Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Faculty Publications

Discipline
Institution
Keyword
Publication Year
File Type

Articles 1231 - 1260 of 12161

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Finite Element Modeling And Analysis Of Perforated Steel Members Under Blast Loading, Mahmoud T. Nawar, Ayman El-Zohairy, Ibrahim T. Arafa Dec 2023

Finite Element Modeling And Analysis Of Perforated Steel Members Under Blast Loading, Mahmoud T. Nawar, Ayman El-Zohairy, Ibrahim T. Arafa

Faculty Publications

Perforated steel members (PSMs) are now frequently used in building construction due to their beneficial features, including their proven blast-resistance abilities. To safeguard against structural failures from explosions and terrorist threats, perforated steel beams (PSBs) and perforated steel columns (PSCs) offer a viable alternative to traditional steel members. This is attributed to their impressive energy absorption potential, a result of their combined high strength and ductile behavior. In this study, numerical examinations of damage assessment under the combined effects of gravity and blast loads are carried out to mimic real-world scenarios of external explosions close to steel structures. The damage …


Hybrid Hemp/Glass Fiber Reinforced High-Temperature Shape Memory Photopolymer With Mechanical And Flame-Retardant Analysis, Sakil Mahmud, John Konlan, Jenny Deicaza, Guoqiang Li Dec 2023

Hybrid Hemp/Glass Fiber Reinforced High-Temperature Shape Memory Photopolymer With Mechanical And Flame-Retardant Analysis, Sakil Mahmud, John Konlan, Jenny Deicaza, Guoqiang Li

Faculty Publications

Cultivated natural fibers have a huge possibility for green and sustainable reinforcement for polymers, but their limited load-bearing ability and flammability prevent them from wide applications in composites. According to the beam theory, normal stress is the maximum at the outermost layers but zero at the mid-plane under bending (with (non)linear strain distribution). Shear stress is the maximum at the mid-plane but manageable for most polymers. Accordingly, a laminated composite made of hybrid fiber-reinforced shape memory photopolymer was developed, incorporating strong synthetic glass fibers over a weak core of natural hemp fibers. Even with a significant proportion of natural hemp …


Engineering Inlet Structures To Enhance Dna Capture Into Nanochannels In A Polymer Nanofluidic Device Produced Via Nanoimprint Lithography, Jiahao Wu, Junseo Choi, Franklin I. Uba, Steven A. Soper, Sunggook Park Dec 2023

Engineering Inlet Structures To Enhance Dna Capture Into Nanochannels In A Polymer Nanofluidic Device Produced Via Nanoimprint Lithography, Jiahao Wu, Junseo Choi, Franklin I. Uba, Steven A. Soper, Sunggook Park

Faculty Publications

Operating nanofluidic biosensors requires threading single molecules to be analyzed from microfluidic networks into nanostructures, mostly nanochannels or nanopores. Different inlet structures have been employed as a means of enhancing the number of the capture events into nanostructures. Here, we systematically investigated the effects of various engineered inlet structures formed at the micro/nanochannel interface on the capture of single λ-DNA molecules into the nanochannels. Different inlet geometries were evaluated and ranked in order of their effectiveness. Adding an inlet structure prior to a nanochannel effectively improved the DNA capture rate by 190–700% relative to that for the abrupt micro/nanochannel interface. …


Breaking Boundaries In Wind Engineering: Lsu Wise Open-Jet Facility Revolutionizes Solar Panel And Building Design, Aly Mousaad Aly Dec 2023

Breaking Boundaries In Wind Engineering: Lsu Wise Open-Jet Facility Revolutionizes Solar Panel And Building Design, Aly Mousaad Aly

Faculty Publications

Featured Application: The Louisiana State University (LSU) Windstorm Impact, Science, and Engineering (WISE) Open-Jet Testing facility is instrumental in enhancing structural resilience under windstorms. The facility represents a Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure to address grand challenges and the need for experimental capabilities in the mid-scale range. Its unique capabilities enable the comprehensive testing and evaluation of critical infrastructure components, encompassing low- and high-rise buildings, photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, wind turbines, bridges, vegetation (nature-based solutions), power transmission lines, and more. Through controlled wind conditions, researchers can gain invaluable insights into the behaviour and performance of these critical infrastructures. The facility is pivotal …


