Digital Commons Network^™

Ductape: A Steady-State, Axisymmetric Ducted Fan Analysis Code Designed For Gradient-Based Optimization, Judd Mehr, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Electric ducted fans have become an intriguing option for the propulsion systems of clean, quiet advanced air mobility technologies due to their potential benefits in both aerodynamic efficiency and reduced noise profiles compared to open rotor systems. Exploration of conceptual electric ducted fan design in the context of novel, and often complex, applications may be greatly aided by the use of optimization techniques. Specifically, gradient-based optimization lends itself to the exploration of large, complex, multi-disciplinary systems due to its inherent scalability. Despite ducted fans/propellers having been relatively well studied for the last century, modern, gradient-based, optimization-ready analysis tools for ducted …

Probabilistic Estimation Of Cadence And Walking Speed From Floor Vibrations, Yohanna Mejiacruz, Juan M. Caicedo, Zhaoshuo Jiang, Jean M. Franco

Faculty Publications

Objective: This research aims to extract human gait parameters from floor vibrations. The proposed approach provides an innovative methodology on occupant activity, contributing to a broader understanding of how human movements interact within their built environment. Methods and Procedures: A multilevel probabilistic model was developed to estimate cadence and walking speed through the analysis of floor vibrations induced by walking. The model addresses challenges related to missing or incomplete information in the floor acceleration signals. Following the Bayesian Analysis Reporting Guidelines (BARG) for reproducibility, the model was evaluated through twenty-seven walking experiments, capturing floor vibration and data from Ambulatory Parkinson’s …

Correction: Graph Theory And Graph Neural Network Assisted High-Throughput Crystal Structure Prediction And Screening For Energy Conversion And Storage, Joshua Ojih, Mohammed Al-Fahdi, Yagang Yao, Jianjun Hu, Ming Hu

Faculty Publications

Correction for ‘Graph theory and graph neural network assisted high-throughput crystal structure prediction and screening for energy conversion and storage’ by Joshua Ojih et al., J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, 12, 8502–8515, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3TA06190F.

On page 8511 in section 3.2 of the published article, the text “The single values of bonding and antibonding for each structure are obtained by performing integration over COHP curves for each atomic pair as evaluated by the LOBSTER package” should have included citations to six references. The missing references are listed below as ref. 1–6.

The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for …

A First Step Towards Understanding Thermomechanical Behavior Of The Nb-Cr System Through Interatomic Potential Development And Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Lucas A. Heaton, Adib J. Samin

Faculty Publications

Utilizing a preliminary interatomic potential, this work represents an initial exploration into the thermomechanical behavior of NbCr solid solutions. Specifically, it examines the effect of different amounts of Cr solute, for which information in the literature is limited. The employed interatomic potential was developed according to the embedded atom model (EAM), and was trained on data derived from density functional theory calculations. While the potential demonstrated reasonable accuracy and predictive power when tested, various results highlight deficiencies and encourage further development and training. Mechanical strength, heat capacities, thermal expansion coefficients, and thermal conductivities were found to decrease with Cr content. …

High-Speed Two-Color Scanning Volumetric Laser-Induced Fluorescence, Diego Tapia Silva, Cole J. Cooper, Tracy L. Mandel, Shilpa Khatri, Dustin Kleckner

Faculty Publications

Many problems in fluid mechanics require single-shot 3D measurements of fluid flows, but are limited by available techniques. Here, we design and build a novel flexible high-speed two-color scanning volumetric laser-induced fluorescence (H2C-SVLIF) technique. The technique is readily adaptable to a range of temporal and spatial resolutions, rendering it easily applicable to a wide spectrum of experiments. The core equipment consists of a single monochrome high-speed camera and a pair of ND: YAG lasers pulsing at different wavelengths. The use of a single camera for direct 3D imaging eliminates the need for complex volume reconstruction algorithms and easily allows for …

