, G. Benato, M. Beretta, L. Bergé, M. Biassoni, J. Billard, V. Boldrini, A. Branca, C. Brofferio, C. Bucci, J. Camilleri, Carl Rosenfeld, Carl Rosenfeld, Jeffery R. Wilson, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

CUORE Upgrade with Particle IDentification (CUPID) is a foreseen ton-scale array of Li₂MoO₄ (LMO) cryogenic calorimeters with double readout of heat and light signals. Its scientific goal is to fully explore the inverted hierarchy of neutrino masses in the search for neutrinoless double beta decay of ¹⁰⁰Mo. Pile-up of standard double beta decay of the candidate isotope is a relevant background. We generate pile-up heat events via injection of Joule heater pulses with a programmable waveform generator in a small array of LMO crystals operated underground in the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Italy. This allows …

The Critical Value Of Maternal And Child Health (Mch) To Graduate Training In Public Health: A Framework To Guide Education, Research And Practice Comment, Julianna Deardorff, Michelle Menser Tissue, Patricia Elliott, Arden Handler, Cheryl Vamos, Zobeida Bonilla, Renee Turchi, Cecilia Sem Obeng, Jihong Liu, Holly Grason

Faculty Publications

Introduction

In light of persistent health inequities, this commentary describes the critical role of maternal and child health (MCH) graduate training in schools and programs of public health (SPPH) and illustrates linkages between key components of MCH pedagogy and practice to 2021 CEPH competencies.

Methods

In 2018, a small working group of faculty from the HRSA/MCHB-funded Centers of Excellence (COEs) was convened to define the unique contributions of MCH to SPPH and to develop a framework using an iterative and consensus-driven process. The working group met 5 times and feedback was integrated from the broader faculty across the 13 COEs. …

Electron Traps In Ag-Doped Li2B4O7 Crystals: The Role Of Ag Interstitial Ions, Timothy D. Gustafson, Brant E. Kananen, Nancy C. Giles, Brian C. Holloway, Volodymyr T. Adamiv, Ihor M. Teslyuk, Yaroslav V. Burak, Larry E. Halliburton

Faculty Publications

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is used to establish models for electron traps in Ag-doped lithium tetraborate (Li₂B₄O₇) crystals. When exposed at room temperature to ionizing radiation, electrons are trapped at interstitial Ag⁺ ions and holes are trapped at Ag⁺ ions on Li⁺ sites. The trapped electrons occupy a 5s¹ orbital on the interstitial Ag ions (some of the unpaired spin density is also on neighboring ions). Three EPR spectra are assigned to electrons trapped at interstitial Ag ions. Their g values are near 1.99 and they have resolved hyperfine structure …

Dietary Score Associations With Markers Of Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Analysis Of A Middle- To Older-Aged Population, Seán R. Miller, Pilar Navarro, Janas M. Harrington, Nitin Shivappa Mbbs, Mph, Ph.D., James Hébert Scd, Ivan J. Perry, Catherine M. Phillips

Faculty Publications

Purpose

To assess relationships between the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Mediterranean Diet (MD), Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII^®) and Energy-adjusted DII (E-DII™) scores and pro-inflammatory cytokines, adipocytokines, acute-phase response proteins, coagulation factors and white blood cells.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of 1862 men and women aged 46–73 years, randomly selected from a large primary care centre in Ireland. DASH, MD, DII and E-DII scores were derived from validated food frequency questionnaires. Correlation and multivariate-adjusted linear regression analyses with correction for multiple testing were performed to examine dietary score relationships with biomarker concentrations.

Results

In fully …

Unusual High-Frequency Mechanical Properties Of Polymer-Grafted Nanoparticle Melts, Mayank Jhalaria, Yu Chang, Yucheng Huang, Brian C. Benicewicz, Sanat K. Kumar, George Fytas

Faculty Publications

Brillouin light spectroscopy is used to measure the elastic moduli of spherical polymer-grafted nanoparticle (GNP) melts as a function of chain length at fixed grafting density (0.47  chains/nm²) and nanoparticle radius (8 nm). While the moduli follow a rule of mixtures (Wood’s law) for long chains, they display enhanced elasticity and anomalous dissipation for graft chains <1⁢0⁢0  kDa. GNP melts with long polymers at high 𝜎 have a dry zone near the GNP core, surrounded by a region where the grafts can interpenetrate with chain fragments from adjacent GNPs. We propose that the departures from Wood’s law for short chains are due to the effectively larger silica volume fraction in the region where sound propagates—this is caused by the short, interpenetrated chain fragments being pushed out of the way. We thus conclude that transport mechanisms (of gas, ions, sound, thermal phonons) in GNP melts are radically different if interpenetrated chain segments can be “pushed out of the way” or not. This provides a facile new means for manipulating the properties of these materials.