Experimental Evaluation Of Asphalt Mixtures With Emerging Additives Against Cracking And Moisture Damage, Md Tanvir A. Sarkar, Mostafa A. Elseifi Dec 2023

Experimental Evaluation Of Asphalt Mixtures With Emerging Additives Against Cracking And Moisture Damage, Md Tanvir A. Sarkar, Mostafa A. Elseifi

Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to evaluate and recommend an asphalt mixture design with emerging additive technologies that would provide superior performance against asphalt concrete (AC) stripping and cracking. To achieve this objective, a laboratory test program was developed to evaluate the use of nanomaterials (nanoclay and graphene nanoplatelet), an emerging anti-stripping agent (adhere), and warm-mix asphalt technologies (ZycoTherm, Sasobit, and EvoTherm). Two mix types were evaluated, which were a stone-matrix asphalt (SMA) and a dense-graded binder mix. In addition, the modified Lottman test (AASHTO T 283) and the indirect tensile asphalt cracking test (IDEAL-CT) test were used as …


Crystal–Melt Interfaces In Mg2sio4 At High Pressure: Structural And Energetics Insights From First-Principles Simulations, Bijaya B. Karki, Dipta B. Ghosh, Jianwei Wang, Shun Ichiro Karato Dec 2023

Crystal–Melt Interfaces In Mg2sio4 At High Pressure: Structural And Energetics Insights From First-Principles Simulations, Bijaya B. Karki, Dipta B. Ghosh, Jianwei Wang, Shun Ichiro Karato

Faculty Publications

The interplay between crystal–melt and grain boundary interfaces in partially melted polycrystalline aggregates controls many physical properties of mantle rocks. To understand this process at the fundamental level requires improved knowledge about the interfacial structures and energetics. Here, we report the results of first-principles molecular dynamics simulations of two grain boundaries of (0l1)/[100] type for tilt angles of 30.4° and 49.6° and the corresponding solid–liquid interfaces in Mg2SiO4 forsterite at the conditions of the upper mantle. Our analysis of the simulated position time series shows that structural distortions at the solid–liquid interfacial region are stronger than intergranular interfacial distortions. The …


Development Of A Methodology For The Quantification Of Reaerosolization Of A Biological Contaminate Surrogate Particle From A Military Uniform Fabric, George Cooksey, Jeremy M. Slagley, Casey W. Cooper, Douglas Lewis, Alisha Helm Dec 2023

Development Of A Methodology For The Quantification Of Reaerosolization Of A Biological Contaminate Surrogate Particle From A Military Uniform Fabric, George Cooksey, Jeremy M. Slagley, Casey W. Cooper, Douglas Lewis, Alisha Helm

Faculty Publications

In a mass casualty medical evacuation after a bioaerosol (BA) dispersal event, a decontamination (DC) method is needed that can both decontaminate and prevent biological particle (BP) re-aerosolization (RA) of contaminated clothes. However, neither the efficacy of current DC methods nor the risk of BP RA is greatly explored in the existing literature. The goals of this study were to develop a repeatable method to quantify the RA of a biological contaminant off military uniform fabric swatches and to test the efficacy of one DC protocol (high-volume, low-pressure water) using 1 µm polystyrene latex (PSL) spheres as a surrogate. A …


A Critical Systematic Literature Review Of Global Inclusive Education Using An Affective, Intersectional, Discursive, Emotive And Material Lens, David Isaac Hernández-Saca, Catherine Kramarczuk Voulgarides, Susan Larson Etscheidt Dec 2023

A Critical Systematic Literature Review Of Global Inclusive Education Using An Affective, Intersectional, Discursive, Emotive And Material Lens, David Isaac Hernández-Saca, Catherine Kramarczuk Voulgarides, Susan Larson Etscheidt

Faculty Publications

We conducted a critical systematic literature review on global inclusive education and law. The critical review questions were: (1) how have scholars theorized, conceptualized, and studied global inclusive education? (2) How do scholars define global inclusive education? (3) And what do scholars cite as prominent international inclusive education law? We ask such questions given the ongoing global crises that situate historically marginalized groups in even more precarious positions—including students with dis/Abilities. Given this framing, we employed a critical systematic literature review that is cognizant of our positionalities, writing from the Global North, so that we can identify lines of inquiry …