High-Speed Two-Color Scanning Volumetric Laser-Induced Fluorescence, Diego Tapia Silva, Cole J. Cooper, Tracy L. Mandel, Shilpa Khatri, Dustin Kleckner

Faculty Publications

Many problems in fluid mechanics require single-shot 3D measurements of fluid flows, but are limited by available techniques. Here, we design and build a novel flexible high-speed two-color scanning volumetric laser-induced fluorescence (H2C-SVLIF) technique. The technique is readily adaptable to a range of temporal and spatial resolutions, rendering it easily applicable to a wide spectrum of experiments. The core equipment consists of a single monochrome high-speed camera and a pair of ND: YAG lasers pulsing at different wavelengths. The use of a single camera for direct 3D imaging eliminates the need for complex volume reconstruction algorithms and easily allows for …

Moving Slow And Fixing Things, Hannibal Travis

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Birefringence Tests Of Gravity With Multimessenger Binaries, Macarena Lagos, Leah Jenks, Maximiliano Isi, Kenta Hotokezaka, Brian D. Metzger, Eric Burns, Will M. Farr, Scott Perkins, Kaze W.K. Wong, Nicolás Yunes

Faculty Publications

Extensions to general relativity allow the polarization of gravitational waves (GW) from astrophysical sources to suffer from amplitude and velocity birefringence, which respectively induce changes in the ellipticity and orientation of the polarization tensor. We introduce a multimessenger approach to test this polarization behavior of GWs during their cosmological propagation using binary sources, for which the initial polarization is determined by the inclination and orientation angles of the orbital angular momentum vector with respect to the line of sight. In particular, we use spatially resolved radio imaging of the jet from a binary neutron star (BNS) merger to constrain the …

Incorporating Oxygen Isotopes Of Oxidized Reactive Nitrogen In The Regional Atmospheric Chemistry Mechanism, Version 2 (Icoin-Racm2), Wendell W. Walter, Masayuki Takeuchi, Nga L. Ng, Meredith G. Hastings

Faculty Publications

The oxygen isotope anomaly (Δ¹⁷O = δ¹⁷O − 0.52 × δ¹⁸O > 0) has proven to be a robust tool for probing photochemical cycling and atmospheric formation pathways of oxidized reactive nitrogen (NO_y). Several studies have developed modeling techniques to implicitly model Δ¹⁷O of NO_y molecules based on numerous assumptions that may not always be valid. Thus, these models may be oversimplified and limit our ability to compare model Δ¹⁷O values of NO_y with observations. In this work, we introduce a novel method for explicitly tracking Δ …

A Microfluidic Approach To Study Variations In Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii Alkaline Phosphatase Activity In Response To Phosphate Availability, Alireza Rahnama, Manibarathi Vaithiyanathan, Luis Briceno-Mena, Travis M. Dugas, Kelly L. Yates, Jose A. Romagnoli, Adam T. Melvin

Faculty Publications

Algal growth depends strongly on phosphorus (P) as a key nutrient, underscoring the significance of monitoring P levels. Algal species display a sensitive response to fluctuations in P availability, notably through the expression of alkaline phosphatase (AP) when challenged with P-depletion. As such, alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) serves as a valuable metric for P availability, offering insights into how algae utilize and fix available P resources. However, current APA quantification methods lack single cell resolution, while also being time- and reagent consuming. Microfluidics offers a promising cost-effective solution to these limitations, providing a platform for precise single-cell analysis. In this …

Chemical Herding As A Multiplicative Factor For Top-Down Manipulation Of Colloids, Mark N. Mcdonald, Douglas R. Tree, Cameron K. Peterson

Faculty Publications

Colloidal particles can create reconfigurable nanomaterials, with applications such as color-changing, self-repairing, and self-regulating materials and reconfigurable drug delivery systems. However, top-down methods for manipulating colloids are limited in the scale they can control. We consider here a new method for using chemical reactions to multiply the effects of existing top-down colloidal manipulation methods to arrange large numbers of colloids with single-particle precision, which we refer to as chemical herding. Using simulation-based methods, we show that if a set of chemically active colloids (herders) can be steered using external forces (i.e., electrophoretic, dielectrophoretic, magnetic, or optical forces), then a larger …