Stabilization Of Phenanthrene Anions In Helium Nanodroplets, Siegfried Kollotzek, Farhad Izadi, Miriam Meyer, Stefan Bergmeister, Fabio Zappa, Stephan Denifl, Olof E. Echt, Paul Scheier, Elisabeth Gruber

Faculty Publications

It has been debated for years if the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon phenanthrene exists in its anionic form, or, in other words, if its electron affinity (EA) is positive or negative. In this contribution we confirm that the bare phenanthrene anion Ph^- created in a binary collision with an electron at room temperature has a lifetime shorter than microseconds. However, the embedding of neutral phenanthrene molecules in negatively charged helium nanodroplets enables the formation of phenanthrene anions by charge transfer processes and the stabilization of the latter in the ultracold environment. Gentle shrinking of the helium matrix of phenanthrene-doped HNDs …

Automated Computer Network Exploitation With Bayesian Decision Networks, Graeme Roberts, Gilbert L. Peterson

Faculty Publications

Penetration Testing (pentesting) is the process of using tactics and techniques to penetrate computer systems and networks to expose any issues in their cybersecurity \cite{rsa}. It is currently a manual process requiring significant experience and time that are in limited supply. One way to supplement the shortage is through automation. This paper presents the Automated Network Discovery and Exploitation System (ANDES) which demonstrates that it is feasible to automate the pentesting process. The uniqueness of ANDES is the use of Bayesian decision networks to represent the pentesting domain and subject matter expert knowledge. ANDES conducts multiple execution cycles, which build …

Factored Beliefs For Machine Agents In Decentralized Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes, Joshua A. Lapso, Gilbert L. Peterson

Faculty Publications

A shared mental model (SMM) is a foundational structure in high performing, task-oriented teams and aid humans in determining their teammate's goals and intentions. Higher levels of mental alignment between teammates can reduce the direct dialogue required for team success. For decision-making teams, a transactive memory system (TMS) offers team members a map of specialized knowledge, indicating source of knowledge and the source's credibility. SMM and TMS formulations aid human-agent team performance in their intended team types. However, neither improve team performance with a project team--one that requires both behavioral and knowledge integration. We present a hybrid cognitive model (HCM) …

Evolution Of Combined Arms Tactics In Heterogeneous Multi-Agent Teams, Robert J. Wilson, David W. King, Gilbert L. Peterson

Faculty Publications

Multi-agent systems research is concerned with the emergence of system-level behaviors from relatively simple agent interactions. Multi-agent systems research to date is primarily concerned with systems of homogeneous agents, with member agents both physically and behaviorally identical. Systems of heterogeneous agents with differing physical or behavioral characteristics may be able to accomplish tasks more efficiently than homogeneous teams, via cooperation between mutually complementary agent types. In this article, we compare the performance of homogeneous and heterogeneous teams in combined arms situations. Combined arms theory proposes that the application of heterogeneous forces, en masse, can generate effects far greater than outcomes …

Particle-In-Cell Simulations Of Ion Dynamics In A Pinched-Beam Diode, Jesse C. Foster, John W. Mcclory, S. B. B. Swanekamp, D. D. Hinshelwood, A. S. Richardson, Paul E. Adamson, J. W. Schumer, R. W. James, P. F. Ottinger, D. Mosher

Faculty Publications

article-in-cell simulations of a 1.6 MV, 800 kA, and 50 ns pinched-beam diode have been completed with emphasis placed on the quality of the ion beams produced. Simulations show the formation of multiple regions in the electron beam flow characterized by locally high charge and current density (“hot spots”). As ions flow through the electron-space-charge cloud, these hot spots electrostatically attract ions to produce a non-uniform ion current distribution. The length of the cavity extending beyond the anode-to-cathode gap (i.e., behind the cathode tip) influences both the number and amplitude of hot spots. A longer cavity length increases the number …

Secondary Health Education Teachers Perspectives Of Professional Development And Learning In Central Virginia, Katherine L. Bowman

Faculty Publications

Secondary health education teachers (SHETs) have noted deficiencies in opportunities for professional development and learning (PDL) in their content area. The purpose of the study was to explore SHETs’ perspectives of PDL in Central Virginia. Thirteen middle (n=7) and high school (n=6) SHETs volunteered for this research. A qualitative case study was framed by social constructionism and data collection included interviews, focus groups, and document analysis. The data was analyzed through an inductive and thematic analysis process. SHETs identified opportunities and constraints for school wide and outside PDL. This study also offers recommendations for school administration and PDL providers in …

Improved Method For Testing Integrity Loss Of Wells With Sustained Casing Pressure, Mohammad Kazemi, Andrew K. Wojtanowicz

Faculty Publications

The pressure bleed-down/build-up (B/B) testing is enforced by the Bureau of Safty and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) regulations in the US for gas-leaking wells with recurrent casing head annular pressure dubbed “Sustained Casing Pressure” (SCP). The bleed down test involves bleeding the pressure with a needle valve. Once the pressure reached to zero or stabilized, the valve is closedand a 24-h pressure monitoring starts. Analysis of the tests mandated by regulations involves merely a qualitative assessment of the low or high level of environmental risk measured by leak size. A quantitative analysis—based on mathematical models—has been already proposed and used for …

On Uniqueness And Stability For The Boltzmann-Enskog Equation, Martin Friesen, Barbara Ruediger, Padmanabhan Subdar