Help! One Of My Church Members Is Doubting The Trinity!, S. Jsoeph Kidder, Timothy Baze Dec 2023

Help! One Of My Church Members Is Doubting The Trinity!, S. Jsoeph Kidder, Timothy Baze

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


Thermal Atomization On Superhydrophobic Surfaces Of Varying Temperature Jump Length, Eric D. Lee, Daniel Maynes, Julie Crockett, Brian D. Iverson Dec 2023

Thermal Atomization On Superhydrophobic Surfaces Of Varying Temperature Jump Length, Eric D. Lee, Daniel Maynes, Julie Crockett, Brian D. Iverson

Faculty Publications

This paper presents an experimental study of drop impingement and thermal atomization on hydrophobic and superhydrophobic (SH) surfaces. Superhydrophobic surfaces having both microscale and nanoscale geometry are considered. Microscale SH surfaces are coated with a hydrophobic coating and exhibit micropillars and cavities which are classified using the surface solid fraction and center to center pitch. The solid fraction and pitch values explored in this study range from 0.05-1.0 and 8-60 μm respectively. Nanoscale textured surfaces are created by applying a blanket layer of carbon nanotubes. Both types of surfaces are further classified by a temperature jump length (λ …


Do Contributing Files Provide Information About Oss Newcomers' Onboarding Barriers?, Felipe Fronchetti, David C. Shepherd, Igor Wiese, Christoph Treude, Marco Aurélio Gerosa, Igor Steinmacher Nov 2023

Do Contributing Files Provide Information About Oss Newcomers' Onboarding Barriers?, Felipe Fronchetti, David C. Shepherd, Igor Wiese, Christoph Treude, Marco Aurélio Gerosa, Igor Steinmacher

Faculty Publications

Effectively onboarding newcomers is essential for the success of open source projects. These projects often provide onboarding guidelines in their 'CONTRIBUTING' files (e.g., CONTRIBUTING.md on GitHub). These files explain, for example, how to find open tasks, implement solutions, and submit code for review. However, these files often do not follow a standard structure, can be too large, and miss barriers commonly found by newcomers. In this paper, we propose an automated approach to parse these CONTRIBUTING files and assess how they address onboarding barriers. We manually classified a sample of files according to a model of onboarding barriers from the …


Analysis And Requirement Generation For Defense Intelligence Search: Addressing Data Overload Through Human–Ai Agent System Design For Ambient Awareness, Mark C. Duncan, Michael E. Miller, Brett J. Borghetti Nov 2023

Analysis And Requirement Generation For Defense Intelligence Search: Addressing Data Overload Through Human–Ai Agent System Design For Ambient Awareness, Mark C. Duncan, Michael E. Miller, Brett J. Borghetti

Faculty Publications

This research addresses the data overload faced by intelligence searchers in government and defense agencies. The study leverages methods from the Cognitive Systems Engineering (CSE) literature to generate insights into the intelligence search work domain. These insights are applied to a supporting concept and requirements for designing and evaluating a human-AI agent team specifically for intelligence search tasks. Domain analysis reveals the dynamic nature of the ‘value structure’, a term that describes the evolving set of criteria governing the intelligence search process. Additionally, domain insight provides details for search aggregation and conceptual spaces from which the value structure could be …


Equation-Based And Data-Driven Modeling: Open-Source Software Current State And Future Directions, Lagrande Gunnell, Bethany Nicholson, John Hedengren Nov 2023

Equation-Based And Data-Driven Modeling: Open-Source Software Current State And Future Directions, Lagrande Gunnell, Bethany Nicholson, John Hedengren

Faculty Publications

A review of current trends in scientific computing reveals a broad shift to open-source and higher-level programming languages such as Python and growing career opportunities over the next decade. Open-source modeling tools accelerate innovation in equation-based and data-driven applications. Significant resources have been deployed to develop data-driven tools (PyTorch, TensorFlow, Scikit-learn) from tech companies that rely on machine learning services to meet business needs while keeping the foundational tools open. Open-source equation-based tools such as Pyomo, CasADi, Gekko, and JuMP are also gaining momentum according to user community and development pace metrics. Integration of data-driven and principles-based tools is emerging. …