Electrochemical Identification Of Metal Chlorides In Eutectic Licl-Kcl Without Prior Knowledge Of Analyte Identities, Tyler Williams, Jason Torrie, Mark Schvaneveldt, Ranon Fuller, Greg Chipman, Devin Rappleye

Faculty Publications

The identities of unknown analytes within four eutectic LiCl-KCl melts were determined using electrochemical methods, simulating the uncertainty of electrochemically probing an electrorefiner salt bath or molten salt nuclear reactor. With a variety of electrochemical methods (e.g. cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, and square-wave voltammetry), and electroanalytical techniques (e.g. semi-differentiation), every analyte was positively identified, although one false positive occurred because of an unexpected chemical interaction. This study highlights some remaining challenges for the use of electrochemical sensors in nuclear material control and accountability in molten salts: (1) quantification of analytes without the use of calibration curves (e.g. error in property values, …

Colombia As A Future Tourism Destination From U.S. Travelers’ Perspective, Maricela I. Montes-Guerra, Natalia Zapata-Cuervo, Miyoung Jeong Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

This research identified the perceptions of U.S. travelers regarding Colombia as a potential tourism destination, including their perception of risk. The framework of destination image and travelers’ behavior, including perceived risk, cognitive and affective images, and perceived value for the trip, was adopted. Data for these behaviors were collected using a self-administered online survey with U.S. citizens who had not visited Colombia. Hypotheses were tested employing Confirmatory Factor Analysis and the Partial Least Squares method to analyze the measurement and structural models. The results indicated that U.S. citizens had a positive affective and cognitive perception of Colombia, which led to …

Quantifying Variation Across 16s Rrna Gene Sequencing Runs In Human Microbiome Studies, Andrew J. Hoisington, Christopher E. Stamper, Joseph C. Ellis, Christopher A. Lowry, Lisa A. Brenner

Faculty Publications

Recent microbiome research has incorporated a higher number of samples through more participants in a study, longitudinal studies, and metanalysis between studies. Physical limitations in a sequencing machine can result in samples spread across sequencing runs. Here we present the results of sequencing nearly 1000 16S rRNA gene sequences in fecal (stabilized and swab) and oral (swab) samples from multiple human microbiome studies and positive controls that were conducted with identical standard operating procedures. Sequencing was performed in the same center across 18 different runs. The simplified mock community showed limitations in accuracy, while precision (e.g., technical variation) was robust …

Electrical Conductivity Of Subsurface Ocean Analogue Solutions From Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Catherine A. Psarakis, Timothy Tizhe Fidelis, Keith B. Chin, Baptiste Journaux, Abby Kavner, Pranb Sarker, Marshall J. Stycinski, Steven D. Vance, Tao Wei

Faculty Publications

Investigating the habitability of ocean worlds is a priority of current and future NASA missions. The Europa Clipper mission will conduct approximately 50 flybys of Jupiter’s moon Europa, returning a detailed portrait of its interior from the synthesis of data from its instrument suite. The magnetometer on board has the capability of decoupling Europa’s induced magnetic field to high precision, and when these data are inverted, the electrical conductivity profile from the electrically conducting subsurface salty ocean may be constrained. To optimize the interpretation of magnetic induction data near ocean worlds and constrain salinity from electrical conductivity, accurate laboratory electrical …

Molecular Behavior Of Silicone Adhesive At Buried Polymer Interface Studied By Molecular Dynamics Simulation And Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy, Yuchen Wu, Ting Lin, Elizabeth Santos, Dongchan Ahn, Ryan Marson, Pranab Sarker, Xiaoyun Chen, Frédéric Gubbels, Nick E. Shephard, Carol Mohler, Tao Wei, Tzu-Chi Kuoc, Zhan Chen