Faculty Publications

The time-evolution of a moderately dense gas in a vacuum is described in classical mechanics by a particle density function obtained from the Boltzmann-Enskog equation. Based on a McKean-Vlasov equation with jumps, the associated stochastic process was recently constructed by modified Picard iterations with the mean-field interactions, and more generally, by a system of interacting particles. By the introduction of a shifted distance that exactly compensates for the free transport term that accrues in the spatially inhomogeneous setting, we prove in this work an inequality on the Wasserstein distance for any two measure-valued solutions to the Boltzmann-Enskog equation. As a …

On The Spherical Slice Transform, Boris Rubin

Faculty Publications

We study the spherical slice transform which assigns to a function f on the unit sphere Sn in n+1 the integrals of f over cross-sections of Sn by k-dimensional affine planes passing through the north pole (0,..., 0, 1). These transforms are known when k = n. We consider all 2 ≤ k ≤ n and obtain an explicit formula connecting with the classical (k - 1)-plane Radon-John transform Rk-1 on n. Using this connection, known facts for Rk-1, like inversion formulas, support theorems, representation on zonal functions, and some others, are reformulated for .

Value-Added Utilization Of Wheat Straw: From Cellulose And Cellulose Nanofiber To All-Cellulose Nanocomposite Film, Hongxia Bian, Yanyan Yang, Peng Tu, Jonathan Y. Chen

Faculty Publications

To accelerate the high value-added usage of agricultural residue, cellulose and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were extracted from wheat straw and then formed into all-cellulose nanocomposite films. The acid–alkali method (AM) and the extraction method (EM) were respectively adopted to prepare wheat straw cellulose (WSC), and the TEMPO oxidation method was used to extract CNFs. The nanocomposite films were fabricated by dissolving WSC and adding different CNF contents of 0.0, 0.5, 1.5, and 3.0%. There was a better miscibility for the all-cellulose nanocomposite film prepared by EM (Composite-E) compared to that for the all-cellulose nanocomposite film prepared by AM (Composite-A). Composite-E …

Delineation Of Cancer Service Areas Anchored By Major Cancer Centers In The United States, Changzhen Wang, Fahui Wang, Tracy Onega

Faculty Publications

Defining a reliable geographic unit pertaining to cancer care is essential in its assessment, planning, and management. This study aims to delineate and characterize the cancer service areas (CSA) accounting for the presence of major cancer centers in the United States. We used the Medicare enrollment and claims from January 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015 to build a spatial network from patients with cancer to cancer care facilities that provided inpatient and outpatient care of cancer-directed surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. After excluding those without clinical care or outside of the United States, we identified 94 NCI-designated and other academic …

The Majorana Demonstrator Readout Electronics System, N. Abgrall, M. Amman, I. J. Arnquist, Frank Avignone Iii, A. S. Barabash, C. J. Barton, P. J. Barton, F. E. Bertrand, K. H. Bhimani, B. Bos, A. W. Bradley, T. H. Burritt, M. Busch, M. Buuck, T. S. Caldwell, Y-D. Chan, C. D. Christofferson, P.-H. Chu, M. L. Clark, R. J. Cooper, C. Cuesta, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

The Majorana Demonstrator comprises two arrays of high-purity germanium detectors constructed to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay in 76Ge and other physics beyond the Standard Model. Its readout electronics were designed to have low electronic noise, and radioactive backgrounds were minimized by using low-mass components and low-radioactivity materials near the detectors. This paper provides a description of all components of the Majorana Demonstrator readout electronics, spanning the front-end electronics and internal cabling, back-end electronics, digitizer, and power supplies, along with the grounding scheme. The spectroscopic performance achieved with these readout electronics is also demonstrated.

Near-Inertial Wave Energetics Modulated By Background Flows In A Global Model Simulation, Keshav J. Raja, Maarten J. Buijsman, Jay F. Shriver, Brian K. Arbic, Oladeji Siyanbola

Faculty Publications

We study the generation, propagation, and dissipation of wind-generated near-inertial waves (NIWs) in a global 1/25° Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) simulation with realistic atmospheric forcing and background circulation during 30 days in May–June 2019. The time-mean near-inertial wind power input and depth-integrated energy balance terms are computed for the total fields and the fields decomposed into vertical modes to differentiate between the radiative and (locally) dissipative components of NIW energy. Only 30.3% of the near-inertial wind input projects onto the first five modes, whereas the sum of the NIW energy in the first five modes adds up to 58% …

An Optimal Ordering Policy For A Visitor-Based Purchasing System With Stochastic Delivery Time And Partial Prepayment For Profit Maximization, Ata Allah Taleizadeh, Hamidreza Zarei, Bhaba R. Sarker

Faculty Publications

The classical inventory control policies assume that orders are paid for at the time of their receipts, but in practice, suppliers may require retailers to pay a fraction of the purchasing cost in advance, and sometimes allow them to pay this cost in several prepayments during a predetermined period. Planning inventory replenishments and prepayments become challenging when decisions must be made under uncertainty, especially when delivery time is stochastic, and shortages may occur. This paper develops an inventory control model in a purchasing system in which a visitor sells the product of a manufacturer, and a buyer receives call from …