Application Of Ac Superimposed Dc Waveforms To Bismuth Electrorefining, Greg Chipman, Bryant Johnson, Devin Rappleye Nov 2023

Application Of Ac Superimposed Dc Waveforms To Bismuth Electrorefining, Greg Chipman, Bryant Johnson, Devin Rappleye

Faculty Publications

Electrorefining in molten salts is used for purifying actinides. Optimizing electrorefining is key to minimizing processing time and radiological waste. One possible way of improving electrorefining efficiency is using an AC superimposed DC waveform. This waveform has demonstrated potential benefits in aqueous solutions but has never been utilized in a molten metal, molten salt application. This work investigates the effects of using an AC superimposed DC waveform on molten bismuth electrorefining in a molten LiCl–KCl–CaCl2 eutectic. Bismuth has been identified as a potential surrogate for plutonium electrorefining and a potential cathode in electrorefining used nuclear fuel (UNF). All …


The Static And Dynamic Behavior Of Steel Storage Tanks Over Different Types Of Clay Soil, Tarek N. Salem, Ayman El-Zohairy, Ahmed M. Abdelbaset Nov 2023

The Static And Dynamic Behavior Of Steel Storage Tanks Over Different Types Of Clay Soil, Tarek N. Salem, Ayman El-Zohairy, Ahmed M. Abdelbaset

Faculty Publications

Steel storage tanks are widely used in different fields. Most of these tanks contain hazardous materials, which may lead to disasters and environmental damage for any design errors. There are many reasons which cause the failure of these tanks such as excessive base plate settlement, shear failure of soil, liquid sloshing, and buckling of the tank shell. In this study, five models of above-ground steel storage tanks resting over different types of clay soils (medium-stiff clay, stiff clay, and very stiff clay soils) are analyzed using the finite element program ADINA under the effect of static and dynamic loading. The …


Therapeutics To Treat Psychiatric And Neurological Disorders: A Promising Perspective From Algerian Traditional Medicine, Farida Larit, Francisco León Ph.D. Nov 2023

Therapeutics To Treat Psychiatric And Neurological Disorders: A Promising Perspective From Algerian Traditional Medicine, Farida Larit, Francisco León Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Ancient people sought out drugs in nature to prevent, cure, and treat their diseases, including mental illnesses. Plants were their primary source for meeting their healthcare needs. In Algeria, folk medicine remains a fundamental part of the local intangible knowledge. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive ethnomedicinal investigation and documentation of medicinal plants and the different plant formulations traditionally used in Algeria for the treatment of pain, psychiatric, and neurological disorders. It also intends to improve the current knowledge of Algerian folk medicine. Several scientific databases were used to accomplish this work. Based on this investigation, we identified 82 …


Detailed Characterization Of A Khz-Rate Laser-Driven Fusion At A Thin Liquid Sheet With A Neutron Detection Suite, Benjamin M. Knight, Connor M. Gautam, Colton R. Stoner, Bryan V. Egner, Joseph R. Smith, Christopher M. Orban, Juan J. Manfredi, Kyle Frische, Michael L. Dexter, Enam A. Chowdury, Anil K. Patnaik Nov 2023

Detailed Characterization Of A Khz-Rate Laser-Driven Fusion At A Thin Liquid Sheet With A Neutron Detection Suite, Benjamin M. Knight, Connor M. Gautam, Colton R. Stoner, Bryan V. Egner, Joseph R. Smith, Christopher M. Orban, Juan J. Manfredi, Kyle Frische, Michael L. Dexter, Enam A. Chowdury, Anil K. Patnaik

Faculty Publications

We present detailed characterization of laser driven fusion and neutron production (∼105/second) employing 8 mJ, 40fs laser pulses on a thin (< 1 µm) D2O liquid sheet employing a measurement suite. At relativistic intensity (∼5×1018W/cm2) and high repetition-rate (1 kHz), the system produces consistent D-D fusion, allowing for consistent neutron generation. Evidence of D-D fusion neutron production is verified b y a measurement suite with three independent detection systems: an EJ-309 organic scintillator with pulse-shape discrimination, a 3He proportional counter, and a set of 36 bubble detectors. Time-of-flight analysis of the scintillator data shows …