Faculty Publications

Silicones have excellent material properties and are used extensively in many applications, ranging from adhesives and lubricants to electrical insulation. To ensure strong adhesion of silicone adhesives to a wide variety of substrates, silane-based adhesion promotors are typically blended into the silicone adhesive formulation. However, little is known at the molecular level about the true silane adhesion promotion mechanism, which limits the ability to develop even more effective adhesion promoters. To understand the adhesion promotion mechanism of silane molecules at the molecular level, this study has used sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG) to determine the behavior of (3-glycidoxypropyl)trimethoxy silane …

Patterns Of Marsh Surface Accretion Rates Along Salinity And Hydroperiod Gradients Between Active And Inactive Coastal Deltaic Floodplains, Andy F. Cassaway, Robert R. Twilley, Andre S. Rovai, Gregg A. Snedden

Faculty Publications

High subsidence rates are inherent to coastal deltas worldwide, contributing to rapid rates of relative sea-level rise and compromising the sustainability of coastal wetlands. Different parts of river deltas, however, experience accretion or erosion, depending on the coupling between ecological and morphological processes. Wetland expansion occurs in active deltaic coastal basins that are connected to riverine sedimentation. In contrast, wetland degradation occurs in inactive deltaic coastal basins where river engineering strategies associated with flood control restrict river connectivity. Here, we investigated the relative role of inorganic and organic loading to marsh accretion rates spanning fresh to brackish to saline zones …

Stormwater Treatment Areas Of The Florida Everglades Ecosystem: Science And Applications – Everglades Stas Special Issue, K. R. Reddy, C. Armstrong, M. J. Chimney, R. T. James, J. R. White

Faculty Publications

Managed treatment wetlands technology is now used around the world to treat wastewater and stormwater by removing nutrients and other contaminants to obtain a desired water quality. In this paper we present a brief review of a large-scale application of the nature-based technology known as stormwater treatment areas (STAs). These STAs were constructed to treat agricultural and urban runoff to reduce outflow total phosphorus (TP) concentrations to < 20 μg P L⁻¹, which is required to protect downstream water quality and preserve the remaining Everglades ecosystem. Five STAs with a total area of approximately 25,000 ha were built at strategic locations to reduce …

Phase Error Scaling Law In Two-Wavelength Adaptive Optics, Milo W. Hyde Iv, Matthew Kalensky, Michael J. Spencer

Faculty Publications

We derive a simple, physical, closed-form expression for the optical-path difference (OPD) of a two-wavelength adaptive-optics (AO) system. Starting from Hogge and Butts’ classic OPD variance integral expression, we apply Mellin transform techniques to obtain series and asymptotic solutions to the integral. For realistic two-wavelength AO systems, the former converges slowly and has limited utility. The latter, on the other hand, is a simple formula in terms of the separation between the AO sensing (i.e., the beacon) and compensation (or observation) wavelengths. We validate this formula by comparing it to the OPD variances obtained from the aforementioned series and direct …

City Of Leaf Collaborative Drinking Water Emergency Response Serious Game, Jingyan Huang, Weiwei Mo

Faculty Publications

The City of Leaf serious game is a five-party role-playing game designed to simulate a response to a drinking water contamination crisis. The game involves five roles: chemical manufacturer, local resident, water treatment plant, environmental agency, and health department, each with distinct knowledge, responsibilities, capabilities, and objectives. Participants assume one of these roles and exchange information, strategize responses, and work towards a solution that satisfies all parties involved throughout the game. This game aims to deepen participants' understanding of the complexities involved in managing a drinking water emergency, with a particular focus on emphasizing the critical role of inter-organizational communication …

Recycling Functional Fillers From Waste Tires For Tailored Polystyrene Composites: Mechanical, Fire Retarding, Electromagnetic Field Shielding, And Acoustic Insulation Properties—A Short Review, Jinlong Zhang, Hang Liu, Shyam S. Sablani, Qinglin Wu