Modeling Multi-Grained User Preference In Location Visitation, Yingrong Qin, Chen Gao, Zhen Tu, Hongsheng Wu, Shuangqing Wei, Yue Wang, Lin Zhang, Yong Li Nov 2023

Modeling Multi-Grained User Preference In Location Visitation, Yingrong Qin, Chen Gao, Zhen Tu, Hongsheng Wu, Shuangqing Wei, Yue Wang, Lin Zhang, Yong Li

Faculty Publications

Location prediction acts as a fundamental service in today's location-based information platform, which helps users access locations satisfying their demands, improving both user experience and platform profit. Since users with unambiguous demands prefer specific locations while users with compound demands consider first regions and then specific locations, it is necessary to model multi-grained user preferences at different geographical scales. However, most of the existing works concentrate on user preferences at the location-scale only, which can not understand users traveling behaviors thoroughly. In this paper, we propose to model both the fine-grained user preferences at the location scale and the coarsegrained …


Evaluating Hpx And Kokkos On Risc-V Using An Astrophysics Application Octo-Tiger, Patrick Diehl, Gregor Daiss, Steven Brandt, Alireza Kheirkhahan, Hartmut Kaiser, Christopher Taylor, John Leidel Nov 2023

Evaluating Hpx And Kokkos On Risc-V Using An Astrophysics Application Octo-Tiger, Patrick Diehl, Gregor Daiss, Steven Brandt, Alireza Kheirkhahan, Hartmut Kaiser, Christopher Taylor, John Leidel

Faculty Publications

In recent years, computers based on the RISC-V architecture have raised broad interest in the high-performance computing (HPC) community. As the RISC-V community develops the core instruction set architecture (ISA) along with ISA extensions, the HPC community has been actively ensuring HPC applications and environments [10, 29] are supported. In this context, assessing the performance of asynchronous many-task runtime systems (AMT) is essential. In this paper, we describe our experience with porting of a full 3D adaptive mesh-refinement, multi-scale, multi-model, and multi-physics application, Octo-Tiger, that is based on the HPX AMT, and we explore its performance characteristics on different RISC-V …


Top Ten Priorities For Global Saltmarsh Restoration, Conservation And Ecosystem Service Research, Julien Pétillon, Emma Mckinley, Meghan Alexander, Janine B. Adams, Christine Angelini, Thorsten Balke, John N. Griffin, Tjeerd Bouma, Sally Hacker, Qiang He, Marc J.S. Hensel, Carles Ibáñez, Peter I. Macreadie, Simone Martino, Elwyn Sharps, Rhoda Ballinger, Davide De Battisti, Nicola Beaumont, Daryl Burdon, Pedro Daleo, Andrea D'Alpaos, Mollie Duggan-Edwards, Angus Garbutt, Stuart Jenkins, Cai J.T. Ladd, Heather Lewis, Giulio Mariotti, Osgur Mcdermott, Rachael Mills, Iris Möller, Stefanie Nolte, Jordi F. Pagès, Brian Silliman Nov 2023

Top Ten Priorities For Global Saltmarsh Restoration, Conservation And Ecosystem Service Research, Julien Pétillon, Emma Mckinley, Meghan Alexander, Janine B. Adams, Christine Angelini, Thorsten Balke, John N. Griffin, Tjeerd Bouma, Sally Hacker, Qiang He, Marc J.S. Hensel, Carles Ibáñez, Peter I. Macreadie, Simone Martino, Elwyn Sharps, Rhoda Ballinger, Davide De Battisti, Nicola Beaumont, Daryl Burdon, Pedro Daleo, Andrea D'Alpaos, Mollie Duggan-Edwards, Angus Garbutt, Stuart Jenkins, Cai J.T. Ladd, Heather Lewis, Giulio Mariotti, Osgur Mcdermott, Rachael Mills, Iris Möller, Stefanie Nolte, Jordi F. Pagès, Brian Silliman

Faculty Publications

Coastal saltmarshes provide globally important ecosystem services including ‘blue carbon’ sequestration, flood protection, pollutant remediation, habitat provision and cultural value. Large portions of marshes have been lost or fragmented as a result of land reclamation, embankment construction, and pollution. Sea level rise threatens marsh survival by blocking landward migration where coastlines have been developed. Research-informed saltmarsh conservation and restoration efforts are helping to prevent further loss, yet significant knowledge gaps remain. Using a mixed methods approach, this paper identifies ten research priorities through an online questionnaire and a residential workshop attended by an international, multi-disciplinary network of 35 saltmarsh experts …


A Computational Approach For Mapping Electrochemical Activity Of Multi-Principal Element Alloys, Jodie A. Yuwono, Xinyu Li, Tyler D. Dolezal, Adib J. Samin, Javen Qinfeng Shi, Zhipeng Li, Nick Birbilis Nov 2023

A Computational Approach For Mapping Electrochemical Activity Of Multi-Principal Element Alloys, Jodie A. Yuwono, Xinyu Li, Tyler D. Dolezal, Adib J. Samin, Javen Qinfeng Shi, Zhipeng Li, Nick Birbilis

Faculty Publications

Multi principal element alloys (MPEAs) comprise an atypical class of metal alloys. MPEAs have been demonstrated to possess several exceptional properties, including, as most relevant to the present study a high corrosion resistance. In the context of MPEA design, the vast number of potential alloying elements and the staggering number of elemental combinations favours a computational alloy design approach. In order to computationally assess the prospective corrosion performance of MPEA, an approach was developed in this study. A density functional theory (DFT) – based Monte Carlo method was used for the development of MPEA ‘structure’; with the AlCrTiV alloy used …


Efficient Chemical-Free Degradation Of Waterborne Micropollutants With An Immobilized Dual-Porous Tio2 Photocatalyst, Daniel E. Willis, Ella C. Sheets, Mary R. Worbington, Madhusudan Kamat, Sarah K. Glass, Ma Cayla J. Caso, Tochukwu Ofoegbuna, Liz M. Diaz, Caleb Osei-Appau, Samuel D. Snow, Kevin M. Mcpeak Nov 2023

Efficient Chemical-Free Degradation Of Waterborne Micropollutants With An Immobilized Dual-Porous Tio2 Photocatalyst, Daniel E. Willis, Ella C. Sheets, Mary R. Worbington, Madhusudan Kamat, Sarah K. Glass, Ma Cayla J. Caso, Tochukwu Ofoegbuna, Liz M. Diaz, Caleb Osei-Appau, Samuel D. Snow, Kevin M. Mcpeak

Faculty Publications

Photocatalytic advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) promise a chemical-free route to energy-efficient degradation of waterborne micropollutants if long-standing mass transfer and light management issues can be overcome. Herein, we developed a dual-porous photocatalytic system consisting of a mesoporous (i.e., 2-50 nm pores) TiO2 (P25) photocatalyst supported on macroporous (i.e., >50 nm pores) fused quartz fibers (P25/QF). Our reusable photocatalytic AOP reduces chemical consumption and exhibits excellent energy efficiency, demonstrated by degrading various pharmaceutical compounds (acetaminophen, sulfamethoxazole, and carbamazepine) in natural waters with electrical energy per order (EEO) values of 4.07, 0.96, and 1.35 kWh/m3, respectively. Compared to the conventional H2O2/UVC AOP, …


System-Level Noise Performance Of Coherent Imaging Systems, Derek J. Burrell, Joshua H. Follansbee, Mark F. Spencer, Ronald G. Driggers Nov 2023

System-Level Noise Performance Of Coherent Imaging Systems, Derek J. Burrell, Joshua H. Follansbee, Mark F. Spencer, Ronald G. Driggers

Faculty Publications

We provide an in-depth analysis of noise considerations in coherent imaging, accounting for speckle and scintillation in addition to “conventional” image noise. Specifically, we formulate closed-form expressions for total effective noise in the presence of speckle only, scintillation only, and speckle combined with scintillation. We find analytically that photon shot noise is uncorrelated with both speckle and weak-to-moderate scintillation, despite their shared dependence on the mean signal. Furthermore, unmitigated speckle and scintillation noise tends to dominate coherent-imaging performance due to a squared mean-signal dependence. Strong coupling occurs between speckle and scintillation when both are present, and we characterize this behavior …