Faculty Publications

Polymer waste is currently a big and challenging issue throughout the world. Waste tires represent an important source of polymer waste. Therefore, it is highly desirable to recycle functional fillers from waste tires to develop composite materials for advanced applications. The primary theme of this review involves an overview of developing polystyrene (PS) composites using materials from recycled tires as fillers; waste tire recycling in terms of ground tire rubbers, carbon black, and textile fibers; surface treatments of the fillers to optimize various composite properties; and the mechanical, fire retarding, acoustic, and electromagnetic field (EMI) shielding performances of PS composite …

Recovery Of The X-Ray Polarisation Of Swift J1727.8-1613 After The Soft-To-Hard Spectral Transition, J. Podgorný, J. Svoboda, M. Dovčiak, A. Veledina, J. Poutanen, P. Kaaret, S. Bianchi, A. Ingram, F. Capitanio, S. R. Datta, E. Egron, H. Krawczynski, G. Matt, F. Muleri, P. O. Petrucci, T. D. Russell, J. F. Steiner, N. Bollemeijer, M. Brigitte, N. Castro Segura, R. Emami, J. A. García, K. Hu, M. N. Iacolina, V. Kravtsov, L. Marra, G. Mastroserio, T. Muñoz-Darias, E. Nathan, M. Negro, A. Ratheesh, N. Rodriguez Cavero, R. Taverna

Faculty Publications

We report on the detection of X-ray polarisation in the black-hole X-ray binary Swift J1727.8-1613 during its dim hard spectral state by the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE). This is the first detection of X-ray polarisation at the transition from the soft to the hard state in an X-ray binary. We find an averaged 2- 8 keV polarisation degree of (3.3 ± 0.4)% and a corresponding polarisation angle of 3 ±4, which matches the polarisation detected during the rising stage of the outburst, in September- October 2023, within 1σuncertainty. The observational campaign complements previous studies of this source and enables …

Nutritive Value And Forage Accumulation Of A Black Oat Germplasm In The Northeastern United States, David M. Jaramillo, Kathy Soder, Ann Blount, Jose C.B. Dubeux, Stephen Harrison

Faculty Publications

Black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) might be an attractive forage species in the northeastern United States, since it is generally more heat tolerant and disease resistant than other cool-season grasses. Black oat is currently recommended for fall and winter production in USDA Plant Hardiness ones 8b–10a, which is beyond the northeastern United States (Zones 2a–6a). The objective was to evaluate 10 black oat breeding lines (referred to as “UF1” through “UF10”) for forage accumulation, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (aNDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) concentrations. The experiment was carried out in April–July …

Targeting Cancers With Ohsv-Based Oncolytic Viral Immunotherapy, Rakin Tammam Nasar, Ifeanyi Kingsley Uche, Konstantin G. Kousoulas

Faculty Publications

The recent success of cancer immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICIs), monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), cancer vaccines, and adoptive cellular therapies (ACTs), has revolutionized traditional cancer treatment. However, these immunotherapeutic modalities have variable efficacies, and many of them exhibit adverse effects. Oncolytic viral Immunotherapy (OViT), whereby viruses are used to directly or indirectly induce anti-cancer immune responses, is emerging as a novel immunotherapy for treating patients with different types of cancer. The herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) possesses many characteristics that inform its use as an effective OViT agents and remains a leading candidate. Its recent clinical success resulted in …

Stacked Noise Reduction Auto Encoder–Ocean: A Novel Personalized Recommendation Model Enhanced, Bixi Wang, Wenfeng Zheng, Ruiyang Wang, Siyu Lu, Lirong Yin, Lei Wang, Zhengtong Yin, Xinbing Chen

Faculty Publications

With the continuous development of information technology and the rapid increase in new users of social networking sites, recommendation technology is becoming more and more important. After research, it was found that the behavior of users on social networking sites has a great correlation with their personalities. The five characteristics of the OCEAN personality model can cover all aspects of a user’s personality. In this research, a micro-directional propagation model based on the OCEAN personality model and a Stacked Denoising Auto Encoder (SDAE) was built through the application of deep learning to a collaborative filtering technique. Firstly, the dimension of …