A Novel Application Of Spinning Disk Technology To Collect Plasma From Whole Blood Prior To Quantifying Plasma Rna, Naomi Rapier-Sharman, Mae-Lynn L. Hutchinson, Carlos M. Moreno, Abraham Quaye, Brian D. Poole, K. Scott Weber, William G. Pitt, Brett E. Pickett Nov 2023

A Novel Application Of Spinning Disk Technology To Collect Plasma From Whole Blood Prior To Quantifying Plasma Rna, Naomi Rapier-Sharman, Mae-Lynn L. Hutchinson, Carlos M. Moreno, Abraham Quaye, Brian D. Poole, K. Scott Weber, William G. Pitt, Brett E. Pickett

Faculty Publications

The spinning disk technology has previously been utilized to isolate bacterial components from blood in hours instead of days. We hypothesized that this platform could be applied as an alternative approach to isolating plasma RNA from a whole blood sample. We consequently tested the efficacy of the spinning disk technology to extract plasma from whole blood upstream of RNA isolation and analysis. To do so, we collected plasma using either the spinning disk or the typical two-spin centrifuge method. We found that the spinning disk method results in significantly more hemolysis during collection than the conventional two-spin centrifuge method. However, …


The Future Of Cyanobacteria Toxicity In Estuaries Undergoing Pulsed Nutrient Inputs: A Case Study From Coastal Louisiana, Sibel Bargu, Matthew Hiatt, Kanchan Maiti, Paul Miller, John R. White Nov 2023

The Future Of Cyanobacteria Toxicity In Estuaries Undergoing Pulsed Nutrient Inputs: A Case Study From Coastal Louisiana, Sibel Bargu, Matthew Hiatt, Kanchan Maiti, Paul Miller, John R. White

Faculty Publications

Harmful cyanobacteria blooms (cyanoHABs) are a global phenomenon, especially in calm, warm, and nutrient-rich freshwater and estuarine systems. These blooms can produce various potent toxins responsible for animal poisoning and human health problems. Nutrient-rich freshwater pulsed into estuaries affects turbidity, water temperature, salinity, and nutrient concentrations and ratios at irregular intervals, creating a highly dynamic habitat. However, the underlying processes that lead to the selective development of cyanoHABs for certain species and the fate of their toxins are still uncertain. This paper draws upon the rich body of research available for one such system, the Lake Pontchartrain Estuary, Louisiana, to …


Limnological Response Of Las Curias Reservoir, San Juan, Puerto Rico: Successful Management Of The Invasive Aquatic Fern, Salvinia Molesta, Xavier A. García-López, Jorge R. Ortiz-Zayas, Rodrigo Díaz, Aurelio Castro-Jiménez, Charles F. Wahl Nov 2023

Limnological Response Of Las Curias Reservoir, San Juan, Puerto Rico: Successful Management Of The Invasive Aquatic Fern, Salvinia Molesta, Xavier A. García-López, Jorge R. Ortiz-Zayas, Rodrigo Díaz, Aurelio Castro-Jiménez, Charles F. Wahl

Faculty Publications

The anthropogenic deterioration of aquatic ecosystems affects water resources due to agricultural malpractices, pollution from domestic septic tanks, recreational activities, and poor watershed management, among other factors. This study examines the management of Las Curias Reservoir, San Juan, Puerto Rico, after the 2016 arrival of the invasive aquatic fern Salvinia molesta. In September 2019, a community-led initiative introduced the Cyrtobagous salviniae weevil, an effective biological control agent for S. molesta, and commenced a mechanical removal campaign using an aquatic harvester. Limnological sampling (September 2019 to September 2022) and drone flights were employed to measure physicochemical and floating plant cover changes, …


Community-Wide Correlations Between Species Richness, Abundance And Population Genomic Diversity In A Freshwater Biodiversity Hotspot, Jamie R. Bucholz, Garrett W. Hopper, Irene Sánchez González, Taylor E. Kelley, Colin R. Jackson, Ryan C. Garrick, Carla L. Atkinson, Jeffrey D. Lozier Nov 2023

Community-Wide Correlations Between Species Richness, Abundance And Population Genomic Diversity In A Freshwater Biodiversity Hotspot, Jamie R. Bucholz, Garrett W. Hopper, Irene Sánchez González, Taylor E. Kelley, Colin R. Jackson, Ryan C. Garrick, Carla L. Atkinson, Jeffrey D. Lozier

Faculty Publications

Understanding patterns of diversity across macro (e.g. species-level) and micro (e.g. molecular-level) scales can shed light on community function and stability by elucidating the abiotic and biotic drivers of diversity within ecological communities. We examined the relationships among taxonomic and genetic metrics of diversity in freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae), an ecologically important and species-rich group in the southeastern United States. Using quantitative community surveys and reduced-representation genome sequencing across 22 sites in seven rivers and two river basins, we surveyed 68 mussel species and sequenced 23 of these species to characterize intrapopulation genetic variation. We tested for the presence of …


Characterizing The Role Of Hydraulic Retention Time On Nitrate Removal Indices In Denitrifying Bioreactors By Nonlinear Models, Yuchuan Fan, Jie Zhuang, Michael Essington, Xi Zhang, Guanghui Hua, Jehangir Bhadha, Shaopan Xia, Xuanyu Lu, Jaehoon Lee Nov 2023

Characterizing The Role Of Hydraulic Retention Time On Nitrate Removal Indices In Denitrifying Bioreactors By Nonlinear Models, Yuchuan Fan, Jie Zhuang, Michael Essington, Xi Zhang, Guanghui Hua, Jehangir Bhadha, Shaopan Xia, Xuanyu Lu, Jaehoon Lee

Faculty Publications

Denitrifying bioreactors (DNBRs) are a sustainable and cost-effective practice commonly used at the edge of fields to reduce nitrate from agricultural runoff. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) is a crucial variable that affects nitrate removal rate (NRR, g N m−3 d−1), nitrate removal efficiency (NRE, %), and nitrate concentration reduction per length (Nrd, mg N L−1 m−1). In this study, two nonlinear models, the developed Michaelis-Menten (MM) model and the Mitscherlich (MT) model, were developed to characterize the relationship between nitrate removal indices (NRR, NRE, and Nrd) and HRT. This study first utilizes nonlinear models to quantitatively understand the relationship …


Widespread Sympatry In A Species-Rich Clade Of Marine Fishes (Carangoidei), Jessica R. Glass, Richard C. Harrington, Peter F. Cowman, Brant C. Faircloth, Thomas J. Near Nov 2023

Widespread Sympatry In A Species-Rich Clade Of Marine Fishes (Carangoidei), Jessica R. Glass, Richard C. Harrington, Peter F. Cowman, Brant C. Faircloth, Thomas J. Near

Faculty Publications

A universal paradigm describing patterns of speciation across the tree of life has been debated for decades. In marine organisms, inferring patterns of speciation using contemporary and historical patterns of biogeography is challenging due to the deficiency of species-level phylogenies and information on species' distributions, as well as conflicting relationships between species' dispersal, range size and co-occurrence. Most research on global patterns of marine fish speciation and biogeography has focused on coral reef or pelagic species. Carangoidei is an ecologically important clade of marine fishes that use coral reef and pelagic environments. We used sequence capture of 1314 ultraconserved elements …


Influences Of Yogurt With Functional Ingredients From Various Sources That Help Treat Leaky Gut On Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction In Caco-2 Cells, Ricardo S. Aleman, Ryan Page, Roberto Cedillos, Ismael Montero-Fernández, Jhunior Abraham Marcia Fuentes, Douglas W. Olson, Kayanush Aryana Nov 2023

Influences Of Yogurt With Functional Ingredients From Various Sources That Help Treat Leaky Gut On Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction In Caco-2 Cells, Ricardo S. Aleman, Ryan Page, Roberto Cedillos, Ismael Montero-Fernández, Jhunior Abraham Marcia Fuentes, Douglas W. Olson, Kayanush Aryana

Faculty Publications

The impact of yogurts made with starter culture bacteria (L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus) and supplemented with ingredients (maitake mushrooms, quercetin, L-glutamine, slippery elm bark, licorice root, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, zinc orotate, and marshmallow root) that can help treat leaky gut were investigated using the Caco-2 cell monolayer as a measure of intestinal barrier dysfunction. Milk from the same source was equally dispersed into nine pails, and the eight ingredients were randomly allocated to the eight pails. The control had no ingredients. The Caco-2 cells were treated with isoflavone genistein (negative control) and growth media (positive control). Inflammation was stimulated using an …