Thermochromic Yarns’ Application In Fever Detection For Young Children, Sibei Xia, Chuanlan Liu, Yanbo Zhang, Bruce Cameron

Faculty Publications

The existing literature emphasizes the significance of and needs for developing body temperature monitoring devices that can consistently and discreetly assess the temperatures of young children. Such products could offer a method to check children’s body temperature and alleviate parents’ concerns over fever. However, research gaps and challenges exist in preserving material flexibility, conducting tests in a controlled setting that mimics body temperature, and investigating consumer perceptions of this type of functional textile product. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate functional textiles using thermochromic yarns for young children’s body temperature detection, particularly focusing on testing prototypes in a controlled environment …

Machine Learning Assisted Design And Optimization Of Plate-Lattice Structures With Superior Specific Recovery Force, Amir Teimouri, Adithya Challapalli, John Konlan, Guoqiang Li

Faculty Publications

In load carrying structures and devices, there is a growing need for shape memory polymer (SMP) metamaterials that are lightweight and have superior strength, remarkable flexibility, and substantial specific recovery force (SFR). One of the challenges is to find optimum lightweight structures with high SFR. To address this challenge, we propose a novel inverse design framework to design plate-lattice structures (PLSs) with user-defined optimum specific maximum compression strength. Consisting of three sub-frameworks, the performance of the inverse design framework was validated before it was utilized to optimize PLSs. The optimum PLSs developed are fabricated with 3D printing using a novel …

Borehole-Based Interval Kriging For 3d Lithofacies Modeling, Yuqi Song, Frank T.C. Tsai

Faculty Publications

Developing a three-dimensional (3D) lithofacies model from boreholes is critical for providing a coherent understanding of complex subsurface geology, which is essential for groundwater studies. This study aims to introduce a new geostatistical method—interval kriging—to efficiently conduct 3D borehole-based lithological modeling with sand/non-sand binary indicators. Interval kriging is a best linear unbiased estimator for irregular interval supports. Interval kriging considers 3D anisotropies between two orthogonal components—a horizontal plane and a vertical axis. A new 3D interval semivariogram is developed. To cope with the nonconvexity of estimation variance, the minimization of estimation variance is regulated with an additional regularization term. The …

Estimation Of Land Displacement In East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, Using Insar: Comparisons With Gnss And Machine Learning Models, Ahmed Abdalla, Siavash Shami, Mohammad Amin Shahriari, Mahdi Khoshlahjeh Azar

Faculty Publications

Subsidence in southeastern Louisiana is a significant geological issue caused by natural and human-induced factors like low-lying topography and groundwater pumping. Human activities also led to coastal land loss and reduced sediment supply. Satellite-based technologies such as Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) are used to monitor subsidence. Louisiana has about 130 continuously operating reference stations (CORS) monitoring subsidence statewide. GNSS provides accurate point measurements but limited spatial coverage. InSAR, however, detects ground deformation over large areas using satellite-based radar imagery. In response to this advantage, we employed Sentinel-1 SAR images from 2017 to 2021 …

Corrigendum To “So Fresh, So Clean: Cloud Forensic Analysis Of The Amazon Irobot Roomba Vacuum” [Fsidi 48 (2024) 301686] (Forensic Science International: Digital Investigation (2024) 48(S), (S2666281723002056), (10.1016/J.Fsidi.2023.301686)), Abdur Rahman Onik, Ruba Alsmadi, Ibrahim Baggili, Andrew M. Webb

Faculty Publications

The authors regret to inform that there were errors in Fig. 3c and 3 d as published. It was later discovered that the figures included were incorrect. We extend our sincerest apologies for the oversight and appreciate the opportunity to correct these figures. The mistake was unintentional and occurred during the final revision process. We are committed to learning from this experience. Below are the corrected versions of Fig. 3c and 3 d, presented side by side for comparison.[Formula presented][Formula presented]